USA > Ohio > Genealogical and family history of eastern Ohio > Part 14
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In 1884 Mr. Holben was united in marriage to Miss Lizzie Miller, who was born in Calla in 1854, and is a daughter of Joseph Miler, who was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, in 1805 and in 1812 was taken to Ohio by his parents, George and Anne M. Miller. They located in Canfield town- ship, Mahoning county, upon a tract of land of one hundred acres. George Miller was a weaver by trade and followed that pursuit for some time, but also gave his attention to agricultural pursuits. In politics he was a Demo- crat and in religion was a Lutheran, as was his wife. He died in early manhood, but she survived him for many years, living to be more than eighty. In their family were ten children : Samuel, John, Joseph, Catherine, George, William, Anna, Philip, Moses and Jacob. Joseph Miller, the father of
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Mrs. Holben, was a shoemaker in his early life, but afterward gave his at- tention to farming and stock-raising. He owned one hundred and thirty- five acres of land, in addition to a lot in the village of Canfield, and in the management of his farming interests met with fair success. In his family were eleven children, of whom five are still living: John, Philip, Lydia. Sarah and Elizabeth. The father died in 1891, having long survived his wife, who passed away on the Ist of November, 1854.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Holben has been blessed with two chil- dren Nola F. and Ernest La Verne, born in 1886 and 1890, respectively. The family have resided upon their present farm since 1891. It consists of one hundred acres of choice land in Green township, and the fields respond readily to the stimulus of the care and cultivation which Mr. Holben bestows upon them. He annually harvests good crops, and in the care of his land he follows modern methods and uses the latest improved machinery in planting and harvesting his crops. Although he started out in life with little capital, he is now one of the substantial citizens of his community, and all that he possesses has been acquired through his own labors.
DAVID PORTER.
This gentleman is a prosperous farmer of the southeastern corner of Boardman township, Mahoning county, where he has about one hundred and thirty acres of excellent land, whose lower strata are veined with coal, and this fact combined with the improvements upon the land would easily make the place sell for a hundred dollars an acre,-a very handsome property. The known Porter ancestry goes back to grandfather Thomas, who was born near Belfast, Ireland, came to this country before the days of the Revolution, and was a well-to-do farmer of Tyrone township, Adams county, Pennsyl- vania. He reared three sons and four daughters, and all were married and had families with the exception of one son. His wife died before him, and he then made his home with his son until he passed away at a good old age.
This son was named David, and was born on his father's farm near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, in 1781. At his father's death the old homestead was sold, and in the fall of 1815, provided with ample means, he came to Mahoning county and bought the home which his brother-in-law had hewn out of the dense woods five years before. He was engaged in the task of subduing his land to the peaceful arts of husbandry when, at the early age of thirty-eight, in 1819, he was killed by a falling limb, thus depriving his young children of his needed aid and protection. He had married Mary
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Walker, and they had five children: James Walker, born in 18II, was a farmer and died at the age of seventy, leaving a fine farm of eighty acres and plenty of stock; Martha was the wife of John Slavin and died at the age of seventy-five in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, leaving four chil- dren; Lucinda was the wife of James McComb, of Indiana county, Pennsyl- vania, and died in Mahoning county at the age of forty-eight, leaving five children; Harvey C. went to Kansas in old age and died there, and one of his sons is in Kansas and the other in Oklahoma territory. Mrs. Porter, the mother of these children, was a widow for many years, and to her was left the care of rearing them to manhood and womanhood; she died in June, 1873, when nearly seventy-five years old.
David was the fifth and youngest child of this family and was never privileged to see his father, having been born in Boardman township, Mahon- ing county, then Trumbull county, October 1, 1819. He passed most of his boyhood in the old log house, and he did not move from this home until he built his present more comfortable dwelling in 1868. He has made gratify- ing success in farming, and from the fine woodland of fifty acres he has cut trees four feet in diameter and seventy-two feet to the first limb, sawing into over five thousand feet of lumber. He is now over eighty-four years of age, but the years sit lightly upon him, and he still enjoys the blessings of life.
On June 27, 1841, Mr. Porter was married to Henrietta Phillips, who was born in Mahoning county in 1820. J. D. Porter, the first son of this union, is a pattern-maker and carpenter in Youngstown and is the father of seven children, four sons and three daughters; George W. is a carpenter in Macomb, McDonough county, Illinois, and has one daughter; Orin died at the age of three years; Mary, the fourth in order of birth, passed away at the age of eight ; Ellen died at the age of six of scarlet fever; Charles also died when six years old; and Lemuel is a farmer in Poland township. Mrs. Porter died February 17, 1889, and Mr. Porter is now living with his chil- dren and grandchildren, there being nine living grandchildren and three great-grandchildren to keep him company in his old age.
JAMES M. THOMAS.
No class of foreign born citizens surpasses the Welsh in quick and ap- preciative adaptability to American institutions. They immediately enter upon the duties of citizenship with a keen, almost juvenile enthusiasm, insist- ing on their children having the best education that can be obtained, and rearing them to respect their adopted country and participate in its functions.
James M Thomas
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The sheriff of Mahoning county is Welsh "to the manner born," but an Am- erican in all that word implies of loyalty to country.
James M. Thomas was born in the south of Wales in 1867 and the following year was brought by his parents to this country. The family re- mained for three years in New York state and then settled in Youngstown, where they have since resided. After receiving a fair common school edu- cation, Mr. Thomas, at the age of twelve, entered a rolling mill and for the next fifteen years was engaged in various departments of that business, be- coming an efficient and trusted employe and popular with his associates.
In his association with his fellows Mr. Thomas had discovered qualities which peculiarly fitted him for the responsible and frequently dangerous position of that agent of justice, the deputy sheriff, his work with the Repub- lican party, with which he had always affiliated, having made him easily eligible for appointment, and for four years succeeding 1895 he served in that capacity. In the fall of 1898 he made the race for sheriff on the Republican ticket, but, owing to local complications, was defeated. Returning to the rolling mill for two years, in 1900 he was again selected as the strongest avail- able man for that place on the ticket, and was this time triumphantly elected by two thousand three hundred majority over the same gentleman who had defeated him in 1898. The local popularity of Mr. Thomas can be correctly estimated from the fact that he ran seven hundred votes ahead of the presi- dential ticket. In 1902 he was re-elected to the office of sheriff by a major- ity of two thousand eight hundred, his opponent being William Q. Ratcliff. In the conduct of this office Mr. Thomas has become a terror to evil-doers and has more than measured up to the standard set for him by his host of friends. Fraternally he affiliates with the Odd Fellows, the Golden Eagles and the Elks, and is a valued member of the noted Foraker Club. In Youngs- town, in 1891, Mr. Thomas was married to Miss Sarah McHale, and to the union have been born two children, Earl and Edna.
BYRON MOORE.
In the early pioneer days, when Ohio was first being opened up to civilization, Joseph Moore, the grandfather of Byron Moore, came to this section of the state. He was a native of New Jersey and was united in marriage to Elizabeth House. Coming to Ohio, they settled in what was then Columbiana county, but is now Green township, Mahoning county, the year of their arrival being in 1805. Mrs. Moore was a native of Vir- ginia, but for some time prior to her marriage she had lived in Maryland. On coming to Mahoning county, Joseph Moore turned his attention to the tilling
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of the soil, and as he was energetic and industrious, he developed a good farm. His children were Elizabeth, William, Adgate, Mary, Joseph, Lydia, Ezra, Samuel, and two who died in childhood. Those who reached mature years became good and loyal citizens, and the sons were classed as practical business men in their several vocations.
William Moore, the son of Joseph Moore, was born in Green township in 1809 and was reared and educated amid the wild scenes of pioneer life. He assisted in the arduous task of developing the home farm and afterward engaged in farming on his own account. As a companion and helpmate for life's journey he chose Miss Hannah Dixon, who was born in 1814, and they became the parents of three children, of whom two are now living : DeWitt C., a prominent practicing physician of the west, who was born in 1848: and Byron. The father reached the age of seventy-two years, pass- ing away in 1881, and his wife survived until 1894.
Byron Moore is a representative of one of the oldest families in this section of the state. He was born in 1859 and spent his youth in Green township, while to the public schools of the locality he is indebted for the educational advantages he enjoyed. In early life he learned the plasterer's trade and became an expert workman in that line. For many years he fol- lowed that calling, and still to some extent devotes his energies to that work. In 1879 he was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Stahl, a daughter of Christian and Mary Stahl, and to them has been born a son, Ernest J., in 1880.
After his marriage Mr. Moore spent six years in California, and his efforts there were crowned with prosperity, but, notwithstanding the mild climate and the many advantages of the Pacific coast country, he desired to return to his native state and the place of his boyhood. Accordingly, he again made his way to Ohio and in 1896 he purchased his present farm. When it came into his possession, it was uncleared and uncultivated, and with characteristic energy he began its development. He at first erected a log house and then began preparing material for a more modern dwelling, which was erected in due course of time. The place is now very inviting and gives indication of his enterprise and thrift. He brings his intellectual as well as his physical powers to bear upon his work, and his intelligence and enterprise have produced good results in his farm methods. Mr. Moore keeps well informed concerning the progress of the times, and his interest is deep and sincere in everything pertaining to the growth and development of his county, state and nation. He and his wife have a very hospitable home and delight to entertain their many friends there.
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HENRY W. DAVIS.
One of the leading representatives of the real estate business in the city of Youngstown is Mr. Davis, who is successfully conducting in this line an enterprise of marked scope and importance, thereby contributing to the mate- rial progress of the city and county. Mr. Davis is a native son of Youngs- town and has practically passed his entire life here, while in his career he has shown that the old statement that "a prophet is not without honor save in his own country" is not susceptible to universal application.
Henry W. Davis was born in Youngstown on the 11th of April, 1863. being a son of Ebenezer Davis, who was born in Wales in 1821, and who was there reared and educated, while as a boy he became identified with the mining industry in his native land. As a young man he emigrated to America and eventually located in the Mahoning valley, Ohio, still continuing to de- vote his attention to mining work. He was one of the California argonauts in the memorable days of 1849, when he made the long and perilous trip across the plains to the new Eldorado, passing about six years in California, and then returning to Mahoning county, Ohio, where he spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring in the city of Youngstown in 1876, at which time his son, the subject of this review, was about thirteen years of age. He was twice married, his second wife having borne the maiden name of Elizabeth Jones. She, likewise, was born in Wales, being a daughter of Henry Jones, who was born in Llanstephan, Wales, in 1810, and who there passed his entire life, his death occurring in 1840. He married Sarah Davis and they became the parents of ten children, of whom seven are living at the present time, the eldest of this number being Dr. John H. Jones, a rep- resentative physician of Youngstown. The father of our subject came from near Darlis, Wales, where the family had been established for many genera- tions. By his marriage to Elizabeth Jones, who died in 1877, he became the father of six children, of whom five survive, namely: Henry W .; John A .; James ; Marcus ; and Jane, who is the wife of Professor S. P. Orth, of Akron, Ohio.
Henry W. Davis was reared in Youngstown, and attended the public schools until he had attained the age of thirteen years, when his father died, and he then found it necessary to become largely dependent upon his own resources. Thus, when a mere boy, he secured employment in the rolling mill of the Brown-Bonnell Company, where he labored through the day, while such was his ambition and determined spirit that he did not abandon his educational work, since he attended night school for several years and thus gained a good English and business education. He continued in the
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employ of the concern mentioned for a period of twelve years, within which time he had acquired an excellent knowledge of the details of the business, being retained in the capacity of roller at the time he resigned. He then engaged in the real estate and insurance business, and it is gratifying to note that he has attained a high degree of success in his chosen field of endeavor, for he has depended upon his own efforts from his boyhood, has had a whole- some respect for the dignity of honest toil and has been one of the world's workers, while he has ever held to that high code of integrity and personal honor which begets objective confidence and esteem.
In 1889 Mr. Davis was the Republican nominee for the office of recorder of Mahoning county and was elected to the office, of whose affairs he gave a most able and careful administration. He was again nominated in 1892, at the expiration of his first term, but met the defeat which attended the Republican ticket in general in the county ; but he was again the successful candidate of his party in 1895 and thereafter continued to serve as county recorder until 1898. At the time of his first election he discontinued the insurance department of his business, but his real estate enterprise has been carried on continuously from the start. His official duties were such as to enable him to gain a most perfect knowledge of local realty values, and thus to have exceptional facility in carrying on his individual enterprise. He is thoroughly public-spirited, taking a deep interest in all that touches the progress and material prosperity of his home city, and here he com- mands the utmost respect and esteem. He has ever been a stalwart advo- cate of the principles and policies of the Republican party. Fraternally he is identified with the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
In Youngstown, in 1888, Mr. Davis was united in marriage to Miss Lenora Thullen, a daughter of Henry Thullen, and they have two children, Helen J. and Fred H. Mr. and Mrs. Davis have a pleasant home in Youngs- town, and here a gracious hospitality is extended to their wide circle of friends.
CHRISTIAN STAHL.
Christian Stahl is one of the enterprising farmers of Green township, and owns seventy-three acres of land, one of the good farms of his locality. As the name indicates, he is of German lineage. His grandfather. John Stahl, was a native of Germany, born in 1769, and after arriving at years of maturity he married Barbara Hahn, who was also of German birth, born in the year 1780. With their two children, Catherine and John, they crossed the Atlantic to America in 1812. Their son was born in 1797, the daughter
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in 1800, and they had lost one child in Germany. On reaching America the family continued their journey into the interior of the country and located in Columbiana county, Ohio. For some years they resided in Beaver town- ship, and in 1820 removed to what is now Green township, Mahoning county, where the grandfather purchased eighty acres of wild and uncultivated land, not a furrow having been turned nor an improvement made upon the place. There he built a log house, plastering the chinks with mud. In that house the family lived for about twenty years, and then a more modern and com- modious dwelling was erected. John Stahl cleared about one half of his land, and in 1837 he purchased another farm of seventy-three acres, to which he added ten more acres at a later day. Subsequently he again extended the boundaries of this place, and in course of time became the owner of two hundred and ten acres. He had learned the mason's trade in his native country and was also an architect of some note. For a number of years he followed his trade. He and his son John, who was a stonemason, were em- ployed in this way at a time when only fifty cents per day was paid fo: such labor. In early life John Stahl held membership in the Lutheran church. but afterward became a member of the New Jerusalem church. He died in 1870, and his wife passed away in 1860.
John Stahl, Jr., was but a lad when his parents came to the new world. He was reared under the parental roof, and after arriving at years of maturity was united in marriage to Miss Christiana Baird. His sister Catherine be- came the wife of Christian Bush. In his early life John Stahl, Jr., learned the stonemason's and brickmason's trades and for a number of years carried on business along these lines, but eventually severed his connection with building interests and turned his attention to farming. He owned two hun- dred and ten acres of land and became a practical agriculturist and stock- raiser, his farm being well equipped with modern improvements such as were in use at that time. He held membership in the Swedenborgian church and lived an upright and honorable life, which commended him to the con- fidence and good will of all who knew him. To him and his wife were born seven children, of whom six are now living, namely: Mary, Christian, Lydia, John, Barbara and Emanuel; the sixth member of the family was Solomon, who is now deceased. All these children were born in Green township and are residents of Mahoning county. The father passed away in the year 1870, and his wife, who was born in 1800, died in 1880, having reached the advanced age of fourscore years.
Christian Stahl, whose name introduces this record, was born in 1828 and followed agricultural pursuits from early life. When but a boy he
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assisted in the labors of field and meadow upon the home place. In 1858 he made his first purchase of real estate, becoming the owner of fifty-seven acres, and for twenty-six years he retained possession of that property. In 1876 he purchased his present farm, consisting of seventy-three acres, and now for more than a quarter of a century he has resided on this place. Under his careful supervision it has been transformed into a very valuable property. He has a comfortable home here and his labors have brought to him a good financial return.
In 1853 Mr. Stahl was united in marriage to Miss Mary Schafenacker, who was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, February 21, 1834. It was about 1830 that her parents, Thomas and Eva Schafenacker, emigrated from Germany to the new world, taking up their abode in Pittsburg, where they remained for fourteen years, or until 1844, when they came from that city to Ohio. The father purchased a small farm in Green township, Mahoning county, in which he spent the remainder of his life. He was a weaver by trade and was also an excellent mechanic. To him and his wife were born the following children: Catherine; Chris- topher, now deceased; Rachel, who has also passed away; Emma; Rosanna; Mary; William; and John. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Stahl has been blessed with six children: Thomas and John, deceased; James; Melinda ; Mary A .; and Christopher.
Mr. Stahl is a very practical farmer and has made the most of his op- portunities and his advantages, and to this he owes his success in life, for he started out empty-handed and depended entirely upon his own resources for a living. He has made many excellent improvements upon his place, and thrift and industry characterize the farm work in its various depart- ments. He has lived at peace with his fellow men, and he and his wife are consistent members of the Swedenborgian church.
NANCY A. HINE.
Mrs. Nancy A. Hine is residing in Boardman township, Mahoning county, upon the farm which has been her home for fifty-four years. Widely known in this locality, the circle of her friends is almost coextensive with the circle of her acquaintance, and she has reared a family of children who are respected citizens of the locality in which they reside and are an honor and credit to her name.
Mrs. Hine is the widow of Abraham S. Hine, who was born in Youngs- town, February 28, 1818, and died upon the home farm, March 9, 1866. His father Homer Hine, was an attorney of Youngstown, Ohio, where he located
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in 1806, only a few years after the admission of this state into the Union. He was born in New Milford, Connecticut, entered Yale College, and was grad- uated from that classic institution with the class of 1799. He then joined one of the early colonies that left the Charter Oak state and removed to Can- field, Ohio, arriving at about the same time the Whittlesies made a settlement. He wedded Mary Skinner, of Painesville, Ohio, and they reared to adult age six children and lost two, twins, in early life. Mr. Hine was a man of schol- arly attainments and one of the distinguished lawyers of this part of the state at an early day. He died in 1856 at the age of eighty years, and his wife passed away in 1882, in the ninety-fourth year of her age.
Mrs. Hine was a daughter of Robert D. Gibson, who was born in eastern Pennslvania, April 8, 1785, and was a son of James and Annabella ( Dick - son) Gibson, both of whom were of Scotch-Irish ancestry: he was born on the Emerald Isle, and after emigrating to America became one of the early settlers of Mahoning county, Ohio, where he took up his abode in 1799. Robert D. Gibson was reared amid the wild scenes of pioneer life, and when a young man married Lydia Marshall, who was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, in 1796, and in 1805, when nine years of age, was brought to this locality. Her people were well-to-do representatives of the farming class of Pennsylvania, but the father lost all he had in litigation over a sol- dier's claim to his property. He had a large family of sons and daughters, and after the removal to Ohio they became influential and prosperous resi- dents there. The maternal great-grandfather of Mrs. Hine was in very comfortable financial circumstances in Ireland and was almost ready to set sail for the new world in 1700, having his bag of gold in a chest, when an incident occurred that adds a tragic page to the family history. His wife aroused him from a sound sleep one night, hearing some one at their treasure. He jumped from his bed and grappled with the robber, who stabbed him to death. The man proved to be his foster son, and instead of getting hold of the bag of gold as he had intended doing, he had grabbed another bag. but he was caught and punished for his crimes. The widow afterward came to America in accordance with the plans which had been made by herself and husband.
Robert D. Gibson, the father of Mrs. Hine, died in Youngstown, in 1863, and his wife in 1873, both seventy-eight years of age at the time of their demise. In their family were six children, and among these are: Samuel, a farmer residing in Youngstown, who is married and has six living children ; Mrs. Hine; John, a farmer living near Youngstown, and is married and has two sons and two daughters; Eliza E., the widow of James Neilson, of Youngstown, by whom she had two children, of whom one is living.
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