History of Columbiana County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 64

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

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ISAAC P. FARMER

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Sub-Division of the Ninth Judicial District to fill the unexpired term of Judge Peter A. Laubje, resigned: He was thereafter senior member of the firm of Wallace, Billingsley & Tayler, of Lisbon, until his death, which oc- curred October 29, 1892.

As a lawyer Judge Wallace occupied a lead- ing rank at the bar of Eastern Ohio. He had a very large law practice and during his pro- fessional career was connected with many cases of decided prominence, notably the Mead mur- der trial in 1875, in which he assisted the State prosecution. His address to the jury on that occasion is represented as being one of the finest and most convincing forensic addresses ever delivered in Columbiana County. In an obituary published at the time of his death, he is described as "a man of great energy and perseverance, fine social qualities and irre- proachable integrity." It is also said that "per- sonally he was very popular and there was no man in the county who possessed the confi. dence and esteem of the public in a more marked degree." At a meeting of the Bar Association of Columbiana County, action was taken with reference to his decease, in which the following high tribute is paid: "His per- sonal character was of the very highest order; exemplary rectitude and wise sobriety adorned his whole life. He was the very soul of honor in all the relations of life. His courtly, yet modest manners, his kindness and gentleness of nature, his warm social impulses, his un- varying courtesy, his almost unexampled regard for the feelings of others, his charity for human frailties, his unfailing patience toward all men, his love for his family, his attachment to his friends and his devotion to every duty, not alone endeared him to every one who knew him but exemplified in him the highest and truest characteristics of human greatness." In agree- ment with such an estimate of his character was the respect manifested on the occasion of his interment. All the members of the bar were in attendance and he was carried to his last rest- ing place by the most honored residents of the .community, while the large company attendant attested the sorrow which filled all hearts over the loss of so worthy a citizen and so esteemed .a friend.

Judge Wallace was married August 5, 1848, to Elizabeth E. McCook, fifth daughter of the eminent physician, Dr. George McCook, deceased. Her death occurred April 29, 1881. To this union were born four children, of whom three now live, namely: Mary W., wife of Hon. Nathan B. Billingsley, a record of whose life appears elsewhere in this work; Lizzie H., wife of Dr. H. F. Cunningham; and George M. All are residents and esteemed citizens of Lisbon.

SAAC P. FARMER, who has followed his profession of civil engineering since 1865 and has been surveyor of Colum- biana County, Ohio, for more than a quarter of a century, has been a resi- dent of Lisbon since 1858. Mr. Farmer was born at Richmond, Jefferson County, Ohio, in 1832, and is a son of Dr. William Farmer and his wife, Mary Parker.

Since its early days, the Farmer family has been settled in Ohio. John Farmer, grand- father of our subject, was the original pro- prietor of the site of Salineville and laid out that town. For many years he manufactured salt there, making use of the evaporation process. Dr. William Farmer, his son, ac- companied him to Columbiana County in 1804. By profession a physician and surgeon, he practiced for many years in Jefferson and Columbiana counties, dying in the latter county in 1858, survived but a short time by his widow. They resided for 21 years at Salineville. Of the family, our subject, a brother and two sis- ters survive.

Isaac P. Farmer was mainly reared in Jef- ferson County, but learned his profession of civil engineering in this county. This he has followed continuously, with the exception of a period during the Civil War, when he served as a member of Company K, 143rd Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., He has been elected some eight or ten times to the office of county surveyor and his years of service aggregate over a quarter of a century. He has filled other political of- fices at various times. Politically he is a Re- publican.

Mr. Farmer was married at Lisbon to Susan

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Cornwell, a daughter of Peter Cornwell, who was formerly sheriff, for two terms, of Colum- biana County. Mrs. Farmer died in 1888, leav- ing one daughter, who is the wife of H. H. Wright, of Lisbon. Some eight years since, Mr. Farmer erected one of the fine residences which serve to make Lisbon a very beautiful city.

For many years Mr. Farmer has been a Mason, belonging to the Lisbon lodge and chapter and to the Salem commandery. He is also a valued member of Star Post, Grand Army of the Republic. His portrait appears on a foregoing page.

A. WEAVER, one of East Liver- pool's successful merchants, is en- gaged in the wholesale confection- ery and grocers' sundries business and is also mayor of the city. He is a man of ability and strong moral fibre and enjoys the confidence and esteem of his fellow- citizens to a man.

Mr. Weaver was born in Greene County, Ohio, in 1856, and is the oldest of five children born to Louis and Mary A. (Johnson) Weaver. He has two sisters residing at Cleveland,-Mrs. Sarah C. Gallon and Mrs. Minnie Clegg. Louis Weaver was a teacher by occupation, having received a college education, and also worked as a skilled mechanic and wagon-maker. Dur- ing the Civil War he served as a member of Company A, 143rd Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf. He moved with his family from Greene County, Ohio, to near Salineville, Columbiana County. where he died in 1868. His widow has re- sided in Cleveland for the past 35 years. John S. Weaver, a son, is identified with our subject in business. at East Liverpool.

W. A. Weaver accompanied his parents from his native county to Columbiana County where he was reared in Washington township. From the time he was II years old until he was 15 years of age he worked in the coal mines about Salineville, then went to his mother's home at Cleveland, where he was a newsboy for about a year. He then returned to Saline-

ville and for a year worked in the mines, at- tending night school in the meantime. He next went to Jefferson County for some three years, residing with the president of Richmond College, working his way through the school. After the death of the president, L. W. Ong, he moved to Wellsville, Ohio, where he entered the service of the Pennsylvania Railroad Com- pany as a brakeman. He was promoted to conductor but at the end of the third year, on account of ill health, changed to the passenger baggage and brakeman service of that road. He left the employ of that company in 1884 and became agent at Wheeling, West Virginia, for the Travelers' Insurance Company, of Hartford, Connecticut. A year later he went to a larger field with special agency headquarters at Cleveland, supervising the work of Eastern Ohio and from Buffalo to Chicago. He re- mained with that company until 1887, when he came to East Liverpool, and purchased an in- terest in a wholesale fruit and confectionery store, in partnership with W. E. Moore. The business was conducted under the firm name of W. F. Moore & Company until 1893, when Mr. Weaver became sole proprietor .. He has since conducted the business in a most success- ful manner. He is a Prohibitionist in politics, and in April, 1903, was elected mayor of the city, being the second of his party ever thus honored. He has brought to the discharge of his duties as mayor the same business ability and good judgment that have always char- rcterized his own transactions, and has given the city an excellent administration.

'Mr. Weaver was married in Columbiana County to Emma E. Berry, who was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, and is a daughter of John and Barbara Berry, both now deceased. She has a brother, George A. Berry, a success- ful fruit merchant on Sixth street, who has been a resident of East Liverpool for some 18 years. Three children have blessed this union :

Louis E., who manages his father's business : Minnie Goldie, a graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music, who spent one year in Leipsic, Germany, perfecting her musical edu- cation ; and Mary Mildred, who also spent one year in the Royal Conservatory of Music at

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Leipsic. Fraternally, our subject is a member of the Royal Arcanum and the Knights of Pythias, at East Liverpool. In religious at- tachment he is a member of the First Methodist Episcopal Church and is a member of the board of trustees. He has a comfortable home at No. 216 Pennsylvania avenue, where he and his family are surrounded by many friends.

ATTHEW RILEY MCKINNON, a retired farmer of East Liverpool, was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, February 18, 1825, and is a son of Michael and Elizabeth (Cameron ) Mckinnon. His great-grandfather came to America before the Revolutionary War. He was an Episcopalian clergyman and, having sworn allegiance to the king when he was ordained, he returned to England when the war commenced, rather than violate his oath or give aid where his sympathies were not.

Joseph Mckinnon, his son, grandfather of our subject, remained in America to fight. He was a school teacher and farmer by occu- pation. He lost his property in Pennsylvania and finally came, in 1795, to East Liverpool, Ohio, where he died June 22, 1809, at the age of 75 years. He taught school for some years after coming to this county in a school- house near Calcutta. His wife, Margaret (Dillon) Mckinnon, died March 27, 1830, at the age of 73 years and six months.

Among the children of Joseph and Mar- garet (Dillon) Mckinnon, was Michael Mc- Kinnon, the father of our subject, who was born August 1, 1781, at Raccoon, Washing- ton County, Pennsylvania. He. was but a lad when the family settled in Columbiana County. He devoted his life to agriculture. He first purchased 30 acres of land and added to it from time to time until he had acquired 123 acres. The original farm of 30 acres is now the home of our subject and he has the parch- ment deed to the same, dated July 2, 181I. Michael McKinnon was a stock-raiser and gen- eral farmer who made his money by putting j his fortune; and Maude, who is the wife of

in a large acreage of wheat which was always certain to find a ready market. Ile was a Demo- crat and trustee of the township for many years. He was married three times and raised a large family of children. His first union, made Jan- uary 24, 1804, was with Jane Coyan, daughter of John Coyan. She was born September 1, 1780, and died March 12, 1822, leaving the following children : Mary .B., deceased, born January 27, 1805, who was the wife of George Smith; Sarah, deceased, born April 13, 1807, who married Jonathan Dungan; Alfred, de- ceased, born December 5, 1809; Margaret, de- ceased, born April 3, 1812; John, born June 7, 1818; and Michael, Jr., born March 4, 1822. On May 22, 1823, the father of our subject was united in marriage with Elizabeth Cam- eron, a woman of Scotch descent, who bore him five children, viz .: Jane, born February 29, 1824, and married to William Miller, Octo- ber 2, 1845; Matthew Riley and Nancy (twins), born February 18, 1825, the latter dying in infancy ; Zillah, born March 9, 1827, married to George S. Harker September 24. 1846, and deceased October 5, 1851 ; and Ruth Ann, born March 22, 1829, and married to Matthew Thompson. Mrs. McKinnon died March 18, 1832. Michael McKinnon was mar- ried the third time on March 5, 1833, Nancy Murphy becoming his wife. He died April 27, 1874, and his wife on December 6, 1884.

Matthew Riley Mckinnon received his schooling in the old log schoolhouse of pioneer times and devoted his life to agricultural pur- suits. In 1885 his farm property was brought within the city limits of East Liverpool and, as it was a very desirable residence location, Mr. Mckinnon had it laid out in city lots and gave his time to selling and looking after it. His own handsome residence on Calcutta street is one of the finest in the city and is complete and modern in every particular. It contains 14 rooms and was erected at a cost of $6.500. Mr. Mckinnon has been twice married; first to Martha Arbuckle, who left the following chil- dren : Annie, who is at home; Harry, of Wii- kinsburg, Pennsylvania; Frank, who lives in California ; Clarence, who went West to seek

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Harry Smith. Mr. Mckinnon chose for his second wife the widow of his brother-in-law, Samuel Arbuckle, and a daughter of Capt. Avery Graham. Mr. Mckinnon is a Repub- lican. While he is not a church member his family have been attendants of the Presbyterian Church and his parents were strong in that faith. His father gave $500 toward starting the first church in East Liverpool.

HE D. E. McNICOL POTTERY COMPANY, of East Liverpool, is one of the old established and im- portant industries of this city. Its extensive plant is located on the cor- ner of Broadway and Sixth street, where em- ployment is given 200 people; 14 general ware kilns and 6 decorating kilns are operated and a fine line of china and yellow ware is pro- duced.

The history of this plant began in 1862 when John Goodwin established the business and built the plant and for some years operated it individually. Business increased and in 1867 a company was formed, composed of A. J. Marks, Enoch Riley, John Nevill and others, and the business was carried on as A. J. Marks & Company. Shortly afterward more capital was needed and the business was sold by the company to John McNicol, who later sold it to Patrick McNicol, William Burton, Sr., Will- iam Burton, Jr., Michael McClure, Adolph Fritz and others. As time went on, these capi. talists became interested in other enterprises and one by one disposed of their stock here and the present company was formed, with Daniel E. McNicol as president and William L. Smith, secretary and treasurer. In 1892 the business was incorporated with a capital of $100,000. Under, new and favorable auspices the company prospered and the increasing de- mand for the products of this plant give every evidence of the intrinsic worth of the goods manufactured here and the stamp of approval upon the business methods of its owners.

DANIEL E. McNICOL, president of The D. E. McNicol Pottery Company, of East Liver-

pool, was born in this city in 1856, and is a son of John and Mary (McCarron) McNicol.

The late John McNicol was formerly the owner of the present pottery plant and long was identified with pottery interests here. He was a well known and highly respected citizen. His five sons are all connected with pottery interests, these being : Daniel E., of this sketch ; Hugh A., president of The Potters' Co-Opera- tive Company, operating the Dresden Pottery Works at East Liverpool; and John C., George P. and Thomas A., all connected with East Liverpool potteries. His two daughters reside at East Liverpool.

Daniel E. McNicol was educated at East Liverpool and since 1876 has been connected with the pottery company of which he be- came president in 1892. He understands all the practical workings of a pottery and thus is well equipped for the management of its many interests. Mr. McNicol has a pleasant home in East Liverpool and has six children. He belongs to the Catholic Church.

WILLIAM L. SMITH, secretary and treas- urer of The D. E. McNicol Pottery Company, of East Liverpool, has been identified with it since its incorporation in 1892. He was born in 1857 at Wellsville, Ohio, and is a son of A. Smith, who was formerly in the lumber business in Columbiana County.

William Smith, the paternal grandfather, came here in pioneer days and settled on a farm four miles from Wellsville, on which the father of William L. Smith was born. The mother of William L. Smith was a daughter of John McGregor, who came to Columbiana County from Scotland at an early day and fol- lowed farming.

Mr. Smith with his brother, now a resident of Pittsburg, and several sisters, were educated in the public schools. At maturity, he became engaged with his father in the lumber busi- ness at East Liverpool and later continued alone until he took up his present line of business.

Mr. Smith married a lady who was born in Trenton, New Jersey, and they have five chil- dren, all of them born in Columbiana County. In politics he is a Republican. He is a m'em- her of the Board of Public Service of East

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Liverpool and is chairman of the Republican township committee, and is variously interested in the organizations which further public im- provements. He is a member of the Pitts- burg lodge of Elks.

D AVID W. McCLOSKEY, cashier of the First National Bank of East Palestine, a well-known capitalist and financier, was born in 1869 near New Waterford, Columbiana .County, Ohio, and belongs to one of the old pioneer families of this section. He is a son of Benja- min Allen McCloskey and Lucretia Taylor, his wife.

The McCloskey family, which is so well and favorably known through this part of Ohio, was founded in this State by William Mc- Closkey, our subject's great-grandfather, as early as 1802. He was born in Ireland, emi- grated to Ohio and settled in the southwest quarter of section 22, Unity township, Colum- biana County. He married a Miss McCalla and they had two sons,-Thomas and David. The latter was born in the home which was then a house of hewed logs, in the midst of almost a wilderness, and grew to manhood surrounded by pioneer conditions. He grew up a practical farmer and purchased 14412 acres of land in section 18, Unity township, of another pioneer- named Samuel Keyes. He married Martha Johnson, who was born in Brownsville, Penn- sylvania. Our subject's grandmother has long since passed away but a sister still survives in the person of Mrs. Esther Harris, who has passed the century mark. Benjamin Allen was the only son born to David and Martha (Johnson) McCloskey. David McCloskey added to his farm until he owned 17014 acres; in addition to this property, which came as a heritage to his son, the latter has added 23 acres adjoining and also owns 42 acres in the vicinity of New Waterford. At that time the growing of sheep was the large industry and David McCloskey frequently had flocks ranging from 300 to 400. He used to take his great loads of wool himself and dis-

pose of them to Matthew Elder, a well-known dealer at that time. Mr. McCloskey was con- sidered a wealthy man in his day. He died September 17, 1881, aged 71 years, four months and one day. His wife did not survive him long, dying December 24, 1887, aged 73 years, three months and 19 days.

Benjamin Allen McCloskey, father of our subject, was named for a prominent old pioneer of Columbiana County. He was born in Sep- tember, 1842, and was six months old when he moved with his parents to the farm he oc- cupies. Although he does not make sheep growing as large a feature of his agricultural operations as did his father, on account of the tariff laws making it less profitable, he still con- tinues in the business, for some years past merely superintending the work on his place. He erected a fine modern home north and west of the old one and takes great pleasure in its comforts, being a man devoted to home and . family. He was one of the main organizers of the First National Bank of East Palestine, of which his. eldest son is cashier, and is one of its board of directors.

Benjamin A. McCloskey married Lucretia Taylor, who is a daughter of Judge Samuel and Charity (Mercer) Taylor, the former of whom was of Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, and for 10 years was judge of the court at New Castle. He married Charity Mercer, of Lisbon, and they had 15 children,-eight sons and seven daughters. Mr. and Mrs. McCloskey. have four children, namely : David W., who is cashier of the First National Bank of East Palestine ; and Florence, Charles and Bessie, all at home.

David W. McCloskey was born in the old family home, attended the local schools and then entered Mount Union College, where he was graduated in 1889. After his return home, he engaged in farming for himself for 10 years and then went to Cleveland, there enter- ing the Market National Bank with the object of learning the business from the ground up, which cost him considerable. Natural aptitude and close and careful application brought about the desired result in the course of time and when his education was completed lie looked

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about for a desirable place in which to embark in business and invest his capital.

In selecting East Palestine as a desirable point at which to establish a bank, Mr. Mc- Closkey took many things into consideration and the success of the venture has proven his wisdom and foresight, for he and his father were the main organizers of the First National Bank. Although aged but a little over two years, it has already become classed with the soundest financial institutions of the State. Having- capital of his own to invest, he was able to easily interest a number of Cleveland capitalists in the plan, and the result was that on March 2, 1903, the First National Bank of East Palestine commenced business. The of- ficers of this bank are: William C. Wallace, president; William Johnston, vice-president ; David W. McCloskey, cashier; and Max W. Beyer, assistant cashier. The board of directors is unusually large and each name stands for business capacity and financial stability, viz. : William C. Wallace, Ulrich Winter, S. M. Hoon, John Kipp, B. A. McCloskey, M. W. Beyer, William Johnston, Eli Harman and Austin D. Dildine, of East Palestine; E. W. Powers, of Negley; F. B. Unger, of Peters -. burg; and William K. Rose, cashier of the "Market National Bank, of Cleveland.

The business of the bank is conducted with a paid-up capital of $25,000. It is purely a banking one and the accounts of firms, corpora- tions and individuals are solicited and are handled with care. A savings department is connected with the bank, where every safeguard is given depositors and reasonable interest is given on small savings. This is a great ad- vantage to the people of East Palestine and they have shown much appreciation. Every facility is given those doing business with this bank to transact it quietly and expeditiously, the courteous attention shown by all the of- ficials being a pleasant feature. From the be- ginning there has been a healthy increase in business. The deposits have grown from $30,493.75 on April 9, 1903, to $197,533.98 on March 14, 1905. A report of the condition of the bank at the close of business on May 29, 1905, shows a still more satisfactory condi- tion.

Mr. McCloskey still retains his valuable farm in the vicinity of Rogers in this county, which is under rental, and in addition he owns one of the beautiful residences of East Pales- tine, which is constructed of concrete blocks, closely resembling and equally as well adapted for building purposes as stone. Mr. Mc- Closkey is financially interested in the Concrete Artificial Stone Company of East Palestine.

In 1890 Mr. McCloskey was married to Susan B. Morris, who is a daughter of the late Samuel Morris, of Rogers, Columbiana County, and they have two children,-Martha and ·Kersey.

Fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Pythias and the Knights of the Maccabees. He is one of the city's progressive business men and broad-minded, public-spirited citizens.

HE SEVRES CHINA COMPANY. To say of a firm that it is prominent and progressive, is to impute to or recognize in such a firm a striking combination of ability, energy and merit that set it apart from most firms of its class, and picture it as intently pursuing a course somewhat outside the common path- way trodden by the multitude. The Sevres China Company, of East Liverpool, Ohio, and Derry Station, Pennsylvania, might be re- garded as such a firm, being organized in 1900, succeeding The Sebring Pottery Company, and installing the only printing device for color and gold ever invented for the pottery trade, in- vented and patented by W. H. Deidrick, vice- president of the company.

So accurately, so ingeniously and'so quickly does this machine do its work that the products of this firm, especially in gold-printed borders of the most beautiful designs, have found such a market among the leading jobbers and large dealers of decorated pottery in the United States that this firm was compelled to double its capacity. After securing a quarter of a mil- lion output at their East Liverpool plant, the company has recently taken over the 7-kiln plant of The Derry China Company, Derry

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

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Station, Pennsylvania, on the Pennsylvania Railroad, to be known as The Sevres China Company, Plant No. 2. This will enable the progressive firm to turn out half a million of their beautiful decorated wares upon a body of semi-porcelain that is unexcelled.

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History of Columbiana County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 64

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