History of Columbiana County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 111

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 111

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

From its organization Mr. McCain was a supporter of the Republican party and cast his-

821

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

vote for Gen. John C. Fremont. He was ac- tively a promoter of the "Underground Rail- road" all through the war and many a fugitive slave, before President Lincoln's proclamation gave all men freedom, was assisted many miles on his way, concealed in the roomy old buggy of James McCain as he went to and fro attend- ing to his business. He believed he was doing right and that was sufficient reason with him for his course of conduct.

Mr. McCain remained a resident of Dupont until 1869, operating a shoe factory in connec- tion with his tannery. In this year he removed to Kentucky but after four years there con- cluded to return to Jefferson County, Indiana, and 1873 found him established in the town of Madison, which he made his home for about nine years. For many years of his residence in Jefferson County he was a justice of the peace for which position his unswerving integ- rity and dispassionate judgment especially fitted him. In 1882 he came to East Liverpool, Ohio, and here he lived, retired from active. business transactions, until his death.

James McCain and wife had 14 children born to them and 12 of this large family reached maturity. The family record of the 12 is as follows: Thomas, deceased; Warren T., deceased; Lucy, who married William Van Horn, lived in Dade County, Missouri-both are now deceased; Charles C., deceased, form- erly of Salem, Columbiana County; Francis W., of Midway, West Virginia; Henrietta, wife of W. Henry Frederick, of East Liver- pool; Martha J., wife of Dennis Haycock, of Dade County, Missouri ; Mary Melissa, of East Liverpool; Sarah, deceased; and Truman W., Clark and A. Judson, of East Liverpool. Both father and mother of this large family were consistent members of the Baptist Church, in which the father was all his life very active, serving as trustee and for many years as an elder.

Truman W. McCain, the immediate sub- ject of this sketch, attended school during boyhood and remained with his father, assist- ing in the latter's tannery, until 1868. Then he began working in a saw and shingle mill during the period of the family's residence

in Kentucky, and when the others of the fam- ily went back to Jefferson County, Indiana, settling in Madison, in 1873, he took a posi- tion with William Stapp & Company, coopers, with whom he remained in the capacity of manager for nine years. He became thorough- ly acquainted with every detail of this line of business and in 1882, when he came to East Liverpool, it was -with the intention of going into the coopering business for himself. He. found a good location on Railroad street and opened a shop and in the following fall he was joined by his two brothers, Warren T. and Clark, and the firm name became McCain Brothers. In 1885 Truman W. and Warren T. purchased their brother Clark's interest and the business continued to be conducted as McCain Brothers until 1900, when our subject bought out Warren T. McCain's interest, since which. time he has conducted the business alone.

When Mr. McCain founded this great in- dustry, he gave employment to two coopers. Now 25 men can scarcely manage the work during the busy season. The output of the factory includes boxes, crates, barrels and all kinds and sizes of packages for the'potteries, from which a large patronage comes; the pot- teries are also furnished with cylinder blocks and lumber. The old idea was that a cooper was a man who made a barrel, but the present day understanding of the word includes skilled work unthought of in former days. This par- ticular factory is a leading industry at East Liverpool. In 1882 a stave-mill was built, which was destroyed by fire in 1885; it was im- mediately rebuilt and is in operation at the. present time.

Mr. McCain married Frances Clark, daugh- ter of John Clark, the latter of whom was born in Ireland, settled first at Baltimore, Maryland, and later in Indiana, where Mrs. McCain was born. Of Mr. McCain's five children, four survive, namely : Henrietta Ethel, Mary Helen, James Wilber and Frederick Clark. Both Mr. and Mrs. McCain are members of the Second Presbyterian Church in the East End, in which he is an elder.

Politically a Republican, he has never been willing to accept office, but in fraternal life he-

822

HISTORY OF COLUMBIANA COUNTY

has filled many important positions. He is a member of Penova Lodge, No. 880, I. O. O. F., is past grand of Madison Lodge, No. 72, of Madison, Indiana, has been a representative ``to the Grand Lodge and is a member of Cer- amic Lodge, No. 286, Daughters of Rebecca. He is also a member, of Ohio Valley Council, No. 23, O. U. A. M., of which he is past coun- cillor ; Goodwill Council, No. 13, Daughters .of Liberty; Eureka Circle, No. 86, Protected Home Circle, of which he is past president ; Pan American Court, No. 127, Tribe of Ben Hur, of which he is past chief; and Buckeye Castle, No. 98, Knights of the Golden Eagle, in which he has passed all the chairs and has been a representative to the Grand Lodge. In addition, he was formerly identified with a number of temperance organizations, having always been a strong adherent of the temper- ance cause.

€ USTACE R. RIDDLE, superintendent of the Columbiana County Infirmary, situated in Center township, was born July 3, 1865, at Wellsville, Ohio, and is a son of George F. and Gertrude (Lodge) Riddle.

.George F. Riddle was born in Mercer Coun- ty, Pennsylvania, and now resides in Idaho. His wife, who was born at Lisbon, Ohio, died at Wellsville, November II, 1881, aged 35 years. They had these children : Eustace R., .of this sketch; Frank Marcellus, of Lisbon; Leon Leroy, of Lisbon; and Mary Gertrude, wife of John Dixon, of Canfield, Ohio.

Our subject has been a resident of Colum- biana County all his life with the exception ;of one year during which he operated a bakery in Carroll County. He continued in school until he was 16 years of age and then learned the baking business at Wellsville and later operated a bakery at Lisbon for two years with John Brandon, under the firm name of Bran- don & Riddle. His connection with the County Infirmary began in 1886, when he came to the institution as baker, which position he filled until he was appointed superintendent in 1883. Mr. Riddle has authority over the whole insti-

tution and its excellent condition reflects the greatest credit upon his efficiency. It is not a very easy post to fill, but his administration of the institution's affairs has been eminently satisfactory in every way during his long term in office.

Mr. Riddle was married on November 28, 1883, to Erla May Adderholt, who was born at Lisbon, Ohio, and is a daughter of Wilson Adderholt. They have two sons,-George and Charles B.

Mr. Riddle has always been affiliated with the Republican party. He is one of the leading members of Mount Zion Church at Lisbon. His fraternal connection is with the Elks, hold- ing membership in Salem Lodge, No. 305.

P. CAMPBELL, a leading business S citizen of Salem township, who, in association with Mr. Carr, owns and operates what is known all over the county as the Crystal Spring Cream- ery, was born June 15, 1869, in Carroll County, Ohio.

Mr. Campbell was reared and educated in his native county and has devoted his life to farming and dairy interests. With the excep- tion of one year spent in Montana and one year in Texas, he continued to reside in Car- roll County until 1901, following farming and operating the Kilgore Creamery, being inter- ested in the latter enterprise for six years.

In 1901 Mr. Campbell removed to Salem township, Columbiana County, and took charge of the Crystal Spring Creamery, which he op- erated alone for six months and then entered into his present partnership. This creamery is one of the large industries of the township. It manufactures 1,000 pounds of butter per week and disposes of from 300 to 400 gallons of cream a week. The firm deals extensively in Jersey cattle, also, and owns a large herd for their own use. The business is carried on by experienced men and the products of this creamery find ready sale in any part of the county.

Mr. Campbell was married in 1893 to Maud

823

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

James, of Carroll County, Ohio, and they have these children: Bert, Jesse, Margaret and Irene. They are members of the Presbyterian Church. As a good citizen, Mr. Campbell takes an intelligent interest in public matters and has, on various occasions, held political office.

EORGE OLNHAUSEN, proprietor of the East Liverpool Spring Water Company, of East Liverpool, is also so largely interested in a number of other successful enterprises that he may be justly considered one of the city's rep- resentative business men. Mr. Olnhausen was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, May 26, 1848, and is a son of Frederick and Lavina ( Flower ) Olnhausen.

The Olnhausen family from which the sub- ject of this sketch is descended, not so very many generations ago belonged to the German nobility. The old records show that Count von Olnhausen took a large company of his retain- ers to Jerusalem in the days of the Crusades. Whether the doughty knight returned with his followers we have not been informed, but he left descendants who, in turn, became promi- nent in military affairs and it was our subject's grandfather, Count Frederick von Olnhausen, who was burgomaster of Stuttgart during the "Peasants' War" and who, on account of the troubles incident to the same, gave up his es- tätes and honors and came with his family to America. He settled in what is now the south side of the city of Pittsburg. After coming to America he dropped the distinguishing title of "von" from the family name.

The father of our subject, Frederick Oln- hausen, was born in Wurtemberg, Germany. May 26, 1815, and died in 1887. In his native land he learned the trade of butcher but never followed it after coming to America. He re- mained in Pittsburg until 1865 when he retired to a farm near that city and spent the remainder of his life in the peaceful pursuits of agriculture. In his political attitude he was a Republican. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity. He married a daughter of George Flower, of

an old and honored Pittsburg family, and they had four children reach maturity, viz : George, of this sketch; Mrs. Helen Sheek, of Pittsburg ; Martha, wife of William Kline, of Pittsburg ;. and Charles, of Columbus, Ohio. The mother died in 1884, aged 60 years. Both parents . were devout members of the German Lutheran Church, in which faith they carefully reared their children.

George Olnhausen grew up so loyal and patriotic an American citizen that at the age of 14 years he gave his parents much concern on account of his desire to enlist as a soldier for - service in the Civil War then in progress.' He . suddenly became possessed of a strong desire to make a visit to friends in Boston, Massachu- setts, and when he reached that city soon found' means to be accepted as a bugler in Company A, Second Reg., Massachusetts Vol. Cav., and continued with General Sheridan's command until the close of the war, returning to his anx- ious parents unharmed, although on two occa- sions he had horses shot from under him and' narrowly escaped capture by the enemy.

After taking a thorough business course in Duff's Commercial College at Pittsburg, Mr. Olnhausen became bookkeeper for the firm of Reinemann, Meyran & Seidle, wholesale jewel- ers, with whom he remained for 10 or 12 years. For several years he was out of business and then he became bookkeeper for C. A. Smith, the well-known oil producer of this section. with whom he remained in close business con- nection until 1898. In this year Mr. Olnhausen bought his present fine property on Shadyside avenue, his object being the establishing of a comfortable, enjoyable home.

Mr. Olnhausen found upon his newly ac- quired property several valuable natural fea- tures, one of these being a remarkable spring of ever-flowing, pure, soft water. This spring has been a source of large revenue to Mr. Oln- hausen. Upon being chemically analyzed, the clear, refreshing water was proven to be en- tirely free from any deleterious matter, animal or vegetable, and it is as soft as rain water, this being an unusual quality in spring water. The fame of the spring went abroad and attracted people from long distances, many of whom were.

:824

HISTORY OF COLUMBIANA COUNTY

willing to pay liberally for its water, it being claimed by many to be not only a preventative of disease but a great curative agent. So large became the demand that in 1898 Mr. Olnhausen concluded to bottle it for sale and start .out a wagon, beginning with one horse. During the first year that the water was on the market, he disposed of some 0,000 gallon bottles. The second year's output was about 17,000 bottles, which by the third year had reached 34,729 bottles. The business 'continued to constantly increase and at the end of December, 1904, the company had disposed of for that year 88,000 bottles. There is no doubt but that the sales during 1905 will approach 100,000. People are more and more awaking to the fact that typhoid fever and other dire diseases are introduced into the household through the water supply and careful heads of families, warned by intelligent med- ical men, are taking greater precautions than formerly. A pure, soft spring water seems the ideal drink.

The second remarkable feature on Mr. Onl- hausen's farm, which also he has been able to turn into a large source of revenue, is some- thing of a phenomenon. There are only one or two other places in the United States, where similar phenomena exist. It is described as a hole in the side of the hill, which is skirted by Shadyside avenue. Through this comes a strong current of clear, cold and absolutely dry air. Noted scientists have visited the spot on many occasions and many of the university professors of Pittsburg have given considerable study to the phenomena. They agree that the primal cause must have been an earthquake at an early day creating an internal vacuum and that the air probably enters the base of the mountain at a coal bank at Walker's Station. Passing through the unknown openings in the heart of the mountain, it issues at the point above mentioned. All the strata of rock at the base of the mountain are full of large crevices and fissures giving indications of disruption at some time in the past.

At the outlet of this natural, cold-air shaft, Mr. Olnhausen has erected two large cold stor- age warehouses, similar in appearance to those. built at other points for the preservation of

meats, eggs and fruits, but with this exception, that not a pound of ice has ever been required to keep up the uniform temperature at 42 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the year. Space is rented here to the local dealers, who utilize it for keeping their supplies fresh. Whatever its history, the phenomena is interesting.

In addition to the above enterprises, Mr. Olnhausen is connected with other successful concerns. He was one of the promoters of the Pleasant Heights Land Company, which was incorporated in 1898 and of which he is presi- dent; he also promoted the North Side Land Company, of which he is a director ; and he is treasurer and director of the Sherwood Land Company, which he assisted in organizing. He is recognized as one of the able business men of East Liverpool and during his membership on the City Council advanced the city's interests with the same ability with which he has handled his own.

Mr. Olnhausen married Margaret L. Duff, who is a daughter of Samuel Duff, of Clarion County, Pennsylvania, an old iron master, who owned a charcoal furnace. They have two children : Samuel. who is associated with his father in the spring water business; and Fred- erick, who is head decorator in the Globe Pot- tery, of East Liverpool. Mr. Olnhausen was reared, as mentioned, in the Lutheran faith, but his wife is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church. Politically he is a Republican. He belongs to Alexander Hayes Post, No. 3, Grand Army of the Republic, of Pittsburg, be- ing one of the charter members.

HEISS BROTHERS, proprietors and operators of large flouring mills at Columbiana, have been residents of the village for the past 30 years dur-' ing which time they have won an enviable reputation as the manufacturers of first-class flour. The business was started by their father, Conrad Theiss, in 1877, at which time he located in Columbiana and erected his first mill. He was born in Germany in 1820 and was there married to Rosina Mueller, by whom he had seven children, all of whom are

825

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

now living. Mrs. Theiss is now in her 78th year and makes her home with her son Henry, who is unmarried. Conrad Theiss was 50 years old when he came to America and for seven years he lived in Pennsylvania, where he was engaged in farming. In 1877 he built his mill at Columbiana and was assisted in the work by his sons, the company being known as Theiss & Sons. They did a very successful business and when the old mill was burned to the ground in .1884, it was at once rebuilt on a more mod- ern basis. In 1885 a partner was taken in the business, which was conducted under the name of Theiss. Kegley & Company until 1898, the sons carrying on the business after their father's death in 1893.

In 1898 the Theiss sons purchased the in- terest of Mr. Kegley and continued the busi- ness alone. They remodeled and improved the building and machinery until they are equal to the best, with a capacity of from 250 to 300 barrels of flour per day. Most of the out- put is disposed of in the Pittsburg market. Frederick and Henry have since purchased the interests of Peter and Philip.

FREDERICK THEISS was born in Germany in 1864 and was educated in the common schools of America. He married Lydia Alts- house and is the father of three children,- Vera, Olive and Rosena.

HENRY THEISS is also a native of Ger- many and received his education in America. He is a thorough man of business and stands high in commercial and fraternal circles. He is a prominent Elk, an Odd Fellow and a Mason.

EMUEL T. LAMBORN, who is the owner of "Terrace Farm," a fine prop- erty of 100 acres situated in section 14, Butler township, now resides in a comfortable home in the village of Winona, retired from all business activity. Mr. Lamborn was born February 14, 1841, and has spent his life in this county. He is a son of Clayton and Hannah ( Test) Lamborn.

The Lamborn family is one of those which. for generations, has held to the principles of the

Society of Friends and has been of the strict body among them, known as Wilburites, which adopted the suggestions of John Wilbur, a godly man of that organization, who insisted that modern dress and falling off from the old customs of the sect must be guarded again'st by still closer adherence to early forms and cus- toms.

Townsend Lamborn, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Chester County, Pennsyl- vania, which is largely settled by Friends and their descendants, and where the prosperity of the people attest the value of temperance, prob- ity and thrift, virtues which peculiarly belong to the "simple life." Robert Lamborn, father of Townsend, followed William Penn to Pennsyl- vania, from England, and was the founder of the family there.

Clayton Lamborn was born in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, but was reared in Ches- ter County, where he lived until 1835, when he came to Columbiana County, Ohio. Here he taught school for a time and later became a farmer in Perry township, owning a farm of 100 acres. He died aged 85 years, having lived a long, worthy and consistent life. He married Hannah Test, who was born in 1811 in Butler township, Columbiana County, Ohio, where she died aged 79 years. She was a daughter of Isaac B. Test, who was born in New Jersey and came here with his father, Zacharias Test, in 1803. The father entered land for himself and his three sons, Isaac B., Samuel and Benjamin, each receiving 160 acres, the most of it being in Butler township. Clayton and Hannah Lam- born had three children, viz: Martha S., who died aged 17 years; Lemuel T., of this sketch; and Margaret E., who married Thomas Har- mer, of Pennsville, Morgan County, Ohio.

Lemuel T. Lamborn, our immediate sub- ject, remained on his father's farm and at- tended the local schools until 21 years of age and then farmed for a space of four years for an cunt, after which he worked in the roofing business for two years with C. H. Stratton, who did an extensive business over the county, in- cluding Salem and East Liverpool. When he withdrew from this business, he bought a small farm of some 40 acres in the vicinity of Winona

826

HISTORY OF COLUMBIANA COUNTY

and lived there for eight years and then pur- chased the farm of 100 acres, which his son-in- law now operates. For some years Mr. Lam- born was engaged in sheep raising, but later de- voted his attention to general farming and dairying. At one time his land was quite heav- ily timbered in some parts, but now the larger part is under cultivation. Under the good man- agement it has received the property has been converted into one of the best farms of the township.

On November 12, 1868, Mr. Lamborn was married to Nancy Crew, who was born in 1842 in Butler township, and is a daughter of Abram and Jane ( Whinnery) Crew, and to them were born three children, viz : Emma, deceased, who was the wife of M. Luther Barker, of West- field, Indiana, and who is survived by a son, Lawrence La Rue; Carrie J., who died in in- fancy; and Clarence Larwill, who died aged nine years. Mr. Lamborn was formerly a Re- publican, but for some years has been more in sympathy with the Prohibition party. For two years he was township assessor, has been town- ship clerk and for some 10 years was township trustee.

HARLES B. FISHER, one of the leading business men of East Liver- pool, proprietor of "The Bostonian shoe store" in this city, was born at Wellsville, Ohio, September 21, 1876, and is a son of Jefferson and Josephine V. (Bunting) Fisher.

The Fisher family is evidently of German extraction, although it has been settled on American soil for many generations. Paul Fisher, the great-grandfather of Charles B., was born near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and it is recorded that both he and his son Samuel conversed fluently in the German language. It was Paul Fisher, a soldier of the Revolutionary War, who founded the family in Columbiana County, Ohio, to which section he came in pioneer days, near the beginning of the last cen- tury.

Samuel Fisher. son of Paul Fisher, and grandfather of Charles B., was born at Sun-

bury, Pennsylvania, December 19, 1807, and accompanied his parents to Calcutta, Columbi- ana County, Ohio, possibly about 1813. Here he grew to manhood, receiving such instruction as was imparted in the little log school house near his father's farm, very little in comparison with what he acquired by himself in later years in association with men of affairs in this section. In 1836 he married Mary Richardson, who was born December 20, 1818, a daughter of Samuel Richardson. This lady still survives. Until the natural infirmities of advanced years made activity impossible, she was a very inter- ested member of the Presbyterian Church at Long's Run.

Samuel Richardson was a pioneer in Col- umbiana County, moving in January, 1802, upon his farm, a part of which now forms the sites of the towns of Negley and Camp Bouquet. He married Mary Blackledge, who was a daughter of William Blackledge, of Washing- ton, Greene County, Pennsylvania. Samuel Richard was an extensive farmer and, as was the general custom of the day, conducted a tannery on his farm. His grandfather came to this country, from England with William Penn and settled where Philadelphia now stands.

For the two years following his marriage, prior to purchasing what is known as the Fisher farm, Samuel Fisher farmed on a rented prop- erty, moving then to the valuable tract on which he spent the remainder of his life and where he died May 3, 1880. This farm is now in- cluded in the city limits of East Liverpool, on the road leading to Calcutta. During the greater part of his life he carried on large agricultural operations on this farm, many of whose land- marks have already disappeared before the en- croachment of growing business enterprises, and the time is not far distant when homes of great industries and private residences will have covered the whole extent.

Jefferson Fisher, son of Samuel and father of Charles B. Fisher, was born at the old home. opposite Riverview Cemetery, in the outskirts of East Liverpool, Ohio, June 3, 1843, and ob- tained his education in the local schools. Jefferson Fisher was married in 1871 to Jose-

827

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

phine Virginia Bunting, who was born in Wells- ville, Ohio, July 20, 1849, and was a daughter of Samuel and Mary (Gorrell) Bunting, the latter of Philadelphia. Samuel Bunting had been born near Wellsville, Ohio, where he and his wife, Mary G., built the family home and where they lived until the time of their death. To them were born 10 children, namely : Mrs. Clarissa Carnes, Albert R., Howard, Mary, William Calvin, Josephine Virginia, James Robert, Elwood S., Mrs. Missouri B. Baker, and Ida M. Bunting. The children of Jefferson and Josephine V. Fisher were: Helen M., who is the wife of Dr. J. Bert George, a well-known dental surgeon of East Liverpool; and Charles B., the immediate subject of this sketch.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Columbiana County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 111

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