The biographical encyclopœdia of Ohio of the nineteenth century:

BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA.
limited means and few acquaintances, yet, with that perseverance and energy which have ever been characteristic of
their house, they entered upon their mission without a
doubt of its success. Renting a small house on the north
side of Fifth street, near Walnut, they began with salesroom
in front and shop in the rear. Very soon being compelled
to seek more commodious quarters, they moved their factory to Main and Orchard streets, and their store to Main
street, between Fifth and Sixth, near where the present
business house now stands. Up to that time power had
been furnished first by hand, and then by horse, but both
proved insufficient to meet the wants of their fast-increasiing
business; so they were compelled to move their factory to
the canal, where they could obtain water-power. About
this time (I836) Elios, another brother, came from the East
and entered the firm as a partner. With an increased capital they added to their stock many of the metals for which
there had grown quite a demand, and for which the house
at the present day has become so well known. Having
been educated in the school which teaches there is no reward without great labor, Mr. Sellew shirked no responsibility, nor thought himself above performing any manual
labor that the success of his business required. Like
Stephen Gira-rd, there was no part of his fast-increasing
business he did not thoroughly master. A merchant who
conmm-enced business-without any capital save that represented l)y indomitable perseverance and honesty of purpose,
he has developed ability that entitles him to rank second to
none among the various members of society. But he has, in
addition to this, lent a helping hand to the industrious poor,
the unfortunate mechanic and the new beginner, which invariably has sectired friends and patrons that time and competition have failed to alienate. 116 has contributed not a
little to the prosperity of his adopted city, and by his own
efforts risen to affluence. He was married in New Haven,
Connecticut, on February gth, I847, to Mary A. Munson.
Four children have been born to them, of whom only one is
now living. Much of his business care he has transferred
to younger hands, and at his beautiful residence in Avontale is spending his decliining years in the society of his
family and friends, and enjoying that peace and quietude
which are incident to a well-spent life. Though in cornparative retirement, the active business life he has spent will
not suffer him to be idle, and he still retains a lively interest
in the city in which he acquired his fortune and so justly
nobeaulgthvariosnzed rlensownocet.Buhehsin
none amon, the var~~~~~ ~ ioust mettlers of soe cuty. Bute hnes halo as, inaed
addition-to tis, lent a hlpinghandt the industrious poor,CAYLOR, JAMES, M.eD., D. D. S., was born f
(the unfortunate mechanic and the new beginner, which in- i 89, at Cedar Grove farm, on Paint c reek, near
variably has sectired friends and patrons that time and com- Bainbridge, Ross county, Ohio. The town of
petition have failed to alienate. 1 has contributed not a Bainbridge was named for Commodore Bainlittle to the prosperity of his adopted city, and by his own- hbridge of the United States navy, by the grandefforts risen to affluene. He was married i o New Haven, e father of our subject, who was a n ear rel ative
Connecticut, on February th, 1847, to Mary A. Munson. of the commodore. The old farm and homestead is stll
Four children have been born to them, of whom only one is owned by Price Taylor, a brother of James, these brothers
now living. Muich of his business care he has transferred being two of the nine children that clustered around the
to younger bands, and at his beautiful residence in Avon- family hearthstone. Joseph Taylor, the father of the sub dale is spending his declining years in the society of his ject of this sketch, was born in Monmouth county, New
fa mily and friends, and enjoying t hat peace and quietude Jersey, where the Taylor family, of English extraction, was
which are incident to a well-spent life. Thouh in co- settled more thano two hundred years ago. His mother,
parative retirement, the active bisiness life he has -,pent will whose maiden name was Jane Irwin, was born in Virginia,
not suffer him to be idle-, and he still etains a lively interest of Scotch-Irish stock, and was married to Joseph Taylor in
in the city in which he acquired his fortune and so justly 1797. In iSoi the young pair, with the husband's father,
obtained renown. William Taylor, removed to Ross county, being among the
first settlers of the county. Here James Taylor was reared,
contending with great obstacles in securing an education,
ORNELL, JOSEPH, Farmer, was born in Hun- by reason of the limited resources of the county; for at
(~ terdon, county, New Jersey, on the ist of May, this time wheat sold for thirty cents and corn for ten cents
1 I799. He was the eldest of five children. His per bushel, if they could be sold at all. But the father,
parents, Samuel and Mary (Temple) Cornell, being magistrate and school commissioner, employed New
were both natives of New Jersey. They came England teachers, often graduates of colleges, x.ho made
to Hamilton county, Ohio, in I8t6, and estab- his house their home. Thus a good English education was
lished a permanent home in Sycamore township, near secured to the children, while the presence for so long a
gi
which Joseph Cornell at present resides. His father followed the occupation of carpenter, as well as attending to
the interests of his farm ul) to the time of his death, which
occurred in i856, His mother died some years previous.
He received careful home training, I)eing'early taught the
dignity of lal-)or as well as the importance of cultivating
habits of morality. His school education was obtained in
the public institutions of the immediate vicinity; but, desirous of increasing his mental abilities, be applied himself
closely to reading, and, being naturally an acute observer,
succeeded in obtaining a more than ordinary amount of information. At the age of twenty-one he began life as a
f,,trmer, relying entirely on his own resources, and after fi%,e
years of industry and economy obtained his present farm,
and was successful in the establishment of a pleasant home,
where he expects'to reside permanently. Politically, he is
a Republican, his first vote having' been cast for John
Quincy Adams. His religious views are liberal; be'-confines himself -to no particular doctrine, but spends his life
in general usefulness, and in social ci rcles his influence is
always for good. For some years be has been'I'rustee of
the township in which be lives, and is particularly inter.
ested in- matters pertaining to education and public enterprise. Notwithstanding a long life of excessive labor he is
yet active and buoyant. lie was married, March iotb,
I825, to Elizabeth, daughter of Henry Beeler, of Hamilton
county.
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