Century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens, 20th, Part 82

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 82

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Mr. Stouffer was very active in political life and was prominently identified with the Republican party. On August 1, 1890, he was appointed postmaster at Washingtonville, and during his term of service paid faithful attention to the duties of the office. He al- ways was willing to co-operate with his fellow citizens in public matters and he was so gener- ally recognized as a public-spirited and re- liable citizen, that he was elected mayor of Washingtonville, and his period of adminis- tration was marked with progress and civic improvement. He creditably held a number of other public offices, and at the time of his

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death was treasurer both of the village and of the school board. He had honorably acquired property and left to his family valuable land aggregating over 140 acres. He was fra- ternally associated with Welcome Lodge, Knights of Pythias, of Washingtonville, and the Junior Order of United American Me- chanics, of Leetonia.

In the death of Mr. Stouffer, Mahoning County lost a valuable citizen. He was a man who was always loyal to his friends, who was conscientious in the performance of every duty, who was honest in his religious convic- tions and so lived that he is remembered with respect and affection.

OLOMON J. HECK, a well-known and progressive farmer of Beaver township, residing on a tract of fifty acres located in section 28, was born in Unity township, Columbiana Coun- ty, Ohio, August 9, 1857, and is a son of John and Eliza (Greenamyer) Heck.

John Heck was born in Springfield town- ship, Mahoning County, Ohio, March 1, 1822, and was a son of Jacob and Nancy (Chap- man) Heck, who came from Pennsylvania to Springfield township, where they owned a farm of 125 or 130 acres; they also owned another tract of 100 acres in Columbiana County. Jacob Heck, great-grandfather of Solomon J., resided in Columbiana County, and probably came to this country from Ger- many. John Heck was married in 1851 to Eliza Greenamyer, who was born in Unity township, Columbiana County, and was a daughter of Solomon and Anna Maria (Gei- ger) Greenamyer. Her parents resided in Unity until their death. Her mother was reared in Westmoreland County, Pennsyl- vania. Her father, reared in Maryland, came from Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, with his father, Jacob, who, with three or four sons, located in Columbiana County, Ohio. Two children were born to John and Eliza Heck: Tillie, who died in infancy ; and Solo- mon, the subject of this sketch. Mr. Heck

died at the home of the latter, November 30. 1895. His widow resides with her son, Solo- mon Heck.

Solomon Heck was about four years old when he left Columbiana County and came to Beaver township, Mahoning County, where his father located on a farm, which is now owned by David Whispel. He was reared there and obtained his education in the dis- trict schools, also attending one term in Co- lumbiana. His father, after residing on this farm for about ten years, retired to a small tract of five acres in this township, about two miles west. Mr. Heck worked for some time at carpentering before his marriage, and also worked for about five years on his uncle Peter Heck's farm. In 1890 he moved to his pres- ent farm of fifty acres, where he is extensively engaged in raising strawberries. Two years after settling here he built a saw mill, a six- roller feed grinder, cider mill, evaporator and apple-butter cooker. He makes a specialty of custom sawing, and does a large business in apple-butter, cider, and other farm products. His fine home, which was built in 1902, is fin- ished throughout in oak, and he is now build- ing a large barn, 50x68 feet in dimensions. Mr. Heck also has other business interests in this locality. He is a director in the Beaver Telephone Company, of which he was one of the originators, and is also a director in the Columbiana Bank and Savings Company.

Mr. Heck was united in marriage October 20, 1885, to Emma Rapp, who was born in Beaver township and is a daughter of Noah and Anna Rebecca (Sponseller ) Rapp. Her father was born and reared on the farm, and died there May 19, 1900, aged 58 years, 6 months and 15 days. The grandfather, Henry Rapp, was born in Ohio, but his father came from Germany, and lived until his death in Beaver township. The grandfather Rapp is buried at North Lima. The following were the children of Noah and Anna R. Rapp : Emma, now Mrs. S. J. Heck: George Syl- vanus, who lives on a farm near North Lima : Harvey, who resides at Columbiana; Albert, a resident of Springfield township: and Edna, who died, aged 16 years. Mrs. Noah Rapp

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still resides on a farm of 200 acres in Beaver township.

Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Heck: Clarence Raymond, born June 7, 1887, who lives at home; Grace Morie, born November 10, 1889; Stella Beatrice, born May 20, 1892; Irma Lauretta, born August 30, 1895, and Mildred LaRue, born June 1, 1906.

Mr. Heck is a Democrat in politics, and has served two terms as township trustee. He is a member of the Mt. Olivet Reformed Church at North Lima.

OBIAS PALMER, who is engaged in general farming on his well improved farm of 75 acres, located in section 43, Youngstown township, was born June 23, 1831, in Germany, and is a son of Tobias and Catherine (Specht) Palm- er, farmers and wine gardeners of Germany, where they both died.

Ludwig Specht, the maternal grandfather of our subject, came to America in 1835 or 1836, and settled on a farm two miles east of Middletown.

Tobias Palmer grew to manhood in Ger- many, attending school until 14 years of age, when he began assisting his father in wine gardening. His father was a general farmer, raising wheat and cattle, and also had a vine- yard and an orchard. In 1854, at the age of 22 years he came to America, with two friends, from the same town in which he resided, set- tling first near Middletown, Ohio, with his uncle, Frederick Mack. He subsequently worked for Mr. Henry Kirtland of Poland, remaining on his farm for eighteen years, during which time he was married to Doro- thy Knauer, a daughter of Ludwig Knauer, and also a native of Germany. She was born about one mile from the birthplace of her husband, and came to this country in 1855, her brother having come with him in the pre- vious year. Four children have graced this union: Lewis, who was born November 10. 1863, lives at home; Mary C. is principal of

the Fairmont Avenue School of Youngstown; Lydia lives at home; Caroline, the wife of Frank Agnew, resides in Boardman and has three children : Ralph, Norman and Myron.

Mr. Palmer, after purchasing his present farm in 1869, rented it out for two years, after which he located on the land, which he has greatly improved and placed in a high state of cultivation. He carries on general farming, but was formerly engaged in gardening.

Mr. Palmer is a member of the Lutheran Church, and has been an elder therein for the past twenty years, having formerly served as deacon. Mr. Palmer gave the ground on which the church stands, on the corner of his farm.

EN. JAMES LAWRENCE BOTS- FORD, formerly a large iron manu- facturer at Youngstown, and also a distinguished officer in the Civil War, was born April 16, 1834, at Poland, Mahoning County, Ohio, and was a son of Archibald Grant and Eliza (Lynn) Botsford. He died October 6, 1898. Major Botsford was the third member of his par- ents' family of six children, the only survivor of whom is Mary Julia, who is the widow of H. O. Bonnell, of Youngstown.

The schooldays of James Lawrence Bots- ford were spent at Poland and his early youth and manhood were employed in assisting his father, who was engaged at Poland in the manufacture of combs. In 1858 he went to California and was there engaged in mining until 1861. Returning, he reached Poland just as a company was forming for service in the Civil War. Of this company he became a member, and was mustered into the service at Camp Chase, in May, 1861, as second lieu- tenant of the 23rd Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which regiment was justly distin- guished as being the first to enter the service from Ohio, under an enlistment of three years.

Inured to hardships as a consequence of his western mining experience, he was able to bear army life somewhat better than many

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"OAKLAND FARM". RESIDENCE OF MRS. GEORGE C. WILSON, YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO

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of his comrades. Through the whole con- tinuance of the war he was at his post and as a reward for able and valiant service, was constantly promoted. His first service was in West Virginia, where he was made aide-de- camp to General Scammon, and on January 17, 1862, he was commissioned first lieutenant. He was again assigned as aide-de-camp to General Scammon, who was in command of the First Brigade of the Kanawha Division, and in all the battles, defeats and victories of the Army of the Potomac during its subsequent years in West Virginia, Major Botsford par- ticipated. On October 27, 1862, he was com- ·missioned captain and was made assistant adjutant-general of United States volunteers. He was next assigned to service under Major General Crook, and took part in the battles of Cloyd Mountain, New River Bridge, Blakes- burg, Panther's Gap, Buffalo Gap and Lynch- burg, and in the series of engagements in the Shenandoah Valley, among which were the battles of Sinker's Ferry, Cabletown, Stev- enson's Depot, Winchester and Martinsburg. He reached Cumberland in November, 1864, and here was detailed as assistant inspector- general of the Department of West Virginia. This long and faithful service did not go un- recognized. His commission "for meritori- ous and distinguished conduct" as brevet- major, dated from March 13, 1865.

After his return to private life, Major Botsford was engaged until 1872 in a general produce business at Louisville, Kentucky. Removing in this year to Youngstown, he subsequently devoted his attention to the great iron industry, and in 1879 became treasurer of the Mahoning Valley Iron Company, a re- sponsible and honorable position which he held until the close of his life.

In 1864 Major Botsford was married to Ellen E. Blaine, a daughter of Samuel L. and Anna Blaine, of Kentucky, and a first cousin of Hon. James G. Blaine. Two children were born of this marriage: Ella Kirtland and James L. Ella Kirtland married Frederick H. Wick, a member of one of Youngstown's most prominent families, treasurer of the Ohio Iron & Steel Company, and secretary and treasurer

of the Paul Wick Real Estate Company of Youngstown. James L. Botsford, who bears his honored father's name, is a resident of Tucson, Arizona.

In politics Major Botsford was a Repub- lican and his personal friendship for both Rutherford B. Hayes and William Mckinley, who were comrades in the same regiment, made it a pleasure for him to give them politi- cal support. On January 14, 1892, Governor Mckinley appointed Major Botsford quarter- master-general of the state. In local politics Major Botsford was never very active, al- though he was elected a member of the City Council and served for a short period.

For many years both Major Botsford and his wife have been valued members of the Protestant Episcopal Church at Youngstown; he served as one of the vestrymen and was treasurer of the church for 20 years. He was always ready to promote the usefulness of the church and his quiet assistance helped to make many of its benevolent objects prosper. Mrs. Botsford, whose residence in Youngstown is located at No. 664 Wick avenue, is ex-state regent of the Ohio Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. having served as state regent two terms.

HE SHEEHY FAMILY. One of the old and honorable pioneer families of Youngstown and vicinity is that of Sheehy, a prominent representa- tive of which is found in Mrs. George C. Wilson, who is a Daughter of the American Revolution, through her paternal grandfather and grandmother, and also presi- dent of the Fortnightly Reading Club, an ex- clusive organization at Youngstown.

Daniel Sheehy, the grandfather of Mrs. Wilson, was the founder of the family in America. He was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, and was educated at Dublin for the Catholic priesthood. For generations his fam- ily had been closely identified with the Roman Catholic Church, and family annals tell of an ancestor who was beheaded by an English

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Monarch rather than deny his faith. It was mainly on account of religious persecution that Daniel Sheehy was induced to turn his back on his native land, and in 1770, to emi- grate to America. For a number of years he re- sided at New York and when the War of the Revolution broke out, he entered the Patriot army and fought through the whole of the long struggle which resulted in American inde- pendence.

At what date Daniel Sheehy came first to the Western Reserve is not definitely known, but probably very soon after the close of the war, and it is certain that he had made several horseback trips prior to locating in Mahoning County, Ohio, in 1796, when he bought the land which is now Mrs. Wilson's Oakland Farm. His former residence had been New York City and at Whitestown, New York, where also resided John Young, who later joined Daniel Sheehy in the Western Reserve, acquiring land which included quite a portion of Youngstown township. John Young gave his name to Youngstown, and in the early days the two pioneers were friends, but later business differences arose which separated them.

Daniel Sheehy's first entering of land, it is said, amounted to 1000 acres, and he built a log cabin on the bank of the beautiful river which was even known then as the Mahoning. He then constructed at canoe, with a skill re- markable in a man whose early years had been devoted exclusively to intellectual pursuits and in this frail boat made excursions down the river to Beaver, Pennsylvania, to lay in necessary supplies. On one of these trips he met the beautiful 16-year-old Jane Mclain. of Scotch ancestry, and won her consent to return with him to the little log cabin on the Mahoning, as his bride. His next trip to Beaver was made on horseback and when he returned his young wife was with him on the same horse. The home to which he took her was a primitive log structure, which stood only a stone's throw from Mrs. Wilson's pres- ent mansion, its main advantage, to modern views, being its ventilation, as it had no door or window. A quilt hung up at night, how-

ever, afforded protection from the wind and storm and there is no record but that this was a happy home. Later he built a much better cabin, a double log house, which he placed on a knoll about 150 yards from the first cabin, and there the family lived for a great many years, and there Daniel Sheehy died. He was survived many years by his widow, who was much younger than he, and she died at the home of her son James, who had built a frame house on the site of Mrs. Wilson's residence.

John Young Sheehy, father of Mrs. Wil- son, was born in the first home of his parents, on the bank of the Mahoning, and lived on the home farm all his life. He was the first white child born in Youngstown township. Daniel Sheehy named his son for his friend, John Young, who, at that time was so pleased at the honor, that he presented his namesake with two lots in the village of Youngstown, one of these being the present site of the wholesale house of John H. Fitch; the other is the pres- ent site of the Lucretia Baldwin public school. These lots remained in the family until after the death of Jolin Young Sheehy, when, in the settlement of the estate, they were sold.

John Young Sheehy married Anna Kim- mel, who was a daughter of Isaac and Anna Kimmel. Isaac Kimmel was a native of Swit- zerland and his wife of Amsterdam, Holland. They were married in Pennsylvania and when the came first to Ohio, settled in Trumbull County, but later removed to what was known as Senator Wirt's place at Brier Hill, in Youngstown township, which they subse- quently sold and moved to Coitsville town- ship. Their home was on the present site of the Iron, Sheet and Tube Company's plant. John Young Sheehy and wife had five chil- dren, namely : Robert, deceased (who left two sons, John Young and William W.) : Ellen Sheehy, widow of George C. Wilson ; Lois, who married (first) Charles Medbury, and (sec- ond) James W. Ross, and resides on Lincoln avenue, Youngstown (she had one son Frank B. Medbury) ; Anna S., who is the widow of Thomas J. Lewis, and who resides with her sister, Mrs. Wilson; and Daniel J., residing on Wilson avenue, at Youngstown. John

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Young Sheehy died in May, 1844. Mrs. Sheehy was later married (second) to Alexander Truesdale, who gave the name of Truesdale avenue to one of the beautiful thoroughfares of Youngstown.

Mrs. Wilson, formerly Ellen Sheehy, was born on the beautiful property which she has appropriately named Oakland Farm, a view of which appears on a neighboring page, and although many years of her married life were passed in other surroundings, this place was always "home." She was educated in the ex- cellent schools at Youngstown, proving a very intelligent pupil, and when but 16 years of age, she was given a certificate which entitled her to teach. She taught first in the district schools through the township and later at Youngstown, and continued until the time of her marriage, in October, 1859, to George C. Wilson, who died June 10, 1897.

EORGE C. WILSON, one of the prominent citizens of Mahoning County, was born on his father's farm near Weathersfield, south of Girard, Trumbull County, Ohio. He was a boy of resolute character and very early in life decided to take care of himself, and with this end in view, he left home and went to Niles, Ohio. While there he attended school with a companion who later became President William McKinley. Mr. Wilson went from Niles to Warren and thence to Youngstown, where he engaged in clerking for a time and then entered the railroad busi- ness which necessitated his going to the south. After becoming established there he returned to Youngstown, where he was married, in 1859, to Ellen Sheehy, and together they went to Panola County, Mississippi, where they spent the first winter. Mr. Wilson was em- ployed in the construction of the Memphis and Ohio Railroad which was then in the course of building, and his family residence was changed from Panola County to Mem- phis, Tennessee, and to Henry County, in the latter state, as the work progressed. In the

latter county Mr. and Mrs. Wilson remained some time in the home of Senator Harris, a prominent man of that section. Subsequently Mr. Wilson became attached to the pay- master's and quartermaster's department in the government offices at Louisville, Kentucky, where he continued until the close of the war. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson then settled on the Sheehy farm, where Mr. Wilson resided until his death. He raised fine stock and also served as bookkeeper for several years for large cor- porations. He was a member of the Masonic- fraternity.

Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, having no children of their own, adopted a daughter, Elizabeth T. Wilson, who is Mrs. Wilson's able assist- ant in managing her large property interests, which include the selling of lots from a large plat on Wilson avenue, a choice location of the city, which bears the name in honor of the late George C. Wilson. Mrs. Wilson has many social duties to perform, being very prominent at Youngstown. The publishers. take pleasure in presenting her protrait with that of her late husband, in addition to the view of the farm as mentioned in the preced- ing sketch.

LVIN THOMAN, residing on his val- uable farm of 140 acres in Beaver township, where he carries on gen- eral farming and dairying and oper- ates a sawmill and cider-press, and also owns a threshing outfit, is one of the sub- stantial and representative men of this section. Mr. Thoman was born April 11, 1860, on the home farm in Beaver township, Mahoning County, Ohio, and is a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Heintzelman) Thoman.

Henry Thoman, grandfather of Alvin, born in 1792, in York County, Pennsylvania, came from Pennsylvania to Mahoning County, about 1829, locating in Beaver township near East Lewistown, on a tract of go acres, which is now the farm of G. W. Harter. After living there for 37 years he moved to the farm just across the road from the farm now owned by

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Alvin Thoman, but later removed to Canfield township, where he died in 1885. He had served in the War of 1812. For some years he operated an old fashioned sawmill. His wife, in maidenhood, was Nancy Motter, born in 1794, in York County, Pennsylvania. They were the parents of eleven children, as follows : Harriet, born in 1816; Daniel, 1817; Cather- ine, 1819; Lewis, 1822; Henry, 1824; Mar- garet, 1826; Isaac, 1828; Samuel, 1832 ; Jesse, Amanda, the dates of whose birth are not given, and one other whose name has not been ascertained.

Samuel Thoman, father of Alvin, was born at East Lewistown, Mahoning County, in 1832. After reaching manhood he was en- gaged in farming and in operating a sawmill and then embarked in a mercantile business at New Buffalo, where he remained for three years and carried on the same business at Greenford for four years, coming from there to Beaver township, where he lived for ten years. He then removed to Canfield township where he died October 28, 1891, aged 59 years, 9 months and 28 days. He married Elizabeth Heintzelman, who was born in Bea- ver township, and is a daughter of Jacob and Rebecca (Lynn) Heintzelman. She still re- sides on the old homestead in Canfield town- ship. Samuel and Elizabeth Thoman had six children, as follows: Ora Alice, deceased at three years; Alvin, whose name begins this sketch; Viola, who married G. L. Minard, re- siding in Canfield township; Melville, who died young; Cora, who married W. C. Geis, residing in Boardman township; and an in- fant son, who is deceased. Politically, Sam- tiel Thoman was identified with the Repub- lican party. He was a man of excellent judg- ment and of good standing in his community, and for some years he served as township trustee.

Alvin Thoman was educated in the dis- trict schools and remained under the parental roof until his marriage, at the age of 27 years. He then moved to a place east of East Lewistown, where he operated a grist mill. for two and one-half years, removing then to New Buffalo. He then moved to a farm in Beaver

township, situated west of the John Beard property, where he resided seven years and also lived two years on his grandfather Mil- ler's farm. In 1895, Mr. Alvin Thoman came to his present farm, the old Miller home place and here he has devoted himself to the various lines of agricultural industry. For a number of years he has had the threshing season filled with contracts, owning a complete outfit for this important work.

On October 21, 1880, Mr. Thoman was married to Hattie E. Messerly, who was born in Beaver township on what is now the Lynn farm, a daughter of George D. and Mary Ann (Miller) Messerly, and a granddaughter of Joseph B. Miller.

Joseph B. Miller was born February 2, 1818, in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Isaac and Catherine (Lynn) Miller, whom he accompanied to Canfield township, Mahoning County, where he was reared. When he married Fredericka Beard, a sister of the venerable John Beard, he bought the place where George Miner lived and later bought what is now the Thoman place, on which, in 1849, he built a barn, erecting a house in the following year. At that time Mr. Miller worked for his own interest, but when he started out for himself he earned but $6 a month. He now owns what is reputed to be the best farm in Boardman township, a tract of 200 acres of rich, well-improved land. In 1880 he erected his substantial barn, and in 1884, the present residence. Mr. and Mrs. Miller had three children, namely : Mrs. Mess- erly; George W., who died young; and Dor- othy, who married William Hilbish.

George D. Messerly, father of Mrs. Tho- man, was born in. Beaver township, Mahon- ing County, and was a son of John Messerly. After his marriage to Mary Ann Miller he settled on the farm which is now occupied by Andrew Lynn, but later moved to Canfield township, where he died September 5, 1893, aged 62 years. Mr. and Mrs. Messerly had three children, namely: Hattie E .; Joseph, who died young; and Charles, who, with his mother, resides with the aged grandfather. Charles Messerly married Frances Reel and.

JAMES H. SHIELDS

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they have one son, George D. In this home live four generations.

Mr. and Mrs. Thoman have six children, Leroy Eugene, Blanch May, Myrtle Pearl, Effie Hilda, Bertha Ethel and Ivan Arthur. Blanch May married Frederick Sprinkle, re- sides in Canfield township, and has three children-Russell Alvin, Mildred Mary, and Hazel Agnes. Leroy Eugene, Myrtle Pearl, Effie Hilda, Bertha Ethel and Ivan Arthur, reside at home.

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Century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens, 20th, Part 82

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