Past and present of the city of Zanesville and Muskingham County, Ohio, Part 85

Author: Sutor, J. Hope, 1846-
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 898

USA > Ohio > Muskingum County > Zanesville > Past and present of the city of Zanesville and Muskingham County, Ohio > Part 85

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JUDGE W. H. BALL.

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Zanesville and in 1884, after his retirement from the bench, he resumed his law practice, in which he continued until 1901, when he retired. He possesses an excellent presence and earnest man- ner, marked strength of character, a thorough grasp of the law and the ability to accurately apply its principles. These qualities made him an effective and successful advocate and insured him rank with other distinguished judges of the county. For four years he has now lived re- tired. On the 6th of February, 1851, Judge Ball married Caroline Wilson Stuart, who was born in Zanesville, Ohio, and was a daughter of Rob- ert Stuart, who conducted a hotel in this city at an early day, coming to Muskingum county from Pennsylvania. Mrs. Ball died August 6, 1895, at the age of sixty-nine years. They were the parents of three children : Elizabeth S. ; Mrs. Sarah Bates Hereford; and Edward R., who is now in charge of L. K. Brown's sand works.

In 1862 Judge Ball was appointed colonel of the One Hundred and Twenty-second Ohio In- fantry and served with his regiment until 1865, when, on account of his wife's health, he re- signed. He was in active service all of the time and never missed a battle in which his regiment participated. He was wounded at the battle of Opequan in the valley of Virginia. Except when incapacitated for duty he was always with his command, a most brave and loyal soldier who inspired his men to deeds of valor by his own bravery and fearlessness. In his political views Judge Ball was a whig until 1854, when he be- came what was known as a silver gray whig and in 1866 he espoused the cause of democracy, which he has since supported. He is now a member of the Grand Army of the Republic of Zanesville. There is particular satisfaction in re- verting to the life history of the honored and venerable gentleman whose name initiates this review, since his mind bears the impress of the historical annals of the state of Ohio from the early pioneer days, and from the fact that he has been a loyal son of the republic and has attained to a position of distinctive prominence in the thriving little city where he has retained his resi- dence until the present time, being now one of the revered patriarchs of the community.

JOHN AMERICUS WILLIAMS.

Tohn A. Williams, a lawyer of Roseville, is numbered among the native sons of Perry county, Ohio, his birth having occurred at Bristol, in 1852. His grandfather, William Williams, was a native of Connecticut and there is a tradition in the family that he is a descendant of William Williams, one of the signers of the Declaration of

Independence. The grandfather was a New England schoolteacher who removed from Con- necticut to Virginia and engaged in teaching near Roanoke and Winchester, that state. At an carly day, about 1835, he came to Ohio and also taught school in this state.

Our subject's father, Levi K. Williams, was born in Frederick county, Virginia, in 1813, and removed from the Old Dominion to Zanesville, Ohio, in 1834. He afterward studied medicine and on leaving Zanesville took up his abode at Oakfield, Perry county, where he engaged in practice for a number of years. Later he went to Bristol, where he had a very extensive practice, but this made too great demands upon his strength and he removed to Roseville, where he died the year after, passing away in 1860. In early manhood he married Rachel Jennings, a daughter of Daniel Jennings, who came from Vir- ginia to Ohio about 1834, also settling in Zanes- ville, but later removing to Mount Sterling. He was a native of Massachusetts and had gone to Virginia when a young man. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Williams were born three children : Columbus L., a member of the Williams, Adair Merchandise Company, at Columbus, Ohio; William Calvin, who died in 1874 ; and John A. The father was a whig in early life and upon the dissolution of that party joined the ranks of the new republican party. His career as a practitioner was a very useful one to his fellowmen, his ability enabling him to do much for those who needed his services.

John A. Williams was educated in the public schools and afterward engaged in teaching for twenty years, serving as superintendent of the schools of Roseville for a number of years and organizing the graded school system here. In the meantime he began reading law and was long qualified for the profession before he sought ad- mission to the bar in 1894. Previous to this time. however, he did a vast amount of legal business and since his admission he has been practicing with success in Roseville. In his earlier years, however, he was identified for a brief period with journalistic interests. In 1881 he established the Roseville Times, which he conducted until his re- moval to Zanesville, the following year. There he became one of the editors of the Signal, re- maining in Zanesville for three years. He is now giving his undivided attention to his law practice and has always been a close student of the princi- ples of jurisprudence and the correctness of their application to the points in litigation. Mr. Wil- liams' logical grasp of facts and of law applicable to them, as well as his untiring industry and prin- ciples, have been some of the most potent elements in his success. In the argument of a case hie ex- liibits a remarkable clearness of expression, an ad- equate and precise diction, which enables him to

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make others understand not only the salient points of his argument but also to clearly under- stand the very fine analytical distinctions which differentiate one legal principle from another.

In 1872 Mr. Williams was married to Miss Alice Dunn, who was born in Roseville in 1857, a daughter of William Dunn, an attorney, who practiced for a number of years at the Roseville bar and for more than forty years held the office of justice of the peace. Mr. and Mrs. Williams had five children : Herman C., who is editor and proprietor of the Roseville Review ; Arthur O., the eastern representative of the J. W. McCoy Pottery Company of Roseville; John, an attor- ney of Oklahoma ; Myrll, who is directress of the musical department at Shepherds College, at Shepherdstown, West Virginia ; and Nellie, at home. The parents are members of the Presby- terian church and Mr. Williams belongs to the Masonic fraternity. Prominent locally in polit- ical circles, he is a stanch advocate of democratic principles and has several times served as both village and township clerk. He has also been justice of the peace and a member of the board of education for several years. He was a member of the first county board of elections, served as postmaster under Grover Cleveland and in educa- tional and church affairs he takes a deep and help- ful interest.

Mr. Williams would doubtless have succeeded in politics, but he has been too busy as a lawyer to take an active part in public affairs. His views upon questions of public policy are very pronounced, however, and his influence may al- ways be counted upon in behalf of good govern- ment and the advancement of the interests of the whole people.

CAPTAIN THOMAS S. BLACK.

Thomas Spencer Black, deceased, whose prom- inence in Muskingum county was none the less the result of an honored private life than a busi- ness career of notable integrity and success, was born in the cxtreme northern part of Ireland, his birth occurring at Ramelton, County Donegal, on the 6th of September, 1839. He was the eleventh in order of birth in a family of twelve children, whose parents were Joseph and Jane Mary (Spencer) Black. At the usual age he entered the public schools and continued his studies in Ramelton until sixteen years of age, when he took passage on a westward bound ves- sel at Liverpool, England, landing at Philadel- phia, Pennsylvania, six weeks later. He did not tarry in that state, however, but went at once to Springfield, Ohio, where his brother Andrew lived, who was proprietor of a retail dry-goods house there. Captain Black entered his broth-

er's employ and continued with him for five years, but in August, 1860, removed from Springfield to Zanesville, where he again became a salesman in a dry-goods establishment, the latter store being owned by his brother-in-law, Alexander Grant, at the southeast corner of Third and Main streets. He continued with Mr. Grant until the inauguration of the Civil war.

Captain Black was among the first to respond in Muskingum county to his country's call for aid. He had watched with interest the progress of events in the south and resolved that if secession was attempted he would strike a blow in defense of the Union. Accordingly he en- tered the army on the 16th of August, 1862, as first lieutenant of the One Hundred and Twenty- sccond Ohio Volunteer Infantry, of which regi- ment Judge W. H. Ball was colonel. He made a notable record, being conspicuous for bravery, his meritorious conduct on the field of battle winning him promotion from the ranks to cap- tain of his company. His colonel at the time of Captain Black's death said "He was brave, gentle, courteous, efficient and all that a volun- teer soldier should be that was good. If I were to pick out three men that I could always count on I would choose Mr. Black as one of these. Nobody could say aught of him that was not commendatory. His was one of the cleanest char- acters that I ever encountered and while he was brave he was always as gentle as a woman." His honorable discharge came to him on the 19th of December, 1864, because of physical disa- bility resulting from a wound sustained in bat- tle. He was mustered in at Camp Zanesville and was in active service from the 23d of October, until January 1, 1863, in what is now West Virginia, in the Second Brigade, Milroy's Di- vision of the Army of West Virginia; from January 1, 1863, until July 1, 1864, in Vir- ginia, West Virginia and Maryland in Elliott's Brigade, Milroy's Division, Eighth Corps; from July 1, 1863, until March 31, 1864, in the Second Brigade, Third Division, Third Corps; from March 31, 1864, until June 3, 1864, in Virginia, in the Second Brigade, Third Division, Sixth Corps; and after June 3. 1864, until his dis- charge was under treatment for his wound. He served as aid-de-camp on the brigade staff of General J. Warren Keifer. This brigade was in New York city in August and September, 1863, going by steamer from and to Alexandria. Virginia, under orders to aid in suppressing draft riots in New York. The battles in which he participated were as follows : Winchester. June 14-15. 1863: Locust Grove, November 28, 1863; Wilderness, May 5-6-7, 1864; Spottsyl- vania Courthouse, May 9-21, 1864: Topotomay Creek, May 31, 1864: Cold Harbor, June 1-3, 1864. He was also in the march from New

Av. J. Mback

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. Creek, now Keyser, West Virginia, by way of Luyn's Creek, Moorefield, Wardensville and Romny to Winchester. From Winchester went to Front Royal and back, thence to New Market and back and returned afterward from Winches- ter to Harper's Ferry and was later with the Army of the Potomac in its movements. He was wounded slightly in the hand at the battle of the Wilderness and very seriously in the right ankle at Cold Harbor, on the 3d of June, 1864, and this ended his military career. He was sent to the hospital on the 19th of December, 1864, and unable for further field service was honor- ably discharged. He was held in the highest esteem by Brigadier-General Keifer and made indeed a creditable military record.

Following his return to Zanesville Captain Black again entered business life and remained an active factor in commercial circles here until his death. He formed a partnership with Alex- der Grant, under the firm style of Grant & Black, their store being located at the southeast corner of Third and Main streets and in 1868 Captain Black bought out the retail business of his brother William at the northwest corner of Main and Fourth streets, conducting that store until 1878, when he sold out to the firm of Sturtevant & Martin. On the Ist of March, 1879, he organ- ized the firm of Black & Company for the con- duct of a wholesale dry-goods and notion busi- ness, which they opened on the north side of Main street between Fifth and Sixth streets. In Au- gust, 1880, they removed to the Stevens building on Sixth street, between Main and South streets, and in 1889 the business was incorporated as the Black & Grant Company, with Captain Black as its president. They purchased a lot on South Fifth street and erected there a large four-story building, in which they began operations in Feb- ruary, 1891. Captain Black remained as presi- dent of the company up to the time of his death and under his able management, executive force and keen business discernment, a large commer- cial enterprise was developed. He was very en- ergetic, discharging business with readiness and quickly comprehending intricate business situa- tions. He did not confine his attention alone to mercantile interests for he became identified with other local business enterprises and for a number of years served as a director of the First Na- tional Bank and the Homestead Building and Sav- ings Company. His employes had frequent cause to thank him for his kindness and helpful care. He was not only just but generous and they knew that faithful service on their part would be rewarded by promotion as opportunity offered. The poor and needy also found in him a friend and yet he was very unostentatious in his char- ity, giving generously because of broad humani-

tarian principles, yet never seeking the praise of public opinion.

On the 18th of April, 1867, Captain Black was united in marriage to Miss Cornelia Van Hamm, a daughter of Judge Washington and Clara Van Hamm, and unto them were born four children : Clarence Spencer ; Dora May, the wife of John J. Adams; Walter Van Hamm; and Robert Smallwood. To his family he was very devoted, being a man of domestic tastes and he found his greatest pleasure in the companionship of his wife and children.

Soon after removing to Zanesville Captain Black became a member of the Second Presby- terian church and his name was on its rolls to the time of his death. He was interested in the various church activities and did much to pro- mote the growth and extend the influence of the church, while in his life he exemplified his Christian faith. He was also a member of the Loyal Legion and the Grand Army of the Republic. He passed away after a brief illness, February 22, 1900, and one of the local editors of Zanesville said of him: "Captain Black was a wonderfully patient, even-tempered man. Gentlemen who have been closely asso- ciated with him for many years say that they have never known him to lose his temper or utter a word calculated to cause pain or give offense. He was public-spirited to an eminent degree, al- ways being among the foremost in every enter- prise for the general warefare." He left behind him an untarnished record and his life history is one which should prove an incentive to contin- uous and honorable effort for it shows the sure reward of character. He won not only success, but the unqualified regard and good will of his fellowmen and he was well known throughout the state, his friends being numerous at home and abroad.

LAWRENCE BLANKENBUHLER.

Lawrence Blankenbuhler, now deceased, fig- ured for a number of years in commercial circles in Zanesville. He was born in McConnelsville, Ohio, July 4, 1860, a son of George Nicholas Blankenbuhler, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work in connection with the sketch of John Blankenbuhler. In the common schools Law- rence Blankenbuhler pursued his education. He came to Zanesville when about fifteen years of age to visit his brother John and began working for him in his bakery. He learned the business in principle and detail and finally formed a part- nership in the bakery and ice cream business. He was thus connected with this line of business throughout his remaining days and was also in-

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terested in a milling business as a member of the firm of Blankenbuhler Brothers & Beaumont. They operated a mill and engaged in the manu- facture of ice cream, bread and crackers. Follow- ing the dissolution of this partnership Lawrence Blankenbuhler continued in business alone as pro- prietor of the bakery and ice cream manufactory and he enjoyed a liberal patronage, while his businesss reputation was above question.

On the IIth of May, 1886, occurred his mar- riage to Miss Clara E. Winter, a daughter of Charles and Phillipina ( Theaumont) Winter. Her father, a native of Germany, came to the United States when a young man, making his way at once to Zanesville. He was a painter by trade and after following that pursuit for a time he turned his attention to merchandising. Mrs. Blankenbuhler, who was born in Zanesville in 1865, was the youngest of a family of four daughters and by her marriage she became the mother of two daughters-Helen Marie and Clara Ethel, both at school.

Mr. Blankenbuhler died April 2, 1892. He had prospered in his business undertakings and was thus enabled to leave his family in comfor- table financial circumstances. He was a republi- can in his political beliet and held membership in the German Lutheran church, serving as one of the officers at the time of his demise. He was a man of distinctive and forceful individuality and his success in his undertakings was marked so that his methods were of interest to the com- mercial world, and investigation into his history shows that he based his business principles and actions upon strict adherence to the rules which govern industry, economy and unswerving integ- rity.

EDMUND CONE BRUSH, A. M., M. D.

Dr. Edmund Cone Brush, physician and sur- geon of Zanesville and author of medical and current literature, was born October 22, 1852, in the city which is still his home, and is a de- scendant of Revolutionary ancestors, the family having been founded in America in colonial days. His parents were Edmund and Alice S. (Cone) Brush. He was only eight years of age at the time of his father's death and the mother after- ward removed to Marietta, Ohio, where he be- came a student in the public schools. When ten years of age he entered the academy of Mar- ietta College and continuing his studies through successive grades was graduated from the acad- emy with the class of 1868. He received the de- gree of A. M. at Marietta College in 1888.

Dr. Brush afterward filled a clerkship until 1871, at which time he entered upon the study of medicine, his reading being directed by Dr. B. F. Hart, one of the leading physicians of

that portion of the state. The following year he attended lectures at Starling Medical College and on the 3d of July, 1873, he was appointed by Governor Noyes to a position on the medical staff of the Ohio penitentiary. He was relieved from that position in 1874, through a change in administration, and later he completed his stud- ies at Starling Medical College under Dr. Davis Halderman, being graduated in 1875.

Immediately thereafter Dr. Brush located at Harmar, Ohio, where he engaged in practice until the spring of 1876. The republicans again coming into power and R. B. Hayes having been elected governor, Dr. Brush was chosen for his old position upon the medical staff of the Ohio penitentiary and acted in that capacity until the election of Governor Bishop, when he again re- tired. In 1873, during his first term on the med- ical staff of that state institution, cholera was prevalent there and Dr. Brush battled with it so bravely and successfully that he was given hon- orable mention in the annual report of the prison board to the governor. Upon leaving that position he was appointed demonstrator of anatomy in Columbus Medical College and the following year, 1879, he resigned in order to accept a simi- lar position in his alma mater, where he remained for two years. During one year, in addition to his duties at college, he served as assistant phy- sician at the Central Insane Asylum. In 1881, desiring to enter upon general practice, he re- signed and located in the mining district at Corn- ing, Ohio, where he was appointed surgeon for the Ohio Central Mining Company and also for the Ohio Central Railroad Company. There he practiced until the spring of 1884.

While there, on the 24th of October, 1883, Dr. Brush was married to Miss Fanny L. Russell, of Zanesville, a daughter of the Hon. Charles C. and Louvisa (Moorehead) Russell, and in May, 1884, Dr. Brush and his wife established their home in Zanesville, where he at once entered upon the general practice of medicine. He is surgeon for five lines of railroad entering this city and for four years he was a member of the county pension board. He has been president of the Hildreth District Medical Society and from. 1886 until 1891 he served as one of the phy- sicians at the County Infirmary. For two years he was physician to the Zanesville workhouse and for five years, from 1885 until 1890, he was as- sistant secretary to the Ohio State Medical So- ciety, while in 1892 he was elected second vice president of the society. In 1902 he was chosen its president and the following year he was elected one of the ten counselors of that society. He is a trustee and physician of the John McIntire Children's Home and for fifteen years he has been president of the board of trustees of the Zanesville Atheneum and was the originator of the idea of presenting the library

DR. E. C. BRUSH.

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to the city, which was done in 1904. The Doctor is an ex-president of the Association of Surgeons for the Pennsylvania Lines west of Pittsburg as well as the Association of Surgeons to the Bal- timore & Ohio Railroad. In 1902 he was ap- pointed by Governor George K. Nash a member of a commission to consider the advisability and practicability of the state caring for and educat- ing crippled and deformed children and was sec- retary of this commission of five. His practice has been conducted along modern scientific lines for he has kept in constant touch with the ad- vancement made by the . profession.

Dr. Brush has also taken an active interest in military affairs and has been an officer in the Ohio National Guard for the past nineteen years and since January, 1900, has served as its chief surgeon. He has been a close student of the military history of the country and his articles on military subjects have been popular in the Army and Navy Journal and in the Century Mag- azine. He has also been a constant contributor to the medical literature of the day, and is re- garded as one of the leading writers in the medi- cal fraternity, the value of his contributions being widely acknowledged.

The home of Dr. and Mrs. Brush has been blessed with seven children : Edmund Russell, Alice Russell, Russell, Fanny Margaret, Charles Russell, Albert Moorehead and Frank Spencer. The family is prominent socially in Zanesville and the Brush household is noted for its gracious and generous hospitality. In community affairs Dr. Brush is interested as a public-spirited citi- zen, but outside of the path of his profession has never sought office. His labors, however, have been far-reaching and beneficial in behalf of ma- terial and intellectual progress here. He votes with the republican party. He is a man of schol- arly attainments, whose influence is widely felt and he is to-day one of the honored residents of his native state.

THOMAS N. SOWERS.

Thomas N. Sowers, postmaster of Roseville, and a veteran of the Civil war, was born in 1846 about a mile south of this city. His father. George Sowers, was a native of Virginia, born in 1799, and his death occurred in 1859. He came to Muskingum county at an early day with his parents, who took up their abode on a farm in Clay township and this property came into possession of their son George in 1835. He thereafter devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits, placing his land under a high state of cultivation. He married Catherine Worm, who was born in Maryland in 1803 and died in 1886.

She was the daughter of William Worm, who came to Muskingum county in 1809, locating in Clay township, when there were only three houses in Roseville. He followed the occupation of farming amid pioneer surroundings and assisted materially in the development and im- provement of his part of the county. Both Mr. and Mrs. Sowers were valued members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he gave his early political allegiance to the whig party, while later he became a stauch republican and at different times held township offices.

They were the parents of twelve children, nine of whom reached mature years : Lucy is the deceased wife of James Brown, a furniture dealer of Roseville. Susan is the wife of William Brown, a brother of her sister's husband. Nancy is the deceased wife of Andrew Dodds. Cather- ine is the deceased wife of James Murray. Elias died in 1856. Horatio, who enlisted in 1861 and served for three years in Company G of the Thirty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, being with Sherman's command, is now in the National Sol- diers Home at Dayton. George W., now de- ceased, enlisted in April, 1862, in the Ninth Ohio Cavalry as a non-commissioned officer and served for two and a half years, when he was discharged for disability. Alva J., a farmer, living on a tract of land adjoining the old homestead, en- listed in November, 1861, in Company G, Thirty- first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and went with Sherman on the celebrated march to the sea. Richard F., now deceased, enlisted in 1861 in the same company as his brother and after serving for three years re-enlisted. He was taken prisoner on the day that General McPher- son was killed and was sent to Andersonville. where he was confined for two months. The family record for loyalty and bravery is certainly a most trustworthy one.

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Past and present of the city of Zanesville and Muskingham County, Ohio, Part 85

Author: Sutor, J. Hope, 1846- Publication date: 1905 Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 898

Author: Sutor, J. Hope, 1846-
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 898