USA > Ohio > Columbiana County > Salem in Columbiana County > A souvenir history of ye old town of Salem, Ohio, with some pictures and brief references to ye people and things of ye olden time > Part 8
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Ohio Mutual Insurance Company.
The statement of condition of the bank at the close of business April 6, 1906, showed : capital stock paid in, $100,000 ; surplus fund, $50,000 ; total resources, $705,191.36.
The Ohio Mutual Insurance Co. of Salem, Ohio, was organized in 1876 by M. R. Robinson and J. R. Vernon, ably assisted morally and financially by Col. T. C. Boone, W. D. Henkle, F. Gee, J. K. Rukenbrod, J. T. Brooks and others. The growth and success of this com- pany have been most phenomenal, commencing with a capital of $50,000 and increasing in the years to nearly $900,000. It has paid in fire losses nearly $1,000,000.
The Ohio Mutual has practically demon- strated that conservatism in the selection of risks, strict economy in management, fairness to patrons and promptness in business methods, lead to success, and at the commencement of its thirtieth year, is recognized as one of the larg- est, strongest and most popular Mutual Compan- ies of Ohio.
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Thomas & Greiner started a private banking business in 1853 ; they were succeeded in 1864 by Hiram Greiner ; in 1866 the firm was Greiner & Boone, and in 1871 H. Greiner & Son. In 1903 the last named firm wound up its business. The same year the Citizens Savings Bank and Trust Company was organized and commenced business. In 1905 the new concern occupied a handsome new bank building of its own.
Hanna & Kridler, since 1890, in connection with their real estate transactions, have been doing a savings and loan business. They are a branch of the Equity Savings and Loan Company of Cleveland. They report an annual local busi- ness of from $150,000 to $200,000.
The Salem Savings and Loan Association was organized in 1891. Its annual statement December, 1905, showed resources to the amount of $70,773.27. The directors are : L. H. Kirk- bride, president; J. M. Woodruff, vice-president; S. Grove, Jr., L. H. Dobbins, Jas. E. McNeelan, C. C. Campbell, Homer M. Silver. S. W. Ramsey is secretary and E. O. French treasurer.
The first public burying ground in Salem was established by the Friends in 1805, but was
abandoned in 1817 or 1818. About the year 1818 a lot of about two acres was purchased by John Straughan, which was used as a burying ground for 60 or 70 years. In it there have been no in- terments for many years, but up to 1906 it had not been condemned and was in a very neglected condition. Lots 55 and 56, on Depot street, were deeded in 1809 to the trustees of the Baptist Church. This burying ground is also in a neglected state, no interments having been per- mitted there for a number of years. A plat of ground on Howard street, containing about an acre and a half, was purchased by the congrega- tion of the M. E. Church, and used as a cemetery from 1830 to 1860, and has not in the Centennial year been entirely abandoned, although the re- mains of old residents who had been buried there had in many cases been removed to Hope Ceme- tery and other places of interment.
Hope Cemetery as it is has been the result of a consolidation of what was originally the Pres- byterian Cemetery (started in 1833), Salem Cemetery (laid out in 1853), and a five-acre ad- dition made in 1864 by Jacob Heaton, with another two-acre addition since made, in all
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Hope Cemetery
amounting to something over ten acres. This cemetery ground for 60 or 70 years supplied the burial sites chiefly for Salem people, and in many cases for those in the country in a radius of several miles. Hope Cemetery had, by the opening years of the Twentieth century, fallen somewhat into neglect. But in the early months
of 1905 it was given "a new lease of life," so to speak. An association was organized under the laws of the State of Ohio, which require that such associations be not for financial gain on the part of its individual members and stockholders, but for the legitimate purpose of acquiring and holding property for cemetery purposes and the improvement of the same as a place for the burial of the dead. A charter was procured and the work of incorporation completed February 2, 1905 ; and during that year and since many improvements have been made, transforming the historic graveyard, with its several additions, into a beautiful modern cemetery. A number of fine vaults have been built by lot-holders during late years, and since the organization of the new association a system of landscape work has been introduced, in the making and keeping of the roadways and walks, and in the growth and trimming of the trees and shrubbery, as well as the keeping in order and presentable appear- ance of the graves and lots, which has greatly added to the intrinsic value and attractiveness of the property. In 1900 a monument was erected to the memory of the deceased soldiers of the
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Civil War of 1861-'05, on a plot donated by the cemetery association, near the main entrance of the cemetery grounds, by the Woman's Relief Corps auxiliary to Trescott Post No. 10, G. A. R. The memorial is in the form of a volunteer soldier at "parade rest," on a granite pedestal, and represents a financial cost of almost $1,000, which was raised by the W. R. C. at an expendi- ture of no little labor and sacrifice.
In this historic old cemetery are the graves os many of the early settlers of Salem, the head- stones of which in some cases are crumbling through the influence of the seasons during the advancing years, while in many instances these antique monuments are being replaced by modern monuments and memorial stones. One of the mementoes of the anti-slavery period, the plain and modest monument to Edwin Coppock, which is elsewhere referred to in this work, occupies a conspicuous location in this cemetery.
The present board of trustees (in 1906) of the Hope Cemetery Association is composed of the following persons : J. A. Ambler, L. L. Gil- bert, James M. Sears, James Boyle, L. Tomlin- son, J. O. Griner, Robert Simpson, J. C. Boone,
R. B. Heaton, L. H. Kirkbride, Ira F. Brainard, H. H. Sharp, C. F. Lease, James M. Brown and Samuel Grove, Jr. The officers are: Ira F. Brainard, president ; Samuel Grove, Jr., vice- president ; C. F. Lease, secretary, and L. H. Kirkbride, treasurer.
As early as 1870 the need of a new and larger cemetery for Salem was realized to be a growing one, and the matter began to be agitated by some leading and public spirited citizens. Among those interested in the movement were the Hon. J. A. Ambler, Col. T. C. Boone, Joel Sharp, J. R. Hill and others of like prominence. After many delays in 1888 the Salem council de- cided that a new cemetery was an urgent neces- sity. Considerable time was again expended in viewing sites proposed, and as a result the Beeson farm was finally selected. Its acceptance by Council failed by one vote. The scheme was again allowed to rest until, at the instigation of the late Hon. J. T. Brooks, a citizens' meeting was called and held February 10, 1900. At this meeting it was decided to organize a Salem Cem- etary Association, not for profit to any one, but "for the purpose of having a modern cemetery."
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Grandview Cemetery.
Later a permanent organization was ef- fected, a charter ob- tained, trustees elect- ed, and constitution and by-laws adopted. The trustees then elected were : J. T. Brooks, Walter F. Deming, S. B. Rich- ards, W. H. Mullins, M. L. Young, J. R. Vernon, J. S. Wood- ruff, W. D. Casselber- ry and W. H. Koll. These trus- tees commenced prospecting for available sites, and in time the old Beeson farm was selected. However, owing to its isolated location with reference to pub- lic highways and approaches thereto, the trustees delayed activity for a time, but finally,
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Dr. John Whinery.
Dr. John Harris.
with the acquisition of an ample driveway from Franklin avenue, work was commenced and prosecuted with diligence. The name of Grand- view was adopted, the cemetery ground laid off
and opened in 1901 ; and by 1906 such wonderful progress had been made that it gave promise of soon becoming one of the most attractive ceme- teries in this part of the State.
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Dr. Abel Carey.
The present officers and trustees (1906) of the Salem Cemetery Association are: M. L. Young, J. R. Vernon, J. R. Carey, S. B. Richards, W. F. Deming, J. S. Woodruff, W. H. Mullins,
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Alex. Pow.
Jos. H. French, Homer Silver. S. B. Richards, president; W. H. Mullins, vice-president; R. V. Hampson, treasurer; J. R. Vernon, secretary; J. Birkhimer, superintendent.
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Chapter VII .- Law and Loyalty
Galaxy of Bright Legal Lights Who Have Brought Fame to the Quaker Town -Salem in the Civil War-Many Noble Sons Gave Their Lives for "The Land of the Free."
BY JUDGE PETER A. LAUBIE.
In the history of the world, a century, as applied to the age of nations and their sub-di- visions, is like a speck in the horizon ; but as ap- plied to individuals it is the horison itself-won- derful in its length and breadth. Whilst nations generally and their cities and towns have existed for untold centuries, the age of their inhabitants has averaged less than half of a century, and a century of individual life was marvelous.
To-day we are celebrating the first century of the existence of our old Quaker town of Salem. And well may we be proud to celebrate it, when we consider that its founders, like the founders of the Nation, were the descendants of those who were compelled to leave the country of their
birth in order to gain religious and political freedom.
In the life of nations, ours is a mere infant ; but in civilization, in freedom and purity of thought, of life, of action, in all that goes to make up a free Republic, a liberty-loving nation, "a government of the people, by the people, and for the people," it exceeds all the nations that ever lived ; and no other Republic has ever equalled it in grandeur and extent. The world over, it is known as the home of the free-the refuge of the oppressed.
We may be proud, therefore, to celebrate, although it is the first centenary, the life of a town settled by the descendants of such God-fear-
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ing, liberty-loving, peaceful and beneficent people. That these were "Quakers" adds to their merit, for of all the Christian denomina- tions of the world, the "Quakers" were the most peaceful and the less acrimonious in all re- spects; and in the history of this, our old Quaker town, they stand forth as its leaders in its commercial prosperity and advancement, as in its law-abiding peacefulness.
Three of the descendants of the original founders-the Streets-became members of the Salem bar after I came, John, Samuel and Webster Street. John invented and patented the palace stock cars for carrying cattle on railroads, and moved to Chicago. Webster went to Arizona, and was appointed as Federal Judge in that ter- ritory. Samuel died some years ago.
Two of Salem's native boys, who studied law in their old town, are now upon the common pleas bench of this sub-district, Judge Warren W. Hole and Judge Ralph Ambler, son of Hon. J. A. Ambler, and who have made for themselves reputations as honest and able judges. Judge Ambler is now a resident of Canton, but Judge Hole clings to his native heath. Byron S. Ambler,
the elder brother of Ralph, practiced law in Salem for many years, and was appointed a Fed- eral Judge in the Philippines in 1903 with court at Manila. He resigned last year and returned to Salem.
To-day Salem is alive with reputable and able lawyers in active practice-Carey & Mullins, Taylor & Harris, Metzger & Smith, J. C. Boone, S. W. Ramsey, J. D. Fountain, W. S. Emmons, J. H. Rogers, K. L. Cobourn, and Frank Mercer, most of whom studied law and began practice in Salem.
J. C. Boone was born and raised in Salem, studied law in the office of Hon. J. A. Ambler, and has served two terms as Probate Judge of Columbiana county.
When I came to Salem in June, 1854, there were but three members of the bar in the town, Joseph J. Brooks, and Henry and Jacob Ambler, brothers and partners. Henry Ambler had been a minister of the Gospel, but abandoned it for the practice of law, and he and Mr. Brooks had been active opponents for some years. However, in their controversies before one of the justices of the peace in the town, it was said they always
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came out even, as the justice always rendered decisions in their favor alternately-to-day for Brooks, to-morrow for Ambler, and so on alternately.
Jacob A. Ambler and I were born in Penn- sylvania in 1829, he in Allegheny and I in Pitts- burg ; and as we grew to manhood were close friends. We were the leading actors in an ama- teur theatrical company in Allegheny City, that gave public entertainments, and he was educating himself for the stage, when, late in 1849, Oppor- tunity, the master of human destinies, knocked, unbidden, once at his gate, and following such master he accomplished in a new role all the things described in the late Senator Ingall's fam- ous sonnet, Opportunity :
"Master of human destinies am I, Fame, love and fortune on my footsteps wait; Cities and fields I walk ; 1 penetrate Deserts and seas remote, and, passing by Hovel, and mart, and palace, soon or late, I knock, unbidden, once at every gate. If sleeping, awake ; if feasting, rise before I turn away. It is the hour of fate. And they who follow me reach every state Mortals desire, and conquor every foe Save death ; but those who hesitate, Condemn to failure, penury and woe, Seek me in vain and uselessly implore ; I answer not and I return no more."
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Abel Strawn.
Hannah Strawn.
That opportunity-knock at his gate was a letter from his brother Henry, inviting him to come to Salem and study law with him, and to become a partner when admitted. He followed his opportunity, was admitted to the bar and be- came partner to his brother and an eminent at- torney ; was elected Judge of the Court of Com- mon Pleas within ten years, and as Representa- tive to the Congress of the United States from this district twice within the next ten years ;
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W
Tacy Johnson
and was appointed by President Harrison as a member of the Tariff Commission. He served in those positions with eminent ability, and retired from active life some years ago. He is now liv-
ing with his daughter, who is the wife of an Episcopalian minister at Upper Marlboro, Md.
I had studied law in 1851-'53, and as Henry Ambler desired to move to Iowa, at Jacob's sug- gestion I came to Salem and in June, 1854, I bought Henry's interest in the firm, was admit- ted as a member of the bar of Ohio and entered into the practice with Jacob. Mr. Brooks and Ambler and I were for a time the only represen- tatives of the bar at Salem, and were always on the opposite sides of cases.
In 1857 Ambler and I dissolved our partner- ship, and a young brother, Richard, went in with him for a short time, who then went to the elder brother, Henry, in Iowa. I continued in the practice in our town until I entered the army in August, 1861, as first lieutenant of Co. D, 19th O. V. I., and on my return in February, 1865, continued in the practice until I was elected as Common Pleas Judge, November, 1875. I con- tinued to be judge of that court until I was elected and became a judge of the Seventh Cir- cuit Court in February, 1885. In the organiza- tion of that court I drew, or rather the Governor and Secretary of State drew for me, the short term
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(two years), and I have been re-elected to that court four successive terms and am still a mem- ber of that court, my present term expiring Feb- ruary 9th, 1911.
The attorneys used to delight in telling a story on me. I was defending a case before Mayor Fawcett, and the town hall was filled with people ; and after a short argument for the plain- tiff, I arose and began an earnest argument for my client, when the mayor interrupted me with "Peter, thee may talk as long as thee wants to ; but my mind is made up;" and the audience roared.
Soon after I came Thos. J. Woods, born and raised near Salem, and who was admitted to the bar about the same time as my partner, J. A. Ambler, located in Salem, but in a year or two thereafter went to New Lisbon and entered into partnership with Judge Potter, and subsequently bought, and became the editor of the Ohio Pa- triot. I prosecuted a civil action once against him for John Dellenbaugh, the landlord of the old Farquhar House, who also was a Democrat, and eleven of the jurors voted to return a verdict for my client, but were held up by a Democrat
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Elizabeth Goulborn.
whom my client insisted, against my advice, I should not challenge from the jury, and who de- clared he "would stay in that jury room until he would have to crawl out of the key hole be-
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fore he would render a verdict against the Ohio Patriot," although the case was against Mr. Woods individually and not as editor of that pa- per. Mr. Woods remained in Lisbon until his death about 1870.
Joseph J. Brooks was an able lawyer, and for years was the attorney of the P. Ft. W. & C. R'y Co. About 1856 he brought from Carrollton a lawyer, Robert Crozier by name, as a partner. Upoh an occasion in Lisbon, after hearing Mr. Crozier in a case in the court, W. K. Upham, a leading lawyer of our bar, said to Mr. Brooks : "What does he ( Crozier ) know about laws ? " and the answer was, "Oh, he is well posted in gen- eral literature." Mr. Crozier stayed with us a little over a year, and moved to Kansas.
Mr. Brooks died in 1862, and two of his sons became members of the bar, J. Twing and Judson J. Brooks-J. Twing about 1866 and Judson about 1870. At the death of Joseph Brooks Judge Lyman D. Potter, of New Lisbon, succeeded him as attorney for the railroad company, and moved to Salem and entered upon an extensive practice. Judge Potter served for a short time on the Common Pleas Bench. He was a prominent
citizen and politician (Republican), and an able lawyer ; and at the time of his death was U. S. collector of this district. Soon after I returned from the war, in 1865, I entered into partnership with Judge Potter, and continued with him until he died (1866). Then I took J. Twing Brooks, (who was then just elected as a member of the State Senate), and just admitted to the bar, as partner, and we continued togetlier, and as at- torneys for the P., F. W. & C. R. R. and its successor, The Pennsylvania Company, until I was elected as Judge of the Common Pleas Court in 1875. Soon after Mr. Brooks was appointed general counsel for the Pennsylvania Company, with offices at Pittsburg, and thereafter second vice-president of that company. Mr. Brooks was a man of extraordinary executive ability, a fine lawyer, and became a leading man in the manage- ment of that company until he died in 1903. He used to tell of an amusing experience he had once at a term of court in Mahoning county. There were two suits by different parties, against the railroad company, to recover damages for killing cows. Each party's cow had been struck and killed by a freight train at the same point on the
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road, and near the same time. He had the train men as witnesses and succeeded in getting a ver- dict for the defendant company in the first case, on the ground of no negligence in the killing. When the second case was called he found he had used the wrong train men as witensses in the first, and he had to use them in the second case ; and under the same evidence the jury rendered a verdict for the plaintiff. And in the trial of a case in Lima, brought by the plaintiff for strik- ing and killing two horses on a crossing, a wit- ness for the plaintiff testified that the engineer ยท did not blow the whistle until the engine had struck the horses. On cross-examination the witness stuck to his assertion, and finally Mr. Brooks asked him if he could explain why the engineer would blow the whistle after he struck the horses instead of before he reached the cross- ing ; and the witness created laughter by answer- ing, "Well, I suppose he was whistling for another horse, as he only killed two."
Judson J. Brooks, who studied law in the office of Laubie & Brooks, went to Cleveland to practice, but when J. Twing became general counsel for the railroad company he took Judson
in as assistant counsel, and he is there still, now general counsel.
Lucien L. Gilbert read law in our office, and remained in the office as assistant counsel until after I went onto the bench, and until Mr. Brooks took him also to Pittsburg as assistant counsel. Mr. Gilbert was and is an able office lawyer. He still retains a residence in Salem.
Shortly before I went upon the bench Rush Taggart, from Wooster, elder brother of Judge Taggart, of the Circuit Court of the Fifth Cir- cuit, came to our office as an assistant ; and when Mr. Brooks went to Pittsburgh he appointed Mr. Taggart as attorney in his place for the Penn- sylvania Company in Ohio. Mr. Taggart filled the office until 1887, when he moved to New York and entered into partnership with Dillon & Swain, and has become a prominent corporation and commercial lawyer.
Upon Mr. Taggart's resignation Mr. James R. Carey, heretofore referred to, son of Dr. A. Carey of Salem, who was then located at Ft. Wayne, was called to Salem by Mr. Brooks and appointed in the place of Mr. Taggart as attor- ney for that company.
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Wm. C. Boyle, who was born and raised in Salem, was a clerk in J. Twing Brooks' office, Pittsburg, having been admitted to the bar, at the instance of Mr. Brooks. He became a partner of Mr. Carey, and the firm of Carey & Boyle was formed 1888, and continued for a time, when Mr. Brooks sent Mr. Fred. J. Mullins, another able attorney from Wooster, Ohio, to Salem, and the firm of Carey, Boyle & Mullins was formed and continued until January, 1900, when Mr. Boyle moved to Cleveland, and entered into the office of Squires, Sanders & Dempsey, where he is today. The firm of Carey & Mullins are yet the attor- neys for the railroad company, and have a large and general practice besides.
Mr. Brooks still continued residing in Salem, in the magnificent mansion he built, and was president of the bank until his death; and his death was a great calamity to the city, as he was its most enterprising citizen. He built block af- ter block of business buildings, and aided in es- tablishing and extending its large manufacturing and commercial interests and surrounding agri- cultural projects ; and he substantially killed himself by his never-ceasing devotion of all his energies to his life's work.
Charles Twing Brooks, only son of J. Twing Brooks, was graduated at Yale in 1889, and at Harvard Law School in 1894. He was admitted to practice in Ohio also in 1894, and entered the offices of Squires, Sanders & Dempsey, Cleveland, the same year, and is still there, an able and ef- ficient lawyer.
Thomas Kennett came to Salem in 1857, and soon thereafter entered into partnership with Peter Ambler, a younger brother of the Hon. Jacob A. Ambler. They were together for some years, when they separated and Mr. Kennett took his son, Edward, who had been admitted to the bar, in as a partner ; but in 1878 they moved to Empire, Kansas, where the father died. Mr. Kennett was very reticent and quiet, and never given to oratory or display. I remember, how- ever, one incident when he created great amuse- ment in the court room. I was holding a term of the Common Pleas Court in New Lisbon, and Kennett and Ambler were attorneys for a defend- ant in a bastardy proceeding ; and just before the jury were to be sworn Mr. Kennett arose and said : "If your honor please, my client will have to plead guilty ; but I hope your honor will not
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be as hard on him as he has has been on this girl, and double the penalty. This is an unusual case; she had twins." Peter Ambler continued in the practice in Salem until his death a few years ago.
Henry C. Jones was another of Salem's able lawyers, especially in office and probate practice. He opened an office and began the practice before the commencement of the Civil War, and enlisted and served as first lieutenant of Co. B, 12th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. After the war was over he returned, opened an office and again acquired a lucrative practice, which he continued until he died, March 28, 1903. About 1856 Asa H. Battin, born and raised in Columbiana county, came to Salem and opened a law office. After a number of years practice here he moved to Steubenville, where he practiced until he died, some time about 1890. The only time I ever saw Joseph J. Brooks lose control of himself was in a trial in the town hall before the Mayor, when Mr. Battin and I were on opposite sides. At a remark made by Mr. Battin, who was sitting on his chair, Mr. Brooks grabbed him by the throat and threw him to the floor. Others of us interfered, however, and stopped further violence.
During my time there were many other mem- bers of the bar in Salem of more or less celeb- rity. John Saxon, born on a farm near Salem, practiced for a year or two before the Civil war, went west, returned to his old home some years afterward, and died here three years ago. J. Loring Brooks, who read law with, and became a partner of Jacob A. Ambler, was an able at- torney. In a year or two, however, he went west with, and as secretary to Gov. Campbell, of Wy- oming. From there he went to West Liberty, Iowa, was an attorney and banker there, and died in 1903. D. M. Carey, brother of James, read law with Laubie & Brooks, but did not enter upon the practice. He went to Detroit, where he still lives, an able newspaper man. Lawrence A. Hall, now dead, studied with Laubie & Brooks, but never entered the practice. J. Twing Brooks had him appointed clerk in the railroad offices in Pittsburg, where he served until his death. Sheldon Parke, who came from Cleveland, to become a student of Laubie and Brooks, was admitted and practiced for a time in Salem, and returned to Cleveland. M. C. McNabb, a student of Laubie & Brooks, began
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