H. A. Toulmin

As printed in 1902

H. A. TOULMIN.

“es wee w the patent law business which he has managed has been of a very important character.

Following his admission to the eastern courts referred to above, he was admitted to the federal courts of Ohio and of other states of the middle west and of the west, while in December, 1893, he was admitted to practice in the supreme court of the United States, upon the calling of his first case in that tribunal. He fought for a doctrine in that case which was adopted and announced by the court in its opinion and which thereafter became the leading case upon that proposition—the effect of a prior patent issued by the government upon a subsequent patent issued to the same party for subject matter embodied in such prior patent; the proper practice of the patent office under such conditions and the relation of such question to the matter of attempted perpetuity under patents. While Mr. Toulmin has been so engaged in the practice of patent law he has also become associated with some of the important industries of Springfield. He was one of the organizers and incorporators of the Victor Supply Company and is now one of its directors and the vice president. This company conducts a manufacturing and jobbing house, doing business in Springfield, Ohio.

In April, 1887, was celebrated the marriage of Mr, Toulmin and Miss Rosamond Evans, a daughter of Dr. Warwick and Mary Mason (Washington) Evans, of Washington, D. C. Unto them have been born two children, Warwick Morton, who died at the age of sixteen months; jand Harry Aubrey, Jr. The parents are members of Christ Episcopal church, of which Mr. Toulmin is serving as vestryman at the present time. He has taken an active part in charitable and benevolent work in this city and is recognized as a benefactor of different public benevolent interests. For a short time he was a director in the Young Men's Christian Association while its new building was being erected. He resigned that position for want of time to give to the duties of the office as he conceived them to be. For the past seven years he has been a member of the board of associated charities of Springfield, is an active worker on the finance committee and does all in his power to promote the object of its organization. He has also taken an active interest in the city hospital which at one time came under the care of the board of public affairs.

Mr. Toulmin has always been a Democrat in his political affiliations and both in and out of office has been an earnest worker in behalf of improvements and measures for the general good of the city. He was an advisory member and the vice president of the board öf public affairs of Springfield from 1895 until 1897 during the administration of Mayor P. P. Mast, and during that time the initial work involved in the planning and construction of Snyder Park was done and he is the author of the inscription on the memorial stone in the park. The park comprises a tract of two hundred and ten acres which at that time had recently been donated by Snyder Brothers to the city and this board had in charge the plan for preparing the park and instituting the work of improvement. As a citizen Mr. Toulmin. has ever been actuated by motives for the general good, with no desire for the honors of office, finding that his time and attention are fully occupied by his private business interests. In the department of jurisprudence which he decided to make his specialty he has achieved prominence and is no less distinguished and honored as a citizen than as a lawyer.

Rev. Charles Stroud, whose labors have been a potent element in the moral devel-'

opment of Springfield and of this section of Ohio, and whose business ability has been demonstrated in his judicious investment and careful conduct of private affairs, well deserves representation in this volume as one of the most prominent and honored men of this city. For nearly twenty years he was pastor of the German Lutheran church. He was born in the city of Reading, Pennsylvania, on the 4th of January, 1822, and is a son of Jonathan and Catherine (Eisenbeise) Stroud. His paternal grandfather was born in Bristol, England, and, having attained to man’s estate, he emigrated to America. He first settled in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, but afterward removed to Reading, that state, where he carried on agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred when he was sixty years of age. He was a member of the Society of Friends and a man whose upright, honorable life won for him the confidence and respect of all with whom he was associated. Jonathan Stroud, the father of our subject, Pennsylvania, and In his youth he was born in Reading, was reared in that state. aided his father in conducting a store and later engaged in merchandising on his own account in that city, where he died when thirty-two years of age. His wife was a native of Pennsylvania and was of German ancestry. She died in 1843. In their family were six children, of whom the subject of this review was the fourth in order of birth.

Rey. Stroud of this review was only seven year of age at the time of his father’s death. Heacquired his preliminary education in the public schools, also pursued a preparatory course in the Pennsylvania College at Gettysburg, and in 1849 came to Springfield, where he pursued his education at Wittenberg College. In 1850 he took up the study of theology and was graduated in that department with the class of 1851, after which he was licensed to preach by the Miami synod. While still a student he had begun preaching in Springfield, having been engaged as regular pastor of St. John’s church, and for twenty years he continued to occupy its pulpit. During this time the church made substantial and commendable progress and proved a potent element for good in the community. Rev. Stroud labored earnestly for the upbuilding of the cause of Christianity through this organization. He was an earnest, logical speaker and was the loved pastor of his flock. People of all denominations respected and honored him and his work in behalf of the church which proved of great public good.

While in school, Rev. Stroud had become acquainted with Miss Clara Keever, who was a student in the boarding school of Springfield, while he was here pursuing his collegiate work. She was born near Lebanon, in Warren county, Ohio, and there their marriage was celebrated on the 28th of August, 1851. The lady was a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Rogers) Keever, who were natives of Franklin county, Pennsylvania, and of Georgetown, Kentucky, respectively. Her paternal grandfather was John Keever, formerly of Pennsylvania, in which state he lived and died. John Keever the father of Mrs. Stroud, removed to Warren county, Ohio, purchased large tracts of land there, improved his farms and thereby gained a fortune. He died in

1834, while his wife passed away at the age oí seventy-two years. In their family were twelve children, Mrs. Stroud being the eleventh in order of birth. She pursued her education in the seminary on East High street and was a most estimable lady. At the time of their marriage Rev. Stroud re- ‚ceived the meagre salary of two hundred and fifty dollars per year and:it was not until nine years later that his salary was increased to five hundred dollars per year. As time passed, however, he managed ta save some money and make investments in real estate, which were so judiciously placed that his capital was largely increased. He then made other improvements and in this way acquired a handsome capital. He made two additions to the city of Springfield known as Stroud’s first and second additions. These were platted in 1875, and in 1871 his wife inherited a half interest in Mount Ayr, the county seat in Ringgold county, Iowa. In 1901 Rev. Stroud was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who departed this life on the 27th of September, of that year. Their: married life had covered the long span of fifty years and twenty-seven days and they celebrated their golden wedding only a short time prior to the death of Mrs. Stroud. The warm esteem in which she was universally held was indicated by the fact that her funeral was one of the largest ever held in Springfield. The synod took action upon her death in the following: “Resolved, that the sympathy of this body is hereby extended to our sorely bereaved Brother Stroud in ‚these hours of loneliness.” The above was a report on the president's report, which follows: “We are called upon also to record the death of the wife of our brother, the Rev. Charles Stroud, which occurred at

Springfield, Ohio, on September 27th after a protracted illness. Funeral services were held from the family residence on the 29th. They were conducted by Dr. M. J. Eirey, of the First church of which the deceased had long been a consistent member. He was assisted in the services by Drs. Ruthrauff and Breckenridge, of Wittenberg Seminary, and your president. In the death of his wife Brother Stroud lost a helpmeet, indeed, and the sincere sympathy of our synod goes out to him in his great affliction. May ‘He who gives His grace to the sorrowing’ ever be his comfort and support.”

The father of our subject was an old line Whig, and reared in the faith of that party, Rev. Stroud cast his first presidential ballot for Henry Clay. In 1856 he voted for Fremont and has since been a stalwart Republican. In early life he became a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, but afterward remitted from that organization. Soon after his marriage he joined Springfield Lodge, No. 101, F. & A. M. and has since attained to the eighteenth degree of the Scottish Rite. At the time of the Civil war he was a stanch Union man and used his aid and influence to further the cause of freedom. Rev. Stroud's fine residence at the corner of High and Shafer streets is a splendid structure standing in the midst of fine grounds and the beauties of this place do much to make the evening of life pleasant for this honored and venerable man who has traveled life’ journey for more than eighty years. Although he has retired from active connection with the ministry, his zealand interest in church work have never abated and his influence has ever been found on the side of the right the true and the beautiful. Whatever has tended to benefit man or uplift the race and to promote the cause of Christianity háve received his endorsement and support, and while he has prospered in his business undertakings he has used his wealth worthily, contributing most generously ot the support of those measures the object of which is to promote the intellectual and moral community. There is no citizen of 'Springfield who is more truly honored and respected than the Rev. Charies Stroud, and in the evening of life he can look back over the past without regret and forward to the future without fear..

As printed in A Biographical Record of Clark County Ohio (1902). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.