Twentieth Century History of Youngstown and Mahoning County Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 74

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 74

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Ephraim E. Sipe was reared in Springfield township and attended the schools near his home and completed his education by taking a business course in the Spencerian Commer- cial School, in Cleveland. L'pun his return to the farm be immediately entered actively into developing its various resources, From boyhoral he has been fond of horses and for many years he has handled all kinds very suc- cessfully. draft as well as fancy stuck. He has charge of the famous stallion, Major, which was imported at a cost of $3,000, from France and is now owned by the Springfield

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JOHN E. McVEY

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Township Percheron Horse Company, of which Mr. Sipe is a member. He has not confined his attention, however, to the buying and selling of horses, in addition to this in- dustry, carrying on large farming operations and growing a considerable amount of stock. One season he devoted his attention to ship- ping wheat and that year be handled 35.000 bushels of the cereal. In addition to the home farin he owns 30 acres more, not adjoining. but a short distance east. His land is all well situated and is very valuable. He has made a number of excellent improvements, including the building of a substantial barn to take the place of the one destroyed by fire.

On February 19, 1905, Mr. Sipe was mar- ried to Lizzie Sheets, who was born in Spring- field township, and is a daughter of Barnes F. and Sally ( Raub) Sheets, the former of whom resides one mile northeast of Springfield. The grandparents of Mrs. Sipe were Robert and Elizabeth ( Unger) Sheets, and they lived and died two miles northeast of Mr. Sipe's farm, in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. The mother of Mrs. Sipe was born in Springfield township and was a daughter of George and Susanna (Snyder) Raub. Mr. and Mrs. Sheets had five children, namely : Hattie, who married Ezra Haller, residing in New Mid- dletown ; John, residing in New Middletown; George, a resident of New Springfield : Lizzie, now Mrs. Sipe; and Samuel, who died aged three years.

Mr. Sipe is identified politically with the Republican party. He is a member of the Reformed Church. His standing in his com- munity is that of a successful man and first- class eitizen.

OHN E. McVEY. In the death of the late John E. McVey, which occurred at his home at Youngstown, Novem- ber 23, 1905. the city lost a man of sterling worth and the bar of the state a brilliant, able and successful member. Mr. McVey was born on his father's farm, about one mile east of Lowellville, just

over the state line in Pennsylvania, on May 2, 1858.

About 1868 the parents of Mr. MeVey moved to a farm on the north side of the Ma- honing River, between Struthers and Lowell- ville, and here the boy attended a country school. Later he became a student at Poland Seminary, which institution he left to enter Hudson College. After leaving the college he taught for a short time what was known as the Cooper School, in Coitsville township. later becoming principal of the Lowellville High School, a position which he filled for two years. An opportunity offering for foreign travel, he went to Germany and studied at Hanover for a year, returning to Youngstown in order to prepare for the profession for which nature had so generously endowed him. He engaged in the study of law in the office of R. B. Murray, a well-known practitioner, was admitted to the bar on January 3. 1885, and immediately began practice at Youngs- town.

In 1887 Mr. McVey entered into partner- ship with the late Judge King, shortly after the latter had retired from the office of pro- bate judge, and in 1892 the firm was still further strengthened by the admission of Henry M. Robinson. This combination con- tinued and prospered undisturbed until the death of Judge King. in 1899. Shortly after Hon. George F. Arrel entered the firm and the firm style became Arrel, McVey & Robin- son, which partnership continued until the spring of 1901, when A. F. Rowland and John Harrington were admitted. In the fall of 1902. Mr. Robinson withdrew in order to give attention to his personal interests and in Feb- ruary, 1903, Judge Robert W. Tayler went into the firm. when the style became Arrel, McVey & Tayler. On February 1. 1905, Judge Tayler withdrew to go on the United States eirucnit court bench for the northern district of Ohio, and the firm then became Arrel, McVey, Rowland & Harrington. Dur- ing all this period, from the time when he first became connected with a law combination of acknowledged strength, Mr. McVey remained one of the strongest members, developing

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those qualities which resulted in his becoming one of the greatest corporation lawyers in the state.

Along abont 1890-91, the firm of King & McVey was retained by the Youngstown Street Railway Company, which had just com- menced to extend its system at Youngstown. Mr. MeVey at once displayed a peculiar apt- ness for corporation organization and person- ally took charge of the legal work connected with the construction of this railroad system. He continued in this connection until his death. He saw the line extended from Har- vard avenue to New Castle, from Brier Hill to Leavittsburg, and from Niles to Mineral Ridge. It was largely through his recom- mendation that these extensions were made. His success in handling street railway inter- ests attracted the attention of influential men who were not all residents of Youngstown, and among these was the late Senator Calvin S. Brice.

In 1807 Senator Brice was projecting a steam road through the Mahoning valley to complete a vast system of railroads then in contemplation, and with great good judgment he chose Mr. McVey to take charge of the legal work. He organized the Cleveland & New Castle Railroad Company and was made its president and in that capacity he disbursed sums amounting to $2,000,000 for the right- of-way and construction work. For his ad- mirable management as president of this com- pany. he received the universal approbation of railroad men and of capitalists all over the country. After Senator Brice obtained con- trol of the Pittsburg & Western Railroad Company, he again turned to Mr. McVey. who foreclosed the mortgage and reorganized the company, making it a part of the Balti- more & Ohio system. This was a triumph of legal accomplishment, the task having been fraught with many legal complexities. From that time on Mr. McVey's firm was the legal representative of the Baltimore & Ohio Rail- road Company. and its importance continued to extend until it became also legal counsel for the Pennsylvania & Mahoning Valley

Railway Company and many corporations of little less prominence.

In the winter of 1900 and 1901 Mr. Mc- Vey was called upon to go to St. Petersburg, Russia, in the interest of an American syndi- cate which was interested in establishing a system of electric traction there and in Mos- cow. Owing to the outbreak of the Russian- Japanese war this work was not finished, but these negotiations gave opportunity to make some pleasant and valuable acquaintances, among whom was Count Witte, who was then Minister of the Interior, and Prince Hilkhoff, who was director of railways.

Mr. McVey had personal charge of the legal work in connection with the consolida- tion of the Pennsylvania & Mahoning Valley Railway Company's interests with the inter- ests of the Youngstown & Sharon Railway Company and the Youngstown Consolidated Gas & Electric Company. He was secretary of the Pennsylvania & Mahoning Valley Company : was a director of the First National Bank of Youngstown and was identified in a like capacity with several other local corpora- tions of importance, including the Dollar Sav- ings & Trust Company, of which he was also a director.

In 1885 Mr. McVey was married to Lillia Hopkins of Sharpsville, Pennsylvania, who was at that time a popular teacher in the Wood street public school at Youngstown. Mrs. McVey and two children-a daughter and a son-Fannie Belle and John Hopkins- survive.

Mr. McVey was a consistent member of the First Presbyterian Church of Youngstown. and was a liberal and cheerful supporter of its benevolent and philanthropic enterprises. His hand was ever open to the call of charity and . none will ever know the extent of his private benefactions. Having spent the most of his life at Youngstown, he was well and favorably known all over Mahoning County, beloved for his many sterling traits of character and genial nature and admired for the great gifts with which he had been endowed. In his profession he was a tireless worker and his

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comparatively early death may, perhaps, be attributed to the great tasks he undertook and the absorbing interest he felt in them. He possessed the sound judgment, the well-bal- ance.1 mind as well as the capacity for the cl se, logical reasoning and the alert intellect which made him master of every legal point and situation, and at the same time gave him power to array facts and present evidence to prove them, that brought continual success. It is not always that an intellectual man in his profession is also a good business man, or even a public-spirited citizen, but such was the case with Mr. MeVey, and thus his loss was deeply felt by the majority of his fellow citizens.

As a political force Mr. McVey was never inclined to try his strength, enthusiasm for his profession absorbing his time and atten- tion too thoroughly. In the same way he was never greatly attracted by the influence of fra- ternal orders. In young manhood he had identified himself with the Masons, and at the time of his death was a member of Hillman Lodge, F. & A. M. His social opportunities were numerous and he enjoyed giving and accepting hospitality, but never to the extent of interfering with his professional duties, which to him, at all times, were paramount. A portrait of Mr. McVey accompanies this sketch.

LARKE WOODS, owner of a farm of 200 acres on which he resides, is one of the most highly respected and best known citizens of Youngs- town township. He was born on the old Woods homestead not far from his present home, February 14. 1827, son of John and Elizabeth ( Berry ) Woods, both his par- ents being natives of Washington County, Pennsylvania.

This branch of the Woods family was es- tablished in this country at a very early day by the great-grandfather of our subject, who came from Germany. John Woods, father of onr subject, was born on Ten Mile Creek, Washington County, Pennsylvania, and was

married in that county, in 1816, to Elizabeth Berry, who was of English descent. In Eng- land her name was spelled Barry, but after coming to this country, it was changed to Berry. After his marriage Mr. Woods came to Mahoning County, then known as Trum- bull County, and located in Youngstown town- ship, on what is known as the Woods home- stead, where he lived the remainder of his life. He made the trip to this county on horseback and the country at that time was very wild and rough. Previous to coming north, he was drafted into service in the War of 1812, but had only one day's march when the war ended. Each man had to furnish his own rifle, and Mr. Clarke Woods still has the rifle his father carried. Six children were born to John and Elizabeth Woods, the eldest being the only one born in Washington County, Pennsylvania.

Clarke Woods was reared in Youngstown township on the home farm and with the ex- ception of one year, when he lived in Berlin township, has always resided here. What schooling he had was obtained in the district schools, but the greater part of his time was devoted to assisting with the farm work. Mr. Woods has lived lived on his present farm since 1859 and built the house in that year. He was engaged extensively in stock raising, and made the greater part of his money in sheep, but for some time has been practically retired, and rents the farm ont ou shares.

Mr. Woods was married in 1851 to Laura A. Foster, a daughter of Jonas Foster, and they reared a family of four children: Alma. who lives at home, and her twin, Alice, who is a trained nurse; Florence, the deceased wife of Cleveland Brothers; and Sarah L., who re- sides at home. Mr. Woods has seven grand- children, and three great-grandchildren.

R OBERT L. BURTON, a representa- tive farmer and stock-raiser of Goshen township, residing on his home farm of 164 acres, situated in section 16, was born in Goshen town- ship. Mahoning County. Ohio, October 14,

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1851, and is a son of Samuel and Abigail (Lloyd) Burton.

The parents of Mr. Burton were born in New Jersey. They came as early settlers to Goshen township, Samuel Burton securing the farm which his son now owns, on which he passed the active years of his life. In age, he retired to Salem, where he died in 1889. He was a supporter of the principles of the Repub- lican party. For many years he was one of the pillars of the Bunker Hill Methodist Epis- copal Church of Goshen township. His death removed from this section a man of sterling worth, who left an honorable name behind him.

Robert L. Burton was reared in Goshen township and his education was obtained in the district schools. He has devoted his life to agricultural pursuits, giving much attention to the live-stock business. In addition to his home farm, Mr. Burton owns a second tract of sixty acres of fine land, also situated in Goshen township. He is numbered with the substantial citizens and prosperous farmers of this section.

Mr. Burton has a comfortable rural home and a happy domestic circle. He married Mary Mead, who is a daughter of the late William P. Mead, of Goshen township, and they have one son, Lester M., who was born July 1, 1891.

Politically Mr. Burton is a Republican. He has never desired office but he willingly ex- ercises every duty pertaining to good citizen- ship, taking an interest in the public schools, in the building of good roads and in the pro- motion of better agricultural conditions. He is a member of Goshen Grange, No. 1103, Patrons of Husbandry.

J ASPER NEWTON COWDEN. M. D .. physician and surgeon at Lowell- ville, is one of the oldest practition- ers in Mahoning County and, in point of continuons service, the oklest in this town. Dr. Cowden was born at Mt. Jack- son, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. October

29, 1840, and is a son of James S. and Jane ( McComb) Cowden.

The parents of Dr. Cowden moved in his infancy to Mt. Jackson, then in Beaver, but now in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. The father worked at blacksmithing there for sev- eral years and then went into the marble and granite business, which he followed for a long time. Subsequently he moved to Seneca County, Ohio, for a short time, and in 1858, to Edinburg, Portage County. There he was engaged in a sawmill and lumber business un- til 1868, when he moved to Lowellville, where he lived retired from business until his death in 1875.

Dr. Cowden attended the district schools in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, and later took a literary course at Poland, Mahoning County, Ohio, following which he was an as- sistant teacher in the Mt. Jackson district schools. The family then lived seventeen months in Seneca County, but as soon as his father moved to Portage County, he attended a select school in Edinburg and while there as- sisted his father in operating his steam saw- mill, which was the largest in the county. In 1861 he entered the Eclectic Medical School at Cincinnati, and in 1862 he became a student in the Ohio Medical School in the same city, where he was graduated, and began practice at Lowellville on September 4, 1862. When his father came to Lowellville in 1868, he pur- chased a stock of drugs and the father and son opened the first real drug store in the vil- lage. Dr. Cowden was sole manager of the drug store from 1868 until 1879. In 1893 Dr. Cowden entered the Cleveland University of Medicine and Surgery and was graduated from that institution in 1894. He is a member of the Lawrence County Medical Society. For many years he has controlled the larger part of the lucrative practice at Lowellville and is well known all through this section.

Dr. Cowden was married (first), in 1863. to Julia M. Dickerson, who died in 1885, leaving two children : James Lyman, M. D .. and Charles Chester, the latter of whom is en- gager in a fire insurance business. The eller son chose his father's profession. He was

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born at Lowellville, September 7, 1865, at- tended the town's graded schools and com- pleted his literary course at the Western Re- serve University. In 1893 he entered the Cleveland University of Medicine and Sur- gery, where he was graduated in March, 1896, and entered into practice in the same year. He and his father occupy the same office, but they have never been in partnership. Dr. Cowden was married (second) to Mary J. Cowden, the widow of the late Dr. I. P. Cowden, who was a second cousin.

Dr. Cowden is a man of both prominence and substance. He is one of the directors of the Lowellville Savings and Banking Com- pany; owns a large amount of city realty ; a farm of 150 acres in Springfield township. Mahoning County, and one of 103 acres in Unity township. Columbiana County, while he has but recently sold a 160-acre farm near Topeka, Kansas. Fraternally he is a Mason and is affiliated with Western Star Lodge, F. & A. M., at Youngstown.

D OLPHUS COLUMBUS JUSTICE, residing on a farm of 93 acres lo- cated one mile west of Berlin Center, Berlin township, was born in Can- field township, Mahoning County. Ohio, in 1848, and is one of the substantial and enterprising citizens of the township, and one who has made his own way in the world.

Mr. Justice was reared until his ninth year with his grandfather, Ross Justice, whose name he was given. his father having been killed by an accident before his birth, but after- wards he lived with strangers. At the out- break of the Civil War, when only 14 years old. he enlisted in Company K. 197th Regi- ment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and immedi- ately went to Camp Chase. at Columbus, where he was mustered in with the regiment and went to Washington, thence to Alexandria and back again to Washington, then to Dover. Delaware. From there he went to Ilavre-de- Grace, Maryland, thence to Fort Wellington. at Baltimore, and in all saw about five months'

service, and was mustered out at Tod Bar- racks, Columbus, Ohio,

Mr. Justice returned to Canfield township, where he worked in a mill and drove a team on the railroad until 1878, then worked for William Swanson until the fall, when he went to Indiana, returning to Ohio in 1879, after which he cut ties for the New Lisbon Railroad until spring. He continued to be industrious and worked for John Boland during the suc- ceeding summer months, and then for Wil- liam Swanson for two years, and for Charles Swanson for one year, then at Boardman for one summer, and spent the following winter with Charles Swanson. Other farmers for whom he worked were: Henry Hartzel for one summer, Solomon Hartzel for one year, Frank Robins for one year, and Simon Hart- zell for eight years. In the spring of 1888 Mr. Justice bought his present fine farm of 93 acres, where he has ever since engaged in general farming.

Mr. Justice was married in 1890 to Sarah Hartzell, who was born in 1844, in Stark County, Ohio, and is a daughter of Tobias and Susanna ( Dustman) Hartzell.

P HILIP RIBLET. a representative farmer of Youngstown township, re- sicling on bis valuable property of 7834 acres, situated in section 8, was born in Mercer County, Pennsylva- nia. March 21, 1871, and is a son of William and Theressa ( Bell) Riblet.

William Riblet was born, reared and mar- ried in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of John Riblet, who came to America from Germany. William Riblet served in the Civil War from 1861 until 1864, and did his full duty as a sollier. He married Theressa Bell and they reared a family of nine children. Mr. Rillet resides on his farm in section 1. Austintown township, but his wife died in 1905, aged 63 years.

Philip Riblet was about three years of age when his parents moved to Mahoning County and bought a farm which is situated in four

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townships, Austintown and Youngstown, Ma- honing County, and Weathershield and Liberty townships, Trumbull County, Ohio. He was reared on the home farm and at- tended the local schools. In 1897 he purchased his present farm and has been since engaged in general agricultural work, Int mainly dairying. He has improved the place by the erection of a fine house and barn.

On December 31, 1894. Mr. Riblet was married to Maud Millikin, who is a daughter of George W. Mililkin, of Youngstown town- ship. They have two children, Nettie and Dale.

ACOB PHILLIPS, residing on his val- nable farm of 65 acres, in section 21, Smith township, has developed large dairying interests here, including a profitable milk and cream route at Alliance, which requires his daily attention. Mr. Phillips was born in Montgomery County. Pennsylvania, February 16, 1843, and is a son of Nathan and Ann ( Eckert ) Phillips.

The father of Mr. Phillips was born in Mongomery County, Pennsylvania, and the mother in Bucks County. In 1854 the family came to Mahoning County and in the follow- ing year settled permanently in Smith town- ship, where both Nathan and Ann Phillips died. They were people of worthy character whose orderly lives brought them the respect of those with whom they became associated. Of their children. the following survive: James, residing in Smith township: Jacob; Samuel, residing at Damasens; Albert, resid- ing in Smith township: and Mary J., who mar- ried Abraham Greenawalt, residing at

Damascus.

Jacob Phillips has been a resident of Smith township for fifty-three years and since 1875 has resided on his present farm. He attended the district sclmols in boyhood and was reared to all kinds of agricultural work, but from the age of 18 to 25 followed the trade of shoe- making. Before adopting dairying as his main

industry he was engaged for some years in raising faucy poultry.

On June 4. 1867, Mr. Phillips was mar- ried to Emily Snode, who was born in Smith township, January 29. 1846, and is a daughter of William and Sarah A. ( Haines) Snode. the former of whom was born in 1810, in New Jersey, and died in 1899, aged 89 years. Her mother still survives, almost 90 years of age. and resides with her son. Warren Snode, and is numbered among the oldest residents of Smith township. Mr. and Mrs. Snode had a family of nine children, the seven surviving being : George, Jehiel M., Charles and War- ren. all residing in Smith township: Emma S., Mrs. Phillips; Esther, residing in Smith town- ship; and Elizabeth C., who married Walter Jenkins, residing at Alliance, Ohio.

Mr. and Mrs. Phillips have three children, namely : Laura, Joseph S., and Lena E. The eldest danghter is deceased. Joseph S. is a graduate of the art department at Mt. Union College. The younger daughter is engaged in missionary work and resides at Dobson, North Carolina,

Mrs. Phillips is a member of the First Friends Church at Alliance, Mr. Phillips supports the Prohibition party. This is one of the best known and most highly esteemed families of this section.

J OHN S. STRAWN. Through Goshen township there are few more highly respected citizens to be found than Jolin S. Strawn, who resides in sec- tion 21, on his valuable farm of over 150 acres. He was born in Butler township. Colombiana County, Ohio, July 29. 1824, and is a son of Abel and Hannah (Spencer) Strawn.

The Strawn family was founded in Amer- ica in the time of William Penn, and Daniel Strawn. the grandfather, was born in Bucks Comty, l'ensylvania. His son Abel was also born there and married Hannah Spencer after coming to Ohio. She came to Butler town- ship with her parents in 1805, and remembered

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an incident of the journey which was the spending of one whole day cutting down trees and brush in the thick woods, so that the wagons conveying the family, could get through. Abel Strawn was an early settler in the southern part of Goshen township, mak- ing his stopping place right in the wilderness, where he built a log house. Game of all kind was plentiful, and wolves came out in bands at night and howled around the lonely little pioneer home, but the settlers possessed the courage of a sturdy old English ancestry which enabled them to endure hardships and finally overcome them. The four survivors of Abel Strawn and wife are: Abel; Jolm S .; Jelin B., who resides at Salem; and Martha, who married Joseph Burton, also residing at Salem. Tbe venerable father survived until in his goth year.

John S. Strawn was reared from child- hood, in Goshen township, was educated in the district schools near his home, and has al- ways been engaged in agricultural pursuits. His political affiliation is with the Republican party, and he has been frequently elected on its ticket to township offices. For a number of years he served as township clerk, for three years was a member of the board of trustees, and always has done his full duty in and out of office, as a worthy and public-spirited citi- zen. Mr. Strawn was very active also in bus- iness for a long period, serving as treasurer of the Summit Oil Company, of Pennsylvania, and as a director of the Aetna Manufacturing Company of Salem, which was an important industry at one time. During the Civil War. especial confidence was shown in him, by his fellow citizens, they choosing him as treasurer of the Goshen township military fund.

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Twentieth Century History of Youngstown and Mahoning County Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 74

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