USA > Ohio > Mahoning County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Trumbull and Mahoning > Part 74
USA > Ohio > Trumbull County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Trumbull and Mahoning > Part 74
USA > Ohio > Ashtabula County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Trumbull and Mahoning > Part 74
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
death of his first wife. he made Berks county, Pennsylvania, his home for six years, coming from there to this county, where he passed the rest of his life on a farm. It was in 1828 he came from Pennsylvania to Ohio, and liis first settlement was made in Johnston town- ship, Trumbull county. Politically, he was a Democrat; religiously, a Methodist. He was active in all church work, serving as Class-leader, Steward and Trustee, and was liberal in his support of the church.
George Boone was eight years old when liis father settled in Johnston township. Here he grew up on his father's farm, attending the district school and also the school at Farming- ton one term. After his marriage he settled in Mecca township, and in 1879 he located on his present farm. He owns 279 acres of the best farming land in the township. His two- story residence, 28x28 feet, with its bay window and veranda, located on a natural building site, is one of the most delightful rural homes in this vicinity.
Mr. Boone was married at Williamsfield, Ashtabula county, Ohio, to Miss Martha Clark, born and reared in that county, daughter of John Clark, one of the pioneers of eastern Ohio. Her mother's maiden name was Sarah Foster, both parents being natives of Pennsylvania, the father of Beaver county and the mother of Westmoreland county. He died at the age of seventy-five, and she at sixty five. By a previous marriage to Jane Truesdale, Mr. Clark had seven children. The children by his second wife are as follows: David, Margaret, Martha, Joseph, Scott, Elijah, Ann, Elihu, and Lemnel and Samuel, twins. Of Mr. and Mrs. Boone's children, we record that John L. is a resident of Minne- apolis, Kansas; Samuel died at the age of sixteen months; Jennie, an accomplished musician, is the wife of L. S. Palmer and has
one son, George B., for many years a suc- cessful teacher, is now with the law firm of Hurd & Scribner, Toledo, Ohio; and J. Charles, wlio lias also been engaged in teaclı- ing, is now residing at Ada, Ohio. They also have seven grandchildren.
Like his father, Mr. Boone, is an active member of the Methodist Church and gives the Democratic party his support. He is a man whose estiniable traits of character have won for him many friends.
OHN APPLEGATE, one of the repre- sentative citizens of Liberty township, was born February 1, 1844, a son of Calvin Applegate, who was born on the same farm as our subject, in 1809. His father. James Applegate, came from Delaware to 'Trumbull county, Ohio, in 1800, and was of Scotch descent. He erected a log cabin in the southeastern corner of Liberty township, cleared his farm, cut roads, etc. They brought with them a few household goods with which to begin life in the new country. During the war of 1812 he held the position of Captain. Mr. and Mrs James Applegate had the following children: Joseplı, Adair, Andrew, Uriah, Benjamin, James, Calvin, Rebecca and Amy. Six of the children mar- ried and raised families. The father died in 1820. Calvin, father of our subject, was reared and educated in this township. At the age of twenty-five years he was united in marriage with Sarah J. Cowdry, a native of Liberty township, and a daughter of Mar- cellus and Rebecca (McCormick) Cowdry. Mr. and Mrs. Applegate had twelve chil- dren, viz .: Kate, Rebecca J., Joseph, John, May, Amny L., Louis, James M., Clara, Calvin, Oliver O. and Austin. Joseph was
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a soldier in the late war, in the One Hundred and Fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was killed at Perryville, Kentucky, at the age of twenty-one years.
John Applegate, the subject of this memoir, was also a soldier in the Civil war, entering the 100-days service, as a member of the Seventy-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was stationed at Cynthiana and Johnson's island, Kentucky, and was taken prisoner. In 1866 he engaged in the stock business, and in 1873 opened, in this county, a saw- mill, which he has ever since continued. In 1876 Mr. Applegate came to the farm where he now resides.
He was married in the latter year to Orpha J. Campbell, a daughter of Hugh and Jane Campbell, both of whom died on the farm where our subject now resides. Mrs. Apple- gate departed this life in 1879, leaving one daughter, Austin J., born September 17, 1877. The mother was a member of the Presbyterian Churcli, as were also her par- ents. Mr. Applegate takes an active part in the Republican party, is a member of the G. A. R., Tyler Post, of Hubbard, and is one of the leading citizens of Trumbull county.
W ILLIAM BONNELL .- Among those who are most prominently identified with the pioneer history of Youngstown is William Bonnell, now de- ceased, who was born in Yorkshire, England, June 10, 1810, a son of John and Elizabeth (Gomersal) Bonnell, both natives of England. William Bonnell was the eldest of a family of three sons and two daughters, of which John Bonnell, Jr., the youngest son, is the only survivor and is now residing in England. During his early life our subject was a wool-
dyer, which business he followed in his native land, but, January 14, 1841, he, his wife and three children embarked in a sailing vessel, and after a very stormy voyage of eight weeks, lacking two days, landed in New York city March 8 of the same year. From this city they proceeded to Cincinnati, Ohio, soon after landing in America, but here Mr. Bonnell did not pursne his trade, as this branch of industry had not then been de- veloped in this city, and he was obliged to perform whatever tasks came to his hand, and, being willing to work, soon found em- ployment, thus gaining a foothold in the new land among strangers under the most un- favorable auspices. Being obliged to sup- port a large family, his powers were taxed to the utmost to supply their demands, and finally he decided to remove from Cincinnati to New Castle, Pennsylvania, in 1845. At the latter city he entered the iron works as a day laborer, and so proficient did he prove himself that he was later taken into the of- fice as a bookkeeper of the establishment. Still later he removed his family to Pitts- burg, Pennsylvania, but after a few years' residence in the iron metropolis the family returned to New Castle, but later removed to Connellsville, where they remained until 1850, when for the third time they selected New Castle as a place of residence, each time Mr. Bonnell engaging as a bookkeeper.
Upon the organization of the Youngstown Iron Company, in 1843, by prominent cap- italists of the city, a small mill was built on the " flats " along the old Ohio and Pennsyl- vania canal. This company operated the mill for a few years, when it was shut down and thus remained until 1855, when, during the winter of 1854-'55, a company of practical iron-workers, consisting of Joseph H. Brown, Richard and Thomas Brown, his brothers,
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
and William Bonnell purchased the mill. The plant was but a small affair, having a total capacity of seven tons of finished iron and nails per day, but the firm of Brown, Bonnell & Co. was organized, and from that time the great prosperity of Youngstown be- gan. Mr. Bonnell and the Brown brothers removed from New Castle, Pennsylvania, to Youngstown, Ohio, in 1855, starting their . their business upon a small scale, but from time to time, as the increase in the volume of their trade demanded, additions were made to the buildings themselves as well as in the machinery, until, at the time of Mr. Bonnell's death, the equipment was one of the finest in the State. During the twenty years of Mr. Bonnell's connection with this enter- . prise the little old mill on the "flats " was improved and enlarged until it became one of the great manufactories of the iron world. In 1875 the business was incorporated under the firm style of Brown, Bonnell & Co., with Henry O. Bonnell as president, and W. Scott Bonnell as treasurer, the same name being still retained, although the original partners sold their interest in 1879.
Mr. Bonnell was married September 18, 1834, to Miss Sarah A. Scott, daughter of George and Sarah (Hutchison) Scott, all natives of England, and eight children were born to this marriage, namely: Sarah Jane, widow of G. H. McElevey, deceased, who re- sides in Youngstown; Eliza A., widow of J. H. Bushnell, who died in 1888; Henry O., all of whom were born in England; William Scott; Caroline H., wife of J. C. Wick; Mary, deceased, having died at the age of three years; Elizabeth, wife of Myron Wick; and Martyn, a manufacturer of Cleveland, Ohio, who married Miss Sarah Arms.
Mr. Bonnell died May 25, 1875, a firm believer in the principles and teachings of
the Presbyterian Church, of which he had been a member for many years, and in which he was an Elder. Generous and lib- eral by nature, he gave of his abundance to the church and was very active in promoting all enterprises tending to its advancement. A member of a company which operated the largest and leading iron manufactory in the city, his enterprise and energy largely con- tributed to the upbuilding of the mammoth business controlled by them, while his public spirit prompted him to lend his influence toward the cause of progress and enlighten . ment. A good business man, he made friends by his accurate methods of dealing, even in his most adverse circumstances, proving him- self capable of overcoming whatever ob- stacles fate interposed in his path to success. His name and energy contributed largely in the upbuilding of the business interests of the valley, while he accumulated for himself a fortune as the result of his own unaided labors. So popular was he that his death was felt to be a personal loss by almost every citizen of the entire community, his sturdy, honest, pure, private character, his affable, kindly manner toward all, having won for lim a host of warm friends and admirers wherever he was known. Mr. Bonnell was specially fortunate in that his home was ever a place of refuge for him from the toils and strife of the outside world, being presided over by the loving helpmate he had chosen so many years before when his future still stretched before him like an unwritten page. Her Christian virtues and cheerful disposi- tion made her a wife among a thousand, and Mr. Bonnell cheerfully accorded to her wise and loving counsel much of his success in life, and their wedded life of more than forty years may well be regarded as a striking ex- ample of the happiness arising of a true
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union of congenial and loving hearts. Mrs. Bonnell was the only surviving child of her parents at the time of their death, which occurred in England, the father dying at the age of seventy-six, his wife having preceded him many years before, at the age of twenty- seven years, in 1817, a devout member of the Established Church. For many years Mrs. Bonnell has been a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Youngstown, witlı which her husband was connected during his lifetime.
As long as history continues the name of William Bonnell will be connected with the progress made in the manufacture of iron, and his memory will be regarded with rev- erenee by those who are now reaping the benefits of his years of privations and struggles.
H ENRY BONNELL, a citizen of Youngstown, Ohio, was born in Brad- ford, Yorkshire, England, September 19, 1855, the fourth of seven children of Joseph Fearnley and Elizabeth (Duftill) Bonnell. Both his parents were natives of England, where they passed their lives. His father was a saddler and harness-maker, a devout Christian man, highly esteemed for his many estimable qualities of mind and heart. He died December 1, 1875, aged fifty-eight years, greatly regretted by all who knew him.
The subject of this sketch was educated at Woodville House Academy, a noted school of Yorkshire, and at Fulneck Sehool, near Leeds. He afterward learned the textile-fabric trade which he subsequently left to take charge of his father's business, when the latter, by reason of ill health, had to abstain from all work. After his father's death, the business
was sold and he came to the United States, arriving in Youngstown in 1881. He im- mediately entered the employ of the Trum- bull Iron Company, at Girard, Ohio, and in the fall of the same year became connected with the Mahoning Valley Iron Company, with whom he has ever since remained, with the exception of a few months spent in trav- eling for Cartwright, McCurdy & Company. For the past five years he has also been the secretary of the Gomersal Coal Company, limited.
In June, 1880, Mr. Bonnell was married to Miss Isabel Storey, a native of England, and a daughter of Captain Storey of the Merchant Marine service, residing in South Hackney, London. His wife died eleven months after marriage, at the age of twenty- three years, lamented by many friends. Feb- rnary 24, 1886, Mr. Bonnell was re-married, his second wife being Miss Annie Mary Arms, a native of Youngstown, whose parents, Charles Dayton and Hannah M. (Wick) Arms, are well-known and esteemed resi- dents of that eity. Mr. and Mrs. Bonnell have one child, Charles Arms.
Mr. Bonnell is an earnest advocate of Re- publieanism in politics. Both he and his worthy wife are members of the First Pres- byterian Church of Youngstown.
M RS. MARY BENTLEY, Trustee of the City Hospital, Youngstown, Ohio, has been a resident of this place from her early childhood, and by her Christian aets of kindness, her charity, and her amiability has endeared herself to the poor and the suffering of the city and has won the admiration of a large circle of friends. Of her life we make personal men- tion, as follows:
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
Mary Bentley was born in Ireland, dauglı- ter of Dr. Robert and Eliza McCurdy, both natives of Ireland and of Scotch-Irish ex- traction. The McCurdy family came to America when she was quite young and set- tled at Youngstown, Ohio, where several members of the family still reside, occupying honored and useful positions in life. Dr. : Robert McCurdy and his two brothers, Thomas and William, were educated as sur- geons to enter the British army. Thomas and William served as such in the army, but Robert, being the youngest, never entered the service, the war being over about the time he completed his education. He, how- ever, practiced his profession for about thir- teen years in Ireland. Then he turned his attention to the stock business, shipping cat- tle from the Emerald Isle over to England until 1842. At that time he emigrated with his family to America, and the following year they located in Youngstown. The Doctor was twice married before leaving his native land. By his first wife he had three daughters: Isabella, late wife of Dr. T. Woodbridge, of Youngstown; Catherine, un- married, who died of cholera in Cincinnati; and Elizabeth, a resident of Cleveland. By his second wife, whose maiden name was Eliza Henry, his children were as follows: Mrs. Mary Bentley; Dr. John McCurdy, a prominent physician of Youngstown; Robert McCurdy, a banker of this place-these three being natives of Ireland. Their children born in Youngstown were William H., who was a member of the firm of Cartwright, McCurdy & Company, Youngstown, died of lagrippe in 1890; and Thomas H., who died in early childhood. Samuel H., the youngest, born in Trumbull county, this State, is now a resident of Colorado. After the father of this family came to Ohio he became largely
interested in real estate, and did an extensive stock business. Having nearly reached his three-score years and ten, he died from the effects of an injury cansed by a runaway horse. He inherited the characteristics of his Scotch ancestors, being noted for his in- tegrity, his piety and his many sterling qual- ities. His wife, the mother of Mrs. Bentley, died at about the age of thirty-five. She was in many respects a remarkable woman. She was talented and highly educated, was emi- nently pions and a member of the Presby- terian Church, and was greatly devoted to her family.
Mrs. Bentley was reared and educated in Youngstown, and in 1853 was united in mar- riage to Martin Bentley, a resident of this place, and for several years cashier of the First National Bank at Youngstown. His untimely death occurred at the age of twenty- eight years. To them were born three chil- dren, viz .: Robert, who resides with his mother, is manager of the Ohio Iron & Steel Company; Eliza, wife of Rev. O. V. Stew- ard, in charge of the Presbyterian Church at Steubenville, Ohio; and Jolin M., who is as- sistant auditor of the Illinois Steel Company, Joliet, Illinois. Mrs. Steward is a woman of rare culture and refinement, was educated. at Vassar College, and has two interesting chil- dren, Robert and James. John M. is also married, and he and his wife have two chil- dren, Harry and Josephine.
Mrs. Bentley has been prominently identi- fied with the City Hospital of Youngstown ever since it was established. This institu- tion is officered as follows: Mrs. Vanpleet. president; Mrs. R. Brown, vice-president and treasurer; and Mrs. Bentley, secretary and chairman of the house committee, a part of her duty being to purchase all pro- visions. This institution fills a long-felt
Robert. Mackey
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OF NORTHEASTERN OHIO.
want in Youngstown, and under its present efficient management its value would be hard to estimate. It has at times accommodated as many as twenty-five, but the number of its occupants varies. Mrs. Bentley is also con- nected with other good works in the city. She was one of the earnest and persistent workers who assisted in building and sustain- ing a free reading-room, which they kept up for a period of fifteen years. In 1892, they merged it into the Young Men's Christian Association at Youngstown. She is also an active member of the Woman's Educational and Industrial Union.
Such is a brief sketch of one of the most useful and highly esteemed women of Youngstown.
H ON. ROBERT MACKEY .- The true glory of a nation is an intelligent, honest, industrious and Christian peo- ple, and no class of men more fully meet these requirements than the farmers and agriculturists of this broad and free land of ours. The vine clad cottage of the hill- side, the cabin of the woodsman and the rural home of the farmer are the true citadels of any country. Among those to whom is due so much of the material prosperity of the country, a leading representative is Robert Mackey, who was born on the farm and in the honse where he now resides, October 15, 1832. His parents, Major James and Mar- garet (Earley) Mackey, were prominent peo- ple of this section, whose lives are treated of elsewhere in this volmine. Thomas Earley, our subject's maternal grandfather, died February 26, 1854, aged seventy-eight years. He was one of the first settlers of what is now Ma- honing connty, and throughout his long, ae- tive and upright life, he enjoyed perfect ex-
emption from sickness, his first illness ter- minating in his death. His loving and faithful wife preceded him by some ten years in the journey from which there is no return. Our subject's grandfather, Thomas Earley, lived an upright and pious life, and gave to his friends most comforting evidence that for him to die was gain. David Mackey, a brother of our subject, was married, June 27, 1844, to Miss Jane Braden, daughter of John Braden, (f Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, who died Sep- tember 30, 1878, aged sixty years, having borne to her husband the following children : Olive, Margaret, John, Kate, Mary, Jane, Jennie and Addie, the last two having died aged twenty-six and sixteen, respectively. In September, 1883, occurred the second mar- riage of Mr. David Mackey, Miss Martha Jones becoming his wife.
Enjoying the usual educational advantages afforded a farmer boy, Mr. Mackey was still more fortunate in being permitted to pursue his studies in the Youngstown schools. Af- ter leaving school he was engaged in farming for a number of years, and in 1877 was elected to the House of Representatives. During his one term of service he was placed upon many important committees and made an honorable record for himself as an able legis- lator. Among the various services rendered by him was the serving on the committee for the revision of the Statutes of Ohio. After his return, Mr. Mackey engaged in the real- estate business, in partnership with his brothers, James and David, and the firm still continues to handle property to a considerable extent, althongh our subject has retired from active life and is now living upon his highly cultivated farm in the township of Youngs- town. This farm, together with one in Coits- ville owned by him, embraces about 200 aeres of land.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
Mr. Mackey was married, December 10, 1868, to Miss Kate M. Martin, of Poland township, a native of Mahoning county, and a daughter of Hugh R. and Dorcas (Black- burn) Martin, natives of Pennsylvania, where their marriage occurred. Mrs. Mackey is the fourth child in the family born to her parents, namely: Robert; Jane, wife of Will- iam M. Arrel, a resident on a farm in Lowell township; Rachel, wife of J. B. Stauffer, de- ceased; Mrs. Mackey, and William, a resi- dent on a farm three miles south of Poland. Mr. Martin died August 18, 1879, aged seventy-one years. His wife survived him until August, 1887, when her death occurred, at the age of eighty, both being members of the Presbyterian Church, in which body they were faithful workers. Four children have born to Mr. and Mrs. Mackey, namely: Frank, who is engaged in the real-estate business in Youngstown; Emma; Robert, who died September 16, 1878, aged four years; and George, who died September 19, 1878, aged three years. Mrs. Mackey is a faithful and earnest member of the Presby- terian Church of Youngstown. In politics Mr. Mackey is a Democrat, having upheld the principles of that party since attaining his majority except a few years he espoused the cause of the Greenback party, by which he was elected to the General Assembly in 1877. At present, however, he takes but lit- tle interest in politics, devoting his entire attention to the cultivation of his excellently tilled acres.
Springing from an old and highly respected family, Mr. Mackey has ever proved himself a worthy scion of a worthy tree and is known throughout the community as a just, honor- able and upright man. Pursuing the even tenor of his way, Mr. Mackey has made many friends in his life journey, who now rise up
and testify to the kindness of heart, the gen- erosity of purpose and the uprightness of living which have placed him in so high a position in the esteem and confidence of his fellow citizens.
H ENRY O. BONNELL .- Henry O. Bonnell, president of the Mahoning National Bank, president of the Ma- honing Valley Iron Company, presi- dent of the Hubbard Rolling Mill Company, president of the Mahoning and Shenango Valley Manufacturing Association, chairman of the Youngstown Coke Company, director in the Ohio Steel Company, director in the Lakeside Nail Company, of Hammond, In- diana, and director in the First National Bank, now deceased, was born at New Lay, Yorkshire, England, January 11, 1839, a son of William and Sarah A. (Scott) Bonnell, both natives of England. Our subject being the eldest son of the family of eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. Bonnell, his assistance was required at home in the mill, office and elsewhere, and consequently his educational advantages were limited to the instruction to be gained at the country schools, supple- mented by one term at the Youngstown school, after which he entered his father's mill and proceeded to learn lessons in the school of experience of the practical side of life, which were to fit him for the successful management of his own affairs in after life. So proficient did he prove himself that later he was promoted to the position of book- keeper in the office, and still later to that of paymaster.
Upon the death of his father in 1875, the association of Brown, Bonnell & Company was incorporated, with Henry O. Bonnell as vice
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OF NORTHEASTERN OHIO.
president, which position he so ably filled that he was re-elected to it successively until 1879, when the company disposed of its in- terests to other parties, although the same name was retained. In 1879, Messrs. H. O. Bonnell, Richard Brown, C. D. Arms, W. Scott Bonnell and others purchased the Valley Mill plant on Crab creek, and began operating it under the firm name of Mahon- ing Valley Iron Company, H. O. Bonnell then being the senior member of the house. Upon the incorporation of the company in 1886, Henry O. Bonnell was elected the president, which position he filled most ably until the time of his deatlı, combining with the duties of president those of manager also; and to his energy and enterprise much of the present prosperity of the company is dne. He was an untiring worker and to his energy and sagacity is due inch of the prominence of Youngstown as an iron center. Begin- ning at the bottom of the ladder of fortune, by his own efforts he rose to the top rung, ris- ing from a partner in the Mahoning Valley Iron Company in 1867, to its president in 1886.
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