USA > Ohio > Representative citizens of Ohio : memorial-genealogical > Part 5
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50
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Colonel William A. Taylor
years of age was admitted to the bar, but he soon gave up this calling, although giving much promise in the same, and turned his attention to newspaper work, in which profession he attained such high success. His first newspaper work was as editor of a weekly at New Lexington. He was next at Zanesville, and later he became an editorial writer of the Cincinnati Enquirer under Washington McLean, when John R. McLean, the present owner, was a reporter on that paper. Afterwards Colonel Taylor did editorial work on the New York Sun, New York World, Pitts- burgh Post and Pittsburgh Telegraph. He gave eminent satis- faction on all these great metropolitan dailies and learned much of that class of journalism. In 1880, Colonel Taylor returned to Ohio to become editor of the Columbus Democrat. He was sub- sequently editor of the Columbus Press-Post before taking charge of the office of commissioner of soldiers' claims, to which he was appointed by Governor Judson Harmon in 1910, the duties of which responsible post he discharged in a manner that reflected much credit upon himself and to the eminent satisfaction of all concerned, until his death. No incumbent of this office was more popular or handled its affairs with more fidelity.
The colonel was long prominent in public affairs. In his earlier years he served one term as clerk of the State senate. He was his party's candidate for secretary of State in 1902, and made a brilliant campaign, being defeated by only one thousand votes. In 1906, he was the Democratic candidate for Congress, and he was a candidate for lieutenant-governor in 1903.
Colonel Taylor had a brilliant record as a soldier, having served as a member of the One Hundred and Fifty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry in 1864, participating in many of the hard- fought engagements of that famous regiment, in all of which he proved a most gallant and faithful defender of the Stars and Stripes, and for meritorious conduct and rare military ability, was promoted from time to time. He was the first president of the Ohio Sons of the American Revolution, served six terms as vice president, was for twelve years a member of the board of managers and had been secretary since 1903. He was also a member of the Old Northwest Historical and Genealogical Society and an honorary member of the Historical Society of England. His old military associations were kept alive through his member- ship in McCoy Post, Grand Army of the Republic, at Columbus. Several months before his death he was elected a member of the Authors' Club of London, England, which is restricted to men of letters who have achieved high literary distinction, the great writ- ers of the day belonging to the organization. Only one other
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Colonel William A. Caplor
Ohioan had the honor of being a member of this club at the time of the subject's death. The colonel, however, was not especially active in club and fraternal life, preferring to devote his time to his regular daily work and his home. He was for a number of years an active worker in the Christian Science Church, and his daily life was most exemplary, helpful, and pleasant.
It was as an author that Colonel Taylor was best known. His style was so clear, easy, entertaining, and forceful that the scholars of both America and England delighted to do him honor. He wrote both prose and verse, was a man of great versatility and high esthetic attainments. Besides frequent articles in magazines and newspapers, he was the author of "The Peril of the Repub- lic," "Ohio One Hundred Year Book," "Ohio in Congress, 1802- 1903," "Centennial History of Columbus," "Intermere," and other works. At the time of his death he was engaged in writ- ing a historical review of Ohio. He also wrote "Evolution of the Statesman," which was used with effect in the recent Pattison State campaign.
Colonel William A. Taylor was married in Zanesville, Ohio, in 1870, to Janet Allen Tarrier, granddaughter of John and Jane (Allen) Tarrier. The former was born near Reading, Pennsyl- vania, and married Jane Allen, of Allentown, that State, which city was founded by and named after the Allen family. Mr. Tar- rier was a soldier in the War of 1812, and was mustered out at Zanesville, Ohio, where his marriage occurred soon afterwards. He helped survey the city of Zanesville and lay it out. He became the owner of different additions in that place, which he sold, ac- cumulating an ample fortune in that manner. The house he built in Zanesville is still standing. There four generations of the family have lived and it is still owned by his descendants. He and his wife spent the remainder of their lives in that city, but his death occurred while on a return trip from California, March 6, 1851, when about fifty-four years of age. He was a member of the famous band of "forty-niners" and was returning home from the gold fields of the Pacific Coast when death overtook him at New Orleans, he having returned by way of the Isthmus of Panama. He was one of the early Masons of Ohio, and was buried with Masonic honors at his home in Zanesville, his body having been brought back from the South. John Tarrier was a Presbyterian in his religious faith, as was also his widow, who survived many years. Politically, he was a Democrat. Among their children was George W. Tarrier, father of Mrs. William A. Taylor. He was born at Zanesville, Ohio, in 1820, and there spent his life, dying at his old home and the home of his father
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Colonel William A. Caplor
in that city in 1906. He was a contractor by occupation. He was also one of the pilgrims to California in 1849, and he remained in the Golden State about three years. With that exception, his entire life was spent in Zanesville. He was a Democrat and a Presbyterian, was well known among the old settlers of that city, and was one of the last of the old pioneers' native sons. He was married in that city to Rhoda Jimison. She was born near that city and spent all her life in that vicinity, dying there in 1909, at the age of eighty-four years. She was a faithful member of the Baptist Church. She came of Maryland parentage, of Revolutionary stock, and through her father also Mrs. Taylor is eligible to membership in the Daughters of the American Revo- lution.
To Colonel Taylor and wife one son was born, Clarence Au- brey Taylor, whose birth occurred in Allegheny City, Pennsyl- vania, December 28, 1875. He was a young man of brilliant intellect and gave exceptional promise of a successful future. He was in his last year at college, the Ohio Northern University, at Ada, Ohio, when his death occurred on November 26, 1898. He was preparing for a career as newspaper editor and was on the editorial staff of a Zanesville paper. He was a worthy member of the Baptist Church.
Mrs. Janet Taylor is a member of the Second Christian Science Church of Columbus, and her daily life would indicate the love and truth which she seeks to reflect.
Colonel William A. Taylor was summoned to a higher plane of endeavor, suddenly and with little warning, on October 13, 1911, at the age of seventy-four years, after a useful, honorable, and successful career, fraught with incalculable good to humanity.
Henry Treat Chittenden
HE late Henry Treat Chittenden not only gained recog- nition and lasting prestige as a prominent and success- ful member of the Ohio bar, but also kept in touch with all that related to the material progress and general prosperity of the city of Columbus, of which he proved to be one of the most distinguished native sons. For over a half century he was known as one of the enterprising and public-spir- ited citizens who did as much as any of his compeers for the growth and general development of the locality where his entire life was spent, having contributed both by influence and tangible aid to all legitimate and laudable projects which tended to con- serve the best interests of the central section of Ohio. He was a fine type of the strong, useful, and progressive self-made Ameri- can, and for a long period he wielded a most potent influence in financial and business affairs, becoming through his individual efforts one of the strong men financially of the capital city. In legal circles his reputation was second to none of his contem- poraries, indeed there were few lawyers in Franklin or adjoining counties whose success was so continuous or uninterrupted or who achieved as high distinction in their profession. Endowed by nature with an active and brilliant mind, which was cultivated and strengthened by much study and discipline, he made rapid progress in his chosen calling and stood admittedly among the leaders of the bar in the field to which the major part of his prac- tice was confined, besides wielding a commanding influence among the leaders of his profession in other parts of the State and in other lines of endeavor as well.
Mr. Chittenden was born in the three-story brick residence just west of the First Congregational Church in East Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio, and there he grew to manhood and lived for more than half a century, removing only a few years prior to his death, when ill health overcame him. Before his birth the dwelling had been the home of Asher Chittenden, his father, for many years, the latter having been one of the best known pioneer business men of Columbus and well known here in the early years of the city's development. Of his family only three children, a son and two daughters, now survive, Richard Chittenden, an Epis- copal minister in Pennsylvania, and Mrs. George Woodward, and Mrs. Robert A. Lovall, of Washington.
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Thenry Treat Chittenden
After graduating from the Columbus schools, Henry T. Chit- tenden went to Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, where he made a brilliant record and from which historic institution he was graduated. He took a course in law and, returning to Colum- bus, began a law practice in a building at the northeast corner of High and Broad streets, and he was successful from the first, soon taking a high rank at the local bar and building up a large and lucrative clientele. He became interested also in real estate when property was comparatively cheap, and in due course of time, developed an extensive real estate business. Later he partly gave up the practice of law and devoted his attention for the most part to real estate, in which he gradually developed a fortune, through his energy, sound judgment and straightforward dealing with his fellow men. At one time lie owned many of the important business blocks in High Street. The Henrietta Thea- ter, which was burned several years ago, was owned by him and named for a relative. At one time he owned the Chittenden Hotel and the entire block of property west of it, extending to Front Street, in which he retained an interest at the time of his death, and up to three years prior to that event he continued very active in real estate matters, becoming universally recognized as one of the leading and best known men in that line of business in the State, and regarded as an expert judge of values of all kinds of property, especially city, botlı business and residence. About twenty years before his death he controlled the Columbus Rail- way Company, in the period of horse cars, and its success was due to his able management and sound judgment. Several years ago he was largely interested in banking and owned stock in several banks and business concerns, being a potent factor in the success of all of them. He was the owner of much valuable real estate all over the city, long controlled the wholesale row in West Chestnut Street, was largely interested in the High Street Theater and Olentangy Park, among many other holdings.
Mr. Chittenden married Catherine Mithoff, daughter of the late E. T. Mithoff, and her death occurred about twenty-two years before she was joined in the silent land by her husband, she hav- ing passed away shortly after the birth of the youngest daughter, now Mrs. Helen Ziegler, wife of E. P. Ziegler, well known citizen of Columbus. The other children were Campbell M. Chittenden, also a well-known young business man living in Columbus, and Henry T. Chittenden, Jr., who resides in New York City, where he is well established.
During the last year and a half of his life, the health of Mr. Chittenden was feeble and he spent his declining days at the home
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Henry Treat Chittenden
of his son, Campbell M. Chittenden, and there he was summoned to his eternal rest at the age of seventy-five years, being at that time a widely-known capitalist and representative citizen. He had a host of admiring friends and was a genial, obliging, compan- ionable gentleman, courteous and broad minded, the advocate of progressive ideals and wholesome living in private and public life as well. He was charitably inclined and helped all good move- ments and by material means and advice aided many young men in the struggle for a foothold in the world's affairs, but he was al- ways unassuming and unostentatious, and while he was a leader in public affairs, never sought the limelight in the way of public honors, or, in fact, any other way.
BuslowAdams
General John Grant Mitchell
URING a career of signal activity and usefulness the late General John Grant Mitchell did much to further the industrial, civic, and economic progress of the Buckeye State, of which he was one of her most illus- trious and honored sons, and his influence in promoting the varied affairs of her beautiful capital city was both potent and far-reaching. He stood as a type of the steadfast, honorable, and upright business man and loyal and public-spirited citizen, and his fine intellectual powers increased materially his useful- ness and prestige as one of the noble workers of the world. He rendered distinguished service in the cause of the Union during the greatest civil war ever recorded on history's pages, deserving to rank among the leaders who brought the nation safely through that momentous crisis, thus leaving to succeeding generations a glorious heritage. The entire course of his life was dominated by the same high sense of duty that prompted him to tender his services in support of the righteous cause of a nation whose integ- rity was thus threatened by armed rebellion. He was long a prominent and influential citizen of the city of Columbus, and maintained an inviolable hold upon the respect and esteem of all who knew him. A man of firm convictions, broad-minded, keen, and distinct individuality, he made his life count for good in all its relations, and in this biographical and memorial history touch- ing those who have contributed conspicuously to the upbuilding of Ohio in manifold ways, it is most consonant that a tribute of some length be paid General Mitchell.
The birth of General Mitchell occurred in Piqua, Ohio, No- vember 6, 1838. He was the son of Moses Grant Mitchell, a pion- eer of Piqua, who married Elizabeth McCullouch, whose death occurred there. Moses G. Mitchell was for many years a justice of the peace and was known as Judge Mitchell. He spent the last few years of his life in Columbus.
John G. Mitchell, the only child of his parents, spent his boy- hood in his native town where he attended the public schools, and was prepared for college in the schools of Springfield, Ohio. Later he entered Kenyon College, at Gambier, this State, from which institution he was graduated with the class of 1859. He afterward studied law in Columbus at the offices of Swan & An-
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General John Grant Mitchell
drews, and was admitted to the bar about the time the war be- tween the States began.
On June 27, 1861, John G. Mitchell enlisted as a private in the First Battalion of Ohio Reserves, then on duty in the south- eastern part of the State. On July 29, he was appointed by Gov- ernor Dennison first lieutenant and adjutant of the Third Ohio Infantry. He joined his regiment in West Virginia and partici- pated with it in the campaign under Rosecrans. In the fall of 1861, the Third Ohio was transferred to Kentucky, and was as- signed to General O. M. Mitchell's command. On December 21, Adjutant Mitchell was commissioned captain, and in that capacity he served during General Mitchell's campaign in Tennessee and Alabama. He participated in the action of Bridgeport and in other engagements which occurred during that period.
Captain Mitchell was ordered to Ohio on recruiting service in the latter part of the autumn of 1862, and while on that duty he was appointed lieutenant-colonel of the One Hundred and Thir- teenth Ohio. He accompanied the regiment to Kentucky, which, after guarding railroads for a short time, was ordered to the Army of the Cumberland, and for several months was stationed at Franklin, Tennessee. Lieutenant-Colonel Mitchell was promoted to the colonelcy of his regiment April 29, 1863. In June the regi- ment was attached to the Reserve Corps, Army of the Cumberland, and it participated in all the hardships and marches incident to the Tullahoma campaign and the pursuit of Bragg. After the occupation of Chattanooga the Third Division of the Reserve Corps was brought up to the immediate vicinity of the main army in order to give assistance in case the result of the impending bat- tle should render support necessary. Upon the solicitation of General Steedman, commanding the division, Colonel Mitchell was assigned to the command of the Second Brigade. During the first day and the morning of the second day of the battle of Chickamauga, Steedman's division was stationed at Rossville Gap, and at McAfie's church, on the Ringgold Road, protecting the left flank of the army. On about noon of the second day the division moved in the direction of the sound of the artillery, and advanced on the field of battle just in time to check the victorious course of the Confederates. Mitchell's and Whittaker's brigades at once went into action, and drove back the enemy who were pressing General Thomas' right. This division enabled the army to make sure its retreat, and, perhaps, saved it from destruction. In the official reports Colonel Mitchell was especially mentioned and was recommended for promotion to the rank of brigadier- general.
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General John Grant Mitchell
In the reorganization of the Army of the Cumberland, Colonel Mitchell's brigade fell to General John Beatty, and was known as the Second Brigade, Second Division, Fourteenth Corps. At the battle of Missionary Ridge the division supported General Sherman's column, and upon the retreat of Bragg, led in the pur- suit, having a warm fight with the Confederate rear guard near Chickamauga Station. The division moved to the relief of Gen- eral Burnside at Knoxville, and upon returning went into winter quarters at Rossville. Previous to the Atlanta campaign, General Beatty resigned, and Colonel Mitchell again assumed command of the brigade. In the Atlanta campaign the brigade was assigned to many difficult and responsible duties. It led the advance at Rocky Face Ridge, suffered severely at Resaca, took a prominent part in the capture of Rome, and in the battles of Dallas and New Hope Church, at Kenesaw Mountain. Mitchell's brigade, in con- nection with Colonel Daniel McCook's, led an assault and suffered terribly in an attempt to break the enemy's center. One single regiment, the One Hundred and Thirteenth Ohio, lost one hun- dred and fifty men within twenty minutes. In the battle of Peach Tree Creek the Second Division was on the extreme right of the army and Mitchell's brigade had a severe fight in forcing a crossing at the mouth of the stream. In the subsequent move- ments about Atlanta the Second Division generally operated on the right, and participated in the sanguinary struggles which marked the closing of the campaign. At Jonesboro the Second Division captured several pieces of artillery, a large number of small arms, and several hundred prisoners, including one general officer. In the official report of the campaign, the commander of the Second Brigade was again complimented, and recommended for promotion.
When General Sherman moved from Atlanta on his march to the sea, Colonel Mitchell was at the North, and so was pre- vented from joining him. He reported to General Thomas at Nashville, and was placed in charge of the detachment of the Fourteenth Corps, which remained there. With his command Colonel Mitchell participated in the battle of Nashville, and in the pursuit of Hood. After this, Colonel Mitchell hastened around by New York, and joined his corps at Sister's Ferry, South Caro- lina. There he found awaiting him a brigadier-general's com- mission, bearing date January 12, 1865. This was one of the appointments made by Secretary Stanton during his visit to General Sherman at Savannah. General Mitchell was assigned to the command of his old brigade, and he held it through the cam- paign of the Carolinas. It was engaged at Averasboro, and Ben-
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General John Grant Mitchell
tonville, and at the latter place the Second Brigade was the first to break the impetuous advance of the Confederates, and though compelled to refuse the left until it was at right angles to the right, and to fight at times on both sides of the works, it never left its ground, and at the close of the battle found it occupying the same position which it had taken at the opening.
After the surrender of Johnson, General Mitchell accompan- ied his brigade to Washington, and upon the disbanding of the army he tendered his resignation, and returned to Columbus, Ohio, which he made his place of residence. Desiring to reenter the profession of the law, he studied a year at the Harvard Law School in order to properly equip himself, and he took up the prac- tice in Columbus, associating himself with James Watson, under the partnership name of Mitchell & Watson. This business con- nection continued until 1878, when it was dissolved, and after that General Mitchell devoted his time to his interests in other direc- tions, in building the Scioto Valley Railroad and other extensive enterprises. He had been very successful at the bar, in fact, ranked among the leading legal lights of the capital city for a decade or more, but he saw wider fields in an industrial way to give employment to his talents. He was very successful in what- ever he turned his attention to, being a man of exceptional keen discernment and sound judgment and by nature an organizer and promoter. He was commissioner in bankruptcy in this district while the United States bankruptcy law was in force. For a num- ber of terms he was a member of the city council, and was presi- dent of that body during most of his terms of service, and as such he did much for the permanent good of the municipality, and by his earnest work for the material and civic good of Columbus, won the hearty commendation of all classes. In May, 1890, Presi- dent Harrison appointed him pension agent for Ohio, and he served four years in that capacity, giving his usual high-grade service as a faithful and conscientious public servant.
While connected with James Watson, they laid out some addi- tions where the old asylum was on Jefferson Avenue. He was also interested in other real estate, including the laying out of Bullitt Park, now known as Bexley. Politically, he was an ar- dent Republican and influential in the ranks. Religiously, he be- longed to Trinity Episcopal Church and was vestryman there. He belonged to various military societies, and belonged to the Delta Kappa Epsilon, a college fraternity. He was a man who took a great pleasure in his home, and his domestic life was singu- larly happy and harmonious.
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General John Grant Mitchell
The death of General John G. Mitchell occurred at his old home in Columbus, Ohio, on November 7, 1894, at the age of fifty- six years, after an illness extending over several months.
General Mitchell had four children, three of whom were liv- ing at the time of his death: Mrs. James H. Heyl, Mrs. N. D. Monsarrat, and his son, John Grant Mitchell, Jr. One daughter, Mrs. E. B. Wall, had died a few months earlier.
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Millions the pond
William Shepard, M. D.
NE of the important institutions of Franklin County, Ohio, in fact, one of the best known of its kind in the State, is the Shepard Sanitarium, which for the past sixty years has proved a great boon to suffering hu- manity and carried the name of its founder, Dr. William Shepard, all over the country, placing him in the front rank of the eminent medical men of the United States, which high posi- tion he has continued to hold for more than half a century, during which time his services have proved an inestimable blessing to thousands of humanity suffering from the multiform ills to which mortals are heir. The phenomenal growth of this famous insti- tution from a modest beginning to a prominent place, has been due to the untiring efforts and extraordinary medical skill and business ability of its founder. Pious, just, humane, temperate and sincere; uniform, kind, obliging, yet firm, with proper dignity and fortitude, his example has been as edifying to all around him as the effects of that example have been lasting.
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