Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Trumbull and Mahoning, Part 70

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 70
USA > Ohio > Trumbull County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Trumbull and Mahoning > Part 70
USA > Ohio > Ashtabula County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Trumbull and Mahoning > Part 70

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Edward R. Jones, the subject of this sketch, left home at the age of fifteen years, after which he learned the shoemaker's trade in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and followed that occupation until the outbreak of the Civil war. At Lee's invasion he enlisted in a company of militia, where he remained un- til his discharge, in 1863. He took part in the battle of Winchester and in other im- portant engagements. After the close of the struggle Mr. Jones turned his attention to photography, also clerked in stores in Johns- town, later engaged in the sawmilling busi- ness, next followed railroading one year, in

1864 entered the public schools of Derry Station, where he remained until the spring of 1865, and then entered the Allegheny Col- lege. He graduated at that institution in 1870, with the degree of A. B. Mr. Jones then began the study for the ministry, in connection with his work in the Pittsburg Conference. His first charge was at Knowl- son, two years later went to the Third Avenue Church at Pittsburg, spent one year at Flor- ence, and then entered the Drew Theological school, at Madison, New Jersey, completing his course in 1877, with the degree of B. D. Mr. Jones next returned to Pittsburg Confer- ence, and was appointed to Connorsburg, the seat of the old Jefferson College, where he spent one year. He was then transferred to the Eastern Ohio Conference, and located at Mansfield; one year later he assumed his next charge and remained two years, spent the following year at Canton, was three years at Martin's Ferry, one year at Willoughby, one year at Caldwell, two years at Jewett, and since that time has remained at his present charge.

Mr. Jones was married May 8, 1873, to Eliza R. Sayer, a daughter of Henry and Margaret (Patterson) Sayer, of Allegheny city. She was educated at the female college at Pittsburg, and resided in Pittsburg and Allegheny City. Her brother, James P. Sayer, is one of the most prominent attorneys of Pennsylvania, and lias served as Treasurer of Washington county for two years. . He was appointed Major of the Army of Western Pennsylvania, under General Beaver, an office created after the war. He became the guard- ian of every soldier,-could enter court and take the money of soldiers for safe keeping. He was a good disciplinarian. His death oc- curred about one year ago. Mr. Sayer was shot in the leg at Gettysburg, and amputation

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afterward became necessary. He was a nian of wonderful memory, and could accurately remember the condition of the weather and the events of each day for several years.

Mr. and Mrs. Jones have had five children : Margaret Amy, born November 9, 1874, will graduate with the class of 1894, in the Bloomfield schools; Aonra L., born October 5, 1876, is a member of the same class; Mely H., born June 22, 1879, is a member of the junior class of the same school; Edna R., born September 28, 1881, is also attending the Bloomfield schools; and Gerald Rex, born November 8, 1882. In political matters, Mr. Jones is an independent Republican. Soci- ally, he is a member of the Masonic order and the Knights of Honor.

A LFRED SMITH .- The name of the Smith Brewery is known thronghout the entire country, the quality of the products being so excellent as to com- mend it in marked degree to the favor of the consumer. Alfred Smith, the subject of this sketch, who is one of the partners of the John - Smith's Sons Brewing Company, of Youngs- town, Ohio, was born in Pittsburg, Pennsyl- vania, September 18, 1845, a son of Jolin and Hannah (Barnett) Smith, natives of England, where they grew to maturity and were married. In 1842 the father came to America, bringing his young family with him, and located in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where he remained for a short time in the employ of a rolling mill as manager. Later he filled the same position in a mill at Cin- cinnati, Ohio, and in 1846 came to Youngs- town, Ohio, where he established the present brewery, having learned this trade in Eng- land. Beginning in a small way, the busi-

ness has been built up until it is now one of the leading breweries on the Western Re- serve, the plant consisting of two three-story brick buildings, each 200 feet in length with vast underground vaults, the entire establish- ment being thoroughly equipped with all modern facilities for the proper prosecution of the business in hand, no pains or expense being spared to produce the best quality of goods. The capacity of the plant has grown from three barrels at a brewing to 35,000 barrels yearly, and the special brands manu- factured by the firm are the Lager, the Ex- port, the Pilsener, and the Bavaria.

Our subject received his education in the public schools of Youngstown, to which he came in 1849 with his parents. As soon as he attained to a suitable age, he engaged in the brewery of his father, and in 1873 was made a partner, although prior to this he at- tained to the financial part of the business in the office. The firm is now John & Alfred Smith, and they employ forty operatives and assistants in their establishment, the business being one of the leading ones in the city. Mr. Smith is one of four children born to his parents, namely, Mary, John, and our subject, who are now living, and Emma, who died three years ago.

Mr. Smith was married June 29, 1869, to Miss Katherine Lucy Couch, a danghter of Nathan Couch, of New Brighton, Pennsyl- vania. Mrs. Smith was stricken with paraly- sis in her forty-eighth year and the twenty- third year of her married life, and after six weeks of mortal suffering was mercifully taken away. She was a member of the First Baptist Church and throngbout her life was a generous, kind-hearted, charitable and Christian woman, fully living up to the pre- cepts of her clinrch. Possessing all the qual- ities of noblest womanhood, she was highly

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esteemed and loved by a large circle of friends and acquaintances and her death will long be mourned throughout the community in which she resided for nearly a quarter of a century.

Mr. Smith is a member of the Knights of Pythias, of which organization he is a most prominent and popular factor. Owing to the many and heavy responsibilities resting upon his shoulders, he finds but little time to de- vote to politics, preferring to give his entire attention to his business interests. Upright and honorable in all of his dealings, Mr. Smith conducts his business upon methods which commend him to the favor and confi- dence of the trade and he is most justly re- garded as one of Youngstown's most prom- inent and influential citizens.

OHN MEEK BONNELL. - Another conspicuous landmark of Youngstown, Ohio, has fallen in the death of the sub- ject of this sketch. English by birth, lie was nevertheless intensely American in his sympathies, and for nearly thirty years closely identified with the iron and coal busi- ness of Mahoning county. His was a noble nature, characterized by wise judgment and generous impulses, a model citizen and up- right business man.

His birth occurred in Bradford, Yorkshire, England, November 12, 1848, and he was the eldest of seven children of Joseph Fearnley and Elizabeth (Duffill) Bonnell, both natives of England, where they passed their entire lives. His father was a saddler and harness-maker, in which occupation he was engaged all his life, his business estab- lishment having been handed down from fatlier to son for 300 years when he took it.

He was a devout member of the Congrega- tional Church all his life, and for many years Senior Deacon of Lister Hills Congregational Chapel. Possessed of great purity of life, he was much honored by his acquaintances and in his community. He died December 1, 1875, at the age of fifty-eight years. His seven children were: John Meek, of this notice; Elizabeth, residing in England; Jane Ellen, also residing there; Alice, wife of T. J. Storey, general manager of the Interna- tional Salvage Company, London, who have five children,-Alice Bonnell, Joseph Fearn- ley, Neenah, Gertha and Vera. The next in order of birth is Henry, a prominent citizen of Youngstown, Ohio; Mary resides in England ; and William Fearnley is general sales agent for the Mahoning Valley Iron Company, at Youngstown.

John M. Bonnell, of this biography, passed his earlier years in his native country. He received liberal educational advantages, com- pleting a course at Woodville House Aca- demy, under the able tutelage of Mr. Dyson, LL.D., this institution being one of the most noted schools in Yorkshire. In 1865, he joined liis uncle, William Bonnell, in Youngstown, Ohio, since which time he was closely identified with the iron and coal in- terests of that city. He at first became a shipping clerk in the mill of Brown, Bonnell & Company, of which firm his uncle was a inembor, and while in Youngstown made his home with his uncle. Later John M. Bon- nell accepted a position as traveling salesman for Cleveland, Brown & Company, of Cleve- land. In 1875, he became an active partner in the firm of Bonnell, Bottsford & Com- pany, of Youngstown, in which W. Scott, Henry O. and the subject of this sketch were the Bonnells. He later took charge of a branch store in Chicago, Illinois, which bore

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the firm name of Hale, Cleveland, Bonnell & Company. He resided in Chicago from April, 1878, to August, 1883, when he re- turned to Youngstown and became an active partner in the Mahoning Valley Iron Com- pany, in which, and in the firm of Bonnell, Bottsford & Company, he retained his ill- terests until death, contributing by his rare business ability and honorable methods to the prosperity of bothi enterprises.

August 26, 1875, Mr. Bonnell was married to Miss Emily Wick, daughter of Hugh Bryson Wick, an old resident of Youngstown, and known throughout northeastern Ohio for his sagacity in business and financial matters. Mr. and Mrs. Bonnell had three children: Joseplı Fearnley, born November 21, 1876, in Youngstown, Ohio, is a member of the class '94, at Phillips College, in Exeter, New Hamp- shire; Hugh Wick, born in Chicago, Feb- ruary 23, 1880; Caroline, born in Chicago, April 3, 1882.

In politics Mr. Bonnell was a Republican, and took an ardent interest in the issues of his party, of which he was a staunch sup- porter. Before going to Chicago he was , elected to the City Council of Youngstown from the Third Ward, and in this as in all relations manifested an ability of a high order. He was a Knight Templar in Masonry and a charter member of Mount Joy Com- mandery of Chicago.

tegrity in dealing with his fellow man, he rose to prosperity. He was one of that large class of foreign birth who secure eminence in commercial affairs, where many of the native born, under more favorable circum- stances, fail to command success.

R EV. SAMUEL ROBINSON FRA- ZIER, Ph. D., pastor of the Taber- nacle (U. I'.) at Youngstown, Ohio, was born at St. Clairsville, Belmont county, Ohio, February 23, 1845. His par- ents, James and Elizabeth (Giffin) Frazier, were natives of Virginia and Ohio, respect- ively; his paternal grandfather, Samuel Fra- zier, was an old resident of Virginia, and a slave-owner; however, he liberated his slaves long before the war, but the faithful crea- tures did not leave him. He died at the age of ninety two years, leaving a family of ten sons and two daughters; none of the family have yet died under seventy-five years of age, and one daughter and three sons are still liv- ing. The family is of Scotch origin, the Fra- zier clan being still in existence. James and Elizabeth Frazier were both members of the Associate branch of the Presbyterian Church, which was later known as the U. P. Church. They reared a family of three daughters and one son: Elizabeth is the wife of D. T. At- kinson; Maggie married John Dubois; she died in 1890, at the age of fifty years; Saralı is the wife of W. T. Taggert; Samuel R. is the subject of this biographical sketch. Having passed through the public schools of his native thwn, he entered Franklin College, New Athens, Ohio, from which institution he was graduated at the age of seventeen years. The heart of the patriot burned in the

November 2, 1884, Mr. Bonnell died in Youngstown, surrounded by his family and friends. In his death his family lost a de- voted lmsband and indulgent father, the community an honorable business man, and the town an able official and good citizen. He was essentially a self-made man, having started in life withiont means, but by energy, perseverance and enterprise, together with good business qualifications and strict in- breast of this young American, and three

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

times before his graduation he enlisted in the service of the United States Army, but each time he was returned on account of his youth; he finally entered the service of the Christian Commission, and was with Sher- man's army on the march to Atlanta.

Subsequent to the war, he spent three years in the United Presbyterian Thcolog- ical Seminary at Allegheny City, Pennsyl- vania, and when he had finished the course prescribed by this institution he received three calls as pastor. He accepted the call to Monroe, Ohio. and was ordained and installed before he had attained his majority. Here he labored with the zeal and enthusiasm of youth for six years, when he received and ac- cepted a call to the Third U. P. Church, of Pittsburg; a very successful pastorate there was ended after seven years, when Mr. Fra- zier resigned on account of ill health.

A trip to Japan succeeded these years of labor, and four years were very profitably and delightfully spent in the Orient, three years as acting secretary and interpreter at the American legation and one year as teacher in the Osaka school and Imperial University of Tokio. He was attached to the legation at the time of General U. S. Grant's visit to Japan, and wrote an account of the reception tendered the American general by the Japan- ese government to the Pittsburg Dispatch; this letter was copicd by the press very gen- erally and received the most favorable com- ment. Soon after his return to the United States, Mr. Frazier was called to the Taber- nacle of this city. He assumed the duties of this pastorate in January, 1884. The society, then numbering a hundred sonls, is now in- creased to four hundred and nine, through his ministration.

Mr. Frazier was united in marriage in 1869 to Lucy S. Bingham, a daughter of the Hon.

John A. Bingham, of Cadiz, Ohio; two chil- dren have been born to them, Jessic Bingham and Harry. The mother died when a resi- dent of Pittsburg, in 1878, at the age of thirty-one years. Mr. Frazier was married a second time February 14, 1884, this union being with Miss Matilda Sands, of Pittsburg, a sister of the Rev. J. D. and Dr. R. M. Sands, of the same city.

The congregation over which Mr. Frazier presides is now engaged in the erection of a new house of worship to meet the increasing demands of the constantly growing congrega- tion. He is an eloquent speaker, and at all times possesses the courage of his convic- tions, denouncing without hesitation those evils which threaten the public welfare.

His lecture, " A Yankee in Japan," de- livered first before the Chantanqua Assembly, has given him a national reputation.

C HARLES H. WEBB, a worthy and upright citizen, and the Township Trustce of Youngstown township, Ma- honing county, Ohio, is a native of Somerset- shire, England, born July 19, 1839.

His parents were John and Mary K. (Davis) Webb, both natives of England. John Webb carried on a mercantile establishment in En- gland, where he died when the subject of our sketch was two years old, his death resulting from an accidental fall from off a load of hay. His sudden death was a great calamity to his beloved wifc, who never recovered from the shock, and who died six years later. They were aged, respectively, forty and forty-six . years. Both were members of the established Church of England. They had a family of six children: Mary, wife of Henry Bond, died at about the age of thirty-five years;

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Emma, wife of Thomas Collins, lives in En- gland; John, a resident of New Zealand; Eleanor, who died in childhood; Charles H., who forins the subject of this article; and Ellen, who resides near Bristol, England.

Charles H. Webb received his education and learned the trade of blacksmith in his native land, and worked at his trade there until 1860, when he came to America. He spent about twelve months in Halifax, after which he followed the lakes six years in Can- ada. In 1867 he came to the United States, and until 1878 he made his home in Cleve- land. That year he came to Youngstown, where he has since resided. His first busi- ness was nut-making, which trade he learned in Cleveland, and later he turned his atten- tion to the mercantile business, in which he continued for over ten years, elosing ont in the spring of 1893. He was appointed Trustee in 1890, to fill the unexpired term of Mr. Roston, deceased. He was elected the following year to fill a new terin, has been re-elected since the spring of 1892, and is now serving his fourth year.

Mr. Webb was married in October, 1866, to Mrs. Mary Fowler, widow of Charles Fow- ler, late of Canada. Her parents were James and Honor Davis, of Toronto, Canada. of which city Mrs. Webb is a native. Her father died in 1852, aged forty years, and lier mother a year later, also at the age of forty. Both were members of the Episcopal Church. Mrs. Webb is one of a family of nine ehil- dren, Elizabeth A., wife of Leonard Allestine, a resident of Cleveland, being the only one of her sisters living. By her former mar- riage Mrs. Webb has two children, Isabella and Fife Fowler Webb. The former is the wife of Frederick Donaldson, of Youngs- town, and has four children: Mary Webb, Frederick Basby, Lulu Belle and Catherine

Ruth. Fife Fowler Webb, a resident of Montreal, Canada, married a lady of that city, and they have two children, Isabella and Anna.

Mr. Webb and his wife, and their children and grandehildren, are members of the Epis- copal Chnreh. While he takes little interest in politieal matters, he has always voted the Republican ticket. He has been identified with the growth and progress of the city since the day he located here, and is now one of its prominent and highly respected citizens.

OUIS WELLENDORF, who owns and operates a stone quarry, is one of the most enterprising German-American citizens of Youngstown, Ohio. Of his life we present the following resume:

Louis Wellendorf was born in Germany, October 25. 1833. At the age of nineteen he severed the ties of home and native land and sailed for America, landing in Castle Garden without money and friendless. He was fortunate in seenring employment at once. From time to time he worked his Way westward, and in 1852 he engaged in contraeting and building, which occupation claimed his attention for eight years. After that lie farmed for three years. Then he went to New Castle, Pennsylvania, purchased a line of canal boats, and engaged in com- mereial transportation between Erie and Youngstown, also between Shenango and Youngstown. This business he followed profitably for a time, when he advantage- ously sold out, and engaged in the general merchandise business on Federal street in Youngstown. He continued in the merchan- dise business four years. Then he returned to farming, and for thirteen years was en-

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

gaged in agricultural pursuits. In the mean- time he purchased sixty-three acres of land, now included within the city limits of Youngstown, and on this property he has since resided. In 1882 he opened up a val- uable stone quarry on his premises, which he now operates, and from which a very fine quality of building stone is procured. Many of the best structures in Youngstown have been built from the stone of this quarry. It is located on Crab creek, thus being very convenient for the city trade.

Mr. Wellendorf was first married in 1852, and the following year his wife died of cholera. After her death he returned to Germany, and while there, in 1857, married Miss Catherine Newman, a native of Ger- many. She became the mother of four chil- dren: Louis, who resides near his father, is married and has three children; Lena mar- ried Herman Bretzell, has four children, and resides at Coitsville, Ohio; Augusta has been twice married, first to Fred Schultz, by whom she had two children, and, secondly, to Henry Bemdt, by whom she has three children; and Ferdinand, at home. Mr. Wellendorf has given his children all a good education, and has the satisfaction of seeing all of them occupying honorable and useful positions in life. Mrs. Wellendorf died January 25, 1888. She had a most amiable disposition, was a true Christian woman, and her friends were many. In 1889 Mr. Wellendorf's third mar- riage was consummated. This time he mar. ried Mrs. Charlotte Agness (Payne) Morse, widow of A. A. Morse, of New England. By her first husband she had four children, namely: Minnie, wife of A. S. Pinine, a prominent young hardware dealer of Eric, Pennsylvania; George, married and residing in Erie, is also a prosperous business man ; while the other children are deceased. Mrs.

Wellendorf was born in Franklin county, New York, March 23, 1838, daughter of Samuel Payne. She is a graduate of one of the best New York schools, and is a lady of decided literary taste, being a contributor to a number of leading papers and magazines. Her home is richly furnished, is adorned with choice works of art and literature, and gives every evidence of culture and refine- ment. She is also a graduate in music. Most of her life has been spent in Erie, where she has a large circle of friends.

Politically, Mr. Wellendorf is a Republi- can. He is a member of the Lutheran Church, while his wife is an Episcopalian.

RANK KNAUF, proprietor of the Sunny Side Nursery, Canfield, Ma- honing county, Ohio, has established one of the most important industries known to our civilization. He has five acres of choice land devoted to the culture of the finest varieties of apple, peach aud pear trees, and no thriftier, better stock can be found in the State. He has made a special study of the climate and soil of the section from which he draws his patronage, and has built up a trade that he steadily retains from sea- son to season. In addition to nursery busi- ness he has two hot-houses, each of them 20 x 50 feet, and cultivates the most rare and beautiful flowers, finding a ready market for his plants and cut flowers. He is a man of good business qualifications and strict integ- rity, and has the confidence of a wide com- mercial acquaintance.

He was born in Ellsworth township, Ma- honing county, Ohio, August 15, 1856, a son of Joseph and Hannah Knauf, who died at the age of fifty-six years in 1881; his mother

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OF NORTHEASTERN OLIO.

still survives and resides on the old home- stead. Nicholas Knauf, the paternal grand- father of our subject, was a Pennsylvanian by birth and an early settler of Green township, and here his son Joseph was born. Frank Knauf is one of a family of four sons and three daughters; he was reared to the life of a farmer, and attended the common schools of the neighborhood. As he came of age lie continued his agricultural pursuits, and be- gan to give his attention to the nursery busi- ness.

Mr. Knauf was united in marriage Sep- tember 30, 1880, to Mary E. Winans, a daughter of Homer and Mary Winans; her father is deceased, and her mother resides in this township. Mr. and Mrs. Knauf are the parents of two children, Frank Herbert and Nellie M. In politics, Mr. Knauf affiliates with the Republican party, and has served his township as Trustee with marked ability.

D R. JOSEPH P. CESSNA, a highly respected citizen of Canfield, Ohio, was born in Bedford county, Pennsyl- vania, September 29, 1825, a son of Williamn Cessna, a native of Connecticut and a son of John Cessna, who was born in England, and emigrated to America, locating in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, before the war of the Revolution. William Cessna received a thorough education in his youth, and at the age of twenty-four years was united in mar- riage to Nancy Elizabeth Barnes of Mary- land, althoughi her native city was Bostou; her father was William Charles Barnes, an Englislı officer of rank. William and Eliza- beth Cessna had a family of nine children, four sons and five daughters. One son, John Cessna, removed to Mahoning county

in 1829, and was successfully engaged in raising live-stock until his death, in 1890. William Cessna was a man of broad intelli- gence and became a conspicuous figure in both political and educational circles in Bed- ford county, Pennsylvania; he served as County Recorder, and for years was a teacher in the Bedford Academy; his children had superior advantages in acquiring an educa- tion. He died at the age of sixty-two years, while his wife survived to the age of eighty- five years.

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Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Trumbull and Mahoning, Part 70

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