USA > Ohio > The biographical cyclopaedia and portrait gallery with an historical sketch of the state of Ohio. Volume III > Part 30
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by hand. His former business experience was brought into requisition, and his business grew rapidly, while he himself grew no less rapidly in favor with the public for his excellent personal traits and qualities and business capabilities. Upon the invention of machinery and the application of steam in the manufacture of furniture, he was among the first to adopt them, and in succeeding years he kept abreast with all such inventions and methods as were deemed an acquisition in the development of his industry. It was not long before he had a large manufactory established, with which was con- nected an extensive store and salesroom. In this, his chosen vocation, his life was chiefly spent, laboring zealously in be- half of his interests, which was rewarded with great success in a financial point of view, but none the less than by the honorable name and position he won among his fellow- citizens; and his name and character will be cherished in the memory of many who knew him as a man of great personal worth, probity of character, and of noble and generous im- pulses. His career forms an important part in the industrial history of Cincinnati. In 1873 he retired from active busi- ness, and spent in a quiet way the remainder of his days at his home on College Hill, the beautiful suburb of Cincinnati, where he died at the age of seventy-six, leaving a wife, four sons, and three daughters. Since then, on the 16th of Octo- ber, 1883, the wife and partner of his life for fifty-five years entered into her rest. Two of the sons, Edward and George Henshaw, both men of high character and business standing, continue the business left by their worthy father.
GOODE, PATRICK GAINES, ex-member of Congress, and ex-judge, was born in Prince Edward's county, Virginia, May 10th, 1798; died October 7th, 1862. His father, Philip Goode emigrated from Virginia to Warren county, eight miles south of Xenia, in 1805. Here he purchased land, and settled on it until 1814, when he removed to Xenia for the purpose of educating his family. Young Patrick, had worked on the farm until he was sixteen years of age, and was much attached to farm life and left it with regret. He commenced his education with Professor Espy, who conducted a classical school at Xenia. At this academy Patrick remained nearly three years, when Professor Espy removed to Philadelphia, Pa., to which place Patrick accompanied him. In the new insti- tution opened by the Professor, he pursued his studies and acted as tutor. Here he remained about two years, when he removed to Lebanon, Warren county, where he commenced the study of law under Judge Collett. At the age of twenty- three he was admitted to the bar at Lebanon. This was the strongest bar in the State, composed of such legal lumin- aries as Thomas Corwin, Benjamin Collett and advocates of almost equal celebrity. He then went to Madison, Indiana, and began the practice of law. In 1828, he re- moved to Liberty, Indiana, and there remained until 1831, when he went to Sidney, Ohio. Here, as the country was new, and there was but little law business, he taught school for a time. About 1832, Mr. Goode was appointed by the State Sabbath School Society as their agent, to travel in Shelby and the new counties north of it, for the purpose of establish- ing Sunday schools. To this work he devoted himself with great zeal and industry for some months, cheerfully sharing the humble but cordial hospitality of the pioneer, preaching and lecturing on the Sunday school cause, mostly in school houses, as there were but few churches erected in this district. This labor of love he performed with great success, and by
it he not only accomplished great and permanent good for the people, but laid the foundation of his great popularity which followed him to the close of life. Travelling through these counties now, one often hears from the lips of the sur- vivors of that period, and oftener still from their descendants, the warmest expressions of admiration and gratitude towards Mr. Goode for his labor of love among them. In 1833 he was elected to the lower house of the Legislature from the counties of Shelby, Darke and the other then organized counties north to Lake Erie, and re-elected from the same district the next year; the election of members of the House of Representatives occurring annually under the Constitution of 1802. He was a candidate for the Senate in 1835, and received the certificate of election, but a number of votes for his opponent, the late Colonel John E. Hunt, of Maumee city, having been thrown out on technical grounds, which if counted would have given Colonel Hunt a majority, Mr. Goode, believing that his opponent had an actual majority of votes, refused to claim a position to which he had not been fairly elected, and did not present his certificate. The next year he was elected by a large majority to Congress, in the district extending from Dayton to Toledo, containing four- teen counties. He was re-elected in 1838 and 1840, and until the territory was redistricted, when he declined being again a candidate. While a member of Congress, he was indefatig- ably engaged in advancing the interests of the section he represented, and is said to have done more for internal improvements in the Maumee valley than any other person. In 1844, on the creation of the sixteenth judicial circuit com- posed of the counties of Shelby, Williams and the counties intervening (ten in number), he was elected by the legisla- ture its first President Judge for seven years, until the district was remodeled and the constitution superseded by the new constitution of 1851. He then returned to the practice of his profession in Sidney, where he still resided, but continued at the bar only a few years, when he finally abandoned it to devote his remaining years to the more congenial duties of the ministry of the gospel. In 1855, he had received from the Methodist Episcopal conference a temporary appoint- ment to fill a vacancy. The ensuing year he received and accepted a full appointment, and in 1857, his whole time was devoted to gospel work. In the fall of 1862, he attended the conference at Greenville, Darke county. Owing to his knowledge of parliamentary and other law, he had grave responsibilities laid upon him at this meeting, and with these and preceding labors, he appears to have been overtaxed, for on returning home, he died about two weeks after the adjournment of the conference. On the 3d of July 1822, he married near Clifton, Greene county, Ohio, Miss Mary White- man, the daughter of Benjamin and Catherine Whiteman ; the father of his wife, General Benjamin Whiteman, whose biography will be found in this volume, was an old pioneer of Greene county. They had three children, two of whom survive; Catherine, married to William McCullough, of Sidney, Ohio, and Benjamin W., married to Miss Anna S. Evans, of Franklin, Warren county, Ohio. Judge Goode was a fine classical scholar and a great lover of books, of which he was a constant purchaser, not restricting himself to law volumes, but pursuing his investigations and readings in other fields. In the practice of the law, he never sought either reputation among his brethren or triumph over his opponents, by the use of its sharp technical weapons; contenting himself with seeking justice for his clients by relying on the broad
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equities of his case, and presenting its facts with his strong common sense and earnest manner, gaining the favor of court and jury by his candor and a singularly persuasive and winning style of speech and address. These high qualities, both moral and intellectual, coupled with an uncommon knowledge of human nature in general, as well as of individ- uals, and a thorough early training in the great principles of jurisprudence under such preceptors as the late eminent Benjamin Collett of Lebanon, and Judge Joseph H. Crane of Dayton, made him a formidable rival in the trial of causes, and gave him a degree of success, equaled by few of his competitors. As a legislator both of the State and the Nation, as judge, preacher and pastor, the industrious, able and conscientious performance of his whole duty was acknowledged by all, deserving and receiving from the people whom he served, the just meed of praise most prized by good men.
GRASSELLI, EUGENE, manufacturing chemist of Cleveland, a French gentleman of Italian descent, was born in Strasburg, France, January 31st, 1810, and died at his home in Cleveland, Ohio, January 10th, 1882. He was the son of Jean Angelo Grasselli, a noted chemist of Stras- burg. After receiving a university education in his native city, he entered upon the study of the profession of his father. These studies were most thorough and complete, and he be- came a proficient in the practical application of the science of chemistry. In his early manhood he concluded to seek a larger and more fruitful field for operation. He naturally looked to the great western continent, and came to America in 1837. He landed in Philadelphia. His financial means were small, his education and acquirements were valuable. Accepting the first position that offered, he entered the em- ploy of the chemical manufacturing firm of Farr & Kuensi (now Powers & Weightman). In 1839 he removed to Cincin- nati, Ohio, where he invested his money in establishing him- self in the manufacture of chemicals, it being the first estab- lishment of the kind west of the Alleghany Mountains. Here he met with strong opposition from many of the citizens, and
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the municipal government ; it was looked upon as an unwel- come innovation, many difficulties and prejudices had to be overcome ; ignorant of the nature and result of such a man- ufactory in their midst, many of the people supposed the odors arising therefrom were deadly poisons, until scientists investigated and proved that the extreme opposite was really the case, and that the odors, though unpleasant, were posi- tively healthful and beneficial in the destruction of miasmatic and malarial conditions of the atmosphere. This being ac- ceded, his business speedily grew and eventually became quite extensive. In 1867, Cleveland having entered upon her career as a manufacturing city, he decided to establish a branch there, and removed with his family to Cleveland. The increase of manufactures at Cleveland grew so rapidly that the branch soon became the principal business. The geographical position of Cleveland for a manufacturing city is most highly favorable, hence her stupendous growth. This Mr. Grasselli foresaw, and as his productions entered into the manufacture of almost every thing else, and on account of their peculiar nature the matter of shipping being an important item, he wisely established himself in the midst of what have since become immense manufac- tories. From the small beginning started in Cincinnati in 1839 has developed their immense establishment of to-day,
still being conducted by his family. Mr. Grasselli was also interested in other manufactories in the States of New York and Pennsylvania. Their products go all over the United States, and give employment to a large force of men. In Cin- cinnati, before the discovery of petroleum, he was a pioneer in the manufacture of coal oil from cannel coal. It is to such men as Mr. Grasselli we are indebted for the develop- ment of the natural resources of our country. Through him our knowledge of chemistry as a science and its practical ap- plication has been greatly enhanced, and to him is the credit for establishing one very important manufacturing industry, and through it the furthering of many others. In political faith he was a war Democrat, strongly in favor of tlie aboli- tion of slavery. During the war of the rebellion he in many ways by his influence and generosity aided the Union cause. As a man and private citizen he was best known. He was one of those whole-souled, kind-hearted, polished gentlemen such as France has produced so many. His great happiness was found in his own family circle, whose members honored, loved, and respected him ; by whom his memory is revered and cherished as one of the brightest legacies of their lives. He was an erudite scholar in the ranks of art and literature. The study of his profession was deep, thorough, and com- plete. He brought with him to this country a fund of ac- quired knowledge in the science of chemistry which found in him practical application in the enriching of our scanty knowledge of the science and developing our natural re- sources. He was a man of sterling honor and integrity, of generous impulses, and great benevolence. Unostentatious in his charities, the world at large knew little of his benefac- tions and gifts to worthy causes. His hand was always open to the needy. Many a now prosperous business man feels grateful for aid and assistance rendered him when young by Mr. Grasselli. He was married June 17th, 1837, to Frederica Eisenbarth, and had nine children, six daughters and three sons.
SAVAGE, JOHN S., lawyer, of Wilmington, was born in Clermont County, O., October 30th, 1841. His father, James Savage, was born in 1804, and during the early por- tion of his life taught in the district schools of his day. Sub- sequently he engaged in agricultural pursuits, and by his industrious habits has amassed a competency. He resides upon his farm in Wayne Township, Clinton County, pursu- ing a farmer's life, and is highly respected by all. The mother of our subject, Frances Battson, was born in Ken- tucky, May 30th, 1813, a daughter of the Rev. Robert Battson, a minister of some celebrity of the Christian Church, who was zealous and laborious in the cause of his Master. As a preacher he was forcible, fluent, and thoroughly im- pressed with the truth of his convictions. During the early portion of the life of John S. Savage he was employed upon his father's farm in cultivating the soil, and at the same time attending the district schools. He thus acquired that physical and mental strength so indispensable as a prerequi- site to the successful pursuit of the study of law, which pro- fession afterward became the choice of his life. He endeav- ored to profit by all the advantages placed within his reach · for mental improvement, devoting all his intermissions from labor in an interesting and profitable manner, by reading and studying such books as had a tendency to develop and store his mind with useful and profitable knowledge. In 1853 he located in Clinton County, Ohio, and familiarized
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himself with the methods of teaching, and thus became qualified as a successful instructor, which enabled him to obtain various positions throughout the county, where he also successfully taught all the different English branches for five years. During this time he never lost sight of the purpose that he had in. view, devoting his spare moments to the acquisition of the knowledge of the law, making rapid progress in his studies, so that he was enabled to pass a creditable examination, and May 18, 1865, was admitted to practice. The same year he was also admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Illinois, and located at Wilmington, Clinton County, Ohio, where he soon met with great success, which is largely due to his adaptation, untiring energy, and persevering application to the profession of his choice. Owing to his largely increased practice, he associated with himself in partnership Simeon G. Smith, Esq., a promising young lawyer in Wilmington. This partnership has continued, un- der the firm name of Savage & Smith, with the most cordial friendship and co-operation, to which their success is as much due as to the fact that they are both able and eloquent ad- vocates at the bar. At the Congressional Convention of his district in the fall of 1874 Mr. Savage was nominated by the Democratic party for Congress, and, although the district was largely Republican, he was elected by the large majority of 1, 162 votes, irrespective of party. He was nominated a sec- ond time during the Presidential contest of 1876, when party lines were tightly drawn, but was defeated by 496 votes. Mr. Savage is very prominently identified with the Masonic fra- ternity of his county, and has a wide reputation for zeal and learning throughout the State. He is a member of Wil- mington Lodge, No. 52, Free and Accepted Masons, Wil- mington Chapter, No. 63, Wilmington Commandery, No. 37, and the Ohio Sovereign Consistory, S.C. P .:. R.c. S. He is one of the most devoted members of the order, and one of the learned men of the craft, and in recognition of that fact he has been called upon by the brethren to serve five years as Master and three years as High Priest. He was also the first Eminent Commander of Wilmington Commandery, No. 37, and now holds that position. To no one in Clin- ton County is the Order so much indebted for its strength and popularity as to Mr. Savage. Always in attendance, just in his rulings as an officer, learned in all its many mysteries, devoted to its interests, zealous in all its char- itable features, he is recognized by the Order as its most devoted and firm supporter, and from his manly and dig- nified bearing on all public occasions, where no one can out- rank him as a fine worker and courteous gentleman, he has won for himself the confidence of the community and praises for the order of which he is the acknowledged leader in the county. He has faithfully discharged the duties devolving upon him in the various offices which he has held, and when in Congress acquitted himself creditably, by judiciously ad- vocating the claims and rights of the people. In political matters he is a Democrat, and has always been actively and zealously identified with that party, but has never allowed the interest he has taken in politics to interfere with the im- perative duties of his chosen profession. Being a man of great energy, and possessed of an unusual gift of language, with a strong and pleasant voice, he has gained quite a rep- utation for himself as an effective and eloquent speaker, so that, during important campaigns, he is frequently called upon to deliver addresses, which are characterized by an an- alytical and argumentative turn of mind, as well as by an
earnest and impressive manner, that never fails to arrest the attention and carry conviction to the minds of his hearers. Mr. Savage is a man of fine personal appearance. Of large physical proportions, squarely built, symmetrical features, dark hair, and keen black eyes, he is of commanding pres- ence, and would be a subject of more than ordinary attention in any body of men. His habits of thought, sound judg- ment, and his thorough knowledge of the underlying princi- ples of the law enable him easily and readily to comprehend and elucidate the strong points of a case, and upon these he chiefly relies in his practice. His opinions, when thus formed, are steadily adhered to and generally sustained. As an ad- vocate at the bar, he does not aim at forensic display, but is clear, forcible, candid, and convincing. He possesses those attributes and qualities that characterize the public-spirited, patriotic, and honorable citizen. He is identified with the Christian Church, and is a liberal supporter of that denomi- nation. Mr. Savage was married to Miss Lydia Ayers, a daughter of a very highly esteemed and respectable family of Clinton County, Ohio, December 31st, 1868. Four chil- dren have been the issue of this union,-Charles, Lawrence, William H., and G. LeRoy ; the first two being now deceased.
HARRIS, JOSIAH ALBERT, journalist, was born in Becket, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, January 15th, 1808, and died at Cleveland, Ohio, August 21st, 1876. He was early taught industrious, studious, truthful habits. At the age of ten years, in 1818, his parents removed to the then far west-the Connecticut Western Reserve,-and built a log cabin in the sparsely settled woods of the lake region, thirty milcs west of Cleveland. Here he assisted in clearing and cultivating a farm, the site of the flourishing village of North Amherst, until twenty years of age. His educational advan- tages in Ohio were the district winter schools, diligent read- ing of the few books brought from the East, and the Weekly Cleveland Herald, studied by evening fire-light fed by hick- ory bark, or the primitive lamp of the settlers. The quali- fications of teachers and grade of the schools may be judged from the fact that the winter he was seventeen years old he taught in the log school house in the woods adjacent to his father's farm, at $10 a month and "boarding around " with the scholars, and for some winters afterward in other districts at but slightly advanced pay. At twenty he started out to seek his fortune, and commenced by entering a law office at Elyria as a student. A year's study tired him of that profes- sion, and he exchanged the position of law student for that of constable and deputy sheriff. On the death of the sheriff he was appointed to fill the vacancy, then elected by the people, and reelected for a second term. In 1832, in partnership with two printers of Elyria, he purchased the materials of the defunct Lorain Gazette, and started the Ohio Atlas and Elyria Advertiser, he being the editor. It was the day of very small things in country newspapers. The printers soon tired of the feeble support given the Atlas and left it on the shoul- ders of the editor. Besides discharging the then not onerous duties of sheriff and jailer, without deputy, he continued to edit, and learned to master much of the work of the office. He read proof, made up the forms on a slide-galley, locked them on the press, and worked off the weekly editions, either as pressman, each sheet requiring four pulls of the press bar, or beat the balls to ink the types in form. He succeeded in gaining for his journal considerable local popularity and remunerative support. Neutral in politics, no pains nor labor
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were spared in editing to make the Atlas, in every sense possible, "a map of busy life." Before the close of his second official term, tempted by the offer of $300 a year, without board, and the prospect of extensive travel through the South, he disposed of the Atlas, resigned his office, and removed to Columbus. He visited most of the Southern States, and was half pursuaded to settle in Mississippi, where a plantation with its slaves was offered him on liberal terms. He spent some days with the planter to learn the inside life of slavery in the family home, the fields, and the negro quarters, and the result was a resolve to saw wood for a liv- ing, if need be, in free Ohio, rather than possess means pur- chased by human bondage in a Slave state. In April, 1837, he became a citizen of Cleveland, and, with the late Judge Whittlesey, joint proprietor of the Herald-the daily Herald and the daily Whig, the rival papers, and both "living at a poor, dying rate," having been consolidated in one journal. No printing office was owned by the new firm, the mechan- ical work on the Herald being jobbed out. In the first year debts so accumulated and the future looked so dark that Mr. Whittlesey became completely disheartened with journalism in Cleveland, and, retiring, left the Herald to sink or swim under the sole ownership and management of his partner. It was a time to discourage. Cleveland contained a popula- tion of only about six thousand, all told, on both sides of the Cuyahoga, the west side being then the separate municipality of Ohio City. Manufactories were few and small, the main business of the city being canal and lake commerce in pro- duce, retail trade in dry goods, groceries, etc., and attend- ance at tax, constable and sheriff sales, the result of wild spec- ulation in unproductive city lots, followed by broken banks and hard times. His little all was in the Herald, and with resolute will he went to work to stop the downward tendency. A printing office was bought, a foreman and pressman were employed and apprentices taken, boarded, and taught type setting, the youngest also carrying the papers. The boys proved ambitious, reliable help, and as men made their mark in Cleveland, the Eastern cities and the Western, to the Golden Gate. He added to his editorial day and night work, that of proof reading, mailing clerk and bookkeeper. "Pay as you go," was the new rule of business. Rigid economy and untiring industry told. In a few years old debts were paid off, and the Herald had money in bank. With the re- turning better times the circulation of the Herald, without soliciting agents, kept pace with the growth of the city and country, until the hand press had to give way to steam. A warm side was gained with the people in influential quarters for the liberal, reliable, readable and newsy "herald of a noisy world," and it was taken by families, politicians, pro- fessional and business men, because few could well get along without it. In 1850 Mr. A. W. Fairbanks, of the Toledo Blade, removed to Cleveland, became joint owner of the Herald by adding a job office, and took charge of the busi- ness and printing departments in the firm of Harris and Fairbanks. In the spring of 1853, Mr. George A. Benedict became one of the proprietors and associate editor of the Herald, the paper being thus owned and edited until the withdrawal of the senior partner from the concern. At the close of the war of the Rebellion Mr. Harris dissolved his long connection with the press. After his retirement from editorial duties he soon tired of a half idle life, and turned his attention to the honest and honorable employment of his youth-tilling the soil. A moderately sized tract of hard
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