USA > Ohio > Genealogical and family history of eastern Ohio > Part 30
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Hyrum W. Hull was reared to farm life and his educational privileges were limited, for his services were needed on the farm. He worked in the fields from the time of early spring planting until after crops were harvested in the late autumn, and through the winter months assisted in the chores and other work of the farm. After arriving at years of maturity he sought a companion and helpmate for the journey of life, and on the 4th of July, 1867, was united in marriage to Miss Caroline Smith, who was born in this locality, October 13, 1842, a daughter of Samuel and Mary (Kime) Smith, who came to Ohio at an early day from Pennsylvania. Her grandfather, Peter Smith, was a pioneer settler here, active in the work of early develop- ment as this region was reclaimed for the purposes of civilization. In his
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family were seven children. He was killed by a falling tree while yet in middle life. Mrs. Hull is one of a family of eight children, four sons and four daughters, all of whom are yet living and all are married with the exception of Rufus Samuel Smith, who is a farmer residing in this portion of the county. The father died at the age of sixty years, and the mother passed away when sixty-five years of age.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Hull was blessed with but one child, Frances Mary, now the wife of William Stitle, of Youngstown, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Hull reside upon their farm in Milton township and have here made their home since 1886, at which time Mr. Hull purchased sixty-three acres of land at fifty dollars per acre. He has since added to it a tract of thirty acres, and he has four acres of timber land. He carried on general farming, raising each year good crops in his well-tilled fields, and also devoting con- siderable attention to stock. He keeps two cows and six horses and from twenty-five to forty head of fine sheep. He also raises Chester White hogs, and owns a fine French draft stallion, four years old and sixteen and a half hands high, which he purchased in May, 1902, for five hundred dollars, a low figure for so valuable an animal. In the various branches of his farm work Mr. Hull is meeting with excellent success.
At the time of the Civil war Mr. Hull manifested his loyalty to the Union cause by enlisting in Company G, One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Regiment of Ohio Volunteers. The regiment enlisted for one hundred days and was at the front for four months. In his political views he has always been a stanch Republican, and in religious faith both he and his wife are Methodists, inter- ested in the work of the church and its upbuilding.
REV. SAMUEL C. GEORGE.
To live the life of self-sacrifice and to give one's life to making the lot of others better, is becoming more and more attractive to young men and women, and the ranks of the teacher, missionary and preacher are being filled by those who are not so eager to gain a material competency as to in- crease the happiness of others. It is our pleasure to record now in this work the life history of such a man.
Our subject's grandfather, William George, was born in England in the eighteenth century and came to America when a young man; he here followed farming and after a useful life passed away in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, in 1844. John George, the son of the above, was born in Al- legheny county, Pennsylvania, in 1802, and like his father was a farmer; his life ended in 1874.
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Amid the stimulating influence of country life Samuel C. George was reared, being born on his father's farm in 1832 and attending the nearby school until sixteen years of age. Then his ambition and his father's desire led him to attend the academy at Wellsville, Ohio, one summer, and later the academy at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; in 1856 he entered the Western University at Pittsburg, at which he graduated with the degree of A. B., June 25, 1858, twenty-eight years later receiving the degree of A. M. from the same institution. After graduation he completed the course at the Western Theological Seminary of the Presbyterian church at Pittsburg, graduating in May, 1861.
In the latter year, being ordained, he was sent as missionary to Bangkok, Siam, where he served faithfully for twelve years. On his return he supplied various pulpits in Pennsylvania for two years and in 1875 was called to the church of Rocky Spring and St. Thomas in Franklin, Pennsylvania, where his pastorate extended over twelve years. Resigning in 1887 and returning to Pittsburg, he supplied the pulpit at Industry, Pennsylvania, for three months, and then became pastor at Mingo Junction, Ohio; after be- in there part of 1888, he went to New Comerstown, Ohio; in 1890 to Unionport and Annapolis, Ohio, where he remained two and one-half years; he then supplied various pulpits until 1897. In this year he moved to East Liverpool and organized the East Liverpool Academy, of which he became principal. Mr. George married, September 24, 1861, in Allegheny, Penn- sylvania, Miss Amelia A., daughter of Rev. Jonathan Gill; they have no chil- dren.
EBENEZER B. LAWRENCE.
The subject of this sketch is one of the representative business men of the younger generation in the city of Youngstown, Mahoning county, and the record of his life shows what may be accomplished by consecutive ap- plication, perseverance and the proper utilization of opportunities. He has been one of the world's workers,-that noble army through whose efforts alone progress has been furthered and material and intellectual prestige as- sured. He was left an orphan when a child and early began to depend on his own resources, so that he places a true valuation on character and has a distinctive respect for the dignity of honest toil and endeavor, in whatever sphere of human activity. That he has attained a due measure of success in a temporal way stands to his individual credit alone, and he is to-day promi- nently concerned in an important industrial enterprise in the city of Youngs- town, being president of the Youngstown Steel Casting Company, and being known as a man of distinctive business ability and executive power, while
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trom his practical knowledge of the details of the industry with which he is thus identified, he is peculiarly well fitted to hold this administrative position. Ever mindful of the ethics which should guide and govern all business trans- actions, his course has been one of utmost integrity and honor, and he is thus entitled to the esteem and confidence so freely accorded him.
Ebenezer B. Lawrence is a native of England, having been born of Welsh parents in the town of Blaina, in beautiful old Monmouthshire, on the 19th of August, 1854, a son of William A. Lawrence, who was born in the same county in 1834. The latter was a son of Rev. Daniel Lawrence, a clergy- man of the established church of England, who was long rector of a church in Carmarthenshire, in the south of Wales, and whose death occurred in Monmouthshire. William A. Lawrence emigrated to America in 1862, when a young man, having been previously united in marriage to Miss Emma Davis, and with their children she came to America in 1863, her death occur- ring three weeks later, while her husband survived her only a week, thus leaving the children orphans, the subject of this sketch having been at that time a lad of about nine years. The four surviving children are as follows : Daniel, who resides in Swansea, Wales; Ebenezer B., whose name initiates this review; Rebecca, who is the wife of John Howells of Niles, Ohio; and John A., who is a resident of Girard, this state. Both parents died at Brady's Bend, Pennsylvania, where the father had located upon coming to the United States. They were people of sterling character, and the lives of both were cut off at an early age, thus depriving their children of that solicitous care and guidance which would otherwise have been theirs.
As already noted, Ebenezer B. Lawrence was a mere lad at the time when he came with his mother to the United States, and after the death of his parents he was sent back to the home of relatives in England, but about three years later, in 1866, he again came to the United States, joining his uncle in the city of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where he remained for a year and where he supplemented the elemental educational discipline which he had received in the schools of his native land. From Pennsylvania the youth then came to Ohio, locating in the city of Cleveland, where he made his home until 1874, having found employment in a rolling mill. In the year mentioned, when twenty years of age, he went to Niles, Ohio, where he was employed for a period of six months, passing the following year in Warren, this state, and then returning to Cleveland, which continued to be the scene of his labors until 1879, when he went to Detroit, Michigan, where he remained but a short time. Coming thence to Niles, Ohio, he was there employed in connection with the iron and steel industry until 1883, when he took a position as roller in the
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mills of the American Steel Hoop Company at Girard, Trumbull county, an in- cumbency which he has continued to retain until the present time, notwith- standing his interests in the Youngstown Steel Casting Company, which was organized in December, 1901, and of which he is president. The enter- prise is being pushed vigorously forward and is destined to become one of the important industries of the state. The interested principles are men of ability, technical knowledge and utmost integrity, and thus there is every as- surance that the success of the enterprise will be cumulative in character.
In politics Mr. Lawrence gives his support to the Republican party, but he has never sought or desired the honors or emoluments of public office. He holds the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which his wife like- wise is a member, and they maintain their home in Girard, Trumbull county, Ohio, where their friends are in number as their acquaintances. On the 16th of November, 1876, Mr. Lawrence was united in marriage to Miss Mary J. Evans, daughter of John E. Evans, of Niles, Ohio, and she has proved to him a devoted companion and helpmeet. They have no children.
MARQUIS L. FRUSH.
This well known contractor and representative citizen of Youngstown, Mahoning county, is a native of the state of Maryland, having been born in Washington county on the Ist of October, 1841. He was there reared to the age of eleven years, when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Clarksburg, Harrison county, West Virginia, which continued to be his home until he had attained his legal majority, while his early educational discipline was completed in the Northwestern Academy, in his home town. Soon after the outbreak of the war of the rebellion he gave distinctive evi- dence of his loyalty to the Union, whose integrity was thus in jeopardy, and on the 10th of May, 1861, enlisted at Clarksburg, while on the 10th of the following month he was mustered in as a private of Company B, Third West Virginia Volunteer Infantry. He continued in active service as a pri- vate until the regiment was reorganized as the Sixth West Virginia Cavalry, and under these conditions he did duty until the expiration of his term of enlistment, being mustered out on the 10th of August, 1864, with the rank of second sergeant, while he had been acting captain of the provost marshal's guard of Averill's brigade of the Eighth Army Corps, Army of Virginia. Mr. Frush was on active duty in all the engagements in which his command participated with the exception of that at Port Republic, and he escaped in- jury save for a slight wound received at Guy Run Gap, having seen much arduous service and taken part in a number of important battles incidental to the great fratricidal conflict through which the Union was perpetuated.
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After the close of his military career Mr. Frush returned to his home in Clarksburg, where he completed his practical apprenticeship at the trade of millwright, having taken up this line of work prior to his enlistment. He continued to make his home in Clarksburg until July, 1866, when he removed to Greencastle, Pennsylvania, where he followed his trade until 1872, work- ing in various sections of the state where demands came for his services in that line. In the year mentioned he came to Youngstown, which has ever since been his home and business headquarters. He has built many rolling mills in connection with the great steel and iron industry, and in the capacity of superintendent had charge of the construction of the carpenter work of the immense bridge across the Merrimac river at Lowell, Massachusetts, the same having been built by the Morse Bridge Company, of Youngstown. He rebuilt Mill No. I of the Brown-Bonnell Company (now merged into the Republic Iron & Steel Company), in Youngstown, and in this city also had charge of the rebuilding of the Mahoning County Iron Mills, executing these important contracts with marked fidelity and ability, as he has all others which he has taken in hand, so that he has not only gained prestige in his chosen line of business but also a reputation as a thoroughly honorable and reliable business man. In politics he gives his support to the Democratic party, and as a citizen he is essentially progressive and public-spirited. His religious faith is that of the English Lutheran church.
On the 20th of December, 1864, at Greencastle, Pennsylvania, Mr. Frush was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Smith, who was born in that state, the daughter of Jacob R. Smith. Of this union were born five chil- dren, of whom two died in infancy; the three surviving are: Charles A., who married Wealthy B. Platt, and they are the parents of two children, Ethel M. and Mary A .; William Robert E. Lee Frush married Catherine M. Higgins and they have one son, whom they named Marquis L., in honor of his grandfather; and Anna L. is the wife of J. Edward McGonigal, of Youngstown. The devoted wife and mother, who had been the cherished companion and helpmeet of Mr. Frush for thirty-seven years, was summoned into eternal rest on the 24th of December, 1901, her gentle and gracious womanhood having endeared her to a wide circle of friends, while in the immediate family circle her loss came as the greatest possible bereavement, for there most plainly and tenderly was her gracious influence felt.
Michael Frush, the father of Mr. M. L. Frush, was born in Washing- ton county, Maryland, on the IIth of April, 1816, and was there reared and educated, having become a skilled millwright in his early manhood and hav- ing devoted his entire business life to this vocation. He died on the 6th
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of April, 1900, in Youngstown, lacking only five days of having obtained the venerable age of eighty-four years. He married Miss Catherine Nufer, who died February 9, 1885, and of their eight children only two are living at the present time, Marquis L., and Eleanor C., the wife of Alonzo C. Carder, of near Clarksburg, West Virginia.
The paternal grandfather of our subject was Jacob Frush, or Frushour, as the name was originally spelled, and he likewise was born in Washington county, Maryland, and when he was an infant he was captured by the Indians, as were also his parents, of whom nothing was ever heard thereafter by their relatives or friends. Jacob was held in captivity until he had reached the age of seventeen years, and after his escape he returned to civilization and became a worthy and honored citizen of his native state, where he was en- gaged in the blacksmith business during the greater portion of his active career.
HARRY B. BURT.
Endless opportunities open up to the farmer's boy. He is furnished by nature with an abundant stock of good health and ambitions, and he has, times without number, in our broad land risen to the highest places the country affords. Of this type of energetic, progressive young men the sub- ject of this narrative is a bright example. He is now proprietor of the hand- somest resort for lovers of sweets in all Youngstown, and in every appoint- ment and department it bespeaks an ever watchful and judicious manager. It is with pleasure that we include a portion of an article, recently appearing in a prominent publication of Youngstown in relation to Mr. Burt, as follows :
"An example of prosperous business growth and successful catering to the best class of trade, is found in the large and flourishing business done by Mr. Harry B. Burt, manufacturer of confectionery, ice cream and fancy ices, at 29 North Phelps street, also at Idora Park. Mr. Burt is the leading confectioner in Youngstown. He began business a poor boy and without funds, in a small room on Hazel street, and now has the largest business be- tween Pittsburg and Cleveland. This result has been achieved by close at- tention to business and by making a product of the very best quality, famous for purity and delicious flavor. Burt's fine ice cream has a reputation un- surpassed. The store at 29 North Phelps street is commodious and handsome- ly fitted up, has a large and artistic soda fountain, and is finely appointed in every way. Mr. Burt has his own electric plant for light and power, and the capacity for producing many hundreds of gallons of cream per day. He has at all times practically all the business he can handle, and the en- largement of his facilities is a gratifying evidence of business growth."
Harry BBuss
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He was born in Trumbull county, on a farm, August 9, 1874. He was an only child of Lucius and Kate (Headly) Burt. He grew up as a farmer's boy until about the age of seven years, when he spent a couple of years in Akron and Cleveland, Ohio, and finally located in Youngstown, where he has since remained. He learned the business of candy-making in all its de- tails in Cleveland, and in 1895 opened up a store in Youngstown, which was followed in the succeeding year by a store at his present location, which he has made successful in every way. In 1901 Mr. Burt secured the con- cession to furnish refreshments in his line for Idora Park, which privilege was renewed for 1902 and he now has the concession for 1903 and 1904.
He was united in wedlock in 1896 to Lena B. Johns, and to them three children were born, Ruth L., Walter L. and Helen. Mr. Burt is a Repub- lican in principles and action and serves the party well in the ranks, though he has never held or desired political offices of any sort. He and his family attend the Christian church, and he is a member there, and his influence is always offered in the direction of improvements and liberality. Thus be- fore his thirtieth year the efforts of Mr. Burt have been crowned with no small measure of success, and as he has earned the respect of patrons and competitors, so has he endeared himself to his large circle of personal friends, all of whom have only words of commendation for him.
JAMES A. MATZENBAUGH.
That Mahoning county offers good advantages to its citizens and liberal- ly rewards their industry and enterprise is shown by the fact that so many of the native sons of this region still maintain their residence here, having found adequate opportunity for progress and business success. Of this number James A. Matzenbaugh is a representative, and he is numbered among the prominent farmers of Green township, where he is engaged in the tilling of the soil and in dairying. He was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, in 1856. and is descended from southern ancestry. His grandparents, Daniel and Barbara (Zimmerman) Matzenbaugh, were natives of Maryland, the former born in 1791 and the latter in 1783. On coming to Ohio they located at Franklin Square, and the grandfather, who was a tanner, followed that trade and also conducted a tavern. He died in 1841, and his wife, long surviving him, passed away in 1876.
Their son, Daniel Matzenbaugh, was born in Franklin Square, Ohio, in 1828, and started out in life for himself a poor boy, with no assistance from family or influential friends. He first worked on the Ohio river, and after his marriage he engaged in the operation of the farm which his wife in-
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herited. In 1855 he was joined in wedlock to Miss Maria C. Berlin, who was born in Greenford, Ohio, in 1830. In addition to his other business cares and duties Mr. Matzenbaugh, in early life, learned the miller's trade and followed it for a number of years. As his financial resources increased he added to the farm which his wife inherited and became the owner of con- siderable valuable land, which was the visible evidence of his life of earnest and well directed labor. He also grew in influence and popularity as he became known to his fellow citizens, his sterling worth winning recognition in election to a number of positions of honor and trust. He served as mayor of Washingtonville, was also a trustee and at the time of the Civil war was chosen to make a canvass of Green township in order to raise money to hire men with which to supply the township's quota of soldiers for the army. He was in hearty sympathy with the Union cause and did much to uphold the governmental policy. His business qualifications were excellent, and he was a man well respected and held in the highest esteem by his fellow citizens. His political faith was that of the Democracy and his religious belief that of the Lutheran church. His wife died in 1892 and he survived her until 1901, when he, too, passed away. In their family were six children: James A., Laura J., Mary E., Cicero B., Susan I. and Estella L.
James A. Matzenbaugh was reared in Washingtonville, attended its pub- lic schools and was also a student in the Canfield Union school. Thus, good educational advantages fitted him for the responsible and practical duties of life. He resided upon his father's farm until 1901, when he purchased his present farm in Green township, Mahoning county. Here he has one hundred and two acres of rich land, devoted to general farming, and in his work he is methodical, enterprising and persevering, qualities which never fail to bring success. From his farm he sends to the markets excellent crops and in return receives a good income. He believes in thoroughness and that whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well.
In January, 1879, Mr. Matzenbaugh was united in marriage to Miss Anna E. Charlton, a daughter of David and Elizabeth Charlton, and they now have seven children : Carrie E., Edna L., Josiah C., Leroy, Guy, Estella and Hazel. The mother was born in Columbiana county in 1859, and is a most estimable lady, who has been a faithful companion and devoted help- mate to her husband during the twenty-four years of their married life. Like the other members of the family, Mr. Matzenbaugh is a Democrat in his political affiliations and he and his family believe in the religion of the Lutheran church. He has a wide acquaintance in this part of the state and has always lived so as to merit and receive the high regard and respect of friends and neighbors.
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JOHN CARROLL WHINNERY.
The Western Reserve early became the mecca of a class of people, both from New England and the old country, that were peculiarly strong in mat- ters of religion and education. The church was the first public institution to be erected after a shelter had been reared for the family, and this was soon followed by the little log schoolhouse. Among the many religious denominations that were brought to the new state, none have had a more beneficial effect than the quiet and peace-loving faith of the Quaker. A large colony early settled in the eastern part of the state, and of this number was. the family of the late Dr. John Carrol Whinnery. Dr. Whinnery was born April 1, 1816, in Butler township, Columbiana county and died in Salem, Columbiana county, in 1896. He was the son of James and Nancy (Carroll) Whinnery. The father was a native of this county, and was a son of Robert Whinnery, who, with his brother Patrick, came from the north of Ireland in the latter part of the eighteenth century. They were of the sect denominated Friends, and were of Scotch-Irish extraction. Our subject's mother was brought to this country from the north of Ireland at the age of sixteen years, she having been born in county Down.
Dr. Whinnery was educated in Columbiana county schools, and early became interested in the profession which he later adopted, that of dentistry. He took up the study of dentistry with Mr. John Harris, and later graduated at a Cincinnati dental college. In 1848 he began the practice of the profes- sion at Salem and for a half century was continuously engaged at that point. Dr. Whinnery was a man of fine influence in the community, and during all of his lifetime was connected in one way or another with the advancement and progress of Salem and the surrounding country. He was for long years president of the school board of the village. In his early life he was in- tensely antagonistic to the institution of slavery. He took a very prominent part in the establishment and maintenance of what was known as the under- ground railroad. Many of the poor creatures who were fleeing for life and liberty found rest and sustenance beneath his roof. Although he was a Quaker in religious belief, he was exceedingly liberal in his views and would never obtrude them upon his fellows. He married Miss Harriet Burson, of Salem, a daughter of David Burson, a pioneer of the Western Reserve. To these parents were born the following children: Mary, deceased wife of E. A. Lease, of Salem; Ophelia, deceased in girlhood: Abbie, who is living in Philadelphia, where she is engaged in teaching music, has had a wonder- ful career, having sung in Paris and in the London Crystal Palace; Gertrude, wife of Stephen B. Richards, secretary and treasurer of the Buckeye Engine
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