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 32
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John Gillis
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C. A. Pierson is a member of the Masonic order, belonging to the Knights Templar degree, being connected with Warren Commandery, No. 39, at Warren.
JOHN GILLIS, an old settler of Kinsman township and a retired farmer in comfortable circumstances, now largely interested in banking and mercantile enterprises, is a native of that township, born on a farm two miles north of Kinsman, July 30, 1838. The paternal grandfather, Robert Gillis, came to Kinsman township with his family, among which was Francis Gillis, then quite a young boy, and who later became the father of John Gillis. Among the other early settlers of Ohio in these pioneer times were representatives of the Lawyer family, and in early manhood Francis Gillis wedded Mary A. Lawyer, a native of Pennsylvania, who came with her parents to this locality when she was a young girl.
John Gillis is the eldest of six children born to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Gillis, of whom three only are living. He was educated in the district schools of the neighborhood and at the old Kinsman Academy and with the exception of the period of his services during the Civil war has always resided in this neighborhood. He enlisted in 1862 in Company B, One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served in the ranks for three years, participating in the battles of Chickamauga, Franklin, Nashville and other historical engagements of the Sonth. He also accom- panied Sherman's army in its advance to the coast, and although his service was continuous and active, he was never in the hospital and never failed to report for duty for a single day during the entire period of his service. He received his honorable discharge at Nashville, Tennessee, and at once returned to Kinsman and resumed his duties as a farmer and private citizen. He now has a fine farm of one hundred and thirty acres, which he cultivates, as well as being identified with the management of several enterprises of a financial and mercantile nature. He is one of the directors of the Kinsman Banking Company and is also a large stockholder in the Wallace Davis Store Company. Mr. Gillis' remarkable war reeord has made him a welcome member of the G. A. R. and he has always taken a leading part in its fraternal work. He is now identified with Post No. 150 and has filled all of the chairs in that organization. He has always voted the Republican ticket, his fidelity to that party antedating even the war.
DAVID DUCOTA, whose farm home is situated within the confines of Vienna township in Trumbull county, was born near the city of Paris, France, July 17, 1849, and in that country also his parents, Frank and Tudoe (Jones) Ducota, were born, lived and died, the father dying in 1871 and the mother in 1880. In their family were but two children, David and his sister Mary.
David Ducota attended school in France and gained a fair education in the French language, but he could not speak a word of English correctly
Vol. II-17
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when he arrived on American shores. He had been reared to farm life and continued to follow agricultural pursuits in his native land until he was thirty-two years of age. With visions of the new world before him he then came to the United States, as do many of the liberty-loving and progressive people of other countries, and locating first at Girard, Ohio, he was employed in the Churchill mines near that city for about ten years. Going then to Vienna he purchased a home there, but after five years left that city to work in the McCartney mincs. In 1893 he sold his house and lot in Vienna and purchased the fifty-two and one-half acre farm where he now lives. He follows a general line of farming and markets his produce at Youngstown.
When Mr. Ducota came to Ohio his sister was residing here, but she returned to France soon afterward, and he has never seen her since that time. On landing in this country he had a capital of forty dollars, and all that he now possesses he has made by dint of his own industry, assisted by none save his good wife.
He was happily married November 11, 1873, to Liddie Peggie, who was born in France, near Paris, April 15, 1852, a daughter of Frank and Geneve Peggie, who were born and who died in that country. The chil- dren born of this union are: Guss, who married Lizzie Stumph, by whom he has two children, John and Hazel, and the family reside on the home farm; Martha, deceased; Marie, who married Thomas James, a farmer in Liberty township, Trumbull county, and they have one child, Floyd; and Harmon, Joseph and Anna, all at home with their parents. Mr. Ducota is a devout Roman Catholic, and in politics is an independent voter, supporting the men whom he thinks will best represent the masses. He is a notable example of what is offered in free America to one who comes from a far away foreign land and has the desire and determination to accomplish something for himself in life.
E. M. NORTON, who is so well known as an extensive agriculturist and stockman, is a native of that portion of Trumbull county known as Vienna township, born there January 28, 1862, a son of Merritt and Dieodymy (Cratsley) Norton. The father died in 1898 and the mother January 7, 1874.
E. M. Norton attended school at Tyrrell Hill, Vienna township, and there gained a fair common school education. He started out in life's race, in 1882, with one hundred dollars which he had earned himself, together with twenty dollars more given him by his father. With this money he purchased the first horse he ever owned, and he expects to keep her as long as she lives. It was about 1884 when he, in company with his brother Luther and C. A. Pierson, leased a lot of land situated in the northeast part of Vienna township, on which they drilled for coal and were suc- cessful in striking a paving vein, which they leased to Evan Morris, of Youngstown. Mr. Norton then formed a partnership with S. W. Dray, in
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the lumber business, which continued for two years, when he engaged in farming. He purchased forty-seven acres of land where he now resides. Later he bought the interests of the heirs to the old homestead of ninety- five acres. This land he operates as a farm and ably conducts with resulting profit. He carries on general farming and uses the old home place as pasture land and meadow. In 1908 he added fifty-two acres to his home farm. He deals extensively in cattle, having on hand, at this writing, twenty fine "feeders" and some stock cattle.
Mr. Norton is a member of the Grange, and at present is its master, having been such since the organization, excepting two years. He is also very fond of game and hunting sports, and takes time each year to wend his way to the woods of Wisconsin, and also Michigan and West Vir- ginia, where he hunts for big game. To date, 1908, he has succeeded in bringing down fifty-two deer. He also has the pelt of a very large prairie wolf, which he killed in 1906.
In his religious belief Mr. Norton is of the Methodist Episcopal faith, while in his political views he favors the principles of the Republican party. He has served as trustee of his township for six years; also has been a member of the school board.
November 20, 1890, Mr. Norton was happily united in marriage to Miss Cora B. Williams, who was born in Vienna township, August 31, 1879, a daughter of Sidney and Eliza (Hake) Williams. The father was born in Vienna township and the mother in Howland township. (See their sketch.) In the Williams family there were nine children, four of whom are living: Edson, residing in Ashtabula county, Ohio, a farmer ; Lina, wife of C. Lamson, of the above county; Allie, of Tyrrell. Ohio, a construction foreman on the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railway ; and Cora B. (Mrs. Norton). One child was born to Mr. and Mrs. Norton, Anna May.
SIDNEY HARRIS WILLIAMS was born on the farm on which he now resides, sixty-three years ago, the date of his birth being February 8, 1845. He is the son of William D. and Delia ( Nichols) Williams. His father was a native of Vienna township, born April 6, 1819, and the mother was born February 10, 1820, in the same locality. The paternal grandfather went from Connecticut to Ohio at an early day. He settled in this town- ship on a farm which was then in the wilderness and great forest. He was among, if not the first, to locate here. His life ever afterward was spent in farming on the tract of land which he improved. He died prior to the Civil war period and his wife some years later.
The father of Sidney H. Williams began life for himself about 1842, or perhaps a year later, when he moved to the farm where now resides his son, Sidney H., and there he continued to live until his death, October 15, 1883. His wife died November 16, 1900. Sidney H. Williams gained his education at the school known as the Munson school. He continued to
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reside at home with his parents until twenty years of age, then rented land a year in this township for about four seasons. At the end of the last named period he bought a farm where E. M. Norton now lives, and there he resided from 1873 to 1890, then sold and went to the old home- stead of one hundred acres, where he now lives. Besides carrying on his extensive farming operations, he has owned and operated a threshing machine outfit for more than a quarter of a century. He has also spent some time in coal prospecting. Having accumulated considerable valuable property, and performed much hard labor, he expects to partially retire and enjoy the fruits of his labor. Politically Mr. Williams is a Republican and interested in the welfare of his county, state and nation.
He was united in marriage December, 1866, to Eliza Hake, born in Howland township in 1846, a daughter of George and Katherine (Hart- man) Hake, both of whom were natives of York, Pennsylvania, and who went to Ohio about Civil war days. Five children have been born to MI. and Mrs. Williams: Louis C., born December 6, 1868, a farmer of this township, married Amelia Brunswick; Cora B., wife of E. M. Norton (see his sketch) ; Grace D., wife of Guy Mathews, residing in Liberty township, a school teacher, also the owner of a small farm; Ida, wife of James Waterman, a brick mason, residing in Niles, Ohio; Edith, wife of George Stein, engaged in the ice business, residing at Niles.
Mrs. Eliza ( Hake) Williams died in March, 1888. For his second wife he married July 4, 1890, Mrs. Edith Thompson, widow of William Thomp- son. She was the daughter of Hillman Tidd, a brother of A. A. Tidd (see his family sketch). By this union there is no issue.
STEPHEN A. BURNETTE, who is numbered among the thrifty farmers and stock raisers, of that goodly portion of Trumbull county, bounded by the limits of the subdivision known as Vienna township, was born August 19, 1858, just north from the village of Vienna Center, a son of Hiram and Martha (Ames) Burnette. He is one of the following children : Stephen A., of this memoir; Ralph N., residing at Orangeville, Ohio, a carpenter; Nettie, wife of Plumb Tyrrell, residing near Warren, farmers; Mary, wife of Franz Turner, residing at Brazil, Indiana, a miner by occupation ; Ivan, on the old homestead; Ada, unmarried, residing with her father. The mother died in February, 1901. Of the Tyrrell family, there were three children-Menville, deceased : Plumb, residing near Warren; Jerusha, the wife of Mr. Burnette being the youngest.
Mr. Burnette attended school at Vienna township district schools. He remained at home practically all the time until he was married, then leased a farm in Vienna township for one year and continued as a land renter about six years. He then was an engineer in a coal mine of Trumbull county for about four years, after which he engaged in the huxter business, continuing in that about eight years, when he moved to his present farm, consisting of sixty-seven acres, upon which he does general farming. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Bur-
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nette is a Republican, of the independent type-voting for the best man regardless of party lines. Among the local positions held may be named those of school director and supervisor.
He was married December 16, 1880, to Jerusha Tyrrell, born in Fowler township. May 15, 1863, a daughter of Amariah and Saphrona (Beecher) Tyrrell, who were married in 1851. Her mother was born in Vienna township and the father in Fowler township. The date of the father's birth was July 29, 1832, and the mother was born June 29, 1832. The paternal grandfather, Manville Tyrrell, was also a native of Fowler township. His parents came from Connecticut and were early-day set- tlers, locating at Tyrrell Hill, Fowler township, and were farmers. The grandfather used to cut cord wood at a shilling a cord, but later became the owner of a large dairy farm, having purchased this after his marriage. He paid six dollars an aere. On this place he remained until his death in 1889.
Amariah Tyrrell having been married at the age of eighteen years, remained at home, two years after marriage then resided on a farm of his father's for twelve years. He was also a teamster for some time, and rented a three hundred acre farm in Howland township, on which he lived for six years, then bought a farm of twelve acres and a half, in Vienna township, remaining there thirty-four years, his death occurring there, June 13, 1907, his wife dying January 19, 1898.
They are the parents of two children : Todd A., born August 3, 1884, unmarried, residing with his parents; Sadie, born October 15, 1888, wife of Edward Chilson, residing in Vienna township, farmers and the parents of one child-Roy, born October 3, 1907.
JOHN H. NORLING. of Vienna township, whose farm home is on rural free delivery route No. 5, out from Warren, Ohio, is a native of Sweden, born November 30, 1851, a son of John and Margaret (Willman) Norling, both of whom were natives of Sweden. The father was born in 1826 and the mother in August, 1823. By occupation, the father was a miner and died May 8, 1816. The mother passed away in the autumn of 1892.
Up to the time Mr. Norling was twenty years of age, he remained at home with his parents, in that far away and most beautiful of northern European countries-Sweden. He followed mining for his livelihood. In 1882 he sailed for America, landing at New York harbor, July 27, and thence came on direct to Youngstown, and went to work in a blast furnace, remaining in that employment four and a half years. He then worked at the same line of work at Niles, Ohio, thirteen years longer, after which he purchased a farm of one hundred and thirty-five acres, upon which he now resides. Here he has made many substantial improvements and does a prosperous general farming business, coupled with stock business, in- cluding the raising of Jersey cattle. His present stock of such valuable animals is eighteen head.
In his religion, Mr. Norling is of the Baptist faith. In politics, he
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is favorable to the principles of the Republican party. June 23, 1876, he was married to Ida Louisa Linquist, a native of Sweden, born to Louis and Mary Albertena (Anderson) Linquist. Her father and mother never came to this country; they were farmers. The mother died in 190? on November 4th. The date of the father's death was June 15, 1868. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Norling were as follows: Helen Augusta, born October 21, 1811, married Aaron Johnson and they reside in Youngs- town, Ohio; Charles Ameil, born January 26, 1880, married Senie Allen, and they reside in Girard, where he is employed in a grocery store; Victor, born October, 1882, died November 30, 1903; Esther, born April 8, 1887, at home, unmarried; Ida, born April 8, 1891; Agnes, born April 16, 1893; John, born September 4, 1896 ; Elmer, born January 15, 1898.
ALLISON H. MACKEY, whose farm home is situated within the bounds of Vienna township, Trumbull county, was born February 18, 1833, on the farm upon which he now resides, a son of Andrew and Jane (Scott) Mackey. Of his parentage it may be said that his father was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, about 1:29, and the mother was born in Chester county, of that state, in 1792. The grandparents, both paternal and maternal, came from Ireland and first settled in Pennsylvania, but subsequently went to Ohio in 1805. The grandfather Andrew, located about one mile south from Vienna in 1810. Later he sold and settled on the farm now occupied by Allison H. The grandfather died here, October 20, 1820, and the grandmother in September, 1817. Andrew, the father, continued to live on the home farm until his death. His farm consisted of eighty acres as a homestead, originally, but to which he added until at his death he owned three hundred acres. The year of his death was 1859, and his wife died in 18:5. This couple had seven children; Allison H., of this notice, being the youngest of the family.
Mr. Mackey is unmarried and his niece (a daughter of his brother James), is a trained nurse and looks after the household duties for him, as he spends his winters in the south and west, in Colorado, Idaho and California. In political views, Mr. Mackey is in accord with the teachings of the Republican party, but has never aspired to office. Mr. Mackey remained with his parents until their death, since which time he has occupied the old homestead, to which he has added some of the improve- ments, the major part, however, were made by his father. The place is now cut down to one hundred acres, the balance having been sold off, because of the perpetual annoyance of securing proper help to operate the place. At one time Mr. Mackey raised much corn and wheat on his farm.
WILLIAM S. WILSON, a farmer residing in, and cultivating the soil of Vienna township, Trumbull county, Ohio, was born September 23, 1856, in Lawrence county, Pennsylvania, a son of Albert and Lydia (Crow) Wilson. His father was born January 20, 1819. The mother died March
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18, 1888, aged sixty-five years and ten months. The paternal grandfather was of Irish descent, probably born in Pennsylvania, and the grandmother was a native of Pennsylvania. They were farmers and spent the latter part of their lives in Pennsylvania where they died.
Albert Wilson, the father, was a stone mason by trade and owned a farm, which he worked in connection with his trade until his death in 1897. His children were: Zeneste, now Mrs. Barge, of New Castle, Penn- sylvania ; James, deceased; John, a plasterer of Youngstown; Lizzie, now Mrs. Moore, on a farm in Venango county; William S., of this memoir; Maggie, Mrs. Langford, whose husband works in the iron mills at New Castle, Pennsylvania; Charles, of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, a plasterer ; Homer, of Youngstown, a plasterer, who lately went to Texas, and two daughters who died in infancy.
William S. Wilson attended the district school in Lawrence county, Pennsylvania, and remained with his parents until thirteen years of age. He worked as a farm hand in Pennsylvania for one year, then returned home and was employed on his father's farm and also leased land which he cultivated. When about twenty-five years he learned the plastering trade, at Youngstown, Ohio, to which place he went in 1883. The next twenty- one years he followed his trade in that city, doing contract work chiefly. Upon leaving Youngstown he disposed of his property and purchased ninety- one acres of the land, upon which he now lives. Here he carries on general farming and stock raising in a highly successful manner. Politically, Mr. Wilson is a Republican, but has never cared for political preferment. He belongs to the Odd Fellows lodge at Youngstown, Ohio.
Mr. Wilson was married August 26, 1881, to Emma S. Vaughn, born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, September 4, 1863, a daughter of Jacob M. and Eunice (Streght) Vaughn, both natives of Mercer county. The father was born January 20, 1819, and the mother August 26, 1820. The father was of Scotch and the mother of German extraction. By trade, the father was a miller and followed this in Mercer county for many years, but later removed to Ohio, near Akron, where he engaged in the same business, con- tinuing until his death, September 10, 1890. The mother died January 29, 1904 In the Vaughn family there were five children, all living: Sula, Mrs. Corbin, residing at Bath, Ohio; Mollie, now Mrs. Free, residing in In- dianapolis, her husband being in the novelty works; John, residing in Crawford county, Pennsylvania ; James, of Allegheny, a farmer ; Emma S., now Mrs. Wilson, who is the youngest in the family.
The home circle of Mr. and Mrs. Wilson has been blessed by the fol- lowing children : Grace, born April 23, 1883, wife of Sidney G. Simons, of Youngstown, a painter and decorator; Edward F., born February 23, 1885, married Florence Damey, of Youngstown, and resides in Cleveland, a plumber by trade; Maud, born September 25, 1887, unmarried, residing at home; Mary Etta, born June 23, 1889; Ivan Vaughn, born September 5, 1891, died December 3, 1891; W. Scott, born October 26, 1892; Leolla F., born December 28, 1894; Elsie A., born January 1, 1899 ; Wallace M., born
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August 31, 1900, died June 5, 1906 ; Effie E., born October 3, 1902 ; Harold G., born May 29, 1906. This family are all at home except the two eldest.
WILLIAM H. COMSTOCK, the independent owner of a fine sixty-acre farm in Vienna township. Trumbull county, has been an iron and steel worker much of his life, having only recently taken up agriculture for his livelihood. He was born January 31, 1871, a son of Jasper B. and Emma (Horner) Comstock, and is a descendant of old Sir Francis Drake of Eng- land. The father was born in Mercer county, April, 1839, and the mother November 10, 1848, at Greenville, Pennsylvania. The paternal grandfather, Cephas Comstock, was a native of England, who came to America when a young man, locating near Mercer. The farm he occupied is still called the Comstock farm. He and his good wife both lived and died there. The mother was a doctor and raised her own herbs, from which she prepared her own remedies. This worthy couple reared nine children, seven sons and two daughters. The seven sons all served in the Union army at the time of the Civil war. The father of William H. was a teamster, which occu- pation he commenced at the close of the war. He married and located at Greenville, where he followed teaming and contracting until his death in 1883. He was educated for a veterinary surgeon, but practiced his pro- fession but little. At the commencemnet of the Rebellion, he enlisted in a Pennsylvania regiment and served faithfully for three years and three months. He had a brother Jason, who was taken prisoner three times. William H. Comstock's mother married a man named A. D. Walker, who is now dead. She still lives at a good old age, and is head cook at the General Fireproofing Company at Youngstown, Ohio.
William H. Comstock began life for himself at the age of twelve years, at the date of his father's death, when he went to work in an iron rolling mill. His education was of necessity limited on account of the early death of his father. He followed iron working until about 1895, then went into the steel works at Youngstown, where he worked until 1907, then bought sixty acres of excellent farm land, upon which he now resides. His last position in the iron works was that of a "heater." In the steel works, he was a "vesselman." He holds a record of one hundred and five heats in eight hours, which is the highest known record for such workmanship. This means the handling of eleven hundred and sixty-eight tons of steel. Only by hard labor has this worthy man been enabled to climb to the top in his profession, as he has never received aid from others. Politically, he votes an independent ticket.
Mr. Comstock was married Devember 27, 1890, to Miss Anna Evans, daughter of John and Mary Ann ( Pritchard) Evans, horn August 27, 1871. The parents were born at Chestnut Ridge, Trumbull county, Ohio, near Hubbard. The grandparents on both sides emigrated to this country, from Wales. The grandmother, Evans, still resides at Chestnut Ridge. The father became a licensed coal miner when a young man and still follows it. The mother died in 1906.
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At L. Burnham
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To Mr. and Mrs. Comstock have been born two children : Harry D., born November 18, 1892, and Edna M., born Angust 31, 1896. Willie, an adopted child, from the Children's Home, at Warren, was born June 24, 1902.
H. L. BURNHAM .- The late H. L. Burnham was one of the successful farmers of Kinsman township and known for many years as an ardent and influential supporter of temperance in all its forms. He not only abhorred liquor and fought continuously against its terrible effects on the community, but even refused to use tobacco in any form throughout his life. His exam- ple had a great effect upon the community, not only because of his fine moral character, but because of his long residence in the county, dying as he did upon the homestead of his birth. His widow now occupies the old home farm hallowed by the memory and Christian life of the deceased.
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