Century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens, 20th, Part 109

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 109

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James Porter McNeilly grew to manhood on his present farm, and was educated in the district schools and the Canfield Academy. He has devoted himself to agricultural pursuits, and the longest time he has ever passed away from his old home was the period, during the Civil War, in which he served in the Federal Army. He enlisted in 1864 in Company G, 155th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. After serving his term of enlistment he re- turned to the farm, and for some years spent the winter seasons in teaching local schools.

On February 2, 1871, Mr. McNeilly was married to Jerusha Fitch, who is a daughter of Richard and Nancy (Webb) Fitch, and a granddaughter of Richard Fitch, who came to this section in 1806, in company with his brothers, William and Charles Fitch. . The mother of Mrs. McNeilly was six months old when her parents, John and Sallie Webb, came to Mahoning County. The children of Rich- ard and Nancy Fitch were: Francis, de- ceased; Jerusha, now Mrs. McNeilly ; Addie, residing in Ellsworth township; and Colbert, who is deceased. Richard Fitch died aged

73 years, and his widow aged 77 years, both being residents of Ellsworth township.

To Mr. and Mrs. McNeilly were born two children: Francis Fitch and Fannie Alberta, the latter of whom was born October 21, 1879, and died February 20, 1881. Francis Fitch McNeilly, the only son, was born January 13, 1876, and died after a short but severe illness, in April, 1899, aged but 23 years. On Sep- tember 28, 1898, he was united in marriage with Glenadore Noble, who is a daughter of Henry and Lucy Noble, of Rosemont, form- erly of Rock Creek, Ashtabula County. The untimely death of Mr. McNeilly was a heavy blow to his loving family and was felt as a bereavement to the community, which had watched him develop from a manly youth into a man of sterling character. His friends were many, for he possessed a beautiful, sunny dis- position which attracted all to him, and those who knew him only in a business or social way, were impressed by his unusual ability, his excellent judgment and his personal in- tegrity. There are many who still miss his hearty, cheerful greeting and the cordial grasp of his hand. His peaceful resting place is in the quiet shades of the Ellsworth cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. McNeilly reside in their com- fortable nine-room residence, one of the many improvements he has put on the farm. Mr. McNeilly has been a lifelong Republican. He is a member of Kirkbride Post, No. 600, of the Grand Army of the Republic, of Berlin township.

D ANIEL I. RICHARDS, a prominent citizen of Goshen township, who served eighteen consecutive years as a justice of the peace, resides on his valuable farm of 77 acres, which is situated in section 23. Mr. Richards was born in Goshen township, Mahoning County, Ohio, October 12, 1843, and is a son of Samuel and Lydia (Brown) Richards.

Samuel Richards was born in Warren County, New York, and came to Mahoning County in 1839, settling on the farm in Gosh- en township now occupied by his son Daniel,

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where he continued to live until his death in 1854. He was a son of Daniel Richards, a native of the state of New York. In the early days he was one of the pioneer school teachers and being a man of more education than many of his neighbors, he took a leading part in public matters. He was a Whig in politics and he served as one of the first clerks of Goshen township. He married Lydia Brown, who was born in Susquehanna County, Penn- sylvania, and of their children the following survive: Stephen B., residing at Salem; Dan- iel I .; George A., residing at Elmira, New York; Hannah B., wife of Emmett Snode, residing in Stark County; and Huldah E., a resident of Goshen township.

Daniel I. Richards was reared in his native township and its schools provided him with a common school education. He has always given attention to agricultural pursuits and in addition to general farming he carries on ex- tensive dairying. His valuable herd of Jersey cows includes a number of registered cattle.

On January 16, 1883, Mr. Richards was married to Emma Fred, who was born in Bel- mont County, Ohio, and is a daughter of the late Thomas Fred. Mr. and Mrs. Richards have five surviving children, namely : Herbert F., Lola M., M. Grace, Lewis S., and Thomas W. Mr. Richards has given his children ex- cellent educational advantages, one daughter, M. Grace, at present being a student in the El- mira Female College, at Elmira, New York, and the standing of the family has assured them pleasant social connections.

Politically Mr. Richards has been identi- fied with the Republican party ever since his majority, and he has frequently been called on to serve in office, for eighteen consecutive years, as mentioned above, being a justice of the peace, and also a member of the township board of trustees. On numerous occasions he has been sent as a delegate to important con- ventions, being in the confidence of the leaders of his party. He is a man of progressive ideas and has always encouraged agricultural move- ments which promise to promote the welfare of the farming community, and is a charter member of Goshen Grange, Patrons of Hus-

bandry. He is a member of the Society of Friends at Salem. Mr. Richards is a type of the self-made man, in that he was left with heavy responsibilities at an early age, being but II years old and next to the eldest son, when his father died.

5 ORACE W. SPEAR, who is largely identified with the fruit industry in Goshen township, is also a successful agriculturist, residing on a valuable farm of 85 acres, which is situated in section 32. Mr. Spear was born at Salem, Ohio, February 17, 1857, and is a son of Dr. Benjamin W. and Elizabeth (Ware) Spear.

Alexander Spear, the grandfather of Horace W., was probably born in Scotland, but he was residing in Pennsylvania at the time of the birth of his son Benjamin, in 1822. The latter came to Ohio and for about twenty years practiced medicine at Salem. On ac- count of failing health, he turned his attention to the growing and handling of fruit, and in 1865, in order to advantageously engage in this industry, he moved to Garfield, Ohio. He owned a fruit farm in Goshen township, and for a number of years he was profitably en- gaged in buying and shipping. During his last ten years in Ohio he conducted his busi- ness under the firm name of B. W. Spear & Son, Horace W. being his partner. The firm was dissolved in 1890, when Dr. Spear and his wife moved to Pasadena, California, where they still reside. Dr. Spear has passed his 84th birthday.

Horace W. Spear was eight years old when his parents moved to Garfield, where he entered the public schools, and he later spent a short time at Mount Union College, at Alli- ance. He carries on general farming, but has his father's tastes, and in the season pays much attention to the handling of fruits. He owns a warehouse at Garfield and buys and ships. hundreds of barrels of apples all over the country. He is a well-known dealer all through the fruit belt and is a very highly valued citizen of Mahoning county. -

HON. IRA F. MANSFIELD

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Mr. Spear married Isabella Stanley, who is a daughter of John and Hannah Stanley, former residents of Salem, but now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Spear are members of the Pres- byterian Church at Salem.

In politics Mr. Spear is a Republican. He has served for two terms as trustee of Goshen township and is a public-spirited and progress- ive citizen, taking an interest in all her public affairs. He belongs to the order of Knights of Pythias, at Sebring, Ohio.

RA FRANKLIN MANSFIELD. The Mansfield family is of ancient origin and honorable achievement in all the walks of life down the line from re- mote periods in the pioneer past to the changed conditions of the progressive present. Though there are now representatives of the name in the various States of the Union, they radiated from one common center in the an- cient Wallingford of Connecticut, where the connection clustered for many generations. The family is traced back to Sir John Mans- field, who was born and died in Exeter, Devon- shire, England. His son, Richard Mansfield, was born in Exeter, England, in 1609, settled in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1639, and died January 10, 1655. He married a Miss Gilham.

Their son, Major Moses Mansfield, was born at New Haven in February, 1639, mar- ried, in 1664, Mercy Glover, and in 1697 mar- ried Abigail Yale. He was a picturesque per- sonality in the early Indian wars, and went out as Major-General of the State militia, defeating the Indians in King Philip's war, and in his honor the name of the aboriginal town of Nawbesetuck was changed to Mansfield.

His son, Jonathan Mansfield, was born in New Haven, February, 1686, married, in 1708, Sarah Alling, and, later, Abigail Dorman, and died in January, 1775.

Moses Mansfield, the son of Jonathan, was born in Wallingford in 1709, married, in 1734, Mary A. Kierstead, and, in 1748, Rachel 45

Ward, and died in 1754. He was known as. "Schoolmaster."

John Mansfield, the son of Moses, was; born in Wallingford in 1748, and married, in 1775, Ester Lewis. He was widely known as "Captain Jack," and his memory is proudly cherished by his descendants for his distin -- guished services as a soldier and a pa- triot. He served for thirty-nine years in the military forces of Connecticut, being at different times a member of the Second, Fourth and Sixth regiments and securing promotion to commissioned of- ficer in each. He entered the Revolutionary" War in February, 1775, fought through all the terrible years "that tried men's souls," and at its glorious termination held a commission as captain, which was conferred under circum- stances that reflected great honor upon the tam- ily name. It was received from the hands of General Washington himself, and states speci- fically that it was given in reward for "cool- ness, firmness, and punctuality" displayed by leading the "forlorn hope" that stormed and captured redoubt No. 10 at Yorktown, Vir- ginia. This patriotic officer, twice wounded, was retired on a pension in 1814, and died in June, 1823.

He lett a son named Ira Mansfield, who- was born in Wallingford, in 1776, and mar- ried Sukey Kirtland. They settled at At- water, Ohio, in 1803; he was a member of the militia taking part in several Indian conflicts, and died in 1849.

Isaac K. Mansfield, son of Ira Mansfield, was born at Atwater, Ohio, in 1809; he mar- ried, in 1838, Lois H. Morse. Early in life he engaged in mercantile pursuits in Poland, Ohio; he was also a commission and forward- ing merchant in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He died in 1850.

Ira F. Mansfield, son of Isaac K. Mansfield, was born in Poland, Ohio, in 1842. Besides passing through the common school grades he had one year's course at Poland College. His schooling was suddenly ended by his suspen- sion for violating the school rules by attend- ing a dancing party at President William Mc-

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Kinley's home, after which he learned the moulder's trade with Van Brocklin & Jones at Youngstown, Ohio. But this occupation was ·changed by the outbreak of the Civil War. It was not to be expected that a descendant of soldiers and patriots would hold aloof at such an hour, and so we find young Mansfield at his Poland home, in August, 1862, as having enlisted in Company H, One Hundred and Fifth Ohio Infantry. Two months later they were in the battle of Perryville, Kentucky. Company H lost every officer, and, though badly wounded, Sergeant Mansfield took com- mand, of the company and was early promoted to second lieutenant. At the battle of Chick- amauga he was made first lieutenant, and for "conspicuous bravery" in the charge and ·capture of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge, was assigned as quartermaster on Gen- eral Thomas's staff of the Fourteenth Army Corps with the rank of captain. His military service included Sherman's March to the Sea, the campaign through South and North Caro- lina and Virginia, with the final review at Washington, D. C., in 1865.

On his return to Poland, Ohio, Mr. Mans- field took a half interest in the Brick Store, but soon sold it and purchased the Cannel Coal Mines in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. Be- sides making various improvements there, Mr. Mansfield carried on a general store, and was postmaster. He is the owner of a large fruit orchard and has 200 acres of land at Negley, Ohio, with large railroad mines and fire clay works. He was justice of the peace for twenty- five years and married over eight hundred couples. In 1887 he removed to Beaver, Penn- sylvania, where his activities include those of president of the Beaver College, also of Griers- burg Academy; vice-president of the Roches- ter National Bank, and director of Wabash lines of railroads. He was representative in the Pennsylvania legislature for ten years, and has reached the 32nd degree in Masonry.

On the IIth of December, 1872, Ira F. Mansfield was united in marriage to Lucy E. Mygatt. The children of this union are : Kirt- land M., Mary L., and Henry B.

Mr. Mansfield is also a leading authority

on botany, having for several years chap- ercned a club of lady school teachers in camp- ing, and made a systematic study of wild flowers, insects and fossils. He has pub- lished a work on the wild flowers of Beaver county, with notes and many illustrations. He is a member of the Ameri- can Philosophical Society of Philadelphia, the A. A. A. Society of Washington, also several botanical clubs of Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Massachusetts.

HANNON JEFFERSON CLEM- MENS, one of the most prominent citizens of Jackson township, who is engaged in general farming on a fine farm of 115 acres, was born July 9, 1859, in Jackson township, Mahoning Coun- ty. Ohio, and is a son of George and Eliza- beth (Lipkey) Clemmens.

Nicholas Clemmens, the paternal great- grandfather, was a soldier in the War of the Revolution and among his treasured posses- sions was a cane, presented to him by Gen. George Washington. The maternal grandpar- ents were Lipkeys, and the maternal great- grandmother was a Miss Crow.

The paternal grandfather of Mr. Clem- mens was Daniel Clemmens, who came to this county from Pennsylvania, was one of the early settlers of this township and located on the farm now owned by D. R. Johnson.

George Clemmens, father of Shannon J., was born in Jackson township, in 1828, and died in February, 1903, aged 75 years. He married Elizabeth Lipkey, who was also born in this township and is now in her 75th year. She resides on the old home farm with her son, Elmer E. Clemmens. Four children were born to George and Elizabeth Clemmens : William Wesley, who died aged 19 years; Charles A., who is one of the trustees of Jack- son township, and a prominent farmer, mar- ried Josephine McMahon ; and Elmer E., who married Dora Moody, resides on the old home farm in this township.

Shannon J. Clemmens was reared on a farm and attended the public schools of his

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native township. He has always followed farming and first began housekeeping near his old home on his father's farm. In 1889 he purchased and located on the farm where he now resides, and is recognized as one of the most successful farmers and stock-raisers of this township, growing a great many hogs, cattle and sheep. His fine home is of the latest type of architecture and is equipped with all modern conveniences, and he has made many improvements on the place, including a large barn, 42 by 53 feet.

Mr. Clemmens was married August 13, 1885, to Bertha McMahon, a daughter of John C. and Margaret (Carson) McMahon. They have one child, Neva Marie, aged nine years, who attends the public schools of North Jack- son.

Politically, Mr. Clemmens is a Republican and has served for two years as a member of the school board of Jackson township. Both Mr. and Mrs. Clemmens are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of North Jack- son, of which he is also a trustee and steward, and in which he has served as superintendent of the Sunday-school. Mr. Clemmens is a stockholder in the North Jackson Telephone Company.

D P. COOPER, president of the J. A. and D. P. Cooper Company of Struthers, and also president of the Struthers Savings and Banking Company, is one of the leading men of Mahoning County and belongs to one of the old and honored families of this section. Mr. Cooper was born on his father's farm in Coits- ville township, Mahoning County, Ohio, and is a son of Robert and Catherine ( Buchanan), Cooper.

The Cooper family came originally from County Antrim, Ireland, the first settler locat- ing in 1760, in Franklin County, Pennsyl- vania. There David Cooper, grandfather of D. P. Cooper was born, who subsequently married Rebecca Armstrong, and they were the pioneers of the family in Ohio. David Cooper was a civil engineer in Frederick

County, Maryland, and he made his first visit to Coitsville township. Mahoning County, in 1798. He returned to Maryland but came back to this section in 1800, and purchased 400 acres of land offered by the Connecticut Land Company. He built the usual pioneer log cabin, perhaps with more care than was neces- sary at a later day, but as this was very early, protection had to be provided from both In- dian visitors as well as wild animals. It is said that through port holes in his house he frequently shot game, as it wandered near. David and Rebecca Cooper reared a large fam- ily, their names as preserved being as fol- lows: James, Jane, Rebecca, John, Sarah, David, Eliza, Margaret, Polly, William, Rob- ert and Armstrong, the only survivor being William Cooper, who is a farmer of Coitsville township. David Cooper died May 23. 1855. aged 94 years. He had been a soldier in the Revolutionary War, a member of Porter's Bat- talion, of Lancaster County. Pennsylvania.

Robert Cooper, father of D. P. Cooper, was born July 23, 1827, on the farm his fa- ther secured in Coitsville township, on which he spent his whole life and died November 12, 1896. He married Catherine Buchanan, who was born on her father's farm in Poland township. Mahoning County, October 21. 1831, and died June 28, 1893. She was a daughter of John Buchanan, who married Re- becca Applegate, whose father, James Apple- gate, was also a soldier in the Revolutionary War, serving with the Private Rangers, from Bedford County, Pennsylvania. He also served in the War of 1812, and died June 20, 1820, in Liberty township, Trumbull County, Ohio. Robert and Catherine Cooper had the following children: David Perry: Rebecca Laura, who married S. B. Calton. of Girard. Ohio: Sarah J., who was a professional nurse. died in the line of duty, in March, 1907: and John A., who is a farmer and stock-raiser in Coitsville township.

David P. Cooper remained on the home farm until he was 18 years of age and up to this time had been afforded but few educa- tional opportunities, his father, like many other men of his day, regarding any schooling be-

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yond the acquisition of the primary princi- ples, unnecessary as long as there was land to clear. The young man apprenticed himself for a term of three years with the Siegfried and Lemley Company, now the Youngstown Carriage and Wagon Company, and as he was ambitious, during this period he employed his evenings in advancing his education. Dur- ing the first two years he attended the Fourth Ward night school and came under the in- struction of Professor Wilson, and in the last winter he was a student in the business col- lege conducted by W. A. Hull.

The following three years Mr. Cooper spent working at his trade as a journeyman wagon and wood-worker in eastern factories, and upon his return to Coitsville he engaged in a carriage business on his account, and after about 10 years he entered into partner- ship with J. A. Cooper, his cousin. They en- tered into a carriage and wood-working busi- ness at Struthers, and in 1892 they incorpor- ated the J. A. and D. P. Cooper Company, a business concern that is known all over the country at the present time as the Cooper Gear Works, of Struthers, manufacturers of car- riage gears. Mr. Cooper has been president and general manager of this company ever since it was incorporated.

Mr. Cooper has gradually enlarged the scope of his investments and interests, and as a stockholder, is connected with a number of other prospering concerns. Since the organ- ization of the Struthers Savings and Bank- ing Company, in 1901, he has been at its head.

On Christmas eve, 1877, Mr. Cooper was married to Mary A. McClellan, who is a daughter of Capt. David and Mary A. (Mur- ray) McClellan, the former of whom was killed while leading a charge at Stone River, during the Civil War. Mr. and Mrs. Cooper have had four children, namely: Ralph, who is superintendent of the J. A. and D. P. Cooper Company, married Ina Faith Stewart, and they have one child, Mary Ina; Dahl B., who is a graduate of the Harvard Law School in the class of 1907; Mary, who is a graduate of the Rayen High School; and David Perry, who died February 13, 1904, aged five years.

Mr. Cooper has long stood as an honorable

and successful man of affairs and that he has been the architect of his own fortune but commends him to his thoughtful fellow-citi- zens. He is noted for his public spirit and for his hearty co-operation in all that concerns the welfare of the section in which he has his home.

AMUEL JAMES, a well-known and prosperous farmer, was born in Go- shen township, October 28, 1837. His ancestors were Quakers who came from London, England, to America about 1680 in the time of the re- ligious persecutions of Charles II. They set- tled in New Jersey, afterwards going to Vir- ginia, where they lived for generations.

John James, the grandfather, crossed the mountains from Virginia to Ohio in 1801. He entered a half section of primitive forest land in Goshen township, Mahoning County, and with his wife, Martha (Bangham) James, of Brandywine, Pennsylvania, settled upon it as a pioneer. Abel James, the eldest of their 10 children, was born in 1802. He married, in 1825, Hannah Garwood, of Culpeper, Vir- ginia. They settled on a hundred acres of his father's homestead which was subsequently their home. A family of five children was born to them: Emeline, Phebe, Lydia, Sam- uel and Hannah K.

Abel James was a man of prominence in his community, public-spirited and progressive. His early political sympathies were with the old Whig party, whose leaders in this sec- tion of Ohio were Ben Wade and Joshua R. Giddings. Later he became a Republican. He was active in the anti-slavery movement of the '50's, and his home was often visited by the anti-slavery agitators of that time. The neighboring old Quaker town of Salem was famous as a stronghold of the advocates of universal freedom, and was one of the most active stations of the "Underground Rail- road," which conveyed slaves to freedom in Canada. Abel James's two surviving chil- dren are Hannah K. and Samuel. The former, who was for years a teacher in Cleveland, and principal of one of the public schools of that

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city, is the widow of the late R. O. Camp- bell, of Salem, Ohio, in which place she re- sides.

Samuel James, subject of this sketch, mar- ried Nancy Margaret Wharton, daughter of the late William C. and Margaret (Davis) Wharton, the Whartons being one of the old- est and most prominent families of Smith township. He became a prosperous farmer and stock-raiser, retaining the old home farm until 1896, when he retired to a small but valuable farm of 20 acres in Smith township. He still retains, however, the old homestead in Goshen. Mr. James is highly esteemed as a man of ripe judgment and personal in- tegrity, keeping in touch with local, national, and world progress.

E LIAS KENREICH, who resides in sec- tion 16, Green township, where he owns a finely cultivated farm of 230 acres, is one of the substantial men of this part of Mahoning Coun- ty. He was born in Green township, Mahon- ing County, Ohio. February . 15, 1831, and is a son of Michael and Elizabeth (Dustman) Kenreich.

The Kenreich family is of German extrac- tion and the father of Elias Kenreich was born in Lancaster County, and the mother in Wash- ington County, Pennsylvania, of parents who were born in Germany. Extended and de- tailed mention of this prominent Green town- ship family will found in the sketch of Noah S. Kenreich, in this volume.

Elias Kenreich was reared with his broth- ers and sisters in Green township and they at- tended the district schools together. Elias chose farming as his occupation and has never regretted the same, having met with very sat- isfactory success in the cultivation of his land and the raising of his cattle and stock. It has required a great deal of hard work to place his large farm of 230 acres in its present fine con- dition, but in his labors he has been assisted by his capable sons, and they now own a valu- able property.

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Century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens, 20th, Part 109

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