A Centennial biographical history of the city of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio, Part 79

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 79

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FRANK T. COLE.

جنيه

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organized under the militia law of other days. He died in 1866, aged sev- enty-eight years. His grandfather, Isaac Gleason, of Petersham, Worcester county, Massachusetts, was a soldier in the colonial wars, as was also Abijah Cole, of Harvard, Massachusetts, grandfather of Captain Theodore Cole. Captain Gleason was a descendant of Thomas Gleason, who was at Charles- town, Massachusetts, as early as 1652, and whose descendants lived after- ward at Framingham and Petersham, Massachusetts, and moved at the close of the Revolutionary war to New Hampshire.

Frank Theodore Cole was born at Brattleboro, Vermont, June 22, 1853, a son of Theodore and Livilla (Gleason) Cole. He was educated at Phillips Academy, at Andover, Massachusetts, and at Williston Seminary, at East- hampton, Massachusetts, graduating in 1873; and was graduated from Williams College with the degree of A. B. in 1877 and from the Columbia Law School with the degree of LL. D. in 1879. He was admitted to the bar in New York in 1879 and to the bar in Ohio in February, 1880, and prac- ticed his profession at Columbus until 1886. In the meantime he had be- come active as a Republican, serving his party as a member of the city and county committees. From 1886 to 1889 he was secretary of the disburse- ment committee of the centennial celebration of the passage of the ordinance erecting the Northwest Territory and the encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic held at Columbus that year.

For ten years Mr. Cole was secretary of the Franklin County Sunday- school Association, and for five years was a director of the Young Men's Christian Association. He was president of the Garfield and Arthur Glee Club, of Columbus, in 1880, was a member of the executive committee of the Blaine and Logan Club, of Columbus, in 1884, and was a member of the executive committee of the Harrison and Morton Club, of Columbus, in 1888. He was for some time a member of the Columbus Club, the Columbus Whist Club, the Garfield Club and the University Club. For ten years he was. assistant superintendent of the Congregational Sunday-school and for two. years of the Goodale street mission of the Congregational church, also one of the founders and for a time trustee of the Mayflower Congregational church .. He is president of the Columbus Golf Club and a director of the "Old North- west" Genealogical Society.

In 1886 Mr. Cole published the early genealogies of the Cole family in America, and he is now publishing the genealogies of the Gleason family in America. In 1889 he opened the Columbus Latin School, a private school for boys in Columbus, and in 1899, with Professor Abram Brown, he estab- lished the University School of Columbus, of which Mr. Cole is secretary and Professor Brown head master.

DANIEL WEYGANDT.

This well-known resident of Grove City and manager for the A. G. Grant Railroad Company, was born in Washington, Pennsylvania, on the 27th of November, 1842, and on both the paternal and maternal sides is of Pennsyl-

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vania-Dutch extraction. His grandfather, George Weygandt, spent his entire life as a farmer in the Keystone state. The father, George W. Weygandt, was also a native of Washington, Pennsylvania, and by occupation was a carpenter and contractor. On coming to Franklin county, Ohio, in 1849, he located in Grove City, and erected some of the first houses in that town, also building the hotel, the first Presbyterian and Lutheran churches. He hewed the timbers for W. F. Breck's mill, the first steam mill in Jackson township, and erected many other buildings throughout the county, always receiving a liberal share of the business in his line. He became widely known and was highly respected. In early life he was a member of the Lutheran church, and when it was abandoned became a Presbyterian. In his political affiliations he was a Democrat, and taking an active interest in everything pertaining to the good of his community, he most creditably and acceptably served as a member of the school board and as township trustee for several terms. He died at the age of seventy-two years, but his wife, who bore the maiden name of Rachel Gantz, is still living at the age of eighty-four, and makes her home with our subject. She is also a native of Pennsylvania, and was reared in Washington county, that state.

In the family of this worthy couple were nine children, namely: John A., who enlisted in 1862, in the Union army and died in the service; Daniel, of this review ; Jacob H., deceased; William M. L., who died leaving a family of five children and a widow who is now living in Columbus ; George C., who with his wife and three children resides in Springfield, Ohio; Benjamin F., of Grove City, who has been twice married and has two children by the second union ; Isaac, who died at the age of two years ; Lovina C., who died at the age of seventeen; and Jennie, who died at the age of thirteen years.

Daniel Weygandt was only seven years old when brought by his parents to Franklin county, Ohio. He had previously attended school in his native county one term, and completed his education in the log school houses' of Jackson township, this county. At the age of eighteen he commenced learn- ing the carpenter's trade, but after serving one year of his apprenticeship, he laid aside all personal interests to enter the service of his country, enlisting in 1862 for three years, as a private in Company C, One Hundred and Thir- teenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under Colonel John G. Wilcox, at Columbus. He participated in all the battles in which his regiment took part until taken ill and sent to the hospital at Nashville, Tennessee. On his recovery he re- joined his command at Rossville, Georgia, and later took part in Sherman's celebrated march to the sea. He never received even a slight wound and was always found at his post of duty except when confined in the hospital by ill- ness. The war having ended he was mustered out at Louisville, Kentucky, and honorably discharged at Columbus, Ohio.

Returning to Grove City, Mr. Weygandt again took up the carpenter's trade, at which he worked as a journeyman for about sixteen years, and then engaged in contracting on his own account for twelve years. He has done some farming and still owns a place of sixty acres near Grove City, which he

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rents, and also owns his residence, which is located at the beginning of the Grove City street car line. Under A. G. Grant, as superintendent, Mr. Wey- gandt manufactured the timber for the construction of that road. He has since been employed as foreman by the street car company, his duties being to look after their interests, pay the men, etc.

In 1866 Mr. Weygandt was united in marriage with Miss Frances White, a native of Franklin county, and a daughter of Alexander White, one of its early settlers, and they have become the parents of four children: Jacob H., who married Clara Large and has four children,-Ira, Frank, Hester and Elven; Herbert W., who married Blanch Clement and has two children,- Stanley and Josephine; Winter W., at home; and Mary, wife of William Barber, by whom she has one child, Henry Ettie Gracie.

Mr. Weygandt is a member of the Union Veteran Legion, and holds a card in the Grand Army of the Republic and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Grove City. In his political views he is a Democrat. He is a good financier and has been called upon to serve as township treasurer four years, treasurer of the Fair Association, and of the canning factory of Grove City. His life has been one of industry and usefulness and the success that has at- tended his efforts is certainly worthily achieved. As a citizen he ever stands ready to discharge any duty that devolves upon him.

JOHN L. B. WISWELL.

Few men in Franklin county enjoy a higher or more widely extended de- gree of respect and confidence of their fellow men than John L. B. Wiswell, and it is therefore with pleasure that we present the record of his career to our readers. He was born in Massachusetts, October 21, 1827, a son of Daniel H. and Ann (Gates) Wiswell. His maternal grandfather was General Gates, of Revolutionary fame, who was killed at the battle of Quebec. Daniel H. Wiswell was a son of Amasa Wiswell, who was also a native of the old Bay state and was of Welsh lineage, their ancestors having come to America dur- ing the early colonial days and established homes in Massachusetts. The name was originally spelled Wiswall. From Wales the first of the name brought with him a Penstock diamond, which has remained in the family as an heir- loom, passing down from father to son throughout the generations and being now in possession of Amasa D. Wiswell, of Illinois.

Daniel H. Wiswell, the father of our subject, was for many years a resi- dent of Buffalo, New York. He was both a carriage maker and painter by trade and followed those pursuits throughout his active business career. His last days were spent in Buffalo. Unto him and his wife were born five chil- dren, but John L. B. Wiswell is the only one now living. Two of the sons of Amasa Wiswell came to Franklin county, namely: Amasa and Joseph, while three daughters also found homes in this locality, namely: Betsey, who married Truman Skeeles; Mrs. Angeline Reed; and one other. The Wis-

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wells made their way westward about 1835 and took up their abode on a farm in this locality.

The subject of this review was reared in Petersham, Worcester county, Massachusetts, and pursued his education in the common schools. Under the direction of his father he learned the painter's trade. In 1848 he went to Illinois, settling in New Lexington, Morgan county, where he followed his chosen vocation for four years. On the expiration of that period he returned to Buffalo, New York, but after a year again went to Illinois and a year subsequent to that time came to Franklin county, Ohio, in 1854. While living in Morgan county he had married Miss Sarah Murgatroyd, and they became the parents of two children, of whom one is living, namely, George. For his second wife Mr. Wiswell chose Chestina Wilcox, of Springfield, Illinois. By this marriage six children were born, of whom four are living, namely : Priscilla Ann, Harriet C., Mary Jane and Jerusha Sophia. They lost their two sons, Daniel T. and John L.

After taking up his abode in Franklin county our subject worked at the painter's trade until 1862, when, feeling that his first duty was to his country, he responded to the call for military aid and joined Company C, of the One Hundred and Thirteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which was commanded by Colonel J. A. Wilcox. The regiment remained in camp at Columbus from August until December, and was then sent to Camp Dennison, and a few days afterward was transferred to Louisville, Kentucky. After a month they were ordered south to Nashville to reinforce Rosecrans. This was in Febru- ary. While at that place Mr. Wiswell was taken ill and was sent to the hospital in Nashville, where he received an honorable discharge. He then returned home, but in 1864 he again entered the service, as a member of Com- pany E, One Hundred and Thirty-third Ohio Infantry, for three months. He was in active duty during this term, and at its close was honorably dis- charged.

Since his return from the war he has followed his trade in Columbus, and is an energetic and trustworthy business man, who owes whatever success he has achieved to his own efforts. He has been a prominent factor in mili- tary circles throughout the intervening years, and retains pleasant relations with his old army comrades through his membership with DeWitt Corps. He was the originator of the Ex-Soldiers and Ex-Sailors Society of Columbus, and took a leading part in forming the Firing Squad, an organization whose members were formerly soldiers. He likewise belonged to the Ancient Order of Knights of the Mystic Chain, of Columbus. He organized Walhonding Tribe, No. 105, I. O. R. M., and Buffalo Tribe, No. 109, I. O. R. M. He also aided very largely in the upbuilding and the work of this organization, so that his brethren of the fraternity call him the father of the order. In Masonry he is quite prominent, belonging to the blue lodge and the Horeb Chapter, No. 3, R. A. M. Of all these organizations mentioned he is a charter member, excepting the last. In politics' he is a stanch Republican, unswerving in his advocacy of the principles of the party. As a citizen he is:

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as true and faithful to the best interests of the community, state and nation as when he followed the stars and stripes upon the battlefields of the south. Wherever he is known he is highly esteemed for his sterling worth, and his many excellencies of character have gained him a large circle of warm friends.

LEMUEL SMITH.

A representative of one of the pioneer families of Ohio, Lemuel Smith is now a well-to-do and enterprising agriculturist of Pleasant township, Frank- lin county. His paternal grandfather, Lemuel Smith, Sr., was born in the Green Isle of Erin, whence he emigrated to the new world and founded the family in Maryland. The grandfather made farming his life work and died in Dorchester county in Maryland. It was in that county that Handy Smith, the father of our subject, was born in the year 1808. He received only a limited education and found plenty of work to do upon the home farm. After arriving at years of maturity he married Sarah Littleton, who was born in Dorchester county, Maryland, in 1810, a daughter of Edmund Littleton. In 1839, with his wife and family, Handy Smith came by team to Ohio, being five weeks upon the road. He located in Monroe township, Pickaway county, where, in the midst of the forest, he secured a tract of land. Subsequently he purchased fifty acres of wild land in that township, erecting a hewed-log cabin of one room 16x16 feet, and with characteristic energy began the cultivation of his farm. He performed the arduous task of clearing and breaking the land and in the course of time his labors were rewarded with abundant har- vests, and as the years passed he added to his possessions until he owned two hundred and twenty-five acres in the township where he first settled, and also a tract of one hundred and ninety-two acres in Pleasant township, Franklin county. His death occurred on the latter farm in June, 1884. His first wife died in Monroe township, Pickaway county, in 1850, and he afterward married Rebecca Jane Tainer, who died in 1882. "The parents of our subject held membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, and in his political affiliations the father was first a Whig and afterward a Republican. Their children were as follows : Clara, now the wife of Henry Dennis, of Monroe township, Pick- away county ; Adaline, who became the wife of Jacob Watts and died in Iowa : Joseph, of West Jefferson, Ohio; Lemuel, of this review; and Stanford, of Pleasant township; Isaac, who is living in Oklahoma ; Thomas, who died at the age of thirty-five years; and Susan, who died in childhood. By the second marriage there were four children: William, who has passed away; Joan, wife of Alex Mauser, of Monroe township, Pickaway county ; Mary C., de- ceased; and Hettie, who is the wife of Ezra Hatfield and resides on the old homestead.

In taking up the personal history of Lemuel Smith we present to our read- ers the record of one who is widely and favorably known in Franklin county. He was born in Dorchester county, Maryland, near Salisbury, on the 2d day of March, 1833, and when six years of age came to Ohio. His education was

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pursued in the district school, which was some distance from his home. The schoolhouse was built of logs and his first teacher was David Cardiff. Through the winter terms he continued his studies and in the summer months he assisted in the labors of the home farm. In March, 1857, he married Miss Lucinda King, who was born in Monroe township, March 16, 1838, a daughter of Reason and Elizabeth (Mauser) King. She, too, was reared to womanhood amid the scenes of the frontier and was educated in the log school- house. Mr. and Mrs. Smith began their domestic life upon a farm of forty- five acres in Pleasant township, belonging to his father's estate, and there they resided for about fifteen years. When they took up their abode upon the place it was covered with a heavy growth of timber. He erected a log house, 16x16 feet, and with characteristic energy began the development of his farm. In 1874 he sold that property and located upon his present farm of one hun- dred and fifteen acres, of which thirty acres had been cleared. Almost the entire tract is now under cultivation and all of the buildings upon the place have been erected by the owner, save the residence. His farm is a monument to his enterprise, perseverance and good management and now he is success- fully engaged in the cultivation of his fields and the raising of stock. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Smith has been blessed with the following children : Sidney, now the wife of William Vittum, of Columbus; Handy, of Indiana ; Joseph, who lives in Pleasant township; Laura, wife of Thomas Chaffin ; and Sarah, who is now the wife of Seymour Harter. While Mr. Smith gives his political support to the Democracy, he cannot be called a politician, having never sought or desired office. His worth as a citizen, however, is widely. recognized. He is public-spirited, progressive, and co-operates in all move- ments and measures for the general good.

PHILIP E. BLESCH, M. D.

Among the leading physicians of Columbus, Ohio, is Philip E. Blesch, who is not only a successful practitioner but also a man of science who has made special studies and discoveries which may do much toward alleviating the sufferings of mankind.

Dr. Blesch was born in Baden, Germany, May 1, 1845, and was a son of George Adam and Rosina Mary Blesch, who emigrated to the United States in 1848. His father died in Columbus during the cholera scourge of 1849, but his mother lived to be eighty-two years of age, dying in 1890. Dr. Blesch was but four years old when brought to Columbus, where, during youth, he was educated in the public schools. He spent some years in reading medicine in the office and under the direction of Dr. John Dawson, later under Dr. Holderman, with whom he completed his reading. Then he entered Starling Medical College, at which he graduated in 1868.

While a student of medicine he had opportunity to study chronic diseases in all their complicated manifestations by serving as steward in the Franklin County Infirmary, and after graduation he immediately engaged in general

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practice, calling science to his aid in his endeavors to eradicate pain and sick- ness. The special studies which he has pursued have resulted in a wonderful discovery that has been called by some of his patients the elixir of life. He has named this new treatment Dr. Blesch's Vacuum Treatment and in it he uses but little medicine. Since 1896 he has most successfully used this great pain eradicator, claiming that it restores a physiological circulation which makes a physiological man.

Dr. Blesch is a member of the Central Ohio Medical Association and the Ohio State Medical Association; also is connected with the Masonic and Odd Fellow fraternities, the Knights of the Maccabees and Columbus Lodge, No. 80, A. O. U. W. Many years of his life have been given to his study of the pains of mankind, each year making him wiser and more helpful to others. His life is bound up in his beneficent work and his grateful patients rejoice that it has been given to one so worthy, to make the important discovery of the new healing agent."

In 1869 Dr. Blesch was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Schneider, of Columbus, a daughter of Andrew Schneider, a confectioner well known in this. city. Two talented children were born of this union: Clara, an artist; and Emma, a teacher in the public schools.

HENRY ADAM WEBER.

One of the most highly esteemed and best known educators of the state of Ohio is Henry Adam Weber, now occupying the chair of agricultural chem- istry in the Ohio State University. Professor Weber was born in Clinton township, Franklin county, Ohio, July 12, 1845, the third son of Frederick and Caroline (Tascher ) Weber, both of them natives of Germany, where they grew to maturity, emigrating to America in 1830. After marriage they settled upon a farm in Clinton township, in 1832. Here Mr. Weber engaged in farming, later establishing a malt house, which business he conducted in connection with his farm. He was' an industrious, honest, enterprising citi- zen, accumulating more than a competence before old age. He died in 1888, . Mrs. Weber having passed away some years previously. A number of chil- dren were born to them as follows: Frederick; Caroline; Louisa, the wife of Dr. Leopold Schuab, living in Columbus; Wilhelmina, deceased; Amelia, George, Henry Adam, Herman P., residing on a part of the old farm; and Lena, a widow.

Professor Weber was reared a farmer boy and acquired the rudiments of his superior education in the district school, later attending a school at Wester- ville preparatory to a course in Otterbein University, where he remained for some time. He is a graduate of the Polytechnic School at Kaiserslautern, of the class of 1866, a student of chemistry under Von Liebig and Reischauer; in 1866-8 was under the instruction of Von Kolbe, of Munich; and in succes- sion was a doctor of philosophy in the Ohio State University in 1879; in the chemical department of the geological survey of Ohio in 1869-74; professor

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of general chemistry and mineralogy in the University of Illinois, 1874-82; chemist to state board of agriculture of Illinois, 1874-82; chemist to state board of health of Illinois, 1874-82; has occupied the chair of agricultural chemistry in the University of Ohio since 1884; and was the state chemist and chief chemist of Ohio State Dairy and Food Commission, 1885-97.

In 1870 Professor Weber married Miss Rosa Ober, of Columbus, a native of Germany, whose acquaintance he had made during his residence in Munich. Two children have been born of this union,-Henrietta C. and Hilda A.

The high attainments of Professor Weber make him eminently fitted for the important position he holds. The bent of his mind has always been toward the science which he teaches and which his education and travels have made so thoroughly understood.

EZRA DOMINY.

Ezra Dominy was born in Canaan township, Madison county, Ohio, November 23, 1847, and there spent the first seventeen years of his life, after which he came to Franklin county with his father, Henry Dominy, one of the honored pioneer settlers of Ohio. The district schools afforded him the edu- cational privileges which he enjoyed, and he was reared to farm life. He also learned carpentering and cabinet-making and these have contributed to his income and enabled him to keep everything about his place in good con- dition.

On the Ist of January, 1878, Mr. Dominy wedded Miss Ann M. Ferris, who was born in Brown township, Franklin county, January 21, 1849, a daughter of Nicholas E. and Maria L. (Samuel) Ferris. After their mar- riage our subject and his wife resided in Brown township for a few years, but in the spring of 1870 removed to Illinois, locating in Ludlow township, Champaign county, where he operated rented land for a year. In the second year there he purchased a farm of eighty acres, but a year later sold that property and returned to Ohio, working at the carpenter's trade for a time. He subsequently became the owner of a farm, which in 1880 he sold to Will- iam Walton, while he bought his present farm of eighty acres in Norwich township. He has placed the greater part of it under a high state of cultiva- tion, and all modern accessories and improvements are there found.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Dominy have been born nine children : Harriet L., who died in her eighteenth year : Ruth A., who died at the age of three years; Laura J., who became the wife of C. L. Bower and is now deceased: Carrie D., wife of H. H. Kramer ; Henry E., of Denver, Colorado; Maggie M. and Gertrude Ann, both deceased; Estella F., at school; and Robert E., who has also passed away. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which Mr. Dominy is serving as steward. In politics he is a stalwart Republican, and for five years efficiently filled the office of township trustee. Socially he is an Odd Fellow, and both he and his wife are con- nected with the Rebekah Lodge of Hilliard. They are well known in the

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community and the hospitality of many of the best homes of the neighbor- hood is cordially extended them.

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A Centennial biographical history of the city of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio, Part 79

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