History of Columbiana County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 73

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

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AMUEL RICHARDSON DIXSON, capitalist, a leading citizen of East Liverpool, who lives somewhat re- tired from business activity outside of looking after his many important in- vestments, was born near Leetonia, Columbiana County, Ohio, August 6, 1846. He is a son of Joseph Jackson and Lydia ( Richardson) Dixson.

Henry Dixson, the grandfather, was born near Morgantown, Virginia ( now West Vir- ginia ), and married Ruth Jackson, a daughter of Samuel Jackson, of that locality. At an early day they came to Columbiana County. Ohio. They reared a number of children, who. intermarried with the Copes and other promi- nent families of this section. The father of our subject was born near Morgantown, Virginia (now West Virginia). July 26, 1809, and he was quite small when his parents took up land near Leetonia, Ohio, on a stream known as Cherry Fork. Here Joseph J. Dixson was reared and continued to farm until about 1853. when he removed to a farm in Middleton township, which he sold in 1858. He then bought property in Liverpool township and upon it took up his residence, where he lived continuously until his death in 1890. He was

one of the reliable, sturdy men of his time, strict in observance of his religious duties and of his political privileges. A strong Whig, he became an equally zealous Republican.

Joseph J. Dixson married a daughter of Samuel Richardson, a pioneer settler then re- siding on his farm where the village of Negley later came into being. Four children were born to this marriage, namely .: Henry H., Marietta, Ruth Anna and Samuel Richardson, of this sketch. The mother died in 1892, aged 81 years. She was a consistent member of the Second Presbyterian Church, of East Liver- pool, located in the East End.

Henry H. Dixson, who is a resident of East Liverpool, now retired, was born July 28, 1837, and was reared on the home farm. At the out- break of the Civil War, he enlisted in Com- pany A, 115th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., in which he served with distinction for three years, and is now a valued member of General Lyon Post, No. 44. . G. A. R., of East Liverpool. After his return from the army, he continued to farm the home land for some six years and then sold his interest to his brother, our subject, buy- ing a farm in Stark County. He resided there for six years and in 1876 returned to East Liverpool and accepted a position as stationary engineer, which calling he followed for a space of 27 years. Since 1903 he has not been active. He has always been identified with the Repub- lican party. He married Susan S. Whetstone, a daughter of John Whetstone, who lived near New Baltimore, Stark County. She died Janu- ary 17, 1904. She was a worthy member of the First Disciples Church, of East Liverpool.

Marietta, the eldest sister of our subject, is deceased. She was the wife of John Cham- berlain, of East Liverpool. Ruth Anna mar- ried George Thompson, of St. Clair township, Columbiana County.

Samuel Richardson Dixson was reared on the home farm and attended school as did the other boys of his day and locality, a consider- able portion of muscle being developed along with mental advancement. When he had reached manhood, he left the farm long enough to perfect himself as a carpenter and worked as a journeyman for some seven years. He

PHILIP FRANCIS GEISSE

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then went back to farming, buying the old homestead in Liverpool township from the other heirs. For about 18 years he carried on general farming and stock raising. In 1900 he erected his present commodious and attrac- tive residence in East Liverpool, on the corner of Needham and St. George streets, in the East End, and has occupied it since it was finished. The old farm he has platted as "Dixsonville" and has laid it out in building lots. For the past five years he has devoted his attention to his real estate holdings, erecting many fine residences for renting purposes and making many excellent improvements. He was one of the organizers and is a director of the Federal Building & Loan Company, of East Liverpool.

In 1871 Mr. Dixson was married to Lucetta Bryan, who is a daughter of John Bryan, of New Baltimore, Stark County, Ohio. Both Mr. Dixson and his wife are members of the Second Presbyterian Church, of East Liver- pool, of which he served as trustee from its organization until the spring of 1905.

Politically, Mr. Dixson has always been a Republican. For two years he served in the City Council and for six years on the Board of Equalization, and has always been a citizen of responsibility and prominence.

P HILIP FRANCIS GEISSE, whose portrait accompanies this sketch, was born at Reading, Pennsylvania, No- vember 28, 1813. He received a common school education, in Reading and Philadelphia, and, being possessed of a me- chanical and inventive mind, studied mechanic- al engineering and became a practical machinist as well. He came to Wellsville, Ohio, in 1836. and, having a little means, although but 23 years of age, at once set about establishing a foundry and machine shop of modest dimen- sions. He was possessed of an indomitable will and a splendid degree of energy, and soon the "Fulton Foundry and Machine Shops" of Wellsville enjoyed almost a national reputa- tion. Before the Cleveland & Pittsburg Rail-

road was built Philip F. Geisse was building engines and machinery for Ohio River boats and assisting in the building of the boats them- selves; as well as building steamboats and ferry-boats and other transports for the Upper . Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. In the early : 5os, after the Cleveland & Pittsburg Railroad : had been built from Cleveland to the Ohio, River at Wellsville, in which great project he: was one of the moving spirits (he being a director of the company for many years ), he en- gaged in the manufacture of car wheels and trucks, as well as other articles of railway equipment. In these enlarged operations his. business became profitable; and while he met: with losses through failure of certain contrac- tors, and by reason of the delinquency of pur -- chasers in the West and South immediately prior to and during the early years of the Civil. War, he was yet able to secure a competency for himself and his family. During his active business life of 36 years in Wellsville, he gave employment to a large number of men, educated very many practical mechanics, numbers of whom are to-day employers of men while others not employers are yet successful in their chosen careers, and all are proud of the memory of their former employer, instructor and friend. No man did more for the upbuilding of Wells- ville, and for the welfare of her people than he.

Philip F. Geisse was married on January 3, 1838, to Amy Cope. of Wellsville, who died July 15. 1839, after having borne him one child, who died in early infancy. On July 14, 1840, Mr. Geisse was married to Lydia R. Myers. daughter of Hon. John Myers, one of the pioneer citizens of Canton, and a member of the Ohio State Senate from 1816 to 1818. Mrs. Lydia R. Geisse, who was a most estima- ble Christian woman. much given to works of charity and everybody's friend, died December 21. 1869. Philip F. and Lydia R. Geisse were the parents of the following children : George W. Geisse, Mrs. Annie E. Thomas, Dr. Emma C. Geisse. William H. Geisse. Helen Lydia, wife of William B. McCord: Frank C. Geisse and Mary A .. wife of George H. Finn. of Bos- ton, Massachusetts. Of these. Mrs. Thomas, Mrs. McCord and Mrs. Finn are still living.

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Philip F. Geisse died at his home in Wells- ville, May 18, 1872, after an illness of about a year, while yet scarcely past his prime, but having accomplished very much more in his life of less than three score years than most men who have gained greater maturity. He was a member and liberal supporter of the Presby- terian Church, and also a Mason of high de- gree.

B. STOUT, general merchant at Kensington, was born in 1850 and is a son of Jacob and Sarah Ann (Toalson) Stout. Daniel Stout, the, paternal grandfather, was born in Pennsylvania and in pioneer days came to Ohio and settled in Carroll County. There Jacob Stout was born. He died in 1852.

Our subject was educated in Columbiana County, for his mother moved to Salineville after the death of his father. Formerly Mr. Stout owned a farm of 72 acres in West town- ship, but this he sold in the spring of 1904. In 1900 he entered into the mercantile.business at Kensington, having previously been engaged as a clerk in other establishments. He thus had made many friends prior to starting for himself and now does a large and satisfactory business.

In 1889 Mr. Stout was married to Ella May Rhule, who is a daughter of John Rhule, form- erly a farmer in Wayne township, now de- ceased. Mrs. Rhule still resides on the home- :stead. Mr. and Mrs. Stout have two children, viz. :. Byrell and Etura. Both he and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. Politi- cally he is a Democrat. He belongs to the Odd Fellows and to the Maccabees.

HEOPHILUS GATES ROGERS, founder of the town of Rogers, a village that came into being in 1883, one beautiful in situation and settled by an intelligent, cultured class, was one of the pioneer settlers of Columbiana Coun- ty, Ohio. ,. He was born in Harford County, Maryland, December 23, 1818 and passed a

long useful and exemplary life amid the sur- roundings to which he was introduced as a child of three years, dying on his patrimonial farm in 1898. He was a son of Joseph and Mary Cooper ( Morgan) Rogers.

Mr. Rogers was of English-Scotch extrac- tion and the family record, an interesting one can be clearly traced as far back as 1755 to John Rogers, the great English divine and martyr, who in that year at Smithfield was burned at the stake.

Joseph Rogers, the father, came to East Fairfield in the fall of 1821 and in the follow- ing spring came to the site of what in later years was the home of our subject for so many years, where he made a small clearing and built a little pebble-dashed cabin. This was afterward moved to just west of where the present residence was built in 1836. This house was built from the resources of the farm, the brick being burned on the place and the stone quarried from ledges of rock. He took up a section of land here, which, with the assistance of our subject, he cleared and here he lived until his decease in 1863.

The late Theophilus Gates Rogers was given the best educational advantages the lo- cality afforded at that time, and being of a studious turn of mind he secured more sub- stantial benefit than many of his classmates. Although he was obliged to leave school at the age of 14 years, in order to assist in the very serious business of clearing the pioneer farm, his love of reading led him to seek constant food for his mind and he became familiar with all the books he could buy or borrow. All his life Mr. Rogers was particularly fond of his- tory and he not only read of the past but took a deep interest in current affairs, keeping thoroughly posted on all modern happenings the world over. He was much interested in all kinds of inventions which marked the progress of years. He grew up at home, sub- ject to the quiet, refining influences of a house- hold tempered by the spirit of Quaker belief, but he was also taught the practical virtues of industry, frugality and temperance. As years passed by, he became more and more interested in the leading industries of his section-farm- ing and wool-growing-and he accumulated an

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ample fortune, the natural result of careful, conservative business methods. He was a man who was very liberal in his support of worthy public enterprises and gave largely to Mount Hope College of his town. His lamented death took place on February 15, 1898.

In 1880 Mr. Rogers was married to Ida Morgan Hammond, a member of one of the oldest families of York County, Pennsylvania. She is a daughter of William and Mary (Glas- gow ) Hammond; her grandmother Hammond was a first cousin of Gen. Robert E. Lee. The Hammonds were Scotch Presbyterians. Mrs. Rogers' father, was educated in Harvard Uni- versity and had been reared a Scotch-Presby- terian. Her mother was a member of the So- ciety of Friends. Mrs. Rogers is one of a family of three children having a sister, Mrs. James Gibson, and a brother, Milton Ham- mond. She was educated in the English and Classical Institute at Stewartstown, Pennsyl- vania, and the State Normal School at Millers- ville. For, some years her father was instructor in mathematics and civil engineering at York ·College. Mr. and Mrs. Rogers had four chil- dren : Walter Gates, Myra Eunice, Roscoe Mil- ton and Iris Mary.

Mr. Rogers was never very active in poli- tics, his main interest being the establishment and continuance of a protective tariff. He neither desired nor sought office, although, as a man of consequence, his influence could not but be more or less felt, in both county and township elections. He always supported the Republican party. His religious "convictions prevented him from affiliating with any secret orders. He was a man of notable sterling qualities. In him his fellow-citizens felt they could repose perfect. confidence, and he was held in esteem by people of all creeds and political proclivities.

AMES J. HOOPES, one of the repre- sentative farmers and dairymen of Butler township, who owns and oper- ates a fine farm of 99 acres in sec- tion 24, was born in this township one ;and a' half miles south of his present farm,

September 25, 1851, and is a son of Robert and Sarah (Spencer) Hoopes.

The Hoopes family is an old and honored one in Butler township, and was founded here by James Hoopes who came from Pennsyl- vania and entered a large body of land. Robert Hoopes was born in Butler township, Columbiana County, Ohio, July 22, 1819, and his long life of 77 -years was spent on a farm in this township. His home farm contained 92 acres and he owned at the time of death four other farms of . 381/2 acres each; in ad- dition he had given each of his children a gen- erous start in life. He was a consistent member of the Christian Church. He married Sarah Spencer, who was born September 16, 1824, and is a daughter of Joshua and Priscilla (Stanley) Spencer. She now resides with her daughter, Mrs. Rebecca Cope, of Butler town- ship. The children of Robert and Sarah (Spencer) Hoopes were as follows : David S., deceased; Mrs. Priscilla Harris, deceased; James J., of this sketch; Joshua, of Butler township; and Rebecca, wife of Emmor Cope.

James J. Hoopes was reared and educated in Butler township and has always lived in it. He has resided on his present valuable farm since 1882. Since coming here, he has con- tinued to make improvements of various kinds and has a very comfortable home and com- modious barns. He disposes of the milk of 15 cows to the Winona Creamery.

Mr. Hoopes was married, first, to Caroline Knoedler, who was a daughter of John and Catherine Knoedler, who were natives of Wurtemberg, Germany. John Knoedler was born December 10, 1827, and his wife; May I, 1828. They had been neighbors in Germany but were married in Mahoning County, Ohio. He was a carpenter and worked at that trade all his life; at the same time, however, he also conducted a small farm on which he lived. They had six children, as follows: John F .; Lewis; Caroline, the first wife of our subject ; Catherine, wife of Joshua Hoopes; Mary, the second wife of our subject ; and Lucy, wife of Curtis Johnson. The family are all deceased, except John F., Catherine and Mary. To our subject's first marriage were born two chil-

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dren : Charles, who married Sadie Hahn and resides in Butler township: and Rosella, who lives at home. Mr. Hoopes married, second. Mary Knoedler, sister to his former wife, and they have five children, viz. : Ola L., Carl R., Sarah Anna. Herman J. and William D.

In political sentiment, Mr. Hoopes has al- ways been identified with the Republican party. He is one of the leading members of the High- land Christian Church.

ORMAN B. GARRIGUES. Among the prominent and useful men whose removal from life's activities brought sincere regret to those who had been benefited in business association and whose interests he had served in public life, was the late Norman B. Garrigues, formerly president and treasurer of the Barckhoff Organ Company of Salem. Mr. Garrigues was born September 12. 1840, at Salem, Ohio, and died December 30, 1897. His parents were Richard H. and Maria ( Bentley) Garrigues.

Inheriting great mechanical skill from his father. who was an experienced machin- ist. Norman B. Garrigues became a master workman in this line, one which he successfully followed until called to the duties of public life. In 1861 he proved his loyalty to the Union by enlisting as a soldier in an Ohio regiment and was subsequently made one of General Fremont's body guards. His political sympathies were always with the Republican party and in 1886 he was elected auditor of Columbiana County and efficiently served two terms in that position. This neces- sitated a residence of six years at Lisbon. At the close of his official life, he returned to Salem and gave his attention during the rest of his life to the interests of the Barckhoff Organ Company of this city, being president and treasurer of the same.

In September. 1864. Mr. Garrigues was married to Nina Hise, who was a daughter of Jacob Hise, also of Ohio. They had three chil- dren. the one survivor being Mabel, now the wife of J. W. Burrows, a resident of Pittsburg,

Pennsylvania. Mrs. Burrows has one child, Virginia. Mrs. Garrigues still survives and is a much esteemed resident of Salem; her beauti- ful home is situated at No. 67 Lincoln avenue but she resides at No. I East High street.

The late Mr. Garrigues was a member of the Society of Friends and he and his family were and they continue to be adherents of that religious body. He was a valued member of Trescott Post. G. A. R. at Salem. His ac- quaintance was wide and his friends were many.

OHN P. FORBES, whosefine farm of 80 acres is situated in section 28, Yel- low Creek township, is one of the well-known and highly esteemed. citi- zens of his localitv. He was born in 1864 and is a son of John and Eliza (Smith) Forbes.

The father of Mr. Forbes was born in Scotland in 1825 and came to America with his father, Alexander Forbes, in 1829. The lat- ter bought the present farm of our subject in Yellow Creek township in 1830 for the sum of $112. The grandfather died in 1871 in his 87th year, his wife having passed away in 1869 at the age of 81 years. John Forbes was born February 12, 1825, and was educated in the schools of Yellow Creek township where he grew to manhood. On December 5, 1861, he married Eliza Smith, who was born in July, 1839, and died July 19, 1901, in her 62nd year. Mr. Forbes died March 11, 1896, leaving these children : Elizabeth, who married William Peddlar, has two children, Lawrence and Rosa and resides at Mckees Rock, Pennsylvania ; John P., of this sketch ; Jeanette, who married William Shook and at her death left two chil- dren,-Charles and Goldie; Alexander ; Daniel. residing at Cleveland, who married Annie Rus- sell and has two children, Ion and Arthur ; and Eliza Edna, who married George W. White, and has one child,-Ethel.

Our subject and his brother Alexander re- side together, the father having bought a sec- ond tract of 80 acres, which the younger

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brother owns and which adjoins the home farm. These two young men were reared in the Presbyterian Church, of which their pa- rents were most worthy members. They also are Republicans, following in the footsteps of their father. Our subject is one of the good, representative men of Yellow Creek township. Here he was reared and educated and here he has shown those sterling qualities which com- mand the respect of the community, being a good son, a kind neighbor and an honest. up- right man.

ICHAEL O. FISHER, for many years one of the most successful farmers of Liverpool township, is now living a retired life in his handsome home located near the city of East Liverpool. He is a native of this county and was born January 26, 1833. He is a son of John and Elizabeth (Hill) Fisher.

John Fisher, father of our subject, was born in Pennsylvania, March 15, 1798, and died at the age of 72 years. He came to Colum- biana County, Ohio, in 1810, and being of Dutch stock spoke the English language with difficulty. On October 28, 1822, he married Elizabeth Hill, who was born in Hancock county, Virginia (now West Virginia), Janu- ary 30, 1804. Eleven children were born to them, as follows: Susan, who died in 1903, at the age of 78 years; Levi H., a practicing physician in Louisiana for 52 years, who died February 10, 1894, at the age of 77 years ; John Milton, born April 13, 1829, a good, sub- stantial man, whose word was as good as his bond -- he was loved by all who knew him and his death, which occurred November 20, 1890, was a sad blow to his many friends : William, born February 4, 1831, who lives within a few rods of our subject's home ; Michael O. ; Albert. born in 1835 and in 1858 graduated from Washington College, who was a Confederate soldier and sympathizer during the Civil War and who was killed in the battle of Chancellors- ville at the age of 27 years; Mrs. Clara E. D. Corry, who died January 30, 1883 ; Mrs. Mary

C. Hambel, born in 1839, who is now living in the suburbs of Leavenworth, Kansas; Laura M., born in February, 1842, who married William Corry and is living near her sister in Kansas; Sanford G:, aged 61 years, who is preaching in Presbyterian churches in various parts of the West. having gone thither in early life ; and Henry Orville, the youngest, aged 58 years, who is farming near Leavenworth, Kansas.

Michael O. Fisher received such education as the public schools of that period afforded, and upon leaving school resided for a period of 10 years in Lisbon. In 1864 he joined Company B., 143rd Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., and saw service at Wilson's Landing. Petersburg and other important engagements in that vicin- ity. During the years 1865, 1866 and 1867. he served as trustee of Elkrun township, and has always worked enthusiastically for the advance- ment of the community in which he resided. He was present at the time of the capture of Morgan, and secured one of the boxes of cart- ridges taken from the Confederate raider at the time. Mr. Fisher engaged in farming with great success and has laid by a handsome com- petency, which enables him to spend the sunset of life in the ease and comfort to which his early years of toil entitle him. In 1875 he erected a substantial brick house which he now occupies, and which is situated about 100 feet north of the city limits on the Lisbon road. He has disposed of all his farm but II acres. He is a man of exemplary habits and rugged constitution, and although retired from active affairs he still takes an earnest interest in all that pertains to the welfare of his community and the success of his home people.

In 1876, Mr. Fisher was united in marriage with Isabella Hickman. a native of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Both are members of the Presbyterian Church of Liverpool town- ship, with which our subject has been identified for more than 52 years. Politically, he was a Republican until the early '80's, since which time he has been an advocate and supporter of the tenets of prohibition. He has served that party as delegate to its State convention upon several occasions.

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OUIS BARTH, one of the highly es- teemed retired residents of East Liver- pool, and one of the city's leading capitalists, who was identified with pottery interests here for many years, was born at Gersweiler, Kreuz Saarbrucken, Rhenish Prussia, May 20, 1854, and is a son of Karl Wilhelm and Anna Maria (Berger) (Walther) Barth.

The father of Mr. Barth was also born in Saarbrucken and was a son of Wilhelm Barth, who was mayor of St. Arnual, a life position given him by the government. He died young and his children were thrown on their own re- sources. The father of Mr. Barth followed the pottery trade all his life, being a fine workman. He died December 1, 1869, aged 46 years. He married Mrs. Anna Maria Walther, who was a daughter of Andreas Berger. She was born in Lorraine when it was still a French possession, and died in 1894. The children of her second marriage were: John, who died at Wheeling, West Virginia; Louis, of this record; Jennie Karoline, deceased, who was the wife of John Momber, of Gersweiler, Prussia, Germany; and Karl, who is a resi- dent of East Liverpool.'

Louis.Barth was reared and educated in his own land and, as a faithful and loyal subject . of his emperor, entered the German Army while still under age, serving with credit for three years, receiving his honorable discharge in 1876. He was a member of the Fourth Battery of Field Artillery, 15th Regiment, and during the last year of his service he held the rank of lance corporal. In 1876 he received the first prize as gunner, one which was eagerly sought.

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History of Columbiana County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 73

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