283 Woodland Avenue
Simon House

Lot 11, Ryland's Woodland Place Addition

Samuel and Mary E. Ryland lived at 289 Woodland Avenue, Lot 10 of the subdivision. They also owned Lots 6, 7, 9, and 11. Homes on these lots were probably built by or for Ryland who was a real estate dealer. In March 1895, they were sued by M.S. Wright. Wright got a judgement of $7,537 against the Rylands. The properties were ordered sold at Sheriff's Sale on April 22, 1895. Albert Heffner bought the properties for $8,400 and title was transferred to him on June 6, 1895. 

Albert D. Heffner (January 1, 1846 - October 16, 1916) started in the real estate business for himself in 1870 and continued in this occupation for fifteen years. Heffner was also the first President of the Post Printing and Publishing Company, incorporated in November 1888. In 1905, Heffner was Vice President of the New First National Bank. He lived at 1099 East Broad Street.

Heffner rented the house to George M. Mumford in 1895 and 1896.

George M. Mumford was born May 25, 1846 in Pleasant Valley, Pennsylvania, son of Milo M. and Lydia Bennett Mumford. He married Fannie M. Baker in Hocking County, Ohio on April 4, 1883. Fannie was born in May 1856 in Ohio, daughter of Thomas E. and Mary D. Baker. They had a son, Earl M. (September 25, 1881 - January 24, 1974).

In 1869 Mumford was working as a salesman and living at the National Hotel in Columbus. In 1879 he was a traveling salesman for the Isaac Eberly & Company, wholesale grocers and lived at 474 East Friend Street. From 1883 to 1888 he lived in Logan, Ohio and worked for Isaac Eberly. 

In 1896 he was a partner in the George Mumford & Company, wholesale notions, toys and fancy goods 44-46 West Naghten Street.

By 1900 the Mumfords lived in Seattle, Washington. George was a dealer in wholesale tobacco. Before his death, George was working as a watchman.

George died March 9, 1931 in Seattle.

From 1897 to 1900 William B. Waggoner rented the house.

William B. Waggoner was born December 21, 1855, son of Henry and Mary Bambrough Waggoner. He married Mary L. Lough in Franklin County on September 12, 1878. Mary was born June 1, 1859, daughter of Thomas and Helen Edwina Conger Lough. They had four children, Lucy Bambrough (December 2, 1879), Hannah L. (December 1884), David G. (November 3, 1885) and William Roy (August 3, 1887 - April 19, 1965).

In 1884, Waggoner was one of the incorporators of The Buckeye Bicycle Club in Columbus.

In 1896 the Waggoners lived at 62 North 17th Street.

From 1879, Waggoner was Chief Clerk to the Superintendent of the Motive Power Department of the Pennsylvania C.C. & St. Louis Railroad.

The Jewelers Circular of November 22, 1899 reported, "W.B. Waggoner, of Columbus, O., was in Muskegon, Mich., last week, the guest of his brother E.G. Waggoner, inventor of the Waggoner watchman's clock. Until very recently W.B. Waggoner has been chief clerk of the mechanical department of the Pennsylvania railroad at Columbus, but resigned to go to Muskegon and that the management of the Waggoner Watchman's Clock Co. Mr. Waggoner has secured offices in the William Alden Smith building, S. Ionia St., Grand Rapids, and will open up headquarters there. The clocks will continue to be manufactured in Muskegon." Patent records for the clock show his brother's name as Albert E. Waggoner. William was briefly Secretary and Treasurer as well as Manager of the company, but a few weeks later, by mid-December had backed out of the company.

In 1900 Waggoner was a hook and eye manufacturer and they lived at 207 Woodward Avenue in Columbus.

In 1906 the Waggoners lived in Cleveland. William was a salesman for the Cleveland City Forge & Iron Company. From 1908 to 1912 Waggoner was a sales representative for the Butler Drawbar Attachment Company of Cleveland. In 1920 they lived in Cleveland Heights. In 1930 they had moved to Homewood, Alabama and lived with their son and daughter-in-law, William and Edna (Hatfield).

Waggoner died July 25, 1933. Mary died January 24, 1949 in Birmingham, Alabama. They are buried at Greenlawn Cemetery.

In 1900 William N. Cleveland rented the house and moved here from 1558 East Long Street. Information information about the Clevelands is listed with that house.

On August 10, 1905, Albert D. Heffner sold the house to George F. and Vola Irene Sherman for $6,600. The Shermans also bought Lot 9 from Heffner for $1,000 on February 16, 1907, though the deed was not recorded until May 20, 1908.

The Shermans moved into the house in 1905.

George F. Sherman was born September 9, 1867 in Richmond, Indiana, son of George F. and Dora Sherman. He married Vola Irene Widdicombe in Clark County on October 4, 1893. Vola was born October 23, 1870 in Harmony, Ohio, daughter of Robert S. and Mary M. Wallingsford Widdicombe.

In 1900 the Shermans lived at 50 Grant Avenue. George sold men's hats. In 1906 his hat shop was at 77 South High Street.

In 1910 the Shermans lived on Parkview Avenue in Bexley. In 1917, George was gentlemen's furnishings merchant.

In 1930, Vola lived in Tampa, Florida.

George died August 6, 1917. He is buried in Springfield, Ohio. Vola died in DeSoto, Florida in June 1960.

Asa Billings exchanged property with George F. and Vola Irene Sherman on May 20, 1908. Asa received Lots 9 and 11 of Ryland's Woodland Place Addition.  

The Billings moved in to 283 Woodland Avenue in 1908.

Michael E. Billings was born March 22, 1832 in Baden, Germany, possibly the son of Frederick Billings. He married Elizabeth Fowler probably about 1853. Elizabeth was born September 22, 1833 in Tennessee, daughter of Asa and Edna Dulin Fowler. They had eight children Emma (1854), Edna M. (October 27, 1862 - February 20, 1923), Ida (July 25, 1864 - July 30,1897), Della E.(December 17, 1867 - June 6, 1956), Jennie D. (November 3, 1881 - September 22, 1929), Frederick C. (1866 - September 21, 1960), Asa Fowler (August 30, 1877 - July 15, 1940) and Pearl/Pearlie (1876 - March 22, 1897).

The Billings lived in Alton, Illinois in 1870. In Peoria, Illinois about 1875, and in Anna, Dinsmore Township, Shelby County, Ohio from about 1877 to 1880. They moved to Columbus about 1882. Michael Billings had been a saloon keeper, a dry goods merchant and sold gentlemen's furnishings. He died in Columbus on July 22, 1905. In 1907 the Billings lived at 964 Neil Avenue.

Asa ran a grocery store as early as 1894. In 1907 he had two stores, at 633 North 4th Street and 221 East 5th Avenue. In 1910, Asa's store was at 1158 North 4th Street. His sister, Edna worked as a clerk at the store. In 1912 the grocery was at 221 East 5th Avenue.

In 1913, Asa was listed in the City Directory as a contractor. In 1915 his occupation was listed as real estate. In 1916 he was back in the grocery business at 1096-1098 East Livingston Avenue.

Elizabeth died November 23, 1920.

In 1922, Asa had two grocery stores, one at 680 East Livingston Avenue and another at 1187 Oak Street. The store at 680 East Livingston was open until 1925.

In 1931 Asa went into business as an antique dealer at 1126 North High Street. Billings' former antique shop is now the Surly Girl Saloon in the Short North.

Asa retired from antiquing in late June 1940. He died just a few weeks later and one of the contributing factors to his death was cirrhosis of the liver.

After Asa's death the house was transferred, on July 22, 1940, to his sister, Della Billings Thomas. 

Delia was married to William O. Thomas by Rev. Barbour at First Baptist Church on Broad Street, on May 28, 1900. William was born in 1861 in Oxford, Ohio, son of Webster and Susan Howell Thomas. William was a journalist. He died in 1906. 

Frederick C. Billings lived at 174 Woodland Avenue in 1943. His wife Katherine Maude died December 19, 1943. 

The Billings are buried at Greenlawn Cemetery.

On June 19, 1941, Della gave a warranty deed to the house to her nephew Edwin and his wife Mayme Heffelman of Dayton, provided they lived in and maintained the house during Della's lifetime. Edwin was the son of Della's sister Emma. On October 15, 1941 they transferred the house back to Della. Della then sold the house on November 13, 1941 to John P. and Gladys Cartzdafner.

John Prose Cartzdafner was born January 19, 1894 in Mt. Sterling, Ohio, son of Frank Leroy and Laura J. Cartzdafner. He married Gladys S. Hazelton before 1917
Gladys was born October 26, 1896 in Delaware, Ohio, daughter of John F. and Cora Pool Hazelton. They had three daughters: Charlotte, Laura, and Patsy Ann.

In 1910 the Cartzdafners lived in Pasadena, California.
In 1917, John was a clerk for the Cook Motor Company in Delaware, Ohio. In 1922 the Cartzdafners lived in Marion, Ohio. In 1930, they had moved back to Delaware and John was a clerk for the Hocking Valley Railroad. In 1939 they lived at 121 Wilson Avenue, Apartment 2. John was then working as an auditor for the State Bureau of Public Assistance.

In 1942 John was a clerk for the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority. Their daughters worked at Curtiss-Wright.

The Cartzdafners transferred the property to Gladys' mother, Cora Hazelton on December 30, 1942. Cora later moved to Hermosa Beach, California, having at that time a 1/3 interest in the property.

Gladys died August 23, 1962. John died May 27, 1979 in Santee, California. They are buried at Mountain View Cemetery in Altadena, California.

On July 28, 1944 the Cartzdafners sold the house to Harry H. Jones (Mary Belle) and Eugene Charles Lethenstrom (Margaret J.).

Eugene Charles Lethenstrom was born May 2, 1896 in Chicago, Illinois. 

In 1935 the Lethenstroms lived Beloit, Wisconsin. In 1941 the Lethenstroms lived at 48 West Hubbard Avenue. Eugene was a salesman.

Eugene died October 9, 1951 in Lawrence County, Ohio.

The Lethenstroms sold the house to Viletta Chilcote of 770 Sunbury Road on December 31, 1947.

Viletta L. Chilcote was born August 14, 1904 in Columbus, daughter of Herman R. and Catherine M. Limel Chilcote. She married Victor Bryant Mohler in Franklin County on April 17, 1922. Victor was born June 23, 1898 in Pataskala, Ohio, son of Benjamin F. and Maude Merchant Mohler.

In 1920 the Chilcotes lived at 1575 East 4th Avenue. Herman was a carpenter and Viletta was working as a cigar roller. 

From 1923 to 1928 Victor had a different job and the Mohlers lived at a new address almost very year. In 1924 they lived at 439 Eldridge Avenue and Victor was an ice handler. The Mohlers divorced about 1929 and Viletta returned to using her maiden name.

In 1932, Herman owned a restaurant at 749 Taylor Avenue and Viletta was working as a waitress. In 1939 Viletta owned the restaurant lived at 837 Taylor Avenue. Herman died in 1941. 

Viletta may have run 283 Woodland Avenue as a rooming house. A number of people lived here with her from 1947 to 1955.

In 1949, Allison and Eula Davis lived here. Allison was an motor repairman. 

In 1951, Viletta's mother Catherine, Mrs. Edith Petty, Louis Petty

From 1951 to 1954, Louis Seaman lived here.

In 1953, Ralph and Martha Fast lived here. Ralph was a WWII veteran and worked as a welder and boilermaker. In 1957 they lived at 111 Latta Avenue.

In 1953 and 1954, Albert A. Evans

In 1956, Mrs. Gladys Brodnax

In 1957, Ellen Karl lived here. She worked as a dietary aide. DIrectory not correctly indexed for this name.

From 1951 to 1954, Viletta worked as a salad maker at Rocky Fork Country Club.

Viletta married Albert A. Evans before 1957. Viletta purchased a house at 870 Josephine Avenue on March 30, 1957. Albert died on May 24, 1957. 

Viletta purchased 83 West Pacemont Avenue on December 5, 1968. She was a matron at the Columbus State Hospital.

Viletta died November 20, 1969. She is buried at Glen Rest Cemetery.

Viletta sold the house 1955 to the Board of Church Extension and Home Missions of the Church of God of Anderson, Indiana.

Rev. Gladys B. Walker of the First Church of God lived here from 1957 to 1960.

In 1960, Veralene Brazile, an office secretary for Ohio Bell Telephone lived here.

The Board of Church Extension, etc. sold the property to First Church of God for $7,800 on August 7, 1962.

The First Church of God sold the house to James W. and Elminie H. Rickman on October 25, 1965.

The Rickmans demolished the house about 1967.

1951 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map showing 283 Woodland Avenue.

283 Woodland Avenue can be seen in the background of this photo, circa 1962

Plate attached to the Main Street Bridge in Poland, Mahoning County, Ohio.

The Hocking Sentinel, September 5, 1901

Asa Billings' Grocery, 1187 Oak Street, March 2010. This building was the Alamo Theater from 1915-1917. It was again a theater, The Oak Theater from September 1936 until 1955.

John P. Cartzdafner, circa 1931