Twentieth Century History of Youngstown and Mahoning County Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 72

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 72

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guished member of a notable family will be found in this work.

In 1869 Henry Tod was married, first, to Dillie Pollock, who died on December 28, 1878, at Pueblo, Colorado. She was sur- vived by two sons, John, subject of this sketch, and Henry, Jr., who was accidentally killed in an automobile collision on October 8, 1902. In 1891 Henry Tod was married, second, to Lucretia Van Fleet, who is a daugh- ter of John Van Fleet, a sketch of whom also will be found in this volume.

John Tod, the only surviving son of the late Henry Tod, was primarily educated at Youngstown and then entered Cornell Col- lege, where he was graduated in 1893. Shortly afterwards he entered into business, rapidly taking a prominent place at the head of various corporate interests, as mentioned above. He is besides the executor of his father's large estate. His offices are located at No. 35 Central Square, Youngstown, where an immense amount of business is transacted. Mr. Tod is a director in the First National Bank, the Mahoning National Bank, di- rector in the Brier Hill Iron & Coal Company, the Youngstown Carriage & Wagon Company, the American Belting Company, the Falcon Bronze Company, and the Republic Rubber Company. He is president of the Century Realty Company and of the Tod Land Company.

Mr. Tod married Alice Thayer Wood, daughter of Colonel F. Wood, and a member of a prominent old family of New York. Mr. and Mrs. Tod have a beautiful home at No. 207 Arlington street. They both are members of the Episcopal Church. Politically Mr. Tod is identified with the Republican party.

Mahoning County, Ohio, January 11, 1848, and is a son of Samuel and Abigail A. (Lloyd) Burton. The history of this promi- nent family may be found in the sketch of R. L. Burton, in this work.

Albert Burton obtained a district school education. From boyhood he has been ac- customed to life on a farm, and from actual experience understands every detail of the im- portant duties pertaining to successful agri- culture. He owns a valuable property, which he has put under a fine state of cultivation, has improved his surroundings at various times and enjoys the comforts of a well regulated home.

On February 9, 1874, Mr. Burton was married to Esther M. Strawn, who is a daugh- ter of John S. Strawn, of Goshen township, and they have two children: Ira S., residing at Salem; and Annie A., residing at home.

Mr. Burton, as an agriculturalist, has al- ways taken an active interest in local agri- cultural movements and for a number of years has served as one of the board of directors of the Mahoning County Agricultural Society. Since February, 1907, he has been vice-presi- dent of this important organization. He is a valued member of Goshen Grange, Patrons of Husbandry. He belongs to the Odd Fellows and is connected with the lodge of this order at Salem. In political sentiment he is a Re- publican.

D AVID POTHOUR, who is engaged in the wholesale dairy business with his son-in-law, Fritz Wilson, also op- erates his farm of seventy-eight acres, located in section 8, Coits- ville township. He was born on this farm September 11, 1859, and is a son of David and Rachel (Mariner) Pothour, both of whom are now deceased.

A LBERT BURTON, one of Goshen township's leading citizens, and vice- president of the Mahoning County David Pothour, his grandfather, was born in Germany, and came to this country in 1800, when 19 years old, settling in Hubbard town- ship, Trumbull County, Ohio, where he Agricultural Society, resides on his well cultivated farm of seventy acres, which is situated in section 21. Mr. Burton was born 'n Goshen township, ' bought a farm on which he resided until his

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death at the age of 96 years. David Pothour. father of the present David, was born at East Hubbard, Trumbull County, Ohio, and was reared on his father's farm, living there until his marriage, when he located on the farm now owned by the subject of this sketch. He married Rachel Mariner, who was born and reared in Coitsville township and who was a daughter of Asa Mariner, who removed to that township from Hartford, Connecticut, walking the entire distance. He was a sur- veyor and was the first of that calling to lo- cate in the county. He was married in the township in which he settled and where he spent the remainder of his life. Three chil- dren were born to David and Rachel (Mar- iner) Pothour, namely: Emmet, a soldier in the Civil War, who was a member of the 17th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and died in 1863 at Crab Orchard, Kentucky, of hydrophobia, having been bitten by a mad dog the summer previous to his entering the army; Nancy, widow of William Mars, who lives in Bed- ford, Pennsylvania; and David, the subject of this sketch.

David Pothour died May 16, 1879, and his widow died December 29, 1891.

David Pothour was reared on his present farm, and brought up to agriculture, which he has since followed. He is also engaged in the dairy business with his son-in-law, Fritz Wil- son. He was married November 16, 1881, to Rose Emma Longstreet, daughter of Charles Longstreet, of Coitsville. They have two children : Jessie, residing with her father, who married Fritz Wilson, and has one child, Laura Belle; and Edna, who married Edward Creed of Coitsville township.

J JOHN C. WICK, vice-president of the Dollar Savings & Trust Company, of Youngstown, is one of the most prom- inent business men of this city, as well as a member of one of the oldest families whose representatives have been foremost in developing the resources of this section and have contributed in a 30

very large degree to Youngstown's com- mercial prosperity and importance. He was born Deceniber 9, 1836, at Youngstown, and is one of a family of ten children born to his parents, of whom four survive. the others be- ing: Lucretia H., wife of William Scott Bonnell, president of the Mahoning National Bank, a notice of whom appears elsewhere; Henry, president of the Witch Hazel Coal Company, residing at Youngstown; and Eve- lyn W., widow of the late John M. Bonnell, a separate sketch of whom also appears else- where in this volume.

Hugh Bryson Wick, the father of our subject, was born at Youngstown, February 5, 1809. when the future city consisted of only a few scattered houses and stores. In 1828 he engaged in business as a merchant at Brookfield. Trumbull County, where he con- tinued until 1837. He then removed to Low- ellville, where he conducted business for two years. In 1839 he returned to his native place, and from that time until his death, which oc- curred April 22, 1880, he was very prominent in the business world of Youngstown, being actively engaged in the iron industry, also as a member of the H. B. & H. Wick Banking Company of Cleveland, and, after 1857, as a member of the banking firm of Youngstown, known as Wick Brothers & Company. He also had large coal and railroad interests.

In October, 1832, lic married Lucretia G. Winchell, who was a native of Connecticut, born September 5. 1813. Her death occurred April 27, 1892. when in her 79th year.

John C. Wick attended the common schools at Youngstown and continued his edu- cation in the public schools of Cleveland, Ohio. His first experience in business was obtained as an employe of the H. B. & H. Wick Bank- ing Company of Cleveland, with whom he continued from 1856 to 1859. He then re- turned to Youngstown and entered the bank of Wick Brothers & Company, in which he subsequently acquired an interest. On August 1. 1894, it was organized as a national bank. becoming the Wick National Bank, with the subject of this sketch as president. Mr. Wick continued as the head of this institution until

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July, 1906, when the bank was merged with the Dollar Savings & Trust Company. of which he became vice-president. Mr. Wick is also vice-president of the Ohio Iron & Steel Company, and is also identified with the Mor- gan Spring Company and other important industries.

Mr. Wick married Caroline H. Bonnell, a daughter of the late William Bonnell of Youngstown, a biographical sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Wick are members of the Presbyterian Church. They have a beautiful residence at No. 410 Wick avenue. Mr. Wick is a Re- publican in politics.

S YLVESTER L. BURKE, proprietor of the S. I .. Burke Drug Store, of Lowellville, the pioneer drug store of that city, which was established more than twenty years ago by J. A. Cowden, was born December 2, 1874, at New Castle, Pennsylvania, and is a son of James and Honora ( Murphy) Burke.

Mr. Burke was about four years old when his parents moved to Lowellville. Here he was reared and attended the public schools of the village, after which he took a course at St. Mary's Retreat, at Dunkirk, New York. Upon his return to Lowellville he entered the employ of Mr. Frank Vaughn, who was then proprietor of this store, and remained in the employ of Mr. Vaughn for about five years, aiter which he worked at the drug business at Allegheny, Pennsylvania, for several years, and also at New Brunswick, New Jersey, and Johnstown, Pennsylvania. He subsequently purchased the old Mitcheltree Drug Store at Edinburg, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, where he remained until October 1, 1905, when he disposed of his business in Edinburg and purchased his present store. About one year after locating in Edinburg he bought an interest in the Olive Drug Company of Youngstown, Ohio, and he also sokl his in- terest in this concern upon returning to Low- ellville. Mr. Burke carries a full line of

everything in the drug business, including patent medicines, drug's and candies, and also has a fine soda fountain.

Mr. Burke was married in 1898, at Edin- burg, to Mary Catherine Saltzman, a dangh- ter of John Saltzman. She was reared at Mt. Pleasant, Westmoreland County, Pennsyl- vania. Mr. and Mrs. Burke have four chil- dren: Sylvia Leone, Mary Margaret, Joseph Edgar, and Thomas Francis. Mr. Burke is a member of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church of Lowellville, and is fraternally connected with the Knights of Columbus.

EREMIAH RICHARD WOOLLEY, vice president of the Home Savings and loan Company, at Youngstown, and secretary of the David Tod estate, was born March 18, 1847, in Arm- strong County, Pennsylvania. Mr. Wool- ley's parents were Richard and Rachael (Williams) Woolley, the father born in 1802, in Montgomeryshire, Wales, and the mother in 1810, in Monmouthshire, that coun- try. After their marriage, in 1840, they emi- grated to America, locating for a few years at Pittsburg, and then removing to Great West- ern, or Brady's Bend, Armstrong County. There Richard Woolley was employed in the coal industry until 1847, in which year he came to Youngstown, spending the rest of his life in this vicinity. From 1856 until 1867, he resided on a small farm situated between Brier Hill and Girard, and it was while oper- ating this farm that he became a partner with John Stambaugh in coal mining, which they carried on quite extensively ; he was also en- gaged in looking after the coal mining inter- ests of the late Governor Tod. Richard Wool- ley died November 9, 1874, at the age of 72 years; he was survived by his widow until November 1, 1885. They were members of the Welsh Baptist Church. They had a fam- ily of ten children, Jeremiah R. being the seventh in the order of birth.

The boyhood of Jeremiah R. Woolley. up "to the age of 14, was mainly occupied with

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CHARLES NEWTON KIRTLAND

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school duties, and the ordinary enjoyments of his age. He then entered upon his business career by becoming evening clerk for the firm of David Johns & Company, in which house his father had an interest, and later was em- ployed in the same capacity for the firm of John Jehu & Company. This latter position he left to enter a private military school at University Heights, Cleveland. As he had indicated a strong desire to enter the army, in spite of his youth, it is possible that his ju- dicious father thought a military school would satisfy his ambition, and it is probable that it did, for his record shows that office positions of a commercial character claimed his atten- tion for some subsequent years. So reliable was he found in the work assigned to him, that on February 4, 1867, he was engaged by the late Governor David Tod to take charge of the office at Tod Furnace, where he was retained until 1873.

In 1874 Mr. Woolley became night found- er at Grace Furnace, for Julian Kennedy, the great furnace and steel mill builder. Later he went to the Kline coal mines as superintend- ent, and still later became paymaster of the Brier Hill Iron & Coal Company. In 1881 he became assistant bookkeeper for Nelson Crandall, the treasurer of the Brier Hill Iron & Coal Company, and was then sent to the Kline mines as superintendent, where he re- mained until their closing in 1883. Mr. Wool- ley's business capacity was still further recog- nized by the executors and trustees of the late Governor Tod, who selected him as private secretary, and this position he has continued to fill for the past 24 years. In addition to con- ducting the affairs of this responsible office, Mr. Woolley is vice-president of the Home Savings and Loan Company, which is an im- portant business enterprise of Youngstown.

On December 24. 1877, Mr. Woolley was married to Marian Kane, who was born in Wisconsin, July 4. 1858, but who was mainly reared and educated at Brier Hill and Villa Maria Girls' Academy, Bedford, Pennsyl- vania. They have two daughters, namely : Rachael Edna, who married John R. Perkins, a hardware merchant, residing at Youngs-

town, and has one son, Jeremiah R .; and Jane Elizabeth, residing at home. The family be- long to the First Presbyterian Church.

Mr. Woolley has been prominently identi- fied with the Republican party in Ohio for many years. He served as postmaster at Brier Hill, this appointment being the first Republican one made in Mahoning County, Ohio, by the late President Harrison, on the recommendation of William MeKinley, at that time congressman; and he has been an important factor in city and county politics for a long period. He has served the city as councilinan for two terms, during the last year being president of the body; has been a member of the Board of Health, a water- works trustee, and a member of the board of public safety, besides having filled other of- fices.

Fraternally he is an Odd Fellow and an Elk. Socially he is a member of St. David's Society, and is president of the Welsh Pioneer Association of the Western Reserve.

Mr. and Mrs. Woolley have a pleasant home at No. 1713 West Federal street, Youngstown.

e HARLES NEWTON KIRTLAND, formerly one of the leading citi- zens of Poland, Mahoning County, Ohio, was born in that township, on the farm on which his widow still re- sides, October 22, 1839. He was a son of Henry T. Kirtland, and a grandson of Tur- hand Kirtland, the noted pioneer and land agent for the Connecticut Land Company, who came to Poland in 1797.

Charles N. Kirtland was reared to man- hood on the home farm and was educated in the Poland schools and at Poland Academy. but when 14 years of age his health became delicate and he was obliged to lay aside his books. The active out-door work of the farm subsequently restored him to health, and he became an active business man and useful citi- z.en. He acquired a large amount of valuable land and at the time of death owned 350 acres

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in Poland township and 250 acres in Colum- biana County. He was vice-president of the Farmers' Deposit and Savings Bank at Po- land.

Mr. Kirtland was married (first) to Julia Ellen Fitch, who was a half-sister to Dr. Jus- tice of Poland, who came to live with Mr. and Mrs. Kirtland when a boy. At death, Mrs. Kirtland left two children, Elmour F. and May Julia. Elmour F. Kirtland, residing at Beaver, Pennsylvania, is a civil engineer, a graduate of the Troy Polytechnic School. He married Susan McMillan Heasley, who is a daughter of Henry Heasley, of Poland, and they have one child, Henry Heasley. May Julia, Mr. Kirtland's only daughter, married Harry G. Gibson, son of Samuel Gibson, of Youngstown. Mr. and Mrs. Gibson have one child. Martha Ellen. Harry G. Gibson is a member of the firm of Milligan & Gibson, Youngstown. Mr. Kirtland was married (second) to Martha Fawcett, a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Test) Fawcett. Mrs. Kirtland was reared at Salem, Ohio, her fa- ther's birthplace. Two sons were born of the second marriage, one of whom, William, died in infancy. The second son, Louis Augustus, is a student in the Rayen High School, at Youngstown.

Charles N. Kirtland devoted the latter years of his life to looking after the interests of his many investments. His death occurred May 27, 1901. A portrait of this worthy citi- zen may be found on a neighboring page of this volume.

I SAIAH DUSTMAN, a prominent farm- er, livestock raiser and dairyman, re- siding on his well-improved farm of 240 acres, situated in section 2, Goshen township. has been established here since 1893. Mr. Dustman was born in Ells- worth township, Mahoning County. Ohio, June 16, 1860, and is a son of John and Mary Dustman.

Solomon Dustman, the grandfather of

Isaiah, settled in Ellsworth township at an early date. There John Dustman, father of Isaiah, was born and lived out his life, dying in December, 1905. He married Mary Dust- man and she still survives and resides with her son Frank, in the state of Washington. Of the children of John and Mary Dustman, the following are living: Annie, residing at San Francisco, California; Isaiah, whose name be- gins this sketch; John, residing in the city of Philadelphia; and Frank, a resident of Wash- ington. Jolin Dustman was a stanch Demo- crat. He was one of the leading members of the Lutheran Church.

Isaiah Dustman was reared until the age of 17 years in Ellsworth township, and then left home and began life for himself. His indus- trial efforts have always been along agricult- ural lines, and with the exception of six months spent in Franklin County, Kansas, have been confined to Mahoning and Portage counties. In the spring of 1885 he moved to Deerfield township, Portage County, and re- mained there, following farming for nine sea- sons, but in the fall of 1893 he returned to Mahoning County and settled on his present farm. His industries here include, with the tillage of his land, the raising of fine livestock and dairying.

In February, 1885, Mr. Dustman was mar- ried to Lucy Hively, who was born in Green township. Mahoning County, a daughter of George Hively. Seven children have been born of this marriage, as follows: Harvey E., Ada E., James H., Carl L., Mabel M., Rachel A., and Hazel M. These children have been given good educational advantages, and the family is an unusually interesting and intel- ligent one. Mr. Dustman is a trustee and member of the Concord Presbyterian Church. Politically he is a Democrat and he has served as director of School District No. 1. Regard- ing his success in life, it may be said that it has been achieved wholly by himself, with the assistance of an estimable wife, as he started out in life practically empty-handed. Prud- ence, resolution and industry have brought about the change.

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m YRON 1. WEHR. a prosperous farmer and dairyman of Youngs- town township, residing on a well improved fann of 200 acres lo- cated in Section to, was born in this township, January 7, 1866. His parents. Perry and Margaret J. ( Price) Wehr, were well known and highly respected residents of the township.

Mr. Wehr passed his boyhood days on his father's farm remaining at home until one ycar previous to his marriage, in 1891, when he was transferred to Warren, Ohio, by the Youngstown Ice Company, with whom he had been associated for some time. He remained with this company for a period of eight years, after which he was assistant engineer for the Warren Water and Electrice Light Company for two years. His father's health beginning to fail about this time, he returned home and assumed the duties connected with the man- agement of the farm, which he has since car- ried on, being also engaged in the dairy busi- ness with his brother Panl H. Wehr. Polit- ically Mr. Wehr is a Democrat. and is the only Democratic member of the Youngstown township school board, on which he is now serving his second term.

Mr. Wehr was married in 1891 to Mar- garet E. Stambangh, a daughter of Jacob and Lydia Stambaugh. Six children have blessed this union : Perry N. and Pearl M., twins ; Ward S., who died at the age of two years; Olive E., Helen M., and Wade N.

JOHN C. COOK, formerly one of the best-known and most highly esteemed citizens of Green township, whose death occurred October 24. 1807. was born in Green township. Mahoning County, Ohio, March 23. 1830. His parents were Jacob and Elizabeth (Cond) Cook. They were very early settlers in Green township. where both died.

John C. Cook obtained a district school education and grew to manhood in his native township, from boyhood being accenstomed

to farm work. After his marriage he resided for a short time in Beaver township and then settled on the farm of gt acres. in Green town- ship, on which his widow still resides, own- ing it with several other parcels. all aggregat- ing 18t acres. lle was an industrions, ca- pable man, possessed of excellent judgment, and was generally recognized as one of the most successinl farmers of this section.

On March 25, 1856, Mr. Cook was mar- ried to Caroline Keck, who was born March 31, 1839. in Beaver township, Mahoning County, Ohio, and is a daughter of Michael and Margaret ( Hummon) Keck, the former of whom was born in Pennsylvania and the latter in Sandusky County. Ohio, Mr. and Mrs. Cook had three children born to then, namely : Margaret .\., who is the wife of M. B. Templin, a leading citizen of Calla, Ohio; Semilda K., who married George H. Panlin, residing near Calla; and Warren L., residing in Green township.

Mrs. Cook is a member of the United Ev- angelical Church at Calla, but Mr. Cook has never mited with any religions body, although he was a man of high moral standing, and was liberal in his support of religion and attended services with his wife.

Politically, Mr. Cook was a Republican, but was never willing to accept any office, his interest being entirely in his business and family. He was a kind Intshand and father and an obliging neighbor and was never known to turn a needy person from his door.

ILLIAM HENRY RUHLMAN, one of Mahoning County's most prominent citizens, whose energy and enterprise have made him a leader in various movements tend- ing to the material advancement of public in- terests, was born at North Lima, Ohio. Au- gust 8, 1844, and is a son of Ephraim and Rebecca ( Buzzard ) Ruhlman.

Mr. Ruhlman was reared at North Lima and attended schend until he was 18 years of age. when he became comected with the mer-

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cantile firm of Hahn, Fell & Company. When the business was reorganized as Hahn & Com- pany, he gained an interest and for 26 years was a member of the firm under that style. The firm name then became Ruhlman Brothers & Halın, which continued for ten years, when Mr. Ruhlman sold out and turned his atten- tion to agricultural pursuits, at the time in- vesting in 75 acres of finely improved land. known as the Henry Flickinger farm, in Beaver township. Later he added 15 acres to his former purchase and still later acquired another farm of 52 acres. The latter property he sold, but retains the former and gives his leisure time to its superintendance, not be- ing a practical farmer himself, and having many other interests to engage his attention.

Together with his brother, John Ruhlman, William H. Ruhlman started the agitation which resulted in the construction of the Youngstown and Southern Electric Railway, ,and with J. R. Long, of Youngstown, se- cured the right of way through to East Liver- pool. Mr. Rulilman was right-of-way man and a director at the organization of this success- inl enterprise. Ile was one of the main moy- ers and organizers of the Beaver Township Telephone Company, of which he has been president, manager and director. Work on this utility was commenced in 1903 and its exchange at North Lima cevers all of Beaver and Springfield townships, with 360 tele- phone. There is a free exchange with Colum- biana and a five cent rate to Youngstown. a free service also being given to all small towns. He has also been active in political circles, and on three different occasions has been elected. on the Republican ticket, treasurer of Beaver township. Mr. Ruhlman was appointed one of the commissioners, by the court of common pleas, in regard to the erection of the new Mahoning court house.

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Twentieth Century History of Youngstown and Mahoning County Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 72

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