Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Trumbull and Mahoning, Part 61

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 61
USA > Ohio > Trumbull County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Trumbull and Mahoning > Part 61
USA > Ohio > Ashtabula County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Trumbull and Mahoning > Part 61

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T. W. Kennedy, the third son of James Kennedy, married Margaret Truesdale, and they had eight children: Julian, James, Hngh, Rachel, Walter, John, Sam and Thomas, all of whom, except Rachel and James, are engaged in the iron business.

W. H. Kennedy, the fourth son, married HIelen Ramsey, of New Wilmington, Penn- sylvania, and they had seven children: Will- iam, Carrie, Luella, Nellie, Charlie, Kitty and Helen.

J. C. Kennedy, the fifth son, married Sarah Henry, and had six children: Ellie, Jessie, Nannie, Lilian, Frank and Helen. J. C. Kennedy was a partner with his brother, John R. Kennedy, in the furniture and un- dertaking business, and, later, became a builder and manager of furnaces.

Rev. D. S. Kennedy, the sixth son, mar- ried Nannie Kelly, and they had eleven chil- dren: Sarah, Bell, Harry, Reed, Archie, Ma- tilda, James, Annie and Thomas, and two more whose names are unknown.

The youngest son, H. G. Kennedy, mar- ried Esther E. Stewart, and they had three children: Edward, James P. and C. H. H. G. Kennedy was an infantryman in the One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Ohio Regiment. He was taken sick with camp fever at Norfolk, Virginia, and died in the hospital at Wash- ington, District of Columbia, while being transported home, thus swelling the list of those martyrs who gave their lives for the cause of justice and liberty.

Mary Elizabeth, the eldest of the girls of this family, married George Liddle, and they had five children, all living. Their names

are: Sarah, Jane, Edward, Helen and Lilian. Margaret, the second daughter, married Will- iam Baker and has no children.

Nancy Matilda, the youngest of the girls, married William Crossman, and they have seven children: Kennedy, Hall, Sarah, Mar- garet, David, Maud and William.

James B. Kennedy, whose name heads this memoir, was born on his father's old homestead, at No. 236 East Federal street, Youngstown, Ohio, November 20, 1862. In 1867 he removed with his parents to Hasel- ton, where his father served as superintend- ent of the Andrews Brothers' furnace until his death. After the mother's death James B. and his brother were taken to the home of their grandfather, James Kennedy, at Coits- ville. After the grandfather's death, three years later, James made his home at different places, principally with relatives, until he started in life for himself. He gained a fair education at Poland, Ohio, and later entered the classical department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, where, on account of ill health, he remained only one year. He next took a course in penmanship and book- keeping at Dnffy's Business College in Pitts- burg, Pennsylvania. During the winter of 1882-'83 he taught school and read law, and in the summer of the latter year began in earnest to apply himself to the study of law as his chosen profession, prosecuting his studies for more than two years. At the end of that time, in March, 1885, he was admitted to the bar at Columbus, Ohio, and imme- diately began practice in Youngstown. By attention to business and honorable methods he advanced in his profession, and now ell- joys a liberal patronage. Essentially a man of keen interest in public affairs and char- acterized by activity and progressiveness, lie soon became a prominent factor in local

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politics, and in November, 1890, was elected on the Republican ticket to the office of Prosecuting Attorney for Mahoning county, which position he now (1893) holds, dis- charging his dnties in that capacity with the same uprightness and judgment which has characterized his former actions. gaining alike the esteem of all citizens, irrespective of party.

Fraternally, Mr. Kennedy is associated with several secret societies, among which are the I. O. O. F., the K. of P. and the Elks.

March 4, 1884, Mr. Kennedy was married to Miss Roxannie Rice, a daughter of Chan- cey O. Rice, of Boardman, Ohio, and they have three interesting children. Imme- diately after marriage they began housekeep- ing in the house in which Mr. Kennedy was born, but have recently removed to a hand- some new residence at No. 270 Madison ave- nue. Thus, surrounded by his family and numerous friends, successful in business and with good health, fortune indeed seems to smile benignantly on him, with rich prom- ises of continued prosperity and happiness.

S OLOMON R. CHRYST, who has been prominently identified with Trumbull for many years, was born in Youngstown, Ohio, December 26, 1833. He is eminently a self-made man, and it is ap- propriate that more than a passing notice be accorded him in this volume.

Jacob and Lydia (Regal) Chryst, the par- ents of Solomon R., were born in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, and when young came to Trumbull county, Ohio, and settled on a tract of wild land, where they built a cabin and where they lived until the subject of our

sketch was three years old. They then moved to the township where Mr. Chryst is now located, bought a partly improved farm and built another log cabin, and here Jacob Chryst lived for twenty- seven years. Then, with the assistance of his son Solomon, he bought a farm near Lordstown Center, and on it spent the closing years of his life. He was eighty years old at the time of his death. For many years he was an active church worker, and his life was one worthy of emu- lation. The mother of our subject died when he was five years old. He was the fourth-born in her family of five children, and is one of the three who are still living. Nearly all the Chrysts have been farmers.

Solomon R. Chryst remained at home until he was sixteen years old, going to school in winter and working on the farm in sum- mer. When he was sixteen he was examined by Governor Cox and General Leggett and received a first-grade certificate as teacher. At the age of seventeen he entered Hiram College. where he received instructions under the late lamented Garfield. He taught school in Mahoning county for three winters. During this time his summers were spent in driving cattle to Allegheny.

Mr. Chryst was married May 24, 1855, to Miss Elizabeth Jolinson, a native of New York State, who died some years after her marriage, leaving three children: Charles C., Frank S. and Blanche E. Miss Blanche, an accomplished and amiable young lady, died at the age of nineteen years. Mr. Chryst's second marriage occurred in December, 1886, the lady he wedded being Emma J. Gifford, a native of Somersetshire, England. They have two children: May E. and Solomon R., Jr.

After his first marriage Mr. Chryst settled in Weathersfield on fifty acres of land, for

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which he paid $1,100. There he lived until 1857, when he came to Lordstown township and bought a village home. Following his location here he was for some time engaged in the stock business. Subsequently he sold his first fifty acres and bought two farms in this township, on to one of whichi he moved. Not long afterward he purchased another farm, and then traded his village home for fifty acres more, making in all about 300 acres. The whole of this property he accu- mulated by his own energy and good man- agement. Indeed, everything he has since acquired has also been the result of his own efforts. In 1868 he went security for a friend, and had to pay a sum of $2,700. In settling this claim he took a meat market, which he conducted for some time afterward. In the meantime, having business at the county seat, he bought fifty acres of land near Warren, to which he moved liis family. He rebuilt the house upon that property, inak- ing a fine country seat, and there he resided until 1875, when he sold out. He then moved into the city of Warren. During these years he was engaged in various enter- prises. He continued his meat market and stock and provision business, having inter- ests at various places until 1875, when he sold out. He erected a store-room in War- ren, and also built a fine business block in Niles, the latter at a cost of $37,000. From time to time he invested in land until he be- came the owner of 600 acres, one of the largest and finest farms in the county, and all these years he has been interested in farming and stock-raising.

Mr. Chryst's business career lias indeed been a remarkable one. When he was a boy the first money he ever earned was with a rake after cradle, and with the money thus earned-a five-franc piece-he bought a calf. |

In this way he secured his start. While he has been a hard-working man and has accu- inulated a competence, Mr. Chryst has all his life been free from anything like a sordid nature. On the other liand he has been generosity itself, providing well for his fam- ily and giving liberally toward the support of all worthy causes. He educated his sons at Allegheny College, where both graduated with honor. His motto is, " Do right and be right."

Mr. Chryst has been a Republican since the party was organized, has held various local offices, and has been a prominent worker for his party.

E. BRADY is one of the prominent hard ware merchants of Warren, Ohio, and as one of the representative business men of the town we make biographical men- tion of him as follows:

Mr. Brady is a native of Geauga county, this State, born July 3, 1842, son of Barney and Jane (McLin) Brady, natives respectively of Ireland and Pennsylvania. His father died in March, 1886, at the age of eighty- eight years, and his mother, now eighty-eight years of age, resides with her son J. E.

Barney Brady was a farmer all his life. He and his wife had a family of eight children, as follows: Polly, wife of Edwin Chase, of Wayne county, Nebraska; William, a resi- dent of Rowley, Buchanan county, Iowa; Jerome, Parker's Landing, Pennsylvania; Sarah J., wife of James Gray, Leroy, Lake county, Ohio; James, Sanborn, O'Brien county, Iowa; John E., whose name heads this sketch; Ezra M., Sanborn, O'Brien county, Iowa; and Wealthy, wife of Wallace Loomis, Golden City, Barton county, Mis- souri.

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John E. Brady was reared on his father's farm in Geauga county, and was early in life inured to hard work. He remained at home until he was twenty-one years of age, when he went to Cleveland, Ohio, and secured a position as clerk in a hardware store. He was thus occupied for ten years. Then he moved to Orwell, Ashtabula county, and opened a hardware business, which he con- ducted three years. At the end of that time he eame to Warren, where he has since been identified with the hardware business. It was in 1877 that he located here. He does both a wholesale and a retail business. His salesroom at 39 Main street is filled with stoves, tinware, shelf hardware, etc., and he also has large warerooms located on East Franklin street. He runs a line of wagons through the country, and in the various de- partments of his business he employs no less than ten men. His establishment is one of the largest of its kind in Warren.

Ever since Mr. Brady located in Warren he has been thoroughly identified with the best interests of the town. He is now serv- ing his second term as a member of the Board of Aldermen. Politically, he is a Demoerat.

Mr. Brady was married in Orwell, June 18, 1878, to Martha Williams, who was born in Ashtabula county, Ohio, daughter of Joseplı Williams. Their residence is at No. 207, East Franklin street.

A DDISON F. OSMER, a prominent citizen of Farmington, Trumbull conn- ty, Ohio, is a native of this place, born September 7, 1844, son of Alonzo and Lydia (Fonlk ) Osmer and one of a family of eight children, four of whom are living.

Having been identified with this part of the county all his life and being one of the re- presentative men, the following sketch of him and his ancestry is therefore of interest in this connection.

Mr. Osmer is not only a native of Ohio himself, but his parents were also both born in this State, his father in Chardon, Geanga county, August 21, 1821; his mother in Portage county, October 14, 1823; the for- mer died at Farmington, January 10, 1889; the latter is still living on the old farm. Mrs. Lydia Osmer is a daughter of Henry and Betsey (Bird) Foulk, who came from Penn- sylvania to Ohio at an early day, and died in Michigan, to which State they have moved later; both were over sixty at the time of death. Alonzo Osmer was a son of Ephraim and Eleanor (Flemmings) Osmer, who located in Ohio at an early period, here spent the rest of their lives and died at advanced ages. Alonzo was about four years old at the time his parents came to Ohio, and here he was reared, and November 17, 1842, was married to Miss Foulk. After the death of his par- ents he moved to a farm near where the sub- jeet of this sketeli now lives.

Addison F. Osmer was reared on his father's farm. He was on the verge of man- hood when the Civil war burst upon the country, and Jannary 20, 1862, he entered the Union serviee. For nine months he was a member of Company G, Eighty-sixth Ohio, under Captain William F. Milligan, after which he re-enlisted, this time in Company H, One Hundred and Seventy-first Ohio, un- der Captain H. H. Hatch. Being in all the engagements in which his regiment took part, and ever acting as a true soldier, he rendered efficient service during the war.

After the war was over he returned to the old farm. He soon bought some land and

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subsequently added more to it, and at tliis writing is the owner of 210 acres. He has devoted his energies all these years to gen- eral farming, and has been fairly successful.

November 18, 1869, Mr. Osmer married Miss Rosetta Bower, who was born in Trum- bull connty, Ohio, April 7, 1847. She died at the age of forty years, leaving five daugh- ters, namely: Alice M., Belle A., Edith E., Carrie E. and Hattie, all at home, the oldest daughter being a widow. September 24, 1890, he married Mrs. Lettie McCaslin, a widow with one child, Kingsley McCaslin. She now has two sons by Mr. Osmer: Addi- son Y., born March 5, 1892; and Albert W., born September 22, 1893. Mrs. Osmer was born June 1, 1857, danghter of Sylvester and Lovina Harshman. The Harshmans belong to an old and highly respected family of pio- neers in this State. Sylvester Harshman was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, December 3, 1825, son of Matthias Harshman, who was born in Washington connty, Pennsylvania, January 15, 1801, and died in Ohio, Decem- ber 16, 1876. Matthias Harshman was a son of Matthias, Sr., and Mary Harshinan, both natives of Pennsylvania, and both died at Lordstown, Ohio, having attained to ripe old age. The younger Matthias Harshman mar- ried Phobe Deneen, who was born in Trum- bull county, Ohio, September 20, 1805 and died July 1, 1885. Her people descended from the French, the Harshmans from the Germans. Sylvester Harshman was twice married, his second marriage, to Mrs. Lovina C. Hanks, occurring November 14, 1855. She was born in Geanga county, Ohio, De- cember 29, 1823, danghter of Frederick and Betsey (Kibbee) Vrooman, the former a na- tive of New York and the latter of New Hampshire, both having long since passed away. Mrs. Osmer is one of the two children

born to her parents. She had good educa- tional advantages, and was for several years a popular and successful teacher.

Both the Osmers and Harshmans are iden- tified with the Methodist Episcopal Churchi. Politically, Mr. Osmer is a Republican. He has been Chaplain of Hall Post, No. 426, G. A. R., for six years, and his wife has served as presiding officer of the W. R. C. here for one year. They are among the leading citi- zens of their community and are highly es- teemed by all who know them.

W ILLIAM SHILLING was born in Sharon, Mercer county, Pennsylva- nia, December 30, 1816. He was united in marriage May 5, 1842, to Miss Mary Stambaugh, daughter of John and Sarah (Bamer) Stambaugh, whose history is fully given elsewhere in this volume. In 1855 Mr. Shilling moved to Delaware county, Iowa, where he located on a farm, where the family lived and toiled until the death of Mr. Shil- ling, which occurred December 18, 1889. He was a man of honor and integrity, and lived a useful and indnstrions life, aiding in making the way for the tide of emigration which has now pushed the western frontier to the sea.

Mr. and Mrs. Shilling had born to them a family of five children: John, died at the age of twenty-seven years, in 1876; James, mar- ried Mary Myers, and they have four chil- dren, Mary J., Lanra A., Kate and Grace Belle; Samuel is unmarried and resides in Iowa; Sallie is the wife of W. H. Stuart and the mother of one child, Harold W .; Laura, married W. H. Tront and has four children, Ralph S., Nellie, Marguerite and Alva J. Mrs. Shilling is a native of Mahoning county, Ohio, and now resides with her daughter in

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Colorado. She grew to womanhood sur- rounded by the wild, rude scenes of pioneer life, and gained her education in the primi- tive log schoolhouse that stood near Governor Tod's residence, in Briar Hill. She is a woman of rare force of character, and has nobly done her duty in the rearing of her family to positions of honor in the communi- ties in which they reside.

OHN W. MORRISON .- Resting upon laurels won by a life of unremitting toil, our subject, John W. Morrison, is now enjoying a well-earned prosperity, living retired from all active business. Mr. Morri- son was born in New Castle county, Dela- ware, September 26, 1826, a son of Robert and Agnes (Carter) Morrison, natives of New Jersey and Pennsylvania, respectively. The father was a farmer and fruit-grower of Delaware, owning a peach orchard in the cell- ter of the peach belt, and was very success- ful in the cultivation of this fruit. He was born in 1790, and died upon his peach farm in 1865, his wife surviving him until 1872, when she died, aged seventy-two years. Both parents were devout and faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which body they were earnest and conscientious workers. Mr. Morrison, Sr., was a fifer in the United States army, and his regiment was stationed at Marens Hook during the war of 1812, and his fife is now in the possession of J. W. Morrison, Jr., son of our subject. On the paternal side of the family, the ancestry is of Irish extraction, and the father of Rob- ert Morrison, Jolin Morrison, was a diteher, and followed that occupation in New Jersey. The maternal side of the family sprang from Swedish progenitors, who emigrated to this

country in 1642, and were the projectors and builders of the Swedish church in Wilming- ton, Delaware, which, although erected in 1642, is still standing in an excellent state of preservation. In the little cemetery sur- rounding the church are interred the bodies of those who played so important a part in the early history of that section of country, and the quaint inscriptions to be found upon the tombstones are of the greatest interest to to the antiquarian.

Our subject is the fourth child in a family of thirteen children, eight of whom are still living, although he is the only member of the family that came West, the journey hav- ing been performed in 1858. Having learned the trade of a machinist in the employ of the Baldwin Locomotive Works, and later with Harlan & Hollingsworth, of Wilming- ton, Delaware, he proceeded to St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1852, and engaged in tlie em- ploy of the Steamboat Transportation Com- pany, of the Northern Line, which was stationed at St. Paul. At this time Minne- apolis had not yet been incorporated as a town, still belonging to Fort Snelling. One house, near Lake Harriet, was the only one in what is now this most flourishing city, and it still stands, a memento of those early days. This house was seen by Mr. Morrison while attending the Republican convention held in that city in 1892. Following this line of work until the fall of 1860, he removed to Youngstown, where he engaged in farming, and later purchased a coal bank at Briar Hill, but in 1868 removed to Brazil, Indiana, where he engaged in extensive coal mining, and remaining until June 20, 1878, when he returned to Youngstown, where he has since remained. Enlarging his business from time to time, Mr. Morrison soon became one of the leading coal and iron merchants of the

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

city, making a specialty of buying and selling scrap iron for mills and maintaining his in- terest in the coal district of Brazil, Indiana.

Mr. Morrison was married February 24, 1858, to Miss Kate Everett, a daughter of Peter Shearer and Mary (Dabney) Everett, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Youngstown, Ohio. He returned with his young bride to St. Paul, where they resided nine months. Mrs. Morrison is de- scended on her father's side from the same stock as Edward Everett, of Massachusetts, and on the mother's side front Huguenot ances- tors, traced back to Theodore Agrippa D'Au- bigne, the French historian, the name being changed at Boston to Dabney. Peter Ever- ett was a farmer by occupation, and died in 1847, aged fifty-two years, his wife surviving him until 1860, when she died, aged sixty years, having been born March 10, 1800. Both were faithful members of the Methodist Protestant Church, in which they were most highly esteemed. Nathaniel Gardner Dab- ney, father of Mary Dabney Everett, came to this county in 1796, having been born in Bos- ton. His father was Dr. Nathaniel Dabney, and his mother Elizabeth Gardner Dabney, and her father, Samuel Gardner, graduated from Harvard College in the class of 1732. Nathaniel Dabney was one of the nine earliest settlers of Youngstown, and his oldest daugh. ter, Betsy, now the wife of Ramsey Curtis, was one of the first white children born in Youngstown, having been born in 1798; while Mrs. Mary Everett, wife of Peter Ev- erett, was the second child, her birth occur- ring in 1800. Mrs. Morrison is the seventh child in a family of ten children, fonr of whom are still living, namely: John, residing at Briar Hill; Susan, wife of Ashael Shook, a resident of Coitsville; Mrs. Morrison; and Mary, the youngest child, the wife of William

McGoun, a resident of Portsinouth, Ohio. Nathaniel Gardner Dabney descended fromn Huguenot and Puritan ancestors, and his upright life showed that lie combined the vir- tues of both sides. Mrs. Morrison, prior to her marriage, taught in the union school of Youngstown, for several years, being a most successful teacher, rendering the highest degree of satisfaction. She is a lady of much refinement and culture, and is numbered among the leading pioneer settlers of the county. She still owns a portion of the farm owned by her grandfather, Nathaniel Gardner Dabney, which is now included in the corpo- rate limits of Youngstown. Among the other early settlers contemporaneons with the latter was Judge Tod, father of David Tod; Jolın Young, Colonel Hilman, Mr. Thorne, and Colonel, later Judge, William Rayen.

Mr. Morrison has in his possession a pipe of peace given him by the chief of the Sioux Indians as a treaty between that tribe and the Government, October 14, 1854. The stem is two feet long and the bowl three inches long, having been made of red stone by an Indian. Four children have been born to the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Morrison: John W. Morrison, Jr., Sallie, Kate and Agnes, the former being among Youngstown's most enterprising young business men. He owns and operates the Morrison Foundry & Ma- chine Works and the Youngstown Brass Works, which extensive concerns are located at 111 North avenue, near the street railway power house. Mr. Morrison, Jr., first started in business in 1889, on South Market street, but a constantly increasing trade demanded a more commodious plant, and he removed to his present location, the building being 140 x 150 feet in dimensions, and is thoroughly equipped with all the necessary machinery, tools and appliances for the proper prosecu-

Ajustice

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OF NORTHEASTERN OHIO.

tion of the business in hand. An ample force of experienced workinen is employed, and all kinds of iron, brass and bronze castings, soft metal and light iron castings are manufac- tured, a specialty being made of castings for scale mountings. The workmanship and mna- terial are always of the best, and he finds ready market for his wares all over Pennsyl- vania and Ohio. The plant is eligibly located on the main lines of railroad, affording ex- traordinary facilities for shipping, and all orders are most promptly and carefully filled.

He married Adrie Hyde, of West Farm- ington, Ohio, June 14, 1893. Sallie and Kate died in infancy. The youngest child, Agnes, is the wife of Samuel W. Luce, of Boston, who succeeded to the business of his father-in-law, to which he has added tiling, flour, feed, hay, lime, cement, etc.

Mr. Morrison has played an important part in the upbuilding of the city, and in the promotion of his branch of trade throughout this section of country, and the success at- tained by him is not entirely due to his busi- ness sagacity, but also and more especially to his courteous, gentlemanly bearing and his high and honorable methods of conducting business. He is thoroughly alive to the best interests of the day, keeping fully abreast of the times, and advocates and upholds the principles of the Republican party, to whose actions he is a most faithful adherent.

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Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Trumbull and Mahoning, Part 61

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