Century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens, 20th, Part 103

Author: Sanderson, Thomas W., comp
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1074

USA > Ohio > Mahoning County > Youngstown > Century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens, 20th > Part 103

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In politics Mr. Bradshaw is a stanch Re- publican. He is no seeker for public office, but takes a deep interest in all that concerns Goshen township and the permanent welfare of the public, and votes often, in local matters, for the candidate he knows will best carry out the wishes of the people. He believes in the benefits which come from good roads and first class schools.

ILLIAM FREDERICK MAAG, manager of the Youngstown. I'in- dicator, was born in Ebingen, in the state of Wurtemberg, South- ern Germany, February 28, 1850. He attended the Ebingen schools and at the age of fourteen was apprenticed to a printer. The full term of apprenticeship was six years; he left, however, at the end of three to come to America. In 1867, directly after his arrival in the United States, he went to Mil- waukee, Wisconsin, where he secured a place on a German paper, the Daily Herold. Shortly afterwards he went to Watertown, Wisconsin, which had become the new home of a great many Germans, and while employed on a paper there met Miss Elizabeth Ducasse, who, in 1872, became his wife.

In 1875. after four years with the Indiana Staats-Zeitung in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Mr. Maag came to Youngstown, which has ever since been his home. Upon his arrival he bought the Youngstown Rundschau, a weekly German newspaper, which he still conducts. Until 1887 his experience had been only in

MRS. MARY C. MILLIKIN

GEORGE WASHINGTON MILLIKIN

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the German field. The Youngstown L'indica- tor being for sale in that year, he bought it, published it for a year by himself and then en- tered into partnership with the late John M. Webb, Mr. Webb acting as editor, Mr. Maag having charge of the business side. A year later. in 1889, Mr. Maag undertook the publi- cation of the Daily L'indicator, organizing a stock company of which he has, from the be- ginning. been business manager and treasurer. Though actively interested in the affairs of the city, he did not hold political office until 1901. when he was nominated by the Demo- cratic party for state representative and elected by the substantial majority of 643, though the rest of the ticket was Republican. He served but one term. His chief care has always been the l'indicator, which, under his direction, has become one of the leading papers of the state.

6 EORGE WASHINGTON MILLI- KIN, a prosperous farmer of Youngstown township, who oper- ates a dairy farm of 931/2 acres, was born June 5. 1845. in Ontario, Can- ada, and is a son of Alexander and Mary (Miller) Millikin. The father, Alexander Millikin, was born in Ireland, and when a lad of four years his father, also named Alexan- der. (lied. One year later his mother, Mary Millikin, came to this country with six sons, and settled in Canada, where he was reared and married. Shortly after his marriage he moved to Trumbull County, Ohio, purchasing a farm of 100 acres in Bloomfield township, on which he resided for many years. He sub- sequently sold this farm and purchased a tract of 285 acres in the same township, which in 1897, he sold, removing to Burghill. Trum- bull County, Ohio, where he and his wife are still living at the advanced age of 91 and 81 years respectively. Nine children completed their family, namely: George Washington, the subject of this sketch: Elizabeth, deceased. who was the wife of Frank Stambaugh ; H. A. Millikin, who resides in Brooklyn, New York: Robert. a farmer residing in Burghill, Trum-

bull County: William, who is engaged in farming in Trumbull County: Nettie, who died aged five years; Mary, who died in 1906, was the wife of James T. Minehart; Frank. who resides in Burghill; and Harvey, who follows farming in New York State.

George W. Millikin was reared in Bloom- field township, Trumbull County, and attend- ed the district school, after which he spent three terms at the Western Reserve Seminary at West Farmington. On leaving school he re- turned home and was engaged in farming for some time. He also conducted a meat market in Bloomfield for one year, and one for two years in Youngstown. He then took up farm- ing for one year, when he bought his present farm, where since 1883, he has made a spe- cialty of raising thoroughbred Hereford cattle, which for twenty years he has had on exhibi- tion at county and state fairs from Illinois to Maine, receiving many first premiums and sweepstakes. Since 1906 he has devoted his time exclusively to his dairy.

Mr. Millikin was married January 1, 1872, to Mary J. Creed, a sister of John A. Creed, of whom a full. sketch may be found in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Millikin have three children, namely: Maud, who married P. B. Riblet, a farmer of Youngstown township, of whom a sketch appears in this work; Ray C., a resident of Youngstown, who married Nina Crum of Frederick, Maryland, and has one child, Madeline; and Bert, who resides at home. Mr. Millikin is a member of the Junior Order of American Mechanics. He belongs to the Methodist Church. Portraits of him- self and wife appear with this sketch.

RED B. KING, funeral director and licensed embalmer, at Youngstown, was born in Mercer County, Ohio, in 1868, and is a son of B. G. King. Mr. King's father was a member of the undertaking firm of Drake & King, which was established in 1807. His death occurred at Youngstown in 1902.

Fred B. King completed his education in

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HISTORY OF MAHONING COUNTY

Mercer County and then was connected with the Pennsylvania Railroad offices at Lawrence Junction for seven years, and for four years was in the purchasing department of the Ohio Steel Company. On the death of his father in 1902 he assumed charge of the business, and he is now manager of the Fred B. King Company. He is also a member of the firm of King Brothers, funeral directors and furni- ture dealers, at Girard. He was married on December 31. 1903, to Mary P. Gibner of Erie, Pennsylvania.

Mr. King is very prominent in Masonry and has served in many official positions in the order. He filled every chair in the Blue Lodge, for two years was an officer in the Chapter, and at present is the recorder in the Commandery. He belongs also to the Odd Fellows, the Protected Home Circle and other societies. For some time he has been a mem- ber of the Chamber of Commerce and of the State Embalming Association. He belongs to Westminster Presbyterian Church, of which he has served as a trustee. His business office is located at No. 29 South Champion street.

€ DWARD B. LIDDLE, who is engaged in general farming on a tract of 129 acres, in Poland township, which he owns in partnership with his mother, was born August 15, 1861, on his present farm, and is a son of George and Mary E. (Kennedy) Liddle.

George Liddle, grandfather of Edward B., was a native of England, and came to America in 1804. He settled on the land which has re- mained the family home ever since, on which he spent the rest of his life. George Liddle, father of Edward B., was born on this farm, in 1812, and during his boyhood days assisted with the work of clearing, which had been partly done before his father came to it, and after his marriage, in 1841, continued to reside on the farm the remainder of his life, his death occurring in October, 1884. at the age of 72 years. He was a general farmer and lumber-

man, and operated the first steam sawmill in this county, building the same in 1843. He married Mary Elizabeth Kennedy, who was born in Coitsville, and was a daughter of James Kennedy. A family of twelve children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Liddle: George, who died in 1853, was accidentally killed in a sawmill ; a babe died in infancy ; Sarah C., de- ceased, who was the wife of James B. Mc- Crone; and William, James, David, John B., and Charles Fowler, all deceased; Margaret Jane, who married Frank Bradley, of Buffalo; Edward Baker, Lorena E., and Leonora, twins, the former of whom resides with her mother, at Struthers, and the latter of whom is deceased.

Edward B. Liddle was born and reared on his present farm and as a boy was employed in his father's saw mill. After the latter's death, he continued to operate the mill until about 1886. Since 1901 he has been engaged in a wholesale meat busi- ness, having a slaughter-house on his place, and for three years, from 1903 until 1906, he conducted a meat market in Struthers. He still owns the shop and building, but rents it to Kuhn & Allen, who now conduct a market there. The family residence was formerly situated back in the central part of the farm, but George Liddle, built the large frame house in its present desirable location.

Mr. Liddle was united in marriage in April, 1895, to Virginia B. Duncan, who was born in Butler County, Pennsylvania, and is a daughter of William and Cornelia (Carrol) Duncan, the latter of whom was born and reared near Little Mountain, Lake County, Ohio, and died when Mrs. Liddle was eight years old. William Duncan was born in Butler County, Pennsylvania, and his second marriage was to Matilda Fowler. In 1884, when Mrs. Liddle was about 17 years old, Mr. Duncan moved to Poland, where she was sub- sequently married to Mr. Liddle. They have five children, namely : Eleanor, George, Frank, Mary, Elizabeth, and William. Mr. Liddle is a member of the United Presbyterian Church.

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ILLIAM H. STRATTON, an

honored veteran of the late Civil War and a prominent citizen of Goshen township, resides on his excellent farm of 48 acres, which is situated in section 10. Mr. Stratton was born in the city of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, August 17, 1845, and is a son of Daniel S. and Angeline (Phillips) Stratton, the former of whom was born in New Jersey, and the lat- ter in Pennsylvania.

Stacy Stratton, grandfather of William H., was a native of New Jersey, and he came to Goshen township among the early pioneers and lived on the land on which he settled, until his death. Daniel S. Stratton continued to carry on agricultural pursuits, in Goshen township, until his death, which took place about 1880.

William H. Stratton was reared in Goshen township and was educated in the schools of Patmos. When 19 years of age. April 18, 1864, he enlisted for service in the Federal army, entering Company L, Sixth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, the commanding of- ficer being the gallant Philip Sheridan. Mr. Stratton took part in the siege before Peters- burg and Richmond, and was one of General Sheridan's cavalrymen on the field of Appo- mattox, when General Lee surrendered, an oc- casion never to be forgotten by those who were a part of it. Subsequently, Mr. Stratton did guard duty around Petersburg, and finally was honorably discharged July 11, 1865.

After the close of his military service, Mr. Stratton returned to Mahoning County, since which time his main occupation has been car- penter work. He has done a great deal of business all through this part of Mahoning County. He received his farm from his father and cultivates that with good results, but gives the larger part of his time and attention to work at his trade.

On August 8. 1867. Mr. Stratton was married to Edith T. Townsend, who was born in Mahoning County, and is a daughter of the late Jonathan Townsend, of Goshen township. M. and Mrs. Stratton have had six children, as follows: Charles D .. deceased; Jonathan T.,

residing at Alliance; Henry L., residing in Goshen township; Sarah A., who married Freeman Hively, residing in Goshen town- ship; Marion F., residing in Goshen township; and Mary F., who married Delmer Baird, residing at Patmos.

Mr. Stratton is a trustee of the Bunker Hill Methodist Episcopal Church, to which both he and wife belong. In politics he is a Republican and cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln. He is a man of high standing in his community.

B. JONES, auditor of the Youngs- town Sheet and Tube Company, at Youngstown, was born at Youngstown, Ohio, in 1854. His father, Thomas Jones, was a well known builder at Youngstown, for many years. He came to this city from Lisbon, Col- lumbiana County, Ohio, in 1832 and was con- cerned in the construction of the locks on the canal. He also built a number of the furnaces used in the large plants here. His death oc- curred in 1872.

W. B. Jones has spent his life in this city and has been connected with the Youngstown Sheet and Tube Company ever since it began business here. and for the last year has been auditor of its affairs. He is also financially interested in the business as a stockholder. In 1875, Mr. Jones was married to Mary Harris, of Lisbon, Ohio, and they have four children, viz: Helen, Paul Jones, George C. and Robert M. The youngest son is a student at the Raven School. George C. is a mechanical en- gineer in the office of the Carnegie mills, and is attending the mechanical department at Princeton College.

Paul J. Jones, the eldest son of W. B. Jones, was born in 1880, at Youngstown, graduated from the Raven High School in 1899. and for about two and a half years was engaged as civil engineer in the construction of railroads and steel plants, work he per- formed during his school vacations. In the fall of 1901, he entered the University of

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HISTORY OF MAHONING COUNTY

Michigan, and was graduated from the law department in 1904, and immediately admit- teil to the bar. His first field of practice was Cleveland, but in December, 1905, he formed a partnership with Mr. Hahn, under the firm name of Hahn & Jones, attorneys. He is a member of the Mahoning Golf Club and of his college fraternities.

W. B. Jones has always been concerned in the proper administration of civil affairs, but only as becomes a good citizen. He is a member of the first Presbyterian Church. He is a representtive man of this city, capable and successful, upright as to character and genial in manner.

OHN F. FINK, a retired farmer and stock-raiser of Canfield township and one of the most prominent citizens of the little village of Cornersburg, was born April 10, 1856, on his father's farm in Canfield township, Mahoning County, Ohio, and is a son of Samuel and Catherine (Lynn) Fink.

Samuel Fink was born in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, and came to this county with his parents, John and Catherine ( Deis) Fink, when a small child. He was one of a family of four children: John. Samuel, Elizabeth, and Catherine, all now deceased. John Fink, who was a farmer of Lehigh County, Pennsyl- vania, brought his family to Ohio in old- fashioned covered wagons and bought a tract of virgin timber land in Poland township, Ma- honing County. On this he resided the re- mainder of his life, engaged in clearing and cultivating his farm. For many years he made frequent trips between Pennsylvania and Ohio, with salt, sugar, etc, with a six-horse team, often riding one of the horses.

Samuel Fink, father of John F., was reared on his father's farm in Poland township, and worked in the old water-wheel saw-mill, which was one of the first mills operated in this sec- tion. After the breaking of the dam, it was run by steam. Samuel received but little schooling and lived at home until he was married to

Catherine Lynn, a daughter of Adam and Rachel ( Fullwiler ) Lynn. The Lynns came from Pennsylvania, and were among the earli- est settlers of Canfield township. Adam Lynn followed farming and was one of the first post- masters of the county, there having been a post office at that time at Cornersburg. He served as justice of the peace for 42 years, and was a stanch Democrat. Our subject still has the old ink-stand used by Squire Lynn, who was an expert penman and use a quill pen, as is shown by the records kept at Warren, Ohio, where the Court House was then located. He and his wife were the parents of three chil- dren : Peter, Catherine, and Ferdinand, the latter of whom is the only one living. Samuel and Catherine Fink were the parents of seven children : Urias, deceased : Emma, who died young ; John Ferdinand; Rosetta, who died young ; William, residing in Canfield township; Rachel (Mrs. Peter Yager), of Canfield town- ship; and George, of Youngstown township.

The parents of our subject started house- keeping on the old Lynn farm near the saw- mill race, and Samuel continued to operate the mill during the winter months and farmed in the summer. He was one of the most prosperous and successful farmers of the township and at the time of his death was the owner of 100 acres of valuable farm land. He died April 15, 1903, aged 75 years, his wife having died in 1893 aged 70 years.

John F. Fink was reared on his father's farm in Canfield township and attended the district schools. He has always devoted his time to farming and when just a mere boy as- sisted with the work in the field, using the farm tools of his day, the cradle, sickle and scythe, and he well remembers when the first mower and binder were operated in that sec- tion. He subsequently engaged in threshing, for a number of years, having an interest in an old-fashioned horse-power machine, which required eight horses to operate it. His part- ners were Allen Peters and Homer Strock. They owned six horses and the farmer for whom they worked furnished one team of horses. Mr. Fink has a team of mules which he raised and broke when colts, one 27 and

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the other 28 years old, and they are now doing service on the telephone line and are pensioned by him. They had the distinction of partici- pating in the parade at Youngstown, Ohio, at the time of President Cleveland's first nomi- nation, when all the men turned out with hickory brooms. On one occasion, before the advent of the automobile, a carriage was rig- ged up for a parade and the mules were hitched to the back of it to, push it, and this was the first horseless carriage which appeared in Youngstown.

Mr. Fink has 134 acres of land in Canfield township besides other property in Youngs- town. His farms are well improved in every way and he has laid 1,000 rods of tile, besides erecting all his substantial buildings. In 1899 he retired from the farm, since when he has been engaged in business at Cornersburg, a little village about five miles from Youngs- town, for the past six years dealing in wool, and shipping about one car-load a year. Mr. Fink is one of the leading citizens of this little village. and because of his prominence, is jok- ingly called. "the Mayor of Cornersburg." Politically he is a Democrat and has served for · many years as school director and was a mem- ber of the committee at the time the school was built near his home. He also served as road surveyor and ran for infirmary director, and was defeated for the latter office by only a small majority, although the county is Repub- lican. Fraternally he is connected with Eagles, at Youngstown, and of the Foresters of America of which he has been treasurer for 13 years. He is a member of the Zion Reform Church, at North Canfield, and has served in all the offices of that church, and was chairman of the building committee at the time of the erection of the church edifice.

Mr. Fink was married November 11, 1877; to Rosetta Lynn, a daughter of Jesse and Eliz- aleth ( Vohler) Lynn. She was born March IC. 1854. in Beaver township, Mahoning County. Her mother died when she was but nine days old and her father subsequently married Mary Beaver. He followed farming in Beaver township all his life. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Fink: Ward, who

married Bertha Lentz, has one child. Lucetta Catherine, engaged in farming and stock- raising on the home farm of 100 acres, in Can- field township; Netta Viola, who married Joseph Deckon of Youngstown: Jesse Floyd, who married Edna Campbell, has one child. John Edward, and resides on a small farm in Canfield township, which is owned by his father : and Oliver Francis, who lives at home.

IRGIL E. JONES, a well-known ce- ment contractor of Youngstown, was born in 1851 in Austintown, Ma- honing County, and is the son of Seymour A. and Martha (Burnett ) Jones, and the grandson of Edward and Mary (Price) Jones, of Virginia, who were early settlers of Trumbull County, Ohio, their daughter being the first white child born in that county.

Seymour A. Jones was born on the same. farm in Austintown on which his son Virgil subsequently first saw the light, and was en- gaged in agricultural pursuits all his life.

Virgil E. Jones was reared on his father's farm near Austintown, and after leaving it was engaged in drilling for coal until 1884. He then went to LaPlata County, Colorado, where he located on a cattle ranch and also engaged in contracting for railroad ties. In 1888 he went to Kansas City, and entered the employ of the Western Sash and Door Com- pany, learning the cutter's trade. He after- wards went to Denver and worked as head cut- ter in a planing mill until 1893. when he re- turned to Youngstown and for two winters was coal weigher for the Witchazel Coal Com- pany. Later he was engaged in the same busi- ness in Columbiana County, Ohio, until 1898. when he returned to Youngstown and entered into the cement business and for the past seven years has been successfully engaged in contracting for cement work.

Mr. Jones was married in 1878 to Ida M. Gilmore, of Geauga County, Ohio, a daughter of Thomas and Fannie Gilmore. Mr. Jones is a stanch Republican, but does not care

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to enter actively into politics. He belongs to the I. O. O. F. Lodge and is a member of the Hillman Street Christian Church, having been a member of the official board of that church for some time. He resides at 44 Ellenwood avenue.

AMES W. VAIL, a leading farmer of Coitsville township, residing in sec- tion 17, was born February 26, 1847, in Poland, Poland township, Mahon- ing County, Ohio, and is a son of William and Elizabeth (Got) Vail.

William Vail was born in Coitsville town- ship near what is now known as Marion Heights. His father, Jacob Vail, came to Mahoning County from Dayton, Ohio, and settled on a small farm near Hazelton. William Vail was reared on his father's farm in this township, and in later years engaged in a blacksmith business in Poland township, where he bought and resided on a farm for several years. In 1859 he purchased 100 acres of land in Coitsville township, which is part of the farm now owned by James W. Vail, and here engaged in farming during the re- mainder of his life. He was united in mar- riage with Elizabeth Got, and they became the parents of 10 children, of whom five are liv- ing, namely: Mary J., who resides at Bed- ford, Pennsylvania; James W .; Mrs. Martha Moore; Edward, who resides in Coitsville township; and Elizabeth, who resides at Bed- ford, Pennsylvania.

James W. Vail was about 12 years old when his parents moved to Coitsville township, 'and he was reared to maturity on his father's farm, where he remained assisting with the work and engaging in the buying and selling of stock until 1873, when he purchased and located on a farm of 43 acres just opposite his present farm, residing there for 20 years, removing then to his present property.

Mr. Vail was married April 2, 1874, to Jane Miller, who was born in Canada and came when quite young to Bloomfield, Trum- bull County, Ohio, with her father, Hugh Miller. There have been four children born

to Mr. and Mrs. Vail: Anna, who married Andrew D. Fankle, of Youngstown; George, who married Mildred Shipton, has one child, Mabel; Nettie, who teaches in East Youngs- town; and William, who assists with the work on the farm.

Mr. Vail is a Republican in politics and has served by appointment, as township trus- tee for one term, as a member of the board of education for 15 years, and was justice of the peace for three years. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is also a trustee.

EORGE E. MEITER, who has large farming and dairy interests in Go- shen township, where he owns a fine farm of over 128 acres, is one of the progressive and substantial men of this locality. He was born October 20, 1870, in Transylvania, Austria, and is a son of George and Agnes Meiter, highly respected residents of Goshen township.

George E. Meiter had good educational privileges in his own land and is a well-edu- cated man in the German language. He learned the trade of wagonmaker, which he followed for six years. When about 19 years of age, he came to America, and on reaching Salem, Ohio, found employment with the Sa- lem Wire and Nail Company. He worked for that business organization for eight years, providently saving his money and later wisely investing it. In the fall of 1900 he purchased his present excellent farm, on which he has since resided. He keeps 15 cows for dairy purposes and has a milk route at Salem, his wagon daily distributing milk, cream and but- termilk to many patrons in the neighboring city. He devotes careful attention to the growing of grains and fruits and, while he has had to make his own way in the world, he is as prosperous as almost any man of his age and opportunities, to be found in Goshen township. As a business man he enjoys the full confidence of his fellow citizens.

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Century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens, 20th, Part 103

Author: Sanderson, Thomas W., comp Publication date: 1907 Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1074

Author: Sanderson, Thomas W., comp
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1074