USA > Ohio > Representative citizens of Ohio : memorial-genealogical > Part 35
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Religiously, David King, Sr., was one of the leading and most active members of the First Presbyterian Church of Springfield, to which he not only gave liberally of his means, but in the success and prosperity of which he had a deep personal interest. Indeed, in summing up the career of this good man, the greatest eulogy that can be pronounced on any man may be consistently said of him, "He was true and faithful to every duty and trust reposed in him."
David McClure Alexander
HE AMERICAN nation has been built up from its foun- dations to the present with an adventurous and free- dom-loving people, and few foreign countries have con- tributed as much of the rich, red blood of our national life as have Ireland and Scotland. They have been sending of their best families to this country for four hundred years and in- calculable and far-reaching good has been accomplished by them in every phase of our national life, for they have been true to our institutions, ready to defend our flag in times of war and willingly. bore the hardships of pioneer life in all sections; thus while benefit- ing themselves, they have contributed materially to the general good. Of this vast number the Alexander family are deserving of special mention, for in the civic, business, and moral life of this country, and particularly of the section of country of which this volume treats, they have been potential factors in development and progress. One of the best known and most prominent mem- bers is David M. Alexander, a venerable and highly respected citizen of Canton.
The first member of the family of whom specific mention is made was the subject's grandfather, James Alexander, who was a native of county Tyrone, Ireland, and of Scotch ancestry. He mar- ried, in Ireland, a daughter of Lord Alexander, who died in county Tyrone in about 1800. In 1822, with his wife and four daughters he came to America, having been preceded here by his sons, Wil- liam and James, Jr. The first of the family to come to this country was Joseph Alexander, who came here in the latter part of the eighteenth century, locating in Pennsylvania, about sixteen miles east of Wheeling, West Virginia, where he established the town of West Alexander. There he spent the remainder of his days, dying at an advanced age. He was married and reared a family and some of his descendants are still living in that locality. They were Pres- byterians in their religious faith and they were influential leaders in the life of the locality. The next member of the Alexander fam- ily to identify himself with the New World was the subject's uncle, William Alexander, who spent the greater part of his life at Clay- ville, Pennsylvania; he never married and his later years were spent with his parents and other members of the family who had come after him.
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James Alexander, Jr., the subject's father, was born in Ire- land in 1793. He left his native land for America in 1816 and lo- cated first in West New Liberty, Pennsylvania. At the latter place, when twenty-four years of age, he was united in marriage to Fannie Colwell, of that place, and of Scotch-Irish parentage. Her parents were James and Fannie Colwell, the latter also being a daughter of James Colwell, who lived in Virginia. James Col- well had a sister Fannie, who became the wife of a Mr. Calhoun, whose son was John C. Calhoun, the eminent American statesman and Vice-President.
Sometime after his marriage, James Alexander, Jr., went to Painesville, Ohio, where for a number of years he was engaged in the mercantile business, and then moved onto a farm near Carmi- chael, Pennsylvania, where, later, he again entered the mercantile business. In 1854 he went to Steubenville, Ohio, where he was suc- cessfully engaged in mercantile pursuits until 1860. He then moved his family to Wellsburg, West Virginia, where he ran a store until after he had attained his eightieth year, when he retired from active pursuits. His death occurred in 1886, when past nine- ty-three years old; his wife died in 1873, aged seventy-six years. In politics, James Alexander, Jr., was first a Whig, and after the formation of the Republican party, he gave it his support. He and his wife were for many years faithful members of the Presbyterian Church. Their children were as follows: Frances, who never mar- ried, died in 1862; Adelaide died in infancy in 1831; James, third, died in January, 1855, in young manhood; David M., the subject of this sketch, is fourth in order of birth; Anna died in 1861, at Wheeling, West Virginia, after her marriage to Henry Morgan, which occurred in 1859.
David McClure Alexander was born near Carmichael, Penn- sylvania, on October 9, 1834, and he was reared under the parental roof, securing his education in the common schools there and in Carmichael Academy. In 1854, he came to Steubenville, Ohio, with his father and became the latter's assistant in the mercantile business, remaining there until 1860, when he went to West Vir- ginia, and was engaged in the lumber business, mostly in and around Wheeling, until 1870. Eventually, Mr. Alexander came to Canton, Ohio, and here engaged in the shoe business, in which he met with pronounced success, so that some time later he was en- abled to retire from active mercantile pursuits. He had acquired some real estate interests here, however, which demanded a por- tion of his time and attention, though he is so situated materially,
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that he can now enjoy the rest which his former years of earnest labor earned for him.
At Uniontown, Pennsylvania, Mr. Alexander was married to Rose E. Paul, who was born in Ohio in 1842, but was mostly reared at Uniontown. She was a granddaughter of Col. Thomas Paul, the famous Indian fighter and soldier, and a daughter of William and Mary (Walker) Paul, the latter being of Pennsylvania birth, of Maryland parentage and of English ancestry. William Paul, who was connected with the iron business, moved to Ironton, Ohio, where he lived until his death, which occurred in 1847, in the prime of his life. His widow survived him many years, dying at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Alexander, in 1888, at the age of eighty-three years. Early in life Mr. and Mrs. Paul were Episco- palians in their church relations, but after coming to Ironton they became affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal Church. All of their children are now deceased. One, George W., who was an iron monger, died at the age of sixty-nine years. He was a nephew of William, Archie, and James Paul, of Wheeling, West Virginia, well known in that community as iron mongers. Another son of William Paul, Joseph, died in Collinsville. Pennsylvania. Mrs. Rose Alexander died on January 2, 1902. She was the mother of five children, namely: James C., who is a prominent lumberman at Cleveland. Ohio, married Bessie Cole; George Paul, who is mana- ger and a leading spirit in the Aultman Harvesting Manufacturing Company, at Mansfield, Ohio, married Alice Lynch, daughter of Wm. A. and Eliza R. Lynch, and to them have been born two chil- dren, Ruth, who died in February, 1912, at the age of three years, and Alice, who was born December 20, 1912; Mary Walker, like the other children, was educated in Kentucky and Canton, Ohio, and became the wife of Lester Deweese, of Canton, and they have two children, Josephine, born August 1, 1906, and Rose Paul, born in September, 1909; and Harry Morgan, of Cleveland, Ohio, who mar- ried Catherine Harter, a daughter of George D. Harter, and a granddaughter of Cornelius Aultman. They have three children: Mary, born 1909; Constance, born 1912, and Martha, born, 1913; Frances A., who graduated from Science Hill. Kentucky, became the wife of Stanley E. Buxton. of Providence, Rhode Island, where he is engaged in the wholesale jewelry business; they have a son, David Alexander Buxton, born July 2, 1910.
David McClure Alexander stands to-day as one of the honored and respected citizens of Canton, who have consistently stood at all times for the best things in the community. Such men as he know no compromise with evil or lawlessness, but may always be
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counted upon in the support of those movements which tend to ele- vate the moral, educational, or social status of the people among whom they live. The beginning of his career was characterized by much hard work and conscientious endeavor, and he owed his rise to no train of fortunate incidents or fortuitous circumstances. It was the reward of application of mental qualifications of a high order to the affairs of business, that enabled him to grasp the opportunities that presented themselves. This he did with suc- cess and with honor. His integrity has ever been unassailable, his honor unimpeachable, and he stands deservedly high in the esteem of those who knew him. He is a man of scholarly tastes, being a close reader of the world's best literature in many lines, and is a pleasing and entertaining conversationalist. He is characterized by an innate courtesy of manner and a dignity of carriage that well befits one of his character.
William Al. Trainer
ISTORY and biography, for the most part, include only those who have attained to eminent military, political, or literary distinction, or who, in any other career, passed through extraordinary vicissitudes of fortune. But the names of men who have distinguished themselves in their day and generation for the possession, in an unusual degree of these qualities of character which mainly contribute to the success of private life and to public stability-of men who have been exem- plary in all their personal and social relations, and enjoyed the es- teem, respect, and confidence of their associates-ought not to be allowed to perish. Few can draw rules for their own guidance from the pages of Plutarch, but all are benefited by the delineation of those traits of character which find scope and exercise in the common walks of life. Among the individuals of this class was the late William M. Trainer, of Steubenville. His record is the account of a life which was, in the main, uneventful, as far as stirring inci- dents or startling adventure are concerned, yet was distinguished by the most substantial qualities of character. His life history exhibits a career of unswerving integrity, indefatigable private in- dustry, and wholesome home and social relations. It is the record of a well balanced mental and moral constitution, strongly marked by those traits of character which are of special value in such a state of society as exists in this country.
William M. Trainer was born in Steubenville, Ohio, on July 23, 1861, and died September 10, 1912. He was the son of John H. S. and Esther (Morrison) Trainer. These parents are mentioned specifically elsewhere in this work, and therefore it is not neces- sary to enter into their record more fully at this point. William M. Trainer secured his elementary education in the Steuben- ville public schools, graduating from the high school in 1879. He then entered Marietta College. where he graduated in 1881, and im- mediately entered Princeton University, where he received his de- gree in 1883. After leaving college Mr. Trainer was for a time in the adjutant general's office at Columbus and then, returning to Steubenville, assisted his father in the latter's law office. Though he was never admitted to the bar, Mr. Trainer acquired a wide and comprehensive knowledge of the law, gaining in this regard a rep- utation that excelled that enjoyed by many lawyers. Eventually
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Mr. Trainer engaged in the real estate and insurance business, in which he gained marked success, and in these lines he found his knowledge a valuable asset. In insurance work he proved to be well qualified and was regarded as an authority on insurance mat- ters. He had a marvelous capacity for detail work, and the desir- able faculty of being able to handle a vast amount of work with ease, for he was systematic and methodical in his operations. In 1891, Mr. Trainer was nominated for the office of justice of the peace by the Democratic party and, overcoming a large Republican majority, was elected. His administration of the office was so emi- nently satisfactory that he was elected to succeed himself, thus serving two terms. Later he was elected clerk of the city council, from which he was compelled to resign because of ill health. In this position he proved himself an invaluable aid to the council, his wide and accurate knowledge of the law and his sound and discriminat- ing judgment being held in high regard by the members of that body. Those who were close to Mr. Trainer and had learned to thoroughly appreciate his qualities of mind and the inherent attri- butes of his make-up, were not slow in acknowledging his superior intellect and high personal character. Mr. Trainer possessed a command of the English language that was probably unexcelled by any one in the Ohio River Valley, and added to this was a gift of oratory that made him one of the most popular and frequently sought-for speakers in this section of the State. His speeches, which were splendid examples of faultless diction and well rounded periods, were made on a wide range of subjects, touching upon political, economic, civic and literary matters, and they were widely quoted in the leading newspapers of the Ohio Valley. At the organization of the Steubenville Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Trainer became a charter member, and was elected the first sec- retarv of that body. He was indefatigable in his efforts for the es- tablishment of a live commercial organization in this city and was one of the devoted band of men whose tireless efforts held the or- ganization together during its pioneer days. He gave generously of his superb powers in furthering the upbuilding of the locality honored by his citizenship, and his name is one that merits a con- spicuous place on the roll of those who have worthily conserved such progress. He gave the best of his innate talents to the world and to aiding his fellow men and probably no resident of Steuben- ville enjoyed to a higher degree the warm friendship and good will of the people generally.
On April 20, 1892, Mr. Trainer was married to Mary Halstead Hagan, a native of Steubenville, and the daughter of Jonathan
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and Margaret J. (Halstead) Hagan. Jonathan Hagan, who was the pioneer shoe dealer of Steubenville and one of the city's most respected residents, was born in this city on September 16, 1839, and was here reared and received his education. He was actively engaged in the shoe business here up to within about ten years of his death, which occurred September 16, 1891, at the age of fifty- two years. To him and his wife, who survives him, were born seven children, two of whom are deceased. He was a great worker in the church to which he belonged and, as a testimonial of grati- tude for his successful efforts in getting the church debt paid off, he was presented with a gold-headed cane by the members of the society. He was prominent as a supporter of every good work, no worthy movement ever appealing to him in vain. To Mr. and Mrs. Trainer was born a son, John Hagan Trainer, who is now a student in Washington and Jefferson College, at Washington, Pennsylvania.
Politically, William M. Trainer was, as stated above, a stanch supporter of the Democratic party and took a keen interest in the success of his party. Fraternally, he was a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and the Benevolent and Protective Or- der of Elks, having been a charter member of the last-named order in this city, and served for a long period as secretary of the local lodge. Religiously, he was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, in the prosperity of which he retained a deep interest, being a member of the board of trustees at the time of his death. In every sphere in which he moved Mr. Trainer left the impress of his personality upon those with whom he was thrown into contact. Self-sacrificing, ardent, loyal, and true, he was a blessing to his kind, and left in his wake an influence which shall ever make the world brighter and better. To his friends and in his home Mr. Trainer was a man of strong affections and tenderness of feeling. It is a good thing to say of a man after he has gone that his wife knew a better side of him than was ever known to any one else. This may be said of Mr. Trainer with special truth. His married life was ideal in the harmony and devotion which always existed between him and his wife. He was proud of her and she of him. In the social circles in which he moved his life was exemplary and his memory will long be cherished by a wide circle of friends and acquaintances throughout this section of the State.
Raw Curdy
Robert McCurdy
PUBLICATION of this nature exercises its most impor- tant function when it takes cognizance, through proper memorial tribute, of the life and labors of so good a citizen as was Robert McCurdy, who was one of the best known business men and most representative citizens of Youngstown, Ohio, having been one of its leading financiers for an extended period of years and an influential factor in the gen- eral development of the city. He ever stood exponent of the most loyal citizenship and was a noble personality whose memory will be long cherished and venerated in the city to whose civic and ma- terial progress he contributed in a most generous measure. A man of great business capacity and of the highest principles of integrity and honor, he made his influence felt along diverse lines and he was long a leader in the promotion of legitimate enterprises which conserved the general welfare of the city and county. He matured his plans carefully and patiently and was a man of splen- did initiative power, so that he was well fitted to become one of the upbuilders of a thriving city. He gave generously of his superb powers in furthering the upbuilding of the locality so long hon- ored by his citizenship, and his name is one that merits a conspic- uous space on the roll of those who have worthily conserved such progress. His integrity was of the most insistent and unswerving type and no shadow rests upon any portion of his career as an ac- tive business man and sterling citizen. He had his limitations, as do all, but he gave of the best of his innate talents to the world and to aiding his fellow men. Mr. McCurdy was a man of impressive personality, was broad of mental ken and had to an eminent degree those characteristics which ever beget esteem, confidence, and friendship. Viewing his life in the perspective, none can fail to have an appreciation of his accomplishments at a time when such as his were demanded, and he should ever be remembered as one of the noble, kindly, and public spirited men of affairs who played a conspicuous role in the drama of progress and enterprise which has had its setting in the city of Youngstown.
Robert McCurdy, who for more than a quarter of a century was the honored president of the First National Bank of Youngs- town, one of the most important and influential financial institu- tions of northeastern Ohio, was born at Castle Finn, county Done- gal, Ireland, on June 24, 1842. His parents were Dr. Robert and
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Eliza (Henry) McCurdy, who came to the United States when the subject of this sketch was a baby of eleven months. They settled on a small farm near Crab Creek, Mahoning County, Ohio, where the doctor practiced his profession in conjunction with farming. Doctor McCurdy had been twice married, having had three ch l'ren by his first wife, who died in Ireland. Of the six children born to the second union, the subject was the second in order of birth and all are now deceased. Mrs. Eliza McCurdy died about six years after the family settled in this country, when the subject was a lad of but seven years.
Robert McCurdy was given the educational advantages af- forded in the public schools, but received no higher scholastic training, being compelled at a comparatively early age to take up life's responsibilities on his own account. In after years Mr. McCurdy was disposed to look upon his early trials and hardships as good discipline, and it is certain that the habits of industry and economy so early implanted greatly assisted him in his later life. In August, 1861, at the age of nineteen years, Mr. McCurdy ac- cepted a position in the old Mahoning County Bank, where his faithful and efficient service gained the attention of the bank offi- cials, among whom were some of the most prominent and influen- tial business men of Youngstown, so that when, on June 2, 1863, the First National Bank was formed, he was given a position in the new institution. On June 20, 1865, he was promoted to the responsible position of cashier, discharging the duties of this posi- tion efficiently until in 1877, when, owing to changes in the man- agement and control of the bank, he was elected its president, a position which he continued to hold up to the time of his death, on March 25, 1904. His death was due to Bright's disease, from which he had been a sufferer for two years.
Some men are by natural equipment adapted to certain defi- nite lines of work, and of Mr. McCurdy it can be said that he was in many respects peculiarly qualified for the work to which his ac- tive years were devoted. The great banking house of which he was so long the head owed a very large part of its splendid success to his indomitable energy, wise direction, and sound judgment in business affairs. He possessed that sagacity which enabled him to foresee with unerring accuracy the future outcome of a present transaction and his advice and counsel were considered of inesti- mable value among his associates and business men who had occa- sion to confer with him. The greatness of a man's life lives after he is gone, and is shown by the impression left upon those with whom he came in contact or have felt his influence. All who have
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been with Mr. McCurdy have felt the power of his strong person- ality, the unfailing strength of his well-balanced nature, the sound- ness of his principles, the energy that shirked no amount of labor, and the candor with which he expressed himself-all contributing elements to the splendid success which attended his business ca- reer.
Although banking was Mr. McCurdy's chief life work, he had many other interests, having at various times been connected with many of Youngstown's industries, as well as tentative interests at other points. He assisted in the organization of the firm of Tod, Stambaugh, & Company, his co-partners being John Tod and John Stambaugh, and they extensively engaged in the operation of coal and iron ore properties. They were very successful and theirs developed into one of the leading firms in its line of business in Cleveland. Mr. McCurdy for many years was a prominent figure in the coal mining interests near Youngstown, as well as the iron ore interests in the Lake Superior district of Michigan and Minne- sota, where he had extensive and valuable holdings. He was one of the early iron manufacturers of Youngstown, and a partner in the old and well-known firm of Cartwright, McCurdy Company, rolling mill owners. This firm later consolidated with the Youngs- town Rolling Mill Company, the reorganized company being known as the Union Iron and Steel Company. Eventually, the latter was absorbed by the American Steel Hoop Company, an in- tegral part of the United States Steel Corporation, and this mill now being operated under the name of the Carnegie Steel Com- pany. At the same time he was a large stockholder in a number of the richest and most successful mining companies in the west.
However, Mr. McCurdy's pride was in his home city, to the advancement of which he devoted himself, giving liberally of his time and means to its upbuilding. To those who are familiar with his labors, his name will always be associated with the Young Men's Christian Association, the Reuben McMiller Library Asso- ciation and the Rayen High School. In 1869 he became a member of the first committee that met to organize a branch of the Young Men's Christian Association, and of that society he was elected president, serving for five consecutive terms and devoting himself indefatigably to the placing of the association on a sound and per- manent basis. At the time of his death Mr. McCurdy was one of the trustees of the Reuben McMiller Free Library Association and it was mainly through his personal efforts that Youngstown ac- quired the magnificent library of which her citizens are now so justly proud. From 1877 he served as a trustee of the Rayen
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High School, taking an active interest in its improvement and the maintenance of the high educational standard for which it is noted. Interested in agencies which tended to the upbuilding and improvement of his city, he gave them the best that was in him, and gave unstintingly and gladly. Large-hearted and charitable, he never turned a deaf ear to appeals in behalf of a worthy cause and his generosity was extended along many lines, though it is understood that amounts expended in relieving want and destitu- tion constituted the larger part of his benefactions. However, many of these acts of kindness were known only to the recipients of his kindness and to those closest to him.
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