USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Columbus > History of the city of Columbus, Ohio, from the founding of Franklinton in 1797, through the World War period to the year 1920 > Part 59
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(+) Jeffrey Lazarus was born in Columbus on June 20, 1894. He was educated in the public schools and at Ohio State University, graduating with the class of 1915, B. A. degree. Leaving college he entered the store of F. & R. Lazarus & Company, but in June, 1917, he enlisted in the U. S. Naval Reserve.
GEORGE BLOOR OKEY. It is with a great degree of satisfaction to refer to a career of one who has made the rough path of life smooth by untiring perseverance, attain- ing sueeess in any vocation requiring definiteness of purpose and determined action. Such a life, whether it be one of calm, consecutive endeavor, or of sudden meteorie accomplish- ments, must abound both in lesson and ineentive and prove a guide to the young men whose fortunes are still matters for the future to determine. For a number of years George Bloor Okey has directed his efforts toward the goal of success and by patient eon- tinuance has won pronounced prestige in Columbus legal circles.
The Okey family has been prominent in the history of Ohio for over a century and have played well their roles in the drama of civilization in various walks of life, being regarded as useful and leading citizens wherever they have dispersed. The pioneer of the family in the Buckeye State was Leven Okey, who was a native of Delaware. In the year 1802 he emigrated with his wife and six sons to this State, making the tedious journey overland in old-fashioned covered wagons, to Pittsburg, thence by flatboat down the Ohio river to the mouth of Captina creek, Monroe county, which was at that time a portion of Belmont county, where the family first settled. Ten years later Leven Okey removed his family to the interior of that county, near Woodsfield, the county seat. He and his family endured the usual hardships and privations incident to life in the wilderness, but by grit and per- severance finally succeeded in establishing a comfortable home, and Mr. Okey became prominent in the affairs of his locality. He served for many years as associate judge of Monroe county, and the first court of that county was held in the Okey log cabin. All of his six sons became successful farmers and acquired large tracts of land. Cornelius, the eldest son, who was the grandfather of the subject of this sketeh, served several terms in the Ohio Legislature, to attend the sessions of which he rode horseback from his home to Columbus and return. He died in 1859 at the age of seventy-seven years. His wife, Hannah Weir, was the daughter of the Rev. James and Esther (Hazard) Weir. The former was a Scotch Presbyterian minister. His wife was a cousin to the famous Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, the Great Lakes naval hero.
Judge John W. Okey, son of Cornelius and Hannah (Weir) Okey, was born on his father's farm, within a mile of Woodsfield, Monroe county, Ohio, January 3, 1827, and there he spent his boyhood. He left the farm at the age of seventeen years to become chief deputy to his brother, William Okey, who had been elected county clerk. The latter was a successful lawyer and business man and he practically turned over to John W. Okey the conduet of his office during the several terms he held the county clerkship. While in charge of his brother's office John W. Okey read law and in 1849 was admitted to the bar, imme- diately beginning the practice of his profession at Woodsfield, where he continued with pro-
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nounced success until 1853. During the political campaign of 1852, following the consti- tutional convention of 1851, the Democratic candidate for secretary of state was Dr. William Trevitt, a prominent physician of Columbus, who proffered to John W. Okey the appointment of chief deputy in the office of secretary of state in the event of Dr. Trevitt's election. During the same campaign, James Okey, brother of John W., was a candidate for the Leg- islature. The Democratic ticket was elected and James and John W. Okey arranged to make the journey to Columbus together, John W. to take with him his wife and two young children, the oldest of which was George B. Okey, subject of this review, who was at that time only three years old. But when it came time to start for the capital John W. Okey had not heard from Dr. Trevitt confirming his appointment as chief deputy secretary of state, and he decided to wait for such word, so his brother James proceeded alone on the journey. The method of travel at that time between Woodsfield and Columbus was by wagon, eighteen miles to Clarington, thence to Marietta by boat on the Ohio river, thence by boat up the Muskingum river to Zanesville, thence by stage over the National road to Columbus. At Marietta James Okey took passage on the popular packet-boat "Buckeye Belle," which was crowded with pasasengers on that trip. While passing through the locks of the Muskingum, about ten miles below Zanesville, the boilers of the "Buckeye Belle" exploded, blowing up the boat and killing between fifty and sixty people. James Okey was thrown many feet out into the river and although sustaining a broken arm and several ribs fractured, he being a strong and athletic man, was able to swim to shore. After recovering in a measure from his injuries he proceeded to Columbus and took his seat in the Legislature.
The failure of John W. Okey to arrive in Columbus was a source of surprise and a disappointment to Dr. Trevitt, who had written him of his appointment in the doctor's office, and he again wrote him, urging him to come to Columbus at once and assume his duties. This letter reached Mr. Okey and he at once set out for the capital, bringing with him his family. Several days after his arrival, in going to the post office, he was handed Dr. Trevitt's first letter, which had been addressed to Columbus instead of Woodsfield, and which, had it been properly addressed, would have reached Mr. Okey in time for he and his family to have started with James Okey, according to original arrangements, and he and his family would have been on the ill-fated "Buckeye Belle."
One morning, in the fall of 1853, while John W. Okey was in charge of the office of secretary of state, Governor Wood sent for him and offered to appoint him Probate Judge of Monroe county, to fill out an unexpired term. The appointment was accepted and Mr. Okey returned to Woodsfield with his family. At the expiration of his term he was elected for a full term as Probate Judge and while still incumbent of that office he was elected Common Pleas Judge of the sub-division, comprising Monroe and Belmont counties, and he was re-elected without opposition to the sub-division comprising Monroe, Belmont and Guernsey counties. In 1862 he removed with his family to Cambridge, Ohio, where he made his home until the spring of 1865, when he resigned his place on the bench and removed to Cincinnati to engage in the practice of law and to begin, in conjunction with Judge Gholson, the preparation and publication of the first Ohio digest. In the spring of 1875 Governor Allen appointed Judge Okey a member of the first commission to codify the Ohio State laws, and two years later, while holding that position, the Democratic State conven- tion nominated him for Judge of the Supreme Court. He was elected at the ensuing election and took his seat in 1878. He made such a highly commendable record in that im- portant position and was so faithful and conscientious in the discharge of his duties that he was re-elected in 1882 and his death occurred while serving his second term, in July, 1885. He was one of the State's most brilliant legal lights and one of the leading men of his day and generation.
In 1849 Judge Okey married Mary Jane Bloor, a daughter of James Bloor. The Bloor family was established in America prior to the Revolutionary War by James and John Bloor, brothers, natives of England. When our war for independence came on John returned to England while James remained to fight in the American army. He was severely wounded at the battle of Germantown. He was the grandfather of Mrs. Okey. Her father, James Bloor, was a native of Maryland. He was a millwright by trade and he came to Ohio in pioneer davs. Mrs. Okey died in the fall of 1883, at the age of seventy years.
George Bloor Okey, the immediate subect of this sketch, is a son of Judge John W. and
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Mary Jane ( Bloor) Okey. He was born in Monroe county, Ohio, December 19, 1849. He was educated in the public schools, and deciding to follow in the footsteps of his father in a pro- fessional way, he read law under him, then entered the Cincinnati Law School, from which insti- tution he was graduated in 1871, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws, having made an excellent record for scholarship. He was admitted to the bar in 1871 and began the practice of his profes- sion at once in the city of Cincinnati, where he rmained, enjoying a very satisfactory practice, until 1877, in which year he was appointed by Governor Young a member of the commisison to codify the State laws, to succeed his father, who had been elected Judge of the Supreme Court, and who had resigned from the codification commission in order that his son might be appointed at that particular time. Mr. Okey then took up his residence in Columbus and after serving on the commission in a very acceptable manner for two years, he turned his attention to the active practice of law in the Capital City. In 1885 he was appointed Supreme Court reporter, which office he held one term of three years, resuming the practice of law in 1889, with his former success and high standing at the local har.
In 1890 and again in 1908 Mr. Okey was nominated by the Democratic party for Supreme Court Judge, but the ticket was defeated in each year. He is a member of the Franklin County Bar Association, also belongs to the Columbus Lodge of Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
On December 1, 1872, Mr. Okey married Sarah Louise Schoonmaker, who was born in Cincinnati, April 4, 1851, the danghter of George Schoonmaker of that city. They have two sons, Perry and Hazard, both young men of ability and high educational attainments.
HON. THOMAS EDWARD POWELL. The life and record of Hon. Thomas Edward Powell, for over thirty years a prominent attorney and public man of Columbus, are typical of that - class of men, including his honored father before him, who in the carlier history of this country helped to lay the foundations of its present greatness. He has ever been austere in his relations with his fellowmen, puritanical in his ideas of right and wrong and zealous to live up to them. He has taken a lively interest in the careers of young men starting their work at the bar, and many of them have reasons to remember the kindly aid and suggestions from him which saved them the pitfalls and traps of the law, into which, in their ignorance, they might otherwise have fallen. In his public carcer as well as in his private life no word of suspicion has ever been breathed against him. His actions have ever been the result of careful and conscientious thought ; and when once convinced that he is right, no suggestion of policy or personal profit can swerve him from the course he has decided upon. He is casily one of the leading legal lights of central Ohio.
Mr. Powell is a native of this State and was descended from two pioncer Buckeye families. His father, the late Judge Thomas Watkins Powell, was born in South Wales in 1797 and died on December 12. 1882, at Delaware. Ohio. He was a scion of two old British families. The lineage of both the Powell and Watkins families may be traced back in English history to the fifth century. He was four years old when his parents brought him to America, the family locating at Utica, New York. During the second war with England young Powell drove his father's team with the baggage of an American regiment to Sackett's Harbor, in the spring of 1812 and the following year he was made the bearer of important military dispatches. After that war he continued his education at an academy in Utica for two years and then began the study of law at the same place. In 1819 he came to Ohio and continued his law studies at Canton and was admitted to the bar the fol- lowing year. He began the practice of law at Perrysburg, Wood county, and while living there became prosecuting attorney, also served as clerk of the courts and auditor, holding the three offices simultaneously. He removed to Delaware, Ohio, in 1830, where he engaged in the active practice of his profession for over half a century, becoming one of the most influential men of that section of the State. During that long period he served as prosecut- ing attorney, a member of both branches of the State Legislature. as Probate Judge and a member of Ohio's third constitutional convention. He wrote and published "Powell's Analysis of American Law," "Appellate Jurisdiction," "History of the Ancient Britons," "What is Knowledge?" and other volumes, all of which found a large and appreciative audience, for he was a writer of rare force, logic and versatility, possessing a splendid literary style.
Judge Powell was a promoter of the project for the erection of the "Mansion House,"
Thomas & Powell
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at Sulphur Springs, which was a fashionable resort in early days, and which later became the property of Ohio Wesleyan University. He also laid out and platted a large addition to the city of Delaware. His beautiful home in that eity was situated on the campus of Ohio Wesleyan University, which residence was subsequently oeeupied at different times by presi- dents of the University. He was one of the leading men of his day and generation in Delaware and did as much, if not more than any other one man for the general development of that eity. He married Elizabeth Gordon.
Thomas Edward Powell was born at the old Powell homestead in Delaware, Ohio, February 20, 1842, and there he grew to manhood and received his primary education in the publie sehools. He was a student at Ohio Wesleyan University. During the Civil War he served a four months' enlistment in Company E, One Hundred and Forty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which was used principally to relieve the regular garrisons at certain forts. Returning to the above named university after his army service he was graduated from that institution with the elass of 1863, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and in 1867 he received the degree of Master of Arts from his alma mater. He read law under his father and was admitted to the Ohio Bar in 1866, and immediately entered practice in his home city where he continued until 1887, during which time he was active in both the business and civie affairs of Delaware. Among other things he assisted in organizing the Deposit Banking Company, ereeted the Powell House, which was one of the leading hotels there at that time. He also assisted in organizing the Delaware Chair Company and laid out and platted a large addition to the eity. His efforts both as a lawyer and business man met with pronouneed sueeess.
Mr. Powell, seeking a larger field for the exercise of his talents, removed to Columbus in 1887 and became senior member of the law firm of Powell, Owen, Rieketts, & Block, which for a number of years was one of the strongest legal firms of the Capital City. Sinee that firm was dissolved, over twenty years ago, Mr. Powell has continued practice alone, enjoying a large and growing business, his praetiee having been mainly along the lines of cor- poration law, and he has been retained in some of the most important litigation in the Ohio courts of the past two decades. He represented the plaintiff in the noted Deshler will ease, when over half a million dollars was involved. He has been attorney for the American Sugar Refining Company of New York, the Standard Oil Company, the Ohio & Western Coal Com- pany, the National Cash Register Company, and many other large corporations of New York and Ohio.
During his praetiee in Columbus his fees from New York have exceeded those from Ohio, notwithstanding the fact that he has tried eases in nearly every county in the State. He has tried eases in nearly one-half the states of the Union, and has appeared in all the courts, from the Common Pleas to the United States Supreme Court. He has probably tried more eases than any other lawyer in Ohio now living, and the extent of his praetiee is a testi- mony of his ability, his comprehensive knowledge of the law, his forensie powers and his rank among the foremost of men of his profession in the Buckeye State.
Mr. Powell's publie record has been one of high honor. He has for many years been recognized as one of the leaders of the Demoeratie party in Ohio. He began his active politieal work on the stump with the Greeley campaign of 1872, and he continued a eon- spienons figure in every campaign until the present decade. In 1875 he was his party's candidate for attorney general, running ahead of his ticket, and in 1882 he was nominated for Congress. In 1872 he was Presidential elector for his district, and in 1884 he was Presidential elector-at-large for Ohio. At the National convention of that year he placed the name of Governor Hoadley in nomination for the Presidency. In 1885 he served as chairman of the Democratic State Executive Committee. At the National Democratic convention in 1888 he made the nominating speech for Allan G. Thurman for President. In 1879 he nominated Thomas Ewing for Governor of Ohio, and Durbin Ward in 1883.
On January 16, 1872, Mr. Powell was married to Eliza Thompson, a daughter of Bishop Edward Thompson, first president of Ohio Wesleyan University.
Mr. Powell's record is one which the ambitious youth, hesitating at life's threshold, might study with mueh profit, for it contains many valuable lessons, chief among which is that the young man who has proper ideals may win in this world if he has courage and per- severanee, honesty and good personal habits.
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WILLIAM R. POMERENE. One of the leaders of the Columbus Bar is William R. Pomerene, who, for many years was a prominent attorney and citizen of Coshocton, Ohio. In both places he commands the unqualified confidence of the people, and deserves it. Since locating in the Capital City fifteen years ago he has shown himself to be an earnest, ambitious and sincere man, and in that sense applies himself to business, an honest man in his dealings with his clients and others, a simple man in his tastes-simplicity emphasiz - ing every phase of his life.
Mr. Pomerene was born at Coshocton, Ohio, March 19, 1864, and he is descended from an old American family and from Ohio pioneers, of French stock. His original American ancestor was Julius Pomerene, who was one of the French soldiers under General LaFayette to serve in the American Revolution, after which he settled in Pennsylvania. His son, Julius Pomerene, jr., the pioneer of the family in Ohio, was born in Lancaster county, Pennsyl- vania, February 9, 1792, but he removed to Ohio early in the nineteenth century, settling in Holmes county, where he carved out a home from the wilderness, becoming very comfortably established through his grit and perseverance, and there he resided until his death, October 11, 1863. His son, Julius C. Pomerene, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Holmes county, Ohio, June 27, 1835. He removed to Coshocton in 1859, read law and was admitted to the Bar, and he practiced his profession in that city successfully for many years, gaining much prominence as a lawyer and jurist. He was elected Circuit Judge of the Coshocton District Court, without opposition in 1892, and he was still on the bench at the time of his death, December 23, 1897. He married Irene Perky, a daughter of Dr. John F. and Judith A. (Firestone) Perky of Wayne county, Ohio.
William R. Pomerene was graduated from the Coshocton High School in 1879, then attended Wooster University for a year and a half and Ohio State University for three years. He read law under his father and was graduated from Cincinnati Law School, with the class of 1886, and in that year he was admitted to the Bar and entered practice at Coshoc- ton as junior member of the law firm of J. C. and W. R. Pomerene, which partnership con- tinued successfully until his father went on the bench when the firm of Pomerene & Pom- erene was formed by William R. and his brother, Frank E. In 1892 our subject was elected prosecuting attorney of Coshocton county, and he made such a commendable record in that office that he was re-elected in 1895, without opposition. Thus for a period of four years was witnessed the rare spectacle of father and son holding (by elections without op- position) the two highest judicial offices in that county. This would indicate that they were regarded by the people of Coshocton county as being not only among the leading legal lights of that section of the state, but that the public reposed implicit confidence in them as men and citizens.
In 1903 William R. Pomerene became general counsel for a number of electric and in- terurban railways in central and southwestern Ohio, and he moved his law office to Colum- bus, and later he became general counsel for the Ohio Electric Railway Company. On Jan- uary 1, 1908, he became a member of the law firm of Booth, Keating, Peters & Pomerene of Columbus, (now Booth, Keating, Pomerene & Boulger) and is still a member of this well known and well established firm.
Mr. Pomerene is a member of the Columbus Club; the Athletic Club of Columbus; the Automobile Club; the Business Men's Gymnasium Club; the Coshocton Country Club; the Transportation Club of New York City; the "Kit Kat" Club of Columbus; and the Benev- olent and Protective Order of Elks.
On December 27, 1887, Mr. Pomerene was united in marriage to Annie L. Warner, a daughter of General A. J. and Susan E. (Butts) Warner, of Marietta, Ohio. To this union two sons have been born, namely: Warner M., an officer in the United States regular army ; and Walter H .; they are both graduates of Ohio State University.
Mr. Pomerene occupies a very high position as a lawyer among his professional brethren in central Ohio, and as a public-spirited citizen and gentleman of proper personal characteristics he also stands high among his friends and acquaintances.
HENRY BARCUS. For most of us life has the elements of abundant cheeriness in it. It comprises more of encouragement than discouragement, more of satisfaction than disappoint- ment, more of joy than sorrow, more of comfort than pain. Souls that are depressed and downeast are quite likely to be weighed down by borrowed trouble. A successful man of
David S. Gray
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affairs must be of the former type. Understanding this at the outset of his career, Henry Barcus, a well known citizen of Columbus, has never permitted the little things of daily life that "wear and fret the soul" to manifest themselves in his countenance or disposition, and his agreeable manner has been a valuable asset in both his business and private life.
Mr. Barcus was born in Columbus, November 29. 1857, and is a scion of one of the pioneer families of this section of the Buckeye state. His grandfather, Ebenezer Barcus, the first, settled at the present site of Columbus in the year 1828, ninety-two years ago. He was a native of Maryland, in which state he first saw the light of day in June, 1790. He married Elizabeth Glandon, who was born in Maryland in 1793. After working at the carpenter's trade in Columbus for some time, Ebenezer Barcus, the first, engaged in farming, which he continued the balance of his life. His son, Ebenezer Barcus, jr., became a well known busi-
ness man in the early days of the city's development. He was also an extensive farmer. He went with a party of about thirty men across the plains to the gold fields of California in 1849, the year of the great rush to the West, and there he dug gold and operated a supply store in the mining field for a period of three years, meeting with a fair measure of success. He then returned to Columbus and engaged in the grocery and pork packing business, and in 1874 he purchased a large tract of fine farming land in Franklin and Pickaway counties, and carried on farming on an extensive scale for many years, becoming one of the leading gen- eral agriculturists in this section of the State.
James H. Barcus, father of the subject of this review, was a native of Maryland and was but a boy when he came with his parents to Columbus, where he grew to manhood and re- ceived such educational advantages as the schools of those early days afforded. For a period of twenty-five years he engaged in the retail grocery business on South High street, and his death occurred in this city in the year 1892. He married Elizabeth DeWitt, a native of Ohio. Her death occurred in 1862.
Henry Barcus grew to manhood in Columbus and he was educated in the local public schools and in Ohio State University. He began his business career in the employ of the old private banking house of Brooks, Butler & Company. After remaining with this concern a few years he entered his father's grocery establishment, and later was identified with the old Columbus Shoe Maanufacturing Company, which was destroyed in the Hartman building fire, after which he went out of business. Since 1901 he has been engaged in farming quite exten- sively, managing about fifteen hundred acres of fine farming land, situated on the Chillicothe pike, about a mile and a half south of Shadesville, which lands are owned by the Barcus family. He raises a large quantity of grain and live stock annually and conducts these lands along modern scientific methods of agriculture and it is a pleasure, whether one is a farmer or not, to look over his vast, well-cultivated and well-kept acres. He is also proprietor of the Pneumatic Watchman's Cheek Company, makers of watchmen's clocks and time regulators.
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