Twentieth Century History of Youngstown and Mahoning County Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 38

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 38

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tance of power. He never hesitated to espouse the cause because it was weak. Strong com- binations by men of position to carry a point which he believed to be wrong had no terrors for him." At the time of his death he had es- tablished a national reputation for persever- ance, ability, and moral rectitude.

Hon. Eben Newton was born in the town of Goshen, Litchfield county, Conn., October 16, 1795. His parents were Isaac and Rebecca Newton, the father a farmer, who died at Goshen. Mrs. Rebecca Newton, who removed to Ohio in 1820, died at the home of her son in Canfield in 1833. Young Eben's early edu- cation was acquired principally during the winter months in the schools of Goshen. In May, 1814, he emigrated to Portage county, Ohio, where for a while he worked on a farm. Subsequently, while a clerk in his brother's store, he began to read law in the office of Darius Lyman at Ravenna. After a short visit to Connecticut, in 1822, during which he continued his law studies, he returned to Ra- venna, where he read law with Jonathan Sloan. He was admitted to the bar at Warren. in August, 1823, and receiving an invitation from Elisha Whittlesey to enter into partnership with him, he consented, and removed to Can- field, which was subsequently his place of resi- dence until his death. The firm of Whittlesey & Newton continued for twenty years, fifteen years of which time Mr. Whittlesey was in congress. Their business extended all over the Reserve and into other parts of the state. In 1840 Mr. Newton was elected to the state senate, and during his term he was elected president judge of the third judicial district, which office he filled with marked ability. He resigned the judgeship in 1846 and resumed his law practice. Elected to congress in 1850, he served two years, and then again resumed practice. In 1863 he was elected for the sec- ond time to the state senate. Subsequently he took charge of the settlement of the Simeon Jennings estate, which involved much litiga- tion in many states, required extensive travel in this country and two visits to Europe. and occupied much of his attention for many years.

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He was also for a number of years president of the Ashtabula & New Lisbon Railroad Con- pany, later known as the Niles & New Lisbon, and it was largely owing to his exertions that it maintained its existence. He was greatly interested in farming and stock raising, and for several years was president of the 'Mahon- ing County Agricultural Society. While en- gaged in practicing law, before he entered congress, he had many law students, some of whom afterwards became noted lawyers, judges, and legislators, among the latter be- ing Senator Benjamin F. Wade and his brother Edward Wade, Ralph P. Buckland and Joshua R. Gicklings. Mr. Newton was married at Canfield on May 20, 1826, to Miss Mary S. Church, a native of that place, and daughter of Ensign Church, an early pioneer, who was a son of Nathaniel Church, one of the proprie- tors of the township.

Hon. Robert W. Tayler was born in Har- . risburg, Pennsylvania, November 9, 1812, son of James and Jane ( Walker) Tayler. His parents removed with their family to Youngs- town in 1815. where the father died in 1834. Mrs. Jane Tayler died ten years later. They were honest, industrions people, who gave their children a sound moral training and as good an education as they could afford, the father being a man of much reading and of more than ordinary intelligence.

Robert W. Tayler, after teaching school for a while, became deputy to George Parsons, clerk of the courts of Trumbull comty, Ohio. He evinced his business ability in the summer of 1833, when he accompanied Calvin Cone, appraiser of real estate for taxation, as his secretary, through Trumbull county, his gen- eral aptitude, and the knowledge of real estate valnes which he displayed being considered remarkable for one so young. He suhse- quently read law with Whittlesey & Newton, of Canfield, and was admitted to the bar at Warren, Ohio, in August, 1834. beginning practice at Youngstown. Here he contimed in practice until 1800, when he went to Co- Imbus, Ohio, to assume the duties of state anditor. He was afterwards in law partner-

ship for a time with John Crowell, of Warren, and still later with William G. Moore, of Youngstown. Elected prosecuting attorney of Trumbull county in 1839, he held that office two years, ably performing its duties. On the organization of the Mahoning County Bank at Youngstown, in 1850, at the earnest request of its directors, he became its cashier, continu- ing, however, in the practice of his profession. In 1855 he was elected state senator on the Republican ticket for the connties of Mahon- ing and Trumhull, and re-elected in 1857. His record while in the senate led to his nomina- tien by his party, almost without opposition, for the office of auditor of state, and he was elected in 1859, beginning the duties of the office in 1860. "Upon the death of Elisha Whittlesey, his former legal preceptor, first comptroller of the United States treasury in 1863, he was called by President Lincoln, at the suggestion of Salmon P. Chase, then sec- retary of the United States treasury, who knew his entinent fitness, to fill the vacancy in the office of first comptroller. For nearly fif- teen years he faithfully discharged the duties of that office and death found him at his post as the honest and incorruptible watchman of the treasury." He was stricken with paralysis at his desk in Washington, February 25. 1878, and lived only two hours. His funeral was one of the largest ever held in Youngstown.

Mr. Tayler was first married March 24. 1840, to Miss Louisa Maria, daughter of John E. Woodbridge, of Youngstown. She died February tt. 1853. Ile married for his sec- ond wife, on January 12, 1854. Miss Rachel Kirtland Wick, daughter of Colonel Caleb B. Wick, a son of Henry Wick, one of the early settlers of Youngstown.

Hon. David Tod was born in Youngstown, Ohio. February 21. 1805. His parents, George and Sally ( Isaacs) Tod, were early settlers on the Reserve, coming here from Connecti- cnt. The father, Judge George Tod, a sketch of whont may be found elsewhere in this vol- mme, was a man of marked ability and high character, though not successful in accumulat- ing wealth. On this account, chiefly, the early

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education of the subject of this sketch was lim- ited to a term or two at the academy. He made the best use, however, of his facilities for the study of law, was admitted to the bar in 1827. and at the age of 22 years began practice in Warren. He was a successful lawyer, and his active practice covered a period of fifteen years. After the death of his father in 1841 he came into actual possession of the old Brier Hill farm near Youngstown, which he had really owned for some time, owing to the fact that, while yet a briefless barrister, he had, by the most strenuous efforts, and with the assistance of friends, saved it from falling into the hands of his father's creditors. This farm subse- quently became the source of great wealth to him owing to its large deposits of what was afterwards known as the famous Brier Hill coal. Mr. Tod gradually developed a market for this coal, which was greatly expanded on the introduction of raw coal blast furnaces, making the extensive deposits still more valu- able. Mr. Tod also showed his business ability as a director in the Cleveland and Mahoning Railroad Company, his efforts being largely in- strumental in extracting it from a seriously embarrassed financial condition.

Early in young manhood Mr. Tod became an ardent supporter of the Democratic party, and soon began to take an active part in poli- tics. He made a good stump orator, his clear- cut, pithy speeches appealing directly to the popular ear. In 1838 he was elected to the State Senate, running several hundred votes ahead of his ticket. During the campaign of 1840 he rendered good service to his party. making speeches all over the state, and leaving everywhere a good impression. Nominated for the governorship in 1844. he cut down the majority of his Whig opponent, Mordecai Bartly, to one thousand, while Clay carried the state a ntonth later by six thousand. In 1847 Mr. Tod was tendered by President Polk, and accepted, the office of minister to Brazil. He remained in that country five years during which he negotiated some important commer- cial treaties, and was instrumental in settling a number of government claims of over thirty years standing. On his farewell he was the

subject of a highly complimentary address by the emperor. As vice-president of the con- vention which met at Baltimore in 1860 to nominate a candidate for the Presidency, Mr. Tod took an important part in restoring order in the scene of confusion which ensued on the bolt by the southern delegates. Although fav- oring Douglas, he doubtless preferred the election of Lincoln to the success of the Breck- enridge wing of his own party. When the secession movement was started in the south- ern states Mr. Tod did all in his power to re- store peace; but after treason had thrown off the last disguise and the guns of Fort Sumter had sounded a challenge to every loyal Union man, his voice was heard among the first in arousing his patriotic neighbors to action. The first company of troops organized at Youngs- town, a company of the Ninteenth Ohio Vol- unteer Infantry, was recruited largely at his expense, and before leaving for camp, each member received from him, as a present. an army overcoat. These coats were known in the service as "Tod coats," and some of them were brought home after four years' service.

In 1861 Mr. Tod obtained the nomina- tion of the Republican party for the Governor- ship, and was elected by a majority of about fifty-five thousand. He made an efficient war Governor, aiding the soldiers in the field by every means in his power, and being particu- larly active in suppressing sedition. He was heartily in favor of the arrest of Vallandig- ham in 1863, for which he became the special object of hatred on the part of the anti-war element of the Democratic party, and a favor- ite target for their abuse. Owing to the con- dition of politics in the state it was deemed advisable by the Republicans, in 1864, to bring out a new man, and John Brough was accord- ingly nominated. Although somewhat disap- pointed, tire governor gave his cordial sup- port to the nominee. Retiring from office in January, 1864, he retired to his farm at Brier 1lill, and thereafter devoted his chief attention to business affairs, though continuing to re- tain an active interest in politics. His death. occurred on November 13. 1868, and caused wide-spread sorrow and regret among all who

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knew him for what he was-a man of sterling worth and unsullied patriotism.

Henry J. Canfield was a native of Connecti- cut, and son of Judson Canfield, a lawyer, and one of the proprietors of the township of Canfield, Ohio, to which he gave his name. Henry J. was graduated at Yale College in 1806, read law with Judge Reeve, of Litchfield, Connecticut, and was admitted to the bar in Connecticut. Shortly afterwards he came to Canfield to take charge of his father's lands. Being admitted to the bar of Ohio, at Warren, he gave some attention to practice, but was chiefly engeged in farming, land-surveying and sheep-raising. He was the author of a highly-prized work on sheep. At the first spe- cial court held in Mahoning county, after its organization in 1846, he was appointed clerk pro tem of the court of Common Pleas, which office he held until the first regular term of court held May 11th, that year, when the clerk for the full term was appointed. He died in Canfield in 1856, respected as one of the old and useful residents of the township.

Hon. Benjamin F. Hoffman was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, January 25, 1812, son of Joseph and Catherine (Stitcler) Hoffman. He was educated in his native state, and removed with his parents to Trumbull county, Ohio, in 1833. After having read law with Hon. David Tod, at Warren, for two years, he attended for six months the Cincin- nati Law School, conducted by Wright, Ben- ham & Walker. Here he was graduated in 1836 as bachelor of law, and was at once ad- mitted to the bar by the Supreme Court at Cin- cinnati. Returning to Warren, he practiced law there for several years as a member of the firm of Tod. Hoffman & Hutchins, From October, 1838, to June, t84t, he was post- master at Warren. Mr. Tod removing to Brier Hill in 1844. and soon after retiring from practice, and Mr. Hutchins being elected to the legislature in 1849. Mr. Hoffman carried on the law business by himself until t853, when Col. R. W. Ratliff became his partner. In October, 1856, he was elected judge of the

Common Pleas court for the second sub-divi- sion of the Ninth judicial district, and served in that capacity five years. In 1861 Mr. Hoff- man became private secretary to Governor David Tod, and accompanied him to Colum- bus, where he capably performed the arduous duties which devolved upon him during the first two years of the Civil War. In t865, though a resident of Warren, he opened a law office in Youngstown, where he resumed the practice of his profession; in 1870 he removed to this city.

Mr. Hoffman was first married, in Decem- ber, 1837, to Elizabeth H. Cleveland, daugh- ter of Dr. John Cleveland, formerly of Rut- land, Vermont. She died in 1869, leaving two children, both of whom are long since deceased. In 1870 Mr. Hoffman married, for his second wife, Mrs. Alice W. Hezlep, of which union there was one daughter, born in 1877. Origin- ally a Democrat, Mr. Hoffman, as early as 1841, become interested in the Abolition move- ment, and subsequently became a firm cham- pion of the cause at a time when it took some courage to express Abolition sentiments. Some years ago he removed with his family to Cali- fornia, of which state he is still a resident, having now attained the ripe age of ninety-five years,

John M. Edwards was born in New Haven, Connecticut, October 23, 1805; son of Henry W. and Lydia ( Miller) Edwards. His pater- nat grandfather was Judge Pierrepont Ed- wards, one of the original proprietors of the Western Reserve, and a great-grandson of Jonathan Edwards, the noted divine and early president of Princeton College. On his mo- ther's side he was of English descent, the ma- ternal grandfather John Miller, being a native of London, and a sea-captain, who settled in America prior to the Revolutionary War.

Jolm M. Edwards was graduated at Yale College in the class of 1824. Hle read law with Judge Bristol at New Haven, was there ad- mitted to the har of Connecticut in 1820, and to the bar of the Circuit Court of the U'med States in t828. After practicing law for a few years in New Haven, he removed in 1832, to

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Ohio, at first settling in Youngstown. Here, however, at this time, he remained but a few months, soon removing to the north part of Trumbull county, where he engaged in other than law business. He was admitted to the bar of Ohio by the supreme court August 30, 1838, at Warren, and soon after began practice there. For a number of years, beginning with 1840, he was engaged also in editing the Trumbull Democrat, a weekly newspaper. In 1841 he was appointed by the United States district court commissioner of bankrupts for Trumbull county, which office he held until the repeal of the bankrupt law. Nominated in 1842 by a Democratic convention as represen- tative in congress from the old Nineteenth dis-

trict, to fill the vacancy caused by the resigna- tion of Hon. Joshua R. Giddings, he largely

cut down the usual Whig majority. About 1843 he was appointed by the court of com- mon pleas school examiner for Trumbull county, and held the office for three years, or until his removal from the county. About 1841 he was elected and commissioned captain of militia under the old military system. Re- moving to Canfield on the organization of Mahoning county in 1847, he practiced law there until 1864, when he removed his office to Youngstown, where in 1868 he also came to reside. At the first term of the court of Common Pleas he was appointed school exam- iner for Mahoning county for three years, and subsequently held that office by successive re- appointments until his removal to Youngstown.

Shortly after his removal to Canfield, in 1846, he became editor and one of the publish- ers of the Mahoning Index the first news- paper published in Mahoning county, and con- tinued as such for several years. From that time on he was intimately connected as editor, correspondent, or contributor, with newspapers in Warren, Canfield, Youngstown, and Cleve- land. During the 1864-1865 session of the Ohio legislature he was one of the clerks of the Senate. From 1860 to 1878 he served sev- eral terms as justice of the peace of Youngs- town township. He was one of the founders of the Mahoning Valley Historical Society in 1874. and was editor with William Powers of

the interesting volume of Historical Collec- tions published by the society in 1876. As journalist and historian he performed a use- ful work in rescuing from oblivion many in- teresting reminiscences of pioneer days while some of the early settlers were still alive, and in preserving the biographies of many of the pioneers.

Mr. Edwards was married, July 14, 1842, at Warren, Ohio, to Miss Mary P., daughter of Joseph Crail. Mrs. Edwards was a talented amateur artist. She died at Youngstown, May 15. 1877, leaving three children, of whom Henrietta Frances married Stanley M. Caspar of Youngstown, and Henry W. became a mer- chant in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,

David M. Wilson was born in Guilford, Medina county, Ohio, July 21, 1822, son of David and Abigail (Porter) Wilson. His grandfathers were Revolutionary soldiers. He was educated in the common schools, and at Norfolk seminary, and taught school for one term. He read law with Hiram Floyd, at Me- dina, Ohio, and was there admitted to practice in 1844. In the following year he removed to Warren, Ohio, whence on the organization of Mahoning county, in 1846, he removed to Canfield, where he commenced practice. For a few years he was a partner of John W., after- wards Judge Church, the style of the firm be- ing Wilson & Church. In 1858 he removed to Youngstown, where he was successively the partner of James B. Blocksom, Robert G. Knight, Halsey H. Moses, and James P. Wil- son, his nephew. In 1863 he was nominated for attorney-general of Ohio, and in 1874 for representative in Congress. each time on the Democratic ticket ; though not elected in either case, his personal popularity caused him to run ahead of his ticket. He first married Miss Nancy Merrill, a native of Orangeville, New york. She died in 1851. He married for his second wife. in 1871, Miss Griselda Campbell, of Trumbull county. Ohio, Mr. Wilson died February 11. 1882, at Youngstown.

William G. Moore was born at Freedom. Beaver county, Pennsylvania, January 7, 1822.

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His parents, Edwin and Mary A. Moore, were natives of county Leitrim, Ireland, and emi- grated to the United States in 1829, settling in Youngstown a few years later. Mr. Moore began the study of law in the office of John Crowell, at Warren, Ohio, and continued it with Robert W. Tayler, of Youngstown. He was admitted to the bar by the supreme court in 1847, and to the bar of the supreme court of the United States in 1854. He began the parctice of law at Youngstown, in 1847, as partner of Mr. Tayler, and was afterwards a partner of Gen. Thomas W. Sanderson, which continued until Mr. Sanderson joined the army in 1861. He was afterwards in part- nership for a time with William C. Bunts, and still later with William J. Lawthers. He was elected mayor of Youngstown in April, 1854. and re-elected in 1856. In 1869 he was elected prosecuting attorney of Mahoning county, and served two years. He was married March 18, 1852, to Miss Lura A. Andrews, a native of Vienna, Trumbull county, Ohio, whose father, Norman Andrews, was an early settler of that county, but later a resident of Youngstown.

Gen. Thomas W. Sanderson was born in Indiana, Indiana county, Pennsylvania, Octo- ber 17, 1829. His father, Matthew D. Sander- son, was of Scotch descent. His mother, Mary (Wakefield) Sanderson, was the daughter of Thomas Wakefield, who was born in Armagh, Ireland.

Matthew D. Sanderson, in 1834, removed with his family to Youngstown, Ohio, where he continued the business of farming. He died in 1864.

Thomas W. Sanderson acquired his pre- liminary education in the schools of Youngs- town. He read law with William Ferguson at Youngstown, and was admitted to the bar by the district court at Canfield in August. 1852. While reading law he spent a part of the time in land surveying and civil engineer- ing, and for a period after his admission to the har he followed the profession of civil engineer. In 1854 he commenced the practice of law at Youngstown in co-partnership with his brotli- er-in-law, Frank E. Hutchins, under the style

of Hutchins & Sanderson, which partnership was continued for several years. In 1856 he was elected prosecuting attorney of Mahoning county, and served one term. In 1861 he aban- doned for a time the practice of law and en- tered the United States army as lieutenant and adjutant of the Second Ohio volunteer cavalry He remained in the service over four years, passing through the several grades of promo- tion, and in 1864 was made brigadier-general for gallantry in action. A more detailed ac- count of his army record may be found in a biographical sketch of the General which ap- pears elsewhere in this volume. On leaving the army he returned to the practice of law in Youngstown, which he has followed up to a very recent date, but is now practically retired. He has never sought but always refused politi- cal office, but in 1872 was a delegate-at-large from the State of Ohio in the National Repub- lican convention which nominated General Grant for re-election as president. General Sanderson was married December 19, 1854, to Miss Elizabeth Shoemaker, of Mercer, Penn- sylvania, a member of one of the oldest fam- ilies of that state.

Asahel W. Jones was born at Johnstonville, Trumbull county, Ohio, September 18, 1838. His paternal grandfather and great-grand- father were early settlers in Trumbull county, removing there from Burkhamstead, Connec- ticut, in 1801, and erecting the second cabin in the township. William P. Jones, father of Asahel, was born in Hartford. Trumbull county, Ohio, July 11, 1814. He married Mary J. Bond, a native of Avon Springs, N. Y., who emigrated to Hartford in 1833. at the age of seventeen years. She died in Youngstown, in March 1882. The subject of this sketch, after reading law with Curtis & Smith, at Warren, Ohio, was there admitted to the bar September 27. 1859. He practiced there a few years and then, in 1864, removed to Youngstown, where he was in partnership at different times with H. B. Case, Gen. T. W. Sanderson, R. B. Murray, W. S. Anderson, and W. J. Terrell, for many years while thus connected he did a large amount of railroad

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and corporation law business. He was twice prosecuting attorney, being first appointed, on the death of Henry G. Leslie, in 1868, as his successor, an .: the second time by election. He was also judge advocate general of Ohio for two terms. In 1874 he was active in the organ- ization of the Second National Bank of Youngstown, and for many years subsequently was one of its directors. In 1878 he became a director in the Brown, Bonnell & Co.'s manu- facturing concern, which is now included in the Republic Iron & Steel corporation. He was a delegate, with Judge Tripp, from the Seven- teenth Ohio Congressional district, to the Re- publican National Convention held in Chicago in 1880. He also served two terms as lieuten- ant-governor. About a year ago Mr. Jones re- tired from the practice of law and removed to Berg Hill, Trumbull county, Ohio, where he now resides, engaged in farming. He was married, September 24, 1861, to Miss Annette J. Palmer, who was born at Kingsville, Ash- tabula county, Ohio, June 23, 1840. He after- wards married Miss Louisa Brice of Oberlin, Ohio.

Hon. Laurin D. Woodworth was born in Windham, Portage county, Ohio, September 10, 1837. His father was William Wood- worth, a substantial and highly respected far- mer. His literary education was acquired at Windham Academy and at Hiram College. He read law in the office of O. P. Brown, in Ravenna, Ohio, and was admitted to the bar in 1859. After pursuing further studies at the Ohio State and Union Law College at Cleve- land, he formed a partnership with Mr. Brown, which continued until the fall of 1861. In 1862 he was appointed major of the One Hundred and Fourth regiment, Ohio infantry volunteers, which was ordered to Kentucky and was there engaged for some ten months in carrying on a guerrilla warfare. He was soon after obliged to resign on account of ill health which had been brought on by the hardships and exposure incidental to the service, and the next two years were spent in traveling, under medical advice, in an endeavor to recover his health. Ilaving lost the use of his right eye, he was

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Twentieth Century History of Youngstown and Mahoning County Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 38

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