USA > Ohio > Ohio's progressive sons; a history of the state; sketches of those who have helped to build up the commonwealth > Part 59
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the first Republican to be chosen Mayor of the Capital City for the past twelve years. His administration was clean, upright and void of partisanship, and the government of the Cap- ital City of the Buckeye State was conducted upon an economical, safe basis and thoroughly commendable principles. After the close of his term of office, Mayor Schwartz retired into private life and resumed the practice of his profession, in which he has obtained a high standing. Mr. Schwartz is a lawyer of noted ability and sound judgment. He enjoys the esteem of all his fellow practitioners and of the public. He was married in 1888 to Miss Daisy F. Hanna. Mr. Schwartz lives with his family in a pleasant residence in Colum- bus, Ohio.
John Miller Swartz,
Mayor of the city of Granville, Ohio, and one of the foremost exponents of the law in Licking County, was born on the IIth of December, 1844, in a log cabin in the woods of Northern Wayne County, Ohio. His father was a farmer who, by thrift and industry and splendid ability, made a success in the wilds of Wayne County, where others made a dismal failure. His parents were Samuel and Mary Miller Swartz, both natives of this country, the former having been born in Union County, Pennsylvania, and the latter in Jef- ferson County, Ohio. Mr. John M. Swartz was educated in the common schools of Wayne County, and at the age of eighteen years received an academic education at Seville, in Medina County. After leaving Seville, he for one year taught school, and in the fall of 1865 he entered Denison University at Granville. He graduated from that seat of learning, after having taken a course in the scientific depart- JOHN MILLER SWARTZ ment, in June, 1859, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Science. At the age of twenty- four years he became Principal of the Newark, Ohio, High Schools, which he relinquished at the end of one year, and commenced the study of the law in the office of Hon. J. B. Jones, an eminent jurist of that city. Admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Ohio, in June, 1872, Mr. Swartz immediately entered upon the practice of the profession in which he has made such a marked suc- cess. In 1882 he was admitted to practice before the United States Courts. Politically, Mr. Swartz, is a Democrat, a bi-metallist in theory, and in favor of the free coin- age of silver, and of paying all our National obligations according to the original con- tract. He has occupied many political positions, and has been a member of the Board of City School Examiners from 1872 to 1878; a member of the Board of Trustees of Licking County Children's Home three years, and is now a member of the Board of Trustees of Denison University and also of Shepardson College, as well as a member of the Executive Committee of the said University. He was elected Prosecuting Attorney of
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Licking County in 1884, which position he filled until 1887, and was elected to his second term of office in the fall of 1890. In the November election of 1898 Mr. Swartz was ele- vated to the bench of the Court of the Fifth Ohio Circuit. In April, 1902, he was elected Mayor of Granville, Ohio, and again elected to that honorable position in April, 1903, after the new code for the cities of Ohio became effective. On the 3d of August, 1869, he was married to Sarah A. Carnahan, and is the father of four children by that union, three of whom are now living. His wife died on the 6th of December, 1879. On the 5th of May, 1881; he married Laura A. Criswell. Three children are the issue of this marriage, one of whom died. From 1869 to 1899 Mr. Swartz resided at Newark, Ohio, when, in the spring of that year he removed with his family to Granville, to give his children the benefit of the schools of that college town, but he kept his office in Newark, the seat of Licking County. Mr. Swartz is a member of the Granville Baptist Church and a moderator of the Columbus Baptist Association, and Superintendent of the Intermediate. Department of the Granville Baptist Sunday School. Socially, he is a Mason, R. A. M., R. & S. M., K. of P. and R. A.
Frank B. Theiss,
Attorney at law and banker, at Akron, Ohio, was born on the 17th of March, 1866, in Northampton Township, Summit County, Ohio. He is of German parentage, his father, Christian Theiss, a farmer, and his mother, Charlotte Noe Theiss, having emigrated from Germany to the United States in 1854. Mr. Theiss received his early education in the public schools of his native county, and later attended Buchtel College for a period of four years. Subsequently he prepared for the legal profession, and after a diligent study was admitted to the bar before the Supreme Court of Ohio, on the 7th of June, 1888, at the age of twenty-two years. Since that time Mr. Theiss has been continuously engaged in the practice of his chosen profession, and now divides his time between his practice and in the manage- ment of the First National Bank of Akron, in which institution he holds the responsible position of Vice President and director. Mr. FRANK B. THEISS Theiss is also heavily interested in some of the largest financial institutions of his section of the State other than the above mentioned bank, and is President and director of the First National Bank of Wadsworth, Ohio; director in the Dollar Savings Bank, Akron; director and Secretary of the Akron Foundry Company, Akron; and director and Treasurer of The Baker-McMillan Company, Akron, Ohio. From the foregoing list of interests it will be seen that Mr. Theiss is a power in the financial affairs of his community. He has rare executive ability to successfully handle his varied enterprises. In political belief he is a staunch Republican. Mr. Theiss is a married man, and the father of one daughter. His residence is located at No. 284 Crosby Street, and his law office at No. 2 North Howard Street, Akron, Ohio.
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General Alvin C. Voris,
One of the most representative citizens of Akron, Ohio, was a native of the State of Ohio, in whose history he deserves a prominent place as one of the foremost jurists of the northern part of Ohio, a member of the Summit County Bar and an officer of distinction in the late Civil War. General Voris was born on the 27th of April, 1827, in Stark County, and lived on a farm until he was eighteen years of age. During the latter period of that time he learned the trade of a shoemaker. When eighteen years of age his desire for knowledge found its gratification, when he entered the Twinsburg Institute, remaining in that school for one year, after which he spent two years at Oberlin College, where he took an elective course. Compelled to support himself, he found part of the means in teaching school during the win- ter months and spending several hours each day at the shoemaker's bench. In February, 1850, he came to Akron, where he has resided ever since. Soon after his arrival in Akron, he was appointed a Deputy Clerk in the Common Pleas Court, holding that place for two years. In February, 1852, the first Probate Judge elected in Summit County under the new con- stitution being too ill to visit his office, young Voris was made his Deputy, and he held that position until the death of the Judge, in August following. The entire business of the office was thrown upon him. That he per- formed his duties well and advised proper means for doing the business of the office and keeping the records, is attested by the fact that his methods have since been followed. His official acts as Judge were never legally ques- tioned. Meanwhile he had kept steadily in mind the purpose of devoting himself to the law, and has lost no opportunity of gaining knowledge in that direction. He studied faith- fully, and having a legal mind was able to learn much from the surroundings in which he GENERAL ALVIN C. VORIS was placed. His preceptor was General L. V. Bierce, with whom he formed a partnership upon his admission to the bar in June, 1853, under the firm name of Bierce & Voris. In June, 1859, he was elected to represent Summit County in the Legislature of the State, where he soon took rank as a leader. He devoted him- self to the solid business of legislation, and was one who could be counted on to be present and who knew the meaning and purpose of each measure before the Assembly. Although young, he was considered, even then, as one of the strong men of the body. After the breaking out of the Civil War, in September, 1861, he enlisted in the Twenty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Regiment, was appointed by Governor Dennison a Second Lieutenant, and was mustered into the volunteer service on the 2d of October following. He was detailed by the recruit- ing service for the organization of a regiment, of which he became Lieutenant Colonel. This regiment went into the field in Western Virginia on the 19th of January, 1862. On the 16th of March he was made commanding officer, and on the evening of the 22d of the same month
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he led it into the fight against a reconnoissance of Stonewall Jackson before Winchester, which was, in fact, the opening of the first battle of Winchester, one of the hardest fought infantry battles of the war. Lieutenant Colonel Voris was promoted to the Colonelcy of this regiment, the Sixty-seventh Ohio, on the very same day. In January, 1863, he was transferred to the Department of the South, where he participated in the siege of Charleston. He was wounded in an assault on Ft. Wagoner, July, 1863, which wound compelled him to go North. Two months later he reported for duty again. In the spring of the year fol- lowing he was assigned with his regiment in the Army of Virginia, with which he was identified until the close of the war. On the 2d of April, 1865, he led the charge on Ft. Gregg, at Petersburg, and after having been in the ditch of the Fort up to his neck in mud and water for nearly half an hour, he climbed up on its walls by the aid of a ladder made of guns with bayonets thrust into the walls, and was the first Union officer in the Fort. This was the last Confederate fort taken by storm around Petersburg and Richmond. At Appo- mattox he was in the fight at the last ditch and was wounded in the left arm by a fragment of shell. For his splendid military services Colonel Voris was breveted a Brigadier General, in 1864, and in 1865 was made Major General of Volunteers, "for distinguished services in the field." At the close of the war he was assigned to the command of the military district of South Anna, Virginia. There he rendered valuable services and displayed remarkable executive ability. He was mustered out in December, 1865, returned to his home in Akron, and resumed the practice of law. In the spring of 1873 he was elected a delegate from the Akron District to the Ohio Constitutional Convention, and was one of its most efficient members. He was a member of the Committee on Rules, and thus was instrumental in shaping the works of the body. He served also on the Committee on Apportionment, Rep- resentation and Corporations other than municipal under the permanent organization of the convention. Evidence of his usefulness may be found in the records of the convention. Gen- eral Voris was identified with much of the important litigation in Summit and neighboring counties. He was an orator of great force and a lawyer of recognized ability. In the fall of 1890 Judge Voris was elected Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, and served with marked ability for one term. Upon retiring from the bench, in the winter of 1896, Judge Voris did not again enter in the general practice, but he confined his practice to consultation and the direction of special important legislation. In politics he was an ardent Republican, but was too fair-minded and patriotic to allow partisanship to influence his judgment. He was an earnest advocate of protection, and has made many campaign speeches in favor of that policy. General Voris was well read in law, history and general literature, and loved books. He was a model citizen, and did all that lay in his power to advance the interest and welfare of his city, state and country. General Voris died on the 28th of July, 1904.
Edwin Francis Voris,
A prominent attorney of Summit County, was born at Akron, on the 3Ist of July, 1855, the son of General Alvin C. Voris (see biography on previous pages). Mr. Voris received his early education in the public schools of his native city. After having passed through the Akron High School, he, in 1872, entered Buchtel College, from which well-known institution of learning he graduated in 1875. He then took up the study of law, matricu- lated at the Harvard Law School, and graduated in 1877, receiving the degree of B.L. Returning to Akron, he was admitted to the bar of Ohio, on the 7th of October of the same year, and at once commenced the practice of his chosen profession, becoming connected with the law office of his father. In May, 1878, he removed to St. Louis, where he practiced his profession for one year. He then returned to Akron and formed a partnership with
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his father, the firm being Voris & Voris. This partnership continued until General Voris took his seat on the Common Pleas Bench, in January, 1891, to which he had been elected in the fall of 1890. Upon the dissolution of the firm, Mr. Edwin F. Voris former a partner- ship with Mr. Charles Baird, under the firm name Baird & Voris. From 1895 until 1904 Mr. Voris practiced under his own name, but in 1904 he became connected with the present firm of Voris, Vaughan & Vaughan. Mr. Voris has been identified with much of the important litigation in Summit and the neigh- boring counties. He has won for himself an enviable position as an able and conscientious lawyer, always diligent and painstaking in matters entrusted to him. He possesses a splendid memory and has the faculty of being able to recall authorities that are applicable EDWIN FRANCIS VORIS to the principles of law involved in a cause, with great promptness and at the proper time. His arguments to the Court are strong and logical, and in the presentation of facts to the jury he is forcible and convincing. He is a man of splendid appearance, of a high moral character, with his genial and sociable nature, and has a host of friends, both in and out of his profession. A Republican politically, he has always taken an active interest in the affairs of his party. In 1886 he was appointed Prosecuting Attorney of Summit County to fill the unexpired term of John C. Means, who died while in office. He also served several terms as a member of the School Board of Akron. On the 21st of October, 1879, he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth U. Slade, of Columbus, Ohio. Five children have been the issue of their union-namely, Lydia Voris, William Slade Voris, Elizabeth Voris, Edwin Francis Voris, Jr., and Marion Voris. Mr. Voris resides with his family in Akron. His offices are located at No. 70 Main Street, that city.
Gustavus Henry Wald,
Deceased, who during his life was one of the most foremost lawyers of the Queen City, and at the time of his death was Dean of the Cincinnati Law School, was born on the 30th of March, 1853, in the city of Cincinnati. There he attended the public schools and grad- uated from Hughes High School in the class
GUSTAVUS HENRY WALD
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of 1869, later graduating from Yale in 1873. He studied law in the Harvard Law School, where he received his degree in 1875, and was at the same time admitted to practice by the Supreme Court of Massachusetts. Returning to Cincinnati, he took up the law as a pro- fession, entering the office of the Hon. George Hoadley, and subsequently forming a part- nership with Charles B. Wilby. The firm of Wilby & Wald continued until the death of Mr. Wald. Mr. Wald's success at the bar was soon assured, and he early took a position as one of its leaders. In the local Bar Association and in all things pertaining to the well- being of his profession he took a prominent part. He was one of the most active members from this city in the State Bar Association, where his influence was great, especially in mat- ters of State legislation. Whether at the bar, or in the Bar Associations, no one was left in any doubt as to his position on any subject. He came to his conclusions on legal and political matters after a thorough research, and by logical principles, and having reached a conclu- sion, he maintained it in a kindly but forceful manner. Born to a competence, the emolu- ments of the profession interested him but little, but the principles which underlay a course delighted him, and few lawyers made deeper researches into them or understood them better after the investigations were completed. He was a master of the law, and loved it for its sake alone. Mr. Wald took no active part in politics, but he was deeply interested in such political questions as in his opinion involved the well-being of the State. His advice on political matters, both local and of the State, was sought by the managers of his party, and treated with the greatest respect. In 1891, the Democratic Convention placed him on the ticket for Judge of the Supreme Court of Ohio, without his solicitation. After hes- itation, he accepted the nomination, because he thought it was his duty to respond to the call of the convention. He was, however, with the balance of his ticket, defeated at the polls. He was the editor of two editions on "Pollock on Contracts," and the editions so edited by him soon became accepted authorities in this country. He contributed many articles to the law magazines, among which may be noted as the more important the follow- ing : "Limited Liability of Carriers," "Trusts," "The English Courts," "Judgments of Sister States," "Leases for Years Renewable Forever," and "Ultra Vires." Among many papers read by him at the Cincinnati Literary Club, that on "Judah P. Benjamin," and those entitled "The Margravine of Beireuth" and "Facetiae from the Law Reports," were of especial interest and of high literary quality. He was of counsel in much of the important litigation in this county and State. He, with Judge Taft, Lawrence Maxwell, Jr., Rufus B. Smith and J. D. Brannon, determined upon the establishment of a law school in Cincinnati upon the plan of the Harvard Law School. As a department of the University of Cincinnati, the school was opened in 1896, fully equipped, and with over forty scholars in the first year. Judge Taft was elected to the Deanship of the school, and Mr. Wald was given a Chair of Contracts and Quasi-Contracts, and at once took high rank as a teacher of law. When Judge Taft was appointed on the Philippine Commission and of necessity resigned the office of Dean. Mr. Wald was elected as his successor, and filled the place with ability and success until the time of his death, in 1902. Although a great student and a great reader, he was a genial, sociable gentleman, a member of the clubs and often present in them, where he enjoyed the association of others, as well as others enjoyed his personality. After his demise, Mr. Wald's mother and brother perpetuated his memory by a gift of $25,000 for the founding of a professorship in the Cincinnati Law School, known as "The Gustavus Henry Wald Professorship of the Law of Contracts."
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John C. Welty,
One of the best-known leaders of the Ohio Democracy, and prominent attorney of Can- ton, Ohio, was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, on the 10th of September, 1852, but has lived nearly all of his life in Stark County, this State. Upon his father's side the family has for three generations been identified with the State of Maryland, and upon his mother's side for the same time with the State of New York. In each of these States his ancestors were prominent in public life, and unusually energetic in the promotion of whatever cause they espoused. His grandfather on his mother's side rendered notable service during the War for Independence. The father of Mr. Welty was a farmer, and his own early days were spent on the farm. He attended the public schools for some time and afterwards entered Bethany College, West Virginia. After leaving this college, he went to Mt. Union Col- lege, in Stark County, completing his studies in this well-known institution. He subse- quently read law with Judge Seraphim Meyer, of Canton, was admitted to the bar in 1877, and immediately commenced the practice of his chosen profession. About one year later he was elected City Solicitor of Canton, and was re-elected for three successive terms. This is a distinction never accorded to another incumbent of that office in Canton, either before or since Mr. Welty had charge of that position, and the honor was the more pro- nounced from the fact that it was conferred upon so young a man. It was appreciated as a token of confidence and respect, and undoubtedly stimulated its recipient to the achievement of still higher purposes. In 1884 Mr. Welty was elected Prosecuting Attor- ney of Stark County. Having served with great ability, he was re-elected to a second term, in 1887. From that time to the present day, although devoting himself assiduously to the practice of his profession, he has con- stantly grown, step by step and year by year, in the public eye and in public favor, until JOHN C. WELTY to-day he is one of the most popular political leaders in his State. Mr. Welty, with his numerous occupations and employments, is a lawyer all the time. He is devoted to his profession and loves its practice. He is an eloquent and impressive speaker, either in Court or on public occasions. As one of the most powerful political orators of Ohio, he never wearies his audiences, but holds them from the beginning of his speech to the end. His impressive appearance, his earnestness and his great personal magnetism bring his hearers very near to him, and inspire them with a confidence bordering on affection. In 1896 the Democratic District Convention was divided upon the issue of the single gold standard, and the split in that convention was referred to the State Convention at Columbus. Mr. Welty had charge of the interests of the silver contingent, and after a bitter struggle achieved a signal victory. The opposing element appealed to the National Convention at Chicago, and
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notwithstanding the fact that the National Committee was in full sympathy with the single standard gold element, Mr. Welty won his case and seated his delegates. This was not the first time Mr. Welty had identified himself with the friends of silver. When a delegate to the National Convention in 1892, he opposed the nomination of Mr. Cleveland for the Pres- idency solely on account of the latter's pronounced hostility to silver. In 1897 he was a strong candidate for the nomination for Governor of Ohio in the State Convention at Columbus, and many of his friends entertained no doubt that he would have been the choice of a large majority of the delegates, had he not withdrawn. He, however, declined to be placed before the convention, as in his judgment the perfect harmony of the party was pre-eminently desirable that year, when an unusually stubborn fight was anticipated all along the line, with a good chance for a Democratic victory. Mr. Welty is interested in many local enterprises of great importance, and has always the welfare of his fellow citizens at heart.
Wallace D. Yaple,
Among the chief executives of the Ohio municipalities none enjoys a larger popularity than Mr. Wallace D. Yaple, Mayor of the flourishing city of Chillicothe, the first capital of Ohio. Mr. Yaple is a native of the Buckeye State, being born on the 2d of May, 1870, in Eagle Township, Vinton County. His parents were William Ross Yaple and Elizabeth McDonald Yaple. Mayor Yaple comes from Revolutionary ancestry, his great-grandfather, John Yaple, having fought on the battlefield of the American struggle for freedom in Washington's army. He, with four other associates, at the end of the Revolutionary War, founded the city of Ithaca, New York. John Yaple left Ithaca in 1813 and came to Ohio. The father of Mayor Yaple, William Ross Yaple, was born in Ross County, in October, 1833. Wallace D. was the oldest son of his parents. He was educated in the public schools, and after the death of his father, in WALLACE D. YAPLE 1887, taught school for a period of several years. But the profession of a teacher did not satisfy his ambitions. After a couple of years of teaching Mr. Yaple came to Cincinnati, where he read law in the office of his uncle, Judge Alfred Yaple. On the 6th of December, 1894, Mr. Yaple was admitted to the bar before the Supreme Court of Ohio. Immediately afterwards he came to Chillicothe, where he has practiced ever since, and soon became an important factor in the political life of that city. He was elected City Solicitor of Chilli- cothe in April, 1897, having the largest majority of any man on the city ticket. He filled his office with such distinction that he was re-elected to the same position in 1899, being the only Democrat elected on the entire city ticket, the other Democratic candidates being defeated by majorities ranging from 200 to 400. In April, 1901, when he was first elected Mayor, there were four candidates in the field: Mr. Yaple, the Democratic candidate; the
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