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(Source: History of Trumbull & Mahoning
Counties, with Illustrations & Biographical Sketches - Vol. II - Cleveland
- H. Z. Williams & Bro. - 1882)
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CHAPTER II.
WEATHERSFIELD TOWNSHIP |
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BIOGRAPHIES. |
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WILLIAM ARNOLD was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania,
November 30, 1802. He came to Weathersfield, Trumbull county,
Ohio, in the year 1827. He married Miss Catharine
Justice, of
Springfield township, Columbiana county, born in Beaver county,
Pennsylvania, in 1804. To Mr. and Mrs. Arnold were born two
children, James E., now residing in Iowa, and Mrs.
James McRoberts. Mr. Arnold purchased his farm, consisting of one
hundred and four acres, paying for it out of his earnings in a
sawmill, his wages being $9 per month, at the rate of $4 per
acre. He cleared up the farm, and occupied it until his death,
April 10, 1857. Mrs. Arnold is still living, making her home
with her daughter. |
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C. W. BRIEDER, hardware merchant, Niles, Trumbull county, was
born in New York city in 1849. When fifteen years of age he
began learning the printing business in Youngstown. This he
followed about three .years, and then began the hardware
business, which he still continues. In 1871 he moved to Niles.
In 1873 he married Lizzie L. Sheible, of Niles. Mr.
Brieder is a
member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows |
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JOHN CARTER, proprietor of the Globe Foundry and Machine works,
Niles, Trumbull county, was born in Niles in 1853 and has always
resided in the place. When young he began work in the foundry
and machine shop of his father, Thomas Carter, and later
succeeded him in the management of his business. Mr. Carter is
doing a large and prosperous business. |
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DR. F. CASPAR was born in Strasburg, France (now Germany), in
1816; came to the United States in the summer of 1831 and
located in New Lisbon, where he was educated. He studied
medicine with Dr. George McCook, of New Lisbon, and subsequently
attended lectures at the Jefferson Medical college,
Philadelphia. He commenced practice in 1840 at Petersburg, now
Mahoning county, and remained there until 1853 when he removed
to Canfield, where he was engaged in the practice of his
profession seven years. In i860 he removed to Niles, where he
has resided since. In 1839 he was married to Miss Mary
Ann Russell, daughter of William E. Russell, a former prominent
attorney of New Lisbon. Mrs. Caspar was born in Steubenville,
Ohio, in 1822. To this marriage six children were born, of whom
three sons and one daughter survive. Joseph Caspar, the father
of Dr. Caspar, was a soldier under Bonaparte, serving three or
four years. |
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FRED J. CHURCH,
merchant, Niles, Trumbull county, was born in Canfield, Mahoning
county, in 1854, son of Darius and Electa
Church, and a descendant of Nathaniel Church.
Mr. F. J. Church was educated in Canfield and at the age
of nineteen began the mercantile business with his father. In
1878 he removed to Niles and became a member of the firm
McConnell & Church. In 1880 this firm was
changed to Church & Coffee, who have the largest
store in Niles. |
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CAMDEN A.
CLEVELAND was born in Liberty township in 1803. February
24, 1830, he married Matilda, daughter of Josiah
and Elizabeth (Newport) Robbins,
born in Youngstown, December 31, 1804, and settled in Austintown township, where he cleared up a
farm, and where he lived until his death, which occurred in
1839. They were the parents of three children—Eliza L., wife of
Samuel Campbell, died in 1867; Albert A., a resident of
Youngstown, and at present engaged in mining in Colorado; Alice
M., wife of Hiram Ohl, of Niles. Mrs.
Cleveland removed to
Niles, where she lived nine years, and then returned to Austintown until 1872, when she again moved to Niles, where she
has since resided. |
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A. B. COOK, druggist, Niles, Trumbull county, Ohio, was born in Chardon, Geauga county, in 1856. His father, A. Cook, and his
grandfather followed the drug business. Mr. A. B. Cook commenced
working in his father's store in Chardon in 1871, and continued
until 1878, when he removed to Niles and began business in
partnership with his father under the firm name of Cook & Co.
Mr. A. B. Cook conducts the business and is successful. He was
married in 1881 to Miss Mary Wagstaff, of Niles. |
WILLIAM DAVIS, mayor
of Niles, Trumbull county, was born in Bilston, county of
Stafford, England, May 8, 1817. In early life be began to work
in a rolling-mill, and continued until he emigrated to America
in 1842. Landing in New York in June of that year, he proceeded
to Pittsburg and worked in a rolling-mill from 1842 to 1846. In
April, 1846, he moved to Franklin, Venango county, Pennsylvania,
and there held the position of guide-roller and nail-plate
roller until 1851, when he removed to Niles. Here he worked at a
heating furnace for James Ward & Co. In 1859 he became
superintendent of the mill, and continued in that capacity until
the death of James Ward, Sr., in 1865.
He then went to Youngstown to manage the mill of
Brown, Bonnell & Co. But having formed the
purpose of establishing a rolling-mill in Niles, in company with
George and James Harris, Mr.
Davis was released from his engagement, and the mill,
since bought by C. H. Andrews & Co., was erected and
operated by Harris, Davis & Co. Mr. Davis
continued a member of this firm until 1870, when he sold out. He
then bought William Fisher's boot and shoe store,
and was in that business about three years. October 4, 1872,
Mr. Davis was thrown from a buggy in Warren, and
received a compound fracture of his ankle, which compelled him
to use crutches for three years. Since 1876 he has been acting
as mayor of Niles, and is now serving his third term in that
office. In 1839 he married Mary Ann Jones,
a native of England, who still shares his home. They have ten
children living and two sons deceased. Names and residences:
John M., New Castle, Pennsylvania; William W.,
Canfield; James R., Jefferson C., Thomas R., Niles;
Alexander M. B., Youngstown; and Joseph M.,
Niles. Daughters: Mrs. Susie Wood and
Mrs. Sarah A. Spencer, Youngstown; Miss Lida
Ward Davis, Niles. |
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The DUNLAP FAMILY,
of which William Dunlap, Sr., was the first
representative in Trumbull county, were among the earliest
settlers here. William Dunlap, Sr., emigrated from
Washington county, Pennsylvania, to Poland township, then
Trumbull county, Ohio, about 1800. He afterwards purchased seven
hundred acres of land in Weathersfield, and moved to that
township about 1806. His sons settled around him on this tract.
He had a family of six sons and four daughters. He died in
Liberty township at the residence of his daughter, Mrs.
Carlton, at the age of about ninety-six. His son
William married Rachel Frazee, of Poland, and
lived on the farm, which is now occupied by the widow of the
late Stephen Dunlap, son of William, Jr.
William and Rachel Dunlap were the parents of
nine children, of whom three are yet living, to-wit: Rachel
(Lewis) and Perry in Lordstown, and Chauncy in
Vienna. Stephen Dunlap was born November 30, 1813,
in Weathersfield, on the farm, where he lived until his death
December 18, 1881. He married in 1840 Hannah McMullen,
of Brookfield, who was born in 1822. Mrs. Dunlap
still resides on the old Dunlap homestead. She has three
children, as follows: George in Wisconsin, B. F.
in New York city, and Emma at home. |
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HIRAM DUNLAP, fifth son of
James and Catharine Dunlap, was born
in Brookfield, Trumbull county, Ohio, in 1819. In 1848 he
married Miss Lydia Van Wye, the result of which union was three
children, one son and two daughters, as follow: James A., Emma
J., and Lydia C.— James being the only survivor. Mrs.
Dunlap
died September 7, 1854, and he married for his second wife Miss
Amanda Hartzell, by whom he had seven sons, viz:
Franklin H., Willie L., Edward H., Elmore W., Henry G.,
Thomas J., and Ferdinand C., all living but
Thomas. |
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SAMUEL C. EDWARDS was born in Jefferson, Greene county,
Pennsylvania, March 30, 1811. His parents, John and
Jane (Rook) Edwards, removed with their family from Pennsylvania to Weathersfield township, Trumbull county, in June, 1823. In the
spring of 1830 he removed further north and purchased
fifty-seven and one-half acres at $2.50 per acre, which he
cleared up and improved. He died in February, 1855, aged seventy
years. His widow removed to Niles, and died at her son Samuel's
residence, at the age of eighty-nine years, six months, and
nineteen days. Of the eight children born to them five are still
living—Samuel C; John, who resides in Mecca; William, who
occupies the old homestead; George, who lives in West Geneva,
Michigan ; Mary Jane, wife of John Reel, living in Girard, Ohio.
Samuel was married March 15, 1839, to Miss Ann Jane Wilson, by
whom he had four sons and three daughters—James L., John F.,
George E., William G, Amanda, Esther, and Alice. Alice and
George are deceased. George lost his life February 3, 1881, by
an explosion in Ward's iron mill in which he was employed as
engineer. His first wife died August 23, 1854, and he afterwards
married the widow of Aaron Kingsley. They had seven
children—Mary, Martha, Luther, Phila A., William H. H., Sarah
S. J., and Franklin. Mr. Edwards has been during his life engaged
in different pursuits. While young he learned the shoemaker's
trade, but in later years he has given his principal attention
to farming. |
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E. E. FERRIS was born in the town of Buckingham, Ottawa, Canada,
September 28, 1842. He came to Trumbull county, settling in Weathersfield township, in 1869. He married September 8, 1875,
Miss Savilla Moser, and purchased, where he now lives, in 1876.
He owns altogether one hundred and forty-four acres of land. |
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DR. A. J. LEITCH, son of
Robert and Eliza Leitch, was born near
Belfast, Ireland, in 1848, and came to Niles, Trumbull county,
Ohio, with his parents in the spring of 1852. He adopted the
medical profession, and after a course of reading graduated from
the Cleveland Medical college in 1871. He commenced practice the
same year in Niles in partnership with Professor H. G. Landis,
of the Starling Medical college, Columbus, Ohio, with whom he
continued some four years. He then engaged in the drug business,
in which he was engaged until the fall of 1879, when he formed
a partnership in the practice of medicine with Dr. A. P.
McKinley, of Niles, the firm being McKinley & Leitch. February
17, 1881, he was united in marriage to Miss Ella M. Ward. |
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WARREN LEWIS
(deceased) was born in Clarksville, Pennsylvania,
September 12, 1800. He married, November 26, 1829, Miss Hannah
M. Bowel, daughter of an early settler in Howland, the family
settling there about 1802. After his marriage he returned to his
home in Pennsylvania, but subsequently came to Ohio and
purchased a farm in Weathersfield township, Trumbull county,
where he located and reared a family of six children, named as
follows: Henry, Rebecca M., Mary, Charlotte, Jesse B.,
and Clara, wife of R. G. Sikes. Henry, Rebecca,
Mary, and Charlotte
are dead. Rebecca was twice married, first to James M.
Robinson,
by whom she had one daughter. Her second husband was Jerry
Tibbits.
Mr. Lewis died October 24, 1859, and his wife September 28,
1864. Jesse B. Lewis was in the Union army in the war of
secession, and was wounded at Atlanta in the right arm, which
finally necessitated amputation. He married Miss Ella M.
Woodward, of Cleveland, by whom he had one child, Ella
E., who
died in infancy. His wife died August 13, 1872, and he was again
married January 1, 1874, to Miss Frances Lamphear, and has two
sons by this marriage, Warren S. and Raymond J. Mr.
Lewis occupies the old family homestead. |
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ISAAC MARSHALL was among the early settlers of Weathersfield
township, where he purchased fifty-four acres of land. He was
born in 1785 and 1808 married Jane Megee, who was
born in 1784.
They had a family of four boys and five girls, as follows:
John, Benjamin, Huston, Miles, Sally, Betsey, Jane, Mary,
and Lucinda. Isaac Marshall died March, 1858, and his wife
September, 1868. He was drafted in the War of 1812 for three
months. |
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JOHN MARSHALL was born March 14, 1810; married in March, 1836,
Mary A. Nelson, born October 5, 1813. Their children were
John Calvin, a son who died in infancy, Margaret
Jane, Sarah Samantha
(deceased), Electa Ann, and Linus Ida.
John Marshall attended
the pioneer schools of Weathersfield. The building was of the
rudest kind. It was built of round logs daubed with mortar; the
floors were laid down loose, a fire-place on one side, split
logs for benches, boards fastened onto pins driven into the
walls for writing desks, and windows of greased paper. Such is a
brief description of the earliest school-houses, and all the
schooling he ever got was obtained in such a house. There was no
church building in his township until as late as 1833. |
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H. H. MASON was born in Essex county, New York, January 3, 1819.
He came to Ohio in April, 1835, with his parents and settled
near Niles, Trumbull county. During the next four years he was
employed as clerk for William H. Goodhue and William
McFarland,
each a year and a half, and for Smith & McCombs one year. In
1839 he returned to Niles and engaged in mercantile business in
which he continued until 1864. August 16, 1880, he was appointed
postmaster at Niles, which position he still holds. His father,
Ambrose Mason, was the first incumbent of the office, appointed
in 1842, and as assistant to his father he distributed the first
mail received there. He was married, February 22, 1842, to Miss Adaliza T. Kingsley, and has six children, four sons and two
daughters. |
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HIRAM T. MASON, third son of Ambrose and Jemima Mason, was born
in Essex county, New York, in 1816; came to Ohio with his
parents in 1835 ; married in 1839, Miss Margaret Cherry, by whom
he has had three sons and two daughters, as follows: A. C,
Albert H., Jesse E., Alice A, and Clara A. A. C.
and Alice are
deceased. A. C. died in the army during the Rebellion, and is
buried at Chattanooga, Tennessee. He was captain of company C,
One Hundred and Fifth Ohio volunteer infantry. Mr. Mason, our
subject, was elected county commissioner in 1861, and served six
years. He is a prominent member of the Disciples church, and has
been deacon in his church for twenty years and an elder for ten
years. |
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JACOB MAY was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, August 6, 1814.
He was brought up on a farm and has always followed farming as
an occupation. He moved to his present farm in Weathersfield
township, Trumbull county, in 1835, purchasing one hundred
acres. He now owns two hundred and ninety-three acres and is one
of the substantial farmers of the county; is the owner of
property in Niles and also in Girard. In September, 1834, he
married Miss Elizabeth Floor, and had a family of eleven
children, as follows: Samuel, Mary, Freeman, Daniel, Katie,
John, Zenas, William, Amanda and Lucy (twins)
and Lines, all living but Freeman. |
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GEORGE McCARTNEY, oldest son of
Andrew and Eleanor (Wilson) McCartney, was born in Liberty township, Trumbull county, Ohio,
September 7, 1811. His father was a native of Indiana county,
Pennsylvania ; came to Ohio first about 1806. He was then a
single man, and tended saw-mill at Mill creek for Judge
Baldwin.
He married Eleanor, daughter of James Wilson,
of Youngstown township, and settled within one mile of where
Girard now is James Wilson, the father of Mrs.
McCartney, was one of the
earliest pioneers of Youngstown township. He was a Revolutionary
soldier, serving during the entire war. About three years after
his marriage Andrew McCartney removed with his family to Indiana
county, Pennsylvania, and occupied the old homestead nineteen
years. He then returned to Trumbull county and bought a
gristmill at Girard, and afterwards built a saw-mill, fulling-mill,
and carding machine, which he operated for many years. He was
made justice of the peace in Liberty township and served nine
years. He died March 30, 1858, in the seventy-fifth year of his
age. His wife survived him about ten years. They had six sons
and two daughters. George McCartney obtained his schooling in
the log school-house of those days. He was brought up to milling
and tended his father's mills until the building of the
Pennsylvania & Ohio canal necessitated the abandonment of the
grist-mill. He married first, March 22, 1836, Mary Eckman,
and continued to live at Girard. His wife died October 9, 1847,
leaving two daughters and one son—Elizabeth, wife of Jacob
Stambaugh,
Eleanor, wife of John Rush, of Girard, and
Andrew J. McCartney,
of Youngstown. May 25, 1848, Mr. McCartney married Mrs.
Mary Ann Brooks, who died December 10, 1851. He was married a third time
to Elizabeth Osborn, of Youngstown township, born in 1815, who
is still living. By this marriage one daughter was born—Mary L.,
now wife of Calvin Marshall. About 1839 Mr.
McCartney located on
the farm where he now lives. There was then but three acres
cleared and a small log cabin on the place. He has lived to see
a vast improvement in the appearance of the county, and is
enjoying the fruit of an active life. |
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J. T. McCONNELL, merchant, senior member of the firm
McConnell
Brothers, of Mineral Ridge, Trumbull county, is a son of William
C. and Harriet McConnell. He was born in Weathersfield township,
Trumbull county, in 1848. He began business with John Leavitt at
Mineral Ridge, under the firm name John Leavitt & Co., and
continued in this partnership about six years. In 1878 McConnell
Brothers bought out Mr. Leavitt and have since been in the
business. They have by far the largest and best furnished store
in the village, and their custom is constantly increasing. In
1876 Mr. McConnell married Fannie L. Church, of Canfield, by
whom he has two children, Freddie and Willie. He is a member of
the Niles Masonic lodge. |
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JOHN McCONNELL
(deceased) was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, April 3,
1778. February 25, 1802, he married Miss Nancy
Travis, and had a family of five sons and five daughters—Alexander,
born April 5, 1803; John, born September 3, 1804;
Polly, January 8, 1806; Rebecca, October 19, 1807;
Peggy, April 2, 1809; Matthew, November 26, 1810;
Elizabeth, August 17, 1812; James, June 6, 1814;
William C., February 2, 1816; Martha J.,
January 24, 1818. John, Rebecca, Peggy,
Matthew, and Martha J. are deceased. Mr.
McConnell, with his family, consisting then of his wife
and oldest son, came to Trumbull county, Ohio, in 1804, settling
in Weathersfield township. He erected a log-cabin in the
woods, building it one day and moving into it the next. He
resided there until his death, which took place September 27,
1853. His wife died February 26, 1841, and he was married again
to Mrs. Lovinia Rice, who lived until
January 17, 1881, reaching within less than a month the great
age of one hundred and three years. The old homestead is now
occupied by William C. McConnell. He has been married
three times. His first wife was Harriet McCombs, by whom
he had six children—Sally, Olive, John T.,
William J., Charlie, Kittie H. After twenty-five years of
married life his wife died. He married for his second wife
Miss Sarah J. Simpson. By this marriage he had one
son, Clyde W. The mother died December 26, 1867, and he
again married Mrs. Eusebia Campbell, widow of Calvin
S. Campbell. She had one son by her former husband,
George C. |
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W. J. McCONNELL, junior partner in the above named firm, was
born in Weathersfield township in 1852, and began mercantile
life in 1878. In 1879 he married Jennie Jones, of Mineral Ridge,
and has one child, Blanche. |
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ANDREW McROBERTS (deceased) was born in Ireland in 1804. In 1832
he married Miss Mary McClure, by whom he had eight children, viz:
James, John, and Georgiana, who were born in Ireland, and
Caldwell, Mary Ann, Jordan, Helen, and
Rachel, born in Mahoning
county. In 1837 Mr. McRoberts purchased a farm of fifty acres in
Austintown township, Mahoning county, where he made settlement.
He removed to Lawrence county, Pennsylvania, in 1852, where he
resided until his death, in 1863. His widow is still living, and
resides in New Castle, Pennsylvania. James, their eldest son,
married, October, 1858, Miss Laura M. Draper, by whom he had
four children, as follows: Ida, Alice, John, and
Mary. His first
wife died May 31, 1870, and he subsequently married Miss
Isabella White. He was in the service during the war of the
Rebellion nine months. He now resides on the old Draper
homestead near Niles. |
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E. I. MOORE, book-keeper at Russia Iron mills, Niles, Trumbull
county, was born in Niles in 1854, and is a son of Irwin
and Mary N. Moore. He was educated at Oberhn college. After
finishing his school work Mr. Moore acted as book-keeper and
then as cashier of a bank for five years; he then engaged in the
drug business in Niles in company with Dr. McKinley for one
year, then served one year in the bank. In 1879 he was engaged
as book-keeper for L. B. Ward, a position which he still holds. |
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E. J. OHL, druggist, Mineral Ridge, Trumbull county, was born in
Ohltown, Weathersfield township, Trumbull county, in 1847. He is
a son of Henry Ohl. When six years of age he went with his
parents to Allen county, Indiana, where his father engaged in
farming. At the age of fifteen and one-half years Mr. Ohl
enlisted as a private in the Thirtieth regiment of Indiana
volunteers. This regiment witnessed some hard engagements, among
which were the battles of Shiloh, Lookout Mountain, and at
Atlanta. January 1, 1863, Mr. Ohl's company went into the battle
of Stone River with thirty-one men, and twenty-one of these were
killed and wounded. His term of enlistment expired September 29,
1864, and he returned to Trumbull county. After four months he
enlisted in the One Hundred and Ninety-sixth Ohio volunteers,
and was commissioned second lieutenant of company K by Governor
Brough. The members of this company presented Lieutenant
Ohl
with a fine gold watch in token of their esteem. When the war
closed he returned to Ohltown. In 1867 he engaged in mercantile
business in partnership with Andrew Ohl, at Mineral Ridge. In
1875 the store, of which he was the sole proprietor, being
destroyed by fire he engaged in farming for one year. He was
then appointed postmaster at Mineral Ridge, and still manages
the office in connection with the drug business. In 1875 Mr.
Ohl
recruited a company of the Ohio National guard and was elected
captain. In 1877 he was appointed lieutenant-colonel, and 1880
colonel. Colonel Ohl has also held a number of local offices. In
1866 he married Sarah J. Herring, of Weathersfield township.
They have five children—Sadie Olive O., William Arthur,
Mary Ida, Harry Carlton, and Nellie Herring.
Mr. Ohl is one of the
charter members of the Mineral Ridge Independent Order of Odd
Fellows' lodge. |
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JOHN PARK, son of Elijah and
Margaret Park, was born in Wells,
Rutland county, Vermont, May 22, 1794. He was married December
5, 1816, to Miss Sophia Broughton, and has had a family of five
children, four sons and one daughter, named as follows: Samuel,
Cephas, John H., Rachel Ann, Servetus W., all born in Vermont
but the youngest, who was born in Moriah, New York. Mr.
Park
removed from Vermont to Essex county, New York, where he resided
some five or six years, when he came to Ohio in the spring of
1831. He was accompanied by Jonathan Folsom, and with him
purchased five hundred and fifty-two acres in Weathersfield
township, near Niles. The tract was afterwards divided, our
subject getting one hundred and eighty-four acres off the south
part. He brought out his family in the fall of 1831. That
section was still quite new, the nearest post-office being
Hake's corners. His wife died January 3, 1854, and the following
year he married Miss Mary Ann Cline, by whom he had three
children, one son and two daughters— Mary, Seth, and
Cora. Of
the children by his first marriage all are dead except Cephas,
John H., and Servetus. John H. occupies the
old homestead. He was married May 1, 1845, to Mary Weisell and had the following
children: Edwin, Minerva J. (dead),
Rachel A., Rebecca R., John, C. E., and Samuel H. Mrs.
Parks died June 14, 1880. Mr. Parks,
Sr., is still living in a pleasant home adjoining the homestead
at the advanced age of eighty-seven. |
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C. W. PORTER, druggist, Niles, Trumbull county, was born in Austintown township, Mahoning county, in 1850. In 1867 he
engaged in the drug business for E. A. Smith at Warren, and
continued there until 1871, then was in the same business in
Meadville, Pennsylvania, until 1874. In 1875 he began the same
business in Niles and still continues to follow it. Mr.
Porter
was married in 1879 to Miss Ella Leslie, of Niles. He is
prospering finely in his business. |
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BENJAMIN B.
ROBBINS was born in Youngstown, Ohio, December n, 1830.
He was the eldest of three sons of N. T. Robbins, who
settled on what is still the family homestead, in 1834. The two
younger sons are still living, T. N. in Niles, and J.
D. in Cleveland. B. B. Robbins was united in marriage
September 29, 1853, to Miss A. E. Carle, daughter of
Joshua and Margaret (Oliver) Carle, who was born in
Smithfield, Jefferson county, Ohio, on the 1st of March, 1834.
After their marriage they settled on the place where the family
still reside. Mr. Robbins was a farmer by
occupation and a successful and prosperous man. He was noted for
his benevolence and generosity. He died November 21, 1881. He
was the father of five sons and two daughters, six of whom are
living: George B., born September 2, 1854, a merchant of
Niles; Noble T., February 22, 1856, a graduate of the
Albany, New York, law school; Frank C., May 30,
1858, in trade with his brother George; Henry J.,
February 17, 1862, on the home place; Maggie N., January
30, 1865; Ollie K, April 17, 1868. |
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JOSIAH ROBBINS
was born in Youngstown, Mahoning county, Ohio, August 21, 1802,
son of Josiah and Elizabeth (Newport) Robbins. Josiah
Robbins, Sr., settled in Youngstown township in 1799, on the
place now owned by James Smith, which he cleared
up and on which he lived until 1850. He was for many years a
justice of the peace and was a member of the Swedenborgian
church. He raised a family of four sons and four daughters, of
whom but two are living: Mrs. Matilda Cleveland,
of Niles, and Mrs. Eliza Heaton, of
Illinois. He died in 1855. Josiah, Jr., married in
1827 Maria, daughter of James Heaton. She
was born in 1806. To that marriage were born four sons, three of
whom are living. Mrs. Robbins died in 1835, and in
1836 Mr. Robbins married Electa, daughter
of Judge Ambrose Mason. She was born in Moriah,
Essex county, New York, January 28, 1815. By this marriage there
were born two sons and one daughter, all of whom are living.
Josiah Robbins, Jr., settled on the Heaton
homestead, now occupied by William B. Mason, in 1827. He
was engaged in the furnace business in connection with his
brother-in-law, Warren Heaton, for ten or twelve
years, until 1843, when he was elected to the State Legislature
for one term. He took an active part in the cause of temperance
and was a strong and influential anti-slavery man. His home was
frequently visited by that able and stalwart abolitionist,
Joshua R. Giddings, and furnished a refuge for fugitives
from slavery. He was engaged for many years in the lumber trade.
He was also engaged in farming, owning four hundred acres, upon
which the greater part of Niles is situated. In company with a
son and a Mr. Lawson, he erected a flouring mill
at Princeton, Illinois, in 1854, and one also in Chicago. During
the latter part of his life he was engaged in market-gardening,
which he followed merely as a pastime. He did much for the
improvement of Niles, building many of the principal buildings
there, including the post-office. He was postmaster for eleven
years', holding the position at the time of his death, which
occurred December 11, 1873, at the age of seventy-one years,
four months, and twenty days. |
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S. A. RUSSELL, merchant, Niles, Trumbull county, was born in
Huron county, Ohio, in 1851. He was employed upon a farm until
eighteen years of age, then entered a grocery store in Elyria,
Ohio, as clerk, and remained three years. In 1873 he came to
Niles and learned the drug business, clerking for W. L. Gaston &
Co. Then for four years he clerked for James Crandon, grocer,
and in 1881 engaged in the same business for himself. In 1875 he
married Miss Lena Scheible, of Niles, and has two children—Leroy
and Hattie. He is doing a good business. |
WILLIAM SPILL was born in Thornbury, Englang (spelled as in
history book), November 5, 1822, the oldest son of William
Spill, Sr., and Ann Brett. The family removed to Wales about
1837, where he worked as tallow-chandler. He was engaged as
superintendent of coal banks for some three years. He married in
1845, Jane Hanson, a native also of England, and has two sons
now living in Warren, George and Thomas. His first wife died in
1853. He married in 1859 Mary Williams, his present wife, born
in Wales in 1822. Mr. Spill came to this country in 1852 and to
Ohio in 1854, having lived for two years in Maryland.
He first located in Weathersfield township and engaged at his
old occupation, coal mining. In 1866 he removed to Mineral
Ridge, where, with his son George, he was engaged in
merchandising some twelve years. He removed to Warren in 1880
and has since lived a retired life. |
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SAMUEL H. STILLWAGON, only son of Josiah
and Jane Stillwagon,
was born in Butler county, Pennsylvania, in 1850. He came to
Weathersfield township, Trumbull county, Ohio, in 1865,! the
farm now owned and occupied by him being purchased by his uncle,
William Milford. June 11, 1872, he was married to
Miss Kittie Hake. They have had two children,
Freddie and Millie. The latter
died April 21, 1880. Mr. Stillwagon is the owner of two hundred
and eighty-five acres, the home place comprising nearly two
hundred. Himself and wife are members of the Disciples church.
His father died February 29, 1852. His mother still survives,
and resides with him. |
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SEXTON SYKES, deceased, was a native of the State of Vermont,
born in 1809. He lived in New York State several years. When a
young man he came to Ohio and settled in Green township, now in
Mahoning county. He was elected the first recorder of deeds of
Mahoning county in 1846 and served two terms. He then went to
California and engaged in mining and keeping boarders. He died
in Placerville, California, in 1853. He was married in 1836 to
Rachel, daughter of David and Elizabeth Gilson, of Columbiana
county. She was born in 1809 and now resides in Canfield,
Mahoning county, where her home has been since 1846. She is the
mother of six children, all of whom are living, viz : Phebe,
Niles, Trumbull county; Melissa, married James Lowry, resides in
Boardman; Celestia, married James Shorten, resides in
Cincinnati; Robert, married Anna Mclntyre, lives in Holmes
county; Loretta, married Daniel Strickler, resides in Salem,
Columbiana county; and Raymond G., married Clara
Loose, resides
in Niles, where he is engaged in the manufacture of iron
roofing. |
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C. W. THOMAS, merchant, Niles, Trumbull county, was born at
Clark's Cove, near Pittsburg, in 1857. He has followed clerking
and dealing in merchandise. He was in business with his father,
D. C. Thomas, in Newburg, Ohio, in 1872-73. In
December, 1873, Mr. Thomas came to Niles and was
in business with his father until 1877, and has since been in
business for himself. In 1880 he married Miss F. E. Talbitzer, of Niles, by whom he has. one
child—Carl D. |
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JOHN R. THOMAS, manufacturer of fire-brick and iron, Niles,
Trumbull county, was born in Aberdale, county of Glamorgan,
South Wales, in 1834. In 1866 he emigrated to America. While in
Wales he was engaged in the manufacture of fire-brick, a
business which he has followed nearly thirty years. In 1866 Mr.
Thomas went to California, returned thence to Wales, and in 1868
came to Youngstown. He has since resided in that place and in
Niles. Mr. Thomas is connected with two of the leading
industries of Niles, being a member of the Thomas Furnace
company, and the Niles Firebrick company. In 1855 he married
Margaret Morgan, a native of Brynllor, county of Carmathen,
South Wales, and has five children living, viz: John M., of
Albany Law school, New York; Thomas E., William A, Margaretta
and Mary Ann, of Niles. Mr. Thomas is a member of the Masonic
order. In politics he has always been a Republican. He is one of
the successful and honored manufacturers of the Mahoning valley. |
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ABRAM VAN WYE
(deceased) was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, in 1797.
In 1819 he married Charity Laird and had a family of twelve
children, as follows: Charles, John, Lydia,
Mary, Nancy,
Catharine, Amanda, William, Joseph
W., Darthula W., Almyra S.,
and Sabina H., of whom six are living. In the spring of 1834 he
emigrated to Ohio and settled in Weathersfield township,
Trumbull county. His original purchase comprised one hundred and
fifty acres of land, but at the time of his death he owned four
hundred acres. He was well and favorably known throughout this
region. He died May 2, 1854, his wife surviving him about ten
years. Charles, the oldest son, who owns the family homestead,
was born March 28, 1820; married Miss Katie Draper, and has had
ten children — Abram, Elihu, William, George,
Charles, Alice May, John, Kit, and two unnamed, dying in
infancy. His first wife died in 1873, and he afterwards married
Rebecca Caldwell (her maiden name). No children by this
marriage. Joseph W., the fourth son, was born on the old
homestead in Weathersfield, April 16, 1837. In 1877 he married
Alia Troxel and has had one daughter—Almyra.
Mrs. Van Wye had
been previously married and had one son—Freddie. He purchased
the farm on which he now lives in 1872. He was in the war of
secession three months as member of company B, Eighty-fourth
Ohio volunteer infantry. Abram Van Wye was born in Weathersfield
township, November 19, 1845. He was in the service of his
country during the war of the Rebellion, a member of company C,
Nineteenth Ohio veteran volunteer infantry, and participated in
a number of severe engagements, among them the battles of
Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, etc., but came
through without a scar, and returned to peaceful pursuits. Mr.
Van Wye married Sarah Leach. They have three children, all
living—Warren, Frank, and Anna. William Van
Wye was born upon
the homestead farm July 7, 1850. He has always followed
farming, and now resides upon a portion of the old homestead. In
October, 1873, he married Maria E. Bolin, by whom he has one
child—Lizzie Bolin Van Wye. |
JAMES WARD.
It is but proper that a sketch of the life of the man to whom
more than any other the industrial development of Niles is due
should be included in this work. The following sketch was
published in a book containing an account of the principal
manufactures and manufacturers of Ohio:
James Ward was born November 25, 1813,
near Dudley, Staffordshire, England. When four years old he came
with his parents to Pittsburg, where he received an ordinary
school education which concluded when he was thirteen years of
age. He then began work in earnest, aiding his father in the
manufacture of wrought iron nails. This he continued until he
was nineteen, when he commenced to learn engineering and
remained engaged in that business until 1841. In 1843 he moved
to Niles and was connected with the rolling-mill business of
James Ward & Co., continuing the same until his death, July
24, 1864.
James Ward was looked upon by business men, even
when a boy, as possessing all the elements suitable for the
avocation he pursued, and many predicted that in time he would
attain the first rank in his business and stand at its head.
This prophecy was abundantly fulfilled.
Mr. Ward was married in 1835 at
Pittsburg, to Miss Eliza Dithridge, of that
place, daughter of William and Elizabeth
Dithridge. The issue of this marriage was seven children,
all of whom are dead except James Ward, Jr. Mr. Ward
is supposed to have been the first man to practically use pig
iron made from raw coal, also the first to practically utilize
the blackband ore of this region. The furnace built by him in
1859 was operated a number of years.
He left a name known not only in his immediate
vicinity, but as wide-spread as the country, an honorable and
liberal man, endowed with great enterprise and business
capacity, and was cut down while yet in his prime. He had
garnered wealth and reputation without creating the envy which
so usually accompanies these possessions. He won golden opinions
from all, and there are none who knew him who do not respect his
memory and appreciate his character. |
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JAMES WARD, Sr., was a native of Staffordshire, England. He came
to America in 1815, and in 1841 located at Niles, Trumbull
county, Ohio, and in company with his brother William, and
Thomas Russell, under the firm name of James Ward & Co., erected
the first rolling mill established at Niles, and in 1859 built
the first blast furnace. Mr. Ward was one of the most prosperous
and enterprising citizens of the Mahoning valley, and Niles
owes its growth and prosperity principally to him. He died in
1864. His widow, Eliza Ward, is still living, residing with her
son James. They had a family of seven children, of whom
Mr. James Ward, of Niles, is the only survivor, the well-known iron
manufacturer of Niles. He married Miss Elizabeth, daughter of
William H. Brown, of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and has five
children, James, William H., Charles S., May
B., and Lizzie B. |
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JONATHAN WARNER was born in Sodus, Wayne county, New York,
February 10, 1808. When fifteen or sixteen years of age he went
to Oswego, where he was employed as a clerk in a store. He
afterwards returned to Sodus and engaged in mercantile business.
He was married November 22, 1829, to Eliza Landon, who was born
in Oneida county, New York, April 6, 1810. Mr. Warner continued
in business in Sodus until about the year 1843, when he removed
to Youngstown, Ohio, where he carried on the same business many
years. He afterwards engaged in the iron business, and with
Mr. Philpott built the first furnace at Brier Hill in that section,
and operated there some two years. A short time previous to the
war of 1861-65 he removed to Mineral Ridge, where he has since
resided. He had acquired large coal and iron interests at
Mineral Ridge, built two blast furnaces, and afterwards carried
on an extensive business there many years. He finally sold his
furnaces for a large figure, taking in part payment several
thousand acres undeveloped mineral lands in the Lake Superior
region. He organized the Republic Iron company, of Marquette,
Michigan, of which he was president several years, and in which
he is still a stockholder. Mr. Warner was the first to
discover th0 unprecedented richness of the mine originally
called Smith Mountain, and inaugurated the; movement for its
development. In 1872 he bought back his furnace at Mineral
Ridge. The panic came the next year, and proved disastrous to
his business, and he was compelled to make an assignment. He
subsequently went to North Carolina and leased a gold mine,
which proved unremunerative, and after remaining there a couple
of years he returned to Mineral Ridge, where he has since led a
substantially retired life. Mr. Warner's career has been one of
great activity, and he has done much for the material
development of the region in which he has lived. He has also
been a generous donor to moral and religious enterprises. Mr.
and Mrs. Warner are the parents of five children, who are all
living, as follows: Mrs. Myron I. Arms, of Youngstown;
Edwin J. and Jacob B., of Denver, Colorado; Charles M. and
William H., of Mineral Ridge. |
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THOMAS B. WILSON, with a wife and five children, came from Perry
county, Pennsylvania, to Weathersfield, Trumbull county, Ohio,
in 1833. He was married in 1812, immediately on his return from
the war, and had a family of the following children: Margaret,
Anna, James, Mary, Caroline,
Rachel, and Elizabeth. He was a hatter by trade, but
did not follow it after coming to Ohio, but successfully pursued
farming until the time of his death, which occurred in April,
1869. His wife, whose maiden name was Agnes Thompson,
survived him, dying in June, 1878. The old homestead is owned
and occupied by their son James. |
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