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 27
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In Pittsburg Mr. Ewart has long been a Republican. He was a mem- ber of the Americus Republican Club, of that city, which has cut so wide a swath in the politics of Pennsylvania and Ohio. The late President McKinley was an honorary member of this organization, the club often serving as his personal escort. In 1899 Mr. Ewart married Miss Florence McKee, daughter of John Ryan McKee, of Pittsburg.
HILLYER D. PERKINS .- The old Perkins homestead, which is now in charge of Miss Anna Louise, second child of the late Hillyer D. Perkins, has been in possession of the family since it was purchased by her grand- father in 1818. It is therefore one of the most interesting historic land- marks of Kinsman township and Trumbull county. The picturesque and valuable estate consists of two hundred and twenty-nine acres of land, which is now rented to desirable and careful farmers.
Hillyer D. Perkins was born in Kinsman township, on the homestead mentioned, September 22, 1821, and it was the scene of all the main events of his life, including his marriage to Miss Louisa Bennett, of Hart- ford, Ohio, who died shortly after. On August 10, 1845, he married Miss Susan S. Lowry, of Talmadge, Ohio, she being then within one day of her twenty-third year. She died on the old homestead August 12, 1907, the day after she had celebrated her eighty-fifth birthday. The four children born of this second marriage were as follows: Henry L., May 25, 1846; Anna Louisa, October 11, 1850; Frederick H., May 19, 1853, who died at Orwell, Ohio, April 22, 1898, having been engaged in that place as a banker for one year, and for many years was associated with the Bank of Kinsman, Ohio; and Jessie, born October 4, 1864, now Mrs. W. L. Chidester, a resident of Chicago. Mr. Perkins died on Christmas day of the year 1882, having passed his life as a faithful, industrious, unassuming citizen and a Christian.
Seth Perkins, the grandfather, who founded the family in Ohio, was a native of Hartland county, Connecticut, born February 29, 1780. At the age of twelve years he moved with other members of the family to Bark- hamsted, Litchfield county, that state, and when twenty years old settled at Canandaigua, New York, where he resided until 1804. He was among the first of the colonists to enter the country northwest of the Ohio river, and came hither with all his earthly possessions in a knapsack. Neverthe- less, in the following October he married Miss Lucy Thompson, daughter of Thomas Thompson, who had migrated from his Connecticut home to
JOHN D. A. PRICE
MRS. JOHN D. A. PRICE
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Hartford, Trumbull county. He had made a clearing and built a small log cabin near the line between what are now Fowler and Vienna town- ships, and in the spring of 1805 the young couple commenced housekeeping in this locality. At this time there were but four families in Fowler town- ship, the nearest being about a mile distant, all around being dense forest, unbroken except by wild beasts and savages. The sneceeding seven years, however, made considerable improvements in the surrounding country, and especially in the Perkins timber farm; but, carried away by the excite- ment and patriotism caused by the war of 1812, the head of the family joined his neighbors and started for what was then the northwestern border, the two chief objective points of the American forces being Sandusky and Huron. He returned June 1, 1813, having gained a new experience and restored health. The homestead in Fowler township remained the home of the Perkins family until the autumn of 1818, much of the land being now cultivated, an orchard having been brought to full bearing, and other improvements being added indicative of the thrifty and thorough farmer. In April, 1819, having sold his farm in the previous autumn, Mr. Perkins removed with his family to Kinsman township, and there estab- lished the estate which, with constant changes and improvements, has descended to the present. While working on the old homestead, which had become familiar and beloved by the associations of twenty-seven years, he met with an accident which caused a serious concussion of the brain, followed by his death in February, 1846.
NORMAN S. PRICE, farmer and dairyman, who excells in both branches of business, resides in Hubbard township, and was born on the farm on which he now lives, December 22, 1868. His father, John D. A. Price, was born on the same farm April 27, 1826. The grandfather, James S. Price, was born in New Jersey, November 7, 1783, and was a son of Samuel price, who came to Trumbull county with his family, more than a century ago, locating near Coalburg, where he purchased about three hundred acres of land. James S. Price was a millwright. He married Miss Betsy Clark, a native of Trumbull county, Ohio. Her people came from Connecticut. Two children was the result of this union: Polly, who married Stephen Burnett, who is now deceased; Clark Price, now deceased. Betsy (Clark) Price died and James S. married Sallie Duer, daughter of John and Susan Duer, of Hubbard township. They came from New Jersey. The children of James S. and Susan ( Duer) Price were Pamelia, who married Aaron Vanness, now deceased; Enphamey, who married Lawrence Hager and is now deceased; Eli, Jonathan, Stinson, and William, all deceased; John D. A., father of Norman S., of this sketch ; Sally Ann, who married Aaron Vanness and now resides in Hubbard; and three children who died in in- fancy.
John D. A. Price, the father, was educated in Hubbard township, where he lived all his life. He married, December 30, 1865, Nancy Jones, who was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, May 17, 1845, daughter of
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Andrew and Eliza Jones. Her parents came from Ireland and were of Irish and Welsh descent. Mr. and Mrs. Price had one child : Norman S. John D. A. Price is a Democrat and was at one time trustee of Hubbard township. He belongs to the Baptist church at Hubbard. His occupation has been that of a farmer all of his active life. His present farm consists of ninety-two acres, but on account of his decline in life, he has retired and his son conducts the place.
Norman S. Price received his education at the most excellent public schools of Hubbard township and commenced the life of an agriculturist on his father's farm. He has followed this through the passing years and still works the old homestead, doing general farming and dairying. He keeps about fifteen cows and disposes of his milk and dairy products at Youngstown, Ohio.
He was married August 25, 1892, to Jennie M. Paisley, daughter of John W. and Sarah Paisley, natives of Hubbard township, where she was reared and educated. Mr. and Mrs. Price reside in a modern residence and are surrounded with all the comforts of life. They have no children.
GEORGE W. BIRRELL, who was sixty-two years old at the time of his death, which occurred at Kinsman, June 18, 1907, had been a resident of the place since young boyhood, and no smirch had ever been found on his life, which for so many years was an open book to the community. Neither Kinsman nor Trumbull county has ever lost a citizen of greater usefulness or more straightforward and honorable life. He was born in Gustavus township, this county, on the ?th of May, 1845, son of George and Nancy Birrell, both natives of Scotland. There they were married, and one of their children was also born in Scotland. When George Birrell, the father, first came to the United States he settled with his family in Pittsburg. Soon afterward they removed to Gustavus township, the father leaving his trade as a baker to assume farming. Still later the family settled in the town of Kinsman, in whose public schools George W. received the bulk of his education.
Mr. Birrell's first business partnership was with David Kay, their general store being conducted for some years under the firm name of Kay & Birrell. When F. W. Fobes became an associate in the business the style was changed to Kay, Birrell & Company, and after the death of Mr. Kay, Birrell & Fobes. Mr. Birrell was also one of the organizers of the Kinsman National Bank; was its cashier at the time of his decease; was also, for some years, a hardware merchant, and was in all respects both an enter- prising and successful business man and a public-spirited citizen of sub- stantial abilities and high character. Before he had passed his teens he had given one hundred days of his youth to the Union cause, and was always a warm supporter and an active member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He was a Mason.
In 1880 Mr. Birrell wedded Miss Ellen Griswold, daughter of George A. and Mary A. (Sperry) Griswold, his wife being born in Gustavus
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township just over the line of Kinsman township. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. George W. Birrell : Florence is the wife of Adelbert Evans, a resident of Gustavus township; Andrew, the second born, is in business with F. W. Fobes at Kinsman, the old firm name of Birrell & Fobes being retained ; and G. Henry Birrell is a student at Oberlin College.
WALKER C. JEWELL, of Kinsman, senior member of the firm of Jewell & Fobes, general merchants, is one of the leading business men of Trumbull county and has also been a prominent agriculturist. He is a native of Vernon township, born December 18, 1863, son of Thaddeus and Mary (Mossman) Jewell. His father was a native of Vernon township, this county, born March 17, 1829, and was a farmer in this county all his life, dying here November 13, 1892. His first wife, who was a native of West Salem, Mercer county, Pennsylvania, died in 1870 when Walker C. was about seven years old. Thaddeus Jewell married as his second wife Miss Emeline Sponsler. There were four children by these marriages: Walker C. and Allen Jewell, by the first; and Laura Blanche, now Mrs. Warren Keck, of Greenville, Pennsylvania, and Myrtle M., Mrs. J. W. Nelson, of the same town, by the second union.
Mr. Jewell was reared and educated in Vernon township and remained at home with his parents until his marriage in 1886. He resided in Vernon township until 1895, when he removed to Kinsman and established a butcher business, which he conducted for the following four years. He then entered the clothing business in partnership with H. J. Fobes, the firm being Jewell & Fobes, dealers in clothing, boots, shoes and gentlemen's furnishing goods. Mr. Jewell is also interested in the Kinsman National Bank, being one of its stockholders and directors. He has two fine farms in Vernon township, consisting of five hundred acres. On account of the extent of his other interests, however, he rents his farms to substantial tenants. Mr. Jewell has been an active leader in educational work and served for many years as a member of the board of education. He is a Knight Templar, being a member of the local chapter, and also belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America.
Mr. Jewell was married to Miss Myrta M. Laughlin, January 14, 1886, his wife being a daughter of Silas and Nancy J. Laughlin. Mrs. Jewell is a native of Mercer county, Pennsylvania, born October 15, 1865. Her mother is still living and resides at Kinsman, but her father died October 13, 1899. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Jewell are Lloyd C. and Lisle A. (twins), born May 14, 1890, who are living at home.
WILLIAM F. STORJER, of Farmdale, Kinsman township, is one of the leading men of Trumbull county engaged in the buying and shipping of live stock. He was born in Gustavus township, this county, September 1, 1851, a son of John and Betsy (Pratt) Storier, his father being a native of Scotland who came to America as a young man, and his mother was born
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in Pennsylvania. Mr. Storier's parents located in Gustavus township at an carly date and still reside there.
William F. Storier was educated and reached manhood in the locality of his birth. He remained at home until he was of age, when he engaged in the stock business which he has since conducted. In 1894 he located at Farmdale and established a large trade in the buying and shipping of live stock. He is a leading Republican of the locality and has held such offices as assessor and township trustee, having held the latter office for the last four years. He is also interested in the Kinsman Banking Company as a stockholder and director. In Masonry he has membership with the council and chapter of Kinsman. In 1889 Mr. Storier married Miss Mary Kinleysid, and they have one daughter, Laura, who is living at home.
ROBERT G. HAMILTON, a leading farmer and prosperous dealer in flour, feed, lime and cement, is located at Farmdale, Kinsman township, Trumbull county. He is a native of Vernon township, this county, born July 31, 1854. Robert Hamilton, his father, was a native of Scotland, where he reached manhood and married his first wife. Upon coming to America the family first located at Clarksville, Pennsylvania, later locating on a farm in Vernon township, where Robert G. was born. After living there five years they removed to Kinsman, where they lived until the death of the father in the eighty-fifth year of his age. Robert Hamilton's second marriage was to Miss Ellen Currie, also a native of Scotland, who bore him six children, all of whom are living.
Robert G. Hamilton is the second child and second son by this mar- riage and was about two years old when the family moved to Kinsman township, where he received his education. After leaving school he passed about six years at Titusville, Pennsylvania, where he was engaged in the lumber business, returning then to Kinsman and establishing himself in his present line of business, which he has conducted for the past ten years. Mr. Hamilton has been a leader in the affairs of the Republican party of his locality and among other local offices has served as trustee of Kinsman township.
WILLIAM A. THOMAS, a leading farmer of Kinsman township and one of the most widely known justices of the peace in Trumbull county, was born on the fine farm of his present residence February 27, 1834. His father, Daniel Thomas, was a native of New London county, Connecticut, and located in Trumbull county in 1828, from the first occupying the farm upon which William A. now resides. He there died at the age of seventy- one years in 1869. His wife, formerly Miss Lucinda Kimball, was a daugh- ter of Gurdon Kimball, who was born in 1774, a sailor or master of a ship, and who was drowned at the age of thirty-nine years, in November, 1813. There were seven children in the Thomas family, four of whom were born in Kinsman township.
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William A. Thomas resided on the old homestead continuously until the outbreak of the Civil war, when he enlisted in the One Hundred and Eleventh Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry and was elected captain of Company G, October 6, 1861. In October, 1863, he was promoted to be major of his regiment, and on the 24th of the following month was wounded at Lookout Mountain, and honorably discharged from the service, December 6, 1864, for disability from wounds, the entire term of his service covering three years, three months and one day. In 1862 Captain Thomas was married in Pennsylvania to Miss Nancy J. Doty, and after the Civil war they settled in Andover, Ashtabula county, Ohio, where the husband bought a farm and conducted it for about four years. In 1869 he removed to the old homestead in Kinsman township founded by his father, and in after years purchased the interest of the heirs of the estate. The farm now consists of about two hundred and fifty acres, his operations being entirely of a general nature. Mr. Thomas, widely known as 'Squire Thomas, has served as justice of the peace almost continuously since 1878, and has also filled other offices of the town and township. Among these offiees may be mentioned those of assessor and school director, his occupancy of the latter office covering fully twenty-two years. He has made his mark as a practical man of affairs and is always acknowledged to be a citizen of wide informa- tion. He is a great leader and is especially well posted in current events. In Masonry he has been a familiar figure for thirty-five years and has been a life-long supporter of the Republican party.
The family born to Mr. and Mrs. William A. Thomas consists of seven children, six of whom are living: E. Grace, now the wife of George Gelvin, of Andover, Ohio, her husband being a farmer of that locality; Cornelia I., now Mrs. Richard W. Hatton, of West Shenango, Pennsylvania ; George H., who married Antoinette L. York, and resides in Gustavus town- ship; Clara C., Mrs. Homer T. Bush, of West Shenango, Pennsylvania ; Gertrude E., wife of Clyde B. MeCurdy, of Kinsman township; Frederick W., who married Bessie Hover and lives in Greenville, Pennsylvania; and Laura May, who died in infancy. Mr. Thomas has ten grandchildren, and it is hard to determine of which generation he is most proud.
ANDREW C. PARKER .- The local history of the Parker family, of which Andrew C. Parker is an honored representative, commenced in 1815 when the maternal grandfather, William Christy, came from Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and settled with his family in Kinsman township. He was a soldier of the War of 1812 and became prominent in the pioneer history of Trumbull county, many of his descendants still residing in Kinsman township. Moses A. Parker, the father of Andrew C., was a native of Barkhamsted, Connectieut, born in September, 1802. He came to Kinsman township in 1816, being then a boy of fourteen years of age, and on January 20, 1829, married Catherine Christy. Mrs. Moses Parker was a native of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, born April 6, 1808. She removed to Kinsman township, Ohio, where she resided until after her
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ยท marriage. The young couple lived for a time in Andover, later settling on a farm in Kinsman township. The family afterward returned to Penn- sylvania, where they remained for seven years, but finally settled perma- nently in this locality. The mother died on the old homestead February 11, 1829, and the father died in Henry county, Ohio, March 6, 1889, residing at the time with one of his sons, Ledru R. Parker.
Andrew C. Parker was seven years of age when the family moved to Pennsylvania, and during the seven years of his residence there obtained most of his early schooling. He was fourteen years old when the homestead was again fixed in Kinsman township, and until he was twenty-three years of age he lived on what is still known as the old Parker farm. In 1861 he enlisted in Company A, Forty-first Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry and holds the record in Kinsman township for length of continuous service in the Civil war. The period of his active and arduous duties covered four years, three months and fifteen days. He participated in eighteen battles and visited every southern state with the exceptions of South Carolina and Florida. His service closed in Texas, November 27, 1865. What is remark- able to add, he passed through all this activity in the field without receiving a single wound or having been confined in the hospital except for a short period during this time, and was never incarcerated in a guard house. During this remarkable experience of more than four years he marched over five thousand miles, was transported by water five thousand miles, and the railroads of the south also carried him over five thousand miles of territory.
In the spring of 1866 Mr. Parker returned to Kinsman and after remaining there for a short time removed to Green Lake, Wisconsin, where he remained for eight years, but after the death of his first wife at that place returned to Kinsman to again take up his residence. Two years afterward he removed to Pennsylvania for a stay of two years, but Kinsman again attracted him, and in this locality he has since continuously resided. Mr. Parker has been twice married, both of his wives being sisters. His first wife was Mary A. Rogers, daughter of George M. and Orinda (Vickery) Rogers, and his second marriage was to the sister, Charlotte C., in 1825. The children of the second marriage are: Alma O., who resides at home, and Ledru R., a resident of Aurora, Illinois, who married Miss Harriet Henderson. Mr. Parker has been a life-long farmer and for years a leading member of the Methodist church. His interest in fraternity life is confined to his enthusiasm for the work of the G. A. R., his identification with the order being as a member of Kinsman Post 150, of Kinsman. He has filled most of the offices in the post and takes an active part in all its work.
FRANK W. FOBES .- For twenty-six years a resident of Kinsman, Trumbull county, Frank W. Fobes is now classed as one of the leading business men of this section, and is the senior member of the firm of Fobes & Birrell, general merchants. He is a native of Wayne, Ashtabula county, Ohio, born July 22, 1869, son of Frank J. and Eliza ( Miller)
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Fobes. The grandfather, Justus Fobes, migrated from Connecticut as one of the first settlers of Wayne. Both the grandfather and father were life-long farmers, the latter still living, aged eighty-six years. The mother was a daughter of Gordon Miller and wife, also pioneers of Wayne, Ashta- bula county. Mr. Miller came to Kinsman at a very early date. and at one time was both the owner of what were known as the woolen mills and of a farm of considerable prominence. Mrs. Fobes died at the age of fifty- nve years and the mother of eight children, five daughters and three sons, one daughter, Lydia, being the only one deceased.
Frank W. Fobes is the sixth child and the second son of the family. and his boyhood days were passed in Ashtabula county at and near the vicinity of Wayne until he was eighteen years of age. He attended the common schools of Wayne and Kinsman, and then engaged in the manu- facture of cheese in association with his father, their establishment being known as the "Cold Spring Factory." In 188? he abandoned this business and formed a partnership with Mr. Birrell in the jewelry business, and continued identified with this firm at Kinsman until 1886. Later the firm became Kay, Birrell and Company, the business having expanded so as to include a general stock of merchandise. In 1902 Mr. Kay died, and the style of the firm was changed to Birrell and Company, until 1907, when it became Fobes and Birrell, as at present. Their business is now one of the most prosperous in the town.
In 1884 Mr. Fobes married Miss Jennie Kiddle, danghter of William Kiddle, of Wayne, Ashtabula county, Ohio, and their two children are Paul and Mary Louise Fobes. Mr. Fobes has been active in many local fields, his most important connections at the present being with the Ohio Milk Sugar Company, of Kinsman, and with various cheese factories of Trumbull county. He is a leading member of the Masonie fraternity, and also belongs to the I. O. O. F. and the Modern Woodmen of America.
J. B. JOHNSTON, cashier of the Kinsman Banking Company, is a life- long resident of Trumbull county, and was born in Johnston township September 9, 1822. Ilis grandfather, John Johnston, was a native of Ireland who emigrated from his native land to the United States, first locating at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and soon afterward settling in Johnston township, this county. He drove overland in an ox team, and was one of the pioneers of the Western Reserve, as a well known hotel man being especially identified with the pioneer times of this section of the state. At one time he was proprietor of the old "Eagle House," which was located on the main stage line running from Meadville to Warren. The father of J. B. Johnston died when the son was but nine years of age, and his mother, Margaret Hyndman, passed away when he was fifteen.
Mr. Johnston has therefore been sole master of his fortune since his early youth, commencing the serions work of his life as a farm hand employed by the month. These circumstances made it impossible for him to seenre a thorough education, his training in the school room comprising
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but one winter term after the death of his mother. His first experience in business was as a elerk for the Wallace-Davis Company, and he continued in their employ for some seven years, in July, 1906, becoming identified with the Kinsman Banking Company as its secretary and treasurer.
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On October 14, 1903, Mr. Johnston married Miss Sarah Gillis, daugh- ter of L. T. and Nettie (Coughlin) Gillis. His wife, who was born and educated in Kinsman, has known no other home than that place. Mr. and Mrs. Johnston have two children-Margaret and Robert Johnston. Mr. Johnston is a Republican, a member both of the Masonic fraternity and the K. O. T. M., and is among the able business men and progressive citi- zens of Trumbull county.
LUMAN G. MOORE, M. D., is not only a leader among the old practi- tioners of Kinsman, but has always taken a prominent part in the business and industrial enterprises of Trumbull county. He was born at Kinsman February 16, 1849, his parents being Lorenzo and Caroline (Miller) Moore, both born at Barkhamsted, Connecticut. His paternal grandparents, Ros- well and Julia ( Foote) Moore, were both natives of Connecticut. In the early days they journeyed with ox teams and by canal from their native Connecticut town to Kinsman, Trumbull county, Ohio. Here they bought a tract of timber land and cleared and improved it into a productive farm and transformed it into a comfortable and attractive homestead. This home estate was located two miles north of Kinsman, and here the mother died in January, 1867, and the father in February, 1868. The doctor was the elder of their two children, his sister being Emma F., now the wife of James B. Ward, of Put-in-Bay, Ohio.
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