History of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Ohio; their past and present, Part 74

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

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HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

nor of Ohio as aid to the major-general, after which he was re-appointed and held his commission under Maj .- Gen. James Findlay (who succeeded his father), until his death. He assisted as military aid in preparing troops for the field during the war of 1812. Being a deputy clerk he furnished a substitute. Although he was so long in official life, there were few in his time who did more toward the building up of the city, or who contributed more toward the development of its natural resources. He built no less than twenty seven houses in Hamilton county, besides a bridge across Mill creek, where he owned a farm. By his individual exertions and responsibility he provided for the location of the Miami canal, procured plans from New York, had the first five canal boats built and equipped, and operated them by agents. As agent for the Covington company, he platted and superintended the surveying and sale of lots which took place March 20, 1815. After his father's death, he settled the com- pany's business, and preserved his transactions for future reference in permanent rec- ord form. Always an advocate of freedom, he liberated three families of slaves, seven in number; and was always in the front rank of reformers, aiding progressive movements with a liberal hand. Being an ardent lover and liberal patron of the fine arts, he bestowed much time and expended large sums of money in agricultural and horticultural experiments. As chairman he reported the first constitution for the first agricultural society of Hamilton county, January 9, 1827. He had three farms in operation at one time, and took a deep interest in raising fine horses and cattle. When Lafayette visited Cincinnati in 1824, Maj. Gano received him in splendid style, and entertained him. He often reverted with pride that he had had the honor of sitting in Masonic Lodge with Lafayette, Gen. Jackson and Governor Clinton. The wife of Maj. Gano was Rebecca Hunt Lawrence, daughter of Benjamin Lawrence and Rebecca (Hunt) Lawrence, of New Jersey, and twin sister of Jeremiah Hunt. They were married in Cincinnati September 26, 1816, and six children were the fruits of the union, only two of whom are living: Stephen and Henrietta G., the latter of whom is the wife of Henry A. Chittenden, a merchant of New York City. Maj. Gano died in July, 1873, and was laid at rest among his kindred in Spring Grove Cemetery.

STEPHEN GANO, Madisonville, born in Cincinnati, August 5, 1819, is the only son of Maj. Daniel and Rebecca (Hunt) Gano, and was named for his uncle, Dr. Stephen Gano, son of Rev. John Gano, above mentioned. He had the educa- tional advantages of old Woodward High School, and Cary's Farmers' College. He enjoyed the personal friendship of Dr. Aydelotte and Dr. Ray, professors in old Woodward, and he will always venerate with kindred heart their memory and great. worth. His particular friend, A. H. McGuffy, for a long time one of the professors. in old Woodward, when Stephen went there, says that at one time one of the profes- sors complained to Dr. Aydelotte that he should be reprimanded, as he was altogether too noisy, but he was saved by the good old president, who said: " Yes, Stephen is a very noisy boy, but he always gets his lessons, is ever kind and pleasant to his play- mates, and respectful and gentlemanly to his teachers; let him go, he will do us no harm." And let him go they did. After getting through with his studies he was for a long time in the office with his father; who was clerk of the courts of Hamilton county for over forty years. He then studied law under the late Vachel Worthing- ton, Esquire, and was admitted to the bar, but never engaged in practice. He rather devoted himself to examining real-estate titles and making abstracts. In his earlier years he gave a good deal of his time to the study of natural history, and had a large collection of minerals, shells, fossils, curiosities and botanical specimens, some of which are now in the rooms of the Historical Society of Cincinnati. In 1849 he was seized with the California gold fever, and in company with a number of young men crossed the plains on a mule, with Col. James Collier, of Steubenville, who was sent to San Francisco as collector of United States customs. The trip across the plains in those days took six months. He experienced some very hard times on the

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plains, and in the mines, during his absence of four years. Never before or since, he says, had he such an intense eagerness to work, and put in all the dirt possible just as though his life depended on each extra shovelful, as in that the desired lumps of gold might be found-that the more dirt shoveled and washed, the more gold gath- ered. Backache, mud and dirty water, and wet feet were not considered until at camp in the evening steaming before a big fire. The anxiety of the gold digger is of a character with the excitement at a gambling table. He has spent his life in some ten or more different kinds of business, and he now often regrets that he had not from the start devoted all of his time, energy and talents to some one useful occupa- tion, and strained every nerve to its mastery. Now, in his seventy-fourth year, he would like to shout in trumpet tones to all young men the words of Hon. Chauncey M. Depew: "Stick, dig and save." From experience and observation he thinks that almost any young man of good healthy constitution can succeed if he will stick to some useful pursuit, and work continuously with all his might, aim high, keep himself pure and unspotted from the temptations of life, and take good care of what he makes. The Bible says: "Seest thou a man diligent in his business he will stand before kings." Mr. Gano has never been an idle man, but has worked at something useful all his life; he believes in doing well whatever he has to do, or to work with an honesty of purpose. If he has one peculiarity more marked than another it is his kindness of disposition toward all mankind. There is nothing cynical about him; it may be that he is too forgiving. He aims to injure no one. He says he never know- ingly said or did anything to injure or hurt the feelings of a brother man, and he thinks he has not an enemy living. He seems to take pleasure in doing kind and considerate service, and in the revealing of "manifestations." He finds the Bible full of spirit manifestations and argues that an individual is very unreasonable who wants a better kind of manifestation than is found in First Book of Samuel, Chapter 28. He has studied the best authors, essays, and periodicals on that subject, and weighed carefully and honestly all the different objections and arguments against it, and the result is that he is thoroughly convinced that Spiritualism is true, and is one of the most important subjects that can engage the best attention of man both for this world and the next. He most heartily enjoys the hopes it teaches and the rewards it offers, and he is beyond a doubt convinced that our departed friends still live and do come back to earth and try to influence us and guide us in the better way; and that the very important question, if a man die shall he live again, is more satisfactorily answered and proved by spiritual manifestations than by any other known method. It demonstrates that man lives beyond the grave. On May 1, 1855, Mr. Gano was married to Sarah L. French, of Concord, N. H., and to them have been born two sons and four daughters; they have nine grandchildren. The married life of Mr. Gano has been a most remarkably happy one. All of his spare time is passed in the bosom of his family, and he is never so happy as when at home in his place at Mad- isonville. His wife is remarkable for great good sense and kindness of disposition. For the last nine years Mr. Gano has been assisting H. C. Hulbert in taking care of his father's large estate.

ROBERT MITCHELL, son of John and Jane (Peterson) Mitchell, was born in the North of Ireland in 1811, and came to this country with his parents in 1824. The family having settled on a wild farm in Indiana, Robert had to bear his share of the hardships incident to pioneer life. He is the fourth of ten children, all of whom were alive and well for fifty-five years after the family came to the United States. His mother died young, though her mother died about twenty years ago at the age of one hundred and five years.

Our subject assisted in clearing up the Indiana farm and labored to assist in supporting the large family of his parents. On this account he found little time to avail himself of the opportunities offered to attend the three months' winter school in a log cabin. But notwithstanding these drawbacks he succeeded by dint of

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industry, perseverance and close application in acquiring the rudiments of an edu- cation. After the farm was well cleared he came to Cincinnati, with nothing but a good character, a sound and vigorous constitution, and a determination to accom- plish something, but a very indefinite idea as to what that something should be. After trying various employments then open to a youth of twenty he decided to learn a trade, and for that purpose apprenticed himself to a cabinet maker. He served his time and worked at journey work for five or six years, when he com- menced business for himself. At that time some little machinery for wood work had been introduced in some places, and believing that the first who should apply it to the manufacture of furniture would reap a rich reward he, after a hard struggle, succeeded in establishing a small factory with what new appliances were then avail- able. The factory was operated for two years in company with a capitalist who had assisted him in its establishment, and who had become dissatisfied at not yet having any returns for his money, and was desirous of disposing of his investment. Frederick Rammelsberg became the purchaser, and from that date (1846) to Janu- ary, 1863, when he died, the partnership was continued. At the time Mr. Ram- melsberg became interested the capacity of the works was sufficient for but about thirty men, but was gradually increased until 1848, when it was destroyed by fire, and the whole fruit of their labor was swept away, there being no insurance what- ever.

In 1849 the works were rebuilt on a larger scale, but when they were ready to start business was very much depressed, and then to add to the depression came the cholera epidemic. They struggled on, however, and continued adding to their capacities until they finally triumphed by having built up a good trade. When the Civil war broke out they were employing between four and five hundred men. This calamity again depressed the business, but in a few years it began to pick up again, and in time it became quite flourishing. The working force was increased from five hundred to six hundred men, and as business increased it was still further added to until a much larger number was employed. In 1871-72 the present store and manufactory-100x150 feet, six stories in height in front and seven in the rear- was built, being one of the largest establishments of the kind in the United States. At present they manufacture and set up wooden mantels, which they have intro- duced into Cincinnati and which have largely displaced stone and iron mantels in many of the best residences. They also make a specialty of interior fittings of all kinds for offices, banks, hotels, court and state houses, as well as private residences. A wholesale as well as a retail department is conducted. The entire floorage of the factories and store covers nearly ten acres of space. In 1867 Mr. Mitchell incorpo- rated the concern as the "Mitchell & Rammelsberg Furniture Company " and took in a number of the employes as stockholders, but reserved the first right to repur- chase the stock if they desired to dispose of it, which he did at the request of the holders some years since. In 1881 the title of the concern was changed to the Robert Mitchell Furniture Company.

Robert Mitchell was first married in 1838, and a second time in 1864. There are five living children-two sons and three daughters -- all born of the first mar- riage. Albert H. is vice-president of the company and Richard H. secretary. Of the daughters Jennie married Stephen R. Burton; Lillie became the wife of W. H. Ellis, treasurer of the furniture company, and Emma married A. J. Redway. The venerable head of the great corporation resides in Avondale, and is spending the evening of his life in ease and comfort. During his more active years he was always in the shop with his workmen and ever took a deep interest in their welfare. When the company was incorporated he was chosen president, but retired from any active participation in the business, choosing to leave its direction in the hands of his sons and son-in-law. The family attend Grace Episcopal Church, Avondale. Mr. Mitchell was a member of the first I. O. O. F. Lodge organized in Cincinnati,

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HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

and such for many years. In politics he adheres to the Republican party, but never held a public office in his life; nor was he ever a candidate. The success of Mr. Mitchell in the management of the great business which he founded has been largely due to his judgment of men and motives, his control of large bodies of workmen, his indomitable will power, his strict punctuality in business engagements,. and an integrity of character which is always the basis of universal confidence.

HENRY LEWIS, deceased capitalist, was born May 11, 1826, in Chester county, Penn., son of Isaac and Esther (Ottenkirk) Lewis. His father was born in Chester county, Penn., February 3, 1793, of Welsh parentage, and died July 15, 1874. His mother, Esther (Ottenkirk), was born also in Chester county, June 18, 1798, of Scotch extraction, and died December 13, 1888.

Henry Lewis' paternal and maternal ancestors emigrated from Wales, settling in Chester county, Penn., prior to 1718, and his great great-grandfather came to. America with William Penn, settling in Delaware county, Penn. Of the seven chil- dren born to Isaac and Esther (Ottenkirk) Lewis two are living: Charles R., who is a manufacturer at Jefferson City, Mo., and Mrs. Ann (Lewis) Keely, who resides in Elba, Chase Co., Kans. Henry Lewis' father was a well-to-do farmer in Chester- county, Penn., and there Henry passed his boyhood, obtaining a more than fair edu- cation, having graduated from Bristol College, Bristol, Penn., in 1848, so that he taught school as well as worked on his father's farm. After teaching school in. Chester county for about a year, Henry Lewis came to Cincinnati in 1846, and then went to Flemingsburg, Ky., where he again taught school for a year, thence return- ing to Cincinnati. Soon afterward he became a member of the firm of A. D. Bullock & Company, manufacturers of curled hair and dealers in foreign and domestic wools and woolens, the senior partners being William and Anthony D. Bullock, the former soon afterward retiring. The firm was very successful, and A. D. Bullock becom- ing largely interested in outside investments, Mr. Lewis became managing partner, conducting the business successfully until 1884, when he retired, devoting the latter years of his life to the promotion of various railroad interests and other investments. Mr. Lewis was identified with the early growth of Walnut Hills, was one of the pro- moters and for several years president of the street railroad known as Route 10, afterward sold to the Consolidated Street Railroad Company, and converted into a. cable road. He was one of the organizers of and directors in the company which built the John street line, probably the first street railroad in Cincinnati. He was. intimately connected with Charles W. West, R. M. Shoemaker, E. A. Ferguson, J. N. Kinney and others in the promotion of the Cincinnati Southern railroad, and afterward in its opening and operation as one of the Common Carrier Company. He was a director for a number of years in the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton and Kentucky Central railroads, and, generally, was identified with nearly every project tending toward the development of Cincinnati.

Just after the war the Cincinnati Street Railway Company was in a sorry con- dition, mules or horses were high, feed was higher, the cars costly, and the com- pany had not been able to lobby with success to prevent heavy licenses on each car and stringent ordinances about keeping the streets in repair. A Philadelphia firm owned the line then, and wanted to sell out. Seneca W. Ely, the veteran editor, conducted the deal. by which the lines were sold to Bullock, Lewis and others, including the late Charles W. West. From that time on the street car systems of Cincinnati have been paying investments. It was this investment and its result which made Henry Lewis anxious ever after to take up some broken-down investment or company and build it up into profit. He made it his "fad" (if the word can be applied to business); anyhow, it became a hobby of his, and when the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railroad Company was in a distressing condition, Henry Lewis, R. M. Shoemaker, Charles W. West, J. N. Kinney and others bought up a con- trolling amount of stock, and soon had it worth much more than they gave for it.

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HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

Henry Lewis was a director for some time, and closed out his holdings at a hand- some profit. He had great faith in the future development of the Kentucky Central railroad, and invested largely in its stock and bonds. At one time he had invested over two hundred thousand dollars, and sold nearly all his available real estate to make the purchase and hold it, the outlook not being good, but what promised once to be a disastrous speculation resulted in a great success. About 1891 he sold out to the Louisville and Nashville system, doubling his investment, When the old Cin- cinnati and Eastern, often sneeringly called the "Cemetery and Eternity," was undergoing wreckage, Henry Lewis and his hobby came to the front, and he bought heavily into the road in which he had, until his death, abiding faith. He had heavy holdings in this road, now known as the Cincinnati, Portsmouth & Virginia, of which Samuel Hunt is president. Some years ago Mr. Lewis bought another road which was having a precarious existence. It ran from Dayton to Lebanon, or near there, and formed the connecting link between the Northern Narrow-gauge and Dayton. It was his hope to see the road a booming line between here and Dayton.

Mr. Lewis' business relations with "Tony" Bullock ended some years ago. In 1884, when the woolen business was at No. 142 West Pearl street, Mr. Lewis with- drew from the firm. Since 1872 Pierson R. Mitchell had been a partner, having previously been a bookkeeper, and he retains his interest in the firm to-day. For some reason not known, Mr. Lewis did not go into the telephone speculation with his friend Bullock. Perhaps he did not have faith in it, or perhaps "Tony" didn't let him into what has proved such a success. However, since 1872, when the two partners divided their securities and stocks, they operated separately in their specu- lations.

Those who saw Henry Lewis and heard his business methods or his personal pecu- liarities discussed, set him down as a millionaire. However, it is not probable that he was so wealthy. There are some citizens of Cincinnati who know about what his holdings were in value, and they estimate his estate at not over, if quite, six hundred thousand dollars. He was not a man given to confidences, however, and the condition of his affairs may be a surprise, as he was certainly not a loser in his business transactions. He was a warm personal friend of Charles W. West, and gave $1,000 for the Art Museum. In this and many other ways Henry Lewis was public-spirited and generous, but he had a horror of any ostentatious parade of his charities or gifts. So great was the confidence of West in his friend Lewis that when West was away, Henry Lewis would sign checks and transact the million- aire's business. Mr. Pierson Mitchell said of him: "I have known him for forty years, and in a close business connection. In all that time I have never known him to do anything but what was right. He was more charitable than was thought, for he was a man who followed the scriptural injunction, letting not his left hand know what the right hand was doing; and I know of many cases where he has extended aid to struggling young men who needed it."

Henry Lewis was not a politician. He was a fervent Republican, and years ago was on one of the city boards by appointment. But he never sought office by elec- tion, and displayed his greatest interest in politics when his friend J. B. Foraker was a candidate for governor. In reward and as a compliment to the ability of the man, Governor Foraker made Henry Lewis a member of the Board of Affairs, created by the General Assembly in 1886. The other members were Charles Jacob, Jr., James Morgan, Thomas L. Young, and Thomas G. Smith. Mr. Lewis had the four-year term, and was in office until a Democratic Legislature abolished the board in 1890. Hon. T. W. Graydon, who served with him on the board, said of the man: " Henry Lewis was a man of tenacious views; he was, in fact, stubborn when he had once made up his mind, but he was always strictly honest. His integrity was of the sterling quality, and he had a suspicious nature, so that he was really imprac

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tical in his dealings with men at times. I always got along well with Mr. Lewis. He was candid and frank in his opinions, and liked persons to be the same in return. I have always regarded him as a good citizen, and a useful one, and I regret very much to hear of his death."

Mr. Lewis had met his future wife before he came to Ohio, but he decided to first make a successful start in life before he married. He went back to New Jer- sey, just across from Philadelphia, and on May 19, 1853, married Maria Ann East- burn, a pretty Quakeress, daughter of Samuel and Huldah (Woolley) Eastburn, natives of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, respectively, both of English descent, who until her death used the "thee" and "thou" of her sect in conversation, especially in the home circle. Mrs. Lewis was a devoted wife and mother, and died January 17, 1892, in the home at McMillan and Park avenue, Walnut Hills. The children of Henry and Maria Ann Lewis are named as follows: Anna K .; Robert B., of Philadelphia; George W .; Martha B., and Henry G., who died October 16, 1891. Anna K. Lewis and Martha B. (now Mrs. Walter St. John Jones) were educated at. Miss Nourse's school; Robert B. Lewis, at the public schools and Dr. Soule's school on Walnut Hills; George W. Lewis at the University of Cincinnati, and Henry Graham Lewis, at the Cincinnati Law School.

Henry Lewis died February 12, 1893, at which time he was a director of the fol- lowing companies and institutions: Cincinnati, Portsmouth & Virginia railroad; Niles Tool Works Company; Burnet House Hotel Company; Arrowhead Reservoir Company, and the Citizens National Bank. Mr. Lewis was a' vestryman for several years of the Church of the Advent, Walnut Hills. .

GEORGE WOOLLEY LEWIS, assistant superintendent in charge of the Cincinnati Division of the Chesapeake & Ohio railway, and treasurer of the Covington & Cin- cinnati Elevated railroad and Transfer & Bridge Co., was born on Walnut Hills, Ohio, November 8, 1858, a son of Henry and Maria (Eastburn) Lewis. He was. educated in the public schools of Walnut Hills, Dr. Soule's preparatory school of East Walnut Hills, and the University of Cincinnati, from which he graduated in 1880 with the degree of Civil Engineer. Soon after graduation he was appointed resident engineer of the Vernon, Greensburg & Rushville railroad at Greensburg, Ind., and about six months later accepted a position with the Kentucky Central rail- road as resident engineer, with headquarters at Winchester, Ky. From 1882 to 1884 he was located at Covington, Ky., and from March, 1884, to July, 1885, at Lexington, Ky., as engineer of maintenance of way. During the following three years he was engaged in the improvement of the falls of the Ohio river at Louisville, Ky., under contract with the United States Government. In March, 1888, he became supervising engineer for the re-organization committee on construction of the Mays- ville & Big Sandy railroad, now the Cincinnati Division of the Chesapeake & Ohio, with headquarters at Cincinnati. From January 1 to March 15, 1889, he had tem- porary charge of maintenance of way while opening said road for traffic. From March 15, 1889, to April 30, 1892, he had charge of the real-estate department of the Chesapeake & Ohio railway system. He then became superintendent of the Lexington & Big Sandy division of the Chesapeake & Ohio railway, Ashland, Ky., which position he held until April 1, 1893, when he assumed his present office. Mr. Lewis is a member of the Engineers, the University and the Riding Clubs of Cincin- nati, and is a Republican of liberal views.

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History of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Ohio; their past and present, Part 74

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