A Centennial biographical history of the city of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio, Part 86

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 86

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Mr. Armstrong, of this review, began his railroad career in September, 1885, as a brakeman on the Pennsylvania line. In January, 1890, his faith- fulness was rewarded by his promotion to the position of conductor, and he has since served in that capacity, losing not a single day. He is always found at his post of duty and is' trustworthy to the greatest degree in matters

706

CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

of the most unimportant details. He enjoys the unqualified confidence of those whom he serves and well merits the good opinion of his superiors in the railroad service.

On the 28th of July, 1891, occurred the marriage of Mr. Armstrong and Miss Annie Miester, of Columbus, in which city they have made their home since their marriage. Her father, Jacob Miester, died August 6, 1877, but her mother, Mrs. Louisa Miester, is still living at the old home in Newark, Ohio. Their children are: Mrs. Mary McPherson, of Columbus; Mrs. Elizabeth O'Connor, of Cincinnati; Mrs. Catherine Ewers, of Columbus; Mrs. Emma Reese, of Newark, Ohio; and Edward, who makes his home in Evansville, Indiana. Mr. Armstrong is a charter member of Division No. 278, O. R. C., of Dennison, Ohio, and has been a member of Excelsior Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Columbus, since 1890. He also belongs to Buckeye Camp, I. O. O. F. Although his life has been quietly passed, like the history of every man who is faithful to his duty, to himself, to his neighbors, to his country and to his employers, it contains many lessons that are well worthy of emulation.

HARRISON E. STRAIN.

The story of personal experiences, struggles and successes which it is the intention of the writer now to narrate has its beginning early in the history of Ohio, when the ancestors of Harrison E. Strain, of Columbus, who were of Welsh descent, came to Highland county. The time was so early that Indians roamed over the state and several men of the Strain family lost their lives in Indian warfare. Both of Mr. Strain's grandfathers served in the war of 1812 and his grandmother's brothers were killed by Indians and one of his uncles and one of his aunts were captured in childhood by the savages, who adopted them into their tribe.

The parents of the subject of this sketch were William and Jane Strain. His father died at Marion, Indiana, in October, 1867, aged forty-nine years, and his mother died at Xenia, Ohio, in 1878. William Strain was a con- tractor and builder who operated quite extensively in Greene county, Ohio, and who in 1861, when Harrison E. was' eight years old, erected buildings on the Reid farm in that county. Mr. Strain was at the farm with his father and saw Whitelaw Reid bid his mother good-bye at his departure from his old home for New York city to accept a position on the editorial staff of the New York Tribune. Mr. Reid was then about twenty-four years old and Mr. Strain says that he had black hair which hung down on his shoulders, and wore clothing patched but clean, being to all appearances a typical green young man from the country.

William and Jane Strain had a good sized family of children, the fol- lowing information concerning whom deserves a place in this record : Martha married E. Wike, at Xenia, Ohio, by whom she has five children: Walter, Harry, Donald, William and Frank. Eliza married Angus Brady, by whom

مو

----

707

CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

she had one child who died in infancy, and died about a year after her mar- riage. Agnes married Ira Kelly and has six children: Lyda Bell, Chase, Helen, Linnia, Frank and Park. They make their home in Indiana. David F. enlisted three times for service in the Civil war, married and has five children : Chester, Minnie, Lillie, Maud and Frank. He is now engaged in fruit farming at Grand Junction, Colorado. John and Jane died in infancy. Frank Strain died at the age of eighteen years. Flora married Park Wright, by whom she had four children: Jennings, Letha, Flossie and Mary, and died in Indiana in September, 1883. Charles L. Strain was an engineer and conductor for about ten years. He was married, in 1886, to Miss Jessie Kent, who bore him a son, Kenneth, January 12, 1888, and died in July, 1891. Mr. Strain enlisted for service in the Spanish-American war in an Arkansas' regiment, in 1898, but got no nearer the seat of war than Chattanooga, Ten-

nessee. He enlisted again, in January, 1899, in the Eighteenth Regiment, United States regular army, which was sent to the Philippine islands May 29, 1899, and is still stationed there at Iloilo. He was wounded by the explosion of the magazine of his own gun, which was struck by a bullet from the enemy, but otherwise his health has been excellent.

Harrison E. Strain was born at Xenia, Ohio, June 13, 1853, and was married, at that place, May 14, 1878, to Miss Rosa John, daughter of Joseph and Mary John. Mrs. Strain is of Welsh descent and her father was born at Troy, Ohio, November 16, 1827, and her mother near Dayton, Ohio, December 20, 1827. Her mother's brothers, Samuel and Peter Benham, fought for the Union for four years as members of the Seventy-fourth Regi- ment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Joseph Benham, another of her uncles, served one hundred days in the Civil war. Joseph and Mary (Benham) John are living at Xenia, Ohio, where Mr. John is prominently identified with real-estate interests. David John, Mrs. Strain's brother, was married, June 25, 1875, to Miss Jennie Lamb, and has sons named Edgar, Lester, Ray, Ralph and Lawrence, and lives at Xenia. Sarah John, Mrs. Strain's sister, was married, about 1867, to Jacob Ridenour, of Xenia, and has chil- dren named Haskin, William, Minnie, Frank and Clarence.

Harrison E. and Rosa (John) Strain have had five children: Charles E., born March 6, 1879; Eltha M., born July 11, 1882, and died April 23, 1894; Edna, born November 10, 1886; Gertrude, born August 23, 1891; Luella, born April 3, 1894. Their eldest son, Charles E. Strain, is a grad- uate of the Columbus high school and of Parsons Business College, and is employed in the Hocking Valley shops at Columbus. He was married, July 4, 1900, to Miss Martha Burke.

Mr. Strain ran away from his home at Xenia during the Civil war and came to Columbus with the idea of enlisting as a soldier, but his extreme youth was so apparent that his offer of himself received little favor, and after he had remained around Camp Chase three days and around Camp Dennison about a week his father made a raid on him, captured him and took him back home. His railroad career began in 1872 and was interrupted in 1873 by a

708

CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

strike on the Miami road. In 1878 he secured employment on the Dayton Narrow Gauge Road, in which he continued four years and five months. June 28, 1879, he was promoted from fireman to engineer. March 2, 1882, he went on the Santa Fe Railroad as engineer, remaining four months. Then, returning to Ohio, he was an engineer on the old Scioto Valley Road from August 18, 1882, to August 1, 1898, running from Columbus to Kenova, Wayne county, West Virginia, four years of the time as a freight engineer and after that as a passenger engineer.

During his career as a railroad man Mr. Strain has been in several excit- ing and disastrous railroad accidents, but has never received any serious personal injury. In a wreck on the Dayton Narrow Gauge line in 1879, when he was running between Dayton and Chillicothe, Ohio, his engine and four- teen cars ran off the track at a switch and went down the bank, but no one was hurt. In the freight service on the Scioto Valley Road in the winter of 1884 his train collided with another and one man was killed and several were injured. At Valley Crossing, August 1, 1898, a locomotive which he was running through a switch yard, with trains of cars on either side, blew up without injuring anyone in the slightest degree, though there were three men on the engine which exploded and others in dangerous proximity to it.

For about a year after his marriage Mr. Strain lived at Xenia, Ohio. From there he removed to Dayton, where he remained four years. After that he lived at Portsmouth, Ohio, a year and a half. From Portsmouth he came to Columbus in 1884 and he has since lived at No. 561 East Second avenue. Politically he is a Republican and all members of his family belong to that party.

RICHARD W. JOHNSON.

Richard W. Johnson is one of the reliable and trustworthy engineers in the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. He resides in Colum- bus, his home being at No. 374 Denmead avenue, and he is a native of Ohio, his birth having taken place in Champaign county in 1861. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have been born but one child, Harold, whose birth occurred December 20, 1898. The family resided in Dennison, this state, until March, 1900, when they became residents of this city.

Mr. Johnson's railway service dates from the 18th of December, 1889, when he began on the Panhandle Railroad as fireman. His fidelity to duty and his close application to his work won him promotion in January, 1893, when he was made engineer, in which capacity he has since served. He had some remarkable experiences in the railway service when a young man, but has never sustained any serious injuries. He has held membership with the orders of Locomotive Firemen and Locomotive Engineers. In his political views he is a Republican and keeps well informed on the questions of the day, but has neither time nor inclination for public office. His parents, Joseph and Loretta Johnson, were both natives of Champlain county and are

709

CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

still residing there. The other members of the family are Fred, who is a train dispatcher at St. Louis, Missouri; and Jennie, a widow residing at the. old home in Champlain county.

The subject of this sketch received his early education in the public- schools. No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of life in his youth. He was married, June 7, 1894, to Miss Lilly Laver, who. was born in Cincinnati, but their marriage was celebrated in the capital city. Her father was a native of Mansfield, Ohio, and her mother of Germany. He resides in Alliance, Ohio, but her death occurred in Columbus August 6, 1893.

JAMES STINEMETZ.

James Stinemetz, of Columbus, is numbered among the native sons of Ohio, his birth having occurred in Mt. Vernon on the 15th of July, 1865. His paternal grandparents were pioneer residents of Mt. Vernon, where they died many years ago. Natives of Germany, they crossed the Atlantic to the new world and took up their abode in that city. The parents of our subject were John and Caroline Stinemetz, who still reside in Mt. Vernon, of which place the father is a native. He is a carpenter and contractor and for a number of years has been prominently connected with the building interests there. In his family are the following named: Bence, who is mar- ried and resides at Mount Vernon, Ohio, has for eleven years been an engineer on the Cleveland, Akron & Columbus Railroad, and in 1888 he lost one of his feet through a railroad accident ; Albert and Lawrence are also living in Mt. Vernon, and the former follows the molder's trade, while the latter is an engineer by occupation; and Lewhanna is the wife of James Monahan, an engineer on the Cleveland, Akron & Columbus Railroad, now residing in Zanesville, Ohio. At the time of the Civil war the father of this family donned the blue, offered his services to the government and went to the south in defense of the Union.

James Stinemetz spent the days of his youth in his father's home, and in 1882, when seventeen years of age, became connected with railroad work as a brakeman on a freight train on the Cleveland, Akron & Columbus line. Later he was offered and accepted a position as conductor on the Pittsburg & Western Railroad, serving in that capacity from 1885 to 1887. In the latter year he became a fireman on the Cleveland, Akron & Columbus Rail- road, running from Columbus to Hudson, Ohio, and in 1890 he was pro- moted to engineer, in which position he has since remained. He is known as one of the popular and reliable engineers on the road and has never sus- tained any personal injuries except in 1883, when he met with a serious accident, the breaking of his collar bone, which necessitated a rest of two weeks. He is always found at his post of duty and is most faithful and care- ful in his work.

In January, 1895, occurred the marriage of Mr. Stinemetz and Miss

710

CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

Nina Worley, the wedding being celebrated in Mount Vernon. The lady is a daughter of John and Ruth Worley, both of whom are residents of Mount Vernon, and whose family number four children, namely : Mrs. Stinemetz; Dora, who died in 1898; and Patrick and Woods, both of whom are residents of Mount Vernon. Mr. Worley was also a Union soldier during the Civil war, going to the front with an Ohio regiment. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Stinemetz have been born two interesting children: Carl, whose birth occurred February 16, 1896; and Ruth, born January 22, 1898. The parents hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and take an active interest in its work and upbuilding. Mr. Stinemetz also belongs to Division No. 34 of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, of Columbus, and in his political affiliations he is a Republican, believing firmly in the principles of the party.

WILLIAM TURPIE.

William Turpie is one of the most prominent and well-known repre- sentatives of real-estate interests in the city of Columbus, and a man of splendid executive and business ability and discriminating judgment, hav- ing control and management of extensive and important affairs. His father was born in the Emerald isle about the year 1810, and on coming to America located in White county, Indiana, in 1852. He had in the meantime acquired a good education in the schools of his native country, being thus well fitted for the practical duties of life. When he took up his residence in the Hoosier state he purchased an extensive tract of land and began farming. He had married in 1840, the lady of his choice being Miss Bridget Finn, and unto them were born two children: James H. and William, both natives of Ire- land, whence they came with their parents to the new world in early boyhood.

Our subject was born in 1848. In consequence of a serious accident which happened to his younger brother, disabling him from performing man- ual labor in life, William Turpie conceded to his brother the opportunities for acquiring an education, while he remained upon the farm and assisted in its work. James was sent to Stockwell College, at Colfax, Indiana, where he completed his literary course and subsequently studied law in the office of David Turpie, who for many years was a United States senator from Indiana.

William Turpie in his early manhood married Miss Mary Frances Mc- Cray, of White county. This was in March, 1868. They became the par- ents of two children, the elder being Viola J., who was born April 4, 1869, and became the wife of Charles Swartz, of Columbus, where they now reside. The son, James H. Turpie, was born April 5, 1871, and matriculated in the Ohio State University, in which institution he was graduated. Upon attain- ing his majority he removed to Nebraska, settling near North Platte, where he now resides, being extensively engaged in stock raising. Mrs. Turpie died on the 29th of April, 1891, and for his second wife Mr. Turpie chose Mabel W. Williams, a daughter of Enoch Williams, of Paulding, Ohio, who

711

CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

for many years was engaged in the real-estate business in that place, but is now living retired. By the second marriage there are also two children : Stubert M., who was born in 1893; and Clyde W., born in 1900.

For ten years Mr. Turpie was an extensive stock raiser of northern Indi- ana, annually feeding a large number of beef cattle for the Chicago and eastern markets. Later he became interested in real estate and conducted important transactions in the handling of property. In 1885 he took up his abode in Columbus, where he is now residing. He has engineered a great many real- estate deals, some of great magnitude, involving the transfer of thousands of dollars. In the capacity of agent for the sale and exchange of property owned by capitalists it may be safely said that few men in the state of Ohio have in the same length of time negotiated a greater number of realty trans- actions than William Turpie. Deprived in early life of the opportunities of acquiring more than a common-school education, he has by his energy, pluck and perseverance achieved a success far greater than many other men whose advantages in early life have greatly surpassed his own. He belonged to that class of resolute youths who by sheer force of character advance steadily on the highway of prosperity. His resolute purpose would not per- mit him to be discouraged by obstacless and difficulties in his path, and with courage and determination he has made his way continually upward to a position of affluence.

EDWARD L. PHELAN.

Edward L. Phelan was born September 7, 1858, in Franklin county, Ohio, and is now a well known teacher of Columbus. His father, Martin Phelan, was born in Ireland in 1814, and died in Columbus in 1890. His wife was also a native of the Green Isle of Erin and is now living in Colum- bus, in her sixty-ninth year. Their eldest son, Michael Phelan, was born in 1856, and the other members of the family are: Edward L .; William; and Joseph, a resident of this city.

Under the parental roof the subject of this review spent the days of his boyhood, and the public schools afforded him his educational privileges. He began railroading in 1876, when eighteen years of age, and was thus employed until 1890, being successively brakeman and freight and passenger conductor. He filled that last named position for eleven years, a most capable and efficient employe of the road, his uniform courtesy and obliging manner winning him favor with the traveling public, while his fidelity to duty won him the con- fidence of the corporation which he served. On his retirement from that service in 1890 he was appointed deputy under Sheriff James Ross and as his term in that position expired he was made bailiff of the county, an office created by the legislature of the state for only five counties in Ohio. Mr. Phelan occupied that position and his prompt and faithful discharge of his duties has won him the confidence of all law-abiding citizens.

Mr. Phelan was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Monroe, of Colum-

712

CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

bus. Her father died during her early girlhood, but her mother is still liv- ing and is now in her seventy-first year. Unto our subject and his wife. were born eight children, namely : Mary, Edward, William, Annie, Frank, Walter, Robert and Raymond. Mr. Phelan and his family are members of the Catholic church and take quite an active part in all local movements in Columbus, and he has been a delegate to many of the national conventions. In manner he is pleasant, genial and jovial and has many friends in Columbus, especially in the executive department of the city service.

FREDERICK WATERMAN.

Frederick Waterman, now deceased, represented a family whose name figures conspicuously in connection with the history of Franklin county. He was a son of Joseph Waterman, one of the honored pioneers of this section of the state, and the old family homestead is a landmark in Columbus. Mr. Waterman, of this review, was born in Franklinton in 1832, and his occupa- tion through life was farming. He carried on agricultural pursuits in a most practical and progressive manner, and his labors brought to him an excellent return.

In early life Frederick Waterman was united in marriage to Miss Re- becca Anderson. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Waterman were born nine children, of whom three are yet living, namely: Emma, Mary and George L. The family continued to reside upon the farm until 1897, when, putting aside the more arduous duties of a business career, Frederick Waterman retired to private life and with his living children took up his abode in Columbus, at No. 54 South Grubbs street. His wife had died while on the farm, in 1890, at the age of fifty-seven years. Mr. Waterman was an active and influential member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity and the Order of Red Men, and his son is also connected with the same organization. His death occurred in 1899, and thus passed away one who had long been an active factor in agricultural circles in Franklin county. His business record as well as his private career was above reproach, and he left to his children the priceless heritage of an untarnished name. The family have always been Episcopalians, and the present representatives are of that faith.

JOSEPH W. JONES.

As citizen, soldier, farmer, stock dealer and public official, the well known citizen of Columbus, Ohio, whose name is above has commended himself to his fellow citizens of all classes and of all shades of political belief. He was born on a farm in Athens county, Ohio, March 8, 1836, a son of David and Sarah (Dixon) Jones. His parents were natives of Pennsylvania. His grandfather in the paternal line was James Dixon, who came from Pennsyl- vania to Ohio in 1832, and located on a farm in Athens county, where he died in 1846. His wife died in the seventy-eighth year of her age. Mr.

JOSEPH W. JONES.

713

CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

Jones' father was also an early settler in Athens county, and there Mr. Jones was reared to manhood and educated in district and select schools. He remained on the home farm until his twentieth year and by the time the Civil war began he had made an encouraging start in life. In 1861 he enlisted in Company A, Sixty-third Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, commanded by Colonel John Sprague. The regiment was sent to the front and the first engagement in which Mr. Jones participated was the memorable fight at New Madrid. After that he took part in the fighting at Island No. 10, Fort Pil- low, Farmington, Corinth and Iuka Springs and in a number of less import- ant engagements. In November, 1864, he was promoted to be second ser- geant of his company and he served in that rank until honorably discharged in 1865. He made a three-years record as a soldier which does him great credit and should be preserved by his descendants as a precious heirloom.

Returning to his home in Athens county, Mr. Jones engaged actively in farming and dealing in live stock. After a few years he gradually drifted into the real-estate business, buying and selling farms on his own account, and in time he became one of the prosperous farmers in his township. His judg- ment in the practical affairs of life came to be respected and he was several times elected to the office of justice of the peace by the citizens of Gloucester, Ohio. In 1898 he was appointed United States pension agent at Columbus for a term of four years by President Mckinley. He took up his residence in the capital city of Ohio in August of the same year and has since devoted himself conscientiously and unreservedly to the performance of the duties of his office, with such success that any pension agent in the United States might be proud of his record. As a Republican Mr. Jones has always been active and influential and his counsel has been sought by other party leaders in local, county and state politics. He keeps alive the associations of the Civil war by membership in W. P. Johnson Post, No 340, Grand Army of the Repub- lic, and he is a member of Bishop Lodge, No. 470, A. F. & A. M., of Bishop- ville, Morgan county, Ohio.

Mr. Jones was married, December 8, 1864, to Miss Martha E. Anderson, daughter of George S. Anderson, of Hocking county, Ohio, who died January IO, 1881, after having borne him seven children, named as follows: Sara E .. Ella S., James S., Joseph E., Elmer L., Alice B., and Silas H., who died January 10, 1881. Mr. Jones' present wife was Miss Louisa Wyatt, daugh- ter of Jacob L. Wyatt, of Gloucester, Ohio, who has borne him three chil- dren, as follows: Louise F., David W. and Dana.

JOSEPH C. THOMPSON.

Among those whose lives in former years have constituted an integral part of the history of Franklin county and contributed in large measure to its substantial growth was Joseph C. Thompson, now deceased. He was a native of Maryland, born near Baltimore. The family is of Scotch-Irish lineage and was founded in the new world during the colonial epoch in our

714

CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

country's history Alexander Thompson, the father of our subject, was also a native of Maryland, and when the colonies, no longer content to wear the yoke of British oppression, resolved to sever all allegiance to the mother coun- try, he joined the army and commanded a company during the seven years' struggle which resulted in winning liberty and independence for the Ameri- can nation. He also had two brothers, John and William, who were num- bered among the heroes of the Revolutionary war. The former was a colo- nel in the United States troops and commanded his regiment through the greater portion of the war. The family owned a manor in Maryland. The birth of our subject occurred at the family home in 1788, and when about twelve or fifteen years of age, being of a venturesome disposition, he went to sea on board a boat belonging to his uncle, Mr. Chaplain, the vessel sailing to the West Indies and along the Atlantic coast. Subsequently he was em- ployed in the United States Arms Manufactory at Harpers Ferry. In 1818 Joseph C. Thompson left the capital city with his uncle, Colonel John Thomp- son, and made an overland journey to Ohio, taking up his abode on the Scioto river. He remained there only a short time, however, going thence to Cleve- land, but later he returned and took up his abode in Columbus, where he followed his trade of blacksmithing and gunsmithing. While at Harpers Ferry he had served his country in the war of 1812, enlisting in a company which was there formed and with which he remained until hostilities had ceased. He was taken prisoner at the Stone Mills, in Canada, and partici- pated in the siege of Baltimore.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

A Centennial biographical history of the city of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio, Part 86

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