History of Columbiana County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 81

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

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CHARLES W. PILGRIM, vice-president of The Enterprise Coal Company, was born at West Elizabeth, Pennsylvania, September 29, 1874, and received his educational training there and in the public schools of East Liver- pool. He then became identified with his father's teaming business, then with the wharf- boat business and finally with the coal company, of which he is an officer. Politically, he is a Republican. He was united in marriage with Maude Buchheit, a daughter of John Buchheit, of East Liverpool, and they have a daughter,- Elsie O. Religiously, they are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

OUIS F. SIEGLE, proprietor of the Leetonia Brewery at Leetonia, whose portrait accompanies this sketch, was born at New Castle, Pennsylvania, August 7. 1860, and is a son of Jacob and Christena ( Palmer) Siegle.

Jacob Siegle was born in Germany. Feb- ruary 22, 1835. When he came to America hie first located in Columbiana County, Ohio but soon after went into business at New Castle,

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Pennsylvania, where the remainder of his life was spent, his death occurring in 1885. For a time he conducted a butcher business, but later operated a brewery. At New Castle he was married to Christena Palmer, who was born in Germany, October 13, 1835, and still lives in New Castle. Five children constituted their family, namely Louis F., Katherine, Herman, Clara and Karl.

Louis F. Siegle was educated at New Castle and as soon as his school days were over he went to clerking and continued until he was 21 years of age, when he left home and removed to Leetonia, securing work in a brewery. He proved industrious, honest and intelligent and continued to work steadily for one employer. Thus he accumulated enough capital to buy the brewery which he did in 1890 and he has operated it with increasing success ever since. The Leetonia Brewery has a capacity of 4,000 barrels and his output is sold in Leetonia and the surrounding towns.

In 1888 Mr. Siegle was married to Caroline Wiedmayer, who is a daughter of Christian Wiedmayer, who was one of the pioneers of Leetonia. They have two children,-Katherine and Jacob. Mr. and Mrs. Siegel are members of the German Lutheran Church. He is known as an enterprising man of business and one whose honesty and industry are never ques- tioned. He has many friends in and around Leetonia.

OSHUA TWING BROOKS was born October 27, 1840, in Salem, Ohio. His parents, Joseph J. Brooks and Judith Twing, removed to Ohio from Vermont and settled in Salem in 1838. His father was a lawyer, a man of strong intel- lect, great energy and executive ability, quali- ties which the son inherited in a marked degree. He attended school at Canfield and the Salem High School and completed his preparation for college at the Kimball Union Academy. Me- riden, New Hampshire, where he graduated with honors. In 1860 he entered Yale, but early in his junior year it became necessary for him to leave college, on account of the death of his father, and assume the responsibilities of

head of a large household of younger brothers and sisters. He became president of the Farm- ers' National Bank of Salem in January, 1862, which position he held until his death. Taking up the study of the law, he was admitted to the bar in August, 1865, and formed a partnership with Hon. Peter A. Laubie, of Salem,' which continued until 1875. It was a strong firm, and quickly became one of the leading law firms of Eastern Ohio. In 1865 he was elected to the Ohio State Senate, and was reelected in 1867, serving with honor and credit alike to himself and his constituents. In May, 1870, he was elected president of the State Bank of' Ohio, a corporation consisting of about 36 banks in the different parts of the State, whose charter terminated in 1866, but whose corpor- ate existence was continued for a while longer in order to enable it to wind up its affairs. In December, 1866, he was appointed solicitor of the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad Company for Eastern Ohio; and also in July, 1869, solicitor for the Pennsylvania Company for the State of Ohio, having. charge of its legal business on the line of the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad, which had been leased to the Pennsylvania. This position he held until November, 1877, when he was appointed general counsel of all the Pennsyl- vania lines west of Pittsburg. He continued in that position until in May, 1891, when he was elected 2nd vice-president of the Pennsyl- vania lines, in charge of the law, real estate and treasury departments, and held that position at the time of his death. He received the honor- ary degree of M. A. from Yale in 1882.

Mr. Brooks was married September 7, 1865, to Annie Miller, of Brownsville, Pennsylvania, who survives him. They had five children : Charles Twing, Elizabeth, William P., de- ceased August 5, 1872, Judith T., and Mary Augusta. His son, Charles T., a graduate of Yale, class of 1899, of the Harvard Law School, 1894. is practicing law in Cleveland, Ohio.

Mr. Brooks' health began to fail about a year and a half before his death, but he con- tinued to discharge the duties of his office until December, 1900. when he was forced to retire to his Salem home. He was a sufferer from

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Brights' disease. During the period of his de- cline he took several trips to the South and returned apparently somewhat benefited; and it was thought that he might live in comparative comfort perhaps for years. He had been driven out almost daily until the day before his death, which at the last came suddenly on the morn- ing of October 11, 1901. The funeral services were held at the beautiful home on Highland avenue, Salem, on October 14th. The presence of a large number of distinguished men from Ohio and other States testified to the wide re- spect and honor in which his character, ability and services were held. The business of the city was suspended during the obsequies. He was looked upon by his fellow-townsmen as a benefactor of the city, almost every business interest in it depending upon him for counsel or for financial help. Its streets and buildings are an enduring monument to his liberality and progressive spirit.

The following in regard to his political affiliations and services is quoted from an ac- count of his life contained in the Pittsburg Times of October 12, 1901 : "Entering poli- tical life as a stalwart Republican, he held that the great problems of the war would be better settled by the election of some one else rather than by the reelection of Gen. U. S. Grant. His independent method of thought brought him over to the support of Grover Cleveland on the great question of a high protective tariff, and he was one of Mr. Cleveland's stanchest supporters through the 12 years of the latter's leadership of the Democratic party. When Mr. Bryan was nominated on a pledge for free sil- ver, Mr. Brooks refused to support him and took the platform for William McKinley, and in 1896 made a tour of the Middle States, which was scarcely less strenuous and exacting than the famous tour of Mr. Bryan himself in that year. After his election, President Mckinley personally expressed his high appreciation of Mr. Brooks' aid in the campaign. Mr. Brooks had the highest personal regard for Mr. Mc- Kinley and would have taken an active part in his second campaign had not failing health pre- vented him from doing so."

As stated above, Mr. Brooks was a vigor-

ous supporter and close friend of President Mc- Kinley, and the story is told, with good evi- (lence of truth, that upon the retirement of Hon. John Hay from the post of Ambassador to Great Britain to accept the Secretaryship of State, President Mckinley offered the former position to Mr. Brooks, who, however, declined to entertain the proposition. On being re- quested by the President to state whom he would like to have appointed, he named Joseph H. Choate. Accordingly, the place was of- fered to Mr. Choate, who is reported to have said : "Before I accept, I must first see my creator." The following extracts are made from the minutes adopted at a meeting of the board- of directors of the Pennsylvania Company, held October 24, 1901, and at a meeting of the board of directors of the Pittsburg, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Railway Company, held November 1, 1901 :

"As a lawyer his work was principally the development of corporate interests, and his conservative efforts resulted in sure foundations. upon which extensive corporate powers were exercised. From his labors in this direction have sprung up large corporations whose busi- ness extends over many States.

"His broad-mindedness on public questions and his patriotism led him to take an active part on the platform in national political cam- paigns, wherein he knew the issues involved were of vital importance to the welfare of his country.

"He was especially esteemed by his official associates on account of his kind and genial manner, his unfailing good humor and his high- minded sense of right.

"He was always a student of world prob- lems and a great reader of books bearing thereon.

"His person and mental characteristics made him a delightful companion in official and social circles.

"He possessed a broad, public spirit, was hospitable to his friends, benevolent to his neighbors and ever tolerant of the opinions of others.

"He will be sadly missed in our counsels, and each associate feels keenly the loss sus-

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tained by the company and themselves, and they desire to express to his family a heartfelt sym- pathy in their great bereavement."

The following is quoted from the proceed- ings of the Columbiana County bar, at a meet- ing held at Lisbon, Ohio, October 19, 1901 : "An estimate that will do justice to the character of J. Twing Brooks is difficult to give. He was many-sided, of great intellect, unbounded energy and vast executive ability. A student of men and of books, the knowledge thus acquired was ever at his command. His standard of morality, political, civil and social. was of the highest, and his code of ethics was impressed upon all with whom he came in con- tact. *

* His love of nature was a marked characteristic. It was his custom when at home to rise very early in the morning and go to his farms, spending as much time in the woods and fields as possible. In his home, surrounded by his family and friends, he found his greatest happiness. 'His life was gentle, and the elements so mixed in him that nature might stand up and say to all the world. This was a Man.'"

The closing sentences of an elaborate me- morial address by William A. Lynch, Esq., of Canton, Ohio, before the Ohio State Bar As- sociation at Put-in-Bay, July 10, 1902. were as follows :

"Mr. Brooks was a most interesting and attractive character. He lived a fine life and did a great work; and it must be our constant regret that he died in the very prime of his powers, when he should, in the ordinary course of nature, have had many years of usefulness before him. But the lessons of his life remain. and it is hard to conceive of a career more full of useful teachings to young men."

5 ON. DAVID BOYCE, deceased, was president of The First National Bank of East Liverpool and one of the fore- most citizens in the community, in which he lived for 80 years. He was a native of Columbiana County, Ohio, and a descendant of one of the leading pioneer fam- ilies of the Ohio Valley.

Mr. Boyce was born in St. Clair town- ship, April 14. 1824, and died December I, 1904. He was a son of Richard and Ann (Spence ) Boyce, both natives of Ireland. His grandfather, Robert Boyce, came with his family to this country from Ireland in 1801, locating in Washington County, Pennsylvania. He later removed to Columbiana County, Ohio, where he resided until his death. Richard Boyce was a man of considerable importance in this county and for more than 41 . years served as justice of the peace in various townships. He ran a grist-mill in St. Clair township many years and kept the first store in East Liverpool. He was the owner of a farm of 160 acres in the East End, which his sons carried on. He died in 1860.

David Boyce received a somewhat limited common school education and as a young man engaged in farming. In 1840 he moved with his parents to Liverpool township and settled on the farm above referred to, which is now a part of the East End. He lived there until 1880 and then took up his residence in Liver- pool. In 1864 he took financial management of the George S. Harker & Company pottery works and after the death of Mr. Harker was. administrator of the estate, continuing as book- keeper until 1873. In that year he associated himself with Josiah Thompson, Isaac W. Knowles, William Cartwright and others in the organization of the East Liverpool Banking Company, of which he was made president. He served in that capacity until the concern was merged into the First National Bank, of which he became a director. Mr. Boyce, who was- originally a Democrat, became a Republican during the Civil War and so continued. He was county commissioner two terms in the. early '6os. In 1876 he was elected representa- tive to the State Legislature, which position he held for two terms, serving the people in a most creditable manner. In 1890, he was. elected president of the First National Bank, and in a most able manner discharged the duties of that position until his death. He was also interested in many of the leading enter- prises and industries of the city, as well as many charitable undertakings. He was one of

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the organizers and for years one of the trustees of the orphan asylum of Columbiana and Stark Counties. He took a deep interest in educa- tional matters and also in the public library. donating many volumes to the Carnegie Public Library, of East Liverpool. He was one of the promoters of the Riverview Cemetery and gave $2,000 towards its beautiful gate. He joined the First Methodist Episcopal Church about 1854, and in it served as steward, trustee, etc.

In 1855 Mr. Boyce was united in marriage with Jane Harker. a daughter of Benjamin Harker, who came here from England about 1840. She is now deceased. Mr. Boyce was a man of many fine qualities and the people who had known him for so many years appreciated him at his true worth and mourned his death as a loss to the community. ·

OL. H. R. HILL, who may properly be called the Nestor of the bar of East Liverpool, is now retired from active practice after a long and suc- cessful career. He possessed the ability, energy and enterprise throughout his business life of fulfilling every duty devolving upon him, and attained prominence as educa- tor. soldier and lawyer.

H. R. Hill was born at East Liverpool. Ohio, November 12, 1834, and is a son of Sanford C. and Sarah ( Leech ) Hill. The family traces its ancestry back to Rev. Rowland Hill. a distinguished minister and author in England. The family upon coming to this country became established in New England. where Roger Hill. the grandfather of our sub- ject, was born. The latter became a pioneer of Hancock County, Virginia (now West Vir- ginia ).

Sanford C. Hill was born in Hancock Coun- ty. Virginia (now West Virginia). June 20. 1796. and was there reared on his father's farm. In 1814 he opened a small dry goods store on the farm, which he con- (lucted successfully some years, in the mean- time prosecuting his studies as best he could without the aid of an instructor. Through

self-training and the aid of such books as he could procure, he became an expert mathema- tician and astronomical calculator. For some years prior to his death he was engaged in pre- paring the mathematical data for use in the "Nautical Almanac," used by the United States government. He also furnished the data for a series of almanacs used for advertising pur- poses. The first of the latter, known as the "Loomis Almanac," was published by Luke Loomis, of Pittsburg, and had a national cir- culation. He devoted most of his life to that line of study and work in which he brought to bear all the accuracy and methods of mod- ern science. He brought distinction to his home city, having moved to East Liverpool early in his career, and his death, which oc- curred in 1871, was mourned as a great loss to the community. He was twice married, his first union being with Vashti B. Moore by whom he had four children. as follows : Thomas M. : Eliza F. : Harriet F. ; and Narissa, the sole survivor of these children, who is the widow of Stogdale Jackman, of East Liverpool. His second marriage was with Sarah Leech, who was born in York County, Pennsylvania, December 14. 1810. and was reared in Fairfield township. Columbiana County, Ohio, where her father farmed until his death. The town of Leechburg. Pennsylvania, was named in honor of her family. The following children were the issue of this marriage: H. R., sub- ject of this sketch : Mrs. William Brunt, of East Liverpool : Winfield E., a Presbyterian minis- ter now residing in East Liverpool; and Meriden S .. collector of internal revenue at Blaine. Washington. Sanford C. Hill was reared in the Presbyterian faith, was one of the founders of the church of that denomina- tion at East Liverpool and served the church many years as elder.

H. R. Hill was reared at East Liverpool. and after completing a preliminary course of studies in the common school pursued a classical course . at Jefferson College, Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. graduating therefrom in 1858. He then entered upon the study of the law at Lisbon under the preceptorship of Hon. Jonathan H. Wallace, in the

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meantime teaching school in Columbiana County. In the spring of 1860 he went South to Louisiana and acted as tutor in the family of a wealthy planter. The Civil War then being inevitable, he returned to East Liverpool in the fall of 1860, and the follow- ing year was admitted to the bar at Lisbon. He then moved to Andrews, Jackson County. Iowa, on the Mississippi River, and began the practice of the law. When Fort Sumter was fired upon, although he had a good practice started, he decided it was every young man's duty to work for the preservation of the Union. Consequently he returned to East Liverpool with the intention of raising a squad of 20 men so that he would receive a commission as lieutenant. Recruiting was easy at that time and he soon had 100 men enlisted, being himself commissioned captain of Company A, 115th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf. He served in Kentucky and Tennessee with the Army of the Cumber- land. His service was marked with efficiency and he was rewarded by promotion to the rank of major, August 19, 1864, and to that of lieutenant-colonel on February 8, 1865. Col- onel Hill served until the war was over, being mustered out at Cleveland, Ohio, June 22, 1865, returning then to East Liverpool, which has continued his home ever since. He re- entered the practice of his profession and was in early years contemporary with Judge John M. Cook and subsequently with Hon. R. W. Tayler, who is now United States district judge at Cleveland. Of the men in practice at that date, he alone is living in East Liverpool at the present time. He practiced without in- terruption and with great success until recent years, when he retired from business to enjoy the fruits of his many years of labor. He is a man of scholarly attainments, well grounded in the principles of the common and civil law, and in the practice had the happy faculty of applying his theoretic knowledge to the cold, hard facts and complicated circumstances, which present themselves in everyday practice. Before the bar, he was eloquent upon occasion, strong and convincing in argument, cool and collected under the fire of opposing counsel. He gave his clients his best efforts always and

has to his credit many notable triumphs. He has steadfastly refused to dabble in politics, al- though frequently importuned to accept nominations at the hands of his party.

Colonel Hill was married, July 26, 1865, to Louise D. Briggs, who was born at New Lis- bon, Columbiana County, Ohio, and is a daugh- ter of Mahlon Briggs, who was a Quaker and a pioneer in the hardware business at Lisbon. He died in 1891. The following offspring have blessed this union : Walter B., William M., Louise and Marion. Walter B. Hill, born September 10, 1866, was graduated from Princeton College in 1890, Cincinnati Law School in 1892, and is now engaged in the practice of the law in East Liverpool. He was married in 1893 to Mabel E. Ball, a daughter of Daniel H. Ball, of Marquette, Michigan. Will- iam M. Hill, born October. 24, 1868, attended the Columbus Law School, and was admitted to the Ohio bar with the class of 1895. He was captain of Company E, Eighth Reg., Ohio Infantry, U. S. Volunteers, known as "Mc- Kinley's Own," during the Spanish-American War, and saw service in Cuba before Santiago. Louise, born July 1, 1870, is the wife of Ro 'in W. Patterson, cashier of The Potters' Natio ai . Bank, of East Liverpool. Marion, born N. vember 19, 1872, is the wife of George .... Davidson, now city solicitor of East Liverpool. Colonel Hill belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic, and the Greek letter. fraternity,- Phi Gamma Delta. He attends the Presbyter- ian Church, of which his wife is a member.

OSHUA J. BOONE. For nearly a half century the late Joshua J. Boone was identified with the interests and de- velopment of Salem, which city re- mained his home, with the exception of a few intermediate years, from 1852 until ·his death on December 25, 1895. Mr. Boone was born in Berks County, Pennsylvania, Feb- ruary 10, 1820, being a member of one of the old Pennsylvania families of English extrac- tion, whose energy and thrift have for genera- tions made that section of the "Keystone" State a noted one for material prosperity.

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In 1832 the mother, of Mr. Boone moved to Ohio, the father having died; she was accom- panied by her three sons,-Thomas, Joshua J. and Jesse T. They settled in the town of Salem and from that time until the present the name has been conspicuously prominent in business and'social life here. At this time Joshua was a sturdy lad of 12 years, fairly well-educated for his age and times, and possessed the adaptabil- ity and willingness to exert every energy to lay a firm business foundation. He found his first employer in John Street, who was one of the first settlers in Salem. Gaining experience and showing capacity, his older brother, Thomas, entered into partnership with him and they es- tablished a general retail business, utilizing a building which was then'centrally located, be- ing opposite the old Simeon Jennings residence on West Main street. The firm grew and prospered and some years later built the block east of the Town Hall. Here the enlarged facilities contributed to added prosperity and the firm of J. T. & J. J. Boone, as the business style had then become, was rated with the lead- ing ones of the city. Following this, the firm, whose style had been changed to Boone, Har- baugh & Boone, established a provision and shipping business at Pittsburg, with a branch at Philadelphia, and Mr. Boone left Salem to take personal charge of the firm's extensive business at Pittsburg.

The failure of his wife's health caused the return of Mr. Boone to Salem and the year 1855 saw him reestablished in this city at his old location, a hearty welcome being accorded him by old business associates. While especially successful in mercantile projects, Mr. Boone had not confined his attention entirely to these. When the great railroad lines began to push farther and farther into hitherto unsettled Western regions, he was one of the first to realize the advisability of investing in Western lands and these investments led to other under- takings of importance. In the course of time he became associated with Jackson Cotton in a real estate and brokerage business at Salem. The new firm opened an office in what is now known as the A. J. King Block, which at that time was owned by Dr. Carey, from which they

subsequently removed to the Pow Block, taking the late Robert Campbell into partnership and shortly afterward establishing the City Bank. At a later date Mr. Cotton retired-but Mr. Boone continued in the active management of the bank until April 1, 1894, when the partner- ship of Boone & Campbell, proprietors of the bank, was dissolved and the affairs of the in- stitution brought to a close. That was the end of Mr. Boone's active participation in business,' the remaining years of his life being given to caring for. his investments.

In every essential the late Joshua J. Boone was a good citizen. His conception of public education was broad, progressive and liberal, as was his attitude to almost all the important things of life. His career, was marked by the influences of his strong traits of character. He was honorable and just, was firm in his con- victions of right and was determined in living up to them. In business his standards were high and his methods were those of the up- right man. In private life he was a man of tender sympathies and of genial disposition.

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History of Columbiana County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 81

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