USA > Ohio > Genealogical and family history of eastern Ohio > Part 53
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Conrad Schnurrenberger, the father of our subject, became one of the prosperous farmers of his adopted county, his landed possessions comprising one hundred and thirty acres, which he cleared and transformed into a valu- able farm, making it his home until he was called to his final rest. His life was one of marked industry, and he was always busy with the duties of field and meadow, so that his success resulted from his untiring enterprise and perseverance. After arriving at years of maturity he was united in mar- riage to Miss Elizabeth Baker, who was born in Kentucky in 1803, and they became the parents of seven children : Mary B., John, Lyman, Solomon B., Joseph C., Elizabeth A. and Ellen. Of these Mary B., Lyman, Joseph C. and Elizabeth are living. The parents held membership in the Christian
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church, and were worthy people of this community and were held in the highest esteem by all who knew them.
In his youth Lyman Schnurrenberger was trained to habits of industry and economy, and became familiar with farm work in its various depart- ments. He acquired his education in the schools near his home, and when not engaged with the duties of the schoolroom his attention was given to the work of the fields. He made his first purchase of real estate in 1865, becoming the owner of eighty-six and a half acres. Later, however, he added to this property until he now has one hundred and nine acres, constituting a rich and valuable farm. The soil is productive, and as the result of the care and cultivation which he bestows upon the fields they return to him golden har- vests. The sale of his crops brings to him a good annual income, and he is justly accounted one of the substantial agriculturists of his community. He took up his abode on this farm in 1871 when it was in its primitive condition. Upon it was a little log cabin, which is still standing there, and as he was then in limited financial circumstances he and his wife took up their abode in this little home and occupied it for fourteen years. In 1884, however, he erected a fine modern residence and has also built commodious and sub- stantial barns and other necessary outbuildings for the shelter of his grain and stock.
On the 3Ist of December, 1868, Mr. Schnurrenberger was united in marriage to Miss Mary Stauffer, a daughter of Christian and Mary Stauffer, who came from Franklin county, Pennsylvania, to Ohio about the year 1832. They settled in Green township, Mahoning county, and after purchasing eighty acres of land the father found that his supply of money was all ex- hausted. However, with characteristic energy he began his work here, and soon afterward he was enabled to add twenty-three acres to his first pur- chase. Upon this farm he and his wife spent their remaining days. Their family numbered ten children, five of whom are yet living, namely: Lena, Emanuel, Lydia, Mary and Sarah. Those who have passed away were Eliza, Samuel, George, Susan and David. Mr. Stauffer died on the IIth of Decem- ber, 1879, at the advanced age of eighty-four years, his birth having occurred in 1795. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Dellenbaugh and was born in 1811, died in the 12th of November, 1863. The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Schnurrenberger were Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Stauffer. The grand- father was born in 1765 and his wife in 1775. Their children were Christian, Betsey, Kate, Jacob, Daniel and John. Of this number John was a cabinet- maker and worked at his trade in Washingtonville, while the rest of the fam- ily were farmers. Jacob Stauffer was a very industrious man and labored
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hard to subdue the forest and the wild condition which he found in Ohio in order to make the country bring forth productive crops. In his work, how- ever, he succeeded, and at his death he possessed considerable means. He passed away on the 24th of October, 1859, and his wife died March 31, 1854.
To Mr. and Mrs. Schnurrenberger have been born three children: Mar- tha E., Ira A. and Effie. The parents and their children are members of the Christian church, of which Mr. Schnurrenberger is an elder. He takes a very active part in church work, contributes liberally to its support and does all in his power to advance the cause. Both he and his son are Repub- licans in politics, but he has never been an office-seeker, preferring to give his time and attention to his business affairs. He has lived a quiet, unassum- ing life, but possesses those sterling traits of character which in every land and every clime command respect and confidence.
JEFFERSON S. MOHERMAN.
The name of Moherman is connected with the early history of Mahon- ing county, Ohio, in so prominent a manner that it is impossible to write of the pioneers of that locality without giving due space to the family bear- ing so distinguished a place in its records. Jefferson S. Moherman, of whom this sketch treats, is a progressive and prosperous farmer of Austin- town township, where he owns and operates one of the best stock farms in the county. It is beautifully situated, well watered and tilled under skilled management. The farm itself consists of one hundred and seventy-five acres of valuable farming land, all in a high state of cultivation. The herd of cattle is of the best Crookshank and Scotch shorthorn; his sheep are Delains and Dorsets; his hogs are the pure Berkshire breed; while his horses are of superior quality both in looks, style and action. He owns a share in a fine German coach horse, which he keeps for stud purposes. All of his outbuildings are of the most modern construction and convenient style, and he has one of the finest sugar camps in his part of the country, containing twelve hundred sap-producing trees.
Jefferson S. Moherman was born in Austintown township, May 1, 1857, and was reared and educated there, attending the common schools, but later went to Canfield, where he finished his studies and prepared himself for his life of usefulness. After his school days were over, he turned his mind to agricultural pursuits, in which he has been so eminently successful. Mr. Moherman has occupied his present farm since 1878, at which time he pur- chased it.
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Mr. Moherman was united in marriage with Miss Ida L. Heintzelman, a daughter of Jesse and Mary Heintzelman; they have no children. Mr. and Mrs. Moherman are consistent members of the English Lutheran church, in which they take an active part. He is a member of the Order of Maccabees and takes a great interest in that society. While he is interested in the ad- vancement of his state and county, he is too busy a man to devote any time to politics, and will not accept of office.
The father of our subject was Daniel Moherman, who married Susan Miller, and both were born in Mahoning county, the former on October 7, 1807, and the latter on October 1, 1819. Daniel was a practical farmer and a good business man, who made and retained many friends. During a long and useful life he accumulated over one thousand acres of valuable land, and was a good and worthy man, who did much toward advancing the civilization and adding to the prosperity of the county and state. His mar- riage took place in 1852, and he had seven children, all of whom are living and are worthy members of society. They are as follows: Rachael, born in 1854; Sarah C., born in 1855; Jefferson S .: Mary M., born in 1858; Maria D., born in 1860; Lydia, born in 1862; John, born January 26, 1864. The entire family of Mohermans are Lutherans in religious belief, and very promi- nent in that denomination. In politics Daniel was a Democrat. His death occurred July 28, 1892, while his wife passed away February 13, 1897. The buildings now on the farm were erected by Daniel, and are owned by his youngest son, John. The father of Daniel bore the name of Frederick Moher- man, and he was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, from which state he removed to Ohio in 1803, so that the family of Moherman has been identified with the best interests of Ohio for one hundred years.
ABTIL MARTIN.
The great-grandfather of the above named gentleman was a native of Germany and came to Pennsylvania in the colonial period, taking up a good tract of land there. His son, Simeon Martin, was the father of George Mar- tin, who was born in the mountains of western Pennsylvania, January 26. 1798. George came to Mahoning county with his father in 1818, and then went back after his wife and household effects, bringing them through with one horse. The country was wild and covered with dense forests, and wild animals were so plentiful that meat was then game. He had married Susanna Smeath before venturing on his western pilgrimage; she was born in the same locality as her husband, October 13, 1803, and died in this county in the prime of her life, in 1835, having become the mother of ten children.
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He lived to be over sixty years old, and died in prosperous circumstances, considering that he had come to this country with almost nothing in the way of worldly possessions.
Abtil Martin was one of the above ten children, and was born in Penn- sylvania, August II, 1822, and was just a year old when he accompanied his mother on her journey to the homestead in Ohio. He passed his life in this vicinity, and, adding to the land which his father had brought out of its wild state, he possessed before his death seventy-four acres. Besides his agricultural operations he was an excellent carpenter, and in all the rela- tions of life he bore himself true-blue in the presence of adversity and pros- perity. He believed in the principles of the Democratic party, was a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church. He passed his declining years with his son Allison, who will be considered in a following paragraph. In Jan- uary, 1903, Mr. Martin was stricken down with paralysis, and in spite of all his sorrowing friends and relatives could do, the spark of life went out about the middle of the month, and thus Mahoning county was deprived of one of her most useful and honored citizens.
Mr. Martin was married on the 24th day of March, 1846, to Miss Cath- erine Miller, who was born July 25, 1828. There were ten children, the sur- vivors being efficient workers in the different walks of life. Albert, the first born, lived only till October 27, 1847; Ephraim, born August 27, 1848, died on the old home farm in 1893, leaving two sons; Hezekiah, born December 7, 1850, died May 20, 1858; William, born July 30, 1853, lives at Bessemer, Pennsylvania, and has been married twice and has three children; Susanna, September 14, 1855, died July 1I, 1880; Allison S., the sixth in order of birth, will be sketched in the next paragraph; John, born October 5, 1862, is a Trumbull county farmer with six children living, having lost two; Emma C. is the wife of Joseph Sheasley, of Trumbull county, and has one son; Louisa is the wife of Edwin Hill in Salem, Ohio, and has six children; the twin sister of Louisa died in infancy. The mother of these children died in 1891.
Allison S. Martin was born to these parents November 23, 1857, and on January 2, 1886, was married to Miss Anna Barbara Gahman, who was born in Allen county, Ohio, November 14, 1864. Her parents were Samuel and Christianna (Lingenfelter) Gahman, natives of Beaver township, Mahon- ing county, and of their six children four are now living: William H. Gahman is in Indiana; Abraham lives in Lima, Ohio; the third is Mrs. Mar- tin; Allen George Thurman Gahman is in Elida, Ohio, his native place; the father of these children, born June 11, 1833, was in the war and lost his health,
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and died from the effects in 1871, and his wife passed away July 18, 1900. Mr. and Mrs. Martin lost their little daughter, Verna Pearl, born October 6, 1887, when only a year and a half old; their only living child is Abtil George, who was born February 8, 1895. Mr. Martin is running the farm of his father, which is one of the best kept places in the county. One of Ohio's staple products is its maple syrup, and from the seventy-five trees on this place forty gallons are made every other year. The other crops show the careful husbandry of the owner, for a hundred bushels of corn to the acre are produced, over twenty bushels of wheat, and every year an acre is planted in potatoes with a yield of nearly two hundred bushels.
JESSE HEINTZELMAN.
Jesse Heintzelman, deceased, was one of the prominent and successful men of Austintown, Ohio, who during a useful life operated a fine farm of two hundred and sixteen acres devoted to general farming and dairying. With the assistance of his wife, who nobly helped him in all of his undertak- ings, he manufactured cheese for twenty years with profitable results, and was one of the substantial men of his township at the time of his demise.
The birth of our deceased subject occurred in Lehigh county, Penn- sylvania, April 29, 1830, and he was but one year of age when his parents, Christian and Sarah Heintzelman, removed from Pennsylvania to Ohio in 1831. They located in Austintown township, where the father purchased a farm of one hundred and sixteen acres of what is now very valuable farm- ing land. By trade he was a weaver and followed his calling for several years in connection with farming, and, being also a carpenter, his time was fully occupied and he was recognized as a good workman in all branches. There were seven children in his family, five of whom were sons, but all are dead but one.
Jesse Heintzelman succeeded his father, and in turn became a prosperous and influential man. His marriage was fortunate, for his bride was Mary A. Hoffman, whom he married on July 6, 1856. To this happy union were born two daughters, namely: Ida L., the wife of Jefferson S. Moherman, was born May 25, 1860; and Harriet J., the wife of A. C. Snyder, was born May 27, 1862. Mrs. Heintzelman was born January 1, 1835.
By trade our subject was a carpenter, and followed that occupation in connection with his farming operations. Upon his property he built a beauti- ful home and a number of necessary buildings, and had in process of erection a large and commodious barn at the time of his demise, August 27, 1895. This was completed by his widow soon after his death. He held some town-
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ship offices, discharging the duties thereof with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his constituents. He followed the example and advice of his parents and became a member of the Lutheran church. His life was an unusual one, but he set an excellent example to those coming after him, and with the aid of his wife accumulated a large estate.
Jonas and Hannah Hoffman, the parents of Mrs. Heintzelman, came to Ohio in 1836 and settled at Southington, where they remained all their lives and there reared a family of six children, five of whom are living and in com- fortable circumstances. By trade Jonas was a tailor and was regarded as an excellent workman. In time he came to own considerable property and be- came an influential man. He was well informed on current matters and held several offices of trust. His birth occurred in 1811, and he died in 1895 at the age of eighty-four years. His wife, Hannah, died several years prior to her husband, aged sixty-seven years. The Heintzelmans and Hoffmans were both of German extraction, and all were worthy citizens, as are all the mem- bers of these two families to-day. Mrs. Heintzelman lives on her valuable farm, which may well serve as a model of perfection. She takes special de- light in keeping her property in excellent condition, and she is recognized as one of the best farmers in the township.
CHARLES D. WILSON.
It cannot be other than gratifying, in view of the nomadic spirit which is coming to animate all classes of American citizens, to find a locality in which are to be found citizens of worth and prominence who have passed their entire lives in the section where they were born and who command the respect and esteem of those who have been familiar with their entire careers. In the older sections of the far eastern portion of our national domain we find instances where property has been held from generation to generation by one family, and where the old homesteads and the local associations signify somewhat more than mere names, but in the middle and western states this condition is not so pronounced. In Mahoning county, Ohio, as the pages of this work clearly demonstrate, are to be found many representatives of families who here initiated the work of reclaiming the virgin wilderness and otherwise took part in the inceptive development of the resources of the sec- tion, and one of the honored scions of such pioneer stock is Mr. Wilson, who is now one of the progressive and honored business men of Youngstown, where he was for some years incumbent of the office of vice president of the Union Ice Company, whose enterprise is one of importance and wide scope.
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Charles D. Wilson was born at Brier Hill, contiguous to the city of Youngstown, Mahoning county, Ohio, on the 15th of September, 1852, and that suburban locality continued to be his home until he had attained his legal majority. There, also, was born his father, James Wilson, the date of whose nativity was January 25, 1820, and there his death occurred on the 25th of March, 1869. He had owned and operated a valuable farm near Brier Hill and in his early manhood he leased from Governor David Tod a stone quarry which was located on land belonging to the governor and lying contiguous to the farm of our subject's father. James Wilson con- tinued to work this quarry most successfully until the close of his life, and in this connection he did an extensive business in the way of contracting for all kinds of stone work, both for railroad companies and for other corpora- tions and private individuals, while his progressive policy and business acumen were still further evidenced in his having engaged successfully in the manu- facture of brick at Brier Hill. He was one of the prominent and influential men of the county, and such was his sterling character and honorable course that he ever retained the unqualified confidence and good will of all who knew him.
On the IIth of September, 1845, in Liberty township, Trumbull county, Ohio, James Wilson was united in marriage to Miss Grace T. Seymour, and they became the parents of six children, of whom three died in infancy, the three surviving being as follows: Charles D. is the immediate subject of this sketch; Henry Seymour Wilson, who resides in Salem, Ohio, married Miss Jennie Trotter and they have two children, Margaret and James; and Grace S., now Mrs. Alexander Latham, of Cleveland. The mother now resides in Youngstown. The paternal grandfather of our subject was Andrew Wilson, who was born in Pennsylvania on the Ist of December, 1786, and who be- came one of the pioneers of Mahoning county, Ohio, where he passed the remainder of his life, his death occurring on the Ist of September, 1846. The maiden name of his wife was Harriet Lightborn, born in Rostenover township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, September 15, 1793, and died April 18, 1873, in Mahoning county. She was a daughter of Benjamin and Eliza- beth Lightborn and was married to Andrew Wilson in Youngstown, in 1818. Andrew Wilson devoted his life to agricultural pursuits and was a man of inflexible integrity in all the relations of life. He was a son of James Wilson, who was the original American progenitor and who was born in county Tyrone, Ireland, in 1745. Shortly prior to the war of the Revolution he emigrated to America, and when the conflict with the British government and the American colonies was precipitated, he espoused the colonial cause
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with all the ardor of his patriotic nature, entering the continental service from Oxford, Pennsylvania, which was his place of residence at the time, in the month of June, 1776, becoming a private in the company commanded by Cap- tain John McGowan, while the colonel of the regiment was William Butler. With this regiment of Pennsylvania troops Mr. Wilson continued in active service as a private until the spring of 1777, when he was promoted to the rank of ensign, in which capacity he thereafter continued to serve until the close of the war. The Revolutionary records of official order show that he participated in the battles of Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth and White Horse, and that he was among the gallant troops which suffered such extreme hardship at Valley Forge in the memorable winter of 1777-8. The latter years of his life were passed in Mahoning county, Ohio, and his death occurred at Brier Hill about 1836. This epitomized record indicates that the subject of this review may well look with pride upon his ancestral record, and the name which he bears is one which has ever stood exponent of true worth of character, well directed endeavor and lofty patriotism.
Charles D. Wilson received his early educational training in the public schools of his native place and in the town of Girard, and he thereafter con- tinued his studies in the schools of Youngstown until he had attained the age of seventeen years, at which time he took charge of the stone quarry which his father had conducted until the time of his death, the same having been owned by Governor Tod, as has already been noted. He successfully managed the enterprise until 1873, and in the following year he became- identified with his present line of enterprise, the handling of ice, to which he has ever since devoted his attention, with cumulative success and expan- sion of scope of operations. In 1897, largely through his efforts, was ef- fected the organization of the Union Ice Company, which is duly incorporated under the laws of the state, and he was forthwith made vice president of the company, in which capacity he continued to serve until he retired from the ice business in October, 1902.
In politics he exercises his franchise in support of the principles and policies of the Republican party, and fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias, in the affairs of each of which he takes a lively interest. On the 5th of February, 1885, Mr. Wilson was united in marriage to Miss Ann E. Doyle, daughter of John Doyle, of Hubbard, Trumbull county, and they have four children : James A., John E., Henry S. and Julia Florence.
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H. L. WEIKART.
H. L. Weikart, one of the enterprising young business men of Greenford, has been till recently a member of the firm of Weikart & Dressel, proprietors of the Greenford planing mills. This plant is one of the most thoroughly equipped of its kind in Mahoning county, and all kinds of planing, mould- ing and dressing is done, and the firm also manufacture cider and apple butter in season. The plant is a large one, with a thirty-five-horsepower engine and a sixty-horsepower boiler. The present firm purchased the plant from George Cook in 1902. H. L. Weikart sold his interest to M. G. and D. Huffman in March, 1903, but continued in the manufacturing of lumber near Canfield, Ohio.
H. L. Weikart is descended from Peter Weikart, a native of Adams county, Pennsylvania, whose father Peter was a native of Germany, who emigrated to America in 1827, accompanied by Jacob and William Weikart. Peter Weikart, Jr., removed from Adams county, Pennsylvania, to Ohio in 1804, accompanied by John Carr, traveling on horseback, and guided by pocket compasses. Peter purchased a section of land, No. 27, in Green town- ship, of the government, which had its office located at Steubenville, Ohio. Having completed his purchase, which was made for his children, Peter returned to Pennsylvania. These children were as follows: John, born in 1784; Catherine, born in 1787; Mary, born in 1788; Jacob, born in 1793; Elizabeth, born in 1796; Addison, born in 1800; David, born in 1803.
John Weikart removed to Ohio in the following year, 1805, and began to improve his quarter of the section, returning to Pennsylvania in the winter. Jacob, Andrew and David came later and took up other portions of land. John and Jacob participated in the war of 1812, and were brave and gallant soldiers. John married Mary Shuts in 1807; she was born in 1784 and died in 1854, and John died in 1872. When John Weikart took possession of his property all was wild land; he had to clear it, and his gun supplied the family larder. He built a log hut in which they lived until 1830, when the primitive home was replaced by a frame house, still standing in a good state of preservation, and is the property of his son, Josiah. John became a man of wealth and prominence in his township, was a Democrat in politics, and a deacon in the Lutheran church. His family was as follows: Peter, Frederick, George, Josiah, Mary and Margaret. Josiah succeeded to a por- tion of the home farm, which is still in his possession, he being a prosperous farmer and influential man in his township. In 1849 Josiah was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Shroy, who gave birth to five children, namely : Melissa A., born May 9, 1852; George F., born January 27. 1854: John,
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