The History of Union County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its townships, towns military record;, Part 94

Author: Durant, Pliny A. [from old catalog]; Beers, W. H., & co., Chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, W. H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1254

USA > Ohio > Union County > The History of Union County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its townships, towns military record; > Part 94

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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.

and Maud. R. L. Woodburn, the eldest son and child, was born at the old homestead in Jerome Township. November 26, 1843, he entered the ranks of the Union army as First Corporal of Company B, Eighty-sixth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, June 20, 1863, and served in the field till honorably discharged in February, 1864. His collegiate education was acquired in the Ohio Wesleyan University, from which institution, he graduated in the class of 1869. During the college term he became interested in, and acted as financial editor of the Western Collegian, now the College Transcript, a semi-monthly devoted to educational matters. He commenced the reading of law in 1869, under the preceptorship of Hon. J. W. Robinson and L. Piper. Com- pleting his studies in November, 1871, he at once began the practice of his chosen profession in this city, where he has since been continuously and successfully engaged since his residence in Marysville, he has displayed an active interest in educational affairs. In August, 1870, he was instrumental in organizing the first Teacher's Association in the county. He has been a mem- ber of the Board of County Examiners since 1872, and clerk of the board since 1874. He was also a member of the committee that selected the design and superintended the erection of the fine school edifice, which is a worthy monument to the capacity of the board. From 1877 to 1881, he filled the chair of Prosecutor of the county with the highest satisfaction and efficiency. He was one of the founders of the Building and Loan Association, formed in July, 1872, and acted as its Secretary till the close of its successful career in 1881. In 1871, he became a Mas- ter Mason in Marysville Lodge, No. 158, F. & A. M., and in 1872 became a Royal Arch Mason in Marysville, Chapter No. 99. He took the Kuight Templar degrees in 1873, at Raper Com- mandry, No. 19, at Urbana, Ohio, and in 1878 took the Scottish Rite degrees or 32º, at Cincin- nati Consistory.

WILLIAM W. WOODS, deceased, was born May 13, 1814, on the Woods farm, on the Big Darby, about three miles below Milford, in Union County, and died at Marysville Decem- ber 27, 1881, having been identified with the growth of every material interest of Marysville and Union County throughout a long and wonderfully active business life. He was the young- est child of Rev. Samuel Woods, a Presbyterian minister, who settled on Big Darby in 1807, and was the first pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Upper and Lover Liberty the latter having been first located on the Woods farm, but afterward removed to Milford, and the former on the James Ewing farm, near Plain City. These churches were his charge until his early death, April 27, 1815. Mrs. Woods, left a widow with five young children in what was then a wilderness, and with small means at her command, made a farm out of the wild land, with the aid of her boys, educated all her children well, as elucation went in those days, and even sent one of them (Col. James F. Woods, now a prominent member of the Pennsylvania bar, and the only one of the children surviving.), to college. It is needless to say that she was a woman of great energy, but she also possessed in a high degree those rarer qualities, good judgment, sound common sense, and an industry and perseverance that no obstacle could defeat. Added to these, her high moral and social standing made her a woman of mark in her town and neighbor- h.od.

William received something more than a common school education, having been for some- time in a select school, under the instructions of Hon. John Gabriel, who was a thorough scholar and a teacher of more than ordinary force and influence, and Judge Woods, in after life, often spoke gratefully ot the instructions he received in this school. Otherwise his life, until twenty- one, was scarcely more eventful than that of other boys on similar farms. It had enough of hard work, few comforts, and no luxuries, but it sent him into active business life a clean inan, with no vices, a constitution like iron, and such physical health as few men enjoy. Life on the farm did not fill the measure of his ambition, but throughout his busy career he never lost his interest in farm operations. Even when engaged in several business enterprises, any one of which would have been burden enough for an ordinary man, no farmer in the county was better informed as to market prices of all farm products, and he was, in nearly all cases, a wise coun- selor, as thousands of friendly farmers who came to him again and again for advice can testify. And his knowledge of the duties of farm work and stock-raising was always a surprise to those who knew what treasures his well-stored mind possessed in other directions. His first expe- rience in business was as an itinerant book-agent, in Pittsburgh, Peun., and while only moder- ately successful, it was rich enough in experience, ani he was an apt scholar. He never forgot this carly experience, and always had a warm side for book-agents and roving canvassers of every sort, always receiving them with kindness and encouragement, and generally with some- thing more substantial than sympathy. When this venture had lost its charm, he went to the old home of his parents in Washington and Westmoreland Counties, and embarked in busi- ness, but soon sold out and returned to Union County, and in August, 1837, located permanent- ly in Marysville, forming a partnership with Stephen McLain, in a general mercantile business. The partnership lasted but a few months, but Mr. Woods continued the business successfully up to 1840, building up a prosperous trade. In the meantime, in 1839, he had married Miss Martha J. Thompson, who survives him.

The year 1840 was the turning point of his business life. He bought and slaughtered hogs with the expectation of large profils; packed the pork, and shipped it to Montreal, Canada, where he sold it in the spring of 1841, at a loss that left him a bankrupt-about $13,000 in

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debt, and with only $3,000 in assets-$2,000 in gold, the proceeds of his sales of pork, and the balance in notes. A debt of $10,000, in those early days, was appalling, greater than one of $150,000 would be now, but Judge Woods never faltered in the determination to pay every dollar ofit. Right here he faced the very serious question whether he ought to apply his assets to his in- debtedness, or hold it as capital. After advising with friends, he took the latter course, secur- ing his larger debts by his brother's indorsement, giving notes held by him as collateral for smaller debts, and thus securing an extension of time on most liabilities. He then addressed himself to his work with that matchless energy and judgment that marked the whole of his subsequent career.

His first move was to purchase depreciated bank paper. At the time of his failure in 1841, many of the banks in the West had failed, among them those at Urbana, Granville, West Union and many others. Their paper, in ordinary business, was worth but a small per cent, but by law, the bank issuing it was compelled to take it at par on debts owing to it. Mr. Woods' plan was to hunt up debtors of these banks and arrange to pay their debts to the bank. He then bought up the depreciated paper at a large discount, paid the debts, taking a mortgage or deed on the land on which the debts were levied, the debtors getting a share of the profits, and an extension of time. The profits of this business were $5,000 in one year, but the success was won by an amount of work that few could have accom- plished in the same time. The money was bought of brokers in Cincinnati. Cleveland and Pittsburgh. Time after time Mr. Woods visited those cities, traveling always on horseback, and frequently when the roads were at their worst. But neither bal roads nor bad weath- er could discourage him. When the time came to go, he always started.

The business of the first year had exhausted his money. It had been faithfully applied to the payment of his debts, but one half of his liabilities still stood against him. In casting about to find some other means to meet these debts, which he regarded as sacred, he formed a partnership with Mains Wasson, in the mercantile trade, Mr. Wasson furnishing the capital and credit, and Mr. Woods contracting to do the work of the firm. This was in 1842, and times were hard and selling goods unprofitable. The people were poor, and if goods were sold, they must be sold on credit, and credit of indefinite length at that, but Mr. Woods was equal to the occasion. When customers owed and could not pay money, he would arrange with them to take stock, grain, or any sort of produce that he could market, and thus turn his goods into money and win trade. The business grew rapidly and prospered, and help was needed to do the work of the store, but Mr. Wasson held to the contract, and Mrs. Woods stepped in to aid her hus- band, keeping the books and doing other work in the store, so that, with the aid of a boy, he was able to carry on the business at a slightly increased expense. So the business went on until 1850. Times had improved, and the business had been highly profitable to both partners. Mr. Woods' debts were paid, dollar for dollar, principal and interest, to the last cent, and he was once more master of moderate capital. An anecdote of the time when he was struggling with this load of debts will give some idea of his wonderfully keen insight into men, and his persua- siveness. A farmer and son and hired man were working in a field, when they saw Mr. Woods coming down the road on horseback and at once guessed that he wanted to buy the farmer's wool, and after a hasty consultation, they decided that it would not be safe to sell it to him, as he had just failed and probably could not pay for it. The father went down to the fence, deter- mined not to sell, but soon came back and said, "I sold him that wool." The son protested, but the father continued, " Well, I'd rather be swindled by Bill Woods than to sell to any other man in Union County and get my money."

There was nothing in his after life in which Judge Woods gloried as he did in this manful struggle with an overwhelming debt, and there is no doubt that the ten years of life it cost him were thus well spent, ripening his character, establishing a good credit, and preparing him for an enlarged business career.

About this date, the project of a railroad was started; Judge Woods, always publie spirited, subscribed and paid $1,000 to the stock of the company, though he could ill afford such a sum, and rendered other aid that was invaluable. From 1850 to 1854, he again engaged in mercantile trade, and carried on the ashery business, on a large scale, the latter business being very profitable for several years. When the railroad was finished, he built the grain ware house, still in use in Marysville, and began dealing in grain, and at the time of his death the firm of which he was the head, practically controlled the grain trade for twenty miles along the railroad, a monopoly, it must be said, which was never abused.

In 1854, Mr. Woods left the mercantile business permanently, and established the Bank of Marysville, in company with Mr. II. Anderson, of Marysville, and J. C. Evans, of Delaware. Later, Mr. Woods purchased the interests of his partners, and made a new alliance with Hon. C S. Hamilton and Mr. David Welch, as partners, and Mr. T. J. Buxton, now President of the City Bank of Minneopolis, Minn., as Cashier. After the tragic death of Mr. Hamilton, another change took place, and the firm of Fullington, Phellis & Woods, was formed, under which title was built up the largest private banking business in Ohio, outside of the larger cities.

In addition to these various enterprises, several of which were carried on simultaneously, and in all of which he was the master spirit, he was interested, from time to time, in the pur-

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chase of wool, stock, and other farm products. He also bought and sold real estate, especially farm property, and was for several years the responsible head of the Marysville Lumber & But - ter Tub Company, which, though not profitable in itself, gave employment to many men, and gave an impulse to the growth of Marysville, where such help was much needed. In 1875, he bought a large tract of fertile farming land in Minnesota, and at the time of his death, owned several of the finest stock and wheat farms, one of 2,400 acres, in that distant State. To all these interests he gave a more or less close personal supervision, and possessed a knowledge of details in each, that was scarcely less than marvelous, and which gave some hint of what he might have accomplished if he had early cast his lot in a large city, where, while following a single line of business, he might have found a field broad enough for the exercise of his nn- paralleled energies, without constantly pushing ont in new directions. As it was, beginning in 1841, loaded with an appalling debt, and apparently hopelessly insolvent, he died in 1881, prob- ably the wealthiest man in Union County.

'The qualities of head and heart that enabled him to win this success, are worthy of study and imitation. lle possessed in an eminent degree a quick perception and sound judgment and business capacity of the highest or ter. His decision once made, he followed on to the end with rare skill, and an energy, patience and perseverance that often wrested victory from defeat. But above all, he was just and fair in all his business relations. No other man in Union County could rally around him such an army of attached employes. Always courteous and kindly, he added to this generosity in all his dealings as an employer. He always paid the highest wages of the time in cash. This insured him the best service. His employes seldom left him, as long as he needed their help, and when they began life or business for themselves, he never lost his personal interest in them, and many of those who worked for him by the month, years since, are now among the wealthiest and most prosperous men in the community. They had learned the art of doing business in a good school, and had the secret of success, and few of them failed to consult "The Judge," in all important and in many cases trifling matters of busi- ness. In fact, during the latter years ot his lite, a large portion of his time was comsumed by those who came to him for advice on all sorts of matters, business and personal. The kindly nature of the man invited confidence, and the care with which he considered every matter, even the most trifling, that was thus brought to his attention, insured a wise and well considered an- swer. Ilundreds of Union County men can date the beginning of their success to following wise suggestions given by Judge Woods, without money and without price.

Thus far the character of Judge Woods as a business man only, has been presented, as that was the field in which he was most active. Yet no matter of public interest, escaped his atten- tion. Never an extreme partisan, he took the deepest interest in the results of elections. Orig- inally a Whig, he, at an early day, became an anti-slavery man, and with that strong and help- ful sympathy for the down-trodden and oppressed everywhere, black and white, heranged him- self with the Abolitionists at a time when it cost something to avow anti-slavery opinions. While his residence was too conspicuous to be made a depot for the "underground railroad," few fugitives passed that way who did not have a kind and encouraging word, and substantial help from him, before they crossed the bridge over the Scioto on their way to Canada.

Old residents who recall those stirring times will remember the active part he took in sev- eral cases when slaves were retaken in Union County, especially that of "Bob and Lucinda," when the excitement ran high, and Judge Woods, with others, employed the ablest counsel in the county for their defense. His part in other cases caused frequent threats of mobbing, and on more than one occasion he was urged by friends to leave his home and remain away until the excitement cooled. It is not necessary to say that he remained at home, ready for consulta- tion in any emergency.

So much for the business and public life of one who, by virtue of his long and successful career, and his identification with every public enterprise, must appear as a conspicous figure in the early history of Union County. That his matchless business qualities were supplemented by a generous nature, as true as steel, and as tender as a woman's. those know best who were ad- mitted to the inner circle of his friendship. At home he was thoughtful for others and careless of himself. In his later years, failing health called for fortitude and patience, but in the most intense suffering, that courtesy and thoughtfulness for others, which made for him so many warm friends, and was the most potent element of success in business, never forsook him, and the comfort and welfare of those about him were always uppermost in his heart. His widow and two daughters, the elder now Mrs. V. G. Hush, and the younger, Mrs. A. G. Wilcox, ali re- side in Minueapolis, Minn., which, at his own request, was the place of his burial.

Judge Woods was a man of rare social qualities, possessing fine conversational powers, backed by a fund of anecdote and a keen sense of humor. He was al-o a good listener, qualities rarely found united, and was always a genial companion. To those less fortunate than himselt, he was always most courteous and kindly, and no one who was deserving ever appealed to him for help in vain, and it is the poor who will remember him longest and respect him most. No man ever harbored less malice than he. His most intimate friends never heard him speak un- kindly of his enemies, and he suffered bitter wrongs in silence rather than depart fromn that practice which was the embodiment of his faith, "with malice toward none but with charity for

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all." While a liberal giver to every public enterprise, always ready to do his part, and more than his part, he aided the poor without parade, and indeed with the utmost secrecy. Many kind deeds were unknown, even to members of his own family, until his death brought to light many tcar-stained letters, thanking him for help in time of sore need. IIc never passed a blind begger without giving, without considering his deserts. At one time when visiting Niagara with his daughter, the carriage pissed a blind man at a gate, but, not having change in his pocket (hre seldom carried money), drove by, and the circumstance was forgotten, until months afterward the daughter, in looking over old papers, found an acknowledgment of the receipt of $1 " for the blind man at the gate," by a gentleman in business near the locality, whose ac- quaintance Judge Woods had made in his brief stay. His friend added in a postscript, " You made this poor man happy for one day, at least." In the multiplicity of his cares, he had found time to recall this unfortunate, whom he had seen but once, and to whom he had never spoken.

In 1849, when the Free-Soil party held the balance of power in the Legislature, he was (without his knowledge) elected an Associate Judge of the Common Pleas Court of Union County, and performed the duties of the office to the satisfaction of both people and bar until the adop- tion of the present Constitution in 1851. At the organization of the Republican party, Judge Woods joined it, and remained an active Republican and a zealous supporter of the Government during the war, giving liberally and freely of his meins for the aid of soldiers and their families, as well as for all other purposes that could aid the Government in the prosecution of the war. Later he cared little about party, generally voting independently, but in his later year-, inclining to the Democratic side, with that generous impulse that always led his strong nature to sympa- thize with the weaker party in all contest. He was in no sense an office seeker ; his taste and ability led him into business, and in that field his greatest triumphs were achieved. He was a man who was always equal to the occasion, and if he had been called into public life, the same sagacity which enabled him to distance competition in business would have soon made him a leader in any public body.

JOIIN H. WOOD, notion store, Marysville. John H. Wood is one of the oldest native-born business man of this city. His father, Ira Wood, was a native of Vermont, and among the early practitioners of medicine in Union County. He first located in a log house at the springs, and became a resident physican of Marysville in 1825. IIe was Justice of the Peace some years, and in 1839 was stricken with milk sickness, from which he died. His wife Margaret was born in the Keystone State, and lived threescore years and ten of her life, dying in 188). The subject of this sketch was the eldest of eight children. and was born at the homestead, corner of Main and South streets, December 12, 1832. His father purchased this building in 1827, which at this writing remains the only old landmark near the business part of the town. Mr. Wood is a pharmacist by profession, and established drug business upon the site now occupied by McCloud & Brother, in 1856. . Two years later, it was nearly destroyed by fire, but rebuilt. and occupied until 1860, when Mr. Wood erccted the present edifice. The following year the firm of Wood & Fields was established, but was dissolved in 1868. In 1871, he further im- proved the place by erecting his present business place. His brother Harvey became associated with him at this time, and they opened to the public a complete stock of notions. In 1880, Ilar- vey withdrew from the firm, and Mr. Wood has since continued alone. Ile carries a very neat stock of about $4,000 to $5,000, and has a liberal patronage. He has served this city and town- ship as Treasurer for the past fifteen years, and is connected with the I. O. O. F. and Masonic fraternities. Mr. Wood was married to Miss Abbie, a daughter of Dr. Rathburn, a pioneer phy- sician of this county. Carrie and John E. are their living children.

HARVEY S. WOOD, nurseryman, Marysville, is a native of Marysville, Union County, Ohio, where he was born December 10, 1839, and is the youngest son of Ira and Margaret Wood, na- tives of New York and Pennsylvania respectively. Ira with his father, John U., were among the first families to join in the early settlements of this county. The subject of this sketch in early life was engaged as a salesman in his native city, and at the breaking-out of the rebellion. he gave his service to the Union army and entered the ranks of the Thirteenth Ohio Volunteer Infan- try, in April, 1861. He served the call of four months, and re-enlisted October 20, 1861, as pri- vate in Company F, Sixteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served three years. He received promotion to First Sergeant, in October, 1862, and Second Lieutenant the same year, in which rank he was taken prisoner at Chickasaw Bayou, Mississippi, December 29, 1862, and was con- fined in Libby l'rison at Richmond, Va., until May 7, 1863, when he was exchanged and re- turned to the service at Vicksburg, and participated in the siege and surrender of that strong- hold. Soon after the battle of Jackson, Miss., in 1863, the superior officer, Capt. Monroe, died, and Lieur. Wood succeeded to the command of the company, in which rank he served to the close. Prior to his capture, he engaged in the battles of Mill Springs, Ky., January 19, 1862; Cun, berland Gap, Tenn., June 18, 1862; Tazewell, Tenn., August 6, 1862; Manchester, Tenn., Au- gust 29, 1862. Ile was honorably discharged November 25, 1864. Returning to peaceful pur- suits, he was engaged in the dry goods business at Richwood, Union County, until the close of 1866, when he formed a copartnership with an uncle, in a wholesale notion house at Belleton- taine, Ohio. His uncle's death occurred the following year, and the stock was closed out. Mr. W. returned to Marysville and joined his brother John II. in the wholesale and retail notion busi-

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ness. This firm dissolved in 1879, and he purchased and settled upon his present place, where he has been successfully engaged in the nursery business. He was married, in 1861, to Miss Sarah, a daughter of William and Isabel Phillips, and a native of Richwood, where her parents settled and lived to the close of life's journey. This union has been blest with five children, all of whom are living, viz., Isabel L., Mary P., Annie H., Sarah and Harvey. Mr. Wood served in the City Council four years, and has always taken an interest in all public affairs. He is a member of the Blue Lodge and Chapter of Masons, of Red Men and of the G. A. R. Politically, he is Re- publican.

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The History of Union County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its townships, towns military record;, Part 94

Author: Durant, Pliny A. [from old catalog]; Beers, W. H., & co., Chicago, pub. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Chicago, W. H. Beers & co. Number of Pages: 1254

Author: Durant, Pliny A. [from old catalog]; Beers, W. H., & co., Chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, W. H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1254