USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > Centennial history of Cincinnati and representative citizens, Vol. II, Pt. 1 > Part 18
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Mr. Groesbeck had opposed slavery and the extension of slave territory. Although a member of the Democratic party when the war was "inevitable." he became a firm supporter of the preservation of the Union, declaring that
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"secession must be put down." A few days after the firing on Fort Sumter, a party of gentlemen met at the Burnet House in Cincinnati to consider the dangers to which this city was incident. A telegram signed by W. J. Flagg, W. S. Groesbeck, S. F. Vinton, Larz Anderson, Rutherford B. Hayes, and George E. Pugh was sent to Washington, asking that Capt. George B. Mc- Clellan, at that time living in Cincinnati as the president of the Ohio & Mis- sissippi Railroad Company, should be appointed to organize forces and take command at this point. This was Mcclellan's first prominence in the war. Mr. Groesbeck at that time and for many years afterward proclaimed pub- licly his aversion to secession and his satisfaction with the result of the war, saying in 1861 to Governor Dennison : " I would rather sacrifice all I have than to live to see this Union dissevered." At a dinner to Judge Leavitt in 1870, he responded to a toast, " War legislates and with the legislation of the war we are satisfied"; again he said, " The amendments have been made and they will stand." Mr. Groesbeck was elected a State Senator in 1861 ; he took a very active part in the discussions of the body concerning finance and judi- cial legislation, and exerted great influence much needed at that time.
By far the most brilliant of Mr. Groesbeck's achievemnets and one that brought him immediate international prominence was his speech made in defense of President Andrew Johnson, upon the occasion of the impeachment of the latter by Congress. The resolution for the impeachment passed the House of Representatives on February 24, 1868. On March 5th Mr. Bing- ham, chairman of the board of managers selected by the House, read at the bar of the Senate the articles of impeachment, 11 in number, charging in various legal forms the violation of the tenure of office act, improper criticismn of Congress, obstruction and interference with the reconstruction enactments. The President was represented by his own Attorney General, Henry Stan- bery, who resigned his position for the purpose; Benjamin R. Curtis, a former justice of the United States Supreme Court, and by many regarded as a leader of the American bar; William M. Evarts, who subsequently succeeded Stanbery as Attorney General ; T. A. R. Nelson, a great personal friend of the President ; and Jeremiah S. Black, a member of Buchanan's cabinet. At the last moment Mr. Black withdrew and Mr. Groesbeck was selected by the President to take his place. He took no part in the early stages of the trial. but on April 25th addressed the Senate on behalf of the President in a speech so sound in its law, so strong in its expression, and so powerful in its appeal
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to the emotions that it has been considered a masterpiece of American oratory. Of this address Roger Foster, in his work on the United States Constitution. speaks as " a masterly argument upon the legal questions in the case." James G. Blaine, in his "Twenty Years of Congress," uses this language: " Mr. Groesbeck was favorably known to the country by his service with the Demo- cratic Representatives in the Twenty-Fifth Congress, but little had been heard of his legal learning outside of Ohio. He took no part in the conduct of the impeachment case, but his final argument was a surprise to the Senate and to his professional brethren, and did much to give him a high reputation as a lawyer"; and again Mr. Blaine says, " He made a clear presentation of the grounds of defense." S. S. Cox, in his book of reminiscences, says : "Un- expectedly to some, but not to the writer, Mr. Groesbeck of Ohio, who was not at first in the case, was the most successful in presenting, with enormous vehemence of logic and eloquence, the defense of the impeached President": again, that " the most remarkable speech was made by Mr. Groesbeck."
The praise of those who heard this speech was not limited to associates: the first to congratulate Mr. Groesbeck was Mr. Bingham, the chairman of the board of managers, and General Butler, another of the managers. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Salmon P. Chase, came down from his seat and did the same, and is quoted as having characterized his address as " the greatest speech ever delivered in America." The newspapers gave it as a general opinion that Mr. Groesbeck had borne off the laurels from both sides for argument and eloquence, one paper speaking of the argument as " a speech which will rank with the greatest orations of ancient or modern times." Mr. Groesbeck was the sensation of the day and his fame was her- alded throughout the country as a proper man to succeed to the presidency. or to one of the vacant seats on the bench of the Supreme Court. He had been considered before by Mr. Buchanan in the latter connection, and again in 1873 his name was considered by President Grant for the vacant chief justiceship. In the National Democratic Convention of 1872, Mr. Groes- beck was one of the four who received votes for the vice-presidency. In 1880 he was again prominently mentioned for the presidency, but refused to become an active candidate for the nomination.
Mr. Groesbeck was appointed a member of the monetary commission of 1876, his associates being John P. Jones, Louis V. Bogy. George S. Bout- well, of the Senate; Randall L. Gibson, George Willard. Richard P. Bland,
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of the House of Representatives, and Prof. Francis Bowen of Harvard Col- lege. Mr. Groesbeck signed the majority report, made March 2, 1877. He was the orator on the subject, " Gold and Silver," before the American Bank- ers' Association of New York, and the following year he was selected with Reuben E. Fenton and Francis A. Walker as a commissioner on the part of the United States at the International Monetary Conference at Paris. Mr. Groesbeck at the second session gave a brief historical review of the American legislation on the subject, and in conclusion stated the views of the United States in two propositions, urging the undesirability of the exclusion of silver from free coinage and the possible use of both metals as unlimited legal tender money to be reached by international agreement as to ratios. Mr. Groesbeck took throughout the whole proceeding a most active part and delivered an address of considerable length in favor of international bimetallism.
Mr. Groesbeck was an ardent advocate of civil service reform and de- livered a most forcible address on the subject at College Hall in Cincinnati. His interest in politics continued throughout his life; he was at all times a consistent Democrat, but retained the esteem and respect of all parties throughout his life. His last public address at a political gathering was at the great Campbell meeting at Music Hall in Cincinnati in 1889; his speech in favor of Mr. Campbell was considered a most powerful influence for the latter's success.
As an occasional orator, Mr. Groesbeck's services were in constant de- mand. He it was that welcomed Gen. Louis Kossuth and also Andrew John- son on two occasions when the latter visited this city, once during the war when he came as Senator from the Southern State of Tennessee and after- ward during his term as President. He made addresses at the General Grant banquet, and at the banquet tendered Frederick Hassaurek, and at the law- yers' farewell dinner to Hon. Aaron Fyfe Perry he rendered a tribute to the memory of Abraham Lincoln which was considered a eulogy of the first rank. In 1878, on behalf of the city, he welcomed the American Social Sci- ence Association and afterward addressed the body on. the subject of silver. He was a man of great publie spirit and in 1872 presented to the citizens of Cincinnati the sum of $50,000, the income of which is expended annually for music in Burnet Woods, the well known park of the city. He was a member of the Trustees of the Sinking Fund of Cincinnati from 1883 to 1891.
Mr. Groesbeck was married to Elizabeth Burnet, a daughter of Judge
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Jacob Burnet. She died April 6, 1889, leaving five children surviving, two of whom, Herman and Telford, are members of the Cincinnati bar. Mr. Groesbeck died on the 7th day of July, 1897, at his home, " Elmhurst," which is beantifully located in the suburbs of Cincinnati.
WADE H. ELLIS.
WADE H. ELLIS, Attorney General of the State of Ohio, who first at- tained distinction as editor of the Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, is a lawyer by profession and the firm of Kinkead & Ellis, of which he is a member, represents many important local interests. He was born in Covington, Ken- tucky, and is a son of A. Campbell and Katherine ( Blackburn) Ellis. His father is a native of Kentucky, where he still engages in the practice of the law.
Wade H. Ellis received his educational training in the common schools, at Chickering Institute, Cincinnati, and at Washington and Lee University, Virginia. He was graduated from law school in 1889, and immediately there- after went west, where he remained in practice for two years. Upon his re- turn to Covington, he practiced his profession in Cincinnati until 1895, when his ability received recognition by his appointment as editor of the Tribune. He is a strong and forcible writer, with a comprehensive knowledge of cur- rent affairs, and the editorials of this sheet became its strongest feature, bring- ing prominence to their versatile writer. In 1897, Mr. Ellis resigned his editorship (then of the Commercial Tribune) to accept the position of assist- ant corporation counsel, in which capacity he took a leading part in all the public litigation involving the city's interests, both in the State and Fed- eral courts. His advice has always been songht by the local Republican leaders and the work of preparing legislation particularly desired for Cin- cinnati has always been intrusted to him. He was chosen by Governor. Nash to draft the new municipal code which was passed by the Legislature of Olio at the extraordinary session in October, 1902. Mr. Ellis continued as first assistant corporation counsel until January 1, 1903, resigning to reenter part- nership with Mr. Kinkead and engage in private practice, in which his guar- anteed income is many times larger than he received in his late public office. Hle is one of the foremost men in the Republican politics of Cincinnati, and
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is an untiring worker for party success. At the November election in 1903, Mr. Ellis, as the Republican nominee, was elected to the office of Attorney General of Ohio.
Mr. Ellis was joined in marriage in 1894 with Dessie Corwin Chase, a daughter of Francis M. Chase, of one of Ohio's foremost families.
JOHN J. SULLIVAN.
JOHN J. SULLIVAN, deceased, was one of Cincinnati's foremost citizens. He was president of the Sullivan Printing Works, a large and flourishing concern, and was closely identified with many other important interests. He served on the Board of Supervisors and always had the welfare of the city and Hamilton County at heart.
Mr. Sullivan was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, August 15, 1855, and was the oldest of eight children born to Timothy and Mary (Butler) Sullivan. He attended the public schools and St. Xavier College, from which he was graduated, and later engaged in the printing business, opening up a shop on East Sixth street, near Walnut. The place was visited by a disastrous fire, in which a half dozen girl employees and a cousin of Mr. Sullivan lost their lives, the cousin sacrificing his life in an effort to save the lives of the girls. The printing establishment was then started at Court and Broadway streets, where it is now located. As president of the Sullivan Printing Company, our subject was known as a shrewd, practical business man and made many friends. He became one of the best known men in the city and was a power in politics, being a close friend of George B. Cox. When John A. Caldwell was mayor of Cincinnati, he appointed Mr. Sullivan to a position on the Board of Supervisors, where he served for three years. A short time previous to his death, which occurred September 25, 1901, he was appointed a member of that body by Mayor Julius Fleischmann. When the board convened he was fishing at his summer cottage on Muskoka Lake, Ontario, Canada, and returned home to be sworn in. He was an expert marksman and while home attended the target tournament of the Cincinnati Gun Club at its range in St. Bernard. It was while on the way home from that village that he met with a peculiar and distressing accident which cost him his life. About five o'clock in the evening he and a party of shooters started for home, walking to the
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Millcreek Valley street car line, a short distance away. At that hour the cars were crowded with passengers going to see the Fall Festival parade, and they found it impossible to get aboard. They walked a short distance to the power house with the intention of chartering a private car, when a regular car came along with standing room on the running board. The party got aboard and a few feet farther along the accident occurred. The bridge across Ross Creek is very narrow and the pasengers standing on the running boards have to hug the car closely to avoid being brushed off. For this reason motormen and conductors have strict orders to stop within five feet of the bridge, in order to make sure that no one is in danger of being knocked off by the bridge railings which are quite low. Mr. Sullivan, as did the others, drew himself up close to the car. Being a large man and his coat a light- weight sack, the latter just swept along the top of the bridge railing. Sud- denly it caught on a bolt and Mr. Sullivan was seen to tug at it, at the same time shouting: "Stop the car, my coat is caught." The conductor imme- diately rang the bell, but before the car could be stopped, Mr. Sullivan's grasp on the car rail gave way, and he fell across the railing of the bridge. The impetus was such that he twice rolled completely over on the rail, then shot down to the rocky bed of the creek, 20 feet below. His friends, Dr. Heyl, ex-Mayor Mosby and Mr. Moody, were among the first to rush down the em- bankment to the creek bed. He was found lying on the rocks and partly in the water, and Dr. Heyl pronounced him dead, his neck having been broken by the fall. This terrible accident was a sad shock to his wife and relatives and as well to his many friends throughout the city.
John J. Sullivan was united in marriage July 11, 1876, to Sophia Bon- ning, a daughter of Christopher Bonning, an early resident of Cincinnati. To them were born four children, as follows: Robert, Howard, Carrie and Helen. The family reside in a beautiful home in Avondale.
HERMAN GOEPPER.
The late Herman Goepper was one of a family of 10 children born to Michael and Catherine Goepper. He was born in Cincinnati, August 18, 1847. His mental training was received in the common schools of his native city and in the Woodward High School. At the age of 25 years, Mr. Goep-
WILLIAM A. GOODMAN.
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per became a member of the well known firm of Michael Goepper & Sons. maltsters. When his father died, in 1879, the name of the firm was changed to Herman Goepper & Company, and the business continued under that name until the death of the subject of this sketch, which occurred October 18, 1900. Mr. Goepper became a member of the Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce and Merchants' Exchange, on January 6, 1872, and acted in the capacity of one of its vice-presidents from 1879 to 1881. He was also its treasurer from 1884 to 1885. He was also president of the Commercial Club of Cincinanti, president of the Cincinnati Music Hall Association, a trustee of the Cincin- nati Museum Association, a director of Spring Grove Cemetery, and a trustee of the Technical School. Mr. Goepper was one of Cincinnati's most promi- nent merchants, and was noted for his straightforward and upright dealings with his fellow meu. He was a man of intelligence and integrity, and proved himself equal to the conduct of large business operations. He was genial in manner, and thus acquired and retained many friends. He was liberal and generous, charitable to the poor and served to lighten the burdens of many.
Mr. Goepper was united in marriage April 26, 1883, with Elizabeth F. Butler, who is a daughter of Thomas S. Butler. Two children were born to this union, both of whom are living. Socially and otherwise, the Goepper family was and is one of the first in Cincinnati.
The subject of this sketch was a member of the Unitarian Church, with which his family is also connected. In politics, Mr. Goepper was a Repub- lican. Mr. Goepper had accumulated considerable means and left his family in most comfortable circumstances. His widow, a most estimable lady, lives with her children in one of the most beautiful residences in Avondale.
WILLIAM A. GOODMAN.
WILLIAM A.GOODMAN, president of the National Lafayette Bank, of Cin- cinnati, and one of the city's prominent and highly esteemed citizens, was born in Cincinnati, November 22, 1822. His parents were Timothy S. and Amelia (Faxon) Goodman, who came to Ohio in 1817 from West Hartford, Connecticut. The Goodman family is a very old one in colonial history and it was founded in New England by John Goodman, a passenger on the "May- flower."
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Timothy S. Goodman is recalled as one of the pioneer, wholesale dry goods merchants who built up a prosperous trade in Cincinnati prior to 1840. At that date, in company with his brother, H. H. Goodman, who was a banker, he formed the partnership long known as H. H. Goodman & Com- pany, in a banking business, with which he continued to be associated until his death, in 1873.
William A. Goodman was given the education befitting his birth and his father's ample means, passing from Woodward High School to Marietta Col- lege. After completing his collegiate course he returned to Cincinnati and joined his father in the banking business and continued until 1858, when he was made cashier of the Bank of the Ohio Valley. With that institution he remained until 1871, having served as its vice-president. In 1871 changes took place in this bank and it was merged into the Third National Bank, and Mr. Goodman was elected its vice-president. There he continued until 1876, when he organized a new bank, known as the Bank of Commerce, with a capital of $300,000, of which bank he became president. In 1879 the consoli- dation of the Bank of Commerce and of the old Lafayette National Bank was effected and it has since been known as the National Lafayette Bank, Mr. Goodman continuing as president from the date of organization of the new bank to the present time.
Few men have had a more thorough schooling in banking methods than Mr. Goodman, and he is recognized as a leading representative of safe bank- ing business management. Complex and complicated questions continually face the holder of large funds and a man of close and careful reasoning, unruffled temper and judicial judgment is required to successfully cope with the difficulties that often suddenly appear. Mr. Goodman has safely passed through many seasons of strife and stress, when the financial world was shaken from one end to the other, and has many times given evidence of the wise, guiding mind and firm hand at the head of his corporations. In public life his name is not conspicuous for he has taken little part in politics, but in business it carries with it weight and importance. Socially he is genial and companionable although of a dignified demeanor. His admirers are many and his friends many more.
Mr. Goodman has been twice married. His first marriage occurred July 17, 1848, to Lucy Grandin, a danghter of Philip Grandin, a pioneer citizen of Cincinnati. The issue of that marriage was six children-one son and
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five daughters. He was married, the second time, to Mrs. Anna E. Beattie, a musician of noted reputation, on August 10, 1892. Mr. Goodman is a devout Episcopalian. His portrait accompanies this sketch.
CAPT. MICHAEL A. McGUIRE.
CAPT. MICHAEL A. McGUIRE, a prominent and influential citizen of Cincinnati, whose business interests have centered here for many years, was born September 29, 1839, near Thurles, Ireland. His parents were natives of that country and he accompanied them to America in 1844. They established a dairy on Walnut Hills, Cincinnati, and there Michael was reared.
The youth was but 12 years old when he left the public school to learn the trunk manufacturing business, and for this purpose he remained in the factory of Hise & Williams for five years. He was one of the youthful loyal band that answered the call of the President in April, 1861, for defenders of the Union, and enlisted for the three-months service in the 10th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., reenlisting in the same regiment on June 10, 1861, for a term of three years. His zeal and qualifications caused him to be commissioned to raise a company in Cincinnati, and he recruited what became Company B,' of which he was commissioned captain. His services until so seriously wounded in November, 1864, as to cause his resignation, were of so valorous a charac- ter that at the close of the great struggle he was brevetted major "for gallant and meritorious service in the battle of Resaca."
After his restoration to health, Captain McGuire embarked in a trunk manufacturing business for himself and in the course of time became the largest manufacturer of and dealer in trunks in Cincinnati. He has been prom- inently identified with public affairs in this city and has held responsible civic positions. In 1900 he became a member of the Board of Public Service, and during his first term was noted as one of the most conscientious and indns- trious members of that body. He is at present serving his second term, with the same sincerity to the public weal as characterized his work previously.
On July 5, 1865, Captain McGuire was married to Camilla 1 .. Vogel, who is a daughter of Charles Vogel, and these children have been born to their union: Horace G., Camilla, Edmund B., Lily, Rosa, Ida and Ella. The family reside in Cumminsville.
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In political sentiment Captain McGuire is a strong Republican and takes a very deep interest in Republican affairs. He is a man of integrity, belong- ing to that class whose word has a value above that of legal formality, and he stands as a true and representative citizen of Cincinnati.
COL. BRENT ARNOLD.
COL. BRENT ARNOLD, a prominent citizen of Cincinnati, who has dis- tinguished himself in business, public and social life in this cty, was born n 1847 at Paris, Bourbon County, Kentucky, and is a son of J. U. and Lucy J. Arnold, natives of Bourbon and Mercer counties, Kentucky, respectively.
The latter part of the Civil War found our subject a youth at school, but his devotion to his native State led him to desert the University of Ken- tucky and go to the Confederates. Capture soon followed and parole a little later, and the young soldier was sent back to complete his education at the University of Kentucky.
Since 1865 Colonel Arnold's home has been in Cincinnati, his present residence being in the beautiful suburb of Clifton. His entrance into business was in the mercantile line, but he began his really remarkable railroad career as a clerk in the Cincinnati freight office of the Louisville, Cincinnati & Lex- ington Railroad Company, being successively promoted to the office of gen- eral freight agent of the Kentucky Central Division of the Louisville & Nash- ville Railroad and superintendent of terminals of the same corporation.
Colonel Arnold's popularity as a citizen was shown in 1884 when he was elected alderman by the Democrats of the 18th Ward with a majority of 500 votes, when this ward had always previously given a Republican plu- rality. With two years of service in the City Council he closed his official connections. For a long period he has been a valued member of the Chamber of Commerce, serving as the secretary of that important body during 1887-88 and was elected its president in 1892 .- a most honorable and coveted posi- tion.
Colonel Arnold secured his title as a member of the staff of Governor Campbell, his distinguished appearance well fitting him for the honor. Hle has been identified with many of the most prominent business and social organizations of the city and has been selected for many responsible positions.
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For a considerable period he served as secretary and governor of the Queen City Club, his connection lasting from 1884 to 1895, when he tendered his resignation ; from 1881 to 1883 he was director of the Young Men's Library Association ; was president of the Ohio Humane Society; and from 1889 to 1892 was president of the Ortiz Building & Loan Association. In 1892 he was appointed by the Superior Court as a trustee of the University of Cincin- nati to serve six years, and in the following year he was made a director of the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery. He was honored in 1893 with an election to the presidency of the Country Club, but he declined to serve in any other position than as director. In October, 1895. he was appointed receiver of the Cincinnati Inclined Plane Railway Company. His business enterprises and his social and public offices have brought him very promi- nently into notice and have emphasized his pleasing personal characteristics as well as his commercial capacity and integrity of character.
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