USA > Ohio > Lucas County > Toledo > Memoirs of Lucas County and the City of Toledo > Part 4
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BIOGRAPHICAL
During all his preparatory school and college course, he never encountered any one who could defeat him, either at running or at high or broad jump. In his Freshman year, he became a member of the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity-the original and always one of the leading college fraternities of the United States. In college, he early became identified with the Nupi Kappa Literary and De- bating Society, and during his college course was an ardently active member of the same. In his Senior year, he was president of his class, and was also chosen one of the four editors of the "Kenyon Reveille," a publication then, and still, issued by the Senior class. In 1868, in his Senior year, with four other brother fraternity men of his class, he took the Master's and the two pre- ceding degrees at the Masonic lodge, in Mount Vernon, Ohio, thus perpetuating through life the fraternal relations so happily begun at college. After graduation, he entered the law office of Buck- land, Everett & Fowler, at Fremont, Ohio, where he commenced the study of law, and where he continued such study until October, 1869, when he entered the Harvard Law School, at Cambridge, Mass. Here he took the full course of two years and, June 28, 1871, was graduated by that institution with the degree of Bach- elor of Law. On Sept. 4, 1871, he was admitted to the bar, at ยท Elyria, Ohio, by the old District Court then sitting there. On Oct. 2, 1871, Mr. Wilson took up his residence at Toledo, Ohio, and connected himself with the law office of Pratt & Starr, which consisted of Charles Pratt and Charles C. Starr. In July, 1872, Mr. Starr withdrew from the firm and Mr. Pratt and Mr. Wilson formed a law partnership, as Pratt & Wilson, with offices in the Finlay Building, known as the Chamber of Commerce, at the corner of Summit and Madison streets. This building has since burned. In 1879, Erskine H. Potter was admitted to the firm, which then became Pratt, Wilson & Potter. This partnership con- tinued until 1880, when Mr. Potter withdrew and the firm again became Pratt & Wilson. In 1884, Henry S. Pratt, the oldest son of Charles Pratt, was admitted to the firm, which then became Pratt, Wilson & Pratt. In 1890, Henry S. Pratt withdrew from this partnership, which again became Pratt & Wilson and so con- tinued until Feb. 1, 1895, when it was dissolved by reason of the
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election of Judge Pratt to a seat on the Common Pleas bench. Since that time, Mr. Wilson has not been associated with any one in the practice of law. The firm of Pratt & Wilson was among the leaders of the Lucas county bar, and had a large practice in Lucas county and in the other counties of Northwestern Ohio, especially in the adjoining counties of Wood and Ottawa. On Mr. Wilson fell the burden of the business in the outside coun- ties, so that he often wondered to the bar of which county he rightfully belonged. The offices of Pratt & Wilson were on the second floor of the Chamber of Commerce Building, above men- tioned, room numbers 24 and 25, until early in 1884, when, with Judge John H. Doyle, they rented, for a term of years, the old brick Gardner residence, at the corner of Madison and Superior streets. This building they arranged for offices, and it was called "Gardner Place." Judge Doyle occupied the first floor, and Pratt & Wilson all the rooms on the second floor, and they made most commodious and comfortable offices. This was then a "pioneer" movement, for before that time St. Clair street was the extreme western boundary for law offices. In 1892, Pratt & Wilson were compelled to vacate these offices, on account of the erection of the present Gardner Building. They then took offices on the fourth floor of the Produce Exchange, numbers 44 and 45. Mr. Wilson continued in these offices, after the dissolution of the firm of Pratt & Wilson, until February, 1897, when he took offices on the fifth floor of the new Gardner Building, numbers 515 and 516, where he has since remained. While engaged in the active practice of his profession, Mr. Wilson was thoroughly grounded in the fundamental principles and theory of the law, as well as in the decisions of the courts. He had a retentive and active memory, and when a legal question was presented to him, he could ordi- narily give the title of a decision in point, with the volume and page where it could be found. In 1884, the Republicans of Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky, Erie, and Huron counties, comprising the First sub-division of the Fourth Judicial District of Ohio, nominated Mr. Wilson as their candidate for Common Pleas Judge. This judicial sub-division was largely Democratic. Mr. Wilson ran ahead of his ticket in every county, especially in Lucas county,
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where he resided, and for a time after the election his election was conceded, but when the Democratic votes from the wilds of Ottawa county were all counted and returned, it was found that he was beaten by a small majority. This was the year in which Grover Cleveland was elected President of the United States. In 1888, Mr. Wilson was again nominated for Common Pleas Judge, by the Republicans of the same counties, but was again unable to overcome the Democratic majority against him. On Nov. 1, 1893, he was chosen a director of the First National Bank, of Fremont, Ohio, and has been re-elected each year since then. On Aug. 5, 1904, he was elected vice-president of that bank, which position he held until April 4, 1905, when he was elected its president, and has each year since been re-elected to that position. During the past six or seven years, he has been inter- ested in the production of crude petroleum oil from wells drilled by him on land owned by him in Sandusky county, Ohio. During the past number of years, he has devoted a great deal of time to the development of his farm property, of which he has a large amount in Lucas, Wood, and Sandusky counties. He is a stock- holder in a number of banking institutions, besides the First National Bank of Fremont, and also in industrial corporations. The above matters, together with the care of other property interests, has taken so much of his time of late years that he has substantially withdrawn from the active practice of law. In politics, Mr. Wilson has always been a Republican. When a young man, he took a very active part in politics and was always a delegate to con- ventions from the old Seventh ward, which then comprised all of the territory from Monroe to Cherry streets, and from Woodruff avenue to the western city line. He was Republican ward com- mitteeman for that ward for years, and he served for many years as a member of the city and county Central and Executive com- mittees. He served as chairman of the Republican City Committee, and was judicial committeeman for Lucas county. He was always among the campaign speakers, who awoke the echoes and stirred up the natives. He is a member of Sanford L. Collins Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons, of Toledo, Ohio; a member of the To- ledo Club and of the Country Club, and for many years was a
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MEMOIRS OF LUCAS COUNTY
member of the Burns Curling Club. Mr. Wilson's parents were staunch members of the Protestant Episcopal church, and he was baptized in that church, but never became a member of the same. On Sept. 6, 1876, Mr. Wilson was married to Cornelia L., daughter of Isaac E. and Cornelia B. Amsden, of Fremont, Ohio. Two children were born of this marriage-Cornelia A., who is married to William F. Johnson, of Pittsburg, Pa .; and Justice Wilson, who married Marion L., daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel B. Sneath, of Tiffin, Ohio. Justice Wilson is a member of the Lucas county bar. Mr. Wilson is about five feet nine inches in height and weighs 215 pounds. He has a dark complexion and grayish blue eyes. He has always been an omnivorous reader. He spent his evenings at home, and usually read from early evening until 12 o'clock, or later. He has a large and diversified library of books, which he accumulated as he read them. He has no books for show, and he can truly say that all the books on his shelves are old friends, with whom he has spent many a pleasant hour. He has a great fund of humor and a quick and ready wit, and a good story for every occasion. The "good things" he has said are without number. He has frequently been called upon to act as toast- master at banquets, and he has rarely escaped being down for a response to a toast at the bar and other banquets he has attended.
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BIOGRAPHICAL
ORVILLE SANFORD BRUMBACK
Orville Sanford Brumback, attorney-at-law, and one of the leaders in legal circles of the city and State, was born on a farm, near Delaware, Ohio, Dec. 2, 1855. He is the son of John San- ford and Ellen (Purmort) Brumback. The father was a direct descendant of an old Virginia family, the progenitor of which emigrated from Switzerland and settled in the Shenandoah val- ley, in 1760. The mother was of English-French descent, and of a line directly traceable to the eminent jurist, Chancellor Wal- worth. In 1860, the parents left the farm and removed to Van Wert, Ohio, where the father became established in the dry-goods business, but subsequently he became a banker, and, as president of the Van Wert National Bank, was for years one of the most influential and successful citizens of Van Wert; and when he died, in 1897, the whole community mourned a true friend of the people, and an honorable, upright gentleman. By his will, drawn by his son Orville, he requested that his heirs carry out his plans for building and donating a public library to the city of his adop- tion. The bequest was made optional with his heirs, but they all entered enthusiastically into the project and built a splendid fire- proof stone library, the pride of all its citizens, in one of the parks of Van Wert. This was done before the era of Mr. Carnegie's library benevolence, so that the "Brumback Library" of Van Wert is well regarded as one of the pioneers in this splendid form of philanthropy. The mother, who yet survives her husband, makes her home in Van Wert, where she is well known as a lady of culture and refinement, and is beloved by all who know her. It was largely through her intelligent help and industry that her husband was able to attain the financial success he did. Orville S. Brumback was thoroughly and carefully educated, his father sparing no ex- pense to afford him the opportunity to obtain the highest degree of culture to be attained by attendance upon great educational institutions. Finishing his preparatory work in the Van Wert
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MEMOIRS OF LUCAS COUNTY
schools when he was but sixteen years of age, he matriculated in the classical course at Wooster University. At the end of his Sophomore year, being desirous of availing himself of the larger advantages afforded by the Eastern colleges, he left Wooster to enter the Junior class in Princeton University. Throughout the two years of his work in that renowned institution he maintained the same high standard of scholarship he had accomplished at Wooster. His ability and scholastic attainments soon won him recognition in the minds of students and faculty alike, so that when the time came for the selection of speakers for the commencement exercises of his class he was one of ten chosen out of a class of 130 members, to deliver the commencement day orations. His gradua- tion at Princeton was in the class of 1877, and his selection for the honors of the class was the more marked by reason of his being a Westerner in an institution composed largely of Eastern men, and the fact that but two years of his collegiate work had been done there. The faculty of the institution granted him the degree of Bachelor of Arts upon the completion of his college course, and later, in recognition of his prominence in letters, gave him the honorary degree of Master of Arts. Upon his return to Van Wert, immediately after commencement, Mr. Brumback became a student of the law in the office of Col. I. N. Alexander, one of the promi- nent Ohio lawyers of the old school. After some experience in professional work he became convinced that he was fitted for the practice of law, and acting upon this determination entered the college of law of the University of Michigan in the fall of 1877. In June, two years later, he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Laws, conferred by the regents of that institution, and the following winter was successful in passing the examina- tion necessary for admission to practice before the Ohio bar. Com- ing to Toledo the same year he secured a position as assistant in the office of Dodge & Raymond, one of the largest legal firms of this part of the State at that time. In 1880, he had so far pro- gressed in the acquaintance and esteem of his associates that he felt the time was ripe to open an office of his own, and, acting upon this decision, "hung out his shingle." Ever since then he has made his profession the chief concern of his life, and his
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BIOGRAPHICAL
success has demonstrated the wisdom of his choice. His practice has been court work in all kinds of cases, particularizing more especially in corporation litigation. On Jan. 1, 1894, Mr. Brum- back, in partnership with Hon. Frank Hurd and Charles A. Thatcher, organized the firm of Hurd, Brumback & Thatcher, which remained intact until the death of Mr. Hurd, in 1896. Out of respect for the deceased member, the surviving partners continued the practice under the same name until the final dissolution of the firm, in November, 1901. Since then Mr. Brumback has had no law partner, and, since June 1, 1907, has had his offices in the Nicholas Building, Suite 530 to 535. Fraternally, socially and in a business way, Mr. Brumback has been identified with the Blue lodge of the Masonic order, the Chamber of Commerce, the Busi- ness Men's Club, and the Lincoln Republican Club. While a student at Wooster, he became a member of the collegiate Greek letter fraternity, Sigma Chi, and, having never lost his interest in the order, has made it the means of keeping in touch with colleges and college men. He has frequently remarked that these associa- tions with young men have amply repaid him for the time spent, by helping to keep him young. He has been honored with the office of Grand Consul in the National body of his fraternity, and at the present time is one of the Grand Trustees of the order. For several years he was trustee and president of the Board of Trustees of the Toledo Public Library. His religious ideas find expression in his membership in the First Congregational Church. In the matters of politics, Mr. Brumback has ever been a staunch and loyal adherent to the principles of the Republican party. In 1885, he became a candidate for Representative in the Ohio legislature. It was the year when John Sherman was being opposed by John R. McLean, of the "Cincinnati Enquirer," for the United States Senate, and the fight for the legislature was strenuous all over the State. For several years Lucas county had been going Demo- cratic, so that it was expected its members in the legislature would continue to be Democratic. Mr. Brumback entered into the cam- paign, with his characteristic energy, and when the election returns were counted, it was found that he had run far ahead of his ticket, and was elected, while the other Republican legislative can-
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MEMOIRS OF LUCAS COUNTY
didates were defeated. His election was most vital, for the Repub- licans only had a majority of one upon joint ballot, with which to re-elect Senator Sherman. If Mr. Brumback had not been elected, John R. McLean would have had one majority. Nor was Mr. Sherman's election without national importance, for it was during this term in the Senate, for which he was thus elected, that he secured the passage of the celebrated Sherman Anti-Trust Law. This was also the year when the Cincinnati election frauds were perpetrated, and Mr. Brumback was appointed on the special committee to investigate the frauds and thereby made quite a reputation over the State. He served two years (1885-1886) in the legislature, and then declined a renomination, believing it unwise to subordinate his law practice to a political career. On Aug. 26, 1881, was solemnized Mr. Brumback's marriage to Miss Jennie Carey, daughter of Simeon B. Carey, a wholesale hardware dealer of Indianapolis, Ind. Two daughters were the issue of this union. Blanche Carey, the elder, graduated at Miss Smead's School for Girls in Toledo, and then entered Vassar College, where she gradu- ated in the class of 1906. On Sept. 16, 1906, she was married to Lyman Spitzer, second son of Adelbert L. Spitzer, and has one daughter, Lydia Carey Spitzer, born Oct. 7, 1909. Mr. Brum- back's younger daughter, Lydia Ellen, also graduated at the Smead school, and then attended the Castle school at Tarrytown-on-the- Hudson. She was married, June 1, 1910, to Horace E. Allen, eldest son of Dr. Horace N. Allen, ex-Minister from the United States to Korea. Mr. Brumback has a beautiful home at 1603 Madison avenue, where he and his charming wife dispense a delightful hospitality.
David Robivon&
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BIOGRAPHICAL
DAVID ROBISON, JR.
David Robison, Jr., was born at Wooster, Ohio, Jan. 22, 1830, in the family home on Buckeye street, where his father conducted a large tannery. His father, David Robison, Sr., came from old Scotch lineage, his ancestors coming to this country in the Seventeenth century. His mother was of Irish descent, her fore- parents coming from County Antrim, Ireland, to this country, also in the Seventeenth century. In their religious belief, the members of his mother's family were strong Presbyterians, while the father was a Scotch Covenanter. He afterward gravitated into the Pres- byterian Church, to which the members of the family have be- longed for more than 200 years. Both families settled in Penn- sylvania, locating in Cumberland county, which afterward became Franklin county by a sub-division. Mr. Robison's maternal great-grandfather was Robert McConnell, who was born about 1700. He was a man of very strong character and religious belief, and was quite an element in moulding sentiment in that part of the State; and he was a soldier in the Colonial wars. To show the character of the stock from which Mr. Robison came, it is our pleasure to quote from the will of Robert McConnell, as follows: "In the name of God Amen, this 27th day of July, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy-one, I, Robert McConnell, of Township Letterkenny, County of Cumberland and Provence of Pennsylvania, yoeman, being very sick and weak in body but of perfect mind and memory, in calling to mind the mor- tality of the body, and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my last will and testament; that is to say, and first of all, I give and recommend my soul to God who gave it, and for my body I recommit it to the earth to be buried in a christianlike and decent manner as the discretion of my executors, and nothing doubting, but at the general reserec- tion I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God." Mr. Robison's grandfather on his mother's side was John Mc-
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MEMOIRS OF LUCAS COUNTY
Connell, son of Robert McConnell, and a captain in the Continental army during the Revolutionary war; and he marched with his company on foot, at the time of its organization, from Chambers- burg to Philadelphia, and remained in the service under Washing- ton during the entire eight years of the war. Mr. Robison's mother, Elizabeth McConnell, was born May 8, 1797, near what is now the Rocky Springs Church, in Franklin county. His father was born July 12, 1793. Their parents were both farmers and their farms joined. The mother of David Robison, Sr., moved to Ohio, in 1806, her husband having died in his 44th year. Mrs. Robison settled near New Lisbon, Columbiana county, Ohio. Afterward, the family moved to Zanesville, Ohio, where Mr. Robison's father learned the trade of tanner and currier. When nineteen years of age, he volunteered in the service of the Union States government for the war of 1812, under the name of David Robertson, which was the family name. He was a member of Capt. William McConnell's company of riflemen, which was of Vance's Odd Battalion, Ohio militia, war of 1812. William McConnell was a cousin of Mr. Robison's mother. David Robison, Sr., his father, was under the command of General Harrison, was at Fort Meigs during the siege, and was one of the selected company sent to Fort Stephenson during its bombardment, Aug. 1 and 2, to aid Major Crogan in the defense of that fort. Nearly 100 years after the battle of Fort Meigs, there was organized the "Maumee Pioneer and Historical Association," which concluded that the time had arrived for erect- ing a monument commemorating the deeds of the men who had fought and died in that battle. There was erected on the battle grounds of Fort Meigs a magnificent monument, and, Sept. 1, 1908, the monument was unveiled by David Robison, Jr., it being the desire of the association to get one to perform this service whose father had participated in the battle. The honor, therefore, fell to him. At the close of the war, David Robison, Sr., with his brothers-James and Thomas-settled in Wooster, Ohio, and, through a government error in the discharge papers of David Robertson, it was spelled "Robison," and as the family were always called Robison, they adopted that as the family name, but all the other branches of the family still retain the name of Robertson.
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BIOGRAPHICAL
The parents of our subject moved to their farm, south of Wooster, Ohio, in 1836, and David Robison, Jr., remained there until he was fourteen years of age, at which time he went into his father's gen- eral store, as a clerk. He attended Wooster Academy prior to this, and, later on, when he was eighteen years of age, went to Western Reserve College, at Hudson, and remained there for two years. His class and room mate at that time was the late Hon. William B. Allison, United States Senator from Iowa, which friendship lasted until the death of the Senator, in 1908. On Sept. 1, 1853, Mr. Robison was married to Ann Elizabeth Jacobs, of Wooster, Ohio, a member of one of the old families of the com- munity. She was a woman of most remarkable character, beau- tiful of features, and kind and gentle in all her bearings. She died at her home in Toledo, in February, 1898, mourned by the entire community, for her great love and kindness to the poor and her many deeds of charity. She was truly a womanly woman and one who was noble in all her acts. Two sons were born of this mar- riage : James J., in March, 1855, and Willard F., in March, 1857. Mr. Robison acquired the interest of the store from his father and brothers, and also operated a grist mill at Wooster, and was presi- dent of the National Bank of Wooster from its organization, in 1871, until he moved to Toledo, in January, 1876. Upon coming to. Toledo, he organized the wholesale dry goods firm of Witter, Robison & Wood, Messrs. Witter and Wood coming from Mans- field. He remained in this concern for five years, and then estab- lished a dry goods firm at the corner of Adams and Summit streets, in the fall of 1879, under the firm name of Robison & Company, which was composed of himself and two sons. This was continued for several years, the two sons then moving to the West. In March, 1884, Mr. Robison was appointed receiver of the Western Division of the Ohio Central railroad, which position he held for two years, at the end of which time the property was sold. At the same time and for a subsequent period, he was a director in the Toledo, Ann Arbor & North Michigan Railroad Company, now known as the Ann Arbor railroad. In January, 1886, Mr. Robison, in connection with the late Governor Ashley, John Cummings and the late William Baker, built what is now known as the Toledo, Saginaw
-
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MEMOIRS OF LUCAS COUNTY
& Muskegon railroad, having a trackage of about 100 miles, run- ning from Muskegon, Mich., to the town of Ashley, a point on the Ann Arbor railroad. After operating this road for two years, it was sold to the Grand Trunk. In the winter of 1889, James J. Robison and Willard F. Robison, the sons of David, having dis- posed of their banking interests in the West, returned to Toledo, and, in connection with their father, the Toledo Electric Street Railway was built. This road has since passed into the hands of the present Toledo railway system. It composed what is known as the Bancroft Belt, Huron Street, Canton Street, Sherman Street, Forest Cemetery, Indiana Avenue, South Street and Union Depot line, which connected with the Toledo State hospital. During the time that Mr. Robison and his sons operated this road, they built what is known as the Casino, a property now owned by the present street railway company, on the banks of Lake Erie, and which became a very popular resort, until burned, in the summer of 1910. In the fall of 1896, the street railway was sold, and, in March, 1897, Mr. Robison, in connection with other friends, established the Ohio Savings Bank & Trust Company, which, at the time of its incor- poration, was simply the Ohio Savings Bank Company and had a capital stock of $300,000. Mr. Robison was president of the bank, and his son, James J., was cashier. Later, the Ohio Savings Bank amended its charter, added trust powers and called itself the Ohio Savings Bank & Trust Company, with a capital stock of $600,000. Mr. Robison remained its president until 1905, at which time he found that the duties were getting too heavy for a man of his years, and his son, James J., took his place. Mr. Robison remained chairman of the Board of Directors. Later, in January, 1910, this bank took over the Dollar Savings Bank & Trust Company, an- other financial institution of Toledo. The Ohio Savings Bank & Trust Company then increased its capital to $850,000, and has about $500,000 surplus and profit. In the year 1900, David Robison, Jr., and his two sons, together with William Hardee, Edward Ford, John Cummings, T. H. Tracy, and George Metzger, located and built the Terminal Belt Line, known as the Toledo Railways & Terminal Company, a property that cost over $3,500,000 to build. The history and great value of this enterprise is well known to the
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