USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Columbus > Centennial history of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio, Vol. I > Part 68
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Ophthalmology and Oto-Laryngology. His life has ever been honorable and upright, and he has held to high ideals of manhood in citizenship and in professional circles, so that no citizen of the community receives in larger measure or more justly deserves the respect and confidence of the general public.
JOHN W. DOWLER.
John W. Dowler, owning and operating a well improved farm of one hun- dred and twenty-seven acres in Madison township, was born on the 5th of April, 1856, and acquired his education in the schools of Hocking. When seventeen years of age he first became connected with farming, which he has made his life work, sending his savings home to his father until he had at- tained his majority. He now owns the old Long homestead of one hundred and twenty-seven acres in Madison township and in the careful cultivation of the fields has gained a measure of prosperity that entitles him to representa- tion among the substantial and enterprising agriculturists of the community. His success is all the more creditable by reason of the fact that it has been at- tained entirely through his own well-directed and untiring efforts, for he started out in life empty-handed.
In 1881 Mr. Dowler was united in marriage to Miss Julia A. Long, whose birth occurred April 16, 1856. Their children are as follows: Mrs. Jennie L. Foor, Mary E., William E. L., Clara C., Julia M., Edna F. and Erden E.
Politically Mr. Dowler is a stalwart democrat and has served as supervisor for one term. In religious faith he is a Lutheran. His friends in the com- munity are many and the fact that a large number have known him from his boyhood days to the present is an indication that his has been an honor- able and upright career.
FOREST E. NELSON.
Forest E. Nelson, president of the F. E. Nelson Company, merchandise brokers, established business in 1895, while papers for incorporation were taken out in 1906. Through the processes of gradual development and progress Mr. Nelson has reached his present enviable place in commercial circles. He was born in Beallsville, Ohio, December 19, 1873, a son of Thomas G. Nelson, who was a photographer of this city. The grandfather, Thomas Nelson, Sr., was a pioneer resident of Monroe county, Ohio, and since that time the family has been represented in this state. The mother, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth McNichols, was born in Beallsville, Ohio, and was a daughter of William McNichols, a tobacco manufacturer.
No event of especial importance occurred to vary the routine of life for Forest E. Nelson in his boyhood and youth. His attention was devoted to the
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duties of the schoolroom, the pleasures of the playground and various tasks assigned by parental authority. His early education was acquired in the pub- lic schools of Woodsfield, Ohio, and he afterward attended the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio. When his education was completed he turned his attention to merchandise brokerage business in Columbus, and has since continued in this field of activity. The company handles sugar, molasses, dried beans and fruit, and makes extensive sales and shipments, while the volume of their business insures them a gratifying income.
In 1895 Mr. Nelson was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth C. Israel, a native of Fairfield, Iowa, and a daughter of Noble Israel. Mr. and Mrs. Nel- son have become parents of four children : Lawrence C., born in 1899; Robert A., born in 1901; Edward, born in 1905; and John, born in 1908. Mr. Nel- son is a member of the Board of Trade and is interested not only in 'its business operations, but in the efforts of the organization to promote the commercial development of the city. He belongs to the Ohio Club, and in Masonry has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite, and also has become a member of the Mystic Shrine. While he has won success, he has not gained it at the sacrifice of all outside interests, but on the contrary has been inter- ested in measures and movements for the public good, and is a most public spirited citizen.
ALONZO W. STRODE.
Alonzo W. Strode, numbered among the enterprising and progressive agri- culturists of Madison township, where he owns a finely improved farm of nine- ty-three acres, was born on the 6th of June, 1864. His father, Elisha M. Strode, whose birth occurred September 4, 1835, was for twenty-five years successfully engaged in raising, buying and selling horses and during the Civil war pur- chased many of these animals for the government. He dealt extensively in fast trotters and in connection with his live-stock interests also carried on agricul- tural pursuits, meeting with a gratifying measure of prosperity in his under- takings. In his political views he is a stalwart democrat and for the past twenty years has capably served in the position of constable. Fraternally he is con- nected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In April, 1860, he had wedded Mis Sarah Margaret Wagner, whose natal year was 1837.
Alonzo W. Strode obtained his education in the schools of Lithopolis and Marion, Ohio, being graduated at the latter place. He paid his own way through school and, though frequently encountering discouraging and disheartening conditions, worked steadily on until he had attained the desired proficiency and had become well qualified by educational training for the practical and responsible duties of life. He attributes his success in securing an education "under difficulties" largely to his mother, who, fully realizing the value of mental development, cheered and encouraged him to the end. Taking up the profession of teaching, he was thus engaged for nine years, imparting clearly and readily to others the knowledge that he had acquired. Since his marriage,
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however, he has given his time and energies to agricultural interests and owns a valuable tract of land of ninety-three acres in Madison township, in the care- ful cultivation of which he has gained a creditable degree of prosperity.
On the 14th of September, 1893, Mr. Strode was united in marriage to Miss Ida E. Seymour. At the polls he gives his support to the men and meas- ures of the democracy and in religious faith is a Presbyterian, having served as elder in the church for twenty-five years. Fraternally he is a Mason and is master of the lodge at Groveport, which was organized in 1850 and has now more than sixty members. He is likewise identified with the Grange and in all life's relations has been true to his obligations and duties, being greatly es- teemed throughout the community in which he resides.
G. RALPH BASSETT.
G. Ralph Bassett, junior member of the architectural firm of Maetzel, Tres- selt & Bassett, of Columbus, is well known in business circles in this city. He was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, September 3, 1876, a son of James and Agnes Bassett. The father was also born in Pittsburg, in 1838, and at one time was a prominent lumberman of that city. He served in the Civil war as lieutenant of Hampton's Battery, remaining at the front for three years. His father, George Bassett, was for many years captain of the steamboat Flora, making trips between Pittsburg and New Orleans. James Bassett is now de- ceased, his death occurring August 19, 1902, when he was sixty-six years of age. The mother was a daughter of Thomas Stewart, of Pittsburg, who was a mason contractor and built the first stone bridge across the Ohio river at Wheel- ing, West Virginia. She is also a direct descendant of Andrew Jackson, the seventh president of the United States.
G. Ralph Bassett pursued his early education in the public and high schools of Pittsburg and subsequently entered Pittsburg Academy, where he received the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He then pursued a course in architectural en- gineering and also studied in the Pittsburg Art Students' League and in the studio of H. S. Stevenson of that city. Entering upon his chosen profession he was employed successively by Vrydach & Wolfe, Rutan & Russell, H. D. Gilchrist, and Samuel McLarren, while later he became connected with Thomas Rodd, architect and engineer of the noted Westinghouse Company. In this connection he had much to do with the plans for the British Westinghouse Electric Company at Manchester, England. He later entered the employ of James, Stewart & Company and subsequently McCullom & Dowly, of Pitts- burg, while in July, 1904, he came to Columbus and superintended the work on the New First National Bank building. In January, 1905, he became the junior member of the firm of Maetzel & Company. They made the plans and executed the contracts for the American Savings Bank, the Kinnear Manu- facturing Company and the Home Brewing Company of this city and the Hoster building of New York city and there 'are also many other structures in this city which stand as monuments to their skill and enterprise.
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Mr. Bassett was married November 28, 1907, to Miss Maud O. Roberts, a daughter of David Roberts, of Perry county, Ohio. He is one of the pioneer farmers of that section of the state. Mrs. Bassett graduated from the Lexing- ton (Ohio) high school and is also a graduate nurse. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, interested in all religious and charitable work. Mr. Bassett is a member of the Columbus Society of Architects. The family home is at No. 554 South Ohio avenue. In his profession Mr. Bassett aims at a high standard and his broad and practical experience has won for him a prom- inent place among the leading architects of this city.
FRED J. HEER.
Not only his connection with business affairs and enterprises but the effect- ive interest which he takes in education and all the lines contributory to intel- lectual progress in that direction stamps Fred J. Heer as one of the desirable and worthy citizens of Columbus. Since starting in life on his own account, at the age of thirteen, he has made substantial progress along lines of honorable effort and enterprise and is today at the head of an extensive publishing house in a position that places him in the foremost rank among the representatives of this line of business in the capital city.
Here born and reared, his natal day was October 14, 1859, and his par- ents were Jacob and Caroline (Schwitzer) Heer, who were representatives of the high type of German-American citizenship. The educational opportuni- ties of the son included primary and grammar school courses, with one year's attendance at the high school, and then at the age of thirteen he was forced to start out in life on his own account. Though hardships and difficulties met him at many points in his career, he has accomplished his purpose in spite of these, and step by step has worked his way upward, promotion coming to him in recognition of his genuine worth and ability.
In 1871 he entered the printing establishment of Glenn & Heyde and be- came thoroughly conversant with the trade during his eight years' connection with that house. He was never ashamed to be seen at work and, realizing the fact that unwearied industry is the basis of all success, he applied himself closely to the tasks that were assigned him and was accordingly advanced in positions of responsibility. In 1878 he was offered and accepted the foreman- ship of the Lutheran Book Concern, which had recently established a large printing house in Columbus. After fifteen years' connection with the business he was, in 1893, made assistant manager of the concern and in 1899 became manager. From 1895 until 1900 he was in partnership with the Hon. John L. Tranger but in the latter year the partnership was dissolved and for several years Mr. Heer continued in charge. He then resolved to establish a printing house commensurate with the opportunities of the city and already the enter- prise occupies a prominent place in industrial circles. Along modern lines he is developing the business and with a thoroughly equipped plant and an unsullied reputation in business circles he needs no gift of prophecy to pre-
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dict for him constantly growing success in the future. In addition to the pub- lishing business he is now president of the Central Building Loan & Savings Company.
The worth of his work and of the public and semipublic nature is also widely acknowledged. From 1887 until 1893 he was a member of the board of education and from 1890 until 1892 he was a member of the board of mana- gers of the Ohio Penitentiary through appointment of Governor Campbell. He was likewise a member of the board of trustees of the Ohio Medical Univer- sity and its president for seven years; a member of the board of trustees of the Columbus Public Library and a life member of the Ohio Archeological and Historical Society. He is likewise an honorary member of the Columbus Typo- graphical Union, No. 5, is a member of the Board of Trade and in more specifi- cally social lines is connected with the Olentangy Club. These associations in addition to the features of a happy home life have been factors in a career of usefulness and in the development of a well-rounded character.
DR. F. F. LAWRENCE.
Dr. Florus Fremont Lawrence, who has attained an enviable position among the surgeons of the United States, was born in Wadsworth, Medina county, Ohio, March 16, 1863. His parents were Oman and Camilla Lawrence. The father was a noted and sucessful Methodist minister in northern Ohio, where he labored in the vineyard for a full half century, establishing church organizations and cementing those that were falling apart. No minister in the North Ohio Conference ever excelled. and few ever equaled. Oman Lawrence in this kind of work. Never a year passed without a revival in his churches. Dr. Lawrence's grandparents on the paternal side were born in Glencoe, Scot- land. His mother's father and mother were both born in Centre county, Penn- sylvania, and were of the Scotch-Irish stock, which has exercised such a marked influence on many of the states.
Dr. Lawrence began his primary education in the common schools of Holmes county, Ohio, and prepared for college at the academy in Savannah, Ohio. Up to his twelfth year he was a puny and sickly lad, but in spite of this handicap of ill health manifested an unusual interest in scientific subjects. He made a valuable geological collection and devoted much of his time to the study of the habits of birds and animals. The desire to know the reason and source of natural phenomena and of things in general was so constantly and persist- ently manifest in his metal makeup that it won for him, from his Latin pro- fessor, the sobriquet of "Old Why."
During his ninth and tenth years he wrote some very creditable boyish verses, one collection of which appeared, with favorable comment, in Littell's Living Age. The prosy work of securing a practical education, however, did not tend to nurture the poetic fancy. After leaving the academy at Savannah, Dr. Lawrence attended Baldwin University at Berea, Ohio, earning the money to pay for his college education by teaching school and doing reportorial work
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for the Cleveland Herald. From this institution he has received the degree of Doctor of Science.
He began his medical studies in the medical department of Wooster Uni- versity, which was located in Cleveland, and completed them in the old Colum- bus Medical College, from which school he received the degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1885. From the spring of 1881 to the fall of 1884, he was the pupil and assistant of Dr. Reuben A. Vance, of Cleveland, one of the most brilliant and capable surgeons in Ohio. Dr. Vance was a brother of Colonel John L. Vance of Columbus.
In 1891 and 1892, Dr. Lawrence did post-graduate work in Philadelphia and New York, and continued his studies in Boston and Chicago in 1893. From July, 1894, to February, 1895, he was assistant to the famous Scotch surgeon, Lawson Tait, in Birmingham, England. In 1903, as a recognition of the eminent position that he has attained in his profession Wooster Univer- sity confered upon him the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws.
Dr. Lawrence has been a member of the Columbus Academy of Medicine since its organization, in 1895, and during considerably more than half of this time has served the academy in some official capacity, being its president in 1905. He was president of the Central Ohio Medical Society in 1894; is a mem- ber and past vice president of the Mississippi Valley Medical Association; a member of the Board of Trade since 1897 and has served several times as the and former secretary and vice chairman of the section on obstetrics and dis- eases of women, American Medical Association; and clinical lecturer on ab- dominal and pelvic surgery, Starling-Ohio Medical College. Since 1900 he has been surgeon and chief of staff of the Lawrence Hospital. He is also a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and of the American Academy of Political and Social Science. He has been an active member of the Board of Trade since 1897 and has served several times as the chairman of its committee on public health and sanitation.
Dr. Lawrence is prominent in the work of secret and fraternal societies. He is a member of Columbus Lodge, No. 30, F. & A. M .; Ohio Chapter, R. A. M .; Columbus Council, R. E. S. M .; Enoch Lodge of Perfection; Franklin Council of the Princes of Jerusalem ; Columbus Chapter Rose Croix; and Scioto Consistory, A. A. S. R. In the fall of 1905 he was elected sovereign prince of Franklin Council Princes of Jerusalem, and has been unanimously reelected each year since. Until he took out his card of withdrawal a few years ago, he also belonged to Excelsior Lodge, I. O. O. F., which body he served in every office except treasurer and secretary. He is a member of Alpha Mu Pi Omega and Acacia fraternities.
Dr. Lawrence has published many valuable treatises on surgical subjects. He is a republican in his political views because of conviction but concedes the right of every other man to hold opposite political views. He is also a member of King Avenue Methodist Episcopal church. He is an individual who does not believe in failure but in success and always sees something worth striving for in the world ahead of him. His whole life has been devoted to scientific research and to unselfish service of his fellowmen, actuated by the principle
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that what makes life worth while is not what a man gets out of it, but what he puts into it.
On the 1st day of January, 1885, Dr. Lawrence was married at Berea, Ohio, to Miss Cora E. Pierce. They have three children: Gerald Pierce Law- rence, James Cooper Lawrence and Elizabeth Camilla Lawrence. Mrs. Law- rence is directly descended from the Pierce family of Massachusetts, whose original progenitor, Abraham Pierce, came to this country in 1624 as the cap- tain of the good ship "Mayflower" on its second voyage to Plymouth colony. Her father, Captain Milton P. Pierce, was famous throughout western Massa- chusetts and later in New Jersey and Ohio, as "Deadshot" Pierce.
Even at the present time an old weathervane, with a bullet hole through it, is preserved by Captain Pierce's family as a proof of his marksmanship. This weathervane once graced the top of the spire of the old church on Peru hill in Milton Pierce's home township and according to the well authenticated story, the bullet hole through it was put there one moonlight night by young Milton, when several boyish companions banteringly expressed the opinion that Milton Pierce couldn't hit the church if he tried. Stories of this bit of moonlight markmanship are still told in the valleys of the Berkshire hills. In 1861, when the president called for volunteers, Milton Pierce was given a cap- taincy in Berdan's celebrated regiment of sharpshooters. After the war he set- tled in New Jersey, where he devoted himself to fish culture. During his resi- dence in New Jersey he served for some time as state fish and game warden. Shortly after his daughter's marriage, he removed to Columbus, and made his home in this city until his death in 1894. Captain Pierce was widely known as an authority on fish culture and also had some little reputation as a landscape gardener. He was a member of the commission that 'laid out and beautified Goodale park. He was also prominently identified with the work of the Grand Army of the Republic.
EDWARD B. LANMAN.
Edward B. Lanman is numbered among those who have been factors in the business development and consequent prosperity of Columbus. For many years he was closely associated with manufacturing interests here and through- out his business career he was recognized not only as a man of marked force of character and business enterprise but also as one whose methods in all trade relations were strictly honorable and upright.
A native of Norwich, New London county, Connecticut, he was born No- vember 10, 1852, and was descended from John Robinson, the father of Con- gregationalism, who led the Pilgrims from England to Leydon, Holland. One of his descendants, Faith Robinson, became the wife of Governor Jona- than Trumbull of Revolutionary war fame and to whom General Washington affectionately referred as "Brother Jonathan," and she was a direct ancestor of Edward B. Lanman. The latter was a son of Peter Lanman, also a native of Norwich. The father's family numbered eight sons, four of whom are yet
EDWARD B. LANMAN
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living, namely: Henry A., a resident of Columbus; John T., also of Colum- bus; Charles, a professor in Harvard College; and Rev. Joseph Lanman, of St. James, Minnesota.
In the city of his nativity Edward B. Lanman spent his boyhood days and acquired his education. He came to Columbus in 1867 at the age of fifteen years and here entered the employ of the firm of McCune, Mithoff & Company, hardware dealers, with whom he worked for several years, during which time he gained a keen insight into the business and became familiar with the trade in both principle and detail. Gradually he worked his way upward, winning promotion in recognition of his fidelity and capability and at length he em- barked in business on his own account, being justified in this step by his wide and practical experience and economy which brought him the needed capital. In 1882 he began the manufacture of pressed sheet iron work and gradually increased his facilities for conducting an enterprise of that character until the volume of his patronage enabled him to give employment to one hundred and twenty-five workmen. He was recognized by all as one of the best known, most reliable and most successful manufacturers of Columbus. His business record was such as any man might be proud to possess for he never made an engage- ment that he did not fill nor incur an obligation that he did not meet. He therefore enjoyed to the fullest extent the respect of his business associates and the admiration of all who knew aught of his history.
In 1884 Mr. Lanman was married to Miss Georgiana Burnham, of Phila- delphia, a descendant of an old New England family, and unto them were born four sons: Edward B .; Henry Augustus, attending Cornell University ; Charles B., a student at Harvard; and George Burnham. The death of the husband and father occurred December 8, 1897, when he was but forty-five years of age. He seemed in the very midst of a life of usefulness and activity and his death was a loss to the business community as well as to his many friends and his family. His sterling characteristics were such as gained for him the esteem of all who knew him and his worth as a business man places him in the foremost rank among the manufacturers of Columbus. Since her husband's death Mrs. Lanman has continued to make her home in this city with her four sons and is well known here in social circles.
FRANK B. TOOTHAKER.
Frank B. Toothaker, actively identified with business interests in Columbus while making his home in Westerville, was born in Marietta, Washington county, Ohio, April 22, 1844. He represents one of the old families of that part of the state. His father, James H. Toothaker, a native of Portland, Maine, was taken to Marietta in 1817, when but three months old, by his par- ents, Roger and Hannah Toothaker, who were likewise natives of Portland. This is one of the oldest American families, the first representatives of the name in America having arrived on the continent prior to 1630. Through succeeding generations there have been several of the name who have attained
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prominence and distinction in various lines of life. The first lighthouse on the Atlantic coast was established by Seth Toothaker and in the professions have been found many members of the family who have attained more than local fame. Roger Toothaker was a farmer by occupation and on coming to Ohio purchased land for a dollar and ten cents per acre. He settled in the pioneer district and aided in reclaiming the region for the uses of civilization. James H. Toothaker was reared upon the old home farm but eventually be- came a carpenter and contractor. He married Deborah A. Brown, and unto them were born two children. The younger son, Edwin M. Toothaker, died in Columbus while serving as a printer on the Ohio State Journal. He had previously been connected with the Cincinnati Enquirer for fifteen years and had served for thirteen months in the engineers' corps toward the close of the Civil war.
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