A Centennial biographical history of the city of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio, Part 72

Author: Lewis Publishing Company
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1156

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was active in the presidential campaign of 1900 and his services were in demand in Ohio, Illinois and West Virginia. He was appointed correspond- ence clerk in the office of Governor Nash January 1, 1900.

EDWARD EVANS.

Among the well-to-do and successful farmers of Brown township is numbered the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch. A native of the north of Wales, he was born in Montgomeryshire, January 21, 1837, and is a son of Edward and Jane ( Hughes) Evans, also natives of the same place, and the latter a daughter of Edward Hughes, a farmer of that country. Our subject's father was born about 1798 and throughout life followed the occupation of farming in his native land, where he died in 1848. The death of his wife occurred about 1866, when she was seventy-three years of age. To them were born seven children as follows: Evan went to the gold mines of Australia, and after working there for a time he obtained employ- ment at his trade of puddler. He is now a resident of Wallaroo, of which town his son, John Evans, is mayor. Sina married John Griffiths and died in Wales. Edward, our subject, is next in order of birth. John married Miriam Jones and lives in Lancastershire, England. Thomas married Mar- tha Ann Barlow and resides in Logan county, Ohio. Jane married John Jones and died in Columbus, Ohio. Mary first married David Jones and second William Thickstone and died in Liverpool, England.

Edward Evans attended the common schools of his native land until fifteen years of age, but not being satisfied with the education he had acquired he afterward pursued his studies in night school for a time. The children were all young when the father died and were forced to earn their own live- lihood at a tender age. Our subject began a seven-years apprenticeship to the stonecutter's trade, but at the end of three years he went to Liverpool, where he worked in a tea warehouse for three years. At Liverpool, England, April 14, 1859, he took passage on a sailing vessel, Monarch of the Sea, and after a voyage of four weeks landed in New York city, penniless, having had just enough money to buy his ticket to this country. After seven weeks spent in that city, he proceeded to Cincinnati, where he worked in an iron foundry.

In 1861 Mr. Evans came to Franklin county, and was employed by farm- ers in Brown township by the day and month until the fall of 1863, when he entered the service of his adopted country by enlisting in the First Ohio Cavalry, which became a part of Sherman's army and participated in the Kilpatrick raid around Atlanta and also in the Wilson raid and the battle of Selma, Alabama. Mr. Evans was mustered out at Hilton Head, South Car- olina, in September, 1865, and returned to this county, where he worked as a farm hand until 1867.

In that year he married Miss Mary Ann Jerman, who was born in the city of Columbus, May 7, 1847, a daughter of Richard and Elizabeth ( Evans)

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Jerman. By this union were born the following children: Elizabeth Jane, wife of Jewett Bancroft, of Columbus; Margaret Ann, wife of Christian Traftzer, of Brown township; Sarah, wife of Edward Elliott, of Norwich township; Hattie, a school teacher; Bessie, at home; Emma, who died in July, 1900; Mary, who died in infancy; and a son, who also died in infancy, unnamed.

For twelve years after his marriage Mr. Evans engaged in farming on rented land, but in 1877 he purchased fifty acres across the road from his pres- ent farm. Upon that place he made his home from 1879 until 1890, when he moved to his present farm in Brown township. He owns one hundred and twenty-eight acres of valuable land divided into two farm's, both under a high state of cultivation and well improved with good buildings. In 1897 his house was totally destroyed by fire, but has since been replaced by the beautiful residence which he now occupies. For the success that he has achieved in life he deserves great credit as he came to the new world empty-handed, and by industry, perseverance and good management has acquired a good home and comfortable competence. Religiously he is a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church of Alton, and politically is identified with the Republi- can party. He has filled the office of school director and has served as trustee of his town for the long period of twenty years with credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. Fraternally he is an honored member of West Jefferson Post, G. A. R.

JAMES ROSS.

The value of faithfulness in small things has exemplification in these new century days in the advancement which is given public officials who have been conscientious in the performance of the duties seemingly trivial and unim- portant. This idea is illustrated in the career of James Ross, of Columbus, Ohio, a brief account of which it will be attempted to give in this connection. Mr. Ross was born in Reynoldsburg, Truro township, Franklin county, Ohio, July 10, 1862, a son of Frederick and Christina (Grossman) Ross, both natives of Germany, who came to America in 1849, landing in New York and proceeding thence to Franklin county, Ohio, where they settled on the place now known as the Sullivan farm, west of Columbus, where Mrs. Ross died in 1862, soon after having given birth to the subject of this sketch and where Mr. Ross died in 1866, when James Ross was scarcely more than four years old.

The child was taken by relatives and cared for until he was a sturdy boy with an early developed ambition to make his own way in the world. After that he lived principally among strangers, doing farm work and such other work as his hands found to do. He attended district schools and later the high school at Columbus and he managed to secure a commercial course in Bryant's college, at Columbus. After he completed his studies he was for a time employed as a clerk in a store, and later became deputy clerk under

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John J. Joye, clerk of the court of Franklin county, at Columbus. In 1888 he was appointed deputy sheriff under Sheriff Brice W. Custer and served in that capacity for four years. So satisfactory to the people was his perform- ance of the duties thus devolving upon him that they elected him sheriff of Franklin county in the fall of 1891 and he began his administration of that high and honorable office, January 1, following, and was re-elected in 1893. serving through a period of four years altogether. In 1897 he took a very active part in the campaign and defence of Horace L. Chapman, candidate for governor of Ohio and was a member of the Democratic state executive committee. He was a courteous opponent.

After his retirement from the office of sheriff he turned his attention to real estate operations, handling chiefly city property, in which he has been successful, dividing his time between this interest and public interest of the county and state. He has served as chairman of the Democratic county executive committee and has done otherwise much effective political work. He is an Elk and a Knight of Pythias, and, while very popular in these orders he is no less so in business, political and social circles.

WILLIAM J. CLARK.

William J. Clark, who is an engineer on a passenger train running be- tween Columbus and Indianapolis, was born in Springfield, Ohio, in the year 1857, and is a son of Samuel and Jane D. Clark, who have resided in Xenia, Ohio, since 1860. His father lost both of his arms in the year 1863, but by determined purpose he worked on, his resolute spirit enabling him to con- tinue his labors although thus hindered. He provided for his family, who have now grown to years of maturity. His children are: Mary Bell, Will- iam J., Samuel R., Margaret and Martha, Mary Bell died when two years of age. Samuel R. is now a bookkeeper of Xenia. Ohio; Margaret, a normal school graduate, is engaged in teaching and is living in Xenia; while Martha died in that city July 9, 1899.

William J. Clark, whose name introduces this record, acquired his edu- cation in the public schools of Xenia and afterward learned the moulder's trade at that place. His railroad service dates from 1875, at which time he secured a position as brakeman on the Pennsylvania road, running out of Xenia. He was employed in that way for two months when he met with an accident, breaking his collar bone. That caused him to abandon that occupation and he became a fireman on the same road, under engineer Nathaniel Collins. After four years he was made a freight engineer and subsequently promoted to passenger engineer, in which capacity he has since served. He has never had an accident since becoming fireman nor has he missed a day's pay, for he has always been found at his post of duty. He now has one of the best and most responsible runs on the limited trains between Columbus and Indiana- polis. His promotion was well merited by close application, carefulness and ability. On the 25th of November, 1898, Mr. Clark was married, in Spring-

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field, Ohio, to Miss Cora Belle Ridenour. Her father, Cyrus Ridenour, was born in Graceham, Frederick county, Maryland, March 10, 1843, and her mother was born at Woodrick, Kent, England, January 9, 1848. They were married in Springfield, Ohio, and became the parents of the following chil- dren : Charles Edward, born September 27, 1871, was married in Springfield, Ohio, to Miss Minnie Smith, by whom he has two children, Charles and Mildred, and he is now engaged in the plumbing business in Springfield ; Flor- ence May, born July 15, 1873, is at home; George Frederick, born March 23, 1876; Grace Vernon, the youngest, was born January 17, 1880, and died March 19, 1900, in Springfield, Ohio, at the age of twenty years. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Clark have been born one son, William Earl, who was born August 13, 1899, and has one daughter, Grace Vernon, born on the 6th of February, 190I.

Two years ago Mr. Clark removed with his family from Xenia to Colum- bus, and they now occupy a new and attractive residence at No. 153 North Eighteenth street. In politics he is a stanch Republican, and is a Royal Arch Mason, having held membership in Xenia Chapter, R. A. M., for many years. His wife is a member of the Eastwood Congregational church, of Columbus. They are people of genuine worth, whose many excellent traits of character have gained them many friends, whose high regard they have no difficulty to retain.

HERMAN H. BUCK.

One of the practical, enterprising and progressive farmers of Blendon township is Herman H. Buck, who is numbered among the native sons that the fatherland has furnished to Franklin county. He was born in Hanover, Germany, April 1, 1850. His father, Frederick Buck, was also a native of the same province, born in 1826, and there he was reared to manhood and mar- ried. He wedded Miss Christina Bahne, who was born in Hanover, about 1824. In order to provide for his family the father followed agricultural pursuits, having been familiar with the work of the farm from early youth. In 1852, after the birth of our subject, their first child, he came with his wife to America, locating first in Schenectady, New York, where he learned the trade of a broom-maker, following that pursuit in the east until 1854. In that year he came to Columbus with Charles Schwenker and Henry Behren and established the first broom factory ever conducted in Columbus. He

followed that pursuit until about ten years ago, when he retired from active business life and has since lived among his children. In politics he is a stanch ' Democrat. His wife died in 1899. They had eight children, of whom four are yet living, namely: Herman H .; Frank; Mary, wife of Herbert Leech, of Blendon township; and Henry, also a resident farmer of Blendon township.

Herman H. Buck came to America in 1857 with his grandparents, and then joined his parents. His youth embraced a period of business activity, for at the early age of nine years he began work in his father's broom manu- factory. His education was so badly neglected that when eighteen years of

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age he could not write his own name, and he had come to realize how neces- sary and important is education in the world and he therefore began a course of study at night schocl in Columbus. Thereby he acquired a good knowl- edge of the branches of English learning which fit one for practical duties, and in later years reading, study, experience and observation have made him a well informed man. When twenty years of age he left the parental roof and entered upon a business career in the employ of Toll & Wolfley, broom manufacturers, with whom he remained for about six months. On the expiration of that period he purchased the business, which he removed to Toledo, Ohio, where he remained for four years, during which time he was united in marriage to Miss Regina Gillmeister, a native of Mecklenburg, Ger- many. In 1874 Mr. Buck returned to Columbus and after a short period spent at his trade he was appointed on the police force, where he served for one year. He then resigned and again engaged in the manufacture of brooms. In 1884 he came to Blendon township, Franklin county, where he turned his atention to farming in connection with broom manufacturing, his home being upon the J. Geigle farm for three years. On the expiration of that period he removed to the Howard farm, where he followed his dual occupation for five years, and in 1892 he purchased the Sammis farm in Blendon township, upon which he has since made his home. There he engaged in broom-mak- ing, following farming in only a limited degree until July, 1900, when he ac- cepted the position of foreman in the factory of the penitentiary, operated by the National Broom Company. His thorough understanding of the business, excellent workmanship and superior executive ability well qualified him for this position and he has given excellent satisfaction as manager of the broom making interests there.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Buck have been born eleven children, namely : Dora, the wife of William H. Budd, of Columbus ; Minnie, the wife of A. C. Long- shore, a farmer of Blendon township; Frank, Kate, Edward, Elizabeth, Her- man H., Carry and Lydia, all of whom are yet under the parental roof, and Mary and Tilly died when young.

Mr. Buck is a stanch Democrat in his political affiliations and has served as township trustee, land appraiser and for many years has been a member of the school board, serving at the present time in that capacity. The cause of education finds in him a warm friend. He has a just appreciation of its importance and value in the practical affairs of life and lends his support and influence to the advancement of all measures which he believes will prove of practical good to the schools. Socially he is connected with Blendon Lodge, No. 339, F. & A. M., and is also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, while with Deerfoot Tribe, No. 113. Order of Red Men, he is also associated. While he does not hold membership in any church, he and his wife are regular attendants on the services of the Lutheran church, and he contributed very liberally to its support. A public spirited and progressive man, he withholds not his aid from any movement which he feels will contribute to the general good.

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CHRISTOPHER DAVIS.

Among the residents of Franklin county who have reached the age of sixty-eight years, few can claim the honor of being a native son of the locality, but Christopher Davis, now a well known farmer of Pleasant township, was born in Prairie township, September 11, 1833. The family is of Welsh lineage. His grandfather located in North Carolina and thence removed to Cynthiana, Kentucky. In 1808 he came to Ohio, locating on the present site of Galloway, in Prairie township, trading his Kentucky property for five hundred acres of land. The journey to this state was made by wagon, and everything was in the primitive condition left by the hand of nature. After making some improvements upon his new farm Mr. Davis learned that some- one had a prior claim to the land and he was forced to lose it. He then pur- chased a tract of ninety acres west of that place and erected a log cabin. He was probably the first settler in his section of the county. He afterward bought two hundred and fifty acres of military land, a part of which he sold and among his children divided the remainder, but again he learned that he had an imperfect title to the property and once more lost all that he had invested therein. The Indians were still quite numerous in the neighbor- hood when he came to Ohio, but he always maintained pleasant relations with them and they occasioned him no trouble. He aided in the arduous task of reclaiming the wild country for purposes of civilization and assisted in lay- ing the foundation for the present prosperity and progress of this portion of the state. One of his sons, Simon Davis, resided in the eastern portion of Prairie township, on part of the grandfather's farm.

Christopher Davis, the father of our subject, was born in North Carolina, December 30, 1783, and during his boyhood accompanied his parents to Kentucky, residing at Cynthiana, where he married a Miss Locket. With his wife he came to Ohio and after a time settled on what is now the Lavely farm in Prairie township. At the time of the uprising of the Indians he enlisted for military service and the troops were on their way to reinforce Hull when they learned of the surrender. Christopher Davis, Sr., received a good education for his time. In an early day he would frequently go to Franklin- ton and aid in mustering in the men for frontier service. After coming to Ohio he lost his first wife, and on the 10th of July, 1828, he married America Hickman, who was born in a little log cabin on the site of Franklinton, November 25, 1807, a daughter of Joseph Hickman, of Loudoun county, Virginia. At that place her father enlisted in the Colonial army and served throughout the war of the Revolution. He afterward came to Franklin county, Ohio, locating in Franklinton, where it is supposed that he died of paralysis. When only twelve years of age Mrs. Davis had to begin earning her own living and for a long time she was employed as a domestic in the home of Michael Sullivan. She possessed excellent ability as a nurse, being particularly proficient in the care of little children, and she was often sent for to visit the homes of neighbors and pioneer people for miles around, making the

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necessary journey on horseback. Mr. Davis, the father of our subject, died December 31, 1856, in his seventy-third year, and his second wife passed away November 10, 1879. From the age of twelve years she was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which Mr. Davis also belonged, and they lived earnest and consistent Christian lives. In politics he was a Whig and was much interested in political affairs. By his first marriage he had four children : John, who died in Missouri; Obediah, who died in Pleasant town- ship, about 1874; William, whose death occurred in Franklin county in 1850; and James, who passed away at his home in Whitley county, Indiana, in 1865. The parents of our subject had nine children. The eldest, George Washington Mahlon, of Barton county, Missouri, served as a captain in an Ohio regiment, enlisting at the call for one-hundred-day men. Elizabeth became the wife of James Ward and removed to Indiana, where her husband joined a regiment for service in the war of the Rebellion. He died in a hospital in Kentucky, and she was afterward twice married, her third husband being Christopher Smeltz. Their home is now in Walkerton, Indiana. Chris- topher, of this review, is the next of the family. Jeremiah died in childhood. Joseph makes his home in Walkerton, Indiana. Smith W. died in that place in 1892. Ruhama became the wife of John Lavely and died in Prairie town- ship; Jennie is the wife of George Burton, of Terre Haute, Indiana. Jesse died in Terre Haute, December 26, 1900.

In the midst of the wild scenes of pioneer life Christopher Davis was reared to manhood. The family home was a log cabin and few were the privileges and luxuries which were enjoyed by the frontier settlers. He acquired the greater part of his education in the subscription schools. The first school which he attended was held in a private dwelling and was taught by Miss Sarah Ann Welsh. Later a hewed-log building was erected to be used as a school and therein he pursued his education, under the direction of Mr. Frissell and Mr. Neff. He attended only through winter terms, for in the summer months his services were needed upon the home farm. He began to work in the fields when a small boy and soon became familiar with all the departments of farm labor. In those days he would break the corn off the stalks and it was then taken to the barn, where the merry corn huskings were held. Mr. Davis also attended many log rollings, at which all the men and larger boys of the neighborhood would gather. Two men would then choose sides and divide the ground, and the side which succeeded in accom- plishing its work first was proclaimed victorious. On account of his father's ill health Mr. Davis assumed the management of the home farm and after his father's demise he cultivated the place for his widowed mother until his marriage, which important event in his life occurred on the 2d of April, 1861, the lady of his choice being Miss Lydia Ann Scott, who was born on the farm where our subject now resides, her parents being William and Martha (Upp) Scott.

After his marriage Mr. Davis took up his abode on the farm just east of Galloway, known as the Isaac Neff property. On the 15th of August, 1862,

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he responded to the country's call for aid, enlisting as a member of Company H, Ninety-fifth Ohio Infantry, under Captain Wiley and Colonel McMillan. He served for five months and was then discharged at Camp Chase, February 10, 1863, on account of disability. After joining the army he went to Coving- ton, Kentucky, and thence to Richmond, participating in the battle at that place. There nearly all of the members of the regiment were captured by the forces of General Kirby Smith, but soon afterward Mr. Davis was paroled, together with many of his regiment. They then returned on foot to Cov- ington, Kentucky, and to Cincinnati, finding the latter city in charge of the "Squirrel Hunters." From Cincinnati Mr. Davis made his way home by train, and at Camp Chase received an honorable discharge. He then resumed agricultural pursuits, operating on shares the farm owned by F. A. McCor- mick. In the following autumn he removed to the Chrisman farm in Pleasant township, where he resided for two years and then went to Vermilion county, Illinois, spending the winter in Danville. In the spring he located on Eight Mile Prairie, fourteen miles from Danville, where he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land, continuing its cultivation until the winter of 1872, when he rented his farm and returned to Franklin county, locating on the old homestead. He afterward sold his Illinois property. For three years he remained on the old home place and then purchased his present home, moving into a hewed-log cabin, which had a frame addition. This building was burned December 6, 1879, and two years afterward he erected his present beautiful brick residence, one of the most tasteful homes in his section of the county. He has one hundred and sixty-two acres of fine farming land, all under a high state of cultivation.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Davis were born six children: Amelia, who died in infancy ; William E., of Madera, California; George C., who died at the age of eight years; Leander, who died in childhood; Alletta, the wife of Charles Ruppel, of Indiana; and Scott, who is living in Terre Haute, Indiana. After the death of his first wife Mr. Davis was again married, on the 22d of June, 1875, his second union being with Miss Malissa Gardner, who was born in Pleasant township, November 5, 1857, and is a daughter of James and Mary (Norris) Gardner. Her father is now deceased, but her mother is still living. The children of the second marriage are: Arthur, who died in 1896; Nellie E .; Rosalie; Oliver; Theodore, who is a student in Wester- ville; Laura Ann; Emma May; Ada Florence; Theressa Mary; and Grover Cleveland.

Mr. Davis is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Galloway. He was a Republican during the Civil war and supported that party until President Grant's second term, when he joined the Democracy, with which he has since voted. He served as school director for eleven years and has taken an active interest in educational affairs. He served as a dele- gate to the state conventions of 1896 and 1900, and on the 12th of February, 1901, in connection with W. J. Bryan, Charles A. Towne, D. E. Armand and many other distinguished men, he became a member of the Jefferson, Jackson and Lincoln League.

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A Centennial biographical history of the city of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio, Part 72

Author: Lewis Publishing Company Publication date: 1901 Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1156

Author: Lewis Publishing Company
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1156