Twentieth Century History of Youngstown and Mahoning County Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 59

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 59

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).

the maintenance of the high school standard for which it is noted. He was vitally inter- ested in many other noble and uplifting agencies in his city and gave to them the best that was in him.

Mr. MeCurdy was most charitably in- clined, and never turned a deaf ear to an appeal on behalf of a worthy cause. His pri- vate charities were known only to those closest to him ; the amounts so expended in relieving want and destitution were large indeed, and constituted the greater part of his benefac- tions. When contributions were solicited for the help of those who had been the victims of any public calamity, his name invariably head- ed the list with the largest amount.

Personally Mr. McCurdy attached others to himself irresistibly. He commanded ad- miration for his fearless outlook on life and his untiring, energetic and thoroughly sin- cere struggle against anything that interfered with his convictions of right. He was one who was always known as a dependable man, one who could never be swayed from the right course by sophistry or by an appeal to his personal feelings. All those who knew him were not his friends, because he was not in sympathy with much that he found in the mass of his fellow citizens, but none could be found who did not entirely respect him. His death occurred March 25, 1904, at his home in Youngstown, Ohio, after an illness of two years from Bright's disease. A portrait of this admirable citizen appears in connection with this article.

6 EN. THOMAS W. SANDERSON. a prominent lawyer and citizen, ex- banker, and author of this work, was born at Indiana, Indiana Commy, Pennsylvania, October 17, 1828. His father, Matthew D. Sanderson, who was of Scotch lineage, and a farmer by occupation, died at Warren, Ohio, in 1864. General San- derson's mother, whose name in maidenhood was Mary Wakefield, was born in Westmore- land County, Pennsylvania, in the year of 1800,

Digitizedby Google

437

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

a daughter of Thomas Wakefield, and died in December, .1885, at Warren, Ohio.

Thomas W. Sanderson came with his par- ents to Youngstown, Ohio, at the age of six years, and was here educated and grew to man's estate. In early life he was urged by his friends to prepare himself for the profes- sion of law, which was suited to his tastes, and being ambitious to lead a professional life, he decided on that vocation. He began read- ing law under the direction of William Fer- guson, at Youngstown, in 1847, and in 1852, when scarcely 23 years of age, was admitted to the bar by the district court at Canfield, then the county seat of Mahoning County. While studying law Mr. Sanderson also spent much time in civil engineering, and for a time after his admission to the bar, followed that occupation. In 1854 he began the practice of his chosen profession, in company with his brother-in-law, Francis C. Hutchins, with whom, however, he remained but a short time. Soon after beginning the practice of law he tock appropriate rank at the bar, and in 1856 was elected to the office of prosecuting at- torney for Mahoning County, in which he served one term. At the opening of the Civil War he had gained a large clientage and an enviable reputation at the bar, but he gave up his practice to take part in the struggle to maintain the union.

On September 12, 1861, he enlisted in the Second Ohio Volunteer Cavalry at Cleveland, as Regimental Adjutant and First Lieutenant. He was promoted to Captain of Company K. Second Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, October 7, 186t. He served as Regimental Adjutant and as Assistant Adjutant-General of Doubleday's Brigade of Cavalry until May, 1862, when he resigned. He was appointed Major of the Tenth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry by Governor David Tod, on January 15, 1863. He was pro- moted to Lieutenant-Colonel of the Tenth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, April 20, 1864: was promoted to Colonel of the Tenth Ohio Vol- unteer Cavalry, January 19, 1865; promoted to Brevet Brigadier-General, March 15, 1865. He was mustered out with the Tenth Ohio

Volunteer Cavalry Regiment, at Lexington, North Carolina, July 24, 1865.

During the years of 1864-65 he was in command of brigades and divisions. He was with General Rosecrans from Stone River, and participated in nearly all the actions in which the Army of the Cumberland was en- gaged. He was with General Sherman on the march to the sea and through the Coro- linas until the surrender of General Johnston, taking part in a number of important battles. At Bear Creek Station, south of Atlanta, on the second day of Sherman's March to the Sea, General Sanderson, with one brigade of cavalry against three divisions of General Wheeler's cavalry, secured a dashing victory. His rank of Brigadier-General was conferred for gallantry in action.

After the close of the great struggle Gen- eral Sanderson returned to the practice of law at Youngstown, and now ranks as one of the leading lawyers of the state. His friends strongly urged his appointment to a Su- preme Court judgeship, but in a personal letter to the General, President Harrison regretted his inability to make the appointment owing to the fact that three previous appointments to the Supreme bench had been made from Ohio. General Sanderson has ever been a well-de- fined Republican in politics, but has always re- fused to enter the arena as a candidate for civil office. In 1872 he was a delegate at large from Ohio to the National Republican convention which nominated General Grant for re-election as President. As a railroad lawyer Mr. Sanderson has done much suc- cessful practice for several companies, and has won an enviable reputation for such form of practice. As a business man he is practical and successful, and is shrewd and accurate as a planner and calculator. He was formerly vice-president of the Commercial National Bank at Youngstown, but after serving some time he resigned, owing to the pressure of other business duties. He is however inter- ested in several other business concerns.

Mr. Sanderson was married December 19, 1854. to Miss Elizabeth Shoemaker, of

Daszed by Google

+38

HISTORY OF MAHONING COUNTY

Youngstown, formerly of Pennsylvania. They have had two children, a daughter who died in July, toot, and a son who died in early in- fancy.

L UCIL'S E. COCHRAN, whose numer- ous and important business interests and connections have made his name a familiar one all over and beyond the State of Ohio, and whose personal attributes have won him the confidence and es- teem of his fellow-citizens at Youngstown, was born June 12, 1842. in Delaware County. Ohio, and is a son of Robert and Nancy ( Hummason ) Cochran.

The Cochran family was founded in Trum- bull County. Ohio, by George H. Cochran, the grandfather of our subject, who transferred his mercantile interests from Pittsburg, Penn- sylvania, in 1816, to Viena, Ohio. His son Robert, one of his six children, passed the greater part of his life as an agricultirist in Logan County, where he and his wife were leading members of the Christian Church. They had a family of four sons and three daughters.

Lucius E. Cochran was educated in the dis- trict schools and later took a commercial course at Pittsburg, following which he accepted a position as clerk in a general store. In 1862 he became bookkeeper for the firm of Andrews & Hitchcock, prominent business men of Youngstown, with whom he remained until 1867, when he went into business for himself, becoming a member of the mercantile firm of Andrews Brothers & Company, at Haselton. Ohio, a suburb of Youngstown. In 1880 Mr. Cochran was elected president and treasurer of a large business combination, which united the firms of Andrews Brothers. Andrews Brothers & Company, and the Niles Iren Com- piny into a corporation known as the An- drews Brothers Company. In addition to the duties of this [x sition, involving immense re- sponsibility. Mr. Cochran is connected, either as a principal or important official. in some of the greatest combinations of capital and in-

dustry that now occupy the attention of the business world in this section. He was presi- dlent of the Youngstown Car Manufacturing Company : was also president of the Youngs- town Bridge Company: and is president of the Youngstown Iron & Steel Roofing Company: president of the Youngstown Pressed Steel Company : president of the Mahoning Motor Car Company : president of the G. M. MeKel- vey Company : president of the Edwin Bell Company, conducting a cooperage business, of which he was one of the originators: president of the Mahoning Valley Water Company: vice-president of the Commercial National Bank ; vice-president of the Morris Hardware Company : a director of the Youngstown Car- riage & Wagon Company : a director of the Ohio Steel Company, of which he was one of the founders, and a director of the Pittsburg. Cleveland & Toledo Railroad Company. He was one of the originators of the Mahoning & Shenango Dock Company, as well as of the Mahoning Ore Company, of which latter con- cern he was formerly vice-president, Mr. Cochran deserves the title of captain of in- dustry, for he has reached his elevated position in the business world through a natural busi- ness genin -.

In 1808 Mr. Cochran was married to Mary Isabella Brownlee, a daughter of John and Leah ( Powers) Brownlee. They had two sons. Robert B. and Chauncy A .. the former of whom is now deceased. Chruumcy A. Cochran is a very prominent young busi- ness man at Youngstown, and is secretary of the Youngstown Iron & Steel Roofing Com- pany. and abo of the Youngstown Pressed Steel Company. He married Sarah E. Davis, daughter of the late Hon. John R. Davis, of Youngstown, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this vohne, and resides at No. 680 Bryson street. Youngstown.

Mr. Cochran has always been identified politically with the Republican party. During his residence at llaselton he served 22 years as postmaster, being an appointee of Presi- dent Grant. His fraternal connections include membership in all the highest

Digizedby Google

Digazed by Google

was p. .. 'tet it !

Chie wor.

mi firty

[11 /4.1.1%

Dig zed by Google

Dig zed by Godgle

441

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

branches of Masonry, he having attained the 32nd degree. Both he and his wife are members of the Memorial Presbyterian Church at Youngstown.

e HAUNCY HUMASON ANDREWS. Perhaps no citizen of the whole Ma- honing valley presented, through a long and unusually active life, a more thorough ideal of the enter- prising. successful business man than did the late Chauncy Humason Andrews, and yet this was but one side of his life. On the other was seen the cultured, traveled gentle- man, the patron of art and literature and the silent partner from whose generosity came the means for the upbuilding of great charities. His life was prolonged to the age of the Psalmist, but it was all too short to finish much of the work his remarkable mind had planned and his energy brought into being.

Chauncy Humason Andrews was born at Vienna, Trumbull County, Ohio, December 2, 1823, and died at his home at Youngstown, after a painful illness, December 25, 1893. His parents were Norman and Julia (Huma- son) Andrews. Norman Andrews was born in 1799, at Hartford, Connecticut, and in 1818 located in Trumbull County, Ohio, where he engaged in farming and mercantile business. He was one of the pioneer hotel keepers at Youngstown, opening the Mansion House here in 1842, which he conducted until he re- tired from business in 1850. By his first mar- riage he had three sons and three daughters.

Chauncy H. Andrews was educated at Youngstown. The old brick building, which served as school house in his boyhood, long since gave way to city improvements, St. John's Protestant Episcopal Church standing on its site. When he was about 18 years of age, he left his books and began to assist his father in the hotel. His mother died in 1848, and two years later his father disposed of the hotel business. The young man then became associated with a fellow townsman and to- gether they carried on for a time a successful

mercantile business under the name of Bren- neman & Andrews; but in 1853 they were overtaken by reverses. Mr. Andrews then returned to the hotel business and continued as manager of the Mansion House for some four years. In the meantime he had become interested in coal mining and had ventured almost all he possessed in pushing his invest- ments.

In 1857 Mr. Andrews justified his pre- dictions and perseverance, opening up what was known as the Thorn Hill coal bank, on the Baldwin farm. From that time on, through enterprises of larger and larger magnitude, Mr. Andrews continued his successful career, becoming the promoter, operator and owner of mines, rolling mills, railroads and great finan- cial institutions, farms and high-grade stock, bonds and securities, acquiring all those varied possessions which make the millionaire. In recalling some of his greatest enterprises, it will be seen that a majority of them were designed to be of benefit to his own communi- ty ; in fact, Mr. Andrews was one of the mak- ers of Youngstown.

In 1876 Mr. Andrews was one of the pro- moters and organizers of the Pittsburg & Lake Erie Railroad Company; he was chiefly instrumental in organizing the Com- mercial National Bank of Youngstown, of which he was president and stockholder at the time of his death; he was vice-president of the Second National Bank of Youngstown; he was interested in the management of the Sav- ings Bank, which has since· been merged into the Mahoning National Bank; with other cap- italists, he built the Montour Railroad; in 1879 he established the Imperial Coal Com-

pany, which owns one of the largest and finest coal fields in Western Pennsylvania; in con- nection with the corporations of which he was a member, he opened three extensive lime- stone quarries in Mahoning County, Ohio, and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania; in 1880, with W. C. Andrews and William McCreery, he obtained the charter for the Pittsburg, Youngstown & Chicago Railroad Company. of which he later became president, and he was one of the Hocking Valley syndicate and

Digncoo by Google

442

HISTORY OF MAHONING COUNTY

a director and stockholder in the Hocking Valley Railroad Company. The above enumeration takes in but a small portion of the many interests which felt his influence. For years his strength seemed inexhaustible, but at last nature asserted herself and the time came when the busy hand had to rest and the tireless foot stand still. The brain kept on, however, and even when racked with pain Mr. Audrews was still able to send out from that clear mentality. which continued to the last, directions for the carrying on of his vast industries which were heeded by his thousands of employees.

In 1857 Mr. Andrews was married to Louisa Baldwin, of the old Mahoning County family, and they had two daughters, Edith H., widow of the late John A. Logan, Jr., and Julia L .. , wife of L. C. Bruce, both residents of New York City. Mrs. Andrews still sur- vives and resides in one of the palatial homes of Youngstown, at No. 750 Wick avenue.

In all that goes to make up perfect citizen- ship, the late Chauncy H. Andrews was a model-law-abiding, liberal and public- spirited. He voted with the Republican party, but his life was too thoroughly absorbed by his many private enterprises to permit him to ever consent to consider political position. His political friends, however, were numerous and included among them those whose names have reflected the greatest luster upon the commonwealth of Ohio. Around his death- bed gathered persons of distinction who were anxious to minister to his wants, and one of the honorary pall bearers was the late Presi- dent William Mckinley, then Governor of Ohio, for whom he entertained a warm, per- sonal friendship. Other members of this not- able gathering were: Governor Russell A. Alger, of Michigan, lately deceased: the late John Newell, president of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad Company ; Judge Stephenson Burke, the great railroad lawyer of Cleveland; General Orlando Smith. of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company : W. J. Hitchcock; J. W. McKinnie, of Cleveland; General Thomas W. Sanderson: I .. E. Coch- ran ; the late Henry Tod ; J. G. Butler, Jr., and

and the late General J. L. Botsford. All of these distinguished men of great affairs had been closely associated with Mr. Andrews in business or public or social life and to each one his death came with a sense of personal loss.

The journals of his city united in naming him the foremost eitizen of the great Mahon- ing Valley and placed him with the foremost industrial organizers of the state. They laid emphasis on his public spirit, his well-directed energy, his persevering courage in the face of early discouragements, his great executive ability and his unbounded generosity. Scarcely any worthy charity or philanthropic enterprise of all this section but felt his quiekening help. and his hand was extended on many occasions to rescue dying enterprises or to give the needed impetus to languishing industries. Per- sonally, Mr. Andrews was magnetic. He pos- sessed the suave, affable manner of the man of social graces and at the same time the hearty geniality which can never be mistaken for in- sincerity. A portrait of this distinguished citi- zen may be seen on a neighboring page of this volume.

e HAUNCY A. COCHRAN. secretary of the Youngstown Iron and Steel Roofing Company and of the Youngstown Pressed Steel Com- pany, is one of the prominent young business men of Youngstown, of which city he is a native. He is a son of Lueius E. and Mary Isabella ( Brownlee) Cochran of Youngstown.

Lucius E. Cochran was born in Delaware County, Ohio, June 12. 1842, and is a son of Robert and Nancy ( Hummason) Cochran, and a grandson of George H. Cochran, a mer- chant of Pittsburg. Pennsylvania, who trans- ferred his mercantile interests to Vienna, Ohio, in 1816. Robert Cochran was a farmer hy vo- cation and resided the greater part of his life in Logan County, Ohio. In 1862 Lucius E. Cochran. after having pursued a commercial course at Pittsburg, became bookkeeper for the firm of Andrews & Hitchcock, of Youngstown,

Digitized by Google

443

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

and five years later became a member of the manufacturing firm of Andrews Brothers & Company, of Haselton, Ohio. In 1880 this concern was consolidated with the firm of An- drews Brothers and the Niles Iron Company and Mr. Cochran was made the first president and treasurer of the new concern. He has ex- tensive interests in various manufacturing concerns and ranks as one of the foremost men of the Mahoning Valley. In 1868 he married Mary Isabella Brownlee, a daughter of John and Leah ( Powers) Brownlee. Into their household were born two sons: Robert B., who died at the age of 32 years; and Chauncy A.

Chauncy A. Cochran was educated in the public schools of Youngstown and subsequent- ly attended Peekskill Military Academy at Peekskill, New York, from which he was graduated. Upon attaining manhood he en- gaged with his father in the manufacturing business and is now secretary of the Youngs- town Iron & Steel Roofing Company and of the Youngstown Pressed Steel Company, of which concerns his father is president and chief stockholder.

Mr. Cochran married Sarah E. Davis, a daughter of the late Hon. John R. Davis, who for many years was prominent in Mahoning County both in public and business life. Mr. Davis was educated at Western University, Pittsburg, and then for three years filled the position of private secretary to Hon. A. How- ells, United States Consul at Cardiff, Wales. Upon returning to his native country in 1864, he enlisted in the 155th Regiment, Ohio Vol- unteer Infantry, in which he served until the close of the war. On January 1, 1867, he was married to Maria S. Richards, a native of Tinga County, Pennsylvania. After his mar- riage he was engaged in mercantile pursuits at Youngstown until 1872, when he was elec- ted sheriff of Mahoning County, being reelec- ted in 1874. On retiring from office January 1. 1877, he engaged in a real estate and insur- ance business, in which he was interested un- til his death, which took place February 13. 1900. His sons, John R. and Ralph G., now conduct the business under the style of John

R. Davis' Sons. Mr. Davis was elected a member of the General Assembly of Ohio in 1889 and reelected in 1891. Four sons and one daughter, Mrs. Cochran, survive him.

Mr. and Mrs. Chauncy A. Cochran are the parents of two children-Lucius D. and Maria. The family home is located at No. 680 Bryson street. Mr. and Mrs. Cochran are members of the Memorial Presbyterian Church of Youngstown. The former is a Republican in politics, a member of a Masonic fraternity, and belongs to the leading clubs of the city.

HARLES R. TRUESDALE, a prom- inent member of the bar at Youngs- town, and a survivor of the great Civil War to which he devoted four years of his early manhood, in which for loyalty's sake he suffered hardship aud imprisonment. was born in Mahoning County, Ohio, September 15, 1841, and is a son of Alexander and Harriet (I.each) Truesdale.

Mr. Truesdale comes of Revolutionary stock, his grandfather, John Truesdale, having served under General Washington. His father. Alexander Truesdale, was born in Washing- ton County, Pennsylvania, and was one of six brothers, who came to Mahoning County as pioneers, he being at that time 15 years of age. Subsequently he married Harriet Leach, who, with her two sisters and the father, came to Mahoning County, from Morristown, New Jersey. Alexander Truesdale and wife had ten children. the youngest, Joseph, perishing in the Civil War. The mother died in 1866 and was survived by the father until 1874.

From the farm and the school room, Charles R. Truesdale went into the Union army, in August, 1861, serving faithfully nn- til the close of the war, under two enlistments. His first service was as a private of Company E. Second Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, and later. after reenlistment, as a non-commis- sioned officer in the same company. He par- ticipated in all of the important engagements in which his regiment took part and, although he escaped injury of a permanent nature, he

Dlgized by Google

444

HISTORY OF MAHONING COUNTY

was twice made a prisoner of war. He was captured first in 1863. at Greenville, Eastern Tennessee, but made his escape and rejoined his regiment. His second adventure of this kind was in July, 1864, at Monocacy June- tion, Maryland. He was hekl a prisoner, first at Danville and later at Libby Prison, until his exchange, February 22, 1865, but was kept on parole until his discharge in the following June.

Upon his return, with a soklier's record of which he has every reason to be prond, he com- pleted his elucation at the Western Reserve College, graduating in the class of 1871. After a period of law reading in the office of Taylor & Jones, at Warren, Ohio, Mr. Truesdale was admitted to the bar in 1872. and entered upon the practice of his profession at Youngstown. He was ambitious and entered into local poli- tics, and in 1875 was elected prosecuting at- torney of Mahoning County, in which office he served most efficiently through two terms. Since retiring therefrom he has devoted him- self to a large private practice and has long been recognized as one of the leading men of his profession in the city. His office is at No. 22 Sonth Phelps street.

In t872, the year of his admission to the bar. Mr. Truesdale was married to Louise M. Jacobs, a daughter of Nicholas Jacobs, of Coitsville. Ohio, Of this union there were two children-Joseph R. and Phoebe K.

Joseph R. Truesdale is a graduate of Princeton University, class of 1904. and of Columbia Law School. 1907, and is now en- tering upon the practice of his profession in New York City. The daughter, Phoebe K. Truesdale, a graduate of Vassar College, class of 1&x), resides with her father. Mr. Trues- dale, with his family, belongs to the Presby- terian Church. January t. 1902, Mr. Trues- dale was bereaved of his wife, who was a lady of many virtues and beautiful Christian char- acter.

In his political sentinients, Mr. Truesdale has always been affiliated with the Republi- can party. Fraternally he is a Mason ; he be- longs also to the Grand Army of the Republic.

L EWIS HENRY YOUNG, capitalist, farmer and leading citizen of Ma- honing County, is president of the Mineral Ridge Manufacturing Com- pany, a stockhokler in the Youngs- town Sheet and Tube Company. a director in the Niles Car Works, a director in the First National Bank and the Dollar Savings Bank at Niles. a stockholder in the Dollar Savings and Trust Bank and the Commercial Bank at Youngstown, and president of the De Lasatu- nas Fruit Company of Cuba, which has its of- fice on Federal street, Youngstown; president of the Youngstown Furnace Company; vice- president of the Youngstown Cattle Company. In addition to the alxwe interests, Mr. Young owns 218 acres of fine farming land, a part of which lies in Trumbull County. 88 acres. how- ever, being situated in Mahoning County, two miles west of Mineral Ridge. Mr. Young was born in Austintown township. Mahoning County. Ohio, October 18. 1861, and is a son of Henry and Julia ( Wappler ) Young.

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 59

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