USA > Ohio > Ohio legislative history, 1913-1917 > Part 50
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In the year 1914, Mr. Platt was nominated and elected, as a Repub- lican, representative to the 8Ist General Assembly, and he was re- elected in 1916, to the Eighty-second General Assembly.
During his term in the Legislature, Mr. Platt introduced the first bill giving women limited suffrage in Ohio. He also introduced H. B.
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No. 4, in the Eighty-second General Assembly, relating to the tax on dogs, and the protection of domestic animals and fowl. Represen- tative Platt was particularly interested in all legislation pertaining to the agricultural interests of the State, and he assisted in passing the Act which made the appropriation for the construction of the Coliseum, at the State Fair Grounds.
Mr. Platt served as a member of the following House committees, namely: Appropriations and Finance, Library, and Supplies and Expenditures.
HON. ARTHUR F. POTTER.
(Delaware County)
Delaware County was organized by the Legislature Feb. 10th, 1808, when it was taken from Franklin County and given its name from the Delaware tribe of Indians who had been for years encamped about the White Sul- phur Spring, which is now on the campus of Ohio Wesleyan University, in Delaware City. The first permanent white settlement in the county was made May Ist, 1801, on the east bank of the Olentangy River, five miles be- low the county seat, by Nathan Carpenter, and Avery Powers, who brought their families from Chenango County, New York.
Hon. A. F. Potter, who represents Delaware County in the Eighty- second General Assembly, was born at Leonardsburg, Delaware County, Ohio, Jan. 13th, 1884. His father, Herman I. Potter, was born at the same place. Arthur attended the country district school at Leonards- burg, and Ashley High School, graduating therefrom in 1904. In the same year, he entered Ohio State University and graduated from the Veterinary Department in 1907. He was employed for 21/2 years by the Federal Government under the Bureau of Animal Industry, as a veterinarian, located at Chicago. He resigned from the Government's service, took a post-graduate course at Cornell University, and then entered the practice of his profession in his home community, where he is also interested in farming. During the contagion of "foot and mouth disease" in Ohio, he was employed by the State in its eradication.
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The family ancestors of Mr. Potter came from England in 1609 and moved to Ohio. His great-grandfather served in the Revolutionary War, and his ancestor served in the French and Indian War.
In the year 1910, Arthur F. Potter was joined in marriage with Miss Lotta G. Whipple, of Leonardsburg, O., and they have a daughter, Marjorie June Potter.
Democrat, to represent Delaware County in the Eighty-second General Assembly of Ohio, and at the regular session of that body in 1917, he was one of the number who desired the repeal of the "Vonderheide Conservancy Law". He was also anxious for the passage of a law to prohibit the importation of horses affected with glanders, into the State. This law sought to give the horse-raising industry of the State the same protection that the cattle industry has enjoyed for years. Delaware County claims the honor of having more individual breeders of Percheron horses than any other county in the United States, and ships yearly large numbers of breeding stock to nearly every state in the Union.
Representative Potter served as a member of the following com- mittees, namely : Benevolent and Penal Institutions, Civil Service, Fed- eral Relations, Military Affairs, and Public Health.
HON. JOHN K. POWELL.
(Gallia County)
Gallia County was formed from Washing- ton County on April 30th, 1803. Its county seat, Gallipolis, was laid out by the Scioto Land Company, and settled by a French colony in 1791. This colony was composed of many men and women of wealth and title, and there were scarcely any laborers included in their number. The "Scioto Land Com- pany" had been promoted in Paris just at the close of the French Revolution, and the members of the colony were deluded into the belief that they would be able to found a real Utopia in the new world, and this with- out any particular effort on their part. Grossly exaggerated stories had been told them as to the physical character of the country, and as they
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were sick of all the horrors of the Revolution which they had just wit- nessed, they were glad to leave their native land.
They were made to believe that nature would provide them with everything that heart could desire in the new country, and they would be forever free from care and anxiety. Gallipolis was laid out in ad- vance of the coming of the French colony in accordance with a con- tract entered into with the Land Company.
Hon. John Kerr Powell, representative of Gallia County in the Eighty-second General Assembly of Ohio, was born in Springfield Town- ship, Gallia County, Ohio, Sept. 26th, 1854. His father, Andrew J. Powell, was born in Steuben County, New York. The son, John, was reared on a farm and he attended district school until 16 years of age, when he went to work for his board at Gallipolis, while attending Gallia Academy. Mr. Powell taught school for a period, was railroad station agent, country merchant, contractor and builder, and has been engaged in the manufacture of brick and drain tile.
On Sept. 27th, 1882, Mr. Powell was united in marriage with Miss Anna D. Hutsinpiller, of Gallipolis, Ohio. They have six children, namely : Edith, Earle, Adah, Raymond, Mary, and Carlton. The great- grandmother of Mr. Powell was the first whit child born in Marietta, Ohio.
Mr. Powell was elected County Treasurer of Gallia County in 1908, and re-elected in 1910, serving two terms. In the year 1914, he was nominated and elected, as a Republican, to the Ohio House of Rep- resentatives, SIst General Assembly, and he was re-elected in 1916, to serve in the 82nd General Assembly.
Representative Powell served as a member of the committees: State and Economic Betterment, Benevolent and Penal Institutions, Public Printing, and Federal Relations.
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HON. ROBERT BURGAN PUGH.
(Lucas County)
There are four Democrats representing Lucas County in the Ohio House of Represen- tatives, Eighty-second General Assembly, one of whom is the subject of this sketch.
Hon. Robert Burgan Pugh was born at New Washington, Crawford County, Ohio, Nov. 12th, 1886, and he is one of the younger contingent in the House membership. His father, Alfred Bailey Pugh, was also born in Crawford County. The son, Robert, re- ceived his education in the public schools, and upon entering high school, his father had moved to Chatfield - a distance of five miles - and the son walked back and forth, night and morning, in order to attend high school at New Washington. Young Pugh was first em- ployed in a grocery and meat market, and in 1906, he went to Toledo and entered the service of the Toledo Terminal Railroad Company, in the Car Department. In 1910, he was employed in the Transportation Department as switchman, and he is at present engaged as conductor.
On March 29th, 1911, Mr. Pugh was united in marriage with Miss Julia Brenot, of Toledo, Ohio. They have three sons, Donald, 5 years ; Robert, four years, and Burgan, 2 years.
Mr. Pugh never held public office until in the year 1916, he was nominated and elected, as a Democrat, to a seat in the House of Rep- resentatives - Eighty-second General Assembly - of Ohio. He had been for many years, very active in labor organization work, and through this activity, he became prominent and was chosen to the Legislature.
At the regular session of the General Assembly in 1917, Represen- tative Pugh was strongly interested in all legislation affecting union labor, especially railroad workers, and measures that would serve to safeguard railway employes and make traveling more safe for the public. Mr. Pugh was author of H. B. No. 525 -to provide a court of domestic relations, established in Toledo, Ohio, and the bill became a Law.
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Representative Pugh served as a member of the following commit- tees, namely : Civil Service, Constitutional Amendments and I. and R., Public Buildings and Lands, Public Parks and Works, Public Printing, and Universities and Colleges and Normal Schools.
HON. GEORGE F. REED.
(Washington County)
The first county created in Ohio was Washington, and Arthur St. Clair, who was at the time Governor of the Northwest Ter- ritory, and located at Marietta, officially named the county on Saturday, July 26th, 1788. The county originally contained ter- ritory which extended over more than one- half of the State, but the Washington County of the present contains only the average area of counties in Ohio. In January, 1791, war broke out with the Indians, and for several years the settlement at Marietta was sub- jected to all the terrors of a border struggle with savages. In 1795, peace was declared with the Indians, and there- after the pioneer settlements flourished.
In recent years, Washington County is closely contested between the two political parties, the present representative in the Ohio Legis- lature, being a Democrat.
Hon. George F. Reed was born in Noble County, Ohio, March 22nd, 1866. His father, Isaac Reed, was born at Sharon, Noble County, O. The son, George F., received his education in the country schools, working on a farm at the same time, and he has remained a farmer all his life.
Mr. Reed is married and the father of four children.
Mr. Reed has been a member of the local school board for several terms, but never held any political office until in 1916, he was nominated and elected, as a Democrat, to serve in the Eighty-second General As- sembly of Ohio, and at the regular session of that body in 1917, he was author of H. B. No. 591 - to provide for the purchase and preserva- tion of Camp Martius, at Marietta. The bill became a Law. Repre-
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sentative Reed served as a member of the following committees, namely : Banks and Banking, Corporations, Fish Culture and Game, Labor, and Manufactures and Commerce.
HON. FRANK H. REIGHARD.
(Fulton County)
Fulton County was formed by Act of the Legislature on Feb. 28th, 1850, and the territory was taken from Lucas, Williams and Henry Counties. The county was named in honor of Robert Fulton, the inventor of the steamboat. The first county seat was "Ottokee", the name of a chief of the Ottawa tribe of Indians, known to the early settlers. The building of a railroad through the county in the early's sixties, which did not pass through the capital, caused peo- ple of other parts of the county to demand that a place on the railroad should be chosen. The Legislature, in 1869, passed an "Enabling Act", removing the county seat to Wauseon, where it has since remained. The first white settler that there is any record of in the county, was Eli Phillips, who, with his young wife, came into this territory from Michigan and located a home in the year 1832. The deed for the land occupied by this pioneer was signed by Andrew Jackson, as President of the United States, thus proving that it was government land, at the time.
Fulton County has been almost invariably Republican in politics, and the gentleman who represents the county in the Eighty-second Gen- eral Assembly is of that faith.
Hon. Frank H. Reighard was born on a farm near Delta, Fulton County, Ohio, Oct. 8th, 1867. His father, George Reighard, was born in the same township. The son, Frank H. began his education in the public schools working on the farm during the summer months, and he then taught school to earn money for a college education which he re-
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OHIO LEGISLATIVE HISTORY.
ceived at Fayette Normal School, Fayette, Ohio, the Ohio Northern University, at Ada, Ohio, and the University of Wooster, Wooster, Ohio.
In the year 1903, Mr. Reighard purchased the Fulton County "Tribune", published at Wauseon, which he edited and published for several years, and he succeeded in making this newspaper a power for the molding of public opinion in behalf of the Republican party in north- western Ohio.
Mr. Reighard is married and has a son.
Mr. Reighard served two terms as surveyor of Fulton County, from 1896 to 1902. In the year 1912, he was nominated and elected as a Republican, to represent Fulton County in the 80th General Assembly of Ohio, and he led the Republican county ticket with a majority of over 800. He was re-nominated and elected in 1914, and in 1916, he was chosen for a third term, as a member of the Ohio House of Rep- resentatives. In the 8Ist General Assembly Representative Reighard served as Chairman of the House Finance committee, where he earned a high reputation for the careful handling of State funds. At the regular session of the Eighty-second General Assembly, the Republicans were in the minority and at the organization of the House, Representative Reighard was chosen "Floor Leader" by his party colleagues. In this position, Mr. Reighard was alert and aggressive in all matters relating to the welfare of the Republican party, and he fully justified the con- fidence reposed in him by his party colleagues.
In the Eighty-second General Assembly, Mr. Reighard served as a member of the following committees, namely: Banks and Banking, Building and Loan and Other Savings Associations, Prisons and Prison Reform, and Rules and Legislative Procedure.
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OHIO LEGISLATIVE HISTORY.
HON. JAMES A. REYNOLDS.
(Cuyahoga County)
A member of the Cuyahoga County delega- tion in the Eighty-second General Assembly who has several times been honored by his fellow-citizens with an election to Ohio's law- making body, is the subject of this sketch.
Hon. James A. Reynolds, Democrat, was born in England, Dec. 6th, 1871, and most of his life has been spent in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Mr. Reynolds was, for many years, actively identified with organized labor, and he is at present proprietor of "Daisy Hill Farms", at Chagrin Falls, Cuyahoga County.
In the year 1905, Mr. Reynolds was nominated and elected, as a Democrat, to serve in the Ohio House of Representatives, 77th General Assembly, and at the regular session of that body, he succeeded in placing upon the Statutes the "Reynolds' Child Labor Law". By the same constituency, Mr. Reynolds was elected to a seat in the Senate of the 79th General Assembly of Ohio, and in that body, he was author of the "Non-partisan Judiciary Law", which was so strongly recommended by Governor Judson Harmon. In the year 1916, Mr. Reynolds was again chosen a member of the Cuyahoga delegation in the House of Representatives, and at the regular session of that body in 1917, he was author of H. B. No. 16-to provide that women may vote, and be voted for, for Presidential elector in Ohio. This bill was passed and signed by the Governor, but was defeated by a referendum vote of the people. Mr. Reynolds was also author of H. B. No. 253 - providing for a more complete use of school grounds as a place for holding public meetings; and H. B. No. 559 -to pro- vide for appointment of committes to purchase a site for Governor's residence. The two latter bills became Laws.
Representative Reynolds served as Chairman of the House com- mittee on Liquor Traffic and Temperance, and a member of the fol- lowing comimttees, namely: Appropriations and Finance, Prisons and Prison Reform, Federal Relations, and Privileges and Elections.
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OHIO LEGISLATIVE HISTORY.
HON. THOMAS REYNOLDS.
(Cuyahoga County)
One of the thirteen Democratic Represen- tatives of Cuyahoga County in the Eighty- second General Assembly of Ohio - Mr. "Tom" Reynolds - is the subject of this sketch.
Hon. Thomas Reynolds was born at Al- legheny, Pa., Sept. 18th, 1877. He received his education in the parochial schools at Cleveland, Ohio, and since leaving school, he has acquired an extensive and favorable ac- quaintance throughout the city of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County which, in 1916, resulted in his nomination and election to the Eighty- second General Assembly of Ohio. Previous to this time, Mr. Rey- nolds had served as President of the Common Council in North Ran- dall, Cuyahoga County. He is married, and a member of the B. P. O. E.
At the regular session of the Eighty-second General Assembly in 1917, Representative "Tom" Reynolds delivered a humorous address before a night session of the House which was very entertaining to all who heard it. He was author of H. B. No. 327, relating to the hours of labor for women, and H. B. No. 495, pertaining to bi-monthly payment of wages. Both bills became Laws.
Mr. Reynolds served as a member of the following named com- mittees, viz .: Banks and Banking, Common Schools, Corporations, County Affairs, and Labor.
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OHIO LEGISLATIVE HISTORY.
HON. HUSTON TAYLOR ROBINS.
(Ross County)
The present Representative of Ross County in the Ohio Legislature is Hon. Huston Tay- lor Robins, who was born at Bainbridge, Ross County, Ohio, December 3rd, 1866. He re- ceived his education in the public schools at Bainbridge, and at South Salem Academy, graduating from the latter institution in 1887. He has been a teacher, newspaper reporter, and attorney. He attended the Cincinnati Law School, graduating therefrom in 1895; was admitted to the bar the same year, and has practiced law since that time, excepting the six years ( 1900-1905) which he served as Judge of the Probate Court of Ross County, to which official position he was elected in 1899, and re-elected in 1902.
Judge Robins has always been a Republican in politics, and in the year 1916 he was nominated and elected to represent Ross County in the Eighty-second General Assembly. He served as a member of the Committees on County Affairs, and Taxation and Revenues. He is married and resides in Chillicothe, Ohio's first State Capital, where he is engaged in the practice of law.
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OHIO LEGISLATIVE HISTORY.
HON. WARREN J. ROBISON.
(Portage County)
Portage County derived its name from the old Indian Portage trail between the Cuya- hoga and Tuscarawas Rivers, and the county was authorized by Act of the Legislature, on Feb. 10, 1807. The territory was taken from Trumbull County, nearly all from Franklin Township, which was so large in extent that even it was considered too big for a county, and portions of it were afterwards distributed among other new counties. Ravenna was chosen as the county seat in 1808. One of the most distinguished men among the early. settlers, was Benjamin Tappan, who served Ohio as a United States Senator, and later became a prominent jurist, at Steubenville, to which place he removed after a long residence at Ravenna.
Hon. Warren J. Robison, who represents Portage County in the Eighty-second General Assembly of Ohio, was born at Palmyra, Ohio, Oct. 31st, 1871. His father, John Robison, was born at the same place. The son, Warren J., received his education in the common schools and at Mt. Union College, and Wooster College. He lived on a farm until the age of 35, and has taught school most of his life. Mr. Robison was Chairman of the Portage County Teachers' Association in 1913, and he served part of a term as County Recorder, when the occupant re- signed to become Postmaster of Ravenna, in 1914. Mr. Robison is at present engaged in the insurance business. His ancestors settled in Portage County about the year 1800.
In the year 1892, Mr. Robison was united in marriage with Miss Della M. Davis, of Palmyra, O. They have a son, Henry J. Robison.
In the year 1916, Mr. Robison was nominated and elected, as a. Democrat, to represent Portage County in the Eighty-second General Assembly of Ohio, and at the regular session of that body in 1917, he was particularly interested in all measures pertaining to the agricul- tural and educational interests of the State.
Representative Robison served as a member of the following com- mittees, namely: Appropriations and Finance, Common Schools, In- surance, Mines and Mining, and Public Buildings and Lands.
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HON. W. A. RUSSELL.
(Lawrence County)
Lawrence County is farthest south in Ohio, bordering on the Ohio River, and its territory was first settled about the year 1797, by pioneers from Pennsylvania and Virginia, who were mostly of German and Irish de- scent. At that time most of the inhabitants were given to hunting wild game, and their only care was the danger from Indians. There were many instances where men out hunting had their scalps taken, and many cabins were burned down and the inmates tomahawked before the savages were driven from that part of the State. The county was created by the Legislature on March Ist, 1816, and given its name in honor of Capt. James Lawrence, a famous naval officer of the War of 1812. In 1849, the town site of Ironton was laid out, and it became the county seat, being named for the principal industry of the locality.
Hon. William Averell Russell, representative of Lawrence County in the Eighty-second General Assembly of Ohio, was born at Getaway, Lawrence County, Ohio, April 12th, 1865. His father, A. P. Russell, was born at the same place. The son, William, received his education in the common schools, and he was a teacher in the public schools for 17 years. Mr. Russell served four years in the office of County Recorder of Lawrence County, and he has been engaged in the insurance business since 1901.
In the year 1889, Mr. Russell was joined in marriage with Miss Ida G. Kite, of Getaway, Ohio.
In the year 1916, Mr. Russell was nominated and elected, as a Republican, to a seat in the Ohio House of Representatives.
At the regular session of the Eighty-second General Assembly in 1917, Representative Russell served as a member of the committees on Insurance, and Universities and Colleges and Normal Schools.
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OHIO LEGISLATIVE HISTORY.
HON. NELSON SCHWAB.
(Hamilton County)
A young attorney-at-law, and son of one of the most prominent citizens of Cincinnati, is one of the ten members of the Hamilton County delegation in the House of Represen- tatives of the Eighty-second General Assem- bly of Ohio.
Hon. Nelson Schwab was born at Cincin- nati, Ohio, June 9th, 1888. His father, Dr. Louis Schwab, is also a native of Cincinnati. The son, Nelson, received his education in the public schools of Cincinnati, and he graduated from Miami University in 1912. He attended Cincinnati Law School, was ad- mitted to the Bar in 1915, and has practiced his profession in Cincin- nati since that time, as a member of the law firm - Schwab & Mc- Caslim. Mr. Schwab never held any public office until in 1916, he was nominated and elected, as a Republican, to serve in the Eighty-second General Assembly, where he was particularly interested in legislation concerning public health and taxation.
On Sept. 15th, 1917, Mr. Schwab was united in marriage with Miss Marie Carlile.
Representative Schwab served as a member of the following com- mittees, namely : Codes, Courts, and Procedure; State and Economic Betterment, and Taxation and Revenue.
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OHIO LEGISLATIVE HISTORY.
HON. PAT O. SHANK.
(Medina County)
Medina County was provided for by Legis- lative Enactment on February 18th, 1812, but its formal organization did not take place until in the month of April, 1818. During the interval, the county remained a part of Portage county. The small hamlet of Mecca was chosen as the county seat in 1818, but in that year the name was changed to Medina.
Hon. Pat O. Shank, who represents Medina County in the Eighty-second General Assem- bly of Ohio, was born at Medina, Ohio. His father, Michael Shank, was born in Pennsyl- vania. The son, Pat, was educated in the public schools, and at Oberlin College. He taught school for a few years, then became interested in harness horses, and for a period of 37 years, he has been a driver of trotters and pacers throughout the country. Mr. Shank owns a stock farm where he breeds and raises horses for speed.
In the year 1885, Mr. Shank was joined in marriage with Miss Edith McConnell, of Chatham, Ohio. They have three children, named, respectively : McConnell, Neil and Ruth.
In the year 1914, Mr. Shank was nominated and elected, as a Repub- lican, to serve in the 8Ist General Assembly of Ohio, and he was re- elected in 1916, to the 82nd General Assembly. Representative Shank was particularly interested in the enactment of a just tax law which would require that each person pay his full share of taxes, and that none should pay double tax. He served as a member of the committee on Public Buildings and Lands, also the committee on Public Highways.
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OHIO LEGISLATIVE HISTORY.
HON. WILLIAM HENRY SHINN.
(Williams County)
Williams was the original county formed from the old Northwest Indian Territory, April Ist, 1820, and organized four years later with Defiance Fort as the location of its original county seat. The county was named for David Williams, one of the three Continental army soldiers who captured Major Andre, the British spy, who assisted Benedict Arnold in his betrayal of the American cause in the Revolutionary War. At first it comprised the territory from which several other counties were carved later.
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