USA > Ohio > The Biographical encyclopedia of Ohio of the nineteenth century. Pt. 1 > Part 24
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
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 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75
yours truly. Peter Neff June 12, 1875,
107
BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPAEDIA.
Hamilton & Indian Junction Railway. In this enter. prise, through complications growing out of the financial crash of 1869, he lost a quarter of a million dollars. In the public affairs of his community his influence has been very largely feh, and his name has been prominently identified with nearly every measure looking to the material improve- ment of Hamilton. Ile has encouraged the establishment of manufacturing enterprises there by private donations of land to companies and firms willing to bring their business to the place. Ilis interest in the cause of popular education has had much to do with the elevation of the tone of the common schools of Hamilton. Ile is a Republican in poli- tics, and was a delegate to the National Republican Con- vention in Chicago, which nominated Abraham Lincoln for the Presidency in 1860. He has been frequently a member of the Republican County Committee, and in 1869 he was induced to become a candidate for the State Senatorship. Ifis opponent was a man no less distinguished than the llon. Ferris D. Campbell, but although defeated, it was by a small majority. This was the only occasion on which he ever consented to be a candidate for political honors. Hle mar- lied, on the 220 of September, 1846, Martha Woods, the daughter of his preceptor, Hon. Jolm Woods. Eight of their eleven children, three daughters and five sons, still survive.
00
e ECKETT, DAVID, Major in the Union Army, was born, in the year 1838, in Butler county, Ohio, his parents being Robert and Mary Crawford Beckett. He was educated at the Miami Univer- sity, where he graduated in 1860. In the year 1861, on the breaking out of the war of the rebel- lion, he entered the Union army as a private soldier. In 1862 he was made a Captain, and in 1863 he was promoted to the rank of Major. He participated in the battles of Fredericksburg, Second Bull Run, Antietam, Gettysburg, Lookout Mountain and Kenesaw Mountain. At the battle of Kenesaw Mountain he was killed, leaving behind him a reputation for gallantry and manliness which all might envy. Ile left a wife, but no children to bear his name:
EFF, PETER, retired Merchant, was born, March 31st, 1793, at Frankford, near Philadelphia, Penn- sylvania. The family emigrated to this country from Switzerland before the American revolution. When he was very young his father died, and the means of the family being all required for the sup- port of his mother and sisters, he was early taught the ne- cessity of making a living for himself. He received careful instruction in the plain branches of an English education. At the age of fourteen he left school and became a clerk in Philadelphia. During this time, and in fet during life, he
neglected no opportunity for self improvement. Ilis pen- manship was remarkably clear and distinct, and in all mer- cantile and arithmetical calculations he attained a marked prominence. The interruption of business during the war of 1812 threw him out of employment, but when peace was proclaimed he again obtained a cheikship, and from that time was enabled to support himself without depending upon the family for assistance. His close attention to business induced a favorable proposition for copartnership from Mr. Charles Bird, a prominent hardware merchant of Philadel- phia, who desired to establish a branch at Baltimore, and Mr. Neff, at the age of twenty, became a partner in that business, with which he was at that time unacquainted. Ile soon mastered this branch of mercantile business in all its details, while his sterling integrity of character soon obtained for him a credit, which he has preserved untainted during more than fifty years of active business life. In June, 1824, Mr. Neff, with his brother William, visited Cincinnati; al- though the city then numbered but a few thousand inhabi- tants, he proposed that if his brother would leave Savannah and reside in Cincinnati he would join him in the whole- sale hardware business, and would continue to reside in Baltimore and male all the purchases for the firm. The proposition was accepted, and the brothers, together with . John and George, the only remaining male members of the family, united in forming the first importing hardware house west of the Alleghenies. Peter only was acquainted with the business, and he made all the purchases for the firm. lle went to Cincinnati, marked the goods and fixed the price, which was firmly adhered to. On his return trip Mr. Neff was twenty three days reaching New York by the most direct route. The facilities of the new firm and their high commercial eredit soon led to fortune. In 1827 Mr. Neff married Mrs. Isabella Lamson ( Freeman), a lady as remark- able for her mental ability as her personal graces, whose ad- vice and assistance through life were of very great value to him. Hler death occurred March 6th, 1844, and was the severest trial he ever experienced ; he never remarried. In 1828 Mr. Neff established a business house in Louisville, Kentucky, which was very successful, and in 1838 it was united with his Cincinnati house. In 1835 he removed from Bahimore to Cincinnati, where he has since resided. At the time of the death of his accomplished and lovely wife his attention was directed to the necessity of a cemetery for the city, and by his exertions and the assistance of other gentlemen Spring Grove Cemetery was purchased by sub- scription. It is celebrated for the extent and beauty of the grounds and the costliness and variety of its monuments. Mr. Neff has always been a liberal, public-spirited Christian citizen, ever ready to aid in promoting the welfare and pros- perity of the city and the cause of good morals and religion. The temperance reform found in him one of its best friends and earliest advocates, Mr. Neff earnestly and zealously advocated the establishment of the Chamber of Commerce for the adjustment of difficulties among merchants. The
153
BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPAEDIA.
enterprise was crowned with snecess, and he was appointed one of its first Vice- Presidents. The improvement of the architecture of busme's houses of the city received his at- tention in 1850; and to his enterprise, sagacity and example the Queen City is indebted for many of its beautiful build- ings. Ile has always manifested a deep interest in the education of the young, especially in their religious training, and the Sabbath-schools have found in him a liberal bene- factor and wise counsellor. The organization and estab- lishment of the Poplar Street Presbyterian Church is due to him, and credit is given to him for personal supervision and liberal contributions to the same. For more than thirty years he has been a member of the Second Presbyterian Church, and for many years President of the Board of Trustees. During the war of the rebellion he took very de- cided ground in favor of the United States government. As Chairman of the Finance Committee of Hamilton county he directed the movement and took a very active part in raising the amount, $250,000, which prevented a draft in the county. During the " Kirby Smith raid " he was un- tiring in his efforts, and the Ist Reserve Regiment will bear witness to his zeal and devotion. Now in his seventy-eighth year, hale, hearty and vigorous, his time is chiefly spent in the development of his property in the western portion of the city; where he often receives visits from many whom he has aided with loans of money and advice, and thus saved from financial ruin; such a life is useful and successful, and will be more fully appreciated in the future, when the tri- umphs of peace shall receive the honors which are justly its due.
EVIS, JAMES A., Farmer, was born, November 6th, ISIo, in Colerain township, Hamilton county, Ohio, being the second of twelve children, whose ponents were Jesse and Sarah ( Martin) Bevis. Ilis father, a native of Pennsylvania, followed through life agricultural, mechanical and mann- facturing pursuits. He was a man of decided originality as an inventor. Ilis remote ancestry were of Irish, Scotch and English extraction, while his immediate ancestors were Pennsylvania Dutch. In 1797 Jesse Bevis went from the Dutch settlements of Pennsylvania to Ohio, making his way . down the Ohio river on a flatboat, and located in Colerain township, where he filled the vocations of a farmer, a manu- facturer and a mechanic. In 1810 he constructed a flat- bonit on the Great Miami river, near Venice, and loading it with pork, flour and other provisions, he waited for a rise of the water, and when it came passed out into the Ohio, making a slow and difficult passage to New Orleans, where he disposed of his produce. With the proceeds of his sale, a few hundred dollars in silver and gold, belted about his person, he footed the entire distance back to his home, through forest wilds thickly infested with savages. He died, May 4th, 1868, in his eighty-sixth year, in Colerain town-
ship, and the community keenly felt the loss of a pure and enterprising citizen. This wife, a native of Virginia, died February 25th, 1873, in the eighty third year of her age. The early education of James A, was limited, and was ob. tained in the common schools of his native district. In his youth he was employed on his father's farm, attending to his studies only in seasons when farm labor was in part sus- pended. Arriving at his majority, he set out as a farmer upon his own resources, and in connection with this pursuit commenced distilling. By industry and enterprise he carly laid the foundation of a competency, which he now enjoys. lle has always resided in his native township, and has be- come one of its most prominent citizens. On May 9th, 1834, he was married to Margaret Ramsey, who was born in Colerain, Hamilton county, and was the daughter of John Ramsey, an early settler in that section of the State. By this marriage he became the father of six children. For six years Mr. Bevis was Justice of the Peace, and he has occupied other township offices, discharging their duties with fidelity and intelligence. He has taken an active in- terest in educational matters, and has been prominently identified with the School Board. While he is a Republi- can in his political affiliations, he has, though often urged to accept party nominations for positions of high trust, uni- formly declined. Ile is tolerant in his religions opinions. Ilis entire life has been one of quiet usefulness, characterized by industry, enterprise, fine social qualities and generous impulses. Temperance in language and in habit has been with him a constant rule of conduct, and he lives to enjoy the respect of his neighbors. His wife died September 27th, 1870.
ARMEYER, HENRY, Magistrate, is a native of Cincinnati. Ile was born there on the 3d of March, 1842, and was the oldest of the six chil- dren of Rudolph Harmeyer and Louisa Kall- meyer, natives of Hanover, Germany. His father came to America early in life, settled in Cincin- nati, and there worked at his trade, that of stone mason, until his death from cholera, in the year 1849. In the same year, and of the same dreadful disease, the mother also died, and the children were left orphans. Henry, happily, was able to attend the public schools in Cincinnati, and so laid the groundwork of the education which he had carly set his heart upon obtaining. When he was fifteen years of age he went to work upon a farm in Greene town- ship, Hamilton county, and continued to work there for some two years. Ile was not well satisfied with his condi- tion there, however, and at the end of the two years, desir- ing to see more of the world, he ran away from his en- ployer and guardian, got a situation as a deck hand on a steamboat on the Ohio river and went to New Orleans. He remained there only a few days, and then he shipped on a vessel as a sailor before the mast. He made a trip to Liver-
100
BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA,
pool and back in this capacity, and on his return went back to Cincinnati, going up the river ou a steamboat as a pas- senger from New Orleans. Ile went to work in Cincinnati, and worked steadily al whatever his hands found to do umtil the breaking out of the war of the rebellion, That offered him a new field, and in 1861 he enlisted in Company I, of the 6th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, He remained in the army three years and three months, and during histerm of service participated in the battles of Chickamauga and Mission Ridge, besides being in numerous skirmishes and minor en- gagements. At the battle of Mission Ridge he was wounded, being shot through the lower part of his head. On account of this wound he was sent to the Cincinnati Hospital, and after his recovery was employed as baggage-master at the hospital during the remainder of his term of enlistment. In the fall of 1864, after leaving the army, he returned to Greene township, where he again went to work at farming. Ile continued so to work with great assiduity until another year had passed. Then be returned to Cincinnati and en- gagel in mercantile pursuits. He continued in this line of business until the year 1870. In that year he was elected Constable of the old Seventh Ward, and to this position he was re-elected four times. In the fall of 1875 he was elected Magistrate of Cincinnati township. For the responsible duties of this position he is admirably fitted by education, experience and the upright integrity of his character. Ile is a man of temperate life, pleasant social characteristics, ยท strict justice and large and intelligent observation. He is a I'rotestant in religion, and a Republican in politics, He was married in 1863 to Harriet Powner, of Greene town- ship, Hamilton county, Ohio.
OBLE, JACKSON M., Superintendent of the Street- Cleaning Department of Cincinnati, was born in Clermont county, Ohio, April 30th, 1817. Ile was the second child in a family of seven children, whose parents were Hemy Noble and Mary ( Mitchell) Noble. His father, a native of Mary- lid, was engaged in agricultural and mercantile pursuits, and settled in Clermont county at an early day. Ile was a participant in the last war with Great Britain, and served under General Harrison in the battle of Tippecanoe, Ile was a member of the City Council of Cincinnati for several terms, and for a long time officiated also as Coroner of Hamilton county. He died in 1866 in Cincinnati, to which place he had removed in 1826. His mother, a native of Maryland, died in Cincinnati in 1834. Ilis early education was obtained at the common schools of the original settle- ments, While in his eighteenth year he applied his atten- tion to the trade of carpentering, which he subsequently followed, as apprentice, journeyman and master builder, sue- cessively, until 185.4. In that year he engaged in the roof- ing business, with which he has since been more or less con-
tinuously connected, For three consecutive terms, from 1856 to 1861, he was a member of the City Council ; and in the latter yem was elected City Treasurer, the duties of which office he performed efficiently for the cusning two years. In ISOS he was appointed Presidential Elector for the Second Congressional District of Ohio, and in the course of the same year received the nomination for Auditor of the county, but, with the entire ticket, was defeated. In 1873 he was appointed Superintendent of the Street-Cleaning De- partment of Cincinnati, which position he still fills, Politi- cally, -he is attached to the Democratic party, and cast his first vote in favor of Martin Van Buren, Ile was married, February 17th, 1843, to Louisa II. Francisco, a native of Cincinnati, and is the father of nine children,
ONES, M. II., Lawyer, was born in Georgetown, District of Columbia, February 13th, 1825. Ilis parents, natives of Maryland, settled hnally in Georgetown, which was the home of the family until the death of its male head, Frederick P. Jones. Ilis mother with her family then removed to Ohio, and settled at Mechanicsburg, whence later she moved to Piqua. There his preliminary education was acquired. After engaging for a brief period in teaching school, he commenced the study of law with S. S. McKin- ney, of l'iqua, and in 1848 was admitted to the bar. Ile then entered on the practice of his profession, in which he has since been constantly and successfully engaged. In 1851 he was elected Proscenting Attorney, and was twice re-elected, serving in all six years. In 1857 he was elected to the Legislature from Miami county, and served two terms, In 1863 he was appointed a Commissioner of Enrolment for the Fourth Congressional District, which position he resigned after serving about eighteen months. Politically, he has heen attached to the Republican party since its formation. Ile was married in 1851 to Jane W. Wood, of Piqua, Ohio.
CFARLAND, WILLIAM H., Clergyman, was born, June 14th, 1832, near New Athens, Har- rison county, Ohio, Ilis father was born in Ire- land, and his mother in Pennsylvania. Ilis parents being industrious, frugal, energetic and npright, he had much better than an average home training, and a fair common school education, for which he was indebted chiefly to his father. At sixteen he entered Franklin College, New Athens, Ohio, where he graduated with honor at twenty-two. When twenty- five he graduated at the Theological Seminary at Xenia, Ohio. In 1859 he accepted a call to become pastor of the United Presbyterian congregation of Cambridge, Ohio. In August, 1862, he was elected and commissioned Chaplain of the
110
BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA.
97th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in which he served | tinues his professional labors, and is widely and favorably acceptably and successfully for nearly three years. At the known as a lawyer and an upright citizen. In his capacity of Mayor he bas served with great credit to himself, and loyally guarded the best interests of his constituency. Ile was married, September 7th, 1869, to Farmie 1. M'Fadden, of Cadiz, Harrison county, Ohio. close of the war he was tendered a commission as Chaplain in the regular anny, but declined to accept it. Returning to Cambridge he resumed his pastoral labors in the congre- gation, which had refused to accept his resignation. ITis congregation has now four times as many members as when he became its pastor in 1859. It is, perhaps, the most pros- perous United Presbyterian congregation in Ohio, having received nearly five hundred members within ten years. It has also recently completed a very handsome church, seat- ing a thousand persons. He seems well pleased with his sitnation, although tempting offers have been made to him from much larger and more important piaces, He was mar- ried, April 26th, 1871, to Lizzie J. Hanna, New Athens, Ohio.
ANNA, MAJOR JAMES J., Attorney-at-Law, Mayor of the City of Springfield, Ohio, was born in Harrison county, Ohio, October 7th, 1839. Ile is the son of James Hanna and Margaret ( Fulton) Hanna. His father, also a native of Harrison county, was a farmer. llis mother was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania. He received his preliminary education at the Franklin College, in his native county, and graduated from that institution in the class of 1860. January 25th, 1862, he enlisted in the Union army as a private for the term of three years, and was elected and commissioned Captain of Company K of the Goth Regiment of Ohio Vol- unteer Infantry. This force was assigned to Buell's army, operating in Kentucky and Tennessee, and participated in the battles of Stone River, Chickamauga, Lookont Moun- tain and Mission Ridge, and took part also in the engage- ments of the Atlanta campaign. After the battle at Stone river he was promoted to the rank of Major for gallant and meritorious service on the field. At Mission Ridge he com- manded the regiment, and was handsomely noticed in the official report of that engagement. Ilis health failing, he obtained leave of absence after the battle of Atlanta, and returned for a brief visit to his home, while the army under Sherman struck across Georgia to reach the sea. He at- tempted to rejoin his regiment at Moorehead City, via New York and Savannah, and failing to do this, upon reaching the latter place after the enemy had departed for Carolina, commanded a detachment of the 14th Army Corps, and was employed in post duty for about two months. After which, and near the termination of the conflict, he again returned to his home and commenced the study of law. The winter of 1867-68 he spent in the law department of the Michigan University, at Aun Harbor, Michigan. In the latter year he was admitted to the bar in Columbus, Ohio, and entered on the practice of his profession at Springfield. In 1871 he was elected Mayor of the city, on the Republican ticket, and in 1873 was re elected to the same office. He still con-
OWEN, DANIEL DUANE TOMPKINS, - Lawyer, was born in Moorefield, Harrison county, Ohio, on January 20th, 1826, being the son of the late Benjamin Spragne Cowen. From a very early age until December, 1832, he at- tended school in Moorefield, and upon the re- moval of his parents to St. Clairsville, at that time, he be- came a student of its common schools. Ile was then sent to Cadiz, Ohio, where he studied the classics until the fa'l of IS41. His father, intending him for the bar, desired that he should acquire first, as indispensable to a thorough ap- prehension of law and its application to science, a knowl- edge of medicine. To this end he read under Dr. John Alexander of St. Clairsville, and upon the completion of a full course he entered upon the study of law with his father and Ilugh J. Jewett. On January 20th, 1847, his twenty- second birthday, he was admitted to practice at Columbus, and at once commenced his professional duties at St. Clairs- ville, occupying the office formerly used by his father, who had just been elected to the bench. His practice was be- gun under most favorable auspices, and became rapidly large and remunerative. In 1851 he was elected Prose- cuting Attorney of Belmont county, and was honored by re-elections in 1853 and 1855. Upon the resignation of Judge Okey, one of the incumbents of the Common Pleas bench for that district, Mr. Cowen was appointed by the Governor to fill the vacancy. He was a delegate to the Ohio Constitutional Convention of 1873, and was one of its ablest members, filling positions on important committees, and framing many articles for incorporation in, and urging needed amendments to the organic law of the State. From 1854 until 1862 he was on the Board of School Examiners of Belmont county. Ile was one of the originators of the First National Bank of St. Clairsville, which was organized in April, 1864, and ever since its commencement of business he has filled its Presidency. In 1862 he was appointed Lientenant-Colonel of the 52d Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served with that command, and for the greater portion of the time in charge of it, until February, 1863, when he ic- signed on account of the illness of his wife. Ile was, on March 28th, 1848, married to HI. F. Martin, of Fayette county, Pennsylvania, who died in May, 1864. On August 8th, 1865, he married her sister, Anna E. Martin. Mr. Cowen is the oldest practising lawyer at the St. Clairsville bar, and has a large and influential clientage. Ile has been retained in almost all the important civil and criminal actions
OD leverer
BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA.
which have engaged the attention of the local courts, and | with Dr. John O'Ferrall, of Pigna, Miami county, and with has distinguished himself for his ability as a consulting at- torney and pleader. While upon the bench his rulings and decisions confirmed popular opinion of his thorough legal truning, and his wisdom in clear and conclusive interpreta- tion of the laws, His arguments, whether addressed to juries or to the court sitting in banc, have always been models of lucid analyzation of fact, and faultless interpreta- tion and application of the authorities. As Mayor of the city, and as a member of municipal departments, he exerted every effort to improve the material welfare of his fellow- citizens. In all hi, labors, private and official, he has dis- played signal tact and learning, and unquestionable integrity, and is rewarded with the respect of the entire community.
ORSEY, GODWIN VOLNEY, M. D., President of the Citizens National Bank, ex-State Treasurer, was born in Oxford, Butler county, Ohio, Novem- ber 17th, 1812, being the only son of James Max- well Dorsey. The Dorsey family originally settled in Maryland over two hundred years ago, and succeeding generations have continued their residence in that State up to the present time, not merely perpetuating the family name but rendering it one of the most reputable known in that section of the country. The names of Major E lward Dorsey and John Dorsey, Esq., appear on the com- mision appointed in 1694 to lay out the town of Annapolis, or, as it was then called, "Anne Arundel's Towne; " and in locating the publie building, it was provided, as shown by records still extant, that " that part of the lands which lye on ye crecke by Major Dorsey's house, whereby his excellency, Governor Nicholson, now lives, be set aside for public buildings, and if in case ye same happens to come within any of the said Major's lottes, propose that land be given him elsewhere for it." One year afterwards the same gentle- men headed a committee which procured funds and built the first Episcopal church in the new city. From these early Maryland families the name of Dorsey spread exten- sively through that State and into Pennsylvania, Virginia, and even Kentucky and Mississippi. Major James Maxwell Dorsey, the father of Godwin Volney Dorsey, removed to Ohio from Bultimore in 1809. For one year he lived in Cincinnati, and then settled in Oxford township, Butler county. This was in 1810. For many years succeeding he was connected with Miami University, having the care of the lands and the charge of the work of ereeting the college buildings. IIe acted, in addition, as Treasurer of the Board of Trustees. During the war of 1812 he commanded the Odd Battalion, raised in Butler county, which afterwards rendered valuable services on scouting expeditions in the western and northwestern parts of the State. It was at Miami University that Godwin Volney Dorsey was educated. Upon leaving this venerable institution he studied medicine
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.