USA > Ohio > Knox County > Past and present of Knox County, Ohio, Vol. II > Part 24
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Doctor Beggs was married on March 6, 1895, to Martha Newvahner, daughter of Henry and Mary ( Pryor) Newvahner, of Jackson, Ohio. Her parents came from Germany and they are both deceased. To the Doctor and wife four children have been born, namely: Mary T., John E. and Martha Jane, all living at home; Ida May, the second child, is deceased.
Politically, Doctor Beggs is a Republican and he has been active in public matters for some time. He has served in the city council and as a member of the Republican county committee and has been a frequent delegate to district, county and state conventions, where he never failed to make his in- fluence felt for the good of the party. Fraternally, he belongs to the Masons, the Knights of Pythias, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He
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has filled the chairs in the local Masonic order and he was a lieutenant in the Uniform Rank of the Knights of Pythias.
The family home is in South Vernon, just outside of the corporation ; they have a beautiful and pleasant dwelling in the midst of a splendid grove and own six acres of valuable ground there. The trees are of natural growth and the lawns are well kept. This was the home of General Coxey while he resided in Mt. Vernon, and it is a fine old place, one of the most desirable, in fact, in the county.
Doctor Beggs is a member of the Christian church and his wife belongs to the Presbyterian church, and they have long been active in church and Sunday school work. Mrs. Beggs is a musician of ability, talented both as a vocalist and pianist, and she is a member of the local musical club and is popular with the best society of the city, as it also the Doctor. The daughter Mary is also popular in musical circles ; as are also all the children.
Doctor Beggs is a member of the Ohio State, also the Knox County Dental Societies, being secretary and treasurer of the latter.
ALMANZA R. SIPE.
This utilitarian age has been especially prolific in men of action, clear- brained men of high resolves and noble purposes, who give character and stability to the communities honored by their citizenship, and whose influence and leadership are easily discernible in the various enterprises that have added so greatly to the high reputation which Knox county enjoys among her sister counties of the great Buckeye commonwealth. Conspicuous among this class of men whose place of residence is in Mt. Vernon is Almanza R. Sipe, the well known and progressive merchant to a brief outline of whose long. industrious and interesting career the biographer is pleased to address himself.
Mr. Sipe was born on December 6, 1846, at Shelby, Richland county, Ohio, the son of Daniel and Florilla ( Rogers) Sipe, both natives of Pennsyl- vania, the father born in Adams county and the mother in Luzerne. They spent their childhood in the Keystone state, but left there when young and were married in Ohio. The father was a merchant tailor in Shelby, Ohio, where he spent his life after coming to this state, he and his wife both being deceased at this writing.
The son, Almanza R., spent his youth in his native town and was edu- cated in the Shelby public schools. Upon leaving high school he entered the
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tailoring establishment of his father and learned the trade, and remained in business with his father until in September, 1878, when he came to Mt. Vernon and was here employed by James Rogers in the tailoring business for about four years. In 1882 he formed the firm of A. R. Sipe & Company. his partner being John M. Ewalt. They continued successfully until 1887, when Mr. Sipe bought Mr. Ewalt's interest and continued in business as A. R. Sipe until 1903, when he took William H. White as partner, the firm becom- ing Sipe & White and so continues to the present time. In 1887, when Mr. Sipe began managing his business alone, he added men's furnishings to his line and in 1903 a stock of hats and caps were added. Mr. Sipe has been longer in the merchant tailoring business than any man in Mt. Vernon and he has been very successful, having enjoyed a liberal patronage all the while, and being highly skilled in the work and honest in all his dealings with his fellow men he has had no trouble in retaining his customers and in winning their good will and friendship. His place of business is at No. 135 South Main street, where he has been since 1904, a modern store in every respect, neatly kept, well arranged, equipped with every modern convenience and always fully stocked with goods which have been most carefully selected, and he com- mands the best trade of the community. In addition to his tailoring business and men's furnishings, Mr. Sipe has been connected with other lines of busi- ness. He is a stockholder and director of the Reeves Engineering Company. manufacturers of gas engines, which is doing an extensive and rapidly grow- ing business. He is also a director in the Home Building and Loan Company and has always been interested and active in all movements that have for their object the advancement of Mt. Vernon, with which city he became very much enamored the first day of his arrival and his faith in the place has con- tinued to grow, for he believes in the city and her people and has done his full share in supporting her interests whenever occasion presented itself.
Mr. Sipe was married on May 25, 1869, to Helen Virginia Stimmell, daughter of Henry and Margaret (Snyder) Stimmell, a highly respected family of Shelby, Ohio. Mrs. Sipe was called to her rest on November 26, 1900. This union was without issue. In September, 1902, Mr. Sipe was married to Carrie McMillin, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John F. McMillin, well known family of Martinsburg, in an early day. The father was a sol- dier in the Union army during the Civil war, was taken prisoner and died in Libby prison a few months before the birth of his daughter, Carrie.
Politically, Mr. Sipe is a Republican, and while he is always interested and well informed on public matters he has never been an office seeker, but he has ever done his full share in promoting public interests, being active and
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liberal in his support of all enterprises for the public good in the vicinity where he has lived so long and the interests of which he has had at heart.
Mr. Sipe became a member of the Masonic order in 1868 at Shelby. Ohio, and still retains his membership. He and his wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he has been a member of the board of stewards for a number of years, and he has long been an active Sunday school worker, having been superintendent and he has been a teacher in the school for a number of years. The pleasant and substantial family home is at No. 306 North Main street.
THURMAN L. ELEY, M. D.
It is with a great degree of satisfaction that reference is made to the life of one whose career has been characterized by untiring perseverance, who has attained success in any vocation requiring definiteness of purpose and determined action. Such a life, whether it be one of calm, consecutive en- deavor, or of sudden meteoric accomplishments, must abound in both lesson and incentive and prove a guide to the young men whose fortunes are still matters for the future to determine. For a number of years Doctor Eley has directed his efforts toward the goal of success in Knox county and his patient continuance has been very adequately rewarded.
Dr. Thurman L. Eley, of Mt. Vernon, was born August 30, 1869, in Harrison township, Knox county, Ohio, and he has spent his life in his native community, his boyhood home standing two miles east of Gambier. He is the son of Peter W. and Martha J. (Barcus) Eley, both of whom were born and reared in Knox county, where they still reside, being now advanced in years, having devoted their lives to farming on the old homestead east of Gambier. They have been prominent in Harrison township for a half cen- tury and have a host of friends there.
The son, Thurman L., grew up on the home farm, which he worked when a boy and in the winter attended the country district schools, later at- tending the high school at Gambier and also at Martinsburg. He then began teaching in the district schools of Harrison township and continued success- fully for three years. In 1890 he and his older brother, Carey B. Eley, went to Kansas City, Kansas, and there they were in the employ of the Union Pacific Railroad Company and there Carey B. succumbed to an attack of typhoid fever. Thurman L. returned to Ohio with the body and here he remained and took up the study of medicine under Dr. J. F. Shrantz. of
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Martinsburg, Knox county, in whose office he remained one year, then en- tered the Indiana Medical College, at Indianapolis, where he took a three years' course, making an excellent record and graduating in March, 1894. He soon afterwards located in Martinsburg, where he remained a year, and in 1896 he came to Mt. Vernon, where he has since remained. He was suc- cessful from the first and has enjoyed a very lucrative patronage with the city and county, having been very successful as a general practitioner and keeping fully abreast of the times in everything pertaining to his profession. He is an eclectic in the practice and the only one in Mt. Vernon.
Doctor Eley was married on September 19, 1894, to Lura E. Smith, daughter of William J. and Susanna (Baker) Smith, of Pleasant township, this county, she having been reared and educated near Gambier, where her family have long been well known and highly respected. Mr. Smith was a native of New Jersey, where he spent his early life, coming to Knox county, Ohio, in an early day and engaged in farming here, where his death occurred in 1904; his widow survives. One son, Forest W., has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Eley.
Politically, the Doctor is a Democrat and, while he is always interested in the success of his party, he is not active. He has served as a member of the city board of health, resigning after several years of faithful service. He is a member of the Knox County Medical Society and of the Ohio and Na- tional Medical Associations. He and his family are members of the Gay Street Methodist Episcopal church, the Doctor being a member of the official board and active in church and Sunday school work. The Doctor's home and office is at No. 202 East Front street, Mt. Vernon. He has an excellently - equipped office, everything up-to-date and, being a man of fine attainments and pleasing address, he is always kept busy, having the confidence and good will of all classes.
JUDSON VINCENT.
The biographies of the representative men of a county bring to light many hidden treasures of mind, character and courage, well calculated to arouse the pride of their family and of the community and it is a source of regret that the people are not more familiar with the personal history of such men, in the ranks of whom may be found tillers of the soil, mechanics, teachers, as well as lawyers, physicians, bankers and members of other voca- tions and professions. Judson Vincent, of Mt. Vernon, is distinctively one
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of the representative citizens of Knox county, and as such has made his in- fluence felt among his fellow men and earned a name for enterprise, integrity and honor that entitles him to worthy notice in a work of the province of the one at hand.
Mr. Vincent was born May 23, 1859, in Howard township, Knox county, Ohio, and he is the son of Alexander N. and Mary J. ( Buchanan) Vincent, both natives of Washington county, Pennsylvania, but who early in life moved to Knox county, Ohio. Grandfather Alexander Vincent came to Knox county with his family in 1837 and settled in Howard township, where he engaged in farming and was influential among the pioneers there. Alex- ander N. Vincent, his son and the father of the subject, was also a farmer, and in 1868 he moved to Brown township, Knox county, where he purchased a farm on which he prospered through general farming and extensive dealing in live stock. He became well known throughout the county and, like his father, he was a man whose character was above reproach. He was a Re- publican, but not active in party affairs. His death occurred in March, 1904, having been preceded to the grave by his wife in October, 1896, and they are both buried in Jelloway cemetery, Howard township.
Judson Vincent grew to maturity on the home farm, where he worked diligently during his boyhood, attending the common schools during the winter months. Applying himself closely to his text-books, he was enabled to begin teaching in the district schools when nineteen years old. During vacations he attended a special school in Danville, Knox county, and he after- wards taught in the graded schools of the county, giving eminent satisfaction as an instructor and his services were in great demand.
Mr. Vincent has always been interested in politics and public affairs, and he is a Republican of the old school. In 1892 he was appointed deputy county treasurer under S. G. Dowds, serving four years, and at the expira- tion of Mr. Dowds' term of office, Mr. Vincent was elected county treasurer at a time when the county was Democratic, and he served four years. After his term of office had expired he engaged in the mercantile business in Mt. Vernon, purchasing the interest of John M. Myers in the firm of Myers & Laudenbaugh, and six months later also purchased the interest of Mr. Hugh Laudenbaugh. He was so engaged for four years, or until 1905, during which time he was elected to the city council, and under the new municipal code, in 1902, he was elected a member of the board of public service, serving two terms and an extended term, in all about five years. In June, 1904, he was appointed a member of the board of managers of the Ohio State Re- formatory at Mansfield, by Governor Herrick, and he performed his duties
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so faithfully and acceptably, as he had done in all his positions of public trust, that he was re-appointed to this position in 1908 by Governor Harris for a full term of six years and served until August 20, 1911, at which time the Ohio state board of administration took over all the institutions of the state. He has served as a member and as chairman of the Knox county Republican committee and has frequently been a delegate to county, district and state conventions, where he made his influence felt for the good of his party in whose councils he has always been prominent. During the years he has been connected with the development of the gas and oil interests of Knox county. He is also a stockholder and director in the Knox Lumber & Coal Company, and has always been active in promoting the general interests of Mt. Vernon and community.
Fraternally, Mr. Vincent is a member of Mt. Zion Lodge No. 9, Free and Accepted Masons, and Timon Lodge, Knights of Pythias.
Mr. Vincent was married on January 1, 1884, to Jennie M. Dowds, daughter of Samuel Newell and Eliza A. (Popham) Dowds, of Pike town- ship, Knox county, one of the pioneer families of the county. To this union four children were born, namely: Mabel, Dwight D., Ethel and Lucile, all at home. The son is connected with the Cooper Engine Company, of Mt. Vernon, as bookkeeper. All are graduates of the Mt. Vernon high school except the youngest, who is still a student.
Mr. Vincent affiliates with the Disciples church, but his family are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church and are active in its affairs. The family home is a pleasant and attractive one, situated at No. 724 East High street, Mt. Vernon, and this household is prominent in the best social life of the city and county.
ALVA A. DOWDS.
The best history of a community or state is the one that deals most with the lives and activities of its people, especially of those who, by their own en- deavor and indomitable energy, have forged to the front and placed them- selves where they deserve the title of progressive men. In this brief review will be found the record of one who has outstripped the less active plodders on the highway of life and achieved a career surpassed by few of his con- temporaries, a career of marked success in the mercantile world, and a name which all who know him delight to honor owing to his upright life and habits of thrift and industry.
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Alva A. Dowds, one of Mt. Vernon's most progressive merchants, who, while yet a young man, has achieved marked success in the material affairs of life, was born on April 6, 1875, in Democracy, Knox county, Ohio, the son of Elijah W. and Mary E. (Barber) Dowds and a brother of S. G. Dowds, a sketch of whom appears in another part of this work.
Alva A. Dowds was educated in the public schools of his native town and at the age of eighteen, in 1893, he came to Mt. Vernon, ostensibly to attend school, but he spent only one day in the school room, for he was anxious to enter the business arena, so he secured a clerkship in the clothing store of A. M. Stadler, but remained there only a short time when he went with L. A. Quail in the same business, remaining with him three years, then went with W. D. Browning as a clerk in his dry goods store. He learned the various phases of the mercantile business in these several positions and gave his employers eminent satisfaction. He then formed a partnership with F. E. Kirby, under the firm name of Kirby & Dowds, in the wall paper china and queensware business. This partnership continued successfully for four years when Mr. Dowds formed a partnership with his former em- ployer. W. D. Browning, in the dry goods business as Browning & Company, which continued about two years, or until the death of Mr. Browning, where- upon Mr. Dowds organized the A. A. Dowds Dry Goods Company. as suc- cessor to Browning & Company. From the organization of this company .. Mr. Dowds has been the president and general manager of the same. As- sociated with him in the active conduct of the business is J. W. Ruden, vice- president and assistant manager, he being formerly of Columbus, Ohio; also Edward L. Beldin, secretary and treasurer of the company, formerly of Buffalo, New York, he having come to Mt. Vernon about four years ago. The company first began business in the room at the southwest corner of Main and Gambier streets, but later moved to its present commodious, at- tractive and well-arranged quarters at Nos. 211-213 South Main street. They conduct a real department store, including everything kept in an up-to-date dry goods store, all kinds of ready-to-wear suits and garments for women, carpets and all kinds of floor coverings, window hangings and a full line of china and queensware, always carrying a large and carefully selected stock which is tastefully stored in their large double frontage building of four stories, occupying the entire space. The building is modern, equipped with elevators and all conveniences. The store rooms, store equipment and quantity and quality of goods carried would be creditable to a city many times the size of Mt. Vernon, and their very large and ever increasing trade evidences that the public appreciates the efforts of these enterprising gentle-
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men along these progressive business lines. Here customers gather from remote parts of the county, making this splendid establishment a sort of headquarters while in the county seat, and here they always find a generous welcome, courteous and considerate clerks and obtain full values for their expenditures.
Mr. Dowds also has various other business interests, including a valu- able, well improved and highly productive farm to which he gives consid- erable of his time and attention. He is also interested in the Kelser-Dowds Company, wholesale grocers, doing an extensive business in Mt. Vernon; also other interests and enterprises have his support. With duties that would greatly confuse, if not distract outright the ordinary man, Mr. Dowds has his affairs under such a superb system that he experiences no difficulty in their successful management. He has rare innate business acumen and foresight and is easily one of the leading business men of this section of the state.
Politically, Mr. Dowds is a Republican and, while not an active partici- pant in party affairs, he is always interested and keeps thoroughly informed on the questions of public importance. While he has never been an office seeker, he is at present a member of the Mt. Vernon city council, and a wide- awake member, always on the alert for the interests of the city and the peo- ple of this community and always ready to assist in any movement having as its object the general good of the locality honored by his citizenship.
Mr. Dowds is an active member of the Mt. Vernon Citizens Association, and for some time was a member of the executive committee of this organiza- tion, which has for its object the betterment of business conditions and the advancement of the city commercially and along all lines that are for the betterment of conditions. Fraternally, he belongs to the Masonic order, the Knights Templar and the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; he is also a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Royal Arcanum.
Mr. Dowds was married on February 5, 1901, to Olive Clark, a lady of culture and refinement, the daughter of Walter and Mary (Baily) Clark, formerly a well known Mt. Vernon family, both parents being now deceased. This union has been graced by the birth of two children, Mary E. and Alva A., Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Dowds are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, he being a steward of the same. They have a beautiful and neatly kept home at the corner of North Gay street and Wooster avenue, Mt. Vernon.
Personally, Mr. Dowds is a man of pleasing address, kind, generous, obliging, commanding the respect and good will of the entire community.
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CHARLES M. GRAY, D. D. S.
In a locality ranking high for its professional talent, whose dentists take conspicuous places among their colleagues throughout the state, is Dr. Charles M. Gray, who is located at Mt. Vernon, Knox county, where he is enjoying a lucrative practice and, although a young man, is rapidly taking his position as one of the representative citizens of this locality whose interests he seems to have at heart.
Doctor Gray was born April 23, 1879, in Muskingum county, Ohio, the son of James and Medolia (Hicks) Gray, both natives of Muskingum county, where the father was a successful farmer and prominent in public affairs, being an ardent Republican. For many years he served as justice of the peace. He stood high in the county and his character was above reproach.
Charles M. Gray grew to maturity on the home farm, which he worked during the crop seasons, and attended the district schools in the winter time, remaining under the parental roof until he was twenty years of age, when he took a position as foreman of the decorating department of the J. B. Owens Pottery Company at Zanesville, Ohio, where he remained three years, having as many as forty men under him, and his services were eminently satisfactory to the management. In 1904 he left this establishment, and, having always had a desire and ambition to become a dentist, he entered the office of Dr. J. J. Hill, of Zanesville, and later that of Dr. Charles Hill, of Wheeling, West Virginia, having spent a year in the office of the former and a year and a half in that of the latter. In the fall of 1906 he entered the dental depart- ment of the Starling Medical College, at Columbus, Ohio, to complete his dental course, and he remained a student there three years, graduating there with a splendid record in the spring of 1909. Soon afterward he located at Mt. Vernon, opening a neat office for the practice of his profession at No. III I-2 South Main street and he has since remained in the same location. His office is admirably arranged, modern in every appointment and all equip- ment is thoroughly up-to-date. his apparatus being of the best and latest models. Notwithstanding the fact that he has been in Mt. Vernon a com- paratively short time, Doctor Gray has built up a very large and lucrative patronage which is continually growing, he and his assistant being kept con- stantly busy.
Personally, Doctor Gray is a genial and affable gentleman and, being skilled and honest in his work, he has no trouble in securing and retaining patients.
Adhering to the political faith of his father, Doctor Gray is a Republi-
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can, but is not active in political affairs, though he is always interested and well informed on public matters. Fraternally, he is a member of the Masonic order and has attained to the Knight Templar degree. He affiliates with the Methodist Episcopal church. He has remained unmarried.
CHARLES ALBERT BECK, D. D. S.
Occupying a conspicuous place among the leading dentists of Knox and adjoining counties, Dr. Charles Albert Beck, of Mt. Vernon, enjoys the confidence and esteem of all who know him. His record demonstrates that where there is a will there is a way and that obstacles to success may be over- come by courage and self-reliance.
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