Century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens, 20th, Part 116

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 116

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).

W. DAVIS. Prominent among the business men of Youngstown is H. W. Davis, who has, perhaps, been more extensively engaged here in handling valuable real estate than any other individual. He is manager of the South End Lumber Company and other important business connections. Mr. Davis was born at Youngstown, Ohio, in 1843, and is a son of Ebenezer Davis.

Ebenezer Davis died in 1876. He had crossed the plains to California, in 1849. met with good success and on his return, located at Youngstown, where he was a coal operator for a number of years.

H. W. Davis was reared and educated in his native city. He entered the Brown-Bonnell rolling mill when little more than a boy, and

remained with that firm for 11 years. Mr. Davis then embarked in an insurance and real estate business, the former branch of which he has discontinued. He deals mainly in city prop- erty, buys large tracts and plats and after im- proving, sells to great advantage. He has erected fully 150 residences in this city and has done much to add to the beauty and value of every tract of land that he has handled. Aside from his personal business he has been one of the city's most progressive and enter- prising men. He promoted and organized the Mahoning Abstract Company ; promoted and helped organize the Banner Electric Company, of which he is still a stockholder; was one of the reorganizers of the Mineral Ridge Manu- facturing Company, manufacturers of coal mine supplies, a very successful enterprise, of which he is a director and stockholder ; he also promoted the South End Lumber Company, of which he is the manager. On September 10, 1887, he was married to Lenora Thulen, who is a daughter of Henry Thulen, an old resident of this city. They have two children, Helen and Fred.

Politically, Mr. Davis is a Republican and a prominent member of the party in this sec- tion. In 1889, he was elected recorder of Ma- honing County, and in 1895, he was again elected to the same office. At the late Repub- lican State convention held at Columbus, he was sent as a delegate from this section.

R EV. CHARLES F. MIDDLETON, who belongs to the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church, is also one of the representative business men of Goshen township, largely in- terested in the sawmill industry. Mr. Middle- ton was born December 1, 1862, on the farm of 35 acres on which he resides and owns. which is situated in Goshen township, not far from the village of Patmos. He is a son of Levi S. and Elizabeth (Meridith) Middleton. The parents of Mr. Middleton were born in Berks County, Pennsylvania, and came to Mahoning County some 60 years ago, settling

929

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

on the farm in section 4, on which their son resides, when all this land was covered with forest. Levi S. Middleton became one of the township's most useful citizens and when his death occurred the whole community felt the loss. His widow still survives, having reached her 86th year. Of their children, six survive, namely : Elwood O., residing in Montcalm County, Michigan; Beulah, wife of George Hinchman, residing in Goshen township; Conley T., a resident of Marshall County, Indiana; Eliza J., wife of Samuel E. Brad- shaw, residing in Goshen township; William L., residing at Patmos, Ohio, which is the home also of his venerable mother; and Charles F. Levi S. Middleton was a member of the Friends Church.

Charles F. Middleton was reared in Goshen township and all his early associations center around his present home, on which he has lived all his life. His education was ob- tained in the public schools at Patmos, and his theological training has been secured through a thorough course of religious reading and a close study of those subjects which pertain to the advancement of the human race. During his younger years he lived on the farm and as- sisted in its development, but later found him- self better fitted for work in other directions. He learned the carpenter's trade and for a time engaged in contracting for stone culvert work, afterwards becoming interested in lumbering. For several years he bought timber and cut and hauled logs, and for the past four years has been operating a portable sawmill. He is a man of excellent business ability and through his honorable and upright methods, has estab- lished a wide reputation for sterling integrity.

Mr. Middleton was married (first) to Wilma A. Templin, who was a daughter of James W. Templin, formerly of Goshen town- ship. To this marriage two children were born : Mary O., who married Clyde Owens, residing in Goshen township; and Carrie E .. who married Homer Greenamyre, residing in Goshen township. Mr. Middleton was mar- ried (second) to Rilda Stallsmith, who is a daughter of the late Allen Stallsmith, of Ells-

worth township, and they have had three chil- dren, the two survivors being : Florence B. and Paul M. The family belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church.

ILLIAM POWELL, general super- intendent of the sewerage system, at Youngstown, is a careful and efficient public officer. He was born in Wales, in 1858, and he was four years of age when his parents brought him to America and to Youngstown.

Mr. Powell was reared and educated in this city and as soon as his age permitted, he en- tered the rolling mills of the Brown-Bonnell Company. He remained with that concern from 1869 until 1893, when he was appointed to his present position, one of large importance in a city the size of Youngstown.

On August 26, 1887, Mr. Powell was mar- ried to Kate Francis, who died on February 8, 1905. She is survived by three children, namely : Francis M., William Edward and Hannah.

Mr. Powell has been a very active member of the Republican party for a number of years and he was present at both National conven- tions which nominated the late President Mc- Kinley. He is a member of the Foraker Re- publican Club. Fraternally he is a Master Mason and an Odd Fellow. He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church.

HOMAS J. HELRIGLE, foreman of the Youngstown Carriage and Wagon Company, an important busi- ness concern at Youngstown, has been identified with the interests of this city for the past 21 years. He was born at Dayton, Ohio, October 5, 1850.

Thomas J. Helrigle was reared and edu- cated at Dayton, where he resided until he was 21 years of age, in the meanwhile having learned the trade of carriage trimmer. This

930

HISTORY OF MAHONING COUNTY

he worked at up to 1885 in different parts of Ohio and in Indiana and Kentucky, but in the latter year he came to Youngstown and entered the employ of the Youngstown Carriage and Wagon Company, taking charge of the trim- ming department. He was made foreman and has filled this position ever since. Mr. Hel- rigle has some investments in other industries at Youngstown and has manufacturing in- terests in the West. Since taking up his resi- dence in this city, he has proven himself a first- class citizen, at present is a member of the board of education and has served for two years as a member of the city council.

In August, 1874, Mr. Helrigle was mar- ried, at Xenia, Ohio, to Nellie Clevell, and they have two sons, Thomas E., who is a traveling salesman, and Emil B., who is a student at the Rayen High School. For many years Mr. Helrigle has been a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to the Blue Lodge, Chapter, Commandery and Shrine. He is past master of Western Star Lodge of the Youngstown Chapter, and has been secretary since 1893. He is also an active member of the Elks.

J OSEPH F. REDMAN, whose progres- sive methods and excellent agricul- cultural management, have made his 100 acres of fine land in section 33, one of the best farms in Goshen town- ship, is a native of Smith township, Mahoning County, Ohio, where he was born December 25, 1867. His parents were Daniel D. and Emma (Fuhr) Redman.

The father of Mr. Redman, who died when Joseph F. was a child, was a native of Penn- sylvania. He married Emma Fuhr, who was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, and after the birth of Joseph F., the family settled in Knox township, in the above county. The mother still resides there, having contracted a second marriage, with John Wagner. Mr. Wagner has one sister, Mary A., who married B. B. Lewis, and resides in Smith township.

Joseph F. Redman was reared to maturity in Knox township and there secured a common

school education. His business training has been entirely along agricultural lines and he has made farming his main occupation. He has many progressive ideas which he has put into practice and his land is thus made more valuable. He carries on general farming and stockraising. On January 26, 1903, Mr. Red- man was married to Anna C. Oesch, who was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, September 20, 1874, and is a daughter of Ulrich and Eliz- abeth (Denny) Oesch. Her parents were na- tives of Switzerland and were early settlers in Columbiana County. Mr. and Mrs. Redman have five children : Elsie M., Ernest O., Leon- ard D., Sarah E., and Arthur L. Mr. and Mrs. Redman are members of the Reform . Church. In politics, Mr. Redman is a Repub- lican. He has never accepted any office except that of school director, serving as such because he is much interested in the public school sys- tem. He is a man of sterling character and has the confidence and esteem of his neighbors.

C HARLES F. MATTESON, who has been a resident of Mahoning County for the past 25 years, is engaged in the real estate and insurance busi- ness at 205 West Federal street, Youngstown, Ohio. He was born in Medina County, Ohio, in 1856, and was reared and ed- ucated in that county, after which he worked for a time in his father's store. His father, Horace E. Matteson, was the first agent of the Ohio Farmers Insurance Company which was organized in 1848, and from 1865 to 1881 he had the agency for Mahoning County, but in 1881 he gave it up to his son Charles, the subject of this notice.

After Mr. Matteson took the agency for the Ohio Farmers' Insurance Company he first located in Canfield, Mahoning County, but soon after moved to Youngstown, where he has since been the representative of that company, and is also engaged to some extent in the real estate business. Mr. Matteson is perhaps ac- quainted with more men in Mahoning County

931

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

than any other man in the county. He is vice-president of the Las Tunas Citrus Fruit Company, of Cuba, of which his son Clark H., is superintendent. The latter is now located in Cuba.

Mr. Matteson was first married in 1882 to Miss Florence Stone; she died in 1902 leav- ing one son, Clark H., above mentioned. He married, second, in 1904, Fidelia Ripple. Fraternally, Mr. Matteson is connected with Youngstown Lodge No. 403, I. O. O. F., of Youngstown, and is also a member of the Camp and Canton, and a past grand of the or- der. He is a member of the Westminster Presbyterian Church.

F. DUESING, one of the old estab- lished merchants at Youngstown, who has been identified with mercantile life here for the past 35 years, was born in Germany and is a son of Frederick Duesing, who still survives and resides at Youngstown.

Mr. Duesing was two years old when he accompanied his parents to America. They lived for three years at New Castle, Pennsyl- vania, and then came to Youngstown, where H. F. was reared to manhood and was given a good education in the public schools. Af- ter serving for about a year and a half, with the firm of E. M. McGillen Company, in 1890 he engaged in mercantile business at No. 2246 West Federal street. In addition to this busi- ness, Mr. Duesing operates a branch grocery store on Highland street. He has various other interests, being a stockholder in a num- ber of successful enterprises.

In 1893, Mr. Duesing was married to Bertha Bayer, who is a daughter of Capt. John Bayer, and they have two children, Vera May and Frederick H. The family belongs to the First Lutheran Church.

Politically Mr. Duesing has always been an active Democrat and on numerous occasions has been signally honored by his party. He has filled a position on the board of educa- tion as the choice of both Democrats and Re-

publicans. He is president of the State board of Retail Grocers' Association. Fraternally he is a Scottish Rite Mason and belongs also to the Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pyth- ias and the Elks.

P ERKINS BROTHERS, proprietors of The Perkins Hardware & Roofing Co., one of the leading business firms at Youngstown, in the general hard- ware and roofing line and located at No. 2250 West Federal street, was established May 15, 1899, by George R., Joseph R. and John R. Perkins. The business includes gen- eral hardware, slate and tin roofing and furn- aces. George R. Perkins, the oldest member of the firm, was born at Youngstown and is a son of Richard Perkins, who was engaged here in a coal business for years. George R. was reared and educated in this city and began bus- iness in the tobacco line, but later became con- nected with the iron interests of this section and for 20 years has been identified with the Youngstown Steel Company, for the past 10 years having been superintendent of furnaces. He is one of Youngstown's most reliable cit- izens.

Joseph R. Perkins, the second member of the firm, was formerly shipping clerk and pay- master of the Port Royal Coal and Coke Company. He now takes care of the tin roof- ing business for the firm, all over the State.

John R. Perkins, the youngest member of the firm, was born at Wethersfield. Trumbull Coun- ty, Ohio, and was about 10 years old when he came to Youngstown. He was connected with the Stambaugh-Thompson Hardware Com- pany before entering into his present business. All three brothers are practical, experienced men and they control a large concern.

In 1901, John R. Perkins was married to Rachel Wooley, and they have one son, Jere Richard, named for his paternal grandfather. Mr. and Mrs. Perkins belong to the First Presbyterian Church.

The directors and officers of The Perkins Hardware and Roofing Company are as fol-

932

HISTORY OF MAHONING COUNTY

lows: President, John R. Perkins; vice-pres- ident, George R. Perkins; secretary and treas- urer, Joseph R. Perkins. Directors: James Perkins, George Perkins, Joe Perkins, John R. Perkins and J. R. Wooley.

RIES BAIRD, a prominent citizen of Goshen township, has many busi- ness interests in this locality. In addition to extensive farming and sheep-growing, he is proprietor of a sawmill and for many years has been identi- fied with bee culture. He was born in Can- field township, Mahoning County, Ohio, June 25, 1850, and is a son of Jacob and Sarah (Fulweiler) Baird. 4

The Baird family can trace its history be- yond the Casper Baird, who was the great- grandfather of Jacob Baird. Casper Baird was born in Germany and emigrated to Penn- sylvania, where he lived for 36 years and then, in old age, came to Mahoning County, and died in Green township, having lived there only one year. His son, John Baird, succeeded him, having accompanied his father from Pennsyl- vania, and in turn, he was succeeded by his son, Henry Baird, who was the first head of the family born in Green township. The uncle of this Henry Baird, also Henry Baird, was one of the first men in Green township to utilize the water power to run a sawmill, and the second Henry was the successor in that line, and he was the introducer of steam power. Uries Baird was the third of the name to con- tinue the industry in Green township, his mill being equipped with modern steam machinery. Grandfather Henry Baird became a man of large possessions and at his death left to his family over 1100 acres of land.

Jacob Baird, father of Uries Baird, resided all his life in Green township, except a short period spent in Canfield township. He carried on agricultural pursuits, was a large farmer and successful stock-raiser and operated 800 acres of land. He died March 5, 1901.

Uries Baird was reared in Green township and from his youth has been interested in all

that pertains to agriculture. In May, 1879, he settled on his present farm in Goshen town- ship, and since 1890 he has been operating a sawmill in connection with his other enter- prises. For many years Mr. Baird has made a study of bee culture and probably is the best informed man on this subject in Mahoning County, where he is recognized as a leading apiarist. He is the inventor of the celebrated Chaff Bee Hive, which is in general use with apiarists all over the country.

Mr. Baird married Harriet Messerly, who was born in Beaver township, Mahoning County, Ohio, and they have one son, James H., who was born March 16, 1880. The latter married Helen S. Bowman, who is a daughter of Charles Bowman, of Goshen township.

As may be judged, Mr. Baird is a very busy man, but he is never too much occupied with his own affairs to recognize the duties of a good citizen. He is a stanch friend of the public schools and readily gives support to public-spirited enterprises which promise to be of permanent benefit to the community. Po- litically he is a Democrat. For nealyy a half century he has been a member of the order of Odd Fellows, at Canfield. He is a member of the German Reformed Church.

6 EORGE L. DINGLEDY, of the firm of Dingledy Brothers, wholesale and retail hardware merchants, is one of the representative business men of Youngstown. A valued member of the Chamber of Commerce and actively inter- ested in all that concerns the welfare of the city, he has been identified here since 1881. Mr. Dingledy was born in November, 1860, at Buffalo, New York.

After completing his literary education, which was obtained in both private and public schools, Mr. Dingledy became a clerk in a shoe store at Buffalo, but after this he had spent his vacations for one year as a clerk in Fulton Market. He then became associated with Dudley Brothers of Buffalo, engineering supplies and belts, with which firm he remained

THOMAS P. DE CAMP

MRS. SALLIE ANN P. DE GAMP

935

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

from 1878 to 1881, and when he severed his connection was acting in the capacity of book- keeper. In the latter year he became book- keeper for his uncle, G. H. Dingledy, Sr., in the lumber business, and remained with him until 1887, when, with his brother, John Dingledy, he established a hardware store at Youngstown, locating at No. 448 East Fed- eral street. Increasing trade soon demanded larger accommodations, and the business was moved to the Davis building on East Federal street, where they leased their present com- modious quarters and now occupy No. 220- 222. Since locating here they have added two large rooms, the main store room being 90 feet long and the warehouse 100 feet long. They occupy also the second floor and base- ment. Their business is a very extensive one, as they deal both wholesale and retail. In addition to his interests here, Mr. Dingledy is also a director in the Equity Savings & Loan Association.

In 1884, Mr. Dingledy was married first, to Nettie Ludt, of Youngstown, who died in 1887, leaving two children, Edward J. and Tena C., both of whom are now deceased. In 1903, Mr. Dingledy was married second, to Antoinette Boehme, who is a daughter of Rev. A. E. Boehme. Mr. and Mrs. Dingledy are members of the German Lutheran Church, of which he is an official member.

R e ICHARD GARLICK, a very prom- inent business citizen of Youngs- town and identified with many of its leading interests, is treasurer of the Youngstown Sheet and Tube Company. Mr. Garlick was born in this city in 1871, and he is a son of H. M. Garlick, ex- tended mention of whom will be found else- where in this volume. He was reared in his native city and after completing his course at the Rayen High School, spent two years at Yale College. Upon his return to Youngs- town he was connected with the Lloyd Booth Company until 1900, when he accepted the po- sition of treasurer of the Youngstown Sheet 48

and Tube Company. Mr. Garlick is also con- nected with a number of other successful enter- prises, being a director in the Dollar Savings and Trust Company; a director in the First National Bank; a director in the American Belting Company; president of the Concrete Sand and Stone Company, of Youngstown, and owns stock in other large concerns. He is a valued member of the Youngstown Chamber of Commerce.

In 1901, Mr. Garlick was married to Mary Holmes Wells, who is a daughter of the late Thomas H. Wells. Mr. and Mrs. Gar- lick are. members of the Presbyterian Church. He belongs to the social organization known as the Youngstown club. His offices are situ- ated in the Federal Building.

HOMAS P. DECAMP, a prosperous farmer and stock-raiser of Youngs- town township, residing on his farm of 107 acres, situated in section 9. was born April 3, 1829, in Board man township, Mahoning County, Ohio, and is a son of Parkis and Pleasant (Thornburg) DeCamp.

Louis DeCamp, grandfather of our sub- ject, a native of New Jersey, came to Mahon- ing County in about 1803, from Washington County, Pennsylvania, where he resided for several years. He was among the earliest pioneers of this county and located on a farm of 100 acres in Boardman township and here remained the rest of his life, engaged in clear- ing and cultivating this land. A blacksmith by trade he built a forge on a small stream known as Cornersburg Run. He made a small trip hammer and engaged in general black- smithing, also making edged tools. Subse- quently he erected a saw-mill in which he manufactured the greater part of the lumber from which the first frame houses in that lo- cality were built.

Parkis DeCamp, father of Thomas P., was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, and was a small boy when his father moved to Boardman township. He was the eldest son and for many years operated his father's saw-

936

HISTORY OF MAHONING COUNTY

mill, as well as assisting him with the work on the farm. He married Pleasant Thorn- burg and they became the parents of three children : Thomas P., the subject of this sketch; John W., deceased; and Sarah Ann, who died aged 25 years.

Thomas P. DeCamp has been a resident of this township since a child of two years, when his parents came from Boardman town- ship. After leaving school he taught for six terms, his first term being in Bears' Den dis- trict, and two terms in the Ross district, Aus- tintown township, and three terms in the Cor- nersburg district. Since his first marriage Mr. DeCamp has been engaged in farming, and came to his present farm during the latter part of April, 1852, having lived previously with his father in section II. Mr. DeCamp owns about 15534 acres of farm land in Youngs- town township, 107.54 in section 9, 22.15 in section II, and 26 acres in section IO.

Mr. DeCamp was married on April 22, 1852, to Sallie Ann Price, a daughter of Jesse Price. They had three children: Laura J., widow of Almedas Wehr; Mary Ellen, who married Robert Wallace of Youngstown; and Warren, who died aged seven years. Mrs. DeCamp died in 1867, and on March 5, 1868, he married Melissa Calhoun, a daughter of Andrew Calhoun, who was a resident of Jack- son township, Mahoning County. Mr. De- Camp is the grandfather of three children, Norman and Mark Wehr, and Wayne Wal- lace. He also has five great-grandchildren- Howard, Roy, Frank and Kenneth Wehr, all children of his grandson, Norman Wehr, and Verne Wehr, son of his grandson, Mark Wehr. Portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas P. DeCamp accompany this article.

RED M. ORR, of the undertaking and embalming firm of John S. Orr & Son, leading undertakers at Youngs- town, was born here March 6, 1874. and is a son of John S. Orr, who has. conducted an undertaking business here since 1870. He was reared at Youngstown, and

was educated here and at Peekskill Academy, on the Hudson river, spending one year in the Rayen School and graduating at Peekskill in 1892. He is a well qualified man in his busi- ness, being a graduate both of the Champion and the Massachusetts Colleges of Embalming. He became a partner with his father, in 1900. The firm is well equipped for all possible de- mands that could be made on them, in their line. On October 7, 1902, Mr. Orr was mar- ried to Harriet L. Sims, of Youngstown, who is a sister of Superintendent Sims, of the City Hospital. They have one child, Sarah Mont- gomery.

Mr. Orr belongs to a number of business organizations and social societies. He is quite prominent in Masonry, being a member of Western Star Lodge, No. 21, A. F. & A. M .; Youngstown Chapter, No. 9; St. John's Com- mandery, No. 20; Hiram Lodge of Perfection, all of Youngstown; also of the Lake Erie Con- sistory of Cleveland; Al Koran Temple of the Mystic Shrine, Cleveland; and Warren Coun- cil, of Warren, Ohio. He belongs also to the Elks, the Odd Fellows and the Protected Home Circle, and is a member of the Youngs- town Chamber of Commerce.

5 OMER S. WILLIAMS, president and manager of the Homer S. Williams Company, handlers of a complete line of house furnishing goods, located in the Wick building at No. 100 Mar- ket street, Youngstown, is one of the enterpris- ing and representative business men of this city. Mr. Williams was born in 1875, on a farm in Bedford County, Pennsylvania. He obtained his education in the country schools near his home, but having no inclination for an agricultural life, at the age of 16 years he began to interest himself in other pursuits. He started out as a solicitor and then entered the employ of the United States Express Com- pany, with which he remained for three years. He then became express messenger for the Adams Express Company, continuing with that concern for three years, being the young-

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens, 20th, Part 116

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