USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Columbus > Centennial history of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio, Vol. II > Part 34
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Dr. Stevenson accepted a large school in the country, where he remained for seven months and his successful work there led to the extending of a call to him by the schools of Dresden, Ohio. In the earlier years of his manhood he devoted his leisure hours to the study of law. As has been stated, his family desired that he should enter the ministry and it was undoubtedly several years before he had fully determined which of the three professions -the law, the ministry or educational work-should receive his exclusive at- tention. He was deeply interested in the great problems which the country was confronting and which were being continuously discussed by men prom- inent at the bar. Then, too, parental influence still elung to the idea that he should enter the ministry but in the course of years he seemed to have de- cided definitely upon the teacher's profession and gave the five years between 1855 and 1860 to the schools of Dresden, which he reorganized and advanced to a high standard of excellence.
It was during this period, on the 23d of September. 1856, that Mr. Ster- enson was united in marriage to Miss Rebecca McConnell, of MeConnelsville, Ohio, which town was named in honor of her ancestors, early settlers there. Their married life, covering thirty years, was a most congenial one owing to a similarity of tastes and a similar intellectual development. They had but one child, Robert W., who is now assistant librarian in the Columbus library.
The high character of Dr. Stevenson's work at Dresden brought to him the favorable attention of President Lorin Andrews, then of Kenyon College, whose recommendation of Dr. Stevenson for the superintendeney of the schools of Norwalk, Ohio, led to the board of education at that place offering him the position. He accepted the offer and entered upon a broader field of usefulness in Norwalk in 1860. Mrs. Stevenson was her husband's assistant in the high school in the earlier years of his labor there. For eleven years he remained at Norwalk, his hold upon the affections and regard of its citizens continually increasing. That his service was eminently satisfactory is indi- cated by the fact that his salary was more than doubled during that period. All through his school work he gave his attention largely to organization,
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believing that careful, systematized work would produce the best results. He labored as earnestly and effectively toward raising the standard of the schools in the methods of instruction and in the branches tanght. Among his pupils there was George Kennan, of world-wide Russo-Siberian fame, and his cousin, H. L. Kenan, now a member of the bar of the state of Washington. The latter wrote on hearing of the demise of Dr. Stevenson: "I have just learned of his death and, thinking it might be a crumb of comfort to you in your deep affliction to know that one of his boys has never forgotten the lessons of true manhood received from him in both the public schools and the Sunday schools, I venture to address these few lines to yon at this time. Next to home influence, I feel, that whatever of good there is in my life is due to the un- conscious influence of a life so thoroughly devoted as his was to the develop- ment of true and Christian character in all those committed to his charge. His was a grand life and the results of his work are not only in the present generation but will be reflected along those to come." Another of his Norwalk students, J. G. Gibbs, said: "The writer of this brief tribute to the memory of one of the best and noblest of men, spent all of his school days under the guidance of this master mind and can bear witness to the manly and elevat- ing lessons inculeated by Mr. Stevenson both in the school and outside of it. Whatever there was that needed the help of the strong and the moral among our citizens, of that Mr. Stevenson could be counted among the formost sup- porters. Who of the boys and girls of the early '60- does not remember as among the happiest events of childhood those pienics at 'Prairie Switch?' And inseparably coupled with the railroad ride, the dinner on the grass and the rare and innocent sport, is the handsome face of the master spirit of it all, the warm-hearted whole-souled Mr. Stevenson. To us he was the strong ruler in our little kingdom, sternly exacting what was due but tender as a woman. as every child found when trouble came. The memory of such a man can never die while living monuments remain upon which were im- printed the touch of his noble soul. Peace be to his ashes. And may God comfort in their unspeakable sorrow the widow and orphaned son, who mourn the loss of one on whom they leaned."
Dr. Stevenson's work in Norwalk made him known throughont the state as one of the ablest representatives of publie-school work and this led to his selection for the superintendence of the schools of Columbus, where he re- mained from 1871 until 1889. Under his reorganizing and inspiring man- agement the schools of this city received an innnediate upward impulse which continues to be felt to the present time. Each year registered effective work done in lines of advancement and improvement. He believed that the object of education is to train each individual to reach the highest perfection possible for him and with this end in view he constantly studied and sought out new method- for improving the school system and making it more effective as a preparation for life's work to each individual. During his superintendency the population of this city increased from thirty-one thousand to one hundred thousand and yet he fully met each problem presented by the schools and made the educational system of Columbus an institution of which every citizen is proud. One of the notable features of his work here was the abolish-
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ment of the color line, which he achieved in such a politic and commonsense way as to avoid general friction. He did it first by receiving colored pupils into the high school, next into the various grammar grades and finally by doing away entirely with the school into which colored children had been corraled for miles and by distributing them to the various schools, forestall- ing prejudice before it had an opportunity to protest. While residing in Norwalk he had founded the library of that city and was the mainstay of the famous Norwalk library lecture courses from 1860 until 1870. Coming to Columbus, he recognized the need of this city in the same direction and to him is due the honor of inangurating the magnificent public library of Co- lumbus.
In 1889 Dr. Stevenson accepted a call to the superintendency of the schools of Wichita, Kansas, and to the universal and deep regret of the schools and people of Columbus, he went to Wichita, where he remained for three years. The impulse which always came from this reorganizing, regarding. reclassifying, inspiring master hand was immediately felt in the western city, with the erection of five handsome school buildings the first year. the estab- lishment of a city normal school and other marked improvements. It was not, however, only the schools with which he was directly connected that bepo- fited by his labors and his ideals, for through his work in the Ohio State Teachers' Association he did much valuable service toward inspiring his co- laborers in the educational field with the ideals which actuated him in his pub- lic service. In 1860 he was elected secretary of the state association and was chosen to the presidency in 1870. He became a member of the National Educational Association in 1877 and was thereafter a regular attendant upon its meetings and a participant in its proceedings. He was also chairman of the committee on neerology at the San Francisco meeting in 1888, was made secretary at the Toronto meeting in 1891 and reelected as secretary for two years at the Saratoga meeting in 1892, where his manly bearing upon the national platform was the subject of general commendation. Dr. Stevenson
was elected in 1883 to the national council of sixty selected from all parts of the United States for the consideration of educational subjects and in that council, according to the testimony of Dr. White, was one of the most in- fluential members. Wooster University honored him with the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in 1880. A constant student of the science and art of teaching, he stanchly advocated normal instruction for teachers and provided for it in the schools of Columbus and Wichita : and in the same line of the im- provement of the professional personnel of teachers, he was an active member of the board of control of the Ohio Teachers' Reading Circle. In the summer of 1878 he was one of the four most active in the revision of McGuffey's Readers for the firm of Van Antwerp, Bragg & Company, his associates in this task being the Hon. T. W. Harvey, of Ohio, Dr. Hewitt. of the Illinois Normal School at Normal, Illinois, and Miss Finnelle, of the Indiana Normal School at Terre Haute, Indiana. In a memorial address delivered before the Ohio State Teachers' Association, W. W. Ross said, in summarizing the life work of Dr. Stevenson: "And now, what was the secret of the phenomenal success of this great and noble life? Whence the power that made him a very
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prince among the teachers of this country; a prince, too, in many respects without a superior and in many others without an equal? Mrs. Stevenson writes, 'You may have noticed, if you know him well, that promptness and energy were prominent traits; he often said to Rob, "If I have had any suc- cess in life it is largely due to habits of promptness,"'
"But not his energy and promptness alone. Not alone his polished man- ners and manly presence, his affability and cheery disposition, his high. social qualities that made him the pride of the social circle. Not alone the rare common sense that steered clear of both Scylla and Charybdis. He had a bright intellect, was a graceful, fluent and eloquent speaker, always com- manding attention, always meeting expectations, modest, and as we learn from those more intimate with him, distrustful of his own powers, shrinking from rather than courting responsibilities, yet discharging every duty with credit and honor.
"But not his intellectual endowments alone. The soul of honor, purity and rectitude, always hewing to the line of right, but not alone even his ideal and spotless character. Superadded to all these was his great warm and lov- ing heart. It was this that crowned the personality that makes the great teacher, the most important factor in the work of education. He loved chil- dren and was true to their highest interest.
"It was his great heart that was the secret of his great approachability, the source and inspiration of the broad and generous sympathies and help- ing hand he was always ready to extend to his fellow teachers, the remem- brance of which is especially sacred in an hour like this. From personal ex- perience I could say there was no member of this Association in whose pres- ence it was so easy to master a constitutional diffidence and feel so perfectly at home.
"As no hand was more cordially extended, none was more cordially re- received. His hand-grasp was a true index of his soul, than which there is none better. It was the fire on the altar of his large soul that struck fire in others and made him the best loved of superintendents, and I may say in this hour, the best loved man in the long roll of the membership of the Ohio Teachers' Association, and that called forth such words as the following from Mr. Barron of the Columbus board of education in his presentation of the memorial resolutions of the board to the family of our deceased brother: 'Mr. Stevenson was one of the best and purest men I ever knew. Ile was like a father to me and one whom I loved to the fullest extent. I never expect again to be associated with such a model man as he. His name will live forever in the memory of all interested in the work of education in Columbus, and his work will tell not only for time but for eternity.' But the time came when the physical energies of his great heart were exhausted. Mrz. Stevenson writes: 'Mr. Stevenson suffered an attack of grippe in the winter of 1890-91, and another the following winter, after which his health steadily declined, but so slowly that we did not realize the danger. In January, 1893, he had the third attack of grippe which left him weak and feeble, but with his won- derful energy he kept about until three days before his death, which came so unexpectedly to us. On the last Saturday of his life he said he thought his
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trouble was of the heart and that he should not have a long illness, so that I knew he was not taken entirely unawares. I never knew him more cheerful than during the last few weeks of his life, saying very little about his weak- ness, out of consideration for me, as my mother was very sick at the time, at my house, and died one week after Mr. Stevenson. He passed away as peacefully as a child goes to sleep. a fit ending of a pure life.'
"It is well that the schools of Columbus should close, that the flags should fly at half mast, that distant Wichita should send her floral offering. Dr. Moore, Mr. Stevenson's pastor throughout his Columbus life, spoke as follows in his memorial address: 'Seldom in this city has a sincerer tribute of loving sorrow been paid to any man of any position than was witnessed at his funeral. . Could be but have known in those weary years of his absence how deep a place he held in the hearts of the friends of the work to which he had given his life, it would have lifted many a burden from his own.' "
C. CHRISTIAN BORN.
C. Christian Born, vice president of the Hoster Columbus Associated Breweries, was born in this city on the 1st of May, 1870. His grandfather, Conrad Born, whose birth ocenrred in Bavaria, Germany, in 1813, was one of the pioneer brewers of Ohio and for many years was a prominent and respected citizen of Columbus. His demise occurred in June, 1900. Conrad Born, the father of our subject, is a resident of Columbus, a sketch of his life appearing elsewhere in this publication.
C. Christian Born acquired his preliminary education in the schools of his home locality and was graduated from the high school in 1889. In 1890 he entered the establishment of his father and remained as his assistant until the latter's retirement and the consolidation of the brewing interests of Column- bus in 1905. In that year he was elected first vice president of the Hoster Co- lumbus Associated Breweries, which position he still holds. He is likewise large- ly interested in various banking and commercial concerns of the city and is widely recognized as a prosperous, influential and public-spirited citizen. He possesses untiring energy, is quick of perception, forms his plans readily and is determined in their execution, and his close application to business and his excellent management have brought to him the large measure of success which is today his. The board of trade finds in him a worthy member and he is also vice president of the city sinking fund.
In 1897 Mr. Born was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Eckhardt, a daugh- ter of Professor Herman and Elizabeth Eckhardt. the former being a leader of musical and German societies for many years. Mrs. Born is a high school graduate and also attended the Ohio State University. She received a musical education in Europe and is highly accomplished in that art. Her children are now three in number, namely: Elizabeth, Louise and Christian.
In his political views Mr. Born is an independent democrat, while frater- nally he is connected with the Elks. Mr. Boru is a member of Humboldt
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Lodge, No. 476, F. & A. M., of which he is past master; Enoch Grand Lodge of Perfection : Franklin Council, Princes of Jerusalem; Cohimbus Chapter of the Rose Croix; Scioto Consistory, thirty-second degree, and Aladdin Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He is an enthusiastic devotee of athletic sports and also finds great enjoyment in automobiling. Having spent his entire life in this city, he is well and favorably known here and his home at No. 827 Bryden road is justly celebrated for its attractive, warm-hearted and extensive hospitality.
H. C. HART.
II. C. Hart, well known as a representative of agricultural life in Franklin county, was born July 17, 1840, in his present home in Blendon township. He has always resided upon this farm and from early boyhood has been ac- tively connected with the work of the fields. He is a son of Gideon and Nancy (Langton) Hart, the former a native of Hartford, Connectient, born July 16, 1785, while the latter was born March 19, 1795, in Hartford. In both the paternal and maternal lines the subject of this review is descended from families long established in America. His great-grandfather, Daniel Langton, was proprietor of a tavern at Hartford, Connecticut, at the time of the Revolutionary war and there entertained Washington, LaFayette, Benedict Arnold and other distinguished men of the day. To show the depreciation of the American currency it is said that he paid one thousand dollars in con- tinental money for a cow. The Harts and Langtous were both of English lineage although the original representative of the family in this country came to the new world in early colonial days. Later they were identified with the pioneer development of the middle west. Dr. James Hart, the elder brother of Gideon Hart, went to Natchez, Mississippi, to fight the yellow fever and afterward sent for a brother to come to assist him. He had a most exten- sive practice, booking one thousand dollars per day, but both became ill with the fever and died. There were four sons and one daughter in that family: James, John, Joseph, Gideon and Nina Eliza.
Gideon Hart went to Vincennes. Indiana, ere the admission of that state to the Union, arriving on the 12th of Jannary, 1812, and it was there that he married Nancy Langton, who had gone with her parents to that state. In 1818 they removed to Franklin county. Ohio, settling on the farm which has since been in possession of the family and is now the property of H. C. Hart and sister. The father had previously visited the county in 1816 and had kept bachelor's quarters with Squire Lee. They operated a grist and saw mill one winter and became closely associated with the pioneer devlopment. Mr. Hart owned the first sawmill in Franklin county, erecting it in 1819 but it was destroyed by fire the same year, and he replaced it in 1820. there sawing the lumber needed for his own home. The second mill was also burned in the latter part of 1820. Mr. Hart afterward returned to Indiana, was there mar- ried, and with his bride came again to Franklin county. They made the journey by horse-back and hired someone to haul his goods to the new home.
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H. C. HART MR. AND MRS. W. J. PHELPS
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THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR TANTIX AND TILOEN FOUNDA TIONS.
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In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Gideon Hart there were five children: Mary, who died in 1839; Caroline, who became the wife of William Phelps and died in 1898; Candace, who is living on the old homestead with her brother; Sarah, who became the wife of H. M. Osborn and died in October, 1857; and Henry Clay, of this review.
The Harts have resided on what is known as the old homestead farm since 1818 and all of the improvements have been placed there by H. C. Hart and his father. When the latter came into possession of the farm it was a squatter's claim, on which a little cabin had been built, while an aere and a half had been cleared. He gave twenty dollars for the claim and with char- acteristic energy began his development and improvement. He set out one of the first apple orchards in this vicinity and later people came to him from all around to purchase apples. His work was always of a progressive character and he kept in touch with the advance made in farming methods. To the work of the farm II. C. Hart was reared and has always resided upon the old homestead. As his years and strength increased he aided more largely in the work of the fields and in the course of time assumed the management and control of the property, which is now owned by himself and sister Candace. The place comprises three hundred and twelve acres of rich and productive land, and the fields respond with golden harvests in return for the care and labor which he bestows upon them.
In his political views Mr. Hart was originally a whig, being reared in the faith of that party, but about the time he attained his majority the re- publican party sprang into existence and he cast his first ballot for Lincoln and has since given stalwart support to that political organization. He served as trustee for one term but has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking, preferring to give his undivided attention to his business affairs and in his work he has met with creditable and gratifying success. The farm is a valuable property and his labors have brought him good results.
BENJAMIN F. GAYMAN.
From the micestral home of the Gayman family in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, came the representatives of the name to Franklin county, Ohio, in the year 1843. This number included Moses Gayman, who some years later was united in marriage to Miss Sarah A. Eavey who, about 1848 or 1849 had accompanied her parents on their removal from Hagerstown, Maryland, to Fairfield county, Ohio. In the paternal line the Gaymans came of historic Pennsylvania Quaker stock, while the grandfather in the maternal line was a native of Germany and the grandmother a native of England. Moses Gayman, familiar with the carpenter's trade, devoted his life to inventive operations, proving a worthy factor in the community in which he lived and set for his family a splendid example concerning the value of independent labor and good citizenship.
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Benjamin F. Gayman, born in Canal Winchester, Ohio, March 6, 1858, at the usual age became a pupil in the public schools there and through regular stages of promotion eventually reached the high school, from which he was creditably graduated in 1875. He afterward devoted two years to the study of languages and literature under private tutors. His early years were marked with the events that come to the robust and healthy village youth. Temperate in habit and fond of his studies, he was also interested in baseball and throughout his entire life has remained an advocate and ad- mirer of the national game. He was anxious to secure a university edu- cation but lacked the funds necessary to pursue a full and uninterrupted college course, and thus, owing to stress of circumstances, took up the duties of practical business life in the office of the Canal Winchester Times. The printing business has been aptly termed the poor man's college, and through the experience and demands of the business Mr. Gayman gained broad in- formation upon almost limitless lines of learning with which the successful journalist must be familiar. While in the early stages of his newspaper ex- perience he also read law under the direction of Governor George K. Nash. but an impartial review of the opportunities offered by both professions and of his own capacities and powers led Mr. Gayman to the belief that he was better fitted for journalism than for the law. From the 12th of April, 1875, therefore, until January, 1907, he was associated with the Canal Win- chester Times, one of the model country newspapers of the state, his ap- prenticeship being followed by service as journeyman and foreman. while eventually he became a partner and afterward proprietor of the paper. For many years his brother. Oliver P. Gayman, was associated with him in the ownership and publication of the Times and is now sole owner.
The journalistic career brings the individual into such close touch with public interests that it is almost impossible for him, even if he so desires, to avoid the duties and responsibilities of public office, and Mr. Gayman was elected by his fellow townsmen to the position of alderman in the year 1884. His service in that capacity was so satisfactory that he was afterward unani- mon-ly elected mayor and four times in succession was he chosen to that position withont opposition. Such a record is seldom paralleled and was the indication of unqualified confidence and regard on the part of his fellow townsmen. Higher honors came to him in his election to the house of rep- resentatives in 1891 and further endorsement of his loyal public service came in his reelection in 1895 and again in 1897. In 1905 he was elected to the senate from the tenth Ohio district, comprising Franklin and Pickaway counties, and served until 1908, the legislative term being temporarily ex- tended because of a constitutional amendment. His nine years of service in the general assembly were marked by a faithful and intelligent discharge of every duty as well as by discrimination and wisdom in support of or opposition to legislative measures as he believed them beneficial or detri- mental to the best interests of the commonwealth. In 1908 he was nominated for congress by acclamation by the democratic party in the twelfth district, but in that year met defeat. He is unswerving in support of the principles on which his party rests and yet in all of his legislative service never sacrificed
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