1692 Clifton Avenue

1692 Clifton Avenue
Robinson House

Lot 18 and part of 17 Clifton Park Addition

The Robinsons purchased all the lots on this side of Clifton in 1891. This Queen Anne style frame Victorian was built for them about 1895.

Joseph Robinson was born December 13, 1852 in Antwerp, New York, son of William and Ellen Welch Robinson. He married Eva Rosatia Barber in Black Hawk County, Iowa on January 20, 1881. Eva was born November 15, 1853 in Lee, Oneida County, New York, daughter of Lorenzo and Charlotte D. Dewey. They had five children: Katharine (November 1881), Bessie (November 11, 1885 - November 20, 1886), Louise F. (August 1888), Joseph (September 23, 1893 - August 12, 1895), and Alice (July 2, 1894 - April 17, 1885).

The Robinsons lived in Cedar Falls, Iowa before 1880. Joseph became the Superintendent of the Scioto Valley Railroad on May 15, 1880. In 1890 he was General Superintendent of the Scioto Valley Division of the Norfolk & Western Railroad.

In 1894 the Robinsons lived at 48 North Monroe Avenue. They moved to this house in 1895. At that time this house did not have a number. The City Directory lists the address as the north side of Clifton Avenue, first house east of Woodland Avenue. In 1900 the Robinsons lived at the Great Southern Hotel. Joseph became President of the Central Indiana Railway, organized on April 6, 1903, and the family moved to Anderson, Indiana.

Joseph died April 2, 1915. Eva died June 17, 1941. They are buried at Greenwood Cemetery in Cedar Falls,Iowa.

The Robinsons sold the house to Louis F. Kiesewetter on April 16, 1898 for $6,000.

Louis Frank Kiesewetter was born June 10, 1871 in Columbus, son of Emil and Frances Orthafer Kiesewetter. He married Elizabeth Harriet O'Harra in Franklin County on April 20, 1897. Elizabeth was born April 20, 1873 in Columbus, daughter of Wesley and Mary Iowa McCormick O'Harra. They had a daughter, Ann Elizabeth (June 1, 1904).

Elizabeth's grandfather was Francis Asbury McCormick, reportedly the first white male born in Columbus, at a log house on the southeast corner of South High and Chapel Streets on January 22, 1814.

Louis was a 1891 graduate of the Ohio State University in civil engineering. He then got his B.A. and M.A. degrees at Harvard. It was reported in 1916 that Louis had been with the Ohio National Bank since the day it opened on August 1, 1888 and the only position he had not held in the bank was that of President, that being held by his father. In 1898 he was Assistant Cashier and in 1901 he was Cashier. In September 1916 he resigned his position as Vice President of the Ohio National Bank to accept the position of Vice President of the Bank of New York.

The Kiesewetters lived here for about a year before moving to 335 East Broad Street and then in 1901 to 1558 East Long Street. In 1910 the Kiesewetters moved to 241 Woodland Avenue.

New York Tribune, September 7, 1922, "Banker Purchases Home In East 80th Street - Louis F. Kiesewetter Acquires House Between Madison and Park Avenues - Louis F. Kiesewetter, vice-president of the Bank of New York, purchased for his residence the four-story and basement dwelling at 63 East Eightieth Street, between Madison and Park Avenues. The property was formerly owned by E. A, Stillman, who was reported to have given it in part payment in July to the estate of Mary V. Bowman for a $90,000 estate at Locust Valley. Mr. Kiesewetter at present resides at 11 East Seventy-fifth Street."

The Kiesewetters were divorced August 12, 1925. Louis married Mary Jane Hobby on July 11, 1927 in Center Conway, New Hampshire. Louis was still Vice President of the Bank of New York in 1934. Elizabeth lived in Manhattan with their daughter Ann, who married Pliny Leroy "Lee" Harwood on January 28, 1931.

Louis died November 18, 1943. He is buried at Greenlawn Cemetery.

The Kiesewetters sold the house to the Smiths for $4,000 on January 25, 1900.

Walstein Goodale Smith was born about March 1866 in Ohio, son of John H. and Ella A. Stewart Smith. He married Alice Z. Markley in Hamilton County, Ohio on May 29, 1896. Alice was born about December 8, 1875 in Cincinnati, Ohio, daughter of A.J. and Nancy Dickey Markley. They had two children, Helen M. (October 1899) and Walstein D. (December 1901). They had children Helen M. (October 1899) and Walstein D. (December 1901).

Prior to moving to this house, the Smiths lived at 382 Oak Street. In 1900 and 1901, Smith was a teller at the Hayden-Clinton National Bank. In 1900 they employed a live-in African-American housekeeper, Mary J. Howell and in 1901 a live-in domestic named Lucy Lemley. The Smiths moved from this house to Worthington, where they lived for about a year before moving west to Washington state and in 1908 to Alaska.

Walstein was Treasurer of the Territory of Alaska from 1910 to 1935.

This recollection of the Smiths by their granddaughter Merion Stampe Frolich was published on the Juneau Public Libraries website, "My grandfather, W.D. (sic) Smith, was born in Ohio, maybe near Columbus, on a subsistence farm, which he hated. He had a cousin, George Coulton, who took him into the Cleveland Bank and Trust where he was trained in accounting and finance. When he was older, he married Alice Markley from Kentucky and with the two children, moved first to Bellingham, Washington, to a bank and later to Anacortes, Washington. Then, in 1908, he was asked to establish a bank in Katalla, Alaska - a mining camp and Indian village. The camp had a safe in the family home and conditions were to say the least, rough. The miners would come down once a week and entrust their pay to my grandfather with the stipulation that he would give them no money Saturday night while they were out drinking. Later, in the evening, when one or two or more would come around asking for their pay, he would refuse, causing a great deal of commotion. Mother said that they had to lie on the floor sometimes to get out of the way of bullets that would whiz through the windows. The next day miners would come back to collect money to send south to their families, all apologetic.

Life in Katalla wasn’t all horrible it seems, as mother had fond memories of friends made there, including the author Barrett Willoughby, who was there as a young woman. In 1910, when Alaska was organized as U.S. Territory with a Territorial government, through the Organic Act passed by the U.S. Congress, my grandfather moved to Juneau and ran for the office of Territorial Treasurer. He set up their financial system and served as Treasurer for approximately 25 years, until Franklin Roosevelt became president and Oscar Olson replaced him. Then, until he retired, he worked at the First National Bank in Juneau and died in Juneau in 1952.

My mother, Helen Smith Cass Scudder, worked for the U.S. Forest Service in Juneau as head of personnel for the Territory and later the State. She retired with her husband, Henry Clay Scudder, in the early 1960’s and moved to Santa Barbara, California. She died near me in Fairfield, Connecticut, in December 1991.

I graduated from Juneau High School in 1943; my brother John one year later. I left to go to UCLA, worked in New York and visit Juneau for high school reunions periodically. My husband, Henrik, I met in San Francisco. Our daughter, Benedicte Stampe Frolich McGrath was born in Juneau and our other daughter, Catrin Stampe Frolich was born in Copenhagen when we were living there. We traveled extensively as my husband was an engineer who we accompanied on his jobs to Korea, Japan, New York and back to Denmark, finally settling in Connecticut where Henrik died in 1983."

Alice died November 15, 1937. Walstein died in 1952.

The Smiths sold the house on April 15, 1904 to the Hoovers for $6,500.

Frank Elam Hoover was born April 16, 1872 in Liberty Township, Licking County, Ohio, son of Newton and Sarah Woodward Hoover. He married Aubrey V. Derthick in Licking County, Ohio on June 18, 1895. Aubrey was born December 6, 1874 in Johnstown, Ohio, daughter of Clinton and Emma Dyer. They had children Dorris Aubrey (May 29, 1896 - December 15, 1919) and Katharine (June 13, 1902 - August 2, 1949).

The Hoovers lived in Croton and Newark, Ohio before coming to Columbus. Frank was a dry goods merchant at 1271 East Long Street in 1901 and in 1905, a grocer at 350 East Rich Street. In 1906 he went into the real estate and insurance business (Hoover & Clarke). He was later a furniture dealer.

In 1906 the Hoovers employed a live in domestic, the widowed Lydia A. Lockwood. Aubrey's mother, Emma lived with them at the house through 1916. Emma was born December 27, 1847 in Berkshire, Delaware County, Ohio and died in Anderson, Indiana on February 8, 1917.

Dorris was a music teacher at the house and later when she lived with her mother, at 1652 Summit Street.

The Hoovers divorced in 1916.

Aubrey died March 10, 1923. Frank died February 9, 1929. They are buried at Green Hill Cemetery in Johnstown, Ohio.

The Hoovers sold the house on July 5, 1916 to the widowed Laura J. Rathbun. She rented the house to Sidney McManigal.

Sidney Allen McManigal was born August 27, 1857 in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, son of Robert and Elizabeth Bell McManigal. He married Ximena "Minnie" Pratt in Franklin County on January 30, 1890. Ximena was born September 28, 1866 in Greenup, Kentucky, daughter of John and Xemina Marion Taylor Pratt. They had a son, Allen Pratt (September 19, 1896 - March 28, 1950).

In 1883 and 1884, Sidney was a bookkeeper for the Columbus & Hocking Coal and Iron Company. He boarded at 204 East Town Street. In 1887 he lived at 30 Keifer Avenue. In 1905, Sidney was President of the Maple Hill Coal Company, President of the Ximena Home Building Company, President of the Perry Home Building Company, President of the Keeokee Oil Company, and President of the White Ash Coal Company.

McManigal called 394 East Town Street home for a number of years, from about 1890. The McManigals lived at 942 Franklin Avenue in 1901. The Town Street house was occupied by Governor Harmon in 1908. Sidney then moved to a suite at the Lincoln Hotel before returning to 394 East Town Street by 1914. Sidney's wife Ximena had died June 28, 1907. In 1909 Sidney was President of the W.J. Hamilton Coal Company. In 1919, Sidney was President of Maple Hill Coal and President of the McManigal Grateless Furniture Company.

In 1917, McManigal employed live-in domestic Mrs. Lettie Riddle.

Allen Pratt McManigal married Elizabeth Helen "Betty" Hoffmann, daughter of Irving and May Carter Hoffmann. They had three children.

Allen McManigal was a mining engineer and later an professor of engineering drawing at the Ohio State University. He was the ringer of the Orton Hall chimes at Ohio State University from about 1925 until his death. He played them himself or supervised music students who did so. In the 1930s the family lived at 2164 Tuller Road.

In 1950, Allen committed suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning from an automobile in the garage of his home.

The Logan (Ohio) Daily News, March 30, 1950, "Last Rites Friday For Allen McManigal - Dr. Roy A. Burkhart will conduct a commemoration service in the First Community Church. Columbus, Friday morning for Allen T. McManigal, 53 whose death was reported on Tuesday. He had been a professor in the department of engineering drawing at Ohio State University for 28 years, and on the campus and throughout the city had been recognized for his playing of the chimes in Orton Hall for 25 years. The son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Allen McManigal, he was born in Columbus and was a graduate of Ohio State in 1923. He and his wife. Betty McManigal were deeply interested in all the musical affairs of the city, promoting the appearance of artists annually. She had served as church organist and has recently had a music shop in North Columbus. His father was the youngest son of a large family that came into the Hocking Valley from Pennsylvania and here he become interested in the coal industry becoming finally a figure in the financial world for the large coal barges he leased for shipment to the upper regions of the Great Lakes. Two older brothers, Robert D. and Dr. B. C. McManigal were Logan residents, and two daughters of the latter. Miss Jessie M. McManigal and Mrs. John Wellman, are Professor McManigal's first cousins. His immediate survivors are his widow, a daughter Mrs. Richard Bell of Columbus, and two sons, Douglas McManigal of Los Angeles, Calif., and Rodney of New York City."

Sidney's widowed sister, Agnes Isaminger Cooper and his niece, Mary F. Isaminger lived with him at 1692 Clifton Avenue. He also employed a live in domestic, Bertha Hayden for a number of years.

In 1925, Mary purchased the house. In 1926 the family employed two live-in servants, nurse, Jessie Trotman and chauffeur, Thomas Burk. About 1927, Sidney moved in with his son at 2164 Tuller Road and Mary sold the house. Mary moved to Fairmont, Colorado before 1930 to live with her sister, Elizabeth Howe. In 1940 Mary and Elizabeth lived in Denver. Mary died August 5, 1957 and is buried at Arvada Cemetery, Arvada, Colorado.

Sidney died August 27, 1935. The McManigals are buried at Greenlawn Cemetery.

Laura sold this house to Mary Isaminger on June 6, 1925 assuming a balance due on a mortgage originally for $5,000. Laura bought it back from Mary on April 5, 1927, assuming a mortgage of $7,000 at 6.5% interest. A week later on April 11, Laura sold the house to Nellie Peters Dyer.

Joseph Hooker Dyer was born July 27, 1865 in (Georgesville,) Ohio, son of William and Millia Jane Gardner. He married Nellie M. Peters in Franklin County on June 19, 1894. Nellie was born June 2, 1874 in Pleasant Township, Franklin County, Ohio, daughter of David and Rebecca Henderson Peters. They had four children: Julia H. (1897), Millia Marguerite (May 1900), Rebekah (December 22, 1902 - March 24, 1914), and David W. (1911).

In 1894, Joseph was Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney, a position he held for three years. Dyer was known for having an electric car in 1911. The Dyers lived at 1156 Neil Avenue, but by 1920 were living at 84 Fifteenth Avenue. Dyer was a general practice attorney. In 1930 the Dyers employed a live in servant,19-year-old Norma M. Ater.

Joseph died April 6, 1933 in Miami Beach, Florida. Nellie died in Columbus in 1947. The Dyers are interred at the Greenlawn Cemetery Mausoleum. (Nellie's name does appear on a Peters family monument at Ebenezer Cemetery in Grove City.)

The Dyers sold the house to the Bradfords on July 22, 1930.

Wilson E. Bradford was born August 11, 1897 in Columbus, son of Emery H. and Jessie Maria Cockburn Bradford. He married Ellen Wilson Outhwaite in Franklin County on September 29, 1923. Ellen was born August 26, 1899 in Columbus, daughter of Singleton P. and Margaret Gardner Outhwaite. They had a two children: Margaret Cockburn (1926), Wilson Emery, Jr. (September 16, 1930 - March 23, 2000).

Wilson's 1920 joint thesis at Ohio State University was "Development of the Union Station and Plaza for Columbus, Ohio" which was an extensive proposed plan for a hypothetical new Union Station.

The Bradfords lived here through at least 1942. They employed a live-in maid most of the time. In 1932 it was Sarah Abbott; 1936, Anna Arrington; 1938, Virginia M, Waibel. In 1939, Katherine Strawser was their live-in housekeeper.

In 1939, Wilson was an architect with W.P. Zinn and Company.

In 1948 the Bradfords moved to 2370 Brentwood Road in Bexley.

Ellen died March 7, 1948. Wilson died January 28, 1964. The Bradfords are buried at Greenlawn Cemetery.

The Bradfords sold the house on July 5, 1944 to Maxine A. Bradshaw.

Charles Avery Bradshaw, Jr. was born about 1908 in Ohio
He married Maxine Ruth Althoff about 1932. Maxine was born December 20, 1909 in Columbus, daughter of Ernest Earl and Ada Mabel Weed Althoff. They had three sons: Charles Avery, III (April 13, 1933 - May 23, 1992), Theodore (1935), and Thomas Lee (March 16, 1938 - May 27, 1994).

In 1932, Charles lived at 152 12th Avenue and was a clerk at Moores & Ross, Inc. (Dairy). The Bradshaws lived in Columbus in 1933. In 1938 they lived in Wadsworth, Ohio. In 1940 the Bradshaws lived in Wooster, Ohio. Charles was then a compositor in a print shop.

The Bradshaws returned to Columbus about 1942 and lived at 341 West 7th Avenue. From about 1942 to 1945, Charles was a salesman for Diamond Milk Products.

The Bradshaws moved to Newark, Ohio in 1947.

Maxine died in Harris County, Texas on February 5, 1989.

The Bradshaws sold the house on April 7, 1947 to Clara C. Cain.

Clara sold the house on May 24, 1948 to the Mercers with an outstanding balance due on an original $7,000 mortgage.

Melvin Delmer Mercer, Sr. was born November 3, 1902 in Pleasant Township, Madison County, Ohio, son of Armor James and Isabell Childers Mercer. He married
Bessie Irene Chesser about 1923. Bessie was born February 28, 1906 in Vinton County, Ohio, daughter of Amos and Daisy Belle Holdren Chesser. They had five children: Melvin Delmer, Jr. (April 17, 1924 - February 20, 2005), John Richard (January 9, 1926 - June 26,1960), Virginia L. (1926), Betty J. (December 3, 1930) and Robert (1939).

In 1930 the Mercers lived in London, Ohio. Melvin was a welder for a grave vault company. In 1940, Melvin was proprietor of a welding shop. In 1946 the Mercers lived at 6606 Havens Corners Road in Blacklick, Ohio.

Melvin, Sr. was a foreman at foreman Lockbourne AFB in the early 1950s. Melvin, Jr., "Delmer" and his wife Betty lived with his parents on Clifton from 1949 to 1950. Delmer was working as a welder. Delmer and Betty moved to 979 Cassady Avenue about 1953. He was working as a welder at the Columbus General Depot and in 1957 at General Motors.

After Melvin's death in 1955, Bessie moved to 24 Broadlawn Avenue in the Hilltop, and rented out the house on Clifton. In 1956 and 1957, Carmelo "Carl" "Skeets" and Ella Louise (Nelk) Caminiti lived here. Carl was in the Navy. From 1954 to 1957, Johnny and Jean Phillips lived here. Johnny was a (bus) driver for the Columbus Transit Company. In 1957, William J. and Mildred (Hines) Loughridge lived here. William was a housekeeper at Ohio State University. Mildred was a custodial worker at the State School for the Deaf.

Melvin died November 11, 1955. Bessie died August 20, 1970. They are buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in London, Ohio.

Bessie put the house on the market in May 1961. The house did not sell and she had the house converted to three apartments in early 1962. Real estate listings touted the newly converted house as "One of the finest colored locations in the east end of Columbus."

Bessie sold the house to Mattie Harris Freeman on August 12, 1965. Mattie had a mortgage of $10,500.

Mattie Lou(ise) Harris was born February 15, 1908 in Floyd County, Georgia, daughter of Rev. Johnson Isaac and Emma Lena Elizabeth Cooper Harris.She married Hunter (John) Freeman. They had a son, Doyal David Freeman, Sr. (December 17, 1925 - April 15, 1993).

In 1951 Mattie purchased and lived at 1380 Hawthorne Avenue.

In 1970, Doyal Freeman, Jr. lived in one of the apartments.

In 1964, at age 15, Doyal Freeman, Jr. had robbed the Garfield-Long Market with two teenage confederates. Freeman was arrested in Detroit in March 1970, a suspect in two armed robberies and the murder of two Columbus brothers.

Columbus Dispatch, August 11, 1970, "Security is tight in trial of Doyle (sic) Freeman, 21, 1692 Clifton Ave and William Benjamin "Choo Choo" Haile, 19, they are accused of robbing Buckeye Federal Savings and Loan."

Columbus Dispatch, August 12, 1970, "Witnesses identify Doyle (sic) Freeman, 21, 1692 Clifton Ave, as one of the men who robbed Buckeye Federal Savings and Loan office, 1358 Mt Vernon Ave." Freeman was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Obituary for Mattie Harris Freeman, "age 97, born February 15, 1908 in Rome, Ga., went Home to the Lord Saturday, May 7, 2005 at St. Ann's Medical Center. Member of Shiloh Baptist Church. Predeceased by son Doyal D. Freeman Sr. and daughter-in-law Ruth B. Freeman. Survived by grandchildren, Doyal D. (Sheila) Freeman Jr., Tyrone (Theresa) Freeman, Halcia (Willie) Brown, Maria E. Freeman and Joseph Freeman, all of Columbus, Melvin (Debra) Freeman of Birmingham, Ala. and Junetta "June" Jackson of Detroit, Mich.; special friend, Sandia Williams; and many great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Homegoing ceremony Friday, May 13, 2005, 12Noon at the Shiloh Baptist Church, 720 Mt. Vernon Ave. Rev. Otha Gilyard officiating. The family will receive friends at the church Friday 11 a.m. until the start of funeral service. Entombment Green Lawn Cemetery."

Obituary for Doyal D. Freeman, Jr., "age 65, born August 18, 1948 in Columbus, OH, died Monday, May 5, 2014 at Grant Medical Center. Preceded in death by parents Doyal Sr. and Ruth Bell Freeman. Survived by wife, Sheila M. Freeman; sons, Doyal D. Freeman, III, James E. Freeman, Maurice Williams, and David Webb; daughters, Terri, Sherri, and Raven Matthews, and Senethia Williams; siblings, Junetta of Detroit, MI, Maria E. Freeman, Joseph, Halcia (Willie) Brown, Melvin (Debrah) Freeman of Alabama; and Tyrone O. Freeman; a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, aunts, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends, including special friend, Derrick Owens. In keeping with Doyal's request to be cremated, there will be a Memorial Celebration of Life 2 p.m. Monday, May 12, 2014 in the chapel of DIEHL-WHITTAKER FUNERAL SERVICE, 720 E. Long St., where his family will receive friends from 1 p.m. until the start of service. Pastor Eric C. Carson, officiating."

The house was co-owned by Mattie and her grandson, Joseph. The house passed to Joseph after Mattie's death.