USA > Ohio > Guernsey County > History of Guernsey County, Ohio, Volume II > Part 48
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DANIEL E. BRADEN.
Daniel E. Braden, of Cambridge township, was born February 21, 1849. in Center township, on what is known as Mud run. His parents were Elijah and Mary ( Van Kirk) Braden. His maternal grandfather, William Van Kirk, became a resident of Coshocton county, Ohio, in the early days of the nineteenth century, and later in life was a coal operator in that county, where he died many years ago. The Braden family contributed its full quota to the country's defense during the Civil war. Elijah, the father, when fifty-three
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years old, enlisted as a member of Company H, Twelfth Regiment Ohio Cavalry, and served till the close of the war. Three of the sons also enlisted. Ezekiel was in Company A, First Ohio Cavalry, being the second man to en- list in the company. William V. entered a Pennsylvania regiment and was killed June 2, 1862, at the battle of Fair Oaks. James was in an Ohio regi- ment. These four, serving under separate commands, never saw each other during the war. The father, albeit a militant supporter of the administra- tion during the war, was a Democrat in politics all his life. He died June 7, 1872, his widow on March 17, 1877, and both are buried in Center ceme- tery. Both were lifelong members of the Baptist church, of Center. In the family were five sons and two daughters: Eliza Ann, now widow of Ezekiel Patterson ; Ezekiel, a farmer of Shelby county, Illinois ; William V., who was killed at the battle of Fair Oaks; Hannah, deceased; James, living at Cam- bridge ; Nancy J., now Mrs. J. R. Black, of Cambridge township; Daniel E. and Jonathan, of Byesville.
Daniel E. Braden was brought up on the farm and attended the country district schools. During the war, when his father and brothers were at the front, the care of the farm and of the family devolved upon him. After the war he made his home with William and Mrs. Scott, of Cambridge township, assuming the management of their farm after Mr. Scott became too infirm to do so. He remained with them until he was married, November 27, 1889, to Maggie Reed, daughter of the late John and Ellen (Broom) Reed, who resided on the farm where Mr. Braden and family now live. Mrs. Braden's maternal grandfather, Rev. Hugh Broom, came from Scotland and was a Baptist minister who was well known all over southern Ohio. In 1832 he built a house of dressed stone, which is now in excellent condition and the home of the Braden family. John Reed, Mrs. Braden's father, was a farmer, and met his death in a runaway accident. December 9, 1875. His widow died in 1888. They were the parents of two children, Maggie, now Mrs. Braden, and H. B. Reed, a farmer of Cambridge township. The Bradens have two children, William R. and Mary H., both of whom are at home. Mr. Braden has one hundred and sixty acres of fine land and engages in general farming. A Democrat in politics, he is well informed and always interested in public affairs. He and his family are members of the Baptist church, of Center, where he has been a deacon for fully thirty years. He is a member of Rock Hill Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, and has been active in its affairs. He is an advocate of public improvements in so far as they serve the public good and advance morals, and is a worker for the advancement of the temperance cause. He is a progressive, prosperous farmer, a good citizen and a good neighbor.
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HOMER A. FORSYTHE.
Homer A. Forsythe is a name known to every one who has the slightest acquaintance with the business history of Cambridge and Guernsey county. He has long filled a large place in the industrial affairs of the city, and as an energetic, enterprising and far-sighted man whose judgment and discretion are seldom at fault and whose influence makes for the substantial upbuilding of the community he has earned a reputation second to none of his contem- poraries.
Mr. Forsythe was born in Center township, Guernsey county, Ohio, April 27, 1869, and he is the son of C. P. and Sarah A. (Clipinger) Forsythe. both natives of this county, their ancestors having come here from Pennsyl- vania at an early date and were pioneers here. The father was a farmer and in later life a coal operator on lands which he himself owned. He was among the very early operators in the Cambridge district, beginning as early as 1891, and he became an extensive operator and was well-to-do and a man of influ- ence. He was a Republican and was always interested in party affairs, being a man of fixed opinions, marked independence and sterling integrity. He was a member of the United Presbyterian church and a ruling elder in the same for many years. His family consisted of seven children, three sons and four daughters, namely : Howard J., of Cambridge ; Sarah J., deceased ; Homer A., of this review; Mary E., who married William C. Morrison, of Guernsey county ; William R., deceased; Laura B. married. Howard M. Ewing, of Coshocton county, Ohio; and Nora May, who died in infancy. The father of these children was called to his reward on July 16, 1903, while the mother, a woman of gracious personality, survives.
Homer A. Forsythe grew to maturity on the home farm, where he did a great deal of hard work during his early life. He attended the public schools during the winter months. He was married on December 20, 1899, to Cora L. Eagleson, daughter of Thomas Eagleson, a sketch of whom appears else- where in this work. To this union four children have been born, Willard H., Thomas R., Olive Jennette and Ruth Lucile. The family home is now at the corner of Tenth street and Wheeling avenue, Cambridge, and is one of the most pretentious in the city, of beautiful design and neatly furnished.
Since manhood the subject has been connected with the Forsythe Coal Company, operating mines in Guernsey county, this business having begun nineteen years ago, and this company is one of the large and successful opera- tors of this district. He is secretary and treasurer of this company and much of its large success has been due to his wise counsel and judicious manage-
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ment, for he is also general manager. The mines operated by this company have a capacity of fifteen hundred tons per day. Mr. Forsythe is also inter- ested in the Pittsburg-Belmont Coal Company and the Belmont Coal and Land Company, of Belmont county, Ohio, Mr. Forsythe being a member of the board of directors of those companies. He is also interested in the Wis- consin Coal & Dock Company, of Milwaukee. He is a stockholder in the Guernsey National Bank and is interested in other enterprises, having some valuable real estate holdings in Cambridge. As a business man he has been very successful, possessing rare soundness of judgment, clear discrimination and the ability to forecast with remarkable accuracy the outcome of a present transaction.
Politically, Mr. Forsythe is a Republican and he has long been active in party affairs. He has been a member of the Republican county committee and has been frequently a delegate to county, district and state conventions. He filled various township offices while a resident of Center township, and since coming to Cambridge, in 1903, he has been equally active in public affairs. He was elected a member of the city council in 1907 and he is now serving his second term in this capacity. He is a progressive citizen in every respect and an advocate of public improvements and a booster for Cambridge,-in fact, he is an advocate of everything that tends to promote the best interests of the people in general. He and his family are members of the Second United Presbyterian church, in which Mr. Forsythe is a ruling elder, and both he and his wife are church and Sunday school workers. He is a member of the Cam- bridge Country Club and his principal recreation is an occasional game of golf. Personally he is a very pleasant gentleman, straightforward in his busi- ness dealings and a plain and unassuming man of affairs, being a fair repre- sentative of that type of men who win in life's struggle because they deserve to.
HENRY P. WOODWORTH.
The following is the record of the life of one who, by close attention to business, has achieved marked success in the world's affairs and risen to an honorable position among the enterprising men of the city with which his interests are identified. It is a plain record, rendered remarkable by no strange or mysterious adventure, no wonderful or lucky accident and no tragic situa- tion. Mr. Woodworth is one of those estimable characters whose integrity and strong personality must force them into an admirable notoriety which
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their modesty never seeks, who command the respect of their contemporaries and their posterity and leave the impress of their individuality upon the age in which they live.
Henry P. Woodworth was born on July 12, 1851, in Perry, New York, and he is the son of Philo and Lucy ( Hall) Woodworth. The father was a prominent, able and effective minister in the Methodist Episcopal church for a period of forty-five years in western New York: he was presiding elder in the conference for many years. He and his wife never lived in Ohio. The father died in 1890, being survived five years by his faithful life companion, who joined him in the silent land in 1895. Both are buried in the cemetery at Pekin, Niagara county, New York, where a great deal of his active church work was done.
Henry P. Woodworth was educated in the public schools of the state of New York, and later he attended Leroy Academy and Eastman Commercial College, at Poughkeepsie, New York. Thus well equipped for his life work, he began his business career by clerking in a large drygoods store in Buffalo, New York, where four hundred clerks were employed. He remained with this firm two years, and he says this was the best schooling he ever had. He next turned his attention to school teaching, which he followed successfully for two winters in the district schools of Niagara county, New York. He then emigrated to the South and was employed in railroad office work in Missis- sippi, Louisiana and Tennessee, in general offices at various places, being thus employed for ten years. He then returned to western New York and en- gaged in the lumber business at Lockport, remaining there four years. He then went to West Virginia, with headquarters still at Lockport, New York, and later at Marietta, Ohio, where he engaged in buying and shipping hard lumber from the West Virginia mills, remaining in that section for about four years. In 1892 he came to Cambridge and engaged in the same business until 1905, when he retired. He was an extensive operator and shipper and his efforts were attended with a large measure of success. He has extensive real estate interests and is interested in various business enterprises, but is not active. He is a director in the Citizens Savings Bank and the Home Tele- phone Company and is kept very busy looking after his various interests. He is a man of keen discernment, sound judgment and rare foresight. Mr. Woodworth is also a director and vice-president of the Cambridge Land and Development Company.
Mr. Woodworth has been twice married, first on August 23, 1887, to Isabelle Ayrault, daughter of Lyman Ayrault, of Dalton, New York, where he was engaged in the general mercantile business for many years, becoming one
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of the prosperous and prominent men of that city. To this first union one daughter was born, Isabelle. The mother died in September, 1890. The sec- ond marriage was celebrated on February 22, 1895, with Ella F. Miller. daughter of Lafayette and Mary (Mccullough) Miller, of Kimbolton, Guern- sey county, Ohio. Both these families were prominent among the early pio- neers here. The second union resulted in the birth of one son, Ward W. The Woodworth home, an attractive and commodious one, stands on an eminence northeast of Cambridge in Oakland Place, one of the finest residence districts of the city, and this home is not only one of the most pretentious and beautiful, but is one noted for its hospitality and good cheer, where the many friends of the family frequently gather.
Politically, Mr. Woodworth is a Democrat, and while he is always more or less interested in political matters, he has never been active in party affairs. He is a Master Mason and he and his family are attendants and liberal sup- porters of the Methodist Episcopal church South, Mrs. Woodworth being a member of the same.
Mr. Woodworth has been very successful in all his business relations, being a man who believes in keeping abreast of the times in every respect. and his straightforward, honest methods and his genial and genteel character- istics have won and retained the confidence with those with whom he has had dealings.
CAPT. ALEXANDER ADDISON TAYLOR.
Guernsey county has produced no more deserving and more honored citizen than the late Capt. Alexander Addison Taylor, who was called to his resting place on May 10, 1908. He was born on September 18, 1832, in Holmes county, near Killbuck, the fourth son of Mr. and Mrs. Alexander D. Taylor. His parents had removed to Killbuck from Goshen township, Bel- mont county, and soon after the birth of this son moved back to Belmont county, soon to remove to Oxford township, Guernsey county, on the National pike, three miles west of Fairview and one and a half miles east of Middleton, while A. A. Taylor was still in infancy.
The common schools of Oxford township afforded the educational ad- vantages enjoyed by Captain Taylor. He afterwards attended Madison Col- lege, at Antrim, along with his brother, Joseph D. Taylor. His education secured, A. A. Taylor for a number of years was a school teacher and taught ·at a number of places in Guernsey, Noble and Belmont counties. He lived
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the life of the average farmer boy, but managed to gain a fair education and in his youth was regarded as unusually ambitious to win a place of usefulness among his fellows. The family removed to Cambridge when the place was but a hamlet, and were prominent in its industrial, political, social and re- ligious life.
At the breaking out of the Civil war, Mr. Taylor was teaching in Noble county, Ohio, near the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, and, as he expressed it. "where I could hear the passing trains loaded with Union soldiers for the front on the Potomac and the Cumberland." He continued. "The measles broke out in my school, and that, with the Union yell, was too much for me and I soon made up my mind to become a soldier." He enlisted on May 27, 1862, in the three months service, in Company A. Eighty-fifth Ohio Infantry, and was mustered out on September 23, 1862, at Camp Chase, Columbus, Ohio, with the rank of first lieutenant. He entered the three years' service on August 23, 1862, thirty days before he was mustered out of the three- months' service, the mustering out being delayed on account of the new re- cruits in Camp Chase needing assistance of the older recruits. His three years' enlistment was in Company H, One Hundred and Twenty-second Ohio Infantry, and he served until July 11, 1865.
While his regiment was at Winchester, Virginia, with General Milroy's command, on June 13, 1863, Lieutenant Taylor was in charge of a picket post far to the front. Elwell's Confederate corps of fifteen thousand men attacked Milroy, who had about six thousand men, at nine A. M. Saturday, June 13th, and the story of that gallant struggle has often been told. General Milroy on Sunday night decided to withdraw his forces, but his pickets could not be notified, and so Taylor and his men were captured. He was taken to Libby prison with the late Bishop C. C. McCabe, then chaplain of the One Hundred and Twenty-second Ohio, and remained a prisoner until October, 1864, when he escaped and rejoined his regiment. He was appointed adjutant on No- vember 14, 1864, but did not assume the duties and took command of Com- pany A. He was commissioned a captain on March 16, 1865. Captain Tay- lor's military service was highly creditable. He was mustered into the Grand Army of the Republic in 1885, and became the first commander of Cambridge Post No. 343. He became prominent in the order, served in the national council of administration from Ohio for several terms, was at one time a mem- ber of the national committee on pensions, and at the time of his death was a member of the executive committee. He was several times prominently men- tioned as a candidate for grand commander of the national organization. Captain Taylor was a member of the Ohio Commandery of the Loyal Legion.
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During the early part of the war, and while he was teaching school, Mr. Taylor served as surveyor of Guernsey county. In April, 1862, the family moved from the old home farm near Middleton, in Oxford township, to Cambridge, and ever afterwards that city was his home. After the close of the war Captain Taylor read law, but was never admitted to the bar. He was a Republican in politics, and a loyal supporter of the party and able advo- cate of its principles. In October, 1866, he was elected auditor of Guernsey county, and in 1868 re-elected, and by an extension of his second term served in all four years and eight months.
Until his death Captain Taylor was prominent in public and commercial life in Cambridge. For thirty-six years he was connected with the Guernsey National Bank, one of the leading financial institutions of Guernsey county, and for the most of these years acted as cashier. His bank grew in prestige and financial gain, and its strength was known within a wide radius. Captain Taylor was active and useful in public affairs, and his voice and vote were al- ways in favor of needed improvements and progress. His word was his bond and his identification with a movement or institution meant its success. He was treasurer of the committee that instituted the Guernsey County Monu- mental Association and to his efforts is credited much of the work of securing the beautiful monument that stands at the entrance of the court house square. Captain Taylor was prominent in establishing and in conducting the Cam- bridge Public Library and was interested financially and a member of the directory of the Colonial Building Company, the Cambridge Roofing Com- pany and the Cambridge Chautauqua Assembly. Nearly all of his life he was a member of the First Methodist church, and was for many years one of its board of trustees.
The Captain was one of a large family, several of whom gained promi- nence and distinction. William P., Dr. J. Clarkson, Hon. Joseph D., J. Byron, Wilson Shannon and Col. David D. were brothers of Captain Taylor, who preceded him to death. Dr. G. Kennon, of Cincinnati, and Hon. T. Corwin, of Washington, are surviving brothers, who, together with a de- ceased sister, Mrs. Sarah Taylor Petty, the wife of the Rev. A. L Petty, of Duncan Falls, comprised the family of so many distinguished people. The Hon. Joseph D. Taylor had represented the district in Congress; David D. was the widely known editor of the Guernsey Times, and all of the brothers were progressive and enterprising, and each left his impress upon the com- munity.
On January 18, 1870, Captain Taylor was married to Fila McCracken, of Cambridge, who survives him. No children were born to mis union, but Cap-
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tain and Mrs. Taylor were foster parents to Charles, William and Lida Tay- lor, the children of William P. Taylor, a brother. Their home life was ideal and showed the realization of the best and divinest teachings concerning mar- riage. The Taylor residence was always open to a wide circle of relatives and friends and was the scene of many a social gathering.
Alexander A. Taylor lived a good life and the world is the richer because of his more than sixty years of usefulness in the broad fields in which he labored. A warm friend, a man among men, unselfish and genial, he left a place not to be filled. During a long life he had been a robust man, and by temperament sanguine, in habits strictly temperate in all things, optimistic always, he had escaped serious illness, until the attack which carried him off. The best of attention and highest medical skill then failed to win back his wonted energy, and he fell asleep like a little child and was at rest.
RICHARD M. ALLISON.
We read with interest the biography of a man, especially one young in years, who, by indomitable courage, overcomes the many obstacles found in the pathway of everyone who has an ambition to attain to heights above the mediocre. Such a man is Richard M. Allison, one of the progressive citizens of Cambridge, Guernsey county, in which city he was born, on September 12, 1875. He is the son of John A. and Hannah ( Moore) Allison. The father was born in this county, and was the son of John and Martha Allison, who came to the county among the early pioneers from Pennsylvania, and they were among the founders of Cambridge and they were active and prominent in the early development of the county. When a mere youth the father began working with the Scott Coal and Salt Company, with which he remained for a period of twenty-one years, which was the earliest and largest operating company of its kind. His family becoming of school age, he realized the necessity of better educational advantages and he left the employ of the Scott Coal and Salt Company and moved to Cambridge in order to obtain such ad- vantages. Upon coming here he began work for the Cleveland & Marietta Railroad Company as car inspector and was with this company until incapaci- tated for so strenuous a line of work, so he resigned and accepted the janitor- ship of the South Side school building, which he held for eleven years, or until his death, on April 25, 1910. After leaving the Scott Coal and Salt
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Company and prior to going with the railroad company he was superintendent of the Cambridge workhouse. Politically, he was a Democrat and he served in the city council from the fourth ward for two years and he was always prominent and active in public matters. He was a devout member of the Baptist church for many years, was a deacon in the same and was treasurer of the local church from 1890 until his death. He was also a Sunday school worker. He was a man of exemplary habits and positive traits of character and he had a host of warm personal friends. He was a member of the Cam- bridge Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and Cambridge Lodge, Knights of Pythias, and was an active lodge worker, having served in all the official capacities and at the time of his death he was the oldest living mem- ber in both these lodges. His widow survives and is living in Cambridge. She, too, is a devoted member of the Baptist church and is known for her charitable deeds, always finding time to give aid and comfort to her suffering neighbors, although devoted to her own home and family. She is the mother of five children, namely : William A., an engineer for the Pennsylvania Rail- road Company; John A. is shipping clerk for Suitt Brothers: Anna is now Mrs. F. B. Scott, of Newark, Ohio; Kenneth died November 18, 1905, at the age of eighteen years; and Richard M., of this review, he being the eldest of the family.
The education of Richard M. Allison was obtained in the public schools of Cambridge. Leaving school at the age of sixteen years, he found employ- ment with the Cambridge Chair Company, with which he remained for nine years, learning the trade of hardwood finisher. He became an expert at this, but resigned to become an employe of the Cleveland & Marietta Railroad Company's shops at Cambridge in 1901, and he was with this company for eight years in charge of the paint shop. In March, 1908, he resigned his posi- tion with the railroad company and engaged in the upholstering and picture framing business for himself. He continued in this line of business until the fall of 1909, when he was elected mayor of Cambridge on the Democratic ticket, assuming his official duties on January 1, 1910. Although the city is largely Republican, he defeated his opponent by two hundred votes, which is certainly criterion enough of his excellent standing here and of the universal confidence in which he is held by all classes. He is a good mixer, a man of integrity and much native ability, and his administration started off very auspiciously, and he is doing many things for the city that will be of perma- nent good to the community and will endear him to his constituents and the people in general. His able and judicious administration so far has proven the wisdom of his selection for this important office. He is an uncompromising
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Democrat and has always been interested in public matters; he was never before a candidate for any office.
Fraternally, Mr. Allison is a member of the Cambridge lodge of the Knights of Pythias, and has been ever since old enough to become a mem- ber. He has passed all the chairs, and held the offices of trustee and financial secretary. He is also a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.
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