USA > Ohio > A history of Ohio, with biographical sketches of her governors and the ordinance of 1787 > Part 12
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ROBERT LUCAS.
Robert Lucas was a Virginian, and was born April Ist, 1781, in Jefferson County. In 1802 he settled near the mouth of the Scioto River, where Ports- mouth now stands. He held the commission of a brigadier general in the war of 1812, and raised a battalion of volunteers from the counties of Scioto, Pickaway and Ross. He saw considerable service and was at Fort Meigs and Lower Sandusky under the immediate command of Governor Meigs. He was frequently a member of the Senate and House of Representatives. In 1832 he was elected Governor and. re-elected in 1834 ; he declined another nomina- tion. While Governor the celebrated "Toledo War" occurred, and he took an active part in maintaining Ohio's side of the controversy, and succeeded. He served as Governor of the Territory of Iowa under President Van Buren. He died February 7th, 1853.
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JOSEPH VANCE.
Joseph Vance was born March 21st, 1786, in Wash- ington County, Pa., of humble Scotch-Irish parentage. Two years later his father emigrated west, living first in Kentucky ; in 1801 he crossed into Ohio, and built the first log cabin on the present site of Urbana. Young Vance shared all the hardships of his father's pioneer life, and though he had no educational advan- tages, he early showed indications of that ability which carried him successfully through life. As cap- tain of a rifle company he was several times engaged in fights with the Indians. In 1812, aided by his brother, he led Hull's army through the unbroken forest to Fort Meigs, and later, with others, under contract, furnished supplies to the army in 1812. He was elected a member of the State Legislature from Champaign County in 1812, '13 and '15. He served
in Congress from 1821 to 1836, when he resigned to accept the Governorship of Ohio. After his term as Governor he was a member of the State Senate and also of Congress. He was elected to the Constitu- tional Convention of IS50, and while attending its sessions he received a paralytic stroke, from which he died at Urbana, August 24tl. 1852.
WILSON SHANNON.
In Belmont County, one year after his father had emigrated from Pennsylvania, Wilson Shannon was born, February 24th, 1803. He was educated at the Ohio University at Athens and the Transylvania University at Lexington, Ky. Returning home, he studied law, and upon his admission to the bar, began
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Thomas Corwin.
the practice at St. Clairsville. His ability as a lawyer soon won for him rich rewards. In 1832 he was - nominated for Congress on the Democratic ticket, but was defeated. Two years afterward he carried his county for district attorney by 1200 majority, attest- ing his popularity. He was nominated for Governor in 1838, and was elected by over 5,700 majority, but in 1840, in the memorable "Log Cabin " campaign, he was beaten by Tom Corwin by 16,000 majority. In 1842 he was a third time nominated for Governor and defeated Corwin by nearly- 2,000 majority. I11 1842, having resigned the Governorship, he was sent as Minister to Mexico, where he remained until Texas was admitted, when diplomatic relations between the United States and Mexico were discontinued. Returning home, in 1852 he was sent to Congress. After his teri in Congress, he served as the Governor of Kansas fourteen months, being superceded by John M. Geary. The year following he moved to Kansas, practicing law at Lecompton, and afterwards at Topeka, and finally at Lawrence, where he died.
THOMAS CORWIN.
There are few men in the history of Ohio that the passing generation remembers with a kindlier feeling than it does Tom Corwin. To dwell upon his char- acteristics, his humor, his power and pathos, would take pages that cannot be given. We must con- fine ourselves to the facts of his life. He was born in Bourbon County, Kentucky, July 29th, 179.1. He was a wagon boy in the war of 1812. In IS22 he was elected to the Ohio Legislature, and also in 1829. In
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1830, commenced his career in Congress, which con- tinued for ten years. He was the Whig candidate for Governor in 1840, and his canvass was one of the great features of the Harrison campaign. In 1845 he was elected United States Senator, and served until President Fillmore called him into his Cabinet as Sec- retary of the Treasury, which position he held until 1852. He was again in Congress from 1858 to 1860. President Lincoln appointed him Minister to Mexico, in March, 1861, and he remained there until May, I864. He died December ISth, 1865.
THOMAS W. BARTLEY.
When Wilson Shannon, in his second term as Gov- ernor, which followed Corwin's, resigned to accept the Mexican Mission, Thomas W. Bartley, as Presi- dent of the Senate, became acting Governor for about nine months. In 1851 he was elected Supreme Judge of Ohio and served two terms. He afterwards re- mnoved to Washington, D. C.
MORDECAI BARTLEY.
The father of Governor Thomas W. Bartley, was born December 16th, 1783, in Fayette County, Pa. He served in the War of 1812 as a captain of volunteers. In 1817 he was elected to the State Senate, and in 1823 to Congress, where he represented his constit- uency eight years. In IS44 he was a candidate for Governor, and was elected over David Tod. During the Mexican War he gave the Government all the official support that he could, although personally he was opposed to it. He died at Mansfield, October 10th, 1870.
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William Bebb.
WILLIAM BEBB.
The parents of William Bebb came from Wales in 1795. He was born in Hamilton county in 1804. When twenty years of age he was teaching school at North Bend, Ohio, and resided at the home of General William H. Harrison. After his marriage, which occurred in 1824, he commenced to read law and was admitted to the bar in 1831. He inoved to Hamilton, O., and commenced the practice of law' He was elected Governor of Ohio in 1846. After retiring from the governorship, he devoted himself to land investments. In 1855 he visited Great Brit- ain and formed a colonization company to settle upon one thousand acres of land in East Tennessee. The enterprising colony was scattered when the civil war broke out, and Governor Bebb fled, leaving his furniture and property. After this he served as an Examiner in the Pension Department to which he was appointed by President Lincoln. He returned to farmning at his home in Illinois in 1866 where the rest of his life was spent in peace. He died October 23d, 1873.
SEABURY FORD.
Seabury Ford's father was one of the early settlers on the Western Reserve. He came from Cheshire, Connecticut, where the future governor was born in 1802. After passing through the boyhood of the pioneer youths of that day his father sent him to Yale College, from which he was graduated in 1825. He commenced to practice law in 1827. In 1835 he was sent to the Legislature from Geauga county and served for six terms. He was Speaker of the House in the session of 1840. In IS11 he was elected to
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the State Senate. He was chosen Governor in 1848. His official documents show him to have been a man of strong convictions and fearless in expressing them. On the 8th of March, 1855, he died at his home in Burton, Ohio.
REUBEN WOOD
Came of Revolutionary stock, and his father was a chaplain in the Continental army. Reuben was born in Middletown, Vermont, in 1792. When a young inan he was drafted by the British authorities to serve in the English army for the war of 1812. He had been attending school in Canada when the war broke out. He escaped from the Canadian authorities by crossing Lake Ontario in a birch canoe. He was elected to the Ohio Senate from Cuyahoga county in 1825. In 1850 he was elected Governor, defeating Samuel F. Vinton, the Whig candidate. He was again elected in 1852. He resigned the Governor- ship July 15, 1853, to be Consul to Valparaiso. He returned in a year to Ohio, and resumed the practice of law; soon, however, he retired to private life. During the war he was a pronounced Union man, and was expecting to preside at an immense Union meeting at Cleveland about the date of liis death, which occurred October 1, 1864.
WILLIAM MEDILL.
No man in his day had more influence within his party than Governor Medill. He deserved it, for he was a man of integrity and great ability. He was born in the State of Delaware in 1801; he graduated
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Salmon P. Chase.
from Delaware College in 1825. He removed to Ohio and was elected to the Legislature from Fairfield county in 1835. He was twice Speaker of the House of Representatives. In 1838 he went to Congress from the Fairfield district and served two terms. He was Assistant Post Master General and Commissioner of Indian Affairs under Polk. The Constitutional Convention of 1850, of which he was a member, elected him its President. He was elected Lieuten- ant Governor in 1851 and Governor in 1853. In 1857 he was First Comptroller of the Treasury. Through- out his official and private life he showed himself to be a man of worth and character. He died at Lan- caster, Ohio, September 2d, 1865.
SALMON P. CHASE
Was born at Cornish, New Hampshire, January 13, 1808. After the death of his father, which left him in impoverished circumstances, he was sent to his uncle, Bishop Chase, of the Episcopal Church, who was at Worthington, O. When the Bishop moved to Cincinnati young Chase accompanied him. Bishop Chase went to Europe in 1803 to raise funds to establish Kenyon College, and his young nephew was sent back to his New Hampshire home. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1826. He started a select school at Washington, D. C., but failed to secure pupils. He commenced the study of law under William Wirt, and in 1829 he was admitted to the bar. The next year he went to Cincinnati and launched into his profession. He rapidly exhib- ited that legal ability which wins success. He took
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the right side of the slavery question, and fought for freedom with sincerity and earnestness. In 1849 Mr. Chase was chosen United States Senator, in the manner given in the preceding pages. He was elected Governor in 1855, and re-elected in 1857. At the beginning of his administration, President Lincoln called him to his Cabinet as the Secretary of the Treasury. He resigned this to become Chief Justice of the United States, to which President Lincoln appointed him as the successor of Roger B. Taney, deceased. He died in New York City, May 7, 1873.
WILLIAM DENNISON.
William Dennison was born at Cincinnati, Novem- ber 23, 1815. His father was one of the early settlers of the Miami Valley. Mr. Dennison graduated from the Miami University in 1835. He was elected to the State Senate in 1845. After a short time in politics he turned his attention to banking and rail- road business. In 1859 he was nominated by the Republicans of Ohio for Governor, and was elected. He was Postmaster General in Mr. Lincoln's Cabinet. After the war he retired from politics and devoted himself to his private business until his death, which occurred June 15, ISS2, at Columbus, Ohio.
DAVID TOD,
The second of Ohio's war Governors, was born in Youngstown, Mahoning county, Ohio, February 21, 1803. His father was one of the pioneers of the Western Reserve, and, like most of them, was from
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David Tod.
Connecticut. The elder Tod was noted as one of the great lawyers of Ohio in an early day, and he served fourteen years upon the Supreme Bench. The son followed the profession of his father, and was admitted to the bar in 1827. He opened an office at Warren, Ohio, and soon had a successful and lucrative practice. From his early manhood he was a Democrat, and as such he was elected to the State Senate in 1838. In the campaign of 1840 he won considerable reputation as a stump orator. He ran for Governor in 1844, and was defeated. President Polk appointed him Minister to Brazil in 1847. For five years he represented with credit and success the American Government at the Court of Brazil. He was a delegate to the famous Charleston Convention, and upon its division at Baltimore Mr. Tod presided. over the Douglas wing of the convention. When the war broke out he threw his whole soul into the cause of the Union. In 1861 he was nominated for Governor, and elected. He served but one term, but during that period he devoted all his energies towards marshalling the forces of Ohio, and in min- istering to her wants in the war. He died November 14, 1868.
JOHN BROUGH.
The father of John Brough was an Englishman who came to this country in 1806. He settled at Marietta where his son was born September 17th, ISII. The death of the father soon threw the son upon his own resources and he entered a printing office to learn his trade. While at College at Athens he pursued his course of studies at the same time
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worked nights and mornings at his trade. After his college life he read law, but abandoned it to edit a newspaper at Petersburg, Virginia. He remained there but a short while when he returned to his old home, Marietta, to publish the Washington county Republican. He removed to Lancaster and pur- chased the Ohio Eagle. His vigorous editorials soon attracted attention throughout the State, and his knowledge and treatment of the finances of the State showed much more than ordinary capacity. In 1838 he was sent to the Legislature from Fairfield and Hocking counties. The next year he was elect- ed Auditor of the State by the Legislature.
It was in his position as Auditor of the State that he exhibited those traits of character that led the people of Ohio to make him their Governor. He was a deadly foe to corruption, untiring in hunting down irregularities, which for years had existed in the Auditor's office, and by his systematic and busi- ness-like management he placed the financial condition of the State in a better shape than it had ever been in its history. His honest and fearless movements for reform were necessarily a reflection upon the party in power, and the leading politicians of his party endeavored to thwart him at every step. As an evidence of this it may be said that President Polk tendered him the portfolio of the Secretary of the Treasury, but before Mr. Brough's answer could reach the President, the tendered office was with- drawn. The political leaders whom Mr. Brough had offended had influenced the President in the mean- time. While he was Auditor of State he bought a Cincinnati paper called the Phoenix and from it
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Charles Anderson.
founded the Cincinnati Enquirer. After his political career he retired to private life to engage in railroad- ing. He was successful as a business manager and financier. In 1863 he was nominated for Governor and elected by the largest majority ever given in Ohio. His course as governor has been referred to. No stronger man than John Brough was ever Gover- nor of Ohio. He possessed all the capacities of a practical statesman, and was a leader that was bold yet conservative. In June, 1865, he received an injury that eventually caused his death. He died August 29th, 1865, at Cleveland, Ohio.
CHARLES ANDERSON.
When Governor Brough died he was succeeded by his Lieutenant Governor, Charles Anderson. He was born June Ist, 1814; graduated from Miami Univers- ity, in 1833. In 1844 he was sent to the Senate from Montgomery and Warren Counties. He was a strong anti-slavery man, and proposed, while in the Senate, the repeal of the "Black Laws." Owing to failing health he made an extended European tour, and upon his return he practiced law with Rufus -King, for eleven years, at Cincinnati. He resided in the South at the outbreak of the Rebellion, but was compelled to move North by reason of his loyal sentiments. He entered the army as Colonel of the 93d Regiment of Ohio Volunteers. He was nominated as Lieutenant Governor with John Brough in 1863.
JACOB D. COX.
While his parents were temporarily residing in Montreal, Canada, Jacob D. Cox was born, October
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27th, 1828. He commenced the practice of the law at Warren, Ohio. Educated at Oberlin College, he had imbibed all the ideas of love of liberty for which the institution was famed, and young Cox became a pronounced anti-slavery man. He was elected to the State Senate in 1859. He was one of the "Radical Triumvirate " of the Legislature. Upon the breaking out of the Rebellion, Senator Cox left the Senate for the field of action. Governor Dennison appointed him Brigadier General. He served with honor and distinction throughout the war. For gallant conduct he was promoted to the rank of Major General, Octo- ber 7th, 1862. In 1865 he was elected Governor and served but one term. He is still living.
RUTHERFORD B. HAYES.
The parents of Rutherford B. Hayes removed from Vermont to Delaware, Ohio, in 1817, at which place he was born October 4th, 1822. He graduated at Kenyon College in 1842, and attended the Harvard College Law School under Judge Story for two years, commencing in 1843; in March of 1845 he was ad- mitted to the bar at Fremont, Ohio. He decided to locate at Cincinnati, which he did in 1850. I11 1859 he was selected by the City Council to fill the vacancy in the City Solicitor's office, and in the spring follow- ing he was elected to the same position. He proffered his services at the first call for volunteers, in 1861. Governor Dennison appointed him Major of the 23d Regiment of Ohio Volunteers. During the war lie distinguished himself for gallantry and hard fighting. He was wounded at South Mountain September 14th, 1862. He won honors at the first battle of Winches-
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Rutherford B. Hayes.
ter, July 24th, 1864, by his personal bravery ; and at the subsequent battles of Opequan, South Mountain and Cedar Creek, he was conspicuous for his gallant conduct. He was commissioned brevet Major Gen- eral, March 13th, 1865. In the fall of 1864 he was elected to Congress, although in the field as a soldier, and was re elected in 1866. In 1867 he was elected Governor of Ohio on the Republican ticket over Allen G. Thurman, and was re-elected in 1869 over George H. Pendleton. He was the third time elected Governor in 1875. This contest, by reason of the important financial issue involved, became a national one, and was watched with interest throughout the country. General Hayes was elected by a majority of 5,544 over his Democratic opponent, William Allen. His victory attracted to him the conservative influence of his party, and as a result he was nomi- nated for the Presidency by the Republican National Convention, which assembled in Cincinnati June 14th, 1876. He was elected over Samuel J. Tilden, although the contests over the electoral votes in sev- eral of the states made it necessary to refer the count to a Commission.
President Hayes' administration was wise and con- servative. He lives in the quietude and honor of private life at Fremont, Ohio.
EDWARD F. NOYES.
Edward F. Noyes was born at Haverhill, Massa- chusetts, October 3d, 1832. He received his educa- tion at Dartmouth College and graduated in 1857. He removed to Cincinnati and was admitted to the Bar in 1858. July 27th, 1861, he was commissioned
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Major of the 39th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He soon won honor and promotion in the field. On July 4th, 1864, while at the head of his men at Ruff's Mills, Georgia, he was wounded, and amputation of his leg became necessary upon the battlefield. His personal gallantry soon won for him the full rank of Brigadier General. In October, 1864, he commanded Camp Dennison under assignment of Major General Hooker. While in this position he was elected City Solicitor of Cincinnati, and before his term expired he was elected Probate Judge of Hamilton County. In 1871 he was elected Governor of Ohio. His administration was clean, courageous and conserva- tive. He was a candidate for re-election in 1873, but was defeated, the Democrats electing William Allen and carrying the Legislature. As a mark of confi- dence and regard, the Republican minority nominated Governor Noyes as their candidate for United States Senator.
He was Minister to France during President Hayes' administration, and filled that position with distinc- tion to himself and credit to his country. He is still living in Cincinnati. His remarkable powers of ora- tory and his marvelously pleasing voice has made him one of the most popular speakers in the coun- try.
WILLIAM ALLEN.
The parents of William Allen dying while he was very young, his education and rearing were attended to by his sister, the mother of Allen G. Thurman. To her Governor Allen gave his tenderest obligations until the day of his death. He was born at Edenton,
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Thomas L. Young.
North Carolina, in 1807. He attended private school at Lynchburg, Va., for awhile, but Mrs. Thurman having removed to Chillicothe, Ohio, he soon fol- lowed her. In his young days he was an intense Democrat and participated in every canvass. While yet scarcely of congressional age he was elected to the National House of Representatives. In 1837 he was was elected United States Senator over Thomas Ewing. Although one of the youngest members of the Senate, hie distinguished himself by liis ability and wisdom. He was re-elected before his Senatorial terin expired and served until the 4th of March, 1849. After this he retired to private life. Upon an urgent call from his party, he accepted the Democratic nom- ination for Governor in 1873. He was elected, and was again a candidate in 1875, when he was defeated by General Hayes. He died July 11, 1879, at " Fruit Hill," the old residence of his father-in-law, Duncan McArthur.
THOMAS L. YOUNG.
When Governor Hayes was elected President, he resigned as Governor, March 2, 1877, and Lieutenant Governor Young became Acting-Governor. He was born December 14, 1832, near Belfast, Ireland, and came to this country when quite a young man. For ten years he served in the regular army of the United States, and upon the breaking out of the Rebellion he promptly offered his services to the country. Throughout the war he was distinguished as a faith- ful soldier and gallant officer. For good conduct at the battle of Resaca, he was brevetted a Brigadier- General. In 1866 he was elected a member of the
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Legislature, and in 1872 he served as Senator from Hamilton county. In 1876 he was elected Lieutenant Governor. Since then he has held several positions of honor and trust from the people of Cincinnati. He died July 20, 1888.
RICHARD M. BISHOP
Was born in Fleming county, Kentucky, November 4, 1812. At the age of seventeen he commenced a business life. In 1848 he removed to Cincinnati and laid the foundation of a wholesale business house, of which he was the head for many years. He was elected Mayor of Cincinnati in 1859. In 1877 he was elected Governor of Ohio. His career has been that of an honest citizen. His administration was devoid of events of public interest. He still lives and re- sides at Cincinnati.
CHARLES FOSTER.
The parents of Charles Foster were originally from Massachusetts. They moved West, and settled in Seneca county, Ohio, where Charles Foster was born April 12, 1828. He received a common school educa- tion, and engaged in business pursuits for the early part of his life. In 1870 he was elected to Congress, and served for eight years, although his district was politically very strongly against him. While in Con- gress he was noted for the straightforward and businesslike view that he took of all measures. He became one of the Republican leaders of that body. The Republican party in 1879 nominated him for Governor, and he was elected. Two years after he was re-elected. He administered State affairs with
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George Hoadly.
success. He took advanced ground on taxing the liquor traffic, and his party, in fact the entire people of Ohio, have indorsed his views. He is now in private life, devoting his attention to business affairs at Fostoria, Ohio.
GEORGE HOADLY.
George Hoadly was born in New Hampshire, July 31st, 1826. He received his early education at the Western Reserve College at Hudson, Ohio; in 1844 he graduated and entered the law school at Cam- bridge, Mass. In 1849 he was a junior partner with Salmon P. Chase at Cincinnati. He was elected Judge of the Superior Court of Cincinnati in 1851; he was City Solicitor in 1855-6. He served in the third Constitutional Convention in 1873. I11 1883 lie was nominated for Governor and elected; in 1885 he was defeated. Governor Hoadly is distinguished for his success in the profession of the law. He is still living, and practising law in New York City, to which place he removed shortly after the expiration of his gubernatorial term.
JOSEPH B. FORAKER,
The present Governor of Ohio, was born July 5th, 1846, in Highland county, Ohio. He received the ordinary common school education of the country boy. He enlisted when a lad of sixteen in the Soth Ohio Infantry, and distinguished himself wherever duty called him. He was at the battles of Mission Ridge, Kenesaw Mountain, Lookout Mountain, in the campaign against Atlanta, and was with Sher- man in his March to the Sea. He was mustered out
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