Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Trumbull and Mahoning, Part 27

Author: Lewis Publishing Company
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 786

USA > Ohio > Mahoning County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Trumbull and Mahoning > Part 27
USA > Ohio > Trumbull County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Trumbull and Mahoning > Part 27
USA > Ohio > Ashtabula County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Trumbull and Mahoning > Part 27

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pany, who built a mill which they operated until 1871. Mr. Harris then severed his connection with the establishment and went to Ashtabula, Ohio, where he erected a mill. This venture did not prove a financial success, however, and was abandoned. He then turned his face westward, and going to Dodge City, Kansas, he engaged in farming for two years; this also proved unprofitable, so he came back to Ohio, and, settling in Cleveland, he entered the employ of the Britton Iron & Steel Works, where he re- remained until his death, in 1884, at the age of fifty-six years. His wife was Sarah Roll- ins, a daughter of Frederick Rollins, and to them were born eleven children: Elizabeth, wife of Andrew Dienst; Frederick R., whose name heads this notice; Sarah, wife of Cor- nelius Easthrope; Henry R .; Rosana L., de- ceased wife of E. Williams; James, deceased ; Emma, wife of W. H. Morris; and four who died in infancy.

At the age of fifteen years Frederick R. Harris began his career in the business world in a rolling mill at Niles, Ohio; at the age of eighteen years he had become an expert roller, and then entered the shipping depart- ment as clerk; two years later he was given the position of bookkeeper in the office of Harris, Blackford & Company, which he held until the failure of this firm, when, going to Youngstown, he took charge of the business of Homer, Hamilton & Company. In 1879 he assumed the duties of superintendent of the Youngstown Rolling-mill Company, a position he filled very acceptably four years. He then took charge of the business of the Forsythe Steel Company, which he closed up in 1885. During the two years following he was traveling salesman, carrying mill products in Eastern territory. He came to Niles in 1887, and took charge of the Russia inill;

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two years later he assumed the duties of the superintendency of the Falcon mill, and now has under his management both plants. Pos- sessing a good degree of executive ability and being thoroughly familiar with all the de- tails of the business he is able to conduct the business of both establishments with com- parative ease, giving excellent satisfaction to both firms.

Mr. Harris was married in Youngstown, Ohio, in 1870, to Lydia, daughter of Fred- erick Gerwig, business manager for Homer, Hamilton & Company. They are the par- ents of three daughters, well educated and accomplished young ladies.

OHN O. MORRISON, a prosperous and wealthy farmer of Farmington town- ship, Trumbull county, Ohio, is a native of this place, born September 6, 1849. Of his life and ancestry we make record as fol- lows: John O. Morrison is a son of John and Lydia A. (Miller) Morrison. John Mor- rison was born in Jackson township, Mahon- ing county, Ohio, son of John Morrison, Sr., a native of Ireland, who emigrated to this State when a young man, and died at Jack- son at an advanced age. John Morrison, Sr., died on the old farm here at the age of · fifty-eight years. Mrs. Lydia A. Morrison died at the old homestead, aged seventy years. They had seven children, of whomn John O. is the youngest, and all are still living.

October 20, 1870, the subject of our sketch married Miss Celia Lew, who was born on the farm on which they now live, daughter of Benjamin and Eleeta (Lee) Lew. Both her father and grandfather Lew were among the early settlers of this county. Mr. and

Mrs. Morrison have three children: Alice Mand, who was educated in the district schools and at Farmington College, is now engaged in teaching; Frank L., at home; and Elvie Loverne, also at home.

Immediately after his marriage Mr. Mor- rison settled on his present farm, and after residing here three years went back to the old Morrison homestead and bought out the other heirs to his- father's estate. Subse- quently he came back to this place and has lived here ever since, engaged in farming and stock-raising. This farm comprises 161 acres, and is one of the finest in the county. Mr. Morrison has been interested in the breeding of Percheron horses since 1881, and is one of a company that owns a fine imported stallion.

He has been a Democrat all his life, and was elected Trustee of his township on the Democratic ticket, notwithstanding the fact that the district is- a Republican one. Mr. Morrison is one of the active members of the Grange, and is a mnost highly respected citizen.

AMES WILSON, JR., one of the most prominent fruit growers in northeastern Ohio, is located in Lordstown township, Trumbull county, Ohio, where he was born April 11, 1842. He is a son of James Wil- son, Sr., well known throughout Trumbull county.

The subject of our sketch was reared on a farm, and at the age of twenty-one went to Youngstown and entered a drug store, in which he was employed as clerk four years. After that he was engaged in the coal busi- ness five years. He then sold out and re- turned to the farm, where he has since re-

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

sided, having given his attention to horticul- tural interests. In this business he has met with marked success.

Mr. Wilson was married first to Miss Amanda R. Woodward, danghter of Leonard Woodward, a pioneer Justice of the Peace of this county. He has long since passed away. He was a native of Juniata, Pennsylvania, came to this country when a young man, and here accumulated a large fortune. He mar- ried Ann Moherman, a native of Austintown, Mahoning county, Ohio, who died at the age of fifty-five years. Mrs. Wilson died leaving two sons, Bert W. and Leonard J., who are now being educated at Hiram College. For his second wife Mr. Wilson married Almira Woodward, a sister of his former companion.

Mr. Wilson is a prominent member of the Horticultural Society, the Grange, and other local organizations. He and his wife are members of the Disciple Church and are earnest and active Christian workers. He has affiliated with the Republican party since le cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln.

IRAM F. AUSTIN was born in Trum- bull county, Ohio, in the township of Warren, August 26, 1834, his parents being Julius and Frances (Freeman) Austin. Julius Austin was born in this sanie township in 1806, and died at the home of his son, Hiram F., in 1887 ._ Harmon Austin, well known throughout this part of Ohio, was a brother of Julius Austin. . The mother of our subject was born in Brace- ville township, Trumbull county, January 14, 1814, and died here November 5, 1866. She was an only daughter of Ralph Freeman and Betsey (Stowe) Freeman, his wife, a native of

Connecticut. Mrs. Freeman was a daughter of Comfort Stowe, one of the .very earliest settlers in this part of Ohio. She was born September 23, 1804, and died September 21, 1841. Julius and Frances Austin had two sons, Hiram F. and Seymour A., the latter being deceased.

The subject of our sketch was educated at Hiram College, and remained at home until his marriage, which event occurred October 14, 1863, the lady of his choice being Miss Sarah A. Pettit. She was born in Salem, Columbiana county, Ohio, October 12, 1837, daughter of Austin and Elizabeth (Schooley) Pettit. Her father was born in Pennsyl- vania, May 31, 1784; came to Ohio at an early day, and died here October 3, 1854, at the age of seventy years. Her mother was born in Virginia, September 7, 1796, and died in Ohio, July 13, 1882. They had five children, two of whom are still living. Mr. and Mrs. Austin became the parents of four children: Charles P., born September 14, 1866, is in Indianapolis, Indiana, in the em- ploy of the Indiana Trust Company; Harry S., born January 15, 1869, is engaged in teaching in Clark's Commercial College at Erie, Pennsylvania; Elizabeth, born Febru- ary 8, 1871; and Frances, April 18, 1878. Mrs. Austin is a lady of culture and refine- ment, and previous to her marriage was a popular and successful teacher.

After his marriage Mr. Austin settled down to farming at the old homestead, and here he has been engaged in agricultural pursuits ever since. He has taken an active interest in public affairs and has filled nearly all the local offices. He has been a Republi- can ever since the party was organized, having cast his first presidential vote for John C. Fremont. Mr. Austin was secre- tary of the Agricultural Society in Trumbull

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county for twenty years. He and his wife are members of the Disciple Church, and she is an active worker in the Sunday-school.

In concluding this sketch we make further mention of Ralph Freeman, the grandfather of our subject, who has already been briefly referred to. He was among the first settlers in Braceville township, Trumbull county. He was born in Dutchess county, New York, October 30, 1783; went with his parents to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, when lie was a small boy, and settled in Trumbull county, Ohio, in 1803. Robert Freeman, the father of Ralph, was the first Justice of the Peace in Braceville township. Ralph Freeman's inother died when he was a mere child. The first deed made out in Braceville township was to Ralph Freeman's brother, in 1803. Ralph Freeman and his brother built the first log house in the township, and together they kept bachelors' hall for some time, providing their larder with the game they caught in the forest. They endured all the hardships and privations incident to life on the frontier, and did their part in paving the way for the present civilization here. Ralph Freeman died in January, 1857. The Freemans and Austins have all these years ranked with the first families of the county.

A J. LEITCH, M. D., a leading physi- cian of Niles, Ohio, esteemned alike for his skill in his profession and liis worth as a citizen, was born in county Donegal, Ireland, January 22, 1848. When he was four years of age, his parents emigrated to the United States and settled on a farm in Weathersfield township, Trumbull county, Ohio, where his father followed farming the rest of his life. He was thrifty and indus-

trious, a faithful citizen of his adopted country and a man who engaged the respect of all who knew him. His worthy helpmeet, nee Eliz- abeth Porter, who shared the hardships of his frontier life and proved a devoted wife and loving mother, was a sister of William Porter, also a pioneer of Mahoning county, Ohio, and a man prominently identified with the early history of the State. This worthy conple were the parents of eight children: Martlia, wife of A. G. McCorkle; Rebecca J .; John G .; Charles P., deceased, at one time member of the Territorial Legislature of Ar- izona; A. J., the subject of this sketcli; Bella A., wife of C. P. Wilson, cashier of the First National Bank of Youngstown, Ohio; C. P., who resides in Arizona, and married Nellie Fee, sister of Mayor Fee, of Warren, this State; and Minnie, who died, aged seventeen.

The early years of Dr. Leitch were passed on the home farm in Weathersfield township, and his preliminary education was received in the adjacent schools. When sixteen years of age, he commenced a course of study at the Lordstown Academy, which institution he attended with some interruption for two years after which he was a student at Hiram Col- lege for one year. At the end of that time, he went to Mineral Ridge, Ohio, where he entered on the study of medicine under the preceptorship of Dr. Mckinney. For three years he pursued his studies in this way, at- tending the Cleveland Medical College during the winters, and gradnating at that institution in February, 1871.

Dr. Leitch began his professional career in Niles, and after the expiration of one year he formed a partnership with Dr. H. G. Landis, with whom he was connected four years. In the spring of 1875, owing to the ill health of Dr. Leitch, this relationship ceased. He then engaged in the drug business in which he was

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occupied for four years. This change proved highly advantageous to his health and at the end of the four years he found himself fully restored to his former condition. He then resumed his practice, forming a partnership with Dr. A. P. Mckinley, and they labored together for six years, since which time Dr. Leitch has been alone. Imbued with a deep love of his profession, the Doctor has pursued its practice withi such singleness of purpose and devotion to those under his charge, that he has met with mnost gratifying success. He is especially esteemed as a scientific and skill- ful surgeon, in which department he excels.

Aside from his professional interests, the Doctor is engaged in some commercial enter- prises. He is a director of the Niles Man- ufacturing Company and of the Boswick Metal Lath Company. The same careful judgment and integrity of purpose have char- acterized his commercial relations that have distinguished his professional career, and, un- like most men, who can do only one thing well, he may be said to have eminent success in both, and to have gained not only financial prosperity but also that more valuable ac- quirement, the respect and esteem of all his fellow mnen.

February 17, 1881, Dr. Leitch was married in Niles, to Ella M. Ward, who was born in Wheeling, West Virginia, in 1854, and re- ceived her education in Poland, Ohio, and who was a successful teacher in the public schools of Niles before her marriage. They have five children: Harriet E., Isabella, Flor- ence, Alma and Robert. Botlı parents are members of the Presbyterian Church.

Politically, Dr. Leitch is a Democrat, and takes an active interest in the welfare of his town and State. He has been for many years a useful member of the Board of Education in which he is now acting as Treasurer. He

is prompt to aid any enterprise tending to benefit his community, and is justly recog- nized as a liberal-minded, whole-souled and progressive citizen, esteemed alike for his in- tellectual ability and high moral character, as well as for his many noble traits of heart and soul.

HARLES H. ROBERTS is one of the prosperous and intelligent citizens of Johnston township, Trumbull county, Ohio, who has the honor of being a veteran of the late war. Of his life we make record as follows:

Charles H. Roberts was born in Howland township, Trumbull county, Ohio, January 19, 1842, son of Edwin S. Roberts, deceased, who was for many years a prominent citizen of Howland township. Edwin S. Roberts was born near Hartford in Litchfield county, Connecticut, son of Russell Roberts, a native of Connecticut and a veteran of the war of 1812. The mother of our subject was be- fore her marriage Miss Ruth Lowrey, a na- tive of Vienna township, Trumbull county, Ohio, and a daughter of Samuel Lowrey, one of the first settlers of that township. Her father came to Ohio from Connecticut, and the first sawmill built in Vienna township was erected by him. Mrs. Roberts died at the age of twenty-two, Charles H. being then only nine days old. Subsequently his father inarried Leonora Bignall, but by his second marriage he never had any children. He set- tled on a farm in Johnston township in 1848, and lived there until the time of his death, at the age of seventy-four years. By trade he was a broom-maker, at which occupation he worked in early life, until he turned liis attention to farming. In politics he was a Republican.

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OF NORTHEASTERN OHIO.

After the death of his mother Charles H. Roberts lived with his grandfather Roberts for nine years. Then he came to the farm on which he now lives, his father having married again and settled here. When the Civil war came on he was just budding into young manhood, and in August, 1864, as the the war continued to rage and fresh troops were required, he enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and Seventy-seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and went to the front. He was in the campaign of Tennessee and North Carolina and took part in several en- gagements. While in the service he had the black measles, which seriously affected his hearing: he also contracted other chronic diseases, from which he has never recovered, and which has caused him much bodily pain.

Mr. Roberts has one of the best farms in Johnston township. His comfortable home, with its bay window and broad veranda, is nicely furnished and is surrounded by a pretty lawn. A fine orchard, good barns, sheds, fences, etc., are among the other improve- ments on his farm, all of which are kept in the best of order. He gives considerable at- tention to stock-raising and to dairying.

Mr. Roberts was married May, 1889, in Garrettsville, Portage county, Ohio, to Miss Mary R. Webb, a native of Portage county, Ohio, and a daughter of Dr. James Webb, who was for many years a prominent physi- cian in Portage county, Ohio, and who died November 9, 1852, leaving a widow and ten children. Mrs. Webb, whose maiden name was Eliza L. Landfear, was born in Manches- ter, Connecticut, November 18, 1807, and her death occurred September 6, 1882. Mrs. Roberts is a woman of rare intellectual and social attainments, and previous to her mar- riage was engaged iu teaching in Portage county. Her father was born in Pembroke,

New York, February, 26, 1799, and was a graduate of the medical college at Batavia, New York. He had two sons in the Civil war: Mervin F., a member of the Fifteentli Ohio Battery, died at Natchez, Mississippi, while in the service; and R. S., who also served in the Ohio regiment, is now a suc- cessful attorney of Garrettsville. Mrs. Rob- erts is an active member of the Congrega- tional Church. She is a member of the choir, and has been Superintendent of the Sabbath-school, and in all church work is regarded as a leader. She is also an earnest worker in the temperance cause. Mr. and Mrs. Roberts are both members of the Re- bekah Lodge, No. 288, of Cortland. He is identified with both the I. O. O. F. and. G. A. R. of Cortland. Politically, he is a Republican.

M ARY J. BOSWORTH, widow of E. W. Bosworth, is one of the highly respected women of Braceville town- ship, Trumbull county, Ohio. She was born in Columbiana county, this State, June 26, 1822. Her parents, Edward and Sarah (Aterholt) Pettit, were natives of Penn- sylvania and Ohio respectively, and both died in Mahoning county, this State, his death occurring at the age of seventy-three years, and hers at sixty-nine. The Pettits were all farmers.

January 19, 1853, Miss Mary J. Pettit was united in marriage to E. W. Bosworth, with whom her life was blended until the time of his death, which occurred when he was sixty- nine years old. E. W. Bosworth was born in Rochester, Massachusetts, March 29, 1815, son of Rev. Marcus and Betsey (Ward) Bosworth, natives of Massachusetts. They came to Ohio in 1816, being among the

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early pioneers of this part of the State. Rev. Marcus Bosworth was a son of Peter Bos- worth, who, as did his wife, died in Trumbull county. E. W. Bosworth was engaged in teaching for a number of years, later in life devoting his attention to his farm.

The only child of E. W. and Mary J. Bos- worth is Sarah B., born December 10, 1859. She was married October 4, 1889, to Edmond Stroup, and they have one child, Howard E., born July 28, 1892. Edmond Stroup was born in Southington, Trumbull county, Octo- ber 19, 1853, son of Daniel and Polly (Leichlitner) Stroup. His parents were pioneers of this part of Ohio and are still living here.

Mrs. Bosworth is a member of the Dis- ciple Church.

A BRAM D. BAILEY was born in Lordstown township, Trumbull county, Ohio, April 14, 1839, and is one of prominent farmers of the township in which he was born and reared.

Isaac Bailey, his father, was a son of Jacob Bailey, both being pioneers of Trumbull county, Ohio. Jacob Bailey came to this county from Northampton county, Pennsyl- vania, was a farmer all his life, and died at the age of eighty-six years, on the farm on which the subject of this sketch now lives. Ilis wife, whose maiden name was Catharine Kistler, also a native of Northampton county, Pennsylvania, died in Mahoning county, Ohio, at the age of seventy-three years. They had ten children, seven sons and three dangh- ters, Isaac being the second born. Isaac Bailey landed in Trumbull county, in 1829, with a capital of $4.25. Here he bought 100 acres of wild land, and with the encourage-

ment and able assistance of his good wife, de- veloped a fine farm. He was a carpenter by trade, at which he worked considerably after coming to Ohio. He was well-known all over this part of the country, and died here at the age of seventy-one years. Of his wife, we record that her maiden name was Rebecca Weaver, that she was born in Pennsylvania, and that she died in Ohio at the age of seventy-nine years. This worthy couple had a family of sixteen children, six of whom are still living, Abram D. being the sixth in or- der of birth.

The subject of our sketch was reared on the farm on which he was born, his early life being not unlike that of other farmer boys. January 8, 1859, he married Mary J. Won- ders, who was born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, March 4, 1838, daughter of Jacob D. and Hannah (Wike) Wonders. Mr. Wonders was by trade a ship carpenter. He died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Bailey, at the age of sixty-nine years, his wife having died some time before in Pennsyl- vania. Mr. and Mrs. Wonders had four children, three of whom are still living. Mr. and Mrs. Bailey have had nine children, as follows: Laura M., who married Lemuel Fassnacht and has four children, viz .: A. D., Azora, Lulu and Menser B .; Josephine, who died at the age of twenty-one years; James A., who married Martha Lewis and has four children, viz .: Lloyd, Acil, Dessie, Blanche; Harry T., a member of the home circle; Mary A., who married Grant Holcomb and has two children, Jennie N. and Bessie; and the rest are all at home-Marie A., Edith I., Agnes L. and Carl B. Mr. Bailey's children have all had good educational advantages and and are useful and honored members of so- ciety. In addition to their own children Mr. and Mrs. Bailey have raised Rollen M. Haun,

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who is a nephew of Mr. Bailey, and who is now attending business college at Cleveland.

After his marriage Mr. Bailey settled on his father's farm, and after the latter's death he bought out the other heirs and has con- tinued to reside here ever since. He and his father became identified with the Republican party soon after its organization, and witlı this party he has since cast his vote and in- fluence. He has filled various local offices, such as Township Trustee, etc. In 1864 he enlisted in Company F, One Hundred and Seventy-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was Seargent of the company under Captain L. T. Soule, and was in the service 100 days, being discharged in August. During that time he was in several engagements and for a brief period was held prisoner. After re- ceiving his discharge he returned home. In this connection it may be well to state that Mr. Bailey's grandfather was a soldier in the war of 1812. Mr. Bailey is a member of the Bell-Harmon Post G. A. R. at Warren, and of the I. O. O. F., at the same place. He was Chaplain of the Grange in his township for some time. Both he and his wife are mem- bers of the Lutheran Church, of which they have been inembers for many years. For a number of years he served as teacher and su- perintendent in the Sabbath school. Mrs. Bailey is a prominent worker in church cir- cles and benevolent organizations, being a member of several societies in Lordstown.

W ILLIAM D. HICKOX, who is en . gaged in agricultural pursuits in Farmington township, Trumbull county, was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, September 30, 1830. Chandler Hickox, his father, was a son of Chauncey Hickox, a na.

tive of Connecticut, who came to Ohio as early as 1805 and settled on wild land, where he built a log house and where he passed the rest of his life. He died at the age of seventy- two years. For many years he was in the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was what was known in pioneer days as a " circuit rider." He preached the gospel in many a log cabin and schoolhouse in this part of Ohio, and few of the early pioneers were better known than he. Chauncey Hickox's wife was before her marriage Miss Susan Scofield. She was a native of Con- necticut, and lived to an advanced age. They had eight children, five sons and three dangh- ters. Four of this number are still living. The sons nearly all learned the carpenter's trade. Chandler Hickox worked at that trade all his life. He died at the home of his son, William D., at the age of seventy-nine years. He was a Democrat in early life, but when Lincoln ran for President the second time Mr. Hickox voted for him and ever afterward affiliated with the Republican party. Our subject's mother was one of a family of five children, and was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, being the daughter of David D. and Rhoda (Blexey) Langley. Her parents were natives of Connecticut and early settlers of Ohio. Her father died here at the age of upwards of ninety-four years, and her mother lived to be eighty. Mrs. Hickox died at the age of sixty-two years.

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Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Trumbull and Mahoning, Part 27

Author: Lewis Publishing Company Publication date: 1893 Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 786

Author: Lewis Publishing Company
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 786