USA > Ohio > The Biographical encyclopedia of Ohio of the nineteenth century. Pt. 1 > Part 31
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= ENNEDY, JAMES CHARLES, M. D., was born | took an active part in common with the insurgent patriots. in Butler county, Pennsylvania, February 11th, 1Soo. He was the fourth child in a family of aight daldien, whose parents were Robent Ken nedy and Margaret ( White) Kennedy. His father, a native of Westmoreland county, l'en- sylvania, followed through life agricultural pursuits, le moved to Ohio in ISit and settled in Brown county, on a farm near Georgetown. He was noted as an intelligent and public-spirited citizen, and for a number of years held the office of Magistrate. His decease occurred in 1$49. llis mother, also a native of Westmoreland county, Penn- sylvania, was a daughter of Thomas White, a captain in the Revolutionary army. Hi, ancestors on both sides of the house were likewise identified with the cause of the patriots. Until he had attained his majority he assisted his father in the farm labors, having in the meantime secured a limited education by attending, through the winter months, the sessions of a country school. In 1829 he began the study of medicine under the preceptorship of Dr. Edward New- ton, at Felicity, Clermont county, and pursued his studies assiduously until 1832. In this year he entered on the practice of his profession, and, with the exception of two winters, was subsequently occupied by professional labors in Felicity until 1854. During the winters of 1837-38, however, he attended a course of lectures at the Medical College of Ohio, graduating from that institution. In 1854 he settled in Batavia, and has since resided there, engaged in the control of a practice at once extensive and lucrative. Ile has uniformly avoided offices of a political nature, but in 1847 was elected a member of the Ohio Legislature, and served with this body for one term. He was also one of the committee appointed by the Ohio Legislature to escort the remains of General T. L. Hamer, who died of disease contracted on the field in Mexico. He has always mani- fested a generous and intelligent interest in educational and public enterprises, and has contributed to various medical journals many articles, several of which have elicited special attention from the leading men of the medical pro- fesion. Politically, he is an inflexible Democrat of the Jackson school. He was baptized in the Methodist Church, but his present views are not circumscribed by the doctrines of any particular church.
CGILL, STEWART, Agriculturist, was born near Trenton, New Jersey, February 13th, 1788, and was the oldest of eight children, whose parents were Neill McGill and Elizabeth ( Larrison) McGill. The former, a native of county Antrim, near Belfast, Ireland, was engaged through life in school-teaching and surveying, and while still a young man emigrated to America. Ile sympathized with the colonies in their resistance to the rule of Great Britain, and
While the Ilessians were in winter quarters at Trenton, prior to their capture by General Washington, they made a descent on his property, and appropriated to their own they his cattle and other valuable possessions. He died in Hun- terdon county, New Jersey, in ISI4, at the age of seventy- two years, His mother was a native of New Jersey and daughter of Rodger Larrison, an active participant in the Revolutionary war. She died in 1823. His carlier edu- cation was limited, and received at the common schools located in the neighborhood of his home. While in his twelfth year he went to live with Judge John Corryell, of Hunterdon county, New Jersey, with whom he remained for about three years, during this time attending school for a term of three months or more. Ile subsequently worked for three years as an apprentice under Luke Hebdon, of Trenton, New Jersey, at the shoemaking bade, afterward opening a shoe-shop at Lambertville, New Jersey, where he engaged also in harness-making; he remained there through the ensuing year. Up to 18tt he worked in New Jersey and in New York city, removing later to Ohio, where, July 3d, ISHI, he settled finally in Colerain town- ship, Hamilton county. He travelled west on foot through Pennsylvania to Pittsburgh, and thence on a flat-boat to Cincinnati, where he landed July 20. The battle of Tip- pecanoe, in the second war with England, had been fought, and becoming imbued with the prevalent popular excite- ment he entered the volunteer service in 1812, under the command of General Hull, and was taken prisoner at the time of that officer's surrender at Detroit. At the expira- tion of a few weeks he was released on parole, and returned to his home in Hamilton county, where he has since re- sided, ocenpied mostly in agricultural pursuits, In 1821-22 he served as constable and assessor of chatted property, and in 1823 was elected Justice of the Peace, which office he held for nine years. He also heid at various times the offices of trustee, Township Clerk and Assessor of Real Estate for Colerain and Springfield Townships, In 1824 he was elected Treasurer of the School and Ministerial Funds of his township, which office he held for twenty- five years. In 1838 he was elected a director in the Cole- rain, Oxford & Brookville Turnpike Company, whose road was then in the course of construction. In 1840 he was elected Treasurer of said company, which position he held, with the exception of a year or two, until November, 1865. Upon retiring from said position the committee (consisting of the president, secretary and one other director) appointed to settle his accounts passed a resolution expressing their satisfaction that in " accounts extending over a period of nearly a quarter of a century, and amounting to several hundred thousand dollars, no discrepancy had ever ap- peared, nor had a single dime ever been unaccounted for." He has also settled the estates of more deceased persons than any other man in his part of the county. Politically, he is attached to the Republican party; he cast his first
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vote for President for James Monroe, In 1824 he voted belongs the credit of having introduced and maintained for John Quincy Adams, In 1820 or '27 he became a that noble chmaster of binding for which Cincinnati is strong Jackson man and took a leading put in orgamzing celebrated and of which it is justly proud. The buildings the Jackson or Democratic party in Colerain township, and erected by Mr. Wilson are too numcions to be bere men- was a delegate to the first convention held by that party in tioned in detail; we give only the following: The Ohio Hamilton county. He voted for General Jackson in 1828, Life & Trust Company Bank, the Hamilton county Court and again in 1832. But in 1833, not approving the course House, the Cincinnati Post Office, the Jewish Temple, the General Jackson had taken, he left the Democratic and villa of Mr. George K. Shoenberger, the Dexter Chapel joined the Whig party, to which he adhered until it died, and entrance to Spring Grove Cemetery, etc., etc.
after which he became a Republican. lu his younger days he took an active part in politics, although he never sought i office, In 1833 he was nominated as a candidate for County Commissioner, but was defeated by a few votes, ICHARDSON, GENERAL WILLIAM P., Law- yer and ex-Attorney-General of Ohio, was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, May 25th, 1824. Ilis ancestors, four generations removed, moved from Maryland into Pennsylvania and settled opposite Steubenville. His father, Isaac Richardson, was engaged in farming throughout his life. In 1836 the Whigs nominated him for the Legislature, but he was not elected. Ile was nominated several times afterwards for the same office, sometimes accepting and at others declining to be a candidate; but as his party was in the minority he never was elected. He was married, Oc- tober 5th, 1823, to Sarah Johnson, widow of Alexander Johnson and daughter of Elias Hedges, an carly settler , Ilis earlier education was obtained in the schools located from Morris county, New Jersey, who settled at Dunlap's , in his native county. At the age of seventeen he entered Station, on the Big Miami river, Hamilton county, in 1805, "the Washington College, where he completed his studies. by whom he has had three children, two of whom are still Upon leaving school he was engaged in teaching until 1846, living, a son and daughter. He lost his wife in April, when he enlisted as a volunteer in a company that went 1854, and has never married again ; his son, Amzi MeGill, { from Steubenville, and was assigned to the 3d Ohio Regi- has been twice elected a member of the House of Repre- sentatives of Ohio, and has served one term as County Commissioner of Hamilton County, Ohio, and has held various other trusts of greater or less importance. Ile has always been a very industrious and temperate man in all respects, and now at the age of nearly eighty eight years enjoys good health and sound mental faculties.
ILSON, JAMES K., Architect, is a native of Cin- einnati, where he was born on the iith of April, IS28. Early exhibiting a decided talent for drawing, his father (then a merchant of Phil .- delphia) was induced to remove him from Dr. . Crawford's school and to place him with Mr. Charles 11. Mountain, then a prominent architect of the Quaker City. With Mr. Mountain, and subsequently with Mr. Martin E. Thompson, of New York, and with Mr. James Renwick, also of New York, he continued till 1847, when a year's residence in Europe completed his profes- sional studies. Returning from Europe in the spring of 1848 he immediately sought out his native city, at once es- tablished himself in an excellent practice, and in 1852 was married to Virginia Keys, of Cincinnati. In 1858 he again visited Europe, and from that to the present time has been actively and steadily engaged. Undoubtedly, were the profession called upon to select some one as the best and most worthy representative of architecture in the West, that une would be Mr. Wilson, for to him more than to all others
ment. After serving one year in this capacity he was dis. charged. While connected with the army he served under General Taylor and participated in the march from Mata- moras to Buena Vista. After his return he resumed his avocation of teaching, and in the spring of 1850 moved to Hanison county, Ohio, where he taught school and studied law at the same time until August, 1852. Upon finishing his legal studies with Allen C. Turner he was admitted to the bar, and in the spring of 1853 removed to Woodsfickl, Monroe county, where he filled until the following year the position of Principal of the Woodsfield Seminary. Later, he entered on the practice of his profession, and in 1855 was elected Prosecuting Attorney for Monroe county, and was re-elected to the same position in 1857, and again in IS59, holding the office until iSor, when he entered the service of the United States. Also, at the outbreak of the war of the rebellion, he was a Brigadier-General in the Ohio militia. Immediately after the attack on Fort Sumter he succeeded in raising two companies, but before he could secure their acceptance Ohio's quota was filled. The troops, however, changed the term of their enlistment from three months to three years, and were assigned to the 25th Ohio Infantry, of which regiment he was made Major. June 10th, 1861, he was promoted to a Lieutenant-Colo- neley. and with that rank proceeded to the field. May Ioth, 1862, he was promoted to the Colonelcy of his regi- ment. May 20, 1863, he was wounded severely in the right shoulder at the battle of Chancellorsville, which casualty deprived him of the use of his right arm. He was then freed from duty until January, 1864, when he was
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detailed as President of a court martial at Camp Chase. failure. The failure did not befall, and after a while the On the ensuing February with he was placed in command youthful lum came to be recognized as one of the best in the city in the extent of its business and its commercial standing. In a steady, sale, sound way, business was good with the linn from the first, affording another illustration of the fact that strict integrity, close application and prudent enterprise form the sure, safe basis of all prosperity. In 1847 the firm bought out and became the successors of C. & J. Bates, and established themselves on the corner of Pearl and Reynolds streets, Charles Reakurt conducted the negotiations on behalf of his fhim with Caleb Bates, the surviving partner of the other firm, J. Bates, who had transacted all the active business of his house, and in effect- ing the sale, Caleb intrusted to Charles Reakirt the task of inventorying the stock and affixing the prices. The part- nership between Joseph and Charles Reakirt continued for twenty-one years, and in 1865 they sold out. In August, 1874, just thirty years after the establishment of the original house, Charles Reakirt, at the head of the fum of Reakirt, Ilale & Co. (J. Reakirt having died in 1870), purchased the business anew, and is still at its head, the firm now oc- cupying a commodious building, No. 99 Walnut street. of that post, and remained there until the end of August, 1865. In the fall of the preceding year he was elected Attorney General of the State of Ohio, and was prevented from leaving the army only through the pressing instances of Governor Brough. In December, 1864, he was brevetted Brigadier-General. In September, 1865, he joined his command in South Carolina, and was placed over a sub- district, with head quarters at Columbia. Subsequently he was placed in command of the District of East South Carolina, with head-quarters at Darlington, Immediately after being mustered out of the service, in June, 1866, he was appointed Collector of Internal Revenue for the Fifteenth Congressional District. In 1869 he resigned the Collectorship and resumed the practice of the law, in which he has since been successfully engaged. A> a commanding officer he possessed the confidence and esteem of his men ; his services in detached positions have frequently been made the subject of favorable comment; while, during his five years of service, no charge of any nature was ever brought against him. He has been connected professionally with various enterprises, and was a director of the Marietta, Pittsburgh & Cleveland Railroad. He was married in 1848 to Sarah E. Smith, of Brooke county, Virginia.
RINKERHOFF, JACOB, ex-Judge of the Su- preme Court of the State of Ohio, was born in the town of Niles, Cayuga county, State of New EAKIRT, CHARLES C., Druggist, was born on the 13th of April, 1821, in New Richmond, Clermont county, Ohio. Remotely, he is of Welsh-German origin, although both his parents were natives of Pennsylvania. Ilis father was a Philadelphian, and a cabinetmaker by trade. Charles received his education at New Richmond, and in 1837 went to Philadelphia to learn the drug business. Here he served his apprenticeship and thoroughly mastered the business he had chosen. In his twenty-fourth year, by York, on August 3151, 1810. His father, Henry I. Brinkerholl, was a farmer, a native of Penn- sylvania, having been born near the town of Gettysburg. His mother, née Rachel Bevier, came from New York State. After a thorough English education, ob- tained in public schools and at the academy at Prattsburg, Steuben county, New York, Jacob entered the law office of Messrs. Howell & Brother, in Bath, Steuben county, m 1834. Here he vigorously prosecuted his studies for two years, and in the spring of 1836 removed to Manshekl, the advice of his unde, be determined to start in business Ohio, where, in May, 1837, he was admitted to the bar of on his own account. At first he determined to locate in the Supreme Court of that State, and inunodiately entered New Orleans, but the uncle's advice led to the changing of on the practice of his profession. He soon acquired repu- this plan, and finally Cincinnati was determined upon as the ; tation as a lawyer of more than average ability, and in the place in which to establish himself. In the spring of 1844, therefore, in company with his brother, Joseph, the enter- prise was begun. The young partners had no money to speak of, and starting in business implied getting into debt. . So they got into debt, but were not long in getting out. Joseph remained in Philadelphia to secure the necessary
course of a year or two was elected Prosecuting Attorney for Richland County, the duties of which office he satisfac- torily performed for a period of four years. At the expira- tion of his term in that office, in the fall of 1843, he was elected to Congress on the Democratic ticket. While serving as a member of this body he became affiliated with stock, have the printing done and arrange other preliminary 'the Free-soil party, and drew up for David Wilmot the details, while Charles went to Cincinnati to select a proper ; celebrated bill known as " Wilmot's Proviso." At the close location. The place selected was on Third street, opposite the Henrie House, and there the business was established and there it prospered greatly. The members of the firm were young, the place chosen was not a very favorable one commencing January 9th, 1856. In this highly honorable and there were not wanting those who predicted a speedy
of his Congressional career he resumed his legal practice in Mansheld, in which he successfully labored until he was elevated to a seat on the Supreme bench, his first term position he was retained by the people for three successive
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terms, covering a period of fifteen years; and it is but justice | four years, when, tired of tiver life, he engaged in partner- to the Judge to mention that a fourth term was offered him, but he declined a renomination. The "Ohio State Reports" contain many of his opinions, delivered during his terms on the Supreme bench. Since retiring from the bench he has resumed his law practice, although not as actively as in former years. As a judge he commanded the high esteem of all brought into professional contact with him, and his integrity is without a blemish. Ile was married, October 4th, 1837, to Caroline Campbell, of Lodi, Sencea county, New York, who died at that place, while on a visit, No- vember 18th, 1839. Ilis present wife was Marion Titus, of Detroit, whom he married January 6th, 1841.
TEVENS, LEVI E., of the firm of Chambers, Stevens & Co., dry-goods merchants, was born in Oneida county, western New York, August 23d, IS14, and is of Irish extraction. His parents, natives of Nova Scotia, moved from New York State to the western frontier in 1819, and settled in Demborn county, Indiana, near what is now known as Moore's Ilill. Here, in the back woods, he became inured to hardship and danger, and acquired habits of self- reliance which have since formed a marked trait of his character. The educational advantages afforded by the State at that early period of its history were quite limited and of a strictly rudimentary character, consisting of about three months' schooling during the winter season. Of these the future merchant availed himself to the fullest extent ; and by determined perseverance and the assistance of his father, an intelligent farmer, he acquired a degree of proficiency in the English branches and a fund of general knowledge that passed current at that time for a liberal education. At the age of twenty, preferring business pursuits to farming, he engaged as clerk in the store of Glenn & Watson ( William Glenn, of the firm of William Glenn & Sons, Vine street, · and the late Rev. J. V. Watson, who was subsequently the distinguished editor of the Northwestern Christian Ades cate, of Chicago), in the village of billsborough, at a salary INIELDS, ROBERT S., Prosecuting Attorney elect of Stark County, Ohio, was born in Washington, Warren county, New Jersey, on September 28th, 1845. Ilis parents were William and Anna (Ilance) Shields. After a preparatory course of study at the seminary in Allentown, Pennsylvania, he entered Union College, Schenectady, New York, and graduated from that institution in 1867. Selecting the legal profession he entered the law office of E. W. Stongh- ton, in New York city, with whom he prosecuted his studies for about eighteen months. At the expiration of that time he removed to Ohio, and completed his legal course of training in the office of his uncle, Joseph Hance, at New Philadelphia, and was admitted to the bar at of twelve dollars per month-a salary considered so large at the time that his employers reserved the right to termi- nate the engagement at the end of any month. It was not many months, however, before the young clerk had almost full charge of the store. Two years afterward one of the patners, Rev. J. V. Watson, desirous of resuming his vo- cation in the ministry, I. E. Stevens purchased, on credit, his interest, and continned in the business till 1842. After a faithful trial of merchandising he abandoned it for the more active and lucrative business of steamboating. A company, of which he and his present partner, Mr. Josiah Chambers, were members, purchased the steamer " Fashion," for a Cincinnati and Madison (Indiana) packet, of which he was chosen clerk. In this business he continued for some Cadiz in 1870. Locating himself in Canton he has there
ship with Mr. Chambers, under the firm-name of Chambers, Stevens & Co., to conduct a dry goods business at Amora, Indiana, the present place of residence of the senior partner, This house, we may state, is still in existence, and, like its counterpart in Cincinnati, is doing an extensive business, having been in operation over thirty years. In 1847 W. T. Stevens and Francis Wyman were admitted to partnership, and in 1857 the branch house was opened in Cincinnati, when the subject of our sketch moved to that city to assist in conducting the new wholesale establishment, which has now been in existence on Pearl street over eighteen years. Thus the old reliable firm of Chambers, Stevens & Co. has steadily prospered through the long period of thirty years by acting on the policy of limiting its capital to the one legitimate business, that of dealing in dry goods. L. E. Stevens was married to Maria Miller, of Dearborn county, Indiana, in 1839, by whom he has had two daughters, Mrs. Charles S. Weatherby and Mrs. M. HI. Richardson, and a son named William A., a young man of promise who is now actively engaged in the Cincinnati house. A man of de- cided convictions in matters relating to church and politics, I. E. Stevens commands the respect, confidence and esteem of all who know him. His charity is broad and liberal, as evinced by his hearty support of and active co-operation in the management of the Cincinnati Union Bethel. Ile and his estimable lady are also identified with other organiza- tions for the alleviation of the suffering poor and the elevation of the masses. Ile is also in complete sympathy with the movements of business men for the extension of trade, commerce and manufactures, and is a director in one of the city banking houses. He has been all his life a total abstainer from all intoxicating liquors, and has never used tobacco in any form, to which he attributes the enjoyment of a clear and vigorous intellect and a robustness of health possessed by few of bis age. We predict for him many more years of prosperity and useful activity.
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successfully followed his profession. In the spring of 1871 he was honored by election to the Mayoralty of Canton, being chosen to occupy that position for four years, on the Democratic ticket. In October, 1875, he was elected by the same pinty Proscenting Attorney for Stuk county, for a term of two years, The duties of this office he entered upon, January Ist, 1876. He was married in 1871 to Clara A., daughter of Martin Wikidall, an old and successful merchant of Canton.
ODMANN, FERDINAND, late Merchant of Cin- cinnati, was born, July 16th, ISor, in a German Principality near Frankfort-on-the- Main. His opportunities for education were above the ordi- nary grade, and he fully improved them. He graduated from Bamborg College in 1817, and then entered a large banking-house, where he was fully fitted for a business career. His father, Davis C. Bodmann, a Republican in principle, who viewed with repugnance and sorrow the devastating effect of the Napoleonic wars, de- termined upon emigrating to the more tranquil Western world, and reached America in 1822 with three sons, His wife died eleven years prior to this event. Settling in Hagerstown, Maryland, he engaged in mercantile pursuits until the death of his father, about six years after, when he removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, then a small town with little promise of its future greatness, He erected a large tobacco warehouse on Main street, between Sixth and Seventh, and conducted a thriving business until his death, on July 29th, 1874. By close attention to his affairs he acquired not only a large and profitable trade but a fine reputation as an cuer- getic and honorable business man. At the time of his de. cease the transactions of his house far exceeded in value those of any other establishment west of the Alleghenies. Mr. Bodmann was deeply interested in the material welfare of his adopted city, and erected quite a number of fine busi- ness houses and residences. He contributed liberally to the construction and support of public works, and was generous to the charitable and deserving institutions of Cincinnati. When he set out in his mercantile career he acted upon the sound advice given him by his father, to deal entirely upon a cash basis, and in this way finding immunity from financial difficulties. He made no purchases on credit, issued no notes, and was never compelled to request a creditor to call a second time for the amount of his claim. During the re- bellion he gave the government a practical support, and did much to encourage enlistments and to relieve the distress of the sick and wounded of the army. He was married, December 14th, 1825, to Kate Poplem, of Baltimore, by whom he had six children, of whom but two, a son and a daughter, are now living. His eldest son, Charles, died on May 10th, 1875. Mr. Bodmann was the founder of the leaf tobacco trade of Cincinnati, and he lived to see it as- sume great proportions. The surviving son, George, i, a
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