History of Columbiana County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 65

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

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William H. Cooke, the superintendent of both plants, is a potter of 25 years standing, having been educated and schooled in England among the best pottery manufacturers there. He has to his credit 15 years of experience in American manufacture of semi-porcelain that has never been questioned and his production, in the beginning bearing The Sevres China Company trade-mark as now, has become one of the standard makes among the jobbers and implies reliability wherever found, under abso- lute guarantee ; not a piece has ever been found wanting, thereby giving universal satisfaction.

H. A. Keffer, the president of the pros- perous company, is a man rather of deeds than words, who has made the making of pottery wares and marketing of the same his life study and has been successful. He differs from most men in many respects, and is both philosophical and especially individualistic. He is a man of prominence and influence in his community, but his sway is not accounted for by any parade or self-assertion. On the contrary his manner is quiet and his words are few : he is a stranger to a contentious spirit and contents himself with calmly contemplating life's eddying cur- rent, as he steers his bark clear of the rocks and shoals. He readily compasses situations, cor- rectly estimates men and things, and logically forms his conclusions regarding them ; in truth, he kicks the world before him, least respecting those trifles which annoy the minds of most men. His 25 years experience as secretary of the Dresden pottery enables hini to define with credit his duties as head of his growing pot- tery institution, whose name "Sevres" dates back to the oldest and best French productions, whose wares command to-day more money value than any in existence.

The specialties manufactured by The Sevres China Company are especially worthy of men- tion, as being unique and original, and suf- ficiently attractive to meet with ready sale;

being so far away from others in the market, they are being eagerly sought and make a last- ing reputation for the company.

J. L. Higley, secretary and treasurer of the company, who is a business man of long stand- ing in Cleveland and Canton, his home town, has become especially attracted to the pottery industry. His clear conception of business prin- ciples and ideas, coupled with the discipline with which he handles the office affairs of this company, adds greatly to its flourishing and financial conditions.

The company plant is situated at the corner of Second and Market streets, occupying the entire block. It may be viewed any day of the year as one of the busiest and most enterpris- ing potteries in the Ohio Valley district.

RAZIER K. HUTCHESON. M. D., one of the leading physicians and sur- geons not only of Wellsville, his place of residence, but of this section of the State, was born at Landisburg, Perry County, Pennsylvania, December 14, 1860, and is a son of Col. William C. and Sarah J. (Kacy) Hutcheson.

John. Hutcheson, grandfather of Dr. Hut- cheson, was born at Boston, Massachusetts, and located at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, in young man- hood. He distinguished himself in three wars, first in the War of 1812, second in the Mexican War under General Scott, and third in the Civil War when almost too old to serve the country he held so dear. He died in 1874. aged 87 years. The greater part of his life was spent at Carlisle, where he carried on the busi- ness of a carriage-maker. He belonged to the "War" Democrat party. He married Jane Greenleaf. also of Massachusetts.

Col. William C. Hutcheson, father of Dr. Hutcheson, was born at Chambersburg, Penn- sylvania, and died in Ohio, in July. 1903. aged 71 years. He graduated from Germantown Military Academy, near Philadelphia, subse- quently taught school for a number of years and at one time gave much attention to the study of theology, with the idea of entering

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the Presbyterian ministry. Later he adopted an entirely different calling, going into the car shops at Harrisburg, where he learned the trade of painter, which he followed until his death. During the Civil War, he served his country bravely, enlisting in Company H, 47th Reg., Pennsylvania Vol. Inf., and at the time of his honorable discharge he was breveted colonel for "meritorious services" at the Dry Tortugas. In April, 1865, he came to Salem, Columbiana County, Ohio, where he followed his trade with Louis Dunlap, a contractor. After the death of Mr. Dunlap, Colonel Hutch- eson continued the business alone. He was a member of the Trescott Post, G. A. R., at Salem. He was very prominent in Republican politics and represented the county in the State Legislature from 1892 until 1894.

The mother of Dr. Hutcheson was born at Elliottsburg, Pennsylvania, and was a daugh- ter of James Kacy, a native of Philadelphia. Of the nine children born to our subject's par- ents, eight reached maturity, namely: Frazier K., of this sketch; James McClelland; Mary Florence, wife of O. C. Jurgens, of Salem, Ohio; William Oscar, of Akron, Ohio; Charles Maxwell. of Elyria, Ohio: Herbert, of Salem; Grace, wife of Charles Schook, of Pittsburg ; and Annie, at home. The mother was reared in the German Lutheran faith but after, coming to Salem she united with the Presbyterian Church with her husband. He was an elder in the church. and probably, at one time or another, preached in every town within a circuit of 75 miles.

Frazier K. Hutcheson was educated in the Salem public schools and read medicine under Dr. J. M. Koon, of Salem, completing under Dr. McFarland, of Wellsville. He then en- tered the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Baltimore, where he was graduated in 1894. having served as an interne in the hospitals during three years while at study. He then took a special course at Johns Hopkins Univer- sity, and in April. 1894. came to Wellsville, where he has practiced ever since. His special- ty is surgery and he has cases in Wheeling. Pittsburg and in all this section of Ohio. his skill having been widely heralded by his re-

markable success. He is a member of the coun- ty and State medical societies and is a valued contributor to their literature.

Dr. Hutcheson was married . Ida I. Koch, a daughter of Martin Koch, of East Palestine, Ohio, and they have a pleasant, attractive home at Wellsville. Politically the Doctor is a Re- publican. He has served as director of the poor, for six years as physician of the Board of Health and for nine years was a member of the School Board.

ILLIAM MOORE, M. D., one of Lisbon's most prominent citizens, has been engaged in the practice of medicine in this city continuously since 1866, and is senior member of the firm of Drs. William & F. P. Moore. He has resided in Columbiana County, with the exception of two years spent in Tuscarawas County, throughout his entire life, and has been closely identified with this county's devel- opment into one of the foremost counties in the State.

William Moore was born in Lisbon, Ohio, January 13, 1826, and is a son of John and Minerva (Allison) Moore, both natives of Pennsylvania. John Moore was born in 1802, and was a small child when he was brought to Columbiana County, where his father took up a farm in Center township. John Moore re- sided on the farm until 1838, in the spring of which year he removed to East Fairfield, where he died in 1842. In early years he followed the trade of a carpenter, but finally gave up work at his trade on account of rheumatism. He took to barbering and also conducted a grocery for some years. He was at one time interested in the Mckinley furnace in Center township, Columbiana County, and later con- ducted a foundry at Fairfield. While a resident of Center township, he served for a time' as trustee and also as constable. His wife was born in the Redstone neighborhood in Western Pennsylvania, near the village of Carmichael- ton. in 1805, and was brought by her parents to Columbiana County, Ohio, in 1808, where her father farmed some years. He later

ELI FAWCETT

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conducted a hotel in Lisbon. Mrs. Moore was a sister of Nancy ( Allison) Mckinley, mother of William Mckinley, President of the United States. She died at Fairfield in 1852, having had nine children, three of whom died in in- fancy. Those who grew to maturity were: William, subject of this biography; Ezekial, who practiced medicine at Southampton, Trumbull County, for more than 40 years and died there in 1895, aged 68 years; Anna Belle, who died in 1846, aged 17 years; Sarah Eliza- betli, who died in 1887, aged 56 years; Mary Jane (widow of William McGlathery), who resides at Girard, Trumbull County, Ohio ; and Abbie, who died about the year 1883.

William Moore was reared and educated in Lisbon, Ohio, until his 13th year, when he moved to the village of Hanover and clerked in a store for two years. Returning to Lisbon. he clerked a few months and then at the age of 17 years began teaching school at Fairfield, continuing for two years. Shortly before reaching his majority he entered upon the study of medincine, and first practiced in Tuscarawas County in July, 1846. Two years later, in November, 1848, he returned to Columbiana County and practiced at Franklin Square until 1849 and then at Fairfield three years. Dur- ing the following 15 years, he practiced his profession at Elkton, Ohio, and in the meantime completed the course of the Miami Medical Col- lege of Cincinnati, Ohio, receiving his degree in 1857. In 1866 he removed to Lisbon, where he has since been in active practice. He has enjoyed a large practice, which since 1874 has been shared by his son, Dr. F. P. Moore, as his associate. He is a member of the county, State and American medical associations, and is at the present time serving as president of the county organization. He served as president of the former local medical society.

In 1847 Dr. Moore was united in marriage with Eliza Ferrall, who was born at East Fair- field, Columbiana County, Ohio, in 1827, and was a daughter of Jonathan B. Ferrall, a pio- neer of this county, whose father, William Ferrall, took up a section of land in Fairfield township, which is now owned by his descen- dants. This union resulted in the birth of three 26

children, namely: Frank P .. a sketch of whose career appears elsewhere in this work: Mary, deceased January 29. 1900, who was the widow of Cyrus B. Pritchard, whose death occurred in 1872,-they left one son, Cyrus W .. of Lis- bon : and Edward F., the youngest child. who is now postmaster of Lisbon. Dr. Moore has always been an enthusiastic supporter of Re- publican principles, but has never sought poli- tical preferment. On March 10. 1900. he was called upon to mourn the loss of his life com- panion and help-meet. She was a devout Chris- tian and active church worker, and there were many whom she had befriended who joined with the family in mourning her death as an irreparable loss. The Doctor is a ruling elder in the Christian Church, of which he has been a member since his 16th year. He has been an elder in the church for more than a quarter of a century, and has always taken an earnest and active part in church and charitable work. In addition to his professional labors, the Doctor has identified himself with numerous enter- prises, which have been the foundation of the present prosperity of the city.

E LI FAWCETT, deceased, for many years a highly respected citizen and one of the most substantial farmers of Perry township, the owner of a finely improved farm of 104 acres situated in section 5, was born at Salem, Ohio, June 22, 1818. His parents were David and Hannah (Ball) Fawcett.

David Fawcett was one of the pioneers of Perry township and became one of the sub- stantial and influential men. He was a mem- ber of the Society of Friends and reared his family in the same belief, all the members becoming respected citizens. His family con- sisted of three sons and four daughters.

Eli Fawcett, who was the eldest in the family, was reared at home and was educated in the district schools. He gave his whole at- tention to agricultural pursuits both before and after marrying. Following this change in his state, he purchased a farm in Goshen township

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of 160 acres which he improved and conducted as a stock farm, mainly devoted to the raising of sheep. After the death of his first wife, he returned home and, in partnership with his brother Joseph, operated the home farm for several years and then married again and bought the farm in section 5, Perry township, which continued to be his home the remainder of his life. At the time of purchase, it was heavily timbered but this he cleared and im- proved, in 1876 erecting the handsome brick residence which is a pleasing feature of the landscape. In all that makes success, the ac- cumulation of property, the capacity for en- joyment of family and social life, the esteem of friends and neighbors and the confidence of fellow citizens, Mr. Fawcett met every require- ment. He was a good, honest, upright, honor- able man and his death on January 21, 1904, brought sincere regret to all who knew him and his venerable figure and hoary head are much missed in the family gatherings.

Mr. Fawcett was first married to Sarah Sattethwait, who was born in Pennsylvania and who left three children at death, viz : Mrs. Hannah Call, of Salem; Mrs. Lydia A. Test, of Mitchell, South Dakota; and David S., of Columbus, Ohio. In 1862 he married Susan A. Myers, who was born June 3, 1835, in Lis- bon, Columbiana County, and is a daughter of Samuel and Pauline (Iden) Myers. Mr. and Mrs. Myers were born and married in Pennsylvania and moved to Ohio in 1832 mak -. ing the long journey in a wagon. Of their seven children, Mrs. Fawcett is the youngest. She has two children; Pauline M., who is a teacher at New Castle, Colorado; and Louis H., who has full charge of the extensive farm- ing operations on the home place. Like his father, he is identified with the Republican party. A portrait of Eli Fawcett accompanies this sketch.

LIVER H. SEBRING, president of The French China Company, of Se- bring, Mahoning County, Ohio, and one of the founders of this wondrous- ly prospering town, owns a name, which, mentioned in almost any part of the

United States, is associated with the beautiful products of the great industrial plants of Se- bring, so wide is their distribution. In Ohio, the name means more, typifying, as it does, energy, courage, enterprise, unlimited business capacity, organizing skill and executive force.

Oliver H. Sebring, the eldest of the six brothers concerned in the founding of Sebring, was born at East Liverpool, Ohio, July 14, 1857, and is a son of George and Elizabeth A. (Larkins) Sebring. The father was born in. Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and the mother in the city of Pittsburg. They still survive to take pleasure and pride in the notable achievements of their sons. They reared a family of 10 children, of whom our subject is the eldest member, the others being : George E., president of The Oliver China Com- pany of Sebring; Elsworth H., of The French China Company, of Sebring; Joseph H., who died at the age of 27 years ; Frederick E., presi- dent of The Limoges China Company, of Se- bring ; Frank A., president of The Sebring Pot- tery Company and vice-president of The Limoges China Company, both of Sebring; Eva, twin sister of Frank A., who is the wife of Rev. J. H. Norris, of Pittsburg ; William H., formerly treasurer of The Limoges China Com- pany, of Sebring, who was accidentally killed by a railroad train in December, 1904; Emma, who is the wife of J. C. Albright, secretary of The Sebring Pottery Company; and Charles, a twin brother of Emma, who died aged five years.

Oliver H. Sebring attended the public schools until about 14 years of age and then went to work in the old Baggott pottery in East Liverpool, his duties during two years con- sisting in driving a horse and his wages being $I a week, his wages being increased to $2.50 a week, when he was promoted to the business of running molds. In two years he was grad- uated into the pressing department in which he worked for about 15 years, and then went into partnership with his brothers, George E., Elsworth H., and Frank A., in the pottery business.

The brothers were all possessed of but little, capital but together they were able to pur- chase the old Agner and Foutts pottery plant in

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East Liverpool, which was then held under a mortgage by Mrs. Sarah Jane Campbell. A successful business was carried on here until 1898 when other interests caused an entire change in the business concerns of the broth- ers. They had long realized the necessity of room for expansion and one and all possessed the foresight which was later shown in the founding of the town which bears their name to-day.

Two years prior to removing all their in- terests to Sebring, our, subject and his brother, Elsworth H., started The French China Com- pany at East Liverpool. When their proposed plans were completed, the brothers amal- gamated all their interests and incorporated The Sebring Pottery Company in 1889, the different names under, which their industries had been carried on being: The French China Company, of East Liverpool; The Sebring Pot- tery Company, of East Liverpool; The Ohio China Company, of East Palestine; and The Oilver China Company, of Sebring. The city of Sebring was platted and built by the con- . solidated company, but in July, 1903, their in- terests were divided again, and at present the four interested brothers each have a company under his personal supervision, these being : The Oliver China Company; The Sebring Pottery Company ; The Limoges Pottery Company and The French China Company. Each one of these great industries employs 300 hands, the four potteries have 25 large ware kilns and 24 decorating kilns. Their, output, as mentioned, is distributed all over the Union, is beautiful in finish and design and valuable for its service- able qualities as well.

The city of Sebring has only had an exist- ence of six years, but during this short space of time has made progress that shames other industrial centers. It is a busy city of more than 2,000 inhabitants, and is in the enjoyment of all the facilities and utilities of a community of 10 times its age, being supplied with educa- tional and religious institutions, with social clubs and fraternal organizations, in fact with everything to stimulate progress and to furnish personal ease and business advancement. To all this Oliver H. Sebring has contributed in great part.

In 1880 Mr. Sebring was married to Ma- tilda Holmes, who was born at East Liverpool, Ohio, and is a daughter of William and Emma (Dance) Holmes. They have five children, viz .: Anna, wife of W. L. Murphy, who is employed in the Citizens' Banking Company's bank; Pearl, wife of Homer J. Taylor, of East Liverpool; Burton, Hazel and Wilda. Mr. Se- bring is just completing a magnificent home here, which will probably cost $100,000.

Oliver H. and Elsworth H. Sebring are in .. terested in the Citizens' Banking Company which' was organized in 1900; The French China Company, the stave and cask factory at Sebring and the Buckeye Forge & Specialty Company.

APT. ROBERT CLARK TAG- GART, now United States superin- tendent of the Government Paper Mill at Dalton, Massachusetts, was born at East Palestine, Columbiana County, Ohio, March 17, 1833. He is a son of James C. and Alice ( Brown) Taggart, and a grandson of the pioneers, Maj. John and Rebecca (Clark) Taggart, who emigrated to Ohio in 1802 from near, Mercersburg, Penn- sylvania.

John Taggart entered and settled upon a section of land which is now a part of the in- corporated village of East Palestine. He served with the rank of major in the War of 1812; was a member of the State Senate when that body met at Chillicothe; and was for many years a justice of the peace. His three sons, James C., Robert and John Taggart, remained during their lives on the land he entered. They were successful farmers, men of sterling char- acter, active members in the United Presbyter- ian Church, and in full sympathy with all edu- cational, moral and religious enterprises.

James C. Taggart, the eldest son of Maj. John Taggart, was born in 1804. He married Alice Brown, born near East Palestine in 1805. daughter of Judge George Brown, one of the early associate judges of Columbiana County. Of their eight children only two survive- Nancy Forbes Taggart, of Newberg, Ohio, and the subject of this sketch.

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When Robert C. Taggart was 16 years old, he began alternately to teach school and to secure higher educational training at the academies of Beavertown, Penn- sylvania, and Poland, Ohio. This plan he followed for several years. When pre- pared to enter the Junior Class in Jefferson College in Pennsylvania, for which he had pur- chased a scholarship, he was compelled, by the death of his parents, to relinquish his own plans for the future, and to assume charge of the family home and his father's business affairs. He remained in the management of his farming and coal interests until the second year of the Civil War.

In June, 1862, Governor, Tod commissioned Rev. Hugh Sturgeon as captain, and Robert C. Taggart as first lieutenant, to recruit a com- pany. Succeeding in this, their recruits were mustered in as Company C, 104th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf. For the succeeding three years Cap- tain Taggart followed the fortunes of his regi- ment. Early in his army career his health was so seriously affected by the exposure of the service that his friends and the surgeon of the regiment strongly advised him to resign. He persisted, however, in remaining at the front, and participated in every march, skirmish and battle in which his regiment was engaged. He commanded his company much of the time while ist lieutenant, and was the only commis- sioned officer with it in the rapid march of Burnside's army from Central Kentucky over, the Cumberland Mountains for the taking of Knoxville and the capture of General Frazier and his command at Cumberland Gap. For this march, the Union Army received the thanks of President Lincoln.

Captain Taggart acted as adjutant of his regiment during the siege of Knoxville, the pursuit of Longstreet's army and the severe winter encampment of the poorly fed and thinly clad Union forces in Eastern Tennessee. He was promoted to Captain February 12, 1864, and commanded his company on the march with Scofield's army from Knoxville to Dal- ton, Georgia, and from there with Sherman's grand army in its famous flanking, fighting campaign for the capture of Atlanta and the

pursuit of Hood's forces to Northern Alabama. He was with his company during the severe but brilliant campaign of Generals Thomas and Schofield against Hood in Tennessee, and at the battle of Franklin occupied a critical position in the line. Here, at the left of the famous cotton gin, First lieutenant Kimble, Sergeants Zeigler and Wallace and Private, Martin were killed, while Lieutenant Taggart (now Rev. J. C. Taggart, D. D.) and 12 others of his com- pany were wounded. After participating in the battle of Nashville, December 15 and 16, 1864, and in the pursuit of Hood's demoralized forces to the Tennessee River, Schofield's army, of which Captain Taggart's regiment was a part, was transferred to Fort Fisher, North Carolina. In a charge of the brigade at Old Town Creek in front of Wilmington, 12 of Company C were wounded. James Meek. wounded mortally, had three brothers in the brigade. Enoch Meek, a favorite pupil of Cap- tain Taggart, was killed in a charge of the bri- gade at Utoy Creek, in the vicinity of Atlanta, Georgia.

After the march from Wilmington to Golds- boro, North Carolina, Captain Taggart was appointed acting assistant inspector general of the division on the staff of Gen. James W. Reilly, the beloved first colonel of his regiment, to whom he was warmly attached, and of whom Gen. Thomas J. Henderson says: "General Reilly was the best volunteer colonel I ever knew." Captain Taggart served as division inspector on the staff of Gen. S. P. Carter, on the march with Sherman's army to Raleigh and until the surrender of Gen. Joseph E. John- ston at Greensboro, North Carolina, at the close of the war. General Carter was a naval officer before and after the war, attaining the rank of rear admiral. An extract from his special order of June 17, 1865, is as follows : "The general commanding desires to express to Captain Taggart his high appreciation of his services, and of himself, and tenders his thanks for the faithful and efficient manner in which he has performed every duty since his appoint- ment on the staff."

The estimation in which Captain Taggart was held by the men of his command is well

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stated by his brave orderly sergeant, Hon. A. H. McCoy, as follows : "Captain Taggart was a model American volunteer soldier. Realiz- ing the vital importance of drill and discipline, he convinced the men of his company so clear- ly of its necessity as made observance a pleas- ure. Always present with his company on all its weary marches, vigilant watches, skirmishes, and battles, by his presence and undoubted bravery he inspired the men to a faithful per- formance of every duty and an unhesitating share in the nation's sacrifice."

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History of Columbiana County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 65

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