History of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Ohio; their past and present, Part 96

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.

CHARLES EDWARD PRIOR Was born July 16, 1861, at Cincinnati, received his educa- tion in the public schools, read law under the preceptorship of John M. Foster, was graduated from the Cincinnati Law School, and in 1882 was admitted to the Bar. From 1886 to 1890 he was the Executive Clerk of Governor Joseph B. Foraker, and ex-officio secretary of the State Board of Pardons. On January 1, 1893, he formed the present law partnership with ex-Gov. Foraker under the firm name of Foraker & Prior. He is married, and resides in Norwood.

ROBERT CAMP PRICE, attorney at law, was born in Cincinnati June 14, 1859. He is a son of John W. and Florida (Williamson) Price, the former a native of Kentucky, the latter of Ohio, and both of English descent. John W. Price graduated at Har- vard Law School, practiced law for some years, and was at one time judge of the civil district court of New Orleans. His wife is the daughter of George T. William- son, who was born in Cincinnati, and was one of the earliest practitioners at the Hamilton County Bar. He was for a number of years secretary of the Pioneer Asso- ciation. George T. Williamson married Jane, daughter of James Taylor, a pioneer resident of Newport, Ky. Her mother was for a time a resident of Fort Wash- ington, in Losantiville, now Cincinnati. Robert C. Price received his education in this county, at Exeter Academy, New Hampshire, where he prepared for college, graduating in 1878, and at the University of Virginia, from which he was graduated in 1881. He then entered the Cincinnati Law School, from which he was graduated in the class of 1883. He is now practicing law in Cincinnati. He is unmarried, and resides with his parents in Clifton. The family are members of the Episcopal Church.

OTTO PFLEGER was born in Cincinnati April 20, 1861, son of the late John M. and Josephine (Emmert) Pfleger, the former of whom established the first German library in Cincinnati; the latter was the sister of the late Dr. F. L. Emmert. The sub- ject of this sketch was educated in the public schools of Cincinnati, read law under the preceptorship of the late Judge Alphonso Taft, and was graduated from the Cin- cinnati Law School in the class of 1883. During the Garfield campaign he did political reportorial work for the Commercial Gazette. He was married October 27, 1886, to Margaret, daughter of Frederick Fox, a farmer of Highland county, Ohio, and two children, Lucie B. and Marguerite, are the fruit of this marriage. The family reside in Clifton.

JOHN WENTZEL, attorney at law, was born at Cincinnati, January 18, 1851. He is a son of the late Henry and Margaret (Littecompte) Wentzel, both natives of Germany, who came to this country in their early youth. Henry Wentzel located in Cincinnati in 1848, and was here engaged in business until a few years prior to his death which occurred in 1883. His wife, whose father located in, 1830, on a farm in the vicinity of the site of the C. H. & D. depot, survives. John Wentzel was educated in the public schools of Cincinnati, graduating from Woodward High School in the class of 1872. He then became a teacher in the public schools of Cincinnati, and was thus engaged for twelve years, during the latter part of which period he was principal of the Fourth District school. During this term he began the study of law, and was graduated from the Cincinnati Law School in the class of 1883, since which time he has been engaged in the practice of his profession. Mr. Wentzel is a Democrat, and has been actively identified with the work of his party in Delhi township, where he resides. He was the first mayor of Delhi, and served as justice of the peace for one term. He is now a trustee of the township. He was married February 26, 1881, to Caroline, daughter of the late Peter Zinn, one of the early and leading members of the Hamilton County Bar, and for a number of years president of the Kentucky Central railroad. Three children were born of this mar- riage, namely: Margaret, Hallie, and John. Mrs. Caroline (Zinn) Wentzel died November 17, 1893.

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HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

CHARLES EDGAR BROWN was born at Kingwood, Va. (now W. Va.), March 12, 1853. He is a son of Thomas and Eleanor (Smith) Brown, the former a native of Virginia and of North of Ireland descent, the latter a native of Maryland and of Scotch descent. Thomas Brown was an attorney at law, and four of his sons adopted the same profession, Judge James A. Brown, of Kingwood, T. P. R. Brown, of Bev- erly, W. Va., the late George W. Brown, of Grafton, W. Va., and the subject of this sketch, Charles Edgar Brown, of Cincinnati. George W. Brown was Adjutant- General of West Virginia under Gov. Boreman. The fifth son, Lieut. - Commander R. M. G. Brown, is the naval officer who in March, 1887, when his ship, the "Tren- ton," the admiral's flagship of the Pacific squadron, off Samoa, was in a dismantled condition and wreck was threatened during a terrible gale, was happily inspired to locate a sufficient number of his crew of 500 men upon the vessel's rigging, where- by a living sail was formed that proved efficacious in saving the lives of the crew and the vessel from destruction. Two of the daughters of Thomas Brown married attorneys of Morgantown, W. Va., John A. Dille, ex-judge of the circuit court, and Joseph Moreland, who is the President Regent of the State University. William G. Brown, a brother of Thomas Brown, was not only a prominent attorney, but in the political world occupied many responsible positions. He was administration leader of the House of Representatives under President Polk, a member of the Richmond convention which passed the ordinance of secession, to which he was unalterably opposed, and afterward in Congress introduced the bill establishing the State of West Virginia.

Charles Edgar Brown graduated from the Columbian Law School of Washing- ton, D. C., in June, 1879. In April of the following year he located in Cincinnati. In 1882 he entered the Cincinnati Law School, and was graduated therefrom in June, 1883, since which time he has been actively engaged in the practice of his profes- sion. He is a Democrat and has been actively identified with the work of his party in Hamilton county. He was one of the founders and early presidents of the Young Men's Democratic Club. He has never been an aspirant for office, but served as one of the board of police commissioners by appointment of Gov. Campbell from May, 1889, to April, 1893, serving as president of that board during 1889-90. Mr. Brown is a 32° Scottish Rite Mason, Past Eminent Commander of the Cincinnati Commandery of Knights Templar, and a Noble of the Mystic Shrine. He is also a Pythian Knight. He resides at the University Club.

WILLIAM LITTLEFORD was born in Cincinnati, son of J. S. S. Littleford, a well- known merchant of Pearl street for about forty years. The family are from Vir- ginia, where the name is well known. John Littleford, the grandfather of William Littleford, was a lawyer at Charlottesville, Va., and his wife, Charlotte Littleford, was known throughout the South in the days before the war for her writings, which were widely read, one volume of her poems having reached several editions. There was one son born to their union, John Spencer de Stoven Littleford. About 1840 this son, then about twenty years of age, came to Cincinnati and embarked in busi- ness. He married Agnes Smith, the daughter of Thomas S. Smith, an old and well- known citizen, and the couple had eleven children, eight of whom are living at this writing. Of these the youngest three are daughters; the other five are sons, named, respectively, John Spencer de Stoven, William, Thomas Smith, Frank and George.

William Littleford, the subject of this sketch, is the second son, and is the only member of the family who is engaged in a profession. He was educated in the Cin- cinnati public schools, graduated from Woodward High School, and afterward at- tended the Cincinnati University and St. Xavier College, receiving the degree of M. A. at the latter institution. He spent two years teaching school in Kentucky, and graduated from the Law School in 1884 with second highest honors. He at once entered upon the practice of his profession in his own office, and after five years of

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HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

private practice was appointed first assistant county prosecutor, which position he held for three years. In the fall of 1891 he was a candidate, on the Republican ticket, for common pleas judge, but was defeated. Had he been elected he would have been the youngest man, with one or two exceptions, that ever took a seat on the common pleas Bench in Hamilton county, and it was his youth alone that de- feated him in the campaign. He at once resigned from the position of assistant prosecuting attorney, and resumed private practice. Besides being a member of the Bar, William Littleford is a member of the firm of "Frank Littleford & Brother," dealers in lumber. Mr. George Littleford is also one of the firm, while John S. S. Littleford and Thomas S. Littleford, the two other brothers, are engaged in the sheet- iron business, and are well known and prosperous business men. Mr. Littleford is unmarried and has kept house with his three sisters for several years.

GUSTAV R. WERNER, attorney at law, was born in Cincinnati, November 11, 1863. He is a son of Frederick J. Werner, a biographical sketch of whom is contained in this volume. Gustav R. Werner completed his education at Woodward High School in 1877, then entering the employ of the German Banking Company. In 1880 he began the reading of law in the office of Von Seggern, Phares & De Wald, attend- ing the Cincinnati Law College during this time, and was admitted to practice in May, 1884. Until May, 1888, he remained with Von Seggern, Phares & DeWald, and then entered upon the practice alone, in which he is still engaged. He was married April 14, 1887, to Anna, daughter of William Dupuis, an old resident and business man of Cincinnati, and two children were born to this marriage, Carl G. and Frederick J. The family reside on Brown street. Mr. Werner is a member of the National Union, a secret beneficial order.

RICHARD E. WERNER, attorney at law, was born near the city of Hanover, Ger- many, June 21, 1863. His father, Prof. Ernst Werner, is a musician of eminence, who came to Cincinnati when our subject was a child, and is now following his pro- fession in San Francisco, Cal. His wife died in Cincinnati in 1882. Richard E. Werner received his education in the public schools of Cincinnati, and was gradu- ated from Woodward High School in 1881. He then for several years attended the University of Cincinnati, taking a special course which included such studies as were especially adapted in preparing for the study and practice of law, upon which he was bent. He read law in the office of Hon. John Follett, attended the Cincin- nati Law College, and was admitted to practice in 1884. For more than four years thereafter he practiced law with Hon. Ben Butterworth, Judge Miller Outcalt and Powel Crosley, and was also for a short period connected with Judge Evans. Since then he has been engaged in the practice with offices in the Bavaria building, corner Court and Walnut streets. He is a self-made man. has been more than ordinarily successful, and has an especially large practice in inheritances, assignments and real estate. He is the attorney for seven building associations, and for a number of corporations. He was married November 26, 1890, to Nellie, daughter of G. F. H. Tedtmann, an old citizen particularly well known in lodge circles. One child was born of this union, Raymond Edmund Ernst Richard Werner. The family resides at No. 41 Wesley avenue.

PHILIP RENNER, lawyer, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, September 20, 1863. His parents, Joseph and Caroline (Schmidt) Renner, were born in Germany. The father died in 1881; the mother is still living. Philip received a few years' schooling in the public schools of Cincinnati, and at the age of twelve entered the employ of Hon. Isaac J. Miller, with whom he remained for seventeen years, studying law under his preceptorship. He was graduated from the Cincinnati Law School in the class of '84. In 1888 he was the Democratic candidate for board of education from the Twelfth Ward, a Republican stronghold, and was elected. He was married, March 12, 1887, to Mary, daughter of the late Valentine Gansman, of Piqua. Two children were born to this marriage, Viola and Miller W. The family reside on Fairview Heights.

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HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

HARRY QUINTON CLENEAY was born in Cincinnati, November 1, 1857. He is a son of George W. B. and Elizabeth (Rudd) Cleneay, the former a native of Ohio, of French-Huguenot descent, the latter a native and descendant of one of the oldest English settlers of Virginia. George W. B. Cleneay came to Cincinnati about 1850, and was for a quarter of a century a member of the whisky commission firm of Joseph S. Cleneay & Company. In 1870 he retired from business, and is now a res- ident of New York City. H. Q. Cleneay laid the foundation of his education in the public schools of Avondale, attended Bliss' Academy, Cincinnati, studied for two years under private tutors in Paris, France, entered Yale in 1877, and was gradu- ated therefrom in 1881. He read law under the preceptorship of C. Bentley Mat- thews, attended the Cincinnati Law School, and was admitted to practice in 1884. He practiced law for one year, and then became a member of "The G. A. Gray Company," machine tool manufacturers, Cincinnati. In 1887 he embarked in the real-estate brokerage business, in which he has ever since been engaged. He was married, April 2, 1887, to Louise, daughter of Charles W. and Mary (Strader) Woolley, the former an attorney, the latter a daughter of the late Jacob Strader. Mr. and Mrs. Cleneay have two children, Mary Frances Strader and Elizabeth Hud- son. The family reside on Cleneay avenue, Norwood, and they are members of the Episcopal Church.

FRANCIS MICHAEL GORMAN, lawyer, was born in Cincinnati, September 4, 1857, a son of William and Nora (Nestor) Gorman, both natives of County Galway, Ire- land, where they were married in 1846. They came to the United States, locating in Cincinnati, in 1849; Mr. Gorman purchased a farm in Sycamore township, where he resided until his decease in 1890 ; his widow died February 5, 1894.

Francis M. Gorman completed his education at the National Normal University, Lebanon, Ohio, graduating therefrom in 1878, and for five years thereafter taught school in this county, during the latter part of this period commencing the reading of law. He continued this study under the preceptorship of the late Timothy D. Lincoln, while attending the Cincinnati Law School, from which he was graduated in 1884. He practiced alone until 1886, when lie formed liis present partnership asso- ciation with Charles M. Thompson, under the firm name of Gorman & Thompson. Mr. Gorman was solicitor for the village of Reading in 1886-88, resigning in the latter year; was re-elected in 1890, and is now serving in that capacity for that vil- lage, and in a similar capacity for the village of St. Bernard; he also served the village of Lockland similarly for three years. He is a Democrat, and was his party's nominee for county solicitor in 1887, when he was defeated by W. A. David- son. He is a member of the Masonic Order and of the Knights of Pythias. Mr. Gorman was married, June 4, 1887, to Lillian, daughter of the late George M. Herancourt, a biographical sketch of whom is contained in this volume. Two children were born to this marriage, Helen and Florence. The family reside at Hartwell.

EDWIN JOHN FRANKS was born in Bryan, Williams Co., Ohio, July 3, 1859. He is a son of the late Capt. Reason A. and Emma Franks, both of whom were natives of Ohio, the former of Scotch-Irish, the latter of German, descent. Capt. Reason A. Franks was an attorney, practicing first at Wauseon, Ohio, and subse- quently at Butler, Ind., at which latter place he died in 1880. His wife died some years previously. Edwin J. Franks laid the foundation of his education in the public schools of Wayne and Holmes counties, Ohio, prepared for college at Gam- bier, entered Kenyon College in 1877, and was graduated therefrom in 1881. Com- ing to Cincinnati, he began the study of law under the preceptorship of the late Henry B. Banning, continued it for a time with W. B. Morrow, and afterward with Boyce & Boyd, and was admitted to practice by the supreme court at Columbus in June, 1884. Immediately thereafter he, together with A. M. Rheinhart, formed a law partnership with the late Judge M. Tilden under the firm name of Tilden,

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HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

Franks & Rheinhart, which continued until the death of Judge Tilden in 1886, since which time Mr. Franks has pursued the practice of law alone. He was mar- ried, February 2, 1886, to Julia, daughter of William L. Perkins, of Cincinnati, and three children were born of this marriage, Edward, Earl and Irene. The family reside at North Side; they are members of the Episcopal Church.

EDWARD NATHAN CLINGMAN, attorney at law, was born in Cincinnati, September 29, 1854, son of the late Enoch and Sarah (Lyon) Clingman, the former a native of Cincinnati, the latter of Maryland; she was a daughter of Dr. Isaac Lyon, a physician of reputation far beyond the confines of Frederick. the city of liis residence. Receiv- ing the rudiments of his education in the vicinity of Lebanon, Ohio, Edward con- tinned the pursuit of knowledge assiduously at Farmers' College, College Hill, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, where he joined the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity, and at the University of Cincinnati, at which last named institution he edited the "College Journal," and from which he was graduated in 1880, with distinction, receiving the degree of B. A. Throughout his entire college course he was wholly self-supporting. For two years following his graduation he was in the United States Internal Revenue Service in this district, at the expiration of which time he began the study of law in the office of Gen. Charles E. Brown, a member of Congress from the Second Ohio District, was admitted to the Bar by the supreme court at Columbus in December, 1884, and immediately entered upon the practice of his profession, subsequently forming a partnership with his preceptor. Mr. Clingman is a Republican, and in 1891 was elected to the State Senate. His work as a member of that body was prin- cipally devoted to the advancement of the educational interests of his native city, county and State. Under bills introduced by him the Cincinnati College (Law School) was merged into the University, the tax levy for the support of the latter largely increased, and the appropriation for the University building, now (1894) in process of erection in Burnet Woods Park, secured. He was chairman of the Com- mittee on Universities and Colleges, and a member of the Committee on Municipal Corporations No. 1, Common Schools, Library and Judiciary. During his term as senator Miami University conferred upon him the degree of Master of Arts, and he was elected president of the alumnal association of his Alma Mater. Of his oratorical efforts the press of Cincinnati has given copious and complimentary notices, both as to their diction and delivery. Mr. Clingman was married, on June 30, 1885, to Anna E. Schaeffer, an artist of local celebrity, and daughter of the late Lieut. George M. and Emma (Gunckel) Schaeffer. Mr. and Mrs. Clingman have one child, Palmer, born March 5, 1889; they reside in Clifton, and are members of the Methodist Church.

EDWIN GHOLSON, attorney at law, was born in Holly Springs, Miss., May 3, 1863. He is the son of Dr. Samuel C. Gholson, a native of Virginia, the eldest son of the late Judge William Yates Gholson, who was one of the most distinguished jurists of his day in the United States, for many years a judge of the supreme court of Ohio, and also one of the original justices of the superior court of Cincinnati. The sub- ject of this sketch completed his education at the University of Mississippi, in 1880. For a time thereafter he read law in the office of Featherstone & Harris, a prominent legal firm of Holly Springs, and then came to Cincinnati and entered the Cincinnati Law College, from which he was graduated in 1885. For one year following he practiced law in Fort Worth, Texas, and then returning to Cincinnati formed a law partnership with J. Hartwell Cabell, which still exists. Mr. Gholson was married to Miss Eleanore L., daughter of Elbridge L. Thomas, and granddaughter of Nicholas W. Thomas, the latter one of Cincinnati's early mayors. One child, Eleanor, is the issue of this marriage. Mrs. Gholson died November 25, 1891.

DAVID SYMMES OLIVER, attorney at law, was born in Covington, Ky., March 30, 1860, a son of Warner S. and Elizabeth (Chadwick) Oliver, the former a native of Ohio, the latter of New Jersey, and both of English descent. Warner S. Oliver

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HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

was a son of David and Mary (Wade) Oliver, the former of whom was a resident at. the time of his decease (1869) of Oxford, Ohio. His wife was the daughter of David Everett Wade, one of the prominent citizens of Cincinnati in its earliest years.

David Symmes Oliver received his early education in the public schools of Cin- cinnati; was graduated from Woodward High School in 1878, and from Cincinnati University in 1882. He read law under the preceptorship of his uncle, M. W. Oliver, ex-judge of the court of common pleas of Hamilton county, Ohio (a biographical sketch of whom is contained in this volume), during that period attending the Cin- cinnati Law School, from which he was graduated in 1885. He then entered upon the practice of his profession, and is still engaged therein. He is a Democrat, and was a nominee of his party for the board of legislation, but was defeated. He is a member of the Ohio State Road Commission by appointment of Governor Mckinley. Mr. Oliver is not married, and he resides in Cincinnati.

AUGUST W. BRUCK was born in Milwaukee, Wis., October 8, 1860. He is a son of Nicholas and Christina (Walter) Bruck, the former a native of Bavaria, the latter of Baden, both of whom came to this country with the families of their parents, who all located near Milwaukee, where Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Bruck were married. The latter couple removed to Cincinnati in 1862, where for twenty years he was an employe of the city water works. He died in 1892; his widow is still living.

August W. Bruck attended the public schools and Entrup's Academy, and then learned type setting, becoming a compositor on the Star, subsequently on the Cin- cinnati Enquirer. While holding cases on the latter paper he began the study of law, and entered the Cincinnati Law School, from which he was graduated in the class of '85. He then commenced the practice of his profession with ex-Judge T. A. O'Connor, and since the latter's death had been associated with Hon. John A. Cald- well, member of Congress from the Second District of Ohio. Mr. Bruck was identi- fied actively in two campaigns with the Labor Party, in the first as its candidate for a superior court, and in the second for the probate court judgeship. With these exceptions, his political affiliations have been Democratic. He has been for the past three years title examiner for the B. of A. He was for several years an officer of the Typographical Union No. 3, is a Mason, an Odd Fellow, a member of the Elm Street Club and of the Misik-Verein. Mr. Bruck is unmarried, and resides with his mother on Bank street. The family are members of the Presbyterian Church.

CHARLES THEODORE GREVE, lawyer, was born in Cincinnati, January 3, 1863, a son of Dr. T. L. A. Greve, a biographical sketch of whom is contained in this volume. He completed his education at Harvard College, from which institution he was grad- uated in 1884. He then entered the Cincinnati Law School, graduating therefrom in 1885. Shortly after entering upon the practice of law, he formed a partnership association with C. Bentley Matthews, which continued until 1889, since when he has engaged in the practice alone. Mr. Greve was the Democratic candidate for Con- gress from the Second District of Ohio, in 1892, but was unsuccessful in the election. He has been a constant contributor to the daily papers of Cincinnati for a number of years; has been a member and an official of the Cincinnati Literary Club for eight years; is a member of the Ohio Club, Tariff Reform Club, Duckworth Club, Uni- versity Club, and is a member and one of the founders of the Young Men's Demo- cratic Club. He is unmarried, and resides with his father's family on West Eighth street.

SCOTT BONHAM, attorney at law, was born January 25, 1858, in the village of Midway, Madison Co., Ohio, where his parents, William J. and Letitia (Hays) Bon- ham, now reside. Both paternal and maternal ancestors were of Scotch-Irish extraction.

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History of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Ohio; their past and present, Part 96

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