USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Columbus > Centennial history of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio, Vol. II > Part 69
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In the meantime, however, Mr. Vance had removed to Columbus, becom- ing a resident of this city in 1900. His early identification with business in- terests here was as secretary and treasurer of the Ohio Trust Company in which he continued until the summer of 1907. He then became the vice president and one of the directors of the company and is associated with it in that connection at the present time. In the same year he was elected gen- eral manager and treasurer of the Columbus Evening Dispatch and to the interests of the paper largely devotes his time and attention. His opinions, however, carry weight in the councils of various other important business concerns for in addition to his interests already mentioned he is the vice president and a director of the Seagrave Company, dealers in fire apparatus. His newspaper career began at Gallipolis where for thirty-four years he was connected with journalistic interests, Mr. Vance of this review having several years' experience in newspaper work during that time. He was the youngest bank president in Ohio when elected the chief officer of the First National Bank and he is widely recognized as a young business man in whom the in- itiative spirit is strong, enabling him to formulate new and practical plans which he resolutely carries forward to successful completion.
Mr. Vance is identified with the democratic party and well known in social circles, being popular with his fellow-members of the Columbus, Ohio, Columbus Country and Arlington Country Clubs. What he has accom- plished represents the fit utilization of the innate talents which are his and the directing of his efforts along lines where mature judgment is leading the way.
WALLACE STEDMAN ELDEN.
The chosen life work of Wallace Stedman Elden is one which has ma- terially benefited his fellowmen as he has given his time and energies to labor in the educational field. He was born in Waterville, Maine, May 25, 1868. His father, J. Franklin Elden, was a native of Maine and was de- scended from English ancestry, the family being established in the Pine Tree state in the seventeenth century. The father lived and died in Maine, passing away in 1907. He was prominent locally, holding several city offices in Waterville, and descended from Revolutionary stock. He married Sarah Dowe Stark, whose ancestry was also represented in the Revolutionary war, she being a direct descendant of General Stark whose brilliant services with his Green Mountain boys has constituted a story that has thrilled every Amer- ican youth. Mrs. Elden still survives her husband.
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Educated in Maine Professor Wallace S. Elden attended Coburn Institute and Bowdoin College, the Bachelor of Arts degree being conferred upon him in 1889 while in 1892 he received the degree of Master of Arts. He after- ward matriculated in the Johns Hopkins University and in the University of Michigan won the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in 1900. He has always devoted his life to educational work and to research. In 1890 and 1891 he was head master in the Rectory school at Hamden, Connecticut, and from 1892 until 1894 was instructor in Latin and French in the Ohio State Uni- versity. Through the succeeding two years he was instructor in the Romance languages in the University of Michigan and from 1896 until 1899 was as- sistant professor of Latin in the University of Maine. From 1900 to 1908 he was assistant professor in the classics and in 1908 became full professor in the same department in the Ohio State University, He stands prominent among those who have devoted their lives to this profession, his services being of recog- nized merit and value in connection with the work of some of the leading educational institutions of the country.
In 1903 Professor Elden was married in Columbus to Miss Martha Guerin, a daughter of Dr. L. T. Gnerin, of Columbus, and their home is the center of a cultured society circle. Professor Elden is a member of the Phi Beta Kappa and the Sons of the American Revolution. He also belongs to the Philological Society of the middle west and has been a frequent and valued contributor to various publications on classical subjects and has also written several monographs which have been published and widely read. Association with him means expansion and yet in his manner there is noth- ing that indicates a conscious superiority but rather that close and appreciative companionship which draws out the best in others.
WILLIAM JOHN FORD.
William John Ford, continuing in the practice of law since his gradua- tion from the law department of the Ohio State University in 1895, was born in Clinton township, Franklin county, Ohio, February 12, 1873. His father, Charles A. Ford, a native of Baltimore, came to Franklin county as a young man in 1869 and established business as a brick manufacturer and has since continued in this line under the name of the Charles A. Ford Brick Com- pany at the corner of Joyce street and Fifth avenue. He has also been some- what prominent locally in political circles and has held some offices. He is descended from Irish ancestry, the Ford family having been established in America by Irish emigrants carly in the seventeenth century. The family name was originally spelled Foard but Charles A. Ford dropped the second vowel. His wife, in her maidenhood Emma Conrad, is a native of Franklin county, Ohio, where her parents settled in pioneer times. Her mother is also a native of this county where she is still living at the age of eighty years, being one of the oldest native born residents here.
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William J. Ford was a pupil of the schools of Clinton township and afterward in order to qualify for work in the courts entered the law depart- ment of the University of Ohio from which he was graduated in 1895. He immediately began practice in this city, being appointed assistant director of law under Captain G. H. Barger, thus serving until 1897. During the three succeeding years he was assistant county proecuting attorney and from 1900 he has engaged in the general practice of law with a growing clientele that is indicative of his ability to carefully analyze his case and to present it in a clear, cogent and convincing manner before the court. He belongs to both the Franklin County Bar Association and the Ohio State Bar Asso- ciation.
Mr. Ford was married July 18, 1900, to Miss Amanda E. Evans of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, and their children are Byron E., born in 1900; Henry Taylor, in 1904; Walter, in 1906; and William A., in 1908. Mr. Ford is a member of the Columbia Rifles and his religious faith is indicated in his membership in the Grace Methodist Episcopal church of which he is a trustee. His political views are those of the democracy and he is ever active as a sup- porter of the party principles. Altogether he is regarded as an energetic. wide-awake, alert and progressive young man who is doing good work and accomplishing results along all the lines to which he directs his activity.
HORACE B. MADDEN.
Horace B. Madden is a well known representative of industrial life in Columbus, having for many years been the owner of blacksmith establish- ments, in which a large and important business has been carried on. He was born in Thekahoe, Cumberland county, New Jersey, December 5, 1852, a son of Martin Madden, also of that state, who was a glass-blower by oceu- pation and for some time filled the office of sheriff of Atlantic county, New Jersey. His mother, who in her maidenhood was Miss Rebecca Powell, of Milville, New Jersey, died during the early boyhood of her son Horace, who was thrown upon his own resources and in order to provide for his sup- port learned the blacksmith's trade under the direction of his brother. He afterward sought and obtained a position with Collins Brothers, who were engaged in the manufacture of fancy wagons, hacks, etc., and subsequently he worked with them on piece work. On severing his connection with that firm he entered the service of Charles McCaffrey, of Camden, New Jersey, a manufacturer of sulkies and all kinds of light vehicles. He was afterward again with Collins Brothers in their Philadelphia shop and later spent one year in Brewster's carriage factory in New York. On the expiration of that period he removed to Cape May Court House, New Jersey, and held a situa- tion in the shop of Benezitz & Sons for four years. It was during that period that he was married and later he returned to his native state, settling at Clayton, where he was employed in the blacksmith department of the large glass factory of Moore Brothers, where he remained for some time. He
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next established a horse-shoeing and carriage shop on his own ac ducting it for a year and a half, at the end of which time Edwar of Newark, Ohio, engaged Mr. Madden to take charge of the department of his glass works. Afterward Mr. Madden opened his own in Newark and worked at his trade in that city for a 1892 he came to Columbus and established a shop at Driving P there engaged in the responsible task of shoeing race horses-a w is never entrusted to any but an expert blacksmith. For eleven Madden was thus engaged, since which time he has owned and an extensive shop on Walnut avenue, which returns him a profital annually.
On July 24, 1876, occurred the marriage of Mr. Madden Mary Jane Ludlum, of Cape May, New Jersey, and unto them born six children, as follows: Charles, who died in infancy at Court House, New Jersey ; Ira P., manager of the Broad Oak gara wife of J. Martin Dye, assistant superintendent of the State School for Girls; Nanenzetta, wife of Benjamin Kauffman, conn the Gas Company; James F .; and Ada.
In his social relations Mr. Madden is connected with the I Pythias and is the vice president of the Master Horse Shoers A In politics he has always been an active and earnest supporter of t racy and has been nominated for representative of the state. £ he has been a member of the county democratic executive comn all matters of citizenship he is progressive and public-spirited, w his support from no movement that is calculated to prove of gener In all his work his labors have been wisely directed and as the : passed he has built up a successful business, which now numbers h the men of affluence in Columbus.
FRED OLDROYD.
Fred Oldroyd, junior member of the firm of Thompson & Old: trical engineers of Columbus, was born in Shawnee, Ohio, on th June, 1884. His father, Enoch Oldroyd, whose birth occurred in in 1845, emigrated to the United States in 1875, taking up his abc Keesport, Pennsylvania. Subsequently, however, he came to Ohi away at Shawnee, this state, in 1890. He was a miner by occup also preached the gospel as a Presbyterian minister, doing miss among the miners. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Patienc and whom he wedded in England, was also a native of that countr
Fred Oldroyd acquired his literary education in the schools of and later took up the study of electrical engineering. After putting text-books he was for some time connected with the Electric Supp. struction Company, while for four years he was with the Columbu & Light Company. In 1907 he formed a partnership with H
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Thompson under the firm style of Thompson & Oldroyd, the concern being engaged in the electrical engineering and contracting business and in the manufacture of special electrical devices. He is a member of the Build- ers' Exchange and. though still a young man, has already gained for himself a prominent place in the business circle of this city as a skilled and suc- cessful representative of his profession.
In his political views Mr. Oldroyd is a stanch republican, while fra- ternally he is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America. He is like- wise a member of the Presbyterian church, in the work of which he takes an active and helpful interest. Possessing a most genial manner. cordial spirit and kindly disposition, his unfailing courtesy and ready adaptability have made him popular wherever he is known.
JOHN ALOYSIUS CONNOR.
John Aloysiu- Connor. a member of the firm of Marriott. Belcher & Connor, well known attorneys of Columbus, was born in this city on the 19th of June. 1878. The father, John Connor, who was a native of Clare county. Ireland, accompanied his mother on her emigration to the I'nited States in 1858, being at that time a lad of twelve years. The family home was established in this city and John Connor obtained his education in the public and night schools here. From the age of twenty-two years until the time of his demise, which occurred on the 3d of January. 1856. he followed farming and dairying and was a well known and prosperous citizen. being the second oldest dairyman in Franklin county. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Me.Allister and who was born in the north of Ireland. came to Columbus in early womanhood. She was called to her final rest in October, 1885.
John Aloysius Connor first attended the Sacred Heart parochial schools and subsequently became a student in the Young Men's Christian Asso- ciation Business College. He afterward entered the law department of the Ohio State University, left the institution at the end of the second year. in June, 1903, and was admitted to the bar in the following December. While attending the University he was private secretary to Mayor Hinkle, who was defeated for reelection. In January. 1904, he entered Sheriff Karh's office as executive deputy, remaining as the efficient incumbent in that position until January. 1906. He then turned his attention to the active practice of law and in March, 1907. became one of the partners in the law firm of Marriott. Belcher & Connor. engaged in general civil and criminal practice. Mr. Con- nor makes a specialty of negligence cases and has built up a large clientele. being recognized as a lawyer of broad knowledge, who prepares his cases with thoroughness and is strong in argument and logical in his deductions. He is likewise president of the O'Connor-Connor Furniture Company, and is well known and highly esteemed as one of the successful and progressive young men of his native city. At the polls he supports the men and meas-
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repealed the law a short time after the date fixed for it to become operative, and this checked the reform, but the legislature of 1906-S was so closely divided betwen the two parties that the friends of reform in both were en- abled to pass the present salary law, which has gone into operation and which was based on the principle of the Garber law. Further political hon- ors were accorded Mr. Garber when in 1902 he was elected to congress, while in 1904 he was reelected from the fourth Ohio district. He thus became a factor in national legislation and his record in congressional halls was char- acterized by the same fidelity to duty and progressive spirit which he mani- fested in the general assembly of Ohio. He has been the executive head and is a member of the state committee, comprising the Ohio democratic organizations, serving almost continuously since 1900. At the Denver con- vention last year he was elected as the Ohio member of the democratic na- tional committee without seeking the place.
On the 21st of May, 1900, Mr. Garber was united in marriage to Miss D. H. Curtis, of Logan. Ohio, a most charming, highly educated and cul- tured lady. Their social prominence is widely recognized, taking them into the best homes of the capital city. The strong purpose and inherent worth of Mr. Garber have carried him into important business and political con- nections and he is justly accounted one of the representative residents of Columbus.
JAMES CORNELIUS NICHOLSON.
Not all men who seek succes, in law win it. Nor does it depend alone upon the knowledge of the principles of jurisprudence, but rather upon the combination of wide legal learning, with broad general information concern- ing men and things, that enables the lawyer to work out the solution of cause and effect and to analyze the mental process by which results are reached. Possessing the requisite qualities of those who ably interpret the laws as coun- sel and advocate, James C. Nicholson is now accorded a large and distinctively representative clientage. He was born in Malta, Morgan county, Ohio, Au- gust 27, 1869. His father, M. A. Nicholson, was a native of Richwood. Vir- ginia, and was reared in Delaware. Ohio. whither he accompanied his parents on their removal in his boyhood days. Both he and his father were hardware merchants of Delaware and. after some years' connection with that line of business, M. A. Nicholson removed to Richwood, Union county, Ohio. where he again conducted a hardware store for a number of years. He served during the Civil war in defense of the stars and stripes, being connected at different. times with both the cavalry and infantry. He enlisted at the first call for troops and aided in crushing the rebellion and remained a defender of the Union by reenlisting at the second call. He married Margaret Elizabeth Cor- nelius, a native of Morgan county. Ohio, where her parents located on their removal westward from the vicinity of Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Hers was a prominent family, the maternal grandfather of our subject. James Cornelius,
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serving as a general in the Mexican war. The death of W. A. Nicholson oc- curred November 10, 1891, and his wife survived him for years, passing away December 26, 1895.
James C. Nicholson was a pupil of the public schools of Richwood, Ohio, passing through successive grades until he became a high school student. He entered business life in the humble capacity of apprentice in the printing of- fices of the Richwood Gazette, rose to the position of composition editor and became a journeyman. Subsequently he went to Uhricksville and was en- gaged as compositior and editor of the Tuscarawas Chronicle for a year. In 1890 he arrived in Columbus and worked at the case as compositor and also as a reporter on the Journal Press and Dispatch, until April, 1894. He made a good record in journalistic circles and had become imbued with the determina- tion to engage in the practice of law, and, while serving on the reportorial staff of the different papers, devoted his leisure hours to the study of law. In April, 1894, he regularly took up law, studying in the office and under the direction of Ernhart & Swartz, attorneys of Columbus, being admitted to practice in the state courts in October, 1895, and in the federal courts in December, 1900. He has always practiced alone and is engaged in general law work, although he has specialized to considerable extent in corporation law and has represented a number of important corporations in litigation, while he is now counselor in several corporations. His practice is important and lucrative and his knowledge of legal principles is exact and comprehensive. He invariably gives a thorough preparation and his cogent reasoning seldom fails to convince. As the years have passed he has embraced his opportunities for investment in im- portant corporations and business concerns and now has various income-bear- ing properties.
Pleasantly situated in his home life, Mr. Nicholson was married in March, 1905, to Miss Hazel Click of Millersport, Ohio. They have a little son, James C., born in December, 1905. Mr. Nicholson is a member of the Columbus Rifles, the Typographical Union, the Franklin County Bar Asso- ciation, the Knights of Pythias and the Improved Order of Redmen-associa- tions which indicate much of the character of his interests and the way in which his time is passed. He has the happy faculty of not only winning but retaining friendship and those who know him speak of him in terms of com- mendation and good will, showing that his salient qualities are of that sterling nature which win warm estimation and unqualified confidence.
HENRY CLAYTON CAIN.
Henry Clayton Cain, filling the position of deputy city auditor of Colum- bus, was born in Centerville, Ohio, May 22, 1873. He is a son of Lysander and Lora (Brumbach) Cain. now residents of the capital city. The father was born in Plymouth, Ohio, and was for many years an official in the state penitentiary. He came to Columbus in 1894 and still makes his home here.
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He is a veteran of the Civil war, having served in the Union army as a mein- ber of the Thirty-second Regiment of Ohio Volunteers.
Henry C. Cain supplemented his preliminary study by a course in the high school of Plymouth, Ohio, and then entered business life as a cigar manufacturer, being engaged in that line of trade until 1896, when he en- tered the auditor's office of the Hocking Valley Railroad. That he proved capable, efficient and trustworthy in the position is indicated in the fact that he was appointed assistant traveling auditor in 1900 and thus continued until May 4, 1903, when he obtained a still more lucrative position in his appoint- ment as bookkeeper in the city auditor's office. Later he was appointed deputy auditor, which is his present business connection.
On the 5th of May, 1901, Mr. Cain was married to Miss Harriet B. Lit- tle, a daughter of Frank C. and Kate ( Herrick) Little of Columbus, her father being known in business cireles here as a decorator. Mr. and Mrs. Cain reside at No. 1005 West Broad street. He is financially interested in several com- mercial enterprises of the city and is well known in athletic lines and in social and political circles. He is a lover of athletic sports, particularly baseball and football, and is an enthusiastic fisherman, finding opportunity to indulge his love of that sport at his summer home on Indian lake. As a member of the Board of Trade he has been interested in many movements to further the business development of the city and he cooperates in various measures for the general good. interested in all those things which are a matter of civic virtue and civic pride. Fraternally he is connected with Humboldt Lodge, No. 476, A. F. & A. M. and in his life exemplifies the beneficent spirit of the craft. He is a man of considerable political prominence, being an ardent ad- vocate of republican principles, his opinions carrying weight in the local councils of the party, while at the present time he is serving as a member of the county central committee, having filled the position for several years.
ANDREW DOBBIE.
The history of those men who are prominent in mercantile lines in Columbus would be incomplete without mention of Andrew Dobbie, a well known dry-goods dealer. He was born at Bannockburn, Scotland, in 1840. and his father, a native of the same locality, there reared his family and followed the weaver's trade, continuing in the business up to the time of his death, which occurred in January, 1875. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Isabel Richardson, passed away December 10, 1897.
Reared in the land of hills and heather, Andrew Dobbie assisted his father at the loom in the manufacture of three-ply carpets. The public schools afforded him his educational privileges and his youth was largely a period of earnest and unfaltering toil. He was assistant to his cousin, the Rev. Robert Christy, when he was a weaver of brussels carpets but later he became a prominent and able divine, well known in Columbus and Al- legheny, Pennsylvania. The necessity for labor on the part of Mr. Dobbie
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prevented him from having any but limited educational privileges. He came to America with his parents, the family home being established at Lithopolis, Fairfield county, Ohio, and soon afterward he began husking corn, which he followed through the three months of winter. He next turned his attention to broom-making and afterward entered the dry-goods store of Brossman & Andrews, being employed practically as errand boy. There he continued for five years, working his way steadily upward until the winter of 1862. He slept in the store, hauled butter and eggs to Co- lumbus, and the brooms which were made by the concern were also brought to the Columbus market. His hours were long for he had to arise at 5 o'clock in the morning and work until 9 at night.
In the winter of 1862 Mr. Dobbie came to Columbus and secured a position with the Osborn-Kessbar Company but remained with that house for only two weeks, on account of an unsatisfactory assignment. He then returned to Brossman & Andrews at his old home. The same year, how- ever, he secured a clerkship with Bain & Sons in Columbus. The firm wished a man to sell to city trade and did not believe Mr. Dobbie compe- tent, so offered him a salary of but five dollars per week. He had been with them only a short time when they raised him to the highest salary they had ever paid, for he had demonstrated his ability not only to do what others had done but to do more.
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