Twentieth Century History of Youngstown and Mahoning County Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 126

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 126

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).

James Blaine, son of Ephraim and Rebecca Blaine, married Margaret Lyons and they re- sidled at Carlisle.

Samuel Lyons Blaine, son of James and Margaret Blaine, resided at Maysville. Ken- tucky, and married Anna Coons, of Lexington, Kentucky.

John Ewing Blaine, son of Samuel Lyons and Anna Blaine, was born at Maysville, Ken- tucky, and married Nannie McGranaghan, of Maysville. The late Hon. James G. Blaine, long one of America's greatest statesmen, was a great uncle of Dr. Blaine, being a brother of his grandfather. John E. Blaine, father of Dr. Blaine, residing at Cincinnati, is secretary and treasurer of the Globe Wernicke Company. lle is State president of the Sons of the Am- erican Revolution, of Ohio.

Dr. William M. Blaine spent his boyhood

Dhazedby Google

MRS. MARY M. ILGENFRITZ

JOHN ILGENFRITZ

Digazed by Google

1005

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

and early youth in his native place, obtaining lis education in the public schools and from private tutors. Later he began the study of the science of medicine, and in 1895, he com- pleted his course, at the Pulte Homeopathic College at Cincinnati, where he was graduated, and afterwards took a post graduate course in New York City. He then located at Youngs- town, becoming associated with his uncle. Dr. W. H. McGranaghan, who was already a lead- ing medical practitioner of this city. The latter is a grandson of the late Dr. W. H. McGran- aghan, who introduced homeopathy in the South, being its first exponent.

Dr. Blaine is a member of the leading or- ganizations of his school of medicine, belong- ing to the Ohio State Homeopathic Medical Society, the Northeastern Ohio Homeopathic College and the American Institute of Homeo- pathy. He is also a member of the board of trustees of the Pulte Homeopathic College of Cincinnati.

Fraternally, Dr. Blaine is connected with the Elks, and socially with the Youngstown Club and the Mahoning Golf Club, and has membership on the Chamber of Commerce. He is a member of the First Presbyterian Church.

OHN ILGENFRITZ, one of Spring- field township's most reliable and sub- stantial citizens, owns a farm of 142 acres, which he devotes to general agriculture. Mr. Ilgenfritz belongs to one of the old and honorable families of Ger- man extraction, who have done much in the work of developing this part of Mahoning County. He was born in Springfield township, Mahoning County, Ohio, December 17, 1842, and is a son of Frederick and Elizabeth ( Mil- ler) Ilgenfritz.

Frederick Ilgenfritz, the great-grandfather of Jolin, was born at Strasburg, Germany. near the Rhine, and came to America with his two brothers, George and Martin, in 1766, and all three became members of the Conti- nental army and served through the Revolu-

tionary War. Frederick settled in York Coun- ty. Pennsylvania, where his son John was born, who came to Ohio and settled in what was then Columbiana, but is now Mahoning County, some years prior to the War of 1812, in which he was a soldier. He owned 122 acres of land after he had given property to his children as follows: 100 acres to his son Frederick : 100 acres to his son George; 112 acres to his son-in-law, John H. Miller ; and 80 acres to his son-in-law, John Myers. Grand- father John Ilgenfritz secured all this land and the patent issued to him is still preserved by the family.

John Ilgenfritz married Catherine Fink. who was also born near Dover, York County, Pennsylvania, and they had the following children : Frederick; George, deceased: Eliza- beth, deceased, who was the wife of Jolin H. Miller ; Mary, who married John Myers : John, an invalid all his life, who died early; and two children who died in infancy.

Frederick Ilgenfritz, father of the subject of this notice, was born in Springfield town- ship. Mahoning (then Columbiana) County, Ohio, February 2, 1811, and married Eliza- beth Miller, who was born September 5. 1813. He devoted his life exclusively to farming. He cleared up the 100 acres given him by his fa- ther and built first a comfortable log house and later a frame one, in which latter he died, Au- gust 23. 1863. In the early days he was a member of a company of local militia. Po- litically he was a stanch Democrat. He was always a consistent member of the Lutheran Church and careful in its observance ... He is still survived by his widow, a remarkably well preserved lady, who is well known and esteemed at Youngstown, where she is passing the evening of life, in the home of her daugh- ter. Keziah Ilgenfritz, carefully sheltered from every care. Her grandfather was John Miller, who came to Ohio from Littlestown, Adams County, Pennsylvania. He became possessed of several farms and gave liberally to his chil- dren. His son, Henry Miller, grandfather of John Ilgenfritz, was probably born in Spring- field township. He married Elizabeth Seid- ner, and they had the following children : Mrs.

Dignizedby Google

1006

HISTORY OF MAHONING COUNTY

Katherine Sprinkle. deceased: Elizabeth; John H. and Samuel, both deceased: Mrs. Sally Yarian, deceased; Mrs. Mary Lower; Henry, Jacob, Michael and Sophia ( Mrs. Sophia Brown), all of whom are deceased. All lived to a good old age.

The children born to Frederick and Eliza- beth Ilgenfritz were: Mary A., who married Henry Kale, residing in Springfield township; . Jonathan, who died young: Henry, who died young. July 28. 1859: John: Rebecen, who married Jeremiah Brown, residing at New Middletown; Obediah, residing at Alliance ; Keziah, twin sister of Obediah, residing with her aged mother, at Youngstown; Isaac K., residing at Youngstown; and Ephraim M., who is a practicing physician at Youngstown.

John Ilgenfritz was reared on the same farm and until 1903 devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits here, with the exception of one year, when he was in a grocery busi- ness at Youngstown. He has lived on this farm ever since the death of his father. In 1872 he purchased 212 acres from his mother, brothers and sisters, which he operated for a time, but of which he subsequently sold To acres. He has made many improvements since that time, remodeled the house, and added to it, and erected a substantial barn. In this pleasant okl home he lived until 1903. when he erected a comfortable home at New Middle- town, to which he has transferred some of the interesting old family possessions. One of these is an oldl elock, which was made by his father, who understood cabinet making, and an old pitcher which was brought by the fam- ily from Germany. "The grandmother of his wife brought a pitcher with her also, from Hanover, Germany, and both these quaint okl relics are naturally very highly prized.

On January 28. 1872, Mr. Igenfritz was married to Mary F. Miller, who was born on the state line. in Poland township, Mahoning County, Ohio, June 22, 1841, and is a daugh- ter of David and Magdalena ( Rife) Miller. The parents of Mrs. Ilgenfritz were both born in York County, Pennsylvania. David Miller came to this section prior to his marriage and

having selected a place for a home, went back and married, and together Mr. and Mrs. Mil- ler settled on a farm near New Castle, Penn- sylvania, and about two years later moved to Poland township, where they both died.

Jolm Miller, the grandfather, owned 200 acres of land and carried on distilling for many years near Petersburg. He married Elizabeth Schriver and they had nine chil- dren, namely : David. Jacob. Eliza, Hiram, Jesse, Samuel, John, Henry, and a daughter who died at birth.

On the mother's side the grandparents of Mrs. Ilgenfritz were Abraham and Nancy (Musselman) Rife. They had chiklren as follows : Christian, Abraham, Isaac, John. Fanny, Mary, Nancy. Magdalena, and Da- vid, all natives of Adams County. Pennsyl- vania. David Miller and wife had five chil- dren, who were: Isaac R., and Henry H .. who are deceased; Mrs. Elizabeth Hoffmaster, residing in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania; Mary F. ( Mrs. Ilgenfritz) ; and Rebecca, who married Mr. Karicher, and lives at Hilltown, Pennsylvania.

In political sentiment Mr. Ilgenfritz is a Democrat. For twelve years he was township trustee, has served as school director and has leen interested in all public matters, but has never consented to hold other offices. He is a leading member of the Lutheran Church of New Middletown, and formerly held church offices.

OHN R. SQUIRE, a well known busi- ness man of Youngstown, Ohio, man- ufacturer of sheet metal and all kinds of roofing, has his office located at No. 24 East Federal street. continuing in a business which was established by his father in 186. Mr. Squire was born on January 18, 1862. at West Middlesex. Mercer County, Pennsylvania, and is the only child of James and Mary (Burns) Squire.

The Squire family has been known in Am- erica since New Jersey was yet a colony. The

gle

1007

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

earliest records of the family established Zo- pher Squire, a native of England, as the found- er of the American branch. Just how early he settled near Elizabethtown, New Jersey, has not been determined, but in all probability it was prior to 1755. As a subject of King George of England, he served with the British forces in America during the war between England and France, 1755-63. In 1756 hic re- ceived a gunshot wound in his knee, and while convalescing in a hospital, carved many de- signs on his powder horn, thus demonstrating that he possessed artistic talent. This coveted relic is cherished in the family of either Jesse or James Allen, who, for many years, have lived near Washington Court House, Ohio, and who are lineal descendants, through his son. James Squire, by his second or third daughter. The time and place of birth and death of the lady he married, are not known.

James Squire, son of Zopher Squire, was burn in Morris County, New Jersey, June 9. 1756. His early life was probably spent in that vicinity, for at the age of 22, he was en- rolled in the militia of Essex County and did service for the State in the War of the Am- erican Revolution. The records in the De- partment of the Interior, at Washington, D. C., show that James Squire served as a private soldier with the State troops, first, one month under Col. Samuel Saurs; second, two months under Capt. Elijah Squire, Colonel Kirkland. regimental commander ; third, one-half month, no company or regiment given; and fourth, in 1782. six months under Capt. John Craig. Among the engagements in which he took part. was one at which the Springfield Meeting House was burned. At the age of 76, on De- cember 5. 1832. he applied for and was granted a pension. In 1786 he married Lydia Rey- nolds. probably a playmate of his childhood. · for the home of the latter, where they were married, was located six miles from Elizabeth- town, near his old home in Morris County. In 1799 he removed from Morris County, New Jersey, first to Beaver County and later to New Castle, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, There he reared a family consisting of two sons and six daughters, of whom : Nancy, born in 1788.

married David Allen; Peggie, born in 1789; Anthony, born in 1796, married Mollie Hud- son; Sarah, born in 1798, married John Tid- ball; Jane, born in 1800, married James Wal- lace; Asenathı, born in 1803, married Abram Lackey; John R., the grandfather of the sub- ject of this article, born in 1806, married Phebe Morrow. After the death of his wife. in 1819, James Squire lived with his children. mostly with his son John R., at Youngstown. A short time before his death he returned to New Castle, Pennsylvania, and spent the re- mainder of his days with his daughter, Mrs. James Wallace. His remains were laid away by the side of his wife in the cemetery at New Castle.

Jolin R. Squire, son of James, grandson of Zopher and grandiather of John R. Squire of Youngstown, resided for many years on the northeast corner of Market and Central Square. Youngstown. In 1854, he moved to the south side of Front street, east of Champion street. and in 1856, to southwest corner of Champion and Boardman streets, where he lived until his death. He was too much engrossed in busi- ness for many years to take much interest in public affairs. Prior to the Civil War. his political preferments were for the Democratic party. more because of its sound financial prin- ciples than for any other reason. When the crisis came and the party split, in 1860, he sey- ered his allegiance and cast his interests with the Republicans. During the Civil War, at the time when the patriotism of the young men, in 1862, seemed to have waned. he enliste l as a private soldier, although he was then 36 years of age. When he reported for duty at Camp Chase, the mustering officer refused to muster him, and he returned to his home. He then retired from active business life, having acquired a competency. His church relations were with the Methodist Episcopal Church. Possessed of a fine voice, he was a regular at- tendant at choir practice and for many years was identified with the First Methodist Episco- pal Church choir at Youngstown.

On Angust 30. 1828, John R. Squire was united in marriage with Phebe Morrow, who was born in Washington County. Pennsyl-

Dignzedby Google

1008

HISTORY OF MAHONING COUNTY

vania. October 1, 1806, and was a daughter of William M. and Achsa ( Hiyat) Morrow. In tracing the early ancestry of his grandmother, Mr. Squire finds a record of lives of self denial, oi noble achievement and of brave de- votion to duty.

Charles Morrow, the first of the family known in America, is first found at Philadel- phia, which may have been the place of his birth. It is known that he came of an ancient and honorable family of Belfast, Ireland. While it has been generally accepted by the younger generations, that he served in the Pat- riot army during the War of the Revolution, diligent search among the records on file in the archives of the State of Pennsylvania, has failed to find his name upon the roster of any of the militia or regular organizations of troops kept there. After the death of his first wife. in 1780. he married again and then moved to a farm of 100 acres located in Wash- ington County, Pennsylvania, and settled down to life as a farmer. It is known that he served for four months in the Indian Wars, in 1788, which was probably but a part of a pro- longed series of skirmishes which were con- stant with the early settlers of that period. It is probable that his life closed on his farm above mentioned, not far from Pittsburg and that his interment was there.

Charles Morrow was thrice married, first to Hannah Harrod, probably in 1765, and they had five children: George, Jolmn, William. Anna and Hannah. Having been left a widower in 1780 he remained such for three years, when he again married. Of this alli- ance his son William has to say: "The war expiring, and my father having laid off his mourning, he courted and married his brother's wife's sister, an old maid of 36, by whom he had two daughters." The name of the second wife was Polly Murphy and their children were Jane and Polly. It is not known how long his second wife lived nor when he married his third wife, Phebe Offutt, The two sons of the third marriage were Matthew and Aaron.

William M. Morrew, son of Charles and

Hannah (Harrod) Morrow, was born Octo- ber 31. 1770, at Philadelphia. His early life must have been a studious one, as his qualifi- cations to teach school, in after years, when adversity had made it necessary to adopt that profession as a means of livelihood. fully tes- tifies. At the age of ten years his mother died and he was given to his uncle, Gavin Mor- row, of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, by whom he was sent to school for three years. This seems to have been the extent of his schooling for all mention of school ceases from that time. On July 17. 1784. when not yet 14 years old. we find him traveling overland from Cumberland County to Fort Pitt. Pem- sylvania, leading two horses loaded with mer- chandise. For four years following he worked with his father at improving the farm. On June 17, 1788, he enlisted under Captain Mil- ler and served three months in a campaign against the Indians. The following winter he left home and entered a mill at Carlisle, where he remained three years and became a profi- cient miller.

Early in the spring of 1792, he enlisted under Capt. John Cook, 4th Light Legion, and commenced an extended service in the United States army. For the next four years his duties and dangers were such as come to the life of a soldier in Indian warfare. On Feb- ruary 14. 1796, he was detailed to carry dis- patches through the enemy's country, from Greenville, Ohio, to Fort Fayette, and deliver to the commandant of that fortress, Col. F. Butler, and he successfully carried out his orders, on March 19. 1796. For this service he received a new set of sergeant's clothes, one month's extra pay and one month's furlough. to visit his home in Washington County. Pennsyl- vania. He returned to duty on May 1. 1796, and completed his term of service as a quarter- master sergeant. under Lieut. Robert Purdy. and on November 20, 1796, he returned to civil life. at Pittsburg, where, tor 15 years he followed the milling business and prospered.

When war was declared between Great Britain and the United States, in 1812, al- though 42 years old. he offered himself as a

Digazedby Google

1009

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

volunteer officer, and on March 17, 1812, was commissioned first lieutenant and assigned to duty as adjutant and quartermaster at Pitts- burg. Here he served until May, 1813, when he marched with Colonel Brady, to Canada, where he spent the summer and fall, leaving under orders, on November 13, 1813, for Burlington, Vermont. . At that time he was promoted to the rank of Captain and detailed on recruiting service and ordered to Pittsburg. From there he was sent to Washington, Penn- sylvania, and six months later returned to the field and commanded a company until the end of the war. His efficiency in military service marked him to be retained when the army was reduced after hostilities ceased. Thus he served one year on a peace basis, and when dis- charged, was presented with a sword, with solid silver scabbard, as a token of apprecia- tion. What became of the blade of this trophy is not known, but the silver scabbard and the silver buttons of his uniform were melted and moulded into spoons, that they might be more equally distributed among his children.

On his second return to civil life, he em- barked in business in partnership with a man named C. B. Crane, who involved the firm in debt and brought financial ruin. His friends rallied to his assistance and he was made flour inspector at Pittsburg, also assessor, and then he entered upon school teaching as mentioned above, and thus, to the best of his ability, pro- vided for his family and his declining years. The death of this patriot and upright citizen took place in March, 1834, at Wolf Creek, Pennsylvania, where he was buried.

About 1797 or 1798, William M. Morrow was married to Achsa Hiyat and they had a family of nine daughters and four sons, of whom five daughters and three sons grew to maturity and reared families of their own, as follows: Mary, who marriel Philip Fonner; Hannah, who married first, Jesse Conley, and second, George W. Chilton; Eliza Jane, who married first. James Fulton, and second, James Robinson; Phebe, who married Jolin. R. Squires; George W., who married first. Jane Taylor Powell. and second, Mrs. Eleanor

(Black) Hursey; John, whose first wife's given name was Hettie; Achsa, who married Dr. James McCreary ; and William.

The childhood of the grandmother of John R. Squire was probably marked by incidents common to the lives of the children of her age and social position, but when the firm of Mor- row & Crane failed, the home life underwent a complete change. The father was then in financial distress and all the children who were old enough were required to provide for their own support. Those were days when the fact- ory was about the only place where. young girls could secure good wages and, with a decision and bravery which marked her through life, Phebe sought and secured a position in a paper mill in Pittsburg. How or where she met John R. Squire is not known, but she was married at Beavertown, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Oc- tober 30, 1828. Her nature was somewhat dif- ferent from that of her husband and there were times when the stern realities of life pressed heavily upon one whose early environments had known the pleasures of social life and innocent gayeties. In order to secure attraction for her home and pleasure for her children which the stern nature of her husband did not deem essen- tial, she found employment outside of household duties, on many occasions. Her sweet, gentle, kind and charitable disposition made her be- loved by all who knew her, and she realized the great affection of children and grand-children before her death, which occurred at Youngs- town, on December 26, 1869. She was laid to rest in Oak Hill cemetery.

The children born to John R. Squire and his first wife were: Eliza Jane, born July 30, 1829, married Henry Erwin; John, born in 1832, married first, Mary Bauer, and second, Bettie -: James, father of the subject of this sketch; Amanda, born July, 1840, mar- ried Robert Pollock; and Adelaide, born in 1846, married Benjamin F. Cook.

After their children had been happily mar- ried. Mr. Squire and wife permitted themselves to take a larger amount of enjoyment out of life. For some years they spent their winters in warmer climates, at Denver, Colorado, and

Digitized by Google

1010

HISTORY OF MAHONING COUNTY

at Los Angeles, California. until 1869, when Mrs. Squire's health became too poor to admit of their leaving home and her death followed on the day after Christmas. Left alone, the grandfather of our subject awaited an invita- tion from his children to make his home with them, but it must be admitted that each one hesitated, remembering the stern discipline he had always demanded and fearing that he could not be happy in a household governed more according to the ideas of the idolized deceased mother. However, before any de- cision was required, on October 19, 1870, he was married, at Sharon, Pennsylvania, to Mrs. Margaret Campbell, whom he had known in yonth. For several winters following, Mr. and Mrs. Squire spent the cold months in Cali- fornia, but as age and infirmity came on, the old home at Youngstown seemed comfortable enough. During the last four years of his life, John R. Squire was a paralytic and when his death occurred on July 28, 1896, he was cased of great pain and a heavy burden was removed from his family. He was interred in Oak Hill cemetery, Youngstown.

James Squire, father of our subject, was born at Youngstown, March 13, 1834, where he now lives retired. In 1859, he established himself in the roofing business at West Middle- sex, Pennsylvania, where he continued until 1869. when he returned to Youngstown and continued in business in this city until 1902. During his many active years liere he was prominent in civic matters, served at various times as councilman, and at present is a mem- ber of the city sinking fund board. February 26. 1860, he married Mary Burns and they had two sons, John R., the immediate subject of this biography, and William W., who died at the age of three years.

John R. Squire, of this generation, was seven years of age when his parents brought him to Youngstown, where he attended school until he was eight months old. As his father was in the roofing business he naturally turned his attention in the same direction and learned the trade of tinner and roofer and became a practical draughtsman. By the time he was 21

years old he was running a sawmill which was then located in what is now Wick Park, where he cut white oak timber and manufactured it into lumber. At this time he was received by his father as a partner and acquired a one- third interest in the business and the firm name became James Squire & Company. In 1884. the concern was incorporated under the firm name of James Squire Company, with James Squire as president, C. O. Palmer as vice- president and superintendent, and Jolin R. Squire as secretary and treasurer. The busi- ness was continued as a corporation until Feb- ruary, 1902, when John R. Squire purchased all the stock and merged it into an undivided individual ownership. Since then the firm style has been John R. Squire, which is a name standing for the highest form of business in- tegrity.

In 1883, John R. Squire was married to Etta M. Bowman, who is the daughter of the late James M. Bowman, who was formerly manager of Andrews Brothers' store, at Hazel- ton. MIr. and Mrs. Squire have two children, Pearl B., and Nellie M. The family belongs to the Memorial Presbyterian Church. Ever since attaining manhood, Mr. Squire has taken an active interest in everything pertaining to the advancement of Youngstown and the well- fare of her citizens. He has been elected to a number of important positions in civic life, and has served on the city council and the board of education, and has just retired from the board of public safety. He is president of the Ohio State organization of Builders' Exchanges. He is a member of the Elks and is a Mason of prominence.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Twentieth Century History of Youngstown and Mahoning County Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 126

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