Century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens, 20th, Part 124

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 124

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Alfred H. Rice was reared in Mahoning County and completed his education at Buck- nell, which was then the University of Lewis- burg. He then entered the store of Parks & Case, general merchants at Youngstown, and remained with them for about four years. Dur- ing the next few years he was interested in a merchant tailoring establishment, and then turned his attention to real estate and insur- ance, and in 1886 he entered into partnership with Mr. Haney, under the firm name of Rice & Haney. In 1893 Mr. Medbury was admit- ted to the firm and the style became Rice, Haney & Medbury, which partnership was dis- solved in 1906, when Mr. Rice withdrew to give all his attention to the life insurance field and a general brokerage business. He repre- sents the North-Western Mutual Life Com- pany, of Milwaukee. He was one of the pio- neer real estate men at Youngstown. still handles a large amount of valuable property and has been the means of bringing much cap-

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HISTORY OF MAHONING COUNTY

ital here from eastern investors. One of the city's useful and active business men, he is con- cerned in various industries, among them being the Youngstown Carriage and Wagon Com- pany, of which he is a stockholder and direc- tor.

In 1867 Mr. Rice was married to Ada Lord, who died in 1902, leaving two daugh- ters, viz : Frances R., of New York, and Amy R., who is the wife of W. Noble Anderson, an attorney at Youngstown. Mr. Rice was mar- ried second, in 1905, to Katherine Arms, who is a daughter of Charles D. Arms. He is a member of the Memorial Presbyterian Church of which he is a trustee and treasurer. He is also a trustee of the Youngstown City Hos- pital. Mr. Rice enjoys numerous fraternal and social connections. He is a 32nd degree Mason, an Odd Fellow and an Elk, and he belongs also to the Youngstown Club, the Ma- honing County Golf Club, and the Rayen Club, being a popular member of all.

1 SAAC K. ILGENFRITZ, a prominent business man of Youngstown, who has been a resident of this city since 1876, was born in Springfield township, Ma- honing County, Ohio, September 13, 1851, and is a son of Frederick and Elizabeth (Miller) Ilgenfritz.

The Ilgenfritz family came to America from Germany, and located at a very early day in Pennsylvania, the grandfather, John Ilgen- fritz, being born at Little York, in Lancaster County, that state. His emigration to Ohio was as early as 1808, when he settled in Springfield township, Mahoning County, and there his son Frederick was born, in 18II. Frederick Ilgenfritz spent his whole life in Ma- honing County, mainly engaged in farming and stock-raising, but in early manhood he drove a stage coach, for a time, running to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. He was an active supporter of the principles and candidates of the Democratic party. His death occurred in 1863; his widow still survives, at the age of

93 years, being a resident of Youngstown. She was born in Springfield township, her father, Henry Miller, also of German ancestry, having come to this section about the same time as did the Ilgenfritz family.

Isaac K. Ilgenfritz was reared on the home farm and completed his education in the Po- land Union Seminary. For seven years after- wards he followed school teaching. In March, 1876, he came to Youngstown and embarked in a mercantile business on the corner of Fed- eral and Watt streets, the building being known as "the tall brick." He occupied the west half of it as a grocery and provision store, making country produce a specialty, and send- ing a wagon out through the rural regions twice a week, for supplies. The east half of his large store room was used as a meat market. By hard work and close attention to business, his trade increased so rapidly that in a few years he was compelled to seek larger and more commodious quarters, and in June, 1879, he removed to the West side, locating on the corner of Mahoning avenue and Mill street, now called Oak Hill avenue. After this removal he added china and tinware, flour and feed to his stock.

In 1881, Mr. Ilgenfritz purchased a one- half interest in the premises he occupied, cover- ing 1131/2 feet on Mill street, and in 1884, he purchased the other half and became sole owner. In 1883 he again enlarged the scope of his business by putting in a stock of dry goods, and in 1884, he completed the equip- ment of a general mercantile store by adding hats, caps and gent's furnishings. Close at- tention to business for a period covering 27 years, had seriously impaired Mr. Ilgenfritz's health, and in June, 1903, he sold out his mer- cantile interests, not, however, giving up busi- ness life. He owns and handles a large amount of valuable real estate, and also de- votes a part of his time to his banking interests.

Mr. Ilgenfritz has been identified for years with both public and private enterprises, in which his high personal standing, his ripened judgment and commercial integrity have been valuable assets. In 1890, he became president

AX.

Dry Goods

BOOTS . SHOES

HARDWARE

STOVES

FARM MACHINERY

PUMPS

FLOUR FEED

STORE OF WILLIAM JOHN LOMAX, LOWELLVILLE

WILLIAM JOHN LOMAX

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of the Youngstown Paving Brick Company, manufacturers of paving brick, drain tile, and building blocks, and miners of coal, and served as such until 1897, when the company disposed of its interests. In 1881 he assisted in organ- izing the Merchants Mutual Protective Asso- ciation, and served as its president during its first seven years. In 1887, in association with Charles Herman, of Cleveland, he organized the Ohio Merchants Protective Association, of which he was, for years, one of its foremost members and officers. In 1886, he was sent as a delegate from Ohio to the National Pure Food convention, held at Washington, D. C., delegates, representative men, from every State in the Union being present. It was this body that started the pure food agitation that resulted in subsequent legislation. Mr. Ilgen- fritz is vice-president of The Pfau & Faunce Realty Company and a member of its execu- tive committee, and is treasurer of the Ohio Cattle Company, which owns 2,200 acres of land in Cuba. He was one of the organizers of the Youngstown Savings and Banking Company, and is a member of its directing board.

In 1885, Mr. Ilgenfritz was married to Mary Gairing, a daughter of Michael and Eliz- abeth Gairing, both of whom were born in Germany. Mrs. Ilgenfritz was born, reared and educated at Youngstown. Mr. and Mrs. Ilgenfritz have three children : Gertrude Leona, Hazel Corinne and Frederick Earl. The family belong to the Memorial Presbyterian Church. Their residence is located at No. 1007 Belmont avenue, Youngstown.

Mr. Ilgenfritz has been prominently iden- tified with the Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. In 1872 he became a member of Canfield lodge of Odd Fellows. In 1880 he withdrew from this lodge and became a mem- ber of Youngstown Lodge, No. 403, I. O. O. F. He is a member of Phoenix Encampment. In 1878 he joined the order of Knights of Pythias. Mahoning Lodge, No. 62, of Ohio, of which he was one of its leading members, and in two years serving in all the subordinate offices and becoming past chan- cellor in 1880. He was elected trustee and | site. It is of very substantial construction and 51

joint trustee successively each year from 1880 to 1899. He was elected representative to the Grand Lodge four successive years. During this service as a member of the Grand Lodge of Ohio he was appointed on the committee of "Pythian Home," which resulted in later years in the erection of a beautiful Pythian Home at Springfield, Ohio. He was appointed district deputy grand chancellor to institute three new lodges : Starlight Lodge, of Peters- burg, Ohio; Haselton Lodge, of Haselton, Ohio; and Lowellville Lodge, of Lowellville, Ohio. He was a charter member of Fleur de Lis Division, Uniform Rank, K. of P., and served as third officer in rank.

ILLIAM JOHN LOMAX, sole pro- prietor of the W. J. Lomax de- partment store, the leading estab- lishment of its kind at Lowellville, was born at Ohioville, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, January 26, 1879, and is a son of Eliab and Amy (Brown) Lomax.

The Lomax family is of English extrac- tion and the great-grandparents of William J. Lomax, bore the name respectively of Henry and Nancy (Fisher ) Lomax. They passed their entire lives in England, but their son John, who was born in 1823, emigrated to America in 1853 and established his family at Lowellville, where he still resides. He married, in England. Margaret Taylor, and they left that country when their son Eliab was one year old.

Eliab Lomax grew to manhood in Mahon- ing County and spent his early industrial years in the coal and oil regions of Ohio and Penn- sylvania. In 1885 he turned his attention to mercantile business, beginning with a small confectionery store, which stood on the site of the present department store, where he pros- pered, and in 1896 he erected the building now occupied on a corner across Railroad street. In 1902, the railroad purchased the land on which the building stood, and Mr. Lomax had his store transported to its present

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contains two floors and basement, 82 by 48 feet. Mr. Lomax kept adding to his stock un- til his departments included groceries, hard- ware, dry goods and almost all kinds of ar- ticles carried in a first-class store of this kind, except furniture. The building is so arranged that it can be also comfortably used as a dwel- ling. A business of $50,000, is done annually and it is constantly increasing.

In 1863, Eliab Lomax married Amy Brown, who died in 1881, leaving three chil- dren: Carrie M., Alberta and William John. Subsequently, Mr. Lomax married Frances Hayes, and they have one daughter, Hazel V. In 1902, Mr. Lomax moved to Youngstown, where he now lives retired from active partici- pation in business life. Formerly he served on the school board and the town council at Lowellville and was one of the most stirring citizens of the village. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias. For years he was a lib- eral supporter of the Presbyterian Church at Lowellville and was one of its active members.

William John Lomax was less than one year old when his parents came to Lowellville, where he attended the public schools. Before entering upon business life, he took a com- mercial course in a college at New Castle, Pennsylvania. In 1900 he entered into part- nership with his father, when the firm became Eliab Lomax & Son, and January 25, 1902, he succeeded to the business. A view of the store with Mr. Lomax' portrait is shown on neighboring pages of this volume.

On September 17, 1899, Mr. Lomax was married to Sarah Cole, who was born in Coal- burg, Ohio, October 1. 1878, and is a daughter of James and Jane ( Williams) Cole. Mrs. Cole died April 30, 1901, at the age of 54 years, but Mr. Cole still survives. They had 10 children, namely : Mrs. Mary Morgan, re- siding at Youngstown; Mrs. Lizzie Jane James: Mrs. Rachel Thrasher, residing at Youngstown; William, residing at Hubbard; Margaret, Sarah ( now Mrs. Lomax), Priscilla and Thomas, and two deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Lomax have three children, viz: Amy Jane, Francis Albert and Helen Mildred. The family belong to the Presbyterian Church.

Politically, Mr. Lomax is a Republican. Fra- ternally, he is identified with the Knights of Pythias.

J EREMIAH P. SNYDER, one of the best-known citizens of Austintown township, owns about 400 acres of fine farming land in Mahoning County, on which he carried on large farming and stock operations for many years. Mr. Snyder was born in Perry County, Pennsylvania, April 8, 1829, and is a son of Jacob and Mary Snyder.

Jacob Snyder was born in Connecticut and his wife Mary, in England. His occupation, that of a violin-player, did not enable him to secure a competency for his family, and when his wife died in 1831, the children were placed in the almshouse, in Perry County, until homes could be procured for them, when they were bound out according to the law, until the age of 17 years. Jeremiah was two years old when his mother died, being the fourth mem- ber of the family of five children. The others were: Mary, who married E. Chisholm; Wil- liam, who subsequently became a man of wealth and owned and operated grist mills in Perry County ; John, and James.

It was a hard fate that attended the child- hood of Mr. Snyder, but his stay in the almns- house covered but one day, and he was taken out by a Mr. Trostle, a farmer of Adams County, to whom he was indentured. Accord- ing to the contract, the boy was to receive seven years of schooling, but as a matter of fact he scarcely had seven months' instructions given him. The family which gave him a home was one of German industry and practi- cality, and the bound boy worked early and late for all he received. While there he learned to speak the German language and this acquisi- tion proved of great benefit to him in later life. He remained on the Trostle farm until he was 17 years old and then worked for three years with his brother William, who, through a weal- thy marriage, had become able to establish himself in the milling business.

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After completing his apprenticeship to the milling business, Mr. Snyder returned to Adams County and followed his trade until 1849, when he came to Ohio. He walked the distance from Salem to Canfield on the new plank road. Prior to coming to this section, however, he had finished his education by at- tending a High School at Gettysburg, Penn- sylvania, where, by his own work, he paid both his board and tuition. Mr. Snyder now found his knowledge of the German language a great help to him as many of the business men of this section were Germans, and he im- mediately secured a position in the steam-mill operated by J. H. Holcomb, in Canfield, which was the first one in Mahoning County outside of Youngstown. After working here for 18 months his health failed and he began to pre- "pare himself for school-teaching, studying under Francis Sirvis at Canfield and success- fully passed the necessary examination. He secured a school, the contract being that he should board with the different pupils and in- struct them for $17 per month. The school- house was situated on his present farm. He taught school for 18 months, having 97 names On the roll and a daily attendance of 72 pupils. Present day teachers would be inclined to think that a strenuous undertaking.

After his marriage, in 1853, Mr. Snyder moved to the farm on which he lives, 200 acres belonging to his wife. Having inherited his father's musical gifts he taught music, and also sold pianos and organs, and made a success with his vocal classes. Mr. Snyder did not, however, make music his main business, al- though he has always cultivated his talent to some degree as a recreation, and when he be- came a Sunday-school superintendent later in life, he thoroughly enjoyed teaching the chil- dren to sing, giving them valuable instruction. Mr. Snyder acquired land at various times and now controls 400 acres. For many years he was actively engaged in farming and stock- raising, giving particular attention to horses and sheep, and in one year he had sold the wool of 2,000 sheep for $1.01 a pound. In 1889. with his wife, he was injured in a bad railroad

accident, and since then he has followed the undertaking business.

On February 22, 1853. Mr. Snyder was married to Rebecca Troxel, who was the widow of Reuben Troxel and is a daughter of Henry and Margaret (Neff ) Petre. She was born on the present farm in 1823. Henry Petre was one of the very early settlers of Austintown township, coming to this farm when it was all covered with timber. He built a log cabin in which his family lived while he served in the War of 1812. This was a time of great hardship for Mrs. Petre. Often she was obliged to drive the wolves from the cabin at night. There were no roads in this locality at that time and the only way she could get her grain ground was to carry it on horseback to a distant mill. The two children of Henry Petre and wife were, Henry, deceased, and Rebecca.

Mrs. Snyder had one child by her first mar- riage, Margaret, who married William Peck. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Sny- der, namely : Rose, who is the wife of Charles Hubbard, residing at Youngstown, and they have one child, Ava; Alice, who is the widow of Charles McDonald, had one child, Chloe, who died in 1901, aged 23 years, the wife of Osa Young, and left one child, Esther Alice; Albert C., who married Julia Hentzelman and has five children, Cleveland, Earl, Jessie, Jay, and Dewey; and Sherman, who married Lucy Smith, and has four children, Herbert H., Vera, Howard, Mandie Lee.

Mr. Snyder was reared a Democrat, but since the Civil War has been identified with the Republican party. At various times he has been elected to office and served for two years as constable of the township. Mrs. Sny- der is a member of the Reform Church. Mr. Snyder belongs to the Evangelical Church and for eight years served as superintendent of the Sunday-school. Mr. Snyder's life is an in- teresting one and is an excellent example of what may be done by industry, courage and morality to change circumstances which may be very adverse in early life. Such examples are well worthy of commendation.

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HISTORY OF MAHONING COUNTY

OHN STAMBAUGH. This sterling citizen of Youngstown, who passed off the active scene of life, at New York City, March 5, 1888, after years of useful business activity which brought him both honor and large emoluments, was born at Brier Hill, Mahoning County, Ohio, March 8, 1827. He was a son of John and Sarah (Bower) Stambaugh.

Mr. Stambaugh was primarily educated at Brier Hill and completed his training by tak- ing a business course at Cincinnati. He became interested in coal and iron with the Tod family and his was the wise and capable brain which managed these vast interests on the outside, for many years. This entailed many trips abroad the first one being taken in 1871. During two of these trips he was accompanied by his entire family and visits were made to all the interest- ing points in Europe. The value of this cul- ture to his children can scarcely be over-esti- mated, and while later visits were made mainly to benefit Mr. Stambaugh's failing health, no regulatiins or parental restrictions prevented their enjoyment of all that might be obtained by delightful, leisurely travel or residence in the choicest health resorts on the Continent.

On September 12, 1854, Mr. Stambaugh was married to Caroline Hamilton, a daughter of William and Mary (Hull) Hamilton. The father of Mrs. Stambaugh was of English par- entage and was born in New Jersey. He was a soldier of the War of 1812, about which time he settled in Ohio. He died in 1846. He mar- ried Mary Hull, of Berlin township, Mahoning County, who died in 1832, at the age of 40 years, the mother of nine children, of whom Mrs. Stambaugh was the youngest, she died March 14, 1904. The others were: Eli, de- ceased in 1892, who married Mary Myers and is survived by one daughter, Julia, wife of Wil- liam Thornton, of Crab Creek, and a number of grand-children; Emanuel, who married Catherine Deeds and left four sons: Homer Hamilton, B. Frank, Wilson S. and Chauncy ; Lydia, deceased in 1892, aged 78 years, who was survived by three children: Caroline Ralph, deceased, and Sarah (wife of Wick

Gans) ; Sarah, who married John Fowler- they and their children have passed away ; Wil- liam, who married Laura Shuman-both are long since deceased; Andrew, who died un- married aged 46 years; Horace, who died in infancy ; Jesse. deceased at the age of 62 years, who married Laura Predmore and was sur- vived by three sons-Charles, deceased ; Wil- liam, deceased; and Frank.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Stambaugh were: Grace G., a most highly accomplished and cultured lady, who was educated in Paris · and is the wife of Frederick D. Wilkerson of Youngstown, Ohio; Henry Hamilton, secre- tary of the Brier Hill Iron & Coal Company, who was educated at Cornell University ; John, Jr., also educated at Cornell University, who is president of the William Tod Company and treasurer of the Youngstown Steel Company; and George, who married Avenel Conner, is interested extensively in stock farming at Mc- Guffey, Ohio.

Mr. Stambaugh was not only one of Youngstown's most enterprising and success- ful business men ; he was much more. He was public-spirited, was liberal in his support of all deserving enterprises and was one of the most charitable of the city's many substantial men. His business integrity was never any more questioned than was his personal honor. His friends were men who stood before the world in places of high esteem, and they were glad to be called his comrades. In his passing, Youngstown lost one of the "Old Guard," a man whose like is not too often found in these days.

5 ON. GEORGE E. ROSE, formerly judge of the Probate Court of Ma- honing County, now a member of the important law firm of Norris, Jack- son & Rose, with offices at Nos. 608- 613 Dollar Bank Building, Youngstown, is one of the city's prominent men, one who is identi- fied with many of its important interests. He was born December 9, 1857, at Carlisle, Lor-

PRIOR T. JONES

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ain County, Ohio, and entered Dartmouth Col- lege from which he was graduated in 1881. After his admission to the bar, in 1883, he set- tled at Youngstown, entering upon the prac- tice of law and also taking an intelligent inter- est in local politics. In the spring of 1888 he was elected city solicitor on the Republican ticket. and served as such for two terms. In 1893, he was elected judge of the Probate Court. Since retiring from the bench in 1900, Mr. Rose has given his whole attention to a large private practice and has been associated with men of legal ability and more than city prominence. Sidney D. Lamar Jackson, the second member of the firm, of Norris, Jackson & Rose, which was formed in November, 1900, was formerly prosecuting attorney of Mahoning County, and each member has gained distinction in some line of practice.

Judge Rose married Louise H. Baxter, a daughter of Heman Baxter, and they have one child, Louise M. The family are members of the Presbyterian Church. They have a very pleasant home at No. 204 Arlington street. Youngstown. Judge Rose is a Republican in politics and, fraternally, is an Elk and Knight of Pythias.

P RIOR TANNER JONES, formerly infirmary director, now a retired farmer, residing on a comfortable little place of four acres at Canfield. owns a valuable farm of 200 acres in Canfield township, located on the Erie Rail- road, one mile west of the village. Mr. Jones was born in Ellsworth township, Mahoning County, Ohio, June 11, 1836, and is a son of James and Huldah ( Tanner ) Jones.

The paternal grandparents of Mr. Jones were Thomas and Sarah Jones, who came with two children to Ellsworth township, Mahon- ing County, from their home in Maryland, in 1804. They settled on the line between Ells- worth and Canfield townships, when but three other families had founded homes in Ells-

worth. Their first log cabin had neither doors nor windows and in their wide fireplace they burned timbers which now would be worth many dollars. Although these early settlers bore many hardships, they reared a family of ten children and both lived to be over 90 years of age. James, the father of Mr. Jones, was the fourth member of the above family, his older brother, Thomas, having been the first white child born in Ellsworth township.

James Jones was born November 14, 1807, in Ellsworth township, Mahoning County, Ohio, and when he grew old enough assisted in the clearing of the large body of land his father had acquired. He married Huldah Tanner, who was born at Canfield, in 1812, and who was a daughter of Edmund Prior and Fannie ( Chapman) Tanner, who came to Ohio from Connecticut in 1802. James Jones and wife continued to live in Ellsworth township until 1852, when he sold his farm there and bought 120 acres in Canfield township, from Myron Sackett, to which he subsequently added until he owned 200 acres. He died in Canfield township, in November, 1870, and was survived by his widow until December 16, 1898. James Jones was one of the leading men of his day in Canfield township. He was a pronounced Free-Soil man and on the form- ation of the Republican party became thor- oughly identified with it. He was appointed one of the first three infirmary directors of Mahoning County, and served on that board from October, 1855, until 1863. There were four children born to James and Huldah Jones, namely: William, who died in 1858; Prior T .: Fannie, who married James Turner and died in 1886; and Laura, who is the widow of Fred Beardsley.

Prior Tanner Jones attended school for a short time in his boyhood, in Ellsworth town- ship, and then spent a year in an academy in Connecticut. This was followed by a few terms in the Canfield Academy. He then taught school for two winters in Austintown township, one winter in Canfield township and one in Jackson township, after which he re-

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Century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens, 20th, Part 124

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