Twentieth Century History of Youngstown and Mahoning County Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 70

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 70

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Of the seven sons of Thomas W. Kennedy, James was the second born. In early life his natural inclinations seemed to be similar to those of his brothers, but circumstances di- rected his ambition in another direction, and finally the law claimed him as her exponent. His literary education had been secured at

Poland Seminary, where once William Mc- Kinley also was a student, and at Westminster College, New Wilmington, Pennsylvania, where he was graduated in the class of 1876, with the distinction of being one of the best debaters and most finished orators ever turned out from that institution. Naturally he turned to the law, and in 1879 he was admitted to the bar of Mahoning County, his legal education having been obtained under General T. W. Sanderson.

With steady strides he soon reached a high standing as a lawyer, and while he was yet a young man his availability as a political standard-bearer became a question of moment with his party. For some years he was as- sociated in practice at Youngstown with Wil- liam A. Maline and later with Thomas Con- nell. His law offices are located at No. 403 Federal Building. As years passed Mr. Ken- nedy became more and more a prominent fac- tor in the Republican party, and, as he was one of the party's most effective public speak- ers, he became personally known all over the state. Many notable occasions might be men- tioned when his effective oratory changed the tide of public opinion.

On July 23, 1902, Mr. Kennedy was nomi- nated for congress, at Salem, Ohio, winning the honor from other able and popular candi- dates. The fight was a long and spirited one. but at no time during the balloting did Ma- honing County recede from her quota of 89 votes. It was a proud day for Youngstown when, on the 208th ballot, James Kennedy was declared nominated. In the following fall clection he was successful, carrying every county in the district by overwhelming major- ities and Mahoning County by over 3.700 votes, obtaining in the district a plurality of 11.875 votes. In every way Mr. Kennedy was well equipped to take his place in the august body to which he was elected, and his subsequent career lias been one which reflects credit and honor upon himself and his con- stituents. As in his profession, so in public life. he has made himself felt, holding ever dear the interests of his own community, yet gravely and carefully considering the import-

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ant questions that in the past four years have made the laws of the congress of the United States object lessons to other lands and gov- ernments.

In 1884 Mr. Kennedy was united in mar- riage with Phebe Irwin, a daughter of Henry Irwin, an old resident of Newton Falls. Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy have a delightful home at No. 130 Madison avenue, Youngstown. They have one daughter, Grace, who is an accom- plished young lady.

Mr. Kennedy is a member of the Ohio State and Mahoning County Bar Associations, of the Republican Club at Youngstown, and of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Mr. Kennedy's portrait accompanies this sketch.

m MARTIN A. KIMMEL, superintend- ent of the public schools of Po- land and a director in the Farm- ers' Deposit and Savings Bank of Poland, was born in Coitsville township, Mahoning County, Ohio, August I, 1854, son of Smith and Julia A. (Struble) Kimmel. Smith Kimmel, the father, was a native of Coitsville, Ohio.

Tobias Kimmel came from Pennsylvania to Coitsville township, Mahoning County. He purchased a farm on which he continued to reside until a few years before his death, when he removed to Struthers. Smith Kimmel was reared and educated in Coitsville township and in early manhood was married, at Hubbard, to Julia Ann Struble, a daughter of David Stru- ble, who had brought his family to Hubbard when Mrs. Kimmel was a child, from the old family homestead in New Jersey. They had the following children who reached maturity : Martin A., whose name begins this article; David, who is engaged in farming in Jackson township; Ella, who married Alexander M. Chapman, residing at Youngstown : Frank E., who is a clerk in the offices of the J. H. Fitch Company. at Youngstown; Charles E., who is in a grocery business at Struthers; Gilbert D., who resides on the home farm in Jackson

township; and Arthur, who is yardmaster at Youngstown for the Pennsylvania Railroad.

Martin A. Kimmel obtained his education in the schools of Coitsville township, and at the Poland Seminary, graduating from the latter institution in 1874. When about 18 years of age his father sold the Coitsville farm and subsequently, in 1874, moved to Jackson township, purchasing the old John Ewing farm, on which the family resided un- til 1903. He then moved to Youngstown, where he lived retired until his death, which occurred January 11, 1905. When but 17 years of age, Martin A. Kimmel began to teach school, his first experience being at the Flint Hill School in Youngstown township, where he had seventy-two pupils. In the fol- lowing spring he entered the Poland Union Seminary, during the summer assisting his father on the farm. This method of dividing his time he continued until 1880. In that year he came to Poland as superintendent of the village schools. He has since made many im- portant changes and wrought much improve- ment in the system here. He taught during his first two years in an old frame building, but in 1882 the present commodious brick structure was erected, which has four rooms- none too many, as the superintendent has graded the school and introduced a high school curriculum, teaching the high school class himself. As an educator Mr. Kimmel is well and favorably known all over the county. Since 1886 he has been a member of the board of county examiners, serving as its clerk. His duties have pressed heavily upon him. as he is a faithful, conscientious worker, and he has formed a plan to visit Europe during the sum- mer of 1907. for rest and recreation.

In 1877 Mr. Kimmel was married (first) to Emma McNabb, who died in 1898, leaving two children: Jessie and Kennon K. The former married Dr. Edgar Tobey, of New Bedford. Pennsylvania, and has one child, Ma- rian. Mrs. Tobey is a graduate of the Poland High School and was a student at Oberlin, when the fatal illness of her mother called her home, where she remained as housekeeper.

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Kennon K. Kimmel is employed in the pur- chasing department of the Youngstown Sheet and Tube Company. Mr. M. A. Kimmel was married (second). in 1900, to Lillie B. Haynes, who was born and reared at Poland, and who is a daughter of Charles S. Haynes. Mr. Kim- mel is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and chairman of its board of trustees. He served for fourteen years as Sunday school superintendent. Mrs. Kimmel is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

J OHN MEEK BONNELL, who for al- most thirty years was closely con- nected with the iron and coal interests of Mahoning County, and who was one of the most prominent and valued citizens of Youngstown, was born November 12, 1848, in Bradford, Yorkshire, England. His parents, Joseph Fearnley and Alice Eliza- beth ( Duftill) Bonnell, were lifelong residents of that place. The father, Joseph F. Bonnell, was a saddler and harnessmaker, who had suc- ceeded his father and grandfather in the busi- ness, the old saddlery establishment of Bon- nell having been a landmark at Bradford for three centuries. Joseph F. Bonnell lived to the age of 58 years, dying December 1, 1875. He reared seven children, namely : John Meek, direct subject of this sketch; Elizabeth, Jane Ellen, and Mary, who reside in England; Alice, who married T. J. Storey, general man- ager of the International Salvage Company. of London; Harry, a prominent citizen of Youngstown, a sketch of whom will be found in this volume; and William Fearnley, one of the partners in the firm of Otis Bonnell & Company, iron agents at Cleveland, Ohio.

John Meek Bonnell was afforded excellent educational advantages in his native place, and it is possible that his father looked to him to continue the old saddlery house of Bonnell. He could not forsee the brilliant business fu- ture which awaited his son across the Atlantic. After completing a liberal academic course of training. John Meek Bonnell came to Amter- ica, and in 1865 joined his uncle, William Bon-

nell, at Youngstown, where he found ample opportunity for the exercise of his natural and acquired ability, which resulted in making him one of the leading capitalists and prominent business men of this section. Dependent upon his own resources. he willingly accepted a po- sition as shipping clerk in the rolling-mill of Brown, Bonnell & Company, making his home with his uncle. Subsequently he became trav- eling salesman for Cleveland, Brown & Com- pany, of Cleveland, but in 1875 he was taken into the firm of Bonnell, Botsford & Company, as an active partner. From April, 1878, un- til August, 1883. Mr. Bonnell conducted a branch office of the business at Chicago, where he proved a useful factor in extending the trade of the Ohio concern. After his return to Youngstown, he became a member of the Ma- honing Valley Iron Company, and with these and allied interests he continued connected up to the close of his life.

On August 26, 1875. John Meek Bonnell was married to Emily Wick, a daughter of the late Hugh Bryson and Lucretia G. (Win- chell) Wick, and a member of one of the most influential families in Northeastern Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Bonnell had three children, namely : Joseph Fearnley, born at Youngstown, No- vember 21, 1876; Hugh Wick, born at Chi- cago, Illinois, February 23. 1880; and Caro- line, born at Chicago, Illinois, April 3. 1882.

Mr. Bonnell died at Youngstown, Novem- ber 2. 1884. In politics he was a Republican and at one time he served Youngstown as a member of the city council. In Masonry he was a Knight Templar, being a charter mem- ber of Montjoie Commandery. No. 53. of Chi- cago. Mrs. Bonnell still resides in the beauti- ful family home at No. 315 Wick avenne.

E MERY LAWSON MCKELVEY, sec- retary and treasurer of The G. M. Mckelvey Company of Youngstown, was born at Armagh, Indiana County. Pennsylvania. Sep- tember 27, 1866, and is a son of Nathaniel W. and Mary ( McFeaters) McKelvey, both par- ents being natives of that town.

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Nathaniel W. MeKelsey was for many years extensively engaged in agricultural pur- suits in Indiana County, Pennsylvania. He served nine months in the Civil War, in Com- pany F, Second Battalion, Pennsyvania State Volunteers, taking part in some of the most bloody battles of that long protracted struggle. He lived to the age of 56 years, dying in Can- ton, Ohio. The mother of F. L. Mckelvey. who now is the wife of Hugh St. Clair. a re- tired farmer of Vinton, Iowa, had eight chil- dren, of whom four are now living.

Emery L. MeKelvey remained on the home farm until he was 18 years of age, during which time he attended, when farm duties per- mitted, the county and city schools of his neighborhood. At the age mentioned he en- tered the employ of The Andrews Brothers Company at Haselton, Mahoning County, Ohio, with which concern he continued for two years. Ile then engaged with the Morse Bridge Company of Haselton as clerk and as- sistant paymaster. Two years later he be- came an employee of The G. M. McKelvey Company as salesman. He was subsequent- ly advanced from time to time until he finally acquired a large interest in the concern, of which. upon its reorganization, he became sec- retary and treasurer, as well as a member of the board of directors. These positions he still hokis. He is also president and director of the Peerless Laundry Company, vice-presi- deut and director of the Wheeler Mineral Springs Company, and secretary, treasurer and director of the New York Realty Com- pany. all of Youngstown.

On September 13. 1891, Mr. MeKelvey was united in marriage with Mary Emma Vogan ni Grove City, Pennsylvania. Three children were born of this union, namely : Emery Clarence, who died at the age of two years : Mary Louise, now a bright girl of eight summers; and Helene, who passed away May 27. 1906. at the age of three years. Mir and Mrs. McKelvey are members of the Taber- nacle United Presbyterian Church of Youngs- town, of which Mr. McKelvey is a trustee. Ile is also a trustee of the Young Men's Christian Association, and belongs to the Youngstown

Club, the Youngstown lodge of Elks and the Chamber of Commerce. In politics he is a Republican but has never held office.

OHN S. LLOYD, owner of a valuable tract of land consisting of 66 acres, known as the Lloyd homestead, which is situated in section 1, Goshen town- ship. Mahoning County, Ohio, was born on this farm. April 4, 1841, and is a son of Benjamin and Keturah (Peterson) Lloyd.

Benjamin Lloyd was born in Pennsylva- nia and his parents were pioneer settlers in Goshen township. locating on the farm now owned by John S. Lloyd. Benjamin Lloyd had much to do with the clearing and develop- ing of this land and his whole life was passed here, his death occurring in 1880. He mar- ried Keturalı Peterson, who was born in New Jersey, and five of their children still survive: Joel C., John S., Abel P., William P., and James.

John S. Lloyd has devoted his whole life to agricultural pursuits and has made of the homestead farm a property that would com- mand a high price if ever put on the market. He was educated in the district schools of Goshen township, which, during his boyhood, were mainly devoted to teaching reading, writ- ing, spelling and arithmetic, but the training was of the most practical kind and afforded a basis for further study when it was deemed necessary. That it was excellent is shown by the large proportion of intelligent men and women who have become the best residents and citizens of old Goshen township.

Mr. Lloyd was married in young manhood, to Mary A. Reams, who was born in Logan County, Ohio, and is a daughter of Henry Reams, a former resident of Logan County. Of their five children, four survive: Cora. who married Curtis Walker, residing at Sa- lem, Ohio: Jesse, residing in Michigan : Mary. who married Frank Kline, residing at Salem: and Florence who married James Hester, re- siding in Berlin township.

For several years, Mr. Lloyd has owned

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HENRY K. MORSE

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the magnificent stallion, Dexter, who weighs 1.700 pounds and stands 16's hands high. This fine animal is half Percheron and half Belgian.

Mr. Lloyd is a Republican in politics, but he has never consented to serve in any public capacity except that of school director.

F ENRY K. MORSE, a representative citizen of Poland township, residing on the old Morse homestead on which he was born May 4, 1822, belongs to a family which has been long and favorably known in Mahoning County. His parents were Elkanah and Nancy ( Kirtland) Morse.

As family records disclose, the founder of the American branch of the Morse family was John Morse, the great-great-grandfather, wlio came to New England, in 1635, and became prominent in the settlement of New Haven, Connecticut.

Benajah Morse, grandfather of Henry K., served as captain of the Home Guards, which was an organization formed to protect the residents of Wallingford. Connecticut, from the depredations of the British raiders, dur- ing a part of the Revolutionary War. Al- though the Morse family has been prominent in many lines of activity, it has also been an agricultural one and the old homestead at Wallingford has been retained for a period of 185 years. while the present home of Henry K. Morse has been a family possession for 104 years.

on the Mahoning river and loaded it with flour, bear-skins, oil and other commodities, proceeded down the river to Beaver, then down the Ohio to the Mississippi, and thus on to New Orleans, where a ready market was found. A number of successful trips were made and for a time the business was very profitable. Almost all his life. Elkanah Morse was more or less interested in river and lake traffic, owning vessels, commission houses and supply stations at various points.

While Mr. Morse had business interests all over the country, each year increasing their scope, he continued to retain his home in Po- land township. He operated a store at Poland village and for several years carried on a large commission and shipping business at Detroit. He was a man of advanced and progressive ideas and was the original promoter of several important industries of this section. He be- came interested in the growing of broomt-corn and in one year raised 400 acres having about 20 men employed in broom-making and en- couraging others to follow his example. It was Mr. Morse who opened up the oyster trade in this section, his first transaction of . this nature being the sending out of a load of brooms which were disposed of at Baltimore, Maryland, a wagon load of canned oysters, being received in exchange. When the wagon with its then very precious freight, reached Poland, Mr. Drake took charge and trans- ported them, by sleigh loads, around Lake Erie. to Detroit, where they were disposed of for from $4 to $5 per can, they being at that time an expensive luxury. In 1836 and 1837, Elkanah Morse met with serions busi- ness reverses. He was maintaining a business house at Detroit and owned vessels and boats on the lakes which were bringing him a large income, but which also entailed large expenses. At the time above named he was depending upon disposing of a heavy cargo carried by one of his schooners, the Ben Barton, to pay off all his indebtedness. The vessel was loaded at Detroit and its destination was Buffalo, but encountering a heavy storm on the lake, it was shipwrecked near Erie, Pennsylvania,

Elkanah Morse, father of Henry K., was born at Wallingford, Connecticut, and was a young man when he came to Poland township, Mahoning County, in 1814. He was a man of energy and enterprise and his life was filled with many adventures, much business success, and a few reverses: its dramatic close came when he was. stricken with cholera, on the great plains, while on his way to recover from business losses in the California gold fields. in 1849. In partnership with Henry Kirtland, his brother-in-law, Mr. Morse built a flat-boat . In 1849. when a company was organized to-

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cross the plains to California and seek for gold, Mr. Morse, always ready for business adventure, joined a party, and his death fol- lowed, as noticed above.

Elkanah Morse was married (first) to Nancy Kirtland, born at Wallingford, Con- necticut, and who was a daughter of Turhand Kirtland. The latter was an agent for the Connecticut Land Company and came to Ma- honing County in 1798, making an annual summer visit up to 1803, when he brought his family and settled in Poland township. To this marriage three children were born, namely : Mrs. Lois Mansfield, residing at Beaver, Pennsylvania; Henry K., direct sub- ject of this sketch, and Edwin, who died in 1853. Mrs. Morse died in 1825, while at Wallingford, Connecticut, where she had gone on a visit to regain her health. Mr. Morse was married (second) to Comfort Eliza Wal- ler, and they had one son, William. The lat- ter enlisted for service in the Civil War, in 1862, from Illinois. He was wounded and taken prisoner at the battle of Stone River and subsequently died at Atlanta.

Henry K. Morse was reared mainly in Poland township and attended the district schools. During one subsequent winter he at- tended school at Detroit, another winter was spent at Allegheny College, Meadville, Penn- sylvania, and one year at Ravenna, Portage County, Ohio. His time of youth on the farm was one crowded with many duties, including the clearing of land, attending to the broom- corn crop, and general agriculture. In 1840 he became a clerk in the general store of Kirt- land Mansfield, at Poland, and in 1843-4 he was appointed postmaster of the village. He conducted a store of his own and kept the . office until 1852, when he resigned the latter in order to embark in a promising business enterprise. He became a member of a com- pany which erected a large flouring mill and which conducted a milling 'business success- fully for 12 years, or until the Fort Wayne Railroad was completed. This road made transportation of wheat possible from wheat- growing regions and the milling business at

Poland was no longer profitable. The mill was later sold to William Powers and a com- pany, was removed and rebuilt at Youngs- town, and, until destroyed by fire, stood on the site of the present wholesale grocery house of John H. Fitch. For a number of years after retiring from the milling business, Mr. Morse engaged extensively in gardening and fruit-raising and was the first gardener in this section to see the advantages of raising pro- duce for the Youngstown market. To a small extent, Mr. Morse continues his gardening business in which he takes a great interest, having met with much success in raising very fine vegetables and fruit.

Mr. Morse was married (first) to Mrs. Mary (Lynn) Wick, who died in 1878. She was the widow of Henry Wick. The four children born of this marriage were Henry G., Charles J., Edwin K. and Mary L. W.

Henry G. Morse, of the above family. who died in 1904, was a graduate of the Rensselaerville Polytechnie School, at Troy, New York. He was the founder and president of the New York Ship- building Company, which occupies 45 acres of land at Camden, New Jersey. Charles J. Morse graduated from the Yale College Sheffield Scientific School, and is a capitalist at Evanston, Illinois. He has traveled exten- sively and is greatly interested in Japanese art, having a fine collection of Japanese art objects. Edwin K. Morse, residing at Pitts- burg, Pennsylvania, and also a graduate of the Sheffield Scientific School. is engineer for the proposed subway at Pittsburg and consulting engineer for Jones & Laughlin of Pittsburg. Miss Mary L. W. Morse, after graduating from the Poland Seminary, spent one year at St. Margaret's School, Waterbury, Connecticut, afterwards taking a two-year course in chemistry, at the Boston Technical School, Boston, Massachusetts. In 1881. Mr. Morse was married ( second) to Eliza Blake- lee, who is a daughter of Jotham Blakelec. Mr. Morse and family belong to the Preshy- terian Church. His portrait may be seen on an accompanying page of this volume.

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ON. DAVID TOD. Few men in American public life have attained to a nobler fame than that which his- tory accords to the late Hon. David Tod, Ohio's great war governor, whose death took place November 13, 1868. Throughout a public career which had its be- ginning when he was comparatively young and which continued through the trying years of the Civil War, he continued to be a type of American statesmauship at its best.

David Tod was born at Youngstown, Ohio, February 21, 1805, and was a son of Hon. George and Sally (Isaacs) Tod, and a grand- son of David and Rachel (Kent) Tod, of old New England stock. His father, Judge George Tod, was born at Suffield, Con- necticut, December 11, 1773, was grad- uated from Yale College in 1795 and subsequently studied law at New Haven, Connecticut. He was there admitted to the bar and entered upon the practice of his profession. In 1800 he accompanied a party of prospectors to the Western Reserve and formed so favorable an opinion of the great opportunities for business and profes- sional development in Ohio that he made plans, which he later successfully carried out, to be- come a resident of this beautiful state.

In 1801 Judge Tod removed, with his wife and two children, to Youngstown, and in the same year was appointed secretary for the territory of Ohio, by Governor Arthur St. Clair. In 1802 Ohio became a state and at the first election held thereafter at Youngstown, George Tod was elected clerk of Youngstown township, to which office he was subsequently re-elected. He continued in the practice of his profession but was soon called into active public life, being elected state senator from Trumbull County, serving in the session of 1804-05, and again, in the same capacity, in 1810-11. In the interim between these two terms of service, he filled for four years an important position on the bench, serving for four years as a judge of the supreme court of Ohio, which service was terminated in 1810.

At the opening of the War of 1812, Judge Tod signified his intention of taking an active

part in military operations and was first com- missioned major of the 19th Ohio Regiment, later serving as colonel. On the field Judge Tod distinguished himself, participating in the battles of Fort Meigs and Sackett's Harbor. At the close of the war he returned once more to the practice of the law, but in 1815 he was again honored by his fellow-citizens, being elected presiding judge of the court of common pleas, an office he held until 1829. With the exception of one term prosecuting attorney of Trumbull County, this closed Judge Tod's public as career. Upon the retirement .from the cares and duties which had so completely filled so many years of his life, the aged jur- ist sought recreation in looking after his farm, to which he had given the name of "Brier Hill." This was appropriate on account of the abundance of briers then found there. The name remains, but in these latter days it rep- resents a wealth of coal, and its material prod- ucts are carried over a large part of the world. At a later date the farm passed into the more practical hands of his son David, and it still remains a possession of the family. It is now owned and occupied as the residence of George Tod, one of the sons of David Tod.

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Twentieth Century History of Youngstown and Mahoning County Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 70

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