OHIO STATEWIDE FILES OH-FOOTSTEPS Mailing List Issue 84 ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES(tm) NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgenwebarchives.org ************************************************************************** OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest Volume 05 : Issue 84 Today's Topics: #1 Oh-Ross Co. Photo (Stratton Cemete [Archives ] #2 Oh-Ross Co. Photo (Caldwell Cemete [Archives ] #3 Oh-Clark Co. Bios (Thomas) [Archives ] #4 Oh-Clark Co. Bios (Thomas) [Archives ] #5 Oh-Clark Co. Bios (Thomas) [Archives ] #6 Oh-Clark Co. Bios (Raffensperger) [Archives ] Administrivia: To unsubscribe from OH-FOOTSTEPS-D, send a message to OH-FOOTSTEPS-D-request@rootsweb.com that contains in the body of the message the command unsubscribe and no other text. No subject line is necessary, but if your software requires one, just use unsubscribe in the subject, too. ______________________________ --Boundary_(ID_EAee6QEPwSgidJ+vxwqZKQ) Date: 14 Jul 2005 13:26:58 -0000 From: Archives Subject: Oh-Ross Co. Photo (Stratton Cemeter) To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-id: <20050714132658.4601.qmail@mail.best1-host.com> Content-type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT X-Message: #1 Ross County OhArchives Photo Place.....Stratton Cemetery July 10, 2005 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/oh/ohfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: William Fischer, Jr. wefjr7944@hotmail.com July 14, 2005, 9:26 am Source: Stratton Cemetery, In Caldwell Cemetery Photo can be seen at: http://www.usgwarchives.net/oh/ross/photos/stratton53ph.jpg Image file size: 197.1 Kb Stratton Family Cemetery, which was relocated (for reasons unknown to the photographer) to the Caldwell Cemetery in 1958. There is a Stratton Cemetery shown on the 2000 Ross County Highway Map (published by the Ross County Engineer) that is roughly three miles SE of the Caldwell Cemetery. Unknown if this was the original location of these tombstones. Caldwell Cemetery (391318N 0825101W) On Old US Highway 35, about two and one half miles NW of town of Richmond Dale. Jefferson Township, Ross County, Ohio File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/oh/ross/photos/stratton53ph.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/ohfiles/ File size: 1.3 Kb ______________________________ --Boundary_(ID_EAee6QEPwSgidJ+vxwqZKQ) Date: 14 Jul 2005 15:17:52 -0000 From: Archives Subject: Oh-Ross Co. Photo (Caldwell Cemeter) To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-id: <20050714151752.372.qmail@mail.best1-host.com> Content-type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT X-Message: #2 Ross County OhArchives Photo Place.....Caldwell Cemetery Entrance July 10, 2005 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/oh/ohfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: William Fischer, Jr. wefjr7944@hotmail.com July 14, 2005, 11:17 am Source: Caldwell Cemetery Photo can be seen at: http://www.usgwarchives.net/oh/ross/photos/caldwell93ph.jpg Image file size: 265.2 Kb Caldwell Cemetery (391318N 0825101W) On Old US Highway 35, about two and one half miles NW of town of Richmond Dale. Jefferson Township, Ross County, Ohio File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/oh/ross/photos/caldwell93ph.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/ohfiles/ File size: 0.9 Kb ______________________________ --Boundary_(ID_EAee6QEPwSgidJ+vxwqZKQ) Date: 14 Jul 2005 20:32:20 -0000 From: Archives Subject: Oh-Clark Co. Bios (Thomas) To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-id: <20050714203220.18248.qmail@mail.best1-host.com> Content-type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-transfer-encoding: 8BIT X-Message: #3 Clark County OhArchives Biographies.....Thomas, John H. October 4, 1826 - January 23, 1901 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/oh/ohfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Carolyn Golowka cgolowka@prodigy.net July 14, 2005, 4:32 pm Author: Hon. William M. Rockel Hon. John H. Thomas. The death of John H. Thomas, which took place at his home on East High Street, Springfield, January 23, 1901, removed from this city a man whose business success, public spirit and sterling character, identified him for all time with the agencies which contributed largely to the upbuilding of this section. Mr. Thomas was born October 4, 1826, at Middletown, Maryland, a son of Jacob and Sophia (Bowlus) Thomas. After satisfactorily completing the public school course, Mr. Thomas entered Marshall College, at Mercersburg, Pennsylvania, where he graduated with the class of 1849. He then turned his attention to the study of law, entering the office of Hon. S. W. Andrews, at Columbus, Ohio, and, in 1851, that of William White, then the leading attorney at Springfield. For two years after admission to the bar, he continued to practice law at Springfield, and was then chosen county recorder, a rather unusual token of appreciation, as Mr. Thomas has so recently become a resident of Clark County. In the meanwhile this sections was just awakening to the possibilities afforded in the direction of manufacturing, and Mr. Thomas was one of the first to take advantage of the situation. He entered into partnership with P. P. Mast and they founded the well known agricultural Implement firm of Thomas and Mast, and upon so sound a foundation, that it weathered the storms of financial depression in 1857, continued to grow in importance, and within a few years ranked with the largest in the state. Mr. Thomas remained a member of this firm until 1872. In 1874, after two years of rest, Mr. Thomas re-entered the manufacturing field in partnership with his two sons, William S. and Findlay B. They erected the large plant which stands on South Limestone Street and there The Thomas Manufacturing Company began, which still continues the extensive manufacture of all kinds of agricultural implements, having established a reputation second to none in the specialties of hay machinery, harrows and grain drills. William S. Thomas is president of the above mentioned company, as well as its treasurer, and Findlay B. is also associated in the business of manufacturing farm implements. For very many years, the late John H. Thomas stood as one of Springfield’s most public-spirited citizens. He served on the City Council with marked usefulness and was chosen a member of various civic boards, at the time of his death being a member of the Snyder Park Board. He was a stanch member of the Democratic party and was held in such esteem by its leaders that in 1868 he was nominated for Congress and still later was made the Democratic standard-bearer for the United States Senate against Hon. Calvin S. Brice. The duties of every office he held were performed with the ability and capacity which marked the management of his private affairs. In 1854, Mr. Thomas was married to Mary Bonser, who was the youngest daughter of Hon. Jacob Bonser, of Chillicothe, Ohio, and they had four children, namely: William S., who is president of the Mad River National Bank of Springfield and of The Thomas Manufacturing Company; Findlay B., who is prominent also in the business life of Springfield; Nellie, who is the wife of Judge A. N. Summers; and Mable, who is the wife of L. P. Matthews. Mr. Thomas was a member of the Presbyterian Church and was always a liberal supporter of its many charitable enterprises. His private philanthropies were numerous and one of these, a notable one, may be mentioned – the Mitchell-Thomas Hospital, which was a joing gift to the city for the benefit of its sick and afflicted, from Ross Mitchell and John H. Thomas. Additional Comments: Source of this Biography: "20th Century History of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio and Representative Citizens," edited and compiled by Hon. William M. Rockel; Published by Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1908, pages 549-550. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/oh/clark/bios/thomas85bs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/ohfiles/ File size: 4.6 Kb ______________________________ --Boundary_(ID_EAee6QEPwSgidJ+vxwqZKQ) Date: 14 Jul 2005 20:47:50 -0000 From: Archives Subject: Oh-Clark Co. Bios (Thomas) To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-id: <20050714204750.21924.qmail@mail.best1-host.com> Content-type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-transfer-encoding: 8BIT X-Message: #4 Clark County OhArchives Biographies.....Thomas, William S. April 22, 1857 - May 1, 1922 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/oh/ohfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Carolyn Golowka cgolowka@prodigy.net July 14, 2005, 4:47 pm Author: Hon. William M. Rockel HON. WILLIAM S. THOMAS, president of the Mad River National Bank, at Springfield, and president and treasurer of The Thomas Manufacturing Company, has been identified with important business interests in Clark County during the whole period of his active life. Mr. Thomas was born in Springfield, Ohio, April 22, 1857, and is a son of Hon. John H. and Mary (Bonser) Thomas. William S. Thomas received his early education in both public and private schools, and was fourteen years old when he entered Wooster University, where he was graduated with honors in 1875, being at the time and for years afterward the youngest graduate of that institution. His father, the late John H. Thomas, had been engaged in the manufacturing of agricultural instruments prior to this time, and he subsequently organized, with his two sons, William S. and Findlay B., The Thomas Manufacturing Company, which has long ranked with the leading industrial firms of the state, and which William S. Thomas became treasurer in 1886, and also president in 1901. The name of Thomas appearing on agricultural implements is a guarantee of excellence the world over, and the products of this company include every kind of useful agricultural implement, with a few manufactured only by this concern. Mr. Thomas has other business interests, being a leading financier of this section, and he is also a very large property owner, both in the city of Springfield and throughout Clark County. On December 8, 1887, Mr. Thomas was married to Fannie Senteny, who was born in Louisville, Kentucky. They have had three children, namely: John Henry, Wallace Senteny, and Lucretia. The eldest son died June 26, 1906. The family home at No. 345 East High Street, Springfield, is one of taste and elegance. Mr. Thomas is an earnest democrat, and since 1895 he has been continuously a member of the Democratic State Central Committee, and for hears he has never failed to attend all important Democratic conventions as a delegate. He has ably and unselfishly filled many of the important civic offices and in every way he is well qualified for any honor in the gift of his party. He was the president of and most zealous worker in that well-known organization, the Jefferson Club, from 1880 until 1890. IN the various organizations of a benevolent, educational, religious and business character pertaining to Springfield, Mr. Thomas has been more than ready to acknowledge every manly obligation, and has been generous in the contribution of time, advice and money. For many years he served as president of the Board of Trustees of the First Presbyterian Church, while the Young Men’s Christian Association has continually been an object of his beneficence. He is a member of the Springfield Commercial Club, and recently has been chosen president of the Ohio Shipper’s Association. Additional Comments: Source of this Biography: "20th Century History of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio and Representative Citizens," edited and compiled by Hon. William M. Rockel; Published by Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1908, pages 896-897. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/oh/clark/bios/thomas86bs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/ohfiles/ File size: 3.7 Kb ______________________________ --Boundary_(ID_EAee6QEPwSgidJ+vxwqZKQ) Date: 14 Jul 2005 21:24:49 -0000 From: Archives Subject: Oh-Clark Co. Bios (Thomas) To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-id: <20050714212449.30701.qmail@mail.best1-host.com> Content-type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT X-Message: #5 Clark County OhArchives Biographies.....Thomas, John H. October 4, 1826 - January 23, 1901 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/oh/ohfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Carolyn Golowka cgolowka@prodigy.net July 14, 2005, 5:24 pm Author: Not Given JOHN H. THOMAS, manufacturer of agricultural implements, Springfield. John Henry Thomas, in all that relates to the moral health, business prosperity, industrial progress and general advancement of Springfield, is unquestionably one of its foremost men, having been, ever since his advent in this city, thirty years ago, one of the few to whose enterprise, energy and public spirit the almost phenomenal growth and uniform business prosperity of the city is largely due. He was born in Middletown, Frederick Co., Md., Oct. 4, 1826, the son of Jacob Thomas of that place; Marshall College, Mercersburg, Penn., was his alma mater, from which he graduated in 1849; he commenced reading law with Hon. S. W. Andrews, of Columbus, Ohio, completing his course with the Hon. William White, of this city, to which he came in 1851; after two years' practice, he was the recipient of a flattering tribute to his popularity and hold upon the confidence and esteem of the public, by being chosen Recorder of Clark County, which was the more complimentary by reason of his then brief citizenship. At the close of his official term, he abandoned the law and politics, and engaged in what has proved his life work, commencing business under the firm name of Thomas & Mast, for the manufacture of agricultural implements, in 1857, under the disadvantages of small capital and limited resources, and in a year memorable as one of the periods of universal financial disaster and ruin, its masterly management from the outset carried it successfully through the commercial, industrial and financial chaos of that terrible year, and, in a few years, it had steadily, but rapidly and healthfully advanced to the magnificent measure of $1,000,000 of annual sales, and the employment of several hundred hands. In the times which tried to the utmost the financial ability of the staunchest concerns, and the skill and nerve of their proprietors, when others were inert, paralyzed and dazed, by the almost universal ruin and shaking up of values, Mr. Thomas, with his able coadjutor and honored fellow citizen, Mr. P. P. Mast, carried their establishment through with unimpaired credit, the stronger for the ordeal. Mr. Thomas remained at the head of this house until 1872, withdrawing in that year, with the purpose of retiring from active business. His energetic nature and active habits of life, however, prompted him, after a rest of two years, to resume the business of manufacturing, associating with him his two sons, William S. and Findley B. Thomas; he accordingly established the present large establishment of John H. Thomas & Sons, for the manufacture of agricultural implements, chiefly of horse hay-rakes, and steam engines; an idea of the volume of the business done by this firm may be had by reference to the industrial department of this work. On behalf of his two sons, the junior partners of the concern, Mr. Thomas purposes investing the entire future profits of the business in its extension. Aside from Mr. Thomas' private enterprise and its marked success, he has ever been a promoter of all public enterprises, improvements and advancement, and the city's welfare in every respect. He is a stockholder in three and a Director of one of the National Banks of the city, and connected generally now, as in the past, with nearly all its important corporations and industries, and as Chairman of the Finance Committee in the City Council, of which he was many years a member; he distinguished himself as an able financier, richly meriting the sobriquet, " watch-dog of the city treasury," and to his strong influence and efforts while in that position is greatly due the present healthy condition of the city's finances. Mr. Thomas' high position in the community is all the more creditable when viewed in connection with his political faith, he being an uncompromising Jeffersonian Democrat, in a community that is counted a Republican stronghold, almost all of his business associates and personal friends being " stalwart " Republicans. Although a modest and reserved man, who never projected his views or convictions in politics or religion into public notice, his political predilections have frequently caused him much personal inconvenience and annoyance, especially during the late war with the South, during which his loyalty was absurdly questioned by that thoughtless, unreasoning and arbitrary class of which every community is unfortunately largely composed. But, despite insult and the estrangement of friends and old associates, he stood firmly by his principles, his adherence to which the logic of events and subsequent experience have not shaken. His influence extended to State as well as local politics, he receiving, in 1868, the nomination to Congress from the Eighth District, and a higher tribute could not be paid him than the result of that election, in which he reduced a usual Republican majority of 3,000 to about 100. He has ever been a strong, active, able and effective advocate, in private and public life, of temperance, and it was upon the strength of his broad and practical views on this question that he was returned to the City Council in 1875. In all the relations of life, Mr. Thomas was ever deemed eminently reliable, and the exponent of the greatest firmness of purpose and integrity of motive, having an abundance of the quality vulgarly but appropriately called "backbone." His religious faith is Presbyterian, he being a member of the First Presbyterian Church, of which he is also one of the most liberal supporters. The position of Mr. Thomas and family in social life is, of course, of the best. In 1854, he married Mary, youngest daughter of the Hon. Jacob Bouser, of Chillicothe, their family consisting of two sons and two daughters. Mr. Thomas has three brothers living in Springfield, and also engaged in manufacturing agricultural implements, viz., Joseph W., Charles E. and R. P. Thomas, of the firm of Thomas, Ludlow & Rodgers, whose business is also very extensive. Although no necessity exists for further effort or devotion to business, being in excellent health and possessed, even yet, of much of his old- time ardor and energy, Mr. Thomas is to be found daily at his post, finding the greatest pleasure in the discharge of its duties daily. Additional Comments: Source for this Biography: "The HIstory of Clark County, Ohio," published by W. H. Beers & Co., Chicago, 1881 Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/oh/clark/photos/bios/thomas87bs.jpg File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/oh/clark/bios/thomas87bs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/ohfiles/ File size: 7.1 Kb ______________________________ --Boundary_(ID_EAee6QEPwSgidJ+vxwqZKQ) Date: 14 Jul 2005 21:42:09 -0000 From: Archives Subject: Oh-Clark Co. Bios (Raffensperger) To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-id: <20050714214209.2307.qmail@mail.best1-host.com> Content-type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-transfer-encoding: 8BIT X-Message: #6 Clark County OhArchives Biographies.....Raffensperger, Elizabeth C. Thomas April 9, 1834 - April 27, 1910 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/oh/ohfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Carolyn Golowka cgolowka@prodigy.net July 14, 2005, 5:42 pm Author: Springfield Daily News, Wednesday, April 27, 1910 Springfield Daily News, Wednesday, April 27, 1910: Mrs. Raffensperger Has Passed Away Wife of Alfred Raffensperger, a Pioneer Resident, Succumbs One of Springfield’s Pioneer Residents Mrs. Elizabeth C. Raffensperger, wife of Alfred Raffensperger, and a pioneer Springfield resident, died at six forty-five o’clock Wednesday morning at the family residence, on North Limestone street. She had been ill for sometime, and had been confined to the house for several weeks. She was born in Middletown, Maryland, April 9, 1834, and had jkust passed her 76th birthday. She was the oldest daughter of the late Mr. And Mrs. Jacob Thomas, who came to Ohio in 1841, and located near this city, being married January 31, 1856 to Alfred Raffensperger. She is survived by her husband, and by a son, Daniel Edwin, and by three daughters, Clara, Mary and Lorene, the last two in California. She was a sister of the late John H., Richard P and of Chas. E. Thomas, of this city, and of Joseph W. Thomas, of San Diego, Cal. She was a modest, retiring disposition, but her life was devoted to good works of all kinds, and she will be long and sincerely mourned by her family and many friends. On January 31, last, Mr. And Mrs. Raffensperger celebrated their fifty- fourth wedding anniversary. Mrs. Raffensperger was one of the city’s most respected residents. Funeral services will be held at her late residence, 739 North Limestone street, on Friday afternoon, at 2:00 o’clock. Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/oh/clark/photos/bios/raffensp88bs.jpg File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/oh/clark/bios/raffensp88bs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/ohfiles/ File size: 2.2 Kb -------------------------------- End of OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest V05 Issue #84 ******************************************