1598 Pembroke Avenue

1598 Pembroke Avenue
Smith House

Lot 35 D.D. Bolenbaugh as Trustee Amended Subdivision

Bolenbaugh sold this lot to the Columbus Realty Company in 1902. Elmer Smith purchased the lot from them on June 7, 1904 for $275. Smith built this house in 1904.

Elmer Ellsworth Smith was born November 5, 1863 in Wales, Gallia County, Ohio, son of William and Ann(a) Armstrong-Neely Smith. He married Mary W. Gray in Gallia County on January 15, 1891. Mary was born September 18, 1869 in Lick, Jackson County, Ohio, daughter of Benoni and Huldah Kimble Persons Gray. They had four children: Lowell Gray (October 18, 1891 - January 24, 1974), Beatrice Gray (July 1, 1894 - November 8, 1971), Floyd Ellsworth (October 12, 1897 - June 19, 1962), and William Forrest (January 12, 1906 - August 12, 1977).

In the 1901 City Directory, Elmer E. Smith is listed as living at the nortwest corner of Taylor and Leonard Avenues, his occupation is huckster.

The Smiths are listed in the City Directories from 1905 to 1915 at this address. In the 1910 Census, Elmer's occupation is carpenter and house builder.

In 1924, Lowell was married to Ruth. He was chief estimator for the Ralston Steel Car Company and lived in the house next door to this one, 1610 Pembroke Avenue.

"Elmer Ellsworth Smith, 83, died Sunday at the home of his daughter Mrs. Beatrice Piper, 1768 Summit St. A native of Gallia County, he had lived in Columbus three years. He was a member of the Vinton, Ohio Methodist Church and the Knights of Pythias. Also surviving are his wife, Mary G. Smith, three sons Lowell G. and William F. Smith, Columbus, and Floyd E. Smith, Detroit." Columbus Evening Dispatch, March 23, 1947

Elmer died in Columbus on March 23, 1947. He is buried at Union Cemetery.

The Smiths sold this house on April 30, 1915 to the Burnsides of Gallia County, Ohio.

Oliver Denton Burnside was born September 16, 1856 in Hardin County, Ohio, son of James R. and Lorahannah Fishpaugh Burnside. He married Mary Ione Ingmire March 7, 1895 in Delaware County, Ohio. Ione was born December 25, 1859 in Ohio, daughter of Ferdines and Lavinia Tuthill Ingmire. They had a daughter, Helen Pauline (1897).

In 1910 the Burnsides lived in Delaware, Ohio. Oliver was a farmer. Oliver is listed in the 1912 Columbus City Directory at 228 S. Wheatland Avenue, working as a carpenter. In the 1916 City Directory the Burnsides are living at 1598 Pembroke Avenue, Oliver is still working as a carpenter. In 1919 they lived at 1099 Cleveland Avenue.

In 1930, Ione and Pauline lived in Bainbridge, Ohio.

Oliver died September 4, 1919 in Columbus. He is buried at Greenlawn Cemetery. Ione died September 20, 1930 in Bainbridge, Ohio and is buried there.

The Burnsides sold the house to Nimrod B. Allen on July 31, 1916. Allen also assumed a mortgage of $1,500 on the home.

Nimrod Booker Allen was born October 12, 1886 in Girard, Alabama, son of George Wesley and Phoebe Harvey Allen. He married Clara Elberta Wilson. Clara was born about 1893 in Georgia. They had a daughter, Phoebe J. (1925).

A September 7, 2012 Columbus Dispatch article about Allen said, He was the..."son of a minister...studied at Wilberforce and Yale before deciding to become a social worker."

In 1917-1918 Allen was Branch Secretary of the YMCA and lived in this house. In 1919 he was Executive Secretary of the YMCA.

In 1923 he was Executive Secretary of the Columbus Urban League and the Allens lived at 239 Lexington Avenue. The 1930 Census says Nimrod was Social Secretary for the Urban League. The City Directory of that year says he was President and Manager of the Columbus Independent Mortgage Company. In 1929 and 1931 he is listed as Executive Secretary of the Urban League. The Allens lived at 236 Lexington Avenue until buying the house on East Long Street.

Allen is in the City of Columbus Hall of Fame, and on that website it says, "Throughout his life, Allen played a major role in creating favorable atmosphere for better interracial understanding in Columbus and the nation.

"In 1936, he founded the Frontiers of America, Incorporated, no Frontiers, International, which at that time was the only service organization working primarily to unearth, develop and mobilize Negro leadership in the United States and South America.

"Allen was a man with vision and wisdom and had the far-sighted ability to organize the Columbus Urban League in 1917. During his thirty-three years as Executive Secretary for the League many positive changed occurred, including the virtually non-existent opportunities for Negroes in labor. He was also the first to coordinate the press, radio, television, police department and citizens to work together in the interest of promoting interracial harmony."

The Allens lived here until 1919 when they moved to 236 Lexington Avenue. The Allens moved back to Woodland Park in November 1955, purchasing 1715 East Long Street.

Clara died January 22, 1966. Nimrod died in Columbus on December 15, 1977.

The Allens rented the house to pipefitter Elmo Tracy in 1920.

On September 20, 1920, Katherine Nesser bought the house from the Allens and held it as a rental property.

From 1922 to 1923 the Smiths lived here. Rondo Smith was born in 1896 in Bradford, Ohio, son of Jacob S. and Emma Hale Smith. He married Mable E. Mertz in Franklin County on August 27, 1919. Mable was born March 21,1898 in Columbus, daughter of Charles O. and Harriet Kiester Mertz. Smith was a railroad fireman. Smith died October 10, 1975.

In 1924 the Weavers lived here. Adam Clark Weaver was born January 2, 1896 in Bluff City, Tennessee, son of David H. and Etta Boling Weaver. He married Loretta M. "Retta" Hedrick in Franklin County on August 21, 1915. Retta was born January 26, 1898 in Columbus, daughter of Dennis E. and Lulu M. Smith Hedrick. Weaver was a machinist in the railroad shops. Clark died March 19, 1987 in New Port Richey, Florida.

On October 23, 1924, the Calloways entered into an agreement to purchase the house from Katherine Nesser.
The Calloways lived here from 1924 until 1951. Katharine Nesser died on May 20, 1931 and on April 29, 1936 the Calloways were deeded the house from the administrator of Katherine's estate, paying a balance of $1,895.86.

Lott Walter Calloway was born September 22, 1886 in Stokes, North Carolina (or Roanoke, Virginia), son of Tyler and Ida Shepard Calloway. He married Minnie May Patterson in Franklin County on June 19, 1915. Minnie was born April 29, 1885 in Columbus, daughter of Charles and Eliza Rosser Patterson. They had four children: Clarence Charles "Jack" (1916 - 1988), Ruth Elizabeth (March 6, 1917 - December 26, 1922), Harry (March 2, 1918 - February 15, 1932) and Ethel M. (1919). Calloway was a laborer on the steam railroad. Lott died September 22, 1967.

In 1927 the Greens lived here with the Calloways. Robert Green was born about 1899 in South Carolina. He married Claudia Brown about 1921. Claudia was born April 28, 1902 in Charleston, South Carolina, daughter of William and Iva Bunden Brown. Green was a laborer on the steam railroad. In 1930 the Greens lived at 247 Burt Street. Claudia died after a miscarriage on August 8, 1930.

The Calloways sold this house to the Masons on October 3, 1951. The Calloways, daughter Ethel and son-in-law, Joseph A. Jennings purchased 1509 Menlo Place from the Stallmans on October 6, 1951.

Dr. Harrison Orville Mason was born in March 4, 1889 in Spartanburg/Lynn, Indiana, son of John O. and Aurie Mason. He married Nelle Fay Epps about 1924. Nelle was born August 24, 1895 in Ohio, daughter of John F. and Sarah L. Epps. The Masons lived at 40 North 20th Street. Dr. Mason was "a prominent Negro Theologian, minister and educator in various Ohio cities." He was also a doctor of optometry. In 1944 Mason was elected Executive Secretary of the Board of the Ohio Baptist General Association. Harrison died March 22, 1966.

The Masons probably had a land contract on the property with Glenna and Jane Davis, who lived there starting about 1952. On January 10, 1963 the Masons transferred the property to Jane Davis.

Russell Washington Davis was born February 8, 1893 in Maryland (Washington D.C.), son of George and Emma Davis. He married Glenna Moss in Newport, Kentucky on November 22, 1916. Glenna was born about 1899 in Richwood, Ohio, daughter of James and Ora Bell Evans Moss. They had six children: Jean (October 22, 1919 - January 19, 1955), Jane Ernestine (July 25, 1921 - November 15, 2007), Russell W., Jr. (February 21, 1925 - June 15, 1943), Howard (1931), Rannella (1934), and Ronald (1936). Russell was a truck driver and in 1930 he worked for a transfer (moving) company. The Davises separated before 1940. In 1940 Glenna and the children lived at 1187 Mt. Vernon Avenue until she and Jane moved here. In 1942, Russell is living at 467 North Monroe Avenue and working at Ohio State University.

Glenna died December 5, 1957, she is buried at Greenlawn Cemetery. Jane died November 15, 2007.

On February 2, 1983, Ronald D. Cherry, administrator of the estate of Jane Davis, sold the house to Frank W. and Margaret C. Coles.

Frank Willis Coles, Jr. was born January 8, 1945, son of Frank Willis and Rosalie Owens Coles. He married Margaret A. Williams in Franklin County on July 26, 1970. Margaret was born October 3,1941.

In 1979, Frank lived at 1479 Hawthorne Avenue and Margaret at 1498 Mt. Vernon Avenue. The Coles divorced on May 17, 2000.

The house was sold at Sheriff's Sale on July 24, 2009 for $30,000 to satisfy a debt of $59,605.72.

1598 Pembroke Avenue, March 2010

Photo of members of the Smith family, possibly on the front porch of 1598 Pembroke Avenue. Back row from left: Flora Smith, Emma Smith, Sara (Smith) Morgan Middle row: Charles Smith, William Smith, John Morgan Front row: Clair Smith and Lowell Smith