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BIOGRAPHIES
Source:
A Standard History of
THE HANGING ROCK IRON REGION OF
OHIO
An Authentic Narrative of the Past, with the Extended
Survey of the Industrial and Commercial Development
Vol. II
ILLUSTRATED
Publishers - The Lewis Publishing Company
1916
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JENNIE BIRD PETERS.
The oldest daughter of the late Edward James Bird, Jennie
Bird, was born in Oldbury, Worcestershire, England, and came
with her parents to America at the age of eleven, subsequently
living in Frostburg, Maryland, Chicago and in Milwaukee.
Her parents sent her back to England to pursue her education and
studies in music, and after some absence abroad she returned to
Milwaukee, and in 1886 the family removed to Ironton.
On Nov. 27, 1889, Miss Bird married James
Francis Peters, youngest son of John Peters, Sr.
Their first child, Mildred Bird Peters, was born Feb. 9,
1881; Frank Bird Peters was born Feb. 21, 1883; James
Francis Peters was born Nov. 2, 1888; and Jennie Bird
Peters was born after the death of her father on Aug. 16,
1892. James Francis Peters died Jan. 7, 1892.
Mildred Bird Peters, the oldest of the children,
married Edwin Ervin MacNary, a well-known business man of
Ironton, and to their union were born three daughters:
Ethylwynne, the older of twin daughters, died Sept. 23,
1913; Mildred Peters, the other twin, is now ten years of
age; and Helen, the youngest daughter, is aged nine.
Frank Bird Peters, the oldest son, was educated in the
Ironton public schools, and at the age of sixteen was employed
by the Detroit, Toledo and Ironton Railway to establish
the car service, and was later freight agent, and then became
agent and traffic man at Lawrence Furnace, subsequently traveled
as traffic man for the Superior Portland Cement Company, and is
now connected with the Lee-Hi Cement Company. James
Francis Peters, the second, at the age of sixteen was
chemist at the Bird Iron Company in Lawrence, then as chemist at
Jackson, at Perryville, Pennsylvania, was employed in looking up
coke for the Jackson Company in Virginia, and is now connected
with the Indiana Harbor Iron Company, at Indiana Harbor,
Indiana. Jennie Bird Peters, the youngest daughter,
still lives at home. The son Frank Bird Peters
married Miss Barbara Neecamp, daughter of Mrs. Theo
Neecamp, a business woman of Ironton. They were
married Aug. 12, 1908, and to the union have been born two
children: Frank Bird Peters, Jr., and Barbara Peters.
This family is living in East St. Louis. Mildred
Peters finished her education at Delaware, Ohio, in art and
music.
Source: A Standard History of The Hanging Rock Iron Region of
Ohio, Vol. II - Illustrated - Published by The Lewis Publishing
Company, 1916 - Page 1133 |
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JOHN PETERS, SR.
Among the ironmasters of Southern Ohio one of
the men credited with most of the pioneer undertakings was the
late John Peters, Sr. He probably built more
furnaces than any other man in the state. In every sense
of the term he was self-made, and his life was one of the great
activity and usefulness. He lived to advanced years, well
preserved in body and mind, and at a green old age was still
identified with the iron industry in Lawrence County. He
well deserved the wealth which his labors and judgment
accumulated, and had many admirable qualities as a business man
and in his personal and civic character.
John Peters, Sr., was born in Fayette County,
Pennsylvania, Feb. 18, 1814, a son of Henry and Rebecca
(Wilhelm) Peters, both natives of Pennsylvania. It was
due to the influence of Judge Salters, who was long a
prominent citizen of Portsmouth, that the Peters Family
came to Southern Ohio. In 1831 Judge Peters moved
to Ohio and on a visit to Pennsylvania in 1833 induced Henry
Peters and the latter's brother-in-law, George Wurtz,
afterwards prominent in the iron industry, to return to Ohio
with him. They landed at Wheelesburg, and settled at
Scioto Furnace, Scioto County, where they lived three years.
John Peters had practically no advantages in
schools, but by long experience among men and affairs made up to
a great extent his lack of early education. At the age of
nineteen he began for himself by learning the moulder's trade at
Pine Grove Furnace, Lawrence County. Two years later he
took up the manufacture of charcoal at Mount Vernon Furnace, a
business that engaged him for five years, and with profitable
returns. Then associated with J. O. Willard he
leased the Buckhorn Furnace, and was manager 2½
years. during the '40s he built the Greenup Furnace in
Greenup County, Kentucky, later called the Honeywell Furnace.
A year later he returned to Ohio and joined John Campbell,
Madison Cole, William Clements and J. L. Thompson in
building the Olive Furnace, with Mr. Peters in
superintendence of the construction work. He continued as
its active manager for about six years.
He next removed to Ironton, and was one of a company
consisting of Samuel McConnel, Isaac Peters, John Campbell,
W. M. Bowles and Thomas McGoveney who built the
Washington Furnace, the erection of which he superintended.
In 1855 Mr. Peters superintended the building of S.
McConnel, Thomas McGovney, Isaac Peters, W. M. Bowles, Professor
Mathers, John Campbell and John Peters, the last two owning
a controlling interest in this furnace. In 1855 Mr.
Peters also constructed the Madison Furnace in the same
county, the owns of which were J. P. Terry of Portsmouth,
J. Bentley, M. R. Tuksbarry, F. Duduit, John Campbell and
John Peters. this was a very profitable investment.
Mr. Peters sold out his interests in Madison
Furnace in 1867. In 1865 he formed a partnership with his
brother, Isaac, and opened a banking house at Ironton
under the name J. Peters & Company, a business which was
continued for three years. He then superintended the
building of the Monitor Furnace, owned by Isaac Peters,
Joseph Bimpson, F. E. Duduit, William Simington, John Ballard
and himself. He afterwards bought individually the
Lawrence Furnace from Culbertson, Means & Company.
this was an old furnace, built in 1834, and when a young man
John Peters had been employed there as a laborer.
It remained for many years a valuable property, and was long
owned and controlled entirely by the Peters family.
Aside from his work as an ironmaster, Mr.
Peters was one of the leading men who laid out the Town of
Ironton and built the Iron Railroad; was one of the originators
of the old Star Nail Mill, under the name Peters, James &
Company, this establishment later becoming the Bellefont Iron
Works; was one of the original owners of the Olive Foundry and
Machine Shops; likewise laid out the Town of Petersburg, four
miles above Ironton, and built the Monitor Furnace at that
place, the town being named in his honor.
After selling the Washington and Monroe furnaces Mr.
Peters purchased 300 acres of land and laid out an addition
to the Town of Portland in Jackson County. He was at one
time interested in the old Ironton rolling mill, later the New
York and Ohio Iron and Steel Works Company, and in the Gallia
Furnace in Gallia County.
For a number of years Mr. Peters voted with the
whig party, and later with the republican until 1875, when
becoming dissatisfied with party management he withdrew and went
over to the democrats. He always took a lively interest in
political campaigns, and occasionally appeared before public
audiences to expound his political ideas. He was a member
of the Methodist Episcopal Church from 1836 and long, held the
office of steward.
His first wife was Sarah McDaniel, who died Aug.
30, 1842, the mother of four children. His second wife was
Mary C. Duduit, of the prominent Southern Ohio family of
that name. they were married Dec. 23, 1843, and six
children were born to their union. The sons were all
educated in the public schools of Ironton, and George had
a course in Athens College. The daughters were educated in
the Wesleyan Female College at Cincinnati. The sons,
George, Charles and Ptolemy, were all at one time
connected with the Lawrence Furnace. William Peters
occupied a high place as superintendent of iron mines and of the
Bellefont Iron Works Company. John Peters, Jr.,
became superintendent of the Car Wheel Iron Company at
Petersburg. James F. Peters built up a business in
the insurance line at Ironton, which in time gave him probably
four-fifths of all the business transacted in that line in
Ironton, and made one of the best concerns in the state.
James F. Peters married Nov. 27, 1849, to Jennie, the
oldest daughter of Edward James Bird. Mary A. Peters,
the oldest daughter of John Peters, married C. H.
Spaler. Another daughter, Rebecca, became the
wife of the great Methodist devine and chaplain, later C. C.
McCabe. The daughter Martha A. married M. S.
Bartram, and Josephine became the wife of a
Chillicothe lawyer, A. B. Cole.
Source: A Standard History of The Hanging Rock Iron Region of
Ohio, Vol. II - Illustrated - Published by The Lewis Publishing
Company, 1916 - Page 1129 |
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FRANK F. PHILLIPS.
The active business life of Frank F. Phillips has been
connected with the most important period in the development of
Ironton and is linked with the founding of one of those
industries which have stimulated the city's growth and have been
the basis of its manufacturing prestige. His is a career
eminently worthy of emulation. Commencing life in
practical obscurity and modest circumstances, laboring in humble
positions with steady industry, and practicing economy and
sobriety, at length he has seen his arduous efforts bear fruit
and has profited beyond the fortunes of most men in the value
which a growing community confers upon a fortunate location.
Frank F. Phillips was born in Pike County, Ohio,
Oct. 7, 1873, and is a son of John and Harriet (Moore)
Phillips. John Phillips was born at Lancaster,
Ohio, in 1843, and in young manhood learned the trade of
blacksmith, which he was following at the outbreak of the Civil
war, when he enlisted for service in the Thirty-third Regiment,
Ohio Volunteer Infantry. After completing a very
creditable military service, Mr. Phillips returned to his
Ohio home and again engaged at his trade, but in 1873 came to
the Hanging Rock Region, establishing the Phillips Buggy
Works, on South Second Street, Ironton, of which his son,
Frank F., is now the owner. Mr. Phillips
continued to be connected with this business during the
remaining years of his life, and died in July, 1910. He
became a substantial and influential citizen of his community,
took an interest in its advancement and welfare, and won the
respect and esteem of his fellow-citizens through a life
characterized by industry and integrity. The mother, who
was born at Lancaster, Ohio, in 1847, died in February, 1912.
There were five children in the family: Maggie R.,
who is deceased; Harry L., John H., Frank F., and
Walter M.
The primary schools of Ironton
furnished Frank F. Phillips with his early education, but
when fourteen years of age laid aside his school books to enter
his father's carriage factory, which business he has continued
to be connected with to the present time. In 1910, at his
father's death, he was made manager of the plant, and July
1, 1913, became sole owner thereof when he purchased the
interests of the other heirs in the business. Possessing
in large degree the energetic and enterprising traits of his
father's character, he has continued to make the venture a
successful and paying one, and his activities have resulted in
broadening the scope and nature of the business. The plant is
valued in the neighborhood of $15,000, having modern machinery
and equipment, and the product of the factory is of such
excellent character that Phillips buggies are known all
over the state. Mr. Phillips is a member of the
Chamber of Commerce and has taken an active and interested part
in the movements which have made for Ironton's advancement along
the lines of education and religion. With his family, he
attends the First Methodist Episcopal Church. He is
independent in his political views.
Mr. Phillips was married May 15, 1912, at
Ironton, to Miss Beulah Wyatt, daughter of Joseph and
Mary Wyatt, and to this union there has come one son,
Frank F., Jr. Mr. Phillips is a member of the
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, but is essentially a
home man and there spends practically all of his leisure time.
Source: A Standard History of The Hanging Rock Iron Region of
Ohio, Vol. II - Illustrated - Published by The Lewis Publishing
Company, 1916 - Page 675 |
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THOMAS W. PRICE.
The reputation of a community rests almost entirely upon the
character of its business men, their integrity, enterprise, vim
and fidelity to contracts and engagements being, in most
instances, a gauge by which the prosperity of the town or city
may be measured. Ironton has been especially fortunate in
the character and abilities of its business men, and among them
none is held in higher general esteem than Thomas W. Price,
secretary and treasurer of the Ironton Roofing and Corrugating
Company, and a man who has gained success through the medium of
his own well-directed efforts. Mr. Price was
born at Ironton, Lawrence County, Ohio, Jan. 15, 1861, and is a
son of W. L. and Mathilda J. (Goodder) Price.
Born at Ellenale, Wales, in 1830, W. L. Price
emigrated to the United States in 1848, and not long thereafter
came to the Hanging Rock Iron Region and for a number of years
was employed in the rolling mills of Ironton. His death
occurred in 1869. Mrs. Price, who was born in
Gallia County, Ohio, in 1831, still survives in hale and hearty
old age and makes her home at Ironton. Four children were
born to Mr. and Mrs. Price: Frank W., Thomas W.,
Martha J. and Harriet G. After attending the
public graded and high schools until reaching the age of fifteen
years, Thomas W. Price began work in the nail department
of the rolling mills at Ironton, and there continued for fifteen
years, winning steady promotion through the exercise of fidelity
and industry. In the meantime he carefully invested his
savings, with the end in view of entering business on his own
account, and in 1897 his ambition was realized when he purchased
an interest in the Ironton Roofing and Corrugating Company, of
which he was made secretary and treasurer, positions which he
has continued to retain to the present time. The company
has enjoyed a business that is steadily growing to larger
proportions, and the plant at this time is valued at $5,000,
being fitted with the latest machinery and appurtenances.
Among his associates Mr. Price is known as a man
of excellent business judgment, foresight and acumen, and the
utmost confidence is placed in him. Although the greater
part of his attention is given to this business, he also has
other interests, and is a stockholder in the Home Telephone
Company, and the owner of ten residences in Ironton, including
his own pleasant home, at No. 162 North Fifth Street. He
is a prominent Mason, having advanced to the Shriner degree, and
belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America, and in both
fraternities has many warm friends. He takes much interest
in religious work, being a vestryman and secretary of the
Episcopal Church at Ironton, and has also been active in
educational matters as a member of the Board of Education.
He is a republican of the old type and a member of the Ironton
Chamber of Commerce.
Mr. Price was married Apr. 30, 1886, at the home
of the bride at Ironton, to Miss Rachel Davies, daughter
of Thomas J. and Elizabeth (Thomas) Davies, and to this
union there have been born two children: Anna, who
married Wilbur Jones and died in 1911, leaving one
son, Ralph; Frank W., assistant foreman in the
Ironton Roofing and Corrugating Company, who married
Elizabeth Boll.
Source: A Standard History of The Hanging Rock Iron Region of
Ohio, Vol. II - Illustrated - Published by The Lewis Publishing
Company, 1916 - Page 755 |
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