History of Columbiana County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 75

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 75

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

George W. Beck was reared in -Fairfield township and has always given his attention more or less to agricultural pursuits. In the Civil War he was a member of Company D, 176th Reg .. Ohio Vol. Inf., of which company he was made Ist lieutenant. He served in that capacity for seven months when he was pros- trated with lung fever and on this account was discharged to return home and get well or, as was probably thought, to pass out of life. How- ever, he had been home but six days when he began to make preparations to re-enter the service, accepting recruiting service at first, serving 40 days from July 29, 1864, under the instructions of the Adjutant General of Ohio and then entered the Second Regi- ment, Ohio Vol. Cav., in which he served until the close of the war. He took part in the bat- tle of Nashville and many skirmishes.

After the war, Mr. Beck returned to Ohio and lived for seven years at Columbiana, en- gaged in teaming and then retired to his pres- ent farm, where he has a very comfortable and attractive home.

Mr. Beck married Kate V. Mitchell, of Virginia, and they have seven children, viz: John, a furniture merchant of Columbiana, who married Dora Crowl; William Harvey and Mary Awilda, who are at home ; Louis P., who is a conductor on the "Fort Wayne" Rail- road: W. W., who is one of the staff of the Salem Herald; Josephine, a student at the Salem Business College; and Russell, who lives at home. Mr. Beck has a family of in- telligent sons and daughters who have been

553

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

given the best of educational advantages and who are leading members of society.

Politically, the subject of this sketch is identified with the Republican party. He is a member of James A. Garfield Post, G. A. R. He belongs to the Disciples Church in which he is an elder.

NGUS ALEXANDER MACKIN- TOSH, B. S., PH. G., M. D., the leading physician and surgeon of the homeopathic school of medicine at Wellsville, is a son of Farquhar and Eliza (Campbell) Mackintosh, and a grandson of Daniel Mackintosh.

The father of Dr. Mackintosh was born in Inverness, Scotland, in May, 1821. He came to America with his parents, when he was eight years old. They settled in Columbiana Coun- ty, Ohio, selecting the vicinity of the town of Glasgow, in Madison township, that district being included in the region known as the "Scotch 'Settlement." There the father of Dr. Mackintosh has always resided and there he still operates his farm. He is a man of sterling character, quiet in his life and pursuits and not active in political life. He married a daughter of Angus Campbell; Mrs. Mackintosh's father was a native of Scotland, but she was born in Madison township, Columbiana County, Ohio. The six children of the family to reach ma- turity were: Daniel C., of Clarinda, Iowa ; Isabella C., at home; Anna E., wife of A. G. Smith, of Yellow Creek township; Angus Alexander, our, subject ; Catherine J. ; and John J., who is professor of sciences in the Mount Clemens (Michigan) High School. The fam- ily were reared in the teachings of the Presby- terian Church.

After completing the common school course, Dr. Mackintosh taught school for some 20 months, and then went to the Ohio Northern University to pursue higher studies and in 1897 was given the degree of B. S. He re- mained at school the following year, taking a course in pharmacy, and in 1898 was grad- uated with the degree of Ph. G. From the

university the young student then entered the Cleveland Homeopathic Medical College, where he was graduated April 10, 1901, with the degree of M. D.

Dr. Mackintosh, thus well prepared for his life work, settled down to the practice of his profession at Tappan, Ohio, where he remained two and a half years, coming to Wellsville October 1, 1904. -

Politically, Dr. Mackintosh is a Republi- can; he served four years as township clerk prior to entering college. He is a member of `the First Presbyterian Church of Wellsville. Professionally and personally he enjoys the- esteem and commands the respect of the com- munity.

HARVEY MARTIN, a retired' farmer of the East End, East Liver- pool, was born May 26, 1843, at. Frankfort Springs, Pennsylvania, on the farm which was also the birth- place of his father and purchased by his great- grandfather in 1792. He is a son of James. W. and Elizabeth (Blair) Martin and grand- son of Robert and Sarah (McLaughlin) Martin.

The Martin family is of Scotch-Irish de- scent and the great-grandfather of our, subject, Robert Martin, is thought to have been a sold- ier of the Revolution who came over the moun- tains from West Chester, Pennsylvania. It is. known that the farm upon which the subse- quent generations were born. was entered by him from the government in 1792 and he re- ceived a deed therefor. This farm was located in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and was: handed down to the son, Robert, grandfather of our subject, who married Sarah McLaugh- lin and engaged in farming all his life. He was a soldier in the War of 1812 and in the service contracted a disease which took him to. liis grave at an early age.

James W. Martin was born in 1804 and re- mained on the paternal acres until about 1846, when he removed to Jefferson County, Ohio, and operated a grist-mill for two years. He then:

55-

HISTORY OF COLUMBIANA COUNTY

came to Columbiana County and purchased a farm in St. Clair township, which he operated until 1874 when he disposed of it and, with our subject, bought a farm in what is known as the "Klondike," in the East End, East Liver- pool. Here he died November 12, 1892: He married Elizabeth Blair, daughter of Robert Blair and his wife, who was an Allison. . They had four children, namely: Sarah Jane, Ro- bert, Martha Maria and J. Harvey. Sarah Jane is the wife of J. W. Moore, of East Liver- pool, whose biography appears elsewhere in this volume. Robert went to Oklahoma after the Civil War and was the first Secretary of that Territory, of which he was later Governor. His death was the indirect result of exposure undergone in the army. Martha Maria is the wife of Henry Abrams, of East Liverpool. Both parents were members of the United Presbyterian Church, of which the father was elder for more than 40 years.

J. Harvey Martin received a common school education and, following the footsteps of his ancestors, became a tiller of the soil. This he continued until 1893 when he removed to Steubenville, Ohio, in order to educate his children. Two years later he returned to East Liverpool where he has lived retired from ac- tive business, although he is interested in and looks after various enterprises. Mr. Martin is a veteran of the Civil War, having served in Company B, 143rd Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., and he is a prominent member of General Lyon Post, No. 44, G. A. R., of which he is past com- mander. He is a strong Republican and has been since casting his first vote for Abraham Lincoln. He has filled a number of local offices, among which was that of assessor of Liverpool township.

Mr. Martin was married to Maria S. Gil- more, a daughter of Thomas Gilmore, of Steubenville, Ohio. Four children have been born to them, only two of whom, Annie G. and Elizabeth, are living. The latter is the wife of Charles H. Bence, manager of The Sleepless Shoe Company, of East Liverpool, of which our subject is part owner. Mr. and Mrs. Martin are members of the United Pres- byterian Church.

G OSEPH E. WALTON, the owner of a finely improved farm of 100 acres situated in section 23, Butler town- ship, widely and favorably known for. his success in raising fine cattle and horses, being one of the largest shippers in this part of the country, is one of the most enter- prising business men of Columbiana County. He was born March 2, 1861, in Butler town- ship, and is a son of Abel John and Mary (Broomall) Walton.

Abram Walton, the grandfather of Joseph E., was born in Pennsylvania and was one of the pioneers of Butler township, Columbiana County, Ohio. He was a prominent member of the' Society of Friends. He carried on agricultural pursuits all his life and died at the, age of 70 years. Abel John Walton, his son, was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, April II, 1831, and has been a farmer all his life., He now resides on a well-kept farm of some 50 acres in the vicinity of Winona. For the past 35 years he has been an influential member of the Society of Friends, belonging to that body" which adheres particularly to the teachings of Gurney, the English philanthropist and Quaker preacher. The mother of our subject was born in 1835 in Butler township, Columbiana Coun- ty, Ohio, and has always resided here; (she is a daughter, of Nathan and Phoebe Broomall, both of whom were born in Pennsylvania and came here in pioneer days. ) The "Golden Wed- (ling" of Abel John Walton and wife was cele-' brated April 26, 1905, when the venerable pa- rents had the pleasure of seeing their children and grandchildren gathered to do them honor. The children are: Phoebe, the wife of Isaac Coppock, of Mahoning County; Joseph E., of this sketch; John Oscar, of Hanover township; and Walter B., who remains on the homestead.

Joseph E. Walton has always been asso- ciated with the farming and stock raising inter- ests of Columbiana County. Since 1892 he has been located on his present fine place, his many substantial improvements making it one of the best farms of the township. He has laid three miles of drain tile and has erected new build- ings and remodeled the old buildings. until the appearance of the whole place is most attrac-

555

AND . REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

tive. He operates his land as a stock and hay farm, making a specialty of fine cattle and horses, both road and draft. He also raises and sells trotting horses but does not develop their speed. He buys and ships fat cattle, hogs and sheep and does a large business in baled hay. Each year he ships from 75 to 100 cars of fat stock. He is president and a director of the Winona Central Telephone Company. He is not only a man of means but is also of sub- stantial character and is ranked with the lead- ing men of the county.

Mr. Walton was married November 16, 1887, to Emma C. Mountz, who was born in this county and is a daughter of Jeremiah C. and Mary Martha (Pettit) Mountz. They have four children : Ernest J., Abram Mal- vern, Edith M. and Alice L.

Formerly Mr. Walton was an active Re- publican, but for the past 10 years he has been identified with the Prohibition party, always having taken a lively interest in temperance work. He was his party's candidate in 1905 for county commissioner. He belongs to the Grange and is interested in agricultural move- ments along progressive lines. With his family he attends and contributes to the support of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Winona.

EORGE PEACH, a well-known citi- zen and retired merchant at East Liverpool, was born January 28. 1839, at Hawsville, Kentucky, and is a son of John and Fannie (Tay- lor) Peach.

John Peach was born in 1812 in England. He was reared to hard work. put to the black- smith's trade in boyhood and had few educa- tional opportunities. When he came to Ameri- ca, he lived at first in Brooklyn, New York. and later in other localities. settling perman- ently at East Liverpool, Ohio. in 1850. His father, who had lived many years in New Jer- sey, came to East Liverpool with his son as a member of the latter's, family. John Peach was a passenger on the unfortunate steam- boat "Pittsburg" which blew up in 1852 with

great loss of life, Mr. Peach being one of the victims ; at the time he was on his way home to attend his father's funeral.

John Peach married Fannie Taylor, also a native of England, and they had three child- ren, namely : Mary Ellen, wife of Henry Woodward, of East Liverpool; Catherine, wife of Benjamin Hayne, of East Liverpool; and George, of this sketch. By a former marriage Mrs. Peach had a son, William, who died in East Liverpool.

Our subject secured employment in the local potteries soon after coming to East Liver- pool. He learned the trade of jiggerman and followed it in numerous potteries prior to en- tering the employ of William Brunt with whom he remained for 23 years. In 1862 he enlisted for service in the Civil War, entering Company A, 115th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., in which he served three years, during the greater part of the period being detailed in the commissary de- partment. At the close of the war he resumed work in the potteries and remained thus em- ployed until the famous lockout in 1882, in the industrial struggle between capital and labor. On October 14, 1882, he opened a retail gro- cery store in partnership with his son, Harry W. Peach, and in 1885 they began to do a jobbing business, under the firm style of George Peach & Son, proprietors of the East Liverpool Tea Company, which continued until 1904, when the senior member retired. The firm also handled tobacco. cigars and confectionery.

In 1860 Mr. Peach was married to Sarah Whitton, and their one child, Harry W., was born March 3. 1861. The latter was reared at East Liverpool and received his education here. He was one of the organizers of The Electric Porcelain Company, of East Liverpool, of which he is secretary and treasurer and his time has been given entirely to this enterprise since closing out his former interests. He married Margaret Barnett and they have two children. Helen and Adelaide. The wife of our subject died April 23. 1904. aged 63 years.

Mr. Peach has always been active in politics and is a stanch Republican. He has held many official positions, serving on the Board of Health, as township trustee and in 1886 he was

556

HISTORY OF COLUMBIANA COUNTY

elected to the City Council and subsequently became its president. He is a member of Gen- eral Lyon Post, No. 44, G. A. R., and of the Improved Order of Red Men. Mr. Peach has seen many changes in East Liverpool since he built his cottage on Fifth street, it being the second house built on the street. He enjoyed a long and successful business career and is one of the city's most esteemed retired citizens.

ILLIAM SMITH, one of the well- known pottery men of Columbiana County, who is secretary and treas- urer of The Salem 'China Com- pany, of Salem, was born at East Liverpool, Ohio, February 29, 1860, and is a son of Charles and Emma ( Parks) Smith.

The parents of Mr. Smith were born in Staffordshire, England, and came to America in 1847, locating for one year at Pittsburg and then coming to Columbiana County. The mother died in Liverpool township in 1884, at the age of 59 years. The father resides at East Liverpool. He is a man of fine educational ac- quirements, a civil engineer by profession. During his residence in Pittsburg, he engaged in a meat business ; after coming to this county, he was engaged in farming and in conducting a meat business until he retired some eight years ago. His children. all born in Liverpool township, are as follows: George, who has a meat business in East Liverpool : Edward J., president of The Standard Pottery Company, of East Liverpool; William of this sketch ; Charles and James, who are potters at East Liverpool; and Mrs. Sarah AIcClure and Mrs. Emma Foster, both of East Liverpool.

William Smith's education was obtained in the public schools of Columbiana County, his parents settling on a farm when he was about five years old. He assisted on the home place until he was 16 years old and then started to work in a pottery, his first permanent job be- ing that of packer's helper with The Croxall Pottery Company. He worked three years in that capacity and then was employed as a packer for three years by the firm of Knowles.

Taylor & Knowles. In 1882 when The Pot- ters' Co-Operative Company was started, Mr. Smith became a stockholder and he continued with that company for. 12 years as foreman packer and manager. He then became asso- ciated with the Union Pottery Company (or- ganized on a co-operative plan), took stock in it and was manager for four years, removing then to Salem. Here in 1899, in association with Messrs. Cronin and McNicol, he built the plant of The Salem China Company and has been secretary and treasurer of the com- pany and office manager ever since. The fac- tory, a large brick four-story structure, is so divided as to make the best use of space and so equipped with the most modern machinery that the finest grades of china can be manufactured at the lowest cost. The works give employ- ment to some 150 hands, the yearly sales reach $160,000 and the product is sold all over the United States and Mexico. Business capacity combined with practical experience has contri- buted to the great success of this company from the beginning.

In 1882 Mr. Smith was married to Emma Menche, who was born in East Liverpool and is a daughter of Frederick Menche, a native of the Hartz Mountains in Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have an interesting family of seven children, viz: William, Charles, Frank. Annie, Helen, Ella and Dorothy. Fraternally, Mr. Smith is an Odd Fellow. Like his partners, he is a self-made man, his success coming as a reward of persistent industry.

D ANIEL P. CRONIN, a leading busi- ness citizen of Salem, vice-president of The Salem China Company, with plant on South Lundy street. was born January 15, 1856, in Cork, Ire- land. and is a son of John and Johanna ( Hickey) Cronin.

The parents of Mr. Cronin were born in Ireland and came to America in 1863. The father died in East Liverpool, Ohio, July II, 1876: his widow, aged 69 years, is still a resi- dent of that city. John Cronin entered the

WILLIAM POLK

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

559

Union Army after coming to the United States and made a good soldier in the 23rd Regiment, Ohio Vol. Inf., of which the colonel was Stan- ley Matthews, later a justice of the United States Supreme Court. Four of the eight child- ren born to John Cronin and wife now survive, namely : Daniel P., of this sketch; Honora, wife of Daniel E. McNicol, president of The D. E. McNicol Pottery Company, of East Liverpool; Cornelius, secretary and treasurer of The Standard Pottery Company, of East Liverpool; and Ellen, of East Liverpool.

Our subject accompanied the rest of the family to America, landing at New York on August 26, 1863. After a residence of four months in Harlem, the family removed to Port Homer, Jefferson County, Ohio, and lived there from December, 1863, until May 1, 1864, and then settled at East Liverpool. For the past six years our subject has been a resident of Salem, where he is an esteemed and re- spected citizen. He is a self-made man, begin- ning almost in childhood to drive a horse in a pottery at East Liverpool, and thus adding to the family income. He worked through every department of the pottery and learned all the smallest details until he became an expert potter in all branches of the craft. He has been in- terested in the Dresden pottery at East Liver- pool and belongs to the directing boards of a number of the pottery companies in what is termed the East Liverpool district, which turn out some of the finest specimens of the potter's art. He was one of the organizers of The Salem China Company, in 1899, with which he has been officially connected ever since, and is the present vice-president, Thomas McNicol being president and William Smith, secretary and treasurer. The Salem China Company is well equipped, having six ware kilns and two decorating kilns.

In 1891 Mr. Cronin was married to Kath- erine Collins, who was born at Wolverhamp- ton, England, and came to America with her parents in 1866. Mr. and Mrs. Cronin have five children: Mary, John, Philip, Katherine and Cornelius. They are consistent members of the Catholic Church. Although Mr. Cronin' was reared a Democrat, he subsequently became

identified with the Republican party. He takes a leading place with the business men and sub- stantial citizens of his section of Columbiana County.

ILLIAM POLK, a prominent resi- dent of East Liverpool, whose in- ventive genius has brought his name prominently before the pub- lic and whose latest invention has revolutioniżed the pottery industry, was born at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, December 15. 1863, and is a son of Frederick and Louise ( Rhor- kaste) Polk.

The parents of Mr. Polk were born in Germany. The father was a farmer there until his death in 1862. Shortly after this family calamity, the mother crossed the ocean and joined her parents in Pittsburg, where they had been settled for several years, and there our subject was born, soon after she reached the parental roof. Thus he never knew a father's care. His education was that obtainable in the public schools, in which he received instruction. until his services could be of value in a rolling- mill, where he learned the trade of roller and continued at work until 1890.

While his hands were employed all day long and the rumble of the great mill was around him hour after hour, his brain was busy with ideas entirely foreign to his surroundings. Genius whispered how a change might be made in a certain, bit of machinery, how a clumsy ar- rangement might be overcome, and soon only the lack of capital prevented the young man from devoting himself to maturing these ideas and bringing about practical results. While these thoughts of inventions continued to be revolved in his active mind, he came to the conclusion that a business education was needed before he could hope to improve his condition. He entered one of the excellent schools of his native city. Duff's Commercial College, and after taking the complete business course re- moved to East Liverpool, in June, 1892.

His first business venture here was the pur- chase of the Thompson Hotel, the leading pub- lic house of the city, which he conducted very

300

HISTORY OF COLUMBIANA COUNTY

successfully for some in years. lle still owns the property but has not been its active manager since 1003. During all this period he has con- tinued his experiments in the line of various inventions, meeting with frequent disappoint- ment and suffering financial loss at times, but the success which has crowned his persistent efforts well repays him for all he has endured. One of his earlier successes was the perfecting of the first strictly automatic machine for the manufacture of copper rivets, by which 10 rivets could be produced in the time formerly used to make one. His improvements on the old type of rolls formerly in use in working steel and iron have been accepted by the lead- ing mills, while innumerable small inventions. all of a practical nature, are in general use. After 22 months of ceaseless effort. during which period he was subjected to much ridicule from those who could not understand his genius in being able to accomplish what so many had failed to do. he completed the first and only sagger-maker. a machine for use in potteries, which, with four men will perform the same amount of work in less time and in a more satisfactory manner than was formerly done by 16 skilled artisans. This machine has been under severe test in the plant of The Homer Laughlin China Company, at East Liverpool, for the past three months. It is acknowledged to be a great advance on any previous attempt to accomplish like results. in fact it almost revolutionizes the pottery industry. It so re- duces cost of production that it enables manu- facturers by its use to compete with the wares made in other lands by underpaid operators.

Mr. Polk has just completed and patented a concrete building-block machine, with 120 tons pressure and with a capacity of producing two blocks per minute. the dimensions of a block being 8 by 9 by 32 inches.

Mr. Polk was married to Louise Prill, who is a daughter of Angust Prill, of Fond du Lac County. Wisconsin, and they have five chil- dren. viz. : Mary M .. Florence, Gertrude, Will- iam and Louise. The family belong to the German Lutheran Church.

Politically, Mr. Polk is identified with the Republican party but only as a voter. his in-

clinations never leading him to either seek or accept public office. His fraternal connection is with the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks, in which body he finds relaxation and congenial companionship.

Mr. Polk's residence, a stately brick man- sien, is located at the end of Thompson place, on a bluff overlooking the Ohio River. A portrait of the subject of this sketch is pre- sented on a foregoing page.

AMUEL IRWIN CHISHOLM. pro- prietor of a 15-acre fruit farm in sec- tion I, Perry township, on the New Garden road just out of Salem, is a well-known and much respected citi- zen and an honored survivor of the great Civil War. He was born in Salem, a few rods from where he now lives. September 25. 1840. and is a son of John P. and Elsie (Bowker) Chis- holm.

The paternal grandafther of Mr. Chisholm was John Chisholmn, who was born in Scotland on the Bunchcrew farm, three miles from the city of Inverness, on May 4, 1763. He came alone to America in 1785 and opened up a car- penter and millwright business in Philadel- phía, which he followed until ISOS, when he moved to Duncannon, Perry County, Pennsyl- vania. There he built a great, stone grist-mill in 1812-13 and engaged in milling: in 1823 he bought a farm and thereafter operated both mill and farm. He died in 1842. When the British frigates approached Baltimore, in the second war with Great Britain, he served 40 days as an ensign in the militia in defense of the city. Grandfather Chisholm was married twice and he had six children by his first wife and seven by the second, who had two children by a former marriage, so that when the family gathered around the generous fire-place, the parents could count 15 children. As far as we know they all reached maturity and did well their parts in life.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Columbiana County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 75

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