USA > Ohio > Representative citizens of Ohio : memorial-genealogical > Part 19
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In 1866, Dr. Samuel A. Baxter was married at Chicago to De- borah Ellison, who was born in Stark County, Ohio, on May 28, 1845, the daughter of William Porter Ellison and Hannah (Vaughan) Ellison. Her father was a native of Virginia and her mother of Marlboro, Stark County, Ohio, and on both sides of the family they were orthodox Quakers in religious belief. Wil- liam P. Ellison was the son of Samuel J. and Anna (Porter) Elli- son, of an old Pennsylvania Quaker family, who came in an early day to Marlboro, Ohio, where they were numbered among the pioneers, owning the land where the village was later established and attaining to considerable prominence in the life of the locality. Hannah Ellison, mother of Mrs. Baxter, died in Marlboro, at the age of twenty-six years, leaving the following children: Robert
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W., who is a widower now living in Lima, was a soldier for the Union all through the Civil War and had a splendid record for gallantry; Esther died in childhood; Mrs. Baxter is the next in order of birth; Samuel, who also was a soldier in the Civil War, is married and lives in Chicago. For his second wife, William Porter Ellison married Elizabeth J. Orr, of Lisbon, Ohio. Soon after their marriage they went to Wisconsin, where they spent the rest of their lives, he dying there at the age of fifty-six years, and she when seventy years old. They had two children, Clement E. and Clara; the latter is deceased, while the former lives in Chi- cago. Mr. and Mrs. Ellison were members of the Christian Church.
To Doctor and Mrs. Baxter the following children were born: Frank E. married Elma E. Burton, the daughter of Doctor Burton, and they live in Lima, being the parents of two children, Helen and Samuel A .; Don A. married Eda Leonard, a native of Penn- sylvania; Clem S. married Blanch Numan; Fred H., who is un- married, lives in Lima.
Mrs. Deborah Baxter was born a Quaker, baptized a Presby- terian, but is now a Methodist by adoption. She takes a deep interest in all good works and is a liberal contributor to her church and to other deserving causes. She has long been actively inter- ested in club work, and was a charter member of the oldest female society in the city, the Woman's Club, of which Mrs. Calvin S. Brice also was a charter member, the society being now known as the Chautauqua Club. She is also a member of the Arbutus Club and of the T. and T. Club, having served at various times as president and secretary of the former. She was for three years president of the Ladies' Board of the Lima Hospital when it was first organized. Mrs. Baxter is a lady of many gracious qualities of head and heart and she has endeared herself to a large circle of loyal friends.
Lewis dalolcott Montgomery
MONG the citizens of Youngstown, Ohio, who built up a comfortable home and surrounded themselves with valuable personal property, during a past generation, few attained a greater degree of success than the late Lewis W. Montgomery, one of the pioneers and most public- spirited citizens of Mahoning County. With few opportunities except what his own efforts were capable of mastering and with many discouragements to overcome, he made an exceptional suc- cess in life and in his old age had the gratification of knowing that the locality of his choice had been benefited by his presence and his counsel. He was regarded as a good business man, an excel- lent manager, a man who possessed sound judgment and keen foresight, and who believed in pressing forward, keeping the wheels of the car of civilization ever moving up the steeps. He ever enjoyed the respect and esteem of those who knew him for his friendly manner, business ability, his interest in public affairs and his upright living, and he was regarded by all as one of the substantial and most worthy citizens of the city of Youngstown, in whose phenomenal growth he took a conspicuous part.
Lewis W. Montgomery was born in Danville, Pennsylvania, on November 5, 1838, and was a son of Hon. Robert Morris Mont- gomery and Nancy Wolcott Montgomery, both of whom were descended from a long line of sturdy New England ancestry, and themselves successful farmers. With body and mind strength- ened by the sturdy self-reliant work of a farmer's son, he received his early mental training in the common schools, which was supplemented by attendance at a seminary at Farmington, Ohio. When he was but an infant, the parents came back to their farm located in the east end of Youngstown, and during all of his sub- sequent life he was identified with Youngstown, and vi- cinity. He was reared to the life of a farmer and never severed his connection with that basic science, in which he met with an eminent degree of success. As he was prospered, he added to his land holdings, which became extensive, and he employed his time in their management and operation. He became particu- larly interested in sheep raising and acquired considerable note as a wool grower, having some fine flocks of high-grade Merino sheep, in the breeding and raising of which he set a high standard
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for others to measure up to, and in this, as in other features of agricultural operations, he was always in the van. His farm, in the east end of the city, is now very valuable land, much of it having been platted and sold, while Wilson Avenue runs through the tract. Besides this property, which at his death he left to his widow, he owned a splendid farm of three hundred and fifty acres in Bloomfield Township, Trumbull County, this State, which he left to his children. He also owned valuable stock in the Struthers Bank, of which institution he was a member of the board of directors. Every movement looking to the upbuilding of Youngstown or the welfare of its people, received his hearty endorsement and support, for he was progressive in principle and was willing to be numbered among the "world's workers."
Upon the outbreak of the Civil War, Mr. Montgomery enlisted for active service, becoming a member of the One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which he served three months. He was a strong Union man, and was a Republican from the organization of that party. Though not an office seeker, he accepted a place on the board of education and served efficiently for a number of years, representing the old seventh ward. He was a life-long member of the First Presby- terian Church, taking an earnest and effective interest in the various activities of that society, and for a number of years prior to his death he was one of the elders of that church. He was honored by his church by being sent as a delegate to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church which met at Louisville, Kentucky. His fraternal relations were with Tod Post, Grand Army of the Republic, in which he took much interest. His chief enjoyment, however, was in his own home, where, surrounded by his family, he was perfectly contented. He was passionately fond of reading, and was remarkably versatile in his range of subjects, so that he became a man of wide information and a splendid con- versationalist on almost any topic.
On Decoration Day, 1872, Lewis Montgomery was united in marriage with Belle Cubbison, of Fairview, Pennsylvania, and to their union six children were born, namely: George M. married Ella Robinson, and they have two children, Mary Louise and Robert M .; Louise M. married Seth J. McNabb, of Struthers, Ohio, and they have one child, Randall; Nannie died young; Grace became the wife of Dr. H. C. Miller, of Youngstown, and they have three children, Louise B., Howard M. and Grace E .; Alice married S. Burton Hickok and they are the parents of three children, S.
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Burton, Jr., John M. and Martha; Caroline is the wife of Fred- erick Raysor and the mother of two children, Isabella and Joseph.
Mrs. Montgomery is the daughter of Joseph and Mary (Campbell) Cubbison, both of whom spent their entire lives in the old Keystone State. Joseph Cubbison was one of the old-fash- ioned type of self-made men. In an early day he located at Fair- view, Pennsylvania, where he began working by the day, and, by persistent industry and wise economy, he managed to buy a farm, which he improved, brought up to a high state of cultivation, and there spent the remainder of his days. To him and his wife were born the following children, ten in number; Joseph, de- ceased; William, deceased; Elizabeth, James, Sarah, John, de- ceased; Mary Ann, deceased; Isabella, Nancy, and Mariah. Mrs. Montgomery spent her girlhood at the old home and at one time paid a visit to her sister, Mary Ann, who was living in Mahoning County, Ohio. While on this visit she became acquainted with Mr. Montgomery, and their marriage subsequently occurred at the home of her father. For a number of years, Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery made their home at No. 1628 Wilson Avenue, but since the death of her husband, Mrs. Montgomery has moved to her present home, at No. 1445 Wilson Avenue, which they had started to build before the subject's death.
Lewis W. Montgomery's death occurred very suddenly at his home on August 3, 1912, the immediate cause of his death being heart failure, though he had not been feeling well for a couple of weeks prior to his last illness. Thus passed a good man to his reward and the community suffered an irreparable loss, for he was of the type of men whose lives give strength to the com- munity with which they are identified. It is not often that true honor, public or private, that honor which is the tribute of cordial respect and esteem, comes to a man without basis in character and deeds. The world may be deceived by fortune, or by ornamental or showy qualities, without substantial merit, and may render to the undeserving a short-lived admiration, but the honor that wise and good men value and that lives beyond the grave must have their foundation in real worth, for "worth makes the man." Dur- ing his record of a lifetime in this city, its people had means to know what manner of man Lewis W. Montgomery was. The rec- ord of testimony was ample that he was a good citizen in the full sense of the term, and worthy of honor and public trust, ever doing worthily and well whatever he had to do.
John Scott Orr
HE character of a community is determined in a large measure by the lives of a comparatively few of its members. If its moral and intellectual status be good, if in a social way it is a pleasant place in which to reside, if its reputation for the integrity of its citizens has extended into other localities, it will be found that the standards set by the leading men have been high and their influence such as to mould the characters and shape the lives of those with whom they mingle. In placing the late John Scott Orr in the front rank of such men, justice is rendered a biographical fact univers- ally recognized throughout the locality long honored by his citi- zenship by those at all familiar with his history. Although a quiet and unassuming man, with no ambition for public position or leadership, he contributed much to the civic and moral ad- vancement of his community, while his admirable qualities of head and heart and the straightforward, upright course of his daily life won for him the esteem and confidence of the circles in which he moved and gave him a reputation for integrity and correct conduct such as few achieve, so that, although he is now sleeping "the sleep of the just," his influence still lives, and his memory is still greatly revered.
John Scott Orr was born at Mt. Jackson, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, on January 15, 1842, and was a son of James and Sarah (McLaughlin) Orr. These parents, who were old residents of Lawrence County, came of sturdy Scotch-Irish ancestry and were numbered among the eminently respectable citizens of their community. During his residence in Lawrence County, James Orr followed the vocation of farming, but in about 1858, he moved to Youngstown, Ohio, where he followed the trade of a carpenter. Eventually they moved to Kansas, where the death of Mrs. Orr occurred and afterwards Mr. Orr returned to Youngstown, where he spent the remainder of his days. To James and Sarah Orr were born four children, namely: John S., the immediate subject of this sketch; Ambrose, deceased; James C., of Youngstown, and Ellis, who is deceased.
John Scott Orr was reared on the paternal farmstead in Pennsylvania, to the labors of which he devoted himself as soon as old enough. He attended the district schools of the home
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neighborhood, where the educational facilities were somewhat limited, but, ambitious to prepare himself for life's battle, he attended night school at New Brighton. Before attaining his majority, Mr. Orr left the farm and engaged in carpenter work, eventually taking building contracts. His labors were inter- rupted, however, by the tocsin of war which was sounded over the land, and in July, 1862, he answered his country's call for defenders by enlisting in Company A, One Hundred and Forty- second Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, the command being assigned to the famous Army of the Potomac. With this organization he served honorably and faithfully until the close of the war. After the first battle of Fredericksburg, Mr. Orr was detailed to the quartermaster's department of the division, where he renderd such signally efficient service that he was retained there until the end of the conflict, though still nominally a mem- ber of his old regiment. His duties were responsible and ardu- ous, but his night school training had specially fitted him for the work and he contributed measurably to the success of the army's operations.
After the war, Mr. Orr returned to Youngstown, to which city he had moved before the war, and here resumed the carpen- ter trade. In 1869, he embarked in the furniture and undertaking business with a partner, under the firm name of Gillman, Orr & Company. Later Henry Shields bought Mr. Gillman's interest. Subsequently they were burned out, after which Mr. Orr went into the exclusive undertaking business alone, his first location being at the corner of Phelps and Federal streets. Eventually he moved across the street in the Davis Block, where he re- mained many years, and then bought and occupied the present location of the business on Phelps Street. Later he admitted his son, Fred M. Orr, into the business, which was afterwards known as John S. Orr & Son. As a business man, Mr. Orr long enjoyed an enviable reputation among the best men of the city. Jealous of his honor, his word was at all times as good as a bond, and no obligation entered into by him was ever unfulfilled. In addition to these sterling characteristics, was a courteous and friendly attitude to all who had dealings with him that com- mended him to the good will and genuine respect of all. In his professional work, it has been said that he was excelled by none and equalled by few. Indeed, such was his relation to the com- munity that but few of the old families of Youngstown but had employed him in his professional capacity. He possessed great tact and his sympathy with the sorrowing ones with whom he
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was brought in contact, was real, for the years of service along his line had never hardened his heart and he performed the last rites over the dead with a tenderness such as he would have shown to one dear to himself. There was, probably, not a better known or more universally beloved man in Youngstown, and the news of his death came to many with a strong sense of personal loss. Mr. Orr's death occurred on July 10, 1911, at the city hospital, Youngstown, following a surgical operation. The funeral serv- ices, which were very largely attended, were held from the Orr home, at No. 155 Lincoln Avenue, the religious service being fol- lowed by the beautiful and impressive Scottish Rite Masonic service.
On February 16, 1862, while home from the army on a fur- lough, John S. Orr was united in marriage to Sarah Montgomery. It was a courageous thing for this young girl to wed a man, who, about to return at once to his military duties, she might never see alive again. But those were days of courage and fortitude, when every one seemed endued with a heroism that was ready for anything. Mrs. Orr displayed the same elements all through their subsequent married life, for she became her husband's first assistant in the business, becoming the first lady undertaker in this part of the country, and for many years the only one. To Mr. and Mrs. Orr were born the following children: Edith, who married C. H. Kennedy, of Youngstown, and they have two child- ren, Margaret, a student in Wellesley College, and Katharine; Fred M., who married Harriet Lewis Sims and is the father of one child, Letitia; Nettie is the wife of Dr. J. B. Orwig, of Cleve- land, Ohio, and they have two children, John and Wilfred.
Mrs. Orr was born in 1842, in Youngstown, at the corner of what is now known as Wood Street and Champion Street. Wood Street was but a lane, while Champion Avenue was but an Indian trail leading over the hill. Mrs. Orr is a daughter of Joseph and Nancy (Smith) Montgomery, the former a native of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and the latter born in Erie County, that State. Joseph Montgomery was a son of Samuel and Sarah Montgomery. The father, who was a lawyer, moved the family from Johnstown to Pittsburgh, when his son Joseph was but a lad, and when the latter was but sixteen years of age his father died, his mother surviving but three years longer. These parents had eight child- ren, four sons and four daughters, the sons being named as fol- lows: Joseph, father of Mrs. Orr; Samuel, who graduated from the Military Academy at West Point, was a veteran of the Semi- nole War in Florida and the Mexican War; Alexander, also a
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graduate at West Point and a veteran of the two wars mentioned; Robert, who settled near Richmond, Virginia, and became a plant- er. All are now deceased.
Joseph Montgomery grew to manhood in Pittsburgh and be- came a saddler and harnessmaker by trade. In 1840, he came to Youngstown, Ohio, and engaged in business with a Mr. Fuller at the southwest corner of Champion and Federal Streets, where he remained for many years, conducting the business alone after the death of Mr. Fuller.
While on a business trip to Erie, Pennsylvania, Mr. Mont- gomery met Nancy Smith, to whom he was married, and they reared a family of five children; namely, Sarah, Mrs. Orr; Charles, who died at the age of six years; Robert, deceased; James, de- ceased; Randall, of Youngstown, Ohio. Nancy (Smith) Mont- gomery died in Youngstown shortly after the close of the Civil War. She was a daughter of James and Elizabeth Smith, old residents of Erie, Pennsylvania, to which place the father, with two brothers and a sister, had come from Pittsburgh, settling in the woods what is now the populous city of Erie. It is re- lated that when they made the trip one of their most highly prized possessions was a little pig. The lively little animal attracted the attention of a bear and an exciting time followed in their at- tempts to protect piggy from hungry bruin.
After the death of his wife, Joseph Montgomery went back to Pennsylvania, and when the War of the Rebellion broke out he enlisted for military service, being assigned to the quartermas- ter's department, where he served under his brother, Joseph. He was stationed at Pittsburgh, as inspector of horses and equipment, and died during the service, at the age of sixty-two years.
Mrs. Orr retains her husband's interest in the undertaking business. Like him, she possesses a remarkable faculty for mak- ing and retaining friends. She is very domestic in her tastes, loving her home better than any other place, and there she evinces at all times the old-fashioned spirit of hospitality. She is a faith- ful and devoted member of the Presbyterian Church and a mem- ber of the Ladies' Reading Circle, the pioneer of its kind here.
Politically, Mr. Orr was a stanch supporter of the Republi- can party and always took a keen interest in public affairs, though his business affairs precluded his taking a very active part in campaigns. His religious membership was with the First Pres- byterian Church, to which he gave his earnest support, and to which he was a liberal giver. Fraternally, Mr. Orr was an en- thusiastic and appreciative Mason, belonging to Western Star
-
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Lodge, No. 21, Free and Accepted Masons, Youngstown Chapter No. 93, Royal Arch Masons; St. John Commandery No. 20, Knights Templars; Lake Erie Consistory, Ancient Accepted Scot- tish Rite, thirty-second degree; Royal Order of Scotland; Al Koran Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He had passed through all the chairs of the commandery of Knights Templars, while in the Scottish Rite he was next in line for the thirty-third degree. He was also a member for many years of Youngstown Lodge No. 403, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and Tod Post, Grand Army of the Republic. In the last-named order he had always taken the deepest interest and in all public appearances of the order, since the Civil War, he had, with but few exceptions, served as chief marshal.
Personally, Mr. Orr was generous hearted and no needy person ever appealed to him in vain-indeed, many of his char- itable acts were entirely unsolicited, though in this, as in every- thing else he did, he was entirely undemonstrative, caring little for the plaudits of the multitude, as long as he had the approval of his own conscience. He understood well the spring of human motive and action, so that he was kindly and tolerant in his judg- ment, and ever ready to lend a helping hand to any worthy move- ment. His long residence in Youngstown, his upright life and mature judgment, and the many services he rendered made his name a synonym for character and worth. He was a man of sterling characteristics of head and heart and among his fellows he was looked upon as a man among men, whose memory will long be revered in his home city.
Samuel F. Mcerem
AMUEL F. McGREW came, as his name would indicate, from Scotch ancestors.
The religious faith of his ancestors was in all probability Presbyterian, and this possibly explains the fact that they left Scotland during a religious persecution. Whether or not it was before the reign of Charles I. of England, or during that period is not certain, but the attempt of Bishop Laud to enforce the use of the English prayer book in the churches of Scotland may account for their leaving that country.
Going from Scotland, they settled in Ulster, Tyrone County, Ireland, where they resided until coming to America. Robert McGrew and Isabella McGrew, his wife, emigrated from Ulster in 1726 or 1727, and came to the United States and settled in Tyrone Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania, the name of Tyrone being given to the township by Robert McGrew in remembrance of his old home in Ireland. Robert and Isabella, his wife, lived to an advanced age and were buried in the Chestnut Hill burying ground in Adams County. They had seven children one of whom was Finley McGrew, who died in middle life and was buried in the Friend's burying ground in Menallon Township, in Adams County. He had five children, one son being named James McGrew.
James lived to an advanced age and was buried with his father. He had seven children, one of whom was Finley McGrew. Finley McGrew also lived to be a very old man and at his death left eight children, one of whom was a son named John McGrew.
John McGrew was married twice, his first wife being Alice G. Pugh, by whom he had four children, and his second wife being Elizabeth Miller, by whom he had six children, one of whom was Thomas Finley McGrew, who was the father of the subject of this sketch.
The maternal grandmother of Thomas Fletcher McGrew was Mary Ann Sullivan, who was born at Charliville, in the county Limerick, in Ireland. Her father, while riding to the hounds in a fox chase, was thrown by his horse while attempting to leap a ditch and was fatally injured, dying a few hours thereafter. This was when his daughter, Mary Ann, was sixteen years old. Her
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father was an Episcopalian in religious faith and her mother was a member of the Roman Catholic Church, and which all of Mary Ann's brothers and sisters attended. Owing to religious differ- ences which became more pronounced, as an effort was made to adjust them, Mary left home and sailed for the United States with some friends by the name of Hains in the year 1745, and landed at Baltimore, Maryland. The Hains family settled on the Monocacy River in Baltimore County, and Mary Ann remained with them for some time. She seems to have been a fine looking woman, her beauty being commented upon even in her advanced years. She was also a woman of great strength of character, which was evidenced among other things by the course she had taken in coming to America. Later she became the companion of a Mrs. Huff, whose husband was a major in the colonial serv- ice. She remained with Mrs. Huff until she married Captain Thomas Fletcher. Captain Fletcher, who was then in the colonial service, was killed while out with a skirmishing party in the French and Indian War, six months after they were married.
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