History of Columbiana County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 107

Author: McCord, William B., b. 1844
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 912

USA > Ohio > Columbiana County > History of Columbiana County, Ohio and representative citizens > Part 107

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At that time there was an open field here, no brewery being in operation. He built his present building, engaged actively in brewing and found an excellent market for his products. When he first started, he adopted the name of the Spring Water Brewery, all of the water used coming from a spring which bubbles up out of solid rock. Since July, 1903, the active · cares of the business have been taken by Mr. Greenwood's sons. Its methods have continued the same; increased facilities have but added to the quality and healthfulness of the product.

Mr. Greenwood married a lady born at Oldham, England,-Martha Evans, daughter. of Daniel Evans. They had 13 children born to them, namely: Mary, wife of George Wy- man, of New Castle, Pennsylvania; Elizabeth, wife of Elmer Freed, of Beaver Falls; Nancy, wife of William Williams, of East Liverpool ; Martha, wife of Alfred Grocott, of Beaver Falls ; William ; Sarah Alice, of Beaver Falls; Thomas; Edwin, deceased ; Joseph ; Helen, wife of William Nogles, of East Liverpool; and Betty and Lillie, who live at home.

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Mr. and Mrs. Greenwood and family be- long to St. Stephen's Protestant Episcopal Church. Mr. Greenwood is a member of the Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias, his father in his lifetime also belonging to the former organization and to the Druids. Mr. Greenwood was formerly quite actively identi- fied with the Democratic party, but for some years he has voted independently. His portrait accompanies this sketch.

HARLES H. MURPHY, deceased, formerly one of the prominent busi- ness men of Salem, junior member of the firm of Triem & Murphy, died at his father's residence, while on a visit at East Liverpool, September 29, 1903. Mr. Murphy was born April 16, 1863, at Brownsville, Pennsylvania, and was one of a family of eight children born to Thomas B. and Sarah (Coffin) Murphy.

The father of Mr. Murphy removed to East Liverpool, Ohio, when our subject was but a child, and in this city Charles was reared and educated. His business training was secured in his father's store, the latter being a large grocery merchant. At a later date he became chief salesman for his brother, George C. Mur- phy, in the clothing business, but in the fall of 1894 he came to Saiem. Here he formed a business partnership with Dennis F. Triem, and for the next nine years this firm met with much prosperity. His energy and enterprise were felt not only in his private business but were recognized factors in the advancement of the city's interests, he being ever ready to fur- ther public movements for the general welfare. Although he died comparatively a young man, he had accumulated an ample fortune and gained a prominent place among the business men of his city.

Mr. Murphy was married September 20, 1893, to Laura B. Morton, who is a daughter of the late George C. Morton, one of the pio- neers of Columbiana County and an extensive property owner, who died July 16, 1900. Mrs.

Murphy still survives with their three chil- dren : Thomas B., Susan Marie and George M. The family belong to the Presbyterian Church, to the support of which Mr. Murphy was a generous contributor during life.

Although a business man rather than a poli- tician, Mr. Murphy was interested in public affairs, performing every duty of a citizen and casting his influence in favor of the Republican party. He was a member of the Masonic fra- ternity and belonged to the Phoenix Club, of East Liverpool.

D ANIEL J. JOHNSTON. The lead- ing men of Columbiana County are for the greater part those who have spent a lifetime here and were born and reared within the confines of the county and take a deep and abiding interest in her growth and general prosperity. Among them none is more deserving of special mention than the gentleman whose biography we have the pleasure of now putting before our readers. He was born on the farm of 144 acres in sec- tion 30, St. Clair township, upon which he still resides and is one of the most successful farm- ers and stock-raisers in the community. Three generations of his ancestors, father, grandfa- ther and great-grandfather, bore the name of John Johnston.

His great-grandfather, John Johnston, came from Ireland about 140 years ago, only to meet his death at the hands of the redskins in 1781, near Greensburg, Pennsylvania.

After the tragic death of his father, John Johnston, the second of the name and the grandfather of Daniel J., was bound out to a millwright and had a hard life. In 1809 he came to East Liverpool, Ohio, in a flatboat; at this time there were but a few cabins on the site of the present thriving city; for several years he owned and operated a grist-mill, lo- cated where the West End pottery is now sit- uated. Later he bought land in St. Clair, Mid- dleton and Liverpool townships and died in

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1853 on the "Rock" farm, overlooking the Ohio River at Walker's.

Dr. John Johnston (the father of Daniel J.) and his brother, Dr. Joseph Johnston, moved to Iowa after graduating from a medi- cal school and engaged in the practice of their profession for several years until they were stricken ,with a fever from which Joseph died. As soon as he was sufficiently recovered, Dr. John Johnston returned to Columbiana County and bought the farm upon which he regained his health and brought up his family. This was in 1859. From this date until his death in 1894. at the age of 76 years, he was engaged in farming. He married Sarah Croft, a daughter of John and Jane ( Stevenson) Croft, the form- er a native of England and the latter of Madi- son township, this county. They had but two children,-Mary and Daniel J. Both children were given the advantage of college educations, the daughter graduating from Mount Union College. Mary married Rev. J. M. Keck, of Ashtabula County, Ohio, who is now president of Wesley Memorial College, Red Boiling Springs, Tennessee. His ancestor, Henry Keck, came from Germany to America in 1732 and settled at Allentown, Pennsylvania. Henry Keck's grandson, Michael, came to Ohio in 1806 and settled in Springfield township, Col- umbiana County, now included in Mahoning County. In 1815 Daniel Keck, son of Michael, bought a tract of virgin forest in Salem town- ship, which is now owned by his grandson, Rev. J. M. Keck.

Daniel J. Johnston is a graduate of Scio College, Harrison County, Ohio, class of 1883. As there was no one else to look after the farm, he returned home, giving up the desire for a professional life, and devoted himself to the duties before him. The advance made by him both in stock-raising and general farming shows that a college education is not necessar- ily wasted on one who follows agricultural pur- suits.

In 1890 Mr. Johnston married Eva Wilson, whose father, F. M. Wilson, is a retired farmer residing at Hartford City, Indiana. Their children are as follows: John R., born in 1891 ;

Everett W., born in 1893; Edith, born in 1896; and Howard, born in 1903. They are liberal supporters of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which they are members. Mr. Johnston is a member of the college fraternity Delta Tau Delta. In politics he is a Republican.

OHN PATTERSON, deceased, who was a prosperous farmer of Washing- ton township, was a most worthy member of one of the old and honor- able families of Wayne township. He was born November II, 1827, in Wayne town- ship, near Bethel Church, an old log structure, which was erected in 1825 on land donated by his grandfather, Thomas Patterson. After a long and useful lite, he passed away January 4, 1899. His parents were Thomas and Lydia ( Moncrief) Patterson.

The Patterson family came originally from Ireland, Grandfather Thomas Patterson and family emigrating in 1801 and settling first in Washington County, Pennsylvania. In 1818 he removed his family and possessions to Wayne township, Columbiana County, where he entered land and cleared a good farm. In 1823 this land came into the possession of James Patterson who cleared and improved it, and the only deed that has ever been executed for this property is the one first made to Thomas Patterson. The mother of the late John Patterson was born near West Point, in Columbiana County, Ohio. She was married to Thomas Patterson on October 31, 1826.

John Patterson grew up on his father's farm and attended school at the Washington schoolhouse. At the outbreak of the Civil war, he offered his services to his country, enlisting as a private in Company A, 143 Reg., Ohio. Vol. Inf., and faithfully and loyally served out the term of his enlistment.

On March 30, 1852, Mr. Patterson was united in marriage with Margaret Jane Hoge. who was born near Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. May 22, 1818. She is a daughter of James and Jane (Gilmore) Hoge, the former of whom

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was born near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Oc- tober 31, 1784, and died February 8, 1875, aged go years, three months and eight days. The latter was born near Pittsburg, Pennsyl- vania, May 6, 1791, and died June 18, 1842, aged 51 years, one month and 12 days. It is related of this lady that after the family settled in this section, in 1829, she would keep the family in meat during the greater part of the time, shooting deer and squirrels in the forest. The eight children of James and Jane Hoge were: John, born March 11, 1811, deceased, April 21, 1832; Isabella, born May 5, 1812, deceased April 21, 1863; William, born May 20, 1814, deceased March 5, 1885; James, Jr., born April 15, 1816, deceased March 19, 1872; Margaret J., widow of our subject; Martha G., born June 25, 1820, who married John Phillis and died October 27, 1899, leaving three chil- dren,-James S., Margaret J. and Francis ; Sample, born October 5, 1824, deceased, No- vember 12, 1893; and Rebecca, born April 14, 1826, who married James McCord and has had these children,-Sarah J., Armintha (de- ceased), Angeline, Mary, Lewis (deceased), and Roy. Sample Hoge, named above, was twice married. By his first wife he had one daughter, Ellen Jane, now deceased, who was the wife of Andrew Binsley. He married, sec- ond, Mary Ann Smith and had three children : James K .; Andrew L., deceased ; and John, de- ceased. Isabella, of the above named family, married George Beard and reared two children : James H., deceased ; and John W.

The children of John Patterson and wife were: John M., born January 10, 1853, who married Ella Orin and lives in Yellow Creek township; Martha Jane, born August 13, 1854. who resides with her mother; James' Hoge, born July 27, 1856, deceased August 10, 1859; Newell Gilmore, born December 20, 1859, who married Anna Brown, of Shelbina, Mis- souri .- they reside at Portland. Oregon, and have three children. Mabel Hood ( born June 6, 1889). Wade Brown (born February 16, 1891), and Ray Newell (born August 15, 1895) ; and Julia Amelia, who was born July 12. 1864. and died July 14. 1864. while the fa- ther was in the service of his country.

Mr. Patterson was not a very active poli- tician but he always performed the full duty of a good citizen. In early life he was a Demo- crat but later became a Republican. He was. a man of sterling character and for years was a. leading member of Bethel Church. His widow and family also belong to this congregation .. Mr. Patterson was a man who was very highly esteemed by his neighbors who found him kind, obliging and just and his family relations were always dominated by a firm spirit but gentle heart. His widow and daughter, Martha Jane, continued to operate the farm in section 18, Washington township, which Mr. Patterson did so much to improve. It is located about two miles from Salineville.

B ENNETT REYNOLDS LITTLE, de- ceased, who for a number of years. was a business citizen and prominent resident of East Liverpool, was born at Steubenville, Ohio, January 13, 1845, and was a son of James and Mary ( Rey- nolds) Little.

James Little, father of our subject, was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, where he learned the trade of gunsmith. After locating at Steubenville, Ohio, he manufac- tured guns in an establishment of his own. In 1847 he removed to Pittsburg and established a gun factory there which he conducted until 1860, when he removed to Smith's Ferry, and became an oil producer. He was a most worthy man, successful in business, hospitable by nature and exemplary in life. He was one of the earliest members of the Sons of Temper- ance and was always an earnest supporter of the principles of this body. The last 15 years. of his life were spent retired from business, making his home with our subject in East Liverpool. It was a pleasant custom for old friends to gather about him while he related stories of the earlier days, his reminiscences being vivid and his language entertaining. He died in 1893 at the age of 82 years. During his residence at Steubenville, he served in the City Council as he also did in Pittsburg. His.

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wife, Mary Reynolds, a daughter of Jacob Reynolds, died February 2, 1904, aged 86 years.

The boyhood of our subject was spent in Pittsburg and his education was secured there. Until the removal of the family to Smith's Ferry, when he was 17 years old, he worked in his father's gun factory, and after that was as- sociated with his father in oil production until 1863 when he went into oil refining on his own account. This business he continued until 1875, when he came to East Liverpool, where he went into the meat business, not be- ing affiliated with any corporation but slaught- ering his own cattle. Mr. Little drifted into the ice business, having his own ponds from which he harvested his crops of ice. He re- tired from business two years prior to his death, which took place April 13, 1898.

Mr. Little was married December 8, 1864, to Elizabeth Blackmore Dawson, who was born on a farm near Ohioville, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, May 28, 1845, and is a daughter of Thomas and Nancy Dawson.

The Dawson family is an old American one, the great-grandfather of Mrs. Little, Mi- chael Dawson, being one of nine brothers to re- move from Maryland and settle in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. They were pioneers there and acquired a large acreage of land, in- cluding the tract known as Island Run, which is of great value on account of the petroleum found thereon. George Dawson, Mrs. Little's grandfather, was born September 26, 1787, and was married April 23, 1811, to Mary Blackmore, who was born March 5, 1879. They lived for a number of years in fear of Indians and some members of the family had many hairbreadth escapes. Thomas Dawson, father of Mrs. Little, was born on the farm adjoining her own birthplace, December 29, 1815. He inherited land from his father and grandfather, including Island Run. He continued to farm until the discovery of oil on his land. It has been estimated that this discovery realized a fortune of $100,000 for him. For the last 28 years of his life he lived at Bellevue, Pennsyl- vania, where he died in 1894.

Mrs. Little's father and husband were both identified with the Republican party but neither ever cared for political honors. Mr. Little is survived by six of his 10 children, namely : Frank B., of East Liverpool; Mary; J. Percy ; John G .; George D. and Hazel B. In fraternal life he was connected with the O. U. A. M. and the I. O. R. M. For 38 years he was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which body Mrs. Little has been a member for 36 years. They contributed large- ly to the work of the church as well as to many of the leading charities of the city.

ARTIN L. BATES. The death of Martin L. Bates, which occurred at his home in Salem, March 16, 1897, removed from this city an old business citizen of substance and character. Mr. Bates was born December 28, 1838, at Salem, Ohio, and was a son of Samuel and Meribah (Sheets) Bates.

The father of Mr. Bates was one of the old and respected men of Salem, and was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, March 1, 1814. His family consisted of 13 children,. nine of whom were our subject's brothers and sisters and the others were by a second marriage.

Mr. Bates was reared and educated at Salem and in young manhood he learned the trade of carriage-making. For a few years he worked in the construction of carriages as journeyman and later engaged in making guards for mow- ers and reapers for three different firms. Sub- sequently he embarked in the shoe business and for a quarter of a century carried it on in the same location, his store being one of the old landmarks of the city. In legitimate busi- ,ness he amassed a moderate fortune, of which he made good use, being liberal to the poor and a consistent supporter of the work of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Of this religious hody he was not a member but for nine years he was connected with the church choir. Mr. Bates left behind him the record of a blame- less life and a name which was always asso- ciated with industry and integrity.

Mr. Bates is survived by his widow, who

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was formerly Letitia J. Griffith, a daughter of the late Samuel Griffith, at one time a flour manufacturer on an extensive scale in Penn- sylvania. Mrs. Bates resides in a beautiful home at No. 302 Lincoln avenue, Salem. She is prominent in church and charitable work and has a wide circle of personal friends.

5 D. RYMER, D. D. S., a popular dental surgeon of Salem, whose well- appointed offices are located at No. 1312 Broadway, has been established in this city since the spring of 1899. He was born at Harrisville, West Virginia, September 12, 1877, and is a son of Dr. Will- iam and Agnes (Law) Rymer.

Dr. William Rymer, and his wife still reside at Harrisville where he has been a medical practitioner for the past 42 years. He is one of the leading citizens of the place and is a stanch supporter of the Republican party. Dr. William Rymer's father was born in Germany but spent the greater part of his life in America, at Middleton, Ohio. The maternal grandpa- rents were natives of West Virginia who subse- quently settled at Greeley, Colorado, where the grandfather died aged 90 years and his wife aged 92 years.

The subject of this sketch is the youngest of a family of six children, the others being : Ella, wife of Benjamin Ayers, of Harrisville : Mollie, wife of Morton Purport ; Anna, wife of A. W. Wells, of Harrisville; William M., a practicing physician at Glenville, West Vir- ginia ; and Horace M., a physician of Harris- ville.

Dr. Rymer completed the common and high school courses in his native place at the age of 18 years and then entered the Cincinnati College of Dental Surgery, where he continued a student until he finished the prescribed course and was graduated in April, 1899. Since then he has been in practice at Salem.

Dr. Rymer married Ella Huff, who was born in Germany, and they have two children : Virginia and Nelson. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Like his father

he is identified with the Republican party. He has many pleasant social connections in Salem and also belongs to numerous professional bodies.

ALTER SHEETS, an estimable resident of Unity township, has a well-appointed farm in section 27. He has a comfortable home, with beautiful lawn and trees, and from its elevated position he has a fine view of the surrounding country in every direction. Mr. Sheets has followed farming with success and is also well known as crier of sales, a vocation which his father also followed many years.

Mr. Sheets was born in Unity township. Columbiana County, Ohio, February 27, 1863. and is a son of Thomas and Mary (Piper) Sheets, and grandson of Samuel and Mary (Hartsow) Sheets. Samuel Sheets crossed the mountains from the East and in 1802 settled in Unity township, Columbiana County, Ohio, where Jacob Strohecker's farm is located, in section 23, one mile west of East Palestine. Hè died about the year 1844, and his wife, in 1886. They were parents of nine children, all but two of whom grew to maturity. There are two of these children living to-day : Thomas : and Margaret, wife of Elijah Early, of East Palestine.

Thomas Sheets was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, June 22, 1825, and has lived here almost all his life. He began working as a farm hand at an early day and has largely helped in clearing and developing the coun- try. He located upon the farm now occupied by his son, Albert. in section 28, Unity town- ship, in 1861, and lived thereon until 1898. The farm had a log house and log barn upon it. and these he replaced with fine buildings. making it one of the best improved properties in the township. He conducted a sawmill on the place for some years. where the gates of the. Fair Grounds now stand in East Palestine, but this was washed down stream during high water and he never rebuilt. His brother, Ben- jamin Sheets, was a marble-cutter and erected most of the old tombstones used in Mechanics-

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burg (now East Palestine) and when a flood came in August, 1864, lost everything. In 1898, Thomas Sheets bought a tract of 23 acres in section 27, Unity township, where he now lives. He has increased his holdings to 87 acres and has a very fine farm. He has always been a man of good business ability and judgment and as a crier of public sales be- came widely known throughout the county. He is a man with a keen sense of humor and is a pleasing story-teller, taking especial delight in relating experiences of the time when O'Connor kept tavern where Meek's Hotel now stands and when there were six houses and the old Presbyterian Church where East Palestine now stands.

Thomas Sheets was united in marriage with Mary Piper, who was born in the old brick house that stood one block south of the pres- ent site of the East Palestine Pottery, in the old town of Mechanicsburg, in February, 1828. She is a daughter of James and Margaret (McCalla) Piper, who were married in Penn- sylvania, and thereafter settled in Mechanics- burg, Ohio, which had been named by Mrs. Piper's father, Thomas McCalla, who died there in 1861. Thomas Sheets and his wife became parents of five children, one of whom died in infancy. Those living are : Mary Jane, deceased, who was the wife of Henry Bacon; James L., a resident of California, who mar- ried Catherine Justison and has two daughters and one son,-Nettie, Ida and George; and Walter and Albert, who are twins. Albert, twin brother of our subject, lives on the old family homestead in section 28, Unity town- ship. He married Cora Chamberlin, a daugh- ter, of Simon Chamberlin, of Middleton town- ship, and they have one child,-Mabel.

Walter Sheets attended the district schools of his home community and worked on the farm at home until his marriage, when he set- tled in East Palestine. He served three years as engineer of the city electric light plant, has followed farming successfully and is a crier of public sales. In 1900 he located on his present farm of 2534 acres in section 27, Unity township. It is known as the "Hillside Farm," being located on an elevation of land, and is a

model country home in every respect. This has been brought about by the efforts of Mr. Sheets and his wife, who have converted a patch of brush land into a beautiful place.

On December 24, 1884, Walter Sheets was united in marriage with Orpha Baker, a daugh- ter of William and Tacy Jane ( Morgan) Baker. Her paternal grandparents settled in Columbiana County at an early date. William Baker owned a fine farm in section 31, Unity township, and there lived until he died as the result of an accident on March 6, 1885, aged 64 years and four months. His wife survived him until September, 1892. He was a deacon and treasurer of the Disciples Church for many years. Five children blessed the home of Mr. and Mrs. Baker, as follows: Effie, wife of Scott Ripley, of Colorado; Orpha, wife of our subject : Noble, who married Florence Terrell and lives on the old home place in section 31 ; Morgan, who married Alice Schooly; and Moss, who married Ella Taylor and lives in Evansville, Indiana.

Walter Sheets and his estimable wife are parents of three children, namely : Raymond, -Ross and Ethel. They have many friends throughout the county and delight in showing hospitality at their home. Fraternally our sub- ject belongs to the Protected Home Circle.

OHN W. McGARVEY, one of the prosperous farmers of Yellow Creek township, where he owns a fine farm of 232 acres in section 23, was born in Wayne township, Columbiana County, Ohio, in 1863. He is a son of Joseph and Jane (Williams) McGarvey.

Joseph McGarvey was born near Wilming- ton, Delaware, a son of James McGarvey, who died in that State. Joseph came to Colum- biana County with his widowed mother. He has always followed an agricultural life and now lives retired at Calcutta, in his 86th year. His wife died in 1884, aged 63 years, leaving these children : James, of Madison township; Elizabeth, wife of William Green, living near Calcutta ; Sarah, wife of James Conlin ; George

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History of Columbiana County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 107

Author: McCord, William B., b. 1844 Publication date: 1905 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Biographical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 912

Author: McCord, William B., b. 1844
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 912