USA > Ohio > The Biographical encyclopedia of Ohio of the nineteenth century. Pt. 1 > Part 20
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RRETT, ISAAC, A. M., was born in the city of New York, January 20, 1820. His father was a native of Aiklow, county of Wicklow, Ireland. His mother was a native of Portsmouth, England. During the Irish rebellion of 1798 his paternal grandfather was shot dead near his own home. Ilis parents were Protestants, and became identified with the Disciples in New York city as early as 1816, his father being a ruler and preacher in the original church in that place, and as early as 1811 wrote and published a work in defence of the principles now advocated by the Disciples. In 1825 his father died. In 1832 his mother, after a second marriage, moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. There young Errett was baptized, in his thirteenth year. At the age of ten he became dependent upon his own exertions for a living. Ile has a fine education, gathered in the midst of toil and care. His early life was one of checkered and interesting experience, and while laboring as farmer, miller, lumberman, editor, printer, bookseller and school teacher, one great object was ever before him : the augmentation of his stock of knowledge. Thus it was that he became one of the most refined and scholarly re- ligious editors of the day. In 18.10, at the early age of
[ twenty, he commenced his career as a preacher in the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He had the rare advantage of an intimate association with Thomas Campbell, Alex- ander Campbell, Walter Scott and other emily advocates and apostles of primitive Christianity in the West. Mr. Errett's ministerial labors have been divided between the work of an evangelist and that of a pastor. Through his evangelical and editorial labors he has become more widely known and his influence more largely diffused than is the case with any other living man in the connection. The history of his past forty years is largely the history of the progress and growth of the Church of the Disciples in the West. He was pastor of the church in Pittsburgh three years; New Lisbon, . Ohio, five years; North Bloomfield, Ohio, two years; Warren, Ohio, five years; Muir and Ionia, Michigan, eight years ; and Detroit, Michigan, two years. In 1851 he removed to Warren, Ohio, and there became Corresponding Secretary of the Ohio Christian Missionary Society. This position he filled for three years, and under him the society first became really active and successful, In 1856 he again removed his family to Ionia county, Michigan, and now again, on account of his rare executive ability, he was made Corresponding Secretary of the Amer- ican Christian Missionary Society. After three. years he resigned this position, but not until the society was ad- vanced to its highest state of prosperity. He was then chosen first Vice- President of the society, and was in fact for several years its presiding officer; and in 1866, after the death of Alexander Campbell, was elected sits President. This position he declined, and in the same year moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where he commenced the publication of the Christian Standard as editor-in-chief. In 1868 Mr. Errett accepted the Presidency of Alliance College, at Alliance, Ohio. This new institution, under his manage- ment and supervision, became very successful and estab- lished an enviable reputation. Finding that his residence at Alliance was interfering deeply with his publishing business, as well as his evangelical and editorial labors, he resigned his position in the college, and in 1869 removed to Cincinnati, where he now resides, giving his attention chiefly to the editing of the Christian Standard. This re- ligious journal has become very prosperous, and is now the most popular and widely circulated weekly under the patronage of the Disciples. After leaving Alliance College he was elected President of the Agricultural College in Kentucky University, at Lexington, and was also chosen to fill the chair of Biblical Literature in Bethany College, Bethany, Virginia. But these and all other such positions he was compelled to decline, on account of his increasing editorial labors. Ile is now President of the Foreign Christian Missionary Society. The most important of Mr. Errett's writings are " Debate on Spiritualism " (this debate lasted ten days and was carried on with Joel Tiffany, Esq.); " Walks about Jerusalem ; " " Talks to Bercans; " " Brief View of Christian Missions; " and the " First Principles
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of the Gospel." Sermons, essays and tracts on leading | She finally received only a part of a hogshead of molasses topies of the times have come from his pen in vast numbers. Ile is now engaged in writing a " Commentary on the Epistles to the Counthians." In 1807 Bethany College conferred on him the degree of Master of Arts. As a public speaker he has few superiors. His writings, like his sermons, are full of strong and rugged points. Ilis per- sonal appearance will be recognized as striking and prepos- sessing. Ile represents the advance and progressive ele- ments of life in the church. Over forty years in the advance certainly gives him rank as one of the first and most representative men in the Christian church. In :840 he was married to Harriet Reeder, of Pittsburgh, Pennsyl- vania, and has five sons and two daughters living.
ELLEW, WILLIAM, Merchant, was born in Glastenbury, Connecticut, February 11th, 1806, and is a lineal descendant of the Huguenots of France. Ilis maternal ancestors were of the old English Puritan stock, who emigrated to this country at an early day and settled at a place now known as Cromwell, near Middletown, Connecticut. In the cemetery near the latter town many generations of the family are buried. The genealogy of his father's family is as follows: Philip Sellew, the great-great grandfather of the subject of this biographical sketch, was a native of Bor- deaux, France, and was liberally educated for the Protes- tant ministry. In consequence of the revocation of the Edict of Nantes by Louis XIV., he came to America and settled near Boston, Massachusetts, then a wilderness, which he and his family braved for the freedom of worship- ping God without the fear of a Jesuit edict or a St. Barthol- omew massacre, and which eight weary and devastating wars, with a loss of nearly a million of lives, had failed to secure for them in their native country. Ile died in Har- wich, Barnstable county, May 15th, 1763, at the age of eighty five years. Ile had been a teacher of mathematics, navigation and the languages for more than fifty years. Very little is known of his wife, except that her name was Beriar. Of their several children, John Sellew, great- grandfather of William, was a captain of a vessel, and was married on September 20th, 1739, to Hannah Hamilton, who was born in England and came to this country in con- sequence of Cromwell's usurpation, and settled in Boston. Thomas, the eklest son of John Sellew, was born September 22d, 1740. Philip, the second son, was born at Martha's Vineyard, August ist, 1743. John, the third son, was born August 14th, 1745. Soon after his birth his mother, Han- nah, received the sad intelligence of the death of her hus- band, Captain John Sellew, who had died July 20, 1745, while on his voyage, and her presence was required at Boston to settle his estate. As he was a part owner of the vessel, she went on board the ship. A storm drove them to sea and the mother and babe were separated three weeks,
of her husband's property. When Captain John sailed ou this his last voyage, he left his wife in charge of his friend and former mate, Samuel Findlay, who subsequently mar ried her and by ber had several children. They resided in Marlborough, Connecticut, where she died in July, 1790, at the age of sixty-eight years. ller eldest son, Thomas, married and lived at Rocky Hill, but died in Scarborough, Maine, leaving no children. John settled and died in Glastonbury, Connecticut. Philip, the grandfather of Wil- liam Sellew, was brought up and educated by his grand- father, at Harwick ; went to Rhode Island and New York ; served at Brown's Point during the French war. Making a visit to his mother, Mrs. Findlay, he formed the acquaint- ance of Elizabeth Smith, whom he married, and settled in Glastonbury; he was for several years a member of the State Legislature; died in Glastenbury, June 17th, 1828, at the age of eighty-five years. He left several children, of whom the second son, Samuel Sellew, was the father of William Sellew, whose name stands at the head of this biography. Samuel married Lucy Gibson, of Middletown, and settled in Glastonbury, where he died in August, 1828, having attained the age of fifty-five years. His wife also died at the same age, in September, 1831, leaving eight children, viz. : Timothy G., William, Enos, Osman, Ralph, Hannah S. (who married S. B. Munson), Lucy Ann, Angeline. All these children are living except Lucy Ann and Hannah S. Manson. As above stated, the great- grandmother of William Seilew, Hannah Hamilton, wife of Captain John Sellew, was the daughter of Thomas (or James) Hamilton, and granddaughter of Thomas Hamilton, a commander in the sea service, who was the fourth son of Sir George Hamilton, third son of James, sixth Earl of Abercorn, lineally descended from James Hamilton, second Earl of Arron, in the kingdom of Scotland, and Duke of Chatebrault, in France, who was the great grandson of King James Il. by the Princess Mary. William Sellew remained with his parents until eleven years of age, when he went to live with a maternal uncle, where he resided until his seventeenth year, when he apprenticed himself to learn cabinetmaking; but, having a greater desire for mercantile pursuits than for mechanics, at the expiration of one year lie left his trade and commenced his mercantile career as a clerk in the hardware store of his cousin, Ogden Kilburn, in Hartford, Connecticut, where he continued till 1832, when, with his brother Osman and a few friends, he started West to scek a future home. Coming by the way of New York they took the canal to Buffalo, steamer to Cleveland, and thence by stage to Cincinnati, where they arrived after a journey of two weeks. They found the Queen City of the West at that time with a population of 17,000 inhabi- tants, William and his brother Osman's prosperity dates from their starting the business of manufacturing Britannia- ware, it being the first and only manufacturing establish- ment of its kind west of the mountains, Although with
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limited means and few acquaintances, yet, with that perse. verance and energy which have ever been characteristic of their house, they entered upon their mission without a doubt of its success. Konting a small house on the north side of Fifth street, near Walnut, they began with salesroom in front and shop in the rear. Very soon being compelled to seek more commodious quarters, they moved their fac- tory to Main and Orchard streets, and their store to Main Street, between Fifth and Sixth, near where the present business house now stands. Up to that time power had been furnished first by hand, and then by horse, but both proved insufficient to meet the wants of their fast-increasing business; so they were compelled to move their factory to the canal, where they could obtain water-power. About this time ( 1836) Enos, another brother, came from the East and entered the firm as a partner. With an increased capi- taal they added to their stock many of the metals for which there had grown quite a demand, and for which the house at the present day has become so well known. Having been educated in the school which teaches there is no re- ward without great labor, Mr. Sellew shirked no responsi- bility, nor thought himself above performing any manual labor that the success of his business required. Like Stephen Girard, there was no part of his fast-increasing business he did not thoroughly master. A merchant who commenced business without any capital save that repre- sented by indomitable perseverance and honesty of purpose, he has developed ability that entitles him to rank second to none among the various members of society. But he has, in addition to this, lent a helping hand to the industrious poor, the unfortunate mechanic and the new beginner, which in- variably has secured friends and patrons that time and com- petition have failed to alienate. He has contributed not a little to the prosperity of his adopted city, and by his own efforts risen to allluence. He was married in New Haven, Connecticut, on February 9th, 1847, to Mary A. Munson. Four children have been born to them, of whom only one is now living. Much of his business care he has transferred to younger hands, and at his beautiful residence in .Wvon- dale is spending his declining years in the society of his family and friends, and enjoying that peace and quietude which are incident to a well-spent life. Though in com- parative retirement, the active business life he has spent will not suffer him to be idle, and he still retains a lively interest in the city in which he acquired his fortune and so justly obtained renown.
ORNELL, JOSEPHI, Farmer, was born in Ilun- terdon county, New Jersey, on the Ist of May, 1799. He was the eldest of five children. Ilis parents, Samuel and Mary (Temple) Cornell, were both natives of New Jersey. They came to Hamilton county, Ohio, in 1St6, and estab- lished a permanent home in Sycamore township, near
which Joseph Cornell at present resides. Ilis father fol- lowed the occupation of carpenter, as well as attending to the interests of his farm up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1856. His mother died some years previous. lle received careful home training, being early taught the dignity of labor as well as the importance of cultivating habits of morality. Ilis school education was obtained in the public institutions of the immediate vicinity; but, desir- ons of increasing his mental abilities, he applied himself closely to reading, and, being naturally an acute observer, succeeded in obtaining a more than ordinary amount of in- formation. At the age of twenty-one he began life as a farmer, relying entirely on his own resources, and after five years of industry and economy obtained his present farm, and was successful in the establishment of a pleasant home, where he expects to reside permanently. Politically, he is a Republican, his first vote having been cast for John Quincy Adams. Ilis religious views are liberal; he con- fines himself to no particular doctrine, but spends his life in general usefulness, and in social circles his influence is always for good. For some years he has been Trustee of the township in which he lives, and is particularly inter. ested in matters pertaining to education and public enter- prise. Notwithstanding a long life of excessive labor he is yet active and buoyant. Ile was married, March Ioth, 1825, to Elizabeth, daughter of Henry Becler, of Hamilton county.
AYLOR, JAMES, M. D., D. D. S., was born in 1809, at Cedar Grove farm, on Paint creek, near Bainbridge, Ross county, Ohio. The town of Bainbridge was named for Commodore Bain- bridge, of the United States navy, by the grand- father of our subject, who was a near relative of the commodore. The old farm and homestead is still owned by Price Taylor, a brother of James, these brothers being two of the nine children that clustered around the family hearthstone. Joseph Taylor, the father of the sub- ject of this sketch, was born in Monmouth county, New Jersey, where the Taylor family, of English extraction, was settled more than two hundred years ago. Ilis mother, whose maiden name was Jane Irwin, was born in Virginia, of Scotch-Irish stock, and was married to Joseph Taylor in 1797. In 1801 the young pair, with the husband's father, William Taylor, removed to Ross county, being among the first settlers of the county. Here James Taylor was reared, contending with great obstacles in securing an education, by reason of the limited resources of the county; for at this time wheat sold for thirty cents and corn for ten cents per bushel, if they could be sold at all. But the father, being magistrate and school commissioner, employed New England teachers, often graduates of colleges, who made his house their home. Thus a good English education was seemed to the children, while the presence for so long a
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time of educated men in the family fostered a taste for deemed his medical career invaluable to his success in his reading and study. At the age of seventeen James had chosen medicine as his future profession, and advised by an old family physician he began the study of Latin and anatomy at the same time. In 1826 Dr. John Hanis settled in Bainbridge, having an excellent reputation as a physician, and among the students that sought his instruc- tion the subject of this sketch was soon numbered. After a year of close application to study on the part of his scholar, Dr. Harris turned his own special attention towards the study and practice of dentistry. The works of Kocker, Bell, Fitch and Hunter were procured and eagerly read by both the doctor and his student. After a time the latter was sent to Cincinnati, to purchase the requisite instruments and materials for work. The trip was made on horseback, and it required several days to find files, sealors, forceps (at that time very rare), elevators, turnkeys, hippopotamus' tusks, gold and tin foil, etc., etc. A set of instruments worth fifty dollars was not then to be obtained in the city. On his return he found his horse lamed at Batavia, and to occupy the time of his delay the young dentist began to practise with such success that he soon made enough money to pay for his new instruments and the whole ex- penses of the trip. Some of these first patients in after years gave him their practice when he had settled in the Queen City. The teacher and pupil, being now in partner- ship, visited various neighboring towns, among others Greenfield, twelve miles distant, where . Dr. C. A. Harris, a brother of the former, was then practising medicine. This Dr. Harris, afterward of Baltimore, was soon induced to devote himself also to dental science, and with his in- dustry, integrity and professional pride, proved a great acquisition to the profession. After two years Dr. John Harris removed permanently to Chillicothe, and Mr. Taylor went to Hillsboro', placing himself under the tuition of Dr. Kirby, a noted and eminent physician of that town. His dental practice, however, by which he supported himself meanwhile, so interfered with his medieal studies that he did not enter the medical school of Transylvania Univer- sity, Lexington, Kentucky, until the autmmnn of IS30. After having passed through the difficult course of study in this school, from which he subsequently received the degree of M. D., he returned to Ohio, and was examined and licensed to practise by a board of physicians appointed as censors by the Legislature to examine those who desired to practise medicine, His first office was opened in Bain- bridge. His brother Joseph having studied dentistry with him previously, had spent the winter of 1830 profitably in Vicksburg, Mississippi, and induced James to return to that
preseut profession. At that time there were not more than a dozen dentists in the West, and few of these had made any reputation worth naming. Both cities and towns were small, and could not afford a permanent location to any professional man, Indeed, ten years later, though the number of dentists had increased fourfold, yet very few had attained to eminence. After assuming the practice of dentistry alone, Dr. Taylor continued his winter visits South until, in 1838, he had accumulated about $6000, which he invested in the dry-goods business in Bainbridge, placing his youngest brother, Irwin, in charge of the store. Ilis eyes threatening to fail him, shortly after, he feared that he would be compelled to relinquish his pro- fession; and, selling out his store, he removed with his brother Irwin to Crawfordsville, Indiana, taking with him a stock of goods. But here he soon found himself again in full practice, visiting Lafayette, Covington and neighboring towns. In 1841, las merchandise not proving successful, Dr. Taylor closed up his business and visited his old field of labor in the South, while his brother went to Maysville, Kentucky, to study dentistry with another brother, Joseph, who had several years before settled there. Still longing for a permanent settlement, however, in 1842 Dr. James Taylor bought of Dr. Rostaing, in Cincinnati, his house, office, instruments, fixtures, ete., and enlisted in his chosen profession in this young city, then numbering about 60,000 inhabitants. Meanwhile a fourth brother, Edward, who had also studied medicine and then dentistry, and who had pursued the same career of vibration between the North and South, and was settled in a successful practice in Louisville, Kentucky, was now induced to join his brother in Cincinnati, and in a few years they had built up a most flourishing and lucrative practice, with a widespread repu- tation. The health of Edward, however, failing after some years, Dr. Joseph Taylor, of Maysville, took his place, while the former retired to Cleveland and engaged in horticultural pursuits there until his death, in 1867. The two remaining brothers extended their practice among the best families of the community, and became well known in the profession. Thus these three brothers (the younger, a fourth practitioner, having died early ) laid a broad founda- tion for the rising profession of dentistry, and by their enthusiasm and labors in it helped to give it that high pro- fessional character and standing which it has attained not only in the West, but throughout the whole country. While thus engaged in Cincinnati, Dr. James Taylor was invited to a chair in the Dental College in Baltimore, which had been organized by his quondam friend, Professor C. H. be established in the West, he declined the flattering offer. At this time it was a serious sacrifice to science to become a professor in a dental college. In 1844 Dr. Taylor first advocated the necessity of a dental school for Cincinnati. After disenssion of the subject with Drs. J. W. Cook and
place with him the subsequent winter. The latter settled | Harris; but, feeling that a college of dental surgery should at Port Gibson and in Natchez. Thus for several years he spent his winters in the South and his summers in the North. In 1834 Dr. Taylor decided to give up the practice of medicine, although he was very successful therein, and devote himself wholly to dentistry. And he has ever
"Taylor
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M. Rogers, they concluded to apply to the Legislature for f of which Dr. T. H. Skinner is pastor, and where he is a chuter. After some opposition the charter was obtained, highly esteemed and honored by the congregation, as well a> by the entire community. and in 1845 the college was organized, Dr. Taylor being a signed to the chair of Practical Dentistry and Phamacy. This Ohio College of Dental Surgery was the second of the kind in this country. After three years a new assign- ment of chairs was made, and that of the Institutes of URCII, CHIAUNCEY M., Merchant, was born in Hebron, Washington county, New York, April 22d, 1816. When quite young his father removed to the western part of that State, and being the oldest of fourteen children he was early com- pelled to assist in the carrying on of a farm to support this large family, his father's means being limited. Ile continued thus employed until he attained his majority, cultivating the farm in the spring and summer seasons, and attending the district schools in the winter. The studies pursued in these did not satisfy him, and he decided to secure a collegiate education at his first opportunity. Ile commenced his preparations by careful study in select schools, with the intention of entering Oberlin College, a theological institution under the charge of the Congrega- tional Church. Although a member of this denomination, Mr. Murch did not wholly indorse the doctrines taught at Oberlin, being more liberal in his religious opinions. After a short attendance at this college, this among other reasons induced him to withdraw from it, which he did upon the expiration of one term. He commenced then to teach music, and continued in this profession, for which he was in many ways eminently qualified, for twelve years. In 1844 he went to Cincinnati and entered upon the manufac- ture of an improved melodeon, his factory being the first of its kind established west of the Alleghenies. At the end of two years he sold an interest in his business to James M. White, and the firm soon extended their enterprise to em- brace the manufacture of pianos. The factory originally started by Mr. Murch was the first business house on Fourth street west of Main. Shortly after the inaugural of the manufacture of pianos, be repurchased the interest disposed of to Mr. White, and since then has continued in control of the entire establishment to the present time. For the past six years his business has been transacted in the splendid four-story stone front arcade building, on Sixth street near Central avenne. This imposing edifice was erected by him with the view of occupying the lower floors for his store, and of fitting the upper portions for the use of Masonic lodges. They are now used for this purpose, and there are few cities possessing lodge-rooms more spacions or elegant in adornment. Mr. Murch also reared a fine four-story residence, with a front of ent stone embodying a highly ornamental type of architecture, on Poplar street. This structure has a frontage of 53 feet and a depth of 120, and is bi-sected by a large hall. It contains twenty-one large rooms and a number of small ones. There is in it a handsome parlor for dancing, and a hall 21 by 40 feet. The building is surmounted by a beautifully designed Dental Science was allotted to Dr. Taylor, which he occu- pied for sixteen or eighteen years, when he voluntarily retired with the honor of Emeritus Professor. He has con- tinued every session since to deliver a few lectures to the classes. The college is owned by an association of dental surgeons, Dr. Taylor being a Large stockhokler, and as President of the Board he confers the degrees at the annual commencements upon the members of the graduating class. Ile was chosen President of the National Convention of Dentists, which met in Boston in 1856. Dr. Taylor with his brothers were also among the originators of the Mississippi Valley Association of Dental Surgeons, which is the oldest and one of the most efficient societies in the United States, and which was organized in Cincinnati in 1845. The publication of the Dental Register was begun in 1847, and Dr. Taylor being the only resident editor in Cincinnati, where it was published, the editorial duties were largely devolved upon him, so that alter three years the magazine was placed entirely in his hands, he assuming all its expenses. For nine years he continued to edit and publish this journal, which still exists, when it became self-support- ing and took high rank among the leading organs of the profession. During this time his literary contributions were very numerous, embracing well nigh every topic relating to dental practice, and in many cases being original and thorough discussions of subjects which had been but little discussed previously. The value of these articles has been widely acknowledged, many of them having been republished elsewhere. Were these, with his contributions to the American Journal of Dental Science, his numerous addresses to the graduating classes and his carefully prepared lectures, to be published together, they would make several large volumes of great interest and practical value. In IS;S Dr. Taylor married R. Maria Applegate, of Monongahela City, Pennsylvania, a most estimable lady, which happy union was severed by her death, in 1858. He was subsequently married to Belle P. MeMaster, of Cincinnati, a talented and accomplished lady, beloved by all who knew her, but who died in 1873. Dr. Taylor remains in practice in Cincinnati, having as his partner his nephew, Dr. James I. Taylor. Ile resides on the Kentucky side of the Ohio river, on his beautiful sub- urban farm, his spacious residence overlooking the city, and from whose conservatory lovely floral offerings are brought to adorn his city office. His health is nearly per- fect, and he does not seem to be more than forty-five or fifty years of age. And for more than twenty years he has been a ruling elder of the Second Presbyterian Church,
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