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Biographies
 Source:
20th Century History of Youngstown and Mahoning Co., Ohio
and Representative Citizens
Publ. by Biographical Publishing Co. -
Chicago, Illinois
1907
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JOHN
M. WEBB. On a sunny Sabbath morning in
the year 1847, a dark haired, slender youth of twenty-one, with
sturdy steps wended his way to the corner of our now busy Federal
street, where stands the hotel then known as the Mansion House.
His name was John M. Webb. All his earthly possessions
- a small trunk, a robust constitution, and, for one of his years, a
superior talent for journalism. Entering the hotel, he found
the waiting-room empty, the surroundings lonesome. The traveler,
weary and depressed, seating himself, the clerk, Mr.
Chauncey Andrews, soon entered, his genial countenance and
kindly conversation scattering some heavy, unwelcome thoughts
beginning to intrude themselves upon the traveler's solitude.
During this conversation young Webb learned from
Mr. Andrews many things to his advantage, and after
the latter rose to fame and fortune, they retained a warm friendly
feeling for each other.
Mr. Webb had made the journey from
distant Washington to edit and assume charge of a Democratic
newspaper. At times he longed for a view of the tall spires
and beautiful domes of the stately capital he had left behind, but
he found beauty in the hamlet of Youngstown with its few scattered
houses slumbering in the beautiful valley, surrounded by its
verdure-clad hills. His senior partner, Mr. Ashal
Medbury, was intelligent and very congenial, his principles
sound, and he the best of advisers. By Mr. Medbury
young Webb was introduced to the late Governor Tod,
and was greatly fascinated by Mr. Tod's fine
personality and his very striking resemblance to his own favorite
hero. Napoleon the Great. He conceived a warm affection for
Mr. Tod, and they were friends for many years.
Mr. Webb realized that successful
journalism demanded unceasing toil, both mental and physical, and
with the intrepidity of youth he entered upon his duties. His
laborious efforts produced a very entertaining weekly journal, by
name. The Ohio Republican, its columns containing much
matter pertaining to the arts and sciences, and replete with news of
current events - and through all there breathed a prophecy of the
future greatness of Youngstown. He received praise and
congratulations from all. He continued his labors five years
in Youngstown. In 1852 Mr. Medbury, wishing to
retire from journalism, Mr. Webb purchased his
interest and removed The Ohio Republican to Canfield, then
the county seat of Mahoning County. This removal was not a
success financially, but Mr. Webb's abilities as a
Democratic journalist being recognized bv the late Dr.
Trevitt, then one of the proprietors of the Columbus Crisis,
he was offered a position as editor under much better conditions.
He accepted, and for a number of years was managing editor of that
paper. Subsequently, realizing that the Crisis was not
sufficiently progressive, he advised and persuaded its managers and
proprietors to give it up and engage in the publication of an
up-to-date and progressive daily, and as a result, in 1871, there
arose, phoenix-like, from the ashes of the old Crisis, The
Columbus Daily Dispatch.
The editorial staff of this paper was talented and
brilliant, and its initial appearance very attractive. The citizens
were pleased with it and it received their universal patronage, and
is still flourishing. In 1877 Mr. Webb returned to
Youngstown. His dreams of its future progress and greatness
were then almost realized. His friend Mr. Andrews
became the owner and proprietor of the Evening News, and at
the latter's request he became a member of its editorial staff.
The publication being neutral, it had, as the News, but a
brief existence. A stock company was formed, and the paper,
after going through various mutations, finally became the Daily
Telegram, which now enjoys a flourishing existence.
Mr. Webb and that prince of newspaper
financiers, Mr. William F. Maag, then purchased the
Vindicator, a Democratic weekly, and he devoted his energies,
his labors, for its success. Here again he saw the necessity
of an interesting daily to meet the demands of a
progressive city. Through the combined efforts of Mr.
Maag and himself, a company was formed which commenced the
publication of The Vindicator daily. Mr. Webb
continued his labors as editor and lived to see his efforts as a
founder and journalist realized in its steady increasing popularity
and phenomenal success. As a substantial reward for his
fidelity and toils he received the appointment for Youngstown's
postmaster the day of his death. If opportunities had
presented themselves Mr. Webb as a newspaper founder
would stand without a peer. For him every dark cloud had its
silver lining, and he also was a firm believer in the saying, "All
things come to him who toils and waits." On Feb. 21, 1893,
still toiling and using his burden for a pillow, he entered that
calm, sweet slumber to awake to a more perfect and eternal life.
Mr. Webb was born in Canton, Ohio, Aug.
I, 1827, son of John N. and Eliza Webb. His father was
sheriff of Stark county for a period of eight years and during his
life filled several other positions of public trust. His
mother was a devout Christian of the Methodist persuasion. He
was married in 1849 to Mary Woodruff, daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Lyman Woodruff, who came to this city from
Connecticut. He leaves besides his wife, two daughters -
Kate, now Mrs. C. D. Hamilton, and Miss Ella,
the latter residing at home.
Source:
20th Century History of Youngstown and Mahoning Co., Ohio
and Representative Citizens -
Publ. by Biographical Publishing Co. -
Chicago, Illinois -
1907 - Page 774 |
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CALEB
B. WICK, one of the leading citizens of
Youngstown, who for years has been closely identified with its most
important commercial interests, belongs to one of the most honored
pioneer families of the Mahoning Valley. He was born Apr. 24,
1836, at Youngstown, and is a son of the late Colonel Caleb B.
and Maria Adelia (Griffith) Wick. The early history of the
Wick family may be found in the sketches of
Colonel Caleb B. Wick and his
brother, Hugh Bryson Wick,
appearing elsewhere in this work.
Mr. Wick completed his education in the schools
at Youngstown and began his long and successful business career as a
clerk in the Mahoning County Bank, when he was 17 years of age.
By the time he was 23 years old he had risen to the position of
cashier of this institution and served as such until 1862. His
association as a member of the banking firm of Wick Brothers
& Company, at Youngstown, gave him an acknowledged standing and he
soon became interested in other financial enterprises, these
including the founding of the first bank at Sharon, Pennsylvania,
under the name of Wick, Porter & Company. In
connection with his large financial operations, Mr. Wick
early became interested in the building of railroads and was a very
important factor in the organization and completion of what is now
the Pittsburg, Youngstown & Ashtabula Railroad, having been one of
the incorporators of the company. He still retains his
position on the directing board of this road and is the only
surviving member of the original board. He was the first
president of the Youngstown & Sharon Steel Railroad Company.
For the past half century Mr. Wick has
been largely interested in real estate in this section, being a
large holder and the owner of iron and coal properties. His
commodious offices are located at Nos. 404-405 Dollar Bank Building,
Youngstown. His beautiful home is situated at No. 524 Wick
avenue.
Source:
20th Century History of Youngstown and Mahoning Co., Ohio
and Representative Citizens -
Publ. by Biographical Publishing Co. -
Chicago, Illinois -
1907 - Page 500 |
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COLONEL CALEB B. WICK was born Oct. 1,
1795, son of Henry and Hannah (Baldwin) Wick. He was a
descendant of Job Wick, of Southampton, Long Island,
N. Y., who, according to the family records, was married to Anna
Cook Dec. 21, 1721. In April, 1802, Henry
Wick purchased of John Young the square in
Youngstown bounded by West Federal, Wood, Phelps, and Hazel streets,
and a lot of thirty-seven acres outside of the town plat for $235.
Here he engaged in business as a merchant, and in the spring of 1804
removed his wife and four children to Youngstown. He died Nov.
4, 1845. His widow, Hannah B. Wick, died Apr. 10, 1849.
Caleb B. Wick received such an education as was
obtainable in the schools of that period, a part of his time being
spent in assisting his father in the latter's mercantile business.
In the fall of 1815 with Dr. Henry Manning, he opened a
country store, connecting with it a drug store, the first in this
part of the Reserve. He remained in partnership with Dr.
Manning in this store for about ten years.
Subsequently he continued in mercantile business in
other buildings until 1848, at which time he retired. His time
afterwards was devoted to the care of his estate, which had become
very large. He died June 30, 1865, when nearly seventy years
of age, having been for some years previously the oldest citizen in
Youngstown.
During his active life he held a number of positions of
public trust and honor. On June 2, 1817, he was commissioned
by Governor Worthington lieutenant of the Third
Company, First Batallion, First Regiment, Fourth Division,
Ohio Militia, having been first elected to that position by the
company. Sept. 3, 1818, he was commissioned captain of the
same company. On Mar. 22, 1822, he was commissioned
lieutenant-colonel of the same regiment, and in the fall of the same
year colonel of the regiment, which position he held for several
years.
He was twice elected township clerk of Youngstown - in
1820 and 1824 - was subsequently trustee, and held other township
offices. He was also postmaster of Youngstown from November,
1841, to March, 1843.
Colonel Wick married, Jan. 1, 1816,
Miss Rachel Kirtland, daughter of Jared Kirtland, of
Poland, Ohio. Of this union there were two children, one of
whom died in infancy. In November, 1828, he married for his
second wife. Miss Maria Adelia Griffith, of Youngstown,
previously of Caledonia, Livingston County, N. Y., who bore him ten
children. "In social life, as a citizen, a neighbor, and a
friend. Colonel Wick was liberal, kind and
warm-hearted. In his house everybody felt at home and his
hospitality knew no limit. Indulgent to his own family in
social joys, and cheerful to the last, he had great delight in the
society of the young as well as the old."
Source:
20th Century History of Youngstown and Mahoning Co., Ohio
and Representative Citizens -
Publ. by Biographical Publishing Co. -
Chicago, Illinois -
1907 - Page 474 |
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HENRY
WICK, president of the Witch Hazel Coal
Company, at Youngstown, is an old and experienced man in this line
of business, one with which he has been identified for about forty
years. Mr. Wick was born at Youngstown, Ohio, May 13,
1846, and is a son of Hugh B. and Lucretia G. (Winchell) Wick.
After completing his education, passing through the
common and High Schools at Youngstown, Mr. Wick, at
the age of 22 years, entered into the coal business as the owner of
a coal mine in Youngstown township. During the whole period of
active business life he continued to be connected intimately with
coal interests, and still retains the presidency of the Witch Hazel
Coal Company, although practically retired.
On Nov. 4, 1869, Mr. Wick was married to
Mary Arms, who is a daughter of Myron I. Arms,
and they have three children, viz: Hugh B., Mrs. W. J.
Sampson, of Youngstown, and Myron Arms. The eldest
son, Hugh B., is vice president of the Elyria Iron and Steel
Company, of Elyria, Ohio, and resides with his family at that place.
The youngest son, Myron Arms, is secretary and
treasurer of the Youngstown Furnace and Supply Company.
In addition to his coal interests, Mr. Wick is a
director of the Dollar Savings and Trust Company, of Youngstown;
treasurer and member of the board of directors of the Washington,
Ohio, Lumber Company; and a director of the National Lumber and Box
Company, of Hoquiam, Chehalis County, Washington. Having spent
his whole life at Youngstown, Mr. Wick has been more
or less prominently connected with the various beneficial agencies
which have brought about the progress and prosperity of his native
city.
Source:
20th Century History of Youngstown and Mahoning Co., Ohio
and Representative Citizens -
Publ. by Biographical Publishing Co. -
Chicago, Illinois -
1907 - Page 638 |
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HENRY
K. WICK, who is president of the large coal
firm of H. K. Wick & Company at Youngstown, was born in this
city Aug. 31, 1840, being one of ten children born to Col. Caleb
B. and Maria Adelia (Griffith) Wick.
Col. Caleb B. Wick was born in Washington County,
Pennsylvania, Oct. 1, 1795, and died at Youngstown June 30, 1865,
having passed nearly the whole of his life in Mahoning County and
having been largely interested in most of the important industries
that were established in this section during his life time.
His father Henry Wick, was born in Long Island Mar. 19, 1771,
and at the age of 23 years married Hannah Baldwin, a
daughter of Caleb Baldwin of Morristown, New Jersey.
After some years of mercantile life in Washington County,
Pennsylvania, Henry Wick came to Youngstown, Ohio, in
1801 and here engaged in a mercantile business. His son,
Col. Caleb B. Wick, followed in his footsteps and was also
interested in the iron industry which has done so much to develop
this section. Colonel Wick was twice married.
Both of the children born of the first marriage are deceased.
On Nov. 3, 1828, he married Maria Adelia Griffith,
a native of Caledonia, New York. All of their children reached
maturity.
Henry K. Wick attended the public schools of
Youngstown and laid the foundation of a good education which was
later augmented through lessons learned in the school of experience.
In 1856 he entered the business world as a clerk in the Mahoning
National Bank. In the succeeding fifty years he has been
interested in many branches of industry and for the last
thirty-eight years has given special attention to the coal and iron
industries, being president at this time of H. K. Wick &
Company, coal dealers. His offices are located at No. 404-405 Dollar
Bank building.
Mr. Wick married Millicent R. Clarke,
a daughter of Daniel T. Hunt, of Rochester, New York.
The family residence is a very handsome structure located on Wick
avenue. Like all other members of the Wick family
in Youngstown, Mr. and Mrs. Wick are
attendants of the Memorial Presbyterian Church. The subject of
this sketch is a Republican in politics.
Source:
20th Century History of Youngstown and Mahoning Co., Ohio
and Representative Citizens -
Publ. by Biographical Publishing Co. -
Chicago, Illinois -
1907 - Page 462 |
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HUGH BRYSON WICK.
In recalling the men to who Youngstown is indebted for its material
prosperity, the late Hugh Bryson Wick is immediately brought
to mind, for he was a very important factor in its development for
many years. His long and busy life was mainly devoted to this
section, which benefited by his business sagacity and public spirit.
Mr. Wick was born at Youngstown, Feb. 5, 1809, and died Apr.
22, 1880. He was a son of Henry and Hannah (Baldwin) Wick.
The Wicks were of English origin, settling originally on Long
Island, New York.
Mr. Wick's parents came to the Mahoning Valley
as pioneers from Washington County, Pennsylvania. For many
years they were closely identified with the business and social
interests of this section and when they passed away they left
memories of honorable, useful and virtuous lives. They reared
a large family and almost all of these became prominent in some walk
of life. They were Caleb Baldwin, Thomas
Lupton, Betsy, Lemuel Henry, Jr., Hugh
Bryson, Hannah, Matilda Lucretia, John
Dennick, Mary Ann, Thomas Lupton (2) and
Paul. The first birth was in 1795 and the last in 1824.
The last survivor of this notable family was Henry Wick, Jr.,
who was a resident of Cleveland.
Hugh Bryson Wick began his
remarkable business career as a merchant in 1828, opening a store at
Brookfield, Trumbull County, where he remained for ten years, during
a portion of which period he had business interests also at Lima.
In 1837 he removed to Lowellville, where he conducted a business for
two years, coming to his native place in 1839 to enter into business
competition here. In 1846, with his brothers, Caleb B.
and Paul Wick, Henry Heasley, Dr.
Henry Manning, William Rice and other
capitalists, Mr. Wick built a rolling mill and opened a
store, the latter being managed by the late Paul Wick and
continued as a business under the management of Paul and Hugh B.
Wick until 1855. This rolling-mill enterprise was the
nucleus around which developed the immense works of Brown,
Bonnell & Company.
Probably the late Mr. Wick was best known as a
financier, having been prominently identified with the H. B. & H.
Wick Banking Company of Cleveland, and, after 1857, with Wick
Brothers & Company, Bankers, at Youngstown. He had
large coal and other interests, was a director in the Mercer Mining
& Manufacturing Company, the Shenango & Allegheny Railroad Company
and many other successful interprises. He was essentially a
business man and seldom undertook responsibilities unless he clearly
saw his ability to bring them to a successful issue. With
other members of his family, and also individually, he stood for
years at the head of great combinations of capital and industry, and
during the many years of such prominence enjoyed unlimited
confidence and universal esteem.
On Oct. 30, 1832, Mr. Wick was united in
marriage with Lucretia G. Winchell, who was born Sept. 5,
1813, at Wallingford, Connecticut, and was a daughter of Orrin
and Laura C. Winchell. Being left an orphan when young,
Mrs. Wick was reared in the home of her uncle. Dr.
Charles Cooke, at Youngstown. Her death occurred on Apr.
27, 1892, when in her 79th year. Of the ten children of
Hugh B. Wick and wife, four survive, viz.: John C.,
vice-president of the Dollar Savings & Trust Company, whose sketch
appears in this work; Lucretia H., wife of William Scott
Bonnell, president of the Mahoning National Bank, of whom
biographical mention will be found elsewhere in this volume;
Henry, president of the Witch Hazel Coal Company, residing at
No. 416 Wick avenue, and Emily W., residing at No. 315 Wick
avenue, widow of the late John M. Bonnell, of whom a sketch
may be found on another page of this work.
From early manhood the late Hugh Bryson
Wick was a consistent member of the First Presbyterian Church
of Youngstown. He was a willing and liberal contributor to all
regulated charities. Although he belonged to a family which
took a more or less important place in the city's varied interests
and thus commanded a large measure of public attention aside from
his individual prominence, he was notably simple and unassuming, to
the close of his life being a practical business man who liker best
to stand before his fellow-citizens on his own merits. He was
a man who was devotedly loved in the domestic circle,was trusted and
revered by a large number of personal friends and was admired and
respected by his fellow-citizens.
Source:
20th Century History of Youngstown and Mahoning Co., Ohio
and Representative Citizens -
Publ. by Biographical Publishing Co. -
Chicago, Illinois -
1907 - Page 508 |
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JOHN
C. WICK, vice-president of the Dollar Savings
& Trust Company, of Youngstown, is one of the most prominent
business men of this city, as well as a member of one of the oldest
families whose representatives have been foremost in developing the
resources of this section and have contributed in a very large
degree to Youngstown's commercial prosperity and importance.
He was born Dec. 9, 1836, at Youngstown, and is one of a family of
ten children born to his parents, of whom four survive, the others
being: Lucretia H., wife of William Scott Bonnell,
president of the Mahoning National Bank, a notice of whom appears
elsewhere; Henry, president of the Witch Hazel Coal Company,
residing at Youngstown; and Evelyn W., widow of the late
John M. Bonnell, a separate sketch of whom also appears
elsewhere in this volume.
Hugh Bryson Wick, the father of our subject, was
born at Youngstown, Feb. 5, 1809, when the future city consisted of
only a few scattered houses and stores. In 1828 he engaged in
business as a merchant at Brookfield, Trumbull County, where he
continued until 1837. He then removed to Lowellville, where he
conducted business for two years. In 1839 he returned to his
native place, and from that time until his death, which occurred
Apr. 22, 1880, he was very prominent in the business world of
Youngstown, being actively engaged in the iron industry, also as a
member of the H. B. & H. Wick Banking Company of Cleveland,
and, after 1857, as a
member of the banking firm of Youngstown, known as Wick
Brothers & Company. He also had large coal and railroad
interests.
In October, 1832, he married
Lucretia G. Winchell, who was a native of
Connecticut, born Sept. 5, 1813. Her death occurred Apr. 27,
1892, when in her 79th year.
John C. Wick attended the common schools at
Youngstown and continued his education in the public schools of
Cleveland, Ohio. His first experience in business was obtained
as an employe of the H. B. & H. Wick Banking Company of
Cleveland, with whom he continued from 1856 to 1859. He then
returned to Youngstown and entered the bank of Wick Brothers
& Company. in which he subsequently acquired an interest. On Aug. 1,
1894, it was organized as a national bank, becoming the Wick
National Bank, with the subject of this sketch as president.
Mr. Wick continued as the head of this institution until
July, 1906, when the bank was merged with the Dollar Savings & Trust
Company, of which he became vice-president. Mr. Wick is
also vice-president of the Ohio Iron & Steel Company, and is also
identified with the Morgan Spring Company and other important
industries.
Mr. Wick married Caroline H. Bonnell,
a daughter of the late William Bonnell of Youngstown, a
biographical sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work.
Mr. and Mrs. Wick are members of the Presbyterian Church.
They have a beautiful residence at No. 410 Wick avenue. Mr.
Wick is a Republican in politics.
Source:
20th Century History of Youngstown and Mahoning Co., Ohio
and Representative Citizens -
Publ. by Biographical Publishing Co. -
Chicago, Illinois -
1907 - Page 551 |
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PAUL
WICK was the youngest son of the family of
twelve children born to Henry and Hannah (Baldwin) Wick.
He was educated in the old Youngstown Academy, which stood on the
site of the present public square. His first business
enterprise was in the joint operation of a coal mine with his
brother, John D. Wick. Later he was associated with
other members of the family in the management of a mercantile
establishment at Cleveland and still later devoted his attention to
the developing of the resources and extending the trade of
Youngstown. He was one of those who laid the foundation for
the great iron industry; which has spread the fame of Youngstown
throughout the world. Until 1866 he was concerned in a
mercantile business at Youngstown as senior member of the firm of
Wick & Goble. He then turned his attention to
private banking, organizing the firm of Wick Brothers &
Company, a banking house which has continued to the present time,
having safely passed through every commercial crisis and gaining
strength with each succeeding year. Mr. Wick
continued to be the head of this business
until his death, which occurred June 13, 1890. He was also
interested in the Ohio Iron & Steel Company, the Youngstown Rolling
Mill Company and the Paul Wick Real Estate Company.
In 1846 he was married to Susan A. Bull, a native of Vermont,
who died in Youngstown in 1852, aged 56 years. To this
marriage six children were born, among whom may be mentioned
Myron C., George D. and Fred Wick, prominent
business men of the city of Youngstown, and Harriet, the
widow of John S. Ford. In 1885 he was married second to
Mrs. Margaret L. Haney, of Youngstown. In his political
sentiments Mr. Wick was always a stanch adherent of
the Republican party, and as a man of high standing, known public
spirit and large business interests, was more or less influential in
shaping public movements in Youngstown. He served for some
years as a member of the city council and for nineteen years was a
member of the board of education. In church membership he was
a Presbyterian, but his religion was wide enough and broad enough to
cover other denominations, and in the dispensing of his charities he
knew neither creed, color nor condition. Like most men of
affairs, he was a man of practical views, but he was also keely
alive to all that is beautiful and elevating in life.
John S. Ford is survived by his widow and one
daughter, Helen, who reside in a beautiful home at No. 509
Wick avenue. Mrs. Ford is a member of the
Presbyterian Church, to which Mr. Ford also belonged
and in which his Christian character was most highly appreciated.
Source:
20th Century History of Youngstown and Mahoning Co., Ohio
and Representative Citizens -
Publ. by Biographical Publishing Co. -
Chicago, Illinois -
1907 - Page 923 |
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