Twentieth Century History of Youngstown and Mahoning County Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 86

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 86

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David Stewart, father of David G., was born September 30, 1814, on the farmi now owned by his son, in Coitsville township. Mahoning County, Ohio, and died April 8. 1801. His life was one of useful activity. devoted entirely to farming and stock raising. He married Elizabeth Houston, who was born and reared in Coitsville township. and who was a daughter of John and Grace ( McCall) Houston. Her father was born January 9. 1783. in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and died in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, De- cember 6. 1861. Mrs. Houston was born in Adams County, Pennsylvania. November 5. 1790, and died May 10, 1879. in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. There were seven chil- dreu born to David Stewart and wife. namely : William Walker, born June 17, 1840, enlisted in Company A, 105th Ohio Volunteer In- fantry, during the Civil War, and died at Camp University Heights, Tennessee: Anna Elizabeth, wife of Rev. J. A. Collins, a retired L'nited Presbyterian minister, who now is en- gaged in a publishing business at Philadel- phia : John Houston, who is a resident of Kan- sas City: Eusebius, who was born May 2. 1850, died June 23, 1866; Watson Henderson, who was born May 19. 1853. lives at Ironton, Colorado: David G., subject of this sketch ;

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Frank E., who was born March 31, 1862, died March to, 1904, at Westphalia, Kansas. William Stewart and John Houston, grand- fathers of the above family, were both men of good judgment and solid virtues, and they were two of the first trustees of Coitsville township. David Stewart was a man of like character. For 50 years he was elder in the Liberty United Presbyterian Church.

David Goodwillie Stewart perpetuates the name of Rev. David Goodwillie, who for many years was a noted preacher at the Liberty United Presbyterian Church. Mr. Stewart at- tended the township and Youngstown schools and Cook's Business College at Youngstown, after which he made several trips to the West, party for pleasure and party for investiga- tion. Later he engaged in a cattle business for three years, in Colorado, with his brother, Watson H. Stewart, but the death of his fa- ther recalled him to Coitsville township. He has resided on the old farm ever since, engag- ing in general farming. He has become inter- ested also in the contracting business and has done a large amount of pike-making, leveling and grading. In 1896, Mr. Stewart was first elected township trustee and served two terms but when the time came for a third election he was suffering from a severe attack of typhoid fever and was compelled to decline a re-clec- tion. After a retirement of three years from public life, Mr. Stewart was again elected township trustee and, as stated above, is serv- ing out his tenth year in the office. On Janu- ary 9, 18go. at Youngstown, Mr. Stewart was married to Alice Mars, who died April 22. 1899. A view of Mr. Stewart's residence, with portraits of his father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. David Stewart, are published herewith.

H. LOLLER, who for the past six years has been chief of the Youngstown Fire Department, was born in Millville. Cumber- land County, New Jersey, in t863. When still a child his parents moved to Clayton, New Jersey, where he was reared,

being educated in the Clayton Academy. In 1880 they moved to Ravenna, Ohio. In 1881 Mr. Loffer came to Youngstown and found employment with the Mahoning Gas & Fuel Company, for whom he worked about two years and a half, during which time he joined the Volunteer Fire Department. When the present paid department was organized he be- came a member of the hook and ladder crew, afterwards being promoted, first to hoseman, and in 1900 to captain, finally being made chief of the department, all of these promo- tions being made without any solicitation on his part.

Mr. Loller was married in 1800 to Sarah Edwards of Youngstown, Ohio, He is a 32nd degree Mason and is also a member of the or- der of Elks. He is one of the oldest members of the Youngstown Fire Department.

5 AMUEL DAWES, formerly a high- ly respected resident of Green town- ship, was born in Butler township, Columbiana County, Ohio, January 3. 1866, and died in Green township, Mahoning County, June 21, 1905. He was a son of Benjamin and Martha (Ulery) Dawes.

The parents of Samuel Dawes were born in Ohio, and the father still carries on agri- cultural pursuits on his farm, which is situ- ated about five miles south of Salem. There Sammel Dawes was reared, obtaining his edu- cation in the district schools of the neighbor- hood and following farming as an occupa- tion. In the spring of 19or he removed to Green township, renting a large tract in its southern part, and continued the operation of that farm until his death. Mr. Dawes was a Republican in his political views, but he never was willing to accept any office. He was a man of quiet tastes and was devoted to his farm work and to promoting the welfare of those nearest to him.

On September 5, 1895. Mr. Dawes was married to Anna B. Davison, who was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, not far from Franklin Square, and is a daughter of Elias

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and Jane (Kyle) Davison. The mother of Mrs. Dawes was a daughter of John and Lydia (Mottinger) Kyle, who were residents near Youngstown for many years, and a granddaughter of Joshua Kyle, who was one of the carly settlers of Mahoning County, where he entered 700 acres of Government land. The father of Mrs. Davison died when she was 17 years of age. In 1850 she married Elias Davison, in Columbiana County, and they had twelve children born to them, the survivors being: Lcander H .; William H., residing in Oklahoma; Jeremiah B., residing in Hancock County, Iowa; Harry W., resid- ing at Marshalltown, Iowa; Sarah A., who married David M. Harris, residing five miles south of Salent; Anna B., and Ehnina, who married Wade Fesler, residing in lowa. Elias Davison died in Oklahoma in March, 1903. His widow still survives, having passed her 75th birthday.

After the death of her husband Mrs. Dawes removed to Salem, and now resides at No. 69 Woodland avenue in that city. She owns a fine farm of 98 acres in Green town- ship. She is well known socially in Salem and is a member of the Disciples Church in that place.

L EWIS E. DAVIS, one of Youngs- town's most efficient public officials, whose zeal as president of the board of public safety has made him a most useful citizen, was born in Wales, November 5, 1838, and was about 16 years of age wlien he came to America and settled at Carbon, Pennsylvania. Although so young, he had been instructed in the tailoring business in his native land and had become an expert cutter. In 1863 he made his way to Pittsburg, and there he was put to work on the fortifications which were being constructed about that city. Although unaccustomed to such labor, he faithfully performed it for one month. Then. in partnership with Thomas D. Thomas, he opened a tailoring shop at Pittsburg, where he carried on business for

six years, subsequently removing to Johns- town for a stay of six months. After dissoly- ing partnership with Mr. Thomas, he became associated with Jones & Laughlin in the American Iron Works, where he remained three years and then came to Oltio, working at his trade in various places when oppor- tunity offered. He then became connected with the house of G. M. McKelvey & Com- pany, at Youngstown, with which he remained for twenty-five years, after which he retired from business activity.

Although Mr. Davis is no longer concerned in business affairs, he by no means has be- come a retired citizen in the usual acceptance of the word. He has always taken an itttelli- gent interest in politics, though not an office- seeker, and when he was appointed on May 16, 1905, by Mayor Baldwin, as a member of the board of public safety, the honor came entirely unsolicited. As indicative. of the at- titude of his fellow citizens and of other mem- bers of the board, he was immediately elected president, and has proved to be the right man in the right place.

In 1859 Mr. Davis was married to Eleanor Powell, who was born in South Wales, and they have had four children. The eldest son, now deceased, W. H. Davis, was a man of exceptional ability and a most popular citizen of Hubbard, where he served through three terms as mayor. Mr. and Mrs. Davis's only surviving child is Rev. U. S. Davis, Ph. D., who is now one of the most scholarly divines of the Baptist Church in the United States. He spent seven years at the University of Ohio, two years in the University of Chicago, and one year at the Baptist University at Bos- ton, where he received Itis advanced degree. He is now in charge of the First Baptist Church at Bloomington, Illinois, and he lias been one of the church's lecturers and has traveled extensively in Europe.

Mr. Lewis E. Davis is one of the leading Welsh citizens of Ohio. For fourteen years he served as treasurer of St. David's Society. and he also has been treasurer of the Welsh Pioneer Society of the Western Reserve since its organization. Mr. Davis belongs to the

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First Baptist Church, and for years was a member of the financial board. His fraternal associations are with the Knights of the Gold- en Eagles, St. David's Society, and the Odd Fellows, to which last-mentioned order he has belonged since 1866.

A LONZO B. COVER. senior member of the firm of Cover & Haynes, which conducts two separate stores at Po- land. dealing in dry goods, boots. shoes. groceries, flour, feed and all comnudlities except hardware and drugs, is one of the representative business men of this place. He was born in Poland, Mahoning County. Ohio. September 14, 1872, and is a son of William R. and Amy A. ( Davidson) Cover.

William Ramsey Cover, father of Monzo B., was born at Fannettsburg. Franklin Coun- ty. Pennsylvania, August 2. 1845, and is a son of Jacob and Margaret ( Dunkle) Cover. Jacob Cover was a son of Abraham Cover and was born and reared in Franklin County. Pennsylvania, where he remained until 1852. when he moved to Poland, Ohio, where he ran a blacksmith shop for many years. Jacob Cover died at Poland in 1884.

In May, 1862, William R. Cover, although bnt little over 16 years of age. enlisted for service m the Civil War. entering Company D. 88th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. and was in the army for four months. After he returned to Poland be clerked in a store for a short time and then decided he would visit some parts of the country he had never seen. and as means to an end. in one summer he assisted in driving 1,000 head of sheep from three miles cast of Poland to Rock Island, Illinois, In 1864. he re-emered the army, cu- listing in Company D. 155th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in which he served four months. His regiment was at Petersburg. marched through the Shenandoah Valley, and then to Norfolk, Virginia, and City Point. where Mr. Cover was detailed to care for wounded soldiers. After his final retirement

from military life. he entered into the oil busi- ness at Poland, and two years later accepted a clerical position with Andrew Dickson, whom he bonght ont in 1872. He ran a gen- eral store for the next five years, but as his health failed, he rented and moved upon a farm. Six years later he entered into partner- ship with J. C. Marshall in a grist mill busi- ness, and they ran the Poland mill for three years. Mr. Cover then took the mail route between Poland and Struthers, which he oper- ated for three years, and also hauled freight. passengers and express.

In September. 1806, Mr. Cover was mar- ried to Amy Ann Davidson, who was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, and was reared near Achor. Mr. and Mrs. Cover had four children: Charles D., residing at Poland, married Elizabeth MeGill, and they have force children, Nellie Arrel. Blanche and Amy : Norah L., who married Frank F. Kim- mell. residing at Youngstown, has one child. Cecil ; Alonzo B .; and Clement, who died aged eight months,

William Ramsey Cover is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and oi Lodge No. 403. Odd Fellows, at Youngstown. He has served in almost all the local offices at Padand.

Vonzo B. Cover completed his education in the High School at Poland, and then be- came a clerk for the Brick Store Company, a local enterprise carried on in the same Imilding in which he now has one of his own stores. In 1803 he became a clerk for the Panhandle Coal Company, near Carnegie, Pennsylvania. hint returned after one year, to Poland, and www entered the employ of Fordyce & Com- pany, at Youngstown, where he remained for almust three years. In 1898 he came to Po- land and bought ont the Dill & Hultz grocery store, which was in the building now occupied by the postoffice. Mr. Cover carried on busi- ness there for one year and then moved to a better location across the street, and con- tinned alone in business until May 1. 1905. when C. T. Haynes was admitted to partner- ship. Both men are practical merchants and they do a very satisfactory business, as is evi-

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denced by their owning and operating two stores. The firm of Cover & Haynes, in addi- tion to their other business, do a large amount of teaming, keeping five teams steadily em- ployed and give work to seven men. They also pot up abont 200 tons of ice during the season, which is consumed in and around Po- land.

Alonzo B. Cover was married June 24. 1896. to Margaret Kennedy, who is a daugh- ter of James Kennedy. They have four chil- dren : William Robert, Maud May, Margaret Elizabeth and Charles Alonzo. Mr. Cover is one of Poland's substantial citizens and with other property. he owns the residence formerly the home of the late beloved President Mc- Kinley. Mr. Cover is a Knight Templar Ma- son and is also a member of the order of Mac- cabees.

J AMES K. MIDDAGH, cashier of the Farmers' Deposit and Savings Bank of Poland, and one of the most influ- entia! citizens of the village. was born October to, 1863. in Juniata County. Pennsylvania, and is a son of Sammuel W. and Margaret J. ( Kidd) Middagh.

Sammel W. Middagh and his wife were both natives of Juniata County, Pennsylvania. and were the parents of six children: James K .: Sadie H., who married James Hughes of Poland; Attic, who married Alvin Phillips, of Goshen township. Mahoning County : John W .. a farmer residing at North Benton : and Annie and Bart W., the latter of whom is teller and bookkeeper of the Farmers' Deposit and Savings Bank of Poland. Samuel Mid- dagh is still living at North Benton, at the ad- vanced age of 82 years. His wife died in April, 1906,

James K. Middagh was less than one year old when his parents came to Mahoning Com- ty. in 1864, and located on a farmi near North Benton for a short time, after which they re- moved to the village of North Benton. There he was reared and first attended the district schools, and later a special select school, after which he taught school one term in Smith

township, and one in Washington township. Stark County, At the age of twenty years, he came to Poland and entered the seminary. attemling for about two years, after which he taught the district school in Boardutan town- ship for one year and then two years in the Normal Department of the Poland Union Seminary. After leaving the seminary, in 1800 he entered the employ of the Farmers' Deposit and Savings Bank of Poland, first as teller and bookkeeper, serving first nuder Cashier Clark Stough and later under Cashier M. H. Liddle, and after the res- ignation of the latter he was elected cashier.

Mr. Middagh was married June 14. 1893, to Sannie M. Hughes, a daughter of James Enghes, Sr .. of Boardman township. She died May 20. 1894, when their only child. Margaret Esther, was but two weeks old.

Mr. Middagh is a director of the Poland Hardware Company of Poland, which was in- corporated with a capital stock of $10,000. He is a member of the Odd Fellows and the Ma- sons. For many years he has been a mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church of Poland, in which he is an elder.

R OBERT BENTLEY, president of the Ohio Iron and Steel Company, and also of the Carbon Limestone Com- pany, is one of the leading business citizens of Youngstown. He is closely identified with many of its important interests and may be taken as a typical representative of its commercial integrity. He was born in Youngstown. Ohio, August 30. 1854, and is a son of Martin and Mlary ( McCurdy ) Bentley. Extended mention of the MeCurdy family will be found in this vohmme. in the sketch of the late Rubert McCurdy. a brother of Mrs. Bentley.

The late Martin Bentley, father of Robert Bentley, was the only son of Martin Bentley. cashier of the Western Reserve Bank, of War- ren, Ohio, and his wife. Elizabeth Fitch, of New York City : he was born July 16, 1832, and died April 11, 1862. Like his father, he

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was a man of marked business ability. For a time he was assistant cashier of the Mahoning County Bank, and then a partner in the bank- ing firm of Wick Brothers, of Youngstown.

The mother of Robert Bentley, who was reared and educated in Youngstown, Ohio, is a woman of superior qualities of mind, identi- fied with the various charities of the city, and one of the first promoters of the City Hos- pital; she was also the founder of the first Woman's Club of Youngstown. She resides at No. 725 Bryan street. Her parents, Dr. Robert and Eliza McCurdy, were born in Ire- land, of Scotch-Irish ancestry. Dr. McCurdy came to the United States in 1843, and settled on a small farm near Crab Creek, Mahoning County. By his first marriage he had three daughters, Isabella, Catherine and Elizabeth, all of whom are now deceased. By his second marriage his children were: Mary, mother of the subject of this sketch; John, a promi- nent physician at Youngstown; Robert, de- ceased, a sketch of whom will be found in this volume ; William and Thomas H., both de- ceased ; and Samuel H. The mother of Mrs. Bentley died at the age of 35 years.

Four children were born to Martin Bent- ley and his wife : James, who died in infancy, Robert, Eliza Henry, and John Martin. Rob- ert Bentley was married October 16, 1895, to Augusta F. Zng, of Carlisle, Pennsylvania. They have two sons, Robert Bentley, Jr., and Martyn Zug Bentley. Eliza Henry, the only daughter. is a graduate of Vassar College. and for two years was a teacher in the Rayen School at Youngstown. She is identified with the development of institutions connected with the welfare of the city. She married Rev. O. V. Stewart, a prominent Presbyterian min- ister, who died November 12, 1894. Their two sons are: Robert Bentley Stewart and James Wilbur Stewart. John Martin, the youngest son, is assistant auditor of the Car- negie Steel Company, of Pittsburg. Pennsyl- vania, and resides in that city, together with Iris wife and two children, Harry Bentley and Josephine Bentley. The family belongs to the Presbyterian Church. Socially prominent, their beautiful home at No. 718 Wick Avenue,

is one of the most hospitable in the city. In political sentiment, Mr. Bentley is a Repub- lican.

JOHN ALFORD DAWSON, who fills the important position of butter- maker for the Petersburg Creamery Company. one of the most successful industries of Mahoning County, in its line, was born in Beaver County, Pennsyl- vania. January 8, 1875, and is a son of Daniel D. and Saralı J. (Cochran) Dawson.

Robert Dawson, the grandfather of John A., was born in England and with his three brothers emigrated to America, settling first in Maryland and later removing to Smith's Ferry, on the Ohio River, in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. Daniel D. Dawson was a farmer in Beaver County. He married Sarah J. Cochran, who was born in Washington County. Pennsylvania, and they became the parents of the following children : Robert, residing in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania; Mrs. Jennie Speerhas, residing at Industry. Pennsylvania; John A .; Reed R., residing at East Liverpool, Ohio; and Howard and Eva, hoth residing at home.

John A. Dawson was reared on his father's farm, and obtained his education in the public schools. When about 22 years of age he went to work at butter-making at Goldendale. Lawrence County, where he remained for about two and one-half months, and then de- cided to adopt this calling as a profession, and with this end in view he took a six-weeks' course in a dairy school connected with the Pennsylvania State College. He then re- turned to Goldendale for four months more. when he accepted a similar position at Neshan- nock Falls, where he remained four and one- half years, going then to the Poland Cream- ery Company. as chief butter-maker, remain- ing with that organization until April 1, 1903. when he came to Petersburg as butter-maker for the Petersburg Creamery Company.

The Petersburg Creamery Company has been in business since about 1897, and has

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JOSEPH AKREL SMITH

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been a successful enterprise from the begin- ning, paying a dividend of 4 per cent the first year, and subsequently has paid as high as 40 per cent. The creamery has at present ninety- two patrons, and the product is sold at Beaver Falls, Sewickley, Allegheny City and Pitts- burg, while the buttermilk is sold at Youngs- town. The creamery has a record of dispos- ing of 18,492 pounds of butter in a single month, and in 1906, at an average price of 28 cents, the output was 114,265 pounds. Dur- ing the same year 2.392,900 pounds of milk were received. The receipts are correspond- ingly large, one shipment to one firm in July, 1907, bringing in $2.073.35. The officers of this successful industry are: William Stroh- ecker, president ; William Johnston, vice-pres- ident : William McCalla, secretary and man- ager : and John Hope, treasurer. The board of directors is made up of the officers and three other capitalists: William Schnabel, Charles Seiter and E. C. Brungard. John A. Dawson is butter-maker.

On November 8, 1899. Mr. Dawson was married to Mary Kauffman, who was born in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, and is a daughter of Joseph and Susan ( Headings) Kauffman, the former of whom is deceased. They have three children: Sarah Gertrude, born June t1, 190t ; Edna May. born June 29. 1003; and Jessie Myrtella, born January 21. 1905. Mr. and Mrs. Dawson are mem- bers of the Presbyterian Church. Politically Mr. Dawson is a Republican.

J OSEPH ARREL SMITH, formerly the largest landowner in Poland township, died at his beautiful new home at Struthers. July 17, 1903. Mr. Smith was born September 23. 1838, on a farm in Poland township, Mahoning County, Ohio, and was a son of Robert and Margaret (Smith) Smith, cousins.

Robert Smith, the grandfather, was born in Pennsylvania. in July, 1765. In 1802 he came with his family to Mahoning County, securing 400 acres of land, a large part of

which he retained and deeded to his children. He married Keziah Stewart and they reared ten children. They were typical pioneers and led sober, virtious and industrious lives until they died.

Robert Smith the second, the son of Rob- ert and the father of Joseph Arrel, was born in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, June 17, 1802, just prior to the coming of the family to Ohio. He was reared in Poland township, was educated in the pioneer schools and in early manhood was married to his cousin, Margaret Smith, who was born in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, December 6, 1808, and who was a daughter of Joseph and Rachel (Arrel) Smith. They had three children, namely: Robert Stewart, who died October 5, 1838; James Clark, who died April 10, 1849; and Joseph Arrel. The father, Robert Smith, died in Poland township, July 26, 1860, and was survived by his widow until January 3. 1889.

The educational advantages afforded J. Arrel Smith in his boyhood were taken ad- vantage of, including some years of attend- ance at the district schools of Poland town- ship. He was reared to be a practical farmer although he had scarcely reached his majority before he lost his father, and on this account heavy responsibilities rested upon him at the outset of his career. This included the man- agement of the large estate which had been left to his mother by her brother, James Smith, who had been a heavy landowner in Poland township and who had died unmarried. At the death of luis mother Mr. Smith came into entire possession of the large property he had mmmaged for years. He was an extensive agriculturist and a very successful stock-raiser, although he confined his efforts mainly to the management of the different farms, employing skilled labor to operate them. He continued to reside in Poland township until too, when he removed with his family to Struthers, tak- ing possession of a commodious and comfort- able residence there. Mr. Smith was identi- fied with a member of Struthers' enterprises, being vice-president and a director of the Struthers Bank, and had longer life been given

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Twentieth Century History of Youngstown and Mahoning County Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 86

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