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 46
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JAMES CURRIE, farmer and extensive land owner, residing in Johnson township, is a native of Lanarkshire, Stone House Parish, Scotland, born March 29, 1836, the son of James and Marion ( Hamilton) Currie. The grandfathers were Alexander Currie and John Hamilton. The father died in Scotland about 1842. In 1845 the mother with her three sons and five daughters came to the United States in a sailing vessel, being six weeks in crossing from Liverpool to New York. From New York they went by boat to Albany and from that city to Buffalo by canal boat ; on to Ashtabula by boat on Lake Erie and from that point by wagons to Johnson township, arriving July 15, 1845. There the mother purchased sixty-two acres of timberland. Some of her children were old and strong enough to assist her about improving the newly bought farm. She died there about 1859 and for four years after her death the sons Alexander and James remained at home and cared for the family. At that date James went to work on a farm by the month and so continued to labor at like pursuits for fifteen years. He was employed in Monroe county, Missouri, from 1860 to 1862. He worked out five or six years, then came home and resided with his brother Alexander until the latter's death, which occurred about January 18, 1904. James now carries on the farm, which consists of one hundred and seventy-six acres, situated in Johnson and Fowler townships. He also owns about 550 acres of land in Nebraska.
Politically, Mr. Currie votes the Republican ticket. He never married, but has usually made his home with other members of the family. His three sisters living are: Ellen, widow of Robert Hamilton, now residing at Kinsman, Ohio; Jenett, unmarried, resides with Ellen : Isabell, Mrs. Mack Curry, of Bethany, Harrison county, Missouri. A brother named John resided in Nebraska until his death in 1897.
ALBERT GEORGE MCKEAN, one of the joint owners of an excellent dairy farm in Johnson township, Trumbull county, was born September 22, 1853, and educated at Kinsman Academy. He is the son of John N. and Harriet (Allen) MeKean. The father was born in Enon Valley, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, while the mother was born in Vernon town-
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ship, Trumbull county, Ohio. The grandfather (paternal) George Mc- Kean was of Scotch descent, and a direct descendant of Thomas Mckean, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. On the maternal side, the grandparents were Lyman I. V. and Esther (Hobart) Allen of Connecticut, who came to Vernon township with a one-horse wagon. They spent the remainder of their days in that locality. They were industrious and thrifty people-real pioneers.
John N. McKean, the father, married Emily Marvin for his first wife, and to them was born one child, Marcina, who died in Peru, South America, about 1868. The father purchased two hundred and four acres of land in Johnson township, which constitutes the present farm held by the family, owned now by the two sons, Albert G. and John A. Mckean. The father died about 1890 and the mother about 1878. Four children were born of this union: Maranda, Mrs. J. W. Scott of Bainbridge, Ohio; Albert G., of this sketch ; Emily, Mrs. W. W. Niece, of Bainbridge, Ohio; John A. In 1861 the parents moved to Kinsman, having rented their farm.
Albert G. McKean began cheese making at Cortland, Ohio, where in company with a cousin, Lemuel Casterline, he built a factory which they conducted two years, at the end of which time it burned. Mr. McKean then made cheese at East Mecca for Thomas Rose for four years; then was in partnership with Preston Halstead, as renters of a cheese factory in Johnson township, which plant they operated five years. Since 1893 Albert G. and his brother have farmed in partnership, they being joint owners of the farm. They have provided the place with a large modern planned residence, with hot air heat and hot and cold water. They also have several fine barns and numerous other excellent outbuildings. In connection with their farm, they operate a first class dairy, keeping about twenty-four cows upon an average.
Of his domestic affairs, let it here be said that Mr. Mckean was married September 25, 1890, to Clara Hall, a native of Fowler township, a daughter of Frederick A. and Melvina E. ( Hathaway) Hall. Her father was born in Connecticut and the mother in Trumbull county, Ohio. One child blessed this marriage union-John Kenneth, born January 14, 1900. Mrs. McKean's grandparents were Amasa and Sarah Hall and Artemas D. and Mary (Casterline) Hathaway.
WARREN W. LYNN, a farmer well known in Johnson township, Trum- bull county, was born December 4, 1851, son of Levi and Mary (Moher- man) Lynn. The father was born in Canfield, Mahoning county, Ohio. The mother was born in Jackson township. The grandparents were Wil- liam and Catherine (Grove) Lynn, of Pennsylvania, and Abraham and Anna (Rush) Moherman, of Mahoning county, Ohio. The father was one of the earliest settlers in the county. He married and settled near his father in north Jackson township, where both died.
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The oldest of four sons and four daughters, Warren W. Lynn resided with his parents until thirty years of age, assisting his father on his farm. He was married September 15, 1826, to Cynthia E. Kirk, born in Jackson township, daughter of Josiah and Belinda (Dunlap) Kirk, natives of Mahoning county. From the age of thirty years Warren W. Lynn rented land for several years and then purchased one hundred and three aeres in Johnson township. This was timber and brush land, which he now has under a good state of cultivation. He has since added sixty-six acres which adjoins on the south. He keeps a large dairy and also raises Per- cheron horses. Mr. Lynn attended the district schools of Jackson township.
He is a member of the Disciples church in which he was deacon for many years. Politically, he is a Democrat and does his full share of party work. The children born to Warren W. Lynn and wife are: Alanson, at home ; Gertrude, Mrs. Burt Pierce, of Kinsman township; and Roy, also at home.
JOHN ELDER, who is numbered among the thrifty farmers and suc- cessful dairymen of Johnson township, Trumbull county, was born Oc- tober 21, 1826, a son of James and Margaret (Dron) Elder. The land of his nativity is Scotland and the location Ayrshire. In 1834, the family came by way of a sailing vessel to New York City. They were tossed for eleven weeks on the ocean waves in making their journey to America. The father worked in New York as a mechanic some two years, then went to Johnson township, Trumbull county, and purchased a tract of land which had been partly cleared up from its forest state, and had a log house upon it in which the family lived for many years. He improved this land and resided there until his death.
John Elder, the eldest of three sons and six daughters in his parents' family, was employed by the month on a farm until his marriage, in May, 1849, to Catherine Stoddard, born in Scotland, the daughter of Walter and Jane Stoddard. After his marriage, he bought a farm in Johnson township; also conducted a saw mill for many years. He has materially prospered and from time to time added to his landed estate until he owns many acres of valuable land. One of his farms he sold. His home place comprises two hundred and fifty acres. He built his present commodious and thoroughly modern farmhouse, barns and out-buildings, making the place one at once comfortable and valuable. He has spent .his years at farming and looking after his dairying interests.
Politically, Mr. Elder is a supporter of the Republican party, while in religious faith he adheres to the method of doing right. One of the saddest events in this man's life was the death of his wife, Catherine (Stoddard) Elder, which occurred April 1, 1900. Their children are: George, who conducts his father's farm; Cora, now Mrs. Rubin Curric; Kate, now Mrs. William Hathaway.
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ABNER LAFAYETTE SIMPKINS is a member of one of the oldest and best known families of Trumbull county, Ohio, one that has been identified with its agricultural life from its early and formative period to present day progress. Peter and Cynthia Ann (Atkinson) Simpkins, natives respec- tively of Germany and Baltimore, Maryland, were his paternal grand- parents, and after many years of labor in the interests of home and com- munity they were laid to rest in the southwest corner of the Vernon Center cemetery, honored and revered pioneers of Vernon township. Peter Simpkins was sold in Baltimore for his passage across the water, from the age of nine until he was twenty-one years old.
William Simpkins, one of the sons of Peter and Cynthia Ann Simp- kins, was born in Elizabeth township, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, in 1805, and when he was but five years of age he was brought by his parents to Vernon township, Trumbull county. In time he became one of the progressive agriculturists of this community, and owned land here and on the Ohio state line in Pennsylvania, but from the early age of five years his home was in Vernon township with the exception of one year spent in Mercer county, Pennsylvania. His wife was before marriage Mary McCord, and she was a daughter of Robert McCord of eastern Penn- sylvania and a native of Sandusky, Ohio.
Abner L. Simpkins, the third of the ten children, five sons and five daughters, born to William and Mary Simpkins, was born in Vernon township on the 8th of June, 1831. He remained with his father until the latter's death, and with his brother Henry he bought his present homestead farm of one hundred and fifteen acres, and he also owns fifty-two acres ad- joining this place on the east. He at one time owned one hundred and fourteen acres in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, but his home since 1868 has been on his Vernon township homestead. His political affiliations are with the Republican party, and for twenty-one years he has served as a school director. He is a member of the Disciples church.
On the 4th of June, 1864, Mr. Simpkins was united in marriage to Jennie Foulk, who was born in Bazetta township, Trumbull county, a daughter of Charles and Sarah (Riddle) Foulk, of Irish descent. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Simpkins was without issue, but they raised and lovingly cared for the following orphan children, five of whom are now married : Emma A. Simpkins, born in Pymatuning township, Pennsyl- vania, November 17, 1857: Charles C. Simpkins, born in the same town- ship. June 2, 1859 ; Clara A. Foulk, born in. West Salem township, October 7, 1865; Sarah H. Foulk, born in Sabula, Iowa, December 6, 1877; Kernie L. Foulk, born in Greenville, Pennsylvania, October 30, 1879; Jennie Simpkins, born in Bloomington, Illinois, February 6, 1889; William Abner Simpkins, born in Alma, Wisconsin, May 25, 1891 ; Rolandus C. Simpkins, born in Somerset, Wisconsin, September 29, 1893; and Claud R. Simpkins, born in Eagle Mills, Michigan, August 2, 1895.
Worn with care, Mrs. Simpkins died on the 25th of May, 1904, leav- ing her husband after a happy married life of many years to continue
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the journey of life alone. The immediate cause of her death was an attack of pneumonia and pleurisy.
ADDISON F. BRINSMADE .- The late Addison F. Brinsmade passed nearly the entire period of his activity in Johnson township, and prior to his death, March 27, 1902, had attained a substantial reputation as an intelligent and honorable farmer and also had amassed considerable prop- erty. He was a native of Salisbury, Connecticut, born February 13, 1834, a son of Charles W. and Elizabeth M. (Lockwood) Brinsmade. His parents were both natives of Connecticut who came to Medina county, Ohio, in 1852. Addison took a course of civil engineering in Cleveland, and after finishing, in 1854, migrated westward and first engaged in a railroad surveying party operating throughout lowa, Nebraska and Minnesota. At this period the states named were on the far western frontier, and those engaged in pioneer work of any description were usually molested by the Indians. Upon one occasion in his surveying experiences the savages stole nearly all the food upon which the party depended for their sustenance. As they were far from any depot of supplies the party was forced to go on very short rations for four or five days. The Indians finally became so troublesome and delayed the work so much that application was made to the government for protection. As the Indians soon discovered the new state of affairs they desisted from further molestation and even tried to make friends with the surveyors. Shortage of food was not the only draw- backs to life in these times, and Mr. Brinsmade was wont to relate one of his narrow escapes from death, when the bullet which was intended for his head went through the crown of his hat. He remained in the vicinity of St. Paul, Minnesota, for some time, and in 1860 he was laid low by an attack of typhoid fever and returned then to the home of his parents at Litchfield, Medina county, Ohio.
On April 16, 1863, Mr. Brinsmade wedded Miss Harriett Selleck, born in Johnson township, Trumbull county, October 13, 1833, daughter of Harvey and Lucia E. (Landon) Selleck, both natives of Salisbury, Con- necticut, and also born in the year 1805. In 1828, not long after their marriage, they started from their native Connecticut with a team of horses to found their western home. Upon their arrival in Johnson town- ship they erected a log house in which they lived for many years. The husband at once started to clear the timber from his new purchase and to put the virgin soil in a state of cultivation. This original farm consisted of ninety-five acres, and it was upon this old homestead that the husband and father passed away in 1897, his wife having preceded him in 1872. They were the parents of two children: Olive S., who died in 1852 at the age of twenty-two years, and Mrs. Brinsmade.
After his marriage Mr. Brinsmade resided for one year with his father, after which he returned to Johnson township to assist in the management and improvement of the homestead owned by his wife's father. There
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he resided until the death of the father, then Mr. Brinsmade sold the Selleck farm and in 1898 bought a residence in Johnson Center, where he lived until his death four years later. His widow still resides at Johnson Center in comfortable circumstances and is highly esteemed by all her associates.
WILLIAM ARCHER CRAM, of Johnson Center, Johnson township, has made a pronounced success of various enterprises in Trumbull county. In his early years he was a leading farmer and merchant, later engaged in a large cheese manufacturing enterprise and throughout continued to develop his agricultural interests, being now the owner of a large and valuable farm. For many years he has been a leading Republican of Trumbull county, having served as township trustee, township treasurer (five terms) and as postmaster of Johnson for a period of eight years.
William A. Cram is a native of Venango county, Pennsylvania, born June 12, 1859, son of Horace and Nancy (Duffield) Cram, also natives of the county named. The paternal grandparents were Abiel and Saran (Medlum) Cram, born respectively in Vermont and Pennsylvania, while the maternal grandparents, Armstrong and Elizabeth Gilmore Duffield, were of Irish ancestry. Armstrong, the grandfather, was obliged to leave his native land because of quarreling with an Irish lord who had interfered with his avocation as a cattle drover and who had received a sound thrash- ing in consequence thereof. The spirited young Irishman then came to Pennsylvania, settling in Venango county, and in a few years became a large land owner. The paternal grandfather came with his parents to Crawford county, Pennsylvania, about 1820, subsequently residing for about fifteen years in Johnson township, Trumbull county, and afterward located permanently in Venango county, where he passed his last years. The parents of William A. were married in Venango county, where the husband and father owned a farm for many years, selling it in 1865 and coming to Johnson township. He there purchased a farm of one hundred acres as well as a tract of the same size in Vernon township. He resided in the latter township for six months, but with that exception has lived in Johnson township from 1865 until his death, January 2, 1904. His widow still resides with her daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth Hain, of Warren, Ohio.
Mr. Cram, of this review, 'resided with his parents until his marriage in 1883, and continued to assist his father in his farm operations until 1896. In the year named he purchased a general mercantile establisli- ment at Johnson Center, which he conducted three years. He then dis- posed of the business and purchased a cheese manufactory, which, under his management, turned out two hundred thousand pounds per annum. Mr. Crams also owns a farm in Johnson township, one hundred and four acres. as well as a fine residence at Johnson Center, located on four acres of well improved ground.
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On October 3, 1883, William A. Cram was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Millikin, born at Johnson, Ohio, daughter of Thomas and Tamar (Clark) Millikin. Her father was born in Ireland and her mother is a native of Homewood, Pennsylvania. The three children of their family are: Charles N., a ticket agent on the Erie Railroad, at Warren, Ohio; and Alton A. and Horace H., both living at home. Mr. Cram has taken much interest in fraternity matters and belongs to Cortland Lodge, No. 554. I. O. O. F., and Ideal Grange, and Knights of the Maccabees of Johnson.
SCOTT P. HOLCOMB, who conducts one of the finest farms in Vernon township and Trumbull county, is a son of George W. and Jane ( Brackin) Holcomb. His parents were both natives of the county, his father born in Vernon township and his mother in Kinsman township. Norman and Olive (Thompson) Holcomb, the grandparents on the father's side, were natives of Connecticut, and in 1808 came with ox teams to Vernon town- ship to occupy land which they had purchased from the Connecticut Land Company. In common with other pioneers he had selected a tract of timber, both as a guarantee of fuel and because of the belief that the soil of forest land was stronger, deeper and richer. In time he cleared away the woods and established a fine homestead, erecting the first brick house in Vernon township from material made upon the farm. Both paternal grandparents died on the old homestead in the year 1856. The maternal grandparents, Ezekiel and Mary (MeGahee) Brackin were born in Great Britain, the grandfather being a native of Scotland and the grandmother, of Ireland. The parents of Scott P. Holcomb also died on the ancestral homestead, the father, in June, 1887, at the age of seventy-one years, and the mother, August 31, 1899, also seventy-one years old. Their children, mentioned in order of their birth, were as follows: Scott P., of this review ; Robert, now a resident of Tulare, California; Watts, of Claridon, Geauga county, Ohio, and Fannie, now Mrs. Albert Biggin, of Vernon township.
Scott P. Holcomb spent his boyhood on the family homestead, was educated in the locality, and at the age of twenty-two married, after which he was an independent and progressive factor in the progress of the com- munity. His education was thorough, including a training in the district schools and in the select establishment at Burghill, taught by George P. Hunter. He learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed for about seven years, and about two years after his marriage commenced to deal in timber. He purchased a farm in the southern part of Vernon township, sold it after working it for five years, and after his mother's death in 1899 moved to the old homestead. A year later he located at Kinsman, and for three years conducted a meat market at that place, in partnership with his brother-in-law, W. C. Jewell. After disposing of his interest in the business he purchased the L. D. Sheldon farm of one hundred and forty- eight acres, upon which he has successfully conducted general farming, dairying and livestock operations, his specialty in the last named heing the
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raising of milch cows and Percheron horses. Mr. Holcomb has also been active in public affairs, having served for two terms as township trustee. He is a member of the K. O. T. M. and of Gustavus Lodge No. 442, of the Masonic fraternity.
On December 22, 1814, Mr. Holcomb married Miss Clara Jewell, of Mercer county, and three children have been born to them: Judd, who died at the age of three years and nine months ; and Vernie B. and Inez M., both living at home, the latter the wife of Merl E. Smith, a dealer in milch cows.
JOB D. BIGGIN, who is proprietor of a fine farm and a well conducted cheese factory in Vernon township, Trumbull county, is an English- American, if not an American-Englishman. He was born in Somerset- shire, November 27, 1842, son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Hawkins) Big- gin, and grandson of Thomas Biggin. None of his grandparents came to the United States, but his parents, who were married in England about 1830, came to this country in 1856, and with their family, settled in Bloomfield township, Trumbull county. The father was by trade a car- penter and a wagon maker, but after settling in this county made agricul- ture the chief occupation of his life. In 1858 he removed to Fowler town- ship and in 1864 settled in Vernon township, where he purchased land and farmed until his death in 1889. His widow died in the following year.
J. D. Biggin, who was the fifth of seven boys and four girls, resided with his parents until October 5, 1861, about a month before attaining his nineteenth birthday, when he enlisted in the Sixth Ohio Cavalry and went to the front as a soldier of the Army of the Potomac. He participated in all the battles of the Wilderness, the engagements before Petersburg, and other important actions, being wounded in the left ankle just previous to the second battle of Bull Run. This injury sent him to the Washington hospital for two months, after which he returned home to spend a five- months' furlough. Upon re-joining his regiment he commenced his final service of eighteen months, and received his honorable discharge October 5, 1864.
At the conclusion of his military career Mr. Biggin returned to his home in Vernon township, completing his education and teaching school until his marriage in 1869. He conducted various rented farms until 1883, when he bought two hundred and thirty-six acres of land for culti- vation and improvement. This tract embraces the one hundred and eighty acres which are comprised in the home place, the balance lying east of the creek. At the time of his purchase there were no buildings on the land ; but this unimproved state of affairs has long since changed. Mr. Biggin at once commenced the erection of a house, barns and other buildings, his residence now consisting of a comfortable two-story frame house. He also built a cheese factory on his property, which he still conducts ; also en- gaging in general farming operations and conducting a large dairy. In
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1896 he bought a factory and equipped it for the manufacture of cheese at Orangeville, Ohio ; the product of this and the home factory is one hundred and fifty tons per year.
Mr. Biggin's wife, to whom he was married November 2, 1869, was formerly Miss Emma S. Brown, a native of Hubbard township and daugh- ter of Lucius H. and Mary Ann (Brown) Brown, both born in Vernon township. The children of this union are: Ellsworth Otho, a resident of Sharon, Pennsylvania ; Orlo Lucius, who married Miss Laura P. MeCorkle, of Fowler township, and is the active manager of his father's cheese fae- tory; Ernest James, working on a farm at Hartford, this county; and Harry M. The father is a Republican in politics, a prominent Mason, a leader in the work of the Methodist ehureh and a substantial and honorable eitizen in the widest sense. He is a steward and trustee in the local religious society, and his identification with Masonry is as a member of Jerusalem Lodge No. 19 of Hartford, Warren Commandery No. 36 and Al Koran Temple of Shriners, Cleveland.
ALFRED M. KARR. for many years successfully engaged in general farming and dairying in Vernon township, Trumbull county, was born in West Salem township, Mercer county, Pennsylvania, on the 8th of July, 1860. He is a son of George and Juliet (Simpkins) Karr, his father being also a native of Mercer county. The paternal grandparents eame to that county at an early day and spent the remaining years of their lives there. The parents were married in Mercer county, removing to Kinsman township about 1862 and to Vernon township in the following year. George Karr purchased a farm in that section of the county, adding to his original tract until his estate amounted to one hundred and fifty-seven acres. This was the scene of his death in September, 1904, and here now reside the widow with Alfred M. Karr and his family. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. George Karr: John P., a resident of Kinsman ; Alfred M., of this sketch ; Emma, now Mrs. Allen A. Jewell, of Vernon township ; and Florence, who married George Cole, of Kinsman township.
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