Century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens, 20th, Part 94

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 94

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When he was two years old, the parents of Mr. Robison moved to Palmyra, Portage County, where they lived until he was 12 years old, when they settled at Alliance, where he obtained the larger part of his education. A few years later his father moved on a farm near Palmyra, on which his venerable mother still lives. When 16 years of age, Mr. Robi- son learned the mason trade, which he has followed more or less all his life. His father was also a mason, and by the time he was 16 years of age had built a brick house. Mr. Robison's skill in this line has been frequently and specially recognized by building commit- tees entrusted with the contruction of public edifices, and he is serving as a member of the court house building committee. In 1881 he purchased his present farm and he has been steadily improving his property ever since. He has a very attractive home and beautiful sur- roundings, the location giving a most inspir- ing view up and down the river.

In 1871 Mr. Robison was married to Ellen Corbett, who is a daughter of Leonard and Louisa (Lewis) Corbett, old settlers of Pal- myra. Mr. and Mrs. Robison have three chil-

dren : Warren J., W. Perry and Jessie A., the latter of whom is an adopted daughter.

In politics Mr. Robison is a Democrat. For a number of years during his residence in Portage County, he served as justice of the peace, a position he now fills, and for over 20 years he has been on a school board, working for and securing a special district, both in Portage and Mahoning counties.

P ATRICK M. KENNEDY, president of the Home Saving and Loan Com- pany, of Youngstown, Ohio, has been prominently identified with the business interests of this city for many years. Mr. Kennedy was born in Ire- land, on May 2, 1852, and is a son of Patrick and Catherine (Maher) Kennedy, who were natives of Ireland. They emigrated to Ameri- ca in 1852, when their son Patrick was a babe of two months. Of their twelve children, but four survive. The father remained with his family in New York for some two years and then came to Youngstown, Ohio, where his death occurred on November 27, 1879.

Patrick M. Kennedy was reared and edu- cated at Youngstown and until the death of his father, he remained assisting him in his business operations. Later he removed to the country, where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits for eighteen years. He then returned to Youngstown, in 1896 establishing himself here in a real estate and loan business. For sixteen years prior to becoming its president, Mr. Kennedy had been a stockholder and di- rector in the Home Saving and Loan Com- pany. In 1900 he succeeded John R. Davis as president of this financial institution, which is one of the prominent features of the pros- perous business life of Youngstown. For this position he is well qualified, and he gives to this banking company the same conservative care which has made him successful in his private concerns. Fraternally Mr. Kennedy belongs to the great organization, the Knights of Columbus, which has members at every

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point where the Catholic Church, of which he is a consistent adherent, has a footing. He rsides at No. 250 Arlington avenue, Youngs- town. His portrait herewith published will be welcomed by his numerous friends throughout the county.

HARRIS MCEWEN, cashier of the Mahoning National Bank and presi- dent of the Youngstown Clearing House Association, has been identi- fied with the financial interests of Youngstown and vicinity throughout his en- tire business life. He was born in this city in 1842, and is a son of James and Elizabeth (Fitch) McEwen.

The late James McEwen was born at Elk- town, Cecil County, Maryland, and for some 40 years was connected with the old Pennsyl- vania and Ohio Canal Company, of which he was president at the time of his death, in 1872, when 73 years of age. He was also a director in the Mahoning County Bank, which was the first bank established at Youngstown. For many years he was prominent also in politics and was honored by the Democratic party with the nomination for congress. He mar- ried Elizabeth Fitch, who died in 1869. They reared three children, viz: J. Harris, of Youngstown; John Fitch, who died in 1898, had been cashier of a bank at Spokane, Wash- ington, for a number of years; and Mary L., who is the wife of Dr. John McCurdy, of Youngstown, Ohio.

J. Harris McEwen was educated in his native city and from the school-room went into the old Mahoning County Bank, and has been connected with banking ever since. This bank was organized in 1868, by the late Governor Tod, as a savings institution, and in 1877 was merged into the Mahoning National Bank. Mr. McEwen's association with the bank as cashier dates from 1868. He is also a direc- tor in the First National Bank and is a stock- holder in various other successful business enterprises.

Mr. McEwen was married in 1883 to Florence Rayen, who is a daughter of John

Rayen, of Trumbull County, Ohio, and a niece of Judge William Rayen, who founded the Rayen High School at Youngstown, and was one of the most prominent men of this city, one of its capitalists and philanthropists. Mrs. McEwen is a member of the First Presbyter- ian Church.

As a public spirited citizen, Mr. McEwen has always been interested in the developing of Youngstown's resources. He is vice-presi- dent of the Reuben McMillan Library Asso- ciation.

R C. STEESE, secretary and general superintendent of the Brier Hill Iron and Coal Company, president of the North Heights Land Company, vice- president of the Brier Hill Coke Company and a director in the Dollar Savings Bank, belongs to a notable group of business men whose enterprise and industry have brought great prosperity to Youngstown, Ohio. He was born at Akron, Ohio, in December, 1867.

Mr. Steese spent his boyhood at the vari- ous points where his parents made their home, and he was educated at Akron, Cleveland and later in Tennessee. His first business connec- tion was with the Dayton Coal & Iron Com- pany of Dayton, Tennessee, which he left to enter the Case School of Applied Science at Cleveland, Ohio, in the meantime working for J. H. Cremer, of Cleveland. In 1890 he came to Youngstown, and entered the employ of the Brier Hill Iron & Coal Company as chemist, remaining with them in that position for one vear, when he was made superintendent and subsequently general superintendent of this important industry and large corporation. In addition to the various positions held by Mr. Steese as mentioned above, he is also a direc- tor in the Youngstown & Southern Railway. He is a valued member of the Chamber of Commerce, and belongs also to the Youngs- town Club and the Mahoning Golf Club.

In 1894 Mr. Steese was married to Lora Bucklin, who was born in Youngstown, Ohio, and they have one daughter, Caroline.

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RANK HITCHCOCK, president of the Andrews & Hitchcock Iron Com- pany, one of the most extensive in- dustries of Youngstown, Ohio, was born in this city, and has been more or less identified with it all his life. the excep- tion being the time spent at school in Massa- chusetts.

The large business at which Mr. Hitch- cock is the head, was established in 1859 by C. H. Andrews and William J. Hitchcock, now both deceased. For many years they were two of the leading spirits in the great iron industry of the Mahoning Valley, and more extended mention of these business pio- neers will be found in another part of this volume.

The . Andrews & Hitchcock Iron Company was incorporated in 1892, with a capital stock of $400,000. The officers of the company are Frank Hitchcock, president; W. J. Hitchcock, vice-president and superintendent, and H. W. Heedy, secretary and treasurer. The com- pany is engaged in the manufacture of Hub- bard Scotch foundry products and Bessemer pig iron.

Mr. Hitchcock was united in marriage with Bertha R. Cowles, of Utica, New York, who is a daughter of George O. Cowles. They are members of St. John's Episcopal Church, in which Mr. Hitchcock is a vestryman.

FANK KNAUF, whose well-im- proved farm of 55 acres is situated in Ellsworth township, four miles southwest of Canfield, is a successful nurseryman and florist. He was born August 15, 1856. in Ellsworth town- ship, Mahoning County, Ohio, and is a son of Joseph and Hannah (Goodman) Knauf.

Joseph Knauf, father of Frank, was born in 1827. in Green township, Mahoning Coun- ty, Ohio, and was a son of Nicholas Knauf. The latter was brought to Mahoning County in childhood, by the Beard family, who . trav- eled over the mountains from Pennsylvania, in great covered wagons and settled in the 39

(lense forest which then covered almost all this territory. It is probable that Nicholas Knauf was an orphan. He grew to manhood in Mahoning County and started one of the first mills in this section. It was run by water power and was a great convenience to the settlers for miles around. The old mill structure is still standing on what is known as the John Unger farm, through which an electric railroad line has been surveyed, but doubtless this old landmark will soon be re- moved. Frank Knauf remembers many oc- casions when he and his boyhood companions bathed in the cool waters which served to turn the great mill wheel. There were IO of the children of Nicholas Knauf who grew to maturity, namely : Sarah, who married John Unger; Lydia, who married John Ew- ing: Elizabeth, residing in Tennessee, who married Abraham Bair: Annie, who married Michael Cronick: Mrs. Daniel Goodman; Jo- seph; Samuel; John; Jacob, and Eli, resid- ing in Pennsylvania. Nicholas Knauf and wife died in advanced years.

Joseph Knauf was reared on his father's farm and assisted him in his mill business. In early manhood he married Hannah Goodman, who was a daughter of William Goodman, a pioneer in Green township. They had seven children, namely : Elizabeth, who married (first) Jacob Hively, and (second) Jacob Toot: Isaac; Lydia, who married John H. Lower; Nicholas; Frank: Alice, who died in 1881 ; and Martin, residing at Tacoma. Wash- ington.

After marriage, Joseph Knauf moved to a farm in Ellsworth township, adjoining the present farm of Frank Knauf, which Nicholas Knauf had purchased for his son, and on this farm Joseph Knauf lived until his death, in 1881. His widow still survives and continues to reside there. Joseph Knauf was one of the township's substantial citizens. He owned land in Pennsylvania and also in Goshen town- ship together with his land in Ellsworth town- ship. Politically he was a Republican and held township offices at various times.

Frank Knauf obtained his education in the district schools and remained at home until

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his marriage, when he came into possession of his present farm as a part of his father's estate. Mr. Knauf makes a specialty of nur- sery and greenhouse stock, and has equip- ments on his farm for the growing of all varieties of plants and fruit and other trees. He disposes of his stock mainly in Youngs- town, having his place of business on West Federal street. He has made many fine im- provements on his property, including the building of a commodious frame residence, in 1881, and does enough general farming to supply his own wants.

In September, 1880, Mr. Knauf was mar- ried to Mary E. Winans, who is a daughter of Austin and Mary (Broadswoard) Winans, and was born in Ellsworth township, in No- vember, 1858. Her father died in 1886. Mr. and Mrs. Knauf have two children, Herbert and Nellie M. The former operates his grand- mother's farm of 79 acres. He married Emma Goodman.

J OHN H. FITCH. In noting the leading commercial factors at Youngs- town, where particularly prosperous business conditions are apparent, prominent mention should be made of John H. Fitch, who is either at the head or owns a controlling interest in many of the successful enterprises here. He is president of the John H. Fitch Wholesale Grocery Com- pany, president of the Youngstown Ice Com- pany, a director in the Youngstown Dry Goods Company, a director in the Dollar Sav- ings and Trust Company, president of the Ohio Merchandise Company, president of the Belmont Cemetery Association, a member of the board of trustees of the Youngstown Chamber of Commerce, and was formerly president of the People's Bank, prior to its merger with the Dollar Savings and Trust Company.

Mr. Fitch was born on his father's farm in Austintown township, Mahoning County, Ohio, February 5, 1843, and was educated mainly in the local schools, although he en-

joyed one term at Hiram College at the time that James A. Garfield was president of that institution. At the age of 15 years he be- came a clerk in a store at Austintown Center, in which he bought a half interest in March, 1865, entering into partnership with a Mr. Crum, under the firm style of Crum & Fitch. In 1871 he purchased the Crum inter- est, and in 1880 he sold a half interest to L. W. Raver and Joseph Smith, the firm becom- ing Fitch, Smith & Company. Mr. Fitch sub- sequently went to Leetonia and bought a half interest in the Company store there, operating it for three years. He then returned to Aus- tintown for two years' further residence. In the spring of 1885 he came to Youngstown.

In May, 1885, John H. Fitch and John T. McConnell, under the firm name of Fitch & McConnell, embarked in a grocery business at Youngstown. On June 1, 1886, Samuel Phipp entered the firm, and a change was made to Fitch, McConnell & Phipp, but in July, 1893, Mr. Phipp retired and the old firm style was resumed. In August, 1895, Mr. Fitch purchased Mr. McConnell's inter- est and the business name became John H. Fitch. On January 1, 1901, the business was incorporated, Mr. Fitch desiring to give some of his faithful associates blocks of stock, part- ly as a mark of confidence and also as a busi- ness incentive. The capital stock of the com- pany is $300,000, with John H. Fitch as pres- ident, Paul P. Fitch, as vice president, Fred G. King, as treasurer, and Charles W. Scha- fer, as secretary.

In 1902, the Fitch Company bought out the wholesale grocery firm of Baldwin, Hol- comb & Company, their line being coffee, spices and manufactured extracts, and since then the Fitch Company has given consider- able attention to the extension of their coffee trade. They have enlarged this department of their business and have fine quarters on the corner of Watt and the Erie Railroad, doing business as the John H. Fitch Coffee Com- pany. The main plant is a commodious brick building, 220 by 51 feet, having 78,000 square feet of floor space here. The factory is lo- cated on the corner of Watt and the Erie

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Railroad and is a structure of four stories, 55 by 90 feet in dimensions, with adjacent ware- houses. Some 80 employes are engaged in the office and factory and 18 men are kept on the road.

On June 21, 1866, Mr. Fitch was married to Alice Packard, who is a daughter of the late Dr. John A. Packard, of Austintown, and they have four children, viz: Stella G., wife of Fred G. King; Minta M., wife of Rev. Walter S. Goode, pastor of the Central Chris- tian Church; Paul P. and John H., Jr., both with the Fitch Company.

Mr. Fitch is a prominent Republican and is a member of the Republican State Central committee.

ILLIAM P. LOVE, M. D. Few men have attained prominence and occupied so many positions of responsibility at so early an age as has Dr. William P. Love, of Youngstown. In youth he manifested a spe- cial taste and aptitude for military affairs, and when still a mere boy had earned such honors as to attract the notice of those in authority. As a physician he ranks as one of the best- educated and most thoroughly-informed men of his years in the profession. His college career was especially brilliant, and in the vari- ous schools that he attended he was always found at the head of his class.

The family of Dr. Love was founded in America by his great-grandfather, who emi- grated during the latter part of the eighteenth century and ended his days in the United States.

William Love, son of the last-named, was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, in 1793. He served as a soldier in the War of 1812, and died in 1884. Among his children was Andrew, father of Dr. William P. Love, who was born in Mahoning County, Ohio, in 1838, and spent his life engaged in agricul- tural pursuits.

William P. Love was born on his father's

farm in Poland township, Mahoning County, Ohio, in 1870. After attending the district schools he entered, at the age of 18 years, the Northeastern Normal school at Canfield, where he remained for a short time. His further studies were pursued at Volant Academy, in Pennsylvania, and at Grove City College, also in that State, where he was graduated from the ancient classical and military departments in the class of '93. He was one of the three "honor men" in the military department, and was recommended to the adjutant-general of Pennsylvania and to the adjutant-general of the United States army as a distinguished ca- det. During his career at Grove City he served three years in the Cadet Corps, one year as first sergeant and one year as senior cap- tain. During the same period he was a pri- vate in Company F, 15th Regiment, Pennsyl- vania National Guards, and saw actual service with his command at the time of the Home- stead strike. In the fall of 1893, Dr. Love went to Baltimore and attended one session of the Baltimore Medical College. in that city. This was followed by a course in the medical department of the Western Reserve Univer- sity at Cleveland, where he was graduated in 1896, as president of his class. In 1897 he received the degree of A. M. from his alma mater at Grove City, which rounded out his academic career with the highest honor his college could confer. Dr. Love's professional education was completed by a course at the New York Post-Graduate College, the New York Polyclinic and the Philadelphia Poly- clinic.

In November, 1896, Dr. Love located at Youngstown, and on August 4, 1897, he was appointed captain and assistant surgeon of the 5th Infantry, O. N. G .; on May 4. 1898. he was promoted to the rank of major and sur- geon of the same regiment. On May 1I, 1898. he was commissioned as surgeon of the 5th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with rank of major, and served in camp with that command at Tampa and at Fernandina. Flor- ida, until September 9th. He was not mus- tered out with his regiment, but was retained as a member of the examining board for the

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mustering out of the troops, and was thus engaged for about a month, receiving his dis- charge on November 26. 1898. In December, 1899. he re-entered the militia service as as- sistant surgeon of the 5th Regiment Ohio Na- tional Guard, with rank of captain. this being the position held by him when he first entered the military service. On April 28, 1903, he was made major and surgeon of the Ohio Na- tional Guard. He is a member of the Spanish- American War Veterans' Association, having held the rank of colonel and aide-de-camp to Commander-in-chief General James B. Coryell. of Philadelphia, and was surgeon-general of the same organization with the rank of brig- adier-general. He is an active member of the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States. Politically he is a Republican. Fraternally he is a Knight Templar and 32d degree Mason. An earnest worker, he takes high rank in his profession, and his frank and genial manners make him popular in the society circles of Youngstown.

He is married and has one son, Wil- liam, Jr.

ESSE B. FITCH, a leading citizen and successful farmer and stock- raiser of Ellsworth township, resides on his well-improved farm of 130 acres. Mr. Fitch belongs to one of the oldest families of this section and he was born May 1, 1870, in Mahoning County, Ohio, and is a son of Frank and Martha ( Mc- Neilly ) Fitch.

The paternal ancestors of Mr. Fitch were pioneers in the Western Reserve, settling in what is now Ellsworth township, more than 100 years ago. The great-grandfather, Rich- ard Fitch, was born in Connecticut, of old Colonial stock. In 1806 he same to this sec- tion which was then in Trumbull County, in company with his brothers, William and Charles Fitch. All took a very important part in organizing the township and establishing the first civilizing enterprises. This may also be recorded of the maternal ancestors, James

and Elizabeth (Trimble) McNeilly. They were born in Ireland and in 1827 settled in Jackson township, Mahoning County, remov- ing to Ellsworth township in 1830. They lo- cated on the farm now occupied by James P. McNeilly, where they reared a large family. There the mother of Jesse B. Fitch was born May 1, 1845.

Frank Fitch, father of Jesse B., was born one-half mile north of Ellsworth Center, Ma- honing County, Ohio, in November, 1840, and died in January, 1904. He was a man of high character, in every relation of life deserving respect and esteem. During the Civil War he was a soldier in the 155th Regiment Ohio Vol- unteer Infantry. He married Martha Mc- Neilly, who still survives, and they had five children, namely: Lizzie, who resides on the old homestead with her mother; Jesse B .; Charles, residing at Calla, Ohio, connected with the business house of Temple & Com- pany, married Jessie Kirk, daughter of R. M. Kirk, of Canfield, and they have one child, Josephine ; Bertha, deceased; and John, who died aged 18 months.

Jesse B. Fitch was reared to an agricul- tural life and obtained a fair education in the district schools. After starting out for him- self he farmed for 12 years on the Colbert Fitch farm, but since the death of his father he has been operating the old home farm of 130 acres, carrying on general farming and dairying, Youngstown being his market. He is a thorough-going agriculturist and a firm believer in the virtues of the best stock and improved methods of farming. He keeps only the finest horses for farm purposes and raises registered Jersey cattle only. His surround- ings indicate excellent management. The com- fortable residence is a commodious rural home and his barn and other buildings are substan- tial and well kept.

On December 28, 1892, Mr. Fitch was married to Amanda Knauf, who is a daughter of Samuel and Barbara Knauf, the former of whom was a well-known resident of Ellsworth township, now deceased. The mother of Mrs. Fitch was born in Germany. She still sur- vives. Mr. and Mrs. Fitch have four children,

MYRON SOBIESKI CLARK, M. D.

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namely: Frank, born November 20. 1893; Odessa, born March 6, 1895; Frederick, born January 28, 1897; and Nora, born February 17. 1899. The children are all intelligent pu- pils in the neighboring school.

In politics, Mr. Fitch is a Republican, but his ambition has never been in the direction of political honors, his interests on the other hand being centered in his agricultural pur- suits. With his family he belongs to the Presbyterian Church.

YRON SOBIESKI CLARK, M. D. In the fall of 1873 there located at Youngstown a young physician and surgeon of some years' experi- ence in general practice, a gradu- ate of the medical department of the Univer- sity of Michigan, who had not yet forgotten his year of service as hospital steward in the Civil War, finding a hearty welcome and im- mediately gaining a foothold which he has never lost. Dr. Clark was born October 9, 1840, at Gallipolis, Ohio, and is a son of Par- menas Pomerey and Sarah E. ( Barber) Clark.

Dr. Clark's parents were natives of Mas- sachusetts and members of old colonial fam- ilies. The father came to Ohio in 1834 and lived in this state all his life. The mother died in 1859, while the family were residing on a farm in Freedom, Portage County. The father, P. P. Clark, contracted a second mar- riage and subsequently removed to Wauseon, Fulton County. Dr. Clark was his eldest child.

From the common schools to an academy at Freedom, Ohio, and thence to Hiram Col- lege, Dr. Clark's boyhood and youth were sur- rounded by literary advantages, and after completing his course at the latter institution under the direct supervision of James A. Gar- field, then its president, he opened a select school at Windham, Portage County, in the vicinity of his father's home. The outbreak of the Civil War changed his whole course of life. in all probability, as it did many others

with whom his previous experiences had con- nected him, and at the close of his first half term of school he decided to enter the service of his beloved country, following his determi- nation by enlisting on October 21. 1861, in Company K ( of which he was made corporal ), 4Ist Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. The change to the exposures of army life brought him in a few months to a sick bed in the hos- pital, and at length necessitated his removal to his home, and his subsequent discharge on October 28, 1862, on account of general dis- ability.

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Century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens, 20th, Part 94

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