Twentieth Century History of Youngstown and Mahoning County Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 89

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 89

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).

Charles S. Haynes was born in Vernon, Trumbull County, Ohio, on the farm of his father, David Haynes, who was a native of Connecticut, and who came to this county when a young man. When Charles S. was 14 years of age, his father removed to a farm in Poland township, where he died about 1868. Charles S. Haynes married Lucy Meeker, who was born and reared in Boardman township, and was a daughter of William Mecker. After his marriage he lived for some time on the home iarı. and then purchased a tract of 20 acres, which he subsequently sold, purchasing a farm of 50 acres, on which he resided until his father removed to Poland, when he returned to the home farm. In 1872 he removed to the village of Poland and entered into the mercantile business with I. G. Blackman, con- timing for two years, after which he bought his

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partner's interest and managed the store alone until his death, December 19, 1898, at which time he was manager of the store now owned by Cover & Haynes. His widow is still living and is a resident of Poland. Charles Haynes and wife were the parents of two children: Calvin T., and Lily, twins. The latter mar- ried Prof. M. A. Kimmel, a sketch of whom is to be found in this work.

Calvin T. Haynes was reared in Poland and attended the public schools and also the Poland Union Seminary, aiter which he farmed a tract of 90 acres, which his father owned, and also followed teaming. He re- sided on the Boardman township side of the road. In 1903 he went to Fayette County, Pennsylvania, and worked nine months for the Orient Coal and Coke Company as re- ceiving clerk, after which he returned to Po- land and entered into the mercantile business with Mr. Cover. At first they operated but one store, of which Mr. Haynes bought a half interest, May 1, 1904. but in October, 1906, they enlarged their business scope and bought another building and opened a second store, in both of which they carry a full line of dry goods, groceries, boots, shoes, flour, feed, etc., and do an extensive business.

Mr. Haynes was married (first) in 1885. to Eva Marshall, who died in 1901, leaving one child. Hazel. Mr. Haynes was married (second) to Lydia Kennedy, a daughter of Abraham Kennedy.

Mr. Haynes is a member and president of the Special Poland District Board of Educa- tion, and has served for twelve years as coun- cilman of the village. Fraternally he is a Mason.

E ZRA C. WELSH, one of the progress- live, enterprising and able business men of New Middletown, one of the owners of the widely known distill- ing business of Wire. Welsh & Co .. was born in Springfieldl township, Mahoning County, Ohio, February 1, 1865, and is a son of William and Leah ( Witzeman ) Welsh.

William M. Welsh was born in Wartem-

berg. Germany, where he remained until he was 19 years of age, when he came alone to America and directly to Springfield township, where he followed his trade of shoenriker, subsequently purchasing a farm of 25 acres, which he later sold and then bought his 80- acre farm, on which he still resides. He mar- ried Leah Witzeman, who was born in Spring- field township, and is a daughter of Jacob Witzeman, who was the first of his family to come to Mahoning County. Jacob Witzeman was a prominent business man, farmed and ran a general store on his place and dealt ex- tensively in stock, driving the same to Phila- delphia. The children of William and Leah Welsh were four in number. namely: Jona- than, residing near New Springfield; Wilson, residing in Springfield township; Ezra C .; and Albert, who died aged six years. Politically William Welsh is a stanch Democrat and has served in local offices. He is a member of the German Lutheran Church.

Ezma C. Welsh attended the country schools and those at Poland, but the training to be secured in them did not satisfy his amt- bition, and when only 13 years of age he de- cided to make a personal effort and earn the money to take him through a more extended course of learning. His father did not approve of his plan, but the youth managed to carry it out and to acquire the necessary sum of $35. earning a part of it and borrowing the re- mainder, and thus prepared himself for teach- ing. and when 17 years old took his first school in Springfield township. He continued in the educational field for the following seven years. never having reason to regret his determined stand in boyhood. This same determination has been a strong factor in bringing about his subsequent business success.

In his business career Mr. Welsh has been solely interested in distilling, from the time he entered the firm of Wire, Rummel & Co. In 1884) he bought that firm out, when the name was changed to Wire & Welsh, with Solomon M. Wire and Ezra C. Welsh as owners, and it so remained until the admis- sion of D. Livingstone as a partner, when the firm name was changed to Wire, We'sh &

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Co. Mr. Wire died in 1903. but the business name has been retained, Mr. Welsh and Mr. Livingstone being the sole owners. In the development of this business Mr. Welsh has shown marked ability and stands as one of the representative business men of the county at the present time.

On September 16, 1886, Mr. Welsh was married to Agnes Livingstone, who was born March 15. 1866, near Struthers, Ohio, and is a daughter of Andrew and Agnes (Cakler- head) Livingstone. Mr. and Mrs. Welsh have three sons: Allen Grover. William An- drew, and Duncan Ezra. The eldest son was born January 19. 1889. After graduating from Poland Union Seminary he completed a thorough business course at Hall's Commer- cial College at Youngstown, and proposes to enter the freshman class in the Ohio State L'niversity in the fall of 1907 as a student of chemical engineering. William Andrew, the second son, was born July 19, 1891, and is completing his second year in the Poland Union Seminary. The youngest son, who was born September 19, 1893, is also a stu- dent in the Poland Union Seminary. Mr. Welsh and family belong to the German Lutheran Church at New Middletown. Fra- ternally he is connected with Starlight Lodge, No. 224, Knights of Pythias, at Petersburg. and with the order of Eagles.

Mr. Welsh and Mr. Livingstone own a magnificent farm of 155 acres, adjoining New Middletown, which has been highly improved with fertilizer from the distillery.

R H. JACOBS, secretary. treasurer and manager of the Jacobs Lumber Company, at Youngstown, is one of the city's progressive and successful business men. He belongs to an old and honored family of this section and was born at Youngstown, Ohio, in 1874. and is a son of Orrin and Malvina (Gerwig) Jacobs.

The Jacobs family was founded in this locality by Abraham Jacobs, the great-grand- father, who came here at a very early day,

from Mckeesport, Pennsylvania. He was probably accompanied by his son, Philip, who was an early merchant, coal dealer and worker in the coal banks, and for years had a place of business on East Federal street, Youngs- town.

Orrin Jacobs, father of R. H., was born at Youngstown and was also engaged in the coal business. He married Malvina Gerwig, who was a daughter of that well-known foun- dryman and machinist, who came to Youngs- town from Pittsburg, about 1842, and, with Homer Hamilton, Jolin Stambaugh and Wil- liam Tod, founded the great works known as the William Tod works. Their busy brains and active hands have long mouldered into dust, but the great industry they established still continues and brings wealth and content- ment into the Mahoning Valley.

The Jacobs Lumber Company, with which R. H. Jacobs is identified, was incorporated February 1, 1906, with a capital stock of $75.000, and with these officers : B. M. Camp- bell, president ; Horace Williams as vice-presi- dent : and R. H. Jacobs as secretary, treasurer and manager. Mr. Jacobs is well qualified for this position, having been connected with large business propositions for a long period. He read law in his younger years for a time, but left its study to accept a position at the Ohio Steel plant. where he remained for five years. In 1899 he formed a partnership with B. M. Campbell, under the firm name of Campbell & Jacobs. in the real estate line. The firm bought a large amount of property, which they improved and then sold, and carried on a very extensive business, which they still continue, in connection with their lumber and coal en- terprises. They are thorough men of business. active, enterprising and public spirited. Mr. Jacobs has always taken a lively interest in politics and for three years was chief deputy inspector of elections.

Mr. Jacobs is 'a prominent and popular member of the order of Elks. For two years he was a member of the house committee, and for one year was its chairman. He belongs also to the Odd Fellows and to a number of i purely social organizations.

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THOMAS L. KNAUF

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HOMAS L. KNAUF, postmaster at Calla, and one of the leading citizens of Green township, was born March 16, 1864. in Green township, Mahon- ing County, Ohio, and is a son of John and Amelia A. ( Ewing) Knauf.

The father of Mr. Knauf was born in Green township and the mother in Canfield township, both coming from okl pioncer fam- ilies of this section. Nicholas Knauf, the grandfather of Thomas Knauf, was born in Germany and was six years of age when he accompanied his parents to America. They landed at Philadelphia and shortly afterward ilied there of yellow fever. Nicholas Knauf was brought to Mahoning County and was reared in the family of John Baird, of the Ridge, in the northern part of Green township. where he lived until his death, dying in old age respected and esteemed. John Knauf le- came also a man of character and substance. a supporter of the public schools and was a liberal member of the Lutheran Church. He died May 4, 1903: Mrs. Knauf died May. 15, 1905.

The surviving children of John Knauf and wife are: Etta E., who married Warren L. Cook, residing in Green township; Thomas L .; Rose, who married Alexander T. Hen- dricks, residing in Green township: Harvey W., residing in Green township; Martha, who married Frank T. Rogers, residing at Calla; Arthur and Hugh A., both residing in Green township, and Eunice J., residing at home.

Thomas L .. Knauf was reared in his native township and attended the public schools. Af- ter reaching manhood he engaged in farming and stock-raising up to the time he was ap- pointed postmaster at Calla, in August, 1905. He still retains his valable farm of 140 acres. but resides in his fine, nhulern residence, which he erected at Calla. in the summer of 1906. it making a beautiful, convenient and com- fortable home, one that ranks with the best in the village.

On September 29. 1887, Mr. Knanf was married to Elva D. Cochel, who is a daughter of Joseph M. Cochel. of Calla, and they have three children. Hazel B., Ruby A., and Roy J.

Mr. Knauf has been an active factor in politics in Green township for a number of years. Ile was elected township trustee on the Republican ticket, serving in this office for six years, and during a part of this time was president of the board. He is a man of good citizenship in all that the title implies and enjoys the confidence and esteem of his fel- Bo-citizens. His portrait accompanies this article.

B ENJAMIN F. BAILEY, one of the best-known citizens of Smith town- ship, who has resided on his present valuable farm of 120 acres, which is situated in section 14. for consid- erably over a quarter of a century, was born at Lordstown, Trumbull County, Ohio, Oc- tober 11, 1845, and is a son of Peter and Ru- fina ( Kistler ) Bailey.

The Bailey family came to Mahoning County from Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, the grandfather. Abraham Bailey, settling at a very early date in Austintown township, where his son, Peter, was reared. They were of German extraction and Peter learned both the German and English languages, and later taught both German and English schools in that neighborhood. Later he engaged for four years in clerking, in the general store of John R. Church, at Canfeld, but after his marriage he moved to Newton township, Trumbull County, where he resided for many years. He then settled at Lordstown. which was his place of residence until his death.

Benjamin F. Bailey was educated in the public schools of Lordstown, and resided in that place until his marriage, in January, 1870, to Sarah Kistler, who is a daughter of Daniel B. Kistler, late of Lehigh County, Pennsyl- vania. They have had seven children born to them, as follows: James E., residing at Meadville, Pennsylvania, where he is chief train dispatcher for the Erie Railroad : Charles D., residing at Mt. U'nion, Ohio, where he is part proprictor of the Mt. Union grist mills; George S., a resident of Aliance, who is train dispatcher for the Lake Eric, Alliance &

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Wheeling Railroad; Martin F., who resides at Mt. Union, where he is engaged in a mer- cantile business ; Seymour L., residing at Rock Falls, Iowa, where he is operator and station agent for the Rock Island Railroad; Mary, who married William Armstrong, a merchant, residing at North Benton; and Collins, who is deceased. Mr. Bailey's surviving children are remarkably well placed in life and are representative members of society in their various communities.

After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Bailey re- sided for a short time in Newton township, Trumbull County, then removed to Leetonia for a few years and afterwards to the farm in Smith township, in 1878. For two consecu- tive years, Mr. Bailey served as road super- visor of his district, and proved himself a capable and careful public official. He is a lib- eral supporter of the public schools and for many years has been one of the leading men of this section in promoting moral measures of all kinds for the general welfare. Person- ally, he is a member of the Evangelical Lu- theran Church in Newton township, in which he is an elder, having held this honorable of- fice for seven years. Politically, he is a Demo- crat.

D R. JOSEPH H. SCHNURREN- BERGER, residing on a fine farm of 200 acres located in section 10. Austintown township, was torn Au- gust 5, 1865, in Green township, Ma- honing County, Ohio, and is a son of John and Eliza J. (Zimmerman) Schnurrenberger.

Conrad Schnurrenberger, grandfather of our subject, was a native of Germany who came to this country and settled in Mahoning County, Ohio, and who died in Green town- ship at the age of 80 years. He married Eliza- beth Baker and they reared a family of six children, namely : John, the father of our sub- ject; Solomon, deceased, Lyman, Joseph, Bar- bara. and Elizabeth, the last mentioned of whom married Charles Price. Jolm Schuur- renberger. father of the doctor was born in Greenford. Mahoning County, and was edu-

cated in the common schools. He was a car- penter and cabinet-maker by trade, and also followed farming. His wife, Eliza, was a daughter of Peter Zimmerman, who came to Mahoning County from Pennsylvania They were the parents of two children, Lewis V., a resident of Salem, Ohio, who married Anna Wight; and Joseph H., the subject of this sketch. The mother died in 1869 at the early age of 30 years; the father in 1892, aged 56 years, both their deaths occurring in Green township, Mahoning County.

Dr. Schnurrenberger was reared on his father's farm and obtained his education in the district schools of the county and in the High School at Greenford. After leaving school he taught for four terms in Green township, and then, in 1888, began reading medicine with Dr. A. W. Schiller, then of Greenford, but now of Salem, Ohio. One year later he entered the Western Reserve Medical College at Cleveland, Ohio, from which lie was graduated in 1892, having been engaged since that time in the practice of his profession. Dr. Schnurrenberger and his family reside on a fine farm of 200 acres, which his wife inherited from her father's estate. Dr. Schnur- renberger was married November 3, 1892, to Maude Gilbert, a daugliter of John A. and Margaret (Troxel) Gilbert. Her parents were among the pioneers of this county. Two children have graced the union of Dr. and Mrs. Schnurrenberger, Gilbert M. and John A.

Fraternally Dr. Schnurrenberger is a member of the Knights of Pythias Lodge, No. 514, of Greenford. He is a Democrat in politics and has been president of the school board since 1901. He and his family are members of the Zion Reformed Church of which he is also an elder.

AMES P. WILSON, one of Youngs- town's leading attorneys and a mem- ber of the well-known law firm of Arrel, Wilson & Harrington, was born February 6. 1857. at Lyons, Iowa, son of James T. and Harriet P. (Hawes) Wilson.

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James T. Wilson, the father, was a prom- inent lawyer at Cleveland, Ohio, for a num- ber of years, being a member of the law firm of Wilson & Adams in that city. He spent some years engaged in business at Lyons, lowa, during which period he was elected mayor of that city. After his return to Cleveland he was honored with public office. His death occurred in the latter city in 1887. He had three sons, James P., David H. and William R .; all three have distinguished themselves professionally, James turning his attention to the law and his brothers to literature and the stage respec- tively.

James P. Wilson was educated at Cleve- land. After graduating at the Central High School, in 1875, and reading law for one year with Judge Rufus P. Ramney, he took a spe- cial course at Columbia, followed by two years in the law school of Columbia College. After being admitted to practice, he located at Youngstown, entering into partnership with his uncle, D. M. Wilson, and after the latter's decease, with Hon. W. J. Lawthers; later he became a member of the law firm of Wilson, McNab & Hamilton. Since January 1, 1906, Mr. Wilson has been an important member of the law firm of Arrel, Wilson & Harring- ton, one of the strongest combinations of legal talent in Mahoning County. While Mr. Wil- son has made a study of every line of practice, he has paid particular attention to railroad law, and for years has been connected with several of the great transportation corpora- tions as legal advisor. As a pastime he has given some attention to dramatic literature. His main reputation, however rests upon his abilities as a lawyer. His firm is most con- veniently located in fine offices at Nos. 706- 714 Dollar Bank Building, Youngstown.

In 1887 Mr. Wilson was married to Frances E. Patton, a daughter of the late Thomas Patton, who at one time was proprie- tor of the Youngstown Vindicator. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have three sons, viz: Richard Bartley, James Taylor and Harold Leslie.

Politically Mr. Wilson is a Democrat. He has fraternally affiliations with the Elks; and is a Son of the American Revolution, tracing 37

his ancestry from Connecticut and Virginia. As indicated, he is a man of professional tal- ent and literary culture. His social standing is high and his hospitable home at No. 228 Madison avenue opens its doors to the best citizens of Youngstown.

OHN WHITE, whose valuable farm of 272 acres of finely improved land, all in one body, is situated in section 1, Coitsville township, was born October 12, 1819, in County Monaghan, Ire- land, and is a son of Hugh and Rosana (Braden) White.

Hugh White was reared in Ireland and for a number of years worked in a linen factory in his native land. The wages were meager and there was little chance at that time for factory workers to advance their interests. These facts induced him to cross the ocean to try to better his fortunes in a land where there were wider opportunities. Leaving his wife and two children in Ireland, when his son John was five years old, he located first in Massachusetts, where he hoped to find em- ployment in one of the great factories. He remained there but a short time, however, going thence to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he secured employment in the construc- tion of the Fairmount dam, on the Schuylkill River, but the contractor who had the work in charge, proved to be unreliable and left the neighborhood without paying the laborers. This action on the part of his employer left Mr. White almost penniless, and in this emer- gency he turned to peddling, starting out with two baskets filled with small notions, and walking many miles in disposing of them. He saw that money was to be made in the busi- ness and as soon as his earnings permitted, he bought a horse and wagon and started out through the country. making long trips, cross- ing the mountains to Pittsburg and taking a different route back. He soon had established a line of trade, housewives along the route welcoming his small wares and finding the genial and obliging salesman honest in the

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representation of his goods. He now sent for his family, from whom he had been parted for seven years, and they joined him at Phila- delphia, where they lived for seven more years. Mr. White had accumulated enough by this time to indulge in the hope of buying a farm and shortly after purchased 30 acres of wild land near Middlesex, Mercer County,

Pennsylvania, for which he paid $10 per acre. He hired a man to clear this land while he con- tinued his peddling route, which he continued to operate until 1844, when he purchased 100 acres of his son's present farm, which was then a part of Trumbull County, Ohio. Here he engaged in farming during the rest of his active life. He died in 1872, and was sur- vived by his wife until 1881. her death oc- curring when she was 97 years old. They had two children, Mary, who married Thomas Mayers, and John.

John White was 12 years old when the family was reunited at Philadelphia and he proved of the greatest assistance to his father when the latter came to the farm in Ohio. He has continued to reside on this farm, making additions to it and carrying out con- stant improvements. During the many years of his life devoted to farming he has made a specialty of raising sheep. In 1880, he built the present handsome family home, and his judgment was wisely exercised in the con- struction of the other farm buildings and im- provements, which add so largely to the value of his property.

In young manhood, Mr. White married Eliza Dickson, who died in 1885. A native of Ireland, she accompanied her parents to Amer- ica in girlhood, and was reared at Lowell- ville, Mahoning County. There were five chil- dren born to Mr. and Mrs. White, namely : Hugh J., who died unmarried, aged 30 years: George D., who is associated with his brother. Jolın B., in operating the home farm, and who married Rebecca Sturm, has two children, Edith M. and Alice M. : William B., residing at Springdale, Pennsylvania, married Mary Neely, and they have two children. John and 1.ois: John B., who is mentioned above; Rob- ert F. is in partnership with his brother. Wil-

liam B., in a general mercantile business at Springdale All of Mr. White's sons are repu- table, successful business men. Two of them are among the leading citizens of Springdale, while the other two rank high as farmers and cattle growers. In January, 1905, John B. White was elected a member of the school lward of Coitsville township.

Mr. John White has always been identi- fied with the Democratic party and for about 15 years he served as township trustee. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, of which he was formerly a trustee at New Bed- ford.

Mr. White has reached the age of 87 years, 63 of which have been spent in Ohio. Won- derful changes have taken place during this period and he can recall many interesting cir- cumstances connected with the development of this section. He has managed his personal affairs with wisdom and prudence, which have brought him success, and old age finds him surrounded by all reasonable comforts, and the affectionate reverence of children and grandchildren.

R OSS W. BROWNLEE, a highly re- spected citizen and successful farmer of Coitsville township, resides on his farm of 41 acres, on which he also operates a sawmill. Mr. Brownlee was born in Coitsville township. Mahoning County, Ohio, on a farm situated between Hubbard and Lowellville, and is a son of John Wilson and Sadie ( Madge) Brownlee.

The grandfather of Ross W. Brownlee, was Thomas Brownlee, who came to America from his native Scotland, when about 18 years of age settling in Mahoning County and ac- «miring a farm of 250 acres in Coitsville town- ship, where his death took place. He followed the drover business in his earlier years and crossed the mountains into Pennsylvania, on many occasions, with herds of cattle and flocks of sheep. Among his children, his son, John Wilson Brownlee, still survives and resides on his farm of 200 acres in Coitsville township.

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Twentieth Century History of Youngstown and Mahoning County Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 89

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