USA > Ohio > The biographical cyclopaedia and portrait gallery with an historical sketch of the state of Ohio. Volume I > Part 58
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tions of 1882. He is a member of the Masonic order, Knights of Pythias, and Foresters. Mr. Everett was mar- ried a second time October 22d, 1879, to Miss Alice Louise Wade, daughter of the late Randall P. Wade, and grand- daughter of Jeptha H. Wade, of Cleveland. Mr. Everett is a man of almost unlimited mental and physical resources. His ability for work is immense. His financial and executive ability, unerring judgment, quick perception and decision, together with general business qualities of a high order, combined with strict integrity, honor, and an unblemished career, render him a man much sought after. Agreeable in manner, with an evenness of good temper, and courteous to all with whom he is brought in contact, the poor and humble as well as the more highly favored, his qualities render him one of Cleveland's most popular citizens. He is liberal in his charities, and public-spirited in all interests pertaining to the welfare of the city. Neither do his manifold duties debar him from the amenities of life, for in the social circle, as well as in the commercial, he is equally esteemed.
PUTNAM, DOUGLAS, of Harmar, in Washington County, was the fourth son of David Putnam, and was born at the homestead in Harmar (the stone house still standing on the west bank of the Muskingum, and occupied by his son), April 7th, 1806. His father, David Putnam, was the son of Col. Israel Putnam, and a grandson of Gen. Israel Putnam, of Revolutionary fame. David Putnam was born in Pomfret, Connecticut, February 24th, 1769, graduated at Yale College in 1793, married and removed to Marietta in 1798, and died at his home in Harmar, March 31st, 1856, at the age of 87. Mr. Putnam's Christian name, it may be remarked, was derived from his maternal grandmother, Sarah (Douglas) Perkins, the wife of Dr. Elisha Perkins, of Plainfield, Connecticut, who was originally a Douglas, and a descendant of the Scotch family of that name, famous in history. Mr. Putnam's boy- hood was passed at home. With the limited school and trav- eling facilities of the time, and his father's desire to extend the privileges of his alma mater to his sons, he was sent to Con- necticut, at the age of fourteen, to pursue his education, and was absent four years without returning home. He fitted for college at Plainfield and Norwich, and entered Yale in 1822. He would have graduated with the class of 1826, but in the Fall of 1825, two older brothers having died, and his father's health being poor, it was deemed advisable that he should return to Marietta, and assist him in his business. His father, in addition to landed interests of his own, had become the agent for a large number of non-resident shareholders of the Ohio Company's purchase. The son entered his father's office in 1825, and remained as his assistant twenty years. He de- veloped early those correct and exact business methods which later led to a pronounced success. In 1845 his father transferred to him his entire business. During all the years since that time Mr. Putnam has carried on the real estate business, devoting the larger part of his time and at- tention to it, although many other interests have claimed a share. He was a director for fifteen years of the Marietta and Cincinnati Railroad Company, and with others labored zealously to secure such a location of that great East and West road as would give Marietta the best advantages of rail communication. He has also been interested from its origin in the Cleveland and Marietta Railroad, opening a direct northern communication from Marietta to the Lake and the East. He was a director of the old Bank of Marietta before
its charter expired in 1842, and of the Marietta branch of the State Bank, and also a director of the Marietta National Bank, and for a few years its President. The wooden-ware factory now operated by Putnam, Sons and Company, was estab- lished by Mr. Putnam for the use of his sons, and during the past thirty years has been most of the time in active opera- tion, benefitting the community by giving employment to a large number of men. The subject of this sketch was also interested for some years for a like purpose in the operation of an iron furnace in Vinton County, Ohio. The real estate business, however, conducted by him continuously and con- stantly for the past fifty years has been, as we have already said, the principal field of Mr. Putnam's business activity and the chief source of his liberal fortune. Mr. Putnam has dealt almost entirely in the lands of the Ohio Company's purchase, and has sold generally in small parcels to people who have made themselves homes. His business has thus been one of more solidity of character than it would have possessed had it been conducted on a purely speculative basis, and its prof- its if more slowly accruing have perhaps been surer than those which could have been obtained from a more rapid handling of property and heavier transactions. Doubtless the manner in which Mr. Putnam's wealth has been obtained has, in some measure, influenced him in the method of its disposition. He is conservative and careful, has always maintained an exactness of method in all his dealings, and · given his personal attention to the details, as well as to gen- eral features. He has had a knowledge of his affairs far more definite than is usually possessed by men controlling equally extensive business. A marked feature in these trans- actions has been his kindness and forbearance to purchasers in their struggles to clear and pay for their homes, forbearing enforcements of the letter of the contracts or the prosecution of claims in the courts. So marked has been his character for truth and honest dealing, he has never had his titles con- tested or an abstract of title required. He has dealt directly with the men who have bought and settled on his lands, and while usually enforcing with proper and necessary firmness the conditions of agreements, he has never been in the least degree oppressive in his measures, nor taken undue advan- tage of a purchaser. Not an acre of the many thousands which have passed through Mr. Putnam's hands has been conveyed except upon terms which were intended to be just. Few men in a business so beset with difficulties and by its very nature so frequently looked upon with prejudice could escape reasonable or unreasonable censure as Mr. Putnam has done. But it is not alone as the substantial and successful business man that we have to speak of Douglas Putnam. He has been a man of sterling worth to the community in which he was born, and where he has always lived, and has filled a sphere of noble usefulness. He is one to whom the poor and least favored of his neighbors go with their difficulties and misfortunes, assured of advice, sympathy, and all judicious help, and without fear of being repelled by any assumption of superiority. He is noted for his reticence respecting his per- sonal affairs and his charities. His judgment is clear, de- liberate, and kindly, and is much relied on in religious and local enterprises, as well as in social affairs. The acts of his benevolence have been many, large, varied in their nature, practical, and judicious. His use of money has demon- strated his worthiness of the possession of wealth. He was one of the founders of Marietta College, and has ever been its steadfast friend, giving the institution the constant benefit
ebayl' Chili" slip"
Douglas Putnam
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of his influence, services, and benevolence. His first gift to the college was two hundred dollars, his largest twenty-five thousand, and the total amount of his contributions has been upwards of fifty thousand dollars. The successive donations seem to have been increased in amount with the increase of ability to give. The maintenance and constant develop- ment of this line of benevolence has indicated a remarkable continuance of interest and devoted friendship. While Mr. Putnam has been the largest donor to the college, he has aided its advancement by other means. The trustees and faculty have continually felt the influence of his sanguine hope for the future of the institution, and his encouragement during the less promising period of its history. He has often in time of need assisted the college by securing credit for it, and his practical business knowledge has been of large value in the management of his finances. Mr. Putnam was one of the first trustees of the college, and has continuously served in that capacity during the period of its existence, over forty-five years. During most of these years he has been also a member of the Executive Committee. He has been Secretary of the college from the first, and has signed in that capacity every diploma that has been issued since 1838 to the present time. Mr. Putnam's length of service to this in- stitution of learning, the varied forms of assistance, and the unswerving constancy of his devotion to its interests have rendered the relation one of peculiar and almost unique value and pleasantness. President Andrews has said that without two such friends as Mr. Putnam and Colonel John Mills, Marietta College could scarcely have maintained an existence. Many private acts of charity have been performed by Mr. Putnam of which only the recipients and himself have had knowl- edge. And the church has also been a channel through which his benevolence has had a constant outlet. In this connection we may remark that he became a member of the Congregational Church of Marietta soon after his return from college in 1825, and remained one of its communicants until the organization of a society of the same denomination in Harmar in 1840. He was for ten years a deacon in the Mari- etta Church, and for the past forty-two years has held that office in the Congregational Church of Harmar. He is well known in Congregational circles throughout the State. It is worthy of note that while Mr. Putnam has been prominently identified with local charities, his philanthropy has also been directed to the broader fields for the betterment of humanity in general. His reputation for benevolence has not been con- fined to his home. We find his name enrolled among those of the leading spirits of the great philanthropic societies of the East. Since 1851 he has been a Vice-president of the American Home Missionary Society, and is the third oldest upon the roster. Since 1853 he has been a corporate mem- ber of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, and he is one of the Vice-presidents of the Ameri- can Missionary Association. Mr. Putnam has not been a public man in a political capacity. The people of Washing- ton County elected him early in life as one of their com- missioners, and he held that office by successive re-elections twelve years. He has been affiliated with the Whig and Republican parties, but has taken only a citizen's interest in politics. While he has not sought elective office and has had a distaste for political preferment, he has occupied by appoint- ment (or by election entirely unsought) several positions of honor and prominence, for which he was peculiarly fitted. Thus, in 1846 his knowledge of the lands in South-eastern
Ohio led to his choice as a member of the first State Board of Equalization ever constituted in Ohio, and he served by ap- pointment of Governor Hayes upon the board of 1870. Very appropriately, considering his extensive practical knowledge of the subject in general, he was appointed by Governor Hayes in 1866 a member of the first Board of State Charities, in which capacity he served two terms, or until the efficiency of the board was annulled by the unwise refusal of the Legis- lature to make approprations for it. Mr. Putnam has been married three times. His first wife, to whom he was joined February 16th, 1831, was Mary Ann, daughter of Dr. Samuel P. Hildreth. She died in 1842, and on May 16th, 1844, Mr. Putnam married Mrs. Eliza Tucker, a daughter of Levi Whipple, of Putnam (now the ninth ward of Zanesville), Ohio. Her death occurred September 9th, 1862. In 1867 Mr. Put- nam was married to his present wife, Mrs. Sarah C. Dimond, of Brooklyn, N. Y. Mr. Putnam has been the father of seven children, five by his first wife and two by his second. Two died in infancy, and a third, Benjamin Perkins Putnam in maturity in the year 1870. Those now living are Samuel Hildreth, who occupies the old homestead in Harmar ; Doug- las, Jr., located at Ashland, Ky., in charge of a large furnace ; Mary Hildreth, (wife of Dr. Frank H. Bosworth, of New York); and Lizzie W, living at home. The residence of Mr. Putnam, on the hillside in Harmar, was built in the year 1859.
MILLS, ISAAC, one of the founders of the city of San- dusky, was born March 7th, 1767, in Huntington, Fairfield County, Connecticut, a few miles from New Haven. He was descended in a direct line from Sir Peter Vander Meulen, of Amsterdam, Holland, who had the title conferred upon him for distinguished public services and improvements in dykes and canals. His son, Peter Vander Meulen, came with the refugees from Leyden to America. He had his name changed in after-life to Mills (first volume Colonial Rec- ords of Connecticut). Vander Meulen, in the language of Holland, signifies "of the mills." On the maternal side Judge Mills was descended from Governor Robert Treat, of Connecticut, whose character shines so conspicuously in the colonial history of New England. He graduated with high honors at Yale College in 1786. His excellent Puritan father allowed him just two weeks after graduation to choose his profession. Within the appointed time he was on his way to New Haven, where he entered the office of Judge Charles Chauncey as a student of law. _ The following year he pur- sued his studies with Judge David_Daggett and Pierpont Edwards. In 1789 he married Abigail Richardson Phelps, daughter of Judge John Phelps, of Stafford Springs, Connec- ticut. They soon commenced housekeeping on the beautiful New Haven Green in a house presented to him as a wed- ding-gift by his father. Mr. Mills was one of the most en- terprising and public-spirited citizens of New Haven. Indeed, there was no public work, nothing connected with the ad- vancement and prosperity of the city, which he did not act- ively promote. He was an easy and forcible speaker, and when roused by circumstances produced a powerful effect upon his audience. On one occasion, when he made the closing speech in a trial for murder, which was delivered in the "large meeting-house" (the court-house being too small), the entire assembly was in tears. The jury returned a verdict of manslaughter. On returning home he sat down, with his head resting upon both hands. After some moments, "Never
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again," said he, "God helping me, will I plead against my conscience. That man ought to be hung ; for it was a case of willful murder, if there ever was one." This resolve he was enabled to keep. He was a very successful lawyer, usually having many cases on the docket for the Chancery Court. In November, 1816, he became one of the Justices of the Quorum (or side judges) of the County Court. In June, 1819, he was appointed Judge of the County Court, and re- mained in that office as Chief Judge until 1825. He was likewise the Judge of Probate for many years after. In middle life he became a communicant in the Church, in the affairs of which he had always taken an active part. His life ever after was that of a decided and consistent Christian. In person he was tall and commanding, with a fine counte- nance; in manner, a true gentleman, courteous and agree- able to all. His conversation was marked by valuable in- formation and a fund of good-humor. In those days of stage-traveling it was considered " good luck" to be a fellow- passenger with him. It is well known that in 1662 King Charles Second of England granted to Connecticut, by royal charter, the entire territory lying between the forty-first and forty-second parallel of latitude, and from Narragansett Bay or Providence Plantations, on the east, to the South Sea, as it was then called, or Pacific Ocean, on the west. Inasmuch as New York had also received a part of this allotment of territory, it would appear that the geographical knowledge of North America was somewhat vague at that time on the other side of the Atlantic; but the claim of Connecticut to its Western lands was never disputed. The interest of Judge Mills in the settlement of Northern Ohio came about in con- nection with the Connecticut Fire-lands Company, of which he was from the first an influential member. After the War of the Revolution Connecticut, in common with others of the United States, relinquished to the General Government her Western territory, reserving to herself, however, a tract of land lying south of Lake Erie, extending westward of the Pennsylvania line one hundred and twenty miles, averaging about fifty miles in width, and containing 3,800,000 acres. The five westernmost ranges of the Western Reserve-a tract of land about thirty miles north and south and about twenty- six miles east and west, 500,000 acres-were granted by the Connecticut Legislature in 1793 to the sufferers by fire occa- sioned by the English during the Revolutionary War. At that time William Tryon, the British Governor of New York, invaded Connecticut with a large force, and burned Dan- bury, Fairfield, and Norwalk. The traitor Benedict Arnold came up the sound, and burned large parts of Groton and New London. This infamous man was an inhabitant of New Haven, and took the fiendish pleasure of leading the British troops to the spot, as the place was defenseless. In order to avail themselves of the relief thus provided by the Legisla- ture of Connecticut, the sufferers by fire organized the Fire- lands Company. Of this company Mr. Mills was an active and influential member, and for some years was its secretary. The land in question was in the possession of Indians be- longing to several distinct tribes, who claimed it as their own. Accordingly, it was of the greatest importance to the Fire- lands Company to extinguish the Indian claim, which pre- vented them from selling or occupying the land. In March, 1805, Mr. Mills, the secretary of the company, was appointed their agent to procure a treaty to this effect. In company with others interested, he repaired to Northern Ohio, meet- ing the Indians at the River Maumee, or the Miami of the
Lakes, and was greatly instrumental in securing a favorable termination to the negotiations. On arriving at the Maumee they found a number of agents of the English Government . among the Indians, using every possible effort to prevent any negotiation whatever, and some time elapsed before they could be brought to any reasonable terms. In June Mr. Mills, through his own exertions and on his own responsi- bility, procured in Connecticut the sum of six thousand dol- lars in specie, to be paid to the Indians. This sum of money was, we believe, refunded to him by the company. At length, on the 4th of July, 1805, the treaty was concluded at Fort Industry between the United States of America and the sa- chems, chiefs, and warriors of the Wyandot, Ottawa, Chip- pewa, Munsee, Delaware, Shawnee, and Pottawatamie nations. (See Indian Treaties of the United States, page 61.) The squaws used their persuasion in favor of the treaty, and not without effect. Even among aborigines woman's power is seen ; but it would not be singular if presents to them had something to do with their good-will to the white man. Dean Swift's gentle satire on woman is as follows :
" What pleases women most when we them address ? Faithful Echo answers, A dress."
They were happy, after the daily palaver, in dancing around the evening fire. The custom of the squaws in selecting a partner was to approach the chosen man, and take hold of his coat. Mr. Mills most willingly accepted their politeness, and tripped merrily " on the light fantastic toe." They sang and marched around the blaze. The leader commenced singing a few words ; then the next in the ring began with the same. The leader began a new set, and so on. All chanted or sung, but no two the same sounds. Immediately after the signing of the treaty the survey of the Fire-lands commenced. In November, 1808, a meeting of the directors of the company was held in New Haven. At that time the townships of the grant received names, and the land was di- vided by lot among those holding claims. The War of 1812 prevented the rapid settlement of the country ; but after the close of the war a more general movement began. About this time Mr. Mills, together with his nephew, Elisha T. Mills, of Ohio, made large purchases of land, especially in Rich- mond, Greenfield, and New Haven. They acquired a con- trolling interest in the lands of those townships, and a com- plete ownership of the township of Richmond. Although Judge Mills never removed his residence to Ohio, much of his time was spent there during the latter part of his life. He sold much of his valuable property in New Haven, and in- vested it in Ohio land. He was instrumental in the removal of many of the best settlers from Connecticut, often at con- siderable expense to himself. He was active in forwarding every good work there. To every new Church organization he gave liberally. He not only presented the society with the lot upon which the church was built, but a bell to summon distant worshipers was promised. A bill from Troy, New York, was sent to New Haven, Connecticut, to his order, for three church-bells already on their way to Ohio at one time. He took pleasure in "hearing those bells ring out their clear tones in the vaulted sky." Sandusky City was laid out in 1817 by him, and its avenues, streets, and batteries were also named by him. Its charming situation at the head of the bay was his pet choice for a city. It rises gradually from the level of Lake Erie, commanding views of its fine harbor, broad lake waters, and islands. Its foundation is an "illim-
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itable rock" of limestone, imbedded with marine-shell de- posit, which is not only valuable and beautiful for building purposes, but an important article of trade. Here his two sons, Isaac Augustus Mills and General William Henry Mills, settled with their families, and have contributed largely to its prosperity. He suffered from the effects of the climate, and had several attacks of bilious fever. During one of these at- tacks, while sick at the hotel in the town of New Haven, his trunk was opened, and two thousand dollars in gold taken from it. Much search was made and a generous reward offered, but no clew could be had of the stolen coin. Every effort proved unavailing. On returning to the West more than a year afterwards, one of the rogues turned state's evi- dence, and led the way to the spot on his own land in New Haven, where they had buried it. The gold was as fresh as when it left the trunk. The fellows quarreled about the divis- ion, and the one aggrieved by the smaller portion disclosed the secret. Mr. Mills endured many privations in these early settlements. Sometimes he was obliged to dine on rusty salt pork and boiled potato tops, in the log houses. He introduced the culture of fruit, and used to carry seeds and grafts from his Eastern home. The ill effects of malaria he bore in his system for many years, but never complained, and was always cheerful, and hoping brightly. His yearly visits to Ohio were hailed with pleasure. He was enthusias- tic in praise of the Buckeye State, and fond of a good joke. In proof of the fertility of its soil, he used to relate the veri- table story of the man who was riding on horseback in the heat of day. While putting his hand into his pocket some pumpkin seeds chanced to drop out upon his horse. Pres- ently they sprang up and formed a fine shade for him the rest of his journey. Children and youth took delight in his genial society ; he in return felt happy with them. His vari- ous experiences with the Indians, their language, etc., were an untiring source of amusement to them. He was much respected and beloved by the new settlers. Sometimes his leniency was taken advantage of. On one of his collecting tours, some young men came to make their annual pay- ments. By putting on a dolorous countenance, they gave him a woful tale of misfortune. The kind man agreed to post- pone their payments until another year, whereupon they proceeded to have a frolic with the money they had brought. On hearing of the advantage gained over him, he said, "Well, the worst of it is theirs, and I can truly say this, I never took a poor widow's cow or in any way distressed a person for the payment of a debt." He looked forward to the day when Ohio would go ahead of the good Yankee States. The truth of this prophecy is perhaps apparent to all. It, how- ever, is an offshoot mostly from the noble parent stock of old New England. Having arrived at the age of 73 years, he said he was an old man, and should not return to Ohio again, but desired to spend the remainder of his days in the quiet rest of his own family. He wrote much for the leading papers on political, literary, and religious subjects. Several of his pamphlets were also published. Many volumes of his closely-written diary contain much spiritual instruction and valuable thought. He never omitted amid the pressure of business writing daily in it, considering this a special means of grace, as well as a pleasure to him. His death took place at his home in New Haven, January 23d, 1843, after a short illness, from pleurisy, in the full assurance of faith and vic- .
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