Twentieth Century History of Youngstown and Mahoning County Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 100

Author: Sanderson, Thomas W
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago, Ill., Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 993

USA > Ohio > Mahoning County > Youngstown > Twentieth Century History of Youngstown and Mahoning County Ohio and Representative Citizens > Part 100

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J JACOB HELSEL, residing on a fine farm of 105 acres in Milton township, near the cld Blanco postoffice, was born in Berlin township, Mahoning County, Ohio, in 1862. and is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth ( Flickinger ) Helsel.

The grandparents of our subject were Pe- ter and Margaret ( Hull) Helsel, who came to Berlin township during the early days, when there were no roads and game was so plentiful that 37 deer were killed by the fam- ily in one winter. Peter Helsel died in Ber- lin township April 6, 1871. Peter and Mar- garet Helsel reared a family of nine children, all of whom are now deceased.

Jacob Helsel, father of subject, was born September 23, 1825, in Green township, Ma- honing County, Ohio, and died October 20, 1895. in Milton township, where he located in 1865, and engaged in farming. He was a veteran of the Civil War and a member of Company G. 155th Regiment, Ohio Volun- teer Infantry, and followed the fortunes of the regiment during its four months' term of en- listment. He was mustered out at Camp Den- nison, Ohio, He was a Democrat in politics.

Elizabeth Helsel, mother of our subject, was born February 7. 1826, in Springfield township. Mahoning County, Ohio, and is the only living member of a family of 10 children born to Jolin and Elizabeth ( Barnhardlt ) Flickinger. Her parents were both born in Springfield township, where they were always engaged in farming. Jacob and Elizabeth Helsel had three children: Levi, residing in Michigan: William, deceased, and Jacob,

Jacob Helsel was reared on the old home farm. on which he resided all his life, Ile was married in 1806 to Emma Renkenberger, a native of Mahoning County, who is a dangh- ter of Lewis and Susan ( Felnogle) Renken- berger, the former of whom was born Feb- ruary 5, 1827, in Beaver township. Mahoning County, Ohio, and died in Milton township. January, 1804. The mother of Mrs. Helsel was born in December. 1829, and died Angust 30, 1903. Mr. and Mrs. Helsel have four chil- dren : Homer, Oliver. Theodore and Clyde. Politically, Mr. Helsel is a Democrat.

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m OBENDORFER, president of the M. Obendorfer Company, mer- chants, at Youngstown, was born in 1859, in Mercer County, Penn- sylvania, and is a son of Tobias and Elizabeth (Maier ) Obendorfer.

Tobias Obendorfer, whose death occurred in 1899, was for years one of the lending grocers of Youngstown, his active life cover- ing from 1871 until 1894. He was born in Germany and came to America in 1852, soon locating at Youngstown, where he lived until his death with the exception of two years spent in Pennsylvania. He married Elizabeth Maier, who was also born in Germany, and they reared a family of nine children, the survivors of the family being: M. O .; John, residing at Central City, Kentucky; William, whose home is in Youngstown; Mary, who is a widow; and Catherine, who is the wife of P. J. McFadden.

Mr. Obendorfer was just two years old when his parents settled at Youngstown, and when he was 12 years old he went into a gro- cery store to learn the business, where he re- mained for three years. In 1874 he entered a printing office and learned to be a compositor, both in German and in English. He worked for six years at this trade, three years in German offices and three years in English offices. In 1882 his father invited him to enter into business with him and the grocery firm of T. Obendorfer & Son was organized. The business continued under this management until 1804, when the father retired and the subject of this sketch and his sister, Mrs. Catherine McFadden, ran the business until 1905, when a stock company was organized and incorporated, with a capital stock of $to,- 000, with MI. Obendorfer as president, M. Obendorfer, Jr., vice president, and Mrs. C. McFadden as secretary and treasurer. In ad- dition to this large business, Mr. Obendorfer has been identified with the Youngstown Say- ings and Banking Company, since its incor- poration. He is largely interested also in Youngstown real estate, having many houses and lots, and the company owns its place of business. It is one of the most reliable firms

of Youngstown and its members stand very high commercially as well as personally.

In 1883 Mr. Obendorfer was married to Margaret Adams, and they have seven chil- dren. With his family he belongs to St. Jo- seph's Catholic Church. He has always taken a good citizen's interest in politics and public affairs and has twice represented the Seventh Ward in the city council.

FREDERICK KEELER, formerly one of the best-known citizens of Goshen township, died on his farm in sec- tion 7, March 18, 1906. He was born in Middleton township, Column- biana County, Ohio, May 7, 1844, and is a son of George and Tabitha (Addis) Keeler. The parents of Mr. Keeler were natives of Pennsylvania, and from there they came to Mahoning County when Frederick was young, locating on a farm near Damascus, in Go- shen township, where they subsequently died.

Frederick Keeler was reared in Goshen township and attended the district schools through boyhood. From early years he was accustomed to farm work and grew to under- stand all its difficulties. He considered the handling of stock a very important and profit- able branch of agriculture, and for many years shipped live-stock to different parts of the country. He was also interested in a butchering business, raising and buying fine cattle and stock, and combined his various in- terests with very satisfactory results. He was probably one of the most extensive stock-buy- ers of his locality, and he also conducted one of the largest dairies in Goshen township. These varied interests brought him into con- tact with many people, giving him plenty of opportunity for making business associates, and competitors to weigh him as a man. Their universal verdict was that they desired to do business with him, finding him honest, upright and reliable.

On June 7. 1865, Mr. Keeler was mar- ried to Sarah Hinchman, who was born Jan- uary 31. 1846, in Goshen township, and is a

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daughter of Henry and Hannah (Hickman) Hinchman, the former of whom was a native of New Jersey and the latter of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Henry Hinchman came to Mahoning County with his parents, when he was small, they being very early set- tlers in Goshen township. Mr. and Mrs. Keeler had one son, Howard, who was reared and educated in Goshen township, and who now operates the home farm of 80 acres, for his mother, Howard Keeler was married September 26, 1890, to Effie Rakestraw, and they have one son, Loren F., whom his grand- father lived to see, the bright little child hav- ing been born August 20, 1902 ..

In his political opinions, the late Frederick Keeler was a Democrat, as is his son. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as is his wife, and was always a liberal sup- porter of the same. As said above, Mr. Keeler was an honest man in business. In his personal relation 3, as husband, father and friend, he fulfilled every demand and his death left a blank that can never be filled.

J JAMES M. McKAY, attorney-at-law, at Youngstown, secretary of the Home Savings and Loan Company, and one of the city's prominent and prosper- ous citizens, with offices at No. 129 West Federal street, was born in Brookfield township, Trumbull County, in 1859, and is a son of Wyatt and Eliza ( Montgomery) McKay.

The father, Wyatt Mckay, was born in Pennsylvania, but the greater part of his life was spent in Trumbull County, Ohio, where he was engaged in farming and stock-raising. He was considered one of the most success- ful cattle and sheep men of that county, He died in 1874. His father, Samuel Mckay, was born in 1783. in Maryland. but settled in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, in young man- hood, and subsequently acquired the farm which became the site of the town of Sharps- ville. The family came to America, originally, from Scotland, settling about 1745, in Georgia.

The mother of James M. Mckay was born on the old Montgomery farm in Trumbull County, where she died in 1898. She was a daughter of Robert Montgomery, who was a native of Washington County, Pennsylvania. His was the second family that settled in Brookfield township, Trumbull County, and the land which he took up now belongs to the Mckay family. He served a short time in the War of 1812. The Montgomery family came from Scotland about the Revolutionary period.

James M. Mckay was reared in his native township and completed his education at what is now the National Normal University of Lebanon. Ohio, where he was graduated with the degree of B. S., in 1880. For several years he engaged in teaching, but in 1882 he entered upon the study of law, with an Illi- nois firm, but soon afterward came home, pur- chased his own text books, applied himself diligently and completed his studies with the firm of Jones & Murray, of Youngstown, and was admitted to the bar in December, 1884, and began the practice of law in the following March.

For some years Mr. Mckay devoted him- self entirely to the practice of his profession, but in 1889 he became interested in the or- ganization of the Home Savings and Loan Company. He was one of the incorporators of the company and was elected its first secre- tary, which position he has held ever since. After the first year he also became attorney for the company. At first the business of the Savings and Loan Company was small and was merely incidental to his general law prac- tice, but gradually it grew until the general law practice was entirely crowded out, and for the past 10 years Mr. Mckay has devoted himself exclusively to the interests of the com- pany. He is also interested in real estate on his own account.

In 1885 Mr. Mckay was married to Alice Rayl, who is a daughter of Isaiah Rayl, of Wayne County, Ohio, Mr. and Mrs. McKay have two sons, viz. : Russell J., who was grad- uated from the Rayen High School, in 1907. and Raymond C., who is a student in the same institution. Mr. Mckay was reared in the

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faith of the Presbyterian Church, the Clan Mackay, from which he is descended. having been the first of the Highland clans to embrace Protestantism. at the time of the Reformation. After his marriage. Mr. Mckay united with the First Baptist Church at Youngstown, and is a member of its board of trustees. He is a member of Clan McDonald. a noted Scotch organization.

O V. CALVIN. manager of the Can- field Milling Company, at Canfield, is one of the representative business men of this city. He was born at Annapolis, Crawford County, Illinois, March 27. 1874. and is a son of Allen and Julia ( Recse) Calvin.

Aaron Calvin, the great-grandfather of Jo V., was one of the first settlers in Greenford township. Mahoning County, where both he and his son, Robert Calvin, became men of substance and left numerons descendants. Al- len Calvin, son of Robert and father of Jo V., was born in Greenford township. Mahoning County, Ohio, October 1, 1843, and died at Canfield. November 19, 1905. He continued to assist his father on the home place until abont 20 years of age, when he went to Craw- ford County, Illinois, and after working for a short time in a grist mill at Annapolis, he acquired the ownership of the mill, which he continued to operate for 10 years. After sell- ing his milling interests in Illinois, he re- mowed to Canfield, where he entered into part- nership with Joseph Stafford and subsequently purchased Mr. Stafford's interests and con- ducted the mill alone for a number of years. retiring from business about two years prior to his death.

nois, to Julia Reese, who died in 1874, hay- ) and they have one childl. Lee Edwin. Mr. and

Allen Calvin was married (first) in Ili- ing been the mother of three children, namely : Cora, who died aged five years; Eva L ... who married Judge J. C. Ewing, of Youngstown: and Jo V. Allen Calvin married ( second) Mrs. Mary E. ( Frethey ) Fowler, who was the widow of John Fowler. She still survives.

Jo V. Calvin was but eight months old when his mother died and he lived with his paternal grandparents until he was six years old. The death of these relatives at this time, within two weeks of each other, placed him again under the care of his father, who settled then in Canfield township. He was educated in the Union School and the North- eastern Ohio Normal College, and then en- tered into business, first with the firm of Weil & Heiney, merchants, at Youngstown, and la- ter was in the office of the Brown-Bonnell Company for one year. From there he en- tered the employ of the Bessemer plant of the Republic Iron and Steel Company, on its first day of business, as a scaler, and was gradually promoted until when he resigned he was head shipping clerk. He then went to Ensley, Ala- bama, near Birmingham, and worked three and one-half years for the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railway Company, having charge of both the shipping and production. In the fall of 1906 he returned to Canfield, called here by the death of his father, and took charge of the mill, of which he is part owner. The Canfield Milling Company took the place of an old mill business which had been operated here for a mmiber of years before Mr. Allen Calvin purchased it and to the latter belongs the credit of its present fine equipment, inchxling the roller process machinery. The output of this mill bears the Purity brand. and includes flour, graham flour, whole wheat flour and corn meal, and its capacity is 60 barrels every 24 hours. The head miller. Andrew MI. Har- roff, was born in Ellsworth township, Ma- honing County, September 26. 1854. learned the milling Imsiness with Allen Calvin and has been with this company for 15 years.

On April 12, 1889, Mr. Calvin was mar- ried to Mary Arnold, who is a daughter of William and Sarah (AArmistrong ) Arnold, Mrs. Calvin belong to the Presbyterian Cimrch. In addition to his milling interests, Mr. Calvin owns a large farm and stock in the Calvin-Ewing Oil Company, of Illinois. Politically he is a Democrat and fraternally is an Odd Fellow and an Elk.

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S G. PYLE, a director of the Home Savings and Loan Company of Youngstown, and one of the city's most prominent citizens, was born in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, in 1850.

Mr. Pyle was reared in Pennsylvania where he remained until 17 years of age, when he came to Youngstown and served a four- year apprenticeship to the pattern making trade. He then worked in Cleveland for about one year, returning to Youngstown. in 1877. where he was engaged as pattern maker for the Brown & Bonnell Company, and had charge of the pattern department until 1905. Since that time he has been employed by the William Tod Company. For 15 years Mr. Pyle has been a director of the Home Savings and Loan Company, and is a member of the board of appraisers of Youngstown.

Mr. Pyle was married, in 1875, to Pluma Combs, a daughter of Moses Combs, one of the pioneers of Youngstown. Mr. and Mrs. Pyle have the following children: Clarence R., Florence, Harvey H., Herbert, Bessie, Ralph. Lloyd, and Wilbur. Mr. Pyle is a member of the First Baptist Church of Youngstown.

ENRY M. GUNDER, who owns an excellent farm of 65 acres, situated in Goshen township, near Patmos, car- ries on a successful blacksmith business in the village, where he is one of the representative men. He was born April 6. 1860, in Goshen township. Mahoning County, Ohio, and is a son of Nelson K. and Elizabeth ( Mckim) Gunder.

Nelson K. Gunder. father of Henry M .. has been engaged in the blacksmith business at latinos for over a half century, and al- though he is now in his 72nd year, can still operate his forge and attend to the work of the shop with more efficiency than many half his age. He served three years as a soldier in the Civil War, and had five brothers who were also in the Federal army. Taking the sum

of their years of service, it amounts to full 20 years, proving the loyalty of the Gunder family without chance of dispute. Nelson K. Gunder is a Republican in politics and has served as a trustee of Goshen township, and for a period of six years was an infirmary di- rector in Mahoning County. He is one of the most highly respected citizens of Patmos.

Henry M. Gunder was taught his business in his father's shop, beginning to work at the forge while still a boy, going to school. He and one sister. Edna M., who is the wife of Joseph Henry, residing at North Benton, Ohio, are the only survivors of his father's family. For a number of years he has been proprietor of his own shop at Patmos, and is known to almost all citizens for miles around. In addition to working at his trade, he keeps his farm well cultivated.

Henry M. Gunder married Sarah William- son, who is a daughter of the late Mahlon Williamson, of Salem, Ohio. They have four children, namely: Zella E., who married Jo- seph P. Maris, residing in Goshen township; Lena F., who married Raymond Hack, resid- ing at Berlin Center; Edith M., who is a stu- dent in the Canfield Normal School; and Helen E., residing at home. The family be- long to the Methodist Episcopal Church of Goshen township, in which Mr. Gunder has been a class leader for the past 18 years, and is also a member of the board of trustees. In politics, he is identified with the Republican party, and has been a nseful member of the Goshen Board of Education, and for two years served the township as assessor.

AMES H. BENNETT. The excellent farm of 106 acres, which is owned by that well-known citizen of Goshen township. James H. Bennett, lies in section 17 and is a valuable property, on the improvement of which Mr. Bennett has expended considerable money. He belongs to an old Ohio family and was born in Colum- biana Commty. April 9. 1830, and is a son of Elijah and Susanna ( Ekert) Bennett.

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The parents of Mr. Bennett were born in New Jersey, and they came to Columbiana County and settled as pioneers, at a time when the present beautiful little city of Salem con- sisted of but a few straggling log houses. Of their children, the two survivors are: James H. and Lucy E., the latter of whom is the widow of John Patterson. She is now in her 87th year and resides at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Jolly, of Goshen township.

James H. Bennett was reared to maturity in Columbiana County, and received the usual district school education of his day. He grew up on a farm and from boyhood was trained to agricultural pursuits, which, from choice, he has followed ever since. He remained in his native county until some time after mar- riage and then moved to Wisconsin, but one year later returned to the vicinity of Salem. Mr. Bennett remained in Columbiana County until 1876, when he settled on his present farm in Goshen township.

On May 6, 1852. Mr. Bennett was mar- ried to Mary Mathias, who was born Janu- ary 9. 1832, in Cumberland County, Mary- land, and is a daughter of Ilenry and Bar- bara ( Hyser) Mathias. Her parents were both horn in Maryland, but her grandfather. Frederick Hyser, was born in Germany. The Hyser family has a fine military record. Dur- ing the Revolutionary War the grandfather of Mrs. Bennett fought in the Patriot army, under General Washington: an uncle, Frederick Hyser, was a soldier in the War of 1812; and a brother, Edward Hyser, residing at Springport, Jackson County, Mich- igan, fought through many battles in the Civil War.

Mr. and Mrs. Bennett have four children, namely: Susanna, who married John Jolly. residing in Goshen township: James E., resid- ing at Akron; Ernest A .. deceased; and Eva. who married George H. Chamberlain, resid- ing in Allegan County, Michigan. The fam- ily belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically, Mr. Bennett is a Demo- crat. He has always been a man of great in- «lustry and what he owns he secured through his own efforts, ably assisted by his estimable wife.

ENRY D. SMITH, a well-known gen- cral merchant of Lowellville, and president of the Lowellville Savings and Banking Company, was born April 14, 1856, at Lowellville, Ohio, and is a son of Henry and Anna M. (Dut- terer) Smith.

Henry Smith, father of Henry D., was born in Springfield township. Mahoning County, Ohio, and was a son of Peter Smith, who came from Eastern Pennsylvania to Springfield township. Henry Smith was reared on his father's fann and assisted with the work for many years, after which he learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked until he removed to Lowellville, where he engaged in the grocery business, occupy- ing half of the building in which Henry D). Smith is now located, and was operating a general store at the time of his death, in 1871. He was postmaster of Lowellville some time between 1856-60.

Henry D. Smith was reared in Lowellville, where he obtained his education in the com- mon schools. In 1874, after the death of his father, he took a course in a business college at Cleveland, after which he worked for eight years in a wholesale shoe house, Int returned to Lowellville in 1882, and purchased the general store which his mother and sister, Mrs. Mary E. Erskine, had established dur- ing his residence in Cleveland. He has since been engaged in operating this, carrying a full line of merchandise, including groceries, boots and shoes, dry guixdis, etc. He is also president of the Lowellville Savings and Banking Company, which was first established in 1905, by capitalists of New Castle, Penn- sylvania, and was then known as the Lowell- ville Bank. It was reorganized into a stock company in 1906. with the following officers : H. D. Smith, president : John Frech, vice pres- ident; and John F. Taylor, cashier. Mr. Smith was postmaster of Lowellville for four years during President Cleveland's first administra- tion, and was mayor of this enterprising little city for one year, the first incumbent of the office, and was elected in 1890 on an independ- ent ticket. although politically he is an adher- ent of the Democratic party. He servel tuo

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terms as village treasurer, and was also a member of the town council for one term. Mr. Smith owns a fine farm of 80 acres in Mahoning township, Lawrence County, Penn- sylvania. which he rents. Fraternally, Mr. Smith is a member of the Knights of Pythias.

Mr. Smith was united in marriage. in 1887. to Edna A. Miller, a daughter of F. C. Miller, a prominent farmer residing near Edinburg, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. Four chil- dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Smith: Frieda M., who graduated from the Lowell- ville High School in 1905, and at the Rayen High School of Youngstown, Ohio, in the class of 1907; Julia Grace, who graduated from the Lowellville High School in the class of 1907; Heury M., and Anna E.

R ICHARD LLOYD, JR., residing on a well-improved farm of 146 acres, in Austintown township, owns also 34 acres of the old homestead farm at Mineral Ridge. He was born May 25, 1866, in the log house still standing on the township road. between Mahoning an.1 Trumbull Counties, Ohio, and is a son of Richard and Anna (Davis) Lloyd.

The parents of Mr. Lloyd were born in Wales, but they were married in Pennsylvania, The father worked in the coal mines in his na- tive land. and for some years followed the same occupation in the coal fields of both Ma- honing and Trumbull counties. He settled at Mineral Ridge, on the county line, before the railroad was built, and both he and wife still reside in their home there. They had eight children and the following reached maturity : James, deceased ; Richard; Mary, who married George Tompkins; and Elizabeth, who is a teacher in the High School, at Niles.

Richard Lloyd, Jr., is one of the self-made men of this section, who through energy and industry has acquired property and become a representative man of his township. He en- joyed few educational advantages in his boy- hood, as he entered the mines when very young, where he continued to work until he was 19 years of age, when he entered the

butcher shop of J. B. Whiteman, at Mineral Ridge. During the time he remained with Mr. Whiteman, learning the trade, he went to school a part of each week. Mr. Lloyd worked at the trade in Pennsylvania for a time and then returned to Mineral Ridge, and shortly afterward entered into business for himself. He already owned a horse and easily borrowed a wagon, and with his capital of $14. he bought a side of beef and peddled his meat through the country. He proved to be a good business man and in a short time began to buy cattle, purchasing from his neighbors in the county, and after his marriage, when he turned his attention to farming. he disposed of his meat shop at Mineral Ridge, but for a considerable period continued to run his wagon through the neighborhood, where he had many customers. Mr. Lloyd still owns "Fan," the faithful and intelligent little mare with which he went into business, but her day of usefulness is over and she has an easy time in the pasture. Not only Mr. Lloyd, but also his neighbors, consider her a very remarkable animal. In the days when Mr. Lloyd did a great deal of cattle-buying. all he had to do was to fasten his purchase to the intelligent animal and she would conduct it safely to his home without his attendance or guidance.

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Twentieth Century History of Youngstown and Mahoning County Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 100

Author: Sanderson, Thomas W Publication date: 1907 Publisher: Chicago, Ill., Biographical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 993

Author: Sanderson, Thomas W
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago, Ill., Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 993