Century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens, 20th, Part 90

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 90

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In 1873, Mr. Riblet came to Mahoning County, Ohio, buying his present farm from Charles D. Arms, since when he has erected all the buildings including the comfortable home. There are 15 acres of fine stone on Mr. Riblet's land and for the past 20 years he has done a large stone business. He raises many fine berries and other fruits in connection with his general farming. The place is very at- tractive on account of the care given it. the well-trained hedges and other shrubbery in good condition, shows that Mr. Riblet takes a justifiable pride in his home.

Mr. Riblet was married to Terresa Bell, a daughter of William and Mary S. Bell. She died July 31. 1904, aged 63 years. Mr. and Mrs. Riblet had nine children, namely : Ho- ratio, who married Oro De Camp, has one child, Pearline: Mina W., who married David Stambaugh, has three children, Maude, Helen and Paul: William B., who married Clara

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HISTORY OF MAHONING COUNTY

Phillips, has four children, Roy, Blanche, Carl and Grace; Thadeous, who married Flora Overlander, has one child, Glen; Philip, who married Maude Milligen, has two children, Nettie and Dale; Ruhama, who married Grant Titus, has two children, Therresa and Hor- atio; Samuel G., who married Matilda Creed; Fremont, who married Hannah Wint, has four children; and Charles, who is also mar- ried. Politically Mr. Riblet is a Republican. With his family he belongs to the Presbyterian Church. His portrait appears in connection with this article.

G. BUTLER, JR., one of Youngs- town's leading citizens, who is gen- eral manager of the Brier Hill Iron & Coal Company, president of the Bessemer Limestone Company and chairman of the Bessemer Pig Iron Associa- tion, has been a very prominent factor in building up the great industries of the Mahon- ing Valley. Mr. Butler was born in 1840, in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of J. G. and Temperance (Orwig) Butler. His parents were natives of Bellefonte, Penn- sylvania. The father was an iron worker and was connected with the large iron industries of Mercer County prior to 1842, when he moved to Trumbull County, Ohio. During the latter part of his life he lived retired from ac- tive business, but he became a prominent and esteemed citizen of Trumbull County, of which he was elected sheriff in 1861, and ser- ved until 1865.

J. G. Butler, Jr., has been connected with iron interests almost all his business life. In 1863 he became associated in the iron works of Brown, Bonnell & Company, representing Hale & Ayer, large owners in the enterprise, with whom he remained until 1866, when he became a partner in the Girard Iron Company of Girard, Ohio. In this connection he was associated with the late Governor Tod, Wil- liam Ward and William Richards. This asso- ciation continued until 1878, when Mr. Butler became general manager of the Brier Hill Iron

& Coal Company, in which capacity he has continued ever since. He has large interests also in other companies and corporations. He was vice-president of the Ohio Steel Company, is president of the Bessemer Limestone Com- pany, and is on the directing boards of the Pittsburg, Youngstown & Astabula Railroad company, the Cleveland & Mahoning Valley Railroad Company and the Mahoning Valley street railway system.

On June 10, 1860, Mr. Butler was married to Harriet Voorhees Ingersoll, a daughter of Lieutenant Jonathan Ingersoll, of the United States navy, who is a representative of one of the oldest and most prominent families of New England. Mr. and Mrs. Butler have three children, viz. : Blanche, the wife of E. L. Ford, of Youngstown; Grace, wife of Arthur Mc- Graw, of Detroit, Michigan, and Henry A., a graduate of Harvard University, class of 1897, who is now with the Youngstown Sheet and Tube Company.

Mr. Butler is an ardent Republican and is very prominent in party councils. In 1868 he was elected a member of the first city council at Youngstown, and has twice since been elec- ted to the same office. In 1900, he was sent as a delegate to the Republican National Con- vention held at Philadelphia. He has served also on the City Board of Health.

Fraternally and socially, Mr. Butler be- longs to a number of well-known organiza- tions. He is a member of the Nathan Hale Chapter of Sons of the American Revolution; the American Geographical Society, of New York: the Union Club, of Cleveland; the Du- quesne Club of Pittsburg, and the Youngstown Club of Youngstown. He is also interested in art and has probably the finest collection in the city.

ILLIAM C. NIXON, a general farmer and large fruit-grower of Poland township residing on his farm of 61 acres, was born at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, Febru- ary 18, 1851, and is a son of Robert and Mary (Obey) Nixon. Robert Nixon was engaged

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in operating coal mines during his early life, but later retired to farm life in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, remaining there until 1879, when he returned to Pittsburg, where he died in 1891.

William C. Nixon grew to manhood in the city of Pittsburg and learned the trade of heater in the Eagle Iron Works, at Saw Mill Run. In 1862, before he was 12 years old, he began working in the Singer-Nimmick Steel Works, remaining there for a number of years, when he went to Pipetown and worked at roll turning. When his father moved to the farm he gave up work in the mill and re- mained with his father until 1876, when he married Kate W. Green, a daughter of James Green. She was born and reared on a farm in Armstrong County Pennsylvania, and came from a very prominent family of Armstrong County. Three years after his marriage he removed to Allegheny and worked for 14 years as a heater for the Oliver Iron and Steel Company of that city. In 1892 he traded property which he owned in Allegheny, for his present farm, which originally consisted of 122 acres. It is situated in lot 75 and lies in the Lowellville Special School district, about half a mile north of Lowellville. He subse- quently sold one-half of this land to George H. Nixon, a resident of Youngstown. Mr. Nixon has devoted ten acres of this land to apple, peach, pear, plum and other fruit-grow- ing. the remainder to general farming. There is a fine supply of water on this place, there being two reservoirs, each containing 200 barrels of natural spring water, one of which he uses to irrigate the farm, and the other supplies water to the Lowellville cemetery.

Mr. and Mrs. Nixon have reared five chil- dren : Annie M ..: James G., who graduated from the Lowellville High School, also took a course at the State Normal School at Slip- pery Rock, Pennsylvania, and is now clerk- ing for the Oliver Iron and Steel Company at Pittsburg: Horace, who graduated at the Lowellville High School, also attended the Raven High School of Youngstown, Ohio, and the Ohio State University at Columbus, is now connected with the civil engineer corps

of the Pennsylvania Railroad; Hugh Hamil- ton, who is a graduate of the Lowellville High school is also a graduate in the class of 1907, of the State Normal Scholl, at Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania; and Ralph Clair, who attends the Lowellville High School.

Mr. Nixon is a member of the Presbyter- ian Church of Lowellville.

E G. MILLER, general manager of The G. M. McKelvey Company, at Youngstown, has been identified with the interests of this city for a quarter of a century. He was born in Penn- sylvania but accompanied his parents to Chi- cago, Illinois, in early youth and was educated in the schools of that city.

In all his business career, Mr. Miller has been associated with the mercantile affairs. His early business training was received in Chicago, from which city he came to Youngs- town and accepted a position with the An- drews Brothers, at Haselton. Three years later he entered the employ of The G. M. McKelvey Company and remained with that firm until 1891, when he organized the Albany Dry Dry Goods Company, of which he was gen- eral manager until 1894, when he went to New York, where he became associated with the firm of Hilton, Hughes & Company, success- sors to A. T. Stewart, the great mercantile prince of the country, for so many years. One year later he returned to Youngstown to ac- cept the management of The G. M. McKelvey Company, with which he has been identified ever since.

Mr. Miller has other important business connections. He is president of the Wheeler Mineral Spring Company ; a member of the board of directors of the J. B. Pierce Com- pany, wholesale wall paper dealers, of Cleve- land : and is a stockholder in other firms.

In 1896, Mr. Miller was united in mar- riage with Miss Todd, in Chicago, and they have one son, Forest Todd. Mr. and Mrs. Miller attend St. John's Episcopal Church. Mr. Miller has numerous fraternal, business

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and social connections and among these are: the Chamber of Commerce, the Youngstown club, the Mahoning Golf club, the Rayen club and the Elks.

J AMES A. CAMPBELL, president of the Youngstown Sheet and Tube Company, at Youngstown, is one of this city's leading business men, and is identified with a number of im- portant enterprises. Mr. Campbell was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, but was reared at Austintown, Mahoning County, and com- pleted his education at the Niles High School and at Hiram College.

After leaving college. Mr. Campbell was with the Morris Hardware Company for some time, and he then organized the Youngstown Ice Company, of which he was manager until 1890. when he engaged in the iron business. On November 28, 1900, the Youngstown Sheet and Tube Company was organized and incorporated, with a capital of $600,000, which has been subsequently increased to $6,000,000. paid up stock, with a bond investment of $2.500,000, and undivided profits of $3,500,- 000, making about $12,000,000 capital used in the business. The officers of this immense con- cern are: J. A. Campbell, president: H. G. Dalton, of Cleveland, first vice-president ; C. S. Robinson. second vice-president; George Day, secretary; Richard Garlick, treasurer ; and \V. B. Jones, auditor. The company man- ufactures pig iron, steel billets, steel sheet bar, galvanized iron and steel sheets and plates, and black and galvanized iron and steel pipe. These works employ 3500 men and their pay roll for the last year was $1,657,304.89, and will probably reach a much higher mark in the ensuing year.

Mr. Campbell is one of the directors of the Dollar Saving and Trust Company ; is vice- president and director of the Youngstown Ice Company ; is president and director in the Cen- tral Stone Company ; is president and director in the Union Ice Company ; is president and di- rector in the Crystal Ice and Storage Company,

and is a leading business factor, active and progressive in them all.

In 1880, Mr. Campbell was married to Etta Place, of St. Petersburg, Pennsylvania, and they have three children, viz. : Louis J., a student at Yale University; Helen Marie and Rebecca Walton, both of whom are bright students in the Rayen High School.

Mr. Campbell is a member of the board of trustees of the chamber of commerce, and he belongs to the National Union and to the Royal Arcanum. He is president of the Youngstown Club.

J AMES LIGGETT, residing in Poland township, on the Youngstown and New Castle road, seven miles east of the former city, where he owns 65 acres of excellent land, in two farms, both located in lot 70, is one of the well-known men of this section of Mahoning County. He was born in Deer Creek township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, November 3, 1830, and is a son of William and Rosanna (JJackson) Liggett.

The father of Mr. Liggett was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, and was a son of Joseph Liggett, who accompanied him to Am- erica in 1819, when the younger was 16 years of age. They settled first in Coitsville town- shop, on a farm adjoining that of John E. Gray, but subsequently removed to Pennsyl- vania and bought the farm in Lawrence County, on which James Liggett was born. There the grandfather died.

Soon after settling in Lawrence County. William Liggett was married to Rosanna Jackson, who was a daughter of Joseph Jack- son. who lived in Coitsville township, Mahoning County, where Mrs. Liggett was born and reared. After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Liggett went to housekeeping on the home farm of 106 acres, which William Liggett and his father owned in partnership. The children of William Liggett and wife were : an infant, that died at birth ; Joseph, de- ceased : James; Nancy, who married Alexan- der Barkley, both deceased; Jane, who married

DAVID MACKEY

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Zalmon Matthews, residing in Kinsman town- ship. Trumbull County; John, who died aged six years; Mary Ann, deceased, who married John McLean, deceased ; William, residing at Lowellville, who served over three years in the Civil War, being a member of the Second Regiment Ohio Volunteer Cavalry.

In 1836, when James Liggett was six years of age, his parents moved to Coitsville town- ship, where they rented a farm on which they lived for four years, when they moved to Lowellville. There William Liggett followed plastering and mason work from 1842 until 1870, the time of his death, having survived his wife for ten years.

In the district schools of Coitsville town- ship and at Lowellville, James Liggett secured a fair education and then went to work on a canal boat running from Pittsburg to Cleve- land, and later bought a boat which he con- tinued to operate for himself, spending 14 years on the canal. For two years after leav- ing the water, he worked at getting out hearthstones for blast furnaces, at Lowell- ville. In 1869 he purchased his present farm, to which he came in April, 1870, since which time he has devoted his attention exclusively to general farming.

In 1852, Mr. Liggett was married (first) to Harriet Richardson, who died in 1859, leav- ing two children, namely: John, residing at Millbank, Grant County, South Dakota, be- ing clerk of the court, has three children; and Harriet, who married Frank Buchanan, and resides at Grove City, Pennsylvania, has six children. On January 1, 1862, Mr. Liggett was married (second) to Isabella Saxton, and they have the following children: Eliza, who mar- ried Joseph Johnston, residing at East Liver- pool, has three children; Mina, who married John James, residing in Green township, has three children; Anna, residing in Poland township, is the wife of Lyman Stacy; Joseph Saxton, residing at Youngstown, has two chil- dren : Samuel J., residing at home ; and Mary C .. who married John Dickson, residing at Struthers, has one child.

Mr. Liggett, with his family, belongs to the Presbyterian Church.

D AVID MACKEY, whose death oc- curred December 21, 1900, was for a period of over three-quarters of a century a resident of Youngstown, where he was born June 10, 1824. For a great portion of this period he was very actively engaged in the real estate business. He was a son of Major and Margaret ( Early) Mackey.

The Mackey family is of Scotch extrac- tion and was founded in Pennsylvania by David Mackey's grandfather, and there James Mackey was born in 1776. The latter came to Ohio as a pioneer in 1805, settling near Poland and spending the rest of his life in the counties of Trumbull and Mahoning. His title of major was gained through gallant ser- vice in the war of 1812. After this war, in 1816, with Colonel William Rayen, he em- barked in a general mercantile business at Youngstown, utilizing a small log building, which was practically in the center of the then hamlet. With great foresight he invested in a large amount of land in this locality, and became, after his marriage, an extensive farm- er and stock raiser. He also did some survey- ing. In 1823 he married Margaret Early, a daughter of Thomas and Jane Early, natives of Ireland, who had settled at an early day near Coitsville: Major James Mackey and wife had eight children, as follows: David, whose name begins this sketch and whose por- trait appears on a neighboring page; Nancy, who married William Braden and died at the age of 74 years; James, a respected citizen of Youngstown, who is extensively interested in real estate in Youngstown, and also in coun- try property ; Robert, who died aged 61 years ; Letitia, who is the wife of Andrew Kirk, of Youngstown; and John, Jean and Thomas, who died in childhood. Major Mackey died August 15, 1844, aged 68 years. He served as a member of the general assembly and was also treasurer of Trumbull County, a county commissioner and a justice of the peace.

David Mackey engaged in the real estate business in early life and for a period of thir- ty-two years was associated in this business with his brothers, Robert and James, under the

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HISTORY OF MAHONING COUNTY

firm style of Mackey Brothers. He and his brother James were among the principal pro- jectors of the present street railway system of Youngstown, which was inaugurated in 1875, David Mackey being one of the first presidents of the system.

Mr. Mackey was twice married: First on June 27, 1844, when Jane Braden became his wife. His second wife, whom he married October 5, 1882, was Martha M. Jones. Of the first union there were nine children, as follows: Mrs. Olive Marstellar, deceased ; Mrs. Margaret Fowler; John; Mrs. Kate Brewer, deceased; Mary, James, Jr., Jennie, Ida and Nancy, all deceased. Mr. Mackey is survived by his widow. He was a consistent member of St. John's Protestant Episcopal Church and was liberal in his support of the church and also of various charitable institu- tions of the city.

James Mackey, Jr., son of David and Jane Mackey, was born December 17, 1856, in Mahoning County, and is now engaged in the real estate business in Youngstown, with an office at No. 142 West Federal street. He has a fine small farm adjoining the city on the east.

OHN N. EUWER'S SONS. This is a well known business name throughout Mahoning and other counties, repre- senting as it does a large and import- ant business enterprise of Youngs- town, which was founded by the father of the present proprietors as far back as 1834, at New Castle, Pennsylvania, and was established by his sons at Youngstown, in 1881.

John N. Euwer, father of the present pro- prietors, was born in Allegheny County, Penn- sylvania. His first work was with the Erie Canal during its period of construction be- tween Rochester and Erie, and both he and brother Daniel kept working in this connec- tion until the canal reached Conneaut, Ohio. In 1834 he returned to New Castle, where, with his brother Daniel, he established 'the store of D. & J. N. Euwer, of which the pres- ent business is a continuance. Daniel soon re-

tired, removing to Pittsburg, and Samuel C., a younger brother came into the business and the firm became J. N. & S. C. Euwer. On the death of the latter, J. N. Euwer became the sole owner and continued proprietor until 1867, when his sons, J. C. and W. D., be- came partners, and the firm then became J. N. Euwer & Sons. The business was continued under this style until 1878, when J. N. Euwer died and the firm style was changed to J. N. Euwer's Sons.

In 1881, the four sons of the late J. N. Euwer came to Youngstown, as stated, buying out the business of A. W. Brownlee & Com- pany, and they opened up in the store-room now occupied by the Williams Shoe Company. In 1866, while occupying a building on the north side the business was enlarged, but in 1900 fire devastated the whole stock. The pres- ent proprietors immediately rebuilt at Nos, 220-226 W. Federal street, erecting a structure almost double the size of the former one, two floors 67 by 200 feet in dimensions and three floors of 67 by 100 feet, this giving them over 20,000 square feet of floor space. This build- ing was again destroyed January 20, 1907. the stock and building being a total loss. They then took up temporary occupancy of the build- ing at No. 217 West Federal street awaiting the completion of the Stambaugh building on the Square, where they will occupy three floors and basement. They carry an immense stock of seasonable goods, employ at all times 100 people and occassionally 150, and conduct the largest department store in this section of the state.

Walter D. Euwer, who with his son John N. Euwer (2) and Walter C., has sole man- agement of the business, was born at New Castle, Pennsylvania, was there reared and educated, and has been identified with the dry goods business since he was 15 years of age. In connection with his large interest men- tioned, Mr. Euwer is one of the directors of the Mahoning National Bank.

In 1873, Walter D. Euwer was married to Anna M. Courtney, who is a daughter of David M. Courtney, a prominent farmer in the vicinity of New Castle. They have four

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children, viz. : Arabella J .; John N., his fa- ther's assistant, who is a graduate of Princeton College; Walter C., who is a graduate of Princeton College, in the class of 1907; and Marian L. Mr. Euwer and family are all members of the First Presbyterian Church. Mr. Euwer belongs to the Chamber of Com- merce and is a member of the Masonic fra- ternity. Politically he is a Republican, his fa- ther having been one of the old-time Aboli- tionists.

R EUBEN D. BURNETT, one of the leading citizens of Coitsville town- ship, where he is largely interested in the raising of fine horses, for many years was prominently iden- tified with the coal and lumber interests of this and other sections. Mr. Burnett was born in Austintown township, when it was a part of Trumbull County, Ohio, March 22, 1840, and is a son of Henry and Nancy (Jones) Burnett.

The Burnett family is of Scotch extrac- tion and Henry Burnett, the grandfather, was the founder of the family, first in Connecti- cut and later in Westmoreland County, Penn- sylvania. He remained in the latter place for five years, removing in 1804, to the vicinity of Akron, Ohio, where he took up a large body of land and was one of the earliest pioneers. After living on that farm for a number of years, he came to Austintown township and purchased a farm near Weathersfield, on which he lived for many years before his death. This property was known as the Bur- nett farm and came into considerable promi- nence, as on it the first coal bank of this region was located. Henry Burnett (2), the father of Reuben D., was reared on this farm and after the death of his father it came into his posses- sion. It comprised 60 to 70 acres and the family continued to live on it until Reuben D. was four years old, when his father sold it to William Edwards and it is now known under that owner's name. His first removal was to what was then Allegheny but is now Mahon- ing avenue, Youngstown, and from there to

the old Osborne farm at Flint Hill, following which he bought what was then known as the Baldwin Mills, in Boardman township, includ- ing a grist as well as a sawmill, and these Henry Burnett operated for many years. He finally disposed of his mill property and went into the land improvement business. For some years he lived on Commerce street. Youngstown, where he erected and sold six houses and he also laid out the plat of land which at first was called Burnett's addition to Youngstown, but later was changed to Spraguetown, three brothers by the name of Sprague having purchased the land from Mr. Burnett.

Henry Burnett, as can be seen, was a man of many activities. His next business venture was investing in land in the neighborhood of Lansingville, which he divided into lots, mak- ing the Lansingville addition to Youngstown. After seeing this enterprise an entire success. Mr. Burnett gave up further business con- cerns and died on that land in 1879, survived but two years by his widow. Henry Burnett was widely known and was noted for his en- ergy, foresight and enterprise and in many ways he was a very remarkable man.

Henry Burnett was married in early man- hood to Nancy Jones, who was a daughter of Samuel Jones, and she was the first white child born in Trumbull County, Ohio. Samuel Jones was of Welsh extraction, perhaps emi- grated from Wales. He was one of the first pioneers to venture into the forests of Trum- bull County, where he became a man of sub- stance. As an echo of those early days comes the story of how he was called upon to serve on the jury which tried a white man for shoot- ing an Indian, this being the first law case in the county.

Eight children were born to Henry and Nancy Burnett, namely: Caroline. deceased. who married Orrin Bartholomew ; Mrs. Sarah A. Hultz, a resident of Madison avenue. Youngstown: Mrs. Harriet Marr, residing in Missouri, is the widow of Dr. M. B. Marr. who served as a surgeon in the Civil War and died after his return: Hiram, residing in Cali- fornia : General Henry L., a resident of the

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HISTORY OF MAHONING COUNTY

city of New York, who recently assisted in trying a very important government case with the attorney-general, to which he was assigned by President Roosevelt, having been United States district attorney for the southern di- vision of New York, for eight years (at the time of the assassination of President Lincoln, he, with Judge Holt, tried the conspirators) ; Reuben D., subject of this sketch; John L., residing at Youngstown ; and Aylett R., resid- ing at Guthrie, Oklahoma.

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Century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens, 20th, Part 90

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