The Biographical encyclopedia of Ohio of the nineteenth century. Pt. 2, Part 58

Author: Robson, Charles, ed; Galaxy Publishing Company, pub
Publication date: 1876
Publisher: Cincinnati, Galaxy publishing company
Number of Pages: 760


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ARTIN, JUDGE WILLIAM T., was born, April 6th, 1788, in Bedford county, Pennsylvania. lle was married in 1814 to Amelia Ashcom, and early in the following year they emigrated to Ohio, set- tling at New Philadelphia, Tuscarawas county. Ile remained there but a short time, going to Co- lumbus in the spring of the same year. There he at once established himself, and was a resident of the city from that time up to the date of his death. In the earlier part of his life in Pennsylvania he had been engaged in teaching school, and in the mercantile business; he worked, too, at his trade, that of a carpenter and joiner. lle came well prepared to his new home in Ohio, and was soon engaged in teaching and in business as a carpenter. In 1820 he was elected Justice of the Peace, holding that office by repeated re-elections for thirty years. Ile also served for some time as Councilman in the Town Council, and was for a time Mayor of the town. He was for some years clerk and store- keeper at the Ohio Penitentiary under the old regime in the old building. In 1831 he was elected County Recorder, and continued in that office until 1846, when he was suc- ceeded by Mr. Cole. In 1851 he was elected Associate Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Franklin county, and held the office until it was abolished by the adoption of the new Constitution. In 1858 he published what is known as " Martin's History of Franklin County," an elaborate | work, familiar to and highly prized in all circles. For a


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number of years previous to Mr. Martin's . death, he [ great reform he has made more public addresses, has been had been in no public business, except the position he held as Secretary and Trustee of Green Lawn Cemetery Association. He was remarkable for the smoothness of his disposition, and for his charity for the faults of others; the latter with him was a distinguishing characteristic, and he never was heard to speak in derision of any person, living or dead. Ilis charitable contributions were numerous, and were principally confined to that class of persons from which the world had turned with coldness and frowns. The poor and needy of the city recognized him as their firmest friend, and one of the most touching incidents of his sickness was the crowd of humble poor, black and white, who came reverently to his door each day, with anxious faces, to inquire after the health of their benefactor; and when it was known that he must die, and family and friends gave vent to grief, there were corresponding sobs and tears in many a lonely house, and from those who, like Uncle Tom at Eva's door, loitered near in anxious waiting. Ilis death occurred February 19th, 1866. Ile left behind him a widow and two children-Mr. B. F. Martin, Collector of Internal Revenue, and Mrs. Matilda Wright, wife of Smith. son E. Wright, of Cincinnati. Judge Martin was one of the most useful, influential and universally respected citi- zens of Columbus, a complete history of whose life would be a history of the city and county, so intimately was he connected with every public movement.


ARY, SAMUEL FENTON, Lawyer and Politi- cian, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, February ISth, 1814, and is a lineal descendant of John Cary, of the Plymouth colony. ITis father, Wil- liam Cary, emigrated from New Hampshire to the Northwestern Territory before Ohio was a State. ITis mother, Rebecca Fenton, was a native of the State of New York, and was a sister of Governor Fenton's father. When Samuel was an infant his parents removed to a farm six miles from Cincinnati, then a wilderness, now known as the village of College Ilill. Freeman G. Cary, the founder of Farmers' College, is an elder brother, and Alice and Phobe Cary, the world-renowned poets, were cousins, and reared in the same neighborhood. He gradu- ated at Miami University in the class of 1835, and at the Cincinnati law school in 1837, and entered at once upon the practice of the law in his native city, and took rank with the first young members of the bar. His practice rapidly in- creased, and when he relinquished the profession in 1845, no man of his age in the State of Ohio had a larger practice or a more enviable reputation as an advocate. Obeying his philanthropic impulses, he abandoned the bar in spite of the remonstrances of his numerous admirers, and devoted all his energies to the cause of temperance. In behalf of this


heard by a greater number of persons, has made larger con- tributions of time and money than any other man in the United States. He has been repeatedly heard in all the principal cities and towns and villages in twenty-six States, and in all the British Provinces in North America. IIe has addressed ummense audiences in all the principal cities and towns in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. In this great work a multitude bless his name on both sides of the ocean. Ile emily became a Son of Temperance, and in 1848 was chosen the head of the order in North America, and is its oldest chief officer now living. For twenty years he was the gratuitous editor of temperance papers of large circulation, edited several annuals, and has written several tracts that have been widely distributed and read. As early as 1840 he acquired a great reputation as a political speaker, and took a prominent and active part in the Harrison cam- paign. In every Presidential campaign since that time, his services have been sought and appreciated. There are few men in the United States who are his superiors on the stump. During the late civil war he was indefatigable and very successful in his efforts to fill up the ranks of the Union army. Ilis style of speaking is peculiarly his own. A dis- tinguished writer has said of him, that " he speaks like a Greek, with the case, the grace, the naturalness of the an- cient orators." Ilis speeches are the happiest combinations of logic, argument with sarcasm, pathos, apt illustrations and felicitous anecdotes. Ile plays upon the passions and feel- ings of an audience with consummate skill. Ile is five feet eleven inches in height, weighs two hundred pounds, has a well-modulated voice, never becomes hoarse, never tires, and has often spoken three or four hours in the open air for successive days and weeks. fle uses no notes or manu- scripts, and weaves in every passing incident with happy effect. In the summer of 1867 he was nominated as an in- dependent candidate for Congress by the workingmen of the Second Congressional District of Ohio. Although the district was very largely Republican he was elected by a majority of 959 votes over Richard Smith, editor of the Cincinnati Gazette. In the Fortieth Congress he took a prominent part. Ile opposed the impeachment of Andrew Johnson. He opposed the reconstruction acts of the Repub- lican party, and his course secured him the confidence and support of the Democratic party, althoughi he had always been identified with the Whig and Republican organiza- tions. Since Mr. Cary left public life, he has returned to the practice of law in Cincinnati, but is prominent and active in every political campaign. Ile is devoted to thic interests of the laboring classes, and is regarded by them as an able expounder of their principles. When in Congress he delivered a powerful speech on the rights and wrongs of labor, which was extensively circulated, and added greatly to his popularity among the working classes throughout the country. In the contest of 1875 he was the Democratic candidate for Lieutenant-Governor of Ohio, but was de-


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feated. In 1836 he married Maria Louisa Allen, of Cin- [ the education he acquired. He had been reared to hard cinnati, who died in 1847. In 1849 he married Lida S. Stilwell, who is still living.


9 GRANGER, MOSES M., Lawyer, was born in Zanesville, Ohio, on October 22d, 1831, and is the second son of his father, who was born iu Suffield, Connecticut. His mother was a native of St. Clairsville, Ohio. He obtained his educa- tion by attendance at public and private schools until 1846, when he started to attend Kenyon College, where he graduated in 1850. Shortly after leaving college he commenced the study of law with Judge C. C. Congners, and was admitted to the bar on January 4th, 1853. Enter- ing upon practice he gradually acquired a good business. On the outbreak of the war he proffered his services in the Union cause, and entered the army as Captain of the 18th United States Infantry. Ile became Major of the 122d Ohio Volunteers on September 10th, 1862 ; was promoted to be Lieutenant-Colonel of the same on May Ist, 1863; and on October 19th, 1864, the day on which the battle of Cedar Creck was fought, was brevetted Colonel of United States Volunteers, Ile resigned his commission on December 16th, 1864. In April of the following year he became City Solicitor of Zinesville, and Prosecuting Attorney of Mus- kingum county in January, 1866. He was chosen Judge of the Court of Common Pleas; entered on the duties of the position on December 10th, 1866, and resigned on October 9th, 1871. Ile married Mary II. Reese, daughter of Gen- eral William J. Reese, of Lancaster, Ohio, whose mother was a sister of General Sherman.


OOERS, HENRY, Iron Founder, was born, October 21st, 1805, in the town of Lansing, near Ithaca, Tompkins county, New York. ITis father was a native of New Jersey, and a miller by trade. Ile removed to Cayuga county, when Henry was about five years old, and operated a grist mill, in the town of Genoa, for about two years. Ile then removed to a farm, ou what was then known as the "Crocker Land," iu Tompkins county, where he remained for about three years, and thence procceded, with his family, to the neighborhood of Kingston, Canada, where he man- aged a grist-mill for about one year, and thence moved into Kingston, where he obtained employment in unloading vessels, ete. After passing about a year in that town, he de- cided to return to New York, and stopped a year at Sodus Bay, near Owego. Finally, the family returned and settled in Ithaca, where the parents afterwards died. Henry passed two years in working in summer on a farm, and attending the school during the winter months, this being about all |


work, and chopped wood ; when but twelve years old, his usual task was one cord per day. When sixteen years old he went to work in Ins brother in-law's founchy ( King's), where he remained two year,, acquiring a knowledge of the mechanical part of the business. Hle next was engaged at Coffin & Dennis' foundry, at Ithaca Falls, and at the end of two years, having had his wages gradually advanced from seventy-five cents per day to one dollar and seventy-five cents, he was appointed foreman by the firm, and placed in charge of their foundry and machine-shop, at what was then considered a high salary, fifty dollars per month. Ile con- tinued in this capacity for about cight years, enjoying the entire confidence of the firm, and originating many valuable improvements in the equipping and running of their various works, refusing at one time to receive full pay, during a season when their business was unusually dull, being con- tented with forty dollars per month. While foreman, about 1830, he conceived the idea of a concave mould-board plow, instead of the convex form then in use; and had some made and sold of this new pattern. They rapidly came into use, and the invention became public property, as he had neg- lected to apply for a patent ; and no plow manufacturer has been able to monopolize that feature since. Ile is gifted with an innate mechanical ingenuity, and at that time was recognized as a skilful and energetic manager. Ile was both industrious and economical, and made his home with his parents, assuming the burden of their support when helpless from disease. In 1836, having saved about three thousand dollars, besides owning a good house and lot, he decided to go into business for himself. Ifis attention was attracted towards the anthracite coal region of Pennsylvania, then beginning to be systematically worked, and he went to the Beaver Meadow region to start a foundry, and removed thither with his family. He was proposing to associate one of his brothers in business as a partner, and intrusted him with the greater part of his money, to purchase iron, etc. Through the misconduct of his brother the funds were all lost, and he was left almost without resources. Determined, however, to carry out his enterprise, he succeeded in start- ing a small foundry, run by horse power, and very soon was doing a profitable business in making car-wheels, and doing other work for the coal companies. He remained there only about two years, when, having an opportunity to sell his foundry to good advantage, he returned to Ithaca. While at Beaver Meadows he made a very important improvement in car-wheels, casting them with a solid hub-instead of the former mode of casting in two sections-and for which he was granted letters patent, March 10th, 1838. Ilon. Samuel D. Ingham, for some time Secretary of the Treasury under the Jackson administration, was then the president of the Beaver Meadow and Hazleton Coal Company, and un- dertook to contest his claim to this invention, and a long and expensive series of litigations was the result. Mr. Mooers was engaged in defending his claim for between two


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and three years after leaving Pennsylvania, and expended | and steam-engines. The senior member of this firm has in it all he had gained there; he was, however, successful been noted from his youth as a staunch temperance man and one of the earliest workers in that cause. While a citizen of Ithaca, he was an active member of the Sons of Temperance, and a prominent member of the Grand Divi- sion of the State. Ile devoted much of his time and means towards the furtherance of the cause, and aided largely by his influence and efforts in carrying the State election in favor of temperance measures at one time, when Myron II. Clark was elected Governor. Since his residence in Toledo, he has been identified with all temperance movements and organizations, and has ever been known as an uncompromis- ing opponent to the traffic in everything that intoxicates, even refusing to use any medicine himself that contains alcohol in its preparation, and will doubtless die, as he has lived, a thorough and radical teetotaller. In 1873 he was sent as one of a committee from Toledo, to visit and inspect the Silicon Steel Works at Elmira, New York. At the same time he visited Ithaca, where he met Ilon. Ezra Cor- nell, whom he had once known as a farmer boy, who like himself had first visited Ithaca to work for a livelihood. llenry Movers was married in Dryden, New York, to Cynthia Milk. in substantiating his claim, and held his patent. He was employed for some time in Ithaca as a foreman, and in iSpo, joining a fellow-workman, named Benjamin C. Vail, pur- chased a small foundry in that town, which they operated for several years successfully. They erected a new shop, and were doing a very profitable business, when their works took fire and were entirely destroyed. Their liabilities were $45,000, and the entire amount was liquidated, chiefly from the collection of accounts due them, but their capital was entirely swept away by the disaster. Mr. Mooers had some time previously been granted another patent, for an improved side-hill plow, which was very popular at the time, and he had employed a man named Hardy, as his agent, to sell the right. Leaving his late partner, Vail, to settle up their business, he started to look after llardy, who had been very successful in disposing of the territory, and had realized a large amount of money. These funds Hardy appropriated to his own use, and Mr. Mooers again found himself without any means, except his house in Ithaca. After some time he succeeded in leasing the foundry of V. Conrad, in Ithaca, and was occupied for several years in the manufacture of car wheels, threshing machines, etc. During this period he traded some machines for a tract of pine lands in the Saginaw region, which he has held until they have become valuable, and a source of income from saw- mills on the land, in which he has an interest. In 1852 he closed his business in Ithaca, and removed to Buffalo, where he again engaged in the foundry and car-wheel business with other parties, the firm being Movers, Purdy & Co. The works were carried on very prosperously for several years, until the company became involved through the dis- honesty of one of its members, and the partnership was dis- solved in 1858. After the affairs of the partnership were finally settled, he found he had saved something, and in 1860 went to Ohio, where he tarried for a while in Toledo, and found employment at the Novelty Works. In the autumn of that year he went South, and with a companion named Hamilton, visited Nashville, with a view of starting car works there, and was offered que inducements by Mr. Stevenson, a railroad President. The Presidential canvass was then in progress, and the general excitement prevailing decided them not to remain. Hamilton especially became greatly alarmed at Mooer's outspoken abolition sentiments, and did not rest until they had reached free territory. Re- turning to Toledo, they leased a building on the site of the present works, and proceeded to fit it up as a foundry and machine shop. Soon after it went into operation, he pur- chased Hamilton's interest in it, and subsequently Mr. Shoemaker became his partner for a few years, but eventu- ally disposed of his share to his partner. In 1868 he asso- ciated his son and two sons-in-law, Messrs. Cook, brothers, and the business has been since carried on without change, the firm being chiefly engaged in building circular saw mills


EST, JOSEPH 11., Lawyer, was born, November 22d, 1822, in Clinton county, Ohio. Ile is the second of eleven children of Peyton West and Sarah Hadley. Peyton West was a native of Pittsylvania county, Virginia, and by occupation a surveyor. In 1807 he cmigrated to Ohio, set- tling in Clinton county, on the East Fork of the Little Miami river, where he died, August 22d, 1870. Ile was identified with the growth of Clinton county, taking a promi- nent part in all enterprises of public moment. Peyton West was one of the first surveyors of Clinton county, discharging the duties of that office for about twenty five years. For several years he was Collector of Taxes for his county. Sarah Hadley West was a native of Guilford county, North Carolina, and daughter of James Hadley, an early pioneer who settled in Highland county in 1804. The subject of this sketch was bred to a life of industry and morality, under the best of home influences. Ile was employed at farm work until he reached manhood. Ilis education had been so meagre that up to this time he could scarcely read. The spur of ambition impelled him to seek means to improve his mind and fit himself for a life of usefulness. In 1843 he walked barefooted to Wilmington, Clinton county, a dis- tance of twelve miles. Herc he attended school for about. one year, doing any honest work the while that would en- able him to pay his board. He improved his time so well that he secured a teacher's certificate, and immediately took charge of a school in Clinton county. Ile remained in this position, discharging his duty faithfully, reading law and cultivating his mind generally, for one year, when he re-


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turned to Wilmington and pursued his law studies for six | paper correspondent, and was prominent as an orator. Ile months. In November, 1845, he went to Cincinnati, and was especially known to the people of his county as a vigor. ous and enthusiastic temperance lecturer and Sunday-school worker, having been sent as the representative of Clinton county to the Ohio State Sunday-School Conventions of 1872-73-74-75. Mr. West has thus far displayed great energy in the practice of his profession and gives promise of a useful career. for the next six months was employed as salesman in a wholesale dry-goods house. In 18446 he enlisted as a private in Company B, 9th Regiment Ohio Volunteers, and started for Mexico. Ile went with his regiment as far as New Orleans to be mustered into the service. In conse- quence of a disabled shoulder he was unable to pass muster, and was therefore honorably discharged. 'Ile found him- self away from home and without money. He worked his way on a steamboat up to Vicksburg, where he remained a few weeks, and then went up the Yazoo river to engage in lumber rafting. After being thus employed for several months he landed with his raft at New Orleans, June 29th, 1847, en route for home. From New Orleans he took pas- sage to Cincinnati, where he obtained employment as a sales- man in a wholesale grocery house. He remained in this situation until November of 1848, when he took a stock of goods and opened a store for his firm at Williamstown, Grant county, Kentucky. In this way he conducted busi- ness for his firm until September, 1851, when the latter failed. By the failure of his principals he lost what money he had, and was obliged to borrow money from a friend in order to reach Martinsville, in his native county. In Janu- ary of 1852 he was employed as driver of a notion wagon, but one month of such employment sufficed to turn him to other pursuits. In 1853 he located again at Martinsville and resumed reading law. July 14th, 1854, he was admitted to the bar of Xenia, Ohio, and immediately opened a law office at Wilmington, Clinton county. Six months after his admission to the bar, he was engaged as attorney to the Cincinnati, Wilmington & Zanesville Railroad Company, holding that position until 1860. In the meantime he had been admitted to practise in the United States courts. In October of 1860 he was elected Probate Judge of Clinton county, and was re-elected in 1863, discharging the duties of that position for about six years. Since 1866 he has been actively engaged in the management of a large legal practice. He has been an ardent Republican since the organization of that party, and was a delegate to the National Republican Convention of 1864. He is a man of forcible character and affible demeanor. September 19th, 1850, he married Henrietta Stroud, a native of Williamstown, Grant county, Kentucky. Edward J. West, his eldest son, was born, December 8th, 1851, at Blanchester, Clinton county, Ohio. Ile passed his boyhood on a farm, and received a liberal education at the Wilmington High School. Ile began to read law at the age of sixteen, and pursued his studies with great diligence. For two years he taught school, devoting his leisure hours to his law books. Janu- ary 29th, 1873, he was admitted to the bar. In 1875 he was brought out by his fellow-citizens and elected Prosecut. ing Attorney of Clinton county. He is probably the youngest man in the State filling such a position. Before he was of age Mr. West had made a reputation as a news-


ADE, JEPTIIA H. (universally known as the " Telegrapher "), Inventor and Banker, was born in Seneca county, New York, August 11th, 1811. Ile is the son of Jeptha Wade, a surveyor and civil engineer. Ilis father died when he was quite young, and he was therefore compelled to take care of himself. Ile was first apprenticed as carpenter and attracted the attention of those with whom he was asso- ciated by his superior genius, in construction of several rare and complicated musical instruments on which he played in church and in the bands. Ile was the commander of the four hundred Seneca county riflemen, when every man kept his own rifle, and closed the season with target practice ; he was unexcelled as a marksman. At twenty-one lie owned a large sash and blind factory. At the age of twenty- four his ambition led him to the studio of the portrait artist, Randall Palmer. His success was wonderful, and in a few years, throughout the States of New York, Michigan, and Louisiana, he was noted for the beautiful portraits he had painted. When residing in Adrian, Michigan, he became interested in the discovery of Daguerre and sent for a camera, and aided only by printed instructions, took the first daguerreotype ever exceuted west of New York. While in New Orleans he found that his health required more out-door employment, and as the first telegraph line between Washington and Baltimore had just been built, he returned to Detroit, and after a brief study into the mysteries of the new science, at the head of a corps of laborers began to construct along the Michigan Central Railroad the first telegraph line west of Buffalo. He opened and equipped the Jackson office, being self-taught, served both as operator and manager until he began to construct as proprietor. He soon had lines of telegraph the length and breadth of Ohio and west to St. Louis, which were called the " Wade lines." Soon he had more or less trouble from stockholders who were anxious for dividends, ignorant employés, imperfect insulation and sharp competition. The imperfect insulation was overcome by his invention, the " Wade insulator," now in use. Ile enclosed the submarine cable in iron across the Mississippi, at St. Louis, which invention led to telegraph cables across the oceans. The House Printing-Telegraph Company joined the Wade, Speed, and other competing lines in consolidation under the name of Western Union Telegraph Company ; Mr. Wade was General Manager, with head quarters in Rochester, New York. This company,




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