USA > Ohio > Ohio legislative history, 1913-1917 > Part 44
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Hon. Edwin M. Crosser, who represents Columbiana County in the Ohio House of Representatives, Eighty-second General Assembly, was born at Lisbon, Ohio, Nov. 7th, 1859. His father, Harrison Crosser, was born at the same place. Young Crosser was educated in the com- mon schools, and at the age of sixteen he entered the dry goods business, where he remained until 1896. In that year he was elected County Recorder of Columbiana County, in which office he served two terms. In the year 1902, Mr. Crosser purchased and consolidated the two news- papers in Lisbon, "The Lisbon Journal" and "Buckeye State". He organized the Buckeye Publishing Company, having active management of that company for three years, during which period he established the "Daily Evening Journal", and published the weekly "Buckeye State". In the year 1905, Mr. Crosser disposed of his interests in the publishing companies, and returned to the dry goods business in Lisbon. In the year 1910, he was one of the organizers of the Bennett Register and Printing Company, and in 1913, he disposed of his dry goods business and assumed the treasurership of the Bennett Register and Printing Company, and has charge of the office at the present time.
On July 8th, 1884, Mr. Crosser was united in marriage with Miss Lilian Raney, of Lisbon. Two daughters and one son were born of this union, the son dying in infancy. Two daughters, Evelyn Bower Crosser, and Helen Raney Crosser, are both married and live in Lisbon.
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OHIO LEGISLATIVE HISTORY.
In the year 1916, Mr Crosser was nominated and elected as a Repub- lican, to represent Columbiana County in the Ohio House of Represen- tatives, and at the regular session of the Eighty-second General Assem- bly in 1917, he was actively interested in legislation for "Petition for Referendum Vote and double Taxation on Mortgages, Good roads bills, and the general agriculture bill". He served as a member of the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments and I. and R.
HON. HARRY M. DUNSPAUGH.
(Mahoning County)
One of the three Republican Representatives of Mahoning County in the Eighty-second General Assembly of Ohio is, by profession, a musician.
Hon. Harry M. Dunspaugh was born in Boston, Mass., Jan. 20th, 1873. His father, Henry F. Dunspaugh, was born in Ghent, N. Y. The son, Harry, received his educa- tion in the public schools and high school at Greensburgh, Pa., and he is a graduate of Greensburgh High School. Mr. Dunspaugh has devoted most of his life to the musical profession, and he was for several years en- gaged in the piano business at Youngstown. He has been President of the Musicians' Union in Youngstown, for ten years. He never held any political office until in 1916, he was nominated and elected, as a Republican, to serve in the Ohio House of Representatives - Eighty- second General Assembly.
At the regular session of the Eighty-second General Assembly in 1917, Mr. Dunspaugh was interested in legislation that gave promise of improving the conditions of working people, and he was in accord with all "sane, sensible, and progressive legislation", regardless of party affiliation.
Representative Dunspaugh was author of H. B. No. 547, relative to establishment of municipal court in the city of Youngstown, and the bill became a law. He served as a member of the following committees, namely : Cities, Constitutional Amendments and I. and R., and Labor.
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OHIO LEGISLATIVE HISTORY.
HON. WILLIAM PORTER ELLIS.
(Geauga County)
Geauga County came into existence by an act of the Ohio Legislature, passed on Dec. 3Ist, 1805, to take effect on the first of March, 1806. Geauga was originally a part of Trumbull County, but in later years it was changed by alteration of boundaries. Char- don was chosen as the permanent County seat in 1808, but the site was not utilized until four years later, owing to the delay in getting the timber cleared off of the new site and getting buildings erected. The
little hamlet of New Market had been the temporary capital and seat of justice.
One of the most influential members of the Eighty-second General Assembly of Ohio, and a commanding figure in the 79th and 81st Gen- eral Assemblies, is the subject of this sketch.
Hon. William P. Ellis was born at Springfield, Erie County, Penn- sylvania, May 12th, 1870. His father, Jesse C. Ellis, was born at the same place. The son received his education in the public schools of Springfield, Pa., the Springfield Academy, and State Normal School at Edinboro, Pa., whence he graduated in 1892. He graduated from the Cleveland Medical College in 1896, and from the Cleveland College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1903. Dr. Ellis was first a teacher in the public schools at Springfield for four years, when he studied medicine and he has practiced his profession ever since at Thompson, Geauga County. He was coroner of Geauga County five years; a member of the local school board ten years, and Health Officer of Thompson eight years. Dr. Ellis is a direct descendant of Richard Ellis, who immigrated from England in 1760, and settled in Smithfield, Mass. The great-grandfather of Dr. Ellis settled in Springfield, Pa., in 1810.
Dr. Ellis married Miss Julia M. Proctor.
Hon. William P. Ellis has been three times honored by his con- stituents with an election, as a Republican, to sit as a member of the Ohio House of Representatives in the 79th, 8Ist, and 82nd General Assemblies. Throughout his service as a legislator, Dr. Ellis has shown
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OHIO LEGISLATIVE HISTORY.
a strong interest in legislation concerning the public health, as well as that of Live-stock, and all Medical legislation. He has at all times, commanded the attention and respect of his colleagues in the House. At the regular session of the Eighty-second General Assembly, Repre- sentative Ellis served as a member of the committees on Public Health, Judiciary, and Common Schools.
HON. JOHN D. EMSWILER.
(Morrow County)
Formerly a great hunting ground for the Indians, the country that afterward became Morrow County was opened to the Whites after the Treaty of 1807. The town site of Mt. Gilead was laid out in 1824, but it was not until Feb. 24th, 1848, that the county was finally established by the Legislature, and it was named in honor of Ex-Governor Jere- miah Morrow. There was great rivalry for the county seat, which was ended by the choice of Mt. Gilead.
Hon. John D. Emswiler, Representative of Morrow County in the Eighty-second General Assembly, was born at Mt. Jackson, Shenandoah County, Virginia, May 14th, 1868. His father, Lemuel Emswiler, also a native of Virginia, served in the Confederate Army, and was a member of "Stonewall" Jackson's Signal Corp, at the time Jackson was killed The son, John D., at the age of fourteen, arrived in Morrow County to seek his fortune. He worked on the farm during the summer and went to school in the winter months until he was able to secure a teacher's cer- tificate. He was a teacher for twelve years, which vocation he then gave up in order to give his entire time to farming. He has been an active member of the Grange, P. of H. since 1896. In 1908, Mr. Em- swiler became interested in the manufacture of concrete products and general contracting.
In the year 1900, Mr. Emswiler was joined in marriage with Miss Meave Jenkins, of Cardington, O. They have two daughters - Edna Jean, born in 1902, and Virginia Meave, born in 1908.
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OHIO LEGISLATIVE HISTORY.
In the year 1916, Representative Emswiler was nominated and elected, as a Democrat, to serve as a member of the Eighty-second Gen- eral Assembly. He was actively interested in all measures that would benefit the people generally, and his committee assignments were as fol- lows, namely : Agriculture, County Affairs, Enrollment Committee, Public Highways, Universities, Colleges and Normal Schools.
Before Representative Emswiler was chosen a member of the Ohio Legislature, he had been at the head of an organization of farmers in Morrow County, who wished to build for themselves, a mutual telephone system. They were enjoined by the old line companies and fought the case through to the Supreme Court, where they were beaten.
At the regular session of the 82nd General Assembly in 1917, Mr. Emswiler introduced H. B. No. 105, to amend the General Code relat- ing to the telephone companies, but his bill was actively opposed by other telephone interests in the State, and was defeated.
HON. WILLIAM E. ENTEMANN.
(Lucas County)
Lucas County is represented in the House of Representatives of the Eighty-second Gen- eral Assembly of Ohio with four members, one of whom, the subject of this sketch, is a popular hotel man of Toledo. Mr. Ente- mann is serving his second term in the Ohio Legislature, having been first elected in 1914 by a majority of 3,000, and he was chosen for a second term by 8,000 majority.
Hon. William E. Entemann was born at Toledo, Ohio, Sept. 20th, 1868. His father, William Entemann, was a native of Germany. The mother's maiden name was Mary King. William E. Entemann was educated in the public schools of Toledo, and he never held any political position until he was chosen to be a member of the State Legislature. On Nov. 25th, 1913, Mr. Entemann was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Stack, of Toledo, Ohio.
As a legislator, Representative Entemann has been a consistent sup- porter of all measures that he deemed for the best interests of the peo- ple of Ohio. In the Eighty-second General Assembly Mr. Entemann
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served as Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Relations, and as a member of the Committees on Common Schools, Fish Culture and Game, Liquor Traffic and Temperance, and Public Health.
HON. EARL E. ERTEL.
(Clermont County)
The beginning of the settlement of what is now Clermont County, began in 1795, when the Virginia soldiers of the Revolu- tionary War began to locate on their grants there. The county was created by proclama- tion of Territorial Governor Arthur St. Clair, on Dec. 6th, 1800, and its name was taken from the department of Clermont, in France, the French meaning of the name being, "a clear mountain" The first seat of govern- ment in the county was New Richmond, Williamsburg having been a temporary seat of justice An act of the Ohio Legislature passed Feb. 24th, 1824, located the county seat at Batavia, where it has since remained.
Hon. Earl E. Ertel, Representative of Clermont County, in the Ohio House of Represntatives, Eighty-second General Assembly, was born at Loveland, Ohio, June 13th, 1883. His father, B. F. Ertel, was born at Maineville, Warren County, Ohio The son, Earl, received his education in the public schools at Loveland. Upon leaving school he became a member of the mercantile firm of Flinn and Ertel, Loveland, Ohio, in which concern he is still interested, and for fifteen years he was connected with the Sales Department of the Reading Iron Company, Reading, Pa., at their Cincinnati office. In the month of August, 1917, Mr. Ertel accepted the position of Manager of the Pipe and Boiler Tube Department of the Cincinnati Iron & Steel Company.
In the year 1911, Mr. Ertel was joined in marriage with Miss Mabel N. Blair, of Madisonville, Ohio
Representative Ertel was first a member of the 80th General Assem- bly of Ohio. He was defeated for election to the 8Ist General Assembly. In the year 1916, he was again nominated, as a Democrat, and at the
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election which followed in November, he was chosen by a majority doubling that which he received at his first election.
By reason of his engaging personality and a strong determination to be a factor in legislation, Mr. Ertel was recognized by the Democratic leaders as one to be trusted with important measures, and he was chosen Chairman of the House Committee on Insurance, which position al- ways carries with it a heavy responsibility He was author of House Bill No. 250, authorizing Life Insurance Companies to hold the proceeds of insurance policies free from alienation or legal process in certain cases, which became a Law. Mr. Ertel also introduced House Bill No. 325, which authorizes and regulates the exchange of inter-insurance con- tracts among individuals, partnerships, and corporations, and this bill also became a Law
Besides being Chairman of the House Committee on Insurance, Representative Ertel served as a member of the committees on Public Highways, Taxation and Revenues, Public Schools, and a member of the Special Calendar Committee appointed by the Speaker of the House.
HON. HENRY EVANS.
(Lucas County)
Lucas County was formed in June, 1835, and was given its name in honor of Robert Lucas, of Pike County, who was then serv- ing as Governor of Ohio. He was active in the settlement of the Ohio-Michigan boun- dary contention, which had for so long dis- turbed the peace of northwestern Ohio, and for a time, threatened to land Toledo in the neighboring state of Michigan, and thus lose to Ohio one of its principal lake ports.
Hon. Henry Evans, one of the four Rep- resentatives of Lucas County in the Eighty- second General Assembly, was born near Worcester, Mass., Aug. 5th, 1868. His father, John Evans, was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, Jan. 10th, 1826. The son, Henry, received his education in the common schools at Toledo, and most of his life has been spent in general office work, as a clerk He was employed for some years in the manufacturing establishment owned and conducted
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. OHIO LEGISLATIVE HISTORY.
by "Golden Rule" Jones, who was, for several terms, a very popular mayor of Toledo.
In the year 1897, Mr. Evans was joined in marriage with Miss Nellie Dyer, of Indianapolis, Indiana. Three children have been born of the union, namely : Paul, Jones, and Mary Jane.
Mr. Evans served as Infiramry Director in Lucas County from 1909 to 1911, being elected on the Democratic and Independent ticket.
In the year 1916, Mr. Evans was nominated and elected, as a Demo- crat, to serve in the Ohio House of Representatives, Eighty-second Gen- eral Assembly, and during the regular session of the Legislature in 1917, he was particularly interested in legislation that seeks to regulate public utilities and keep them on a "good service" basis, as well as a reasonable paying basis
Representative Evans was chairman of the House committee on Prisons and Prison Reform, and a member of the committees on Banks and Banking, Benevolent and Penal Institutions, Cities, and Library.
HON. HARRY L. FEDERMAN.
(Hamilton County)
On January 4th, 1790, Gen. Arthur St. Clair, Governor of the Northwest Territory, issued a proclamation creating the County of Hamilton, of which Cincinnati was, and has ever since, been named the county seat. John Cleves Symmes, who had received a land grant of one million acres from Congress, and who was in the territory before the arrival of the governor, asked the privilege of nam- ing the county, and he chose the name of Hamilton, in honor of Alexander Hamilton, who was at that time, secretary of the Treasury at Washington. The biographer of Arthur St. Clair says that the governor, as well as Washington and Hamilton, were members of the "Society of Cincinnati," and all were close personal friends Therefore, in order to perpetuate the memory of the great Revolutionary struggle for freedom, the name of Wash- ington was given to the first county formed in Ohio, and that of Hamil- ton to the second The "Society of the Cincinnati" was formed after
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the Revolutionary War, for the purpose of rendering aid to survivors, and Governor St Clair gave the name to Cincinnati in honor of the Society
One of the ten members of the Ohio House of Representatives from Hamilton County in the Eighty-second General Assembly, Hon. Harry L. Federman was born at Cincinnati, July 30th, 1878. His father, Jacob Federman, was born at Strassburg, Germany. The son, Harry, received his education in the public schools of Cincinnati. As a boy, he worked two years in the manufacture of candy, then learned the printing trade, and he was for several years, associated with the Methodist Book Concern, of Cincinnati. He next entered the Life Insurance business at Cincinnati and New York, and in the year 1917, is engaged as a real estate insurance broker and building contractor.
In the year 1901, Mr. Federman was united in marriage with Miss Bertha Kramer, of Cincinnati, Ohio.
Mr. Federman has even been a very active citizen of Cincinnati, and in the year 1914, he was nominated and elected as a Republican, to the Eighty-first General Assembly of Ohio, and in 1916, he was again chosen by a very large majority, a member of the Eighty-second General Assembly and selected as Chairman of the House Delegation from Hamilton County. During his term in the Eighty-first General Assembly, Representative Federman rendered a great service to his constituents through his work and assistance in securing the passage of the famous "Rapid Transit Bill" through the House for Cincinnati, thereby abolishing the offensive open canal through the streets of that city, and securing a bond issue for six million dollars, and a contract with the Cincinnati Traction Company for a lease favorably voted on by the people Mr. Federman was also active in securing the enactment into Law, of the "School Savings Bank Bill"; also the "Junk Dealers' Bill", penalizing junk dealers for trafficking in stolen plunder
The greatest and most pleasing entertainment ever enjoyed by any General Assembly in Ohio, was that of the "Legislative Reunion" which was held at Cincinnati in honor of the Eighty-first General Assembly, in September, 1915. The splendid entertainment on that occasion of the entire body of Ohio's law-makers, with their wives, is more fully recorded on another page in this volume, but to Mr. Federman is given the greatest credit for the successful introduction of the plan of enter- tainment, and for the beautiful manner in which it was carried out by the citizens of Cincinnati.
In the Eighty-second General Assembly, Representative Federman served as a member of the following House committees, namely: Cities, Public Utilities, Building and Loan Associations, and Fish and Game.
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OHIO LEGISLATIVE HISTORY.
HON. SAM B. FITZSIMMONS.
(Cuyahoga County)
On July 22nd, 1796, Gen. Moses Cleave- land and a party of men who represented the "Connecticut Land Company", reached the mouth of the Cuyahoga River and landed on the eastern bank. This party had been com- missioned to make a survey of the celebrated "Fire-lands" which comprised all of the land known as the "Western Reserve" The party at once proceeded to survey and lay out a site for a city which Gen. Cleaveland hoped would some day be of great com- mercial importance. An area of one square mile was surveyed and laid off in city lots. In October, 1796, the surveys were completed and the prospective city was given the name of "Cleaveland", in honor of its founder In 1830, the "Cleaveland Advertiser" was established, but the sheet was so small that in order to give room for the heading, which was too long for the form, the letter "a" in the first syllable of the word Cleaveland, was dropped, and the spelling of "Cleveland" was adopted, which the public at once accepted
The hope of Moses Cleaveland has been more than realized, and in the year 1917, the city of Cleveland has grown from its population of 150 people in 1820, to more than three-quarters of a million, and it is one of the most important commercial and manufacturing centers in the United States.
The present representation of Cuyahoga County in the Ohio Legis- lature is, in the House of Representatives, thirteen members, all Demo- crats, and in the Senate, five members who are likewise Democrats.
One of the younger members of the delegation in the House is the subject of this sketch.
Hon. Sam B. Fitzsimmons was born at Loudonville, Ohio, in 1884. His father, James B. Fitzsimmons, was born at Bridgewater, Pennsyl- vania. The son, Sam, received his education in the public schools, the Crestline High School, and he took the Engineering course at the University of Michigan. He afterward attended the Law department
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at Western Reserve University, and since he was admitted to the Bar in 1908 has practiced the profession of attorney-at-law
In the year 1914, Mr. Fitzsimmons was united in marriage with Miss Hazel M. Saunders, of Cleveland, O.
In the year 1914, Mr. Fitzsimmons was nominated and elected, as a Democrat, one of the Cuyahoga delegation in the Eighty-first Gen- eral Assembly, and he was again nominated and elected in 1916, to the Eighty-second General Assembly
Representative Fitzsimmons was assigned to the following com- mittes, in the Eighty-second General Assembly, viz .: Cities, Corpora- tions, Judiciary, Public Health, and he was Chairman of the Commit- tee on Supplies and Expenditures.
HON. T. ALFRED FLEMING.
(Cuyahoga County)
One of the most active and influential members of the Eighty-second General As- sembly is the subject of this sketch.
Hon. T. Alfred Fleming was born at Owens Sound, Ontario, Canada, June 23rd, 1874. His father, John Fleming, was born at Dundee, Scotland. T. Alfred Fleming is a graduate of Owens Sound Collegiate In- stitute, Toronto Normal College, Toronto University, and Hiram College, Hiram, Ohio, where he was ordained, as a minister of the Church of Christ, in the month of June, 1900. His first charge was Everton, Ontario, Canada, where he remained 11/2 years. Prior to this time, Mr. Fleming taught school for two years. Later, he received a call to the Miles Avenue Christian Church, Cleveland, Ohio, where he remained as pas- tor for 101/2 years
On account of a serious nervous breakdown, Mr. Fleming was obliged to give up active church work, and he then took up welfare work in the city of Cleveland, becoming secretary to Harris R. Cooley, who is the foremost welfare worker in Ohio.
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OHIO LEGISLATIVE HISTORY.
On Nov. 15th, 1900, Mr. Fleming was united in marriage with Miss Catherine Inez Henderson, of Cleveland, Ohio. They have a daughter, Lois, age, 15 years.
In the Fall of 1913, Mr. Fleming was made chief inspector in the State Fire Marshal department, under E. R. Deffenbaugh, where he served until the close of Mr. Deffenbaugh's term of office.
In the year 1916, Mr. Fleming was nominated and elected one of the thirteen Democratic members to represent Cuyahoga County in the Ohio House of Representatives, Eighty-second General Assembly.
At the regular session of the Eighty-second General Assembly in 1917, Representative Fleming was author of several important bills which became laws, to-wit: H. B. No. 162, relative to filing with County Auditors, applications for registration of motor vehicles ; H. B. No. 184-to abolish the evils arising out of delinquent land sales, and to give the state a first lien upon all delinquent lands ; H. B. No. 255 - declaring the rights of the State in the water of Lake Erie and the soil under such water; H. B. No. 296- providing for the organization, operation and supervision of Fire Insurance rate-making bureaus, etc .; and H. B. No. 352 - relative to service of writs and process by mail. This last bill will be the means of saving the counties a very large amount of money, besides leaving the sheriff's office free to use their time on prosecutions and executions.
Mr. Fleming served as Chairman of the House Committee on Benevolent and Penal Institutions, and as a member of the committees on Mines and Mining, Public Health, and Taxation and Revenues.
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OHIO LEGISLATIVE HISTORY.
HON. ANDREW O. FLEMING.
(Mahoning County)
Mahoning County, of which Youngstown is the county seat, is one of the most im- portant manufacturing centers, not only in Ohio, but of the entire Middle Western states. One of the famous war governors of Ohio- David Tod-was born on a farm in Trumbull County, (at the time) but now a part of Mahoning County. A son of David Tod, also named David, served his district, as a Senator, in the 79th General Assembly of Ohio. Many able men have represented Mahoning County in the Ohio Legislature, but no one of them has ever shown a better adaptability for the duties of a legislator than has the subject of this sketch.
Hon. Andrew O. Fleming was born at East Palestine, Ohio, Sept. 30th, 1886. His father, James Fleming, was born at Willington, Eng- land. The son, Andrew, received his education in the public schools, and he attended Mt. Union College three years. He graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University with the degree A. B. He afterward took post-graduate work in Columbia University, New York.
In the year 1916, Mr. Fleming was joined in marriage with Miss Virginia Moser, of Youngstown, Ohio.
Since finishing his education, Mr. Fleming has followed the profes- sion of a teacher, covering a period of ten years. In the year 1914, he was nominated and elected, as a Republican, to represent Mahoning County in the Ohio House of Representatives, Eighty-first General As- sembly, and in 1916, he was re-nominated and elected to the Eighty- second General Assembly. Throughout his service in the House, Rep- resentative Fleming has attracted the attention of all who are interested in matters of legislation, first by his brilliancy in debate, and secondly by his apparent desire to be conservative and fair, as between the political parties, in all matters that were up for consideration before the House. It is freely predicted by many who have observed the work of Representative Fleming, in the Legislature, that he will naturally rise to higher honors in the State.
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