Century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens, 20th, Part 104

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 104

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

On July 4, 1896, Mr. Meiter was mar-

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ried to Catherine Crouse, who was born in Transylvania, Austria, a daughter of George and Mary ( Binder ) Crouse. Her father came to America, settling at Salem, where he still resides. The mother of Mrs. Meiter is now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Meiter have three children, Edward G .. Carl A. and William. Politically. Mr. Meiter is a Republican. With his wife, he belongs to the German Lutheran Church at Salem.

ETH LUCIAN BAILEY, a repre- sentative citizen of Coitsville town- ship, residing on a well-improved farm of 93 acres, in section 19, was born in Coitsville township, Mahon- ing County, Ohio, January 19, 1833, on his father's farm of several hundred acres which lay in both Mahoning and Trumbull Counties. His parents were David and Elizabeth ( Early) Bailey.

The paternal grandfather of Mr. Bailey, David Bailey, was born in Connecticut, and came to Ohio with his family, in 1800, taking up several hundred acres of land lying in Coitsville and Hubbard townships, in both Mahoning and Trumbull counties. The grandfather died on his farm near Hubbard, aged about 40 years. His son David, father of Seth L., was also born in Connecticut and was eight years old when his parents moved to Ohio. He married Elizabeth Early, who was a daughter of Thomas Early, a sketch of whom will be found in this work. There were 10 children born to this marriage, all of whom reached maturity, and seven of whom still survive. Both parents died on the farm near Hubbard, full of years and high in the esteem of those who had known them well.

Seth L. Bailey was reared on the home farm and obtained his education in the schools of the neighborhood before he left home and later spent one term at the High School at Pulaski, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. On the home farm in early manhood, he did a large amount of stock and wool-buying. and was much interested in raising stock. When

23 years old he went to Champaign County, Illinois, where he remained on a farm for a time and then accepted a position as deputy for the county clerk of Piatt County, Illinois. He remained in that State for three years and then went back to the home farm for two years. After his marriage. in 1860, he moved to Sandy Lake, Mercer County, and during a residence there of nine years, he bought and sold three farms and was extensively inter- ested in buying and selling wool and also in the oil business. Mr. Bailey had a fine open- ing for business in Tennessee, about this time, but he did not accept on account of his wife's people wishing her to remain nearer the old home. In 1870 he purchased the place on which he lives and he owns also a valuable tract of 10 acres situated about one mile west. He has made many improvements on his land here and has a very valuable property. He does little farming, devoting his attention to the raising of fine stock. At one time he made a specialty of white-faced cattle, known as Herefords, and he has owned some very valu- able herds. Prior to going to Illinois, he was in business for himself, buying and selling cattle and also did business for Milton Pow- ers. His extensive dealings made necessary many trips to New York, Chicago and other points, and he is well posted concerning all kinds of stock and their markets.

On March 8, 1860, Mr. Bailey was mar- ried to Marilla Stewart, who is a daughter of William Stewart, and they have had five chil- dren : Blanche, Inez, William Orrin, Clyde Lester, and one deceased. The eldest daugh- ter of Mr. and Mrs. Bailey was educated in the local schools and the Rayen High School at Youngstown, and was a successful teacher in Coitsville and Hubbard townships. She married David Black and they have one son, Lucian. Inez, the second daughter, was edu- cated at Grove City and Poland and taught school in Poland and Coitsville. She mar- ried William G. Cowden. William Orrin, who is a farmer in Lawrence County, Penn- sylvania, was educated at Grove City. Mercer County, and subsequently graduated at Val- paraiso College, Indiana, and for a number of

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years taught school at Hazelton, Ohio. For some time he was bookkeeper and treasurer for Black Brothers Milling Company, at Bea- trice, Nebraska. He married Anna Moore, of Lawrence County, and they have four chil- dren : Lloyd Lester, Harold Moore, Russell Dale and Cecil. Clyde Lester, who is a com- mercial traveler, representing Darling & Company, of the Union Stock Yards, Chi- cago, was educated at Grove City and later taught school at Thorne Hill and New Bed- ford. He married Brittomarte Roatch, who is a daughter of Col. David E. and Alice D. (Sala) Roatch. During the Civil War, Col- onel Roatch enlisted as a private, serving three months in the 19th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, subsequently re-enlisting, in 1861, in Company I, First Regiment, Ohio Volun- teer Infanry, in which he became a first lieu- tenant. His next enlistment was in the 98th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, after the battle of Perryville, in which he was promoted to a captaincy, later was made major and still later, lieutenant-colonel. He served two months on General Beatty's staff. After the close of the war he became a prominent citi- zen of Carroll County, where he served two terms as sheriff. His death occurred there in 1897. Mr. Bailey and family belong to the Hopewell Presbyterian Church at New Bed- ford.

MITH CRAWFORD, a wholesale and retail dealer in flour, feed and grain, at Youngstown, is one of the repre- sentative business men of this city. He was born in Pennsylvania in 1852 and came with his parents in early youth to Mahoning County, where he was reared and educated. Early in life he entered the office of Andrews & Hitchcock, where he remained for a while, after which he worked for a number of years in his father's lumber-yard. He then engaged in the flour and feed busi- ness, opening a small feed store on Federal street. Subsequently he built his present place of business on the corner of Decker and Com-

merce streets, and has lately completed the erection of a fine warehouse on Wilson avenue near the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway depot. The new warehouse will hold about 30 car-loads of feed and grain, and Mr. Crawford will operate this in connection with his present grain elevator which he is moving to the site of the newly erected warehouse. Mr. Crawford is one of the stockholders in the First National Bank, and is also a stock- holder in the Dollar Savings & Trust Com- pany. Mr. Crawford was married in 1878 to Amy Houston, and they have three chil- dren: Clyde, who is in business with his father, Grace and Helen. He is a member of the Masonic order and attends the Tabernacle Presbyterian Church.

J ACOB DUSTMAN, a prosperous farmer and well-known citizen of Go- shen township, resides on his well-cul- tivated farm of 93 acres, which is sit- uated in section 4, having located here shortly after the close of the Civil War. He was born in Ellsworth township, Mahon- ing County, Ohio, December 2, 1835, and is a son of Christian and Susan (Frank) Dust- man.

The Dustmans were very early settlers in Ellsworth township and they have always been among the best citizens. Christian Dust- man was a potter by trade and he followed this for about 20 years. On account of fail- ing health, he decided to engage in farming and thus faced the dangers and hardships of pioneer life, in a log cabin he built on his wild land in Ellsworth township. The out-door life benefited him to such an extent that he lived to be 78 years of age. Two of his sons still survive, Jacob, of Goshen township, and Christian, residing at Salem.

Jacob Dustman was reared in Ellsworth township and attended the early schools near his home. In December, 1863, he was mar- ried to Catherine Goodman, who is a sister of Jonas Goodman, a prominent citizen of Green township, Mahoning County. They

ADOLF HELLER

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had one daughter, Susan A., who died in her 20th year. From Ellsworth township, Mr. Dustman moved after his marriage to Green township, where he lived about 14 months and then came to Goshen township and has lived on his present farm ever since. It is a good property and Mr. Dustman has put many improvements on it. He grows grain and stock to some degree and enjoys the blessings which are the lot of the independent farmer. He has always been interested in the affairs of his township, especially in the public schools, and has consented at various times to serve as school director, and before leaving Ellsworth township, he served one term as township trustee.

A DOLF HELLER, vice-president of the Heller Brothers Company, lum- ber dealers, planing-mill operators and large contractors, owning the largest and finest equipped plant of its kind at Youngstown, Ohio, was born and educated in Switzerland.

Mr. Heller was trained in the contracting and planing mill business in Switzerland, by his father, who was largely interested in that business there, and he came to America sev- eral years before his brother Louis, with whom he has been in partnership at Youngstown, since 1880. In that year the two brothers established a general contracting business, and in 1888 they bought out the mill and lumber plant of Ellis & Cunningham. In 1891 they had their business incorporated under the style of the Heller Bros. Company, with a capital stock of $40,000, which prosperous business conditions have caused them to increase to $200.000. Of this business, Louis Heller is president, Adolf Heller, vice-president, and Joseph T. Murphy, secretary and treasurer. About 1898 the company bought the old Youngstown Lumber Plant. but subsequently sold it. and in 1902 they came into posses- sion of their present ground at the west end of Rayen street, where they occupy some five acres and have a planing mill and lumber plant 43

that is not equalled in Youngstown. They do the largest contracting business in the city and give employment to from 100 to 120 men. Adolf Heller is at present looking after a large body of undeveloped land owned by The Hiwannee Lumber Company in the South, of which his brother Louis is president. A rail- road runs through this territory known as The Hiwannee & Tombigbee Railroad, of which Mr. Heller is president.

Adolf Heller was married in America to. Marie Hoffmann and they have four children, namely : Adolf, who is with the Heller Bros. Company : Herman, Leo and Elsie. Mr. Heller is a director in the Youngstown Sav- ings and Banking Company, and is serving on the executive committee. Like his brother, Louis, he stands very high among the repre- sentative business men of this city. A portrait of Mr. Heller accompanies this sketch.

YRUS DETCHON, a prominent cit- izen of Poland township, residing on his well-improved farm of 104 acres, was born in Boardman town- ship, which was then in Trumbull, but is now included in Mahoning County, Ohio, October 24, 1834, and is a son of Solo- mon and Anna Diantha (McKee) Detchon.

Solomon Detchon was born in Boardman township and was a son of Oswald Detchon, who was a son of William Detchon, a native of Northumberlandshire, England. The lat- ter owned an estate there upon which he died in 1789. Oswald Detchon, the grandfather of Cyrus Detchon. was the pioneer of the family in America. The Detchons came orig- inally from France. After the massacre of St. Bartholomew, Colonel Detchon, then of the French army, fled with his family and found a home in England, buying a large es- tate near the town of Elsdon.

Oswald Detchon married Ann Carr, who belonged to one of the old and aristocratic families of England. Many of the Carr fam- ily hold high positions in the church and gov- ernment there to the present day. With his

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wife and five children, Oswald Detchon left England for America, and during the voyage two of the children, twins, died and were buried at sea. Seven more children were born after the family had settled in Boardman township, making 12 in all, all of whom have passed away, their names having been pre- served as follows: William, who was the grandfather of the noted actress and vocalist, Adelaide Detchon, who was born in Board- man township and gained great fame as an actress in England, France and Germany ; Os- wald; Nancy; John, who was born in 1800, in Boardman township; George; Elijah; Solo- mon; Thomas ; Mary Ann, who married Will- iam Totten; Betsey, who married Robert Gil- more, and the twins who died at sea.

Oswald Detchon came to America as a farmer, although he was a skilled joiner and wagon-maker, the law of the land being such at that time as would have prevented his leaving in the capacity of an artisan. He lo- cated at Jersey City, New Jersey, where he lived for two years and then through the agency of Elijah Boardman, a native of Con- necticut, who then resided opposite Long Island and was interested in Ohio. lands, he came to the Western Reserve, where he bought about 400 acres. He was considered a man of wealth in his day. He was drafted for service in the War of 1812, and served on guard duty but his company was never called into action. He lived in Boardman township until his death, in 1836, carrying on large farming operations, but also giving at- tention to work at his trade when opportunity offered. He built the two-wheel carts then in 11se to a large extent, and also what was known as the bull plow. This implement was a wooden mold-board, with a wrought-iron point and shield. As a joiner his skill was unequaled and he could make joints so per- fect that they were impervious to water.

Solomon Detchon, with his brothers, was reared on the home place and when the fa- ther's estate was divided at his death, each son received his just portion. Solomon con- tinued the manufacture of the bull plow until

1840, when the invention and introduction of the iron plow made the business no longer profitable. He also followed farming and stock-raising and became a man of substance like his father. He had 300 acres of land and built a comfortable home on it, in which he died in 1869.

Solomon Detchon married Anna Diantha McKee, who was a daughter of William Mc- Kee, a native of Connecticut and an early set- tler in Trumbull County, where Mrs. Detchon was born. For six years she was a successful teacher, taking her first school when 18 years of age and continuing to teach until her mar- riage, the greater portion of the time in Mer- cer County, Pennsylvania, east of Orangeville. After the death of her husband she sold the farm and removed to Poland where she re- sided with her daughter Elmira until her death in 1898, when over 89 years of age, hav- ing survived her husband for 29 years. They were the parents of the following children : Cyrus; Elmira; Alfred, residing in Milton township, Mahoning County, engaged in farm- ing, who is a veteran of the Civil War; Minerva A., deceased, who married Rev. A. T. Copeland, also deceased, who was a min- ister in the Methodist Episcopal Church; Wil- bur F., who died at Washington City, D. C., during the Civil War, from wounds received in the battle of Fredericksburg; and Lucy. J., who married Charles A. Fisk, residing at Girard, Pennsylvania.

Cyrus Detchon was reared to manhood on the homestead and he was educated in the dis- trict schools and at the Poland Institute. He began to teach school when 20 years of age and continued in the profession for the fol- lowing 12 years, filling positions in both Ma- honing and Columbiana counties. In 1865 Mr. Detchon bought his present farm on which he has resided until the present, making all the excellent improvements himself. When he came here the residence was a house that had been built in 1811. It was renovated and made habitable, but in 1886 was torn down to make away for the present commodious and attractive home. In 1906, Mr. Detchon still

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further improved his property by building a substantial barn, 62 by 70 feet in dimensions. He has always carried on a general line of farming, devoting his land to wheat, corn, oats and hay. He is a believer in the use of first-class machinery and the adoption of modern methods of agriculture.

Mr. Detchon was married (first) in 1856, to Martha J. Poulton, who died in 1863. She was a daughter of Alfred Poulton and at that time was, like himself, a teacher in Colum- biana County, having previously taught at Po- land. There were four children born to this marriage, namely: Anna Belle, Alfred Otho, Charles Almar and Cyrus Franklin. Anna Belle Detchon, who died aged 25 years, re- sided for six years with her maternal grand- parents at Canton, Missouri, where she at- tended the High School, subsequently becom- ing a successful teacher in Poland township. Alfred Otho Detchon, the eldest son, attended the Poland Institute and a Normal School in Worthington, Ohio. He then engaged in teach- ing in Poland, but for some years has been in the real estate business at Pittsburg, Penn- sylvania. He married Jennie Elliot, who is a daughter of B. A. Elliot, a well-known florist of Allegheny City, and they have three chil- dren, Benjamin Cyrus, Margaret and Charles Poulton. Charles Almar Detchon, residing on the home farm and managing it for his father, attended the Poland Institute and also taught school in Poland township for some eight years. He married Julia Hunt, who is a daughter of Alfred Charles Hunt, and they have two children, Almar Hunt and Martha Anna. Cyrus Franklin, a traveling salesman, attended Poland Union Seminary and the Ohio Wesleyan University for three years and then taught in the public schools of Youngstown for two years. In 1865 Cyrus Detchon was married (second) to Hattie Shelton, who died in 1883.

Mr. Detchon is one of the leading mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Poland, in which he served as one of the stewards for 38 years. For 42 years he has been a teacher in the Sunday-school and form- erly served many years as its superintendent.

EORGE CAMPBELL FENTON, trustee of Poland township and the owner of a fine farm of 76 acres, which is situated about one-half mile north of Lowellville, was born at Austintown Center, Mahoning County, Ohio, April 15, 1836, and is a son of Abner Cone and Barbara (Campbell) Fenton.

Abner C. Fenton was born in Vermont, came to Ohio in young manhood, and worked first at the old Eaton furnace at Niles, where he learned the blacksmith trade. He then moved to Austintown Center and then to Min- eral Ridge, settling then on a farm in the southeastern part of Youngstown township, which subsequently became the property of Hamilton Harris. At the time of this trans- action, George C. Fenton was 18 years old, and as his father then went into a coal busi- ness, with Henry Manning and O. H. P. Green, of Youngstown, in the vicinity of Homestead, Pennsylvania, George C. became employed in the enterprise to which his father had devoted his attention and capital. After five years at this point, Abner C. Fenton re- moved with his family to Edinburg, Pennsyl- vania. At Niles, Ohio, he married Barbara Campbell, who was born in Liberty township, Trumbull County, Ohio, and was a daughter of George Campbell, who was born in the north of Ireland.

One year prior to moving to Edinburg, George C. Fenton had purchased a canal boat, which he operated until the canal was aban- doned. He worked his boat from Brier Hill and Girard, loading with pig iron for Pitts- burg, and sometimes made a trip that ex- tended down the Ohio River as far as Steu- benville and even to Wheeling, West Virginia. When boating could no longer be carried on, Mr. Fenton turned his attention to merchan- dising and bought an interest in a dry-goods store at Edinburg, which he carried on for about six years, when he became interested in farming. For several years he remained in the vicinity of Edinburg and then took posses- sion of what was known as the Humm farm in Poland township, which he operated two years, then moved to the Batteiger farm for

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three years, and in 1889, he purchased the farm on which he has resided ever since. He here owns a very valuable piece of property, which is kept in fine condition, and although Mr. Fenton has reached the age of 71 years, he is hale and hearty and still enjoys his farm work, which he carried on without any assist- ance.

On June 18, 1876, Mr. Fenton was mar- ried to Rebecca Hill, who is a daughter of John and Maria Hill, of Hillsville, a town that was named in honor of the Hill family. Mr. and Mrs. Fenton have had eight chil- dren, five of whom survive, namely: John, residing at Muncie, Indiana, where he is as- sistant manager of a rolling mill; Thomas, residing in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, where he is a master mechanic in a blast fur- nace; Richard, residing in Poland township, operates a dairy; Maud, who married Rev. William Barnes, who is pastor of the Disciples Church, near Newcastle, Pennsylvania; and Chauncey L. The latter, after graduating from the Lowellville schools took the severe com- petitive examination required and was ap- pointed by Congressman Taylor, a cadet to West Point, where he was graduated June 15, 1904, with the rank of second lieutenant of artillery. For a short time Lieutenant Fen- ton was stationed at Portland, Oregon, then at Cheyenne, Wyoming, and then accompanied his battery across the Pacific Ocean to Ma- nila. After six weeks there he was ordered to report at West Point, in August, 1906, where he has since been instructor in math- ematics. He is a young man of brilliant gifts. The three children of Mr. Fenton whose death he has been called upon to mourn were two sons, Orus C. and Joseph, and one daughter, Nellie, the latter of whom died aged 12 years. Orus C. Fenton and his brother were both railroad men and both were killed within a mile of Niles, on the same road, the Baltimore and Ohio line, but at different times.

Politically, Mr. Fenton is identified with the Republican party and in 1893 he was elected on that ticket, township trustee, in which office he has faithfully served ever since.

He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the order of Knights of Pythias. He be- longs to the Disciples Church.

R B. MURRAY, who has attained much prominence in the practice of his profession, is one of the leading at- torneys of Youngstown, in which city he was born, and is the son of Ira and Hannah (Carothers) Murray.

Ira Murray was born in New York in 1806, and came to Wayne, Ashtabula County, in 1821, but subsequently located in Youngs- town in 1826, where he practically passed the remainder of his life, engaged in following his trade as a tanner.

R. B. Murray was reared in Youngstown, attending the public schools of the city and la- ter attending Allegheny College, of which he is now a trustee, and the University of Mich- igan. After leaving the latter institution he opened an office in Youngstown in 1868 and embarked in the practice of his profession, and has been in continued practice since that time. For a period of 16 years, from 1870 to 1886 inclusive, he was associated with the Hon. A. W. Jones, but since then has been alone the greater part of the time, and has long enjoyed one of the most extensive and lucrative practices in the city.

Mr. Murray was married in 1872 to So- phia Bond, of Geneseo, New York. She died on November 19, 1885, leaving no children. Mr. Murray's second marriage occurred on June 30, 1897, to Wealthy A. Darby, of Meadville, Pennsylvania.

While never seeking political preferment, Mr. Murray has always been an active party man, and has always worked for the success of his party without any expectation of per- sonal reward. He is a member of the follow- ing fraternities: Phi Beta Kappa, a Greek fraternity, which was founded in 1775, by Washington, Jefferson and others, at Will- iam and Mary College, Virginia, and of which he is one of the two members now in

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Mahoning County; a member of the Ma- sonic order for many years. He is now and for most of his life has been an active member of the Trinity M. E. Church, of which he has for a number of years been a member of the board of trustees.

HRISTIAN WERREN, who owns an excellent darm of 60 acres, sit- tiated in Goshen township, on which he successfully carries on general farming and dairying, is a well- known citizen who stands very high in the esteem of his fellow-citizens. He was born December 3. 1865, in Berne, Switzerland, and is a son of Jacob Werren.

The father of Mr. Werren was born also in Switzerland, and he came with other mem- bers of his family to America about 1881, set- tling in Smith township, Mahoning County, where he still resides, carrying on agricultural pursuits. He was twice married and eight of his children still survive, as follows : Christian, residing in Goshen township; Mag- gie, residing in Alliance, Ohio; Jacob, resid- ing in Goshen township; Catherine, residing in Stark County, Ohio; Sophia, residing at Alliance; Elizabeth, residing at Salem; and Louis and Emma, both residing in Smith township.

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Century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens, 20th, Part 104

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