Century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens, 20th, Part 70

Author: Sanderson, Thomas W., comp
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1074

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€ MERY LAWSON MCKELVEY, sec- retary and treasurer of The G. M. McKelvey Company of Youngstown, was born at Armagh, Indiana County, Pennsylvania, Sep- tember 27, 1866. and is a son of Nathaniel W. and Mary ( McFeaters) McKelvey, both par- ents being natives of that town.

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HISTORY OF MAHONING COUNTY

s[ Nathaniel W. McKelvey was for many years extensively engaged in agricultural pur- suits in Indiana County, Pennsylvania. He served nine months in the Civil War, in Com- pany F, Second Battalion, Pennsyvania State Volunteers, taking part in some of the most bloody battles of that long protracted struggle. He lived to the age of 56 years, dying in Can- ton, Ohio. The mother of E. L. McKelvey, who now is the wife of Hugh St. Clair, a re- tired farmer of Vinton, Iowa, had eight chil- dren, of whom four are now living.

-r .: Emery L. McKelvey remained on the home farm until he was 18 years of age, during which time he attended, when farm duties per- mitted, the county and city schools of his neighborhood. At the age mentioned he en- tered the employ of The Andrews Brothers Company at Haselton, Mahoning County, Ohio, with which concern he continued for two years. He then engaged with the Morse Bridge Company of Haselton as clerk and as- sistant paymaster. Two years later he be- came an employee of The G. M. McKelvey Company as salesman. He was subsequent- ly advanced from time to time until he finally acquired a large interest in the concern, of which, upon its reorganization, he became sec- retary and treasurer, as well as a member of the board of directors. These positions he still holds. He is also president and director of the Peerless Laundry Company, vice-presi- dent and director of the Wheeler Mineral Springs Company, and secretary, treasurer and director of the New York Realty Com- pany, all of Youngstown.

-i.On September 13, 1891, Mr. McKelvey was united in marriage with Mary Emma Vogan of Grove City, Pennsylvania. Three children were born of this union, namely : Emery Clarence, who died at the age of two years ; Mary Louise, now a bright girl offeight summers ; and Helene, who passed away; May. 27, 1906. at the age of three years. Mr. and Mrs. McKelvey are members of the Taber- nacle United Presbyterian Church of Young's- town, of which Mr. McKelvey is a trustee. He is also a trustee of the Young Men's Christian Association, and belongs to the Youngstown

Club, the Youngstown lodge of Elks and the Chamber of Commerce. In politics he is a Republican but has never held office.

J OHN S. LLOYD, owner of a valuable tract of land consisting of 66 acres, known as the Lloyd homestead, which is situated in section 1, Goshen town- ship, Mahoning County, Ohio, was born on this farm, April 4, 1841, and is a son of Benjamin and-Keturah (Peterson) Lloyd.

Benjamin Lloyd was born in Pennsylva- nia and his parents were pioneer settlers in Goshen township, locating on the farm now owned by John S. Lloyd. Benjamin Lloyd had much to do with the clearing and develop- ing of this land and his whole life was passed here, his death occurring in 1880. He mar- ried Keturah Peterson, who was born in New Jersey, and five of their children still survive: Joel C., John. S., Abel P., William P., and James.

John S. Lloyd has devoted his whole life to agricultural pursuits and has made of the homestead farm a property that would com- mand a high price if ever put on the market. He was educated in the district schools of Goshen township, which, during his boyhood, were mainly devoted to teaching reading, writ- ing, spelling and arithmetic, but the training was of the most practical kind and afforded a basis for further study when it was deemed necessary. That it was excellent is shown by the large proportion of intelligent men and. women who have become the best residents and citizens of old Goshen township.

Mr. Lloyd was married in young manhood, to Mary A. Reams, who was born in Logan ; County, Ohio, and is a daughter of Henry Reams, a former resident of Logan County. Of their five children, four survive : Cora, : who married Curtis Walker, residing at Sa- , lem, Ohio; Jesse, residing in Michigan ; Mary, who married Frank Kline, residing at Salem; and Florence. who married James Hesler, re- siding/in Berlin township.

.... For several years, Mr. Lloyd has owned,:

HENRY K. MORSE

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the magnificent stallion, Dexter, who weighs 1.700 pounds and stands 1612 hands high. This fine animal is half Percheron and half Belgian.

Mr. Lloyd is a Republican in politics, but he has never consented to serve in any public capacity except that of school director.

ENRY K. MORSE, a representative citizen of Poland township, residing on the old Morse homestead on which he was born May 4, 1822, belongs to a family which has been long and favorably known in Mahoning County. His parents were Elkanah and Nancy ( Kirtland) Morse.

As family records disclose, the founder of the American branch of the Morse family was John Morse, the great-great-grandfather, who came to New England, in 1635, and became prominent in the settlement of New Haven, Connecticut.

Benajah Morse, grandfather of Henry K., served as captain of the Home Guards, which was an organization formed to protect the residents of Wallingford, Connecticut, from the depredations of the British raiders, dur- ing a part of the Revolutionary War. Al- though the Morse family has been prominent in many lines of activity, it has also been an agricultural one and the old homestead at Wallingford has been retained for a period of 185 years, while the present home of Henry K. Morse has been a family possession for 104 years.

Elkanah Morse, father of Henry K., was born at Wallingford, Connecticut, and was a young man when he came to Poland township, Mahoning County, in 1814. He was a man of energy and enterprise and his life was filled with many adventures, much business success, and a few reverses; its dramatic close came when he was stricken with cholera, on the great plains, while on his way to recover from business losses in the California gold fields, in 1849. In partnership with Henry Kirtland. his brother-in-law, Mr. Morse built a flat-boat

on the Mahoning river and loaded it with flour, bear-skins, oil and other commodities, proceeded down the river to Beaver, then down the Ohio to the Mississippi, and thus on to New Orleans, where a ready market was found. A number of successful trips were made and for a time the business was very' profitable. Almost all his life, Elkanah Morse was more or less interested in river and lake traffic, owning vessels, commission houses and supply stations at various points.

While Mr. Morse had business interests all over the country, each year increasing their: scope, he continued to retain his home in Po- land township. He operated a store at Poland village and for several years carried on a large commission and shipping business at Detroit. He was a man of advanced and progressive ideas and was the original promoter of several important industries of this section. He be- came interested in the growing of broom-corn- and in one year raised 400 acres having about 20 men employed in broom-making and en- couraging others to follow his example. It- was Mr. Morse who opened up the oyster trade in this section, his first transaction of this nature being the sending out of a load of brooms which were disposed of at Baltimore, Maryland, a wagon load of canned oysters, being received in exchange. When the wagon with its then very precious freight, reached Poland, Mr. Drake took charge and trans- ported them, by sleigh loads, around Lake Erie, to Detroit, where they were disposed of for from $4 to $5 per can, they being at that time an expensive luxury. In 1836 and 1837, Elkanah Morse met with serious busi- ness reverses. He was maintaining a business house at Detroit and owned vessels and boats on the lakes which were bringing him a large income, but which also entailed large expenses. At the time above named he was depending upon disposing of a heavy cargo carried by one of his schooners, the Ben Barton, to pay off all his indebtedness. The vessel was loaded at Detroit and its destination' was Buffalo, but encountering a heavy storm on the lake ;: it was shipwrecked near Erie, Pennsylvania. . In 1849. when a company was organized to

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HISTORY OF MAHONING COUNTY

cross the plains to California and seek for gold, Mr. Morse, always ready for business adventure, joined a party, and his death fol- lowed, as noticed above.

Elkanah Morse was married (first) to Nancy Kirtland, born at Wallingford, Con- necticut, and who was a daughter of Turhand Kirtland. The latter was an agent for the Connecticut Land Company and came to Ma- honing County in 1798, making an annual summer visit up to 1803, when he brought his family and settled in Poland township. To this marriage three children were born, namely : Mrs. Lois Mansfield, residing at Beaver, Pennsylvania; Henry K., direct sub- ject of this sketch, and Edwin, who died in 1853. Mrs. Morse died in 1825, while at Wallingford, Connecticut, where she had gone on a visit to regain her health. Mr. Morse was married (second) to Comfort Eliza Wal- ler, and they had one son, William. The lat- ter enlisted for service in the Civil War, in 1862, from Illinois. He was wounded and taken prisoner at the battle of Stone River and subsequently died at Atlanta.

Henry K. Morse was reared mainly in Poland township and attended the district schools. During one subsequent winter he at- tended school at Detroit, another winter was spent at Allegheny College, Meadville, Penn- sylvania, and one year at Ravenna, Portage County, Ohio. His time of youth on the farm was one crowded with many duties, including the clearing of land, attending to the broom- corn crop, and general agriculture. In 1840 he became a clerk in the general store of Kirt- land Mansfield, at Poland, and in 1843-4 he was appointed postmaster of the village. He conducted a store of his own and kept the office until 1852, when he resigned the latter in order to embark in a promising business enterprise. He became a member of a com- pany which erected a large flouring mill and which conducted a milling business success- fully for 12 years, or until the Fort Wayne Railroad was completed. This road made transportation of wheat possible from wheat- growing regions and the milling business at

Poland was no longer profitable. The mill was later sold to William Powers and a com- pany, was removed and rebuilt at Youngs- town, and, until destroyed by fire, stood on the site of the present wholesale grocery house of John H. Fitch. For a number of years after retiring from the milling business, Mr. Morse engaged extensively in gardening and fruit-raising and was the first gardener in this section to see the advantages of raising pro- duce for the Youngstown market. To a small extent, Mr. Morse continues his gardening business in which he takes a great interest, having met with much success in raising very fine vegetables and fruit.

Mr. Morse was married (first) to Mrs. Mary (Lynn) Wick, who died in 1878. She was the widow of Henry Wick. The four children born of this marriage were Henry G., Charles J., Edwin K. and Mary L. W.

Henry G. Morse, of the above family, who died in 1904, was a graduate of the Rensselaerville Polytechnic School, at Troy, New York. He was the founder and president of the New York Ship- building Company, which occupies 45 acres of land at Camden, New Jersey. Charles J. Morse graduated from the Yale College Sheffield Scientific School, and is a capitalist at Evanston, Illinois. He has traveled exten- sively and is greatly interested in Japanese art, having a fine collection of Japanese art objects. Edwin K. Morse, residing at Pitts- burg, Pennsylvania, and also a graduate of the Sheffield Scientific School, is engineer for the proposed subway at Pittsburg and consulting engineer for Jones & Laughlin of Pittsburg. Miss Mary L. W. Morse, after graduating from the Poland Seminary, spent one year at St. Margaret's School, Waterbury, Connecticut, afterwards taking a two-year course in chemistry, at the Boston Technical School, Boston, Massachusetts. In 1881, Mr. Morse was married (second) to Eliza Blake- lee, who is a daughter of Jotham Blakelee. Mr. Morse and family belong to the Presby- terian Church. His portrait may be seen on an accompanying page of this volume.

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h ON. DAVID TOD. Few men in American public life have attained to a nobler fame than that which his- tory accords to the late Hon. David Tod, Ohio's great war governor, whose death took place November 13, 1868. Throughout a public career which had its be- ginning when he was comparatively young and which continued through the trying years of the Civil War, he continued to be a type of American statesmanship at its best.

David Tod was born at Youngstown, Ohio, February 21, 1805, and was a son of Hon. George and Sally (Isaacs) Tod, and a grand- son of David and Rachel (Kent) Tod, of old New England stock. His father, Judge George Tod, was born at Suffield, Con- necticut, December 11, 1773, was grad- uated from Yale College in 1795 and subsequently studied law at New Haven, Connecticut. He was there admitted to the bar and entered upon the practice of his profession. In 1800 he accompanied a party of prospectors to the Western Reserve and formed so favorable an opinion of the great opportunities for business and profes- sional development in Ohio that he made plans, which he later successfully carried out, to be- come a resident of this beautiful state.

In 1801 Judge Tod removed, with his wife and two children, to Youngstown, and in the same year was appointed secretary for the territory of Ohio, by Governor Arthur St. Clair. In 1802 Ohio became a state and at the first election held thereafter at Youngstown, George Tod was elected clerk of Youngstown township, to which office he was subsequently re-elected. He continued in the practice of his profession but was soon called into active public life, being elected state senator from Trumbull County, serving in the session of 1804-05, and again, in the same capacity, in 1810-II. In the interim between these two terms of service, he filled for four years an important position on the bench, serving for four years as a judge of the supreme court of Ohio, which service was terminated in 1810.

At the opening of the War of 1812, Judge "Tod signified his intention of taking an active

part in military operations and was first com- missioned major of the 19th Ohio Regiment, later serving as colonel. On the field Judge Tod distinguished himself, participating in the battles of Fort Meigs and Sackett's Harbor. At the close of the war he returned once more to the practice of the law, but in 1815 he was again honored by his fellow-citizens, being elected presiding judge of the court of common pleas, an office he held until 1829. With the exception of one term as prosecuting attorney County, this closed Judge Tod's public of Trumbull career. Upon the retirement from the cares and duties which had so completely filled so many years of his life, the aged jur- ist sought recreation in looking after his farm, to which he had given the name of "Brier Hill." This was appropriate on account of the abundance of briers then found there. The name remains, but in these latter days it rep- resents a wealth of coal, and its material prod- ucts are carried over a large part of the world. At a later date the farm passed into the more practical hands of his son David, and it still remains a possession of the family. It is now owned and occupied as the residence of George Tod, one of the sons of David Tod.

Judge Tod was married in 1797 to Sally Isaacs, who was a daughter of Ralph and Mary Isaacs. Their long and happy compan- ionship lasted for forty-four years, broken by the death of Judge Tod, in 1841. The wife survived until 1847.

Like many other distinguished American statesmen, David Tod graduated from no old- established institution of learning. His in- heritance of mental ability was great but to himself. alone, was due the wide knowledge and broad culture which made him the equal of the highest in his own or other countries, and the inherent manliness, integrity and de- votion to country that gained him the admir- ation, esteem and affection of his fellow-citi- zens and installed forever his memory in their hearts.

In 1827 David Tod. after completing what was little more than an elementary education and spending some time in the study of the

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law, was admitted to the bar and entered into practice at Warren, when 22 years of age. A cotemporary, in considering the almost imme- diate success which met his efforts, analyzed the situation as follows: "His success at the bar was, in the main, due to his unsurpassed ability in the examination of witnesses and to his power in gaining and holding the confi- dence of the jury, which he did by a manifest frankness, fairness and earnestness, together with his clear statement of the argument." For about fifteen years Mr. Tod continued in the active practice of his profession and during this period he demonstrated that it was in him to become a great lawyer and that, with his large legal knowledge, wide experience, high sense of honor and unsullied integrity, he would have been eminently successful on the bench. Other elements entered into his life, however, and in other avenues he became dis- tinguished, political affairs claiming many years of his life.

OfIn the campaign of 1824 Mr. Tod first be- came an enthusiastic politician, following in the train of that popular hero, Andrew Jack- són, and he remained an ardent Democrat un- til the secession movement of 1861. In 1840 he campaigned through the state, using his powerful oratory in the attempt to defeat Gen- eral Harrison. The first political office to which he was elected was that of state senator, in 1838, and he grew so rapidly in public favor that in 1844 he was unanimously chosen by the Democratic party as its candidate for gov- ernor. Hon. Mordecai Bartley, the Whig can- didate, defeated him with a majority of about 1,000 votes.

So prominent was his position by this time, that President James K. Polk, in' 1847, felt justified in appointing him United States min- ister to Brazil. During his five-years' resi- dence in that country he won many a quiet, diplomatic victory which brought about a mitich better understanding between the two cotintries and reflected nothing but added honor upon him as the representative of the United States. It is a matter of record that upon his departure for his own country, the ruler of Brazil, in a parting address, took oc-

casion to speak in the highest terms of Mr. Tod both as an individual and as a public : official.

For the succeeding ten years Mr. Tod gave his attention mainly to business. He had taken charge of the family estates in 1841, and with remarkable business sagacity he entered into negotiations which later resulted in the developing of the great coal fields which have made Youngstown one of the noted industrial points in Ohio and incidentally brought about much of the prosperity of the Mahoning Valley. Mainly through his enterprise, the Cleveland & Mahoning Railroad was con- structed, and he remained its president as long as he lived.

The next period of Mr. Tod's political ac- tivity belongs to the country's history. Se- cession was brought to light in 1860. He was made vice-president of the National Demo- cratic Convention that met at Charleston, April 23d of that year, of which Caleb Cush- ing, of Massachusetts, was chairman. Every state was represented, there being 303 dele- gates. equaling the electoral vote. The strong- est candidate was Stephen A. Douglas. The two-thirds rule for nomination prevailed. By a-plank in the Douglas platform it was agreed to abide by the decision of the supreme court judges on the subject of the slave-code. The minority, or Douglas platform, was substi- tuted and adopted, whereupon the Alabama delegation withdrew, and a majority of the delegates from Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and South Carolina also retired in the same manner.

After a week so spent the remainder of the convention proceeded to ballot under the two- thirds rule, and Douglas was by far the strong- est candidate, receiving as high as 1521/2 votes several times, while 202 votes were necessary to a choice. The convention composed of those left after the seceders had withdrawn voted to adjourn to meet in Baltimore, Maryland, June 18th.

The seceding delegates met in a separate convention, elected James A. Bayard, of Dele- ware, their chairman, and after adopting the majority platform of the committee, postponed.

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further action to June Ioth, at Richmond, Vir- ginia.

When the convention met at Baltimore, pursuant to adjournment, trouble arose about admitting delegates who had seceded at Charleston, or others who had been chosen in their place. During the discussion of this is- sue many delegates withdrew, mong them be- ing the chairman, Caleb Cushing. At this point Mr. Tod, with great presence of mind took possession of the deserted chair, and after an earnest appeal succeeded in restoring order. He was confirmed as chairman and the conven- tion proceeded to its legitimate business, which resulted in the nomination of Douglas.

The members who had recently seceded in- vited the seceders at Richmond to join them, and John C. Breckinridge of Kentucky, was nominated for president by them, and Joseph Lane of Oregon, vice-president.

A ·"Constitutional Union Convention" met May 10th, also at Baltimore, and nominated John Bell of Tennessee, for president, and Ed- ward Everett of Massachusetts, for vice-presi- dent.

. Later Mr. Tod supported the "Little Giant," giving him his unqualified support all through the heated campaign that followed. Mr. Tod made no secret of bitterly opposing secession and when the test came he preferred the election of Lincoln to that of Breckinridge. He was quick to see the disasters sure to fol- low the policy of secession and when he saw that Civil War was inevitable, he made the choice that only a man of his integrity, loy- alty and devotion to what he felt was duty, could possibly have made.

There came that time in the history of Ohio when, amid the beating of drums and the marching of troops, every bearded man or callow youth was a possible hero, for then patriotism was a flame and loyalty the torch. Far beyond physical heroism was the moral heroism which inspired David Tod in those memorable days. Cutting loose from old party associates, severing ties which long con- nection and earnest conviction had cemented. he came forward and announced his principles -an unswerving devotion to the Union. Thus

he became known as a War Democrat. The times were ripe for just such a man, and when the Republicans themselves suggested Mr. Tod as a candidate, enthusiasm ran high. He was unanimously nominated by the Union Party, made up of Republicans and War Democrats, and was gloriously elected, with a majority of 55,000 votes, governor of the state of Ohio.

Governor Tod came to the capitol in 1862, succeeding Governor Dennison, and upon him fell the great responsibilities that made Ohio take so prominent a rank among the Northern States during the Civil War. After the first enthusiasm passed and war, grim war, made itself manifest in every town, hamlet and country side, troops still had to be enlisted and hurried to battle, discouragments of those at the front and at home had to be overcome, seditious political influence had to be com- batted, the state had to be saved from inva- sion and the public treasury had to be pre- served from depletion. In Governor David Tod was found the man of the hour. It is admitted that his administration as governor won for him justly illustrious fame. Every emergency was met with the calm, judicial mind that would have given him distinction as a judge, as we have intimated. He met dif- ficulties of every kind, and firmly, promptly and rigorously he administered the remedy. His devotion to the soldiers was so well known that his name was an inspiration to them. They learned of his constant efforts on their behalf. not only to secure for them their rights of suffrage while away from home, but to obtain food, clothing, medicine and care, all that he would have labored to obtain for his own sons.

When he was approached in 1863 with the urgent request that he seek renomination he positively declined to again assume the respon- sibilities which his acceptance would entail. When his attention was called to the fact that thousands of his fellow-citizens were not only bearing heavy responsibilities, but were en- dangering their lives on the field of battle, Governor Tod replied. "Then, looking at it in that light. I am also willing to sacrifice my life." He was not renominated. He had made many enemies, as any man with the courage to

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Century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens, 20th, Part 70

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