Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Trumbull and Mahoning, Part 78

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 78
USA > Ohio > Trumbull County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Trumbull and Mahoning > Part 78
USA > Ohio > Ashtabula County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Trumbull and Mahoning > Part 78

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).

Henry D. Swith was born at Lowellville, Ohio, in 1856, and remained under the shel- ter of the paternal roof until 1873. He se- cnred his elementary education in the com- mon schools of Lowellville, and attended the business college at Cleveland, Ohio, during a term of six inonths. When he finished this course he secured a position with the boot and shoe wholesale house of O. A. Childs & Co., which he retained for seven yeare. He was shipping clerk and stock man for five years, and was traveling salesman for two years. Returning to Lowellville in 1881 he embarked in trade for himself; he now carries a stock valued at four thousand dollars, and has a large patronage. In addition to his mercan- tile interests he owns a farm of seventy-eight acres which is in a high state of cultivation. He is a man of superior business qualifica- tions, and his efforts have been rewarded with success.

Mr. Smith was married iu 1887, to Miss Edna A. Miller, a daughter of F. C. and Julia (Kincade) Miller, natives of l'eunsylvania;

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

Mrs. Smith was also born in the Keystone State. Of this union three children have been born: Freda M .; Julia Grace and Henry M. In politics our subject is a strong sup- porter of the principles of Democracy; he served the people of Lowellville four years as Postmaster, discharging his duties with faith- fulness and efficiency. He was elected Mayor of Lowellville in 1890, his administration giv- ing entire satisfaction to the public. He is a member of the Junior Order of U.A.M., and belongs to the Knights of Pythias. His wife is a worthy and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

S ILAS SHOOK was born in Mahoning county, Ohio, within half a mile of where he now resides, June 11, 1850, and has all his life been interested in farming and stock-raising in this county.

Mr. Shook is a son of Calvin and Julia (Stambauglı) Shook. Calvin Shook was born in Warren, Trumbull county, Ohio, in 1817, and died in 1880. He gave liberally of his means to the support of the gospel, his energy and influence ever being directed in in the right way. His wife was born in Mahoning county. John W. Shook, the grandfather of our subject, was a native of Germany, and emigrated to this country when a young man. Silas Shook was the second born in a family of three children. His brother, John W., the oldest of the family, is a resident of New Orleans, Louis- iana, while his sister Sarah is the wife of Henry Heedy.

Mr. Shook received his education in the schools of Youngstown. While he has been interested in farming and in other enterprises, he has made a specialty of handling fine

blooded horses and cattle. He is a stock- holder and director in the Youngstown Street Railway, and also in the Salem Coal Com- pany. He owns 110 acres of choice land ad- joining the city of Youngstown, and on this farm has a beautiful residence. He also owns 200 acres of land in Coitsville township, this county.

November 30, 1871, Mr. Shook was mar- ried to Miss Kate O'Connor, an estimable young lady of much culture and refinement, and to whose influence and sunny disposition he attributes much of the success he has at- tained in life. Mrs. Shook was born in New- market, Ontario, Canada, April 24, 1853, daughter of Patrick and Anna (Carter) O'Connor, both natives of Ireland. Her father died in 1856, at the age of forty, and her mother, now eighty years of age, resides at Mr. Shook's.

Mr. and Mrs. Shook have had four chil- dren, namely: Anna, born October 11, 1872, is now a student at Smith College, North- ampton, Massachusetts; Alice, born Novem- ber 12, 1874, died February 19, 1880; George R., born February 9, 1879, is attending school in Youngstown; and Calvin R., born August 18, 1884, is also in school at Youngs- town.

0 SWALD DETCHON, one of the rep- resentative men of Boardman town- ship, Mahoning county, Ohio, was born at this place in 1837, son of Elijah and Eliza Detchon. His parents had a family of six children. His father was a farmer and stock-raiser in this township and owned 104 acres of land here. He was prominently identified with the public affairs of the town- ship at an early day, having served as Trus- tee, Infirmary Director, etc. Politically, he

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OF NORTHEASTERN OHIO.

was a Democrat. He and his wife were both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and were devout Christian people, giving liberally of their means to the support of the gospel.

Oswald Detchon grew up on his father's farm and has been engaged in agricultural pursuits all his life. He was married, Sep- tember 18, 1865, to Miss Sarah Squires, a native of New Castle, Pennsylvania, who was left an orphan when a girl. They have five children; Mary J., James B., Paul C., Aubrey B. and Zelda B.

Like his father, the subject of our sketch is a worker in the ranks of the Democratic party. He has served as Supervisor, Trustee, Assessor and Township Clerk, in all of which positions he performed faithfully the duties entrusted to him. He was elected Assessor tive times. Mr. Detchon is a mem- ber of the Poland Lodge, A. O. U. W., and both he and his wife are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

D R. GARDNER FERRIN, a veterin- ary surgeon and the proprietor of a livery, feed, boarding and sale stable, Youngstown, Ohio, is prominently identi- fied with the interests of this place.

He was born in Erie connty, New York, May 30, 1832, son of Francis and Lanra (Stenbro) Ferrin, natives of Concord, New Hampshire. Francis Ferrin, a farmer by occupation, emigrated with his parents to New York in the latter part of the eighteenth century. Ebenezer Ferrin, the Doctor's grandfather, was one of a colony, composed of seventeen families, that sottled in Erie county, New York. He had the honor con- ferred on him of naming the town and ho named it Concord, in memory of his old

home in New Hampshire. He died at thie age of eighty-four years, and his wife ont- lived him a short time, her death occurring at the age of eighty. They were honest, in- dustrions and frugal, and well typified the worthy old pioneers of their day.

Francis Ferrin was married four times. His first wife, the Doctor's mother, died in 1836, aged abont twenty-five years. She left two children, Gardner and Uriah. The lat- ter, only four days old at the time of her death, is now a resident of Minneapolis, Minnesota. For his second wife Mr. Ferrin married a Miss Dolley, who died of typhoid fever, abont 1861, aged twenty-seven, leaving one child. He married his third wife in Genesee, New York, and his fourth wife in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Dr. Ferrin was reared and educated in New York. He left his native State November 24, 1862, and went to Albany, Wisconsin, where he remained two years. For three years he was engaged buying army horses and cattle, buying in large quantities from small dealers. It was not an unusual thing for him to buy 200 horses in a day, and often he bought fifty in a bunch. "From his early boyhood he had a fondness for horses, and, indced, he has spent a lifetime with them. He began reading books pertaining to the horse when he was fourteen, and he still keeps it up. From Wisconsin he went to Chicago in 1866, remaining in that city until 1869, during which time he was in active veterinary practice there with George H. Dadd, at the same time having all the ad- vantages of the Veterinary Institute, includ- ing lectures, etc. In 1869 he went from Chicago to Bloomington, Illinois, where ho practicod his profossion for two years, com- ing from there to Cadiz, Ohio. While at Cadiz he discovered a proprietary preparation

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

for " foot rot" in sheep. This remedy proved a perfect success and netted him a handsome sum. He sold the right for Trumbull county for $2,400; Ashtabula county, $750; Geanga county, $350; Lake county, $250; and the State of Verniont for $4,500. This sale was all between 11 a. in. and 2 a. m. the next morning. The right expired many years ago. From Cadiz Dr. Ferrin went to Wells- bnrg, Virginia, two months later to Mead- ville, Pennsylvania, where he was subse- quently burned out, and May 11, 1874, he came to Youngstown, where he has since practiced his profession and conducted a livery business. He has built three barns in this city, all of which are still standing. The barn he now occupies accommodates thirty-eight horses, twenty-one of which is owned by him. He runs two hacks to the railroad stations. During his business career here lie has won the confidence and respect of all with whom he has dealt, and has gained the reputation of being the best veterinary surgeon in the city, indeed, in northeastern Ohio.

Dr. Ferrin was married July 3, 1856, in Buffalo, New York, to Miss Anna J. Morse, a distant relative of the celebrated inventor. Her father, Charles Morse, died in 1879, aged sixty-four years, and her mother, now at the age of eighty-two, is a resident of Wanseka, Minnesota. Mrs. Ferrin is the oldest of a family of six children, the others being as follows: Josiah, a resident of McGregor, Iowa; Julia, Wauseka, Minnesota; Frank, Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Joseph, Austin, Minnesota. One is deceased. Dr. Ferrin and his wife have five children: Herbert A., Charles Eugene, Lulu Adel, Ida Bell and Carrie May. The oldest, Herbert A., married Emma Barber, and they have two children, Grace and Jennie.

Dr. Ferrin is one of the useful and sub- stantial men of Youngstown, and both he and his wife have the confidence and respect of a large circle of acquaintances. He affil- iates with the Republican party. Mrs. Ferrin is a member of Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church.

P ROF. GEORGE FRANKLIN JEWETT .- Among the leading and influential factors in the higher intellectual circles of Youngstown, Ohio, is Professor George Franklin Jewett, who has pursued his studies throughout this country and Europe, perfecting himself in the various branches of intellectual culture. In recognition of his scholarship and ability he was appointed head master of the Rayen school of the city, which position he lias filled, most acceptably, since September, 1891, during which time the institution of learning has grown in volume and reputation. Prof. Jewett was born in Middlesex county, Mass., March 19, 1858, a son of Charles F. and Georgeanna S. (Loring) Jewett, both natives of Massachusetts.

Our subject is the eldest in a family of five children, two of whom died when fifteen and seventeen years of age, while the remain- ing two, William and Charles, are still living in the East, engaged in business. Prof. Jewett was educated at the Bridgewater State Nor- mal School, at Bridgewater, Massachusetts, completing a four years' course, after which he entered Harvard University, from which he graduated in 1886, taking a post-graduate course of one year, after his gradnation, in chemistry, and so interested did he become in this branch of study that he pursued it at Berlin, Germany, for one year, and is now a

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member of the Berlin Chemical Society. For eight years he taught school in the States of Massaclinsetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Louisiana, Kentucky and Ohio, a portion of the time in Harvard University, and has traveled throughout Europe and his own country.

Coming to Youngstown, Ohio, in Septem- ber, 1891, Prof. Jewett took charge of the Rayen school, which is well and favorably known throughout the entire State, and was established by Judge Rayen, one of the lead- ing pioneers of the city, with the following trustees: A. B. Cornell, president; Robert McCurdly, secretary and treasurer; C. D. Hine; H. O. Bonnell and John Stambaugh, the last two named being now deceased. There are 250 pupils now enrolled on the books of the school at present, while tlie staff of teachers numbers eight. The course is of four years' duration and the curriculum is fully up to that of any preparatory school in the country, the greatest of care being exercised in the selection of competent teachers.

The marriage of Prof. Jewett occurred June 8, 1882, with Miss Abbie B. Fay, a daughter of N. T. Fay, of Freeport, Ohio, and two children have been born of this union, namely : Edith and Helen F. Professor and Mrs. Jewett are both earnest members of the Presbyterian Church, and the former is su- perintendent of the Sunday-school. Social by nature, Prof. Jewett is a member of the Order of Odd Fellows and the Royal Arcanum, being an officer in the latter or- ganization, and is as popular in these associa- tions as he is prominent iu literary circles.

Prof. Jewett is a teacher of marked ability and is thoroughly competent to fill the posi- tion he now occupies, both with regard to his intellectual attainments aud his scholarship.

He has pursued his profession in all grades and kinds of schools, and to add to his profi- ciency he has taught in a number of the States of the country in order to learn the latest and most improved methods. He is a man of ripe scholarship and is thoroughly competent to judge of the merit of a school by seeing the work done by it, and it is his aim to place his school at the head of institu- tions of this character, and, judging by the marked improvement since his assuming charge, there is no doubt that it is destined to become one of the leading schools of the country. In all of the schools over which he has presided, Professor Jewett's work has been appreciated, and he has been regarded as one of the leading teachers of his age and section. Believing that children can be much more easily governed by love, he exercises but little harshness in dealing with his pupils, with the result that he is beloved by all, and is regarded with the highest esteem and re- spect.

A UGUST KROECK, who owns and runs a carriage shop in Austintown, Mahoning county, Ohio, dates his birth in Germany, October, 7, 1847. His parents, Weshant and Catherine (Hood) Kroeck, had a family of six children, namely : Anthony, August, William, Charles, Phillip and Miunie. The father was a weaver by trade, but during the latter part of his life was engaged in farming and stock-raising. He and his wife were members of the Re- formed Church, and were people of high re- spectability.

August Kroeck lauded on American soil in 1868, first locating in Youngstowu, Ohio, where he was engaged in carriage-making. He came from there to Austintown the fol-

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

lowing year, and here he was for some time in the employ of A. Taylor. In 1872 he es- tablished a business of his own, which he has conducted and in which he has been very suc- cessful. After becoming an American citizen he identified himself with the Democratic party, which he has since supported. He and his wife are active members of the Reformed Church, and are generous in contributing to- ward all worthy causes.

Mr. Kroeck was married in 1869, to Miss Susan Smith, daughter of Christ and Julia (Wampuler) Smith, she and her brother Phillip being their only children. The Smith family came from the same German State in which Mr. Kroeck was born, their arrival here being when Mrs. Kroeck was about three years old. They first located in Cleveland, and from there came to Austintown. Mr. and Mrs. Kroeck have five children: Kate, born in 1870; Willie, in 1875; Andrew in 1878; Charles in 1881; and Lewis in 1889.

In ' connection with the history of the Smith family, it should be further stated that Christ Smith was a miner, and that he met his death in the mines by a gas explosion.

A BRAM FORNEY, V. S., is one of the most prominent factors in the little town of Sample, Mahoning county, Ohio. He was born in 1841, only child of Solomon and Mary A. (Shafer) For- ney. His parents were highly respected people. They were farmers, were members of the Reformed Church, and in politics the father was a Democrat.

Abram Forney was rearcd on his father's farm, assisted his father in the care of the stock, and his early training fitted him for

the profession he subsequently adopted. He took a three years' course in a veterinary col- lege, graduated with honor, and has since been engaged in practice. He is interested in farming to some extent, for thirty years has conducted a general merchandise busi- ness, and also for the past six years has been Postmaster of Sample. He is, like his father, a Democrat, and has filled various local offices, having served as Township Treasurer four years, and as Township Clerk seven years.

Dr. Forney was married in 1867, to Miss Amanda Crum, a member of one of the prominent families of this county. He and his wife are members of the Reformed Church.

EVI CRUM, one of the wealthy men of Austintown township, Mahoning county, Ohio, is a native of this place and has been identified with it all his life. He was born in 1832, son of John and Cath- erine (Frestermaker) Crum, and one of a family of nine children, six of whom are liv- ing: Gideon, Mary, Margaret C., Susan, Amanda and Levi. John Crum owned 240 acres of land in this township, on which he carried on farming and dealt in stock. He and his wife were members of the Reformed Church, and were among the most highily re- spected of the early pioneers. Both lived to a good old age, his death occurring in 1873, and hers in 1875. Henry Crum, the father of Jolin, was a veteran of the war of 1812. The subject of our sketch was reared on his father's farm, and since he grew up has been engaged in various enterprises. He was a merchant for twenty-four years, was a broker for some time, and has been extensively en- gaged in farming. He is now the owner of

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400 acres of fine farming land. For the past eighteen years, however, he has been practi- cally retired from active business.

Mr. Crum was married February 7, 1857, to Wilmena Winters, a resident of this town- ship at the time of her marriage, she having come here from Germany when she was eleven years old. Her untimely death oc- curred January 22, 1864. She had two chil- dren: Lillie F., born Angust 6, 1859, is the wife of William S. Fairman, of Youngstown, Mr. Fairman being a salesman for the Stand- ard Oil Company; and Clinton, born Jan- uary 28, 1861, died March 10, of that same year. March 20, 1866, Mr. Crum married Eunice E. Grove, who was born in Canfield township, Mahoning county, Ohio, Decem- ber 30, 1831. They have two daughters, Minnie A. and Lulu E.

Mr. Crum is a member of the Reformed Church, while his wife belongs to the Dis- ciples' Church. He started in life in moder- ate circumstances, and by honesty industry and careful economy has succeeded in ac- cumulating a fortune. To-day he is ranked with the leading moneyed men of the county.

G EORGE A. BAKER .- The estimate placed upon a city by a visitor is necessarily gauged to a considerable degree by the character and quality of the accommodations he finds in its hotels. The possession of good houses of public en- tertainment is therefore a most valuable one to a city; and Youngstown is peculiarly fortu- nate in this respect. Among those that give its good name to the city in this particular, the leading one is the Tod House, which en- joys the special distinction of being one of the best hostelries in the State. This popu-

lar hotel is operated by George A. Baker, who was born in Delaware County, Ohio, September, 1848, a son of Horace Walker and Elizabeth (Thomas) Baker, both natives of Ohio. The father, a cabinet-maker by trade, after his marriage in his native State, crossed the plains in 1849, and died in Cali- fornia in 1850, of a disease contracted in making the journey. Having been born in 1818, his death occurred in 1850, but his wife survived him until 1891, dying at the age of sixty-six years. Both parents were life-long members of the Methodist Church, in which body they were faithful workers. Four sons were born of this marriage, of which our subject was the third in order of birth, and is now the only one living, the two older ones having died in infancy, and the younger one, Horace, in Delaware, Ohio, in 1854, of cholera, aged four years. Mrs. Baker married a second time, in 1855, in Delaware, Ohio, her choice being Andrew Jackson Crawford, by whom she had four daughters, namely: Mary Elizabeth, now Mrs. W. C. Hilliard; Jennie, now Mrs. E. A. Blakeslee; Annie and Eva, both deceased. Obtaining his education at the common schools of Delaware, Ohio, our subject began supporting himself at a very early age, his first step in this direction being his filling of a clerkship for Jones & Pratt, and later a similar position in Mr. Coxe's grocery store, following which he drove a grocery delivery wagon for two years. At the age of seventeen he entered the employ of the railroad at Corry, Pennsylvania, and in 1865 was made a messenger boy, and later a telegraph opera- tor. Being advanced as a result of his ability and proficiency he was placed in the freight office of the company, and finally became the general freight agent, for the Buffalo, New New York and Philadelphia Railway in

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

Buffalo, continuing in this capacity for eight years, when, in 1885, lie removed to Youngs- town, where he has since resided.

The marriage of Mr. Baker occurred in Buffalo, in 1876, to Miss Julia Brewster Hurlbert, a daughter of John Forbes and Maria Hurlbert. The father is deceased, but his widow and son, George Forbes, are opera- ting the Continental Hotel. The other son, William Griswold, is secretary and treasurer of the Bostwick Metal Lath Company, of Niles, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Baker are the parents of four children, namely: Horace Forbes, George Albert, Jr., Marie Elizabeth and Crawford Hurlbert. Both Mr. and Mrs. Baker are faithful and consistent mem- bers of the Episcopal Church, in which body they are earnest workers. Mr. Baker is a member of Hillman Lodge, F. & A. M., No. 481; Youngstown Chapter, No. 93; St. John Commandery, K. T., No. 20; Alkoran Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, Cleveland, Ohio, and is a Scottish Rite Mason having attained to the thirty-second degree. Al- though he takes but little interest in politics, Mr. Baker is a Democrat in principle, and is ready and willing to aid in the advancement of his party.

The hotel now operated by Mr. Baker, which was leased by him in 1885, upon com- ing to the city, is the best in the entire city and is attractively and elegantly appointed and furnished throughout in the latest and most modern manner. It contains 156 comfortable sleeping rooms, in addition to a large parlor, dining room, office and other public rooms, while the prices charged are reasonable in the extreme, considering the excellent entertainment furnished, and the house is widely known and popular, enjoy- ing a specially large patronage from visi- tors from all parts of Ohio and neighbor-

ing States, and its rooms are nearly al- ways filled. The efforts of Mr. Baker are directed toward thoroughly satisfactory ser- vice of the traveling public, the table be- ing supplied with the choicest offerings of the market, well cooked and properly served, while a large force of trained attendants looks after the wants of guests in such a manner that those who have once been patrons of the house are permanently attached to it, and return to it on their subsequent visits to the city. Mr. Baker is a pleasant and entertaining host, who looks carefully after the wants of his guests, and under his management the Tod House is steadily grow- ing in favor. The visitor to Youngstown, wishing to enjoy good fare and desirable ac- commodation will find it to be to his inter- est to patronize the Tod House.

C OLONEL LEMUEL T. FOSTER, a farmer and stock-raiser of Youngstown township, Mahoning county, Ohio, was born in Genesee county, New York, October 23, 1824.

Jonas Foster, his father, was born in Hebron, Washington county, New York, May 18, 1792, where he grew to manhood, and was inarried. In his youth he adopted the vocation of farmer. He served in the war of 1812, entering the service as Fife Major, and several times being promoted. Soon after the war he moved to western New York and engaged in farming. From there, in 1825, he removed with his family to Ohio, making the journey by wagon, and locating in Youngstown township, near where his son, the subject of our sketch, now lives. At that time the village of Youngstown was com- posed of only a few log houses. Once located,

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the father engaged in the manufacture of hard wood and poplar lumber, operating two saw- inills, and continuing in this business and the handling of realty for a period of thirty-five years. In 1852 he purchased 300 acres of land. The place where Colonel Foster now lives was included in the purchase, as also was a part of the present city park. Here the elder Mr. Foster settled down to farm life and spent the remainder of his days. He was a man of strong personality and bore a character above reproach. His opinion was frequently sought on various subjects, and he assisted materially in shaping the destiny of Mahoning county. Politically, he was iden- tified with the Whigs until the birth of the Republican party, after which he gave it his support. He was a man of strong constitu- tion and great activity. June 29, 1820, he married Miss Lavina Pierce, daughter of Abraham and Lavina (Stoddard) Pierce. She was born in Otsego county, New York, De- cember 13, 1797, and grew up in the home of her aunt at Norwich, Connectient, her mother having died in 1797. She had the best of educational advantages in her youth, and was twenty-three years of age when she was united in marriage with Mr. Foster. They became the parents of eight children, a record of whom is as follows: Abby Phoebe, born in Johnstown, New York, July 10, 1821, was married, October 31, 1839, to George H. Haskell, of North Bloomfield, Trumbull county, Ohio; Delia L., born in Johnstown, New York, January 28, 1823, was married, May 27, 1852, to Josiah Dun- lap, and died December 10, 1860; Adaline D., born at Youngstown, Ohio, March 14, 1827, became the wife of E. W. Wood, and died in May, 1872; Sarah S., born March 17, 1829, was twice married, first, March 20, 1851, to James W. Eckman, and, secondly,

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Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Trumbull and Mahoning, Part 78

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