Century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens, 20th, Part 58

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 58

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Mr. Shaffer, in company with C. H. An- drews, Mason Evans, T. W. Sanderson and Jonathan Head, began the publication of the Daily News. On November 17, 1885, G. M. McKelvey. William Cornelius, Louis W. King, Henry M. Garlick and H. K. Taylor organized the Youngstown Printing Company with $40,- 000 capital. On November 26. the directors accepted the proposition for the sale of the

News-Register, the Daily News and the Sunday Morning, the latter being Colonel Thomp. Burton's paper. The new paper was christened the Evening Telegram. "The direc- tors were G. M. McKelvey, president; H. K. Taylor, secretary; William Cornelius, L. W. King, J. Craig Smith, Thomas H. Wilson and H. H. Stambaugh. Judge King was made editorial manager, T. W. Johnston, editor, and William Cornelius manager. Mr. Johnston was succeeded by W. H. Smiley of Warren who filled the position for a short time, J. Ed. Leslie being called to the position. In turn Leslie was succeeded by Clate A. Smith. No- vember 10, 1890, A. J. Halford of Washington became editorial manager. S. L. Bowman suc- ceeding Smith as managing editor. James J. McNally on December 2, 1892, became mana- ger and on July 6, 1894, was succeeded by J. H. Edwards. Jackson D. Haag took the place of Mr. Bowman as managing editor and March 27, 1896, E. E. Wright was chosen managing editor. Mr. Wright returned to the Pittsburg Dispatch, but upon the selection of George C. Phillips again assumed the position which he occupies at the present time. R. R. Sharman succeeded Mr. Phillips as manager, holding the post until the paper was sold to R. T. Dobson of Akron. Mr. Dobson retired shortly after- ward because of ill health and Samuel G. Mc- Clure of Columbus secured control. He is the present publisher and editor.

Youngstown has kept pace with the jour- nalism of the country and the Telegram of today is on a par with any, being the leading Republican daily in Eastern Ohio and Western Pennsylvania.

VINDICATOR.

The always-Democratic Findicator, from a modest beginning in July, 1869, is today. under the business management of the Hon. William F. Maag, one of the leading papers in Ohio.

There are weekly, semi-weekly, Sunday and daily editions, the daily a paper of never fewer than twelve pages, frequently sixteen

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HISTORY OF MAHONING COUNTY

and at least on one week-day-Friday-twen- ty-four, the number invariably found in the Sunday issue, facts indicating the metropoli- tan character of the paper, which in business enterprise and influence is surpassed by no other journal in a city the size of Youngs- town.

Though in existence fewer than forty years the Vindicator has had a quite eventful history, the paper beginning its career in the name of Mahoning Vindicator and being start- ed by J. H. Odell, now deceased. After the paper had continued about six months Mark Sharkey was associated with Mr. Odell, but retired in August, 1870. Mr. Odell retired from the paper in September, 1873, being succeeded by O. P. Wharton, an old composi- tor in the office. Then Odell and William A. Edwards bought the paper. That was in Ap- ril, 1874, Mr. Odell taking editorial charge. In February 1875, S. L. Everett purchased the plant. Col. W. L. Brown, noted in New York journalism and politics, now numbered with dead, purchased from Everett in July, 1875, and continued the publication until succeeded by Hon. Charles N. Vallandigham and John H. Clarke in April, 1880. O. P. Shaffer and O. P. Wharton were employed on the editor- ial staff during Col. Brown's management. Judge L. D. Thoman purchased Vallandig- ham's interest in April, 1881, subsequent to which the paper was published and edited by Thoman and Clarke until they sold out to Dr. Thomas Patton, who came from Newark to Youngstown and himself practically alone con- ducted the business and penned the editorials. For a very brief period the paper was in the hands of J. A. Caldwell, who, with Charles Underwood, also issued an experimental daily. After the death of Dr. Patton, Mr. Maag, in November, 1887, bought the plant at admin- istrator's sale. Very soon after that Mr. Maag formed a partnership with John M. Webb, a Democrat and journalist of the old school, the firm name being Webb & Maag, and suc- ceeded by the Vindicator Printing Company, which was organized September 3, 1889, with a capital of $20,000 and the following officers :

President, John M. Webb; vice-president, E. M. Wilson; secretary, John H. Clarke; treasurer and general manager, William F. Maag.

The first regular daily Vindicator, a folio, was put out September 23, 1889. Mr. Webb was managing editor; William B. Dawson was associate editor and Mr. Maag was then, as ever since and now, the head of the business department.

Mr. Webb died February 2, 1893, a short time before the block now occupied by the paper was completel. His funeral services, which were attended by a large concourse of acquaintances and friends, were conducted in the incompleted building.

Mr. Webb's immediate successor was C. H. Wayne, and he in turn was succeeded as editor-in-chief by William B. Dawson, who died in 1903. The editorial chair was then taken by F. A. Douglas, by whom it is still retained.

The first very notable step in advance in business was made in 1893. May I, that year, the Vindicator plant, with new equipment, in- cluding an eight-page perfecting press, put out the first issue in the new building on the pres- ent site, the southwest corner of Boardman and Phelps streets, the building being a sub- stantial three-and-a-half story structure of brick and stone. From then until now the Vindicator has made rapid progress, being among the first to install Merganthaler lino- types, now having eight such, among them machines provided with the very latest im- provements. About four years ago the eight- page perfecting press was superseded by the most modern twenty-four page perfecting color-printing and folding machine with a ca- pacity of 24,000 folded papers an hour.

The officers of the Vindicator Printing Company are : President, John H. Clark ; vice- president, Charles E. Ducasse; secretary, John W. Smith; treasurer and general manager, William F. Maag.

In the Vindicator block and controlled by the Vindicator Printing Company are an up- to-date job department, a book bindery, The-

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Art Engraving Company and the L'indicator with its weekly, semi-weekly, Sunday and daily editions.

In fourteen years Youngstown has made remarkable progress in many directions and in a large number of enterprises, but in none has progress been more uniform more rapid and more conspicuous than in the continuous prosperity of the concerns controlled by the Vindicator Printing Company.

RUNDSCHAU.

For a third of a century the Youngstown Rundschau has been the only German news- paper published in the territory between Cleve- land and Pittsburg. During all but one year of that time it has been under the same con- trol.

Established in the summer of 1874. by Henry Gentz, the Rundschau appeared for the first time on August I of that year with Ru- dolph Wilbrandt as editor and manager. In July of the next year William F. Maag bought it, the first issue under his charge coming out just twelve months after the initial number. The paper was then a small folio with sheets about half the present size. Two years later the number of pages was doubled and as time went on and circulation and interest in the paper grew with the coming of more Germans to this territory, the size was gradually in- creased until, after being issued every week for thirty-three years, it now contains sixteen pages of the regular newspaper size. It is set almost wholly by machine. Since Mr. Maag took over the Vindicator the two papers have had offices together.

The aim of the Rundschau is to give all the important general and local news of the week, to print weekly letters from various parts of Germany and from places in the vicin- ity of Youngstown, and to publish good and entertaining literature. In politics it is indepen- dent. In editorial charge of it have been Fred Riederer, Gustav Schiller, Emil Braun, A. Sparkuhl, Frederick Oertly, Otto Glus, Theo- dore Schuele, and the present editor, Theodore Lange. William F. Maag has been manager

since the paper came into his possession. The Rundschau has attained to considerable in- fluence through being the only German paper in a territory where large numbers of Ger- mans have settled, but its greatest service has probably consisted in maintaining among the Germans in this country interest in the lan- guage and thought and customs of the Father- land.

THE ROMA.

The Roma is a weekly Italian newspaper in Youngstown, and was established as a liter- ary paper in New Castle, Pennsylvania, in 1902, under the name of La Farfalla Umana, with a weekly circulation of 500 copies. Sub- sequently its name was changed to L'Emi- grante Italiano, and its publication was thus continued for several years. It was then re- moved to Youngstown and enlarged, and has since been published here under the name of The Roma. Under the capa- ble editorship of Elpidio Buonpane, who is also the publisher, the paper is now in a flourishing condition, having a sub- scription list of 3500. It is issued every Sat- urday.

THE YOUNGSTOWN LABOR ADVOCATE.

The first issue of the Youngstown Labor Advocate appeared the first week of June, 1903, with David G. Jenkins as editor, and WV. W. Paramore, manager. The paper was first published by a partnership composed of those two gentlemen. In September of the same year the Advocate Publishing Company was incorporated, and continued the publica- tion of the Labor Advocate. Mr. Jenkins se- vered his connection with the paper as editor in September, 1905, to devote his whole time to the study of law. John Slayton, Henry O. Nelson, Sedge Reilley and Byron Williams, all well known newspaper men and labor writ- ers, were connected with the paper as editors. The Labor Advocate was the organ of the la- bor unions of the Mahoning Valley and en- joyed a large circulation and influence. Pub- lication was suspended in January. 1907.

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HISTORY OF MAHONING COUNTY

YOUNGSTOWN JOURNAL.

The Youngstown Journal, a weekly devoted to local industrials and labor almost exclus- ively, made its initial appearance February I, 1907, and is practically the successor of the late Labor Advocate. The new labor organ is owned, edited and published by Byron Wil- liams, a well known and versatile local news- paper man, who successfully wrote at different times for the two local dailies, and who did his last work, before branching out for him- self, on the deceased Labor Advocate.

Editor Williams, in his first issue, had the

following to say by way of editorial or salua- tatory :

"The Youngstown Journal is devoted to the publication of news pertaining to the in- dustries and labor of Youngstown and vicin- ity, and for the dissemination of general in- formation. It will be the aim to keep the pub- lic well informed in regard to these matters in a thorough and impartial manner. We most respectfully ask the support of the public, and will at all times endeavor to merit it."

The Journal is neat in appearance and an eight-page paper with six columns to the page, each one of which is alive with advertisements.

R.m. Cundy

Representative Citizens

R OBERT MCCURDY. For more than a quarter of a century the late Robert McCurdy was the president of the First National Bank of Youngstown, one of the most important institu- tions of northern Ohio. He was much more-an honorable, upright citizen, a man of sterling worth in every relation of life, and a stanch supporter of everything that related to the well-being of the city of Youngstown. He was born at Castle Finn, County Donegal, Ireland, June 24, 1842, and was a son of Dr. Robert McCurdy, who came to America when Robert, Jr., was a child of II months. Settling on a small farm near Crab Creek, Mahoning County, Ohio, he prac- ticed his profession as opportunity offered, and also cultivated his land, in order to pro- vide for the needs of his eight children. Of these still three survive, namely: Dr. John McCurdy, Mrs. Mary Bentley and Samuel D. McCurdy.

Robert McCurdy had very little of what may be termed a helpful childhood. His sur- roundings were not those to encourage leisure as soon as he became self-supporting, and probably he was earning his own keep in the world when other lads, not much better off, were scarcely thinking about it. In after years Mr. McCurdy was disposed to look upon his early trials as good discipline, and it is certain that in his case habits of industry and econo- my were so early implanted that they greatly assisted him through life. From the public

schools he sought self-supporting work in the neighborhood, and, in August, 1861, he accepted a position in the old Mahoning County Bank. While he retained this humble place, he performed its duties with the same thoroughness that later characterized his management of the First National Bank.

In becoming even a humble accessory to an important business, a certain standing is as- sured, and so well did Robert perform the duties assigned him that he attracted the at- tention of his employers, among whom were some of Youngstown's most eminent citizens. Before long a clerkship was found for him when the First National Bank was organized on June 2, 1863. On June 20, 1865, he was made cashier, in which position he served with such ability and fidelity that when changes came about in the management of the bank, early in 1877, Mr. McCurdy was elected presi- dent, in which office he served continuously from that time until his death. During this period, covering some twenty-seven years, Mr. McCurdy gained for the bank a reputation which increased its usefulness and added ma- terially to its strength.

Although Mr. McCurdy's primary busi- neess was banking, he was on numerous occa- sions interested, for a short time, in some of the city's various important industries, and had a few tentative interests at other points. He was, however, a citizen devoted to Youngstown and took more interest in for- warding her enterprises than in investing else-

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HISTORY OF MAHONING COUNTY

where, however flattering the outlook might . seem.

During the Civil War Mr. McCurdy was . an active supporter of the Government. At its outbreak he enlisted as a member of the 155th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and : served three months in Virginia before he was stricken with typhoid fever, which resulted in his being discharged for disability. He was always a stanch supporter of the Republican party, and took an active part in its campaign work. On many occasions he served as a · delegate to various important conventions.

On September 19, 1878, Mr. McCurdy · was married to Isabella Porter, a daughter of the late William Porter. Mrs. McCurdy and their three children still survive. They had two daughters, Isabel and Florence, and a son, Robert H. The eldest daughter, Isabel, is the wife of J. L. Grandin, a business man · of Boston, Massachusetts. Mrs. McCurdy re- :sides in one of Youngstown's finest residences, at No. 726 Wick avenue.

From early manhood Mr. McCurdy was a ·consistent member of the First Presbyterian Church of Youngstown, serving its needs in many capacities-as Sunday school teacher, as clerk of the session and as elder for the twenty-six years preceding his death. In re- calling Mr. McCurdy's many spheres of use- fulness, his fellow citizens must always asso- ciate his memory with the Young Men's Christian Association, the Reuben McMillan Public Library Association, and the Rayen School. In 1869 Mr. McCurdy became a member of the first committee that met to organize a branch of the Young Men's Chris- tian Association. Throughout the remainder of his life never did he lose his enthusiastic interest in the organization, over which he presided as president for five consecutive years. At the time of his decease, Mr. Mc- - Curdy was one of the trustees of the Reuben McMillan Public Library Association and it was mainly through his efforts that Youngs- town acquired the fine library that it now possesses. He served from 1877 as one of the trustees of the Rayen School and was con- : tinually concerned in its improvement and in

the maintenance of the high school standard for which it is noted. He was vitally inter- ested in many other noble and uplifting agencies in his city and gave to them the best that was in him.

Mr. McCurdy was most charitably in- clined, and never turned a deaf ear to an appeal on behalf of a worthy cause. His pri- vate charities were known only to those closest to him; the amounts so expended in relieving want and destitution were large indeed, and constituted the greater part of his benefac- tions. When contributions were solicited for the help of those who had been the victims of any public calamity, his name invariably head- ed the list with the largest amount.

Personally Mr. McCurdy attached others to himself irresistibly. He commanded ad- miration for his fearless outlook on life and his untiring, energetic and thoroughly sin- cere struggle against anything that interfered with his convictions of right. He was one who was always known as a dependable man, one who could never be swayed from the right course by sophistry or by an appeal to his personal feelings. All those who knew him were not his friends, because he was not in sympathy with much that he found in the mass of his fellow citizens, but none could be found who did not entirely respect him. His death occurred March 25, 1904, at his home in Youngstown, Ohio, after an illness of two years from Bright's disease. A portrait of this admirable citizen appears in connection with this article.

EN. THOMAS W. SANDERSON, a prominent lawyer and citizen, ex- banker, and author of this work, was born at Indiana, Indiana County, Pennsylvania, October 17, 1828. His father, Matthew D. Sanderson, who was of Scotch lineage, and a farmer by occupation, died at Warren, Ohio, in 1864. General San- derson's mother, whose name in maidenhood was Mary Wakefield, was born in Westmore- land County, Pennsylvania, in the year of 1800,

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a daughter of Thomas Wakefield, and died in December, 1885, at Warren, Ohio.

Thomas W. Sanderson came with his par- ents to Youngstown, Ohio, at the age of six years, and was here educated and grew to man's estate. In early life he was urged by his friends to prepare himself for the profes- sion of law, which was suited to his tastes, and being ambitious to lead a professional life, he decided on that vocation. He began read- ing law under the direction of William Fer- guson, at Youngstown, in 1847, and in 1852, when scarcely 23 years of age, was admitted to the bar by the district court at Canfield, then the county seat of Mahoning County. While studying law Mr. Sanderson also spent much time in civil engineering, and for a time after his admission to the bar, followed that occupation. In 1854 he began the practice of his chosen profession, in company with his brother-in-law, Francis C. Hutchins, with whom, however, he remained but a short time. Soon after beginning the practice of law he tock appropriate rank at the bar, and in 1856 was elected to the office of prosecuting at- torney for Mahoning County, in which he served one term. At the opening of the Civil War he had gained a large clientage and an enviable reputation at the bar, but he gave up his practice to take part in the struggle to maintain the union.

On September 12, 1861, he enlisted in the Second Ohio Volunteer Cavalry at Cleveland, as Regimental Adjutant and First Lieutenant. He was promoted to Captain of Company K, Second Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, October 7, 1861. He served as Regimental Adjutant and as Assistant Adjutant-General of Doubleday's Brigade of Cavalry until May, 1862, when he resigned. He was appointed Major of the Tenth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry by Governor David Tod. on January 15, 1863. He was pro- moted to Lieutenant-Colonel of the Tenth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, April 20, 1864: was promoted to Colonel of the Tenth Ohio Vol- unteer Cavalry, January 19, 1865; promoted to Brevet Brigadier-General, March 15, 1865. He was mustered out with the Tenth Ohio

Volunteer Cavalry Regiment, at Lexington, North Carolina, July 24, 1865.

During the years of 1864-65 he was in command of brigades and divisions. He was with General Rosecrans from Stone River, and participated in nearly all the actions in which the Army of the Cumberland was en- gaged. He was with General Sherman on the march to the sea and through the Coro- linas until the surrender of General Johnston, taking part in a number of important battles. At Bear Creek Station, south of Atlanta, on the second day of Sherman's March to the Sea, General Sanderson, with one brigade of cavalry against three divisions of General Wheeler's cavalry, secured a dashing victory. His rank of Brigadier-General was conferred for gallantry in action.

After the close of the great struggle Gen- eral Sanderson returned to the practice of law at Youngstown, and now ranks as one of the leading lawyers of the state. His friends strongly urged his appointment to a Su- preme Court judgeship, but in a personal letter to the General, President Harrison regretted his inability to make the appointment owing to the fact that three previous appointments to the Supreme bench had been made from Ohio. General Sanderson has ever been a well-de- fined Republican in politics, but has always re- fused to enter the arena as a candidate for civil office. In 1872 he was a delegate at large from Ohio to the National Republican convention which nominated General Grant for re-election as President. As a railroad lawyer Mr. Sanderson has done much suc- cessful practice for several companies, and has won an enviable reputation for such form of practice. As a business man he is practical and successful, and is shrewd and accurate as a planner and calculator. He was formerly vice-president of the Commercial National Bank at Youngstown, but after serving some time he resigned, owing to the pressure of other business duties. He is however inter- ested in several other business concerns.

Mr. Sanderson was married December 19. 1854. to Miss Elizabeth Shoemaker, of

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Youngstown, formerly of Pennsylvania. They have had two children, a daughter who died in July, 1901, and a son who died in early in- fancy.

L UCIUS E. COCHRAN, whose numer- ous and important business interests and connections have made his name a familiar one all over and beyond the State of Ohio, and whose personal attributes have won him the confidence and es- teem of his fellow-citizens at Youngstown, was born June 12, 1842. in Delaware County, Ohio, and is a son of Robert and Nancy (Hummason ) Cochran.

The Cochran family was founded in Trum- bull County, Ohio, by George H. Cochran, the grandfather of our subject, who transferred his mercantile interests from Pittsburg, Penn- sylvania, in 1816, to Vienna, Ohio. His son Robert, one of his six children, passed the greater part of his life as an agricultirist in Logan County, where he and his wife were leading members of the Christian Church. They had a family of four sons and three daughters.

Lucius E. Cochran was educated in the dis- trict schools and later took a commercial course at Pittsburg, following which he accepted a position as clerk in a general store. In 1862 he became bookkeeper for the firm of Andrews & Hitchcock, prominent business men of Youngstown, with whom he remained until 1867. when he went into business for himself. becoming a member of the mercantile firm of Andrews Brothers & Company, at Haselton, Ohio, a suburb of Youngstown. In 1880 Mr. Cochran was elected president and treasurer of a large business combination, which united the firms of Andrews Brothers, Andrews Brothers & Company, and the Niles Iron Com- piny into a corporation known as the An- drews Brothers Company. In addition to the duties of this position, involving immense re- sponsibility. Mr. Cochran is connected, either as a principal or important official, in some of the greatest combinations of capital and in-

dustry that now occupy the attention of the business world in this section. He was presi- dent of the Youngstown Car Manufacturing Company ; was also president of the Youngs- town Bridge Company ; and is president of the Youngstown Iron & Steel Roofing Company ; president of the Youngstown Pressed Steel Company ; president of the Mahoning Motor Car Company ; president of the G. M. McKel- vey Company ; president of the Edwin Bell Company, conducting a cooperage business, of which he was one of the originators ; president of the Mahoning Valley Water Company ; vice-president of the Commercial . National Bank; vice-president of the Morris Hardware Company ; a director of the Youngstown Car- riage & Wagon Company; a director of the Ohio Steel Company, of which he was one of the founders, and a director of the Pittsburg, Cleveland & Toledo Railroad Company. He was one of the originators of the Mahoning & Shenango Dock Company, as well as of the Mahoning Ore Company, of which latter con- cern he was formerly vice-president. Mr. Cochran deserves the title of captain of in- dustry, for he has reached his elevated position in the business world through a natural busi- ness genius.

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Century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens, 20th, Part 58

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