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From Centennial history of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio (1909), A Centennial biographical history of the city of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio .. (1901)
ORLANDO W. ALDRICH.
Orlando \Y. Aldrich, a distinguished lawyer and one of the most prominent and influential citizens of Columbus, was born in Erie county, New York, March 30, 1840, and is a son of Sidney and Lydia A. (York) Aldrich. His father was born near Framlingham, Suffolk county, England, in 181 7, and came to this country in 1832. Two years later he located in Erie county. New York, and lived in that state until 1864, when he moved to Jackson county. Michigan, making his home there until his death, which occurred in 1891. From 1833 until his death he was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and was a class-leader from 1840. He was also licensed as a local preacher, and for many years prior to his death was chosen to officiate at more weddings and funerals than any other minister in his part of the state, as he was honored and trusted by all who knew him. In business affairs he was active, zealous, hospitable and sslf-sacrificing. His estimable wife preceded him to the better world, dying in Michigan, in 1882. She was a native of Clarence. New York, and was descended on the paternal side from Asahel Franklin, of Bennington, Vermont, who was a nephew of
Benjamin Pranklin, and who fought under Stark at the battle at that place. Her grandmother, Amy Franklin York, was eleven years old at the date of that battle and saw it from her father's house. She married Stephen York, and the family had removed to Canada and resided less than half a mile from the battle-field of Lundy's Lane, which battle she isaw from her own house. Her husband was the man who gave the information to General Brown which resulted in the capture of a British spy. This becoming known to the Canadian authorities, the family had to fly from their home and their farm was confiscated. Their son Stephen, the father of Mrs. Aldrich, had been drafted into the Canadian militia, but ran away, came to the states, joined Captain Spencer's company of New York militia and was at the battle of Fort Erie.
Mr. Aldrich served for two years in the Fourteenth Xew York Volunteer Infantry from May 17, 1861, to May 23. 1863, being with the regiment in the campaign in the peninsula, also at Antietam, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. He was graduated at the Illinois Wesleyan University in 1869, received the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in 1875, the degree of Doctor of Laws from Albert University, of Belleville, Ontario, in 1877, and the degree of Doctor of Civil Law in the former institution in 1881. He was admitted to the bar of Illinois in 1870, when Vice-President Stephenson and Judge Weldon of the United States court of claims were on the committee of examiners. He was the professor of philosophy at the Illinois Wesleyan University in 1877 and 1878, and professor in the law department of that college from 1876 to 1 88 1, and in the Ohio State University from 1892 to 1897. For three years he was the editor of the Weekly Jurist, of Bloomington. Illinois, and edited the first American edition of Anson on Contracts, an English work of high authority. He also prepared the supplemental volume of Ohio Statutes from 1880 to 1885, and wrote an article on elections in volume VI, first edition of the American Encyclopedia of Law, consisting of two hundred pages of double-column matter.
As a lawyer he stands deservedly high in his profession, and in business and social circles also occupies an enviable position. He was the first president of the Worthington, Clintonville & Columbus Street Railway Company, holding that office from 1891 to 1898, and the office of vice-president since that time. He is also the president of the Ohio State Interurban Railway Association,and is now the secretary of the Columbus, Delaware & Marion Electric Railway. At the Ohio Centennial in 1888 he was honorary commissioner for Franklin county.
In his political affiliations Mr. Aldrich is a Republican. For two years he was the vice-president of the Ohio State Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, and was the president of that society for one year. He has also been the president of the Ohio Society of the War of 1812 since its organization in 1895, "cl is now the vice-president general of the national organization of that order. He has served as the commander of Beers Post. G. A. R.; was the judge advocate of the department of the Ohio; a member of the council of administration of Ohio, and a delegate to the national encampment in Cincinnati. He is also a member of the Union Veteran Legion Encampment, No. 78. For four years he was the master of the New England Lodge, No. 4, F. & A. M., of Worthington, and he is a life member of Mount Vernon Commandery, K. T., and a member of Aladdin Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.
Owning a fine fruit farm of twenty-three acres near the city, Mr. Aldrich takes an active interest in. horticulture, and has been the president of the Columbus Horticultural Society. He was the vice-president of the Ohio State Horticultural Society for four years. He also takes a great interest in art, and has the largest collection of oil and water colors by European and American artists in this section of the state, and also has a splendid collection of rare old books, taking a deep interest in archeological researches. He has one volume of Roman law published in 1482, only a few years after the first printing was done by movable type. He holds and merits a place among the representative legal practitioners and citizens of Columbus, and the story of his life, while not particularly dramatic, is notwithstanding such a one as offers a typical example of that energetic American spirit which has enabled many an individual to rise from obscurity to a position of influence and renown solely through native talent, indomitable perseverance and singleness of purpose. Mr. Aldrich is a pleasant, genial and polished gentleman, of high social qualities and very popular, having a most extensive circle of friends and acquaintances who esteem him highly for his genuine worth.
Mr. Aldrich married Miss Roselin G. Jewell, at Hudson, Illinois, in 1863. She died in 1877, leaving two children: Edgar S., who graduated at the Ohio State University in 1898 as an electrical engineer, and is now the manager of the electric-light plant at Snohomish, Washington; and Mrs. Harry E. Clum. of Columbus. In 1878 Mr. Aldrich married Mrs. Sarah A. Taylor, of Vandalia, Illinois, who was born in Coshocton county, Ohio. They have one son, W. Richard, now a student in the law department of the Ohio State University.
As printed in A Centennial biographical history of the city of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio .. (1901). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
ORLANDO W. ALDRICH.
Orlando W. Aldrich has gained distinction by his work in the courts, also by his clear exposition of the law in the class room and by his contributions to legal literature. Few lawyers have made a more lasting impression upon the bar of th state, both through legal ability of a high order, and through the individuality of a personal character which impresses itself upon a community.
A native of the Empire state, he was born in Erie county, March 30, 1840, his parents being Sidney and Lydia A. (York) Aldrich. The family is of English origin and was founded in America by the father, whose birth occurred near Farmingham, Suffolk county, England, in 1817. He arrived in the new world in 1832 when a youth of fifteen, and two years later became a resident of Erie county. New York, where he made his home until 1864. In that year he removed to Jackson county, Michigan, where he continued to reside until his death, in 1891. He was one of Nature's noblemen, his life at all times being actuated by the highest principles in all of his relations to his fellowmen. In 1833 he became a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and was ever afterward one of its most earnest and devoted workers. He served as class leader from 1840 and also was licensed as a local preacher. Such was the warm personal friendship entertained for him by all that knew him that he was called upon to officiate at more weddings and funerals than any other minister in his part of the state. He left the
Google impress of h\s individuality for good upon the community in which he lived and his memory remains as a ble?sed benediction to all who knew him, while his record of self-sacrifice, hospitality, business integrity and Christian charity constitute!! an example that may well be followed. His wife, whose death occurred in Michigan, in 1882, was born in Clarence, New York, and was a descendant in the paternal line of Asahel Franklin, of Bennington, Vermont, who was a nephew of Benjamin Franklin and one of the "Green Mountain Boy?," who fought under General Stark at the battle of Bennington. Her grandmother. Amy Franklin York, was eleven years of age when that battle occurred and witnessed it from her father's house. In early womanhood she became the wife of Stephen York, and the family removed to Canada, residing less than half a mile from the battlefield of Lundy's Lane. She also saw the engagement which there occurred and as her husband gave the information to General Brown which resulted in the capture of a British spy, which fact became known to the Canadian authorities, the family had to flee from their home, and their farm was confiscated. One son, Stephen York, father of Mrs. Aldrich, had been drafted into the Canadian militia but made his escape across the border into the United States, joined Captain Spencer's company of New York militia, and participated in the battle of Fort Erie.
[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]
A clear recognition of the value of education as a preparation for the responsibilities of life if one wishes to pass beyond the humble stations, led Mr. Aldrich to pursue a course in the Illinois Wesleyan University, from which he was graduated in 1869. He received the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in 1875, the degree of Doctor of Laws from Albert University, at Bellville, Ontario, in 1877, and the degree of Doctor of Civil Law from the former institution in 1881. Having thoroughly prepared for the practice of law he was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1871 when Vice President Stephenson and Judge Weldon, of the United States court of Claims, were the examining committee. For some years Mr. Aldrich was connected wnth educational work as profes?:or of philaophy of the Illinois Wesleyan University from 1877 to 1878, while from 1876 to 1881 he was professor in the law department in the same institution. He was called to the Ohio State University as a professor in the law department in 1892, and there continued until 1897. For three years he was the editor of the Weekly Jurist, of Bloomington, IllinoL, and edited the first American edition of Anson on Contracts, an English work of high ability. He also prepared the supplemental volume of Ohio statutes from 1880 until 1885, and wrote an article on elections in Volume six, first edition of the American Cyclopedia of Law. In his private practice his work has been distinguished by the highest
Google legal ability. His work in the court room is characterized by a calmness and dignity that indicates reserve strength. The earnestness with which he has devoted his energies to his profession, the careful regard evinced for the interests of his clients, and an assiduous and unrelaxing attention to all the details of his cases have brought him a large business and made him very successful in its conduct. He has confined his attention exclusively to civil law and his arguments have elicited warm commendation, not only from his associates at the bar, but also from the bench. He is a very able writer. His briefs always show wide research, careful thought and the best and strongest reasons which can be urged for his contentions, presented in cogent and logical form, and illustrated by a style unusually lucid and clear.
Mr. Aldrich has been married twice. In 1863 at Hudson, Illinois, he wedded Miss Roselia G. Jewel, who passed away in 1877, leaving two children: Edgar S., who was graduated as an electrical engineer from the Ohio State University in 1898 and is now the manager of the Electric Light & Power Compjiny at Moscow, Idaho; and Mrs. Harry E. Crum, of Columbus. In 1878 Mr. Aldrich was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Sarah A. Taylor, of Vandalia, Illinois, who was born in Coshocton county, Ohio. ' They have one son, W. Richard, now an attorney at law.
Mr. Aldrich owns a fine fruit farm just north of Columbus, called Maplehurst, and here he resides, his home being the center of a cultured society circle. He is greatly interested in horticulture and has studied it cksely, both from a scientific and practical standpoint, and has done much to further the interests of fruit growers in the state by his activity in the Columbus Horticultural Society, in which he has been honored with the presidency, while for four years he was vice president of the Ohio State Horticultural Society. It would be tautological in this connection to enter into any series of statements as showing Mr. Aldrich to be a man of scholarly attainments and broad intellectual culture, for this has been shadowed forth between the lines of this review. He has been a student of the great sociological, economical and political problems of the country, and is interested in various organizations which promote knowledge and foster the social relations that inculcate an interest in one's fellowmen.
Mr. Aldrich is in hearty sympathy with the purposes of the Masonic fraternity and served for four years as master of New England Lodge, No. 4, A. F. & A. M., of Worthington, while of Mount Vernon Commandery, K. T., he is a life member. He has attained the thirty-second degree in the Scottish Rite and is a member of Scioto Consistory, and is also identified with Aladdin Temple of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He has been commander of Beers Post, G. A. R., was judge advocate of the department of the Ohio, a member of the council of administration of Ohio, and a delegate to the national encampment in Cincinnati. He likewise belongs to the Union Veteran Legion Encampment, No. 78, and is interested in all that pertains to the welfare of that great host who fought for the preservation of the Union. For two years he was the vice president of the Ohio Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, and active as its president for one year. He was also president of the Society of the War of 1812, and national vice presi-
Google dent of that Mieiety. A patron of art, he owns one of the largest and mest collections of oil and water color paintings by European £ind American artists in this section of the state. Mr. Aldrich is a member of the Royal Society of Arts. His extensive library contains many rare and valuable old volumes, including one of Roman law published in 1442, only a few years after the first printing was done by movable type. Archaeological research is a matter of deep interest to him, as is all that tends to promote knowledge and aesthetic culture, contributing to the uplifting of the race. Association with him means expansion and elevation, and he stands today as one of the most honored and representative citizens of Ohio.
As printed in Centennial history of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio (1909). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1909. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.