A Centennial biographical history of the city of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio, Part 91

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 91

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Mr. and Mrs. Reese began their domestic life on the Elliott farm in Norwich township, where they resided for one year. He afterward rented and operated other farms and for a time resided on the Kellar homestead. He lived in Brown township for nine years and then purchased fifty acres of land, which he cultivated and improved until 1873, when he sold that property and located on his present farm near Alton. The tract comprised sixty-two and a half acres, which is under a high state of cultivation. He carries on general farming and his progressive methods and untiring energy have brought to him creditable success.

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Reese has been blessed with five children : Joseph, who is engaged in merchandising in Alton, Ohio; Robert, who died at the age of three years; Ada, the wife of William Norris, of Logansport, Indi- ana; Jennie, the wife of Turne Cordell, of Columbus, and Charles, who was accidentally killed on the Cincinnati Southern Railroad. Both Mr. and Mrs. Reese hold membership in the Christian Union church and take an active part in its work. In politics he is a Democrat, having supported the party since casting his first presidential vote in 1848, with the exception of two occasions when he deposited his ballot for other candidates. He be- longs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Galloway, and is recog- nized as one of the progressive and enterprising citizens, co-operating in every movement or measure for the public good and at the same time so conducting his private affairs as to win a handsome competence in return for his labor. He and his wife have many warm friends who esteem them highly for their sterling worth and many excellencies of character as well as for their cordial hospitality.

WILLIAM MILTON GRAHAM.

The well known civil engineer and contractor, of Columbus, Ohio, whose name appears above, is a son of John Graham, who was sheriff of Franklin county, Ohio, from 1837 to 1846. John Graham was born in Loudoun county, Virginia, and came to Franklin county in 1826 with his parents, who settled on a farm at Alton. Sheriff Graham's brothers, James, Thomas and Nathan, became farmers, but John studied civil engineering at the old academy at Columbus, which stood on the site of the present city hall, and became county surveyor of Franklin county. Later he served as deputy sheriff and during the nine years from 1837 to 1846, he ably filled the office of sheriff. He was appointed postmaster of Columbus by President Lincoln, was a member of a commission appointed to investigate the Ashtabula disaster, one of the most terrible railway accidents in the history of America. He spent three years in New York city, where he was employed as a civil engineer in lay- ing out portions of Central park. Politically he was a Whig, later a Repub- lican and he was highly esteemed as an engineer, as a public official and as a citizen. He died at Columbus in 1895, aged eighty-three years. His wife was Miss Jane Smith, a native of Pennsylvania.

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Of the eight children of John and Jane ( Smith) Graham, William Mil- ton Graham, of Columbus, is the only survivor. He was educated in the city schools, studied engineering with his father and was for ten years employed in the city engineer's department of the city of Columbus. Since leaving the city engineer's office, he has devoted himself to contracting to supply water- works, sewers and street work in different cities and has met with note- worthy success. He is a Mason and an Odd Fellow and he is highly regarded as a straightforward and reliable business man and a progressive and public- spirited citizen.

IVILLIAM LISLE.

William Lisle is a representative of one of the pioneer families of Frank- lin county, and first opened his eyes to the light of day in the little log cabin which stood on the homestead farm in Hamilton township, November 28, 1808. His grandfather, John Lisle, was a native of Kentucky and removed to Cincinnati and afterward to Franklinton. On the journey he carried his two sons, James and Robert, in saddlebags on his horse and his wife carried her little infant daughter. No roads had been made from Cincinnati and they followed the Indian trails. On reaching what is now Franklin county John Lisle secured a claim, entering from the government three hundred acres of land on Whetstone creek in Perry township. There he located in the midst of the wilderness, when he could have secured the land upon which the city of Columbus has since been built, had he so desired. He also entered a tract of one hundred and sixty acres for his son Robert and a similar tract for his son James. On the wild frontier he developed a good farm and carried on agricultural pursuits until his demise.

James Lisle, the father of our subject, was born in Kentucky, and after being brought to Ohio in the manner described above, he was reared upon the old home farm, experiencing all the hardships and trials as well as pleasures known to the frontier settlers. When the war of 1812 was inaugurated he joined the army and served as a defender of the American interests. When he had attained to man's estate he located on a quarter-section of land in Hamilton township, which had been entered for him by his father. It was a wild tract upon which not a furrow had been turned or an improvement made. He erected a little cabin built of round logs, the house being fifteen by fifteen feet. It contained but one room, in the end of which was a large fireplace, which served the double purpose of heating and of furnishing fire for cooking purposes. There was a puncheon floor, a clapboard roof and a mud and stick chimney. James Lisle gave thirty acres of his land to Mr. Kilgore in payment for the latter's labor in clearing ten acres of his farm. The Lisle family was one of the first to locate in that locality, and with reso- lute purpose and undaunted will the father carried on the work of develop- ing and improving his place. On one occasion he was thrown from a horse and sustained a bad wound on the head, but the scalp was laid back and a

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silver plate inserted, which he wore throughout the remainder of his life. He was survived for several years by his wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Guilford. They had five children : John, who went to Oregon and died in that state in 1897: William, of this review; Robert, who died in Iowa : Abbie, who became the wife of Michael Moore and died in the Hawkeye state: and Alexander, who is living in Minneapolis.

Few of the residents of Franklin county have been eye-witnesses of the development of this portion of the state through as long a period as Mr. Lisle. He is now ninety-two years of age and he can relate many interest- ing incidents of life on the frontier, Ohio at that time being considered on the far borders of civilization. When a small boy his father would often have him take care of his horses along the ponds, and he would often see deer running across the prairies. He attended the subscription schools from the age of twelve years, but his educational privileges were somewhat meager, as his father was in limited financial circumstances and needed his assistance upon the farm. He began plowing when his head was not as high as the plow handles. He continued to pursue his studies, however, through the winter seasons until sixteen years of age, after which he had to work in order to aid in supporting the younger children of the family. He entered the employ of his uncle, Robert Lisle, then one of the wealthy men of the county, and for his services our subject received from ten to twenty cents per day. When he was twenty-three years of age he and his brother John rented the Elliott land west of Alton and there cleared three hundred and sixty acres of land, which they planted, raising good crops. Their lease was made out for five years, but after four years they disposed of it to a Mr. Lathrop, who took possession of the place.

In the meantime Mr. Lisle married, on the 24th of November. 1844, Miss Sarah McWilliams, who was born on Bay run, in Jackson township, May 10, 1826. a daughter of John and Mary ( Sampson ) McWilliams After surrendering his lease Mr. Lisle worked at anything which he could get to do. He rented the Graham farm of one hundred and sixty acres, which he operated for two years and on the expiration of that period found himself the owner of the greater part of the old homestead, having purchased the interests of the other heirs. One of his brothers-in-law, however, would not sell his share of the land, so that it was appraised and the court gave Mr. Lisle the privilege of taking possession of it at the appraiser's price. He borrowed the money, made the purchase and continued on the old home- stead for two years, after which he sold the property to Robert and John Lisle. He then purchased the Henry Adams farm in the western part of Prairie township, and later he purchased of George Dugan one hundred and twenty-five acres of land. He afterward became the owner of one hundred acres, formerly the property of Mr. Sullivan, and of eighteen and a half acres of the Granner farm. At different times he has added other small tracts. John Graham was the surveyor and found many unclaimed tracts which Mr. Lisle purchased. He also bought twenty-eight acres of land of

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the Wallace survey and a tract from 'Squire Cole, which now forms the Lisle homestead. At the present time our subject owns three hundred and twenty- five acres, having disposed of a portion of his property. Mr. Lisle has ever been a shrewd, enterprising and industrious business man and his careful management and keen sagacity and energy have brought to him creditable success.

Unto our subject and his wife have been born seven children. John, of Columbus; James, a physician engaged in the practice in Licking county, Ohio; Lewis, a medical practitioner of Selina, Mercer county, Ohio; Estella, deceased wife of Jerome Ingalls; Zadoc, who has also passed away ; Delia, wife of Harry Hubbard; George, who was born on the home farm April 6, 1860, and is the youngest of the family. He pursued his literary education in the district schools and in the high school of Columbus, and afterward engaged in reading medicine with his brothers John and James. He did not complete his course, however. He went to Kansas and visited other western states, going to the Pacific coast. He visited California, Oregon and Washington, being much pleased with the west. On the expiration of seven years he returned to Franklin county, since which time he has engaged in the operation of the home farm. He was married, December 22, 1895, to Hannah Bishop, a daughter of Henry and Eliza Bishop. They have an adopted son, Eli Gatton. In his political views George W. Lisle is a stanch Democrat. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at West Jefferson, to the Grange and to the Methodist Episcopal church. The young- est child of William Lisle died in early life.

The subject of this review has served as trustee of Prairie township for twenty consecutive years. No higher testimony could be given to his faith- ful service than the fact that he was retained so long in the office. He was instrumental in having a township burying ground established, and has done much for the public welfare. He has long been a stanch Democrat and was first elected to the office against a usual Republican majority of fifty. The same year his brother John was appointed clerk. Mrs. Lisle is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

WILLIAM THOMAS MALLORY.

Throughout the years of an active and honorable business career Will- iam T. Mallory was actively connected with building interests, and in many of the principal cities of the country stand important public and private build- ings which are monuments to his skill, ability, enterprise and business sagacity. Now he is living retired, for the extensive building operations which he con- ducted returned to him a handsome income, and with a gratifying competence for the evening of life he put aside the more arduous business cares which fill up the noontide of man's earthly career. He first came to Columbus in 1890 and has resided continuously in the city for many years.

Mr. Mallory is a native of Ireland, his birth having occurred in Kings

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county in 1834. His eldest brother, Austin Mallory, is a well known lawyer of Dublin, Ireland, and has traced the ancestral history of the family back through nine hundred years. During his youth Mr. Mallory, of this review, came to the United States, and in the schools of this country continued his education, which was begun on the Emerald Isle. He afterward prepared for life's practical duties by serving an apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade and thus mastering the business whereby he has since provided for the sup- port of himself and family. He completed his term of service in 1851 and was continuously identified with the building interests until 1890. He has taken and executed the contracts for the construction of fine public and private buildings in Cincinnati, Louisville, Kentucky, and Memphis, Ten- nessee. For six years prior to the Civil war he was superintendent of con- struction on the University of Mississippi at Oxford, and other buildings of equal importance attest his thorough understanding of the builder's art. He employed a large force of workmen, whose efforts he capably directed, and in the line of his chosen calling he occupied an enviable position.

Mr. Mallory was united in marriage to Miss Ellen Francis, of Louis- ville, Kentucky, a representative of an old and prominent family of that state. The oldest son of William T. and Ellen Mallory is the Hon. Charles Mallory, who studied law under Judge Thurman, of Columbus, and com- pleted his preparation for the bar in the University of Washington. Since 1892 he has engaged in practice in New York city and is prominent in political circles there as a representative of the Democracy. In 1896-7 he was a member of the general assembly of the state. Lieutenant Theo Mal- lory, the second son, was educated in Cincinnati and Columbus, completing the high school course in the latter city. He enlisted in the Fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry for service in the Spanish-American war in 1898 and served in Porto Rico, where he was stricken with fever, his weight being thus reduced from one hundred and sixty to one hundred pounds. On the reorganization of the regiment as the Fourth Ohio National Guard he enlisted and was elected second lieutenant, in which rank he is' now connected with the military service of the state. William James Mallory, the third son of the family, pursued his education in the public schools and commercial col- lege of Columbus, and is now well known in business circles here.

Mr. Mallory is public-spirited in an eminent degree; national progress and local advancement are causes both dear to the heart of this adopted and thoroughly loyal son of the Republic. His devotion to the country is above question and no native son of America is more true to her institutions or more faithful to his duties of citizenship. His political belief associates him with the Democracy and on that ticket he has twice been elected city clerk, while for two terms he has served on the city board of equalization, and in 1900 and ten years previously he was decennial appraiser, being particularly efficient in this work owing to his knowledge of realty values. He and his family attend the Holy Family church on West Broad street. Mr. Mallory has now attained the age of seventy years and enjoys perfect health, for

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Nature deals kindly with those who abuse not her laws. Surrounded with the comforts of life, with a family who are a credit to his name, and in the midst of many friends, he is now living quietly and happily,-an honored and respected citizen of Columbus.

JOHN WILLIAM CARL.

John William Carl, one of the prominent young farmers of Franklin county, now living in Prairie township, was born January 27, 1856, on the old home farm in the same township. He pursued his education in the district schools until about sixteen years of age, attending mostly through the winter seasons, for during the summer months he aided in the labor of the home farm. His first teacher was a Mr. Johnson, who gave instruction in both English and German. He continued upon the old home farm until after he attained the age of twenty-five years. He was married on the 3d of May, 1881, to Miss Magdalena Deitsch, who was born in Prairie township October 31, 1861, a daughter of John Conrad and Minnie (Dellinger) Deitsch, both of whom are residents of Brown township, Franklin county. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Carl has been blessed with the following children: Sidney, who died in infancy; Valeria, who died at the age of eleven years'; George, Olive B. E., Walter A. and Ruth Emma, who are all in school. The mother of this family died February 6, 1898.

After his marriage Mr. Carl rented his present farm of forty acres of his father, and upon the latter's death he inherited the property. He later purchased the interests of his brother Isaac in the place and now has eighty- four acres of rich and arable land under a high state of cultivation. He carries on general farming and stock-raising, and his well directed efforts are bringing to him creditable success. In politics he is a stalwart Democrat, but has never sought or desired the honors or emoluments of public office, preferring to devote his energies and time to his business affairs.

JOHN J. JOYCE.

Among the busines's men and public officials of Columbus none are better or more favorably known than John J. Joyce, who is closely associated. with commercial interests of the city and with the work of collecting public moneys. Reliable, trustworthy, energetic and determined, in both lines of activity he has accomplished much, his labors being effective and valuable.

Mr. Joyce was born in Columbus in 1857, a son of David Joyce, a native of Ireland, who came to Columbus in 1843 and here established a fish and oyster market, which has since been conducted by some of the members of his family. The business is now incorporated under the name of the Joyce Fish Company and the enterprise is located at the North market. The father was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Temese, of Columbus, who was born in Germany, and during her childhood crossed the Atlantic with her

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parents, who were also natives of the fatherland. They located in southern Ohio and in this state Mrs. Joyce grew to womanhood. She still resides in the capital city and is now sixty-eight years of age, but David Joyce passed away in 1863, when about forty-seven years of age.

In taking up the personal history of John J. Joyce we present to our readers an account of the life of one who is widely and favorably known in his native city. He pursued his education in St. Patrick's school and in Bryant's Commercial College and entered upon his business career in connec- tion with his father, this association being maintained until 1878, when he became deputy clerk under Harvey Coshatt, continuing to act in that capacity until 1883, when he was appointed county clerk to fill out the unexpired term caused by the death of Mr. Coshatt. The day previous Mr. Joyce had been elected to the position for the ensuing term, and continued to serve as county clerk for two terms or six years, returning from office in February, 1890, with the confidence and commendation of all concerned. Since that time he has been continuously interested in the active control of the business of the Joyce Fish Company, which has been incorporated, our subject being the secretary and treasurer. He is also engaged in the coal business, dealing in Brush Creek valley and Hocking valley coal, and this enterprise brings to him a good financial return. He is a financier of superior ability, and since 1878 he has been active in the work of making county collections. He is now engaged in collecting court costs and occupies a portion of the clerk's office. For the last five years he has also been deputy sheriff, a position which assists him in making the collections mentioned. In 1898 these costs on stenographic work alone amounted to between thirty and forty thousand dollars. The court has now decided that these fees must be paid to the county on demand, which will undoubtedly result in great saving to the county. Mr. Joyce now represents the ex-county officers in the collection of fees due them, amounting to thousands of dollars. He is very successful in the work, in which he has had almost twenty-five years experience, and has succeeded in making many collections where undoubtedly others would have failed.

Mr. Joyce has been twice married. In 1885 he wedded Miss Belle N. Bliss, daughter of M. W. Bliss, an old resident of Columbus, who for many years was engaged in the coal business and was also a real-estate agent and the representative of the Northwestern Insurance Company of Milwaukee. He was also active in all church and temperance work and in many public enterprises having for their object the welfare and improvement of the com- munity. He belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church and labored effect- ively in promoting its work. His mother belonged to the McGowan family and her father was one of the men who laid out the town plat of Columbus. Mrs. Joyce died in 1897, and in 1900 Mr. Joyce married Addie B. Wester- velt, a daughter of James Westervelt and a granddaughter of Mathew West- ervelt, who laid out the town which bears his name. Unto Mr. Joyce has been born one son, John J., who is now a student in the public schools of the city.

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In his political affiliations Mr. Joyce has always been a Democrat, adher- ing closely to the basic principles of the party and for twenty years he has been active and prominent in local Democratic ranks. He has aided in shaping the policy and work of the party in this locality, and in 1897-8 he was secretary of the executive committee of the county. He is widely known in Columbus, admired for his business and executive ability, esteemed for his sterling worth and respected for his fidelity to all the duties of public and private life.

CHARLES ELDRIDGE.

Charles Eldridge was born of Quaker stock, at Philadelphia, Pennsyl- vania, in 1822. His parents were William and Sarah ( Matlack) Eldridge, members of old Pennsylvania families, and he was educated at Quaker schools in his native city and remained there until 1839, when he was seven- teen years old. At that time his father removed with his family to Colum- bus and assumed control of the Sullivant flouring mill, afterward known as the Rickley mill, which was destroyed by fire some years ago. The elder Eldridge became prominent in business affairs in Columbus and died at the age of sixty-four years in 1845. Charles Eldridge was associated with him in the milling enterprise and in other undertakings and was identified with prominent business interests to which he gave devoted attention until his retire- ment in 1886. He has for many years been an Odd Fellow and during all his active life his public spirit led him to advocate and assist many move- ments tending to the upbuilding of the city.

Charles Eldridge married Miss Catharine Taylor Nelson, daughter of David and Mary (Taylor) Nelson, of Marion township, formerly Mont- gomery township, Franklin county, Ohio. David Nelson was born in Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, in 1796, a son of David Nelson, Sr., and came with his father's family to Ohio in 1802, when he was eight years old. Here he lived until his death, which occurred in 1847, when he was fifty-one years of age. David Nelson, Sr., was one of the earliest settlers in Franklin county, where he took up six hundred acres of land, a part of which is owned at this time by his heirs, and one hundred acres of which is now a portion of Franklin park, Columbus. He was a lieutenant in a Pennsylvania regi- ment which did gallant service in the Revolutionary war. This family of Nelsons is' of Scotch ancestry and he was a man of ability and high character. Besides his son, David, Jr., he had another son named Robert, who had five daughters, one of whom, Nancy, married Daniel Taylor, of Columbus, Ohio, a wealthy farmer, who was the father of E. L. Taylor. Martha Nelson, second daughter of Robert, married Major Sanderson, of the United States army, a veteran of the Mexican war. Caroline, Robert Nelson's third daughter, married John Brough, state auditor and afterward governor of Ohio, and bore him a daughter, who is Mrs. C. W. Girard, of Cincinnati, Ohio. Robert Nelson's fourth daughter, Margaret, married Dr. James McConnell, of Upper Sandusky, Ohio, whose son, Dr. Nelson McConnell, is

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A Centennial biographical history of the city of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio, Part 91

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