Century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens, 20th, Part 66

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 66

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John Truesdale, grandfather of Dr. Trues- dale, was born in Ireland and came to America with his father, also named John, in 1771. They settled in Pennsylvania, purchasing a farm in Perry County, on which the younger John (the grandfather) was employed at the outbreak of the Revolutionary War. He en- tered the Patriot army with the Pennsylvania contingent and was in Washington's immedi- ate command. He was proud of the services he could perform not only for the land which had offered him a home, but for the great commander and would frequently tell of his detail to keep the fires glowing in the aban-

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doned camp on the memorable night on which Washington crossed the Delaware and sur- prised the Hessian garrison at Trenton, who supposed, from the lighted camp fires on the other side, that the enemy, like themselves, were holding Christmas revels. The record of American soldiers in the country's archives, shows that John Truesdale was a brave and faithful soldier throughout the war.

At the close of hostilities, he returned to Pennsylvania and shortly afterward was mar- ried to Hannah Robinson. Later he removed to Washington County, Pennsylvania, and in 1802 from there to Mahoning, then Trumbull, County, Ohio, and acquired land in Poland township, as he is listed with tax-payers, in 1802. In 1813 he sold his first farm and re- moved to Austintown township, where he died in 1819, his widow surviving many years. During a large part of this period her grand- son, now Dr. Truesdale, was under her care. The children born to John and Hannah Trues- dale were: John, James, Hugh, William, Al- exander. Robinson, Joseph, Margaret, Mary and Jane, all of whom grew to maturity, but all have long since passed away. All the sons became more or less prominent in the locali- ties where they lived. John, James, Hugh and William served in the War of 1812. William served in the artillery and was offered a com- mission in the regular army, but refused it. He was elected a justice of the peace in Aus- tintown township, before he was 21 years of age and had to wait until his majority before receiving his commission; he served in that office during the rest of his life.

Robinson Truesdale, a man of military bearing, was elected a colonel of militia. He was a strong anti-slavery man, and in relig- ious views was a stanch Presbyterian. He designed the Presbyterian Church edifice at Youngstown and did much of the work of construction. Hugh Truesdale spent his life, after returning from the war, in Poland town- ship, where he was elected a justice of the peace and served in that office for 25 years. His grandson, James Kennedy, who was a son of his daughter Margaret and her husband, Walter Kennedy, is a member of Congress.

All this family of Kennedys have become noted in the iron and steel industries.

John Truesdale, the third of the name in the ancestral line, and the father of Dr. Jack- son Truesdale, was born in 1783, on the farm in Washington County, Pennsylvania, and ac- companied his parents to Ohio. He assisted in the clearing of the wild land which had been selected by his father. Subsequently he mar- ried Mary Reed and they moved to Austin- town township. Both he and his wife died in 1825, their deaths occurring but three weeks apart. They had five children, namely, four sons, James, William, John and Jackson, and one daughter, Mary, who married William Bassett.

Jackson Truesdale was the youngest of his parents' children and he was but five years old when he was left an orphan. He then went to live with his grandmother, who resided with her daughter, Mrs. Eastman, in Ells- worth township. In 1832 he was taken into the family of his uncle, Joseph Truesdale, at Poland, where he had the benefit of the best school instruction, both public and private, that the locality afforded, and as he was an ambitious youth, he profited by it and im- proved his time.

In 1837, Mr. Truesdale came to Canfield, beginning to teach school when only 17 years of age. Subsequently he spent a short time at Oberlin College and later at Allegheny Col- lege, but did not remain long enough to grad- uate. In 1840, he moved to Kentucky, where he continued to teach for a number of years, teaching one year near Nashville, Tennessee. While thus engaged he spent all his leisure time in reading medicine, and after his return to Ohio, he continued his medical studies with Dr. Joseph Truesdale, of Poland. When thoroughly prepared, he entered a medical school at Cleveland and for ten subsequent years he practiced medicine in the western part of Mahoning County.

In 1854, while residing in Jackson town- ship, Dr. Truesdale was elected auditor of the new county organized a few years previously, the county seat then being at Canfield, and served in this office from 1855 until 1859.

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Jackson township was thoroughly Democratic and Dr. Truesdale was the first Republican who had ever received a majority of the votes. After the close of his term of office, Dr. Trues- dale considered resuming the practice of me- dicine, but he had never been an enthusiast in the profession, and after due consideration decided to engage in a mercantile business at Canfield in place of opening an office. Al- though he has been retired from active parti- cipation in business for the past 20 years, for over a quarter of a century he was one of Canfield's leading merchants.

Dr. Truesdale was married (first) to Lola Maria Tyler, who at her death left two chil- dren, Henry and Lola. Henry enlisted in the Federal army for service in the Civil War, was taken prisoner by the Confederates and was one of the unfortunate Union soldiers who perished from privation and suffering at Andersonville, Georgia. Lola married Edgar Cummins, residing in Lorain County, Ohio, and they have one child. Luella. Dr. Trues- dale was married (second) to Hannah Eckis, who died 16 years later, August 13, 1863. Dr. Truesdale was married (third) to Luceba A. Ripley, daughter of General Ripley, who died in February, 1906. They had two chil- dren, William and John. William Truesdale was a man of scholarly attainments, a gradu- ate of the Ohio Wesleyan University, Dela- ware, Ohio, and at the time of his death was a member of the Colorado State University faculty, having previously been a High School instructor in Cleveland, Ohio. He married (first) Hattie Belts, who was a classmate and co-graduate of his, and (second) Maude Or- ton. John Truesdale, a business man at Youngstown, with offices in the Realty build- ing, married Clara Justice.

For over 20 years, Dr. Truesdale has been a director and vice-president of the Farmers' National Bank at Canfield. Although so long retired from the cares of business, he has re- mained a busy man, turning his attention into the congenial channel of literary production. Through his careful study and research con- cerning the War of 1812, many soldiers' re- cords have been established, while his interest

in the development of Canfield village and township, has resulted in a large amount of interesting local history, which is valuable to the historian as well as to all those who take pride in the achievements of their pioneer forefathers. These are all much indebted to the researches of Dr. Truesdale.

ORNELIUS SIMON, whose valu- able fruit farm of 25 acres is sit- uated three miles south of Youngs- town, in Boardman township, was born on his present farm, February 25, 1850, and is a son of Michael and Ros- anna (Gentholtz) Simon.

Adam Simon, the grandfather of Corne- lius Simon, was the first householder of this section. He was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, April 26,1777, was reared on his father's farm and married Maria Margaritha, shortly afterward coming to Ohio and set- tling in the deep forest in Boardman township. He erected his log cabin in these wilds in 1800 and here his wife died in the following year. She was the first person buried in the old graveyard which lies near Mr. Simon's farm. Adam Simon lived until August 20, 1826, and he was also buried in the same place. One child was born to his first marriage and after the death of its young mother, Adam's father, Michael Simon, started on horseback to Wash- ington County, carrying the infant in his hunt- ing shirt, but it was unable to stand the ex- posure and soon died. He later returned to Mahoning County. Adam Simon's second marriage was to Rebecca Reinhardt, who was born at Hagerstown, Maryland, and died in 1862, in Boardman township.

The children born to the second marriage of Adam Simon, were: Thomas, Andrew, Reinhardt, Cornelius, Michael and Amelia, the last named of whom married David Nei- dig. When the war of 1812 broke out, Adam Simon took up arms, believing it to be his duty. Strong and robust, nature had fitted him to bear hardship, and, as illustrative of his kind and generous character, it was related

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by old settlers, that on one occasion, on a long march, when a comrade had fallen from wear- iness, he carried him in his powerful arms. He returned safely from the war and spent the rest of his days in Boardman township. In the year following his settlement, his father, Michael Simon, came also to Mahoning County, about 1801 or 1802, and took up a section of land, the present farm of Mr. Si- mon being a part of it. As no roads had been cut through this part of the country, Indian trails had to be followed from Pittsburg to Cleveland.

Michael Simon, father of Cornelius, was the youngest son of the family and was born in the log house on the home place, August 26, 1820, and died in Boardman township, September 3, 1893, aged 73 years. He fol- lowed farming and fruit growing. In 1846 he was married to Rosanna Gentholtz, who was born in Stuttgart, Germany, and who at the age of six years, accompanied her parents, Frederick Gentholtz and wife, to America, settling one mile east of Girard. This vener- able lady still survives, having reached her 82nd year. The children of Michael and Ros- anna Simon, who reached maturity were: Le- nora, who with her husband, Clark Hawkins, is now deceased; Cornelius, whose name be- gins this article; Catherine (deceased), who married D. G. Stemple; Rebecca, who married Robert Augenbaugh, and resides at Beaver, Pennsylvania; Coroline, wife of C. H. Stam- baugh; Julius; Elmer Ellsworth, who died at the age of 20 years; and Warren, who resides on the home place with his aged mother. In this family there were born twins, Lenora and Ezra, and triplets, who were named re- spectively, Elmer Ellsworth, Bishop Clinton and Ira Clayton.

Cornelius Simon was reared on the old home place and obtained a district school edu- cation. After his marriage he moved to Youngstown and for four years lived on the south side of the city, working in different capacities for the Kyle Coal Company ; he has been interested in coal mining work for 20 years. In the spring of 1880, he bought his present farm from his father, and since then

has devoted himself to the pleasant and pro- fitable business of growing fruit, raising strawberries, apples, peaches and plums. His commodious eight-room frame dwelling he built himself and also set out the well-kept hedge, which extends in front of the house and adds so materially to its general attract- iveness. He has made many improvements, has put in one mile of tiling, and has set out many shrubs and trees. He finds a ready mar- ket for his fruit at Youngstown.

On November 9, 1876, Mr. Simon was married to Alice M. Oatey, who is a daughter of Jonathan and Louisa Oatey. They have two sons, Clarence and Elmer, the latter of whom assists his father on the farm. The former resides at Youngstown, where he is foreman of the electrical plant of the Ohio Steel Company. In September, 1898, he mar- ried Addie Summers, and they have one son, Lloyd.

Mrs. Simon is one of a family of seven children, namely: Alice, William, Elizabeth, who married John Smith, Charles, Anna, who is the widow of James Allen, Howard, and Samuel, the last named of whom is deceased. The father of Mrs. Simon was a well-known citizen of Youngstown, where he died in Sep- tember, 1899, aged 73 years. His widow still survives at the age of 71 years.

Formerly, Mr. Simon was identified with the Republican party but for the past 12 years he has been a Prohibitionist. Mr. Simon has enjoyed several extended trips through the West, in 1902 spending seven weeks in South- ern California and Seattle, Washington, and in 1906 and 1907 he and his wife passed the winter in California.

ENRY CLINTON HEINTZELMAN, president of the school board of Boardman township and identified with its agricultural interests for a number of years, owning 80 acres of well-improved land upon which he lives, with- in nine miles of Youngstown, was born on his grandfather's farm in Beaver township, Ma-

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honing County, Ohio, October 7, 1858. His parents were George and Hannah Heintzel- man.

Jacob Heintzelman, the grandfather of Henry C., was born April 2, 1796, in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, where he was reared on a farm and later learned the tailor trade. On May 18, 1823, he was married in his na- tive state to Rebecca Lynn, who was born November 4, 1803, and they had 14 children, namely : Daniel, David, Polly, Catherine, Ly- dia, Israel, George, Elizabeth, Joseph, Maria, Cornelius, Sylvester, Enos, and William. Daniel, who died young ; Polly and Maria each married a Mr. Hahn, Catherine married a Mr. Thoman, Lydia a Mr. Hinkle, Israel died young, Elizabeth is now Mrs. Elizabeth Tho- man, Sylvester, who died young, Enos died at the age of 21 years. Of the union of Jacob and Rebecca Heintzelman there have been, up to the present time (1907), 160 descendants, a number of whom have settled in Mahoning County. Jacob Heintzelman died in Beaver township, Mahoning County, April 25, 1875, and his widow December 30, 1883. They came to this county between 1825 and 1830.

George Heintzelman, father of Henry C., was born August 10, 1833, and grew up among pioneer surroundings. He was both a farmer and carpenter, and became well known all over the county for his mechanical skill. During the Civil War, when a draft was made for 20 men from Canfield township, his was the 20th name drawn. He remained in camp at Cleveland for a short time, but, feeling that it was almost impossible for him to leave his wife and little children, a babe having been born the very day he was drafted, he sold about all he possessed and sent a substitute in his place.

In January, 1858, Mr. Heintzelman was married to Hannah Kaercher, who was born in Springfield township, Mahoning County, a daughter of Philip and Rebecca (Hahn) Kaercher. Her father was born in Germany and her mother in Maryland. Mr. and Mrs. George Heintzelman had four children, name- ly: Henry Clinton; Ella R., who married Monroe Beard, of Beaver township; Carrie

M., who is the widow of Malcomb Clemons; and Ada M., who married (first) Melvin C. Kile, and (second) Calvin Frye, and resides in Canfield township.

For a year after their marriage, George Heintzelman and wife lived with his father, afterwards buying and clearing a farm of 20 acres in Canfield township. In the spring of 1869, having recovered from the setback oc- casioned by his paying of a substitute, George Heintzelman bought the present farm, from Andrew Arner, who had cleared it. For some 15 years Mr. Heintzelman also worked at his trade of carpenter. He died on this farm in May, 1893, and was survived by his widow until February, 1899.

Henry Clinton Heintzelman attended the district schools, but while still a boy was ob- liged to assume heavy responsibilities on ac- count of his father's poor health. He lived at home until his marriage, with the exception of one winter, when he worked at Youngs- town, for his uncle Fred Kaercher, in the butcher business. After his marriage he lived for eight years with his father, and after the latter's death remained two more years on the homestead with his mother, but in the spring of 1895 he rented the Hartman farm in Boardman township. A year later he returned to the home farm, which subsequently came into his possession. He has always carried on general farming and has been as well rewarded for his labors as any agriculturist in Boardman township. A log house still stands on his farm, one of the four residences built on this property, the present one of nine rooms having been erected in 1877, by his father and later remodeled by the present occupant. On January 7, 1885; Mr. Heintzelman was married to Minnie E. Osborn, who was born in Youngstown town- ship, Mahoning County, Ohio, January 2, 1864, and is a daughter of Clark and Laura (Moore) Osborn. Her parents reside in Ash- tabula County, Ohio, where Mr. and Mrs. Heintzelman were married. She is one of a fmily of ten children, as follows: Daniel and Isabella, both deceased; George S., Mrs. Sa- rah Zimmerman, Mrs. Adelaide Osborn, Mrs.

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Harriet Sweet, Minnie E., Mrs. Anna Ly- man, Lillian, wife of Dr. Zimmerman, of Youngstown, and H. Manning, a physician at Youngstown.

Mr. and Mrs. Heintzelman have had five children, namely : Laura Ruth, who is a grad- uate of the Boardman High School, Fayette C., H. Esther, John H. and Kenneth E., all residing at home.

In political sentiment, Mr. Heintzelman is a Republican. He served as township assessor, census enumerator, and for a number of years has been a member of the school board, which he is now serving as president. It was largely through his efforts that the High School was secured for Boardman township, and in 1907 he had the pleasure of witnessing the gradua- tion of one of his daughters therefrom. He belongs to the Grange and was a delegate from Mahoning County to the Ohio State Grange, for two years, one meeting being held at Warren and the other at Mansfield; subse- quently he attended the State Grange meet- ings at Canton and at Columbus. Mr. Heintz- elman and family belong to the Lutheran Church at New Buffalo, of which he has been a trustee for the past three years.

Mr. Heintzelman takes an interest in his family history and he justly prizes very highly a German family Bible, which was handed down to him by his father, who had received it from his father. The old records in this holy Book reach far back and are entirely dependable.

HEODORE OBENAUF, a public- spirited and substantial citizen of Beaver township, resides on a farm in section 9, and in the same house in which he was born, March 17, 1856, son of Francis and Wilhelmina ( Doer- fer ) Obenauf.

The first of the Obenauf family to emi- grate from Germany to America, was Trow- gut Obenauf, an uncle of Theodore, who lo- cated at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where he was later joined by his brother Francis. The 28

brothers came together to Beaver township, Mahoning County, and purchased the second farm north of the one now occupied by Theo- dore, for their father, Christian Obenauf, who took possession of it two years later, in 1854, and continued to reside upon it until his death, in 1858. His children were: Trowgut, Fran- cis, Christian, Herman, Edward, Ferdinand, Pauline, wife of David Dietzman, and a resi- dent of Wisconsin, Lewis, and Huldah, who married Julius Siegel, and resides in Youngs- town.

Francis Obenauf was born in Saxony, Ger- many, November 26, 1830, and was about 22 years of age when he came to America. In 1855 he was married to Wilhelmina Doerfer, a daughter of Michael Doerfer and also a na- tive of Saxony. She accompanied the Obenauf family to America. After marriage, Francis Obenauf settled on the farm now occupned by his son, which was fairly well cleared when he purchased it. He continued to reside on this place until Theodore was married and then moved to the farm now owned by Lewis F. Obenauf, on which he built a house and barn and made other improvements. He re- sided on that farm until the death of his wife which occurred November 13, 1878, when he moved to North Lima, where he sub- sequently (second) married Mrs. Elizabeth Hahn. He resided at North Lima, until 1890, when he removed to Melrose, Florida, resid- ing there until within six weeks of his death, which took place at Augusta, Georgia, Janu- ary 29. 1899. His remains were brought home for burial, as were those of his widow, who died in Georgia, December 16, 1900, and a son, Frank, who died there June 13, 1901. The children of Mr. Obenauf were all born of his first marriage and were : Theodore, sub- ject of this sketch; Adeline, born December 25. 1859, wife of William Feicht, and a resi- dent of Springfield township: Anna, born November 7. 1861, who died November 16, 1885: Lewis F., residing in section 15. Beaver township: and Frank, born March 5. 1873. who died in Georgia, as stated above. The last named was a prominent lawyer. His death was caused by typhoid fever.

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Politically, Francis Obenauf was a Demo- crat. He was a man of sterling character and took an active interest in public matters where- ever he lived. At one time he served as trus- tee of Beaver township. Through life he was a consistent Lutheran.

Theodore Obenauf was educated in the local schools and has devoted the greater part of his life to agricultural pursuits. In younger years, when not busy on the farm, he was en- gaged very successfully in selling organs through the country, but in later years has been mainly interested in raising fruit, po- tatoes and poultry as specialties in addition to general farming.

On April II, 1878, Mr. Obenauf was mar- ried to Louise Houk, who was born in Spring- field township, Mahoning County, Ohio, and is a daughter of Henry and Mary (Barth) Houk, and a granddaughter of Jacob Houk, who resided all his life in Trumbull County, and who married Christina Unkauf. Henry Houk resided in Springfield township until his death, on March 26, 1906. He was born April 25, 1831, and was married April I, 1853, to Mary Barth, who died October 22, 1905.

Mr. and Mrs. Obenauf have had four sons and one daughter, namely : Henry Fran- cis, born January 15, 1879, is a Lutheran min- ister located at South Sharon, Pennsylvania, married Mary Ota Lynch and they have one son, Paul Francis; Albert Myron, born De- cember 12, 1881, resides in Cleveland ; Henry Francis and Albert Myron were both edu- cated at Wittenberg College; Emma Almeda born May 15, 1887, is a graduate of the North Lima High School and taught school during one year in Beaver township and one year in Springfield township; Homer Allen, born February 19, 1891, is attending Rayen School at Youngstown; Maurice Samuel, born February 14. 1897, is still a student. The eldest son of Mr. Obenauf was educated at Wittenberg College and at the Lutheran Col- lege at Chicago.

For a number of years Mr. Obenauf has been a member of the township school board, of which he is treasurer. With his family he

belongs to the Lutheran Church. He has fra- ternal connection with the Home Guards of America.

UGH BRYSON WICK. In recalling the men to whom Youngstown is in- debted for its material prosperity, the late Hugh Bryson Wick is im- mediately brought to mind, for he was a very important factor in its develop- ment for many years. His long and busy life was mainly devoted to this section, which benefited by his business sagacity and public spirit. Mr. Wick was born at Youngstown, February 5, 1809, and died April 22, 1880. He was a son of Henry and Hannah (Bald- win) Wick. The Wicks were of English ori- gin, settling originally on Long Island, New York.

Mr. Wick's parents came to the Mahoning Valley as pioneers from Washington County, Pennsylvania. For many years they were closely identified with the business and social interests of this section and when they passed away they left memories of honorable, use- ful and virtuous lives. They reared a large family and almost all of these became promi- nent in some walk of life. They were Caleb Baldwin, Thomas Lupton, Betsy, Lemuel Henry, Jr., Hugh Bryson, Hannah, Matilda Lucretia, John Dennick, Mary Ann, Thomas Lupton (2) and Paul. The first birth was in 1795 and the last in 1824. The last survivor of this notable family was Henry Wick, Jr., who was a resident of Cleveland.

Hugh Bryson Wick began his remarkable business career as a merchant in 1828, open- ing a store at Brookfield, Trumbull County, where he remained for ten years, during a por- tion of which period he had business interests also at Lima. In 1837 he removed to Lowell- ville, where he conducted a business for two years, coming to his native place in 1839 to enter into business competition here. In 1846, with his brothers, Caleb B. and Paul Wick, Henry Heasley, Dr. Henry Manning, William Rice and other capitalists, Mr. Wick built a

JAMES MACKEY

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rolling mill and opened a store, the latter be- ing managed by the late Paul Wick and con- tinued as a business under the management of Paul and Hugh B. Wick until 1855. This rolling-mill enterprise was the nucleus around which developed the immense works of Brown, Bonnell & Company.

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Century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens, 20th, Part 66

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