Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, Part 4

Author: J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Chicago, J.H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1040

USA > Ohio > Sandusky County > Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens > Part 4
USA > Ohio > Ottawa County > Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens > Part 4

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In March, 1854, Mr. Miller married Miss Nancy J. Otis, daughter of Joseph and Nancy B. Otis, of Berlin, Ohio, and children as follows came to their union: Mary O., born April 11, 1856, who was married October 3, 1894, to Samuel Brinkerhoff, an attorney at law, of Fre- mont, Ohio; Fannie B., born June 15, 1860, who married Thomas J. Stilwell, and who died April 4, 1887; and Julia E., born March 27, 1865, who died March 2, 1884.

W V. B. AMES, M. D., a practic- ing physician of Fremont, San- dusky county, was born in Hu- ron county, Ohio, in 1821, a son of Jason C. and Sarah Ann (Moore) Ames, the former born in New Haven, Conn., the latter in New York.

The parents of our subject each re- moved in pioneer days to Huron county, Ohio, where they were married, and where the father followed the trade of shoemaker in connection with farming. They had a family of seven children, of whom five are now living: W. V. B., our subject; Cynthia, wife of D. F. Web- ber, of Charlotte, Eaton Co., Mich .; Emeline, widow of Smith Bodine, of Charlotte, Eaton Co., Mich., who en-

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

listed from Plymouth, Huron Co., Ohio, as a soldier in the Civil war, and died in Libby prison; George W., who resides at Sacramento City, Cal .; Angeline, widow of James Steele, of Charlotte, Mich., who died in 1893; Catharine, widow of Mr. Lewis Garsey, of Ukiah, Mendocino Co., Cal., and Edward, who resides at Ukiah, California.

Dr. Ames was reared in New Haven township, Huron Co., Ohio, and was educated in the public schools of the Western Reserve. He began reading medicine in his native county, and com- menced practice at South Bend, Ind., where he remained from 1845 to 1851. He then went by the overland route to California, locating in Yuba county, where he practiced medicine about four years, having been engaged in mining for some time prior to that. About the year 1855 he returned to Seneca county, Ohio, and thence, in 1858, moved to Fremont, where he has since been engaged in the practice of his profession. He was mar- ried, in Huron county, Ohio, to Miss Adaline Harrington, a native of that county, daughter of Benjamin and Betsey (Taylor) Harrington, who were early pio- neers of the Western Reserve, having come from the State of New York. The children of Dr. and Adaline Ames were: Elizabeth, wife of Evandor Dunning, of Eaton county, Mich .; Alice, wife of Charles A. Norton, of Kansas City, Mo .; William V. B., a dentist of Chicago, Ill. ; and Rose, who resides at home. Mrs. Adaline Ames died May 30, 1860, and Dr. Ames subsequently wedded Miss Catharine Strohl, a native of Sandusky county, daughter of Peter Strohl (now de- ceased), who was one of the early pioneers of Ballville township, Sandusky Co., Ohio. The children by this marriage are: Nell, Jane, and Frank. Frank Ames married Miss Grace Ford, and lives in Sacramento, California.

Dr. Ames is a Republican in politics, but not a partisan. He is one of the old-

est and most successful medical prac- titioners of Fremont, having built up a widely extended and lucrative practice. He owns valuable interests in Fremont and vicinity, and a fine farm in California.

J AMES JUSTICE, one of the early pioneers of Sandusky county, and for nearly fifty years one of the live business men of Lower Sandusky (now Fremont), was born in Bedford county, Penn., August 18, 1794, a son of William and Eleanor (Umsted) Justice, the former of English, and the latter of German ancestry.

At about the age of nine years our subject removed with his parents to Ross county, Ohio, near Chillicothe, where he received a limited rudimentary education. Here he worked for a time at the busi- ness of tanning hides, but discontinued it to volunteer, under Gen. William H. Har- rison, in the war of 1812. He was with Harrison at Fort Seneca, at the time of the battle of Fort Stephenson, August 2, 1813. After the war he resided at Chilli- cothe, and resumed tanning. About the year 1817 he engaged in the flat-boat trade with New Orleans, by which the early settlers along the Ohio river found a market for their bacon, flour and whisky, in exchange for sugar and other groceries. In this trade he displayed first-class finan- cial talents, and accumulated considerable cash.

On October 12, 1820, he married Miss Eliza Moore, daughter of David Moore, and sister to John and James Moore, two well-known citizens of Ball- ville, both millers and manufacturers, and both wealthy and enterprising men.

In the month of September, 1822, Mr. Justice removed from Ross county to Sandusky county, and located at first in Ballville township. His manner of moy- ing was decidedly primitive, he placing his wife and child on horseback while he journeyed with them on foot. For a

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

time after his arrival at Ballville he as- sisted his father-in-law in running his grist and saw mill at that place. In 1842 he removed to Lower Sandusky, and erected a tannery on the north side of State street, at the foot of the hill on the west side of the river. With the tannery he connected the business of harness making and shoe making, managing only the financial department, leaving the manual labor to expert workmen whom he employed in the different shops. About the year 1847 he turned the business over to his son, Milton J. Justice, and gave his attention to investing and managing his capital. He made large gains by buy- ing and selling lands, sometimes on his own account, and sometimes in partner- ship with Rodolphus Dickinson and Sardis Birchard. He took a prominent part in the construction of the Tiffin and Fostoria plank roads. When the Wyandot res- ervation at Upper Sandusky was sold, and the Indians removed to the Far West, Mr. Justice was selected by the Government as appraiser of the land, on account of his soundness of judgment in matters of value.

Shortly after coming to Lower San- dusky Mr. Justice was chosen, by the legislature of Ohio, one of the associate judges of the Court of Common Pleas of Sandusky county, which office he filled with singular promptness and fidelity for a number of years, under the first consti- tution of the State. For a period of about ten years he discharged gratuitously and efficiently the duties of a member of the board of education of the city of Fre- mont, acting most of the time as treas- urer. He was also mayor of the village for a termn. In the summer of 1859 Mr. Justice was chosen one of the jurors in the U. S. Court at Cleveland, Ohio, in the famous " Wellington Rescue case, " in which thirty-seven citizens of Oberlin and vicinity were prosecuted and imprisoned at Cleveland, Ohio, for recapturing and assisting to freedom a runaway slave

named John Price, who had left his mas- ter in Kentucky to escape to Canada, and had been concealed at Oberlin, where he was discovered and kidnaped by the slave- hunters who were on the return to the South to restore him to his master.

When the First National Bank of Fremont was organized, in 1863, Judge Justice placed some capital in the stock of that institution, and was one of the first board of directors; and he held this position by successive re-elections until his death, May 28, 1873. He left a large estate to his wife and children.

In person Judge Justice was a man of impressive presence and strong magnetic power, of large size, weighing over two hundred pounds, with light hair and com- plexion, blue eyes, and full, round head and face. In business promptness and integrity no citizen surpassed him. His portraits, drawn by his son Milton with remarkable accuracy, may be seen at the First National Bank, and at Birchard Li- brary, presented by his children.

The wife of Judge Justice was born in Huntingdon county, Penn., October 13, 1800. At the age of fourteen years she came with her parents to Ross county, Ohio. Her father, David Moore, was of full Scotch blood; her mother was born in Pennsylvania. The child Nancy, which she brought with her on horseback, is now the wife of Dr. James W. Wilson, presi- dent of the First National Bank of Fre- mont. Their way was through an almost unbroken wilderness, and on their arrival here they lived for a time in a fisherman's shanty until their own log cabin was fin- ished. Their means were scanty, and for nine months she never saw the face of another white woman-only Indians, and many of them intoxicated. Her fireplace was a wall of stones in one corner of the shanty, above which was an opening in the roof for the escape of smoke. If the rain put out the fire she would go to the home of the nearest neighbor, a mile and a quarter away, to get live coals to re-

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

kindle it. Among her cooking utensils was a Dutch-oven, an iron shallow kettle, with an iron lid or cover, in which all her baking was done by setting the kettle over coals and piling coals and hot ashes on the cover.

Mrs. Justice survived her husband until October 17, 1876, when she died at the advanced age of seventy-six years. Their children were: Nancy E. Wilson (wife of Dr. James W. Wilson), Minerva E. (relict of Hon. Homer Everett), and Mrs. S. Eliza Failing (relict of Dr. John W. Failing), all now residing in Fremont; Milton J. Justice, a resident of Lucas county, Ohio, and Granville M., who died at Lower Sandusky at the age of sixteen years. The old Justice homestead is still occupied by Mrs. Everett and Mrs. Failing, who cherish the memory of their parents, and preserve with scrupulous care the old-time family relics, consisting of household furniture and pioneer-day portraits.

W ILLIAM CALDWELL, M. D., was born May 27, 1837, at Fre- mont, Ohio, a son of William and Jane A. (Davis) Caldwell, who were among the early pioneers of Sandusky and Ottawa counties.

Dr. Caldwell spent his early life in securing a liberal education, and in teach- ing school. He next attended Oberlin College several years, and acquired his medical knowledge in the Medical De- partment of the University of Michi- gan, in Charity Hospital Medical Col- lege, and in Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York, being admitted to practice in 1862. He was assistant sur- geon of the Seventy-second Regiment O. V. I., and served from April, 1863, until January 4, 1865. After the war he located in Michigan for the practice of his profession, in June, 1880, taking up his residence in Fremont, Ohio, where he has since met with flattering success. He

has been a member of the Board of United States Examiners for Pensions, is ex-president of the Northwestern Ohio Medical Society, vice-president of the Ohio State Medical Society, and a mem- ber of the American Medical Association, as well as the National Association of Railroad Surgeons. He has also for a number of years been a liberal contributor to several medical periodicals. His en- terprise is not confined to his profession alone, for he takes a deep interest in the municipal affairs of his native city. So- cially he is a member of the Masonic Fraternity.

On January 15, 1868, Dr. Caldwell was married, at Byron, Mich., to Miss Arilla Cook, who was born March 15, 1848, daughter of Horace L. and Eliza- beth Cook. Their children were: Bessie C., born November 10, 1869, died August 12, 1870; Maud, born January 23, 1873, who, after attending the Fremont City schools, entered upon a liberal course of study in the University of Michigan; and Robert L., born October 21, 1881.

WILLIAM CALDWELL was born De- cember 23, 1808, near Chillicothe, Ohio. His father was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was at Detroit when Gen. Hull surrendered his army to the British. In 1828 the family removed to Port Clin- ton, and four years later William Cald- well came to Fremont (then Lower San- dusky). On August 14, 1836, he married Jane A. Davis, and they resided at Fre- mont until 1850, when Mr. Caldwell went to California, remaining in that State three years, and on his return set- tling in Elmore, Ottawa county. At El- more he served for eighteen consecutive years as justice of the peace, and was also township treasurer and a member of the village council for a portion of the time. In 1881 Mr. Caldwell was elected probate judge of Ottawa county, and moved to Port Clinton; he was re-elected in 1884.

On August 14, 1886, Judge and Mrs.

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Caldwell celebrated their golden wedding anniversary at the home of their son, Dr. William Caldwell, at Fremont, Ohio, which was attended by many distinguished guests from Fremont and Port Clinton, and at which they were the recipients of many beautiful and valuable presents, among which was a valuable gold watch for the Judge from the courthouse offi- cials of Ottawa county. At the expira- tion of his term of office Judge Caldwell and his wife moved to Fremont, purchas- ing the "Dryfoos House," on South Front street, where, on September 9, 1890, the worthy couple, after a happy married life of more than fifty-four years, were separated by the death of Mrs. Cald- well. They were the parents of four children, all born at Fremont, of whom, Charles died in 1852 at the age of thir- teen; Robert. H. became a member of the Twenty-first O. V. I., and was killed at the battle of Stone River, at the age of twenty-two; and Dr. William and Miss Juliet Cladwell are still living in Fremont, Ohio. Judge William Caldwell died at his home No. 415 South Front street, Fre- mont, on May 14, 1892.

J UDGE HORACE S. BUCKLAND. The subject of this biographical sketch is a prominent attorney of Fremout, Ohio, and on November 5. 1895, was elected one of the common pleas judges of the Fourth Judicial Dis- trict of Ohio, comprising the counties of Eric, Huron, Lucas, Ottawa and San- dusky.

He is a son of the late Gen. Ralph P. Buckland. and was born in Fremont, Ohio, April 21, 1851. His education was gained in the public schools of his native city, the preparatory school at Gambier, Ohio, a like school at East Hampton, Mass., Cornell University, and the Law Department of Harvard College. He supplemented his school studies by read- ing and practicing with his father, until

August 16, 1875, when he was admitted to the bar. Shortly afterward father and son formed a partnership, continuing their practice in the office which the latter still occupies in the Buckland block, corner of State and. Front streets. George Buck- land, a brother of the Judge, was also a member of the firm from June 1, 1886, until May 9, 1892, when he withdrew, and moved to Cincinnati, Ohio. After the death of the General, which occurred May 27, 1892, H. S. Buckland became his father's successor, and on October 19, 1892, he formed a partnership with Mr. D. B. Love, which still continues. Judge Buckland's practice has been general and successful. His knowledge of the law, his sound judicial mind, and his fairness and integrity at the bar and as referee have been universally admired, and his decisions have generally been upheld.

Judge Buckland is engaged in various enterprises. He is president of the Wickland Mnfg. Co., a director of the H. B. Smith Building and Loan Associa- tion, and is also interested in other indus- tries. Upon the death of Gen. R. B. Hayes he was chosen his successor as a director of the Birchard Library Association. He is an enterprising citizen, always ready with his means and influence to aid in the general growth and prosperity of his city and county. In 1884 he organized the Buckland Guards, a local volunteer mili- tary organization, which has attained a national reputation. It was named in honor of his cousin, Chester A. Buckland, a young man who died during the Civil war from wounds received at the battle of Shiloh. Our subject remained captain of the same until 1891, when he was elected colonel of the First Regiment S. of \'. Guards. In 1893 he was elected com- mandant of the S. of V. Guards of the U. S. A., with the rank of general, and as such had several thousand men, fully armed and equipped at their own expense, and well drilled, under his command.

Horace & Buckland

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Upon his election as commandant his regiment would not accept his resignation, but gave him indefinite leave of absence; and at the close of 1894 he resigned as commandant of the Guards and returned to the regiment. In 1894, while serving as commandant of the Guards, he held two field encampments, one at Daven- port, Iowa, and the other at Pittsburg, Penn., in connection with the G. A. R. encampment. At the former he planned one of the finest sham battles ever at- tempted, in which the Guards, members of the G. A. R., and other military organ- izations, participated. His regiment has encamped in various places, viz. : Wash- ington, D. C., in 1892; Columbus, Ohio, in 1893; and Pittsburg, Penn., in 1894. It is needless to say that the interest he has taken in military affairs has given him a wide acquaintance, and added greatly to his popularity. Col. Buckland is also a member of the Masonic Fraternity, the Sons of the American Revolution, and the Military Order of the Loyal Legion.

During the Judicial Convention at Sandusky, Ohio, July 25 and 26, 1895, Col. Buckland was unanimously nomi- nated for Common Pleas Judge on the 147th ballot. The convention was re- markable in many respects, and marks an epoch in the political history of the dis- trict. The Sandusky Register, in speak- ing of the nomination, says: "The name of Col. Horace S. Buckland was present- ed to the Republican Judicial Convention by Dr. Frank Creager, of Fremont, in the following eloquent address:

Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen of the Con- vention: One of the most notable features in politics-one, certainly, which attracts more than anything else the attention of the people -is the prominent position to which the young men have climbed during the political progress of the New World.

From the first formation of society he has invariably been a distinctive feature, the prime factor in the world's history; and surely the destiny of the republic was never so thoroughly and systematically cemented, with such a fra- ternal bond of loyalty encircling the globe, binding man to man, and brother to brother, as

it is to-day by the young men of the present generation. Everywhere we see the results of his ambition and energy. We find him all along the pathway of perpetual progress. We find him upon the avenues of life, buckling on the armnor and fighting the political battles of his country. We find him in the halls of Con- gress. We find him everywhere carrying aloft, proudly and triumphantly, that banner of beauty and glory, with its magnificent embla- zonry of stars and stripes-the escutcheon of free States-the emblem of the Republican party, No victory intoxicates him; no defeat dismays him; but with integrity too deeply rooted to be shaken by the vicissitudes of fate be treads the path of life unfalteringly, still laboring for the success of the party he so hon- orably represents.

With such an impulse, with such a frater- nal feeling, we come before this convention to-day with the name of one who was born, reared and educated within the sacred folds of our country's banner. It is with pleasure, then, that I present the name of Horace S. Buckland. Perhaps it would be best to take the finger of time and move it backward over the dial of liu- man progress and see where it stops. We will find among other things that he is a young man, a gentleman in the fullest sense of the term, and that to know him personally is to love him dearly. We will find that he belongs to the Republican party as the lighthouse does to the mariner who steers his bark by its stead- fast rays. We will find that he is earnest, in- telligent, and commands respect in every posi- tion in which he may be placed, particularly so in the common walks of life. Place him where you will, his fitness and fidelity will manifest themselves, and his true worth will win ever- lasting favor. You will find that this is the first time he has asked the people for their suf- frage, and were it not for the urgent solicita- tion of his friends you would not have heard of him being a candidate. Yes, gentlemen of the convention, you will find that he is ever true to his friends, self-sacrificing, not courting popu- larity, but seeking proficiency and good re- sults.

During the late war, although too young to enlist, lie even ran away to do so, and were it not for the timely discovery might have sealed his youthful life in active service, or else been a veteran of the army to-day. But with loyalty too deeply rooted to be shaken by the dissuasion of friends, he still persevered, until at Mem- phis, Tenn., when he was taken into service by the musicians of the camp, mnarching at the head of the old Seventy-second, proudly victori- ous over his youth. Let it be remembered, now, that the old Seventy-second was his father's regiment, and as a mother's love goes out to her first-born, who has come to her "'mid suffering and pain," so the few survivors of that dear old regiment revere the name of Gen. Buckland, whose honored remains lie sleeping beneath the silent clods of Oak Wood Cemetery, that beautiful city of the dead, where the wild

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

winds chant his requiem, and where the vir- tues of his life of liberty and service will for- ever live in the hearts of his comrades. * *

Such, then, is the national character and standing of our candidate. A true American, ready to serve his country at a moment's no- tice. A gentleman capable of surrounding himself with the truest, the bravest and the most honored guests the world has ever known; and whose every act and purpose are those of an ideal citizen. It is needless to say that lie enjoys a large and lucrative practice, being educated at one of the best law schools in the country, and is perfectly familiar with the lower and higher courts. In his profession lie is modest and just. His actions at the bar, and his conduct and decisions as referee, have gen- erally been upheld. His fitness and ability have also been universally approved by his as- sociates. One of the most fitting testimonials that could possibly be offered, one, certainly, that commends itself to this convention, was the universal endorsement of the non-partisan meeting of the bar, which was held in the city of Fremont but a few weeks ago, when he was so magnanimously recommended as a person particularly fitted for Common Pleas Judge. No higher compliment was ever paid so young a practitioner. It marks a page in the judicial history of the country. Men who have grown gray in active practice, his fellow associates in the temple of justice, his brother practition- ers at the bar-Democrats and Republicans alike-irrespective of party or politics, not only asked, but actually demanded of this con- vention the nomination of Col. Buckland. Nay, more; knowing the principles of economy, and the urgent appeal of tax-payers, said that it would be the saving of thousands of dollars to this judicial district by placing him on the bench.

With such a compliment, with such an en- dorsement, and in the very facc of the brazen effrontery of power and wealth, he buckled on the armor and entered the race. It is unneces- sary to recapitulate the glorious achievements of that campaign. The people have spoken. The farmer left the harvest and attended the caucus. The merchant closed his store and went to the polls, and to-day we lay the tro- phies of his victory at your feet. * *

The Toledo (Ohio) Blade says that "Col. Buckland deserves all the kind things said of him by his neighbors. The situation is truly remarkable. All the prominent Democratic attorneys of Fre- mont have the highest regard for him as a lawyer and a man, and openly express themselves as willing for the Democratic Judicial Convention to endorse him. They also recommended him at the time of the non-partisan meeting of the bar as a per- son particularly fitted for the bench."

WELCOMED HOME FROM THE CONVENTION. The Fremont Journal says:

Several hundred citizens of all political parties welcomed Col. Buckland and the San- dusky county delegates, whose fidelity for him won the day, on their return from Sandusky at 6:30 Friday evening. Music and cheers and congratulations greeted them as they left the train. Then the crowd, headed by the Light Guard band, escorted the Colonel to his resi- dence on Birchard avenue. Here he was in- troduced by Mr. H. R. Shomo and made a short address, thanking his friends for their cordial reception, and for the support he had received in the contest for the nomination, and saying if elected he would try to perform the duties of the responsible position of Judge of Common Pleas Court to the best of his ability. His re- marks were modest and in good taste. The reception, which was entirely impromptu, was a surprise to Col. Buckland, and is an evidence of the high esteem in which he is held by the people of our city.

At the general election in Ohio, held on the 5th day of November, A. D., 1895, Horace S. Buckland was elected judge by nearly 8,000 majority, that being the largest majority ever given to any candi- date in the district, carrying his native city and county, though Democratic, and, in fact, carrying every county in the dis- trict but Ottawa. He succeeds Judge John L. Greene, and will take office May 9, 1895.

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Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, Part 4

Author: J.H. Beers & Co Publication date: 1896 Publisher: Chicago, J.H. Beers & co. Number of Pages: 1040

Author: J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Chicago, J.H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1040