History of Columbiana County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 91

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

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in December, 1901. He entered upon the prac- tice of his profession in the office of his pre- ceptor, but later established an office of his own. He has always been active in politics and has frequently been chosen by the Republi- can party to fill local offices. In 1899 he was elected assessor of the old Third Ward and was honored by reelection ; since April, 1903, he has been city auditor. He is one of the promising young men of this city, politically and profes- sionally, and has a host of warm friends and admirers. He is a member of the First Pres- byterian church.

ILLIAM CATTELL, deceased, was in lifetime one of the well-known and highly respected residents of Butler township, where he owned a well improved farm of 100 acres, situated in section 8, and was most highly es- teemed in the Society of Friends all through Columbiana county. Mr. Cattell was born near Brownsville, Pennsylvania, January 1, 1822, and died on his farm in Columbiana County, Ohio, May 2, 1884. He was a son of David and Margaret (Wright) Cattell.

David Cattell was born in the old family' homestead in Pennsylvania that witnessed in later years the birth of his son. His wife was a native of Virginia. They had the following children : Ezra, Jonathan, William, and George, . all deceased ; and Myra, Hannah, Elma, Esther and Beulah, who are the only survivors of the family.

In young manhood William Cattell came to Ohio and in 1843 was married to Mary Elly- son, who was born in Goshen township, Ma- honing county, Ohio, April 13. 1818. She is a daughter of Isaac and Elizabeth (Cattell) El- lyson, the former of whom was born in Lou- doun County, Virginia, and the latter in Chester County, New Jersey. The father of Mrs. Cat- tell came to Ohio on foot, prospecting, and fin- ally bought and later cleared a farm in Goshen township, Mahoning County. At that time it was all wilderness and after entering the land he was obliged to cut down timber with which to fashion a house. On the site of that humble

little pioneer cabin now stands a fine brick resi- dence and other substantial buildings assist in making the 130-acre farm very valuable. Mr. Ellyson married Elizabeth Cattell who came to Ohio with her parents among the very early pioneers of Goshen township, Mahoning coun- ty, and the vicinity. She frequently told how the family walked into the State, the horses and wagon carrying all their. worldly possessions, a heavy enough tax on their hardihood and en- durance, considering that there were then no roads or bridges. The parents of Mrs. William Cattell died on their farm in Goshen township, the father in 1842, aged 62 years. They had 10 children, five sons and five daughters, namely : Deborah; Mary, the widow of our subject; Hannah, of North Benton, Ohio; Ann; Sarah; Enoch; Joseph, of Iowa; Gideon; Ezra and Daniel. Of this large family, all but three have finished their life-work and have passed away.

After marriage, William Cattell returned to Fayette County, Pennsylvania, with his bride and there they remained for the next 20 years, Mr. Cattell being engaged in farming. Failing health induced his return to Ohio, but for the last 20 years of his life he was far from robust. The climate of Columbiana County seemed beneficial and he purchased a farm of 100 acres in Butler township, which is now owned by his widow. He was a man of standing in the com- munity and was elected to a number of the local offices at Damascus. He was very prominent in the affairs of the Society of Friends and was elder. for a long time of the meeting at Damas- cus. He voted with the Republican party.

William Cattell and wife had four chil- dren, viz : Albert, who operates the home farm; Elmina, who is the wife of Leander M. Stan- ley, of Mahoning County; Sarah Elizabeth, who died aged II years; and Esther Beulah, who died aged 20 years. Although Mrs. Cat- tell has been deeply bereaved and has seen much responsibility, she by no means looks her. 87 years. She is alert concerning household duties, generous in her hospitality and just as interested in promoting the happiness of those about her as she was a quarter century back. She is both esteemed and beloved by the com- munity.

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HOMAS W. PHILLIS, one of the sub- stantial citizens and first-class farmers of Butler township, resides on his well-developed and finely improved farm of 115 acres in section 9 and also owns another valuable tract consisting of 90 acres located in Berlin township, Mahoning County. Mr. Phillis was born in Beaver Coun- ty, Pennsylvania, June 28, 1851, and is a son of George Washington and Rebecca (Frank) Phillis.

The Phillis family is of French extraction. The paternal grandfather of our subject was born in Louisiana, but established himself in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, at a very early day. There his son, George Washington Phil- lis, was born, September 20, 1807, and there he lived until the age of 60 years when he came to Mahoning County, Ohio, and died in Gosh- en township in 1892, aged 84 years. He was a farmer and stockman all his life. He married Rebecca Fronk, who was born near Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, September 28, 1820, and was a daughter of a native of Pennsylvania, whose father had emigrated from Germany. Six chil- dren were born to them, as follows : Tamar E., widow of Cornelius Reigger; George F., of Salem; Jacob J., who lives on the old farm in Goshen township; Rebecca, wife of Henry At- kinson, of Goshen township; Thomas W., of this sketch ; and John P., of Oklahoma.

Our subject obtained his early education in Beaver County as he was 14 years of age when his father came to Ohio and settled in Goshen township, Mahoning County. He remained on the homestead farm until he had reached his majority, in the meantime having made plans for a more extended course of study. In 1873 he graduated at Mount Union College and for. the following 12 years taught in the public schools of the county. He then began dealing in stock, yearly increasing his interests and now he devotes his property in Berlin town- ship exclusively to the raising of stock. His home farm in Butler township, on which he has resided for the past 20 years, he devotes to stock and general farming. A handsome, mod- ern home has just been completed which adds greatly to the attractiveness and value of the

place, one which, in improvements and location, compares favorably with any in the township.

In 1883 Mr. Phillis was married to Kather- ine Kronick, who is a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Diehl) Kronick and was born at Ellsworth, Mahoning County, Ohio. The father of Mrs. Phillis was born in Ger- many. After coming to America the fam- ily drove over the mountains and settled in Greene township, Mahoning County, Ohio, where John Kronick eventually became an ex- tensive stock-raiser. He owned 1,000 acres of land and did much to promote the cattle in- dustry and was well known all over Ohio and Indiana. The Diehls were natives of Bedford County, Pennsylvania, and moved to Mahon- ing County at an early day. Mr. and Mrs. Phillis have two children : Rebecca and Eliza- beth, both teachers in the public schools of this section.

Politically Mr. Phillis is affiliated with the Democratic party. He is a member of the Society of Friends. He is a man of sterling character, thoroughly representative of Colum- biana County's best citizenship.

OHNS. GILSON, one of the prominent citizens and extensive farmers of Washington township, who owns 24I acres of land and resides on section 18, was born in this township in 1841, and is a son of Richard and Martha (Sharp) Gilson.

Richard Gilson, father of our subject, was born in Washington township but his father, also named Richard Gilson, was born in Scot- land and came to Columbiana County as a pi- oneer, taking up land in Washington town- ship. The mother of our subject was a sis- ter of James Sharp, a sketch of whom will be found in this work.

John S. Gilson was reared in Washington township, was educated in the public schools and worked on his father's farm until the out- break of the Civil War. In June, 1861, he enlisted in the service of his country, enter- ing Company G, Sixth Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf.,

PERCY FROST

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and participated in the battles of Shiloh, Cor- inth, Brown's Ferry, Mission Ridge and many skirmishes and was taken prisoner when the army was falling back from Murfreesboro. This misfortune would not have overtaken him if he had not been engaged in the brotherly act of assisting a wounded comrade. He was confined in the enemy's lines for two months and then exchanged, and was mustered out of the service in July, 1864, at Cincinnati. His record is that of a gallant, faithful soldier.

In the year following his return from the army, Mr. Gilson was married to Sarah J. Mc- Clain, a daughter of William P. McClain, a farmer of Carroll County, Ohio. They have reared four children, viz : Mrs. Lida B. Foddy, who has one child,-Fay; Susie A., who mar- ried James F. Mccullough, a merchant at Sa- lineville, and has two children,-Olive, Lida and Claude Arnold; Effie, who married John M. Adams, of Carroll County, and has four children, -- Warren Gilson, Ulia Jean, Orville John and-Orretta Jane ; and Della M., who re- sides .at home. Politically Mr. Gilson is a Republican. He is a member of the Presby- terian Church.

P ERCY FROST. art director of The Knowles, Taylor & Knowles Com- pany, of East Liverpool, and one of the leading men in this country in commercial art as applied to pot- tery, was born in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent. England, November 5. 1860, and is a son of Thomas and Elizabeth ( Pillsbury) Frost.

Thomas Frost, the grandfather of our sub- ject, was born in the same town as was his grandson, and was a man of importance there. owning and operating flouring mills for many years. Thomas Frost, the father of our sub- ject, was born in 1815. He did not succeed his father in the milling business, for he pos- sessed artistic talent which led him to follow the profession of artistic fresco work. For many years prior to his death in 1885 at the age of 70 years, he had been in business for himself as an interior decorator. He married a daughter of John Pillsbury, of Accleshall,

England. She died aged 65 years and our sub- ject is the one survivor of the family of two sons. Thomas and Elizabeth (Pillsbury ) Frost were members of the established Church of England.

Until he was 13 years of age, Mr. Frost at- tended the local schools and then was appren- ticed to learn the trade of decorating pottery, it having been demonstrated that he possessed natural artistic ability. He served for seven years, that being the limit prescribed in this. trade and during this period he completed a course in the Minton School of Art at Stoke- on-Trent. He then followed his trade in Tor- quay, Birmingham and Edinburgh, and in the last named city was engaged in the particular and delicate business of decorating glassware. Following this he took entire charge of R. H. Plant's china works at Longton, and continued there until 1880, when he came to America, the quality of his work being able to command very high prices.

Mr. Frost's first engagement in the United States was at Trenton, New Jersey, with Swan & Whitehead, but shortly afterward he was engaged by W. Charles Hendrickson and then accepted an offer made at New Bedford, Massa- chusetts, by the Mount Washington Art Com- pany, manufacturers of fine glass ware. After one year he returned to Mr. Hendrickson, but in 1886 he entered the employ of The Homer Laughlin China Company, of East Liverpool, Ohio. Mr. Frost remained with this firm for nine years, having charge of the decorating de- partment. In 1895 he took charge of one of the Sebring. plants and so remained until 1903, when he accepted his present responsible posi- tion. This well-known company is a leader in fine china decorating and Mr. Frost has 200 people in his department. The work turned out must be of the finest possible quality, for any other would damage the reputation of this great pottery.

Mr. Frost married Lillian May Mackin- tosh, who is a daughter of John Mackintosh, of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and they have one son, Harry L. Mr. and Mrs. Frost are members of the Protestant Episcopal Church. He is a mem- ber of the church choir and has been connected

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with such organizations since boyhood, having a fine baritone voice. He is a member of East Liverpool Lodge, No. 258, B. P. O. E., and is a popular comrade. His portrait is shown on another page of this work in proximity to this.

5 ON. JOSIAH THOMPSON, deceased, was long the recognized head of one of the leading families of Columbiana County, for years being identified with prominent business and financial interests and political position. He was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, March 13, 18II, and was a son of William and Elea- nor (McDowell) Thompson.

William Thompson was a son of Matthew Thompson, who was born in the town of Bally- mena, Ireland, in the year 1763, but was of Scotch parentage. Coming to America in 1790, the family settled first in Philadelphia, but af- ter two years residence there they removed to the western part of Pennsylvania, where their son William grew to young manhood. In 1818 with his wife and children, William Thompson came to Ohio and settled at Fawcettstown, now known as East Liverpool. At this date Cal- citta was the metropolis of the county, being located on the stage road, and thither Mr. Thompson soon removed, thinking that Calcut- ta offered a better business future. There he established himself as a manufacturer of hats and later opened a hotel which he conducted until a few years before his death. While in Washington County, Pennsylvania, he married Eleanor McDowell and they became the par- ents of six sons and two daughters.

Of the six sons in the parental family, Jo- siah Thompson was one of the most enterpris- ing. His educational opportunities were mea- gre. He attended the little log school-house in the vicinity of his father's home and spent many hours pouring over the old "Western Calcu- lator." When he was about 14 years old, he was apprenticed to the saddlery business but he never enjoyed work at this trade and, having listened to the tales of the travelers who stop- ped at his father's inn, he soon resolved to get

out into the world and see something beyond the borders of the village. Consequently he sought employment in Pittsburg and became a clerk on the wharf where he saw so many busi- ness opportunities that he became eager to enter into the shipping business on his own account. He returned home and began to buy produce, which he took down the river to New Orleans and other points. During several years while thus engaged he saved enough money to es- tablish a general store at Calcutta.

His father continued to live at Calcutta and at first was interested with him in his mercan- tile enterprises, but later sold his interest to his son, Mathew, and then the firm became known as J. Thompson & Company. This business enterprise proved very successful and other stores were soon established at close connect- ing points,-at Frederickstown, Smith's Ferry, and East Liverpool. On account of the con- struction of the canal which seemed to prom- ise better transportation facilities, Smith's Fer- ry seemed a better business point than either Frederickstown or Calcutta and the company decided to concentrate its efforts there and abandoned the stores at Calcutta and Freder- ickstown. Subsequently Mr. Thompson sold his interests at Smith's Ferry to his brother and became sole proprietor of the business at East Liverpool, where he took up his resi- dence, in 1847. From a line of general mer- chandise, this stock was gradually changed until finally everything handled was in the line of dry goods and clothing. Mr. Thompson con- tinued in this business until 1878 and from that time until his death he ceased to be con- fined by any particular business connections, his time being fully occupied in looking after his many real estate and other investments and the various interests which come into the life of a prominent and successful man of affairs. His death occurred on November 22, 1889. In his death East Liverpool and the State lost a public-spirited, generous and broad-minded cit- izen.

In Josiah Thompson many of the city's ear- ly enterprises found a hearty supporter. When the pottery business was in its infancy and when its wonderful expansion could never have

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been dreamed of, Mr. Thompson greatly aided the manufacturers in their first efforts and there are men in the business at the present time who owe him gratitude for his encourage- men and financial support. He extended credit ·on long time for the commodities they were obliged to have and willingly waited for his pay until they could realize on their wares. He thus won their undying regard and their esteem and confidence were shown him as long as he lived. Later he became personally inter- ested in the pottery industry through assisting his sons in the establishing of what became one .of the largest potteries in the city.

Josiah Thompson was one of the organizers of The First National Bank of East Liverpool, ·of which he was president until his death. He always took an active interest in civic affairs and in public matters but could scarcely be ·called a politician in the common acceptance of the term. However, he was elected and served four years as a member of the State Legislature his public career being that of a man of honor and unselfish public spirit. In political sen- timent he was a Republican.

Josiah Thompson married Sarah Jackman, ' who was a daughter of John Jackman, and they became the parents of these children : Deborah E., deceased, formerly the wife of Daniel Jones Smith, of East Liverpool, of whom a sketch appears in another part of this volume; Maria L., deceased, formerly the wife of J. H. Phil- lips, of Cincinnati; Cassius C., deceased; Will L., of East Liverpool; John C., of East Liv- erpool; and Mary, who is the wife of Moses E. Golding, of East Liverpool. Sketches of Cassius C., Will L. and John C. Thompson will be found elsewhere in this work.

Both Josiah Thompson and his wife were earnest Christians. In their early days they were members of the Disciples Church, but for some years before their death they were mem- bers of the First Presbyterian Church, no Dis- ciples organization having yet been effected here. In all that pertains to a Christian life they were examples.

Mr. Thompson continued through life an active member of the Masonic fracternity, liv- ing up to its teachings to the letter. He was one

of the founders of Riddle Lodge, No. 315, F. & A. M., of East Liverpool and occupies an honored place in the records of the organiza- tion. He was also one of the leading tem- perance workers of his day and not only lent his influence but contributed largely to the movements which stood for the great advance- ment of temperance sentiment through the State and the founding of philanthropic insti- tutions. It was his belief that temperance, education and morality went hand in hand and he was ever willing to assist in spreading these sentiments. He was a member of the board of education for a long period and was particular- ly interested in the underlying principles of the common school system.

Mr. Thompson died a capitalist but his wealth had come to him through legitimate channels. He was one of the largest real estate owners in the city, having invested heavily in earlier days and he owned many of the best business buildings and sites in East Liverpool. It would not be meet to close this record with- out referring to Mr. Thompson's unostentatious charities. They were widely extended but were never heralded and it is a fact that many of the recipients never knew to whom they owed their relief in times of stress and anxiety. This was especially true during the dark days of the Civil War, when many families in East Liver- pool would have suffered for the necessities of life but for, his generosity.

LYDE L. CROWELL, proprietor of the leading furniture and undertak- ing business at Leetonia, was born near Lisbon, Columbiana County, Ohio, in 1877. About 16 years ago his parents, H. B. and , Amanda (Chandler) Crowell, moved to Leetonia, where the mother is still a resident. His grandfather, John Crowell, will be remembered by the older resi- dents as one of the pioneers of Columbiana County. H. B. Crowell was engaged in farm- ing near Lisbon for many years, but at a later. time established an undertaking business at Ottawa, Ohio, where he remained for eight

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years with reasonable success. In 1889 he located at Leetonia and opened a store where he carried on the undertaking business and also sold furniture. This establishment he con- ducted up to the time of his death, in May, 1900. He was a man who made many warm friends. He was a member of the English Lutheran Church and a prominent Odd Fellow.

Clyde L. Crowell was educated in the com- mon schools of Leetonia and, having decided to help in his father's business, took several courses in embalming at Pittsburg and other good schools. He has had charge of the busi- ness for some time and is sole proprietor since his father's death. Mr. Crowell is a member of the Masonic lodge at Salem and also of the English Lutheran Church, of Leetonia. He was married in June, 1904, to Anna Kunkel, of Leetonia.

RTHUR MOUNTFORD, art director of The Homer, Laughlin China Com- pany, of East Liverpool, is an artist of no mean ability and the repro- ductions of his favorite haunts at Niagara Falls, where most of his vacations are spent, find a ready market in the art centers of Paris and London. Mr. Mountford is a native of Hanley, Staffordshire, England, where he was born to Elijah and Prudence (Ellis) Mountford on April 26, 1855. His grandfather was Joseph Mountford, who re- sided in Cheshire, England, engaged in farm- ing. He died during the early childhood of our subject.

Elijah Mountford was born at Hanley about the year 1816 and became an expert pot- ter. For many years he was superintendent of the Cauldon Place potteries, owned by John Ridgway. He married Prudence Ellis, a daughter of George Ellis, of Hanley. She died in 1893 at the advanced age of 79 years. They were members of the Bethesda Meth- odist Chapel. To them were born four chil- dren, who grew to honorable manhood and womanhood and became prominent in their re- spective spheres. Frederick is secretary of the Taylor & Tunnicliffe pottery, Hanley, Eng-

land. He had always shown a decided talent. for music and this he cultivated until he be- came known throughout England as a talented musician and was made director of the famous. Hanley Philharmonic Society. Elijah was for many years a member of the firm of Burroughs. & Mountford of Trenton, New Jersey, which was widely known as the manufacturers of the finest ware of its kind produced in the United States. After severing his connection with that company, he came to East Liverpool as assistant superintendent of The Homer Laugh- lin China Company. Betsy married Richard Booth and resides at Haverlock Place, Shelton, Hanley, England.

Arthur Mountford was the youngest of the family and when but little more than a child was apprenticed to John Ridgway at Cauldon . Place to learn the art of decorating pottery. This apprenticeship included a course of train- ing in the Hanley Art School two afternoons and four nights a week for seven years. After serving his time, he was decorator at Furnival's of Cobridge for three years and then took charge of the decorating department of an art pottery at Torquay, Devonshire, England. He. remained there until 1888 when he came to America and for five years had charge of the decorating in the Eagle Pottery of Trenton, which was owned by his brother. The two years following he was with Charles Cooke of the same place and in 1899 came to East Liverpool and took the position he now holds, that of art director of The Homer Laughlin China Company. This company does an ex- tensive business and has 200 employees in the .decorating department alone. In 1903 Mr .. Mountford returned to England and made a tour of all the leading potteries of that country for the purpose of learning new methods that might be applied in the pottery in which he- was interested.

Mr. Mountford married Thurza Brock, of Hanley. England, by whom he has two chil- dren : Florence, wife of Ernest Simpson of East Liverpool; and Frederick who is known as one of the best athletes in the city and whose high standing in the East Liverpool High School enabled him to enter the United

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States Military Academy, at West Point, on June 24, 1905, without taking the competitive examination. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Mountford was made a Mason in St. John's Lodge, No. 328, in Torquay, England, and still holds a membership there. He was a Conservative in England and is a Republican here.

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History of Columbiana County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 91

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