USA > Ohio > Mahoning County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Trumbull and Mahoning > Part 80
USA > Ohio > Trumbull County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Trumbull and Mahoning > Part 80
USA > Ohio > Ashtabula County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Trumbull and Mahoning > Part 80
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The educational advantages of our subject were limited to the public schools of Penu- sylvania, and after a number of years devoted to agricultural pursuits, in 1869 he removed to Ohio and operated a flour and feed store and afterward a boot and shoe establish- ment for about eight years in Youngstown. At the end of that time he became vice-pres- ident and treasurer of the horse and electric street-car lines of the city, and later organ- ized the Youngstown Stone Company, of which he is the efficient treasurer. In addi- tion he is agent for the Mutual Life Insur- ance Company of New York, one of the old- est and most reliable companies in the coun- try, and in this connection, as in all others, he displays a remarkable amount of business sagacity. From 1880 to 1885 Mr. Cornelius served as Treasurer of Mahoning county, hav- ing been elected during the Garfield cam- paign. Prior to this he served as Trustee of ' the township for two terms, being elected for the first time in 1875. He is also a director in the Second National Bank and the Dollar
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Savings Bank of Youngstown, and is promi- nently identified with various important busi- ness interests of the city.
Mr. Cornelius was married in 1864 to Miss Mary Swisher, a resident of Pennsylvania, who has borne him two children: Sarah H., wife of B. C. Vanghn, a resident of Pitts- burg, Pennsylvania; and Ralph E., a clerk in the Second National Bank. Both Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius are members of the Pres- byterian Church, and Mr. Cornelius is an ardent adherent of the principles of the Re- publican party. Upright and honorable in all his dealings, by a strict adherence to the line of duty he laid down for himself at the · outset of his business life, Mr. Cornelius has been enabled not only to amass a competency for himself but also to gain the full confi- dence and esteem of his fellow-citizens.
MENAMARA, JR., a member of the law firm of Justice & McNamara, Youngstown, Ohio, was born in Trum- bull county, this State, December 26, 1865.
His parents, Thomas and Elizabeth (Mc- Mahon) McNamara, are both natives of the Emerald Isle, the father born at Kilmihill, county Clare, the mother at Milltown Mal- bay, same county. They both came to this country when quite young, and were married in Ohio. Thomas McNamara, Sr., was reared on a farm in Ireland, lauded in America with £1 of English money in his pocket, and at once secured employment on the railroad. Later he worked in furnaces and rolling mills at Niles, Ohio, and while there he iuvested some of his earnings in real estate, which netted him a handsome sum. From Niles
he moved to Howland, Trumbull county, Ohio, and purchased a large farm, on which he still resides. He is a hard-working man, is unassuming in his manner, and is noted for his strict integrity, his word ever being re- garded as good as his bond. His father, James McNamara, belonged to a large and influential family in county Clare, and was regarded as something of a chieftain in his immediate vicinity, on account of his great height,-six feet and seven inches. IIe was a Roman Catholic of the stanchest kind. Al- though he was proffered at many times lucra- tive Government positions, as well as those of trust and honor, if he would forsake the re- ligion of his forefathers, he scornfully refused them all, preferring rather to be a plain, simple peasant than to relinquish the faith to which he was reared.
The children of Thomas and Elizabeth Mc- Namara are seven in number and are as fol- lows: John C., now engaged with the firm of the Sykes Iron & Steel Roofing Company, Chicago, Illinois; Mary, a member of the home circle; T., the subject of this sketch; Miss B. E., at home; Michael D., who resides with his parents and is engaged in farming; Nellie, who has just completed her educa- tion, having made a specialty of music, is also at home; and James R., the youngest. The father of this family is now fifty-five years of age, and his wife is fifty, both in the prime of life. Mrs. McNamara's father, Thomas McMahon, was a man of very fine natural ability. In his day in Ireland, the British Government looked with a jealous eye upon the education of the Irish people, but, al- though this difficulty existed, Mr. Mc Mahon found time and devised means to secure for himself a good education, until he was looked upon in the neighborhood as the finest scholar in that vicinity. Ile was educated for the
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
priesthood, but abandoned that to pursue a worldly course. He reared a large family, some of wliom are in Australia, a few in America, and the others lie buried in the old fanily churchyard in Ireland.
The subject of our sketch spent his youth in the district schools of his native county, studied at home and made the best of his ad- vantages, thus acquiring sufficient knowledge to enable him to teach. Then for five years he taught during the winter, spending his summers during this time attending the Northwestern Ohio University at Ada. In September, 1890, he came to Youngstown and began reading law in the office of Jolin- son & Justice, which was regarded as one of the leading law firms of the city. Shortly afterward he went to Cincinnati, passed the necessary examination and was admitted to the senior class of the Cincinnati Law Col- lege. At the time of his graduation he was one of six who were selected out of a class of 100 to compete for a prize in a forensic dis- cussion at commencement.
While Mr. McNamara was reading law in Cincinnati, M. W. Jolinson, of the firm of Johnson & Justice, died, and as soon as his studies were completed he at once formed a partnership with Mr. Justice, his former pre- ceptor, and the firm has since been Justice & McNamara.
Politically, he is identified with Demo- cratic party. He was a candidate for the Legislature in 1890, but although he ran far ahead of his ticket was defeated. Ever since he came to Mahoning county Mr. McNamara has taken an active interest in politics, and is now serving as President of the Jefferson Club, and as Secretary of the County and Executive Committees. He was tendered the nomination for Prosecuting Attorney in 1893, but declined.
Mr. McNamara is naturally of superior ability, and has an unusual legal acumen, supplemented by excellent training in a good law school and a good law firui. He easily bids fair to make his way to prominence in his chosen profession. His high sense of honor and uniform courtesy have gained for him the universal esteem of his fellow men. He is a worthy and influential citizen, a man of good literary judgment and taste, and an able and honorable counselor.
W ILLIAM SHAW ANDERSON, one of the ablest, miost eloquent and successful attorneys at law in Ohio, was born at North Jackson, Mahoning county, December 31, 1847. His father, the late David Anderson, was born in Londonderry, Ireland, in 1816, and came to this country in 1832. He was married in New Castle, Pennsylvania, to Hannah L. Shaw, a daughter of Dr. William Shaw, an able physician and early settler of that city, where Hannah L. was born in 1816. She died in 1869. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson had two sons and two danghters, of whom our subject was the eld- 'est in order of birth. The father was a suc- cessful business man and a highly respected citizen. He always took an active part in politics, first as a Whig and afterward as a Republican.
William S. Anderson, the subject of this sketch, was reared at North Jackson, Mahon- ing connty, Ohio, received a fair literary edu- cation, and his youth was spent on a farm and in a store of his father, who was for forty years a leading merchant at Nortlı Jackson, where he settled about 1846. Early in life William S. entered upon the practice of law, having been admitted to the
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bar in 1870, and for a time followed his pro- fession in Niles, Ohio. He afterward went to Canfield, and in 1876, when the county seat of Malioning was changed to Youngs- town, Mr. Anderson came to this city. He is now a member of the firm of Jones & An- derson, and they have a very large clientage. Mr. Anderson has gained a well earned and wide spread reputation as a criminal lawyer, and as to the general practice of law it may be truthfully said that he has long since held a very high and appropriate rank in the pro- fession.
In 1876 he was united in marriage with Louise Shields. They have had five children, four of whom still survive. . In political mat- ters, Mr. Anderson affiliates with the Repub- lican party, and, socially. is a member of the K. of P., and the Elks.
H ON. E. M. WILSON, one of the most popular men who have figured in public life in Mahoning county, also one of the ablest members of the bar at Youngstown, was born at Shalersville, Portage county, Ohio, January 17, 1846, a son of Charles and Ether S. (Hancock) Wil- son, natives of Massachusetts, and of Scotch and English origin. The mother died when her son was about four years of age, and about sixteen years afterward the father also departed this life.
E. M. Wilson grew to man's estate in Shalesville, where he attended the public schools, and later spent two years in Hiram College. He subsequently took a law course at Cleveland, was admitted to the bar in 1874, and two years afterward came to Youngstown, where he soon gained an en- viable reputation in his profession. In politi-
cal matters Mr. Wilson takes an active part in the Democratic party, and in 1887 was made the nominee of his party for Probate Judge. He was duly elected, and in 1890 was re-elected to that position. Being twice elected to that office as a Democrat, in a Re- publican county, is indicative of his personal popularity and evidence of the confidence his fellow-citizens have in his ability. Mr. Wil- son is a modest and unassuming man, and honest and earnest in his profession.
AMES K. ORR, Sheriff of Mahoning county, was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, May 7, 1846, a son of James and Elizabeth (Bell) Orr. The mother was born in Mahoning county, a daughter of a pio- neer settler of this county. The father was born and reared in Mercer county, Pennsyl- vania, and was of Irish ancestry.
James K. Orr, one of six children, was reared on a farm, and received a fair educa- tion. At the age of sixteen years he began railroad work, and for twenty-three years was in the employ of the New York, Pennsylva- nia & Ohio Railroad. He also worked four years for the Chicago & Atlantic Railroad. Mr. Orr was employed as conductor for over twenty years, and was serving in that capac- ity when he was elected Sheriff of Mahoning county, in the fall of 1892. He was elected as a Democrat in a Republican county, and the fact that he received a flattering majority is cited as evidence of his popularity. During the late war Mr. Orr served four months after 1864 as a private in Company F, One Hun- dren and Fifty-fifth Ohio Regiment.
In 1874 he was united in marriage with Miss Ella McClure. Mr. Orr is a Master Mason, and is also a popular member of the
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
order of Railway Conductors, and of Tod Post, G. A. R. In political matters he lias always been a stanch Democrat. His charac- ter is that of a sincere, unassuming man, and he enjoys the esteem of a wide acquaintance.
W ILLIAM McCOY, Recorder of Ma- honing connty, was born at Canfield, Ohio, October 9, 1856, a son of John and Mary (Flannery) McCoy, natives of Ire- land, who came to the United States in early life. They were married in this country, and soon afterward located at Canfield, where they have lived for over forty years. They are the parents of ten children.
William McCoy was reared and educated in his native place. He began railroad work at an early age, and has spent over twenty years at that occupation. He has always been an active worker in the Democratic party, and was fittingly chosen by his party as a candidate for Recorder in the campaign of 1892. Mr. McCoy is a popular citizen, and an influential brother of Railway Train- men, also a member of the order of Railroad Conductors. In 1882 he was united in mar- riage with Miss Bright M. Shields, a native of West Austintown, Ohio.
AMES D. SHIELDS, one of the well- to-do farmers and stock-raisers of Coitsville township, Mahoning county, Ohio, is a native of this place, born January 24, 1831, son of John and Sarah (Davidson) Shields. His parents had four children, the other three being Ann J., John G. (of whom reference is made on another page of this
volume), and Ambrose. The father of this family owned 254 acres of land here, and was extensively engaged in farming and stock- raising for a number of years. For sixteen years he was engaged in the milling busi- ness. In public affairs he took a prominent and active part. He served as County Com- missioner and as Justice of the Peace, and in the United Presbyterian Church he was a leader. Politically, he was a Republican, after that party was organized. He was born in 1804, and lived to an advanced age.
James D. Shields was reared on his father's farm, and has all his life been more or less engaged in farming and stock-raising. He and his brother John G. were for some time engaged in the manufacture of fire brick. At this writing he is the owner of 142 acres of fine farming land, all under cultivation. He was the first agent for mowing machines in this vicinity, he having the agency for the Kemp manure-spreader of Syracuse, New York.
September 1, 1862, Mr. Shields enlisted in Company B, Nineteenth Ohio Regiment, and rendered efficient service until the close of the war, when he was honorably dis- charged. He was in the battles of Chick- amauga and Chattanooga. He was hospital nurse for a year and a half, and for some time served as steward in the hospital. He is one of four that enlisted from Coitsville.
He was married in 1865, to Miss Mary Gilchrist, daughter of James and Grace (McCleland) Gilchrist, and one of a family of three children, the other two being James and Rebecca. Her father was a prominent and well-to-do contractor of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where he owned considerable property. He was a man whose character was above reproach, and all who knew him respected him for his many excellent quali-
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ties. Above all, he was a true Christian inan. He died in 1853, and his wife survived him until February 10, 1876.
Mr. Shields is a Republican, and a mem . ber of the G. A. R. He and his wife are members of the United Presbyterian Church, as also were his parents and hers.
REDERICK BIXLER, a retired farmer and business man of Youngstown, Ohio, is one of the early settlers of Mahon- ing county.
He was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Ger- many, November 27, 1822, and remained there until he was eighteen years old. He then came to America and located in Pitts- burg, where he learned the trade of butcher, working for wages eight years. After that he set up a shop for himself, and in 1853 came from there to Youngstown, Ohio, ar- riving here January 1, and soon afterward opened a meat market on Federal street, the present location of the Wicks Bank. There he continued in business until 1867. He purchased the place where he now lives in 1856, this property being on an extension of Mahoning avenue. In 1867, when he retired from the meat market, he turned his attention to the cultivation of his farin, and has since lived somewhat retired.
Mr. Bixler was married in 1848 to Miss Catherine Lappe, daughter of George Lappe, a tanner of Allegheny, Pennsylvania. She was born in Germany, and when quite young came with her parents to this country, set- tling in Allegheny, where she was reared and was educated in her native tongue. They became the parents of four children, namely : Amelia, born in 1850; Charles, 1852; Bertha, 1857; and Albert, 1859. Charles, a
successful business man, runs a bakery on West Federal street, owns a nice home near his father, and has a wife and six children. Albert is now superintendent of the Marion Cracker Company. At fifteen years of age he engaged as office boy in a bank, where, by meritorious promotion, he became book- keeper and then teller, and when he was only sixteen received a salary of $1,000 per year. He was married when in his twenty-fourth year, to Miss Susie Gruerwick, of Pittsburg, and they have two children, Emma and Reno C. He was one of the founders of the Y. M. C. A. at Youngstown; also fonnded the chapel at Allegheny; has all his life been an active Sabbath-school worker. Mr. Bixler's daughters are both accomplished women, and Miss Bertha has been engaged in teaching music for some years.
Mr. Bixler was naturalized in 1846. He cast his first vote for Zachariah Taylor and his last vote for Benjamin Harrison. He has seen the complete development of the town in which he is quietly spending the closing years of his life, the possessor of a comfortable home and a competency, sur- rounded by his family and many warn friends. He and his wife are members of the First Presbyterian Church.
R OBERT COOPER, of Coitsville town- slip, Mahoning connty, Ohio, is prom- inently identified with the agricul- tural interests of this place and is ranked with the most highly respected citi- zens liere.
Mr. Cooper was born in the township in which he now lives, July 23, 1827, the eleventh in the family of twelve children of David and Rebecca (Armstrong) Cooper.
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His father owned 400 acres of land here and was engaged in farming and stock-raising. At the time he settled on this land, in 1800, it was all covered with timber, and he spent years of toil in clearing and developing it. In politics he was a Democrat ; in religion, a Presbyterian. He was one of the liberal supporters of the church of his choice, and, indeed, was generons in his contributions toward all worthy causes.
Robert Cooper was married in 1852 to Catherine Buchannan, daughter of John and Rebecca (Aplegate) Buchannan. They have four children: David P., who married Mary McLeland, of Youngstown, Ohio; Laura R., wife of W .. B. Carleton, of Girard, Ohio; Sarah J .; and John A., who married Jennie Jackson of Coitsville. Mrs. Cooper was an invalid from 1885 until her death, June 28, 1893. She was a devoted Christian woman and a member of the Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Cooper owns 104 acres of fine farming land, all susceptible of cultivation, and is en- gaged in general farming and stock-raising. His political views are in harmony with Democratic principles, and with that party he has affiliated ever since he was a voter. By his many estimable traits of character he has won the friendship and esteem of all who know him, and he has a large circle of ac- qnaintances in the county in which he has spent the whole of his useful and active life.
AMES NEILSON, formerly one of the most prominent and progressive citizens of Youngstown, now deceased, was born in Glasgow, Scotland, December, 1842. His mother died when he was an infant, bnt the father survived her until 1887, when his death occurred in his native city of Glasgow,
he never having been in the United States. Our subject received a common-school educa- tion in his native country, emigrating to America when he attained his majority, locat- ing near Columbus, Ohio, where he worked npon his uncle's farm for one year, and then went to Canada, but after about six months returned to Ohio, to accept the position of weigh-master, at the old Powers coal mine. In 1866 the mines were leased by the An- drews Bros., the following year the blast furnaces at Haselton were in progress of erec- tion, and the firm, appreciating the ability of Mr. Neilson, placed him in charge of their books, which position lie retained for ten years, when he was made the manager of the furnace in addition to his other duties. In 1880, he became a member of the firm of Andrews Bros. & Co., and in 1887, npon the incorporation of the Andrews Brothers Com- pany, he was elected vice-president and general manager of their extensive iron plant and mines, which position he continued to hold until his death. In 1889 he organized the Youngstown Bridge Company, of which he was made president; the Mahoning Ore Company, operating mines in Minnesota, of which he was also made president; and be- came a stockholder and director of the Youngstown Car Manufacturing Company. He also held stock in the Morris Hardware Company, the G. M. McKelvey Company, the Dollar Savings and Trust Company, the Ohio Steel Company, and the Commercial National Bank. When the Mahoning Ore Company was organized in 1892, it was the desire of the late H. O. Bonnell that its interest be placed in the hands of Mr. Neilson, and it was while engaged in attending to the busi- ness of this corporation that his death occurred. During the fall and winter of 1892-'93 he made frequent trips to the ore regions of the
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Northwest, where he was obliged to endure hardships to which he was not accustomed, and his system became undermined, so that when he was attacked by a severe case of grip he was unable to rally, and his death occurred, May 24, 1893, of heart failure, superinduced by the grip.
In 1866, Mr. Neilson was married to Mrs. Eliza Gibson, who had two children by a for- mer marriage, Miss L. Lola Gibson, who re- sides with her mother, and Dr. R. D. Gibson, a practicing physician of Youngstown. Mrs. Neilson is a inost estimable Christian lady, of refined sensibilities, and her cheerful dis- position cheered Mr. Neilson's home for over a quarter of a century before he was called away by death.
Mr. Neilson joined the Presbyterian Church at twenty-three years of age and con- tinued firm in its principles until the day of his death. A strong temperance man, he ad- vocated every measure tending toward the furtherance of reform and progress. It was during a reception held at his residence in honor of Mr. C. II. Yatman, the evangelist, that the project of building a home for the Young Men's Christian Association was first broached, and since that time the beautiful and substantial building in which their meet- ings are held has been built. A prominent Mason, he was connected with Hillman Lodge, No. 481, F. & A. M., of which he was Past Master; Youngstown Chapter, No. 93; St. John's Commandery, K. T., No. 20; Alcoran Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine of Cleve- land, Ohio, and of the Lake Erie Consistory of Scottish Rite Masons, and through his en- tire life lived up to the teachings of his order.
A kind and affectionate husband, a good neighbor, a thoughtful employer and a most exemplary Christian, Mr. Neilson's death was felt throughout the entire community and the
most gratifying notices relative to his many sterling qualities were published in the vari- ous newspapers and trade journals of the country. One of the prominent figures in local business circles, his loss is felt through- out the city, for few were the enterprises in which he did not play an important part, either as official or stockholder; and the success attained by him is the result of his energy, combined with his great ability as a manager and his excellent business qualifications. His every act was manly, his friendships lasting, and all who knew him esteemed him for his many virtues. No death in the entire city has ever called forth such sincere expressions of sorrow, and all feel that the community has lost one of its most prominent advocates in this influential and tireless worker, whose snecess was looked upon as the success of the city. Not content with furthering his busi- ness interests, Mr. Neilson was an earnest church member and gave largely of his abund- ance to those less fortunate. It was his por- pose to be personally acquainted with all the men under him, and many of them can recall untold acts of kindness, deeds of generosity and expressions of interest and sympathy, which proved more valuable than material assistance. IIis employes ever regarded hin as their friend, and his death is mourned by none more deeply than those who under his direction earned their daily bread by the labor of their hands. He possessed rare good judgment, was broad-minded and ever will- ing to utilize his talents for the good of the church and the community at large. His word was always regarded as good as his bond, and none there were who doubted any asser- tion he might make. A Republican in poli- tics, he supported the measures of that party upon any and all occasions, although he never sought office, preferring to give his sole time
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and attention to the direction of his own af- fairs. At the time of his death he was a member of the Board of Health, having been elected to that office without any previous knowledge of his having been a candidate. He was a rarely good man, an enterprising and public-spirited citizen, and in his death the city loses one of its best sons. He was companionable in the extreme, possessing all even disposition and pleasant manners, and won the esteem and confidence of his fellow citizens. His well rounded life, filled with deeds of charity and goodness, that were al- most without limitation, is an endearing her- itage to all who knew him.
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