Century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens, 20th, Part 86

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

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William Ramsey Cover, father of Alonzo B., was born at Fannettsburg, Franklin Coun- ty, Pennsylvania, August 2, 1845, and is a son of Jacob and Margaret (Dunkle) Cover. Jacob Cover was a son of Abraham Cover and was born and reared in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, where he remained until 1852, when he moved to Poland, Ohio, where he ran a blacksmith shop for many years. Jacob Cover died at Poland in 1884.

In May, 1862, William R. Cover, although but little over 16 years of age, enlisted for service in the Civil War, entering Company D, 88th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was in the army for four months. After he returned to Poland he clerked in a store for a short time and then decided he would visit some parts of the country he had never seen, and as means to an end, in one summer he assisted in driving 1,000 head of sheep from three miles east of Poland to Rock Island, Illinois. In 1864, he re-entered the army, en- listing in Company D, 155th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in which he served four months. His regiment was at Petersburg, marched through the Shenandoah Valley, and then to Norfolk, Virginia, and City Point, where Mr. Cover was detailed to care for wounded soldiers. After his final retirement

from military life, he entered into the oil busi- ness at Poland, and two years later accepted a clerical position with Andrew Dickson, whom he bought out in 1872. He ran a gen- eral store for the next five years, but as his health failed, he rented and moved upon a farm. Six years later he entered into partner- ship with J. C. Marshall in a grist mill busi- ness, and they ran the Poland mill for three years. Mr. Cover then took the mail route between Poland and Struthers, which he oper- ated for three years, and also hauled freight, passengers and express.

In September, 1866, Mr. Cover was mar- ried to Amy Ann Davidson, who was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, and was reared near Achor. Mr. and Mrs. Cover had four children : Charles D., residing at Poland, married Elizabeth McGill, and they have three children, Nellie Arrel, Blanche and Amy; Norah L., who married Frank E. Kim- mell, residing at Youngstown, has one child, Cecil; Alonzo B .; and Clement, who died aged eight months.

William Ramsey Cover is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and of Lodge No. 403, Odd Fellows, at Youngstown. He has served in almost all the local offices at Poland.

Alonzo B. Cover completed his education in the High School at Poland, and then be- came a clerk for the Brick Store Company, a local enterprise carried on in the same building in which he now has one of his own stores. In 1893 he became a clerk for the Panhandle Coal Company, near Carnegie, Pennsylvania. but returned after one year, to Poland, and soon entered the employ of Fordyce & Com- pany, at Youngstown, where he remained for almost three years. In 1898 he came to Po- land and bought out the Dill & Hultz grocery store, which was in the building now occupied by the postoffice. Mr. Cover carried on busi- ness there for one year and then moved to a better location across the street, and con- tinued alone in business until May 1, 1905, when C. T. Haynes was admitted to partner- ship. Both men are practical merchants and they do a very satisfactory business, as is evi-

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denced by their owning and operating two stores. The firm of Cover & Haynes, in addi- tion to their other business, do a large amount of teaming, keeping five teams steadily em- ployed and give work to seven men. They also put up about 200 tons of ice during the season, which is consumed in and around Po- land.

Alonzo B. Cover was married June 24, 1896, to Margaret Kennedy, who is a daugh- ter of James Kennedy. They have four chil- dren: William Robert, Maud May, Margaret Elizabeth and Charles Alonzo. Mr. Cover is one of Poland's substantial citizens and with other property, he owns the residence formerly the home of the late beloved President Mc- Kinley. Mr. Cover is a Knight Templar Ma- son and is also a member of the order of Mac- cabees.

AMES K. MIDDAGH, cashier of the Farmers' Deposit and Savings Bank of Poland, and one of the most influ- ential citizens of the village, was born . October 10, 1863, in Juniata County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Samuel W. and Margaret J. (Kidd) Middagh.

Samuel W. Middagh and his wife were both natives of Juniata County, Pennsylvania, and were the parents of six children: James K .: Sadie H., who married James Hughes of Poland; Attie, who married Alvin Phillips, of Goshen township. Mahoning County ; John W .. a farmer residing at North Benton: and Annie and Burt W., the latter of whom is teller and bookkeeper of the Farmers' Deposit and Savings Bank of Poland. Samuel Mid- dagh is still living at North Benton, at the ad- vanced age of 82 years. His wife died in April, 1906.

James K. Middagh was less than one year old when his parents came to Mahoning Coun- ty, in 1864, and located on a farm near North Benton for a short time, after which they re- moved to the village of North Benton. There he was reared and first attended the district schools, and later a special select school, after which he taught school one term in Smith

township, and one in Washington township, Stark County. At the age of twenty years, he came to Poland and entered the seminary, attending for about two years, after which he taught the district school in Boardman town- ship for one year and then two years in the Normal Department of the Poland Union Seminary. After leaving the seminary, in 1890 he entered the employ of the Farmers' Deposit and Savings Bank of Poland, first as teller and bookkeeper, serving first under Cashier Clark Stough and later under Cashier M. H. Liddle, and after the res- ignation of the latter he was elected cashier.

Mr. Middagh was married June 14, 1893, to Sannie M. Hughes, a daughter of James Hughes, Sr., of Boardman township. She died May 20, 1894, when their only child, Margaret Esther, was but two weeks old.

Mr. Middagh is a director of the Poland Hardware Company of Poland, which was in- corporated with a capital stock of $10,000. He is a member of the Odd Fellows and the Ma- sons. For many years he has been a mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church of Poland, in which he is an elder.

R OBERT BENTLEY, president of the Ohio Iron and Steel Company, and also of the Carbon Limestone Com- C pany, is one of the leading business citizens of Youngstown. He is closely identified with many of its important interests and may be taken as a typical representative of its commercial integrity. He was born in Youngstown, Ohio, August 30, 1854, and is a son of Martin and Mary ( McCurdy ) Bentley. Extended mention of the McCurdy family will be found in this volume, in the sketch of the late Robert McCurdy, a brother of Mrs. Bentley.

The late Martin Bentley, father of Robert Bentley, was the only son of Martin Bentley. cashier of the Western Reserve Bank, of War- ren, Ohio, and his wife, Elizabeth Fitch, of New York City ; he was born July 16, 1832, and died April 11, 1862. Like his father, he

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was a man of marked business ability. For a time he was assistant cashier of the Mahoning County Bank, and then a partner in the bank- ing firm of Wick Brothers, of Youngstown.

The mother of Robert Bentley, who was reared and educated in Youngstown, Ohio, is a woman of superior qualities of mind, identi- fied with the various charities of the city, and one of the first promoters of the City Hos- pital; she was also the founder of the first Woman's Club of Youngstown. She resides at No. 725 Bryan street. Her parents, Dr. Robert and Eliza McCurdy, were born in Ire- land, of Scotch-Irish ancestry. Dr. McCurdy came to the United States in 1843, and settled on a small farm near Crab Creek, Mahoning County. By his first marriage he had three daughters, Isabella, Catherine and Elizabeth, all of whom are now deceased. By his second marriage his children were: Mary, mother of the subject of this sketch; John, a promi- nent physician at Youngstown; Robert, de- ceased, a sketch of whom will be found in this volume: William and Thomas H., both de- ceased ; and Samuel H. The mother of Mrs. Bentley died at the age of 35 years.

Four children were born to Martin Bent- ley and his wife: James, who died in infancy, Robert, Eliza Henry, and John Martin. Rob- ert Bentley was married October 16, 1895, to Augusta F. Zug, of Carlisle, Pennsylvania. They have two sons, Robert Bentley, Jr., and Martyn Zug Bentley. Eliza Henry, the only daughter, is a graduate of Vassar College, and for two years was a teacher in the Rayen School at Youngstown. She is identified with the development of institutions connected with the welfare of the city. She married Rev. O. V. Stewart, a prominent Presbyterian min- ister, who died November 12, 1894. Their two sons are: Robert Bentley Stewart and James Wilbur Stewart. John Martin. the youngest son, is assistant auditor of the Car- negie Steel Company, of Pittsburg, Pennsyl- vania, and resides in that city, together with his wife and two children, Harry Bentley and Josephine Bentley. The family belongs to the Presbyterian Church. Socially prominent, their beautiful home at No. 718 Wick Avenue,

is one of the most hospitable in the city. In political sentiment, Mr. Bentley is a Repub- lican.

J OHN ALFORD DAWSON, who fills the important position of butter- maker for the Petersburg Creamery Company, one of the most successful industries of Mahoning County, in its line, was born in Beaver County, Pennsyl- vania, January 8, 1875, and is a son of Daniel D. and Sarah J. (Cochran) Dawson.

Robert Dawson, the grandfather of John A., was born in England and with his three brothers emigrated to America, settling first in Maryland and later removing to Smith's Ferry, on the Ohio River, in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. Daniel D. Dawson was a farmer in Beaver County. He married Sarah J. Cochran, who was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, and they became the parents of the following children : Robert, residing in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania; Mrs. Jennie Speerhas, residing at Industry, Pennsylvania; John A .; Reed R., residing at East Liverpool, Ohio; and Howard and Eva, both residing at home.

John A. Dawson was reared on his father's farm, and obtained his education in the public schools. When about 22 years of age he went to work at butter-making at Goldendale, Lawrence County, where he remained for about two and one-half months, and then de- cided to adopt this calling as a profession, and with this end in view he took a six-weeks'

course in a dairy school connected with the Pennsylvania State College. He then re- turned to Goldendale for four months more, when he accepted a similar position at Neshan- nock Falls, where he remained four and one- half years, going then to the Poland Cream- ery Company, as chief butter-maker, remain- ing with that organization until April 1, 1903, when he came to Petersburg as butter-maker for the Petersburg Creamery Company.

The Petersburg Creamery Company has been in business since about 1897, and has

JOSEPH ARREL SMITH

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been a successful enterprise from the begin- ning, paying a dividend of 4 per cent the first year, and subsequently has paid as high as 40 per cent. The creamery has at present ninety- two patrons, and the product is sold at Beaver Falls, Sewickley, Allegheny City and Pitts- burg, while the buttermilk is sold at Youngs- town. The creamery has a record of dispos- ing of 18.492 pounds of butter in a single month, and in 1906, at an average price of 28 cents, the output was 114,265 pounds. Dur- ing the same year 2,392,900 pounds of milk were received. The receipts are correspond- ingly large. one shipment to one firm in July, 1907, bringing in $2,073.35. The officers of this successful industry are : William Stroh- ecker, president : William Johnston, vice-pres- ident; William McCalla, secretary and man- ager ; and John Hope, treasurer. The board of directors is made up of the officers and three other capitalists: William Schnabel, Charles Seiter and E. C. Brungard. John A. Dawson is butter-maker.

On November 8, 1899, Mr. Dawson was married to Mary Kauffman, who was born in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, and is a daughter of Joseph and Susan (Headings) Kauffman, the former of whom is deceased. They have three children: Sarah Gertrude, born June II. 1901; Edna May, born June 29. 1903; and Jessie Myrtella, born January 21. 1905. Mr. and Mrs. Dawson are mem- bers of the Presbyterian Church. Politically Mr. Dawson is a Republican.

OSEPH ARREL SMITH, formerly the largest landowner in Poland township, died at his beautiful new home at Struthers, July 17, 1903. Mr. Smith was born September 23. 1838, on a farm in Poland township, Mahoning County, Ohio, and was a son of Robert and Margaret (Smith) Smith, cousins.

Robert Smith, the grandfather, was born in Pennsylvania, in July, 1765. In 1802 he came with his family to Mahoning County, securing 400 acres of land, a large part of

which he retained and deeded to his children. He married Keziah Stewart and they reared ten children. They were typical pioneers and led sober, virtious and industrious lives until they died.

Robert Smith the second, the son of Rob- ert and the father of Joseph Arrel, was born in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, June 17, 1802, just prior to the coming of the family to Ohio. He was reared in Poland township, was educated in the pioneer schools and in early manhood was married to his cousin, Margaret Smith, who was born in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, December 6, 1808, and who was a daughter of Joseph and Rachel (Arrel) Smith. They had three children, namely: Robert Stewart, who died October 5, 1838; James Clark, who died April 10, 1849; and Joseph Arrel. The father, Robert Smith, died in Poland township, July 26, 1860, and was survived by his widow until January 3, 1889.

The educational advantages afforded J. Arrel Smith in his boyhood were taken ad- vantage of, including some years of attend- ance at the district schools of Poland town- ship. He was reared to be a practical farmer although he had scarcely reached his majority before he lost his father, and on this account heavy responsibilities rested upon him at the outset of his career. This included the man- agement of the large estate which had been left to his mother by her brother, James Smith, who had been a heavy landowner in Poland township and who had died unmarried. At the death of his mother Mr. Smith came into entire possession of the large property he had managed for years. He was an extensive agriculturist and a very successful stock-raiser. although he confined his efforts mainly to the management of the different farms, employing skilled labor to operate them. He continued to reside in Poland township until 1900, when he removed with his family to Struthers, tak- ing possession of a commodious and comfort- able residence there. Mr. Smith was identi- fied with a number of Struthers' enterprises, being vice-president and a director of the Struthers Bank, and had longer life been given

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him, would have undoubtedly still further dem- onstrated his business ability in the promo- tion of many other commercial concerns.

On May 22, 1862, J. Arrel Smith was married to Mary A. Gault, who is a daughter of Robert Gault and a sister of John Gault, of whom a sketch will be found in this work. Having no children of their own, Mr. and Mrs. Smith adopted a son, John Galbraith, at the age of five years, giving him their fam- ily name.

John Galbraith Smith attended the Wood street school at Youngstown and subsequently was graduated at the Rayen High School, from there being sent to Westminster College, Pennsylvania. He then entered Amherst Col- lege, Massachusetts, and after graduating from that old and honored institution of learn- ing, completed his law course at Columbia University, at New York, and is now a promi- nent practicing attorney at Warren, Pennsyl- vania. He married Kate Brown, who is a daughter of Judge Brown of Warren, and they have two children. William Galbraith and Richard Galbraith, both sons perpetuat- ing their father's former name.

Mr. Smith's large landed interests as well as business connections had made his name a familiar one all through Mahoning County, while her sterling qualities of mind and heart, as shown in domestic life and social inter- course, had secured him the respect as well as the esteem of all with whom he was brought into contact. He was a liberal member of the United Presbyterian Church at Struthers and at the time of his death was serving as church treasurer. A portrait of this worthy citizen accompanies this article.

h ARRY BONNELL, one of the well- known citizens of Youngstown, who for many years has been identified with the iron and coal interests of this section and has been secretary of the Gomersal Coal Company. Limited, belongs to a family which has been very conspicuous for its connection with the great industries of

this locality. He was born in Bradford, York- shire, England, September 19, 1855, and is a son of Joseph Fearnley and Alice Elizabeth (Duffill) Bonnell. Further mention of this prominent family may be found elsewhere in this volume.

Harry Bonnell was given a good literary training in the excellent schools in Yorkshire, and then learned the textile-fabric trade. He continued with his father, managing his in- terests for some time prior to the latter's death, after which he came to the United States. Set- tling at Youngstown, in 1881, he here found no opening in his trade, but succeeded in ob- taining employment with an iron company at Girard, Ohio. Soon after he became con- nected with the Mahoning Valley Iron Com- pany, with which he remained until it was ab- sorbed by The Republic Iron & Steel Com- pany, and for several years thereafter. Mr. Bonnell, in addition to his other interests, rep- resents the Securities Corporation, Limited, of Mexico and the United States.

Mr. Bonnell was married in June, 1880, to Isabel Storey, a daughter of Captain Storey of the Merchant Marine Service, of Great Britain, who died shortly afterward, aged 23 years. After locating at Youngstown and becoming identified with its social life, Mr. Bonnell was married (second), on February 24, 1886, to Annie Mary Arms, a daughter of Charles Dayton and Hannah M. (Wick) Arms. He and his wife have one son, Charles Arms. Their beautiful home is at No. 626 Wick avenue, Youngstown. Politically Mr. Bonnell is identified with the Republican par- ty. With his wife he belongs to the Memorial Presbyterian Church, of Youngstown.

J OHN H. SCHILLER, who is the owner and proprietor of the leading drug store at Petersburg, was born on the old homestead in section 35, Spring- field township, Mahoning County, Ohio, and is a son of Israel and Helen ( Hahn) Schiller.

Israel Schiller was born in 1809, in Ger-

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many, and was nine years of age when he left his native land to accompany his father, John Schiller, to America. The family took pas- sage on an old sailing vessel that was wrecked on the voyage and touched the coast of Nor- way. not reaching Philadelphia, their proposed destination, until six months after leaving Germany. The family lived in that city for several years and then came to Springfield township, locating on what is now the Sam- tel Schiller place, later moving to the Ezra Cipp farm, on which farm John Schiller died. Israel Schiller grew to manhood on that farm and after the death of his father, located on a farm of 80 acres in section 34, which he sub- sequently sold and bought what is now the Kebler place. but never resided there. He how- ever purchased 80 acres in section 35, which continued to be the Schiller home until the father of John H. retired to Petersburg, where he died in 1892. He married Helen Hahn, who was born in 1815. in Springfield town- ship, she being a daughter of Abner Hahn, who had settled here at an early time. They had the following children : Mrs. Maria Harding, residing in Beaver township: Gid- eon. a druggist, residing at Pittsburg; Mrs. Kate Penn, residing at Braddock, Pennsylva- nia; Sevilla, residing at Petersburg; Silas, a physician, residing at Youngstown: Mrs. Eliza Beight. residing at Petersburg: Ira, who clied aged 25 years : Odelia, residing at Peters- burg: Tobias, residing in Springfield town- ship: John H. : Andrew William, a physician. residing at Salem; and Martha, who died in infancy. As will be noted, a number of the sons chose a professional career.

John H. Schiller was reared on his father's farm and attended the local schools and later spent two years in the New Castle schools. When he came to choose a calling in life, he 1 decided to adopt that of a pharmacist, and with that end in view he was thoroughly edu- cated in that line at the Chicago Institute of Pharmacy, following which he entered the drug store of his brother Gideon, at Peters- burg. This drug business is one of the oldest in this section, having been established by Martin Van Buren King, now a resident of 36

Canfield, who disposed of it to other parties prior to its purchase by Dr. Gideon Schiller. John H. entered the store as his brother's clerk, in 1875, and three years later became his partner, and in 1898 he became the sole owner He has given his sole attention to the drug business and enjoys the confidence which he is entitled to by his experience as a pharmacist.

On February 18, 1880, Mr. Schiller was married to Elizabeth Knesal, who was born at Petersburg, and is a daughter of J. G. Knesal. They have had three children: Ger- trude L., deceased, who was born April 4, 1881; Carl S., who was born June 7, 1884; and Richard H., who was born August 27, 1899. Mr. Schiller and family belong to the Lutheran Church. In politics he is a Democrat.

ETH H. TRUESDALE, M. D., or, as he is known to many of the older res- idents of Mahoning County, Captain Truesdale, was born in the village of Poland, Mahoning County, Ohio, where he resides, June 20, 1843, and is a son of Joseph and Eliza ( Hayes) Truesdale, the latter of whom was justly proud of being a cousin of that distinguished statesman, the late President Rutherford B. Hayes.

The father of Dr. Truesdale was born in Poland, Ohio, being the youngest member of a family of ten children, born to John Trues- dlale, who came to America from Ireland, prior to the Revolutionary War. He settled near Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, and after serv- ing through a part of the Revolution, in the Patriot army, came to Poland at a very early time. He bought land in Poland township on which he lived for several years, when he moved to Austintown, where he spent the re- mainder of his life. The birth of Joseph Truesdale took place in 1804, and he grew up in this section and subsequently became one of the best known physicians of his time in this locality, practicing in Poland for forty years. from 1831 until his death, in 1871. Two of his brothers, James and John, went from Ma- honing County into the War of 1812.

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Dr. Seth H. Truesdale enjoyed as good educational advantages as were available at the time of his boyhood, and was a classmate at the Poland Seminary, of that beloved Chief Executive of the Nation, the late William Mc- Kinley. Dr. Truesdale owns the house in which Mr. McKinley's parents lived in those days, and his own home stands next to the res- idence in which Mr. Mckinley lived when he enlisted to enter the Union army. In 1862, Dr. Truesdale also enlisted in the army, en- tering Company B. 84th Regiment, Ohio Vol- unteer Infantry, as a private, and when he was honorably discharged at the end of his term, three months later, he was but 19 years of age. On June 16, 1863, Dr. Truesdale reenlisted, entering Company A, 86th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, as first lieutenant, and on his birthday, June 20, 1863, he was promoted to be captain of this company. His regiment was connected with the Ninth Corps, under General Burnside, and its service was mainly in the vicinity of Cumberland Gap, including its siege. On February, 1864, he was dis- charged from his second term of service with honor, and returned to Poland.

For several years following, Mr. Trues- dale clerked in the general store of William McCreary, and then moved to Chicago, Illi- nois, where he lived for eight years, filling the position of cashier of a large wholesale crock- ery house of that city. While in Chicago he took advantage of its many educational op- portunities and studied medicine at Rush Med- ical College for one year. Upon his return to : Ohio, he entered the Western Reserve Medi- cal College, at Cleveland, where he was grad- uated in 1876, entering upon practice at Mt. Jackson. Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. He remained there for eight years, but in 1883 he returned to Poland, where he has been actively · engaged ever since. He is medical examiner for the order of Maccabees at this point.

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Century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens, 20th, Part 86

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