Twentieth Century History of Youngstown and Mahoning County Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 107

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 107

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Andrew Reesh is one of Springfield town- ship's most substantial citizens and is a self- made man. He was given almost no educa- tional opportunities in his youth, but never- theless he has mich more than held his own in the battle of life, has acquired valuable prop- erty and has become one of the leading busi- ness citizens of his community. accomplish- ing all this through his own efforts. During his youth he was always industrions, working on farmis in Columbiana and Mahoning coun- ties, and also following the carpenter trade. When he decided to embark in business at New Springfield. he sold his farm of 17 acres

sawmill, about two miles south of New Spring- feld, and in 1887. Mr. Reesh started into the manufacturing of hoops, that being the founda- tion of his present business, but shortly after- ward increased his facilities, and since then has manufactured baskets, barrel headings, shingles etc. His factory is fitted with first-class ma- chinery, including firteen basket machines, and also a cider press. He mannfactures pint, quart and gallon baskets, his factory having a capacity of about 100,000 a week at present, and his sales are commensurately large. Dur- ing the summer of 1996, he shipped over 2. 3,000 baskets alone *o California and s' ps to other states, particularly Michigan. During the Imsy season he gives employment to from 40 to 42 men, women and boys, pay- ing good wages and thus assists materially in the prosperity of the communtiy.

Mr. Reesh married Lena Whitmore, who is a daughter of David Whitmore, of Unity township, and they have eleven children : John, who works with his father, married Mary Peters and they have five children; Clark, who is railroading: Elsa, residing at home; Alice, who married Jonas Sheely, residing in New Springfield; Icephene and Josephine, twins, the former of whom married Daniel Seeger, residing in New Springfield: Nettie, who mar- ried Elmer Crouse, and resides in Columbiana Connty: Nonie. residing at home; and three who died in infancy.

In politics Mr. Reesh is a Democrat. He is a member of the Knights of Maccabees, at New Springfield. Mr. Reesh's success, which he has reached entirely by his own efforts. should prove a source of encouragement to other young men, placed, at the beginning of life, in a like situation.

HOMAS J. McVEY, a prominent citi- zen of Coitsville township, a member of its school board, and identified for the past five years with the land pur- chasing interests of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, resides on his farm, which which he then owned and which inchided a ) is situated on the Youngstown and Lowell-

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ville highway, east of the former city. Mr. McVey was born May 31, 1862, in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of John and Isabella (Johnston) McVey.

The father of Mr. McVey was born in County Antrim, Ireland, and was a son of Daniel McVey, who died in that country. In his youth he went to the coal mines of Scot- land, where he worked until 1850, when he was 23 years of age, when he emigrated to America and located immediately at Lowell- ville, where he began work in the coal fields. He was a man of exceptional business faculty and in a very short time he began to lease coal and ore lands, and entered into shipping their products to Brier Hill by way of the old canal. Subsequently, John McVey went to Illinois, where he associated himself with William Gra- ham, who was a cousin of his wife and an uncle of Prosecuting Attorney Graham, of Youngstown, and together they opened up the first coal mine in Illinois.

Mr. McVey then moved to Lawrence Coun- ty, Pennsylvania, buying a farm situated one- half mile east of the State line on the Youngs- town and New Castle road, and this farm was the birthplace of his son, Thomas J. McVey.

The mother of Mr. McVey was born in Ireland but was taken to Scotland in early youth by her father, Robert Johnston, who emigrated to America at a later day and set- tled in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, on a farm adjacent to the one on which Thomas J. McVey was born. When the latter was five years old, his parents sold the farm in Law- rence County and bought one located in Po- land township, between Lowellville and Struthers. The father bought three separate farms in Poland and Coitsville townships, ag- gregating 300 acres of good land, and the family still retain two farms in Poland town- ship and one in Coitsville, although they have disposed of some of the property, the Penti- sylvania and Lake Erie Railroad having bought 23 acres of the farm on which Thomas J. McVey lives, and the Youngstown Sheet and Tube Company having bought about the same amount, while a large tract out of the 100 acres has been divided into building lots.

After retiring from the coal mining busi- ness, which he did when Thomas J. was still young, John McVey devoted the rest of his life entirely to agricultural pursuits and died on his farm in Poland township, July 24, 1901. His widow resides in Youngstown. They had seven children, namely: Margaret Jane, who died aged two and one-half years; John E., formerly a prominent attorney at Youngstown, died November 24, 1905; Rob- ert W., residing in Coitsville township; Thomas J .; Hannah Jane, who married Daniel Davis, residing in Youngstown; Isabella Frances, who married James S. Potter, resid- ing in Youngstown; and Charles Y., resid- ing at Cleveland,

Thomas J. McVey was educated in the schools of Lowellville, and up to 1902, de- voted his attention to farming, retiring at that time from agricultural pursuits to turn his attention to other lines of business. Since then he has been connected with the Pennsyl- vania Railroad as purchaser of rights of way. Since January 1, 1905, he has served on the school board.

Mr. McVey married Althea J. Reed, who is a daughter of John and Samantha Reed, and they have one child, Cecil Reed, aged 19 years.

e HARLES J. ROLLER, the success- ful operator of a valuable farm of 157 acres, which is situated in sec- tion 23, Green township, is a prom- inent citizen of this neighborhood and a member of one of its old families. Charles J. Roller was born in Green township, Mahoning County, Ohio, August 3, 1867, and is a son of the late Samuel W. and Sarah E. (Hole) Roller.

The late Samuel W. Roller was born in Green townsltip, April 30, 1826, and died March 30, 1902. Ile was a son of Michael and Isabel (Calvin) Roller, and a grandson of John Roller, who came to Green township from Tennessee, as early as 1802. Ilis son. Isaac Roller, was the first white male child

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THOMAS A. CREED

MRS. ELLA P. CREED

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born in this township. All the early history of Green township shows the prominence of the Roller family. They cleared the land, made roads, built school houses and estab- lished places for religious worship, giving en- couragement to every civilizing influence. Samuel W. Roller spent his whole life in Green township, and he was one day over one year old when his parents settled on the pres- ent farm, which is known as the Samuel W. Roller homestead. It is owned by his heirs and is operated by Charles J. Of the nine chil- dren of Samuel W. and Sarah E. Roller seven are living, as follows : Elvira J., who married Oliver S. Walter, residing at Greenford; Me- lissa, who is the widow of Dr. J. H. Calvin, late of Salem, Ohio; Arthur C., residing near Columbiana; Anna L., who married Jacob D. Cook, residing at Salem: Ida I., who resides with her mother at Greenford; and Charles J. and Ernest I., residing in Green township. The late Samuel W. Roller served a number of terms as trustee of Green township, elected on the Republican ticket. His widow resides at Greenford and is a consistent member of the Disciples Church.

Charles J. Roller grew to man's estate in his native place and was educated in school district No. 7. He has been accustomed to farm work from his youth and is considered one of the leading agriculturists and fruit- growers of this part of the county. His late father was also interested in growing fine fruit. On August 26, 1903, Mr. Roller was married to Irene Porter, who was born in Canfield township, Mahoning County, Ohio, and is a daughter of A. Porter of that town- ship.

In politics Mr. Roller is a strong supporter of the principles of the Republican party and he has served as township trustee, and in 1900 was township census enumerator, Fraternally he belongs to the Blue Lodge. F. & A. M., at Ixetonia, and the Chapter at Salem; is also a Knight of Pythias and a member of the Green- ford Grange. Patrons of Husbandry. Mr. Roller is a very popular citizen in his neigh- borhood, his best friends being those who have

known him from boyhood, which is a pretty fair test of character.

HOMAS A. CREED, owner and pro- prietor of the Creed Stock Farm, which consists of 112 acres, all of which with the exception of 11 acres lying across the line in Trumbull County, is situated in Youngstown township, resides on the old William Price farm, in Coitsville township, this property having for- merly belonged to his father-in-law. He was. born in Somersetshire, England, September 30, 1845, son of William and Harriet (Ames) Creed. His parents came to America when he was about three years of age. They settled in Coitsville township. Mahoning County, where William Creed rented farming land from the late Judge William Rayen, for 30 years. Wil- liam Creed died aged 55 years, but his widow has survived to a venerable but not helpless age. She has reached her 80th year and when 85 years of age was able to enjoy her usual social life and to entertain her friends with in- strumental music. She resides with a daugh- ter, Mary J. Millikin, at Youngstown.

Thomas A. Creed was about 19 years old when his father died and he remained at home until he married, when he took charge of the William Price farm and worked for his fa- ther-in-law on shares for thirteen years. He then moved to Fosterville, in Youngstown township, and lived there on rented land for five years, but in 1888 he bought 118 acres from H. H. Stambaugh, taking possession of it in the following spring. Here he carried on general farming, stock-raising and dairying for fourteen years, but in the spring of 1903, came to the present farm. In a large degree Mr. Creed is a self-made man, having gained independence through his own industry and good management.

In 1871 Mr. Creed was married to Ella B. Price, a daughter of William B. and Matilda E. (McFarland) Price. William B. Price was born at Hubbard, Ohio, a son of James S. and Sarah Ann ( Duer) Price, who were na-

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tives of Connecticut. He remained in Hub- bard until he was 17 years old and then came to Coitsville township, where he learned the blacksmith trade with Thomas McGeehan, subsequently entering into partnership with him. His wife, Matilda Elizabeth McFarland Price, is a daughter of William and Elizabeth McFarland, the former of whom was born in Ireland and was an early settler in Coitsville township. In 1831 William McFarland built the old stone house to which the, parents of Mrs. Creed moved. from Coitsville Center, when she was five years old. The William Price farm originally contained 123 acres, but a large portion of it has been sold to the Youngstown Land & Improvement Company.

Mr. and Mrs. Creed have had four chil- dren, namely : William Price, residing on his father's farm in Youngstown township. who who married Cora Corll and has two children. Carl W. and Mabel Lucile; James S., who died January 31, 1901, aged 28 years; Matikla Caroline, who married Samuel Riblet, residing in Boardman township; and Cora P., who married James A. Thornton, and has one child, Dorothy Isabel. Portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas A. Creed appear in connection with this sketch.

ILLIAM DICKSON McBRIDE, one of the prominent and influ- ential farmers of Coitsville town- ship, residing on his farm of 87 acres, located in section 20, was born in October, 1840, on his present farm. and is a sou of Jolm and Sarah ( Dickson) McBride.

John McBride was born on his father's farm in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, and was a son of Samuel McBride, who was one of the early pioneers of Lawrence County, and remained at home until he reached his major- ity, when he came to Mahoning County, Ohio. and located on a farm in Coitsville township. He married Sarah Dickson, who was born near Lowellville, in Poland township, and they became the parents of two children : Wil-

liam Dickson and Achsa, the latter of whom is deceased. Both parents of Mr. McBride died on this farm.

William Dickson McBride was reared on his present farm, and with the exception of about eighteen months spent in Iowa, has al- ways lived here and has been engaged in agri- cultural .pursuits. He is recognized as one of the township's most successful farmers and sterling citizens. Mr. McBride was married in 1875 to Sarah Elizabeth Cowden, who died in 1903. She was a daughter of Reynolds Cowden, and for many years was a popular school teacher. She is survived by her two chiklren. Grace and Osie, both of whom are single and reside at home. Mr. McBride is a member of the Mahoning United Presbyterian Church.

ILLIAM SHIPTON. a well-known truck gardener of Coitsville town- ship, residing on a tract of 30 acres located in section 14. was born at Lowellville, Mahoning County, Ohio, November 5. 1855, and is a son of Thomas and Permelia (McGill) Ship- ton.

Thomas Shipton was born in England and came to this country after reaching maturity. locating at Lowellville, where he engaged in gardening. He subsequently moved to Spring- field, Illinois, where he also worked at garden- ing for many years. He served during the entire Civil War, enlisting as cannoncer in a company of light artillery from Illinois, and at one time was a prisoner in Libby Prison. Ilis death occurred shortly after returning from the army. He married Permelia McGill. who was a daughter of Robert McGill, a farm- er of Poland township, whose father laid ont the town of Lowellville, which was at that time known as MeGillsville.

William Shipton was but one year old when his parents removed to Springfield, Illi- nois, where they resided for about eighteen years, coming back to Mahoning County in 1873. After returning to Lowellville, Mr. Shipton engaged in gardening. until 1899.

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when he came to Coitsville township and pur- chased his present place of 30 acres. He has erected three greenhouses, the largest 40x110 feet, and the other two are 38x50 and 18x50 feet respectively, which are all heated by a hot water system. He wholesales his products in Youngstown.

Mr. Shipton was married November 8, 1883. to Elizabeth Brockelsby, of Illinois. They have three children, namely : Charles Francis, who is superintendent of the Method- ist Episcopal Sunday school at Coitsville Ceu- tre: Mella, who married George Vail, and Emma. Mr. Shipton is a member of the Junior Order of American Mechanics.

A F. FORCE. a substantial farmer of Milton township. Mahoning County, Ohio, residing on a farm of 75 acres. was born on his present farm, and is a son of William and Susan (Garee) Force.

William Force, the father of A. F. Force, was born about one and one-half miles north of the center of Milton township, and was a son of William and Margaret (Reeves) Force, natives of New Jersey, who drove from New Jersey to Ohio in a one-horse wagon and lo- cated in Milton township. Grandfather Force was a miller by trade and worked in what was known as the Old Mill at Pricetown, Milton township, which has disappeared. He subse- quently located on the farm where his son William afterward lived, and he built the house in which his grandson now resides.

William Force, the second, spent his life in Milton township and always followed farm- ing. He died in 1806, when in his 66th year. He was a Democrat.

A. F. Force was reared on his father's farm in Milton township and attended the local schools. In 1888 he was married to Lucy Strock. a native of Newton township. and a daughter of Joseph and Susan ( Kistler) Strock, both of whom are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Force have five children : Bales J., Susan. Erland, Lillian and Wilbur.

A BRAHAM ZIMMERMAN, the well- known proprietor of Maple Heath Farm, a fine estate consisting of 207 acres, located in section 34. Green township, was born December 14, 1825, in Green township, Mahoning County, Ohio, and is a son of Captain Joseph and Eliz- aheth (Witeleather) Zimmerman.

The founder of the Zimmerman family in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, was John Zimmerman, who emigrated from Germany and settled there in 1725, securing much land in the neighborhood of New Holland. In 1802, John Zimmerman, grandfather of Abra- ham, came from Lancaster County to Mahon- ing County, Ohio, entering section 34. Green township, and in 1804 and 1805 the Zimmer- man family in general settled on section 34. in the latter year building a log cabin in the midst of the woods.

Captain Joseph Zimmerman, father of Abraham, was born May 9, 1781, in Lancaster County, and died in Mahoning County in 1864. He was an officer in the war of 1812 and subsequently became one of the most prominent men of Green township. He mar- ried Elizabeth Witeleather, who was a daugh- ter of John Witeleather, who was born in Ger- many, came to America and fought under General Washington in the Revolutionary War.

Abraham Zimmerman was reared on his father's farm, on which he still resides, at- tended the district schools during his boyhood and from. early youth took an interest in farm- ing and stock-raising. On May 23, 1850, Mr. Zimmerman was married to Elizabeth Shimp. who was born in Franklin County, Pennsyl- vania, and is a daughter of Samuel Shimp. who died in Franklin County. When Mrs. Zimmerman was 12 years old she accompanied her widowed mother and brothers and sisters to Mahoning County, and she was reared on a farm in Beaver township. Mr. and Mrs. Zim- merman have had four children : Rev. Joseph C., deceased, formerly a well-known minister in the Lutheran Church ; Samuel L., who died in childhood: John 1 ... a prominent attorney residing at Springfield, Ohio; and Catherine

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Isadore, who married Rev. E. W. Simon, who is pastor of the Lutheran Church at Akron. The only survivor of the above family is the son residing at Springfield. In November, 1900, Mr. Zimmerman was also bereaved of his beloved wife, to whom he had been united for over half a century. She was a woman of Christian life and was a devoted member of the Lutheran Church.

In politics Mr. Zimmerman is a Democrat. For a number of years he was a trustee of Green township, and served three years as a justice of the peace, during which time he tried twenty-one civil suits. For more than sixty years he has been a member of the Lutheran Church at Washingtonville, has served as one of the deacons and has always been interested in the work of the Sunday school. In former years he was identified with the order of Odd Fellows. Probably no man in Green township is more generally re- spected and esteemed than is Abraham Zim- merman.

J OHN GAULT, a leading citizen of Jackson township, and a representa- tive of one of its oldest families, was born December 27, 1836, in Jackson township, Mahoning County, Ohio, and is a son of Robert and Marjorie ( Ewing) Gault.

The early history of the Gault family set- tles in Pennsylvania, and it is probable that from that state the great-grandiather entered the ranks of the Patriot army, during the War of the Revolution, and the fact is substantiated that he was a personal friend of the great commander. General Washington. His son, Robert Gault, paternal grandfather of Jolin Gault, was born in Washington County, Penn- sylvania, and migrated from there to the Western Reserve in 1800, settling in Jackson township in what was then Trumbull, but subsequently became Mahoning County. He married Charlotte Bowman, who was of Ger- man descent and a native of Pennsylvania. He

served in the war of 1812. His death oc- curred in October, 1814, and he was buried on Rocky River, near Cleveland.

The maternal grandfather of John Gault was John Ewing, who was born in Ireland and emigrated to America in company with his mother, one brother and two sisters, in 1800. They remained in Pennsylvania until 1804, when they moved to Jackson township, Ma- honing County, Ohio, and for more than a century this family has been prominently iden- tified with the affairs of this section. Andrew Gault, a brother to the father of John Gault, was the first white child born in Jackson town- ship, and he married a daughter of John Ew- ing and a sister to the mother of John Gault, and she was the first female child born to white parents in Jackson township. The two families, Gault and Ewing, are close kindred.

Robert Gault, son of Robert and father of John, was born in Pennsylvania, and lived a long and useful life, mainly devoted to agri- cultural pursuits. His death occurred in Janu- ary, 1802. He married Marjorie Ewing in 1834, who was one of a family of twelve chil- dren born to Jolin and Margaret R. Ewing. Her birth took place in 1816 and she still sur- vives, bearing well the weight of her 91 years, and resides on the home farm, now conducted by her son Gibson J., where she has lived for seventy-two years. Robert and Marjorie Gault were parents of twelve children, eleven of whom grew to maturity and nine still sur- vive, the majority of them being residents of Mahoning County and among her best and most substantial citizens, namely : John, Alex- ander and Margaret, twins, Mary Ann, An- drew. Caroline. Martha J., Gideon, Samuel S., William, Gibson J., and Robert E.

Of the above family, Alexander, residing at Struthers, served gallantly as a soldier in the Civil War, and was a member of Company F, 41st Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He married (first ) Elizabeth Forsythe, of Muskingum County. His twin sister. Mar- garet, married Thomas H. Bellard, and they reside in Ashtabula County, Mary Ann is the wife of J. A. Smith, residing at Struthers.

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Andrew was a veteran of the Civil War, hay- ing re-enlisted after serving a term of three years, as a member of Company F, 4th Regi- ment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. At Dallas, Georgia, he was wounded so seriously that he lost an arm and died from the effects of blood poisoning. Caroline died aged 18 months. Martha J., deceased, was the wife of D. A. Wilson, of Youngstown. Gideon, residing at Warren, was formerly a prominent farmer. He married Olive Mason, of Mecca. Trumbull County. Samuel S., a prominent farmer and large landowner in Ellsworth township, mar- ried Alice Williams. Gibson J., who is presi- dent of the Jackson township school board and a successful farmer and stock-raiser, resides on the old homestead and cares for his vener- able mother. He married Harriet Duncan, of Berlin township. Robert E., who is also a successful farmer of Jackson township. inar- ried Jessie Dunlap, who was born in Michi- gan. .

John Gault was educated in the district schools of Jackson township and at Canfield Academy. He has been interested in agricul- tural pursuits all his life and has resided on his present valuable farm of 166 acres since 1870. He is justly ranked with the leading farmers and stock-raisers of this section.

Mr. Gault was married ( first ) in Septem- ber, 1861, to Louisa M. Johnson, who was a sister of Judge J. R. Johnson, of Youngstown. She was accidentally killed in a railroad acci- dent in Medina County, Ohio, in September, 1888, and was survived by three children, viz .: Joseph G., Lula Olive and George F. Joseph G. Gault. the eldest son of John Gault, was born December 27. 1863. and completed his education at the Ohio Normal College. He inarried a schoolmate, Cora Bennett, and they live in Union County, where Mr. Gault is a successful farmer. They have three children : John B., Howard and Mary I. Lula Olive Gault graduated first from the Union school at Youngstown and completed the classical course at Hiram College, where she spent seven years in study. Subsequently she be- came the wife of Rev. J. E. Lynn, who is pastor in charge of the First Disciple Church

at Warren. They have two children, Emer- son and Rachel. George F. Gault, the second son, was born August 9. 1879. spent three years at the Rayen High School at Youngs- town and two years at the Ohio Normal Uni- versity at Ada. He married Floy Henry, of . Ada, Ohio, and they have one chikl, Axia Marjorie.

John Gault was married (second) to Mrs. Sarah Jane (Davis) Sampson, in 1890, who died in 1899. Mr. Gault was married ( third) to Mrs. Margaret J. (Copeland) Armstrong, of Columbiana County.

Almost since his youth Mr. Gault has tak- en an active interest in politics and has been identified with the Republican party. For a number of years he has been in service on the school board, and in 1882 he was elected a county commissioner of Mahoning County. His administration of the office so satisfied his fellow citizens that he was re-elected in the fall of 1885. He fills the office of justice of the peace in Jackson township, and in all pub- lic matters his advice is asked and his judg- ment consulted. On many occasions he has been a party delegate to the Republican coun- ty and congressional conventions and on one occasion he was a delegate to the state conven- tion. He is a man of fine presence and affa- ble manner and makes an excellent representa- tive, both of his party and of his community. He is one of the leading members of the Pres- byterian Church in this section. Both the Gaults and the Ewings were prominently identified with the founding of schools and religious edifices in the early days of their settlement here, dating back to the time when the only roads through the forests were the trails of the Indians.

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Twentieth Century History of Youngstown and Mahoning County Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 107

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