USA > Ohio > The biographical annals of Ohio, 1902-1903. A handbook of the government and institutions of the state of Ohio. Vol. 1 > Part 47
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Under this law the schools of Ohio are provided with good text books at a reasonable price and boards of education have the power of providing free text books if they so desire.
THE COMMISSIONER OF RAILROADS AND TELEGRAPHS.
M R. J. C. MORRIS, Commissioner of Railroads and Telegraphs, was born in Youngstown, Ohio, August 18, 1856, and was edu- cated in the public schools of that city. But while yet a boy he secured employment in a local grocery store and continued in that em- ployment until his nineteenth year, when he began railroading. His first employment was as a brakeman. Then he became baggagemaster. From this he was promoted to the position of conductor of a freight train. After a number of years' service in this capacity he became general yard- master, remaining in that position until he secured a passenger train, which he continued to run as its conductor until he was appointed Chief In- spector in the office of the State Commissioner of Railroads and Tele- graphs, faithfully performing the duties of this appointment until the 16th day of March, 1901, at which time he was appointed Commissioner of Railroads and Telegraphs.
During all this long period of railway service-26 years in all- he was in the employ of the Erie Railway Company, a fact that speaks well for the character of the service he rendered.
He is a married man, having been married to Miss Emma Morris of youngstown, Ohio, on April 28, 1878. They have four children, all boys. Mr. Morris is a Mason, a K. of P., and a member of the Order of Railway Conductors
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566
THE BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF OHIO.
The Commissioner of Railroads and Telegraphs.
THE DEPARTMENT OF RAILROADS AND TELEGRAPHS.
The Department of the Commissioner of Railroads and Telegraphs was created by an act of the Fifty-seventh General Assembly passed April 5, 1867, which required the appointment of the officer within fif- teen days after the passage of the act, and prescribed his duties. He has a general police authority over roads operating in Ohio, and is re- quired to give careful attention to the construction, operation and main- tenance of the roads and their equipment so far as these matters relate to the safety and general welfare of the public. The following extract from the report of the Commissioner for the year 1901, just ended, is a tribute to the friendly readiness of the railroad companies to safeguard the pub- . lic, as well as an indication of the watchfulness of the department:
The safety of the public at grade highway crossings with steam roads has required particular attention during the past year. Numerous com- plaints were filed, all of which were promptly investigated and such action taken as, in the opinion of the Commissioner, was warranted by the sur- rounding conditions.
From a personal inspection, I am pleased to be able to report that the railroads of Ohio, with but a few exceptions, have reached the highest standard of excellence with respect to the physical condition of their roadbeds.
The rolling stock of many of the railroads has been greatly im- proved by the addition of large installments of engines and cars of the latest patterns.
The work of interlocking grade crossings of railroads has been prog- ressing rapidly. The railroad companies see the importance of protecting the crossings of their tracks, at grade, with the tracks of other railroads, not only for the purpose of enabling them to run their trains over such crossings without stopping, but also for the protection of life and prop- erty. A total of 184 applications for the approval of plans and specifi- cations of interlocking plants have been filed in this Department. There are now 154 interlockers in operation in Ohio. During the past calen- dar year 9 new interlockers have been constructed and placed in service.
The improved condition of the roadbed, the equipment of engines and cars with automatic couplers and air brakes, and the installation of in- terlocking devices has had the desired effect of reducing accidents to a minimum.
THE BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF OHIO.
567
The Commissioner of Railroads and Telegraphs.
ROSTER OF DEPARTMENT, JULY, 1902.
Name.
Office.
J. C. Morris
H. E. King
E. H. Hanna
W. O. Jackson
Chief Inspector.
O. F. McJunkin
D. S. Archer
R. L. Williams
Deputy Insp'ct'r Stenographer. Messenger.
FORMER COMMISSIONERS OF RAILROADS AND TELEGRAPHS.
(Term of office: Two years.)
Name.
Term
George B. Wright
1867-1871
Richard D. Harrison
1871-1872
Orlow L. Wolcott
1872-1874
John G. Thompson
1875-1876
Lincoln G. Delano
1876-1878
William Bell, Jr
1878-1880
James S. Robinson
1880-1881
Hylas Sabine
1881-1885
Henry Apthorp
1885-1887
William S. Cappeller
1887-1890
James A. Norton
1890-1892
William Kirkby
1892-1897
Raymond S. Kayler
1897-1901
J. C. Morris
Incumbent
Mr. Wright resigned in October, 1871.
Mr. Harrison died in April, 1872.
Mr. Thompson resigned in Dec, 1875. Mr. Bell died in June, 1902.
Mr. Robinson resigned in February, 1881 Mr. Cappellar resigned in May, 1890. Mr. Norton resigned in May, 1892.
Commissioner. Chief Clerk. Statistician.
THE DAIRY AND FOOD COMMISSIONER.
J OSEPH ELLIS BLACKBURN was born in a log cabin in the vil- lage of Farmington, Colerain township, Belmont county, Ohio, June 30, 1860. He attended the common schools at Martin's Ferry and Bellaire until he was nearly twelve years of age, when he went to work at common labor in the Belmont Glass Works. He rose step by step until he became foreman of the factory. He was one of the principal organ- izers of the most successful mold makers' union in the United States and was either President or Secretary thereof as long as he worked at the trade.
In 1887 Mr. Blackburn embarked in the drug business, and, after taking a course in pharmacy at the Ohio Medical University at Ada, had the degree of Ph. G. conferred upon him. He never held public office until elected a member of the Seventy-second General Assembly in 1895. He is a Republican and was nominated by the State Convention of his party for the office of State Dairy and Food Commissioner March 11, 1896, and elected by a plurality of 52,519 votes.
Mr. Blackburn assumed his official duties February 16, 1897. He was elected to a second term in 1898, and to a third term in 1900 by an increased majority.
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569
THE BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF OHIO.
The Dairy and Food Commissiomer.
ROSTER OF DAIRY AND FOOD COMMISSIONER'S DEPARTMENT _ 1901-2.
Name.
Office.
Residence.
J. E. Blackburn
Commissioner. .
William Martin
Assistant Commissioner
John J. Kinney
M. A. Bridge.
Chief Clerk
M. J. Cheetham
Stenographer
Anna C. Hoge Martin Cowen
Chief Inspector
Bellaire.
J. F. Knouff.
Inspector
Caldwell.
Anthony Sauer
Cincinnati.
George C. Diehl.
66
Athens.
W. H. Westman
66
Cleveland.
Fred. W. Herbst.
Chief Insp. Cain Law ..:
Columbus
George Reymer
Asst.
66
66
Mansfield.
O. J. Berry
Asst. 66
66
Kimbolton.
E. B. Beverstock.
Asst.
66
66
Tontogany.
Milton James
Asst.
66
Caldwell.
R. R. Knowles.
Asst.
66
Dayton.
Walter F. Brown
Attorney
Toledo.
E. B. Dillon
66
Columbus.
O. J. Renn
66
Cincinnati.
Wm. B. Beebe
66
Cleveland.
Chas. H. Bosler
66
Canton.
J. W. Halfhill
66
Lima.
Chas. Lawyer
66
Cincinnati.
J. C. Heinlein
Bridgeport.
J. C. Tallman
Bellaire.
A. H. Kunkle
66
Springfield.
C. T. Marshall.
66
Zanesville.
W. S. Plum
66
Cambridge.
James Joyce Henry Bowers
New Philadelphia.
Chas. M. Wilkins
66
Warren.
Louis Schmidt
Chief Chemist
Cincinnati.
G. A. Kirchmaier
Chemist
Toledo.
P. L. Hobbs
Cleveland.
B. S. Young.
66
Ada.
E. Herbst
Columbus.
O. G. Brooks
Messenger
Ironton.
Clerk
Columbus. Chardon Cincinnati. Columbus. 66 Tiffin.
Dayton.
F. L. Moore.
Dayton.
J. W. Fawcett.
Jefferson.
Scott Bonham
66
Bellefontaine.
66
570
THE BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF OHIO.
The Dairy and Food Commissiomer.
This office was originally appointive by the Governor, but the legisla- ture, in 1891, made it elective, and fixed the term at two years. It was first established May 8, 1886. The following is the incumbency :
DAIRY AND FOOD COMMISSIONERS.
Incumbents.
Terms
S. H. Hurst
1886-1887
Frank H. Derthick
1887-1890
Edward Bethel
1890-1892
Frederick B. McNeal
1892-1897
J. E. Blackburn
1897-
THE STATE EXAMINER OF STEAM ENGINEERS.
G EORGE M. COLLIER, chief examiner of engineers, is an Ohio boy, born on a farm near Elyria, Ohio, Lorain county, in 1859, where he resided until he was eleven years of age, when his parents removed to North Amherst, Lorain county, Ohio, where he re- ceived a common school education. After leaving school he served an apprenticeship at the machinists' trade with one of the largest ship build- ing concerns in the country. He has held some very important positions as master mechanic and chief engineer, notable among which was the position of chief engineer of the J. H. Wade Estate, of Cleveland, Ohio, which very responsible and lucrative position he resigned to accept an appointment under Governor Nash as Chief Examiner of Engineers.
Mr. Collier is widely known throughout the State, especially among the engineering fraternity. He has been identified with the organization of stationary engineers, and as such had much to do with securing legis- lation favorable to engineers. He has shown good executive ability in appointment of and organization of his force of district examiners to carry out the intent and letter of the law.
His ancestors on both sides were from New England, and were of a mechanical turn of mind. Mr. Collier is at the present time a resident of Cleveland, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, where he has lived for the past fourteen years.
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572
THE BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF OHIO.
The State Examiner of Steam Engineers.
The law creating this Department was passed March 1, 1900, and amended March 13 and April 30, 1902, and provides for better protection of life and property against injury or damage resulting from the op- eration of steam boilers and engines by incompetent engineers and others ; and provides that it shall be unlawful for any person to operate, or cause to be operated, a stationary steam boiler or engine, in the State of Ohio, of more than thirty horsepower, without a duly licensed engineer in charge. And any person who desires to act as a stationary engineer is required to make application to the district examiner for a license so to act, upon a blank furnished by the examiner, providing he has had not less than one year's experience as a fireman or oiler, and if he passes the required exam- ination upon the construction and operation of steam engines, boilers, pumps and hydraulics, a license is granted him to have charge of, or operate, any steam plant. The fee for license is $2.00, and licenses are renewed yearly at a cost of $1.00, providing they are not sooner revoked for intoxi- cation or other sufficient cause. Any person dissatisfied with the action of any district examiner in refusing or revoking a license, may appeal to the chief examiner, who immediately investigates.
The Governor, with and by the advice and consent of the Senate, ap- points a Chief Examiner; and the Chief Examiner, with the approval of the Governor, appoints one clerk and eight district examiners, not more than four of whom shall belong to any one of the political parties. All the examiners are required to be competent and practical steam engineers, and hold their offices for a term of three years from the date of their ap- pointments, and until their successors are appointed and qualified. The Chief Examiner has his office in the State House, where all the records are kept, and he issues such instructions, and makes such rules and regulations as will secure a uniformity of action throughout the different districts. In order to facilitate a thorough and efficient examination of the engineers, the State is divided into eight districts by the Chief Examiner.
It is the duty of the district examiners to notify every person operat- ing a steam boiler or engine, to apply for a license, and to give such person a reasonable opportunity to take the required examination ; and any owner, steam user, or engineer, who, after being duly notified, violates any of the provisions of this law, is liable to a fine of not more than $100 nor less than $10. And any engineer who fails to exhibit his license under glass in a conspicuous place in his engine-room is liable to a fine of $5.00. The exam- iners have authority to visit any and all engine or boiler-rooms of the State, at all reasonable hours.
573
THE BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF OHIO.
The State Examiner of Steam Engineers.
DEPARTMENT ROSTER-1900-1901.
Name.
Office.
Headquarters.
George M. Collier
Chief Examiner Clerk .
Columbus, Ohio.
Charles J. Manney
George G. Bennett
District Examiner
Cleveland, Ohio. Toledo, Ohio.
Thomas Winship
Eber H. Harman
66
August Deschler
66
Chillicothe, Ohio. Canton, Ohio.
Jos. H. Ebright
66
. ......
Zanesville, Ohio.
DEPARTMENT ROSTER, 1901-1902.
Name.
Office.
Headquarters.
George M. Collier
Columbus, Ohio.
Charles J. Manney
Chief Examiner Clerk ..
George G. Bennett
District Examiner 66
Thomas Winship
E. H. Harman
August Deschler
J. A. Manning
66
Ashtabula, Ohio.
Jos. H. Ebright
Zanesville, Ohio.
John Sherrod
66
Cincinnati, Ohio.
W. E. Haswell
66
Bucyrus, Ohio. Columbus, Ohio.
A. H. Stotts
Messenger
Cleveland, Ohio. Toledo, Ohio. Columbus, Ohio. Chillicothe, Ohio,
66
Columbus, Ohio.
Elmer E. Miller
OHIO FISH AND GAME COMMISSION.
T HE Ohio Fish and Game Commission was created in 1886, and is composed of five members, appointed by the Governor, who serve ' for five years each without compensation, except their actual expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. The law defines the duties of the Commissioners as follows: "To examine the various rivers, lakes, ponds and streams in the State, or bordering thereon, and to ascer- tain whether they can be rendered more productive of fish and game, and what measures are required to effect this object, either in restoring the production of fish and game in and about them, or in protecting and propa- gating the fish which at present frequent and abound in them, or otherwise ; and the Commissioners shall carry into effect all measures in this behalf, that they deem necessary, so far as means are placed at their disposal for these purposes; and they shall also inquire into the matter of artificial propagation of fish in the waters of the State, and adopt such plans to test the efficiency of this mode of increasing the quality of edible fish as they think best."
To carry into effect the laws providing for the preservation of game and the protection of land-owners from trespass against those who hunt illegally, the Commission maintains an extensive force of wardens, deputy state wardens and special wardens, and by these a large number of arrests and convictions are made each year. In addition to the county wardens special wardens are appointed for all the public lakes and reservoirs of the state, and there are also special wardens for Lake Erie.
In the matter of propagating fish the Commission maintains a fine hatchery near London, Ohio, where black bass, marble cat, and other species of edible fish are raised and at the proper time are distributed to the public streams and lakes throughout the State. A hatchery for the artificial propagation of lake fish is also maintained at Sandusky, and within the next year a new hatchery is to be located at some other point on Ohio soil bordering Lake Erie. The lake fishing interests being of great magnitude and importance, the work of the Commission in respect to propagating these fish is one of vital necessity. The Commission has ac complished great good in its various endeavors, and there is every reason to believe that the future will be even more productive of satisfactory results.
The present personnel of the Commission is as follows: J. L. Rodgers, President, Columbus ; Thomas B. Paxton, Cincinnati ; D. W. Greene, Day- ton; Paul North, Cleveland, and E. M. Kennedy, McConnellsville. The Secretary of the Commission. is George C. Blankner, of Columbus. The active field work of the Commission, which means the control of all ward- ens, is under the charge of Mr. J. C. Porterfield, Chief Warden, of Columbus.
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THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL.
S. D. HOLLENBECK, the first State Fire Marshal of Ohio, was born in Geauga county, Ohio, August 19, 1850. He received his early education in the common schools, afterward attended the Western Reserve at Hudson, Ohio, and later graduated in a commercial course at Hiram College.
In 1887 he was elected auditor of Geauga county, and was four times chosen for that important office. From his youth up he has been prominent in politics-a recognized leader in local affairs-and also prominent in State politics.
He is a ready speaker and noted for the originality of his ideas and clearness of expression. His long experience in the auditor's office during the tax-inquisitorial days gave him an experience along the de- tective line, which proves to be valuable in his present position.
While the law creating the office of Fire Marshal was in no sense a political one, yet the manner of appointment by the Governor makes it a political office and subjects the marshal to the changes incident to poli- tics, but while Mr. Hollenbeck is a strong party man, he proposes that the management and operations of the bureau shall be absolutely non-political.
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF OHIO. The State Fire Marshal
DUTIES OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL
The act which established the office of the State Fire Marshal was passed by the Seventy-fourth General Assembly on the 16th day of April, 1900, and on May 30, Governor Nash, by the authority given him under this act, appointed S. D. Hollenbeck, of Chardon, Geauga county, Ohio, to be the first State Fire Marshal.
Under the provisions of the act it becomes the duty of the Fire Marshal to cause an investigation of all fires which occur in the State, with the object in view of reducing, if possible, the enormous fire waste, lessening the loss to insurance companies, and thereby reducing in- surance premiums. It is also his duty to make an investigation of in- flammable and other conditions from which fires are liable to originate, and have the same remedied or removed. For many years, on account of the difficulty connected with establishing the crime of arson, very few incendiaries have been punished in the State, the total average per year not exceeding two. Estimating the loss caused by incendiary fires upon the best information to be obtained, the total loss to the people of the State resulting from such fires will amount to from twenty to forty per- cent of the total fire waste of the State each year. The wisdom of the legislature in providing some means of reducing this waste is therefore apparent. To assist the Fire Marshal in carrying out the object of the act, the State was divided by him into seven districts and a division assistant to the Fire Marshal was appointed for each district, to whom, under the provisions of the law, township clerks, mayors of villages and chiefs of fire departments report all fires occurring in their respective territories. All fires reported as suspicious are investigated by the assistant, and where necessity requires one of the two deputies appointed by the Fire Marshal goes to the scene of the fire and holds am inquest. The testimony of all witnesses who have knowledge of the fire, is taken in writing under oath. If the facts warrant, an arrest is made and the guilty party bound over to the grand jury, indicted and tried for arson. The office is provided with a corresponding clerk and a statistician, whose duties are to keep a com- plete and classified record of all fires and their causes. The office has already met with unexpected success in the prosecution of incendiaries and a goodly number of fire-bugs who, through the efforts of the office are now in the "Pen," will be prevented for some time from carrying out their nefarious calling of setting fire to buildings for the purpose of se- curing insurance or for any other motive. Below will be found a com- plete roster of the employes of the department, together with their post- office addresses
577
THE BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF OHIO.
The State Fire Marshal
ROSTER OF THE DEPARTMENT, 1900-1901.
Name.
Office.
Residence.
S. D. Hollenbeck
State Fire Marshal
Chardon, Ohio.
C. D. Beardsley
Deputy Fire Marshal
Columbus, Ohio. Chardon, Ohio.
Louis J. Schneider
Statistician
Cleveland, Ohio.
George B. Harris
Correspondence Clerk
Walter Payne
Division Assistant, Ist Div.
P. W. Parmelee
Division Assistant, 2d Div.
Findlay, Ohio. Toledo, Ohio. Burton, Ohio. Dayton, Ohio.
A. J. Fiorini
Division Assistant, 3d Div. .
W. S. Davie
Division Assistant, 4th Div. .
Columbus, Ohio.
H. W. Hart
Division Assistant, 5th Div.
Akron, Ohio.
John Ambrose
Division Assistant, 6th Div.
Cincinnati, Ohio.
Sam. E. Davidson
Division Assistant, 7th Div. .
West Union, Ohio.
STATE GEOLOGISTS.
The Geological Survey of the State of Ohio was undertaken during the year 1869 by legislative authority and was actively prosecuted until 1875, by which time the work had been practically completed and a pub- lished report made in several volumes. The work was begun under Pro- fessor John S. Newberry and completed under Professor Edward Orton, who had been closely identified with its details and practical execution from its inception. The professorship of State Geologist is now attached to the Ohio State University, where the work is continued.
The State Geologists have been :
John S. Newberry, appointed 1869; E. B. Andrews, appointed 1872; Edward Orton, appointed 1875, and Edward S. Orton who succeeded to the position upon the death of his father.
37 B. A.
H. H. Hollenbeck
Deputy Fire Marshal
THE INSPECTOR OF BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS.
T HIS bureau was created May 1, 1891, by the enactment of the Corcoran law, making the Superintendent of Insurance ex officio Inspector of Building and Loan Associations.
The deputy inspectors, who have at various times been in charge of the bureau, with their residence at the time of appointment, term of service, and politics are :.
Name.
Politics.
Residence.
Term of Service
H. F. Cellarius
Democrat.
Dayton
May, 1891, to July, 1893.
K. V. Haymaker ..
Republican ..
Defiance ... .
July, 1893, to June, 1894.
A. J. Duncan
Republican. .
Canton .. . .
June, 1894, to August, 1897.
Dwight Harrison
Republican ..
Georgetown.
August, 1897, to June, 1900.
Roscoe J. Mauck
. .
Republican ..
Gallipolis. . .
June, 1900, to December, 1901.
Geo. S. Marshall
Republican. .
Columbus. .
December, 1901-Incumbent.
The present force of this bureau consists of :
Name.
Residence.
Office.
Joseph Everhart
Basil
Chief Clerk.
David A. Jones
Columbus
Clerk.
Alfred McClure
Columbus
Statistician.
John W. Hook
West Union
Examiner.
Emery P. McCorkle
Warren
Examiner.
Arthur Williams
Marion
Examiner.
P. B. Johnson
Akron.
Examiner.
T. D. Pugh
Columbus
Extra Clerk.
A. D. Alcorn
Gallipolis
Extra Clerk.
This bureau originated with those who were connected with build- ing associations and who most thoroughly appreciated the necessity of state supervision.
The work of the bureau is largely that of auditing the annual re- ports of the associations, pointing out to such associations such prac- tices as may contravene the law and requiring their abandonment; fur- nishing legal and other advice to such associations; examining such as- sociations as may seem to need it and as the resources of the office admit.
If any association fails to abandon any illegal practice within thirty days after being so notified by the Inspector, or if any association is
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL ANNALS OF OHIO.
The Inspector of Building and Loan Associations.
found to be in an unsound condition and the interests of the public demand its dissolution, such facts are communicated to the Attorney-General, whose duty it is to institute the proper proceedings to revoke the charter of such association and wind up its business.
The building association interests of Ohio now amount to more than a hundred million dollars.
The Deputy Inspector, by virtue of an act passed in April, 1898, is also Supervisor of bond investment companies.
THE INSPECTOR OF MINES.
E LMER G. BIDDISON, the present Chief Inspector of Mines, was born in Monroe township, Perry county, Ohio, October 23, 1863. His early life was spent on a farm located in Trimble township, Athens county, Ohio. In the year 1880 the development of the Sunday Creek valley coal fields was begun. The subject of this sketch, being desirous of securing a better education than that afforded in the country schools, engaged in work at the coal mines with a view of being better able to earn means to accomplish his purpose. Enough funds were earned through laboring at the mines, and in other vocations, to defray his expenses for three years' schooling at the Ohio University at Athens, Ohio. In 1887 he engaged in mining engineering and sur- veying, and followed that vocation until December 1, 1891, at which time he was elected County Surveyor of Athens county, Ohio. He served in this capacity for a period of six years. At the expiration of this time he was elected Treasurer of the county, holding that position for four years. On May 1, 1900, he was appointed Chief Inspector of Mines by Governor George K. Nash.
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