Century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens, 20th, Part 62

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 62

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Dr. Hahn was married to Minerva Jane Clinker, of Iowa, but formerly of North Lima, Ohio. She still survives, residing in a beauti- ful home at No. 217 Wick avenue. She has two sons, F. R. and Charles B. F. R. Hahn, who is a graduate of the law department of the University of Michigan, class of 1903, is a rising young attorney of Youngstown, with an office on Phelps street. Charles B. Hahn graduated from the dental department of the Western Reserve College in 1902 and prac- ticed his profession at Youngstown for a short time. afterwards locating in Jefferson, Ohio. Dr. Hahn is also survived by two brothers, Dr. E. Hawn, of Leetonia, and Dr. B. F. Hawn, of Youngstown, and three sisters, viz : Mrs. J. N. Fiester, of Newton Falls ; and Mrs. Lucinda Mowen, and Susan, of North Lima.

Politically Dr. Hahn was a strong adher- ent of the Republican party. For several years, under a Republican administration, he served as county coroner. He was connected with a great deal of charitable work in the city and perhaps saw more need of medical phil- anthropy than any other city physician, as he held the office of president of the City Hospital staff for a long period. This work was one in which he took the deepest interest and of which he conversed feelingly. Fraternally he was identified with the Masons. Personally Dr. Hahn was a man of sympathetic manner and soothing presence, and it was no unusual thing for his patients to remark that his word and touch carried healing with them.

466

HISTORY OF MAHONING COUNTY

5 ON. JAMES B. KENNEDY, former- ly judge of the court of common pleas, and a member of the law firm of Hine, Kennedy & Robinson, at Youngstown, has been identified with the bench and bar of Mahoning County since March, 1885. Judge Kennedy was born in Youngstown, November 20, 1862, and is a son of John R. and Elizabeth ( Bird) Kennedy.

The Kennedy family is of Scotch-Irish ex- traction, the original stock having been im- planted in Ireland early in the 18th century. The founder of the Kennedys in the United States, who bore the family name of James. established himself late in the 18th century in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, where family records reveal that he married a daugh- ter of Lord Stewart, who came across the At- lantic about the same time. Their son James was reared in Cumberland County, married there and reared four sons, one of whom dis- tinguished himself later in the War of 1812. In 1808 James Kennedy and his four sons came to the Western Reserve of Ohio, and set- tled in Trumbull County.

James Kennedy, the third of the name, was the grandfather of Judge Kennedy. His whole life was passed in Mahoning County. where he married Sarah Reed, also of Irish extraction and pioneer parentage, and they reared a family of ten children, John R., the second son, being the father of Judge Kennedy.

John R. Kennedy was born in 1820 at Coitsville, Ohio, and was the pioneer in the iron business, which has been one of the foundation stones on which Youngstown has built her present prosperity. He was inter- ested in furnaces, as builder and manager, dur- ing the rest of his life, and also had other business interests in Youngstown. In his early political life he was a Democrat, but later became identified with the Republican party. On numerous occasions he was chosen by his fellow-citizens for positions of responsi- bility and for a number of years he was county commissioner of Mahoning County. His death occurred in 1869 at Haselton, Ohio, to which

place he had removed two years before, and where his wife also died in 1870. She was born in England, in 1823. The two children of John R. Kennedy and wife were David S. and James B. The former has long been con- nected with the steel interests at Homestead, Pennsylvania.

James B. Kennedy was but six years old when he suffered the loss of his father and this was soon followed by the death of his mother. The two orphan sons came under the care of the paternal grandfather. The subject of this sketch was in school at Coitsville for two years, later went to school on Wood street, Youngstown, and still later attended school at Poland, being there prepared for the classical department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. Failing health caused him to leave Ann Arbor and his studies within a year, but as soon as he had regained his normal con- dition he took a commercial course at Duff's Business College, at Pittsburg, and thus pre- pared himself for entrance into commercial life. His inclination however led him in the direction of the law, and while teaching school, in 1882-83. he did his preliminary reading and later devoted several years to its serious study. In March, 1885. he was admitted to the bar at Columbus, Ohio.

Judge Kennedy wisely chose his birthplace as the scene of his professional labors. His ability was almost immediately recognized and from that time until the present he has en- joyed a very liberal patronage and has won many professional laurels. Intelligently in- terested in public affairs, he became identified with the Republican party. and on this ticket he was elected prosecuting attorney of Mahon- ing County, in November, 1890. His fearless conduct while attending to the duties of this position, as well as his wisdom and tact in handling many important cases which came up for his consideration, but added to the con- fidence and admiration he had already in- spired and his election to the bench logically followed. Judge Kennedy served with admir- able results from 1897 to 1900, when he re- signed the position in order to give attention to a private practice, which has since absorbed

Themus Her, les

469

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

his time and energy to a large degree and the emoluments of which are entirely satisfactory. The junior members of the firm are C. D. Hine and Thos. L. Robinson, a son of Judge Robin- son, of the common pleas court.

Judge Kennedy was married March 4. 1884. to Roxanna Rice, who was born in Po- land. Ohio, and died in Ine, 1896. Judge Kennedy later married Mary Swift Young, of Baltimore, Maryland. Three children were born to the first marriage: D. R., Florence and D. S. Kennedy. Judge Kennedy and fam- ily reside at No. 270 Madison avenue.

HOMAS H. WELLS. Few among the earlier inhabitants of Youngs- town whose life histories have been intimately connected with the rise and progress of the city from its early condition, twenty years before the Civil War, as a small and somewhat commonplace village, to its present-day importance as a great and world-famed manufacturing center. have cut so striking a figure as he whose name begins this sketch.

Though not of native birth, Mr. Wells possessed in a high degree those character- istic American qualities which make for suc- cess in whatsoever field their possessor may choose to seek it, and by virtue of which he may be justly regarded as one of the makers and builders of Youngstown as it is today.

Born in Dublin, Ireland, December 12, 1814. he was a true son of that land whence sprang the poet Moore and freedom's martyr, Emmet, and which has added many a glitter- ing name to history's page. Of a superb phy- sique and commanding presence, he was espe- cially noted for that peculiar charm of man- ner, approaching personal magnetism, that be- longs as of right to the true Irish gentleman. wherever he may be found.

He came of a good family, through whose influential connections he obtained and held for some time in early manhood a position in the Government service at Dublin. This. however, he resigned after a few years to

come to America. A civil engineer and archi- tect by profession, he entered the service of the Pennsylvania Railroad, his headquarters being located at Newark, New Jersey. The railroad at that time extended only to New Brunswick, that state. Mr. Wells made the original survey from Trenton, New Jersey, to New York. In his capacity of architect he designed the Pennsylvania station at Phila- delphia. Subsequently giving up his profes- sional life to enter the commercial field, he settled in Youngstown, and began in a modest way as a merchant on East Federal street. Later he removed to a store on West Federal street, and was afterwards located for some time in the Merchant's block, of which he was part owner.

Successful in business, he grew up with the city, and with its expansion there came to him opportunities for legitimate investment of which he was not slow to avail himself. He was intimately connected with the develop- ment of the coal industry, for a number of years operating mines in Mineral Ridge, Aus- tintown township and elsewhere. Later he became one of the largest owners of the Youngstown Rolling Mill Company. which developed subsequently into what is now the Carnegie Union works of the United States Steel Corporation. He was also interested in numerous other business and financial enterprises, and erected some of the principal business blocks in the city of Youngstown. In 1863 he was elected mayor of Youngstown. His wealth increased and in his latter years he paid, it is said, the largest personal tax of any man in the city.

Yet with all this triumphal achievement along business and commercial lines he was no mere man of dollars. Of intellect above the ordinary. he never prostrated himself be- fore the Golden Calf. He was money's mas- ter. not its slave. The rich and the poor. the worthy of all classes, ever received at his hands that ungrudging justice, that refined courtesy which was perhaps his most striking characteristic. His years were long in the land in which Providence had cast his lot. and on September 1, 1905, at the veneral:le age of

470

HISTORY OF MAHONING COUNTY

nearly ninety-one, he passed away, respected by his fellow citizens and deeply mourned by all those with whom he had been on terms of intimate association.

Mr. Wells was married in 1878 to Miss Grace Jewett, of Greenville, Pennsylvania. With her he joined the First Presbyterian Church of this city, which had subsequently a large share of his numerous benefactions. Mrs. Wells died suddenly in 1891, after hav- ing been the mother of four children, who were as follows: Mary, born in 1880, who is now the wife of Richard Garlick, of Youngs- town; Thomas H., Jr., who died when quite young; Grace, born in 1883, who married William Seigfried, of Youngstown; and Thomas H., Jr. (2d), who is now a

student at Sanford School, Bethel, Connecti- cut, preparing to enter Yale College.

A portrait of the subject of this sketch may be found on an adjacent page of this volume.

OHN V. CHAMBERS, M. D., who has been successfully engaged in the practice of medicine at North Lima, for a period of twelve years, was born in Boardman township, Mahoning County, Ohio, September 13, 1863, and is a son of John A. and Maria L. (Andrew) Chambers.

The Chambers family is of Scotch-Irish descent. Three brothers of the name came to America from Ireland, in 1774, and it is known that two of these fought in the Patriot army all through the Revolutionary War, and that one was probably killed in the service, no trace of him being found beyond the fact of his enlistment. Of the above brothers, Thomas was the ancestor of Dr. Chambers, and he was a resident of Washington County, Pennsylvania.

John A. Chambers, father of Dr. Cham- bers, was born in Pennsylvania and in early manhood came to Ohio, locating first near Crestline. During the winter of 1859-60, he removed to Boardman township. Mahoning

County, where he resided until his death. Dur- ing his younger years he was a drover, for four years disposing of his cattle at Cleve- land. Later he devoted himself to farming and became one of the township's substantial men. He was always a supporter of law and order and as he was a man of personal cour- age, he wielded much influence and was able to protect life and property on several occa- sions during the stormy days of the Civil War.

John A. Chambers married Maria L. An- drew, who was a daughter of James and Mary (McConnell) Andrew, the former of whom was a millwright by trade. The McConnell family is one well known in professional and educational circles in Pennsylvania. The great-grandfather of Dr. Chambers was a member of the faculty of the Washington- Jefferson College, which at one time ranked with the greatest educational institutions of the country. The children of John A. Cham- bers and wife were: Mary, who married Wil- liam McLaren, residing at New Carlisle, Pennsylvania; Anna, who is a resident of Newcastle, Pennsylvania; James B .; William Andrew, who lives on the home farm in Boardman township; and John V. Politically John A. Chambers was a Democrat.

Dr. Chambers was reared on the home farm and secured an excellent common school education in the district schools and at Po- land. In deference to the wishes of his fa- ther, he considered entering the law, although, from childhood, he had cherished the hope of becoming a physician. The profession of law being very distasteful, the young student was finally permitted to follow his own inclinations and prepared for college under the preceptor- ship of Dr. Dixon, of Youngstown. In 1895 he was graduated with his medical degree, from the Western Reserve University at Cleveland, and immediately afterward he op- ened an office at North Lima, where he has been since located. His practice, though lucra- tive. extends throughout the lower part of Ma- honing County, which has entailed a great strain upon him, and in the near future he contemplates establishing himself in Califor- nia. He has spent the past two winters in

471

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

Florida and finds a genial climate conducive to his health and enjoyment, and for this rea- son he has practically decided to dispose of his real estate at North Lima and at Youngstown, and sever, with considerable regret, the pleas- ant social and professional ties he has formed in this section.

On August 30, 1897, Dr. Chambers was married to Frances Newton, who like himself, was born in Boardman township, on a farm adjoining the one on which his birth took place. Mrs. Chambers comes of old pioneer stock on both sides and is a daughter of Henry and Emily (Spaulding ) Newton. Dr. and Mrs. Chambers have had one child that died in infancy. He is a member of the Reformed Church.

Politically Dr. Chambers is a Democrat. He is a member of the order of Knights of Pythias and the beneficiary organization known as the Home Guards. For a number of years he has been health officer at North Lima.

OHN VAN FLEET. Among the early business men of Youngstown who were closely identified with all its in- terests for a period of sixty-seven years, was "Honest" John Van Fleet, whose name stood not only for material pros- perity but also for the highest integrity and the best type of citizenship. Mr. Van Fleet was born October 14, 1807, in what is now Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, and, after a long, useful and exemplary life covering 85 years, passed away at Youngstown, June 12, 1893. His parents were Richard and Sarah Van Fleet.

The Van Fleet family originated in Hol- land, but was an old settled one in Pennsyl- vania at the time of our subject's birth, his parents being natives of that state. The fam- ily was one of the old patriarchal ones of the time, consisting of six sons and six daughters.

John Van Fleet was reared on his father's farm until he reached his maturity, when he started out for himself, coming to Youngs-

town in 1826. After serving an apprentice- ship with a local tanner, he purchased the lat- ter's interests and operated the business until 1870, when he located on West Federal street, where he was engaged until 1878 in the hand- ling of leather and findings, an excellent bus- iness at that time. It is told of him, as illus- trative of his honorable business methods, that purchasers came to Youngstown from Pitts- burg, Cleveland and Cincinnati to deal with him.

During the progress of the Civil War, the government had no more ardent supporter than Mr. Van Fleet. He had been a strong anti-slavery man, for many years and had been closely associated with the other philanthro- pists of his day in assisting the escape of fugi- tive slaves. He was one of the first three anti- slavery men in Youngstown township, and his home was used as a station on the "Under- ground Railroad." In 1844 he voted for James C. Birney, who was the Abolition can- didate for the presidency.

On August 20, 1834, Mr. Van Fleet was married to Jane Douglass, who was born De- cember 28, 1811, a daughter of John and Nancy (McDowell) Douglass, all natives of Pennsylvania. To Mr. and Mrs. Van Fleet were born eight children, namely: Charles, deceased; Nancy, Sarah; Lucretia, widow of the late Henry Tod, a separate sketch of whom will be found in this volume; James D., de- ceased, who served in the Civil War as a mem- ber of Company B, 44th Battalion of State troops, which was later merged into the 155th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry; Char- lotte, deceased; John, deceased ; and Alfred B.

Alfred B. Van Fleet, a prominent and pro- gressive business man, is one of the leading real estate men of Youngstown, with offices at No. 607 Dollar Bank building, and home at No. 523 Yale avenue. He was secretary of the Mahoning County Pioneer Society for six years ; upon its dissolution, he with the other remaining members, presented the $110 in the treasury of the society to the Young Women's Christian Association.

As a sincere friend of education. John Van Fleet worked long and earnestly in behalf of

472

HISTORY OF MAHONING COUNTY

the union schools of the county. He took a deep interest in the schools and was one of the first as well as one of the most prominent ad- vocates of better educational facilities for the city of Youngstown. He served as president of the board of education and in this capacity brought to Youngstown the late Reuben Mc- Millan, who left such a decided impress for good on the city's educational life that time will not destroy. Mr. Van Fleet's wife was the first and only president of the Free Reading Room, which was finally merged into the Reuben McMillan Library, that splendid in- stitution of which Youngstown is justly proud.

Throughout almost the entire course of his life, John Van Fleet was a consistent member of the First Presbyterian Church of Youngs- town, of which for fifty years he was a deacon. He was a man of generous impulses which were tempered with prudence. His value to the early business interests of Youngstown cannot be overvalued. Careful, conservative and sensible, his excellent judgment often was the balance wheel which preserved the equili- brium between enterprise and a cautious con- servatism. He left behind him a substantial fortune and an unsullied name.

OHN SIMON, proprietor of a well-im- proved farm of 147 acres, which is distributed in Youngstown, Coitsville. Poland and Boardman townships, lives in the latter, his residence standing on a tract of forty-one acres. Mr. Simon was born in a log house on his father's farm, which was located on the dividing line between Boardman and Youngstown townships, Ma- honing County, Ohio. December 31, 1823, and is a son of Abraham and Catherine ( Crouse ) Simon.

The Simon family, an old, numerous and prominent one in Ohio, originated in Switzer- land. About 1735, John Adam Simon emi- grated to America, married in the state of Maryland and reared a family. the eldest of whom was Michael Simon, who was born in

1741. He was the father of ten children. The early annals of the family tell of thrilling ad- ventures with the Indians and many sufferings therefrom. Later. John Adam Simon emi- grated to Washington County, Pennsylvania. where he subsequently died, aged about 100 years.

Michael Simon, grandfather of John Simon, came to Boardman, then Trumbull County, Ohio, in 1800, and here purchased 640 acres of land. His fourth son. Adam. moved in the same year to Boardman, and established here his permanent home. Michael Simon died in 1839, aged nearly 99 years. He was thrice married and had fifteen children. He is credited with bringing the first wheat into Boardman township, and raising the first wheat crop. During a time of crop failure it is said of him that he thus replied to his neighbors who came to offer their all to him for grain. "No. I have no wheat for sale, but come and get what you want and return it to me when you can raise some." Such anec- dotes cause us to sometimes pause and ask if such generosity and Christian kindliness still exists.

Abraham Simon, father of John, was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, and ac- companied his father, on horseback, to Ohio, settling on the wild. pioneer farm, where he continued to live until the close of his life. His father, Michael, resided with him. His wife, Catherine, was a daughter of Jacob and Catherine Crouse, who had come at an early day from Pennsylvania and settled at North Lima, Mahoning County. Jacob Crouse was a soldier in the War of 1812. Abraham Simon died aged 75 years and was survived by his widow for a few years, she dying at the age of 80. They were the parents of eleven children-Solomon. Elizabeth, John, Michael. Martha. Jacob, Harriet. Delilah, Joshua, and two who died in infancy. Solomon, Michael and Martha are deceased. The last named married George Hornicle, who also is de- ceased. Elizabeth is the widow of Jacob Bailey. Jacob resides at Flint Hill, Youngs- town. Harriet is the widow of the late Peter

473

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

Monismith, and ( second) of the late Hugh Cover. Delilah is the widow of Ralph Agnew. Joshua resides in Boardman township.

John Simon was reared on the home farm one mile west of his present place. He was about eight years old when his father erected a brick house, still standing, which was much admired, it being the first in this part of the township. Mr. Simon went to school in an old log house with a stick and mud chimney, which was furnished with rough benches made out of split logs, with wooden pins driven through for supports. The rude desks ex- tended around the sides of the room and were also of the most primitive construction. Not much time could be spent for study by boys in his day, who had fathers with large farms to clear and cultivate, but he went long enough to learn the spelling book through, and the Book of Psalms by heart, in German. For about eight years. Mr. Simon and brother op- erated a horse-power threshing machine. His regular occupation has been general farming, and he came to his present place in the spring of 1844. This property was left to his wife by her uncle. Philip Stambaugh.

On February 27, 1844, Mr. Simon was married to Elizabeth Fusselman, who died April 2, 1899, aged 75 years. She was a daughter of Gideon and Eve Fusselman. There were eight children born of this marriage. namely: Mary, who died at the age of 14 years : Philip, who died in 1906: Olive Edna, residing with her father: Samuel Crouse, who died aged eight years; Frank F., residing on the first old home place, who married Lena Hanni, and has four children-Scott H., Meta, Samuel Louis and Marshall Christian; George Humphrey, residing across the road from his father. in Poland township, who married Mary Hanni and has two children-Elizabeth and Helen : William, who died at the age of four years; and John Calvin, a graduate of the Eclectic Medical Institute, of Cincinnati, who is engaged in the practice of medicine at Cleveland, Ohio, and who married Hattie Gallagher.

Politically Mr. Simon is affiliated with the Republican party. He is one of the leading

members of the Reform Church, in which he has served as deacon and in other offices.

A reunion of the Simon family, which oc- curred at the residence of Levi Simon, at Bloomdale, Ohio, September 20, 1882, showed that the family has spread over a wide terri- tory and has many members who have become prominent and substantial citizens of their various communities, in various occupations and walks of life. There were 101 of the name of Simon present. 172 blood relations and some 75 others who through marriage could claim kinship. The states of Ohio, West Virginia, Illinois, Iowa and Michigan were represented.

HAARLES T. AGNEW, County Com- missioner of Mahoning County, and a well known and highly respected citizen of Boardman township, re- siding on a farm, was born Novem- ber 2. 1861, in Boardman township, and is a son of Ralph and Elizabeth ( Crouse ) Agnew, and a grandson of Thomas Agnew.

Thomas Agnew. a native of London, Eng- land, remained in that city until 22 years of age, and learned the goldsmith's trade. He then came to America. settling first in Philadelphia, where he became a shoemaker. after he removed to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. where, about 1825. he was married. He sub- sequently located on a farm in Boardman township. Mahoning County, on which he and his wife both died. Ralph Agnew was three years old when his parents removed from Pittsburg to Boardman. Here he was reared. and married Elizabeth Crouse. They had two children-Frank. a farmer of Boardman township, and Charles T., the subject of this sketch. Mrs. Agnew died in February, 1872: her husband in May, 1893.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens, 20th, Part 62

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