USA > Ohio > Representative citizens of Ohio : memorial-genealogical > Part 13
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Capt. J. Douglass Moler
HIO has been especially honored in the character and ca- reer of her active men of industry and public service. In every section have been found men especially pro- ficient in their various vocations, men who have been conspicuous because of their superior intelligence, natural endow- ment and force of character. It is always profitable to study such lives, weigh their motives and hold up their achievements as in- centives to greater activity and higher excellence on the part of others. These reflections are suggested by the career of one who, by a strong inherent force and superior ability, stood for many years one of the leading men of his section of the State. His earthly career has long been ended, but his influence still pervades the lives of men, the good which he did having been too far-reach- ing to be measured in metes and bounds. In addition to his ordi- nary qualities of character, he was conspicuous for his love for his country, in whose defense, in her hours of trial and necessity, he gave the best he had to give, offering his life, if need be, that the national integrity might be preserved.
J. Douglass Moler was a son of the Buckeye State, but bore in his veins the blood of old Virginia stock, his parents, Sylvanus H. and Hannah (Burnett) Moler, having been natives of the Old Dominion State, their births occurring at Charlottetown. On the maternal side, the subject was descended from the old Burnett and Harden families, two of the most prominent and well-known fami- lies of that State. They were large farmers and slaveholders and occupied prominent places in the life of their respective commu- nities. After the birth of their first child, Sylvanus and Hannah Moler came to Ohio, the date of their arrival here being in 1832. They located on a farm near Harmony, Clark County, where they remained a good many years, removing then to another farm on the National Road, east of and near Springfield, where they spent the rest of their days, the father dying there in 1858. His first wife died at the age of about forty years, and subsequently he mar- ried her sister, Julius Burnett, who survived him many years, dy- ing at the age of eighty-four years. There were no children by the last union. Mr. Moler was a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, having been one of the founders of the High Street Church, of which he was a trustee for many years. He was
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a man of decided views and great strength of character, an in- stance of his conscientious adherence to his convictions being that while in his old Virginia home he voluntarily liberated his slaves when convinced that slavery was wrong.
Sylvanus and Hannah Moler became the parents of two sons and two daughters, namely: their first born, William B., who was born in 1832, became a prominent minister of the Methodist Epis- copal denomination. After many years of active and faithful service, he took a superannuated relation and located in Spring- field, where his death occurred in 1899. He married and became the father of three daughters, one of whom died after marriage, another married and lives in Tennessee, and Maude is a missionary in China. Sarah G., who is now deceased, was the wife of Frank Meddick, and left two children, both of whom are living. J. Doug- lass, the immediate subject of this sketch, was the next child in order of birth. Mary became the wife of Edward Schroeder, who is now deceased, and she makes her home in Detroit, Michigan.
J. Douglass Moler was reared under the parental roof and se- cured his education in the public schools. At the age of eighteen years he began teaching school, and two years later, at the age of twenty years, he took up the vocation of civil engineering, in which he proved to be much more than ordinarily capable. He be- came city civil engineer of Springfield and so satisfactory were his services in this important position that he was retained therein for a period of twenty-five consecutive years. He was a man of advanced views and in the conduct of his office he maintained a high standard of ethics. He held his office absolutely above poli- tics and his relations with all whom he came in contact with offi- cially were such that all became his stanch friends. The humblest employee received the same kindly attention and courteous treat- ment that was accorded to the wealthiest and most influential man in the city. The inevitable result was that he enjoyed a deserved popularity throughout the community, a relation that was sus- tained without any apparent effort on his part.
Politically Captain Moler was a stanch supporter of the Re- publican party and took a keen and intelligent interest in the trend of public events. Socially, he cared but little for what is or- dinarily termed "society," for his chief pleasure was found in his own family circle. His first thought was for those he loved and he was never happier or more contented than when in the midst of the home circle.
Upon the outbreak of the great Southern rebellion in the carly sixties, Captain Moler organized a company of Squirrel Hunters
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and remained at the head of the organization as captain as long as the company remained intact. Later for more than a year he was in the commissary department of the army, being located at Cin- cinnati, where he did effective service in that most important branch of the national service. Subsequently the captain re- turned to Springfield and organized a second military company, which became Company C, One Hundred and Eighty-fourth Regi- ment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was chosen captain of this company and served with it until the close of the war. He partici- pated in a number of engagements and received a wound, which, however, was not serious. Because of his military service, Captain Moler subsequently became a member of the Grand Army of the Republic at Springfield, in which organization he ever took a deep interest.
Captain Moler was twice married, first, at Bellefontaine, Ohio, to Ella DuShane, of that city, and whose death occurred in Janu- ary, 1880. To this union were born two sons, namely: William G., who married Alice Coleman, and they live in New York; Harry B., who lives in Texas, has been married twice. To his first union, with Nettie Holman, of Springfield, three children were born. His second marriage has been without issue.
In 1881 Captain Moler married Millie A. Oaks, the ceremony occurring at her home in Cleveland. Mrs. Moler was born in Es- sex County, New York, and is the daughter of Alexander and Jane Beardley Oakes. She received her education partly in her na- tive State, completing her studies after her removal to Ohio. Alexander Oaks was a native of France, where the family was originally DeChene, meaning "The Oaks," and after coming to America the name was changed to Oaks. He was nineteen years old when the family left their native Alsace and for a number of years he lived in New York State, the parents eventually going to Canada where their deaths occurred. Alexander Oaks married Jane Beardsley in Essex County, New York. She comes from a long line of sterling American ancestry, the family line being traced back to 1635 in Connecticut. After his marriage Mr. Oaks owned and operated a smithy and forge in Lewis, Essex County, and there his wife died in 1857. He later moved to Marquette, Michigan, where, in 1862, he enlisted in a Michigan regiment and served throughout the war up to the battles incident to the siege of Vicksburg, where he laid down his life. His daughter, Mrs. Mo- ler, was then but nine years old, and he was forty-nine years old at the time of his death. Three of his sons, George, Nelson and James, were also defenders of the Stars and Stripes, serving as
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privates in a New York regiment, and all were wounded in bat- tle, while James was captured and spent three months in famous Libby prison.
To Captain and Mrs. Moler were born three daughters, viz .: Julia Douglass is the wife of James S. Heaume, of Springfield, and they have three children, Margia A., Mary C. and John Douglass; Mary, who, like her sisters, was reared and educated in this city, is unmarried and remains at home with her mother; Catherine Harden is the wife of Ralph Kilgoure Fisher and the mother of one daughter, Rita Douglass. They reside in Arizona.
Mrs. Moler and her two youngest daughters are members of the Presbyterian Church, in the various activities of which they take a deep interest, while Mrs. Moler is also a member of the Daughters of the Revolution. They move in the best social cir- cles of the city and their friends are in number as their acquaint- ances.
John Sheemood Kirby
HEN the life of such a man as the late John S. Kirby closes, its influence does not cease, for it was so ordered as to redound in abundant blessings to those with whom he came in contact, and set in motion forces that will continue to make for the good of the locality honored by his residence for generations to come. For he was a man who, while laboring for his own advancement, never neglected his general duties as a citizen and neighbor. He was public-spirited, assisting in every good movement for his city and county and he took a great pride in the growth of the same. He was a man of decided humanitarian impulses and many were the charitable acts he did, most of them unknown to any save the recipients of the same, for he gave out of the fullness of heart and never with a view of gain- ing the plaudits of his fellow men. He was socially inclined and was friendly, genial and uniformly courteous, so that he was a favorite with all classes wherever he was known. He became one of the leading business men of the city of Urbana, Ohio, where he was extensively engaged in a number of large enterprises, most of which owed their pronounced success to his judicious counsel and his able management and sound judgment.
Mr. Kirby was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, May 19, 1840. He was a son of John and Hannah S. (Helstrip) Kirby, both natives of England, of sterling English ancestry of remote generations, and in that country the Kirbys were known as people of large affairs and influence for a number of generations. In that coun- try John Kirby resided until he was eighteen years of age. His fa- ther had met with reverses, and the son had opportunities of ob- taining only a fairly good education, so at a tender age he decided to cast his lot among Americans and make his fortune. When very young in years he started to the United States, in 1819. In his effort to reach the train that was to take him to the ship he lost his hat in a sudden gust of wind. He did not go back for it, but crossed the ocean bareheaded. Such a principle of not look- ing back dominated his life and led to success. He came over on a sailing vessel, the voyage requiring seven weeks. He landed in New York City, and soon after came on to the Buckeye State. Tak- ing a boat by canal, he went to Cincinnati where he began his busi- ness career, learning the trade of a meat butcher, in which he was
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very successful. He was an extremely energetic man, a hard worker and he was generous, and was somewhat brusque in his manner and speech, even impulsive at times. He had a great love for his children and their welfare concerned him very greatly. He made a fortune of large proportions by his own efforts, having started with nothing. In all matters of business his judgment was good and he was quick to decide, never making a serious mis- take. He was in many respects a remarkable man and nothing was more remarkable than his habit of giving in a quiet and unassum- ing way. He was a Republican in politics. He owned one of the finest homes in Cincinnati. He was a boon companion of Nicholas Longworth. He was the owner of considerable valuable property in that city. His marriage in Cincinnati was romantic, a case of love at first sight. His wife was, like himself, a native of York- shire, England, and she came to America about the same time. They were married in two weeks after they met. She died a few years later when in the very prime of womanhood, being about twenty-two years old. She was the mother of two children. Henry, the eldest, died when twenty-two years of age, after he had ob- tained a good education. The death of John Kirby occurred on April 12, 1883. He was a highly respected citizen.
Regarding his interesting life we could do no better than to quote the following tribute from the Daily Citizen of Urbana, Ohio, under date of April 13, 1883:
"John Kirby whose familiar form has for more than twenty years been seen moving in his peculiar gait, has taken his last stroll upon our streets, and is now numbered with the dead. He was born in Yorkshire, Old England, in January, 1805, and at the age of fourteen years took passage for the United States in an old sail ship, propelled by the oar and the element, and was for about ten weeks, through weather fair and foul, through storm and tempest, accompanied by dangers seen and unseen during this long voyage, landing on our shores a penniless boy, in a strange land and among strangers, about the year 1819.
"This boy, having been brought up to industrious habits, soon determined to seek a permanent location and 'hoe his own row,' and soon selected Cincinnati where he commenced to operate in a small and safe way, working industriously, saving his earnings and applying them in assisting the other members of his family, one by one, to emigrate to his chosen home, which in due time was fully accomplished. He soon groped his way by determined perse- verance into very lucrative enterprises, connecting butchering and tallow candling with the other offshoots of his professed calling,
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and soon began to accumulate large, honest profits, and applying them to judicious investments in real estate and other equally re- munerative channels, he was soon classed with the wealthy popu- lation of Cincinnati; and as a further illustration of his indefati- gable exertions in business matters, the writer will, by way of episode in this connection here state that I was very intimate with Mr. Kirby, and on one occasion we happened to meet quite early one morning on the public square before any of the shops or stores were open, and he burst out in his brusque manner in a criticism on such a flagrant lack of business energy. 'Why,' said he, 'I have in my business lifetime made five hundred dollars in my business operations before this time of day." I give this as a keynote to his prosperity. Thus for some forty years he delved in business, suc- cessful enterprises, and the results are patent to the whole com- munity. Young men, take lessons from John Kirby and apply yourselves vigorously to some remunerative business, and instead of being drones you may reach his altitude in thrift. Try it.
"Mr. Kirby in early life entered into marital relationship with a lady of acknowledged merit, but in the run of a few years she sickened and died, leaving with him two surviving children, John S. Kirby, with whom for the last twenty years he has made his home in Urbana, and on the large Buck Creek farm near Powhat- tan, in this township, and Henry, who died at the age of twenty- two years at Cincinnati.
"Those who knew Mr. Kirby best know him to have had great business capacity, and know too, that, notwithstanding all his pe- culiarities, he had the heart to feel others' woes and wants, and gen- erously held out the helping hand for their relief without the sound of a trumpet. He for the last quarter of a century has suffered greatly from loss of hearing and the worst type of inflammatory rheumatism. No one but himself could realize the intense suffer- ing through which he has passed and which, with other maladies, culminated in death on Saturday afternoon, the twelfth instant. Mr. Kirby remained perfectly conscious until his last gasp of life, expressing perfect willingness to go to rest, manifesting that all would be well with him; and certainly no one could better under- stand his final condition than himself and his God."
John S. Kirby, the immediate subject of this review, was reared and educated in Cincinnati and at Sweedenbodgen College at Urbana, Ohio. He at once launched out in his business career and was very successful from the start, and in due course of time he became one of the leading capitalists of his section of the State and one of its strong men of finance and business. He owned two
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large farms in Champaign County, near Urbana on Buck Creek. He also owned a ranch in Kansas, and much valuable property in the city of Urbana, including two fine homes. He was a man of rare soundness of judgment, keen foresight and business acumen. Politically he was a Republican, and was a Presbyterian in re- ligion.
Mr. Kirby was married on June 5, 1860, to Mary Ellen Pat- rick, who was born in Champaign County, Ohio, January 3, 1838, and was reared and educated largely in Urbana, where she is now occupying a beautiful home on East Scioto Street, and here she has often been the hostess to the many friends of the family. She has always been a favorite with a wide circle of friends who admire her for her many beautiful characteristics. She is remarkably well preserved and appears to be many years younger than the calen- dar would indicate her age to be. This is due, no doubt, in a large measure, to her genial temperament and her habits of correct thinking. She has kept well posted on current events and the best modern literature and is much interested in the affairs of the day.
Mrs. Kirby is a daughter of Jacob H. and Mariah (Atchison) Patrick, both natives of Ohio, where they grew up and were mar- ried in 1833. Mr. Patrick was born on September 22, 1811, in Urbana, and his wife was born in Madison County, in 1813. She lived to a very ripe age, dying only a few years ago, having passed her ninety-first birthday. She was a good wife and mother and a grand old lady, beloved by all who knew her. She reared nine children. One son, William, was an orderly sergeant in the Na- tional troops during the Civil War, and was one of Ohio's soldiers to be brought back, killed in battle. Mrs. Patrick did much for the soldiers in the field during the war, by making clothing and preparing provisions which she sent to the Union army. She was indeed, a noble character.
Jacob H. Patrick devoted his earlier years in a business way to the saddlery and hardware business, later becoming a very suc- cessful general hardware merchant, building up an extensive trade. He was a man who believed in carrying the Golden Rule into his everyday business life and he was known for his high sense of honor, his kindness and charitable impulses. He spent his entire life in the city of Urbana and was one of the principal men of affairs here, doing much for the general upbuilding of the place and no man was more highly esteemed than he, and he cer- tainly deserved the respect that was accorded him. He was de- voted to his family, and did all he could. Politically he was a strong Republican. He was a brother of William Patrick, who
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for a number of years was mayor of Urbana. They were sons of Anthony Patrick, who came from New Jersey to Ohio in the year 1811, just before the birth of our subject, and here he spent the rest of his life, his death occurring here when very old. He was a pioneer cabinet maker. His wife preceded him to the grave by a great many years.
To John S. Kirby and wife were born five children, namely: Louise, wife of Edwin Wells Murphy, manager of the large Gros- beck estate, in Cincinnati, where they live; they have no issue. Frank died at the age of thirty-eight years, unmarried. Harry Newton, a rancher and stock raiser in Kansas, living at the city of Hutchison, was twice married, first, to Maude Londenbeck, who died, leaving John Sherwood and Edwin Delmore. Harry N. Kirby's second wife was Mrs. Nancy Ringle, who had by her for- mer marriage two children, Duval and Grace, both at home. Rob- ert Ward Kirby, who has remained unmarried, lives at home with his mother. The other son, Clifford Vance Kirby, also yet single, lives at home. All the above named children were well educated in the public schools and military academies, and Robert attended Cornell University. Mrs. John S. Kirby is a faithful member of the Presbyterian Church.
The death of John S. Kirby occurred at the beautiful family residence in Urbana on July 12, 1898. In its account of his taking off, Urbana's leading newspaper said, in part:
"The news of the death of John S. Kirby at an early hour this morning was a severe shock to the many friends of the deceased in Urbana, the end having come suddenly. Mr. Kirby had been in ill health for several months. He recently returned from a month's visit to his ranch in Kansas and seemed to be greatly improved in health. Yesterday he was out riding and felt so much better that hopes were entertained for his complete recovery. Late last night he was taken suddenly worse, and in a short time the end came abruptly but peacefully. The deceased was one of Urbana's most widely known citizens. He was a man of genial nature, warm- hearted and generous and his death will be sincerely mourned by a wide circle of friends. He stood high in the commercial circles of the city, and was largely interested in many of the city's busi- ness enterprises."
hamilton Ring, M.D.
O COMPENDIUM such as the province of this work de- fines in its essential limitations will serve to offer fit memorial to the life and accomplishments of Dr. Ham- ilton Ring, for a long lapse of years one of the best known professional men in the city of Urbana and western Ohio and a pioneer homeopathic physician of this State-a man re- markable in the breadth of his wisdom, in his indomitable perse- verance, his strong individuality, and yet one whose entire life had not one esoteric phase, being able to bear the closest scrutiny. True, his were, in the language of Longfellow, "massive deeds and great" in one sense, and yet his entire accomplishment but represented the result of fit utilization of the innate talent which was his, and directing of his efforts along those lines where ma- ture judgment and rare discrimination led the way. There was in Doctor Ring a weight of character, a native sagacity, a far-see- ing judgment and fidelity of purpose that commanded the respect of all, but greater than these was the unswerving integrity; and an "honest man is the noblest work of God," according to the uni- versally accepted phrase of Alexander Pope. And although Doc- tor Ring has been numbered among the sleepers in "the narrow house" for some three decades, his name is still well remembered in western Ohio and his influence for good continues to grow.
Dr. Hamilton Ring was born in Baltimore, Maryland, June 18, 1821. He was a son of David Ring who was born in Bangor, Maine, of a sterling New England ancestry. He was highly edu- cated and when a young man went to Baltimore, Maryland, more than ninety years ago and there established a private school for young women. He was a prominent educator in that city for many years, in fact, spent the rest of his life there, dying prior to the year 1850, a highly esteemed and greatly beloved man, both as an educator and an individual. He married Sophia C. Benteen, of York, Pennsylvania, who was born in the year 1800. She died in Baltimore when quite old. They were among the early members of the New (Swenborgein) Church, in the United States. Three sons were born to these parents, namely: Hamilton, of this mem- oir; William C., and David, Jr .; also a daughter, Sophia Henri- etta, now Mrs. Crownfield, of New York. The father of these children was a personal friend and great admirer of the great statesman, Alexander Hamilton, for whom he named our subject, but the latter dropped the name Alexander when he grew up.
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Doctor Ring grew to manhood in the city of Baltimore and there received an excellent education, first attending private schools, and was later graduated from one of the early homeo- pathic schools, and was exceptionally well trained in his chosen vocation, and he was a real pioneer of his school of medicine in Ohio, and won a wide reputation in the same. He was a great student and a profound thinker and mastered every phase of this science.
He remained in his native city until after his marriage, which event took place April 9, 1850. In February, 1852, he set out over the mountains with his young wife and their infant daughter by stage coach, making the long, tiresome trip over unimproved roads and unbridged streams, to Urbana, Ohio. The Doctor came here on an important mission-to open up the principles of his school of medicine and to help found and build up the principles of the New Church, and he helped very materially in doing both and lived to see a splendid church college built in Urbana and a general and wide adoption of his school of medicine. He did these things in face of great opposition and under adverse circum- stances, but being a man of fortitude, courage, sound judgment and keen discrimination as well as a scholar and polished gentle- man he accomplished in a comparatively short time things that would have discouraged others of less heroic mold, or at least what would have taken the combined efforts of many persons a long lapse of years. Personally he was a quiet, unassuming, but ob- serving man, of a decided scientific mind, especially as related to medicine. To quote his good widow, "He lived justly, loved mercy and walked humbly before his God." And to him she paid this fitting eulogy on the monument over his grave, "The beloved physician." He was for years a leader in the Home, State and National Associations, and he always read interesting and in- structive papers at their meetings. He enjoyed a very large and lucrative practice, his services being in great demand, and he had surprising success. .
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