Twentieth Century History of Youngstown and Mahoning County Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 80

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 80

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Deacon Cook, father of George A .. was also born in Green township and was a son of Jacob and Elizabeth Cook, the former of whom was a native of New York and the lat- ter of Virginia. Deacon Cook was reared'on

his father's pioneer farm and spent his whole life in Green township, where he followed farming and stock-raising. Of the children born to Deacon Cook and wife, seven survive, namely: Freeman J., residing in Colorado; Ensign, residing in Green township; William D) .. residing at Gallipolis: John P., residing in Beaver township; Martha A., who married Charles Horn, residing in Columbiana Coun- ty; George A .; and Walter S., residing at Youngstown, Emma C. and Howard D. are deceased. Deacon Cook died in the spring of 1890, and was survived by his widow for sev- eral years.

From childhood. George A. Cook has been interested in agricultural pursuits, first on his father's farm and later on his own, and he has also been identified with the lumber industry, successfully operating a sawmill for ten years prior to settling on his present fine property.

On December 13, 1888, Mr. Cook was Itarried to Cordelia S. Huffman, who was born in Virginia and is a daughter of David and Sarah Iluffman, of Greenford, Ohio, for- merly of Virginia. They have one daughter, Sarah L.

Mr. Cook is a stanch Republican but is no aspirant for political honors, contenting him- self with performing his full duty as an in- telligent American citizen. Ile belongs to Greenford Lodge, No. 514, Knights of Pyth- ias, of which he is a charter member.

EORGE. P. MILLER, one of the lead- ing citizens of Smith township, who is successfully engaged in farming and stock-raising on his large estate of 137 acres, which is situated in sec- tion 3, was born on this place, and is a son of William A. and Rebecca C. (Pow) Miller.

On this old homestead farm, which was settled by Abraham Miller, the grandfather of George P., who came from Pennsylvania at a very early date. William A. Miller, his father, was born, in the little log cabin which was the first home of the family. He became a promi- nent and useful citizen, was a trustee of Smith

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township, a justice of the peace for many years, and was elected county commissioner of Mahoning County. In politics he was iden- tified with the Republican party, but he served his community faithfully without hope of po- litical favor. He was a consistent member and an elder in the Presbyterian Church at North Benton. His death occurred in April. 1885, and then Smith township lost one of her best citizens.

William A. Miller was married ( first) to Rebecca C. Pow, who died in 1876. The children of this marriage were: George P .: Mary I ... who married C. L. Harris, a well known attorney, residing at Eklorado, Kansas: Anna M., who married Homer H. Ward, residing at Albuquerque, New Mex- ico, where he is a merchant : Idla .\., who mar- ried F. L. Sage, who is dean of the law school of the Michigan State University, residing at Ann Arbor; and Walter L., residing in Smith township. William A. Miller was married (second) to Mary Brosius, who now resides at Alliance, and they had one son, Carl E .. residing at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where he is a mechanical engineer.

George P. Miller obtained his primary ed- ucation in the local schools and then attended Mt. Union College for a time, where he com- pleted the commercial course of study. He has mainly devoted his attention to farming and stock-raising, being much interested in grow- ing sheep. keeping from 100 to 300 heid at one time, a number of these being registered. and all of fine grade. Mr. Miller has been very successful in his undertakings, and be- side assisting himself, has done much toward raising the standard of stock through this neighborhood.

On March 1. 1888. Mr. Miller was married to Effie M. Lazarus, who is a daughter of Daniel Lazarus, of North Benton, and they have had four children : William L .. Blanche M., Gertrude, deceased, and Daniel H.

Politically Mr. Miller is a Republican. He is a member and an ckler of the North Benton Presbyterian Church, to which he has always given a liberal support.

ILBERT M. DILL, a well known resi- dent of Poland township, and the owner of 60 acres of land situated in Poland and Boardman townships, was born in Wayne County, New York, May 30. 1834, and is a son of George and Esther (Garrett) Dill, the former of whom was a native of New Jersey, and the latter of Williamson, New York, where she was born May 13. 1813. She still survives and resides with our subject, hale and hearty. at 94 years of age.

Gilbert M. Dill was reared in his native state and came to Youngstown in 1868, where he married Caroline Jacobs, a daughter of Nicholas Jacobs. He then entered into a part- nership with Freeman O. Arms, a member of the Church Hill Coal Company, and conducted a general store at Church Hill for some time. when he removed to Hubbard, where be and Robert Jewell established the Hubbard Sav- ings Bank, of which he was cashier. Three years later he returned to Youngstown and en- tered the employ of the Mahoning Valley Iron Company, of which he later became part own- er, remaining there for seven years. He then bought his beautiful residence and ten acres of land in Poland township, his home being lo- cated within the corporation line of Poland Village. He also owns 50 acres in Boardman township.

Mr. and Mrs. Dill have two children : Alice ( Mrs. Alfred Stewart), and George E., the latter of whom lives at Joliet, Illinois. Mr. Dill is a Democrat.

ALEB HOLE. a highly respected citizen of Damasens, of which place he has been a resident for the past twenty-two years, is president of the Butler and Goshen Mutual Aid So- ciety, which is a fire insurance organization. with offices at Dasmasens, Caleb Hole was born near Augusta, in what is now Carroll. but then was Columbiana County, March 6, 1827, and is a son of John and Catherine ( Hanna) Hole.

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JOSEPH G. MCCARTNEY

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The father of Mr. Hole was born near Harper's Ferry. Virginia, and the mother, at Lynchburg in the same state, her father, Rob- ert Hanna, having been one of the proprietors of that town in early days. He came to Co- lumbiana County, Ohio, in 1802, and the fam- ily has long been a prominent one in the state. Mrs. Hole was a great-aunt of the late dis- tinguished Senator Hanna of Ohio.

Caleb Hole was reared in his native local- ity and in boyhood attended private schools. He was reared on a farm and as he grew older and desired more extended educational oppor- tunities, he industriously applied himself un- til he had earned enough capital to attend what is now Mt. U'nion College, at Alliance. From early youth he has practically made his own way in the world, acquiring property and also the esteem of his fellow citizens in the same quiet. persistent, honest way with which he ob- tained his education. For a long period he en- gaged in teaching school, through Stark Coun- wy. in Carroll County, and also in Indiana. After marriage and settlement on a farm, he engaged in general agriculture and for twenty years paid much attention to the raising of sheep.

On February 11, 1868. Mr. Hole was mar- ried in Mrs. Sophia Hole, who was the widow of Pri.f. Jacob G. Hole, who, with his brother. Prof. Israel P. Hole, conducted Damascus Academy. The parents of Mrs. Hole were Morris and Ann ( Votaw ) Miller, the former of whom was born in Pennsylvania and the latter in Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Hole have had two children: Dr. N. W. and Anna 1 ... deceased. By her former marriage, Mrs. Hole had two children: Juden G., deceased. and Charlotte, who is the wife of Rev. Benjamin Farquar. of the Society of Friends, residing at Whittier, California.

While residing in Carroll County, Mr. Hole served both as land appraiser and as trustee of Augusta township. In political sentiment he is a Republican. Roth he and wife are mem- bers of the Friends Church, in which he is an eller, having occupied that office for a quarter of a century. He is one of the charter ment- bers of Damascus Academy and for some

years was president of the board of trustees. He believes in the value of Sabbath schools and for over a half century has been a will- ing teacher and has also served as superintend- ent. Mrs. Hole is an interested and useful member of the Woman's Christian Temper- ance U'nion at Damascus.

OSEPH G. McCARTNEY, a promi- nent citizen and for a number of years a large farmer and dairyman, whose portrait appears on a neighboring page of this volume, resides on his valuable farm of 130 acres in Coitsville township. He was born July 10, 1834, in an old log house which stood on the site of his present home, and is a son of James and Eliza- beth (Maxwell) McCartney.

James McCartney, the father, was born in the town of Skeyans. County Fermanagh, Ire- land, October 1. 1791. and married Elizabeth Maxwell, who was born in the town of Belda- malard, in the above county, November 13. 1793. They were married in the town of Bel- damalard. by Rev. Hopkins, October 15, 1815. and in 1817 they came to America, where James McCartney died April 16. 1860. his wife having passed away April 14. 1865. By trade James McCartney was a shoemaker, and after settling in Philadelphia. he worked as such until 18t9. when he came to Youngs- town. Here be not only worked as a shoe- maker, but also conducted a brick yard. He bnilt one of the first brick houses in the city. which was situated on the corner of Federal and Walunt streets, but never occupied it. Subsequently he bought the present farm and nawed into a log house which stood on the place. resuming the making of brick here. The present substantial brick residence which is occupied by Joseph G. McCartney, was con- structed in 1850 of brick made on the farm. and both father and son worked in its build- ing.

There were ten children born to James McCartney and wife. nine of whom retched maturity, as follows: Sarah, deceased. who

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was born in Ireland, October 12, 1816, mar- ried George Braden; Eliza, born at Phila- delphia, October 25, 1818, died in infancy; Eliza Jane, deceased, who was born at Youngstown, July 4, 1821, married Thomas Noble; Johnston, deceased, who was born at Youngstown, August 29, 1823, was a man of high standing in the community; Lucy Ann, deceased, who was born August 27, 1825. married Abram Kline; James H., deceased, was born November 18, 1827; Isabella, de- ceased, born March 29, 1830, who was mar- ried (first) to Arthur Young, and ( second) to Thomas Burns, lived near Sandy Lake, Pennsylvania: William. deceased, was born May 10, 1832, in Coitsville township: Joseph G., subject of this sketch; Mary, deceased, born in Coitsville township, October 12, 1836. married Silas Frankel. The family settled on the farm about 1830.

Joseph G. McCartney was the second youngest of the above family and is the only survivor. He has always lived on the home farm, which formerly contained 160 acres. Mr. McCartney has sold a number of lots from the farm and calls the settlement of fine residences Marian Heights, in honor of his granddaughter, Marian McGechan. He en- gaged in farming and had a large dairy trade, which is still carried on by his son James.

After attaining manhood, Mr. McCartney was married to Mary Milligan, who is a daughter of James Milligan, and they have had six children, namely: William, Matilda. Bessie, James, Adeline and Minnie, the last- named of whom died at the age of 15 years. William McCartney. who is a mechanical. civil and electrical engineer, is now located at Joliet, Illinois, where he is employed in the extension of the drainage canal. After com- pleting the common school course at Coits- ville. he graduated from the Rayen High School at Youngstown, and took a complete engineering course at Troy, New York. He married Carrie Jones and they have one child. Gertrude. Matilda, who is the wife of Thomas McGeehan, is also a graduate of the Rayen High School. Mr. McGechan, at the time of his marriage, was superintendent of

the Coitsville township schools, but is now in an electrical business in Youngstown. Mr. and Mrs. McGeehan have one child. Marian. Bessie is the widow of Dr. Osborn Yost. and has two children, Harold and Marjorie. James, who is a farmer, residing in Coitsville town- ship, married Laura Wilson. Adeline is the wife of Indice Small, and they live on a farm adjoining the subject of this sketch.

For nine years Mr. McCartney was a jus- tice of the peace in Coitsville township and gave great satisfaction in the office. He has always lent his influence to discourage the liquor interests in this section. For many years he has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and is one of the trustees.

FORGE W. HENRY, one of the representative men of Youngstown, Ohio, who is serving his second term as trustee of Youngstown township, was born in Pennsylvania, but as he was brought in childhood to Ohio, he has a strong affection for the state in which he was reared and educated. His maternal grandfather was a veteran of the Revolution- ary War.

Mr. Henry is a self-made man. He be- gan to work in the coal bank at Thornhill when he was but nine years of age, and he continued to work at coal mining until 1878. when he engaged in a grocery business. He conducted his grocery for six years, and then for a period was connected with several Youngstown business enterprises, being with the Singer Sewing Machine Company for two years.

Mr. Henry has always taken an active in- terest in public affairs and has long been a rep- resentative member of the Republican party. In January, 1902, he was appointed to fill out an urexpired term as trustee of Youngstown township, and served from January to April. In the next election he was elected trustee by a majority of 1.300 votes, and at the subse- ment election was elected without opposition. This fact proves conclusively that Mr. Henry

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has shown both ability and fidelity to the pub- lic duties imposed upon him.

In October, 1879, Mr. Henry was married to Minnie Barth, of Coalberg, Trumbull County, and they have four children, viz : Flor- ence, wife of Albert Wethers, a farmer in Ma- honing County, who is also engaged in a dairy business: William J., in the employ of the Adams Express Company at Youngstown, who married Josephine McCandlas of Belmont street. that city; Idora Belle, wife of Irvin Tucker of Youngstown; and Stewart E., re- siding at home.

Mr. Heury is well known in several fra- ternal organizations, having been a member of the Knights of Pythias for twenty-nine years and of the Mahoning Lodge for a quarter of a century ; he is also a Knight of the Golden Eagles. He is a liberal supporter of the city's various public-spirited and benevolent move- ments and is recognized as a representative citizen in every way.

IL.LIAM H. ECKERT. secretary of the Home Telephone Company. of Springfield township, Mahoning County, Ohio, a substantial citi- zen, residing on the old home farm in section 24, has been engaged all his life in farming and stock-raising. He was born on the present farm, January 18, 1862, and is a son of John M. and Paulina Hofmeister Eckert.

John M. Eckert was born February 22, 1817, in Wittenberg, Germany, and came to America in 1832. He located first in Lancas- ter County, Pennsylvania, moved from there to Massillon, Ohio, and thence to New Spring- field, where he lived at the time of his mar- riage. Up to and for one year following his marriage, he followed wagonmaking, and then came to the present homestead, after which he followed farming, stock-raising and distilling until his death, January 30. 1888. His fa- ther. John Ludwig Eckert, came to America with his family at the time his son John M. came.

About 1880, in association with Dr. J. M. Floor, John M. Eckert built a still on the lat- ter's farm, and they carried on distilling as partners until 1885, when William H. Eckert bought Dr. Floor's interest and the business was carried on under the firm name of Eckert & Son, until 1887, when it became Eckert Brothers until 1900. at which time the busi- ness was purchased by Wire, Welsh & Com- pany. John M. Eckert was a well known citi- zen. He was not willing to take upon him the chrties of office, but he was always interested in politics from the time when he cast his first vote for the Whig candidate, William Henry Harrison, to the support he gave to members of the Democratic party who upheld its old principles, many years later.

On July 16, 1848. John M. Eckert was married to Paulina Hofmeister, who was born on the present homestead. February 18, 1828. She is a daughter of Jacob and Dora- thea (Buerk) Hofmeister. Jacob Hof- meister was born September 18. 1784. in Wittenberg, Germany, and was a son of David Hofmeister, who lived and died in Germany. In 1804 Jacob Hof- meister came to America and settled first in the city of Philadelphia, where he soon se- cured employment as a coachman for a very wealthy man, named Haga, with whom he remained in service until 1821. During this time, as proof of the esteem in which Mr. Haga regarded his efficient German helper. he presented the latter with an English silver bull's-eye watch, of considerable intrinsic value and which is now a valued possession of his daughter, Mrs. Eckert. At some time in the year 1821. Jacob Hofmeister came to Spring- field township and bought a farm of 120 acres of land, which cust him $2.100. which included stuck and machinery. everything but honse- hold goods. He never sold this land, but sub- sequently added five acres to the original tract, and here he lived a long and busy life, dying. in June, 1871, at the age of 90 years. His three daughters were: Anna, who married Henry P. Mueller and lived at Glenfield, Penn- sylvania, at the time of death; Louisa, who dlied aged 14 years; and Mrs. Eckert. The

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mother of Mrs. Eckert was born at Willsbach, Wittenberg. Germany, January 19, 1798, and was married to Jacob Hofmeister March 28, 1821.

There were seven children born to John M. Eckert and wife, as follows: Charles Ed- ward, who was born February 23. 1849. died August 21, 1898; Jacob Theodore, who was born Angust 7, 1851. died May 20, 1853: Lonisa Anna, who was born July 26, 1854. married Dr. J. M. Floor, of Petersburg : Wil- liam Allen, who was born July 5. 1858, died August 23, 186t: William Harvey; George Bion, who was born March 16, 1864, and died October 23, 1902: and Henry Augustus, who was born August 18, 1867, residing at New Lisbon. Although Mrs. Eckert has almost reached her Soth birthday, she presents the appearance of a lady much younger. Her men- tal faculties agree with her physical health and her great memory enables her to recall events of long ago and relate them with much inter- est. She is very highly estecmed all through this community. For many years she has been a member of the Lutheran Church.

William H. Eckert attended school until he was 15 years of age, since which time he has devoted himself closely to his agricultural affairs. He is identified wuh the Home Tel- ephone Company as a stockholder and as sec- retary. Politically he is a Democrat and has served on the school board for some five years. Fraternally he belongs to the Maccabees, at New Middletown, and to the Knights of Pyth- ias, at Petersburg.

I SANC BEIGHT. who has been engaged in business at North Benton for the past forty years, carrying on a wheel- wright business and acting as agent for various manufacturing firms in his line, is one of the most highly respected resi- dents of this section, where he is held also in esteem as a veteran of the great Civil War. Isaac Beight was born in Springfield township. Mahoning Conuty. Ohio, October 16. 1837. and is a son of Jolm and Mary ( Klitz) Beight.

The Beight family was of Maryland origin, the grandfather of Isaac bringing his family from that state to Mahoning County when Springfield township was but one vast unset- tled wilderness. The father of Isaac Beight was born in Maryland, but his mother was a native of Springfield township, where both parents died.

When Isaac Beight was a boy the only ed- ucational opportunities offered in Springfield township were in the district schools. When 16 years of age he learned the wheelwright trade, serving an apprenticeship with William Whittenberger, of New Middletown, and he has continued to make this his leading business up to the present. He became an excellent workman and was in a prosperous condition when the Civil War was precipitated, and dur- ing its second year, on August 6, 1862, he closed up his shop and entered the service 10 assist in suppressing rebellion. He enlisted in Company B. to4th Regiment. Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which became a part of the Army of the Cumberland, which took such an important part during the subsequent years of strife. Mr. Beight saw much hard service, participating in the Atlanta campaign, from Dalton. Georgia, to the fall of the former city, was in the battle of Jonesboro, of Franklin and of Nashville, and only escaped the later engage- ments because of a serious illness which con- fined him to a hospital cot at Wheeling, West Virginia, for a member of months. He was honorably discharged from the service in June. 1865. He is a valued member of Kirkbride Post, No. 600, G. A. R., at Berlin Center.

After the close of the war Mr. Beight re- turned to Mahoning County, and in 1867 he opened up his present business at North Ben- ton, which he has conducted ever since, meet- ing with success that naturally comes as the re- sult of industry and capacity. On many occa- sions he has been elected to local offices and has efficiently served several terms as elerk of Smith township, as a member of the school board, during a part of the time being its president, and in 1890, and again in 1900. he was censtis enumerator.

On October 11. 1867. Mr. Beight was mar-

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GEO. M. MCCLURE

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ried to Ella Morris, who is a daughter of James B. Morris, who was killed at the battle of Chickamauga, being sergeant of Company A, 125th Regiment, Olio Volunteer Infantry. Mr. and Mrs. Beight have one son, James W .. residing at Youngstown. In politics Mr. Beight is a stanch Republican. He is a mem- ber of the Presyterian Church.

EORGE M. MCCLURE, a well-known resident of Poland, who has for a number of years followed the profes- sion of surveying, which he learned while a cadet at the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, owns a valuable farm of 521/2 acres, which is sitn- ated in Boardman township. Mr. McClure was born at Homestead, near Pittsburg, Feb- ruary 1, 1842, and is a son of William Dennys and Elizabeth W. (Irwin) MeChuire.

In 1783 the great-grandfather of Mr. Mc- Clure removed from Carlisle, Pennsylvania, to the vicinity of Pittsburg, where he acquired a tract of 500 acres of land which was known for many years as the MeClure homestead. After the property had passed out of the hands of the McClures, the name of Homestead was retained and thus the great steel-plant city is known today. William D., the father of George M., was born on that land. He mar- ried Elizabeth W. Irwin, who was a daughter of Boyle Irwin, a native of Pittsburg, where he was a man of wealth and prominence, being a merchant and manufacturer of rope cables. Mrs. McClure was a granddaughter of Major Mccullough and of Nathaniel Irish, both of whom were soldiers in the Revolutionary War, the latter being a very early settler at Pitts- burg.

George Mccullough MeClure, who was named for his distinguished great-grandfather, was primarily educated in the old Franklin school at Homestead. In September. 1859. Mr. MeClure entered the Naval Academy at Annapolis, to which he had been appointed by Congressman Purviance, and was pursuing his studies there when the Civil War broke out.

The cadets of that period had experiences which have never since occurred in that great government institution, and Cadet McClure took an active part, first in assisting to guard the Academy from any Confederate attack and later as a member of the body of cadets who sailed on the old Constitution ("Old iron- sides"), which was then being used as a train- ing ship, from Annapolis to New York and thence to Newport, Rhode Island. There Mr. McClure was graduated with the rank of en- sign in 1863. He was placed on the United States sloop Housatonic, which was blown up by torpedo boats in the following winter, Mr. McClure escaping death because of his ah- sence at that time on a cruise up the coast. Ensign MeClure was then ordered to the Wabash, which was blockading Charleston. South Carolina, and on one occasion, while on a cruise in an open boat through the swamps. fell a victim to the ahnost deadly miasma, and while it did not result as fatally to him as to a number of his comrades, it so incapacitated him that he was obliged to go to the naval hos- pital at Norfolk, Virginia. After a short time in the hospital he was sent home to Homestead to recuperate, but for a number of years he continued to suffer as the result of that at- tack. In a few months orders came for him to proceed to Erie, Pennsylvania, to act as judge advocate at a court of investigation, and his duties calling him all over the country, he visited Chicago, Cincinnati and Louisville, ex- amining naval recruits.

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Twentieth Century History of Youngstown and Mahoning County Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 80

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