Century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens, 20th, Part 57

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 57

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Twelfth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Cav- alry .- This regiment was recruited in August, 1863, in accordance with an order from the war department to Governor Tod. Lieutenant Colonel Robert W. Hatliff of the Second Ohio Volunteer Cavalry was commissioned colonel, and the first company reported at Camp Taylor October 2, 1863. Most of the officers of the regiment were trained soldiers and the regi- ment in consequence was soon prepared for the field. Six companies were detailed in Na- vember to guard the prison stockade on John- son's Island, the other six companies in the meanwhile drilling for field service. March 30 found the regiment encamped on the plains near Louisville. The regiment had their first action during Morgan's raid when on June 9, it showed great gallantry in an encounter with the rebels at Mount Sterling. At Cyn- thiana, Kentucky, Morgan was again over- taken and his forces scattered by a gallant charge, and on September 20 there was a half- day's hard fighting at Saltville, the Twelfth driving the enemy from his works. The regi- ment also assisted materially in General Stone- man's defeat of Breckenridge, at Marion, and in December assisted in the capture of Saltville. In March, 1865, the Twelfth, re-equipped, saw service at Nashville, whence it hastened to Knoxville and Murfreesboro. It aided in the capture of Jefferson Davis and captured in Alabama Generals Bragg and Wheeler. In November the regiment rendezvoused at Nash- ville and on the 14th was mustered out of the service, a few days later being paid off and discharged at Columbus, Ohio.

ARTILLERY.

The following batteries contained recruits from Trumbull and Mahoning counties.

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First Light Artillery, organized 1860, six companies, James Barnett, colonel, who was succeeded in October 1864, by C. S. Cotter. It was mustered into the United States service September, 1861.

Second Ohio Heavy Artillery was recruit- ed in all parts of the state in July and August, 1863, in order to garrison some captured forts with heavy arms. It consisted of 2400 men.

Second Ohio Independent Battery was or- ganized in the northwestern part of Ohio, in July, 1861, and mustered into the service at Camp Chase August 9, for a period of three years. It re-enlisted in 1864 and was mustered out in July, 1865.

TOD POST, NO. 29, G. A. R.,

Was organized in November. 1879, with a membership of -. The post has since had a useful and active existence in caring for the welfare of the Civil War veterans of Youngs- town and the vicinity ; keeping up the memory of departed comrades, whose graves are an- nually decorated on the day set apart by the Nation for that purpose, and in strengthening the bonds of patriotism and fellowship among those who survive.

UNION VETERAN LEGION.

Encampment No. 3. of the Union Veteran Legion, was instituted in this city by Encamp- ment No. I, of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, on Friday evening, May 1, 1885, in Emerald hall, and consisted of twenty-two charter members.

At the present time Encampment No. 3 has about thirty members, with the following of- ficers : Joseph Seifert, colonel ; Dennis McKin- ney, chaplain ; D. B. Stambaugh, quarter-mas- ter ; J. W. Jewhearst, adjutant; Garvin Jack, quarter-master sergeant; John Moore, color- bearer.

SONS OF VETERANS.

Hillman Camp No. 10, Sons of Veterans, was mustered, June 29, 1886, with the follow-

ing officers: Commander, Charles F. Hall; senior vice-commander, Carl Woodworth ; junior vice-commander, R. E. Baldwin. 1887 -Commander, J. Ed. Leslie ; senior vice-com- mander, R. E. Baldwin; junior vice-comman- der, Fred Simpkin. 1888-Commander, R. E. Baldwin ; senior vice-commander, E. J. Braun- burn; junior vice-commander, William Pat- terson. 1889-Commander, Robert N. Kerr; senior vice-commander, E. J. Braunburn ; jun- ior vice-commander, William Patterson. There was no organization kept up during 1890, '91, '92 and '93.

Baldwin Camp, No. 10, was mustered in on February 7, 1894, with the following of- ficers : Commander, Fred A. Simpkins; senior vice-commander, Robert N. Kerr; junior vice- commander, William Gill. 1895-Commander, W. S. Watson (who resigned May 21, 1895), A. G. Rowland; senior vice-commander, P. H. Woods; junior vice-commander, E. E. Eckels. 1896-Commander, W. E. Baldwin; senior vice-commander, J. W. Blackburn ; junior vice-commander, George B. Havey. 1897-Commander, W. E. Baldwin; senior vice-commander, J. Ralph Rigby ; junior vice- commander. Frank Wilheide. 1898-Com- mander, J. Ralph Rigby ; senior vice-comman- der, Henry J. Kuhns ; junior vice commander, Charles N. Crozier. In 1898 the number was changed from No. 10 to No. 2. 1899-Com- mander, Henry J. Kuhns; senior vice-com- mander, John J. Cornell; junior vice-comman- der, Cal. J. Mikesell. 1900-Commander, John J. Cornell; senior vice-commander, Cal. J. Mikesell; junior vice-commander, W. L. Dales. 1901-Commander, Cal. J. Mikesell ; senior vice-commander, W. L. Dales; junior vice-commander, George Washburn. 1902- Commander, W. L. Dales; senior vice-com- mander, Charles N. Crozier; junior vice-com- mander. J. E. Nutt. 1903-Commander. W. L. Dales; senior vice-commander. Charles N. Crozier; junior vice-commander, J. E. Nutt. 1904-Commander. J. E. Nutt : senior vice- commander, Henry J. Kuhns; junior vice- commander. George Morgan. 1905-Com- mander. William Gill : senior vice-commander, R. W. Kaiser: junior vice-commander, E. E.

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Eckels. 1906-Commander, William Gill; senior vice-commander, R. W. Kaiser; junior vice-commander. E. E. Eckels. 1907-Com- mander, R. W. Kaiser; senior vice-comman- der, E. E. Eckels; junior vice-commander, George Morgan.

In 1897 A. W. Jones from Camp No. 2 was elected state commander with W. E. Bald- win, state adjutant, and W. S. Watson, state quartermaster.

In 1898 A. W. Jones was elected com- mander-in-chief U. S. A. with W. E. E.Ad- win, adjutant-general, and W. S. Watson, as- sistant adjutant-general.

LOGAN RIFLES, O. N. G.

The company of Ohio National Guard now known as the Logan Rifles, having been thus named after General John A. Logan of Civil War fame, was first organized in Youngstown during the summer of 1875. Ros- well P. Shurtleff, a captain in the war of the Rebellion, issued a call for a meeting of those interested, and it was held in the old Town Hall with Captain Shurtleff as chairman and John Baker as secretary. An en- listment roll was drawn up and 97 citi- zens signed it. R. P. Shurtleff was elected captain, James P. Conrad first lieutentant, and Aaron Harber, second-lieutenant, and the company named "The Iron Guards." .As the laws of the state in reference to the formation of military companies had not been complied with. Adjutant-General James O. Amos refused to recognize the meeting, and another meeting was held at the same place June 10, 1875, and the proper petition pre- pared. The adjutant-general approved the ap- plication, and on June 19, R. P. Shurtleff was elected captain, T. F. Patton, first lieutenant, and William McIlray, second lieutenant. They were commissioned July 26, 1875, at which date the organization was formally accepted and mustered into the state's service. Quar- ters were rented and the work of drilling com- menced. Lieutenant Patton resigned and was honorably discharged by S. O. 14, February 26, 1876. Lieutenant McIlray resigned and

was honorably discharged by S. O. 18, March 15, 1876. Their successors were H. G. Reed, first lieutenant, and S. A. Smith, second lieu- tenant, who were commissioned March 25, 1876.

In April, 1877, the company was ordered on active duty in aid of the civil authorities in preserving peace during the hanging of Charles N. Sterling for the murder of Lizzie Grombacher. Owing to the mystery surround- ing the identity of the prisoner and the differ- ence of opinion as to his guilt, considerable feeling had been aroused. The company was on duty for two days and without difficulty preserved peace and quiet. Col. Housteau re- signed and was honorably discharged by S. O. 115, July 9, 1877. His successor was A. A. Ross, who was commissioned October 6, 1877. The second encampment was held at the Youngstown Fair Grounds August 6 to 12.

On September 19, 1881, President James A. Garfield died, and on September 24, the Eighth regiment was ordered to Cleveland to guard the public square, in which the cata- falque containing his remains lay in state. The "Iron Guards" were on duty three days, and were presented a handsome wreath made from the flowers used in decorating the bier of Presi- dent Garfield. The wreath was appropriately framed and now hangs in the company's parlor.

June 1, 1894, found the miners of Ohio on a strike and practically all the coal in the market came from "Benwood" district of West Virginia. To stop even this supply, the miners systematically "tied up" all freight traffic. Railroad cars were burned, bridges destroyed and employees assaulted. In five counties the civil law was at a standstill and the court officers and processes ignored or resisted. Once convinced that the civil resources were exhausted, Gov. Mckinley promptly ord- ered regiment after regiment under arms un- til 3,800 National Guards were scattered along the railroads from the Ohio river north, af- fording full protection to a resumption of traf- fic. June 1I, at 6 p. m., the captain of the Lo- gan Rifles received telegraphic orders to re- port with his command to Col. Kennan at

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Cleveland. The company was promptly as- sembled, and at 7:30 p. m. every man was in the armory ready for duty. The company, with Surgeon Will H. Buechner and Adjutant R. T. Ellis, of the staff, boarded B. & O. train 5 at 10:57 p. m., and at noon the next day went into bivouac with the regiment at Crys- tal Springs, four miles from Massillon, wait- ing orders from Sheriff Doll, of Stark county. Early that night the railroad bridge at Stras- burgh was burned, and at II p. m. the Logan Rifles were ordered to go sixteen miles down the C., L. & W. Railway and save the next bridge. The company was hurried aboard a coach and with the "tender" in front of the engine started down the line. Perched high on top of the "tender" was Lieutenant Whit- ney, Captain Freed and eight soldiers in charge of Sergeant Kaercher. It was a thrill- ing ride for them. Crouching around the edge of the "tender," with weapons in hand, they peered out into the semi-darkness, carefully scanning every foot of track, every bush or fallen log. The country traversed was strange and the danger point unknown. The air was murky with smoke from the piles of burning ties and cord wood along the track. The moon in the clouded sky threw fitful and deceiving shadows over everything. Slowly and cau- tiously the train moved on. Past the mines and scattered villages, through the rocky walls of "Blue Cut," on through "Pigeon Run," and in the gray dawn of morning crossed the bridge and stopped at the village of Beach City. Quickly disembarking, a guard line with Lieutenant Reel in charge was established around the bridge and railroad property, while Lieutenant Perkins with the second platoon kept on a mile and a half farther down the track, and in a like manner protected bridge "96." A small squad was sent back up the line six miles and patrolled "Blue Cut" until the arrival of Company K two days later. Dur- ing the next night a party of miners made their way among the underbrush along the river bank and when discovered had reached a point almost directly beneath the bridge. When challenged they threw a package into

the river and quickly disappeared in the dark- ness, escaping the shots sent after them. At bridge "96" Corporal Barclay and Harvey Kelly were fired upon from the underbrush. The company remained here for eleven days, and almost every night the guards were fired upon by unseen men from the wooded hillsides and gullies. Every effort was made to capture these bushwhackers, but without avail. Being perfectly familiar with the country they could creep up unseen and after firing escape in the darkness. Pickets were posted on the hilltops, but they, too, were fired upon and the mis- creants escaped. At one time a party of men gained a point of vantage on the hills around bridge "96" and fired a long range volley at the bivouac there. The bullets cut the leaves and bark from the trees over the soldiers' heads, but when a squad charged up the hillside they found the enemy gone. The miners' object in pursuing this kind of warfare evidently was to draw the guards in pursuit of them and give their comrades a chance to dynamite the bridge. Had they been better shots, or better armed, or approached nearer, some of the soldiers would undoubtedly have been shot. The only time when they showed themselves was on Saturday night when they appeared in the village just after midnight. Captain Freed had been visiting the sentinels and not- iced a group of men near a flouring mill. As he passed the corner of the building and step- ped out into the moonlight a voice cried, "Give it to the white striped "," and a score of shots were immediately fired from the end of the wagon bridge 50 yards distant, toward which the men had retreated. Quickly firing his revolver into the darkness after the re- treating men, the captain "turned out the guard" and took up the pursuit. In the wood- land across the river two men were captured, and one of them was induced by threats to tell where the rendezvous of the gang was and guided a squad two miles into the country where four more rioters were captured. They were armed with cheap new revolvers of 38 calibre containing the shells of recently fired cartridges. They were marched back to the

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HISTORY OF MAHONING COUNTY

camp and confined in a tool house until Mon- day, when they were turned over to Sheriff Doll at Massillon.

When the United States declared war with Spain the Governor of Ohio called into serv- ice the entire National Guard of the state. The local organization, Logan Rifles, Com- pany H, Fifth Infantry, O. N. G., responded with the other companies of the regiment ren- dezvoused at Cleveland and from there pro- ceeded to Camp Bushnell at Columbus. The local company was enrolled in the United States volunteer service April 26, 1898. The company as mustered consisted of Captain James A. Freed, First Lieutenant Harry W. Ulrich, Second Lieutenant Fred C. Porter and sixty enlisted men.

The regiment left Columbus and arrived at Tampa, Florida, May 21, and went into camp as part of the Seventh army corps under com- mand of Major General Fitzhugh Lee. Soon after this the regiment was transferred to the Fifth army corps under command of Major Gen. William T. Shafter and ordered to em- bark for Cuba. Owing to the damage to the transport Florida, the Fifth regiment did not sail with the rest of the corps, and were trans- ferred to the Fourth army corps under com- mand of Major General J. J. Coppinger. The regiment was transferred to camp at Fernan- dina, Florida, July 23, and remained there until September 8, when it was ordered to Cleveland, Ohio, for muster out. It was duly mustered out November 5. 1898.

During the time the company was in Tam- pa it was recruited to a total of 109 officers and enlisted men, the recruits being local men.

While the company was encamped at Fer- nandina an epidemic of typhoid fever broke out and Sergeant Henry G. Woolfe and Private Clifton Dalzell died. During the time that the company was encamped in Cleveland Sergeant George Spigler and Private Daniel G. Ken- nedy died from typhoid fever contracted in Florida.

In the fall of 1899 Captain Freed resigned. Lieutenant Ulrich was elected captain and commissioned December 9, 1899. The com- pany attended the funeral of President Mc-

Kinley at Canton, Ohio, in September, 1901.

The present officers of the company are: Captain, Harry W. Ulrich; first lieutenant, Wade C. Christy; second lieutenant, Charles F. Redman. The Logan Rifles has long been considered ont of the best military companies in the state.

SPANISH WAR VETERANS.

Soon after the close of the war with Spain several organizations of the veterans of that war were formed. The local veterans applied for a charter for a camp and it was organized in December, 1899 and named Major Logan Camp, Spanish-American War Veterans. Later on it surrendered its charter in that or- ganization and accepted a charter in the Span- ish War Veterans, a stronger organization. In 1904 most of the many societies of the war with Spain united under the name United Spanish War Veterans and the local camp was granted a charter in that organization and is now known as Major Logan Camp No. 26, Department of Ohio, United Spanish War Veterans. The commanders of the local camp have been, James A. Freed, Peter Cummings, William Smoker, Joseph Leonard, John J. Klager and Robert E. Kroll. The meetings are held in Grand Army Hall every second Thursday evening.

The following veterans of the war with Spain are buried in the local cemeteries :

Oak Hill Cemetery-Clifton L. Dalzell, Henry G. Woolfe, George W. Spigler, William S. Brown, James Edwards, John R. Williams, John A. Logan, John W. Wonn, Jesse Swan- ey, Vernon Humes, Edward Wallace, Fred Krueger, George Farrow, Frank G. Wiseman, Percy Jacobs, Charles S. Wood, John Kenvin, David W. McFarlane. Roy E. Jacobs, John Tresise and Stant Westover.

Calvary Cemetery-Daniel G. Kennedy. Edward L. McElwain. Edward J. Conway and Bernard McBride. St. Joseph's Cemetery- Simon Flushgarten. Girard Cemetery- Wil- liam Williams. Hubbard Cemetery-Henry Keich. Mineral Ridge Cemetery-William A. Ohl.

CHAPTER XXVIII

THE PRESS

Newspapers and Editors of the Past and Present.

The first paper in the present territory of Mahoning county was the Olive Branch and New County Advocate which made its appear- ance at Youngstown in the fall of 1843. It was issued for the purpose of influencing pub- lic opinion in favor of changing the county seat to Youngstown, but proved but a feeble sup- porter of the cause, and its publication was soon suspended. It was followed soon after the organization of the county by The Ohio Republican, published by A. Medbury and J. M. Webb, the latter being the chief editorial writer. In politics it represented pure Jack- sonianism, and if we are to believe the business statement of its publishers contained in the last issue found in the files of the county auditor's office, private funds were drawn upon to main- tain its publication.

After the Presidential election in 1852, the Republican was removed to Canfield and com- bined with the Mahoning Sentinel under the name, Mahoning Republican-Sentinel. The Mahoning Sentinel had been established in 1852 by an association of citizens, with Ira Norris as editor. After passing through some changes of ownership and editorship it was finally purchased by John M. Webb, and in a few years removed to Youngstown. Mr. Webb made a strong fight for old line Demo- cratic principles during the campaign of 1860. but the secession of the Southern States had

broken party lines and in the fall of 1861 his paper suspended publication for lack of support. July 10, 1862, however, it again appeared, bearing the motto, "The Constitution as it is and the Union as it was;" but though ably conducted, the political effect of the revived sheet was small and it barely survived the Presidential election of 1864. "Its place as a Democratic organ was not filled until the l'in- dicator made its appearance in 1869."

"The Mahoning Courier was established just after the war by Patrick O'Connor and brother. It was a vigorous Republican paper and divided Republican patronage with the Register until 1869, when its publication was suspended."

"The Youngstown Commercial was issued by Patrick O'Connor and L. F. Shoaf, May 5, 1875. It suspended publication in about six months after that time. Patrick O'Connor began the publication of the New Star, May 28, 1879. It was continued as a weekly jour- nal, and for some time was the organ in the Mahoning Valley of the National Greenback party.

"In 1881. O. P. Wharton, formerly of the L'indicator, established the Free Press, which had an existence of a few years.

"The first daily newspaper in Youngstown was the Miner and Manufacturer, which first made its appearance as a daily in June, 1873.

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As a weekly in the interest of the laboring men, it had been published for some time previous, Mr. A. D. Fassett being the editor. During the strikes of 1873 it gained prestige by the manner in which it supported the strikers, de- spite the somewhat unwarranted attempt of a few business men to coerce it into a change of policy. The daily issue shortly after made its appearance as a five-column folio, selling at two cents, and was well received. It was soon after enlarged to six columns, and it had a circulation of about eight hundred, which it held until the Daily Tribune was started in 1874, the latter, owing to its good financial backing, being soon enabled to 'take the lead. The Miner and Manufacturer struggled along until November, 1874, when it suspended pub- lication, the editor being chosen to the city editorship of the Daily Register, which was started in December of that year."

THE FREE DEMOCRAT TO TELEGRAM.

In the latter part of the year 1852 the Free Democrat, representing the abolition sentiment of the county, made its appearance, the first number being published December 31. The Free Democrat was the first of a chain of news- papers ending with the Telegram. The editor was Edward D. Howard and M. Cullaton was the publisher. In 1853 The Democrat was a sturdy advocate of the election of Samuel Lewis as governor and in 1856 was equally as enthus- iastic in advocating the nomination of John P. Hale of New Hampshire for president. In 1853 D. S. Elliott purchased the paper, but two years later Howard was again at the helm. Early in February, 1855, the Free Democrat was succeeded by the True American, the edi- tors being D. S. Elliott and James M. Nash. The latter withdrew from the paper a few months later and the paper was sold to Colonel James Dumars, one of the best known political leaders of the state. The colonel liked the Mahoning county field so well that he disposed of his Warren paper and devoted his time to his new purchase, which he called the Mahon- ing Register. Colonel Dumars was a practical

newspaper man of the old school and the pub- lication was one of the brightest and best of the Western Reserve. He was an enthusiastic anti-slavery man and a Republican. John M. Edwards was the associate editor.

Colonel Dumars sold the paper to E. V. Smalley & Company April 1, 1865, the colonel going south. He started a paper at Memphis, Tenn., but gave up the venture in a short time. Mr. Smalley became the editor, Mr. Edwards continuing as associate. About a year later R. E. Hull, one of the best known among the pioneer newspaper men of this section, joined the staff. In September, 1868, the firm name was changed to Smalley, Hull & Hudson, the new member being James F. Hudson. Mr. Hudson is still in the harness, being an editorial writer on the Pittsburg Dispatch. Mr. Smalley retired from the firm in 1869, going to the northwest where he was soon recognized as a leader in his profession. Mr. Hull retired in 1871, Mr. Hudson continuing as sole propri- etor until December II, 1873, when he disposed of his interests to the firm of Vaughan, Sea- grave and Gault. The members of the firm were C. A. Vaughan, A. R. Seagrave and W. H. Gault, the latter two being local business men. In May, 1874 Walter L. Campbell, who later became known as Youngstown's "Blind mayor" purchased Mr. Gault's interests and became associate editor with Seagrave, Mr. Vaughan looking after the business end of the paper. A little later A. D. Fassett, state sena- tor, labor commissioner, etc., became associ- ated with the paper as the city editor.

On February 18, 1874, the Youngstown Tribune made its appearance, the publishers being Colonel James M. Nash, James K. Bailey and Joseph R. Johnston, afterward judge and state senator. Colonel Nash, who assumed the editorship, was succeeded by William H. Eck- man. September 6, 1874. One year later the Tribune was merged with the Register under the name of the Register and Tribune. Shortly afterwards the name was changed to the Even- ing Register. The editorial force at this time was as follows: W. L. Campbell and A. R. Seagrave, editors; A. D. Fassett, city editor ;

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Thomas W. Johnston and Nain Grute, report- ers. Seagrave was appointed postmaster and Mr. Campbell became sole editor.

On July 16, 1877, the Evening News ap- peared as a daily, being published by the Youngstown Printing Company, an association constituted by R. E. Hull, W. S. Stigleman, E. K. Hull, Thomas Kerr and C. E. Kennedy, all printers. In the following January an in- corporated company took charge, John M. Webb being the editor. In July, 1879, the News began the publication of Associated Press dispatches. Chauncey H. Andrews be- came financially interested and a newspaper war followed between the Notes and the Reg- ister. In August, 1880, the Newes announced that it would be Republican in politics and Mr. Webb retired. O. P. Shaffer became manag- ing editor and among his assistants at various times were "Reddy" Bowman, J. Ed Leslie, Nain Grute, T. W. Johnston, Jr., and George McGuigan. Thomp. Burton was connected with the advertising and circulation depart- ments. The fight between the two newspapers reached a bitter stage but finally consolidation was arranged, the name of the paper to be the News-Register. The News interests had three directors. T. W. Sanderson, Mason Evans and O. P. Shaffer, while the Register's selections were Robert McCurdy, Thomas H. Wells and H. O. Bonnell. As managing director or the umpire of disputes Frank Williams was chosen but he soon retired in favor of W. W. Mc- Keown. In February, 1882, Editor Campbell retired and two years later was elected mayor. Following a disagreement between directors, O. P. Shaffer became managing editor and an- other clash resulted in Shaffer being succeeded by F. S. Presbrey.

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Century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens, 20th, Part 57

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