USA > Ohio > Representative citizens of Ohio : memorial-genealogical > Part 6
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Dr. Shepard was born on the old Shepard farm near Canan- daigua, New York, November 25, 1825, though he is of Massa- chusetts parentage and the scion of sterling old New England stock. He is the son of Charles and Abigail (Day) Shepard, of · ancient Puritan stock. William Shepard, the great grandfather of the subject, was an officer in the Revolutionary War, and also served in the French and Indian wars that preceded it. He was also a member of Congress, and a member of the Society of the Cincinnati. It was for him that the subject of this sketch was named. He was a native of Massachusetts and was of Scotch- Irish extraction. His father, John Shepard, settled in Massa- chusetts in a very early period of America's history. Other early
William Shepard members of the family located in Virginia.
devoted his life to farming. He became a close personal friend of George Washington, with whom he was associated in Masonry, and under whom he served as colonel of an infantry regiment during our war for independence. After that war had terminated he became a general in the Massachusetts militia, and was the leading commander at the time of Shay's rebellion. He received a letter of congratulation on his gallant conduct from General Washington at the time of his promotion to the commission of
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William Shepard, M. D.
colonel. This letter became the property of Dr. William Shepard, of this sketch, who finally presented it to the Massachusetts His- torical Society. His death occurred in Massachusetts at the age of eighty-two years. His son, Charles Shepard, grandfather of the subject, was a farmer and spent his life in Massachusetts; his wife, a Miss Taylor, was also a native of that State. They lived at Chester Factories, the name of which place has since been changed. After his death she married again, but spent the rest of her life in Massachusetts. To Charles Shepard and wife were born two sons and three daughters, their youngest son being Charles Shep- ard, father of the doctor. He was born on a farm at Chester Factories, Massachusetts, in 1795. When about twenty-one years of age he walked to Canandaigua, New York, a distance of three hundred miles, to join his uncle, a surveyor and peace commis- sioner to the Indians in Oneida County, New York, and the man that surveyed the Genesee Valley about 1816. After joining his uncle, Charles Shepard worked on the former's farm, which he later purchased, and eventually became one of the leading citizens of that locality, in point of wealth and influence. He married Abigail Day at Moravia, New York, where the Day family has been prominent for a number of generations. She was also of Scotch-Irish extraction. Charles Shepard continued to operate his farm successfully and on an extensive scale until his death, in 1867, at the age of seventy-two years, his wife having preceded him to the grave. Politically, he was a Whig and was prominent in local politics. To Charles Shepard and wife were born four children, namely: William, of this sketch; Charles Edward, who remained on the old farm and died there; Margaret S., who mar- ried Austin Gunnison, is deceased; Franklin Day also remained on the homestead in New York and died there.
Dr. William Shepard grew to manhood on the home farm and there assisted with the general work when a boy, and there laid the foundation for the robust manhood that was subsequently his and resulted, no doubt, in no small measure in an unusually long life and a hale old age. He received his early education in the district schools and the Canandaigua Academy. He worked on his father's farm until the age of twenty-four. About that time, being in temporary ill health, he went to Rochester, New York, to take a "water cure," and after remaining there a few months he was induced by old Dr. Halstead to take up the study of medicine. It was while in the sanitarium there that he be- came acquainted with Charlotte E. Rose, a daughter of Helen Rose, of Granville, Ohio, she having also been a "water cure" patient at Rochester at the time the subject was there. A friend-
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William Shepard, M. D.
ship sprung up between the young couple, and they were married in 1852. She was of excellent Puritan stock, and her father was one of the original company that came from Granville, Massa- chusetts, and settled at and founded Granville, Ohio. Mrs. Shep- ard's death occurred in 1887. She was a lady much loved and respected by all who knew her. This union was without issue.
Being a great admirer of old Dr. Halstead, young Shepard decided to take his advice and enter the medical profession; how- ever, he did not have much ambition at that time to practice, merely taking up the study to develop himself mentally and give him some degree of culture. After spending three years under Dr. Halstead, during which time he attended lectures in the Med- ical College at Rochester, he entered the Eclectic Medical College at Cincinnati, Ohio, where he made a splendid record and from which institution he was graduated in February, 1853. He lo- cated at once at what is now Shepard, Ohio, then an unsettled part of Mifflin Township, Franklin County, and leased the land and the old hotel in which he started a sanitarium, or, as it was then called, "water cure." This was one of three institutions of this kind then in Ohio, one of the others was located at Cleveland, and the other at Cincinnati. He at once did away, in a measure, with the shower bath, sitz bath, etc., and conducted his treatments along more original lines, nor did he depend entirely on medicines. He was fortunately the possessor, by nature, of a very strong personal magnetism, and he put his own virile, forceful person- ality into his work, and the electricity from his own strong, healthy body was transferred to the patient, by massage, etc .; but it must not be understood that Dr. Shepard practiced entirely with- out the use of medicines. He always was a man of remarkable intuition of the physical condition of his patient. He could al- most invariably decide upon entering the sick room what course was best to pursue, and his first judgment rarely failed him. His patients often said that they could feel the benefit of his magne- tism as soon as he came near them, and soon his fame spread over Franklin and adjoining counties, then throughout the State, and penetrated other States, and thus, from a modest beginning, the Shepard Sanitarium, just east of the city of Columbus, grew to be one of the largest of its kind in central Ohio, in fact, has been the leading sanitarium throughout this section of the State for over a half century. During the many years that it has been in existence thousands of patients have made it their temporary home; all have been greatly benefited and most of them completely restored to health and vigor of both body and mind. From time to time he added new and improved appliances, having kept well
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William Shepard, Al. D.
abreast of the times in all that pertained to his calling, and he made everything as pleasant and helpful to his patients as pos- sible, and he is held in universal respect and esteem by those who have come in contact with him, whether under his treat- ment or in other relations of life.
In 1903, Dr. Shepard sold his interest in the old sanitarium to a company of which Dr. W. E. Pastel was a member, and who later took over the entire interest and operates it at this writing.
The station, postoffice, and the town of Shepard were named in honor of the subject. He is now leading a quiet life, being now at the advanced age of eighty-seven years, but still hale and hearty, the possessor of his faculties to a remarkable degree. He is a man of great self-respect, but little self-esteem, having always been a plain, unassuming, honest and genteel gentleman. A man less ethical, possessing his wonderful personal magnetism and winning presence, could have amassed a fortune, by an unprofessional or quack practice. However, Dr. Shepard always upheld the dignity of his profession. Among other instances may be mentioned the
exactness with which his instructions were carried out. When he prescribes a walk of one-fourth mile it meant just that, the same of a foot bath, etc. He had a remarkable insight into hu- man nature, could read character at a glance and knew his pa- tients' limitations and powers to a wonderful degree, and when they followed his instructions they soon found themselves on the high road to health and happiness. After conducting the sani- tarium, the Columbus Water Cure and Medical Infirmary, as it was then called for a few years, he bought the property and re- modeled the buildings, from time to time, adding something new and utilitarian as well as attractive. In his earlier years here, the young doctor's health again broke down. He then spent one day each week in the open, hunting, fishing, etc. Often after his return from a day's outing in the woods he would dig up a young tree and replant it around his village, not being particular whether it was on his own land or not. He was a great lover of trees from early life. He talks of them almost as if they were living beings. When he located and bought what is now Shepard, it was per- fectly bare, now it is noted for its beautiful trees, and they were all planted by the hands of Dr. Shepard. Elms and maples are his favorites. One's soul cannot be far wrong that gets so near to the handiwork of God.
In 1894, the McMillen Sanitarium was started at the town of Shepard, which Dr. William Shepard financed. Dr. Bishop McMillen looked after the professional part, and in 1900, Dr. R. A. Kidd became associated with Drs. Shepard and McMillen in
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William Shepard, M. D.
the medical conduct of the institution, and he became manager of the same upon the death of Dr. McMillen in November, 1911, since which time, however, Dr. Shepard has taken a more active part in the institution, and he is still, as of old, a standing and reliable part of this very successful institution and the high repu- tation of the same has been maintained, hundreds finding here, constantly, relief from all forms of insanity, mental, nerve, drug, and liquor habits.
Although always a busy man in his profession, Dr. Shepard has never neglected his duties as a citizen, and in 1885 he was elected to the Ohio General Assembly, serving in 1886-87 in a man- ner that reflected much credit upon himself and to the eminent satisfaction of all concerned. He was a candidate for Congress against J. H. Outhwaite, and made a brilliant race, but was de- feated, as the district was largely Democratic and Dr. Shepard cut the majority down from 3,500 to 2,500. The doctor has served as trustee of the children's home.
Dr. Shepard founded the Alum Creek Ice Company and the Gahanna Flouring Mills, both of which proved to be very paying ventures. He has also been interested in other enterprises and has become one of the financially strong men of central Ohio. He has always shown great liberality and large public spirit and is charitably inclined, giving away much of his earnings to laudable movements and to those in need, but he has amassed a fine compe- tence. Religiously, he was reared in the Congregational Church, but later identified himself with the Universalists. He built the first hotel at Buckeye Lake. Something of his popularity is seen from the fact that he was elected representative from Franklin County by over thirteen hundred majority, and he and his col- league, H. C. Taylor, were the first Republicans who had thus been honored in the county for twenty-five years. He will have the lasting thanks of all in his section of the county for helping improve and beautify it, and he is recognized by all as a useful man of business as well as a successful one. He is a Mason, as was his Revolutionary progenitor for whom he was named, and identified himself with this order in 1856. He has passed through all the degrees, including the thirty-third, being one of the best known members of the order at Columbus, Ohio. He took the highest degree in Masonry at Boston, Massachusetts, in 1885. He is a charter member of the Ohio Eclectic Medical Association, the only one now living. He is a member of the National Eclectic Medical Society, and the Central Eclectic Medical Society. He is a forceful, versatile and convincing writer and has been a fre-
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William Shepard, A. D.
quent contributor to medical journals, his articles always being well received.
Dr. Shepard provided the community at Gahanna, Ohio, with a good public library and reading room, including all the adjuncts for such an institution. This he has endowed, so that it can be a source of good for coming generations. He bought Fort Hill in 1890. This is at his birth place, Canandaigua, New York, and he gave it to that city for a park. In these and many other un- pretentious ways, Dr. Shepard has proven himself a wise and generous steward of the material blessings with which he has become the possessor through a long, strenuous, honorable, and useful life, and the gratitude of those benefited will be long and lasting as the good accomplished.
John Orson Johnston
UMAN life," says a distinguished writer, "is like the waves of the sea. They flash a few brief moments in the sunlight, marvels of power and beauty, and then are dashed upon the remorseless shores of death and disappear forever. As the mighty deep has rolled for ages past and chanted its sublime requiem and will continue to roll during the coming ages until time shall be no more, so will the waves of human life follow each other in countless succession until they mingle at last with the billows of eternity's boundless sea."
The passing of any human life, however humble and un- known, is sure to give rise to a pang of anguish in some heart, but when the fell destroyer knocks audibly at the door of the useful and great and removes from earthly scenes the man of honor and influence and the benefactor of his kind, it not only means bereavement to kindred and friends, but a public calamity as well. In the largest and best sense of the term, John Orson Johnston, of Columbus, Ohio, was distinctively one of the notable men of his day and generation, and as such is entitled to a con- spicuous place in the annals of his city, county, and State. As a citizen he was public spirited and enterprising to an unwonted degree; as a friend and neighbor he combined the qualities of head and heart that won confidence and commanded respect, while as a business man he possessed extraordinary executive and administrative ability.
To acquire distinction or great prosperity in the business pur- suits which give to the country its financial strength and credit, requires ability of as high if not higher order than that which leads to victory on the field of battle. This fact is apparent to all who tread the busy thoroughfares of trade. Ordinarily, merit may attain a respectable position and enjoy a moderate compe- tence, but to spring from the common walks of life to the first place of monetary credit and power can only be the fortune of a rarely gifted personage. Eminent business talent is composed of a combination of high mental and moral attributes. It is not simple energy and industry; there must be sound judgment, breadth of capacity, rapidity of thought, justice and firmness, the foresight to perceive the course of the drifting tides of business and the will and ability to control them, and, withal, a collection of minor but important qualities to regulate the details of the
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John Orson Johnston
pursuits which engage attention. The subject of this memoir affords an exemplification of this talent and in the theater of his operations he achieved a reputation which placed him among the first of Ohio's distinguished business men.
Jolin O. Johnston was born at Independence, Allegany County, New York, on May 17, 1853, and was descended from a sterling line of ancestry, members of the family, in both the pa- ternal and maternal lines, having distinguished themselves as patriots in the American war for independence. Scotch blood flowed in his ancestors' veins, which doubtless accounts to some extent for the sterling integrity and rugged honesty which char- acterized him. The paternal great-grandfather, Samuel John- ston, Sr., and the grandfather, Samuel Johnston, Jr., were na- tives of New York State, and one or both of them were soldiers in the Revolutionary War. They afterwards moved to New Jer- sey, and there Samuel Johnston, Sr., married. Most of the early members of the Johnston family lived in New Jersey, subsequently moving to the State of New York, where they lived to advanced years and died. The wife of Samuel Johnston, Jr., bore the maiden name of Susanna Teeter, and she was the daughter of Elias Teeter, who, with two brothers, was a soldier in the war of the Revolution. Samuel and Susanna Johnston were characterized by fine Chris- tian qualities, he being a Methodist and she a Presbyterian in their religious beliefs. They were the parents of nine children, five sons and four daughters, all of whom are now deceased, but their son Samuel, third, father of the immediate subject of this sketch. Samuel Johnston, third, now makes his home with his daughter-in-law, Mrs. John O. Johnston, in Columbus. He will be eighty-six years old if he survives until February 13, 1913, but, despite his years, he is in possession of all his faculties to a remark- able degree except his hearing. He and his younger sister were born in Independence, New York, the other brothers and sisters being born in New Jersey. He spent most of his life in active business pursuits, but has been retired for a number of years. He married, in Livingston County, New York, Jerusha Ann Moore, a native of that county, born in 1823, whose death occurred in Pot- ter County, Pennsylvania, August, 1898. Her maternal grand- father was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and it is thus seen that John O. Johnston was triply eligible to his membership in the Sons of the Revolution, an unusual condition.
John O. Johnston was the younger of two brothers, the other, Jerome, who never married, having died at the age of thirty-three years. The subject was educated in the public schools of New York and Pennsylvania, receiving a fair education. He liberally
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John Orson Johnston
supplemented this during his subsequent years by much reading and habits of close observation, so that he possessed a large fund of general and specific knowledge. For a number of years during his young manhood he engaged in the mercantile business, in which he exhibited those qualities which insured his later success. He moved to Duke Center, Mckean County, Pennsylvania, be- fore he was twenty-four years old, drawn thither by the exploita- tion of the oil fields, which were then being opened up there, and besides running a store he became directly interested in the oil business. Taking up contracting, he soon met with pronounced success and became known as an expert in that field of effort, in which he operated for years. About this time he became identi- fied with the natural gas fields of Ohio, and he sunk the first successful gas well at Delaware, this State. Later took a promi- nent part in the opening of the Thurston gas field in Fairfield County, this State, from which field the first gas was piped into Columbus. Here Mr. Johnston demonstrated those remarkable qualities of foresight, initiative and execution which were so rarely combined in him, and which marked him for leadership in the great work which he eventually consummated. He organ- ized, in connection with John G. Deshler, H. D. Turney, George W. Sinks, and others, the Central Ohio Gas and Fuel Company in 1890, which brought the first gas to the city. Of this com- pany, Mr. Johnston became vice president and general manager and the business was notably successful from the start. Mr. Johnston eventually became president of the company, retain- ing also its management. In the late nineties the same inter- ests came into control of the Columbus Gas Company, which had been manufacturing and furnishing artificial gas, and a holding company, the Columbus Gas Light and Heating Company, was formed, which owned the entire capital stock of both the underly- ing companies. Of this company Mr. Johnston was general man- ager from the start and eventually succeeded John G. Deshler as president.
In February, 1906, Mr. Johnston was instrumental in the formation of the Columbus Gas and Fuel Company, a $9,000,000 corporation that provided for the consolidation of the Central Ohio Company and the Columbus Gas Company, and of this com- pany he was elected its first president and general manager, re- taining these positions up to the time of his death, which occurred on Sunday morning, April 21, 1907. As an officer and manager of this company, Mr. Johnston fulfilled the expectations of those who elected him and it was the intention of the directors of the company to reëlect him at the annual election on May 1. Mr.
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Johnston was also vice president and general manager of the Deschutes Irrigation and Power Company, engaged in develop- ing Oregon lands, but had resigned those positions some time prior to his death, though still a member of the board of directors. He was a trustee of the American Coral Marble Company, owning large marble quarriers in Alaska, and in 1906, he had visited that northern country in the interests of the company.
Mr. Johnston applied himself closely and indefatigably to the performance of his multitudinous duties, giving little thought to his personal comfort, and eventually the continued strain told on him. About a year prior to his death he became ill and went to Europe for a rest. Coming home greatly improved, he plunged again into his work, but in the early spring of 1907, he was com- pelled to relinquish the active performance of his duties and he entered Grant hospital for special treatment, remaining there about five weeks. He returned home much improved and ap- peared to be gaining strength, but on April 21, while talking at the telephone, he was stricken and died before medical aid could be summoned. His death was a distinct shock to the entire com- munity and in all circles in which he had moved his loss was felt to be irreparable.
That Mr. Johnston was considered an expert of unusual ability in the special field to which he devoted his energies was demonstrated in the fact that during all the years of his connec- tion with the local gas companies he was elected and served as the active manager of the properties, and to him more than any other one person is due the success which attended these organiza- tions. He was a builder in every sense of the word and the repre- sentative business men of Columbus had implicit confidence in his judgment and ability. Outside of his home city he enjoyed a widespread reputation as one of the best gas experts in the coun- try, and his advice was frequently sought by others interested in the same line.
As a public-spirited citizen, Mr. Johnston was deeply inter- ested in the growth and prosperity of Columbus and as a member of the Board of Trade he was an important factor in its com- mercial life, giving freely of his time, and, when necessary, of his means, to the advancement of the highest and best interests of the community. He was intensely optimistic in temperament and knew no such word as "failure," his encouraging words and own example of activity being a constant incentive and inspira- tion to others.
Politically, Mr. Johnston was an ardent Republican, though his business affairs precluded his taking a very active part in
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public matters. Fraternally, he was a member of the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows and the Free and Accepted Masons. In the last-named order he had attained to the thirty-second de- gree of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, and he was also a member of the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He belonged to the Columbus Club, the Arlington Coun- try Club, and many other local business and social organizations.
Mrs. Johnston, who bore the maiden name of Ada J. Rowlee, was born at Southport, Chemung County, New York. She is the daughter of William and Mary (Bovier) Rowlee, the father a native of New York and the mother of Michigan. Mrs. Rowlee was the daughter of Noah Bovier, a native of New York State, who in early life became a surveyor and pioneer lumberman in southern Michigan. He later returned to Pennsylvania and died there in middle life. He had married Sarah G. Edsal, who sur- vived her husband some years, dying in Southport, New York, at the age of seventy-two years. She was descended from good old Dutch stock. William Rowlee spent most of his active life in Pennsylvania and his death occurred at Duke Center, that State, in 1891, at the age of fifty-two years. His widow now makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Johnston, and, though seventy-six years old, she enjoys remarkably good health. She is the mother of three children, two sons and a daughter, namely: Clarence M., of Lancaster, Ohio; Frank C., who lives in the West; and Mrs. Johnston. Mrs. Johnston was about four years old when her parents moved to Pennsylvania and in the public schools of that State she received her education. To Mr. and Mrs. Johnston were born three children, namely: Charles Orson, who is now in the West and a young man of wide experience; attended Kenyon and Columbia colleges; Jessie is the wife of James A. Boyd and they have three children, James O., Elizabeth Bovier, and Helen Pat- ridge; Helen D. is the wife of George A. Jones and they reside at Bend, Oregon. Mrs. Johnston is a lady of culture and intelli- gence, possessing those rare charms of person and manner which have made her a popular member of the social circles in which she moves.
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