History of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Ohio; their past and present, Part 126

Author: Nelson, S.B., Cincinnati
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Cincinnati : S. B. Nelson
Number of Pages: 1592

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The last named received his education at the public schools and academy of his native town. Having learned telegraphy, he entered the service of the New York, Lake Erie & Western Railroad Company, with which he continued three years and a half. in charge of stations at Rutherford Park, N. J., Jersey City, and elsewhere. During the last year of his connection with the company he was chief operator of the eastern division. His reputation as a railroad operator was now established, and in response to advances from the officials of the Michigan Central he located at

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Detroit, and introduced the telegraph system on the road, of which he was chief train dispatcher and superintendent of telegraphs sixteen years, with headquarters at Kalamazoo. He was the first train dispatcher in the western States. For three. years he resided in London, Ontario, as assistant superintendent of the Great West- ern railway, of Canada, and was then assistant treasurer of the Chicago & West Michigan railroad, with headquarters at Muskegon, Michigan. He now retired from railroad service for a time, having become interested in the Michigan Telegraph Company, of which he superintended the construction, but which was absorbed by the Western Union Telegraph Company soon after its completion. After this Mr. Woodford was, successively, superintendent of the Canada Southern, with head- quarters at Toledo, Ohio, three years; general superintendent of the Ft. Wayne & Jackson, with headquarters at Jackson, Mich., three years; general manager of the Toledo, Ann Arbor & North Michigan railroad; general superintendent of the Wheel- ing & Lake Erie railroad, with headquarters at Toledo, a few months, and then for two years vice-president and general manager and receiver; after the reoganization of the property, he was general manager, vice-president, and president three years. His connection with the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton began in June, 1889, when he became vice-president and general manager, and a year later he was elected president; his administration has been eminently satisfactory to those whom he directly represents, as well as to the important and diversified interests with which the lines of these roads are so closely associated. In March, 1893, he was elected president of the Cleveland, Lorain & Wheeling Railway Company, which position he still holds. In 1894 he and his associates in the ownership of the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton purchased of Baron Erlanger the controlling interest in the Cincinnati, New Orleans & Texas Pacific Railway Company, and the Alabama Great Southern Railway Company.

Mr. Woodford married Helen M., daughter of William Sprague, of Kalamazoo, Mich., on January 3, 1861, and they are the parents of one child: Edith, wife of George R. Balch, purchasing agent of the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railroad Company. The family worship at the Protestant Episcopal Church of Clifton, where they reside. In politics Mr. Woodford affiliates with the Republican party, but he has never accepted or been a seeker of political distinction.

EUGENE ZIMMERMAN, vice-president of the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Rail- road Company, was born in Vicksburg, Miss., in December, 1845, a son of Solomon and Hannah J. (Biggs) Zimmerman, natives of Ohio and Mississippi, respectively, the former being of Dutch extraction. His grandfather, who had been a colonel in the regular army of Holland, emigrated to New York in the early part of this cen- tury, and soon after removed to Philadelphia. His father was a man in good cir- cumstances in Vicksburg and retained his business relations there after removing to Clifton in 1856. Two years after taking up his residence in that beautiful suburb of Cincinnati he died, leaving a wife, who survived him but three years, and three children. There was some property, consisting of slaves and a foundry that the father had operated, and a guardian was of course appointed for the orphans, but he could not do much. The war came on, the property was burned by the soldiery, and the slaves joined in fighting for their freedom. The outcome of the matter was that at the age of sixteen the subject of this sketch was informed that everything had been destroyed or otherwise plundered, and that he would have to look out for himself.

As may be imagined, the information that came to the student at Gambier was not of a comforting nature. He had been sent to Cincinnati at the age of thirteen to attend Farmers' College at College Hill, and later he went to Gambier to prepare for Kenyon College, but his college career was never entered upon. When the news of the misfortunes that had befallen the little patrimony reached Gambier, several of the boys were making preparations to join the army. The fever was catching, and

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in less time than it takes to tell it Eugene made up his mind to " go along." He had no money, but this did not deter him from going to the front. He had been told that he would not get another penny, at least for a time, so with all his belong- ings and his capital in his pocket he set out for Cincinnati, walking part of the way from Gambier. He had but fifty cents when he left Gambier, but by careful hus- bandry he managed to traverse the long and weary way to the Queen City. He met his guardian, made application to join the navy, and was refused on account of his youth, but later, accompanied by his guardian, he made a second application, this time with success. Joining the navy, however, was not all a mere mechanical busi- ness. The youthful soldier saw advancement ahead, and it did not take him long to discover that he could get promotion if he could pass an examination. Fresh from school, he resolved to try, and in a week startled the old tars by donning the shoul- der straps and sailing out as a master mate. This appointment he secured through the result of his examination. Admiral Porter was about this time in front of Vicks- burg, and thither the young volunteer was sent, and in a few short weeks was indus- triously engaged in shelling his old home.

It might be well to explain why Mr. Zimmerman took the Northern side in the great contest, when his father was a former resident of Vicksburg, and he was Southern born. It is sufficient to state that his father came from Ohio, and though a slave owner was a Northern man in sentiment. Had Mr. Zimmerman's father lived he would have undoubtedly joined the Northern canse; he was a free man for all that word was worth in those days. The first engagement was with a guerilla party. It was followed by an expedition up the Yazoo river. The stream had been blockaded with torpedoes, and Master-mate Zimmerman was dispatched with a boat and crew to clearup the path for the steamer. Here the youthful soldier came near losing his life, as the boat struck a torpedo, that exploded, tearing the frail craft to atoms and killing several of the men. Mr. Zimmerman was thrown into the river but was rescued. This was in 1862, when he was in his seventeenth year. The expedi- tion ended by the attack on Haynes Bluff. The next engagement was the capture of Arkansas Post. The charge on the fort was successfully made, and for gallant conduct Mr. Zimmerman was promoted to ensign. Next followed the St. Charles and Duvall's Bluffs engagement on White river; then the siege at Vicksburg. The fleet was divided, and Mr. Zimmerman was placed in command of a mortar boat that went up the Yazoo river; the orders were to get to the head of Yazoo river if pos- sible, but the expedition did not come out as successfully as could be wished, and the mortar boat fell back and took part in the Fort Pemberton engagement. Then he returned to Vicksburg, running the blockade in April. He participated in the Grand Gulf engagement in May, 1863, and also assisted in the attack on Vicksburg, which was captured July 4, following. For gallant behavior at various times Mr. Zimmerman was again promoted, this time being made acting master and executive officer of the U. S. S. "Ouachita." This position placed him next the commanding officer, and was a great distinction for a lad of eighteen. The Red river expedition, so famous in history, next engrossed attention, during which Mr. Zimmerman engaged in the attack on Fort DeRussy. He was also in the Black and Ouachita river expeditions, and assisted in the capture of Trinity and Harrodsburg. The rebel ram " Webb " was one of the prizes captured about this time, and later the rebel ram " Missouri" suffered the same fate. About this time the war drew to a close, but not before Mr. Zimmerman had been promoted to the position of volunteer lieutenant, in command of the " Ouachita." He was still in command of the vessel when he resigned from the navy. 1

The war ended, Mr. Zimmerman resigned his place and was honorably discharged. He was not yet twenty, but he had risen from the ranks to the command of a ship, and he enjoyed then, and to-day enjoys, the distinction of being the youngest officer of his rank in the United States Navy. This is an enviable distinction. Some time

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after the war he was an officer and one of the organizers of the Zouave Battalion, which later became the Ohio National Guard. With nearly all his navy pay in his pocket, Mr. Zimmerman returned to Cincinnati, and looked about for something to do. A gentleman at Hamilton, Ohio, made an offer of a partnership in a planing- mill and lumberyard, which was accepted, and for some time this industry was fol- lowed. In 1870 came the beginning of the oil business. Mr. Zimmerman was a partner, and subsequently traveled considerably for his firm. Here he made money, and finally sold out to the Standard Oil Company, retaining, however, a considerable

interest, which is very valuable. Railroad construction next engaged the attention of the energetic young business man, then about thirty years of age. He built a railroad to a coal field in Kentucky, and sold the road to C. P. Huntingdon. The

transaction was a fortunate one, and it was followed by an engagement with Mr. Huntingdon to look after considerable interests of the capitalist in this region, rail- road interests being the chief matter's for concern, and the C. & O. bridge another. Various other interests crowded to the front, and Mr. Zimmerman became known as one of the leading lights in the financial and railroad world. He interested him- self in coal fields, and became an operator, which he still is.

A very interesting period in Mr. Zimmerman's life must always be his connection with the C. H. & D. R. R. After becoming a director, he, with others, worked out a reorganization of the road, the aggressive policy then begun has been ever since pursued, and the C. H. & D. railroad stands as a solid pillar in the stock world. It is said that Mr. Zimmerman's interest in the C. H. & D. alone reaches nearly a mil- lion dollars. He is also largely interested in the Cleveland, Lorain & Wheeling railroad, and the Chesapeake & Nashville railroad; the last named of which he built, besides several other railroads. In the recent acquisition by several of the chief owners of the C. H. & D., of the C. N. O. & T P. R. R. and Alabama & Great Southern he took a prominent part, and is one of the largest stockholders. Mr. Zim- merman is largely interested in railroads in the South, and is president of the Chesapeake & Nashville. He is a large stockholder in the Standard Oil Company. This was just after the close of the war, and then it was that he laid the foundation of his great wealth. As a partner in the Standard Oil Company he started with a limited amount of money, but his connection with the institution has much to do with its marvelous success. When he retired from active management in the Com- pany, his financial genius and persistent toil had already born luscious fruit. It does not fall to the lot of every man to make a fortune, and even young men with a competency to start with seldom achieve a position they can be proud of; yet here is a man whose unsupported efforts have made him a millionaire. With no one to aid him, and with discouragements in early life that would wreck all but the invin- cible, he toiled forward and upward till his name is synonymous with wealth and honor. His railroad interests alone undoubtedly aggregate more than a million, while he is besides the largest owner of coal fields in the State of Ohio. His recent acquisition of the Cincinnati Southern railroad was as startling and unexpected as any of the deeds of Napoleon Bonaparte, and capitalists here and in other cities are still nonplussed at the remarkable tact displayed in the transaction.

Mr. Zimmerman was married, in 1876, to Miss Marietta A. Evans, daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth M. (McKensie) Evans, of Urbana, Ohio. Mrs. Zimmerman died in 1881, leaving one child, Helena. Laying aside business and looking at Mr. Zimmerman as a man of the world, it can be stated that, while he enjoys life, he is not after the many petty honors that engross most of the time of the average citizen. He never held an office, and was never in politics. Some years ago he was nominated for the Legislature, but declined to accept. He is a thirty-second degree Mason, an Odil Fellow, and, as a matter of course, is a member of the Loyal Legion by reason of his naval service. Personally Mr. Zimmerman is easy to approach. He wears his honors lightly, and disregards no man, however humble. He is a traveler of

Engraved by J R.Rice & Suns Philada

John Hauck

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HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

considerable note, having made excursions through Europe and Africa, and he has also invaded many of the remote parts of the world. He works systematically, and retains the reputation he acquired in the navy, that of a rigid disciplinarian, and a believer in hard work. Mr. Zimmerman is a vestryman in St. Paul's Episcopal Church. He has a fine residence in Mount Auburn, and has surrounded himself with elegance and beauty.

WILLIAM MILBURY GREENE, general manager of the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Day- ton railroad, was born in Athens, Ohio, October 15, 1858, and is a son of Milbury Miller and Martha K. (Gould) Greene. His grandfather, David Greene, was one of the first to engage in the manufacture of boots and shoes upon an extensive scale, founding a factory at Auburn, Me., in 1839. The original location of the Greene family, however, was in New Hampshire, where they were among the earliest set- tlers. Milbury Miller Greene was born May 11, 1831, in Lewiston Falls, Me., where, after completing his education, he entered the employ of Joseph D. Davis & Co. While thus engaged he formed the acquaintance of Walter H. French, a rail- road contractor from New Hampshire, whose employ he afterward entered. In 1852 the firm of French, Dodge & Co., of which Mr. Greene was a member, was awarded a contract in the construction of the Marietta & Cincinnati railroad, amount- ing to nearly four million dollars. After the completion of the contract Mr. Greene purchased a salt-works property in southern Ohio; and it was while following this business that he conceived the idea of building the Hocking Valley railroad, which he began in 1865. As president of this road, he afterward built the Columbus & Toledo, and Ohio & West Virginia lines, which were consolidated in 1881, becoming the Columbus, Hocking Valley & Toledo Railway Company, Mr. Greene continuing as president until June 30. 1886, when he resigned on account of ill health, after a railroad service of thirty-eight years. Mr. Greene was married in 1853, united with the Presbyterian Church in 1857, and died June 26, 1887, surviving his mother, Lyntha (Miller) Greene (born in Kennebunk, Me., October 2, 1796, and died in Athens, Ohio, November 5, 1884), but three years. The family consisted of five chil- dren: Minnie S., who married John G. Deshler, a banker of Columbus, Ohio; Martha K. (deceased), who married Frederick W. Prentiss, who is also engaged in banking in Columbus; William M., who is the subject of this sketch; Jennie B., who married David T. McNaghten, attorney at law, Columbus, and David, secretary and treas- urer of the Case Manufacturing Company, of Columbus.

Our subject was graduated from the Wooster University in 1879, but he had been variously employed as clerk in the general freight and passenger office of the Columbus & Hocking Valley railroad since 1873. In July, 1879, he was made pres- ident's clerk of the same road, which position he held until May 20, 1880, when he accepted the secretaryship of the Ohio & West Virginia Railway Company. On September 10, 1881, he became secretary of the Columbus, Hocking Valley & Tole- do Railway Company; on December 1, 1882, he became purchasing agent, and in January, 1885, vice-president and treasurer, holding the last position until July, 1887. From October 1, 1887, to October 1, 1888, he was assistant to the president of the C. I. St. L. & C. R. R. Co., and from the latter date to July 1, 1889, general manager of the same road. He was assistant to the president of the C. C. C. & St. L. R. R. Co. from July 1, 1889, to January 1, 1890, from which date to July 1, 1891, he was general manager of this road. In 1893 he accepted his present posi- tion with the C. H. & D. road, entering upon the duties of his office on the first of August. Mr. Greene was married December 16, 1880, to Miss Jennie D. Donnelly, of Wooster, Ohio, and they have three children: Milbury Miller, Helen and Orland S. Mr. Greene is a member of the Presbyterian Church; politically he is a Repub- lican, but he has given no more attention to political matters than is in keeping with good citizenship. The family reside in Clifton.

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HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

RALPH BRUNT TURNER, superintendent of the Cincinnati division of the Cincin- nati, Hamilton & Dayton railroad, was born at Cassopolis, Mich., January 14, 1850, son of George Brunt and Harriet (Monroe) Turner, natives of Virginia and Michi- gan, respectively, and of Irish descent. George Brunt was adopted, in Virginia, by Sterling A. Turner, whose name he thereafter assumed. He was a lawyer by pro- fession, but was engaged in the real-estate business at Cassopolis. His family con- sisted of four children, two of whom are living: Ralph B., and Sterling B., a jeweler at Cassopolis.

Ralph B. Turner was educated in the public schools of his native town, and at. Raisin Valley Seminary, Adrian, Mich. He began his business life as a clerk in a dry-goods store, and in 1868-72 was employed in a real-estate office at Chicago. From 1872 to 1875 he was employed by the Michigan Central Railroad Company as telegraph operator, and, from the latter date to 1880, he was chief clerk in the trainmaster's office at Jackson, Mich. He was then car distributor in the assistant- general superintendent's office until January, 1883, and general car distributor dur- ing the following year. From January, 1884, to July, 1887, he was agent for the Michigan Central at Suspension Bridge, N. Y., and from July, 1887, to May, 1891, at Buffalo, N. Y. On the latter date he assumed his present position with the Cin- cinnati, Hamilton & Dayton railroad. Mr. Turner was married April 9, 1874, to. Flora L. Wright, of Jackson, Mich. Socially he is a Knight Templar, politically he is a Democrat.

CHARLES NEILSON, general superintendent of the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton railroad, was born in Harford county, Md., July 19, 1849, son of James C. and Rosa. (Williams) Neilson, and grandson of James W. Williams, United States senator from Maryland, and minister to Paris in 1830. The Neilson family migrated from Swe- den in 1500, and located near Dublin, Ireland, where several of its members achieved prominence in the legal profession. James C. Neilson was an architect and engi- neer by profession.

His son Charles, the subject of this sketch, was educated under the tuition of a private tutor. In 1869 he entered the railroad service in the humble capacity of brakeman on a gravel train, on the Northern Pacific railroad. For one year he was conductor, then he took the position of civil engineer on their road, and in this. capacity was employed on the completion of the Minnesota division. In August, 1873, he became superintendent of the motive power department of the Erie rail- way, with which he was connected in various capacities-fuel agent, clerk in the office of the general superintendent, etc. - until 1882. In 1882-83, he was superin- tendent of the Delaware division of the Erie railway; in 1883-85, superintendent of the Buffalo and Rochester division of the road, and also of the Buffalo railroad, and joint superintendent of the Niagara Falls branch of the Erie, for the Erie, Lehigh Valley, and West Shore roads. In 1885-86, he was assistant president of the Laf- lin & Rand Powder Company, and during the past seven years he has been general superintendent of the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton railroad. On October 22, 1878, Mr. Neilson married Elizabeth Holmes (Harrison), daughter of Thomas Har- rison, of Philadelphia, member of the firm of Harrison Brothers, manufacturing- chemists of that city. Three children have been born to them: George Harrison ;. Rosa, who died at the age of two and one-half years, and Sarah Crosby. Mr. Neil- son resides at Glendale, and is connected with the Episcopal Church of that place. He is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers; in politics he is a Dem- ocrat.

WILLIAM P. WALKER, JR., freight traffic manager of the Chesapeake & Ohio Rail- way Company, was born in Newport, Ky., September 3, 1850, son of Capt. William P. and Eliza Lee (Stewart) Walker, natives of Kentucky, and descendants of early Virginia families. Capt. Walker ran the first regular packet between Cincinnati and Memphis, Tenn. He has two children: William P., and Clifford S., general south-

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ern agent of the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton railroad. He now resides at Mays- ·ville, Ky., at the advanced age of seventy-four; his wife died in 1886 at the age of fifty-nine.

Our subject received a Cincinnati public-school education. During the Civil war he was in the transport service with his father. After a year's clerkship in the wholesale department of Robert Clarke & Company's bookstore, he became clerk of the steamer "Sam J. Hale," a boat which his father built in 1866. He followed the river for twelve years as clerk and captain, and was in command of the "Celeste," "Dardanelle," and "Thomas H. Allen," all of which were engaged in the cotton trade on the White, Arkansas and Mississippi rivers, and during four years, 1874- 78, chief clerk of the Chesapeake & Ohio railway steamers between Cincinnati and Huntington. In August, 1878, he left the river to enter the employ of the Chesa- peake & Ohio Railroad Company, as ticket agent at Cincinnati. In 1880 and 1882, he was general freight and passenger agent of the Cincinnati, Portsmouth & Big Sandy Packet Company at Cincinnati. In 1883 he was agent at Cincinnati, in charge of the general interests of the Chesapeake & Ohio, and then, until 1886, he had charge of the Cincinnati office and Covington terminals of the Chesapeake & Ohio, and Kentucky Central. In 1886, he was made general manager of the Kanawha Dispatch fast freight line, which position he held until appointed to his present responsible office, March 10, 1890. Capt. Walker resides in Cincinnati. On November 26, 1877, he married Maggie H., daughter of Capt. Samuel B. Hemp- stead, of Hanging Rock, Ohio, and they have one child: Stuart H. Mrs. Walker and her son are members of the Presbyterian Church. The Captain is a 32° Mason and a Knight Templar, and is a member of the Mystic Shrine; in politics he is a Republican.

SYDNOR HALL, manager of the Kanawha Dispatch, Fast Freight Line, operating over the Chesapeake & Ohio and Big Four railroads and connections, was born in Farnham, Va., October 30, 1858, a son of C. J. and Eudora (Sydnor) Hall. His ancestors, who were of pure English extraction, were among the pioneer settlers on the tract of land granted to Lord Fairfax. His father, who is a school teacher by profession, is now located in Campbell county, Ky. The family consisted of eight children, seven of whom are living, and of them Sydnor is the eldest. He received his education in his father's private school, and at the age of seventeen years entered the telegraph office at Marshall Station on the Kentucky Central railroad, in Mason county, Ky., where he remained two years. He was then made telegraph operator and clerk at Maysville. Ky., which position he held three years. He then accepted a clerkship in the office of the Old Dominion Steamship Company, in New York City, where he remained until 1882, when he was made clerk, and afterward local freight agent of the Kentucky Central railroad at Covington, Ky. On January 1, 1887, he became chief clerk of the Kanawha Dispatch, and on April 1, 1890, was promoted to his present position.

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History of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Ohio; their past and present, Part 126

Author: Nelson, S.B., Cincinnati Publication date: 1894 Publisher: Cincinnati : S. B. Nelson Number of Pages: 1592

Author: Nelson, S.B., Cincinnati
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Cincinnati : S. B. Nelson
Number of Pages: 1592