USA > Ohio > Trumbull County > A twentieth century history of Trumbull County, Ohio; a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests, Vol. II > Part 11
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But seven years old when his parents removed to Niles, Edward A. Biery was there brought up and educated, remaining at home until the death of his parents. Thrown then in a large measure upon his own resources, he began his career at the age of sixteen years, working for a year and a half for the Erie Railroad Company, first as a brakeman and then as a clerk in the office. He was afterwards clerk in a store at Niles for six yers, and subsequently served an apprenticeship of eighteen months at the machinist's trade. Becoming proficient in his trade, Mr. Biery estab- lished himself in the hardware and tinner's business at Niles, and continued for two years, when he sold out. Coming in January, 1886, to Warren, he soon became active in political circles, and was especially influential in Republican ranks. Subsequently, when Dr. A. P. Mckinley was nominated for sheriff, Mr. Biery was one of the delegates to the convention, and was
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appointed one of the tellers. Mr. Mckinley was elected in 1885, and at once made Mr. Biery deputy sheriff, a position in which he served for eight years, the last four years being under J. H. Dilley. In 1893 he was elected sheriff, and served with ability and fidelity for four years.
On September 20, 1893, Mr. Biery married Alice M. Eatwell, daughter of William and Julia (Smith) Eatwell, both natives of London, England, while she was born and bred in Warren. Mr. and Mrs. Biery have three daughters, namely: Mildred, Mary and Julia. Fraternally Mr. Biery is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to both the lodge and the encampment of the Knights of Pythias, and of the Royal Arcanum.
GILBERT B. HALL .- A well known and esteemed resident of War- ren, Gilbert B. Hall is a fine representative of the native-born citizens of Trumbull county, and as an extensive dealer in music and pianos ably assists in promoting the mercantile interests of city and county. He was born September 10, 1866, in Gustavus, a son of Sylvester G. Hall, one of the earlier settlers of this part of the state. He comes of honored New England ancestry, his grandfather Hall having been born, reared and mar- ried in Connecticut, from there coming across the country with an ox team to Ohio, and locating in Trumbull county in pioneer times.
Sylvester G. Hall was born in Connecticut, came with the family to Trumbull county, and as a pioneer did his full share in developing the agricultural resources of this region. He bought land in Gustavus, and for many years was actively engaged in clearing and improving it, becoming owner of a valuable farm of four hundred acres. He was a noted stockman, and was known all over the county as a dealer in horses, and also as an agent for farm machinery and implements, in that capacity having the distinction of selling the first "one-wheel Allen mowing machine" ever sold in Trumbull county. He was a man of prominence in local affairs, serving in township offices, and was one of the leading members of the Congregational church. He died while yet in the prime of life, at the age of forty-four years. His wife, whose maiden name was Joanna Beckwith, was born in Connecticut, and is now a resident of Trumbull county. She came here when fourteen years of age with her father, Elijah Beckwith, who located in Trumbull county in early times, and here spent the remainder of his long life, passing away at the venerable age of eighty-two years. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Sylvester G. Hall, namely: G. S., a well known farmer of Gustavus, who is making a specialty of raising hay and poultry ; Gilbert B., of this sketch, and Frank 'S., a prominent agri- culturist of Gustavus.
Reared on the Hall homestead in Gustavus, Gilbert B. Hall was there educated, attending the public schools and the Gustavus College. Beginning to support himself when but fifteen years old, he was variously employed the next few years, among other things being for a time clerk in the Windsor
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Hotel in Akron, and afterwards a clerk in the Hotel Hoyt, of Warren, now called the Colonial Hotel. Subsequently embarking in business on his own account, Mr. Hall was a jeweler in Cortland, Trumbull county, until 1887, when he was unfortunately burned out. Going then to Columbus, Ohio, he was there associated with Grebs & Co., music dealers, for a while, and was afterwards similarly employed with the Knoske Music Company, in Dela- ware, Ohio, for five years. Locating in Warren in 1892, Mr. Hall opened his present store, and has here built up a large and lucrative trade as a dealer in music of all kinds, and in pianos and musical instruments, carry- ing a fine stock of everything in his line.
Mr. Hall married, in 1886, Jessie Shafer, a daughter of Jeremiah Shafer, and into their pleasant home three children have been born, namely : Hazel, a music teacher, and an associate of her father in the music business ; Ernest, attending the Warren High School, and Wade, a pupil in the War- ren schools. Mr. Hall takes an active interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of the public, and is a stanch Republican in his political views. Fraternally he belongs to various organizations, including the Knights of Pythias, Warren Lodge No. 295, B. P. O. E., U. C. T., to the Knights of the Maccabees, and to the Modern Woodmen of America.
HENRY GREENWOOD .- A prominent and prosperous resident of Warren, Henry Greenwood is a substantial representative of the manufacturing and mercantile interests of this part of Trumbull county, as head of the firm of Greenwood & Co., proprietors of the Warren Feed Mills. He was born January 31, 1858, in Bazetta township, Trumbull county, a son of Leando Greenwood. He is of pioneer descent, his grandfather, Nathaniel Green- wood, a native of Rhode Island, having migrated to Ohio in 1820, locating in Vienna township, Trumbull county, where he took up a tract of govern- ment land, from which he improved a homestead.
Born on the homestead in Vienna township, Leando Greenwood spent his entire sixty-five years of earthly life in Trumbull county, during his active career being employed in agricultural pursuits in Vienna and Bazetta townships. His wife, whose maiden name was Lydia Abel, was born in Bazetta township, of which her father, Roswell Abel, was one of the original settlers, coming here from Connecticut with his parents in 1817, when he was seventeen years old. The settlers were then few and far between, the only buildings in the present town of Warren being then three log houses. Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, was the nearest market for supplies, and the people hereabouts depended upon the productions of their land, or on wild game, for their subsistence. The clothing worn was all home made, the cloth from which the garments were made being spun and woven by the hard working pioneer women of the family, who surely had as much to contend with as the sturdier sex. Of the union of Leando and Lydia Greenwood there were three sons, namely: D. Wayne, of Girard, Ohio; Henry, of this sketch, and Frederick, of Youngstown, Ohio.
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As a boy and a youth, Henry Greenwood received excellent educational advantages, attending first the district schools of Bazetta township, and completing his studies in the public schools of Cortland, the family remov- ing to Vienna township when he was about fifteen years old. On attaining his majority he left the farm home, and for about ten years followed the trade of a stone cutter, at which he had previously served an apprenticeship. Embarking in the milling business in 1886, he was located at Tyrrell, Trumbull county, for a year, and then came to Warren, where he has since resided. For three years thereafter he was associated with George Van- gorder, leasing the Vangorder mill. Subsequently, in company with Mr. A. N. Shippey, Mr. Greenwood engaged in the feed and supply business, becoming junior member of the firm of A. N. Shippey & Co. Mr. Shippey died in 1903, and his interest was purchased by W. B. Patton, and the firm name was changed to Greenwood & Co. Mr. Patton afterwards sold out to N. A. Moyer, and the business has since been carried on under its present name of Greenwood & Co., and each year has been increased, the produc- tions of the Warren Feed Mills being widely known throughout the county, and being ever in demand.
Mr. Greenwood married, in Church Hill, Liberty township, Mary E. Edwards, a daughter of William R. and Ann Edwards, and they have one son, Roswell Greenwood.
JOHN SHOBERG .- Many of the most thriving and prosperous citizens of Trumbull county have come from the land beyond the sea, and of this number John Shoberg, residing at 519 East Market street, Warren, is a worthy representative. He was born May 29, 1856, in Sweden, and there lived until coming of age. Being of an adventurous spirit, he then deter- mined to seek his fortune in America, the land of promise.
Emigrating, therefore, to Massachusetts, Mr. Shoberg lived for nine years in the city of Worcester. Having accumulated some money by means of hard labor, he then returned to his old home and purchased a farm for his parents. After seeing them comfortably settled, he again came to this country, and for seventeen years was busily employed in Braddock, Penn- sylvania, by the judicious use of his time, energy and brain, making money. In the meantime, in 1897, Mr. Shoberg again visited Sweden, and while there sold his farm. Disposing of his interests in Pennsylvania in 1906, Mr. Shoberg came to Ohio, locating in Warren. Buying his present property, which consists of five and one-half acres of land in the city, he has made substantial improvements upon the place, repairing the house and buildings, spending in all about $2,300, adding greatly to the value and beauty of the estate. Having by persistent labor and wise management acquired a competency, he is now living retired from active pursuits, enjoy- ing the reward of his former years of toil.
On February 19, 1882, in Worcester, Massachusetts, Mr. Shoberg mar- ried Matilda Johnson, a native of Sweden, and of their union six children have been born, namely : Ellen, Florence, Henry, Herman, John and Tillie.
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FRANK C. MCCONNELL .- As senior member of the firm of McConnell & Christianan, proprietors of the Colonial Hotel at Warren, Frank C. McConnell is widely and favorably known to the traveling public as a most genial and accommodating host, and a gentleman of enterprise and good judgment. He has spent his entire life in Warren, his birth occurring here November 24th, 1858. His father, James McConnell, Jr., a native of Washington county, Pennsylvania, came with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James McConnell, Sr., to Ohio in pioneer days, locating in Weathersfield township, Trumbull county.
Brought up in Weathersfield township, James McConnell, Jr., began his active career as a shoe manufacturer, and was in business in Warren until burned out by the memorable fire of 1860. He subsequently opened a restaurant and was connected with its management until about two years before his death, which occurred when he was eighty-seven years of age. He was a life-long Republican in politics, and an active member of the Presbyterian church. He married Sarah S. McComb, who, like the MeCon- nells, was of Scotch ancestry. She was born in that part of Trumbull county now included within the limits of Mahoning county, on the farm which her father reclaimed from its original wildness. She died at the age of seventy-nine years. Of the eight children born of their union three are dead, John, and two who died in infancy. Five are living, as follows: Maria ; William J., of Warren ; Hattie ; Frank C., of this sketch ; and Harry R., of Warren.
Brought up and educated in Warren, Frank C. McConnell began as soon as old enough to assist his father in the restaurant, and soon became familiar with the details connected with the business, to which he succeeded on the death of his father, and which he still continues, having been in the same business and location since 1860. On February 25, 1908, in company with William L. Christianan, he bought the Elliott Hotel, in Warren, remod- eled and refurnished it, changed its name to the Colonial Hotel, and has since managed it most successfully, it being one of the best kept and most popular public inns of the county, the proprietors sparing neither time nor expense in their efforts to please their many guests.
In 1905 Mr. McConnell married Jennie Bowen, who was born in Wales and reared in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, being a daughter of Evan Llewellyn. Politically Mr. McConnell is a straightforward Republi- can, and fraternally he belongs to Warren Lodge No. 295, B. P. O. E., and to the Royal Arcanum.
HON. WARREN THOMAS .- A well known and highly respected attorney of the city of Warren, IIon. Warren Thomas is numbered among the citi- zens of distinction and worth. A son of Melancthon Thomas, he was born October 27, 1876, in Niles, Trumbull county, being descended from one of the early families of this part of Ohio. His paternal grandfather, Ephraim Thomas, migrated from Pennsylvania, his native state, to Ohio in early times.
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Born at Ohltown, Trumbull county, Ohio, Melanethon Thomas has spent his entire life in this county, being now engaged in business at Cort- land. He married Emma Calhoun, who was born in Trumbull county, a daughter of Andrew and Mary Jane Anderson, who were born in that part of Trumbull now included within the boundaries of Mahoning county. Four children were born of their union, namely: Warren, of this sketch ; Edward, deceased ; Marion; and Inabelle.
Receiving his elementary education in the common schools of Cortland, Warren Thomas was graduated from the Cortland high school in 1896. Turning his attention then to the study of law, he entered the office of Tuttle & Tillius, and after three years of close perusal of the legal branches of study was admitted to the bar in 1899. Since that time Mr. Thomas has been in active practice of his profession in Warren, where, by his skill and knowledge, he has built up an extensive practice.
Mr. Thomas is a firm supporter of the principles of the Republican party, and has ever taken a great interest in public affairs. In 1904 to 1908, inclusive, he represented Trumbull county in the General Assembly, and was chairman of the judiciary committee during the sessions of 1906 and 1908. In 1906 Mr. Thomas introduced the bill relating to the organi- zation and inspection of state banks, a bill that passed the house in that year, but failed to pass the senate. The same bill, however, passed both the house and the senate in 1908. Fraternally, Mr. Thomas belongs to the Free and Accepted Masons, and to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
W. H. BUTTON, M. D .- One of the most skillful and well known physicians practicing at Hubbard, Trumbull county, is Dr. W. H. Button. He came from an honored pioneer family, his father being Alfred H. Button, who was reared in Warren township, this county. The grandfather was also named Alfred. The father of Dr. Button is still living, aged eighty years. The mother was Salina Smith, a native of Parkman township, Geauga county, Ohio, the daughter of Captain and Nancy Smith. The mother lived to the age of seventy-six years. She was the mother of three daughters and one son. These children were as follows: Dr. W. H .; Nancy, deceased ; Loverns, deceased ; Cora, wife of E. E. Prentice.
Dr. W. H. Button was born in Warren township, Trumbull county, Ohio, January 14, 1858. He was educated at Nelson Academy and Hiram College, and taught school a number of years in Nelson township and in Southington. He was early impressed with the idea of becoming a physi- cian, and studied medicine with Dr. E. J. Goodsell, at Nelson, as well as with Dr. Harmon, of Warren. He graduated from Western Reserve Medical College, at Cleveland, in 1883, locating at Burghill, Ohio, where he remained in medical practice for four years. There the doctor was postmaster under President Cleveland's first administration. In 1889 he removed to Brook- field, where he practiced five years, and two years at Parkman, Geanga county, from which place he moved to Hubbard in 1896. During his twelve
SETH HOFIUS
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years' practice in Hubbard he was highly successful, and won many friends among the best class of citizens.
He is a member of both the State and Trumbull County Medical Societies, and a reader of the latest literature in the science of medicine, which keeps him fully abreast with the times and thoroughly competent to treat in a successful manner all classes of diseases which come within his practice. The doctor is a Mason, belonging to the Odd Fellows and Knights Templar orders, of which he is an active member. He has been a member of the school board for eight years, and is now a member of the town council.
July 21, 1885, he was married, being united to Lillian 1I. Hartung, daughter of Rev. C. F. Hartung, of Canton, Ohio. The doctor and his wife are the parents of the following children : Lamont H., Alfred A. and Fred II.
WALTER S. HOFIUS, of Weathersfield township, living on Mineral Ridge, R. F. D. No. 1, is a native of Wheatland, Pennsylvania, born August 30, 1868, a son of Seth Hofius, who was born in Hickory township, Mercer county, Pennsylvania, where he lived for a time and also resided at Sharps- ville, going to Trumbull county, Ohio, in the early eighties, and settling in Weathersfield township, on the farm where his son, Walter S., now resides Seth Hofius was of German parentage. He married Elizabeth Maxwell, May 13, 1851, in Mercer county, Pennsylvania. Their children were: Wil- liam D., Mathew L., Franklin, Annis Jane, Harriett, and Emma, who died November 30, 1862. The mother died July 6, 1863, in Trumbull county, Ohio. For his second wife Mr. Hofius married Margaret McGowan, daugh- ter of Mr. and Mrs. McGowan, of Canfield, Ohio, where she was born, reared and educated. Five children blessed this marriage: Walter, of this notice : Charles, who now lives in Sharpsville, Pennsylvania; Blanch, who married Joseph Smith, of Niles, Ohio; Seth, who lives in Weathersfield township ; James, who resides in Cleveland, Ohio.
Seth Hofius, Sr., began his career as a foundryman and attained the position of manager. He was for a number of years manager of the Porter furnace and then the furnace at Mineral Ridge, Ohio, and at Sharpsville, Pennsylvania. He died September 15, 1898. His wife is still living and makes her home with her son, Walter S. Politically, the senior Hofius was a Democrat, and served as a member of the school board at various times. He belonged to Sharpsville lodge of Ancient Order of United Workmen. In church faith he was of the Presbyterian denomination. He was engaged in farming in Trumbull county for about fifteen years.
Walter S. Hofius received his education in the public schools of Sharps- ville, Pennsylvania. When sixteen years of age, he began farming on his father's land. He still follows this independent vocation, owning a farm of one hundred and fifty acres, one-half of which is under a good state of cultivation. Politically, Mr. Hofius is a Demoerat, but has never cared to become an office holder. He belongs to Niles lodge of Independent Order
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of Odd Fellows. While not a member of any church organization, the family attend the Presbyterian church, of which his wife is a member.
Mr. Hofius was married October 1, 1890, to Grace McCombs, daugh- ter of James McCombs, of Weathersfield township, where she was reared, obtaining her education at the public schools of the vicinity and at Mineral Ridge, Ohio, being a graduate of the common schools. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Hofius are as follows: Scott, James, Margaret, Max and Lydia, all of whom still remain at home.
GEORGE N. PARKS .- Among the venerable and highly respected resi- dents of Warren, Trumbull county, is George N. Parks, who has acquired a competency by wise labor and judicious investments, and is now living retired from the active cares of business, enjoying the fruits of his earlier years of toil. A native of Ohio, he was born, June 8, 1834, in Chardon, Geauga county, a son of Nathaniel H. Parks, coming on both sides of the house from substantial New England ancestry.
Born in Suffield, Connecticut, in 1793, Nathaniel H. Parks came to Ohio in 1814, and after spending a short time in Painesville, Lake county located in Chardon, being one of the pioneers of the place. He was engaged in industrial pursuits, and for a number of years operated a shingle machine which was run by horse power. He was a Whig in politics during his earlier life, afterwards being identified with the Republican party, and for about thirty years served as constable of his township. He was a man of strong physical and mental vigor, and lived to a ripe old age, passing away in 1875. He married Almena Roper, who was born in Wilbraham, Massachusetts, a daughter of John Roper, and she. too. lived a long and useful life, being upwards of eighty years of age when she died. Of their nine children, three daughters and six sons, all grew to years of maturity, and five are now living, as follows: George N., of this sketch, who was the fifth child and the third son: Maria Rider, of Mentor, Lake county ; Henry L., of Chardon; Charles A., of Painesville, Lake county ; O. R., of Chardon.
Having acquired a practical education in the common schools of Chardon, George N. Parks started out in life for himself at the age of fourteen years, learning the tinner's trade in Chardon and Painesville. At the age of twenty years, in company with J. K. Marsh, he engaged in the tin and stove business at Painesville, as a member of the firm of Marsh & Parks, remaining there three years. Selling out then, Mr. Parks was for eight years engaged in the manufacture of tinner's machines, being in partnership with L. T. Herbert, of Painesville. Coming to Warren, Trum- bull county, in 1865, he managed the National Hotel for five years, in company with his father-in-law. Phineas Chase, and the ensuing two years was out of business entirely. In 1872, with his father-in-law, Mr. Parks built two store rooms on Park avenue, Warren, and in one of these he put in a stock of groceries, and until 1879 carried on a good trade in this line of merchandise. Buying then from Mr. Chase the old National Hotel,
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he sold his grocery to Wier Bros., and for two years conducted his hotel. He then sold out to Clark & Headen, and since that time has not been actively engaged in business pursuits. He owns city property, and is a stockholder in the Second National Bank of Warren.
In 1865, the same year that he located in Warren, Mr. Parks married Maria A. Chase, a daughter of Phineas Chase, who came to this city from Geauga county in 1865. Two children have been born of their union, namely : Harry C., secretary and treasurer of the Chicago Coated Board Company, Chicago, Illinois, and Frank E., Pueblo, Colorado, manager of the C. F. & P. Open Hearth Furnace Company. Politically Mr. Parks has always been an adherent of the Republican party. Fraternally he is a prominent Mason, having been a member of the lodge for forty-two years, and a charter member of the commandery at Warren, Ohio. Religiously he belongs to the Episcopal church, in which he served for three years as a vestryman.
C. N. CLINGAN, a pioneer merchant of Hubbard and an ex-soldier of the great Civil war, was born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, July 24, 1843. His father was William Clingan, a native of Mahoning county, Ohio, born near the Trumbull county line, where he was reared and learned the carpenter's trade and did an extensive business at contracting. He built many houses and large buildings, including the Wilson Mills, on the Little Neshanock river. Later he became a stock drover, and bought and shipped stock from Chicago to Hubbard and other points. He died in his eighty- eighth year. Politically, he was active in the Republican party, and in church relations was of the Presbyterian denomination. His father was William Clingan, a native of Ireland, who came to America when a young man and became one of the early settlers in the Western Reserve, in Mahoning county. The mother of C. N. Clingan was Eliza (Bell) Clingan, a native of Mercer county, Pennsylvania, daughter of Samuel Bell, of the same county, and a pioneer of that section, who came from Connecticut to Pennsylvania. The mother is still living, and has reached the ripe old age of eighty-four years. On both maternal and paternal sides the members of this family have had long life, the paternal grandfather reaching the age of ninety-two years.
C. N. Clingan is the only son born to his father and mother, he having three sisters: Martha, wife of George Duer, of Hubbard; Nancy, wife of Milton Matthews, of Warren ; Olive, wife of J. E. McCully, of Butler county, Kansas, residing at Eldorado. Mr. Clingan came to Trumbull county when he was seven years of age, and was reared on a farm a mile and a half west of Hubbard. He obtained his education in the district schools of Hubbard township and at a select school. When eighteen years of age, in 1861, the first year of the Civil war, he enlisted in Company B, Nine- teenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment, as a private soldier and was later a non-commissioned officer. He was a brave soldier and received an honorable discharge after a nine months' service, being discharged on
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