A Centennial biographical history of the city of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio, Part 80

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 80

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It may be interesting in this connection to note something of the history of Mrs. Dominy's family. Her father, Nicholas E. Ferris, was a son of Dennis Ferris, a highly respected farmer and early settler of Perry township, whence he afterward removed to Worthington township, where his last days were passed. He married Nancy Egbert, who died in 1876, when more than eighty years of age. Their children were Nicholas E .; John, who died in Oregon; Joseph, who died in California; and Mary J., who became the wife of Charles A. Holmes and died in Franklin county.

Nicholas E. Ferris, the father of Mrs. Dominy, was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in 1814, and in his boyhood accompanied his parents on their removal to Columbus, Ohio. Later his father purchased a farm in Perry township, on which the son was reared to manhood. He acquired a common-school education and afterward engaged in teaching for several terms. On the Ioth of December, 1837, he wedded Maria L. Samuel, who was born in Wales, August 19, 1813, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Davis) Samuel, both natives of Wales. In 1823 the family came to the United States, landing at New York city, where they lived for a time, the father following his trade of cabinet-making. With his family he subse- quently came to Columbus, Ohio, where he engaged in the undertaking and cabinet-making business, subsequently purchasing and removing to a farm in Brown township, where he spent his remaining days. His children were Maria L., who became Mrs. Ferris; John, who died in Iowa; James, who went to the Black Hills at the time of the gold excitement and acquired a con- siderable sum of money, for which he was killed by his supposed friend in Council Bluffs while he slept; Ann, wife of John Roland, who died in Brown township; William, who died near Westerville; and Samuel E., who for many years was' a druggist of Columbus, but died on his farm in Franklin county.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Ferris resided in Mifflin township for a few years and then purchased a farm in Brown township, where his death occurred March 23, 1879, his wife having passed away January 15, 1863. They were Methodists in religious faith, and he was a Republican in his political belief. For many years' he was justice of the peace of Brown town- ship, was also township clerk for a long period and for one term was land appraiser. He had six children, namely: Cyrus D., Charles S., Mrs. Dominy, John E., Elyria J. and Bayard T. The last named died in infancy, and the fifth child is also deceased.

ANDREW PLANCK.

The life of most farmers is uneventful. There are some who have had adventures by land and sea and there are some living who have had the experiences of the soldier, but there are not many remaining in Ohio who can

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look back upon the unique vicissitudes of emigration to California in the days following the discovery of gold there, as the gentleman whose name is above is able to do.

Andrew Planck, who is one of the most prominent farmers of Franklin township, Franklin county, Ohio, was born in Hopewell township, Perry county, Ohio, August II, 1828, a son of Adam and Mary ( Horn) Planck. Adam Planck was born and passed his younger days in Maryland and came with his parents to Ohio, about 1819, and settled with them in Hopewell township, and remained there till 1846, when he removed to Franklin county, and there his father died at the age of seventy-three, and his mother at the age of seventy-four. His parents were both of German descent and could speak the German language. They had nine children, of whom eight grew to manhood and womanhood and of whom the subject of this sketch was the fourth in order of birth and the second son, and is the only one living in Franklin county, Ohio. Three of his sisters live in Perry county, Ohio, one of his brothers living in Missouri and two others live at Burlington, Iowa.

Mr. Planck spent his boyhood in Perry county, Ohio, and there attended school in a log school house in the woods a mile and three-quarters from his father's house. He came to Franklin county with his father's family and was a member of his father's household until 1852, when, attracted by the discovery of gold there, he went to California, going from his home to Cin- cinnati and thence to St. Joseph, Missouri, where he and his party bought ponies and packed their belongings on them and started on a long and perilous journey across the plains. Graves were seen on either side of the road all the way through. They were the first emigrants who went in the spring of 1852, by way of Fort Kearney, and they remained there for a time, and receiving accessions to their company went on by way of Fort Laramie and the Carson valley, arriving at Placerville July 4, 1852. The latter part of the journey was arduous for the reason that they disposed of their ponies and such supplies as they could not themselves carry, at Carson valley, and traveled on foot from that point. They were seventy-five days en route from St. Joseph, Missouri, to Placerville, California, where Mr. Planck remained until September, 1854, when he set out to return by water to New York, going by way of Graytown and Norfolk, and stopping at the latter place for pro- visions, landing in New York twenty-two days after leaving San Francisco. Mr. Planck has stated that his sojourn in California was more fruitful in experience than in money, but he has never regretted it.

In 1856 Mr. Planck went to Nebraska and pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres of land about three miles north of Blair, Washington county, upon which he erected a house for temporary occupancy. After remaining there for four years he went to Denver, Colorado, where he engaged in min- ing. He was for a time at Gregory's Diggings and was afterward at South Park. From there he went to Denver and thence to Omaha. Denver then consisted of a few log houses and Mr. Planck, who had worked as a carpenter in Nebraska and who would have been very likely to have noticed such a

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thing and remember it, states that he saw the first shingle roof put on a building in that now flourishing city. It was put on with wooden pegs. Omaha had but one street and was otherwise primitive. From Nebraska he crossed over into Iowa and assisted in building a bridge two hundred and forty feet long across the Little Sioux river at Little Sioux City, where he was placed in charge of the men and held responsible for the proper con- struction of the bridge. Returning to Franklin county, Ohio, he married, in 1860, Lucy A. Schrum, a native of Columbus and a daughter of Joseph Schrum, an early settler there, who married Chloe Breckenridge, a member of a prominent Franklin county family. Immediately after his. marriage Mr. Planck settled on his farm in Franklin township, where he has since made his home. The farm then contained one hundred acres. The place itow consists of three hundred acres and has many improvements, most of which have been made by him. He has given his attention to general farm- ing and has achieved a notable success. Mr. Planck, who is a stanch Repub- lican, has been treasurer of his township and was for many years a member of the local school board. His public spirit has led him to identify himself with every movement tending to benefit his town and county.

Andrew and Lucy A. (Schrum) Planck have had eleven children, namely : Eliza O., who married Samuel Newner, of Piqua county, Ohio; William E., who married Augusta Stafford, and is a native of Nebraska; Thaddeus L., who married Eva Wilson, of Franklin township; Grant, who married Frances Derrer, of near Columbus, Ohio; Emma, who married William Baker, of Franklin township; Oliver, who married Susie Warlie, of Franklin township; Charles and Laura, who are members of their parents' household; Martha, who married Lawrence Barbee; and Albert and Clara, also members of their parents' household. The family is a highly respected one, and its several members' are safe in the good opinion of all who know them.

JOHN J. EAKIN.

One of the prominent business men of Franklin township, Franklin county, Ohio, who is the proprietor of the Midland dairy, is John J. Eakin, the subject of this sketch. He was born in Venango county, Pennsylvania, December II, 1834, and was a son of William and Isabella (Kelly) Eakin, natives of Pennsylvania, of Irish descent. They engaged in farming in their Pennsylvania home and died there at about the age of eighty-seven years. They were parents' of eight children and our subject is the oldest child of the family.

Mr. Eakin was reared on the farm, but early manifested a desire for an education superior to that of the district school. He was accordingly sent to school in Pittsburg, and later finished a course in the Pittsburg Commercial College and then he engaged in teaching. For three terms he remained in his native state, but then came to Ohio and located in Franklin county, in 1858. Here he began to teach again and so well did he please the patrons that his

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services were required in the same school for six years. In the meantime he had been purchasing land and after eight years of the life of the teacher he began farming. In 1888 lie made his first trial as a dairyman, naming his place of business the Midland dairy, and so generous has been his patronage that he now supplies a great portion of the city with milk and cream.

Mr. Eakin was married, October 13, 1864. to Miss Ellen Chambers, a native daughter of Franklin county. Her parents are William and Elizabeth Chambers, who were early settlers in the township. Mrs. Eakin is the oldest in a family of seven children. She was reared in Franklin township, receiving her education in the city of Columbus and at Westerville, Ohio. Like her hus- band she engaged in teaching school for some years and is a lady of intelli- gence. Mr. and Mrs. Eakin are the parents of five children: William, who married Elizabeth Thomas, lias three children,-Ray, Evart and Esther; Marion, the wife of W. R. Hamilton, has two children,-Glenn and Lee ; Edwin D., who married Alma Watts and has one child; Bessie; and Dr. Stanley W., a dentist in Zanesville, Ohio.

In his political faith Mr. Eakins is a Republican, and has been called upon to accept many of the local offices. He has been township trustee and clerk, always taking an active part in public affairs, possessing a large amount of civic pride. The family are consistent and valued members of the Methodist church, where Mr. Eakin is steward and trustee. He has taken much interest in all things pertaining to the good of the church. The early life of our subject was often one of difficulty on account of limited means, but he has accumulated a competence, and lives in comfort upon a fine farm of eighty- seven acres of well cultivated land. His handsome brick residence was erected in 1887. Honesty, energy and perseverance have been with him the levers of success.

CHARLES J. LEAP.

Charles Jackson Leap follows farming in Norwich township, Franklin county. He is of English lineage. His great-grandfather. Gabriel Leap, was an English soldier, but not relishing military life he deserted, shot a guard and took passage on a boat bound for free America. His name was originally Lowden, but to escape detection he changed it to Leap. On reach- ing the new world he took up his abode at Mill Creek, Virginia, where he died. His son, Thomas Leap, the grandfather of our subject, was born at Mill Creek, whence he removed to Ohio, where he met and married Katie Harvey, a native of this state. They returned to the Old Dominion, and the grandfather served as sheriff of his county for twenty-one years. He was a very prominent and influential citizen and took an active part in religious work as well as' political affairs. An eloquent and convincing speaker, he many times filled the pulpit of the Christian church, in which he held mem- bership. He afterward removed to Carroll county, Kentucky, where he owned and operated a farm, but he now lives in the city of Carrollton, at

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the very advanced age of ninety-two years. There he served as jail warden for some time. His wife died in 1898, at the age of eighty-six years.

Gabriel Leap, the father of our subject, was born in Carroll county, Kentucky, reared upon his father's farm, and acquired a common-school edu- cation. In Franklin county, Ohio, he married Susan Wooley, a sister of S. J. Wooley, of Columbus, on whose farm in Brown township they located, building a log house on the western portion of the farm. There they lived for several years, and then returned to Carroll county, Kentucky, where Mr. Leap died in September, 1865, at the age of thirty-five years. His widow afterward became the wife of Guy Van Horn, with whom she removed to Van Wert county, Ohio, where she died in 1874. By her first marriage she has three children: Elizabeth, who died at the age of eighteen years; San- ford T., of Brown township, this county ; and Charles. The children of the second marriage were Alice, Isaac and Fanny.

Charles Jackson Leap was born December 12, 1865, on the farm in Brown township owned by his uncle, S. J. Wooley. His father died three months before his birth. He spent the first nine years of his life in his native town- ship and attended the Helser school. He then accompanied his mother and stepfather to Van Wert county, where he remained until fifteen years of age, but his mother died and he was not kindly treated by his stepfather. He- had few school privileges and owing to unkindness he ran away from home. One morning he arose to build the fire and on being severely scolded by his stepfather he went out of the house and ran away, going to the home of Peter Menser. He there agreed to remain until he was twenty-one years of age, but his uncle, Joseph Leap, of Jackson county, West Virginia, came to Ohio to take the children back with him to his home, though his sister had died and his brother had married. Our subject, however, accompanied him- to West Virginia, living with him for eighteen months, during which time he aided him in cutting stays and sawing logs. He then went to his grand- father in Carroll county, Kentucky, where for eighteen months he worked on the farm raising tobacco. On the expiration of that period he joined his brother in Van Wert county, Ohio, continuing with him for two years, after which he worked for his uncle, S. J. Wooley, in Brown township, Franklin county, until 1888.

On the 4th of July, of that year, Mr. Leap was united in marriage to Miss Marilla Grace, of Norwich, daughter of F. L. Grace, marshal of Hilliard. Their union has been blessed with two children: Frank Cecil Jackson, born October 11, 1890; and Ferd Mckinley, born May 8, 1896. After his mar- riage Mr. Leap rented the Jacob Hart farm for a short time and then removed to Brown township, where he rented the David Hamilton farm for two years, subsequently spending two years on the William Jones farm. His next home was in Jackson township, where he operated the S. J. Wooley farm for nearly- five years and then purchased sixty acres of land in Norwich township, to which he has since added twenty acres. He carries on general farming and stock raising and deserves great credit for the success he has achieved, for -

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since an early age he has depended entirely upon his own efforts. At the age of eighteen years he joined the Christian Union church in Kentucky and at the age of twenty-three joined the Methodist Episcopal church in Hilliard. In his political views he is a stanch Republican, but the honors and emoluments of public office have had no attraction for him, as he prefers to devote his attention to his business affairs, in which he is now meeting with creditable and well deserved success.

JAMES J. TILTON.

James J. Tilton, who is now living a retired life at his home at No. 608 East Third avenue, Milo, Ohio, was born in Newberry, Essex county, Massachusetts, August 13. 1830. His father, Josiah Tilton, was a native of Massachusetts, became a blacksmith by trade, and also followed the occupation of farming. He died November 17, 1830, when only thirty-eight years of age, while his wife, Mrs. Mary Tilton, passed away in November, 1867, at the age of sixty-four years.

James J. Tilton was their only son. He acquired his education in the public schools and left home when in his twenty-second year, going to Can- ton, Ohio, where he became connected with railroad service by building the first depot platform at that place for the Pittsburg, Ft. Wayne & Chicago Rail- road. That was in the year 1852. He afterward worked at grading on that road for two years, and in 1854 he began running on a construction train for the company west of Crestline, Ohio. In 1856, however, he left the employ of that road and began work on the Wabash road. He has at various times been employed by different railroad companies on construction trains in Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky. Indiana and Michigan. In 1861 he entered the service of the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad Com- pany and took up his abode in Fort Wayne, Indiana. In 1869 he was yard- master for the road at Logansport, Indiana, and the following year he went to Kentucky. Later he was in West Virginia, Indiana and Michigan, being employed in those states until 1889, when he returned to Kentucky, where he remained until he retired from the railway service in 1896. He is now liv- ing retired at his home in Milo, enjoying the benefits of a well spent life, the competence which he has acquired supplying him with all life's necessaries and many of its luxuries.

Mr. Tilton was married, November 28, 1861, in Columbus, Ohio, to Miss Olive Foss, a native of Massachusetts, who in 1853 came to the west with her parents, locating in Crestline, Ohio. Her father, J. B. Foss, was inaster mechanic for the Pittsburg, Ft. Wayne & Chicago Railroad Com- pany in 1853, and in 1860 he removed to Columbus, where he held a similar position until his retirement from business cares. He died in the capital city in 1893, at the age of seventy-eight years, and his wife passed away in 1859. They had three daughters: Mrs. Tilton; Mrs. Martha F. Wolf, wife of John P. Wolf, a cabinetmaker of Columbus; and Josephine, wife of Charles

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Karsh, a dealer in coal and lime in Columbus. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Tilton has been blessed with two children: Mary, who was born January I, 1865, and died in June of the same year; and Edith F., who was born in 1869 and was married, in October, 1889, to W. M. Williams, a carriage- maker of Columbus. Their children are: Edith F., born July 16, 1890; and Alice, born in 1899. Mrs. Tilton is a member of Dr. Rexford's church in Columbus. For forty-seven years the subject of this review has been con- nected with the Masonic fraternity, having been initiated into the mysteries of the order in a lodge at Upper Sandusky, Ohio, in 1853. He has since been loyal to its principles, exemplifying in his life the teachings concerning mutual helpfulness, charity and kindliness. In politics he has been a lifelong Democrat.

HENRY A. GOAD. -

Henry A. Goad, who resides at No. 106 West King avenue, Columbus, is of English lineage and birth. He was born in Cornwall, England, in 1841, and his parents always remained in that country. His mother is still living, at the very advanced age of ninety-one years. Mr. Goad received a professional education and was graduated in the Royal Agricultural Col- lege, at Cirencester, England, on the 5th of October, 1872. The following year he crossed the Atlantic to the new world, believing that he would have better business opportunities in this country, and took up his abode in Colum- bus. Here he engaged in the practice of veterinary surgery and was also connected with the dairy business for a number of years, but for the past two years he has been unable to engage in active business affairs on account of ill health.

In 1893 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Goad and Miss Lucy Jane Waterman, a daughter of Joseph and Fanny Waterman. They resided at the old Waterman homestead on Shepherd street until July, 1900, when they sold that and moved to the property Mr. Goad had purchased. Mrs. Goad can relate many interesting incidents of the early days in Franklin county, having a vivid recollection of the pioneers of Franklinton. She engaged in teaching school on the west side of the city and for several years was an active worker in the Trinity Episcopal mission. Both Mr. and Mrs. Goad have a large circle of friends in Columbus and enjoy their warm regard. Through a long period he was an active, honored and valued factor in busi- ness circles, bearing an unassailable reputation, and to-day he enjoys the unqualified confidence and respect of his fellow men.

RUSSEL B. DEMOREST.

The subject of the present sketch was born in Franklin township, Frank- lin county, Ohio, February 9, 1835, and died, October 19, 1896, lamented by a devoted family and a circle of friends. He was a son of Isaac Demorest,

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who had removed to Franklin township early in life. His death occurred when our subject was but ten years of age, after which event the family re- moved to Illinois, but later returned to Franklin county, Ohio. Here Mr. Demorest attended school, his education, however, being interrupted by the necessity which required him to assist in the support of his mother and four sisters. He fulfilled this duty, caring for his sisters until they married and obtained homes for themselves.

Mr. Demorest was married September 25, 1867, to Miss Harriet N. Buckbee, who was born in Delaware county, Ohio, August 25, 1848, a daugh- ter of Theodore and Martha (Sackrider ) Buckbee, natives of New York. Immediately after his marriage Mr. Demorest located upon the farm. He successfully engaged in general farming, and now the land is well cultivated. At the time of his death, Mr. Demorest was possessed of this tract of one hundred and eighty acres, the accumulation of a life of industry.

The family of Mr. and Mrs. Demorest consists of four children,-Law- rence W., who died at the age of thirty years; Frank B., who is at home; Herbert R. ; and Mattie, who died at the age of fifteen years.

In politics Mr. Demorest was a Republican and ever upheld the prin- ciples of the party.

JOHN SHORT.

The biographical sketch which follows will be found somewhat out of the ordinary. A history of the successful career of John Short, a born busi- ness man, alone would be interesting from any point of view. To that must be added some account of the lives and achievements of his three sons, each of whom became conspicuous in his chosen field, and one of whom died just as his success was bringing brilliant promise for the future. That these. sons inherited their great natural ability in no small measure from their able and successful father no student of heredity can doubt.

John Short was born in Cornwall, England, April 26, 1826, a son of John and Jane (Glassen) Short, and came with his parents to Knox county, Ohio, in 1838, when he was twelve years old. The elder Short had pros- pered in his native land and brought with him sufficient means to give hini rank as a capitalist. He located on a farm near Millwood, Knox county,. Ohio, and lived there, active as a farmer and as a business man, until his death, which occurred about 1855. He was a lover of liberty and an advo- cate of public education and national progress, and allied himself with those who later organized the Republican party, of which he was a devoted mem- ber from its inception until his death.

The subject of this sketch had an innate desire for education and strong inclination for a business career. His father sympathized with him in his desire for knowledge and permitted him to enter the preparatory school at Gambier, Ohio, but wanted him to settle down as a farmer on the homestead and strongly opposed him in his ambition to become a man of affairs. Results

JOHN SHORT.

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prove that what is born in a boy will surely come out. Young Short went to Gambier and entered school, but he also .secured an interest in a dry- goods store and assisted in its management and participated in its profits. while pursuing his studies. In 1848 he located in Granville, Licking county, Ohio, with a stock of goods, but soon sold out and went to Galena, Delaware county, Ohio, where he merchandised successfully until, in 1851, having sold his store in Galena, he was induced to go to Columbus to look after the inter- ests of David Hayden, a wholesale grocery merchant, whose store was in the Buckeye block, during Mr. Hayden's absence in Maine, to visit his old home. On account of an epidemic of cholera, Mr. Hayden did not return until in the fall and Mr. Short was consequently at the head of his business for some months. While thus employed he was appointed secretary of the Ohio Tool Company, the oldest machinery concern in the city and for a year after Mr. Hayden's return he gave his energies entirely to that business. He gave up the position to accept the agency for Peter Hayden's rolling mill at a larger salary. About twelve months later he was the successful one of about seventeen applicants for the position of paymaster and purchasing agent of the Columbus shops of the Little Miami, Columbus and Xenia Railway, then employing about five hundred men. For fourteen years he retained his con- nection with this road, a part of the time as paymaster for the entire system, and had charge of its' shops at Columbus, Dayton, Xenia, Springfield and Richmond. When he resigned one hundred and nine officials and employes of the road, representing the whole body of men with whom he had had to do, either as superiors or subordinates, during his official connection with the company, waited upon him at his home at the corner of High street and Fifth avenue, and presented him with silver plate valued at six hundred and fifty dollars specially imported from London by William Savage.

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A Centennial biographical history of the city of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio, Part 80

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