311 Parkwood Avenue
Querinjean House

Lots 62 and Part 61 Smith's Woodland Park Addition

Adam H. and Catherine B. McAlpin(e) bought lot 62 and half of lot 61 from the Smiths on September 14, 1904 for $1,500.They sold the property to Nicholas A. and Mary J. Court on May 11, 1907 for $1,900.

The Hewitts purchased the lot on February 10, 1920 from the Courts. They built two homes in 1920 and sold this house to the Querinjeans on May 26, 1921 with an oustanding mortgage of $5,391.46. The Hewitts lived in the house at 307 Parkwood Avenue.

Alfred Edwin "Alf" Querinjean was born June 21, 1887, in the city of Aachen, Rhenish Prussia, Germany, son of Joseph and Maria Cüpper Querinjean. He married Anna Marie Frey in New York City on July 26, 1913. Anna was born January 8, 1891 in New York City, daughter of Joseph and Anna Ziegler Frey. 

Alfred emigrated to the United States from Germany, arriving from Bremen in New York on November 18, 1911. 

A biography of Alfred appears in A History of Northwest Ohio by Nevin O. Winter, published in 1917. "Though one of the youngest business men of Celina, Alfred E. Querinjean is undoubtedly one of the most progressive and with success already in his grasp has a splendid future before him.

"He was born June 21, 1888, at Aachen, Germany, and was educated there, liberally trained for a successful business career and besides the high school course had work in a German college. At the age of twenty-three he emigrated to the United States, landing in New York City, and somewhat later coming on to Celina, Ohio, where he bought a garage. He is now proprietor of the Celina Automobile Company, is vice president of the Celina Implement Company, director in the Celina Specialty Company, director of the Celina Furniture Company and director of the Buckland Milling Company. Before leaving Germany Mr. Querinjean had some extensive experience in manufacturing lines, and both by training, and natural talent is well equipped for handling complicated business enterprises.

"At New York City, in 1913, he married Anna M. Frey. Mrs. Querinjean was born and reared in New York City. Her father is a man of prominence and wealth. Mrs. Querinjean received a liberal education both in this country and abroad in Germany, and speaks fluently several languages. Mr. Querinjean is treasurer of the Knights of Columbus council at Celina, is a republican in politics and he and his wife are members of the Catholic Church."

A genealogy in Schlegel's German-American Families in the United States, Volume 3, has this paragraph about Anna, "Anna Marie (Frey), born at the family home at 71 Washington Square South, New York City, January 8, 1891. Her elementary educational training was obtained in the parochial schools of Our Lady of Sorrows in New York City. She next entered Holy Rosary Academy at Second street, between First avenue and Avenue A, New York City, from which institution she graduated in 1907. Upon laying aside her text books she remained under the parental roof up to the time of her marriage, July 26, 1913, to Alfred Jean Querinjean, born June 21, 1887, in the city of Aachen, Rhenish Prussia, Germany. His parents were Joseph and Maria (Cüpper) Querinjean, and at present (1918) resides with her husband in the town of Celina, Mercer County, Ohio."
​
In the 1919 Newark, Ohio City Directory, Alfred is listed as working for the Art Cabinet Co. (phonograph manufacturer) and living at the Hotel Sherwood. The 1920 Census shows the Querinjeans living in Newark. The Cardinal Phonograph Company was a trademark of the Art Cabinet Company. Cardinal was based in Newark, Ohio and they made inexpensive phonographs at factories in Newark and Zanesville, Ohio and Point Pleasant, New Jersey. In the 1920 Census Alfred gives his place of birth as Aix La Chapelle, Germany. The Querinjeans are listed in the 1920 Columbus City Directory; Alfred is secretary of The Hamilton Brokerage Company and they are living at 868 Bryden Road.

In 1922 the Querinjeans are listed in the Columbus City Directory at 311 Parkwood Avenue and Alfred is with the Hamilton Brokerage Company. In 1924 Alfred is vice president of The A.E. Querinjean Co., underwriters (incorporated November 1922), as well as vice president of The Columbus Joint Stock Land Bank. In 1925 the Querinjeans lived at 1725 Roxbury Road in Upper Arlington. Alfred is president of A.E. Querinjean Co, VP of the Land Bank and the president of The Cities Mortgage Company.

In 1928 the Alfred's occupation is real estate. In 1929 Alfred is manager of The Corozone Columbus Company (incorporated January 10, 1929), manufacture of air purifiers.

The (New Philadelphia) Daily Times, February 26, 1928, "Columbus...Judge Henry L. Scarlett ruled in common pleas court late yesterday that Harvey C. Smith, former (Ohio) secretary of state, must stand trial for embezzlement in connection with the failure of the Cities Mortgage Company. Smith had claimed he was too ill to be tried. The judge's decision was announced after a conference with doctors who had examined him. Smith, however, was given permission to be absent from the court room whenever he chooses during the trial. He left immediately. Smith was placed on trial today with A. E. Querinjean and Ray H. Patterson, former Cities Mortgage Company officers. They are charged with the embezzlement of $285,000 of the company’s money. Frank L. Stein, former president of the Ohio National Bank, is charged with aiding and abetting in the alleged embezzlement. The Cities Mortgage Co., organized in 1920, crashed with a loss of approximately $3,000,000 to some 2200 stockholders. The company is now in the hands of a receiver." (Smith died on May 26, 1929)

The Salem (Ohio) News, June 22, 1928, “Ten former directors of the defunct Cities Mortgage company Columbus, the failure of which caused a loss of $2,750,000 to about 2,000 stockholders in Ohio, were today indicted for embezzlement by the Franklin county grand jury... The former directors indicted are: Harvey Smith, Columbus, former secretary of state; E.F. Bowman, Columbus; Hugh H. Campbell, Mt. Vernon; Benjamin F. Carter, Columbus; Joseph W. Hamer, Columbus; Clarence G. Johnson, Columbus; Alf E. Querinjean. Columbus; Calvin R Trott, Columbus; and Charles A Walker, Columbus. These ten directors were charged with the specific embezzlement of slightly over $18,000 that was alleged to have been paid out to the men in two separate dividends. Separate indictments also were returned against Smith. Querinjean and Guy H. Patterson, Columbus, charging the three men with embezzlement of $285.000, which according to the indictment they received in illegal dividends declared by officers of the company. The men are to be arraigned on the charges Monday morning. County prosecutor said the defunct concern is now in the hands of a receiver, John A. Kelley, Columbus…"

The Cincinnati Enquirer, March 7, 1929, "...Prior To Receivership, Stenographer Testifies At Columbus Trial. Columbus, Ohio, March 6 (AP) Personal checks of A. E. Querinjean, of the Cities Mortgage Company, were destroyed at his request just prior to the appointment of a receiver for the company. It was testified today in the embezzlement trial of Querinjean, Harvey S. Smith, R. H. Patterson and Frank L. Stein. Querinjean, Smith and Patterson are charged with having embezzled $285,000. and Stein, former bank President, with having aided them. The testimony was given by Miss Mildred Campbell, formerly a stenographer in the company's offices, who said she destroyed the checks the Saturday previous to the appointment of the receiver, when Querinjean instructed her to, and the stubs of the checks Monday, the day the receiver was appointed. C. A. Walker, Assistant State Purchasing Agent, testified that in 1923 he joined Querinjean, Patterson and Smith in an effort to gain control of the Cities Mortgage Company. He said Querinjean arranged for him to borrow $60,000 from the Ohio National Bank, of which Stein was President, to consummate his part of the deal. Walker also testified that on the same day Querinjean, Patterson and Smith borrowed a total of $345,000 from the same bank to aid them in obtaining control of the company. Walker said his note for the $60,000 was secured by the Cities Mortgage stock and other collateral."

The Ohio State Journal, August 29, 1929 reported that the Columbian Building and Loan Company sued for foreclosure on the Querinjeans.

The Cincinnati Enquirer, October 24, 1929, "...The Court refused to grant reviews to A. E. Querinjean and Ray Patterson, Columbus, who were found guilty of embezzlement in connection with the affairs of the former Cities Mortgage Company, of Columbus. They were found guilty of embezzlement of $285,000. Querinjean was sentenced to the Ohio Penitentiary for six to ten years and Patterson from three to ten years."

The 1930 Census shows Alfred as an inmate of the Ohio State Penitentiary. Alfred reported his place of birth as Belgium in this Census and the 1940 Census and also on his 1942 Draft Registration.

The Wilmington (Ohio) News-Journal, December 23, 1932 reported, "FINANCIER FREED FROM PRISON FARM - Alfred E. Querinjean Gets Parole from London Farm -COLUMBUS, Dec. 23. Alfred E. Querinjean, former Columbus financier, was free today after serving a three-year prison term. Querinjean, former director of the defunct Cities Mortgage Company (...was granted...) parole along with 14 other men at the London prison farm yesterday. Convicted of embezzlement, Querinjean was sentenced to serve six to 10 years."

From 1935 the Querinjeans lived at 70 West Tulane Road, Apartment A. Alfred was a securities salesman at a brokerage, Commodity Investments, Inc. In 1935 he was secretary and general manager of the firm.

Alfred died about June 25, 1954 in Columbus. The 1954 City Directory lists Anna as the widow of Alfred living at the Tulane apartment and she is working as a clerk at Kresge's, the 5 and 10 cent store, quite a fall from grace for a woman whose "father (was) a man of prominence and wealth."

On December 30, 1925 the Querinjeans sold the house to attorney David B. Sharp who assumed a mortgage of $6,000.

On July 19, 1926, Sharp sold the house to Cora B. Walters.

James Stewart Walters was born in December 20, 1866 in Pennsylvania, son of Willard and Jane Walters. He married Cora B. Johnson on May 31, 1892 in Franklin County. Cora was born October 22, 1868 in Ohio (possibly the daughter of William and Elizabeth Johnson of Delaware, Ohio). They had two daughters, Faye E. (1895) and Dorothy E. (1899).

In 1896 James was working as a Deputy Clerk of Courts. In 1901 he became Superintendent and Secretary of the Columbus Workhouse at 515 Sullivant Avenue. Cora was Matron. James was Superintendent and the Walters lived at the Workhouse until about 1912.

During that time, Cora was also running boarding house at 253 East State Street. Cora ran the house under the business name of C.B. Walters Co. and the Walters lived there off and on between 1912 and 1926 when Cora purchased 311 Parkwood Avenue.

In 1913 they lived at 946 Oak Street. In 1914, James was Secretary of the Franklin County Board of Assessors and living in Worthington. In 1916 he was a clerk for the county auditor and living in Worthington. In 1920 Census they are listed living again at 253 East State Street. Cora's occupation is keeper of a lodging house and James' is deputy county auditor.

James was still a Franklin County Deputy Auditor in 1930. In 1931 he was selling insurance.

In 1940 James and Cora were living with her daughter Faye at 1521 Hawthorne Avenue.

James died June 2, 1952. Cora died August 12, 1952. They are buried at Otterbein Cemetery in Westerville, Ohio.

On August 27, 1937 the property was deeded to the Home Owners Loan Corp. by a Sheriff's Deed. The company sold it on January 6, 1940 to Ada E. Chase.

Vaughn R. Chase was born March 15, 1910 in Columbus, son of Guy and Elsie Rena Church Chase. He married Ada Elizabeth Bolin in Franklin County on September 1, 1934. Ada was born December 13, 1911 in Columbus, daughter of Stuart Robinson and Ada Rebecca Brown Bolin. They had a daughter, Jenne (1938). 

On their 1934 marriage license application Vaughn listed his occupation as appraiser, and Ada, artist. In 1940 Vaughn was the assistant manager of a finance company.

The Chases later lived in Massena, New York. As early as 1957 he was associated with Alcoa. In 1963, Vaughn became president of Alcoa Residences, Inc, a subsidiary of the Aluminium Company of America. In 1968 he was elected vice-president of Alcoa Properties Inc., and general manager of the company's Eastern division.

Ada died April 1, 1984; Vaughn died February 29, 2000, both in Massena, New York.

On October 26, 1942 the Chases sold the house to the Davises. The Davises assumed the unpaid balance on a mortgage originally in the amount of $3861.

Thomas J. Davis was born November 26, 1876 in Jackson, Ohio, son of Welsh parents, Thomas E. and Mary Ann Edwards Davis. He married Mary Hutzell in Franklin County on March 29, 1905. Mary was born February 16, 1881 in Hebron, Ohio, daughter of James H. and Sarah Dunlap Hutzell. They had Agnes G. (January 2, 1906) and Mary Philberta (1913).

The Davises had lived in Van Horne, Iowa about 1906.
In 1920 the Davises lived at 1092 East Gay Street. Thomas was a machinist for a steam railroad. 
In 1930 through 1941 the Davises lived at 74 (1/2) East First Avenue. 

On October 22, 1953 the Davises sold the house to the Sandiges.

George Washington Sandidge was born May 16, 1906 in Morris Creek, West Virginia, son of Ollie William and Rosa Virginia Christian Sandidge. His second marriage was to Ella Reese Miller after 1950. Ella was born June 4, 1909 in Leaksville, Rockingham County, North Carolina, daughter of John Henry and Nannie Galloway Miller. 

In 1953 the Sandidges lived at 192 Miami Avenue. Ella was Director of Community and Neighborhood Department for the Columbus Urban League. George was an employee of the Columbus General Depot, now known as the Defense Supply Center, Columbus (DSCC). In 1956 Ella was additionally working at Bonahan Plumbing. 

George and Ella married in Hennepin County, Minnesota on October 11, 1968.

George died February 11, 1978.

Ella married James W. Smith in Franklin County on September 25, 1985. 

Ella died in Columbus in March 17, 2000. 

Ella sold the house to Tausca L. Thompson on July 19, 1985. 

Tausca L. Thompson sold the house on May 5, 1998 to Marilyn E. Rice. 

311 Parkwood Avenue, April 2014

Alfred E. Querinjean, circa 1920

Full page ad in The Celina Democrat, June 11, 1915 for Querinjean's Celina Auto Company.

The Celina Democrat, March 1, 1918.

Superintendent's residence, Columbus Workhouse, 515 Sullivant Avenue, circa 1920 (Home of the Walters 1901-1912)