Twentieth Century History of Youngstown and Mahoning County Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 88

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 88

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Philip Welker came across the mountains of Pennsylvania to Ohio and located in Spring- field township. on a farm in section 13. how owned by William Howard Welker, his grand- son, and adjoining the latter's home farm on the southwest. Philip Welker lived on that property until his death, when aged 80 years. Of his children, the following reached mritur- ity: Peter: Jacob, residing at Kansas City. Missouri: John: William: David: George; Apeline, residing on the state line in Springfield township, who is the widow of Jacob Fosnot ; and Rebecca, who is the widow of Barnum Pitts.

David Welker, father of William H., was lern on the old home farm, October 12, 1811. and there grew to manlywul. Fur a brief per- innl he lived in Lawrence County. Pennsylva- nia, just across the line from the home place. but returned when William H. was less than one year old. He was a carpenter by trade and built the hense and barn on the old place. on which he resided the rest of his life, his death occurring August 15. 1804. He mar- ried Elizabeth Davis, who was born February 4. 1822. and died March 18. 1808. She was born on the same farm as was her son. Wil- liam H., on which her father had settled in pioneer times. David and Elizabeth Welker had three children: William Howard: Perry W., residing at Alliance, where he is a prac- ticing physician, was born December 22, 1852; and Amelia J., who died September 6, 1896. The latter was born January 30. 1861, and married Frank Z. Sherer.

William Howard Welker was reared on the old home farm and was educated in the neighboring schools. He remained on the homestead until 1872, when he purchased 51 acres of his present land, on which he built a substantial two-story house and good harn, and has carried on general farming and stock- raising here ever since. The okl home place was owned by his brother and sister for some years after the father's death, but in the course of time it came into the possession of William Howard, by purchase. Mr. Welker takes a great deal of pride in his farming operations and devotes the main part of his attention to them.

On December 10. 1874. Mr. Welker was married to Emma Martin, who was born in North Beaver township. Lawrence County. Pennsylvania. alot one mile from the present home. She is a daughter of Sanmel and Eliz- abeth ( Emery ) Martin, and a granddaughter of Hugh Martin, who came from Cumberland County. Pennsylvania to Lawrence County. and was a native of Ireland. Samnel Martin was born April 27. 1812, and died at his home in Lawrence County. December 5. 1889. The mother of Mrs. Welker was born October 15.

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1816, and died November 30. 1886. She was a daughter of William Emery, who owned a farm adjoining that of the Martins. Samuel and Elizabeth Emery had the following chil- dren: Elizabeth, residing at New Castle, Pennsylvania, who is the wife of Jesse Cor- nelius; James, who died at Mt. Jackson, Penn- sylvania, in middle life; Mrs. Mary Dunnon. who died in the same year as her mother and brother : Clark, deceased, who formerly re- sided in Missouri; Emma: Albert R., residing at Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania; Wesley. re- siding at Aberdeen, Washington; and Perry, residing at Youngstown.

Mr. and Mrs. Welker have six children, as follows: William Curtis, residing at New Castle, Pennsylvania, was born September 3. 1875. married Margaret Livingstone. July 3. 1900, and they have one son, William How- ard: Perry Howard, who was born November 1, 1876; David Clyde, residing at Los Angeles, California, was born November 23. 1880; Ruby Jane, who was born July 9. 1884; Mau- rice Engene, who was born Angust 3, 1886; and Elizabeth Marie, who was born August 2, 1888.

Mr. Welker has always been an active citi- zen, interested in all that concerns the pros- perity of his locality. In politics he is a Re- publican. but he has never accepted any office except that of school director. With his fam- ily he belongs to the Westfield Presbyterian Church.

'I.LIAM A. MORRISON, M. D .. the oldest physician and surgeon, in point of service, at Struthers, is one of the leading citizens, being also president of the village coun- cil and a director of the Struthers Savings and Banking Company. He was born in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, February 14. 1857. and is a son of James F. and Ana ( Mehard) Morrison.

Dr. Morrison assisted his father in his general store in the village of Wittenburg. during his boyhood, while attending school. first in the district and later in the local acad-

emy, going from the latter to the Washington and Jefferson U'niversity, where he was grad- nated in the class of 1879. Having decided upon the profession of medicine, he then entered a medical college which was a branch of the Western Reserve University at Cleve- land. where he was gradnated in the spring of 1881. He came directly to Struthers and en- tered upon his professional duties which he has continued to perform until the present. He has always been a progressive and enter- prising as well as public-spirited citizen. For some years after locating here lie operated a drug store in connection with his practice and was appointed postmaster and served as such during the administration of President Har- rison.

In 188: Dr. Morrison was married to Mary E. Hazen, who was born at North Sewickly, Beaver County. Pennsylvania. They have two children, Gertrude and Homer. The former married Dr. Charles E. Spring, a ris- ing young physician of Struthers, who is a graduate of the Cleveland Medical College. They have one daughter. Mary Ellen. Homer is a student in the Struthers schools.

Dr. Morrison is a member of the Knights of Pythias and is a 32nd degree Mason.

m ICHAEL DURR, formerly one of the best known and most highly esteemed citizens of Green town- ship, where he died September 6, 1906, was born in Green township, Mahoning Conty, Ohio, January 8, 1831, and was a son of Michael and Elizabeth (Snyder) Durr.

The father of the late Michael Durr was born in Maryland. In 1804 he came to Ma- honing County, accompanied by his two sis- ters, and they settled in Green township on the farm of 133 3-5 acres, on which his son Michael died. and which is still owned by his family. The green woods then covered all this land, many hulians still remained in this section of country, and game was abund- ant. The two sisters of Mr. Durr lived in the

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wagon which had carried them and their ef- fects from Maryland, until the brother could put up a log house, in which they subsequent- ly resided until it was replaced by a substan- tial frame one. Michael Durr. the elder, mar- ried Elizabeth Suyder, who belonged to a pio- neer family of Mahoning County. Of their children, two survive, namely: George M., a nonogenarian, residing in Green township, and David, a septuagenarian, living in Goshen township.

The late Michael Durr was reared in Green township and during boyhood attended the district schools. He devoted his attention industriously to farming and stock-raising. and left a valuable property to his widow and children he was a man of honest purpose and won the respect and esteem of his fellow- citizens. On May 18, 1865, he was married to Mary A. Crowl, who was born in Green township, Mahoning County, Ohio, August 17, 1848, and is a daughter of Emanuel and Polly (Lynn) Crowl. Her father was also a native of Green township and was a son of John Crowl, who was one of the pioneers of this section. The mother of Mrs. Durr was born in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania.

Mr. and Mrs. Durr had four children, as follows: Samuel A., residing in Green town- ship; Lulu R., who married Gideon Klinge- man, residing in Milton township; Charles L., «leceased: and Bert E., who resides with his mother. He was married June 1, 1907. to Jennie Mae Carrier, of Deerfield township. Portage County, Ohio, a daughter of Jacob and Jennett ( Young) Carrier. Jacob Carrier was a native of Wisconsin and his wife was born in Scotland. He came to America at the age of 12 years and moved into Ohio some thirty years ago.

In politics Michael Durr was a Democrat and he served as assessor of Green township. He was a good farmer, one who took pride in improving and tilling his land, a representative citizen, who performed every public duty to which his attention was called, and he was also a kind husband and father. and a helpinl reighbor.

D AVID HEINSELMAN, president of the board of public service, at Youngstown, an office he has held almost continuously since May, 1903. is one of the reliable and representa- tive men of the city. He was born in 1858, in Trumbull County, Ohio, but has been a resi- dent of Youngstown since he was nine years old.

At an unusually carly age Mr. Heinsel- man became a workman in the rolling mill. where he continued for six months, afterwards resuming his studies in the public schools, and later taking a course in bookkeeping with Miller & Noble. He was then a clerk in the grocery store of Harry H. Hall for several years. subsequently returned to rolling mill work, and for a year was in the employ of Daniel Reeble. After another season in the grocery line. Mr. Heinselman worked for Cartright, McCurdy & Co., in the rolling mills, and from there went to railroading, accepting a fireman's position on what is now the Erie Railroad. Here he remained for six years, being promoted at the end of that time to the position of engineer. He continued in rail- road work for about 23 years. From 1894 until 1898 he was a member of the city coun- cil. heing elected from the Sixth Ward, and for one year he was president of the council. In 1903 he became a member of the board of public service. Thus step by step, through his own industry, energy and perseverance, Mr. Heinselman has climbed to an important posi- tion in city affairs, has attained prominence as a railroad man of reliability, and has won the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens.

In 1880 Mr. Heinselman was married to Mary A. Gundry, of Trumbull County, Ohio. They have five children, namely: William David, emploved in the city engineering de- partment at Youngstown: Frank Albert, who is in the city water works department: and Masena. Charles Samuel and Mary Elizabeth. The family belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church.

For eleven years Mr. Heinselman was a

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CALVIN OSBORNE

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member of the Volunteer Fire department. He belongs to the Brotherhood of Locomotive En- gineers, is a Chapter Mason, an Odd Fellow and a Knight of Pythias. He has invented a sewer appliance for which he has applied for a patent, and as its utility is apparent he will doubtless have no difficulty in placing it on the market.

ALVIN OSBORNE, who is engaged in general farming on his farm of 53 acres located in Section to, Youngstown township, was bom March 25. 1841, in this town- ship, and is a son of Daniel and Sarah (Crow) Osborne. His paternal grandfather, Anthony Osborne, was a native of Virginia and came to Mahoning County, Ohio, which was then a part of Trumbull County, with a colony of Virginians. He purchased a tract of 150 acres in Youngstown township, which he cleared and placed under cultivation. Later he sold 100 acres to Daniel Osborne, father of Calvin, and the remaining 50 to another son, after which he went to live with his son Daniel until his death.

Daniel Osborne was born November 7. 1809, in Loudon County, Virginia (now West Virginia), and was a young man when he ac- companied his father to Mahoning Conuty, Ohio, where he passed the remainder of his life engaged in farming and stock-raising. His wife, also a native of Loudon County. Virginia and whose parents died when she was quite young, came to Mahoning County, Ohio, with her half sister and was one of the same colony with which Mr. Osborne canie. Mr. Osborne hought a farm of 150 acres from his father, to which he contimmed to add until at one time he was the owner of 4ot acres. There were nine children born to Daniel and Sarah Osborne, seven of whom grew to matur- ity, only two now surviving, viz. : Clark Os- borne of Ashtabula County, Ohio; and Cal- vin, the subject of this sketch. Mrs. Daniel Osborne died March 28, 1884. and her hus- band April 18, 1893.

Calvin Osborne was the fifth of a family of nine children, and was born and reared within a short distance of his present home. His education was obtained in the district schools of the township. He has been married three times, first in 1864 to Alice Crooks, a daughter of James Crooks. Of this union there was one child, Charles Osborne, who married Esther Sanders, resides in Austintown town- ship and has seven children. Mr. Osborne's marriage occurred in 1872, to Mary Crooks, a niece of his first wife. They had two chil- dren, Robert, who married Alice Gushemend and has three children ; and Bertha, who mar- ried William Lee and has a family of three children. After the death of his second wife Mr. Osborne married Mary McMillen, which union resulted in the birth of one child, Car- rie E., who teaches school at Kyle's Corner, Youngstown township. Mr. Osborne, whose portrait is herewith presented, has always fol- lowed farming as an occupation, and is recog- nized as one of the township's most success- ful and enterprising citizens. In politics lie is a Republican. Mrs. Osborne and her daugh- ter Carrie E., are members of the Disciples Church of Youngstown.

5 ENRY HEASLEY, a retired farmer living at Poland. who owns valuable farms in Poland township, was born at Youngstown, Ohio, November 1, 1845, and is a son of Henry and Rachel (.Wlair ) Ileasley.

The Heasley family came originally from Switzerland and settled in Wesmoreland County. Pennsylvania. There Henry Heasley, the ckler, was born, and was reared at Green- Imirg. In 1833, when a young man, he came to Youngstown, where he was later joined by his father, and started a cabinet-making shop. and for many years was the only cabinet-maker, and operated the only undertaking establish- ment in Youngstown. His charges were moderate, as he made coffius from walant Iwrards, lined them, and supplied the hearse for funerals for $4. hu 1853 he removed to

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Boardman township and purchased a farm on the Youngstown and Poland road. which was known as the Asa Smith farm. One year later he purchased a tract of land on the Poland township side of the road, a part of which is now owned by the subject of this sketch. Ile died on the Asa Smith farm in 180g. He was twice married ( first ) to Mary Aus Powers, a daughter of Isaac Powers. She died leaving one chill, Mary Ann, who married Philip Jacobs, both of whom are deceased. He mar-

ried ( second) Rachel Adair, deceased, who was born and reared in Poland township and was a daughter of James Adair, who was one of the carly pioneers of Poland township, who came from Pennsylvania at an early day, with his brother Alexander, and opened up a farm. He was a soklier in the war of 1812. Nine children were born to this union: Emily, de- cesed; Julia, who is the widow of Daniel Davidson; Henry: Frances, deceased, who married James Gibson, of Youngstown ; James. deceased; Josephine, deceased, who married George Miller; Louis, residing in Colorado; Veeder and John, residing at Youngstown.

Henry Heasley was eight years old when his parents moved to the farm in Poland town- ship on which he was reared and received his agricultural training. For many years he was one of the most successful and prominent farmers of Poland township, where he still owns two farnis. one of 103 acres on the Youngstown and Poland road, and the other of 75 acres, situated one mile south of the vil- lage of Poland. on the Poland and Springfield road. In 1903. Mr. Heasley retired from farming and bonght his fine residence property in the village of Poland. The house was built and occupied by Seklon Haynes and is a very old bmikling, but is in first-class condition.

Mr. Heasley was married, in 1873. to Mary A. Clark, a daughter of John and Mary ( Mc- Millen ) Clark, the latter of whom was a sister of Reuben MeMillen, who was for many years superintendent of the Youngstown schools and for whom the McMillen Libraries were named. Mr. and Mrs. Heasley have had three children : Henry Clark, Susan M .. and I ont serious injury, although he took a brave

George. Henry Clark, who died aged 25 years, was a graduate of the Poland Semin- ary. after which he took a post-gra .. uate course at Wooster, Ohio, and was studying to be a physician at the time of his death, Susan M. married Elmer Kirkland and has one son, Henry. George resides at home and manages the farm on the Youngstown road.

Mr. Heasley is a director in the Farmers' Deposit and Savings Bank of Poland. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church of the village of Poland.

F ENRY HEISLER, merchant at Se- bring, where he has been in business since 1901, still retains his fine farm- ing land in Smith township. com- prising 180 acres, on which he re- sided for thirty-two years, engaged in agri- cultural pursuits, Mr. Heisler was born in Goshen township. Mahoning County, Ohio, December 14, 1844. and is a son of Charles and Emma ( Amos) Heisler.

Charles Heisler was born in New Jersey and accompanied his parents to Goshen town- slip. Mahoning County. in his boyhood. They were very early settlers and endured many of the hardships incident to pioneering. Charles Heisler remained on the home farm all the rest of his life, dying when his son Henry was about eight years of age. Henry Heisler re- mained with his mother on the farm until he enlisted in the Federal army. December 9, 1861, when he became a member of Company 1. 6th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, which became a part of the Army of the Po- tomac. Mr. Heisler has a notable army record which includes participation in forty-four bat- tles, many minor engagements and marches of hundreds of miles to and fro over the coun- try. After serving with the greatest courage and efficiency for nearly four years, he was honorably discharged. During a large part of the time he was with General Sheridan's com- ! mand. Mr. Heisler survived all dangers with-

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soldier's part in such terrible engagements as the second battle of Bull's Run, Antietam, Get- tysburg, the Wilderness, Five Forks and the siege of Petersburg. He was at Appomattox when General Lee made the surrender of his army to General Grant, and was honored by being selected as an escort to the great com- mander.

Mr. Heisler returned to Goshen township and continued in agricultural work there un- til 1869, when he moved to Smith township. There he owns two farms, both of which are fertile and which he has improved. In 1901 he removed to Sebring, where he has a most comfortable home at the corner of Seventeenth street and Oregon avenue, He is well known through both town and country and is a rep- resentative man of both sections, having al- ways taken an interest in their development.

Mr. Heisler married Eliza A. Smith, who was born in Goshen township, Mahoning County, and is a daughter of the late Elijah Smith. They have two children, namely : Annie E., who married Elwood Rose, of Smith township, and Lewis, who resides near Mobile, Alabama,

Formerly Mr. Heisler belonged to the Grand Army of the Republic Post at Alliance. Politically he is a Republican. He is one of the lending members of the Methodist Episco- pal Church at North Benton, and is one of the board of stewards.

H NDREW W. COCHEL, whose farm- ing and dairying interests are of large importance in Green township, resides on a valuable farm of 78 acres, situated in section 27. Mr. Cochel was born March 8. 1851, in Green township, Mahoning County, Ohio, and is a son of Andrew and Mary (Zimmerman) Cochel.

Andrew Cochel was born in Berks County, Pennsylvania, February 13. 1809. and was a son of George Cochel, also a native of Berks County, who died when Andrew was nine years of age. The mother of the latter died when he

was 14 years old. He was about 17 years old when he left Pennsylvania, and in 1826 settled' in what is now Mahoning County. Some time in the 40's he purchased land which now forms a part of the site of the village of Calla, on which he resided until 1868, when he bought another farm, a portion of which is now covered with the town of Greenford, and on this farm he resided until his death, May 9, 1896. He was a man well and favorably known all through this section, serving in many public capacities and being a representa- tive citizen. He was affiliated with the Demo- cratic party, casting his first Presidential vote for Andrew Jackson. For a long period he was a trustee of Green township. He married Mary Zimmerman, who was born in Adams

County, Pennsylvania, and died in Green township, August 31, 1896. surviving her husband but a few months. Of their children the following survive: George Z., residing at Mansfield; Joseph M., residing at Calla; Mary A., who married F. F. Lynn, residing at Can- field ; William H., residing at Columbia, Mis- souri; Daniel B., residing at Bellingham, Washington; and Andrew W.

Andrew W. Cochel was educated in public school district No. 1, Green township, and at Poland, Union Seminary, and subsequently taught school for eleven winter seasons, de- voting his summers in the meantime to agri- cultural pursuits, to which he later gave his entire attention. Mr. Cochel's land is well situated for his main industry, which is dairy- ing.

On February 6, 1879, Mr. Cochel was mar- ried to Laura J. Matzenbaugh, who was born in Green township, Mahoning County, Ohio, September 29, 1855, and is a daughter of Daniel and Caroline (Berlin) Matzenbaugh, the former of whom was born in Columhiana County, Ohio, and died in Green township, March 23, 1901. His father, also Daniel, came to Columbiana County from Pennsyl- vania, having been a soldier in the war of 1812, and died when his son Daniel was four years old. The mother of Mrs. Cochel was a daughter of Henry and Julia Berlin, who came from Germany and settled in a log house

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in the eastern part of Green township. Mrs. Cochiel's mother died November 28, 1892. The children of Daniel Matzenbaugh and wife were: James A., residing in Green township; Laura J .; Mary E., who married Ensign Conk. residing at Greenford; and Susan and Estella, residing in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Mr. Matzenbaugh was a very highly respected citi- zen. He was a worthy member of the Luther- an Church. In politics he was a Democrat. He was a charter member of Orion Lodge. No. 390, Odd Fellows, at Washingtonville.

Politically Mr. Cochel is a stanch Deno- crat, and for twelve consecutive years he served as a justice of the peace, his whole term in this office being fifteen years. Mr. and Mrs. Cochel belong to Greenford Grange, No. 1085. Mrs. Cochel is a member of the Lutheran Church at Washingtonville. The family is prominent socially through the township.

J AMES P. KENNEDY, who is engaged in general farming on a tract of 80 acres located in section 15, Coitsville township, was born in Ireland in 1850 and is a son of Patrick and Cather- ine (Maher) Kennedy. Patrick Kennedy and his wife were both natives of Ireland, where they were reared and married, and in 1853 they came to America. They first resided for two years in New York, where their daughter Bridget died, after which they came to Youngstown, Ohio. Here Mr. Kennedy was engaged in contracting for twenty-eight years. During his residence in Youngstown he pur- chased two farms, the first, known as the Bear's Den Farm, being located in Youngs- town township. He did not locate on this farm, but bought a tract of 13334 acres in Coitsville township, to which he later added another small tract, owning at one time 145 acres. Here he resided and was engaged in farming for the remainder of his life, passing away at the age of 66 years. After his death his widow moved to Youngstown, where she died at the advanced age of 84 years. They were the parents of sixteen children.

James P. Kennedy was reared in Youngs- town, and when a young man engaged as overseer for his father, having charge of the unloading of ore, stock, etc., which he had taken to the Phoenix and Falcon furnaces, with which concern his father had a contract. He removed to his present farm with his par- ents, where he has since been engaged in gen- cral farming. The farm was originally a tract of 140 acres, of which he sold 60 acres to his brother, P. M. Kennedy. His fine large barn, which was 40x60 feet, was burned in July, 1906, when he lost everything in it, with the exception of the live stock.

Mr. Kennedy was married May 10, 1894, to Elizabeth Tyrell, a daughter of William Tyrell. They have two children: Raymond and Lawrence.

e ALVIN T. HAYNES, a prominent business man of the village of Po- land, who, in partnership with Alonzo B. Cover, operates two general stores under the firm name of Cover & Haynes, was born in Boardman township, Mahoning County, Ohio, December 10. 1863. and is a son of Charles S. and Lucy ( Mecker) Haynes.

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Twentieth Century History of Youngstown and Mahoning County Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 88

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