Century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens, 20th, Part 89

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 89

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The surviving children of John Knauf and wife are: Etta E., who married Warren L. Cook, residing in Green township; Thomas L .; Rose, who married Alexander T. Hen- ;

dricks, residing in Green township; Harvey W., residing in Green township; Martha, who married Frank T. Rogers, residing at Calla; Arthur and Hugh A., both residing in Green township, and Eunice J., residing at home.

Thomas L. Knauf was reared in his native township and attended the public schools. Af- ter reaching manhood he engaged in farming and stock-raising up to the time he was ap- pointed postmaster at Calla, in August, 1905. He still retains his valuable farm of 140 acres, but resides in his fine, modern residence, which he erected at Calla, in the summer of 1906, it making a beautiful, convenient and com- fortable home, one that ranks with the best in the village.

On September 29. 1887, Mr. Knauf was married to Elva D. Cochel, who is a daughter of Joseph M. Cochel, of Calla, and they have three children, Hazel B., Ruby A., and Roy J.

Mr. Knauf has been an active factor in politics in Green township for a number of years. He was elected township trustee on the Republican ticket, serving in this office for six years, and during a part of this time was president of the board. He is a man of good citizenship in all that the title implies and enjoys the confidence and esteem of his fel- low-citizens. His portrait accompanies this article.

B ENJAMIN F. BAILEY, one of the best-known citizens of Smith town- ship, who has resided on his present valuable farm of 120 acres, which is situated in section 14, for consid- erably over a quarter of a century, was born at Lordstown, Trumbull County, Ohio, Oc- tober II, 1845, and is a son of Peter and Ru- fina (Kistler) Bailey.

The Bailey family came to Mahoning County from Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, the grandfather, Abraham Bailey, settling at a very early date in Austintown township, where his son, Peter, was reared. They were of German extraction and Peter learned both the German and English languages, and later taught both German and English schools in that neighborhood. Later he engaged for four years in clerking, in the general store of John R. Church, at Canfield, but after his marriage he moved to Newton township, Trumbull County, where he resided for many years. He then settled at Lordstown, which was his place of residence until his death.

Benjamin F. Bailey was educated in the public schools of Lordstown, and resided in that place until his marriage, in January, 1870, to Sarah Kistler, who is a daughter of Daniel B. Kistler, late of Lehigh County, Pennsyl- vania. They have had seven children born to them, as follows: James E., residing at Meadville, Pennsylvania, where he is chief train dispatcher for the Erie Railroad: Charles D., residing at Mt. Union, Ohio, where he is part proprietor of the Mt. Union grist mills ; George S .. a resident of Alliance, who is train dispatcher for the Lake Erie, Alliance &

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Wheeling Railroad: Martin F., who resides at Mt. Union, where he is engaged in a mer- cantile business ; Seymour L., residing at Rock Falls, Iowa, where he is operator and station agent for the Rock Island Railroad; Mary, who married William Armstrong, a merchant, residing at North Benton: and Collins, who is deceased. Mr. Bailey's surviving children are remarkably well placed in life and are representative members of society in their various communities.

After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Bailey re- sided for a short time in Newton township, Trumbull County, then removed to Leetonia for a few years and afterwards to the farm in Smith township, in 1878. For two consecu- tive years. Mr. Bailey served as road super- visor of his district, and proved himself a capable and careful public official. He is a lib- eral supporter of the public schools and for many years has been one of the leading men of this section in promoting moral measures of all kinds for the general welfare. Person- ally, he is a member of the Evangelical Lu- theran Church in Newton township, in which he is an elder, having held this honorable of- fice for seven years. Politically, he is a Demo- crat.

D R. JOSEPH H. SCHNURREN- BERGER, residing on a fine farm of 200 acres located in section IO, Austintown township, was born Au- gust 5, 1865, in Green township, Ma- honing County, Ohio, and is a son of John and Eliza J. ( Zimmerman ) Schnurrenberger.

Conrad Schnurrenberger, grandfather of our subject, was a native of Germany who came to this country and settled in Mahoning County, Ohio, and who died in Green town- ship at the age of 80 years. He married Eliza- beth Baker and they reared a family of six children, namely : John, the father of our sub- ject : Solomon, deceased, Lyman, Joseph, Bar- bara, and Elizabeth, the last mentioned of whom married Charles Price. John Schnur- renberger, father of the doctor was born in Greenford, Mahoning County, and was edu-

cated in the common schools. He was a car- penter and cabinet-maker by trade, and also followed farming. His wife, Eliza, was a daughter of Peter Zimmerman, who came to Mahoning County from Pennsylvania They were the parents of two children, Lewis V., a resident of Salem, Ohio, who married Anna Wight; and Joseph H., the subject of this sketch. The mother died in 1869 at the early age of 30 years; the father in 1892, aged 56 years, both their deaths occurring in Green township, Mahoning County.

Dr. Schnurrenberger was reared on his father's farm and obtained his education in the district schools of the county and in the High School at Greenford. After leaving school he taught for four terms in Green township, and then, in 1888, began reading medicine with Dr. A. W. Schiller, then of Greenford, but now of Salem, Ohio. One year later he entered the Western Reserve Medical College at Cleveland, Ohio, from which he was graduated in 1892, having been engaged since that time in the practice of his profession. Dr. Schnurrenberger and his family reside on a fine farm of 200 acres, which his wife inherited from her father's estate. Dr. Schnur- renberger was married November 3, 1892, to Maude Gilbert, a daughter of John A. and Margaret (Troxel) Gilbert. Her parents were among the pioneers of this county. Two children have graced the union of Dr. and Mrs. Schnurrenberger, Gilbert M. and John A.

Fraternally Dr. Schnurrenberger is a member of the Knights of Pythias Lodge, No. 514, of Greenford. He is a Democrat in politics and has been president of the school board since 1901. He and his family are members of the Zion Reformed Church of which he is also an elder.

J AMES P. WILSON, one of Youngs- town's leading attorneys and a mem- ber of the well-known law firm of Arrel, Wilson & Harrington, was born February 6, 1857, at Lyons, Iowa, son of James T. and Harriet P. ( Hawes ) Wilson.

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James T. Wilson, the father, was a prom- inent lawyer at Cleveland, Ohio, for a num- ber of years, being a member of the law firm of Wilson & Adams in that city. He spent some years engaged in business at Lyons, Iowa, during which period he was elected mayor of that city. After his return to Cleveland he was honored with public office. His death occurred in the latter city in 1887. He had three sons, James P., David H. and William R. ; all three have distinguished themselves professionally, James turning his attention to the law and his brothers to literature and the stage respec- tively.

James P. Wilson was educated at Cleve- land. After graduating at the Central High School, in 1875, and reading law for one year with Judge Rufus P. Ramney, he took a spe- cial course at Columbia, followed by two years in the law school of Columbia College. After being admitted to practice, he located at Youngstown, entering into partnership with his uncle, D. M. Wilson, and after the latter's decease, with Hon. W. J. Lawthers; later he became a member of the law firm of Wilson, McNab & Hamilton. Since January 1, 1906, Mr. Wilson has been an important member of the law firm of Arrel, Wilson & Harring- ton, one of the strongest combinations of legal talent in Mahoning County. While Mr. Wil- son has made a study of every line of practice, he has paid particular attention to railroad law, and for years has been connected with several of the great transportation corpora- tions as legal advisor. As a pastime he has given some attention to dramatic literature. His main reputation, however rests upon his abilities as a lawyer. His firm is most con- veniently located in fine offices at Nos. 706- 714 Dollar Bank Building, Youngstown.

In 1887 Mr. Wilson was married to Frances E. Patton, a daughter of the late Thomas Patton, who at one time was proprie- tor of the Youngstown L'indicator. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have three sons, viz: Richard Bartley, James Taylor and Harold Leslie.

Politically Mr. Wilson is a Democrat. He has fraternally affiliations with the Elks; and is a Son of the American Revolution, tracing 37

his ancestry from Connecticut and Virginia. As indicated, he is a man of professional tal- ent and literary culture. His social standing is high and his hospitable home at No. 228 Madison avenue opens its doors to the best citizens of Youngstown.

J OHN WHITE, whose valuable farm of 272 acres of finely improved land, all in one body, is situated in section I, Coitsville township, was born October 12, 1819, in County Monaghan, Ire- land, and is a son of Hugh and Rosanna ( Braden) White.

Hugh White was reared in Ireland and for a number of years worked in a linen factory in his native land. The wages were meager and there was little chance at that time for factory workers to advance their interests. These facts induced him to cross the ocean to try to better his fortunes in a land where there were wider opportunities. Leaving his wife and two children in Ireland, when his son John was five years old, he located first in Massachusetts, where he hoped to find em- ployment in one of the great factories. He remained there but a short time, however, going thence to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he secured employment in the construc- tion of the Fairmount dam, on the Schuylkill River, but the contractor who had the work in charge, proved to be unreliable and left the neighborhood without paying the laborers. This action on the part of his employer left Mr. White almost penniless, and in this emer- gency he turned to peddling, starting out with two baskets filled with small notions, and walking many miles in disposing of them. He saw that money was to be made in the busi- ness and as soon as his earnings permitted. he bought a horse and wagon and started out through the country, making long trips, cross- ing the mountains to Pittsburg and taking a different route back. He soon had established a line of trade, housewives along the route welcoming his small wares and finding the genial and obliging salesman honest in the

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representation of his goods. He now sent for his family, from whom he had been parted for seven years, and they joined him at Phila- delphia, where they lived for seven more years. Mr. White had accumulated enough by this time to indulge in the hope of buying a farm and shortly after purchased 30 acres of wild land near Middlesex, Mercer County, Pennsylvania, for which he paid $10 per acre. He hired a man to clear this land while he con- tinued his peddling route, which he continued to operate until 1844, when he purchased 100 acres of his son's present farm, which was then a part of Trumbull County, Ohio. Here he engaged in farming during the rest of his active life. He died in 1872, and was sur- vived by his wife until 1881, her death oc- curring when she was 97 years old. They had two children, Mary, who married Thomas Mayers, and John.

John White was 12 years old when the family was reunited at Philadelphia and he proved of the greatest assistance to his father when the latter came to the farm in Ohio. He has continued to reside on this farm, making additions to it and carrying out con- stant improvements. During the many years of his life devoted to farming he has made a specialty of raising sheep. In 1880, he built the present handsome family home, and his judgment was wisely exercised in the con- struction of the other farm buildings and im- provements, which add so largely to the value of his property.

In young manhood, Mr. White married Eliza Dickson, who died in 1885. A native of Ireland, she accompanied her parents to Amer- ica in girlhood, and was reared at Lowell- ville, Mahoning County. There were five chil- dren born to Mr. and Mrs. White, namely : Hugh J., who died unmarried, aged 30 years: George D., who is associated with his brother, John B., in operating the home farm, and who married Rebecca Sturm, has two children, Edith M. and Alice M .: William B., residing at Springdale, Pennsylvania, married Mary Neely. and they have two children, John and Lois: John B., who is mentioned above; Rob- ert F. is in partnership with his brother, Wil-

liam B., in a general mercantile business at Springdale All of Mr. White's sons are repu- table, successful business men. Two of them are among the leading citizens of Springdale, while the other two rank high as farmers and cattle growers. In January, 1905, John B. White was elected a member of the school board of Coitsville township.

Mr. John White has always been identi- fied with the Democratic party and for about 15 years he served as township trustee. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, of which he was formerly a trustee at New Bed- ford.

Mr. White has reached the age of 87 years, 63 of which have been spent in Ohio. Won- derful changes have taken place during this period and he can recall many interesting cir- cumstances connected with the development of this section. He has managed his personal affairs with wisdom and prudence, which have brought him success, and old age finds him surrounded by all reasonable comforts, and the affectionate reverence of children and grandchildren.

R OSS W. BROWNLEE, a highly re- spected citizen and successful farmer of Coitsville township, resides on his farm of 41 acres, on which he also operates a sawmill. Mr. Brownlee was born in Coitsville township, Mahoning County, Ohio, on a farm situated between Hubbard and Lowellville, and is a son of John Wilson and Sadie (Madge) Brownlee.

The grandfather of Ross W. Brownlee, was Thomas Brownlee, who came to America from his native Scotland, when about 18 years of age settling in Mahoning County and ac- quiring a farm of 250 acres in Coitsville town- ship, where his death took place. He followed the drover business in his earlier years and crossed the mountains into Pennsylvania, on many occasions, with herds of cattle and flocks of sheep. Among his children, his son, John Wilson Brownlee, still survives and resides on his farm of 200 acres in Coitsville township.

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He was married (first) to Sadie Madge. She was a daughter of Robert Madge, a native of England, who when 16 years of age came to America and passed the remainder of his life in Mercer County, Pennsylvania. The chil- dren born to John W. and Sadie Brownlee were: Ross W., Thomas E., James O., Jessie May, Calvin (deceased), Sarah Madge and Martha. The mother of the above mentioned children died in June, 1882. Mr. Brownlee was married (second) to Emma Gilkey, and they have two children, Lena and Retta.

Ross W. Brownlee was reared on his fa- ther's farm in Coitsville township and at- tended the neighboring schools. He learned the carpenter's trade at which he worked for several years, in Youngstown, but later re- turned to Coitsville township, where he en- gaged in farming rented land for several years. He then settled on his present prop- erty. In February, 1901, he built his present sawmill and has recently installed a steam en- gine with a 25 horse-power boiler, the operat- ing of the mill requiring the assistance of from two to six men. Mr. Brownlee also deals in lumber. In addition to the interests named, Mr. Brownlee manages 100 acres of land which be- longed to his father-in-law's estate, of which he is executor.

On February 14, 1894. Mr. Brownlee was married to Edith May Brownlee, who is a daughter of Smith and Emma (Cracraft) Brownlee, and a granddaughter of Moses Brownlee, one of the early settlers of Coits- ville township, who died on the present farm, aged 88 years. Mr. and Mrs. Brownlee have three children : Ralph, Irene and Lloyd. Mr. Brownlee is a member of the United Presby- terian Church of New Bedford, Pennsylvania.

AMES B. CHAMBERS, general con- tractor and expert in all kinds of ce- ment work, at Youngstown, has been a resident of this city for some 19 years. He was born near Crestline, Ohio, December 1, 1858, and is a son of John A. and Maria L. ( Andrews) Chambers.

The late John A. Chambers was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, and going from there to Crawford County as a young man, and in 1859 came to Mahoning County, settling in Boardman township, where he lived until his death in 1895, aged 78 years, hav- ing been extensively engaged in farming and stockraising. He married a daughter of Wil- liam and Mary Andrews and they had five children, namely: Mary J., wife of William R. McLaren, residing at New Castle, Pennsyl- vania; Anna E .; James B .; Dr. John V., a physician and surgeon, residing at North Lima; and William A., residing on the home farm. The mother of Mr. Chambers died at his home, August 6, 1906, aged 73 years. The Chambers family comes of sturdy old Scotch- Irish stock.

J. B. Chambers was one year old when his parents moved to Boardman township, and lo- cated on a 200 acre tract of land, and there the boy was reared. His education was se- cured at Poland Union Seminary and the Can- field Normal School, and when he left the lat- ter he taught school for about six years. Mr. Chambers then became bookkeeper first for M. W. Johnson and later for Heller Brothers, and still later for the Youngstown Carriage and Wagon Works, but failing health made him give up so sedentary an occupation. He then became interested in the cement business and now is doing a large amount of work in this line and in general contracting. He is also a large owner of realty, having just com- pleted the purchase of a plot of land for which he paid $20,000, and which he is selling in building lots. This is his fifth business ven- ture of this kind. He owns also a farm of 75 acres near Canfield, and has an interest in the old home farm.

Mr. Chambers married Edna A. Simpkins. who is a daughter of Robert R. Simpkins of Youngstown, and they have one daughter. Marjorie. They belong to the Westminster Presbyterian Church, in which he is a member of the board of trustees. Politically, Mr. Chambers is a Democrat. He is a well-known. active, useful, prominent and honorable citi- zen.

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E ZRA A. HOUK, residing on a fine farm of 96 acres located two and a half miles from Youngstown in sec- tion 10, Austintown township, was born August 17, 1860, on the old home farm in Springfield township, Mahoning County, Ohio, and is a son of Henry and Mary ( Barth) Houk.

Henry Houk was born in Germany and when about one year old came to this country with his parents, Jacob and Mary Houk, who settled on a farm in Southington township, Trumbull County, Ohio, where they both died. He was the oldest of a family of six children, the members of which were: Henry, Jacob, David, John, Daniel and Rosine. David, Dan- iel and Rosine are now deceased. Henry was reared on the farm and married Mary Barth, who was born in Springfield township, Ma- honing County, and who was a daughter of Christopher and Christina Barth. Her par- ents came from Germany and settled in the timberland of Springfield township. Henry Houk bought the farm on which his wife was born and she later died there at the age of about 77 years, in the same room in which she was born, having resided all her life in that house. Their family numbered nine children, namely : Solomon, Aaron, Louisa, now Mrs. Theodore Obenouf; Ezra, the subject of this sketch; Eli; William, Sarah, who married Charles Barth, Lydia, and Samuel, most or all of whom are residents of Mahoning County. Henry Houk died in March, 1906, aged 75 years. Mrs. Henry Houk was grandmother to about 28 children at the time of her death.

Ezra A. Houk was reared on the farm, his primary education being obtained in the district schools. He later entered Thiel Col- · lege, at Greenville, Pennsylvania, from which he was graduated in 1888. After leaving school he returned to the farm and was mar- rier September 26, 1894, to Lydia Moherman, who was born March 1. 1862, on the Moher- man farm on this township. She is a daughter of Daniel and Susanna ( Miller) Moherman, whose parents were among the first settlers of Austintown township. Six children have graced the household of Mr. and Mrs. Ezra

Houk, namely : Arthur J., Armand W., Es- ther Mildred, Helen Eldora, Gustavus A., and Luther A. Mr. Houk resided on the Moher- man farm until the death of Mrs. Moherman, when he removed in 1897 to his present farm, which he and his wife received from the Mo- herman estate. He has made many improve- ments thereon, including a fine, large, eight- room, frame house, with barns, etc. He is en- gaged in general farming and fruit growing.

Mr. Houk is a Democrat and is at present a member of the school board. He belongs to the Lutheran Church.

IDNEY MCCURDY, M. D., physician and surgeon at Youngstown, was born in Massachusetts, and is a son of Mathew S. McCurdy, a resident of Massachusetts, where he is con- nected with educational work. Dr. McCurdy had the advantage of attending the best schools of his native state, passed through Dartmouth College, and then entered the Western Reserve University, where he was graduated with his medical decree, in 1903. Selecting Youngstown as his field of practice, Dr. McCurdy entered upon what has so far proved a very successful professional career. In addition to having a large private practice, he has been accepted as assistant surgeon for a number of corporations. He is a member of the Mahoning County and the Ohio State Me- dical Associations.

J OHN C. JACKSON, one of the most highly esteemed and widely known citizens of Coitsville township, resid- ing on the old Jackson farm of 40 acres, located in section 14, Coitsville township, Mahoning County, Ohio, was born on his present farm, April 16, 1867, and is a son of Capt. Joseph and Rebecca (Loraine) Jackson, of whom a full sketch will be found in the sketch of S. D. L. Jackson.

John C. Jackson was the youngest of his

WILLIAM W. RIBLET

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parents' family of four children, namely : Mar- ietta, who married James McBride, residing in Union township, Lawrence County, Pennsyl- vania : S. D. L. Jackson : Eliza Jane, who mar- ried J. A. Cooper, residing at Coitsville; and John C.

John C. Jackson was reared on the home farm and in early life engaged in the sawmill business, for many years thereafter operating three portable saw mills, having one in East Hubbard, one in Youngstown township, and one in Liberty township, Trumbull County, Ohio. He removed to Jefferson County, Ohio, in 1902, and became manager of the Medberry & Jackson sawmills, of which his brother, S. D. L. Jackson, was part owner, and continued there until 1905, when he retired from the milling business. Mr. Jackson then returned to the farm which he and his brother own together, where he has since been extensively engaged in general farming, dairying and stock raising.

Mr. Jackson was united in marriage June 22. 1893. to Evaline Clingan, a daughter of J. J. Clingan, of Coitsville township. Three children have been born to them, viz. : Thomas LeMar: John C .; and Clingan.

ILLIAM W. RIBLET, who owns a very valuable farm of 163 acres, which is situated in section 1. Austintown township, is a repre- sentative business man of this community, and is held in general esteem as a worthy survivor of the Civil War, in which he endured many hardships. Mr. Riblet was born January 16, 1836, in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of John and Re- becca ( Sankey) Riblet. His paternal grand- father, a native of Germany, came to Amer- ica, settling in Pennsylvania. He had two daughters and one son, the latter of whom, John, married Rebecca Sankey and settled with his wife in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, where both died. They had ten children, namely: Catherine, who married A. Miles ; Hannah, who married J. Williams; Angel-

ine, who became the wife of M. D. Moore; Mary Jane, who married a Mr. Marshall ; Re- becca, who married John Smith of Lawrence County Pennsylvania ; Amanda, who married George Crane of Erie City, Pennsylvania; Minerva, John, William, and James. The only survivors of the family are the two youngest sons, and Mrs. George Crane.

William W. Riblet was reared on his fa- ther's farm and in boyhood attended the dis- trict school through the winter seasons, as- sisting on the farm in the summer. On Au- gust 27, 1861, he enlisted for service in the Civil War, entering Company B, 100 Penn- sylvania Volunteer Infantry, and remained in the army until his honorable discharge, Au- gust 30, 1864. He participated in the battles of James Island, where he was wounded four times, the second battle of Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, where his regiment crossed the bridge under a heavy fire; Freder- icksburg, Vicksburg, Knoxville, Cold Har- bor, and innumerable skirmishes. On several occasions bullets passed through his clothes and his army blanket, but he returned to his home without serious injuries, although it tock a long time for him to regain robust health.

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Century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens, 20th, Part 89

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