USA > Ohio > The biographical cyclopaedia and portrait gallery with an historical sketch of the state of Ohio. Volume I > Part 65
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SIMPKINSON, JOHN, merchant, Cincinnati, Ohio, was born at Belper, Derbyshire, England, October 9th, 1812, be- ing one of nineteen children. His parents were hard-working, industrious people, but from direst necessity were compelled to place their children out at service when quite young. John was no exception, and at nine years of age commenced working in a cotton factory for a sixpence, or twelve and a half cents, a week. He had to begin work at six o'clock in the morning, not quitting till seven in the evening. He undertook life's struggle with a zealous earnestness, such as is rarely found in a mere lad. In three months, as a reward for good conduct and industry, he was advanced to the finishing-room, and his wages at the same time increased, by working at piece-work, to nine shillings a week. Happy was the youthful heart, and bright the anticipations of future wealth. When he had been in this situation a little over a year longer, the proprietors of the factory concluded that the boys were earning too much money, and gave notice that their wages would be reduced one-half from and after that date. The thirty boys, of ages ranging from nine to sixteen years, who worked in the room, were astonished, but were seemingly helpless against the exactions of the wealthy owners. That evening John invited his shop-mates to come to his father's house for consultation, and it resulted in a huge resolve to strike, rather than sub- mit. The proprietors, knowing their power, remained firm, and all the boys were compelled to return to their work, at the reduced wages, John Simpkinson being the only one who refused, basing his objection on the logical ground that if he was right in striking he would be wrong in submitting. At eleven years of age he secured another position, that of carrying the mail, which suited him much better, as the pay was larger, and he had more time to play marbles and but- tons, both before and after his work was done. With the small remnant of wages not given to his parents, by selling buttons and marbles, and the extra compensation for deliver- ing the mail outside of his postal bounds (which were four miles square), he made considerable money, and in five years had saved sufficient to enable him to secure steerage passage on a sailing vessel for America. The voyage was
long and tedious, the ship arriving at New York after being at sea sixty days. This new departure took place July 16th, 1828, when the boy was only sixteen years of age, and yet though so young, through the most rigid economy, he had managed to save £20 (or $100) from his scanty earnings. The parents at first strenuously objected to their son's emi- grating to the far-off Western World, going at such a youthful age among entire strangers, but finally consented, and with tearful eyes, swelling hearts, and parental blessings, supple- mented with admonitions always to keep to the right, and ever to walk in the fear of God, bade farewell to their son, after placing him in care of a good Methodist family who were coming to the land of promise, and from whom he re- ceived most excellent advice and example. After a short stay in New York, the party started West, over the mountains in an old-fashioned Conestoga wagon, which was the com- mon means of transportation a half century ago, before the railroads had penetrated every section of the country. Reach- ing Pittsburg with only one half-sovereign remaining, young Simpkinson apprenticed himself to an Englishman, to learn the trade of shoemaking; but after being in the position two years, he thought best to leave his place, as his employer had become very dissipated, and the sterling youth concluded not to remain under such pernicious influences. On quitting he went down town and secured a bench in another shoe shop, knowing, however, that he was hardly competent to hold it; but to enable him to do so he gave his wages for sixty days to a shop-mate in return for instructions received, and from that time he worked right along in connection with other journeymen. Remaining here long enough to save fifty dollars, like most others of his craft, he concluded he must travel, and at nineteen years of age took his first tramp, having a shop-mate for his companion. He was pretty suc- cessful in securing work, but greatly disliking the drudgery of the bench, and being a good workman, was usually ap- pointed foreman wherever he worked, through which he gained an insight into business methods. After traveling through the whole West, as it was in that day, and having arrived at man's estate, he concluded to marry and settle down in life. It was his remarkable good fortune just at this time to become acquainted in Pittsburg with an excellent family, and shortly afterward married the daughter, Miss Elizabeth S. Allomong. As soon as married, Mr. Simpkinson opened a shop in Allegheny, opposite Pittsburg, where he had a very good run of trade, but the town not presenting as bright a future as desired, after a year's residence, he closed up his shop, and with his wife came down the river as far as Wheeling. But here the prospects were not any better, and after a short stay, he left there, and in July, 1836, came to Cincinnati, which ever afterward was to be his home. Mrs. Simpkinson was not only a wife in name, but a helpmate indeed, who, seeing how willing and how hard her husband was striving to secure a competency, of her own accord, learned shoe-fitting and binding, at which she soon became ex- tremely expert. On arriving in Cincinnati Mr. Simpkinson and wife both secured good situations, and the future was bright with promises, but three months later the former was stricken down by sickness, and for two years could not do any kind of labor. Here it was that the excellent qualities of the noble wife shone forth with the brightest luster. Believing that God aids them who first attempt to help themselves, she at once, fully appreciating the trying ordeal, and well knowing the apathy of the outside world for the unfortunate, concluded
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that they must depend entirely upon her efforts for their sup- port. There was no complaining, no murmuring, but a quiet heroism, a resolve to be independent. The self-sacrificing wife toiled early and late, and by a system of extreme economy, at the end of two years liad saved, after supporting the family, a considerable sum. As soon as able to be about, the husband, at the advice of his physician, determined to abandon the bench, and obtained a clerkship in one of the five stores of John Westcott, at the meager salary of five dollars a week. Three weeks later, the young clerk was given the entire charge of the store, as general manager, and the weekly salary advanced to the munificent sum of eight dollars. Happy man! delighted family! Eighteen months later, hav- ing saved considerable, Mr. Simpkinson and the late John Gates bought out one of the stores of the late William Hart. This partnership continued two years and a half, when Mr. Simpkinson bought out his partner, and became sole owner of the store. This business, commencing in 1840, continued for ten years, Mrs. Simpkinson still rendering her services, by acting as principal saleswoman. Trade having largely augmented at the old stand, located on the south side of Pearl, between Main and Sycamore, at the end of the ten years, the more extensive premises on the north-west corner of Pearl and Main were leased, and the business changed to wholesaling. The house here had an annual sale reaching about three hundred thousand dollars. In January, 1858, Mr. Simpkinson's son, Henry, and his brother, Alfred, be- came partners in the house, the style of the firm being changed to J. & A. Simpkinson & Co., which it has since re- mained, the only addition being the admission of Mr. John Allomong, a nephew of Mrs. John Simpkinson, as a partner. The corner store soon became too small for the largely in- creased business, and another move was made to No. 99 West Pearl, and from there to No. 89 West Pearl, the premises now occupied by the firm. During the recent civil war the sales of this firm to the government reached two million dollars a year, and they now run up annually to over one million dollars, their trade extending over the entire West and South. In 1845 John Simpkinson became a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and ever since has taken a most active part in all religious mat- ters, and it is no disparagement to others to say that no per- son in this broad city has inaugurated more philanthropic or public enterprises than this plain and unassuming merchant. For eighteen years he has been president of the board of di- rectors of the beautiful Wesleyan Cemetery, at Cumminsville (Twenty-fifth Ward). He was also the first president and main spirit in the organization of the Society for the Preven- tion of Cruelty to Animals and Children ; for many years he has been a trustee of the Church to which he belongs; pres- ident, treasurer, and member of the Board of Trade; a most earnest leader in the project for the building of the Cincinnati Southern Railroad, so that our merchants could be enabled to have their share of Southern trade ; member and president of the Boot and Shoe Dealers' Association ; president and one of the incorporators of the Walnut Hills Street Railroad; member of and one of the organizers of the Society of Natural History ; numerous times a commissioner of the Cincinnati Expositions ; trustee of the Old Man's Home; president and one of the founders of the famous Zoological Garden; one of the first (1873) to secure a Fire Patrol for Cincinnati, of which he was elected president, though the worthy institution was allowed to remain dormant, owing to the great financial cat-
astrophes occurring the year it was organized; one of the first to lend his energy toward beautifying and making at- tractive our Walnut Hills suburbs, and in securing Eden Park forever as a breathing spot for the masses; for five years a member of the Board of Health; and for three years a trustee of the Cincinnati Water Works, during which time the Markley farm was purchased, for the construction of a grand receiving reservoir, to enable the people to have pure fresh water, and the reservoir in Eden Park was commenced; one of the first to answer the appeal for help from the suf- ferers by yellow fever at Memphis, in 1877, acting as treasurer and disbursing agent for the contributions, which amounted to nearly seventy-eight thousand dollars; an early patron and trustee of the Wesleyan Female College, of this city, his wife recently giving the last one thousand dollars required to save the institution from the sheriff; member and one of the founders of the Society for the Acclimatization of Birds, through which our woods have been filled with myriads of the sweetest songsters, and that pest, the caterpillar, almost become an unknown thing. He accepted the presidency of the First Ward Republican Club, merely to give proof of political principles he believed to be just and proper; and was chairman of the committee to receive Governor Noyes, on his return home from his position as United States minister to the Republic of France; chairman of the committee to receive the descendants of the renowned Baron Von Steuben, on their recent visit here; chairman of the committee having in charge the religious services during the funeral obsequies of President Garfield, and treasurer of the fund being raised for the erection of a monument in this city to his memory. When the civil war commenced John Simpkinson at once threw the whole weight of his influence on the side of the Union, serving as a colonel and aide-de-camp on the staff of Major-general Wallace during the siege of Cincinnati, in the year 1862, and in every other way in his power served the land of his adoption, of which he is so proud tocall himself a citizen. When the war ceased, and the cause of the Union was triumphant, Mr. Simpkinson was one of the very first to extend the hand of friendship and offer the olive branch of peace and good will to our late opponents, and to show that the past was forever obliterated, was one of the leading mer- chants, in connection with Robert Mitchell, the late John Shillito, J. J. Hooker, George W. McAlpin, and others, to invite the Southern merchants to visit us as the guests of our city. A large sum of money was raised to pay the expenses of this affair, which was known as the "Green Line Railroad Excursion." Mr. Simpkinson was chosen treasurer of the contributions, and by careful business management was en- abled to entertain and banquet our guests in a right royal manner, and after every bill was paid, return to the sub- scribers thirty-three per cent of their subscriptions-a result rarely equaled in affairs of that nature. When that excel- lent citizen, George Graham, was called away, after a life of great usefulness, in the spring of 1881, it was resolved to have a memorial service in Music Hall, not only to his memory, but also to recall the lives of other worthy persons who had passed away. John Simpkinson was at once chosen president of the Citizens' Memorial Association; and who of the seven thousand persons present in Music Hall on that 30th of May night will ever forget the thrilling words of Justice Stanley Matthews, Rev. Max Lilienthal, General Dur- bin Ward, Aaron F. Perry, or the other eloquent speakers who spoke in such glowing terms of the worthy dead? Who
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will ever fail to recall with pleasurable emotions the hundreds of portraits of deceased citizens hung around the vestibule of the vast edifice ? The last census returns revealing that great calamities awaited our country in the future, owing to the rapid destruction of the forests of the land, thoughtful per- sons were considering how to avert the evil. The danger was apparent, but the remedy seemingly far off. John Simp- kinson put his spirit into the subject, and from the smallest germ the first National Forestry Congress ever held was con- vened in this city, in April, 1882, drawing hither many of the ablest scientists of the continent. Fifty thousand people, on that occasion, assembled in Eden Park, on Arbor Day, April 27th, 1882, to inaugurate the restoration of the forests of the country, by planting memorial trees in honor of the great and good who had passed away, and on that very day, at the same hour, the people all over the land, in response to official proclamations, planted memorial trees. This last, as time will prove, is one of the most important things in which John Simpkinson has taken part. Years of toil have met their reward, and some years since this merchant built him an elegant home on Walnut Hills, where, surrounded by plenty, the senior merchant now doing business on Pearl Street, with the noble woman who has for nearly half a century been his wife, lives in comfort, surrounded by all that wealth will purchase-and the latch-string is always out, and friends are ever welcome around their board. His house has been a favorite resting-place for the ministers of the great Church of which he has so long been a member. Notwithstanding the many cares of business, Mr. Simpkinson has found time to visit Old England on five different occasions, visiting his aged parents and the old homestead, as long as the former lived, and cheerfully, for many years, regularly remitting ample means for their support, and since their death caring for an aged sister who has been less fortunate than himself. The father died at the ripe old age of eighty-three, and the mother at seventy-four, and of the nineteen children of this worthy couple, five are still alive. Mr. and Mrs. Simpkinson, never having been blest with offspring of their own, have taken great pleasure in raising eight adopted children ; and, in addition to all this, knowing how much greater the chances for advancement are in America, he has loaned money to ena- ble a great many of his countrymen to emigrate to this coun- try, and to their credit be it said that he never lost a dollar by such kindness. No merchant is more universally known than John Simpkinson, and it is only a simple truth to say that no man is more generally respected and venerated.
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VORIS, ALVIN C., of Akron, late brevet Major-general United States Volunteers, was born in Stark County, Ohio, on the 27th of April, 1827. He lived with his parents till after he was eighteen years old, when he went from home to school, one year at Twinsburg Institute, and the two following years at Oberlin College, Ohio, taking an elective course; teaching public school in the winter months, and working a part of each day at the shoe-bench in the mean time, to pay for books, tuition, and board. In February, 1850, he came to Akron, where he has since resided. He was appointed a deputy clerk in the Common Pleas Court, and held this office for two years. In February, 1852, the first Probate Judge elect under the new constitution, who, by reason of sickness (of which he died in August following), was unable to get to his office personally, appointed young Voris his deputy clerk, which place he filled till the decease of the judge. The entire busi-
ness of the office was thus thrown upon him. That he per- formed the duties of the office well, and devised proper modes for doing its business and keeping the records, is attested by the fact that they have been since followed; and that he cor- rectly and faithfully acted for some six months as de facto Probate Judge, is also attested by the fact that his acts in that behalf have never been legally questioned. He was a close student of the law, and was admitted to the bar in June, 1853. He at once formed a partnership with the late General L. V. Bierce, his law preceptor. As a young lawyer he was singu- larly successful, both in getting business and in his manner of handling it. September 25th, 1853, he married Lydia Allyn, with whom he lived till March 16th, 1876, when Mrs. Voris died, after a most painful illness of over four years, leav- ing three children. She was a most devoted wife and mother. In 1859 he was elected to represent his county in the General Assembly. Instead of being a society man, or employing his efforts in mere partisan contests, he directed his attention to the practical business matters before the Legislature, in which he at once took rank as a leader. He was regarded as one of the ablest men on the floor of the House. He was apt and convincing as a debater, and always ready as a par- liamentarian. Before his legislative term expired the war of the Rebellion broke out. In September, 1861, he enlisted in the Twenty-ninth Ohio Volunteers, but without solicitation on his part, Governor Dennison appointed him a Second Lieu- tenant for the recruiting service. He was mustered into the United States Volunteer service on the 2d of October ensuing, for the organization of a regiment, of which he became the Lieutenant-colonel. His regiment went into the field in Western Virginia, January 19th, 1862. He was its chief in- structor from the date of its organization, December 18th, 1861 ; drilling and teaching men and officers at such intervals as active service in the field permitted. On the 16th of March following he became its commanding officer. On the evening of the 22d of the same month, he took his regiment into its first fight, against a reconnoissance of "Stonewall " Jackson, before Winchester, Virginia, which was in fact the opening of the first battle of Winchester, one of the most obstinately fought infantry battles of the war. The brigade to which the Sixty-seventh Ohio was attached being ordered out to repel this attack, which was on our picket lines to the south of Winchester, Lieutenant-colonel Voris turned out his com- mand so rapidly that he took the lead of all our troops, and in one hour from the time he received his orders he was four miles from camp, and pushing the enemy, his being the first Union troops in the fight. He held the front the entire night. The next morning he was ordered to support a battery of artillery, which he did under a brisk fire from the enemy's batteries, till the infantry battle opened, when he was directed "to pitch in." The enemy was three-fourths of a mile off, and its lines were extended over a wide front, and mainly obscured by woodland and hills. He led his men at a double-quick pace, against a terrible fire of shot and shell directly in his front, and right for the point where the in- fantry fighting appeared to be fiercest. He formed his men immediately to the left of Colonel Tyler's brigade, which was lying on the ground in front of a rebel brigade, within point-blank range. The latter was thoroughly protected by a stone wall. Both sides kept up an incessant fusillade of small arms, neither daring to advance on the other, with the advantage all on the side of the enemy. The Sixty-seventh formed obliquely on the head and front of this wall, and not
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more than one hundred and fifty feet from the right flank of the rebel brigade, from which it got a deadly fire without being able to do much execution in return. Lieutenant- colonel Voris held this position but for a short time, and not securing the desired results, undertook to place liis men so as to deliver an enfilading fire from behind the stone wall. While making this movement he was shot in the right thigh, getting a very painful, though not dangerous, wound. The color-sergeant hesitating, Voris seized the colors, and sup- ported by two men, one under each shoulder, notwithstanding his wound, called on his men to follow him; and placing them in such position that this wall afforded no protection to the enemy, the Sixty-seventh opened a most destructive fire upon them. Two or three volleys caused the rebels to waver, when he ordered a charge, which was executed with such impetuosity that the enemy broke in great disorder, and the Sixty-seventh dashed through their lines, with a yell that was plainly heard above the din of the battle. Tyler's brigade soon followed suit, and the whole left wing of Jackson's army was thrown into a disordered retreat. General Voris deserv- edly thinks this one of the very best public acts of his life. Seeing that the stone wall was as good as a fort for the enemy, and that no decisive. movement could be made against them till they were dislodged from it, he, of his own motion, pitched into them on their flank, a movement that was decisive of the only Union victory ever gained over "Stonewall" Jackson. He was promoted to the colonelcy of his regiment July 18th, 1862, and served with it in the most arduous enterprises in Eastern and Southeastern Virginia till the end of that year. In January, 1863, he was transferred, with his command, to the Department of the South, where he participated in the siege operations before Charleston, South Carolina, till the year closed. He commanded his regiment in the disastrous assault on Fort Wagner, the night of the 18th of July, in which he was very severely wounded, and was sent North to nurse his wound. In less than sixty days he reported for duty, and shortly after was in the trenches before Charleston. In the spring of 1864 he was assigned to duty with his regiment in the movement up James River, Virginia, against Richmond, under General Butler, and thence- forth was identified with the Army of the James till the close of the war. On the 9th and 10th of May, 1864, with less than two thousand rifles and eight pieces of artillery, he success- fully fought and repulsed Confederate General Ransom, with four times as large a force, some ten miles below Richmond. In this engagement he was specially conspicuous for gal- lantry and ability, and gained a brilliant victory. General A. H. Terry said, that if he had ten thousand such men as Colonel Voris and the Sixty-seventh Ohio, he could take Richmond with them. For this action Colonel Voris was recommended for promotion as Brigadier-general of Volun- teers, but political reasons in his congressional district pre- vented so well earned advancement. He was then suffering from his Fort Wagner wound, and was so prostrated by the fatigue and anxiety of the day that he had to be helped to camp. On the 20th of the same month he again fought the enemy, at the Weir Bottom Church, on the Bermuda Hun- dred front, retaking our picket line, from which our troops had been forced ; at the same time taking Confederate Gen- eral Walker prisoner. He still keeps General Walker's sword, as a trophy of that affair. The 16th of June follow- ing, while in command of the picket line, as general officer of the day, he took the line of rebel works, by which General
Butler had been "bottled up," on the Bermuda Hundred, capturing quite a number of prisoners, and several heavy guns. At Deep Run, on the left bank of the James, below Richmond, in August next, he led the skirmish line in an attack on the enemy's lines, protected by temporary field works, which were carried with so much impetuosity that the rebels could fire but one volley-but so destructive was it that one-third of the attacking force were killed and wounded. Before the enemy could reload their pieces, our boys were clubbing them over their heads with the butts of their rifles. In an engagement on the 13th of October ensuing, he com- manded a brigade of colored troops, also below Richmond. Again on the 27th and 28th of the same month, he com- manded a brigade of white troops on the Charles City Road, in an attack upon the outworks for the protection of Rich- mond; and in the latter part of November he commanded a division against an attempt of the enemy to turn our flank, on the north side of the James. On the 2d of April, 1865, he led the charge on Fort Gregg, Petersburg, Virginia, and after having been in the ditch of the fort, up to his neck in mud and water, for nearly half an hour, he climbed up on its walls, by the aid of a ladder made by the boys with their guns with bayonets fixed and thrust into the walls, one above the other, being the first Union officer on the fort. This was the last fort taken by storm of the Confederate works sur- rounding Richmond and Petersburg. At Appomattox he was in the fight at the last ditch, and was wounded by a fragment of shell on the left arm. He was brevetted a Brigadier-gen- eral in 1864, and a Major-general of Volunteers in the year following, "for distinguished services in the field." Upon the close of hostilities he was assigned to command the military district of South Anna, Virginia, embracing a territory of triangular form-one angle at Richmond, the other two in the crown of the Blue Ridge-extending each way more than a hundred miles. The duties of this command were both of a civil and military nature. He was for more than six months as absolute a satrap as ever governed, there being · no other governing power except by and through the military, not a single civil, police, or political officer being recognized, except by and under the military authorities. The colored people, just emancipated, had to be especially cared for and protected, all the interests of society looked after and con- served, the prejudices and cruelties of the system of slavery resisted and eradicated, a new system of labor organized, the mutual distrusts of the whites and negroes allayed, and confi- dence created between the late slave-owners and the freedmen. He called together both white and colored people, at their county seats, and tried to instruct them as to their new rela- tions, urging fair dealing, justice, and humanity, in their future intercourse, and upon terms of impartial equal rights. To protect the late slaves, and especially the infirm, old, and little ones, from ill-treatment and want, he found it necessary to make and publish orders prohibiting all sorts of personal violence, and the turning off of the infirm and helpless with- out adequate provision for their present support. In default of which provision, he directed adequate assessments to be made and collected by military power. He absolutely put a stop to the practice of flogging colored people, and permitted no penalties to be inflicted on them that were not visited upon white people for a like grade of offenses. So considerate was he in the administration of his public duties, that he never had a matter appealed from his orders to department head- quarters, during the whole time he was in command, though
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