USA > Ohio > Ohio legislative history, 1913-1917 > Part 42
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His father was a soldier in the American Civil War, and for brave and meritorious conduct in front of Petersburg, Virginia, was awarded a Congressional medal of honor.
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OHIO LEGISLATIVE HISTORY.
The fact that Mr. Beaty was chosen a member of the Hamilton County Delegation in the 82nd General Assembly is proof of the esteem in which he is held as a citizen of Cincinnati. He has, all his life, made the best use of his opportunities, and, like the celebrated Booker T. Washington, he believes that it is only by honest effort that the colored race can go forward to improvement and success.
Mr. Beaty was married to Miss Bessie Buckner of Cincinnati, July 8th, 1914. He is a trustee of the New Orphans' Asylum for colored youth, and Crawford Old Men's Home of Cincinnati. He is also a Scottish Rite mason, being a member of St. John's Lodge Number 3, F. A. A. M.
During the regular session of the 82nd General Assembly, Mr. Beaty introduced House Bill No .. 227 which was "To Prohibit the Represen- tation, by Lithograph, Drawing, Picture, Play, Drama or Sketch of the Hanging, Lynching or Burning of a Human Being, and to Provide a Penalty Therefore."
Upon this bill, Mr. Beaty took the floor and made what was gen- erally conceded to be the most eloquent plea ever listened to in the Ohio House of Representatives from a member of his race, and when he concluded his speech, the House responded, by an almost unanimous vote, in behalf of the passage of the bill.
Representative Beaty served as a member of the Committee on Universities and Colleges, the Committee on Civil Service and the Committee on the Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphans' Home. He was secre- tary of the Committee on Civil Service.
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OHIO LEGISLATIVE HISTORY.
HON. RUPERT R. BEETHAM. (Harrison County)
Rupert R. Beetham is the son of a Meth- odist preacher, and "was born no place and brought up everywhere." His parents, Rev. John Beetham and Mary Rennison, were born in the Lake District in northern Eng- land, and came to America soon after the close of the Civil War. The subject of this sketch is the sixth child and fifth son of a family of seven, which, likely as a result of their early itinerancy, are all located in dif- ferent places and engaged in different voca- tions. Mrs. A. E. Mohn, Uhrichsville, Ohio; John S., Cleveland, Supervisor of Agents on the Lake Shore R. R .; William N., Supt. of City Schools, Wellsburg, W. Va .; Alfred C., M. D. of Bellaire, Ohio ; Rev. R. Emory, Pastor of the Frst M. E. Church, Sewickley, Pa .; Charles S., Jewett, Ohio, traveling salesman.
Mr. Beetham was educated in various public schools, graduated from Canton High School, and attended Scio College, and O. S. U. Law School, after having taught school a few years to earn funds to completes his law course. He was married to Miss Crete H. Mclaughlin, of Cadiz, Ohio, and to them four children have been born: Isabelle, Samuel, Rupert, Jr., and Charles. He began the practice of law in Cadiz.
He has been a member of the Cadiz Board of Education continu- ously since 1904; was appointed postmaster in 1906, and again in 1910, and left the office in a new building with new equipment, city delivery established, and a total of eight rural routes ; he has served as Platform Manager of the Cadiz Chautauqua for the past four years; is a Direc- tor of the Fourth National Bank; Chairman of the Harrison County Red Cross Chapter. For several years past, he has been actively en- gaged in farming, giving special attention to the registered Jersey cat- tle industry.
For a number of years he has been active in political circles, hav- ing served as a member of the Republican County Executive Committee, Senatorial committeeman from his district for four years, and taken an active part in each speaking campaign.
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OHIO LEGISLATIVE HISTORY.
He is an active member of the Methodist Church, and in 1908 was elected by the Northeast Ohio Conference, an alternate to the General Conference held in Baltimore, and in 1912 was sent as a delegate to the General Conference in Minneapolis. In 1914 he was elected as a Repub- lican to represent his county in the 8Ist General Assembly, and in 1916 was re-elected to serve in like capacity in the 82nd.
In the 8Ist General Assembly he was particularly active in elec- tion bills, and more through his efforts than any other, the "Petition Nuisance" in elections was abolished, and for this, one of his colleagues said, "Blessed Beetham". He introduced the measure that established a normal school for eastern Ohio, and secured its passage through the House. He also fathered the law that amended the Caboose law of the State.
In the 82nd General Assembly, by hard work, he prevented the repeal of the Normal School law after the Senate had already by a unanimous vote, passed such a measure. In both sessions, he sought to have enacted a more stringent Dog Law; to prevent the closing of public highways; to prevent the paying of salaries in advance ; to prevent bad conduct about country railroad stations; and with Judge Clark, of Warren County, prepared the bill that established the present bureau of Markets and Marketing.
Few members of the House were better informed on all measures than the member from Harrison, and many members sought his opinion on what are usually called Minor Bills.
Mr. Beetham is a Mason, K. of P., and Granger.
In the 8Ist, he served on the following committees, namely: I. and R. In the 82nd on Rules, Dairy and Taxation.
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OHIO LEGISLATIVE HISTORY.
HON. ROBERT McCLUNG BILLINGSLEA.
(Butler County)
Four times honored by the people of Butler County as their choice for a representative in the Ohio Legislature, the subject of this sketch has a particular distinction in the Eighty-second General Assembly of Ohio.
Hon. Robert M. Billingslea was born in Harford County, Maryland, October 12th, 1854. His father, James Billingslea, was born in the same county and State. The mother of Robert was Mary Jane Billingslea, nee Brian. Robert received his education in the common schools of his native State, and on June 21st, 1882, was united in marriage with Miss Martha A. Jordan, of Bethany, Butler Co., Ohio. They have two children - Charles R., and Edna B. Billingslea.
During most of his life, Mr. Billingslea has followed the occupa- tion of farming, and he is a professional auctioneer. He has ever taken an active part in politics in the interest of the principles of the Demo- crate party, and he has held several positions of trust in his local com- munity. Representative Billingslea has been nominated and elected by the Democratic party four times to represent Butler County in the Ohio House of Representatives, and he received an increased majority at each election.
During his service in the 77th, 78th, 79th and 82nd General Assem- blies, Representative Billingslea was especially interested in the enact- ment of the Smith One Per Cent Tax law, the Workmen's Compensation Act, the Initiative and Referendum, and Road Laws, and many other important measures of legislation. He has constantly endeavored to secure the enactment of a statute compelling the interchange of service between telephone companies, and his entire work in the Ohio Legisla- ture has been guided by an honest purpose.
In the Eighty-second General Assembly of Ohio, Representative Billingslea served as Chairman of the committee on County Affairs, and a member of the following committees, namely: Benevolent and Penal Institutions, Conservation of Natural Resources, and Public Parks and Works.
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OHIO LEGISLATIVE HISTORY.
HON. ISRAEL M. BLAUSER.
(Fairfield County)
The Democratic party can always rely upon Fairfield County to send a representa- tive of their faith to the State Legislature. The present member, Mr. Blauser, is no ex- ception to the rule, and he was chosen by a large majority to a seat in the Ohio House of Representatives.
Hon. Israel M. Blauser was born at Balti- more, Fairfield County, Ohio, Aug. 25th, 1872. His father, John Blauser, was born at the same place. The son attended the country schools during the winter months until he was nineteen years of age, when he entered the high school at Baltimore. He carried a certificate to teach school in his county, but most of his life he has been an active farmer and successfully grows, in large quantities what is known as "White Cap" corn, largely for seed purposes.
The father of Mr. Blauser was of Virginia parentage, and his mother was born in Basel, Switzerland. She came to America when a mere child. This couple was blessed with eleven children, eight sons and three daughters, the subject of this sketch being the eldest of the number.
In the year 1894 Mr. Blauser was united in marriage with Miss Anna M. M. Kumler, of Baltimore, O., and seven children have been born of the union, namely : Russell I., Israel P., Nellie Mae, Stanley M., Wendall W., Vivien M., and Marcella M.
At the regular session of the Eighty-second General Assembly, Representative Blauser was author of House Bill No. 25, known as the "Quail Bill", and which places "Bob White" on the song-bird list. Mr. Blauser also introduced House Bill No. 260, relative to the establish- ment and maintenance of Public Libraries by two or more school dis- tricts, and the bill became a law. He also championed Senate Bill No. 135, when it came over to the House, the bill was known as the "traction engine measure."
Representative Blauser served as Chairman of the Committee on Dairy and Food Products and Villages, and a member of the Commit-
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tees on Public Parks and Works, Agriculture, and Constitutional Amendents and I. and R.
He is a member of F. & A. M. No. 475, Baltimore, O., and K. of P. No. 673, Baltimore, O., and member of Fairfield Grange No. 1534 of Basil, O., also member of the First United Brethren church of Balti- more, O.
HON. NORMAN R. BLISS.
(Cuyahoga County)
One of the youngest, in point of years, as well as a most active member of the Ohio House of Representatives in the Eighty- second General Assembly, is the subject of this sketch.
Hon. Norman R. Bliss was born at ·Mad- ison, Lake County, Ohio, July 14th, 1875. His father, Charles L. Bliss, was born at the same place. Norman R. was educated in the public schools at Madison, and the Ober- lin Conservatory of Music, Oberlin, Ohio. Both of the parents of Mr. Bliss were of New England ancestry.
After leaving school, Norman R. Bliss spent some years in his- torical work in the great West and Northwest, and in making surveys of both timber and gas and oil lands.
In the year 1913, Mr. Bliss was engaged as an automobile salesman for the "White" Company, at Cleveland, Ohio, and on account of his large acquaintance and personal popularity he was nominated and elected on the Democratic ticket to serve as a member of the Eighty- first General Assembly of Ohio, and again in 1916 he was chosen as one of the thirteen Democratic members of the House from Cuyahoga County, in the Eighty-second General Assembly.
At the regular session of the Eighty-second General Assembly, and, in fact, throughout both terms of his service in the Legislature, Mr. Bliss was particularly interested in legislation to promote better high- way construction, and he was strongly in favor of all measures for the betterment of the State public lands and buildings that are used to provide homes for the State wards.
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OHIO LEGISLATIVE HISTORY.
In the Eighty-second General Assembly, Representative Bliss was Chairman of the important committee on Public Utilities, and he served as a member of the committees on Insurance, Prisons and Prison Reform, and Public Highways.
HON. JOHN BOWLAND. (Ottawa County)
Ottawa is one of the smallest counties in the State but its citizens are proud of their county's standing among the counties of the State regarding productions of the soil : first, in the production of peaches ; first in the pro- duction of wine; first in the production of lime; first in the production of plaster ; first in the number of acres planted in fruit, and among the foremost in the fishing industry. The county was organized by act of the Legislature on March 6th, 1840, and its name was given in recognition of its former occupancy by the tribe of Ottawa Indians as their trading resort. The peninsular portion of the county lying be- tween Sandusky Bay and Lake Erie containing about 30 square miles of land, was formerly part of Erie County, but was detached and added to Ottawa on account of its separation from the home county by water. One entire township in the county, Put-in-Bay, is com-
posed of islands of which Put-in-Bay, Middle Bass, and North Bass Islands are the largest. Put-in-Bay was given its name because Com- modore Perry "put in" there after his decisive naval victory over the British in the War of 1812, when he informed his government in his famous and historic message, "We have met the enemy, and they are ours". Port Clinton has always been the county seat of Ottawa County.
Hon. John Bowland, Democratic Representative of Ottawa County, was born at Elmore, Ohio, Aug. 3rd, 1853, of American parentage, and he received his education in the public schools of his home town. Mr. Bowland is married, and lives at Genoa, where he has served 5 terms as Mayor, and he has been elected and served 2 terms as Probate Judge of Ottawa County.
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OHIO LEGISLATIVE HISTORY.
In the year 1914, Mr. Bowland was nominated and elected, as a Democrat, to represent Ottawa County in the 8Ist General Assembly of Ohio, and in 1916, he was re-elected to serve in the 82nd General Assembly. At the regular session of the General Assembly in 1917, Representative Bowland was author of H. B. No. 370 - in relation to methods of levying and collecting special assessments in municipal cor- porations, which bill became a Law.
Mr. Bowland served as a member of the following committees, namely: Fees and Salaries, Insurance, Labor, Supplies and Expend- itures, and Villages.
HON. OTTO W. BRACH.
(Lucas County)
One of the younger members of the Eighty-second General Assembly of Ohio, is the subject of this sketch. The Trades Unions in Ohio, are usually well represented in the State Legislature, and the Eighty-second General Assembly is no exception to the rule, of recent years, in that respect. Mr. Brach is a molder by trade, and he is actively in- terested in behalf of laboring people generally.
Hon. Otto Walter Brach was born at To- ledo, Ohio, April 4th, 1881. His father, Fred Brach, was born in Germany. The son re- ceived his education in the public and paro- chial schools at Toledo, Ohio. He left school at the age of fourteen, and went into a foundry to learn the molding trade, and worked at that trade for sixteen years. He was then employed as an office clerk for five years, and is now again working at his trade as a molder.
In the year 1903, Otto W. Brach was married to Miss Elizabeth Tilly, of Toledo, Ohio, and three children have been born of the union, namely: Maybella, Norman and Esther.
At the popular primary in August, 1916, Mr. Brach was nominated by the Democrats as one of the four Representatives from Lucas County, and in the election which followed in November he was chosen by a large majority.
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OHIO LEGISLATIVE HISTORY.
At the regular session of the Eighty-second General Assembly in 1916, Representative Brach was active in behalf of legislation that would benefit the workers and laboring people, generally, in Ohio, and he supported all of the measures that were approved by his party and the Democratic administration.
Mr. Brach served as a member of the following committees, namely : Building and Loan and Other Savings Associations, Conservation of Natural Resources, Labor, Privileges and Elections, and State and Economic Betterment.
HON. JOHN E. BRAGG. (Erie County)
There is always a large percent of farmer- members in the Ohio Legislature, and the 82nd General Assembly has, in the House of Representatives, thirty agriculturalist mem- bers, or about twenty-five percent of the membership. In the Senate branch there are six farmers, this being less than twenty per- cent of the membership in that body. Of this number, representing the great produc- ing element of the soil, Mr. Bragg of Erie County was chosen Chairman of the Agri- cultural Committee of the House of Rep- resentatives and he was charged with the responsibility of carrying through the new law governing the State Board of Agriculture.
The perfecting of this law involved tremendous labor upon Mr. Bragg and his associates, but the work was successfully accomplished, in a seemingly satisfactory manner to the people of Ohio.
Hon. John E. Bragg was born in Groton Township, Erie County, Ohio, July 6th, 1870. His father, Samuel Bragg, was a native of Huron County, Ohio. His mother, nee Wealtha Livengood, was born in Erie County, Ohio. The father, Samuel Bragg, died in the year 1875. He was a son of John Bragg, who came to America from England and and was one of the early farmer settlers of Groton Township. He was a noted agriculturalist of sturdy and typical English habits, and he
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gathered a comfortable fortune. He died at Bellevue, Ohio, in the year 1889, aged eighty-four years.
The subject of this sketch, John E. Bragg, was educated in the public schools of Groton Township, and at Normal School at Milan, Ohio. In 1889 he completed a business course at the Sandusky Business College. He alternately taught school in Groton Township, and studied to better his education at the Northern Ohio University at Ada. Mr. Bragg has held many positions of responsibility in his county, being, suc- cessively, Clerk of the Board of Education, Deputy Auditor, Member of the Erie County Blind Relief Commission, Chief Clerk in the Dis- trict Assessor's Office, and Deputy Supervisor of Erie County. He has also served for many years as a member and secretary of the Erie County Democratic Central Committee.
In November, 1914, Mr. Bragg was chosen, as a Democrat, by the people of Erie County, and by a substantial majority, to a seat in the Ohio House of Representatives, where, by most unremitting work, he earned a reputation for careful and consistent legislative ability. His. name is especially associated with the authorship of the "Quail" bill, which forbids the hunting and killing of said birds for a period of two years. He also introduced and secured the passage of the "Fish-Net" bill, which provides for the continuation of the use of the present size mesh in fish-nets
On June 29th, 1893, Mr. Bragg was joined in marriage with Miss- Zella Deyo, of Clyde, Ohio. They have three children, Lynnetta M., and Wealtha E., both successful teachers in the public schools, and John D., now attending high school.
Erie County is nominally Republican by a small majority, but Mr. Bragg was chosen, as a Democrat, his first term by a majority of 608, and the second term by a majority of 850, thus attesting his personal popularity and natural leadership
Mr. Bragg was the author of several bills which became laws in the 82nd General Assembly, among them: The Municipal Court Bill for- Sandusky City, and a Kelly's Island School bill, Exempting Kelly's Is- land from District Supervision of Public Schools, also several bills. regulating the fishing industry in the Lake Erie fishing district.
Besides being the chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, he served as a member of the following committees, namely: Fish and Game, Prisons and Prison Reform, and Public Building and Lands
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OHIO LEGISLATIVE HISTORY.
HON. JOHN HARRIS BROWN.
(Cuyahoga County)
After the adjournment of the regular ses- sion of the Eighty-second General Assembly in 1917, the hand of Death fell upon a mem- ber of the Cuyahoga County delegation, and the subject of this sketch has been called to his last resting place.
Hon. John Harris Brown, a gentleman whose fine personality endeared him to all of his colleagues in the Ohio Legislature, was in the year 1914, chosen as one of the thirteen Democrats to represent Cuyahoga County in the Ohio House of Representa- tives, 8Ist General Assembly, and in 1916, he was re-elected to serve in the 82nd General Assembly.
John Harris Brown was born at Apple Creek, Wayne County, Ohio, Oct. 13th, 1859, of American parentage. He received his education in the public schools, and he attended college for one year. Mr. Brown resided at Lakewood, a suburb of Cleveland, where he had served as a member of Lakewood Common Council, and two years as Director of Public Safety. Mr. Brown was commercial freight agent of the Cleveland & Buffalo Transit Company. He was a widower, and a Mason.
At the regular session of the Eighty-second General Assembly in 1917, Representative Brown served as Chairman of the committee on Civil Service, and a member of the committees: Public Utilities, and State and Economic Betterment.
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OHIO LEGISLATIVE HISTORY.
HON. WILLIAM BRADFUTE BRYSON.
(Greene County)
Greene County, Ohio, was formed by legislative action on May Ist, 1803, and named in honor of Gen. Nathaniel Greene of the revolutionary army. Changes were made in the boundaries of the county when Cham- paign was established and again when Clark County was formed. A pioneer resident of Greene County, John Wilson, who came from Kentucky was one of the framers of the Ohio State Constitution.
Hon. William B. Bryson, representative of Greene County in the 8Ist and 82d General Assemblies of Ohio was born on a farm near Xenia, O., August 19th, 1854.
His father, James Bryson, was a native of Pennsylvania as was. the mother (nee Nancy Anderson Bradfute). The son William received his education in the public schools, then at Xenia College, a preparatory school, and he graduated from Monmouth College, Monmouth, Ill., in 1876.
Mr. Bryson has been active in behalf of the Republican party ever since Joseph B. Foraker became Governor of Ohio, and he has been particularly interested in the public schools, having been a member of the district and county educational boards for many years. He is a breeder of of trotting horses and has conducted annual sales for 25. years. In the year 1914 Mr. Bryson was nominated and elected as a Republican to represent Greene County in the 8Ist General Assembly and in 1916 he was renominated and elected without opposition by Democrats or Republicans.
At the regular session of the 82d General Assembly in 1917 Mr. Bryson introduced H. B. No. 332, relating to discharging firearms on or near a public highway, also H. B. No. 243, making the penalty for stealing automobiles the same as that for horse stealing and both bills became laws. He was interested in all temperance and school legisla- tion as well as all measures concerning labor.
In the 82d General Assembly Mr. Bryson served as a member of the committees : Fees and Salaries, and Supplies and Expenditures.
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OHIO LEGISLATIVE HISTORY.
HON. HARVEY S. CABLE.
(Stark County)
Stark County was created by act of the Legislature in session at Chillicothe, on Dec. 7th, 1807. It was from this county that William McKinley went many terms to Con- gress, two terms to the Governorship of Ohio, and twice to the Presidency of the United States, and at Canton, the county seat, his martyred remains lie in their last resting place. Stark County claims William Mckinley from his long residence, though his birthplace was in the adjoining county.
Hon. Harvey S. Cable, Republican Repre- sentative from Stark County in the Eighty- second General Assembly of Ohio, was born in that county, Jan. 3rd, 1861. His father, Silas Cable, was also born in Stark County. Harvey S. Cable attended the rural schools until he was twenty years of age, when he secured a teacher's certificate and began teaching in Stark County. Later, he attended Normal School, at East Sparta, Ohio, and one year in Scio College, Scio, Ohio. He again taught for several years in the rural schools, then finished his teaching career in the public schools of Canton, Ohio, where he was engaged for three years. Mr. Cable was, for one term, clerk in the Canton Water Works office, and since that time, he has veen very successful in the real estate and piano business.
On March 9th, 1889, Mr. Cable was united in marriage with Miss Minnie M. Fox, daughter of Dr. George Fox, of Nevada, Ohio, and they have a son, Clyde H., who graduated in medicine, from the Col- lege of Medicine and Surgery, Chicago, Ills., on the 31st of May, 1917.
The paternal grandparents of Mr. Cable were natives of Penn- sylvania, and they settled in Stark County, Ohio, in 1811. The father, Silas Cable, died April 10th, 1916, at the age of 83. The mother is still living and in fair health, at the age of 83.
In the year 1916, Mr. Cable, who has always been a Republican in politics, was nominated and elected, as a Republican, to serve as a member of the Ohio House of Representatives in the Eighty-second General Assembly. Representative Cable was particularly interested in
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OHIO LEGISLATIVE HISTORY.
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