History of Columbiana County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 114

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 114

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Politically Mr. Whitacre is a Republican. but has only reluctantly accepted office, being in no sense a politician. He was a member of the City Council several terms, and when the new municipal code went into effect retired as president of that body. He was one of the organizers of the Wellsville Board of Trade, of which he is secretary. He has always been a man of public spirit and has done much to ad- vance the city's various utilities and increase her commerce.

5 ENRY ALLMON,* deceased, was born on Chestnut Ridge, Carroll County, Ohio, in 1837, and died on his farm, on section 28, Washing- ton township, Columbiana County, in 1884, from the results of an accident. He was a son of James Allmon, who was born in Virginia and came to Ohio in pioneer days,

entering land on Chestnut Ridge, Carroll County.

Henry Allmon left behind a widow and a highly respected family, his children being connected by marriage with many of the old- est and most honorable families of this sec- tion of the state. Henry Allmon married Mary Ann Blazer, who was a daughter of Basil Blazer, a native of Springfield township, Jefferson County, Ohio. Mrs. Allmon died May 30, 1900, survived by these four of her family of nine children : namely ; West T., Monroe A., Emmet M. and Elisa. West T. Allmon owns and lives upon the old home- stead farm of 160 acres, which was formerly occupied by his father, from whom he received it. He married Evanna Borland, and they have three children : Laura, Viola and Lulu. Monroe A. Allmon married Samantha Peter- son and they have two children : Sanford and Roy. Elisa Allmon married William Buck and has two children,-Harold and Hilda (twins).

EMMET M. ALLMON married Lucinda Bor- land and they have four children : Harry W., born in 1893: Edgar L., born in 1895; Bertha Belle, born in 1898; and Grace E., born in 19OI. Emmet owns 67 acres of a farm of 212 acres, situated in section 28, Washington town- ship, which his father owned at the time of death. The other 125 acres are owned by the three other heirs. Mrs. Allmon is a daughter of Washington and Magdalena ( Easterday) Borland, the former of whom was born in Harrison County, Ohio, and was a son of Samuel Borland, who came to Ohio from Washington County, Pennsylvania, and settled in North township, Harrison County, in 1821. He built a log cabin in the woods and here reared a family of five children, of whom his SON Washington was the second. Samuel Borland's wife died when Washington was a child, but he grew up into intelligent young manhood, was very studious and secured a fine education at Hagerstown Academy and later in the best schools in Ohio. He married Magdalena Easterday, and they had 10 chil- dren, five sons and five daughters,-Mrs. All- mon being the youngest-all of whom still

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HISTORY OF COLUMBIANA COUNTY

survive and are doing well. Mr. Borland ac- cumulated a large estate in Monroe township, Carroll County, and generously assisted all of his children. He was an active and influential Democrat and held many offices of trust and profit in Monroe township. He was born July II, 1822, and died in his 83rd year.

Emmet M. Allmon, like his esteemed father and father-in-law, is a stanch Democrat. He has looked after the welfare of his family's future by associating himself with the benefici- ary society of the Protected Home Circle. The whole family connection is well and favorably known in Washington township.

AMES FIGGINS,* an old and re- spected resident of Wayne township. where he was born in 1829, is the owner of a fine farm of 80 acres in section 28. The parents of Mr. Figgins were John and Nancy ( Wollam) Fig- gins.

John Figgins was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia, and was a son of James Figgins, also a native of Westmoreland County. The latter was a Revolutionary sol- dier and a member of the staff of General Stuben. For his services he was awarded a pension of $8 a month. His last years were spent with his son John on his farm in Wayne township, where he died at the age of 90 years and both he and his aged wife were buried in the Lebanon churchyard. John Figgins sur- vived his wife and died aged 75 years. The Wollams were early pioneers of Columbiana County and our subject's maternal grandfather was a teamster who transported goods to and from Philadelphia long before the building of any railroads over the mountains. He was a native of Pennsylvania and died in Wayne township, Columbiana County, Ohio, aged 80 years.

James Figgins of this sketch was named in honor of his paternal grandfather, the Revo- lutionary soldier whom he can easily recall. He attended the district schools in youth and grew up a practical farmer. When ready to

settle down, he bought his present farm from his father. This land was originally entered by a Mr. McCoy and Mr. Figgins has the first deed, which bears the signature of President Andrew Jackson. Mr. Figgins the elder en- tered a farm adjoining this one. All this land is fertile and well-improved.

In 1864 our subject enlisted for service in the Civil War, in Company A, 143rd Reg., ,Ohio Vol. Inf., of which he was Ist corporal and color-bearer, and was mustered out in September of the same year, having taken part in the fighting near Petersburg. He belongs to the local Grand Army of the Republic post. Politically he is a Republican.

Mr. Figgins was married, first, to Hannah Kirby, who was born in Lehigh County, Penn- sylvania. The two children of this marriage were: Joseph and John W. The former was born at East Liverpool in 1853 and died at Allegheny. Pennsylvania, in 1903. His widow still survives, with three children,-Daniel, James and Ruth,-and lives in Iowa. John IV. married Maggie Rosebury and their chil- dren are Carl, Paula and Ethel. He is chief clerk in the railroad shops at Columbus. Mr .. Figgins married, second, Susan Kiper, who was born in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania.

ALTER C. SUPPLEE .* one of East Liverpool's most active and successful business men, has had a varied career in the business world. He is at the present time secretary and treasurer of the Federal Building & Loan Company, and is identified with many . other important enterprises of the city. As a real estate man. he has been an important factor in the upbuilding of the East End.

Mr. Supplee was born in Ohio township, Beaver County. Pennsylvania. December 12, 1861. and is a son of William and Jennie ( Rambo) Supplee. His father was born in the vicinity of Philadelphia and came across the mountains in a wagon, locating near Smith's Ferry in Beaver .County, Pennsylvania. He was a blacksmith by trade but during the last ro years of his life he was engaged as a dairy

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farmer on an extensive scale, shipping his pro- ducts to Pittsburg. He died about 1875, aged 68 years. In politics he was a Republican. He and his wife were parents of the following children: Mary, widow of Henry Dillon, of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania ; Samuel, deceased, who was a resident of Columbus, Ohio; An- drew, deceased; Sarah J., deceased, who was the wife of George B. Walton, of East Liver- pool: WV. Harrison, of East Liverpool; and Walter C. Mrs. Supplee died in 1890, aged 69 years. She and her husband were Epis- copalians.

Walter C. Supplee was educated in the common schools of Ohio township, Beaver County, near Smith's Ferry, and there learned the trade of carpenter, which he followed some years. He also contracted for some years, then followed his trade in the pottery of C. C. Thompson and for three years served as special policeman at that plant. He was next ap- pointed to the city police force, with which he was identified for seven years, most of the time as deputy marshal or assistant chief of police. He next went to Lisbon and served as deputy sheriff four years under Charles Gill. Upon the expiration of his term he was elected chief of police of Lisbon, which office he resigned at the end of one year because of ill health. Returning to East Liverpool, he settled in the East End in January, 1900, and has since en- gaged extensively in the real estate business. He organized the Supplee Land Company, of which he was secretary and treasurer for a time. and made of it a very successful venture. On February 24. 1902, in connection with Dr. R. J. Marshall. T. H. Fisher, William C. Thompson and Frank Allabaugh. he organized the Federal Building & Loan Company. of which he has since been secretary and treas- urer. The first board of directors included the above named and S. R. Dixson. W. H. Kinney, J. H. Smith, Jr .. and W. A. Andrews. It remains unchanged at the present with the exception that C. R. Boyd has taken the place of William C. Thompson. deceased. In 1903. he organized the Midway Land Company. of which he is also secretary and treasurer. In .addition he is an architect of considerable ex-

perience, a profession for which he prepared himself without school instruction. His early training at his trade gives him a practical know- ledge, which has been invaluable in the work of planning buildings.

Mr. Supplee has been a member of the Knights of Pythias since he was 21 and is past chancellor commander of Peabody Lodge, No. 19; and a member of Eureka Circle, No. 86, Protected Home Circle. He was a mem- ber of Company E, Eighth Reg., Ohio National Guards, enlisting as private and being ad- vanced to captain within a year. During the riots accompanying the coal strike in 1895, he was on duty. During the Spanish American War he organized a company at Lisbon, but they were not called out: he mustered in 102 officers and men in 24 hours. Politically he is a Republican. He was united in marriage with Cora L. Ritz, a daughter of James Ritz, and they have four children : Cornelia, Clyda A., Herman H and Charles G. Relig- iously, they are members of the Second Pres- byterian Church of East Liverpool, of which our subject was formerly treasurer.

AWRENCE A. CALLAHAN .* one of the enterprising and successful busi- ness men of Salem, an extensive wholesale dealer in tobacco and con- fectionery, is a native of Ohio, and was born in the village of Washingtonville, On the line of Columbiana and Mahoning counties. August 17. 1869. His parents are Absalom and Mary ( Hoffman ) Callahan.

Both parents of Mr. Callahan were born in Mahoning county, Ohio. and they have a comfortable home at No. 38 Maple street. Salem. In his earlier years Absalom Callahan was a drover and dealer in live-stock. but for : me time he has assisted his son in the latter's large business. Mr. and Mrs. Callahan have two children, namely : Lawrence A .. of this' sketch and Estella. the wife of C. H. King. a grocer of Salem.

Since the age of 10 years Lawrence .A. Callahan has been in business operating a news-

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stand and stationery store in his native town even while in school. A partner attended to his business during school hours but his enter- prise and business ability made the venture a success and gave his native village a first- class service in this line. Succeeding well and accumulating a little capital, at the age of 12 years he added tobacco and confectionery to his stock and has been in the business ever since. By the time he was 23 years of age he had be- come possessed of capital sufficient to start into a wholesale business and he then came to Salem and was soon established here, at first driving his own delivery wagon and living in rented property. In contrast, he now has a trade that covers Columbiana and Mahoning counties and own an acre and a half of valuable land on Franklin avenue, where he has erected a handsome residence and barn and his sub- stantial two-story warehouse, 22 by 60 feet, with elevator and other modern equipment. His father attends to the warehouse business, Mr. Callahan being his own solicitor. In this capacity he is a success, his personal appear- ance and genial address serving him well as an introduction. After that the securing of business is easy as the superior quality of his goods speak for themselves. His is a suc- cess won entirely through his own efforts, one. which reflects credit and "commands admira- tion.

Mr. Callahan was married September 3, 1891, to Emi L. Longbatton, who was born at Washingtonville, Ohio, March 22, 1870, and is a daughter of John H. and Ottillia (Snyder) Longbatton, the former of whom was a native of England and the latter of Ohio. Mrs. Cal- lahan's mother belonged to one of the oldest pioneer families of Columbiana County. Her grandfather Snyder built the first house in Washingtonville. Her family is very well known. Our subject's grandmother was Susan Kelter also of an old family. She came to Salem through the swamps, while bear and other wild beasts were numerous. She brought the first spinning wheel here. She lived to the unusual age of 92 years, her death taking place only two years ago.

In political affiliation, Mr. Callahan is a

Democrat. He is a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason, belongs to Perry Lodge, No. 185, F. & A. M., of Salem; Salem Chapter, No. 94 R. A. M .; Omega Council, No. 44, R. & S. M .; Salem Commandery, No. 42, K. T .; Per- fection Chapter of Rose Croix, Valley of Can- ton, of Canton, Ohio; Lake Erie Consistory, S. P. R. S., of Cleveland.

ON. THOMAS H. SILVER, A. B., LL. B.,* president of the Silver Banking Company, at Wellsville, was born in this city, February 21, 1856, and is a son of Dr. David S. and Nancy Elizabeth (Hammond) Silver.

The paternal grandfather, David Silver, was born at Havre de Grace, Maryland, in 1784. He remained on the family plantation until about the age of 35 years, when he came to Ohio and bought a farm between Waynes- burg and Canton. At that time the country was still a wilderness and Indians and wild ani- mals still roamed through the forests. In this new country the Silvers were pioneers, the father a man of hardy enterprise and un- daunted courage, the progenitor of a family which has become one of prominence in his adopted State. His political support was given to the Whig party.

Dr. David S. Silver, son of the pioneer and father of our subject, was probably one of the most brilliant men Columbiana County has ever. known. He was born February 12, 1811, and died in August, 1877. His early school ad- vantages were naturally limited, but he ac- quired enough learning to enable him to teach the local schools until his determination was formed to enter upon the study of medicine. In Dr. Gardner, of Waynesburg, he found an able preceptor and by him was prepared for the New York College of Medicine, where he was subsequently graduated and was licensed to practice about 1825. Shortly afterward, he came to Columbiana County and entered upon the practice of his profession, which he contin- ued until 1883. In 1845 he located at Wells- ville and this town continued his home until

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the close of his life. In summing up the life and career of a man of such brilliant parts as the late Dr. Silver, the biographer is at a loss what feature to make the most prominent. He was at the head of his profession, his reputa- tion being one of note all over this section. He accumulated a large fortune through his excel- lent business qualities, while at the same time he was liberal and charitable to an extent only known to those intimately associated with him. Speaking the German language like the Eng- lish, he had practically taught himself both, in order to gratify his desire for learning and in- vestigation.

Dr. Silver was one of the early admirers of Abraham Lincoln, seeing in the honest country lawyer much more than the mere politician and predicting for him much of the success which he later reached. In all movements of of the Republican party, Dr. Silver took a deep personal interest, being in entire sympathy with its fundamental principles. He would have reached great heights as a lawyer, having the keen foresight and accurate judgment required in the law and possessing also the mangetic oratorical powers which produced desired effect upon his hearers, moving them alternately to laughter or tears. With a poetic and vivid im- agination, he was a powerful temperance advo- cate and in this cause he was looked upon as a most effective lecturer.

Dr. Silver was united in marriage with Nancy Elizabeth Hammond, who was a daugh- ter of the late Thomas Hammond. To this union were born five children, the four who reached maturity being : Thomas H., of Wells- ville ; Margaret, of Wellsville; Frank Wade, who is connected with the State Bank at Dur- ango, Colorado; and David, of Pittsburg. The last named is a distinguished physician and surgeon, a graduate of Harvard College and of the universities of Berlin and Vienna, and is the superintendent of the orthopedic depart- ment of the General Hospital at Allegheny City.

Mrs. Silver passed away two years before her husband, dying in 1885, at the age of 56 years. She was a woman of admirable char- acter and was beloved and esteemed by all

who knew her. Both Dr. Silver and his wife were consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, active in all its work and generous supporters of its charities.

Thomas H. Silver, our immediate subject, completed the common and high school courses at Wellsville and subsequently was graduated at Allegheny College, Meadville, Pennsylvania. In 1875 he entered the senior class at Harvard College and in the following year was gradu- ated from the Harvard Law School. Selecting Chicago as his first field of practice, Mr. Silver entered the law office of Lyman & Jackson of that city and was admitted to the Illinois bar with permission to practice before the Supreme Court. During his year of practice in the great lake city, he met with most encouraging suc- cess, but was recalled to Wellsville on account of his beloved father's failing health.

Upon his return, he found himself com- pelled to assume charge of his father's many business interests and as these were so im- portant financially, he considered it advisable to open a regular banking institution in order to propely take care of them. Thus came about the organization of the Silver Banking Com- pany, in February, 1884, Mr. Silver becoming its president. His father's health was never restored to the extent that he could again re- sume charge of his affairs, in fact for, the last five years of his life he was an invalid.

Mr. Silver has been president of the Cham- pion Brick Works ever since their organiza- tion in 1886, and is interested in numberless other enterprises. In 1884 he erected the building in which the bank is located. This is one of the fine business structures of the city and would do credit to a much larger place.

Mr. Silver is an uncompromising Republi- can and, if his time were not so occupied by business affairs, would probably be obliged to accept public offices which are continually being pressed upon him. In 1881 he was appointed city solicitor, of Wellsville and in 1882 and 1883 he served the city as mayor. In 1889 he was elected to the Ohio State Senate, in which he served with the greatest efficiency, but posi- tively declined a renomination. For 12 years he has served on the School Board and has

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always actively supported all civic measures which promise welfare to the general public. As a business man and financier, he is known all over the State. His fellow-citizens find him a courteous, affable, educated gentleman, ever ready to give ear to the discussion of social and economic questions and to lend assistance in carrying out commendable public-spirited en- terprises.

On October 2, 1885, Mr. Silver was mar- ried to Susanna Moore, who was a daughter of Capt. Daniel and Harriet (Brown) Moore, of Newport, Kentucky. Mrs. Silver died in 1887, at the age of 29 years, leaving two chil- dren, viz. : Harriet Moore, who is a student at Allegheny College, Meadville, Pennsylvania, class of 1906; and Thomas F., Jr., who is a student in the Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, class of 1906.

Mr. Silver married, second, Mary R. Reager, who is a daughter of Rev. James H. Reager, D. D., formerly of Jacksonville, Ohio, where Mrs. Silver was born, but now of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Canton, Ohio. For the past 20 years our subject has been a church trustee. He owns a beautiful home in Wellsville and both he and his wife are prominent in the quiet social life of the city.

ACOB DE TEMPLE,* deceased, for many years one of the most highly respected citizens of East Liverpool, where he resided retired from busi- ness activity for some II years prior to his decease on November, 9, 1884, was born in one of the Prussian provinces bordering on the Rhine, June 9, 1812.

The De Temple family originated in France and belonged to that persecuted and heroic band of Huguenots who escaped to Germany in 157.2, after the massacre of St. Bartholomew. The family became identified with the people with whom they found a welcome and home and there Mr. De Temple's ancestors continued to live and multiply until the time of his father, Mathew De Temple, who came to America int 1842. He located at Buffalo, New York, re- mained there until 1854 and then removed to

Lewis County, New York. He was the father of 10 children, viz. : George, who died in New York; Jacob, of this sketch; Helen; Catherine ; Mathew; John; Nicholas; Joseph and Emily: The only survivor is Nicholas, who resides at Darien Center, New York.

The family trade of the De Temple kindred was working in iron and this it had followed for generations, becoming prominent and wealthy, and prior to its expulsion from France had owned great furnaces and busy foundries. Jacob De Temple adopted the family calling and became a skilled and reliable workman. He was well educated in his own language, accord- ing to the excellent German law, and when he came to the United States at the age of 45 years he was an artisan who could command high prices for the class of work he was able to do. A stranger, he had to seek employment and he went first to Buffalo and from there to the great iron city of Pittsburg, where he doubtless would have remained, had not the cholera been prevailing at that time. From Pittsburg he went to Wheeling and thence to Steubenville, Ohio.

Surprised and pleased with the great agri- cultural opportunities offered on every side in the new country, Mr. De Temple decided to try farming for a time and, following out this idea, first rented a farm in the neighborhood of Mingo, later another at Holliday's Grove. Here he remained three years and then moved to another farm near Brown's Station thence to Toronto, Ohio, and still later to Smith's Ferry, Pennsylvania. All of his agricultural ventures proved successful and when he retired to East Liverpool, on October 1, 1873, he pos- sessed a' competency, invested in desirable land, and erected the comfortable home in which his widow still resides, at No. 290 West Third street. Here the remainder of his life was spent and he passed away esteemed and re- spected' by all who knew him.

Jacob De Temple was twice married, his first wife dying in 1850 in the home on the Rhine, Germany. . Their eight children were: Catherine, deceased; Peter, deceased; Peter (2nd), deceased; Anna, deceased; Mathew E., of the "Scotch Settlement," Columbiana Coun-

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ty; Elizabeth, wife of John Trumick, of Córaopolis, Pennsylvania; and Helena, de- ceased, formerly the wife of Jesse Smith, of Cumberland, West Virginia. Mr. De Temple was married, second, on July 9, 1857, to Mary A. Feist, who was born at Lancaster, Pennsyl- vania, April 8, 1833, and is a daughter of Sebastian Feist, once a prominent farmer of that locality. Ten children were born to this union, nine of whom reached mature years, namely : A. L., of Stockton, California; James A., of East Liverpool; Joseph, deceased; Mary, de- ceased; Cecelia, wife of James Johnson, of Chester, West Virginia; Henry M., of Buf- falo, New York; Laura, wife of Herbert Crites, of East Liverpool; Gertrude, wife of William Dougherty, of Wheeling; and George, de- ceased.

Mathew De Temple came to East Liverpool with his father, leaving Buffalo in 1851, lived at Wheeling in 1852 and later, at Steubenville. In 1861 he enlisted for his first term of service in the Civil War, entering the First Regiment, West Virginia Vol. Inf., and was mustered out in the same year. In 1862 he reenlisted, enter- ing the 84th Regiment, Ohio Vol. Inf., and was out that year and then a second time re- enlisted, this time entering the 129th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., in which he served until March, 1864. He took part in the furious battle of Perryville, Kentucky, and participated in num- erous skirmishes and was seriously wounded at Mulberry Gap. When he first enlisted, he was but 18 years of age, having been born March 25, 1843, but all through the hard service fol- lowing he performed a brave man's duty and has a military record of which he may be justly proud.

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History of Columbiana County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 114

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