History of Columbiana County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 88

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

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ARTIN ADAMS, one of the well- known citizens and substantial farmers of Washington township, who has been settled on his present well-improved farm of 86 acres in section 34 since 1868, was born in this town- ship, near Clark's Mills, in 1835, and is a son of Francis and Charlotte ( Ogle) Adams.

Francis Adams was born in Jefferson Coun- ty, Ohio, and his father. Thomas Adams, was a native of Pennsylvania. The latter was a pioneer in Ohio and took up a large tract of government land in Jefferson County, in com- pany with his brother. Later Thomas Adams and his son Francis operated a still, this be- ing in the days prior to the revenue tax on spirituous liquors. The children of Thomas Adamis were: John, Thomas, Francis, Jacob, Peter, Barbara, Louisa, Elizabeth, Agnes and Bashire. By a second marriage a son was born, Andrew Adams, a resident of Missouri. The

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grandfather of our subject lived to the age of 75 years, while his son Francis did not reach that age by three years. The latter left these children : Louisa, deceased; Albert; Martin; Mary Louisa: Francis, deceased: Loammi Lucinda; Charlotte, deceased; Verlinda; Nor- man and Diantha, deceased.

Our subject was reared in Carroll County, Ohio, and received his education in the dis- trict schools. In 1868 he bought his present farm and has given his attention closely to agricultural pursuits ever since. He is one of the leading farmers and much esteemed citi- zens of his neighborhood.

Mr. Adams was married in Caldwell Coun- ty, Missouri, to Elizabeth Dudley, daughter of Edward and Lydia Dudley. She died Febru- ary 27, 1905, survived by all of her 10 chil- dren, as follows: Lydia Ann, born January 5. 1862, who married George Moore, a potter, formerly of East Liverpool, now of Trenton, New Jersey ; Flora, born August 13, 1864, who married Sherman Grove; Charlotte, born May 31, 1865, who married William J. Riley, a rail- road man, and has two children, -- Elizabeth and Lydia 'Ann; Rhoda Jane, born May 4, 1866, who is married and resides with her three children in Toronto, Ohio: Alice, born August 9, 1867, who married Charles Wark and lives in Wheeling, West Virginia ; William Francis, born August 1, 1869, who lives in the West; John M., born September 24, 1871, a resident of Carroll County, Ohio, who mar- ried Effie Gilson, daughter of John S. Gilson, whose family history will be found in this work, and has four children,-Warren Gilson, Ulia Jean and Orretta Jane and Orville John (twins) ; Ida, born September 18, 1873, who is the wife of Rev. H. J. Rose, living near Pitts- burg,-they have four children, Gladys, Parker, Ethel and Joseph; Clementine, born December 8, 1875, who married H. P. Rose and lives, at Chester, West Virginia,-they have three children, Lloyd, Edna and Hazel ; and Della, born November 28, 1878, who mar- ried Arthur Simmons and lives in Amsterdam, Jefferson County,-they have two children, Paul, born May 25, 1903, and Alvin, born August 8, 1904.

Mr. Adams has always been a stanch sup- porter of the Democratic party. He is one of the leading . members of. the Presbyterian Church at Monroeville.

R OBERT EDGAR RAYMAN, M. S., M. A., superintendent of public in- struction at East Liverpool, is one of Ohio's leading educators, and is not. unknown to the business circles of Columbiana County. His birth occurred July 3, 1859, at Adelphi, Pickaway County, Ohio, and he is a son of Daniel and Adeline ( With- row) Rayman.

The Rayman family is of German extrac -- tion, being founded in America by Rev. John Rieman, a Lutheran clergyman, a native of Heidelberg and probably a graduate of one of the great universities there. He settled in Lan- caster County, Pennsylvania, where he ex -. pounded the Word for many years and where. he reared a goodly family. His son, Daniel Rieman, who retained the German spelling of his name, was born in Lancaster County but subsequently moved to Fairfield County, Ohio, where his son Daniel, father of our subject was born in 1842.

In young manhood Daniel Rayman moved. to Pickaway County where he engaged in farm- ing. In 1864 he proved his loyalty to the gov- ernment by enlisting when the call was made- for men to serve 100 days. He was a man of sterling business qualities and upright life. In 1857 he married Adeline Withrow and they became the parents of nine children, namely : Robert Edgar, Elmer E., James M., Walter S., Benjamin F., Frances (wife of John Fin- ney), Margaret (wife of James Ackers), Lucy (wife of James Schladell) and Harriet, de- ceased. The parents were devout members of the United Brethren Church.

Our subject was reared on the home farm where he remained until 18 years of age, at- tending the district schools and assisting in the work on his father's farm. His inclinations, however, did not lead him to view a farmer's life with any great amount of envy, and he

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HISTORY OF COLUMBIANA COUNTY

very early began to plan for one along in- tellectual lines. After taking the teacher's course at the Normal University, at Lebanon, Ohio, he began teaching in Fairfield County and continued through eight terms, four years in all. During the interims he attended Otter- bein University and the Northwestern Ohio Normal School, and in 1884 he was graduated from the latter institution with the degree of B. S. In 1892 the degree of M. S. was con -. ferred on him by Ada College, and in 1896 the same institution gave him the degree of M. A.

Following his graduation from the normal school, in 1884, Mr. Rayman became principal of the public schools of Lithopolis, Ohio, where he taught for 43 months. In addition to the heavy work involved, he conducted a summer normal school, bringing it to successful com- pletion .. He also conducted institutes at Hock- ing, Meigs, Vinton and Highland during sum- mer vacations. From this field of work he went to Logan, Ohio, where he accepted the position of superintendent of schools, and here he remained in congenial surroundings for nine years, resigning at the close of this period in order to accept the responsible position he has filled at East Liverpool since August, 1897. The advance made by the schools of this city during the eight years of his administration is marked by greatly increased facilities, higher educational standards, greater efficiency and more thorough and satisfactory organization.

Mr. Rayman is a valued member of, the executive committee of the superintendents' section of the Ohio State Teachers' Associa- tion, of which he was formerly president; is a member of the executive committee of the Southeastern Ohio Teachers' Association, of which he was president one year, and is a mem- ber of the National Educational Association and belongs to its transportation committee. In 1904 he was elected president of the Eastern Ohio Teachers' Association. For the past 12 years he has been one of the trustees of Wooster University and is a member of the board of trustees appointed to inspect class work.

In addition to successfully meeting the de- mands of some of the highest intellectual bodies

of the State for many years, Mr. Rayman has found time and opportunity to also interest himself in several business enterprises. He is treasurer of the Englewood Land Company, is secretary of the Ceramic City Mining & Mill- ing Company, is a director of the Ohio Coal & 'Coke Company and was one of the organizers of the Ohio River Oil & Gas Company, of which he has been president since its beginning. 'He is always ready to recognize religious duties and social claims. Both he and his wife are active members of the First Presbyterian Church, of East Liverpool. He has served as superintendent of the Sunday-school but now confines his attention to a rather remarkable Bible class, which numbers 167 members. He has reason to be gratified over his success in this work and it is a pretty good test of his versatility as well as personal influence that he weekly faces not less than 71 members, on an average, by whom he is held in high regard and warm affection.

In 1884, at Clearport, Ohio, Mr. Rayman was married to Eva Shaeffer, who is a daugh- ter of Noah Shaeffer, a prominent resident and farmer of that township. They have two children, viz. : Rowan Edna and Esther Marie. The social connections of the family are many and their, personal friends are legion. Politi- cally a Republican, Mr. Rayman seeks no pub- lic honors for himself but is actively and un- selfishly interested in the welfare of the city and gives his influence in support of good laws. His fraternal relations are with the, Masons and the Knights of Pythias.

OL. HUGH LAUGHLIN, superin- tendent of the State Line Coal Com- pany, has been identified with the coal industry of Columbiana County since the close of the Civil War and been one of the most prominent in the develop- ment of this field. He has also been con- nected with many other public enterprises and business concerns and is considered one of East Palestine's most public-spirited and substantial citizens.

Hugh Laughlin was born in Philadelphia,

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Pennsylvania, May 12, 1845, and is a son of Robert and Mary Laughlin. At the age of seven years he was thrown upon his own re- sources, and in 1855 he came to Ohio and hired as a farm hand, the remuneration for his work being his board and clothes. He con- tinued at farm work until the outbreak of the Civil War, when in April, . 1861, he enlisted in the 10th Regiment, Pennsylvania Reserve Corps, with which he served three years and three months. He was with the Army of the Potomac and served in all the important en- gagements of his regiment, including Gettys- burg, Antietam, Fredericksburg and the en- gagements throughout the Peninsular cam- paign. He was wounded twice-first by a shell at Mechanicsville, and subsequently by a rifle ball through the right forearm at Charles City Cross Roads. On June 11, 1864, he was mustered out and returned to Columbiana County. . He was a gallant soldier and bore himself with credit throughout the war. On August 23, 1875, the military body known as the "East Palestine Grays" was organized and in 1876 was mustered as Company E, 10th Regiment, Ohio National Guard, with Hugh Laughlin as captain. He was later advanced to the rank of lieutenant-colonel, since which time he has been familiarly known by the title of colonel. In January, 1879, the regiment was relettered and the "East Palestine Grays" be- came Company D. The company gained its name by the style of uniform adopted, which was at first a handsome gray, but when it be- came a part of the State militia, it was neces- sary to change to the regulation army blue.

In 1865 Colonel Laughlin accepted the position of weighmaster with the Carbon Hill coal mine and continued in that capacity until 1867, when he was made superintendent of the mine and given charge of the company store, handling a line of groceries. , In 1869 the management of the Massillon Coal Mining Company was tendered him and he served in that capacity until 1874. He then returned to Columbiana County to take charge of the open- ing of a mine for the State Line Coal Com- pany, of East Palestine, and has since that time served as superintendent.

The State Line Coal Mine Company was organized in 1874, with James Mullins, of Wooster, Ohio, as president ; Campbell B. Her- ron, of Pittsburg, as treasurer, and has a capi- talization of $30,000. W. J. Mullins became treasurer upon the death of Mr. Herron and has since served in that capacity. They own and operate four different mines,-one at Deer- field, Ohio; one at New Waterford and an- other at New Philadelphia, in addition to the State Line mine. All are drifts but the Deer- field mine, which in 1902 sunk a shaft 185 feet deep and is operated by compressed air, machinery. The New Philadelphia mine is run by compressed air machinery and is equipped in the most modern style, using electric motors for gathering coal instead of the mule system. The State Line and Fairfield mines are run by cable, and this company was the first of any operating in Ohio to employ rope haulage. They have a complete system of bells operated by electricity for danger signals, giving easy communication with the engineer. This com- pany was also the first to use telephones in the mines, but owing to the dampness it was not a success. From 200 to 225 men are employer in the State Line mine and are under the direct supervision of Colonel Laughlin; the mine has an average daily output of from 550 to 650 tons. The four mines of the company have a total capacity of 1,800 tons, but the daily aver- age is between 1,200 and 1,500. The product of the State Line and Fairfield mines is used principally by railroads, that of the Deerfield for domestic purposes, and that of the New Philadelphia for steam and domestic purposes. Colonel Laughlin had charge of the accounts and all business of the State Line until 1900, when the office management of the four mines was concentrated. This is one of the largest companies in the State, and Colonel Laughlin is frequently called in council by the officers of the company who have high regard for his business judgment and experience. He is a man of great energy and foresight and keeps in close touch with the men under his super- vision, who hold him in highest respect. His success in holding his crews together has been remarkable. He has helped many of the miners

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and their families in locating here and many of these now own their own homes. In the matter of temperance he is very exacting, and the men realizing their employment depends upon the observance of this rule are much bene- fitted if inclined to intemperance.

Our subject is one of the stockholders of the Fairfield Coal Company which he opened and superintended during the first four years of its existence. In 1887 he was one of the founders of the sewer-pipe works, which were in 1890 sold to a Pittsburg firm; and in 1888 helped establish a plant for the manufacture of fire-brick of which he served as general man- ager until it was sold in 1900 to the National Fire Proof Company. He has served on the Board of Education and in the Town Council of East Palestine, and has always been active in promoting the best interests of the city.

Colonel Laughlin has been thrice married, his first wife dying in 1868. In 1870 he formed a second union, marrying Elizabeth Palmer, a daughter of Adam Palmer, whose ancestors lived in this country prior to the Revolutionary War. She died in 1875, leaving one daughter, Mary Belle, wife of Daniel H. Mackintosh. Mr. and Mrs. Mackintosh are both active church workers and take leading parts in the choir, of the Presbyterian. Church. Our sub- ject formed a third union with Almira Koch, who is of German descent and is a daughter of Martin and Delilah Koch, the latter of whom died in 1904. William Koch, a brother of Mrs. Laughlin is general agent of the Penn- sylvania Railroad. Colonel Laughlin is a Re- publican in politics and has served on congres- sional and judicial committees, but has never aspired to office. He and his wife are mem- bers of the Presbyterian Church, of which he was trustee about 20 years.

RED NELLIE, manager and treasurer. of the Salem Monumental Company, of Salem, and one of the city's enter- prising business men, was born in Germany, February 18, 1874, and is one of a family of eight children born to his parents, Conrad and Mary (Hoffman) Nellie.

Our subject was left fatherless in infancy and he has had his own way to make in the world. In 1866 he came to America and set- tled first at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where he engaged in the monument business. From there he came to Salem, in 1895. Here he first worked as a stone and granite cutter, some of the fine new residences showing his excellent work, notably that of the late J. Twing Brooks. Since January. 1899, Mr. Nellie has been en- gaged in the monument business here, where he has a large and important plant, employs eight men and does an annual business of be- tween $30.000 and $40,000. The plant is lo- cated on Depot street and here all kinds of granite and marble monuments and vaults are manufactured. On account of his perfect re- liability and honest methods, Mr. Nellie has had no trouble in forging to the front.

Mr. Nellie was married to Lena E. Gerber, and. they have a very pleasant, comfortable home at No. 350 Garfield avenue. Both he and his wife were brought up in the Lutheran faith. In his political views he is a Republi- can. Fraternally he is a Woodman of the World, an Odd Fellow and an Elk.

ARVEY S. SPONSELLER, whose well-improved dairy farm is located in section 3. Fairfield township, be- longs, on both paternal and maternal sides, to very old pioneer families of this section of the State. He is a son of Henry and Catherine (Candle) Sponseller.

The founder of the family in Ohio was the great-grandfather. Conrad Sponseller, the paternal grandfather, was born north of the pine swamp at North Lima, Mahoning County, Ohio, and he was reared and schooled in Beaver township, that county. He settled in the wil- derness on the Columbiana and Mahoning line and lived there until his death. He married Nancy Seachrist, who was born in Adams County, Pennsylvania, and died in Beaver township, Mahoning County, Ohio, January 29. 1875. She was a daughter of Jacob and Christina ( Foulk) Seachrist.

Jacob Seachrist, the maternal grandfather

22 THE ORIENTAL

COMPANY. 20

STORE OF THE ORIENTAL COMPANY

H. E. EAKIN

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of our subject, was born in Adams County, Pennsylvania, in 1760, of German ancestry, and was married there in 1786. In 1814 he settled in Ohio as a, pioneer farmer, locating near (New) Lisbon, and in 1815 he purchased of Benjamin Hanna the southwest quarter of section 3, Fairfield township, known as the Allen farm, where the Columbiana Cemetery is now located He lived there until his wife died, August 1, 1827, when he removed to the home of his daughter Lydia, who had married Peter Dehoff. He died at her home in Colum- biana, February 23, 1831, aged 71 years. Mr. and Mrs. Seachrist became the parents of 14 children, all of whom reached maturity and married.

Both the grandparents, Conrad and Nancy Sponseller, died of typhoid fever, being sur- vived by. nine of their 10 children, a daughter having died in infancy. The nine are as fol- lows: Jesse, a farmer living near Canfield, -Ohio; Caroline, wife of Simon Roninger ; Maria Catherine, widow of Josiah Rohrbaugh, of Fairfield township; Harriet, wife of Chris- tian Lipely; Annie, widow of Noah Rapp, liv- ing near North Lima, Ohio; Henry, of Ma- honing County ; John, a carpenter of Colum- biana; Josephus, a minister of the Lutheran Church; and Jacob, of Columbiana.

Harvey S. Sponseller was reared on the old homestead and was educated in the com- mon and high schools of Columbiana. Prior to coming to his present farm in 1895, he was employed in the express office at Columbiana, but that was only a temporary position, his in- clinations always having been in the direction of his present pursuits. When he bought his farm from his father, he found that he would have a large amount of improving to do as the buildings were old and inadequate and in no way came up to his ideas of what a first- class dairy farm should be. Dairying being the main interest, he has erected buildings es- pecially adapted to this industry, with all sani- tary surroundings and modern and entirely up- to-date appliances. The dimensions of his great barn are 44 by 62 on the main floor, and the 20-foot posts reach the roof. The straw shed, 40 by 44 feet, is a room on the second

floor and is so arranged that a load of straw or grain can be satisfactorily unloaded in five minutes. The capacity of his barn is 60 tons of hay and 30 loads of grain. The barn is insured for $2,000. The construction of the barn is that denomiated as "plank-frame." In the lower part, where he has accommodations for 33 head of cattle, he has provided a fine cement trough. He has a silo, 12 by 30 feet in ground dimensions and 30 feet deep. Other modern and desirable improvements have been added, and his five Holstein, Guernsey and Jer- sey cows have a home and the attention worthy of their lineage. At present his choice product is mainly shipped to Youngstown, but for five years he operated a dairy at Columbiana.

Mr. Sponseller, was married in Fairfield township, in 1895, to Della Renkenberger, who is a daughter of Solomon and Sarah (Macklin) Renkenberger, well-known and estimable resi- dents of Mahoning County. Mr. and Mrs. Sponseller have two children,-Margaret and Gladys. Mr. Sponseller is a member, of the German Reformed Church. Their present beautiful home, into which they moved in 1899, is one of the best homes in the township and is surrounded by a beautiful, well-kept lawn. The appearance of the whole place indicates thrift and prosperity.

E. EAKIN, secretary, treasurer and manager of The Oriental Company (Incorporated), of Salem, and secre- tary, treasurer and general manager of The Eakin Manufacturing Com- pany, is one of the most enterprising and suc- cessful young business men of this city. He was born July 23, 1872, on a farm north of East Liverpool, in Columbiana County, Ohio, and is a son of Samuel and Isabel (Todd) Eakin.

The parents of Mr. Eakin were both born in Columbiana County and they now reside on their farm in St. Clair township. Samuel Eakin, the father, is an old soldier, having served with honor for over three years 'of the Civil War, as a member of-Company C, 104th

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Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf. He married Isabel Todd and they had a family consisting of five. sons and two daughters.

Although H. E. Eakin has not been in- terested for many years in agricultural pur- suits, he lived on a farm until he was 21 years of age. After completing the common school course, he attended the Indiana State Normal School at Valparaiso, Indiana, and then taught school for a year at Glasgow, Columbiana County, after which he went on the road for three years for The Eakin & Johnson Com- pany, selling baking powder, and in this capac- ity he visited 17 States. In 1898 he located at Salem and established the present business, starting in a small room on Main street with a stock worth only a few hundred dollars. He did his own soliciting and delivering at first, but after one year of business he sought larger quarters on Broadway. Within two years the business had grown to such proportions as to warrant still larger accommodations. He now has the largest and in many ways the finest storeroom in Salem, its dimensions being 105 by 40 feet, including two stories and basement. He carries an extensive line of fine china, in- cluding Haviland and English dinner wares and cut glass. Eight employees are kept, and more in the busy seasons. During the past year he has added a mail order and club depart- ment and his trade relations cover a large terri- tory, not only in Ohio, but also in Pennsylvania and New York. The business, which had previously been conducted by Mr. Eakin as sole owner, although operating under the name of The Oriental Tea & China Company, was in- corporated in 1905, with a capital stock of $25,000, and the present name-The Oriental Company-assumed.

The Oriental Company's business at Nos. 220-22 Broadway not only includes the hand- ling of Mr. Eakin's patent fruit jar sealer, but also a very fine line of teas and coffees, lamps and china, confectionery and house furnishing goods, both wholesale and retail. A visit to his beautifully kept establishment well repays the time spent, for his choice goods are temptingly "and attractively displayed. Mr. Eakin is also connected with The Eakin Manufacturing

Company, which was incorporated two years ago for the manufacture of Eakin's patent fruit jar sealer, a dough and bread raising cabi- net and a shade and curtain hanger. Mr. Eakin is the patentee of the fruit jar sealer and owns in it what may be denominated a "money maker."

Mr. Eakin was married on Christmas Day, 1901, to Ada A. Bowman, who was born in Mahoning County, Ohio, and is a daughter of Christian and Martha (Webb) Bowman, na- tives of Mahoning and Columbiana counties, respectively. Mr. Eakin belongs to the Knights of Pythias, Sons of Veterans and Salem Busi- ness Association. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His portrait and a view of the store of The Oriental Company accompany this sketch.

K® ARL DANIEL KOLL, deceased, was a resident of Salem for almost 60 years. They were years of industry and great commercial prosperity, and they were also years rich in results which accrued to his fellow-citizens from his personal example of unquestioned integrity, his discerning public spirit and his continuous philanthropies. The birth of Karl Daniel Koll took place on December 18, 1812, at Lennep, Germany, and he was a son of Peter Arnold and Caroline Koll. His death occurred at Salem, February 24, 1892, at the age of 80 years.

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History of Columbiana County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 88

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