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 18
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Dr. H. Seymour Brown started out in life for himself when fourteen years of age, working at whatever he could find to do, including labor on a farm at eight dollars a month. When seventeen years of age he taught school at Miller's Station, Pennsylvania. He attended Cambridge College, Waterford, Pennsylvania, and the State Normal School at Edinboro, and took a course at the medical department of the Allegheny College at Mead- ville. He also attended the Eclectic Medical College in Cincinnati, Ohio, graduating in 1889, spending three years in the last named school. He first located at MeKean, Pennsylvania, remained until 1891, then went to Conneaut, Ohio, remained there two years, and then came to Niles, in 1893, and has since that time been in constant practice here.
The Doctor is a member of the Northeastern Eclectic Medical and State Medical societies. In his fraternal affiliations he is numbered among the worthy brothers of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks at Niles, Lodge No. 352. In politics he is a stanch Republican, and is active in party movements, having served on the executive board, and stands high in the councils of his party. The Doctor was united in marriage in 1890 to Nellie, daughter of Richard Owen, of Oil City, Pennsylvania.
D. S. DE GARMO .- The present postmaster of the city of Niles, D. S. De Garmo, was born in Schenectady, New York, March 24, 1858, the son of George De Garmo, a native of the same place, who was a farmer. The De Garmos trace their lineage to three brothers who came from France in the sixteenth century and located in New York state. Elizabeth Phillips, mother of D. S. De Garmo, is a native of New York state, and was of Holland Dutch descent. Seven children blessed her union with George De Garmo, two sons of whom are living at this time. The parents are both deceased, the father dying at the age of fifty-six years and the mother when about forty-eight years.
D. S. De Garmo is the fifth child in his parents' family, and the third
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son. He was reared and attended school in his native place. At the age of thirteen years he started out in life for himself as an errand boy in a dry goods store in Schenectady, New York, remaining in the employ of the same house abont eight years and becoming head of the clothing department of the concern, which position he held up to 1878, when he went to Cleve- land, Ohio. He secured a position there with L. A. Baily (now The Baily Co.), with whom he remained nineteen years, and became general manager of the store, which place he filled ably and well until the death of Mr. Baily. In 1899 he went to Niles and bought out J. B. Pearce, a dry goods merchant, in which business he continued until 1907, when he sold out. He was appointed postmaster at Niles in 1906, taking his office in the month of February of that year. A short time before this appointment he was appointed member of the board of public safety, but gave up such position for the office of postmaster.
Politically Mr. De Garmo has been a life-long advocate of the prin- ciples of the Republican party. He is connected with the Elks and Eagles at Niles, and has been an enterprising citizen of his county and city. He has been a careful business man, and began at the lower round, forging his way to the top. At first he commenced working at one dollar a week, or fifty dollars a year, and boarded himself, hence may justly claim to have been self-made. His parents died when he was young, the father when Mr. De Garmo was but ten and his mother when he was but four years of age. When one views the career of one who has come up from the humble places in life, unaided by others, finally reaching the position held by Mr. De Garmo, he is led to appreciate more than ever what our American form of government is capable of doing for its citizens who are willing to put forth an effort to further on their own interests.
He was united in marriage in 1887 to Elizabeth Hilliard, daughter of J. Michael Hilliard, native of Cleveland, by whom he had five children : Harold, Viola, Eunice, Paul and Edith.
T. A. WINFIELD, a real estate dealer and justice of the peace, whose office is at Niles, Ohio, was born at Canfield, Mahoning county, Ohio, Sep- tember 27, 1848, a son of John Winfield, a native of England, who came to this country when a mere lad. He first located in Philadelphia, where he was a "whitesmith," or finisher of fine surgical instruments and dental tools. He was a first-class mechanic, and was the first inventor of a machine for making in continuous lengths lead pipe. He also perfected the first revolving cylinder "revolver" in this country. He died at the age of sixty- six years, at Hubbard, Trumbull county, Ohio. The mother was Mary Campion, a native of England, who came to America when a young girl, first going to Philadelphia. She survived to the age of eighty-five years, and bore three sons and three daughters, all reaching maturity, and all living, save the eldest, who died in 1907.
T. A. Winfield, of this notice, was the youngest child in the family. Ile was reared and educated in Mahoning county, Ohio, attending the
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schools in Canfield township and later attending the old Mahoning Acad- emy ; he also took a commercial course at Duff's College at Pittsburg, gradu- ating in 1866. He followed bookkeeping for a time, and in 1867 engaged in the mercantile business at Hubbard, Trumbull county, when not quite twenty-one years of age. He continued in that business sixteen years, then sold out and went to Niles, where he engaged in the hardware trade, con- tinuing four years, since which time he has been engaged in the real estate business. He has been active in all that tends to forward the interests of Niles, where he has been a resident for many years. He was secretary of the board of trade of Niles for ten years, or since its organization, and has been a justice of the peace for fifteen years. In fraternal affairs he has ever taken much interest, and belongs to the Masonic order, being the secretary of Mahoning Lodge No. 394, at Niles.
Mr. Winfield was married first, in 1869, to Mary Bassitt, who died leaving four children : Frank Bruce, Anna, Edward C. and Charles, all residing at Niles. In 1884, for his second wife, Mr. Winfield married Clara Mason, daughter of Hiram and Margaret (Cherry) Mason, one of the pioneer families of Trumbull county. She was born in Niles. By this union there were born five children: Mary, Mason, Harry, Howard and Laura, all living in Niles.
FRED W. STILLWAGON, secretary and treasurer of the Dollar Savings Bank of Niles, president of the First National Bank of Girard, and hold- ing other important interests in the financial and industrial establishments of both cities, is a native of Trumbull county, born in Weatherfield town- ship November 5, 1873. He has also always been deeply concerned in the advancement of education and religion, and in the progress of all moral and civic movements supported by the best element of his home community. In a word, his substantial success in life has never deadened him to the higher activities.
Mr. Stillwagon's parents are S. H. and Calistia (Hake) Stillwagon, and reside on their homestead in Howland township, this county, being classed among the highly honored pioneers of that section. The father was born in Butler county, Pennsylvania, and, with his mother and unele, located in Howland township in 1865. There he married "Kittie" Hake, a native of the county and daughter of Daniel Hake, also a pioneer farmer of the locality. The Stillwagon family consisted of five children (all sons), of whom four are still living: Fred W., of this sketch ; Paul, of Warren, Ohio, general inspector of the National Electric Lamp Company, and Clyde and Roy, both living on the old family estate in Howland township.
Fred W. Stillwagon was reared on the family farm, and after passing through the district schools was a student in the Niles High School until 1892, and then completed a two years' course at Hiram College. On New Year's day of 1894 he commenced his identification with the banking busi- ness as a bookkeeper and clerk in the First National Bank of Girard, and in the following year removed to Niles to assume the tellership of the City
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National Bank. Seven years of faithful and able service earned him his promotion to the cashiership of that institution, in 1902. On January 2, 1905, at the consolidation of the City and First National banks and the organization of the Dollar Savings Bank, Mr. Stillwagon was elected to his present position. He was one of the active promoters of the Dollar Savings Bank Company, and has been one of its strongest supporters since. Originally the institution utilized the discarded fixtures of the old bank, and its headquarters consisted of a small, unattractive room. At the present time it has a capital of $100,000, all its fixtures and appointments are modern, convenient and spacious, and its building (the Dollar Savings Bank block) stands in a historic neighborhood, being on the site of the old McKinley homestead.
In 1904 Mr. Stillwagon purchased the interest hield by the vice-presi- dent of the First National Bank of Girard, and after holding that office himself for a year was chosen to the presidency. At Niles, besides his prominent identification with the Dollar Savings Bank, he is a director in both the Standard Boiler and Plate Company and the Mineral Ridge Manu- facturing Company. In local affairs of a public nature he has long been active in educational matters, and in the campaigns of the Republican party. He is now a trustee and the treasurer of the Niles Library Associa- tion, and has served as a delegate to several Republican conventions. His belief in the good accomplished by secret and benevolent societies is indi- cated by his active membership in Elks Lodge No. 352, and his religious belief is founded on the faith of the Christian church, of whose board of trustces he is a member. In 1900 Mr. Stillwagon married Miss Grace May Mackey, daughter of E. H. Mackey, of Vienna, Trumbull county.
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D. J. FINNEY, secretary and treasurer of the Standard Boiler and Plate Iron Company, of Niles, is a man of strong business ability and a citizen of public spirit and useful service. He was born in Johnston town- ship, Trumbull county, Ohio, January 9, 1855, a son of T. L. Finney, who was also a native of the township. The elder Mr. Finney was there reared and married to Fidelia Andrews, a native of Trumbull county and daughter of Drayton Andrews, who was long identified with the pioneer interests of that section. The paternal grandfather, Josiah Finney, was a native of Warren, Litchfield county, Connecticut. and came to Trumbull county about 1804. His father, Josiah Finney, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and died in this county in 1844, at the advanced age of eighty-nine, his remains being buried in Johnson township. The father of D. J. Finney died at the age of fifty-one years, and the mother aged forty-two years. Five children was the issue of their marriage-two daughters and three sons, all of whom survive, namely: D. J., of this sketch; Ward T., a conductor on the Chicago and Erie Railroad, who lives at Huntington, Indiana; Melvia, wife of J. J. Eagen. of St. Joseph, Michigan; C. C. Finney, of Warren ; and Maud, wife of F. E. Briggs, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
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D. J. Finney was educated in the public schools, and when seventeen years of age commenced to learn telegraphy, continuing the business for eleven years, and being in the service of the Erie and Pennsylvania Railroad. In 1883 he removed to Niles and formed a partnership with his father-in- law, Dr. W. F. Ball, in the drug business, in which he continued until 1898, when he sold and engaged in various manufacturing enterprises. In 1906 the present boiler works company was organized, and Mr. Finney was elected as its secretary and treasurer.
Politically Mr. Finney is a supporter of the Republican party, and served one term as county commissioner, but declined re-election, on account of his personal business. For six years he was a member of the Niles board of education. He has been connected with Masonry for about twenty years, and takes an active part and a just pride in its fraternal work. In October, 1880, Mr. Finney married Miss Luella M. Ball, daughter of Dr. Ball, of East Liverpool, and one son, Carleton, has been born to them. Carleton Finney was graduated from the Ohio State University in 1908 with the degree of M. E., and is at this writing in the employ of the Youngstown Sheet and Tube Company.
A. B. MANNIX, known both as merchant and farmer, residing at the thriving village of Vienna, Trumbull county, Ohio, is a native of the city of Boston, Massachusetts, born October 11, 1852, a son of Timothy and Margaret ( Hickey) Mannix, both natives of Ireland. They came to Amer- ica about 1828, first settling in Boston, where he was in the grocery business several years, but later was employed by a large firm, with whom he con- tinued to work until 1856, then removed to New York state, where he pur- chased a farm, having closed out his Boston business. He resided on this farm in York state until his death, which occurred about 1883. IIis good wife died about one year later, at Malone, New York.
A. B. Mannix was educated at an old log school building in New York; also at the academy of Malone. He remained at home until twenty years of age, then served as a watchman on a boat for some time. His next em- ployment was as a farm hand, at North Newbury, for a son of Judge Stone, where he was employed for about two years, and while still thus engaged, he bought an interest in a drilling outfit and went drifting and prospecting for coal for about one year, then went to work for the Andrews Coal Company, of Vienna township. After two years he engaged in the butchering busi- ness, at Liberty, where he continued another year and returned to Vienna township, continuing the same until 1888. He next engaged in the mer- cantile business, in which he has been engaged ever since. He conducts a large general store, carrying about nine thousand dollars in stock; also owns a farm of ninety-three acres, a part of which is within the village plat of Vienna. Another one of his holdings is stock in the Jamestown Tele- phone Company ; also in the First National Bank, at Girard. He is inter- ested in the property known as the Opera House Hall, of Vienna, and the Masonic Temple, at Warren. With the passing of years, Mr. Mannix has been successful in accumulating much valuable property.
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He is a member of the Masonic order, the Elks, Maccabees and is advanced in Masonry, including the Knights Templar degree. In his poli- tics, he is a Republican, and was elected county treasurer November 3, 1908. He has served as township treasurer for the last nineteen years and has been postmaster for eleven years at Vienna. In church connection, he is a Pres- byterian and has been the treasurer of this church at Vienna.
Mr. Mannix was united in marriage February 22, 1882, to Carrie Chamberlin, born in Vienna township, March 13, 1859, a daughter of George and Mary ( Wheeler ) Chamberlin. Her father was a native of New Jersey and the mother was born in Brookfield township, Trumbull county, Ohio. The father was born July 11, 1829, and the mother, September 8, 1834. The paternal grandfather, William Chamberlin, and wife Mary, were both natives of New Jersey.
The parents of Mr. Mannix had twelve children: Patrick and Daniel, deceased : James, residing in retirement in Boston ; Edwin, of Malone, New York, was a captain in the Ninety-eighth New York Regiment of Infantry during the great Civil war period; Timothy, who was a sergeant in the Sixteenth New York Infantry, now lives in Montana; William, a resident of the old homestead in New York state; A. B., of this notice; Mary, residing in Boston, wife of Morris Foley, now deceased, was a merchant ; Margaret, deceased ; Elizabeth, unmarried, residing in South Dakota; Kate, wife of John O'Rourke, residing in Malone, New York ; John, of Montana.
WILLIAM Y. SAYERS is one of the successful representatives of that most useful of trades and professions, a barber. To be master of whatever one undertakes to follow is the manly manner of ordering one's life, whether in the humbler or more exalted walks of life. Mr. Sayers was born in Cambridge, Ohio, March 8, 1862, a son of Francis Sayers, a native of England, who emigrated to America when about eighteen years of age. He was by trade a coal miner, and has been a resident of Trumbull county almost forty-five years, now residing in the city of Niles. His wife (mother of William Y.) was Elizabeth Chapman, a native of England, who came to this country when about twelve years of age, with her parents. She still survives, and is the fond mother of ten children, seven of whom are living, Mr. Sayers being the eldest in the family.
He was ten years of age when the family came to Niles, where he received his education. In 1877, having chosen the profession of a barber, he began by serving an apprenticeship. He returned for one year's more schooling, and in 1881 embarked in business for himself, and has been constantly at this work since-twenty-seven years in all. This makes him the oldest in point of service of any business man in Niles. He has not been content to be wrapped up in his business to that extent that he sees nothing to perform, as a citizen, aside from his own personal interests, but, on the contrary, he joins with others in enterprises and aids all which tends to make good the city of which he is justly proud.
Politically he favors the teachings of the Republican party. He has
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been favored with a seat in the city council for several terms; has been township treasurer three terms, served one term on the board of public safety and one year on the county executive committee. He was nominated for county recorder in 1908. Progressive in his makeup, he is favorable to fraternal societies, being himself, a member of the Knights of Pythias, Uniform Rank, Royal Arcanum, and Modern Woodmen of America.
Mr. Sayers was married in December, 1885, to Rosella Orr, a daughter of James Orr and wife, of Weathersfield township, Trumbull county. Two sons have blessed this union : Howard Y. and William O.
William Y. Sayers has been a constant resident of Niles since he first went to the place when ten years old, and he has been successful in a finan- cial way, having accumulated a good property, including stock in the Dollar Savings Bank and Niles Car and Manufacturing Company.
JOSEPH SMITH, one of the prominent attorneys-at-law practicing at Niles, Ohio, is a native of England, born December 25, 1870, and came to America when nine years of age. Mr. Smith first located at Troy, New York, remained one year in Cleveland, and in 1885 went to Niles. He was educated in the public schools of Troy and at Niles, Ohio. He gradu- ated from the high school of Niles in 1890, spent a year and a half with the Erie Railroad Company, after which he attended the Ohio State Univer- sity at Columbus. He commenced the study of law with Hon. C. H. Strock, at Niles, and was admitted to the bar in 1895, beginning the prac- tice of his profession in Niles, having practiced alone most of the time ever since. He now occupies the offices of Smiley & Weiss, who are both deceased. This room stands on the spot where President McKinley was born, and Mr. Smith's office is profusely adorned with pictures of Mckinley, thirty-six in all.
Mr. Smith has been prominently connected with the affairs of Niles for thirteen years. He was united in marriage in 1906 to Blanch, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Seth Hofius, of Trumbull county. He is a member of the Masonie order, Mahoning Lodge No. 394, and of Niles Lodge No. 1387 of the Knights of Pythias, and has passed through the chairs of both lodges. In politics he is a firm believer in the doctrines of the Republican party. IIe has held the offices of justice of the peace and clerk of the board of health for nine years. He was city solicitor three terms-six years-having always taken an active part in the affairs of his city. He is one of the directors in the Bostwick Steel Lath Company, and is a stockholder in the Niles Car and Manufacturing Company.
EDWIN CLARE CALDWELL, a representative of the legal profession prac- ticing at Niles, Ohio, was born in Warren, Ohio, May 19, 1881, a son of Frank E. Caldwell, a native of Trumbull county, born at Bristolville. His father, James Caldwell, grandfather of Edwin Clare, was one of the pioneers of Trumbull county, who came to the county by boat, up the Ohio river.
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Frank E. Caldwell married Matilda E. Geffrey, a native of Trumbull county, Ohio. Her father, William H. Geffrey, was born in England and there married. At an early day he went to Warren, Ohio, but subsequently settled at Mecca and was married in Trumbull county, afterward locating in Tuscarawas county; he then moved back to Trumbull county, settling in Mecca township on a farm, from which later he moved to Warren, where he was deputy county clerk and deputy sheriff. After running for the office three times, he was elected sheriff, which position he filled for four years, from 1898 to 1902. He was secretary and treasurer of the Warren Hard- ware Company for a time and owns a farm on which he is breeding horses. He resides, however, in Warren. There were two children in the family- Edwin Clare and a sister, Amy Blanch, at home, keeping house for her father, the faithful wife and good mother having died in 1892.
Edwin Clare Caldwell, only son and youngest child of Frank Caldwell and wife, was educated in Warren at the common and high schools, and later graduated from Adelbert College, in 1902, attending four years. He then entered and graduated from the Western Reserve University law de- partment in 1905. He first located in Cleveland, where he practiced law until 1907 and then located at Niles. Mr. Caldwell is a member of the Odd Fellows fraternity, at Niles, and a member of the college fraternity known as Delta Tau Delta ; also of the Phi Delta Phi fraternity, a legal college so- ciety. In his legal practice, he has won distinction and is classed among the dignified and broad-minded attorneys of Trumbull county, who has come into practice since the retirement of the older class of practitioners, who formerly carried the honors of the bar in this section of Ohio.
WILLIAM B. MASON, who is a venerable pioneer of Niles, was born near where he now resides, August 4, 1842, a son of Dean Edson Mason, a native of Essex county, New York, who went to Trumbull county about 1837, locat- ing in Weathersfield township, on a farm where he died while yet a young man. His people were New Englanders. The mother of William B. Mason was Bertha M. Holcomb, a native of Lewis, Essex county, New York, born 1817, and living at this date (1908), being ninety-one years of age and yet in possession of all her faculties. There were three children in the family : Amanda A., born in 1838, died October, 1907; Frank H., born in 1840 and is now consul-general at Paris; William B., of this notice.
William B. was reared and educated in his native county and at Hiram Institute, now known as Hiram College. At the time of the Civil war, he enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Seventy-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment, as a private soldier. Later he was made a non-commis- sioned officer. After his service in the army, he returned home and engaged in the occupation of farmer and stock-raiser.
Politically, Mr. Mason is a Republican of no uncertain type, voting for President Lincoln in 1864. He is a member of the Christian church, at the city of Niles. Very naturally, he finds a place among the membership of the Grand Army of the Republic, McPherson Post No. 16, of which he
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is now chaplain, and has held other offices within that old veteran organi- zation.
Mr. Mason was united in marriage in the month of January, 1872, to Mary E. Russell, of Sharon, Pennsylvania, a native of New Castle, a member of the Christian church and educated at the public and normal schools of Pittsburg. She also taught for a time in that city. She moved to Niles in 1867. She belongs to the Niles Political Equality Club and is worthy of the confidence the people of her circle of acquaintance repose in her. Three children have blessed this marriage union: Russell E., of Niles ; Bertha R., wife of Thomas H. Wilson of Niles; Mary H., now wife of Ralph Kiefer, of Beaver, Pennsylvania.
FRED P. McBERTY, treasurer of the Enterprise Electrical Company, of Warren, Ohio, was born September 25, 1869, in the city of Warren. His father was Robert MeBerty, a native of New York, who went to Warren about 1868, and is still a resident of the city. The mother was before marriage Miss Harriet Knowles and is still living. This couple were the parents of three children, all living at this time, Fred P. being the second child in order of birth. He was reared and educated in Warren, where he learned the machinist's trade at the Warren Machine Works, and in 1892 commenced the electric business with the Packards, with whom he remained about two years, then took a position with the Warren Electric and Specialty Company, with whom he had been employed for fifteen years. He commenced as a machinist and was advanced until he became superintendent of the extensive works.
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