USA > Ohio > Ohio legislative history, 1913-1917 > Part 52
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Hon. Francis M. Thompson was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, Dec. 21st, 1879. His father, Judge Elihu Thompson, was born in the same county. The grandfather, James Franklin Thompson, was a member of the Sixty-first General Assembly of Ohio, 1874- 1875. The father, Judge Elihu Thompson, served as Prosecuting At- torney in Montgomery County two terms, Police Commissioner of Day- ton two terms, and on the Common Pleas bench.
Hon. Francis M. Thompson received his education in the public schools ; in Steele High School, Dayton, Ohio; and Ohio State Univer- sity, where he graduated in 1906, with the degree - Bachelor of Laws. He was admitted to the Bar, in Ohio, December, 1905, and after prac- ticing his profession three years in Dayton, as junior member of the firm - Thompson & Thompson - he removed to Columbus, was ad- mitted to practice in the United States Court in December, 1909, and has continued the practice of Law in the capital city ever since.
In the year 1906, Mr. Thompson was united in marriage with Miss Louise C. Wahlemaier, of Columbus, Ohio, daughter of George J. Wahlemaier, and they have one child living-a daughter, Marion Louise.
Mr. Thompson never held public office until in the year 1914, he was nominated and elected, as a Democrat, to serve in the Ohio House of Representatives, 8Ist General Assembly, and in the year 1916, he was re-elected to serve in the 82nd General Assembly.
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OHIO LEGISLATIVE HISTORY.
Representative Thompson was author of several very important bills which became Laws in the regular session of the 82nd General As- sembly in 1917, namely: H. B. No. 116, relating to executor's and administrator's bonds; H. B. No. 117, relating to guardian's bond; H. B. No. 118, relating to the removal and bond of an assignee or trustee ; H. B. No. 218, relating to qualifications of judges of the Supreme Court ; H. B. No. 219, relating to qualifications of judges of the Court of Ap- peals; No. 220, relating to qualifications of judges of the Common Pleas Court.
Representative Thompson served as Chairman of the committee: Codes, Courts, and Procedure, and a member of the committees on Federal Relations, Prisons and Prison Reform, Universities, Colleges, and Normal Schools. As chairman of the Codes committee, Mr. Thompson rendered valuable service in unifying bills creating special Municipal and Domestic Relations courts.
HON. MARION P. TOTMAN.
(Athens County)
One of the earliest white settlements in Ohio was made in the year 1797, at the site of the town of Athens, eight years before the organization of the county. When this set- tlement was about two years old, an act was passed by the Territorial Assembly for the laying-out of the town of Athens. Until that time, only one town had been incorporated in the whole Northwest Territory, and that was Marietta, less than a month previous. On Feb. 20th, 1805, the State Legislature passed an act, creating Athens County, and locating its seat of justice, permanently, at Athens.
Since the Republican party was formed, Athens County has uniformly voted in that faith, and the present member of the General Assembly is no exception to the rule.
Marion P. Totman was born on a farm near Broadwell, Athens County, Ohio, Oct. 7th, 1861. His father was born in Amesville, same county in 1827. Moving with his parents on a farm near Broadwell
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when just a small boy, he later purchased a portion of this farm and built a log cabin in the timberland, clearing it up and reared a family of eight children and remained on this farm untl his death in 1886. Ownership of said farm remains with the son, Marion P., who was edu- cated in the common schools at Broadwell. He remained on the farm until in 1884, he went into the general merchandising business at Broad- well, Athens County, where he is still interested, with his son.
In the year 1908, Mr. Totman was elected County Treasurer of Athens County, and he was re-eelcted in 1910, serving two terms to that office. In the year 1914, Mr. Totman was nominated and elected, as a Republican, to a seat in the Ohio House of Representatives, Eighty- first General Assembly, and re-elected in 1916, to serve in the Eighty- second General Assembly.
On Feb. 3rd, 1884, Mr. Totman was united in marriage with Miss Edith E. Wickham, of Broadwell, Athens County, Ohio, and they have reared two children, a daughter, Bessie May, wife of Clarence E. Gor- ham, Athens, Ohio, and a son, Walter W. Totman, who is married and resides at Broadwell, Ohio.
In the 8Ist General Assembly he served on the following commit- tees, namely : Benevolent and Penal Institutions, Cities, County Af- fairs, Manufactures and Commerce, Public Highways, Public Parks and Works, and State and Economic Betterment.
At the regular sessions of the 8Ist and 82nd General Assemblies, Representative Totman was very much interested in all of the important legislative measures, and he served as a member of the following com- mittees in the Eighty-second General Assembly, namely: Benevolent and Penal Institutions, Federal Relations, and Public Utilities.
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HON. CHARLES MONROE TRISCH.
(Summit County)
Summit County was authorized by Legis- lative act, March 3rd, 1840, and it was formed from Portage, Medina, and Stark Counties. The territory lies in a region filled with small natural lakes, and the county also includes within its boundaries, Cuyahoga Falls, the most picturesque and the highest waterfall in the State. The county derived its name on account of being the highest divide crossed by the old Ohio canal, and here the engineers and contractors expe- rienced great difficulty in their work of con- struction. Formerly, the Indians and white traders and hunters had called it "the Portage Summit." Water flows here both to the Ohio River and to Lake Erie. Old John Brown, of Harper's Ferry fame, was once a resident of this county. On May 20th, 1841, Akron was finally selected as the county seat by a commission that had been appointed by the Legislature for the purpose of settling the contest that had been waged for many years with the people of Cuyahoga Falls.
Hon. Charles Monroe Trisch, one of the representatives of Sum- mit County in the Eighty-second General Assembly of Ohio, was born at McDonaldsville, Stark County, Ohio, Aug. 20th, 1864. His father, Peter C. Trisch, was born at Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The son Charles, while supported by his parents, received his education in the public schools at Uniontown, Ohio. He learned telegraphy and has been em- ployed by the Baltimore & Ohio Railway as operator and train dispatcher for 34 years.
In the year 1886, Mr. Trisch was joined in marriage with Miss Millie Point, of Everett, Ohio. They have two daughters, Bess and Audrey.
In the year 1916, Mr. Trisch was nominated and elected, as a Democrat, to serve as a member of the Eighty-second General Assem- bly of Ohio, and at the regular session of that body in 1917, he was actively interested in measures affecting taxation, labor, water conser- vation, and suffrage for women. Representative Trisch served as a member of the following committees, namely: Cities, Fish Culture and Game, Labor, Public Parks and Works.
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HON. PAUL WADDELL.
(Belmont County)
Belmont County is represented by a Demo- crat and a Republican in the Eighty-second General Assembly of Ohio - Mr. Waddell be- ing the Democrat.
Hon. Paul Vane Waddell was born at Lamira, Belmont County, Ohio, March 29th, 1887. His father, Frank S. Waddell, is also a native of Belmont County, and a farmer. The son, Paul, attended the public schools of Belmont County, graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University with the degree B. A., class of 1911, and Ohio State University with the degree LL. B., class of 1914. Im- mediately after graduating from Law School, Mr. Waddell was admitted to the Bar, and has practiced his profession since that time at Bellaire, Ohio. He never held a public office until in 1916, he was nominated and elected, as a Democrat, to serve in the Ohio House of Representa- tives, Eighty-second General Assembly.
In all movements for the betterment of the community life in Bel- laire or Belmont County, Mr. Waddell has been actively connected, prov- ing his patriotism in the great world war crisis of the period. Represen- tative Waddell was a member for nearly three months of the first Officers' Training Camp, at Fort Ben Harrison, Ind., but was honorably discharged from there on account of physical disability. He enlisted three separate times since then, but each time failed to pass the physical examination.
Mr. Waddell is unmarried, and a member of the Masonic fraternity.
At the regular session of the Eighty-second General Assembly in 1917, Representative Waddell was most interested in industrial legis- lation and all measures affecting the public school system of the State. He served as a member of the following named committees, viz .: Civil Service, Codes, Courts and Procedure, County Affairs, Federal Rela- tions, Mines and Mining.
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HON. ALFRED WAGGONER.
(Sandusky County)
Sandusky County was formed April Ist, 1820, but the action of the Legislature, in creating the county, bears the date of Feb. 12th, and in the act, the village of Croghans- ville, was designated as the temporary seat of justice. Croghansville was named on ac- count of the defense of Fort Stevenson, at Lower Sandusky, now Fremont, by Colonel Croghan, in the War of 1812. The name of the county signifies in Indian lore of the period, "at the clear water". On May 23rd, 1832, a legislative commission reported in favor of Lower Sandusky for the county seat, and in 1849, the name of the town was changed to Fremont, in honor of Gen. John C. Fremont, "the pathfinder of the West". The petition was presented to the Court of Common Pleas by Rutherford B. Hayes, then a young lawyer practicing in Fremont, and he was af- terwards three times Governor of Ohio, and President of the United States.
Hon. Alfred Waggoner, who represents Sandusky County in the Eighty-second General Assembly of Ohio, was born on a farm in San- dusky County, Ohio, Feb. 19th, 1882. His father, William A. Wag- goner, was born in the same county. The son, Alfred, received his education in the district school, and at Tri-State Normal Institute, Angola, Ind. He worked upon the farm until the year 1902, he was appointed Clerk in the Railway Mail service. He continued in this position until in the year 1911, he refused to accept demotion on ac- count of his activities in the A. F. of L. movement, and was later removed from the service.
In the year 1907, Mr. Waggoner was united in marriage with Miss Emma L. Conner. They have two sons, Alfred, aged 7, and William Neal, aged 3.
Alfred Waggoner is a great-grandson of John Waggoner, who was a member of Capt. Van Herr's company, in the Revolutionary War. This company acted as body-guard to General Washington during the war.
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In the year 1914, Mr. Waggoner was nominated and elected, as a Democrat, to represent Sandusky County in the 8Ist General Assembly of Ohio, and he was re-elected to the 82nd General Assembly. At the regular session of the 82nd General Assembly in 1917, Representative Waggoner was author of H. B. No. 198, designating the kind of fish nets that are lawful to be used in Lake Erie fishing District; and H. B. No. 401, relative to the insurance of motor vehicles and gas en- gines by mutual protective associations; also H. B. No. 463 - to in- clude farm loan bonds issued under the Federal Farm Loan Act, in the lists of securities in which commercial banks, etc., may invest; and H. B. No. 966, authorizing the city of Bellevue to pay the back salaries of certain city employes. All of these bills became Laws.
Mr. Waggoner proved to be in every way, a popular and effective member of the General Assembly, and in the Eighty-second General Assembly he served as Chairman of the committee on Fish Culture and Game, and a member of the committees: Appropriations and Finance, Military Affairs, and Taxation and Revenues.
HON. CLIFTON HARRY WALCUTT.
(Franklin County)
One of the five members of the Ohio House of Representatives, Eighty-second General Assembly, is a farmer, by occupa- tion, and he is serving his second term, hav- ing been a member of the Eighty-first Gen- eral Assembly.
Hon. C. H. Walcutt was born at Colum- bus, Ohio, June Ist, 1865. His father, Har- rison Walcutt, was also born at Columbus. The son, "Harry," received his education in the public schools, and he has spent most of his life in farming and working a stone quarry.
In the year 1889, Mr. Walcutt was joined in marriage with Miss Jeanette M. Howard, of Hilliard, Ohio. Five children have been born of this union, namely: Lester O., Edna L., Oscar E., Laura A., and Harry A.
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OHIO LEGISLATIVE HISTORY.
In the year 1914, Mr. Walcutt was nominated and elected, as a Democrat, to serve as a member of the 8Ist General Assembly, and in 1916, he was re-elected to serve in the 82nd General Assembly. Prior to this time, Mr. Walcutt had never held public office except as a mem- ber of the township school board.
At the regular session of the Eighty-second General Assembly in 1917, Representative Walcutt was particularly interested in the matter of County Homes for Children, and he was author of H. B. No. 164, relating to Children's Homes, and the bill became a Law.
Mr. Walcutt served as a member of the following House commit- tees, namely : Agriculture, Insurance, Public Health, and Public Utilities.
HON. MICHAEL J. WALSH.
(Cuyahoga County)
Honored three times by his constituents by election one of the Representatives of Cuyahoga County, in the Ohio House of Rep- resentatives, the subject of this sketch was, in 1916, elected to a third term.
Hon. Michael J. Walsh was born at Bed- ford, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Jan. 6th, 1868. His father, John Walsh, was a native of County Kilkenny, Ireland. The son, Michael, was educated in the public and parochial schools. He worked on the farm during the summer months, attending school during the winter, and remained with his parents until he was 24 years old, then began farming and also the contracting busi- ness for himself, and has continued so ever since.
In the year 1894, Mr. Walsh was joined in marriage with Miss Julia Deering, of Cleveland, Ohio, and there are no children living.
In the year 1901, Mr. Walsh was elected Mayor of Newburg Ham- let, serving one term, and in 1905, he was elected Mayor of South New- burg, serving to January Ist, 1908. He was appointed Deputy Sheriff of Cuyahoga County January Ist, 1907, and served two years in that office. At the regular election in 1912, Mr. Walsh was chosen one of the thirteen Democrats to represent Cuyahoga County in the 80th General Assembly of Ohio, and he was re-elected in 1914, to the 8Ist
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General Assembly, and again elected in 1916, to serve in the 82nd Gen- eral Assembly.
At the regular session of the Eighty-second General Assembly in 1917, Representative Walsh was active with regard to legislation for good roads, and all legislation that would benefit his constituents and the public in general. He was author of H. B. No. 413, authorizing County Commissioners to purchase automobiles, or other vehicles for the use of county officials, in the transaction of public business, and the bill became a Law.
Representative Walsh served as a member of the following com- mittees, namely : Agriculture, County Affairs, Public Buildings and Lands, and he was Chairman of the committee on Public Parks and Works.
HON. ERNEST U. WHITACRE. (Columbiana County)
Columbiana County, originally a part of Washington County and later included as part of Jefferson County, was organized as a separate county with its present name by act of the General Assembly dated March 25th, 1803.
The actual establishment of a local govern- ment occurred on the Ioth of May of that year when the associate judges of the court of common pleas met at the house of Mathias Lower in Fairfield township. The popula- tion of the county at this time was only 543.
Lying on the Pennsylvania border of the state, Columbiana County may be termed a gateway between the east. and the west. It borders on the Ohio River and is one of the line of counties connecting that waterway with Lake Erie. Across it runs the main line of the Pennsylvania Railroad system and the Lincoln Highway traverses its hills and valleys. Its principal cities are connected by interurban traction lines and highway improvement now well under way will give it excellent facilities for transportation.
As an agricultural and manufacturing county it stands second to. few. Its farm lands produce an abundance of fruit and grain. Its ap- ples are noted for their abundance and fine flavor. The mining industry is important.
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East Liverpool on the Ohio River is its most populous city. Here are located the largest pottery industries in America. Salem, Wellsville and East Palestine are important manufacturing centers. Leetonia, Salineville and Columbiana are growing towns, Lisbon, the county seat was established more than one hundred years ago. The people are home loving and prosperous and large numbers of the descendants of the pioneer families reside within the county
Ernest U. Whitacre, one of the state representatives from. Colum- biana County in the 8Ist and 82d General Assemblies, is a native of the county. He was born in Fairfield Township, May 7, 1884. His paternal and maternal grandfathers, Cornelius Whitacre and David Gal- breath, came into the county when they were quite young, about one year following the admission of Ohio into the Union. They belonged to the Society of Friends or Quakers, as they are generally called.
Mr. Whitacre served two terms as a member of the Salem city council while working at his trade as machinist in that city, after which he was elected to the 8Ist General Assembly. He served as chairman of the Committee on Labor and took an active interest in all labor legis- lation. He was re-elected by an increased majority to the 82nd Gen- eral Assembly. He is a member of the Machinists' Union and Elks.
HON. GEORGE WIEST.
(Tuscarawas County)
Tuscarawas County is distinctively the region of the valley of the Tuscarawas River, fifty miles of which are embraced in the limits of the county that bears its name. Tuscarawas Valley was the original home of the Delaware Indians, and the name of their principal village was Tuscarawas. In the year 1764, when this part of the State was invaded by Gen. Bouquet's Virginia Army, the Dela- wares abandoned this village, and retreated to the locality where Newcomerstown now stands. Tuscarawaras County was formed from Muskingum by an act of the Legislature on Feb. 3rd, 1808, and the seat of justice was established, temporarily, at New Philadelphia, and it has continued to be the county seat up to
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this time. The site was laid out in 1804, by John Knisley, who con- tributed several town lots for county seat purposes.
The representative of Tuscarawas County in the Eighty-second Gen- eral Assembly of Ohio is a Democrat.
Hon. George Wiest was born at Mineral City, Ohio, Feb. 11th, 1885. He received his education in the local schools of Mineral City, and also at Canton, Ohio, and since leaving school, has been engaged in the mercantile business at Uhrichsville, Ohio. He is married, and belongs to the Masonic Order.
Mr. Wiest never held public office until in 1916, when he was nominated and elected, as a Democrat, to serve in the Eighty-second General Assembly of Ohio.
At the regular session of the Eighty-second General Assembly in 1917, Representative Wiest served as Chairman of the committee on Building and Loan and other Savings Associations, and a member of the committees : Banks and Banking, Corporations, Judiciary, Manufac- tures and Commerce, Public Buildings and Lands.
HON. FREDERICK MICHAEL WILDERMUTH.
(Shelby County)
Early in the year 1819, Shelby County was organized, the territory being taken from Miami County. The county seat was first lo- cated at Hardin, the first term of court being held at that village, but on Sept. 22nd, of the same year, a commission which had been ap- pointed by the Legislature to locate the county seat permanently, chose the location of Sid- ney, and the first court held there was in the Spring of 1820.
The representative of Shelby County in the Eighty-second General Assembly of Ohio - Hon. F. M. Wildermuth - was born on a farm in Jackson Township, in that county, June 1Ith, 1875, son of George and Magdalena (Harmon) Wildermuth. George Wildermuth was born in Germany in 1834, and came, with his parents, to America, in 1839. The son, Frederick, attended the public schools in Jackson Township, Shelby County, the Jackson Center Normal School, and after-
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ward, the Normal School at Angola, Ind. He taught school nine years, and from 1906 to 1917, he was associated with the First National Bank, Jackson Center, Ohio, in the capacity of Assistant Cashier and Cashier. Other business interests are: The Runyan & Wildermuth Hardware Company, of Jackson Center, Ohio, and he is a member of the J. M. Pence Grain Company, Maplewood, Ohio. Mr. Wildermuth has been a life-long Democrat, and he has held the following offices, to-wit: Assessor, 2 years ; Township Treasurer, 6 years ; Village Clerk, 2 years ; member of Village Council, 4 years ; member of School Board, 4 years.
In the year 1898, Mr. Wildermuth was united in marriage with Miss Christena Sherer, daghter of John and Louisa ( Allanbach) Sherer, of Montra, O. Three children have been born of this union, namely: Ruby Marie, wife of Carl E. Dalrymple; Willis Arlington, and Forest Elmer.
Mr. Wildermuth is at present engaged in the Real Estate and In- surance business, and in the year 1916, he was nominated and elected, as a Democrat, to serve as a member of the 82nd General Assembly of Ohio. At the regular session of that body in 1917, Representative Wil- dermuth introduced a bill which provided for the taxation of the paid-up capital stock, surplus and undivided profits of Building and Loan Asso- ciations, but the bill never came to a vote. He was also interested in the conservation of our lakes, and improving and beautifying the same. He was author of H. B. No. 67, which dedicated Lake Loramie to the public.
Mr. Wildermuth served as a member of the following committees, namely : Banks and Banking, Civil Service, Insurance, and Judiciary.
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HON. EDWARD A. WINTER.
(Hamilton County)
Four members of the House of Represen- tatives - Eighty-second General Assembly of Ohio - give their occupation as "Insurance", one of them, the subject of this sketch, being from Hamilton County.
Hon. Edward A. Winter was born at Cin- cinnati, Ohio, August 22nd, 1878. He re- ceived his education in the parochial schools, and at St. Joseph's College, Cincinnati. He entered the Fire Insurance business in 1896, and has continued in that occupation ever since.
In the year 1900, Mr. Winter was united in marriage with Miss Stella M. Walter, of Cincinnati, and they have three children, namely: Edward, Mary Louise, and George W.
Mr. Winter never held any public office until in the year 1916, he was nominated and elected, as a Republican, with the others of the Hamilton County delegation, in the Eighty-second General Assembly, and at the regular session of that body in 1917, he was particularly interested in all insurance legislation.
Representative Winter served as a member of the committee on Insurance, and the committees: Public Buildings and Lands, and Pub- lic Printing.
He is a member of the Rotary Club, Business Men's Club, Cuvier- Press Club, Automobile Club, Young Men's Blaine Club, and numerous civic and social clubs in Cincinnati.
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HON. FRANK C. WISE. (Stark County)
A United Brethren preacher, Rev. Chris- tian Frederick Post, who was identified with the Moravian Mission movement 150 years ago, is said to have been the first white resi- dent of the future county of Stark, and he came from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, which was the headquarters of the Moravians in 1761. He built a cabin and afterward re- turned to Pennsylvania to secure an assistant who could teach the Indian children to read and write. There was no permanent white settlement in the county until 1805, and even then, there were but few white persons in the territory. The pioneers came largely from Pennsylvania and were of German ancestry. A few came from New York, and some from the New England States. Stark County was created by Act of the Legis- lature in session at Chillicothe on Dec. 7th, 1807.
Hon. Frank C. Wise, one of the three Republican representatives of Stark County in the Eighty-second General Assembly of Ohio, was born at Greentown, Stark County, Ohio, Feb. 14, 1864. His father, Lewis Wise, was born at the same place. The son, Frank, received his education in the public schools at Greentown, and he attended Ohio Northern University, at Ada, Ohio. He taught school for 12 years, then took up farming, and followed that occupation for 20 years.
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