History of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Ohio; their past and present, Part 80

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

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In 1836 he was married to Miss Sarah A. Wood, daughter of Mrs. John Wood, of this city, and the union was blessed with eight children, five of whom survive. The eldest son, Wood, was long associated, in an editorial capacity, with the press; the youngest, Charles Updike, graduated at Kenyon College, and is engaged in active business. Of the three daughters, Frances Daring married Frank J. Jones, a member of the Cincinnati bar; the second and youngest daughters are named, respectively, Anna Maria and Sarah L' Hommedieu. During his life Mr. Fosdick was a firm adherent of the Episcopal Church, the nucleus of which in Cincin- nati was composed of Arthur St. Clair, Jr., Ethan Stone, Esq., Capt. Richard Fosdick, Elijah Bemis, Esq., and their families, who met regularly in a small build- ing on what is called Lodge alley for about two years, when the place of meeting was changed to a schoolhouse, where they attended several years before they had any minister.

The life of Samuel Fosdick was bright, cheerful and successful, and therefore worthy of emulation; and his memory is fondly cherished by his descendants and friends for the many virtues he possessed and the noble example he set for others in the battle of life.

DAVID WADDLE .McCLUNG is of west of Scotland or Highland stock. In 1730 his great-grandfather came to this country and settled in Washington county, N. Y. His descendants mostly resided in that State, but his son Charles McClung,.

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grandfather of the subject of this sketch, removed to Mifflin county, Penn., where David's father and mother were both born, but were brought to Ohio by their par- ents in early childhood, the families settling in Fairfield county. The father's name was also David; he was married, in 1825, to Miss Elizabeth Brown, daughter of David and Elizabeth Brown. Their fifth child and fourth son was David Waddle, born December 18, 1831, in Seneca county, Ohio, whither his parents had removed two years after marriage. His brothers and sisters were, in due order of birth, Phoebe, William Clark, Robert, James, Margaret, Sarah, Harvey, John C., and Martha. The father died in October, 1867, the mother in August, 1877.

David was brought up on a farm, which had been the manual-labor school of his ancestry for generations; attended the country schools in his childhood, which were very good for the time, the residence of the family being on the border of the famous Western Reserve; and was a member of the Seneca County Academy, at Republic, then taught by Hon. Thomas W. Harvey, since State commissioner of schools. Here he prepared for college, and entered freshman at Muskingum Col- lege, New Concord, in October, 1850; remained one term, and then transferred his allegiance to Miami University, at Oxford, from which he was graduated A. B. in 1854. During much of his preparatory course he maintained himself by teaching school, beginning at the early age of fifteen, and for a large share of the expenses of his college course he served the university in various capacities, but had to create a debt, which was faithfully repaid upon his entrance into business life. After graduation he again undertook the pedagogic vocation, but in a higher field, becom- ing at first principal of the high schools, then superintendent of the public schools in Hamilton, in which two positions he remained three years. At the expiration of his year as superintendent he accepted the charge of the Republican organ at the same place, the Hamilton Intelligencer, which he conducted or assisted in editing for two years, in association with his old friend and classmate, Col. Minor Milliken. It was the early day of the Republican party; Butler county was largely Demo- cratic; it was an important transition; and the Intelligencer bore its full share in fixing the public opinion. The fight with opponents was, at the time, close and sharp, and Mr. McClung was himself personally attacked by an infuriated Demo- crat, and bore from the conflict an honorable scar which he wears to this day, a testimonial of the later days that tried men's souls. He was during this time of editorial work engaged at intervals in the study of the law; and in the winter of 1859 and 1860 he was appointed, by the governor, to the position of probate judge of the county, vice William R. Kinder, who died in office.

Upon the election of his successor-a Democrat, of course-he spent a few months desultorily in his law office, but, immediately upon the outbreak of the war, the call for volunteers being made on Monday morning, April 16, 1861, he enlisted in a Hamilton company as a private soldier, and went with it to Camp Jefferson, Columbus, where it was sworn into service April 24th, and assigned to Company F, Third Ohio Infantry. On the twenty-seventh of the same month the regiment was sent, with five companies of the Eleventh, to establish Camp Dennison, on the Little Miami railroad, seventeen miles from Cincinnati. Mr. McClung was taken from the ranks, where he was still serving as a private, and made quartermaster of the camp, in which place of responsibility and honor he was detained, contrary to all prece- dence of the service, until the following March, hundreds of thousands of dollars in money and property passing through his hands meanwhile, not only of quarter- master's, but of ordnance, stores. He then received a commission, to date from February 19, 1862, as captain and assistant quartermaster. He remained at the camp until June 15, 1862, having meanwhile rebuilt it, in order to fit it for winter quarters, and was then ordered to Camp Chase, to hold the barracks for rebel pris- oners there. When the call for 500,000 more men was made by President Lincoln, Camp Dennison acquired more importance that ever, and Capt. McClung was ordered

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back to equip the regiments forming therein. From first till last, it is believedthat he prepared not far from one hundred regiments for the field. When the second levy of troops had been equipped, he supervised the conversion of the barracks of the camp, during November and December, 1862, into a convalescent hospital. Thence he departed for Madison, Ind., where hospitals more convenient to the river were to be built, and, after getting that work well under way, was ordered to Cin- cinnati, to take charge of the purchase of supplies, in which capacity he served until the close of the war. His money accounts with the government, during his entire term of service, aggregated about twenty-five million dollars; his property accounts more than twice as much. Like other officers in similar positions, he was from time to time inspected, investigated, "detectived," and "spied," but never once accused, and he long since had his account satisfactorily balanced by the officers of the treasury department. His services were not finally dispensed with until Novem- ber 8, 1865, when he was honorably mustered out, at his own reiterated request. Shortly before this, October 30, he was breveted major of volunteers for faithful and meritorious service, on the recommendation of Gen. Ekin and other high officers of the quartermaster's department. He returned to Hamilton, and was elected president of the Second National Bank of that city, although not any stockholder. In about a year and a half he resigned that position, and began the manufacture of machinery in Hamilton, remaining in this business for two years, when he exchanged his stock in the machine shop for an interest in the Wooddale Paper Company, of which he took charge and remained its business manager until February 1, 1879, when he removed to Cincinnati and became assistant postmaster. In January, 1881, he was nominated, by President Hayes, surveyor of the Port of Cincinnati, and again by President Garfield, when he was promptly confirmed by the Senate and received his commission, of date March 10, 1881.

Such a career as that of Col. McClung needs no embellishment or further illus- tration; his qualities of mind and character are easily inferable from this outline sketch of his rapid and sure advancement to his present high position. He served as internal revenue collector for the Cincinnati District during President Harrison's administration, and his incumbency was characterized as strictly a business one. Col. McClung was married March 19, 1861, to Miss Anna Carter Harrison, only daughter of Carter B. Harrison, youngest son of Gen. William Henry Harrison, once President of the United States. Her mother was Mary Sutherland, of the family of John Sutherland, one of the pioneers of Butler county.

MELANCTHON WADE OLIVER was born in Brookville, Ind., December 27, 1825, a soll of David and Mary (Wade) Oliver. David Oliver was born in Marietta in 1792, a son of Robert Oliver, who was a colonel in the Revolutionary war, and came West with Gen. Putnam who colonized Harmar, Ohio, in 1788. Mrs. Mary (Wade) Oliver was born in Cincinnati in 1797. Her father, David E. Wade, was a native of New Jersey, and came to this section of the Northwest Territory, a little later in the same year, 1788. M. W. Oliver received his early education in the public schools of Warren county, Ohio, and at Woodward College, Cincinnati. He entered Miami University in 1844, and was graduated therefrom in 1847, after which he read law under the preceptorship of Judge Oliver M. Spencer; he was graduated from Harvard Law College in 1849 and was admitted to the Bar in 1850. He then entered upon the practice of his profession and continued therein, until his election as Democratic candidate for a common pleas judgeship, in which capacity he served from 1857 to 1859, when he resigned, and resumed the practice of law. In 1861, he was renominated, and reelected to the common pleas bench, and served the full term of five years, when he again resumed the practice, and continued therein until 1871, when he retired from active practice. He was a member of the Ohio Legis- lature as representative from this county, one term ; was a member of the Board of Aldermen for four years; a trustee of Miami University for a number of years; was

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a member of the board of park commissioners and of the Union Board of high schools, and president, since its organization, of the Price Hill Incline Plane Rail- way Company.

Mr. Oliver was married, June 25, 1850, to Anna E., daughter of the late Isaac Gere, a retired merchant of Massachusetts, and for some years a resident of Oxford, Ohio. Three children born of this marriage survive; they are Mrs. Rees McDuffie, Mrs. George T. McDuffie, and Fielding W. Oliver, the latter the treasurer of the Tudor Iron Works, of St. Louis, Mo. Judge Oliver resides on Summit avenue, Price Hill. The family are Presbyterians.

WILLIAM HOWARD DOANE, Mus. Doc. It is one of the wondrous things of this age that the work of a man, if it be meritorious, may have an influence on the whole world. If he invents a valuable tool or machine its use is not limited to any one country. If he writes beautiful songs, their echoes go from lip to lip the world round. The name of W. H. Doane, inventor and manufacturer, is known in every American and European manufacturing center. The name of William Howard Doane, Mus. Doc., composer of so many evangelical songs that no one would pause to count them, is familiar wherever Christian work is done and Christian songs are sung. This man of varied genius and noteworthy achievements is not only an enter- prising citizen of Cincinnati but a recognized factor in the material development and evangelization of the world. The machinery he has invented and manufactured is everywhere in use, and not only are his songs sung wherever civilization has been planted, but it is doubtful if any missionary has gone forth, during late years, to foreign fields without taking some of them as an indispenable part of his equipment.

Mr. Doane was born February 3, 1832, at Preston, Conn., a son of Joseph H. and Fannie T. Doane, both of the sturdiest New England stock. He was educated at Woodstock Academy, and at the early age of fourteen, in recognition of his abil- ity as a musician, he was made leader of the choir of that institution. At sixteen he had already composed his first piece of music.

During the last year of his stay there he was converted. His mother being a Baptist, he united with the Baptist Church at Norwich. In 1848 he entered upon his business career as clerk in the counting house of Doane & Treat, cotton manufacturers, of which firm his father was the senior member. About three years later he entered the employ of J. A. Fay & Company. This concern, then and since celebrated as manufacturers of wood-working machinery, was even at that date operating large establishments at Norwich, Conn. ; Keene, N. H., and Worcester, Mass. Mr. Doane was installed in charge of the office and books at the Norwich branch, and his superior business ability was so manifest and so practically recognized by his employers that in 1856 he was sent to Chicago to take full charge of the company's extensive interests in that city and its large tributary territory. After the death of J. A. Fay he became, in 1861, the leading member of the firm and the manager of its general interests, with offices at Cincinnati, where he has since lived. The various branches, mean- while, had been absorbed and consolidated. The establishment at Norwich was changed to a new corporation under the title of C. B. Rogers & Company, and the Keene and Worcester branches were closed and merged into the Norwich and Cin-

cinnati concerns. Mr. Fay's interests and that of one of the surviving partners had come into Mr. Doane's possession by purchase. During these years Mr. Doane's genius for invention had manifested itself, and he had originated and brought out many new pieces of machinery and made numerous improvements on machines already in use, which had made him as valuable to the company in its mechanical department as in its business offices. In 1866 the enterprise was incorporated under the style of J. A. Fay & Company, with Mr. Doane as president and general manager. The growth and extension of the business of this historic concern, which had its inception in New England in 1835, and whose shops were located at Front and John streets, Cincinnati, in 1852, are recognized as having been extensive factors

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in the wonderful industrial development of this city; and through the long period of his residence here Mr. Doane has been everywhere hailed as one of Cincinnati's most prominent manufacturers and business men, and as the builder up and success- ful manager of the largest concern in the country of its kind, of which he was the active head until its recent consolidation with another enterprise under the title of the J. A. Fay & Egan Company, in which he is a prominent director. He has con- tributed, perhaps, more than any other one man to the success of the wood-working machinery industry, a fact recognized by honors at home and abroad. A distinction which is rarely given to citizens of a foreign nation was conferred upon him in 1889 when, at the Paris Exposition, he met the manufacturers of Europe on their own ground, and, in competition with the leading manufacturers of his class of the world combined, carried off the Grand Prix and was himself decorated with the Cross of the Legion of Honor by the government of France. He and his Cincinnati work- men also took the medal at the Paris Exposition of 1878, and, did space admit, a surprisingly long and creditable list of medals awarded to the company under Mr. Doane's management might be presented. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the American Society of Mining Engineers, and is a mem- ber of numerous other scientific bodies.

With such large business interests on his mind it seems remarkable that he should have attained such eminence in music. But the genius that was in him would not be made little of, and it asserted itself at every stage of his career, and made him prominent in musical circles while yet young in years. In 1852 he was conductor of the Norwich Harmonic Society. Two years later appeared his first book, "Sabbath School Gems," followed in 1864 by "Little Sunbeam," and in 1867 came that notable book " Silver Spray," perhaps the most popular Sunday- school book of its day. Then followed, in 1868, "Songs of Devotion " for use in churches, which came very largely into use. Since 1868 his name has been asso- ciated as author with many musical works, most of which have been issued by Bige- low & Main, New York. Mr. Doane fairly popularized the Christmas cantata by the issue of one entitled "Santa Claus" about eighteen years ago, and his other com- positions of this class have found great favor. The circulation of books bearing his name has been world-wide, and the copies sold are counted by millions; his music has been carried to all lands where music is enjoyed, and while some of the multi- tudes who have sung his songs may not be familiar with his name, the conviction that he has added to their happiness and furnished to their emotions wings on which are borne their praises to our common Father should be glory enough for him. In 1875 Denison University bestowed upon him the degree of Doctor of Music. His study or music room, an unique feature of his beautiful home on Mount Auburn, is as complete in all respects as taste, culture, research and money can make it. In the transom over the entrance is wrought in ground glass in musical characters the opening strains of " Home, Sweet Home." On the ceiling inside are frescoed bits of celebrated musical compositions beautifully and artistically arranged. Fine pic- tures, mostly of musical subjects, adorn the walls. The apartment contains a fine collection of antique instruments from Egypt, Mexico, Burmah, Japan, Africa, Rus- sia, Turkey and Syria, some of them centuries old, besides pianos, a cabinet organ and about every modern instrument. Here too is a grand pipe organ, run by water motor, and over it, in fresco, are four measures of the " Hallelujah Chorus." The library is one of the finest of its kind in America, containing vellum mss. dating from the eighth century, fac-similes of the original score of Handel's Messiah, and original mss. and autographs of nearly all the old masters and modern composers of note. It is bere, in his home, amid such surroundings, that he has written his music, evenings, for the most part, when relieved from the cares of business; yet he is never without a little note book in which to jot down, wherever he may be, the inspirations that may come to him. The style of his music is peculiarly his own,

A. J. Whipps

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and evidences the remarkable versatility of his talent. Some of his most popular pieces, such as "Safe in the Arms of Jesus," "The Old, Old, Story," "Pass Me Not," "A Few More Marchings," " More Love To Thee, O Christ," "Every Day and Hour," " Rescue the Perishing," " Near the Cross," "Draw Me Nearer," " Will He Find Us Watching ?" are familiar to Christian singers everywhere.

Mr. Doane is an active member of the Mount Auburn Baptist Church, and for more than twenty years, as superintendent of its flourishing Sunday-school, con- tributed to make it one of the largest and most efficient in the city. He is known as a most liberal man, and his benefactions have been neither few or stinted. Promi- nent among them is "Doane Hall" of Denison University. In association with the late John Church, of the John Church Company, he donated the magnificent pipe organ, which now adorns the hall of the Young Men's Christian Association of Cincinnati. He is an active member and a most generous supporter of this organi- zation. In everything that has pertained to the upbuilding and development of Cincinnati he has always taken a very helpful interest. He has been prominently identified with the Chamber of Commerce, and has given his support to every meas- ure for the general good calculated to enlist the sympathies of an able and enter- prising citizen of the most progressive character. The great business world knows him as a prominent manufacturer and inventor, whose marvelous machinery may be seen in use throughout America and Europe; the world of music knows him as a most prolific composer of much power and pathos, whose songs inspire youth, give strength to the wavering, and bring hope to the despairing. His career may be said to be a dual one in the noblest sense, influencing the people's industries and their Christian and home lives. To the world he has given the whirring music of the fac- tory and the grateful song of the fireside and of the Church and Sunday-school. Here in Cincinnati he is known as the man and the citizen, honored for his abilities and his achievements, and held in grateful respect for the good that he has in one way and another conferred upon his fellow citizens.

HENRY WORTHINGTON was born in Mason county, Ky., September 1, 1826, son of Thomas T. and Arah (Whipps) Worthington, natives of Baltimore county, Md., who settled at Limestone, now Maysville, Ky., about 1790. His grandfather, Samuel Worthington, was an English federalist who came to Maryland with one of the Lords Baltimore; he had twenty- four children, and has numerous descendants in Mason, Bracken and Mercer counties, Ky. Thomas T. Worthington's family numbered six- teen children, all of whom reached maturity, and three are now living: Madison, a farmer in Mason county, Ky. ; Martha, wife of William T. Craig, of Sioux City, Iowa, and Henry. The last named received his education at a log schoolhouse on his father's farm. His first business venture was the development of an extensive stone quarry in Scioto county, Ohio, with the product of which he freighted steamboats and barges, and supplied materials for bridge abutments, buildings, etc., not only at Cincinnati, but also at Pittsburgh, Louisville, St. Louis, Natchez, etc. This industry gave employment to 500 men during summer. During the panic of 1857, owing to

the difficulty of making collections, Mr. Worthington sold out the business at a loss of $18,000, although he met all his obligations in full. In 1860 he came to Cincin- nati and embarked in the business of handling leaf tobacco, in which he still continues, and is also largely interested in the tobacco business as a producer, his farm of 2,000 acres, probably the largest in Hamilton county, being partly devoted to tobacco cul- ture; he also has interests of a similar nature in Kentucky. Mr. Worthington owns a one-third interest in the Maumee Rolling Mills, Toledo, Ohio; he has invested largely in the electric light plants of Newport and Covington, Ky. ; Circleville, Ohio, and other places; in a blast furnace at Tonawanda, N. Y., in a foundry at Indiana- polis, Ind., and in real estate at Toledo, Covington and elsewhere. Since 1853 he has resided at Covington.

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Mr. Worthington married Maria, daughter of Col. Jacob A. Slack, of Mason ~ county, Ky., who died May 30, 1867, leaving four children: Elizabeth, Henry S., Anna and Mattie. Henry S. originated the Chesapeake & Ohio bridge at Cincin- nati, secured the charter for it, and, having successfully launched the enterprise, disposed of it at a large profit. He has traveled in Mexico, Europe, etc., and now resides in New York, where he takes high rank among the literati of that city. Elizabeth married Archibald Stuart, proprietor of a newspaper at Toledo, Ohio, and a member of the Thomson-Houston Electrical Company. Anna is the wife of George G. Hamilton, one of the largest tobacco producers of Kentucky. Mr. Worthington was a Whig in ante-bellum days, but is now a Democrat. His religious connection is with the Presbyterian Church.

HAMILTON STow, retired, was born in Windsor, Broome Co., N. Y., August 10, 1806. He received such limited education as the schools at that time afforded, and after leaving school worked at farming until 1831, with the exception of two years, one of which was spent down the Susquehanna, and the other down the Delaware- river, where he was engaged in lumbering. In 1832 he went to Olean, N. Y., where he remained until 1840, and while there carried on lumbering in connection with a general grocery business. During the year 1840 he set out as one of the pioneer settlers for western Pennsylvania, the only means of determining the direction to be followed being at that time blazed trees. After reaching his destination he located in Venango county, and, commencing at once the erection of sawmills, again em- barked in the lumbering business, in connection with William Wheeler and Henry Dusenbery, both now deceased. All the lumber cut in western Pennsylvania at this time had to be rafted down the river to Cincinnati, and the average amount sent down by his firm each year for thirty years was about three million feet. Mr. Stow resided in Venango county until 1865, closely associated with the whole of its growth, and was a hearty supporter of all of its enterprises. He was also associated in the lumbering business in Cincinnati for a number of years with Gen. Gregory. He- retired from an active business life in 1870.

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History of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Ohio; their past and present, Part 80

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