History of Columbiana County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 72

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 72

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Everything except the glass roof is built of concrete, the walls, floor and stairs looking as though they had been carved and hollowed out of one huge block of stone. Mr. Peterson is engaged in propagating a "sport" chrysan- themum which promises to develop into a rare and valuable variety. Its distinctive char- acteristic lies in its color-a beautiful cream. No cream-colored chrysanthemum has ever been produced that could be grown so as to make a commercial success.

Mr. Peterson was united in marriage with Lucy R. Jack, of Chillicothe, Ohio, by whom he has three children : S. Margaret, Ruth and Gwendolyn. Our subject was called upon to mourn the sad death of his wife on May 17, 1903, her age being 33 years at the time. Religiously she was a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church. Fraternally, Mr. Peterson is a member of Riddle Lodge, No. 315, F. & A. M .; Protective Home Cir- cle and B. P. O. E. In politics he is a stanch supporter of Republican principles. His por- trait, executed ·from a recent photograph, ac- companies this sketch, being presented on a foregoing page.

APT. GUSTAVE MARTINDILL, proprietor of the wharf-boat at East Liverpool, and one of the city's best known citizens, was born in Clay township, Gallia County, Ohio, Oc- tober 16, 1866, and is a son of George W. and Lena Elizabeth (Roach) Martindill.

In tracing the ancestry of this old and hon- orable Ohio family, the family record leads to. both England and Scotland. Captain Martin- dill's great-great-grandfather was born in Eng- land, married a member of a Scotch family

named Alexander, in 1750, came to America and settled in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. There James Martindill was born in 1754: With four of his brothers he served in the Revolutionary War and from the records of the Bureau of Pensions, Department of the In- terior, at Washington, D. C., it is learned that he served honorably through three and one- half years of that struggle for freedom. He enlisted as a private, from Union County, South Carolina, and served for one year under Capt. William Young and Col. Thomas Bran- non, and under the same officers with the rank of lieutenant, during a second term of two and one-half years. During this period he partici- pated in the battles named as the Siege of Ninety-Six and Kings Mountain. He survived all the dangers of war and after its close re- moved to Greenbrier County, Virginia (now West Virginia), where he lived until 1809; when he removed to Gallia County, Ohio. He made application from that county for a Revo- lutionary pension, on August 13, 1832, which! claim was allowed.

James Alexander Martindill, our subject's grandfather, was the youngest son of the sec- ond marriage of Lieutenant Martindill. He was born in Greenbrier County, Virginia (now West Virginia), March 26 1809, and died in Clay township, Gallia County, Ohio, in 1900. At that time he was the only surviving son of a Revolutionary soldier known in this section of the United States. He was a farmer and boat-builder, a man of good business ability and one of local prominence. For 12 years he held the office of justice of the peace in and for Clay township, Gallia County. In early life a Whig, he later became actively affiliated with the Republican party. His religion was Methodism.

James A. Martindill was married twice ; first, to Julia Ann Cottrell, in Gallia County, on June 14, 1832, and second, to Jane Shaw, on December 22, 1841. To the first marriage three children were born, viz: Eustatia Woot- en, Margaret Larrimer and George Washing- ton, the father of our subject. To the second marriage these children were born: Wesley, who served three years in the Civil War, rank-

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ing as Ist sergeant of Company I, 36th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf .; America Frances; Columbus and James A. The surviving members of the family are: George Washington, of Eureka, Gallia County, Ohio; Mrs. America F. Mar- shall, of Columbus, Ohio; and James Alexan- der, now a merchant and postmaster at Swan Creek, Gallia County, Ohio.

George W. Martindill was born in Gallia County, Ohio, April 14, 1839, was educated there and is still a resident of his native county. He followed farming for many years and for 27 years was a merchant, for 12 years of this period holding the office of postmaster. For two years he was mayor of Chambersburg, Gallia County, and during his active years was prominent in the county's public affairs. He is a member of the lodge of Odd Fellows at Gallipolis, Ohio. He is a member of the Methodist Church. George W. Martindill has been twice married. In 1858 he married Lena Elizabeth Roach and in 1897. Mary E. Waugh. The former died in Gallia County, Ohio, May 20, 1896. All the children of George W. Mar- tindill are living and they are the following : James Alexander, mayor of Chambersburg, Gallia County, Ohio, born August 19, 1859; Mary A., of Cincinnati; Millard Lin- coln, of East Liverpool: Gustave, of East Liv- erpool: Georgianna, wife of Leonard P. Gil- more, of Eureka, Ohio: and Cora Elizabeth, wife of Hamp Jeffers, of Bladen, Ohio. Mil- lard Lincoln Martindill, of East Liverpool, brother of the subject of this sketch, served as Ist corporal and sergeant of Company C, Seventh Regiment, Ohio Infantry, U. S. Vol- unteers, during our late war with Spain. When his company and regiment were mustered out of service, in November, 1898. Corporal Mar- tindill was promoted to sergeant and served on detached duty at the Protestant Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, until March. 1899. He was the only member of his company to receive promotion.

The mother of our subject was born in 1838 in Jefferson County, Ohio, and was a daughter of Mathew Henderson Roach. The family was a branch of the noted Pugh family of Ohio and also of the Russell fam-

ily of near Hammondsville, Jefferson Coun- ty, members of the latter family now being residents of Wellsville, Columbiana County. The two unmarried members of the family of George W. Martindill are: Miss Mary A. Martindill, who is a teacher of steno- graphy and typewriting in Miss Campbell's. shorthand school in Cincinnati, and James A. Martindill, the eldest member. The latter was educated in the common schools of Gallia County and later graduated at the National Normal University at Lebanon, Ohio. For eight years he was assistant postmaster at Chambersburg and was a railway postal clerk on the route between Grafton, West Virginia, and Cincinnati, from 1882 to 1886. For the past 17 years he has been a notary public in and for Gallia County, and for 15 years has been practicing pension attorney. Since April, 1903, Mr. Martindill has been mayor of the village of Chambersburg. While on a visit to Wash- ington, D. C., in 1885, James A. Martindill had the pleasure of an introduction to Gen .. Philip H. Sheridan, under whose, command his uncle, Wesley Martindill, served in the 36th Regiment. Ohio Vol. Inf. General Sheridan re- membered Sergeant Wesley Martindill as the only sergeant within his knowledge who could call from memory the roll of his company in alphabetical order.

Gustave Martindill, the immediate subject of this review, was educated primarily in the schools of Gallia County and found employ- ment in his father's store until he was 18 years of age. He then became a student in the Na- tional Normal University at Lebanon, Ohio, and upon his return home became his father's bookkeeper, the latter operating at that time an extensive wholesale and retail grocery business. For some years he continued with his father before embarking in his present line of work. He entered upon river business as third clerk on a river steamer, found the life congenial and continued steamboating until he came to East Liverpool. The greater part of his ser- vice was between Pittsburg and Cincinnati and between the latter city and Charleston. Kana- wha County. West Virginia. During this per- iod of his life. he had risen through efficiency to

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the position of first clerk and had become well and widely known to the river men and patrons of the steamboat lines in which he was con- cerned.

On December 9, 1901, Captain Martindill came to East Liverpool and he has been estab- lished here ever since. He purchased the wharf-boat, the carrier for all passengers and for all freight coming into Liverpool by way of the river. This boat does a very large business, which is speedily and efficiently handled by Captain Martindill. In 1904 he opened up a wholesale produce business on the corner of Second street and Broadway and this has become one of the most important con- cerns of its kind in East Liverpool. His trade connections are large and his business methods have gained him the confidence of shippers and dealers alike.

Mr. Martindill has a very pleasant home at East Liverpool. He married Josephine Wag- ner, who is a daughter of John C. Wagner, of Cincinnati, an old and respected citizen of that city.

Politically. like other members of his fam- ily. Captain Martindill is a stanch Republican, but he has never been willing to accept office, although, in loyalty to his country and in per- sonal character, he, like his father and brother, is especially equipped for the same. He is a man of genial manner and of social instincts and is a popular member of East Liverpool Lodge, 258, B. P. O. E.

OHN McKEEFREY, who has been prominent in the social, industrial and political life of Leetonia, is president of the Salem Iron Company, one of the most important industrial con- cerns of the place. and is identified with many other large business enterprises as officer and director.

Mr. McKeefrey was born in Ireland, March 19, 1837, and with his sister came to this country when a small boy. making his home with his relatives in Philadelphia. Pennsyl- vania. Here he was reared and attended the

public schools, later pursuing a collegiate counse at Pittsburg. When a boy he worked a short time in his uncle's bakery and confec- tionery store, and then clerked in a drug store. He later was employed in a wholesale shoe store until 1857, when he moved to Pittsburg, and was variously employed until he went to Oil City and Pithole City where he operated in the oil field about two years. Returning to Pittsburg, he entered the employ of the Pitts- burg Bolt & Iron Company as shipping clerk and filled that position for 12 years. He was with the Carnegie Steel Company one year, in charge of a couple of mills and also filling the position of shipping clerk. After this he became shipping clerk and assistant manager of Lindsay & Mccutcheon's "Star Mill" at Allegheny. In 1890 he formed a partnership with his two sons, W. D. and N. J. McKeefrey, under the firm name of McKeefrey & Com- pany, to operate the Grafton furnaces, which WV. D. McKeefrey and W. D. Hofius had been conducting. In 1892 Mr. McKeefrey and the two sons mentioned organized and incorporated the Salem Iron Company, with a capital stock of $255,000 and the following officers: John McKeefrey, president; W. D. McKeefrey, vice-president and general manager; and N. J. McKeefrey, secretary and treasurer. They purchased the furnaces in 1892 and rebuilt and enlarged them in 1894; at the present time the furnaces have a capacity of from 250 to 300 tons per day. John McKeefrey is president of the Atlas Coke Company, which was organized in 1893 and operates 220 ovens at Helen, Penn- sylvania; president of the Leetonia Railroad Company ; president of the Shenango Lime Stone Company : president of the Leetonia Coal Company : a director in the First National Bank of Leetonia: and a stockholder in various other banks. Mr. McKeefrey has taken a very active part in politics, and has been closely identified with the development of Leetonia. He was the principal promoter of the Board of Trade of Leetonia, has served in the City Coun- cil several years and is now president of the Leetonia School Board and the Board of Health.

In 1857. John McKeefrey was united in

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marriage with Mary A. McFarland, of Phil- adelphia. He is deputy grand knight of the Knights of Columbus, and a member of the Catholic Church of Leetonia.

HE VODREY POTTERY COM- PANY, established in 1857 by Col. William H., James N. and John W. Vodrey, is one of the earliest of the many companies now located at East Liverpool. It was established by these enter- prising spirits just after the terribly "hard times" of the '50s, which are described in chap- ter XII of this work. The business has been successfully continued through the many try- ing as well as prosperous years which have since transpired. The plant was started at the corner of College and East Fourth streets, its present site, with but one kiln ; as time went on and as increased trade warranted the capacity of the works was enlarged until the company now has in operation six kilns, the plant having been practically rebuilt during the past 12 years. Special attention has been given to the manufacture of semi-porcelain dinner and toilet ware, and for these products a market is found throughout the United States, the trade being waited upon by representatives who travel from Bangor, Maine, to San Francisco, and from Duluth to New Orleans. There about 225 men employed by the company at the present time. Many of the men employed by the company in the early days of its existence have attained prominence, and there still remain with the company some who have been with it for more than 35 years, a silent testimony to the ex- cellent treatment the employees receive. The business was conducted as a partnership until 1896, when it was incorporated with the fol- lowing officers who are also its directors : John W. Vodrey, president; William H. Vodrey, vice-president ; Oliver C. Vodrey, secretary and treasurer ; and W. E. Vodrey, manager.

Springs, Pennsylvania, in 1902. He was a son of Jabez and Sarah ( Nixon) Vodrey, who were natives of Staffordshire, England. Jabez Vodrey, when he came to America, located at Pittsburg, and there the firm of Vodrey & Frost established in 1827 the first pottery west of the Alleghanies. In 1830, being induced by Louisville parties to move to that city, they built there the first pottery in Kentucky and operated it in association with a Mr. Lewis. Mr. Frost withdrew from the firm three or four years later and the business was continued under the firm name of Vodrey & Lewis until Mr. Lewis withdrew. In 1839 Mr. Vodrey was induced to move to Troy, Indiana, and take charge of a large pottery, which was pro- moted and organized by James Clews, of Staf- fordshire, England. He conducted the pot- tery there until 1847, in the spring of which year he removed to East Liverpool, Ohio. Here he associated himself with William Woodward and James Blakely in building what was known as the Woodward, Blakely & Com- pany plant, which was one of the very earliest established in the city. This was continued with success until forced to close down in 1857 on account of the straitened conditions of general business, practically amounting to a panic. On the site of that plant, three concerns are now operating, The William Brunt Pottery Company, The Hall China Company and The Vodrey Pottery Company. After that date Mr. Vodrey did not again actively engage in business, but continued to reside in East Liver- pool until his death in 1864, shortly after cast- ing his second vote for Abraham Lincoln, be- ing then 63 years old. His wife died at East Liverpool in 1873. They were parents of the following children : William H., a brief sketch of whose life follows ; James N. ; and John W., who lost his life during the Civil War, while accompanying General Sherman on his famous "March to the Sea."

James N Vodrey became identified with the potteries in his boyhood days and through- out his active career was engaged in the pot- tery business. He was a very successful busi- ness man, and was held in highest esteem by

JAMES N. VODREY, one of the founders of the business now conducted by The Vodrey Pottery Company, was born in ' Louisville, Kentucky, in 1834 and died at Cambridge | his many employees and the general public.

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He was essentially a home man and spent his leisure hours in the companionship of his fam- ily. He was united in marriage with Isabel Jobling, who was born in England and came to this country when young. She died in 1833, aged about 45 years. They reared four child- ren, as follows: John W., W. E., Mrs. J. B. Taylor and J. N. John W. Vodrey, who is president of The Vodrey Pottery Company, director and vice-president of The Citizens National Bank and also of The Potters' Build- ing & Savings Company, married Miss K. W. Laughlin and has three children,-J. R., J. L. and Catherine. Fraternally, he is a Mason and belongs to Pilgrim Commandery, No. 55, K. T., of East Liverpool, and also to the Temple. A. A. O. N. M. S., of Cleveland. W. E. Vodrey, who is manager of The Vodrey Pottery Company, married Laura Vaughn, of East Liverpool and has two children,-Sarah and William. He is a Mason and a member of the Pilgrim Commandery, No. 55, K. T., of East Liverpool. Mrs. J. B. Taylor is the mother of two children,-Alma and Howard. J. N. Vodrey, who is a prominent dentist, graduated from the University of Michigan and is associated with Dr. J. M. Cartwright, with offices in the Exchange Building. He married Wallace Hall and has a son, Wendell. Originally the family were Methodists, but its members are now variously affiliated, some with the United Presbyterian, some with the Presbyterian and some with the Methodist Episcopal. .

COL. WILLIAM H. VODREY, also one of the founders of the business now conducted by The Vodrey Pottery Company, attained prominence as a soldier, politician and business man, and is well remembered by the people, who in his death lost one of its leading public spirits. He was born in Louisville, Kentucky, August 1, 1832, and was a son of Jabez and Sarah (Nixon) Vodrey, and a brother of James N. Vodrey.

William H. Vodrey moved with his parents to East Liverpool, Ohio, in 1847. and was for a time employed in the Harker pottery. He afterward entered the employe of Woodward, Blakely & Company, with whom he continued until they closed their plant in 1857. It was

then that in partnership with his brothers, James N. and John W., he established the foundation for The Vodrey Pottery Company, and with this he was identified until his death on October 23, 1896. During the Civil War he served in the Union Army, becoming colonel of the 143rd Regiment, Ohio Vol, Inf., having organized the Columbiana County portion of that regiment. He had been a lieutenant colonel in the Ohio State militia before his enlistment in the United States service. He served three terms as mayor of East Liverpool, being chief executive of the city in 1862, 1863 and 1868. He also served a number of terms in the City Council. For a period of 24 years he was a member of the Board of Education, a portion of that time being president. He was a Repub- lican in politics and always took an active and leading part in the same. He was the first man of influence in East Liverpool to endorse and work for William Mckinley in his first con- gressional campaign. He was a director of The First National Bank from its organization.

Colonel Vodrey was married to Elizabeth Jackman, who was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, where she now lives at the age of 65 years. Three children were born to them, namely : Oliver C., Mary A. and William H.

OLIVER C. VODREY, secretary and treasurer of The Vodrey Pottery Company, resides at home with his mother in East Liverpool. He is active in local political affairs; is a director of The First National Bank, also of The Dollar Savings Bank; is a trustee of Bethany College and is president of the Board of Education, Walter B. Hill being clerk of the board. These gentlemen have held these offices for a period of eight years, and it is a singular coincidence that their parents held the respective offices simultaneously and for a like period. Oliver C. Vodrey is a Mason and belongs to Pilgrim Commandery, No. 55, K. T.

WILLIAM H. VODREY, younger son of Col. William H. and Elizabeth ( Jackman) Vodrey, is a successful lawyer of East Liverpool, being a member of the firm of Vodrey & Wallace. He was born and reared at East Liverpool ; was graduated from Bethany College in 1894; read law there and in the University of Michi-

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gan, from which he was graduated in 1896; was graduated from the Cincinnati Law School in 1897. He was admitted to the bar of Col- umbiana County in 1897, and practiced alone until 1902, when he formed a partnership with J. C. Wallace. He is engaged in general prac- tice and has met with uniform success. He was joined in marriage with Dorothy Kelly, a daughter of J. M. Kelly, and they with their two children, William and Joseph, reside in a comfortable home on College street. In poli- tics he is a Republican and an active partisan. He is a member of the Christian Church.

J. FOLEY, mayor of East Pales- tine, and one of the city's represen- tative men in business and public life, was born at Burlington, Ver- mont, and is a son of Thomas James and Bridget L. (Walsh) Foley.

Mr. Foley's boyhood was spent at Burling- ton and there he pursued and completed his education, in the common schools and in a collegiate institute. He taught one term after leaving school but his inclinations led him to take up journalistic work. When he first began to prepare for a future career, he entered a newspaper office, beginning his training there as the "devil" and continuing until he was an expert typesetter and thoroughly understood every branch of the printer's trade. He was identified with the newspaper business for 22 years.

In 1879 he left Burlington and before com- ing to Columbiana County, Ohio, had traveled widely, having visited every State in the Union with the exception of Idaho, Montana, Wash- ington and Oregon, and having toured many parts of Canada. When he came to East Palestine, he became managing editor of the Reveille-Echo, the leading newspaper of the place, which he successfully conducted for a year and then entered into a general insurance and real estate business, establishing an office in the Chamberlin Block. His journalistic connections had brought him more or less into public life and his public spirit and broad-

minded progressiveness had gained him the confidence and admiration of the citizens of East Palestine and in 1902 he was elected mayor. His administration has proven bene- ficial in every way to the citys best interests.

Mr. Foley was married at Cleveland, Ohio, January 20, 1897, to Annie L. Connor, who was born at Buffalo Run, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, and.they have had three children -- two sons, James and Lavelle and a little daughter who died at the age of 10 months.

Mr. Foley is a man of genial presence and is a very popular member of the Masonic bodies, the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America.

L ODGE RIDDLE. The subject of this sketch is a well-known attorney-at- law of Lisbon, occupying the offices on Park avenue, formerly used by the late Tudge Jonathan H. Wallace. Mr. Riddle was born at Wellsville, Colum- biana County. Ohio. in 1869, and is a son of George T. and Gertrude E. (Lodge) Riddle. George T. Riddle lives in Idaho. His wife passed away in 1881. The Lodge family and Frederick family, maternal relatives, located in Columbiana County at an early period. Mr. Riddle's mother was born at Lisbon, and was a daughter of Osborne Lodge, who was form- erly county auditor. She left three sons besides the subject of this sketch, namely: E. R., superintendent of the County Infirmary : Frank M .. a grocer of Lisbon and L. L .. of Lisbon, who is in the confectionery and cigar business.

The years of his boyhood succeeding 1881, our subject passed in Mahoning County, and received his early mental training in the public schools there. He also taught school in that county for several years. He had always kept in view the profession of the law. the study of which he began while attending the Ohio Nor- mal University at Ada. Ohio. In 1894 he com- pleted the scientific course in that institution. finishing the law course in 1895. In June of the latter year he was admitted to the bar. For two years he then taught school in Colum-

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biana County, after which he began the general practice of the law at Lisbon. At first he was in partnership with V. H. Mowls, as Mowls & Riddle, which firm was dissolved after nine months continuance.

Mr. Riddle was married in 1897 to Mary Roose, of Homeworth, Columbiana County, a daughter of B. F. Roose. They have one son, Lynn, born in 1900.

Politically, Mr. Riddle is a Republican. He is serving as justice of the peace, having been elected to this office in 1898, and is also village clerk. Fraternally, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias lodge at Lisbon, of which society he is county deputy. He also be- longs to the lodge of the B. P. O. E. at Salem. Religiously, he is a member of the Presby- terian Church.

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History of Columbiana County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 72

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