USA > Ohio > The biographical cyclopaedia and portrait gallery with an historical sketch of the state of Ohio. Volume III > Part 67
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74
Chata Miller.
809
BIOGRAPHICAL CYCLOPÆDIA AND PORTRAIT GALLERY.
upon to fill he has acquitted himself nobly, working with earnestness and decision. In Congress his vote is ever on the side of right, for the benefit of his constituents and the country at large; notably so on the famous Morrison Tariff Bill, which was defeated by only three votes, his vote being cast against it. In Congress he has made speeches on "Our Naval Affairs," "Against the Extension of the Time for the Payment of the Tax on Distilled Spirits," and "On In- valid Pensions." During the terrible Ohio River floods, in the spring of 1884, he exerted himself in behalf of the sufferers from it, and achieved admirable results, for which his con- stituents most warmly thank him. He consulted with Hon. John Sherman, called a meeting of Congressmen, and Con- gress at once voted most substantial aid. It was a case that admitted of no delay. He was prompt, persistent, and en- ergetic, and secured the much-needed national aid at once. He has fought many a battle for the grand old Republican party, both in public and in private. He is a fluent speaker, effective in debate, convincing in argument, liberal in his views, and firm in his convictions; always well qualified to fill positions with which he may be intrusted. On August 23d, 1883, at the Soldiers' Reunion, held at Manchester, Ohio, he made a very happy and effective speech. Honest, and modest, he is no office seeker, and his political honors have rather been forced on him by his friends. He has always been a diligent student, preferring the solid rather than the showy literature of the day, and keeping abreast with the times in educational and political matters. To the county papers he contributes some very able articles on dif- ferent topics. At Washington he is connected with the Ag- ricultural Department as a reporter. He is a man of unas- suming demeanor, pleasant and agreeable manners, of the strictest integrity, honor, and uprightness-in a word, a Chris- tian gentleman.
WEBER, GUSTAV C. E., professor of surgery, was born in Bonn, Prussia, May 26th, 1828, and living in April, 1879, at Cleveland, Ohio. He came of a good family, his father being M. I. Weber, professor of anatomy in the Uni- versity of Bonn, Prussia, since its foundation in 1818, author of the " Anatomical Atlas" (translated into every printed lan- guage), "The Hand-Book of Anatomy of the Human Body," "The Pelves and Crania of the Different Races," "Atlas of the Bones of Domestic Animals," and other valuable works and writings, and who was decorated by several of the crowned heads of Europe for his distinguished services in the cause of science. The Weber family were remarkable for producing men of high literary and eminent professional rank. His education was principally obtained at Bonn University, from which he was in a fair way of matriculating with honor, when the revolutionary movements of 1848 so strengthened his predilections in favor of a republican government that he decided to emigrate to the United States. In the spring of 1849 he came to this country, intending to turn his attention to agriculture in the neighborhood of St. Louis, Missouri, but he abandoned the idea and returned to Europe, where he completed his studies at Vienna, Amsterdam, and Paris. He revisited the United States in 1853, and settled in New York, where his brother Edward was engaged in medical practice. On the death of his brother, which occurred the same year, he assumed his practice, greatly enlarged it, and soon ranked among the leading practitioners of New York City. The de- mands upon him were so great that his health failed, and in
1856 he was reluctantly compelled to relinquish practice and seek relief in change of scene. The same year he visited Cleveland, and whilst there received a call to the chair of surgery in the Cleveland Medical College, made vacant by the resignation of Dr. Horace A. Ackley. He accepted the position, and retained it seven years. In the fall of 1861, David Tod was elected governor of Ohio, and one of his first acts as governor was to appoint Dr. Weber surgeon-general of the Ohio forces, with special mission to organize a system for the better medical care of the troops in the field, and in the camps of rendezvous and instruction. This duty he entered upon with zeal and energy, and the good cffects of his efforts were speedily apparent in the improved health of the troops, and the increased comfort of the sick and wounded. After making arrangements for the better condition of the camps and hospitals in the State, he obtained from the Secretary of War, Edwin M. Stanton, a flattering letter of permission to visit the battle-fields. The extraordinary confidence thus reposed in him by the Secretary of War was turned to good account in the interest of the Ohio soldiers at the front, who, in common with their brethren in the home camps and hos- pitals, were substantially benefitted by his medical and surgi- cal knowledge, sanitary suggestions, and affectionate care for the welfare of the defenders of the Union. Toward the close of the year the state of his wife's health and the pres- sure of his professional duties compelled him to tender his resignation, and it was received by Governor Tod, and ac- knowledged with expressions of deep regret. After obeying the instructions conveyed to him in the governor's letter, he returned to Columbus, closed his official relations with the State, and resumed his duties in the college. The adminis- tration of his office as surgeon-general was characterized by thoroughness and economy. He reduced the cost of trans- portation of the wounded from four cents per man to half a cent, and this while increasing their comfort. In the spring of 1863 he closed his connection with the Cleveland Medical College, and in the following year founded and organized the Charity Hospital Medical College, of which he was made professor of clinical surgery, and also dean of the faculty. He was also appointed consulting surgeon of Charity Hospi- tal, a noble institution, which owed its existence mainly to his suggestion and strenuous efforts in its behalf, when it had to contend with obstacles that for a while appeared insur- mountable. From first to last, his services to this hospital were gratuitously rendered. After it had become firmly es- tablished, the college was merged into the medical depart- ment of the University of Wooster, he being chosen to fill the same positions he occupied during its independent existence. The work done by this college won for it a wide reputation, and ranked it among the most successful medical institutions of the country. His contributions to medical knowledge were of great importance. He made one of the greatest dis- coveries in modern surgical science, by the invention of a new method for closing arteries of large size in surgical oper- ations without a ligature. This consists in reflexing the wall of the artery, or folding it back upon itself (like turning back the cuff of a coat), which doubles the thickness of the arterial wall at the end of the divided artery and enables the artery to close itself by its own contraction. Lest the wall turn back again, a very delicate silver pin, one-eighth of an inch in length, is passed through the walls of the artery at the point of reflexion. This important discovery was frequently tested, never failed, and promised to eventually revolutionize the
1
810
BIOGRAPHICAL CYCLOPÆDIA AND PORTRAIT GALLERY.
existing system of closing arteries with ligatures. It prevents the introduction of foreign substances into the wound, and thereby effectually precludes the possibility of decomposition, To him the profession are indebted for the method of remov- ing stone from the bladder in females by the division of the urethra as far as the sphincter, and then its extraction through the dilated sphincter. He was also the first surgeon to re- move a tumor of the œesophagus by an original and ingenious operation, which consisted in dividing the integument over the chin down to the bone and along the under surface of the lower jaw, as far back as the angle of the jaw, then sawing through the jaw at the chin, and separating everything from the bone on the inside as far back as the angle, thus allowing abundant room for the use of the hand in the throat, when, by pulling the tongue forward and downward, a platinum wire was passed around the tumor, which was just within reach, and the tumor removed by the galvano-cautery. A few days before this operation an opening was made in the trachea, that the patient might breathe through it, and not through the mouth during the operation. The result was a remark- able success, the patient recovering perfectly in a few weeks. In 1854, when a resident of New York City, he published a pamphlet on "Stone in the Bladder," which was held in high repute among medical men. In 1859 he established the Cleveland Medical Gazette, which he successfully conducted for several years, and to which he contributed many valuable medical and surgical articles. As a lecturer he was logical and eminently clinical. As a surgeon he ranked among the foremost in the country, and his operations acquired a national and European reputation. A fine presence, mag- netic power over men, genial qualities, and benevolent public spirit, make him universally beloved. He married, in 1854, Miss Ruth Elizabeth Cheney, of New York City, and had two children, Carl and Ida.
Cox, SAMUEL SULLIVAN, member of Congress from the Sixth Congressional District New York City, com- posed of the 7th, 11th, and 13th wards, was born at Zanes- ville, Ohio, September 30th, 1824. He attended the Ohio University, Athens, but graduated at Brown University, Providence, in the class of 1846; studied and practiced law, and was also owner and editor of the Columbus (Ohio) Statesman. In 1853 and '54 he was appointed Secretary of Legation to Peru. In 1864 he was a delegate to the Chicago Democratic Convention, and again in 1868 to the New York Democratic National Convention. He is the author of several valuable works, and is a constant contributor to the press and periodicals. He was elected from the Colum- bus (Ohio) District to the thirty-fifth, thirty-sixth, thirty- seventh, and thirty-eighth Congresses. March 4th, 1865, he removed to New York City; was elected to the forty-first, and re-elected to the forty-second Congress from that city. He was the candidate of the Democrats and Liberal Repub- licans for Representative at Large to the forty-third Congress, but was defeated by the Hon. Lyman Tremain, though run- ning several thousand votes ahead of the rest of his ticket. He was subsequently re-elected to the forty-third Congress to succeed James Brooks, deceased, and re-elected to the forty- fourth Congress, and was appointed Speaker pro tem. of the House June 7th, 1876, and elected Speaker pro tem. June 19th, 1876, serving until he vacated the office June 24th, 1876. He was elected to the forty-fifth, forty-sixth, and forty-seventh Congresses, and was re-elected to the forty-eighth Congress
as a Democrat, receiving 16,624 votes against 5,307 for the Republican nominee, 354 votes for the Liberal candidate, and 160 scattering.
HIGLEY, WARREN, lawyer and jurist, was born in Cayuga County, near the city of Auburn, New York. He is descended from an old Connecticut family, whose ancestors found refuge in the New World from the religious persecu- tions following the Restoration in England. In 1800 his grandfather, Warren, left his home, near New Haven, with his young family, to settle in the then far West, and, after weeks of travel with the slow ox-teams, settled in the woods of Onondaga County, New York, near Onondaga Hill, about six miles from Syracuse, where he soon made a clearing for the garden and the corn-field, and became one of the leading men in the new settlement. His fourth and youngest son, Chester, was born December 9th, 1807, and spent his youth on the farm. Arriving at the age of manhood, he settled in Auburn, New York, where he married Prudence Miller, whose parents were descendants of the Knickerbockers, and . early settled where Lockport, New York, now is, but moved further west into the rich valley of the Genesee, before the course of "Clinton's Ditch " was anticipated. They had five children, three sons and two daughters, the subject of this sketch being the third and youngest. They passed most of their lives in the country as farmers, and while they did not acquire riches and the independence of the land-owner, their industry, their honesty, their generosity, their intelligence and good living commanded the respect of all, and gave them rank and consideration with the wealthiest of their neighbors. Prudence, the mother, was a woman of un- usual energy and pride. She was the executive member of the household. Her untiring devotion to the welfare and training of her children caused them to grow up industri- ous, self-reliant, educated, respected, and prosperous. Her youngest son, Warren, was the special pride of her heart. He inherited her energy and perseverance, and ever rec- ognized the debt of gratitude he owed her for all she had so generously and devotedly done for him. Warren was faithfully sent to the district school until he was eleven years of age, after which he attended the winter term of school and worked on a farm in the summer. At the age of thirteen he lived with a neighboring farmer during the winter, and did "chores" for his board, and went to the dis- trict school-a custom in those days by no means uncom- mon. The chores consisted principally in sawing and carry- ing the firewood for two stoves, taking care of five horses, and milking three cows. Then he walked nearly a mile to the district school. He did this through a desire to be independ- ent, and to earn his own living, and quite against the wishes of his parents, who reluctantly consented. The following summer he worked on a farm at seven dollars a month, doing almost the work of a man, and the chores besides. The next year he commanded ten dollars a month, and at the end of eight months had seventy of the eighty dol- lars earned that season saved. At sixteen he bought five acres of land lying about one and one-half miles from the court-house in Auburn, and afterwards built a house and barn thereon, as a home for his parents. There they lived up to the time of their decease, which occurred but a few years since. This place he still owns. In addition to the advantages of the winter district school, which con- sisted of a term of about four months in the year, the sub-
Very sincerely yours W arrow Heyley
美
811
BIOGRAPHICAL CYCLOPÆDIA AND PORTRAIT GALLERY.
ject of our sketch read every thing in the district library, which included many valuable books of biography and travel, but like all country libraries of those times, was free from all works of fiction. The yellow-covered novel had not been born. Dr. Lardner's lectures on Science and Art, and books of real merit, were the ones that attracted his early attention, and gave him most valuable instruction, while they laid the foundation for future ambition. His first ambition, beyond the farm, was to get education enough to teach a district school; and with this in view he devoted all his leisure time to reading and studying, and at fourteen was the foremost scholar in his country school. After one term's tuition in the Auburn Academy, he engaged to teach his first school at Aurelius, three miles west of Auburn, a place once designated as "Hell's Half Acre," and then as the "Half Acre," from the fact that it was once noted for "General Trainings " and horse-racing and three "taverns." But when a church was built, the first wicked word of the name was dropped. Though but a beardless boy, he managed and taught his school of forty-five pupils, ranging in age from seven to twenty-five years, and in studies from the a b c to higher algebra and natural philosophy, with such success that the term of four months was extended to five, and he was engaged for the succeeding winter. For this service he received sixteen dol- lars a month and "boarded around," a custom then preva- lent. In mingling with the students at the academy he con- ceived the idea of going to college, and after calculating the possibilities, determined to prepare for it, and trust to fortune to get the means. He accordingly took up the preparatory studies for a classical course, and when he was ready for en- tering the freshman class, he had his land, with the improve- ments, paid for from the monthly earnings on the farm and in the district school, and forty dollars more, and in the sum- mer of 1858 he passed the entrance examination at Hamil- ton College and became a full-fledged Freshman. How he could go on with his college course with only forty dollars, was solved by an offer of the position of first teacher of En- glish in the Auburn Academy, where he had so recently been a student. This position he filled for a year, under the prin- cipal-Prof. Rufus Sheldon, now of the Collegiate Polytechnic Institute, Brooklyn, New York, and kept up with his class in his collegiate course. In addition, he accepted the appoint- ment of teacher in the Auburn State's-prison, where he in- structed the prisoners from 6 to 8 o'clock, P. M., five days in the week, and received therefor twelve and one-half dollars per month-the regular salary paid by the State. In the fall of 1859 he joined his class in college, passed all the exami- nations, and had money enough ahead to meet necessary ex- penses for nearly two years. In the fall of 1861, while in his Senior year, he was appointed by the Governor of New York to the position of School Commissioner for the second district of Cayuga County, with head-quarters at Auburn, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of the incumbent. By devoting all the holiday and spring vacations, and a por- tion of the winter term to the examination of teachers and the inspection of schools, he was able to keep up with his class and to graduate with honor in July, 1862. For a year longer he continued to fill the position of School Commissioner, and his administration was noted for its thorough efficiency and popularity. In the summer of 1863 he resigned the com- missionership to take the principalship of Cayuga Lake Acad- emy at Aurora, New York, among the oldest educational institutions in the State, and it had for many years ranked
among the best. It was a boarding and day school com- bined. Its patrons were from almost every State in the Union. The Hon. Edwin B. Morgan was president of the Board of Trustees, and Henry Wells, the father of the ex- press business in this country, and the founder of Wells College, was the vice-president. Under the management of its young and energetic principal, the school prospered as never before. The buildings were not large enough to ac- commodate the pupils that applied for admission. In the midst of this prosperity, the Board of Education of his native city-Auburn-had determined to reorganize their public schools and to establish a high school in the place of the old academy, to crown the system, and the successful prin- cipal at Aurora was unanimously selected for this difficult task. Ambitious to occupy this larger field in the educational world, lie resigned the principalship of Cayuga Lake Acad- emy, which he had filled for three years, became the secre- tary of the Board of Education, of Auburn New York, the superintendent of the public schools, and the principal of the high school about to be opened. He reorganized the schools under a complete course of instruction which he had prepared, and which was adopted by the board, and took personal charge of the high school, which soon commanded the patronage of the best families in the city, whose chil- dren could pass the requisite examinations. The new move- ment became very popular, and the new secretary, superin- tendent, and principal, was recognized as an eminent suc- cess. While absent on his summer vacation at the end of his first year, the board gave him a pleasant surprise by in- creasing his salary three hundred dollars. This he consid- ered a very substantial appreciation. Before the end of his second year at Auburn, the Hon. E. B. Morgan, of Aurora, anxious to secure his return to Cayuga Lake Academy, made hiin financial offers that he could not withstand, and so he resigned his position in Auburn and went back to Aurora. When some of the wealthy citizens of Auburn learned of his contemplated resignation, they offered to add five hun- dred dollars a year to the salary paid by the board if he would reconsider and remain. But it was of no use. He remained at Aurora, the second time as principal of the Academy, for two years, when he resigned to take charge of the Cleveland West High School. At Aurora he had been seriously afflicted with quinsy, and was advised by his doctor and friends to try a change of climate, and this is why he consented to leave Aurora, with its charming associations. At Cleveland he soon commanded the confidence of the school authorities, and the patrons of the high school, which prospered under his principalship. The Board of Educa- tion gave evidence of their appreciation by increasing his salary two hundred and fifty dollars a year, without his knowledge-until the pay day came. In the summer of 1871 the School Board of Dayton, Ohio, invited him to the super- intendency of their schools at a salary of three thousand dol- lars a year, an advance of five hundred more than the board of Cleveland felt justified in paying; and, preferring the work of a superintendent, he resigned his place in Cleveland and accepted the one offered in Dayton. In the spring of 1873 he resigned the superintendency of the schools in Dayton, to take effect at the end of the school year, and took up his residence in Cincinnati. The summer and fall he spent in Europe, and on his return entered upon the study of law, which he had pursued as part of his college course, and after- wards read quite extensively while teaching, with the pur-
812
BIOGRAPHICAL CYCLOPÆDIA AND PORTRAIT GALLERY.
pose of eventually becoming a lawyer. He was admitted to practice in December, 1874, by the Supreme Court of Ohio. For four years he spent his summer vacations as conductor of Teachers' Institutes in the State of New York, under appointment of the State Superintendent of Instruc- tion. The estimation in which he was there held as an edu- cator may be gathered from the following extracts from letters written without his solicitation or knowledge, and ad- dressed to A. J. Rickoff, superintendent of public schools in Cleveland :
From the Rev. J. B. Condit, D. D., professor for many years in the Auburn Theological Seminary, New York:
"I can not hesitate to give my decided testimony in favor of Professor Higley, as a man, as a teacher, and as a man- ager of a school. His character is without blemish. His manner is winning and attractive. In all his bearing and speech he indicates the man of culture. As a teacher he has been proved in this city and in Aurora, where he now resides, for several years past, and the public voice has pro- nounced most favorably concerning him in this office."
From the Rev. Henry Fowler, D. D., pastor of the Central Presbyterian Church, Auburn, New York:
" Mr. Warren Higley was, year before last, the secretary of the Board of Education of this city, the organizer and head of the high school. He was a member of my Church, and teacher in my Sabbath-school. I regard him as one of the very best teachers in the country. He has genius as a disciplinarian, organizer, and dispenser of knowledge. As a man he has won my esteem and affection. His character is one of happy poise. He is progressive in his sympathies and sanguine in his temperament. He was persuaded away from Auburn by unusual inducements. After a year's ex- perience, some of our leading citizens are convinced that our high school can not do without him, and a movement is on foot to induce him to return. If you get the start of us you will have to be active."
From the Rev. E. A. Huntington, D. D., professor in the Auburn Theological Seminary :
"Mr. Higley's personal appearance and address are greatly in his favor. His character is unimpeachable. He is a thorough scholar, "apt to teach," and an admirable dis- ciplinarian ; always enjoying an extraordinary popularity with his pupils, while never allowing them in disorder or ne- glect of study. I write the public opinion respecting Mr. Hig- ley, and also of my own knowledge, since my two sons were under his instruction when fitting for college. I know no man whom I would more willingly put at the head of a high school for which I felt myself personally responsible."
From Professor Edward North, of Hamilton College, New York :
"Mr. Warren Higley graduated from Hamilton College in 1862, and has been since then engaged in teaching. He was a teacher before he came to college. He has a fine pres- ence, and readily wins and retains the confidence of his pu- pils. His scholarship is accurate and thorough in all the studies that belong to a high school curriculum. He sus- tains an unblemished Christian character, is a good public speaker, and honors his profession outside the school-room. I do not know of any particular in which he has been hereto- fore found wanting as a teacher or a good citizen."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.