Century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens, 20th, Part 114

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 114

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For a number of years Mr. McElevey has been a member of the First Presbyterian Church of this city. He belongs to the Youngstown Club and to the Mahoning Golf Club.

m ORDECAI L. PETTIT, a promi- nent citizen and well-known and successful agriculturist, who has served Goshen township for three consecutive years as assessor, re- sides on his excellent farm of about 50 acres, which is situated in section 30. Mr. Pettit was born January 29, 1860, at Damascus, Ohio, and he is a son of Daniel R. and Rebecca W. (Garretson) Pettit.

Daniel R. Pettit was born in Ohio and was a son of Daniel Pettit, who came to Mahoning County from Pennsylvania. The former was a merchant and kept a general store at Salem and Damascus, removing late in life to his farm near Garfield, Ohio, where he died in 1876. He married Rebecca W. Garretson, who was born in Pennsylvania, and they had eight children, the survivors being: Annie E., who married George B. Kinsey, residing in Goshen township: William H., residing in Goshen township; Joseph E., residing at Sa- lem; Adella B., widow of Otto Bechtold, re- siding at Cleveland: and Mordecai L. and Laura, residing in Goshen township.

Mordecai L. Pettit was about seven years of age when the family moved from Damascus to the farm near Garfield, which is now the property of H. W. Spear. He continued to reside there until the death of his parents, about ten years later, attending the Garfield schools, and, for three years, the Damascus Academy. He then began to teach school, a useful field of activity he worked in for the next twenty-two years, during a part of the time teaching only in the winter seasons. Since his marriage he has resided on his well- kept farm and has taken much interest in its development.

On March 28, 1895, Mr. Pettit was mar- ried to Mrs. Anna W. Malmsberry, who was the widow of the late Charles B. Malmsberry, of Goshen township. She is a daughter of Jonathan and Mary (Morgan) Pidcock, for- merly of this township. Mr. and Mrs. Pettit have one daughter, Rebecca. Religiously they belong to the Society of Friends. Their circle of social connection is very wide and their hospitable home is the scene of many pleasant gatherings. Mr. Pettit is one of the town- ship's progressive but also thoughtful 'citi- zens. He is always ready to assist in further- ing enterprises which he is assured will be of permanent value to the community at large, but looks with little favor on schemes of a speculative character. In political sentiment he is a Republican.

F. THOMPSON, architect, with of- fices at No. 225 East Federal street. R Youngstown, has been a resident of this city for over a quarter of a cen- tury and has been interested in the material development of a large part of its most attractive portion. He was born in 1844. at Cleveland, Ohio.

Mr. Thompson learned the carpenter's trade, in early manhood, with his brother, Wil- liam G. Thompson, in Illinois, where he re- mained three years. in the meantime acquaint- ing himself with the rudiments of his present profession. During the Civil War, he served

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three years, mainly in the South and South West.

Upon his return to Cleveland, Mr. Thomp- son was made superintendent of construction for R. R. Herrick & Horace Fuller, and re- mained with them for five years, during which time he continued his study of architecture. He then entered upon architectural work, with Joseph Ireland, of Cleveland, and three years later, came to Youngstown to superintend the construction of the Commercial National Bank and also the magnificent residence of the late C. H. Andrews. He decided to locate here permanently and opened an office in which he remained alone until 1892, when he admitted his son, E. R. Thompson, to partnership. The work of this firm extends all over this portion of Ohio and the larger number of the ornate, beautiful residences and substantial business blocks at Youngstown, have been erected from their designs.

In 1866. Mr. Thompson was married in Louisiana, to Mary DeAntagnan, who was born in France, and they have three children, namely : John J., of Buffalo, New York; Anna M., wife of M. Jewett Megown, of Youngs- town; and E. R., who is associated with his father.

As an enterprising citizen. Mr. Thompson has always taken an active interest in city af- fairs. He has served for four years on the board of city commissioners. Fraternally he is a Knight Templar Mason. He is a member of the Episcopal Church.

HARLES B. WELLS, executor and trustee of the estate of Thomas H. Wells, a large capitalist who was a pioneer developer of the great coal industry of the Mahoning Valley, has been identified with several great compan- ies during his residence in Ohio. He was born on January 1. 1862, at Brooklyn, New York. and is a son of the late Lindsey J. Wells, who was an architect and engineer at Brook- lyn, where he died in 1897.

Charles B. Wells was reared and educated

at Brooklyn. In young manhood he came to the mines at Mineral Ridge, Mahoning County, where he was an employ of the Tod- Wells Company, until 1889, when he removed to Niles and then was employed for one year, with Henry Wick. Thence he went to the Ohio Steel Company as cashier and chief clerk. In October, 1905, he resigned his position in order to accept his present responsibilities and to better look after a number of other enter- prises in which he is interested, both at Youngstown and at Niles. He is a member and an elder in the Presbyterian Church in the latter city. He has established his business quarters at No. 213 Federal Building, Youngs- town.

Mr. Wells was married October 26, 1887. to Miss Ella I. Jones of Mineral Ridge, a daughter of David P. Jones, grandfather of Isaac Halford. Her mother was Sophia ( Hal- ford) Jones. The father was a native of Wales and the mother of England.

R OBERT A. MANCHESTER, a lead- ing business man at Canfield, deal- ing in hardware, stoves, farm imple- C ments, paint and furniture, belongs to one of the old pioneer families of this section. Mr. Manchester was born Au- gust 13, 1838, in a hewn log house in Dublin. two miles southwest of Canfield, Canfield township, Mahoning County, Ohio, and is a son of Isaac and Eleanor (Wilson) Man- chester.

Benjamin Manchester, the grandfather of Robert A., was born in Pennsylvania and was a son of Isaac Manchester, and was the first of the family to come to Ohio. He settled in the deep woods in Canfield township, which was then in Trumbull County, and there reared children by two marriages, those of the first being: Mary Ann, Philip, James and Isaac. His second marriage was to Margaret McGowen, and the children born to that mar- riage were: Eliza, Phebe, Martha and Rob- ert, all of whom are deceased. Benjamin Man- chester died in 1857. For many years he had

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MRS. HETTIE J. CLARK

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been a man of consequence in his neighbor- hood and served as township trustee.

Isaac Manchester was young when his father settled in Canfield township, and he grew to manhood on the home farm and was educated in the best schools the neighborhood afforded. He was twice married, and after the death of his first wife he went to Indiana, where he was married a second time and sub- sequently returned to Ohio and died in Can- field township in 1886. His six children were all born to his first marriage, as follows : Hugh A., who is serving as mayor of Can- field; Robert Asa; Margaret, deceased, who was the wife of Isaac Fory; John; Elizabeth, who is the wife of Frank Smaltz; and Benja- min O.

Robert Asa Manchester remained at home until his marriage, assisting on the farm and going to school as occasion offered, and when he was 19 years old he taught a term in Green township before joining his uncle, George Rank, in Indiana. The latter owned a farm . of 1,200 acres, all in one tract, and Mr. Man- chester remained working there for one year, when he returned to the home farm in Can- field township and also assisted his uncle, Rob- ert Manchester, in sawing shingles. After his marriage he worked for his father-in-law for a number of years on the farm and then in- vested in partnership with his brother-in-law, Edward Burgett, in a sawmill, which they operated until it was accidentally burned down. The owners did not rebuild and Mr. Manches- ter returned to agricultural pursuits, renting land until 1895. In this year he moved to Canfield and went into partnership with his two sons, who had established the present business two years previously. The firm is known as the Manchester Company and it is located on West Broad street, where a large room is utilized to show their goods of which they carry a large stock. A specialty is made of roofing and plumbing.

On November 14, 1861, Mr. Manchester was married to Anna E. Bowman, who was born March 10, 1844, in Goshen township, Mahoning County, Ohio, and who is a daugh- ter of the late Col. Josiah and Sarah (Strong) 47

Bowman. Colonel Bowman secured his title as a member of the State militia. He was an early settler in Goshen township and there both he and his wife died. Their children were: Allen: Elizabeth, who married Joseph Cessna : Anna E .: Amelia, who married Ed- ward Burgett : and Jefferson D.

Mr. and Mrs. Manchester have had the following children: Seymour O. (residing at Niles, Ohio, where he is in the hardware busi- ness), who married Mary Bloxom and has two children, Carl and Sarah ; Clement, resid- ing in Ellsworth township, engaged in farm- ing, married Mary Lower and has four chil- dren, Warren, John, Fern and an infant : Sarah Ella, who married Clement Tate, and has six children, Robert, Thela, Clara, Elizabeth, Bryan and Orrin; Josiah Isaac, residing in an elegant residence on West Main street, Can- field, in partnership with his father, married Gertrude Stitle and has three children, Harry S., Robert Asa and Anna; and Allen, also associated with his father, who marriel Lulu Spaulding and has two children, Charlotte and Pearl.

Politically, Mr. Manchester is a Democrat and on numerous occasions his fellow-citizens have called him to office. He served as town- ship clerk of Ellsworth township and has also been assessor and township trustee. With his family, Mr. Manchester belongs to the Pres- byterian Church, of which he has served as trustee.

m RS. HETTIE J. CLARK. In Mrs. Hettie J. Clark, of Youngstown, is found a lady who has been closely connected with the works of charity and philanthropy during the larger part of her life, and who is no- where more thoroughly admired, respected and beloved than in thiscity. Mrs. Clark was born April 10, 1839. at Red Stone, Fayette Coun- ty, Pennsylvania, and is a daughter of the late Rev. John Tune Smith, who formerly was one of the most prominent ministers of the Christian Church in Ohio.

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The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Clark were natives of England. Their two children, a son and daughter, were early left orphans and were adopted by good families in Mary- land. John Tune, the son, was reared at Baltimore. In 1842, at which time he was minister in the Disciples, or Christian Church, he brought his family to Ohio and from that time on, until the close of a saintly life, was a faithful minister and expounder of the teach- ings of Christ as expounded by Alexander Campbell. Dr. Smith died in the spring of 1861, at Hiram, Ohio, aged 57 years. At this point centered many of the interests of this church in the state and here its largest educa- tional institution flourished. In later years it came into the lime-light of the world as the former home of James A. Garfield, President of the United States. It was Elder Garfield who preached the funeral sermon over the re- mains of his friend and former co-worker, Dr. Smith. The mother of Mrs. Clark survived until the summer of 1874.

Of the seven children born to Rev. John T. Smith and wife, these survive: Mrs. Edith Robbins, who has survived her husband and three children, Joseph Trimble, physician and surgeon, who served four years in the Civil War; Frances, who conducted a large business of her own, at Akron, Ohio, and now resides in Long Beach, California; Clayton Cheyney, a distinguished clergyman of the Christian Church ; and Mrs. Hettie J. Clark, the especial subject of this biography. William Hayes was lieutenant of the 14th Ohio Battery, and died shortly after his resignation, in 1863, from disabilities received in the service. John Henry was a corporal of the 6th U. S. In- fantry and was honorably discharged after three years' service, having fought in thirty- five battles ; his death took place just one month after his discharge.

Hettie J. Smith was mainly educated at Hiram College, and while there came under the direct instruction of James A. Garfield, at that period president of the college, for whom she always entertained feelings of esteem and ven- eration. She was a young woman of unusual promise, and was but 16 years of age when

she began to teach school, subsequently becom- ing a successful and popular educator. Her career in the school room was terminated by her marriage, but she has never entirely re- tired to the privacy of domestic life, her tal- ents, inclinations and ambitions having led her along more conspicuous pathis.

On May 9, 1867, Hettie J. Smith was united in marriage with Dr. M. S. Clark, who has long been an eminent medical practitioner in Mahoning County. The three children of this marriage were: Clayton A., born Septem- ber 25, 1874, who died February 10, 1887; James A., born June 10, 1878, who died Sep- tember 23. 1879; and Louis P., who was born July 9, 1880.

Since the age of 12 years Mrs. Clark has been a member of the Christian Church and through all the succeeding years she has been one of the active and efficient workers in the cause of Christianity. In her own religious connection she has been of the greatest service .and many responsibilities have been placed upon her willing shoulders. For some years she served as chairman of the First Christian Church finance committee; was secretary of the missionary society and served as its presi- dent for several years ; served one year as pres- ident and also as secretary of the 22nd dis- trict; and was superintendent of children's work in Ohio for some years, during which period she made many admirable and effective addresses. Since the organization of Central Christian Church she has served as secretary and president of the auxiliary of the C. W. B. M., and is at the present time its superin- tendent. She has taught in the Central Chris- tian Sunday school since its inception and has also taught in the First Christian Church Sun- day school. In Youngstown her work among the city poor is well known; she has long been a welcome and familiar figure at the City Hos- pital, at the Young Men's Christian Associa- tion, and wherever there is need of a woman's sympathy or understanding help. She has al- ways been an active member of the Woman's Relief Corps and has held almost all of the local offices. Her life is filled with the per- formance of helpful duties for others and no

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name is held in greater reverence in this city, where it is best known. She attends to the many calls made on her time and to the de- mands of an immense correspondence, inci- dent to her many interests, at the office and home of herself and Dr. Clark, Nos. 816-818 Elm street, Youngstown. A portrait of Mrs. Hettie J. Clark is presented on a neighboring page of this volume.

6 EORGE EVELYN KNESAL, one of Petersburg's leading citizens, and a member of the prominent hardware firm of Knesal Bros, was born April 23, 1873, in Springfield township, and is a son of Andrew and Sarah E. ( Moore) Knesal.

The father of Mr. Knesal was born in Wurtemburg, Germany. in 1828, and was brought to America in 1832. In 1856 he mar- ried Sarah E. Moore, who was born just across the Pennsylvania line, within three miles of Petersburg. Both parents survive and Mr. Knesal had the privilege of attending their golden wedding, October 9, 1906. Of their eleven children, George E. is the youngest.

George E. Knesal attended the Petersburg schools and before entering into business he took a course at the Iron City Commercial Col- lege at Pittsburg, where he was graduated in 1892. When the firm of Knesal Bros. was or- ganized, in December, 1903, Mr. Knesal be- came a partner and has been identified promi- nently with this successful business ever since. He has interests in the First National Bank at East Palestine, and in the Unity Township Telephone Company. With his brother, John M., he has been a member of the Petersburg orchestra and the Petersburg band since their organization, the family being one of marked musical talent.

On February 19, 1902, Mr. Knesal was married to Jennie G. Miller, who was born at Petersburg May 17, 1874, and who is a daugh- ter of John F. and Mary (Zieger) Miller, the former of whom conducts the leading general store at Petersburg. She is a granddaughter

of John H. and Elizabeth ( Ilgenfritz) Miller, and a great-granddaughter of Henry and Elizabeth ( Seidner ) Miller, the former of whom was one of the earliest settlers in Springfield township. Mr. and Knesal are members of the Presbyterian Church.

In national affairs, Mr. Knesal supports the candidates and policies of the Democratic party, but in local politics he considers fre- quently the man, rather than the party. Like other members of his family, he is always ready to work for the best interests of the town. He is a member of Starlight lodge, No. 224, Knights of Pythias, at Petersburg.

B. VAN ALSTINE, proprietor of the Youngstown Lumber Company, is one of the city's leading business men and is identified with many of the prospering concerns which handle large capital and serve to bring this city into great prominence as an industrial center. Mr. Van Alstine was born in Canada, where he was reared and educated.

When about 19 years of age, Mr. Van Al- stine went to Connecticut and after two years went to the Pennsylvania oil fields, where he remained about two years longer, during the greater part of this time working at the car- penter's trade. In the fall of 1866 he came to Youngstown and worked at his trade and as a general contractor until the fall of 1875, when he went into the lumber business. He became associated with three others and they bought a planing mill and lumber yard and established the Youngstown Lumber Company. Since then various changes have been made in the composition of the firm, but Mr. Van Alstine has always retained his interest, and since 1898 he has been sole proprietor. He does a gen- eral planing mill business on a large scale, has immense lumber yards and gives employment to from twenty to twenty-five employes.

In addition to the above mentioned busi- ness, Mr. Van Alstine is interested in the Pfau & Faunce Realty Company, of which he is a

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director, and in the Youngstown Foundry and Machine Company, in which he is a stock- holder, as he is also in the South-West Land Company and in other business concerns. An astute and honorable business man, he is a val- ued member of the Youngstown Chamber of Commerce.

In 1868 Mr. Van Alstine was married to Susanah Wehr, of Youngstown, and they have three children, Blanche W., Jessie and Ruth. The family belong to Trinity Methodist Epis- copal Church, Mr. Van Alstine being a mem- ber of the board of trustees.

E DWARD LOUIS KNESAL. On ac- count of the large distilling interests centered at New Middletown, the po- sition of storekeeper and gauger for the government is a very responsible and important one. Since March, 1901, this office has been held by Edward Louis Knesal, who was born at Petersburg, Ohio, July 31, 1867, and is a son of John George and Henri- etta (Whitmyre) Knesal.

John George Knesal was born in Germany and was eight years old when he was brought to America by his parents, who located at New Springfield, Ohio. Of their eleven children seven survive, as follows: Henrietta, who mar- ried Samuel Koch, residing in Detroit, has a daughter who is older than our subject ; Charles, residing at Greenport, Long Island, New York, who is a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church; Alice, who married C. M. Morse, who was engaged in ministerial work until his health failed and then learned stenog- raphy and is now court stenographer at Bea- ver, Beaver County, Pennsylvania; Emma, who married Dr. Joel Cooperrider, residing at Brownsville, Ohio; Lizzie, who married John Shiller, residing at Petersburg; Edward Louis, and Nora, who married Duncan Livingstone, residing at New Middletown.

After completing his education in the schools of Petersburg, Edward L. Knesal learned shoemaking, a trade he followed for fifteen years in connection with conducting a

shoe store. For three years prior to coming to New Middletown, in January, 1901, he was in business at Newcastle, Pennsylvania. He was officially connected with the government offices at New Springfield before he was trans- ferred to New Middletown, but this place has been his home ever since he entered the service. His territory includes the 18th District of Ohio.

On April 21, 1890, Mr. Knesal was mar- ried to Kate Shillinger, who was born at New Middletown, and is a daughter of Jonathan and Louisa ( Hahn) Shillinger, the former of whom conducted a store at New Middletown for many years and for twenty years was a justice of the peace. Mrs. Shillinger still sur- vives and resides with Mr. and Mrs. Knesal. The latter have had three children, the one sur- vivor being Charles Morse, who was born June 22, 1895. The two older children were twins, who died at birth.

Mr. Knesal and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Petersburg. He has always been interested in Sunday school work and at one time was superintend- ent of this Sunday school, being the youngest official of that kind in the conference. He has also been church trustee. In politics he is an ardent Republican. He is a member of Star- light Lodge, No. 224, Knights of Pythias, at Petersburg. Mr. Knesal is one of the city's energetic and reliable citizens. He is serving as a member of the board of education.

J. PARRY, one of Youngstown's successful business citizens, who is engaged in a general roofing and spouting business, was born in Pennsylvania in 1863, and was reared both in Mercer County, that state, and in Trumbull County, Ohio. Early in life he worked in the coal mines, in which occupation he continued for about five or six years. In 1880 he came to Youngstown and learned the slater's trade, at which he worked for a period of 13 years with Mr. Blunt. He then followed this trade for some time in various other

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places, and finally engaged in the general roofing business, locating on Oak Hill ave- nue, where he remained until March, 1904. Afterwards he moved to 738 Ma- honing avenue, where he is at present lo- cated. Mr. Parry was married in 1884 to Lillie J. Dando, of Youngstown, Ohio, and they have three children: Edward P., who is in business with his father; Lorinda and George. Mr. Parry is a member of the Ep- worth Methodist Episcopal Church and was for two years district steward, and for five years a member of the finance committee. Fra- ternally, he is a member of the Knights of Golden Eagle, of the Foresters, and of the Maccabees.

L EWIS J. JACOBS, court constable at Youngstown, and one of the older continuous residents of this city, was born in 1832 in Coitsville township, Mahoning County, Ohio, and is a son of Nicholas and Isabella ( Brown) Jacobs.

Nicholas Jacobs was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, and came to Mahoning County shortly before the birth of his son, Lewis. His wife, Isabella, was born in Vir- ginia. Nicholas Jacobs was a ship carpenter in early life, but after settling in an agricul- tural district, became a farmer and continued one until his death.

L. J. Jacobs was mainly reared in Coits- ville township, but in his boyhood had, on vari- ous occasions, lived in Youngstown, acting as a clerk in his uncle's store. In 1861 he settled at Youngstown and worked as a carpenter un- til the spring of 1864, when he enlisted in Company B, 155th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. for service in the Civil War and was out four months, mostly in Virginia and North Caro- lina. Upon his return from the army, Mr. Jacobs worked on the farm in Coitsville town- ship for two years, but in the spring of 1867. he returned to Youngstown and resumed work at his trade. Later he accepted a position on the police force and remained in official life for two years, when he again returned to his trade.

working at it until he was appointed superin- tendent of the city market. He served in this capacity from 1888 to 1891, again returning to his trade for some years. In 1900 he was appointed to his present office, that of court constable.

In December, 1854, Mr. Jacobs was mar- ried to Sarah J. Armstrong, who died in May, 1870, four of her children surviving, as fol- lows: W. L. Jacobs, manager of the Stam- baugh-Thompson Company, of Youngstown; Carrie L., wife of John Heasly, of California ; Elmer E., of Birmingham, Alabama; and Mark B., who is in the plumbing business at Youngstown. On April 9, 1874, Mr. Jacobs was married second, to Agnes Irons, of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, who died in September, 1903. The three surviving children of this union are: Guy, who is clerk for the chief of police at Youngstown ; Ralph I., who is em- ployed at the Youngstown Post Office; and L. J., who is in the plumbing business.

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Century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens, 20th, Part 114

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