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BIOGRAPHIES

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

A B C D E F G H IJ K L M N O PQ R S T UV W XYZ

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Mr. & Mrs. E. O. Rager
EDSON OLDS RAGER is a successful and well known agriculturist of Madison township, residing on a valuable and highly improved farm of more than one hundred acres, which has now been in possession of the family for a period of ninety-two years.  His parents were John and Nancy Chanler (Rower) Rager, the former born in Pennsylvania in 1814.  When but two years of age John Rager was brought by his parents to Madison township, Franklin county, Ohio, living with them until he grew to maturity, and when his father and mother grew old he made a home for them, thus repaying them for the care and assistance which they had given him in his younger years.  He passed away in 1885, leaving two children to mourn his loss, namely: Alice Elizabeth; and Edson Olds, of this review.
     The latter lived with his parents on the old homestead until their demise and cared for them in their declining years.  He still owns and resides upon the farm which was purchased by the grandfather on his arrival in this country ninety-two years ago.  The property comprises more than one hundred acres and in its neat and thrifty appearance indicates the supervision of a practical and progressive owner.  The attention of the passer-by is arrested by the highly improved and attractive appearance of the place, which seems to embody all the beauties of rural life in their most enticing form.  It is one of the model farming properties of Madison township and Mr. Rager is widely recognized as a substantial agriculturist and enterprising citizens of his native county.
     In 1886 occurred the marriage of Mr. Rager and Miss Ella Kramer.  They now have seven children, as follows:  Ethel May, Elijah Edson, Mamie Alice, Charles Kramer, Bryan Whittier, Dean Lester and Susie Leota.
     Politically Mr. Rager is a democrat, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the United Brethren church.  He is also identified with the Grange, and enjoys the warm regard and esteem of an extensive circle of friends throughout the county in which he has spent his entire life.
(Source: * Centennial History of Columbus, and Franklin Co., Ohio by William Alexander Taylor - Vol. II - 1909 -  Page  256)
PLEASE NOTE:   Per Email from Susan Godman Rager, the photos attached hereto are NOT Edson Olds Rager and wife.  She said it is Edson Oles Rager's father,, John Bartholomew Rager and one of his two wives.  She said she believes the wife shown is Nancy Chandler Rower who he married secondly after the death of Elizabeth Conkle, his first wife.  Edson Olds Rager is Susan's husband's grandfather.

Jacob Reab
JACOB REAB

Source: * Centennial History of Columbus, and Franklin Co., Ohio by William Alexander Taylor - Vol. II - 1909 -  Page  70

  EUGENE A. REED, JR.     Eugene A. Reed, Jr., division superintendent of the Central Union Telephone Company, early learned the valuable lesson of life that efficient service is a sure foundation upon which to build promotion and business advancement, and, throughout his entire career, by his faithfulness and capability, he has worked his way upward.  A native of Boston, Massachusetts, he was born Feb. 9, 1871, a son of Eugene A. and Anna J. (Mathews) Reed, who were also natives of Massachusetts, the mother born in Boston, both of whom are still living, the father being a government employe having been in the service half a century.
     Eugene A. Reed, Jr. had the benefit of instruction in the public schools of his native city and the Boston Latin School, after which he entered Harvard University and was graduated within its classic walls with the Bachelor of Arts degree in 1892.  He also spent one year as a student in Harvard Law School and then entered the service of the American Telephone & Telegraph Company at Boston, in March, 1894, being in charge of their long distance3 operating station in that city.  He was promoted through successive positions as he demonstrated his ability to handle the work entrusted to him and in 1899 was transferred to the New York office of the company, where he remained until 1903.  In that year he left the employ of the American Telephone & Telegraph Company and came to Columbus in the service of the Central Union Telephone Company ad division superintendent, in which position he has since continued, being the general charge of the company's business in this division with the supervision over all lines in Ohio except Cuyahoga, Hamilton, Clarmont and Butler counties and a few counties on the eastern border of the state.  His entire business experience has been in this department of activity, wherein his efficiency has constantly increased as his experience extended, his present position being one of large responsibility.
     On the 30th of November, 1897, Mr. Reed was married to Miss Addie M. Phillips of Boston.  He is a member of the Columbus and the Ohio Clubs and of the Harvard Club of Central Ohio.  Friends find him a man of social genial nature in whom learning and culture have vied in making an entertaining and interesting gentleman.
Source: * Centennial History of Columbus, and Franklin Co., Ohio by William Alexander Taylor - Vol. II - 1909 -  Page 283
  MRS. EMULA ROGERS.  The subject of this sketch, Mrs. Emula Rogers, was born in Connecticut, November 22, 1799.  Her father and mother were Abner and Mercy Gillett Clapp.  When about six years of age, her parents removed to Martinsburg, Lewis county, New York, where she passed her early life, and where she obtained a good education for that early day.  She was married, October 12, 1823, to Asa Moore Rogers, by whom she raised three children - Mary, Lester Asa, and Julia E.  Her husband died January 2, 1831, and, on November 16, 1835, she was again married.  Her choice fell on Apollos Rogers, a brother of her former husband.  By him she had two children - twins - to whom they gave the names of Eli and Ela.  Mr. Rogers, her husband, had been married previously, and had several children by his first wife.  In 1836, with their family, they emigrated to Ohio, arriving in Norwich township, September 29th, of that year.  Mr. Rogers bought a farm near the Scioto River, and well toward the southern line of the township, where two of his sons - Marcellus and Milton  Rogers - now live.  Here he died, September 17, 1840.  Mrs. Emula Rogers, his wife, survived him, and died February 9, 1871, aged seventy-one years.
     Of her children, Lester A. removed to Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he now lives.  Julia E., is living single in California.  Mary married John Howard, July 4, 1850, and lives in Norwich township.  Their home is about eight miles from Columbus, on the river road.
     Mrs. Emula Rogers joined the Methodist Episcopal church at Martinsburg, New York, when about sixteen years of age, and continued close connection with it to the time of her death.  Both of her husbands belonged to the same church.  After the death of her second husband, she kept her family together until all but one were married,  when she gave up housekeeping, and spent the remainder of her days with her daughter, Mrs. John Howard, in whose home she quietly fell asleep, well prepared, by a consistent Christian life, for the call at the last great day.
Source: * Centennial History of Columbus, and Franklin Co., Ohio by William Alexander Taylor - Vol. II - 1909 - Page 496

James Ross
JAMES ROSS.     James Ross, now engaged in the real-estate business in Columbus, has figured in connection with political service in Franklin county, filling the office of sheriff for two terms.  He is a pronounced democrat, unswerving in his loyalty to the party whose principles, in his opinion, are best calculated to conserve the publc good.
     Mr. Ross was born in Reynoldsburg, Truro township, Franklin county, Ohio, July 10, 1862, a son of Frederick and Christina (Grossman) Ross, both of whom were natives of Germany and came to America in 1849.  Landing at New York, they proceeded westward to Franklin county, Ohio, and settled on the place now known as the Sullivan farm, west of Columbus.  There Mrs. Ross died in 1862 soon after the birth of her son James, and the father passed away in 1866, so that James Ross was left an orphan when little more than four years of age.  However, he found a home with relatives, with whom he continued until he felt that his age and experience justified him in starting out in life on his own account.  That he had not overestimated his powers has been clearly demonstrated as time has passed by, for, depending upon his own resources, he provided for his support, scorning no occupation that would yield him on honest living.  He was employed at farm work and other manual labor as opportunity offered and in the meantime managed to acquire a good English education.  After attending the district schools he later became a high school student in Columbus and subsequently pursued a commercial course in Bryant & Stratton Business College of this city.  He then accepted a clerkship in a store but left that position to enter upon official duties as deputy under John J. Joye, clerk of the court of Franklin county at Columbus.  In 1888 he was appointed deputy sheriff under Brice W. Custer and occupied the position for four years, discharging his duties so satisfactorily that his course was endorsed by public approval in his election to the office of sheriff in the fall of 1891.  On the 1st of January following he entered upon the duties of the position and that he was faithful fearless in their discharge is indicated in the fact that he was reelected in 1893, serving altogether for a period of four years.  He has always been recognized as one of the stalwart democrats of this part of the state and in 1897 he took a very active part in the campaign in support of Horace L. Chapman, then candidate for governor of Ohio.  He was a member of the democratic state executive committee and on other occasions has also done effective public work for his party.  Whatever his hand has found to do he has done without parley or equivocation.  This characteristic has been manifest in his life work from his boyhood days to the present time and the same spirit of determination has been displayed in his political work and official service.  He has also served as chairman of the democratic county executive committee and otherwise has done much effective political work.
     Mr. Ross retired from the office of sheriff as he had entered it - with the confidence and good will of all concerned - and has since given his attention to real-estate operations, handling mostly city property.  In this he has been very successful, dividing his time between his real-estate business and his public service for county and state.  Other business affairs have likewise claimed his attention.  At the present time he is president of the Ruggles Gale Company on South High street, which is among the largest blank book and cognate lines in the Ohio valley.
     In his fraternal relations Mr. Ross is an Elk and a Knight of Pythias and stands high in both these orders.  The fact that he is one of the chief democratic leaders both in the local and state organizations does not interfere with his business transactions nor weaken the friendship which is felt for him by men of variant political opinions.  On the contrary he numbers many of his warmest friends among the followers of the opposition, for his genuine personal worth and business enterprise recommend him to the high regard and good will of all who know him.
Source: * Centennial History of Columbus, and Franklin Co., Ohio by William Alexander Taylor - Vol. II - 1909 - Page 742
 

GEORGE L. RUGGLES who is now living retired in Columbus, was for many years successfully connected with the business interests of this city. His birth occurred in Boylston. Massachusetts, on the 10th of November, 1843, his parents being Brigham and Charlotte (Maynard) Ruggles. The family is of English descent and the first representative of the name to come to America located near Boston, Massachusetts, about 1637. Brigham Ruggles, the father of our subject, who was born in Massachusetts in 1784, was connected with agricultural pursuits throughout his active business career. At one time, having determined to establish his home in the west, he sold his interests in the old Bay state but was persuaded not to make the removal and therefore .spent his remaining years in Massachusetts, passing away at the age of seventy-eight years. His wife, whose natal day was February 21, 1800. was called to her final rest in October 1888. Unto this worthy couple were born four sons. of whom George L., is now the only survivor.
     The last named was reared on the home farm and acquired a. common-school education. In the spring of 1863 be began farming for his father but in the fall of the same year entered school. remaining as a student until June, 1864. Subsequently he was employed on a farm for nine months, driving an ox-team and hauling timber during the winter of 1864-5. The 9th of April. 1865. witnessed his arrival in Springfield, Ohio, and, having a little capital. he began selling a book entitled "Chronicles of the Rebellion." He net with fair success in this undertaking but was taken sick with scarlet fever before he could deliver the volumes and on recovering from his illness found it rather difficult to dispose of them. He also sold a lithograph of the Emancipation Proclamation. Afterward he again gave his attention to farming for one month and then started to walk to Springfield. Ohio, eight miles away. After convalescing from a two months' illness he taught school for one month. Resigning his position as a teacher, he went to work for
George W. Hastings, the editor of the Springfield Republic, as a subscription solicitor and during his connection with the paper, from December, 1865, to April, 1866, he increased the circulation by three thousand. Mr. Hastings then purchased a book bindery and in June, 1866, sent Mr. Ruggles on the road to sell blankbooks and stationery-such as is used in county and state offices. Our subject was thus engaged until 1869 and on the 20th of January of that year came to Columbus, accepting a. position with Siebert & Lilley, who were also manufacturers of blank books and stationery. He remained with that company until their plant was destroyed by fire in 1892, and in March of that year he established the Ruggles Gale Company, of which he continuously served as president until July, 1906, when he sold out and retired from active bus business life. For about fifteen years he was thus at the head of an important commercial enterprise of Columbus and is widely recognized as a most substantial. public-spirited and enterprising citizen. Brooking no obstacles that honest effort could overcome, he steadily worked his way upward until, leaving the ranks of the many. he stood among the successful few. He was one of the organizers of the South Side Business & Improvement Association, served as its president for two years. and was also a director of the Columbus Board of Trade for two years. 
    
Mr. Ruggles has been married twice. On the 1st of February, 1871. he wedded Miss Emma S. Buck; a native of Portsmouth, Ohio. who passed away in June, 1875.  By this union there were born two children: Ferdinand A., who is a clerk in the department of construction and repair at the navy yard in Manilla.; and Elmer W., who is deceased. On the 8th of September, 1879, Mr. Ruggles was again married. his second union being with Mary A. Platt, who was born in Columbus, January 16, 1848, her parents being Calvin A. and Lucy (Lynch) Platt, who were natives of Vermont and pioneer settlers of this city.  Unto Mr. and Mrs. Platt were born nine children, three of who still survive, as follows: Mrs. Laura. Shilling, a resident of Springfield, Ohio; Mrs. Sarah Harker, living in Cincinnati, Ohio: and Mrs. Ruggles. Unto Mr. Ruggles and his second wife have been born three children: Louise, the wife of Dr. Walter E. Newcome, of Cleveland, by whom she has one son, Morse R.; Calvin B., of Seattle, Washington, and George M., who died in infancy.    
     In his political views
Mr. Ruggles is a stanch republican. while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the First Congregational church. with which his wife is also identified. He has a small table which has been in possession of the family since 1700 its top being inlaid with a silver plate on which are inscribed the names of its owners and the date of their birth; as follows: Rev. Benjamin Ruggles, 1700; Benjamin Ruggles, Jr. 1726; Lemuel Ruggles. 1750; Grigham Ruggles, 1784. Subsequently it fell to the lot of a brother of our subject, Charles B. Ruggles, who died childless and thus the heirloom came into possession of George L. Ruggles, who prizes it very highly. Both he and his wife are widely and favorably known throughout the city, having won the unqualified confidence and regard of all with who they have come in contact throughout the long period of their residence here.
(Source: Centennial History of Columbus, and Franklin Co., Ohio by William Alexander Taylor - Vol. II - 1909 - Page 33)

 
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