Century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens, 20th, Part 69

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 69

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On June 8, 1876, Mr. Evans was married to Lucy E. Gerwig, a daughter of the late Frederick Gerwig, formerly a large iron manufacturer at Youngstown. Mr. and Mrs. Evans have a beautiful home at No. 215 Lin- coln avenue. They have three children living -Frederick G., Eunice and Mason, jr.

R. JUSTICE, M. D., physician and surgeon, vice-president of the Farm- ers' Deposit and Savings Bank of Poland, Ohio, is one of the leading men of this part of Mahoning County, and is a representative of one of its old and honorable families. Dr. Justice was born at New Middlepoint, Springfield township, Mahoning County, Ohio, December 15, 1857, and is a son of James and Julia (Kirtland) Justice. The grandfather, David Justice, came to America from Ireland, and in 1802 crossed the mountains from Pennsyl- vania with a four-horse team, settling in Springfield township. Mahoning County, Ohio, where he bought a half section of land.

James Justice, the Doctor's father, was born at Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, and was young when he accompanied his parents to what was then Columbiana, but is now Ma-

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honing County. He was a farmer and a tan- ner and became a man of large substance and much importance in his community. For many years he served in the office of justice of the peace and was a member of the first board of commissioners of Mahoning County. He supervised, in person, the building of the old jail, and assisted in the erection of the first court house, at Canfield. He was mar- ried (first) to Ann Carson, a native of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and they had eight children, all of whom are deceased. He was married (second) to Julia Kirtland, who was born in Middletown, Connecticut, a daughter of Frederick and Martha Kirtland. Dr. Jus- tice is the only child of the second marriage. James Justice died April 2, 1865, his wife passing away a few months later. She had been previously married to William Fitch, of Boardman township, and had two children (both deceased), one of whom, Julia Ellen, was the wife of Charles Kirtland, of Poland.

Dr. Justice was a boy of 13 years when his parents died. He then came to Poland to make his home with his half-sister, Mrs. Kirt- land. During the summer months he assisted on the farm, and in the winter time attended the district schools and the Poland Seminary, up to the age of 17, when he began to teach, alternating teaching with further attendance at school. In 1873 he began the study of medicine, entering what was then known as the Western Reserve College, but what is now the medical department of Adelbert College, at Cleveland, where he was graduated in 1879, remaining one year longer as an instructor.

When Dr. Justice started in to practice at Poland, he entered into partnership with an old established practitioner, of fifty years' ex- perience, Dr. Eli Mygatt, and he also opened a drug store, which he still carries on in the same building.

In 1886 Dr. Justice was married to Bertha Long, a daughter of John and Emma Long. who came to Poland from Pittsburg. Dr. and Mrs. Justice are members of the Presbyterian Church. Upon the death of Charles Kirtland, in 1901, Dr. Justice was elected vice-president of the Farmers' Deposit and Savings Bank

of Poland. He is president and superintend- ent of the Poland Cemetery Association and is a member of the board of supervisors of elec- tions of Mahoning County. He is also United States pension examiner, having been ap- pointed by President Harrison, through the influence of the Hon. William Mckinley, when a member of congress. Fraternally Dr. Justice is a Mason.

LI T. SHREVE, a leading citizen of Smith township, Mahoning County, E Ohio, who, for more than twelve years has served as township trustee, resides on a fine farm of 223 acres, which is situated in section 19, and owns other land in the same township. On this same farm, Mr. Shreve was born, April 28, 1844, and he is a son of Enoch and Elizabeth ( Kille) Shreve.

The Shreve family came originally from Holland, settling first in New Jersey, where they prospered and were mainly engaged in agricultural pursuits. Subsequently the fam- ily became established in other sections, and as early as 1806, Stacy Shreve, the grandfather of Eli T., same with his wife, Vashti, to Goshen township, Mahoning County, Ohio, building a log cabin home in the wilderness which then prevailed. They lived and died in Goshen township. Enoch Shreve, father of Eil T., was born in Goshen township, where he remained until 1841, when he came to Smith township and settled on the farm now owned by his son, Eli T. This section was mainly wild land at the time, and Enoch Shreve, in his new home, repeated the pioneer work which had occupied the life of his father in Goshen township. The Shreves have all been men of sterling character, one of their ancestors having served in the Revolutionary War, but they have been largely men also of peace, members of the Society of Friends. Enoch Shreve was one of Smith township's reliable and substan- tial men. He served in the office of township trustee and was noted for his good judgment and business sagacity. He died in 1865.

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Enoch Shreve married Elizabeth Kille, who was born in Pennsylvania. She still sur- vives and has reached the unusual age of 90 years. Their three surviving children are : Eli T .; Binford T., residing at Bayard, Ohio; and Mary A., who married Asa Pim, residing at East Rochester, Ohio.

Eli T. Shreve was reared on the home farm in Smith township, where he attended school in boyhood, completing his education in the Damascus Academy. Mr. Shreve was reared to an agricultural life and he has always taken interest and pleasure in his avocations which he has carried to great success. For many years he made dairying a leading feat- ure, keeping herds of beautiful Holsteins and Jerseys for the purpose, and for a quarter of a century operated a milk route at Alliance. He has not been interested in this industry for some years, but, with the assistance of his sons, continues his large agricultural opera- tions.

On April 5, 1870, Mr. Shreve was married to Anna V. Ladd, who is a daughter of Joshua Ladd, of Butler township, Columbiana County, and they have had five children, name- ly : Josephine, deceased ; Olin B., residing at Atwater, Ohio; William H., residing at Alli- ance; and Arthur J., and Enoch C., both re- siding in Smith township.

Like his father, Mr. Shreve is a Republi- can in his political preference. He has faith- fully and honestly served as township trustee, and has proven himself a valuable citizen. In addition to his residence farm, he owns a half interest in a tract of 32 acres, the other half being owned by his brother, Binford T. Eli T. Shreve is a member of the Friends Church at Alliance.

6 EORGE A. BAKER, the owner and the genial proprietor of the Tod Ho- tel, at Youngstown, has been a resi- dent of this city since 1885. but he was born at Marion, Ohio, in 1848, and is a son of Horace W. Walker and Eliza- beth ( Thomas) Baker.

The father of Mr. Baker was born in Ver- 29

mont, in 1818, and died in California; to which state he had gone in 1849. surviving less than one year. In 1842 he married Eliza- beth Thomas, and they had four sons, three of whom died in infancy. In 1855 the mother of Mr. Baker married Andrew J. Crawford, and there were four children born to the sec- ond marriage, two of whom survive.

Mrs. Crawford died in 1893.

In large measure, Mr. Baker is a self-made man. Since 14 years of age, when he left school, he has been the director of his own for- tunes. For three years he served as a mes- senger boy for the Western Union Company, at Corry. Erie County, Pennsylvania, follow- ing which he accepted a position as ticket agent for the Atlantic and Great Western Railway, at Concord, Pennsylvania. One year later he returned to Corry, as night operator, begin- ning with a salary of $60 a month, but soon after was promoted and when transferred to Tidioute, Pennsylvania, his salary was in- creased to $75 a month. Mr. Baker then be- came freight and ticket agent for the Oil Creek Railroad, his services commanding $100 a month, and this responsible position he held for three years, when he was transferred to what was considered an important point, May- ville, New York. This road was known at that time as the Buffalo, Corry & Pittsburg Railroad, and he was agent at Mayville for the following eight years, and then took an- other step forward, becoming freight agent at Buffalo. In 1883. after two years at Buf- falo, he was made general freight agent for the whole system, his selection for this exceed- ingly responsible position having been made from a large body of competent railroad men. In 1885 Mr. Baker retired from railroad work and took over the management of the Tod House, a property he had previously pur- chased. Under his direction this hostelry has become the leading one at Youngstown and one of the very best in this section of the state. Mr. Baker owns also a fine estate in the coun- try and has other business interests in this vicinity.

In 1876 Mr. Baker was married to Julia Hurlbert, who was born at Forestville, New

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York, and they have four children: Horace F., residing at Pittsburg, attorney for the Wa- bash Railroad, graduated at Harvard in both ław and science; George A., residing at Youngstown, the efficient steward of the Tod House ; and Marie E. and Crawford H., both residing at home, the latter being a student in the Rayen high school. Mr. Baker and fam- ily belong to the Episcopal Church.

In 1890 Governor Foraker appointed George A. Baker a member of the board of elections of Mahoning County, on which the latter's services were of a most satisfactory character. He is one of the most prominent Masons in Ohio, belonging to Hillman Lodge, No. 48I. F. & A. M .; Youngstown Chapter, No. 93; Royal Arch Masons, St. John's Com- mandery, No. 20, Knights Templar ; and Scot- tish Rite at Cleveland ; Al Koran Temple, No- bles of the Mystic Shrine.

OAH S. KENREIGH, a prominent farmer and stockman, residing on his home farm of 160 acres, which is situated in section 17, Green town- ship, owns a large amount of land in Mahoning County and stands as one of her substantial citizens. He was born in Mahon- ing County, Ohio, February 3, 1845, and is a son of Michael and Anna M. (Martz) Kenreigh.

The father of Mr. Kenreigh was born in Lancaster County, and the mother in Berks County, Pennsylvania, both being of German extraction. Caspar Kenreigh, the grandfather of Noah S., was born in Germany, emigrated to the United States and became a farmer in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where he re- sided until his son Michael was 15 years of age. When he came to Green township he was one of the earliest settlers in that part known as the Ridge. The Kenreigh family all belonged to the Lutheran faith and the log cabin of Caspar Kenreigh was often utilized in those early days for religious services. This family founded the Ridge Church and for a number of vears it was known as the Ken- reigh Church. It is now known as the St.

John's Church: Michael Kenreigh continued to live in Green township until his death, which occurred April 25, 1880. . In young manhood he learned the wagonmaking trade which he followed for a number of years, but subsequently gave his attention entirely to farming and stock-raising. In politics he was a Republican.

Michael Kenreigh was married (first) to Elizabeth Dustman, who died, having been the mother of the following children: Lydia, de- ceased: Elizabeth; residing in Green township; is the widow of John Crockett; Elias resid- ing in Green township; and Catherine, who married John P. Goodman, both deceased. Michael Kenreigh was married (second) to Anna M. Martz, who died May 25, 1881, and the four surviving children of this union are: John M., residing in Missouri; Isaac, residing at Tacoma, Wash- ington ; Noah S .; and Mary A., who married Lewis Cramer, residing in Canfield township! Jacob, who was born in 1842, died in 1862.

Noah S. Kenreigh attended the district schools of Green township during his boyhood, and on his father's farm was trained to the business of farming and stock-raising, and in these occupations he has been interested all his life. He has resided on his present farm for the past quarter of a century.

On February 6, 1873, Mr. Kenreigh was married to Mary E. Ebersole, who was born' October 18, 1851, in Carroll County, Ohio, and is a daughter of George and Elizabeth ( Aberhims) Ebersole, the former of whom was born in Franklin County, and the latter in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, and both were but seven years old when their par- ents moved to Carroll County, Ohio. George' Ebersole was reared and married there, but later moved to Canton, Ohio, where he died.

Mr. and Mrs. Kenreigh have two sons; Albert V .. and Elmer G., both residing at home. Albert V. was born July 31, 1875- Elmer G. was born March 31, 1877, and was married. June 12. 1906, to Blanche Blott. With his family. Mr. Kenreigh belongs to the Lutheran Church. Politically he is a Re- publican.

HON. JAMES KENNEDY,

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h ON. JAMES KENNEDY, member of the United States Congress from the 18th Congressional district of Ohio, which is made up of the populous and wealthy counties of Co- lumbiana, Mahoning and Stark, is one of Ohio's favorite sons, in that he has done her honor, and his achievements bear the mark of her approval. Mr. Kennedy was born at Poland, Ohio, September 3, 1853, and is a son of Thomas W. and Margaret (Truesdale) Kennedy, both natives of Mahoning County. His mother still resides on the farm in Poland township, on which she was born in 1826. The father, Thomas W. Kennedy, became widely known as an iron and steel manufac- turer. He erected a blast furnace at Yellow Creek, in Mahoning County, in the pioneer days of the iron industry here, and was closely identified with its development. He and his wife had eight children, seven sons and one daughter. The daughter, Mrs. Rachel Becker, resides with her mother on the old homestead. The sons have all gained prominence, six of them in the mechanical arts, and the distin- guished subject of this article in professional and public life. Julian, the eldest, surprised the ruler of the Russias by his feats of civil engineering in his dominions, and Hugh T. and Walter also became so proficient in the same profession as to attract notice in foreign lands. Walter Kennedy became chemical di- rector of iron and steel, and also a mine in- spector in the Chinese Empire, and subse- quently was made first secretary of the Chi- nese Imperial Railway. John Kennedy is superintendent of the great iron works oper- ated at Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, while Samuel is superintendent of the Iroquois Iron Works, located at Chicago, Illinois. Thomas W. Kennedy fills a similar position at Dubois, Pennsylvania.

Of the seven sons of Thomas W. Kennedy, James was the second born. In early life his natural inclinations seemed to be similar to those of his brothers, but circumstances di- rected his ambition in another direction, and finally the law claimed him as her exponent. His literary education had been secured at

Poland Seminary, where once William Mc- Kinley also was a student, and at Westminster College, New Wilmington, Pennsylvania, where he was graduated in the class of 1876, with the distinction of being one of the best debaters and most finished orators ever turned out from that institution. Naturally he turned to the law, and in 1879 he was admitted to the bar of Mahoning County, his legal education having been obtained under General T. W .. Sanderson.

With steady strides he soon reached a high standing as a lawyer, and while he was yet-a young man his availability as a political standard-bearer became a question of moment with his party. For some years he was as- sociated in practice at Youngstown with Wit liam A. Maline and later with Thomas Con- nell. His law offices are located at No. 403 Federal Building. As years passed Mr. Ken- nedy became more and more a prominent fact tor in the Republican party, and, as he was one of the party's most effective public speaker ers, he became personally known all over the state. Many notable occasions might be men- tioned when his effective oratory changed the tide of public opinion.

On July 23, 1902, Mr. Kennedy was nomi- nated for congress, at Salem, Ohio, winning the honor from other able and popular candi- dates. The fight was a long and spirited one, but at no time during the balloting did Ma- honing County recede from her quota of 89 votes. It was a proud day for Youngstown when, on the 208th ballot, James Kennedy was declared nominated. In the following fall election he was successful, carrying every county in the district by overwhelming major- ities and Mahoning County by over 3.700 votes, obtaining in the district a plurality of 11,875 votes. In every way Mr. Kennedy was well equipped to take his place in the august body to which he was elected, and his subsequent career has been one which reflects credit and honor upon himself and his con- stituents. As in his profession, so in public life, he has made himself felt, holding ever clear the interests of his own community, yet gravely and carefully considering the import-

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ant questions that in the past four years have made the laws of the congress of the United States object lessons to other lands and gov- ernments.

In 1884 Mr. Kennedy was united in mar- riage with Phebe Irwin, a daughter of Henry Irwin, an old resident of Newton Falls. Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy have a delightful home at No. 130 Madison avenue, Youngstown. They have one daughter, Grace, who is an accom- plished young lady.

Mr. Kennedy is a member of the Ohio State and Mahoning County Bar Associations, of the Republican Club at Youngstown, and of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Mr. Kennedy's portrait accompanies this sketch.

ARTIN A. KIMMEL, superintend- ent of the public schools of Po- land and a director in the Farm- ers' Deposit and Savings Bank of Poland, was born in Coitsville township, Mahoning County, Ohio, August I, 1854, son of Smith and Julia A. (Struble) Kimmel. Smith Kimmel, the father, was a native of Coitsville, Ohio.

Tobias Kimmel came from Pennsylvania to Coitsville township, Mahoning County. He purchased a farm on which he continued to reside until a few years before his death, when he removed to Struthers. Smith Kimmel was reared and educated in Coitsville township and in early manhood was married, at Hubbard, to Julia Ann Struble, a daughter of David Stru- ble, who had brought his family to Hubbard when Mrs. Kimmel was a child, from the old family homestead in New Jersey. They had the following children who reached maturity : Martin A., whose name begins this article; David, who is engaged in farming in Jackson township; Ella, who married Alexander M. Chapman, residing at Youngstown; Frank E., who is a clerk in the offices of the J. H. Fitch Company. at Youngstown; Charles E., who is in a grocery business at Struthers; Gilbert D., who resides on the home farm in Jackson

township; and Arthur, who is yardmaster at Youngstown for the Pennsylvania Railroad.

Martin A. Kimmel obtained his education in the schools of Coitsville township, and at the Poland Seminary, graduating from the latter institution in 1874. When about 18 years of age his father sold the Coitsville farm and subsequently, in 1874, moved to Jackson township, purchasing the old John Ewing farm, on which the family resided un- til 1903. He then moved to Youngstown, where he lived retired until his death, which occurred January II, 1905. When but 17 years of age, Martin A. Kimmel began to teach school, his first experience being at the Flint Hill School in Youngstown township, where he had seventy-two pupils. In the fol- lowing spring he entered the Poland Union Seminary, during the summer assisting his father on the farm. This method of dividing his time he continued until 1880. In that year he came to Poland as superintendent of the village schools. He has since made many im- portant changes and wrought much improve- ment in the system here. He taught during his first two years in an old frame building, but in 1882 the present commodious brick structure was erected, which has four rooms- none too many, as the superintendent has graded the school and introduced a high school curriculum, teaching the high school class himself. As an educator Mr. Kimmel is well and favorably known all over the county. Since 1886 he has been a member of the board of county examiners, serving as its clerk. His duties have pressed heavily upon him, as he is a faithful, conscientious worker, and he has formed a plan to visit Europe during the sum- mer of 1907, for rest and recreation.

In 1877 Mr. Kimmel was married (first) to Emma McNabb, who died in 1898, leaving two children: Jessie and Kennon K. The former married Dr. Edgar Tobey, of New Bedford, Pennsylvania, and has one child, Ma- rian. Mrs. Tobey is a graduate of the Poland High School and was a student at Oberlin, when the fatal illness of her mother called her home, where she remained as housekeeper.

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Kennon K. Kimmel is employed in the pur- chasing department of the Youngstown Sheet and Tube Company. Mr. M. A. Kimmel was married (second), in 1900, to Lillie B. Haynes, who was born and reared at Poland, and who is a daughter of Charles S. Haynes. Mr. Kim- mel is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and chairman of its board of trustees. He served for fourteen years as Sunday school superintendent. Mrs. Kimmel is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

OHN MEEK BONNELL, who for al- most thirty years was closely con- nected with the iron and coal interests of Mahoning County, and who was one of the most prominent and valued citizens of Youngstown, was born November 12, 1848, in Bradford, Yorkshire, England. His parents, Joseph Fearnley and Alice Eliza- beth (Duffill) Bonnell, were lifelong residents of that place. The father, Joseph F. Bonnell, was a saddler and harnessmaker, who had suc- ceeded his father and grandfather in the busi- ness, the old saddlery establishment of Bon- nell having been a landmark at Bradford for three centuries. Joseph F. Bonnell lived to the age of 58 years, dying December 1, 1875. He reared seven children, namely : John Meek, direct subject of this sketch; Elizabeth, Jane Ellen, and Mary, who reside in England; Alice, who married T. J. Storey, general man- ager of the International Salvage Company, of London; Harry, a prominent citizen of Youngstown, a sketch of whom will be found in this volume ; and William Fearnley, one of the partners in the firm of Otis Bonnell & Company, iron agents at Cleveland, Ohio.

John Meek Bonnell was afforded excellent educational advantages in his native place, and it is possible that his father looked to him to continue the old saddlery house of Bonnell. He could not forsee the brilliant business fu- ture which awaited his son across the Atlantic. After completing a liberal academic course of training. John Meek Bonnell came to Amer- ica, and in 1865 joined his uncle, William Bon-

nell, at Youngstown, where he found ample opportunity for the exercise of his natural and acquired ability, which resulted in making him one of the leading capitalists and prominent business men of this section. Dependent upon his own resources, he willingly accepted a po- sition as shipping clerk in the rolling-mill of Brown, Bonnell & Company, making his home with his uncle. Subsequently he became trav- eling salesman for Cleveland, Brown & Com- pany, of Cleveland, but in 1875 he was taken into the firm of Bonnell. Botsford & Company, as an active partner. From April, 1878, un- til August, 1883. Mr. Bonnell conducted a branch office of the business at Chicago, where he proved a useful factor in extending the trade of the Ohio concern. After his return to Youngstown, he became a member of the Ma- honing Valley Iron Company, and with these and allied interests he continued connected up to the close of his life.

On August 26, 1875, John Meek Bonnell was married to Emily Wick, a daughter of the late Hugh Bryson and Lucretia G. (Win- chell) Wick, and a member of one of the most influential families in Northeastern Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Bonnell had three children, namely : Joseph Fearnley, born at Youngstown, No- vember 21, 1876; Hugh Wick, born at Chi- cago, Illinois, February 23, 1880; and Caro- line, born at Chicago, Illinois, April 3, 1882.

Mr. Bonnell died at Youngstown, Novem- ber 2, 1884. In politics he was a Republican and at one time he served Youngstown as a member of the city council. In Masonry he was a Knight Templar, being a charter mem- ber of Montjoie Commandery, No. 53. of Chi- cago. Mrs. Bonnell still resides in the beauti- ful family home at No. 315 Wick avenue.

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Century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens, 20th, Part 69

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