USA > Ohio > The biographical cyclopaedia and portrait gallery with an historical sketch of the state of Ohio. Volume III > Part 72
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E. May, who died in 1866. In politics Mr. May was unam- bitious, in his profession he was a fine advocate as well as an able Chancery lawyer, and during his long life always maintained a high character as a good citizen and an honest man. In his latter years, among his associate lawyers, he was styled the " Nestor of the bar," and known as "Father May," and to the day of his death maintained the good will, respect, and confidence of all. He was confined to his house about a month before his demise, but was not bed- fast ; he passed peacefully away while sitting in his chair.
SUMNER, WILLIAM, a prominent business man and capitalist of Cincinnati, was born April 3d, 1826, at Tolland, Tolland County, Connecticut. . Concerning the prominent New England family of this name, two books have been print- ed ; one in 1854, a " Memoir of Increase Sumner, Governor of Massachusetts," to which was added a "Genealogy of the Sumner Family " by William B. Trask, and one in 1879, " A Record of the Descendants of William Sumner, of Dorches- ter, Massachusetts, 1634," by William Sumner Appleton. Through these sources the lineage of Mr. William Sumner, of Cincinnati, may be traced directly to Roger Sumner, of Oxfordshire, England, who intermarried with Joane Franklin. Their only son, William, was born at Bicester, England, in 1605. He married Mary West, then emigrated to the colo- nies, settled at Dorchester, Massachusetts, in 1636, and became the founder of the American branch of this family, having distinguished representatives in the late Governor Increase Sumner and Senator Charles Sumner, of that State, and Major General Edwin V. Sumner, of the United States Army. These records also show a long list of soldiers, some who took part in the disastrous expedition to Canada in 1690, some in the Revolution, and many in the war for the Union in 1861-65. William Augustus Sumner, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born at Hebron, Connecticut, May 16th, 1792, and died at Tolland, August 21st, 1868. He was a farmer by occupation, was well educated and other- wise schooled in the customs and culture of stern New Eng- land life; of quiet manners, extensive information, excel- lent judgment, a useful citizen and consistent Christian. He married Anna Washburn, a member of the wide-spread family bearing that name and having many of its 'represen- tatives in public life. This venerable mother still lives, in her ninety-second year; her mental faculties are unimpaired, and she is capable of recalling and intelligently narrat- ing events that occurred more than four score years ago. Of their children, mention may be made of Hon. E. B. Sumner, now a prominent lawyer of Connecticut, and resid- ing at Willimantic; Dr. Edwin G. Sumner, of Mansfield, Connecticut, and Augustus Sumner, a wealthy business man of St. Louis, Missouri. From the tenth year of his age, the life of Mr. Sumner has been real and earnest. The first few years were spent partly upon his father's farm and partly in the school-room-in the latter, first as pupil and after- wards as teacher. At the age of twenty-three he commenced the study of law in the office of Hon. Z. A. Storrs, and three years afterwards was admitted to the bar. He practiced for two years in Tolland, meeting with encouraging success, holding in the mean time the offices of Judge of the Pro- bate Court and Clerk of the District Court. But impaired health and a feeling that a larger field could be found, induced him to visit the Northwest in 1856, stopping at Chi- cago for a while, and elsewhere prospecting. But continued
Western Binal Put Co
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ill-health constrained him, at last, to abandon the sedentary profession of the law, and to accept an interest offered him by his brother Augustus Sumner, then engaged in the sew- ing-machine business in Cincinnati and Louisville, Ky. In the business at Louisville, he remained three years. While thus engaged in Louisville, Mr. Sumner formed a partnership with Mr. John R. Wright, of Cincinnati, under the firm name of William Sumner & Co., which purchased the interest of Augustus Sumner. (The firm's principal office was at Cincinnati, their territory embracing Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Western Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.) This venture-for it was as such regarded when the merits of sewing-machines were so little known and appreciated- proved a great success, and laid the foundation of the competency each member of that firm now enjoys. Under vigorous and systematic management the business increased until the firm had salesrooms in all the principal cities and towns of their territory, and at one time had about five hundred teams in its service selling machines through the country. The firm also introduced the custom of selling machines on time, and with such system was it carried on that, notwithstanding the extent of the territory, collections were all made from the home office in Cincinnati, to which weekly reports were made by agents. The loss upon the ag- gregate of their collections amounted to less than two per cent-a fact complimentary both to the management of the firm and the faithfulness of its agents. The firm of William Sumner & Co. was informally dissolved about 1874, when each member retired with financial rewards commensurate with their undertaking, and the zeal and system and ability with which it was prosecuted. The utmost cordiality characterized the social and business intercourse of these two gentlemen dur- ing the co-partnership, and to the guiding common sense, busi- ness insight, and unfaltering co-operation of Mr. Wright, Mr. Sumner attributes much of the success they achieved while prosecuting that extensive and somewhat hazardous enter- prise. They are still mutually interested in business enter- prises in Cincinnati and other places. Mr. Sumner nomi- nally retired from active business in 1874. As a capitalist, Mr. Sumner gives impetus to several business enterprises in Cincinnati and elsewhere, all of which have the benefit of his excellent judgment, extended experience, and thorough knowledge of men. Mr. Sumner has been instrumental in educating quite a number of young men and women. Be- sides, he gives to every charitable and Christian cause that commends itself to his considerate judgment, from an abi- ding sense that what has come to him as a reward for dil- igence in business is in some sense a trust, and his benefac- tions are without number, as they are here without name. As to political affiliations, Mr. Sumner was first an ardent adhe- rent of the old Liberty party, then of the Freesoil party, and has sympathized and acted with the Republican party since its organization. His strong sympathies for the oppressed, especially in his own land, compelled him thus to act and vote, and when the war came to legislate human slavery from American soil, the government and the Union soldier had in him an unfaltering friend. Mr. Sumner was mar- ried December 10th, 1857, to Miss Juliaette C. Bishop, a daughter of the late Hon. Joseph Bishop, of Tolland, Con- necticut, an intelligent and cultivated Christian lady. They are both members of the Vine Street Congregational Church of Cincinnati. Of their children, one only survives, Edith Bishop Sumner, born May 30th, 1871. Of Mr. Sumner it
may be said that he pursues the plans of his life with calm but indomitable force of will; possessing and displaying, at times, those striking qualities which distinguished some of his ancestors in civil and military life-sobriety, self-com- mand, soundness of judgment, a talent for administration, perfect rectitude of intention, and that imperturbability which neither victory nor defeat visibly affects. Withal he is a gentleman of the finest sensibilities, amiable manners, and sterling integrity of life and character.
LAUBIE, PETER ABEL, lawyer, soldier and judge, Salem, Ohio, was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, April 2Ist, 1828. His parents were James Laubie and Charlotte Commer. His father, a Frenchman by birth, graduated from the Polytechnic Institute in his native country, became master of seven different languages, and was a man of very superior scholarly attainments. He was for five years in military service under Napoleon as ensign and captain of artillery, being in his campaigns in Italy and in his expedi- tion to Egypt. He was many times wounded, and experi- enced many hair-breadth escapes from death. Besides receiving upon various portions of his body numerous sabre cuts, he was once shot through the body by a musket ball, and at another time had a portion of the top of his skull shot off, which was subsequently supplied by a silver plate ; and finally, in the battle of Marengo, he was shot through the groin, by which he was permanently disabled in his left leg. In 1810 he emigrated to America, and after passing a couple of years in Philadelphia, removed to Pittsburgh, where for many years he was a prominent business man. Our subject enjoyed the privileges of the public and select schools of Allegheny city, Pennsylvania, up to the age of fifteen, from which time he worked his way by his own unaided efforts. For the most of his sixteenth year he was employed as carrier and office boy for the Pittsburgh Gazette, and then for five years in a Pittsburgh clothing house, and for about two years was engaged in that business for himself in Massillon, Ohio. He subsequently read law with Messrs. Keith and Underhill, of Massillon, and was admitted to the bar in the summer of 1854. He at once began practice in partnership with Judge J. A. Ambler, of Salem, which association was dissolved after the expiration of three years. In September, 1861, he enlisted in the ser- vice of his country in company D, 19th Ohio volunteer infantry, but in January, 1862, was promoted to captain of company H, and for over three years had a varied and hon- orable service. In addition to performing some detached duty and acting for awhile as brigade quartermaster, he par- ticipated, among others, in the battles of Pittsburg Landing, siege of Corinth, Stone River, Missionary Ridge, New Hope Church, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, Chatta- hoochee River, Atlanta, Lovejoy Station, Franklin and Nashville, and the pursuit of Hood, part of the time act- ing as major of the regiment. His regiment suffered terribly on the march, many of the men being ragged and almost shoeless, and in some instances leaving their foot- prints in blood upon the snow-covered ground! Among other hardships, they spent ten days without tents or camp equipage, in the mud and rain, and the terrible stench of the Shiloh battle-field. After the war he resumed practice in Salem, and became professionally associated with Judge Lyman W. Potter, who died in December, 1866. In Jan- uary following he formed a partnership with J. T. Brooks,
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and the firm of Laubie & Brooks became the attorneys for the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne and Chicago Railroad for Ohio. Among the local positions held by Mr. Laubie are those of mayor of Salem, member for several years of the Salem board of education, and president and secretary of the same. In October, 1875, he was elected common pleas judge of the fourth subdivision of the ninth judicial district of the State. In the fall of 1848 he married Jane, daugh- ter of John Williams, of Allegheny city, Pennsylvania. This union has resulted in the birth of six children, five liv- ing. He is a Mason and Odd Fellow of long standing, a member of the Salem chapter in the former, and a past grand in the latter. Judge Laubie has long been distin- guished for his intense application to the duties of his pro- fession. Few, if any, men in the State ever performed in the same time a greater amount of hard study and perse- vering labor. His cases are prepared with the greatest thoroughness and care, while his arguments to court and jury are sound, forcible and convincing, and he occupies an eminent position in his profession in Eastern Ohio. His administrations upon the bench have been characterized by great dignity and impartiality, and have given very general satisfaction. Personally he is a gentleman of high honor and integrity.
BEDELL, GREGORY THURSTON, D. D., third Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Ohio, is the only son of Gregory Townsend Bedell, D. D., and Penelope Thurston Bedell, and was born at Hudson, N. Y., on the 27th of August, A. D., 1817. Three years of his early life were passed at Fayetteville, North Carolina. In 1822 his father removed to Philadelphia, where he be- came rector of St. Andrew's Church. The father of Bishop Bedell was a man of saintly character, and a preacher of great power. In intensity of religious earnestness, and in winning gifts of eloquence, he has had but few equals in the Church. The mother of the bishop was a woman of great energy and of earnest piety ; so that his home nurture was of the best. When the time came for him to go away to school, he was sent to Flushing, Long Island, to the care of William Augustus Muhlenberg, who was then widely known as the author of the hymn "I would not live alway," and as a man of rare gifts of love, and who has since become famous as the founder of St. Luke's Hospital, New York, and of "St. Johnland," and who was really one of the great men of his generation. In 1877 Bishop Bedell said in his convention address, concerning Dr. Muhlenberg: "You have known him as an ecclesiastic somewhat errant, but always searching for ways that would make the Church more large-hearted and far-reaching, or as a mover of charities, wonderfully gracious, beneficent and successful; but I have known him as a guide of youth, and almost a father, pa- tient, forbearing, watchful, honest, plain-spoken, frank, but then so loving." The blessing of having such a master in the critical days of youth can hardly be overestimated. The college at which our good bishop was graduated is now defunct. His father was president of the Episcopal Educa- tion Society, and had labored earnestly for the establishment of a proper school for the education of students for the min- istry. Out of this grew "Bristol College," located on the Delaware River, about seventeen miles from Philadelphia. Gregory Thurston Bedell was its last graduate. His theo- logical training was received in the Theological Seminary at
Alexandria, Virginia-a noble school of the prophets, which is full of life and vigor to-day. He was ordained deacon on the 19th of July, 1840, by his great-uncle, Bishop Moore, of Virginia. His first parish was at West Chester, Pennsyl- vania, where he labored successfully for three years. He was afterwards for sixteen years rector of the Church of the Ascension, New York. Under his leadership this was one of the great parishes of our country. He was happy in his work when, in 1859, he was elected assistant bishop of Ohio. The office to which he was called was a more honorable one, but the difficulties were great, and the work more try- ing. He felt the call to be the call of duty, and on the 13th of October, A. D., 1859, was consecrated in St. Paul's Church, Richmond, Virginia. He removed at once to his new field of labor, and soon afterwards took up his resi- dence at Gambier, the seat of the Theological Seminary of the Diocese of Ohio and of Kenyon College. Until the death of Bishop McIlvaine in 1873, he worked with him "harmoniously, easily, lovingly, deferently, without a jar or jealousy." Bishop Bedell's words concerning this relation of common labor are noteworthy: "These thirteen years of fellowship with Bishop McIlvaine have been of inestima- ble benefit to me. Every interview with him has been in- structive; every letter from him has been an encouragement. I speak guardedly and with reflection. My assistantship per se-my relations of office to him-have been an uninter- rupted source of enjoyment. My heart is penetrated with gratitude to God for this association, and for the example of such a man." Until 1874 the Diocese of Ohio was geo- graphically conterminous with the State of Ohio. In that year the diocese was divided into two nearly equal portions, Bishop Bedell electing the northern portion, which still retains the old name of the Diocese of Ohio. For a quarter of a century this good bishop has toiled in the Master's vineyard in Ohio. During this period the growth of the Church has been marked and constant. In addition to his labors as diocesan, he has also been for many years presi- dent of the Theological Seminary at Gambier. The present endowment of the seminary came as the result of his efforts. He has also been Professor of Pastoral Theology, and many of our younger clergymen have been greatly benefited by his instructions. In the art of preaching Bishop Bedell is a master. His voice has a sweetness and a compass which is marvelous; his style has a charm which is unfailing ; but more, the love of Christ moves him, and the Divine Spirit is his guide, so that he is indeed and in truth an embassador for God. He has published many occasional sermons, and two books which will live after he is gone from earth. The "Canterbury Pilgrimage" is a series of charming letters concerning the Lambeth Conference and the Sheffield Congress of 1878. "The Pastor" is a book of more than six hundred pages. Concerning this work Dr. S. Irenæus Prime, of the New York Observer, has written: "It is a far better book than George Herbert's 'Parson,' and I used to read that with intense satisfaction." On the subject of which it treats, "The Pastor" is really a masterful work. Even a short sketch of Bishop Bedell would be incomplete without some reference to Mrs. Bedell, who was Miss Julia Strong, of New York, and who, since her marriage, nearly forty years ago, has been her husband's most efficient helper. Her rare mental gifts have been a constant stimulus; her faith and courage have brought triumph in every danger. The two have labored together in the work of the Church as
J. Bedell ,
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one, using their talents and possessions for the glory of God and the good of men.
HOLMES, SOUTHWORTH, pioneer merchant, was born in Barnstable, Massachusetts, September 7th, 1799. His father died when he was an infant. His early educa- tion was limited, he being placed with Allen & Marshall, of Boston, to learn the paper trade in 1813, at the age of four- teen. After remaining a few months he became home-sick, and securing an open boat, made his way from Boston to Barnstable alone. He returned to Boston soon after, and remained with the firm until Mr. Allen came to Cincinnati, in 1818. When they reached the mountains, Mr. Allen and Mr. Holmes walked while Mrs. Allen and the children rode in the stage. When they reached Pittsburg they remained long enough to have a flat-boat built. They then floated down the river to Cincinnati, and opened a store on Front Street, it being then the principal business street. When business moved up from the river, they settled at the corner of Main and Fifth Streets. Mr. Allen then went into the drug business in addition to the wall-paper, the drug-store occupying the first story and the paper-store the second story. They entered into partnership in 1827, and established a fac- tory on Walnut Street, between Fourth and Fifth, for the manufacture of wall-paper. They dissolved partnership in 1840, Mr. Allen taking the drug business and Mr. Holmes the wall-paper business. He continued in active business until February Ist, 1883. Mr. Holmes was always an upright man, thinking of the good of others as much as of himself. He was one of the first members of the New Jerusalem Church, and carried out the principles of the New Church dur- ing his life. He was very fond of music, and was noted for his fine bass voice. He sang at most of the concerts given in the city under Mr. Nash. His death occurred May 27th, 1883.
KELLEY, WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON, familiarly known as General Kelly, of Hanging Rock, Lawrence county, Ohio, was born at Union Landing, Lawrence county, Ohio, February 18th, 1814. His grandfather, Luke Kelly, came from Virginia to Ohio in 1796, and entered seven hundred acres of land in the vicinity of Hanging Rock, for which, with the assistance of his oldest son, John Kelley, he princi- pally paid with the game of his rifle. The parents of our subject were Charles Kelley and Mary Hershbarger, both natives of Virginia. His father built the first water-mill on Pine creek, in Lawrence county, Ohio, the postoffice taking its name from him, being known as Kelley's Mills. He served as a musician in the war of 1812. At an early day he was engaged in the iron business, and was one of the builders of the Etna Furnace in Lawrence county, and of the Jackson Furnace in Jackson county, Ohio. He was a prominent official member of the Baptist denomination in southern Ohio, and his oldest brother, John Kelley, was one of the early clergymen of that church in that part of the State. Our sub- ject is one of two survivors of a family of nine children, Col- onel 1. W. Kelley being the other. His boyhood was passed amid the rude scenes of pioneer life, with scarcely anything worthy the name of school privileges. When he was ten years of age his father's family removed to Kelley's Mills, on Pine creek. Here he worked for his father on the farm and in the mill until he was about twenty-three. He then mar- ried, June 24th, 1837, Maria Lawson, of Portsmouth, Ohio, and started in life for himself. In 1846 he formed a partner-
ship with his father in the mercantile and milling business, under the firm name of C. & W. H. Kelley, and so contin- ued until February, 1853, when the partnership was dissolved and he returned to Union Landing in the same county, hav- ing purchased of his father the old homestead, and there engaged in merchandising and farming, continuing the mer- cantile business until September, 1873, since which time he has devoted himself exclusively to his farming interests, in which he has always taken special delight, his particular pride being the raising of fine stock. He was one of the builders of the Jackson Furnace in Jackson county, Ohio, one of the original stockholders in the Ohio Iron and Coal Company, of the Iron Railroad Company, and of the Second National Bank of Ironton. He was originally a Henry Clay whig, and an intimate friend of that statesman. Since the birth of the republican party, he has been a staunch advocate of its policy. For the last thirty years he has kept a regular diary, in which will be found a very full history of our late civil war, and many other interesting reminiscences. He has had a family of four children, three living. His only son, Charles Kelley, served during the late civil war as clerk in the commissary department, and was among the last to leave the land of the rebellion. He was educated in lron- ton, in Dennison University, at Granville, and at Smith's Commercial College in Cincinnati, and is now a druggist in Brownville, Missouri. He married Maria, daughter of Col- onel J. J. Montgomery, of St. Louis. His daughters, Mary and Lucy M. Kelley, were educated, the former at the Gran. ville Female Academy, and the latter at Mount Auburn, Cin- cinnati, and now reside at home. In 1867, General Kelley sold his interest in his Ironton enterprise and invested the proceeds in western lands and in assisting his son Charles to start in business, intending to remove with his family to Mis- souri, but being unable to dispose of his homestead without too great a sacrifice, concluded to remain where he is, being well situated in one of the most beautiful country-seats on the Ohio river, it being part of the ground settled by his grand- father in the last century. For some twelve years General Kelley filled the office of justice of the peace. Since 1837
he has been a faithful member of the Baptist church, having held various official positions in that communion. He has also contributed very largely to objects of benevolence, hav- ing given a large portion of his income in this way. He is widely known throughout his community as a man of fine social qualities, and an honorable and sincere Christian gen- tleman.
BRINKERHOFF, JACOB, (deceased), ex-Judge of the Supreme Court of Ohio, was born August 31st, 1810, in Cayuga County, New York. His father, Henry 1. Brinkerhoff, was a native of Pennsylvania, and was born near the town of Get- tysburg. His grandfather was from Hackensack, New Jersey, and belonged to the old Dutch family of New York, the pro- genitor of which came from Drenthe, in Holland, in 1638. His mother, née Rachel Berier, was of Huguenot descent, and came from Ulster County, New York. After. a thorough English education, obtained at the public schools and at the academy at Prattsburgh, Steuben County, New York, he en- tered the law office of Messrs. Howell & Brother, in Bath, Steuben County, in 1834. Here he regularly prosecuted his studies two years, and in the spring of 1836 removed to Mansfield, Ohio, where in May, 1837, he was admitted to the bar, at Lebanon, Warren County, Ohio, Peter Hitchcock be-
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