USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Columbus > Centennial history of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio, Vol. II > Part 40
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put aside further business cares and he lived retired until his death in 1901. He was a substantial, straightforward and successful business man, respected by all who knew him. He took a great interest in the Odd Fellows society and was an active and prominent member of the local lodge.
The Eldridge family were originally Quakers and came from England with William Penn, settling in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. In 1850 Charles Eldridge was married to Miss Catharine Nelson, who died in 1896. She was a representative of one of the oldest and most distinguished pioneer families of Ohio, tracing her ancestry bnek to Robert Nelson. a soldier and recognized patriot of the American Revolution, who lived in Juniata county. Pennsylvania, and contributed large sums of money to the cause of Ameri- can liberty, serving at the same time as a member of the militia of his county. His ancestry is a subject of dispute but family tradition has it that he was of English descent. He was born in 1725 and lived at Anderson Ferry, neur Columbia, Pennsylvania. There he was married in 1751 to Martha Patterson, and their eldest child, David, was born there. November 30. 1752. Robert Nelson afterward removed with his wife and child to what is now Mifflin county, Pennsylvania. The earliest draft ever made of that tract of land was on a warrant to Robert Nelson, dated February 3, 1755. He assisted in the establishment of the First Presbyterian church of that locality and was one of its officers until his removal from the Juniata valley in 1800. He was a member of Captain Minteer's Company of militia of the Juniata valley, organized for the protection of the frontier and there is still extant a compact entered into by this company of militia, entitled, "De- fense against Indians during the Revolution." Robert Nelson's house being of nnusnal size was the rendezvous and the storehouse for the supplies of all the patriots of that valley during the Revolution times and the troublesome period that preceded it. His zeal and sympathy for the American cause and his devotion thereto finally resulted in the sacrifice and loss of his beau- tiful estate of Cedar Springs. His wife died at that home February 25. 1794, and in 1800 Robert Nelson left Juninta valley and went to visit ini- sons who had removed westward. He died at the home of his son Jolm, at Bowling Green, Kentucky, in September, 1804, at the age of eighty years.
His eldest child, David Nelson, was only three or four years of age when his parents removed to the Cedar Springs estate and was only twenty-tive years of age when he eulisted in the Continental army in the Revolutionary war. He was commissioned first lieutenant of the Eighth Company, Fourth Battalion of Associators and Militia of Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, July 31, 1777, and was again commissioned May 14. 1778, in the same cont- pany under Captain John Lacey, Colonel Samuel Lyon and General Anthony Wayne. He was encamped at Valley Forge during the memor- able winter of 1777-78. On the 11th of March, 1779, he married Margaret. danghter of Rev. James Logan and the widow of John Jamison. She was born August 20, 1754, and was described as the prettiest woman in Lost Creek valley. David Nelson and his wife removed from Cedar Springs in 1798 to Ohio, settling near Chillicothe and afterward- coming to what is now Columbus. He located a half section of land. built a log cabin and in
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1819 replaced the pioneer home by what is still known as the Nelson home- stead on the Nelson Road. He was one of the founders and officers of the First Presbyterian church and in recent years there has been erected at the corner of Parkwood and Clifton avenues, upon a part of the original Nel- son land what is known as the Nelson Memorial ( Presbyterian) church. For nearly thirty-eight years David Nelson lived a life of peace, prosperity and uprightness in the Nelson homestead after a stormy youth spent in the service of his country in the American Revolution and a courageous man- hood as a brave pioneer. He died in revered old age, October 9, 1829, while his wife died August 21, 1831.
They had seven children, the youngest being David Nelson, father of Mrs. Eldridge. He was born January 30, 1795, and died April 27, 1847. He was married November 30, 1824, to Mary Taylor, who was born in Mer- cersburg, Pennsylvania, July 15, 1803, and passed away January 21, 1850. They lived and died on the old Nelson homestead. They had nine children, the eldest of whom was Catharine Taylor Nelson, who was born November 23. 1825. On the 1st of August, 1850, she gave her hand in marriage to Charles Eldridge and for forty-six years they traveled life's journey together being then separated by the death of Mrs. Eldridge, October 22, 1896.
Their children were four in number, John Nelson, born May 14, 1851, was married February 2, 1886, to Gertrude Day, who was born February 8, 1856, in Bowling Green, Ohio, Frank Harold, born July 14, 1852, was mar- ried December 5. 1883, to Lney Ramsden, whose birth occurred in Bradford, England. July 5, 1853. He has been an officer of the United States navy for thirty-seven years, having entered the Naval Academy at Annapolis, 1872. and is now holding the rank of captain, doing duty as inspector of engineering material at Hartford, Connecticut. Charles Delwyn, born Oc- tober 30, 1853, died July 16, 1889.
Wilbur Taylor Eldridge, the fourth member of the family, began his education at the usual age as a pupil in the public schools of Columbus, passing through consecutive grades until he was graduated from the high school with the class of 1877. After leaving school he entered the employ of Butler. Earhart & Company, wholesale grocers, in the capacity of ship- ping clerk and remained with that house until 1879, when he resigned to engage in the retail grocery business with his father at Goodale and High streets, where his father had purchased property several years before. The firm became known as C. Eldridge & Son, the junior partner remaining as a factor in the successful conduet of the business until 1887. when he with- . drew to enter the field of real-estate operations. He became an employe of C. E. Marke-on. a real-estate dealer. that he might learn the business, re- maining with him until 1889, when he started in business on his own account. He spent the sunnner of that year abroad and returned to open his real- estate office. Since then he has handled all kinds of city and suburban real e-tate, is considered an anthority upon questions of realty and is thoroughly familiar with valnes.
On the 3d of November. 1892. Mr. Eldridge was imited in marriage to Miss Eleanor Brown, who was born March 23. 1863. at Vinton Furnace in
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Vinton county, Ohio. She died in Columbus, January 24, 1895. leaving a daughter, Dorothy Brown, whose birth occurred at Petoskey, Michigan, September 5, 1893. On the 31st of July, 1904, Mr. Eldridge was again mar- ried, his second union being with Mrs. Ida Coffman Graybill.
Mr. Eldridge was among the patriotic sons of Ohio who enlisted for active service in the Spanish-Ameriem war. He became a private of Troop D, First Ohio Cavalry and afterwards was made a corporal, serving for six months. He is devoted to his home and family, finding his greatest hap- piness at his own fireside and yet he has many warm friends who esteem him for his gennine worth and devotion to duty. Since entering the field of real-estate operations he has made steady progress for he is a keen observer of the trend of the city's growth and development and a close student of all those questions which bear upon the real-estate business. His earnest pur- pose, laudable ambition and unfaltering industry have constituted the basis of his success.
FREDERICK SHEDD.
Frederick Shedd is prominent in the financial circles of Columbus as secretary and treasurer of the E. E. Shedd Mercantile Company, which was established here sixty-one years ago by his father, who is today the oldest merchant in the city and who has the honor of being the first business man in Columbus to send out a commercial traveler. Frederick Shedd was born in this city in 1861. His ancestors have long been in this country, having originally settled in the New England states, and two of them who were among the first to answer the call to arms in Revolutionary days, partici- pated in the battles of Lexington and Bunker Hill. His father. Edmund E. Shedd, who is now senior member of the E. E. Shedd Mercantile Company, is a native of Bethel, Vermont. where his birth occurred in 1828, and where he was engaged in farming and general merchandising until 1846, when he came to this state. locating the following year in Columbus, where he entered the employ of J. & W. B. Brooks, wholesale grocers, as a clerk, working for them for about two years, at the termination of which time he beemne connected with another wholesale grocery firm, known as Decker & Hibhs, and with this company he remained for three years. During this time he developed his business possibilities and had acquired a reputation for the excellent judgment by which he had greatly added to the volume of trade of the firms in who-e employ he had been and. feeling confident of his ability to conduct business for himself. in 1852 he organized what was known as the Shedd & Miller Company. continuing with this firm until 1856. His partners sold out their interests to Isaac Eberly, the firm name becoming Eberly & Shedd. the company having its place of business on the site where the Southern Hotel now stand -. Here the firm continued transacting business for nearly thirteen years under the same name, when the partnership was dissolved and Mr. Shedd organized the firm of E. E.
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Shedd & Company, being known by this name for a number of years. Sub- sequently Mr. Shedd took his sons into partnership, and in 1894 the firm, known as E. E. Shedd & Sons, removed to their present location on Front street, the building having been especially constructed for the company's convenience. Upon settling in their new quarters the firm then became known as the E. E. Shedd Mercantile Company.
At the usual age Frederick Shedd was enrolled as a pupil at the public schools, where he acquired his preliminary education, and subsequently, having taken a course of study preparatory to entering college, he was matriculated in the Ohio State University, where he completed his course in 1883. He then started in the wholesale drug business, affiliating himself with Kauffinan, Latimer & Company, and remained in the employ of that firm for several years, when in 1890 he was taken into partnership with his father and eventually his business ability and executive judgment mer- ited his promotion to the responsible post of secretary and treasurer of the company, in which capacity he is now officiating. This is one of the pioneer business establishments of this city and since affiliating himself with the firm the younger Mr. Shedd has done much toward increasing it- volume of business and is a worthy partner of his father in the management of its affairs. Among other enterprises in which he is interested are The Ohio Trust Com- pany and The Jeffrey Manufacturing Company, of both of which he is a director.
In 1898 Frederick Shedd was united in marriage to Agnes, daughter of J. A. Jeffrey, to which nnion have been born: Marion, who is in her ninth year; Joseph Jeffrey, who is six years of age; and Elizabeth, whose birth occurred in 1904. Mr. Shedd is prominent in fraternal organizations, being worshipful master of Columbus Lodge No. 30, F. & A. M., a Knight Templar, and a thirty second degree Mason. Mr. Shedd in addition to be- ing a member of the Ohio and Columbus Country Clubs belongs to the Sons of the American Revolution, and holds membership in the First Congre- gational church. He is one of the most enterprising business men of the city. und his many interests place him in the foremost rank of its financial circles.
CHARLES ENGELKE.
The record of Charles Engelke is that of a self-made man who as the architect of his own fortunes has built wisely and well. He is now living retired from business save for the supervision which he gives to his invested interests. He has made an excellent record as a citizen and in connuercial circles, did splendid service as chief of police of Columbus in former years. while as proprietor of a storage and transfer business he developed an en- terprise which brought to him the competence which now enables him to rest from further labor.
A native of Hanover, Germany, and a son of George Engelke, he was brought to America in his boyhood days, the family settling at Long Island.
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whence they removed to Columbus in 1858. The father engaged in the manufacture of vinegar, developing a good business, which at his death became the property of his sons, George and Charles, who continued the enterprise for some time. The mother bore the maiden name of Augusta Gisekekey and was also a native of Germany. She lived to the advanced age of eighty-five years and spent her last days in Columbus.
In his early boyhood days Charles Engelke started out in life on his own account and worked his way upward by his strict honesty and upright- ness. He was diligent, economic and persevering, and he regarded no work beneath him if it would yield an honest living. He was therefore employed in various ways but while he was willing to take any work that offered he was also constantly alert to secure opportunities that would promote his advancement in business life. In 1863 he was appointed a patrohnan on the police foree and acted in that capacity for two years, after which he was advanced in 1865, being elected city marshal or chief of police. He con- tinued at the head of the police system of the capital city under Mayors Meeker, Bull, Heitman and Collins and then retired with a most creditable record. While acting in that capacity he instituted the metropolitan police system of the present day and gave many other evidences of his loyalty to duty and his high ideals in service. His course in connection with the big railroad strike of 1877 was a notable one. All firemen on the various rail- road lines of the country went on a strike and attempted to keep trains from running, holding up the switches and preventing other workmen from taking their places on the engines. Chief of Police Engelke realized that it was hi- duty to protect the railroad property from the mob and to assist in starting the trains. It was a dangerous undertaking to try to dispel this mob for, as is always the case in strikes, there are many lawless men who are ready and eager to join the strikers and show their dissatisfaction with the world at large by aiding in the destruction of property and often times of life. Realizing fully the danger that he must face, Mr. Engelke made his will and after otherwise arranging some of his personal affairs he got his men together to the number of twenty-eight and went to the railroad yards where the mob was collected. He then addressed the crowd and in a quiet talk told them what was his duty as chief of police and what he had to do. He asked them to listen to him and to listen as well to the voice of reason and he appealed in such a strong, forceful way to their common sense and their regard for the law that they left the switches and went quietly away so that traffic was at onee resumed without the destruction of either life or property.
After serving on the police force until 1880 Mr. Engelke retired with a most creditable record and turned his attention to private business interests. He established a transfer and storage business under the firm name of En- gelke & Bigelow, erecting a large warehouse at No. 31 East Nefin street with stables at Wall street near State street. He then devoted all of his time and at- tention to this business and built up a large and successful enterprise, utilizing thirty teams and employing about fifty men. His business was so successful that with the intention of retiring to private life that he might have leisure
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for the enjoyment of his well earned competence he sold out to Mr. Bigelow on the 1st of October, 1906, and is now giving his attention merely to his invested interests. He owns considerable property and other interests and has contributed in substantial measure to the improvement of the city in the erection of a large number of flat building -. This is excellent income- paying property and his realty holdings are the visible evidence of a life of well directed energy and business enterprise.
In 1868 Mr. Engelke was married in Columbus to Miss Caroline Lehr, who was born in this city and is a daughter of Henry Lehr. an early settler here who was engaged in the butchering business. Unto Mr. and Mrs. En- gelke have been born six children: George A., Albert and Clara, who have passed away. Harry, Ida and Laura now living. The daughter. Laura, is now the wife of Dwight Shannon.
Mr. Engelke is a charter member of Harmonica Lodge, I. O. O. F., and also of the Knights of Pythias lodge. Those who have known him since his boyhood have witnessed with interest his progress and rise in the world and have rejoiced in the recognition which has come to his ability and genuine worth. His history is that of the man who resolutely faces the conditions of life, realizes what are the obstacles and difficulties as well as the opportunities and sets him diligently to the task of overcoming the former and improving the latter.
NICHOLAS A. COURT.
Nicholas A. Court, who since 1900 has been manager of the famous Chit- tenden Hotel of Columbus, while his long connection with this line of business makes him the dean of hotel managers in the capital city, was born in Tiffin, Ohio, September 13, 1857. Ilis father. John Court, was a native of Luxem- burg, Germany, and on coming to the United State when a young man located in Tiffin, where he learned the harnessmaker's trade, which he then followed up to the time of his death. In Tittin he had wedded Elizabeth May, who was also a native of Luxemburg and came with her parents from Germany in her girlhood days.
Nicholas A. Court was the third in order of birth in a family of ten chil- dren and attended the parochial schools of Tiffin to the age of thirteen years. It was then necessary that he put aside hi- text-books, so that his educational privileges were somewhat meager but in the school of experience he has learned many valuable lessons. Turning his hand to whatever he could find to do. he spent considerable time about the leading hotel of Tiffin, the Shawhan House, and there gained his first ideas concerning the conduct of the modern caravan-ary. He did odd jobs there as his services were required and re- mained a resident of Tiffin until 1880. In 1882 he made his way to Colum- bus, where he obtained the position of night clerk in the old Exchange Hotel. since demolished to give way to the High street viaduct. There he continued
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for about six years, employed in various capacities and finally became day clerk and eventually steward.
Mr. Court rose to the position of hotel proprietor by his purchase on the 1st of January, 1888, of a half interest in the Warren House at Athens, Ohio, where he remained for six months. He then disposed of his business interests there and returned to Columbus, where he was appointed steward of the Com- mercial Club, retaining the position until April, 1889. In that year he pur- chased an interest in the Exchange Hotel, where he continued until the con- cern went out of existence, which was in December, 1893. In the meantime the name of the hotel had been changed to the Powell House. Afterward Mr. Court engaged in the grocery business for a brief period but in January, 1895, he resumed active connection with hotel life, becoming steward in the Hotel Normandie for William Monypenny. In May of the same year he purchased a half interest in that hotel and was associated with its management and con- trol until May, 1897, when he sold his interest to his partner, B. F. Green. He then took the management of Smith's European Hotel, there remaining until May, 1899, when he purchased the interest of Mr. Green in the Normandie and since 1900 this popular family hotel has been under the able management of Mrs. Court. In 1900 the management of the famous Chittenden Hotel was tendered Mr. Court and he has since continued in that responsible position to the satisfaction of the hotel owners and the general public. His identification with the hotel interests of Columbus covers a longer period than that of any other man and he has done much to promote a high standard in hotel service. In fact he has displayed much of the spirit of the pioneer in introducing new methods and originating new plans for the comfort of the guests and the management of the business.
On the 13th of February, 1888, Mr. Court was married to Miss Mary J. Barry, who was born in Columbus in August, 1861, and is a daughter of James Barry. Six children have been born of this union: James Barry, who is de- ceased; Lillian; Loretta and Leo, twins; the latter being now deceased ; one who died in infancy ; and Grace Elizabeth. Mr. Court is a thorough believer in education and has therefore given his children excellent opportunities in that direction. Lillian and Loretta have been placed as students in St. Mary's of the Woods Academy in Indiana, while Grace Elizabeth is attending St. Joseph's Academy in Columbus.
Mrs. Court has always taken an active interest and share in her husband's chosen vocation and has been of inestimable assistance in all his undertakings. To her he gives credit for his successes in his numerons hotel ventures and to- day he regards her as fully equal to himself in hotel management. As stated, she has been manager of the Hotel Normandie for the past eight years and has kept the reputation of this hostelry up to the highest standard. Mr. and Mrs. Court are members of and liberal contributors to St. Joseph's Cathedral. Mr. Court belongs to the Columbus Board of Trade and to the Ohio State Hotel s- sociation, of which he was for a time president and also a member of its executive committee. He is likewise a member of the Hotel Men's Mutual Benefit Association and was its vice president for two years. Socially he is connected with the Columbus Country Club, the Arlington Country
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Club and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Ile stands to- day as one of the most able and popular hotel men of the state and has pros- pered as the years have gone by. He made an early start in business life, nn- assisted by any advantages that come from wealth or family connections, but with a determined spirit and resolute purpose he has worked his way upward and that he selected a line of activity for which he was well adapted is indicated by his popularity in hotel circles, his success and the honors that have been conferred upon him by hotel men in the different organizations in which he has been called to office.
CHARLES WILLIAM WALLACE, JR.
Perhaps there is no stronger proof of the growing spirit of humani- tarianism than the development of fraternal and insurance organizations, where men band themselves together for mutual assistance and helpfulness. It is in this line of work that Charles William Wallace, Jr., is engaged being now supreme secretary of the Knights of St. John. He started upon life's journey June 28, 1873, in Cincinnati, Ohio, a son of Charles William Wallace, Sr .. who was also born in Cincinnati and is a wood worker by trade. Ile served as a valiant defender of the Union cause in the Civil war and is now drawing a small pension from the government. The family is of Scotch lineage, being direct descendants of Sir William Wallace, the di -- tingnished Scottish chief, where story has thrilled the youth not only of the land of hills and heather but of every civilized country as well. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Caroline Barbara Centner and was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.
Charles William Wallace, Jr., as a publicschool student, mastered the elementary branches of English learning and, passing through successive grades, eventually became a pupil in the Central high school of Cincinnati, Ohio, from which he was graduated with the class of 1889. His entrance into the business world was made as district messenger boy and subsequently he became connected with a retail carpet store. He has lived in Columbus since 1892, at which time he became connected with the D. C. Beggs Com- pany, carpet merchants, with whom he continued for about ten year -. At that time such was his ability and business reputation that he was cho-en to act as manager of the wholesale department for the Krause. Butler & Benham Co., with whom he remained until his election to the position of supreme secretary of the Knights of St. John in 1906. He is now filling this office and is devoting his energies to the npbuilding of the order with good success. When Mr. Wallace was elected to his present position. the Knights of St. John had been deteriorating. The order was weak financially and had a growing debt. Mr Wallace, accepting position of supreme secretary, soon brought the organization out of financial troubles, and it is now rapidly growing in membership and has a large balance in the treasury.
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