Biography of George M. Parsons

Professional advancement in the law is proverbially slow. The first element of success is, perhaps, a persistency of purpose and effort as enduring as the force of gravity. But, as in every other calling, aptitude, character and individuality are the qualities which differentiate the usual from the unusual; the vocation from the career of the lawyer. Less than fifteen years ago George Matthias Parsons was admitted to the bar, and within that time has gained an eminence for which older practitioners have striven a life time. He was born in Cambridge City, Indiana, on the 15th of January 1850, and … Read more

Biography of James Scott Cummings, M. D.

James Scott Cummings, M. D. A former president of the State Board of Health, a member of the Legislature, and otherwise prominent in local and state affairs, Doctor Cummings is a pioneer physician of Bronson in Bourbon County, and both through his profession and as a citizen he had found many ways in which to make his career count for benefit to his community. Doctor Cummings represents a pioneer family in Southeastern Kansas. He was born in Parke County, Indiana, June 8, 1851. His Cummings ancestors were emigrants from the North of Ireland to Virginia in colonial times. Doctor Cummings … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Jacob Mettel

Jacob Mettel was born in Hesse, Hamburg, Germany, August 12, 1845. His parents removed from the “Faderland” while he was an infant, and crossed the broad ocean to the “Land of the free,” settling in Franklin county, Indiana, where he was reared and attended school. When eighteen years of age he left home and went to Harrison, Ohio, where he learned the shoemaking trade with Frederick Fisher, remaining with him two years and nine months. In 1866 he went to Cincinnati, worked for Paul Shauner for two years and a half, and, at the expiration of that time, was employed … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Moses J. Gries

Gries, Moses J.; rabbi; born, Newark, N. J., Jan. 25, 1868; son of Jacob and Katie Gries; educated, Hughes High School, Cincinnati, University of Cincinnati and Hebrew Union College; married, Cleveland, June 15, 1898, Frances Hays; issue, two sons; pres. Central Conference of American Rabbis; member Board of Governors, Hebrew Union College, Board of Editors, Department of Synagogue and School Extension; member committee on Municipal Arts and Architecture of the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce (group plan); member board of trustees Cleveland Associated Charities; trustee Cleveland School of Art; Federation of Jewish Charities; director of The City Club of Cleveland; also … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Aldrich, James Mott

Aldrich, James Mott, son of Arnold and Dollee Lang Aldrich, was born in Smithfield, Providence County, R. I., October 30, 1817. He attended the common schools and the academy at Union Village. He studied medicine in the office of Dr. J. A. Brown, Providence, R. I., Harvard medical school, and in the Botanic Medical College, Cincinnati, Ohio; and commenced regular practice in Fall River in 1843, in which city he has ever since lived. Dr. Aldrich was married in Dedham, May 24, 1844, to Mary A. Allen, who died in 1857. He was again married, September 23, 1862, to Louisa … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William D. Burton

William D. Burton is a Champaign County pioneer, was a farmer during his more active years, and since moving to Champaign has done much for the betterment and improvement of that city. Mr. Burton was born near Cincinnati, Ohio, January 28, 1830, a son of Elijah and Deliah (Dimmitt) Burton, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Virginia. His father was a farmer and both he and his wife died in Knox County, Illinois. There were nine children: Malinda J., who died in California; Harvey, deceased; William D.; Henry, of Grant’s Pass, Oregon; Sarah, John and George, … Read more

Biography of F. M. Fagaly

F. M. Fagaly, a retired resident of St. Joseph, has many interesting distinctions, not least among which is the fact that he served more than three years in the Union Army during the Civil War. Mr. Fagaly and his family are widely known in Champaign County, where through all the years their names have been associated with that industry and good citizenship which are the bulwark of American institutions. Mr. Fagaly was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, not far from the city of Cincinnati, a son of John and Mary (Stewart) Fagaly. His parents were also natives of Ohio. The … Read more

Biography of A. B. Rabbeson

A.B. RABBESON. – Mr. Rabbeson, who observes that “he was born of rich but honest parents” at New York in 1824, was devoted from his youth to the most interesting and desperate adventures. Nevertheless, he was always delivered from his perils just at the right time, and lives to-day in hale age at Olympia. His boyish adventures began not many years after the death of his father in 1833. His step-father he did not like, and consequently left home. We find him out in Canada, soon at New York City with his grandparents and attending school, but within a few … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Louis C. Greiner

Greiner, Louis C.; optometrist; born, Cincinnati, Ohio; son of Charles and Augusta Fichs Greimer; educated, Cincinnati public school and Hughes High School, same city; has been in the optical business since leaving school; formerly in the employ of A. M. Jordan, one of the largest optical houses in Cincinnati; came to Cleveland, Oct. 17, 1910; has been with The Dodd-Rogers Co. since; member Walnut Hill Lodge, No. 483, F. & A. M., Kilwinning Chapter, No. 97, R. A. M. Recreations: Photography.

Biography of James Cuthbert

James Cuthbert. One of the oldest and best known general contractors in the state is James Cuthbert of Topeka, which city has been his home and the center of his widely extended activities more than thirty-five years. As his name indicates, Mr. Cuthbert is a sturdy Scotchman, and his many associates and friends in Kansas say that he exemplifies all the best traits of the race. He was born in Nairnshire, Scotland, July 14, 1849, a son of James and Jane (Bowie) Cuthbert, who spent their lives in Scotland. He grew up among his native hills and heather, had a … Read more

Biography of Charles C. Wainwright, M. D.

Charles C. Wainwright, M D., Coroner of San Bernardino County and City Health Officer, was born in Ohio, in 1851, and educated in Cincinnati. He came to California first in 1870, and spent about three years in teaching school, after which he went back East and completed his course in medicine, graduating at Cincinnati Medical College, May 9, 1876. He returned to California the same year and has practiced his profession in the State ever since. He settled in San Bernardino in 1882, and in 1884 was elected coroner on the Republican ticket; was re-elected in 1886, and again in … Read more

Biography of Hon. John Catlin

HON. JOHN CATLIN. – Mr. Catlin is of New England and Scotch stock. His father, Seth Catlin, was born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and from there emigrated with his father and an only sister to the State of Illinois, about the year 1812. His mother came with her parents from Scotland to America when but twelve years of age; and her father, James Ridpath, settled with his family in Randolph county, Illinois, in 1818. His parents were married in the year 1831, and located on a farm at Turkey Hill, St. Clair county, Illinois, where their first child, John Catlin, the … Read more

Biography of William M. Brown, M. D.

The medical fraternity is ably represented by Dr. William M. Brown, who is the leading physician of Cuprum, whither he removed in June of the present year, 1899, from Salubria, where he had continuously and successfully engaged in practice from June 1892. He was born in Preble County, Ohio, on the 18th of November, 1860. His ancestors were early settlers of South Carolina, and his grandfather, James Brown, was born in Due West, that state. James Scott Brown, the Doctor’s father, was a native of Preble County, Ohio, and having arrived at man’s estate he married Miss Julia Robertson, of … Read more

Holmes, George H. – Obituary

Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon George H. Holmes was born in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1855. In early childhood he crossed the plains with his parents to Bannock City, Montana. Later the family came to Walla Walla and in 1868 they located at Cove, which was his home until early manhood. Mr. Holmes was one of the earliest settlers of Wallowa County, residing here at a time when there were only thirteen families in the County. While still a young man, Mr. Holmes proved up on a homestead on Crow Creek, the same homestead being farmed by himself the summer previous to … Read more

Roll Of Capt. Clayton Webb’s Company

(Probably from Hamilton County). Served from August 24, until September 20, 1813. Capt. Clayton Webb Lieut. John Armstrong Ensign, Nathan Hatfield Sergt. James Jones Sergt. Peter Bell Sergt. David Kelley Sergt. James. Armstrong Corp. William Landen Corp. Stephen Cobley Privates Askron, Thomas Black, David Black, Peter Burdsall, Josiah Burrows, Joseph Christ, George Clark, Ichabod Crichfield, Phillip Cross, Ignatius Crosson, Benjamin Davis, William Earhart, Samuel Ferris, John Gordon, James Greenwood, Will Hawkins, Reson Hawkins, Richard Hosbrook, Archibald Huff, John Jenkins, Henry Johnson, Charles Jones, John T Keely, John Knopper, Jacob Lee, Louis F. Mack, Erastus Mail, George Martin, John Martin, William … Read more

Biography of Joseph Franklin Hickey

Joseph Franklin Hickey, president of the Mercantile Insurance Agency of St. Louis, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, October 19, 1876, a son of William P. and Elizabeth (Roddey) Hickey, both of whom were also natives of the Buckeye state. The father served during the Civil war as a member of an organization for home defense known as Squirrel Hunters and received honorable discharge and special mention for individual service from Governor David Tod of Ohio at the close of the war. Joseph F. Hickey was educated in the public schools of Cincinnati and in a private school at Ludlow, Kentucky. … Read more

Biography of Charlie H. Riker

Charlie H. Riker. At Gage’s Park, on West Sixth Street Road, near Topeks, is situated one of the most beautiful suburban homes of this locality, that belonging to Charlie H. Riker, who for many years had been engaged in agricultural pursuits in Kansas. Mr. Riker was reared a farmer and is the son of a pioneer of 1870, since which time with the exception of several years spent in Ohio, he had been engaged in operations in different parts of the Sunflower State, and in each locality in which operations have been centered, he had not only made a success … Read more

Biographical Sketch of J. M. Pruett, M.D.

J.M. PRUETT, M.D. – The native-born sons of Oregon who have had the wisdom to prepare themselves for a professional or business career have quite generally shown themselves fully equal to those born and raised elsewhere. The subject of this sketch is one of these. He was born at Salem in 1849, his father being the well-known pioneer J. W. Pruett, who crossed the plains in 1847. Young James remained with his father until the death of the latter, which occurred in 1866. He then went to California, where he remained for two years, after which he returned to Oregon … Read more

Biographical Sketch of O. W. Gogin

O. W. Gogin, Justice of the Peace, Mattoon; was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1820; his father came from New Jersey and settled in Cincinnati in 1800; the family was six months making the journey, coming by teams to Pittsburgh, Penn., and thence floating down the Ohio in a keelboat to the point of destination; here the family remained some twenty-odd years; in the spring of 1841, his father came West, and settled in Crawford Co., Ill., where he began the labor of opening up a farm in the woods; O. W. was the youngest of the family, and remained … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Dixon, James J. A. T.

Dixon, James J. A. T. dealer in dry goods, groceries, hardware, etc., opened business in February 1882 and carry a stock of $3,500. Mr. Dixon first came to Bunker Hill October 5, 1872 for his health, and after eighteen months he began agricultural pursuits and became pastor of the Congregational Church, since which time he has followed preaching irregularly. In the fall of 1875 he was elected to represent Russell County in Kansas State Legislature. Re-elected to same position in the fall of 1876. He was appointed to fill vacancy of Probate Judge in 1878, elected to the office the … Read more