© 2007 The Ohio Secretary of State & The Ohio Public Library Information Network
 

"With God All Things Are Possible."

John Sherman 1823-1900
John Sherman’s political career spanned over 40 years and included authorship of what remains one of the most influential laws in business today. Born in Lancaster, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives at the age of 31. After four terms in the House, Sherman was appointed to the U.S. Senate. When Rutherford B. Hayes was elected to the presidency in 1876, he asked Sherman to serve as Secretary of the Treasury. In that position, Sherman refinanced the country’s Civil War debt and oversaw the limited coinage of silver. His most visible legacy, however, is the Sherman Anti-Trust Act of 1890 – the first attempt by the government to control big business monopolies.

George Washington Williams 1849-1891
Born in Bedford Springs, PA, George Washington Williams enlisted in the Union Army and fought in the Civil War at age 14. Later, while serving as a minister in Cincinnati, Williams wrote often about the need for expanded economic opportunities for African Americans. His visibility and popularity grew and in 1879, Williams became the first African American to be elected to the Ohio Legislature. After one term as a representative, Williams retired from politics. He continued to serve as a leader and spokesman for the black community, however, and went on to become the first African American to write the history of his race.

Nicholas Longworth 1869-1931
Historians will long debate whether Nicholas Longworth was known better for his political career or his association by marriage to Alice Roosevelt, daughter of President Theodore Roosevelt. Longworth, born and raised in Cincinnati, practiced law there and served in the Ohio Legislature until his election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1903. He was re-elected to that post 14 additional times and eventually served as the majority leader and as Speaker of the House. A likeable man, Longworth’s popularity helped keep him at the top of the political game, while at the same time, his marriage to Alice Roosevelt kept him in the social spotlight and Washington D.C.’s gossip pages.

1925 - The dirigible Shenandoah crashes near Alva, killing 14 people.

1929 - Steel becomes Ohio's number one industry.