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 17
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Mr. Sheehan is a pronounced Republican in politics, and has held numerous local offices. He was the first president of the council voted on by the people, and held the office five years. In 1907 he was elected presi- dent of the board of public service, taking charge in 1908. He is active in political circles within his party, and is president of the W. Aubrey Thomas Republican Club, of which he was one of the organizers.
Mr. Sheehan was united in marriage in the month of June, 1889, to Elizabeth Seaton, daughter of Lafayette Seaton and wife, of Niles. The issue by this marriage is: Ellen, Leo, Mary, Paul, Stella, Marguerite, Mathew, Thomas and Josephine.
WILLIAM NAYLOR, retired, residing at Niles, was born in Staffordshire, England, March 28, 1838, son of Samuel Naylor, native of the same place and by occupation a limestone operator. He died in his native country, at the age of about forty-five years. He was a well-to-do man and highly successful in business. He married Ann Fellows, who lived to be seventy- one years of age. They reared ten children, William, of this memoir, being the seventh in order of birth. He was reared, educated and married in England. He was apprenticed to the carpenter's trade, and followed the business of a contractor in the old country. He came to this country in 1870, locating in New York, and from there went to Sharon, Pennsylvania, and after one year on to Niles, Ohio. In 1871 he engaged in contracting and building, which business he followed until he retired several years ago. He has taken an active part in public affairs and in politics, is a stanch defender of Republican party principles, as are his sons. He held a seat in the Niles city council for thirteen years in succession, being chairman of the street committee. He has ever shown much interest in the upbuilding of the city which he has come to recognize as his home.
He was one of the trustees of the Young Men's Christian Association, in which work he was very active. He has been one of the trustees of Weathersford township for eleven years, having in all held office in Niles for a period of twenty-six years. He owns considerable real estate in and near Niles, and has been a successful business man all of his active years, and is still looking after his property interests. Mr. Naylor is a member of the Protestant Methodist church, in which he has held office many years. He is also identified with the order known as the Foresters of America.
He was married in England to Mary Ann Cook, also a native of that country, who died in the month of March, 1906, being the loving mother of ten children, eight of whom are living. They are as follows: John S.,
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mayor of Niles (see his personal sketch in this work) ; Ruth, engaged in the boot and shoe business in Niles, under the firm name of Pritchard & Naylor; George, a farmer, of Trumbull county; Phoebe A., wife of James Yeagley, of Niles ; Mary Ann, born in Sharon, Pennsylvania, wife of J. W. Tipper, of Niles; Isaac, employed in the rolling mills at Niles, where he was born; William, of Niles, a roller; Minnie May, at home keeping house for her father.
MICHAEL J. FLAHERTY, agent of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company and city treasurer of the city of Niles, Trumbull county, was born in Jamestown, Pennsylvania, July 20, 1858, a son of John Flaherty, who was a native of Ireland and came to America when about twenty years of age. He located in Ashland, Ohio, and later went to Jamestown, Pennsyl- vania. He was a railroad man, and lived to the age of seventy-one years, dying at Niles. The mother of Michael J., Johanna ( Barry) Flaherty, was a native of Ireland, who came to this country when aged about twenty years. The issue by this marriage was three sons and three daughters, all of whom reached the age of maturity.
Michael J. Flaherty was the eldest child in his parents' family. He was reared and educated in his native place. He attended St. Vincent Col- lege, Latrobe, Pennsylvania, from which he graduated in 1880. He then engaged in the railway business as a telegraph operator at Niles. He began as a clerk and operator, which post he held twelve years. In 1893 he was promoted to ticket agent of the Pennsylvania road at Niles, and is still in such position. He is numbered among the trusty veteran employees of the company, having been with them twenty-seven years at one depot. In 1899 he engaged in the furniture business, and in 1900 started the Niles Daily News, which he conducted until 1903, when he sold the paper. He served on city council two years, and has served as city clerk six years ; also city treasurer, now in his third term. He is a stanch supporter of the Repub- lican party.
Mr. Flaherty is a member of the Elks, the C. M. B. A. and also the Knights of Columbus.
He was united in marriage in 1886 to Annie Brogan, daughter of James Brogan and wife, of Niles. She was born in that city and educated in the public schools. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Flaherty are as follows: James and Mary, both at home.
HON. JOHN S. NAYLOR, present mayor of the city of Niles, Trumbull county, Ohio, was born in England June 20, 1859, a son of William and Mary Ann (Cook) Naylor, both of whom were natives of England, and came to America in 1871, locating at Sharon, Pennsylvania, where they remained one year and then moved to Niles, Ohio. The father was a con- tractor and builder, erecting many buildings in the city of Niles. He is still living, aged seventy years. The wife and mother died in 1906. This
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worthy couple were the parents of eight children, all living at this date, and all within Trumbull county, Ohio. HIon. John S. is the eldest of this family of children. He was thirteen years of age when they moved to Niles, where he was educated in the excellent public schools. He commenced the real manual labor of life's work in the sheet mill plant, and followed the same for thirty-three years, in Niles.
He is a Republican, and has taken an active part in party councils and held numerous local positions. IIe was a member of the city council two years, and was elected mayor of the place while serving as councilman, and took his seat in the spring of 1908.
He is a member of the Uniform Rank of the order of Knights of Pythias ; also belongs to the order of Elks and the Foresters of America. In his church relations he is of the Episcopal faith. He was united in marriage in 1881 to Laura J. Jordan, daughter of Richard and Kittie (Creese) Jordan. By this union one daughter was born-Laura, at home.
R. L. MCCORKLE, one of the bankers doing business at the city of Niles, Ohio, was born at Lordstown, Trumbull county, Ohio, June 8, 1878, the son of Almor G. and Martha (Leiteh) McCorkle. The father was also born in the same place, and is still a resident of that location, Mr. MeCor- kle's mother was born in Ireland, and her mother, Elizabeth Leitch, is also a resident of Trumbull county, Ohio, aged ninety-five years, a native of the Emerald Isle also. The grandfather MeCorkle was one of the pioneers of Trumbull county and Lordstown.
Mr. and Mrs. Almor G. Mccorkle were the parents of two daughters and three sons, all now living: Lydia, wife of John W. Metts; Mary B., wife of Charles E. Rose, of Niles, employed in the Niles Car Company ; Archie A., of Lordstown ; Charles A., attending school, fitting for a lawyer, and R. L.
R. L. MeCorkle is the fourth child and second son in his parents' family. He obtained his education at the public schools, including the high school. When eighteen years of age, in 1896, he went into the City National Bank at Niles and held a position for two years, then became bookkeeper, which position he filled for six years, when he was elected teller. In 1904 he went to the First National Bank as their teller, giving him now twelve years' banking experience. Politically he is a Republican. In fra- ternal affairs he is connected with the Masonic order. Mr. MeCorkle was married May 1. 1902, to Anna M. Eaton, daughter of John W. and Anna Mary Eaton. Her father is in business at Niles.
C. G. HARRIS, vice-president of the Harris Automatic Press Company, of Niles, Ohio, was born in Covington, Kentucky, Feb- ruary 5, 1862, son of James and Hannah (Carpenter) Harris. The father was born in England, as was also the good mother, to whom he was united in marriage in England, and came to America in 1846. The father was an
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iron roller, and was in business at different places, the last being Niles, Ohio, where he was a member of the Harris, Blockfere Davis Company, workers in sheet metal. He died in 1903.
C. G. Harris, of this memoir, is the youngest son of a family of nine children. He was about three years of age when his parents moved to Niles. He was educated in the excellent public schools of that city, and he clerked in a shoe store for his mother until 1881, then went to Warren, where he learned the jeweler's trade with Mr. Ackley, with whom he remained for four years. He bought out an established jewelry business in New Philadel- phia, Ohio, and was in partnership with his brother, A. F. Harris, which partnership continued four years, when C. G. sold out and went into the rolling mill at Hazelton, Ohio, where he remained five months and then went to Niles, and there followed rolling sheet iron. During this time he was working on a printing press, and was associated with his brother in the jewelry business, all of which kept him much occupied. In 1903 he left the mill and completed the first automatic machine.
A company was then organized, the officers heing George D. Kirkham, president and treasurer ; C. G. Harris, vice-president ; A. F. Harris, general manager; Carl Pritchard, secretary. The first factory in which goods were made by this company was situated in the building in which President William McKinley was born. Mr. Harris is connected with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks at Niles.
HENRY V. ORMEROD, M. D., physician and surgeon, of the city of Niles, Ohio, is a native of the Buckeye state, born in Lorain county, at Rochester, December 20, 1864, a son of Henry and Martha (Critchley) Ormerod. The father was born in Manchester, England, and was there reared and learned the blacksmith's trade. He emigrated from that country to America in 1854, locating at Sing Sing, New York state, and later at Rochester, Lorain county, Ohio, at which place he was in business. He served as a soldier in the Civil war, as a member of Company H, Second Ohio Cavalry, being in the Union cause for four years. During a part of his time he was with General Custer, of Indian war fame. He died at the age of sixty-five years, while the good wife survives, she having reached her eightieth year; she now resides at Spencer, Medina county, Ohio. There were ten children in the family of the Doctor's parents, five of whom still live-they are as follows: William, of Spencer, Ohio; Fred, of Marysville, Ohio; George, of Warren, a dentist; Elizabeth, wife of William Owens, of Spencer, and Dr. Henry V.
Dr. Henry V. Ormerod is the fifth son, and was reared at Spencer, Ohio, and there received his education at the public schools, and at the Ohio Wesleyan College. He followed teaching school about three years, and was in the engineer corps of the P., A. & W. Railroad Company one year, attending school off and on. He was also engaged in the butter and cheese business for three years, and operated a cheese factory in Michigan a year. But, believing that he was fitted better for a professional career,
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he studied medicine in Cleveland, Ohio, paying his way through college by teaching night school. He finally graduated from the Cleveland College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1898. The following year he located at Niles, Ohio, at which place he has been engaged in a general practice ever since. He is a member of the Trumbull County Medical Society, as well as of the American Medical Association. Fraternally he is a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, Lodge No. 352, and is past exalted ruler. He is also a Mason. Politically the Doctor is a supporter of the Republican party. He was health officer for abont four years, and is an examiner for many of the old line insurance companies. He holds a mem- bership in the Trumbull County Auto Club.
On October 3, 1900, the Doctor was united in marriage to Sarah R. Robbinson, daughter of James and Elizabeth Robbinson, natives of Stafford- shire, England, where they were united in marriage. Dr. Ormerod and wife are the parents of two children: Henry R. and Martha E. Mrs. Ormerod was born and educated in Niles, Ohio.
THOMAS J. POWELL .- In the person of Thomas J. Powell, of Coalburg, Trumbull county, are combined qualities which are both diverse and remark- able, for he has not only earned decided success in the mercantile world, but is recognized as one of the foremost literary men among the American- Welsh of the United States. He is a native of that county of poets and musicians, born at Tredegar, Monmouthshire, Wales, on Christmas day, 1848. Mr. Powell is a representative of a gifted family which numbers famous members both of the past and present. On the maternal side he is descended from Rev. William Edwards, who was both a well-educated and eloquent clergyman and a substantial stone mason who built the famous single-arch bridge across the Taff, at Pontypridd, Wales. One of his brothers, Rev. D. Powell, is pastor of a Baptist church at Liverpool, and another (Evan, now deceased) published an interesting and scholarly "History of Tredegar." The father, T. J. Powell, was for many years a deacon in the Baptist church at Sirhowy and was highly honored both for his modesty and his substantial traits of heart and head.
Mr. Powell received a good education at the Town Hall School of Tredegar, his native place, and like many of his ancestry and fellows com- menced work as a collier. He followed this occupation in his native place until he came to the United States in 1869, after which for four years he continned that calling in the vicinity of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Inherit- ing in a marked degree the characteristic eagerness of the Welsh for mental improvement, he then pursued a course of study in the Iron City College, of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and after laying the groundwork of a thorough business knowledge, in 1874 he located at his present home in Coalburg. The thirty-four years of his residence in this city have been passed in the developing of various mercantile enterprises, in the able administration of the local postoffice (since 1890) and in the continuons development of his literary abilities which manifested themselves at a very early age.
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Few Welsh-Americans in the United States have a higher record in connection with the famous Eisteddfod, the origin of which dates back to almost prehistoric times of the Welsh Druids. His prominence in these literary and intellectual contests commenced in 1884 when he was awarded a prize of seven guineas at the Liverpool National Eisteddfod for the best poem submitted, entitled, "A Pastoral : The Farmer's Daughter." In 1885, he won five guineas for the best novel, at the Aberdare Eisteddfod; in 1887, twenty guineas at the London National Eisteddfod, for a novel; in 1888, ten guineas (half the prize) for a novel at the Wrexham National Eistedd- fod. Among his American trophies may be mentioned, $50 for the best poem on Grant, at the lowa State Eisteddfod, in 1885; in 1886, $25 and bardic chair, for a poem on Belshazzar, at the Granville (N. Y.) Eistedd- fod; in 1891, $100 for a poem on Hugh W. Hughes, at the Middle Gran- ville (N. Y.) Eisteddfod ; in the same year, $25 for the best poem on the "Star-Spangled Banner," at the Colorado State Eisteddfod : $25 for a poem on Phil Sheridan at the Washington State Eisteddfod; $25 for a poem on W. B. Jones (Ap P. A. Mon) at the New York City Eisteddfod; in 1894, $20 for a poem on Rev. J. Morgan Thomas, at the Youngstown Eisteddfod ; and in 1895, $20 for a poem on Glory, at the Utica Eisteddfod.
Mr. Powell's prominence as a competitor at these famous Welsh gath- erings has also earned him official leadership in their management and de- velopment. He has acted as conductor, adjudicator or secretary, of every Eisteddfod but one held in Youngstown during the past ten years and at the last, and largest of these gatherings ever held in that city, he acted in the triple capacity of these offices. He is also an active member of the American Order of True Ivorites, and has held the highest official station in that organization. He is also an Odd Fellow, a Knight of Pythias, a Dewi Santist and secretary of the Society of Old Pioneers of Trumbull and Mahoning Counties, Ohio.
Mr. Powell has attained strong local influence as a Republican and has twice been a candidate for the legislative representative of his county. On January 17, 1869, Mr. Powell was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Llewelyn, his wife being also a native of Tredegar. Wales. They have had no children, but adopted a daughter (Mary) and tenderly reared her to womanhood. The latter is now married to W. G. Thomas, a native and resident of Coalburg. It will thus be seen that Mr. Powell is in many ways one of the most prominent and honored citizens of this locality, being not only honored for his intellect, but for his substantial business traits of character. He has one of the most comfortable homes in Coalburg and is esteemed as one of the most progressive citizens in this section of the country.
WILLIAM HERBERT, president of the First National Bank of Niles, Trumbull county, is a native of Palmyra, Portage county, Ohio, born on the 17th of March, 1837. He is a son of Thomas Herbert, a native of Wales, who was reared in that country until he was twenty-two years of age,
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when he came to the United States, direct to Palmyra. He was accompanied by his wife (nee Mary Morgan), whom he had married in Wales, also her native country. The husband was a tailor, and as he was the only one of that trade between Cleveland and Pittsburg for ten years, his business was good, although conducted in that unsettled country under great difficulties. Travel then was generally on horseback, his orders coming to him by that mode of communication through dense forests and over unbridged rivers, the completed work being delivered by the same means of conveyance. It was in 1828 that Thomas IIerbert located in what was then Portage county, and on the present site of Palmyra. Not only was the town not then platted, but the townships of the county were unorganized. But the sturdy Welsh pioneer remained in the new country, clearing a good farm from the dense forest, and bothi he and his good wife died upon the homestead which he developed-he, at the age of seventy-two and she when seventy-four years old. The youngest son, Daniel C. Herbert, now occupies the old Palmyra homestead, he being one of four boys and four girls, who were all married. The list is as follows: Ann, Mary, Margaret and Job, deceased ; William, of this sketch ; John, a resident of Portage county, Ohio; Jane, also deceased; and Daniel C. Herbert, mentioned above.
William Herbert, of this biography, was reared to a farm life on the old family homestead in Portage county, Ohio, and remained at home until he was sixteen years of age, assisting his parents and attending district school. He then began teaching in the winter months, subsequently com- pleting his education at Newton Falls and (in 1856-7) at Hiram College, his course at the latter institution being pursued while James A. Garfield was principal. In 1862 Mr. Herbert commenced his mercantile career as a clerk at Newton Falls, and in 1864 became the proprietor of the business. During that year, in which fell perhaps the darkest period of the Civil war, he enlisted in Company F, 171st Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, for the 100-day service, and served his term as second lieutenant of the company. At its expiration he resumed business at Newton Falls, where he remained for thirty years. In 1889 he was elected county treasurer of Trumbull county, and during his service of two terms in that office resided at Warren, the county seat. In 1894 Mr. Herbert removed to Niles, organ- ized the City National Bank, was made cashier thereof, and continued in that position for seven years, or until his election to the presidency. In 1904 the City National and the First National banks were merged into the present First National Bank, Mr. Herbert being elected vice-president of the consolidated concern and (in 1907) president.
Mr. Herbert is an active and stanch Republican, and has always taken a leading part in the public affairs of his locality, having served as town- ship clerk, treasurer and member of the board of education, holding the last named for a period of ten years. He is also one of the oldest and most influential members of the Presbyterian church, having been identified with its work for more than half a century-for the past forty-one years as an elder at Newton Falls, Warren and Niles, Ohio. On March 17, 1864, Mr. Herbert married Miss Mary Ann Jones, of Palmyra, Ohio, who died
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January 1, 1865. For his second wife he wedded Miss Marriette E. Hine, of Ravenna, Portage county, Ohio, the ceremony occurring September 25, 1866. The three children of this second union were as follows: Wallace N., deceased; Henry T., a banker, of Newton Falls, Ohio; Elmo, who married Maude Rader, a resident of Warren, and who, at the time of his death, was deputy treasurer of Trumbull county.
DR. DWIGHT A. STRICKLAND, retired, is a well known and highly esteemed physician and druggist, now residing at No. 606 Robbins avenue, Niles, Ohio. Dr. Strickland was born in Busti, Chautauqua county, New York, August 26, 1835, a son of Chauncey Strickland, a native of Glaston- bury, Connecticut, where he met and married Lydia Atherton and moved to New York state, where there were two daughters born. The sons in the family were all born in Busti, New York, with the youngest, who was born in Lordstown, Trumbull county, Ohio, to which county the family removed in 1841, locating in what is now Cortland. After about four years there, they removed to Lordstown township. The mother died when seventy-two years old, at Johnson, Trumbull county, Ohio, and the father in Auburn, New York, aged eighty-two years. There were six sous and two daughters in their family, Dr. D. L. Strickland being the sixth child and fourth son.
He was about five years of age at the time the parents moved to Trum- bull county. When sixteen years old he began school teaching. He received his advanced education at Kingsville and Oberlin College, and taught school until about twenty-six years of age, studying medicine in the meantime. He graduated from the University of Michigan in class of 1864-1865. He had taken one course before he entered the Union army, as active physician and surgeon. He was on duty at Charlestown, West Virginia; also had charge of the general hospital at Point Pleasant, and subsequently at Columbus, Ohio, Hospital. In the fall of 1864 he left the service of the army and attended lectures at the University of Michigan, and after graduating he again entered service in the Union army, as acting assistant surgeon, and served as such till the close of the war.
After the war he located at Wayne, Ashtabula county, where he remained two years, then located at Cortland, where he remained in general practice until 1883, when he settled at Niles, Ohio, and there purchased a drug store, giving up his general medical practice. After twelve years in the drug trade he sold and retired from active business pursuits.
Having been highly successful in his business affairs, Dr. Strickland has made investments. He is director and stockholder in the First National Bank; stockholder in the Dollar Savings Bank and president of the Home Building and Loan Company, of Niles; is interested in the Empire Mills, and has sundry other financial interests in Niles. He is a member of the Masonic order at Niles and Warren. In politics the Doctor is a Republican, and was a member of the board of education at Cortland. He has resided in Trumbull county almost sixty-eight years, and has been closely identified with all of her best interests.
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He was married in 1864 to Laura Cadwalader, of Howland township, Trumbull county, her father. Septimus Cadwalader, being one of the early settlers of this county. Mrs. Strickland died February 14, 1907. There is one daughter, Mable, the wife of Wade A. Taylor, of Niles, Ohio, a banker and manufacturer.
DR. H. SEYMOUR BROWN, physician and surgeon residing at the city of Niles, was born in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, November 28, 1866, a son of Joel S. Brown, of Crawford county, who married Nancy King, a native of the same county. The father was a farmer by occupation, and also a stock dealer. He died at the age of fifty-eight years, and the mother at the age of forty-two years. These worthy parents had one daughter and seven sons, all of whom are living at this time, Doctor H. S. Brown being the sixth son and seventh child in the family. One brother, Dr. D. S. Brown, resides in Erie, Pennsylvania; another, Dr. S. A. Brown, of West- field, New York, is a dental surgeon.
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