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Biographies
 Source:
20th Century History of Youngstown and Mahoning Co., Ohio
and Representative Citizens
Publ. by Biographical Publishing Co. -
Chicago, Illinois
1907
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ENSIGN
N. BROWN, attorney-at-law, at Youngstown, with
law office in the Maloney block on Wick avenue, was
born in 1854, at Canfield, in Mahoning County, Ohio, and is a son of
Richard and Thalia F. (Newton) Brown.
Richard Brown, born in Derbyshire, England, was
a son of Captain John Brown, an officer in the English army,
and came to America about 1845. He married Thalia F. Newton,
a daughter of Hon. Eben Newton, who settled in Mahoning
County in 1815, and who lived his whole life at Canfield, with the
exception of a few years during which he practiced law at
Cincinnati. He was the first judge of Mahoning County, was a
member of the state senate and in 1852 was elected a member of
congress from this district. Some time after 1860 he served
again as a member of the Ohio state senate.
Ensign N. Brown was an infant when he was taken
to New York city, where he was carefully reared and educated, his
father being a merchant there. In 1878 he returned to
Canfield, called there to look after his grandfather's interests,
and, in accordance with the wishes of the aged jurist, he entered
upon the study of law in the office of Judges Van Hyning and
Johnston. In 1880 he was admitted to the bar at
Columbus, and then located at Youngstown, where he has gained a
prominent position in the profession. He is a member of the
Law Library Association.
In 1876 Mr. Brown was married to
Jeanette Cooper, of New York City, and they have two daughters,
Genevieve Newton and Bessie Hunt. Mr. Brown has
always taken a good citizen's interest in politics, but has never
consented to be a candidate for office. He is one of the
leading Masons of the city, having been identified with the
fraternity for thirty years, and is past master of the Blue Lodge.
He is a member of St. John's Church.
Source:
20th Century History of Youngstown and Mahoning Co., Ohio
and Representative Citizens -
Publ. by Biographical Publishing Co. -
Chicago, Illinois -
1907 - Page 618 |
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HARVEY
O. BROWN, general merchant at New Springfield,
is one of the leading men of this place, where he has been
established in business since 1896. He was born in Springfield
township, Mahoning County, Ohio, July 28, 1871, and is a son of
Jeremiah and Sophia (Miller) Brown.
Harvey O. Brown was reared on his father's farm
and in boyhood attended the district schools. Later he went to
school in Canfield and then engaged in teaching in Mahoning County,
for four years. He also took a commercial course in Duffy's
Business College, at Pittsburg, after which he went to New
Cumberland, West Virginia, where he worked for one year in a
pottery. After his return to Springfield township he taught
school for two more years and then embarked in his present
enterprise at New Springfield. Mr. Brown has an
immense store, one that would do credit in every way to a large city
and does an approximately large business. He began with
quarters but one-third the size of his present commodious two-story
building, the latter of which he erected in 1905, forced to do so by
his rapidly increasing trade. Here he has 55 by 60 feet of
space on the ground floor and 36 by 35 feet on the second floor,
while in the rear he has a store room for farm machinery which gives
60 by 40 feet of space and in addition he has a large warehouse.
All this space is needed to accommodate his large and varied stock
of goods, which include dry goods, groceries, hardware, farm
implements, buggies, wagons, paints and oils, in fact about
everything a rich surrounding agricultural community requires and a
critical town taste demands. He runs a delivery wagon and in
addition to his own services, requires the assistance of three
capable clerks.
On Aug. 25, 1898, Mr. Brown was married
to Jennie Rinkenberger, who was born on a farm in
Springfield township, one-half mile from New Springfield. Her
father, William Rinkenberger, resides with Mr. and Mrs.
Brown. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have five children,
namely: Harvey Guy, aged seven years; Helen,
aged five years; Pauline, aged three years, and Burton
Jeremiah and Elbert William, twin sons.
Mr. Brown is identified with the
Democratic party. For four years he was township clerk and has
served two years as school director. He is treasurer of the
New Springfield Butter Manufacturing Company, and is one of its
directors. His fraternal connection is with the Knights of
Pythias, being a member of Manitou Lodge, No. 383, at North Lima.
Source:
20th Century History of Youngstown and Mahoning Co., Ohio
and Representative Citizens -
Publ. by Biographical Publishing Co. -
Chicago, Illinois -
1907 - Page 812 |
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JEREMIAH BROWN, a retired citizen of New
Middletown, for many years was a prominent agriculturist of
Springfield township, and resided on his well-improved farm of 105½
acres. He was born Mar. 24, 1834, in Springfield township,
Mahoning County, Ohio, and is a son of David and Hannah
(Flaucher) Brown.
The parents of Mr. Brown came to Ohio from
Pennsylvania, the father acquiring 80 acres of land in Springfield
township, on which he lived for many years prior to moving to Grundy
County, Iowa, where both he and his wife died. They had the
following children:
a babe that died in infancy; Nancy, who married Isaac
Snyder, residing in Kansas; Jeremiah; Eli,
residing in Grundy County, Iowa; Leah, deceased; and
Manassas, residing at Devil's Lake, North Dakota. In politics.
David Brown was a Democrat. He was a consistent
member of the German Baptist Church.
Jeremiah Brown remained at home until he
was 22 years of age, obtaining his education in the common schools
of the neighborhood and securing agricultural training on his
father's land. He worked for himself for some two years prior
to his marriage and then settled on a farm which consisted of 60
acres, the buildings standing in Springfield township, but a part of
the land lying in Pennsylvania. He operated that farm for six
years and then came to the farm on which he lived before moving into
New Middletown, in 1896. He made many improvements on his
place remodeled the buildings and introduced modern methods of
farming.
Mr. Brown was married (first) to Sophia
Miller, and they had three children, namely: Valentine,
residing at St. Louis, has two children, Dale and Nora;
Harvey O., residing at New Springfield, and Francis
residing in California. On Apr. 4, 1894, Mr. Brown was
married (second) to Rebecca Ilgenfritz, who was born in
Springfield township, and is a daughter of Frederick and
Elizabeth (Miller) Ilgenfritz.
Mr. Brown has been a live-long Democrat, but has
never been willing to accept public office. He is a member of
the Lutheran Church.
Source:
20th Century History of Youngstown and Mahoning Co., Ohio
and Representative Citizens -
Publ. by Biographical Publishing Co. -
Chicago, Illinois -
1907 - Page 782 |
Joseph H. Brown |
JOSEPH HENRY BROWN,
one of the earliest iron manufacturers in the Mahoning valley, was
born of English parentage at Glamorganshire, Wales, July 24, 1810.
He was cradled in the iron business, his father and grandfather
having been iron manufacturers. At the age of four he was
brought to this country by his parents, who settled in Maryland.
His father, John Brown, erected the Ellicott iron and
copper mills near Baltimore. Here, at an early age, Mr.
Brown began to learn the iron business with his father.
His educational advantages being limited, he thirsted for knowledge.
A prominent family gave him access to their extensive library, to
the kindness of whom he often after referred as owing much of the
success of his life. Diligently studying at night, possessed
of a bright mind and retentive memory, he acquired a good education.
According to an old-time custom, his father claimed his wages until
he became of age. On this account when 20 years old, he left
home and sought employment in the iron mills at Montalto,
Pennsylvania. Here he showed such a knowledge of the business
that when his father came after him, his employer offered the young
man such great inducements that his father allowed him to remain. He
was soon after made manager of the works. From Montalto he
went to superintend the works at Antietam, which his father had
built, and later to superintend the mills at Harrisburg,
Pennsylvania, conducting them all in a most profitable manner.
In January, 1839, Mr. James D. White of
New Castle, Pennsylvania, sent for him to lay the foundation and
superintend the construction of the first iron works there. At
the death of Mr. White he leased and ran the null very
successfully until it was sold to A. L. Crawford & Company,
Mr. Brown purchasing an interest. The practical
management of the concern was left with him. The partnership
being successful, at the end of four years he erected another mill
in company with Joseph Higgs and Edward Thomas.
This establishment was considered one of the finest plants in the
states. Additional capital being necessary, three more
partners were admitted. Mr. Brown managed the
mechanical portion in a profitable manner, but through the
dishonesty of one of the new partners, the financial management was
a failure. About this time the mill burned down and Mr.
Brown found himself, after sixteen years of unceasing labor,
poor and penniless. In desperation he, with his younger
brother, Richard, drove over to Youngstown, then a village of
2,800 inhabitants, to see if they could not negotiate for the
purchase of Wick Brothers' old mill, and move it over
to New Castle. This was in 1855. The mill had not been running
for years, was rusted and neglected, requiring much labor and money
to put in order. The brothers, however, decided to buy it if
they could. "We haven't a cent." they said, "but we know how to make
iron." Their reputation had gone before them, and they soon
came to terms with the owners, who agreed to sell the mill on time
if they would let it remain in Youngstown. This they consented
to do. A partnership was formed, called Brown,
Bonnell & Company, consisting of Joseph and his brothers
Richard, Nathaniel and Thomas Brown and
William Bonnell, all of whom had been associated together
in the iron business in New Castle, and James Westerman
of Youngstown. The purchasers were to pay $100,000, $25,000
each year for four years. Repairs were at once begun and forty
men with their families moved over from New Castle by stage and
canal to work in the mill. At first the new firm had an
exceedingly hard time to keep in business. It was only by
indomitable perseverance that the mill was kept ging.
Youngstown was practically dead then and the people in their joy at
having something to do, willingly put up with many inconveniences.
The workmen received no cash, but were paid by the firm's orders on
a local store, in which the former owners of the mill were
interested. In spite of all these difficulties, the energetic
firm succeeded in paying for the plant in the time specified.
Their motto was "Good iron and fair dealing." Their success
was phenomenal, so that these mills soon became the second largest
exclusive iron plant in America and the names of its founders will
go down to posterity as the architects and builders of the city's
fortunes. Mr. Brown was the inventor of a number of
improvements in the making of iron, which he never patented.
One of them was the method of manufacturing nails with the fiber of
the iron running lengthwise instead of across the nails. This
has been the universal way of making cut nails ever since. He
also built one of the first two close-top blast furnaces in this
country (not knowing the other was under construction), reconverting
blast furnace practice in this country. In 1875 Mr. Brown,
in company with Mr. William Bonnell of Youngstown, and
Messrs. Samuel, George W. and Charles B.
Hale and Joseph T. Torrence, of Chicago, built the
Joseph H. Brown iron and steel works of South Chicago,
afterwards sold to the Calumet Iron and Steel Company.
Mr. Brown was one of the founders of the
merchant iron firm of "Cleveland Brown & Company," of Cleveland,
Ohio, also one of the founders and one of the early presidents of
the Mahoning National Bank and a director of the First National Bank
of Youngstown. He was the president of the Brown-Bonnell
Company from its beginning until the sale of his interest to
Herbert Ayer of Chicago in 1879. In political
matters he took no important part, but held that it was the duty of
every good citizen to always cast his vote. A man of large
brain, well informed on political economy, he was asked to a
conference of leading statesmen and frequently was called before the
ways and means committee at Washington to give his views.
During his residence at Chicago he was president of the "Tariff
League of America." After the sale of the Joseph H. Brown
Iron and Steel Works at Chicago, Mr. Brown, with his family,
returned to Youngstown, at the age of 72, much broken in health.
The death of his wife in June, 1886, was a severe blow to him, and
contributed largely to hasten his demise a few months later, Nov.
17, 1886. He was a member of the Trinity M. E. Church and
contributed largely to its support, as he did to all charitable and
benevolent institutions in the city, doing so as far as possible
without publicity, and no worthy suppliant was ever turned away.
In 1832 he was married to Miss Susanna Oellig, a
daughter of Dr. John Oellig, a prominent physician of
Waynesboro, Pennsylvania. They had twelve children, four of
whom died in infancy. The others are: Mrs. Edwin J. Warner,
Mrs. Cyrus E. Felton, J. Oellig Brown, Edmond L. Brown, Ella Brown,
Emily Brown, Mrs. William Powers and Joseph H. Brown, Jr.
The last two are now deceased.
He was a most affectionate husband and indulgent
father, to his friends cordial, generous and pleasant. His
face glowed with benevolence and good cheer. A man of great
business sagacity, high-minded and honorable, of stubborn integrity,
his word was his bond. A portrait of this estimable citizen is
published in connection with this article.
Source:
20th Century History of Youngstown and Mahoning Co., Ohio
and Representative Citizens -
Publ. by Biographical Publishing Co. -
Chicago, Illinois -
1907 - Page 607 |
Richard Brown |
RICHARD
BROWN, pioneer iron manufacturer, whose
portrait appears on a neighboring page of this volume, was the son
of John and Elizabeth (Swain) Brown, natives of England.
He came from a long line of Christian ancestry. His maternal
grandfather was a Wesleyan clergyman, his great uncle, Joseph
Swain, a celebrated Baptist clergyman and composer of the
Walworth hymns. Of his mother, Bishop Scott
said, "I have seldom, if ever, seen so ripe a Christian."
Mr. Brown inherited his aptitude for the
iron business from his father and grandfather who had the reputation
of making the best iron in Wales. His father came to this
country in 1814, and was one of the pioneer iron manufacturers of
America. Among the plants of his erection the first was at
Ellicott Mills, Maryland, where his son Richard was born Nov.
27, 1824. Mr. Brown received such advantages of
education as the local schools of that time afforded.
When 21 years of age he went to New Castle,
Pennsylvania, to join his elder brothers Joseph and
Nathaniel, who were engaged in the iron business there.
His life from that time on is more interesting than many a story
book. He arrived in New Castle in almost the same condition as
that in which Benjamin Franklin entered Philadelphia.
All his earthly possessions consisted of a church letter (which he
presented the following Sunday), one hundred dollars in bank notes,
and some small change. Unfortunately, the bank on which the
notes were drawn had just failed and he had nothing left but the
small change with which to begin life. He often laughingly
asserted that it was the first Sunday in New Castle that his
fortunes began because it was then at Sunday-school where he first
saw and fell in love with his wife.
He received a position at the mills as roll turner, at
which he earned $1.25 a day by working long hours. In
December, he was taken ill with fever. It was a year before he
could work again. His illness left him not only weak and out
of work but deeply in debt for food and medicine. Doubtless
many a man of less moral strength and courage would have given up in
despair. But out of these trials he emerged all the more
determined and hopeful. He secured a position in Orizaba
rolling mill of which his brother Joseph was a partner and
manager. He was accustomed to begin work at five in the
morning and work until four in the afternoon at the rolls, and from
four until six he worked at roll turning, clearing $3.00 a day, and
to earn a little extra money he frequently worked after supper until
bed time.
On Dec. 27, 1849, Mr. Brown was married
to Henrietta A. Chenoweth, and they went to England on their
wedding tour. Mr. Brown's purpose was to visit
the iron mills of Wales. The trip from New Castle to New York
was in those days a great undertaking. The young couple were
almost a week in reaching Philadelphia, part by stage and canal boat
and over the mountains by inclined plane. From Philadelphia to
New York they took the railway train, which required a full half day
to accomplish the trip. This was considered dangerous speed
and those who traveled it were thought to be risking life and limb.
Steamboats were considered dangerous experiments and the people had
not yet recovered from the excitement of the loss of the steamship
President not long before. When Mr. Brown
reached New York with a letter of introduction to Horace
Greely he asked his opinion of the comparative safety of the
steamship and sailing vessel. At Mr. Greely's
advice they took the latter. The trip over was accomplished in
18 days and the return in 30.
In 1855 the iron works in New Castle burned down and
Mr. Brown and his brother lost all they had. With
a determination that makes heroes of men they sought at once a new
enterprise. Hearing of an abandoned mill at Youngstown, Ohio,
Richard and his brother Joseph negotiated for the
purchase. A company was formed including the Brown Brothers,
Mr. William Bonell and Mr.
James Westerman. With credit and character for their only
capital, they gave their notes for $100,000. With rigid
economy and great industry they paid for it in four years.
That they were thenceforth in the highest degree successful is
attested by the extensive plant founded by them, called Brown,
Bonnell & Company, who products soon became known in all
markets of the world. In fact it is the cornerstone upon which
has been reared the superstructure of Youngstown's growth and
prosperity.
During the great growth of Youngstown Mr.
Brown was interested in many of its manufacturing enterprises.
He retired from business in 1891 and spent his winters at his
country residence in Florida. His blissful married life lasted
for over 50 years. He and his wife celebrated, their golden
wedding at Youngstown in the company of 25 nieces and nephews, three
of whom were members of his household. Mr. and Mrs. Brown
had no children but had a strong attachment for them, and were
called Uncle Richard and Aunt Hetty by almost the
entire community.
Mr. Brown was a most successful
superintendent of Trinity M. E. Sunday-school for over 20 years.
He was the leading figure in Trinity Church and it was largely
through his efforts and generosity that the present handsome stone
edifice was made possible. In order to help humanity he was
identified for years with all the best things in Youngstown.
He has given time, thought, money and influence to practically every
good movement. He was a most liberal giver to each of the five
Methodist Episcopal Churches, the public library and Young Men's
Christian Association. For several years before his death he
was president of the Board of Trustees of Mount Union College up to
which time his interest towards this institution never ceased.
He was a staunch and diligent worker in the temperance cause and in
every way possible he sought to elevate and help humanity.
Among his beautiful traits of character which was apparent to all
who knew him, was his cheerful view of life and human nature.
He carried a happy heart and more sunshine fell into other lives
when he passed by. On one time an abused confidence seemed
destined to bring financial disaster to him when his day for labor
was passed. His attorney said of him: "I had not then
nor have I since seen such quiet fortitude in the midst of such
adverse surroundings. I learned then to know why he could have
led so noble and good a life. His Maker had so fashioned him
that to be good and help were but the manifestations of his nature."
At the time of his demise an editorial said "In the death of
Richard Brown, Youngstown loses a great power for good.
He was an altruist by nature, and was one of the few men who never
allowed anything to dull or blunt his conscience. He never
became pessimistic and in spite of prosperity he never be; came
dazed by the glitter of gold. He was superior to his
environments and lived and died a true Christian. For years
the name of Richard Brown had been synonymous in
Youngstown with goodness, kindliness and generosity. He gave
not because of ostentation or for publicity, but through a sense of
duty and out of the innate openness of his heart. Such men as
Richard Brown are of more vital importance to a
community than fine residences, monuments of art, mills and
furnaces, and great bank accounts.
"He will live long in the memory of the people, not
because he made a success in life from a worldly standpoint, not
because he acquired wealth, but because he lived without guile, and
tried, by the best of his ability to make all with whom he came in
contact happy and hopeful."
Source:
20th Century History of Youngstown and Mahoning Co., Ohio
and Representative Citizens -
Publ. by Biographical Publishing Co. -
Chicago, Illinois -
1907 - Page 585 |
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J.
G. BUTLER, JR., one of Youngstown's leading
citizens, who is general manager of the Brier Hill Iron & Coal
Company, president of the Bessemer Limestone Company and chairman of
the Bessemer Pig Iron Association, has been a very prominent factor
in building up the great industries of the Mahoning Valley.
Mr. Butler was born in 1840, in Mercer County,
Pennsylvania, and is a son of J. G. and Temperance ( Orwig)
Butler. His parents were natives of Bellefonte,
Pennsylvania. The father was an iron worker and was connected
with, the large iron industries of Mercer County prior to 1842, when
he moved to Trumbull County, Ohio. During the
latter part of his life he lived retired from active business, but
he became a prominent and esteemed citizen of Trumbull County, of
which he was elected sheriff in 1861, and served until 1865.
J. G. Butler, Jr., has been connected with iron
interests almost all his business life. In 1863 he became
associated in the iron works of Brown, Bonnell & Company,
representing Hale & Ayer large owners in the enterprise, with
whom he remained until 1866, when he became a partner in the Girard
Iron Company of Girard, Ohio. In this connection he was
associated with the late Govenor Tod, William Ward and
William Richards. this association continued until 1878,
when Mr. Butler became general manager of the Brier Hill Iron
& Coal Company, in which capacity he has continued ever since.
He has large interests also in other companies and corporations.
He was vice-president of the Ohio Steel Company, is president of the
Bessemer Limestone Company, and is on the directing boards of the
Pittsburg, Youngstown & Astabula Railroad company and the
Mahoning Valley street railway system.
On June 10, 1860, Mr. Butler was married to
Harriet Voorhees Ingersoll, a daughter of Lieutenant Jonathan
Ingersoll of the United States navy, who is a representative of
one of the oldest and most prominent families of New England.
Mr. and Mrs. Butler have three children, viz.:
Blanche, the wife of E. L. Ford, of Youngstown; Grace,
wife of Arthur McGraw, of Detroit, Michigan, and Henry A.,
a graduate of Harvard University, class of 1897, who is now with the
Youngstown Sheet and Tube Company.
Mr. Butler is an ardent Republican and is very
prominent in party councils. In 1868 he was elected a member
of the first city council at Youngstown, and has twice since been
elected to the same office. In 1900, he was sent as a delegate
to the Republican National convention held at Philadelphia. He
has served also on the City Board of Health.
Fraternally and socially, Mr. Butler belongs to
a number of well-known organizations. He is a member of the
Nathan Hale Chapter of Sons of the American Revolution; the American
Geographical Society, of New York; and Union Club of Cleveland; the
Duquesue Club of Pittsburg, and the Youngstown Club of Youngstown.
He is also interested in art and has probably the finest collection
in the city.
Source:
20th Century History of Youngstown and Mahoning Co., Ohio
and Representative Citizens -
Publ. by Biographical Publishing Co. -
Chicago, Illinois -
1907 - Page 718 |
| |
JAMES
BUTLER who has been a member of the Board of
Public Safety of Youngstown, Ohio, since February, 1906, was born in
this city, July 17, 1856, and is the son of James and Catherine
(Nugent) Butler. James Butler, the father,
was born in County Waterford, Ireland, in 1828, and emigrated to
America in 1847. He settled first in Canada, but soon found
his way to the states, and resided in the city of Boston for several
years before coming to Ohio. In early manhood he worked at the
carpenter's trade, but his latter years were spent on a farm.
During the Civil War he was with the "Squirrel Hunters" in their
chase after General John H. Morgan, the raider. He
married Catherine Nugent and they became the parents of six
children: John N.; Hannah, who married Edward
Flannigen; James, subject of this sketch; Margaret,
wife of Patrick O'Brien; Mary, and Thomas.
James Butler was reared on a farm near Mineral
Ridge, Trumbull County, Ohio, where his parents located when he was
a child. Here he was given a good common school education,
remaining on the farm until 1880, when he was engaged by the Erie
Railroad as a yard brakeman in their yards at Youngstown, Ohio.
After spending fourteen months in this trying and dangerous
occupation, Mr. Butler went to the Lake Shore road, running a
local freight out of Youngstown for six months. Then for a
number of years he was with the Pennsylvania road, first as
brakeman, and in 1885 being promoted to the position of conductor.
In 1887 he accepted a position as brakeman on the Pittsburg &
Western Railroad, and a number of years later was made yard
conductor. In the following year he was advanced to
yardmaster, which position he held until he retired from railroading
in 1901 to accept that of city commissioner, which he held for four
years. Among railroad men he is deservedly popular, and has
served as secretary of the James Harvey Lodge, No. 21,
Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen. He is a Democrat in politics
and is a member of the Catholic Church.
Mr. Butler was married February, 1881, to
Miss Mary A. Stotler, a daughter of Michael and Mary Stotler.
They have six children: Edward T., Frank L., Raymond M.,
William J., Catherine Irene, Elizabeth M.
Source:
20th Century History of Youngstown and Mahoning Co., Ohio
and Representative Citizens -
Publ. by Biographical Publishing Co. -
Chicago, Illinois -
1907 - Page 611 |
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