USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > Centennial history of Cincinnati and representative citizens, Vol. II, Pt. 1 > Part 12
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In 1866 Dr. Isham began the study of medicine at the Medical College
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of Ohio in Cincinnati and completed the course in 1869, when he began prac- tice on Walnut Hills. In this aristocratic and wealthy section of the city he has been eminently successful, his private practice being very absorbing. However busy he might be in the actual duties of his profession, Dr. Isham has been too close a student and too much of a scientist to refrain from join- ing the great progressive movements which his profession has forwarded, and to-day he is ranked among the eminent men of the time. During the adminstration of Benjamin Harrison. he was pension examiner and he has been on the Board of Police Examiners since April 8, 1886. In 1879 he was president of the Walnut Hills Medical Society; from 1877 to 1880 he was professor of physiology in the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Sur- gery, and from 1880 to 1881, professor of materia medica and therapeutics. He was a trustee of the Cincinnati Hospital for three years, and is at present president of the board of medical directors of that institution. He is an ex- president of the Academy of Medicine of Cincinnati. The honorary degree of Master of Arts was conferred on him by Marietta College in 1889.
Dr. Isham is the able editor of the papers of the late Dr. Alonzo T. Keyt, and his arrangement resulted in the compilation of a volume entitled "Sphygmography and Cardiography". which attracted the attention of the scientific world, both on account of its matter and by reason of its able edit- ing. Dr. Isham is the author of "Prisoners of War and Military Prisons", which was published in 1890, and of a number of, articles in "Sketches of War History", published by the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, of which he is a member, being an ex-commander of Ohio Commandery. He is also the author of a history of the 7th Regiment, Michi- gan Vol. Cav. He has been a frequent contributor to the American Journal of the Medical Sciences, and to the Medical News and other medical journals. Both in editorial work and in professional work, he has become well and widely known. Dr. Isham is a past commander of Fred C. Jones Post, No. 401, G. A. R.
On October 10, 1870, Dr. Isham was married to Mary H. Keyt, daugh- ter of the late Dr. Alonzo T. and Susannah ( Hamlin ) Keyt of Walnut Hills. The children of this marriage bear the names of Mary K., Asa C., Susan H., Alonzo K., Frances C., Helen and Eleanor Louise. Mary K. Isham, the eldest daughter of our subject, graduated from Wellesley College in 1894, received the degree of Master of Arts from the University of Cincinnati in
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1896, and subsequently took a post-graduate course at the University of Chi- cago and held a fellowship in philosophy in Bryn Mawr College. In 1903 she graduated from the Laura Memorial Woman's Medical College of Cincin- nati, and at present is an interne in the Presbyterian Hospital of this city. Asa C. Isham, our subject's eldest son, who is superintendent of the plant of The P. R. Mitchell Company, manufacturers of curled hair and bristles, married Mary Swing, a daughter of Judge Peter F. and Louisa ( Conkling) Swing, and has one daughter, Mary Louise. Susan H. Isham married Richard C. Swing, a son of Judge Peter F. and Louisa (Conkling) Swing. The Isham family residence is at No. 849 Oak street, Walnut Hills.
WILLIAM H. CHATFIELD.
The city of Cincinnati lost one of her prominent and useful citizens in the death of William H. Chatfield, senior member of the great paper firm of Chatfield & Woods, which took place May 13, 1889, in the city of New York.
Mr. Chatfield was born July 16, 1828, near Akron, Ohio, and was left an orphan at the age of 12 years. About the age of 13, he came to the city of Cincinnati, where his first position was as office boy in an insurance office; subsequently he held a clerkship in the Post Office. Later he became iden- tified with the firm of Nixon & Company, afterward Nixon & Goodman. In 1859, the firm of Nixon, Chatfield & Woods was formed and continued until succeeded by the firm of Chatfield & Woods, which established one of the largest and most prosperous paper houses west of New York City. The firm of Chatfield & Woods became a feature in the commercial world of Cincinnati, and the association continued until the death of Mr. Chatfield, as stated above. As a business man liis methods were honorable and his ac- tivity and energy contributed largely to the prosperity of the firm. His in- terests are still prominent in this house, being represented by his son, Albert H. Chatfield, who is president of The Chatfield & Woods Company.
Mr. Chatfield never aspired to political office or personal prominence in public life. He was generous in his charities and liberal in huis contributions to worthy objects. For a number of years he was an active member of the Second Presbyterian Church of this city. He was a valued member of the
Fromes Ho & Allen
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Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce. In appearance the late Mr. Chatfield was notable, his fine figure and military bearing making him marked in any assembly.
In 1854, Mr. Chatfield was united in marriage with Mary Disney, by whom he had two children: Albert H., who married a Miss Huntington; and Mrs. Frederick Gilbert of Utica, New York.
THOMAS H. C. ALLEN.
Each year the city of Cincinnati is called upon to mourn the loss of some prominent and useful citizen, and the death of the late Thomas H. C. Allen, on July 15, 1900, caused more than usual regret, on account of his conspicuous position in the business world and also by reason of those personal attributes which for many years had made him the almoner of the poor, the organizer and promoter of enterprises for the aid of the helpless, the leading spirit in civic improvement movements and the consistent Christian whose life was the best testimony to the faith he held.
The Allen family traces a long line of New England ancestry, and the birth of Thomas H. C. Allen took place September 21, 1822, at New London, Connecticut. His family surroundings made it possible for him to secure an excellent education, the first use of which he made as a clerk for his uncle, at Salina, now Syracuse, New York. He located in Cincinnati in 1848 as man- ager and then as owner of a branch house of a large and prosperous Eastern medicine company. His business connection continued in this line and he later became a manufacturer, realizing from the sale of his products a large fortune. Mr. Allen was a man of superior business talent and possessed also all of those admirable qualities which go to make a useful life. While immersed in the details of a constantly expanding business, its director and manager as well as its owner, he found time to cultivate the other sides of life and was a man of wide reading, intellectual attainments and an example of that old-time courtesy so sadly lacking in the hurry and stress of modern existence. Although his name is prominently identified with many of the philanthropic enterprises cal- culated to advance the general good, perhaps his heart was most interested in his private charities and in liberally assisting the work of the Protestant Episco- pal Free Hospital for Children and in advancing the usefulness of the Church of Our Savior. For many years he was a devoted member of this congre-
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gation, was the prime mover and financial supporter in the erection of the beautiful church and served for many years, even until death, as vestryman. Although Mr. Allen was so generous in his support of all he believed in need of his benefactions, only the recipients of his charity can tell to what extent he was liberal. With them his memory must ever be sacred.
Mr. Allen was twice married, first to Jane Woodruff, daughter of Tru- man Woodruff, an old pioneer, in June, 1852, and three sons were born to this union : William M., one of the progressive business men of Cincinnati; Thomas W., vice-president of The John H. Hibben Dry Goods Company of Cincinnati, and John H., a member of the firm of Allen & Munson, the lead- ing flour, grain and feed merchants of the city, with offices in the Chamber of Commerce Building. On August 5, 1879, Mr. Allen was married to Laura Rowe, daughter of Stanhope S. Rowe, who was born in 1812, and died in 1881, one of Cincinnati's most prominent bankers. The Rowe family has long been a leading one in the social circles of this city. Two children were born to this marriage, Frederick and Charlotte, who reside with their mother at the beautiful family home at No. 2058 Auburn avenue, Mount Auburn.
Among the many enterprises with which Mr. Allen was honorably con- nected was the Cincinnati Savings Association and he was very active in his efforts to have the aim and benefits of this institution brought before those whom it would most assist. His death was also a blow to the Chamber of Commerce, as he had so long taken a deep interest in all that pertained to its welfare.
Mr. Allen was notably devoted to his home and family and enjoyed the accumulation of fortune in order that it might bring pleasure and profit to those of his home circle. It was with justifiable pride that he saw his sons taking honorable places in the business world. The pride and affection was mutual, and while Thomas H. C. Allen will long be remembered by his fellow. citizens, only those who knew him best, his own immediate family, realize the irreparable loss. His portrait accompanies this sketcli.
THOMAS V. FITZPATRICK, M. D.
THOMAS V. FITZPATRICK, M. D., is one of the most eminent laryngolo- gists and aurists of Cincinnati. lle was born at Nicholasville, Clermont
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County, Ohio, April 9, 1855, and is a son of Solomon and Zerilda ( Vanhook ) Fitzpatrick, natives of Crab Orchard, Kentucky, the former of whom was born December 14, 1793, and, after many years of agricultural life, died February 5, 1868. These parents reared a large family of children, but few of them still survive.
Dr. Thomas V. Fitzpatrick came to Cincinnati in 1871, and received his education here, passing from an unfinished course at Hughes High School to the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery, where he was graduated in 1875. In 1890 he received the honorary degree of Ph. D. from Twin Valley College. Since 1875 Dr. Fitzpatrick has been a medical practitioner. first at Paragon, Indiana, where he continued one year, and at New Baltimore, Hamilton County, Ohio, from 1876 to 1887. In 1888 he attended the New York Post-Graduate School of Medicine where he devoted his attention entirely to the study of laryngology and otology. After completing the course of study in New York he went abroad for several months, devoting his entire time to his chosen specialty. He was professor of laryngology and otology in the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery from 1888 to the close of that institution's life, in 1892, and was dean of the faculty during the last four years.
Dr. Fitzpatrick is associated with almost all of the leading medical societies of this section of the country, including the American Medical Asso- ciation, American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Association. Western Ophthalmological Society, Pan-American Medical Congress, Mis- sissippi Valley Medical Association, Miami Valley Medical Association, Ohio State Medical Society and Cincinnati Academy of Medcine. From 1890 to 1893 he served as secretary of the Cincinnati Academy of Medicine and has also served as secretary of the Ohio State Medical Society.
In 1885 Dr. Fitzpatrick was married to Lotta A. Willey, daughter of John and Roxie A. (Buell) Willey, early pioneers of Hamilton County. Mrs. Fitzpatrick died October 8, 1893, leaving one son, E. Verne, aged four years. In 1899, Florence Swing, daughter of Judge Peter F. and Louisa (Conkling) Swing, became our subject's wife. They have one son, Thomas Swing. In religious belief, Dr. Fitzpatrick is liberal, contributing generously to all churches and charities and lending his influence to all moral movements. In politics he is prominently identified with the Republican party. Pro- fessionally, he has the cordial support and confidence of his fellow practition-
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ers over the State. He served with honor and distinction two terms as mayor of his village, Norwood. He is a Mason of high standing having taken the 32nd degree, and is prominently identified with the history and growth of Norwood Lodge, F. & A. M.
HON. EDWARD ALEXANDER FERGUSON.
HON. EDWARD ALEXANDER FERGUSON, a prominent lawyer of Cincinnati, was born November 6, 1826, in the city of New York. He was educated in the common schools of Cincinnati and at Talbot's Academy and Woodward College, graduating from the latter institution in 1843. His law study was prosecuted for five years and his admission to the bar followed in May. 1848.
Mr. Ferguson's public career began in April, 1852, when he was elected to the position of city solicitor by the City Council, which was followed in 1859 by election to the Ohio Senate. A notable body of men made up that legislative assembly, among his associates being the late President Garfield, Justice Woods, of the United States Supreme Court, Gen. Jacob D. Cox and others, whose eminent service in public life have been placed on record. Mr. Ferguson made his mark in this galaxy of brilliant men and of his career in the Senate, W. D. Bickham, of the Dayton Journal, the Columbus cor- respondent of the Cincinnati Commercial, under date of March 27, 1860, said :
"Hamilton County has been ably represented this winter. Those who know Mr. Ferguson will not be surprised to be informed that he commanded respect and admiration. He spoke but seldom, but his positions were always distinctly taken, clearly stated and ably maintained."
In politics, Mr. Ferguson is a Democrat and since his service in the State Senate his name has been frequently mentioned for the United States Senate and other positions, but he has declined all political preferment and has devoted his energies to the demands of his profession. In this he is regarded as one of the ablest members of the Ohio bar. His specialty is corporation law and he has been counsel for the leading corporations of the city and State. Mr. Ferguson became widely known as the projector of the plan upon which the Cincinnati Southern Railway was built, and was the
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author of the act passed by the Ohio Legislature on May 4, 1869, known as the "Ferguson Act," which provided that whenever the Council of a city of the first class, Cincinnati at that time being the only city of that description in Ohio, which, by a resolution duly passed, declared it essential to the interests of such city that a line of railroad should be provided between termini desig- nated therein, a board of trustees should be appointed with power to raise bonds to the amount of $10,000,000 in the name and under the corporate seal of the city. Such a resolution was duly passed and a board of trustees, of whom Mr. Ferguson was a member, was appointed in June, 1869, and the road was completed December 10, 1879. In October, 1881, the board leased it for a term of 25 years at a net annual rental of over $1,000,000. Up to the completion of this road Mr. Ferguson subordinated all other interests to the successful accomplishment of the grand result.
In September, 1857, Mr. Ferguson was married to Agnes Moore, a granddaughter of Adam Moore, who was one of the early settlers of Hamil- ton County and a leading merchant of Cincinnati.
FRANKLIN ALTER.
FRANKLIN ALTER, president of the American Tool Works Company and of the Alter & McCaffrey Company, manufacturers of shoes, is one of Cincinnati's most prominent citizens. He was born at Carlisle, Pennsyl- vania, October 28, 1831, and secured his early education in the city of Har- risburg, Pennsylvania, and a portion of his early manhood was spent in the States of Maryland and Virginia. Thrown upon his own resources, he decided to push westward in search of better opportunities. 'Thus he reached Cincinnati while still a youth and soon found employment as a clerk in the hardware store of R. W. Booth & Company. His services in this capacity proved to be of such value that by the time three years had elapsed he was admitted to partnership and made general manager of the firm's extensive business. This association continued until 1862 when he sold his interests and assisted in the formation of the firm of Prichard, Alter & Company. for the manufacture of boots and shoes. A sketch of the late George A. Prichard of this firm will be found in this volume. To the business of this firm Mr. Alter directed his best energies and finally purchased Mr. Prichard's
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interest. After some changes he organized the firm of Alter, Pinckard & Company and also that of Alter, Forward & Company, the latter being the largest of its kind in Cincinnati during its existence. It was lately succeeded by the Alter & McCaffrey Company, of which Mr. Alter is president.
Mr. Alter has many other business interests. He is president of the American Tool Works Company. He has been particularly well known in the past in banking circles. In January, 1884, he was elected president of the Exchange National Bank of Cincinnati, of which he had been a director since its organization, in November, 1881. He carried the bank safely through the business stress of 1884 when many hitherto strong financial in- stitutions fell, and it was due to his efforts that the consolidation of this bank ,
with the Cincinnati National Bank was effected in 1885, of which he became vice-president.
Mr. Alter stands foremost among the capitalists who are liberal in public spirited movements. He has given generously to the development of Cin- cinnati's commercial enterprises and advances with money and influence those interests which promise to be of permanent value. As typical of the esteem in which he is held, he was elected a member of the Hamilton County Board of Control, a botly created by the Legislature to check lawlessness and to govern the expenditure of public money. Although a Democrat, his support came equally from Republicans, his integrity of character appeal- ing to the good citizenship of both parties. In 1899 he was appointed for a five years' term as a member of the Trustees of the Sinking Fund of Cin- cinnati, and on the expiration of the five years was appointed by the Superior Court for a second term of like duration. The beautiful Alter residence is situated in Avondale, where the family has long been socially prominent.
HON. JAMES M. SMITH.
HON. JAMES M. SMITH, ex-judge of the Circuit Court of Hamilton County, a jurist of great ability and a prominent and esteemed citizen of this city, died May 29, 1902, on a railway train, while en route from New York to Cincinnati. His death was lamented by all who had intimate ac- quaintance with him.
Jutlge Smith was born in Warren County, Ohio, and was in his 78th
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year, his birth having taken place in 1825. He began the study of the pro- fession in which he became so eminent when 18 years of age, while occupy- ing a clerical position in the office of the State Treasurer. A few years later he was admitted to the bar and very soon became a prominent factor in his profession. In 1854 he was elected judge of Probate and in 1871 judge of Common Pleas, and in 1885, when the Circuit Court was organized, he was elected to that bench, serving continuously until 1899. He was then succeeded by Judge Ferdinand Jelke, Jr. During his long judicial career. Judge Smith was associated with many of the leading legal lights of the State, the names of Judges Swing, Cox and Giffen being familiar in many courts.
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In his services on the bench, Judge Smith earned the good will of the practicing lawyers through his fair and impartial treatment. He was never swayed by outside influences and no suspicion was ever cast on his integ- rity, being able, dignified and absolutely impartial. Judge Smith left a large amount of property. He had made many judicious business invest- ments and always was careful in looking out for the welfare of his family.
Judge Smith was married in 1851 to Sarah Belle Clements, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. C. B. Clements, of Lebanon, Ohio, and three children sur- vive: Mrs. M. S. Todd, whose husband is secretary and treasurer of the Southern Ohio Loan & Trust Company, of Cincinnati; Mrs. L. D. Thoman. of Chicago, Illinois; and H. H. Smith, of Toledo, Ohio. The burial of Judge Smith took place from the residence of his daughter, Mrs. Todd, at Avondale, where were gathered representatives of the profession and a large concourse of personal friends. Interment took place at Lebanon. Ohio.
HON. BELLAMY STORER.
HON. BELLAMY STORER, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipoten- tiary of the United States to Austria-Hungary, and formerly Envoy Ex- traordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States to Spain and Member of Congress, was born and has always lived in Cincinnati, except when his official duties have necessitated his living elsewhere. His father was Judge Bellamy Storer, who was born at Portland. Maine, March 26, 1796, his forefathers being early settlers in Maine.
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Judge Storer entered Bowdoin College at the early age of 13 years, and later studied law with Daniel Webster in Boston. In 1817 he came to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he spent nearly 50 years in the practice of the law and in connection with public affairs. He was one of the city's most prominent men, and held numerous offices high in public trust. In the "thirties," he was a Member of Congress from Ohio, and was a presidential elector on the Clay ticket in 1844. Ten years later he was elected judge of the Superior Court of Cincinnati, and remained continuously on the bench until 1872, when he resigned in order to enter upon a law practice with his son. He was married to Elizabeth Drinker, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who was descended directly from one of the colonists who came to America with William Penn.
Bellamy Storer, the subject of this sketch, was born in Cincinnati, Au- gust 28, 1847, attended Harvard College, and was graduated with the class of 1867. He then read law with Judge Stanley Matthews, and in 1869 was graduated from the Cincinnati Law School, in which his father was one of the instructors. During 1869 and 1870, he was assistant United States district attorney for the Southern District of Ohio. He served one term as trustee of the University of Cincinnati, and for a number of years was president of the Ohio Humane Society. The first law firm with which he was identified was the firm of Storer, Goodman & Storer. Upon the death of the 'senior member in 1875, the firm name was changed to Goodman & Storer, and so continued until 1878. During the succeeding 10 years the subject of this sketch was senior member of the firm of Storer & Harrison. In the district convention of September 18, 1890, Mr. Storer received a unani- mous nomination for Congress. Owing to the fact that the district had been gerrymandered so as to favor the Democratic party, his election seemed hopeless. He was exceedingly popular and well known, although he had never before been a candidate for office, and his election followed. He represented his district in a most able manner, and received the hearty sup- port of the citizens two years later, when he was reelected by a majority of more than a thousand votes. He was a very popular man in the halls of Congress, and his knowledge of international law and foreign languages rendered him a suitable person to represent the government in foreign coun- tries. . He was appointed Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Belgium by President Mckinley, in May, 1897, and there continued until
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he was selected, contrary to his own preferences, to represent the United States in Spain after the close of the Spanish-American War. He arrived at Madrid as Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States in June, 1899, and remained at that post until September, 1902, when he was transferred to Vienna as Ambassador of the United States to Austria-Hungary.
Mr. Storer was married in 1886 to Maria Longworth, daughter of Joseph and Annie ( Rives) Longworth.
HARVEY WICKES FELTER, M. D.
HARVEY WICKES FELTER, M. D., a prominent physician and surgeon of Hamilton County, located on the corner of Chase and Pitts avenues, Cum- minsville, is professor of descriptive and surgical anatomy and of chemistry, pharmacy and toxicology in the Eclectic Medical Institute of Cincinnati and is a well known writer on medical and pharmacal subjects. He was born at Rensselaerville, Albany County, New York, June 15, 1865, and is a son of Andrew Jay and Elizabeth ( Nichols) Felter, and a grandson of Elisha P. and Mary ( Wagner) Felter, on the paternal side, and of Luman H. Nichols on the maternal side.
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