USA > Ohio > Mahoning County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Trumbull and Mahoning > Part 90
USA > Ohio > Trumbull County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Trumbull and Mahoning > Part 90
USA > Ohio > Ashtabula County > Biographical history of northeastern Ohio : embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Trumbull and Mahoning > Part 90
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wick, York county, Pennsylvania. From there, about 1795, they crossed the mount- ains to the forks of Youghiogheny, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania. Thence, in 1806 or 1807, they moved to Meadville, Pennsylva- nia; thenre in the summer of 1812 to the old homestead farm, one mile south of New Bed- ford, Lawrence county, Pennsylvania. His wife died in January, 1840, and he early in 1841. He was a weaver by trade, and both were members of Deer Creek Church. They are buried in Deer Creek cemetery. They had four sons and two daughters, who grew to maturity Sarah, Betsy, Samuel, William J., James M. and Hezekiahı.
Sarah, born February 2, 1782, in Ireland, married Robert Davidson, a farmer of Erie, Pennsylvania. She had one son and six daughters: Jane Kirkpatrick; Robert David- son, Erie, Pennsylvania; Elizabeth, wife of John McFarland, of Lawrence county, Penn- sylvania; Rosannah, wife of James McFar- land, of Lawrence county, Pennsylvania; Sarah, wife of William Schonler, Erie, Penn- sylvania; Margaret Davidson, unmarried; Emily, wife of Willard Russel, Esq., Erie, Pennsylvania.
Betsy, born February 5, 1788, married Thomas Carnahan, and moved to Richland county, Ohio. They had five sons and two daughters: Frances, Elizabeth, John, Baily, Samuel, Hezekiah and Willson.
Samuel Smith, born March 11, 1796, mar- ried Mary A. Montgomery, of Mercer, Penn- sylvania. He was a member of Deer Creek Church, was a farmer, and lived on the home- stead farm at New Bedford, Pennsylvania. Both he and his wife died of the smallpox, which infection was brought to them from the Catholic hospital at the convent, which adjoined their farm. They had five sons and two daughters: Rosannah, of Aledo, Illinois;
William Smith, M. D., of New Wilmington, Pennsylvania; Elizabetli, wife of Henderson G. Sharp, resides on the old farm; Jaures Smith; Alexander Smith, M. D., of New Castle, Pennsylvania; Sibbett Smith, of New Castle, Pennsylvania; Frank Smith, of Grove City, Pennsylvania.
William John Smith, born February 28, 1797, in Westmoreland county, Pennsylva- nia, married Esther Davidson. He was a farmer at New Bedford, Pennsylvania, was a member of Deer Creek Church, and died September 19, 1875. He had one son and two daughters: Sarah, wife of Joseph C. Houston, Coitsville, Ohio; James D. Smith, a farmer at New Bedford; Mary A., wife of David McVey, of Youngstown, Ohio.
James M. Smith, born May 13, 1800, died November 1, 1826.
Hezekiahı Smith was born at the forks of the Youghiogheny in Allegheny conuty, Pennsylvania, in the year 1804. He was mar- ried in February, 1824, to Elizabeth Shields, daughter of James Shields, of Coitsville. He was a farmer, owning a farm in Coits- ville township. He died Angust 13, 1889. Elizabeth Shields was born December 16, 1808, and died January 30, 1877. She was a member of Deer Creek Church. They had four sons and one daughter: William Smith, carpenter for the Northern Pacific Railroad at Helena, Montana; Margaret S. Lowry, wife of James J. Lowry, Lowellville, Ohio: James M. Smith, a farmer at Coitsville, Ohio, is now deceased; Shields R. Smith is a farmer and real-estate dealer at Dallas, Oregon. Jolin Gaily Sinith, deceased, lived at Kansas City, Missonri. His family reside at Waco, Texas.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
AMES R. GREEN, one of the oldest settlers in Mahoning county, is an adopted son of the commonwealth of Ohio, being a native of her majesty's king- dom of Great Britain, born at Southampton, July 25, 1799. His parents were Joseph and Catherine (Sherman) Green, who were also natives of England. James R. grew to ma- ture years in his native land, and when he left the parental roof he went to sea. He entered the navy, and while in the service had the distinction of participating in the battle of Waterloo. He visited the important ports of the East Indies, and made twenty-three trips across the Atlantic.
In 1833 he determined to abandon the water, and came to the United States, settling in Mahoning county, Ohio. Here he engaged in mechanical and agricultural pursuits and became one of the most progressive and pros- perous husbandmen of the township. There were many privations and vicissitudes to be endured on the frontier, but his life as a sailor had developed that true grit which has always been strongly characteristic of those who have gone before and made the way for the forward march of civilization.
Mr. Green was united in marriage in 1833 to Catherine Mastin, who bore him one child, James Green, an officer on board a man-of- war in the English navy. Mrs. Green died in England in 1861.
W ILLIAM F. MAAG was born in Ebingen, Wurtemberg, Germany, on the 28th of February, 1850. He was educated in his native country and there learned the printer's trade. He came to America in 1867, and going to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, accepted a position on the Daily
Herold, a German journal, which position he held till 1869, when he went to Watertown, Wisconsin, where he was engaged on a week- ly German newspaper. In 1871 he accepted the position of foreman in the composing- room of the Milwaukee Herold. Subsequently he accepted a similar position on the Fort Wayne (Indiana) Staats Zeitung, on which he worked until 1875, when he came to Youngs- town. In that year Mr. Maag becanie sole proprietor and editor of the Youngstown Rundschau, a German newspaper which was established in 1874, and since 1875 Mr. Maag has remained proprietor and publisher of this journal.
In 1867 Mr. Maag bought the Vindicator, which he published till June, 1888, when he sold a half interest to the late John M. Webb. In September, 1889, the Vindicator passed into the hands of a stock company, which has since published it as a daily and weekly. Mr. Maag was made business manager and treas- urer of the stock company, which was organ- ized under the name of The Vindicator Print- ing Company, with 'John H. Clarke as sec- retary.
The Vindicator is one of the oldest and best newspapers published in northeastern Ohio.
Under Mr. Maag's management it has been very successful and is now published in one of the most convenient, commodious and handsome of newspaper buildings, and is issued from a splendid perfecting press which has all modern conveniences for publishing a metropolitan journal.
The managing editor of the paper is Charles H. Wayne, a man of experience and marked ability as an editor.
The Rundschau is the only German paper published at Youngstown, and it has a wide circulation and is one of the ablest German journals of northeastern Ohio.
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OF NORTHEASTERN OHIO.
Mr. Maag is a practical man in all the departments of newspaper work. He is a popular citizen, a prominent Knight Templar Mason, and an active member of the K. of P.
In 1872 Mr. Maag and Miss Elizabeth Ducass, of Waterloo, Wisconsin, were united in marriage. The marriage has given issne to six children, four of whom survive.
W ILLIAM J. EDWARDS is one of Youngstown's oldest and most hon- ored citizens, and his father was prominently connected with the early history of the Western Reserve, and his mother was one of the best known and respected women of pioneer days in the Mahoning valley. His parents were Colonel John Stark Edwards and Louise Maria (Morris) Edwards.
John Stark Edwards was a native of New Haven, Connecticut. He was descended from the same family as was Jonathan Edwards, once president of Princeton College, New Jersey, and of this college John Stark Ed- wards was a graduate. He studied law at New Haven. He was in the twenty-second year of his life when he came to Ohio. His father was the Hon. Pierpont Edwards, of the Con- necticut Land Company, to whom, in the dis- tribution of the Western Reserve lands, the township of Mesopotamia, Trumbull county, fell. As a married man John Stark Edwards came to Oliio in the spring of 1799. He settled in Mesopotamia township, taking possession of lands falling to his father, and on them he lived till 1804, when he removed to Warren, where he lived till 1813, when his death occurred. He was commissioned by Governor St. Clair, in 1800, as Recorder for Trumbull county, and held that position till he died.
With the coming on of the war of 1812, he was commissioned a Colonel, and with a regiment went to Cleveland, but, learning of Hnll's surrender, he changed his plans for warfare. Returning to his home, he was elected to a seat in Congress in the fall of 1812, but his death came in the following year before the time he was to take his seat. His widow married Major Robert Mont- gomery, and with - her second Insband re- moved to Youngstown in 1814. She was born in Vermont, and was a daughter of the Hon. Lewis .R. Morris, the first settler of Springfield, Vermont. He served one term in Congress about the year 1800.
She was latterly descended from the Dwight family, one of the most distinguished of New England families, and of Governor Hoadly of Ohio she was a cousin.
She was a good woman, adevout Christian, a loving mother, a faithful friend.
Such was the character of the good inother that nurtured and trained for a useful life him whose name introduces this personal sketch.
William J. Edwards was born in Warren, Ohio, December 26, 1811, and when a mere child he was bronght to Youngstown in con- sequence of the second marriage of his mother. He was brought np in Mahoning county and on a farm. At the age of fourteen years lie went to New Haven, Connecticut, to live with relatives. While there he attended for two years the celebrated military school of Colonel Partridge, where he gained a liberal education, principally in mathematics.
Returning from Connecticut to Ohio, he took up farming very early in life. In 1837 he went onto farming lands in Mesopotomia township, Trumbull county, inherited from his father, and to his farm home there he brought a wife in 1839. In October of that
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
year he wedded Miss Mary Manning, daugh- ter of Henry Manning, an early and well- known physician of Youngstown, who came from Connecticut in 1810, settling at Youngs- town. In 1848 Mr. Edwards and wife re- moved from Trumbull county to their pres- ent homestead, then on a farm just west of Youngstown, but now with in the corporate limits of that city.
Since early life both Mr. and Mrs. Ed- wards have been zealous members of the Presbyterian Church. They have but one child, a daughter, Louisa Maria.
H ON. ELISHA WHITTLESEY was a native of Washington, Litchfield county, Connecticut, having been born there the 19th day of October, 1783. His parents were John and Molly Whittlesey. The parent tree of the family in America was John Whittlesey, who emigrated from England to Saybrook, Connecticut, about 1630.
Elisha Whittlesey's youth was passed in working on a farm in summers and attend- ing school winters. His home was at Wash- ington till 1792, in which year his parents removed to a farm near Salisbury, Connecti- cut. In 1798 he was sent to school in Dan- bury, Connecticut, where he resided with his brother, Matthew B. Whittlesey, a lawyer of that place. For several years thereafter he attended school at Danbury in winter, re- turning to the parental home in summer to assist his father on the farm.
In 1803 he took up the study of law in the office of his brother, and two years later was adınitted to the bar at Fairfield, Con- necticut. He at once took up the practice of his profession at New Milford, Connecticut.
In 1806 he was united in marriage at Dan- bury to Polly Mygatt, a danghter of Comfort S. Mygatt, who afterward removed to Can- field, Ohio, to which place Mr. Whittlesey and wife had agreed, prior to their marriage, that they would emigrate. Accordingly they started on their journey on June 3, 1806, in company with a Miss Gesie Bostwick, a sister of Mrs. Herman Canfield, who, with her hus- band, was among the pioneers of Canfield. Their means of transportation was a covered wagon and a pair of horses. They arrived at Canfield on the 27th day of June, 1806, and at once set in upon an active career.
In August, 1806, Mr. Whittlesey was ad- mitted to the bar of Ohio by the Supreme Conrt at Warren, Ohio. Soon afterward he was appointed Prosecuting Attorney for Trumbull county, and this office he held un- til 1823, when he resigned. In 1808 he was elected and commissioned as Captain of a military company. Two years later General Elijah Wadsworth, of the fourth division, Ohio militia, appointed him his Aide-de- camp, and as such he entered in August, 1812, the service of the United States in the war with Great Britain. Subsequently he became Brigade Major and Inspector under General Perkins, retaining such position in the service until February 25, 1813, when the men who had served six months or more were discharged. However, he continued in the service a few months longer as aide and private secretary of General Harrison at his request.
Mr. Whittlesey's legislative career began with his election, in 1820, as a Representa- tive in the State Legislature of Ohio, to which he was re-elected in 1821. In 1822 he was elected to represent in the House of Congress, the district composed of Trumbull, Portage, Geauga and Ashtabula counties.
723
OF NORTHEASTERN OHIO.
By successive re-elections he continued to represent this district in Congress until 1838, when he resigned. He served in Congress for a period of sixteen years, and during the greater part of the time he served as Chair- man of the important committee on claims in the House. He was a man of talent, moral worth and personal energy, and thus he secured a position of responsibility and influence in Congress. He was possessed of a systematic business mind and enthusiasmn of character. He espoused the cause of right and justice, no matter how strong the contending influences might be. During his career in Congress he gained a national rep- utation for untiring perseverance and scru- pulous honesty.
From 1822 to 1841 Mr. Whittlesey was a member of the strong and active law firm of Whittlesey & Eaton. In 1841 President Harrison appointed him Auditor of the Treas- nry for the Post Office Department, which position required his continued residence in Washington; but in September, 1843, he re- signed the office of Auditor and returned to Canfield to again engage in the practice of law. In 1847 he was appointed general agent for the Washington Monument Associ- ation, which position he resigned in 1849 to accept an appointment by President Taylor, as First Comptroller of the Treasury, which office he held through the Taylor and Fill- more administrations.
When President Pierce was inaugurated Mr. Whittlesey, having opposed the political party which elected Mr. Pierce, resigned the office of Comptroller, but President Pierce, being impressed with the value of his serv- ices in that office, insisted upon Mr. Whittle- sey's remaining in the office, to which the latter consented. He remained Comptroller until Buchanan's inanguration, when he again
resigned on account of having opposed the election of Mr. Buchanan, who accepted his resignation. Mr. Whittlesey supported Mr. Lincoln for the presidency in 1860, and in May, 1861, President Lincoln appointed him to the same office of Comptroller, the arduous duties of which position he performed to the day of his death, January 7, 1863, being stricken down while at his post of duty in his office at Washington.
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F A. RENKENBERGER, a carpenter and handle-maker of Columbiana, Ohio, was born in Beaver township, Mahoning county, this State, in the year 1862, son of Jacob and Mary (Flicinger) Renkenberger, and one of a family of six children. Jacob Renkenberger is a harness- maker by trade, but owns and occupies a farm of ninety two acres and devotes his attention to farming and stock-raising. He worked at his trade for ten years previous to his settle- ment on this farm. He and his wife and their family are members of the New Jeru- salem Church. They are people of more than ordinary intelligence, are notable for their honesty and industry and for their charity and Christian acts of kindness. The Renkenbergers, as the name suggests, are of German extraction. Grandfather Renken- berger was born in Germany in 1802, came to this country when he was sixteen years old, and died in 1890. His wife, born in 1803, died in 1889. Jacob Renkenberger filled the office of Constable and also other minor offices.
The subject of our sketch learned the trade of carpenter and handle-maker in his yonth, and now follows his vocation in the city of Columbiana. He was married in 1883, about
724
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
the tinie lie reached his majority, to Miss Agnes West, daughter of Charles West, who resides near Mr. Renkenkerger. Mr. and Mrs. Renkenberger have had four children. namely: Margaret, born in 1885; Bessie, born in 1888, died in 1891; Nellie, born in 1890; and an infant unnamed. He takes an active interest in the New Jerusalem Church, of which he is a member, while his wife is a devout Catholic. He is identified with the J. O. U. A. M., and his political views are in harmony with Democratic principles.
EORGE HOFSES has been a resident of Beaver township, Mahoning county, Ohio, for the past twenty-six years. He was born in Germany in 1813, and and upon his arrival in America first located in Mercer county, Pennsylvania. He came from there to Petersburg, Ohio, and twenty- six years ago came to his present location, where he has since been engaged in farming and stock-raising. He owns sixty-five acres of land.
Mr. Hofses is a son of Mike and Chris- tiana Hofses, one of their family of five chil- dren. His father owned about thirty acres of land and carried on farming on a small scale. He was a man of strict integrity, and botlı he and his son, George, inherited the characteristics of the German people. Botlı parents were active members of the Lutheran Church.
George Hofses was married in 1843, to Rosanna Sencumhocker, also a native of Ger- many. Of their family of children we make the following brief record: John, born in 1844, married Sarah Smith; Aaron, born in 1846, married Maggie Bixler; Abbott, born in 1848, married Mary Strufoner; Matilda,
born in 1850, is the wife of Ennice Honn, and lives with her father; and Daniel, born in 1852, married Della Honberger. Our sub- ject and his wife are identified with the Lutheran Church and are among the best citizens of their community.
RA L. FREDERICK, who is engaged in the undertaking business at Washington- ville, Mahoning county, Ohio, was born here in 1867. He is one of a family of two children of Joseph and Lydia (Stousser) Frederick. His father was for many years engaged in farming and also operated a thresher during the summer. He owns 200 acres of land, the same farm owned by our subject's great-grandfather, and lives in the house built by him. Great-grandfather Fred- erick laid out the northern part of Washing- tonville, built the first house in the town, and for some years kept hotel here. He was a prominent and wealthy man, and as his de- scendants have grown up they, too, have occupied leading positions here. Joseph Frederick and his wife are active and liberal members of the Lutheran Church. He is a Democrat and an Odd-Fellow.
Ira L. Frederick was married in 1891, to Cora Simpson, only child of Thomas Simp- son, of this place. Her grandfather Simpson was a Major in the war of 1812, taught the first school in this part of Mahoning county and was for sixteen terms a member of the Ohio State Legislature. Few families have been more prominently connected with the early history of Ohio than the Simpsons. Thomas Simpson collected the first tax in this locality. One of his uncles was a mem- ber of the Senate. Mr. and Mrs. Frederick have one child, Blair, born March 25, 1892.
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OF NORTHEASTERN OHIO.
As an undertaker, Mr. Frederick, has proved most successful in meeting the exact ing requirements of the business. In con- nection with his undertaking business he also carries a stock of boots and shoes, carpets and furniture. He received his education in Washingtonville, being a member of the first class that graduated here, in 1887. He also took a commercial course. Mr. Frederick is a member of the Ohio Funeral Directors' As- sociation and also of the Western Reserve Association of Undertakers. Politically, he is a Democrat. Fraternally, he is identified with the I. O. O. F. and the R. I. O. M., being Noble Grand of the foriner and Past Grand of the latter. He and his wife are members of the Lutheran Church. Both joined the church the same year and both graduated the same year.
R EV. ALEXANDER BENNETT MAXWELL, PH D., was born near Butler, Pennsylvania, November 29, 1826, and departed this life at North Springfield, Ohio, October 27, 1891. He graduated at Jefferson College with the class of 1847. After completing his college course, he was engaged in teaching the most of the time until 1849, when he entered the Theo- logical Seminary at Allegheny, Pennsylvania, graduating there in 1852. In April, 1852, he was licensed by the Allegheny Presbytery to preach the gospel, and the following year was ordained to the full work of the ministry by the Presbytery at Fort Wayne, within whose bounds he had accepted a pastorate. He served the church at Alliance, Ohio, two years, was at Salem, Ohio, thirteen years, at Leetonia, Ohio, fifteen years, and was at Rome, Ohio, six years and a half. He had
entered npon his duties as pastor at North Springfield, and had been there abont a year when his death occurred. He was married, first, in 1853, to Miss Julia Atwater Merrick, of Atwater, Ohio, with whom he lived for twenty-four years. His marriage to Miss Mary MacMaster, occurred in the year 1880. From an obitnary notice, read at North Springfield and Poland, by Rev. E. Layport, of Akron, Ohio, we clip the follow- ing:
" Dr. Maxwell was a man of fine literary attainments. In 1888 he completed a post- gradnate course of study, and received the well-merited title of Doctor of Philosophy from Wooster University. His good judg- ment made him a valuable presbyter. His rich culture and excellent spirit rendered him an interesting and instructive preacher. His genial nature and kind- heart made him a valued friend. His pure Christian character won the esteem and confidence of all who knew him. The churches he served grew under his care. He was delicate in health during all his ministry, yet for nearly forty years he was an earnest and efficient laborer in the Master's vineyard. For the most part he served our weaker churches. His minis- try was pre-eminently a ministry of the gospel to the poor."
THE MILLER FAMILY .- Carns A. Miller, a prominent citizen of West Farmington, Trumbull connty, Ohio, was born at this place, November 14, 1852.
Of his life and ancestry a compiler presents the following: "Noah Miller, father of Carus A., was a son of Samnel Miller, son of Noah Miller, and Noah Miller was a son of Noah
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
Miller. We have no record of the birth-place of Noah Miller, Sr., but ascertain from rec- ords at Farmington, Connecticut, that he deed- ed a certain tract of land situated at Avon, Connecticut, to his son, Noah Miller, and Noah Miller transferred the same to his son Samuel. We also find that he was a mem- ber of the Church of England, and was taxed at the rate of two farthings on the pound for the support and maintenance of the society at Northington. Avon was formerly called Northington; from this we infer that he must have lived, a part of his life, at Avon, Con- necticut. The oldest member of the Miller family, now living, thinks lie married a wo- man whose family name was Burt. Noah Miller, son of Noah Miller, was born in 1734, at Avon, Connecticut, passed his life there, and died at that place, May 22, 1812, aged seventy-eight. In looking over old family papers, legal documents, etc., we find that he was a man of some prominence, was appointed attorney, was an executor and settled estates. Anneke Buell, his wife, was a daughter of Samuel Buell, of Simsbury. She was born June 7, 1743, and married Noah Miller second, April 9, 1760. She was a woman of ability, great intellect, and remarkable inem- ory. She inherited from her father nearly the entire tract of land now called New Hart- ford, Connecticut. She died at her son's, Samuel Miller, November 10, 1822. Samuel Buell was a son of Peter Buell and Martha (Coggon) Buell, of Simsbury, Connecticut, who was a daughter of Thomas Coggon, of Taunton. He was born May 10, 1686, and was twice married. I do not know the name of his first wife; but his second wife's name was Anna, or Anneke Orten. She was daugh- ter of Thomas Orten, of Farmington, Con- necticut. There were two children by this marriage: Anneke, who married Noah Miller
second, and a little boy who died in early life. Samuel Buell was an active business man, filled ( ffices of trust, was a great landholder, and in colonial days owned nearly all of the large tract then called Simsbury, Connecti- cut. He died June 20, 1755. Anneke, his wife, died June 29, 1772. I think his father, Peter Buell, was also twice married. From this fact we have, among the old family records, a legal document made out to the widow, Mary Bissell, relict of Jacob Bissell, the day before his marriage to her, which dates back to June 28, 1698. This was the second marriage. There are many deeds among the old papers before mentioned, where he trans- fers certain ' parcels of land ' (as it was then called), to his sons. (The daughters are also mentioned.) I conclude from this that Peter had a large family. These ancestors lived when the colonies and mother country were under the reign of 'our sovereign lord, King William.'
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