USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Columbus > Centennial history of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio, Vol. I > Part 60
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75
Dr. Helmick is a member of the Academy of Medicine, the Ohio State Medical Society, the American Medical Association, and the Alpha Kappa Kappa, a medical fraternity. He is also on the staff of the Starling-Ohio Medical Dispensary, in charge of the department of gynecology. Fraternally he is connected with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is a young man of ability, who is making steady progress in professional cir- cles while his high worth of character commends him to the confidence, friendship and regard of all with whom he has been thrown in contact.
CHARLES FOSTER JOHNSON.
Charles Foster Johnson, engaged in the practice of law and in the real- estate business of Columbus, Ohio, demonstrates in his life record the possi- bilities for successful accomplishment to him who recognizes the fact that the present and not the future holds his opportunity. He has ever utilized the passing moments to the best advantage and has gradually worked his way upward until now he is one of the prominent representatives of finan- cial interests in the capital city. Mr. Johnson is a native of New Albany, Franklin county. He was born October 14, 1879, on the day on which Charles Foster was elected governor and was named in his honor. His parents were William H. and Mary R. Johnson. The paternal grand- father was Thomas Johnson, who had three sons: George W., Charles W. and William H. The youngest learned and followed the shoemaker's trade, but interrupted his business interests by active service in the Civil war as a defender of the Union cause. He wedded Mary R. Hall, a daughter of Andrew Hall and a sister of Andrew B. and Lavonia Hall. Unto Mr. and Mrs. William H. Johnson were born ten children: Blynn, who died at the age of six months; Willis G., now deceased, who was married and had two children, Chester P. and Helen; Laura, who has one son, Everett; George
680
CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF COLUMBUS
D .; Herman H., who has one daughter, Louise; Belle L .; Charles F., of this review; Minnett E .; Mary C .; and Andrew B.
Charles Foster Johnson completed his public-school education in the high school of Ithaca, New York, and afterward attended the Ohio State University, being graduated from the law department in 1902 with the de- gree of Bachelor of Law. For two years he was trust official with the State Savings Bank & Trust Company of Columbus but is now engaged in the general practice of law and in the real-estate business, making a specialty of development of allotments. He has made steady progress in the various branches of his business and deserves much credit for what he has ac- complished as he has depended entirely upon his own resources from the age of seventeen years. At that time he left home and later provided the funds necessary for his professional education. He became a permanent resident of Columbus in 1899 and since that time has made steady progress in his chosen field of labor. Ambition and enterprise have led him on and on until he occupies a position among the men of affluence and the sub- stantial citizens of the capital.
On the 16th of June, 1904, Mr. Johnson was married to Miss Mary Jane Pinney, a daughter of Perry Pinney, of Westerville, Ohio, and they have one child, Mary Katharyn, two and one-half years of age. Mr. John- son has always given his political allegiance to the republican party but the honors and emoluments of office have had no attraction for him. He be- longs to the Masonic fraternity and has taken the chapter and council de- grees. The demands of a growing business, however, leave him little oppor- tunity for participation in public affairs and yet his influence is always given on the side of municipal advancement and general improvement.
COLONEL WILLIAM H. KNAUSS.
Colonel William H. Knauss is a well known and highly esteemed res- ident of Columbus, a zealous patriot, and a veteran of the Civil war, a suc- cessful business man and a public-spirited and philanthropic citizen. It is doubtful if there exists in the United States an individual who is more loyal in his devotion to the flag, and surely there is none whose sympathies are broader as manifest in his activity for the one-time neglected Confederate dead at Camp Chase. His efforts in that connection have enshrined him in the hearts of the southern people, as is attested by the many testimonials and tokens of appreciation which he has received from them. Because of his wide and favorable acquaintance, the life record of Colonel Knauss is deserving of more than passing mention in this volume. He is a native of Rosscomon, Northampton county, Pennsylvania, and son of Captain Thomas W. Knauss, a descendant of one of the old families of that locality. The ancestry is traced back to Ludwig Knauss, who came from Germany in 1728 and settled in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, in what is now the city of Emaus, while on
WILLIAM H. KNAUSS
683
CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF COLUMBUS
his farm he built the first Moravian church in that section. His descendants are still numerous in that locality.
John M. Knauss, the grandfather of Colonel William H. Knauss, was a soldier in the war of 1812, and for many years his widow was granted a pension in recognition of the military aid which he had rendered. His son, Captain Thomas W. Knauss, was captain of the local militia when the Mexican war broke out, and held his rank and saw active service during the war. His son and namesake, the only brother of Colonel Knauss, enlisted in Company G of the Second New Jersey Volunteer Infantry at the time of the Civil war, did active duty and is now a resident of Columbus.
Colonel Knauss was born March 10, 1839, and was but a small boy when his parents died. For a time he made his home in Monroe county, Penn- sylvania, with a maternal uncle, who resided on a mountain farm. His edu- cational advantages were of necessity quite limited. At the age of twelve years he left his uncle's home and from that time has made his own way in the world, working for some years in the lumber camps of Luzerne county, Pennsylvania. In 1856 he went to Newark, New Jersey, where he learned the clothing business, and continued there until he enlisted for service in the Civil war, save for the winter of 1857-8, when he was a partner in a stave business on the Savannah river. Colonel Knauss answered President's Lin- coln's call for troops by recruiting a company, and as the state quota was filled, he enlisted in Company G, Second New Jersey Infantry. His regi- ment was asssigned to the First Brigade under the command of Phil Kear- ney, First Division, Sixth Army Corps of the Army of the Potomac. He proved a brave and valiant soldier, and was in every action in which his regiment was engaged from Bull Run until he was shot at Fredericksburg, December 13, 1863, a piece of shell striking him on the left cheek below the eye, glancing down and lodging below the collar bone. He was carried from the field, and for several days it was supposed' he was dying. After many months of patient, but at times intense suffering, he returned to his regiment and was offered a commission in another regiment to be received on the field, but because of his physical condition he was unable to go again to the front. He has never ceased to feel the effects of the injury. With his regiment he was mustered out at Newark, his term of service lacking but two weeks of being three years.
When his military experience was over Colonel Knauss took up the man- ufacture of clothing at Newark, but his health remaining impaired, he later sought outdoor occupation and in 1867 turned his attention to the real-estate business, also contracting work on a large scale. In 1868-69 he held an im- portant contract in connection with the building of the first street railway in Kansas City, Missouri. Later for several years he was engaged in mining and furnace building contract work in Utah and Colorado, and was quite successful. He then transferred his field of operation to New York and New Jersey, and in the early '70s became associated with a Mr. Fox under the firm name of Fox & Knauss. They took the contract to dig the Cape Cod canal, which undertaking, however, was never completed. For a number of years various ventures and enterprises in contracting lines claimed the attention of
684
CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF COLUMBUS
Colonel Knauss, and in 1892 he became connected with some important con- tract work in Columbus, including the laying out, grading and paving of Fifth avenue and the extensive improvements made by the Toledo & Ohio Cen- tral Railroad. However, he did not become a resident of the city until 1895. Subsequently he gave up the contracting business and with his son-in-law, John T. Gamble, formed a partnership for the conduct of a real-estate busi- ness under the firm name of Knauss & Gamble, with offices in the Wheeler block.
In 1863 Colonel Knauss was married in New Jersey to Miss Margaret M. Lamb, a daughter of James Lamb, of Newark, and unto them were born four children, of whom the oldest, Benjamin, died in infancy. Helen L., the second, died in Newark, New Jersey, in 1895, a few days before the time set for her wedding. A beautiful memorial window has been placed to her memory in the home of the parents. Lizzie M. became the wife of John T. Gamble, at that time general passenger agent for the Toledo & Ohio Cen- tral Railroad Company, but now a member of the firm of Knauss & Gamble. Her death occurred in May, 1908. Martha J., the only surviving daughter of the family, is the wife of O. W. Pletcher, of the firm of Pletcher, Brown & Company.
In politics Colonel Knauss is a stanch republican. He belongs to the Masonic, Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias fraternities, and is past chan- cellor of Joseph Dowdall Lodge, K. P. He is also the past commander of J. C. McCoy Post, No. 1, G. A. R., and is past national commander of the Union Veteran Legion. This organization is a most commendable one, as is indi- cated by the circular sent out from its national headquarters, and which reads: "The Union Veteran Legion-besides the preservation of friendly relations among those who fought for the safety of the American Union- has a mission to perform in the cultivation of true devotion to American government and its institutions. A noble work may be accomplished in teaching the rising generation the principples of our government and in- stilling in the minds of children a love of country and the flag. Nowhere can this be accomplished with better results than in our public schools. Hun- dreds of thousands of immigrants from foreign shores arrive in this fair land of freedom annually, whose children attend our public schools, and it is of the utmost importance that they as well as American born youths be care- fully instructed in our form of government and the duties of American citi- zens. The perpetuation of our government depends upon the proper assimi- lation of these foreign born children into the great body of Americanism. Your national commander would therefore recommend that each encamp- ment detail some suitable person to address the children of the schools in your locality-weekly or as often as consent can be obtained from directors or boards of education-on our form of government and the duties of its citizens. No more important matter outside of the regular routine of duties could be taken up, and no other could give as beneficial results in perpetuat- ing the Union and the principles for which we fought.".
During the Spanish-American war Colonel Knauss was offered a place on the staff of General Fitzhugh Lee, but declined. This act of General Lee
685
CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF COLUMBUS
was a most popular one in the south because of the kind feeling the southern people entertained for Colonel Knauss, owing to his efforts in having the graves of the Confederate dead on Camp Chase and Johnson's Island cared for. For a number of years he paid from his own pocket for the care of the Confederate soldiers' graves north of Mason and Dixon's line, and also paid for the services held over them. He was the first and only Union veteran of the United States to provide a monument for the Confederate dead, the boulder and memorial arch which is to be seen at Camp Chase. To attempt to give an account of the adverse criticism directed to Colonel Knauss for his interest in the Camp Chase prison dead would require too much space here, but nevertheless he has lived to see even the most bitter criticism changed to praise. He is also the author of an interesting volume entitled "The Story of Camp Chase," which was published in 1906. During the Spanish- American war he was the moving spirit in getting the hospital train started from Columbus to the camp at Chattanooga, Tennessee, to bring home the Ohio soldiers who were ill. A short time later when the transport discharged a number of ill Ohio soldiers at Newport News, Virginia, brought from Porto Rico. Colonel Knauss bore the entire expense of transporting these soldiers to Ohio save for one contribution which he received to aid him in the work. In 1907 he furnished every schoolhouse in Franklin county a picture of Abraham Lincoln, framed, and containing on the margin a copy of the famous Gettysburg address, these pictures being distributed by the Women's Auxiliary of the Union Veteran League. His patriotism is ever shown by the fact that for many years he has always made it a practice to carry the American flag somewhere on his person, nor is he seen in public without a flower in the lapel of his coat. Patriotism is perhaps the keynote of his char- acter and philanthropy is also a strongly pronounced trait. His ven- eration for the flag and all for which it stands constitutes an example that may well be followed, and undoubtedly he has sown the seeds of patriotism at different times in fruitful lives.
JAMES NELSON.
James Nelson is today one of the best known real-estate men of Colum- bus, and his present position is in marked contrast to the conditions of his early life when he worked for the education that he could not have obtained otherwise, his labors being compensated by a most meager salary. He knew, however, that achievement depended largely upon the individual, and he never faltered in his purpose of eventually winning a competence through well-directed and persistent labor. He has been a resident of Columbus since 1870, removing to this city from Etna, Ohio, where his birth occurred August 20, 1848, his parents being James and Hannah (Rose) Nelson, both of whom were natives of this state. The father devoted the earlier years of his manhood to farming, while later he turned his attention to mer- chandising. He removed from Etna during the early boyhood of our sub-
686
CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF COLUMBUS
ject, but James Nelson of this review remained in order to continue his edu- cation there, and, to assist in providing for his own support, he worked at the toll gate during the school seasons for a dollar per month, and in the summer vacation was employed in the harvest fields at twenty-five cents per day. In this way he managed to meet his expense while pursuing his education, and then resolutely took up the task of winning success in the business world. He was a young man of twenty-two years when he came to Columbus, and in his intervening years he has largely given his attention to real-estate busi- ness. He purchased the Dr. Jones tract of land in the northeast corner of Franklin park, extending from Main street to Fair avenue and consisting of fifty acres. This he afterward platted as the James Nelson division, and it has since been built upon, being converted into a fine residence district. He also built the property known as the Zetler Hotel and added four stories to it with stores on the first floor and offices above, this building being located at Main and Fourth streets. Mr. Nelson was also identified with mercantile interests, being engaged in the hardware business on Fourth and Main streets for a number of years. He secured a liberal patronage and was suc- cessful in that work, gaining a good trade, so that his annual sales reached a large figure. Later, however, he sold his store in order to give his undi- vided attention to his real-estate business. His operations in this direction have been an important element in the growth, improvement and adorn- ment of the city. He bought his first home on East Town street where he still lives. As a real-estate dealer and speculative builder he has so directed his efforts that he has gained success and at the same time the city has been a beneficiary of his well-directed labors. He has noted this tendency toward growth in certain directions, has anticipated the needs in real-estate lines and met them by the development of property interests. His present finan- cial position is in marked contrast to his position in boyhood when he was working in the harvest fields at twenty-five cents a day.
Mr. Nelson was married in Granville, Ohio, to Miss Mary A. Evans, and unto them have been born three children: Charlie L., a merchant in Chi- cago; Carrie D., wife of Judge Samuel L. Black of Columbus; and Estella M., the wife of Judge Marcus G. Evans of this city. Mr. Nelson has re- cently completed two bungalows on Big Walnut Creek for his two daughters, where they will spend the summer seasons, the grounds and surroundings of these homes being ideal for a summer residence. In 1888 Mr. Nelson was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife who in that year was called to her final rest. In his political views Mr. Nelson has long been a stalwart repub- lican, having firm faith in the principles of the party and doing all in his power to further its growth. He has twice served as a member of the city council and has ever exercised his official prerorgatives in support of measures for the public good. He is a Master Mason and his life exemplifies the beneficent spirit of the craft. In addition to his other business interests he is a director of the Market Exchange Bank, and his name has long been an honored one on commercial paper. The brilliancy of a man's genius asserts its force in the mastery of his work-the completeness of his undertaking, and judged by this standard Mr. Nelson is a man of forceful character whose
687
CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF COLUMBUS
history has been a potential part of the real-estate development of Columbus. His is a rare combination of character through which is interwoven business sagacity, strong mental force, and all the diversified qualities that make up the aggressive business man.
EDWARD E. FISHER.
Edward E. Fisher is president and treasurer of the Edward E. Fisher Company, conducting an extensive business as undertakers and funeral directors. His birth occurred in Woodbridge, New Jersey, October 26, 1869, his parents being Edward and Emma G. (Thomson) Fisher. The father's birth occurred in Hamilton township, Franklin county, August 19, 1832, while the mother was born January 1, 1842. At the time of the Civil war he espoused the Union cause and went to the front, serving as captain of Company G of the One Hundred and Thirty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry. It was after this that he was married, the wedding being celebrated in 1869. Four children were born unto them: Edward E., Mrs. Gertrude E. Price, Robert T. and Margaret T. The father started out in life empty-handed, possessing no capital with which to give him advantage at the outset of his career, but he worked diligently and persistently and saved his earn- ings. He was employed at different times in stores and later upon farms and in 1870 he began business on his own account as a funeral director and embalmer, establishing the enterprise which is now carried on by his son. The father continued in business until his death, and for the last two years of his life his son Edward was interested with him. The death of Edward Fisher, Sr., occurred October 29, 1893, and the city mourned the loss of one whom it had come to know and respect as a public-spirited man and a loyal friend.
In taking up the personal history of Edward E. Fisher of this review, we present to our readers the record of one who is widely and favorably known in this city, for, though he was born in the east, he was only six months old when brought by his parents to Columbus, where he has since made his home. At the usual age he entered the public schools and con- tinued his studies until he was graduated from the public school. He after- ward joined his father in business in 1891 and upon the father's death the business was carried on in the name of E. E. Fisher & Company, and in 1903 it was incorporated under the name of the Edward E. Fisher Company, with a capital stock of forty thousand dollars. Mr. Fisher was elected presi- dent and treasurer of the company and still acts in those capacities. This is one of the largest business houses of the kind in the city, receiving a liberal patronage from among the best people of Columbus. The company owns the building which it occupies and each year has witnessed an increase in the business since Edward E. Fisher assumed the management, a fact which indicates his excellent business ability, keen discrimination and careful con- trol. It was this company that purchased and introduced the first ambulance
688
CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF COLUMBUS
into the city of Columbus in 1894, and it was eighteen months afterward be- fore the city woke up and put another one in operation here.
On the 5th of October, 1893, Mr. Fisher was united in marriage to Miss Effie E. Weir. He is a republican in his political views and though never seeking nor desiring office for himself is always interested in the welfare and success of the party. His religious faith is indicated by his member- ship in the Methodist church, and he is a valued representative of several fraternal organizations, belonging to the Knights of Pythias, the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and the Masons. In the last-named he has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite and is most loyal to the teachings of the craft, which are based upon mutual helpfulness and brotherly kindness. Mr. Fisher has a wide acquaintance in Columbus, and the fact that many of his stanchest friends are those who have known him from his boyhood days indicates that his has been a well-spent and honor- able life.
WILLIAM H. RINEHART.
The great majority of men do not enter business life amid favorable opportunities. It is the rule of the world that an individual must work for the advantages which he obtains, but in the exercise of his own powers and talents he gains strength, experience and skill that carry him forward to larger undertakings. Such has been the record of William H. Rinehart, now connected with Post Brothers, carriage builders, of Columbus. Promo- tion has come to him as the merited reward of earnest and efficient labor and he is now in a business connection of considerable responsibility and importance. He was born August 12, 1863, in Sandyville, Tuscarawas county, Ohio. His father, George Rinehart, born in Alsace-Lorraine, Ger- many, in 1825, came to America in 1842 when a young man of seventeen years. He did not tarry on the Atlantic coast but made his way at once to Ohio, settling at Waynesburg, where he engaged in blacksmithing. Later he turned his attention to the manufacture of carriages and subsequently removed to Louisville, Ohio, where he remained until called to his final rest, his death occurring in 1906 when he was eighty-one years of age. His wife, Mrs. Catherine Rinehart, was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, and was of German parentage. She came to Ohio by the overland route with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Heckaman, who were early settlers of Tuscarawas county. Here she passed away, her death occurring in 1871 when she was fifty-three years of age.
William H. Rinehart was educated in the common schools and high schools of Louisville, Ohio. He entered upon his business career as an ap- prentice in his father's factory when seventeen years of age. There he learned the trade of a carriage decorator and remained in his father's estab- lishment until 1903 when he came to Columbus and has since been identi- fied with the carriage builders interests of Post Brothers. His efficient work-
689
CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF COLUMBUS
manship and thorough understanding of the business have secured him a place of considerable responsibility in industrial circles and he is gradually working his way upward, his business ability bringing him a desirable re- muneration and giving promise of still larger success in the future.
On the 1st of January, 1899, William H. Rinehart was married to Miss Flora Pero, a daughter of Joseph Pero of Louisville, Ohio. Her father and mother were both natives of France, and the former who came to America in 1816, died in 1876. Her mother is still living at the age of sixty-eight years. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Rinehart have been born three sons and three daughters: Catharine, a graduate of the Columbus High School; Margaret, who is also a high-school graduate and displays much musical talent; Eunice, a pupil in the grammar school; Malcolm; Millard; and Marion. The fam- ily circle still remains unbroken by the hand of death and the children are all yet under the parental roof. Mr. Rinehart is devoted to his family and finds his greatest happiness in ministering to the welfare of his wife and children. They reside at No. 490 Wyandotte avenue.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.