USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Columbus > Centennial history of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio, Vol. II > Part 72
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Dr. Youmans laid the foundation for advanced education in an excel- lent preparatory training, and subsequently spent four years in the Ohio State University. It was his desire to enter professional circles; and to this end he began reading medicine with Dr. Theodore Rankin and later gradu- ated from Starling Medical College with the class of 1895. In New York city he pursued a post-graduate hospital course, spending four years in that work. He speaks authoritatively upon many subjects and has gained recog- nition as one of the most able and successful physicians of Columbus. That he has gained distinction in special lines is indicated by the fact that he was chosen professor of dermatology and genito-urinary surgery in the Ohio State University, and was for eight years police and fire surgeon of Columbus.
Dr. Youmans is a member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States of America; Goodale Lodge, A. F. & A. M .; the Knights of Pythias; and the Columbus Club and the Arlington Country Club. In professional relations he has membership in the Columbus Academy of Med-
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DR. THOMAS G. YOUMANS
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THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
AUTOR, LENOX ANT. TILDEN FOUNDSTANIE.
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icine, the Ohio State Medical Society, the American Medical Association and the American Urological Association. His acquaintance is wide, and he has a host of friends whose high regard he has gained through his profes- sional ability, his deference to the opinions of others, his genial manner and unfailing courtesy.
J. S. MORRIS GOODLOE.
J. S. Morris Goodloe is a member of the firm of Goodloe, Kellar & Com- pany, handling certified public accounts. Success is consecutive and method- ical and so it has been in the case of Mr. Goodloe who has wrought along lines of continuous, well directed and honorable capacity, eventually reach- ing the substantial position which he occupies in relation to business affairs today. Louisville, Kentucky, members him among her native sons, his birth having occurred Angust 11, 1868. He is connected with some of the most prominent southern families. The first Goodloe in America was a member of the Cape Henry Colony and afterward went to Jamestown. The original patent for land now owned by the Goodloe family was granted when Virginia was a colony. The Goodloes closely iniermarried with Fitzhugh, Lee, Thornton and other distinguished families. J. S. M. Goodloe now has in his possession the original coffee urn known as the Christopher Marshall nrn, which was used in serving coffee to the men who wer, busily engaged in compiling the declaration of independence on the 3d of July, 1776. He is related to the Marshalls and it was thus that the urn came into his posession.
His father, Germyn B. Goodloe, was a native of Caroline county. Vir- ginia, and at the time of the Civil war served with the confederate army, participating in a number of hotly contested conflicts. He held the rank of captain of one of the Virginia regiments and was wounded in the battle of the Wilderness. Later he was assigned to the commissary department for although he was unfit for field servies he could not be content withont doing what he could to aid the cause which he loved. He was one of seven sous who participated in the war. Following the close of hostilities he re- moved to Louisville, Kentucky, where he conducted a pork packing business for a number of years and later engaged in the brokerage business. He was a successful man, accomplishing what he undertook by methods that never sought nor required disguise and when he passed away in December. 1881. he left behind him an honored memory that is cherished by those who knew him.
On the maternal side Mr. Goodlos is descended from an equally long and illustrious line of ancestry. His mother bore the maiden name of Ellen Morris and was connected with the family that has furnished many dis- tinguished representatives to the nation. She was born in Kentucky, her father removing to Lexington about 1815, while Inter a removal was made to Lonisville. There he became the head of the Joseph S. Morris & Sous
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Drug Company. His wife was a sister of John P. Morton, the head of the first publishing house west of the Alleghenies. Anthony Morris, the great- great-great-uncle of Mrs. Goodloe, was wounded at the battle of Princeton where a monument has been erceted to his memory. Mrs. Goodloe still survives her husband.
At the usual age J. S. M. Goodloe became a pupil of the public schools of Louisville and after completing the grammar grades he spent one year in high school, but on account of trouble with his eyes was obliged to put nside his text books in 1881. He was a very apt student and was the youngest member of his class, standing first in a class of one hundred and eighty members. After leaving school he entered the employ of a rail- road company in Louisville, working in the constructing, clerical and oper- ating departments until 1894. His service was varied in character and of increasing importance as his ability qualified him for promotion. During much of this time he was studying periodically to perfect himself for more responsible duties. When nineteen years of age he was filling the position of traveling anditor of the Evansville & Terre Haute Railroad, and at twenty- one years of age was auditor of a railroad company. Later he was with the Great Northern Railroad with headquarters at St. Paul, Minnesota, acting as confidential agent to the general auditor until 1895. He then went to New York city with the firm of Patterson & Corwin, public accountants in railroad examinations, his services thus continuing until 1899 when the firm dissolved. Mr. Goodloe continued with their successors. Patterson, Teele & Dennis. On the 1st of May, 1901, he became a member of the firm and removed to Columbus as manager of the branch office in this place, acting in that capacity until May, 1905, during which time the business of the office was gradually increased. At the date mentioned he bought ont the interest of his partners in this concern and organized the firm of Goodloe & Kennedy, so continuing until October 1, 1906, when the firm of Goodloe, Keller & Company was organized. The business is still conducted under that firm style. The purpose of the firm is to examine business enterprises. investigate working conditions, install systems to reduce the cost of opera- tion and increase the profits. This firm is better and more favorably known than any other concern of the kind in the west. They never sacrifice thor. oughness and substantial results to rapid increase of business, and their of- ficient work has made them most widely known. In addition to his interests as senior partner of the Goodloc. Keller & Company, Mr. Goodlos is viec president of the Sun Manufacturing Company of Columbus and for two years was vice president of the American Association of Public Accountants. He still remains a member of its board of trustees and he was the first pre-i- dent. filling the office for four years, of the Ohio Society of Public Ac- countants of which he is also a trustee. He likewise belongs to the New York Society of Certified Public Accountants and his association with thes. different organizations brings him inspiration for further progress in a work that is now considered a most valuable factor in business life.
On the 9th of October. 1894, Mr. Goodloe was married to Miss Harriett W. Sped of Owen-boro. Kentucky, and they have a daughter. Ellen Morris.
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In politics Mr. Goodloe has always been a stalwart republican. He is a member and the first president of the first board of examiners appointed by Governor Harris May 22, 1908, under the certified public accountants law. He is also a member of the investigating committee and its chairman, ap- pointed by Mayor Badger to look into the city affairs. Aside from these he has held no public offices, preferring always to devote his time and ener- gies to his private business affairs. He has studied law that his knowledge thereof might be of aid to him in the conduct of business interests, but he has never engaged in practice before the bar. He has had extensive expe- rience in coal mining operations.
Mr. Goodloe belongs to the Columbus Club, the Columbus Country Club, the Buckeye Republican Club and the Republican Club of the City of New York and to several fraternal organizations. He is a Knights Templar and a thirty-second degree Mason and a member of the Aladdin Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He also belongs to the Elks Lodge and is a member of St. Pauls Episcopal Church. For several years in early manhood he was connected with the Kentucky National Guard, having enlisted as a private while he became second lieutenant by brevet. He was called out to active service to quell some of the feuds in that state, being on duty in Perry county in 1888. He has the degree of Bachelor of Art from the New York State University, that of Certified Public Accountant from the same school and also from the Ohio University. He is a Bachelor of Political Science from the American Academy of Political & Social Science and is a mem- ber of the Columbus Board of Trade. It is only the lower ranks of life that are crowded and Mr. Goodloe has long since left the many and stands today among the successful few, his ability and knowledge carrying hin to a place of distinction in the field of labor which he has chosen.
ERNEST OSMON RICKETTS.
While advancement at the bar is proverbially slow, Ernest Osmon Ricketts has nevertheless made constant progress in his chosen profession, utilizing his native intellectual forces for the mastery of the intricate prob- lem- of jurisprudence as presented to him in an important and growing law practice. He was born in Hocking county, Ohio, February 11, 1870, a son of Rev. James B. and Helen M. (Goodspeed) Ricketts, who are now living in Columbus. The father, who devoted many years of his manhood to the active work of the Methodist ministry, came to Columbus in 1888 and en- tered into superannuated relations with the church. He is now sixty-five years of age.
In the common schools of his native county Ernest Osmon Ricketts pursued his education through successive grades and after leaving high school began reading law in the office and under the direction of L. L. Rankin of this city. He thus studied for two years or until his admission to the bar in December, 1891. He was then admitted to a partnership in the
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firm of Rankin, Thrailkill & Ricketts, the senior partner being his former preceptor, while the second member of the firm was M. E. Thrailkill. For three years the partnership was maintained and since its dissolution Mr. Ricketts has practiced alone, although he is associated in a non-partnership relation with his brother. M. U. Ricketts, who has since been admitted to the bar. He gives his attention to the general practice of law and is well qualified by thorough training to handle important litigated interests, and at all times gives to his clients the benefit of unwearied industry and com- prehensive familiarity with the law.
Mr. Ricketts is married and resides on Hamilton avenne. In politics he is a loyal republican but is not strongly partisan in local affairs, being in sympathy with the tendency of the times toward an independent move- ment, where no political issue is involved, that competent. honest men rather than professional political leaders may be selected for office. He is now well known in the city and has a large circle of friends in professional and social circles.
F. 1 .. GRIFFITH.
While the trend of removal- has usually been westward there are ex- ceptions to this rule in business men who have regarded the opportunities of the east as superior to those of other districts of the country and, in the utilization of the advantages offered, have won legitimate, desirable and well merited success. Mr. Griffith is among those who have traveled eastward in search of favorable business openings. A native of Taylorville, Illinois. he was born October 15, 1873, and was but a year old when his parents removed to Indianapolis. Indiana, where he attended school, his studies be- ing pursued through the consecutive grades until he completed the high school course. He then entered Yale University and was graduated within the classic walls of that great seat of learning in 1896. In the acquirement he di-played the elemental strength of his character as he provided for tuition and other necessary college expenses through his own labor. He then she- cumbed to a long cherished desire to see something of the old world and made a trip of over two thousand miles on a bicycle through European conn- trics, viewing many points of scenic beauty and historic interest and mingling with the people of foreign lands in a way that gave him intimate knowl- edge of the different nations and added much to his experience.
After his return from Europe Mr. Griffith established his home in Co- himbus and began the publication of the Daily Reporter, devoted to the in- terests of attorneys and litigants, a publication that he inaugurated and maintained most successfully for several years until he disposed of it to advantage. Later he became assistant secretary of the Ohio Trust Company and in June, 1904, resigned to purchase a seat in the Columbus Stock Ex- change, of which he was elected president a year later. He became recog- nized as a prominent representative of financial and investment interests.
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being for some years manager of the local stock department of White, Wag- ner & Company and also an independent operator on the Columbus Stock Exchange. In these connections he has had to do with the handling of stock of Columbus industries and other local forms of investment, in which con- nections his judgment has proven excellent and his probity unchallenged. Since 1907 he has been the manager for Otis & Huff, bankers and brokers.
Mr. Griffith was united in marriage to Miss Flora A. Schneider, of Co- lumbus and they have one son two years of age. Mr. Griffith is connected with the Columbus Board of Trade and in social lines his membership is with the Columbus, the Columbus Country and the Ohio Clubs. He is also an enthusiast on the subject of golf, has made an excellent record in golf tournaments, winning several championship contests and also stands high on the list of fine tennis players. The forces of his life are evenly balanced, de- veloping the well rounded character and he possesses that pervasive force which arises from the wise use of all one's powers excluding abnormal de- velopment along one line.
GEORGE M. MERRITT.
What the world demands today is not that men shall be capable but that they shall do the things of which they are capable and Mr. Merritt has met the world's demands in every particular. He has worked his way steadily upward by his carmet effort and is recognized as one of the forceful factors in business circles in Columbus, accomplishing what he undertakes and recognizing his own powers and capacitic so that he never undertake- that which would be imposible to accomplish. He is a native son of Ohio, born in Vinton county, July 2, 1858. His paternal grandfather. William Merritt, was of English lineage but the family was founded in America dur- ing colonial days shortly prior to the Revolutionary war. Imbued with the desire to aid the country in her struggle for liberty William Merritt joined the Colonial army. William C. Merritt, father of our subject, was born in New Hampshire September 22. 1822, and on his removal westward to Ohio settled in Athens where he engaged in contracting and building. He became one of the contractors of the Hocking Valley lines and was prominently identified with many important building interests. He voted with the dem- ocracy but never took an active part in political work nor sought office as a reward for party fealty. He married Cynthia Sisson, a native of Linton county, who was born in 1822. Her family was from Massachusetts and came to Ohio at an early day in the development of this state. Her mother was a Fuller and belonged to the same family as Chief Justice Fuller of the United States supreme court. George M. Merritt was educated in the public schools of Lancaster, Ohio, passing through consecutive grades until he was gradu- ated from the high school with the class of 1875. On putting aside his text books he entered business life as a representative of the Hocking Valley Rail- road Company, remaining in that employ for thirteen years during which
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time he was promoted from one position of responsibility to another until he became chief clerk of the shops. He left that service to become connected with the traffic association of western Ohio and eastern Pennsylvania and was secretary of this organization, serving for thirteen years. In 1902 he severed his connection with that company and began dealing in coal lands. He has since handled large contracts of this class of property in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia and has also operated coal mines extensively. No citizen of Columbus has a more comprehensive or accurate knowledge of business affairs of this character than has Mr. Merritt. He has made a close study of the coal resources of the state and has thus been enabled to carry on his bus- iness interests in a manner that has brought him gratifying success.
On the 28th of May. 1878, Mr. Merritt was united in marriage to Miss Katharine Schory and their children are: William, Mary, Lillabridge and Gladys. On the 7th of November, 1891, Mr. Merritt was again married. his second union being with Katharine Wood and to them have been born three children: Kathleen, George and Donally. They make their home in the Bryden apartments and Mr. and Mrs. Merritt have many warm friends in the city. Prospering in his undertakings Mr. Merritt has become iden- tified with numerous important interests which have not only benefited by his financial investment but by his sound judgment and keen discrimina- tion. He is a member of the Masonie fraternity and of the Presbyterian church-associations which indicate much of the interests which govern his life and the principles which control his actions. His political views are in harmony with the principles of the republican party and his influence at all times is on the side of justice, truth and right, of municipal progress and of civie virtue. He stands today as one of the prosperous men of Columbus not by reason of the fact that fortune has favored him above his fellows but because he has labored diligently, neglected no opportunity and used every chance that has come to him to the best advantage. His judgment is sound and he has always possessed the courage, which many men lack, of taking a forward step where favoring opportunity has offered.
ISAAC B. CAMERON.
Isaac B. Cameron, whose well-directed labors have brought him to a place of distinction in financial circles, is now president of the Columbus Savings & Trust Company. His connection therewith follows a two terms' service as treasurer of state of Ohio, in which position he gave proof of his ability to solve intricate and complex financial problems. The steps in his orderly pro- gression are easily discernible and the course which he has marked out for himself is one which may well be followed by those who desire to attain success by honorable methods.
A native of Scotland, his birth occurred in Nairn in 1851 and he came to America with his mother when a mere child of ten months, the family home being established first in Jefferson county, Ohio, while later a removal was
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ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.
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made to what is now the village of Lisbon, Columbiana county. In his life record he has displayed many of the sterling characteristics of his Scotch an- cestry, an ancestry living in the land of crag and glen, of mountain peak and mountain lake, of the lowland, heath and plain, of liberty, poetry and song, of religious and educational zeal. He has the Scotch perseverance and unfalter- ing determination and these qualities have constituted elements in his business progress. After mastering the branches of learning that usually constitute the public-school curricuhim, he pursued a course in a business college at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Following his graduation there he became book- keeper for a mercantile firm in Columbiana county, Ohio, remaining in that position until 1874, during which time he not only audited the accounts but made it his purpose to master the business in principle and detail. His rare business qualifications and his sterling integrity recommended him for pro- motion and he was given a partnership in the business in 1874. Six years later he became sole owner and under his influence, guidance and control the enterprise developed along substantial lines and brought him the merited financial reward of earnest, persistent labor and intelligently directed effort.
Interested in politics from an early age his fellow citizens recognized in him one who possessed to a marked degree the power of organization and whom they believed would be loyal to a public trust and upon attaining his majority he was made a member of the Columbiana county republican central committee and later served four years as chairman of that organization.
For several years he was a member and chairman of the Eighteenth (Mc- Kinley's) congressional district committee. In 1893 he was made a member of the republican state committee. That he has been prominent in republican politics is evidenced by his record, and in 1893 he was elected treasurer of Columbiana county, securing the largest vote ever given to any candidate for any office up to that time. He received endorsement of his capability during his first term in a reelcetion in 1895 and during his two terms' incumbency he formulated a model business system that has since been followed by his sue- cessors.
On his retirement from office Mr. Cameron entered into active connections, in 1898, with the First National Bank of Lisbon, which had been declared insol- vent, the stockholders and creditors being unanimous in their choice of him for receiver. It required only a little more than a year for him to bring order out of chaos and although the books were found to have been outrageously falsified, yet he obtained judgments in every case in which suit was brought. His loyal and efficient service in party organization, his stainless official career and ex- tensive acquaintance among the leaders of the party, his undoubted integrity and ability, his splendid business record made him in the summer of 1899 the logieal candidate and successful nominee for the high office of treasurer of state. He was endorsed at the polls at the following clection and served for two years and was then reelected by an increased majority. In his administra- tion of the office Mr. Cameron introduced improvements that greatly syste- matized and facilitated the work and also introduced innovations that not only added to the security of the funds but lightened the work. ITis official service was uniformly commended by those who know anght of the duties of the state
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treasurership and proved his ability to discharge in an acceptable manner the important duties of the position. When his second term as treasurer of state had ended he was chosen for the presidency of the Columbus Savings & Trust Company, which position he continues to hold. His management of that important financial institution, his executive ability and keen discrimina- tion are manifest in its control and are evidenced in its growing success. Early in life he became cognizant of the fact that activity doesn't tire but on the contrary hardens and gives resisting power. The exercise of effort always has and is today keeping him alert, so that his position is one of distinction and large responsibility in connection with the financial interests of the capital city.
By the consensus of public opinion he is accounted one of the foremost residents of Columbus. He has learned from much experience of life the les- sons that it has contained aud, correctly vahing each opportunity. has utilized it for further progress, regarding each thing he has accomplished not as work finished but as a starting point for further and broader effort. Person- ally, he is a genial gentleman, affable and courteous, one whose very bigness is a living example of our ideal American business man, Socially he is identified with the Benevolent und Protective Order of Elks, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias, and is n thirty-second degree Mason, u member of the Mystic Shrine. He has represented the Masonic order in the grand lodge, and is a member of the Columbus and Ohio Club, while relig- iously he is connected with the Presbyterian church.
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