Centennial history of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio, Vol. I, Part 56

Author: Taylor, William Alexander, 1837-1912; Clarke (S.J.) Publishing Company, Chicago
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago-Columbus : S. J. Clarke Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 856


USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Columbus > Centennial history of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio, Vol. I > Part 56


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favorable attention of expert engineers and shows that he possesses pro- nounced ability in the field of his chosen labor.


Mr. Braun was married in Columbus in 1895 to Miss Clara Buchsieb, and they have one daughter, Virginia, born in 1903. Mr. Braun is a mem- ber of the Columbus Maennerchor and the Columbus Liederkranz and is a charter member of the Columbus Orchestra, possessing the love of music which is characteristic of his German ancestry. He has attained the thirty- second degree in the Masonic fraternity and is a member of the Mystic Shrine. His political views are in accord with the principles of democracy and since his election to his present office he has given his undivided atten- tion to the work thereof. He belongs to the Engineers Club and through this association finds inspiration for his labors in the line of his chosen pro- fession. He is fond of fishing and indulges his love of that sport in his leisure hours, but altogether he is a most busy man, neglectful of no duty that devolves upon him in his official relations. The fact that he was nom- inated for the second term without opposition stands as an incontrovertible evidence of his ability and the unqualified confidence reposed in him by his fellow townsmen.


H. C. CREITH.


H. C. Creith, who is at the head of a wholesale lumber enterprise oper- ating extensively in the southern states, maintains his offices in the Columbus Savings & Trust building of this city. He was born at Imlay City, Mich- igan, November 4, 1871, his parents being John C. and Jennie (Freeman) Creith, natives of Canada and Romeo, Michigan, respectively. The father removed to Michigan when fifeen years of age and still makes his home in that state, being engaged in business as a lumberman.


H. C. Creith acquired his education in the public schools of his native state and after attaining his majority, became connected with the lumber business. In 1895 he took up his abode in Columbus, first becoming trav- eling salesman for a lumber company. In 1903, however, he established him- self in business on his own account and is now at the head of an extensive wholesale lumber enterprise, the operations of which extend throughout the southern states. For the past three years he has maintained his office in the Columbus Savings & Trust building, where he has a fine suite of rooms. He has earned for himself an enviable reputation as a careful man of busi- ness, and in his dealings is known for his prompt and honorable methods, which have won him the deserved and unbounded confidence of his fel- lowmen.


In 1899 Mr. Creith was united in marriage to Miss Jennie H. Ardis, a native of Evart, Michigan, by whom he has one son, Ardis H., born March 9, 1901. Though not an office seeker, Mr. Creith is actively interested in all measures and movements instituted for the welfare of the city. Fra- ternally he is connected with Magnolia Lodge, A. F. & A. M., Ohio Chapter,


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Mount Vernon Commandery, Scioto Consistory and Aladdin Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He also belongs to Columbus Lodge, No. 37, B. P. O. E., the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and various other societies. His friends esteem him not only for the success which he has achieved in bus- iness life but also for the possession of those sterling traits of character which in every land and clime awaken regard and admiration.


HON. THOMAS E. POWELL.


Hon. Thomas E. Powell was for many years numbered among the most prominent citizens of Delaware, Ohio, and since 1887 has been a resident of Columbus. A lawyer by profession, his success has been such as to win him prestige not only throughout the state but throughout the country, and he has gained almost equal fame in industrial and financial circles. It has been his fortune to represent many of the large corporate interests of the United States in a legal capacity and his professional duties have called him into fully one- half of the states of the Union.


He comes of a distinguished family of Delaware county. The name of his father, Thomas W. Powell, is inseparably linked with the history of Dela- ware and its institutions, for he was its guiding genius during its constructive period. The Powells are descended from the ancient Britons and both the Powell and Watkins family, from which he is descended through his grand- mother, trace their lineage back to ancestors who were in the Saxon invasion of Great Britain in the fifth century. These names are found in the earliest year books and in literature of the Saxons in connection with prominent historical events. Thomas Watkins Powell wedded Elizabeth Gordon, and the family home was on what is now the campus of the Ohio Wesleyan University at Dela- ware-a dwelling that was subsequently occupied by successive presidents of the university for many years.


It was there that Thomas E. Powell was born February 20, 1842. Reared in the city of his nativity, he supplemented his preliminary education by a course in the Ohio Wesleyan University, from which he was graduated in the class of 1863. In the year of his graduation the university conferred upon him the Bachelor of Arts degree and in 1867 the Master of Arts. His college course was interrupted by about nine months' service as a soldier of the Civil war. In the spring of 1862 he enlisted as a member of Company E, One Hun- dred and Forty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry and he held the rank of ser- geant. He was with his command in West Virginia and at Washington.


In preparation for the practice of law he studied under the directon of his father and in 1866 was admitted to the bar, after which he entered into part- nership with W. P. Reid. This connection under the name of Reid & Powell was maintained until the death of the senior partner in 1879. During this time they had erected the Reid & Powell block, a three-story brick building situated on the southwest corner of Sandusky street and Central avenue. Mr. Powell continued his residence in Delaware until 1887, and after the dissolu-


THOMAS E. POWELL


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tion of the firm of Reid & Powell he was for some time senior member of the firm of Powell, Gill & Kauffman, his partners being Judge J. F. Gill and Frank Kauffman. The latter subsequently withdrew from the firm, but the organiza- tion was maintained as Powell & Gill until 1887. In his practice Mr. Powell largely made a specialty of corporation law and became a recognized authority on questions connected with that field of jurisprudence. He was accorded a large and distinctively representative clientage and in the courts he won many notable verdicts favorable to his clients as the result of his comprehensive un- derstanding of the principles of law, his thorough preparation and his correct application of legal knowledge to the points at issue. While still a resident of Delaware he became closely associated with its upbuilding and development in various lines. In 1867 he assisted in organizing the Deposit Banking Com- pany of the city, which established and controls a very flourishing bank, Mr. Powell remaining as one of its directors until his removal to Columbus. He also laid out one of the largest additions to Delaware about 1868, and about 1873 erected the Powell House, the leading hotel in Delaware. He also assisted in organizing the Delaware Chair Company in 1870 and has since been one of its directors.


On removing to Columbus in 1887, Mr. Powell organized the firm of Powell, Owen, Ricketts & Black. Hon. S. N. Owen was but recently retired from the supreme court bench and was the first to sever his connection with the firm upon withdrawing from active practice eight or ten years later. Upon the elevation of Mr. Black to the probate bench the partnership was dissolved and Mr. Powell has since continued alone in practice. He has been connected with some of the most important litigation in Ohio courts, one of the most notable cases being the Deshler will case, involving more than a half million dollars, in which he represented the plaintiff. The case was before the court for nearly twelve years and for his successful prosecution thereof Mr. Powell received a fee of sixty thousand dollars. As a corporation lawyer he represents some of the most prominent business interests of the country. He has been attorney for the American Sugar Refinery Company of New York, the Stand- ard Oil Company, the Ohio & Western Coal Company, the National Cash Reg- ister Company, and many other large corporations in New York and Ohio. During his practice in Columbus his fees from New York have exceeded those from Ohio, although he has tried cases in nearly every county of the state. He has also been called to nearly half of the states in the Union for professional serv- ice and has appeared in all of the courts from the common pleas to the United States supreme court and without doubt has tried more cases than any other Ohio lawyer now living. The extent of his practice indicates his ability, his comprehensive knowledge of the law, his forensic force and his rank among the foremost members of the profession. He has always been a close student of the law and undoubtedly one feature of his success is the fact that he has never regarded his knowledge as so accurate that he has failed to look up au- thorities or make careful preparation of his cause before entering the court room.


In Columbus, as in Delaware, he has contributed to the development of the city in various lines. He laid out a twenty acre tract known as the Powell ad-


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dition on North Main street in 1886 and has twenty acres more in that locality, which he also expects to subdivide. He was one of three who purchased and laid out the Bullitt Park Addition in 1889, the largest addition to the city, and in this he is still interested. He has dealt extensively in real estate and is still heavily interested in property. In all business transactions his judgment is sound and reliable and has carried him into very important relations to the public. He is now attorney for nearly all of the wholesale houses of Columbus and his clientele is most prominent.


General Powell laid the foundation for a most attractive home life in his marriage in Columbus on the 16th of January, 1872, to Miss Eliza Thompson, a daughter of Bishop Edward Thompson, the first president of the Ohio Wes- leyan University. Six children were born of this union: Edward T., a graduate of the Ohio Wesleyan University and an attorney at law, who has offi- ces with his father; Maria, the wife of the Rev. Charles W. Watson, D.D., secretary of the Presbyterian Board of Missions of Philadelphia; Cornelia, at home; Raymond, of Tucson, Arizona; Warren T., who was graduated from the Ohio State University in 1907 and afterward spent a year in Japan as teacher of English in the University of Tokio; and Harold, a member of the State University of the class of 1909.


Mr. Powell is a member of the Broad Street Methodist Episcopal church, to the support of which he has been a liberal contributor. His political al- legiance was given to the republican party until 1872, since which time he has figured as one of the most prominent representatives of democracy in Ohio, while his opinions have not been without weight in the national councils of the party. He served as presidential elector from his district in 1872 and two years later was the party's nominee for congress. Although the district is strongly republican he ran ahead of his ticket and in his home county had the honor of being the first democrat who ever carried the county in a congres- sional race. In 1873 he was the democratic nominee for attorney general of Ohio and in 1878 was presidential elector at large from the state. In 1887 he was nominated for governor of Ohio against Senator Foraker and was dele- gate at large to the Chicago convention which nominated Grover Cleveland for the presidency and also placed Governor Hoadley in nomination. He pos- sesses natural oratorical power and is master of the art of rhetoric. Moreover, in his addresses he always makes strong appeal to the better judgment and reason of man and his ability as a speaker has many times enabled him to sway vast audiences, while never has he failed to leave the impress of his thought upon the minds of his hearers. His oratorical ability has led him to be fre- quently called upon to place names before nominative conventions. He has also made many addresses before conventions of other character than political, including the State Bankers' Association and the Indiana Bankers' Association. He has been an occasional contributor to various periodicals, especially the bankers' magazines of New York and Chicago and at present is engaged in the revision of the work of his father on Appellate Proceedings, which is out in print. He also expects to revise and put out a new edition to his father's Ancient Britons, now also out in print. He presented the name of Allen G. Thurman in the St. Louis convention in 1888 and of General Thomas Ewing,


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gubernatorial candidate in 1878 and in 1885 also nominated Durbin Warren for governor. His fraternal relations are with Hiram Lodge, F. & A. M., of Delaware.


There are few men whose activities have covered so broad a scope and who have attained to such eminent success and prominence in so many lines. Thoroughness has been one of his most marked characteristics and has been manifest in his mastery of every subject to which he has given his attention whether in the field of jurisprudence, the development of real estate or in the control of industrial and financial interests. His name wields a wide influence and during the years of his manhood he has done much to mold public thought and opinion. His ability brings him not only into business promi- nence but also into close relations of companionship and friendship with many of the distinguished people of the country.


ROBERT EMMET SHELDON, JR.


Robert Emmet Sheldon, Jr., is the secretary of the Sheldon Dry Goods Company. A Yale graduate, his liberal educational advantages well qualify him for responsibilities in the business world, and as the years have passed he has made good use of his talents and opportunities. He was born in Co- lumbus, April 12, 1883, and is a son of Robert and Mary E. (Butler) Shel- don. His early education was acquired in the public schools of Columbus and in 1900 he was graduated from the high school. He then matriculated in Yale University from which he was graduated with the bachelor of phil- osophy degree in 1904.


Mr. Sheldon then returned to his native city and became a factor in the conduct of the business, which is recognized as one of the city's leading commercial enterprises. In January, 1905, he was elected secretary of the Sheldon Dry Goods Company and thus passed on to a position of executive control, since which time he has bent his energies largely to organization, to constructive efforts and administrative direction. His has been an active career and while he has promoted individual success he has also furthered a business enterprise which is contributing to the expansion and material development of his city.


On the 10th of May, 1906, Mr. Sheldon was married to Miss Ruth Margaret Church, a daughter of Samuel Harden Church, the author and student, who is now secretary of the Carnegie Institute. Mr. Sheldon is prominent in club and social circles. He belongs to the Chi Phi fraternity, to the Yale Alumni Association of central Ohio and to the New York Yale Club, thus maintaining close relations with the alumni who claim the same alma mater as does Mr. Sheldon. In this city he is connected with the Columbus Club and the Arlington Country Club. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he is a member of the Columbus Re- publican Glee Club, thus taking active part in campaign work. He loyally supports the political principles in which he believes and his position on any


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momentous question is never an equivocal one. He is a young man of firm purpose, of recognized capability and of commendable ambition and the various interests with which he has been associated have benefited by the stimulus of his energy and cooperation.


HON. EBENEZER W. POE.


Hon. Ebenezer W. Poe, occupying a prominent place in the public life of Ohio for many years, was honored as a citizen whose fidelity to the public welfare was above question, while his citizenship showed a wide grasp of the questions of vital importance to the commonwealth. His life record began in Findlay, Ohio, November 11, 1846, and was terminated by death June 19, 1898. In the paternal line he was descended from Virginia an- cestry and in the maternal line he was connected with the Vance family, which furnished Ohio with one of its early governors. His parents were George L. and Jane (Wilson) Poe, farming people of Hancock county. He spent his boyhood days on the home-farm where he early became familiar with the duties and labors of agricultural life. He was still in his teens when his patriotic spirit responded to his country's call and he enlisted as a volunteer in the war of the rebellion. At the front he proved his loyalty by his unquestioning performance of the duties that developed upon him and when hostilities has ceased and he returned home he continued his edu- cation in the Findlay high school. After putting aside his text-books he became connected with the dry-goods trade and his mercantile and com- mercial activity continued in that line until 1881, when he was called from private to public life, and served for two terms as auditor of Wood county. He thoroughly systematized the work of the office and was so prompt, faith- ful and accurate in the discharge of its duties that in 1887 he was elected auditor of state and received public endorsement of his capable administra- tion of the office by being reelected for a second term. He also received strong endorsement as candidate for governor, before the republican state convention in 1895, and was always recognized as a leading representative of the party in Ohio. His political work was of an effective character and was in consistent harmony with the ideas of patriotic American citizenship. On his retirement from the position of sate auditor in January, 1886, Mr. Poe gave his entire time to the local interests of the Equitable Life Insur- ance Company, first being a member of the firm of Fuller & Poe, and later of the firm of Poe & Mosier, being the senior partner of the firm and its chief executive head. He bent his energies to constructive work and admin- istrative direction and his capable control was manifest in the excellent re- sults which attended his efforts. The firm had the finest offices of any agency in the state and the attractive appearance thereof was an indication of the prosperity attending the business.


On October 8, 1868, Mr. Poe was married in Hancock county, Ohio, to Miss Caroline Thomas, a native of that county, and unto them were born


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four children: Laura, he wife of H. E. Simons, of Chicago; Charles W., who has been for some time employed in the state auditor's office, and who married Grace Fielding and has one son, John F .; Harry, died at the age of seven years; and Ethel at home.


Mr. Poe was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and a num- ber of secret societies based upon the principles of mutual helpfulness and brotherly kindness. He belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and his life was at all times in keeping with its benevolent spirit. He held membership in the Broad Street Methodist church and was interested in all that pertained to the material, intellectual, social and moral progress of his community. His position in republican circles came in recognition of his ability for leadership. From early manhood he regarded it the duty, as well as the privilege of every American citizen, to keep himself informed on the questions of the day and he always studied thoroughly those issues which were of vital import to the state and nation. He was able to present his side of the case in the strong, clear light of common sense and logical reason- ing, and over his record as advocate of republican principles and as an in- cumbent in public office there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil. When he passed away in 1898 Columbus and the state mourned the loss of one of its honored and valued citizens. Mrs. Poe still makes her home in this city, where she has an extensive circle of friends.


ROBERT E. KEYS.


Robert E. Keys, devoting his energies to the work of tilling the soil and also rendering acceptable official service in the office of trustee of Sharon town- ship, where he now resides, was born in Worthington, Ohio, February 14, 1869, his parents being Jabez and Mary J. (McCann) Keys. The father was born in the town of Waddsdon, Buckinghamshire, England, and when a young man came to America, crossing the Atlantic in 1833, accompanying his parents on this voyage from Liverpool to New York. After a few weeks spent on Statten Island, New York, they went to Sacket Harbor in the Em- pire state and then the family came to Columbus. Throughout his entire life Jabez Keys followed the occupation of farming and was also for a time engaged in the grocery business in Worthington. He died in this county at the age of fifty-two years, when his son Robert was but five years of age. His wife was a native of Muskingum county, Ohio, and died at Worthington, February 22, 1901, at the age of seventy-six years. There were four chil- dren by this marriage: Thomas, Hattie and Annie, all now deceased; and Robert E., of this review. The father was married twice and had four chil- dren by his first marriage, namely: Janette and William, who have passed away; William, the second of the name, living in Sharon township, Ohio; and Mrs. Jane Ann Ault, of this township.


Robert E. Keys was only a year old when his parents removed to the farm two and a half miles north of Worthington and it has since been his


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place of residence. . As soon as old enough to handle the plow he was set to work in the fields and as the years have passed he has made substantial progress in the business world. He gave his father the benefit of his as- sistance up to the time of his marriage and then began farming on his own account. He is today the owner of one hundred and forty-five acres of rich and arable land devoted to general farming and stock-raising. The place presents a most attractive appearance in its well tilled fields, fences kept in good repair and substantial buildings. In 1900 he erected a large and fine farm residence which is one of the attractive country homes of the locality. Everything about the place indicates the careful supervision of a practical and progressive owner whose labors are effective and resultant factors in winning success.


It was in November, 1883, that Mr. Keys was united in marriage to Miss Christie Washburn, who was born in Delaware county, Ohio, and was a daughter of William and Emeline Washburn. They lost their first born child in infancy but have a daughter and son, Alta and Orville, with them on the old homestead.


In his political views Mr. Keys is an earnest republican, interested in the work of the party and active in its support. In the fall of 1907 he was elected a trustee of Sharon township and is now serving in that capacity, He belongs to New England Lodge, No. 4, A. F. & A. M., of Worthington, and his life is in harmony with the beneficent spirit of the craft, which is based upon mutual helpfulness and brotherly kindness.


EDSOLL KENDALL HIBBS.


Edsoll Kendall Hibbs, a successful building contractor of Columbus, was born near Portsmouth, Ohio, December 19, 1875. His grandfather, Samuel Hibbs, also a native of this state, passed away in Portsmouth when eighty years of age. H. W. Hibbs, the father of our subject, was born October 15, 1852, and is a wealthy farmer and stock-raiser. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Sarah Virginia Kendall, is a daughter of George and Levina Kendall, who were descended from old Virginia families and became pioneer settlers of southern Ohio.


Edsoll Kendall Hibbs was educated in the graded and high schools of Portsmouth, Ohio, and gained his first experience along the line of his chosen vocation by three years' connection with a contracting firm of that city. He was then engaged for a similar period in railway bridge building, while in 1901 he came to Columbus and for a year and a half was with the firm of Nichols & Carr. Subsequently he entered the building and contracting busi- ness on his own account and has been remarkably successful in this venture. Among the many important structures which stand as monuments to his archi- tectural skill and ability are the Franklin brewery, the Iroquois apartments, the Girls' dormitory of the Ohio State University, the residence of T. J. Morgan at Wellston-one of the finest in southern Ohio, the Arcade at New-




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