Century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens, 20th, Part 80

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 80

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).

There were ten children born to James McCartney and wife, nine of whom reached maturity, as follows: Sarah, deceased, who

624

HISTORY OF MAHONING COUNTY

was born in Ireland, October 12, 1816, mar- ried George Braden; Eliza, born at Phila- delphia, October 25, 1818, died in infancy ; Eliza Jane, deceased, who was born at Youngstown, July 4, 1821, married Thomas Noble; Johnston, deceased, who was born at Youngstown, August 29, 1823, was a man of high standing in the community; Lucy Ann, deceased, who was born August 27, 1825, married Abram Kline; James H., deceased, was born November 18, 1827; Isabella, de- ceased, born March 29, 1830, who was mar- ried (first) to Arthur Young, and (second) to Thomas Burns, lived near Sandy Lake, Pennsylvania; William, deceased, was born May 10, 1832, in Coitsville township; Joseph G., subject of this sketch; Mary, deceased, born in Coitsville township, October 12, 1836, married Silas Frankel. The family settled on the farm about 1830.

Joseph G. McCartney was the second youngest of the above family and is the only survivor. He has always lived on the home farm, which formerly contained 160 acres. Mr. McCartney has sold a number of lots from the farm and calls the settlement of fine residences Marian Heights, in honor of his granddaughter, Marian McGeehan. He en- gaged in farming and had a large dairy trade, which is still carried on by his son James.

After attaining manhood, Mr. McCartney was married to Mary Milligan, who is a daughter of James Milligan, and they have had six children, namely: William, Matilda, Bessie, James, Adeline and Minnie, the last- named of whom died at the age of 15 years. William McCartney, who is a mechanical, civil and electrical engineer, is now located at Joliet, Illinois, where he is employed in the extension of the drainage canal. After com- pleting the common school course at Coits- ville, he graduated from the Rayen High School at Youngstown, and took a complete engineering course at Troy, New York. He married Carrie Jones and they have one child, Gertrude. Matilda, who is the wife of Thomas McGeehan, is also a graduate of the Rayen High School. Mr. McGeehan, at the time of his marriage, was superintendent of

the Coitsville township schools, but is now in an electrical business in Youngstown. Mr. and Mrs. McGeehan have one child, Marian. Bessie is the widow of Dr. Osborn Yost, and has two children, Harold and Marjorie. James, who is a farmer, residing in Coitsville town- ship, married Laura Wilson. Adeline is the wife of Indice Small, and they live on a farm adjoining the subject of this sketch.

For nine years Mr. McCartney was a jus- tice of the peace in Coitsville township and gave great satisfaction in the office. He has always lent his influence to discourage the liquor interests in this section. For many years he has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and is one of the trustees.

6 EORGE W. HENRY, one of the representative men of Youngstown, Ohio, who is serving his second term as trustee of Youngstown township, was born in Pennsylvania, but as he was brought in childhood to Ohio, he has a strong affection for the state in which he was reared and educated. His maternal grandfather was a veteran of the Revolution- ary War.

Mr. Henry is a self-made man. He be- gan to work in the coal bank at Thornhill when he was but nine years of age, and he continued to work at coal mining until 1878, when he engaged in a grocery business. He conducted his grocery for six years, and then for a period was connected with several Youngstown business enterprises, being with the Singer Sewing Machine Company for two years.

Mr. Henry has always taken an active in- terest in public affairs and has long been a rep- resentative member of the Republican party. In January, 1902, he was appointed to fill out an unexpired term as trustee of Youngstown township, and served from January to April. In the next election he was elected trustee by a majority of 1,300 votes, and at the subse- quent election was elected without opposition. This fact proves conclusively that Mr. Henry

625

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

has shown both ability and fidelity to the pub- lic duties imposed upon him.

In October, 1879, Mr. Henry was married to Minnie Barth, of Coalberg, Trumbull County, and they have four children, viz : Flor- ence, wife of Albert Wethers, a farmer in Ma- honing County, who is also engaged in a dairy business; William J., in the employ of the Adams Express Company at Youngstown, who married Josephine McCandlas of Belmont street, that city; Idora Belle, wife of Irvin Tucker of Youngstown; and Stewart E., re- siding at home.

Mr. Henry is well known in several fra- ternal organizations, having been a member of the Knights of Pythias for twenty-nine years and of the Mahoning Lodge for a quarter of a century : he is also a Knight of the Golden Eagles. He is a liberal supporter of the city's various public-spirited and benevolent move- ments and is recognized as a representative citizen in every way.

ILLIAM H. ECKERT, secretary of the Home Telephone Company, of Springfield township, Mahoning County, Ohio, a substantial citi- zen, residing on the old home farm in section 24, has been engaged all his life in farming and stock-raising. He was born on the present farm, January 18, 1862, and is a son of John . M. and Paulina Hofmeister Eckert.

John M. Eckert was born February 22, 1817, in Wittenberg, Germany, and came to America in 1832. He located first in Lancas- ter County, Pennsylvania, moved from there to Massillon, Ohio, and thence to New Spring- field, where he lived at the time of his mar- riage. Up to and for one year following his marriage, he followed wagonmaking, and then came to the present homestead, after which he followed farming. stock-raising and distilling until his death, January 30, 1888. His fa- ther, John Ludwig Eckert, came to America with his family at the time his son John M. came.

About 1880, in association with Dr. J. M. Floor, John M. Eckert built a still on the lat- ter's farm, and they carried on distilling as partners until 1885, when William H. Eckert bought Dr. Floor's interest and the business was carried on under the firm name of Eckert & Son, until 1887, when it became Eckert Brothers until 1900, at which time the busi- ness was purchased by Wire, Welsh & Com- pany. John M. Eckert was a well known citi- zen. He was not willing to take upon him the cluties of office, but he was always interested in politics from the time when he cast his first vote for the Whig candidate, William Henry Harrison, to the support he gave to members of the Democratic party who upheld its old principles, many years later.

On July 16, 1848, John M. Eckert was married to Paulina Hofmeister, who was born on the present homestead, February 18, 1828. She is a daughter of Jacob and Dora- thea (Buerk) Hofmeister. Jacob Hof-

meister was born September 18, 1784, in Wittenberg, Germany, and was a son of David Hofmeister, who lived and died in Germany. In 1804 Jacob Hof- meister came to America and settled first in the city of Philadelphia, where he soon se- cured employment as a coachman for a very wealthy man, named Haga, with whom he remained in service until 1821. During this time, as proof of the esteem in which Mr. Haga regarded his efficient German helper. he presented the latter with an English silver bull's-eye watch, of considerable intrinsic value and which is now a valued possession of his daughter, Mrs. Eckert. At some time in the year 1821, Jacob Hofmeister came to Spring- field township and bought a farm of 120 acres of land, which cost him $2,100. which included stock and machinery, everything but house- hold goods. He never sold this land, but sub- sequently added five acres to the original tract. and here he lived a long and busy life. dying in June, 1874. at the age of 90 years. His three daughters were: Anna, who married Henry P. Mueller and lived at Glenfield, Penn- sylvania, at the time of death; Louisa, who died aged 14 years; and Mrs. Eckert. The

626

HISTORY OF MAHONING COUNTY

mother of Mrs. Eckert was born at Willsbach, Wittenberg, Germany, January 19, 1798, and was married to Jacob Hofmeister March 28, 1821.

There were seven children born to John M. Eckert and wife, as follows: Charles Ed- ward, who was born February 23, 1849, died August 21, 1898; Jacob Theodore, who was born August 7, 1851, died May 20, 1853; Louisa Anna, who was born July 26, 1854, married Dr. J. M. Floor, of Petersburg ; Wil- liam Allen, who was born July 5, 1858, died August 23, 1861; William Harvey; George Bion, who was born March 16, 1864, and died October 23, 1902; and Henry Augustus, who was born August 18, 1867, residing at New Lisbon. Although Mrs. Eckert has almost reached her Soth birthday, she presents the appearance of a lady much younger. Her men- tal faculties agree with her physical health and her great memory enables her to recall events of long ago and relate them with much inter- est. She is very highly esteemed all through this community. For many years she has been a member of the Lutheran Church.

William H. Eckert attended school until he was 15 years of age, since which time he has devoted himself closely to his agricultural affairs. He is identified with the Home Tel- ephone Company as a stockholder and as sec- retary. Politically he is a Democrat and has served on the school board for some five years. Fraternally he belongs to the Maccabees, at New Middletown, and to the Knights of Pyth- ias, at Petersburg.

SAAC BEIGHT, who has been engaged in business at North Benton for the past forty years, carrying on a wheel- wright business and acting as agent for various manufacturing firms in his line, is one of the most highly respected resi- dents of this section, where he is held also in esteem as a veteran of the great Civil War. Isaac Beight was born in Springfield township, Mahoning County. Ohio, October 16, 1837, and is a son of John and Mary ( Klitz) Beight.

The Beight family was of Maryland origin, the grandfather of Isaac bringing his family from that state to Mahoning County when Springfield township was but one vast unset- tled wilderness. The father of Isaac Beight was born in Maryland, but his mother was a native of Springfield township, where both parents died.

When Isaac Beight was a boy the only ed- ucational opportunities offered in Springfield township were in the district schools. When 16 years of age he learned the wheelwright trade, serving an apprenticeship with William Whittenberger, of New Middletown, and he has continued to make this his leading business up to the present. He became an excellent workman and was in a prosperous condition when the Civil War was precipitated, and dur- ing its second year, on August 6, 1862, he closed up his shop and entered the service to assist in suppressing rebellion. He enlisted in Company B, 104th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which became a part of the Army of the Cumberland, which took such an important part during the subsequent years of strife. Mr. Beight saw much hard service. participating in the Atlanta campaign, from Dalton. Georgia, to the fall of the former city, was in the battle of Jonesboro, of Franklin and of Nashville, and only escaped the later engage- ments because of a serious illness which con- fined him to a hospital cot at Wheeling, West Virginia, for a number of months. He was honorably discharged from the service in June. 1865. He is a valued member of Kirkbride Post. No. 600. G. A. R., at Berlin Center.

After the close of the war Mr. Beight re- turned to Mahoning County, and in 1867 he opened up his present business at North Ben- ton, which he has conducted ever since, meet- ing with success that naturally comes as the re- sult of industry and capacity. On many occa- sions he has been elected to local offices and has efficiently served several terms as clerk of Smith township, as a member of the school board, during a part of the time being its president, and in 1890, and again in 1900, he was census enumerator.

On October II, 1867, Mr. Beight was mar-

GEO. M. MCCLURE

629

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

ried to Ella Morris, who is a daughter of James B. Morris, who was killed at the battle of Chickamauga, being sergeant of Company A, 125th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Mr. and Mrs. Beight have one son, James W., residing at Youngstown. In politics Mr. Beight is a stanch Republican. He is a mem- ber of the Presyterian Church.

EORGE M. McCLURE, a well-known resident of Poland, who has for a number of years followed the profes- sion of surveying, which he learned while a cadet at the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, owns a valuable farm of 521/2 acres, which is situ- ated in Boardman township. Mr. McClure was born at Homestead, near Pittsburg, Feb- ruary 1, 1842, and is a son of William Dennys and Elizabeth W. (Irwin) McClure.

In 1783 the great-grandfather of Mr. Mc- Clure removed from Carlisle, Pennsylvania, to the vicinity of Pittsburg, where he acquired a tract of 500 acres of land which was known for many years as the McClure homestead. After the property had passed out of the hands of the McClures, the name of Homestead was retained and thus the great steel-plant city is known today. William D., the father of George M., was born on that land. He mar- ried Elizabeth W. Irwin, who was a daughter of Boyle Irwin, a native of Pittsburg, where he was a man of wealth and prominence, being a merchant and manufacturer of rope cables. Mrs. McClure was a granddaughter of Major Mccullough and of Nathaniel Irish, both of whom were soldiers in the Revolutionary War. the latter being a very early settler at Pitts- burg.

George Mccullough McClure, who was named for his distinguished great-grandfather. was primarily educated in the old Franklin school at Homestead. In September, 1859, Mr. McClure entered the Naval Academy at Annapolis, to which he had been appointed by Congressman Purviance, and was pursuing his studies there when the Civil War broke out.

The cadets of that period had experiences which have never since occurred in that great government institution, and Cadet McClure took an active part, first in assisting to guard the Academy from any Confederate attack and later as a member of the body of cadets who sailed on the old Constitution ("Old iron- sides"), which was then being used as a train- ing ship, from Annapolis to New York and thence to Newport, Rhode Island. There Mr. McClure was graduated with the rank of en- sign in 1863. He was placed on the United States sloop Housatonic, which was blown up by torpedo boats in the following winter, Mr. McClure escaping death because of his ab- sence at that time on a cruise up the coast. Ensign McClure was then ordered to the Wabash, which was blockading Charleston, South Carolina, and on one occasion, while on a cruise in an open boat through the swamps, fell a victim to the almost deadly miasma, and while it did not result as fatally to him as to a number of his comrades, it so incapacitated him that he was obliged to go to the naval hos- pital at Norfolk, Virginia. After a short time in the hospital he was sent home to Homestead to recuperate, but for a number of years he continued to suffer as the result of that at- tack. In a few months orders came for him to proceed to Erie, Pennsylvania, to act as judge advocate at a court of investigation, and his duties calling him all over the country, he visited Chicago, Cincinnati and Louisville, ex- amining naval recruits.

Ensign McClure was then ordered to the sloop-of-war Juniata, on which he served until the close of the war, mainly around Charles- ton, and he subsequently took the cruise to Brazil and the coast of Africa. In 1868 lie retired from the naval service with the rank of lieutenant. In the meanwhile, his parents had removed to Youngstown and Lieutenant Mc- Clure joined them and shortly afterward asso- ciated himself with his brother John in the lumber business. With many others, the firm became embarrassed in the panic of 1873. Mr. McClure then resumed surveying, in which he had received a practical training at the Naval Academy, and he has continued to

630

HISTORY OF MAHONING COUNTY

follow this profession more or less ever since. In 1897 Mr. McClure bought his present farm and moved to it, his residence being just with- in the corporation lines of the village.

In 1878, in New York, Mr. McClure was married to Charlotte M. D'Arcy, and they have had six children, as follows: Gertrude, who married Albert Benkart, residing at Pitts- burg; Carolyn I., residing at home with her parents ; Madeline D'Arcy, who married John Zedaker, of Poland; Rowena and Elizabeth, both residing at home; and Muriel, who died in infancy. Mr. McClure and family are mem- bers of the Presbyterian Church. A portrait of Mr. McClure will be found on another page.

B P. BUSH, proprietor of Chestnut Ridge Stock Farm, a tract of 172 acres of fine land situated in section 22, Green township, is one of the rep- resentative men of this part of the county: He was born in Green township, Ma- honing County, Ohio, February 18, 1827, and is a son of John and Mary (Hoeflich) Bush.

The Bush family is one of the early pio- neer families of Green township, the first one of the name to settle here being Burkhardt Philip Bush, the grandfather of B. P. Bush. Both he and his son John were born in Wur- temberg, Germany, and the latter was 20 years of age when he came to America. He lived for two years in Eastern Pennsylvania before coming to what was then Columbiana County. but which is now included in Mahoning Coun -. ty, where he secured a farm in section 22, Green township, on which he erected a log cabin, in the depths of the green woods, and there he spent the rest of his life, dying in the fall of 1881. Mr. Bush was a solid, reliable man and his sterling character was recognized by his neighbors, who elected him to every office they could prevail upon him to accept. He served the township faithfully as trustee for many years and was one of the early jus- tices of the peace, holding court at first in his log cabin. He assisted in establishing the first church and school and remained a valuable

citizen to the close of his life. He married Mary Hoeflich, who was born in Pennsylvania.

B. P. Bush was educated in the district schools of Green township and Mt. Union Col- lege. For twenty-three winters he taught school, devoting his summers to farming and stock-raising, and for a number of years has been mainly interested in developing fine cat- tle and stock. His present specialties are Bel- gian thoroughbred horses and Shorthorn cat- tle, but formerly he raised Merino sheep ex- tensively. For over forty years he has been engaged in the live-stock industry and proba- bly is as well posted along this line as any stockman in Mahoning County. His farm is widely known and its products are in constant demand.

On December 7, 1873, Mr. Bush was mar- ried to Christina Wietmayer, who was born February 8, 1831, in Wurtemberg, Germany, and is a daughter of Henry and Barbara (Driver) Wietmayer. In 1832, when she was 13 months old, her parents emigrated to Amer- ica, settling near Petersburg, Pennsylvania, where she was reared and married. Mr. and Mrs. Bush are members of the Lutheran Church at Leetonia, in which Mr. Bush is an elder.

For nine years Mr. Bush served as a jus- tice of the peace in Green township, following in the footsteps of his worthy father. He has always been ready to cooperate with his fellow citizens in promoting educational progress, served as one of the directors of the High School of the township, and it was largely through his efforts that this school was located at Greenport.

D J. MORGAN. president of the board of trustees of Youngstown township, Mahoning County, Ohio, has held this honorable position for the past five years and has served as a mem- ber of the board for seven years. Mr. Morgan is a native of Youngstown, born here in 1868, and is a son of William T. Morgan, who was born in Wales, but has been a resident of Youngstown since 1860.

631

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

D. J. Morgan attended the district school until he was about 16 years old, during the summers, for some years, working on a farm. Later he became a trapper in the coal mines, working as such for two years, and afterwards worked as puddler in the rolling mills for eleven years. His industry brought him a competency and since 1898 Mr. Morgan has given his attention mainly to the duties of pub- lic office. Politically he has always been iden- tified with the Republican party and has fre- quently served as delegate to both county and congressional conventions. In March, 1898, he was first nominated for the office of town- ship trustee, over thirteen competitors, but in the subsequent election he failed by just seven votes. In the following September he was ap- pointed to fill out an unexpired term, and in March, 1899, he was elected trustee by a ma- jority of 876 votes. He was elected to his second term by 1,682 majority, and at the last election he carried every ward in the city, and was elected by a majority of 2,662 votes. This record tells its own tale of Mr. Morgan's effi- ciency and of the confidence which he has in- spired in his fellow citizens.

On December 22, 1892, Mr. Morgan was married to Mary Morgan, a daughter of Sam- uel Morgan. She was born at Youngstown but reared at Cleveland. Mr. and Mrs. Mor- gan have two daughters, Irene and Doris, both attending school. Mr. Morgan is a popular member of numerous fraternal organizations -including the Odd Fellows, the Knights of the Golden Eagle, the Owls, the Muskrat Club and the Foraker Club.

RAIG BROWN WILSON was for- merly one of Springfield township's large landowners, substantial agri- culturists and representative citi- zens. He was born in Zelianople, in Beaver County. Pennsylvania, December 14. 1827, and was a son of Thomas and Nancy ( Hemphill) Wilson, and a grandson of Hugh Wilson. Craig Brown Wilson died October 31, 1900.

The parents of the late Craig B. Wilson reared a family of eleven children, namely : James, residing at Hoytdale, Pennsylvania ; Mrs. Nancy Frew, residing at Princeton ; Jane, residing at the old home: Mrs. Eliza- beth Fullerton, residing in Pennsylvania; Thomas, residing at Centerville, Pennsylva- nia ; Mary A., residing at home; William, farming the old homestead; Joseph, who died of typhoid fever during the Civil War, while serving as colonel of the IoIst Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and who was a lawyer by profession; John H., residing at North Sewickley, Pennsylvania; Frank S., residing on the old homestead in Butler Coun- ty ; and Craig B.

For thirty-two years the late Craig Brown Wilson was a resident of Springfield township. He was a tanner by trade and owned and con- ducted a large tannery in his native place. After he came to Ohio he followed agricultural pursuits and owned 200 acres of valuable farm land, having acquired the rich old Pontious place adjoining Petersburg. He was married to Elizabeth Pontious, who was born on this place, August 4, 1829, and died January 26, 1892. She was a daughter of John and Mary Ann (Crawford) Pontious, and a grand- daughter of John and Elizabeth (Root) Pon- tious. John Pontious located in 1803 on the farm on which Edward C. Brungard now re- sides, and in 1812 he came on the present place and subsequently acquired other valuable sec- tions of land. He married Elizabeth Root, who came from Maryland. There were two children born to John and Mary Ann Pon- tious : Elizabeth. now Mrs. Wilson and Nancy, who is the widow of the late Prof. M. C. Butler, of Poland. There is no more prom- inent family in Mahoning County than that of Pontious, and it has been closely identified with the developing of Springfield township.

To Craig B. Wilson and wife were born the following children : Alice E., who married Robert Brewster of Mt. Jackson, and has three children. Wylie. William and Elizabeth : Mary L., who married John Cain, residing at Port Angeles, Washington, and has one son. John W. : John P., residing in Beaver County. Penn-

632

HISTORY OF MAHONING COUNTY

sylvania, who married Angeline Cunning- ham, and has one daughter, Mary E .; Nancy Hemphill and Joseph H., both residing at home; William S., residing at Bellingham, Washington, who married Alice R. Kridler, and has one daughter, Lois; Robert F., a res- ident of Mahoningtown, who married Mary O. McWilliams, and has three children, Helen, Frederick Craig and Keith; Edith M., residing at home; and Frank S., who resides in Skag- way, Alaska.

In politics Mr. Wilson was identified with the Republican party.

P HILIP HAGAN, one of the public of- ficials of Youngstown, Ohio, a mem- ber of the board of public service and hence a valued and reliable citizen, was born at Belfast, Ireland, Sep- tember 6, 1847, but was educated at New Cas- tle, in the north of England.

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 80

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