USA > Ohio > Memoirs of the lower Ohio valley, personal and genealogical : with portraits, Volume I > Part 3
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39
32
MEMOIRS OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY
CLARK W. DAVIS, M.D., health officer, Cincinnati, O., was born in that city, Dec. 14, 1863. He received his gen- eral education in the city schools, read medicine with his father, William B. Davis, who was one of the well-known physicians of the city, and in 1886 was graduated from the medical department of McMicken university, now the Miami Medical college. Upon leaving college he became associated with his father in practice and continued with him until his death in 1893. Since the death of his father, Dr. Davis has practiced alone. He is a member of the Ameri- can Medical association and the Cincinnati Academy of Medicine. He was a member of the staff of Christ's hospital from the founding of the institution until 1900, and since 1893 has been medical director of the Union Central Life Insurance Company, of Cincinnati. In 1900 he was appointed to his present position as health officer, and since then has given a great deal of attention to the promotion and preservation of the public health. Dr. Davis is a member of Lafayette Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons ; is a Knight Templar, a life member of Cincin- nati Lodge, No. 5, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and belongs to the Clifton Methodist Episcopal church.
WILLIAM THOMAS PERKINS was born in Xenia, Greene county, O., Dec. 8, 1834, his parents being John S. and Elizabeth C. Perkins. He obtained his education at the Xenia academy and in the public and high schools of Cincinnati, to which city his parents removed when he was but a little boy. His business life began as an errand boy in a dry goods store on West Sixth street for $I.co per week. This was in 1845 and 1846. Next he became a clerk in the old Eagle white lead factory of this city, then a clerk in the banking house of Groesbeck & Co. In 1862 he began the banking business for himself on Third street. Two years later he went to Knoxville, Tenn., and started the First National bank
33
MEMOIRS OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY
of that city. Subsequently he returned to Cincinnati and became the cashier of the Central National bank. Closing out his banking interests he went South, and became a cotton planter. His next business venture was as a Cincinnati newspaper man, connecting himself with the old Cincinnati Chronicle-afterward the Times-Chronicle. On Jan. I, 1891, he became a member of the firm of John J. Perkins & Co., with which he was associated for a number of years. He was an enthusiastic Republican as long ago as in 1856, when, during the Fre- mont campaign, he was made secretary of the first young men's Re- publican club of Cincinnati. Mr. Perkins was appointed fire trustee by Mayor Mosby on May 4, 1893, and served for over eight years in that capacity. He has been for years a director and treasurer of the Young Men's Mutual Life association of Cincinnati ; was president of the Merchants and Manufacturers' association of Cincinnati and Ham- ilton county, and is president and treasurer of the American District Telegraph Company. In 1903 he was elected city auditor of Cincinnati for a term of three years. He is an active member of the Young Men's Blaine club of Cincinnati and also a member of Cincinnati Lodge No. 5, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Mr. Perkins was married to Miss Sallie E. DeCamp, daughter of Hiram and Elizabeth DeCamp, May 3, 1859. Four children have been born to them, only one of whom survives, George B. Perkins. Their home is on East Walnut Hills.
JAMES H. WHITNEY, examiner of weights and measures, Cincinnati, O., was born at Corry, Pa., Oct. II, 1861. In the public schools of his native town he acquired a good practical education, after which he went to work in a grocery store. Four years later he started a retail fruit and confectionery store. Later he went into the fruit business in a whole- sale way in Corry, remaining in that line until 1896, when he came to Cincinnati and entered the employment of a wholesale fruit house there. In 1897 he started in the wholesale fruit business for himself and carried it on until 1900, when he was appointed to his present position by Mayor Fleischman. His long experience in handling groceries and fruits has made him thoroughly acquainted with weights and measures and given
I-3
34
MEMOIRS OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY
him the very best qualifications for the successful discharge of his duties. His four years of service have demonstrated the wisdom of the mayor in selecting him for the position. Mr. Whitney belongs to no secret order nor church organization. He is an enthusiastic Repub- lican and a member of both the Blaine and North Side Republican clubs.
FRANK A. TUCKER, superintendent of the city infirmary, Cin- cinnati, O., is a native of that city, having been born there in 1848. After attending the public schools he graduated from Bartlett's busi- ness college at the age of nineteen, after which he became associated with his father, George W. Tucker, in the manufacture of trunks, con- tinuing in that line of business for about seven years. He was then engaged in the manufacture of rugs and mats for several years. In 1875 he was elected to the city board of education ; re-elected two years later; elected alderman at large in 1878 in a district overwhelmingly Democratic, and the same year chosen as a member of the union board of high schools, holding all three positions at once. In 1880 he was re- elected alderman for four years but resigned in 1881 to become a member of the board of public works. In 1886 he was re-elected to the board of public works for another five-year term, but before the expiration of that time the office was abolished by the legislature. In May, 1888, he was appointed chief deputy and private secretary to George B. Cox, inspector of oils for Ohio, and served in this capacity for two years. He was a delegate to the Republican national conven- tion of 1888, and two years later successfully managed the campaign of Hon. Bellamy Storer, candidate for Congress in the first district. Shortly after the election in November, 1890, Mr. Tucker was appointed superintendent of the street cleaning department and remained at the head of the department for three years, when he resigned to accept the position of manager of the Sanitary Extracting Company, which had the contract for disposing of the city's garbage. Here he remained until 1902, when he came into his present position. Mr. Tucker is one of the leading Republicans of the city and as a worker has few equals. For about eight years he was a director of the Blaine club, of which he is a member: He is a Mason and a member of the Lincoln Park Baptist church. He was married in 1899 to Miss Anna B. Hudson, of Cincinnati.
35
1307902
MEMOIRS OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY
GEORGE H. KOLKER, appraiser of merchandise in the United States custom house, Cincinnati, O., was born in that city, Jan. 27, 1853. In 1872 he graduated from the Woodward high school and began life as a bookkeeper. After a year in this occupation he started in to learn the trade of stair builder, but two years later he changed his mind and began the study of law. In 1878 he graduated from the Cincinnati law school and practiced for several years. In 1882 he was elected journal clerk in the Ohio legislature and served in that capacity at every session of the general assembly for twelve years. In 1893 he was appointed deputy clerk of the Ohio supreme court, serving in that position until October, 1896, when he went into the Hamilton county auditor's office as chief deputy. In June, 1898, he was appointed to his present position by the late Presi- dent Mckinley. In all the positions he has occupied Mr. Kolker has been distinguished for his thorough and methodical way of doing busi- ness, and for his courteous treatment of all who happened to have dealings with him.
ELMER E. GALBREATH, national bank examiner, Cincinnati, O., was born at Georgetown, Brown county, O., Feb. 1, 1864. His education was obtained at the public schools of Ripley, O., prior to the time he was eighteen years of age. At that time he went into the Ripley National bank as assistant cashier, his father being the cashier. Upon the death of his father in 1899 he succeeded to the position of cashier and held it until Feb- ruary, 1902, when he was appointed to his present place. Mr. Galbreath's long experience in the banking business gives him a peculiar fitness for the position of examiner, to which his sterling integrity adds strength and confidence. Those who know him best speak of him in high terms as being "the right man for the place." Mr. Galbreath is prominent in fraternal society circles, being a Royal Arch Mason and Knight of
36
MEMOIRS OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY
Pythias. He is also a member of the Presbyterian church. As a Re- publican he has always taken an active part in political work and has frequently been called on to serve as delegate to state and local con- ventions. He acted as chairman of the committee on credentials at the convention of the National League of Republican clubs at Omaha, Neb. In 1889 he was married to Miss Bessie I. Torrence, daughter of Rev. J. W. Torrence, of Ripley, O., and they have five children-four boys and one girl.
JOHN A. PENTLAND, wharfmaster, Cincinnati, O., is a descendant of an old Scottish family that later settled in Ire- land, in the childhood of his grandfather, who was the youngest of four brothers. Among the highly respected descendants of this great-uncle were Dr. Pentland, of Black Hall, in the neighborhood of Drog- heda, Ireland; his son married a Miss Barrington, daughter of Sir I. Barring- ton; Dr. Pentland, of Kells; Dr. Shekle- ton, father of the Royal Advisers and
S. V. P. of the Free and Accepted Masons of Ireland. R. Shekleton, Sir Hugh Childers, Canon Brady, Maria Henn and Mrs. Thirsby are collectively cousins of the subject of this sketch. The paternal grandfather of John A. Pentland was a respected and wealthy merchant and ship owner, who lived in Roseville, near Dublin, Ireland. He married a Miss Murray and they had two daughters and four sons: Harriet, Louisa, Charles, Henry, William and Thomas, the last named being the father of the subject of this sketch. Harriet was joined in wedlock to Sir Connory, the eminent chancellor ; Louisa remained single ; Charles wandered to Rio de Janeiro and died single ; Henry married a Miss Manley, and his granddaughter was married not long ago to Rev. Frederick Bevan of Australia; William likewise crossed the ocean and settled in Canada. One of his sons, Samuel Pentland, was at one time the owner of the Neil House at Columbus, O., and another son, Charles, married a young lady of a distinguished French family. Of the family of Grandmother Pent- land but little is known. Thomas Pentland, the father of John A., was for many years the rector of the parish of Drumreilly, in the dio- cese of Killmore, County Leitrim, Ireland, and died there in 1877, at the age of seventy-seven years. He married Miss Florence Sadlier
37
MEMOIRS OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY
and of the eleven children born to them six are still living, viz. : Mrs. F. Gumley, Mrs. Louisa H. Alexander, Mary, Henry, William F. and John A. Pentland. Mrs. Gumley is the widow of the late R. Gumley, who was rector of a church in Killedeas, Ireland; Louisa is the wife of Rev. Hugh Alexander of Black Lion, near Enniskillen, Ireland ; Henry is a physician living in Black Rock Castle, Mohill, Ireland; William is a practicing physician in London, England, and John A. is the subject of this sketch. The relatives of Mr. Pentland on the maternal side embrace several distinguished families, among whom may be named the "Sadliers," the "Yelletts," the "Atkinsons," the "Digbys," the "L'Estranges," etc. John A. Pentland was born at Aughovilla, County Leitrim, Ireland, in April, 1851, and received his education in the Raneleagh school at Athlone, on the banks of the river Shannon. On Sept. 22, 1870, he sailed from Liverpool for America, and upon reaching this country made his way directly to Cincinnati. He went to work for the firm of Proctor & Gamble, the great soap manufactur- ers, and remained with them for seventeen years. In the year 1888 he went to Knoxville, Tenn., as a stockholder and superintendent of the Unaker Soap Works. But the venture was not a profitable one, and after about fifteen months he returned to Cincinnati. Mr. Pentland had married in Cincinnati a cousin of Benjamin Harrison, ex-president of the United States. When he returned to Cincinnati he received, through a letter his wife wrote to President Harrison, a position in the United States revenue service, under the collector of the district, Col. D. W. McClung, and held that position until President Cleveland came into office in 1893. Mr. Pentland then became notice clerk in the city engineer's office for six or eight months, when he went into the county auditor's office under Eugene Lewis and remained there for four years. He next occupied the position of paymaster of the water works, and on Aug. 29, 1900, was appointed to his present position. Mr. Pentland takes great interest in social and political affairs. He is an honorable member of Vattier Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons ; member of the Young Men's Blaine club and the Republican club of the fourteenth ward, and is a member of the Episcopal church. In 1874 he was married to Miss Carrie M. Smith, of Cincinnati, and they have two children living: Florence May, wife of William F. Belmer, of H. Belmer & Co., and Bessie L., at home. The maiden name of Mrs. J. A. Pentland's mother was Elizabeth Irwin. She was the eldest sister of the late John and William P. Irwin, of Clarksburg, W. Va., mer- chants and capitalists of that city. Her relatives embrace several of the most distinguished families of Cincinnati, past and present, among
38
MEMOIRS C OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY
whom may be named the Irwins, General Findlay, the Harrisons, Tor- rances, etc. Mr. Pentland lives with his family at No. 845 Poplar street, and has his office at No. 7 Main street.
WILLIAM RUEHRWEIN, superin- tendent of the city workhouse, Cincin- nati, O., was born in Westphalia, Prussia, Feb. 21, 1840. While he was still in his infancy his parents came to America, settled in Cincinnati, and there the father, whose name was also William, worked at his trade of tailor until his death in 1893, in the eighty-third year of his age. Until he was about twelve years old the son attended the city schools. For the next two years he worked at odd jobs and when he was fourteen he went into the machine shop of Antone Mueller to learn the trade of machinist. He remained with Mr. Mueller until 1860, when he entered the employ- ment of Fay & Co. (now the Fay & Eagan Company), and was associ- ated with this company until 1894, being superintendent of the tool department for twenty-seven years. For a number of years Mr. Ruehrwein was a member of the city board of education and of the union board of high schools. In 1893 he was elected on the Republican ticket to the state legislature and was re-elected in 1895. Before the expiration of his second term he resigned to accept the appointment of state labor commissioner, tendered him by Gov. Asa Bushnell. He served two years as commissioner and in May, 1898, was appointed to his present position. Mr. Ruehrwein was married in 1861 to Miss Sarah, daughter of Henry Stegner, of Cincinnati, and they have one son, Samuel, and seven daughters. Mr. Ruehrwein is a thirty-second degree Mason, a Knight Templar and a Noble of the Mystic Shrine, an Odd Fellow, a Knight of Honor and a member of the First German Reformed church, in which he has served as deacon and elder. He is an active Republican, frequently going as a delegate to state and dis- trict conventions.
PETER W. DURR, superintendent of the county infirmary of Hamilton county, Ohio, was born in the city of Cincinnati, Dec. 15, . 1861. His education was obtained in the public schools and at the age of sixteen years he went to work in the malleable iron works of
39
MEMOIRS OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY
James L. Haven & Co. After about five years with this firm he went into the employ of Proctor & Gamble, the great soap manufacturers, and remained with them for eleven years, working his way up to superintendent of the stamping and packing department. While with this company he was elected trustee of Mill Creek township, being elected the first time in 1886 and re-elected for six successive terms. During this time he also served three terms as mayor of Elmwood Place. In 1893 he received an appointment as United States gauger and served until the end of President Harrison's administration. He was then made deputy sheriff of Hamilton county, under Robert Archi- bald, to fill a vacancy, and held the place until the end of the term. He then went into the county auditor's office as chief deputy and re- mained there until April, 1903, when he was made superintendent of the county infirmary. Mr. Durr has been a member of the Republican state central committee since 1894, was chairman of the committee from 1900 to 1902, and before that had served two years as secretary. He was an alternate delegate to the national convention of 1904, and has. frequently been a delegate to state and congressional conventions. He is a director of the First National bank of Elmwood Place, and a member of numerous societies.
HARRY C. CRAGG, M.D., of Cin- cinnati, O., is a native of the Buckeye State, having been born at Groesbeck, Hamilton county, July 23, 1869. His parents, Richard H. and Julia A. (Ponder) Cragg, were of English descent, though the father was a native of Cincinnati. During the Civil war he served as a mem- ber of Company A, One Hundred and Thirty-seventh Ohio volunteer infantry, participating in all the battles and skir- mishes in which his regiment was en- gaged. After the war he returned to Cincinnati, where he continued to reside until his death, which occurred Aug. 31, 1898, in his fifty-eighth year. Doctor Cragg received his general education in the common and high schools of his native county and in 1901 was graduated from the Miami Medical college of Cin- cinnati, standing high in his class. Through the dean of the faculty he was offered the position of interne in the United States marine hospital, but he declined, preferring to build up a practice for himself.
40
MEMOIRS OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY
This showed him to be a young man of strong determination and self- reliance, and subsequent events have sustained his decision at that time. Locating in Cincinnati soon after leaving college he has devoted his energies to his practice and he occupies a high place in the profession. He is a member of the American Medical association and of the Cin- cinnati Academy of Medicine. Doctor Cragg is a member and past chancellor of Crescent Lodge No. 42, Knights of Pythias, and of some of the leading Republican clubs of the city, being somewhat active in furthering the interests of that party in political contests. On July II, 1900, he was married to Miss Florence Ware, daughter of Charles H. Ware, an old resident and one of the early dentists of Cincinnati, amassing a comfortable fortune by the practice of his profession. Doctor Cragg and his wife attend the Episcopal church of which he is a member.
FRED MAAG, superintendent of the street cleaning department, Cincinnati, O., has been a resident of that city all his life. He was born July 20, 1854, educated in the public schools until he was about ten years of age, when circumstances com- pelled him to quit school and begin the battle of life for himself. Later he learned the trade of silversmith and worked at it until 1875, when he began working in the street cleaning department as hostler. He has been in the department ever since, except the years 1884-85, when he was connected with the street railway service, and again in 1890-91, when he was in the same line of employment. From 1891 to 1898 he was a clerk in the department and since 1900 has occupied the position of superintendent. Mr. Maag has worked his way up from the bottom and knows the work of street cleaning in all its details. His efficiency is best seen in the condition of the streets since he took charge. Mr. Maag is a thirty-second degree member of the Scottish Rite Masons and a Noble of the Mystic Shrine. He is also a member of the Benev- olent and Protective Order of Elks. Although not a member of any religious denomination he attends the German Lutheran church.
41
MEMOIRS OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY
JOSEPH B. COWEN, M.D., a promising young physician of Cin- cinnati, O., was born in that city Feb. 5, 1876, and is a son of James and Catherine (Foley) Cowen, who were the parents of seven boys and four girls. The Cowen family is of Scotch-Irish extraction, James Cowen being a native of the North of Ireland. For many years he was engaged in the wholesale shoe business in Cincinnati, and died there in 1886. Doctor Cowen was educated at St. Xavier's college, at Cin- cinnati, afterward graduating from the medical department of the University of Cincinnati in 1897. Shortly after receiving his degree he located at Oxford, O., where he practiced until early in the year 1904, when he came to Cincinnati. Here he has succeeded beyond his expectations, considering the short time he has been established in his native city. Doctor Cowen is fully alive to the progress of his pro- fession and is not the last to avail himself of new discoveries in the practice of medicine. In July, 1900, he led to the altar Miss Elizabeth Gentry, the daughter of Gilbert Gentry, of Indiana. To this union there have been born two daughters, Marie Louise and Elizabeth. .
WILLIAM JAMES BREED, of the Crane-Breed Manufacturing Company, Cincinnati, O., is a son of Abel D. and Bethiah G. Breed, and was born at Fair- haven, Mass., in the year 1835. He re- ceived his education in the Hughes high school and the Phillips academy, at An- dover, Mass., and in 1852 came to Cincin- nati, where he was one of the founders of the Crane-Breed Company eight years later .. This company manufactures hearses, metallic caskets, undertakers' supplies of various kinds, and is one of the best known concerns of its kind in the country. Their trade extends over a large territory, their goods going to almost every part of the continent where Christian burial is vouchsafed the remains of the dead. Mr. Breed's mother died in 1877 and his father on Dec. 24, 1888. Both were of that sturdy New England stock that believes in a high standard of morals and died as they had lived, true to their ideals, and respected by all who knew them. Mr. Breed was married in 1868 to Miss Laura Adams of Boston, who is as popular in social life as her husband is in commercial circles.
42
MEMOIRS OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY
HOWELL LEWIS LOVELL, a re- tired manufacturer of Covington, Ky., was born in what is now the State of West Virginia, July 9, 1824. He is a son of Joseph and Bettie (Washington) Lov- ell, and through Betty Lewis, a sister of George Washington, the family are re- lated to the first president of the United States. At the age of sixteen years Mr. Lovell began life on his own account and at the age of twenty-two he was success- fully operating a salt manufactory on the Kanawha river, a short distance from the city of Charleston, the present capital of West Virginia. The discovery of gold in California attracted thither thousands of young men from the East and in 1852 young Lovell joined a party bound for the new El Dorado. They crossed the plains with ox teams and after a long and tedious trip of four months arrived at the gold fields, only to find that their expectations were not likely to be realized. After a short time in the placer mines Mr. Lovell returned to the States, bought a large number of milch cows, organized a party of men and returned to California, via Nicaragua, and disposed of his cattle, re- ceiving in many instances $150 for a cow. He remained in California until 1864, when he returned east. Four years later he located in Covington and in 1871 engaged in the manufacture of smoking and fine cut chewing tobaccos, his factory being located on Second street, in Cincinnati. In 1875 the business was removed across the river to Covington and Mr. Lovell remained actively connected with it until 1892, when he retired to enjoy the fruits of his industry of former years, the treasures of his well-selected library, and the associations of his many friends. On April 21, 1856, Mr. Lovell was married to Miss Emma A., daughter of F. G. and Frances Buhring, and four children were born to this union: Mary L., wife of James W. Sayre, of Lexington, Ky .; Fannie B .; Virginia L., wife of John T. Hodge, of Newport, Ky., and Howell Lewis, Jr., who made his home in the Adirondacks, of New York, until his death. He married Miss Mary Fallis Rogers, a granddaughter of the late John F. Fallis, of Cin- cinnati, for many years president of the Merchants' National bank of that city.
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.