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

Author: Sanderson, Thomas W., comp
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1074

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life, which are of public record, establish the fact of a steadily acquired prominence, not only local, but in the State, which can be best accounted for by conceding his unusual ability to rise from moderate beginnings.

In 1840 he was elected by the legislature as president of the board of public works of the State, and his entire life from the time of his coming to Youngstown up to and beyond this period shows him to have been a man of unusual energy and sagacious judgment in the management of business affairs. Without mentioning minor instances of his activity, re- cords show that he was one of the corporators, and a director in the Pennsylvania and Ohio Canal Company, the first public work affecting the growth of the town, and built a warehouse on its banks; that he was a stockholder in the Cleveland & Mahoning Railroad Company, the first railroad in the valley, and that he was the first president of the Mahoning County Bank, the first bank organized in Youngstown. During all this time he continued the extension and improvement of his landed possessions, and built a house suitable to his growing posi- tion with all the accessories-garden, orchard, shrubbery, and stables-that mark a well cared for homestead. His farms were large and easily distinguishable by the superiority of their fences and well known red gates. His cattle were of select breeds and his sheep of the finest merino. Visitors from his own and other States came long distances to see his stock, famous for their quality. As the owner of well managed farms and superior live-stock, the general acknowledgment was that he was without a peer in this part of the country.

Judge Rayen was a strong man, mentally and physically, with a distinct voice and of good presence, not much above the middle height, and weighing 280 pounds. He was polite in manner, impressive in intercourse, and in the presence of women particularly courteous; though affable to all, and possessed of considerable humor, few would venture on familiarity unless on friendly terms before. He was particular in dress, somewhat in the style of earlier days; when he was seen in his black coat, or a blue coat with gilt buttons,

buff colored vest and fine ruffled shirt, his portly form seated on a bench under a large tree near his house, with his hands folded over the top of his gold-headed cane, he presented an attractive, even a picturesque, appearance, well known to everyone; and in this position, when weather permitted, his friends at home and from abroad might expect to find him when not particularly engaged.

His domestic habits were simple and order- ly. An early riser himself, the business of the day began early with the family and domestics. Systematic in everything, the machinery of af- fairs ran smoothly and proclaimed a master at the head. Integrity and candor were essentials to his esteem and favor, either in dependents or friends. He was discerning, and when favorably impressed was generous in inter- course and often liberal in aid where required. There was a certain highmindedness in him- self, which made him faithful and open to his friends, but unapproachable by those on whom his esteem could not rest. He estimated men for their qualities rather than for what they possessed, and so his friendships were to be found in every walk of life. There was no disguise in his nature; he was direct in his manner and actions at all times.

He was not a professor of religion, al- though his family and household were mostly church members, but at the request of his wife, who was a religious woman, he fitted up a large room in an adjoining store building to be used for religious meetings at her disposal. On her death he built a stone vault not far from the dwelling, in which her remains were laid to rest, and to the end of his life there- after it was his custom, on the anniversary of her death, to enter and remain in this vault for some time alone. On the subject of his religious views he was not demonstrative. Being a Royal Arch Mason and attached to the order, he had avowed his belief in God, and in the Bible as his inspired word, and that probably was the only open declaration of his faith ever made.

Judge Rayen was a natural leader, not so much by what he said as by what he did, for he was not a man of many words, though earn-

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est and cheerful in conversation. He was en- dowed with practical good sense and a strong will, and in his undertakings kept abreast, if not in advance, of the times and circumstances about him, and thereby appeared to stand on elevated ground among his neighbors, and in that attitude by common consent, was recog- nized throughout the country when spoken of.

So far the history, individuality and sur- roundings of the judge are presented in a con- cise manner, without referring to that feature of his character in which the people of Youngs- town are most interested, and on which his memory will most securely rest, namely, his benevolence; and it may be well, before treat- ing of his bequest for a public school, to have introduced the personality of a distinguished man who was a living active figure in the early settlement and growth of this part of Ohio during the first half of the Nineteenth cen- tury, and who, having passed through the hardships of pioneer times successfully, had at the end of his long life a desire to promote civilization by education of the people, and for that purpose founded an institution of learning with a liberality that is without an equal for its munificence in this community.

Vague expectations of some generous act were entertained for some time by his friends, but nothing definite was known until his will was read after his death, in 1854. The secret of his intentions was his own and was not di- vulged to any, yet, when made known, his be- quest was not a surprise. On many occasions he had spoken with commendation of gifts to public institutions, colleges, or libraries, and more than once with particular praise of Stephen Girard's will founding a college at Philadelphia. Many reasons may be advanced, not altogether speculative, why he should se- lect a public school as the object of his bene- factions. He was a thorough American, born with the Revolution, and a defender of his country in its early wars ; and living in the times when the future of the new republic was a sub- ject discussed at home and abroad, he believed its perpetuity depended on the intelligence of the people as much as on their bravery, and that provision for their education was a patrio-

tic duty. The public school system of today was not then in existence ; opportunity for edu- cation of the young was precarious, depending on private subscription, so that to adopt some plan of a permanent nature, particularly for children of the poor, was a noble inspiration. Then, again, his own education, though fair, was limited, and it was a source of regret to him that opportunity for higher attainments was not his lot when young.

Whatever may have been the moving causes, the benevolent act was his own well matured purpose, and his will is the best ex- ponent that can be given of his motives. It was framed with a sagacity for which he was noted ; the perpetuity of its benefits was a first consideration; that the doors of the school should be open to all children of Youngstown, and especially to those of poor parents, was a part of his broad philanthropy, and to avoid exclusiveness, no particular religious sect should have supremacy in its management, but good moral teaching should be an essential in its teachers, thus making the institution truly public in its benefits.

At the time of his death the population of Youngstown was about 4,000, and the value of property greatly below the present; wealth was estimated by a different standard, and therefore the amount bequeathed was at the time relatively large; and when it is remem- bered that it was given out of his most avail- able means, not dependent on the uncertain value of landed property, which, though since, very great, could not then have been estimated, it is seen that this cherished purpose of his was, by design, most securely provided for, and in this provision of his will, the habit of doing well whatever he undertook, is clearly exemplified.

Having no children of his own. and yet known to be a lover and friend of the young all his life, it might be said that he adopted the children of Youngstown to be his heirs, leaving to them an inheritance of great edu- cational value for all time, by which his name would be perpetuated, and should this ambition have entered into the purpose of the generous deed. there is nothing unworthy in it. The

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field of his benefaction has greatly enlarged since the will was made, and the trust has been so wisely and ably managed that its benefits have attained a proportion beyond any expec- tation the donor could have entertained at the time. The population of the city has increased to about 78,000, made up of a new generation, who generally look upon Rayen school as the ordinary outgrowth of civilization, unmindful · of its founder, who, if remembered at all, is as some indistinct person in the past, almost mythical in character. Few recognize the ad- vantages of the school as the result of the fore- sight and benevolence of one of the earliest settlers in Youngstown, or consider that, if he had not existed and done the generous deed, the city would be wanting in one of its chief attractions and most useful institutions. -[From a sketch by Hon. Thomas H. Wells. ]

ROBERT MONTGOMERY was born April 5, 1773, in Danville, Chester County, Pennsylvania. His father, General William Montgomery, was a colonel in the Revolution- ary army, and at one time a member of the Continental Congress. Both father and son were surveyors, the subject of this sketch being employed as assistant to the surveyor-general ·of Pennsylvania. While following his pro- fession in the western part of that State prior to the settlement of the Reserve, Robert Mont- gomery made a journey up the Mahoning river, visiting the site of Youngstown. Here, between 1812 and 1816, he purchased land near the mouth of Dry Run, and established a homestead on which he subsequently resided until his death.

Having in his younger days acquired a knowledge of the furnace business he made a second journey to Ohio, about 1805, and se- lected a site for a furnace on Yellow Creek, in Poland township. This site was on the farm of John Struthers, with whom he entered into partnership. A furnace was erected and put in blast in 1806 or 1807. and was the first furnace successfully run in Ohio. A furnace on Yellow Creek had been previously erected by Dan Eaton, but was not successful. In 1807,

Mr. Eaton sold his furnace, ore, and other rights to Mr. Montgomery and his partners, among the latter being James Mackay, Robert Alexander, and David Clendenin. The Mont- gomery furnace was run successfully until the War of 1812 interrupted the business and it was not resumed.

After closing up his furnace business Mr. Montgomery took up his residence on the farm already mentioned. He was selected justice of the peace, in which office he served for a number of years. He was a man of good edu- cation and well informed on general topics. Having served for some time as a major in the militia he was generally given his military title in conversation. He died in 1857. Major Montgomery was twice married. His first wife died young, leaving one child, Mary, who married Mr. Corry. He married, second, in 1814, Mrs. Louisa M. Edwards, widow of John S. Edwards. Of this union there were three children, Robert Morris, Caroline Sarah, who became the wife of Dr. Moses Hazeltine, and Ellen Louise, who married Samuel Hine.

DAN EATON was one of several broth- ers who came to Ohio from Pennsylvania soon after the settlement of the Reserve, about 1803 or earlier. Little is known of his early his- tory. His name was originally Daniel Hea- ton, but he had it contracted by act of legis- lature, deeming it to contain superfluous let- ters. The first authentic information in regard to him is derived from a contract made be- tween him and Robert Alexander and David Clendenin, and dated June 23, 1807, in which he contracts to sell them the "Hopewell Furn- ace," together with 102 acres of land which formed a part of the property, and all of which he held by contract with Turhand Kirtland; also "his interest in and to the whole of the iron ore on the plantation of Lodwick Ripple, which he held under an agreement with said Lodwick; also certain other rights to wood," etc. On the date of his agreement with Lod- wick-August 31, 1803-he made a contract for iron ore preliminary to building a furnace. It also appears that on October 17, 1804, he made contracts with others for wood for char-

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coal to run the furnace, which probably then was nearly ready to start. The exact date at which he "blew in" is not known, but it was undoubtedly at some time between 1804 and 1806 inclusive. This furnace was located upon Yellow Creek, about one and one-fourth miles south of its junction with the Mahoning river, in Poland township. To this place he came, it is believed, about 1800. The price for which he sold his furnace, with ore rights, etc., was $5,600, and the price of the land was not quite $3.50 per acre.

After thus selling out his rights in this business he went to Niles, Trumbull County, where, with his brother James, he established a forge, using the pig iron made at the Yellow Creek furnaces, the delivery to him of which as part of the purchase price of the furnace was one of the conditions of the contract above referred to. Subsequently with the same brother, and possibly others of the family he built a furnace at Niles which was in operation as late as 1856.

About 1825, with his brother James, Reese and Isaac Heaton, sons of James, and Eli Phil- lips, he built a furnace on Mill Creek, in Youngstown, the first in the township, a short distance below the Mahoning falls. About this time, and for a number of years after, he resided on a small farm on the west side of Mill Creek near its junction with the Mahon- ing, it being a part of the tract originally pur- chased on which to build the furnace.

· Mr. Eaton was a man of strong prejudices and fiery passions. Though imperfectly edu- cated he had a good mind and possessed a fair stock of general information. He several times changed his religious views, being in his younger days a Methodist, afterwards holding deistical views, and in his later years inclining to Spiritualism. He held pronounced opinions on financial questions, believing that banks should not issue currency, but that all paper money should be notes issued by the United States Treasury, and should be made a legal tender ; that offices should be established in the several States for loaning these notes, and that the government should reap the benefit of the interest on the notes loaned and used as cur

rency. These views with others he embodied in a bill which he prepared in 1847 and for- warded to Congress, accompanied by a peti- tion signed by many of his friends and neigh- bors requesting its passage.

Mr. Eaton was an early advocate of the temperance cause, organizing at Niles, as early as ISII, the first temperance society known in this region. He and his family, with many others, signed the total abstinance pledge, to which he ever afterwards adhered. That he was highly regarded by his fellow citizens is evidenced by the fact that in 1813 he was Sen- ator from Trumbull County, and in 1820 Representative from the county in the State Legislature, his co-representative being Hon. Elisha Whittlesey.

Mr. Eaton died at Youngstown about 1857, at the house of his daughter, Mrs. Han- nah E. Kendle, with whom he had lived sey- eral years after the death of his. wife.

JAMES MACKEY, one of the most prominent and influential among the early set- tlers of the Western Reserve, was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, in 1776. His early history is not fully known, but that he had received a good education is evidenced by the fact that at the time of his arrival on the Reserve he was a "well trained practical sur- veyor, an excellent accountant, and a good mathematician."

He arrived in Poland township about 1805, coming from Pennsylvania to assist Robert Montgomery in building a furnace on Yellow Creek, of which furnace he subsequently be- came part owner, being also connected with the company as bookkeeper until operations were discontinued about 1812. About that time he entered the army, and was subsequent- ly promoted to the office of adjutant in the fourth division of Ohio militia, commanded by Major-General Wadsworth. "During the war he was also assistant paymaster of the division, and his accurate rolls, and their careful preser- vation, was of great aid to the soldiers in after years in enabling them to furnish evidence of their military service, and thereby obtain bounty land warrants and pensions. His early

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training and business capacity well qualified him for these positions, and his kind and gen- erous treatment of the soldiers won him their gratitude, affection and respect. His military employments gave him the rank and title of major."

About 1816 he entered into mercantile business in Youngstown with Colonel William Rayen, under the style of Rayen & Mackey, their store being a log building, situated on the northeast corner of Federal and Holmes streets. This partnership lasted for several years and during its continuance Major Mac- key purchased a farm of 275 acres, northeast of the territory covered by the present city of Youngstown. He and Colonel Rayen, who owned a neighboring farm, just over the town- ship line, in Coitsville, became friendly rivals in the production of fine cattle and swine. He was also often employed as land surveyor.

Major Mackey was frequently elected by his fellow citizens to public office. In 1814 he was elected township clerk; in 1822 and 1823, township trustee, and in subsequent years trustee, supervisor of highways, fence viewer, overseer of the poor and justice of the peace. In 1819 he was elected county commis- sioner for a term of three years. In 1822 he was elected representative from Trumbull County to the General Assembly, there being eight other candidates. His associate was Cyrus Bosworth. In 1830. he was elected treasurer of Trumbull County for two years, and in collecting the taxes he visited each year all the thirty-five townships of the county, per- forming his journey on the back of his favor- ite horse, "Bob."

Major Mackey was a man of excellent qual- ities, active and industrious, public-spirited, of strict integrity, with good judgment, and great firmness and decision of character. Matters of difference between his neighbors were often referred to him for settlement, and his decision rendered only after full hearing of all the facts, were always accepted by them as final. His death took place August 15, 1844, when he was sixty-eight years old.

He was married September 10, 1823, to

Miss Margaret Earley, of Coitsville, O. She survived him many years, dying May 14, 1870, at the age of seventy-two. They were the parents of eight children of whom three died young. The others were David, Nancy, (who married Dr. Will Breaden), James, Robert and Letitia, who became the wife of Andrew Kirk. David, James and Robert Mac- key were associated in partnership for a num- ber of years in the real estate business in Youngstown. They built the first street rail- road in that city, of which for a number of years James Mackey was presirent.

JOHN E. WOODBRIDGE was born in Stockbridge, Mass., June 24, 1777, son of Jahleel and Lucy (Edwards) Woodbridge. His mother was a daughter of Rev. Jonathan Edwards. He acquired his early education in his native town of Stockbridge and afterwards learned the trade of tanner with William Ed- wards, a relation, who resided in the State of New York, and with whom he remained until attaining his majority. In 1798 he went to Philadelphia where he worked at his trade, as he did subsequently in Lancaster, Pennsyl- vania, and Baltimore, Maryland. He was married in 1803 to Miss Mary M. Horner, who was born in Wilmington, Delaware, in 1783. In the summer of 1807 the family, which then included two children, removed from Baltimore, where they were then resid- ing, to Youngstown, making the journey in a large wagon. Here Mr. Woodbridge pur- chased the tannery of Joseph Townsend, who was the first tanner in Youngstown, and who then gave up his trade to become a farmer. The tannery being small, Mr. Woodbridge en- larged it and continued the business during the rest of his life, in his latter years, however, leaving the active management of the business largely to his sons, who were his partners. Among his employees, it is said, was Mr. Grant, grandfather of President Grant.

In the War of 1812 Mr. Woodbridge served as paymaster of Colonel Rayen's regi- ment during the six months that it was in the field. He died in Youngstown December I,

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1844. The following was the well deserved tribute to his character paid in a funeral dis- course by Rev. Charles A. Boardman.

"His uniform urbanity, intelligence, in- tegrity, refinement, and morality of deport- ment commanded the respect of all, and the cordial attachment of those who best knew him, which, unshaken by adversity and trial, he has born with him to the grave. He was a modest man, with qualifications for official station which won the confidence of his fel- low citizens, but he recoiled from its responsi- bility, and steadfastly resisted all offers of pub- lic favor."

His wife survived him several years. They were the parents of eleven children : Lucy, who married Jonathan Edwards; John, George, Timothy, Henry, William, Walter, Samuel, Elizabeth, who became the wife of George Tayler; Louisa Maria, married to Robert W. Tayler, and Stark Edwards.

DANIEL SHEHY was born in County Tipperary, Ireland. The exact date of his birth is not known. He was well educated, and after arriving at man's estate came into possession of his inheritance and emigrated to America, this being just after the close of the Revolutionary War. At Albany, New York, he met John Young, by whom he was per- suaded to seek his fortunes in Ohio, and whom he accompanied on the latter's first trip to the Western Reserve. In company with Mr. Isaac Powers he assisted in the survey of the Reserve. Their only white predecessor was Colonel Hillman, whom they met on the banks of the Mahoning. Mr. Shehy selected and purchased one thousand acres of land for which he paid $2,000, four hundred acres of which lay east of the present city of Youngs- town, and the other six hundred on the south bank of the river. Having concluded the bar- gain in good faith and secured, as he thought. a homestead, Mr. Shehy married Miss Jane McLain, of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and built a cabin on the bank of the river, between Youngstown and Haselton. Here for many years they endured patiently the hardships and privations of pioneer life, and would have been

content, but for one cloud which darkened their horizon. This was the difficulty in get- ting a title to their land. Mr. Young, who had been offered by Robert Gibson for the land south of the river fifty cents an acre more than Mr. Shehy had paid, refused to give the latter a deed, and there being then no law courts, the latter had no legal redress. This led to trouble between the parties, and on one occasion it is said, Mr. Shehy gave Mr. Young a sound thrashing, for which he was imprisoned and fined. As a last resource, Mr. Shehy left his wife and children in the wilderness, and set out on foot to Connecticut to try to obtain justice from the original proprietors of the land. The latter obliged Young to give Mr. Shehy a deed for the remaining four hundred acres. Though his health had been severely tried by the hardships he had undergone, he lived to rear a large family, and was recog- nized by his neighbors as a warm-hearted, gen- erous, intelligent and public-spirited citizen. In religious faith he was a Roman Catholic.

NATHANIEL GARDNER DABNEY was born in Boston, Mass., about the year 1770 or 1771, and was a member of a respect- able and influential family. His father, Na- thaniel Dabney, who was surgeon of a ship owned by himself and brother, was lost at sea, the vessel leaving port and never after being heard from. The mother of the subject of this sketch, was in maidenhood a Miss Betsey Gardner, of Connecticut, a woman of very su- perior qualities. Nathaniel was the only child of his parents and was given an excellent edu- cation. Having considerable means and de- siring to see something of the western country, he came to Pittsburg, where he was induced by a friend to join with him in the purchase of a tract of land in Youngstown township, their intention being to engage in mercantile business. The friend dying before their plans were completed young Dabney found himself in possession of land which he scarcely knew how to turn to account, having no practical knowledge of agriculture.

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

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