History of the city of Columbus, capital of Ohio, Volume I, Part 117

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 117

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ing familiar with the various legal forms which came under his observation and finding that the training thus acquired was especially useful in the practice of law. With a view to a professional career at the bar, and to lay the foundation of a broader culture than that afforded by public schools, he entered the Ohio Wesleyan University, from which he graduated in regular course and subsequently completed the study of the law, being admitted to the bar by the Supreme Court of Ohio in 1849. Ile immediately began the practice of law in Delaware. The follow- ing year he was elected prosecuting-attorney for Delaware County and subsequently reelected, serving four years. In December, 1856, he was appointed by the Supreme Court of Ohio reporter of its decisions, in which office he continued to serve, by reappointment, for five consecutive terms of three years each. During this time he prepared and published seventeen volumes, from five to twentyone inclusive, of the Ohio State Reports. At the close of that service a reappointment was offered him, but he declined it in order to devote his entire time and energies to the requirements of his profession. In 1858, at the request of Judge Joseph R. Swan, Mr. Critchfield joined that distinguished jurist in the preparation of Swan and Critchfield's Revised Statutes of Ohio, with notes of the decisions of the Supreme Court. The work was completed and published in 1860 and was received with great favor by the bench and bar throughout the State. These statutes con- tinued in nse until 1880, when they were superseded by the Revised Statutes of Ohio, prepared by the State Codifying Commission. Governor Hayes tendered Mr. Critchfield a position on this commission, but he was obliged to decline it on account of the press of his business.

Mr. Critehfield has never held any political office not in the line of his profession, although his advice and cooperation in matters of political concern have often been sought and freely given. During the presidential canvass of 1877 he took a quiet but useful part, and when the controversy arose as to the electoral count in 1877 and 1878, he wrote letters to Senator Sherman and other prominent men in Washington offering suggestions, which were substantially adopted, con- cerning the course to be pursued in obtaining such an adjustment of the difficulty as would be accepted by the country and avert a national crisis. Since locating in Columbus he has maintained strict fidelity to his profession in all its details. He was a partner with Hon. Noah H. Swayne at the time that gentleman was appointed a Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, but since that time he has pursued his practice alone.

RICHARD A. HARRISON [Portrait opposite page 600.]

Was born April 8, 1824, in the city of Thirsk, County of Yorkshire, England. He came to the United States with his parents, who settled in Warren County, Ohio, in 1832, and a few years afterward removed to Springfield, Ohio. He was edu- cated in the public schools, the printing office and the noted Springfield High School, of which Rev. Chandler Robbins was the principal. Thrown upon his own resources when twelve years of age, he obtained employment in the office of the Springfield Republic, where he remained until the year 1844. Upon the suggestion

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of William A. Rogers, a distinguished lawyer of Springfield, he entered his office as a student of the law. The late eminent Judge White and W. A. Harrison were fellow students with him in the High School and Judge Rogers's law office. Mr. Harrison graduated from the Cincinnati Law School in April, 1846, and was admitted to the bar by the Supreme Court on the eighth of that month. He entered upon the practice of the law at London, Madison County, and soon had a good local business. On the twentyfifth of December, 1847, he was married to Miss Maria Lonise Warner, a daughter of Henry Warner, one of the pioneers of that county. A few years afterward Mr. Harrison began to " travel the circnit," and had a good practice in Southern Ohio. His progress was rapid and his rise steady and permanent. He was elected a member of the Ohio House of Represen- tatives from Madison County in 1857, and in 1859 he was elected to the State Senate from the district composed of Clark, Champaign and Madison counties.

Among Mr. Harrison's colleagues in the House, were such men as Judge J. A. Ambler, of Columbiana, Judge W. H. West, of Logan, Judge R. M. Briggs, of Fayette, James Monroe, of Lorain, Judge Collins, of Cincinnati, and William B. Woods, afterward a Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Messrs. Harrison, Ambler, Rankin and Collins were members of the Committee on Jndici- ary. Here Mr. Harrison's legal learning, sound judgment and conservative prin- ciples were recognized. He introduced many important bills which were enacted into laws; among these was a bill to relieve the district courts, a bill concerning the relation of guardian and ward, and a bill providing for the semiannual pay- ment of taxes. Towards the close of the second session he especially distinguished himself by his eloquent discussion of the report of the commission appointed at the preceding session to investigate the State Treasury defalcation. By this report it was sought to implicate and besmirch the character of Salmon P. Chase, who was then Governor. In his special message communicating the report to the House, the Governor called attention to its invidious criticisms To rebuke him it was moved to print the report without the message. On this motion Mr. Harrison obtained the floor and by reason of his conclusive argument the message went forth shorn of its partisan significance. During the delivery of his speech he was attacked by a severe hemorrhage of the lungs ; his friends insisted that he should not then attempt to proceed with his argument, but despite their importunities, after a brief respite he continued until he had finished his speech.

Mr. Harrison was elected President pro tempore of the Senate and was chair- man of the Committee on the Judiciary. Associated with him in the Senate were James A. Garfield, afterwards President of the United States; Governor J. D. Cox, Judge Thomas C. Jones, Judge Thomas M. Key, E. A. Ferguson, Professor James Monroe, and many other able and brilliant men. The session of 1861 will be ever memorable in the history of Ohio. During that session questions of the greatest national importance and delicacy were acted upon. Mr. Harrison was the author of the Joint Resolution which pledged the resources of Ohio to aid in the maintenance of the authority of the National Government. Among the measures which were passed shortly afterwards by the General Assembly was an "act to strengthen the public credit ;" an " act to raise and equip troops," and an act to " provide ways

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and means for the common defense and the maintenance of the Union." To these measures Mr. Harrison gave efficient and zealous support. Before the Rebellion was actually set on foot, he did all in his power to avoid the storm of war, and at his special request the venerable Thomas Ewing, statesman and jurist, was appointed by the Governor as one of the commissioners to represent Ohio in response to the invitation of Virginia for a congress of the States to consider the impending crisis. Shortly after the legislature adjourned, Mr. Harrison was chosen to the seat in Congress made vacant by the resignation of Ex-Governor Thomas Corwin, in 1861. He took his seat in the special session which opened July 4, 1861. By the reappointment of members of Congress in 1862, Madison County was attached to the Franklin district and Mr. Harrison was succeeded by S. S. Cox. In 1870, he was nominated for Judge of the Supreme Court, but with the rest of his colleagues on the ticket was defeated. In 1875 he was appointed by Governor Hayes, and confirmed by the Senate, as a member of the Supreme Court Commis- sion of Ohio, but he declined the position. In 1873, he removed to Columbus, where his high legal attainments were speedily recognized, and for many years he was associated with his son-in-law, Mr. Marsh, and Judge Olds, in a very success- ful practice under the firm name of Harrison, Olds & Marsh. The firm was reor- ganized in 1873, and is now the firm of Harrison, Olds & Henderson. Mr. Ilarri- son is regarded as the leader of the Columbus bar, and is one of the most eminent lawyers of Ohio. He has always been especially fond of studying questions of constitutional law, and the reports of the decisions of the Supreme Court show that he has argued many causes involving such questions.

JOHN E. SATER [Portrait opposite page 616.]

Was born on a farm near New Haven, Hamilton County, Ohio, on January 16, 1854, and is the son of John J. and Nancy Sater. He was left an orphan at the age of ten, and largely dependent on his own exertions. He attended the district school for a short time during the winters, but was obliged to work during the rest of the year to support himself. At the age of sixteen he began teaching, and at seventeen entered Miami University. When the doors of that school closed in 1873, he entered Marietta College, graduating from the classical course in 1875 with honor, though compelled to be absent half of his senior year to obtain means to complete his education.

Mr. Sater was elected Superintendent of Schools at Wauseon, Fulton County, Ohio, the same week that he graduated. He was soon thereafter appointed a member of the Board of County School Examiners, and as such rendered important service in the reorganization and improvement of the schools of that county. Under his management the schools of Wauseon were as prosperous, at least, as at any time in their history. He resigned his superintendency in April, 1881, to accept the position of chief clerk in the office of the State School Commissioner, Hon. D. F. De Wolf, and removed to Columbus, where he has since resided. He retired from the office in 1884 and was afterwards elected three times without

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opposition to the Columbus Board of Education, and was twice elected its President.

Soon after removing to Columbus be began reading law with J. H. Collins, attorney for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, and was admitted to practice in June, 1884. IIe immediately engaged in the practice of his profession. In December of the same year he entered the law office of G. G. Collins, and, after the latter's death in the May following, closed up his unfinished business. He soon became attorney for several important estates, and has had from the first a desirable and increasing court practice. Although engaging in the general practice, Mr. Sater's professional services are perhaps more largely in demand in cases involving questions of property rights, aud in the examination of land titles with reference to investments. His clientage is one of the wealthiest in the city. In February, 1890, he was chosen attorney for the Citizens Savings Bank and the Columbus Savings Bank Company. Among his clients are also R. E. Neil, Peter & Lewis Sells, E. L. Hinman, John Beatty, the Wassall Fire Clay Company, the Columbus Coffin Company, the Pleukharp Barrel Machine Company, The Central Building, Loan & Savings Company, The Park Building, Loan & Savings Company, and the Order of United Commercial Travelers. He has also been connected with the important Masonic litigation of recent years.

Mr. Sater was married in 1889 to Miss May Lyon of Wauseon, Ohio, who graduated from the Iligh School of that place and afterwards from Oberlin College. He is a member of both the York and Scottish Rite branches of Free Masonry, and is also a member of the order of Odd Fellows, Mr. Sater was born and reared a Democrat, but in 1875 identified himself with the Republican party, with which he still continues to act.

EDWARD ORTON, LL. D., [Portrait opposite page 672.]

Was born in Deposit, Delaware County, New York, March 9, 1829, and is the son of Rev. Samuel G. and Clara (Gregory) Orton. The Ortons were first known in New England about 1640, the name appearing in that year in the records of Charleston, Massachusetts. Thomas Orton came to Windsor, Connecticut, in 1641 or 1642. From Windsor certain members of the family emigrated in the year 1700, or thereabouts, to the new settlement of Litchfield, which was then on the edge of the wilderness. There were thus two branches of the family - the one at Windsor and the one at Litchfield. The Litchfield Ortons lived for more than a century on what was known as Orton Hill, South Farms, now Morris, Connecti- cut. The family was well represented in the War for Independence, but beyond this do not appear to have taken part in public life.

Miles Orton, the father of Rev. Samuel G. Orton, was a soldier in the War of 1812, and died soon after that war. Samuel G. was born at Litchfield and brought up on a farm until twenty years old, when, under the ministry of Doctor Lyman Beecher, he was encouraged to seek a liberal education, and he was obliged to support himself by his own labor, both while preparing for college and during his college course. Graduating from Hamilton College in 1822, he studied theology

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at New Haven and was an honored minister in the Presbyterian Church for nearly fifty years, most of the time in Western New York.

Edward Orton, the subject of this sketch, passed his boyhood in his father's country home at Ripley, Chautauqua County, New York. He acquired there a knowledge of and a life-long interest in country life, often working with neighbor- ing farmers for weeks, and even months, at a time. He was fitted for college mainly by his father, but spent one year at Westfield Academy and another at Fredonia Academy. He entered Hamilton College in 1845 as a sophomore and graduated in 1848. After graduation he taught for a year in the Academy of Eric, Pennsylvania, and then, in 1849, entered Lane Theological Seminary at Cinein- nati and was under the instructions of Doctor Lyman Beecher. Ile withdrew from the seminary on account of a temporary failure of his eyes, but after a year or two spent on the farm and in travel ke resumed the work of teaching and became a member of the faculty of the Delaware Institute at Franklin, Delaware County, New York. In college, his chief interest had been in classical and liter- ary studies, but in the institute he was appointed to teach the natural sciences, and a latent taste for these studies was soon developed. He pursued the study of chemistry and the natural history branches with special interest and to pre- pare himself for teaching them, in 1852 took a six months' course in the Lawrence Scientific School of Harvard University where he studied under Horsford, Cook and Gray. Finding his theological creed giving away before his later studies, he sought to avert the change by a more thorough investigation in this department, and entered Andover Seminary to attend for a year Professor Park's lectures on theology. The experiment was successful to the extent of arresting the change in his views, but after a few years the process was resumed and ended in the replacement of the Calvinistic creed, in which he had been brought up, by the shorter statements of Unitarianism.

In 1856 Doctor Orton was called to the chair of Natural Science in the State Normal School of New York, at Albany. He held this position for several years, after which he resigned it to take charge of Chester Academy, Orange County, New York. After spending six years in this position he was called to Antioch College, at Yellow Springs, Ohio. First acting as principal of the preparatory department of that institution, he next became its professor of natural sciences, and finally, in 1872, its president, which position he held for one year, then resigned to accept the presidency of the Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical Col- lege, now the Ohio State University, at Columbus, in which institution he at the same time occupied the chair of Geology. He held the presidency for eight years and after resigning it retained the professorship of Geology.

During his residence in Yellow Springs the State Geological Survey was organized under Doctor J. S. Newberry. In 1869 Professor Orton became a mem- ber of the Geological Corps, to which he was appointed and reappointed by Gov- ernor R. B. Hayes. After Doctor Newberry's withdrawal from the corps, Doctor Orton was appointed State Geologist by Governor Foster and later by Governors Hoadly and Foraker. This position he now holds, in conjunction with the pro- fessorship of Geology at the State University. In addition to his geological work

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proper, Professor Orton has taken an active interest in the application of geology to agriculture and sanitary science, and especially to the question of water supply and sewerage of the towns of Ohio. In 1855 he was married to Mary M. Jen- nings, of Franklin, New York, who died in 1873. He was again married in 1875 to Anna Davenport Torrey, of Milbury, Massachusetts.

WILLIAM SHEPARD, M. D., [Portrait opposite page 704.]

Was born November 25, 1825. Although Canandaigua, New York, is his birth- place, he comes from Massachusetts stock. His father, Charles Shepard, moved to New York from Chester Factories, Massachusetts, and was a farmer. His great grandfather, William Shepard, fought in the French-Indian War as second lieutenant, being commissioned by Thomas Pownall, who was then Captain- General and Governor-in-Chief. In the Revolution he was commissioned colonel by Congress and afterwards became general. He also participated in Shay's Rebellion, having command of a part of the troops under General Lincoln. He was afterwards a member of Congress and of the Society of the Cincinnati.

Doctor Shepard was raised on a farm and finished his education at the Canandaigua Academy. He studied medicine at Rochester and Cincinnati, and received his diploma as doctor from the Eclectic Medical College at Cincinnati in 1853. The same year he established Shepard's Sanitarium, east of Columbus. From a modest beginning this has grown to be one of the largestand most thoroughly equipped institutions of its kind in Central Ohio, and thousands of patients have received treatment within its walls. In 1885 he was elected by 1,300 majority to the Ohio General Assembly as representative from Franklin County, he and his colleague, II. C. Taylor, being the first to be thus honored in the county for twentyfive years. At the succeeding election he was the congressional candidate of his party against J. II. Onthwaite, and though defeated, he cut the latter's majority down 1,200. He was also trustee for the Children's Home for four years.

Doctor Shepard is largely interested in the Alum Creek Ice Company, the flouring mills at Gahanna, in the grocery business, in real estate, and in other enterprises. He is a Mason, as was his grandfather before him, and has been through all the degrees, including the thirtythird. IFe has still in his possession the Masonic apron worn by his grandfather, and prizes it very highly as a relie of former days. Recently he provided the community at Gahanna with a good public library and reading room, including all the adjuncts for such an institution. This he has endowed so that it can be a source of good for coming generations. This is one of several charities in which he is interested. In these and other instances, he has shown his liberality and large publie spirit. In 1852 he was married to Charlotte E. Rose, daughter of Helen Rose, of Granville. His wife was of Puritan stock, her father being one of the original company that came from Granville, Massachusetts, and settled and founded Granville, Ohio. Mrs. Shepard died in 1887.

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WILLIAM BRYANT CARPENTER, M. D., [Portrait opposite page 720.]

Was born February 19, 1856, in Kingston, Ross County, Ohio, and is the oldest child of Rev. George and Matilda 6. Carpenter. His father was the son of Nathan and Electa Carpenter, of Worthington. Franklin County, Ohio. His mother was the daughter of Rev. James and Mary tilruth, who, after a long residence in Ohio, removed to Davenport, Iowa. Rev. Mr. Gilrath was well known through Northern and Central Ohio, as one of the strongest, mentally and physically, of the pioneer preachers of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Rev. George Carpenter was the pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Kingston, from 1855 to 1867, and of the Presbyterian Church of Washington Courthouse, Ohio, from 1867 to 1885, since which time the family has resided at Chillicothe, Ohio. Of a family of seven children only three are living : Doetor W. B. Carpenter, of Columbus ; George II. Carpenter, of Philadelphia, and Charles K. Carpenter of the editorial staff of the New York Tribune. Doetor Carpenter, the subject of this sketch, was educated at Mount Pleasant Academy of Kingston, and the High School of Washington Courthonse. For some years after graduating from the high school he worked in the First National Bank and postoffice at Washington in order to obtain funds to pursue his university and medical course. In 1876, he graduated from the University of Wooster, and in 1879, the degree of Master of Arts was conferred upon him by that institution. After reading medicine with Doctor S. S. Salisbury, a Homeopathic physician of Washington Courthouse, he graduated in March, 1879, from the Hahnemann Medical College of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. IIc also spent several months with Doctor J. H. Salisbury at Cleveland, Ohio, in the special study of the microscope and its relation to diagnosis. In July, 1879, he opened an office at 657 North High Street, and began the practice of medicine. Doctor Carpenter is a member of the Second Presbyterian Church and of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, being connected with Dennison Lodge, 741, Ridgely Encampment 189, and Canton Columbus 65. He was married on Septem- ber 29, 1880, to Carrie L. May, daughter of James and Eliza T. May, of Kingston, Ross County, Ohio.

PATRICK A. EGAN, [Portrait opposite page 736.]

Son of John and Margaret Egan, was born in Clonmel, Tipperary County, Ireland, September 14, 1830. He, together with his twosisters, came to America in March, 1850. He arrived in this country in an almost penniless condition, having but a few dollars in his pocket. He soon secured work and with unswerving persever- ance and industry, slowly but surely achieved a most gratifying success. After working for a short time in a foundry in Boston, Massachusetts, he came to Col- umbus in 1852, and obtained employment with Huntington Fitch. He next held a position at the Central Insane Asylum, until the spring of 1855, when he went to California. In 1859 he returned to Columbus where he resided until his death, in October, 1890. On his return from California he established an undertaking and livery business, which steadily increased until it became the largest in the

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city. At the time of his death he was the oldest official in continuous service in Franklin County, having held the position of coroner for ten consecutive terms. He was first elected to that office in October, 1869, on the Democratic ticket.

Mr. Egan was united in marriage to Mary, the eldest daughter of Timothy and Nancy A. Ryan, on October 21, 1861. Mrs. Egan died October 21, 1879. Their family consisted of seven children: Hannah, Mary, Margaret, Jobn P., Joseph A., Alice and Katherine. The oldest son, John P., was appointed by the County Commissioners to fill out the remainder of his father's unexpired term.

LUTHER HILLERY, [Portrait opposite page 816 ]

Son of John and Margaret (Boise) Hillery, was born August 12, 1799, at Marlowe, New Hampshire. He was the last of a family of twelve children, some of whom lived to very advanced age. His father was a Revolutionary soldier and par- ticipated in the battle of Bunker Hill. Two of his brothers fought in the War of 1812. In 1804, his parents removed to Barré, Vermont, where his childhood was spent. His education was obtained in the District school at Barré. In 1815 he came to Ohio with a number of his relatives. The party located at Worthington where for two years he labored at farming. At the age of eighteen he was apprenticed to a carpenter to learn that trade. Ho removed to Shattucksburg and for ten or twelve years was mainly occupied in making shingles. In 1832 be removed to Columbus, where he purchased a lot and built a house on the northwest corner of Front and Long streets; in this house he dwelt for twenty years. In 1853 he bought the property on the corner of First Avenue and Summit Street, and erected a residence in which he resided during the remainder of his life. He assisted in constructing many of the oldest buildings in the city, including the old asylums and the old Broad Street bridge over the Scioto River.

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History of the city of Columbus, capital of Ohio, Volume I, Part 117

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