History of Columbiana County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 33

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 33

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).

Marcus Alonzo Hanna was born in New Lisbon, September 24, 1837, the second of seven children. He attended the public schools of New Lisbon until the age of 15, when he re- moved with his father to Cleveland. In the public schools he prepared for a course in Western Reserve College, where he spent one year in scientific study. In 1857 he entered his father's store, the management of which soon devolved upon him. The store at that time was doing a large Lake Superior trade. After his father's death, he settled the estate and managed the business of the store. During the Civil War he served four months in con- nection with the War Department in Washing- ton. In 1864 he married C. Augusta Rhodes, daughter of Daniel P. Rhodes, of Cleveland. At Mr. Rhodes' death the firm of Rhodes &

Company was succeeded by M. A. Hanna & Company, dealers in coal, iron ore and pig-iron. In this business, which gave employment to several thousand men, began the extensive re- lations of Mr. Hanna, as a capitalist and em- ployer of labor, with the workingmen, and "the development of new ideas as to. the proper attitude of each to the other." Observing that misunderstandings were constantly arising be- tween the employer and employee, Mr. Hanna began an investigation with a view to finding a remedy if possible. His careful observation, and patient diligent inquiry into the problem, resulted in the formation of what has since been known as the National Civic Federation, an organization started about 1900 in Chicago. The object of this association, as Mr. Hanna expressed it, was to bring together men of ex- perience and ability to discuss economic ques- tions. To quote his own words: "It is no new theory to me-no new idea of yesterday or a year. ago. It is the result of 30 years of experience in dealing with this question of labor -dealing with it under all conditions and emer- gencies and embarrassments which crowd the busy life of those who conduct the industries of our country."

In this connection a quotation from a sketch prepared for the Lisbon Centennial souvenir volume will be in place: "Prior to the great political campaign of 1896, 'Mr. Hanna was comparatively unknown outside the realms of trade and commerce .. The knowl- edge that the world at large had of him was that he was a shrewd, careful and brainy cap- tain of industry, engaged in large business en- terprises which required the investment of much capital, the employment of an army of , labor, and the watchful, far-seeing eye of the thoroughly intelligent business man to bring them to a safe issue. But his friendship and love for the standard-bearer of his party induced him to enter into that contest with all his ardor, and with his advent into politics no puny weak- ling entered the lists, but a full-grown gladiator sprang into the arena. The country was amazed at the spectacle of one who had de- voted his whole life to arduous business pur- suits suddenly appearing in a new field, and

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showing from that day his superb qualities of statesmanship. Untrained in the art of public speaking, he surprised his audiences by his oratory ; for he is certainly an orator within the definition that 'oratory is the art of convincing the people.' But with all that has been accorded to him in a political way, Senator Hanna is prouder of the part he has taken in the peaceful solution of the vexed labor question than he is of mere political victories, gratifying as they may be. In speaking of the bitter contest in the Tuscarawas Valley during the miners' strike in 1874, when the militia of the State had to be ordered out to uphold the law and preserve order he said: 'I had seen men actu- ated by passion and prejudice, so that reason was dethroned; and I had seen the men on the other side fully aroused to what they consid- ered the injustice of the demands of employees and determined to resist to the last. Like all other strikes, it came to an end; and after that experience, after final consideration of its ori- gin and its features, I made up my mind there was a better way to settle disputes of labor and capital; and from that day to this, that ques- tion has never been absent from my thoughts; there never has been a time that I have not studied every feature of it. And when now in the opening of this new century we are in the midst of the greatest prosperity which we have ever known, when all the industrial interests of the country are roused to conditions which inspire activity, the men, the captains of in- dustry, controlling these great industries. in their own selfishness, in their own desire to make the best of the opportunities, have over- looked the importance of that other side of the question. * The way to prepare

* to meet all contingencies is to lay the founda- tion of mutual benefit and mutual confidence, each with the other, one just as necessary and just as important as the other.' The leading question of the day from every point of view, a question of the life of our republic, is the question upon which the Civic Federation is engaged, and to which the leading minds of the country are asked to contribute whatever of thought or experience they may have for a proper and just solution of the great economic

problem. . When such men as M. A. Hanna and his associates combine to bring harmony out of discord and industrial peace out of the conflict between labor and capital, we may feel assured that their efforts will be successful."

Mr. Hanna was appointed to the United States Senate by Governor Asa S. Bushnell March 5, 1897, to fill the vacancy caused by the retirement of John Sherman, who resigned to accept the position of Secretary of State in President Mckinley's cabinet; took his seat March 5, 1897; in January, 1898, he was elected for, the short term ending March 4, 1899, and also for the succeeding full term, which would have ended March 4, 1905. He died after a brief illness, February 15, 1904, in Washington, and was buried in Cleveland.

Rev. Henry C. McCook, D. D., of Phila- delphia, himself also a native of New Lisbon, wrote of Senator Hanna after his death :

Draw, if thou wilt, the portrait of man

Whom men would count a pattern of their kind- As son, employer, husband. parent. friend : Not faultless, for perfection who can find? But, knowing where the path of duty leads Therein will follow. faithful to the end; His promise, justly answering to his deeds, Abating naught. nor swerving from the way, Whatever tempt his steadfast feet to stray ; To the full measure of his strength and light Doing his part and always all his best. With conscience clear and loyal to the right. Keep then this model, righteous man in view, And judge thou, if the Senator has not With honest, kind and faithful purpose sought To hold the mirror to this image true.

While Hon. Robert W. Tayler is not a native of Columbiana County, yet it was in the county that he began his splendid career, fought his battles and won his most brilliant victories. He was born in Youngstown, Ohio, November 26, 1852; graduated from Western Reserve College June, 1872; in September of that year he commenced teaching in the High School in New Lisbon, and was elected superintendent of the New Lisbon schools in 1873, and re-elected in 1874. From January, 1875, to November, 1876, he was editor of the Buckeye State; in

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April, 1877, he was admitted to the bar and was elected prosecuting attorney of Columbiana County in 1880, re-elected in 1882 and served until January, 1886; was elected to the 54th, 55th, 56th and 57th Congress, and declined after being nominated without opposition by the Republicans of the 18th District to suc- ceed himself in the 58th Congress. In 1904 Mr. Tayler was appointed United States dis- trict judge for the Northern District of Ohio, to succeed Judge Wing, resigned, and his de- cision upon the constitutionality of the Chinese exclusion act, rendered in July, 1905, attracted world-wide attention. Judge Tayler is a very eloquent and convincing speaker, and did much campaign work, being very often in demand in this and other States during the exciting cam- paigns of 1880 to 1904.

One of the most-if not the most-effect- ive campaign orators Columbiana County has produced was P. C. Young; and that he did not go to Congress was not for lack of ability -and, it has been freely declared, of opportu- nity, had he seen and taken advantage of the tide of popularity when at its flood. Peter Cleaver Young was born May 19, 1848, in Middleton township, Columbiana County. He received his education in the common schools and in the New Lisbon High School; was ad- mitted to the bar in 1872, in the meantime conducting the Buckeye State for, several years. He was elected and served as probate judge of Columbiana County from 1891 to 1897. He died July 25, 1899. Judge Young, was, during every political campaign for 25 years, always in demand for service on the stump, in this and other States, East and West.

John H. Clark was another of the "brainy boys" which Columbiana County produced about the middle of the 19th century. He was ,born in 1857 in New Lisbon, where he was ad- mitted to the bar in .1878. He was several times urged to be a candidate for Congress and once or twice for Governor by his party (the Democratic), which was in the minority, and as a campaign speaker had usually more dates than he could fill. In the early '80's he be- came interested in the publication of the Youngstown Vindicator, and later removed to

Cleveland where he became a corporation law- yer. A sketch of Mr. Clark, printed in 1903, says: "By taste and habit Mr. Clark is a student and much of his time is spent in his library. He has expended both time and money in establishing and extending the equip- ment of public libraries. Some of the fruits of his interest in these lines have developed into. a number of lectures on literary subjects which he delivers to fortunate audiences occasionally for, educational and charitable purposes. His 'Some Clowns and Fools of Shakespeare,' 'Shakespeare the Man,' and 'James Russell Lowell and Liberty,' have delighted some of the largest audiences and ranked with the best talent in city courses."

An attorney at the Columbiana County bar- -also a native of New Lisbon, which town has produced so many good men-who at the beginning of the new century was forging to the front rank, both as an able lawyer and elo- quent public speaker, was Charles S. Speaker. He belonged to a somewhat younger class than Tayler, Young and Clark, but was following close in their footsteps if not fully abreast. with them in many of their brilliant qualifica- tions. He served the county as prosecuting attorney from 1892 to 1897, and in 1903 was Columbiana County's choice in the Republican convention which nominated James Kennedy, of Youngtown, to succeed Robert W. Tayler.

Hon. William P. Hepburn, who for about 20 years represented the Eighth Iowa District in Congress, was born in Wellsville in 1833. He went to Iowa in 1841. Hon. John P. Elkin, of Pennsylvania, also spent his boyhood in Wellsville.

THE COUNTY'S LEGISLATORS.

Columbiana County has been represented in Congress, by Columbiana County men, as follows : In 1825 and 1826, and again in 1829 and 1830, by John Thompson; 1833-36, John Thompson; 1837-38, Andrew W. Loomis and Charles D. Coffin; 1839-42, John Hastings; 1843-44, William McCauslin ; 1845-48, John D. Cummins ; 1869-72, Jacob A. Ambler ; 1881-82, Jonathan H. Wallace; 1893-94,

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George P. Ikirt; 1895-1902, Robert W. Tay- ler.

The county has been represented in the Ohio Senate by the following persons : . In 1803-04, Joseph McKee; 1805-06, James Pritchard and Benjamin Hough; 1806-07, Benjamin Hough and John Taggart; 1807-08, John Mclaughlin and John McConnell; 1808- 12, Lewis Kinney; 1812-13, Lewis Kinney and Joseph Richardson; 1813-14, Josepli Rich- ardson ; 1814-15, John Thompson ; 1816-17, John G. Young; 1818-21, John Thompson ; 1821-23, Gideon Hughes; 1823-24, John Laird; 1824-25. Daniel Harbaugh (elected to fill vacancy of John Laird, deceased ) ; 1825-33. William Blackburn; 1834-35, \Villiam Mc- Kaig (extra session ) ; 1835-37, Joseph Thomp- son, Jr .; 1837-39, James Thompson ; 1839-41, Joseph Thompson, Jr .; 1841-45, Charles M. Aten; 1845-47, John Martin; 1847-51, Fisher A. Blockson; 1852-53, James McKinney; 1854-55, Joseph F. Williams; 1856-57, Jonas D. Cattell; 1858-59, Joseph C. McCleery ; 1860-61, Anson L. Brewer; 1862-63, Robert Sherrard, Jr. (Jefferson County) ; 1864-65, Norman K. Mackenzie; 1866-69, J. Twing Brooks; 1870-71, Jared Dunbar (Jefferson County ) ; 1872-73, J. T. Updegraff (Jefferson County) ; 1874-77, Jonathan K. Rukenbrod; 1878-81, Reese G. Richards (Jefferson Coun- ty) ; 1882-85, John M. Dickinson; 1886-89, Thomas B. Coulter ( Jefferson County ) : 1889- 91, Thomas H. Silver; 1893-94, Charles N. Snyder ; 1896-97, William V. Blake; 1900-02, Frank B. Archer ( Belmont County) ; 1902-04, Charles C. Connell; nominated in 1905, Daniel W. Crist.

In the Lower House of the Ohio General Assembly, the following persons were mem- bers : . In 1803-04, Richard Beeson, Samuel Dunlap and John Sloane; 1804-05, Rudolph Bair ; 1806-07, John McConnell; 1807-08, John Sloane; 1808-09, William Harbaugh and John Crumbacher; 1809-10, George Clark, John Crumbacher and William Harbaugh; 1810-II, John Crumbacher, George Clark and William Foulks; 1811-12, William Foulks, John Crum- bacher and Jacob Frederick; 1812-13, Jacob Bushong and George Brown ; 1813-14, Thomas

Rigdon and John G. Young; 1814-15, Thomas Rigdon and David Hanna; 1815-16, Thomas Rigdon; 1816-17, John Thompson, David Hanna and Jacob Roller; 1817-18, Ja- cob Roller and Joseph Richardson; 1818- 19, Joseph Richardson and William Foulks ; 1819-20, Joseph Richardson and Jacob Roller; 1820-21, Joseph Richardson (elected Speaker), Jacob Roller and Jacob Brown; 1821-22, William Blackburn, Peter Mus- ser and Daniel Harbaugh; 1822-23, Wil- liam Blackburn, Joseph Richardson and Dan- iel Harbaugh; 1823-24, Joseph Richardson (Speaker), Jacob Roller and William Black- burn; 1824-25, William Blackburn, William E. Russell and George Brown; 1825-26, Wil- liam E. Russell, George Brown and Jacob Gas- kill ; 1826-27, Fisher A. Blocksom, John Hes- sin and DeLorma Brooks; 1827-28, Fisher A. Blocksom, Robert Forbes and Elderkin Potter; 1828-29, Elderkin Potter, James Early and Nathaniel Myers; 1829-30, James Early, Jacob Roller and James Marshall: 1830-31, James Early, Jacob Roller and James Marshall ; 1831- 32, Fisher A. Blocksom, James Marshall and James Early ; 1832-33, Fisher A. Blocksom, Robert Forbes and John Quinn : 1833-34, Jacob Roller, Robert Forbes and John Quinn ; 1834-35, Jacob Roller, Robert Forbes and John Quinn; 1835-36, Samuel Cresswell, Wil- liam Armstrong and Benjamin Blackburn; 1836-37, Samuel Cresswell, .William Arm- strong and Charles M. Aten1; 1837-38, Thomas Cannon, George Smith and Jacob Roller ; 1838-39, George Smith, Jacob Roller and John M. Jenkins ; 1839-40, John M. Jenkins, Robert Wilson and William D. Lepper ; 1840-41, John M. Jenkins and Charles M. Aten; 1841-42, John M. Jenkins ; 1842-43, Jolin Reid and John Martin ; 1843-44, John Martin and Robert Fil- son : 1844-45, Robert Filson : 1845-46, Clement L. Vallandigham and Joseph F. Williams ; 1846-47, Clement L. Vallandigham: 1847-48, James Patton and Joseph F. Williams; 1848- 49, David King: 1849-50, John Gilman : 1850- 51, Philip March : 1851-52, Philip March and Abram Croxton; 1854-55. Henry Hessin; and William P. Morris; 1856-57, John Hunter and Moses Mendenhall; 1858-59, Jacob A.

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Ambler; 1860-61, Jonathan K. Rukenbrod; 1862-63, James W. Reilly; 1863-64, (Reilly resigned), James Boone; 1864-65, Samuel W. Clark; 1866-67, Samuel W. Clark and Samuel Fox; 1867-68 (Clark resigned), James Mar- tin; 1868-69, Josiah Thompson and Jonathan K. Rukenbrod; 1870-71, Garretson I. Young; 1871-73, Josiah Thompson; 1874-75, Ephraim S. Holloway; 1876-77, David Boyce; 1878- 79, David Boyce and Samuel C. Keer; 1880- 81, Samuel C. Kerr; 1882-85, George W. Love; 1886-89, William T. Cope and John Y. Williams; 1890-91, Alexander H. McCoy ; 1892-93, Alexander H. McCoy and Joseph I. Brittain; 1894-95, Joseph I. Brittain and Wil- liam C. Hutchison; 1896-97, William C. Hutchison and P. M. Ashford; 1898-99, P. M. Ashford; 1900-01, Samuel Buell; 1902-03, Samuel Buell and Daniel W. Crist; 1904-05, Daniel W. Crist and Elijah W. Hill; 1905, Elijah W. Hill and William B. McCord, nomi- nated (two to elect).

From the time the first steps were taken to organize the State of Ohio up to 1905, three State constitutional conventions had been held. These persons were members respectively from Columbiana County: In convention of 1802, Rudolph Blair; 1850-51, Henry H. Gregg and Samuel Quigley; 1873, James W. Reilly. Among the efficient members of the General Assembly from Columbiana County during the last quarter of the 19th century. not only as pains-taking law-makers, but as active campaigners, were George W. Love, William T. Cope and Alexander H. McCoy. Mr. Love was essentially a self-made man. He had been a coal miner and educated himself. He died soon after his period of service in the Legislature. Mr. Cope, who had made a good record as a volunteer soldier in the war for the Union, developed, after he was 50 years of age, no mean ability as a public speaker. He was State Treasurer from 1892 to 1896, inclusive, and died in November, 1902. Mr. McCoy was an especially useful member of the House committee of finance while a member of the General Assembly. He met death by . ac- cident in the summer of 1899. Isaac B. Cam- eron, for many years a merchant in Saline-

ville, achieved some distinction in county and State affairs. He served as treasurer of Col- umbiana County in 1894 and 1897, inclusive, and of the State of Ohio from 1901 to 1904, inclusive. For many years he was chairman of the Columbiana County Republican Executive Committee. He was a member of the State Republican Central Committee in 1893, also a member of the 18th Congressional District Committee in 1898 and 1899. In 1905 Mr. Cameron had been elected president of the Sav- ings & Trust Company of Columbus, where he was making his home.

THE BROUGH-VALLANDIGHAM CAMPAIGN.

Among the most exciting political cam- paigns which ever occurred in Ohio was the gubernatorial contest of 1863 between John Brough, afterwards the "War Governor," and Clement L. Vallandigham, a native and for many a resident of New Lisbon-who during his race for Governor was banished across the lines into the so-called "Southern Confeder- acy."

Clement Laird Vallandigham was born in New Lisbon July 29, 1820-being a son of Rev. Clement Vallandigham, one of Colum- biana County's pioneer preachers. He was graduated at Jefferson College, Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, taught school from 1838 to 1840 and was admitted to the Columbiana County bar in 1842. In 1845 he was elected to the Ohio Legislature, and, although the youngest member, he became the leader of the Demo- cratic party in the House. He voted against the repeal of the "Black Laws," preferring, as he said, to submit the question to the popular vote, declaring that he so voted because the measure "would result in the most effectual putting down of this vexed question for per- haps 20 years to come. It would probably fail as did the question of negro suffrage in New York, where the people had voted against it by a majority of 50,000." In 1847 he re- moved to Dayton, where he became part owner and editor of the Western Empire, and con- tinued to practice law. In his salutatory in

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the Western Empire he said: "We will sup- port the Constitution of the United States in its whole integrity," "protect and defend the Union," "maintain the doctrine of strict con- struction," and "stand fast to the doctrine also of State Rights so embodied in Mr. Madison's Virginia report and Mr. Jefferson's Kentucky resolutions of 1798." He also advocated "free trade," "a fixed tenure of every office under the Federal government that will properly ad- mit it," and "popular education." In 1852 he made an effort to secure the Democratic nomination for Lieutenant Governor, but was defeated by William Medill. In 1857 he was candidate for Congress against Lewis D. Campbell, and, though declared defeated, con- tested the seat and won it, serving from May 25, 1858, until March 3, 1863. During the 37th Congress he became conspicious for his bold utterances against the acts of the admin- istration in the conduct of the war, and on De- cember 5, 1862, offered a series of resolutions in which he declared that, "as the war was ori- ginally waged for the purpose of defending and maintaing the supremacy of the Constitution and the preservation of the Union,

whosoever should attempt to pervert the same to a war of subjugation. and for the overthrow- ing or interfering with the rights of the States, and to abolish slavery, would be guilty of a crime against the Constitution and the Union." These resolutions were laid on the table by a vote of 79 to 50. January with fol- lowing, Mr. Vallandigham spoke to the ies .- lutions of Mr. Wright, of Pennsylvania. . de- fined his position on the war question. and said "A war for Union! Was the Union thus made? Was it ever thus preserved History will record that after nearly 6,000 years of folly and wickedness in every form and admin- istration of government, theocratic. demo- cratic, monarchic, oligarchic, despotic and mixed, it was reserved to American states- manship in the 19th century of the Christian era to try the grand experiment, on a scale the most costly and gigantic in its proportions. of creating love by force, and developing fra- ternal affection by war ; and history will record too, on the same page, the utter, disastrous

and most bloody failure of the experiment."

After his term in Congress had expired, Mr. Vallandigham returned to Ohio and made numerous speeches, in which he attacked the administration of President Lincoln with great violence and bitterness. Gen. A. E. Burnside, then commander of the Department of Ohio, regarded these demonstrations of Mr. Vallan- digham and his friends as intended to afford aid and comfort to the enemy; and, as the city of Cincinnati, as well as Southern Ohio and the adjacent States, was in some peril from the raids of the Confederates, he deemed it, to be his duty to suppress these demonstrations, and accordingly issned an order declaring that persons within the lines that were found com- mitting certain specified acts for the benefit of the enemy should be tried as spies and traitors, and also said that the habit of expressing sympathy for the enemy would no longer be tolerated in the department. Mr. Vallandig- ham replied to this order on May ist in a violent speech and Gen. Burnside ordered his arrest. He was taken to Cincinnati, and, though he issued an appeal to his adherents, was tried by court-martial, convicted and sentenced to close confinement during the war. President Lin- coln changed the sentence to banishment across the lines. This affair occasioned much dis- cussion both in public assemblies and in the press. With scarcely an exception, Demo- cratic newspapers denounced the whole trans- action. Republican papers generally. however, and some of those published by "War Demno- crats." maintained that the necessities of the case justified the measure. His reception across the lines not being to his liking-he having given the assurance to the leaders of the Rebellion that they would succeed if only their armies could hold out until another elec- tion, when the Democrats woukl sweep the Republican administration from power and make peace-Mr. Vallandigham made his way. to Bermuda and thence to Canada, where he remained for some time. While thus in exile he was nominated for Governor by the Demo- cratic party in Ohio.

WV. W. Armstrong. the veteran journal- ist, who had been a fellow-townsman of Val-

THE HANNA HOMESTEAD, LISBON

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THE OLDEST BUILDING IN LISBON (Built in 1805 for a hotel)

THE MCKINLEY HOME IN CENTER TOWNSHIP

THE NANCY ALLISON RESIDENCE, LISBON

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landigham in New Lisbon, wrote a vivid sketch of the famous campaign of 1863 for the Cin- cinnati Enquirer some years after. Arm- strong wrote :

"The conservative Democrats did not de- sire to nominate Vallandigham for Governor ; but his arrest, trial by military commission and his banishment excited every radical and ultra peace Democrat in the State, and they rallied in their strength at all the county con- ventions and captured the delegates. One radi- cal can always be counted upon to do more work than ten moderate men. The day before the convention assembled the city of Columbus was invaded by thousands of Democrats, bit- ter, assertive and defiant in their determination that, come what would. they would defy 'Or- dler No. 38,' and exercise what they claimed to be their constitutional right of free speech. Convention day came, and with it delegation after delegation, with bands of music, flags flying, hickory bushes waving, from every section of the State. Great processions. with men on horseback, and in wagons, crowded the streets, and the sidewalks were black with ex- cited men. No hall in the city was large enough to contain one-tenth of the bold Demo- cracy present who desired to attend the con- vention. It was held on the east front of the State House, in the open air. Ex-Governor Medill, of Lancaster, Ohio, was chosen presi- dlent of the convention ; and Medill could hold no check on the extravagant demonstration in favor of the 'Man in Exile.' Vallandig- ham was nominated by acclamation.

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History of Columbiana County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 33

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