John S. Maxwell
John S. Maxwell, deceased, whose long connection with the business interests of Steubenville, together with his acceptance of the duties of good citizenship, made him well known and universally respected, was born at Steubenville, O., in November, 1822, and die in his native city November 7, 1898. His parents were Thomas and Martha (Ramsay) Maxwell, and his paternal grandfather was Hamilton Maxwell. The ancestral line stretches back to Scotland—perhaps the grandfather was born there—but Thomas Maxwell was the founder of the family in Jefferson County, and was one of the early merchants and hotel men of Steubenville. In 1830 he moved to a farm situated five miles west of Steubenville, where he died in 1831. He was survived by his widow until 1872.
John S. Maxwell attended school in Jefferson County until he was about fifteen years of age. His desire to see something of the world coupled with an ambition to make his own independent career, led to his leaving home and to his subsequent acceptance of a clerkship in Washington, D. C. During a service of seven years he became well instructed in the dry goods business, in which he then embarked for himself, and he continued in mercantile pursuits in Washington for two decades. When he retired from mercantile life he decided to return to Jefferson County, where he purchased a farm adjoining the one his father had bought so many years previously. He enjoyed rural life for some five years and then gave up the farm and removed to Steubenville in order to give his children better educational advantages. In this city he became interested in the fire insurance business, in which he subsequently continued during his active years. He was a man of superior qualities of mind and character, a broad-minded, unselfish and public-spirited citizen. As a duty he accepted public office and served with fidelity, being a member of the school board and also of the city council. Mr. Maxwell was a liberal contributor to benevolent objects aud was an earnest member of the Second Presbyterian Church, in which he was a deacon and trustee. In his political opinions he was a Republican.
Mr. Maxwell was married December 30, 1851, at Washington City, D. C, to Miss Mary L. Wilson, who died April 3, 1876. She was survived by two children: Lizzie A., who married William J. McKinney; and Frank S., now one of the leading dentists of Steubenville. Mr. Maxwell was married, secondly, January 8, 1880, to Miss Tirzah E. Wylie, of Hancock County, West Virginia, and two sons were born to this union: Clarence W., whose death occurred in October, 1909; and John S., .Ir., who died in 1900. Mrs. Maxwell is interested in insurance aud real estate business, maintaining an office at No. 118 North Fourth Street, Steubenville.
From 20th Century History of Steubenville and Jefferson County, Ohio, by Joseph B. Doyle. Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910