Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Trumbull and Mahoning, Part 79

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 79
USA > Ohio > Trumbull County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Trumbull and Mahoning > Part 79
USA > Ohio > Ashtabula County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Trumbull and Mahoning > Part 79

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September 13, 1877, to Benjamin McNutt; Laura A., born August 27, 1831, was mar- ried, March 25, 1851, to C. Wood, and died in 1885; Orinda S., born November 18, 1841, was married, March 6, 1861, to James Cran- don. The mother of this family devoted her life to her children, her home, and to church and temperance work. She was in the direct line of descent of the Stoddard family whose ancestry traces to the year 1066. In the office of Heraldry, England, the following origin of the Stoddard family is found:

" William Stoddard, a knight, came from Normandy to England in 1066 A. D. with William, the Conqueror, who was his cousin." In 1639 Anthony Stoddard emigrated from England to America and located in Boston. He was a representative in 1650, 1659 and 1660 and for twenty successive years after. He was the founder of the Stoddard family in America. From this origin follows a long line of very prominent people, representing almost all the professions, and including many of the most prominent men of the nation, among whom we mention President Franklin Pierce, William T. Sherman and Major Amos Stoddard. The last named was appointed Governor of the Territory of Louisana, nnder President Jefferson, which office he held nntil the war of 1812. In that war he was engaged as Major of Artillery and lost his life at the battle of Fort Meigs. The mother of our subject died December 18, 1882, at a very advanced age, and the father passed away January 8, 1883.

Lemuel T. Foster was reared in Mahoning county, Ohio, his boyhood days being spent in his father's mill, on the farm, and in at- tending school. He improved his early edu- cational advantages, and when he grew up lie was employed for several years as teacher of the village school. Ile remained at home

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with his parents until his marriage, which event occurred March 11, 1869, the lady of his choice being . Miss Florence E. Lanter- man. She was born near Youngstown, Ohio, in 1843, her family and the Fosters being neighbors, and in the schools of Youngstown, Canfield and Poland she received her educa- tion. She became the mother of two chil- dren: Una L., born December 15, 1869, and Ina W., July 11, 1871. Mrs. Foster's un- timely death occurred June 19, 1873. In 1878 Mr. Foster married Miss Susuanah B. Alexander, who was born March 28, 1848, danghter of William and Elizabeth Alexander. Her mother died when she was quite small. Mrs. Foster's great-grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and the town of Alexander in Virginia was named in honor of him. Her father, William Alexander, was an extensive iron manufacturer in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. He is now located at Albu- querque, New Mexico, having charge of the great smelters at that place. He is an only son of Frank Alexander. Being deprived of a mother's loving care in early life, Mrs. Susuanah Foster was reared by her annt in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, where she had the best of educational advantages. After her marriage she came to live in her present beautiful and luxurious home, and is now the mother of six interesting children, namely : Charlie L., born June 14, 1879; Eliza L., July 22, 1880; Alice W., November 6, 1881; U. B., born October 18, 1884, died October 6, 1887; Grace A., March 17, 1886; Bessie B., January 24, 1890; and Helen, September 18, 1891.

Mrs. Foster has been an active member of the Presbyterian Church since her girlhood days. Of her father's family we further re- cord that she is an only daughter and that she has two brothers. Her brother, Charles,

is one of the substantial business men of Los Angeles, California, and is ranked with the leading iron factors,of the Pacific slope. Her other brother, William C., has a position in the post office at Allegheny, Pennsylvania. Her great-great-grandfather (maternal), Nich- olas Clemans, emigrated from Germany to this country in colonial times, and was a member of General Washington's army corps, succeeding to several promotions therein.

Colonel Foster has spent the whole of his life near Youngstown, and has witnessed the marvelons development which has taken place here the past half century. The city limits of Youngstown now reach ont to the borders of his beautiful country home. He has been a large land-owner, and has been at the head of many prominent business enter- prises here. Much of his land is underlaid with valuable coal deposits. He has been an active politician all his life, being identified successively with the Whigs, Republicans, Greenbackers and Populists, in the councils of which he has been a prominent factor. He has held three commissions as Justice of the Peace, covering a period of nine years, and has held many county and township offices. In 1877 he was nominated for Con- gress by the Greenback party, and made a close run, being, however, defeated. He was made Chairman of the State Central Com- mittee in 1879. Again, in 1878 and 1880, he was the nominee of the Greenback party for Congress. At the outbreak of the Civil war he organized a cavalry regiment, and was elected Colonel of the same, serving as such until the war closed. After the war he organized the State Militia, and was elected Colonel of the First State militia. He was in the first convention that nominated Fre- mont for the presidency, held in Philadelphia

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in June, 1856; was a member of the State Convention that nominated Salmon B. Chase for Governor; was a delegate to the first county convention ever held in Mahoning county. He was the choice of the People's party for Senator in 1891, and was defeated by only a very small majority. Colonel Foster is a man of generous impulses, and has been liberal in his support of public institutions. He donated twenty acres of valuable land to the Mill Creek Park. . In his home, surrounded by his charming wife and interesting children, he finds his chief happiness. Their hospitality is of the truest type, and is unbounded. In the Colonel's well-filled library are no less than 2,500 choice volumes.

H ON. D. M. WILSON .- For many years one of the most prominent fig- nres of the Ohio bar was the Hon. D. M. Wilson, whose ability as an advo- cate gained for him a wide and enduring rep- utation, and liis loss was deeply felt through- out the State, all uniting in mourning his death. Social by nature, his genial, pleasant manner won for him the confidence of all with whom he was brought into contact, and he numbered his friends by legions. The birth of this popular and influential man occurred in 1823, in Medina county, where he was adınitted to the bar at the age of twenty-one, after studying law in the office of one of the leading law firms of the county. Removing in 1862 to the county seat of Mahoning county, his ability enabled him to immediately assume a position of leader- ship among the jurists of the county, and he soon built np a large practice. His appeals to the jury seldom failed of snecess, and his

eloquent periods, his flashes of wit and in- vective have become cherished traditions at the bar of Mahoning county.

Strong in his adherence to his party colors, , Mr. Wilson upon several occasions was chosen by the party leaders as candidate for posi- tions of trust and honor, and nothing but the strong and overwhelming majority of the Republican party prevented his election, his popularity being demonstrated by the fact that he polled a much larger vote than his party's strength. In 1863 he was the candi- date for Attorney General of the State, and in 1874 for Congressman from this district, and in each case his campaign was marked by the hot contest. it was necessary for the Republican party to make in order to defeat so popular a man, his candidacy making a change of over 3,500 votes in the district. His many admirable qualities, combined with a rare intelligence and great eloquence, made him the idol of his party, and, in his prime, almost invincible before a jury, while his honorable methods of dealing commended him to the esteem of his opponents. As a member of the last constitutional convention of Ohio Mr. Wilson's eloquence was exer- cised in behalf of measures calculated to be of benefit to the State at large, and the influ- ential position he occupied in that body was one of prominence and leadership, although the best ability of the State was here congre- gated. An amusing incident of Mr. Wil- son's readiness at repartee is recounted in the Cleveland Herald of that day, showing his wit and humor. It was while he was a member of the convention, when he was dis- enssing the propriety of taxing church prop- erty, that he made a speech which rendered him famous for some time to come. During the speech he said that the convention liad been wrestling with the question of taxing

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church property for a long time, and that finally Mr. Foran had come to him and re- quested him to make a speech upon the sub- . ject, but that he did not feel competent to discuss the subject; but that not being taken for an answer, he was now before them, to argue upon a subject about which he knew little, or nothing. He would begin his speech by saying that he loved his own church, but that he did not care what was done with the rest of them. Upon being asked to which denomination he belonged, he made answer:

" The lovely green sward is the carpeting of my church, the heavens are the covering, the stars the chandeliers, the angels the choir, the deep-toned thunder the organ, and the great Jehovah the High Priest. You fellows build your little brick, stone and wooden churches inside of mine, and we don't even charge you ground rent."

In referring to this speech afterward he said that he did not know what bearing his remarks had upon the subject, but that they were greeted with shouts of laughter, and lie sat down satisfied that he had said what was requisite.

At one time Governor Mckinley studied law under Mr. Wilson, and the acquaintance- ship thus began was continued throughout the latter's life. He was also a warm friend of General Garfield, and at one time a part- nership was contemplated between them.

Mr. Wilson was married in 1871 to Miss Griselda E. Campbell, daughter of Thomas Campbell, of Old Town, Trumbull county, Ohio, To this union one child was born, Francis Sermce, now in the junior year at Adelbert College in the law department, at Cleveland, Ohio. Mrs. Wilson is a devout and faithful member of the Presbyterian Church, in which body she is a faithful

worker. During the last five years of his life he was associated in the practice of law with his nephew, James P. Wilson, of the Mahoning county bar.

The death of Mr. Wilson occurred Febru- ary 11, 1882, and his loss produced an ex- pression of the most sincere sorrow from all with whom he had been brought in contact. Possessing both physical and intellectual ad- vantages far beyond the average, Mr. Wilson was a man calculated to win the hearts of all, while in his profession he easily ranked at the head as a successful advocate. His name will live long in the memories of the people of the State as a synonym of all that is most cordial, most sincere and honorable, and his useful and active life will serve as all example of what can be accomplished by the exertion of the golden gift of eloquence in the right channel.

M ATHEW H. SHAY, locomotive en- gineer on the Erie Railroad, was born in Schuyler county, New York, June 10, 1843, a son of B. L. and Mary (Lowers) Shay. His father was a na- tive of Connecticut, and was descended from New England ancestors; he was born De- cember 27, 1816, the second of a family of nine children. When a young child his par- ents removed to New York, and the remain- der of his life was spent within ten miles of Watkins. For twenty-eight years he was one of the most faithful employees of the Erie & Northern Central Railway Company, and served as baggage-master at Watkins; he was for years a member of the Masonic order, belonging to the blue lodge, chapter and com- mandry. For a number of years he was the leader of the gospel temperance movement in

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Schuyler county, New York, and it was in the role of temperance reformer that Deacon Shay was best known. He was a member of the Christian Church at Pine Grove nearly half a century, and was a most devoted la- borer in the cause of his Master. Months prior to the inauguration of the Murphy movement, he was prominent in opening the work in Watkins and Schuyler counties. When the pale visitant came, September 2, 1878, he was found busy in the cause he loved so well. Being admonished a few days before his death that he was going beyond his strength, he replied: "I shall continue to tight while I live; if I die, let this inscrip- tion be placed upon my monument, 'He fought whisky until his death.' "

From the Elmira Advertiser comes the subjoined tribute to the memory of this good man: "The death of this apostle of temper- ance was a most fitting and glorious consum- mation of a well rounded Christian life. A temperance landmark is gone. One of the lion-hearted leaders of Schuyler has gone to his reward. He died like John Quincy Adams, at his post and with his harness on. No more significant ending could have been selected for such a life than that granted by God to Deacon Shay.

" His towering form and gray head have been foremost and conspicuous during all the sessions of this camp-meeting (his death oc- curred at the North Hector camp-meeting grounde), and his voice has been prominent among all the wealth of talent and eloquence that has distinguished this meeting."

Deacon Shay was twice married. By his first wife, Mary Lowers, were born six chil. dren: Charles T., William, Solon, Mathew, Marvin and Maggie. Mathew, the subject of this notice, is the only surviving one. Mary Lowers Shay was a native of County Tyrone,

Ireland, and was brought to this country by her parents at the age of eight years; she died in 1854. Mr. Shay was married again, June 11, 1855, to Samantha J. Drake, who still survives; eight children were born of this union: Fremont, Maryetta, Henry, Frank M., George B., Climena, Leella and Albert. Whether as husband, father, neigh- bor or friend, Deacon Shay was a most ad- mirable character, a man whose virtne so far transcended the weakness common to our human nature that the former will be remem- bered and beam forth in living light when the latter is wholly forgotten. His funeral was the largest ever held in Watkins; busi- ness houses, saloons and all places of trade were closed to do honor to one whom all re- spected in spite of political and other differ- ences.

Mathew Shay, son of the above, was edn- cated in the common schools; he began his career as a railroad employee at the age of sixteen years, but it was five years before he took charge of an engine; he served eight months as engine dispatcher before assuming the responsibility of an engine. He has been in the employ of the same road thirty-four years, although he has served in different di- visions. He has never met with an accident in which the blame has been attached to him, a record probably withont a parallel, consid- ering the length of time he has filled the position.

In 1865, Mr. Shay came to Youngstown, Ohio, and has since resided here with the exception of short intervals. In 1892, he was nominated by the Prohibition party for Mayor of Youngstown; he made a strong race, all parties polling their full strength. He naturally drew to his support a large force from the ranks of workingmen with whom he is in sympathy, and who recognized

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that he had no political ambitions to further, but the result of the election showed his de- feat. He is a man of the strictest integrity, a worthy son of an honored sire.

He was married in 1864, to Helen S. Marks, a daughter of Richard and Parnell (Redfield) Marks of New York State. Mr. Shay and his wife have reared two children, the son and daughter of Isaac and Julia Owen; Mrs. Owen was a sister to Mrs. Shay, and the children are Helen and Harry. Miss Helen Owen is a very accomplished teacher, and holds a high position as an educator in the Greenville College, Greenville, Illinois. Richard Marks died at the age of eighty- four years, and his wife died in 1867; they had three children, Mrs. Shay, Mrs. Julia Owen, and Dr. Richard T. Marks, a practicing physician of Erie, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Shay is an ardent worker in all reformns; she is State superintendent of the railway work of the W. C. T. U., is superintendent of the jail and prison work, and is superintendent of the Coffee House Mission. Mr. Shay is an ardent Prohibitionist. He is a man of deep con- victions, positive in his views, which he voices with readiness, and a consistent Christian. He is a member of the Brotherhood of Loco- motive Engineers, and is chairman of the General Committee of Adjustment, a posi- tion he has filled to the entire satisfaction of the officials and employees of the road alike.

OHN S. LETT, foreman of the round- house of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad at Youngstown, Ohio, is a native of this city, born August 24, 1845. His parents, John and Jane (Shehy) Lett, were also natives of the Buckeye State. He acquired a common-school education in

Youngstown, and was reared to the occupa- tion of a farmer, following this calling until interrupted by the war of the Rebellion. He enlisted January 12, 1864, in Company H, Tenth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, and before the end of the war had participated in seventy- three skirmishes and battles. His first engage- ment was at Tunnel Hill, and afterward he was in the siege of Atlanta, and was with Sherman on his immortal march to the sea; he was not wounded, but his horse was shot from under him at Waynesboro, Georgia; he also escaped imprisonment, but very nar- rowly; at Flint river his comrade, James Johnston, who was by his side, was captured, and died in Andersonville. He was with Kilpatrick on his noted raids, and through his entire term of service was known as a most courageous and loyal soldier. He was honor- ably discharged August 9, 1865, bearing a record second to no man who offered his life in defence of the " stars and stripes " of the Union. He was detained in North Carolina and did not participate in the grand review at Washington.

When hostilities ceased Mr. Lett returned home, and until the spring of 1866 was em- ployed by his father. He then began to learn the carpenter's trade, which he followed thir- teen years. In 1879 he entered the employ of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern, and seven months later he was appointed acting foreman; he has been the regular foreman since January 1, 1890. He has discharged his duties with ability, and by his un wavering fidelity has won the confidence of all the officials of the road. Although he has no taste for politics as a profession he is an ar- dent supporter of Republican principles.

Mr. Lett was united in marriage Septem- ber 12, 1866, to Miss Mary J. Christy, a daughter of Hugh and Elizabeth Christy.

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Miss Christy was the veritable "girl he left behind him " when he donned " the blue " and went away to fight his country's battles. Mr. and Mrs. Lett are the parents of one child, Anna S., the wife of Frank B. Houson; Mr. and Mrs. Houson have one daughter, Mabel L. Our subject and wife are consistent mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He belongs to the I. O. O. F. and the G. A. R. He is one of the valued citizens of Youngstown; he has been remarkably successful in his line of work, and is worthy of the respect he enjoys.

JOHN SMITH .- Among the reliable and responsible business men of the city of Youngstown is found Mr. John Smith, who is a member of the firm of John Smith's Sons, brewers. Mr. Smith was born in England, in 1842, a son of John and Hannah (Barnett) Smith, who were born, reared and married in England. In 1842 the father came to the United States with his family, and after prospecting over the coun- try for some time located at Pittsburg, where he was employed as manager of a rolling mill. Later he filled the same position in a rolling mill at Cincinnati, Ohio, coming to Youngs- town in 1846, where he established a brewery, having learned the trade in his native land. At the inception of the business the plant was a very small one, the capacity being but three barrels, and was operated in a small building which is now used as a cooper shop, and was the pioneer brewery of Youngstown, it being the only establishment of its kind here for many years afterward. In 1868 the brick building with a frontage of 200 feet on West Federal street was erected and used as an ale brewery, and in 1878 the large brick beer brewery 200 feet in length, extending to

the rear of the ale brewery, was erected, each building being three stories high with large underground vaults. The present yearly ca pacity is 35,000 barrels, which indicates the progress which has been made since the in- ception of the business. Upon this pioneer foundation has been built a structure of im- mense proportions, and the popularity of this firm's products throughout the country is due to the enterprise and energy of the manage- ment. . Keeping pace with the times by the addition of all improved machinery and methods, the firm have now the best and latest appliances and facilities for brewing and bottling their different kinds of beer, they manufacturing lager, export, Pilsener and Bavaria. The last is a favorite remedy with many physicians for debility, and is used in cases of convalescence. This establishment is one of the largest and most popular to be found on the Western Reserve, and in its every department are to be found the most improved and thoroughly modern machinery and appliances, the firm sparing no expense or effort to meet every requirement of mod- ern demand.

The Smith brothers are among the city's most progressive and substantial business men, and both have held reliable positions under the city government. For six years our subject served most acceptably on the water-works board, and was one of the com- mittee who purchased, for the use of the city, the Worthington and Dean pumps. He is also president of the 'Incandescent Light Company, whose plant cost over $90,000; a director of the Artificial Gas Company, whose plant is valued at $300,000, and is a stock- holder in the Youngstown Opera House.

Mr. Smith was married April 1, 1892, to Miss Eva Evans, a native of Sharpsville, Pennsylvania, who is a member of the Ln-

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theran Church. Social by nature, Mr. Smith has connected himself with the Knights of Pythias and the order of Elks, and is as popu- lar in this connection as he is prominent in business circles. Although he takes but little interest in politics, Mr. Smith is a good Re- publican, and upholds the party ticket upon all occasions. In both social and business circles, Mr. Smith occupies a leading and in- fluential position, and he has gained the con- fidence and respect of the entire community by his strict integrity, his uprightness in liv- ing and his superior business qualifications.

W ILLIAM CORNELIUS .- Held in the highest esteem by his fellow. cit- izens, William Cornelius can look backward over a lifetime spent in the hon- orable discharge of whatever duty was pre- sented to him. His present position as Treas- urer of the Youngstown Stone Company, of which he was the promoter, is filled to the credit of himself and the advancement of the material welfare of the company. Mr. Cor- nelius was born in Lawrence county, Penn- sylvania, February 18, 1840, a son of Max- well and Mary (Anderson) Cornelius, natives of Pennsylvania and Ireland respectively. During his lifetime his father was a promi- nent farmer of Pennsylvania who employed the best methods in the pursuit of his chosen occupation. His death occurred in 1884, when he had attained the age of seventy-three years, his wife still surviving him at the age of eighty-three years. She came from Ire- land at an early date, and both she and her husband were devout members of the Presby- terian Church. Of the eleven children born to this union our subject was the fourth in

order of birth, the others being Margaret, who died at the age of nine years; Elizabeth, widow of William Lemmon, who now resides in Pittsburg; Jesse, who is a farmer of New Castle, Pennsylvania; James, a farmer of Tazewell county, Illinois; our subject; Max- well, a clergyman of the Presbyterian Church in Washington, District of Columbia, who had the degree of LL. D. conferred upon him many years ago, and died in 1893, at the age of fifty-one years; Margaret, wife of H. F. Austin, who resides in California; Mary A., wife of D. J. Thompson, who resides in Youngstown; Jeunie D., wife of Benjamin Whislar, a resident of Illinois; Martha, wife of Samuel Fox, a resident of California; and Samuel A., pastor of the Second Presby- terian Church of Oil City, Pennsylvania.

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Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Trumbull and Mahoning, Part 79

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