A Centennial biographical history of the city of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio, Part 73

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

USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Columbus > A Centennial biographical history of the city of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio > Part 73

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DANIEL W. MCGRATH.

The field of business offers limitless opportunities to men of energy, determination and ambition. To a student of biography there is nothing more interesting than to examine the life history of self-made men and to detect the elements of character which have enabled him to pass on the high- way of life many of the companions of his youth who at the outset of their careers were more advantageously equipped or endowed. The subject of this review has, through his own exertions, attained an honored position and marked prestige among the representative men of the west, and with signal consistency it may be said that he is the architect of his own fortunes, and one whose success amply justifies the application of the somewhat hack- neyed but most expressive title, "a self-made man." He was a native of New York, born on the 15th of September, 1854. His father, Patrick McGrath, is a native of Ireland, and in early manhood he married Miss Mary Magher, who was also born on the green isle of Erin. On crossing the Atlantic to the new world they located first in Genesee county, New York, and from Lewiston, that state, they emigrated to Ohio about 1856, taking up their abode in Madison county, upon a farm. At the present time they are residents of Columbus, and are communicants of the Sacred Heart church.

Having completed his educational course, Daniel W. McGrath began learning the mason's trade, and after mastering that business worked as a journeyman for a time. In 1874 he came from Madison county to Colum- bus, where he was employed at his trade until 1884, when he began contract- ing and building on his own account. He has since carried on an independent business career and has won prominence in his chosen calling. A great many of the school buildings erected in Columbus during the past sixteen years stand as monuments to his thrift and enterprise. He also erected the jail in Madison county, and he now has under contract the fire-proofing and mason work on the new addition to the Ohio state house. He built the only four "sky-scrapers" of the city, these being the Wyandotte, the Spah, the Schultz and the Olentangy, all fine office buildings. He is to-day regarded as one of the most prominent builders in this portion of the state, owing to his thorough understanding of the practical work, to his close application to business, to his fidelity to the terms of a contract and to his honorable effort. He did all the mason work on the National Steel Plant, also on the Martin Furnace Works, and secured and executed the entire contract for the Glass Works. He is now duplicating the same plant.

In 1883 Mr. McGrath was united in marriage with Miss Mary Jane Hunter, of Sidney, Ohio, a daughter of William and Mary (Gallagher) Hunter. Mr. Hunter was a prominent farmer of Shelby county, Ohio, and died in 1878, at the age of seventy-five years. Unto Mr. and Mrs. McGrath have been born six children, three sons and three daughters: Edward, Frank,

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DANIEL W. MCGRATH.

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John, Marie, Lillian and Annie. They are now attending private schools, some of the family being students in the Sacred Heart parish school.

In his political affiliations Mr. McGrath is independent, and socially he is a member of the Elks and Knights of Columbus. His time and attention, however, are practically given to his business affairs, in which he has met with signal success. Regarded as a citizen he belongs to the public-spirited, useful and helpful kind of men whose ambitions and desires are centered and directed in those channels through which flow the greatest and mnost permanent good to the greatest number, and it is therefore consistent with the purpose and plan of his work that his record be given among those of the representative men of the capital city.

ADAM TRISH.

A well known and highly respected farmer of Norwich township, Frank- lin county, Ohio, is Adam Trish, the subject of this sketch. He was born in Truro township, May 4, 1852, and was the son of one of the most highly es- teemed citizens of that section. His father, also Adam Trish, was a native of Germany, born there in 1823, who was sent to school until he was fourteen years old, at which time his uncle came to America, bringing the lad with him ... He remained at Tiffin, Ohio, engaged in farming, but when a boy he had" learned the trade of weaving. In that place he met the mother of our subject, Elizabeth Shafer, a daughter of John Shafer, of Tiffin, and after marriage,. Mr. and Mrs. Trish moved to Truro township where he engaged in work as; a day laborer.

In 1858 Adam Trish, the elder, bought a tract of land containing one hundred acres, upon which was built a log cabin of two rooms. By industry he managed to get this land cleared and in 1876 built upon it the substantial residence now occupied by our subject. He was a man who took an intelli- gent interest in politics, but never wished office, consenting to serve only on the school board. Other members of his family probably came to the United States, but separation had caused him to lose knowledge of their movements. Both Mr. and Mrs. Trish were members of the religious sect known as the kiver Brethren. His death occurred in July, 1885, and that of Mrs. Trish, August 7, 1888, the children born to them being Emmeline, Mrs. Joshua Armstrong, of Mercer county, Indiana; John, of Licking county, Ohio; Bar- bara, Mrs. Christian Myer, of Licking county, Ohio; our subject; Margaret, Mrs. George Somers, of Franklin township, Franklin county, Ohio; Joseph- ine, Mrs. William Somers, of Newark, Ohio; and Marie, Mrs. John Hummel, of Columbus.

Our subject was about five years old when his father located .ipon his present farm. His parents were anxious to have him take advantage of all school privileges that were provided, and he recalls his first experience at the old Brumley school and the name of his first teacher, Joseph Godown. As soon as he became large enough he was obliged to take part in the work

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of the farm and his school opportunities were limited to three months in the winter. Until his marriage, Mr. Trish continued to work for his father, but after that event he rented the farm from him and also rented other land, buy- ing the home farm in 1893. He has been very successful in his efforts, and much credit must be given him, for he began without a dollar of his own. A great amount of pluck, energy and honest labor is required to obtain the comforts of life which are now enjoyed by Mr. Trish.

The marriage of our subject took place January 17, 1877, to Miss Louisa Carl, daughter of Christian and Mary (Selbert) Carl, who was born in Prairie township, March 10, 1854. Mr. Carl came from Germany with his parents, when he was eighteen years old, they being Louis and Elizabeth ( Koerchner) Carl, who died in Prairie township, this county. The family of our subject and his esteemed wife are: Elizabeth M., born August 28, 1877; Marie A., born September 14, 1879; Emmerson R., born December II, 1882; Nettie Forest, born March 12, 1886; Maggie F., born February 22, 1889; and Adam Carl, born February 25, 1893.

Mr. Trish is a stanch Democrat in his political convictions, and has always been ready to assist in the councils of his party. He has served on the school board several terms, and in 1898 was elected township trustee. Mrs. Trish is a most estimable lady, a valued member of the Methodist church and a kind neighbor and friend.

EDWARD E. MILLER.

The history of an industrious, honorable and useful life is always valua- ble reading, inculcating lessons which must be beneficial to young men wise enough to learn from the experience of others and conscientious enough to desire to emulate the good example of others. Such a well spent life as is here suggested is that of Edward E. Miller, of Jackson township, Franklin county, Ohio.

Mr. Miller was born in Jackson township, Franklin county, Ohio, May 2, 1836, a son of Isaac and Fannie ( Holloway) Miller. His father, who was a native of Virginia, came with his parents to Clark county, Ohio, when he was seven years old, and he was there educated in the common schools and reared as a farmer boy of all work. After his marriage, in 1834, he came to Jackson township, Franklin county, and locating in the woods he lived for some time in a little log house which he built there, then sold the place and bought another which he cleared and improved, and on which he lived until his death, at the age of seventy-one years. He was successful in a worldly way, and as a citizen was popular and influential. He was a Whig until the Whig party was merged into the Republican party, and after that he voted the Republican ticket and worked for Republican principles until the end of his life. For many years he ably filled the office of justice of the peace. In religious affiliation he was a Methodist, active in the work of his church and generous and helpful in the support of all its interests. He

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was a class-leader, a steward, a Sunday-school superintendent, and in one capacity or another was always laboring for the advancement of the cause of Christ in his denomination. He not only donated the land on which Concord church stands, but was a liberal contributor toward the maintenance of worship there until the end of his days, and he was largely instrumental in replacing with a modern frame structure the small primitive church orig- inally erected of logs cut on his land. Abraham Miller, his father, was born in Virginia, of German ancestors, and spoke the German language. Mr Miller regrets that he knows little about the family history of his mother, Fannie ( Holloway), who died in the sixty-second year of her age, after hav- ing brought into the world six sons and six daughters, all of whom married and reared families, and four sons and three daughters of whom are now living.

The subject of this sketch was the third son and fifth child of his par- ents in order of birth, and was reared to farm work in Jackson township and was there educated in public and subscription schools, and has a vivid recollection of the early log schoolhouses, which had greased-paper windows which admitted some light but would not permit the children to look out, seats were of split logs, the rude slab desks were supported ton pins driven in the walls, there were big fireplaces' and stick-and-mud chimneys, and other crude and unattractive furnishings. Notwithstand- ing the fact that the teaching in those days was as primitive as the schoolhouses, the boy acquired a fair education, and at the age of twenty he hired a man to work in his place for his father until he should be twenty- one and began life for himself as a teacher. He taught five years continu- ously, and some years later, after his marriage, he taught two winter terms. Eliza A. Demorest, who became his wife October 2, 1866, was a native of Piatt county, Illinois, and was born at Whiteheath, April 4, 1839. Her father, Isaac Demorest, was born in Ohio, of French ancestry, and was twice married, first to Margaret Alkire, who bore him a son named William, who died at the age of twenty-one years, and after her death, to Clarissa Kerr, a native of Franklin county, Ohio. Miss Kerr, who was born and reared at Harrisburg, descended from Irish ancestors. On the paternal side his mother was Leah Goetchius, a native of the state of New York, and of Ger- man ancestry. Isaac and Clarissa (Kerr) Demorest had four daughters and one son. A biographical sketch of their son, Russell B., appears else- where in this work. The daughters were named Margaret, Emeline, Eliza A: and Jennie. `Mrs. Miller was the third daughter and fourth child of her parents in order of nativity, and was four years old when they came to Franklin county. She received a collegiate education at Delaware, Ohio, and after her graduation taught school one year.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Miller located on the farm upon which they now live and began housekeeping in a weatherboarded log house of four rooms, which in 1874 was replaced by their present more modern and much more commodious residence. His original farm consisted of one

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hundred and thirty-four acres. By purchase of the old family homestead ne increased his holdings to almost three hundred acres, which is devoted largely to general farming. Besides being a successful farmer, Mr. Miller has achieved considerable reputation as a stockman, and he had on his place an establishment for the manufacture of drain tile, of which he sold consid- erable quantities to neighboring farmers and some of which he utilized for the improvement of his own farm. Politically Mr. Miller allied himself with the Prohibition party more than a quarter of a century ago, and since then he has worked consistently for the advancement of the interests of that organization. In 1874 he was the candidate of his party for the office of county treasurer. He is an active member of Concord Methodist Episcopal church, and was its recording secretary for twenty years, and has filled every other office in the church except that of pastor, and has been superintendent of its Sunday-school since 1867. He is a prominent member of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic, and has a good record as a soldier in the Civil war. He enlisted in 1862 as a private in Company B, Ninety- fifth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was promoted to the office of corporal. At the battle of Richmond, Kentucky, he was shot through the foot, and in January, 1863, he was honorably discharged from the service on account of disability, and for two years afterward conducted a photograph gallery at Camp Chase, and for a short time after that was in the same busi- ness in Columbus. He is a man of much public spirit, who takes a real interest in his township and county, and works conscientiously for their moral, educational and political advancement and prosperity. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have three children, named Marcus R., Merritt F. and Clara Ethel. Two others died in infancy.

FRANCIS WHARTON BLAKE, M. D.

One of the prominent and representative members of the medical pro- fession of Columbus, Ohio, is Francis Wharton Blake, the subject of this sketch. He was born in Gambier, Knox county, Ohio, in 1858. His father, the Rev. Alfred Blake, D. D., was a native of New Hampshire, born in 1809, and his later years were devoted to the ministry of the Episcopal church. For a number of years he was the proprietor and principal of a boys' school in Gambier, where he is still gratefully remembered.

He moved to Ohio in 1827, entering the junior class of Kenyon College. His grandfather was a native of New Hampshire, and died in 1827, after a life of agricultural pursuits. His wife was a member of the Jilson family. The mother of our subject was Anne J. (Leonard) Blake, a daughter of Joseph Leonard, who for many years was agent for the Lloyds at Amster- dam. Her mother was Ann (Peake) Leonard. Mrs. Blake was born in Holland, and came to America in childhood. She still resides in Gambier, although her early home in Ohio was at Circleville.

Our subject spent his boyhood and received his preparatory education

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in the schools of Gambier, later entering Kenyon College, from which he was graduated in 1880. Choosing medicine as his life profession, Dr. Blake began its serious study with Dr. J. W. Hamilton, of Columbus, and gradu- ated at the Columbus Medical College in 1883. Following this successful termination of his college course, our subject then went to New York city, where he became associated with the New York Hospital for Ruptured and Crippled, remaining two years and gaining invaluable knowledge and ex- perience. Still pursuing his profession in other lines, he became an assistant in the New York Ophthalmic and Aural Institute, and also in the New York Polyclinic. He returned to Columbus in 1886, thoroughly prepared to prac- tice his profession. Since that time Dr. Blake has earned most gratifying success and the esteem of the community.

Dr. Blake is connected with the Columbus Academy of Medicine, the Ohio State Medical Association, the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Medicine.

LEWIS MOREHEAD.

There is something in the way of example in the life of every man who triumphs over obstacles and gains an enviable place among his fellow citizens that should not be withheld from others who are struggling for success, for there is much of encouragement in the trite declaration, "What man has done man may do again," and many a man who has succeeded in life acknowledges indebtedness to it. The career of Lewis Morehead, ex-county commissioner of Franklin county, Ohio, is that of a worthy self-made man, and as such deserves a place in a work of the character and scope of this.

Lewis Morehead was born in Hamilton township, Franklin county, Ohio, November 26, 1843, a son of Lewis and Charlotte (Wright) Morehead. Lewis Morehead, Sr., was born in the same house in which his son was born and was reared in Hamilton township and educated in its public schools, and he was there married and passed his days as a general farmer and a leading citizen and died in 1844, aged about thirty-eight years. Ferguson More- head, his father, was a native of Kentucky and one of the early pioneers in Hamilton township. Charlotte Wright, who married Lewis Morehead, Sr., and is the mother of Lewis Morehead, was born in Pennsylvania, the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth ( Watt) Wright, and was of mixed Eng- lish and Scotch blood. At the age of nine years she was brought to Franklin county by her parents, who were among the early settlers there. She is still living.

Lewis Morehead was the only child of his parents and was reared and educated in his native township and brought up to the laborious and honorable life of a farmer. He was married, January 14, 1869, to Elizabeth Williams, a native of Hamilton township, Franklin county, and a daughter of Benjamin and Catharine ( Weight) Williams, who were among the early settlers in the county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Morehead were born three children, but Carrie

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and Catherine died in infancy, Lewis, the second child, being the only sur- vivor.

After his marriage Mr. Morehead settled on the Williams homestead and farmed there successfully until 1898, when he located at Shadeville. In 1880 he went on the road for the Aultman concern, selling agricultural imple- ments, and was thus employed in connection with farming until 1886, when he was elected county commissioner of Franklin county. His performance of the duties of that important office was characterized by so much honesty and efficiency that his re-election was demanded by the people and he was elected again in 1889. He has also held the office of township trustee and in that capacity he showed the same devotion to the public interests that marked his administration of the office of county commissioner. In his political views he is a Democrat, and he is fully in accord with the best principles of his party, past and present.

Mr. Morehead owns five hundred and twenty-six acres of land, all under a good state of improvement, and ranks with the well-to-do farmers of his part of the county and is honored as a citizen of integrity and influence and as an ex-soldier of the Civil war, for he enlisted May 2, 1864, in Company K, One Hundred and Thirty-third Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, for one hundred days, and served the term of his enlistment, and re-enlisted for one year or during the war and attended faithfully to his soldierly duties until discharged from the service on account of ill health contracted in the army. Since he has retired from active life it is fitting that proper reference to his achievements in his official capacity should be made in this connection. Dur- ing his service as county commissioner the county courthouse was finished, the new county jail was built, more needed bridges were constructed than in any like period of the history of the county, the soldiers' monument was erected, noteworthy provision was made for the county's unfortunate and deserving poor and numerous other reforms and improvements were insti- tuted. In all the good public work indicated Mr. Morehead took a prominent part, which will not soon be forgotten.

Mr. Morehead is a thirty-second-degree Mason, and his son, Lewis W. Morehead, who manages his father's farming interests since the latter's retire- ment, took all the degrees with him. They are well informed and enthusi- astic Masons who exert themselves in every way for the benefit of their beneficent order, and, through it, for the good of their fellow men, and are well and widely known in the fraternity and are popular not only in Masonic circles but in all circles in which they move.

After the death of Lewis Morehead, her first husband, Mrs. Morehead married Lockhard Ramsey and bore him two children, one of whom is living -Lockhard Ramsey, Jr., a well known farmer of Hamilton township. Lock- hard Ramsey, Sr., died in 1852, and for twenty-one years Mrs. Ramsey has been a member of the household of her son Lewis Morehead and is accorded the honors due to one of the early born women of the township, a living link between the old order of things and the new.

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CHARLES E. TURNER, M. D.

A native of Ohio, Dr. Turner was born in Zanesville, on the 19th of April, 1874. But little is known concerning the ancestral history of the family save that the first of the name in America came from England. John L. Turner, the father of our subject, was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and in early manhood engaged in the manufacture of woolen goods in his native istate. He afterward removed to Zanesville, Ohio, where he is still living. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Elizabeth A. Mile and was born in Ellicott City, Maryland.

Dr. Turner spent the days of his youth in his parents' home in Zanes- ville and attended the common schools. He was graduated in the high school of that city and then, preparing for professional life, became a student in the office of Dr. J. M. Fasing, of Zanesville, who directed his preliminary reading until he was enrolled among the students of Starling Medical Col- lege, being graduated there in 1896. Later he went to New York city, where he took a post-graduate course in the Post-Graduate College, completing the same in September of that year. Returning to his home in Zanesville, he made arrangements to remove to Columbus, and through the past five years has conducted a general practice here with good success.

On the Ist of June, 1898, Dr. Turner was united in marriage to Miss Wilhelmina von der Auf, of Columbus, a daughter of John von der Auf. Their pleasant home is a hospitable one and their friends are numerous. The Doctor belongs to Mentor Lodge, No. 642, K. P., and in the line of his pro- fession holds membership in the Columbus Academy of Medicine and the Ohio State Medical Society. He entered upon his professional career well prepared for its arduous and responsible duties. He is most faithful to the trusts reposed in him, and his persistent efforts have led to his continued advancement.

ROBERT D. GRANT.

This well-known general merchant of Grove City and one of the leading business men of that place has shown in his successful career that he has the ability to plan wisely and execute with energy, a combination which, when possessed by men in any walk of life, never fails to effect notable results. He is a native of Franklin county, born in Jackson township August 28, 1847, and is the eighth child and second son in the family of Hugh and Leah (Deamer) Grant, more extended mention of whom is made in the sketch of A. G. Grant on another page of this volume.

Our subject was reared in his native township, and obtained his educa- tion in its district schools. On the seventeenth anniversary of his birth he joined the boys in blue of the Civil war, enlisting in 1864 as a private of Com- pany E, One Hundred and Eighty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which he served until the close of the war, taking part in the battle of Nash-

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ville, which was a two-days engagement. When hostilities ceased he was honorably discharged at that place and returned home.

Mr. Grant then learned the plasterer's trade in Grove City, but after completing his apprenticeship plastered one house and then retired from the business. For about five years he was engaged in mercantile business with his brother, A. G. Grant, and then formed a partnership with him, which lasted about the same length of time. He then sold his interest in the business to his brother, A. G. Grant, but a month later purchased the establishment, and has since engaged in business alone, being the oldest merchant in Grove City. He carries a large and well-selected stock of groceries and dry goods, and en- joys an excellent trade. For about six years he was also interested in the manufacture of brick at Mt. Sterling and Grove City, and was engaged in the grain and coal business three years.

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A Centennial biographical history of the city of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio, Part 73

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