BIOGRAPHIES

Source:
* Centennial History of Columbus, and Franklin Co., Ohio
 by William Alexander Taylor
 - Vols. I  & II -
1909
 

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	JUDGE LORENZO D. HAGERTY, an active member of the Columbus bar since 1878, his attention also being given at times to official duties and to the promotion of commercial interests, was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, November 11, 185'2. His father was one of the leading cattle-raisers in the state in his day, and his public sales of shorthorns many years ago were not only features in the business of Ohio but were also often attended by buyers from various sections of the middle west.      The early removal of the family to Licking county enabled Judge Hagerty to attend the public schools there, and when a mental review of the business world led him to the conclusion that he preferred the practice of law as a. life work, he began preparation for the profession under private instruction and eventually entered the law department of the University of \Michigan. He completed his studies there by graduation and was admitted to practice in 1877. The following year he came to Columbus, where he has since remained, and soon after opening his office here he was named as United States commissioner, a position of sufficient emolument to make it desirable to a young lawyer who was just starting upon his professional career and had to depend upon his own resources. For a number of years he filled the position satisfactorily to the government and with credit to himself. The excellent record which he made led to his further advancement in the field of political service. He was named by the governor of the state a member of the state board of pardons and aided in disposing of several of the most celebrated criminal cases in Ohio at that date. Becoming an influencing factor in local politics, his fellow citizens twice elected him to the office of probate judge of Franklin county, and his administration of the office was able, fair, judicious and eminently satisfactory to the litigants who come into that court in the settlement of estates and other surrogate matters.      Since his retirement: from public office. Judge Hagerty has devoted his attention to the practice of law with a good clientage. His ability in the profession is widely acknowledged and the able work which he has done in the courts and as a. counselor insures him continued success as he -is constantly winning new clients. He is also interested in numerous plans of local improvement and with him municipal progress has always been a subject of enthusiasm. He is president of the Crystal Ice Company and is connected with other enterprises of moment in the business life of the community, his sound judgment and keen discrimination being features in their prosperity.      Judge Hagerty is equally well known in social and club circles. He is a member of the Board of Trade and belongs to the Elks lodge and Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Red Men. His social nature finds expression in his membership in the Columbus. the Columbus Country and the Arlington Country Clubs, and was one of the incorporators of the Olentangy Club. serving for many years on its official board. His life record has been characterized by continuous advancement in every line in which he has directed his effort;, and he occupies today a honorable and enviable position. both professionally and socially. Source: Centennial History of Columbus, and Franklin Co., Ohio by William Alexander Taylor - Vol. II - 1909 - Page 7
	FRED MATHES HAMMOND.  There is no manifestation of marked spontaneity in the business world but rather the slow accretion of gradual development resulting from persistent and diligent effort day by day.  Thereby is built a substantial structure able to endure financial storms and gain strength by its very resistance.  Such has been the record of Fred Mathes Hammond of the well known real estate firm of Hammond, Hammond & Baker, of Columbus.  Their business is now of an extensive and important character, a large amount of property being handled annually by his firm, their efforts constituting also an element i the business development and material growth of the city.      Mr. Hammond of this review is a native of Smithfield, Jefferson county, Ohio, born Feb. 14, 1878.  His father, William Hammond, also a native of that locality, devoted his life to agricultural pursuits and met success in his undertaking, becoming one of the leading farmers of the community.  He is still living at the age of fifty-three years.  The paternal grandfather, Nathan Hammond, was likewise born in Jefferson county, Ohio, and was unusually prosperous in his agricultural pursuits.  His birth occurred in 1812 and his life history covered the succeeding seventy-eight years.  Though he started in business with a limited capital, he carefully controlled his interests, made judicious investments and died a wealthy man.  He was a Quaker in religious faith and his life was in harmony with the kindly spirit and unfaltering integrity characteristic of people of that sect.  The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Mary Ong and was a native of Jefferson county, Ohio.  She, too, belonged to a prominent and highly respected family of that locality and her death occurred in 1881.      Fred M. Hammond has a twin brother, Frank Nathan Hammond, and in all of their interests and experiences, save that of marriage and home life, they have been inseparable in the fullest sense of the term.  Everything that they have undertaken has been done together and at times, even since attaining man's estate, they have lived in the same house.  Theirs is a striking likeness in every particular, in mental characteristics, in features, size, business methods, tastes and interests.  Their personal appearance is so similar that few people can distinguish one from the other and their close identification in all things constitutes perhaps the strongest cause of their success and enterprise.  Frank N. Hammond was married Oct. 28, 1901, to Miss Verna Fowler, of Columbus, and they have two children, Charles Nathan and Helen Frances.      Fred M. Hammond was reared to farm life, early becoming familiar with the work of the fields from the time of early spring planting until crops were harvested in the late autumn.  He attended the district schools and subsequently entered the Smithfield high school, where he remained as a student between the ages of thirteen and seventeen years.  He pursued a business course in Iron City College at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and afterward, in connection with his brother, Frank M. Hammond, engaged in the produce business for three years.  This constituted an important epoch in their lives.  They started with very meager capital but soon obtained valuable business experience and a little money.  In 1898 they disposed of their business there and came to Columbus, entering the law department of the Ohio State University, pursuing the regular course until admitted to the bar in 1901.  They then opened an office in this city.  During their college course they had made all of their own expenses, having the agency for the Columbus Building & Loan Association.  In thsi connection they established branch offices in various towns throughout the state and not only founded the business at Dillonvale and Portland, Jefferson county, but also erected there about sixty houses and handled two different coal properties.  After completing their work there the Hammond brothers established a real estate agency in Columbus in April, 1903, under the firm style of Hammond & Hammond.  They have since handled large amounts of property, conducting throughout the first two years a regular commission business.  In 1905 with other parties they purchased the Indianola Forest addition.  They have since purchased and disposed of four other additions including the East Indianola, the Fourteenth, the Indianola University addition and the old Neil homestead.  Thus they have contributed in substantial measure to the growth and progress of the city, using their influence to advance its interests along lines of modern city building and improvement.  Their legal knowledge has proven of marked benefit to them in business and in the firm is today one of the most prosperous, prominent and progressive in the field of real-estate operations in the capital.  On the 1st of December, 1908, they admitted a new member, John L. Baker, so that the style of the firm is now Hammond, Hammond & Baker.  In November the Hammond succeeded in organizing the Columbus Isle of Pines Company and purchased the five thousand acre tract of land in the Isle of Pines, just south of Cuba.  This tract was known as the "balance of the San Pedro tract," situated in the southwestern part of the island, between the Las Tunas tract and the San Pedro river, near the Siguanea bay.  This they have named the Ohio tract and are now colonizing, having laid out a town site, built a hotel, subdivided the other land into twenty-and forty acre lots and are building roads.  They are the sole agents and sole promoters of this and are working this tract out after the same plan they have employed heretofore, their purpose being to make it the leading place on the island - the home of the most prominent people that shall settle on the Isle of Pines.  They are planning improvements never before dreamed of by other companies on the island, where they are both living at the present time with their families.  It seems hardly necessary to add that they have revolutionized the manner of handling and developing property on the island and have done more in that direction in the few months of their occupancy than any other man or company in the whole nine years that Americans have been on the island.      On the 5th of January, 1905, Mr. Hammond was married to Miss Clara Jessie Rood of Pasadena, California, and they have one daughter, Mary Imogene.  Mr. Hammond belongs to Junia Lodge I. O. O. F., and to the Central Presbyterian church.  He is fond of horse-back riding and is interested in much that pertains to individual and community progress.  His own record is a most creditable one.  In no instance has he ever misrepresented a piece of property and his promptness, honesty and hard work have constituted the foundation upon which he has built his success.  The elemental strength of character, which he displayed in providing for his own education, gave promise of what he has since accomplished and the position to which he has now attained seems to point to still greater achievement in the future. Source: Centennial History of Columbus, and Franklin Co., Ohio by William Alexander Taylor - Vol. II - 1909 - Page  259
	BENJAMIN HENRY HARMON is the successful and popular manager of the Neil House and is interested in financially and officially in various business concerns.  He was born in this city February 20, 1862, of the marriage of Henry Harmon and Bertha Deering, who were here united in the bonds of wedlock in 1852.  The mother was a native of this city but the father's birth occurred June 26, 1826, near Desseldorf, Bavaria.  He was brought to America in 1828, the family home being established in Falmouth, Kentucky, where he continued his education by night study.  Early in youth he started out in business life on his own account and in 1845 removed from Kentucky to Columbus, where he engaged in the clothing and fur business until 1873.  In that year he turned his attention to the produce business and remained as an active factor in commercial circles until his life's labor were ended in death.  Always interested in community affairs he gave hearty cooperation to many movements for the general good, and although he did not seek office was for one term a member of the city council.  He became a charter member of the Humboldt lodge of Masons, attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite, and for many years was closely and helpfully identified with all local charities, possessing a philanthropic spirit and broad humanitarianism that prompted his generous support of all measures for the aid of his fellowmen.  His wife died in October, 1873, and he passed away in September, 1902.  Their family numbered the following sons and daughters:  A. H. Harmon, who is engaged in the tailoring business in Columbus; William H., proprietor of the Globe Tailoring Company, of Cincinnati, Ohio; Minnie, the wife of Samuel Bumenthal, of Columbus; Mollie, the wife of Henry Gumble, president of the Franklin County Bar Association.  After losing his first wife, Henry Harmon was married to Miss Nettie Hahn, of Columbus, and they have two sons, Max and Jess.      After acquiring a public-school education, Benjamin H. Harmon was employed by the Brown Brothers Abstracting Company, with which he was connected for four years.  He afterward spent a similar period as carriage-trimmer in the employ of the Columbus Buggy Company and was then called to public office through appointment to the position of deputy auditor of the company.  He remained in that position for a short time and then entered the service of the Columbus Hocking Coal & Iron Company, with which he remained three years.  He was next reappointed deputy auditor of Franklin county.  He remained in that position for a short time and then entered the service of the Columbus Hocking Coal & Iron Company, with which he remained for three years.  He was next reappointed deputy auditor and remained in that connection for eleven years discharging his duties with promptness and fidelity, as is indicated by his long retention in office.  In 1894 he was appointed assistant postmaster of Columbus and while acting in that capacity also served as chairman of the county campaign committee and of the city committee when Mayor Black was chosen as chief executive of the city and the entire democratic ticket was elected.  In 1898 he was the democratic candidate for county auditor but at that date the entire party ticket was  defeated.  He was next appointed receiver of the Southern Hotel and placed in the property upon a paying basis.  On the organization of the Iroquois Hotel Company he was appointed manager of the Sothern, where he remained for six and a half years and then assumed the management of the Neil House, of which he still has charge.  He has become well known as a popular and successful hotel man, studying closely the requirements of his guests and managing his hostelry in accordance with most modern business methods.  He is likewise secretary of the Iroquois Hotel Company, is a director in the Springfield Light & Power Company, and thoroughly interested in various other business concerns.  A prominent and active member of the Board of Trade he has been secretary of its convention committee for several years an during the last few years has been instrumental in securing for Columbus a great many important national conventions.      On the 16th of October, 1888, Mr. Harmon was married to Miss Fannie Kahn, a daughter of Joseph and Celia Kahn.  Her father was one of the early business men of Joseph and Ceila Kahn.  Her father was one of the early business men of the city and the family is an old and prominent one here.  Mrs. Harmon was a graduate of the Central High school and during her life was prominently identified with charitable work.  She was a woman of splendid personal character, whose many good qualities won for her the love and esteem of all who knew her and when she passed away on the 15th of January, 1904, her death was the occasion of deep and widespread regret.      Mr. Harmon is a member of the Elks lodge and of the Improved Order of Red Men, the American Insurance Order and the B'Nai Israel Reform church.  He gives his political allegiance to the democracy and is an active member of the Associated Jewish Charities, taking a helpful part in the work of and contributing liberally to the support of local charities.  He has always been a man of action rather than theory, doing his work while others have discussed ways and means, and accomplished results where others have but formulated plans.
	FRED S. HATCH, who has made steady progress toward the front rank of the legal fraternity since his admission to the bar in 1880, has practiced continuously in Columbus since, 1894.  He was born at Lyndeboro, New Hampshire, Mar. 5, 1859, a son of Charles G. and Elizabeth (Blanchard) Hatch.  The father was a successful carriage manufacturer of the old Granite state, where he died in 1901.  His widow still survives.  Their ancestors were among those who fought for American liberty in the Revolutionary war, both families being represented at the battle of Bunker Hill, while the paternal and maternal grandfather were participants as well in the battle of Lexington.  The Hatch family was likewise represented in Braddock's Indian war.      In the common schools of New Hampshire, Fred S. Hatch acquired his literary education and afterward read law in the office of Wadleigh & Wallace of Milford, New Hampshire, one of the most successful law firms in the state.  Under their direction he continued his studies from 1876 until 1880 and had the benefit of thorough and systematic training.  The senior partner was United States senator and the junior partner is now chief justice of the supreme court of that state.      Admitted to the bar in 1880, Mr. Heath began practice in New Hampshire but subsequently removed to Kansas, where he followed his profession until 1894.  In that year he came to Columbus, where he has since resided, giving his attention to general law work.  He has been very successful in this field of labor and is widely known for his fidelity to his clients.  His preparation of cases, too, is very thorough and he presents his cause in forceful, logical manner. He belongs to the local bar association and has been acting police judge a number of times.      Mr. Hatch is married and has three children, Stanley W., Margaret I. and Arline C., all at home with their parents at No. 1035 Highland street.  In religious belief Mr. Hatch is a Unitarian, while in fraternal relations he is connected with the Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, the Royal Arcanum and the Masons.  Politically he is a stalwart republican and has always taken a deep and commendable interest in politics but has never sought nor desired office for himself.  In his professional career he has been actuated by the laudable ambition and in all his work has displayed the closest conformity to a high standard of professional ethics. (Source: Centennial History of Columbus, and Franklin Co., Ohio by William Alexander Taylor - Vol. II - 1909 - Page 293)

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