Century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens, 20th, Part 97

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 97

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He was married January 29, 1850, to Mary Pow, who was born January 4, 1833, in an old log house on his present farm, and is a daughter of Alexander and Elizabeth ( Tem- plen ) Pow. Alexander Pow was born in England and came to this country at the age of 12 years with his father, Robert Pow, who settled on the farm where Mr. Kirk now re- sides, and died very shortly after locating here. This country was all a wilderness at

that time, and required much clearing, and many dollars worth of poplar timber was burned. Alexander Pow came into possession of the farm at the death of his father, and resided here for the remainder of his life. He first married Elizabeth Templen, by whom he became the father of five children, as follows: Mary, now Mrs. Kirk: Jane, who married Henry Staffer, both of whom are deceased; Barbara, widow of Henry Baldwin, residing in Michigan: Robert; and Richard, who is deceased. After his wife's death Mr. Pow married (second) Harriet Levett, of which union there were two children, George and Elizabeth, the latter the widow of Lawrence Hall.

Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Kirk : Elizabeth Ann, Jane and Barbara; Elizabeth Ann died at the age of 8 months; Jane, who resides in this vicinity, married M. S. Frederick, who manages the farm for Mr. Kirk. She has two children-Frank, who resides near Salem, and who married Nora Kline and has two children, Ethel and Esther ; George L. Frederick, who lives in Ellsworth township, married Cora Paulin and has one child, Dorothea ; Barbara Kirk, who lives with her parents, is unmarried.

Politically Mr. Kirk is a Republican, but was formerly a Whig, and first voted for Gen- eral Taylor. He served for ten years on the Mahoning County Agricultural Board. He is a member of the Argus Lodge of the Masonic crder at Canfield. He and his family are members of the Disciples Church. Although nearly 80 years of age, Mr. Kirk retains the strength and mental vigor of a man many years his junior, and is still able to do a hard day's work. His portrait appears on a neigh- boring page.

DWIN E A. BROWNLEE, M. D., physician and surgeon at Struthers, where he is a leading citizen, was born in Boardman township. Mahon- ing County, Ohio. September 18. 1858, and is a son of James A. and Rebecca (Gilchrist ) Brownlee.

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The father of Dr. Brownlee was born in Scotland February 4. 1825, and is a son of John and Margaret ( Wilson) Brownlee, the former of whom died in 1832, aged 60 years, and the latter in 1865, aged 81 years. The paternal grandfather of James A. Brownlee came to America and located in Washington County, Pennsylvania, removing from there to Trumbull County, Ohio, in 1812, where he died and lies buried in the Mahoning church- yard. James A. Brownlee was seven years old when he accompanied his widowed mother to America. They came to Mahoning County, Ohio, settling on a farm in Boardman town- ship which adjoins the one on which he still resides. He has always followed agricultural pursuits and owns 235 acres of fine land, all adjoining, which is situated in Poland and Boardman townships.

On March 16, 1854, James A. Brownlee married Rebecca Gilchrist, who was born at Allegheny, Pennsylvania, November 16, 1832, and is a daughter of James and Grace (Mc- Graw) Gilchrist, the former of whom was also a native of Scotland. He was a carpenter and contractor and came to Coitsville town- ship, Mahoning County, in 1834, and settled on the farm now owned by James D. Shields, a sketch of whom appears in this work. Mr. Gilchrist died in 1853, aged 71 years, and his widow in 1876, aged 84 years. James A. Brownlee and wife had 10 children, namely : Mary, James H., Edwin, John C., Mrs. Eva Blunt, Irvin, Ralph, Grace, and two children died in infancy. Mary and James H. reside at home. Irvin is engaged in a real estate busi- ness at Pittsburg, and Grace married George W. Hunter.

Edwin A. Brownlee spent his boyhood on the home farm and attended the district schools, subsequently spending three years at the Poland Seminary. For three years he then taught school at Struthers and for two years at Hazelton, when he was appointed to a gov- ernment position in the Interior Department at Washington, by Congressman William Mc- Kinley. During his stay at Washington, he took a two-years' course in medicine at the University of Georgetown and then entered

Dartmouth College, at Hanover. New Hamp- shire, where he was graduated in the fall of 1892. After a year of post-graduate study at the New York Post Graduate Medical School, Dr. Brownlee felt qualified to take up pro- fessional work and in December, 1893. after a trip of recreation to Oregon and a visit to the Columbian Exposition, at Chicago, he lo- cated at Struthers, where he has since given his experienced skill to those in need of pro- fessional care. He enjoys a large practice and is also interested in some business enter- prises, being one of the directors of the Struth- ers Savings and Banking Company.

In 1896 Dr. Brownlee was married to Lu- ella Geddes, an accomplished lady who had been a successful teacher at Struthers for five years. She is a daughter of James Geddes and was reared at Youngstown. Dr. Brown- lee belongs to various medical organizations and is a member of the beneficiary order of Maccabees.

HARLES FREDERICK WINTER, postmaster at Petersburg, serving in his second term, and a prominent business man and manufacturer. has resided in this city for over a half century and has been identified with its leading interests. Mr. Winter was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, October 21. 1849, and is a son of Adam F. and Varonica ( Greiner ) Winter.

Adam F. Winter was born in Germany in 1798, and died at Petersburg, Ohio, aged 70 years. He was a small farmer in Germany and for many years was in the service of the emperor, keeping tab on the grain taxes. He emigrated to America about 1853. He mar- ried Varonica Greiner, who still survives and although she has reached the advanced age of 86 years, she reads without the assistance of glasses and is otherwise well preserved. Her father. Jacob Greiner, never came to America. At one time Adam F. Winter was counted a wealthy man, but lost his fortune by going bail for a friend. The children born to Adam F. Winter and his wife were: Charles Fred-

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erick; Gottleib, who is in partnership with his older brother, in the manufacturing business at Petersburg; Louisa, who married John Hinley, residing in Lawrence County, Penn- sylvania.

Charles Frederick Winter was beween four and five years of age when his parents came to the United States. They settled first in Law- rence County, Pennsylvania, two miles from Petersburg, later moving from there to a farm in Springfield township, situated about the same distance from the town, and in the spring of 1856, located at Petersburg. Mr. Winter was reared here and attended the local schools, and as soon as old enough learned the trade of wagonmaker, and with the exception of a space of eight months, when he was at Park- ersburg, West Virginia, he has followed that business here ever since. In 1876 he added undertaking and is the only man in that line at Petersburg. Since 1872 he has had his brother Gottleib as a partner, to whom he taught the trade, and they do a very large business, some- times turning out 100 buggies and wagons a year, and giving constant employment to a number of men. It is an important industry of the town.

Mr. Winter has always been a staunch Republican. On July 1, 1903, he was ap- pointed postmaster at Petersburg, by Presi- dent Roosevelt, to fill out an unexpired term, and subsequently was reappointed for four years more. His administration has given entire satisfaction to the community.

On October 27, 1870, Mr. Winter was married to Mary S. Piatt, who was born in Craig township, Switzerland County, Indiana, and is a daughter of Samuel A. D. and Cath- erine (Smith) Piatt. The Piatts were French Huguenots and three brothers of the name came to America to escape religious persecu- tion. Capt. William Piatt, the great-grandfa- ther of Mrs. Winter, was killed by the Indians in the War of the Revolution, on the occasion of General St. Clair's defeat. Samuel Piatt was a son of James Piatt, and was born in Seneca County, New York, and was a pioneer in Indiana, making his first visit on horse- back through the snow. He married Cath-

erine Smith, whose people belonged to Vir- ginia. Mr. and Mrs. Winter have had eight children, namely: Charles Piatt, residing at Spokane, Washington, was born August 28, 1871, married Ella Powers and they have two children, Ida Margaret and Clarence Francis; John Frederick, residing at Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, where he has a large horseshoe- ing establishment, was born August 14, 1873, married Annie Andrews, and they have two children, Hazel Marie and John Frederick, Jr .; Clarence Carl, residing at Youngstown, married Clara Alnoda Wire, and has two chil- dren, Fannie Laurena and Annie Ruth; Kate Frances, who was born in September, 1878, died May 11, 1883; Edwin Arthur, residing at Youngstown, was born December 14, 1880; Annie Grace, who has been a popular and suc- cessful teacher at Damascus and other points, was principal of the school at Homeworth, Ohio, for some years; William Rich- ard, residing at Allegheny City, was born No- vember 4, 1887; Benjamin Howard died when about five years of age.

Mr. Winter and family belong to the Lutheran Church, of which Mr. Winter was secretary for some 20 years.

RANK B. HALLER, one of New Middletown's enterprising and suc- cessful business men, in the line of contracting and building, was born in Springfield township, Mahoning County, September 7, 1865, and is a son of Benjamin W. and Margaret (Snyder) Haller.

The father of Mr. Haller was born in Springfield township in 1837, and was a son of Conrad and Mary (Wizeman) Haller, probably born in Germany, who came to Springfield township at an early date. Con- rad Haller acquired 10 acres of land on the North Lima road, on which he spent the re- mainder of his life. Benjamin W. Haller was reared on the homestead and when he grew to manhood he learned the business of pump- making, but subsequently bought a farm of 1121/2 acres of land in section 17, Springfield

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township, on which his widow still resides, his death having taken place in 1899. He was always a strong supporter of Democratic pol- icies and was equally devoted to the faith of the German Lutheran Church. He married Margaret Snyder, who was born in Beaver township, Mahoning County, Ohio, and is a daughter of Philip Snyder, who was an early settler in Springfield township, coming from eastern Pennsylvania. There were nine chil- dren born to these worthy people, namely : Henry, residing at Leetonia; Mary, who mar- ried Jonas Seidner, residing in Springfield township; Francis, residing in Springfield township, is a business partner of Frank B .; Conrad, residing at New Middletown; Jona- than, residing in Springfield township; Frank B .; James, formerly of Springfield township, died in 1898; Hattie, who married Samuel Pitts, residing on the old homestead; and Ezra, residing at New Middletown.

Frank B. Haller was educated in the schools of Springfield township and remained at home until his marriage in 1896. He learned the carpenter's trade after trying farming and huckstering for a time, and after moving into New Middletown, began contract- ing. in partnership with his brother Francis. When they began business they gave employ- ment to about five men, while they now con- trol a volume of business that requires at least II men. The Hallers have erected the best and most substantial buildings that have gone up in the last decade, in this section, and the firm is one of the most prosperous.

Mr. Haller was married November 26, 1896, to Hattie Elnora Livingston, who was born in Springfield township, and is a daugh- ter of Charles and Elizabeth (Mauch) Liv- ingston. Her father was born in this neigh- borhood and was left an orphan at the age of eight years. He died March 3. 1902, aged 42 years. John Mauch, the maternal grandfather of Mrs. Haller, was an old settler of Spring- field township. Mrs. Livingston still survives and resides at Youngstown. Mrs. Haller was the second born in a family of four children. the others being: Clara, who died, aged four weeks: Lawrence, deceased; and Will-

iam, residing at Youngstown. Mr. and Mrs. Haller have one daughter, Edith Mabel, who was born March 22, 1898. Although but nine years of age, this little maiden has shown re- markable musical talent and is an excellent performer on the piano.

In politics Mr. Haller is a Democrat. He is a very busy man and has never consented to serve in any office except that of school di- rector. Prior to the disbanding of the Junior Order of the U. A. M., he was a member of that body. He belongs to the German Luth- eran Church.

HARLES F. OHL, attorney at Youngstown, who is also interested in business enterprises in this city, was born in 1877, at Austintown, Mahoning County, Ohio, and is a son of William Ohl, who is now a resident of Warren, Ohio.

When Mr. Ohl was 14 years of age, his parents removed to Trumbull County. He completed his education at the Ohio Northern University at Ada, graduating at this insti- tution in 1895, with the degree of B. S., later with M. S., and in 1902, on graduating from the legal department of the Western Reserve University, he was awarded the degree of B. L. In the same year he was admitted to the bar and has been in the active practice of his profession ever since.

Mr. Ohl is a popular member of the Knights of Pythias and the Odd Fellows, at Youngstown.

J OHN W. KIDD, whose long and use- ful life was spent in Goshen township, was born in Mahoning County, Ohio, July 22, 1836, and died AAugust II, 1904. aged 68 years. His parents were George and Mary A. ( Wright ) Kidd.

The father of John W. Kidd was born in England, and the mother in the United States. They were among the early settlers

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and hardy pioneers of Goshen township. where they were long among the leading peo- ple. Their early home was a log cabin in the woods and there their son John W. was born. His education was obtained in the dis- trict schools near his home and he grew to manhood well trained in the pursuits pertain- ing to agriculture. His main business was farming although he also operated a saw-mill and followed threshing during his active years. He left a fine farm of over 70 acres which is now owned and occupied by his widow.

On October 1. 1857, Mr. Kidd was mar- ried to Rebecca Minser, who was born in Goshen township, Mahoning County, Ohio, June 25, 1837, and is a daughter of Aaron and Mary ( Holman) Minser. The parents of Mrs. Kidd came from New Jersey and settled in Goshen township when the country was prac- tically new, and they assisted in its develop- ment and civilization. Mr. and Mrs. Kidd had five children, the four survivors being: Ella M., residing at home : William C., a prominent citizen, formerly trustee of Goshen township; Albert P., residing in Goshen township: and Edgar A., who assists his mother in the man- agement of the home farm. The sons, like their late father, are identified with the Repub- lican party.

The death of John W. Kidd removed from Goshen township an honest, upright man. one who was highly respected in every phase of life. He is sadly missed by his family, where his counsel and advice, his loving care and consideration made him much beloved, and by his neighborhood, where he was always help- ful and kind in times of trouble and adversity.

ENRY NIEDERMEIER, of the firm of Niedermeier & Restle. general contractors, of Youngstown, Ohio, in which city he has lived since the spring of 1872, was born in Ger- many, in 1848, and when 18 years old came to America and located in Gasconade County, Missouri. Here he learned the mason and bricklaying trades, and worked five years at

these trades in that section. He then made a visit of three months in Germany. after which he returned to America and located at Youngstown, Ohio. In 1877 he accepted a position on the city police force, on which he served until 1880, after which he engaged in contracting, but it was not until 1897 that the firm of Niedermeier & Restle was formed. The company does a general contracting busi- ness, working on an extensive scale, through- out this section of the state. Mr. Niedermeier also has other business interests and is di- rector of the Heller Brothers Company. He was married, in 1879, to Martha Heller, and has five children, namely : Henry J., engaged in a contracting business at Youngstown; Louis M., residing at Allegheny, Pennsyl- vania; and Clara, Dora and William. The family all belong to the German Reformed Church. Mr. Niedermeier is a member of the Western Star Lodge, F. & A. M., and the Knights of Pythias. He is also a member of the Youngstown Chamber of Commerce, and of the Builders' Exchange.

EREMIAH BROWN, a retired citizen of New Middletown, for many years was a prominent agriculturist of Springfield township, and resided on his well-improved farm of 1051/2 acres. He was born March 24. 1834. in Springfield township. Mahoning County, Ohio, and is a son of David and Hannah ( Flaucher ) Brown.

The parents of Mr. Brown came to Ohio from Pennsylvania, the father acquiring 80 acres of land in Springfield township, on which he lived for many years prior to moving to Grundy County, Iowa, where both he and his wife died. They had the following chil- dren : a babe that died in infancy; Nancy, who married Isaac Snyder, residing in Kansas ; Jer- emiah : Eli, residing in Grundy County, Iowa : Leah, deceased; and Manassas, residing at Devil's Lake, North Dakota. In politics. Da- vid Brown was a Democrat. He was a con- sistent member of the German Baptist Church.

Jeremiah Brown remained at home until

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he was 22 years of age, obtaining his educa- tion in the common schools of his neighbor- hood and securing agricultural training on his father's land. He worked for himself for some two years prior to his marriage and then settled on a farm which consisted of 60 acres, the buildings standing in Springfield town- ship, but a part of the land lying in Pennsyl- vania. He operated that farm for six years and then came to the farm on which he lived before moving into New Middletown, in 1896. He made many improvements on his place, re- modeled the buildings and introduced modern methods of farming.

Mr. Brown was married ( first ) to Sophia Miller, and they had three children, namely : Valentine, residing at St. Louis, has two chil- dren, Dale and Nora: Harvey O., residing at New Springfield, and Francis, residing in Cal- ifornia. On April 4, 1894. Mr. Brown was married (second) to Rebecca Ilgenfritz, who was born in Springfield township, and is a daughter of Frederick and Elizabeth ( Miller) Ilgenfritz.

Mr. Brown has been a life-long Democrat. but has never been willing to accept public office. He is a member of the Lutheran Church.

A LMUS BEARDSLEY & SON, own- ers and proprietors of Dean Hill Dairy Farm, one of the largest and best-equipped dairy farms in Mahoning County, consisting of 340 acres of land, situated northwest of Canfield, in Canfield township, are representative men of this section. Almus Beardsley was born on his father's farm in Canfield township. near his present residence, in Mahoning County, Ohio. January 2, 1828, and is a son of Philo and Lois ( Gunn ) Beardsley.

Philo Beardsley was born in Litchfield County, Connecticut, and he was a son of Philo Beardsley, who spent his life on his New England farm. His children were : Birdsey, Jasiah, Philo, Curtis, Almus, Agnes. Anna and Sarah, all of whom have passed

away. Curtis, Jasiah and Almus all settled in Mahoning County. The latter made a prospecting visit to Canfield township, visit- ing all this locality on horseback, and after lo- cating a claim in the green woods that then covered all the land, he returned to Connecti- cut and was there married to Lois Smith Gunn, who was a daughter of Chauncy Gunn.

After marriage, Philo Beardsley and bride, accompanied by Curtis Beardsley, left the comfortable old homestead in Connecticut, with a huge covered wagon drawn by a team of strong horses and driving a yoke of oxen, and penetrated into the deep forest where was situated the pioneer farm that was to re- main their home until death. It is probable that they lived in the wagen until the first log cabin was constructed, as many other settlers did, but the first rough house was later re- placed by a larger and better one, in which Almus Beardsley was born.

Philo Beardsley purchased 130 acres and. to this he kept adding until, at the time of his death, he owned 200 acres, and he cleared the larger portion of this land himself. He car- ried on general farming for many years and kept sheep and cattle. He was one of the founders of the cheese industry in this sec- tion, and devoted much attention to the pro- duction of fine cheese and butter. His dairy was one of the first that was successfully op- erated in this neighborhood. His first wife (lied after the birth of 12 children, and Mr. Beardsley was married (second ) to Mary Smith. The children were all born to the first union and were as follows: Chauncy, (leceased ; Daniel, deceased: Mary. deceased; Birdsey: Mary (2) : Almus: Frederick, de- ceased : Louis, deceased : Kezelia : Keturah, de- ceased ; Philo A. : and a babe, deceased. Mr. Beardsley was left a widower a second time. He lived until an aged man.

Almus Beardsley was reared on the home farm and had but few educational opportuni- ties, attending an old stone school-house in the neighborhood for a short time. The study of his grammar book for a half day convinced him that he liked better to drive horses than to attend school. There was plenty of work to

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clo on the home farm and there was a great abundance of everything for material com- fort and Mr. Beardsley made no hard effort to save his money before he was 25 years old. W'ages were not very high in those days and he has sheared sheep for three cents a head. When he was about 21 years of age he had his first experience away from home. An Irish drover wished his assistance to drive sheep from Canfield township to Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The outward trip took con- siderable time and the walking was not al- ways good, but the drovers delivered the sheep safely and on their return journey made the trip from Harrisburg to Pittsburg, in five days. Mr. Beardsley was paid at the rate of $1 for every 40 miles.

After his marriage, in 1853, Mr. Beards- ley rented the old home farm from his father for II years, although he already owned 27 acres which he had purchased from Mr. Wads- worth and to which he kept adding as oppor- tunity offered. His residence tract of 40 acres he subsequently bought of J. L. Cald- well, and, at the time of purchase, there stood an old brick house on the place. This resi- dence did not agree with Mr. Beardsley's ideas of improvement and he tore it down and in place erected his handsome eight-room brick home which is both comfortable and attrac- tive, and he also has added large barns and other necessary buildings to provide for both his agricultural operations and his dairying. He has spent many hundreds of dollars in making these admirable improvements. He has two silos, has put stone foundations un- der his buildings and has done a large amount of tiling. Although he has been a very suc- cessful farmer, he has made the most of his ample fortune in cattle and has done especially well with sheep. For the past 15 years he has been associated with his son in a retail dairy business, the milk, cream and butter from the Dean Hill Dairy Farm commanding a high price at Youngstown. Mr. Beardsley has never lost his youthful interest in horses, and for years has made a specialty of raising Shetland ponies which are disposed of all over the country.

On September 26, 1854. Mr. Beardsley was married to Mary P. Dean, who is a daughter of Hiram and Ruby ( Mason) Dean, and they have had the following children : Dock, who died at the age of two years; Frederick, who died aged two years; Ruby, deceased, who was the wife of Ewing Gault, residing in Jackson township; Sarah, who married Willis Wilson, who is a mail carrier at Canfield, has three children, Wilbur, Earl and Pearl; Ensign, residing in Green town- ship, married Flora Stewart, and they have four children, Daniel, Ruby, Noble and Al- mus; and Hiram, who is associated with his father in the management and operation of the Dean Hill Dairy Farm.

Mr. Beardsley and family belong to the Christian Church, in which he is a deacon. In politics, he is identified with the Republican party, and on its ticket has been elected road supervisor, in which office he served with effi- ciency. He is a member of the Grange at Canfield.

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Century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens, 20th, Part 97

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