USA > Ohio > Genealogical and family history of eastern Ohio > Part 39
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Ireland, in 1812, and in 1833 came to America with his bride, locating in Belmont county, Ohio. He died in Clay county, Kansas, in 1885, and his wife departed this life at Industry, Pennsylvania, in 1871. In their family were three children, but two died in infancy, so that our subject is now the only survivor. His paternal grandfather, James Allen, came from Ireland to the United States about the same time as his son and died in Harrison county, Ohio, about 1866, at the extreme old age of ninety-six years. By occupation he was a farmer.
After spending the first twelve years of his life in this state, William J. Allen was taken by his parents to Rochester, Pennsylvania, where he received the greater part of his education, and on leaving school at the age of eighteen years he began learning the brick-maker's trade at that place, where he remained for thirteen years. In 1857 he and his father started a brick yard, which they carried on until 1868. In the meantime our subject entered the army, enlisting as a private in Company H, One Hundred and Thirty-ninth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, in August, 1862, and served until March 12, 1864, during which time he participated in the battles of South Mountain and Antietam, besides several minor engagements and skirmishes.
On receiving his discharge from the service Mr. Allen returned to Rochester, Pennsylvania, where, as previously stated, he was engaged in brick-making with his father until 1868. During that year they removed to Newcastle, the same state, where they established a brickyard, but becom- ing disgusted with the business there, our subject traded the property for a farm in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, which he rented, and then embarked in general merchandising at Industry, where he and his father carried on a store for two years. At the end of that time they dissolved partnership.
Mr. Allen then went as fireman on the Ohio and Missouri rivers, being thus engaged until 1876, going down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers from Pittsburg to New Orleans, then up the latter stream to Fort Benton, and on up the Missouri river to the Big Horn mountains, carrying supplies to Gen- eral Custer. He was only fifteen miles away when Custer was killed. Soon after this he quit the river, having for a year previous been second engineer on the steamboat with which he was connected.
Mr. Allen next came to Columbiana county, Ohio, and began manufact- uring bricks under contract for N. U. Walker, in whose employ he remained for two years. On the expiration of that period, in 1879, he removed to East Liverpool and entered George S. Harker's pottery, where he worked for five years. During the following six months he was in the employ of
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Homer Laughlin in the dipping department, and in 1885 accepted his present position with the firm of Knowles, Taylor & Knowles, as superintendent of their kilns. His long retention with this company is a good indication of his capability and trustworthiness.
In 1872 Mr. Allen was united in marriage to Miss Mary Campbell, and to them were born four children, but two died in infancy. These still living are Effie E., now the wife of Jesse Fisher; and Cora E. Mr. Allen is an honored member of Lyons Post No. 44, G. A. R., and in his religious con- nection is a member of the United Presbyterian church. He is a man highly respected and esteemed by all who know him.
ROBERT L. WALKER.
Robert L. Walker, who is a coal prospector and operator in Poland, Mahoning county, comes of good Irish stock. His grandfather Robert Walker was born in county Down, Ireland, in 1781, and died December 13, 1856. He came to this country when he was a young man, and although he had small means and very few educational advantages, by his industry he became a man of considerable property and was capable and intelligent. He served in the war of 1812, and while he was in Perry county, Pennsyl- vania, he married Jane Long, of York county, and they had three children : Robert H .; Mathew L .; and Mary Jane, who was the wife of James W. McClelland, the treasurer of Mahoning county; the son, Mathew L., was born on his father's original farm of one hundred and fifty acres cut out of the woods, on October 8, 1810, and died December 29, 1862, leaving a son and a daughter. Robert H. Walker was born near Newville, Penn- sylvania, in 1806, and died at Churchill, Ohio, April 3, 1874. He was a prominent physician of his day, and married Harriet Long, who was born in Perry county, Pennsylvania, March 25, 1805, the daughter of Bailey and Margaret (Weaver) Long, the parents of two children, and of whom John Long, born in 1817, is still living in Poland. Robert H. Walker and wife had two children, one named Robert L., and a daughter Amanda, who was the wife of William B. Sampson and died in the old home, June 8, 1878.
Robert L. Walker was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, north of Youngs- town, on June 7, 1835. At the age of seventeen he left the Poland Academy and began work on his father's farm, which he continued until the Civil war broke out. He enlisted in Company D, Fifty-second Ohio National Guard, Captain Evan Morris commanding. He went in for one hundred days, but was out one hundred and twenty-four days in all, when he was called home to his mother's death-bed. By the almost unanimous vote of
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the company he was chosen orderly. After his return to the farm near Churchill he followed agriculture until rheumatism contracted in the army service compelled him to abandon so arduous a pursuit. He had been in- terested in coal operations. In April, 1875, he removed to Poland.
On November 6, 1856, Mr. Walker was married to Miss Almira Pow- ers, who was born in Austintown, Mahoning county, the daughter of J. W. Powers and his wife Miranda Gee. The latter was born in Delaware county, New York, April 6, 1816, and now in her advanced age lives with her chil- dren ; she is the daughter of Nicholas and Nancy (Furman) Gee, who settled in this county in 1822, and the former of whom was a local Methodist preacher and built a church of that denomination on his farm. Miranda Gee was one of twelve children, all of whom had families, and she herself was married at the age of nineteen and became the mother of seven children, as follows: Almira, who became Mrs. Walker; Albert G. Powers, a farmer in Ashtabula county, and has a family; Adeline is the wife of W. W. Mc- Keown in Youngstown, and has four daughters and two sons; Homer died at the age of fifty, leaving one son and one daughter; Sehon Powers was killed by a railroad train in Nebraska and left a wife and six children; Rhoda is the wife of B. R. Cowdery, in Leigh, Nebraska, and has two sons and a daughter ; Augusta is the wife of John Darby, at Huron, South Dakota, and has one son. The father of these children died September 3, 1868. Mr. and Mrs. Walker have had two children born to them: John H., a coal operator, was born at Churchill, November 1, 1857, and married Anna Courtney, of Poland, and they now have one son and two daughters ; Clara A. Walker, who is a well educated young lady, resides at home. Mr. Walker is a Master Mason of the Western Star Lodge in Youngstown, and as a Republican in politics has voted for every presidential candidate since he arrived at maturity ; he is not an office-seeker, but was township treasurer of Liberty township; and he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church.
MARTIN ASBURY KIMMEL.
It has been remarked that the teacher is, like the preacher, a sort of professional nomad, wandering from one position to another, but this fact is probably due either to his own restless desires or to his inferiority in educa- tional work, for there are conspicuous examples of those who have been for years identified with the growth and upbuilding of one institution, and among this latter class may be mentioned the popular educator of Mahoning county, Professor Martin A. Kimmel, who for over twenty years has devoted his best efforts to the interests of the public schools of Poland. On his assuming
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charge of the Poland schools in 1880 he at once began the work of improve- ment, and since that time many valuable additions have been made, the schools have been graded, a three years' high school course has been instituted, and other excellent innovations brought about.
A short biography of this Mahoning county educator will be of interest to his many friends. His father was Smith Kimmel, who is a native of Penn- sylvania and came with his father, Tobias, to this part of Ohio when he was a young boy. About 1852 he settled on a farm which has since been platted and made a part of East Youngstown, and in the next year he was married to Julia Ann Struble, who was born in New Jersey in 1829; her father, David Struble, was one of the early settlers of Trumbull county, coming over the mountains in emigrant fashion and buying one hundred and sixty acres of the land company ; he lived to be eighty years old and was killed by a train. Mr. Kimmel is still living in Youngstown at the age of seventy- two, in feeble health. There were eleven children born of his marriage, and eight of them grew up, who are named as follows: Martin A., spoken of in the following paragraph; David A., a farmer in Jackson township, this county, and has two sons; Alice, deceased; Ella, the wife of A. N. Chapman of Youngstown, and her parents make their home with them; Frank E. is with the J. A. Fitch Company and has one son: Charles E. is a grocer in Struthers and has one daughter; Gilbert D. lives on the old farm in Jackson township, where his father settled in 1874; Arthur D. is an assistant yard- master for the Pennsylvania Railroad.
Martin Asbury Kimmel was born on the farm that is now a part of East Youngstown, August 1, 1854, and was reared on a farm and attended the country and village schools until he was fifteen years old. He then en- tered the Poland Union Seminary, which was under the charge of Professor H. J. Clark. At the age of seventeen he began his career as teacher in the Flint Hill school, and for some years carried on this pursuit during the win- ters and went to school in the summer to gain the education which his young ambition longed for. He had already gained considerable prominence in county educational circles when he came to Poland in 1880, where he has made his reputation as an executive and teacher. In 1885 he was appointed school examiner on the county board, which position he still holds, and he has been an attendant at the county, state and national conventions for the past twenty-five years.
Professor Kimmel has been married twice. On November 8, 1877, he wedded Miss Emma L. McNabb, of Poland, who died in September, 1898, leaving two of the three children born to her: Jessie M. is the wife of Edgar
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A. Tobey; Kennon K. is a young man of nineteen in the machine shop of the Westinghouse works, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. On July 5, 1900, Pro- fessor Kimmel was married to Miss Lillie B. Haynes, the daughter of Charles and Lucy (Meeker) Haynes, the former of whom died in 1898; her grand- father was one of the earliest pioneers to this section of the country. Mr. Kimmel is the owner of his present residence, the old McNabb place, where he has lived since coming to Poland. He is one of the directors of the Farm- ers' Deposit and Savings Bank of Poland, Ohio. He became a charter mem- ber of Poland Lodge No. 34, A. O. U. W., in 1884, and has represented the order in the grand lodge of the state since 1886; he is an official member of the Methodist church, and has been active in all Sunday-school and church work.
LEONARD BUSH.
The Bush family is one of the earliest ones in what was Columbiana county, Ohio, now Mahoning county, and its representatives were largely instrumental in the development of this section of the state. Prior to 1816 two young men, cousins, both bearing the name of John Bush, emigrated to America from their native Germany, and after suffering some hardships on their trip across the ocean as well as after landing, began to prosper. In 1817 they sent for their parents, who made the voyage with their respec- tive families. Among the others was Gotlieb, brother of John and the father of our subject. This John, who was known as John, Sr .. was born in 1797 and was twice married, first to Mary Baker, by whom he had six children, namely: Lewis, Jacob, Doratha, Sarah, Samuel, and an unnamed infant. After the death of his first wife in 1838, John, Sr., married Mary A. Hoffman in 1840. One daughter resulted from this union, Eliza Jane. John, Sr., died in 1882, highly respected by all who knew him.
Gotlieb Bush was born in Germany, September 10, 1810, and was the youngest in the family. He was married to Christina Muenkle in 1831, and she was also a native of Germany, and was born March 22, 1811. Both were consistent members of the Lutheran church, in which he was both deacon and elder. Gotlieb was a practical man who could do almost any- thing. and was very successful in his life work. His death occurred Febru- ary I, 1877, and his wife died June 14, 1883. These children were born to Gotlieb Bush and wife: Leonard, born March 16, 1832; Caroline, born in September, 1834; Mary, born in October, 1837; Daniel J., born in June, 1840; David W., born in September, 1844; Robert B., born in October, 1847; and Jane, born in November, 1850, and died January 20, 1870.
Leonard was reared in his native township, where he learned the trade
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of carpenter and followed it for a number of years, but for some time he has confined his efforts to agricultural pursuits. On February 18, 1862, he was united in marriage with Mariah Reedfoot, who was born in Germany in 1833, a daughter of David and Christina Reedfoot. To this union there were born these children: Mary, February 7, 1863; William W., July 18, 1865 ; and Orville, deceased, born January 12, 1869. William W. was mar- ried December 22, 1896, to Elsie Streber, a native of Austintown, where she was born September 14, 1873; one child has been born to this marriage, Ruth.
In 1879 Mr. Bush purchased his present fine farm of seventy-eight acres. which he devotes to general farming. The entire family are consistent members of the Lutheran church, in which Mr. Bush is both deacon and elder, and all are active in church work. The Bush family have always been noted as firm adherents to the faith of the Lutheran church, leaving their native land on account of persecution endured because of their religion. Leonard Bush is one of Canfield's staunch and prosperous farmers. He owns and operates one of the productive farms of the neighborhood, and he takes a pride in keeping up his premises, so that his entire property shows that a man of orderly habits, a capable and good manager is at the head of affairs.
WILLIAM E. FINK.
The parents of the above named gentleman were Samuel and Cath- erine (Lynn) Fink, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Canfield township, Mahoning county. The Lynn family history goes back to early pioneer days of Mahoning county, and the original ante- cedents were Swiss. The first to come to America was Nicholas Lynn, who came from Germany previous to the Revolution and took part in that struggle. It is said that he was the father of fourteen children, but the only ones of whom there is definite information are those who settled in Mahoning county in 1804, Philip, Jacob, Peter, George and John. Peter was born in Perry county, Pennsylvania, in 1775, and after coming to this section became the owner of six hundred acres of land and was a prominent and influential man of the community. He and his wife, Catherine Grove, were members of the Reformed church. One of their children, Adam, grandfather of our subject, was born and reared on the farm where Mr. Fink now lives. He was one of the leading men of the county, was justice of the peace and held many other offices. Samuel Fink, the father of William E., was born in Poland township and was a practical farmer and the owner of two hundred acres of well tilled land, and was known throughout the
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community as an obliging and quiet citizen. He and his wife were mem- bers of the Reformed church and in that faith they passed away, he in March, 1901, and she in 1882. Of their eight children the four now living are John F., George O., Rachel Yeager and William E.
It is to the last named that the attention of the reader is especially directed, for he has the reputation of being one of the most successful farmers in Canfield township, being the owner of one hundred and seventy- three acres of land with excellent improvements. He was born in the town- ship where he has made his life-long home, on March 18, 1862, and after he had availed himself of the usual advantages offered in the way of schooling he set himself to his chosen pursuit. He devotes himself to no special branch of his business, but raises mixed crops and makes farming pay, as it always does for the provident and intelligent agriculturist.
On December 21, 1881, Mr. Fink was married to Miss Ida L., who was born to Christian and Ann Cramer in Canfield township in 1865, and by this marriage there were born in 1884 Maud A., and in 1886 Roy E. Mr. and Mrs. Fink are members of the Reformed church, and his public spirit has been appreciated by his fellow citizens so that they have bestowed various minor township offices upon him.
WILLIAM HENRY BRUNT.
The growth and upbuilding of a city depends upon its commercial and industrial activity, and among those who are contributing to the latter in East Liverpool is William Henry Brunt, the proprietor of the Riverside Knob Works. This is one of the old enterprises of this place, and under the capable management of our subject has been enlarged in its scope and its output. Mr. Brunt is a native of East Liverpool, his birth having oc- curred in 1857. The family is of English lineage and was established in America by William Brunt, the grandfather of William Henry, who was born in the "merrie isle." He lived there until he had attained to man's estate, and then, believing that he might better his financial condition in the new world, he crossed the Atlantic and took up his abode in East Liver- pool, Ohio. Here he established a knob factory which he conducted with success until he was succeeded by his grandson. He long figured promi- nently in industrial circles here, and at the same time was a citizen of public spirit and marked enterprise, and took a deep interest in everything pertain- ing to the general good. He passed away in 1882, and the community mourned the loss of one of its most valued residents.
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Henry Brunt, son of William Brunt, was also a native of England and accompanied his parents when they made the voyage across the briny deep, taking up his abode in East Liverpool. He was here married to Miss Anna Holzmann, and to them were born five children, three of whom reached mature years and are yet living, namely: William H .; Emma, the wife of Charles Thompson; and George F. At the time of the Civil war Henry Brunt responded to the call for troops to serve for one hundred days, en- listing in 1864 as a member of the One Hundred and Forty-third Ohio Vol- unteer Infantry. He was assigned to Company I, and during the term of his service was largely engaged in doing guard and garrison duty. Well known in this city, his fellow townsmen recognized his worth and ability, calling him to public office, and he has capably served as a member of the city council. Fraternally he is identified with the Odd Fellows society. Although for a long time connected with business enterprises here, he is now living retired.
William Henry Brunt is indebted to the public school system of East Liverpool for the educational privileges which he enjoyed, and which fitted him for life's practical duties. At the age of nineteen he left the school- room to become an active factor in business life, and entered the knob factory which was then carried on by his father and grandfather. Eight years later he became a member of the firm, purchasing his grandfather's interest, and in 1894 he purchased his father's interest and became sole proprietor. This is an enterprise of considerable importance in the industrial life of East Liverpool. Employment is furnished for a number of work- men, and the output of the factory is growing, which shows that a liberal patronage is accorded Mr. Brunt. His success is largely due to his natural ability and his close application to the work in which as a young tradesman he embarked. He has never sought to dissipate his energies over many lines of business, but has concentrated his forces toward the successful con- duct of the knob factory, and thus his prosperity has resulted. His plant is well equipped with the latest improved machinery for carrying on the work. and the output of the factory finds a ready sale on the market.
In 1881, in East Liverpool, Mr. Brunt was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Wallace, a daughter of Samuel Wallace, and they now have three children, Louis C. W., Vance C. W., and Earl C. W. Mr. Brunt is identi- fied with no secret societies. His life history is one well known to his fellow townsmen because he has always lived in East Liverpool. He has lived quietly as a citizen, true to all the duties of public and private life; and all who know him esteem him for his genuine worth.
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R. EDNA WALKER.
Mrs. Walker is the widow of Isaac Walker, who was one of the most respected citizens of Poland township, Mahoning county, held large tracts of land, and was a representative farmer of the county. Isaac was the son of Josiah, who in 1802 came from Pennsylvania and settled in the woods of this township, where he cleared a space for his rude log cabin. He was un- married when he came and lived for some time alone. He spent the Sundays with the Struthers family, and Mrs. Struthers, who was his cousin, baked enough bread to last him for the succeeding week. He thus worked away for some years and had a harder time than many of those pioneers, as he had no means to begin with. His first farm was one hundred and fifty acres, and in his earlier years he made somewhat of a specialty of raising horses, but as his sons grew up they decided there was more money in sheep, of which they got together a large herd. They also built a sawmill on a branch of Yellow creek, and they sawed lumber night and day. In the winter season they would set out for the woods before light, spending the whole day there and brought the logs on sleds to the mill; they thus accumulated enough logs in the winter to last them for their summer's sawing. By these two occu- pations Mr. Walker and his sons became quite well-to-do, and at one time there were seven hundred acres of land in the family, six hundred of which still remains. Josiah Walker married Nancy Polk, and they reared five chil- dren, two having passed away in childhood, and those reaching maturity be- ing: Joseph, Mariah, Alexander, Jemima and Isaac.
Isaac was born in Poland township November II, 1819, and lived on his farm until 1886. Because of an accident in which he broke his limb, he retired from the farm to Poland and bought eleven acres, paying eight thou- sand dollars in cash for it. He made many improvements on the dwelling and the surrounding grounds, putting down a fine stone walk, putting in gas for lighting, and in 1902 a furnace was put in. He was a Republican and a Presbyterian, and was one of the influential citizens of the town until his death, which occurred at his home October 10, 1901. On March 22, 1860, he was united in marriage to Miss R. Edna Stewart, and they had one child, Della M., who was educated at Western University, afterwards studied medi- cine, and is now practicing at Salem, Ohio. Mrs. Walker is a descendant of an old and respected family, and it is pertinent to briefly sketch her con- nections.
Mrs. Walker is a descendant of Irish ancestors, who came to Pennsyl- vania at an early day. Her parents were Robert and Rebecca (McClelland)
Grace Walker
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Stewart, the former being born October 29, 1794; they were married Febru- ary 22, 1814, and she died July 25, 1875, and he in 1877. They had thirteen children, and six of these are now living: Robert McClelland Stewart is a farmer in Windham, Ohio, and has one son and one daughter ; he was born March 2, 1820. Cephas, born January 25, 1824, is a physician in Mercer, Pennsylvania, and has an unmarried daughter living. Mrs. Walker is the third in order of age now living. James Finley, born October 19, 1832, a farmer in Lawrence county, Pennsylvania, has one grown son. Ellen Amanda is the widow of Nathaniel Bishop and has one son and one daughter and lives in Poland. Sarah Lovisa is the widow of Peter Smith, lives in Poland and has one son. Grandfather John McClelland was a well-to-do farmer and a man of excellent qualities; he was probably born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, April 2, 1762, and died February 22, 1847; his wife, Jane Lownry, was born April 15, 1770, and died in 1857. The ancestors of the Walker family were good christian people and members of the Presby- terian church. Mrs. Walker has been a life-long member of the same denom- ination.
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