A Standard History of Ross County, Ohio, Part 3

Author: Lyle S. Evans
Publication date:
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 549

USA > Ohio > Ross County > A Standard History of Ross County, Ohio > Part 3

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).

1880

1916

Coal consumed per day

28 tons

100 tons

Wood used per year.

1,500 cords

9,000 cords

Lime used per year.

18,000 bushels

56,000 bushels

Soda ash used per year

240 tons

550 tons

Employes

275

Value of plant.

$50,000

$1,000,000

Pounds of paper made per day . .

6,000

175,000

Annual Sales

75,000

2,500,000

GEORGE HOUK MEAD. For three generations the Mead family has been identified with the paper industry in Ohio, and George Houk Mead, now president of the Mead Pulp and Paper Company, of Chillicothe, practically grew up in the business and was educated to become a "paper man."

Born in Dayton, Ohio, November 5, 1877, his family have been true and loyal Americans for many generations. In fact, the paternal ancestry goes back to the early colonial settlement of New England. His direct ancestor, William Mead, who was of the English gentry, was born in Kent County, England, about 1600, founded the family name in the New World as an early settler in Connecticut. In subsequent genera- tions the family moved from New England to Cooperstown, New York, where Mr. Mead's grandfather, Daniel Eldridge Mead, was born in 1817.

As already noted, Col. D. E. Mead was a prominent factor in the early paper industry, not only at Dayton but also at Chillicothe. In 1841 he became a resident of Dayton, and lived there until his death in 1891. In 1846, with several other young business men, he organized the firm of Ells, Clafflin & Company for the manufacture of paper. In 1856 the firm name was changed to Weston & Mead, in 1859 it became Mead & Weston, in 1866 Mead & Nixon, and in 1881 Mr. Mead, having obtained full ownership, adopted the name The Mead Paper Company.

Subsequently the control of The Mead Paper Company came into the hands of Harry Eldridge Mead, father of George H., and of Charles D. Mead, a brother of Harry E. Harry E. Mead was married Novem- ber 30, 1876, in Dayton, to Marianna Phillips Houk, daughter of the Hon. George W. Houk and Eliza Phillips (Thruston) Houk. Of the four children born to this union, three died in childhood, and the only survivor is now George Houk Mead, of Chillicothe.

After a common school education George H. Mead graduated B. A. from Hobart College at Geneva, New York, and from Hobart entered the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he earned the bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering.

Digitized by Google

503

HISTORY OF ROSS COUNTY

In the meantime, during vacations, he had worked in his father's paper mill, and on graduation from the college accepted a position in the practical end of the business and served his apprenticeship. He is thus a practical paper manufacturer, and it has been largely due to his technical understanding of the industry, as well as his executive powers, that The Mead Pulp and Paper Company has been so firmly established and has prospered much during the last ten or fifteen years. After his apprenticeship at Dayton, Mr. Mead felt that a broader experi- ence was desirable and he accordingly went East and engaged in the work of chemical engineering, being finally made general manager of the General Artificial Silk Company, of Philadelphia. This responsible position he resigned in order to recognize and rehabilitate The Mead Paper Company, which in the meantime had become somewhat involved. By his untiring efforts, his thorough knowledge of the paper industry, and also, it should be added in strict justice, by his dominant character- istics of honesty and sincerity, he succeeded in developing a business which is second to none in the paper trade.

In 1905 Mr. Mead became a resident of Ross County, having moved the Dayton plant to Chillicothe. As a Ross County citizen he has enjoyed the love and esteem of all who know him, and is looked upon by much older men in the trade as one of the foremost paper manufacturers of the United States. His interests are not entirely local, since he is an important factor in the newspaper industry in Canada, where he was instrumental in organizing the Lake Superior Paper Company with a capital stock of $10,000,000. He is vice president of this company.

In November, 1914, Mr. Mead married Elsie Louise Talbott, of Day- ton. They have a daughter, Elsie Louise. Mr. Mead is a member of the Dayton Club, the Dayton Country Club, the Dayton Polo Club, the Buz Fuz Club of Dayton, and at Chillicothe belongs to the Country Club and Lodge No. 52 of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. His recreation he finds in polo, tennis and golf. Though rather below the average in height, he is very athletic, a fine horseman, and excels in his favorite games of polo and golf.

ROBERT THRUSTON HOUK. As secretary of The Mead Pulp and Paper Company, Robert Thruston Houk became a resident of Ross County in 1912, and has since closely identified himself not only with this important local industry, but also with general affairs of citizenship and is one of Chillicothe's leading business men.

He was born in Dayton, Ohio, September 27, 1862, a son of the late George W. Houk and Eliza P. (Thruston) Houk. Both parents are now deceased, and his father was long distinguished both as a lawyer and civic leader and also a gentleman of scholarship and literary ability. Mr. Houk's mother had a talent which expressed itself in the writing of prose and verse, but she exercised her best influence in her home and by her pure and Christian character.

The Houks came originally from Holland early in the seventeenth century and settled in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. The Thrus-

Digitized by Google

504

HISTORY OF ROSS COUNTY

tons were originally English people and from Bristol, England, they emigrated during the early '60s and settled in Virginia. Mr. R. T. Houk's grandfather, Adam Houk, in 1827 started west with wagon and team, accompanied by his wife, and established a home in Dayton, then a small village almost on the western edge of civilization. It was in Dayton that the late George W. Houk was reared and obtained a common school education. He then took up the study of law, was admitted to the bar in 1848, and his first distinction in public life came in 1852, when he was elected a member of the state Legislature. He was a demo- crat all his active career, but repeatedly refused political honors in order to devote his whole time to his profession, until 1891, when he was elected by his district a member of Congress and re-elected in 1893. His death occurred at Washington in 1894, while in his second term as congressman.

On Christmas day of 1856 George W. Houk married Eliza Phillips Thruston. They became the parents of four children: Marianna, who married Harry Eldredge Mead; Gates Phillips, who died at the age of twelve years; Robert Thruston; and Katherine, who was married June 7, 1887, to Harry Elstner Talbott.

By inheritance and by the environment of his early years Robert Thruston Houk had ample opportunity to develop those qualities of character that have since made him a successful business man. In 1881 he graduated from the Cooper Academy of Dayton, and began his business career as a salesman for A. A. Simonds, manufacturer of paper mill supplies. In 1884 he resigned from that company to become assist- ant superintendent of a silver mine in Mexico, where he spent about a year. Returning to Ohio, he was for several years connected with the H. E. Mead & Company, wholesale paper jobbers, but in 1889 resigned to become identified with the National Cash Register Company, of Dayton. For eighteen years he was one of the efficient men in the service of that model institution and occupied many positions of responsi- bility and trust. In 1907, on leaving the National Cash Register Com- pany, he became general factory manager of the Dayton Motor Car Company, and looked after the duties of that position until the com- pany was bought by the United States Motor Company. Mr. Houk then removed to New York City and for a year was sales manager of the Stoddard-Dayton branch of the United States Motor Company.

Mr. Houk left the automobile business to become secretary and take an active part in the management of The Mead Pulp and Paper Company at Chillicothe. He had been one of the reorganizers of the company in 1905, and though holding a substantial interest, had acted only as a director and was not active in the management until 1912, when he moved to Chillicothe and established his home in Ross County.

Though always a busy man, with many affairs to demand his atten- tion, Mr. Houk finds time to assist in any public movement for the betterment of the community. He has twice been elected president of the Chillicothe Chamber of Commerce, and Governor Cox appointed him a member of the Ross County Memorial Association. He is a member

Digitized by Google

1 1

- --

505

HISTORY OF ROSS COUNTY

of the Chillicothe Country Club and of Lodge No. 52 of the Benevolent. and Protective Order of Elks. He was reared in the Episcopal Church, and in politics he has been essentially in harmony with the democratic platform, although he is inclined to take some pride in the fact that he has voted a straight ticket only twice since he reached his majority.

On September 20, 1887, Mr. Houk married Lily Elstner Talbott. To their marriage have been born five children : Robert Thruston, Catherine T., Sarah E., George W. and John T. All the children are living. R. T., Jr., was married September 18, 1915, to Ruth Millikin, of New York. The daughter, Sarah E., married June 19, 1915, Alexander M. Hammer, of Boston, Massachusetts.

HECTOR McVICKER. General superintendent of The Mead Pulp and Paper Company, of Chillicothe, Hector McVicker has spent the greater part of his life in the service of the paper mill industry at Chillicothe, is a native son of Ross County and represents one of the old and prominent families.

He was born in Chillicothe December 7, 1863, being the second child of Alexander and Cecelia (Conley) McVicker. Alexander McVicker, when twelve years of age, came with his sister from Glasgow, Scotland, and located in Chillicothe. He was a poor boy and, as was the custom of the time, found home and opportunity to learn a useful calling by apprenticeship to John Burkline, a blacksmith who operated his shop near Chillicothe. By that apprenticeship he learned a trade which later enabled him to accumulate property which has made him comfortable in his declining years. In the late '50s Alexander McVicker married Cecelia Conley. They became the parents of eight children: Sarah, who married James Green, of Chillicothe; Hector; James, who married Flora Snyder ; Emma, who married Thomas Vorus; Minnie, who married Alonzo Huff; Edith, who married Thomas Edmonson ; Robert, who mar- ried Georgia Ramsdale; and Charles, who married Ida Neal. It is a fine testimony to the splendid qualities of the parents that all these children are now comfortable and prosperous, and each in his or her respective sphere has played a part not without honor and usefulness.

Mr. Hector MeVicker has never considered any other place his per- manent home except Chillicothe. He grew up in the town, gained his education in the common schools, and when still a boy found a place as a humble employee of the Ingham Mills Company, owners of the paper mill located on the same ground now occupied by the mills of The Mead Pulp and Paper Company. For forty years Mr. McVicker has been in the service of this local paper industry, and it was an ability to produce results that brought him to his present position as general superintendent. ITis associates regard him as a man of par- ticular genius in his line, but his own modest explanation of his success points to an unremitting industry which has been characteristic of him all these past forty years.

Outside of business, much of his interest has gone into the Masonic order and he has an influential place in that fraternity, and at the

Digitized by Google

506

HISTORY OF ROSS COUNTY

present writing is serving as eminent commander of Chillicothe Com- mandery of the Knights Templar.

In 1884 Mr. McVicker married Margaret Wiegand, in Chillicothe. Their three children are all living. Bertha, the oldest, married Eugene Francis, of Flora, Illinois, and they have a son named Arthur. Russel, the second child and only son, is now one of the responsible men in the offices of the paper mill of which his father is general superintendent, and by his marriage in 1911 to Maybelle Ludwig has a daughter named Judith. Hazel, the third and youngest child, lives at home with her parents. Mr. and Mrs. McVicker now own and occupy a residence on South Paint Street formerly owned by James Ingham, who, it is a matter of special interest to state, was Mr. McVicker's first employer.

CAPT. LOUIS S. HOUSER. Noteworthy for his public spirit and good citizenship, Capt. Louis S. Houser, of the firm of Houser Brothers, occupies a position of prominence in mercantile circles, and is a worthy representative of the native-born citizens of Chillicothe, his birth having occurred here, September 19, 1879.

His father, Berthold Houser, a native of Baden, Germany, was the only member of his family to come to America. Brought up and educated in the fatherland, he came from there to this country in 1860, and after living for a time in Portsmouth, Ohio, located in Chillicothe. He was reared to agricultural pursuits, and continued as a farmer during the greater part of his life. He died at his home in Chillicothe at the age of sixty-eight years. He married Mary Moll, who was born, of German parents, in Pike County, Ohio, and is now living in Chilli- cothe. Of the four children born of their union, three are living, namely : Joseph, Louis S., and Mabel.

At the age of seventeen years, Louis S. Houser, who had obtained a practical education in the Chillicothe public schools, enlisted for service in the Spanish-American war, becoming a member of Company H, Seventh Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which he remained until the close of the conflict, receiving his honorable discharge in 1899. Mr. Houser was subsequently variously employed until 1905, when, in partnership with his brother Joseph, he established himself in business as a grocer on Water Street, and as a member of the enterprising firm of Houser Brothers has since built up a large and profitable trade. In 1898 Mr. Houser joined the Fourth Ohio National Guards, becoming a private in Company H, of which he has since been a member, having been promoted through the different grades to the rank of captain.

Captain Houser married, in 1908, Martha Page, who was born in Chillicothe, of English ancestry, being a daughter of John and Susan Page. Five children have blessed their union, namely: Martha Eliza- beth and Mildred Louise, twins; Anna Mary ; Louis Joseph; and Robert Page, the first Ohio war baby, and who was born a few days before his father left for the Texas border. Politically, the captain cast his first presidential vote for William McKinley, and has since been a zealous supporter of the principles of the republican party. Fraternally he is a

Digitized by Google

WILLIAM POLAND

Digitized by

Google

507

HISTORY OF ROSS COUNTY

member of Sereno Lodge, No. 28, Knights of Pythias, and of Tecumseh Lodge, No. 80, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and in both of these organizations he has filled all of the chairs. He is also a member, and past commander, of Weidler Camp, Spanish War Veterans.

GEORGE W. Cox. Although not confining himself exclusively to one line of business, George W. Cox, the well-known and popular agent for the Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton Railroad at Richmond Dale, Ohio, has given many years of a busy life to railroad affairs. He was born October 19, 1854, in Jefferson Township, Ross County, Ohio, and is a son of Abram and Sarah (Raines) Cox.

Abram Cox was born in Liberty Township, Ross County, in 1810, and his wife in the same township in 1814. They had five children, the two survivors being George W. and Abel, the latter being a brake- man on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and living at Hamdon, Ohio. By a second marriage Abram Cox had three children: Margaret, who became the wife of G. A. Vaughters; Rachel, who died at Londonderry ; and Sarah, who married James Counts. Abram Cox, after marriage, located 11/2 miles east of Vigo. He became the owner of 300 acres of fine land along Salt Creek, a part of which he inherited from Joseph Cox. In politics he was a democrat.

George W. Cox was reared on the farm in Jefferson Township and attended the district schools in boyhood. He was not very much inter- ested in farming in youth and that led to his learning the art of telegraphy in the offices of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, with which corporation he worked for twenty-one years as operator and agent. He then bought a farm in Liberty Township, Ross County, and managed it for seven years and then sold and removed to Ruple, Ohio, where he conducted a store for one year and then sold that business. Mr. Cox returned then to railroad life and continued with the Cincinnati, Ham- ilton and Dayton Railroad at Richmond Dale until December 7, 1910. In October, 1911, he went to Florida and also bought a store at Rich- mond Dale, and in 1913 returned to railroad work as agent at this point. From 1892 to 1896 he lived at Ray, Ohio, and during that time was postmaster. In politics he is a democrat and while living in Liberty Township served three terms as justice of the peace.

On March 1, 1877, Mr. Cox was married to Miss Calferna Holcomb, who was born in Gallia County, Ohio, October 2, 1860. They have no children. Mr. and Mrs. Cox are members of the Baptist Church at Richmond Dale, he being one of the trustees of the same.

MAJ. WILLIAM POLAND. The history of the last half of the nine- teenth century and the first decade of the twentieth in Chillicothe, finds the name and impress of Maj. William Poland on every page. A local paper commenting on his death, which occurred on September 24, 1908, says :

"No one man in Chillicothe will be more greatly missed, as in civic and business enterprises he was always a prominent figure, while in his

Digitized by Google

508

HISTORY OF ROSS COUNTY

private life he was beloved by a wide circle to whom his taking away will be a keen bereavement."

William Poland was born in Ballymore Eustace, Ireland, January 19, 1830, the seventh child of John Poland and Mary Toumey, his wife. Of a family of twelve children he was the last. He came to America in company with his brother James, May 29, 1847, coming direct to Chillicothe, where an older brother, Patrick, was engaged in the grocery business. After a short stay here he went to Cincinnati and became a clerk in the establishment of John Shillito, afterwards with David Carr, wholesale grocer. When his brother Patrick removed to Cincinnati, William Poland returned to this city, October 16, 1848, and, at the age of eighteen, went into the retail grocery business for himself on Paint Street, where Brandle's shoe store now is. Shortly after this he removed to West Water Street and engaged in the wholesale grocery business, succeeding the firm of IIolcomb & Co. In this business he remained until March 22, 1874, when he sold out to J. P. Dieter.

In his business career, Mr. Poland was eminently successful, being a man of much grasp and capability. His financial interests were many and varied and he was connected in one way or another, with nearly all the larger enterprises in the city. In 1869, with others, he bought the old Cincinnati iron furnace, at Richland, Vinton County, and was treas- urer of the company until 1881, when he became sole owner of the property. He became a director of the Ross County National Bank February 3, 1873; vice president, January 10, 1888; and on the death of A. P. Story, succeeded him as president, August 6, 1888. He built the Ross County Block, the first modern office building in the city.

He was president of the Chillicothe Gas Light & Water Company for many years and it was largely on his initiative that the water system was installed. In 1876. he was instrumental in organizing the first street railway company, and remained its president and treasurer until its sale to a Tiffin syndicate in 1890. He was active in street railway affairs and after the Woolston failure and receivership, on his own decision, bought out the reorganized Tiffin holders, turning over the control to the Ross County Bank syndicate.

In earlier days he was a member of the old Phoenix Volunteer Fire Company, on West Main Street. He was president of the old Fidelity Building and Loan Association, was instrumental in organizing the Ohio · Insurance Company, and was its president. At one time he took an active part in city politics, as a democrat, and served two terms in council, where, with the late George Bovey, he materially aided in instituting the city park system. He became one of the park commis- sioners in January, 1884, and served on it until the time of his death, always taking much interest in the parks, and giving liberally of time and money towards them. He was known as the "Father of Yoctangee Park" and when the city acquired the land on the corner of Fifth Street and Madeira Avenue, it was christened "Poland Park" in gratitude for his work in this line.

He was president of the Chillicothe Foundry and Machine Works;

Digitized by Google

JOHN A. POLAND

Digitized by

1 1

Google

509

HISTORY OF ROSS COUNTY

president of the Board of Trade for fifteen terms; was a charter member of the Eintracht Singing Society; helped found the Columbus Club and was its president four terms; a trustee of St. Mary's Church for over thirty years, and a member of the first Catholic Church, on South Walnut Street. In 1892 he organized the St. Margaret's Cemetery Association and remained its president until the time of his death.

He took an active interest in all civic affairs, giving freely of time and money to further the city's interests. He was chairman and treas- urer of the executive committee of the Chillicothe Centennial, 1896, and was chairman of the joint committees of the Ohio Centennial in 1903.

During the Civil war, he was one of the famous "Squirrel Hunters" who rallied to the defense of Cincinnati and helped turn back Gen. Kirby Smith from invading the North. Here he received his title as "Major."

He married, on November 15, 1864, Miss Catherine Ryan of Cincin- nati, who survives him. Of their union, there are five surviving chil- dren, William B., of Cincinnati; John A., Agnes M., Florence and Charles, all of Chillicothe. Two children, Walter and Irene, preceded their father to the hereafter, and Nicholas within a few years afterward. Mrs. Poland's father was an architect and builder of note in Cincinnati, and many of the public buildings and edifices of that city were the creations of his genius.

The Poland family and their estimable mother are all products of universities and convents, ranking high in the culture and literary at- tainments of their city.

No man was more missed from his accustomed places than Maj. William Poland, by high and low, rich and poor alike, irrespective of creed or condition. He was a citizen to whom the good of his home city was of prime importance, a business man of ability and one foremost in promoting all worthy interests and enterprises. Genial comrade, wise adviser, especially to young men, his was a charity so broad and a liber- ality so great that no worthy request was turned away. A model hus- band and father in his home, he was also a close and dear personal friend to his associates, whether in business or social relations.

JOHN A. POLAND, for over twenty years one of the ranking leaders of the Ross County bar, has enjoyed many of those worthy distinctions which comes to the truly qualified and successful lawyer, to the high- minded citizen, and to the energetic business man. His position has been such that he needs no introduction to the people of his native county.

His father was the late Maj. William Poland, one of the fine figures in Ross County's history during the last century. It is said that every person in Chillicothe and most of them in Ross County knew Major Poland and those who knew him best found the best reason to express for him the admiration and esteem in which he was so long held. He was a constant worker for the good of the community, and in many ways impressed his life and influence upon this section of Ohio.

In his own career John A. Poland continues the splendid character-

Digitized by Google

510

HISTORY OF ROSS COUNTY

istics and worthy part acted by his father in Ross County. John A. Poland was born at Chillicothe in September, 1868. He attended the local schools of his native city, and completed his literary training in St. Mary's College in Kansas, where he was graduated as valedictorian of his class. Reference should be made to another phase of his education in addition to what he learned from books. This was suggested in the words of one of his old friends writing of Mr. John A. Poland on an occasion when a sketch was required: "The woods and fields, the boyish carpenter shop, a little printing office, particularly appealed to him; and outdoor life with boating, fishing, swimming and camping gave him the grounding that every American boy should have."

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 Standard History of Ross County, Ohio, Part 3

Author: Lyle S. Evans Publication date: Publisher: Number of Pages: 549

Author: Lyle S. Evans
Publication date:
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 549