History of the city of Columbus, capital of Ohio, Volume II, Part 114

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 114

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

SAMUEL STRASSER RICKLY,

[Portrait of Ralph R. Rickly opposite page 312.]

The venerable banker, is one of the familiar figures in Columbus, and one of the city's most prominent citizens. He is the son of John and Anna Rickly, nee Strasser, and was born January 2, 1819, in Bützberg, Canton Bern, Switzerland, where the name was spelled Rickli. He is the only survivor of a family of eigh- teen children. His grandfathers, on both sides, were extensive grain merchants, doing business during the French Revolution, and his father, although by trade a saddler (at which trade Mr. Rickly was required to work from the time he was 12 or 13 years old), also followed the grain business.

His father was postmaster of the parish, and from the time Mr. Rickly was twelve years old until he left Switzerland, he acted as letter carrier, often exposed to great hardships on account of the distance he had to travel.

He attended very indifferent parish schools from the time he was old enough until he left the old country, being allowed to learn nothing except reading, writ- ing, and arithmetic, and committing to memory the Heidelberg catechism and other church literature.

Mr. Rickly's parents emigrated to America in 1834, locating at Baltimore, Fairfield County, Ohio. Here the entire family of sixteen took sick, except John Jacob, and John, the eldest sons, and within four weeks nine of their number died, including the five youngest children, the parents, and the father's sister and mother. The cause of this fatality was attributed mainly to change of climate and diet. The survivors, except John Jacob and John above mentioned, found homes in different families, Mr. Rickly being indentured, against his will, to learn the carpenter's trade.

His father brought with him from the old country a considerable amount of money, consisting of five-franc pieces put up in rolls of twentyfive each, but never informed any of his children where he kept it. There was, however, an adminis- trator appointed, and when the children arrived of age, each received what was represented to them to be its respective share.

Although apprenticed to learn the carpenter's trade, he was compelled to do farm work of the roughest kind, working at the trade only when there was no farm work to attend to. Being then eighteen years old, and inhumanly treated, he gathered his little belongings in a handkerchief and went to Newark, Ohio, where his two older brothers were then living. After working there for a few months he came to Columbus in 1836, on a canal boat loaded with highwines, being the only passenger, the chief cook, and driver of the only mule belonging to the craft.

Soon after this Mr. Rickly returned to Lancaster, Fairfield County, Ohio, where he was freed from his former boss.

For a year or more he worked at the carpenter's trade and cabinetmaking, and in the spring of 1838 found employment as clerk in a dry goods store. This posi- tion afforded him a better opportunity than he had heretofore had of learning English.

53*

834

HISTORY OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS.

In the spring of 1839 his employer removed his goods to an eastern State, and Mr. Rickly was left to close up the business. During this spring he attended school for a few weeks, after which, in June, 1839, he went to Marshall College, Mercersburg, Pennsylvania, which he entered in the autumn, and from which he was graduated in the autumn of 1843, delivering the first German oration that had been delivered up to that time in the institution, his subject being " The Scenery of Switzerland ;" but the custom then inaugurated has ever since been continued. Hon. James Buchanan, afterwards President of the United States, then president of the college trustees, sat, dressed in elegantly fitting garments with snow-white cravat, on the stage.

After studying theology for a short time and teaching in several private families in Maryland, and Alexandria, Virginia, Mr. Rickly was married in 1845.

His health failing from hemorrhage and other causes, he came to Columbus in 1847, was examined as a teacher, and commenced the German-English schools here at the corner of Mound and Third streets.

The schools rapidly grew and prospered, in spite of the opposition in many quarters against the establishment of German schools in connection with our union schools, but their success has proven the wisdom of the course then adopted. In the spring of 1848 Mr. Rickly was made principal of the Columbus High School, then started in the building uow owned by Mrs. Ferson on East Town Street, between Fifth and Sixth. The late Doctor A. D. Lord, then school superintendent, and his wife, both took part in teaching. Many pupils of that time have since become prominent and useful citizens, some of them distinguished in State and National affairs.

On the breaking out of the cholera in the spring of 1849, Mr. Rickly estab- lished an academy at Tarlton, Pickaway County, Ohio, which was adopted in the spring of the following year, by the Synod of the Reformed Church as the nucleus of a church institution, and named Heidelberg College.

In the autumn of the same year the institution was permanently located at Tiffin, Ohio, and in the summer of the following year Mr. Rickly was elected superintendent of the Tiffin union schools, removing there July 4, 1851. He was also elected Professor of the Theory and Practice of Teaching in Heidelberg College (now Heidelberg University), to which institution he has recently con- tributed liberally in money, furnishing and decorating the chapel which is now named after him, "Rickly Chapel." In 1853, having lost a much loved daughter, be returned to Columbus and opened a select school in the basement of what was then the First Reformed Church on Town Street, between Fourth and Fifth.

In the following winter without any solicitation on his part, he was elected Journal Clerk of the Ohio House of Representatives. He also became secretary of the Ohio Manufacturing Company then repairing Sullivant's Mill, since kuown as Rickly's Mill, and erecting a large stone building for the manufacture of hubs and bentwork. Subsequently Mr. Rickly devoted his time to milling and manu- facturing, selling large quantities of flour in Central and Northern Ohio. In 1857 he and his brother John Jacob, under the firm name of Rickly & Brother, began the banking business. In 1870 he bought out his brother and continued in business alone until the panic of September, 1873, when on account of heavy losses sustained by the failure of Jay Cooke & Co. and others, he found it advis- able to make an assignment for the benefit of his creditors as well as for himself, knowing that he had abundant resources to meet all his liabilities if reasonable time was allowed him to convert his assets into money. As soon as sufficient time had elapsed for advertising notices to creditors, he was released from the assign- ment, and his assignee retransferred the assets back to him. Having paid all his creditors in full, he in 1875 organized the Capital City Bank, which has continued to the present time.

835

REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

During the State Fair of 1879 the bank was robbed of $20,000 in broad day- light, only $1,000 of which was ever recovered. On July 13, 1880, Mr. Rickly was shot through the eyes by a man named Eichenberg, and became totally blind, notice of which appears in the chapter on Banking in Volume I.

Notwithstanding his blindness, Mr. Riekly has continued his business, and has taken an active part in the proceedings of the Board of Trade, advocating the improvement of our streets in the central and business portions of our city, and lighting it by eleetrieity, and as early as January 6, 1885, he introduced in that body a resolution to hold here, in the largest city in the world" bearing the name of Columbus, a world's exposition commemorating the Fourth Centennial of the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus. Mr. Rickly was therefore the originator of this gigantic enterprise, which Chicago subsequently seeured through various eauses, and which is being celebrated not only in the United States but on the whole American continent.

On September 21, 1886, he also introduced in the Board of Trade the follow - ing resolution, which was adopted :

Resolved, That the direetors of this Board be respectfully requested to take into consideration the propriety of purchasing a suitable lot, and the ereetion thereon of an edifiee adapted to the uses of this Board, and also containing accommodations for large conventions and other gatherings.

Subsequently the directors reported favorably and the result is seen in the elegant Board of Trade building on East Broad Street.

During the early part of the late war, Mr. Rickly was a member of the School Board ; he has also been a member of the City Board of Equalization, Trustee of the Publie Library, and foreman of the United States Grand Jury at Cincinnati. At the time he was hurt, and for several years previous to that time, he was Pres- ident of the Board of Trade. He was also a delegate appointed either by the Gov- ernor or the Mayor to six National Commercial Conventions, held respectively at Louisville, Baltimore, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Chicago and New Orleans. He was a stockholder in the first street railway built in the city of Columbus, known as the High Street Railroad, was a member of a syndicate which purchased, in about the year 1870, the old lunatic asylum grounds, and subdivided it into eity lots, calling it East Park Place, and he also aided in the organization of the East Park Place Street Railway (Long Street) of which he was treasurer from the beginning, holding the office until its consolidation with other street railways, called the Columbus Consolidated Street Railroad, of which latter he continues to be a stockholder and director to the present time. He also assisted in the organization of the Glenwood and Greenlawn Street Railway Company, of which he was also treasurer, and has continued a stockholder until now. Mr. Rickly has been inter- ested as a stoekholder and director in three of the Turnpike Companies (toll roads) of this county, and continues to be sueh in two of them to the present time. He is a member of a sydicate which purehased a large traet of land on the West Side, subdividing it into some eight hundred city lots, and called West Park Place. This is now one of the most lively parts of the city.

Mr. Rickly's brother, John Jacob, was a contractor on the Mercer County Reservoir, kept the principal hotel in St. Marys, Ohio, for a number of years, was Treasurer of Auglaize County, was a member of the Legislature, was one of the legis- lative committeemen to honor Governor Louis Kossuth, and after removing to this city was a member of the city council, delegate to the State Constitutional Conven- tion, and filled many other positions of trust in the city and county. He died in April, 1877. He and Ralph G. Graham laid out Rickly and Graham's addition to Colum- bus. Mr. Rickly's second brother, John, aided in the improvement of Columbus by building many houses, notably one called the Bull's Head Tavern, at the northwest corner of Main Street and Grant Avenue; also one at the southwest

836

HISTORY OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS.

corner of Main Street and Parsons Avenne. He laid out an addition to the city between Main and Mound streets, west of Parsons Avenue, called John Rickly's addition, also an addition north of Main Street and east of the Blind Asylum.

In 1856 he removed to Columbus, Nebraska, where he died at the age of 74 years, after filling many positions of trust, including the mayoralty. He was the principal manager of the finances of the city and county. A younger brother (Rudolph) came to Columbus about 1842 and was in the slaughtering business. At the outbreak of the war, he organized a cavalry company and was elected captain, but before entering the service he died. Mr. Rickly had three sisters who survived the terrible calamity of 1834, and grew to womanhood. The oldest one married Conrad Born, the wealthy brewer of this city, and died about the year 1880. The next one lived and died in Illinois, and the youngest in Fairfield County, Ohio.

Mr. Rickly is the father of four children, two daughters who died in infancy, and two sons, the youngest of whom died August 1, 1882, aged twentysix years and two months. He was, at the time of his death, teller in the Capital City Bank, and being a musician was organist in the First Congregational Church here, and also for Mount Vernon Commandery Number One, Knights Templar. He was also superintendent of the City Union Mission Schools and almost idol- ized by the pupils.

The portrait accompanying this sketch is that of Mr. Rickly's son, Ralph Reamer Rickly, who was born in Tarlton, Pickaway County, Ohio, Jannary 20, 1851. After attending Columbus schools and being graduated from the High School in 1868, he entered Yale College, where he was graduated in 1872. Since that time he has been cashier in his father's first bank, and afterwards in the Cap- ital City Bank.

Mr. Ralph Rickly is a prominent Mason, and in 1891 took the thirtythird degree in that order. He is also secretary and treasurer of the Glenwood and Greenlawn Street Railway Company, and now president of the Bank of Corning, at Corning, Perry County, Ohio.

JACOB FELBER

[Portrait opposite page 344.1

Was born in Switzerland in the year 1840, and came to America in 1852, stopping at Kenton, Hardin County, Ohio. In 1859 he came to Columbus, where he learned the baker's trade and has been engaged in business since that year at the southeast corner of High and Cherry streets. He learned the trade under O. H. Lattimer, and in 1866 became a partner in the bakery and confectionery, under the firm name of Krauss & Felber. This partnership continued from November, 1866, to June, 1868, when Mr. George W. Coleman bought the interest of Mr. Krauss, and the firm became Coleman & Felber. Mr. Coleman died suddenly in 1892, but the bakery and confectionery is still continued under the firm name of Coleman & Felber, the widow and children retaining Mr. Coleman's interest.

In February, 1889, Messrs. Coleman & Felber became interested in the Busy Bee Candy Kitchen, the most extensive restaurant in the city, or in the State. The Candy Kitchen embraces seven stores, including the main establishment at Number 43-45 North High Street.

Mr. Felber married Miss Barbara Caroline Bond, a native of Hocking Coun- ty, Ohio, on March 10, 1864, and the union has been blessed with seven children, three of whom are boys. Mr. Felber, although quiet and unassuming, is well and favorably known as a business man. He and his family have lived for twentyone years in the residence at Number 314 South Third Street.

837

REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

WILLIAM CORCORAN REYNOLDS

[Portrait opposite page 352.]

Holds a conspicuous place among the young men who have participated in the development of the West Side of Columbus. Born in Washington, D. C., he was educated principally at Norwich, Connecticut, where was the summer home of his family ; their house, one of the oldest in New England, having been occupied suc- cessively since 1659 by those who bore the Reynolds name. His mother, a niece of the late W. W. Corcoran, was from Baltimore. Coming west in 1880, Mr. Reynolds began his business life in the employ of Wilson L. Gill. After this he traveled extensively in the Far West, in the interest of the Columbus Hollow- ware Company, gaining a knowledge of the people and business points in that part of the country, which was of service in a subsequent undertaking - a man- ufactory in his own name. In 1885 he became interested to a small extent in the Columbus Dash & Wagon Company. After remaining with this firm several years, he sold his interest and started in business for himself, occupying a build- ing just west of the river, on Broad Street. This venture was very successful, and has since been merged into the corporation styled The William C. Reynolds Com- pany, manufacturers of leather dashes and specialties in carriage trimmings.

In 1889 Mr. Reynolds organized the Franklin Buggy Company, and through negotiations with the Franklin Land Association, located the plant a mile west of the dash factory, in a part of the city as yet almost unoccupied except by small and scattered dwellings. He is president and general manager of this company, which, from a small beginning, has in a few years grown to be one of the largest manufactories of its kind in the country. On May 28, 1892, a ship- ment in a single day of 134 finished fourwheeled vehicles broke the world's rec- ord of 128. This indicates a capacity of one vehicle every + 3-8 minutes, and will suggest the size of the plant.

In 1888 Mr. Reynolds married Miss Florence Maclay Awl, granddaughter of the late Doctor William M. Awl, one of the best known residents of Columbus, who was intimately connected with the city's development in earlier times.

NOAH HAYNES SWAYNE,

[Portrait opposite page 8.]

One of the most distinguished jurists who have resided in Columbus, was born in Culpeper County, Virginia, December 7, 1804. He was the descendant of Francis Swayne, who came to America with William Penn, and the farm on which he settled near Philadelphia is still in the possession of his descendants. Mr. Swayne removed with his father, Joshua, to Virginia, and after receiving a liberal education at Waterford, in that State, he studied law in Warrenton and was admitted to the bar in 1823. Two years later he removed to Coshocton, Ohio, where he opened a law office. One year later, in 1826, he was elected Prosecuting Attor- ney of Coshocton County, which office he held until 1829. As a Jefferson Demo- crat he then entered the Ohio Legislature, and in 1831 he was elected United States District Attorney for Ohio, removing to Columbus and filling this office until 1841. In 1833 he declined the office of presiding judge of the Common Pleas Court. Afterwards he practised law until he was appointed, with Alfred Kelly and Gustavus Swan, a member of the fund commission to restore the credit

838

HISTORY OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS.

of the State. He also served on the commission appointed by the Governor to go to Washington to effect a settlement of the boundary line between Ohio and Michigan, and, in 1840, was a member of the committee to investigate the condition of the blind.

One of the law cases in which Mr. Swayne achieved great celebrity, was the trial of William Kissane and others in the United States Circuit Court, in 1853, for burning the steamboat Martha Washington to obtain the insurance. He was pitted in this case against Henry Stanbery, afterward Attorney General of the United States. Among other distinguished lawyers engaged in the case, were Judge Walker and Messrs. Ewing, Pugh and Pendleton. In 1839 Mr. Swayne formed a partnership with James L. Bates, the firm being Swayne & Bates, and continuing until 1852. In 1853 Llewellyn Baber, a relative of Mr. Swayne, suc- ceeded Mr. Bates in the partnership. This partnership was dissolved April 1, 1860. In May, 1859, Judge Swayne appeared as co-counsel with Mr. Belden, United States District Attorney, being pitted against Attorney General Wolcott in the fugitive slave cases.

Owing to his antislavery opinions. Judge Swayne joined the Republican party on its formation, and liberated at an early date the slaves he had gained by his marriage in 1832. In 1862 he was appointed by President Lincoln a Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, which high office he held until obliged to resign in 1881, on account of advanced age. The degree of LL. D. was con- ferred on him by Yale, Dartmouth and Marietta Colleges. Judge Swayne was married in 1832 to Miss Sarah Ann Wager, of Harper's Ferry, Virginia. There were born of this union four sons - General Wager Swayne, Henry Foote Swayne, Noah and Frank Swayne ; also five daughters - Catherine, Rebecca, Vir- ginia, Sallie and Mrs. Edwin Parsons. The four daughters first named died in childhood, and are buried in Green Lawn Cemetery. Judge Swayne died in New York City on June 8, 1884, at a ripe old age and full of honors.

WILLIAM H. GRUBS

[ Portrait opposite page 784.]

Was born July 29, 1840, in Jefferson Township, Franklin County, Ohio, and is the son of James and Sarah Grubs. His father, James Grubs, was born in Frederick County, Virginia and his mother in Franklin County, Ohio. Jesse Grubs, the father of James, was engaged in the transportation of army supplies during the war of 1812. and removed with his family from Virginia to Somerset, Perry County, Ohio, in 1817. James Grubs was married to Sarah Compton, daughter of Job Compton, in 1837. He settled near Reynoldsburg, Ohio, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits, the lumber and tombstone business until 1858. He then began the sale of musical instruments, which he carried on until he retired from business in 1876. William Harrison Grubs was born on his father's farm. He received his early education in the district school, afterwards attending for a few terms a select school at Reynoldsburg. He also took a commercial course in Duff & McCoy's Business College, in Columbus. He taught school for two winters seven miles east of Columbus on Broad Street, and traveled in the summer with his father in the music business. In August, 1862, he enlisted in the army, join - ing the Ninetyfifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served three years as private, second sergeant, orderly sergeant, sergeantmajor and first lieutenant. On his return from the army in 1865 he engaged in the music business in Reynoldsburg with his father, continuing there until 1869. He then removed to Chicago. where

839

REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

he entered the real estate business. After a residence there of eighteen months, he returned to Franklin County, Ohio, settling at Westerville, and soon after formed a partnership with his father and two brothers to carry on the sale of musical instruments. In 1874 the firm removed to Columbus, and two years later Mr. Grubs bought the interests of his father and brothers. He has since carried on the business himself on High Street. From a small beginning his business has steadily developed, until he is now proprietor of one of the largest establishments of its kind in Central Ohio. He has a large ball connected with his salesrooms, especially adapted for rehearsals, recitals and concerts, the use of which he freely grants for the purposes of musical entertainments, both amateur and professional. Mr. Grubs was married in 1866 to Elizabeth C. Torrence, and they have one child, Mary Jessie. Politically Mr. Grubs is a Republican, and is a member of the Lincoln League. He belongs to the Masonic order, Magnolia Lodge, and McCoy Post, G. A. R.

A. T. MORLEY

[Portrait opposite page 360.]

May be called the father of the furnace trade in Columbus. He is the son of Marshall W. and Eliza T. Morley, natives of New York, and was born November 23, 1839, in Onondaga County, that State. He has one brother living, George W., residing in Columbus. Mr. Morley obtained his education at Falley Seminary, Fulton, Oswego County, New York. He was twice married. His second wife, who is still living, is a native of New York, her maiden name being Annis Pal- mer. This second marriage occurred eighteen years ago. No children were born of either union. When about eighteen years of age, Mr. Morley went to Kala- mazoo, Michigan, where he clerked for two years in a bookstore. From Kalama- zoo he went to Danville, Illinois, where he remained three years and learned tbe tinner's trade. From Danville Mr. Morley returned to Syracuse, New York, and from there went to Red Creek, Wayne County, where, in 1863, he enlisted in the Ninth New York Heavy Artillery, serving two years. After being mustered out he located at Cleveland, Ohio, thence drifting back to Rochester, New York, where he carried on furnacemaking for eleven years. In 1874 he came to Colum- bus, Ohio, where he has since been engaged in the furnace business. He origin- ated and was for seven years identified with the Columbus Warm Air Furnace Company Fire destroyed the company's building, and the company dissolved. Subsequently Mr. Morley was engaged for two and a half years with the P. Hay- den Saddlery Hardware Company, and for the past four years he has been the Columbus agent for an eastern Ohio factory. Mr. Morley erected the first brick- set furnace in Columbus, and has over 4,000 furnaces in operation in this city. There is probably not another man in Ohio who has had so much experience in furnace building and setting as he.

CHARLES WEGE,

[Portrait opposite page 576.]

One of the most prominent marble dealers of Columbus, was born in the year 1852, in Germany, and came to America in 1869. He spent his first three years in this country in the State of New Jersey, and afterwards lived for a similar

840

HISTORY OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of the city of Columbus, capital of Ohio, Volume II, Part 114

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