Century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens, 20th, Part 38

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

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ship for a time with John Crowell, of Warren, and still later with William G. Moore, of Youngstown. Elected prosecuting attorney of Trumbull county in 1839, he held that office two years, ably performing its duties. On the organization of the Mahoning County Bank at Youngstown, in 1850, at the earnest request of its directors, he became its cashier, continu- ing, however, in the practice of his profession. In 1855 he was elected state senator on the Republican ticket for the counties of Mahon- ing and Trumbull, and re-elected in 1857. His record while in the senate led to his nomina- tion by his party, almost without opposition, for the office of auditor of state, and he was elected in 1859, beginning the duties of the office in 1860. "Upon the death of Elisha Whittlesey, his former legal preceptor, first comptroller of the United States treasury in 1863, he was called by President Lincoln, at the suggestion of Salmon P. Chase, then sec- retary of the United States treasury, who knew his eminent fitness, to fill the vacancy in the office of first comptroller. For nearly fif- teen years he faithfully discharged the duties of that office and death found him at his post as the honest and incorruptible watchman of the treasury." He was stricken with paralysis at his desk in Washington, February 25, 1878, and lived only two hours. His funeral was one of the largest ever held in Youngstown.

Mr. Tayler was first married March 24, 1840, to Miss Louisa Maria, daughter of John E. Woodbridge, of Youngstown. She died February II, 1853. He married for his sec- ond wife, on January 12, 1854, Miss Rachel Kirtland Wick, daughter of Colonel Caleb B. Wick, a son of Henry Wick, one of the early settlers of Youngstown.

Hon. David Tod was born in Youngstown, Ohio, February 21. 1805. His parents, George and Sally (Isaacs) Tod, were early settlers on the Reserve. coming here from Connecti- cut. The father, Judge George Tod, a sketch of whom may be found elsewhere in this vol- ume, was a man of marked ability and high character, though not successful in accumulat- ing wealth. On this account, chiefly, the early

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education of the subject of this sketch was lim- ited to a term or two at the academy. He made the best use, however, of his facilities for the study of law, was admitted to the bar in 1827. and at the age of 22 years began practice in Warren. He was a successful lawyer, and his active practice covered a period of fifteen years. After the death of his father in 1841 he came into actual possession of the old Brier Hill farm near Youngstown, which he had really owned for some time, owing to the fact that, while yet a briefless barrister, he had, by the most strenuous efforts, and with the assistance of friends, saved it from falling into the hands of his father's creditors. This farm subse- quently became the source of great wealth to him owing to its large deposits of what was afterwards known as the famous Brier Hill coal. Mr. Tod gradually developed a market for this coal, which was greatly expanded on the introduction of raw coal blast furnaces, making the extensive deposits still more valu- able. Mr. Tod also showed his business ability as a director in the Cleveland and Mahoning Railroad Company, his efforts being largely in- strumental in extracting it from a seriously embarrassed financial condition.

Early in young manhood Mr. Tod became an ardent supporter of the Democratic party, and soon began to take an active part in poli- tics. He made a good stump orator, his clear- cut, pithy speeches appealing directly to the popular ear. In 1838 he was elected to the State Senate, running several hundred votes ahead of his ticket. During the campaign of 1840 he rendered good service to his party, making speeches all over the state, and leaving everywhere a good impression. Nominated for the governorship in 1844, he cut down the majority of his Whig opponent, Mordecai Bartly, to one thousand, while Clay carried the state a month later by six thousand. In 1847 Mr. Tod was tendered by President Polk, and accepted, the office of minister to Brazil. He remained in that country five years during which he negotiated some important commer- cial treaties, and was instrumental in settling a number of government claims of over thirty years standing. On his farewell he was the

subject of a highly complimentary address by the emperor. As vice-president of the con- vention which met at Baltimore in 1860 to nominate a candidate for the Presidency, Mr. Tod took an important part in restoring order in the scene of confusion which ensued on the bolt by the southern delegates. Although fav- oring Douglas, he doubtless preferred the . election of Lincoln to the success of the Breck- enridge wing of his own party. When the secession movement was started in the south- ern states Mr. Tod did all in his power to re- store peace; but after treason had thrown off . the last disguise and the guns of Fort Sumter had sounded a challenge to every loyal Union man, his voice was heard among the first in arousing his patriotic neighbors to action. The first company of troops organized at Youngs- town, a company of the Ninteenth Ohio Vol- unteer Infantry, was recruited largely at his expense, and before leaving for camp, each member received from him, as a present, an army overcoat. These coats were known in the service as "Tod coats," and some of them were brought home after four years' service.

In 1861 Mr. Tod obtained the nomina- tion of the Republican party for the Governor- ship, and was elected by a majority of about fifty-five thousand. He made an efficient war Governor, aiding the soldiers in the field by every means in his power, and being particu- larly active in suppressing sedition. He was heartily in favor of the arrest of Vallandig- ham in 1863, for which he became the special object of hatred on the part of the anti-war element of the Democratic party, and a favor- ite target for their abuse. Owing to the con- dition of politics in the state it was deemed advisable by the Republicans, in 1864, to bring out a new man, and John Brough was accord- ingly nominated. Although somewhat disap- pointed, the governor gave his cordial sup- port to the nominee. Retiring from office in January, 1864, he retired to his farm at Brier Hill, and thereafter devoted his chief attention to business affairs, though continuing to re- tain an active interest in politics. His death occurred on November 13, 1868, and caused wide-spread sorrow and regret among all who

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knew him for what he was-a man of sterling worth and unsullied patriotism.

Henry J. Canfield was a native of Connecti- cut, and son of Judson Canfield, a lawyer, and one of the proprietors of the township of Canfield, Ohio, to which he gave his name. Henry J. was graduated at Yale College in 1806, read law with Judge Reeve, of Litchfield, Connecticut, and was admitted to the bar in Connecticut. Shortly afterwards he came to Canfield to take charge of his father's lands. Being admitted to the bar of Ohio, at Warren, he gave some attention to practice, but was chiefly engeged in farming, land-surveying and sheep-raising. He was the author of a highly-prized work on sheep. At the first spe- cial court held in Mahoning county, after its organization in 1846, he was appointed clerk pro tem of the court of Common Pleas, which office he held until the first regular term of court held May IIth, that year, when the clerk for the full term was appointed. He died in Canfield in 1856, respected as one of the old and useful residents of the township.

Hon. Benjamin F. Hoffman was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, January 25, 1812, son of Joseph and Catherine (Stitcler) Hoffman. He was educated in his native state, and removed with his parents to Trumbull county, Ohio, in 1833. After having read law with Hon. David Tod, at Warren, for two years, he attended for six months the Cincin- nati Law School, conducted by Wright, Ben- ham & Walker. Here he was graduated in 1836 as bachelor of law, and was at once ad- mitted to the bar by the Supreme Court at Cin- cinnati. Returning to Warren, he practiced law there for several years as a member of the firm of Tod, Hoffman & Hutchins. From October, 1838, to June, 1841, he was post- master at Warren. Mr. Tod removing to Brier Hill in 1844, and soon after retiring from practice, and Mr. Hutchins being elected to the legislature in 1849, Mr. Hoffman carried on the law business by himself until 1853, when Col. R. W. Ratliff became his partner. In October, 1856, he was elected judge of the

Common Pleas court for the second sub-divi- sion of the Ninth judicial district, and served in that capacity five years. In 1861 Mr. Hoff- man became private secretary to Governor David Tod, and accompanied him to Colum- bus, where he capably performed the arduous duties which devolved upon him during the first two years of the Civil War. In 1865,. though a resident of Warren, he opened a law office in Youngstown, where he resumed the practice of his profession ; in 1870 he removed to this city.

Mr. Hoffman was first married, in Decem- ber, 1837, to Elizabeth H. Cleveland, daugh- ter of Dr. John Cleveland, formerly of Rut- land, Vermont. She died in 1869, leaving two children, both of whom are long since deceased. In 1870 Mr. Hoffman married, for his second wife, Mrs. Alice W. Hezlep, of which union there was one daughter, born in 1877. Origin- ally a Democrat, Mr. Hoffman, as early as 1841, become interested in the Abolition move- ment, and subsequently became a firm cham- pion of the cause at a time when it took some courage to express Abolition sentiments. Some years ago he removed with his family to Cali- fornia, of which state he is still a resident, having now attained the ripe age of ninety-five years.

John M. Edwards was born in New Haven, Connecticut, October 23, 1805, son of Henry W. and Lydia (Miller) Edwards. His pater- nat grandfather was Judge Pierrepont Ed- wards, one of the original proprietors of the Western Reserve, and a great-grandson of Jonathan Edwards, the noted divine and early president of Princeton College. On his mo- ther's side he was of English descent, the ma- ternal grandfather John Miller, being a native of London, and a sea-captain, who settled in America prior to the Revolutionary War.

John M. Edwards was graduated at Yale College in the class of 1824. He read law with Judge Bristol at New Haven, was there ad- mitted to the bar of Connecticut in 1826, and to the bar of the Circuit Court of the United States in 1828. After practicing law for a few years in New Haven, he removed in 1832, to

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Ohio, at first settling in Youngstown. Here, however, at this time, he remained but a few months, soon removing to the north part of Trumbull county, where he engaged in other than law business. He was admitted to the bar of Ohio by the supreme court August 30, 1838, at Warren, and soon after began practice there. For a number of years, beginning with 1840, he was engaged also in editing the Trumbull Democrat, a weekly newspaper. In 184I he was appointed by the United States district court commissioner of bankrupts for Trumbull county, which office he held until the repeal of the bankrupt law. Nominated in 1842 by a Democratic convention as represen- tative in congress from the old Nineteenth dis- trict, to fill the vacancy caused by the resigna- tion of Hon. Joshua R. Giddings, he largely cut down the usual Whig majority. About 1843 he was appointed by the court of com- mon pleas school examiner for Trumbull county, and held the office for three years, or until his removal from the county. About 1841 he was elected and commissioned captain of militia under the old military system. Re- moving to Canfield on the organization of Mahoning county in 1847, he practiced law there until 1864, when he removed his office to Youngstown, where in 1868 he also came to reside. At the first term of the court of ·Common Pleas he was appointed school exam- iner for Mahoning county for three years, and subsequently held that office by successive re- appointments until his removal to Youngstown.

Shortly after his removal to Canfield, in 1846, he became editor and one of the publish- ers of the Mahoning Index the first news- paper published in Mahoning county, and con- tinued as such for several years. From that time on he was intimately connected as editor, correspondent, or contributor, with newspapers in Warren, Canfield, Youngstown, and Cleve- land. During the 1864-1865 session of the Ohio legislature he was one of the clerks of the Senate. From 1869 to 1878 he served sev- eral terms as justice of the peace of Youngs- town township. He was one of the founders of the Mahoning Valley Historical Society in 1874, and was editor with William Powers of

the interesting volume of Historical Collec- tions published by the society in 1876. As journalist and historian he performed a use- ful work in rescuing from oblivion many in- teresting reminiscences of pioneer days while some of the early settlers were still alive, and in preserving the biographies of many of the pioneers.

Mr. Edwards was married, July 14, 1842, at Warren, Ohio, to Miss Mary P., daughter of Joseph Crail. Mrs. Edwards was a talented amateur artist. She died at Youngstown, May 15, 1877, leaving three children, of whom Henrietta Frances married Stanley M. Caspar of Youngstown, and Henry W. became a mer- chant in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

David M. Wilson was born in Guilford, Medina county, Ohio, July 21, 1822, son of David and Abigail (Porter) Wilson. His grandfathers were Revolutionary soldiers. He was educated in the common schools, and at Norfolk seminary, and taught school for one term. He read law with Hiram Floyd, at Me- dina, Ohio, and was there admitted to practice in 1844. In the following year he removed to Warren, Ohio, whence on the organization of Mahoning county, in 1846, he removed to Canfield, where he commenced practice. For a few years he was a partner of John W., after- wards Judge Church, the style of the firm be- ing Wilson & Church. In 1858 he removed to Youngstown, where he was successively the partner of James B. Blocksom, Robert G. Knight, Halsey H. Moses, and James P. Wil- son, his nephew. In 1863 he was nominated for attorney-general of Ohio, and in 1874 for representative in Congress, each time on the Democratic ticket ; though not elected in either case, his personal popularity caused him to run ahead of his ticket. He first married Miss Nancy Merrill, a native of Orangeville, New york. She died in 1851. He married for his second wife, in 1871, Miss Griselda Campbell, of Trumbull county, Ohio. Mr. Wilson died February II, 1882, at Youngstown.

William G. Moore was born at Freedom, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, January 7, 1822.

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His parents, Edwin and Mary A. Moore, were natives of county Leitrim, Ireland, and emi- grated to the United States in 1829, settling in Youngstown a few years later. Mr. Moore began the study of law in the office of John Crowell, at Warren, Ohio, and continued it with Robert W. Tayler, of Youngstown. He was admitted to the bar by the supreme court in 1847, and to the bar of the supreme court of the United States in 1854. He began the parctice of law at Youngstown, in 1847, as partner of Mr. Tayler, and was afterwards a partner of Gen. Thomas W. Sanderson, which continued until Mr. Sanderson joined the army in 1861. He was afterwards in part- nership for a time with William C. Bunts, and still later with William J. Lawthers. He was elected mayor of Youngstown in April, 1854, and re-elected in 1856. In 1869 he was elected prosecuting attorney of Mahoning county, and served two years. He was married March 18, 1852, to Miss Lura A. Andrews, a native of Vienna, Trumbull county, Ohio, whose father, Norman Andrews, was an early settler of that county, but later a resident of Youngstown.

Gen. Thomas W. Sanderson was born in Indiana, Indiana county, Pennsylvania, Octo- ber 17, 1829. His father, Matthew D. Sander- son, was of Scotch descent. His mother, Mary (Wakefield) Sanderson, was the daughter of Thomas Wakefield, who was born in Armagh, Ireland.

Matthew D. Sanderson, in 1834, removed with his family to Youngstown, Ohio, where he continued the business of farming. He died in 1864.

Thomas W. Sanderson acquired his pre- liminary education in the schools of Youngs- town. He read law with William Ferguson at Youngstown, and was admitted to the bar by the district court at Canfield in August, 1852. While reading law he spent a part of the time in land surveying and civil engineer- ing, and for a period after his admission to the har he followed the profession of civil engineer. In 1854 he commenced the practice of law at Youngstown in co-partnership with his broth- er-in-law, Frank E. Hutchins, under the style

of Hutchins & Sanderson, which partnership was continued for several years. In 1856 he was elected prosecuting attorney of Mahoning county, and served one term. In 1861 he aban- doned for a time the practice of law and en- tered the United States army as lieutenant and adjutant of the Second Ohio volunteer cavalry He remained in the service over four years, passing through the several grades of promo- tion, and in 1864 was made brigadier-genera! for gallantry in action. A more detailed ac- count of his army record may be found in a biographical sketch of the General which ap- pears elsewhere in this volume. On leaving the army he returned to the practice of law in Youngstown, which he has followed up to a very recent date, but is now practically retired. He has never sought but always refused politi- cal office, but in 1872 was a delegate-at-large from the State of Ohio in the National Repub- lican convention which nominated General Grant for re-election as president. General Sanderson was married December 19, 1854, to Miss Elizabeth Shoemaker, of Mercer, Penn- sylvania, a member of one of the oldest fam- ilies of that state.

Asahel W. Jones was born at Johnstonville, Trumbull county, Ohio, September 18, 1838. His paternal grandfather and great-grand- father were early settlers in Trumbull county, removing there from Burkhamstead, Connec- ticut, in 1801, and erecting the second cabin in the township. William P. Jones, father of Asahel, was born in Hartford, Trumbull county, Ohio, July 11, 1814. He married Mary J. Bond, a native of Avon Springs, N. Y., who emigrated to Hartford in 1833, at the age of seventeen years. She died in Youngstown, in March 1882. The subject of this sketch, after reading law with Curtis & Smith, at Warren, Ohio, was there admitted to the bar September 27. 1859. He practiced there a few years and then, in 1864, removed to Youngstown, where he was in partnership at different times with H. B. Case. Gen. T. W. Sanderson, R. B. Murray, W. S. Anderson, and W. J. Terrell, for many years while thus connected he did a large amount of railroad

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and corporation law business. He was twice prosecuting attorney, being first appointed, on the death of Henry G. Leslie, in 1868, as his successor, and the second time by election. He was also judge advocate general of Ohio for two terms. In 1874 he was active in the organ- ization of the Second National Bank of Youngstown, and for many years subsequently was one of its directors. In 1878 he became a director in the Brown, Bonnell & Co.'s manu- facturing concern, which is now included in the Republic Iron & Steel corporation. He was a delegate, with Judge Tripp, from the Seven- teenth Ohio Congressional district, to the Re- publican National Convention held in Chicago in 1880. He also served two terms as lieuten- ant-governor. About a year ago Mr. Jones re- tired from the practice of law and removed to Berg Hill, Trumbull county, Ohio, where he now resides, engaged in farming. He was married, September 24, 1861, to Miss Annette J. Palmer, who was born at Kingsville, Ash- tabula county, Ohio, June 23, 1840. He after- wards married Miss Louisa Brice of Oberlin, Ohio.

Hon. Laurin D. Woodworth was born in Windham, Portage county, Ohio, September 10, 1837. His father was William Wood- worth, a substantial and highly respected far- mer. His literary education was acquired at Windham Academy and at Hiram College. He read law in the office of O. P. Brown, in Ravenna, Ohio, and was admitted to the bar in 1859. After pursuing further studies at the Ohio State and Union Law College at Cleve- land, he formed a partnership with Mr. Brown, which continued until the fall of 1861. In 1862 he was appointed major of the One Hundred and Fourth regiment, Ohio infantry volunteers, which was ordered to Kentucky and was there engaged for some ten months in carrying on a guerrilla warfare. He was soon after obliged to resign on account of ill health which had been brought on by the hardships and exposure incidental to the service, and the next two years were spent in traveling, under medical advice, in an endeavor to recover his health. Having lost the use of his right eye, he was

rejected on his attempting to re-enter the serv- ice. About 1865 he removed to Youngstown and resumed the practice of law. In October, 1867, he was elected State Senator for the Mahoning and Trumbull district, and being re-elected in 1869, was chosen president pro- tem of the Senate. At the close of his second term he declined a renomination and resumed his law practice. In October, 1872, he was elec- ted representative in Congress from the Seven- teenth Ohio district, and was re-elected in 1874. At the expiration of his second term he resumed the practice of law in Youngstown. He died in March, 1896. Mr. Woodworth was married, October 6, 1869, to Miss Celia Clark, of Windham, Ohio.

Halsey H. Moses was born July 12, 1830, in Morgan, Ashtabula county, Ohio, to which place his parents, Jonathan and Abigail ( Plum- ley) Moses, came in 1841 from Norfolk, Litch- field county, Connecticut. After attending the Grand River Institute, he read law with C. L. Tinker, of Painesville, and was admitted to the bar at Jefferson, Ohio, in August, 1861. He practiced for a few years in Ashtabula county, and then removed to Warren, Ohio, where he was a partner successively of Mat- thew Birchard, Ira L. Fuller, and of General Robert W. Ratliff. In 1872 he came to Youngs- town, though still retaining his law practice in the firm of Ratliff & Moses. In 1877 he be- came a partner of George F. Arrel in the firm of Moses & Arrel, and so continued until Mr. Arrel became judge of the Court of Common Pleas, after which he practiced for some time alone and also in partnership with Cecil D. Hine. Subsequently he retired from the prac- tice of law, and went to Nebraska, of which state he is still a resident, being engaged in farming. He married, in 1852, Miss Mary L. Murdock, a native of Mesopotamia, Trumbull county, Ohio.

Leroy D. Thoman was born in Salem, Co- lumbiana county, Ohio, July 31, 1851, son of Jacob S. Thoman. His parents were early set- tlers in Springfield township, Mahoning coun- ty, Ohio. His mother, who was a daughter of

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Rev. Henry Sonnedecker, was born in Woos- ter, Wayne county, Ohio, and accompanied her parents to Springfield in 1827. After a preliminary education obtained in the common schools, with one year at an academy. Leroy D. Thoman read law with Joseph H. Adair, of Columbia City, Indiana, and was admitted to the bar there August 13, 1872, and to the bar of Ohio, in Mahoning county, in Septem- ber, 1873. He was deputy prosecuting attorney of the Ninth judicial district of Indiana from August 14, 1872, until February, 1873. He then resigned and removed to Youngstown, where he formed a law partnership with Isaac A. Justice. In October, 1875, he was elected probate judge of Mahoning county, and re- elected to that office in 1878. After serving two terms he declined to be again a candidate, and resumed the practice of law. He also be- came connected with the Vindicator Publish- ing Co. as editor and part proprietor, in which he is still interested. A few years ago he re- moved to Chicago, Illinois, where he is now engaged in the practice of law. His wife, who in maidenhood was Miss Mary E. Cripps, of Youngstown, whom he married March 29, 1876, died December 4, 1876.

Isaac A. Justice was born in Austintown, Mahoning county, Ohio, March 16, 1837. His parents, John and Nancy (Sexton) Justice, were natives of Washington county, Pennsyl- vania, and pioneers of Mahoning county, Ohio, coming here when quite young. They both died at Austintown in 1881, after sixty years of happy and prosperous married life.

Their son Isaac was educated at the Ma- honing Academy, in Canfield, his winters from 1856 to 1860 being spent in teaching school. After reading law with S. W. Gilson, Esq., at Canfield, he was admitted to the bar there in the fall of 1867. Soon after he entered into a partnership with Mr. Gilson, which was con- tinued for some time. In 1872 he removed to Youngstown, where he was engaged in the practice of law until his death, which took place April 15, 1900. "In October, 1873, and during the contest for the removal of the

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Century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens, 20th, Part 38

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