Twentieth Century History of Youngstown and Mahoning County Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 61

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 61

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farm of 154 acres in Beaver township had been improved by a house and barn, and he resided there until his death, some eighteen years later, at which time he was 60 years of age. His wife, Elizabeth, was born in New Springfield, Mahoning County, a daughter of Jacob Low- er. She still survives and resides near Geneva, Ashtabula County, Ohio, with a daughter. Samuel Miller and wife had six children : Sarah Ann (deceased), who was the wife of William Minter; Tobias, residing in Cuyahoga County; Wilson L., the subject of this sketch ; . lice Celesta. who married Isaac Esterly, and resides in Columbiana ; Melissa C., wife of Jo- seph Harrold, a sketch of whom will be found elsewhere in this volume; and Laura J., who married Isaac Chappell, residing in Ashtabula County. Samnel Miller was a member of the Lutheran Church at New Springfield.

Wilson L. Miller was educated in the dis- trict schools, which he attended in Beaver township for some two years. He has since given his attention to agricultural pursuits, carrying on general farming and stock-rais- ing, and making a specialty of hogs. Besides the home farm he owns 22 acres in section 16. He has a valuable property and his surround- ings all indicate a high degree of material prosperity.

On September 7, 1876, Mr. Miller was married to Laura A .. Sensenbacher, who was horn in Springfield township, Mahoning County, a daughter of Gottlieb and Anna ( Mollenkopf) Sensenbacher. The father of Mrs. Miller was born in Germany and was about 18 years oldl when his parents brought him to America. They located in Mahoning County, on the Pennsylvania line. He died June 14. 1801. and his wife's death occurred in the following year. Mr. and Mrs. Sensen- bacher had seven children, namely : Mrs, Mil- ler: Lonisa Mary, who married Calvin C. Rummel, and resides in Youngstown; John, residing in Unity township, Columbiana Conn- tv: Rost Catherine, who married Henry Wood, residing in Youngstown; Sarah, who married George Beck, and resides in East Pal- estine: Daniel and Emma, who died in child- hood.

Mr. and Mrs. Miller have one son, Park F., who was born on the present farm, Sep- tember 10, 1877. January 24, 1901, he mar- ried Blanche G. Wunderlin, who was born in Beaver township, a daughter of Lewis Wun- derlin. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have one grand- son, from the above marriage, Relph Lewis, who was born July 16, 1904.

Like his father, Mr. Miller has always been a Democrat. He is a member of Grace Church, at Columbiana. A good citizen, he takes an active interest in everything pertain- ing to the advancement of education, temper- ance and religion, in his neighborhood.

e OOK FITCH KIRTLAND, who spent his entire life in Poland town- ship, Mahoning County, was born here September 21, 1826, and died in his 70th year, on April 14. 1896. He was a son of Henry T. Kirtland, who was born November 16. 1795. From the pe- riod of the first settlements the Kirtland family has been prominent in the history of this sec- tion.

Turhand Kirtland, the grandfather of Cook F. Kirtland, was born in Wallingford, Connecticut, November 16, 1775, and came to Ohio in early manhood at a time when only trails led through the dense forests. Accompanied by his brother Jared, and his sister and her husband, Jonathan Fowler, he made the trip from Beaver, Pennsylvania ( then known as Mackintosh). to Poland town- ship. Malioning County, in a canoe, arriving here on the 20th of May. 1799. Turhand and his brother located homes here but did not bring on their families until 1802. Mr. and Mrs. Fowler lived in a cloth tent for the first six weeks, which was pitched on the west bank of Yellow Creek near the flonring mill. Subsequently they erected substantial homes in which the first white chikl of the township was born-Rachel Fowler. It is said that when Turhand Kirtland removed from Connecti- cut to western Pennsylvania he brought the first wagon to the town of Warren, but was

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forced to leave it at that place when he con- tinued his journey to Ohio, as there were no roads. He was well known as a land agent and as a public-spirited citizen. In 1800 he officiated at the first marriage in the township held on his farm, the contracting parties be- ing John Black and Nancy Bryan. In 1804 he started a tavern, in a frame building situ- ated on the high ground east of Yellow Creek, and ran this as a first-class inn for a time. The large public square in Poland and the cemetery were donated by him, and the church lot was given by his son, Henry Turhand, The salt spring tract belonged to him and others whom he represented.

Cook Fitch Kirtland, whose portrait may be seen on a neighboring page, was reared in Poland township. He engaged in banking and other business, being also the owner and op- erator of several fine farms. His first wife was Maria Perkins Swift. The two children born of this marriage are deceased. the son, Henry Turhand, dying at the age of 19 years and the daughter. Maria, at the age of 10. On February 3. 1876, Mr. Kirtland was united in marriage with Harriet Swift, a cousin of his first wife, and daughter of Lucian and Sarah (West) Swift. She was born in Akron, Ohio, being the eldest of four children in the paren- tal family and was graduated from the schools of Cleveland, Ohio, Two children were born of the second marriage. Isabell and Lucian Swift. The former, who was educated at Waterbury, Connecticut, is the wife of George S. Bishop, of Poland Village, and has two sons-George Kirtland and Fitch Kirtland Bishop. Lucian Swift Kirtland. a graduate of Yale University, is a journalist of Minne- apolis, Minnesota.

Hon. Zephaniah Swift, the grandfather of Mrs. Kirtland, was for many years a judge in the higher courts of Comecticut. His son, Lucian, her father, was born in Connecticut, June 2. 1808, and died in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1800. At the age of 20 years he removed to Ohio, settling in Summit county, where he married Sarah West, a daughter of Captain Thomas West, who for many years sailed a ship from Martha's Vineyard and lived to be

83 years old. Lucian Swift was active in pub- lic life. He served as clerk of the probate courts and filled other offices in the gift of the people. His wife lived to an advanced age, dying in 1906, at the age of 86 years. Of the children of Lucian Swift, his son Lucian moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1875, and was subsequently manager of the Minne- apolis Journal. He is married and has a fam- ily. Grace Huntington lived with her mother in Cleveland until the latter's decease. Thomas died in Cleveland in 1881.

Mrs. Kirtland has resided for many years past in the fine old brick mansion in Poland, which was erected by her late husband long before the war. It resembles a modern dwell- ing notwithstanding its age, and is a most charming home.

e APT. DANIEL B. STAMBAUGH, who is president of the Stambaugh- Thompson Hardware Company of Youngstown, was born in Mahoning County, April 6, 1838, a son of John and Sarah,( Bower) Stambaugh. His parents were natives of Pennsylvania, in which state they were reared and married. Coming to Ohio in 1805, they settled on a farm north of the present city of Youngstown, where they passed the remainder of their lives.

Daniel B. Stambaugh passed his youth on his father's farm and continued to be inter- ested in agricultural pursuits until 1855, when he became identified with the development of the coal industry at Brier Hill and other lo- calities. He has taken an active part in devel- oping the iron resources of Ohio, although his mining operations have not been confined to this state alone, for he has made investments in mines in both Idaho and Colorado. He is a man of excellent judgment. shrewd and far- seeing in his dealings, and worthy of the posi- tion he has won.

In 1861 when President Lincoln issued his call for 75,000 men Mr. Stambaugh enlisted in Company B, toth Regiment, Ohio Volun- teer Infantry, in which he served four months.

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In June, 1862, he reenlisted, becoming second lieutenant of Company A, 105th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He participated in the battles of Rich Mountain, Perryville and Chickamauga, at the last named engagement being so seriously wounded that he was sent to the hospital where he remained for forty days. When sufficiently recovered he rejoined his command and participated in the engagements at Mission Ridge, and the various battles of the Atlanta campaign, including Buzzard's Roost. Tullahoma, Big Shanty, Lost Moun- thin, Marietta, Peach Tree Creek, and the at- tack on and capture of Atlanta. From At- lanta he proceeded in Sherman's triumphant host on the "March to the Sea," and subse- quently, after the close of hostilities, took part in the grand review at Washington. He was honorably discharged June 5, 1865. From the rank of second lieutenant he was promoted to that of first lieutenant, and in August. 1863, was appointed captain, in which office he served until the close of the war.

On November 15, 1867, Captain Stam- baugh was married to Margaret Osborne, a daughter of Abner Osborne, of Girard, Trum- bull County, Ohio. To them were born three children : Philip, now deceased; Anna, who is the wife of David Tod of Youngstown; and Mrs. Mary Gordon, also a resident of Youngs- town. Mrs. Stambaugh is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church; she is a woman of deep devotion and possesses many rare qual- ities. Mr. Stamibaugh is a man of very at- tractive personal traits, is a most congenial companion and a stanch and true friend. As a citizen he holds an esteemed place in the re- gard of his townsmen. Mr. and Mrs. Stam- baugh reside at No. 129 West Rayen avenue.

ESSE SIMON, owning 151 acres of valuable farming land which is sit- uated in Boardman township, about four miles south of Youngstown, is one of the old and prominent residents of this section, having been born on this place. February 15, 1830, in a log cabin which is

still standing. His parents were Jacob and Elizabeth (Stemple) Simon.

Jacob Simon was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, to which his father, Michael Simon, had moved from Maryland. As early as 1803, Michael Simon came to the Western Reserve and before he returned for his family, he invested in 600 acres of land. The farm of Jesse Simion is a part of the orig- inal purchase made by his grandfather and he has the old deed in his possession.

The country was wild indeed when Michael Simon ventured out into the wilder- ness. Here and there a few hardy settlers had made a little clearing and erected a log cabin, but between this point and the Ohio River there were no roads, only cow paths. Neither were there any roads between the homestead and Canfield. Michael Simon died in Ohio, in advanced age. It is thought by his family that he was a native of Switzerland.

Jacob Simon journeyed on horseback to the land which his father had purchased, and came into possession of the farm now owned by his son Jesse. He had received some edu- cational training in his native state, and being one of the first school teachers in Boardman township, was designated schoolmaster Jacob, in order to separate him from another Jacob Simon, who was known as Mill Creek Jacob. He built a log cabin on his land and January 13. 1811, he was married to Elizabeth Stem- ple. This remarkable woman, who bore her many trials and hardships with cheerfulness and fortitude. came to Ohio on the back of a three-year-old horse. At that time few streams had yet been bridged, and most of them had to be forded, a matter made more difficult on account of the burdens she carried, consisting of all that she could bring from her old home and including a set of pewter plates. She became the mother of nine children and survived until April, 1879. dying at the age of 89 years.

In the year following his marriage, Jacob Simon was drafted for service in the War of 1812, but he secured his release by going to Youngstown and paying $go for a substitute. In order to secure this sum-a large one for

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those days-lie was obliged to sell all his household possessions, except the beloved pew- ter plates which had been brought with so much care from the old Pennsylvania home. The land, however, was left, and a new be- ginning was made, although under hard con- ditions. At that time salt, an absolute neces- sity, was selling for $24 a barrel and even then the settler had to make a trip of forty miles to Georgetown and bring it back on horseback, over Indian trails. The land had to be cleared before it could be made produc- tive, and hard and incessant lahor was every- one's daily portion. Fortunately game was abundant and when there was time for hunt- ing. deer and turkey filled the larder. The streams also were full of fish ; wild honey could often be found in the forest, the sugar maples were full of sap, and when the season came around for making sugar, the older members of the family took turns sleeping and boiling the syrup at night. All the corn was ground in a hand-mill and often Jacob Simon came home from a hard day's work in the field and ground the corn for his evening meal of mush.

Jacob Simon lived to be 75 years old, dy- ing September 12, 1861, He and his wife had nine children, five sons and four daughters, a son and danghter still surviving. the two youngest members of the family. These chil- dren were as follows : David, who was once auditor of Mahoning County ; Levi, who was a well known teacher : Lydia, who married Elias Rupert : Delilah, who married George Worm- ley : Stilling, who was named for a noted Ger- man author: Gideon, of whom there is 110 special mention ; Salome, who married Moses Webber; Salinda, who married John Shaffer ; and Jesse. the youngest member of the nine children and the only survivor except his elder sister. Salinda.

Jesse Simon was born after many of the early hardships of pioneer life had been over- come. but he can recall many disadvantages that still remained, among them lack of educa- tional opportunities and want of farm machin- ery, as well as the still unsettled state of the surrounding country. Not far from his home. in the woods, had been built a log school

house and there he secured a fair training in the elements of knowledge. He has in his pos- session an old account book which is inter- esting in that it shows the expense of running a district school in those days, the largest item being the teacher's salary of $8 per month. Mr. Simon has spent his life on this farm and still can do a good day's work al- though he acknowledges the valuable assist- ance given him by his eldest son, who manages the greater part of the farm labor.

Mr. Simon, in young manhood, was mar- ried to Betsey Williamson, a daughter of Pratt Williamson, who at one time owned a large farm situated in what is now the center of Youngstown. Mr. and Mrs. Simon have had six chiklren : Wilber C., Wade, Eben X., Edith, Fitch, and Della. Wilber C., who mar- ried Anna Harding, resides in a tenant house on the farm, which he assists in operating. He has five children, namely : Clyde H., Emma, Horace, Alma and Bessie. Wade, residing on Flint Hill, Youngstown, married Mary Gilby. and has two children-Walter and Ethiel. Eben N., residing in Washington, married Laura Hood and they have eight children- Jessie, Edith. Gail. Roger, Harold, Eben, Jr., Gladys and Laura Joy. Edith, now deceased, was the wife of Prof. W. H. Wagner, of Find- lay College, at Findlay, Ohio. Fitch and Della, are also both deceased, the former dying at the age of three, and the latter at the age of two years.

The comfortable family home of the Si- mons is a commodious eight-room frame dwelling, which Mr. Simon erected himself. His land he bought from his father's estate and since purchasing he has kept on making im- provements. Politically he is a Republican and has served as township trustee. With his family he belongs to the Christian Church. Mr. Simon has an excellent memory and is an interesting story-teller. There are few fam- ilies in this section of whose history he is ig- nerant, and scarcely any event of importance in Boardman township has occurred that he has not taken an interest in. His life has cov- ered a period of many changes in this vicin- ity, and in his day he has seen much of the

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SAMUEL GIBSON

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country redeemed from the wilderness, happy home established, farms put under cultivation, and public utilities, like the telephone. the ru- ral inail, and the electric car, changing for the better the former conditions of life. Instead of the old log school house his grandchildren are afforded all the advantages that are the result of modern ideas, and almost at the doors of their homes can acquire the collegiate train- ing that once would have entailed the expendi- ture of great capital and long absences from the home cirele. The Simons, with other pio- neer families, cut the first paths of civilization through Boardman township and are entitled to due credit.

S AMUEL GIBSON, a representative of one of the pioneer families of Ma- honing County, was born on the farm which is still his home, March 9. 1819. and is a son of Robert D. and Lydia ( Marshall) Gibson.

Robert D. Gibson was born in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, in 1783, and accompa- nied his father to Ohio in 1799. After reach- ing Mahoning County, they camped for one night by the big spring, on the very land that Mr. Gibson now owns. Afterward, they went on to Warren, Trumbull County, but not find- ing a more favorable situation, they returned two weeks later to the locality which had pleased them, and the grandfather purchased the land on which the subject of this sketch now makes his home. Here Robert R. Gibson grew to manhood, and in 1818 was married to Lydia Marshall, who was born in Hunting- don County, Pennsylvania, in 1799. She was 11 years of age when she accompanied her parents to Trumbull County, Ohio, where she obtained the education afforded in the primi- tive schools of those days on the frontier.

There were nine children born to Robert D. and Lydia Gibson, five of whom grew to maturity. For two years following his mar- riage, Robert Gibson resided with his father and then removed to a home on the same

farm, three-quarters of a mile distant, on which he passed the remainder of his life. He and wife were worthy, exemplary people, and they labored earnestly and zealously for the welfare of their children and for the good of their community, setting an example in all the cardinal virtues.

Samne] Gibson began to assist his parents as soon as he was old enough to do a "chore," for their means, like those of their neighbors, were limited, and each child had appointed tasks to add to the family resources. When but 12 years old, Samuel Gibson followed the plow, and when 14 was able to do all the ploughing on the farm, and was doubtless prond of it, as he had reason to be. His only school attendance was for six months, but his father was able to instruct him in mathematics, and when 15 years of age, he taught himself the rules of granunar. In early manhood the coveted opportunity was offered and accepted of a course of instruction in a select school at Youngstown, and so well did he improve his advantages that in the following year he be- gan teaching, taking the Salt Springs school for one term. Ile then turned his attention to the cultivation of broom corn, and for fourteen years he devoted his energies to this industry.

In 1843 Mr. Gibson was married (first) to Ann Irwin, who died in 1846, leaving one child, James D. He was married (second) June 11, 1847, to Nancy J. Gault, who is a daughter of Major James Gault, of Mercer County, Pennsylvania. Major Gault was of Scotch extraction and was a prominent man in his community, serving many years as a jus- tice of the peace. Of this second marriage there were eight children, six of whom grew to maturity, namely : William T., Benjamin, .Robert A., Harry G., Minnie A., and Ella G.

In politics Mr. Gibson is a Democrat. Al- though he has reached the age of 88 years, he remains hale and hearty, his physical vigor and mental powers unimpaired, bearing testi- mony to the benefits of a life mainly spent in out-door pursuits. With pleasure not un- mixed with astonishment, he has watched the development of Ohio from a wilderness into

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a populous and extremely fertile and resource- ful commonwealth. His portrait is published in connection with this sketch.

ENRY K. WICK, who is president of the large coal firm of H. K. Wick & Company at Youngstown, was born in this city August 31. 1840, being one of ten children born to Col. Caleb B. and Maria .Welelia (Griffith) Wick.

Col. Caleb B. Wick was born in Washing- ton County, Pennsylvania. October 1. 1795, and died at Youngstown June 30, 1865. hav- ing passed nearly the whole of his life in Ma- honing County ard having been largely inter- ested in most of the important industries that were established in this section during his life time. His father. Henry Wick, was born in Long Island March 19. 1771, and at the age of 23 years married Hannah Baldwin, a daughter of Caleb Baldwin of Morristown, New Jersey. After some years of mercantile life in Washington County, Pennsylvania, Henry Wick came to Youngstown, Ohio, in 1801 and here engaged in a mercantile busi- ness. His son, Col. Caleb B. Wick, followed in his footsteps and was also interested in the iron industry which has done so much to de- velop this section. Colonel Wick was twice married. Both of the children born of the first marriage are deceased. On November 3. 1828. he married Maria Adelia Griffith, a na- tive of Caledonia, New York. All of their children reached maturity.

Henry K. Wick attended the public schools of Youngstown and laid the foundation of a good education which was later augmented through lessons learned in the school of ex- perience. In 1856 he entered the business world as a clerk in the Mahoning National Bank. In the succeeding fifty years he has been interested in many branches of industry and for the last thirty-eight years has given special attention to the coal and iron indus- tries, being president at this time of H. K. Wick & Company, coal dealers. His offices

are located at No. 404-405 Dollar Bank build- ing.

Mr. Wick married Millicent R. Clarke, a daughter of Daniel T. Hunt, of Rochester. New York. The family residence is a very handsonte structure located on Wick avenue. Like all other members of the Wick family in Youngstown, Mr. and Mrs. Wick are attend- ants of the Memorial Presbyterian Church. The subject of this sketch is a Republican in politics.

77 ILLIAM W. BROWNLEE. one of the leading citizens and largest land owners of Coitsville town- ship, was born on the farm on which he now resides, April 2, 1854, and is the son of John S. and Jennette ( l'atterson) Brownlee.

John S. Brownlee and his wife were both born in Glasgow, Scotland, where they were also reared, educated and married. John Brownlee was a son of John Brownlee, Sr., who resided on a farm just beyond the city limits of Glasgow. He spent his entire boy- hood days on his father's farm and after his marriage he and his wife came to this coun- try, about 1828, first locating for one year at Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. He then crossed the mountains in wagons and came to Ma- lioning County, Ohio, remaining for one year at Struthers, after which he came to Coitsville township and bought too acres of land, which formed a part of the farm on which his son William now resides. At that time Youngs. town was but a small village with about a dozen log houses on Main street. The only buildings on the land consisted of an old log house, part of which is still standing, and a log school house, which stood about 200 feet from the present home of the subject of this sketch, The latter building was taken down and rebuilt about half a mile farther east. There were Init six of the 100 acres cleared, but in a few years Mr. Brownlee had the land all cleared and under cultivation, and erected a frame house in which he continued to reside until his

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death in March, 1887. His widow died in February of the following year. They were the parents of six children : Margaret, John .A .. Jennette, Ellen. James Patterson and Wil- liam W. Margaret died in 1880. aged 50 years: Jolm .\ .. enlisted in the 19th Ohio Vol. Inf. and died in a hospital in 1862; his remains were brought home and bur- icd at Hopewell Cemetery: Jemette (Mrs. Marstler ) resides in Mercer Cimnty, Pennsyl- vania; Ellen, died at the age of 17 years: James Patterson, who also enlisted in the 19th Ohia Vol. Inf., died in 1862 at the same hos- pital in which his brother, one month later. passed away, and was also brought home and buried at Hopewell Cemetery: Randall S. is a resident of Coitsville township.

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Twentieth Century History of Youngstown and Mahoning County Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 61

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