USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Columbus > A Centennial biographical history of the city of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio > Part 96
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Lewis Huffman is the second son of the family and was reared in Jackson township and attended school at a log schoolhouse during the short sessions then thought sufficient. At the age of nineteen he was ready to start out in life for himself, and engaged in farming or in any labor that he found to be done ; but when the call came for soldiers, at the outbreak of the Civil war, he en- listed in Company B, Third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, for a period of three months. This time was spent at Camp Dennison ; but Mr. Huffman was never one to turn his back in the face of duty and immediately re-entered the army, joining Company B, Fifty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, this occurring in 1861. When his term of service expired he enlisted as a veteran and thus holds an enviable record of having given four years of his life to the service of his' country. During this long time he was seriously ill for only two weeks, which he spent in the hospital at Vicksburg, although he took part in some
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of the most memorable battles of the war. He was at Shiloh, the siege of Vicksburg, the Atlanta campaign, marched with Sherman to the sea, and then through the Carolinas to Murfreesboro, and was present at the grand review in Washington. He was finally honorably discharged at Little Rock, Arkan- sas, being mustered out as corporal, having held this position for one and a half years.
After his return from the army, Mr. Huffman engaged in farming in Jackson township, in 1870 buying a tract of sixty acres which he finally sold and then came to his present location where he has a fine farm of one hundred and thirty-two acres under an excellent state of cultivation.
Mr. Huffman was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Miller, in 1866, who was a native of the same township, and a noble family of sons were born to them : Harry, a resident of Columbus; Edward; Trivet; Clyde and Frank, residents of Illinois ; and Floyd, who is at home.
Mr. Huffman takes a great interest in the political questions of the day, is a Republican, having cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln, and intends to uphold farther the principles of his party. Socially he has become a prominent member of the McCoy Post, No. I, G. A. R., at Columbus. For thirty-eight years he has been a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, which he has most acceptably served as both steward and trustee. Mr. Huff- man enjoys the esteem and confidence of his neighbors and is an excellent representative of the fine old name he bears.
JOEL BORROR.
One of the largest and most prominent of the pioneer families of Frank- lin county, Ohio, bears the name of Borror, and among them Joel Borror, the subject of the present writing, takes a conspicuous position, because of his sterling worth and also on account of the finely cultivated farm he owns, its present state of perfection having been brought about largely by his own industry.
Joel Borror was born in Jackson township, Franklin county, Ohio, August 21, 1824. His father, Jacob, bore the family name from his father, who like himself was a Virginian, a native of Rockingham county. Jacob came to Jackson county, with his widowed mother when but a lad of eleven years, and remained until his death occurred, when he was forty-four years old. He was a man respected in the neighborhood, a Democrat in political conviction, and his comparatively early death was mourned by all. The name of the mother of our subject was Catherine (Conrad) Borror, a Virginian by birth and a daughter of Wolsey Conrad, an early settler and a soldier of the war of 1812. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Borror, but only three of them are now living,-Joel, Jacob and Silas. The devoted mother lived to the age of seventy-eight, having been one of the admirable women of those early days whose example might in many ways be emulated now.
Joel Borror, the oldest member of the family now living, was reared in his
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native county, living the life of a farm boy of the times, attending school in the little log cabin with its greased-paper windows and stick-and-mud chimney, enduring probably more real hardship in one winter than many of his descend- ants will know through life. In 1846 he married Mary Jane Thompson, a native of Pickaway county, Ohio, who at her death left nine children : John, the oldest child, resides in Pennsylvania; Catherine is the wife of Jonathan Swagler, of Jackson township; Margaret E., widow of William Bateman, is also now deceased; Jane, Laura and Jacob, deceased; William married Alta Strall and now lives in Columbus; Mary, wife of William Holt, resides near Galloway, Franklin county ; and Martha, also deceased.
The second marriage of our subject took place in 1895, the lady being Nancy Jane Vance in her maiden days. She was born in Brown county, Ohio, May 29, 1836, a daughter of Lewis A. Vance, an old settler of Brown county, and a granddaughter of John R. Vance, a native of Dublin, Ireland. Her mother's name was Matilda Dye, whose people came from Tennessee. Mrs. Borror is the oldest of three children, the others being Hanson L. Vance, who lives in Brown county, Ohio, and Mary M. Sheldon, who resides in San Diego, California. Mrs. Borror was first married to John Powers and had one daughter, Mary M., who is the wife of L. H. Royers, of Indianap- olis, Indiana. Mrs. Borror's second marriage was to Robert McElhaney.
Following his first marriage, Mr. Borror settled on the place where he now lives, which at that time was surrounded by dense woods. The home was a little log cabin with one window, and the latchstring was always hanging out, for at that time hospitality was proverbial. Wild animals were constantly near and Mr. Borror had a task indeed to kill or frighten the denizens of the forest from his doorstep, to clear up this land, and make out of the wilderness one of the finest farms of Franklin county. . The home farm consists of one hundred and four acres and he also owns ninety-nine and one-quarter acres in this township. Having resided for a space of fifty-four years on one place, Mr. Borror's neighbors have become well acquainted with his character, and the universal respect he enjoys testifies to the regard they have for him.
HERMAN KUHN.
There are few men in Franklin county whose success has been more worthily achieved than this prominent and well-to-do farmer of Norwich town- ship, who came to the new world empty-handed and has worked his way up- ward to a position of affluence by industry, economy and good management. He comes of a good old German family living in the Rhine Province for sev- eral generations. There his paternal grandfather, Jacob Kuhn, spent his entire life as a cooper, and served in the German army in the war of 1813-14. His children were Henry, Herman, Jacob and Catherine. Herman Kuhn, Sr., the father of our subject, was born in the village of Simmeon, Rhine Province, in 1810, and attended school until fourteen years of age, after which he learned the cooper's trade. He died in his native land in 1894, and his
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wife, who bore the maiden name of Eva Bruner, died in 1867. Of the chil- dren born to them Jacob is still a resident of Germany; Peter died in that country ; Herman is next in order of birth; Philip is deceased; and Margaret lives in Germany.
Mr. Kuhn, of this review, was born in Rhinebalon, Rhine Province, on the 22d of February, 1843, and pursued his studies in the home school until four- teen years of age. For several years thereafter he worked in an iron foundry, and also learned the cooper's trade with his father. At the age of twenty he entered the German army and served three years in Berlin as .one of King William's body guard. When the Austro-Prussian war broke out he was attached to the Second Guard regiment, and took part in several battles, his principal engagement being the battle of Koenigratz. After the close of the war he returned home and worked one year at the cooper's trade.
Deciding to try his fortune in America, Mr. Kuhn sailed from Hamburg, October 4, 1867, on the steamer Prussia, and after fourteen days spent upon the water landed in New York city, whence he came direct to Columbus, hav- ing relatives in Norwich township, this county, who had sent him the ticket to come to the new world. For a time he made his home with Jacob Kuntz, a farmer, for whom he worked. In 1869 Mr. Kuhn married Miss Amelia Tinn- appel, and for a year they made their home with his uncle, Mr. Kuntz. In 1870 they located upon twenty acres of his present farm, their first home being a log cabin, 16x20 feet, which he fixed up. For five years Mr. Kuhn worked as a section hand on the Hilliard section of the Panhandle Railroad at one dollar and forty cents per day, and saving the money made in this way, he was able to purchase his place, though he went in debt eight hundred dol- lars for the same. For the twenty-acre tract he paid fifty-five dollars per acre; later added six and a half acres' at forty-one dollars and a half per acre, and sixteen and a half acres at sixty-eight dollars per acre. His wife was industrious and economical and aided him in every possible way. All that he made with the railroad company he had saved, and on leaving the service had a little farm of twenty acres under cultivation. Since then he has devoted his time and attention to agricultural pursuits. At the death of his uncle in 1894, he inherited his property, but prior to this had purchased one hundred and four acres at fifty-five dollars per acre, his sons assisting him in the operation of the farm. He has since bought three hundred and forty acres at the same price, and now has a fine farm under a high state of cultivation and improved with good buildings. A flower-bed now occupies the site of the old log house, and neatness and order prevade the entire place.
The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Kuhn are Elnora, wife of Adam Koer- ner, of Brown township, this county ; Minona, deceased wife of Rev. Charles Kunst; Andrew and Henry, both at home; Bertha, wife of John A. Geyer, of Prairie township; and Stephen and Sarah, both at home.
Since casting his first presidential vote for Samuel J. Tilden, Mr. Kuhn has been a stanch supporter of the Democratic party, and is an active and prom- inent member of the Lutheran church in which he has served as director and
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treasurer for twenty years. His life record is one well worthy of emulation and contains many valuable lessons of incentive, showing the possibilities that are open to young men who wish to improve every opportunity for advance- ment.
HENRY PAUSCH.
There is no man in Columbus more widely known than Henry Pausch, and none who is more deservedly popular. Since his birth, January 6, 1840, he has lived in Columbus, and since 1891 has lived in his pleasant home at 967 South High street. He attended the public schools of Colum- bus, and at the age of fourteen was apprenticed to learn the printer's art to John Geary & Son, editors and proprietors of the Capital City Fact, which at that time was a prominent Columbus daily newspaper. Four years later his apprenticeship was concluded, and he then entered the employ of the Hon. Richard Nevins, who was at that time state printer, and with that firm and its successors, Myers Brothers, he remained for thirty years, as one of its most trusted and efficient employes.
On November 3, 1864, Mr. Pausch was married to Miss Jeanette E. McPherson and to them were born eight children: Flora L., Henry, Jr., Frank M., Catherine B., Walter L., Anna E., Mary G. and Alice G., all of whom are living except Frank M., who died April 13, 1901.
Mr. Pausch's political career began in 1874, when he was elected to the city council from the eleventh ward. From 1877 to 1879 he was president of that body, and both as a member and as a presiding officer he acquitted himself with the highest honor, and the breath of suspicion never rested upon a single one of his acts in many of the official capacities in which he served. After voluntarily leaving the city council, one year later, he was elected to the office of police commissioner on the Democratic ticket, and served in that capacity for four years, his term expiring in 1884. He was largely instrumental in reforming, reorganizing and shaping into an efficient body of men the police force of the city of Columbus. A strong partisan, he was none the less a conscientious public official, and always insisted on efficiency in office as the first requisite, controlled by sound political principles. In 1889 the Democratic party of Franklin county elected him county treasurer, and in 1891 was re-elected, serving for four years. Since that time he has held different public and political positions, being at present a member of the city sewer commission, having been appointed by Mayor Swartz as one of the Democratic members of the board.
In politics Mr. Pausch has always been an ardent and unswerving Dem- ocrat, active in the management of his party's affairs, and an untiring worker for the success of his party's ticket-local, state and national. His counsel and assistance have always been sought by his party's leaders in political cam- paigns ever since he reached man's estate, and they were always ungrudgingly and unselfishly given.
HENRY PAUSCH.
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Mr. Pausch is a thirty-second-degree Mason, a noble of the Mystic Shrine, an Elk, a member of the I. O. O. F., a Knight of Pythias and an active member of the Olentangy Club, as well as many other social organiza- tions. In every relation in life he has won and still retains the highest esteem and respect of all with whom he has associated.
AUGUSTUS E. GROOME.
For many years this gentleman was actively identified with the agri- cultural interests of Norwich township, but is now living a retired life in Hilliard. He traces his ancestry back to an old colonial family of English extraction, which was founded in this country by three brothers, one of whom afterward returned to England, while one settled in Pennsylvania, the other in New Jersey. The last was Ezekiel, son of Moses Groome, the great-grand- father of our subject. The grandfather, Ezekiel Groome, Jr., was born in New Jersey and married Rhoda McDonald, who was also a native of that state and a daughter of Major McDonald of Revolutionary fame. Some time between 1816 and 1820 they came to Franklin county, Ohio, and set- tled in the southern part of Madison township, their farms bordering on the Pickaway county line. There the grandfather died in August, 1837, but his wife survived him several years.
John Groome, our subject's grandfather, was born in New Jersey and was quite small when brought by his parents to this county, where he grew to manhood on the farm. In early life he learned the carpenter's trade. He went overland to California in 1849, and for a time was interested in pros- pecting and mining, but there being a great demand for carpenters he resumed work at his trade, receiving sixteen dollars per day. While there he con- tracted fever and died in 1849. He was first married in Norwich township, this county, to Miss Elizabeth Britton, a daughter of Hosea W. and Rachel (Taylor) Britton, natives of Virginia, and the latter a cousin of President Zachary Taylor. Mrs. Groome died in Madison township, this county, in 1833, and the father subsequently married Charity Young and later removed to Iowa, from which state he went to California.
Augustus E. is the youngest of the five children born of the first union, the others being as follows: Zachariah C., who was dreadfully opposed to the Mormons, was killed by that sect in Iowa when they were on their way to Utah. Rachel married John Hunt and died in Iowa. Hosea W. served as a private in the Mexican war and died in Iowa. Rhoda married William McBride and went with her husband to Pike's Peak, Colorado, where she died leaving two small children, whom Mr. McBride took back to Iowa in a wagon and left with his brother-in-law. Of the six children born to the second marriage of John Groome, Charity, the eldest, died young. Obediah died in Salt Lake City, Utah. Louisa died at the age of fourteen years. Isaac is a veteran of the Civil war and a resident of Knoxville, Iowa. Albert was a member of an Iowa regiment in the same war and was never heard of
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after the battle of Shiloh, in which he participated. Orilla married Charles Sherman, a descendant of General Sherman, and died in Nebraska. John died at the age of three years.
Augustus E. Groome, our subject, was born in Madison township, this county, on the 24th of April. 1833, and was only three months old when his mother died. At the age of seven years he went to live with his maternal uncle, Hosea Britton, in Madison township, and remained with him until reaching manhood. He received a good district school education and at the age of sixteen commenced teaching, a profession which he continued to fol- low for some time after his marriage. It was in Shelby county, Ohio, April 21. 1854, that he led to the marriage altar Miss Susannah Cole, a daughter of Joshua Cole. They began their domestic life on a farm in Norwich town- ship, this county, which he had inherited from his uncle. It consisted of one hundred acres, to which he subsequently added eighty acres, and to the improvement and cultivation of which he devoted his time and attention until the spring of 1894, when his son, E. W., took charge of the same, while our subject removed to Hilliard and has since lived a retired life, enjoying a well-earned rest.
Mr. and Mrs. Groome are the parents of seven children, namely : Rhoda, deceased wife of Thomas McNaughton; Rosaline, deceased wife of William Dobyns; Rilla, wife of S. T. McCann, of Norwich township; Sherman, de- ceased : Fletcher, who married Maggie Cramer and lives in Norwich town- ship; Edward W., who married Amanda Smith and now operates the old home farm ; and Mattie, wife of Robert Wolfe, of Norwich township.
In 1875 Mr. Groome was made a Mason, and now belongs to Avery Lodge No. 493, F. & A. M. He is also an active and prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Hilliard, and is now serving as one of the trustees of the parsonage. In his political affiliations he is a Democrat. He served as township assessor one term, and at the age of twenty-two became a member of the board of education, with which he has been con- nected almost continually ever since. During the long years of his residence in Franklin county, he has championed every movement designed to promote the general welfare, has supported every enterprise for the public good, and has materially aided in the advancement of all social, educational and moral interests. After a useful and honorable career he can well afford to lay aside all business cares and live at ease and retirement.
JOHN LINEBAUGH.
The deserved reward of a well spent life is an honorable retirement from business, in which to enjoy the fruits of former toil. Today, after a useful and beneficial career. John Linebaugh is quietly living on his farm in Jackson town- ship; surrounded by the comfort that earnest labor has brought him. He was for many years prominently identified with the industrial and agricultural interests of Franklin county.
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Mr. Linebaugh was born in Union county, Pennsylvania, August 26, 1815, and belongs to one of the early colonial families of that state, which was founded in this country by his paternal great-great-grandfather, a native of Germany, who settled on the farm in York county, where the birth of the great-grandfather occurred. There the grandfather, Abram Linebaugh, was also born, and the farm, consisting of two hundred and fifty acres, is still in possession of the family. Upon that place the grandfather spent his entire life, and was one of the most prominent farmers of the community. The birth of the father, Abram Linebaugh, Jr., occurred on the old homestead, where he was reared to manhood. In early life he served as an apprentice to the carpenter's trade, which he followed for about twenty years, and then engaged in farming in Union county, Pennsylvania, until called from this life when about forty-five years of age. He was an earnest member of the Lu- theran church, and was well known and highly respected. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Wikle, was also born in York county, and died at the age of eighty-six years. She, too, belonged to quite a prominent family. A nephew of hers was one of the first congressmen of the United States, and was still living in 1898, at the age of ninety-two years. Her father was also a native of York county, while her grandfather was born in Germany and became a prominent man and editor of a paper in York, Pennsylvania. In the Linebaugh family is a Bible two hundred years old, which was published by the king of Germany and cost eighteen pounds sterling. Six of these Bibles were purchased by our subject's maternal grandfather and given to his children. Twenty years ago the one in the Linebaugh family had not a leaf broken.
John Linebaugh is the fourth in order of birth in a family of seven chil- dren, six sons and one daughter. The eldest, Daniel and Mary, twins, both lived to the age of eighty-six years; Abram, Jesse and William all died at the age of seventy; and Henry at the age of seventy-one. All remained in Pennsylvania with the exception of Henry and our subject, who came to Ohio.
At the age of eighty years, John Linebaugh accompanied his parents on their removal to York county, Pennsylvania, and remained with them until he attained his majority. At the age of eighteen he commenced learning the carpenter's trade, at which he worked for three years in his native state, receiving one pair of coarse shoes for his first two years' work as an appren- tice. He was then given seven dollars per month and his board, and sub- sequently was employed at loading manure at fifty cents per day.
Determined to try his fortune in Ohio, Mr. Linebaugh drove with a two- horse team from York county, Pennsylvania, to Columbus, and began life here with a capital of thirty dollars which he had managed to save from his wages. He at once found employment at his trade, and helped lay the corner-stone of the state house, in which he put the constitution of the United States and also that of Ohio. As a contractor he erected the first cast iron front building in Columbus, and was successfully engaged in business in this city for about
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twenty years, after which he engaged in contracting and building through- out different parts of the county for fifteen years, making in all thirty-five years, probably a longer period than any other contractor has carried on busi- ness here. On discontinuing work along that line, Mr. Linebaugh located on the farm in Jackson township where he now lives. It consists of three hundred and thirty acres, and at the time of purchase was wild and unim- proved, not a stick of timber having been cut. He has since cleared the land, placed it under cultivation, erected a good brick residence, and made many other improvements which add greatly to the value and attractive appearance of the place. He has never actively engaged in agricultural pursuits, but has always rented the farm, and as he is unmarried he makes his home with his tenant, J. W. Ferguson, who has had charge of his farming operations for twenty years. Mr. Linebaugh owns over a thousand acres of land, entirely free from mortgage, six hundred ninety-five acres of which are in Franklin county, the remainder in Pickaway county, Darby station being located on a part of his land. Besides this valuable property he has considerable money on interest.
Mr. Linebaugh has been a life-long Democrat and cast his first presi- dential vote for Martin VanBuren. He takes an active interest in every- thing pertaining to the good of the people, and gives a ready support to all measures for the public good, but has never been prevailed upon to accept office. He is a strong temperance man, having never tasted intoxicating liquor of any kind for fifty-six years, and never uses tobacco in any form. To his temperate habits he attributes his health and although eighty-five years. of age he is as active to-day as most men of sixty. Since 1842 he has been a prominent and active member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and has ever taken a leading part in church work. He has held the office of steward in his church. His life is well worthy of emulation and all who know him hold him in the highest esteem.
CAPTAIN WILLIAM PINNEY.
Captain William Pinney is a prominent and well known farmer of Sharon township, now serving on the board of county commissioners. He takes an active part in public affairs and his influence is ever found on the side of progress and improvement. Throughout a long and active career he has com- manded the respect of his fellow men by reason of his fidelity to duty, his hon- esty in business and his faithfulness to all obligations of private life.
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