Twentieth Century History of Youngstown and Mahoning County Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 104

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 104

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Michigan, and was graduated from the law department in 1904. and immediately admit- tel to the bar. His first field of practice was Cleveland, but in December, 1905. he formed a partnership with Mr. Hahn, under the firm name of Hahn & Jones, attorneys. He is a member of the Mahoning Golf Club and of his college fraternities.

W. B. Jones has always been concerned in the proper administration of civil affairs, but only as becomes a good citizen. Hle is a member of the first Presbyterian Church. He is a representtive man of this city, capable and successful, npright as to character and genial in manner.

OHN F. FINK, a retired farmer and stock-raiser of Canfield township and one of the most prominent citizens of the little village of Cornersburg, was born April 10, 1856, on his father's farm in Canfieldl township, Mahoning County. Ohio, and is a son of Samuel and Catherine (Lynn) Fink.

Samuel Fink was born in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, and came to this county with his parents, John and Catherine ( Deis) Fink, when a small child. He was one of a family of four children: John, Samuel, Elizabeth, and Catherine. all now deceased. John Fink, who was a farmer of Lehigh County, Pennsyl- vania, brought his family to Ohio in old- fashioned covered wagons and bought a tract of virgin timber land in Poland township, Ma- honing County. On this he resided the re- mainder of his life, engaged in clearing and cultivating his farm. For many years he made frequent trips between Pennsylvania and Ohio, with salt, sugar, etc, with a six-horse team, often riding one of the horses.

Samuel Fink, father of John F., was reared on his father's farm in Poland township, and worked in the old water-wheel saw-mill, which was one of the first mills operated in this sec- tion. After the breaking of the d'un, it was rua by steam. Samuel received but little schooling and lived at home until he was married to

Catherine Lynn, a daughter of Adam and Rachel ( Fullwiler) Lynn. The Lynns came from Pennsylvania, and were among the earli- est settlers of Canfield township. Adam Lynn followed farming and was one of the first post- masters of the county, there having been a post office at that time at Cornersluirg. He served as justice of the peace for 42 years, and was a stanch Democrat. Our subject still has the old ink-stand used by Squire Lynn, who was an expert penman and use a quill pen, as is shown by the records kept at Warren, Ohio, where the Court House was then located. He and his wife were the parents of three chil- dren : Peter, Catherine, and Ferdinand, the latter of whom is the only one living. Samuel and Catherine Fink were the parents of seven children: Urias, deceased : Emma, who died young; John Ferdinand: Rosetta, who died young ; William, residing in Canfield township; Rachel (Mrs. Peter Yager), of Canfield town- ship; and George, of Youngstown township.

The parents of our subject started house- keeping on the old Lynn farm near the saw- mill race, and Samuel continued to operate the mill during the winter months and farmed in the summer. Ile was one of the most prosperous and successful farmers of the township and at the time of his death was the owner of 100 acres of valuable farm land. He died April 15. 1903, aged 75 years, his wife having died in 1893 aged 70 years.

John F. Fink was reared on his father's farm in Canfiekl township and attended the district schools. Ile has always devoted his time to farming and when just a mere boy as- sisted with the work in the field, using the farm tools of his day, the cradle, sickle and scythe, and he well remembers when the first mower and binder were operated in that sec- tion. Hle subsequently engaged in threshing. for a number of years, having an interest in an old-fashioned horse-power machine, which required eight horses to operate it. Ilis part- ners were Allen Peters and Homer Strock. They owned six horses and the farmer for whom they worked furnished one team of horses. Mr. Fink has a team of miles which he raised and broke when colts, one 27 and

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the other 28 years old, and they are now doing service on the telephone line and are pensioned by him. They had the distinction of partici- pating in the parade at Youngstown, Ohio, at the time of President Cleveland's first nomi- nation, when all the men turned out with hickory brooms. On one occasion, before the advent of the automobile, a carriage was rig- ged up for a parade and the mules were hitched to the back of it to, push it, and this was the first horseless carriage which appeared in Youngstown.

Mr. Fink has 134 acres of land in Canfield township besides other property in Youngs- town. His farms are well improved in every way and he has laid 1,000 rods of tile, besides erecting all his substantial buildings. In 1899 he retired from the farm, since when he has been engaged in business at Cornersburg, a little village about five miles from Youngs- town, for the past six years dealing in wool. and shipping about one car-load a year. Mr. Fink is one of the leading citizens of this little village, and lecause of his prominence, is jok- ingly called. "the Mayor of Cornersburg." Politically he is a Democrat and has served for many years as school director and was a mem. ber of the committee at the time the school was built near his home. Hle also served as road surveyor and ran for infirmary director. and was defeated for the latter office by only a small majority, although the county is Repub- lican. Fraternally he is connected with Eagles, at Youngstown, and of the Foresters of America of which he has been treasurer for 13 years. He is a member of the Zion Reform Church, at North Canfield, and has served in all the offices of that church, and was chairman of the building committee at the time of the erection of the church edifice.

married Bertha Lentz, has one child, Lucetta Catherine, engaged in farming and stock- raising on the home farm of 100 acres, in Can- field township; Netta Viola, who married Joseph Deckon of Youngstown; Jesse Floyd, who married Edna Campbell, has one child, John Edward, and resides on a small farm in Canfield township, which is owned by his father ; and Oliver Francis, who lives at home.

V IRGIL E. JONES, a well-known ce- ment contractor of Youngstown, was born in 1851 in Austintown, Ma- honing County, and is the son of Seymour A. and Martha ( Burnett) Jones, and the grandson of Edward and Mary ( Price) Jones, of Virginia, who were carly settlers of Trumbull County, Ohio, their daughter being the first white child born in that county.

Seymour A. Jones was born on the same farm in Austintown on which his son Virgil subsequently first saw the light. and was en- gaged in agricultural pursuits all his life.

Virgil E. Jones was reared on his father's farm near Austintown, and after leaving it was engaged in drilling for coal until 1884. He then went to LaPlata Comty. Colorado, where he located on a cattle ranch and also engaged in contracting for railroad ties. In 1888 he went to Kansas City, and entered the employ of the Western Sash and Door Com- pany, learning the cutter's trade. He after- wards went to Denver and worked as head cut- ter in a planing mill until 1893. when he re- turned to Youngstown and for two winters was coal weigher for the Witchazel Coal Con- pany. Later he was engaged in the same busi- ness in Colombiana County, Ohio, until 1898. when he returned to Youngstown and entered into the cement business and for the past seven years has been successfully engaged in contracting for cement work.

Mr. Fink was married November 11, 1877, to Rosetta Lynn, a daughter of Jesse and Eliz- al.eth ( Vohler) Lynn. She was born March 10. 1834. in Beaver township, Mahoning County. Her mother died when she was but nine days old and her father subsequently Mr. Jones was married in 1878 to Ida M. Gilmore, of Geanga County. Ohio, a daughter of Thomas and Fannie Gilmore. Mr. Jones married Mary Beaver. He followed farming in Bever township all his life. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Fink: Ward, who ; is a stanch Republican, but does not care

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to enter actively into politics. He belongs to the I. O. O. F. Lodge and is a member of the Hillman Street Christian Church. having been a member of the official board of that church for some time. He resides at 44 Ellenwood avenue.

J AMES W. VAIL. a leading farmer of Coltsville township, residing in sec- tion 17, was born February 26, 1847, in Poland, Poland township, Mahon- ing County, Ohio, and is a son of William and Elizabeth (Got) Vail.

William Vail was born in Coitsville town- ship near what is now known as Marion Heights. Ifis father, Jacob Vail, came to Mahoning County from Dayton, Ohio, and settled on a small farm near Hazelton. William Vail was reared on his father's farm in this township, and in later years engaged in a blacksmith business in Poland township. where he bought and resided on a farm for several years. In 1859 he purchased 100 acres of land in Coitsville township, which is part of the farm now owned by James W. Vail, and here engaged in farming during the re- mainder of his life. He was united in mar- riage with Elizabeth Got, and they became the parents of 10 children, of whom five are liv- ing, namely: Mary J., who resides at Bed- ford, Pennsylvania; James W .; Mrs. Martha Moore; Edward, who resides in Coitsville township; and Elizabeth, who resides at Bed- ford. Pennsylvania.

James W. Vail was about 12 years old when his parents moved to Coitsville township. and he was reared to maturity on his father's farm, where he remained assisting with the work and engaging in the buying and selling of stock until 1873, when he purchased and located on a farm of 43 acres just opposite his present farm, residing there for 20 years, removing then to his present property.

Mr. Vail was married April 2. 1874. to Jane Miller, who was born in Canada and came when quite young to Bloomtiekl, Trum- bull County, Ohio, with her father, Hugh Miller. There have been four children born

to Mr. and Mrs. Vail: Anna, who married Andrew D. Fankle, of Youngstown; George, who married Mildred Shipton, has one child, Mabel; Nettie, who teaches in East Youngs- town; and William, who assists with the work on the farm.

Mr. Vail is a Republican in politics and has served by appointment, as township trus- tee for one term, as a member of the board of education for 15 years, and was justice of the peace for three years. Hle is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is also a trustee.

JEORGE E. MEITER, who has large farming and dairy interests in Go- shen township, where he owns a fine farm of over 128 acres, is one of the progressive and substantial men of this locality. He was born October 20, 1870, in Transylvania, Austria, and is a son vi George and Agnes Meiter, highly respected residents of Goshen township.

George E. Meiter had good educational privileges in his own land and is a well-edu- cated man in the German language. He learned the trade of wagonmaker, which he followed for six years. When about 19 years of age, he came to America, and on reaching Salem, Ohio, found employment with the Sa- lem Wire and Nail Company. He worked for that business organization for eight years, providently saving his money and later wisely investing it. In the fall of 1900 he purchased his present excellent farm, on which he has since resided. He keeps 15 cows for dairy purposes and has a milk route at Salem, his wagon daily distributing milk, cream and but- termilk to many patrons in the neighboring city. Hle devotes careful attention to the growing of grains and fruits and, while he has had to make his own way in the world, he is as prosperous as almost any man of his age and opportunities, to be found in Goshen township. As a business man he enjoys the full confidence of his fellow citizens.

On July 4. 1896, Mr. Meiter was mir-

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ried to Catherine Crouse, who was born in Transylvania, Austria, a danghter of George and Mary ( Binder ) Crouse. Her father came to America, settling at Salem, where he still resides. The mother of Mrs. Meiter is now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Meiter have three children. Edward G .. Carl A. and William. Politically, Mr. Meiter is a Republican. With his wife, he belongs to the German Lutheran Church at Salem.

S ETH LUCIAN BAILEY, a repre- sentative citizen of Coitsville town- ship. residing on a well-improved farm of 93 acres, in section 19, was born in Coitsville township, Mahon- ing County, Ohio, January 19. 1833, on his father's farm of several hundred acres which lay in both Mahoning and Trumbull Counties. His parents were David and Elizabeth ( Early) Bailey.

The paternal grandfather of Mr. Bailey, David Bailey, was born in Connecticut, and came to Ohio with his family, in 1800, taking up several hundred acres of land lying in Coitsville and Hubbard townships, in both Mahoning and Trumbull counties. The grandfather died on his farm near Hubbard, aged about 40 years. His son David, father of Seth 1 .. , was also born in Connecticut and was eight years okl when his parents moved to Ohio. He married Elizabeth Early, who was a daughter of Thomas Early, a sketch of whom will be found in this work. There were 10 children born to this marriage, all of whom reached maturity, and seven of whom still survive. Both parents died on the farm near Hubbard, full of years and high in the esteem of those who had known them well.

Seth 1 .. Bailey was reared on the home farm and obtained his education in the schools of the neighborhood before he left home and later spent one term at the High School at Pulaski, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. On the home farm in carly manhood, he did a large anumint of stock and wool-lying. and was much interested in raising stock. When

23 years old he went to Champaign County, Illinois, where he remained on a farm for a time and then accepted a position as deputy for the county clerk of Piatt County, Illinois. He remained in that State for three years and then went back to the home farm for two years. After his marriage, in 1860, he moved to Sandy Lake, Mercer County, and during a residence there of nine years, he bought and sold three farms and was extensively inter- ested in buying and selling wool and also in the oil business. Mr. Bailey had a fine open- ing for business in Tennessee, about this time, but he did not accept on account of his wife's people wishing her to remain nearer the old home. In 1870 he purchased the place on which he lives and he owns also a valuable tract of 10 acres situated about one mile west. He has made many improvements on his land here and has a very valuable property. He does little farming. devoting his attention to the raising of fine stock. At one time he made a specialty of white-faced cattle, known as Ilerefords, and he has owned some very valu- able herds. Prior to going to Illinois, he was in business for himself, buying and selling cattle and also did business for Milton Pow- ers. His extensive dealings made necessary many trips to New York, Chicago and other points, and he is well posted concerning all kinds of stock and their markets.

On March 8. 1860. Mr. Bailey was mar- ried to Marilla Stewart, who is a daughter of William Stewart, and they have had five chil- dren : Blanche, Inez, William Orrin, Clyde Lester, and one deceased. The eldest daugh- ter of Mr. and Mrs. Bailey was educated in the local schools and the Rayen High School at Youngstown, and was a successful teacher in Coitsville and Hubbard townships. She married David Black and they have one son. Incian. Inez, the second daughter, was edu- cated at Grove City and Poland and taught school in Poland and Coitsville. She mar- ried William G. Cowden. William Orrin, who is a farmer in Lawrence County, Penn- sylvania. was educated at Grove City. Mercer County, and subsequently graduated at Val- paraiso College, Indiana, and for a member of

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years taught school at Hazelton, Ohio. For some time he was bookkeeper and treasurer for Black Brothers Milling Company, at Bea- trice, Nebraska. He married Anna Moore, of Lawrence County, and they have four chil- dren : Lloyd Lester, Harold Moore, Russell Dale and Cecil. Clyde Lester, who is a coin- mercial traveler, representing Darling & Company, of the Union Stock Yards, Chi- cago, was educated at Grove City and later taught school at Thorne Hill and New Bed- ford. He married Brittomarte Roatch, who is a daughter of Col. David E. and Alice D. (Sala) Roatch. During the Civil War, Col- onel Roatch enlisted as a private, serving three months in the 19th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, subsequently re-enlisting, in 1861, in Company I, First Regiment, Ohio Volun- teer Infanry, in which he became a first lieu- tenant. His next enlistment was in the 98th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, after the battle of Perryville, in which he was promoted to a captaincy, later was made major and still later, lieutenant-colonel. He served two monthis on General Beatty's staff. After the close of the war he became a prominent citi- zen of Carroll County, where he served two terms as sheriff. His death occurred there in 1897. Mr. Bailey and family belong to the Hopewell Presbyterian Church at New Bed- ford.

S MITH CRAWFORD, a wholesale and retail dealer in flour, feed and grain, at Youngstown, is one of the repre- sentative business men of this city. He was born in Pennsylvania in 1852 and came with his parents in early youth to Mahoning County, where he was reared and educated. Early in life he entered the office of Andrews & Hitchcock, where he remained for a while, after which he worked for a number of years in his sfather's lumber-yard. He then engaged in the flour and feed busi- ness, opening a small feed store on Federal street. Subsequently he built his present place of business on the corner of Decker and Com-

merce streets, and has lately completed the erection of a fine warehouse on Wilson avenue near the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway depot. The new warehouse will hold about 30 car-loads of feed and grain, and Mr. Crawford will operate this in connection with his present grain elevator which he is moving to the site of the newly erected warehouse. Mr. Crawford is one of the stockholders in the First National Bank, and is also a stock- holder in the Dollar Savings & Trust Con- pany. Mr. Crawford was married in 1878 to Amy Houston, and they have three cltil- dren: Clyde, who is in business with his father, Grace and Helen. He is a member of the Masonic order and attends the Tabernacle Presbyterian Church.

ACOB DUSTMAN, a prosperous farmer and well-known citizen of Go- shen township, resides on his well-cul- tivated farm of 93 acres, which is sit- uated in section 4, having located here shortly after the close of the Civil War. He was born in Ellsworth township, Mahon- ing County, Ohio, December 2, 1835, and is a son of Christian and Susan ( Frank) Dust- man.

The Dustmans were very early settlers in Ellsworth township and they have always been among the best citizens. Christian Dust- man was a potter by trade and he followed this for about 20 years. On account of fail- ing health, he decided to engage in farming and thus faced the dangers and hardships of pioneer life, in a log cabin he built on his wild land in Ellsworth township. The out-door life benefited him to such an extent that he lived to be 78 years of age. Two of his sons still survive, Jacob, of Goshen township, and Christian, residing at Salen.

Jacob Dustnian was reared in Ellsworth township and attended the carly schools near his home. In December, 1863. he was mar- ried to Catherine Goodman, who is a sister of Jonas Goodman, a prominent citizen of Green township, Mahoning County. They

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ADOLF HELLER

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had one daughter, Susan A., who died in her 20th year. From Ellsworth township. Mr. Dustman moved after his marriage to Green township, where he lived about 14 months and then came to Goshen township and has lived on his present farm ever since. It is a good property and Mr. Dustman has put many improvements on it. He grows grain and stock to some degree and enjoys the blessings which are the lot of the independent farmer. He has always been interested in the affairs of his township, especially in the public schools, and has consented at various times to serve as school director, and before leaving Ellsworth township, he served one term as township trustee.

DOLF HELLER, vice-president of the Heller Brothers Company, lum- ber dealers, planing-mill operators and large contractors, owning the largest and finest equipped plant of its kind at Youngstown, Ohio, was born and educated in Switzerland.

Mr. Heller was trained in the contracting and planing mill business in Switzerland. by his father, who was largely interested in that business there, and he came to America sev- eral years before his brother Louis, with whom he has been in partnership at Youngstown, since 1880. In that year the two brothers established a general contracting business, and in 1888 they bonght ont the mill and Inmber plant of Ellis & Cunningham. In 1891 they had their business incorporated under the style of the Heller Bros. Company, with a capital stock of $40,000, which prosperous business conditions have caused them to increase to $200.000. Of this business. Louis Heller is president, Adolf Heller, vice-president, and Joseph T. Murphy, secretary and treasurer. About 1898 the company bought the ok Youngstown Lumber Plant, but subsequently sold it. and in 1902 they came into posses- sion of their present grond at the west end of Rayen street, where they occupy some five acres and have a planing mill and lumber plant

that is not equalled in Youngstown. They do the largest contracting business in the city and give employment to from 100 to 120 men. Adolf Heller is at present looking after a large body of undeveloped laud owned by The Hiwannee Ember Company in the South, of which his brother Louis is president. A rail- road runs through this territory known as The Hiwannee & Tombighee Railroad, of which Mr. Heller is president.

Adolf Heller was married in America to Marie Hoffmann and they have four children, namely: Adolf, who is with the Heller Bros. Company : Herman, Leo and Elsie. Mr. Heller is a director in the Youngstown Sav- ings and Banking Company, and is serving on the executive committee. Like his brother, Louis, he stands very high among the repre- sentative business men of this city. A portrait of Mr. Heller accompanies this sketch.

e YRUS DETCHON, a prominent cit- izen of Poland township, residing on his well-improved farm of 104 acres, was born in Boardman town- ship, which was then in Trumbull, but is now included in Mahoning County, Ohio, October 24, 1834, and is a son of Solo- mon and Anna Diantha ( McKee) Detchon.

Solomon Detchon was born in Boardman township and was a son of Oswald Detchon, who was a son of William Detchon, a native of Northumberlandshire, England. The lat- ter owned an estate there upon which he died in 178g. Oswald Detchon, the grandfather of Cyrus Detchon, was the pioneer of the family in America. The Detchons came orig- inally from France. After the massacre of St. Bartholomew, Colonel Detchon, then of the French army, fled with his family and found a home in England, buying a large es- tate near the town of Elsdon.

Oswald Detchon married Ann Carr, who belonged to one of the old and aristocratic families of England. Many of the Carr fam- ily hold high positions in the church and gov- ernment there to the present day. With his

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wife and five children, Oswald Detchon left England for America, and during the voyage two of the children, twins, died and were buried at sea. Seven more children were born after the family had settled in Boardman township, making 12 in all, all of whom have passed away, their names having been pre- served as follows: William, who was the grandfather of the noted actress and vocalist, Adelaide Detchon, who was born in Board- man township and gained great fame as an actress in England, France and Germany : Os- wald; Nancy; John, who was born in 1800, in Boardman township; George; Elijah; Solo- mon; Thomas; Mary Ann, who married Will- iam Totten: Betsey, who married Robert Gil- more, and the twins who died at sea.

Oswald Detchon came to America as a farmer, although he was a skilled joiner and wagon-maker, the law of the land being such at that time as would have prevented his leaving in the capacity of an artisan. He lo- cated at Jersey City, New Jersey, where he lived for two years and then through the agency of Elijah Boardman, a native of Con- necticut, who then resided opposite Long Island and was interested in Ohio lands. he came to the Western Reserve, where he bought about 400 acres. He was considered a man of wealth in his day. He was drafted for service in the War of 1812, and served on guard duty but his company was never called into action. He lived in Boardman township until his death, in 1836, carrying on large farming operations, but also giving at- tention to work at his trade when opportunity offered. He built the two-wheel carts then in nse to a large extent. and also what was known as the bull plow. This implement was a wooden mold-board, with a wrought-iron point and shiekl. As a joiner his skill was unequaled and he could make joints so per- fect that they were impervious to water.

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Twentieth Century History of Youngstown and Mahoning County Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 104

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