Century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens, 20th, Part 99

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 99

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The children born to William P. Vogan and wife were: James E., John W., Herbert H., Ulysses G., Mary Emma, Eva and Anna.

James E. Vogan attended the common schools of Worth township and as he was the eldest of the family and his father's health had been impaired through his army service, his assistance was required on the home farm during his boyhood and early youth, where he remained until 1883. He then worked for a time in the lumber regions and thus provided for a course in the Edinboro State Normal School, where he graduated in 1887, and for a subsequent successful period of teaching. In September. 1889, he entered the Western Pennsylvania Medical College, where he was graduated March 26, 1891, taking high hon- ors. He located at Lowellville, Ohio, prac- ticing for three months in partnership with Dr. R. H. Montgomery, since which time he has been alone. Dr. Vogan is a man well qualified in every way for work in the pro- fession he chose. He has well equipped of- fices, keeps abreast of the times in his knowl- edge of the most recent discoveries of medi- cal science, and has secured a firm position in the confidence of the people and the regard of his fellow practitioners. He enjoys member- ship in all the leading medical organizations of state and county, and is also a member of the staff of the Mahoning Valley Hospital of Youngstown.

ried to Ella Belle Bover, who was born in Bethel township, Allegheny County, Pennsyl- vania. August 4, 1869, a daughter of Peter B. and Matilda ( Phillips ) Boyer. Dr. and Mrs. Vogan have two children: Hilda E., born May 6, 1893, and James Herbert, born Oc- tober 16, 1895.

Politically Dr. Vogan is independent, but his profession claims his time to such an ex- tent that he has never considered himself an active politician, although he served two years as mayor of Lowellville, from 1900 to 1902. He has always been interested in the general welfare of Lowellville, and willingly exerts his influence to advance public measures which promise benefit to all concerned. He belongs to Western Star Lodge, No. 21. F. & A. M .. Youngstown, to Lowellville Lodge, No. 537, Knights of Pythias, and in May, 1892, had the honor of being the latter organization's first representative to the Grand Lodge at Colum- bus. With his wife he belongs to the Disciple Church of Lowellville.

HE CANFIELD LUMBER COM- PANY, one of the large industries of Canfield, with a plant that covers three and one-quarter acres of land, deals in shingles, doors, sashes, sid- ing and flooring, and is conveniently located near the Erie Railroad tracks, a situation which affords excellent transportation facili- ties. The business was founded by William J. Gee, Strock and Brobst. under the name of the Canfield Lumber Company. The plant is now owned by Orlando Overhultzer and H. L. Weikert.

In the spring of 1904, Orlando Over- hultzer entered the then existing firm by buy- ing the interest of William J. Gee, and later. H. L. Weikert bought the interests of the other partners and conducted the business alone until March 19. 1906, when Mr. Over- hultzer again became a partner. Both men are experienced in the lumber line. Mr. Over- hultzer being a practical carpenter and con-

On March 28. 1891. Dr. Vogan was mar- i tractor, while Mr. Weikert formerly ran a

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portable sawmill in Mahoning County. They are substantial citizens and property owners at Canfield. The firm gives employment to IO skilled workmen and keep three teams busy, and they buy timber all over the country but confine delivery mainly to Mahoning County.

Orlando Overhultzer was born in Beaver township, Mahoning County, Ohio, June 28, 1862, and almost from boyhood started out to make his own way in the world. He went to school at East Lewistown and then learned the carpenter trade and from that went into contracting, and in the course of a few years had built up a profitable business. He has erected some very fine buildings all through this section and their substantial character re- flects credit upon his integrity as a business man. He came first to Canfield in 1885, but did not locate permanently until later. In the spring of 1904 he became interested in the Canfield Lumber Company as indicated above, and on account of being an experienced me- chanic, he has charge of the works, while Mr. Weikert has charge of the office.

On March 3, 1889, Mr. Overhultzer was married to Saloma Rothgeb, and they have three children: Grace, Laura and Alice. The family home is a comfortable residence on Lisbon street, Canfield.

Harvey L. Weikert was born in Green township, Mahoning County, Ohio, and is a son of Josiah and Elsie (Walter) Weikert, the latter of whom was born at Washington- ville, Ohio. The Weikert family settled at a very early day in Mahoning County, Peter Weikert, the great-grandfather of Harvey L., coming with Mr. Carr, from Pennsylvania, when this land was first opened for settlement, and he selected and entered section 27, Green township, which was then a great wilderness. He returned to Pennsylvania and sent out his sons to inhabit the land, giving each a quarter section, John, grandfather of Harvey L., be- ing the first to come. John Weikert im- proved his land and then married Mary Sheets, and they reared six children, the survivors be- ing Josiah and Mary, the latter of whom mar- ried William B. Roller.

The parents of Mr. Weikert have had the following children: Harvey, who was born October 13, 1869; Oscar and Austa, twins, the former of whom is deceased, and the latter is the wife of R. R. Zimmerman; and Letta.

Harvey L. Weikert was married Novem- ber 2, 1893, to Elizabeth Huffman and they have two children: Ruth and Hubert. Mr. Weikert has an elegant home in course of con- struction on Court street, Canfield.

J ONATHAN ALLEN KLINE, owner of Grass Land Stock Farm, which in- cludes 368 acres of beautiful land sit- uated in Canfield township, about three miles south of the village of that name, was born on his present farm, March 8, 1861, and is the only child of Peter and Hannah (Beard) Kline.

The Kline family is one of the oldest in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, and belongs to that large class of worthy people known as the Pennsylvania Dutch. The fam- ily ancestry is easily traced as far back as the great-great-grandfather, George Kline, who was probably born in Germany and most likely founded his line in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, where many wealthy and prom- inent people bear the name. Abraham Kline, the great-grandfather of Jonathan Allen Kline, and a son of George, was born in Penn- sylvania, where he was first married, and with his young family came to Ohio, being one of the very first settlers at Youngstown, buying a large amount of land, which was then cheap. He owned the site of the present fine Mc- Kelvey business block which now stands on Federal street. His farm was well stocked and was located at the mouth of Mill Creek, from which he used to drive his stock over the mountains to eastern markets. His success as a stock-raiser was far ahead of that of his neighbors. On one of his trips to the East, he bought a thorough-bred horse, the first introduced into the county, and after his death it was purchased by General Wads- worth, of Canfield, for $996, a remarkable

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JOHN FRECH

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price for the time. He was twice married and reared a large family by his first union.

Jonathan Kline, son of Abraham, and grandfather of his namesake, Jonathan Allen, was reared by his father to understand the management of stock and when he was 18 years of age, Abraham Kline bought the pres- ent farm for his son. It was then still forest- land when Jonathan settled on it, building a snug little log house, to which he soon brought a wife. Jonathan Kline and wife lived on this place all their lives, where he died aged 76 years and she died aged 93 years. He was well acquainted with all the old settled fami- lies of the county and often delighted to tell his grandson of the merry pranks played by himself and his schoolmate, the late Governor David Tod, in their boyhood. He married Elizabeth Arner, who was born near Ells- worth, Mahoning County, and they had four children, namely: Solomon, Gabriel, Peter and Heman.

Peter Kline was born on the home farm in Canfield township, and he fell heir to this property when his father died. He completed its clearing and continued to carry on stock- raising as his main industry. He married Hannah Beard, who was born in Springfield township, Mahoning County, and died August 7, 1901. She was a daughter of Jacob Beard, an old settler. Peter Kline died August 20, 1897, aged 65 years.

Jonathan Allen Kline attended the union school at Canfield, and later, in order to se- cure experience, he worked for 10 months in the Union Stockyards, at Chicago. He car- ries on general farming and deals largely in cattle, horses and sheep, wintering many head. He inherited a part of his land from his father and purchased the rest from his uncles, and now owns the original farm of his grandfather.

Mr. Kline was married March 17, 1887, to Maude M. Canfield, who is a daughter of Judson W. Canfield, whose great-grandfather laid out Canfield, being a member of the Con- necticut Land Company. Mr. and Mrs. Kline have two children, Marjorie and Dorothy.

Politically, Mr. Kline is a Democrat. 41

Formerly he was township trustee, but when he visited Chicago, he resigned the office.

J OHN FRECH, proprietor of the Johnr Frech Meat and Produce Market, and a large stockholder in and vice- president of the Lowellville Savings and Banking Company, at Lowell- ville, is one of the most energetic business men of the place, and occupies a position which he has earned in the past twenty years, entirely through his own efforts. Mr. Frech was born in Wittenberg, Germany, December 12, 1869.

His parents, John and Mary (Geiger) Frech, were small farmers in Wittenberg, and his boyhood was spent in going to school and assisting his father. When he was 15 years old, the death of his mother broke up the home circle, and as forcible enlistment in the army was imminent in a few years, he decided to leave his native land and emigrate to America. He was not very well prepared for such a journey, as he subsequently landed in the port of New York with the sum of $4.75 as his sole capital. He possessed, however, an honest face and a manner that attracted a worthy Lutheran missionary preacher in New York, who provided for his immediate necessi- ties and then secured him a ticket for Youngs- town, Ohio ..

Again Mr. Frech was fortunate, for he found work on the farm of C. H. Andrews, with whom he remained for more than a year, and when he left it, it was with feelings of the greatest esteem and admiration for this kind and just employer. Mr. Frech then went to Cleveland and entered the meat shop of Wil- liam Bohn, on Professor street, to learn the trade. His wages were $15 per month, with board and lodging, while his duties required him to work in the meat market during most of the week and tend a meat stall in the old Cleveland market house, on Ontario street, on Saturdays. After two years in Cleveland, Mr. Frech went back to Mahoning County and started to work in the meat market of Frank Leish, in Lowellville, where he re-

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mained for seven years. During all this time he had been quietly laying a foundation for a business of his own, by frugally saving his money, and in 1897 he bought his present meat business of Frank Leish. That Mr. Frech has met with great prosperity all his fellow citizens know and they unite in saying that it is deserved. There are few men in the town of Lowellville who are better known. It has always been his custom to look personally after his business. He owns his own slaugh- ter house in Poland Center, and makes a prac- tice of killing and dressing his own meat. His attractive market, with its wholesome cleanli- ness, invites custom and inspires confidence. In addition to all kinds of fresh and prepared meats, he sells jellies, pickles, fine groceries and canned goods; also flour, feed and hay, the last mentioned products being purchased in carload lots.

In 1895 Mr. Frech was married to Ida Baker, a daughter of Lawrence Baker. He and his wife have three children : Annie, John Lawrence, and Oliver.

Politically Mr. Frech is a Republican, but has always declined public office. In noting his present position in the business world of Lowellville, it must be remembered that he landed on the American shore almost penni- less less than twenty years ago, and that now, through his own industry, energy and integ- rity, he has amassed a fortune of not less than $30,000. He is identified with a number of important business enterprises, being one of the leading stockholders in the Cunningham Furniture and Undertaking Company of Low- ·ellville ; a stockholder in the great Dold Pack- ing plant at Buffalo, in addition to his bank- ing and private business. He owns the fine block in which his market house is located, several valuable residence properties, together with a number of valuable building lots, at Lowellville. He is a man of public spirit and is always ready to further anything promising to benefit the town or community. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias. This bio- graphical article is fittingly supplemented by Mr. Frech's portrait, which appears on an adjoining page.

J ACOB HELSEL, residing on a fine farm of 105 acres in Milton township, near the old Blanco postoffice, was born in Berlin township, Mahoning County, Ohio, in 1862, and is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth ( Flickinger ) Helsel.

The grandparents of our subject were Pe- ter and Margaret (Hull) Helsel, who came to Berlin township during the early days, when there were no roads and game was so plentiful that 37 deer were killed by the fam- ily in one winter. Peter Helsel died in Ber- lin township April 6, 1871. Peter and Mar- garet Helsel reared a family of nine children, all of whom are now deceased.

Jacob Helsel, father of subject, was born September 23, 1825, in Green township, Ma- honing County, Ohio, and died October 20, 1895, in Milton township, where he located in 1865, and engaged in farming. He was a veteran of the Civil War and a member of Company G, 155th Regiment, Ohio Volun- teer Infantry, and followed the fortunes of the regiment during its four months' term of en- listment. He was mustered out at Camp Den- nison, Ohio. He was a Democrat in politics.

Elizabeth Helsel, mother of our subject, was born February 7, 1826, in Springfield township, Mahoning County, Ohio, and is the only living member of a family of 10 children born to John and Elizabeth (Barnhardt) Flickinger. Her parents were both born in Springfield township, where they were always engaged in farming. Jacob and Elizabeth Helsel had three children: Levi, residing in Michigan ; William, deceased, and Jacob.

Jacob Helsel was reared on the old home farm, on which he resided all his life. He was married in 1896 to Emma Renkenberger, a native of Mahoning County, who is a daugh- ter of Lewis and Susan ( Felnogle) Renken- berger, the former of whom was born Feb- ruary 5, 1827, in Beaver township, Mahoning County, Ohio, and died in Milton township, January, 1894. The mother of Mrs. Helsel was born in December, 1829, and died August 30, 1903. Mr. and Mrs. Helsel have four chil- dren : Homer, Oliver. Theodore and Clyde. Politically, Mr. Helsel is a Democrat.

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m OBENDORFER, president of the M. Obendorfer Company, mer- chants, at Youngstown, was born in 1859, in Mercer County, Penn- sylvania, and is a son of Tobias and Elizabeth (Maier) Obendorfer.

Tobias Obendorfer, whose death occurred in 1899, was for years one of the leading grocers of Youngstown, his active life cover- ing from 1871 until 1894. He was born in Germany and came to America in 1852, soon locating at Youngstown, where he lived until his death with the exception of two years spent in Pennsylvania. He married Elizabeth Maier, who was also born in Germany, and they reared a family of nine children, the survivors of the family being: M. O .; John, residing at Central City, Kentucky; William, whose home is in Youngstown; Mary, who is a widow: and Catherine, who is the wife of P. J. McFadden.

Mr. Obendorfer was just two years old when his parents settled at Youngstown, and when he was 12 years old he went into a gro- cery store to learn the business, where he re- mained for three years. In 1874 he entered a printing office and learned to be a compositor, both in German and in English. He worked for six years at this trade, three years in German offices and three years in English offices. In 1882 his father invited him to enter into business with him and the grocery firm of T. Obendorfer & Son was organized. The business 'continued under this management until 1894, when the father retired and the subject of this sketch and his sister, Mrs. Catherine McFadden, ran the business until 1905, when a stock company was organized and incorporated, with a capital stock of $10,- 000, with M. Obendorfer as president, M. Obendorfer, Jr., vice president, and Mrs. C. McFadden as secretary and treasurer. In ad- dition to this large business, Mr. Obendorfer has been identified with the Youngstown Sav- ings and Banking Company, since its incor- poration. He is largely interested also in Youngstown real estate, having many houses and lots, and the company owns its place of business. It is one of the most reliable firms

of Youngstown and its members stand very high commercially as well as personally.

In 1883 Mr. Obendorfer was married to Margaret Adams, and they have seven chil- dren. With his family he belongs to St. Jo- seph's Catholic Church. He has always taken a good citizen's interest in politics and public affairs and has twice represented the Seventh Ward in the city council.

REDERICK KEELER, formerly one of the best-known citizens of Goshen township, died on his farm in sec- tion 7, March 18, 1906. He was born in Middleton township, Colum- biana County, Ohio, May 7, 1844, and is a son of George and Tabitha (Addis) Keeler. The parents of Mr. Keeler were natives of Pennsylvania, and from there they came to Mahoning County when Frederick was young, locating on a farm near Damascus, in Go- shen township, where they subsequently died.

Frederick Keeler was reared in Goshen township and attended the district schools through boyhood. From early years he was accustomed to farm work and grew to under- stand all its difficulties. He considered the handling of stock a very important and profit- able branch of agriculture, and for many years shipped live-stock to different parts of the country. He was also interested in a butchering business, raising and buying fine cattle and stock, and combined his various in- terests with very satisfactory results. He was probably one of the most extensive stock-buy- ers of his locality, and he also conducted one of the largest dairies in Goshen township. These varied interests brought him into con- tact with many people, giving him plenty of opportunity for making business associates, and competitors to weigh him as a man. Their universal verdict was that they desired to do business with him, finding him honest, upright and reliable.

On June 7. 1865, Mr. Keeler was mar- ried to Sarah Hinchman, who was born Jan- uary 31, 1846, in Goshen township, and is a

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daughter of Henry and Hannah ( Hickman) Hinchman, the former of whom was a native of New Jersey and the latter of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Henry Hinchman came to Mahoning County with his parents, when he was small, they being very early set- tlers in Goshen township. Mr. and Mrs. Keeler had one son, Howard, who was reared and educated in Goshen township, and who now operates the home farm of 80 acres, for his mother. Howard Keeler was married September 26, 1890, to Effie Rakestraw, and they have one son, Loren F., whom his grand- father lived to see, the bright little child hav- ing been born August 20, 1902.

In his political opinions, the late Frederick Keeler was a Democrat, as is his son. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as is his wife, and was always a liberal sup- porter of the same. As said above, Mr. Keeler was an honest man in business. In his personal relation 3, as husband, father and friend, he fulfilled every demand and his death left a blank that can never be filled.

AMES M. McKAY, attorney-at-law, at Youngstown, secretary of the Home Savings and Loan Company, and one of the city's prominent and prosper- ous citizens, with offices at No. 129 West Federal street, was born in Brookfield township, Trumbull County, in 1859, and is a son of Wyatt and Eliza (Montgomery) Mckay.

The father, Wyatt Mckay, was born in Pennsylvania, but the greater part of his life was spent in Trumbull County, Ohio, where he was engaged in farming and stock-raising. He was considered one of the most success- ful cattle and sheep men of that county. He died in 1874. His father, Samuel Mckay, was born in 1783, in Maryland, but settled in Mercer County. Pennsylvania, in young man- hood, and subsequently acquired the farm which became the site of the town of Sharps- ville. The family came to America, originally, from Scotland, settling about 1745, in Georgia.

The mother of James M. Mckay was born on the old Montgomery farm in Trumbull County, where she died in 1898. She was a daughter of Robert Montgomery, who was a native of Washington County, Pennsylvania. His was the second family that settled in Brookfield township, Trumbull County, and the land which he took up now belongs to the McKay family. He served a short time in the War of 1812. The Montgomery family came from Scotland about the Revolutionary period.

James M. Mckay was reared in his native township and completed his education at what is now the National Normal University of Lebanon, Ohio, where he was graduated with the degree of B. S., in 1880. For several years he engaged in teaching, but in 1882 he entered upon the study of law, with an Illi- nois firm, but soon afterward came home, pur- chased his own text books, applied himself diligently and completed his studies with the firm of Jones & Murray, of Youngstown, and was admitted to the bar in December, 1884, and began the practice of law in the following March.

For some years Mr. Mckay devoted him- self entirely to the practice of his profession, but in 1889 he became interested in the or- ganization of the Home Savings and Loan Company. He was one of the incorporators of the company and was elected its first secre- tary, which position he has held ever since. After the first year he also became attorney for the company. At first the business of the Savings and Loan Company was small and was merely incidental to his general law prac- tice, but gradually it grew until the general law practice was entirely crowded out, and for the past 10 years Mr. Mckay has devoted himself exclusively to the interests of the com- pany. He is also interested in real estate on his own account.

In 1885 Mr. Mckay was married to Alice Rayl, who is a daughter of Isaiah Rayl, of Wayne County, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. McKay have two sons, viz. : Russell J., who was grad- uated from the Rayen High School, in 1907, and Raymond C., who is a student in the same institution. Mr. Mckay was reared in the

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. faith of the Presbyterian Church, the Clan Mackay, from which he is descended, having been the first of the Highland clans to embrace Protestantism, at the time of the Reformation. After his marriage, Mr. Mckay united with the First Baptist Church at Youngstown, and is a member of its board of trustees. He is a member of Clan McDonald, a noted Scotch organization.

O V. CALVIN, manager of the Can- field Milling Company, at Canfield, is one of the representative business men of this city. He was born at Annapolis, Crawford County, Illinois, March 27, 1874, and is a son of Allen and Julia (Reese) Calvin.

Aaron Calvin, the great-grandfather of Jo V., was one of the first settlers in Greenford township, Mahoning County, where both he and his son, Robert Calvin, became men of substance and left numerous descendants. Al- len Calvin, son of Robert and father of Jo V., was born in Greenford township, Mahoning County, Ohio, October 1, 1843, and died at Canfield, November 19, 1905. He continued to assist his father on the home place until about 20 years of age, when he went to Craw- ford County, Illinois, and after working for a short time in a grist mill at Annapolis, he acquired the ownership of the mill, which he continued to operate for 10 years. After sell- ing his milling interests in Illinois, he re- moved to Canfield, where he entered into part- nership with Joseph Stafford and subsequently purchased Mr. Stafford's interests and con- ducted the mill alone for a number of years, retiring from business about two years prior to his death.

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Century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens, 20th, Part 99

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