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 65
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Mr. Packard is very active in his profession, but at the same time finds time to fully discharge his duties as a citizen, and takes a keen interest in civic and social affairs. He is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, a member of the Columbus Club, Colum- bus Athletic Club, Columbus Country Club, Columbus Lodge of Elks, Knights of Pythias, and the Chi Phi Greek fraternity.
Mr. Packard was united in marriage on September 27th, 1892, with Eva L., daughter of Frank D. Elliott, of Delaware county, Ohio.
FRITZ ADOLPH LICHTENBERG. A man who believes in doing well whatever he undertakes and in extending aid and sympathy to others is Fritz Adolph Lichtenberg, mana- ger of the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company for central Ohio. As a result of his humanitarian attributes, his exemplary life and his public spirit he enjoys an excellent reputation among all classes.
Mr. Lichtenberg was born in London, England, February 10, 1876. He is a son of the late Dr. George Lichtenberg, for many years a surgeon in the city of London and a native of Germany. After coming to England he married Ellen Wyatt, a native of London, and she still resides in England.
Fritz A. Lichtenberg spent his boyhood in his native land and was educated at Cran- brook, Kent, England, and Heidelberg, Germany. After leaving college he spent five years with a wholesale Oriental mercantile house in London. He came to America in 1899 and was with a New York firm in the same line of business for one year. He came to Ohio in 1903 and was employed by the International Harvester Company at Springfield one year. In 1901 he entered the life insurance field as a general agent at Springfield for the Massachu- setts Mutual Life Insurance Company, with which he has since been connected, his long re- tention in the important positions he has held with this firm indicating that he has given eminent satisfaction in every respect. He came to Columbus in 1909 to become manager of central Ohio for that company. His success and progress, both as general agent and man- ager, in the life insurance field has been rapid and consistent. In 1917 he was twelfth man with his company in the amount of personal business sold among all its agents and general agents. His duties as manager prevent his giving his undivided time to the selling end, other- wise it cannot be doubted that his standing among the business getters would be much nearer the top.
The agents over whom Mr. Lichtenberg is manager secured over a million dollars worth of business in the year 1917, a very large per cent of which came from old policy holders, which shows satisfied policy holders.
Mr. Lichtenberg is active in civic affairs and finds time to fully discharge the duties incumbent upon him as a progressive and patriotic citizen. Since 1916 he has been a member of the board of directors of the Chamber of Commerce. He is a member of the Social Service Bureau, which organization was very active in local war work and was in a great measure responsible for the Columbus "Three Million Dollars War Chest" campaign, in which drive Mr. Lichtenberg was a leading worker. He was its first president, after its re-organization, of the Columbus Life Underwriters' Association. He is a member of the Columbus Athletic Club and of the Columbus Automobile Club.
On October 21, 1911, he was united in marriage with Margaret Wilcox, a daughter of Charles E. Wilcox, of Columbus, and to this union one son has been born, Fritz Adolph, jr.
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Sincerely Tous Jd. Ralston
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JOSEPH STEVENSON RALSTON. Self-assertion is believed by many people to be absolutely necessary to success in life, and there are good reasons for the entertainment of such belief. The modest man very rarely gets what is due him. The selfish, aggressive man elbows his way to the front, takes all that is in sight with no seeming regard for the rights of others. And it would sometimes seem that modesty is a sin with self-denial the penalty. There are, however, exceptions to all rules, and it is a matter greatly to be regretted that the ex- ceptions to the conditions referred to are not more numerous. One notable exception in Colum- bus is the case of Joseph Stevenson Ralston, well known manufacturer and founder of the Ralston Steel Car Company, who seems to possess just a sufficient amount of modesty to be a gentleman at all times and yet sufficient persistency to win in the business world and at the same time not appear overbold, selfish or indifferent to the welfare of others; and as a result of these well and happily blended qualities, Mr. Ralston is known to a wide acquaintance as a man of integrity, influence and business ability.
Mr. Ralston was born at Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, August 27, 1863. He is a son of Robert and Sarah (Springer) Ralston, natives of Ireland and Canada, respectively. How- ever, the Springer family was an old one in Delaware and Pennsylvania, prior to the Revolu- tionary War.
The subject of this sketch was educated in the public schools of Hamilton, Ontario, and at Rockwood Academy near Guelph, Ontario. When he was about fifteen years old he went to Scotland and in the city of Glasgow signed apprenticeship papers binding himself as sailor for four years on a sailing vessel in the Glasgow and Calcutta, India, trade. He gave up his seafaring life in 1882 and returned to Canada, and for the next several years was engaged in different lines of business in Hamilton, and then went to Chicago, where in 1900 he entered into arrangements with the Pullman Car Company whereby he engaged in the manufacture of a special freight car under patents that he had acquired. In 1905 he came to Columbus and established the Ralston Steel Car Manufacturing Company and began the manufacture of steel freight cars of all designs, which cars are now in general use on all the big railroads of the country.
The plant, located in East Columbus, is one of the largest and most important industries in central Ohio. Its buildings are substantial and equipped with modern machinery and de- vices for turning out steel cars promptly and of the best quality, and owing to their superior workmanship and design they are in great demand. A long list of expert mechanies and artisans are kept constantly on the payroll, and the business of the company, under Mr. Ralston's able and judicious management has grown rapidly and continuously from year to year. The plant has been of great benefit to the city of Columbus.
Beginning on a small scale, with limited capital, the corporation has grown steadily, the plant expanding from year to year and for the past several years its payroll has execeded a million dollars a year. The wonderful development of this great concern has been due almost solely to the genius of its president and general manager-Joseph S. Ralston, a man of rare executive ability, keen discernment and acumen.
Mr. Ralston is a member of the Railroad Club, the India House Club, both of New York; the Columbus Club, the Scioto Club, the Athletic Club, and the Columbus Chamber of Com- merce.
In 1889 he was united in marriage with Annie Mar, of Caledonia, Ontario, a descendant of the old Scottish Mar family. One daughter and two sons have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Ralston, namely: Florence A., Benjamin R., and Joseph V.
CHARLES LINDLEY KURTZ. The basis of the success that has come to Charles Lindley Kurtz, president of numerous business corporations of Columbus, has been unre- mitting industry. He appears to have realized at the outset of his career, that it required grit and perseverance to win and this has had much to do in shaping his career as he learned to rely upon himself, observe closely those things which could be of service to him and there- fore he has advanced to a position of prominence and influence in the capital city of the great Buckeye commonwealth.
Mr. Kurtz was born at Albany, Ohio, May 1, 1851. He is a son of William Wyland Kurtz and Isabella (McEllroy) Kurtz. The Kurtz family was established in America by four brothers who came over from Germany in 1630. The MeEllroy family came originally from Scotland into Ireland, and from there to America one hundred and twenty years ago.
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George A. Kurtz, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a native of Pennsylvania, from which state he removed to Clinton county, Ohio, but later returned to western Pennsyl- vania. While the family resided in Clinton county, this state, William W. Kurtz, father of our subjeet, was born. He went with his parents upon their return to Pennsylvania, where, when he had reached manhood, he married, then came back to Ohio, bringing his wife, in 1850, loeating in Athens county, where he followed carpentering and contracting. His death occurred at the age of sixty-four years. His wife was born in Washington county, Pennsyl- vania. Her death occurred at the advanced age of eighty-two years.
Charles L. Kurtz was educated in the publie sehools. He was first a newsboy, then kept a news-stand, later was a bookseller. He educated himself for the most part, and is an exeel- lent example of a self-made man. 'Faking an active interest in public affairs he was elected to the legislature in 1880 and in 1882 was re-elected, making a creditable record which was sat- isfactory to his constituents. In 1886 Governor Foraker appointed him private secretary, which position he filled faithfully and ably until 1890. He was state inspector of oils for Ohio from 1896 to 1900, the duties of which he discharged to the satisfaction of all concerned.
Mr. Kurtz has been a commanding figure in the Republican party of Ohio for many years. He was a delegate to the national convention of his party in 1880, also in 1888 and 1896. Hc was a member of the Republican State Executive Committee of Ohio from 1885 to 1890 and its chairmen in 1895 and 1896. He was the Ohio member of the Republican National Committee from 1896 to 1900. He was the Ohio delegate to the National Irrigation Congresses in 1897, 1898 and 1899. From 1890 to 1895 he was engaged in public works. In 1903 he turned his attention to other enterprises and became associated with the organization of the Scioto Stone Company, the Keever Starch Company and the Guanajuato Reduction and Mines Company, of which companies he has been president from the time of their organization and their continuous and pronounced success has been largely due to his able and judieious man- agement, his foresight and close application to business. He is also president of the Mingo Coal Company and the Columbus Railway, Power and Light Company. He is by nature an organizer and a man of rare executive ability.
Mr. Kurtz is a member of the Columbus Country Club, the Columbus Athletic Club, the Ohio Society of New York City, the Lotos Chib of New York City, and he has been a mem- ber of the Blaine Club of Cincinnati since its organization.
On September 11, 1878, Mr. Kurtz was married to Anna Jewett of Athens, Ohio. Her death oceurred on October 8, 1909, leaving behind her a host of warm personal friends among whom she had long been popular owing to her many commendable qualities of head and heart. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Kurtz, namely: Ione, Eleanor, Florence is deceased, and Charles J. The latter is associated with his father in business. On November 27, 1915, Mr. Kurtz married Vivian Ebersole of Columbus, for his second wife.
CHARLES KINNEY. One of the best known members of the Columbus bar, successful real estate man, prominent politician and a former Secretary of State of Ohio, was the late Charles Kinney, who was better known as an insurance man during his later earcer. In what- ever he undertook he met with pronounced success and kept well abreast of the times in his various vocations. Concerning the sincerity of purpose, the unquestioned probity, and upright- ness of conduet and character, the ability and honesty of Mr. Kinney it may be said, they were as well known as his name. It occurs occasionally that a peculiar accent accompanies the declaration, when it is said of anyone that he is honest, as if to impart a whisper of suggestion that the quality is rare or exotic. In its application to men in responsible public position it is not true; the reverse is truc. In its application to lawyers, as a body, which is not infrequently done, it is false, the reverse being true. The subject of this memoir was known to be an advocate of strict honesty in all relations of life, and this was one of the main secrets of his success.
Mr. Kinney was born at Springfield, Kentucky, June 7, 1850. He was the son of Charles and Elizabeth (Cox) Kinney. He graduated from the public schools of Columbus, Indiana, in 1886, the family having removed to that town when he was a child. Begin- ning the struggle of life for himself at a tender age he worked at the printer's trade until 1877, when, having previously removed to Portsmouth, Ohio, he was appointed deputy treasurer of Scioto county. Having performed his duties promptly and faithfully he became county treasurer in 1883 and was re-elected in 1885, continuing to discharge his duties in an
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able and praiseworthy manner, enjoying the implicit confidence of his constituents. Subse- quently he located in Columbus and became chief clerk to the secretary of state, and in 1896 was elected to that office. In 1898 he was re-elected. He proved to be one of the best men in this important office that the State ever had, discharging his duties to the eminent satisfaction of all concerned, irrespective of party.
As a lawyer Mr. Kinney was painstaking, persevering and well read, and he was en- joying a large business when blindness overtook him a number of years before his death and because of this disability he was forced to give up the practice of law, which, after his tenure of office as secretary of state, he abandoned for the insurance business which he followed until his death with very creditable results. He was a man of refined tastes and of aesthetie nature, a poet of pronounced ability, having published a volume of poems that showed marked talent. He belonged to the Masonie order and the Episcopal Church.
In 1889 Mr. Kinney married Letitia Yoakley, a daughter of John and Susan (St. John) Yoakley, both deceased. Her father was a native of Ireland and her grandfather a native of England, being of English and Scotch stock. Her mother was born in Kentucky. In an early day John Yoakley and wife located in Portsmouth, Ohio, and became influential among the pioneers of that locality, and there the father was a successful musie dealer.
The death of Charles Kinney occurred at his home in Columbus on June 13, 1918, after an illness of many months. He was buried at Portsmouth. Besides his wife two brothers survive-Washington Kinney, of Portsmouth; and Edward Kinney, who is a resident of Spokane, Washington.
WILLIAM J. MEANS. It is not always easy to discover and define the hidden forces that have moved a life of ceaseless activity and large professional success; little more can be done than to note their manifestation in the career of the individual under consideration. In view of this fact the life of the distinguished physician and public spirited man of affairs whose name appears above affords a striking example of well defined purpose with the ability to make that purpose subserve not only his own ends but the good of his fellow men as well. Doctor Means has long held distinctive prestige in a calling which requires for its basis sound mentality and intelleetnal discipline of a high order, supplemented by rigid profes- sional training and thorough mastery of technical knowledge. In his chosen field of en- deavor Doctor Means has achieved success such as few attain and his eminent standing among the leading medieal men of America has been duly recognized and appreciated.
William J. Means was born in Jefferson county, Pennsylvania, on February 11, 1853, the son of Joseph and Margaret (Sutter) Means. He received his elementary education in the public schools of his native community, following which he was a student in Covode Academy, Indiana county, Pennsylvania, and the National Normal College, at Lebanon, Ohio. He taught school for two years in Pennsylvania, after which he served four years as prin- eipal of schools at Christiansburg, Ohio. In the meantime he gave serious study to medieine and completed a course in that science, graduating from the Cineinnati College of Medicine and Surgery in 1874, though he continued as principal of schools for one year after gradu- ation. In the spring of 1877 Doctor Means entered upon the active practice of his profession at Christiansburg, continuing there with success until 1888. He then spent a year in post- graduate work in New York City, and in the spring of 1889 came to Columbus, where he has since resided. In 1898 Doctor Means spent several months in the elinies of Europe. He was more than ordinarily successful in the practice of medicine and surgery and quickly gained a reputation which far transcended the limitations of his community.
In 1891 Doctor Means helped to organize the Protestant Hospital of Columbus and was chief of staff for fifteen years He also helped organize the Ohio Medical University in 1892 and was its registrar and treasurer and professor of surgery during its existenec. In 1907 the college was merged with the Starling Medical College and named the Ohio-Starling Medical College, of which he was continued as treasurer and professor of surgery and in 1909 he was elected dean of the college. In 1913 the Ohio-Starling Medical College was transferred to the Ohio State University, becoming the College of Medicine of that institu- tion, of which Doctor Means was dean two years. He resigned in 1915 and retired from college work.
From 1901 to 1918 Doctor Means was a member and chairman of the executive board of the Association of American Medical Colleges, when he was elected president of the
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Association and served one year. As chairman of the executive board he inspected almost every medical college of note in the United States. He has been the medical director of the American Insurance Union since its organization in 1894, and has been president of the Park Savings Company of Columbus for twenty-five years.
Doctor Means is a member of the Columbus Academy of Medicine, the Ohio State Medical Association, the American Medical Association, and other medical organizations. Fraternally, he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, in which he has attained the thirty-second degree in the Scottish Rite, the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, as well as the Columbus Athletic Club and the Scioto Country Club.
In 1876 Doctor Means was married to Estella M. Thomas, who passed away in 1895, leaving two sons, Drs. Hugh J. and John W. Means. In 1897 he was married to Ida B. Huffman, of Columbus. They have no living children.
In addition to his long and creditable career in one of the most useful and exacting of professions, Doctor Means has also proved an honorable member of the body politic, rising in the confidence and esteem of the public, and in every relation of life he has never fallen below the dignity of true manhood nor in any way resorted to methods that have invited criticism. He is essentially a man among men, moving as one who commands respect by innate force as well as by superior ability. As a citizen he easily ranks with the most influ- ential of his compeers in affairs looking toward the betterment of his chosen city and county. Those who know him well are unstinted in their praise of his superior ability and his genial disposition. Older men in the profession frequently rely on his judgment and younger ones frequently seek his counsel, all admitting his eminence. What he has done for his fellow men might, in a manner, be told in words, but in its far-reaching influence cannot be measured. He has ever held the unequivocal confidence and esteem of the people among whom he has labored, and his career could be very profitably studied by the ambitious youth standing at the parting of the ways.
THEODORE S. HUNTINGTON. It has always been understood by discriminating people that the quiet, active man has to be looked out for. The man who shows up in emergencies, and does not tell how it ought to be done or inquire why something had not been managed differently, but goes ahead and does it, is not at all to be discounted, though in innocuous times he may be overlooked. A personification of this idea is in Theodore S. Huntington, well known banker of Columbus.
Mr. Huntington, who is vice-president of the Huntington National Bank, one of the old and popular banking institutions of Columbus, was born in this city, September 2, 1873, the son of P. W. Huntington, a prominent banker and financier and founder of the above named bank. A fuller sketch of the Huntington family will be found on other pages of this work.
Theodore S. Huntington acquired his primary education in the grammar schools of Columbus, attended a preparatory school at Lawrenceville, New Jersey, then entered Prince- ton University, from which he was graduated with the class of 1895, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Soon after leaving college he began his business carcer, and with the exception of the years 1898 and 1899, when he was engaged in the coal business, as treasurer of the Beaumont-Chauncey Coal Company, he has been actively connected with the Hunting- ton banking interests in Columbus. He became a partner in the P. W. Huntington & Company Bank in 1900, and when that company was re-organized into the Huntington National Bank in 1905 he was elected its cashier, and in 1913 he was elected vice-president. He has done much to maintain the prestige and increase the annual volume of business of this sound and widely known banking institution. He was elected president of the Columbus Clearing House Association in January, 1919; is a director in the Erner & Hopkins Company, is secretary of the Troy Laundry Company, both of Columbus, and is a director of the Huber Manufacturing Company of Marion, Ohio, and of the Toledo & Ohio Central railroad.
Mr. Huntington is a member of the Columbus Club, the Columbus Athletic Club, the Columbus Country Club and the Cap and Gown Club of Princeton, New Jersey, and of the Columbus Chamber of Commerce.
Mr. Huntington was united in marriage in 1902 with Grace Livingston Lec of Columbus,
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who died in 1910, leaving one son-Theodore Lee Huntington, and in 1914 he married his present wife-Mary E. Bugh of Columbus.
HERMAN PLESENTON JEFFERS. The subject of this sketch is a member of the firm of Tice & Jeffers, whose business location is 122 East Broad street, Columbus, Ohio. Their business is the selling of life insurance. This firm is the general managers for south- eastern Ohio of the Midland Mutual Life Insurance Company. The partnership has existed since June 21, 1909. Herman Plesenton Jeffers is a native of Ohio, born February 6, 1876, in a log house of one room, three miles south of the little town of Beallsville in Monroe county. He is the son of Andrew M. and Rachel ( Resseger) Jeffers.
The father of Andrew Jeffers was William Jeffers, born near Dublin, Ireland, June 21, 1800. He came to America in 1804 with his father and mother. The family first settled in America near Bellaire in Belmont county, Ohio, where William Jeffers continued to live until grown to manhood. In 1834 he was united in marriage with Mary Burris, who was a native of Belmont county, born May 25th, 1818. Soon after this marriage they moved to Monroe county, near Beallsville, and took up land under deed issued directly to William Jeffers by President Andrew Jackson. The original deed issued by President Jackson is still held in the Jeffers' family. William Jeffers died December 11, 1867, and his wife, Mary Burris Jeffers, died April 4, 1886.
The maternal grandfather of Herman Jeffers was Peter Resseger. When Peter Resse- ger was twenty-three years of age he was married to Laura-Hema Powell, who was born in Belmont county near Powhatan, May 10, 1811. Soon after this marriage they moved to Switzerland township, not far from Clarington, Monroe county, Ohio, and took up land. They were pioneer settlers in this neighborhood where they spent the remainder of their lives Deed for this land was issued to Peter Resseger by President Andrew Jackson. Peter Res- seger died in 1886. Laura-Hema Resseger died November 28, 1896.
Andrew McKeelvor Jeffers was born May 1, 1853, near Beallsville, Ohio. Rachel Res- seger was born April 24th, 1852, near Clarington. They were united in marriage Septem- ber 18th, 1873, and settled on a farm near Beallsville. They now live in Beallsville, Ohio. Of this union one child was born, namely, the subject of this sketch.
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