USA > Ohio > The Biographical encyclopedia of Ohio of the nineteenth century. Pt. 1 > Part 30
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and large contracts were placed in his hands. In the period from 1852 to 1863 be found time for the study of theology, and often preached. He is a fluent and eloquent speaker, and his sermons from the pulpit were very ef- fective. With an excellent knowledge of the law, he prac- tised for some time with success, and for five years acted as Justice of the Peace. In 1862 he became identified with the 83d Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served with that command in the dual capacity of soldier and chaplain for one year. Ile is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and has been an active and consci- entious churchman since 1846. In politics he is a Repub- lican, his first vote having been cast for Andrew Jackson. Ile is a gentleman of great sociability, and is courteous in manner to all who approach Lim. His experience is a great and varied one, his life being a record of ceaseless activity, while his knowledge, gathered not alone from books, though he has always been a close student, is com- prehensive in its scope. He was married, July 29th, 1830, to Sarah, daughter of Samuel Thompson, who descended from Price Thompson, a soldier of the Revolution and one of the original pioneers of Hamilton county, Ohio, having as early as 1790 settled in Sycamore township, on a section of land belonging to the celebrated purchase.
ORBERT, JAMES L., was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, February 25th, 1796. He received his education at Princeton College, and came to Ohio in ISIS and taught for some years in an academy at Lebanon, Warren county, having under his instruction several who have since be- come men of great distinction in various walks of life, among them the great astronomer, General O. M. Mitchell, who founded the Observatory at Cincinnati. He came to Springfield in the antumn of 1824, and for several years was engaged in teaching the languages, and afterwards, having been admitted to the bar, was associated with Gen- eral Sampson Mason in the practice of law. He succeeded Joseph K. Swan as Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for the Twelfth Judicial Circuit of Ohio, and was also Pro- bate Judge for Clark county for several years. Ile was a man of amiable disposition, deep religious convictions and of the purest integrity of character. His scholastic attain- ments were of the highest order, and his literary taste was very fine. He was a man of the most retiring and unob- trusive modesty, yet firm and immovable by love and popular favor, or fear of man, in his devotion to what he regarded as the right and truth. He lifted up his voice and wielded his peu at an early date against oppression, when no small amount of courage was requisite to maintain his views, but which have since become popular. General Sampson Mason, who was a man never superlative of
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praise, spoke of him at a meeting of the Springfield bar, { convened to pass resolutions of sympathy and respect, as one whom no mode of praise could flatter. He died sud- denly, May 15th, 1859, on the steamer " Tecumseh," on the Mississippi river, near New Madrid, Missouri, on the pas- sage up from New Orleans, where he had gone with his wife to bring home their eldest son, who had been sick for a long time in that city. He was buried with every mark of affection and esteem from the bar and community. ile married, July 31st, 1821, Hannah C., daughter of Dr. John C. Winans, of Lebanon, Warren county, Ohio, and with her had eight children, five of whom survive him, two sons and three daughters.
OORMAN, CHRISTIAN L., Secretary, Treasurer and General Manager of the Bellaire Manufac- turing Company, was born in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, October 28th, IS25. His parents also were natives of Pennsylvania. His father was a carpenter. He attended school in his native State until 1834, when he moved with his parents to Columbiana county, Ohio, where he again attended school ROWN, WILLIAM P., senior partner of the firm of Brown Brothers, Abstractors of Titles and General Land and Loan Agents, was born in Circleville, Pickaway county, Ohio, March 25th, 1842. On the maternal side he is a grandson of John Cail Scott, of Alexandria, Virginia, one of the numerous descendants of the Rev. James Scott, of Prince William county. On the paternal side he is a grand- son of John Brown and Elizabeth Hutchins, of Norfolk, Virginia. His parents were William Ballard Brown, an agriculturist of Pickaway and Franklin counties, and Jane (Scott) Brown, Ilis earlier education was obtained in the common schools located near his home, and at eighteen years of age he graduated from the High School of Colum- bus, and devoted the two succeeding years to teaching school. From 1862 to 1866 he served in the capacity of Assistant Engineer for the city of Columbus, and at the expiration of that time was elected Surveyor of Franklin county. This office he held for a period of six years, while his thorough performance of the duties attached to the sur- veyorship gave a lasting direction to his aims and energies, and was also instrumental in fitting him for the profession in which he was afterward engaged. Being joined by his is still an active worker, under the firm-style of Brown Brothers. Beginning their business career on a compara- tively limited basis, the brothers have, by steady application connections of any other house of the kind in the State, requiring an extensive investment of capital. The exami- nation of old land claims they have attended to as. a specialty, and in this line their relations extend into many States, East and West. In connection with their business until 1838. Ile then removed to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and resided there until 1846, during that time learning the trade of cabinetmaker under John McGrew, and working for a brief period also as journeyman, while attending a night-school in his leisure hours. In 1846 he settled at Wheeling, where he worked as a journeyman at cabinet- making until 1850. He then removed to Belmont county, Ohio, and labored as a builder and house carpenter until 1858, when, after having served as Justice of the Peace, he was elected Auditor of the county, and re-elected at the expiration of his term. In IS61 he filled this office by deputy and entered the army of the United States as Cap- thin in the 43d Regiment of Ohio Volunteers, for which body he had recruited a company. He remained in active service until July, 1862, when he was detailed on recruiting service. Subsequently he was appointed Lieutenant Colonel of the gSh Regiment of Ohio Volunteers, and with that body took part in the battle of Perryville, in October, 1862, in which engagement Colonel Webster was killed and he was promoted to the rank of Colonel in the same regiment, and remained in active service with it until the command was reduced to ISo men, when, in the fall of 1863, he resigned his position. Hle then returned to his home and brother, in 1869, they established the business in which he took a prominent part in the political campaign of 1863. Later, he installed himself in the editorial chair of the Belmont Chronicle, which he had purchased in 1861, and controlled its publication from the fall of 1863 until it was and integrity in all their dealings, established the largest sold, in 1870. lle finally removed to Bellaire, and organ- ized the Bellaire Manufacturing Company, over whose affairs he presided as President and Superintendent until 1873. Since this date he has acted as Secretary, Treasurer and General Manager of the company, which controls an'
extensive and flourishing business in reapers and threshing- machines. Ile is quite an inventor, and has made several important improvements m reapers and threshing-machines, among which may be named a combined reaper and har- vester, which may be used as a side delivery reaper or a harvester, upon which the binders ride to bind; an adjust- able reel for harvesters; an improvement in horse-powers, and an adjustable side-rest for threshing-machines. While holding the office of Auditor he studied law, and after at- tending a course of lectures received his diploma at the Cincinnati Law College. Subsequently, while editing the Chronicle, he practised his profession for a time, meeting with fair success as a lawyer, until he concluded to turn his attention to a business more in harmony with his tastes. At the present time he is a member of the City Council of Bellaire. Ilis more prominent characteristics are energy, integrity and a comprehensive knowledge of the require- ments of business and public life. He was married, April Ist, 1846, to Martha Ebbert, of Wellsburg, West Virginia.
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of abstracting they have introduced the negotiation of loans on first mortgage security, and by their extensive acquaint- ance with titles and persons, and their very conservative manner of business, are buikling up the most extensive loan agency for the investment of trust funds in central Ohio. Hle was married, April 30th, 1873, to Louisa 11., a grand- daughter of Balser Hess, the highly respected pioncer family of Clinton township, Franklin county, Ohio.
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ROWN, JAMES FINLEV, partner of the firm of Brown Brothers, Abstractors of Titles and Commissioners of Deeds, brother of William P. Brown, the senior partner before mentioned, was born in Circleville, Pickaway county, Ohio, Feb- ruary 4th, 1848. He was educated at the com- mon schools of Columbus, and subsequently, from 1867 to 1869, was a student in the Virginia Military Institute. In 1869 he became associated with his brother in the business which, since sustained by them, is now of such a vast extent.
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USE, ALEXANDER B., M. D., the oldest of nine children whose parents were Robert Luse and Mary (Jones) Luse, was born in Butler county, Ohio, February 4th, ISog. His father, a native of New Jersey, followed agricultural pursuits through life ; after removing to Washington county, Pennsylvania, he remained there for several years, and in 1806 came to Cincinnati, Ohio, settling ultimately near that city, on the Little Miami river. Later, he re- moved to Butler county, Ohio, and settled on a farm near Reily, in that county, and in 1814 moved seven miles dis- tant, into Indiana, where he remanied until his decease. Throughout his career he was more or less extensively connected with public affairs, and for a number of years officiated as Justice of the Peace. His mother, also a native of New Jersey, died in Franklin county, Indiana, in 1866. llis early education was limited, and received at the com- mon schools located in the vicinity of his home. At the age of seventeen, on the death of his father, he began life on his own resources as a farm laborer. While in his twentieth year he began the reading of medicine, under the instruction of William McGill, M. D., a well-known prac- titioner of Hamilton county, with whom he continued his medical studies for a period of three years. During this time he attended lectures at the Ohio Medical College of Cincinnati, and in 1832 entered on the practice of his pro- fession at Mount Pleasant, where he has since been suc- cessfully engaged. Politically, he is attached to the Repub- lican party, and, religiously, is a member of the Christian Church, in which he has been for twenty years a zealous
deacon. He was married in 1834 to Hannah Hill, a native of Hamilton county, and daughter of Samuch Hill, one of the earlier pioneers and settlers of this section of the State; she died in 1843, leaving issue of three children. He was again married in 1847 to Jemima Ilunt, a native of Ilamilton county, Ohio, with whom he is now living.
ILLIAMSON, DAVID, Edge Tool Maker, was born on the 6th of June, 18OS, in Ilunterdon county, New Jersey. He comes of Revolutionary stock, his father, John Williamson, having served under Generals Greenc and Washington, in the Revolutionary army and participated in the battle of Trenton. On the father's side David was descended from the earliest settlers of Manhattan Island, and on the mother's side was of English descent. When the boy was three years okt his father emigrated to what was then the far West, and with his family settled in Colcrain township, Hamilton county, Ohio. The first efforts of the pioneer were directed towards developing a farm in the forest. Trees were felled, stumps uprooted and all the toil incident to a new settlement in those days undertaken and gone through with ; and the result was a pleasant and comfort- able home evoked from the wilderness in a very short time. The pioneer's sons were all stalwart, muscular boys, and with their aid the father accomplished results that at first thought would seem impossible. In the midst of such experiences and surroundings young David grew up. So far as school op- portunities were concerned his educational advantages were limited ; but of the education that comes with hard work, self-reliance, contact with nature and with natural men, he had his full share, and profited by it to the utmost. In 1825, in accordance with his own desire, he was appren- ticed to the trade of edge-tool making in Cincinnati, Ile learned his trade, and, as might be expected, he learned it thoroughly, becoming a most finished mechanic. Even now among the old settlers may be found many a favorite old axe bearing his stamp. He has never, in the course of his life, held any public office, but was always active and prominent in the ranks of the old Whig party, and still ranks himself as a Henry Clay Whig. When he was twenty-five years old he married Elizabeth Huston, daugh- ter of Paul Iluston, an early settler and thriving farmer of Ilamilton county. Of this marriage four children, two sons and two daughters, were the result. A notable event occurred in the life of the eldest son, Paul 11., in the year 1858. In that year he started with an emigrant train for California, going over the plains and mountains by an en- tirely unexplored route. The train was attacked by the Indians and most of the party were massacred. Young Williamson escaped and returned to the States, making the entire trip on foot, and arriving safely at home. He is now
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Recorder of Hamilton County. The youngest son, Albert, dealings with his customers, his trade soon became exten- has been quite prominent in the real estate business, and is now first Deputy in his brother's office.
UMMINGS, SAMUEL, Machinist, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, November 16th, 1809. Ilis father was an Irish Protestant and one of the pioneers of the country. His mother was born at Trenton, New Jersey, and was of English origin. At the age of seven young Cummings left home and commenced life for himself. Much of the journey afoot, and with no ordinary hard- ships, he made his way from his home in Philadelphia to Pittsburgh. After trying several things unsuccessfully until his fourteenth year, he went over to Birmingham and was regularly indentured to James Patterson to learn the lock and whitesmithing trade. Ilis father had now been some time dead, and his mother had removed to Pittsburgh. With some exciting adventures he managed to move smoothly on, and, by the time he was twenty years of age, had learned his trade, obtained a passable education and discharged all the obligations of his indenture. Ile now commenced work as a journeyman for his former employer, at a dollar a day, which was five wages for the times, IIc also began a course of rigid self-culture, which he kept up for years. In the course of the first year's labor be man- aged to save $200. And a notable fact is that this really became the nucleus of his fortune, and at no time after did he ever have less than the $200. Now, after making a trip to different parts of the country, with a view to bettering his condition, he returned to Pittsburgh and resumed work for Mr. Patterson, and was soon after married to his daughter, Sarah. Soon after his marriage he removed to Cincinnati, and immediately commenced work in the brass foundry of Jobn Tatem. In 1832 his young wife fell a victim to the cholera. After this great misfortune, being discouraged, and the terrible malady having prostrated the business of the city, he returned to Pittsburgh; but in the fall of the same year be again began business in Cincinnati. Hle now commenced for himself, in connection with Messrs. Parker & Alexander. Ile soon found it to his advantage to withdraw from this partnership and become an employé in the same house.' This was the old brass foundry and machine shop of W. G. Berry. The manufacture of locks was now becoming a more important interest in the West ; and having become acquainted with a valuable new lock, manufactured in Cincinnati, he went to Pittsburgh, where he remained several years and established his father-in-law in the manufacture of this lock. Ile now returned per- manently to Cincinnati and commenced business in the old Front street shop, with Mr. Alexander as his partner. Alexander soon after dying, the business was left entirely to him. By careful, judicious management and honest
sive and valuable. After some changes and a contimed prosperity he finally admitted his son, Patterson, with a partnership interest, under the firm-name of Samuel Com. mings & Son. For the first twenty years the business of this house was mainly in brass work and in the building of fre engines and light machinery. It is now almost wholly engaged in the manufacture of fire hydrants, light machinery and stop-valves for water-works, and is one of the most safely conducted and reputable establishments of its kind in the country. In 1850 he purchased property in Newport, Kentucky, and has since been a resident of that State. Ile soon became interested in the civil affairs of Newport. Ile was elected President of the City Council of Newport in 1869. In 1871 he was re-elected, serving in all four years. During his last term he inengurated the movement for the construction of the Newport Water-works. To him, more than any man, are the people of Newport, doubtless, indebted for their fine water-works and the rejection of the Holly experiment. Since retiring from his position in the city goverment, in 1873, he has interested himself in the affairs of his own home and business. In 1838 he was married to Eliza Mason, who died of con- sumption in 1867. In 1872 be married the widow of Mar- maduke Doddsworth. Mr. Cummings' career is a remark- able one. Ile certainly ranks pre-eminently as a self-made man. He is to-day a fine specimen of a well-preserved man, with an ample fortune, the work of his own hands, and a reputation of which he may justly be proud.
UTTLE, HON. GEORGE M., Lawyer and Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, was born, June 19th, 1815, in Litchfield county, Connecticut, and is a son of Eri and Ilanict ( Phillips) Tuttle, for- merly of that section. Ilis father was a farmer by occupation both in Connecticut and in Ohio. George enjoyed the advantages of being educated in the excellent New England common schools, and also attended the academy; but, the means of his parents being limited, be had to forego the collegiate comse, and he owes the main part of his education to his own persevering exertions and studious habits. He commenced the study of the law in the spring of 1837, in the office of Governor William S. HIollibird, at Winsted, Connecticut, and in 1841, having meanwhile been admitted to the bar, commenced the prac- tice of his profession in Ashtabula county, Ohio, his father with his family having removed to that State two years previously. Ile continued there until the beginning of 1844, when he removed to Warren. In 1866 he was elected President Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, which position he most ably filled and for which he was most eminently qualified; be here gained an enviable repu- tation with the bar of Ohio. In order, however, to devote
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himself exclusively to the practice of his profession, he re- of Cincinnati for a term of three years. Several times be signed his office, January 1st, 1872. In 1873 he was chosen has been appointed by the mayor of the city to fill tem- to represent his district in the Constitutional Convention of porarily the office of Police Judge. Altogether his life, Ohio, over which the present Chnet Justice of the United thus La, has been an actively bn y one, characterized by States Supreme Court was then the presiding officer. Thi, energy, industry, labor well directed and prosperity well carned. convention was composed of the leading men of the State, and many of the best minds of Ohio took part in the pro- ceedings. Judge Tuttle acted on several of the most im- portant committees, and was prominent in all its councils during its entire session of a year and a day. Ile is still in the vigor of manhood, and enjoy> an extensive and lu- crative practice. Ile was married in 1852 to Julia, daughter of Jeremiah Sullivan, of Warren, Trumbull county, where he has since resided.
ANFORD, HON. LORENZO, Member of Con- gress, was born in Beimont county, Ohio, ou October 18th, 1829, his father coming from the same connty, and his mother from Chester county, Pennsylvania. The former was a promi- nent farmer, and held several offices of trust, the duties of which he discharged with intelligence and fidelity. Lorenzo attended the common schools, and finished his education at Waynesburg, Pennsylvania. When twenty- three years of age he began to read law at St. Clairsville, under Carlo C. Carroll, and was admitted to the bar in 1854. In 1856 he entered the political arena as a Whig, and supported Fillmore for the Presidency, and was upon
ILSON, MOSES FLEMING, Lawyer, was born on the roth of September, 1839, in Franklin, Warren county, Ohio. Ile i, of Irish descent, his ancestors having come to this country from county Antrim, Ireland. Ilis maternal grand- father, Colonel John Bigger, was one of the | the State electoral ticket. Afterwards he affiliated with the earliest settlers of Warren county, Ohio, while his paternal Republican party, and has ever since acted with it. In 1857 he was elected Prosecuting Attorney for Belmont County, and was re-elected in 1859, vacating the office in 1861, prior to the expiration of his term, to join the army. lle enlisted as a private in the 17th Ohio Volunteer In- fantry, for three months' service, and was mustered out in August following. Ile returned home and assisted in raising a company for the 15th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, of which he was elected Second-Lieutenant. In 1862 he was promoted to the First-Lientenancy, and then to the position of Captain, which he resigned, August 1st, 1864, on account of ill health. Ile was active and influential in his support of Lincoln in 1860 and 1864, and was one of the electoral delegation from Ohio which gave the vote of that State to Mr. Lincoln. In October, 1872, he was elected on the Republican ticket to the Forty-third Con- gress from the Sixteenth Ohio District, his opponent having been C. L. Poorman, who ran as a Liberal Republican. In 1874 he was re-elected, his opponent having been on this occasion 11. Boyle. Mr. Danford is the successor of llon. John A. Bingham, and has served the interests of his constituency and the people at large with distinguished ability. Ile has a wide reputation as a lawyer of great learning and skill, and as an orator his speeches in the House of Representatives, as well as his addresses to the bench, evince an ability for trenchant argument possessed by few men. lle is deserving of the credit and esteem accorded him for his successful career, as it is the result of constantly exercised energy directed by noble purposes. On October 7th, 1858, he was married to Annie II. Cook, of Jefferson county, Ohio, who died, October 24th, 1867. On October 27th, 1870, he was married to Mary M. Adams, ancestors settled in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania. Ilis father removed from Pennsylvania to Warren county in 18.30. In 1847, when Moses was eight years old, be re- moved with his parents to Cincinnati. Ilere he went through the course of study at the common schools of the city, and in due time entered the Hughes High School, of that city, from which institution he graduated in 1857. He then engaged in teaching in the Twelfth District School in Cincinnati, and continued in that occupation until 1860. In that year he entered the freshman class in Princeton College. After a year passed at Princeton he entered the Miami University, where he remained another year. In the month of August, 1862, he entered the land office of Taft & Perry, and in the month of October following he matriculated at the Law School of the Cincinnati College. lle graduated 1.1 .. B. in April, 1864, and in the succeed- ing month of May he was admitted to the bar, and com- menced the practice of law in Cincinnati. In November, 1866, he was appointed Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for Hamilton County, which position he held until January, 1869. In the month of April in that year he was a candi- date on the Independent ticket for the position of Prose- cuting Attorney of the Police Court. Ile was successful in the contest, and achieved the position, which he held until April, 1871. After leaving the office he devoted his whole time and attention to his private practice. On the ist of November, 1871, he associated in partnership with llon. Ozra J. Dodds, under the firm-name of Dodds & Wilson. In the month of April, 1872, he was elected a member of the Board of Education from the Twentieth Ward, and held the position for two years. In June, 1873, he was elected one of the Board of Managers of the Public Library of St. Clairsville, Ohio.
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