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OHIO GENEALOGY EXPRESS
A Part of Genealogy
Express
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WELCOME to
COLUMBIANA COUNTY,
OHIO
History & Genealogy |
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WILLIAM H. SCHEETS,
inspector for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, at its
shops in Wellsville, is the oldest employe in point of
service residing here, and with but few exceptions is
one of the oldest of all the company's thousands of
employees. This carries its own distinction
without further comment, for it could not be a fact
without Mr. Scheets having shown untiring
industry, capacity, good judgment and strict fidelity to
the interests of this great corporation over a period of
years which covers the whole life of many an individual.
Mr. Scheets was born in Montgomery County, near
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Apr. 22, 1839, and is a son
of Henry and Mary (Zimmerman) Sheetz.
The original spelling of the family name was
Scheetz, and the father of our subject adhered to
it. The family is an old Pennsylvania German one.
Henry Scheetz was born and reared in
Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, dying in 1872, aged 80
years. He learned the business of paper
manufacturing with his father and when the latter died,
fell heir to the mill which he continued to operate
until the financial panic of 1837 ruined his business.
In the course of a few years he came to Ohio and located
at Steubenville, where he continued in business until
1867, when he retired and in 1869 became a member of our
subject's family, where he resided until his death.
He served in the War of 1812 with his father,
Brig.-Gen. Henry Scheetz. He married the
estimable daughter of a neighbor, Mary
Zimmerman, who died in 1877, aged 79 years.
They had four children, the two to arrive at maturity
being: Amanda, now deceased, formerly the wife of
George Henry, of Bellaire, Ohio; and
William H., of this sketch. The parents were
members of the Presbyterian Church.
Our subject was reared at Steubenville and there was
educated. In 1857 he began to learn the trade of
machinist in the shops of the Steubenville & Indiana
Railroad, now a part of the Pennsylvania system, and
worked in the shops there until 1865. In the
summer of that year he was transferred to Wellsville and
in the fall of the year was made foreman of the
roundhouse, a very exacting position. This he
filled most satisfactorily until 1902, when he was
promoted to his present position. Every duty
pertaining to it is carefully filled according to the
custom of years. He is very highly regarded by the
corporation which he has so faithfully served.
Mr. Scheets was married, first, to
Sarah Armstrong, who was a daughter of James
Armstrong, of Steubenville, Ohio. Their one
child, Mary, is the wife of O. W. Walkup,
of Galesburg, Illinois. The mother died in March,
1864, aged 23 years. She was a member of the United
Presbyterian Church. Mr. Scheets married,
second, Ella Abrahams, who is a daughter
of Jefferson Abrahams, of Wellsville, and
of their seven children four grew to maturity, viz:
Anna, wife of A. K. Riley, of Pittsburg;
William, of Pittsburg; and Ruby and Thomas,
living at home. Mrs. Scheets is a
member of die First Presbyterian Church of Wellsville.
Politically the subject of this sketch is a Republican.
Although not a politician, he has been elected to
several very responsible positions, which he filled with
characteristic efficiency. For six years he was a
member of the Board of Finalization and for six years
was a member of the cemetery board.
Source: History of Columbiana County, Ohio and
Representative Citizens - Publ. by Biographical Publishing
Co. , Chicago, Illinois - 1905 - Page 759 |
PORTRAIT
Simeon Sharp
pg. 368 |
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WALTER SHEETS,
an estimable resident of Unity township, has a
well-appointed farm in section 27. He has a
comfortable home, with beautiful lawn and trees, and
from its elevated position he has a fine view of the
surrounding country in every direction. Mr.
Sheets has followed farming with success and is also
well known as crier of sales, a vocation which his
father also followed many years. Mr.
Sheets was born in Unity township, Columbiana
County, Ohio, February 27, 1863 and is a son of
Thomas and Mary (Piper) Sheets, and grandson of
Samuel and Mary (Hartsow) Sheets. Samuel
Sheets crossed the mountains from the East and in
1802 settled in Unity township, Columbiana County, Ohio,
where Jacob Strohecker’s farm is located,
in section 23, one mile west of East Palestine. He
died about the year 1844, and his wife, in 1886.
They were parents of nine children, all but two of whom
grew to maturity. There are two of these children
living to-day: Thomas; and Margaret, wife
of Elijah Early, of East Palestine.
Thomas Sheets was born in Columbiana
County, Ohio, June 22, 1825, and has lived here almost
all his life. He began working as a farm hand at
an early day and has largely helped in clearing and
developing the country. He located upon the farm
now occupied by his son, Albert, in section 28,
Unity township, in 1861, and lived thereon until 1898.
The farm had a log house and log barn upon it, and these
he replaced with fine buildings, making it one of the
best improved properties in the township. He
conducted a sawmill on the place for some years, where
the gates of the Fair Grounds now stand in East
Palestine, but this was washed down stream during high
water and he never rebuilt. His brother,
Benjamin Sheets, was a marble-cutter and erected
most of the old tombstones used in Mechanicsburg (now
East Palestine) and when a flood came in August, 1864,
lost everything. In 1898, Thomas Sheets bought a
tract of 23 acres in section 27, Unity township, where
he now lives. He has increased his holdings to 87 acres
and has a very fine farm. He has always been a man
of good business ability and judgment and as a crier of
public sales became widely known throughout the county.
He is a man with a keen sense of humor and is a pleasing
story-teller, taking especial delight in relating
experiences of the time when O’Connor kept tavern
where Meek’s Hotel now stands and when there were
six houses and the old Presbyterian Church where East
Palestine now stands.
Thomas Sheets was united in marriage with
Mary Piper, who was born in the old brick
house that stood one block south of the present site of
the East Palestine Pottery, in the old town of
Mechanicsburg, in February, 1828. She is a
daughter of James and Margaret (McCalla) Piper,
who were married in Pennsylvania, and thereafter settled
in Mechanicsburg, Ohio, which had been named by Mrs.
Piper’s father, Thomas McCalla, who
died there in 1861. Thomas Sheets
and his wife became parents of five children, one of
whom died in infancy. Those living are: Mary
Jane, deceased, who was the wife of Henry
Bacon; James L., a resident of California,
who married
Catherine Justison and has two daughters
and one son,—Nettie, Ida and George;
and Walter and Albert, who are twins.
Albert, twin brother of our subject, lives on the
old family homestead in section 28, Unity township.
He married Cora Chamberlin, a daughter of
Simon Chamberlin, of Middleton township,
and they have one child,—Mabel.
Walter Sheets attended the district
schools of his home community and worked on the farm at
home until his marriage, when he settled in East
Palestine. He served three years as engineer of the city
electric light plant, has followed farming successfully
and is a crier of public sales. In 1900 he located on
his present farm of 25% acres in section 27, Unity
township. It is known as the “Hillside Farm,”
being located on an elevation of land, and is a model
country home in every respect. This has been
brought about by the efforts of Mr. Sheets
and his wife, who have converted a patch of brush land
into a beautiful place.
On December 24, 1884, Walter Sheets was united in
marriage with Orpha Baker, a daughter of
William and Tacy Jane (Morgan) Baker. Her
paternal grandparents settled in Columbiana County at an
early date. William Baker owned a fine farm
in section 31, Unity township, and there lived until he
died as the result of an accident on March 6, 1885, aged
64 years and four months. His wife survived him
until September, 1892. He was a deacon and
treasurer of the Disciples Church for many years.
Five children blessed the home of Mr. and
Mrs. Baker, as follows: Effie, wife
of Scott Ripley, of Colorado ; Orpha, wife
of our subject; Noble, who married Florence
Terrell and lives on the old home place in
section 31; Morgan, who married Alice
Schooly; and Moss, who married Ella
Taylor and lives in Evansville, Indiana.
Walter Sheets and his estimable wife are
parents of three children, namely : Raymond, Ross and
Ethel. They have many friends throughout the county and
delight in showing hospitality at their home.
Fraternally our subject belongs to the Protected Home
Circle.
Source: History of Columbiana County, Ohio and
Representative Citizens - Publ. by Biographical
Publishing Co. , Chicago, Illinois - 1905 - Page 796 |
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JOHN W. SHOOK for many years
proprietor of the tannery in Unity
village, which was established as early
as 1843 or 1844, is now retired from
that business and conducts a farm of 40
acres in Unity township. He is one
of the substantial citizens of the
village, where he still has numerous
business interests.
Mr. Shook was born at Middlesex, Pennsylvania,
and is a son of Charles and Margaret
(Brooks) Shook, and grandson of
John Shook, who was a soldier during
the War of 1812. John Shook
was located near Youngstown, Ohio, in
Mahoning County, at a time when the
country was sparsely settled and Indians
roamed about over the land. He
lived there until his death, engaged in
farming, although in early life he
followed the trade of a ship carpenter,
which he had learned in his native
country, Germany. His marriage
with Annie Wilson, a lady of
Irish parentage, resulted in the
following offspring; Charles, Calvin,
Hazel, Martin, Rachel and Mary,
all of whom grew to maturity.
Charles Shook was reared on a farm near
Middlesex, Pennsylvania, and at an early
date learned the trade of a tanner under
his uncle, Dr. Michelltree.
He came to Unity village in 1853, and
was thereafter connected with the
tannery and shoe manufactory until his
retirement from active business in 1873.
He was identified with the tannery of
William Hoffstott and J. Young,
who also conducted a general store, and
he later engaged in business for
himself, tanning leather and
manufacturing shoes. At one time
there were as high as 20 shoemakers in
Unity, and their output was sufficient
for the whole county. When
Charles Shook assumed charge of the
business, he shipped the output to
Pittsburg and other distant points.
Upon quitting this business, he retired
to a farm adjoining the village, where
he thereafter resided until his death in
1883. He was married to
Margaret Brooks, who was born
at Cape May and died in Youngstown in
1899. This union was blessed with
the following offspring: Sarah,
deceased, who was the wife of Dr. E.
Greenmyer; Annie, wife of
Oliver Heck; Louise, deceased, who
was the wife of Dr. McDonald; Rachel;
John W.; Elizabeth, wife of D. C.
King; Frank; Eliza, wife of Peter
Bower, of Allegheny, Pennsylvania;
and Charles.
John W. Shook was 15 months old when his parents
moved from Middlesex, Pennsylvania, to
Unity township, Columbiana County, Ohio,
and here he was reared to maturity.
He attended public schools and at an
early date learned the trade of a tanner
in the tannery of his father, which was
established about 1843 as aforesaid.
He succeeded his father as proprietor of
this tannery, which he conducted with
uninterrupted success until his
retirement in recent years. He
grew up with the business learning it in
all its details, and it was this
thorough intimacy with the business
which enabled him to achieve business
success. He has a farm of 40 acres
in Unity township, which he supervises
and is interested in the Unity telephone
line.
Mr. Shook was united in marriage with Miss A.
Martin, a daughter of Elijah
Martin, who was of one of the
pioneer families of the county.
Three children have been born to them:
Clark S. and W. W., who are
tanners by trade; and O. D.
All are well educated and holding
responsible positions. Mr.
Shook has been considerably
interested in local politics and has
served about 10 years as school trustee,
also 10 years as township trustee.
He frequently has been chosen delegate
to county conventions.
Source: History of
Columbiana County, Ohio and
Representative Citizens - Publ. by
Biographical Publishing Co. , Chicago,
Illinois - 1905 - Page 643
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Mr. and Mrs. Albert R. Silver |
ALBERT R.
SILVER. The Silver family was
one of the first to become permanently established in
Columbiana County. The rich farming lands of Ohio
attracted many homeseekers in the early part of the 19th
century from every settled community, and the Silvers
—father, mother and several children—came from Maryland.
The father purchased a tract of land from the
government, which was located two miles south of the
present city of Salem. This virgin land, of which
the Silvers took possession in 1804, remained the
family home for generations.
William Silver, the father of the
esteemed subject of this sketch, was 12 years of age
when the family removal to Ohio was made and was his
father’s right-hand man in the clearing and cultivating
of the new farm. He married a daughter of the
Spencer family which had settled just west of
Salem, and shortly afterward left the farm and removed
to the village, but subsequently purchased a farm of his
own on the Deerfield and New Lisbon road, three miles
west of Salem,- built a blacksmith shop on his land and
carried on a prosperous business.
Albert R. Silver was born in 1823 at Salem, but
grew up on the farm and assisted his father in the farm
work. He remained with his father and assisted as
a dutiful son should, but when he was about 19 years of
age he left home and went to Salem to learn the trade of
blacksmithing with Henry Rankins and later
went into the establishment, of David Woodruff,
who was a pioneer in carriage blacksmithing in the
village. He soon became foreman of the
establishment, and then served in the same capacity in
the Sheets’ carriage manufactory. He then bought a
shop of his own, and took in, as a partner, Robert
Campbell, who remained with him a short time.
He was a man of practical ideas and thoroughly
understood the business in which he was interested and
at the same time had the enterprise and progressive
spirit which looked forward to the improvement of the
old methods of construction then employed.
Thus Mr. Silver was prepared to listen to
the exploitation of an invention made by a
fellow-townsman, Levi A. Dole. This
invention was one of many made previously by Mr.
Dole. Mr. Silver was quickly
convinced of its practical character and was ready to
furnish the capital for the manufacture of the machine
which was designed to take the place of the old hand
chisel, in boring out wagon and carriage hubs. The
partnership was formed, a shop was rented, a lathe
bought and the firm was soon turning out the new
machines. An invention of such obviously great
utility could not fail to soon attract attention and the
firm was enterprising enough to place its merits before
the public through the leading newspapers, and ere very
long the capacity of the little plant was strained to
turn the machines out fast enough to meet the demand.
It is interesting to remember, in view of the great
transportation facilities now commanded by the Silver
Manufacturing Company, that in the early days of the
business it was a familiar sight to see Mr.
Silver trundling a wheelbarrow load of his finished
product to the railroad station for shipment. As
the business continued to grow beyond expectations, it
became necessary for Mr. Silver to confine
his attention to office work, including a vast amount of
correspondence, but Mr. Dole remained in
personal charge of the mechanical department. He
was a natural genius and his inventions continued to be
made use of in the development of other machines and the
perfecting of those in use. Many of the
labor-saving machinist tools of the present day are
inventions of Mr. Silver and Mr.
Dole and were first used by the Silver
Manufacturing Company. They patented a hollow
auger, for cutting the tenon on chine, and other
hub-boring devices; the water tuyere iron and press
saw-gummer, both of which are still in use, although the
invention of the circular saw replaced the saw-gummer to
some extent. They invented other articles in other
lines which proved of practical use. The death of
Mr. Dole in 1868 was regarded as an
irreparable loss.
Shortly before death of Mr. Dole, John
Deming had been admitted to partnership and in
1873 the business was incorporated under the name of the
Silver & Deming Manufacturing Company,
removal was made to more commodious quarters and the
manufacture of feed-cutters commenced, and in 1882 the
manufacture of pumps was added, and an addition was made
to the firm, John Humphrey entering into
partnership and becoming general superintendent.
The company had enjoyed a long season of prosperity up
to July 3, 1883, when a disastrous fire destroyed the
plant. The company immediately rebuilt on a
larger scale, and in 1890 W. L. and W. F.
Deming purchased the Silver interest in the
establishment and have carried on the manufacture of
pumps under the name of The Deming Company.
The above business changes brought about the
organization of the Silver Manufacturing Company,
which erected the present commodious and well-equipped
factory. The Silvers retained all
the original patents and the entire line of goods
previously manufactured, with the exception of pumps.
The business has continued to be conducted along the
same lines upon which it was directed in the early days
of its founding, and its development into one of the
greatest industries of the State is largely the result
of the persevering industry and sterling integrity of
the father of the present officers. At the time of the
organization of the present company, the officers were:
Albert R. Silver, president; H. M. Silver
vice-president; William Silver, treasurer;
A. O. Silver, secretary; and E. W. Silver,
superintendent. In 1905, H. M. Silver was made
superintendent,
succeeding E. W. Silver. In 1901 the sales
of the company amounted to half a million dollars and
trade relations have been established with every
civilized country in the world.
Albert R. Silver married young, being united
with Mary A. Dunn, who is a daughter of Robert
and Helen (Chaters) Dunn, of Salem. A happy
married life of a.- half century was celebrated by a
“Golden Wedding” in 1898. Mrs. Silver’s
parents, who were natives of Yorkshire, England,
immigrated to America when she was four years old,
coming in a sailing vessel which took eight weeks and
four days to complete the voyage. A family of
seven children was born to this union, five of whom
still survive and are prominent in business and social
life. Emmor W., who until 1905 was
superintendent of the Silver Manufacturing Company,
married Anna Bishop, of Salem. Charles
R. married Jessie F. Steele, of Salem, and
left two children at his death, which occurred at
Portland, Oregon, in 1900. Esther married
Frank Brainard, of New York City, and they
have two sons—Frank and William, students
at Yale University. Helen, twin sister of
Esther, died at the age of four years. William,
who is treasurer of the Silver Manufacturing
Company, married Helen Sharp, a daughter of the
well-known capitalist, Simeon Sharp, and
they have one child, Helen Louise. Homer
M., who is vice-president of the Silver
Manufacturing Company, married Josephine King,
of Salem, and they have one son, Albert R.
Albert Otis, who is secretary of the Silver
Manufacturing Company, married Lizzie Walton,
of Salem, and they have three children, Rebecca, Esther
and Mary.
Mr. Silver’s death took place in 1900, after a
long and useful life of 77 years. While his early
life had been that of a young man struggling with
limited means and held down by inadequate resources, his
later days were filled and running over, with all of the
comforts and blessings of life. It was a source of
pleasure to him to see his sons grow into men capable of
carrying on the great business to which he had devoted
so long a period of his active life and to see his name
recognized as a synonym for business integrity the world
over. He is survived by his venerable widow, the
cheerful partner of his early privations. She
resides in the old family home in Salem which is the
Mecca to which children and grandchildren turn with love
and reverence. Portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Silver
accompany this sketch.
Source: History of Columbiana County, Ohio and
Representative Citizens - Publ. by Biographical
Publishing Co. , Chicago, Illinois - 1905 - Page 389 |
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THOMAS H.
SILVER, A. B., LL. B.,* president of the
Silver Banking Company, at Wellsville, was born in
this city, Feb. 21, 1856, and is a son of Dr. David
S. and Nancy Elizabeth (Hammond) Silver.
The paternal grandfather,
David Silver, was born at Havre de Grace,
Maryland, in 1784. He remained on the family
plantation until about the age of 35 years, when he came
to Ohio and bought a farm between Waynesburg and Canton.
At that time the country was still a wilderness and
Indians and wild animals still roamed through the
forests. In this new country the Silvers
were pioneers, the father a man of hardy enterprise and
undaunted courage, the progenitor of a family which has
become one of prominence in his adopted State. His
political support was given to the Whig party.
Dr. David S. Silver, son of the pioneer and
father of our subject, was probably one of the most
brilliant men Columbiana County had ever known. He
was born Feb. 12, 1811, and died in August, 1877.
His early school advantages were naturally limited, but
he acquired enough learning to enable him to teach the
local schools until his determination was formed to
enter upon the study of medicine. In Dr.
Gardner of Waynesburg, he found an able preceptor
and by him was prepared for the New York College of
Medicine, where he was subsequently graduated and was
licensed to practice about 1825. Shortly
afterward, he came to Columbiana County and entered upon
the practice of his profession, which he continued until
1883. In 1845 he located at Wellsville and this town
continued his home until the close of his life. In
summing up the life and career of a man of such
brilliant parts as the fate Dr. Silver,
the biographer is at a loss what feature to make the
most prominent. He was at the head of his
profession, his reputation being one of note all over
this section, he accumulated a large fortune through his
excellent business qualities, while at the same time he
was liberal and charitable to an extent only known to
those intimately associated with him. Speaking the
Herman language like the English, he had practically
taught himself both, in order to gratify his desire for
learning and investigation.
Dr. Silver was one of the early admirers
of Abraham Lincoln, seeing in the honest
country lawyer much more than the mere politician and
predicting for him much of the success which he later
reached. In all movements of of the Republican party,
Dr. Silver took a deep personal interest, being in
entire sympathy with its fundamental principles.
He would have reached great heights as a lawyer, having
the keen foresight and accurate judgment required in the
law and possessing also the mangetic oratorical powers
which produced desired effect upon his hearers, moving
them alternately to laughter or tears. With a
poetic and vivid imagination, he was a powerful
temperance advocate and in this cause he was looked upon
as a most effective lecturer.
Dr. Silver was united in marriage with
Nancy Elizabeth Hammond, who was a daughter of the
late Thomas Hammond. To this union
were born five children, the four who reached maturity
being: Thomas H., of Wellsville; Margaret,
of Wellsville; Frank Wade, who is
connected with the State Bank at Durango, Colorado; and
David, of Pittsburg. The last named is a
distinguished physician and surgeon, a graduate of
Harvard College and of the universities of Berlin and
Vienna, and is the superintendent of the orthopedic
department of the General Hospital at Allegheny City.
Mrs. Silver passed away two years before
her husband, dying in 1885, at the age of 56 years.
She was a woman of admirable character and was beloved
and esteemed by all who knew her. Both Dr.
Silver and his wife were consistent members of
the Methodist Episcopal Church, active in all its work
and generous supporters of its charities.
Thomas H. Silver, our immediate subject,
completed the common and high school courses at
Wellsville and subsequently was graduated at Allegheny
College, Meadville, Pennsylvania. In 1875 he
entered the senior class at Harvard College and in the
following year was graduated
from the Harvard Law School. Selecting Chicago as
his first held of practice, Mr. Silver
entered the law office of Lyman & Jackson of that city
and was admitted to the Illinois bar with permission to
practice before the Supreme Court. During his year of
practice in the great lake city, he met with most
encouraging success, but was recalled to Wellsville on
account of his beloved father's failing health.
Upon his return, he found himself compelled to assume
charge of his father’s many business interests and as
these were so important financially, he considered it
advisable to open a regular banking institution in order
to propely take care of them. Thus came
about the organization of the Silver Banking Company, in
February, 1884, Mr. Silver becoming its
president. His father’s health was never restored
to the extent that he could again resume charge of his
affairs, in fact for the last five years of his life he
was an invalid.
Mr. Silver has been president of the Champion
Brick Works ever since their organization in 1886, and
is interested in numberless other enterprises. In 1884
he erected the building in which the bank is located.
This is one of the fine business structures of the city
and would do credit to a much larger place.
Mr. Silver is an uncompromising
Republican and, if his time were not so occupied by
business affairs, would probably be obliged to accept
public offices which are continually being pressed upon
him. In 1881 he was appointed city solicitor of
Wellsville and in 1882 and 1883 he served the city as
mayor. In 1889 he was elected to the Ohio State
Senate, in which be served with the greatest efficiency,
but positively declined a renomination. For 12
years he has served on the School Board and has always
actively supported all civic measures which promise
welfare to the general public. As a business man
and financier, he is known all over the State. His
fellow-citizens find him a courteous, affable, educated
gentleman, ever ready to give ear to the discussion of
social and economic questions and to lend assistance in
carrying out commendable public-spirited enterprises.
On October 2, 1885, Mr. Silver was
married to Susanna Moore, who was a
daughter of Capt. Daniel and
Harriet (Brown) Moore, of Newport,
Kentucky. Mrs. Silver died in 1887,
at the age of 29 years, leaving two children, viz.:
Harriet Moore, who is a student at Allegheny
College, Meadville, Pennsylvania, class of 1906; and
Thomas F., Jr., who is a student in the Western
Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, class of 1906.
Mr. Silver
married, second, Mary R. Reager, who is a
daughter of Rev. James H, Reager, D. D., formerly
of Jacksonville, Ohio,
where Mrs. Silver was born, but now of the
Methodist Episcopal Church at Canton, Ohio. For
the past 20 years our subject has been a church trustee.
He owns a beautiful home in Wellsville and both he and
his wife are prominent in the quiet social life of the
city.
Source: History of Columbiana County, Ohio and
Representative Citizens - Publ. by Biographical
Publishing Co. , Chicago, Illinois - 1905 - Page 842 |
|
Daniel Jones Smith |
DANIEL
JONES SMITH. The aim of this sketch is to
record the principal events in the long and varied
career of one who is the oldest living representative of
the oldest East Liverpool family, anti is himself
probably the oldest native of the city now living.
But he is not old in thought or action, as no man of 40
can move more quickly and no man’s intellect is keener
than is his to-day.
Mr. Smith, whose portrait accompanies this
sketch, was born in East Liverpool, Ohio, October 30,
1832, and is a son of William G. and Susan (Smith)
Smith. His paternal grandfather, Joseph
Smith, was born in Chartiers, Pennsylvania, and
was a pioneer of East Liverpool, owning a greater part
of the kind east of Union street where the city now
stands. He was a pioneer farmer of the community.
He married Abigail Fawcett, a daughter of
Thomas Fawcett, the founder of East Liverpool, the town
being first called St. Clair, but later known as
Fawcettstown.
William G. Smith, father of our subject, was
born June 17, 1803. in the village that has since grown
into the city of East Liverpool. He received his
education in the old log school house of his district.
He became clerk in a store when little more than a boy
in years and at an unusually early age embarked in
business for himself, conducting a general store.
After a time he took his brother-in-law, George Smith,
into partnership under the firm name of William G.
Smith & Company, and they continued together until
1840, when George Smith withdrew and went west to
Missouri, driving 2,000 sheep across the plains.
William G. Smith continued in business alone
until 1845, in which year he embarked in the wholesale
grocery business in Pittsburg. In 1851 he returned
to East Liverpool and conducted a general store until
1857. In 1851 or 1852 he leased the Salt &
Mear pottery, in partnership with Benjamin
Harker, the firm of Smith & Harker
continuing until 1853, when our subject succeeded to the
interest of Mr. Harker and the firm name
was changed to Smith & Company. In 1856 Daniel
J. Smith sold his interest to James Foster,
and the following year his father sold his interest to
George Garner. William G. Smith then
resided in Cincinnati until the breaking but of the
Civil War, when he went west to Fort Leavenworth,
Kansas, where he held a city position for a number of
vears. From there he went to Atchison, Kansas, and
engaged in farming five or six years, after which he
returned to Cincinnati and lived a retired life until
his wife died in 1888. He then went to Tacoma.
Washington, where he lived until his death in 1896.
He was called “the white-haired boy” in his later
years because of his wonderful strength and agility at
so advanced an age. When 82 years of age he walked
three miles to cast a vote for
Benjamin Harrison for President. He
was a great reader and probably no man had a better
general knowledge of men and affairs. He possessed
a pleasing manner and his society was enjoyed by all,
the young as well as the old. He had constructive
and organizing ability and
organized the Ashtabula & New Lisbon Railroad, for which
the money was subscribed, but the project was defeated
by the financial crisis
of 1836. He exerted great influence in having the
Cleveland & Pittsburg Railroad put through East
Liverpool. He built the first brick house in the
city and did more than any other man of his time to
develop the real estate interests. A number of the
buildings erected by him on Second street are still
occupied. Owing to his familiarity with the Ohio
and Mississippi rivers. Secretary E. M. Stanton
commissioned him in the navy to prevent contraband goods
and communications from being transmitted throught
the lines on the river. Until 1856 he was a
Democrat and from that date he was a Republican.
He was a leader among men but did not himself aspire to
office. He married Susan Smith, who
though bearing the same name was no relative of his. She
was a daughter of John and Maty (Fisher) Smith,
and was of Dutch descent. Her father was born in
Buffalo Valley, Pennsylvania, and was a soldier in the
War of 1812; his wife was born at Yellow Breeches Creek,
Pennsylvania, and was a daughter of Captain
Fisher, who commanded a company in the Revolution.
Mr. and Mrs. William G. Smith became the parents
of 11 children, of whom the following grew to maturity
Daniel J.; George T., of Atchison, Kansas, now
deceased; William H., who served in the 10th
Regiment, Ohio Vol. Inf., and afterward in the nth
Regiment, Kentucky Veterans and died in Louisville,
Kentucky; Wilson F., of Tacoma, Washington;
Jason, who died in Minneapolis; Hanson L.,
Zeletta, wife of William Graverson, of
Cincinnati; and Elizabeth, deceased, wife of
Joseph Mitchell, of Tacoma, Washington.
Daniel J. Smith remained at home and attended
school until he was 12 years of age and then went to
Pittsburg and attended school until 1848. Then at
the age of 15 years he began running a canal-boat on the
Sandy and Beaver Canal, shipping produce to his father’s
store. This continued about two years, after which
he attended Mount Union College three terms. In 1853 he
became a partner with his father in the pottery business
and so continued until 1856, when he started for Kansas,
but only got as far as Caldwell County, Missouri. This
was in the days of the “Border who turned rebel, did not
get the rebels did by robbing the United States mails on
their way north. When the rebels stole the arms
from the arsenal at Liberty, Missouri, Mr.
Smith trailed them into, Kansas, locating them at
Kickapoo. He then informed “Jim” Lane and
the Free-State men followed and recaptured them.
Mr. Smith then returned east and in 1861
enlisted in Company I, 143rd Regiment Ohio National
Guard, and in 1864 the regiment enlisted as a whole in
the United States service. Mr. Smith
was a member of this regiment for four months and 11
days. On June 17th his regiment held the center in
the attack on Petersburg. He contracted malaria
fever and was assigned to detached duty as provost
marshal at Wilson’s Landing, guarding prisoners and
contrabands. He was very active in organizing
Union leagues, founding the first one in Harker’s
pottery at East Liverpool and, later, one in every
township in Columbiana County. With the assistance of
Rev. Samuel Clark, he established leagues throughout
the State. After the war, he settled on a farm in
Liverpool township, engaged in farming 31 years and then
moved to a farm in St. Clair township. Here he
farmed until 1903 when he built a comfortable home in
the East End, East Liverpool, where he now lives.
For the past 41 years he has engaged extensively in the
purchase of wool, and during the present year has
purchased 40,000 lbs. in this section for a Boston firm.
During the greater part of this time he has also bought
stock on a large scale. In the early part of the year
1905, he formed a partnership with his grandson, D.
John Ferguson, under the firm name of Smith &
Ferguson, to engage in the real estate business,
but the partnership was brought to an untimely end by
the death of Mr. Ferguson, who was a very
promising young man. Our subject still continues the
business.
Mr. Smith has always been active in
politics and is known all over the State. He is a
forceful speaker, with an inexhaustible fund of
entertaining stories and anecdotes, and has contributed
some very valuable literature to the parties with which
he has been affiliated. In early life he was an
Abolitionist and in War and being an anti-slavery man of
the John Brown and “Jim” Lane
type, he was sharply warned to quit the country.
He sent his wife away but remained long enough to close
up his business affairs. He sold his property and
took what cash he could get, the balance of $1,350 being
in nine months’ notes. These notes were left with
a man named Jerry Marree for collection, and what
the latter, 1854 was a member of the committee appointed
by the county convention to draft resolutions and select
a ticket to be placed in nomination by said convention.
He composed and wrote the first Republican platform in
this county and probably the first in the United States.
It could not be more terse, comprehensive or pointed,
and is as follows: “First, We believe in a free school
and an open Bible; Second, None but men of known
temperance principles for office; Third, We will oppose
by all lawful and legitimate means the further extension
of slavery in territory now free. And we ask all
men who believe in the economical expenditure of the
people’s money by our public officials to unite with us
and crystalize these principles into law.” In
association with Samuel and David
Watson of New Lisbon, he organized the Know-Nothings
in East Liverpool. For a period of 12 years he was
justice of the peace in St. Clair township. He
continued a Republican until the second election of
President
McKinley, since which time he has been a
Prohibitionist. He is well known as an able writer on
questions of public policy and his opinion always
carries great weight. Fraternally, he is a member of
General Lyon Post, No. 44. G. A. R., of which he is past
commander, lie was a member of the Masonic lodge at
Wellsville many years ago and at the present time
belongs to the Royal Arcanum at East Liverpool.
In June, 1855, Mr. Smith was united in marriage
with Deborah Thompson, a daughter of
Josiah Thompson, a record of whose life
appears elsewhere in this work, and they became parents
of nine children, six of whom grew to maturity, as
follows: Josiah T., and William S., of
East Liverpool; Lulu, wife of Hugh
Ferguson, of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania; Cassius,
deceased : Wilson F.; and Zelletta S.,
wife of Byron Robinson, of Akron. Ohio.
Religiously, Mrs. Smith was a member of
the Disciples Church. Our subject formed a second
marital union with Amanda Carnegie, a
daughter of Thomas Carnegie, w ho was a
cousin to the far-famed Andrew Carnegie.
Both children of this second union died in infancy.
Religiously. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members
of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Fredericktown, of
which he has served as trustee and steward.
Source: History of Columbiana County, Ohio and
Representative Citizens - Publ. by Biographical
Publishing Co. , Chicago, Illinois - 1905 - Page 419 |
| |
DAVID S. SMITH,
a well-known hardware merchant of East Palestine, and
one of the substantial, influential men of the town, was
born in February, 1843, and belongs to a family that has
taken a prominent part in the development and prosperity
of Columbiana and Mahoning counties for more than a
century. His father, William Smith,
venerated and esteemed throughout the entire county, is
a familiar figure in Petersburg, Mahoning County, Ohio,
where he is spending the sunset years of life,
surrounded by the friends of a lifetime. The
Smith family is of German descent and was
established in the United States by the
great-grandfather of our subject, who came to this
country at the age of 14 years and settled at Baltimore,
Maryland, where he reared a large family, consisting of
five sons and six daughters.
One of these children was Peter Smith, who
married Sophia Cahill and soon after migrated to
Ohio, being among the first to locate in Columbiana
County, then unknown to fame and devoid of bridges,
railroads or other improvements, the path through the
forest being located by blazed trees. He purchased
100 acres of timber land of Peter Musser
(now spelled Mercer), who' with his brothers, John
and Jacob, had braved the dangers of the frontier
and entered large tracts of land. New Lisbon, now
known as Lisbon, was at that time a point of
considerable importance as a trading post. When
the family ran short of meal, he would go on horseback
to the mill with a sack of grain thrown across the back
of his steed. After waiting until it was converted
into meal or flour, he would return home in the same
way. Peter Smith cleared the timber
from his land and proceeded to cultivate it, using a
wooden mold-board plow to break his ground and a cradle
to harvest his grain. He reared nine of the 10
children born to him and they were of great assistance
to him in clearing and tending his farm and became
honored members of society. He. died at the age of
82 years and his children also lived to a good age.
Margaret (Mrs. Forsnaft) but recently
(1905) passed away at the age of 90 years; William
is in his 89th year; and Jessie, wife of David
Burla, a resident of Columbiana, has also attained a
good old age.
William Smith, more familiarly known as “Squire”
Smith, was born February 9, 1817, in the cabin of
hewed logs built by his father in the timber and was
reared in Springfield township, Mahoning County.
He there carried on farming and it is interesting to
hear him recall the varied changes which have taken
place under his observation. He married Rachel
McNutt, daughter of Alexander McNutt,
and soon after marriage took up his residence on the
farm in section 2, Unity township, which had been
purchased by his father and was partly under
cultivation. Mrs. Smith spun and
wove the 'clothing used by the family and cooked the
meals on the crane before the large fireplace, which
occupied one end of the cabin. Flint and tow or
punk were used to start a fire. It was no uncommon thing
to find the fire had gone out; if the materials for
kindling a fire were not at hand, the settler had to
borrow from a neighbor, perhaps many miles distant.
Mr. Smith also used the primitive
implements employed by his father and hunted with the
old flint-lock rifle. He lived on the farm for
upward of 40 years and saw the luxuries of that day
become the necessities of this, while the crude
implements were replaced with modern and labor-saving
devices; his farm, when he left it in 1899, was in
striking contrast to the one he moved on 40 years
before. Mr. Smith was active in all
public enterprises and was justice of the peace for more
than 21 years before he left the farm. He was also
assessor for six years before the village of
Mechanicsburg was incorporated and became East
Palestine.
The union of William Smith and Rachel
McNutt resulted in the birth of seven children,
namely: Peter, born January 6, 1840, who is a
farmer of Fairfield township; Sarah, born June 8,
1841, who married Amos Warner and resides
in Petersburg; David S., our subject; William
A., born May 4, 1848, who married Miss Felger
and lives at Youngstown; Cowden M., born November
26, 1850, who lives in Leetonia; George S., born
July 12, 1853, who married Miss Peters and
lives in Youngstown; and Rachel, who is her
father’s housekeeper. Mrs. Smith was born
in May, 1814, and died
January 28, 1886. William Smith has 14
grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. He is a
member of the Reformed Church, as was his wife.
Source: History of Columbiana County, Ohio and
Representative Citizens - Publ. by Biographical
Publishing Co. , Chicago, Illinois - 1905 - Page 729 |
| |
EDWIN J. SMITH,
president of 4 The Standard Pottery Company, of East
Liverpool, is one of the substantial business men 'of
the city. He was born in East Liverpool on August
30, 1857, and is a son of Charles and Emma (Perkes)
Smith.
Joseph Smith, paternal grandfather of our
subject, was born in Rushshall, Staffordshire, England,
and spent most of his life at Tipton, where he died
April 11, 1833, aged 37 years. He was engaged at
the butcher business during the greater part of his
life, having learned the trade from his father.
His wife, Ann Smith, was born in Bromwich
parish, Staffordshire, England, in 1800; while she had
the same name she was not a blood relative of her
husband. She died about 1862, having given birth
to nine children, seven of whom grew to maturity:
William; Elizabeth; Benjamin;
Charles; Thomas, who went to Australia;
Ann; and Sarah Jane, who also went to
Australia. Religiously, Mr. Smith was an
Episcopalian and his wife was a Methodist.
Charles Smith was born at Tipton,
Staffordshire, England, August 28, 1826, and learned the
trade of a butcher in early life. With his wife he
came to America, landing in New York on November 18,
1850, and immediately went to Buffalo with the intention
of proceeding by lake to Chicago. The “Lady
Elgin,” on which they expected to sail, was sunk, and
our subject went to Pittsburg instead, taking his wife
with him. He had relatives there and also chanced
to run upon an old friend, Benjamin Harker, who
lived in East Liverpool. He was persuaded to visit
Mr. Harker and was so impressed with the
country that he decided to make it his future home.
He took up his residence at what was known as Koontz"
Landing May 5, 1851, and started in the butcher
business. He remained until the following' year,
then for three years was in business at Wellsville.
In October, 1855, he again took up his residence in East
Liverpool and entered the butcher business and continued
with much success until 1890, when he moved upon a farm
in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. He engaged in
selling stock until 1896, since which time he has been
retired from business activity. He was joined in
marriage with Emma Perkes, a daughter of
Joseph ’and Elizabeth (Adams) Perkes, of Tipton,
England, and they had nine children, seven of whom grew
up, namely: George, of East Liverpool; Edwin
J.; William, of Salem; Charles, of
East Liverpool; James, of East Liverpool;
Sarah Jane, wife of James McClure, of
East Liverpool ; and Emma, wife of William
Foster, of Sebring, Ohio; Mrs. Smith,
who was born in May, 1826, died August 31, 1885.
Edwin J. Smith attended the public schools of
East Liverpool and upon leaving school entered the
employ of Croxall & Cartwright, potters,
with whom he continued until 1889, acquiring a thorough
understanding of the business in all its details.
He was in that year chosen president of the Standard
Pottery Company, one of the most flourishing in the
city. He is also a director of the Citizens’ National
Bank.
Mr. Smith married Anna Hill,
a daughter of Robert Hill, of East
Liverpool, and they have two children: Ella A. and
Harold G. Religiously, she is a member
of the First United Presbyterian Church. Mr.
Smith is a member of the Mystic Circle. He
is a Republican in politics, but has steadfastly refused
to become a candidate for office. He is of
retiring disposition, but has many friends throughout
the county.
Source: History of Columbiana County, Ohio and
Representative Citizens - Publ. by Biographical
Publishing Co. , Chicago, Illinois - 1905 - Page 373 |
| |
HARRY W. SMITH
is one of the well known citizens of East Liverpool.
He was born'' in Hancock County, West Virginia, in 1864,
and is a son of James M. and Elizabeth A. (McPheters)
Smith.
John G. Smith, grandfather of our subject, lived
in Washington County, Pennsylvania, and conducted an inn
- ‘‘The Greentree Home" - on the old Steubenville
turnpike. He lived to reach the advanced age of 94
years, dying in 1894. James M. Smith was a
baker by trade and followed that business in East
Liverpool, Ohio, until his death in 1899, at the age of
71 years. His widow now lives with her son,
Harry W., at East Liverpool and is 71 years old. She
had a brother, Dr. David McPheters, of Hookstown,
Pennsylvania, who is deceased.
Harry W. Smith was five years of age when he was
brought by his parents to East Liverpool, Ohio, where he
was reared to manhood and received his educational
training in the public schools. His first work was
in the freight depot of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad
Company, in Chicago, after which he was employed by the
Weaver-Tod Company, coal shippers, until
1894, having charge of their rail coal business.
After the closing out of that business, Mr.
Smith spent a year traveling in the South (during
which time he was for six months receiver for a mill
company at Nashville) for the purpose of improving his
health, and found himself very much benefited. He
returned to East Liverpool, and then accepted a position
with Armour & Company, being stationed while engaged at
Uniontown, Norfolk and Boston. Again returning to
East Liverpool, he accepted the position of editor and
compiler of the matter for the ‘‘Historical Atlas of
Columbiana County." and upon the completion of that work
became manager of the Crisis, of East Liverpool, fit’
which he had charge for two years. In the spring
of 1903, he was elected secretary of the Pottery
Association of the United States, and after serving one
year had the duties of treasurer added to his office.
He is a capable business man and has given the Pottery
Association most efficient service.
Mr. Smith was united in marriage with
Maud McKinnon, a daughter of M. R. McKinnon,
who is a prominent resident of East
Liverpool. Mr. AIcKinnon was born in what
is now Liverpool township, Columbiana County, Ohio, in
1825, is a son of Michael McKinnon and a grandson
of Joseph McKinnon. The last named was born
in Pennsylvania and came to Columbiana County, Ohio, in
1801, living here until his death in 1809.
Michael McKinnon was born in Washington
County, Pennsylvaia, August 1, 1781, accompanied
his father to Columbiana County, Ohio, and was here
reared to maturity. He was a farmer by occupation
and located his first land near the present city of East
Liverpool in 1811 and to this he added a tract in 1813,
which farm is now within the city limits. He was
married May 22, 1823, to Elizabeth Cameron
(a sister of Senator Don Cameron, of
Pennsylvania), who bore him three daughters and one son.
He died April 27, 1874, aged 93 years, and his wife died
in 1832. M. R. McKinnon was reared in his
native county and attended the pioneer schools. He
afterward took charge of the home place,
buying up the interests of the other heirs from time to
time, so that at his father’s death he became sole owner
of the homestead. He was married in 1850 to
Martha Arbuckle, by whom he had the following
children: Annie, Harry, Frank,
Clarence and Maude. His wife died in
1884, and he subsequently married Mrs. M. J. Arbuckle,
widow of the deceased wife’s brother. He is a man
highly respected by every one and is possibly the oldest
of the native born residents of East Liverpool.
Mr. McKinnon has built a number of fine houses on
the hill overlooking the city, among which are the
residences of N. G. Alacrum, Fred Nagle
and F. E. Grosshans. He has laid out
hundreds of lots in what is designated as the “M. R.
McKinnon Plat,” and still owns about 50 acres of
land that has not been platted. In 1900, he erected his
present handsome home on Calcutta street.
Harry W. Smith and his estimable wife hare one
child, Marcus, born May 26, 1897. In politics,
Air. Smith is a Republican and has been a member of the
county central committee for five years past, taking a
very active part in political affairs. Fraternally, he
is a member of Riddle Lodge, No. 315, F. & A. M.;
Pilgrim Commandery, No. 55, K. T., and the Elks.
In religious faith and fellowship, he is
a Presbyterian.
Source: History of Columbiana County, Ohio and
Representative Citizens - Publ. by Biographical
Publishing Co. , Chicago, Illinois - 1905 - Page 622 |
| |
WILLIAM SMITH,
one of the well known pottery men of Columbiana County,
who is secretary and treasurer of The Salem "China
Company, of Salem, was born at East Liverpool, Ohio,
February 29, 1860, and is a son of Charles and Emma
(Parks) Smith. The parents of Mr.
Smith were born in Staffordshire, England, and came
to America in 1847, locating for one year at Pittsburg
and then coming to Columbiana County. The mother
died in Liverpool township in 1884, at the age of 59
years. The father resides at East Liverpool. He is
a man of fine educational acquirements, a civil engineer
by profession. During his residence in Pittsburg,
he engaged in a meat business; after coming to this
county, he was engaged in farming and in conducting a
meat business until he retired some eight years ago.
His children, all born in Liverpool township, are as
follows: George, who has a meat business in East
Liverpool; Edward J., president of The Standard
Pottery Company, of East Liverpool; William of
this sketch; Charles and James, who are
potters at East Liverpool; and Mrs. Sarah
McClure and Mrs. Emma Foster, both of East
Liverpool.
William Smith's education was obtained in the public
schools of Columbiana County, his parents settling on a
farm when he was about five years old. He assisted
on the home place until he was 16 years old and then
started to work in a pottery, his first permanent job
being that of packer’s helper with The Croxall
Pottery Company. He worked three years in that
capacity and then was employed as a packer for three
years by the firm of Knowles, Taylor &
Knowles. In 1882 when The Potters' Co-Operative
Company was started, Mr. Smith became a
stockholder and he continued with that company for 12
years as foreman packer and manager. He then
became associated with the Union Pottery Company
(organized on a co-operative plan), took stock in it and
was manager for four years, removing then to Salem.
Here in 1899, in association with Messrs.
Cronin and McNicol, he built the plant of The
Salem China Company and has been secretary and treasurer
of the company and office manager ever since. The
factory, a large brick four-story structure, is so
divided as to make the best use of space and so equipped
with the most modern machinery that the finest grades of
china can be manufactured at the lowest cost. The
works give employment to some 150 hands, the yearly
sales reach $160,000 and the product is sold all over
the United States and Mexico. Business capacity
combined with practical experience has contributed to
the great success of this company from the beginning.
In 1882 Mr. Smith was married to Emma
Menche, who was born in East Liverpool and is a
daughter of Frederick Menche, a native of
the Hartz Mountains in Germany. Mr. and Mrs.
Smith have an interesting family of seven children,
viz: William, Charles, Frank,
Annie, Helen, Ella and Dorothy.
Fraternally, Mr. Smith is an Odd Fellow.
Like his partners, he is a self-made man, his success
coming as a reward of persistent industry.
Source: History of Columbiana County, Ohio and
Representative Citizens - Publ. by Biographical
Publishing Co. , Chicago, Illinois - 1905 - Page 556 |
| |
WILLIAM C.
SMITH was born on the farm on which his
widow now resides in Yellow Creek township, Columbiana
County, Ohio. His parents, Philip and Janet Smith,
from the Highlands of Scotland, had located on this farm
about 1805. The mother died in 1854, and the
father in 1861, at the age of 87 years.
William C. Smith was married in 1847 to Janet
Bailey, daughter of Alexander and
Margaret Bailey, of Yellow Creek township.
Both were natives of the Highlands of Scotland.
William C. Smith died in 1899, in his 83rd year,
leaving his widow, who is still living on the home farm.
She is in her 79th year. Five children were born
on this farm to William C. and Janet (Bailey) Smith,
all of whom are still alive; Katharine, residing
on the homestead with her mother; Philip M.,
attorney-at-law and ex-judge of the Court of Common
Pleas in this district; Margaret M., wife of
William Jenkins, of Madison township, to whom
two children were born,—Alexander and Janet;
Alexander G., attorney-at law, Wellsville, who
married Anna M. McIntosh, of Madison township ;
and William E., engaged in the coal business, who
married Jennie Paul, of Iowa, and has one son,—Cecil.
The farm has been in the family ever since its first
settlement. William C. Smith was one of the
founders of the Oak Ridge Presbyterian Church, and
served as an elder in this church for 50 years, and is
now succeeded by his son, Alexander G. Smith.
HON. PHILIP M. SMITH, son of William C. Smith,
was born in 1852 on the home farm in Yellow Creek
township. He read law under Judge W. A. Nichols,
of Lisbon, and began the practice of the law in
Wellsville, in February, 1879, succeeding Hon. W. G.
Wells upon the election of the latter as probate
judge of the county. He served as prosecuting
attorney of the county from 1885 to 1891, making an
exceptionally good record in that office.
He was appointed judge of the Common Pleas Court in
1895 by Governor McKinley, to fill a vacancy
caused by the resignation of Judge N. B. Billingsley.
He was elected to the same position in 1896, and
resigned in 1900 to resume the practice of law in
Wellsville, where he is now located as a member of the
firm of Smith & Lones. As a jurist his
decisions have been universally regarded as just and his
rulings fair, while as an attorney at the bar he has
been eminently successful. Judge Smith was
married in 1880 to Ida McKeehan, daughter of
Dr. B. F. McKeehan, of Clarksburg, West Virginia,
who with their two children is still living. The
children are: Zana S., wife of Edward F.
McCrea, of Cleveland; and Sidney McKeehan,
now a student at Harvard University. In politics,
the family, in all its branches, have been Whig and
Republican, and are possessed of the usual Scotch
characteristics of thrift, honesty and regard for the
law of God and man.
Source: History of Columbiana County, Ohio and
Representative Citizens - Publ. by Biographical
Publishing Co. , Chicago, Illinois - 1905 - Page 394 |
| |
WILSON S.
SMITH is one of the progressive farmers and
stockraisers of St. Clair township, and was born on the
farm upon which he now resides. He is a son of
John and Mary (Fisher) Smith, who were early
settlers of Columbiana County. The paternal
grandfather was John Smith, a native of
Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, and a very
prosperous man, owning a woolen-mill and a flour and
oil-mill there. During a raid of the Indians, the’
family were hurried to Harrisburg for protection, and
none too soon for the savages completely destroyed the
property, setting fire to it and leaving John Smith in
poverty. He secured a wagon and team of horses by
means of which he moved his family and what goods they
could scrape together to East Liberty, Pennsylvania.
There he rented 400 acres of land from a man named
Winebiddle and in two years time had managed to save
sufficient money to make a new start in a new country.
In 1802 he sent his son John to Ohio to enter a
quarter-section of land in the new country which was
just then being opened up to civilization and was the
Mecca of many poor families. The land chosen was
in what is now section 18, St. Clair township,
Columbiana County, and was covered with a dense growth
of underbrush and timber. In 1803 two of the sons,
John and Adam, came to the new home and
built a log house into which the family moved.
This cabin occupied a position near the spring-house of
Wilson S. Smith. When it was built, there was but one
house between that point and Cleveland.
John Smith, Jr., our subject’s father, was born
in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, in 1780 and was
married to Mary Fisher whose father,
Henry Fisher, came from Pennsylvania and
entered land near where Calcutta now stands. When
Mr. Smith lived at East Liberty,
Pennsylvania, he grubed stumps from land that is now in
the city of Pittsburg. After living two years on
the farm in section 18, St. Clair township, one of his
neighbors, Thomas Moore, a man of means
and the owner of a flour mill near East Liverpool,
proposed to John Smith, to whom he had
taken a great fancy, that Smith should go to
Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, purchase a flatboat, come down
the river, load up with flour which Mr. Moore
would furnish at $3.50 per barrel and take it to New
Orleans where it could be disposed of at a good price.
To this proposal young Smith replied: “No, I
have no money for such an enterprise.” To which
Mr. Moore answered, “I will furnish the money and
will go with you to Pittsburg to buy the boat.” When
this scheme was broached to the elder Smith, he
opposed it as a hazardous undertaking which would plunge
his son into a debt from which he would be unable to
extricate himself should the boat sink or some such
calamity happen. Mr. Moore finally
overcame these objections, the boat was bought, loaded
and started on its journey. Arriving at his destination,
Mr. Smith disposed of his cargo at $9.50
per barrel, receiving his pay in silver. He took a
boat to Philadelphia where he obtained a check for the
amount on the old Pittsburg bank, reserving enough to
buy a horse, saddle and bridle with which to get home.
He rode to Pittsburg, cashed his check and returned with
enough money to pay for his flour and boat and have
sufficient besides to place the entire family in easy
circumstances. The elder Smith died soon after
this at 80 years of age. John Smith, Jr., reached
his 74th year, dying in 1853 and his wife four years
later at the age of 75.
Hon. George Smith, the eldest of the children of
John and Mary (Fisher) Smith, was born January 2,
1809, and died July 14, 1881. He served in the
Ohio State Legislature two terms and then moved to
Caldwell County, Missouri, and served in the Missouri
State Legislature for five terms. While a member
of that body he drew up the Hannibal & St. Joseph
Railway bill and had it passed. In 1862 he was elected
Lieutenant Governor of Missouri. Under
President Grant’s administration he was
United States marshal for six years, his territory
covering 72 counties in Northwestern Missouri.
Wilson S. Smith is the 13th, and the only
survivor, of a family of 14 children. He was
educated in a country school but for two terms went to a
select school in Calcutta and took up the occupation of
farming, being engaged extensively in raising sheep and
horses, his wool alone bringing him no inconsiderable
sum each year. He erected his residence in 1881
and has surrounded it with a pleasant lawn and with
outbuildings that are in keeping with the general air of
coziness and comfort.
At the age of 28, our subject was married to
Caroline Fisher, daughter of Peter
Fisher, of St. Clair township, and seven children
have been born to them, viz: Harry, who died at
the age of five; John Edwin, who married
Florence Dickey and has six boys ; Orlando,
who lives on the home farm; James N., who married
Miss Reed and has one child; Laura W.,
who married, Dr. H. H. Chamberlain, of Canton,
Ohio, and has one son ; Alice, who died in her
sixth year; and Wilson S., Jr.
Mr. Smith was a director of the
Columbiana County Agricultural Society for four years
and president of the said society for five years.
For a period of 21 years he was president of the
Township Line Mutual Insurance Company. He has
held a number of local offices, among which have been
those of township trustee and justice of the peace.
For a period of 31 years he served as school director.
He was reared a democrat and always voted that ticket
until Clement L. Vallandigham was candidate for
Governor in the ’6o’s; since then he has given his
allegiance to the Republican party. He is a
member, of the Long Run Presbyterian Church, of which he
is an elder. In 1898 he was elected as one
of the delegates from the Steubenville Presbytery to the
General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, which met
that year at Winona, Indiana,—this has been the crowning
office of his life.
Source: History of Columbiana County, Ohio and
Representative Citizens - Publ. by Biographical
Publishing Co. , Chicago, Illinois - 1905 - Page 400 |
| |
HARVEY
S. SPONSELLER, whose
well-improved dairy farm is located in
section3, Fairfield township, belongs,
on both paternal and maternal sides, to
very old pioneer families of this
section of the State. He is a son
of Henry and Catherine (Candle)
Sponseller.
The founder of the family in Ohio was the
great-grandfather. Conrad
Sponseller, the paternal
grandfather, was born north of the pine
swamp at North Lima, Mahoning County,
Ohio, and he was reared and schooled in
Beaver township, that county. He
settled in the wilderness on the
Columbiana and Mahoning line and lived
there until his death. He married
Nancy Seachrist, who was born in
Adams County, Pennsylvania, and died in
Beaver township, Mahoning County, Ohio,
Jan. 29, 1875. She was a daughter
of Jacob and Christina (Foulk)
Seachrist.
Jacob Seachrist, the maternal grandfather of our
subject, was born in Adams County,
Pennsylvania, in 1760, of German
ancestry, and was married there in 1786.
In 1814 he settled in Ohio as a pioneer
farmer, locating near (New) Lisbon, and
in 1815 he purchased of Benjamin
Hanna the southwest quarter of
section 3, Fairfield township, known as
the Allen farm, where the
Columbiana Cemetery is now located.
He lived there until his wife died, Aug.
1, 1827, when he removed to the home of
his daughter Lydia, who had
married Peter Dehoff. He
died at her home in Columbiana, Feb. 23,
1831, aged 71 years. Mr.
and Mrs. Seachrist became the parents of
14 children, all of whom reached
maturity and married.
Both the grandparents, Conrad and Nancy Sponseller,
died of typhoid fever, being survived by
nine of their 10 children, a daughter
having died in infancy. The nine
are as follows: Jesse, a
farmer living near Canfield, Ohio;
Caroline, wife of Simon Roninger;
Maria Catherine, widow of Josiah
Rohrbaugh, of Fairfield township;
Harriet, wife of Christian
Lipely; Annie, widow of
Noah Rapp, living near North
Lima, Ohio; Henry, of Mahoning
County; John, a carpenter of
Columbiana, but that was only a
temporary position, his inclinations
always having been in the direction of
his present pursuits. When he
bought his farm from his father, he
bought his farm from his father, he
found that he would have a large amount
of improving to do as the buildings were
old and inadequate an d in no way came
up to his ideas of what a first-class
dairy farm should be. Dairying
being the main interest, he has erected
buildings especially adapted to this
industry, with all sanitary surroundings
and modern and entirely up-to-date
appliances. The dimensions of his
great barn are 44 by 62 on the main
floor, and the 20-foot posts reach the
roof. The straw shed, 40 by 44
feet, is a room on the second floor and
is so arranged that a load of straw or
grain can be satisfactorily unloaded in
five minutes. The capacity of his
barn is 60 tons insured for $2,000.
The construction of the barn is that
denominated as "plank-frame." In
the lower part, where he has
accommodations for 33 head of cattle, he
has provided a fine cement trough.
He has a silo, 12 by 30 feet in ground
dimensions and 30 feet deep. Other
modern and desirable improvements have
been added, and his five Holstein,
Guernsey and Jersey cows have a home and
the attention worthy of their lineage...
At present his choice product is mainly
shipped to Youngstown, but for five
years he operated a dairy at Columbiana.
Mr. Sponseller, was married in Fairfield
township, in 1895, to Della
Renkenberger, who is a daughter,
well-known and estimable residents of
Mahoning County. Mr. and Mrs.
Sponseller have two children, -
Margaret and Gladys.
Mr. Sponseller is a member of the
German Reformed Church. Their
present beautiful home, into which they
moved in 189o, is one of the best homes
in the township and is surrounded by a
beautiful, well-kept lawn. The
appearance of the whole place indicates
thrift and prosperity.
Source: History of Columbiana County, Ohio
-
Publ. by Biographical Publishing Co. , Chicago, Illinois
- 1905 - Page 654 |
| |
FRANK SWANEY,
district manager of the Central District & Printing
Telegraph Company, at East Liverpool, and a man of
spirit and enterprise, was born at Dungannon, Columbiana
County, Ohio, Aug. 10, 1869, and is a son of Alsinus
and Elizabeth (McQuilkin) Swaney.
William Swaney, the grandfather of our subject,
came to Ohio from Pennsylvania at an early day, settling
in Columbiana County. Alsinus Swaney was
born at Millport, Columbiana Couny, June 6, 1842,
and grew to maturity on the home farm. Three years
of his young manhood's life were given to the service of
his country as a member of Company K, 117th Reg., Ohio
Vol. Inf., during the Civil War, his record being that
of a loyal, faithful soldier. In 1877 he moved to
East Liverpool and engaged for some years in a grocery
business on the corner of Market and Second streets.
When he retired from merchandising he went to work in
one of the potteries, where he continued until 1889.
Mr. Swaney was then appointed a government mail
carrier enjoying the distinction of being the first
appointment made in that service in East Liverpool.
Politically he is a Democrat. Fraternally he
belongs to the Royal Arcanum.
The mother of our subject is a daughter of Daniel
McQuilkin, who was one of the leading men of
Columbiana County for many years, a justice of the peace
at Millport and prominent in township politics.
The children of Alsinus and Elizabeth Swaney
were: Frank, of East Liverpool; James A.,
of Pittsburg; Cora D., wife of M. B. Frank,
of East Liverpool; William H., of East Liverpool;
Daniel Hugh, of Allegheny; Alice B., of
East Liverpool; and Harry M., of Cleveland.
The parents of this family reared their children in the
Presbyterian faith.
Our subject was educated in the schools of East
Liverpool and then entered the drug store of R. F.
Stewart as drug clerk and student of pharmacy and
during his three years in the store completed the course
and became a registered druggist. Mr. Swaney
has not followed pharmacy as a profession, becoming
interested in other lines about the time of his
graduation, when he was accepted as assistant to the
city engineer. In 1889 as an inspector he entered
the employ of the company with which he still continues
and filled that position for three years and was then
made manager, a position newly created. From East
Liverpool he was transferred in turn to Steubenville,
Ohio, Johnstown and New Castle, Pennsylvania, Beaver
Falls, Pennsylvania, and in 1898 was returned to East
Liverpool. A wonderful advance has been made in
the company's territory and business since Mr. Swaney
first became associated with it. From a list of 36
subscribers, it was increased to 1225 and business is in
a very prosperous condition.
Mr. Swaney married Edna B. Rieley, who is
a daughter of William H. Rieley, of Wellsville.
Mr. and Mrs. Swaney are members of the First
Presbyterian Church. He belongs to East Liverpool
Lodge, No. 379, I. O. O. F.
Source: History of Columbiana County, Ohio - Publ. by
Biographical Publishing Co. , Chicago, Illinois - 1905 -
Page 712 |
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