Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Trumbull and Mahoning, Part 66

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 66
USA > Ohio > Trumbull County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Trumbull and Mahoning > Part 66
USA > Ohio > Ashtabula County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Trumbull and Mahoning > Part 66

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

H ON. ROBERT MORRIS MONT- GOMERY, one of the oldest and most esteemed citizens of Youngstown, was born at Warren, Ohio, October 20, 1815. His father, Robert Montgomery, a native of Pennsylvania, was a son of William Montgomery, of Scotch-Irish lineage. The latter lived for many years in Chester county, Pennsylvania, took an active part in the American Revolution, and served as Surveyor General for the State of Pennsylvania. Rob-

ert Montgomery, his son, was reared in that State, and when a young man came to Ohio. He located at that part of Poland now known as Struthers, Mahoning (then Trumbull) county, where, in 1805, he built an iron furnace and operated the same until abont 1812. He afterward followed farming, in which his interests grew large and important. Mr. Montgomery died in Pennsylvania in 1859. He was twice married, and by his first wife there was bnt one child, a daugh- ter. He married for a second wife Mrs. Louise Maria (Morris) Edwards, widow of Colonel John Stark Edwards. To this union were born two daughters and one son; one danghter and the son still survive.

Robert M. Montgomery, the subject of this memoir, removed with his parents when a child to a farm just east of Youngstown, Ohio, where he was inured to farm labor, and was given a fair education. He has always devoted his attention to the vocation of farm- ing, in which he has been very successful. As a wool-grower he has also met with good success, was instrumental in promulgating the measures providing for the wool tariff of 1867, and for years no man has been better informed on the subject of wool and wool- growing. In an early day Mr. Montgomery took an active part in politics, having cast his first presidential vote for Andrew Jack- son, and was a bold and aggressive anti- slavery man. In 1862-'63 he served in the Lower House of the Legislature, and iu 1867 visited Washington, District of Columbia, where he was instrumental in securing the placing of a tariff on wool.

Mr. Montgomery was married at the age of twenty-two years, to Miss Nancy Higgins Wolcott, a native of Trumbull county, Ohio. Her father, Lewis Wolcott, was born in Con- necticut, of Scotch descent. IIe came to

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

Trumbull county, Ohio, in 1808. Our sub- ject and wife have two children: Lewis Wol- cott, a farmer of Youngstown; and Mary . Correy, wife of T. S. Mckinley, also a resi- dent of this city. Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery have been active members of the Presby- terian Church for a number of years.

UNG BROS., proprietors of a livery, feed and boarding stable, 210 East Federal street, Youngstown, Ohio, are among the most enterprising business men of the city. This firm, composed of Frank A. and Henry W. Lung, bought out the livery establishment of N. Hinckle in 1888, and have since been doing a thriving business. They own thirty-five head of horses and a number of first-class carriages aud buggies, run a city transfer to all trains, both day and night, and do all the transfer for the Tod House as well as for the opera house. In short, they do a larger business than any other stable in the city. The numn- ber of their telephone is 218. A few words in regard to the family history of the Lung Bros. will not be inappropriate here, and are as follows:

Their father, Andrew Lung, was born in Wittenberg, Germany, Jannary 6, 1809, son of John W. and Wenna (Leimbeauch) Lung, both natives of Germany. He came to the United States in 1847, landing in New York city after an ocean voyage of thirty days ou the sailing vessel Marietta Evans. When he landed in this country his capital consisted of $100. He came direct to Ohio, and in Tuscarawas county secured employment on a farm, being thus employed for two years, at $6 per month. After that he worked two years for another farmer, who paid him $10

a month. He then went to Massillon, Ohio, and acted as hostler at a hotel for one year, after which he went back to Tuscarawas county, bought a farin and settled down to agricultural pursuits. Subsequently he moved to Stark county, this State, where he still resides. In 1852 he was married to Catherine Frantz, who was born in Germany, daughter of Nicholas Frantz. They have a family of ten children, a record of whom is as follows: John, who married Lizzie Thomas, has one child, Frank; Mike J., who married Barbara Ale, has six children,-Flora, Frank, Emma, Clara, Lillie and Arline; Frank A., born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, February 2, 1857, was married, in 1890, to Tressia Gardner, and has one child, Clara; Henry W., born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, January 28, 1859, was married, September 11, 1884, to Julia Fagan, daughter of Thomas Fagan, and they have three children,-Clarence A., Josie C. and Henry J .; Mary, wife of Frank Siggeer, Canton, Ohio, has six children,- Henry, Frank, Oliver, Leo, Mary and an infant; Annie, wife of Jacob Rohr, Stark county, Ohio, has five children; Katie, wife of Theodore Arronr, Youngstown, Ohio, lias two children,-Walter aud Paul; Emma, wife of Adam Sailor, Youngstown, Ohio, las three children,-Dannie, Myrtle and Julia; Clara, wife of Joe Folzer, Canton, Ohio, has one child; and Louisa, unmarried and at home.

M ILTON W. POWERS was born in Mahoning county, Ohio, October 14, 1811, son of Abraham and Betsey (Woodruff) Powers; was married, February 14, 1841, to Lucy Silliman, and died December 25, 1885. His wife, whose birth occurred in Fowler, Trumbull county,

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Ohio, March 6, 1821, died March 3, 1893. He was for many years an extensive stock dealer, buying horses and cattle and driving them to Eastern markets. This was before there were any railroads here. The family consisted of eleven children, a brief record of whom is as follows: Marinda M., born Feb- ruary 21, 1842, died October 2, 1867; Austin R., born October 6, 1843; Clark S., born June 5, 1845, died March 24, 1879; George W., born June 1, 1847, died September 5, 1879; Clayton W., born October 31, 1849, died January 2, 1850; Florence E., born January 21, 1851, died August 22, 1851; Emma E., born August 2, 1852, is the wife of Frank P. Wick, Youngstown, Ohio; Lncy A., born October 5, 1854, died December 2, 1854; Emmor P., born February 21, 1856; Ada M., born January 24, 1858; and Frank W., born June 8, 1860, married Elizabeth Ward and lives in Youngstown, Ohio.

EORGE J. RENNER, a brewer of Youngstown, Ohio, was born in Kenton county, Kentucky, February 11, 1856, son of George J., Sr., and Sarahphina (Appleman) Renner, both natives of Ger- many.

The senior Mr. Renner is also a brewer, having learned the business in his native land. He came to America in 1848 and set- tled in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he engaged in brewing. He has continued this business all through life. Since 1888 he has been a resident of Akron, Ohio, being interested in a brewery there and also in one at Mansfield, this State. He was born February 11, 1834. His wife died in 1893, aged fifty-eight years. She was a devout Catholic all her life.

The subject of our sketch was the second born in a family of twelve children, of whom two sons and five daughters are still living. One daughter, Lizzie, is the wife of Earnest Deihel, wlio is in the insurance business in Youngstown. Of the others we record that Rosa is the wife of Felix Huber, Newport, Kentucky; Nora is bookkeeper in her father's office at Akron ; Emma is a member of the home circle; and William, a twin of Lizzie, is su- perintendent of the Akron brewery. The oth- ers, with the exception of one sister, Mary, . died in early childhood. Mary was twenty- seven years old at the time of her death.

George J. Renner, Jr., received his educa- tion in the public schools of Covington, and at an early age began to learn the trade in which he has since been engaged. He bas been in business for himself since 1881. He first started up in Wooster, Wayne county, Ohio, where he remained three years, and from whence he came to Youngstown in 1884. Here he bought an old plant which had been standing idle. Some time afterward the boiler exploded, the engineer, Chiarles Richter, was killed, and the building was burned. Mr. Renner then built his present commodious quarters. This was in 1890, and since then he has been operating in the new building. He manufactures beer, ale and porter. His brewery, which is located on Pike street, has a capacity of 40,000 barrels per year, and the past year he sold 17,000 barrels of his product.

Mr. Renner was married, in 1880, to Miss Emma Weaver, of Covington, Kentucky; she is a daughter of the late Jolm Weaver, a busi- ness man of Covington. They have had seven children, namely: George, Amiel, Edna. Irene, Viola, who is deceased, Florence and Ruth. All are living except Irene and George: the death of the latter was the result

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

of an accident, he having been kicked by a horse, in May, 1886, at the age of six years.

Mrs. Renner's parents had a family of ten children, of whom we make record as fol- lows: Mrs. Renner; John, who married Tillie Boyd, resides at Mansfield, Ohio; Rob- ert, who married Minnie Schleutker, died at the age of thirty-four years; George, unmar- ried, died at the age of twenty-six; Mary, wife of C. C. Mooar, resides in Allegheny, Pennsylvania; Panline, at home; Gus, who married Rosa Deihel, resides in Youngstown, where he is bookkeeper for the Renner brew- ery; Frank, who died at the age of twenty- one; Harry, foreman of the Renner brewery; William, a photographer of Allegheny, Penn- sylvania.

Mr. Renner and his wife are members of the Catholic Church. Personally, he is ro- bust and of fine physique, is quick in per- ceptive faculties, and has a kind and genial disposition.

AMES ERSKINE, a prominent business man and a land owner of Mahoning county, is a son of Hugh Erskine, who was born in Erskine parish, Scotland, in 1790; he was a shawl weaver by trade, and was employed in the famons shops at Paisley, many of whose employees it was said were qualified to go to Parliament. He died in his native country, in 1837. His parents were Robert and Helen (Allison) Erskine, also natives of Erskine parish, Scotland. Hugh Erskine married Elizabeth Craig, a native of Paisley, the daughter of James and Janet (Melvin) Paisley, natives of Scotland, and to them were born seven children: Robert, deceased; Janet, deceased; Hugh, of this country; John, deceased; William, de- ceased; Joseph, who died in this conntry ;

and James, the subject of this sketch. He was born in Paisley, Scotland, in 1825, and for a short period in his youth was employed in the renowned shawl factories of that place. After his father's death he removed to the Shotto iron works, and finally became a com- petent engineer, following this calling five years; he still holds the recommendation re- ceived from his employer in the iron works.

The attractions in the New. World were many, and Mr. Erskine determined to try his fortune in America. Accordingly, he sailed from Greenock, Scotland, and landed in New York city, May 28, 1849; he continued his journey to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; he first secured employment on a farm, and after- ward in the brick-yards at Bolivar, Pennsyl- vania; here he lost his first five months' wages by the failure of the owners, and re- turned to the farm, working for his former employer. He went back to the brick-yard, and remained there until 1859, when he was made general manager in the absence of Mr. Glover, one of the owners. He also had charge of the store of his employers, and con- tinued there until 1863, when he bought a farm near Bolivar, Pennsylvania, which he cleared of the timber. He afterward, with two friends, bought the brick-yards at Bolivar, which they sold to the former owner at the end of seventeen months. After these many" changes he came to the Mahoning Valley in 1866, and purchased a tract of land contain- ing brick clay; the following spring he brought his family and has been engaged in brick-making ever since.

He was married in 1853 to Catherine Geddes, a Scotch lassie, a daughter of George and Margaret (Farquhar) Geddes, natives of Scotland, who emigrated to America and settled in Bolivar, Pennsylvania. Six chil- dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Erskine:

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OF NORTHEASTERN OHIO.

Robert married Mary Smith and has two children, Bessie and Carl; Elizabeth died a young girl; George married Anna Wright, and they have five children, -Paul, Arthur, Marcia, Ralph and George; John married Minnie Davidson, and they have two chil- dren,-James D. and Charles Frederick; James H. married Ella Macey and has two children, Albert and Keneth; Williamn L. married Mary Pettigrew. Mr. Erskine was married a second time, August 7, 1890, to Ella E. Hicks, a daughter of Isaac and Sarah A. (Whisner) Hicks, natives of Pennsylvania; they have had a family of nine ehildren, four of whom are living; the children of Mr. Erskine's second marriage are Isaac P., and one who died in infancy.

At the age of thirteen years Mr. Erskine began to make his fortnne, serving as a herd laddie in Scotland; he now owns five hun- dred acres of land. He also owns one-third interest in the brick-works and store, a third interest in the Erskine & Company's brick- works at Youngstown, an interest in the Lowell Limestone Company and in improved town property. His correct business methods and strict integrity have won him the re- spect and esteem of a wide circle of business and social acquaintances. In politics he is a Republican. He and his wife are mnem- bers of the Christian Church, of which he is Elder. In 1889, he assisted in establislring the church at Lowellville.

D ANIEL A. DAVIDSON, a progres- sive young business man of Lowell- ville, Mahoning county, is a son of James and Lavina Davidson, whose history is given elsewhere in this volume. Our subject was born at Lowellville, Ohio, in 1869, and

resided there until the death of his father. He was married in 1891, and soon afterward removed to the farm previously owned by his father, and resided there until 1892, when he came to Lowellville, which is still his place of residence.

On the sixteenth day of September, 1891, Mr. Davidson was united in marriage to Miss Theresa Book, a daughter of Mike and Mateson E. (Walls) Book, natives of Law- rence county, Pennsylvania. Mike Book is a son of Jacob Book, who emigrated from Gerinany to America and located in the Keystone State. Mrs. Davidson is one of a family of five children: Anna, Minnie, Ira and John; she is the third born.

Politically our subject is identified with the Republican party and is a staunch sup- porter of the issues of that body. He is a member of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, Lodge No. 17, of Lowellville; he is also a member of the Knights of Pythias, Lodge No. 137; he is an officer of both orders. He is a man of good ability, energetic and industrious; he has in - herited a competence from his father's estate. which places him in easy circumstances.

SAAC STROUSS, a member of the firm of Stronss & Hirshiberg, of Youngstown, Ohio, was born in Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany, May 20, 1848. He has gained a fair knowledge of the German, French and English languages. He also obtained a little business experience with his father in his native land, but left Germany at the age of seventeen years, and came to the United States. Mr. Stronss soon afterward located in Youngstown, Ohio, where he accepted a position in the store of D. Theobald & Co.,

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

where he remained three years. He next was employed as clerk for the firm of A. Wallbiunn & Co., of Youngstown, with whom he remained about nine years, and during that time also spent six months in Michigan, but was induced to return to the employment of the above firm as their book- keeper and salesman. The firm afterward sold their store to D. Theobold & Co., for whom Mr. Strouss managed the business one year, and then, in 1875, in company with Mr. Hirshberg, Mr. Strouss bought the busi- ness that Wallbiunn & Co. had established. They do an annual business amounting to $100,000, in dry goods, notions, cloaks, clothing, carpets, millinery and dress-mak- ing. 'Their store occupies three stories and basement. They have gone through many hard struggles, but have built up an excel- lent trade, and have a large store building at 132-6 West Federal street.

Mr. Strouss was married in September, 1874, to Miss Lena Pfaelzer, a native of Philadelphia. They have one son and a daughter. Mr. Strouss affiliates with the K. of P. and the B'nai B'rith.

D P. COOPER, the head of the J. A. & D. P. Cooper Company, manufactur- ers of carriage wood work at Struthers, Ohio, one of the leading business concerns of that place, is possessed of superior qualifica- tions for the transaction and management of business affairs, and has won an enviable reputation for his sound judgment and strict integrity. Robert Cooper, the father of D. P. Cooper, was born in Coitsville township, Mahoning county, Ohio, in 1828, and there passed his life on the old homestead taken up by his father in 1800. He was a farmer

by occupation, and followed agricultural pur- suits all his life. Politically, he was identi- fied with the Democratic party, and was well informed upon the leading questions of the day. His parents were David and Rebecca (Armstrong) Cooper, whose names are men- tioned in the sketcli of J. A. Cooper, which will be found on another page of this vol- ume. They reared a family of twelve chil- dren, named as follows: James, deceased; Jane, deceased; Rebecca, deceased; John, a stockholder and director of the J. A. & D. P. Cooper Company; Sarah, deceased; David, deceased; Eliza, a resident of Coitsville; Margaret, deceased; Polly, deceased; Will- iam, a citizen of Coitsville; Robert, the father of our subject; and Armstrong, who died in Kansas in 1859. D. P. Cooper was born in Coitsville township, Mahoning coun- ty, in 1853, and resided in the place of his birth until 1871. He received a good com- mon-school education. At the age of eigh- teen years he went to Youngstown, Ohio, and there was apprenticed to Siegfried & Lemley to learn the carriagemaker's trade; he served the term of three years, and in the meantime occupied his leisure hours in study. He completed a commercial course in the night sessions of the business college, his dil- igence and industry winning the hearty sym- pathy and admiration of his employers and teachers. He followed the trade he had inas- tered for three years at various places, and then went to Coitsville, where he was located for ten years previous to his coming to Struthers. In 1887 the partnership was formed with J. A. Cooper. This company was reorganized in 1892, when D. P. Cooper was elected president and general manager of the J. A. & D. P. Cooper Company.

Mr. Cooper was married in 1877 to Miss Mary McClelland, a daughter of David and

OF NORTHEASTERN ONIIO.

545

Mary A. (Murray) McClelland, and to them have been born three children: Ralph, Dahl and Mary. Our subject supports the issues of the Democratic party. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. lodge No. 495, of Hubbard, Ohio. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.

W K. HUGHES, M. D., an honored member of the medical profession, resides at Berlin Center, Mahoning county, and has made a career worthy of notice in this connection. He was born in 1835, and was reared and educated in the town which is still his home. When he de- termined to enter the profession he began to study the science of medicine under the direction of his father, and afterward became a student in the Cleveland Medical College; he was graduated from this institution in 1859, with the degree of M. D., and for three years thereafter was engaged in prac- tice at Berlin Center.

In the autumn of 1862 he received the ap- pointment as Assistant Surgeon of the Thirty- eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and started to join his command. Owing to railroad ob- structions he was unable to reach his regi- ment, and by order of his superior officer reported to General Wright at Covington, Kentucky. There he was on detached service five months, and during this period organized the Greenup hospital in that city. He was afterward transferred to Camp Dennison, and later was obliged to resign his position on account of ill health.

He returned to his home, and May 21, 1863, was united in marriage to Miss Martha F. Smith. As his failing strength returned he expressed a willingness to re-enter the

service, and was appointed Assistant Surgeon to the Twelfth Ohio Cavalry; later he was promoted to the position of Surgeon, which he filled until he was mustered out in No- vember, 1865.

James W. Hughes, M. D., father of Dr. W. K. Hughes, was one of the pioneer physi- cians of Mahoning county. He was a man of large sympathies, and never turned a deaf ear to distress, though a response to the call cost him many weary hours of travel over the lonely bridle-paths of the forest. His genial presence at the bedside of the sick and dying was always most welcome, and many have blessed him in their hour of dire necessity. He was born at Rockville, Montgomery county, Maryland, November 11, 1807, a son of Ben- jamin Hughes, a native of Maryland, de- scended from Welsh ancestors. He was mar- ried in Goshen township, Mahoning county, Ohio, to Pauline S. Brooke, who was born in Genesee county, New York, a woman of rare force of character and unusual attainments. His death occurred in 1869, at Berlin Center, Ohio, a cause of the deepest grief to the entire community.

James Brooke Hughes, deceased, was a son of Dr. James W. Hughes. He at one time served as Auditor of Mahoning county, being elected by a majority of 1,450 votes in 1874. He was a most efficient officer, and had the confidence of the people whose interests he gnarded. Politically, he adhered to the prin- ciples of the Democratic party.

D. SHIELDS, a member of the Cole- man-Shields Company, Niles, Ohio, is a native of this State, born in Boardnian township, Mahoning county, May 30, 1847. Reared upon the farm, his environment was

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

favorable to the development of a rugged constitution, and at the age of eighteen lie was a sturdy, healthy youth. Having deter- inined upon learning a trade, he secured em- ployment with Shedd, Clarke & Co., of Youngstown, Ohio, but only to have his plans thwarted and his hopes disappointed. Not long after going into the mill, while still in his 'teens, he met with an accident which resulted in a permanent injury to his right hip; he was then transferred to the office of the company, aud completed his term of service in this department. The first busi- ness he conducted on his own account was a furniture and undertaking establishment in Youngstown; five years later he was ap- pointed Deputy County Clerk of Mahoning' county, and accepted the office, rendering faithful service to the county from 1876 to 1882. Following this he went to Girard, Ohio, where he secured the position of shipping clerk for the Girard Iron Company of that place; he remained with this estab- lishment until 1887, when he came to Niles, where he was employed on a salary until the organization of the Coleman-Shields Com- pany. This corporation has conducted a very successful business. Mr. Shields is a man of much more than ordinary ability, and has made the most of a varied experience in tlie commercial world, gaining a thorough knowl- edge of the most correct business methods and making an accurate estimate of human nature as it is in the world.

James Shields, father of our subject, was also a native of Mahoning county, Ohio; he was a prominent man in his community, and was the first superintendent of the county in- firmary. He married Olive Price, a daugh- ter of James Price, a native of Maryland, and to them were born three sons: Homer, a resi- dent of Wayne, Nebraska; Henry B., man-

ager of the Girard Iron Company, Girard, Ohio; and J. D., the subject of this notice. The first member of the family who settled in Mahoning county was Thomas Shields, who reared a family of six children: Eliza- beth, a daughter who married a Mr. McMul- len; Andrew and Archibald, twins; and James and Thomas, twins.

In Angust, 1879, our worthy subject was united in marriage to Miss Alice M. Pred- more, a daughter of Joseph Predmore, one of the old residents of Youngstown. Mr. Pred- more in later life moved to Chicago, where he passed the remainder of his days. His wife was a Miss Barclay, whose family were also old settlers in Youngstown. Mr. and Mrs. Shields are the parents of five children: Julia, Helen, Fred O., George D., deceased, and James D. Mr. Shields is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and has a wide circle of acquaintances who appreciate his many sterling qualities.

P ORTER WATSON is a native of Mahoning county, Ohio, and has been prominently identified with some of her leading interests. His father, William Watson, was born October 17, 1807, in Lawrence county, Pennsylvania, and there resided in his old home until the death of his father. He was then a lad of twelve years, but assumed the responsibility of managing the farm, and continned in charge for eight or nine years. He then removed to the town of Pulaski, Pennsylvania, and there embarked in mercantile trade. In a short time this enterprise was abandoned, and he erected the first mill built in the place. Selling this, he came to Lowellville, Mahoning county, Ohio, in 1837, and built the Red mill in partner-

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Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Trumbull and Mahoning, Part 66

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