Charles R. Truesdale

IIARLES R. TRUESDALE, a prominent member of the bar at Youngstown, and a survivor of the great Civil War to which he devoted four years of his early manhood, in which for loyalty's sake he suffered hardship and imprisonment, was born in Mahoning County, Ohio, September 15, 1841, and is a son of Alexander and Harriet (Leach) Truesdale.

Mr. Truesdale comes of Revolutionary stock, his grandfather, John Truesdale, having served under General Washington. His father. Alexander Truesdale, was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, and was one of six brothers, who came to Mahoning County as pioneers, he living at that time 15 years of age. Subsequently he married Harriet Leach, who, with her two sisters and the father, came to Mahoning County, from Morristown, New Jersey. Alexander Truesdale and wife had ten children, the youngest, Joseph, perishing in the Civil War. The mother died in 1866 and was survived by the father until 1874.

From the farm and the school room, Charles R. Truesdale went into the Union army, in August, 1861, serving faithfully until the close of the war, under two enlistments. His first service was as a private of Company E, Second Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, and later, after reenlistment, as a non-commissioned officer in the same company. He participated in all of the important engagements in which his regiment took part and, although he escaped injury of a permanent nature, he was twice made a prisoner of war. He was captured first in 1863, at Greenville, Eastern Tennessee, but made his escape and rejoined his regiment. His second adventure of this kind was in July, 1864, at Monocacy Junction, Maryland. He was held a prisoner, first at Danville and later at Libby Prison, until his exchange, February 22, 1865, but was kept on parole until his discharge in the following June.

Upon his return, with a soldier's record of which he has every reason to be proud, he completed his education at the Western Reserve College, graduating in the class of 1871. After a period of law reading in the office of Taylor & Jones, at Warren, Ohio, Mr. Truesdale was admitted to the bar in 1872, and entered upon the practice of his profession at Youngstown. He was ambitious and entered into local politics, and in 1875 'vas elected prosecuting attorney of Mahoning County, in which office he served most efficiently through two terms. Since retiring therefrom he has devoted himself to a large private practice and has long been recognized as one of the leading men of his profession in the city. His office is at No. 22 South Phelps street.

In 1872, the year of his admission to the bar, Mr. Truesdale was married to Louise M. Jacobs, a daughter of Nicholas Jacobs, of Coitsville, Ohio. Of this union there were two children — Joseph R. and Phoebe K.

Joseph R. Truesdale is a graduate of Princeton University, class of 1904, and of Columbia Law School, 1907, and is now entering upon the practice of his profession in New York City. The daughter, Phoebe K. Truesdale, a graduate of Vassar College, class of 1899, resides with her father. Mr. Truesdale, with his family, belongs to the Presbyterian Church. January i, 1902, Mr. Truesdale was bereaved of his wife, who was a lady of many virtues and beautiful Christian character.

In his political sentiments, Mr. Truesdale has always been affiliated with the Republican party. Fraternally he is a Mason; he belongs also to the Grand Army of the Republic.

As printed in 20th century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1907). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.