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 25
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John P. Fuller attended the public schools and when old enough assisted his father on the farm and continued to live at home until the date of his marriage, when his father gave him fifty-five acres of land, upon which he erected a set of good buildings, lived on the place a year and a half, when he sold or traded for land in Braceville, known as the Braceville Ledge, where he lived twenty years, then sold and bought where he now lives, the farm containing ninety aeres, the same being located on the banks of the Mahoning river. Politically, Mr. Fuller is a Republican and has the honor of casting his first vote for President Abraham Lincoln.
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He was married September 1, 1861, to Sarah J. Shaffer, born in Bristol, Ohio, September 17, 1845. Her father, Abraham Shaffer, was a native of Pennsylvania, and his father, Daniel Shaffer, was from the same state and moved to Ohio, becoming a farmer in Howland township, Trum- bull county. He remained there until his death. His wife was Betsy Hoover, also a Pennsylvanian. The father of Mrs. Fuller was very young when he went to Ohio and was there reared on a farm, and after his mar- riage settled in Bristol, remained but a few years, then bought across the line, in Mecca. He remained there several years, sold and went to a place he purchased on the Niles road, in Howland township, on which place he remained until his death, December, 1907, when he was aged eighty-six years. His wife's maiden name was Sarah Wortman, daughter of Abraham Wortman, a pioneer of the county. The date of the death of Mrs. Fuller's mother was 1892. She bore her husband seven children.
The children born to Mr. Fuller and his estimable wife are: 1, John A., who married, first, Fanny Bracken, and secondly, Blanch C. Bracken. He had one son-John James, who lost his life in a fire while a student at Kenyon (Gambier) College. 2, Ida L., married Utillas M. Harshman and resides in Warren.
MARTIN LUTHER RUTAN is a representative of one of the oldest familes of pioneers within Trumbull county, and the family in various generations has resided on the old Rutan homestead ever since 1806. Mr. Rutan was born on the place upon which he now lives March 15, 1849. His father, Henry Lane Rutan, was born in Warren, Ohio, in 1805, and his father, William Rutan, was a native of Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania. The father of the last mentioned was John Rutan, who lived in that locality until late in years, when he moved to Ohio, spending his latter days with a son, William, a farmer, on the place where Martin L. now lives.
The grandfather came from Pennsylvania to Ohio about 1800 and lived in Warren until 1806, then purchased a tract of land covered heavily with timber, locating in what is now called Champion township. At that date Ohio was a wilderness. At first he built a log cabin, and in about 1820 a frame house was erected by him-the first frame structure within the town. It was a two-story building, well constructed, and is today in a most excellent state of preservation. His time was spent in clearing up his land and tilling the same, as fast as he had it suitable to cultivate. He continued to reside there until his death. He married Hannah Lane, and had one son, Henry, and a daughter named Catherine, who married Solon Gilson and died without issue.
Henry Lane Rutan, the father, was only an infant when his parents came to Champion township, and there he was reared and attended the public schools. He came to be an expert hunter, and during one season killed twenty-two deer, eighteen turkeys, two bears and one large fleet- footed elk. He succeeded to the ownership of the old homestead place, where he died in 1881, aged seventy-six years. He had lived to see Trum-
MRS. CHAUNCEY MEAD
CHAUNCEY MEAD
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bull county changed from a wild wilderness state to one of culture and refinement, settled by a happy, progressive and prosperous people. His wife's maiden name was Mary Guy, born in Boardman township, Mahoning county, Ohio, in 1807, daughter of Mathew and Rebecca ( Shields) Guy. Mathew Guy was a native of Mahoning county, and was killed by the Indians in 1812 in the last war with England. His widow was a native of Virginia, and survived him, dying at the home of her daughter in Cham- pion township. Mrs. Rutan died aged eighty-four years, in 1891. She reared eight children, four of whom are now living: William, Rebecca, Mary and Martin L. The deceased are: Mathew Guy, Hannah, Henry and John Calvin.
Martin L. Rutan attended the district schools and also the high schools at Warren and the Western Reserve Seminary, and at the age of eighteen years commenced teaching school, following it several years. This was during the winter season; but in the farming season he was engaged in farm labor, always remaining on the old home place, which had been settled on by his father and grandfather in 1806, it having been inherited by him. His brothers and sisters were all well educated, and became eminent teachers. His sister, Mary, presides over the household. Both are of the Presbyterian church faith.
CHAUNCEY MEAD .- For many years the late Chauncey Mead, of War- ren, Trumbull county, was one of the foremost agriculturists of this part of Ohio. Energetic and enterprising, he used excellent judgment in his operations, and by his systematic methods and good business ability accu- mulated a large property. He is a son of Henry Mead, a pioneer settler of Trumbull county, Ohio, having come from Connecticut.
Chauncey Mead was born in Bazetta township, and in this county was reared and educated and here spent his seventy-four years of life, being engaged in farming and stock-raising during his active career. Mr. Mead married, November 21, 1852, Lucy Ackley, who was born in Fowler, Trum- bull county, November 16, 1831, a daughter of Plin Ackley. Her grand- mother, Miriam Ackley, came from Connecticut to Trumbull county, being then upwards of three score years, and walked the larger part of the way from Connecticut, oftentimes following a path by means of blazed trees. She lived here until her death, thirty-three years later, aged ninety-three years.
A pioneer of Trumbull county, Plin Ackley cleared and improved a good farm from the dense wilderness, and while thus employed worked, also, at his trade of a shoemaker. In the meantime his wife, Hopy Ackley, a native of Connecticut, did all of the work of the household, and not only spun and wove for herself and family, but did much of that kind of work for her neighbors, when not otherwise employed toiling at her loom. A goodly part of her work has been preserved, and is still in possession of her family.
Mr. and Mrs. Chauncey Mead had no children of their own, but they
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adopted Emma Bennett, who was born in Chicago, Illinois, when she was but eight years of age. She married John Struble, who spent his entire life in Trumbull county, being engaged in farming and stock-raising until his death, in 1898. Since the death of her husband, Mrs. Struble has made her home with Mrs. Mead, who has a beautiful residence at 434 East Market street, Warren. Mrs. Mead is quite wealthy, having a farm of three hundred acres in Vienna and Howland townships, and having finan- cial interests in banks at Niles, Farmington, Courtland and Orwell.
THOMAS MCMAHON, a retired farmer and stockman, has been through a long and successful career and is well known through more than one section of the country through his varied business operations. He is the son of an ardent Methodist, who was a class leader and exhorter in that church for upwards of half a century. Mr. McMahon was born in Jackson township, now within Mahoning county, July 17, 1832. His father, James Drake McMahon, was born in Boardman township, Mahoning county, Ohio, October 5, 1799, and his father was John McMahon, born near Baltimore, Maryland, the son of a man who, it is believed, was a native of Scotland and came to America in colonial times, serving in the Revolutionary war, in which he sacrificed his life. The grandfather was very young when his father died, and he went to live with a merchant in Pittsburg, who educated him. He mastered the languages of several nations, or tribes, of Indians, so that he might the more successfully trade with them. He continued with this merchant several years, trading and traveling with the Indians, during which time he met the lady whom fate seemed to point out as his future wife. Previous to his marriage he had located in Boardman town- ship, where he was residing during the war of 1812. He enlisted in that service and perished in the conflict. After the death of her husband the widow removed to Austintown, Mahoning county, and there resided for a time, then removed to Jackson township, where she purchased a tract of land, to which she found her way by blazed trees.
James D. McMahon being her eldest child, the care and responsibility devolved upon him and he lived with his mother until her death, when he succeeded to the ownership of the home farm, where he resided until the death of his wife, after which he made his home with his sons and died in Champion township, April 18, 1889. February 5, 1829, he married Eliza- beth Cory, born in Lawrence county, Pennsylvania, May 14, 1809, and died in Jackson township, Mahoning county, October 31, 1868, being the mother of six children: John, Thomas, Mary, Charlotte, Silas and Rebecca A.
At a very young age, Thomas McMahon, of this notice, commenced to assist his father and when eighteen years of age worked for others, and his father received the wages, amounting to eighty-two dollars for seven months' time of hard labor. He then bought his time from his father, pay- ing him later out of his earnings. Just at that time stoves and chain pumps were coming onto the market, and he was employed by David
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Anderson to travel and introduce these useful articles in Trumbull county and also in Mahoning county. When twenty-one years of age he engaged in farming and dealt in stock. In 1861 he started for Iowa. He possessed ten hundred and fifty dollars, and on his journey he met George W. Smith, a merchant of Milton township, Van Buren county, Iowa, who proposed a partnership to engage in the live-stock business, which they did. Their first venture was to purchase a large drove of hogs, which they drove to the river for shipment. This was soon after the Civil war broke out, and the contending armies were close together at the state line and a skirmish commenced as they were loading their hogs on the boat, and many of them were lost, so that upon his return to Milton his capital was reduced to seven hundred dollars. His partner had another partner in the mercantile business, and this partner sold to Mr. McMahon. The new firm continued a year, then sold out, and with the money the two ( McMahon and Smith) purchased two hundred acres of land in Milton, where they engaged in stock raising. At that date there was an immense free stock range over the broad rich prairie lands, and hence stock business was very profitable. The partner Smith proved to be an able, honorable man, and they continued in business six years, then sold, Mr. McMahon going to Trumbull county, Ohio, where he purchased a farm of two hundred and sixty-five acres, all within Champion township. There he carried on a general and stock farming business until 1902, when he rented the farm and went to Warren, where he purchased a thirteen-acre estate, near the city limits, where he now leads a quiet and partly retired life. He is now wisely enjoying the fruits of his long years of labor.
One of the important events in Mr. McMahon's career was his marriage, February 10, 1864, to Jane L. Panglon, born in Geanga county, Ohio, September 11, 1845, a daughter of Henry and Lushia (Over) Panglon. Her father was a native of Germany and her mother of East Claridon, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. McMahon are the parents of the following children : Mary E., married Elmer Baldwin; Amos N., married Nellie Sheppie and they have two children-Philip and Frank ; Allie E., married Henry Goeltz and they have one daughter-Helen; Thomas G. McMahon. Of the religious faith of this worthy man and wife it may be stated that Mrs. McMahon is a member of the Christian church, while her husband belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church.
JONATHAN D. WILCOX, one of the industrious and modern styled agriculturists, whose excellent farm home is within the borders of Chan- pion towship, Trumbull county, is a native of this township, being born on the farm where he now lives January 28, 1858, a son of James Wilcox, a native of Mahoning county, born in Canfield township Angust 10, 1820, and his father was James Wilcox, a native of Maryland, of Scotch ancestry. He was reared and educated in his native state, and moved to Ohio, making the entire journey with a pair of oxen and a cart, bringing all of his earthly effects in the vehicle. A part of this overland journey was through
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a trackless wilderness. He stopped in Canfield township for a short time and bought land a half mile east of Jackson Center, Mahoning county, where he cleared up a farm, erected buildings and lived there until his death, dying at the age of ninety-two years. The maiden name of his wife (the grandmother of Jonathan D.) was Farris. They reared three sons and four daughters.
James Wilcox, the father. was a natural mechanic, and in his younger days worked at both carpentering and shoemaking. In 1847 he went to Champion township, which was at the time but a wilderness. This was before railroads came, and Warren was but a mere hamlet. He bought a tract of timbered land which was situated in the southwest part of the township, about four miles out from Warren. Here he first erected a log cabin, and in that humble abode was his son born. Subsequently he built a good hewed log residence, which later on was superseded by a frame building. There he lived until the date of his decease, June 8, 1901. His wife's maiden name was Rebecca M. Quackenbush, a native of Amsterdam, New York, daughter of William and Mary (Allen) Quackenbush, who were supposedly natives of that state, and became pioneers in Lordstown, Trumbull county, Ohio. She died September 20, 1904, having reared five children, as follows: John, James, Jane, Jonathan and Mary.
Jonathan D. Wilcox attended the public schools in his early youth, remaining at home with his people until he reached his majority, then built on the homestead, occupied the house some years after the death of his father, when he purchased the interests held by the other heirs, since which he has owned the entire farm and made improvements additional to those made by his father. This farm now ranks well with any within the township. Mr. Wilcox is in his political views a Democrat, and cast his first vote for General Hancock, presidential candidate.
He was united in marriage September 7, 1882, to Nellie M. Templeton, born in Champion township, a daughter of Hiram Templeton, born in Austintown, Mahoning county, Ohio, October 21, 1834. His father was named William, also a native of Mahoning county, and he was the son of William Templeton, born in Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, in 1776. The last named. William, was the son of the Templeton who came from Scot- land with two brothers, who landed on our shores in colonial days. All three brothers took part in the war for independence. William Templeton, Sr., was one of the first settlers of Ohio, going to that territory in 1795, when it was a part of the Great Northwest Territory. He located in Aus- tintown, in what is now Mahoning connty, Ohio, where he entered a tract of timber land, built a rude log house, which his family occupied two years, when he sold out and bought other lands. Later he purchased and improved several tracts in that locality. He was the first mail carrier between Warren and Pittsburg. That was before the streams had been spanned by any kind of bridges, and frequently he encountered many difficulties in crossing streams. In 1835 he removed to western Ohio, lived there for a time, then returned to Jackson township, and died at the house of his son, William, Jr., in Champion township, in 1856. Before her
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marriage his wife was Elizabeth. Hampton, born in New Jersey, 1872, a daughter of Maud Jane (Ayers) Hampton, pioneers in Ohio. She died August 21, 1841.
In 1836 William Templeton, grandfather of Mrs. Wilcox, went to Champion township and purchased a tract of timber land in the south- western part of the township. On his way in, the last part of his journey, he followed the trail, marked by blazed trees. There he cut timber and made for himself and family a comfortable home; where he died in advanced life.
Mrs. Wilcox's father was only about two years of age when his parents went to Champion township; there he was reared and educated amid rural scenes, wild and free. He succeeded to the ownership of the old homestead and there continued to reside until his death, October 3, 1904. Mrs. Wilcox's mother's maiden name was Rosanna Richardson, born in Lords- town, Ohio, August 15, 1839. Her father, James Richardson, was born in Ireland, and was but four years old when his father died, after which he went to live with his grandparents. Soon after his mother came to America and settled in Lordstown, Ohio. She married a second husband, his name being Campbell. She remained in Lordstown the remainder of her days. Mrs. Wilcox's father was reared and married in his native land, and came to America, accompanied by his family. They came in a sailing vessel, and were eleven weeks in crossing the Atlantic. Two of the children died while on the ocean and were buried at sea. When he arrived in Lords- town he had but one dollar in money left. After a time he went to Penn- sylvania and there rented land, near Pittsburg. He had learned the shoemaking trade, but did not work at it here, except nights and on rainy days. After residing near Pittsburg several years he went to Champion township, Trumbull county, Ohio, and there purchased a farm, upon which he lived ten years, then sold and went back to Pittsburg, where he spent the balance of his days, dying aged eighty-one years. His wife was Hannah Graham, a native of Ireland, but like her husband she was of Scotch ancestry. She died aged seventy-four years. Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox have one daughter, Nina.
THOMAS J. FRY, a farmer residing in Champion township, Trumbull county, is a native of Hickory township, Mercer county, Pennsylvania, born April 24, 1869. His father, Stephen Fry, was born, it is thought, in Lehigh county, May 9, 1827, and his father, David Fry, was born in the same state, while the great-grandfather of Thomas J. Fry was a soldier in the Revolutionary cause. David Fry, the grandfather, served in the war of 1812. He was a farmer and a life-long resident of Pennsylvania, and spent his last days in Mercer county.
Stephen Fry, the father, was a dutiful son at his parents' home in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, where he reached manhood years. After his marriage he purchased a farm in Hickory township, and remained thereon until he with his wife and children went to Trumbull county, Ohio, and
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bought a tract of land consisting of eighty-seven acres in Champion town- ship. Of this land there was only twenty acres of timber, the remainder being cultivated. The family resided there three years, then he rented the farm and went back to Mercer county and lived on his father-in-law's farm in Hickory township until 1881, then returned to Trumbull county to his own place and remained there until his death, in December, 1883.
The mother of Thomas J. was Sarah Wise, born in Union township, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, October 12, 1837. Her father, John Wise, was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and went to Luzerne county, where he followed the cooper's trade. He moved to Crawford county, remained there a few years and pushed on west to Hickory township, Mercer county, Pennsylvania, where he purchased a farm, dividing his time between farm- ing and working at his trade until his death in the year in which he was eighty-five years of age. His wife's maiden name was Eva Kester, born in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and who spent her last years in Hickory town- ship, Mercer county, dying aged sixty years. Mrs. Stephen Fry is still living, at the advanced age of eighty years, hale, hearty and of good mind. She reared nine children: Catherine, Mary, Washington, Elizabeth, Emma, Van Buren, Ella, Thomas J. and Charles.
When twelve years of age Thomas J. Fry lost his father, and he assisted on the farm and attended school when opportunity afforded. When he attained his majority he went to Warren, Ohio, where he was employed for five years at various things, then returned to the farm, where he has since industriously worked at general farm and stock raising business. His eighty-three-acre tract of land is gently rolling and very fertile, as well as well improved and kept up in a tidy manner.
He was united in marriage in 1894 to Kittie Shively, born in Cham- pion township, a daughter of John and Jane Shively. The children by this marriage are: Fred A., Jennie, Donald and Millie. In his political views Mr. Fry is a supporter of the general principles of the Democratic party.
JAMES W. McMAHAN, a representative of one of the oldest families within Lordstown township, Trumbull county, was born in Jackson town- ship, Mahoning county, Ohio, July 15, 1842, a son of Benjamin McMahan, horn at, or near, the present site of the sprightly city of Youngstown, Ohio, February 2, 1800, and his father was John McMahan. His father (great- grandfather of James W.) came to America in colonial times. loeating in Charleston, Sonth Carolina. He, with seven of his sons, the youngest entering as a drummer-boy when but twelve years of age, fought in the war for the colonies. Immediately after the surrender at Yorktown the father was killed by an Indian, and the son Joseph then swore that he would kill every Indian of the tribe, if he had an opportunity, and it is related that he let no such chance go by. Two of the sons, John and Joseph, lived for a time in Pennsylvania and removed to some point in the Northwest Territory, becoming pioneers in that portion called Ohio. For a time they lived in Boardman township, but removed to what is now Jackson township.
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Joseph took the contract to clear the land where now stands the court house in Warren. John entered the service as a substitute for a neighbor and went to Sandusky, serving a term of enlistment, then started for home. His route was through an almost trackless wilderness. He was met by a friend a few miles out of Cleveland, but never reached his home. It is supposed that he was waylaid and killed by the Indians. The maiden name of his wife was Susanna Drake, born on the banks of the Delaware river, 1:14. Her father, Edward Drake, was born in that locality, and his father, Edward Drake, was a native of England and came to America in colonial days and settled on the Delaware river, in Pennsylvania, where he ever afterwards remained. His son Edward pushed his way on to the great West and became a pioneer in the Northwest Territory, spending his last days in Trumbull county, Ohio. Mr. McMahan's grandmother survived her husband many years and removed to what is now Jackson township, about 1807, and purchased land and there reared her family, dying at an advanced old age.
The father of James W. McMahan was reared in Jackson township. In his youth, bear, wolves, deer and numerous wild and ugly animals in- fested the country. He became an expert hunter of such game and wild animals. Notwithstanding his love of the chase, he was industrious and secured land which he cleared up into four farms in Jackson township. where he died aged seventy-nine years. His wife's maiden name was Eliza Irvin, born either at Youngstown or Jackson. Her father, John Irvin, was a pioneer of Jackson township, where he improved a farm and resided for many years, after which he sold and went to Farmington and later to Williams county, Ohio, and spent the remainder of his days there. Mrs. McMahan died aged thirty-five years. Her husband was twice married after her death. By the first union four children were born-Susan, Olive, Harriet and James W. By the second marriage there was one son born --- Nelson, and by the third marriage four children were born-Charles. Benjamin F., Caroline and Josephine.
James W. McMahan made the most of his opportunities to gain an education in the district schools. He was gifted with much musical talent. which he cultivated and became an instrueter of vocal music, which he tanght a part of each year. He followed this in eastern Ohio and at points in western Pennsylvania, also one term in Illinois. His father operated a stone quarry and he learned the art of stone-cutting. Later in life he mastered the blacksmith's trade, which he followed a few years, then returned to stone-cutting. He next purchased a portable steam saw mill, which he operated in Trumbull and Mahoning counties for several years. In 1873 he settled at Lordstown Center, where he remained about fifteen years, then moved near to the Center, where he now resides.
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