History of the city of Columbus, capital of Ohio, Volume I, Part 113

Author: Lee, Alfred Emory, 1838-; W. W. Munsell & Co
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: New York and Chicago : Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1202

USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Columbus > History of the city of Columbus, capital of Ohio, Volume I > Part 113

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EDWARD LEROY HINMAN [Portrait opposite page 256.]

Son of Daniel and Harriett Woodworth Hinman, was born in Southbury, New Haven County, Connecticut, on October 25, 1825. Ile was the eldest of three children. His brother, Charles W., was graduated at Yale in 1851, studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1853. Preferring books and literary employment to his profession he entered the service of the government as an assistant in the Congressional Library, where he remained until the time of his death, which occurred in 1864. Marietta E., a sister, was married in 1854 to George E. Clark of South Carolina.

Edward L., the subject of this sketch, was educated, in part, at home by his father, who was an adept in mathematics ; and in part at the Southbury Academy. In 1849, after the completion of his school life, he entered a mercantile house in New Haven, with a view to acquiring a thorough business training. Seven years later he became financially interested in a farm implement manufacturing com. pany at Naugatuck, Connecticut, but took up his residence in New York City, where he opened an office for the sale of his goods. In 1859 he removed to Colum- bus and became a member of the firm of Hall, Brown & Co., which, in 1865, was succeeded by Brown, Hlinman & Co., and this in 1888 by the Brown, Hinman & Huntington Manufacturing Company. These several firms, or perhaps it would be more accurate to say this one firm under its several names, has for thirty years been the largest manufacturer of a certain class of agricultural implements in Ohio, and probably one of the largest in the world. Mr. Hinman has now for twenty years been the vice president of the Citizen's Savings Bank of Columbus ; for twelve years has served as the president of the Columbus Savings Bank Com- pany. He is also a director of the Franklin Insurance Company, and is more or less interested, in this and other cities, in many other enterprises and industries with which his name is not so prominently associated as with the corporations named.

In 1872 Mr. Hinman was elected to the City Council of Columbus, and assigned to its finance committee, of which, on his reelection two years later, he became chairman. This position he continued to hold through his third term. In 1878 he was appointed by Governor Bishop a trustee of the State Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb. In 1880 he was elected by the voters of Franklin and Pickaway counties to the State Board of Equalization, and of this body he was unanimously chosen president. When the Tax Commission was created, he was made a mem- ber of that board and he is at the present time a member. In 1890 he was

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appointed by Mayor Bruck a member of the Board of Public Works for the City of Columbus.

Mr. Hinman was married to Isabella G., daughter of Doctor William L. Simers, of New York City, in 1855. This most accomplished and estimable lady died in the fortynineth year of their married life. They had two children, Colonel Charles D. Hinman, now Secretary of the Columbus Savings Bank Company, and Miss Flora B. Hinman.

JOHN R. HUGHES [Portrait opposite page 264.]

Was born at Felmpueleston, near Wrexham, Denbighshire, North Wales, on April 13, 1827, and is the son of John and Catherine ( Davis) Hughes. His schooling was embraced in the three years that he attended the local school of his birth- place. He came to America in 1848, and arrived at Granville, Ohio, in May of that year. He worked there for three months on a farm for twelve dollars per month. After that he came to Columbus and went to work at the Buckeye House, which then stood where the Board of Trade Building now stands, and was kept by Mr. Bush, formerly of Granville. At the end of nine months he went into the employ of Mr. George Peters, who was engaged in the business of trunkmaking on Long Street, opposite the Long Street School Building. IIe remained with Mr. Peters for three years, learning the trunkmaker's trade. On the death of Mr. Peters he ran the business for his widow for one year and then bought her out. Ile has been engaged in the business of trunkmaking ever since. He was one of three persons who started the Buckeye Buggy Company, which has become one of the most extensive manufactories of buggies in Ohio; is a stockholder in four railways centering at Columbus, and is a director of the Citizens Savings Bank and vice president of the Columbus Savings Bank.

He was married on October 7, 1853, to Brady E. Evans, who resided near Granville, in Harrison Township. They have had one son and two daughters : Frank L., Kate V., now Mrs. Hislop, and Minnie L, now Mrs. Wilson.

Mr. Hughes is a Republican, but has been too deeply engaged in business to give much attention to politics. Ile was one of the commissioners appointed to superintend the construction of North High Street, and has done much to advance the growth of the city by the many fine buildings which he has creeted.

CARL T. PFAFF [Portrait opposite page 272.]

Was born November 20, 1837, in Honsebeidt, province of Waldeck, Germany. When nineteen years of age he emigrated to the United States and arrived in the City of New York in the middle of August, 1856. After remaining in New York but a short time he went to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he lived until March 13, 1860. Thence he went to Columbus, Ohio, where, up to the present time, he has always resided, and, as he himself says, always intends to reside. Since com- ing to Columbus he has been engaged in the glass and chinaware business, and he now controls the largest trade in that line in Columbus.

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In 1863, he married Mary A. Bruck, daughter of J. P. Bruck, Esq. They have seven children. five daughters and two sons, named, Flora, Carl, Anna, Matilda, Walter, Paulina and Mary. He has been a member of the German Independent Protestant Church since he came to Columbus. He is also a member of the Columbus Männerchor, the Turner Society, the Odd Fellows, the Free Masons and the Humboldt Society. He is treasurer of different building associations and a member of the Board of Trade. Mr. Pfaff served a term as trustee of the Colum- bus Waterworks and is largely interested in and a director of the Columbus Edison Electric Light Company and the Columbus Watch Company.

Starting in with but small means, Mr. Pfaff has, by economical methods and shrewd business foresight, raised himself to a prominent position among the busi- ness men of Columbus. Ile is thoroughly democratic in his ways and has a large number of friends who have been drawn to him by his genial, kindly disposition. In politics he affiliates with the Republican party.

JOHN MURPHY PUGH [Portrait opposite page 288.]

Was born on November 7, 1823, in Truro Township, Franklin County, Ohio. His father, David Pugh, was a native of Radnorshire, Wales, and his mother, Jane (Murphy) Pugh, a native of Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Ilis father came from Wales to Baltimore, Maryland, where he lived for a year. He then moved to Ohio and founded the Welsh settlement of Radnor, in Delaware County. The place was at that time a perfect wilderness and the first white child born in the settlement was his nephew who died recently at the age of 87. In 1814, the family moved to Truro Township, where the mother of John M. Pugh died in March, 1858, and his father in October of the same year.

Mr. Pugh was educated in the log schoolbouse of pioneer days. He also attended Central College for a short time. When about twentyone years of age he began teaching school on the Black Lick east of Columbus, for which services he received ciglit dollars per month with the privilege of boarding around at the homes of his pupils. On September 4, 1848, from which date he has lived in Columbus, he began the study of law with. Major Samuel Brush, a leading lawyer of his day. He was admitted to the bar in November, 1851, and was sworn in by Peter Hitchcock, of the Supreme Court, in the old United States Courthouse. He clerked for two years in the County Auditor's office, and two more in the office of the County Treasurer before and after his admission to the bar. The first political office held by Mr. Pugh, was that of township clerk, to which he was elected by 159 majority, as a Democrat, in a Whig township which had a party majority of 600. Ile was chosen to the office of County Auditor in 1853 and served in it for four years. He then retired to practice law with Mr. Brush, with whom he remained until that gentleman's removal to New York in 1858. He next practiced with Ilon. L. J. Critchfield until 1863, in which year he was elected Judge of the Probate Court. He held office fifteen years, until 1879, and then resumed his practice. He was a member of the State Board of Agriculture for six years, during two of which he acted as president. He was treasurer eleven years and president

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three years of the Franklin County AAgricultural Society, and served for five years as trustee of the State Reform School for Boys, near Lancaster, being appointed by Governor Allen, and reappointed by Governors Hayes and Bishop. The whole board was remodeled by a legislative act during Mr. Pugh's last term and a new set of trustees appointed. For two years he was a member of the Intermedi- ate Penitentary Board. It was greatly through Mr. Pugh's efforts, whilst a mem- ber of the County Agricultural Society, that the present Franklin Park was bought for county fair purposes; and also to Mr. Pugh, as a member of the State Board of Agriculture, is due the credit of securing the permanent location of the State Fair at Columbus.

Mr. Pugh was married on Christmas Eve, 1851, to Martha F. Cook. They had eight children, namely : Martha F., now Mrs. James P. Curry ; William D., John C. L., Serene E., Sarah, Adda E., James and Lovell. His wife died on November 16, 1881. His second marriage was on July 22, 1885, to Elizabeth M. Bradley of Steubenville, Ohio. They have one child, Helen C.

Mr. Pugh has passed through all the chairs of the Odd Fellows, belongs to the Jackson Club, is a staunch Democrat, and is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

RICHARD JONES, [Portrait opposite page 304.|

Born December 4, 1810, in Montgomeryshire, North Wales, is a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Brees) Jones. Ilis ancestors on his father's side were farmers. Ilis mother's ancestors were landed proprietors and carried on extensive dyeworks and fulling mills. Richard Jones, the subject of this sketch, started at the age of nine years to make his own living, working in his uncle's fulling mills, in North Wales. He continued at this employment until twentyone years of age, when he sailed for America, coming immediately to Ohio. He attended school for six weeks in a log schoolhouse at Radnor, Ohio, and at the end of that time was apprenticed to a painter. When he had learned his trade he opened a shop for himself and continued in the painting business until his retirement from active pursuits. He was married in October, 1837, to Nancy Matilda Jones, daughter of David Jones, one of the pioneers of the State, who came here in IS10, and was one of the first settlers in Columbus Mr. Jones was married a second time to Mary Jones, of Utica, New York. By his first wife he had four children - Mary A. Iliest, Elizabeth Ohlen, now deceased, David Jones, and Julia A. Felton. By his second wife he had one child, Emma Jones. His second wife died in 1884.

As Mr. Jones was fiftyone years of age when the Civil War broke out, he did not participate in that great struggle. Although originally a Whig in politics, he 1 ling al ... has been a Republican since the formation of that party. He has served several though"? terms as a member of the City Council and in other local offices, but has always been too busy to give much attention to political affairs. He has been connected with the Order of Odd Fellows for fifty years, and is one of the oldest members of that order in Columbus. He exercised good business judgment in the investment of his carnings and has large interests in stocks, buildings and lands. Mr. Jones is now living quietly in retirement at his house on North High Street.

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HISTORY OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS.

THEODORE LEONARD, [Portrait opposite page 296.]

Son of Louis Leonard, a thrifty Canadian farmer, and his wife, Angelique La Vallie, was born at La Prairie, Quebec, on October 25, 1820. Of his ancestry little is known prior to his grandfather, Captain John Leonard, an officer in the English army. The latter was married to a French lady of Bordeaux, France, by the name of La Planche. At the close of the American Revolution, Captain Leonard settled in Canada. He had five sons, viz., Jacob, Peter, Simon, John and Louis. The family of the latter consisted of four sons and four daugthers, of whom Theodore, the subject of this sketch, was the second son and third child. His mother died when he was about twelve years of age, and soon after his father again married. Theodore, on account of his dislike for his stepmother, left the paternal roof and engaged himself to labor for a neighboring farmer for food, clothing, and fifty cents a month. His schooling was acquired in the earlier years of his life and was limited to reading and writing in the French language. Later he obtained a rudimentary knowledge of English, by attending night school. In 1840, at the age of twenty, he came to Columbus. On reaching the city, his sole possessions were an extra suit of clothes and fifty cents in money. He engaged as a laborer in Windsor Atchison's brickyard and soon learned the brickmoulder's trade. He continued in Mr. Atchison's service for some time, when that gentle- man, noting the young Frenchman's industry and energy, made him his partner in business. In 1843, young Leonard returned to his native town in Canada, to marry Catherine Malboeuf de Bean Soleil, the daughter of a well-to-do farmer. After twelve years of married life, Mrs. Leonard died in 1855, at the age of thirty- four. Seven children resulted from this union, two of whom died in infancy. The surviving children are Sister Mary Dolores and Sister Gertrude, both Dominican nuns at St. Mary's of the Springs of this city ; Matilda, Mrs. Olive Roberts and Theodore. In 1856, Mr. Leonard married Mrs. Hannah M. Roberts, nee Brent- well, an English lady of rare traits of character. She bore him four children, Mrs. Rose Byrne, Josepha, Albert, who died in early boyhood, and Robert. G. E. Roberts, a son of Mrs. Leonard, by her first marriage, was married to Mr. Leon- ard's fourth daughter, Olive, in 1875.

About the year 1850, Mr. Leonard, having acquired some means, dissolved partnership with Mr. Atchison, bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres at the junction of Montgomery, Clinton and Miflin townships, two miles northeast of Columbus, and there engaged in farming and brickmaking. He steadily invested his earnings in farm property and in a short time became one of the largest land- owners about Columbus. He also engaged somewhat in building and supervised the erection of many residences in Columbus and vicinity. He realized hand- some profits from his varions enterprises, and at the time of his death possessed considerable wealth. He made generous use of his fortune and gave liberal con- tributions to the various Catholic institutions of the city, of which faith he was a sincere and consistent member. He donated largely to the building fund of St. Joseph's Cathedral, of this city, of which congregation he was a member, and left a living monument of his generosity in the Academy of St. Mary's of the Springs,

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to which institution he not only donated thirty three acres of land, but generously supported its building funds. He also gave liberally to other charitable institu- tions of Columbus.

Mr. Leonard was a long and great sufferer from rheumatism, and during the last three years of his life, Bright's disease did its fatal work. He traveled con- siderably in the hope that a change of climate might benefit his health, but to no avail. Ile spent most of the winter of 1886-7, in Cuba, Florida and Mexico, returning home two months before his death, which occurred on July 6, 1887, at the age of sixtyseven. His remains were interred in Calvary Cemetery from St. Joseph's Cathedral.

JACOB REINHARD [Portrait opposite page 328.]

Was born on April 28, 1815, at Neidenberg, Kingdom of Bavaria, Germany, and is the son of Michael and Barbara (Geis) Reinhard. His father emigrated to America in 1833, and died on June 12, 1879. Jacob received his education in Gier- many and also attended for a time a private school where he took a thorough course in the study of the English language. When not at school, he worked on his father's farm. At the age of twentyone he took a number of contracts for furnishing broken stone for macadamizing the National Road, east of Columbus. On their completion he was appointed assistant engineer, which position he held until 1843. During his leisure hours he read law with Heyman A. Moore.

After leaving the employ of the State, Mr. Reinhard, in 1843, in company with Frederick Fieser, started Der Westbote, a weekly Democratic newspaper, printed in German. They also started the wellknown bank of Reinhard & Co., in which Mr. Reinhard is still actively interested. In 1852, he was elected a member of the City Council, to which body he was continuously reelected for twenty years, until he refused longer to be a candidate. For five years he was president of the Coun- cil and when not president he was a member or chairman of the finance commit- tee. For many years he was a member of the Democratie State Executive Com- mittee, and its treasurer. On two different occasions he was nominated by his party for Secretary of State. In 1857, despite the large Republican majority, he was only defeated by 1,197 votes. He was married on July 12, 1841, to Catherine Haman. Six children still survive : John G., Henry A., Jacob Junior, Frank J., Mary and Matilda.

LINCOLN KILBOURN [Portrait opposite page 336.]

Was born at Worthington, Ohio, October 19, 1810. His father was Colonel James Kilbourn, an eminent pioneer from Connecticut, who, as clergyman, soldier, con- gressman, editor and public-spirited citizen, was conspicuous in the carly history of Ohio. His mother was .Cynthia Goodale Kilbourn, sister of Doctor Lincoln Goodale, prominent in the early history of Columbus, who gave to the city the park known by his name. She was the daughter of Major Nathan Goodale, an officer in the American army during the Revolutionary War (afterwards taken

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prisoner by the Indians near Belpre, Ohio, in 1793, dying in captivity). She was the first white female child to set foot on the soil of Ohio. The family, with several others from Massachusetts, had descended the Ohio River from Wheeling on a flatboat in 1788. A landing was made near the mouth of the Muskingum River, and there was a strife among the ladies and young girls as to which one of them should be first on shore. The captain, who had taken a fancy to little Cynthia Goodale, lifted her up as they neared the land and put her down in the shallow water and she ran ashore.

. Lincoln Kilbourn was a student at the Worthington Academy until his fif- teenth year. He then came to Columbus and entered the store of his uncle, Doctor Lincoln Goodale, as a clerk, and became a partner with him in 1835. Upon the retirement of Doctor Goodale, Mr. Kilbourn formed a partnership with his brother- inlaw, Mr. Cyrus Fay, under the firm name of Fay & Kilbourn, doing a general merchandise business. After a few years this partnership was dissolved, Mr. Fay taking the dry goods department and removing to the corner of High and Chapel streets; Mr. Kilbourn taking the hardware department and retaining the original storebuilding, the side walls of which, still standing at this time, contain the old- est brick in any building in Columbus. The firm was reorganized under the name of Kilbonrn, Kuhns & Co., which continued until 1868, when the firm of Kilbourn, Jones & Co. was formed, at the head of which Mr. Kilbourn remained until his death. He was in mercantile pursuits in Columbus over sixtysix years, and all that time in the same building - changed and enlarged from time to time - in which he began his business life, a boy of fifteen years. In all these years he scarcely missed a day from his place of business, where he was engaged the day before his death. Ilis business ability is shown by the fact that during the sixtysix years that he was engaged in mercantile affairs, notwithstanding the great fluctuations in business that took place during that long period, neither he nor any firm with which he was connected, ever failed in the payment of their obli- gations when presented.

Mr. Kilbourn was one of the incorporators of the Kilbourn & Jacobs Manu- facturing Company, and a director of the company from its organization to the time of its death. He was one of the executors and for many years sole trustee of the Doctor Goodale estate, and was one of the six honorary members of the Colum- bus Board of Trade. In politics, in early life a Whig, he has been a Republican from the organization of that party. He always took an active interest in political matters, but never held or sought office, nor did he ever belong to any societies, fraternal or political. While his age incapacitated him from service in the army during the Civil War, he was conspicnous in all measures taken by citizens of Columbus for the support of the army and the Government, devoting to this pur- pose and to the assistance of dependent families of soldiers in the field, the greater part of the profits of his business during the continuance of the war.

Mr. Goodale married Jane Evans at Gambier, Ohio, on June 13, 1837. He was the father of five children : Alice Grant, wife of Brigadier-General Joseph Haydn Potter, U. S. A .; Colonel James Kilbourn, of Columbus, Ohio; Captain Charles Evans Kilbourn, U. S. A .; Fay Kilbourn, who died in childhood, and

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Lincoln Goodale Kilbourn, of Columbus, Ohio. Mr. Kilbourn died in Columbus on February 13, 1891, in the eightyfirst year of his age.

WILLIAM NEIL. [Portrait opposite page 341.]

One of the first pioneers of Columbus and most energetie of her citizens, came to the infant capital in 1818, from what is now Urbana, where he had located upon his arrival from Kentucky in 1815. He stopped on what is now the State Univer- sity farm, then owned by Captain Vance. While there he met a Mr. Simpkin, an Eastern gentleman, and the two formed a partnership to deal in flour. They con- structed a keelboat from timber procured on the farm and floated their cargo down the Whetstone into the Scioto, and on down to New Orleans. This, however, was an unlucky venture and the two gentlemen returned to Columbus $6,000 in debt. Mr. Neil's outfit when he came from Kentucky was a horse, saddle and bridle, the usual fortune of a young man starting out in life. He had taken a fancy to the Vance (now University) farm and resolved to own it. After his disastrous specu- lation in flour he bought forty acres and a log cabin near Urbana and engaged in farmer.

In 1818, there was trouble of some nature in the old Franklin Bank of Colum- bus, and Mr. Neil was sent for to assume the position of cashier. Shortly after this he bought the first stage line, with a Mr. Zinn, the line running from this city to Granville. This was the beginning of staging operations that eventually led to the construction of several railroads Mr. Neil bought other lines ; one to Wheeling, one to Cleveland, and from Cleveland to Buffalo, one to Sandusky through Dela- ware and Marion, one to Marietta, on to Portsmouth through Chillicothe, and on through to Maysville, Kentucky ; one to Cincinnati and one west towards Indianapolis, many branches being established as the necessities required. One of Mr. Neil's partners was Mr. Jarvis Pike, who was a pioneer on West Broad Street, between High and Front. The firm name was once Neil, Moore & Co. Subse- quently the business was merged into what was known as the Ohio Stage Company, with David W. Deshler, William Sullivant and others who have made Columbus history, as partners with Mr. Neil. This company started the first railway to Cincinnati, or rather to Xenia, where it tapped the Mad River road. This was in 1850, and as the old constitution required that a certain amount of stock hal to be subscribed before a company could organize, the Ohio Stage Company had to take nearly all the stock. Shortly after this road was started the same company began the operation of the Columbus & Cleveland line, and then the old Central Ohio, and the Columbus, Piqua & Indiana, now the Pan Handle West.

Mr. William Neil bought the Vance farm in 1823 and moved upon it. There were about 300 acres in the picce, and the old house stood about where the lawn tennis ground is now located. The house burned in 1863, when William Neil, Junior, lived there. Mr. Neil bought on south to Columbus all the land west of High Street, except the twentyfive acre Fisher tract and the Starr farm, as far west as the waterworks and south to a point opposite the city prison, from Lyne Star- ling for five dollars an acre. Nearly all this land was a forest of finest walnut,

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History of the city of Columbus, capital of Ohio, Volume I, Part 113

Author: Lee, Alfred Emory, 1838-; W. W. Munsell & Co Publication date: 1892 Publisher: New York and Chicago : Munsell & Co. Number of Pages: 1202

Author: Lee, Alfred Emory, 1838-; W. W. Munsell & Co
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: New York and Chicago : Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1202