Century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens, 20th, Part 117

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 117

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).

937

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

est messenger in the employ of the company. He looks with pardonable pride on this part of his life, because he can truthfully assert that he never lost a single day's salary during this long period. Thus, by the time he was 23 years old he had accumulated enough capital to engage in business for himself and he ac- cordingly embarked in a wall paper business at Hagerstown, Maryland. He began, neces- sarily, in a small way, but greatly increased his facilities during the four years he remained in that place.

On August 1, 1902, Mr. Williams came to Youngstown and entered into business here. In 1904 the Homer S. Williams Company was incorporated with a capital stock of $25,000, which, on account of greatly increased busi- ness, has been advanced to $75,000.

This company possess the finest business rooms in Youngstown. They occupy the Wick building, at No. 100 Market street, which gives them 37,000 square feet of floor space, much more than is used by any other concern here. Their large and varied stock of furnishing goods offer the best opportunities for choice and purchase in northeastern Ohio. In 1898, Mr. Williams was married to Nora M. Lantz, of Cumberland, Maryland, and they have two children, Homer H. and Bradley W. Mr. Williams is a member of the order of Odd Fellows.

D AVID BATZLI, a valued and useful member of the school board and a prominent agriculturist of Goshen township, who has resided on his present farm in section 33, since the fall of 1897, was born November 11, 1851, in the Canton of Berne, Switzerland. His par- ents were David and Susanna ( Weismuther) Batzli.

The parents of Mr. Batzli were natives of Switzerland. The father, David, died in 1865: his wife survived him 30 years, dying in 1895. In the schools of his own land, Mr. Batzli received sufficient education to fit him for the duties he was called upon to perform in

and around his home, but he was ambitious and had a strong desire to emigrate to America and seek his fortune there, consequently in 1874, he crossed the Atlantic ocean and landed on the shores of the United States, coming di- rectly to Ohio. After passing some time in Columbiana County, he visited Missouri, but came back to Columbiana County, and spent several years in Knox township. In 1888 he came to Mahoning County, since when he has been a resident of Goshen township. He owns a good farm of 48 acres, which is well cultiv- ated and comfortably improved.

On December 25, 1883, Mr. Batzli was married to Mrs. Louisa Egger, widow of Ar- nold Egger. She was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, and is a daughter of Ulrich and Margaret (Denny) Oesch. Her parents were born in Switzerland and were early settlers in Columbiana County, where both died. Of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Batzli, there are four survivors, David E., Minnie B., Elizabeth M. and Anna M. By her previous marriage, Mrs. Batzli has one surviving son, Arnold F., residing in Youngstown. Mr. and Mrs. Batzli are members of the Reformed Church. He is a man of public spirit and good judg- ment, and the confidence his fellow;citizens feel in him is shown by their electing and re- electing him a member of the school board ever since 1900.

E MIL J. ANDERSON, who is engaged in the practice of law, at Youngs- town, Ohio, and who has won his way through his own efforts to his present creditable position at the bar, has been a resident of America since he was nine years of age, though a native of Sweden.

The parents of Mr. Anderson came to Youngstown and thus chance provided a citi- zen whose whole career has been one to reflect credit upon his adopted home. Mr. Anderson proved a studious youth and took advantage of every opportunity afforded by the excellent public schools, spending three years at the Rayen School and then taking a business course

938

HISTORY OF MAHONING COUNTY

at Brown's Commercial College. During this period he practically paid his own way, selling papers, working at odd times in business houses and being employed for awhile in the Andrews Brothers establishment at Hazelton. With his mind set on a professional career, he studied law for a short time with R. B. Murray and Charles Koonce, but necessity compelled him to put aside his books for a time. Con- sequently he served in the employ of the Lake Shore Railroad for about two and a half years, during which time he devoted as much atten- tion as he could to evening study of his chosen profession. After leaving the railroad he was in the office of W. T. Gibson, prosecuting at- torney, for three months and then continued his reading under General T. W. Sanderson. He was admitted to the bar in June, 1903, and sub- sequently was in partnership with General San- derson for 18 months, and, later, with A. M. Henderson. He has made a specialty of hand- ling damage suits and has been particularly successful. June 1, 1907, he entered into part- nership with D. F. Anderson, the firm to be known as Anderson & Anderson, with offices in the Dollar Bank building.

Mr. Anderson for a number of years has been active in politics. He is a member of the city Board of Education, to which he was elected for a term of four years, and by action of the Legislature will serve an additional year. Fraternally, Mr. Anderson is a Mason, Odd Fellow and a Knight of Pythias. He is a member of the Swedish Lutheran Church. He has well acquitted himself with credit in his business and professional capacities, and has won the respect, confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens in a high degree.

C EORGE YAGER, a prosperous farmer of Austintown township and an extensive land owner in Mahon- ing County, resides on a fine farm of 80 acres located in section 21. He was born February 17, 1846, on the home farm in Canfield township and is a son of Christian and Catherine Miller.

Christian Yager was born in Mahoning County, Ohio, a son of John Yager, who was one of the early settlers of the county. He was one of a family of eight children: Jolin; Henry; Christian; Daniel; Samuel; Elizabeth (Mrs. P. Stitel) ; Catherine (Mrs. Bearer), and Polly. Christian Yager was born in an old log house in Canfield township, where he was reared to maturity and subsequently en- gaged in farming. After his marriage he con- tinued to live in Canfield township, and became a large land owner, having at one time 350 acres, which were acquired after much hard work and by honest and conservative busi- ness methods. During those days the work was all done by hand, and there were no farm- ing implements made but the sickle, scythe and cradle. He married Catherine Miller, who was born on the Four Mile Run in Austintown township, and who was a daughter of John Miller, also one of the early pioneers of the county. They became the parents of five chil- dren, among them two daughters who died in infancy of the whooping cough. Those reared were as follows: William, a resident of Ells- worth; Nathan, a resident of Canfield town- ship; and George, the subject of this sketch. Christian Yager died in January, 1895, at the advanced age of 82 years. His wife died aged 45 years.

George Yager was reared on his father's farm in Canfield township. The school he at- tended was located on the land on which his grandfather resided. He continued to remain at home assisting with the work until June, 1885, when he was united in marriage with Lucy Everett, who was born on the present farm of her husband, on November 30, 1863, a daughter of Steyman and Mary (Nire) Everett. Her parents came from Pennsyl- vania in wagons and were among the early pioneers of Austintown township, where they lived until an advanced age, the father dying when in his 79th year, and his wife at the age of 80 years. Mrs. Yager was one of a family of five children : Edgar, Charles, Pricilla (mar- ried William Crum, both now deceased) ; Lucy (Mrs. Yager) ; and Sarah, widow of John Crum.

939

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

Mr. and Mrs. George Yager have had two children, namely: Magdalene (Mrs. Elmer Carn), a resident of Canfield township; and Thomas, who married Bertha Shiffler, and re- sides with his father. Mr. Yager has always made farming his occupation and has always resided in Mahoning County. He and his family live in a fine, modern, eight-room resi- dence, which was built in the fall of 1906. Politically Mr. Yager is a Democrat, and he is religiously the Reformed Church.

AMUEL R. SHAFFER, whose well- cultivated farm of 120 acres is situ- ated in section 12, Goshen township, is a very successful farmer and one who has done much to raise the stan- dard in the growing of first-class cattle, his herd of Holsteins and Jerseys being among the finest in this section of Mahoning County. Mr. Shaffer was born September 28, 1849, in Me- din; County, Ohio, and is a son of Michael and Sophia (Rickle) Shaffer. The father of Mr. Shaffer was born in Germany and the mother in Pennsylvania, and they were among the early settlers in Medina County, Ohio, where they lived until Samuel R., was about six years of age, when they moved to San- (lusky County, Ohio. They died in Mahoning County. Samuel R. Shaffer was reared in Sandusky County. He attended the schools near his father's farm. Early in the 70's the family removed from Sandusky County to Mahoning County and settled in Berlin town- ship, where he lived until 1898, when he set- tled on his present valuable farm in Goshen township.

Mr. Shaffer was married ( first) in Berlin township, to Alice Hull, who died 14 years later. He was married (second) to Laura Beardsley, who was born in Ellsworth town- ship, and is the daughter of Henry Beardsley. Two children have been born of this marriage. namely : Ruby O., and Mary M. Mr. and Mrs. Shaffer are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, at Salem. They have a | ber of terms of school. He then took up the

pleasant social circle in their neighborhood, and enjoy the esteem and friendship of all who know them.

D AVID G. MORRIS, president of the Valley Lumber Company, lumber dealers and general contractors, whose plant is situated at the corner of Holmes and Wood streets, Youngstown, has been a resident of this city for 27 years. He was born in Wales, in Sep- tember, 1857.

Mr. Morris was 22 years of age when he came to America, having previously secured a good education and learned a useful trade. He soon located at Youngstown, where he found work as a carpenter, and shortly afterwards entered into general contracting. In 1903 he became associated with John W. Jones in the purchase of the Valley Lumber Company's plant, and they now operate a planing mill and do a large business in general contracting, being among the reliable, prosperous business men of the city.

In 1884, Mr. Morris was married to Eliza Morris, and they have three children, namely : Gommer, who is clerk for the L. & Southern Railroad; Charles, who is a student in the Rayen School, and David G., Jr. Mr. Morris is a member of the Welsh Presbyterian Church. He belongs to the fraternal order of Knights of Pythias.

V. CUNNINGHAM, M. D., gen- eral medical practitioner, who en- joys a large practice at Youngs- town and is the physician and sur- geon for both the police and fire departments of the city, was born in 1869, at Grove City, Mercer County, Pennsylvania. After completing the public school course, Dr. Cunningham entered Grove City College and was subsequently graduated from that insti- tution, in the meanwhile having taught a num-

940

HISTORY OF MAHONING COUNTY

study of medicine and in 1894 was graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, at Chicago. He at once located at Youngs- town, where he has been practicing for the past 12 years. For a short time he was in partnership with Dr. John Woodbridge and later, also for a limited period, with Dr. Dick- inson. He is a member of the Mahoning County and the Ohio State Medical Associa- tions. Dr. Cunningham belongs to the Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias, and also to the Youngstown Club. He was reared in the religious faith of the old Scotch Presby- terian Church.

M. KELLY, assistant manager of the Lloyd Booth Co. Department of the United Engineering & Foundry Co., at Youngstown, Ohio, was born in Greenford, Mahoning County, Ohio, in 1867, and is a son of David Z. and Ann Eliza (Griffith) Kelly.

David Z. Kelly, who died in 1873, was one of the early settlers at Youngstown, where he followed the tailoring business. During the Civil War he was a soldier in an Ohio regi- ment, and the hardships he was called upon to bear, seriously undermined his health and caused his comparatively early death. He mar- ried into one of the pioneer families of Mahon- ing County and his widow still survives.

Mr. Kelly was reared and educated here and had worked in a store ever since he was II years of age. When at the age of 19 he en- tered the employ of Lloyd Booth & Co., start- ing as office boy and continued with this firm, all through various positions until in October, 1902, he was made assistant manager. Since 1901 the business title of the house has been the Lloyd Booth Company Department of the United Engineering and Foundry Company. Mr. Kelly has some other business interests and stands very high in commercial circles in this city. In 1893 Mr. Kelly was united in marriage with Mary Lillie Coale, who is a daughter of Garrison Coale, of Youngstown. Mr. and Mrs. Kelly have one child, Ralph L.

He is a member of the First Baptist Church, of Youngstown. Fraternally he is a Mason and an Elk.

K NESAL BROS., a prominent business firm at Petersburg, dealing in hard- ware, roofing, farm implements, fur- naces, bath equipments, etc., is made up of James A., George E. and John M. Knesal, all men of high personal standing in this community. The business was estab- lished December 26, 1893, on North Market street, where it was conducted until in April, 1905, when the brothers bought the present desirable location, on the corner formerly oc- cupied by Lipp Bros. & Miller, where Knesal Bros. have done a large business ever since.

John M. Knesal, of the above firm, was born on his father's farm adjoining Peters- burg, January I, 1868, and is a son of Andrew and Sarah E. (Moore) Knesal. Andrew was born May 6, 1828, in Wurtemberg, Germany, and accompanied his parents, Andrew and Catherine (Schwartz) Knesal, to America in 1832. In 1856, Andrew Knesal (second) married Sarah E. Moore, who was born over the Pennsylvania line, about three miles from Petersburg, Ohio, and they had II children, four of whom survive, John M. being the 10th in order of birth. In August, 1855, Andrew Knesal purchased the farm of 136 acres, in Springfield township, on which he has lived ever since. On October 9, 1906, he and his estimable wife celebrated their Golden Wed- ding anniversary.

In the district school of Springfield town- ship and at Petersburg, John M. Knesal ob- tained an excellent education and he remained on the home farm until he was 21 years old. His mind turned rather to business than agri- . culture, and about this time he had an oppor- tunity offered him of learning the hardware business with Kridler & Warner, at Peters- burg. Becoming interested in the business he one year later bought the half interest of Mr. Warner and the firm became Kridler & Knesal, which continued until December 26, 1903,

941

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

when the three brothers above mentioned bought into the firm and its style became Kne- sal Bros. The firm was financially interested in the organization of the Petersburg Creamery Company, and personally, John M. Knesal is identified with the First National Bank of East Palestine, and for several years he has been a director of the Unity Township Telephone Company. Both he and brother, George E. Knesal, have been more or less interested in the Harvest Home Picnic and Race Associa- tion since its organization.

On January 29, 1896, John M. Knesal was married to Abbie Heldmann, who was born in North Beaver township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, June 10, 1873, and is a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Best) Heldmann, and a granddaughter of John Heldmann, who came to this section from Pittsburg. Mr. and Mrs. Knesal have two children: Raymond Evelyn, who was born June 17, 1898, and Elizabeth Marie, who was born May 28, 1901. Mr. Knesal is a member and one of the board of trustees of the Presbyterian Church at Petersburg. Fraternally, he belongs to the order of Maccabees. Ever since its organiza- tion, Mr. Knesal has been an active member of the Petersburg orchestra and of the Peters- burg band. While he is a stanch Democrat in political views, he never permits party feel- ing to interfere whith his public-spirited efforts to advance the interests of Petersburg.

n L. NORRIS, secretary and general manager of The Banner Electric Company, at Youngstown, has been identified with the business interests of this city for the past twelve years. He was born November 25, 1863, at Windsor, Ashtabula County, Ohio.

When Mr. Norris was about six years old, his parents moved to Gustavus, Trumbull County, Ohio, and there he was reared and ed- ucated. For six years after completing his education, he taught school and then spent three years clerking in a country store, subse- quently becoming bookkeeper for The Warren

Manufacturing Company. He remained four years in this capacity, with this firm, and then embarked in the lamp business and became connected with The Orient Electric Company. Following the sale of that plant, he was con- nected for two years with the auditing depart- ment of the Ohio Steel Works. Mr. Norris was the main organizer of The Banner Elec- tric Company, which was incorporated on June I, 1901, with a capital of $100,000. The of- ficers of the company are: Thomas Carr, of Youngstown, president; C. S. Crook, of Youngstown, Ohio, vice-president; E. N. Beach, Youngstown, Ohio, treasurer, and N. L. Norris, secretary and general manager, and F. C. Kirchner, superintendent.

The Banner Electric Company have a finely equipped plant, an immense brick build- ing running from No. 646 to 652 Market street. It is four stories high, is 40 by 200 feet in dimensions and gives 32,000 feet of floor space. The business is the manufacturing of incandescent electric lamps and they give em- ployment to 225 workmen. In 1885, Mr. Nor- ris was married to Josephine M. Swager, of Gustavus, Trumbull County, Ohio, and they have three children, namely : Alta Mae, George Elton and Norman L. Mr. Norris is a member of the Youngstown Club.

ERMAN F. KLING, architect, and a resident of Youngstown for the past quarter of a century, was born in Ger- many in 1858 and came to America and directly to Youngstown, in 1881.

Mr. Kling had not only secured a good ed- ucation in the schools of his native land, and was a student of architecture, but he had also learned the trade of stone cutter, at which he worked for eight months, after coming to Youngstown. He had a greater liking, how- ever, for the pencil than for the chisel, and he therefore engaged in architecture with Adolph Kannengeiser, with whom he remained for five years. After the death of his teacher and partner, he continued alone in the business for fifteen years, but subsequently entered into

942

HISTORY OF MAHONING COUNTY

partnership with Mr. Zink, in 1903, under the firm name of Kling & Zink, which is now the leading architectural firm in this city. They have done a large amount of important work and their designs are noted for their beauty and utility.

In 1887, Mr. Kling was married to Ida Bertram, also a native of Germany. She died in 1899, leaving four children, as follows : Margaret, Freida, Frederick and Otto. Mr. Kling was married (second) to Ida Frie- bertshauser, of Wheeling, West Virginia, of which union there are two children, Herman and Virginia.

Mr. Kling is a member of the German Lu- theran Church. He belongs to the Rayen Club at Youngstown, and owns a beautiful home in this city. His business location is at No. 115 West Federal street.

NDREW W. MEITER, residing on an excellent farm of 100 acres situated in section 34, Goshen township, devotes himself to general farming and dairying. Mr. Meiter was born June 16, 1875, in Transylvania, Austria, and is a son of George and Agnes Meiter.

The parents of Mr. Meiter were also born in Austria. They emigrated to America and both reside in Goshen township. Andrew W. Meiter remained in his native land until 1893. obtaining his education in the schools near his home. After reaching the United States, he came directly to Salem, Ohio, where he ob- tained employment in the Salem Wire and Nail Works, where he remained until the spring of 1902, when he came to his present farm. Mr. Meiter has a nice home and a good business. He raises grain and other products of this sec- tion and devotes much of his attention to dairy- ing. keeping eighteen cows and running a daily milk route through Salem. He has a fine line of reliable customers, who depend upon him for their dairy supplies. Mr. Meiter has every reason to be proud of his success since coming to America, for it is due to his own industry and energy.

On March 14, 1900, Mr. Meiter was mar- ried to Catherine Krause, who is a daughter of Michael and Mary Krause, who reside on their farm in Columbiana County, four miles south of Salem. Mr. and Mrs. Meiter have three children, namely : Emma P., Andrew W. and Matilda K. Both Mr. Meiter and his wife be- long to the German Lutheran Church, at Sa- lem.

C IMOTHY BEHAN, manager of the Youngstown Artificial Stone and Construction Company, at Youngs- town, Ohio, a prosperous business enterprise, was born and reared in England, and was 20 years of age when he came to America. In his native land he had learned the stone cutter's trade, and, on arriv- ing in this country, settled first at Philadelphia, where he worked for some ten years. Wish- ing to see something of the country, he then traveled to various points in the West and South, finding plenty of work at his trade up to 1899, when he came to Youngstown. For one year he was connected with the Broad- head Construction Company, and was then with the Niedermeier & Restle Company until he organized the Youngstown Artificial Stone and Construction Company, on January I, 1905. The company was incorporated at the same time, under the laws of the state of Ohio, with a capital stock of 25.000. A. J. Lottus is president, and T. Behan, secretary and treasurer and general manager. The board of directors includes the two gentlemen named, with Thomas F. Welsh and John Gal- lagher. They are engaged in all kinds of arti- ficial stone work, a large part of their business being manufacturing. The company is made up of capable, alert business men, who control a large amount of capital.

In 1901, Mr. Behan was married to Adelia A. Welsh, of Youngstown. He is a member of St. Columba's Catholic Church. He belongs to the Knights of St. John, being Sir Knight, and is colonel of the 14th District. He is also affiliated with other organizations.

-- ----

943

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

5 G. GIBSON, one of the representative business men of Youngstown, secre- tary and treasurer of the Millikin- Gibson Company, also secretary and treasurer of the East End Piano Company, was born in this city. He is a son of Samuel Gibson, who enjoys the distinction of being the oldest resident of Youngstown, and of whom an extended sketch will be found in another part of this work.

After creditably graduating from the Rayen School, in 1886, H. G. Gibson imme- diately entered the employ of the large mercan- tile firm of the Haseltine Store Company, and remained with that house for eleven years, when, with Mr. Millikin, he bought the con- trolling stock of the concern. They organized and incorporated the Millikin-Gibson Compa- ny, articles being taken out in 1901, with A. Millikin, president; H. G. Gibson, secretary and treasurer, and T. E. Millikin, manager. The firm does a general mercantile business with commodious quarters on the corner of Wilson and Center streets. Mr. Gibson was one of the organizers of the East End Piano Company, which is also capitalized, and he re- mains its treasurer and secretary.

On October 31, 1899. Mr. Gibson was united in marriage with May J. Kirtland, a daughter of the late Charles U. Kirtland, who was an old resident of Mahoning County. They have one child, a daughter named Mar- tha Ellen. Mr. Gibson and wife belong to the Memorial Presbyterian Church, in which he is an elder.

EORGE H. GLAZZARD, a repre- sentative member of the Mahoning County bar, and an active Republi- can politician, was born October 31. 1864, in England, and is a son of the late George Glazzard, whose life was devoted to coal intrests.

George H. Glazzard accompanied his father to America and settled at Youngstown in 1866. His education was secured in the local schools and at the Northeastern Ohio Normal School. of Canfield. Ohio, after which

he taught school for a short time. Mr. Glaz- zard is a self-made man, and during his whole collegiate career earned the means to pursue his studies by working in the coal mines and by teaching. He was an employe at the Brown- Bonnell Mills for a short time and then worked for three years in a blast furnace, during this time losing but three or four days of the whole period. His last connection with the iron in- dustry was at Sharpsville, Pennsylvania, where he spent about one year.

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 117

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