USA > Ohio > Representative men of Ohio, 1900-1903 > Part 15
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Young Hypes was educated in the public schools of Xenia, under Prof. Geo. S. Ormsby, and graduated from the high school of that place in the class of 1879. In 1879 he became associated in the hat business at Xenia with Captain Nelson A. Fulton, re- moving to Springfield in 1883, where shortly afterward he began business on his own account, and has ever since been actively identified with the business interests of that city. He has served officially with the Board of Trade and Commercial Club, is a director of the Y. M. C. A. and President of the Board of Trus- tees of the Clark County Children's Home. Mr. Hypes hails from Whig-Republican ancestry, his own Republican affiliation and service beginning before he had reached the voting age. With him Republicanism is a living issue. He believes not only in talking Republican doctrine, but in placing it into practical oper- ation by assisting to arouse a voting interest among his people. In the fall of 1901 he was elected a member of the 75th Gen- eral Assembly, and represented Clarke County in a vigorous, business-like way. He was Chairman of the Committee on Pub- lic Buildings and Lands, a member of the Insurance Committee, and Secretary of the Taxation Committee that formulated and made into laws the important taxation legislation of that assem- bly. At the extraordinary session Mr. Hypes was appointed by Speaker Mckinnon a member of the Special Code Committee to
HON. ORAN F. HYPES.
HON. EDWIN HAGENBUCH.
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report a municipal code to the House. His services were of the most satisfactory character to the people, and he had the confidence and good will of his colleagues in a remarkable degree.
In 1889 Mr. Hypes was married to Miss Jessie B. Johnson, of Springfield, and they have two children, Dorothy and Douglas. He has long been a member of the Masonic fraternity-Past Master Anthony Lodge No. 455, F. & A. M., Past T. I. M. Springfield Council No. 17, R. & A. M. and Past Eminent Com- mander Palestine Commandery No. 33, Knights Templar.
Hon. Edwin Hagenbuch.
Among the men who impressed their vigorous and splendid personality on the legislation of the Seventy-fifth General As- sembly, Hon. Edwin Hagenbuch, of Champaign county, Ohio, can justly be claimed to stand pre-eminent. He was Chairman of the House Committee on Railroads and Telegraphs, as well as a member of the House Committees on Public Lands and Build- ings and the Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphans' Home. In the or- ganization of the House he was the choice of many of his repub- lican colleagues for Chairman of the Committee on Finance, but out of a strong personal friendship for speaker Mckinnon, and in the interest of party harmony he accepted second place on that important committee, where he rendered conspicuous and valu- able service throughout the session. Governor Nash named Mr. Hagenbuch as one of the St. Louis Exposition Commissioners.
Hon. Edwin Hagenbuch was born in Salem township, Cham- paign county, May 8, 1850, and received his education in the common schools of the county and city of Urbana, in which city he has resided for a number of years. He is largely engaged in farming, and among the best known agriculturalists in that section. He has always been an earnest, active Republican, and served four years in the City Council of Urbana, being presi- dent of that body in 1898. In the fall of 1899 he was nominated and elected Representative from Champaign county, and two years later chosen for a second term. His father, Henry Hagen- buch, was one of the most active and successful business men
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of the county, and was engaged in merchandise, manufacturing and farming. His mother, Martha J., was a daughter of James. Long, a prominent farmer of Salem township.
In 1880 Mr. Hagenbuch was married to Miss Nellie How- ard, of Urbana, and two sons were born of the union, George Edwin, who is attending Ohio State University, and Frank, in school at Urbana. He has been an active Freemason since 1877, presiding over his Lodge, Chapter, Council and Commandery. He was appointed Grand Secretary of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of the State of Ohio in April, 1899, and has been re-elected each year since, holding that important office at the present time.
In both Houses of which Mr. Hagenbuch was a member he was one of the determining factors, and his voice and his oath were always to be found on the side of the people. But few men possessed more friends and his record as a legislator was one of which neither his consituents or himself ever need be ashamed. Champaign county has had no abler Representative in either branch of the General Assembly.
Hon. George W. Hays.
The only colored man in the Seventy-Fifth General Assem- bly, was Hon. George W. Hays, of Cincinnati, and by his quiet demeanor and close attention to the business of the House where he was Chairman of the Blind School Committee made a wide circle of friends, who recognized in him a man of much moral and mental fibre, fully abreast of the times and a safe and careful legislator.
Hon. George W. Hays is the youngest son of Joshua and Anna Hays. His father was a creole and Anna Hays was the daughter of an Indian Spuaw and a colored man. There were seven children, five boys and two girls, the subject of this sketch having been born in Louisiana in 1847. The mother being a slave, made all of the children slaves. Mrs. Hays is the daughter of Elijah Forte and Amy A. Watson, whose father was an original African and fine mechanic. He worked at his business
IION. GEORGE W. HAYS.
HON. HOMER N. KIMBALL.
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at what is now Third and Elm streets, Cincinnati, and owned all of the cornfields that now form the business block in the heart of Cincinnati, bounded by Third, Elm, Fourth and Race streets. This was in 1820. Her grand parents were Griffin T. Watson, white, and Harriet Gregory, colored. They were married in 1838.
Mr. Hays secured his education in the public schools of Cin- cinnati and Cleveland, serving with distinguished credit for three years in the war of the rebellion. His character has been such that he has been frequently placed in positions of honor and trust. The record showing that for twelve years he was a mem- ber of the board of trustees of the State School for the Blind; for fifteen years trustee of the Colored Orphan Asylum in Cin- cinnati. He has also been actively allied with Church work being trustee of Union Baptist Church, Cincinnati, 30 years, and super- intendent of Union Baptist Sunday School for 25 years. For a long time he has been United States Court crier, in Cincinnati, serving under both Judge Sage and Thompson. He has always been an active force in Republican politics, and his nomination and election as a member of the House from Hamilton County, came as a reward for years of party service and loyalty. Mr. Hays has for years been a member of the Odd Fellow and Masonic fraternities.
He was married July 15, 1874, to Miss Mamie L. Fort, of Cincinnati, and they have had five children - Ernest, George W., Amy L., Griffin and Eva C. Hays. The family reside at 1009 Rittenhouse street, Cincinnati. In every relation of life Mr. Hays has proven his worthiness, and the good opinion of his friends has never been misplaced.
Hon. Homer N. Kimball.
The historic Western Reserve had a stalwart and splendid representative in the Seventy-fifth General Assembly in the person of Hon. H. N. Kimball, of Lake County, who is serving his first term in the House from the joint Geauga-Lake representative district, as the successor of Hon. A. G. Reynolds, of Lake, who was Speaker of the Seventy-fourth General Assembly. For 11
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a new member Mr. Kimball took an advanced position in legis- lative duties and on the floor of the House and in the committee rooms he exerted a wide influence. The Kimball family is one of the oldest in the Western Reserve, coming west ninety years ago and living on the same farm continuously. They came from New Hampshire, and the whole family, fathers and mothers, are of New England birth and training, and those of every branch have descended from Revolutionary stock.
Hon. Homer Nash Kimball was born in Madison, Lake County, Ohio, October II, 1867. He was educated in the high school at Madison, and graduated from Oberlin College in 1890. He is superintendent of schools at Madison, where his excellent management and scholastic attainments have contributed much to make them the best in that part of the State. He is unmarried.
Representative Kimball, born and raised on the Western Re- serve, is of course a Republican in politics. His father and grand- father were among the staunch adherents of that faith in a sec- tion that has always been known as the Gibraltar of Republicanism in Ohio. Being busily engaged in his duties as school teacher, Mr. Kimball has had but little time to work in politics, but at the urgent request of his home people he has served as councilman, clerk and mayor of Madison. In 1901 he was nominated and elected Representative from the joint Geauga-Lake district by an overwhelming vote. In the Seventy-fifth General Assembly Rep- resentative Kimball served as chairman of the House Committee on Universities and Colleges, and he was also a member of other important committees, where his experience and knowledge were at the service of the State. The record shows that he was constant in his attendance upon the House, one of the aggressive speakers on subjects of interest to the people and always to be found on the right side of every question. He is yet a young man, but has already given evidence of possessing a grasp on economic, finan- cial and social questions that will serve him well in other fields. The people of the Western Reserve are strongly represented in Hon. H. N. Kimball, of Lake.
HON. CHARLES F. SEESE.
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REPRESENTATIVE MEN OF OHIO.
Hon. Charles F. Seese.
One of the notable acts of the 75th General Assembly was the law establishing State Normal Schools at Athens and Oxford, under the fostering care and maintenance of the commonwealth. The act was an innovation in the educational record of the state and placed Ohio in line with the progressive colleagues in the Union. The author of the bill was Hon. Charles F. Seese a member of the House from Summit County, and Chairman of the Committee on Common Schools.
Mr. Seese who has spent his life in the care of education and is to-day known as one of the most advanced in his chosen profession, is of German ancestry, both on his father's and his mother's side. He was born in Tuscarawas County, December 21, 1858 and received his education in the common schools of his section, select private schools and National Normal Univer- sity. After graduating he began the noble profession of teaching and is now so engaged at Hudson, Summit County. His father was one of the leading men in his part of the state and during the late war of the Rebellion tried to enlist in the service of his country, but got no further south than Camp Chase, Columbus, where he was rejected for physical disability.
On the 29th of August, 1881, Mr. Seese was married to Miss Luella May Cummins, and five sons have been the result of this union, Arthur R. (died in infancy), Clarence R., Ralph V., Edgar R. and Dwight Fremont Seese. The subject of this sketch has always been a Republican, and at different times has been township clerk, county school examiner for four consecutive terms of three years each ; superintendent of the public schools at Hudson, Ohio, for eleven years, and member of the 74th and 75th General Assemblies. During his two terms of service as legislator he was known as one of the effective men of the House, both on the floor and in the committee rooms, and left his impress- ion on much of the legislation enacted by these Assemblies. He was particularly active along the lines of educational work and was one of the staunchest friends of the Ohio public school system doing all in his power for the enlargement of its scope of usefulness.
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Hon. Clyde R. Painter.
The young man is an important factor in politics and in every campaign he must be reckoned with. The Seventy-fifth General Assembly had a large representation of the vigorous youth of the State, and in the seat, Hon. Clyde R. Painter, of Wood, was conspicuous for his work along the lines of general legislation. It is not too much to say that he was among the leaders of the Republican majority, and his experience and good judgment were often sought. As Chairman of the House Com- mittee on Judiciary he had much important work to do, and the record shows that he did it well. He was also a member of the House Committee of 23 having in charge the Municipal Code at the special session 1902, and Chairman of the Republican Standing Caucus.
Representative Painter was also actively identified with the canal system of the State, and his bill providing for the aband- onment and sale of a portion of the Ohio canal system, was one of the important measures discussed and disposed of by the late General Assembly. In the debates incident to the enactment of the Willis tax bill and kindred taxation measures, Mr. Painter took an active part.
Hon. Clyde R. Painter is a product of Wood county, born in Bloom township, Wood County, near Bloomdale, February ยท 10, 1866, and where he has always resided. His mother was of Scotch-Irish extraction. His father was of German parentage.
He was admitted to the bar after a most thorough prepara- tion at Ohio Normal University at Ada and Ohio State Univer- sity, and has since been continuously engaged in the practice of his profession in Wood and surrounding counties. He has always been a staunch Republican, but with the exception of two terms as a member of the Ohio General Assembly he has never held any public office. It is needless to say that Representative Painter is a Republican, and in every campaign since he has reached his majority has been a potent force in advocating the doctrines of his favorite party. He is unmarried.
Representative Painter is a sample of the wide-awake and energetic Republicans who have redeemed northwestern Ohio from Democratic rule, and to judge from the success that has so
HON. CLYDE E. PAINTER.
HON. GEORGE T. THOMAS.
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REPRESENTATIVE MEN OF OHIO.
far attended his public life, the people of his county and district have still further honors in store for him.
Hon. George T. Thomas.
The historic Firelands of Ohio had an able and popular mem- ber of the General Assembly in the person of Hon. George T. Thomas, of Huron County, who stood well up among the promi- nent men of that body, and was chairman of the House Committee on Federal Relations that had charge of the Congressional re- districting bill.
Hon. George T. Thomas descended, on his father's side, from English or Welsh stock, and on his mother's, from Scotch- Irish. He was born on his father's farm near Greenwich, Huron County, September 11, 1856, the son of Uri B. Thomas and Ellen McOmber Thomas, his father still surviving, at the age of eighty- four years. The mother died in March, 1861. Young Thomas was reared upon a farm and had to work, as many other country boys of his time. At the age of fourteen he entered Oberlin College, and in turn attended school at Buchtel College, Green- wich, and Berea. During 1875-80 Mr. Thomas taught in the dis- trict schools of Huron County, and in 1882 began the study of law with Skiles & Skiles, of Shelby, conducting the branch office of the firm at Greenwich. He was admitted to the bar in 1886, when he entered into a partnership with Joseph R. McKnight. The firm opened a law office at Norwalk, the partnership con- tinuing until Mr. Thomas was elected Probate Judge of Huron County in 1890. After he had served two terms the partnership was resumed and continues to this time.
Hon. Geo. T. Thomas has always been a Republican. He was Mayor of Greenwich one term; two terms Clerk of the township; member of Greenwich Board of Education and its Treasurer ; Probate Judge of Huron county two terms, serving from 1891 to 1897; elected a member of the Seventy-fourth and Seventy-fifth General Assemblies. He was prominently men- tioned as the candidate for Speaker of the Seventy-fifth Gen- eral Assembly, but withdrew in favor of Hon. W. S. Mckinnon,
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who was elected. In the Seventy-fourth General Assembly, he was a member of the committee on Judiciary and of the Cimmit- tee on the Hospital for Epileptics and Chairman of the Committee on Universities and Colleges. In the Seventy-fifth General As- sembly, Mr. Thomas was Chairman of the Committe on Fed- eral Relations that had charge of the bills introduced to re- district this State for congressional purposes and he was a prom- inent member of the important Committee on Taxation and the Committee on the Soldiers' and Sailors' Home. He was also a member of the House Committee of 23, having the Munici- pal Code in charge at the special session 1902.
Mr. Thomas was married April 10, 1880, to Miss Emma J. Miller, daughter of John and Sarah Miller, an English family who came from England and settled in Fairfield township, Hu- ron county, Ohio, in 1849. Miss Emma J. Miller, his wife, was born in Huron county. They have a son, Alton O. Thomas, who is a graduate of Buchtel College, Akron, Ohio. Mr. Thomas has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for over twenty years. He was for three years District Deputy Installing Officer for Huron county between the years 1880-1885. He was elected a representative to the Grand Lodge of Odd Fellows of Ohio from his district and served for one term, 1884 to 1886, declining a re-election. He is at present a representative in the Grand Encampment of Ohio, I. O. O. F., representing Encampment District No. 41. He is also a Past Counsellor of Forest Lodge No. 145, Knights of Pythias of Nor- walk, and a member of Norwalk Lodge No. 730 of the Lodge of Elks.
He was Chairman of the Republican Executive Commit- tee of Huron county, 1894-5-6, and is now President of the Young Men's Republican Club of Norwalk. He has often been a delegate to county, congressional and State conventions, and at the recent State convention placed Hon. L. C. Laylin in nom- ination for Secretary of Sta te for a second term. He has taken part in the campaigns of Huron county as a speaker upon political questions for a number of years, has, upon frequent occasions, de- livered addresses of a patriotic character on Decoration Day, 4th of July, and for the Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias. Mr. Thomas was selected upon the behalf of the Republicans of the
HON. W. I. TENNEY.
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House of the Seventy-fifth General Assembly to deliver the ad- dress in behalf of the Republicans in the Mckinley memorial exercises at the joint memorial meeting of the House and Senate.
Hon. Washington I. Tenney.
Miami County has always been worthily represented in the Ohio General Assembly, and the present member, Hon. Wash- ington I. Tenney, of Troy, is no exception to the high-class offi- cials sent by the people of that section to represent them in the halls of lgislation. Mr. Tenney is a native of Montgomery County, Ohio, where he was born May 3, 1833. His education was secured in the common schools of that county, except one winter spent in Columbus, where he attended the high school of which Asa D. Lord was superintendent.
Representative Tenney has always been a stalwart Repub- lican and cast his first vote for General John C. Freemont for President, in 1856, believing in the policies and principles of the party from its birth. He entered the service of his country for one hundred days, as a member of Company D, One Hundred and Forty-seventh Regiment, O. V. I., stationed at Fort Ethan Allen. He was also with his command at Fort Stevens, when General Jubal Early undertook to capture the city of Washington.
In Miami County he has on several occasions been honored by his fellow-citizens. He was a member of the Agricultural Board and its Secretary for twenty-five years, member of the Troy Board of Education nine years, and County Auditor two terms. In 1902 he was elected a member of the House, and served with credit as Chairman of the Committee on Turnpikes, and as a member of other important committees. His record as a member of the House showed a diligent and industrious member, always on the side of the people and always caring for their wants.
Mr. Tenney's father, Dr. Eli Tenney, born in 1809, was an al- lopathic physician, a member of the Ohio Legislature in 1856, and County Auditor one term. He died suddenly in office September 15, 1873. His mother, Margaret A. Hatcher Tenney, was born in Virginia in 1809, came to Ohio with her parents early in life,
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and was married in 1830. Seven children were born of this union, four girls and three boys. The sisters are all dead.
In 1858 Representative Tenney married Jennie C. Kelly and to them were born eight children, five boys and three girls, all of whom are living save one daughter, who died in 1891. Mrs. Tenney passed away May 21, 1901, beloved by all who knew her. Mr. Tenney is an honored member of the Grand Army of the Republic.
Mr. Tenney is now superintending his large farm. For twenty years he was a teacher of high repute in his county. He is a sturdy, manly man, of excellent judgment, and one whom it is a pleasure and delight to know. In all the relations of life he has been true to himself and his friends, and his record is one of which his children may feel proud.
Hon. Frank B. Willis.
The important position in the management of State and National affairs now being occupied by what is known as the young man in politics, is shown by the record made by Hon. Frank B. Willis, of Hardin. Although but 31 years of age, he is already well-known throughout the state, and during the recent session of the Seventy-fifth General Assembly, the attention of the commonwealth and the Country as well, was drawn to a tax bill bearing his name, that revolutionized the whole theory of taxation, and placed the burdens thereof on other shoulders. The whole battalion of opposition to the enactment of tax laws was centered on the Willis law that compelled home and foreign corporations to pay a certain per cent of their capital stock into the State Treasury. No more eloquent or able advocate in de- fense of this measure was to be heard in either branch of the General Assembly, and "Willis of Hardin" will go down into history as the author of a tax law that began a new era in the history of Ohio.
Hon. Frank B. Willis was born in Lewis Center, Delaware County, Ohio, December 28, 1871. After passing through the district and high schools at Galena, he entered Ohio Normal
HON. FRANK B. WILLIS.
HON. CHARLES F. WILLIAMS.
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REPRESENTATIVE MEN OF OHIO.
University at Ada in 1890, graduating therefrom in 1893, when he accepted the professorship of the chair of Political Economy, Civil Government, United States History and Geometry. In 1890 he first appeared as a student of politics and in 1894 entered the field as a public speaker. Two years later he stumped Ohio in behalf of Mckinley's election. In 1899 he was nominated and elected a member of the Seventy-fourth General Assembly, carrying that close county, Hardin, by a good majority, and two years later was re-elected by an increased figure. In the latter House he was elected Chairman of the Committee on Insurance and a member of the Committee on Taxation, having in charge the various tax reform measures, and took an important part in all debates. He was also Vice Chairman, or Chairman pro tem., of the House Committee of twenty-three chosen to formulate a Municipal Code for the government of Ohio.
In 1894 he was married to Miss Allie Dustin, a daughter of John H. Dustin, and they have one child, a daughter, Helen. In July 1897, he was named by Governor Bushnell a member of the International Gold Mining Commission that met in December that year.
A clean, approachable man, enthusiastic in defense of what he believes to be right, Hon. Frank B. Willis, of Hardin, belongs to that class of young Republicans of which his party and his friends have a right to expect much in the future.
Hon. Charles F. Williams.
Among the young men in the Seventy-fifth General Assembly, few took a higher place than the subject of this sketch. He was a member of several important committees, and a recognized leader in the Hamilton County delegation. Always alert and forceful, he made a splendid record.
Charles F. Williams is a native of Hamilton County, born at Mt. Adams, April 23, 1873. He received an excellent edu- cation and studied law, being admitted to the bar and he is now actively engaged in the practice of his profession. Since reaching his majority he has been actively engaged in Republican politics,
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