USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Columbus > Centennial history of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio, Vol. II > Part 43
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In 1893 Mr. O-borne was married to Miss Agnes G. Long, of Sandusky, Ohio, and unto them have been born the following named: Margaret Irene,
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James Thurman, Bryan Long, Kathryn Evelyn, Don M., Jr., and Agnes Gertrude.
Mr. Osborne is fond of fishing and outdoor sports, being a devotee of na- ture in many of her forms. In politics he is a democrat with a citizen's interest in the political conditions of the country. He is always genial and approach- able and at the same time is an alert, enterprising man, who has the ability to concentrate his attention and interests upon the one subject at issue. He has made each step in his life count for the utmost and has found that his mechan- ical knowledge and legal training and his experience as a salesman have all been essential and beneficial factors in the success which he is now enjoying. He possesses the determination that overcomes obstacles and seeks ont new methods in securing a desired result, and his initiative spirit and his undaunted energy have made him one of the representative business men of Columbus.
FREDERICK WILLIAM PRENTISS.
Among the carnest men whose depth of character and strict adherence to principle command the respect of their townsmen Frederick William Prentiss is prominent. He stands today as one of the leading represent- atives of financial circles in Columbus, being president of the Hayden-Clin- ton National Bank. Throughout his entire career there has not been one esoteric phase. On the contrary his entire life has been characterized by strict adherence to the rules which govern unfaltering industry and com- mercial integrity and these qualities, combined with his undaunted enter- prise, have enabled him to work his way upward from the position of bank messenger to bank president.
A native of Columbus, Mr. Prentiss was born at No. 383 East Broad street, July 31, 1855. His father, William Stanton Valentine Prentiss, was a native of Massachusetts and in his boyhood days was brought to Ohio by his father, the family home being established in Marietta. Soon afterward W. S. V. Prentiss lost his father and went to live with his uncle, Royal Prentiss, who was one of the pioneer journalists of the state, having in company with Jensen Prentiss, father of W. S. V. Prentiss, established the Marietta Gazette & Register about 1795. W. S. V. Prentiss supplemented his early educational privileges by a course in Marietta College and afterward took up the study of law. Admitted to the bar, he engaged in practice for a short time and then came to Columbus. He was a man of brilliant mind and scholarly attainments. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary E. Weaver, is a native of Rhode Island and still resides at Columbus.
In the public schools of his native state Mr. Prentiss acquired his edu- cation and entered ,upon his banking career as a messenger boy in the P. W. Huntington Bank, where he remained for fourteen years, rising through successive promotions to the position of teller. For two years, from 1884 to 1886. he filled the office of cashier in the state treasury and after his re- tirement joined M. M. Green in the organization of the Clinton National
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Bank in 1887. He became its vice president and cashier, so continuing until 1900, when the Clinton and Hayden banks were merged and Mr. Prentiss became president of the institution known as The Hayden-Clinton National Bank. He has since been the executive officer of what is today one of the lending financial concerns of the city. The banking business is conducted in a progressive manner and attended by a safe conservatism that receives the endorsement of the general public in a large and growing patronage. Mr. Prentiss is also a director and president of The Hayden Automatic Block Machine Company. is a director, secretary and treasurer of The Hay- den Company and a director of The P. Hayden Saddlery Hardware Com- pany. His business judgment is sound and reliable and, combined with energetie enterprise, has gained him the creditable position which he today ocenpies in business circles of his native city, enjoying the respect of his colleagues and the admiration of all who know aught of his career.
In 1882 Mr. Prentiss was married to Miss Martha Kinsman Greene, a daughter of M. M. Greene, his former associate in the Clinton National Bank. Her death occurred in 1888 and in 1893 Mr. Prentiss was married to Miss Belle Irving Hayden, a daughter of Charles H. Hayden. There is one son by the first marriage, Stanton Greene Prentiss, now paying teller in The Hayden-Clinton National Bank.
Mr. Prentiss is a member of the Episcopal church and gives practical support to various measures tending to promote the moral, intellectual and material welfare of the community. His social nature finds expression in his membership in the Columbus and Arlington Country clubs, in both of which he has for many years served as a director and treasurer. He takes no active part in politics but his citizenship is characterized by a patriotism and afaltering devotion to those interests which are a matter of civic virtue and civic pride. He has made good use of his talents and opportunities and stands as a high type of American manhood.
GEORGE W. LATTIMER.
George W. Lattimer is prominently known in Columbus as a prosperous manufacturer, being secretary and treasurer of the Kauffman-Lattimer Com- pany, wholesale druggists, and president of the Lattimer Stove Company. While he has displayed marked business ability in the successful control of these enterprises, at the same time he has recognized the universal brother- hood of man and has done effective service for the unfortunate ones of the world through the avenues of charitable and benevolent work. His life has never been self centered but on the contrary is continually giving out, not only in the way of material things but in that helpful spirit, generous sym- pathy and word of encouragement that does so much to dissipate gloom with the sunshine of life.
O. H. Lattimer, father of George W. Lattimer, was born in Norwich township, Franklin county, Ohio, in 1827. His wife, who bore the maiden
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name of Sarah Ann Cox, was born in Delaware county, Ohio, in 1831. In early life they were both employed at the old insane asyhin, and there formed the acquaintance which ripened into love and was consummated in marriage. Daniel Dodge Lattimer, the grandfather of our subject, resided on a farm bordering the Scioto river. He settled there in 1815, cleared the land of the timber which covered it and placed the fields under the plow. Ile and his wife left the state of Connecticut in the early part of the nineteenth century, made their way westward to Marietta, Ohio, afterward to Athens and subse- quently settled upon the farm mentioned above. The wife bore the maiden name of Katherine Hyde, and both were of old New England stock. Their family numbered eleven children, of whom O. H. Lattimer was the third in order of birth.
The maternal grandparents of George W. Lattimer were William and Ann (Atherton) Cox, who resided in Wyoming valley near Wilkes-Barre, Pennsyl- vania. In the old cemetery there is found a monument erected to the memory of Captain James Atherton, who was killed in the French and Indian war. Colonel Jacob Lattimer commanded a regiment in the Revolutionary war, and both were ancestors of our subject.
Mrs. O. H. Lattimer, his mother, was educated in the academy of Westerville, which afterward became Otterbein University, later engaged in teaching school for a time and then accepted a position in the insane asylum. where Mr. Lattimer was also employed. After their marriage in 1852, he pur- chased the ground at the southeast corner of High and Cherry streets in Colum- bus, and opened a bakery and confectionery business, selling his products to the wholesale trade, making his delivery in large wagons. Also during the period of the Civil war he had a contract for furnishing the army with hard tack. His death occurred in April, 1865, after which time his business prop- erty was sold to Coleman & Felber, the latter having learned his trade of Mr. Lattimer, while Mr. Coleman commenced his business life with Mr. Lattimer when a boy of seventeen years. The first bakery in Columbus north of Broad street was established by Mr. Lattimer and was a branch of his other business. Ile was a well known, highly respected and successful business man here during the middle portion of the nineteenth century, and is yet remembered by many of the older settlers. There were Int two children in the family, and the daughter, Eva Jane, who became the wife of George D. Jones, an attorney, died in 1900. She left two danghters: Margaret Fuller Jones, a recent gradu- ate of Wellesley College; and Grace Lattimer Jones, who is a graduate of Bryn Mawr College of Pennsylvania and one of the promoter- and proprietors of the Columbus School for Girls, doing excellent work in this connection.
George W. Lattimer, now the only surviving member of the family, was born in this county in December, 1855. He continued his ednention in Colum- Ims until his graduation from the Central high school in 1874, after which he spent one year in school in Cleveland, and later was graduated from Amherst College in 1879 on the completion of the full four years' course, at which time the degree of Bachelor of Arts was conferred upon him. He afterward studied law for six months, and then went to the Rocky mountains in Colorado, where he was connected with mining interests, remaining for about a year.
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Hle then returned to Columbus on business, and while here entered into business relations with the Nelsonville Coal & Coke Company, of which he was made secretary and treasurer. A year later, however, he sold out, and in 1882, in association with Professor George B. Kauffman and L. B. Kauffman, established a wholesale drug store as a member of the firm of Kautfinan. Lat- timer & Company. This was incorporated in 18SS as the Kauffman-Lattimer Company, Mr. Lattimer being its secretary and treasurer from the incorpora- tion. In 1901 he also became connected with the Lattimer Stove Company, at which time he was elected president and still holds the office. The plant of this company covers about three and a half acres, while their trade extends to all parts of the United States, their sales reaching about two hundred and fifty thousand dollars annually. The business of the drug company amounts to abont one million dollars annually, this being one of the most extensive wholesale drug enterprises of Ohio. In all his business connections Mr. Latti- mer has displayed keen discernment, with a ready recognition and utilization of opportunity. In coordinating forces he has produced excellent results and throughout his entire career has made steady progress.
In all of his business life Mr. Lattimer has looked beyond the exigencies of the moment to the opportunities of the future and the usefulness of his labors has thus continned with the passing years. In many ways Columbus has benefited by his activity and enterprising spirit. He was a member of the first directorate of the board of trade in 1882, was president of the board in 1906, and has served for a number of years as chairman of the public improve- ment committee. He was also president of the park commission during Mayor Jeffrey's administration, has been treasurer of the Ohio Good Roads Associa- tion and president of the Franklin County Good Roads Association. He belongs to that class of far-signted men who recognize the advantage of public improve- mente, and with most enterprising spirit labor for the substantial development and material progress of the city. Neither is he oblivious of his opportunities to aid his fellowmen and has done much effective charitable and beney- olent work. He was appointed by Governor Harris as one of the state delegates to the Civic Federation at Chicago, and received appointment from the same ex- ecutive as a delegate to the National Good Roads Association at Buffalo. His work in behalf of good roads and the improvement and development of the park system of Ohio has been most effective. He was instrumental in securing the passage of the bill through the legislature whereby state aid was secured to the amount of fifty percent on all Ohio roads after the work is begun. The remaining fifty percent is paid as follows: twenty-five percent by the county; fifteen percent by the township: and ten percent by the property owners. The bill also carried with it an appropriation of four hundred and forty thousand dollars from state funds for the care of the roads.
Mr. Lattimer belongs to the Broad street Methodist Episcopal church. He has been vice president of the board of managers of the Associated Chari- ties, is one of the directors of the Humane Society, one of the trustees of the Hannah Neil Mission and president of the board of trustees of the neighborhood guild association, which owns the property on which is located the Godman Guild settlement house. He is chairman of the joint committee on good roads
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of the state board of commerce and Ohio State Grange, is a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, a member of the Columbus Club, the Ohio Club and of the Columbus Country Club, of which he was also one of the founders.
Mr. Lattimer has been married twice. He first wedded Miss Belle Gard- ner, a daughter of Andrew Gardner, a former postmaster of Columbus, and unto them was born a son, Gardner. Mrs. Lattimer died in 1886, and for his second wife Mr. Lattimer chose Miss Minnie Williams, a granddaughter of Dr. Allen, one of the older settlers of Columbus, who was a Baptist minister, and later became interested in the Ohio Tool Company and in the shoe firm of Allen & Awl. By the second marriage there is one daughter, Miss Jane Lattimer. The son was educated in the high school and was graduated from Amherst College of Massachusetts in 1906. Such in brief is the life history of George W. Lattimer, a man remarkable in the breadth of his wisdom and in the scope of his activities. In his business career he has attained notable snecess, and yet his life has never been self centered, but has been actnated by a spirit of devotion to his fellowmen, cognizant at all times of the duties and obligations which devolve upon him in this connection.
HARRY NATHAN BLAIR.
Harry Nathan Blair, long well known as a representative of journalism in Ohio, was born in West Jefferson, Madison county, this state, June 23, 1861. His father, Nathan B. Blair, also a native of Ohio, was engaged in the furniture and undertaking business at West Jefferson and at London. Throughout his life he followed mercantile pursuits and was most highly respected. His death occurred at Harrisburg, Franklin county, June 11, 1888, when he had reached the age of sixty-five years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Eliza A. Burnham. made her home with her son, Harry N., after her husband's death until her own demise on the 30th of March, 1903.
Harry N. Blair was edneated in the common schools of West Jefferson and London. After his father's death, the support of the widowed mother Jargely devolved upon him. He therefore songht employment, entering the office of the London Ohio Enterprise, a weekly paper, which he rep- resented in a reportorial capacity. While in that employ in April, 1883, he was nominated for the position of township clerk on the republican ticket and received the endorsement of the public at the polls, not only in that year but again in 1884. In the following fall he was elected county clerk and filled the office for a term of three years. At that time the county was about evenly divided politically, not giving more than one hundred majority either way. Mr. Blair's official service justified the faith of his friends and constitutents, for he proved a capable incumbent, prompt and reliable in the discharge of his duties. In 1888 he came to Columbus, where he en- gaged in newspaper work as reporter on the Ohio State Journal. Here he has
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remained continuously since and has been political and legislative editor successively with the State Journal. the Columbus Dispatch, the Columbus Press-Post and Columbus Citizen. For twenty years he has been a legis- lative reporter, covering the administrations of Governors James E. Camp- bell, William Mckinley, Asa A. Bushnell, George K. Nash, Myron T. Her- rick, John M. Pattison, Andrew L. Harris and Judson Harmon. He at- tended every state convention of both parties during that period and also represented the papers with which he was connected at many national con- ventions. His work as legislative and political editor has given him an ac- quaintance probably as large as that of any man in the state. He has always enjoyed the confidence of the leaders of both parties in a very marked degree and he is now acting as legislative and political editor for the Colum- bus Citizen, which gives him connection with the Cincinnati Post, Cleveland Press, Toledo News Bee and Akron Press, constituting what is known as the Scripps-McRae League of Newspapers. He is also a deputy internal revenue collector for the eleventh district of Ohio, to which he was appointed October 1, 1907, by David H. Moore, the collector of the district.
On the 1st of July, 1888. Mr. Blair was married in Columbus to Miss Emma Allen, of Athens county, Ohio, and unto them were born two chil- dren: Lizzie Gertrude twenty years of age; and Harry N., a youth of six- teen years. The mother died October 30, 1893, in Athens county, and on the 4th of February, 1895, Mr. Blair was married in Columbus to Miss Abi- gail Jones, a daughter of M. R. Jones of this city. They have one son, Edwin Carson Blair, twelve years of age, who is with his parents at No. 297 South Ohio avenue.
Mr. Blair is a member of the Third Street Methodist Episcopal church and in fraternal relations is connected with the Masons. the Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. In his journalistic work he has manifested the same spirit of progress which is evidenced in the rapidly developing busi- ness conditions of the country. He possesses a genial, courteous, manner that has won him many friends among those whom he has met in his pro- fessional capacity. while those whom he meets socially have retained for him warm regard.
JOHN ZETTLER KRUMM.
John Zettler Krumm, engaged in conducting a successful brokerage busi- ness in Columbus, his native city. started upon life's journey upon the 26th of August. 1870. His father, Frederick Krumm, was also a native of Co- lunibus, born August 13, 1840, and in the graded and high schools of the city acquired his education, beginning his business career as a dry-goods merchant. He continued in that line of commercial activity for many years, after which he established a general mercantile store at Shawnee, Ohio. After a brief period had elapsed. however. he suffered heavily from a disastrous fire and returned to Colundmu -. Here he was appointed assistant postmaster under De-
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Witt C. Jones and thus served from 1884 until 1888. In the latter year he established a queensware store and conducted the enterprise until his death in 1900. Ile made a creditable record as a soldier of the Civil war, enlisting as a private in 1861 and winning promotion to the rank of lieutenant and of captain. He was obliged to resign, however, in 1863 on account of wounds sustained in battle. He served as a member of the board of education, was also superintendent of the construction of public schools and in every possible way he sought to advance the interests of public education. His knowledge gained as construction superintendent of the public schools fitted him for work in architectural lines and he became a member of the firm of Dauben, Krumm & Riebel, being thus connected until he engaged in the queensware business. He was a very close student of political economy and was said to be one of the best posted men on finance and political questions in Ohio. He was a great admirer of William J. Bryan and the causes which he championed, and while the honors and the emoluments of office had little attraction for him, he nevertheless was a stalwart supporter of the principles in which he believed. Citizenship was to him no mere idle word but meant the support of all that he believed would contribute to the best interest of his home lo- cality and the country at large. His wife, Mrs. Cornelia (Zettler) Krumm, a native of Columbus, is still living.
John Zettler Krumm is indebted to the public-school system of this city for his edneational privileges. He was graduated from the high school in the class of 1889 and took up the task of providing for his own support. Prior to this time he had sold and carried papers while attending school, carrying a Sunday paper and also selling to the transient trade. While yet in school he purchased three routes for the Columbus Press, hired boys to carry the papers and collected his money Saturdays. Realizing the value of an edu- cation he embraced his opportunity to continue his studies until he was gradu- ated from high school and the same year entered business life as a messenger in the National Exchange Bank, where he remained until 1891. when he resigned to accept a position of bookkeeper in the Hayden Bank. Faithful- ness and capability are the only qualities which win promotion in such an institution and that Mr. Krumm possessed these is indicated by the fact that he was advanced from one position to another until he became teller in 1898. His bank experience was an excellent training school for the business in which he is now engaged. In 1899 he resigned his position in the bank to enter the services of an insurance company under promising conditions, but re- ceived a more favorable proposition from Rogers & Rutherford, a prominent and well established brokerage firm, to engage with them in the brokerage business. He accepted and was placed in charge of the local security depart- ment, where he remained in faithful and efficient performance of responsible duties until 1906. He then withdrew from that connection to engage in the brokerage business on his own account, buying and selling local stock and bond securities, Few if any are better informed concerning the financial market and he has also been accorded a liberal clientage, enjoying at all times the confidence and respect of his friends and patrons. His business career has been marked by growing snecess and aside from his brokerage business
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he is a director of the Columbus Stock Exchange and of the Capitol Locknut & Washer Company.
On the 12th of December, 1906, Mr. Krumm was married to Miss Anne Regina Foley, of Columbus, and they have one daughter, Phyllis Anne, born February 14, 1908. Formerly Mr. Krumm was a member of the Columbus Pugh Videtts, which later became the Columbus Rifles. His connection therewith was retained until business demanded his retirement. In politics he is independent, governed entirely by conditions and the capability of the candidate. In matters of citizenship he is progressive and supports many measures that are factors in the welfare and upbuilding of Columbus. He has membership in the Board of Trade and socially is connected with the Ohio Club. Prominent in musical circles, he is serving as a member of the Con- gregational choir. He inherited musical taste from his father, cultivated his voice for many years, and has always been a close student of music not for any professional reason but because of his love for the art. In his boyhood days he was for a long period a member of the Trinity choir and has always been regarded as a valued addition to musical circles and has been most generous in his use of this gift where he believed that he would bestow pleasure or aid in the promotion of some good cause. Pleasure, progress, business enterprise and interest in municipal affairs constitute well balanced forces in his life.
SMITH W. BENNETT.
Smith W. Bennett, who since his retirement on the 12th of January, 1909, from the office of special counsel in the department of the attorney. general of Ohio, and now practicing law in Columbus in partnership with Ralph E. Westfall, has by his able professional service drawn to himself wide- spread attention and favorable comment. Indeed he ranks with the most prominent lawyers of the state, his ability being demonstrated in his able handling of important litigated interests in which the commonwealth has been involved.
Mr. Bennett is a native of Apollo, Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, but was only four years of age when his parents removed to Bucyrus, Ohio, where he pursued his early education and retained his residence until he came to Columbus in 1898 to enter upon official service. After completing his literary studies he began reading law in the office and under the direction of S. R. Harris, of Bucyrus, member of congress and a prominent representa- tive of the bar. After having qualified for the practice of law he formed a partnership with the Hon. E. B. Finley and Judge Thomas Beer, this asso- ciation being maintained for many years. Within that period Mr. Bennett established a place among the foremost lawyers of his part of the state and enjoyed a large and lucrative private practice until appointed to the position of special counsel to the attorney general by Attorney General Frank S. Monnett on the 15th of May, 1898. He was afterward reappointed by At-
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