USA > Ohio > The Biographical encyclopedia of Ohio of the nineteenth century. Pt. 1 > Part 32
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successful merchant in Brussels, Belgium. The surviving d.mghter, Lauretta Louisa, the widow of the late Joseph Reicht, lives at the homestead at Mount Auburn, one of the finest residences in that section of the country. Her mother lives with her.
ODMANN, CHARLES, Tobacco Merchant, the founder of the extensive tobacco finn of Charles Bodmann & Co. of Cincinnati, was of German descent, and was born in Hagerstown, Maryland, February 18th, 1827. His father, Ferdinand Bodmann, was born in a German Principality near Frankfort, on July 16th, 1801, and in 1817 graduated with honor from Bamborg College. He subsequently re- ceived a commercial education in a large banking house in Frankfort, in which he conducted the French correspond- ence. In 1822 he emigrated to this country with his father, settling at Hagerstown, Maryland, but shortly thereafter re- moved to Cincinnati, where he remained until his death, in July, 1874. Ile left a wife and three children, a daughter and two sons, of whom Charles was the oldest. As he grew up he was liberally and thoroughly educated, and very quickly gave evidence of brilliant business as well as liter- ary qualities. Ile established himself in the tobacco trade, and his house grew very rapidly in reputation as one of the most enterprising and trustworthy in its line in the West. By diligence and by careful attention, watchful to anticipate the wants of the trade and to supply them with the utmost despatch, employing energetic agents and correspondents in the principal cities on both sides of Mason and Dixon's line, he soon secured for Cincinnati the largest tobacco trade in the West, and raised his establishment to pre-eminence as a wholesale and retail house in that market. The weil- known warehouse on Front street, which for so long a time has been occupied by Charles Bodmann & Co., was started in 1852 on a modest scale. It witnesses now annual trans. actions to the value of over eighteen hundred thousand dol- lars, and its business is still increasing. Mr. Bodmann, who was never married, found recreation from the cares of this growing trade in yearly trips to foreign lumuls. He became an enthusiastic traveller, and his cultivated as well as varied tastes and acquirements enabled him to fully appreciate the rare scenes and unusual incidents which his European and Asiatic tours presented to him. It is said that his travels carried him to nearly every country of the globe, and being as clever a descriptive writer as a mercantile correspondent, he very often gave his experiences to the people of Cincin- nati through letters published in their daily papers, signed, "A Cincinnatian." These letters were dated from Jerusalem, Constantinople, various cities in Australia and in the great Polynesian archipelago, and were written in an easy, graceful style, gossipy, sensible and instructive. During his absence the business was conducted by his partner, II. Il. Hoffman, who for many years had been associated with Mr. Bodmann,
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and who completed a partnership relation which was better known to the mercantile world as " Charles Bodmann & Co." Upon the death of Mr. Bodmann, in May, 1575, at the residence of his mother, his entire business was left to the exclusive control and management of Mr. Hoffman, who now conducts it in the same manner and with the same spirit as during Mr. Bodmann's life. The latter during his mercantile career gained the esteem of the community, not only as an enterprising and honorable business man but as a liberal and public-spirited citizen. He amassed a large fortune, the benefits of which he generously disbursed. His brother George, now in business in Brussels, Belgium, is a gentleman of wealth and social influence, and his mother and sister, who reside at Mount Auburn, have ample means. Mr. Hoffman, who succeeds to the entire control of the house of Charles Bodmann & Co., was born in Cincinnati, November 23d, 1845, and received his education in the city schools. When eighteen years of age he was engaged by Mr. Bodmann as assistant bookkeeper, becoming head book- keeper within six months of his entrance in the establish- ment. On September ist, 1870, he was admitted to a part- nership interest, and the firm became that as styled above. This relation was maintained until the death of Mr. Bod- mann. The will of the latter, upon its admission to probate, gave evidence of the appreciation in which he held his part- ner. Under its provisions, after liberal bequests were made to many charitable institutions and individuals, the residuary estate, amounting to between four and five hundred thousand dollars, was devised to Mr. Hoffman. The latter is a gentle man substantially educated, of thorough business acquire- ments, and in every way fitted to carry out the designs for the extension of the relations of the house prepared by its founder
HORNE, WILLIAM F., Wholesale Shoe Mer- chant, was born at Higham, Leicestershire, Eng- land, November 24th, 1822. He was born and reared to the shoe trade, his father being a shoe- miker and dealer before him. When he was thirteen years of age his father died, leaving him the eldest son of a family of seven children. After his father's death he went to Claybrook to finish learning his trade with his uncle, a shoemaker of that place. Afterwards returning to Higham he worked at his trade in the shop of Mr. Luke Marvin, remaining with him a year or two. Dur- ing this time, having read many letters and other favorable accounts from America, he, with six other young men, de- termined to try fortune in the United States. Accordingly, obtaining his mother's consent, on April 7th, IS41, he em- barked on the ship " Rochester " for America, the Eldorado of his hopes. Thinking that if Cincinnati were the Queen City of the West it would be the place for him, he decided to locate in that city, and nothing could turn him from his purpose, although he had two fine offers through the country
from New York to Cincinnati that almost any young man without money might have been expected to accept. On June 7th, 1841, on the steamer " Pilot," he arrived in Cin. cinnati from Pittsburgh. The first night in the Queen City he spent at Cotts' Temperance Hotel, on Sycamore street. In the early days of Cincinnati this house and its sign were landmarks. Of the seven who started from England young Luke Marvin and himself came to Cincinnati; the others were dispersed according to their fancies. Their joint capital, summed up in their quarters at Cotts, read : Marvin, one five dollar gold piece ; William F. Thome, one five- franc piece. Marvin designing to start for Danville in the morning should have just five dollars for his fare. Without breakfast, their two suppers and two lodgings would take Mr. Thorne's five-franc piece. Marvin paid his stage fare, Mr. Thorne their Temperance House bill ; they bade each other God-speed; Marvin took the stage, Mr. Thorne turned into the street moneyless and friendless. Opposite the old National Theatre he found Able Doughty, one of the most energetic shoemakers of his time. He proposed to work for Mr. Doughty for his hoard and lodging. This offer was accepted. In a few minutes, having removed his trunk to the shop and eaten his breakfast, he began his first work in America. In a short time he had worked out his board for the week. Not wishing to be idle, he worked the rest of the week for dry goods. To money this was the nearest ap- proach he could then make with Mr. Doughty. At the end of the first week, having kept the Sabbath according to the custom of his fathers and his home in Old England, attend. ing Sunday school and all the services at Wesley Chapel, he made an engagement with Mr. Doughty for six months to take charge of his sales and general business, Mr. Doughty seeing that a young man of such habits' was the person to fill the most responsible place in any business. At the ex- piration of this time he made an engagement with Mr. Shad- ford Easton to work in his leather and findings store and live in his family. After remaining two years, and having saved most of his earnings, he concluded to start business for himself on Lower Market, with a capital of less than $500. Mr. Easton very kindly gave him all the assistance he needed in supplying his shop with leather; and Mr. Abraham Taylor gave him a letter to William Claflin & Co., Boston, Massachusetts. This afforded him all the accom- modation he needed in Eastern markets. In this shop the first calf and kip boots were made and sold by the dozen in Cincinnati. Mr. Thorne has always been an advocate of thorough, energetic business advertising, which he did largely at that time, chiefly using the Cincinnati Commercial, then a small and not very powerful sheet, as the medium. Thus he soon got the name of the enterprising shoe man and did the business of the town. His fortunate circum- stances now justifying it, on September 10th, 1845, he was married to Sarah E. Collins, member of Wesley Chapel and daughter of Henry E. Collins. She proved to be in every sense of the word a helpmeet. He now found it necessary
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to take a larger store, thus giving a new impetus to his busi. ues, which developed into an exclusively wholesale trade in 1851. Notwithstanding that his business has always been what is termed legitimate jobbing custom, yet by using great energy in every honorable way he has increased his sales to enormous proportions, some years reaching $1,000,000. Although he is now ranked among the wealthy men of Cin- cinnati, and his career has been one of remarkable suc- cesses, reverses have not been unknown in his experience. Ile has at least learned that " riches have wings." Cincin- nati has passed through three great monetary panics since he began his business career in it, but while many were sorely pressed or failed entirely he came through unscathed, with a solid business, and consequently a credit sounder, if pos- sible, than before. He has crossed the ocean thirteen times since he became an American, chiefly for his health and to visit his old mother, who is still living. On the first of these trips his brother Joseph came with him to this country, and has now become the active man of the house of W. F. Thorne & Co. Mr. Thorne has recently brought into the business his son, W. II. Thorne, a young man full of the enterprise and business vigor of his father, who is training him by his side that he may, as he has every reason to hope, more than fill his father's place in business, church and society. Like most mercantile men of his times, Mr. Thorne has found most of his education in the school of the world on the highway to fortune. Ile has been too busy to be a politician, but has always been a Whig in principle and an earnest advocate of the best Republican interests of the country. He is a member and officer in St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church; has been eleven years Superintendent of its Sunday-school; is one of the Directors of Wesleyan Female College; is Vice-President of the Young Men's Christian Association ; and was one of the earliest sup- porters of the old Methodist Bethel, having been its Super- intendent for nine years. Ile is now one of the stirring, earnest workers of his church. Always a consistent, active temperance man, he was one of the warriors in the romantic temperance movement of ISIS, and one of the most persist ent workers in the recent crusade. A man whose practice has never varied from his principles, whose motto in busi- ness has ever been honor, and the key to his success work, Mr. Thorne has made his mark, and the world is better for his having lived in it.
INGHAM, HON. EDWARD FRANKLIN, Lawyer, and Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, Columbus, Ohio, was born, Angust 13th, 1828, at West Concord, Vermont. The family is very ancient, and in its different branches has many eminent representatives in this country. Thomas Bingham was its founder in America ; he emigrated from Sheffield, England, and settled in Norwich, Connecticut, in 1063, being then twenty-one years of age. He traces bis
funily back to the Binghams of Somerset, England, who in the carly Norman period received knighthood and were settled for many generations on an estate in the west of England. The funily i, of Saxon origin, and therefore had existence in England before the Conquest. Thomas Bingham had eleven children; his second son, Abel, married Mary Odell, and had a family'of ten children. Abel's eighth son was Jonathan, who married Sarah N. Newton, and one of his sons, Jonathan, married Betsy Warner, and his son, Elisha Warner Bingham, who was the second son of a family of ten, married Miss Perry. Warner Bingham, son of the last-named and father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Cornish, New Hampshire, 1789; his father moved with the family to Concord, Vermont, 1796. Warner Bingham married Lucy, daughter of Captain John Wheeler. Only three of his sons now survive : Harry Bingham, the eldest, a leading lawyer, politician, Democrat, of New Hampshire; George A. Bingham, a prominent lawyer of the same State ; his sixth son, Judge Edward Franklin Bingham. Judge Warner Bingham was a man of great energy; he led a life of much usefulness to his State, and was held in high repute for integrity of character and purity of motive, Ed- ward Franklin Bingham received his early education at the public schools of Vermont; in his fourteenth year he en- tered Caledonia county grammar school, where he zealously and successfully, under able tutorship, prosecuted his studies for three years. In 1846, visiting Ohio, he became so de- lighted with the country that he determined to settle in the State. After spending a short time at Marietta College he read law under Hon. Joseph Miller, at Chillicothe, Ohio, and his own brother, Harry, in New Hampshire, till 1850, when he was admitted to the bar by the Supreme Court of Ohio, at Georgetown, and commenced practice of law, June Ist, at McArthur, Vinton county, Ohio. In October, 1850, the Court of Common Pleas appointed him Prosecuting At- torney of Vinton county; after this, in 1851 and 1853, he was elected to the same office. At the expiration of that time, in 1855, being elected as Representative ( Democratic) for the counties of Vinton and Jackson, he sat in the Legis- lature during the sessions of 1856 and 1857. He now de- termined to devote himself exclusively to the duties of his profession, and, notwithstanding he belonged to the political party which was in the minority in his district, was, in 1858, barely defeated in bis candidacy for the Judgeship of the Common Pleas. His party has frequently desired him to put himself forward in politics, but the Judge has rather sought distinction in his profession than political preferment. He was a delegate from the Eleventh Congressional District of Ohio in 1860 to the National Democratic Convention at Charleston and Baltimore. Wishing a more extended fiekl for the prosecution of his profession he removed to Columbus in 1861, and has since been engaged in law. In May, 1873, he was elected to the bench as Judge of the Court of Com- mon Pleas. From 1867 to 1871 he was, by election, Solicitor of the city of Columbus, The Judge has ever shown great
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interest in educational matters, and for many years was mem- ber of the Board of Education. In 1868 he was Chairman of the Democratic State Executive Committee of Ohio, llc was manied, November 21st, 1850, to Susmah F. Gunning, of Fayette county, Ohio, and has two sons and two daughters. The distinguished career of Judge Bingham is entirely due to his own indomitable industry and perseverance, coupled with unflinching integrity of character.
ORMANN, FREDERICK, is a native of the State of llanover, Germany, where he was born, August 6th, 1820. Ile was the second of three children, his parents being George Dorman and Fredericka Ililka, both natives of Hanover, where the former followed through life the occupation of baker. At the time of the death of his father Frederick was in his infancy. His early education was limited to such studies as were pursued in the common schools of his country. At the age of sixteen he was thrown upon his own resources for a livelihood, and commenced at once an active life in the pursuit which his father had engaged in. In 1836, as from boyhood and the fatherland he wandered, and after sailing eight weeks and one day in the staunch ship "Alexander," he at length reached Baltimore, landing a stranger in a strange land, with no friends save the two willing hands inured to toil in a country where bread comes but with labor, and no word, of cheer save those whispered to a brave soul by a dauntless heart, young Frederick found himself penni- less, and consequently found work. In 1838 le went to Wheeling, Virginia, remaining there until 1842, when he took up his residence in Cincinnati, which has been his abaling place ever since. Three years after landing on the American shore his guiding star brought him to the feet of a light-haired, blue-eyed fraulein, who had come across the seas in the same vessel, but had been lost both to sight and mind for all those long months, and the maiden had grown into a woman when Frederick gave her his honest heart and empty hand. In iSo he was married in Wheeling to this maiden, who was the lite Fredericka Brodfachrer, also a native of Germany, and a lidy of most amiable qualities. Time rolled on, and by-and-by babies came, and with them the desire to find some home that they might truly call their own. This inborn feeling of the German over every other MITII, R. F., Assistant General Manager of the Pennsylvania Company for the Cleveland & Pitts- burgh Railroad, was born in Windham, Connect- icut, June 20th, 1830. His father, Edwin Smith, one of the pioneer merchants of the city of Cleve- land, was a well-known produce dealer and an esteemed citizen. Ile was educated in the city schools con- tiguous to his home, and, after the completion of the allotted course of studies, entered a hardware store as clerk in New- ark, Ohio. Returning at the expiration of one year he en- nation to have some spot, no matter how small, a house, be it ever so tiny, over which there is but one master, was strong in these two, and in 1842, with the goods and chat- tels, babes and good health, they drifted down the Ohio to what was then an insignificant Queen City. On Western Row and Everett street the bake shop again coined silver pieces, and deep into the capacious pockets of the good frau they rested until enough were garnered to buy not only the long-coveted home but a few acres besides. To his oecu- pation as a baker he soon joined that of a grocer, and pur- I tered his father's store, where he served in a similar capacity.
sued this joint enterprise for five years. At this time he interested himself in the sale and purchase of real estate, and commenced the chaying business, which he followed with profit for six years, In 18.15 he invested largely in property, now comprising the Twenty fifth Ward of Cincin- nati, and in 1847 put up, with but one exception (that of Ephraim Knowlton's), the first building. From that until the present time he has been a continuous resident of Cum- minsville, and has become one of the largest property owners. The fine hotel on the corner of Spring Grove avenue and Dormann street is a monument of his industry, and has been his home for years. A few years ago the cheery helpmate, who had for so long been a tender companion and wise counsellor, left his side and started on the mysterious jour- ney that leads we know not where, but he hopes with the remainder of his family that when the trials and cares of this work are over to meet her on that happy shore where sorrows are unknown. Twelve children were born to them, eight daughters of whom are still living, while the remainder, three sons and one daughter, have departed this life and gone to where the angels dwell. But Mr. Dormann's blue eyes still twinkle with the fire of youth, and his step is elastic as it was twenty years ago. The world has given him some hard knocks, has often given him frowns when he wooed her smiles, but it has failed to warp his kindly nature or harden his generous heart. There are few whose lives have been more actively spent or more honorably employed than his. Ilis was a struggle against poverty from the outset, and a struggle intensified but never stopped by adverse fortune. Industrious perseverance won at length what he so richly merited-a fortune, and, moreover, left him health to enjoy it. Ile has often been solicited to accept publie office, but has invariably declined, wishing rather than its cares, and often doubtful honor, the untrammelled enjoyment of his family circle and the society of a few intimate friends. In his political views he is Democratic, and always has been from the time of his manhood until the present day. Ile is one of the old German pioneers, and belongs to several of the different societies of Cincinnati. Ilis children have all experienced the Protestant baptism, and his religious opinions are cirenseribed by the tenets and ereeds of the Protestant churches.
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There he remained for a period of two years or more, until | burgh, and from this point by a flatboat to Cincinnati. The he had attained his majority, then found employment in a dry-goods house, where he was occupied during the ensuing four years. In 1855 he entered the service of the Cleve- land & Pittsburgh Railroad, primarily in the capacity of Paymaster, subsequently was promoted to an Auditorship, and, later, became Vice-President. At the present time he i, the Manager of the road, and is also Director of the Ash- Labula, Youngstown & Pittsburgh Railroad Company. Ile has persistently avoided the turmoil and excitements of po- litical life, and devoted his time and energies entirely to the conduct of his business affairs. He is a liberal co-worker in religious and benevolent matters, and is an elder in the First Presbyterian Church of Cleveland. He was married in 1856 to Rebecca E. Peters, of Colchester, Connecticut, and by her has had four children, three at present surviving.
ORBERT, JAMES L, Jr., son of Judge James L. and Hannah ( Winans) Torbert, was born in Springfield, Ohio, September 27th, 1831. He re- ceived his education at Wittenberg College, grad- uating in 1851, in the first class of that school. Soon after he went to New Orleans, where for a few years he taught as Principal of the High School. Hav- ing meanwhile pursued the study of law, he was admitted to the bar and began practice. But in a few years his health was undermined by the yellow fever, from which he had hardly recovered before he was prostrated with typhoid fever. Ile was then brought home, which was in the spring of 1859, his parents having gone for him; his honored father, however, dying on the return trip. He never fully recovered from these successive shocks, but as soon as he was able began the practice of law in his native city. In 1861 he was appointed Mayor of the city, to fill a vacancy, and afterwards for several years held the office of United States Commissioner. He was a ripe scholar, and an able and upright lawyer. He was married, November 1st, 1864, to Mary Barr, of Cincinnati, but had no family. He died of lingering consumption, October 15th, 1871.
INGO, CALEB, Manufacturer, was born in Worcester county, Maryland, March 23d, 1806, and was the fifth child in a family of nine chil- dren, whose parents were Obadiah Lingo and Mary (Tilghman) Lingo, both natives of Mary- land. Ilis father, who followed agricultural pur- suits through life, removed with his family in 1810 to Ohio, settling at Cincinnati, where he remained during the winter, and, in the ensuing spring, drew nearer to Carthage, and engaged in farming. Ile moved to Ohio by the following route : by boat to Baltimore, thence with a team to Pitts-
last twenty-five years of his life were passed on his farm near Mount Airy, Hamilton county, Ohio, where he died, January 20, 1848, at the age of seventy-six years. Ilis mother's decease occurred at the same place in July, 1835. Ile was educated at the common schools of the frontier settlements. In 1812 he went to live with John Martin, a merchant of Cincinnati, and, while serving him as clerk, was a member of his family for a period of over twenty-one years. Iu 1831 he became the owner, by purchase, of his employer's interests in the establishment, and continued the business of notions and dry goods until 1837. During the succeeding two years, he was interested in the wire-work business, and in 1839 engaged in the manufacture of sashes, blinds, and doors, in which he was occupied until 1844. He then, in connection with his brother, purchased a saw-mill near Cumminsville, and conducted its affairs successfully for twelve years. In 1859 he engaged in business in Cum- minsville, and has constantly resided there, pursuing the manufacture of blinds, sashes, doors and frames, while at- tending also to contract work and building enterprises. Ilis mill, one of the most favorably known concerns of its kind in this section of the State, is run entirely by steam. Politi- cally he is attached to the Republican party. For over thirty-three years he has been a member of the Methodist Church. Ile was married, September 12th, 1833, to Mar- garet Finkbine, a native of Philadelphia, and a daughter of Frederic Finkbine, prominent as an early pioncer and settler of Hamilton county, Ohio.
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