USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Columbus > Centennial history of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio, Vol. II > Part 6
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hi- native talents in the discharge of his daily duties, and in every business commection he has enjoyed to the fullest extent the confidence and good will of those he has represented.
On the 20th of March, 1895, Mr. Limer was married to Miss Anna Ballon, a daughter of Orrin Ballon, of Zanesville, Ohio, who was for several war sheriff of Muskingum county. Mr. and Mrs. Limer reside at No. 349 West Eighth avenne. In his social relations Mr. Limer is a Mason, has served a- past high priest in the Royal Arch chapter, is a member of the Knight Templar commandery and of the Mystic Shrine. He also belongs 10 the Ohio Club and the Arlington Country Club, while his religious faith i- indicated in his membership in the Episcopal church. His political views are in accord with the principles of the republican party and while the honor- and emohnnents of office have had no attraction for him he yet keeps w.Il informed on the one-tions and issues of the day.
JOHN WILLIAM HECKERT.
John William Heckert is a prominent contractor of Columbus, being numbered among those whose enterprise has set the standard for business activity of this character. Ile was born January 18, 1865, in Williams conuty, Ohio. a son of Michael and Katherine (Gipple) Heckert, the former a native of Pennsylvania. He is indebted to the district schools of Crawford county. Ohio, for his early education and later he had opportunity to attend Otterbein University at Westerville, Ohio, where he pursned a classical cour-e. He en- tered bn-iness life as an apprentice to the carpenter's trade, which he thor- oughly mastered, becoming an expert workman. He was in the employ of others for five years, serving for two years as foreman, and in 1890 he came to Columbus, beginning business on his own account as a general contractor. Here he has built up an extensive business, being regarded as one of the lead- ing contractors of the city. AAmong the important structures he has erected are the Busy Bee buildings and the buildings of the Troy Laundry Company. He was also one of the contractors for the buildings of the Kinnear Manufactur- ing Company, eracted the Di-patch annex, the Grant Hospital, the Hospital for the Deaf and Dumb. the building for the Throop Martin Company, the Indianola school and the Riley Shoe Manufacturing Company's building. all of these being indicative of his high standing in his profession, the excellent work which he achieves, and the honorable business principles which he fol- lows. He is also manager of the Stretton-Heckert Oil & Gas Company, and is regarded as a man of resourceful business enterprise and sound judgment.
Mr. Heckert was married to Miss Rettie Fisher, a daughter of Jacob Fisher, of Kirkpatrick. Ohio, and their children are: Earl S., associated with his father in business; Grace, who is a graduate of the Columbus high school and possesses considerable musical talent : and Hazel, at home. The family residence is on Michigan avenue.
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Mr. Heckert is identified with various interests which have contributed to the upbuilding and progress of the city. He is a member of the Board of Trade, the Builders Exchange and the Master Carpenters AAssociation. He is also connected with the Knights of Pythias, the Woodmen of the World. and the United Brethren church. While casting an independent local ballot, he supports the men and measures of the democracy when national issues are involved. He has always held to high standards in his profession, working always toward advanced ideals and his thoroughness, efficiency and business probity have constituted the main features of his success.
JOHN CASHATT.
John Cashatt has gained distinctive recognition as one of the leading business men of Columbus, having shown marked capacity for the success- ful conduct of affairs of great breadth. Prompted by laudable ambition, he has made gradual advancement and each forward step has brought him a wider outlook and enlarged opportunities until he stands today as one of the distinguished representatives, having commercial interests in the capital city.
Born in Highland county, Ohio, February 20, 1846. his parents were Daniel F. and Amy (Hall) Cashatt, natives of Virginia and the state of New York respectively. The great-grandfather was a native of France, and coming to America in the eighteenth century, settled in Virginia, where the family was identified with agricultural interests. Harvey Cashatt, a brother of John Cashatt, served his country as a soldier of the Civil war, en- listing as a private but winning promotion until mastered ont at the close of hostilities with the rank of lieutenant. He became a clerk in what was then the Zettler House, at the corner of Fourth and Main streets in Colum- bus and was afterward called to public office, being twice elected clerk of the conrt, while his death occurred on the day on which his successor was elected. He was one of the most genial of men and therefore popular in the city of his residence. Another brother. Clark Cashatt. served through the Civil war, with United States Senator Joseph B. Foraker.
Reared under the parental roof John Cashatt is indebted to the public- school system of Ohio for his educational privileges. He remained on the home farm in Highland county until fourteen years of age, and the school which he attended was a log structure. a relie of pioneer times. The neces- sity of providing for his own support led him at the age of fourteen years to put aside hi- text-books and start ont in life on his own account. In the neighborhood of his old home he earned his living for some years, and in 1867, when a young man of twenty-one years he came to Columbus to enjoy the wider business opportunities offered by the growing capital city. Here he became clerk in the Zettler House, where he remained for three years and then went to the United States Hotel at the corner of High and Town streets. There he established a cigar stand, which was the nucleus for the
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business that has reached large proportions and brought to the owner a com- fortable fortune. He still acted as clerk and remained with the house until 1878, when he went to the American Hotel at the corner of High and State streets. there continuing until 1882. He afterward conducted the cigar stand at The Neil until 1892. when he removed his business to the north- west corner of Iligh and Broad streets, remaining there until 1903. In that year he removed one unmber north, where the business has since been con- tinued. Mr. Cashatt remained at its head until April, 1908, when he sold out there and opened a fine place at No. 46 North High street, admitting his nephew, John Egelhoff. into a partnership. In the meantime his trade had developed along substantial lines until it had reached large proportions, and his success in that field enabled him to extend his efforts into other depart- ments of business activity. In 1900 he was elected to the presidency of the Central Ohio Savings Bank. which. in 1903. changed its name to the Amer- ican Savings Bank. He has been its president since its organization and is also the vice president of the Columbus Piano Company and treasurer of the Columbus Realty Owner Company.
On the 29th of January, 1880, Mr. Cashatt was married to Miss Clara Rath, a native of Oswego county, New York, and they have one child. Helen Rath Cashatt, born June 7. 1895. The mother and daughter are members of the Methodist church, while Mr. Cashatt holds membership in the Uni- versalist church. He also belongs to the Masonic fraternity, has attained the thirty-second degree in the Scottish Rite and is a member of the Mystic Shrine. He also belongs to the Columbus Country Club. Early manifest- ing the spirit of self-reliance and making good use of his opportunities, he has made continuons progress in the business world, and although he has not acquired one of the princly fortunes which have made some Americans famous, he has long been far removed from want, and in addition to his important business interests in Columbus he owns many beautiful broad aeres in Tlighland county.
HENRY BALLMER.
Henry Balhner, who is successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits on his farm of ninety-three acres in Madison township, is a son of John Ball- mer, whose birth occurred in Germany in 1830. In enrly life the father emigrated to the United States and. having no capital. worked at anything that came to hand until he had attained the age of twenty-one yenrs. At that time, having learned the tailor's trade, he devoted him- self to that business and was thus successfully engaged throughout his entire career. In the year 1856 he had wedded Miss Rebecca Chupp, who was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, in 1837. Unto them were born the follow- ing children: Henry, of this review: Peter; Charles: William: Elizabeth ; Elias: David: Elmer: Harley, who died in infancy; and Adelia.
Henry Ballmer began his business career as a blacksmith. thresher and sawmill operator but for the past twenty-five years has given his attention
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to agricultural interests and has met with well merited prosperity in his farm- ing operations. His property now comprises ninety-three acres of rich and productive land and is a well improved place with good buildings and all the modern machinery necessary to facilitate the work of the fields. An- nually he garners rich harvests and everything about the place is indicative of the care and labor which he bestows upon the farm.
In September, 1886, Mr. Ballmer was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Bachman, by whom he has four children, namely: Clarence and Harley. both of whom graduated from the high school at Canal Winchester in 1908; and Orpha and Grace, who are still students there.
Mr. Ballmer is a democrat in his political views and has been honored with official positions, serving as supervisor in Fairfield county for five years. and as school director in Franklin county for five year -. In religious faith he is a Lutheran and he has served as trustee of his church for six years. He enjoys in large measure the confidence and good will of his fellow town -- men and well deserves representation among the substantial and enterpris- ing citizens of Franklin county.
GEORGE WALTER CLARKE.
Neglect of no opportunity, and faithful performance of each day's duties. have been the strong elements in the business career of George Walter Clarke, now junior partner of the firm of Hoover & Clarke, prominent real-estate dealers of Columbus. He was born in Henry county, Iowa, October 4, 1847, and spent his boyhood days on a farm which is now his property. He is descended from an old New England family, representatives of the name removing from Wind- sor, Connectient, to Blendon township. Franklin county. Ohio. The maternal grandfather. Issac Griswold, became one of the pioneer- of that locality and assisted in reclaiming the region for the purposes of development and improve- ment.
George W. Clarke, our subject's father, was born at Mount Gilead. Mor- row county, Ohio, and at a very early day in the history of Iowa became a resident of that state, where his death occurred in 1851. He was a farmer by occupation and was a prominent and influential man in his community. He faced the conditions of pioncer life and sought to change the face of Nature. for as the years passed, he broke the sod and tilled the soil until the wild region was made to bloom and blossom as a rose. He married Mindwell E. Griswold. whose father removed from Wind-or, Connecticut. in 1806. and on the 230 of August, of that year, took up his abode upon a farm in Blendon township, Franklin county, which is now in the possession of George W. Clarke. It is a tract of fifty acres of valuable land and the timber thereon stands from sixty to one hundred feet in height. It is a primitive forest of gigantic trees which stand so close together that a team cannot be driven through. It is one of the finest natural forests of the entire state and if converted into lumber would bring in a handsome revenue. Mr. Griswold continued to there engage in
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GEORGE W. CLARKE
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agricultural pursuits for many years and reached the advanced age of ninety- eight years. His daughter, Mrs. Clarke, was born and reared on the old home- stead farm on which she is still living at the age of eighty-six years. The place comprises four hundred acres of land and is a valuable and highly improved property, upon which there has never been a mortgage since it came into pos- session of the Griswolds, more than a century ago. Although now well ad- vanced in the evening of life, Mrs. Clarke does not wear glasses and retains her faculties still unimpaired, being a remarkably well-preserved lady.
George W. Clarke was reared upon the home farm in Franklin county, Ohio, to which his mother returned after the death of the father, which oc- curred when George W. Clarke was but four years of age. He attended the district school and afterward enjoyed the benefit of instruction in Central Col- lege, east of Westerville, where he remained for four terms. He also spent three years as a student in Otterbein University, a school under the auspices of the United Brethren church at Westerville. The duties and labors of the agriculturist early became familiar to him, and he remained upon the home farm until 1886, managing that property for some years prior to the time when he left the old homestead to become a factor in business circles in the city. He has resided in Columbus for about twenty-three years, and for a year after his arrival devoted his attention to the insurance business, nor did he entirely abandon agricultural pursuits, for during three or four years after coming to Columbus he still continued to manage his farm from this point. On the 1st of May, 1893, he became connected with the lumber trade as senior partner of the firm of G. W. Clarke & Company, and operated in that field until the 1st of May, 1907, when he sold out. This was a very successful ven- ture on his part and the business 'became widely known, furnishing material for the erection of many buildings which now stand in Columbus. As his ability was recognized, his cooperation was sought in financing and controlling various important business interests of the city. He is now a director of the Security Savings Bank and of the Jones Shoe Manufacturing Company, while at one time he was president of the latter. He was one of the organizers and was formerly a director of the Central Ohio Building & Loan Association, and his name is also on the directorate of the Columbus Mutual Life Insurance Con- pany. In June, 1907, he formed a partnership with F. E. Hoover, under the firm style of Hoover & Clarke, for the purpose of condneting a real-estate and fire insurance business. Although the firm has been in existence for only about two years, it has secured an extensive patronage in both lines, handles much im- portant property, and writes a large amount of insurance annually. Mr. Clarke possesses that quality of determination which enables him to accomplish what he undertakes, for he realizes that when one avenue of opportunity seems closed there are other lines in which results may be achieved.
In 1882 Mr. Clarke was united in marriage to Miss Minnie, the youngest daughter of William S. Shrum. Their children are: Annie M. and Helen M., the latter a graduate of the Ohio State University in the class of 1908, of which she was elected historian. The family hold membership in the Plymouth Con- gregational church, in which Mr. Clarke has been a trustee for the past twelve years. He has attained the thirty-second degree of Masonry, and is a member
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of Aladdin Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He is also a past master of Blendon lodge, and a past high priest of Horeb chapter, and is in hearty sympathy with the principles and purposes of the craft. His political allegiance is given to the republican party. His record seems almost phenomenal when we recog- nize the fact that he started out in life with a cash capital of but five dollars, yet investigation in his career will show that he has employed methods and utilized opportunities which are open to all. Faithfulness and reliability have ever been numbered among his strong characteristics and have constituted the basis of his success.
HERBERT R. SACKETT.
Through the stages of gradual business development Herbert R. Sackett has reached the position of secretary and treasurer of the Sackett Mine Supply Company. There have been no unusual chapters in his life history but it contains lessons of value to the thoughtful student who wishes to im- prove life's opportunities and utilize his native talent to best advantages, for this is what Mr. Sackett has done. His birth occurred in Kingsville, Ashtabula county, Ohio, August 15, 1849. His father, John Buel Sackett, was a native of western New York and in 1845 removed to Ashtabula county. For many years he devoted his life to the active work of the ministry of the Baptist church and for twelve years prior to his demise was in charge of the state missions. His life was one of continuous activity for the benefit of his fellowmen, and he always looked for the best in others and gave the best he had. His life was an inspiration, his memory a benefaction. He married Amanda Dibbel, a native of western New York, and she too has passed away.
Herbert R. Sackett pursued his education in various public schools of Ohio, owing to his father's removals consequent upon his ministerial work. He was for a time a student in the high school of Fredericktown. Knox county, Ohio. When thirteen years of age he began learning telegraphy and became a telegraph operator in railroad work at Upper Sandusky, where he remained for a year. During the last year of the Civil war he acted as a telegrapher in military service in the Union army. It was subsequent to this time that he pursued a business course in Eastman's Commercial Col- lege at Poughkeepsie, New York. Later he became a telegrapher iu commer- cial lines and took charge of the office of the Atlantic & Pacific Telegraph Con- pany in Columbus, being the first manager at that point. This was in 1871. After a few months he was offered a position as bookkeeper and telegrapher by Charles Hayden, in tho coal business, and in his service he remained for nine years. when he began business in the same line on his own account at Sandrun, Hocking county. where he continued for a year and a half. He was afterward variously employed in several capacities of considerable im- portance. principally that of superintendent and manager of various coal companies. Thus he continued until 1901. His connection with coal min-
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iug interests and his extensive acquaintance prompted him to engage in his prosent business as a dealer in mining machines and supplies. The busi- ness had its beginning at Athens, Ohio, being established under the name of the Athens Electric Supply Company, in 1902. Seeking the broader field offered at Columbus he removed to that city to enlarge his facilities and reorganize the business under the name of the Sackett Mine Supply Company, of which he became the secretary and treasurer, while his son, L. A. Sackett, is president. This business has shown a remarkable growth, drawing its patronage from all the surrounding states in which there are rich coal deposits. They handle mining machinery and electric equipment of all kinds and sell direct to the consumer. The business is now located in handsome quarters on east Long street, and Mr. Sackett of this review de- votes his entire time and attention to the business, which has now assumed extensive proportions and returns a substantial dividend to the stockhold- ers. He was one of the first men to handle the telephone in Columbus, put up the first exchange to the fair grounds in connection with George H. Twis, the father of the present exchange.
In May, 1870, Mr. Sackett wedded Miss Mary HI. Andress, of Geneva, Ohio, and their children are: Lawrence A., the president of the Sackett Mine Supply Company; Guy A., who is with the same company, acting as its vice president ; and Florence M., at home.
The family attend the Baptist church and Mr. Sackett is interested in all that pertains to the material, intellectual and moral progress of the com- muuity. He is far-seeing, honest and public-spirited, and possesses contagious enthusiasm. He has never been an office holder nor an office seeker, hav- ing no taste for political life, and yet he has held important relations with the public interests through the business enterprises with which he has been connected.
GEORGE W. SINKS.
All meu start in business life with the idea and hope of winning suc- ces but comparatively few have the perseverance and industry to continue until they reach the goal of their ambition. Mauy there are who fall by the roadside because energy and will power are not sufficient to enable them to persevere in the race which others are making. The qualities of forceful, honorable manhood of persistent industry and well directed labor have led Mr. Sinks into important financial and business relations and for many years he contributed largely to the commercial advancement of the city, al- though at the present time he is living retired.
Mr. Sinks is a native of Williamsburg, Clermont county, Ohio, and a op of Nicholas and Martha Ano ( Posey) Sinks. The father's birth of- curred at Williamsburg in 1803 and there he spent his life. devoting his energies to mercantile pursuits. His father. Nicholas Sinks. Sr., had come to Ohio from Pennsylvania in 1802. Nicholas Sinks, Jr., was a compara- tively young man when called to his final rest, his death occurring in 1845.
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His widow, a native of Maryland, long survived him and died at the vener- able age of eighty-two years.
In the public and private schools of Williamsburg George W. Sinks acquired his education and when twenty years of age became a resident of Columbus. Here he secured a position as teller in the Clinton Bank, where he remained until the institution was closed in 1864. He then became con- nected with the National Exchange Bank, in which he served in various capacities until the formation of the Deshler Bank in 1879. This in 1891 was merged into the Deshler National Bank and Mr. Sinks occupied the presidency from 1879 until 1891 and again after the reorganization until 1904, when he retired. He stood for many years as a most prominent rep- resentative of banking interests in the capital city, nor were his efforts con- fined alone to this line. He was one of the organizers in 1888 of the Colum- bus Gas & Fuel Company and has since been one of its directors. For sev- eral years past he has been a member of its executive committee and his sound business judgment has constituted an element in its successful con- trol. He is likewise a director of the Columbus Railway & Light Company, was one of the organizers and for many years president of the People's Building & Loan Association. He has been interested in numerous financial and commercial enterprises but always gave his attention largely to his banking business. To a considerable extent he was connected with real- estate transactions and laid out the Deshler & Sinks addition and the Gar- rison Park Place addition to the city. He has always found genuine pleasure in solving intricate business problems and the more involved the situation has been the more he has delighted in bringing dissimilar and ofttimes oppos- ing interests into harmonious relation.
Aside from business connection Mr. Sinks has displayed much activity in fields of labor in which the public has been a direct beneficiary. He was one of the original members of the Columbus Board of Trade and has been identified with that organization during its entire existence. For many years he has had charge of the financial affairs of the Columbus Female Benevolent Society, of the Hannah Neil Mission and Home of the Friend- less. He is still active in the financial management of those institutions and is the president of the advisory board of the Female Benevolent Society, while in the other he is president of the board of trustees. His political allegiance has ever been given to the republican party since he cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln. He served as treasurer of the re- publican state committee during Governor Foster's first campaign and con- tinued in that position until the expiration of William McKinley's second term as governor He has never sought nor desired office for himself but has always worked for his party and its candidates. He has likewise long occu- pied a prominent position in social circles of Columbus and is now serving his fourteenth year as president of the Columbus Club, while his member- ship relations also include the Arlington Country Club. Like President Roosevelt, he is noted as a pedestrian and takes long walks from which many a younger man would shrink. He believes that this is in a large
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