OHIO STATEWIDE FILES OH-FOOTSTEPS Mailing List ----------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by OH-FOOTSTEPS Mailing List ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest Volume 99 : Issue 80 Today's Topics: #1 HENRY STANBERY [LeaAnn ] #2 JOHN G. THOMPSON [LeaAnn ] #3 Report of Deaths in Putnam County [DEBMANECMAG@webtv.net (DEBBIE)] #4 OBIT: Fretter, 1918, Wood County [Elaine Johnson Subject: HENRY STANBERY From the "Historical Collections of Ohio, Franklin County" By Henry Howe, LL.D. HENRY STANBERY One of the most elegantly courtly men known to the legal profession in Ohio was Henry Stanbery. He was in stature about six feet, erect, with dignified bearing and a very pleasant face. His features were large and strongly marked, and when suffused with the light of his genial spirit nothing could be more captivating. Indeed he was grace itself and seemed as a prince among men. The memory of his fine presence is to many living a valued lifetime possession. And he was deserving of the regard of which his presence inspired, for he was the soul of honor and integrity; scorned to mislead a court or jury, or to deceive an opponent by any misstatement of law or fact. He was kindness itself, never lost his control nor indulged in petulance nor passion. He was on of the first lawyers in the United States and entitled to the highest veneration and regard. He was a member of the Episcopal communion and in all his deportment and career showed his love for justice, truth and beauty. Henry Stanbery was born in New York city, and in 1814, when a lad of eleven years, came with his father, a physician, to Zanesville. He was educated at Washington college, Pennsylvania, studied law at Zanesville, and was admitted to the bar in 1821, when he was invited by Hon. Thomas Ewing to begin the practice at Lancaster and ride the circuit with him, which offer he accepted and for many years resided there. When, in 1846, the office of attorney-general of Ohio was created he was elected by the General Assembly to be its first occupant. He then removed to Columbus, where he resided his entire term of five years. In 1850 he was a member of the Constitutional Convention from Franklin County, and was conspicuous in its debates. On leaving Columbus he for several years practiced law in Cincinnati. In 1866 he was appointed Attorney-General of the United States by President Johnson, which office he accepted from a desire to assist in carrying the government safely through the perilous times following the war. He resigned this office to become one of the counsel of the President upon his impeachment. His health at that time was so delicate that most of his arguments on that trial were submitted on paper. He died in New York in 1883, aged 80 years. Hon. Henry C. Noble, now of Columbus, who in his boy-days knew him at Lancaster, Noble's birthplace, and later was his pupil in the law, gave in a personal sketch this synopsis of his professional qualities: "He was from the first a most accurate lawyer, fond of technicalities and ready in applying every refinement of pleading all the nice rules of evidence and practice. It was, however, in the discussion of the general principles of the law which arose in his cases in which he generally delighted. Upon all young men who studied the law he would urge the essential importance of mastering general principles in order to attain the highest success. He was especially fond of the Latin maxims, which he regarded as the very embodiment of terse wisdom. In his manner as a practitioner Mr. Stanbery was a model. Always courteous and dignified, he was nevertheless as alert and ready as a soldier on guard. He was quick to perceive the slightest weakness of an opponent's cause, and on it dealt his blow with overwhelming suddenness. His manner in the examination of witnesses was admirable. He never bullied nor attempted to mislead them, but with sincere frankness and winning address would secure from the reluctant or the unfair witness often full and true answers to his questions. His language was of the purest English and his style free from all the glitter of mere words. To court and jury alike his speeches were clear. His arguments on the law were models of orderly arrangement and logical force, often eloquent from these very qualities. His addresses to the jury were masterly discussions of the facts, ingeniously mustered to sustain his views, and were exceedingly attractive. In writing he was a marvel of accuracy. Often his manuscripts were printed from the original draft, with scarcely a correction. He was systematic and thorough as a worker, never putting off anything for a more convenient season, but at the earliest moment analyzing his case and settling the law and the facts which would control it." -- ------------------------------ X-Message: #2 Date: Sun, 07 Feb 1999 02:15:07 -0600 From: LeaAnn Subject: JOHN G. THOMPSON History of Franklin and Pickaway Counties, Ohio Pub by Williams Bros., 1880 JOHN G. THOMPSON John G. Thompson, sergeant of arms of the federal house of representatives, and one of the most active and distinguished political managers in the country, is a citizen of Columbus. He was born on Mill Creek, Union County, Ohio, February 17, 1833, son of James and Catharine (Gamble) Thompson, the former an immigrant of Virginia, the latter of Irish descent. This fortunate cross of bloods, together with his early life and athletic labors in the pure air of the country, has contributed greatly to the physical and mental vigor which has characterized his career. He remained upon his father's farm for about twenty years, save one year and a half spent at the Marysville academy, in his native county, and three "quarters" (about nine months) occupied in teaching district schools. His education was chiefly acquired in these humble, but useful, "colleges of the people", which have furnished the sole education received in a formal way of our most distinguished men. His favorite studies were mathematical, and at this early day he looked with some confidence to the profession of civil engineer. Circumstances, however, prominent among which was poor health, son otherwise determined his career, and in his twentieth year he entered the dry goods business, as a partner with his father, at Watkins, in the same county. This connection was presently dissolved, and in March, 1854, when but twenty one years of age, he boldly pushed to Columbus, to try his fortunes at the State capital. His first employment here was as a clerk and book-keeper in Messrs. A.P. Stone & Company's store, in the old commercial row, on south High street, between Friend and Mound streets, to which the business of the city was then largely confined. In the same year, he accepted a partnership in the same concern, and retained it until the winter of 1859-60, when he relinquished it, upon assuming the duties of the office of county treasurer. While filling this position he engaged in banking, with others, under the firm name of Bailey, Thompson & Company, and continued in this business until 1871; meanwhile, also taking an interest in the dry goods house of A.C. Headley & Company, from which he retired at the same time, owing to the unfortunate financial complications in which the head of the firm became involved. Since then he has been mainly in public life. At a very early age Mr. Thompson began to take an eager interest in politics, in which his chief successes have been won. A Democrat, bred in the bone, he soon became a well recognized and energetic worker for that party, with which he has steadily been identified. at once, upon coming to Columbus, he became prominent in local politics, especially, a year or two after, in the formation and management of the "Wheatland club" (it was the year of the Buchanan and Fremont campaign), which brought the young Democracy of the city into virtual supremacy. The same year (1856) he was made a member of the Democratic county committee, and was its secretary during the next two years. He has been a member of the State Central committee of his party continuously since 1860, and the work which has principally given him name and fame has been done in connection with it. At the very outset of this service he was made secretary of the committee, and again in 1862. The next year, at the age of only thirty, he was advanced to the chairmanship, which he has retained continuously ever since, with the exception of three years; and from 1863 to 1879, save but two years, he has also been entrusted with the responsible and laborious duties of chairman of the executive committee, becoming thus, and for so long a time, the chief manager and organizer of Democracy in the State. He was a delegate from Ohio to the Democratic National convention in New York, in 1868, and four years afterwards to the similar convention in Baltimore. Since 1868 he has been the member for Ohio of the National Democratic committee, serving continuously during that time, on the Executive committee of the same. Mr. Thompson's eminent services to his party have not, of course, been altogether unrewarded. As already noted, he was elected treasurer of Franklin County in 1859. Two years afterwards when the Republican party had greatly strengthened by the war agitation, he was re-elected by a majority of one thousand seven hundred, by far the largest majority received at that election in the county, Mr. Jewett, Democratic candidate for governor, receiving but five hundred and twenty. In the spring of 1862 he was chosen a member of the city council, and at once made chairman of the Police committee, which at that time, a time of peculiar difficulty and turbulence, from the presence in and about the city of large numbers of soldiers, had sole charge of the police force. He declined re-election until 1869, when he was returned to the council, and gave his influence in that body to the overthrow of the conservatism which had long obstructed the cites growth. By this council measures were ordained for the extension of the city limits, for water works, the city hall, and street improvements, all of which have contributed immensely to the since rapid increase of the city in population and wealth. In 1871, Mr. Thompson was elected to the State senate from Franklin and Pickaway counties, and was re-elected two years after and did creditable service in that body until the spring of 1874, when he resigned to accept, by the appointment of Governor Allen, the office of State commissioner of railways and telegraphs. >From this post he was called away in December, 1875, when, upon the resumption of power by the Democracy in the lower house of congress, he was elected sergeant-at-arms of that body, and has been honored by successive re-elections, by acclamation and without opposition, by the house Democrats of the forty-fifth and forty-sixth congresses. During the sessions he occupies himself closely and attentively with the duties of his important position, and is a popular officer with political foes as well as friends. In his official capacity, he accompanied the remains of Congressman Hartridge to their final resting-place, in the soil of Georgia. Mr. Thompson has seen sufficient military service to afford some color of justification for the sobriquet of "colonel", sometimes bestowed upon him. Soon after his settlement in Columbus he joined a company of the State Fencibles, and remained a member until it was broken up by enlistment for the war. He was afterwards a captain in the State militia, and also served in the "squirrel hunters" campaign, organized in the fall of 1862 to resist the threatened invasion of the State by the rebel general, Morgan. He was a steady supporter of the war, and, with Mr. W.S.V. Prentiss closely following, gave the first one hundred dollar subscription to the twenty thousand dollars (finally forty thousand dollars), raised in Columbus, to support the families of citizens who had enlisted in the Federal service. Upon his twenty-fourth birthday, February 17, 1857, Mr. Thompson was married to Miss Fannie High, daughter of Mr. Hosea S. High, a farmer of Franklin County. Their union has been blessed with three sons and two daughters, four of whom are living. The family resides in a beautiful house on north High street, Columbus, at the corner of Seventh avenue. -- ------------------------------ X-Message: #3 Date: Sun, 7 Feb 1999 11:19:05 -0800 (PST) From: DEBMANECMAG@webtv.net (DEBBIE) Subject: Report of Deaths in Putnam County Ohio BOYES, Gracie 9 Sep 1889, age 5 months, died in Ashland co, Ohio of cholera, place of residence Palmer twp, Ohio. BADMAN, Thomas J., 18 Feb 1890, age 60 yrs, died Palmer twp of consumption, lived Monroe twp. BOON, Ranes, 20 April 1889, age 21 yrs, in Monroe twp of spinal fever, lived in Monroe twp. BETY, Clara M., 20 Oct 1889, age 14 yrs, in Monroe twp, of maleria fever, lived in Monroe twp. BROOKS, July B., 3 Aug 1889 age 17 days of blood poison in Monroe twp, lived Monroe twp. BIGGS, Ivin, 9 April 1890 of croup age 2 yrs 5 mo, in Monroe twp, lived Monroe twp. BASINGER, Anna, 5 april 1890 of loung disease, age 73 yrs in Riley twp, born Switzlerland, lived in Riley twp. BASSINGER, William A., 26 April 1889 of loung fever in Riley twp, age 1 yr, lived Riley twp. BROCKBERGER, Carolina 29 Oct 1889 still born in Montery twp, lived in same. BOXWELL, Charles M., 9 Nov 1889 of typhoid fever, age 10 mo, in Monterey twp, lived in Jackson twp. BECHTOL, Anna, 10 Aug 1889 still born in Sugarcreek, lived in same. BLAUVELT, Zenia G., 10 April 1889 age 5 mo, of whooping cough in Van Buren twp, lived in same. BRYAN, Phobe Jane, 26 Jan 1890, age 67 yrs of bowel comp, in Van Buren twp, lived in same. BUSHONG, June, 15 Feb 1890, age 8 mo, of la grip, in Van Buren twp, lived in same. BRINKMAN, Franz, 28 Feb 1890 of bowell disease, age 72 in Ottawa twp, born in Germany, lived in Ottawa twp. BERNING, Franz, 8 Nov 1889 age 74 yrs of kidney, in Ottawa twp, born Germany, lived Ottawa twp. BECKMAN, H.W., 30 Oct 1889 age 62 yrs of heart disease, in Ottawa twp, lived in Ottawa twp. BROWN, Isabella, 15 Feb 1890, age 25 yrs, of throat & lung, in Ottawa twp, lived in same. BRADFIELD, Mary, 8 July 1889 age 32 yrs of consumption, in Ottawa twp, lived in same. BAILEY, Perer R., 10 Sep 1889 age 34 yrs, of diabetes, in Ottawa twp, lived in same. BOWERS, Elizabeth, 26 July 1889, age 87, of old age, in Ottawa twp, lived in same. ------------------------------ X-Message: #4 Date: Sun, 07 Feb 1999 13:45:57 -0800 From: Elaine Johnson Subject: OBIT: Fretter, 1918, Wood County The newspaper is not identified. His date of death was Oct. 20, 1918. WAR VETERAN DIED SUNDAY MORNING Thos. O. Fretter Succumbed After Brief Illness at Home on Troup Avenue - Lost Arm in Battle at Reseca, Georgia in 1864. Thomas Oliver Fretter of 202 Troup Avenue died Sunday morning at one o'clock after a week's illness with old age and a complication of disease. Funeral services will be held at the late residence Wednesday afternoon at two o'clock. T. O. Fretter was 77 years old the 10th of last March and had resided at Bowling Green for the past 23 years. He was the last child of a family of nine. His parents came from England. He was well known here and leaves a host of friends to mourn his loss. The deceased was a veteran of the Civil War and lost his right arm at Reseca, Georgia on May 14, 1864 and received his discharge October 27, 1864. He served in the Union army as a member of the 103rd Regiment. The Civil War veteran was a thorough patriot and had taken an active interest in the present great strife, despite his age. Surviving are the widow and three sons, Elmer of Cygnet; Frank of Deshler; James of Saginaw, Mich and three daughters, Ms. Lola Cramer of Toledo; Mrs. Wm. Hutchison of New York; and Mrs. Frank Johnson, who resides with her parents. Two children preceded him to the grave. -------------------------------- End of OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest V99 Issue #80 ******************************************