History of the city of Columbus, capital of Ohio, Volume II, Part 110

Author: Lee, Alfred Emory, 1838-; W. W. Munsell & Co
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: New York and Chicago : Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1196

USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Columbus > History of the city of Columbus, capital of Ohio, Volume II > Part 110

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Politically Mr. Schrock is considered a Republican, but he votes for principle and not party. His first vote was for Lincoln for President. He is an ardent member of the Masonic fraternity, having joined Lithopolis Lodge, No. 169, F. & A. M, in 1862. Some time in 1882 or 1883 he became a charter member of Potter Lodge, No. 540, F. & A. M., in Canal Winchester. In 1886 he became con- nected with the Sons of America, and soon after that took the degree from Master Mason to thirtysecond degree in the Scottish Rite. He also holds membership in Railroad Lodge, Kuights of Pythias.

WILLIAM MONTGOMERY SAVAGE

[Portrait opposite page 48.]

Was the descendant of a sturdy race, his ancestors having come from the Isle of' Jersey during the sixteenth century with Sir Walter Raleigh, locating in that portion of the country later known as the State of North Carolina. John York Savage, the father of the subject of our sketch, resided early in the present cen- tury at Liberty, North Carolina, where William M. Savage was born August 6. 1814, being the oldest of quite a family of children. When he was a lad of four- teen, the family removed to Raleigh, where, until arriving at the age of eighteen, he passed his time between the workshop of his father, - a skilled mechanic man- ufacturing watches, clocks and guns - and the printing-office, until he secured work as a printer in Richmond, Virginia. At the age of nineteen he was united in marriage to Mrs. Mary S. Johns, a native of Helston, Cornwall, England. Soon after this event he returned to Raleigh, and engaged in the publication of a newspaper. This not proving a profitable venture, and his father having removed to the City of New York, he joined him there, and together they worked at the trade of watchmaking. After a year or more William M. Savage was stricken with that dread disease, the small pox, the marks of which he carried through life. Upon his recovery, hearing wonderful reports of the new western country, he concluded to seek his fortune towards the setting sun. When near Columbus his wife was taken ill. During the delay occasioned thereby, he secured a position as watch- maker with Mr. William A. Platt, the leading jeweler of the place. At the expi- ration of eighteen months he embarked in business for himself, and erected a small frame shop, which he had placed upon large rollers like wheels, so that, in case of

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fire, the building could be drawn into the street, those surrounding it being also of wood. In after years he would humorously speak of it as the only jeweler's store in Ohio on wheels.

Of sober and industrious habits, Mr. Savage gained the respect of the com- munity, and in a short time made fast friends, one among whom, Mr. James Wil- son, who owned a dry goods store, finding that Mr. Savage had slender means, depending wholly upon his daily labor for the support of his then increasing family, generously volunteered a loan, and laid upon his counter an old stocking, the golden contents of which were the foundation of a flourishing business, a compe- tency in later years, and a bond of friendship only severed by death. This came during an exciting period, the memorable " hard cider campaign " of 1840, and the money - between thirty and forty dollars - was invested in campaign badges and medals, which were soon disposed of, enabling the recipient of this unsolicited benefaction to repay his good friend and leave a small sum as a nucleus for future business. Referring to the first directory of Columbus, for the years 1843 and 1844, published by James R. Armstrong, whose friendship for Mr. Savage antedates this time, we find in an advertisement the modest announcement that " W. M. Savage, opposite Russell's Hotel, on High Street, keeps on band a small but good selection of watches and jewelry." In 1846 he moved to the Ambos building, opposite the State offices on High Street, where he continued in business until 1856, when he erected a business building a few doors south, and occupied the same until the time of his death, which occurred on April 28, 1892, he having been in business in Columbus for fiftytwo years, thirtysix years in the same room. Dur- ing this time there were born to him six sons, four of whom, William, Edwin, James and Charles, survive him, John having died at the age of twentyeight and Frank in infancy.

On November 3, 1884, Mr. and Mrs. Savage celebrated the fiftieth anniver- sary of their wedded life. Mr. Savage addressed letters to Richmond, Virginia, to the minister who officiated, and a number of the friends, whom he hoped might have been spared of those who were present at his marriage in 1834, extending them an invitation to be his guests from the time of leaving their doors until their return from the golden wedding; but they were either scattered or time had not dealt so kindly with them, as there was no response, although from different parts of the country, from friends of later years, came many letters and messages, freighted with kind wishes and congratulations.

Mr. Savage was a deep student and of an earnest nature, for many years a member of Trinity Episcopal Church, officiating as vestryman, but in later years and up to the the time of his death, a firm believer in the doctrines of spiritnalism. He found recre- ation in the study of astronomy, in which he delighted. The happy possessor of fine instruments, he erected a small observatory in the yard of his pleasant home, and spent many happy hours studying the wonders of the heavens and communing with nature. He was not averse to the amenities of society, and was always pleased to have his friends around him. He was a member of the order of Odd Fellows, having passed through all the chairs, being Past Grand of Columbus Lodge Number 9, and Past Patriarch of Capital Encampment Number 6, and a life member of the order of Free and Accepted Masons. We find by the records that he was the first one initiated into Magnolia Lodge, of Columbus, previous to receiving their charter, the Honorable Bela Latham presiding, working under a dispensation granted by Grand Master W. B. Thrall. The meetings were held at this time in the upper story of the Ambos building. After the second year, hav- ing passed through the different offices, he was elected Worshipful Master of the lodge, and on him alone was the distinguished honor conferred of occupying that office for six consecutive terms - the most protracted incumbency held by any member up to the present time. He was a natural leader, of sterling qualities and

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the strictest integrity, one whom his friends respected and were pleased to honor, "a true man among men." Of commanding presence, rugged physique and a strong constitution that withstood the ravages of time, his tall and unbent form was a familiar figure to the older residents and business men of the city, carrying as he did, so well, a number of years beyond the allotted term of threescore and ten. During the fall of 1891, both Mr. and Mrs. Savage suffered from an attack of la grippe, from which they never fully recovered. On Jannary twentythird, 1892, by the death of his beloved helpmate, Mr. Savage sustained a shock from the effects of which, all his interest in life seemed to fade away; rapidly failing he became an easy mark, and went down like ripened grain before the sickle of the fell destroyer. The same kind Providence that had permitted them to jour- ney side by side for fiftyseven years, decreed but a short separation. Within three short months he was called to join, in the spirit-land, " the gentle wife who unto his youth was given." " Requiescat in pace."

JAMES KILBOURNE JONES

[Portrait opposite page 80.]

Was born at Columbus, Ohio, on July 10, 1836. His father, Ichabod Gibson Jones, was born at Unity, Maine, and after receiving a common school education taught school while studying his profession, that of medicine. He early moved to Worthington, Ohio, where he married Cynthia Kilbourne, daughter of the late Colonel James Kilbourn, of that place. They soon after removed to Columbus, where Doctor Jones became quite prominent in his profession and at one time was a professor in the Cincinnati Medical College.

James K., the subject of this sketch, attended the common schools of Columbus, was during two years at a military school in Springfield, Ohio. He finally graduated from Kenyon College at Gambier, Ohio, in June, 1858. He then read law for two years and a half with Mr. John W. Andrews and Henry C. Noble. Before finishing his law studies the War for the Union broke out. Mr. Jones immediately went into the service and the records show that he was the first enlisted man in the State of Ohio after the official call for troops. In April, 1861, he entered the army as a private in the State Feneibles, which company was assigned to the Second Ohio Infantry, and with them took part in the first battle of Bull Run. Shortly after enlisting he received a commission as Second Lieutenant in the same company, and was soon promoted to First Lieutenant. He was also commissioned as Captain in the Second Ohio Infantry, but not mus- tered. Upon returning from the first threemonths service he was commissioned as a Lieutenant for three years in the Twentyfourth Ohio Infantry. After serv- ing with that company until some time in 1862 he was obliged to resign on necount of a sunstroke which completely disabled him for farther service. In the fall of 1862, thinking he might be able to serve, he went with the Fortythird Ohio Infantry as a volunteer, but soon found that he was wholly unfitted for the hardships of campaigning, and after staying with that regiment until the begin- ning of 1863 he came home with his health completely shattered. He was in five battles during the war, and had the honor of being one of General Ammen's Brigade which came upon the field of Shiloh towards the close of the first day's fight.

When Mr. Jones left the army he was unable, on account of his poor health, to resume his law studies and so went into the hardware business with his uncle, Lincoln Kilbourne, and his cousin, Owen L. Jones, and is still in the same busi-

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ness with Owen L. Jones, the style of the firm being Kilbourne, Jones & Company. He was married on April 22, 1889, to Annette, daughter of Doctor R. M. Denig, of Columbus. He has always been a member of the Republican party, but has never held a political office, or sought one. He served five years in the Volunteer Fire Department of Columbus, from 1853 to 1858, and from 1856 to 1861 as a member of the State Fencibles in the State Militia. He is now a mem - ber of the following societies : The Greek Letter College Fraternity of the Theta Delta Chi; the State Feucibles Association of Columbus; the Lincoln League; the Columbus Club ; the Grand Army of the Republic ; the Loyal Legion ; Society of the Army of the Potomac, and of the Army of the Cumberland.

WAGER SWAYNE

[Portrait opposite page 9%.]

Was born in Columbus, Ohio, November 10, 1834. The founder of the Swayue family in America was Francis Swayne, an English physician who sailed from East Hempstead, in Berkshire, England, in 1710, settling in East Marlborough, Chester County, Pennsylvania. Descended from him was Judge Noah H. Swayne, Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court from 1861 to 1881, and father of General Swayne. The latter's mother was Sarah Ann Wager, a Virginia lady who celebrated her marriage to Judge Swayne by freeing ber slaves, and throughout her after-life in Ohio was a consistent friend of the blacks, imparting her principles to her son. Wager Swayne was educated at Yale College, graduat- ing in 1856. Among his classmates was an unusual number of students who afterwards became distinguished, including Honorable Chauncey M. Depew, United States Supreme Court Judges Brown and Brewer, Judge McGruder, of the Illinois Supreme Court, J. H. Hallock, publisher of Christian at Work, and others. After his course at Yale young Swayne entered the Cincinnati Law School, from which he graduated in 1859. He formed a law partnership with his father and practised two years until the war of the rebellion broke out. Notwithstanding that both his father and mother were Virginians by birth, their sympathies and his were with the cause of Lincoln. He offered his services to the Government, and in July, 1861, was appointed Major of the Fortythird Ohio Volunteers. He was first stationed at Camp Chase, near Columbus, then took part in the Missouri campaign under Pope in 1861-2. He assisted in the capture of New Madrid and Island Number Ten and was engaged in the battles of Corinth and Iuka. During the Corinth engagement the Colonel of the Fortythird Ohio was killed, the com- mand devolving upon Major Swayne, who was subsequently commissioned as Col- onel. He continued with his regiment until the fall of 1863 in Tennessee, Missis- sippi and Alabama, and accompanied Sherman on his March to the Sea. During this campaign Colonel Swayne lost his right leg by the explosion of a shell, in an affair at the crossing of the Salkahatchie River, South Carolina, and " for gallant and distinguished services " in that action was commissioned Brevet Brigadier- General, and later promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General.

General Swayne was invalided until June, 1865, when at the request of Gen- eral O. O. Howard, Chief of the Freedinen's Bureau, he was detailed by the War Department to duty in Alabama as Assistant Commissioner of the Bureau in that State. During the next three years the history of the Freedmen's Bureau in Ala- bama and the history of General Swayne's life are almost coincident. He instituted various enterprises for the education of the blacks and to provide them with suste- nance and the opportunities to become self-supporting. Through Secretary Stan-

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ton he secured from President Johnson an order devoting certain confiscated materials to the education of the freedmen, and subsequently, through Vice Presi- dent Henry Wilson an Act of Congress devoting to the same cause such real property as had been purchased from individuals by the rebel government, and so by the rules of international law became the property of the United States. With the first of these funds, an extensive system of temporary schools was estab- lished, the first educational privilege the colored people of that State ever had enjoyed. These were maintained until succeeded by a State Common School System. The second was applied to the establishment at Talladega, Mobile, Mont- gomery and elsewhere of educational institutions which were intended to be per- . manent. Most of them are still valuable agencies of progress, notably at Talla- dega and Montgomery, being in charge of permanent religions or educational organizations. But his policy was radically different from that which President Johnson eventually adopted, and accordingly General Swayne was recalled from Alabama in 1868. The command of the United States forces in Alabama had meantime, soon after he came into the State, been added to his duties, and to facil- itate this he was made a Major-General of Volunteers. In 1866 Congress had increased the regular army of the United States by the creation of four regiments of infantry known as " The Veteran Reserve Corps," composed of disabled volun- teer soldiers. Generals Daniel E. Sickles, John C. Robinson, Thomas C. Pitcher and Wager Swayne were respectively appointed to the command of these regi- ments.

In December, 1868, General Swayne was married to Ellen Harris, daughter of a prominent lawyer of Louisville, Kentucky. About this time he was assigned to duty in the War Department at Washington, but in 1880 was, at his own request, placed on the retired list of the army, and resumed the practice of law, locating himself at Toledo, Ohio. Almost immediately he took rank among the foremost lawyers of Ohio. He fought through the lower courts, and finally through the Supreme Court of the United States, the constitutionality of a State law, which was designed to tax national banks out of existence, and secured a final decis- ion in the negative. General Swayne soon had among bis clients such concerns as the American Union Telegraph Company and the Wabash Railroad Company, and in 1879 the growth of his railroad and telegraph business made it necessary for him to remove to New York City, where his clients were. In May, 1881, he entered into partnership with Judge John F. Dillon, and the firm soon became general counsel for the Western Union Telegraph Company, the Missouri Pacific Railway Company, and other great commercial and railway interests. General Swayne is a member of the Executive Committee of the American Tract Society. and also of the Board of Domestic and Foreign Missions of the Protestant Episco- pal Church. He was the second president of the Ohio Society of New York and is Commander of the New York Commandery of the Loyal Legion.

HENRY M. NEIL

[ Portrait opposite page 112.]

Was born in Columbus, Ohio, August 4, 1832. He is the youngest son of William and Hannah Neil, who settled in Columbus in the year 1818. His early years were spent at home until the age of seventeen when he was sent to school in Massachusetts. He was at Phillips Academy in Andover for one year and two years at Concord. Massachusetts, preparing for Harvard, where he was admitted in 1852. After graduating from Harvard, he returned to Columbus, where he spent his time in assisting his father in various ways in connection with his large busi-

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ness operations ; among other things driving cattle across the mountains to the eastern markets, which at that time consumed about sixty days in transit. In the year 1858 he opened a drug store on the northwest corner of High and Gay streets. In February, 1861, he sold his drug business and held himself in readi- ness to obey his country's call to arms. On April 15, 1861, be enlisted in the army in response to President Lincoln's first call for troops. Atter recruiting two companies in as many days, he was assigned to the staff of Governor Denni- son as nistering officer. He spent the summer and fall of 1861 on that duty. On January 7, 1862, he was commissioned First Lieutenant in the Eleventh Ohio Battery, Light Artillery, which was attached to General John Pope's Army of the Mississippi. He joined the battery at Otterville, Missouri, on January tenth, 1862, and took part in the siege and capture of New Madrid, Missouri, on March 14. He was also present at the capture of Island Number 10 on March 16, and at the siege of Fort Pillow from April 12 to 17. He was with the left wing of General Halleck's army during the advance on and siege and capture of Corinth, Mississippi, from April 30 to May 30. He participated in the battle of Iuka, Mississippi, on September 19, 1862, and the battle of Corinth, Mississippi, on October 3 and 4, 1862. On October 27 he was sent home by General W. S. Rose- crans on account of wounds received at luka and Corinth. On March 8, 1863, he was detached from the Eleventh Ohio Battery and assigned by order of General U. S. Grant to the command of Battery F, Second United States Light Artillery. By a special order of Secretary of War Stanton he was again detached and assigned to the duty of raising the Twentysecond Ohio Battery, Light Artillery, and on April 28, 1863, he was commissioned Captain of this battery and was assigned to General J. D. Cox's command, District of the Ohio. He took part in the expedi- tion against General Imboden in West Virginia from April 28 to May 16, 1863, and against General Morgan during his famous raid in Ohio from July 1 to 26. On August 12 he was ordered to Camp Nelson, Kentucky, and was assigned to the Artillery Brigade of the Twentythird Army Corps, Army of the Ohio. He participated in the siege and capture of Cumberland Gap, which lasted from September 1 to 9. After this event he was assigned to the command of all the artillery at the Gap by order of General Burnside. He remained at the Gap until January 9, 1864, when he was sent home to recruit. He resigned from the army on February 13, 1864, on account of disability arising from wounds and exposure.

Mr. Neil has always been active in connection with any matters relating to soldier affairs and soldier organizations. He is a member of the Loyal Legion, of the Societies of the Army of Tennessee, of the Army of the Cumberland, of the Ex-Army and Navy Officers of Cincinnati, the Grand Army of the Republic, the Ex-Soldiers' and Sailors' Association of Franklin County and the Union Veteran Legion. Since the close of the war he has been engaged in farming and managing his general business affairs.

JAMES KILBOURNE

[Portrait opposite page 128. ]

Was born in Columbus October 9, 1842. His parents were Lincoln and Jane E. Kilbourne. He attended the public schools and graduated from the Highschool in 1857. He received the degrees of Bachelor and Master of Arts from Kenyon College, from which institution he graduated in 1862. The day after he passed his last examination at college he entered the army as a private soldier in Com- pany H, Eightyfourth Ohio Infantry, declining a commission offered him by the

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Governor on the ground that those who had served as enlisted men under the first call were entitled to the offices. He served in Maryland and West Virginia with the Eightyfourth Regiment until August, when he was discharged to accept a commission in the Ninetyfifth Ohio Volunteers, commanded by Colonel W. L. McMillen. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant on August 25, 1862, First Lieutenant on December 5, 1862, and Captain on January 5, 1863. He served under General Sherman with his regiment, which was in the First Brigade, Third Division, Fifteenth Corps, at the battle of Jackson, and during the siege of Vicksburg. After the fall of Vicksburg he acted on the staff of General J. M. Tuttle, commanding the Third Division, Fifteenth Corps, was present at the second capture of Jackson and took part in the several engagements of that campaign. He remained on staff service until June, 1864, being at La Grange, Tennessee, during the winter of 1863, and at Natchez, Mississippi, during the spring of 1864. He returned to his regiment in June, 1864, commanded his company at the battle of Tupelo, Mississippi, in July, 1864, and was specially complimented in orders for gallantry in that en- gagement. He also commanded his company during the pursuit of Price through Arkansas and Missouri in the fall and winter of 1864. He afterwards served on the staff of General John McArthur of the First Division, Sixteenth Army Corps, until mustered out of service at the expiration of his enlistment. While with General McArthur, he was present at the capture of Spanish Fort and other engagements during the siege of Mobile. He was brevetted Major, Lieutenant-Colonel and Colonel of the United States Volunteers.

After the close of the war Colonel Kilbourne entered the Harvard Law School, from which he graduated in 1868 with the degree of' Bachelor of Laws, and in the same year he was admitted to practice as an attorney and counselor- at-law. His health being much broken by his service in the army and his phy- sician advising some active occupation, he did not undertake to practise his profession, but entered the firm of Kilbourne, Kuhns & Co., hardware merchants. After a few years he founded the Kilbourne & Jacobs Manufacturing Company, the management of which has since occupied the greater part of his time and attention, the business of the company rapidly attaining large dimensions and extending to all parts of the world. In addition to being President and General Manager of this company since its organization, Colonel Kilbourne has been in- terested in many other enterprises of a public and private nature. He was a director of the Columbus Board of Trade from 1887 to 1891, and has repeatedly been offered the Presidency of that body. He has been a director of the Colum - bus Club from the time of its foundation to the present time, and has three times been elected its President, which office he now holds. He is also a director of the Fourth National and the Clinton National banks; the Columbus, Hocking Valley & Toledo Railway Company, the Columbus & Cincinnati Midland Railroad Company, of many private business corporations and of various political and social organizations. He is also president of the Board of Trustees of the Pub- lie Library and of the Children's Hospital. Colonel Kilbourne has always been a devoted student of political economy, and while deelining to accept any politi- cal preferment, he has taken an active interest in public affairs, being frequently called upon to make addresses upon various subjects. In politics be is an ardent Democrat. Of decided literary tastes, he has one of the best private libraries in the city, and his house is also the home of the Magazine Club, which is com- posed of thirty gentlemen who, for seven years, have met there the first Thurs- day of each month for the discussion of literary and economic questions. Col- onel Kilbourne attends the Protestant Episcopal church and is a vestryman of St. Paul's. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee and of the Loyal Legion.

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History of the city of Columbus, capital of Ohio, Volume II, Part 110

Author: Lee, Alfred Emory, 1838-; W. W. Munsell & Co Publication date: 1892 Publisher: New York and Chicago : Munsell & Co. Number of Pages: 1196

Author: Lee, Alfred Emory, 1838-; W. W. Munsell & Co
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: New York and Chicago : Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1196