History of Trumbull and Mahoning counties

GENBALOOY COLLZCTION

;?/— '

3 1833 00824 4359

GENEALOGY

977.101

T77H

!

HISTORY

OF

^

Trumbull and Mahoning

COUNTIES. O l-l 1 0

ILLUSTRATIONS AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

VOT,. IT

CLEVELAND;

H. Z. WILLIAMS & BRO.

1882.

\,

J,

CONTENTS.

HISTORICAL

1164477

\^ TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES OF MAHONING

COUNTY.
. O CHAPTER. P.\(

Xn 1.— Canfield

fi II.— Poland

^ III. — Boardinan
\o IV.— Ellsworth

*. v.— Berlin .
VI. — Austintown

I
^ Vll.-Jackso

VIII.— Coitsville
IX.-Milton .

>r X.— Beaver
O XI.— Goshen

CO

XIII.— Smith .
XIV. —Springfield

I. — Rowland
II. — Weathersfield

XVI.
XVII.
XVI II.
XIX.
XX.
XXI.
XXII,

.-- Hartford
.—Kinsman .
. — Farmington
.—Bristol
.— Brookfield
.—Hubbard .
. — Vernon
.— Bloomfield
.—Johnston

.—Vienna
.—Newton
.— Gustavus .
.— Bazetta
. — Mesopotamia

-Braceville
—Mecca

— Lordstown

—Greene

BIOGRAPHICAL,

Arret, Walter S.,
Allen, Martin,
Anderson, David,
Allen, Dr. Peter
Beardsley Family
Brown, James S.
Boardman Family
Baldwin, Jacob H.
Rrockway, Edward
Bushnell Family
Borden Family
Beebe, Dr. R. M.
Burnham, Jedediah
Bishop, James C.
Bidwell, Riverius an,
Burnett, William
Brown, Ephraim
Bushnell Family
Button, Roswell A.

between

l'.\GE

74
io8
134
30I

34
72-73

91

93
274
276
279
28s
302
303
304
36s
398
406
498

Church, Nathaniel

Canfield, Hon. Judson

Calvin, Dr. A. W

Coit, Joseph

Carson, George

Crowell, Henry

Chalker Family

Chalker, Newton

Drake Family

Davis, Aaron

Fuller, Davis

Fowler Family

Fobes Family

Hughes, Dr. Jam:

Hayes Family

Hutchins, .Sullivan

Hart, Bliss and Family

Humason, James I. and Eli

Jones Family.

PAGE

32

CONTENTS.

6

I'AGIO

I'AGE

|f«c-ll,A. M. .

. 366

Porter, William

134

Kinney, Colonel Sherman .

43

Perkins, Seth ....

■ 301

Kirlland Family

73

Peck, Joel and Eliza

33°

King, F.lias ....

75

Payne, Ichabod B. . . .

• 454

King, Jonathan

Post, James Hervev

486

King, James Franklin

214

Ripley Family . ' .

. 107

Kennedy Family

217

Rowland, Horace .

124

Kcpner Family

282

Ratliff, John .

. ' 213

Kinsman, John and Family

. 296

Reeder. Willis

286

Kincaid, Rev. William

330

Reeve Family . . ■ .

. 298

King, John I., M. D. .

. 378

Reed, Edmund A.

376

Kline, Peter

441

Sanzenbacher, John, and Family

. 36

Kennedy, William B. .

. 486

Servis, Judge Francis G. .

40

Laird, William

300

Strong, Alonzo . between 120 and 121

Milligan. James

• 173

Snyder, George Sr.

284

McFarland Family

282

Tanner Familv

37

Merry, Samuel

■ 377

Van Hyning, Henry

42

Morrow. Robert

418

Wadsworth, General Elijah .

32

Newton, Hon. Shelden

93

Williams, James

109

.Norton, Homer

527

Ward, James ....

■ 241

Osborn Family ....

. 156

ILLUSTRATIONS.

P.\GF..

P.\GE

Portrai

t of Eben Newton

facing

9

Portrait of Hannah L. Anderson

between

128 and 129

Portrai

of Judge F. G. Servis

facing

12

Portrait of William Porter .

betweei

136 and 137

Portrai

of Henry Van Hyning .

facing

i6

Portrait of Mrs. William Porter

between

136 and 137

Portrai

of Mrs. Sopliia Beardsley .

facing

17

Portrait of Jonathan Osborn

facing 156

Portrai

of Edmund P. Tanner .

facing

20

Portrait of James Milligan .

facing 173

Portrai

ofj. M.Nash

facing

24

Portrait of John Ratliff

facing 207

Portrai

of Sherman Kinney .

facing

25

Portrait ot James F. King

facing 214

Portrai

of Dr. A. W. Calvin

facing

28

Portrait of A. A. Drake

facing 217

Portrai

of John Sanxenbacher .

between

36 and

37

Portrait of G. W. Snyder

facing 284

Portrai

of Mrs. John Sanzenbacher

between

36 and

37

Portrait of Riverius Bidwell .

between

292 and 293

Portrai

of W. S. Arrel .

between

60 and

61

Portrait of Mrs. Eunicia Bidwell

between

292 and 293

Portrai

of Mrs. \V. S. Arrel

between

60 and

61

Portrait of James C. Bishop .

facing 303

Portrait of lilias King .

between

64 and

65

Portrait of Miss Lottie Fobes

facing 304

Portrait of Mrs. Ellas King

between

64 and

65

Portraitof Joel Peck .

between

320 and 321

Portrai

of James S. Brown

between

72 and

73

Portrait of Mrs. Eliza H. Peck

between

320 and 321

Portrai

of Mary A. Brown .

between

72 and

73

Portrait of Rev. William Kincaid

facing 328

Portrait of Billius Kinland

between

84 and

Portrait of A. M. Jewell .

between

360 and 361

Portrai

of Mrs. B. Kirtland

between

84 and

8S

Portrait of Rebecca C. Jewell .

between

360 and 361

Portrait of Shelden Newton .

facing

89

Portrait of E. A. Reed

facing 376

Portrai

t of F. A. Boardman

between

92 and

93

Portrait of Samuel Merry

facing 377

Portrai

of Mrs. M^ry A. Boardman

between

92anci

93

Portrait of Ephraim Brown

between

396 and 397

Portrait of Joseph Cox

facing

97

Portrait of Mary B. Brown

between

396 and 397

Portrait of Martin Allen

between

100 and

lOI

Portrait of Robert Morrow

facing 418

Portrai

t of Mrs. Lucy M. Allen

between

100 and

101

Portrait of Peter Kline .

between

440 and 441

Portrai

t of Hervey Ripley

facing

I OS

Portrait of Mrs. Esther Kline

between

440 and 441

Portrai

t of lames Williams .

between

loB and

109

Portrait of Ichabod B. Payne .

between

448 and 449

Portra

t of Almyra Williams

between

108 and

109

Portrait of Mrs. Betsy Payne

between

448 and 449

I'ortra

t of R. K. Hughes .

between

112 and

"3

Porttaitof JamesJ. Humason .

between

452 and 453

Portrai

t of Mrs. Martha A. Hughes

between

112 and

"3

Portrait of Mrs. Eliza Humason

between

452 and 453

Portra

tof Jonathan King

between

116 and

117

Portrait of William B. Kennedy

facing 480

Poitra

t of Mrs. I.ydia King

between

116 and

117

Portrait of Aaron Davis .

facing 485

Portrai

t of Alonzo .Strong

between

120 and

121

Portrait of James H. Post

facing 486

Portra

t of Mrs. Elizabeth C. Strong

between

120 and

121

Portrait of Roswell A. Button

facing 498

I^nra

t of George Carson

facing

123

Portrait of Homer Norton

facing 527

Portra

t of Horace Rowland

between

124 and

125

Portrait of James Chalker .

lacing 529

Portrait of Mrs. Fidelia Rowland

between

124 and

125

Portrait of Newton Chalker .

facing 531

Portrait of David Anderson .

between

128 and

129

IHmlf' ^raft

. \\wv A <^aaAa)A'

TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES

MAHONING COUNTY. OHIO.

CHAPTER I.

CANFIELD.
INTRODUCTORY.

Canfield is the central township of Mahoning
county. On the north Hes Austintown; on the
east Boardman; on the south Green and Beaver;
and on the west Ellsworth. In point of agricul-
tural importance this township ranks among the
very first of those situated in the southern part
of the Reserve. There are no large streams
flowing through Canfield, but a large number of
swales and small creeks divide the land into a
number of varying ridges and undulatory eleva-
tions of moderate height. Indian creek, the
largest of these streams, enters the southern part
of the township almost directly south of the
center, and, after flowing northward about one
mile, turns to the east and crosses into Board-
man township. The number of fresh water
springs is large, affording a supply of pure, cold
water which seldom fails — a most valuable ar-
rangement of nature for the convenience of dairy
farmers and stock raisers.

The soil is an easily cultivated loam of rich-
ness and fertility. The township being among
the earliest settlements made upon the Reserve,
and withal thickly peopled by an industrious and j
thrifty class, is conspicuous for its large number
of well improved farms and other general evi-
dences of prosperity.

In addition to its important agricultural re-
sources, Canfield has considerable mineral
wealth. Coal was discovered in 1798, and coal
reservations were marked in the original surveys.
Bituminous coal is found in nearly all parts of

the township in veins from fifteen to thirty-three
inches in thickness; while in the southern and
southeastern parts extensive fields of cannel coal
are found.

There is but one village, which has an air of
rural simplicity quite unusual in most places of
its size. As in most townships of the Reserve
first settled by Connecticut Yankees, the "center"
was the point where the first families took up
their abode, and about that point has grown up
one of those sober, quiet, unpretentious country
villages, far more like an old New England vil-
lage than one of the modern western "towns."

The village of Canfield has the advantage of
a pleasant site, the principal part of it being
upon a gentle elevation of land overlooking by
far the greater portion of the township. Broad
street, running north and south, is the principal
business street, and includes within itself a
park or common extending almost its entire
length. Though there is little that can be said
in praise of the architecture or general appear-
ance of many of the buildings facing upon this
park, yet so large a tract of grassy lawn adds
much to the beauty of the village. And a few
years hence, when the small trees now growing
shall have attained a size entitling them to be
ranked as shade trees, this spot will become a
charming ornament to Canfield. The remaining
streets of the village have, in general, an old-
fashioned look. The houses are placed some
distance back from the road in some instances,
but in others, near to it, — many of them sur-
rounded by orchards or gardens, making a gen-
erous mingling of the country in the town which
delights by its quaintness.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

The old court-house at the head of the com-
mon— soon to be transferred into an educational
institute — may yet become a source of pride to
Canfield's people instead of an eye-sore, as it has
been since the removal of the county seat.

Whatever may be the future of the place, the
brightness of the past will not speedily be extin-
guished. Many men of sterling worth and wide
reputation have Canfield either for their birth-
place or their home. Though some of them
have been sleeping for years in the quiet village
cemetery, Canfield still remembers them, and
points out the acts of their lives as e.xamiiles
worthy of imitation.

OWNERSHIP AND SURVEY.

Township one in range three was purchased
from the Connecticut Land company by six per-
sons, who owned in the following proportions :
]udson Canfield, 6,171 acres; James Johnson,
3,502 acres; David Waterman, 2,745 acres;
Elijah Wadsworth, 2,069 acres; Nathaniel
Church, 1,400 acres, Samuel Canfield, 437
acres.

The price paid for this township of 16,324
acres was $12,903.23, being a very little more
than seventy nine cents per acre. But in addi-
tion to the number of acres above given, there
was annexed to this township, for the purpose of
equalizing its value, lot number two in township
one in the tenth range. To explain this process
of equalization we make the following extract
from the manuscripts prepared by Hon. Elisha
Whittlesey:

As the whole tract purch.ised by the Connecticut L.ind
company was in common, it was a principle of justice to
equalize the township so that the proprietors of each should
have an equal share of the whole, and if the quality of the
land was below mediocrity, the quantity was to be increased
10 obtain the equality in value. A conimittee was appointed
to make this equalization. They had no personal knowledge
of the land, and judged of it by e.Nanuning the field notes or
sun-eys. The surveyors who ran the lines of the townships
did not examine the land not on or contiguous to the Une
surveyed; and the sur\'eyors who subdivided the townships
had no knowledge of the land e.\cept what they saw on the
line; and their descriptions of it in their field notes were
made from what they thus saw. On the south line of Can-
field and west of the north and south center line is low, wet
land, on the margin of a creek, the extent of which was not
known to either set of the surveyors mentioned. The tradi-
tion is that the equalizing committee, apprehending that
the low swampy land which they saw on the south township
line might be e.vlensive, annexed lot two in township num-
ber one in the tenth range, containing 1,664 acres, to m.ake
township number one of range number three equal in value
to an average of the land on the Reserve. It was a fact.

however, at that time, that the said township number one,
range number three, was above instead of below the average
quality of the tract divided. CaKin Cone, Esq., of Hartford,
was assessor in Trnmbull county during several years, and
he said he deemed the township of Canfield to be the best
quality of land in the county. This opinion was given e.v-
clusive of the annexation. The annexation was a valuable
tract of land, and on being re-surveyed was found to con-
tain 1,723^ acres, or 58 J^ acres more than it was computed
to contain when annexed. The proprietors, therefore, may
be considered as having been unusually fortunate.

In 1798 the proprietors of the township ap-
pointed Nathaniel Church, one of their number,
an agent to superintend the surveying of the
land into lots and commence improvements.
Concerning the journey and the first operations
ot the party after reaching the township, the fol-
lowing extract from a letter written by Samuel
Church to Hon. Elisha Whittlesey gives a
graphic and interesting account. The letter
bears the date "Salisbury, Litchfield county,
Connecticut, November 5, 1837," and is written
by a son of Nathaniel Church. Mr. Church writes :

Dear Sir : Yours of July 27, 1837, addressed to my
father, Nathaniel Church, enquiring of him in regard to the
early history of the town of Canfield, Trumbull county,
Ohio, has been submitted to my perusal. The age and
iufirniities of my venerable parent have prevented him from
making under his own hand a reply to your request — a cir-
cumstance regretted by me. But the brief detail of facts
here given you is taken from his verbal statement.

He says : On the 20th day of .\pril, 1797,* I started from
Sharon, accompanied by the following named persons and
perhaps a few others not now recollected : Nathan Moore,
of Salisbury, surveyor ; Eli Tousley, Nathaniel Gridley,
Barber King, Reuben Tupper, and one Skinner, of Salis-
bury; Samuel Gilson, of Sharon, and Joseph Pangburn, of
Cornwall, axemen.

I performed the journey on horseback with all my effects
contained in my saddle-bags. My men traveled on foot.
My associates were clieerful, and at times a little rude,
though not uncivil, on the journey. We traveled through
the towns of Newburg, in the State of New York; Lupex,
Belvidere, in the State of New Jersey; Eaton. Bethlehem, a
Moravian town, Reading, Harrisburg, then a small village on
the Susquehanna river, Carlisle, Shippensburg, and Shaws-
burg, in Pennsylvania, at the eastern margin of the .Mle-
ghanies. Thus far the country was well inhabited and well
cultivated. On our way over the mountains to Pittsburg the
roads were dreadful and the settlements sparse. Bedford.
Strystown, and Greensburg were about all the settlements
we passed. From Pittsburg, or Fort Pitt as it was then most
commonly called, to the mouth of the Big Beaver, there
were few or no inhabitants. \\'e performed our journey on
the south side of the Ohio river, there being no road on the
other side. At the mouth of the Big Beaver was a small
settlement called Mcintosh. From thence to the place of
our destination the forest was uninterrupted, with the excep-
tion that one or two families had settled and made some
improvement at a place since called '"'reersburg.

•Should be 1798. — E. Whittlesey in a note.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

We arrived at Cantield on the 24th day of May, 1797,*
and pitched our first tent near the northeast corner of the
town, our surveyor mistaking this for the center. Our jour-
ney from the mouth of the Big Beaver had been performed
by the aid of the compass and marlied trees. We erected a
cabin or hut of poles and bark at the place where we first
stopped. Our surveyor soon learned his mistake, and ascer-
tained and fixed the center of the town. While doing this
our cabin took fire and was burned up and some of our uten-
sils with it. The lot upon which this cabin stood was after-
wards known as the Burnt Cabin lot. Our first repast was
made of smoked pork bought in Mcintosh, bread made by
ourselves and baked m the ashes, and coffee without milk or
sugar; and h.iving thus feasted we slept soundly upon our
blankets spread upon the ground. Within a day or two we
erected another cabin, at the center, and began to survey
the road from the center east. Our surveyor aUer running
about half a mile eastwardly from the center pronounced it
impracticable to proceed, by reason of the wet and miry state
of the ground. I returned with him ; and, wading through
mud and water over my boots about si.\ rods, found hard
ground and we proceeded without further difficulty.

A little eastward of this swale of wet ground, on the north
side of our surveyed road, we commenced the first clearing.
Having cleared two acres we raked off the leaves with our
hands, harrowed it with one horse and a wooden harrow. I
planted it with com, potatoes, and beans. We cleared
twelve acres and sowed wheat, and inclosed one field with a
seven-rail fence. We cleared and sowed three acres to oats,
and on the south side of the road we cleared and sowed
twelve acres of wheat, f which proved an abundant crop. We
erected a log house in the center and two houses and one
barn east of the center. Having done this we cut out the
east and west road.

About one month after our arrival at Canfield, Champion
Minor, with his wife and two children from Salisbury, arrived
with an o.x-team. This was the first family which ever visited
or settled in the town, and the company made a donation of
land to the woman. A few days after the arrival of Minor's
family the youngest child died. I went to Youngstown to
procure a woman to aid in preparing the body for the grave.
The coffin was made of split wood pinned together, and we
buried the child decently, but without religious solemnities,
about twenty rods from our cabin. Some wild beast nearly
disinterred the body on the night of its burial, and we then
built a strong fence around the grave. This was the first
burial of any white person within the town.

During this first summer I brought all our provisions and
olher necessaries from Pittsburg through the wilderness on
pack-horses, guided on my way by marked trees. A settle-
ment had commenced the year before at Youngstown, and
that was the only settlement near us. A few Indians visited
us on their hunting excursions this summer. We understood
that they came from the vicinity of Sandusky. They ap-
peared friendly. Our party enjoyed tolerable health during
the summer, and were generally submissive to my orders,
although in my absence some disorder prevailed.

Our men established a code of justice and system of pun-
ishment of their own, and when I was absent from them,
sometimes put their laws in force by tying the condemned
one to a tree with his body naked and exposed to the attacks
of mosquitoes. I soon repealed this cruel code.

'1798.— E. Whittlesey.
i-There was probably but one twelve-a
that on the south side of the road.— El).

Tiie town w.as laid off into lots, and most of our men took
up lots but did not retain them long, as but few of them re-
mained in the town. One Sunday one of my men, with-
out my leave, went into his lot and commenced labor upon
it by clearing. He was soon frightened away and came back
to our cabin declaring that the devil had appeared to
him. He had probably been frightened by the appearance
of some wild beast. After this incident none of my men
were disposed to labor on the Sabbath, a practice which I
had stnctly forbidden.

Champion Minor and his family, Samuel Gilson and
Joseph Pangburn remained in the town. I believe all the
others returned after cutting through the east and west road,
which was the last of our labor. We reached Connecticut
in safety the fall of the same year.some of us at least grate-
ful fur the mercies which Providence had extended to us."

It may be interesting to our readers to know
with what equipments this surveying party were
provided, and fortunately the information is at
hand :

A bill of articles delivered to Judson Canfield
for the New Connecticut:

April 28, 1798.* £ s. d.

12 Narrow axes at 8s 4 i5 o

r Broad axe at 15s 15 o

I Chain , 18 o

I Square and two pair compasses 7 o

1 Draw-shave 6

Half bushel white clover seed 2 8 o

Half bushel herdsgrass seed 16 o

3 lbs. Bohea tea at 4s. 6d 13 6

2 lbs. pepper at 3s. 3d 6 6

6 lbs. ginger at is. 6 9 o

^11 14s 6d
Received the above mentioned articles from Captain Elijah
Wadsworth, by the hand of Arad Way. Also i6s. in cash.
Sharon, April 28, 1798.

Such was the outfit for a party of twelve men
who were to spend several months in a solitary
wilderness, fifty miles from any settlement of im-
portance— about $5 to each man in tools, seed,
and groceries, and sixteen shillings m cash! Yet
the eleven men, who performed the journey on
foot, doubtless thought they had as much bag-
gage as was convenient.

The names and residences of this surveying
party were as follow: Nathaniel Church, Na
than Moore, Eli Tousley, Nathaniel Gridley
Barker King, Reuben Tupper, and David Skin
ner, of Salisbury, Connecticut; Carson Bacon
Samuel Gilson, and Joshua HoUister, of Sharon
Connecticut; Charles Campbell and Joseph
Pangburn, of Cornwall, Connecticut.

*The date given in Mr. Church's letter must be i
Evidently these articles were for the surveying party, which
must have left Sharon after their delivery and not on April
2oth, as stated. — Ed.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHtO.

Just here arises the question whether Hon.
Judson Canfield was of the party. That he was
in Canfield in June, 1798, is show by a trans-
cript of the records of the survey, originally in
the possession of Judson Canfield and now be-
longing to his grandson. On page 123 of this
transcript is the following:

A draft of the first division in Campfield on the Reserve,
made the 20th of June, 1798, at Campfield, by Nathaniel
Church, the agent, ana Judson Canfield, clerk, and drawn
by Nathan Moore, viz ;

Judson Canfield 4,081,* drew lot No. fourth.

Judsoi. Canfield 2,090 A

Samuel Canfield 437 (, gi , do. lot No. first.

Nathaniel Church 1,400 I ^

James Johnston 154/

l?""^! Ix°*'""°" 3'^'*'* !• 4.081, do. lot second.

David Waterman 733 I

David Waterman 2,012 ) „ ^ , j,^ ,.^

Elijah Wadsworth 2,069 1 4.ooi. Qo. 101 '^o- "i>™,

N. B,— Not No. I is the southwest lot, lot No. 2 is the
northwest lot, lot No. 3 is the southeast lot, and lot No. 4
is the northeast lot.

Judson Canfeld.

Nath.j^niel Church.

Nathan Moore.
N. B. — The above four lots were the four center lots pre-
vious to their being cut up into small lots containing about
seven acres each. Each of the above four lots before cut up
contained about sixty-three acres, being 186 by 60 rods, in-
cluding highways; and each lot has been cut up into eight.

When these four center lots were subdivided
does not appear, but It must have been during
the summer of 1798,33 Mr. Church speaks of
his men taking up lots in the town, in the letter
given above. It is somewhat surprising that he
nowhere mentions Mr. Canfield's visit lo the
Reserve.

THE N.\ME.

Campfield was tlie name given the township
by the surveyors, and it is so denominated in
their maps and notes. An old book of records
deposited with the recorder of deeds of Trumbull
county contains in manuscript a record of the
survey as well as other records. The first page
of this book is as follows :

The first book of records of the township numljer one in
tlie third range in the Connecticut Reserve called Campfield,
a/i<!S Canfield.

.•\pril, 1798. Voted that township number one in the third
range should be called Campfield.

April 15, 1800. Voted that the above townshi|) should be
called Canfield.

The last name was bestowed in honor of Jud-
son Canfield, the largest projirielor of land in
the townshij).

•The number of acres owned by each is denoted by the
figures opposite the name.

SETTLEMENT.

All of the first settlers were from Connecticut
— wide-awake, progressive Yankees. We have
attempted to classify the early settlers according
to the date at which they arrived here. As al-
ready recorded. Champion Miner and family
made a permanent settlement in 1798. This
family, with Samuel Gilson and Joseph Pang-
burn, made up the population of Canfield dur-
ing the winter of 1798-99.

1799. Phineas Reed arrived in the spring of
this year, whether with or without a family, we
are unable to learn. In the fall came Eleazer
Gilson and Joshua Hollister.

1800. Nathan Moore and family arrived on
the 15th of May, having been forty-five days on
the road. This is the only recorded arrival dur-
ing that year.

1801. James Doud and family, Ichabod At-
wood, Calvin Tobias, Abijah Peck.

1802. Captain Wadsworth, Simeon Sprague,
Tryal Tanner, Matthew Steele, Aaron Collar,
and William Chidester with families, David But-
ler, David Hatfield, Charles and Henry Chit-
tenden, Benjamin Bradley, Ariel Bradley, War-
ren Bissel, Daniel Miner. Some of those last
named were probably accompanied by their
families.

1803 — Abisha Chapinan, Jonathan Sprague,
Dr. Pardee, Benjamin Yale, William Chapman,
Bradford Waldo, Wilder Page, Cook Fitch.

1804 — Zeba Loveland, Archibald Johnston,
and probably many others.

1805 — Herman Canfield and wife, Ebenezer
Bostwick and family. This year began the Ger-
man settlement. Henry Yager, Jacob Ritter,
Jacob Wetzel, Henry Ohl, Conrad NefT, Peter
Lynn, John Lynn, George Lynn, Daniel Fink,
Adam Blankman and Philip Borts arrived during
this year; some of them, perhaps, a year earlier.
All, however, did not settle in Canfield, but those
who did formed an important addition to the
population and did much toward develojiing the
agricultural resources of the new settlement.

There are others whose names should have
been included in the above lists, could the pre-
cise date of their coming have been ascertained.
Azariah Wetmore, Jonah Scofield, John Everett
and others were among the very earliest settlers.

Many of tliose whose names ajjjjcar above
remained but a few years, some of them but one

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

season; and of those who remained and died
here information has not always been obtainable.

Nathan Moore was the surveyor of the party
which came out in 1798. After his settlement
here in 1800 he remained a few years then moved
away with his family.

James Doud settled two miles east of the
center. He had several children who lived here
until they were men and women and then moved.
His sons were Herman, James, William, and
Samuel. His oldest daughter, Lydia, married
Judge Bingham, of Ellsworth ; Anna became
Mrs. Hall, of Ravenna. Mr. Doud was a drover.
He passed over the mountains many times with
droves of cattle, but on his last trip he was taken
sick and died.

Ichabod Atwood settled in the northwest of
the township and afterward moved to Springfield.
He had several sons and daughters, none of
whom settled here. He built quit a nice frame
barn at an early date.

Eleazer Gilson settled east of the center m
1801, afterwards moved to Turner street. His
son Samuel was also an early settler. Isaac,
Lizzie (Everett), Cynthia, and Maria (Beeman)
were the names of others of this family.

Jonah Scofield in 1800 or 180T settled a short
distance west of the center, where he lived and
died. His son William went South and died.
Pamela married Edward Wadsworth. Frances
married John Reed. Both of these resided in
Canfield.

Aaron Collar died in 18 13 at the age of forty-
nine. Lavinia, his wife, died the same year aged
forty-six. SfeVeral of their descendants still re-
side in this township. An epidemic in 1813
carried off a large number of the settlers.

James Bradley lived on the farm afterwards
owned by Philo Beardsley, and now owned by
Noah Lynn. Ariel Bradley removed to Portage
county in 1805.

William Chidester came out in company with
Tryal Tanner. He settled one and one fourth
miles west of the center. He died in 1813,
aged fifty-seven. His sons were Hezekiah,
Philo, Erastus, Rush, Velorus, Julius, and Royal-
Chloe and Betsey were his daughters. Chloe
became Mrs. Smith and settled in Ellsworth.
Hezekiah married Lizzie Buell, resided in Can-
field and reared a large family. Philo also
passed his life in this township. Erastus lived

here several years, then moved west. Rush
went to Medina county. Velorus died the
same year with his father. Julius moved to
Medina county. Royal occupied his father's
old farm, and died there. He married the widow
of Jarvis, who is still living on the old place.
William Chidester, the father, was a man of good
ability. He was the first justice of the peace in
Canfield, and solemnized many marriages in this
and surrounding townships in early days.

Ira Spague settled one mile south of the cen-
ter. His son Augustus occupied the farm after
him. Henry Sprague, son of Augustus, is now
living on the place.

Reuben Tupper settled on the farm which
David Hine purchased later.

Several members of the Sackett family settled
in Canfield very early. Simmons Sackett lived
in this township until 1863, when he died at the
age of seventy-five.

Some of the old settlers attained a remarkable
age. Esther, the wife of Captain Philo Beardsley,
died at the age of ninety-one. Ethel Starr, a
comparatively early settler, died in 1861, aged
ninety-two years. John Everett died in 1819, at
the age of ninety-two.

Abishai Chapman settled in the northwest of
the township, biit sold out and moved.

William Chapman owned two lots near the
center. He died in 1813, at the age of thirty-
six, and was buried the same day as Squire Chid-
ester. His widow married a Mr. Merwin and
went to Palmyra to live.

John and Sarah Everett were early settlers.
They had but one child, a daughter — Mrs.
Sprague. They were old people when they
came here and died in early years.

Matthew Steele settled southeast of the center.
The family were all grown before the memory of
old residents.

Bradford Waldo remained few years in this
township, then moved to Portage county. He
was noted as a wit, and had a gift for making
impromptu doggerel verses, which were some-
times extremely amusing.

Herman Canfield, Sr., brother of Judson Can-
field, married Fitia Bostwick. In October, 1805;,
they settled in Canfield. Six children were born
to them, viz : Herman, William H., Elizabeth,
Cornelia, and Lora. Lieutenant-colonel Her-
man Canfield died at Crump's Landing, .\prii 7,

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

1862, while in the service of his country. He
was a lawyer of ability and worth, served as State
Senator from Medina county, and held other
important positions. William H. Canfield was
born in 1806, and died in Kansas in 1874. He
studied law m the office of Hon. Elisha Whit-
tlesey. In 1866 he removed to Kansas, and in
1870 was appointed judge of the Eighth Judicial
district of that State, and held the position until
his death.

James Reed settled in the western part of the
township in 1805, moving from Ellsworth. After
his settlement his father, also named James,
came out and lived with him. He died here at
the age of about seventy, and was the fifth per-
son buried in the center graveyard. During the
War of 181 2 Mr. Reed set up a distillery, and
furnished the army with whiskey, which then
formed a part of soldiers' rations. James Reed
died in 18 13; Mrs. Reed survived until i860,
and reached the remarkable age of ninety-eight
years. Her children were: Mary (Bowman),
born in 1791, still living, in Goshen township;
Rosanna, born in 1793, died in 1813; Jemmia
(Rudisill), born in 1797, died, aged seventy-five;
James, Jr., born in 1799, lives in Michigan;
Rachel (Turner), born in 1801, resides in Can-
field; Eleanor (Turner), born in 1803, lives in
Summit county; Anna, born in 1806, died, aged
three and a half years; John C, born in 1809,
died, aged forty; Hiram, born in 181 1, killed
when two months old, his mother being thrown
from ahorse with the babe in her arms; Joshua,
born in 1812, resides in Alliance. Mr. Reed,
while living in Canfield, attempted to dig a well
upon his farm, and came near losing his life in it
on account of the "damps" or foul gases there.
A colored man known as Black Tobe, hearing
that Mr. Reed had abandoned the well, came to
him, and urged that he be allowed to finish the
job. He was told of the danger, but would not
listen, arid was finally allowed to enter the well.
Before those attending him] became aware of his
state, he was overcome and sank down in a suf-
focating condition. He was lifted out, but
all attempts to revive him proved ineffectual, and
he died the victim of his rashness.

John and Magdalena (Neir) Harding came to
this township about the year 1805. Their sons
were John, George, and Jacob, all of whom died
in this county. The daughters were MoUie

(Harroff), Katharine (Ohl), Mary (Neff), Betsey
(Kline), Sarah A. (Oswald), and Rebecca (Hood).
Mrs. Kline and Mrs. Oswald are the only surviv-
ors of this family.

Jacob Oswald was among the early settlers of
the township, located on what is now the Samuel
Stitel farm. He moved to Liberty township,
Trumbull county. His son Charles returned to
Canfield in 1826, and passed his life in the town-
ship.

The Lynns of Canfield and other portions of
this county, are descended from Nicholas Lynn,
who emigrated to America from Germany pre-
vious to the Revolutionary war. He was a sol-
dier in the war, and after its close married and
settled in Berks county, Pennsylvania. It is said
that he was the father of fourteen children, but
the history of only eleven can be traced — five
sons, Philip, Jacob, Peter, George, and John,
and six daughters. Philip and four of the
daughters, Mrs. Snyder, Mrs. Reaser, Mrs. Shei-
bly, and Mrs. Kock, remained in Pennsylvania,
and their descendants are numerous in Berks,
Perry, Lehigh, and other counties, ranking high
in social and civic positions. The family of the
oldest son, Philip, consisted of three sons and
several daughters. One of the sons, John, came
to Canfield and resided near Cornersburg. Af-
ter living here several years, building a saw-mill,
etc., he sold out and returned to Pennsylvania.
One of his grandsons, Solomon W., is a resident
of Austintown.

Jacob, the second son, en me to Ohio about
1830, and died in this township in 1837, at the
age of seventy. His sons were Jacob, Jesse,
John, and Philip ; his daughters, Mrs. Jacob
Heintzelman, Mrs. Christian Heintzelman, and
Mrs. Miller. Two are now living, Mrs. Jacob
Heintzelman, and Jesse, the second son.

The three younger sons of Nicholas Lynn
came to Canfield in 1805, and settled on adjoin-
ing farms. George died in 1833, aged fifty-eight;
John in 1835, aged fifty-six, and Peter in 1858,
at the age of eighty-six. Peter Lynn had three
sons, Adam, William, and Peter, and three
daughters, Mrs. Fullwiler, Mrs. Shellabarger, and
Mrs. Infelt. All are dead excepting Adam
Lynn, Esq., for many years a justice in this
township. George Lynn's family numbered five
sons, David, John, George, William second, and
Levi, and two daughters, Mrs. Nathan Hartman,

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

and Mrs. S. W. Lynn. All are living except
William, who died in 1851, aged thirty-five.
His son, William C. Lynn, a resident of the
Black Hills region, is six feet eight inches tall,
and correspondingly well developed. John
Lynn, youngest son of Nicholas, had three sons,
John N. O., David second, and G. W., and three
daughters, Mrs. George E. Hardmg, Mrs. Joseph
Hartman, and one who died young. Three mem-
bers of this family are living.

Barbara, youngest daughter of Nicholas Lynn,
came to Ohio about 1806. She married Abra-
ham Kline. Her liushand soon died, and she
lived a widow fifty-seven years, until death called
her home. She was a woman of great benevo-
lence, and having gained a competence, be-
stowed It freely upon religious and charitable
organizations. Among other bequests, she gave
$1,000 to Heidelberg college. Tiffin, Ohio. She
died in 1873, aged seventy-eight.

Susanna, also a daughter of the Revolutionary
ancestor, married a Mr. Bailey and settled in
Ohio about 1820. She had three sons and two
daughters. One of the daughters married
John Corll, and another, Samuel Rupright.
Only one of Mrs. Bailey's children is now living,
her son, Jacob, now a resident of Indiana. The
Lynns are thrifty and worthy people, friends to
law and order, and zealous in the support of ed-
ucation and religion. In 1804 David Hine, from
Warren, Litchfield county, Connecticut, came to
Canfield on foot; purchased land and began
some improvements upon it, in 1806. The same
year he brought his family with an ox team. His
farm was situated one and one-half miles west of
the center. In 18 10 Mr. and Mrs. Hine returned
to Connecticut to visit their friends, and remained
until thespringof 1811, when they again came to
Canfield. David Hine died in 1859, in his sev-
enty-eighth year. His wife, Achsah (Sackett)
Hine, died in 1832, aged forty-seven. Their
family consisted of seven sons and three daugh-
ters, namely, Myron, Warren, Chester, Benjamin,
Charles, David, Jr., William, Cynthia, Mary, and
Betsey. All arrived at maturity. Three sons
and two daughters are still living, Warren, in
Canfield; Cliarles, in Warren, Connecticut; Wil-
liam, in Canfield; Cynthia, wife of C. S. Mygatt,
Canfield ; and Betsey, wife of William Cum-
stock, Canfield.

In 1806 came Elisha Whittlesey, doubtless the

greatest accession the township ever had. He
was in public service almost constantly from the
date of his settlement until his death, in 1863;
and all trusts, whether of town, county. State, or
Nation, were discharged in a manner which never
failed to please and satisfy. His biography, and
likewise that of his honored and esteemed as-
sociate, Judge Eben Newton, will be found in
this work. It may be proper to mention here
the names of a few distinguished men who were
students in the law office of Mr. Whittlesey: Hon.
Joshua R. Giddings, Hon. Benjamin F. Wade,
W. C. Otis, General Ralph P. Buckland, and
Columbia Lancaster, afterwards of Oregon, re-
ceived a portion of their legal training in Can-
field.

In 1806 the Turner family came to the north-
western part of the township. The road on
which they lived was long known as " Turner
street " and is frequently mentioned thus by old
residents at the present day. Adam Turner and
his wife Margaret came from New Jersey. They
had five sons and three daughters, viz: John,
Elsie, Conrad, Mary, James, George, Robert,
and Charity. John settled in Canfield for a
time, but moved to Sharon, Medina county,
where he died at the age of eighty-six. Elsie
married Giles Clark and resided in Hubbard,
Trumbull county; died in Clarksville, Pennsyl-
vania. Conrad bought his brother John's farm
in the northwest of the township; sold out,
moved to Medina county, and died at the age of
eif;hty-two. Mary married fames Reed, form-
erly of Pennsylvania, and died in this township.

George died in Medina county, and Robert in
Michigan. Charity married Henry Edsall, and
resided in Canfield. Of these eight children
there are no survivors. James, the third son,
was born in 1796, and died July 17, 1873. In
1819 he married Rachel Reed, who is still liv-
ing. She bore five children, four of whom
arrived at maturity. Three are still living.
Fidelia married Ward E. Sackett, and after his
death became the wife of Julius Tanner, of Can-
field. Charles R. married Flora Sackett for his
first wife. She bore three children, two of
whom, Jemima Estella and Hattie S., are living.
For his second wife he married Harriet Sackett,
who bore one son; he was accidentally shot by a
playmate at the age of nine years. Charles R.
Turner was born in 1822 and died in 1874.

i6

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

James C. resides on the old homestead in Can-
field. Betsey M. is the wife of Judson W. Can-
field.

Benjamin Manchester, whose ancestors came
from England to America in 1638, was born in
Newport county, Rhode Island, in 1786.
Thomas Manchester, the progenitor of the Man-
chester family in this country, was one of the
company that purchased the Island of Aquiday,
afterwards called Rhode Island, from the Indian
sachem, Miantonomah, in 1639. Benjamin
Manchester moved with his parents to Washing-
ton county, Pennsylvania, in 1797. In 1805 he
married Phebe Hannah Doddridge, born in
1788. In April, 1809, they. settled on a farm in
the southern part of Canfield township. They
reared four children, three of whom are now
living: James, born in 1806, resides in Illinois;
Philip, born in 1808, resides in Indiana; Isaac,
born in 18 10, now living in Canfield; and Mary
Ann, born in 1812. She married George Ranck,
of Wayne county, Indiana, and died in 1852.
The wife of Benjamin Manchester died in 1813.
In 1821 he married Margaret McGowen, who
also bore four children — Phebe Jane, Eliza,
Robert, and Martha. Eliza and Martha are
dead. Phebe Jane, the widow of Elijah Jones,
lives in Missouri. Robert resides in Canfield.
Benjamin Manchester was a soldier m the War
of 1812. He held various township trusts, and
was one of the township trustees twenty-seven
consecutive years. He was a man of the
strictest morality and integrity. He died in
i8S7-

TA.XES IN 1803.

Thirty-six dollars and ninety-three cents was
the amount of taxes raised in the township of
Canfield in the year 1803. Many who paid less
than a dollar doubtless lived to see their taxes
increased, "some thirty, and some sixty, and some
an hundred fold." The list is as follows:

CANFIELD, RANGE THREE, TOWN ONE.

.-Amount of Tax.

Atwood. Icliabod $ .50

Bradley. James 1.04

Bedford, James 64

Bissel, Warren 20

Collar, Aaron i-S^

Crane, Calvin 52

Chidester, William 54

Chittenden, Timothy 53

Chittenden, Charles 58

Doud, James 56

Doud, Polly 25

Everett, John 53

Faulkner, Henry 25

Gridley, Nathaniel 82

Gilson, Samuel i.io

Gifford, James 10

Gifford, Peregrine P 10

Gifford, Richard 38

Hollister, Joshua 14

Hulbert, Raphael 1.06

Harrington, Jacob 24

Hine, Homer 03

Johnson, Archibald 80

Loveland. Zeba 12

Merwin, Zebulon 52

Miner, Champion .20

Moore, Nathan .48

Neil, John .21

Page, Wilder 56

Pardy, David , .03

Pangburn, Joseph 22

Reed, Phineas 58

Reed, James 47

Steele, Matthew 2. 30

Scovill, Jonah 24

Simcox, John 10

Sprague, Ira. . . 24

Tobias, Calvin 28

Tupper, Reuben 52

Tanner, Tryal i. 60

Wadsworth, Elijah 1526

Waldo, Bradford 14

Yale, Benjamin 02

Total $3693

FIRST EVENTS.

The first burial in the township took place
July 21, 1798. A little child, the daughter of
Champion Minor, was buried in lot forty-four,
second division, about three-fourths of a mile
east of the center. Two rude stones mark the
head and foot of the grave. The first person
buried in the cemetery east of the center was
Olive, the wife of Charles Chittenden. She
died September 30, 1801.

The first male child born in the township was
Royal Canfield Chidister, born June 22, 1802,
about three rods east of the center of the town-
ship.

The first log-house built in the township was
on the southeast corner of lot fifty-one in the
second division. The first clearing was made
on lot fifty-two, second division.

The first frame house in the township was
built in 1802-3 by Elijah Wadsworth. It was
two-story, 30 X 40 feet.

The first marriage ceremony ever solemnized
in this township was that of Joseph Pangburn

ifUiAA^ Vo^^ C^

'■o^-^fz. ^^e<z4 c/.j/e^ .

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

17

and Lydia Fitch. They were married April 11,
i8or, by Caleb Baldwin, Esq., of Youngstown.

February 11, 1800, Alfred Woolcott, surveyor,
led to the hymenial altar Mercy Gilson, daugh-
ter of Eleazer Gilson, of this township. For
want of some person qualified by law to solem-
nize the ceremony, they were obliged to go to
Pennsylvania to be married.

POST-OFFICE.

In 1801 the first mail route to the Reserve
was established through the influence of Elijah
Wadsworth, who was then appointed postmaster
at Canfield. He was again postmaster in 181 3.

THE FIRST MILLS.

The first saw-mill in the township was erected
on lot number three in the fourth division, in the
northwestern corner of the township. Work
was begun in the spring of 1801, by Jonah Sco-
ville. In the summer of the same year he sold
it to Ichabod Atwood, who completed the mill
during the succeeding fall and winter, and com-
menced sawing in the spring of 1802.

The second saw-mill was erected in 1802, on
the southeast corner of the "Brier Lot." It was
owned, one-half by Elijah Wadsworth, one-
fourth by Tryal Tanner, one-eighth by William
Sprague, and one-eighth by Matthew Steele.
Jared Hill came from Connecticut to build it.
Sawing was commenced in 1803. The land on
which the mill stood belonged to Judson Can-
field, from whom it was rented in 1802, by Mr.
Wadsworth, for seven years. The consideration
for the use of the land was thus e.xpressed in the
lease: "One pepper-corn yearly, to be paid if
demanded."

In 1810 a carding machine was erected by a
company. The machinery was propelled by
horse-power. Wool was sent to this mill from
Cleveland, Painesville, and other distant points.

A saw-mill and grist-mill was in operation in
1828, on the stream known as the "South run."
It was run by a man named Oister.

PHYSICIANS.

The first of these useful members of society
who ministered unto the sick and afflicted in
Canfield was Dr. David Pardee. He came to
the settlement in 1803, but remained only a
short time. Little is known concerning him
except that he was considered very much of nn
oddity.
3*

In 1807 Dr. Shadrach Bostwick moved from
Deerfield to Canfield. He was born in Mary-
land, in 1769; moved to Massachusetts, and
thence to Deerfield, Portage county, in company
with his father-in-law, Daniel Diver, in 1803.
He held two important positions, physician and
Methodist minister. In both he was earnest and
faithful. Though by no means deeply skilled in
the healing art, he always strove to the best of
his ability to efilect cures, and the patient always
knew that the doctor's sympathies were with him.
For many years Dr. Bostwick continued to give
both medical and spiritual advice to th'e people
of Canfield and adjoining settlements. When
he arrived in the township there was but one
Methodist family among its inhabitants, but he
lived to see a large and prosperous society as
the result of his labors. He died in Canfield
in 1837.

Dr. Ticknor was, a physician in Canfield as
early as 1814. He married Getia Bostwick, and
practiced here with good success several years.
He held some kind of a naval commission and
was subject to orders to leave at any time.

Dr. Ira Brainard came to Canfield about 181 7
and died here in 1825. He studied medicine
with Dr. Allen in Kinsman, and had a large prac-
tice in this region.

Dr. Chauncy R. Fowler, whose long and ex-
tensive practice in this county has secured a
wide reputation, was born in Poland, this county,
September 25, 1802, being a son of Jonathan
and Lydia (Kirtland) Fowler, the first settlers in
the township of Poland. He studied medicine
with Dr. Manning, of Youngstown, and in Octo-
ber, 1823, commenced practice in Poland, where
he continued until 1826, when he removed to
Canfield, where he has since resided. Dr.
Fowler was married in 1826 to Mary D. Hoi
land, daughter of Benjamin Holland, of Youngs-
town. She died in 1865, having borne four sons
and one daughter, viz: Dr. Charles N. Fowler,
of Youngstown; Henry M. Fowler, editor of the
Dispatch, Canfield; Russell C. Fowler, who died
in 1858; Dr. Jonathan E. Fowler, who died in
1870, and Hannah Jane, wife of Dr. A. W. Cal-
vin, of Canfield. Dr. Fowler has been actively
engaged in the practice of medicine in this
county longer than any other physician, his prac-
tice in Canfield and adjoining townships cover-
ing a period of more than fifty-five years. That

■RUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

ht; has been successful the high esteem with
which he is regarded by the large community
which has employed him affords most convincing
evidence.

Dr. J. M. Caldwell has been engaged in the
practice of medicine m Canfield for about forty
years past. He was also in the drug and grocery
business for some time. Dr. Caldwell was born
in Ireland, attended medical lectures in Phila
delphia and graduated there over fifty years ago.

Dr. Lewis D. Coy, eclectic physician and sur-
geon, is a native of this county, and though a
young man is fast gaining a lucrative practice.
He settled in Canfield in 1879.

Dr. A. VV. Calvin, for several years an esteemed
physician of Canfield, died in 1881. A sketch
of his life will be found elsewhere.

Dr. E. K. Prettyman, eclectic physician, is a
native of Delaware. He practiced in Pennsyl-
vania some years and settled in Canfield in 1880.

FORMER MERCHANTS.

The first store was established in 1804 by
Zalmon Fitch, in partnership with Herman Can-
field. This is said, on good authority, to have
been the second permanent mercantile establish-
ment upon the Reserve. Mr. Fitch continued
the business in Canfield until 1813, when he
moved to Warren. While in Canfield he also
kept tavern.

Comfort S. Mygatt, one of Canfield's earliest
merchants, was born August 23, 1763. About
the ist of June, 1807, from his home in Dan-
bury, Connecticut, he dispatched a team con-
sisting of two pair of oxen and two horses, with
a large wagon loaded with household goods, for
Ohio. One week later he started with his family
with four horses and a fifth horse to hitch on
when necessary, which was often the case. He
overtook the first team in Shippensburg, Penn-
sylvania, and from there the two journeyed in
company. On the 4th of July all were in Pitts-
burg together, and on the 7th they arrived in
Canfield, the first team having been five weeks
on the road and the one which brought Mr. My-
gatt and family four. The family, at the time
of their arrival, consisted of Mr. Mygatt and
wife, four daughters, two sons, and two step-sons
— ten persons in all. July 16, 1807, a son was
born — Dr. Eli Mygatt, now an honored citizen
of Poland. Soon after reaching Canfield Mr.
Mygatt entered into jjartncrship with Herman

Canfield and Zalmon Fitch, under the firm name
of Mygatt, Canfield & Fitch, and opened a store
of dry goods, groceries, and general merchan.
dise. The partnership was dissolved after about
two years, and the business was continued by
Mr. Mygatt during the remainder of his life.
He died in October, 1823. In 181 1 Mr. My-
gatt and his wife rode on horseback from Can-
field to Danbury, but returned in a two-wheeled
carriage, driving one horse before the other.
The journey,, a distance of five hundred and
thirty miles, occupied eleven days.

In 1828 the merchants of Canfield were three,
Alson Kent, Eli T. Boughton, and William
Hogg.

Boughton came here a young man. He was
a tailor by trade. As a merchant he continued
to do a fair business for many years. He died
in Canfield. His first wife was a daughter of
Comfort S. Mygatt, and his second the widow of
Ensign Church.

■ Alson Kent came to this place from Ravenna,
and was in business several years. 1

William Hogg came from Petersburg and was |
a fairly successful merchant. A store built by |
him is now a dwelling, owned by Charles I
French.

C. S. Mygatt, son of Comfort S., was born in
Canfield in 1815. In 1833 he began business
with the firm of Lockwood, Mygatt & Co., dealers
in general merchandise. From that date until
i860 he was in business here as a merchant, I
part of the time in partnership. Mr. Mygatt is j
still a resident of his native town. |

Among others who have been merchants in I
Canfield, and are still residents of the place, are |
William Schmick, John Sanzenbacher, and ]
Pierpont Edwards. For particulars see their
biographies.

canfield's merchants.

Below we briefly mention the firms now doing
business in Canfield, beginning at the store situ-
ated on the corner northwest of the center of I
the township and proceeding south to the court-
house, crossing the street and asking the reader
to accompany us down on the other side:

VV. H. Kyle, dealer in hardware, etc., began
business in 1878 in the corner store formerly oc-
cupied by C. S. Mygatt as a grocery. Betts &
Sons manufacture and deal in pumps in a part
I of the same building.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

19

Truesdale & Kirk, who have an extensive
stock of dry goods and general merchandise, be-
gan business in Schmick's block in 1876. The
senior member of this firm, Dr. J. Truesdale,
began keeping a general store in 1859 in Odd
Fellow's block, having James McClelland as
partner, the style of the firm being McClelland
& Truesdale. Three years later McClelland
went out, and Dr. Truesdale continued business
alone till 1867, and then formed a partnership
with Charles E. Boughton, the name of the
firm being Truesdale & Boughton. The part-
nership continued three years, and in 1870 Mr.
J. C. Kirk became the Doctor's partner. Mr..
Kirk is a native of Berlin township, this county,
and began his business life as a clerk in 1866, at
the age of seventeen.

Hollis & Brother, dealers in stoves and hard-
ware, have been in business since i860. G. H.
Hollis began in 1857, and was joined by his
brother, R. S. Hollis, in 1860. They were
burned out in 1867, after which occurrence they
built the store they now occupy. Lynn Brothers,
dealers in drugs, groceries, and notions, com-
menced in 1873. The firm consists of Messrs.
G. F. & E. D. Lynn, both young men and
natives of the township. They are doing a good
business. The store which they occupy had
been previously used by Gee & Blythe, who
were in the same business.

Samuel Ewing opened his meat market in
1878 in the shop owned by the widow Lynn.

G. Fishel, dealer in confectionery, tobacco,
cigars, ice cream, etc., commenced in 1877.

George Bartman, repairer and dealer in clocks,
has been at work in this place over twenty years.

G. Rupright, grocer, bought out John Miller
in 1864. He moved to Canfield village from a
farm in the southeastern part of the township.

A. G. Arnold began the furniture business
about fifteen years ago. He is now agent for
Eli Creps, and does business in the store built
and now owned by Robert Hole, of Salem.

G. VV. Shellhorn, manufacturer and dealer m
boots and shoes, came to Canfield in 1853 from
Summit county, and purchased of Henry Hoff-
man the store formerly occupied by G. G. Weare.

J. O. Corll, druggist, began in November,
1879, having bought the store of Dr. W. M.
Corli. He keeps a large stock of first-class
goods, both drugs and groceries, and aims to

meet all the wants of his rapidly increasing list
of customers.

H. B. Brainerd, tailor, came to Canfield in
October, 1828, and began working at his trade,
which he still continues to follow. Mr. Brainerd
was born at Saratoga Springs, New York, in
1808. He came to Ohio in 181 1 with his father,
George Bramerd, who settled in Boardman.
There are four survivors of this family, viz:
Henry, Liberty, Trumbull county; Mrs. Eliza
Davidson, Boardman; John H., Cuyahoga Falls,
Summit county ; and Horace B., Canfield.
George Bramerd, the father, died in 1870 at the
age of ninety-two. Mrs. Brainerd died in 1824
aged forty-four. H. B. Brainerd served his ap-
prenticeship in Cleveland when that place was
but a small village. He acted as insurance
agent in Canfield about thirty-five years.

S. K. Crooks began the harness business in
1861. This he still continues in connection with
dealing m grain and feed. He occupies the store
formerly (ohn Metzal's meat shop. The build-
ing was erected for an ofifice and occupied for
some time by John Wetmore, revenue collector.

John Dodson, dealer in groceries, books,
stationery, etc., commenced business in Canfield
in 1859. He has moved several times, but has
been in his present store since 1868. The build-
ing was formerly a cigar factory. In 1881 Mr.
Dodson began building a large and commodious
store, two stories, 59x19 feet, which he intends
to occupy as a store as soon as it is completed,
at the same time carrying on business in his
present quarters.

Ira H. Bunnell, manufacturer and dealer in
saddles, harness, and trunks, commenced in
1870 in the building he now occupies. Mr.
Bunnell was born in Canfield township in 1822.
His lather, Charles A. Bunnell, came here quite
early and was a carpenter by trade. Mr. Bun-
nell has served as justice of the peace several
years.

At present there is but one store in operation
on the east side of Broad street until Main street
is reached, and that one is the grocery and
saloon of J. P. Saddler, who began business in
1880.

Pierpont Edwards had a well-filled store north
of the Congregational church, but closed out his
business in i88i.

M. V. B. King, druggist. Church block, cor-

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

ner of Main and Broad streets, has been in his
present business since May, 1878. He succeed-
ed L W. Kirk, grocer and postmaster. Mr.
King was appointed postmaster in 1879.

Edwards & Dybali, dealers in dry goods and
general merchandise, commenced m May, 1881,
succeeding P. Edwards. They occupy a store
in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows'
block.

TAVERNS.

Who kept the first tavern in Canfield we have
not learned. In early days every house was a
"house of entertainment," and new arrivals were
made welcome and treated to the best the house
afforded.

Cook Fitch came to Canfield in 1802. For
some years he kept tavern north of Main street,
on the east side of the road — the fourth house
north of the corner where the brick block stands.
He was a quiet, straight-forward man, and kept
a good house, which was a stopping place for
the Cleveland and Pittsburg stages.

The brick hotel, now known as the American
house, was built by Joel Keck. M. L. Edwards
kept hotel a number of years m a frame hotel,
afterwards burned, which occupied the site of
the American house. The American, under the
management of Ira M. Twiss, is proving very
popular.

L. L. Bostwick enlarged his father's dwelling,
converted it into a public house, and acted as
landlord a number of years. The house is still
known as the Bostwick house.

Besides the American and the Bostwick, Can-
field has two other hotels : Canfield house, H.
Hoffman, and the Union house, Christian Pat-
terman.

BANKINC.

Canfield has no National bank, or savings
institution. Van Hyning & Co. commenced
banking in 187 1. The stock company originally
consisted of fourteen members, which number is
now reduced to seven. In 1873 they erected the
bank building which they now occupy. The
names of the stockholders are as follow: Henry
Van Hynmg, president ; Peter Gee, cashier;
Eben Newton, Hosea Hoover, Warren Hine,
Giles Van Hyning, and S. W. Brainerd.

TANNERY AND BELT MANUFACTORY.

The leading manufacturing interest m Canfield
is represented by the firm of J. Sanzenbacher

& Co. The history of this industry, briefly
sketched, is as follows: In 1865 John Sanzen-
bacher bought of F. A. Brainard his tannery,
and commenced work in it. The tannery at the
time of its purchase had a capacity for dressing
about five hundred hides per year. Mr. Sanzen-
bacher enlarged the building, and doubled the
amount of work done. About 1865 he ceased
tanning, and commenced the manufacture of
leather belting. In 1867 he disposed of the
building and machinery to Royal Collar. In
1869 Mr. Sanzenbacher again engaged in the
making of belts in the house which he had
formerly occupied as a dwelling. In October,
1869, he formed a partnership with Pierpont Ed-
wards, who is still a member of the firm.
Frank Schauweker was one of the firm from
1872 to 1876. In 1872 was erected the tannery
and belt factory now in operation. The capac-
ity of the works was about five thousand hides
per annum, but in r879 ^^ addition was made to
the main building, 81 x 42 feet, and the amount
of work considerably increased. Until 1S76 all
of the stock was worked up into belts. Since
that time the manufacturers have been making a
speciality of harness leather. This firm sends
and receives more freight than all the rest of the
town combined. They pay to the railroad com-
pany about $2,000 a year on freight received.
Employment is given to twenty men on an aver-
age, and the pay roll amounts to $200 per week.
The proprietors have thus far found a ready
market for all of their products, and their es-
tablishment has gained a reputation for first-class
work.

CLEWELL'S saw-mill AND LUMBER YARD.

In 1854 J. H. Clewell and Eben Newton pur-
chased of John Wetmore his saw-mill and lumber
yard and began business. Mr. Clewell soon
bought out Judge Newton's share, and then went
into partnership with Warren Hine for several
years. Mr. Hine sold his interest to Frederick
Whittlesey, who continued the business with Mr.
Clewell a short time. Since 1867 the business
has been carried on by Mr. Clewell alone. He
has recently built an addition to the mill and is
doing a larger business than ever, manufacturing
and dealing in all kinds of house furnishing
lumber.

STAR FLOURING MILL.

This mill was built in 1879 by J. and C. W.

0<:^^i^c-3^<^-" ^/ Cyt^^^eU

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

Harroff. From them it was purchased in 1880,
by Stafford & Calvin, who are doing a good
business. About twenty barrels of flour are
produced daily.

CARRIAGE MAKING.

Matthias Swank was e,xtensively engaged in
the manufacture of wagons and carriages for a
number of years. Beginning in 1835 he con-
tinued the business until his death in 1881. At
one time he employed from fifteen to twenty
men and turned out a large amount of work
yearly. His son, E. C. Swank, now carries on
the business at the old stand on East Main
street.

THE COUNTY SEAT AND ITS REMOVAL.

The county of Mahoning was created by act
of the Legislature m the winter session of 1845-
46, and Canfield, its geographical center, fixed
upon as the county seat. This good fortune was
a source of much satisfaction and pride to the
citizens of Canfield. It gave increased value to
real estate, and made the town of more import-
ance every way. The court-house was erected
in 1847-48. The first court was held in it in
1848. The jail was built in 1850.

For a time all was harmonious; Canfield was
happy; the county was satisfied, and men came
to Canfield, very naturally and properly, to trans-
act their legal business, to patronize the merchants
and hotel-keepers, to arrange for caucuses and
conventions, and carry out political programmes.
Meanwhile Youngstown was getting on in the
world at a rapid rate. In i860 the town had
about three thousand inhabitants; in 1870, eight
thousand. With prosperity Youngstown became
avaricious. Canfield had no iron furnaces and
her growing rival was soon far, far ahead in point
of wealth and commercial importance. Youngs-
town became gleeful, Canfield grew despondent.
What were the reasons? Let us glance back a
little and investigate. Possibly one might have
seen in Youngstown and vicinity little groups of
magnates occasionally conferring together in
whispers. Had Canfield heard those whispers?
Did she suddenly become aware of the familiar
fact that big fishes eat up little ones and fear
for her own safety? Perhaps. But Youngstown
did not long talk in whispers. Her word became
murmured, then boldly spoken, then shouted,
"We're going to have the county seat!" She at

length proclaimed it in stentorian tones. Can-
field was a little taken aback, to be sure, but
then, she was possessed of Spartan pluck, and
assuming as fierce an attitude as was possible
she defiantly uttered the words, "Let's see you
get it!"

Youngstown got it; Canfield survived the
shock as well as could reasonably be expected.
We need not here repeat the arguments that
were made pro and con, or otherwise stir up
troubles now irrevocably settled. In 1874-75
the Legislature took action upon the matter; in
1876 Youngstown became the county seat of
Mahoning.

INCORPORATION.

Canfield village was incorporated by act of the
Legislature in 1849, Warren Hine, John Clark,
H. B. Brainerd and John Wetmore incorpora-
tors. The first election was held in April, 1849.
L. L. Bostwick was chosen mayor; H. B. Brain-
erd, recorder; and Charles Frethy, John Clark,
William B. Ferrell, M. Swank, and Thomas
Hansom, trustees. A list of the mayors and
recorders follows:

Mayors — 1850-51, John Wetmore; 1852, Na-
than Hardman; 1853-57, J. B. Blocksom;

1858, William B. Dawson; 1859-67, F. G.
Servis; 1868-71, H. G. Ruggles; 1872-77, M.
H. Burky; 1878, M. V. B. King; 1879, J. S.
Roller; 1880-82, S. E. Dyball.

Recorders — 1850-51, Thaddeus Foot, Jr.;
1852-53, H. B. Brainerd; 1854, B. S. Hine;
1855-57, E. G. Canfield; 1858, William Neir;

1859, H. H. Edsall; i860, G. G. Weare; 1861-
65, John M. Edwards; 1866-69, T. L. Carroll;
1870-71, C. S. Mygatt; 1872, H. B. Brainerd,
C. S. Mygatt; 1873-74, J. C. Kirk; 1875-76,
I. H. Bunnell; 1877, W. H. Mygatt; 1878-82,
C. S. Mygatt.

CEMETERIES.

Soon after the settlement began, a graveyard
was laid out east of the center, which is now the
principal cemetery of the township. The spot is
a pretty one, and its appearance has been much
improved of recent years by the labor of loving
hands. Here repose the bones of the founders
of Canfield; peaceful be their rest after their
generous toil! In this quiet spot has been laid
all that was mortal of several men whose talents
and energies achieved for them during their
lifetime, honor, respect, and applause. The

TRUMBULT, AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

resting place of men whose reputation is wide-
spread and National, the Canfield cemetery
shpuld ever be fondly cared for and protected
by the living.

Many costly monuments have been erected
during the past few years, and they present a
marked contrast to the rude stones and half
effaced inscriptions which mark the graves of
the earlier settlers. This is fitting and proper;
and is but another indication that the wealth
and prosperity, for which they formerly labored,
have been realized. It is less difficult for sons
and daughters of to-day to procure a costly mon-
ument for the graves of their departed parents,
than those of si.xty years ago to purchase the
lowly and humble headstones, which aie here
so numerous. After all, what does it matter to the
dead, whether a lofty column of polished granite
stands above them, or only a plain slab of unlet-
tered sandstone.

■■ The leaves of the oak and the willow shall fade,
Be scattered around and together be laid ;
And the old and the young, and the low and the high,
Shall moulder to dust and together shall lie."

The next largest and next oldest graveyard is
situated about one mile north of the village,
and has been the burying place of the German
population since their first advent to the town-
ship. Here, too, are many tasteful stones and
monuments; and the shadow of the church
where they were faithful worshipers for many a
year, many — the aged, the sick, and the infirm —
have at length found peaceful repose, while not
a lew in the morn of lite and the bloom^ of
youthful promise have been laid away. But "All
that breathe will share their destiny."

There is another graveyard in the township,
near the spot where the old Disci[)le church
stood, northwest of the center.

CHURCH HISTORY.
THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

This is the oldest religious organization in
Canfield. The church was organized April 27,
1804, on "the accommodation plan," by Revs.
Joseph Badger and Thomas Robbins, from the
Connecticut Missionary society. John and
.Sarah Everett, Nathaniel and Hepsibah Chap-
man, Jonathan Sprague, Lydia Doud, Mary Gil-
son, Mary Brainard, and Lavina Collar were ad-
mitted to membership.

The first ba|)tisms recorded took place Octo-

ber 14, 1S04, when three persons were baptized,
Jarvis Weeks and Ammial, children of Aaron
and Lavina Collar, and Maria, daughter of Jona-
than and Sarah Sprague.

Services were held in private houses and
school-houses until a church building was
erected. The records are not continuous, but
from them it is learned that Revs. Horace Smith
and Mr. Curtis in 1818 and in 1822 were sup-
plying the congregations of Ellsworth, Board-
man, and Canfield. From 18 18 to 1828 the
names of Revs. Dwight, Coe, Vallandingham,
Hughes, and Sullivan, are mentioned as minis-
tering here.

In 1820, as the result of a subscription to
which citizens of all Henominations contributed,
a house of worship was erected in the village on
the east side of the Public square — a good sub-
stantial frame building which is to-day the finest
church in the town. The building committee
were Comfort S. Mygatt, Cook Fitch, William
Stoddard, James Doud, Edmund P. Tanner,
David Hine, and Erastus Chidester. The terms
of subscription are somewhat peculiar, some
agreeing to pay the amounts opposite their
names in labor, others in building materials,
others in produce, etc. Aaron Collar subscribed
$75, to be paid "one-third in produce, one-third
in boards, and the remainder in whiskey." The
largest subscri|5tions w-ere as follow: Comfort
S. Mygntt, $500; heirs of E. Wadsworth, $225;
Elisha Whittlesey, $200; James Doud, $150; Eli
T. Boughton, $125; Cuok Fitch, $100; Aaron
Collar, Rhoda Wadsworth, David Hine, $75
each; and Jerusha Boughton, Edmund P. Tan-
ner, Myron Sackett, William Dean, Adam
Turner, Philo Beardsley, Herman Canfield,
Mabel Scofield, Thomas Jones, $50 each.

Rev. William O. Stratton was the officiating
clergyman from 1830 to 1835. In the latter
year occurred a division which resulted in the
organization of the Presbyterian church in Can-
field. The Presbyterian portion withdrew and
organized a church of their own, while the Con-
gregationalists became the owners of the church
property. The names of the pastors who have
served here are as follow : William Beardsley,
1836; David Metcalf, 1837; Edward Evans,
1839-44; Davis R. Barker, 1845 47; L. B. Lane,
184849; Willard Burr, 1849; John A. Allen, ,
1857-59; S. W. Picrson, 1860-62; J. W. C. Pike,

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

1863 64; Tertius S. Clark, 1866-69; Mortimer
Smith, 1870-71; Samut-'l Manning, 1871-74; W.
S. Peterson, 1875-76; R. A. Davis, 1880; R. G.
McClelland, 1881.

There have been -several intervals during
which the church had no pastor. During the
most of its history the pastors of tliis church
have preached here a portion of the time only.
Latterly, however, the pastors have served here
all of their time.

The membership is about thirty at present.
There is an interesting Sabbath-school of fifty or
more.

THE PRESBYTERI.'\N CHURCH.*

This church was originally established on the
plan of union adopted by the general assembly
of 1801. It was organized April 27, 1804. The
church consisted of nine members, and thev
adopted the confession of faith and covenant
that were commonly received in the Congrega-
tional churches in the vicinity as their standards
of doctrine and discipline. It had been their
practice to hold meetings on the Sabbath from
the early settlement of the town, and clergymen
of all orthodox denominations were invited to
preach when present. Most of the inhabitants
having received a religious education usually at-
tended, and when they did not enjoy preaching
they habitually attended their lay meetings,
which were regarded as interesting and useful.
Meetings were first held in a large log school-
house that stood on the corner of a burying-
ground. Afterwards in the summer seasons they
met in partially finished houses and m barns,
until a house was finally erected for the use of
both meetings and schools northeast of the cen-
ter. During these early periods of their exist-
ence a great degree of brotherly love existed in
the church. In the autumn of 183T the church
was visited with an interesting and precious re-
vival of religion which resulted in adding some
twenty-five members. This precious revival con-
tinued from August until December. This
church enjoyed the labors at different periods of
the following ministers: Rev. Messrs. Badger,
Robbins, Chapman, Wick, A. Scott, I. Scott,
Leslie, Derrow, Hanford, Curtis, Field, Dwight,
Cooke, Coe, Smith, Duncan, Wright, Hughes,
Beal, Vallandigham, Stone, Sullivan, Lathrop,

*By Rex. William Dickson.

Bouton, Treat, Woods, Satterfield, Sample, Strat-
ton, and McCombs. Mr. Stratton was the first
minister that was installed pastor of this church.
They frequently attempted to obtain a settled
minister, but failed, although they were re-
markably united in their counsels and prompt in
the payment of their pecuniary obligations. Mr.
Stratton first preached as a licentiate in connec-
tion with the presbytery of New York. Septem-
ber, 1827, he returned to New York, and was
there ordained and finally installed pastor of the
church in October, 1828.

The congregation remained under the govern-
ment of the plan of union in 1801 until 1835.
The presbytery of Beaver, with which it was
connected by a special resolution, requested
those churches under their care, that were or-
ganized under that plan, to change their organi-
zation to that of regularly constituted Presby-
terian churches. The presbytery repeated their
recommendations or injunction, and the pastor
(Mr. Stratton) and the Presbyterian portion of
the church and congregation felt themselves
constrained in conscience, and in obedience to
the authority of their presbytery, to carry out the
recommendation, although they were soon led to
believe it would result in their separation from
the Congregational part of the society, with
whom they had been long happily connected.
From them they accordingly separated, and on
the 22d day of January, 1835, 'he pastor and
fifty members organized themselves into a regu-
lar Presbyterian church, adopting the confession
of faith and catechism of the Presbyterian church
in the United States as their exclusive standards
of doctrine and discipline. The congregation
met for divine worship in the house of Mr. C.
Frithy during one season, their numbers con-
stantly increasing. With great energy and per-
sonal effort they united together and erected the
house of worship they have since occupied. On
the first Monday of January, 1838, Rev. Wil-
liam O. Stratton, the pastor, submitted to the
congregation a request that they would consent
to a dissolution of his pastoral connection with
the congregation. The congregation, how-
ever, not considering the reasons assigned suffi-
cient, and unwilling to part with him, did not
give their assent. Mr. Stratton resolved to
travel as an agent for the Western Theological
seminary for some months, and during his ab-

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

sence engaged the Rev. William McCombs to
supply his pulpit. On his return the following
June, Mr. Stratton applied to the presbytery for
the dissolution of his pastoral connection, which,
with the consent of the congregation, was ac-
cordingly done.

In August of the same year a unanimous call
was made out for Mr. McCombs, which he ac-
cepted, and in April, 1839, he was installed pas-
tor of the congregation. After a successful pas-
torate of several years Mr. McCombs resigned,
and then the church secured as his successor in
the pastoral office Rev. James Price, an eloquent
and able minister. Mr. Price was succeeded by
Mr. J. G. Reaser, now of St. Louis, Missouri.
Dr. William G. March succeeded Mr. Reaser,
and, after a successful pastorate of about twelve
years, resigned to take charge of the Presbyte-
rian church of Marysville, Ohio. Rev. J. P. Ir-
win succeeded Mr. March, and remained pastor
of the church for about eleven years. The
present pastor is Rev. Dr. William Dickson, who
was brought up in the congregation which he
now serves as pastor.

THE GERMAN REFORMED LUTHERAN CHURCH.

This church was organized a few years prior
to 1810. The first meetings were held at the
houses of Peter Lynn, George Lynn, and other
members. Among the first members were John
Neff, Conrad Neff, Peter and George Lynn, John
Lynn, Jacob Ritter, Philip Borts, John Harding,
Henry Ohl, Jacob Frank, Simeon Gilbert, Ben-
jamin Butt, Philip Stitel, Charles Gilbert, Philip
Arner, Martin Dustman, Henry Neff, David Ohl,
Henry Brunstetter, Henry Crum, and others, for
the most part with their wives and families.
The first pastor of the Lutheran congregation
was Rev. Henry Stough. His successors have
been Revs. Henry Hewett, Becker, Fixeisen,
Long, Smith, Allbright, and Miller. Of the
German Reformed the pastors have been Revs.
Peter Mahensmith, Charles Zwisler, Henry Son-
nederker, J. H. Ruhl, G. M. Allbright, and J. B.
Zumpe.

The first church building erected in Canfield
was the German Reformed and Lutheran, built
in October, 1810, of hewn logs, 40x50 feet in
dimensions. It was situated one mile north of
the village. The house remained in an unfin-
ished condition three or four years. It was then
completed and continued to be occupied by the

two congregations until April, 1845, when it was
destroyed by fire. A new and more substantial
house was built during the summer and autumn
on the side of the road opposite the site of the
old one. In 1857 the congregation placed a
pipe organ in this church at a cost of $800,
which is believed to be the first organ of its size
ever placed in a country church in this county.

Father Mahnensmith and Father Hewitt min-
istered in the church for many years. Father
Becker also served a long term. In the early
years of the settlement the Canfield church was
the religious home of the church-going Germans
for miles around.

For fifty years or more the services were con-
ducted exclusively in the German language.
The needs of the rising generation have caused
change, and of late years the services are half
the time in English.

The membership originally was probably about
fifty. Hundreds have been members, many of
whom are now dead, and many more in other
parts of the country. The present number of
members is one hundred and ninety.

Mrs. Barbara Kline, a member of the society,
bequeathed an endowment fund of $500 to this
church, the interest of which can be used annu-
ally in making repairs about the cemetery or
church building. Another member, Philip Lynn,
bequeathed $680 to be used in repairs or in
building a new church.

Thus the congregations can make all ordinary
and necessary repairs for years without resorting
to a tax upon the members.

ST. STEPHEN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

Previous to 1834 Canfield, Poland, and
Boardman Episcopalians formed but one church.
In that year a subscription paper was headed by
Curtis Beardsley with $100 and circulated by
him for the purpose of obtaining funds with
which to build a church at Canfield village.
Alson Kent, Stanley C. Lockwood, and Curtis
Beardsley were chosen as building committee.
Work was commenced m 1835, and the house
completed in 1836, at a cost of $1,450. The
land on which it stood was donated by Hon.
Judson Canfield. September 27, 1836, the
church was consecrated by Bishop Charles P.
Mcllvaine, of the diocese of Ohio, by the name
of St. Stephen's church, Canfield, Ohio. The
leading members of this church at the time of its

^.(%(^«.^

i

-J^/^e4.f^(^'ylJ2/{^

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

organization were: Curtis Beardsley and family,
Stanley C. Lockwood and family, Joseph Bassett
and family, Azor Ruggles and family, Mrs. Mary
Tanner, Mrs. Kezele Wadswortli, Miss Olive
Landon, Abiram Squier and wife, Lyman War-
ner and wife, Miriam Squier and her mother,
Mrs. Galetzah Hunt, Joseph R. Bostwick, Mrs.
Mary Mitchell, and others.

The ministers were the same who officiated at
Boardman. The church continued in a pros-
perous condition for several years. A large
number of members were lost by death and re-
movals, and the church building being considered
unsafe, on account of defects in its architecture,
in 1866 it was sold at auction and torn down.
Since that time the church has had no regular
preaching, though several ministers have of-
ficiated here occasionally.

A Sunday-school was organized in 1829 by
Curtis Beardsley, superintendent, who continued
to act in that capacity thirty years.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

From a historical sketch of this church in
Canfield, prepared by Dr. Jackson Truesdale in
1869, the following extracts are made:

No early records of the society are known to
e.xist. Canfield, as well as the whole Northwest
Territory, was embraced in the boundaries of the
Baltimore conference up to the formation of the
Ohio conference in 181 2, when it formed a part
of that and so continued until 1825, when it fell
within the limits of the Pittsburg conference. It
is now one of the appointments of the Erie con-
ference. It is not known who first preached a
Methodist sermon in Canfield, but the honor
doubtless belongs either to Rev. Henry Shewell
or to Dr. Shadrach Bostwick. The former set-
tled in Deerfield in 1802 and the latter in 1803,
and made and filled many appointments through-
out the new settlements. Whether Methodist
preaching was regularly sustained in Canfield
from 1803 to 1820 cannot be learned; but it is
probable that ministers sent to labor on the
Western circuits preached more or less statedly
here. As nearly as can be ascertained, the
names of these early preachers were as follow:
Revs. Shadrach Bostwick, David Best, J. A.
Shackleford, R. R. Roberts (afterwards bishop),
James Watts, C. Reynolds, A. Daniels, T.
Divers, Job Guest, William Butler, J. Charles,
I. M. Hanson, J. Decellum, James Ewen,

Thomas J. Crockwell, J. Somerville, James Mc-
Mahan, John Solomon, Oliver Carver, Lemuel
Lane, John Waterman, Shadrach Ruark, Curtis
Goddard, John P. Kent, D. D. Davidson, Ezra
Booth, Calvin Ruter, and John Stewart.

In 1820 James McMahan and Ezra Booth
were sent by the Ohio conference to the "Ma-
honing circuit." This year the first society was
organized in Canfield, consisting of Rev. 8.
Bostwick, wife and. sister. Comfort Starr and
wife, Ansel Beeman and wife, and Ezra Hunt.
In 182 1 the well-known Rev. Charles Elliott and
Dennis Goddard traveled the circuit. In 1822
it went for the first time by the name of Youngs-
town circuit, and was traveled by William Tip-
ton and Albert Richardson; in 1823 by Samuel
Adams and Sylvester Dunham; in 1824 by John
Somerville and Alfred Brunson; in 1825 by Ed-
ward H. Taylor and W. R. Babcock; in 1826
by Robert C. Hatton and Robert Hopkins.

Up to this time preaching and society meet-
ings were held in a little frame school-house
which stood a little east of the center. In 1826,
with some outside help, the society erected a
commodious house of worship at an expense of
about $1,200. It was located near the site of
the present building on the land of Dr. Bost-
wick. The building was of brick with galleries
on three sides, and was known as the "Bethel
chapel." The principal contributors towards the
erection of the house were Dr. Bostwick, who
gave something over $350; Edward Wadsworth,
$180; Elihu Warner, Philo Chidester, John
Moore, Ezra Hunt, Josiah Wetmore, Erastus
Chidester, Mabel Scoville, Elisha Whittlesey,
Eben Newton, George Wadsworth, J. R. Church,
and several others who contributed sums of $75
and under.

The ministers who served the society from
1826 to 1836 were R. C. Hatton, Samuel
Adams, Billings O. Plympton, Edmund W.
Seehon, Richard Armstrong, A. Brunson, T.
Carr, Cornelius Jones, John Luccock, Philip
Green, Caleb Brown, David Preston, John L.
Holmes, John W. Hill, B. Preston, Thomas
Stubbs, and H. Elliott.

In 1836 the Erie conference was formed, and
Canfield included within its limits.

In 1837 Dr. Shadrach Bostwick died at his
residence in Canfield, having lived here thirty
years. He is mentioned in the History of the

26

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

Methodist Church as a good man and a useful
preacher.

From 1836 until the present time Canfield has
at different periods been a part of Youngstown,
Poland, and Ellsworth circuits, and at times has
given name to the circuit in which it was em-
braced.

In 1860-61, the old Bethel chapel having be-
come somewhat dilapidated from age, the so-
ciety, after some misgivings as to their ability,
concluded to tear down the structure, and partly
with the same material erect a new one. The
first cost, exclusive of labor performed by mem-
bers gratis, was from $1,600 to $1,700. The
building committee were Hosea Hoover, Horace
Hunt, and Jackson Truesdale. The principal
contributors were Hosea Hoover, Jackson
Truesdale, Samuel, William, and Abram Cassi-
day, Chester Hine, Hon. Eben Newton, Horace
Hunt, Abram Kline, Fanny Church, and others.
The new church was dedicated with appro-
priate ceremonies in June, 1861, by Rev. Sam-
uel Gregg, the presiding elder of Ravenna dis-
trict. A good cabinet organ was jjurchased in
the winter of 1865-66. Mrs. Rhoda Hine was
mainly instrumental in procuring the means with
which to purchase it. In the summer of 1869
a dwelling house was purchased for a parsonage
at a cost of $1,500. The society is now in a
prosperous condition. There are about one
huundred members.

THE DISCIPLES.

As the Disciples of Canfield were originally
an off-shoot from the Baptists, it is necessary, in
writing their history, to take a glance at their
predecessors. January 12, 1822, a Baptist
church was formed at the house of David Hays.
Thomas Miller was the officiating clergyman,
and Deacon Samuel Hayden, William Hayden,
and John Lane, of Youngstown, and Elijah Can-
field, of Palmyra, were present as council. The
church was moderately Calvinistic, but progres-
sive in spirit. For some years meetings were
held in a small log building near the spot where
the Disciples afterwards built a church. The
principal members were David Hays and family,
William Dean and family, Myron Sackett, H.
Edsail, James Turner, and Mr. Wood. William
Hayden became a preacher and ministered to
this church. In the winter of 1827-28 Walter
S<;ott came into the community and in a memor-

able sermon, preached at the house of Simeon
Sackett, set forth the plea of the ancient Gospel
and gained many converts to his then new and
novel doctrines. The most of the Baptists be-
came converted, and during this winter were or-
ganized into a Disci|jles church. A comfortable
frame building was soon erected in the north-
western part of the township, and the new
church increased in members and influence. In
1830 a large addition was received by the ad-
mission of several who had hitherto styled them-
selves Bible Christians.

As many of the Disciples resided near the
village this church gave permission to them to
form a separate organization. Therefore, in
1847, about twenty associated together in that
relation, and soon built, at the center, the neat
and comfortable little church which is still their
place of worship. J. W. Lamphear organized
this church. J. M. Caldwell and Andrew Flick
were chosen elders, and Walter Clark and John
Flick deacons. Among those who have labored
here we find the names of Elders Pow, Apple-
gate, Belton, Phillips, Errett, Hillock, White,
Green, Van Horn, Rogers, Morrison, and
Baker.

In 1867, the most of the original members o(
the church in the northwest of the township hav-
ing gone to their reward, after struggling in
feebleness for a while the remaining members
united with the church at the center. This
union took place October 6, 1867.

The church is now prosperous and is receiving
many additions. It has some very earnest mem
bers whose efforts have been of great service in
securing harmony and promoting the welfare of
the organization.

SCHOOLS.

The first school taught in the township was in
the winter of iSoo and 1801, Caleb Palmer,
teacher. The term was three months. The
school-house stood about a mile and a quarter
east of the center.

Miss Getia Bostwick was an early school-
teacher and taught in an unfinished room in the
house of Judson Canfield. Benjamin Carter
was also one of the early teachers.

Miss Olive Landon, for many years a faithful
laborer in the schools of Canfield township,
taught in early years in a small log building
aboiTt two miles south of the center. She was

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

27

a very efficient teacher, well versed in the art of
governing and educating.

In 1806 EHsha Whittlesey taught school in
the house where Caleb Palmer taught the first
school in the township.

For many years schools were few and the ad-
vantages of the rising generation for obtaining
education were consequently small.

The Mahoning academy while in existence
did much to advance the condition of the com-
mon schools by providing them with competent
teachers.

The village schools were often conducted in a
slip shod manner, and not until 1867 was grad-
ing carried out in any systematic manner. Up
to that year the village school had been for a
long period in two divisions, and, of course,
good work could not be done, no matter how
faithful the teachers were, while there was so
large a number of classes that but a few minutes
could be given to each recitation.

A meeting was held July 27, 1867, to consider
whether the district would adopt the union
school law or not. The question was decided
in the affirmative by a unanimous vote. Aboard
of education was elected, as follows: J. W.
Canfield and J. Sonnedecker for three years;
W. G. Marsh and I. A. Justice for two years;
G. R. Crane and P. Edwards for one year. At
the next meeting VV. G. Marsh was chosen pres-
ident of this board, J. W. Canfield treasurer,
and I. A. Justice secretary.

September 9, 1867, S. B. Reiger was chosen
principal of the high school, Miss Sarah E. Ed-
wards assistant, Miss Amanda Wilson to take
charge of the second grade, and Miss Paulina
Test teacher of the primary department. It was
voted that tuition be charged pupils attending
the school when they resided outside of the dis-
trict. The academy building was occupied for
school purposes until a new house could be
erected.

In 1870, plans for a new school building hav-
ing been completed, work was begun upon it.
In the spring of 1871 it was ready for occupancy.
The building is of brick, two stories, large and
well-furnished, and forms an ornament to the
town. The structure, grounds, and furnishings
cost about $30,000, including interest upon
bonds.

The principals of the school have been as fol-

low: S. R. Rtigel, 1867-68; W. R. Smiley and
Ashael Cary, 1869; Milton Fording, 1870-75;
Charles J. Fillius, 1875-78; E. C. Hitchcock,
1878; B. E. Helman, 1879-80. In the fall of
1 88 1 H. S. Foote took charge and is making the
school interesting and profitable. His assistant,
Miss Ellen Scobie, who has labored in this
school several years, has won golden opinions
for her work. Messrs. Fillius and Helman did
much to raise the standard of the school and
improve the course of instruction.

When the new normal school begins its work,
it would seem that Canfield's educational advan-
tages will be great.

MAHONING ACADEMY.

This was a flourishing institution, which per-
ished in the time of the war. An organization
was effected in 1855, the academy building erect-
ed in 1856, and the school incorporated in 1857.
David Hine, A. M., a graduate of Williams col-
lege in Massachusetts, was the leader in estab-
lishing the school; he became its principal, and
continued in that position until the institution
was abandoned. Mr. Hine was a native of this
township, and a man of fine literary attainments.
He proved a popular and faithful instructor, and
some men who are high in professional ranks re-
member with gratitude their early teacher. As-
sociated with him for a time was Mr. P. T. Cald-
well, a young man of ability and scholarship.

From a catalogue issued in October, i86o, it
is learned that the number of pupils in attend-
ance during the year was two hundred and forty.
Connected with the school was a literary society
known as the "Adelphic Union."

The old academy building is now owned by
Judge Newton, and occupied by Richard Brown
as a dwelling.

NORTHEASTERN OHIO NORMAL SCHOOL.

A corporation was formed in 1881 after much
discussion of the subject by a number of the
friends of education, and it is expected that the
school will be put in operation during the year
1882. A board of nine trustees has been elected,
viz: Hon. G. Van Hyning, Hon. J. R. John-
ston, Rev. William Dickson, Dr. A. W. Calvin,
H. A. Manchester, Esq., David Clugston, George
F. Lynn, Hiram N. Lynn, and Russel F. Starr.

Hon. Eben Newton, to whom the court-house
and the land it occupies reverted when it ceased

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

to be used by the county, has generously donated
the property to the trustees. It is the intention
to have the building thoroughly repaired and
fitted up in a manner suitable for the wants of
such a school. Can field is an excellent location
for an institution of learning, and no doubt this
institution will be grandly successful.

NEWSPAPERS.*

The first printing office in Canfield was estab-
lished May 9, 1846, by James and Clate Her-
rington, of Warren. They were practical printers,
and when the county seat of Mahoning was lo-
cated here, the Mahoning Index, a Democratic
newspaper, was started. In January, 1849, the
Index office was sold to John R. Church, a lead-
ing man in the Democratic party. Under
Church's administration, the paper was edited by
several prominent persons, among whom were:
J. M. Edwards, H. H. McChestney, and A. T.
Walling, the latter now being a congressman
trom the Pickaway district. The Index office
was run by John R. Church until September,
185 1, when It was burned and nothing at all
saved from the ruins.

In the winter of 1852 the Mahoning Sentinel
was established by an association, Ira Norris edi-
tor. The Sentinel was also Democratic in poli-
tics. Mr. Norris continued as editor until 1854,
when a change in the ownership of the paper
took place. H. M. Fowler had printed the Sen-
tinel for the association up to the time of this
change. John Woodruff purchased both the
office and the materials, but in 1855 John M.
Webb became sole editor and proprietor of the
paper and continued the publication until 1858,
when W. B. Dawson purchased it. Mr. Dawson
continued to publish the Sentinel until the spring
of i860. John M. Webb then re-purchased it
and moved the office to Youngstown.

In the spring of i86o Hon. Elisha Whittle-
sey induced John Weeks, of Medina, to come
here and start the Herald. The Herald was a
small sheet, subscription price $1 per year, and
Republican in politics. Its publication was con-
tinued with a number of changes until 1865. At
one time it was owned by John Weeks, then by
Thomas Menary, Menary & Musser, John S.
Roller, and others. In 1865 Weeks re-purchased
the paper and took as a partner Ed. E. Fitch.

•Prepared by H. M. Fowler, editor of the Dispatch.

Mr. Fitch finally purchased Mr. Weeks' share
and changed the name of the paper to the Can-
field Herald. He enlarged it in 1870, and in
1872 sold out to McDonald & Son. They
changed the name to the Mahoning County
News, and after running the paper eighteen
months disposed of it to W. R. Brownlee, who
made the News Democratic. In the spring of
1875 Brownlee sold the establishment to Rev.
W. S. Peterson, who soon afterward removed to
Warren.

Canfield was then without a newspaper from Au-
gust 3, 1876, till May 1, 1877. .\t the latter date
H. M. Fowler started the Mahoning Dispatch,
an independent family journal, devoted to the
interests of the working classes. The Dispatch
is a five column eight-page paper. It soon
attained to eight hundred regular subscribers.
In May, 1880, C. C. Fowler became its local
editor, and from that time until January, 1882,
the circulation was increased to twelve hundred
and thirteen subscribers, the largest number
o\ bona fide subscribers ever on the books of any
newspaper in Canfield.

THE ONION SOCIETY.

What a name for an organization of any sort!
Yet the objects of the society were as original as
its title, as will be seen from the following, which
IS copied diiectly from the secretary's book:

COiNSTITUTION OF THE ONIO.N SOCIETY IN CANFIELD.
Article I.

Section i. The oldest person who is, or shall hereafter be.
a member of this society, shall be president; and in case of
his absence the next oldest shall be president pro km.

Sec. 2. There shall annually be elected a clerk by the
members of the society at their first meeting after the cook-
ing of the new crop, which election shall be by ballot.

Sec 3. There may be an officer appointed by the presi-
dent when he shall deem the interests of the society requiie
it, known and to be called the cup-bearer, whose duty i>
sufficiently made known by the title of the office.
Article II.

Sec. I. The president shall preside at the meetings of
the society, preserve order, and see that all the members are
duly refreshed.

Sec 2. T he clerk shall record in a book to be kept for
that purpose all the votes and proceedings of the society,
and such miscellaneous matters as the society or the presi-
dent may direct. He shall lake and keep an accurate roll of
the members of the society, which, together with the records
shall be produced at each meeting.
Article UI.

Sec I. Fully persuaded that all well-regulated societies
must depend upon a voluntary association of its members,
we adopt it as a fundamental principle that no person shall
be compelled to become a member of this society.

^:^QM.Z.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

29

Sec. 2. Any member of this society may be at any
time suspended or expelled for unbecoming conduct, as a
plurality of the members shall deem proper.
Article IV.

Sec. I. As the object of this association is to feast on
the delicious vegetable the name of which stands prominent
in the entithng of the society, onions, with their grand help-
mate, pork, shall form the principal bill of fare, except that
in case of emergency fresh beef or other meat may be sub-
stituted for the pork.

Sec. 2. The time of inviting the members shall be op-
tional with the member giving the entertainment, unless for
good cause. The president or the society may appoint a
meeting, in which case he or they may warn a meeting when-
ever they please.

Sec. 3. Notice shall be given at least fifteen minutes to
each member to repair to the table.

Sec. 4. The members are to be prepared when the lady
furnishing the entertainment annoances the supper to be
readv.

Article V.

Sec. I. Knowing that on the cultivation of the onion
the prosperity of the society much depends, and feeling de-
.sirous to give all reasonable encouragement to industry and
a suitable tribute to merit, it is ordained that the member
who shall first entertain the society on onions of his own
raising shall be entitled to a seat for that evening at the right
hand of the president.

Sec. 2. Honorable mention shall be made at our meet-
ings of the member who shall raise the largest onion ; and on
any member requesting a view of his garden, it shall be the
duty of the president to attend; or he may appoint a com-
mittee, or he may summon the society en masse.

We recognize the Onion society in Danbury, Connecticut,
as our parent institution.

July 23, 1818. At a meeting of the Onion society of Can-
field, at the house of Cooke Fitch, the foregoing constitution
was adopted by a unanimous vote of the members present.

The following is a roll of the members of the
society with their ages in 1818: Eleazer Gilson,
65; Judson Canfield, 57; Comfort S. Mygatt, 55;
Shadrach Bostwick, 49; Herman Canfield, 45;
Cyrenus Ruggles, 42; Roger Searl, 42; Cooke
Fitch, 42; Joseph Coit, 35; Elisha Whittlesey,
35; John H. Patch, 33; Frederick Wadsworth,
33; William Stoddard, 31; Eli T. Boughton, 31;
Eli Booth, 27, Edward Wadsworth, 26.

It would appear that the society had been in
existence some time previous to the adoption of
the above constitution, as in the roll of members
the following note is found: "Elijah Wadsworth,
former president of this society, deceased De-
cember 30, 18 1 7, aged sixty-nine years in No-
vember preceding."

The Onion society grew rapidly, and its repu-
tation became wide-spread. All the leading
men of the town came to have a share in its
pleasantries and social festivals. Sober judges,
busy merchants, merry doctors of law, medicine,

and divinity, captains, majors, colonels, generals,
as well as untitled farmers, met frequently to
feast upon the savory esculent, and enjoy an hour
of genuine hearty (un. Meetings were held at
the houses of various tnembers more or less fre-
quently, and the utmost good-will and hilarity
marked the proceedings. Distinguished visitors
from neighboring settlements were often in at-
tendance. Upon the records may be found the
names of Joshua R. Giddings, Judge Tod,
Colonel Rayen and other prominent men.

The proceedings were characterized by the ut-
most outward decorum, if we may judge from
the records, but with a deep vein of humor un-
derlying all. Committees were frequently ap-
pointed to decide who carried off the honors of
the table — i. e., ate the biggest supper, and their
reports soberly (?) recorded. A seat at the right
hand of the president was the reward for a
brilliant gastronomic feat.

The Onion society continued in existence
many years. The last recorded meetings bear
the date 1833. Many are still living vho cannot
fail to have pleasant reminiscences of their con-
nection with this society.

TEMPERANCE SOCIETY.

In 1832 occurred a general awakening on the
subject of temperance. It is said to have
originated in sport by a young man proposing to
"get up some grand excitement," but as the
movement progressed, serious earnestness was
the spirit which characterized it. A temper-
ance society was organized, and continued in
existence some twenty years, and during that
period a large number of names were enrolled
upon the pledge. Elihu and Elisha Warner,
Charles Frethy, and Edmund P. Tanner were
especially active members. The better portion
of the community aided the organization, and
much good work was accomplished. At times
an enthusiastic interest was felt. Among those
who were wont to address the meetings we notice
that the names of the village preachers have a
prominent place.

SOLDIERS' AID SOCIETY.

During the war for the Union the ladies of
Canfield showed their patriotism by organizing a
society for the aid of the soldiers, and through
their labors and generosity much valuable ma-
terial aid found its way into Federal camps. The

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

society was organized October 30, 1861, and its
officers were: Mrs. S. R. Canfield, president;
Mrs. E. Newton, vice-president; Miss M. M.
Pierson, secretary; Mrs. J. B. Blocksom, assist-
ant secretary , Mrs. F. G. Servis, treasurer ; Miss
Susan Toinson, assistant treasurer. For their
generous efforts they were blessed by the hearts
of hundreds of soldiers.

ODD FELLOWS.

A cliarier was granted January 18, 1S50, to
CanfiJd lod,i;e No. 155, Independent Older ol
Odd Fellows, to the fallowing charter nieiiibers:
Wilhaiu W. Whitilesey, Walter M. Prentice, E.
J. Estcp, James Powers, and John G. Kyle.
The lodge was instituted May i, 1850, by
Most Worthy Grand Master William C. Earl.
The first officers were as follow: Walter M.
Prentice, N. G.; James Powers, V. G.; E. J.
Estep, secretary, and William W. Whittlesey,
treasurer. The following were initiated as mem-
bers on the evening the lodge was instituted:
John H. Mill, Nathan Hartman, Walter Blythe,
L. L. Bostwick, and William Schmick.

In 1857 the lodge purchased of William Lynn
the three-story brick building on the upper floor
of which is their hall. The lower floors are
rented for a store, offices, etc. The hall is of
ample size, and is fitted and furnished tastefully.

Up to the present writing there have been re-
ceived into the lodge by initiation and by card
two hundred and fifty members. The present
membership is ninety-three. Several former
members of this lodge have withdrawn and
joined lodges organized in neighboring towns.

The lodge is in a prosperous condition finan-
cially and its membership of a high character.
The total amount of property belonging to it is
valued at $6,500. From the first this organiza-
tion has been prosperous. The present officers,
elected in July, 1881, are as follow: John Mar-
tin, N. G.; J. K. Misner, V. G.; George F. Lynn,
secretary ; Hosea Hoover, permanent secretary,
and J. Truesdale, treasurer. The two officers
last named have held their respective offices for
a period of twenty-one consecutive years.

THE OIL BUSINES.S.

From 1854 to 1863 the cannel coal of the
southeastern part of the township was considei-
ably worked for "coal oil." In 1858-59 four
large establishments were erected in the south-

eastern quarter of the township for the manufact-
ure of oil, at an expense of about $200,000, but
the discovery of naturally flowing oil wells drove
them out of existence. These establishments
were built by Eastern capitalists and for a time
the business was carried on "with a rush." The
four companies were as follow:

I. The Hariford company; works cost $20,-
000; the buildings were burned in June, 1S60,
and rehuilt at an expense of $20,000.

2 The Mahoning company, oiiginally the
Buffiili) company; cost of works, $75,000.

3. The Mystic, afterwards the New London
company; cost $18,000.

4. The Plioenix company ; $75,000.

In 1861 the managers of these companies in
the order above given were C. H. P.irsons, John
Wetmore, Mr. Thompson, and A. H. Everett.
The Phoenix, the largest of the works, made
about seventy-five barrels of oil per week, had
thirty-two retorts, and employed thirty-one men.
The coal was drawn from the mine by steam-
power.

.ANECDOTES, INCIDENTS, .\ND TR.\DITIONS.

In 1805 occurred one of those mysterious
phenomena for which man has striven in vain
to account. Archibald Johnston, a settler of
1804, was a man of an intelligent, strong mind,
void of bigotry or superstition. He had pur-
chased Nathan Moore's farm and was preparing
to move onto it. Returning home one evening
he saw what appeared to him to be a burning
bush, and something in the vision strongly im-
pressed him that he would die in just six weeks.
He told his friends of his conviction, and no
arguments could remove it from his mind. He
died upon the designated day.

The old well at the center of Canfield is a
landmark. It was built at the exact center of
the township for the benefit of the inhabitants
of the town. Mr. J. W. Canfield, while looking
over some of his grandfather's papers recently,
came across the bill for building the well. There
were a large number of items in it, but not a
great number of articles were specified. One
word occurred with such frequency as to cause
Mr. Canfield to remark, "It is astonishing how
much whiskey it took to make a well in those
days!" The chief items of expense, in fact,
were a certain number of gallons of whiskey,
followed up by many a line of ditto, ditto.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

3'

What has been said concerning the wildness
of other townships will apply equally well to
Canfield in early days. Deer were so numerous
that an old lady now living says it was almost as
common to see one as it is to see a dog now-a-
days. The children were often obliged to be
lulled to sleep while the howling of the wolves
rang in their ears. Bears were often destructive
to stock, though it seems that the young people
were never molested by them. James Reed
caught a young cub and tamed it. He kept the
bear tied to a stake until it was a year old, when
it broke loose and escaped.

In the days when the discussion of the
slavery question was the all-absorbing topic,
Canfield became possessed of a strong anti-
slavery element on the one had, and on the
other an equally strong pro-slavery party. Of
course the bitterest of feeling sprang up between
the two, and many hostile, though bloodless, en-
counters resulted.

The mobbing of Rev. M. R. Robmson, in
Berlin, in 1837, is alluded to in the history
of that township. On the morning after his
rough treatment he appeared early at the house
of Mr. Wetmore, south of the village of Can-
field, and knocked at the door. Mrs. Wetmore
looked out of the window and saw a startling
sight. The figure of a man, hatless, with disor-
dered clothing, feathers fillmg his hair and mov-
ing about in the wind, caused the good lady to
think, at first, that the devil himself had ap-
peared. However, the family aroused, listened
to the stranger's story, and at once took meas-
ures for his relief His soiled garments were
removed and William Wetmore provided him
with a change of raiment. It being the Sabbath
he went with the family to church and there
made announcement that he would lecture in
the afternoon. The story of his treatment got
abroad and a large audience greeted him.

During the same year a Methodist preacher
named Miller announced an anti-slavery lecture
for one evening, in the Congregational church.
Many inhabitants of Canfield thought they had
had enough discussion of this subject and pro-
posed to teach Miller a lesson. The result was
a disgraceful scene, of which many of the par-
ticipants afterwards became heartily ashamed.

The evening for the lecture arrived and Miller
was present with his wife and son. He had not

proceeded far in his speech when he was greeted
by a shower of rotten eggs, while hooting and
jeering resounded through the house. But this
apostle of justice to all the human race was a
man of pluck and could not be silenced in this
way. He directed his son to come and stand
over him with an umbrella, to ward off the un-
savory missiles ; and thus protected he finished
his speech. It had been arranged to seize the
speaker as he was leaving the house and then
treat him to a coat of tar and feathers. The
materials, already prepared, were at hand. But
Miller walked from the pulpit and passed down
the aisle between two ladies, reaching the door
in safety. He sprang into the buggy with Mrs.
Miller and drove away at a rapid rate. Attempts
were made to catch him as he was entering the
carriage, but he was too quick for his persecu-
tors. A fellow caught hold of the hind end of
the buggy as it started away and hung on for
some distance, but Mrs. Miller made such good
use of the whip about his head and ears that he
was glad to desist. The son took to the woods
and effected his escape. When we consider
that the greater part of the above described
scenes were enacted in the house of God, we
ran form some idea of the public sentiment
which then prevailed.

But Canfield was not without a strong body
of Abolitionists whose conduct was as heroic as
that of the opposing element was reprehensible.
Among those who befriended and assisted the
persecuted fugitive slaves was Jacob Barnes, now
deceased, who resided two miles east of the vil-
lage. His house was a station on the under-
ground railway. In a large covered wagon
which he owned he carried many a load of ne-
groes from his house, journeying by night, to
Hartford, Trumbull county, where the next sta-
tion was located.

A MURDER.

In 1826 occurred an unfortunate affair in
which a poor fellow lost his life. Archibald Mc-
Lean, a worthless, drunken shoemaker, became
involved in a dispute with Adam Mell and
stabbed the latter with a shoe-knife. Mell died
from the effects of the wound the next day. His
death took place in February, 1826. The stab-
bing was done in the house occupied by Mell in
the village. McLean had his trial, was convicted,
and sentenced to the penitentiary for life.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

BIOGRAPHICAL,

The following sketches of some of the first
proprietors of the township of Canfield are
principally compiled from information collected
and recorded by Hon. Elisha Whittlesey:

NATHANIEL CHURCH
was a descendant of the fifth generation from
Richard Church, one of the colonists of Plym-
outh, Massachusetts, who, though not a pas-
senger in the Mayflower, joined the Pilgrims as
early as 1631. It is supposed that he afterwards
removed to Hartford, Connecticut, as the name
of Richard Church is found there upon the pub-
lic monument erected to the memory of the first
settlers of the town. Nathaniel Church was the
son of Samuel Church, and was born in Bethle-
hem, Connecticut, November 16, 1756. His
father died when he was but three years old.
At a suitable age he was apprenticed to a weaver,
but finding his master one difficult to please he
deserted his service soon after the breaking out
of the Revolutionary war and joined the patriot
army. He was wounded in the battle of White
Plains and his injuries were pronounced mortal.
He recovered, however, though his wounds ever
troubled him. He did not rejoin the army, but
as soon as he was able to resume his trade as a
weaver he went to Canaan, Connecticut, and was
there employed by Captain John Ensign, a
clothier. October 4, 1781, he married Lois
Ensign, youngest daughter of his employer.
She died in about two years, leaving two sons.
Ensign and Samuel. In 1793 he was again
married, to Dorcas Nickerson, who died in 1799.
From this marriage there were also two children,
Luman and John. He was a third time married
in 1800, to Mrs. Ruth Johns, who bore five
children — Nathaniel, Frederick, Lois, William,
and Ruth. His third wife survived him and
died in 1842. Mr. Church was prominently en-
gaged in m.inufacturing and assisted in the erec-
tion of a paper mill in Salisbury. This mill hav-
ing burned, he retired to a farm on the banks of
the Housatonic, where he died November 10,
1837. He was an active and ardent politician
and was twice elected a member of the House
of Assembly from the town of Salisbury. He
was a devoted Christian of the Methodist de-
nommation.

Samuel Church, his oldest son, became a dis-
tinguished lawyer in Connecticut and chief
justice of the supreme court in that State. He
was the father of A. E. Church, a distinguished
mathematician and a professor m the United
States Military academy at West Point.

Ensign Church was born in Salisbury in 1782,
and married Jerusha Wright in 1805. He and
his wife left Connecticut in May, 1805, and ar-
rived in Canfield the 4th of June following. In
1812 he was appointed deputy quartermaster
under General Simon Perkins, and was dis-
charged in 1813, broken down by fatigue in the
service. He died April 17, 18 13. He was the
father of two children, one of whom died m
1818; the other became the wife of Hon. Eben
Newton. His widow afterwards married Eli T.
Boughton, of Canfield, and died here in 1869 at
the advanced age of eighty-four.

John R. Church, a son of Nathaniel Church,
came to Canfield in 1818, and for several years
was a successful business man and associate
judge. He died April ir, 1868.

GENERAL ELIJAH WADSVVORTH

was born in Hartford, Connecticut, November
14, 1747, and removed to Litchfield in the same
State previous to the year 1770. Tradition has
it that he was a lineal descendant of Captain
Joseph Wadsworth who secreted the charter of
Connecticut in the famous Charter Oak, in
Hartford, on the 9th day of May, 1689. Elijah
Wadsworth built and owned the house in Litch-
field, which about the year 1790 he sold to Chief
Justice Adams, the first chief justice of Con-
necticut. This house was subsequently owned
and occupied by Dr. Lyman Beecher as his resi-
dence during a pastorate of several years. In
this house were born Harriet Beecher Stowe,
Henry Ward Beecher, and others of the family.
February 16, 1780, Mr. Wadsworth married
Rhoda Hopkins, who was born at Litchfield,
Connecticut, November i, 1759, and died in
Canfield, June 21, 1832. The fruits of this
union were five children : Henry, Rhoda, Fre-
derick, Edward, and George. All were born in
Litchfield. Henry, born October 11, 1781, died
in Bradleysville, Connecticut, November, 1S30;
Rhoda, born February 17, 1784, married in

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

33

Litchfield in September, 1802, x^rchibald Clark,
of St. Mary's, Georgia, and died in St. Mary's,
August 2, 1830 ; Frederick, bom March 7, 1786,

died ; Edward, born May 3, 1791, died in

Canfield, August 5, 1835; George, born April 5,
1793, died in Canfield, August 6, 1832.

When the first news of the battle of Bunker
Hill reached Litchfield, Mr. Wadsworth volun-
teered to go to Boston, but for some reason went
no further than Hartford, and thence returned to
Litchfield, where he assisted in raising Sheldon's
regiment of light dragoons, and served in that
regiment during the whole of the Revolutionary
war. Sheldon's regiment was one of the first
squadrons of horse that jomed the revolutionary
army, and was with and under the immediate
command of Washington, and had frequent and
at times almost daily skirmishes with the enemy.
Frederick Wadsworth, in a biographical sketch
of his father, says:

Sheldon's regiment or that part of it then in actual service,
Has at West Point when Major Andre was taken prisoner,
and General Arnold made his escape. I have often heard
my father narrate the circumstances of the capture, trial, and
execution of Andre. He always spoke enthusiastically in his
praise, but did not give his captors that credit for disinter-
ested patriotism which history awards to them. My father
was one of the guard set over Major Andre the night after
his capture. I never could understand why Arnold was not
secured. I have heard my father say that after .Andre was
taken, Major Jamison, one of the majors of Sheldon's regi-
ment, was ordered by Colonel Tallmadge who then had
command of the regiment, to take a squadron of horse, sur-
round Arnold's house, and not suffer him to leave it; this
duty was performed by Major Jamison so far as to surround
Arnold's house, but still he was permitted to make his escape.

Mr. Wadsworth entered the service as a lieu-
tenant, but before the close of the war he held a
captain's commission. Captain Wadsworth was
one of the earliest members of the land com-
pany which purchased the Western Reserve
from the State of Connecticut in 1795. He was
one of the original proprietors of the townships
of Canfield and Boardman in Mahoning county,
Johnston in Trumbull county, Conneaut in Ash-
tabula county, Palmyra in Portage county, and
Wadsworth (named after him) in Medina county.

He spent the summers of 1799 and 1801 on
the Reserve, and attended to the surveying of
Salem (now Conneaut), Palmyra, Boardman, and
Johnston, returning to Connecticut in the fall of
each year. In 1799 he succeeded Nathaniel
Church as the agent of the proprietors of Can-
field township. His services in establishing the

first mail route upon the Reserve in 1801 are
fully detailed elsewhere.

The spring and summer of 1802 Captain
Wadsworth likewise spent upon the Western
Reserve; then returned to Connecticut, and on
the 15th day of September of the same year left
Litchfield with his family, in a wagon drawn by
two horses, leading one extra horse. Twelve
days before he started he sent Azariah Wetmore
ahead with a wagon and his yoke of oxen. He
overtook Wetmore before arriving at Pittsburg,
and they continued in company until they
reached Canfield on the 17th of October, Cap-
tain Wadsworth and family having been thirty-
three days on the way, and Mr. Wetmore forty-
five. Thenceforth until his death, Canfield was
his home.

Captain Wadsworth was postmaster in Can-
field from 1 80 1 until his resignation in 1S03,
and was again appointed postmaster in 1813.
At the first general election after Ohio became a
State, the second Tuesday in February, 1803, he
was elected sheriff of Trumbull county. At the
session of the Legislature of 1803-4, the Legis-
lature divided the State into four military divis-
ions and elected him major-general of the fourth
division, which comprised all the territory south
of Lake Erie to the south line of Jefferson
county. It required great exertion to organize
the militia in this vast district. War was de-
clared by the United States against Great Britain
on the 19th of June, 1812, and on the i6th of
August General Hull at Detroit surrendered the
Northwestern army to the British. By this sur-
render the whole northwestern frontier was ex-
posed to incursions from the enemy. The
fourth division embraced the entire northwestern
frontier of the State, the Cuyahoga river being
then the limit of frontier settlement. News of
Hull's surrender was brought to General Wads-
words on the morning of August 21st by Charles
Fitch of Ellsworth, who had been at Cleveland
on business, and hearing of the disaster returned
express. General Wadsworth sent expresses to
his brigadier-generals to detail troo])s from their
respective commands for defending the frontier,
and ordered Captain James Doud and his com-
pany of cavalry into the service. The remainder
of the day was spent in obtaining the ammunition
on sale in Canfield and neighboring towns, and
making preparations for a tour of military duty.

34

TRUMHULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

Sunday morning, the 22d, General Wadsworth,
with Ehsha Whittlesey, one of his aides, and the
above mentioned company of cavalry, left Can-
field about lo o'clock for Cleveland, where they
arrived the next day about 4 o'clock p. m. On
the 24th of August he sent Governor Hunting-
ton express to Washington with the first authen-
tic and reliable account of the surrender of Gen-
eral Hull.

Immediately after this General Wadsworth
took up a position at old Portage, on the Cuya-
hoga, six miles north of the present site of
Akron, in readiness to meet the enemy at that
point with a detachment of his command. Soon
after we find him at Camp Avery, near where
Milan, Erie county, now is. He soon received
orders, however, from Governor Meigs and from
the Secretary of War to protect the frontiers,
and to organize a brigade of fifteen hundred
men from his division, put them under the com-
mand of a brigadier-general, and report them
over to General Winchester or other officer
commanding the northwestern army. This was
completed the following November, and under
the command of Brigadier-general Simon Per-
kins they were reported to General William H.
Harrison, at that time commanding the North-
western army. General Wadsworth then retired
from the service and returned to his home in
November, 181 2.

At the beginning of the war General Wads-
worth was sixty-five years of age, with a consti-
tution which had been haidy, robust, and vigor-
ous, but at that time considerably impaired. His
anxieties and exertions greatly injured his health,
and it was never good afterwards. In the sum-
mer of 1815 he had a shock of the palsy which
paralyzed his left side and rendered him almost
entirely helpless until his death. He died De-
cember 30, 181 7, aged seventy years, a veteran
of two wars, a hero of the "times that tried
men's souls." In the Revolutionary war he lost
the little property he had previously accumu-
lated, and returned with nothing save a quantity
of Continental currency, which soon became
worthless. The only reward he obtained for his
services in the War of 181 2, except the approval
of his conscience, was a judgment against him
for $26,551.02 for purchases he had made to
subsist his troops. To the honor of Congress
and the Nation, however, this judgment was dis-

charged by an act of Congress, but not until he
had been dead for years, as the act was passed
March 3, 1825.

HON. JUDSON CANFIELD
was born in NewMilford, Connecticut, January
23, 1759. He was the second son of Colonel
Samuel Canfield, an officer in the Revolutionary
army and a mem oer of the Connecticut State Leg-
islature for twenty-six sessions. Colonel Canfield
was distinguished by great energy of character
and clearness of intellect. He died in 1799 in
the seventy-fourth year of his age. Judson Can-
field was educated at Yale college and graduated
therefrom in 1782. Two years later he was ad-
mitted to the bar, and in 1786 he settled in
Sharon, Connecticut, where he successfully pur-
sued his profession. The same year he was mar-
ried to Mabel Ruggles, daughter of Captain
Ruggles, an ofificer of the Revolution and a man
distinguished for high moral character and re-
finement.

Mr. Canfield was a member of the popular
branch of the State Legislature, from the town of
Sharon, at almost every session, from 1802 to
1809, when he was elected a State Senator for
each successive year until he removed from the
State in 1815. >From 1808 to 1 815 he was also
an associate judge of the county court for the
county of Litchfield.

After his removal to Ohio he devoted himself
mainl)' to farming and disposing of his lands.
He died February 5, 1840. His children were
Henry J., Julia, Elvira, Elizabeth H., and Caro-
line Elena.

Henry J, Canfield was born January 4, 1789,
died November 27, 1856. He married Sally R.
Ferris in 1825; she died January 23, 188 1. The
children of this union were two, Julia E. and
Judson W. Julia married D. C. Ruggles, and
died in 1857.

THE BEARDSLEY FAMILY.
Curtis Beardsley was the fourth son of Cap-
tain Philo Beardsley, a Connecticut soldier in
the Revolutionary war. He was born in Kent,
now New Preston, Litchfield county, Connecti-
cut, Ahirch I, 1797. March 10, i8i6, bemg

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

35

then but nineteen years of age, he was united in
marriage to Miss Sophia Hanford, who was one
year younger than himself. The tentli day of
the following April this youthful cou]5le left their
native State for their future home in the new
West. In company with Mr. Beardsley's brother
Philo, in a wagon drawn by two horses and a
yoke of oxen they journeyed from Connecticut
to the Western Reserve, arriving in Boardman
May 4, 1816. The followmg day, which was
Sunday, they spent with Josiah Beardsley, a
brother, at his home in that township. On Mon-
day they reached Canfield, and took up their
abode in a little log cabin with puncheon floor
and without a pane of glass. The land taken
up by Mr. Beardsley was uncleared, but he at
once set to work, and during the first season
cleared ten acres and sowed it to wheat. For
his seed wheat he was obliged to pay the enor-
mous price of $2 per bushel, but when harvest
time came he found that he could not get three
shillings per bushel in cash (or his grain.

Hard and untiring labor, strict economy, and
wise management were practiced by both hus-
band and wife, and in due course of time they
found themselves in the possession of a pleasant
home and a fine farm. Children came to bless
and encourage them in their work, and kind
Providence smiled upon their efforts. Mr.
Beardsley became a prominent and honored
citizen of Canfield, enjoying during his long life
the highest respect and esteem of friends and
neighbors. December 6, 1876, he passed peace-
fully from this life to the life above.

Mr. Beardsley was remarkable for firmness of
purpose, and integrity and uprightness of prin-
ciple; yet, more than this, he was an exemplary,
unobtrusive Christian. He was ever animated
and sustained in his true and useful life by the
partner of his toils and fortunes, who having pre-
viously become interested in the Episcopal
church, united herself after coming here, with
that little band afterwards known as the St.
James' church, Boardman, though including
Poland and Canfield, which they found already
organized; and in 1822 he himself became a
member and was soon after chosen a vestryman
of the same.

In 1829 Mr. Beardsley organized a Sunday-
school in Canfield and continued as its superin-
tendent thirty years. In 1834 he became the

leader of a movement which resulted in the
building of a church edifice in Canfield; and it
was to his efforts more than to those of any other
man that St. Stephen's church owed its origin.
He was elected junior warden of this church,
became its senior warden, and for more than
thirteen years previous to his death, as its only
male communicant, the whole burden of the
temporal affairs of this church rested upon this
aged and declining servant of God. Residing
at a distance of three miles from town, and more
infirm in health than he was willing to acknowl-
edge, he was seldom absent from services when
held in Canfield, and when there were none
here often rode eight miles to attend those of
the church in Boardman.

Mr. Beardsley was a man of deep convictions,
and although never obtrusive, was inflexible in
maintaining them. He united great strength of
character with the most scrupulous integrity, and
during all his years sustained a high standing in
the community. 1164:4:77

Mrs. Sophia Beardsley, one of the few surviv-
ing old residents of Canfield, was born in Nor-
walk, Connecticut, May 12, 1798. She was the
only child of Joseph Whitman Hanford and
Elizabeth (Smith) Hanford. She is descended
from an old New England family, her great-
great-grandfather having emigrated from England
to Connecticut in the early years of its settle-
ment. His name was Rev. Thomas Hanford.
In 1648 he began preaching in Norwalk and was
the first Congregational minister in that town,
where he continued to preach forty-one years.

Left an orphan by the death of her mother
when less than two years of age, Sophia Hanford
was brought up by her grandmother. Her father
was a merchant and a seafaring man and died
in 1824, aged sixty-two years. Though married
young and surrendering the pleasures of culti-
vated society for a home in the wilds of Ohio,
Mrs. Beardsley never repined at her lot and
nobly co-operated with her husband in his efforts
to gain a home. Faithful in her outward life as
well as in her deep religious life, she has always
acted up to her convictions of duty, and numer-
ous friends testify to her worth. She has borne
eight children, only three of whom are now liv-
ing. Mrs. Beardsley is now spending the even-
ing of her days with her daughter in the village
of Canfield, with which she has been familiar

36

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

almost from its infancy. She is now in her
eighty-fourth year and seems as cheerful and
bright as a youth. For sixty-four years she has
been a communicant of the Episcopal church
and ever one of its most active female members.

We append a record of the Beardsley family:

Philo Beardsley, born 1755, died 1826; mar-
ried Esther Curtis, born 1764, died 1856. Chil-
dren : Birdsey Beardsley, born 1785, married
Sarah Mecuen. Anna Beardsley, born 1787,
married John Taylor. Josiah Beardsley, born
1789, married Mary Merwin. Sarah Beardsley,
born 1 791, married Milo Stone. Philo Beards-
ley, born 1794, married Lois S. Gunn. Curtis
Beardsley, born 1797, married Sophia Hanford.
Almus Beardsley, born 1799, married Amanda
Cogswell. Agur Beardsley, born 1801, married
Eliza Bennett.

All are dead, Curtis Beardsley being the last.
Four of the brothers settled in Mahoning coun-
ty, Josiah in Boardman, Philo and Curtis in
Canfield, and Almus in Ellsworth.

Descendants of Curtis Beardsley and Sophia
Hanford. Children: Henry H., born May i,
1818, died May 4, 1818. William Hanford,
born December 13, 1819, married Mary Edsall
June 10, 1846; children. Nelson S., Edwin H.,
Charles R., Henry E., and Hattie M., all living,
two married. William H. Beardsley resides at
East Ciaridon, Geauga county ; Nelson S., pro-
fessor of penmanship Delaware Normal school,
Ohio, married Esther O. Hulin, two children,
Willis Reed and Emmett Hulin. Edwin H.
married Carrie Dana, two children. Nelson Ver-
non and Minnie. Mary L., born November 13,
182 I, married Augustus L. Van Gorder May 12,
1847, died at Warren, Ohio, July 18, 1859, hus-
band also dead ; children, Anna S., Henry L.,
William C, George Dubois, Charles M., Frank
B.; Anna, George, and Frank are deceased; Wil-
liam C. Van Gorder married Ella Crane, two
children, Edgar C. and an infant daughter.
Anna S., born August 26, 1824, died May 4,
1844. Eliza M., born March 19, 1827, died
January 7, 1879. Sarah M., born July 22, 1832,
married Pratt Allen Spicer, April 26, 1854, died
December 25, 1857; one child, Ella I., resides
in Marshall, Michigan. Lucy E., born Novem-
ber 5, t834, resides at Canfield. Henry C, born
March 12, 1838, married Mary J. Hine July 4,
1863; two children, Rhoda Hanford, and Ed-

ward Henry, residence old Beardsley homestead,
Canfield.

Concerning the deceased members of this
family we make the following extract from obitu-
ary notices published in local papers :

Died, Warren, Ohio, July i8, 1859, Mrs. Mary L. Van-
Gorder. She was the oldest daughter of Curtis and Sophia
Beardsley, of Canfield. For twenty years a communicant of
the Episcopal church, during that time she adorned her pro-
fession by a consistent walk and conversation. In her last
illness she exhibited a meek and patient disposition, and un-
der all suffering appeared resigned to the will of her Heavenly
Master. She calmly awaited death without fear of the dread
messenger, and fell asleep in Jesus repeating the words of
the beautiful hymn/:

"There sweet be my rest till He bid me arise
To hail Him in triumph descending the skies."

Anna S. was a lovely and sweet dispositioned
daughter, who had a large circle of friends, both
young and old. Speaking of her death the
local paper says:

.Seldom has the hand of death made a more painful
breach in the hopes and enjoyments of a family, or given a
more affectmg warning to an e.xtensive circle of relatives and
acquaintances, and to all in the joyous period of youth, that
" we know not what shall be the morrow."

Eliza M. possessed a quick and scholarly
mind, and at a youthful age began teaching
school, in which occupation she continued more
than thirty years. She was a remarkably effi-
cient and successful teacher, possessing the rare
talent of imparting knowledge in a manner that
at once enlisted the attention and commanded
the respect of the pupil. From the age of eigli-
teen until her death she was a communicant of
the Episcopal church and a devoted Christian.

Mrs. Spicer was, from a child, of a serious and
contemplative mind. She early united with the
church, became a zealous member, and found in
Christ the sweet peace which passeth all under-
standing. Though compelled to part from earth
in the morning of her married life, she accepted
her fate with resignation and died with calmness
of spirit, leaving her sweet babe in the care of
Him who hath promised to protect the orphan.

JOHN SANZENBACHER AND FAMILY.
John Sanzenbacher was born in the kingdom
of Wurtemberg, Germany, May 5, 1827. His
parents were Jacob and Barbara (Schuger) San-
zenbacher, both natives of Wurtemberg. Jacob
Sanzenbacher was born August 1, 1799, and is

^<^W^^^i!i'yij€-»^gi^>nM<:^

^T—' J*- -^^ei^f^ i€^^^^c■/^€4^ .

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

still living, a resident of New Springfield, Ma-
honing county. Mrs. Barbara Sanzenbacher
was born February 12, 1804, and died Decem-
ber 24, 1878. She was the mother of five sons
and two daughters, but of this number only two
children remain — Joiin and his brother Jacob.
The latter resides ir; Southington, Trumbull
county. John was the second child and the
oldest son.

In 1833 he emigrated to the United States
with his parents, and lived near Unity, Colum-
biana county, Ohio, until 1836, when the family
moved to Beaver county, now Lawrence county,
Pennsylvania. There his boyhood was passed
upon a farm until August 19, .1844, at which
date he was bound out to Mr. R. Fullerton for
three years and six months to learn the trade of
tanning and currying. At the end of this period
he came to Mahoning county, and worked at his
trade for William Moore, in Boardman, for ten
months. He next went to New Middleton, in
this county, where he worked about nine months,
then returned to Boardman, and was employed
by Mr. Moore for six months.

In the winter of 1849-50 he purchased of .F.
A. Brainard his tannery in Canfield. April 9,
1850, he came to Canfield, and commenced
business with a capital of about $500, out of
which he made a payment to Mr. Brainard of
$40. Six hundred dollars was the price paid for
the tannery.

December 24, 1850, having got a little start
in his business and having concluded to take a
wife, he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah A.
Oswald, of Canfield township.

March 3, 1862, in company with Pierpont
Edwards, he engaged in the drug and grocery
business but continued to carry on tanning.
About the year 1865 he formed a partnership
with F. Krehl, of Girard, m the tanning and cur-
rying business. In 1867 he sold out to Mr.
Krehl, and also disposed of his interest in the
drug store. The same year he purchased a farm
one mile east of Canfield, to which he moved
June 20, 1867. In 1868 he erected a fine large
barn and made other improvements upon the
place.

Mr. Sanzenbacher began the manufacture of
leather belting in 1865 and carried it on for one
year in connection with his other business. In
1866 he quit tanning, and in the spring of 1867

disposed of his tannery and machinery. But in
1869 he again resumed the manufacture of belt-
ing, and October 20th of that year took P. Ed-
wards as a partner under the firm name of J.
Sanzenbacher & Co., which is still the style of
the firm. During the summer of 1872 this firm
erected a large building, where they still continue
the business. From the time their new establish-
ment was erected until the present they have
been doing a large business both in tanning and
in belt making.

Mr. Sanzenb'.chc. is a man of quiet, social,
and agreeable manners, and enjoys the highest
esteem and confidence of the better portion of
the community. He is regarded as the friend of
every worthy cause, and is never backward in
matters of public interest.

Mrs. Sarah A. Sanzenbacher, the worthy help-
mate and companion of the subject of this notice,
was born in Canfield township, November 25,
1832. She is the youngest daughter of Charles
and Sarah A. (Harding) Oswald, of Canfield
township. Her father died September 20, 1862,
in the fifty-eighth year of his age. Her mother
is still living in her seventy-sixth year, and makes
her home with Mr. Sanzenbacher's family. Mrs.
John Sanzenbacher is the youngest daughter of
a family of three sons and three daughters. She
has but one sister living, Mrs. Amanda Mahnen-
smith. Oilman, Iowa, and no brothers.

To Mr. and Mrs. Sanzenbacher have been born
six children, all of whom are living in Canfield.
Following is the family record: Harriet Louisa,
born October 26, 1851; married March 31, 1870,
to John Neff, of Canfield; has five children viz:
Sadie, Ensign, Martin, Calvin, and an infant son.
Rebecca Caroline, born August 30, 1856; mar-
ried Irvin Callahan May 20, 1875. Charles J.,
born August 25, i860. John H., born Decem-
ber 16, 1864. David L., born November 11,
1869. Martin L., born July 14, 187 1.

THE TANNER FAMILY.

Tryal Tanner was one of the first settlers of
Canfield. He was the son of William Tanner;
his father died when Tryal was eleven years old,
and thenceforth he lived with his uncle, Justus
Sackett, in Warren, Connecticut, until he became
of age. He then went to Cornwall, Connecticut,

38

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

and engaged in farming. He served five years
in the Revolutionary war, holding the rank of
lieutenant, but resigned shortly before the close
of the war. For his services in behalf of his
country he was paid in Continental currency, and
as an illustration of the value of that money it
will be sufficient to state that he once paid $80
for a tea-kettle.

Soon after leaving the army he married Hul-
dah Jackson, purchased a farm in Cornwall, set-
tled there, and remained until his removal to
Ohio. To Mr. and Mrs. ra.a.c. '.vere born three
sons and six daughters, whose names were as fol-
low: '^ Archibald, Edmund Prior, Julius, Nancy,
Peggy, Laura, Bridget, Panthea, and one daugh-
ter who died in infancy.

In 1801 Mr. Tanner exchanged his farm with
Judson and Herman Canfield for four hundred
acres ot land in the new settlement of Canfield,
four hundred acres in Johnston, and $400. This
proved a good bargain. In addition to this
land Mr. Tanner took an eight-acre lot in one
of the divisions of the center of Canfield. In
the spring of 1801 he visited his new property,
built a log-house on the center lot, and com-
menced work on his farm by clearing thirteen
acres and sowing it to wheat.

In 1802 Mr. Tanner and family came to Can-
field and moved into the house which he had
erected the previous year. They journeyed with
William Chidester and family, making up a
company of twenty-two persons in all. Mr. Tan-
ner had one wagon drawn by two yoke of oxen
and two horses; also two extra horses, one with
harness to be used in the team when necessary,
the other with a side-saddle for his wife to ride.
The party started from Connecticut April 22,
1802, and arrived in Canfield on the 13th of the
following May.

During his former visit Mr. Tanner had en-
gaged two men to lell ten acres of timber and
get it ready for logging. They, however, com-
pleted but six acres, and it was the summer job
of Mr. Tanner and his sons to finish this clear-
ing and sow the land to wheat. They began
operations immediately. The three sons, who
were aged respectively sixteen, fourteen, and
twelve, assisted their father. He could han-
dle the butt-end of a log alone, while all
three of the boys united their strength to lift the
smaller end. They worked " with a will," and

with eagerness, and soon had 'ne satisfaction
of seeing the forest show the results of their
labor. During the summer they girdled thirty-
five acres of trees, thus preparing them for
future destruction. The winter they employed
in cutting out small trees and underbrush.

In 1803 they sowed wheat among the trees
which were still standin;;^ and raised about half
a crop. They sowed grass seed with the wheat
and the following year raised an abundance of
hay. Thus they lived and labored, and soon
their farm began to assume a comparatively im-
proved appearance. In those days in the wild
woods plenty of work and very little time for
pleasure were the rules.

In 1806 Mr. Tanner built a frame house on
his eight-acre lot, in which he lived until his
death. He died November 22, 1833, aged
eighty-two. His first wife died December 31,
1803. The following year he married Mary
Doud, who survived until July 13, 1843, when
she died at the age of eighty-seven.

Tryal Tanner was a good specimen of the
hardy pioneer, tall and sinewy, and capable of
great endurance. Toward the end of his life his
sight failed by degrees and he became almost
blind. He was a man of strong will and great
determination, very tenacious of his own views.
He was a member of the Episcopal church, and
one of the leaders in founding the first church of
that denomination on the Reserve. Through his
life he sustained a high social standing and was
much respected and esteemed.

Archibald Tanner, the oldest son, was a man
very much like his father, — hardy, bold, and
energetic. He was engaged in boating on the
Ohio for several years, then settled in Warren,
Pennsylvania, where he became a prosperous
merchant and prominent citizen.

Edmund Prior Tanner, the second son of
Tiyal Tanner, and the longest survivor of the
entile family, was born in Cornwall, Litchfield
county, Connecticut, in 1788, on the 22d of
February. He received all of his schooling in
Connecticut; for after coming to Ohio his life
was the busy life of a pioneer farmer's son.

November 16, 1809, he was united in marriage
with Fanny Chapman, daughter of William and
Sylvia Chapman, of Vernon, Trumbull county.
He lived with his father for a time, but in the
spring of 1810 moved into a house of hewed

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

39

logs, which stood on the site of the present
dwelling of his son, Julius Tanner.

Soon after the breaking out of the War of 1S12
he was called into the service and was absent
from home two months and eighteen days.

Mr. Tanner was always deeply interested in
everything that concerned the educational, moral,
and religious status of the community. He was
a friend to those deserving sympathy and never
refused his support to worthy objects. During
the exciting days when slavery was under discus-
sion he did not hesitate at all times to denounce
the infamous traffic in human lives and became
noted as a strong Abolitionist. He lived to see
that word of reproach become one ot honor,
and to hear his actions spoken of as noble,
whereas they were once bitterly denounced.
The underground railway received from him as-
sistance and encouragement.

For nearly sixty years he was an earnest and
devout member of the Congregational church.
He held the office of deacon many years, and
was earnest and faithful, full of Christian spirit
and prayer for the welfare of the church. His
worth and benevolence endeared him to a large
circle and his character was a model worthy of
imitation. For several years he was so crippled
by rheumatism as to be unable to walk without
crutches, but he loved the house of God and
Sunday usually found him in the sanctuary.

Sixty-three years of happy wedded life had
passed before Mr. and Mrs. Tanner were called
upon to part from each other. Death removed
the aged and honored husband October 24, 1872,
in the eighty-fifth year of his age. Of his life
it can truly be said that it was one of usefulness.
He was a keen observer and took a heartfelt in-
terest in the topics of the day. Fond of read-
ing and study he continued until the last to keep
well informed upon current affairs. During his
last illness he appeared cheerful and hopeful and
fell asleep firm in the faith and hope of a blessed
immortality.

His widow survived until September 24,
1875, when she went to join him. She was
born in Barkhampton, Litchfield county, Con-
necticut, March 5, 1791, and was, therefore, also
in her eighty-fifth year at the time of her de-
cease. Early in life she united with the church,
and ever continued a zealous and confiding dis-
ciple of the Lord. She was a woman of be-

nevolence and a faithful helpmate to her worthy
husband. She was the mother of eight children,
four of whom are living. The family record is
as follows: Mary, born August 30, 181 1; mar-
ried Lyman Warner, September 11, 1832. Hul-
dah, born December 5, 1812; married James
Jones, September 11, 1832. Jane, born Febru-
ary 15, 1814; married David HoUister, Septem-
ber II, 1832; died March 19, 1834. Bridget,
born September 26, 1816; died September 22,
1833. Julius, born October 6, 181S; married
November 4, 1840, to Mary Wadsworth; mar-
ried Fidelia T. Sackett, December 12, 1855.
Electa Chapman, born August 6, 1820; married
Pierpont Edwards, October 31, 1838; died in
September, 1S40. Sylvia Smith, born July 31,
1822; married Charles E. Boughton, March 22,
1843. William Chapman, born July 12, 1824;
died March 26, 1825. Mrs. Warner resides at
Lowell, Massachusetts; she is a widow and has
one child, a daughter. Mrs. Jones resides in
Canfield; has three children living, one deceased.
Mrs. Boughton resides in Canfield. One son is
living, and one was killed in the war.

Julius Tanner, only surviving son of Deacon
Edmund P. Tanner, has resided in Canfield all
his life. His residence is the old homestead
farm. His first wife died April 15, 1855, leav-
ing three children living and one dead — Edward
Wadsworth, William Henry (deceased), Henry
Archibald, and Mary Ida. All are married
Edward married Kate Shaffer ; resides in Mead
ville, Pennsylvania. Henry married Carrie Har-
rison; resides in Pittsburg; he has two children
Ida married John Delfs, and resides in Canfield
has two children, one living.

By his second marriage Mr. Tanner is the
father of three children — Fanny Chapman, died
at the age of seventeen; Edmund Prior, and
Horace Boughton. The sons reside at home.
M>s. Tanner had one son by her former mar-
riage, Myron W. Sackett, now residing in Mead-
ville, Pennsylvania.

DR. A. W. CALVIN.

In the full strength of vigorous manhood, in
the midst of a successful professional career
which was rapidly raising him in the esteem of a
community where he was already trusted and

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

honored, Dr. Calvin was suddenly prostrated
by a dread disease, and after an illness of brief
duration, died on the i8th of December, 1881,
in the thirty-fifth year and seventh month of his
age.

Of his boyhood it is perhaps sufiScient to state
that it was Hke that of most farmers' sons.

Aaron Wilbur Calvm was born in Green
township, Mahoning county, Miy 18, 1S46.
He was a son of Robert and Jane Calvin, who
were well-known in this vicinity, and both of
whom have been dead less than two years, the
husband preceding the wife about three weeks.
Nurtured by Christian parents by whom the seeds
were sown which subsequently developed into
the character which gave him such a hold upon
the affections of all who knew him, he with the
rest of the children was accredited with a good
name.

His education was begun in the district school
at Locust Grove, and afterwards prosecuted at
the old academy in Canfield. After acquiring
an ordinary amount of learning, he turned his
attention for a brief period to the profession of
teaching. He was married, February 15, 1866,
to Miss H. I. Fowler, a daughter of Dr. C. R.
Fowler. After his marriage he resided in Can-
field until 1868, when he removed to Crawford
county, Illinois, where he remained two years.
In 1870 he returned to Canfield, and began the
study of medicine with his father-in-law, Dr.
Fowler, and in 1873 graduated from the Cleve-
land Medical college. After graduation he
began the practice of his profession in Canfield,
and continued the same up to the time of his
death. During his mairied life he was blessed
with three children : Mamie, Emma, and Flor-
ence, who are now aged respectively fifteen,
eleven, and six years. These, with the bereaved
wife and three brothers and four sisters, are left
to mourn his loss.

As a citizen and a man Dr. Calvin received
the respect and confidence of all. Always gen-
erous and obliging, he made hosts of friends,
and was able to retain them. As a student he
applied himself with more than usual vigor, and
completed his course of study in much less time
than is usually allotted to the ordinary pupil. As
a physician he was learned in theory and skilled
in practice, yet he was a constant student,
searching in every field for means of increasing

his knowledge and usefulness. He was a faith-
ful and tender nurse, and to this fact owed much
of his success. But above all he was a consci-
entious man. He took no unwarranted risks;
none of his patients were ever troubled with the
fear of being experimented upon at the risk of
life. He had begun to gather about him, just
prior to his death, circumstances of prosperity
above the ordinary man of his age. He had
just reached that period of life where he might
begin to enjoy the fruits of his faithfulness and
industry, when he was smitten by the hand of
death.

The above statements are gathered from a
discourse delivered by Rev. C. L. Morrison on
December 25, 1881, and they present a fair and
impartial view of one who was beloved, hon-
ored, and esteemed by a large circle of intimate
acquaintances.

JUDGE FRANCIS G. SERVIS.

A man of noble and genial nature, charitable,
and friendly toward all who needed friendship
and sympathy; never failing to extend a helping
hand to those in distress; full of enthusiasm him-
self, he gave, both by example and precept, aid
and encouragement to the struggling and aspir-
ing; endowed with an honorable ambition, labor-
ing manfully and unceasingly to make his influ-
ence widespread and useful, he was snatched
away just as he had reached the goal of his
hopes.

Judge Servis was born in Hunterdon county.
New Jersey, August i, 1S26, and died in Can-
field, Ohio, March 6, 1S77. His father, Abram
P. Servis, was born in Amwell township, Hun-
terdon county. New Jersey; he died in Berlin
township, Mahoning county, Ohio, February 28,
1858, at the age of seventy-four. He married
Sarah Pegg, a native of the same county and
State as himself They came to Palmyra town-
ship. Portage county, arriving May 29, 1827.
Mrs. Servis died the following August. She was
the mother of two children, Mary A. and Francis
G. The former survives in Deerfield, Portage
county.

Francis G. Servis was married September 11,
1853, to Martha E. Patton, youngest of three
daughters of John and Mary (Taylor) Patton.
John Patton was born in Ohio .April 3, 1806;

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

married in 1828, and died May 8, 1880. His
wife, a native of Beaver county, Pennsylvania,
was born in 1810, married in 1828, and died in
October, 1832, aged twenty-two years. Martha
E. Patton was born in Beaver county, Pennsyl-
vania, December 15, 1831, and by the death of
her mother was left an orphan at the age of ten
months. Mr. and Mrs. F. G. Servis, having no
children of their own, adopted two daughters,
Florence Geer and Minnie V. Piert, the former
at the age of five years and the latter at the age
of three. Florence is now the wife of Frank W.
Freer, .\shland, Ohio. Minnie is single and re-
sides at home with Mrs. Servis.

Judge Servis's father was a man in humble cir-
cumstances, who, after coming to Ohio, settled
on a small farm, and divided his time between
labor upon his farm and law practice in the lower
courts. He had few early opportunities, but
made the most of the facilities afforded him,
and, having a natural aptitude for legal pursuits,
he was skillful in the management of his cases.
He is said to have been quite successful, and this
no doubt, led his son to adopt the same profes-
sion. The young man, however, was obliged to
depend entirely upon himself for means to ac-
quire an education. He passed his boyhood
l.iboring at various occupations, gaining what
knowledge he could from the limited advantages
afforded by the district schools and studying
with zeal in his spare time.

In 1850 Judge Servis came to Mahoning
county and entered the probate office of William
Hartzell, then probate judge, as his deputy.
While performing the duties of this position he
pursued his legal studies under the instruction of
John H. Lewis, Esq., at that time a leading law-
yer of Mahoning county bar. In 1853 Mr. Ser-
vis was admitted to the bar upon the certificate
of Wilson & Church, in whose office he had
completed his studies. Soon after he opened
an office, and ere long enjoyed a good prac-
tice. The acquaintance formed with citizens
of all parts of the county during the years of
his clerkship was of great service to him ; the
young man had many friends, and rose in his
profession with almost marvelous rapidity. By
diligence in his business, by faithfulness in
promptly and punctually discharging every duty
entrusted to him, he gained the confidence and
respect of all his clients. When embarked on

the full tide of a prosperous practice, neither
greed for gain nor any other unworthy ambi-
tion ever entered his heart. On the contrary,
he rendered valuable assistance to many just
entering upon the difficult task of building up
a law practice, who, like himself, were obliged
to begin at the foot of the ladder. A distin-
guished member of the Mahoning bar, after the
death of Judge Servis, spoke of his friend and
brother in the profession as follows: "I came to
Canfield compelled to .rely for a livelihood on
my own exertions, and I should have found this
a hard matter to accomplish had it not been for
the helping hand extended to me of Judge Servis.
I had no clients, but he had many. He worked
from dawn of day till late at night, and many and
many a time has he come to me and told me
where I could make a cent, a dime, or a dollar.
I can never forget the kindness done me in those
days by this noble-hearted man. Illustrating his
kindness, let me speak of what I myself know.
A few years ago, while he was in Montana, the
banking firm of which he was a member made
an assignment, and by the stress of circum-
stances he individually was compelled to do the
same. I was his assignee, and when I came to
look up his assets, I found that there were hun-
dreds, nay, thousands of dollars loaned out to
needy widows or unfortunate men, from which
not a dollar could ever be realized. He loaned
knowing that he would never get a dollar back;
he gave out of his warm sympathy never expect-
ing a return save that which came from the
affectionate regard of those whom he helped."

Concerning his abilities as a lawyer, a promi-
nent member of the bar said:

He was strong as a statutory lawyer, and in this respect
had not an equal in the State of Ohio. He had the statutes
at his fingers' ends and at his tongue's end, and could turn
to any one he wanted without a moment's delay or hesita-
tion. When you add to this his strong common sense, he
was an antagonist in a law suit to be dreaded and an at-
torney to be desired and sought after.

Judge Servis exerted a great, and at times a
controlling influence in the politics of the county
for nearly a quarter of a century. Up to the
time the war broke out he was a Democrat, but
when Sumter was fired upon he espoused the
Union cause with fervent patriotism, and faltered
not in this course until he laid down his life.
Considering his activity in politics he rarely held
office. Indeed, he seemed more desirous of

42

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

helping his friends than of advancing his own
interests. He was twice elected prosecuting at-
torney of Mahoning county, and discharged the
duties of that office with great credit to himself
and advantage to the public.

During the war he was draft commissioner for
Mahoning county, and in the discharge of the
responsible duties of this trying position he dis-
played energy, courage, and ability that com-
manded universal admiration.

In 1872 he was appointed associate justice of
the supreme court of Montana, and entered up-
on his duties in the fall of that year. In the
summer of 1875 he resigned this position, re-
turned to Canfield, and resumed his practice.
In Montana he was held in high esteem by men
of all parties. The press and bar of that Terri-
tory, with absolute unanimity, paid the highest
tributes to his memory as to his ability, integrity,
and judicial character generally.

In 1876 Judge Servis was elected circuit judge
of his district. Concerning this period of his
career the Youngstown Register says :

There is no doubt that he has cherished for many years
an honorable ambition to hold the office to which he has just
been elected, and upon the performance of whose duties he
has not been permitted to enter. Since his election last Oc-
tober he has without any doubt overworked himself that he
might reflect honor upon the great public dignity to which
the people had called him. Of the judicial reputation and
honorable fame he justly anticipated winning from a service
upon the bench, among those with whom he had maintained
life-long friendship and associations, cruel Death has robbed

Both in public and in private life Judge Servis
was ever the same — a genial, generous, whole-
souled man; and at his death the entire com-
munity mourned the loss of a valued and trusted
friend.

HENRY VAN HYNINC.

The name Van Hyning originated in Holland
and was brought to this country by some of the
earliest of the New York colonists.

Henry, son of Henry and Hannah (Brower)
Van Hyning, was born in Saratoga county, New
York, May 1, 1797. His mother, who was his

father's second wife, was a grandchild of

Hogardus, a missionary from Holland. To the
first wife of Heniy Van Hyning, Sr., three sons
were born, and to the second four sons and six
d.Tughiers, of whom only two survive, Henry and

Sylvester. The latter lives in Norton township.
Summit county.

In the spring of 1804 the family started for
Ohio. The family then consisted of the father,
mother, and nine children. Mr. Van Hyning
made a canoe and took it with the heavier part
of his goods to French creek, thence into the
Allegheny, to Pittsburg. There he was met by
the family, who had journeyed by land, and after
putting the goods aboard wagons, all started for
Canfield. They came via Beaver and arrived in
Canfield township the latter part of August,
1805, having stopped in Susquehanna county
nearly a year, and remained until the latter part
of October. During their stay in Canfield the
youngest son, Sylvester Van Hyning, was born.

Meantime the father had been to Northamp-
ton, then in Trumbull, but now in Summit
county, and had selected and purchased land for
a farm. He hitched up his teams with two
wagons and started for his new home, traveling
by the way of Ravenna, and cutting a road a
portion of the distance. From Ravenna he pro-
ceeded to Warren and there purchased a barrel
of pork, a barrel of flour, and a barrel of whiskey,
doubled his teams, and in due time reached
Northampton. There were then but two white
families in that township. All was dense forest
and Indians were numerous. After six years of
pioneer life in Northampton, Mr. Van Hyning
sold out and removed to Wolf creek, now Nor-
ton township, where both he and his wife died.
The father lived to see the fourth generation and
attained the remarkable age of one hundred and
two years. He served in the French and Indian
war and all through the Revolution.

In the last-named war he was a captain, and
commanded a company of picked men, selected
from a brigade. Of the eighty members of this
company not one was less than six feet in height,
the captain being among the tallest of them.
Captain VanHyning was under General Gates,
and particijaated in the battle which resulted in
taking General Burgoyne. During his residence
in Northampton he was a justice of the peace;
the greater part of the time for several townships,
all of which were included in one election dis-
trict. He also held the same office in \\'olf
Creek district, being one of the first elected
there.

Henry VanHyning, Jr., passed his early years

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

43

amid the pioneer scenes ot the Western Reserve.
He is one of the few men now living in Ohio
who had Indians for iiis neighbors and associates.
He found them friendly and well disposed,
learned to talk their language, and frequently
went hunting with them.

He obtained all of his school education in the
log school-houses of pioneer days, usually at-
tending a few months in the winter. At home he
frequently studied by the light of hickory bark,
and, in fact, picked up the most of his learning
in this way.

At the time of the War of 1812, though not
subject to military duty, he went into the service
as a substitute for his brother, who had been
drafted immediately after Hull's surrender, and
served about three months in scout and outpost
duty against the Indian raiders.

While in Norton Mr. VanHyning was a justice
of the peace for several years, and was engaged
in other public business, settling estates, etc.,
most of the time. In 1855 he removed to Cleve-
land, thence to Newburg after a year or two. He
remained in Newburg until he removed to Can-
field in 187 I. Mr. VanHynmg was principally
the means of getting a bank established in Can-
field, and has been its president ever since it
was founded.

He has married twice — first on August 14,
1820, to Miss Almira Taylor, a native of Con-
necticut. She bore him three children, two sons
and one daughter — Julius, Giles, and Henrietta.
The daughter died in Newburg at the age of
twenty-three; Julius is a farmer in Napoleon,
Henry county, Ohio; Giles is a prominent mem-
ber of Mahoning county bar, practicing in Can-
field.

Mrs. VanHyning was born January 15, 1799,
and died March 14, 1864.

November 30, 1864, Mr. VanHyning wedded
Julia Randall. She was born in Northampton,
Massachusetts, April 2, 18 15. She died March
27, 1881.

Mr. VanHyning is a man of sterling integrity, ,
an esteemed citizen, and a useful member of so-
ciety. His long life and active business career
have made him familiar with many men, and all
speak of him in the highest terms.

COLONEL SHERMAN KINNEY.

Sherman Kinney was born in Washington,
Litchfield county, Connecticut, September 4,
181 7, being a son of Theron and Ruth Ann
(Meeker) Kinney. Sherman is the oldest of a
family of eight children, two sons and six daugh-
ters, of whom all are living except two daughters.
His parents removed to Ohio when the subject
of this sketch was about fourteen years old, set-
tling in Boardman township where the father
died in 1863, aged seventy-two. Mrs. Kinney is
still living in Boardman. Sherman Kinney re-
ceived a common school education. When in
his thirteenth year, under the instruction of his
father, he began to learn the carpenter and
joiner's trade, working summers and attending
school winters. After about four years he began
working with his uncle, William Meeker, also a
carpenter, and continued with him until he was
about nineteen. His father then gave him his
time during the remaining years of his minority,
and Mr. Kinney began work for himself, and has
since been following his trade. He made the
study of architecture a specialty, and having a
love for his pursuit he soon became well skilled
in designing, which he has practiced as a depart-
ment of his work from 1840 up to the present
time.

From the beginning of his business life Mr.
Kinney has been successful. He has worked in-
dustriously, zealously and faithfully. Of recent
yeats his business has been large and ever in-
creasing. He has taken many important con-
tracts and in every instance his work has given
the best of satisfaction.

From 1852 to 1859 Mr. Kinney was a con-
tractor and builder in the city of Cleveland and
conducted quite an extensive business with his
usual success.

In i860 he came to Canfield, where he has
since resided. As a business man he enjoys the
respect and confidence ol his fellow-citizens, and
maintains a high social standing. Mr. Kinney
is a Republican, but he has always been too busy
to take a very active part in politics. In military
matters he has been honored by several appoint-
ments.

In 1 841 Mr. Kinney was chosen a captain of
militia, and served several years. At the break-
ing out of the war a company, principally of Can-
field men, was raised and Mr. Kinney was chosen

44

TRUMBULL AND ALAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

ca])tain. Under the first call for troops — seventy-
five thousand men for three months — this com-
pany attempted to get into the army, but did not
succeed, though many of its members subse-
quently enlisted in other companies.

At the time of the organization of the State
militia during the war the militia of Mahoning
county was divided into three regiments, and
Mr. Kinney received an appointment as colonel
of the Second regiment of Mahoning county,
and served in that office about two years.

Mr. Kinney was married in 1838 to Miss
Marcia M. Titus. This lady was born in Wash-
ington, Litchfield county, Connecticut, December
10, 1820, anff was the daughter of Onesimus
and Nancy Titus. The parents moved to Board-
man township m this county in 182 1 and spent
the remainder of their days on the farm where
they first settled. They reared five children who
arrived at maturity, Mrs. Kinney being the second
child. Three of this family are now living, one
son and two daughters. Mrs. Titus died in 1863
aged sixty-seven; and Mr. Titus in 1875 at the
age of eighty four.

Mr. and Mrs. Kinney have no children living.
Their only child, Henry, born September 8,
1849, died October 13, 1856. This couple
have many friends and no enemies.

It has been truthfully said, "On their own
merits, modest men are dumb," and Colonel
Kinney is one of most modest and unassuming of
men. Nevertheless, his long experience in act-
ive business has made his circle of acquaintances
a large one, and every one bears cheerful
testimony to his worth and usefulness. By faith-
ful attention to his business and unwearied indus-
try he has won success and prosperity.

NOTES OF SETTLEMENT.

George J. Lynn was born in Berks county,
Pennsylvania, December 26, 1775. He came to
Ohio in the fall of 1803 and purchased land in
Canfield township, then Trumbull county, and set-
tled in the midst of the forest. He erected a
rude log cabin in which he and a sister kept
house until his marriage in the spring of 1807.
I lis wife was Miss Catharine Grove, a representa-
tive of a pioneer family. The subject of this
sketch was a poor boy and started in life with

but seven cents in money and the clothes he had
on. But he patiently and successfully met every
difficulty which beset his pathway and eventually
accumulated quite an extensive property. He
died November 14, 1833, mourned by his rela-
tives and a host of friends, by whom he was
familiarly known as " Uncle George." He was
the father of five sons and two daughters, as fol-
low: David, John, George, William, Levi,
Mary, and Elizabeth. Levi and William are
dead, both leaving families. Mrs. Lynn sur-
vived her husband until March 15, 1866. They
are buried in the cemetery near Canfield.

David Lynn, the eldest son of the subject of
the previous sketch, was born on the old Lynn
homestead April 25, 1808. His occupation has
always been that of a farmer. He was united
in marriage February 17, 1834, to Miss Mary
Ann Harding. To them were born nine chil-
dren, as follow: George, John, George E., Al-
medus, D. E., Elizabeth C, Lucy A., Mary, and
Mary Jane. George and Mary Jane died in in-
fancy; the remainder are living. Mr. Lynn is
one of the prosperous and substantial farmers of
his township and has held various offices of trust.
He and his wife are members of the Presby-
terian church of Canfield.

George Lynn, third son of George J. and
Catharine Lynn, was born on the old homestead
where he now lives, in Canfield township, March
21, 1813. During his active business life he has
followed farming. He has been twice married,
first to Rachel Moherman, who became the
mother of five sons, viz: Freeman T., George
F., Ensign Daniel, Orlando M., and Walter J.

Henry Thoman, Canfield township, Mahoning
county, was born in York county, Pennsylvania,
in 1790. He learned shoemaking when a young
man, though he has followed farming principally.
He married Mary Marter, who died in 1 860, having
borne ten children, viz : Harriet, Daniel, Cath-
arine, Lewis, Henry, Margaret, Isaac, Samuel,
Jesse, and Amanda. Six are living, — Lewis, in
•Kansas; Harriet (Crouse), in Crawford county;
Catharine (Morris) and Margaret (Wining) in
Columbiana county ; Samuel iind Amanda
(Heintzelman), in Canfield township. Mr. Tho-
man is now passing the evening of his ripe old
age at the home of his son Samuel. The family
came to Beaver townshif), Mahoning county, in
1S28. In 1877 Mr. Thoman and his son Sam-

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

45

uel moved to Canfield. Samuel rhoman was
born in Beaver township in 1833. He has fol-
lowed a variety ot occupations, having been a
carpenter, a tinner, a millwright, a merchant,
and a farmer, by turns. He has also resided in
what is now Mahoning county. In 1854 he
married Elizabeth Heintzelman, of Beaver town-
ship. They have had si.\ children : Ora Alice,
Alvin, Viola, Melvin, Cora L., and an infant
daughter. Ora Alice, Melvin, and the youngest
are deceased. The family belong to the Re-
formed church.

Prior T. Jones, farmer, Canfield township,
Mahoning county, was born in Ellsworth town-
ship, in 1836. In i860 he married Ellen R.
Bond, of Edinburg, Portage county. They have
four children, — Lester L., Harry T., James B.,
and Amy Belle. Mr. Jones is a son of James
Jones, who was born in Ellsworth in 1807 and
died in Canfield in 1870. He married Huldah
Tanner, and lived in Ellsworth until 1852, then
moved to Canfield. While in Ellsworth he car-
ried on tanning some years. His widow still
lives in Canfield. She has borne four children,
three of whom are living : William died in
Kansas in 1857 about twenty-four years of age;
Prior T., Fanny (Turner), and Laura reside in
Canfield. A sketch of the Jones family will be
found in the history of Ellsworth.

George F. Lynn, member of the firm of Lynn
Brothers, druggists, Canfield, Mahoning county,
was born in Canfield township, March 20, 1845,
a son of George and Rachel Lynn. He followed
the diy goods business seven years, commencing
in 1866. Since 1873 he has been engaged in
the drug business. He was married November
9, 1872, to Lena N. Taylor, of Canfield. Mr.
Lynn, for a young man, has been honored with
a large number of local offices. He has been
township clerk nine successive years ; secretary
of the Mahoning County Agricultural society one
year, and treasurer of the same two years. He
was nominated for county auditor in 1880 by the
Democrats, and ran about four hundred votes
ahead of the rest of the ticket ; he was a mem-
ber of the Democratic Executive committee sev-
eral years, and was chairman of the central com-
mittee in 1879, and exerts much influence in the
Democratic party. He is one of the incorpora-
tors of the Northeastern Ohio Normal school,
Canfield, and is secretary of its board of trustees.

He has served several years as councilman of
the incorporated village of Canfield.

J. C. Turner, farmer and coal operator, Can-
field township, Mahoning county, was born in
1832 on the old Turner homestead, his present
residence. In 1869 he married Fanny Jones,
daughter of James and Huldah Jones, of Can-
field. They have two children living, one de-
ceased— Elsie, Laura Electa, and Sylvia (de-
ceased). Mr. Turner is proprietor of a coal
bank, from which he is shipping several car loads
of coal daily. He has been working the mine
about three years. At present he employs from
thirty to forty men, and is the most extensive
coal operator in the township. For Turner fam-
ily see Canfield township history.

Warren Hine, stock dealer and farmer. Can-
field, Mahoning county, was born in Warren,
Litchfield county, Connecticut, in 1810. In 181 1
his parents returned to Canfield, their home, and
here Mr. Hine has since lived. He has followed
agricultural pursuits and is a large dealer in
stock; he has been buying and selling for many
years and is well known throughout a large
region. Mr. Hine was married in 1836 to
Rhoda Tichner, a native of Salisbury, Connecti-
cut. They have no children of their own, but
have reared two in their family, namely, Kate
and Warren. During the war Mr. Hine warmly
espoused the Union cause and was earnest in
getting recruits for the army. Formerly a Whig
he is now a Republican. Mr. Hine is a wide-
awake citizen and a friend to every good work.
He was one of the earliest supporters and organ-
izers of the Mahoning County Agricultural
society. For his parentage see chapter on Can-
field township.

Lewis D. Coy, physician, Canfield, Mahoning
county, was born in Green village, Mahoning
county, in 1848, the son of Wesley and Dorothea
(Bush) Coy, of Green village. He studied with
Dr. Tritt, of Green ; attended Eclectic Medical
institute, Cincinnati ; graduated therefrom May
9, 1876. He then located in Green village and
practiced till Apiil, 1879, when he settled in
Canfield, where he now enjoys a large and in-
creasing practice. In April, 1881, he was ap-
pointed physician at the county infirmary. This,
with his outside calls, keeps the doctor very
busy. In 1868 he married Laura C. Bowell, of
New Albany, Ohio, who has borne two children.

46

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

Olive F. and Warren. Dr. Coy served in the
late war; enlisted January, 1864, in company C,
Sixth Ohio cavalry, and served until the close of
the Rebellion. He is a member of the Lutheran
church.

John H. Clewell, lumber dealer, Canfield,
Mahoning county, was born in Northampton
county, Pennsylvania, in 1806. He worked as
a tinner and locksmith some years. In 1835 he
came to Ohio and resided in Green village, Ma-
honing county, where he was engaged in buying
and selling stock. In 1837 he moved to Can-
field and kept the hotel known as the Clewell
house on the site of the present American house.
This business he continued until 1848. He then
went to Philadelphia, where he kept hotel about
one year. In May, 1850, he returned to Can-
field and began the manufacture of sewing ma-
chines. In 1854 he engaged in the lumber busi-
ness, which he still continues. At first his work
was making bed-pins and broom-handles. In the
first days of the oil well excitement he manufact-
ured pump-rods for the oil well pumps. He
now manufactures and deals quite extensively in
all kinds of house-furnishing lumber. Mr.
Clewell was married in 1830 to Elizabeth Koeh-
ler (born in 1S08), daughter of Nathaniel Koeh-
ler, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania. To them have
been born four children: Harriet Adelia (Whit-
tlesey), Canfield; Stephen Albert, Stillwater,
Minnesota; Delorma M., Ravenna, and Mary
L. (Super), Athens. Mr. Clewell is a member of
the Odd Fellows.

John J. N. Delfs, tanner, Canfield, Mahoning
county, was born in Hamburg, North Germany,
in 1849. In July, 1872, he emigrated to
America, and after remaining a few months in
New York city went to Hartford, Connecticut,
and worked at his trade. From Hartford he
went toHolyoke, Massachusetts, thence to Rock-
well, Connecticut, from Rockwell to Cleveland,
from Cleveland to Pittsburg, and from the latter
|3lace to Canfield in 1877. The following year
he married Miss Ida M. Tarlner. They have
had two children — Roy and Fannie. Only the
son is living. Mr. Delfs belongs to the order of
Odd Fellows. Mrs. Delfs is a member of the
Congregational church.

Allen Calvin, miller, Canfield, Mahoning
county, was born in Green township, Mahoning
county, in 1842. He is a son of Robert Calvin-

He lived at home until of age, then went to
Southern Illinois, and was there nearly all of the
time for eighteen years engaged in milling. In
1880 he returned to Mahoning county, and
began milling in Canfield. Mr. Calvin was
married in 1868, to Miss Julia E. Reese, of
Annapolis, Crawford county, Illinois. She was
a native of Pennsylvania ; she died in November,
1874, leaving two children living — Eva Laura
and Joe V. Another, Cora Lee, is dead. Mr.
Calvin is a Democrat politically.

William Schmick, retired merchant, Canfield,
Mahoning county, was born in Reading, Berks
county, Pennsylvania, August 21, 1812. When
fifteen years of age he began to learn the trade
of making hats, and worked at this trade until
1840. In September, 1833, Mr. Schmick came
to Ohio, and began working at Green village,
now in Mahoning county. There he continued
fifteen years. During this time he was elected a
justice of the peace, and served three terms. In
the fall of 1848 he was elected sheriff of Mahon-
ing county, and moved to Canfield, which has
since been his home. In 1850 Mr. Schmick
engaged in business as a merchant and continued
until 1861, when he gave up his store to his sons.
From 1853 to 1861 Mr. Schmick served as post-
master in Canfield. Four years, 1857-61, he
was deputy United States marshal of the North-
ern district of Ohio. He was cashier of the
bank in Canfield four years (1870-74). He has
been a very active and successful business man.
During recent years he has not been in active
business, though he continues to take deep
interest in all that relates to the prosperity of his
town or county. In 1881 he was nominated by
the Democrats of Mahoning county, without his
knowledge or consent, for State Senator, but of
course in a strongly Republican district an elec-
tion could not be expected. Mr. Schmick was
married in 1837 to Mrs. Rhoda Trevett {nee
Brookhart) of Frankfort, Hampshire county, Vir-
ginia. To them have been born two sons, Wil-
liam Henry and Charles Nelson. Both are
prosperous business men of Leetonia, Colum-
biana county, where they are engaged in bank-
ing «nd mercantile business; also doing an ex-
tensive business in iron manufacture, being the
proprietors of a rolling-mill, two blast furnaces,
etc.

Hosea Hoover, Canfield, Mahoning county,

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

was born in Kendall, Stark county, Ohio, No-
vember 27, 1814. He is the oldest son of Jacob
and Elizabeth (Shellenberger) Hoover, who
came from Pennsylvania to Ohio at an early
date. His father died in 1835; ^'^ mother is
still living. The family consisted of eight chil-
dren, of whom five are living — Hosea, Canfield;
David, iMarlboro, Stark county; Hector, Alli-
ance; Mrs. Mary Tribbey, Ravenna; and Frances,
Alliance. Mrs. Hoover, the mother, is still liv-
ing at Alliance, at the ripe age of eighty-eight
years, in good health, and in full possession of
her faculties. The names of her children who
are deceased are Hiram P., died at P etersburg;
Humphrey, died at Alliance; John, died in Stark
county. After the death of his father, Hosea being
the oldest of the children, the care of the family
devolved largely upon him, and for many years all
his earnings were contributed to its support.
Mr. Hoover has resided in this coimty nearly
all of his life ; his parents moved to Springfield
township, now in Mahoning county, when he
was about four years old, and he has since resided
in Mahoning. When a young man he learned
carpentry and joining, and worked at that busi-
ness until 1S54. In that year he was elected
treasurer of Mahoning county; moved to Can-
field with his family in 1856. Having been re-
elected in 1856, he thus served two terms with
great credit to himself and satisfaction to the
citizens who elected him. Mr. Hoover was em-
ployed in the drug business about nine years.
He served as deputy collector of internal revenue
in this county for four years and eight months.
He was married January 26, 1842, to Mary Seid-
ner, daughter of Christian Seidner, of Spring-
field township. Mr. Hoover is an active mem-
ber of the Odd Fellows, which organization he
joined twenty-six years ago. He has been a
member of the Methodist church forty-six years,
and has contributed liberally toward its support.
Pierpont Edwards, manufacturer, Canfield,
Mahoning county, was born in New Milford,
Litchfield county, Connecticut, July 7, 1812,
the second of a family of seven children. His
grandfather, Edward Edwards, of Welsh parent-
age, was born in London, July 16, 1743, and
died in this country October 19, 1823. Edward
Edwards sailed from Bristol, England, April 6,
1764; arrived in New York the 27th of May
following, and settled in New Milfoid. His wife,

Martha, died June 3, 1824, aged eighty-two.
The father of Pierpont Edwards was Martin
Luther Edwards, born May 18, 1781, and died
September 14, 1870. His mother was Sarah
Hoyt, who died February 25, 1851, at the age
of sixty-sevtn. Her father was Nathan Hoyt,
who was driven out of Norwalk when it was
burned by the British during the Revolutionary
war. M. L. Edwards and family moved to
Warwick, Orange county. New York, in 182 1,
and resided there until the spring of 1827, when
the whole family started for Ohio in a two-horse
wagon. They were three weeks on the way.
They settled in Canfield permanently, excepting
one year afterwards spent in Boardman and one
in Steubenville. Pierpont Edwards followed
chair-making and painting a number of years
with his father, and afterwards by himself In
1838 he was married to Electa Chapman, daugh-
ter of Edmund P. and Fanny Tanner. She
died September 22, 1840, aged twenty years, and
an infant son died the nth of the following
month. November 8, 1842, Mr. Edwards mar-
ried Mary Patch, formerly of Groton, Massa-
chusetts. She has borne three sons and three
daughters. The oldest, Albert Tanner, died
October 4, 1863, in his twentieth year. The re-
maining five are living — Sarah Electa, George
Rufus, Lucy, Ellen, and Martin Luther. In
1851 Mr. Edwards' house and shop were burned.
He then engaged in selling stoves, clothing, etc.,
and for a few years was in the drug and medi-
cine business with the late Dr. W. W. Prentice
and his brother. Dr. N. P. Prentice, now of
Cleveland. During the late war he was in part-
nership with J. Sanzenbacher in the drug and
grocery line. His health failing he dissolved
partnership and sold out. In 1866 he built a
new store and commenced dealing in groceries
and notions in 1867. This business be con-
tinued until May, 1881. In 1869 he formed a
partnership with J. Sanzenbacher and began the
business of tanning and manufacturing leather
belting, which business is still carried on in the
name of J. Sanzenbacher & Co., who are as-
sisted by George R. Edwards and Charles Sanz-
enbacher, sons of the partners, and I. Callahan,
Mr. Sanzenbacher's son-in-law, who have an in-
terest in the business. This industry is more
fully noticed under the head of Canfield town-
ship.

48

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

Stephen W. Jones, Canfield, Mahoning coun-
ty, was born in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, July
29, 1799. He passed his early life farming, and
has followed that business principally, though
with the usual characteristics of a Yankee he
has turned his hand to almost every kind of
mechanical labor, such as carpentry, wagon
manufacturmg, furniture making, etc. In mid-
dle life he became much interested in scientific
studies, especially geology, and has followed up
his investigations zealously through many years.
In 1853 he was sent to the Holy Land by the
Society for the Amelioration of the Condition of
the Jews, looking to the colonization and im-
provement of the Jews of that portion of the
world. He was there during the Crimean war
and saw many of the trying scenes of those
troublous times. In 1855 he returned to his
home in Massachusetts and resumed farming and
mechanical work. In 1864 he sold his farm and
for four years was engaged in various occupa-
tions. In 1864 he was among the mines of
Nova Scotia five months, being employed as a
geological expert. Returning to Boston he was
immediately engaged by a mining company to
investigate the newly discovered oil regions, and
followed this work some time, traveling a por-
tion of each year. He journeyed hundreds
and freciuently thousands of miles yearly, often
on foot, and made explorations in New York,
Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, Kentucky, etc.
In 1868 he moved to Salem, Columbiana coun-
ty, Ohio. His wife died that year and he again
became a wanderer, visiting and residing in
various localities. In 187 1 he settled perma-
nently in Canfield, his present home. Mr. Jones
[)ossesses a keen, investigating mind, and his
travels and studies have enabled hitii to acquire
a large amount of valuable scientific information.
His tri^vels have extended over all the northern
Slates east of the Mississippi and through
Canada and the provinces. He has published
many articles in the press, and his opinions are
regarded as of weight and value by scientific
men. At the advanced age of eight-two his
mind is remarkably active and his capacity for
mental and physical labor great. He jjossesses
a rare and valuable collection of minerals from
all parts of America, as well as many choice
relics gathered in the Holy Land. Mr. Jones
was married, March 3, 1824, to Dalesa Crosby,

of Stockbridge, Massachusetts. She died in
1869, having borne one child, Sarah Elizabeth,
born in 1825 and died at the age of twenty-
three. January 13, 1872, he married Almira
Mygatt, youngest daughter of Comfort S. My-
gatt, one of the early merchants of Canneld.

Judson W. Canfield, farmer and county sur-
veyor, Canfield, Mahoning county, was born in
Canfield, December 5, 1828. He is the only
son of Henry J. Canfield. He was educated in
the schools of his native place, studied surveying
with his father and S. W. Gilson, and began its
practice in 1849. He has served three terms of
three years each as county surveyor and is now
serving a fourth term. As a practical surveyor
Mr. Canfield sustains an enviable reputation.
He was assistant [jrovost marshal of the Nine-
teenth district during a portion of the war
period, and was also assistant assessor of internal
revenue several years. In addition to his other
duties Mr. Canfield manages a large farm.
On the 28th of February, 1853, he was mar-
ried to Betsey M. Turner, daughter of James
Turner, of Canfield. They have five children,
namely: Julia A., Maude M., Walter H.,
Judson T., and Colden R. For Mr. Canfield's
ancestry see the chapter on Canfield township.
The- first map of Mahoning county, made in
1 86 1, is the work of Mr. Canfield.

John Dodson, merchant, Canfield, Mahoning
county, was born at Stepney Green, near Lon-
don, England, in 1808. In 1852 he emigrated
to America, settling in Cleveland and engaging
as a clerk in 1853. In 1859 he removed to
Canfield and engaged in merchandising, which
he continues to follow. Mr. Dodson was mar-
ried in England in 1832 to Eleanor Sullivan.
She died in 1854 in Canfield, having borne no
children. In 1865 he married Melissa R. Skyles,
a native of Pennsylvania, by whom he has two
children living and one dead, viz: Victoria (de-
ceased), Tom Vass, and John Warren. Mr.
Dodson is a successful business man.

J. O. Corli, druggist, Canfield, Mahoning
county, was born in Canfield township, No.vem-
ber 20, 1857. He is a son of William Corll.
He was educated in the schools of Canfield, and
commenced business for himself in 1879. Mr.
Corll is a young man of enterprise and is fast
laying the foundation for a successful business
career.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

49

S. E. Dyball, dentist and merchant, Canfield,
Mahoning county, was born in Orange, Cuya-
hoga county, May 2, 1856. He was educated in
the schools of his native county; studied den-
tistry at Chagrin Ealls, came to Canfield and
began its practice in May, 1S77. He soon found
his business rapidly increasing and is now kept
busy constantly. In the spring of 188 1 he joined
Mr. M. i,. Edwards in a partnership in the dry
goods business. Mr. Dyball was married Octo-
ber 31, 1877, to Lora J. Antisdale, of Chagrin
Falls. He is a member of the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows lodge. At the spring
election, 1880, he was chosen mayor of the vil-
lage of Canfield, which office he still continues
to hold.

Dr. Jackson Truesdale, merchant, Canfield,
Mahoning county, was born in Austintown town-
ship, in 1820. He is a son of John and Mary
(Reed) Truesdale, of Poland township. His
parents died when he was between four and five
years of age, and thenceforth he was cared for
by his grandmother until about twelve years old,
at which time he became a member of the family
of his uncle. Dr. Joseph Truesdale, of Poland
township. He attended the select schools of
Poland, and about the age of si.xteen began
studymg under private tutors at Oberlin, and
afterwards at Allegheny college. At the age of
seventeen he commenced teaching in the district
schools of this county, and m 1840 went to
Kentucky, where he continued in the same em-
ployment. He taught three years or more in
Kentucky and Tennessee, employing his spare
time in the study of medicine. In 1844 he re-
turned to this county and continued his studies
under his uncle's tuition; attended medical lec-
tures at the Cleveland Medical school ; began
the practice of medicine in 1846 at Lordstown,
Trumbull county, removed thence to Frederick,
Milton township, Mahoning county; from Fred-
erick to North Benton, thence to North Jack-
son, and to Canfield in 1855. While residing in
Jackson Dr. Truesdale was elected justice of the
peace and served several years, and m 1854 he
was elected county auditor of Mahoning county.
At the expiration of his first term he was re-
elected and administered the duties of that re-
sponsible otifice during another term to the entire
satisfaction of the citizens of the county. In
1859 the doctor embarked in mercantile enter-

prise, in which he still continues. Dr. Truesdale
has been married four times ; first to Julia Tan-
ner, of Kentucky, she lived only a few months
and died of consumption; second to Lola M.
Tyler, of Lorain county, who died ofter being
married three or four years, leaving two children,
Henry T. and Lola M. Henry entered company
E, Second Ohio cavalry at the age of sixteen ;
was captured by the enemy, and after nine
months' imprisonment died at Andersonville.
He was a noble young man and his untimely
death was a heavy blow to his parents. Lola is
the wife of Edgar Cummins, of Lorain county,
where she resides. Dr. Truesdale was next mar-
ried to Hannah Eckis, of Milton township, who
lived about sixteen years after her marriage.
There were no children. In 1865 he married
the lady who now presides in his home, Lucy
Allen Ripley, of Berlin, daughter of Edwin Rip-
ley, and granddaughter of General Ripley. The
fruits of this union have been three children,
two of whom are living, viz: Eddie (died in in-
fancy), William J., and John. Dr. Truesdale is
a prominent member of the Independent Order
of Odd Fellows lodge, from which he has re-
ceived the highest honors within its gift. He has
been a member of' the Methodist church from
boyhood.

Isaac Manchester, the third son of Benjamin
Manchester, was born in Canfield in 18 10, and
was married October 2, 1834, to Eleanor, daugh-
ter of Hugh Wilson, who emigrated from county
Down, in the north of Ireland, and settled in
Canfield at an early day. She died October 18,
1867. To them were born six children, who are
now living, viz: Hugh Alexander, born March
5, 1837; Robert Asa, born August 13, 1838;
William John, born September 27, 1840; Mary
Maigaret, born April 22, 1844; Benjamin Oscar,
Dorn November 11, 1847; Hannah Jane Eliza-
beth, born July 20, 1854. They are all married.
The oldest two live in Mahoning county, and
the others all live in the State of Indiana. Ben-
jamin Oscar is, at present, city clerk of Elkhart.
H. A. Manchester and Miss Rose A. Squire,
who was born September 27, 1838, were married
November 8, 1859. She was the daughter of
Asher Canfield Squire, who was a native of Con-
necticut, and moved with his father to Canfield,
Ohio, at a very early day. Her mother was
Mary, daughter of Thomas Jones, who moved

so

TRUMBULL AND MAHONINCx COUNTIES, OHIO.

from Maryland and settled in Ellsworth town-
ship in 1804. H. A. and Rose A. are the par-
ents of six children — Mary E., born June
20, 1 86 1, an intelligent and amiable girl, who
died September 22, 1880; Laura E., born De-
cember 5, 1862 ; Fanny C, born July 8, 1S65 ;
Isaac Asher, born July 22, 1867; William
Charles, born December 25, 1873; Curtis Asa,
born November 6, 1876. H. A. received a
liberal education at the Poland and Mahoning
academies. He commenced teaching school at
the age of eighteen, and has followed that pro-
fession more or less every year since. His gen-
eral practice has been to teach in the fall and
winter months, and to cultivate his farm in the
spring and summer. He has taught the district
school where he now lives, and in which he was
raised, for twenty-three winters. He is now, and
has been for the last six years, a member and
clerk of the board of county school examiners.
He has also been moderately successful and
thrifty as a farmer, having acquired, by the aid
of a most industrious and economical helpmeet,
a farm of over two hundred acres in the south-
west part of the township. He has been elected
to fill, at different times, nearly every important
local and township office. He is now one of
the justices of the peace of the township, and
has held the office for the last fourteen years.
He was the Democratic candidate for Represen-
tative in the State Legislatuie at the last election,
and though defeated, as the county is largely
Republican, in his own township he received the
entire vote of his party and nearly one-hall' of
the whole Republican vote.

Jacob Barnes was a native of New Haven,
Connecticut, born in 1785. In 1813 he mar-
ried Nancy Carroll, who is still living. She was
born in Surry county, Virginia, in 1790. The
family moved to Canfield in 1826. There were
twelve children, eight of whom arrived at ma-
turity, and seven are still living — Ann (Doud),
Chicago; Jacob H., Bement, Illinois; Jane
(Ellett), Alliance, Ohio; Lois (Hine), Leetonia;
Nancy (Neff), Humboldt, Kansas; Theophilus
and Sarah, Canfield. Mr. Barnes was a pro-
nounced anti-slavery man, and his efforts to assist
the fugitives are of considerable local notoriety.
He died in 1848. His widow now resides in
Canfield village.

T. G. Barnes, son of Jacob and Nancy Barnes,

was born in Canfield township, August 8, 1828.
He has always followed farming, and has always
lived upon the farm where he was born and
of which he is now the owner, which consists of
seventy-one acres. He married October 14,
1857, Miss Alice A. Cowden, the result of which
union was three children, two sons and one
daughter — Williard S., Gertrude C, and John
J., all of whom are living.

Darius J. Church, of Canfield township, Ma-
honing county, was born in that town in 1825.
He received a good common school education,
and afterwards followed general merchandising,
in which business he was successfully engaged
for many years. In 1852, two days after the
election of President Pierce, he was married to
Miss Electa Morrel, of Orangeville, Wyoming
county. New York, and by this union is the
father of two children — Fannie, born July, 1853,
now the wife of John T. McConnell, a merchant
of Mineral Ridge, Mahoning county ; and Fred
Church, of the firm of Church & Coffee, of
Voungstown, born September, 1854.

R. J. Crockett, farmer, Canfield township,
Mahoning county, was born January 3, 1837.
He was the second son of James and Sarah
Crockett, who were the parents of ten children
who grew up and were married. The subject of
this sketch came from his native State, Virginia,
when but two years of age with his parents to
Ohio, the family settling in Portage county. At
the outbreak of the rebellion he enlisted in coir.-
l)any A, P'irst Ohio light artillery, and served
for four years. He participated in some of the
severest engagements of the war, Shiloh, Chick-
amauga, Kenesaw Mountain, Mission Ridge,
Stone River, etc. He received a wound in the
arm near the shoulder by a ball from one of the
enemy in one of the engagements, but the in-
jury did not prove serious. At the expiration of
his term of service he returned to his home,
then m Stark county. He had learned the trade
of carpenter and joiner, and he now took up that
business and followed it for a few years. He
then went to Ellsworth, Mahoning county, and
was married to Miss Caroline Lour. To them
have been born three children — Perry J., Frank,
and Florence E. Mr. Crockett is the owner of
a finely improved farm, the result of industry
and economy. James Crockett, his father, was
a soldier in the War of 18 12.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

Lewis Cramer, farmer, Canfield township, Ma-
honing county, second son of W. F. and Agnes
C. Cramer, was born in Beaver township, Ma-
honing county in 1837. His father and mother
were natives of Germany, born respectively in
the years 1793 and 1795. They emigrated from
Germany with their family consisting of four
daughters and one son and the father of Mr.
Cramer, in the year 1830. They came to what
is now Mahoning county and settled in Beaver
township. He cleared up and improved a farm
which he occupied until 1855, when he moved to
Berlin township where he resided until his death,
i860 or 1861. His wife survived him some
twelve years. Lewis Cramer, when sixteen years
of age learned the trade of carpenter and joiner
and followed it with industry for sixteen years.
He afterwards became a farmer and still contin-
ues in that occupation. He was married in
1867 to Miss Mary Ann Kenreigh and has two
sons, Noah M. and William F. Mr. Cramer is a
farmer of thrift and enterprise, as is plainly evi-
denced by his surroundings. Himself and Mrs.
Cramer are both members of the Lutheran
church.

David Clugston, ot Canfield, Mahoning coun-
ty, fifth son of Thomas and Mary Clugston, was
born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, in De-
cember, 1829. He was married in 1851 to Miss
Lavona McKelvey, of Portage county. Mr.
Clugston is a blacksmith by trade and is asso-
ciated with Thomas C. Scott, under the firm
name of Clugston & Scott, in that business in
Canfield. He is an enterprising citizen, taking
an active interest in educational matters. Him-
self and wife are both members of the Disciple
church at Canfield.

J. S. Collar, manufacturer of lumber, Canfield
township, Mahoning county, fourth son of Ira A.
and Sarah E. Collar, is a native of Mahoning
county, born in 1S49. At an early age he began
work in the mill with his father in the manufact-
ure of lumber, which business he has success-
fully followed. He was married in 1873 to Miss
Christina Toot and has two children — Carrie D.
and Ella May.

William Y. Comstock, farmer, of Canfield
township, Mahoning county, was born in Wil-
liamstown, Berkshire county, Massachusetts,
January 12, 1816. He came to Portage county,
Ohio, in 1832. September i, 1842, he married

Miss Betsey Hine, of Canfield, by whom he has
three daughters, viz: Chenia W., born March
21, 1847; Carrie S., born October 26, 1853;
Mary H., born April 22, 1858. Mr. and Mrs.
Comstock are members of the Presbyterian
church of Canfield. They are now residing up-
on the old Hme homestead.

Hiram Dean, farmer, of Canfield township,
Mahoning county, is a native of Connecticut, born
in the year 1799, and came with his father's
family to Canfield. He married in 182 1 Miss
Ruby Mason, by whom he has had seven chil-
dren, four sons and three daughters: Austin,
Mason, Priscilla, Benjamin, Mary, William and
Minerva. Mason and Mary are still living.
The rest are deceased. Benjamin died at Mur-
freesboro, Tennessee, during the war of the
rebellion. Mr. and Mrs. Dean are prominent
and zealous members of the Disciple church.

Orvill Edsall, eldest son of Henry Edsall, was
born on the old homestead, where Amos Swank
now lives, east of Canfield, December 13, 1825.
He was married in April, 1852, to Lydia Ritter,
daughter of Henry Ritter, now eighty-seven years
of age, and living in Berlin township. For sev-
eral years after his marriage Mr. Edsall resided
in Canfield, where he kept a grocery and pro-
vision store for some time, and then moved to
the farm where he now lives. Mr. Edsall has a
family of one daughter and two sons, viz : Julia,
Charles H., and Edwin. One child is deceased
— Hiram, who died in infancy. Julia married
Charles Wetmore, and has one child, Frank.

Benjamin L. Hine, fourth son of David and
Achsah Hine, was born upon the old homestead
in Canfield township, December 17, 1814. He
assisted his father in carrying on the farm until
twenty years of age, when he went to take care
of his uncle Justus Sackett's farm, which he
superintended for seven years while his uncle
was absent dealing in stock. He then returned
to his father's home near Canfield, and took
charge of the old farm for three years. He then
purchased sixty acres near by, and as he pros-
pered added to his original purchase, the farm
containing one hundred and forty-two acres at the
time of his death. He married Miss Silia W.
Comstock October 5, 1841, and had one son
and one daughter, Henry M. and Lucy K. He
died October 20, 1872. His widow still survives
and lives with her son Henry, who owns the old

52

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

farm. He was born October 17, 1843; married
January i, 1866, Miss Clara Williams, and has
two children — Charles H. and Frances Irene,
two having died in infancy. Lucy married, Jan-
uary 3, 1870, Henry Cozad, by whom she had
one child. Her husband lived but two years, and
she subsequently married again and now resides
in Akron, Ohio.

William Hine, the youngest child of David
and Achsah Hine, was born upon the old Hine
homestead in Canfield township, January 9, 1828.
He married, September 30, 185 1, Miss Mary A.
McClelland, which union has been childless.
From boyhood Mr. Hine has been engaged in
agricultural pursuits and is now situated upon
finely improved farm in Canfield. He is a rep-
resentative of a pioneer and respected family.
He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian
church of Canfield.

Horace Hunt, farmer, Canfield township, Ma-
honing county, eldest son of Ezra Hunt, was
born in Boardman township, that county, in
1805. Ezra Hunt came from Milford, Connec-
ticut, about the beginning of the present century
to Boardman township in company with Elijah
Boardman, for whom the township was named.
Mr. Hunt purchased a lot of Boardman on
which he built a log cabin. About the year 1804
he married Miss Dema Sprague, daughter of an
early settler. They encountered the various
hardships and privations incident to pioneer life,
and now sleep in the burying ground at Canfield.
They had a family of five sons and one daugh-
ter as follow : Horace, Charles, Emeline, Or-
vill, Richard, and Harmon. Orvill, Richard, and
Emeline are dead. Richard died while in the
army, at Nashville, Tennessee, during the war of
the Rebellion. Horace remained on the farm
with his father until twenty-five years of age, and
also worked at the trade of carpenter and joiner.
As early as sixteen he began teaching school.
In 1833 he married Miss G. Ruggles, and has
had five sons and one daughter — Cornelius C,
Alfred A., Chauncey M., Alice M., Azor R., and
Henry M. Alfred and Chauncey enlisted in the
army in the war of 1861-65. Alfred fell in bat-
tle at Atlanta, Georgia, and lies buried in a
Southern grave. Chauncey returned to his home
at the close of the war in a shattered physical
condition, but with careful nursing by a kind
mother finally recovered. He now resides in

Warren, Ohio, and is manager of the Kinsman
Machine works. Horace Hunt is still residing
on his first purchase. He and his wife are mem-
bers of the Methodist Episcopal church of Can-
field.

Eli Harding, farmer, Canfield township, Ma-
honing county, is the fifth child and third son of
John and Elizabeth Harding, of the preceding
sketch, and was born on the old homestead,
near Canfield, December 20, 1821. He was
raised upon the farm and remained with his
father until he was twenty-five years of age. In
1849 he married Miss Rosa Yager, whose parents
were early settlers in Mahoning county. They
have a family consisting of one son and three
daughters, all of whom are living, namely: Betty,
John A., Julia A., and Charlotte. Mr. Harding
is an enterprising citizen and prosperous farmer.

George E. Harding, farmer, Canfield township,
Mahoning county, was born September i, 1819.
He is a representative of a family who were among
the earliest settlers of that township. His grand-
father, John Harding, came to the township with
his family as early as 1805 or 1807, and settled
on the farm now occupied by the subject of this
sketch. He died in his seventy-ninth year, after
a long life of toil and usefulness, his wife surviv-
ing him some years. After their death the home-
stead was bought by John, the second son, who
was born in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, in the
year 1787. He came to Ohio with his parents.
At the age of twenty-four he married Miss Eliza-
beth Crumrine. He had a family of five sons
and three daughters, viz: Mary Ann, Elizabeth,
John A., George E., Eli, Peter, Lucy Ann, and
Jacob. Elizabeth, John A., and Jacob are de-
ceased. John was killed by a hay fork striking
him upon the head while unloading hay. The
father and mother are both deceased. Mr.
Harding survived his wife nine or ten years.
They were good citizens, earnest Christians, and
useful members of society. George E. Harding,
the fourth child and second son, as before stated,
occupies the homestead which for so many years
has been in possession of the family, and is one
of the enterprising farmers of the community.
He married, in 1850, Miss Elizabeth Lynn, and
has a family of six daughters and one son, viz:
Emma E., Fannie Alice, Melissa S., Anna S.,
Ida, Celia, and George L. One daughter (Mary
Ellen) is dead.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

S3

Peter Harding, youngest son of John and
Elizabeth Harding, was born on the old Harding
homestead, nearCanfield, October i8, 1824. He
assisted his father in carrying on the farm until
twenty-five years of age. Three years later he
purchased sixty acres adjoining the old farm,
and when thirty years of age he married Miss
Amanda Diehl. They have four children as fol-
low : Mary E., Willie G., Clara B., and Frankie
I. Mary E. is the wife of J. A. Ebert, a farmer
of Ellsworth township, and has one son and
two daughters, Flora B., Scott Wilson, and Lizzie
E. Mr. Harding is among the substantial and
enterprising farmers of his township.

Jonathan Kline was born in Northampton
county, Pennsylvania, in 1796 or 1797. His
father was Abraham Kline, who came to Ohio in
the early settlement of the county and located
where the city of Youngstown now stands. Here
he reared his family, consisting of three sons
and three daughters. He was an active man
and a large property-holder, dealing largely in
stock, in which he was very successful. He
was born in Northampton county, Pennsyl-
vania, in 1769, and died December i, 1816, at
the age of forty-seven. Jonathan Kline at the
age of twenty-five was married to Elizabeth,
daughter of Philip Arner, havmg settled two
years before upon a portion of his father's estate
in Canfield township. He followed in the foot-
steps of his father, supermtending his large estate,
consisting of one thousand acres, and also dealt
largely in stock. He was the fatlier of five sons,
viz : Solomon, Gabriel, Peter, Caleb, and
Heman ; all living but Caleb who died at the
age of four years. Mr. Kline died in 187 1, leav-
ing a family of four sons and a widow, and
numerous friends to mourn his loss. His widow
is still living on the old place in Canfield. Peter
Kline was born August 25, 1830, and in 1853
married Hannah Beard. The fruit of this union
was one son, Jonathan Allen. Mr. Kline, like
his father and grandfather, turned his attention
to farming and stock raising and is the owner of
one of the best improved farms in his township.
Heman Kline, the youngest son of Jonathan and
Elizabeth Kline, was born in 1844, and at the
age of nineteen married Miss Martha Folk, and
settled in Berlin township on the farm where he
now lives. He has three children, Charles H.,
Warren C, and Ida May.

John Kirk, farmer, Canfield township, Ma-
honing county, son of John and Ann Kirk, was
born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, May 15, 1827.
He came with his parents to Jefferson county,
Ohio, in the year 1829. His father having died
he remained with his mother until the twenty-
third year of his age, when he married Miss
Mary Pow, whose parents were early settlers in
Mahoning county, owning the farm now owned
by the subject of this sketch. To Mr. and Mrs.
Kirk have been born three daughters — Elizabeth,
Jane, and Barbara. Jane is the wife of M. S.
Frederick. Mr. Kirk has given a good deal of
attention to the raising of stock, and is the
owner of a well-improved and good farm. Mrs.
Kirk is a member of the Disciple church.

George D. Messerly, oldest child of John and
Susannah Messerly, was born in Beaver town-
ship, now Mahoning county, in 1836, on the old
Messerly homestead. He remained at home
assisting his father upon the farm until his mar-
riage in 1861. He married Miss Mary Ann
Miller, and has one daughter and two sons —
Hattie E., Joseph, and Charlie A.; Joseph died
in infancy. Mr. Messerly is a thrifty and pros-
perous farmer, owning two hundred and forty-
eight acres in the eastern part of Canfield
township. He and his wife are both members
of Paradise Reformed church, in Beaver town-
ship.

John C. Miller, manufacturer of lumber, Can-
field township, Mahoning county, was born in
that county in 1S47. He remained upon the
farm with his father until his marriage in 1869.
His wife was Sarah E. Collar, by whom he has
one child, RoUis R. In 1877 Mr. Miller and
J. S. Collar formed a co-partnership for the
manufacture of lumber, under the name of Mil-
•ler & Collar. Their saw-mill is situated about
two and a half miles south of Canfield.

Henry M. Meeker, carpenter and joiner, Can-
field, Mahoning county, was born March 3,
1837. His father, Marion Meeker, was born in
Connecticut in 1806; came to Mahoning county,
then Trumbull, Ohio, in 1822. During his life-
time he was engaged in various pursuits; first a
farmer and stock dealer and later proprietor of
the American hotel, of Canfield, or more com-
monly known as the Meeker house. This he
conducted until his death in 1865. His wife,
whose maiden name was Cynthia D. Cleland,

54

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

survived him several y^ars, dying in March,
1872. They had a family of nine children, six
sons and three daughters — Mary A., Anthony
Wayne, Henry M., Marion, William C, Louis
M., Maria H., Ora J., and Winfield Scott.
William C. and Winfield are deceased. Henry
Meeker, the subject of this sketch, is the only
one of the family now residing in Mahoning
county. At the age of seventeen he learned
his trade, which he has since followed. He
enlisted early in the war of the Rebellion
in the Second Ohio volunteer cavalry, but
became disabled, and was discharged after a
service of a year and a half. Returning to Can-
field he married, in 1867, Miss Jennie Slaugh.
To them was born one daughter, Minnie E.
Mrs. M. is a member of the Disciple church.

John K. Misner, farmer, Canfield township,
Mahoning county, was born in Berlin township,
said county, in 1836. His father, George Mis-
ner, is a native of Pennsylvania, whre he was
born in 1813. He came to Mahoning county
with his parents, Benjamin and Mary, about the
year 1820, and settled in Berlm township. He
married before reaching his majority. Miss Han-
nah Swartz, and raised a family of ten children
— four sons and six daughters, as follow: Har-
riet, Zimri, John K., Lucy M., Prances, Isabella,
George, Hannah, Jane, and James. One daugh-
ter, Lucinda, is deceased, dying in infancy. In
1837 the father removed with his family to
Trumbull county, subsequently removed to Indi-
ana, where he lived several years, then returned
to Trumbull county, and at present resides in
Southington township in that county. John K.
Misner was married February i, i860, to Miss
Lystra A. Beeman, and has a family of two sons
and two daughters — C. E., Etta A., Charlie J.,
and ("elia. Mr. Misner is one of the enterpris-
ing farmers of his township, owning one of the
best improved farms, his farm containing one
hundred and ninety acres, and situated two miles
northwest of Canfield village.

Conrad Neff, with his wife and family of six
children, emigrated from Berks county, Pennsyl-
vania, to the then far distant West m 1802, and
settled in Canfield township, then Trumbull
county. Mr. Neff was among the earliest of
that noble band of pioneers who invaded the
wilderness of Canfield, and after untold hard-
shijjs and privations made it to " blossom as the

rose." Mr. Neff began with but little besides
his own strong hands, and a determination to
conquer the obstacles that lay in the way to suc-
cess. He was a hard-working and industrious
man, and succeeded in acquiring a good prop-
erty. He died at an advanced age, his wife
surviving him but a few years. The estate after-
ward came into the possession of John and
Conrad, his sons.

John Neff was born in 1797, and came with
his father's family to Ohio, and always afterward
resided upon the Neff homestead. At the age
of twenty-four he married Elizabeth Kline, a
representative of an early family in the township.
To them were born five children — four sons and
a daughter, as follows: Eli, Mary, Edward, Mar-
tin, and John. John, our subject, was an active
and prosperous farmer, and dealt largely in live
stock, principally in the buying and selling of
cattle, in which he was very successful. He
died in the spring of 1861, one week previous to
the breaking out of the rebellion, He left sur-
viving him a family of three children, and his
wife, who died sixteen years later. They are
buried in the cemetery at Canfield.

Martin Neff, son of John and Elizabeth Neff,
was born on the old homestead March 24, 1828.
His occupation through life has been that of
farmer, having given considerable attention to
stock-raising and the buying and selling of stock.
April 5, 1848, he was married to Miss Catharine
Wilson, the result of which union was five chil-
dren, namely: John E., Caroline, Elizabeth J.,
Mary A., and Lewis, all living but Elizabeth.
Mr. Neff is the owner of his father's old home,
and is pleasantly situated on one of the best im-
proved farms in that locality. He is one of the
most substantial and respected citizens of his
township.

John E. Neff, the oldest child of Martin Neff,
was born on the old home farm February 24,
1849. March 31, 1870, he married Miss Harriet
Louisa Sanzenbacher, and has a family of four
sons and one daughter, as follows: Sadie, Ensign,
ALartin, Calvin, and ('yrus. Mr. Neff owns a fine
farm of one hundred and twenty-five acres near
Canfield, and is one of the most enterprising
and pro.sperous young farmers of the township,
giving considerable attention to the buying and
selling of stock. He and his wife are members
of the Methodist I'^piscopal church in Canfield.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

55

Azor Ruggles, one of the early settlers of Can-
field township, was born and brought up in
Brookfield, Litchfield county, Connecticut, the
date of his birth being May, 1769. He was a
millwright and in 1810 came to Ohio on horse-
back for the purpose of doing some work for
Judge Canfield. After remaining a year he re-
turned to Connecticut and in 1813 brought out
his family, consistmg of his wife and six chil-
dren. The journey was made with two wagons
and teams and consumed one month. The
oldest daughter drove one of the wagons. Mr.
Ruggles first located on the farm where John
Sanzenbacher now lives, remained one year and
a half and settled permanently about two miles
south of Canfield, where he died December 10,
1843. He was twice married. His first wife
was Mary Peck, whom he married in Connecti-
cut, and by whom he had six children, viz: Alice,
Harriet, Julia, Charles, Galetsy, and Hepsey.
Of these three are living, Charles, Galetsy (now
Mrs. Horace Hunt), and Hepsey, who is un-
married and occupies the old homestead. His
first wife died in 1828 and in 1832 he married
Miss C. M. A. Mitchell, by whom he had two
children, Robert M. and Mary Helen, now Mrs.
James Mackey, of Youngstown. His second
wife survived him and she afterwards became the
wife of Dr. Manning, of Youngstown. Miss
Hepsey Ruggles who is now seventy-one years
of age, has in her possession a couple of pillow
cases made by her mother before her marriage,
in 1790, and a picture frame made of the rim
of the wheel on which the material used m the
making of the pillow-cases was spun ; also a
rocking chair in which her mother rode all the
way from Connecticut when the family moved
to Ohio.

Jacob Resch, tanner, Canfield, Mahoning
county, only son ol John and Catharine Resch,
is a native of Ciermany, born December 26,
1835. I'l '852, at the age of seventeen, he
started out to seek his fortuns and sailed for
America. He learned the tanner's trade, and
soon after his arrival in this country commenced
business at Newton Falls, where he remained for
a short time, when he removed to Berlin Center
where he carried on the business for ten years.
He settled in Canfield in 1870 and has since
been engaged in the manufacture of leather.
He married, in 1857, Miss Mary Goeppinger,

and has a family of nine children, named as
follows : John, Charles, Frank, Albert, F'red,
Mary, Laura, Louisa, and Lilly. Mr. Resch has
a leather and finding store in Youngstown. He
is a member of the Lutheran church, as is also
his wife.

Jacob F. Stambaugh, coal dealer, Canfield,
Mahoning county, second son of William and
Sarah Stambaugh, was born in Liberty town-
ship, Trumbull county, Ohio, February 3, 1845.
He assisted his father upon the farm until fifteen
years of age, and at the age of eighteen he en-
listed in company B, One Hundred and Fifty- •
fifth regiment, one hundred day service, in the
late war. After the expiration of his service he
returned to Youngstown, Ohio, and until thirty
years of age was engaged in various pursuits.
In i87i; he was united in marriage to Miss
Elizabeth Milliken, and has had two children,
Frederick and Roy. In 1880 Mr. Stambaugh
went to Canfield, and the same year engaged
with others in mining in Green township, Ma-
honing county. The parents of Mr. Stambaugh
were early settlers in Trumbull county.

Mathias Swank (deceased) was born in Lehigh
county, Pennsylvania, in the year 1812. Soon
after attaining his majority he married Margaret
Strone, by whom he had three children, one son
and two daughters : Hannah, Mary Etta, and
Emery. His wife died January 8, 1867, and he
afterwards married Miss J. E. Wetmore. There
were no children by this marriage. Mr. Swank's
business was principally that of carriage manu-
facturing, which he carried on successfully for a
period of nearly forty years, settling in Canfield
in 1835. He died July i, 1881, leaving a de-
voted wife and many friends to mourn his loss.
He was an active, enterprising business man, a
good neighbor and citizen. His remains were
interred in the cemetery in Canfield. Mrs.
Swank still lives at the old home in Canfield.

Thomas C. Scott, blacksmith, Canfield, Ma-
honing county, second son of Hiram B. and
Elizabeth Scott, was born in Stark county, Ohio,
September 24, 1845. At the age of twenty-three
he went as an apprentice to learn the trade
which he now follows, with David Clugston, and
subsequently entered into partnership with him,
and the firm is now known as Clugston & Scott.
He married, in 1872, Miss Mary C. Parshall,
and has three children — Charles William, Er.

56

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

nest David, and Sophia Elizabeth. Mr. Scott
was in the hundred-day service in the war of the
Rebellion. He and his wife are members of the
Disciple church of Canfield.

Julius Tanner, farmer, Canfield township, Ma-
honing county, eldest son of Edmund P. and
Fannie Tanner, is a native of the township in
which he resides, having been born October 6,
1818, on the farm which he now occupies — the
Tanner homestead. He has been twice married.
His first wife was Mary Wadsworth, daughter of
one of the earliest pioneers of the township. By
this marriage there were four children, three
sons and one daughter, named as follows: Ed-
ward W., Henry W., Henry A., and Mary I. All
are living except Henry W. The mother died
in 1855, and Mr. Tanner subsequently married
Mrs. Fidelia Sackett, widow of Ward Sackett.
By hi? second wife he has three children — Fan-
nie C, Edwin P., and Horace B. Fannie is de-
ceased. Mr. Tanner is one of the substantial
and esteemed citizens of his township. He and
his wife are members of the Congregational
church of Canfield.

Ira M. Twiss, superintendent county infirmary,
Canfield township, Mahoning county, was born
in that county, Poland township, October 7, 1837.
His father, John Twiss, with his wife and one
child, emigrated about the year 1S20 from Con-
necticut to Ohio and settled in w^hat is now Ma-
honing county, Boardman township. There he
reared a family of five sons and three daughteis,
viz: Frederick, Mary, Seymour, Minerva, Sam-
uel, Sarah, Ira, and Titus. Three of the chil-
dren are deceased, to wit : Frederick, Minerva,
and Sarah. Only two of the children are now
living in Mahoning county, viz: Titus, of Board-
man, and Ira, of Canfield. Mr. Twiss, the sub-
ject of this sketch, had followed agricultural pur-
suits until his appointment as superintendent of
the county infirmary in the spring of 1878. This
institution is pleasantly situated about two mile'
northwest of Canfield, the farm containing two
hundred and thirty acres of land, with good
buildings. Soon after attaining his majority our
subject was married to Almira Osborn. The re-
sult of this union is one son — Curtis W.

John Williams (deceased), a native of Penn-
sylvania, emigrated with his family from Bedford
county in wagons to Ohio about the year 1820.
He came to Mahoning county and settled in

Canfield on what is commonly known as the At-
vvood place. Here he lived and reared a family
of two sons and three daughters named as fol-
lows: James, Betsey (Scott), Banner, Nancy
(Dean), and Rachael (Porter). Mr. Williams
was an industrious and hard-working man, and
was in the War of 1812. He died at his home
in Canfield at the age of si.xty-five. His wife
survived him four years.

Banner Williams, farmer, Canfield township,
Mahoning county, second son of John Williams,
was born in Pennsylvania in 1813 and removed
to Ohio with his parents. He was united in
marriage in 1841 to Miss Clarissa Lew, who died
two years afterward. He married for his second
wife Miss Margaret McDonald, by whom he has
had four daughters and one son, viz: Clarissa,
James, Mariette and Mary Ellen (twins), and
Flora. Mariette is deceased. She was the wife
of James Van Horn and left three children. Mr.
Williams has always been engaged in farming
and stock raising, and has given special attention
to the growing of wool. Mrs. \Villiams is a
member of the Disciple church.

Azariah Wetmore (deceased), one of the
earliest pioneers m Canfield township, Mahoning
county, came from Connecticut in 1801. He
was then single, and came out with the Wads-
worths, driving an ox team, ihe second team of
oxen brought into that locality. He made his
home with the Wadsvvorths and helped to clear
the same fall some four acres where the village
of Canfield now stands. In a few months he
returned to Connecticut, but came back the
next year. He afterwards purchased one hun-
dred and twenty-five acres of land south of
the present village of Canfield, where his son
George now lives. He married in 1806 Miss
Balinda Sprague, and had a family of three sons
and five daughters, as follows: Caroline, Har-
riet, Cornelia, Sarah, Betsey, ^Villianl, Henry,
and George.

William Wetmore, farmer, Canfield township,
Mahoning county, eldest son of the subject of
the preceding sketch, was born in 1816. At the
age of twenty-two he married Miss Susan Ed-
wards, daughter of an early and prominent
family, and has had three children — Walden,
Luther E., and Henry P. Walden is deceased.
Mr. Wetmore is an industrious, intelligent, and
inlluential citizen.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

57

Thomas J. Wise, coal operator, Canfield, Ma-
honing county, second son of John and Mary
Wise, was born in Mahoning county, February
8, 1849. He remained on the farm of his
father until sixteen years of age, when he be-
came a clerk in a store. In the fall of 1880 he
engaged in operating in coal, the mine being
situated in Green township, Mahoning county.
The mine is one of the most promising in that
locality, and preparations are being made to work
it extensively. Mr. Wise was married in 1872
to Miss Jennie R. Thorn, of Allegheny City,
Pennsylvania. They have only one son,
James T.

Eli Yager, farmer, Canfield township, Ma-
honing county, was born on the farm where he
now lives, in 1832. The Yager family were
among the earliest in that neighborhood. Henry
Yager came with his family from Pennsylvania
to Canfield township, now Mahoning county, in
1800 or 1801, and resided there until his death.
His wife survived him about ten years. After their
death the homestead was bought by Daniel, the
third son. He was born on the farm now owned
and occupied by his son Eli, whose name heads
this sketch, in 181 1. He married Elizabeth
Carr, by whom he had three children — Eli,
Edwin, and Mary. Edwin is deceased. The
mother died in 187 1. Eli Yager has always
lived on the farm which he now occupies, a
period of nearly half a century. He was mar-
ried in 1865 to Miss Rebecca Corll, and now
has two children — Eda P.' and Irvin C. Mr.
Yager is an industrious and prosperous farmer,
his farm being one of the most highly cultivated
and improved in the neighborhood. He and
his wife are both members of the Reformed
church.

CHAPTER IL

POI>AND.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION.

This township is the southeastern town-
ship of the Western Reserve, and is therefore
township one of range one of the Reserve. It
is bounded on the north by Coitsville, on the
east by Pennsylvania, on the south by Spring-

field, and on the west by Boardman. It was
settled almost as early as any part of the county,
and by the year 18 10 contained quite a large
population which came principally from Pennsyl-
vania.

The surface is quite uneven, especially in the
northern half, which is cut by the deep and nar-
row valleys of the Mahoning and the Yellow
creek. The Mahoning flows in a southeasterly
direction through the northeastern part of the
township, entering at Struthers, and passing out
into Pennsylvania about one-half mile north of
the center road. Yellow creek winds its sinuous
course through Poland village, and flowing
northeast enters the Mahoning at Struthers.

There are many coal deposits, some of them
of superior quality. Iron ore is found in con-
siderable quantities on Yellow creek and else-
where, and the very best of limestone in the
vicinity of Lowellville. All of the land was
heavily wooded originally. The youth of the
present day would doubtless shrink in dismay
from the task, if told that such forests must be
extirpated before they could have homes and
farms of their own.

The soil is deep and fertile, and many excel-
lent farms are included in the township. The
farming community appears to be industrious,
well contented and prosperous. The other in-
dustries furnish abundance of work for all the
laborers, and the general prosperity of Poland
township is fast increasing. By the last census
the population, including the villages, was 2,513.

SETTLEMENT.

Unlike many of the townships Poland was
colonized by quite a large number during the
first two or three years of its history. The first
arrival was Turhand Kirtland, of Wallingford,
Connecticut, afterwards known as Judge Kirt-
land, one of the foremost citizens. He came to
the Reserve in 1798, and arrived within the pres-
ent limits of Poland township, accompanied by
Esquire Law and six other men, on the first
day of August. He acted in the capacity of
agent for the Connecticut Land company. Dur-
ing that year he surveyed the townships in the
Reserve now known as Burton and Poland, and
also assisted Judge Young in surveying Youngs-
town, returning to Connecticut to pass the
winter. In May, 1799, he was again in Youngs-

58

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

town, stopping with Robert Stevens. He also
s[)ent the summer of 1800 upon the Reserve.

A few years later Mr. Kirtland and his brother
Jared brought their families to Poland and took
up their abode in the village. Turhand Kirtland
was State Senator in 18 14, and also served as
associate judge. He was long and favorably
known as an active business man and a public-
spirited citizen. Through his dealings in his
office of land agent he became acquainted with
a large number of the pioneers, all ot whom bore
witness to his popularity and influence. His son,
Dr. Jared P. Kirtland, was likewise an honored
citizen during his residence in the county. He
served as Representative three years.

Judge Kirtland kept a diary of events during
the earliest years of his settlement, which has
been furnislied for our use by Hon. C. F. Kirt-
land, of Poland, and from it many of the early
incidents in this history are taken.

Jonathan Fowler, of Guilford, Connecticut,
was the first white settler in the township. Mrs.
Fowler was a sister of Judge Kirtland. They
came from Connecticut to Pittsburg by land con-
veyance, thence by water down the Ohio, and
up the Big Beaver and Mahoning rivers in a
canoe. The family, consisting of Mr. Fowler,
his wife, and an infant daughter, arrived in
Youngstown in the latter part of May, 1799.
Judge Kirtland was then stopping there, and
took them to Poland in his wagon. They all
lodged for the night by the side of a fire, with
no shelter save the open sky and a big oak tree,
on a spot a few rods west of Yellow creek on
the lot afterwards owned by Dr. Truesdale. Let
the mothers of the piesent day try to picture to
themselves this scene: A deep and lonely forest,
the abode of wild beasts and lurking savages ;
the silence of midnight broken only by the
crackling of the camp-fire, the rustle of the
leaves in the breeze, and the faint sound of the
flowing stream. In this lonely spot is a woman
with her babe in her arms, and two men and their
rifles are her only protectors! Without a roof
above their heads, with no human beings within
miles of them, unless perchance some wandering
Indians, we cannot imagine that this party passed
the night without gloomy thoughts and forebod
ings, and speculations as to what might occur.
I'he fortitude of Mrs. Fowler demands our ad-
miration, and deserves to be remembered by

coming generations. Shortly after their ai rival
a cabin was erected from logs previously made
ready by Esquire Law, and into this the family
moved and made it their home. Their daughter,
Rachel B. Fowler, who married Thomas Riley
in 1820, was born February 16, 1800, the first
white child born in the township. Jonathan
Fowler was drowned in the Big Beaver April 12,
1806, while engaged in boating merchandise up-
on the river. He was the father of Dr. Chauncy
Fowler, of Canfield, and the grandfather of Dr.
C. N. Fowler, of Youngstown.

John Struthers, from Washington county,
Pennsylvania, bought four hundred acres of land
and a mill site on Yellow creek, near its mouth,
August 30, 1799, negotiating with Judge Kirt-
land for the same. On the 19th of October, in
the same year, Mr. Struthers and his family ar-
rived and settled upon this purchase, now the
site of tht! flourishing little village called by his
name. Here, in August, 1800, Ebenezer Struth-
ers was born, the first white male child born in
the township. Alexander Struthers, a lieuten-
ant in the War of 1812, died in the service of
his country at Detroit, in the latter part of the
year 18 13. Hon. Thomas Struthers, of War-
ren, Pennsylvania, well known in this vicinity,
was born at the home of his father, John
Struthers, in 1803, and is now the only surviv-
ing member of the family. His brother John,
who lived upon a farm adjacent to the old home-
stead, died a short time ago.

For a few years alter the coming of these
pioneers the land was taken up very rapidly.
The most of the settlers came from Washington
and Franklin counties, Pennsylvania, and from
that vicinity. Forests were cleared away, log
cabins were erected in various parts of the town-
ship, and initiatory farming operations were be-
gun upon the farms which are now as rich and
productive as any in the county.

From the most reliable information that is now
attainable, the following facts regarding early
families have been gathered. The account is
not so complete as the writer would have been
glad to make it, but every precaution has been
taken to have it as full and authentic as possible.
At tiiis late date many of the early families have
no living representatives here, and there is con-
sequently much uncertainty regarding the exact
dates of their coming:

i

i

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

59

In 1800 John Arrel purchased land in ihe
township and settled where his son Walter S.
Arrel now resides. A complete family record is
given elsewhere in this work.

John McGill came from Pennsylvania the
same year and bought two hundred acres where
the village of Lowellville now stands. He lived
and died upon the farm. His sons were: James,
Joseph, Fenton, Robert, John, and William.
There were also several daughters. John and
Robert died some years ago at Lowellville, and
probably none of the original family are now
living.

John Miller, from Franklin county, Pennsyl-
vania, bought two hundred acres in lot fifty-
seven near the east or Pennsylvania line. He
probably located here as early as 1800. He
married in the township and brought up one son
and two daughters. His son Isaac still lives in
the township.

About 1800 Stephen Frazier settled on the
west line of the township near the Stambaugh
farm.

In 1800 or 1801 William Buck and family set-
tled in the same neighborhood.

James Adair, from Washington county, Penn-
sylvania, settled on lot twenty-four, and later
took up a farm near the river. Among his chil-
dren were William, Alexander, and James, for
many years residents of the township.

John Dickson settled in the township in 1801.
His sons now occupy the old farm.

Rev. James Duncan was an early settler on
the north side of the Mahoning, adjoining the
State line. He was the first pastor of the
church at the center and also preached on Mc-
Bride's hill, in Pennsylvania.

Thomas and John Jordan with their families
settled on the Youngstown road, in the western
part of the township about 1800. Later they
sold out and moved away.

Samuel Lowdcn was an early settler on the
north side of the Mahoning. He lived and
died a single man. There was some mystery
surrounding his departure from earth and by
some he was supposed to have been murdered.

Rev. Nicholas Pettinger came into the town-
ship and settled in 1801. He was the first
pastor of the Presbyterian church.

Francis Heniy settled on the Yellow creek
below Poland village in 1801 or 1802. Among

his cliildren were William, James, John, and
Francis. William settled in the township and
remained for a short time. James removed to
Austintown. Francis lived upon the old place
until he was an aged man.

Robert Smith, from Franklin county, Penn-
sylvania, settled on the south line of the town-
ship in 1802. The family consisted of six
sons and four daughters. James, Robert, John,
Stewart, Joseph, and Samuel were the sons.
The two last named still live in the township.

Benjamin Leach settled west of Yellow creek
about 1802. A few years later he sold to
Arthur Anderson.

Patrick McKeever was an early settler on the
north side of the Mahoning, and passed his life
in the township. His farm adjoined that of
Samuel Lowden.

The widow Cowden and her sons, Joseph,
William, Reynolds, and Dr. Isaac P. Cowden,
were among the early settlers. William located
in the southern part of the township, and Rey-
nolds settled near him. Dr. Cowden settled on.
the place where his son Samuel now resides. He
was the first settled physician in the township,
and had'a large practice in this vicinity. He
died in 1855 '" ^is eightieth year. He rode
day and night over miles and miles of bad roads
in early times. He was honored and respected
by old and young.

Francis Barclay, from Franklin county, Penn-
sylvania, settled one and one-half miles southeast
of the center in 1802, and afterwards moved to
the Pennsylvania line. He married Elizabeth
Wilson, and brought up a large family. Ten sons
and three daughters arrived at maturity. Alex-
ander IS the only one of these children now liv-
ing in the township. James was for many years
a resident of Poland village. He died in March,

1875-

William McCombs, a native of Washington
county, Pennsylvania, settled in 1802 on the
farm where his son William M. now lives. He
died in 1854, leaving a wife and nine children.

Peter Shoaf settled in the southeast part of
the township, on the Pennsylvania line, at an
early day. Thomas Love came about 1802.
His son William, the only surviving soldier of
the War of 181 2 in this township, is still a resi-
dent here.

Robert Lowry, a native of Ireland, and his

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

sons, Robert, William, and Johnston, settled in
the township in 1802. William died in 1827.
His son, J. J. Lovvry,'now occupies the old farm.

James Russel and family, from Pennsylvania,
were early settlers. Mr. Russel located one mile
south of Poland Center. He had three sons —
Robert, John, and Joseph — and two daughters,
all of whom lived and died in the township, ex-
cepting Robert and Joseph, who died in the
West. Major John' Russel was]"a well known
citizen.

Thomas McCuUough settled in the township
in 1803, and brought up a family, which is still
well represented in the'township.

William Guthrie, from Franklin county, Penn-
sylvania, purchased in 1800 the farm of two
hundred acxes on which he settled in 1804. He
brought up two sons and two daughters. The
sons, James S. and John, are still living, the
former eighty-one years old and the latter sev-
enty-three. William Guthrie died in 1848, and
his wife in 1849.

Ludwig Ripple located on the east side of
Yellow creek at an early date. He died on the
place, and after his death the family, which was
(juite large, scattered.

James Stewart and family, from Franklin
county, Pennsylvania, settled near Struthers.
His son John lived and died upon the place.

Gilbert Buchanan came about 1803 with his
sons, Walter, Isaac, and James, and settled on
the southeast center lot. Isaac and James lived
with their father. Isaac never married. James
married but had"no family. Walter settled just
west of Lowellville and brought up a large family,
which moved away after his death.

John Hineman and his sons, John and Sam-
uel, were~early settlers on the south side of the
river, but did not long remain.

The name Truesdale is well known in this
county. The progenitor of the Ohio branch of
this family was John Truesdale, of Scotch-Irish
blood, born in Ireland in 1745. He came to
America with his father, John, in 1771; was a
revolutionary soldier; married Hannah Robinson
and settled in what is now Perry county, Penn-
sylvania; removed thence to Washington county,
in the same State; and in 1804 to Poland town-
ship, settling on a farm between the village and
the center. Here the family resided nine years,
and then moved to a farm about a mile south-

west of the center of Austintown. John Trues-
dale died in 18 19 aged seventy-four; Mrs. Trues-
dale in 1849. Their children were John, James,
Jane, Mary, Hugh, William, Nancy, Alexander,
Samuel, Margaret, Robinson, and Joseph. Nancy
and Samuel died young. Ten grew to maturity.
Mary married but died without issue. John and
James were twins and were born in 1782. Soon
after coming to Poland, John married Mary
Reed, and settled for life in Austintown. With
three other brothers he served in the War of
1812. Both he and his wife died in 1825.
Their children were: James, William, Mary,
John, and Jackson. William, a successful bus-
iness man of Peoria, Illinois, died in 1881.
James settled in Canfield. He married Orpha
Parker, of Kinsman, now Mrs. Elijah Bond.
He died in 1845. John died in Hartford,
Trumbull county, in 1849. Jackson is a well-
known citizen of Canfield. James, the second
son of John Truesdale, married three times.
The name of his first wife is forgotten. His
second was Jane Buchanan, of Poland, and his
third Susan Jordan, of Austintown, where he
passed the greater portion of his life. By his
first marriage he had three sons, William, John,
and James. By his third, a daughter, Mary.
William and James are dead. John lives in I
Wisconsin and Mary (Clemens) in Liberty,'
Trumbull county. James, the father, died in
1862, in his eighty-first year. Jane, the third
child of the original family, remained single and
died in Ellsworth in 185 1, aged sixty-eight.
Hugh, the third son, born in 1790, died in
Poland in 1862. He held the office of justice
of the peace many years, being first elected when
twenty-one years old. He married, first, Anna
Riley, and second, Mrs. Rachael Walker.
Rachael (Cowden), Julianna (Bingham), and
Margaret (Kennedy), daughters by the second
marriage, are still living. William, John's fourth
son, born in 1795, died in Austintown in 1826,
on the old homestead. He married Mary Jordan
and had four children, viz: Clark, Priscilla,
John R., and Calvin. William was an officer in
the artillery service of the War of 181 2. He was
justice of the peace from twenty-one years of age
until the end of his life. Of his children Clark
and Priscilla died young. John R., born in
i82r, died in Canfield in 1879, a worthy citizen.
Calvin studied medicine with his uncle. Dr.

i^tf^i::^

Qf.<^.c^-^i.4=,

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

Truesdale, ot Poland, and is now a prominent
physician in Rock Island, Illinois. Alexander
Truesdale, born in 1798, died in Youngstown in
1874. He married Hannah Leech, of Austin-
town, who bore the following children: Olive
(Weher), Canfield ; John Addison, Thomas Jef-
ferson, James Madison, and Hannah Maria
(Woodruff), all dead; William Wallace, Benja-
min F., Lucy Jane (Jacobs), Charles R., and
Joseph Alexander. Benjamin F. and Joseph A.
are dead. Charles R. is the prosecuting attorney
of Mahoning county. Margaret, the youngest
daughter of John, born in 1799, died in Ells-
worth in 1868. She married Jonathan Eastman
and had eight children, — William, James R.,
Sarah, AJmon, Joseph, John, Mary Marilla, and
Mary Melissa. James, Sarah, and Marilla are
dead. Robinson Truesdale was born in 1801
and died in Youngstown in 1866. He was a
colonel of militia. For his first wife he married
Catharine Borden, of Hartford, and for his sec-
ond Belinda Avery. By his first marriage the chil-
dren were George, Charles, Amelia, Mary, Clin-
ton, Dwight first and Dwight second. George,
Mary, Clinton, and Dwight first are dead.
Dwight and Charles are leading business men
of Cincinnati. Colonel Truesdale was a good
and useful citizen. Joseph, the youngest son of
John and Hannah Truesdale, was born in 1804
and died in 1871. He studied medicine with
Dr. Jones, of Hartford, Ohio, and graduated at
the Ohio Medical college, in Cincinnati. He
succeeded Dr. Jared P. Kirtland in the practice
of his profession in Poland village, and was an
honored and welcome guest in many a house-
hold whenever sickness visited its members.
His practice in Poland and adjacent townships
was large and everywhere received with favor.
In 1847 and in 1856-57 he was a member of
the State Legislature. He married Eliza, daugh-
ter of Judge Hays, of Hartford, Trumbull coun-
ty, and reared a large family, six of whom are
living: Sarah M. (Riley), Pulaski, Pennsylvania;
Ellen E. (Smith), London, England; Lucy C.
(Rockwood), Chicago; Dr. Seth H., Mount
Jackson, Pennsylvania ; Charlotte E. (King),
and Fred, Chicago.*

William Brown settled in Poland township

* Note. — Though the history of this family properly be-
longs to several townships, we have included it all here, to
avoid separating what should be connected.

at an early day. His son now occupies the farm.

Stephen Sexton, from Washington county,
Pennsylvania, settled near the northwest corner
of the township in 1803. He purchased two
hundred acres of land at $2.50 an acre. He
brought up four sons and three daughters.
Joseph Sexton, born April 7, 1796, is the only
one living at this date. His sister Nancy, wife
of John Justice, died in the spring of 1881 in her
eightieth year. Mr. Sexton recalls the following
facts which may be interesting to the younger
readers of this volume. He has known of his
father giving eighteen bushels of wheat for a bar-
rel of salt; of selling oats at ten cents per bushel,
to get money to pay taxes, and has seen the
taxes on two hundred acres paid with a five dol-
lar bill. He remembers well of hearing a store
keeper refuse to take wheat at twenty-five cents
per bushel in payment of debt.

Isiac Walker and his father Nathaniel yere
early settlers in the northeast of the township.
Rachel, the wife of Isaac, came on horseback
from Pennsylvania to Poland on a visit in April,
1811. She was married to Mr. Walker in No-
vember of the same year. He was elected cap-
tain of a military company in the fall of 1812,
and in February, 1813, started with his company
for the seat of 'war. Soon after reaching Fort
Stephenson he was stricken with camp fever, and
died April 5, 181 3. Mrs. Walker remained in
possession of the farm until her death, March
20, 1870. Isaac Walker was the father of one
daughter, now the wife of John Stewart, Esq.

James Blackburn settled on the Center road
early. His sons James and John, also early set-
tlers, lived and died in the township.

James McNabb was an early settler. His son
James lived upon the old place until his death
in the year 1865. His widow still resides
there.

The Moores were early settlers and are else-
where mentioned.

William Campbell and family moved from
Pennsylvania and settled on lot number twenty-
four. The sons, John, Allen, William, and
James, none of whom are living, were all resi-
dents of this township.

William Reed and family, from Washington
county, Pennsylvania, settled just southwest of
the center of the township. James, William,
and Samuel were among the children. Several

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

of the grandchildren of William Reed, Sr., are
residents of the township.

Andrew Dunlap came from Pennsylvania and
settled three-fourths of a mile southeast of Po-
land village. He married the widow of Jona-
than Fowler and brought up several sons and
daughters, among whom were Chauncy and
David.

John McConnell, a native of Ireland, settled
at Poland Center. He brought up a family of
six sons and two daughters, none of whom are
living. He was killed by being thrown from a
wagon. His son John built a tannery on the
farm, afterwards one at Poland village, where he
worked at tanning and shoemaking for some
years, then married and moved away. Thomas
McConnell, a son of John, Sr., settled near
Poland Center. He was the father of six chil-
dren, three of whom arrived at maturity, and
ona of them — John McConnel — is still living
near Poland village, and is now in his eightieth
year. Nicholas lived and died in the township,
brought up two children, who are yet living.
Jane, a daughter of John, Sr., became the wife
of Robert Walker. Both are dead.

William McConnell, not a relative of John
McConnell, settled near the Center, and brought
up a large family, all of whom moved away.

Brian Slavin settled west of the Center about
1806 and reared a large family.

John McCuUey, who came from west of Pitts-
burg, settled quite early at Poland village and
was the first blacksmith in the place. He sold
out and went to Portage county in 1833. He
was married, after coming here, to Sarah Jewell,
a native of New Jersey. This marriage took
place February 16, 1808, in a log house on
Water street. A marriage was a rare event in
those days, and people came from far and near
to witness the ceremony. The house was too
small to contain more than a small portion of
the visitors, so they built up a huge fire out of
doors and stood patiently by it until the interest-
ing exercises were over.

No doubt the early records of this township,
if they could be found, would give some very
interesting history. But they are lost, and the
names of the early township officers are con-
sequently not to be ascertained.

.\N ANCIENT TAX-LIST.

In the year 1803 Poland had a larger number
of inhabitants than any other of the ten Western
Reserve townships now included in Mahoning
county. Poland that year paid a tax of $48.24,
which was about $8 more than the tax of
Youngstown, then the next largest of the town-
ships above mentioned. We give the list of
tax-payers for 1803:

POLAND, RANGE ONE, TOWN ONE.

Amount .Amount

of Tax. of Tax.

Adair, William $ 41 Kirtland, Jared $ 5 08

Briefly, George

Buchanan, John

Burgess Heirs

Blackburn, John,.. .
Buchanan, Gilbert.

Beach, William

Gray, John

Cowden, William. . .
Cowden, |oseph...
Craycraft, Joseph. .
Campbell, Willi a

and Brice

Chapin

Dunlap, William. . .

Duncan, James

Dawson, Thomas.
Dawson, Jacob. . . ,

Dickson, John

Earl, John

Earl, David

Enibrie, James

Fowler, Jonathan.
Frazer, Jonathan..
Gordon, Thomas..
Guthrie, William. .

Hii

John.

Jordan, John

Kinland, Turhana

83 Kirtland, Isaac

60 Keys, Jonas

41 Leach, Benjamin

40 McGill, John

39 McConnell, William . ,

41 McConnell, John

27 McCuUough, John

20 McCombs, John, Jr. ..

40 McCombs, John and

40 William

McCuUough, Thom.-is

— Mclvers, and Lowdon.

41 McGill, Fenton

80 Moore, William

40 Miller, John

20 Nelson, Archibald ....

40 Ripple, Henry

84 Smith, Robert

80 Struihers, John

40 Sheerer, John

40 Shoaf, Peter

68 Stewart, William,...

I 23 Sexton, Stephen

41 Truesdale, John

40 Vance, Andrew

40 Wishard, John

20 Webb, James

40

17-55

Total $48 24

INCEPTION OF THE IRON INDUSTRY.

The manufacture of iron, now the chief indus-
try of the Mahoning valley, had its birth in
Poland township, and Dan Eaton, that odd
compound of good sense and whimsical notions,
was its father. As there is much uncertainty as
to the exact date at which this important in-
dustry began, we reproduce the testimony of
those- who are best informed upon the matter.
Thomas Struthers, now of Warren, Pennsylvania,
says:

I cannot obtain evidence of the exact date when the first
blast furnace on the Reserve was started into operation.
Daniel Heaton (afterward abbreviated to Dan Eaton, by act
of Assembly) I am satisfied built the stack, and made con-
tracts for ore, and wood for coal for a blast-furnace, in 1803;
and the recollection of my older btother is that he had it in

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

operation that year. The only doubt as to the
of his recollection arises from the fact of a suit found on
record by John Hayes and Dan Heaton vs. James Douglass,
June term, 1808, claiming damages for the imperfect con-
struction of a furnace bellows, contracted for September i,
1806. This may have been to replace the original one, how-
ever. It was located about one and one-fourth miles from
the mouth of Yellow cteek, in the township of Poland, then
Trumbull, now Mahoning county. It is certain that Robeit
Montgomery and John Struthers, my father, built and put in
operation a blast-furnace on the same stream, and on the
farm on which the furnace of the Struthers Iron company
now stands, in the year 1806. These furnaces were of about
equal capacity, and would yield about two and a half or three
tons each per day. The metal was principally run into
molds for kettles, caldrons, bake-ovens, flat-irons, stoves,
hand-irons, and such other articles as the needs of new set-
tlers required, and any surplus into pigs and sent to the
Pittsburg market. These were, I believe, the first blast-
furnaces built in the State of Ohio, certainly the first on the
Reserve. The former, it is said, had for one side the nat-
ural rock of the bluff, against which it was built, and for that
or otlier reasons was fickle in its working, and probably did
not last long. I have no recollection of ever seeing it in blast.
The latter continued to work until 1812, when the men were
all drafted into the war, and it was never started up again.

David Loveland, who was born and always
lived near the site of the old furnaces, when in
his seventy-fifth year wrote concerning them as
follows:

The manufacture of iron in the Mahoning valley, now one
of its most important interests, was first commenced near the
mouth of Yellow creek, a short distance from .Struther's sta-
tion, and about five miles southeast of Youngstown, by two
brothers, James and Daniel Heaton. These brothers were
of an enterprising and experimenting disposition, and their
faces will easily be remembered by many of the older settlers
in and about Youngstown.

In 1805 or 1806 they erected, on Yellow creek, near the
Mahoning river, a charcoal furnace, which soon went into
active operation. Connected with, and belonging to, the
furnace proper were about one hundred acres of well-tim-
bered land, which supplied the charcoal and much of the
ore for the works. The "blast" was produced by an appa-
ratus of rather peculiar construction, and was similar in
principle to that produced by the column of water of the
early furnaces. It consisted of a square wooden box set in
a cistern, with an opening at the top for the ingress of water,
and one in the side to conduct the air or "blast" to the fur-
nace. The surplus water escaped underneath. The water,
flowing in through a pipe at the top of the box, was accom-
panied with air, which, being coinpiessed by the continual
flow, was forced through the side opening, and conducted
from thence by a pipe to the furnace stack. The "blast"
thus obtained has always, I am informed, been considered
objectionable on account of its damp and chilly character,
.^t any rate it was the case in the present instance.

After this furnace had been in operation for some time
James Heaton transferred his interest in the property to his
brother Daniel, and went up to Xiles where he built another
furnace. Dan continued at the old works and manufact-
ured considerable iion, much of it consisting of stoves,
large kettles and other castings, the appearance of which
might be considered rude in these days.

While thus engaged Robert Montgomery (with whom I
think was then associated David Clendenin, our member of
Congress elected in 1814) built a furnace on the same creek
about a half-mile* below Heaton's. It was constructed sub-
stantially in the same manner as the Heaton furnace, except
that the blast was much better, being generated by a water-
wheel, walking-beams, and two wooden cylinders.

Soon after the last named furnace went into operation
Montgomery purchased the Heaton furnace property paying
for the same $1,000 in land, and giving a mortgage for the
balance of the purchase monev. It went out of blast almost
immediately after it changed hands. It then got into the
courts, and after being in litigation for several years, was re-
transferred to Daniel Heaton, its original owner, who about
that time or shortly afterward had his name changed by act
of the Legislature to Dan Eaton. It was never started up
again, however, after its sale to Montgomery, and in all,
never made iron for more than three years. Both furnaces
went to ruin after the year 1812.

This, in brief, was the inception of our now great branch
of trade. . . . Though the writer might

justly distrust his early recollections, he would add that they
have often been verified by subsequent acquaintance and
inter-communication with the Heatons and many of the older
settlers and early pioneers of this region, and it is with
pleasure that he now has the opportunity of testifying to the
merits of those two brothers, James and Daniel Heaton, who,
with indomitable will, first gave life to an industry which
from a wilderness has created a city almost continuous for a
score of miles along the valley of the Mahoning.

Bowen and Isaac Heaton established a furnace
on Yellow creek, about one-half mile from its
mouth, about the year 1836. Associated with
them were Dr. Joseph Truesdale, Bostwick

Fitch, Horace Elliot, and Stofer. They

had a stone stack, run the furnace by water, us-
ing charcoal as fuel. They used the ore found
on the creek. 'Ihey made considerable iron,
castings, etc., but the establishment soon became
a total failure through the action of water and
frost upon its foundations.

AN E.^RLY PEH.\T1NG SOCIETY.

The best evidence we have that the pioneers
of this township were zealous friends of educa-
tion, is the knowledge that schools were estab-
lished almost as soon as there were settlers
enough to support them. Here we wish to in-
troduce another fact which clearly indicates the
characteristic desire for self-improvement pos-
sessed by the youth and men of those tmies.

A debating society which met evenings at the
house of John Struthers, and probably at the
houses of other members, was in existence in
1803. The names of those who organized it
were John Struthers, Thomas Struthers, Alexan-
der Struthers, Robert McCombs, William Mc-

* .\bout a mile and a half, it should be.

64

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

Combs, Samuel Wilkinson, William Campbell,
James Adair, William Adair, and John Black-
burn. Similar societies were kept up for some
years, and during the long winter evenings the
sturdy boys and gray-haired men discussed ques-
tions of greater or less importance. These meet-
ings were a source of pleasure to all the mem-
bers, and doubtless many a young man gained
skill and practice in the art of debate as well
as some knowledge of parliamentary rules which
enabled him in future years to preside at public
meetings with ease and dignity — an acquirement
which is of no little value to any citizen. The
old-fashioned debating society was an educator
which imparted valuable instruction to many
young men.

THE FIRST M.\RRIAGE.

The following is from the writings of James
Brownlee, Esq., published in the Collections of
the Mahoning Valley Historical society:

The first marri.ige ceremony was near 1800, and took place
on the farm then owned by John Blackburn, [ohn Blackburn
and Nancy Bryan had agreed to get married. The trouble
was to get some one to marry them, as they were determined
to have the wedding before the surveyors left after finishing
the survey. No minister, no justice of the peace, in fact no
one authorized to mairy. They finally agreed that Judge
Kirtland, having some kind of authority in Connecticut,
where he emigrated from, should officiate. When that was
settled upon it was discovered that no previous announce-
ment had been made, as required by law, by posting notices
ten days. Dr. Charles Dutton said he could remedy this.
So he wrote four notices and posted one on each side of the
log cabin. Then Judge Kirtland looked up his Episcopal
prayer-book, which contained the marriage ceremony. The
company in waiting, a stool was placed in front of the judge,
and on it a white cover. Upon this the judge had placed his
book. A slight delay occurring at the moment v\hen all ap-
peared to be ready, some one proposed that they should take
a drink of whiskey all around before they were married.
T'here were about seventy persons in attendance, and this
was agreed to unanimously. While the judge was taking his
drink some one stole the praver-book, leaving him without a
guide. But he said if they were agreed to it they should say
so. They were both agreed ; and thus ended the ceremony.

In 1802 Esquire Struthers at his house united
in marriage a Mr. Kearney and a Miss Brierly.
Kearney lived a half mile southeast of Poland
village, on land now owned by Mr. C. F. Kirt-
land, and his bride in the same neighborhood.
In the evening after the happy pair had returned
from the 'squire'.s, the neighbors far and near as-
sembled at Kearney's to pay their respects to
them. During the festivities of the evening an
accident occurred which dampened them to
some extent. After the bride had letired to the

second story of the log house, which was reached
by a ladder, the men, in endeavoring to assist
the groom up the ladder, let him fall to the floor,
breaking his leg.

FIRST DE.A.THS.

A man named Hineman died in Poland village
in 1801. He was buried on land now owned by
James McNalley. This was probably the first
death in the township. A Mrs. Stone died in
February 1802, and was buried near the road lead-
ing to Boardman center, near where Mr. Scoville
now lives. This is thought to have been the first
female person that died in Poland.

A PANTHER STORY.

A story is related concerning Tom McClees,
the miller at Struthers' mill. Struthers had a
large dog and McClees took it one day to go out
hunting for deer. Aroused by the barking of the
dog, he hastened to the spot from which the
sound proceeded and discovered a large panther
up a tree. He fired and brought the animal
down. The panther rolled over a steep bank,
and the dog after him, the panther landing upper-
most. McClees took the beast by the tail and
pulled him off the dog; then with the aid of the
dog and a club dispatched him. He killed two
more panthers the same day. This took place
near Indian Rock in the Nebo gully.

"I know not how this thing may be ;
I tell the tale as 'twas told to me. ■

EARLY SCHOOLS.

A school was started at Struthers at an early
date. Perly Brush was one of the first, if not
the very first teacher in the township. Other
early teachers in that school were Rev. Mr.
Cook, James Anderson, and otheBg. The school
was kept in a small log house, and was probably
opened as early as 1801.

Later a school house was built and a school
opened at Poland Center. The house was small,
but many a time as many as one hundred per-
sons were gathered there at singing schools and
other meetings. Forty scholars was about the
number in attendance.

Concerning her school days, Mrs. John Stew-
art has written as follows :

My first day's experience in attending school is strongly
fixed in memory. The school-house was at the Center, and
two hundred acres of unbroken forest lay between our house
and it, making it a serious undertaking for a child of six
years. On the first morning of iny attendance. May, 1819,

0'^<^-^ J2/Q''^^i

p^ C /i<^j J^(j-j^^ .

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

6S

my mother said she was going on horsebaclc to the village,
and that she would carry me on the horse behind her, which
she did. On her return she brought me a copy of Webster's
Spelling Book, and made arrangements for the teacher to
board with us for some time on my account. He was an
estimable young man, James Campbell by name, gone to his
reward. The school-house was built on the southeast cor-
ner of the cross-roads; built of round logs, with a clapboard
roof, held on by weight poles. I do not remember to have
seen a nail about the premises. On the north side was a
window of four lights of eight-by-ten glass. It was set high
above the reach of the smaller juveniles, a wise arrangement
for the protection of the glass. It afforded sufficient light
for the teachers desk under it. On the other three sides of
the house were spaces made by cutting out a log, all e.xcept
sufficient to hold up the corners. In this was a sash for eight
by len, one light high, but no glass. In the winter the sash
was covered with writing paper, saturated with grease ap-
plied to it by a hot flat-iron. These windows let in what was
considered sufficient light for school purposes, and by the
time the winter school was over there was but little paper
left. The writing desks were large slabs, flat side up, sup-
ported by pins set into the wall in holes made by a large
auger. The seats were of narrower slabs, with supports
made of dogwood saplings put into holes made near the
ends by those same augers. There was a ten-plate stove
in the center of the room, inscribed on each of the side-
plates, "Dan Eaton, Hopewell Fuinace." The stove was
set on blocks of wood, protected by one brick at each cor-
ner, between the wood and iron. The cast-iron supporters
made for it were hanging on a wooden pm driven into the
wall for want of sufficient iron to make two rods to hold
them together. The stove-pipe was formed of what was
called "cot and clay." Its circumference was nearly that of
a flour barrel, as it had several barrel staves around it which
were held on by hoops that I suppose had once been on the
ends of flour barrels. The pipe ran through the upper floor,
and the smoke had to find its Wii^ through the roof.

The militia were enrolled in 1802. John
Struthers was elected captain and Robert Mc-
Combs first lieutenant. There were eighty-seven
names upon the roll, and at the first roll call
every man was present. In 1805 the eastern
part of the township formed one company and
the western part another. The two companies
met at the village on the same day for drill.
There being some rivalry between the two com-
panies it was proposed that there be a test to
ascertain which had the best marksman, each
company to select its best man, and he to have
but one shot. The eastern company chose Tom
Glees, and the western a man by the name of
Garner. The distance was sixty yards, off-hand,
with a rifle. McClees fired first, then Garner;
each hit the exact center, consequently there was
no victory.

A partial list of those who were soldiers from

this township in the War of 181 2 includes the
following names :

John and James Strain — John died during the
war; Alexander Buchanan, who volunteered and
died when not quite eighteen years old; Elijah
Stevenson; Alexander McKeever was killed in a
skirmish; Captain Isaac Walker and Alexander
Struthers also died in the service; Major John
Russel, William Brown, John Arrel, Isaac and
Walter Buchanan, Eli McConnell, Francis
Henry, William Reed, James Jack, John Sexton,
William and Johnston Lowry, Hugh Truesdale,
Alexander Truesdale, John and Alexander Cow-
den, William Love. Mr. Love is still living, the
only survivor.

POLAND VILLAGE.

This IS a quiet little country village, prettily
situated on the Yellow creek, about the middle
of the west line of the township. It was first
known as " Fowler's " taking its name from the
tavern ol Jonathan Fowler, built in 1804. Well
supplied with shade trees, without the noise,
dirt, and bustle of large places, Poland wears an
air of repose especially alluring to those who
wish to find rest and health.

In former years the village was a busy one,
and its stores, mills, and hotels did a thriving
business. It was at one time far ahead of
Youngstown as a trading place. It was quite
an important place in the days of staging, as the
stages to Pittsburg both from the north and west
passed through it. The building of the canal,
passing at a distance of two and a half miles
from the village, and later of the railroad, some-
what changed the current of business life, and
Poland suffered because of its location. The
changes wrought by time and the important ac-
cessories of labor and steam seem to have de-
termined that the village, one of the oldest in
the county, should not become a place of any
great commercial importance; and so Poland re-
mains to-day an attractive country village with a
quiet and orderly population. It has an institu-
tion of learning favorably known and liberally
patronized, two churches, several good doctors,
but no lawyers, two hotels, three dry goods
stores, four groceries, one bank, one hardware
store, two tin-shops, two drug stores, two wagon
shops, a turning shop, one photographer, three
shoemakers, three blacksmiths, a harness shop, a
flouring-mill, and a saw-mill. By the last census

66

RUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

the population of the corporation was three hun-
dred and ninety-nine.

INC0RPOR.\TION.

Poland village was incorporated August 7,
1 866. A petition signed by sixty-three voters
had been presented to the county commission
ers and was acted upon favorably. The first
mayor was Andrew Campbell; recorder, Seth H.
Truesdale, elected to serve until April, 1867,
when the following officers were chosen : John

A. Leslie, mayor ; B. B. Stilson, recorder ; C.

B. Stoddard, W. J. Ogden, Adam Case, John
Barclay, Henry Burnett, councilmen; Michael
(iraham, marshal.

The officers at present are mayor, marshal,
recorder, treasurer, street commissioner, and six
councilmen.

POST-OKKICE.

The post-office at Poland was established at
an early date. Jared Kirtland was probably the
first postmaster. He was succeeded by Andrew
Burgess. Other postmasters have been Hugh
Duncan, H. K. Morse, E. F. Drake, Jackson
Moody, Adam Case. George Allen, the present
incumbent, has been postmaster for twenty years.

PHYSICI.\NS.

Dr. Ira Brainard was the first physician who
located in the village. He remained about two
years, and about 1822 removed to Canfield,
where he died in 1823. Dr. Jared P. Kirtland,
a graduate of the Philadelphia Medical college,
settled in Poland in 1823. In 1829-30 he was
a member of the State Legislature, and again in
1834-35- In 1832 he was appointed a State
geologist. He became one of the faculty of the
State Medical college at Cincinnati, and was
afterwards a professor in the Cleveland Medical
school. He died in Cleveland a few years ago.
Dr. EW Mygatt, who still resides here, entered
into practice with Dr. Kirtland in 1829, and had
a large and successful practice for many years.
Dr. Joseph Truesdale settled in Poland in 1831,
and practiced until his death in 187 1. He was
a graduate of the Cincinnati State Medical col-
lege, and an honored man in his profession. He
twice represented the county in the Legislature.
Dr. Davis, an eclectic physician, now of Cleve-
land, practiced here about si.\ years. Dr. Calvin
Truesdale, a nephew of Dr. Joseph Truesdale,
studied with his uncle and graduated from the

Cleveland Medical school. He practiced in Po-
land some years, leaving in 1854. He is now
one of the leading physicians of Rock Island,
Illinois. Dr. Onesettler, a native of this county,
practiced six or seven years, beginning about
1865. There have been other doctors in Poland,
each of whom remained only a short time. The
present practitioners here are Dr. H. R. Moore,
Dr. I. D. Bard, Dr. C. R. Justice, and Dr. A.
C. Elliot, dentist.

A I..\\V COLLEGE

was started some years ago in the house now
owned by B. F. Lee, Esq. Judge Chester Hay-
den and M. A. King, of New York State, were
the originators of the enterprise. They brought
several students with them, and conducted the
school about five years, but abandoned it on ac-
count of a lack of support.

POLAND UNION SEMINARY.

In Older to understand fully the history of
this seminary it is necessary to go back more
than fifty years, and trace from the small be-
ginnings the slow, gradual, but certain growth
and development of the educational interests of
this community. The early settlers of this sec.
tion fully realized the necessity of education,
and had a due appreciation of its advantages.
Convinced of this necessity, Rev. Mr. Bradley,
a Presbyterian minister, opened a select school
about the year 1830, where the classical lan-
guages and higher English branches were taught.
Thus was the seed sown which soon germinated.
In 1835 Mr. John Lynch, a young man of
limited means and a pupil of Mr. Bradley's, put
up the building now occupied by Mr. Clark
McGeehon as a dwelling, and opened an acad-
emy, which was maintained for about ten years,
when Mr. Lynch, because of financial failure,
was obliged to discontinue the academy.

For a period of about four years the educa-
tional interests of Poland seemed to be at a
standstill. The cessation of growth was only
apparent, however, for in 1848 Mr. B. F. Lee,
a student fresh from Allegheny college, laid the
foundation of an academy on the west side of
the town, and began his school in the fall of
the year 1849. Almost immediately another
academy was opened on the east side of Yellow
creek, under the especial care and patronage
of the Presbyterians. Rev. Jacob Coon, Rev.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

67

Algernon Sydney MacMaster, D. D., and Pro-
fessor George S. Rice were at different times
at the head of this academy, which was very
successful for about six years, when the build-
ing took fire from an imperfect chimney-flue
and was burned, and the school in consequence
soon thereafter discontinued.

Mr. Lee selected a natural and picturesque
mound for the location of his academy, erected
a suitable building, and employed a competent
corps of teachers, to-wit : Professor M. R. At-
kins, principal; Miss E. M. Blakelee, precep-
tress; Miss Elmina Smith, assistant; and Miss
Mary Cook teacher of music. It is with the
founding of this school, known as Poland insti-
tute, that the history of Poland Union seminary
properly begins.

At the end of six years Mr. Lee led a move-
ment to provide better accommodations for the
growmg academy, with a prospective endowment
from the Pittsburg and Erie Annual conferences
of the Methodist Episcopal church. The Method-
ist Episcopal church of Poland, generously as-
sisted by the citizens, erected, on a pleasant site
not tar from the building put up by Mr. Lee, a
three-story brick edifice, 60 x 80 feet. The
school was moved from its pleasant quarters on
the mound to the more commodious building.
The conferences being able to secure only a por-
tion of the proposed endowment, it never became
available, and the school was sustained by con-
tributions from the citizens and tuition from the
students.

The former building was purchased by Judge
Chester Hayden and M. A. King, Esq., of New
York State, and used by them for a law school,
with which (Jeneral Leggett was for a time con-
nected. Many promising young lawyers were
graduated from this school, among whom were
Judge C. E. Glidden, [udge Van Hyning, H. G.
Leslie, Esq., William C. Bunts, Esq., and Gen-
eral I. R. Sherwood. After a number of years
of general success, the proprietors, thinking the
city a better point, removed the institution to
Cleveland.

The college, as the school in the brick build-
ing was now called, struggled to maintain an ex-
istence, as all such institutions must, in a new
country, for want of means, but it was kept alive
and growing by the constant and earnest efforts
of the citizens, Mr. B. F. Lee always taking a

prominent part, giving liberally of his time and
means, down to the year 1862, when the various
religious denominations of the town united and
raised funds for the improvement of the build-
ing. At this time the school was chartered as
Poland Union seminary.

In 187 1 the school was offered to the presby-
tery of Mahoning upon condition that the pres-
bytery make an earnest effort to secure an en-
dowment of $15,000. When $10,000 were
secured the seminary was to pass into the con-
trol of the presbytery. Immediate action was
taken by the presbytery and the board of trustees
to secure the endowment, by appointing Mr. B.
F. Lee financial agent, who, in canvassing about
one half of the territory, secured the $10,000,
which was invested as a permanent endowment,
and the presbytery assumed control of the
school, fraternizing, however, with other religious
denominations.

Since the removal of the school to the brick
building, the following educators have been at
its head : Professor J. E. Cummings, Professor
A. T. Copeland, Rev. G. B. Hawkins, Rev. J.
N. Reno, Professor M. C. Butler, Professor H.
J. Clark, Rev. William Dickson, D. D., and Wil-
liam H. Tibbals, M. A., the present principal.
Miss E. M. Blakelee was preceptress from the
beginning in 1849 to 1880, except for a period
of six years.

The seminary is now well established as one
of the permanent literary institutions of the State,
with an endowment of $15,000, $5,000 having
been added by a recent bequest of Mr. George
P. Miller, deceased.

It has had among its students many young
men and women who have filled, or are now
filling, places of trust and responsibility, among
whom may be mentioned Revs. T. L. Sexton,
D. J. Satterfield, Maxwell Cornelius, David Nes-
bit, T. S. Scott, R. D. Scott, D. V. Mays, H. P.
Wilson, H. W. Lowry, W. D. Sexton, Hon. Wil-
liam McKinley, Member of Congress; Abner
McKinley, Esq., Cecil Hine, Esq., Judge Van
Hyning, W. B. Williams, Esq., H. G. Leslie,
Es(i., Hon. I. F. Mansfield, Hon. A. E. Lee,
AVilliam J. Calhpun, Esq., John McClure, Esq.,
and James Kennedy, Esq.; W. S. Matthews, M.
D., H. G. Cornwell, M. D., B. F. Hahn, M. D.,
J. M. Hamilton, M. D., S. D. Clarke, M. D., A.
P. Kirtland, C. E., Julian and Hugh Kennedy,

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

and the Morse Brothers, bridge builders and en-
gineers.

The seminary provides two courses of study,
a literary course for young ladies and young
men who wish a practical education for general
business, embracing a normal course, preparing
them especially for teaching, and a college pre-
paratory course. Graduates from this school have
entered at Yale, Michigan university, Allegheny
college, Oberlin, Westminster, Western Reserve,
Wooster university, and others.

The number who have entered the profession
of teaching from this seminary gives evidence of
the excellent advantages it affords those who
wish to prepare themselves for this profession.

The present instructors are William H. Tib-
bals, M. A., principal; Miss Ida M. Tarbell, B.
A., preceptress, and Miss .\delaide Simpson, M.
E. L., assistant.

POLAND farmers' deposit AND SAVINGS BANK.

This institution was chartered in 1875, and
opened for business October ist, the same year,
with a capital of $50,000, increased now to
$100,000. The first officers were: R. L. Walker,
president; Clark Stough, cashier; Dr. Eli My-
gatt, vice-president, succeeded by Samuel Hine,
and later by C. F. Kirtland; directors, R. L.
Walker, C. F. Kirtland, Eli Mygatt, Clark
Stough, Alexander Walker, James Smith, Samuel
Hine, Samuel McClurg (deceased), and William
Arrel (deceased). C. N. Kirtland and Walter
Arrel have been appointed in place of the two
deceased.

FOUNDRY.

An iron foundry was built on the east side of
Yellow creek in 1843 by Colonel Robinson
Truesdale and George Kirtland. A part of it
was carried away by the freshet of 1844. In
i860 the building was removed to the hill where
it now stands. It was run by Allen, Woodruff
& Co. until 1846, then by Allen & Woodruff
until about two years ago. They manufactured
stoves and various kinds of castings.

DISTILLERIES.

A large number of small stills were run by
farmers in various parts of the tpwnship. John
Hunter has quite a large distillery in the village,
situated just below the bridge. This did quite
a large business for a number of years. A great
deal of the "ardent" was made and used in early

times, yet the people were never noted for in-
temperance.

VARIOUS ENTERPRISES.

Elkanah Morse, from Wallingford, Connecti-
cut, settled at Poland village in 181 5, and was
the originator of several manufacturing enter-
prises, which largely contributed to the prosper-
ity of the town. In company with Henry T.
Kirtland he built and managed an oil-mill, a saw-
mill, a cloth-dressing and fulling-mill, and later a
grist-mill. In company with Mr. Botsford he
was engaged in the manufacture of combs for a
number of years on Water street. He had a
broom factory at the house where H. K. Morse
now lives, and was the proprietor of a tin-shop
where spoons and various kinds of German-silver- '
ware were manufactured. In connection with
his other business he had a large farm, a store
where four or more peddlars received their sup-
plies, etc. The various industries mentioned
afforded employment to from thirty to forty men
and helped to make business lively.

John McConnell built the first tannery at the
village and run it for some years. It was after-
wards owned by James Shepard, and later by
Robert Hartley. It was run by steam for some
years, but is no longer in operation.

HOTELS.

Jared Kirtland erected and kept the first
tavern. It was built in 1804. Many are living
now who recollect the quaint old sign with the
picture of a bull's head upon it, and the date
1804 painted beneath. It was a large house for
those times and did a big business before the
days of canals or railroads.

Jonathan Fowler built the stone hotel, now
known as the Sparrow house, the same year.
After his death it was run by Mr. Reed. It is
now kept by Mrs. Jane Sparrow, who with her
late husband took possession twenty-one years
ago.

On the ground where the Union house now
stands John McGill kept a small tavern for some
years; after him Chester Bidwell.

STORES.

Probably the first store-keeper in the village
was James Hezlep. He kept in a corner room of
the tavern when it was owned by Reed. He
continued to do a good business here for some
years, and became sheriff of Trumbull county.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

69

After leaving Poland he was in trade at Youngs-
town for a while.

Morse & Hall had a store in a room of Tur-
hand Kirtland's house at an early date.

Henry T. Kirtland became a proprietor and
afterwards built a frame store, and later a brick
store on the ground where Stough's store is now
situated. The old brick store stood there some
fifty years.

Mr. Stough does a successful business in the
same place, and is now one of the leading bus-
iness men of the village.

Joseph McCombs opened a store on the creek
near the bridge as early as 1812. He was in
business here several years.

Richard Hall set up as a store-keeper about
the same date.

The Duncans were also among Poland's early
merchants and did quite an extensive business
for some years.

Morse's store was situated on the corner op-
posite the store now occupied by Mr. Haynes.
Later he built the Haynes store.

The first store-keepeis got little money.
Whiskey was perhaps the nearest thing to legal
tender. They were obliged to take produce,
grain, cattle, horses, and almost anything else
that they in turn could use for buying goods.

Hezlep built the store now occupied by Z. P.
Curry.

THE FIRST STORE

in the township was built and run by the pro-
prietors of the old Montgomery furnace, near
the mouth of the Yellow creek. It was there
that the first settlers went for their supplies long
before a store was started at the village.

MILLS.

The first grist-mill in the township, and one of
the first on the Western Reserve, was built by
John Struthers on Yellow creek in 1800. He
also built a saw-mill there early.

Jonathan Fowler built the first grist-mill at Po-
land village in 1801. It was a small log build-
ing and was situated in the middle of the creek,
reached by a foot bridge. He had also a saw-
mill upon the same stream, built the same year.
The log grist-mill was replaced by a good frame
structure. After Fowler, Turhand Kirtland,
John Reed, and later John Hunter, owned both
the saw-mill and the grist-mill.

Peter Shoaf, on the Pennsylvania line, had a
saw-mill and grist-mill on Spring run at quite an
early date. It was run by his sons for some
years, then sold to John Hunter of Poland.

James McGill had the first mill at Lowellville.

James Stewart built a flouring-mill on the
north side of the Mahoning, where the village of
Newport was laid out. The building, a substan-
tial stone structure, was torn down by the Penn-
sylvania and Ohio Canal company.

The building now known as the Poland Flour-
ing-mill was built by William Little in 1844.

North of the village, on the creek, Kirtland &
Morse built a grist-mill, which, after running for
a time, was found not a paying investment by
the owners. It was sold, removed to Youngs,
town, and was the predecessor of the Diamond
mills in that city.

COOPERS.

John Hineman was probably the first cooper
in the township though he did not do a large
amount of work. John Arnold settled near Po-
land village and was engaged largely for several
years in making barrels and doing other kinds of
coopering. Probably he made as many whiskey
barrels as any man in this part of the country.
His sons followed their father's trade.

POLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

The congregation was organized May 3, 1802,
by Rev. William Wick, pastor of the congrega-
tions of Youngstown and Hopewell, and a mem-
ber of the Erie presbytery. The following
named persons were present at the organization:
William McCorabs, Josiah Walker, William
Campbell, Thomas Love, John Gordon, Wil-
liam Buck, Thomas Gordon, James Adair,
Jesse Rose, John Jordan, William Dunlap, John
Hineman, John Blackburn, John Truesdale,
Robert Smith, John Arrel, John McCombs,
Isaac McCombs, and others whose names are
not now remembered.

October 23, 1804, Mr. Nicholas Pettinger was
installed pastor over the congregations of Poland
and Westfield. March 20, 1810, Mr. Pettinger
obtained leave of the presbytery to resign his
charge of the congregation of Poland.

October 25, 1810, Rev. Alexander Cook was
appointed to supply Poland one-third of his
time. He continued to supply the congregation
until April, 1812. In June, 1815, the congrega-

70

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

lions of Poland and VVestfield obtained leave of
the presbytery to prosecute calls for Mr. James
Wright, a licentiate of the Ohio presbytery, and
on the 26th of June, 1815, Mr. Wright was or-
dained and installed pastor over these congrega-
tions. January 10, 1832, Mr. Wright accepted
a call for the whole of his time from AVestfield.
January 16, 1834, Mr. John Scott accepted a
call for two-thirds of his time from the congrega-
tion of Poland. April 3, 1834, he was ordained
and installed pastor of the Poland and Liberty
congregations. Mr. Scott was dismissed from
these charges April 13, 1836. Mr. William Mc-
Combs supplied the congregation of Poland dur-
ing most of the year 1837. June 25, 1839, the
presbytery of New Lisbon met, ordained and in-
stalled Mr. Edward Nevin pastor of the congre-
gation of Poland. He was dismissed April 20,
1840. The Rev. Jacob Coon supplied the con-
gregation the most of the time from 1841 to
1843. Rev. Joseph Kerr, a member of the
Steubenville presbytery, was installed pastor over
the congregations of Poland and Liberty No-
vember 21, 1843, to be two-thirds of his time at
Poland. In 1854 Mr. Kerr was dismissed from
the Poland congregation. Rev. Algernon S.
McMaster entered upon the duties of pastor of
the Poland congregation November 19, 1854,
and filled the position most acceptably until his
dismissal, April 24, 1878. Rev. Samuel H.
Moore, the present pastor, was installed Septem-
ber 25, 1879.

A flourishing Sabbath-school has been main-
tained for many years.

Soon after the congregation was organized a
log-house, on the common in front of the present
location of the church, was erected and used for
several years. It was then replaced by a frame.
The present church, a fine brick structure, was
erected in 1855.

The number of members in iSii was sixty.
In 1 88 1 it was two hundred and eighteen.

POLAND MKTHODIST CHURCH.

A society was formed in 1832 with eight mem-
bers, a majority of them being ladies. Of these
there are yet living Mr. and Mrs. William Logan
and Miss Sarah Blackman. The first sermon
jjreached in the village was by Rev. Charles
Elliott, at the school-house. Mr. Elliott came
there one wintry Sabbath, dug the wood out of

the snow, built the fire himself, and waited for
his hearers to collect. The church was organ-
ized by Rev. Mr. Preston, a converted sailor be-
longing either to the Pittsburg or the Erie con-
ference.

The membership increased rapidly for several
years. Services were at first held in the school-
house, and in pleasant weather in orchards,
groves, etc. The first church edifice was built
in 1834. Among those who assisted most in
building it were the Logan, Wallace, and Detch-
on families, Josiah Beardsleyand his wife. The
latter was a host in herself, ever active in getting
funds and assistance with which to build up the
kingdom of Zion. About 1863 the church was
rebuilt and much improved. It is now a large,
well-furnished, and comfortable building. Until
about 1850 all of the preachers were circuit
ministers. The church had generally been sup-
plied with men of good ability, who were faith-
ful and efficient workers — of course with some
exceptions. About 1850 it was made a station,
and Rev. William F. Day became the pastor for
two years, that being then the limit of time al-
lowed by the conference for remaining in one
place.

There have been several series of revival meet-
ings, the most of them quite successful in adding
members. Owing to deaths and removals the
membership is not at present as great as it has
been. There are now about one hundred and
fifty members, and the society is in a prosperous
condition.

A good Sabbath-school has been maintained
since the church was organized. Ot course the
society has had its periods of prosperity and ad-
versity ; but It has always contained many faith-
ful ones who would never give up or desert.

The relations between the Presbyterians and
the Methodists are now harmonious and friendly,
and both are doing good work in adding to the
kingdom of the Master.

CEMETERIES.

The oldest graveyard in the township is that
adjoining the Presbyterian church at Poland. It
was established in 1804, and in it repose the
bodies of many of the first settlers and a large
number of their descendants.

The graveyard at Poland Center is also quite
ancient.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

The new cemetery at Poland is prettily situ-
ated and tastefully laid out. It was established
through the efforts of an association of the citi-
zens formed January 14, 1865.

These three, with the new one commenced at
Lowellville, are the only public burying places in
the township.

LOWELLVILLE.

This thriving village is situated on both sides
of the Mahoning, which is here spanned by a
large and strong iron bridge. Its site is
pleasant and even picturesque. High hills are
on either hand, and from their tops can be ob-
tained a view of some of the richest and most
attractive scenery of the Mahoning valley.

The history of this place does not run back
very far. Its growth may be said to have begun
with the completion of the Pennsylvania and
Ohio canal. The Lawrence branch of the Pitts-
burg, Ft. Wayne & Chicago railroad runs along
the south side of the river, and on the north side
is the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie road.

Lowellville has two churches, a good school
building, three dry goods stores, five groceries, a
hardware store, a drug store, two wagon shops,
three blacksmith shops, one hotel, a harness
shop, two shoemaker shops, besides the mills
and the furnace. In 1880 it had a population
of eight hundred and seventeen. Business is
brisk, and there is plenty of work for everybody.
Property is constantly increasing in value, and
with the large amount of limestone and coal in
this vicinity, no reason can be assigned why the
place may not continue developing year by year.
With two railroads now and the speedy prospect
of another it looks as though the future of the
town were assured.

INITIAL ITEMS.

The village was laid out about 1836 by Mr.
Wick and others. The first store was opened
about the same time by Calvin Bissel. Other
store-keepers, coming in soon after, were S. H.
McBride, Hugh Wick, Davidson & McCombs,
Hunter & Watson, Brown & Shehy.

The post-office was established as early as 1840
with S. H. McBride postmaster. His successors
in the office have been Dr. John Butler, John D.
Davidson, Henry Smith, and J. B. Nessle, the
present incumbent.

John McGill built the first grist-mill at Lowell-

ville. It was run by his sons until the canal was
built. Robert McGill had the first saw-mill in
the place.

Wilson & Crawford started a tannery about
1844, which was sold to William Moore in 1850.
He rebuilt and refitted it and carried on the
business until 1874. It is not now in operation.

In 1838 William Watson and John S. Hunter
bought a water privilege of George Hunter and
erected a large grist-mill which they operated
until 1866 and then sold to Anderson & Co.
They operated it for a short time and sold to C.
McCombs & Co,. The mill is at present owned
by Mr. McCombs.

THE LOWELLVILLE FURNACE.

Wilkes, Wilkison & Co. started the furnace in
1846. They had a hundred and fifty-six acres of
land in one lot and forty acres in another, as well
as considerable capital invested. It is believed
that the Lowellville furnace was the first one in
the valley that produced iron from uncoked coal,
making use of the coal from Mount Nebo.
They obtained a great deal of iron ore from
Mount Nebo, the Graham and Galloway farms,
the James Dickson farm, and the Robert McGill
farm. About 1853 the company sold their works
to Alexander Crawford &: Co., of New Castle,
Pennsylvania, who continued the business until
1864, then sold a hundred and fifty-six acres of
land and the furnace to Hitchcock, McCreary &
Co., for $100,000. In 187 1 Hitchcock, Mc-
Creary & Co. sold to the Mahoning Iron com-
pany, which run the works a short time, then
they passed into the hands of McCreary & Bell.
February 11, 1880, these gentlemen sold to the
Ohio Iron & Steel company of Youngstown, who
now operate the works, doing a larger business
than ever before. The officers of this company
are Thomas H. Wells, president; Henry Wick,
vice-president; Robert Bentley, secretary and
treasurer. The amount of capital stock is
$35,000. About forty men are employed. The
company makes a specialty of the finer grades of
foundry iron. They have their own beds of
limestone near by, from which they secure the
limestone necessary for use in the works.

It should be stated that in 1872 the furnace
was built over and improved. Changes and im-
provements are also contemplated by the present
owners.

72

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

HOPE MILLS.

James Brown built the mill which now bears
this name. It was situated a few rods above the
bridge and was run by steam for about two years.
In 1859 it was moved to its present site and run
by water power. The mill is now owned and
run by Mr. Brown's heirs. They do a large
amount of custom milhng, grinding wheat and
corn. They also put up and ship flour. Fre-
quently thirty barrels per day are produced.

I'LANING-MILL.

This mill was started by Lewis & Drake in
187 1. In February, 1872, it was leased by J.
D. Dickson & Co., who run it until November,
1880. Since that time Mr. Dickson has man-
aged it. He is engaged in manufacturing all
kinds of house finishing lumber.

■ COAL.

A great deal of coal has been taken from the
banks in this township first and last. The most
important was the Mount Nebo mine. About
1828 this was opened by Elijah Stevenson and
worked on a small scale for some ten years.
John Thomas and William James worked it
after him for some years. John Kirk then
bought the mine and commenced shipping coal
in 1845. Kirk sold to a company which failed,
and the property reverted to him. He again dis-
posed of it to Doan & Howells, of Philadelphia,
who did quite an extensive business for si.x or
eight years, shipping the coal by canal to Cleve-
land. This firm also purchased a coal bank
from the Adairs which they worked at the same
time. George Smith was their manager. They
gave employment to fifty or more men. The
coal was found to be of a superior quality.

The Lowellville Furnace company also worked
the Mount Nebo mine quite extensively to
obtain coal for use in their iron works. The
mme was finally abandoned because the water
had become too deep for successful operations.
Other coal mines have been worked in the vicin-
ity of Lowellville, but there is no great amount
of business m that line in the township at pres-
ent. It is believed, however, that an abundance
of coal remains, and may be mined successfully
when desired.

QUARRIES.

Limestone has been quarried quite extensive-
ly. The Pence quarry was the largest and did a

big business for the past ten years, but is now
worked out. The Moore and Arrel quarries
contain a large amount of stone of excellent qual-
ity. A brisk business has been done in this line
for some years past. The quarries having been
operated to a greater or less extent for the last
twenty-five years. McCombs & Johnson were
quite extensively engaged in the business. The
Moore quarry is now in operation.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

The Free church people, who differed from
the Presbyterians on the question of slavery,
withdrew from neighboring congregations, and
in 1850 succeeded in erecting a church building
at Lowellville. Among the leading members
were John and William McFarland, Andrew Mc-
Farland, James S. Moore, John S. Hunter, and
John Book.

After the slavery (juestion was settled the most
of the Free church returned to the sects to which
they originally belonged ; so that the Lowellville
congregation is now entirely Presbyterian. Those
who preached here after the organization of the
church were Revs. J. D. Whitham, Bushnell,
James Bingham, George McElhaney. The mem-
bership is quite small.

THE METHODIST CHURCH.

Rev. John Prosser created the revival which
resulted in the building of this church. Dr.
John Butler and John Bissel were also active
and leading members. The building was erect-
ed about 1840. The membership has always
been quite small. Preaching and Sabbath-
school are maintained regularly.

PHYSICIANS.

Dr. John Butler settled at Lowellville in 1838,
and practiced until his death, some ten years later.
The next physician was Dr. Joseph Cowden, who
removed West and died. Dr. Scroggs practiced
a few years, then removed to Beaver, Pennsylva-
nia, where he now resides. Dr. Amberson prac-
ticed four or five years, moved to New Castle,
Pennsylvania, and died there. Dr. Foster prac-
ticed here about five years. He went to Alle-
gheny City, Pennsylvania. Dr. John Kirker
practiced in Lowellville four or five years. Dur-
ing the war he served as a surgeon, and at its
close located in Allegheny City. Dr. Cloud was
in Lowellville a short time, moved to Columbus,
and is now deceased. The present practitioners

J^

"i^-2^-?«i:0

William Brown, the father of the subject of
this sketch, was born in Pennsylvania, Septem-
ber 28, 1788; came to Trumbull county (now
Mahoning) in an early day and located on the
farm now occupied by his son, James S. He
married Miss Ann Porter, April 15, 1813. Their
children were James S., born January 4, 18 14;
David, born June 30, 18 16, and died March 7,
1824; Martha, born June 24, 1822, married

Wyoming N. Fry, and resides in Suttield township,
Portage county. William Brown served in the
\Varof1812. He died April 20, 1833. James S.
Brown was married to Mary Ann Prinlz, who was
born in Canton, Ohio. Her parents were Joseph
and Susan>(Blosser) Printz, who were united in
marriage September 23, 1830. They had the
following children : Henry, born June 21, 1831;
Mary Ann (now Mrs. Brown), August 20, 1832;

Barbara, January 29, 18.^4; Isabel, September
22, 1835; Jacob, March 17, 1837; Samuel, No-
vember 27, 1838; Ambrose, February 3, 1843.
Mr. Brown is a Democrat in politics, yet he rec-
ognizes a higher duty m the use of the ballot
than mere attachment to party, and endeavors to
vote for the best candidates. He has resided all
his life on the old homestead, having been born
there. From actual experience he knows what

pioneei life is, and his memory carries him back
to the days when the present beautiful and
thrifty neighborhood where he lives was covered
with the original forest, interspersed here and
there by small clearings and rude log cabms.
He has always been a hard-working and indus-
trious man, and is now, in his old age, blessed
with a comfortable home. Mr. and Mrs. Brown
are Presbyterians in their religious faith.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

of the place are Dr. R. H. Stewart, Dr. R. W.
Weller, Dr. J. N. Cowden, and Dr. Reynolds
Cowden.

GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC.

Reno Post No. 87, Grand Army of the Re-
public, was organized June 28, 1881, with the
following officers: William Leggett, commander;
Porter Watson, senior vice commander ; T.
E. Grist, junior vice commander; J. W. Van
Aiiker, adjutant; W. C. Rowland, quartermaster;
Dr. R. W. Weller, surgeon; Rev. Snyder, chap-
lain; I. J. Nessle, officer of the day; J. C.
Mapes, officer of the guard.

An organization of the Grand Army of the
Republic was in existence some years ago, but it
went down.

CEMETERY.

In the spring of 1S81 ground for a cemetery
was purchased on the hill on the north side of
the river, which is being laid out into lots, and
otherwise fitted for a burial place.

POLAND CENTER UJ

[TED PRESBYTERL\N CHURCF

A society of Seceders was formed in 1804, and
some years later, probably in 1810, a large meet-
mg-house of hewn logs was erected. Among
the early members were : William Cowden,
Reynolds Cowden, Joseph Cowden, Isaac P.
Cowden, Robert Lowry, Johnston Lowry, Wil-
liam Strain, Richard McConnell, Thomas Mc-
Connell, and others.

About 1826 a brick church was erected.
Squire David Houston took the job of building
it. In 1849 the present house was built. Nearly
twenty years ago the church was merged into the
United Presbyterians.

The first preacher was Rev. James Duncan, a
farmer, from below LowellviUe. Rev. Robert
Douglas was the next pastor. Rev. David Good-
wille preached in this vicinity, though not in this
church alone, fifty years. He was succeeded by
Rev. James M. Henderson, Rev. T. W. Winter,
and Rev. W. T. McConnell, the present pastor.
There are now about sixty-six members. A Sab-
bath school has been kept up a number of years.

NEWPORT

was laid out for a village about the same time as
LowellviUe. Lots were sold at one time as high
as in the latter place. But Newport did not
grow and no village marks its site.

STRUTHERS.

This little village was laid out about sixteen
years ago. Its growth commenced with the ad-
vent of the Lawrence railroad in 1867. It now
has a railroad station on each side of the river,
and perhaps a third railroad will soon be added.

The village contains the large furnace of the
Struthers' Iron company, a hotel, two stores, and
a saw-mill. A post-office was established about
the year 1866, Richard Olney postmaster.
His successors have been Rufus Parker and A.
G. S. Parker, the present incumbent.

Mr. Olney kept the first store. The saw mill,
built about the time the railroad was completed,
was erected and is now owned by Thomas
Struthers. Mr. Struthers also built the hotel in

1873-

The Catholic church was erected about the
time the furnace was built.

THE FURNACE

of the Struthers Iron company was built in 1869.
The casting-house and smoke-stack were blown
down in July, 1881, but have since been rebuilt.
The furnace when in active operation produces
about sixty-five tons of iron per day, and affords
about fifty men employment. It is owned by
Thomas Struthers, T. W. Kennedy, John and
H. T. Stewart, and John and Daniel Stambaugh.
Mr. Kennedy is manager, and H. T. Stewart
secretary and treasurer.

Biographical Sketches.

THE KIRTLAND FAMILY.
Turhand Kirtland, the first representative of
the family who came to the Western Reserve,
was a native of Wallingford, Connecticut, born
November 16, 1755. He was a carriage manu-
facturer by trade, which he followed in Walling-
ford until his removal to Ohio. In 1798, having
gathered together a few thousand dollars, he
came to Ohio and purchased considerable land
in different portions of the Reserve, and also
acted as agent for the Connecticut Land company
for the sale of their land. He located at first at
Burton (now Geauga county), but spent much
of his time in Poland and Youngstown, engaged
in examining, surveying, and selling land. He

TRUMBULL AND AL\HONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

kept a diary during the early years of his resi-
dence in Ohio, in which he gives a minute ac-
count of his proceedings and observations. The
writing of a letter in those days was an event of
sufificient importance to make a record of it. In
a few years he removed from Burton to Poland
and settled on a farm, his brother, Jared Kirt-
land, having started a tavern at what is now
Poland village. He died August i6, 1844.

Mr. Kirtland was a man of more than ordinary
energy of character, and ability, and served his
county in many positions of trust and honor.
He was elected to the State Senate from Trum-
bull county in 1814, was associate judge of the
court of common pleas for a long time, and
was justice of the peace in Poland for some
twenty years. He left at his death a large prop-
erty. He was twice married. His second wife was
Mary Potter, of New Haven, Connecticut, born
February 10, 1772, died March 21, 1850. They
reared a family of children, as follows: Jared P.
Henry T., Billius, George, Mary P., and Nancy,
of whom only Billius and George are now living.

Dr. Jared P. Kirtland was a noted physician
and an able man. He practiced medicine for
many years in Poland, and represented the coun-
ty, then Trumbull, in the Ohio Legislature in
1829, 1831, and 1834. He was a professor in
the Cleveland Medical college, of Clevleand,
Ohio, during the latter part of his life, and had
previously held a similar position in the Ohio
Medical college, Cincinnati. He has a daugh-
ter living in Rockport, Cuyahoga county.

Henry T. Kirtland was a prominent business
man of Poland for a great many years, being
engaged in merchandising. He was born in Con-
necticut November 16, 1795; married in 1825
Thalia Rebecca Fitch, who died October i, 1826.
In April, 1828, he married Mary Fitch, a sister
of his first wife. He died February 27, 1874, in
Poland, and his wife, Mary, December 24, 1877.
By his first marriage he had one child, Hon. C.
F. Kirtland, of Poland, a Representative in the
Legislature from Mahoning county, session of
1872 and 1873, and by his second marriage
three children, of whom the only survivor is Mr.
C. N. Kirtland, of Poland.

Billius Kirtland was born in Poland, Ohio,
August 29, 1807. In 1830 he married Ruthan-
na Frame, who was born in Chester county,
Pennsylvania, in 1809. They have had nine

children, only three of whom survive. Alfred
resides in Blairsville, Indiana county, Pennsyl-
vania, and is superintendent of the West Pennsyl-
vania railroad. He graduated at the Van Rensse-
laer Polytechnic institute, of Troy, New York,
taking a course in surveying, and for some time
was assistant civil engineer of the road of which
he is now superintendent. Emma married Sam-
uel Hines and lives in Poland, and Lucy married
Rev. Dallas B. Mays and resides at North
Benton.

Mr. and Mrs. Kirtland belong to the Method-
ist Episcopal church and are among the most
prominent and highly respected citizens of the
county. Mr. Kirtland is an enthusiastic student
of chemistry, and has spent about fifteen years
of his life in investigating that science. George
Kirtland is living in Poland, engaged in farming
and in the manufacture of ink. Mary was the
wife of Richard Hall, for many years a merchant
in Poland, and Nancy was the wife of Elkanah
Morse, a manufacturer and miller of Poland.

WALTER S. ARREL.
One of the earliest settlers m what is now Ma-
honing county was John A. Arrel, the father of
the subject of this biographical sketch. He was
born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, Novem-
ber 6, 1773. He married Margaret Stewart,
who was a native of the same county, born in
the same year, June 25th. He moved to Po-
land township in 1800, and settled on the farm
where Walter S. Arrel now lives, which he pur-
chased in 1799. Mr. Arrel began his settlement
in the woods, there being at that time only here
and there a cabin with a small clearing, and he
cleared up and improved a farm of two hundred
acres, which, when he moved onto it, was covered
by the original forest. Mr. Arrel was well and
favorably known throughout the region, and was
identified with many interests designed for the
public good. He was the father of eight chil-
dren— Martha, born May 6, 1798, died Novem-
ber 29, i860; Margaret, November 10, 1800.
David, May 6, 1803; James, November 19,
1805, died August 16, 1857; John, January i,
1808; Geo.ge, January 4, 1811, died March 14,
1877; William, January 27, 18 14, died Novem-
ber 14, 1878; Walter S., June 10, 1S16. Mar-

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

75

garet, David, John, and Walter are still liv-
ing. John A. Arrel died August lo, 1848, and
his wife February 10, 1833.

Walter S. Arrel is the youngest child, and was
born on the old farm where he still lives. He
has always resided in the county, attending
strictly to his business, and has accumulated a
fine property, being the owner of six hundred
acres of excellent land in one tract, besides other
lands. He is also engaged to some extent in
milling. In addition to extensive farming, which
has been his chief occupation, Mr. Arrel has at
different times dealt largely in stock and wool.
His business capacity and enterprise are well
known and need no comment. He is now
erecting a fine brick residence in Poland village,
to which he has removed, and where he will
spend the remainder of his days in the enjoy-
ment of his industry.

In politics Mr. Arrel is a strong Republican.
He was formerly a Whig, and when the Abolition-
ists formed a party, and chose J. G. Birney as
their candidate, he was one of seventeen citi-
zens of Poland township who cast their votes
for him.

Mr. Arrel was married March 16, 1871, to
Miss Martha Duff, daughter of Oliver and Jane
(Tail) Duff. Her parents were married Novem-
ber 16, 1826, and reared their family in Penn-
sylvania. Oliver Duff was born in Pennsylvania,
July 10, 1799, and died August 7, 1857. Mrs.
Dufi was born m Ireland, July 4, 1805, and came
to this country when two years old. Their chil-
dren were William and Martha (twins), born
February ii, 1828; Samuel, February 10, 1830;
Robert, January 16, 1836; Alexander, Septem-
ber II, 1840. William married Maria Henly,
and resides in Hillsdale, Lawrence county,
Pennsylvania; Samuel is unmarried; Robert
married Maria J. White, and resides at Mount
Jackson, Pennsylvania ; Alexander married Lizzie
Poole, and lives in Cass county, Michigan.

ELIAS KING.

Elias King, son of John and Margaret (David-
son) King, was born near New Lisbon, Colum-
biana county, Ohio, April 15, 181 1. John King,
the father, was a native of Lancaster county,
Pennsylvania, and died in Allegheny county at

the age of eighty-four. His children were Hugh
D., William, John, and Robert (deceased), Elias,
Thomas (deceased), Mary Ann (deceased), Mar-
garet, and Annabella C, living in East Liberty,
Allegheny county, Pennsylvania; Elizabeth (de-
ceased), and O. J., a resident of Kansas.

The boyhood of Elias King was spent in Alle-
gheny county, residing there until he was twenty-
two or twenty-three years of age, when he went
to Lawrence county, in the same State. Al-
though he only became a resident of Mahoning
county in 1870, yet he has resided the most of
his life in the Mahoning valley, his home previous
to his removal to Ohio being only about a mile
from the Ohio State line. He was brought up
on a farm but received a good common school
education, and was engaged in teaching school a
short time. He was engaged in mercantile pur-
suits for a couple of years in Edenburg, and was
also engaged for some time in the manufacture
of brooms. He operated a grist-mill near Eden-
burg some two years. Finally purchasing a farm
in Mahoning township, Lawrence county, Penn-
sylvania, he moved and lived upon it for twenty
years, whence he removed to Lowellville, Ohio,
where he has since resided. After coming to
Lowellville he was engaged in the drug business
for five or six years, since which time he has
been living a practically retired life.

Mr. King's mercantile ventures were pecuniar-
ily unfortunate, having passed through the panics
of 1837 and 1873, yet he still possesses enough
of this world's goods to allow him and his family
to live in comfort and plenty the balance of their
days. January 2, 1838, he married Eleanor
Cavett, daughter of John Cavett, of Westmore-
land county, Pennsylvania. She was born July
27, 1820. The fruit of this union was two sons
and two daughters, as follows: Margaret, John,
Mary Jane, and Hugh Davidson. Mary Jane,
now Mrs. Cowden, is the only survivor, and re-
sides with her parents. Margaret died at the
age of sixteen months, John when two years old,
and Hugh Davidson at the age of fourteen years
and nine months. Mrs. Cowden was born in
Lawrence county, Pennsylvania, October 27,
1846. January^, 1867, she became the wife of
Dr. Isaac P. Cowden, a physician of Lawrence
county, Pennsylvania, who died February 3,
1877, in the thirty-fourth year of his age. Mr.
King is a Republican in politics, and was former-

76

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

ly a Whig. During the early anti-slavery agita-
tion he was an active Abolitionist. Mrs. King is
an active and valued member of the Presbyterian
church, and both are worthy members of the
community, and esteemed by all who know
them.

NOTES OF SKTTI.EMENT.

William Frame, a native of Chester county,
Pennsylvania, was born June 29, 1776. He
moved from Baltimore, Maryland, to Poland,
Ohio, in 1827, and settled where Struthers sta-
tion now stands. In early life he was a miller,
and followed that vocation to some extent in
Ohio, though his chief occupation was farming.
He was for some time a justice of the peace in
Poland. He died in 1842, aged sixty-six years.
His wife, whose maiden name was Rebecca
Marsh, a native of New Jersey, survived him
about six months. They were the parents of
three sons and six daughters: Eliza Allen, resid-
ing in Kansas City, Missouri; George (de-
ceased) Rufhanna, wife of Billius Kirtland, of
Poland; Thomas (deceased); Janet M. Allen (de-
ceased); William S. M. (deceased); Mary M.
Meachani, residing in Iowa; Rebecca Meacham
(deceased), and Catherine .'^llen, of Oberlin,
Ohio.

James Dickson, farmer, Poland township, Ma-
honing county. The subject of this sketch is
one of the oldest residents of Mahoning county,
being now eighty-three years of age. He was
born near Chambersburg, Franklin county, Penn-
sylvania, October 28, 1798. His father, John
Dickson, was a native of Ireland; came to Amer-
ica when thirteen years of age, and settled in
Pennsylvania with his parents. He came to
Ohio in 1801, and settled in Poland township on
the farm where his sons, James and George, now
live. He was emphatically one of the pioneers
of the Western Reserve, and did much toward
the improvement of that part of the country in
which he lived. He followed farming until his
death, which occurred in 1826, his wife and
eleven children surviving him.' Mrs. Dickson
died in 1841. James Dickson was married in
1831 to Miss Martha Gilbraith, daughter of Sam-
uel (lilbraith, of Poland township. They have
had six children — John A., Sarah, Ann M.,

Martha H., Samuel E., and James M. John
and Martha are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Dick-
son are the oldest couple in Poland township.
They are both members of the United Presby-
terian church.

George Dickson, farmer, Poland township,
Mahoning county, was born in Poland April 20,
1808. He has always lived upon the home farm
with the exception of two years, which he spent
in Pennsylvania. Farming has been his chief
occupation, though in connection with this he
has been engaged in the manufacture of grain
cradles quite extensively. He was married, in
1833, to Miss Isabel McBride, daughter of John
McBride, of Pennsylvania. They had nine chil-
dren, six of whom are living. Mrs. Dickson
died July 14, 1861, and he married, March 24,
1864, for his second wife, Mrs. Esther G. Walker,
daughter of John Gibson, of Youngstown, Ohio.
Mr. and Mrs. Dickson are members of the
United Presbyterian church.

Samuel Smith, farmer, Poland township, Ma-
honing county, was born in that township
September 17, 1820. His father, Robert, was a
native of Franklin county, Pennsylvania, and
came to Ohio in 1802. He settled in Poland
township, the country then being but little better
than a vast wilderness. Mr. Smith, by dint of
industry and economy succeeded in making a
fine farm, and after a life of labor and usefulness,
during which he saw much of the hard conditions
of pioneer life, died in 1835, '" ^'^ seventieth
year. He left a family of six sons and four
daughters, besides his widow, who died in 1846.
Samuel Smith has always resided upon the old
home place, and in 1847, 'he next year after his
mother's death, he married Miss Margaret Black-
burn, daughter of Robert Blackburn, of Poland
township. This union was blessed with two
children, J. S. and Robert F. Robert is dead.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the Pres-
byterian church. Mr. Smith is a stanch Dem-
ocrat and one of the substantial men of the
township.

J. A. Smith, farmer, Poland township, Ma-
honing county, was born in said township Septem-
ber 23, 1838. Robert Smith, his father, was a
native of Pennsylvania and came to Ohio in
1802 with his parents and settled where his son,
the subject of this sketch, now lives. He died
in 1S60, his wife and one child surviving him.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

77

Mrs. Smith is still living with her son. Mr.
Smith, our subject, was married, in 1862, to Miss
Mary Ann Gault, daughter of Robert Gault,
of North Jackson.

David Arrel, farmer, Poland township, Ma-
honing county, eldest son of John and Margaret
(Stewart) Arrel, was born in said township. May
6, 1803. He has always lived in the township
and has witnessed many changes. He was mar-
ried, in 1830, to Miss Martha Moore, daughter
of VVilliara Moore, of Poland township. They
have had four children, viz: William M., Mar-
garet, John, and George F. Mrs. Arrel died in
1872. She was a member of the Presbyterian
church. Mr. Arrel is also a member of the same
church. He has always been an active, indus-
trious man and is now spending the evening of
his days with his son.

John Stewart, Poland township, Mahoning
county, was born in Coitsville township that
county. May 28, 1807. His father, John
Stewart, was a native of Adams county, Pennsyl-
vania, and came to Ohio the year it was admitted
as a State, in 1802. He settled in Coitsville
township and was engaged in farmmg until his
death in 1833. John Stewart, his son, has
resided in Mahoning county the most of his life,
and has been engaged in business in various
places. He was at Lowellville five years and at
New Castle, Pennsylvania, one and a half years.
At the latter place he was interested in millmg.
He was united in marriage to Miss M. G.
Walker, daughter of Captain Walker, of Poland
township, on the 5th of January, 1836, and has
had seven children, six of whom are still living.
Mr. Stewart has filled many places of public
trust within the gift of his county and township.
He has been justice of the peace many years,
and has also been a county commissioner. He
was a colonel of militia in the old militia days.
Mr. Stewart and his wife are members of the
Presbyterian church.

James Davidson, farmer, Poland township,
Mahoning county, was born in Beaver (now Law-
rence) county, Pennsylvania, June 7, 1820.
James Davidson, Sr., his father, was a native of
Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and followed farming as
an occupation. Mr. Davidson, our subject,
came to Lowellville, Mahoning county, in Sep-
tember, 185 I, and was for a long time engaged
in the shoe business, though he is now engaged

in farming. July 3, 1859, he married Miss Ro-
vinah Nessle, daughter of Isaiah Nessle, and
has four children — Maggie, Mary, Thomas, and
Daniel A. Mr. Davidson's political affiliations
are with the Republican party. He and his wife
are both members of the Presbyterian church.

Dr. Eli Mygatt, physician, Poland, Mahoning
county, was born in Canfield, Mahoning county,
Ohio, July 16, 1807. His father was Comtort
S. Mygatt, an early and prominent resident of
Canfield, who is spoken of elsewhere. Dr. My-
gatt, the subject of this brief sketch, has resided
all his life in what is now Mahoning county. He
studied medicine at Canfield with Dr. Fowler,
who is still living, and attended the Western
Medical college at New York, and has a diploma
from the Cleveland Medical school. He has
had an extensive practice over the county in
which he has resided for many years, beginning
with Dr. Kirtland, at Poland. Dr. Mygatt was
married in 1831 to Miss Lois Y. Kirtland,
daughter of Jared Kirtland, of Poland, brother
of Judge Kirtland, one of the earliest and most
prominent of the pioneers of the Reserve. To
Dr. Mygatt and wife were born six children —
Jared P., Mary S., Sarah M., William L., Han-
nah O., and Lucy E. Lucy and Mary only are
living. Mrs. Mygatt died February, 1881. She
was a member of the Presbyterian church, and
a devoted Christian. In politics Dr. Mygatt is
a Republican.

Samuel McCullough, Jr., was born in Poland
township in 1844. His father, Samuel McCul-
lough, Sr., was born in the same township, where
the family were early settlers, and has always re-
sided on the old homestead. Samuel McCul-
lough, Jr., is a farmer by occupation. He was
united in marriage in 1874 to Miss Mary J.
Stewart, daughter of Samuel Stewart, of Knox-
ville, Iowa. They have three children, John E.,
George S., and Arthur R. Mrs. McCullough is
a member of the Presbyterian church. In poli-
tics Mr. McCullough is a conservative.

William R. Cowden, farmer, Poland township,
Mahoning county, a representative of one of the
oldest families in the township, was born in Po-
land township April 5, 1841. His father, Isaac
P., was also a native of the same township, hav-
ing been born and raised on the place where his
son now lives. The grandfather, William Cow-
den, was among the pioneers of that section,

78

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

coming at a very early day from Pennsylvania.
Isaac P. was a farmer, and died in 1869. Wil-
liam R. Cowden has always lived on the old
homestead, and has about one hundred acres of
excellent land. He was married in 1867 to Miss
Almira J. Glenn, daughter of William Glenn, of
Beaver county, Pennsylvania. They have one
child, Martha E., born May i, i858. They are
both members of the Presbyterian church.

John G. Cowden, farmer, Poland township,
Mahoning county, an older brother o( the sub-
ject of the preceding sketch, was born in Poland
township, .\ugust 4, 1838, and still resides within
a short distance of his old home. Mention has
been made of his immediate ancestors in the
former sketch, and it will not be necessary to re-
peat it here. He was married October 10, 186 1,
to Miss Mary Ann, daughter of John Smith, of
Springfield township. They have two children,
Nannie E., and Joseph. Mr. and Mrs. Cowden
are members of the Presbyterian church.

John L. Dobbins, insurance, etc., Poland town-
ship, Mahoning county, was born in said town-
ship July 15, 1831. His lather, Hugh Dobbins,
was a native of Washington county, Pennsyl-
vania, and came to Ohio in 1804 with his par-
ents and located upon the farm where the sub-
ject of this sketch now resides. The Dobbins
family were among the early pioneers of the
county, and have taken a prominent part in the
development and improvement of that part of
the county. Hugh Dobbins died in 1866, leav-
ing a family of five children surviving him. J. L.
Dobbins is one of the active business men of
Poland, being engaged in insurance, in farming,
and is also a dealer m agricultural implements.
He is unmarried.

James S. Guthrie, farmer, Poland township,
Mahoning county, one of the oldest citizens of
the county, was born in Pennsylvania February
28, 1800. His father, William Guthrie, was a
native of Ireland, and emigrated with his parents
to America in an early day. They settled in
Pennsylvania, where they lived until 1804 when
they moved to Ohio and located in Poland town-
ship. They were indeed pioneers in the wilder-
ness, there being when they arrived but two or
three cabins within a circuit of several miles.
William Guthrie was a weaver by trade, though
he taught school considerably. He died in 1849.
Farming has been the chief occupation of James

S. Guthrie, though he has also been engaged a
good deal in the woo! business. He was mar-
ried to Miss Elizabeth Pauley in 1825. She is
a daughter of John Pauley, of Coitsville town-
ship. They have had seven children, three of
whom are living. Mrs. Guthrie died nearly forty
years ago. Mr. Guthrie, for one of his years,
retains his vigor remarkably well.

James S. Moore, farmer, Poland township,
Mahoning county, one of the oldest residents of
the township, was born in Franklin county,
Pennsylvania, October 28, 1804. His father,
William Moore, was a native of Pennsylvania,
and emigrated to Ohio in 1805 and located in
Poland township on the farm where his son, the
subject of this sketch, now resides. The coun-
try was then, of course, very new and all kinds
of game plenty. William Moore died December
13, 1854. James Moore has always followed
farming with the exception of a few years during
which he was engaged in the mercantile business.
In 1838 he was married to Miss Hannah R.
Truesdale, daughter of Hugh Truesdale, of
Poland, and has had seven children, viz: Rachel
A., William B., Hugh R., F. M., Mary E.,
Rebecca J., and Julia A. Mr. and Mrs. Moore
are both members of the Presbyterian church,
he having been an elder for many years. His
sister, Rebecca Moore, still resides on the old
home place, and has assisted in taking care of
her parents and her brother's children.

George Liddle, farmer, Poland township,
Mahoning county, was born in Poland, March 5,
1 81 2, on the farm where he now lives. His
father, George, was a native of England and
emigrated to this country in September, 1S06.
He landed at Baltimore after a tedious passage,
and at once came to Ohio and settled in Poland
while his brothers settled in Boardman. He
died in 1852. George Liddle, the subject of
this notice, married in 1841 Miss Mary E.,
daughter of James Kennedy, of Coitsville town-
ship. They have had twelve children seven of
whom are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Liddle
are members of the United Presbyterian church.

A. D. McClurg, farmer, Poland township,
Mahoning county, was born in Boardman town-
ship, said county, in 1834. His father, Samuel
McClurg, was a native of Pennsylvania, but came
to Ohio when he was nine years old with his
father, James, who came originally from Ireland.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

The family settled in Poland township, then
Trumbull county. Samuel McClurg followed
farming all his life and died on the 4th of July
1877, leaving two children, A. D., and Richard
J. Mrs. McClurg died in 1834. Mr. A. D.
McClurg has always been a resident of the
county, engaged in farming. He was married,
in i860, to Miss Maggie A. Kerr, daughter of
Matthew Kerr, of Boardman. They have had
three children, viz: Ella J., Leila J., and Minnie
B. Ella is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. McClurg
are members of the Presbyterian church. Po-
litically he ii a Rejiublican, and at present is
county commissioner.

B. F. Lee, farmer, Poland township, Mahon-
ing county, was born in Poland township May
7, 1 81 5. His father, Christopher Lee, was one
of the earliest settlers in Poland township, com-
ing there from Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, as
early as 1805. He resided there until his death
in 1835. He was a farmer by occupation and
had a family of thirteen children. Mr. B. F.
Lee was educated at Meadville, Pennsylvania.
After being there three years he returned to Po-
land and started the mstitution of learning
known as the Poland institute. He was married
September 17, 1845, to M'ss Pauline King,
daughter of Amos King, of Erie county, Penn-
sylvania. They have had nine children, seven
of whom are living. Mr. Lee has been engaged
in various occupations; has been a merchant,
also a wool buyer, and is now interested in rail-
roads. He is an active, enterprising man, and is
always ready to help along a good work. He
and his wife are members of the Presbyterian
church.

Carson R. Justice, M. D., druggist, Poland,
Mahoning county, was born in Springfield town-
ship, December 15, 185 1. His father, James
Justice, came from Pennsylvania to Ohio in
1 80 1, and settled in what was then Columbiana
county, now Mahoning. He was thus one of
the earliest of the pioneers. Dr. Justice studied
his profession at Poland, and graduated at the
Cleveland Medical college in 1878. Since then
he has practiced at Poland m connection with
his drug business. Dr. Justice is a member of
the Presbyterian church, and politically is a
stanch Republican. He is an active and enter-
prising business man.

Charles S. Haynes, merchant, Poland, Ma-

honing county, was born June 9, 1830, in Vesnon
township, Trumbull county. David Haynes, his
father, was a native of Connecticut, whence he
came to Ohio with his parents about 18 10. He
died in 1870. His wife is still living with a
daughter at Rock Island, 111. Charles S.
Haynes has always lived in the section where he
now resides. He was engaged in farming until
1872, when he engaged in the mercantile busi-
ness at Poland. He was married in 1858 to Miss
Lucy M. Meeker, daughter of William Meeker,
of Boardman township, and has two children —
Calvin T. and Lillie Belle, twins, born Decem-
ber 10, 1863. In politics Mr. Haynes is a
sound Republican.

J. N. Cowden, M. D., physician, Poland
township, Mahoning county, was born in
Beaver county, now called Lawrence county,
Pennsylvania, October 29, 1840, but was
raised in Portage county, Ohio. His father,
James S. Cowden, came from Washington
county, Pennsylvania, in 1818, and located in
Poland township, and was one of the pioneers
of that section. He was a blacksmith by trade,
though he was engaged in milling chiefly. Dr.
Cowden studied medicine with E. A. Wilcox at
Mt. Jackson, Pennsylvania, and attended lec-
tures at the Ohio Medical college in 1862. He
now has an extensive practice. He was married
December 31, 1863, to Miss Julia M., daughter of
Lyman B. and Eliza D. Dickerson, of Yates coun-
ty. New York. They have had two children —
James L. and Charles C. Dr. Cowden is a Free
Mason, an Odd Fellow, and a member of the
Sons of Temperance. Mrs. Cowden is a mem-
of the Disciple church.

J. D. Bard, M. D., physician, Lowellville, Ma-
honing county, was born in Franklin county,
Pennsylvania, August 4, 18 14. William Bard,
his father, was a native of the same county, and
was engaged in the law and in mercantile busi-
ness for a number of years. He came to Ohio
in 1 819, and settled in Liberty township, Trum-
bull county, and followed farming as long as he
was able. He died in 1875. Dr. Bard, the sub-
ject of this sketch, studied medicine with Dr.
John Loy three years, and attended lectures at
the Cleveland Medical college. He began prac-
tice in 1838 at Middletown, Ohio, but two years
subsequently went to Winchester, Indiana, where
he remained one year and then removed to Pu-

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

laski, Indiana. There he resided between ten
and eleven years. He then came back to Trum-
bull county, Ohio, and continued in practice in
Liberty township for twenty-three years. He
then removed to Poland, where he still lives.
He has been eminently successful in his prac-
tice. November 2, 1841, he married Elizabeth,
daughter (^f James and Elizabeth Miller, of
Chester county, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Bard was
born February 4, 1816, in Washington city.
They have had eight children, five of whom are
living. Dr. and Mrs. Bard are members of the
Methodist Episcopal church.

A. G. Botsford, deceased, was born in New-
town, Connecticut, in 1805. He came to Ohio
about the year 1825, and located in Poland
township. He was married September 16, 1828,
to Miss Eliza Lynn, daughter of James Lynn, of
Wheeling, West Virginia, and had a family of
five children— J. E., of Louisville, Kentucky;
J. S., of Youngstown, Ohio; T. G. of Poland;
Mary, wife of H. O. Bonnell, of Youngstown;
J. K., deceased. The father died in 1870, and
the mother May 25, 1881. They were both
members of the Presbyterian church. T. G.
Botsford lives on the old homestead at Poland,
but is engaged in business in Louisville, Ken-
tucky.

Henry Hubbard, manufacturer of tinware, Po-
land township, Mahoning county, was born in
Hartford county, Connecticut, May 26, 1805. His
father, John Hubbard, was a native of the same
State, and lived and died there. Henry Hub-
liard came to Ohio in 1826, and located in the
township where he has since lived. He has been
for many years in the manufacture of tinware.
He was married February 10, 1828, to Miss
Eliza Ann Robinson, daughter of David Robin-
son, of Glastonberry, Connecticut. They have
had eight children, tour of whom are still living.
Mrs. Hubbard died several years ago. Mr.
Hubbard is a Congregationalist in belief and a
Republican in politics.

James Smith, farmer, Poland township, Ma-
honmg county, was born in Franklin county,
Pennsylvania, August 15, 1810. His father,
Joseph, was a native of the same State, and in
1827 moved to Ohio, and settled in Poland
township, where he resided until his death. He
died in January, 1841, leaving a family consist-
ing of a wife and four children, to mourn his loss.

James Smith has been engaged in various occu-
pations, but is now living upon the old home
place, and is evidently enjoying the evening of
his days. In politics he is a Republican, and
was formerly an anti-slavery man. He has al-
ways been what might be termed a reformer.
He has never married.

Henry Heasley, farmer, Poland township,
Mahoning county, was born in Youngstown,
Ohio, November 1, 1845. His father was Henry
Heasley, who was born in Westmoreland county,
Pennsylvania, and came to Ohio about 1828,
locating at Youngstown. He was a cabinet-
maker by trade and resided at Youngstown
twenty or twenty-five years, then moved upon the
farm where his son now lives in Poland. He
died in 1868, his widow and eight children sur-
viving him. Henry Heasley, our subject, was
married in 1874 to Miss Mary Clark, daughter
of John Clark, of Poland. They have two chil-
dren, Henry and Susan. Mr. and Mrs. Heasley
are members of the Presbyterian church.

William Cole, farmer, Poland township, Ma-
honing county, was born in Morristown, Lamoille
county, Vermont, February 11, 1826. His
father, Ebenezer Cole, was also a native of Ver-
mont, and came to Ohio in 1832. He settled
in Poland township, upon the farm where Wil-
liam Cole, his son, now lives. He followed
farming for about forty years, then went to
Salem, where he died February 22, 1876, in his
eighty-fifth year. He left a family of si.x children,
three children having died previously. His wife
died in 1847. Mr. Cole was in former years a
Free-will Baptist preacher, though he followed
farming chiefly in Ohio. William Cole has re-
sided in Poland, upon the old homestead, since
his boyhood. He has a farm of two hundred
and thirty-two acres and is engaged in general
farming and in the nursery business. He mar-
ried, February 25, 1846, Miss Elnia, daughter
of Mahlon Parritt, of Hillsville, Pennsylvania,
and has had three children, viz: Olive, born
December 10, 1846; Alice, June 22, 1848; Em-
ma, March 17, 1850. Mrs. Cole died October

9. 1853-

John W. ^'an Auker, farmer, Poland town-
ship, Mahoning county, was born in Youngs-
town, Ohio, August 10, 1834. Absalom Van
Auker, his father, was a native of Delaware, and
caii.e to Ohio about 1829. He located at

■TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

8i

Wooster, where he resided but a short time, then
moved to Youngstown. He was a farmer, and
died in 1836. John W. Van Auker, our subject,
has always resided in the county, with the excep-
tion of two years, during which he lived m Wis-
consin. His principal occupation through life
has been that of farming and mercantile busi-
ness. He was married August 16, 1854, to Miss
Silvia A. Jackson, of Mahoning county, daughter
of Joseph Jackson. They have had seven chil-
dren, six of whom are living. Mr. Van Auker
was in the Nineteenth Ohio volunteer infantry,
and saw nearly four years of service. He is a
Republican, and is an active, enterprising man.
Mrs. Van Auker is a member of the Presby-
terian church.

Samuel H. McBride, deceased, was born in
Mercer county, Pennsylvania, April 29, 1809.
His father, John, was a native of Washington
county, and followed farming. He died about
the year 1853. Samuel McBride came to Ohio
in the spring of 1836, and located at Lowellville,
Poland township. He was married in the fall of
the same year — October 3, 1836 — to Miss
Phebe Harris, daughter of Barnabas Harris, of
Coitsville township. Mr. McBride engaged in
the mercantile business at Lowellville, and con-
tinued in it until 1875, when his health failed
him, and, in consequence, retired from business.
He died March 5, 1881, highly esteemed by all
who enjoyed his acquaintance. He was a mem-
ber of the United Presbyterian church. Mrs.
McBride still resides in Lowellville, where she
lived so many years with her late husband. She
is the mother of three children — Leander, John,
and Rose.

John B. Nessle, merchant and postmaster,
Lowellville, Mahoning county, was born in 1818,
in Montgomery county. New York. He learned
the shoemakers trade when about sixteen years
of age, and in 1837 found his way to Lowell-
ville, Mahoning county, (then Trumbull) Ohio.
He followed his trade upwards of twenty years,
subsequently went into merchandizing in which
he still continues, and was appointed postmaster
of Lowellville in 1861, which position he still
holds. He was married in 1839 to Miss Jane,
daughter of John Pettigrew, of Lowellville, the
fruit of which union was eight children. His
first wife dying in 1870, Mr. Nessle was again
married, in 1873, to Mrs. Stevens, a daughter of

Levi Beardsley, of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Nessle
is a member of the Methodist church. Mr.
Nessle is a Free Mason and a sound Republican.
His father was Isaiah Nessle, a native of New
York, who died in 1868 or i86g.

James B. Brown, farmer, Poland township,
Mahoning county, was born in Ireland, February
20, 1820, and came to America with his parents
in 1835 O"" 1836, landing at New York after a
pleasant voyage of four weeks. The family went
to Philadelphia, where they stopped about six
weeks, and then went to Pittsburg where his
father was engaged in merchandizing for four
years. The family then removed to Ohio and
settled in Poland township where the subject of
this sketch still lives. His father died in 1849.
Mr. Brown was married in 1855, to Miss Mary,
daughter of James Buck, of Poland township,
and has four children: Eliza, Jennie, Willie, and
Emma.

Simon D. Brown, miller, was born in Trum-
bull county, Ohio, March 9, 1842, though he has
always lived in Mahoning county, with the ex-
ception of two years. In his boyhood he
was quite delicate, but as he grew older
he gained in physical strength and is now a
healthy man. He is now engaged in milling at
Lowellville, Mahoning county, and does an ex-
tensive business. He married a daughter (Clara)
of John Reed, of Poland township, October 2,
1879, and has one child, Ralph, born October
22, 1880. Mr. Brown's politics are Republican.

Robert B. Martin, farmer, Poland township,
Mahoning county, was born in Lancaster county,
Pennsylvania, February 19, 1835. His father,
H. R. Martin, came from Pennsylvania in 1841
and settled in Springfield township, where he
lived until his death, September 8, 1879. He
was a tailor by trade in Pennsylvania, but after
his removal to Ohio he followed farming. R.
B. Martin was married, in 1862, to Miss Rachel,
daughter of James McCord, of Lawrence coun-
ty, Pennsylvania. They had three children, viz:
Mary D., Alice J., and James C. Mr. Martin is
a Democrat in politics.

H. R. Moore, M. D., physician, of Poland,
Mahoning county, was born in said township
January 24, 1842. His father, James Moore, is
still living in the township, and is among its
oldest residents. Dr. Moore studied medicine
with Dr. Truesdale in Poland, and graduated at

TRUMBULL AND NL\H0N1NG COUNTIES, OHIO.

the Ohio Medical college, Cincinnati, after two
years' study, in 1866. He has succeeded in
building up a good practice in the Mahoning val-
ley and is well liked. He was married in 1866,
to Miss Maggie Woodruff, daughter of George
Woodruff, of Poland. They have had three
children — Lizzie, Kittie, and George C. Kittie
is deceased. Dr. Moore and wife are Presbyte-
rians in their religious faith. He is a Greenback-
er in politics.

James G. Cavett, farmer, Poland township,
Mahoning county, was born in Westmoreland
county, Pennsylvania, May 25, 1804. He came
to Ohio in 1854, and located in Poland upon
the farm where he still lives. He was engaged
in the tanning business in Pennsylvania, but
since coming to Ohio has followed farming.
He was married in 1830, to Miss Amanda Smith,
of Franklin county, Pennsylvania. They have
had three children — Jane M., John H., and
Elizabeth, the last named being deceased. Mrs.
Cavett died in 1867. She was a member of the
Presbyterian church, as is also her husband.

John H. Cavett was born in Westmoreland
county, Pennsylvania, December 2, 1835, ^"d
came to Ohio in 1854, with his parents. He
married April 7, 1857, Miss Elizabeth Rigler, of
Pennsylvania. They have two children, Lizzie
E. and James B. Mr, and Mrs. Cavett are
members of the Presbyterian church. He is a
firm Republican in politics, has been township
clerk five terms, and is held in high esteem by
his fellow-citizens.

J. H. Davidson, merchant, Poland, Mahon-
ing county, was born at Shippensburg, Pennsyl-
vania, June 22, 1826. Samuel Davidson, his
father, came from Pennsylvania in 1831, and
located in Coitsville township, where he engaged
at farming. He died November 2(, 1871, at
the age of seventy-nine years, six months and fif-
teen days. His wife died June 5, 1871, aged
seventy years, eight months and twenty-eight
days. They were both members of the Presby-
terian church, and he was one of the first to
move in the organization of the Free Presby-
terian church at New Bedford, Pennsylvania. J.
H. Davidson has been engaged in various occu-
|)alions; worked at blacksmithing several years,
and was engaged in prospecting for oil and coal
from 1859 to 1874. He went to Poland in
1866 and started in merchandizing in 1S75. He

was married in 1853 to Miss Emily Clark,
daughter of Henry Clark, of Hubbard, and has
two children, Mary E. and Charles H. Mr. and
Mrs. Davidson arc members of the Methodist
church. Mr. Davidson enlisted, April 27, 1864,
in the One Hundred and Seventy-first Ohio
National guard, serving one hundred days, when
he was mustered out.

Dr. Ale.xander C. Elliott, dentist, Poland, Ma-
honing county, was born in Beaver county, Penn-
sylvania, December 20, 1831, and came to Ohio
in 1865 and located in Poland township. He
studied dentistry at Rochester, Pennsylvania.
Dr. Elliott was in the war of the Rebellion four
years — three years in the First Pennsylvania
cavalry, and one year in the First Pennsylvania
veteran cavalry, and was wounded in the right
leg at St. Mary's church, near Malvern Hill, Vir-
ginia. He was married in 1866 to Miss Isabella,
daughter of John Young, of Columbiana county,
and has one child, Clarence, born August 3,
1868. Dr. Elliott and his wife are members of
the First Baptist church of Youngstown.

Leander D. Robinson, farmer, Poland town-
ship, Mahoning county, was born in Lawrence
county, Pennsylvania, in 1843. His father,
Samuel, was a Pennsylvanian, a farmer by occu-
pation, and died in 1858. L. D. Robinson
came to Ohio in 1874, and is engaged in general
farming. He married, in 1S66, Miss Annie,
daughter of Robert Graham, of Poland town-
ship, and has one child — Lillie May. He was
in the One Hundred and Fifty-fifth regiment,
Ohio infantry, in the rebellion, and also in the
One Hundred and Thirty fourth Pennsylvania.
He and his wife are both members of the Pres-
byterian church.

R. W. Weller, M. D., physician, Lowellville,
Mahoning county, was born in Beaver, now Law-
rence, county, Pennsylvania, May 17, 1838. His
father, John Weller, is a native of New Jersey,
and is still living at the advanced age of eighty-
one years. Dr. Weller studied medicine at the
University of Wooster, graduated in 1876, and
has since been in practice at Lowellville. He
built up a good practice, and is well liked. He
was first lieutenant in the Pennsylvania " round
head " regiment (One Hundredth); enlisted Au-
gust 27, 1861, and was mustered out October
15, 1864. He is now a mei.iber of the Grand
Army of the Republic, and is also a Free Ma-

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

83

son. He married, in 1865, Miss Lavenia Mon-
roe, daughter of Joel Monroe, of Lawrence
county, Pennsylvania, and has two children —
John and James. Dr. and Mrs. Waller are
members of the Presbyterian church.

CHAPTER in.

BOARDMAN.

PHYSICAL FEATURES.

The surface of this township is gently undu-
lating, and in many portions nearly level. There
are some hills, but none that are very steep.
The soil is mostly fertile, and well adapted to
a variety of crops. The western and north-
western part of the township is watered by Mill
creek and its tributaries. Yellow creek flows
for over two miles through the southeast of
Boardman, thence entering Poland township
near the village. Altogether, the natural aspect
of this township is one of beauty, with just
enough of hills and valleys, fields and wood-
lands, to please the eye by presenting to its gaze
a varied and lovely landscape. A ride from
Boardman center in either direction, north,
south, east, or west, takes the traveler through
as pleasant a farming region as can be found in
this part of the State. Although a considerable
portion of the land still remains uncleared, there
are several large productive farms, with neat and
pretty houses, large and convenient barns, show-
ing that the owners are men of activity and
thrift. The southwestern quarter of the town-
ship is the least improved, and contains but few
inhabitants. Here stands the Big Oak, on a
path believed by the old settlers to have been
made by deer. This oak is a stern monarch of
the foresc, five and a half feet in diameter, and
seventeen feet in circumference three feet from
the ground, as has been ascertained by actual
measurement. It has fifty feet of trunk and
does not rise above the neighbormg trees, or it
might have been prostrated by the wind years
ago. Probably this venerable tree was a sturdy
youth at the time America was discovered! It
is still at some distance from any improved
land.

In the northern part of the township, on the
farm of J. B. Kistler, and in that vicinity, there
are extensive coal deposits, which it is believed
may become a source of profit to their owners
ere many years have elapsed.

VILLAGES.

Properly speaking Boardman has no village.
Boardman center, the only point which bears
any resemblance to one, contains about a dozen
houses, a carriage shop, and a post-office. It is
in a delightful situation, and if it should grow in
future years, no pleasanter location for a town
could be found. A small portion of Poland vil-
lage on the eastern border is included within this
township.

INDUSTRIES, ETC.

Boardman is essentially a farming community.
In former years there have been a few stores,
some tanneries, several saw-mills, but never any
manufacturing enterprises of much importance;
and to-day farming is the principal business, and
almost the only business carried on in the town-
ship. The only store in the township is that
kept by Uriah Stafford on the south line of the
township at Steamtown, which village, however,
is all included in Beaver township except the
store and post-office.

Stewart Snyder has a carriage and blacksmith
shop at the center.

Elias Eyster, wagon-maker, has a shop one
and a half miles north of the center, ^nd near
him is the blacksmith shop of Cyrus Simon.

Joseph Miller is also a blacksmith at Zedaker's
corners, in the shop formerly occupied by John
Westbecker.

William J. Hitchcock and W. Moherman each
have steam saw-mills in the Boardman woods.

George Simon has a steam saw-mill neat his
residence. In former years he manufactured
shingles and barrel staves in quite large quanti-
ties. Now he saws lumber only.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

Elijah Boardman, accompanied by six able
men, among whom were Nathaniel and Eben-
ezer Blakely, and a man named Summers, came
to this township in 1798. Mr. Boardman was a
resident of New Milford, Connecticut, and was
a member of the Connecticut Land company.
He spent the entire summer here, making sur-
veys and establishing land-marks, while the men

84

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

whom he had brought with him were making
clearings and preparing for other comers. These
pioneers brought two yoke of oxen, which they
left at Youngstown to be wintered. Five of the
number returned to Connecticut on foot; the
other, one of the Blakelys, remained and be-
came a permanent settler.

The township was named for Elijah Board-
man. A stone set by him to mark the center of
the township was unearthed a few years ago,
and his initials, E. B., discovered upon it.

From 1800 to 1811 settlers came in rapidly,
the majority coming from Connecticut. A few
natives of Pennsylvania also found their way
hither.

In 18 10 the population of the township was
about 850, nearly as large as it is at the present
writing.

Upon the township records, containing a list
and description of ear marks in the year 1806,
there appear the following names, showing that
these men were property holders here at that date:
Abner Webb, Linus Brainard, William Drake,
Haynes Fitch, Eli Baldwin, George Stilson, John
Davidson, Joseph Merchant, Oswald Detchon,
Eleazer Fairchild and his sons — John, Amos,
and Daniel — Elijah Boardman, Francis Dowler,
Richard J. Elliot, Peter Stilson, Samuel S.van,
David Noble, Warren Bissel.

The same book also shows the following
names at the dates given :

rSoy — Isaac Blackman, James Moody.

1808 — Beach Summers, David Mtch, Ethel
Starr.

1809 — Andrew Hull, Herman Stilson, Jacob
Frank, Elijah Deane.

1813 — Simeon Mitchell, Eliakirn Stoddard,
John Northrop.

Francis Dowler, and his son John, the former
a native of Ireland, settled in this township in
1801.

John and Charlotte Davidson settled near the
center in 1805. They were forty days on their
way hither from Connecticut.

Haynes Fitch and his sons Jedediah and Da-
vid came in 1804, and settled on the farm where
Alexander Gault now lives.

Ethel Starr settled on the west of Indian
creek about 1807. He lived to be quite aged.

Isaac Blackman was an early comer, who set-
tled on the Poland road one-half mile from the

village. In 1808 he built a good frame house,
which is still standing, being now used as a sta-
ble. Afterwards he sold out and moved to Po-
land.

Eliakim Stoddard came about the year 1804,
and settled on the south road, one and a half
miles from Boardman center.

Major Samuel Clark came in 1810, and settled
where his son William L. Clark now resides.
He was one of the first postmasters, and used to
bring the mail from Poland once a week in his
pocket. He served as justice of the peace in
1828 or 1829, and was a worthy man and a prom-
inent citizen. He was commissioned lieuten-
ant, captain, and afterwards major of militia.
His wife was Anna Northrup. She, like the
major, was a native of Connecticut. Major
Clark died in 1847 in his sixty-first year. Mrs.
Clark died in i860, aged sixty-seven years.

Richard J. Elliot came in 1804 or 1805. He
was a member of the Legislature in 1808 and
1809. At his last election he received every
vote in his district, an honor probably never
accorded to any other candidate either before or
since He resided on the farm cleared by Wil-
liam Drake.

Oswald Detchon, a native of England, was
among the very first settlers. He located three-
fourths of a mile east of the center.

The Stilson brothers, Peter and George, came
in 1800. Peter Stilson settled on the south side
of the road leading to Canfield, near the pres-
ent residence of Eli Reed. He had four sons,
Herman, Anson, Luther, and Philip, all of whom
lived here several years.

David Noble came in the year 1804 or 1805.
He settled on the south road about a mile from
the center.

David Woodruff, a very early settler, located
on what is now the J. B. Kistler farm in the
northern part of the township. After his death
his sons sold out and went West.

Captain Warren Bissel previous to 1806 settled
one-half mile west of Poland, on the road lead-
ing to Canfield.

Henry Brainard came in 1800 and settled
about one mile from the center on the road run-
ning west. He had several sons, one of whom,
Dr. Ira Brainaid, was probably the first and only
settled physician in this township. Dr. Brainard
practiced here a few years, then moved to Can-

c-l'iiu.d'^ J2/i f4-/^yf^a^c^

4d.(^h. J2/{f>i//t^^i/.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

8S

field. The children of Henry Brainard were
Solomon, George, Linus, Ira, and Henry, and
three daughters who became Mrs. Dowd, Mrs.
Nathaniel Blakely, and Mrs. Hermon Stilson.

William Drake made a clearing in the south-
western quarter of the township in 1800. In a
small log hut on that farm occurred the first
wedding in Boardman. A man named Cum-
mings married Drake's sister. There also was
born the second female child born in the town-
ship, that child being the widow Allhands, of
Youngstown township, now deceased.

James Stall settled quite early in the northeast-
ern part of Boardman, on the eastern line of the
township.

Eleazer Fairchild was an early settler. He
located on what is now Eli Reed's farm. He
had several sons, Eleazer, Amos, Daniel, and per-
haps others.

Among those who came to Boardman as early
as 1801, and from that time until 1810, were
several families by the name of Simon, from
Washington county, Pennsylvania. Of these,
probably Adam Simon came first. He settled
on the farm now owned by Michael Simon.
Soon afterward came Jacob Simon. Michael
Simon came a few years later with several sons
and daughters, all of whom settled in the north-
ern part of the township. Among his children
were Adam, Peter, Jacob, Abraham, and Heniy.

There were two Jacob Simons, Jacob, the son
of Michael, being known as "Schoolmaster Jake"
— thus distinguishing from " Mill Creek Jake,"
who settled farther to the westward. All of the
Simons brought up large families, and many of
their descendants still reside here.

George Zedaker and his son John came from
Washington county, Pennsylvania, in 1802 or
1803. J. P. Zedaker, a son of John Zedaker, now
lives upon the farm where they located. John
Zedaker was a soldier in the War of 181 2, and
was the last survivor in Boardman of the soldiers
of that war. He died several years ago.

Isaac Hankins, an early comer, settled on
Benjamin McNutt's farm, in the northern part
of the township. About the year 1815 he sold
his farm to "Preacher" Hewett and moved away.

George Pope, an early settler, also located on
a part of the McNutt farm, which he bought
from Hankins. Later he moved to the north-
western part of the townshii), and settled near

Mill creek. He attained the age of ninety-
eight years. He was a native of Virginia.

Other early settlements were made in the
Simons neighborhood by a man named Feester,
Martin Dustman, who settled near the north
line of the township, and Henry Dustman, on
the farm now owned by Samuel Mover.

Andrew Hull settled quite early on the farm
now belonging to Thomas Matthews.

John Northrup came about 181 1. He was a
carpenter by trade. He resided at the center
for a short time, then moved south of there, and
afterwards went West.

John Twiss came in 1818, Charles Titus in
1819. The latter is still living.

Amos Baldwin, a native of Connecticut,
moved here from Washington county, Pennsyl-
vania, in 181 1, and settled on Mill creek. His
son, Asa Baldwin, born in 1798, still resides in
Boardman. Amos Baldwin moved to Trumbull
county, where he died in 1850 at the age of
eighty-si.x. He brought up seven sons and two
daughters. Three of his sons, John, Garry, and
Asa, settled in Boardman.

Asa Baldwin, a brother of Amos, came in
181 1, or perhaps a year or two before. He set-
tled on the Agnew farm.

Thomas and Elizabeth Agnew settled on the
farm where their son, Ralph Agnew, Esq., now
lives, in the year 1824, coming here from Penn-
sylvania.

Henry Foster, a wheelwright, was a resident of
the township for many years. He came here
with his father previous to 1808.

Elijah Deane, an early settler, settled near
Foster.

Philip and Catharine Stambaugh settled in the
northeastern corner of the township in i8ir,
where their son Philip is still living. He was
born February 16, 1796, and is the oldest man
in the township. Mr. Stambaugh, Sr., took up
about two hundred acres of land in the four
townships, Boardman, Youngstown, Coitsville,
and Poland, paying for it at the rate of $7 and
$8 per acre.

Eli Baldwin came from Connecticut in 1801,
being then about twenty years of age. He acted
as the agent of Elijah Boardman, who owned
the greater part of the land in this township.
Mr. Baldwin was a very prominent man, active
in all public affairs. He was the first captain of

86

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

militia, the first justice of the peace, and, it is
believed, the first postmaster in the township.
He represented this district in the Legislature
several terms, and served as associate judge one
term. He settled in the northern part of the
township in 1809 or 18 10, where he passed the
remainder of his days.

About 1 80 1 came the DeCamps, the Shields
and Woodruff families, elsewhere mentioned.
All these settled in the northwestern part of the
township.

Abraham Osborn settled near DeCamp at an
early date.

Josiah Walker settled on Yellow creek in
1803. His sons live on the same farm now.

Nathaniel Blakely was one of the first set-
tlers, a schoolmaster, and a justice of the peace
in early days.

Isaac Newton settled at Boardman center in
1811.

William and Pamelia Fankle came about the
year 1816, and settled in the southeast of the
township, one mile from the Poland line. Three
of their five children are yet living, Silas in this
township, and Edward and Delia F. in the west.

David Porter, and his wife, Mary Walker, both
natives of Adams county, Pennsylvania, settled
near the southern line of the township, about
one mile from the southeast corner, in 181 5.
The log house where they lived is still standing —
one of the few remaining mementoes of early
days. They had five children, three of whom
are living — David, their youngest, in this town-
ship, Mrs. Martha M. Slaven and Harvey Porter,
in Kansas. David Porter, Sr., was killed by a
falling tree, June 19, 1819, thus leaving his wife
and little children to provide for themselves, and
undergo the harsh experiences of pioneers.
I )avid occupies a portion of the original farm.

FIRST ELECTION.

The first township meeting for the election of
officers was held April 7, 1806. Haynes Fitch
was chosen chairman, Henry Brainard and
David Woodruff clerks. The following officers
were chosen for the year : Eli Baldwin, township
clerk ; Henry Brainard, George Stilson, and
Adam Simon, trustees ; Eleazer Fairchild and
Michael Simon, overseers of the poor ; James
Hull and Abner Webb, fence viewers : Nathaniel
Blakely, lister and appraiser ; Jedediah Fitch,
appraiser ; Isaac Hankins, Nathaniel Blakely,

and David Fitch, supervisors of highway : David
Fitch, constable ; and James Moody, treasurer.

Previous to the above date the township had
been included in Youngstown. It was organized
as Boardman township in 1805.

JUSTICES OF THE PE.\CE.

The first justice was Judge Eli Baldwin. His
successors have been Nathaniel Blakely, James
Moody, Asa Baldwin, John Woodruff, Parkus
Woodruff, Shelden Newton, and Ralph Agnew,
who holds the office at present.

PRIMITIVE TAXES.

The amount of taxes levied in Boardman, in
1803, was $17.47. Taxes could not have been
very oppressive that year. We give a list of the
taxes and tax-payers for 1803:

BOARDMAN, RANGE TWO, TOWN ONK.

Amount Amount

of tax. ^of t.-i.\.

Brainard, Sinas $ o 40 Dustman, Henry $ o 10

Brainard, Solomon. . . 15 Fisher, Benjamin 20

Blakesley, Ebenezer . . 61 Fairchild. Eleazer i 83

Blakesley, Nathaniel . 62 McCorkle, Archibald . . 20

Baldwin, Caleb 333 Stephens, John 47

Baldwin, Eli 24 Scroggs, Allen 40

Cook, Isaac 24 Simon, Michael i 77

Canada, James 30 Stilson, George 07

Comyns, Joseph 20 Stilson, Peter 16

Chamberlain, Noah . . 41 Stall, James 62

Davis, Ebenezer 40 Simon, Andrew 50

DeCamp, Lewis 62 Somers, Beach 30

Dice, Edward 56 Thornton, John, Jr 81

Dice, William 40 McMahan. John 16

Detchon, Oswald i 30

Total.

$17 47

EARLY INCIDENTS AND ADVENTURES.

From the writings of Shelden Newton, Esq.,
for whose assistance in preparing this township
history the writer desires to express the heartiest
thanks, are gathered many of the facts and inci-
dents which follow.

Seventy years ago Boardman was wild and
desolate ; there were no good roads, and all of
the low ground was covered with logs, or cordu-
roy crossings. Sugar was worth forty cents per
pound, and was a luxury to be used sparingly or
not at all. The crop of maple sugar in 181 1 was
almost a total failure; but the following season
about forty thousand pounds were made in the
township, as was ascertained from figures
gathered on election day— the first Monday in
April — of that year.

In December, 1805, George Stilson and a boy
name Whitney were at work in the forest getting

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

out timber with which to build Stilson's tavern,
when suddenly they heard the sharp report of a
hunter's rifle, and were astonished to see a bear
rushing almost directly toward them. Stilson
had a worthless cur lying on his coat near by.
Now, he thought, was excellent opportunity for
training his dog. According the dog was urged
on, and ran directly in front of the bear and at-
tempted to seize it. But he soon found himself
in the close embrace of the huge animal. The
dog gave two or three sharp yells, and then his
voice was heard no more. Stilson seized his
axe and advanced toward the bear. As he came
within a few feet of him, the bear, no doubt
divining his intentions, dropped the almost life-
less dog and started for his assailant. Stilson
took to his heels, droppmg his axe in the excite-
ment of the moment, and soon bear and man
were making lively circles around a large poplar
tree. The boy Whitney stood on the fallen tim-
ber and shouted, "Run, Uncle George; run or
he will catch you." Just at this moment, when
the case looked hopeless, and Stilson's breath
became quite short, the hunter's dog came up
and seized the bear by a hind leg, thus diverting
bruin's attention from his intended prey. The
hunter, Donaldson, soon arrived upon the scene
and shot the bear. A team was brought to the
place, the dead animal was hauled to the center
and dressed, his meat weighing three hundred
pounds. Everybody who wished could obtain
a piece of the meat.

Boardman was considered the best of hunting
ground for deer in those early days. Curtis
Fairchild, a noted huntsman, killed one hundred
and five deer in one season, besides trapping
thirteen wolves. The skin of a deer was worth
seventy-five cents; the meat, nothing. A bounty
of $6 each was paid by the county for the scalps
of wolves.

Bears and wolves were numerous and trouble-
some. One night in December, i8i i, Eliakim
Stoddard was aroused about ten o'clock by the
squealing of his hogs. Seizing his axe he went
to the pen and there saw a huge bear attacking
his best hog. Stoddard was intending to creep
up unnoticed and strike the bear with his axe,
but the bear was on the alert for intruders and
at once rushed at him. Stoddard retreated to
the house, while the bear returned to the pen,
seized the hog, drew it across the road and

across a small stream to a point about ten rods
from the house and there proceeded with his
meal undisturbed. The hog was a long time in
dying, and of course its cries were hideous. Stod-
dard did not wish to leave his wife and children
alone while the bear remained in the vicinity.
What was to be done? Nobody lived within a
mile of him. He resolved to await events; and,
about twelve o'clock, was rejoiced to see the bear
depart into the forest. He then fastened up the
house as securely as possible, and proceeded to
the center to arouse the neighborhood. As soon
as It was daylight a party of men with dogs and
arms started in pursuit of the bear, which they
chased all through the day, and until after sun-
set. The hunters took lodging at the nearest
house, and the next day commenced the chase
anew. After leading them a long race the bear
was finally treed and despatched, though it took
three shots to bring him down.

THE WAR OF l8l2

drew from Boardman every man able to do mili-
tary service. I"ew, if any in the township, volun-
teered, but all were drafted.

Three drafts were made, each taking one-third
of the militia. Regarding these times, Shelden
Newton, Esq., writes as follows concerning the
second draft:

The company was again called out. Captain Bissel and a
Government officer were present. Hie orderly sergeant,
Isaac Blackman. with his spontoon — its handle stained red
with poke-berry juice— paraded the company, marching them
around in single file, calling on the members to fall into
ranks. When he had them all in, he brought them up be-
fore the tavern ■' front face. " The officers of the company
and the Government officer held a few moments' consulta-
tion. The captain then ordered the company to call off in
the usual form, "right, left; right, left," to the end. Then
the Government officer told them they must march the ne.\t
day at two o'clock, with three days' rations in their knap-
sacks. In this draft were David Noble, Asa Baldwin,
Thomas Moody, and a score of others.

From that time until the hour of starting there was no
sleep in the neighborhood. It required the constant vigi-
lance of all to get the men ready. Cooking had to be done,
knapsacks made, clothing prepared, etc. All were ready
and left at the appointed time. In a few short days came
another express, saying that the enemy were then crossing
the lake, and were in sight of Cleveland. This was on Sat-
urday, and every man must start on Monday. The captain
and all other officers had gone in the second draft. Thus
tor two nights Boardman was left entirely destitute of men.
Not an able-bodied man was left. I now recollect of only
two men who were too old to do military duty. They were
]ohn Davidson and Henry Brainard. However, the scare
on Lake Erie proved a false alarm, and the last draft were
ordered home.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

Charles A. Boardman went out as adjutant
under Colonel Rayen. He was afterward trans-
ferred to another regiment. William Ingersol, a
chum of Boatdman, went with him, and was
soon appointed forage master, and proved to be
very efficient in obtaining supplies.

At the battle of the Peninsula, near Sandusky,
three of Boardman township's soldiers were
volunteers : Jacob Frank, George Moherman,
and John Dowler. Frank was a stout, couiage-
ous man, ready to deal blows right and left,
regardless of his own safety. Moherman was as
reckless a warrior as ever amied at an Indian.
Dowler, a William Penn in principle, would not
choose to harm any living being ; but when the
shrieks of the women and children of the fron
tier almost reached his ears, he did not hesitate
about the rightfulness of his action, but shoul-
dered his rifle and started. These men were
under Captain Cotton, of Austintown, an efficient
officer. There were two hundred men, all volun-
teers, in that skirmish with the Indians. When
they had entered the peninsula, it was found
that they had plenty of business on their hands.
Indians rose from the grass on all sides, fighting
became general, and still more Indians appeared.
Moherman was then in his element. Frank
proceeded too far from his companions, and
found himself alone and surrounded by savages.
He was shot through the arm and commenced
to run. There was a large block-house on the
peninsula, which was the means of saving many
lives. The cajHain ordered a retreat, which had
already become quite general, and was being
carried out in a very straggling manner. Mo-
herman, a leader in the fray, obeyed quite reluc-
tantly. When he had retreated a few steps he
found a dead Indian, and determined to have
his scalp ; but other Indians dashed toward him,
and he ran into the high grass and escaped.
When a few rods away he stumbled over the
body of a wounded red man not yet dead. Now
was his opportunity ; he seized the Indian by
the hair, and with one circle of his knife cut
loose the scalp, caught it in his mouth and tore
it from the head, and hurried on as rapidly as
possible. Wiien some distance further on, he
came across Abraham Simon, one of his neigh-
bors from Youngstown, mortally wounded.
Moherman olTercd his assistance, but Simon
told liini to take care of himself. Moherman,

however, resolved to save his comrade, and,
stooping down, placed the arms of the wounded
man about his neck, took his own gun in his
hand, and hastened again toward the block-
house, bearing Simon upon his back. Near the
house he came to a fence, and while he was
climbing it an Indian shot Simon through the
head, killing him almost instantly. Moherman
gained the retreat in safety, still carrying the
scalp, of which ever after he was very proud.
He brought it home with him, and afterward
sold it to a Philadelphia merchant for ten
dollars.

When the retreat commenced Dowler caught
an Indian in the act of taking a scalp from one
of his comrades. The man was dead and the
savage was proceeding to scalp him before load-
ing his gun. The Indian ran at once, directly
away from Dowler, who fired upon him, and, not
wishing to know that he had killed an Indian,
turned and fled in safety to the block-house.

Times were hard, and the soldiers and their
families were obliged to undergo many bitter e.\-
periences and privations, even after the close of
the war.

From 1814 up to 1820 money was exceedingly
scarce. Wheat brought twenty-five cents per
bushel in paper money. Butter was five cents
per pound, and eggs four cents a dozen in "store
pay." Three year old steers sold for $10 per
head, cash. People drank rye coffee and had
no tea. They manufactured every article of
clothing except leather for shoes. This had to
be bought, consequently many went barefooted a
large portion of the year. Deer skins were
good, serviceable articles, and half of the men
wore buckskin breeches. Charles A. Boardman
made a fine pair of pantaloons from this ma-
terial. After the skins were ])repared and dressed
he obtained some kind of blue liquid with which
he stained them, thus making the best and most
showy garments in the country. He wore them
for two years or more, and during that time
taught school for $2.40 per month and " found
himself."

CHURCH HISTORY.

At this date (i88r) there are four religious so-
cieties and three church edifices in the township,
two of them being at the center, and the other
in the northern part. The Universalists held
meetings in 1820, but never built a church. A

ieiize'7^-^ \//e^t-'Y-C'yi-::::Z)

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

89

dozen years ago there were four churches at
Boardman center — Protestant Episcopal, Pres-
byterian, Methodist and Disciple. Now only
the Methodists and the Episcopals maintain
their organizations. The buildings which be-
longed to the other denominations are devoted
to other than religious purposes.

ST. JAMES' CHURCH, PROTEST.\NT EPISCOPAL.

This church, the oldest in the diocese, dates
back to July 20, 1809. At that date was issued
a petition urging that the inhabitants of Board-
man, Canfield, and Poland meet August 12,
1809, for the purpose of forming a regular Epis-
copal society, and the organization was efTected
the same year. We give below the names of the
signers of this paper :

Turhand Kirtland, Ensign Church, Charles
Chittenden, Josiah Wetmore, Samuel Blocker.
Joseph Piatt, Ethel Starr, Francis Dowler, John
Liddle, John Dowler, Eleazer Fairchild, Ziba
Loveland, Arad Way, Eleazer Gilson, Russell F.
Starr, Eli Piatt, John Loveland, Lewis Hoyt,
Joseph Liddle, Jared Kirtland. For a time only
laymen ofificiated in the church, with occasional
assistance from traveling missionaries. In March,
181 7, the society was organized as a parish, ac-
cording to the canons, and received the name
St. James' Episcopal church. Following is a
list of missionaries and rectors who have labored
in this church; First, Rev. Jackson Kemper,
1814, afterwards bishop of Wisconsin; succeeded
by Revs. Jacob Morgan Douglas, Roger Searle,
Philander Chase, afterwards bishop of this dio-
cese and later of Illinois, M. T. C. Wing, after-
wards a professor in Kenyon college, John L.
Bryan, Joshua L. Harrison, Intrepid Morse,
Joshua T. Eaton, William Grandville, C. F.
Lewis, Joseph Adderly, C. S. Doolittle, A. T.
McMurphy, Abraham J. Warner (longest service
of any, 1864-78), C. F. Adams. The last
named served but one year, and left on account
of illness. At present the church is without a
rector. It numbers fifty-si.K members, twenty-
four coiiimunicanls.

The school-house and private dwellings were
used as places of worship until 1828, when the
present church edifice was completed. In 1824
the church had sixty members. In 1^53 a
movement was made to build a parsonage, and
successfully carried out a year or two later.

There has also been connected with this parish

a Ladies' Missionary society, the organiza-
tion of which dates back nearly fifty years.

BETHLEHEM CHURCH.

This is a union church belonging to the two
societies, the Lutherans and the German Re-
formed. Through the efforts of the Simons
families and others a log house was built at a
very early date and used as a place for worship
for many years. The first preacher was a man
named Stough. Later Rev. Henry Hewett, who
married a daughter of Michael Simon, was the
pastor. This church is located on the north
line of the township, one mile from the eastern
corner.

The first graveyard of the Germans was on the
farm of Adam Simon. After the first church
was built a cemetery was established near by, in
which the remains of Henry Dustman were the
first to be interred.

Regular services are held alternately by the
two societies, but the membership of each is quite
small. The present house was erected in 1845.
The log house was erected as early as 1810, and
was the first house of worship built in the town-
ship.

THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH,

called also the Presbyterian church, was estab-
lished by Rev. John Field, a missionary from
Connecticut, May 28, 1813. In 1849 the
organization ceased to exist, on account of re-
movals to other parts of the country and the
death of several of its members. The first ofifi-
cers of this church were Samuel Swan and
Charles A. Boardman, church committee, and
Charles A. Boardman, deacon.

Rev. Warren Taylor was the only settled min-
ister. He was installed in 1844 and remained
one year. Other preachers were either mission-
aries or pastors of other congregations who
preached here a part of the time.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

At what date this organization began the his-
torian is unable to learn. Oswald Detchon was
one of its prime movers and most prominent
members. The first meetings were held in a log
school-house upon his farm. Dr. Adams, of
Beaver, was among the early preachers. The
present house of worship at the center was prob-
ably built about 1835. Among those whose
means and influence contributed largely toward

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

building, it may be mentioned the following
names: Thomas Agnew, Major Samuel Clark,
and Josiah Beardsley.

THE DISCIPLES.

A church of this denomination was organized
about the year 1854 by Herman Reeves, an
evangelist. A church building was erected some
two years later. The membership was never
large, and through deaths and removal of mem-
bers, the organization ceased to e.xist some ten
years ago. The house was sold to the township
and is now used as a town hall. The preachers
in this church were Revs. Reeves, Ephraim Phil-
lips, John Errett, D. J. White, and James Calvin.

AN EARLY SOCIETY.

An organization known as The Female Tract
Society of Boardman, Can field and the Western
Reserve, held its first meeting February 18,
181 8. It contained a large number of members
in all parts of the Reserve, but has been extinct
for many years.

CEMETERIES AND BURIAL PLACES.

The first burials in the township were made
upon the farm of Adam Simon. The German
cemetery was soon afterward laid out.

One or more interments were made near Po-
land, at an early date, opposite where the house
of William Hultz now stands.

The cemetery near the center was laid out in
1805, and the first burials there were in that
year or the year following.

THE FIRST SCHOOLS.

About as soon as the pioneers were established
in their new homes, preparations were made for
the education of their children. A log school-
house, the first in the tovvnship, was built a few-
rods west of the center, probably in 1803 or
1804. Nathaniel Blakely was the first teacher.
Mrs. Mitchell, wife of Simeon Mitchell, who
settled at the center in 18 10, also taught several
terms. Boardman was favored wilh excellent
teachers in early days. In place of the log
building a two story frame school house was
erected in 1809. This was called the academy,
and was used for school, church, and other meet-
ings for thirty years or more. It is still stand-
ing one and a half miles east of the center,
where it was moved years ago, and is now used
as a stable.

A log school-house was built by the Simons
almost as early as the one at the center. Ger-
man alone was taught for several years, but Eng-
lish was gradually substituted. Jacob Simon
taught this school for some years, and was after-
wards succeeded by his sons and the sons of
Adam Simon. The house was situated on the
farm of the latter.

The first schools were all private, or tuition
schools.

TAVERNS.

George Stilson built the first frame house in
the township in 1805, on the spot where Jesse
Baldwin's house now is. Here he kept tavern
for about twenty-five years. He was succeeded
by Perry Baldwin, Herman Crane, Samuel Elliot,
Alex. McKinnev, and Arthur Patrick. Since
the death of Mr. Patrick in i860 Boardman has
been without a hotel.

Joseph Merchant came from Connecticut in
1804, and soon afterward settled one-half mile
south of the center. About the year 1814 he
began keeping tavern about eighty rods east of
the center. In 1823 Asa Baldwin carried on
the same business at the same place for about
one year. Mr. Baldwin's sign was an original
one, and had the merit of attracting attention
and customers. One side read as follows :

Nothing on this side,
Not much on the other;

and the opposite side,

Nothing in the house,

Or in the barn either.
The house was quite popular; from which it
may be inferred that the "advertising dodge"
didn't tell the exact truth.

POST-OFFICES.

The first, and until recently, the only post-
office in Boardman, was that at Boardman
center. The exact date of its establishment can
not be ascertained, but it was in existence in
iSio. • The first postmaster and his successors
were as follows: Eli Baldwin, Major Samuel
Clark, William IngersoU, Samuel Swan, H. M.
Boardman, Arthur Patrick, S. O. Stilson, and Ed-
ward Davidson, the present incumbent. Board-
man now receives four mails, one from each
direction, daily.

A ^)ost-office named Woodworth was estab-
lished a few years ago, in the southern part of
the township. Uriah StafTord is the present post-
master.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

THE FIRST MILLS.

The first grist-mill in Boardnian was a small
affair. It was a log building, but was soon re-
placed by a good one. It was situated on Mill
creek, near Lanterman's falls, and was known
as Baird's mill. It was run for many years by
Thomas Shields. Eli Baldwin afterwards owned
it. The flood of 1843 carried it almost entirely
away. This was one of the first mills in the Re-
serve, and probably the very first.

The first saw-mill was built one and a half
miles from the center, in a southeasterly direc-
tion, on a small tributary of Mill creek. Elijah
Boardman and Richard Elliot were tt-.e proprie-
tors. It was probably built in 1808. DeCamp's
was the next mill erected, on a small stream
in the northwestern corner of the township.
Neither of these saw-mills was run very long.

Eli Baldwin had a saw-mill, a grist-mill, and
a cloth-mill upon Mill creek, at a later date. The
saw-mill was destroyed by fire and the grist-mill
torn down and removed years ago.

The Zedakers built a cider-mill in 1818.

A saw-mill built by the Walkers' is still stand-
ing but unused.

THE FIRST STORE

was opened in a room of Stilson's tavern by
Charles Boardman and William Ingersoll. They
continued in the business but a short time, how-
ever. Later, Calvin Brainard kept store on the
corner where G. E. Lanterman's house now
stands.

DISTILLERIES.

Many people operated small stills but none
were of much importance, except the distillery
of Eli Baldwin. He commenced distilling in
1809 or 1810 and conducted the business for
several years, manufacturing considerable quan-
tities of liquor. This distillery was located near
the north line of the township on the Youngs-
town road.

TANNERY.

A tannery was built by James Moody just
north of the center. He came in 1804 and be-
gan working at his trade in 1805. At first he
ground bark by rolling a heavy stone over it,
afterwards introducing improvements. He con-
tinued in the business over forty years and
was considered a good workman. His buildings,
— house, barn, mill, and bark-house — were first

made of logs and replaced later by frame build-
ings.

MISCELLANEOUS.

The first white child born in the township was
James D. McMahon, born October 31, 1799.
For his history see Jackson township.

Horace Daniels was born in Boardman in
March, 1800. His parents came in 1799. In
T823 he drove the first stage westward on the
old Pittsburg & Cleveland stage line.

The first sermon was preached in the old
school-house at the center in 1804, by Rev. Mr.
Badger, a Presbyterian missionary from Con-
necticut.

The first blacksmith was Andrew Webb, who
came about 1804. In company with Samuel
Swan he made scythes and sold them for
$2 each. Eastern manufactured scythes were
then worth $2.50. Webb first had a shop at the
center, and afterwards moved one mile west
where he continued working at his trade for some
years.

George Brainard, a blacksmith, came in 181 2,
and worked at his trade in a shop near the cen-
ter for some thirty years. He sold out and went
to Austintown.

John Davidson was probably the first shoe-
maker in the township.

Elijah Deane, who settled on the farm now
owned by James Hughes, was also one of the
first shoemakers.

The first cheese made in this township, and
perhaps the first made on the Western Reserve,
was made by Peter Stilson in 1804. He carried
a few hundred-weight to Pittsburg and sold it
there.

Biographical Sketches.

THE BOARDMAN FAMILY.
Henry M. Boardman, son of Elijah and Mary
Anna Boardman, was born in New Milford,
Litchfield county, Connecticut, January 4, 1797.
Elijah Boardman, for whom the township of
Boardman was "amcd, was a member of the
Connecticut Land company and owned extensive
tracts of land in different portions of the Western
Reserve. He came here in 1798 and spent the
summer establishing land-marks and making sur-

92

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

veys, but did not settle. Henry M. Boardman
married, December 13, i8i8, Sarah Hall Ben-
ham, daughter of Rev. Benjamin Benham, pas-
tor of St. John's parish at New Milford, and the
next year removed with his wife to Boardman.
He located at the center of the township, first
occupying the house which is now the dwelling
of his son, Frederick A. This house had been
erected two years before by Isaac Newton, who
at first occupied and cultivated land for the pro-
prietor, Elijah Boardman. The house was con-
structed entirely of oak, and so strongly and sub-
stantially was It built that after the lapse of sixty-
five years it is apparently as firm and substantial
as ever. Mr. Boardman occupied this dwelling
but a short time. In 1820 he built and occupied
the house on the corner opposite, in which he
resided until his death.

The life of Mr. Boardman, like those of nearly
all the pioneers, was of a commonplace character.
From the very nature of their circumstances and
surroundings there could be little in their careers
which would furnish a biographer with materials
for anything more than a brief and simple narra-
tive. Their lives were a continuous round of
toil, often of deprivation, and sometimes of suf-
fering. He who looks for exciting interest, spirit,
or variety in the "simple annals" of the pioneers
must look in vain. Mr. Boardman was a farmer
by occupation and he did not neglect his busi-
ness for other things. But his principal charac-
teristic was his interest in the moral and religious
welfare of the community and his devotion to liis
church. The religious element in his nature
seems to have been predominant.

The next year after his settlement in Board-
man (in 1820), to supply the existing want of
pastoral services, he united with a few neighbors
in organizing a parish at the center under the
title of St. John's church. Of this parish he was
clerk for twenty-five years, and as lay reader,
licensed by the bishop of Ohio, he conducted
public services both at Boardman and at Can-
field, generally twice every Sabbath. For many
years he was senior warden of the parish, and as
a delegate he represented it at the annual dioce-
san convention. He took an active part in the
erection of the church building, drawing with his
own teams much of the timber used in its con-
struction, and he contributed in addition to this
materials to the value of more than $500. Mr.

Boardman was well equipped for an efficient
worker in the church, which he was, being a
man of more than ordinary ability, of excellent ■
principles, and of deep, earnest piety. Possessing
a retiring .disposition he always declined appoint-
ments to offices of honor and trust, although
frequently urged to accept them. The only office
which he was induced to accept was that of cap-
tain of light infantry. This position he filled for
some time and he performed the duties with
such general acceptance that it was determined
to promote him to the rank of major-general.
But he at once declined the proffered honor. He
frequently acted as arbiter in the settlement of
disputes and disagreements, and took great
pleasure in being instrumental in effecting an
amicable settlement.

Mr. Boardman's death was the result of an
accident received while getting into his buggy.
He died December 17, 1846, two days after the
accident occurred. His wife survived him many
years, dying February 8, 1870, aged seventy-
four. They were the parents or four boys, viz:
Frederick A., Elijah G. (who died May 11, 1853),
William ]., and Henry W., residing in Cleveland,
the former an attorney.

Frederick A. Boardman, who is prominently
identified with the interests of Mahoning county,
was born in Boardman, September i, 1820, and
has always resided at the center. He has been
extensively engaged in agricultural pursuits, but
is at present practically retired from active pur-
suits. He was married March 20, 1848, to
Mary Ann Williams, who was born in New
Milford, Litchfield county, Connecticut, Novem-
ber 3, 181 7. Mrs. Boardman's father, Jehiel
Williams, was a noted physician of New Milford,
where he practiced for more than fifty years, and
died at the age of over eighty years. Mrs.
Boardman is a zealous and efficient member of
St. John's church. Henry Mason Boardman,
the only child of Mr. and Mrs. F. A. Boardman,
was born June 18, 1849. He was graduated at
the Polytechnic institute of Troy, New York,
in the class of 1871. He is married and resides
in Brooklyn, New York, engaged in the drug
business.

i^a. 'i (f7^W^i<?-?«;:o

'U . {^/^c.yC^c/^,a,iJ^

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

93

HON. SHELDEN NEWTON.

Shelden Newton, son of Isaac and Olive
(Warner) Newton, was born in Washington,
Litchfield county, Connecticut, February 24,
1804. When he was seven years of age (in
181 1) his father removed with his family 10
Boardman, now Mahoning county, settling at
the center. Isaac Newton worked land for
Elijah Boardman for some twelve years, engaged
in dairying, and erected the dwelling house in
which Mr. F. A. Boardman now lives in 181 7.
In 1824 he moved onto a farm one and one-
half miles south of the center, where he resided
until his death. He died January 31, 1850,
aged eighty years. His wife, Olive, died Octo-
ber 9, 1830. They were the parents of two
sons, the subject of this sketch, and Timothy,
who died m Boardman, in December, 1846.
Shelden Newton's advantages in early life for the
acquirement of an education were of the most
meager character, attending the ordinary district
schools a few months in the winter only till he
was sixteen. Being the elder of the two sons,
the larger share of the work upon the farm fell
to his lot. October 16, 1836, he married Rachel
Hahn, of Boardman, born December 5, 1814.
After his marriage he resided in Poland some
three years, and worked by the month for Dr.
Kirtland. In 1845 he removed to Boardman
center, and has always since resided there, en-
gaged in farming, save when attendmg to his
public duties, of which he has had his full share.
He was elected justice of the peace in 1840,
and held the office for ihirty-six consecutive
years, with the exception of an interval of only
eighteen months. He was elected county com-
missioner of Mahoning county in 1867, and
again in 1875. He was elected to the State
Legislature in the fall of 1873 on the "removal"
ticket, and served on several important com-
mittees, being a member of the committee on
new counties. State library, and roads and turn-
pikes.

Although Mr. Newton had few school privi-
leges when young, there are few men uf his age
better informed on current topics or endowed
with a more accurate and retentive memory.
Politically, he is a strong Republican. Mr. and
Mrs. Newton have two children living. North
and Olive. The former married Marietta Kirk,
and resides at Boardman center, and the latter,

now the wife of Hiram Thorn, resides in Brook-
lyn, New York. The oldest son, Warner, served
in the Union army during the whole period of
the war of secession, and gave his life for his
country. Enlisting at Youngstown in April,
1861, in the Nineteenth Ohio volunteer infantry
for three months, he afterwards went out as pri-
vate with the Second Ohio cavalry. He was
promoted to captain of company E, and was
wounded March 29, 1865, at the battle of Five
Points, near Richmond, Virginia, and died April
9, .865.

JACOB H. BALDWIN.
The subject of this sketch, Mr. Jacob H.
Baldwin, was born at Queensburg, Washington
county. New York, October 13, 1792. His life,
until 181 1, was spent here and in Morceau,
Saratoga county. In November of 181 1, in
company with his father and other members of
the family, he came to Boardman (then in
Trumbull county), Ohio, where the remainder of
his life was spent. In 1815 he married Miss
Florinda Walter, daughter of David Walter, of
Palmyra, Portage county; and m April, 1816,
removed to Baldwin's Mill, Youngstown, and
engaged in partnership with his uncle, Eli Bald-
win. They had for neighbors and customers
Thomas Packard, John Woods (father of Dr.
Woods), Benjamin Ross, William Smith, James
Taylor, Joshua Kyle, Robert Kyle, Wendell
Grove, Jedediah Fitch, Camden and Paine
Cleveland, James Hillman, Dr. Henry Manning,
and others. In 1819 he was appointed by James
Mackey, John H. Patch, and William Bushnell
(county commissioners) collector of taxes, in
which capacity he visited every tax-payer in the
county. In 1820 he was again appointed
county collector, and also was appointed by
John Harmon, of Zanesville (who was marshal
of Ohio), to take the United States census. This
he did, finding the population of Trumbull — con-
sisting then of thirty-five townships — to be, in
all, 15,542, including Warren and Youngstown.
In 1 82 1 he was appointed county auditor by the
General Assembly of Ohio, the office having
been created at that time, in which office he
continued for seventeen years, having been
elected by the people eight times — two years
each term. During much of this time his family

94

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

resided in Youngstown and Boardman. In 1840
he was appointed by the court of common
pleas appraiser of real estate for taxation. He
began this work at Poland in the month of May,
and finished in October, having visited person-
ally every farm in the county, and appraised all
the small lots in the towns and villages. During
these years his acquaintance throughout Trum-
bull was necessarily greater than most men, and
the memory of those days and the events of the
time were indelibly impressed upon his mind.
In 1842 he was elected a member of the Legis-
lature of Ohio, and served one year in the
House of Representatives. In 1844 he was
elected a Presidential elector, and cast his vote
for Clay and Frelinghuysen for President and
Vice-President. In the year 1850 he was
appointed by Jones, of Mount Vernon, marshal
of the State of Ohio, to take the census
in district one hundred and forty-three,
north division of Trumbull county, which
included the townships of Champion, South-
ington, Farmington, Bristol, Bloomiield, Meso-
potamia, Greene, Mecca, Gustavus, and
Kinsman. James Hoyt had the remainder of
the county in his division. Afterwards he was
appointed assistant assessor in Warren, and
served a part of the term, when he resigned, and
James Hoyt was appointed his successor.

SETTLEMENT NOTES.

S. P. Blackman, farmer, Boardman township,
Mahoning county, was born in Poland in 1S44.
His parents, Heman and Phyllis Blackman,
were residents of Poland. Heman Blackman
came to this county from Connecticut in 1807.
Mr. Blackman has always followed farming. He
was married in 1866 to Kate A. Shaffer, daugh-
ter of George Shaffer, of Springfield township.
They have four children, born as follows: Fan-
nie, May 23, 1868; Asa, February i, 1870; Per-
ry, July 29, 1871; Clark, December 3, 1874.
Mr. Blackman is a Republican. He has resided
in Boardman township since i866.

George Baldwin, farmer, Boardman township,
Mahoning county, was born in Boardman town-
ship, September 30, 1825. His father, Garry
Baldwin, came here from Fort George, Washing-
ton county. New N'ork, in 181 1. His mother,

Harriet Meeker, was a native of New Preston,
Connecticut, and came here in 1823. Garry
Baldwin died September 7, 1869, aged sixty-
nine. Mrs. Baldwin is still living, at the age of
seventy-five. George Baldwin lives upon the old
farm. He has one hundred and forty-two acres,
and does a thriving business. His land is good,
his home is pleasant and pretty. He built a large
barn in 1880, 36x50 feet, by far the best in the
township. Mr. Baldwin was married January 31,
1856, to EiizT Detchon, born in this township
January 11, 1833. They have three children:
Hattie M., born January 3, i860; Henry J., born
November 27, 1864; Stanton, born August 16,
1869. Mrs. Baldwin is a member of the Disci-
ple church. Mr. Baldwin is one of our most
successful farmers, and occupies a high social
position. In politics he is a Republican.

Captain Charles C. Chapman, farmer, Board-
man township, Mahoning county, was born in
Ellsworth, April 27, 1833. He worked at car-
riage trimming ten years; was ten years a mer-
chant at Youngstown; enlisted in November,
1862, in <ompany G, One Hundred and Twenty-
fifth Ohio infantry, and served until December,
1865. He was promoted from a private to sec-
ond lieutenant, then to first lieutenant, and after-
wards to captain. He was in some of the
severest engagements of the war, including the
battles of Chickamauga, Atlanta, Kenesavv
mountain, etc. Mr. Chapman bought the farm
on which he now resides, in 1877. Mr. Chap-
man was married in 1857 to Julia Campbell,
daughter of William Campbell, of Trumbull
county. She died in 1867, aged about thirty-
five years. He was married a second time, in
187 1, to Mrs. Sophia E. Thomas of Youngstown.
They have one child, Ada A., born September
13, 1874. Mrs. Chapman is a member of the
Methodist church. Mr. Chapman is a Republi-
can. He held several local offices while in
Youngstown; was constable, city marshal, and
deputy United States marshal. He is a member
of the Odd Fellows.

Henry B. Dowler, farmer, Boardman town-
ship, Mahoning county, was born in Boardman
township February 29, 1820; hence has had
his birthday but fifteen times, at this date. His
grandfather, Francis Dowler, a native of county
Cavin, Ireland, was among the earliest of those
who took up land in this country. He came

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

95

here in 1801, as did also his son John, the father
of Henry. Francis Dowler died in 1846, aged
ninety-six years. John Dowler died in 1839, aged
fifty-four. His wife was Nancy Packard. They
had seven sons and three daughters; four sons
and two daughters are still living, viz: William
F., Henry B., Francis A., Thomas J., Nancy P.
(Kentner), and Betsey A. Mr. H. B. Dowler,
excepting from 1847 to i^STi while he was in
the South engaged in making and selling fanning-
mills, has always resided in the county. He
resides upon the farm which his grandfather
settled. Mr. Dowler has never married. He is
an old-style Jacksonian Democrat, a prominent
farmer, and a respected citizen.

Norman Davidson, farmer, Boardman town-
ship, Mahonmg county, was born in Washington,
Litchfield county, Connecticut, August 7, 1803.
His parents, John and Charlotte Davidson, came
to Boardman township in 1805; and settled in the
midst of the forest near the center of the town-
ship. John Davidson had two sons and a
daughter; of these Norman Davidson is the only
survivor. He is one of the few old settlers now
living. Mr. Davidson has a fine farm of a hun-
dred and forty-five acres, with neat and tasty
buildings. He was married, January 13, 1831,
to Eliza Brainard, who was born June 23, 1805,
in Washington, Litchfield county, Connecticut.
They have had three children, one of whom is
living. Sarah A., born May 2, 1833, died De-
cember 3, 1834; Charlotte, born February 2,
1836, died July 29, 1864; Edward, born January
4, 1839, is married and resides at home. Mr.
and Mrs. Davidson have been members of the
Episcopal church for many years. They bear an
excellent reputation in the community where
they have so long resided. Mr. Davidson is a
thorough Republican. He has held several local
offices, such as assessor, trustee, justice, etc.

Alexander Gault, farmer, Boardman township,
Mahoning county, was born in Jackson township,
May 26, 1838. His father, John Gault, still liv-
ing in Jackson, is among the old citizens.
His grandfather, who died in the War of
181 2, was among the early settlers in this
county. Mr. Ale.xander Gault resided in Jack-
son until 1867, when he came to Boardman
and purchased the farm on which he now is. He
was a soldier in the Rebellion : enlisted in Sep-
tember, 1862, and served until November, 1865,

and saw some of the severest battles. He was
in company F, Forty-first Ohio volunteers. Mr.
Gault was married in 1867 to Miss Anna E. For-
sythe, a native of Muskingum county, this State.
They have one child living, one deceased —
Mary Sylvia, born August 30, 1870; Robert J.
S., born July 20, 1873, died June 21, 1880.
Mr. and Mrs. Gault are members of the United
Presbyterian church. Mr. Gault is an earnest
Republican.

James Hughes, farmer, Boardman township,
Mahoning county, was born in Pembrokeshire,
South Wales, November 10, 1831. He came to
this country in 1840 with his parents, who settled
in Palmyra, Portage county, Ohio. There Mr.
James Hughes remained until 1847, when he
came to Youngstown and engaged in mining.
In 1872 he bought the farm on which he is at
present. He has an excellent farm of one hun.
dred and eighty-one acres, and does a large bus-
iness. Mr. Hughes was married December 31,
1857, to Lydia H. Jackson, daughter of John
Jackson, of Youngstown. Mrs. Hughes died No-
vember 19, 1876, in the thirty-ninth year of her
age. They had six children, all living — John
K., Minnie, Weltha, Dan, Sammie, and James;
all reside at home. Mr. Hughes is a Repub-
lican and a member of the Presbyterian church.

G. E. Lanterman, farmer, Boardman township,
Mal^oning county, was boin in Austintown town-
ship March 22, 1841. His father, John Lan-
terman, was a native of this county, and his
grandfather, Peter Lanterman, among the earli-
est settlers in Austintown. Mr. Lanterman was
left an orphan at the age of two years by the
death of his father. His mother died when he
was sixteen, and from that time forward he acted
for himself. In 1861 he went West to Virginia
City, thence crossing the plains to California; he
was seven months on the way. He spent three
years in the West, then returned to this county,
and after living four years in Austintown he
bought the farm on which he now resides. He
has one hundred and fifteen acres of excellent
land with the best of buildings and improve-
ments; he deals considerably in stock. Mr.
Lanterman was married in 1864 to Miss Eliza-
beth Kistler, daughter of John B. Kistler, of
this township. They have six children living,
one deceased: German U., Bettie A., John S.,
Mary I. (died when about six weeks old), Jennie

96

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

D., Blanche G., Frederick A. Mr. Lanterman
is a straight-out Democrat and an active business
man. His wife is a member of the Lutheran
church.

Richard J. McClurg, farmer, Boardman town-
ship, was born in Boardman June 22, 1840.
He is the son of Samuel McClurg, a native of
Allegheny county, Pennsylvania. Samuel Mc-
Clurg settled in this county quite early and lived
here until the time of his death, bringing up a
family of three children, of whom two, Richard
and Andrew, are living. Richard lives on the
home farm, which contains one hundred and
eighty acres of excellent land with good buildings
and improvements. Mr. McClurg was married
in 1866 to Miss Kesia McCuUough, of Spring-
field. They have two children — George, born
July 25, 1871; Samuel H., born November 16,
1878. Mr. McClurg and wife belong to the
Presbyterian church. Mr. McClurg is a sound
Republican. He is a prominent citizen ; has
been township trustee, etc.

Thomas Matthews, farmer, Boardman, Ma-
honing county, was born in Allegheny county,
Pennsylvania, August 17, 1813. He came to
this county when nine years of age with his par-
ents, Thomas and Jane (McClurg) Matthews.
Mr. Matthews bought his present I'arm about
thirty-eight years ago. He has one hundred and
sixty-five acres of excellent land; is engaged in
mixed farming and sheep raising. He was mar-
ried, in 1842, to Cynthia Shannon, daughter of
Major John Shannon, of Pennsylvania, a soldier
of the War of 1812. They have three children
living and three deceased — William S., born Oc-
tober 30, 1843, now a successful physician at
Youngstown; Bruce S., May i, 1846; Charles W.,
March 31, 1851; Ellen J., February 20, 1855,
died April i, 1855; Ellen D., June 2, 1857, died
December 16, 1863; Cora C, December 10, 1858,
died January 29 1866. Mr. and Mrs. Matthews
are members of the Methodist church. Mr.
Matthews is a Republican and an esteemed
citizen.

Eli Reed, farmer, Boardman township, Ma-
honing county, was born in Qanfield township
in 1816. His |)arents, James and Mary (Tur-
ner) Reed, came to this county in 1806, Mr.
Reed from Washington county, Pennsylvania,
and Mrs. Reed from New Jersey. They brought
up a family of five children, three of whom are

yet living, two sons and a daughter. James
Reed died October 13, 1854, in his sixty-sixth
year. Mary Reed died April 8, 1863, in her
eighty-fourth year. Adam and Margaret Turner,
grandfather and grandmother of Eli Reed, set-
tled in Canfield in April, 1806, coming from
New Jersey by team. Adam Turner was born
September 5, 1763, and died September 3, 1837.
Margaret (Mizner) Turner was born June 11,
1766, and died October 28, 1840. Eli Reed
was married, in 1843, to Margaret Thomas, of
Canfield township. They have five children
living, four deceased, including a daughter that
died in infancy — .'\manda M., born July 24,
1845, now the wife of Samuel Steele of Youngs-
town; Alvin T., September 27, 1847; Sibyl C,
August 15, 1849, died October 24, 1S51; Florus
A. and Flora C, July 4, 1853, Florus dying Oc-
tober 9, 1853, and Flora May 18, 1855; Hattie
E., September 29, 1856, is the wife of Almon
Alderman, Evart, Michigan; Oscar W., March
i3> 1859; Clinton E., June i, 1864. Mr. Reed
has been a Republican since the organization of
the party. He has been assessor two terms and
trustee three terms. He is a worthy and re-
spected citizen.

Michael Simon, farmer, Boardman township,
Mahoning county, was born in Boardman town-
ship July 13, 1820. His father, .\dam Simon,
was one of the earliest settlers in the county,
having come here from Washington county,
Pennsylvania, about the year 1800. He was
father of six children, three of whom are living,
viz: Andrew, Reinhart, and Michael. The two
first named reside in Wood county. Michael
Simon was married, in 1846, to Rosini Gentholtz,
a native of Wittenberg, Germany. They have
seven children living, five deceased, viz: Ezra
A., born March 26, 1848; Lenora C, born
March 26, 1848; Cornelius A., born February
25, 1850; Catharine E., born December 15,
1851, married Mr. Stempel, died September 19,
1873; Rebecca M., born April i, 1853; Caroline
S., born May 5, 1855; Julius A., born October
24, 1856; Elmer E., Bishop C, Ira C, born
July 21, 1861. Bishop died .August 22, i86i;
Ira died February 12, 1862; and Warren, born
May 3, 1868. Mr. and Mrs. Simon belong to
the Lutheran church. Mr. Simon is a Repub-
lican. He is a leading farmer and respected

^-^(?o^^

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

97

J. H. Shields, farmer, Boardman township,
Mahoning county, was born in Boardman town-
ship November 12, 1840. The farm on which
he was. born and where he now lives was pur-
chased in 1798 by Thomas Shields, and has since
been in possession of the Shields family. Thomas
Shields bought two mill-sites and several hun-
dred acres of land, then returned to his home in
Augusta county, Virginia, where died shortly
after. His sons, Thomas, James, and William,
rame in 1800 and settled on the farm. Thomas
Shields was a miller by trade, and the first miller
west of Rochesttr, Pennsylvania. James and
William were in the War of 1S12; Thomas was
exempted from service on account of being a
useful and necessary member of the community
— a miller — and the only man exempted in his
neighborhood. William Shields had two sons.
The family moved to Indiana about 1848.
James had no children. Thomas h.id five sons
and a daughter. All are now dead, nearly every
one reaching the age of seventy years. Andrew
Shields, son of Thomas, was the father of J. H.
Shields. He married Jane Price, of Voungstown
township. They had two sons and two daugh-
ters, viz: J. H., Lois H. (Hopkins), Louisa M.
(Anderson), and Wallace, who died young. An-
drew Shields died in June, 1880, in his seventy-
second year. Mrs. Shields is still living. J. H.
Shields married, in 1863, Miss L. H. Starr, of
this township. They have three children living,
one deceased, viz: Maud M., born in 1866;
Budd S., born in 1867; Mary J.; Allora C, born
in 1873. Mary J. was drowned July 9, 1S79,
aged eight years. She fell from a log while at-
tempting to cross the creek when the water was
high. Mr Shields is one of our largest and
most prosperous farmers. He manages six hun-
dred acres of land and deals quite extensively in
cattle and sheep.

T. M. Twiss, farmer, Boardman township,
Mahoning county, was born in Boardman town-
ship, November 28, 1833. His father, John
Tv>'iss, came here from Connecticut in 1S18, and
brought up a family of eight children, of whom
Mr. T. M. Twiss is the youngest. Mr. Twiss
has made farming his principal business; he also
deals considerably in stock. He has a farm of
one hundred and seventy-three acres, good land
well improved. Mr. Twiss was married in i860
to Mary Hyde, of Orangeville, Trumbull county.

She died in 1864, in the 27th year of her age.
Mr. Twiss was again married, in 1874, to Mrs.
Carrie Minnis, of Mercer county, Pennsylvania.
Mr. Twiss is a Republican. He has been town-
ship trustee and assessor. Mrs. Twiss is a mem-
ber of the Methodist church.

CHAPTER IV.

ELLSWORTH.

SURF.\CE AND SOIL.

Ellsworth, or township one in range four of
the Western Reserve, has a varied surface and a
fertile soil. The Meander and its branches cut
the eastern portion by a number of narrow val-
leys, quite deep and winding, forming ridges and
knolls of varying dimensions. The main branch
of the stream enters the eastern side of the
township about a mile below the Canfield road,
flows westerly about one mile and a half, then
turns abruptly to the north, and winding north-
ward and to the east, passes into Jackson town-
ship about three-fourths of a mile from the
southeastern corner of Jackson. The western
part of the township is quite smooth, and con-
tains many wide tracts of level land.

The soil is fine clayey loam, somewhat sandy
in places. It is well adapted to wheat, and the
farmers generally secure a good crop of this
cereal. The township was originally covered, —
and much of it is to-day, — with a heavy growth
of white oak, sugar maple, beech, basswood,
walnut, hickory, etc. The underlying lime rock
and sandstone crops out in several places, the
latter affording a good quality of stone for build-
ing purposes.

.SETTLEMENT.

This township was settled mainly by Connec-
ticut and Pennsylvania people. Captain Joseph
Coit, whose biography will be found elsewhere,
came in 1804 and began making improvements.
From the most reliable information we are able
to obtain, it appears that the settlement of the
township began in that year. The family of
James Reed was the first m the township. Mrs.
Reed was the first white woman who entered the
township, and lived heie six months without ever

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

seeing the face of a female excepting her daugh-
ters.

From Mrs. Polly Bowman, an old lady past
the ninetieth year of her age, now residing in
Goshen township, is gathered the following infor-
mation regardmg her father's settlement :

James Reed came to Ellsworth from West-
nKjreland county, Pennsylvania, in 1803, and re-
mained during the summer. He made a clear-
ing, built a camp, and raised a crop of corn that
year. While he was encamped on one side of
the Meander, an Indian occupied a camp oppo-
site, across the stream. Mr. Reed began opera-
tions on what is now called the Harclerode farm.
Before he came here to live he had made several
trips from his home in Pennsylvania to Canfield,
carrying supplies to the settlers on pack-horses.
Toward the latter part of February, 1804, Mr.
Reed and two of his daughters returned to the
camp. They came with a pair of oxen and a
cart, following a course of travel marked by
blazed trees, and cutting a toad for the team
when necessary. Mr. Reed then went back for
the remainder of his family, leaving his daugh-
ters in the care of a man who worked for him.
They reached here in April following. The
camp was a log structure, with three sides, the
fourth being open and used as an entrance. The
ground was the floor, and into it was driven
forked stakes for bed-posts. Here the family
lived until a house could be erected. During
the spring of 1804 they made a considerable
quantity of maple sugar.

Mr. Reed brought out some stock, including
several hogs. Six of the hogs, being averse to
living in a wild country, escaped and made their
way back to Pennsylvania, where they were
found by Mr. Reed's father one morning sound
asleep in their old nest. They had made the
whole distance of sixty miles alone, guided only
by instinct or memory.

One night a fat hog belonging to Mr. Reed
was killed and partially devoured by a bear, very
quietly it would seem, as none of the family were
awakened by any noise. Indians were frequent
visitors at the house, but were never trouble-
some. Bears were often seen. Polly Reed, then
a girl of about eleven years, was after the cows
one night when she saw a huge black fellow just
across the ravine. He reared u]3on his hind
legs as soon as he saw her, while she, much

frightened, ran 10 the house crying for aid. Deer
were numerous, and the children sometimes
found the young fawns lying in the bushes near
the house.

Mr Reed lived in Ellsworth a little over a
year, then sold his farm to John and Nicholas
Leonard, and moved to Canfield township,
where he died in 181 3.

In 1804 a clearing was made one mile west of
the center by two men from Connecticut, ore of
them named Penuel Cheney. These men did
not settle here, but leturned to their own State.
The land was bought by \Villiam and Harvey
Ripley in 1806.

Joseph Coit had eight acres cleared at Ells-
worth center in the summer of 1804. He also
erected a log-house the same year.

Thomas Jones settled on the east line of the
township in 1804, his family being the second
that arrived in this township. He was born in
Maryland, and died in Ellsworth in 1852, at the
age of ninety-two. His wife, whose maiden
name was Sarah Wilson, died in 1865, aged
about ninety. They were the parents of fifteen
children, ten of whom arrived at maturity, seven
sons and three daughters. Three sons and two
daughters are still living. Their names are:
Mary, Margaret, Thomas, James, Joseph, John,
Samuel, Rosanna, Elijah, and Matthew. Mary
married Ashur Squier, and is still living in Can-
field; Margaret married James Bruce, and died
in Randolph, Portage county; Thomas married
Rachel Webb, and died in Edinburg, Portage
county; James married Huldah Tanner, and

died in Canfield; Joseph married Ann ,

and died in Portage county; John married
Nancy Calhoon for his first wife, for his second
Desire Phelps, and lives in Ravenna; Samuel
married Betsy Calhoon, and lives in North Jack-
son; Rosanna married Columbia Lancaster, and
now lives in Washington Territory ; Elijah mar-
ried Phebe Manchester, and died in St. Clair
county, Missouri; Matthew married Eliza Man-
chester, and he now lives in Missouri.

Philip Arncr, a native of Pennsylvania bought
land and erected a cabin in 1803, and returned
to his home. He came back to Ellsworth in
1804 with his family and settled cast of the
Meander.

George Broadsword, one of the first settlers,
located on the place win re Martin .Allen now

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

99

lives. Ho brought up a faniil)' of fourteen chil-
dren, and all but two of them are living. The
names of his sons were Peter, Daniel, John,
David, Anthony, Matthias, and Levi. The
daughters became Mrs. Abigail Allen, Mrs.
Rachel Wagoner, Mrs. Mary Winans, Mrs.
Charlotte Rhodes, and Mrs. Lucy Parker. The
oldest two, Betsey and Eliza, remained single.
The sons are all living except David, and all the
daughters except Mrs. Wagoner. Anthony,
Matthias, and Mrs. Winans reside in this town-
ship.

John Huston came in 1S04 to buy land, but
did not ijurchase that year. He built a log
house in 1807 and remained until about 18 13,
then sold to John Baker. In 181 7 A. W. Allen
bought the place of Baker.

Hugh Smith, who had been here previously,
came from Maryland in 1806 and settled on the
main branch ol the Meander. He brought up
five sons and three daughters. Two sons and
two daughters are now living in the western part
of this State. Mr. Smith died quite suddenly in
1821 or 1822. He was going toward the barn
one evening in a cheerful mood, singing tlie
hymn commencing with the lines.
Oh, when shall I see Jesus,
.And dwell with him above.

A few minutes later he was found dead between
the house and barn.

In 1805 William Ripley, Hervey Ri|.)ley,
Elisha Palmer, and one or two others, came
from Scotland, Windham county, Connecticut,
and commenced improving land west of the
center, which they had previously purchased.
In 1806 William Ripley returned to Ellsworth
with his wife, Susan Bingham, and settled at the
center. Hervey Ripley died here in 18 13, aged
forty years. William Ripley was a justice of the
peace for many years, a member of the Legisla-
ture m 1826 or 1827, and afterwards a State
Senator.

Daniel Fitch and wife, from Norwalk, Con-
necticut, came in 1806, and settled one-half mile
north of the center. They had four sons and
four daughters, several of whom are dead. None
of the survivors reside in this township. Daniel
Fitch died in 1826.

In 1806 Thomas Jones and fau.ily, from
Maryland, settled in the eastern part of the
township. Mr. Jones had seven sons and three

daughters. He lived to be an old man. After
his death the family moved away.

The Fitch brothers, Richard, William and
Charles, came from Salisbury, Connecticut, in
1806 with their families. Richard settled at the
center, and cleared the farm north of there,
where his son Richard now lives. William and
Charles remained eight or ten years and then
moved to Tiffin, Seneca county, Ohio. William
afterwards returned and settled two miles north
of the center, where he resided several years,
thence removing to Ashtabula county, where he
died at the age of ninety-four. Charles died in
Chicago, aged eighty years.

Philip Borts came from Pennsylvania in 1805
with his family and located near Philip Arner.
He had two sons and three daughters. He be-
came one of the wealthiest men in this region,
and gave a farm to each ot his children. One
of his daughters married George Harding, whose
son, G. W. Harding, now lives on the old Borts
homestead, and has the finest house in the town-
ship.

John Leonard and family settled near the
Meander about the year 1806. Mr. Leonard
had several sons and daughters. One of his
sons, James, now lives in Portage county. John
Leonard died at quite an early date.

Nicholas Leonard settled one mile from the
centre. He had a large family, seven sons and
five daughters. Abram, the youngest son, resides
in Wood county, and a daughter, Mrs. Dorothy
Swartz, in Ashtabula county.

Andrew Fitch, an early settler, located at the
centre. He married Lucy Manning. He lived
here until quite old, then returned to Connecti-
cut and died there. He had one daughter, who
is now living, the wife of Silas C. Clark, of
Washington, District of Columbia.

James Parshall settled on the southwestern
corner of section twenty-four at an early day.
He had several sons and daughters, none of
whom are now residing here.

Thomas and Robert McKean settled on the
diagonal road running northwest from the cen-
ter. Thomas died quite early. He brought up
a family of three sons and one daughter. Robert
McKean lived here until his death in 1843. He
had four sons and four daughters.

James McGill and family settled on section
twelve, where Thomas Young now lives, resided

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

there several years, then sold and moved to
Poland.

Peter Walts settled on the Meander previous
to 1810, and resided there some years, moving
thence to Medina county.

Wolf and Painter, Broadsword and Razor,
were some of the fierce sounding names belong-
ing to Ellsworth's early citizens.

John and Robert McCreary settled on section
nineteen. Robert remained single. John had
two daughters, both of whom died quite young.
Janet married John Howard and two of her sons
reside in the township.

Michael Crumrine settled on the west side of
the Meander. He had four sons, one of whom
died here. The others remained some time,
then moved to Berlin township.

James Byers settled here quite early an4 raised
a large family. He moved into Berlin township
and was killed by a falling tree.

William Logan, the first cooper in the town-
ship, died during the War of 181 2.

The Spauldings, David and Philo, came about
181 3. David settled one-fourth of a mile west
of the center. Philo settled in the southwestern
part of the township. He died in 1876, in his
ninetieth year. His son Moses is still living m
Ellsworth.

John Bmgham, from New London county,
Connecticut, settled on section eight in 1S16.
He married a daughter of Richard Fitch, who is
still living in the township.

.Asa Witter .Allen was horn in Windham, Con-
necticut, June 3, 1795. He came to Ellsworth
in 181 7 with a one-horse biiggy, and was seven-
teen days on the road. He married Sophia
Hopkins, who was born in Vermont in 1799.
Both are still living. Two sons and three daugh-
ters are also living. Mr. .-\lkn lived in Ellsworth
township until 1864, and then moved to Perry
township, Cokinibiana county, where he now re-
sides.

FIRST EVENTS.

The first child borir in the township was
Thomas Jones, Jr. His parents were from Mary-
land. They settled near the eastern line of the
township. Jeannette, daughter of Hugh Smith,
was the second child born in the township, and
Mary L. Fitch, daughter of Richard Fitch, the
third. These births all occurred in 1806.

'I'hc first death was an infant < hild of Mr.

Bell, the miller. The parents were here a short
time only. The second death is believed to have
been that of William Logan. They were both
buried in the cemetery near Ellsworth center.

The first marriage in the township took place
at the house of Richard Fitch a year or two after
he settled here. Lydia Buel, a sister of Mr.
Fitch's wife, was married to Hezekiah Chidester
of Canfield township.

The first frame dwelling house of any size
was erected by General William Ripley, as late
as i82oor 1821. This house is still standingabout
one-half mile west of the center. Richard
Fitch had previously erected a framed addition
to his tavern as early as 18 10 or 18 12.

The first Sabbath-school was organized the
second Sabbath in October, 1818, and is said to
have been an excellent school in all respects.
Daniel W. Lathrop was its instigator.

Mrs. Smith, wife of Hugh Smith, was the
first person who offered public prayer in Ells-
worth.

Ira F. Powers was the first volunteer for the
Rebellion from this township. He enlisted
July 4, 1861, in the Eleventh Ohio infantry.

A company of cavalry composed of members
from Boardman, Poland, Canfield, and Ells-
worth was organized as early as 18 10. Richard
Fitch was the first captain, succeeded by Joseph
Coit.

ORG.ANIZ.^TION.

The first entry upon the township records of
Ellsworth is as follows :

It is hereby certified that the board of commissioners at
their March meeting, 1810, did apart and set off from the
townships of Canfield and Newton a new township and
election district by the name of Ellsworth, with all the privi-
leges and immunities of a township as by law designated,
within the following lines, to wit : Beginning at the south-
west corner of the county of Trumbull, thence north on the
county line to tlie northwest corner of township number one
in the fifth range of townships, thence east on the township
line to the northeast corner of number one in the fourth
mnge, thence south to the southeast corner of number one
in the fourth range, thence west on the county line to the
place of beginning; in fact, comprising townships number
one in the fourth and fifth ranges.

Ei.i Bai.iiwin,
Clerk pro tt-m. of Commissioners.

W.XRKKN, 22d Marcli, i8io.

A true copy.

JdSF.pii Coit, Township Clerk.

Ellsworth, as then organized, included the
townships of Ellsworth and Berlin. Berlin was
set off from Ellsworth and erected a separate

J

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SC.,.y (?// C^£..

}

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

township by the county commissioners March 4,
1828.

FIRST ELECTION.

The fiist election was held April 2, 18 10.
The following officers were chosen : Joseph
Coit, clerk; Andrew Fitch, Daniel Fitch, Hugh
Smith, trustees; William Ripley, James Parshall, '
overseers of the poor; John Leonard, Robert
McKean, fence viewers; Daniel Fitch, lister;
Daniel Fitch, William Fitch, appraisers; Jesse
Buel, constable; Peter Watts, George Painter,
James McGill, supervisors; Hervey Ripley, treas-
urer.

At the first election after Berlin was created a
separate precinct the following were chosen as
the officers of Ellsworth township, April 7,
1828 : William Ripley, Jacob Dustman, Robert
McKean, trustees; Walter Smith, Asa W. Allen,
overseers of the poor; John Bingham, Haivey
Allen, fence viewers; John C. Webb, John Mil-
ler, constables; Andrew Fitch, treasurer. Also a
road supervisor for each of the eleven districts.

OTHER RECORDS.

Richard Fitch qualified as a justice of the peace
lune 19, 18 10; Robert McKean (or McCane, as
the name is spelled upon the old records), was
commissioned as justice March 13, 1813, re-
signed June 23, 1815; William Ripley was com-
missioned August 21, 1815, October 17, 1818,
October 29, 1821, December 11, 1824, March
17, 1828; Henry Boyd, June 6, 1826; Thomas
Fitch, April 30, 1831; George Matson, May 7,
1832. Later thao this date the records are not
complete.

The first selection of jurors, or the first of
which there is any record, occurred March 2,
181 2. William Ripley and Richard Fitch were
chosen grand jurors ; William Logan, Andrew
Fitch, and Thomas McKean, traverse jurors.

That the people of this township in early days
were rigid in their determination to prevent the
spread of pauperism in their midst will appear
from the following entry upon the records :

To Jesse Buel, constable of the township of Ellsworth,

greeting :

Whereas, it appears from information by us received, that

is likely to become a township charge ; these

are therelore to command you to warn the said

to depart from this township.

Given under our hands at Ellsworth, this sixth day of

KS B. FiTCIl, lQ^gj.^j.^j.^^f j,^g Pq^^

Walts. '

Ch.^ri,
Peter Walt.s,

June 8, 1811. -Served the within warrant by reading it to
the within-named person, at the house of William Fitch, in
Ellsworth,

Jesse Buel, constable.
A true copy.

JOSEP}! CoiT, township clerk.

Many similar entries appear on the records for
years following. The persons warned, however,
were not obliged to quit the township ; but if
they afterwards become so poor as to require aid,
the township officers were relieved from the re-
sponsibility of furnishing it. Often these severe
measures doubtless served to " foster home
industry." Sometimes the most worthy citizens
were " warned," on account of the complaints of
those who bore them some ill-will.

For many years the township elections were
held at the house of Richard Fitch.

The town hall was built in 1818 by private
subscriptions. Thenceforth religious meetings,
schools, elections, etc., were held there.

EARLY incidents.

February 3, 1818, three feet of snow fell in
one day. Some who are yet living remember
wading through it when it reached higher than
their waists.

The most of the families coming from Con-
necticut in 1806 were not provided with cabins,
so they stopped at Captain Coit's until homes
could be built for them. Coit was then a single
man, and required little room ; besides, he was
at work the greater part of the time making im-
provements on his land in the northern part of
the township. While thus engaged one day his •
house took fire and was destroyed, together with
his watch, money, books, and clothing. Mr.
Coit came home toward evening, and gazed un-
moved upon the destruction the flames had
made. He found the women in tears, and
almost in despair. He, however, seemed in ex-
cellent sjiirits ; and, seating himself near the
ruins, began singing in a rich, full voice the air.
Contentment, the first verse of which is :

" Why should we at our lot repine.

Or grieve at our distress ?
Some think if they should riches gain.

They'd gain true happiness.
Alas ! how vain is all our gain,

Since life must soon decay ;
And since we're here with friends so dear.

Let's drive dull care away !"

In the early part of the summer of r8o6,
William Ripley had his leg broken by a log

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

falling on it, while he was helping to raise the
cabin of Daniel Fitch. The fracture was a
severe one, and he was unable to work the
greater part of that summer. There were then
no physicians nearer than Youngstown.

At an early day. Captain Coit ofifered a poor
fellow named Alexander Crawford ten acres of
land in this township, if he would dig a well for
him and put it in working order. Crawford ac-
cepted the job, and toiled alone until he had
excavated a good well, twenty-eight feet deep,
throwing the dirt up from one scaffold to another
until it reached the top. He then exchanged
work with a neighbor, and got assistance in
stoning it. He received a deed of the land as
pay for his labor. Land soon commenced to
rise in value, and a few years later he sold the
ten acres and with the proceeds bought an
eighty-acre lot in Hancock county, this .State,
which he made into a good farm.

A story is told concerning Mrs. Hugh Smith,
which shows that she was a lady possessed of
strength of mind and courage which is seldom
equalled. She heard a noise in the hog-pen one
evening, and, on investigating the cause of it,
discovered a large bear attacking a lusiy porker.
She seized a club and pounded the bear until he
was glad to retreat without any pork for supper.

An incident which occurred during the War
of 1 812 was often laughed about and talked
over by the early settlers. Some half-breed
Indian hunters who had spent the night hunt-
ing coons, returned to the vicinity of the set-
tlement about daylight, and to amuse them-
selves began firing at a mark. The whole
neighborhood was aroused by the reports of
their rifles, and much consternation ensued, as
it was thought the Indians were attacking the
settlers. Houses were fastened up and valuables
hidden away. At length two experienced hunt-
ers were prevailed upon to go and learn the
cause of the alarm. They mounted horses and
proceeded to the spot where the firing had been
heard, but by the time they arrived there the
hunters had gone and no "Indians" were visible.
When the whole affair was thoroughly under-
stood there was much hearty laughter over "the
great Indian raid."

IC.VKl.V SCHOOLS.

The first school was taught in 181 1 by Miss
Clara Landon, of Canfield. The school-house.

or rather the building used as such during that
year and several years thereafter, was the small
log house east of the center, mentioned in connec-
tion with the history of the Presbyterian church.
The next teacher was Miss Matilda Sackett, of
Tallmadge, succeeded by Jesse Buel, Hiram B.
Hubbard, and others. Asa W. Allen taught school
here in the winter of 1817 and 1818, and had
all the scholars in the township — not over
twenty. He states that there was a bench ex-
tending along the side of the house, also one
chair in the room, which of course belonged
to the teacher. There were three small win-
dows, each one containing as much paper and
wood as there was glass, and perhaps more.

For several years the Center district was
the only one in the township, and in the rude
school-house just mentioned some of Ellsworth's
smartest men received their first drill in "readin",
'ritin', and 'rithm'tic."

PRESBVTERI.\NS.

For many years the most, if not all, the preach-
ing in Ellsworth was by ministers of this denom-
ination. Rev. John Bruce was the first preacher.
He was born in New York in 1771, and studied
theology with Rev. T. E. Hughes. In 1809 he
was licensed, and commenced preaching in Ells-
worth, where he remained five years He after-
wards preached one year in Newton, and died
there in 1816. The first meeting house was
situated just north of the center. It was built
of hewn logs and had no floor. This was used
as a place of worship for a short time. A simi-
lar log structure was erected a few years later on
the hill just east of the bridge across the Me-
,ander, where Mr. Bruce continued preaching as
long as he remained here. Services were fre-
quently held in open air as well as in barns,
school-houses, and private dwellings. In 1817
meetings were held in a small log-house, with a
huge fire-place in it; this was situated near the
center, upon a spot just east of where the
Methodist church now stands. The building was
erected for a dwelling house, but had been used
as a school-house for some years before this date.
The present Ellsworth church was organized as a
union church of the Presbyterians and Congre-
gationalists, March 26, 1818, under Revs. Wil-
liam Hanford and Joseph Treat, missionaries.
It started with fourteen members, w-hose names
are given below; Henry and Margaret Boyd,

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

103

Christian and Elizabeth Bowman, Catherine
wife of John Bowman, Joshua and Mary Bow-
man, Joseph and Polly Bruce, Daniel and Eliza-
beth Fitch, Danitl W. Laihrop, Thcmas and
Nancy Fitch. Sixteen more members were added
during the year, and in succeeding years the
number increased. The first church officers
were Henry Boyd and Daniel W. Lathrop, com-
mittee, and Daniel W. Lathrop, clerk. The
first preachers were all missionaries, and many
different ones labored here. The town hall was
used for a place of public worship from the time
it was built in 18 18 until the present church was
enacted in 1833. The church has had but four
installed pastors, whose names are Rev. ^Villiam
O. Stratton, Rev. William Hoyt, Rev. Warren
Taylor, and the present pastor. Rev. William J.
Reese, who has been here since 1878. When
vacancies have occurred, as has frequently been
the case, missionaries or " stated supplies " have
carried on the meetings. At present the church
has about eighty members, and is in a prosper-
ous condition.

THE METHODISTS.

Rev. Nicholas Gee, a native of New York,
moved to Ellsworth township in 1S23. He was
licensed to preach in 1824, and a society was
probably organized about that date, though con-
cerning this no information is attainable. Mr.
Gee acted as a local preacher here for some
years. The first meetings were held at private
residences and at the school-house in district
number three, until about 1835, when the church
in that district was completed and dedicated.
Mr. Gee and C. A. Bunts gave most toward
building it. Among the most prominent mem-
bers of Mr. Gee's church weije the Gee family,
Nicholas Leonard and family, Mrs. Hugh Smith
and family, John Hoyle and family, C. A. Bunts,
and others. The church is still standing, but no
organization has been maintained since 1856.

In 1839 a society was formed at the center.
A church was commenced that year and finished
in 1840. This building was erected through the
efforts of Mr. Gee, Mr. Bunts, Dr. Hughes, John
Smith, L. D. Smith, and others, assisted by
their brethren in neighboring townships. This
church was used until the new one was com-
pleted in 1880 — dedicated February 17, 1881.
It is a neat brick structure, well fitted and fur-
nished in excellent taste. The society numbers

about fifty members at present. It is out of
debt and in a prosperous condition. Jacob
Lower, Miller & Ripley, Jefferson Diehl, Eli
Diehl, John Cronick, and others, gave liberally
towards building the new church.

CEMETERIES.

Of these there are but two in the township,
one at the center and the other near the old
Methodist church on section twenty-four. The
graveyard near the center is the oldest, and for
many years was the only burying-place in Ells-
worth.

The inscription upon the monument of Cap-
tain Coit is as follows:

. Joseph Coit. born in Norwich, Connecticut, August 18,
1783; died May 31, 1857. He came to Ohio in 1804, and
with his location commenced the settlement of Ellsworth.
FIRST TAVERN.

Richard Fitch opened a tavern in a small log-
cabin built in 1806 on the site of the present
hotel. He made a framed addition some years
later, and about 1824 put up quite a large house
which is still standing. He continued to enter-
tain travelers until 1837, and was then succeeded
by Charles and Andrew Fitch. The house was
in the hands of many different individuals during
the succeeding years. For ten years past it has
not been a hotel, until it was opened to the pub-
lic by Mr. Rose in 1881.

POST-OFFICE AND MAIL.

The first postmaster was Lucius W. Leffing-
well, who settled in the township in 181 8, and
was probably commissioned postmaster the same
year. The mail was obtained once a week by a
carrier who went after it on horseback. When
the stage line through this place began running,
the mail was obtained twice each week. As Mr.
Leffingwell lived at some distance from the cen-
ter, he could not conveniently perform the duties
of postmaster, so he appointed Joseph Coit as his
deputy. Mr. Coit was also the school-teacher,
and whenever the mail-carrier signified by tap-
ping on the window of the schoolroom that the
presence of the postmaster was required at his
office the classes were left until the mail could
be disposed of. As would naturally be expected,
the boys held high carnival during the teacher's
absence, but sobered down mysteriously and sud-
denly as he again approached. The second
postmaster was Joseph Coit, who held the posi-
tion until 1857. His successois were John C.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

Fusselman, Samuel McKean, James Green,
Oliver A. Bingham, A. R. Hammond, Andrew
McKinney, John McKinney, and W. J. McKin
ney, the present incumbent. Ellsworth now has
an eastern and a western mail daily.

DISTILLERIES.

The first distiller in the township was a Mr.
Stanley, the father of German Stanley. His
still was situated just below Hoover's mill. He
worked it several years. Charles C. Chapman,
a Methodist preacher, also had a still on the
same stream, built a few years later. Both of
these did quite an extensive business. George
Leonard operated a small still on the Meander
for a short time.

TANNERY.

Walter Smith came about the year 1816 and
began business as a tanner on the stream a short
distance north of the centre. He did a good
business here for several years, and acquired
considerable property. Mr. Smith followed
tanning until 1856. He was an active business
man, a worthy and prominent member of the
Presbyterian church.

MILLS, STORES, ETC.

The first gristmill in the township was built
by General Perkins, of Warren, and Eli Bald-
win, of Boardman. It was situated near the
site of the present one, and was built of hewed
logs. In 1819 or 1820 it was replaced by a
frame building and operated for some years.
The same parties also owned a saw-mill upon the
same stream. Another grist mill was built at an
early date in the northern part of the township.
This was known as Hoover's mill, and was built
by Ezekiel Hoover, on a branch of the Mean-
der. It was situated just north of where the
Methodist church now stands. A saw-mill near
it was also operated for some lime. A. W.
.'Mien owned two saw-mills on the Meander
about 1835.

The first store was opened by Adams & Lloyd,
of Philadelphia, in 1822, in a log house, near
the spot where Mr. McRinney's residence now
is. Soon afterwards they built a good store
which was destroyed by fire some years later.

These gentlemen were here about five years.

The next merchants were O. A. and L. Bingham,
who continued in business about ten years.
Their successors have brcn T. U. Kelley, Jesse

B. Fitch, William Ripley, Jr., Spaulding &
Morse, A. and J. McKinney, and McKinney
Brothers.

In 1836 a store was built on the corner where
Kirkbride's blacksmith shop stands and run for
some ten years by Church & Fusselman. About
1850 E. A. Green built a store on the corner
next to the hotel, where he traded three years.
He was succeeded by Stofer & Hole, who were
in business four or five 'years. McKinney
Brothers are now the only merchants in the
township.

PHYSICIANS.

The first physician who practiced in the set-
tlement of Ellsworth was Dr. Shadrach Bostwick,
of Canfield. The first resident physician was
Dr. Chauncy C. Cook. He settled here about
the year 1824, and remained three years. He
moved to Youngstown and died there. Dr.
Robert G. Huntington came about 1827 and re-
mained until his death in 1838. Dr. Mordecai
B. Hughes came in 1839 and remained until his
death in 1852. Dr. G. W. Brooke came that
year and still practices here. Ellsworth has
always been favored with good physicians, well-
read and skilled in their profession.

NOTES.

The first blacksmith was probably Thomas
Fitch. He came to EUswortli about 18 14, and
opened a shop a short distance east of the cen-
ter, where he continued to work until 1840.
He then sold out and engaged in farming and
afterwards went West.

The first shoemaker was jirobably William
Porter, who lived about one-half mile west of
the center. He was quite an early settler.

The following men from Ellsworth were sol-
diers in the War of 181 2: Nicholas Courtney,

William Fitch, Joseph Coit, John Lower,

Parshall, and jjerhaps others.

SEMI-CENTENNIAL CEI.EUK ATION.*

On the 4th of July, 1855, the citizens of Ells-
worth celebrated the semi centennial anniver-
sary of its settlement. The officers of the day
were Dr. G. W. Brooke, president, and Granville
W. Sears, secretary.

The Declaration of Independence was read
by P. .'Mien Spicer, Esq. Rev. Loomis Chand-
ler delivered the historical address. Hon. Eben
•Thii account was furnished by Dr. G. W. Brooke. j

1

[_' .G^€iie'Zf^^/^fA/e^c:Zi

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

Newton, Rev. E. C. Sharp (of Atwater), Samuel
Smith, C. A. Bunts, and many others delivered
brief addresses. Dr. James W. Hughes, of
Berlin, read a poem. Letters of regret on ac-
count of inability to be present were read from
Hon. Elisha Whittlesey, Hon. Milton Sutlifif,
and K. Upman, Esq.

The singmg was led by Captain Joseph Coit.
To " start the tune " he used an old-fashioned
pitch-pipe, which is still in the possession of the
family. All of the old settlers of the township
then living, and many from surrounding town-
ships, were present. The day was very fine, the
attendance large, and many pioneer incidents
were rehearsed with great zest.

BUSINESS INTERESTS.

The following is believed to be a complete
business directory of the township : McKinney
Brothers, merchants, center; H. H. Rose, car-
riage painter and hotel keeper, center; W. H.
Kirkbridge, blacksmith, carriage maker, and car-
riage painter, center; P. B. Hughes, blacksmith,
center; Jonathan Hull, cooper, center; Samuel
McKean and Nelson W. King, wheelwrights,
center; Albert Dakin, cabinet-maker, center;
Roland Davis and Eli Davis, shoemakers, cen-
ter; Eli and J. H. Diehl, distillers, section ten.
Eli Diehl, gristmill, section eight; D. R. Stahl-
smith, saw-mill, section one. Thomas Rose
works a coal mine on section twenty one, and
P'rank Winans, on section fifteen. There are
other small coal banks in the township. .

The principal stone quarries are owned by Eli
Diehl, Eli T. Arner, and G. W. Harding.

REFLECTIONS.

The first settlers are dead and gone. Nearly
eighty years have elapsed since the first clearing
was made in the now thriving township of Ells-
worth. What the pioneers accomplished and
what they suffered few of the present inhabitants
know or can tell. But if we judge them by their
works, we shall certainly form a high opinion of
their worth. Ellsworth has maintained good
schools ever since there were enough children
here to form a class. Churches have been kept
up, and pious men are still teaching those who
soon shall come upon the stage of active life to
keep the way their fathers trod. Ellsworth cen-
ter has two good, substantial edifices, either of
which would be a credit to a much larger place.

where divine services are regularly held. There
are no saloons or other resorts where crime is
manufactured.

On every hand we see indisputable evidence
that the people are awake and at work. The
mowing machine and harvester are now driven
over fields which, in the memory of some who
are living here, were frequented by bears,
wolves, deer, and other denizens of the primi-
tive forest. The steam threshing machine moves
along roads which not long ago were solitary
foot-paths, or tracks where only horseback riders
or slow-going ox-teams could pass. Log cabins
have been replaced by substantial farm houses,
surrounded by orchards, shade trees, and rich
and beautiful fields. Neat white barns, large
and commodious, in every neighborhood show
that the farmers understand their business, and
are increasing in wealth and prosperity.

The allurements and vices of large towns are
at a distance from this prosperous community;
and safe in Christian homes, supplied with good
books and papers, with examples of uprightness
and refinement constantly before them, the using
generation is growing up to take the place of
fathers and mothers who soon must pass away.
The next fifty years will doubtless show a great
change upon the face of the country; but in the
characters and hearts of the people there will
surely linger the brave and generous spirit of the
hardy pioneers, ever active in promoting public
welfare and morality as well as private interests.

The first settlers, many of them, were men and
women of culture and education, who fully un-
derstood the great truth that the only hope of
any country lies in a refined, enlightened, and
civilized people. For this reason, though in the
midst of a wilderness, they taught their children
honesty, virtue, and temperance, and, above all,
made them ladies and gentlemen in the best
sense of the word.

POEM.

Written for the semi-centennial celebration of
the settlement of Ellsworth township, by Dr. J.
W. Hughes, Berlin center, Mahoning county,
Ohio.

Hail, faiher! mother! friendship greets you here,
Each well-known face to-day is doubly dear,
While grateful feelings own His sovereign power,
Whose gracious arm has kept us to this hour;
As back our thoughts with deep emotions flow,
To dwell on Ellsworth fifty years ago.

TkUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

Nor clianged the scene, since you whose features bear

The trace of years and toil engraven there,

From New England's cherished homestead came

The western forest's dreary w'ilds to tame:

No path to guide you but the woodman's " blaze,"

Nor shelter, till the cabin you could raise;

To years of toil and weariness resigned.

Ease, friendship, luxury you left behind.

Amid privations such as few endure,

A future home and comforts to secure.

Where now the stately farm house meets the eye.

And wavy fields in cheerful sunshine lie.

One wide, unbroken forest spread around.

And silence reigned in solitude profound;

Where forth his brood the lordly turkey led.

Or timid deer in tranquil safet^i fed.

Till started by the wolf's discordant howl.

Or midnight hootings of the sun-blind owl.

No humble school-house reared its unhewn walls.

No sacred temple echoed mercy's calls.

No Sabbath bell the lonely settler heard,

No hymn of praise the slumbering echo stirrd,

Save when at eve, the grateful pioneer.

Waked some loved strain to busy mem'ry dear.

But soon the tide of emigration gave
Increasing strength with each succeeding wave.
New settlers, lured by hopes of future gain.
Or kindred ties, that seldom plead in vain.
Increased the numbers at first so few.
While social comforts with those numbers grew.

Soon here and there in quick succession rose

The needed school-house and the school-boy's woes;

Nor these alone— religion next demands

A house for God, and there the temple stands.

Long may it stand, and long may his holy word.

With heartfelt joy, within its walls be heard!

Here may no selfish partisan intrude.

Discordant themes with worldly aims imbued.

Nor zeal unwise, with hidden mischief rife.

Mar Christian peace, nor fan fraternal strife.

Ye township's fathers, whom we greet to-day —
Ye honored mothers— no less dear than they—
Revered, beloved— of "length of days possesst,"
■your children here rise up and "call you blest."
But while with heart-felt joy we mingle here,
And thoughts arise and mem'ry claims a te.ir
For those, the partners ol your early toil.
Who silent sleep beneath their chosen soil.
Or hence removed to some far distant clime.
No more shall meet you on the shores of time.

Here let us briefly call our thoughts away
From local themes to hail our Nation's day.
Far down the vista of receding years
On hist'ry's page a patriot group appears :
No nobler names in any land or cHme
Adorn the annals of recorded time.

Life, fortune, honor, pledged to freedom lie ;
Fearless, tho' few— resolved to win or die.
No minion there to base dishonor sold—
No sordid slave to ignominious gold ;

No mock philanthropist self-lauded stood,
Invoking strife, and caUing " evil good";
No fierce oppressor, drunk with lawless power,
Insatiate reveled — courting ruin's hour.

Alas ! that nations should like parents rear
Unworthy sons an honored name to bear ;
That brethren to a common fortune born
Should link their birthright with undying scorn,
.And scathe and blast the noblest heritage
That ever nations had in any age.

Say not the bard to human progress blind
Sees not the onward, mighty march of mind :
He sees it— feels it— owns it all and more,
The near abyss — the rocky leeward shore-
Beyond it all he sees the threatening rod.
And reads — "The world by wisdom knew not God !

And speak I warmly } I should inly feel
The curse of treason o'er my conscience steal,
Could I to-day before this audience stand.
And breathe no tribute to my native land ;
Desert who may — prove recreant who will.
With all her faults, I love my country still.

Biographical Sketches,

JOSEPH COIT.
The man most prominently and effectively
identified with the early settlement and improve-
ment of the township of Ellsworth was without
doubt he whose name heads this sketch. Joseph
Coit was born in Norwich, Connecticut, August
i8, 1783. He was the eldest child of Thomas
and Sarah (Chester) Coit. His father was a
merchant of Norwich, and in early life the son
was employed in the store. He received a good
education, being for some time a pupil of John
Adams, a celebrated teacher of Norwich, and
father of the late Dr. William Adams, the dis-
tinguished pastor of Madison Square Presby-
terian church. New York city. Mr. Coit had
mastered the science of civil engineering, and
his uncle, Daniel Coit, being the owner of a
large amount of land in the Western Reserve,
he was induced by his uncle to come West and
act in his interest as a surveyor and as agent for
the sale of his land. He made his first journey
to the Reserve in 1803, when he accompanied
General Moses Cieaveland who came to treat with
the Indians for the e.xtinguishment of their title
to the land on a portion of which the city of
Cleveland now stands. 'I'his journey was made
on horseback, and consumed twenty eight days.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

At this time he selected a place for his own set-
tlement at the center of Ellsworth, then an un-
broken wilderness. He soon returned to Con-
necticut, but came back the ne.\t ytar to take
permanent possession. Taking four men from
Canfield he cleared up eight acres that season
and on the 4th of July surveyed and laid off
the first village lots in what is now Ellsworth
center. He was for a time employed in the
office of Central Perkins, at Warren, giving his
attention mostly to collections. Besides his ag-
ricultural labors he was considerably employed
in surveying and selling lands, always taking an
active part in the varions improvements of the
township. He served in the War of 181 2 as
cornet of a company of dragoons. He was fre-
quently called upon to fill various civil offices.
He was postmaster and deputy postmaster at
Ellsworth center for about thirty years. In 18 17
and 1 818 he was tax collector for Trumbull
county. The onerous duties of this office will
be better understood when the extent of territory
then embraced within the limits of Trumbull
county is considered in connection with the fact
that it was the duly of the collector to visit ev-
ery liouse for the collection of the tax. The
tax books for those years are still in possession
of his widow, and they are models of official
book-keeping, showing Mr. Coit to have been
a systematic business man and correct account-
ant. He was elected county surveyor of Trum-
bull county in 1821, and county commissioner
in 1844. He also served as county commis-
sioner of Mahoning county toward the latter part
of his life. Always moral and exemplary in his
life, he did n6t make a public profession of re-
ligion until the last year of his life. His death
occurred May 31, 1857, resulting from cancer
upon the face. Mr. Coit was married June 15,
1838, in Hartford, Connecticut, to Elizabeth
Mygatt, daughter of Thomas and Lucy (Oakes)
Mygatt. Mrs. Coit was born in Weathersfield,
Connecticut, February 22, 1802, and is still liv-
ing with her daughter at Ellsworth center, where
she and her husband first settled on coming to
Ohio. One child only was born of this union,
Fannie M., born April 2, 1844, now the wife of
Chester Allen, whom she married on her twenty-
fourth birthday.

THE RIPLEY FAMILY.

General William Ripley was among the earliest
settlers, and for years one of the most promi-
nent residents of Ellsworth township. He was
born in Windham, Connecticut, in May, 1782;
was brought up on a farm and enjoyed few privi-
leges for mental training. He, however, pos-
sessed more than ordinary native ability, and in
mature life was elevated to positions of trust and
honor. He married, March 31, 1805, Susan
Bingham, of Windham (bom November 30,
1784), and the same spring he came out to the
Western Reserve, leaving his bride in Connecti-
cut. He purchased, in connection with his
brother Hervey, three hundred and twenty acres
of land of the Connecticut Land company, a
short distance west of Ellsworth center. This
farm, or a part of it, is now occupied by his son
Hervey. General Ripley that season cut off ten
acres and put up a log cabin, and the next fall
returned to Connecticut. In the spring of 180
he returned with his wife to Ellsworth. After
occupying his farm for a few years, on account of
threatened hostilities by the Indians he moved
to the center, where he resided a number of
years. In 1820 he erected the large frame resi-
dence now occupied by his son, and moved into
it November 30th of the same year, and lived
there until his death. He was a general of mili-
tia, hence his military title. He was justice ot
the peace in Ellsworth for fifteen years, and was
a Representative in the State Legislature two
terms and served one term as State Senator. He
died December 7, i860, and his wife May i,
1868. They were the parents of seven children,
as follows: Adaline, Edwin, Emily, Susan,
Hervey, VVilliam, and Bingam, of whom only
Emily (now Mrs. Fitch), living in Wisconsin;
William in Chicago, and Hervey, are living.

Hervey Ripley was born at Ellsworth center,
February 23, 1816. He received an ordinary
education at the common schools of his neigh-
borhood, and January 7, 1838, was married to
Henrietta H. Sackett, daughter of Moses and
Cordelia (Fox) Sackett, of Ellsworth. Mrs. Rip-
ley was born in Warren, Connecticut, Decem-
ber 5, 1 816, and came with her parents to Ells-
worth when a small girl and settled south of the
center where Mr. Arner now resides. With the
exception of three months Mr. Ripley has re-
sided in the house which he still occupies with

\o&

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

his family for a period of sixty-two consecutive
years. Mrs. Ripley departed this life April 13,
1874. She was a member of the Presbyterian
church, as is her husband, and was an estimable
woman, and a devoted wife and mother. She left
surviving her her husband and nine children, her
own death being the only death which has oc-
curred in the family. The names of the chil-
dren are as follow: Judith P., widow of Walter
Smith, residing with her daughter, Mrs. Miller,
in Ellsworth; Thomas, in Alliance, Ohio; Warren
L., at Ellsworth center; Ward S. and Edgar, in
Olathe, Kansas; Florence E., at home; Emma
C, at home; William, at Burton, Ohio, and Mar-
garet v., at home. Four of the sons served in
the Union army during the war of the Rebel-
lion, viz: Thomas, Warren, Ward, and Edgar,
the latter in the one hundred day service;
Thomas was in the Third Iowa infantry, and was
discharged at the expiration of six months on ac-
count of sickness. Warren and Ward were
members of the Forty-first Ohio volunteer in-
fantry, and served all through the war, partici-
pating in the battles of Pittsburg Landing, Nash-
ville, Lookout Mountain, and Stone River, and
came out unhurt. Walter Smith, the husband
of the eldest daughter, was a member of the same
regiment and died at New Haven, Kentucky, in
February, 1862.

MARTIN ALLEN.
Martin Allen was born in Windham, Connec-
ticut, on the 25th day of August, 1807. His
early days were spent in farm labor and attend-
ing the common schools. Having decided upon
the study of medicine, after his common school
education was completed, he attended Plainfield
academy for a while with a view of training him-
self, by a thorough preparatory course, for the
career he had maiked out. After teaching for a
time he at length decided that a professional life
would not suit him, and resolved to devote him-
self thenceforth to farming. About this time he
determined to make his home in the West, and
in 1829 came to Ellsworth township and located
upon the farm which he still occupies. After
his arrival here he continued teaching for several
years, following the usual custom of district
school-te:ichers, of leaching during the winter

months and farming in summer. Those of his
pupils now residing in the neighborhood are
unanimous in their testimony as to his popular-
ity and worth as an instructor.

March 21, 1832, Mr. Allen married Miss Lucy
M. Fitch, of Ellsworth township — a union which
has resulted in a long and happy married life
and the rearing of a large family. Mr. Allen, by
economy and enterprise has prospered abundant-
ly, and is now the owner of a [ileasant home, a
well selected library, and a large, well cultivated
farm. His home is beautifully situated, and its
surroundings afford evidence of the care and
taste of its owner.

Mr. and Mrs. Allen both united with the
Presbyterian church about the same time (1843)
and have ever remained constant, faithful mem-
bers. For many years Mr. Allen has been a
ruling elder and one of the main supporters of
this church.

Martin Allen is a man of cultivated tastes and
of more than ordinary ability. The friends of
the family are many, and in simple justice it
should be stated few men enjoy the respect of
their fellow-citizens in as high a degree as Mr.
Allen. Modest and unassuming he has always
refrained from seeking notoriety of any kind,
much preferring the pleasures of home life and
the enjoyment of the rewards of industry and
social kindness. A contented mind, and a heart
filled with a spirit of Christian resignation are in
deed the greatest boons a man can have.

Mr. Allen was the third son and the fourth
child of Enoch and Betsey (Witter) Allen, who
were married in 1794. They had five children:
Asa Witter, born 1795; John, 1797; Eliza, (died
young; Martin, 1807; and David, 1809. Enoch
.'\llen was born in Windham, Connecticut, May
23, 1768. His father, Asahel Allen, was born in
the same place in the year 1742. The Allen
family were among the earliest of the New Eng-
land colonists. Martin Allen is a direct descend-
ant of Samuel and Ann Allen, of Bridgewater,
Somersetshire, England, who located at Brain-
tree, Massachusetts, ten miles south of Boston,
in the early part of the seventeenth century.

To Mr. and Mrs. Martin Allen have been born
twelve children, of whom eight are now living.
The names of the survivors are as follows :
Lloyd, born July 14, 1833, married F'annie M.

(

Jeardslcy, resides in Ellswortl

M.i

I'Miza, born

I

J^a--)-n-ed- \/ff--/lfa-

C^/L.r>-. Of-.-

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

109

August 26, 1837, married Robert A. Kirk, Can-
ton, Ohio; Jesse Fitch, born August 13, 1841,
unmarried, at home; Chester, born February i,
1843, niarried Fannie M. Coit, in Ellsworth;
William Hoyt, born January 3, 1845, married
p;ila Brooke, Ellsworth ; Henry Bingham, born
April 26, 1847, married Emma R. Weaver, Salem,
Columbiana county; Lucy A., born November 5,
1848, at home; Jettie W., born April 6, 185 1, at
home; Enoch, Enoch Fitch, Betsey Ann, and an
infant son are deceased.

JAMES WILLIAMS.

John Williams was among the pioneers of
Canfield township, and bore with fortitude the
experiences of pioneer life. He enlisted in the
army during the War of 181 2, immediately after
Hull's surrender, and served as first lieutenant.
He married Mary Smith. The names of their
children were James, Rebecca, Elizabeth, Ban-
ner, Nancy, and Rachel. Rebecca (deceased)
married Jacob Bower; Elizabeth married Al-
medius Scott, and resides in Canfield ; Banner
married first Clarissa Lew, and second Margaret
McDaniels, and resides in Canfield; Nancy the
wife of Ormon Dean, resides in Lordstown;
Rachel married John Porter, and resides in Pal-
myra, Portage county.

James Williams, the oldest child of John and
Mary Williams, was born in Bedford county,
Pennsylvania, November 8, 1809. He was mar-
ried November 17, 1836, to Miss Almyra Cook.
She was born in Columbiana county, August 28,
1818. Their children are as follows: Henry A.,
married Irene Greathouse, and lives in Oregon ;
Mary E., the wife of George Bennett, resides in
Illinois; Delos E., married Esther Jane Bennett,
and resides in Ellsworth; Homer married Mary
Brooke, and resides in Canfield; Alice J., mar-
ried Samuel S. Gault — her home is in Ellsworth;
Lewis died at the age of two years.

Mr. Williams worked at the trade of a carpen-
ter and joiner for about forty years of his life,
but is now retired from active business, having
secured a competency sufficient to support him-
self and wife during the remainder of their days,
besides amply providing for all their children.

Although Mr. Williams never sought office,
his fellow-citizens,have shown their confidence in

his integrity by electing him to the office of
justice of the peace three times.

No better tribute of respect to this worthy
couple can be paid than the universally preva-
lent sentiment of their associates and friends,
that their lives have been distinguished by acts
of kindness and benevolence toward many a one
in need of friends and help.

NOTES OF SETTLEMENT.

Dr. George W. Brooke, son of Basil and
Rachel (Morris )Brooke, was born in Goshen
township, then Columbiana (now Mahoning)
county, Ohio, April 29, 1828. He began the
study of medicine in 1846, under Dr. James W.
Hughes of Berlin township, and attended lec-
tures at the Cleveland Medical college, where he
graduated in the spring of 185 1. He immedi-
ately commenced practice under the supervision
of his preceptor in Berlin, removing in the spring
of 1852 to Ellsworth, where he has since been
engaged in his profession. He married in 1852
Miss Theda A. Carter, of Darien, Genesee coun-
ty. New York. The children born of this union
are Ella E., Clara R., Mary Q., Georgie, and
Theda Carter. Mrs. Brooke died December 29,
1874, and he married September 21, 1878, Miss
Mary E. Williams. Dr. Brooke was a Republi-
can presidential elector in i860, and cast the
electoral vote of the Nineteenth Congressional
district for Abraham Lincoln. He was elected
a representative in the State Legislature in 1877,
and re-elected in 1879.

Richard Fitch, Ellsworth township, Mahoning
county, is the son of Richard Fitch, Sr., one of
the early pioneers of Ellsworth township. Rich-
ard Fitch, Sr. was born in Salisbury township,
Litchfield^county, Connecticut, and emigrated to
Ohio in 1806. He settled in Ellsworth, in sec-
tion thirteen. His wife was Lucinda Buell, a
native of Connecticut. They had a family of
two sons and eight daughters, three of whom are
living, viz: Sally, Antoinette, and Richard. The
latter was born on the homestead in section thir-
teen. In 1838 he was married to Nancy F.
Webb, by whom he has had six children, two of
whom are deceased, having died in infancy.
The rest live in Ellsworth. Frank, the oldest
son, was born September 20, 1842, in Ellsworth

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

township. May 2, 1867, he was married to Miss
Martha B. McNeilly, and has had five children —
Lizzie M., Jesse B., Charles P., and Bertha B.,
who are living, and John S., who died at the age
of twenty-three months. Frank Fitch enlisted in
1864, in the One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Ohio
national guard, serving one hundred days.
Richard Fitch, Jr., the subject of this sketch,
was justice of the peace of this township for fif-
teen years. He is a member of the Presbyterian
church.

William Dean (deceased) was born in Litch-
field county, Connecticut, in the year 1774. He
emigrated from that State with his family in
company with his father's family in the year
1 810 and settled in Canfield township, then
Trumbull county. The country was then very
wild; Indians were not uncommon and frequent-
ly visited the cabins of the settlers while passing
over their lost hunting-ground. There were also
plenty of wild animals and game, wolves, deer,
and bear being far more plenty than sheep and
cattle. Not long after their settlement in their
new home, mother Dean was called away, her
husband surviving her but a few years. William
Dean married Miss Parthenia Bailey and had a
family of eight children, six sons and two daugh-
teis, viz : Orpha, Hiram, Orsemus, James, Ben-
jamin, William B., Orman, and Balinda; of
these James, Benjamin, and Balinda are de-
ceased. By his second marriage he had one
daughter, Rebecca. Mr. Dean followed farming
during his life, and by dint of industry and good
management acquired a good property. He
died at the old homestead in 1847 ^t the age of
seventy-three years. He was married three
times. His third wife is still living.

William B. Dean, farmer, Ellsworth township,
Mahoning county, son of William Dean, the pio-
neer above mentioned, was born in .Litchfield
county, Connecticut, in 1810. In October of that
year his parents emigrated to Ohio, or New
Connecticut as the Reserve was then called.
William B. Dean grew up on the farm and was
trained in the severe school of pioneer times.
In 1832 he was married to Phebe Diehl. They
have one child. Ward, born January 18, 1834.
Mr. Dean settled in Ellsworth in 1835 and
cleared the farm on which he lives.

In the year 1840 a part of the family of James
Dixon, consisting of five sons and one daugh-

ter, emigrated to this country from Ireland.
They came to Ohio and settled about a mile
south of the present fair grounds. John Dixon,
the third child, was born in county Down, Ire-
land, in 1809. He married in 1838 Elizabeth
Kirkpatrick, by whom he had eight children,
viz : James, Agnes, Mary Ann, Eliza, Margaret,
Mary Agnes, Robert, and Martha. Agnes, Mary
Ann, and Mary Agnes are deceased. Mr. Dick-
son is now seventy-two years old but is still
active and can do his day's work in the harvest
field. Himself and wife are members of the
Presbyterian church.

Philip .\rner (deceased) was born in Pennsyl-
vania in 1776; was married in 1801 to Miss Susan
Broadsword, and had five sons and three daugh-
ters, as follows; Peter, Elizabeth, Chloe, Lewis,
Mary, Caleb, Daniel, and Eli T., two of whom
are deceased. Mr. Arner came to Ellsworth
township, now in Mahoning county, in 1802,
and bought one hundred and sixty acres of land
on Meander creek, the farm now being owned
by his son Daniel. He made a small clearing,
the first in Ellsworth township, and built a log
cabin and then went back for his family, whom
he brought out in 1804. He was an industrious
man, worthy citizen and was held in high esteem
by the entire community. He lived to an ad-
vanced age.

Eli T. Arner, farmer, Ellsworth township, Ma-
honing county, youngest son of Philip Arner,
was born in Ellsworth, May 8, 1825. In 1846
he married Miss N. Orcleroad, and has three
children — Susan, Ella, and Jessie. Mr. Arner
is a thorough and successful farmer, and pos-
sesses a well improved farm.

Charles Fenstemaker (deceased) was born in
Pennsylvania in 1817. He came to Ohio with
his father, and settled about one and a half miles
from where his widow now lives. He resided
upon his father's farm until the year 1837, when
he married Miss Abby Antony. He then bought
and settled where his family now lives. Mr.
Fenstemaker, by industry, prudence, and econ-
omy acquired a good property and pleasant
home. He had two sons and three daughters —
Anna, Elizabeth, Susanna, Ira and Aaron.
The three daughters are deceased. Mr. Fenste-
maker died in 1880. He was a member of the
Presbyterian churcli, as is also his widow.

Jonathan Howard, farmer, Ellsworth town-

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

ship, Mahoning county, third son of William
and Mary Howard, was born in Poland town-
ship, then Trumbull county, now Mahoning,
March 30, 181 1. His father was born in Mary-
land in 1774. He came to Ohio in 1S02, and
settled in Poland township. About 181 6 he
moved to Ellsworth township. April 6, 1802,
he married Miss Mary Rose, by whom he had
thirteen children, as follows: Susan, Mary, John,
Jesse, Jonathan, William, Rebecca, Jane, Louisa,
Melvina, Isaac, Albert C, and one that died in
infancy. It is a singular circumstance in the
iiistory of this family that the circle of twelve
children was not broken by death until the
youngest was forty years of age. Jonathan was
some five years of age when his parents moved
to Ellsworth. He married, in 1849, Margaret
Hoover, and has one son, Frank C., born
September 11, 1852. He lives at home with
his parents.

Albert C. Howard, farmer, Ellsworth town-
ship, Mahoning county, youngest child of
William and Mary Howard, was born in Ells-
worth, November 5, 1826. He married, March
3, 1857, Miss Susan Teegarden, by whom he has
had two children, a son and daughter, viz :
Martha, born January 17, 1858, who died March
loth of the same year, and L. U., born February
24, 1859, now a student in Mount Union
college, having attended some four terms.
Albert Howard taught school for a number of
terms in Jackson, Newton, and Green townships,
and has studied medicine to some extent, but
has never practiced.

J. M. Howard, farmer, Ellsworth township,
Mahoning county, was born in section twenty,
Ellsworth township, in 1833. When about two
years of age he went to live with his grand-
parents (McCreary), who resided in the same
neighborhood, and of whom a brief sketch is
given elsewhere. Mr. Howard was married in
1859 to Sarah M. Rose, of Jackson township,
and has one child, Jeannette. He owns and
occupies the farm previously owned by his
grandfather McCreary.

Philo Spaulding (deceased) was a native of
Connecticut, where he was born June 26, 1786.
In 1808 he married Miss Amanda Bingham, by
whom he had six sons and two daughters, as fol-
low: Augustus, Moses, Amos, Newman, Isaac,
Jeremiah, Paulina, and Jerusha. In 1813, with

his family of wife, daughter Paulina, and sons
Augustus and Moses, he came to Ohio making
the journey in an ox-cart. He settled in Ells-
worth township, now Mahoning county. Two
years afterward he located upon the farm where
his son Moses now lives. He began there in
the woods and by hard work and under the dif-
ficulties incident to pioneer life built up a good
home and reared his family. His wife and com-
panion of his pioneer days died in 1835, and in
1837 he married Mrs. Elizabeth Kidd. By the
second marriage there were no children. He
died in 1876 at the advanced age of ninety years,
surviving his wife twenty years.

Moses Spaulding, farmer, Ellsworth, Mahoning
county, son of the subject of the preceding
sketch, was born in Connecticut December 21,
181 1. He remained upon the farm with his
parents until his marriage, which took place
October 8, 1834, to Miss Harriet Ann Dakin.
The result of this union was eleven children,
as follow: Horace, Caroline E., Emily, Julia,
Homer, Susan, Charlotte, Horace (2), Ella, Ida,
and Mary. Horace (i), Julia, and Homer are
dead. The latter enlisted in the war of the Re-
bellion, although only fifteen years of age, and
was severely wounded in his first engagement at
the battle of Shiloh. He rallied for a time and
was brought home where he received the kindest
attention and care, but the wound proved a fatal
one and he died December 2, 1862, his loss be-
ing a severe blow to his parents. Mr. Spauld-
ing IS an enterprising farmer and has accumu-
lated a good property. Himself and wife are
members of the Presbyterian church.

James McNeilly (deceased) was born in Ire-
land, July, 1804. He married Elizabeth Trim-
ble in 1824, and in 1827 emigrated to America;
came to Ohio and settled in Mahoning county,
then Trumbull, Jackson township. He remained
there about three years and then moved to Ells-
worth and located in section twenty-three, where
he lived until his death. His children were
John, Robert, William, Margaret, Eliza, Samuel,
Mary, James P., and Martha, all of whom are
living but John.

James P. McNeilly, farmer, Ellsworth, Mahon-
ing county, son of James McNeilly of the above
sketch, was born February ist, 1844, in Ells-
worth township. At the age of twenty-seven he
was united in marriage to Miss Jerusha Fitch,

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

by whom he has had two children, Frances F.
and Fannie A., one of whom died at the age of
sixteen months. Mr. McNeilly enlisted m the
One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Ohio National
guard in 1864, and served one hundred days.
Himself and wife are both members of the
Presbyterian church.

Samuel A. McNeilly, farmer, Ellsworth town-
ship, Mahoning county, was born in Ellsworth
in 1839. In i860 he married Miss Mary W.
Smith, and has a family of four children, viz:
Walter '1'., Helen V., Mary K, and Charles S.
Mr. McNeilly has a good property in Ellsworth
center. He and his wife are members of the
Presbyterian church.

John McCreary (deceased) was born in county
Down, Ireland, in 1770. He emigrated to
America in 1787, and settled in New Jersey.
Shortly afterwards he moved to Erie, Pennsyl-
vania. In 1801 he married Miss Jane McFar-
land, and two years afterwards he came to Ohio,
and settled in section nineteen, Ellsworth town-
ship, now Mahoning county. He cleared up
and improved a fine farm, on which he lived
until his death in 1839. He left surviving him
a wife and two daughtersT Mary and Jeannette.

Samuel Knauff (deceased) was born in Green
township, now Mahoning county, in the year
1822. He lived with his parents until his mar-
riage, which event occurred in 1850. He mar-
ried Miss Barbara Hardman, and began married
life on the farm now occupied by the widow. The
family consists of five sons and five daughters
as follows: Anna, Henry, John, Lida, Erin,
Mary, Amos, Lovina, Amanda, and Ensign. Mr.
Knauff died in 1872, and was buried in Green
township beside his parents, who died many
years ago. He was a member of the Lutheran
church.

William J. McKinney, postmaster, Ellsworth
center, Mahoning county, was born in Pittsburg,
Pennsylvania, August 4, 1852, and came to Ohio
with his father in the latter part of the year 1858.
He was married to Miss Hannah Mygatt, but
has no children. He was appointed postmaster
at Ellsworth center in 1874, and also elected
township treasurer the same year. He is a mer-
chant at Ellsworth center.

George W. HarrofT, fanner, Ellsworth town-
ship, Mahoning county, was born in .Augusta
county, Virginia, luly 11, 1S33. He married in

1865, Miss Mary McLaughlin, who died Decem-
ber 2 2d of the same year, while on the way to
Ohio, and was buried at Wellsville. He was
again married, early in 1867, to Miss Mary
Diehl, by whom he had one child, Mary S. C.
His second wife died December 22,1867. M""-
Harroff was married a third time, to Miss Sarah
Diehl, sister of his second wife, March 20, 1868,
by whom he has had one child, George A., born
February 14, i86g.

Henry C. Beardsley, farmer, Ellsworth town^
ship, Mahoning county, was born in the State of
Connecticut, December 2, 1823. He came to
Ohio with his father, Almus Beardsley, and set-
tled in the woods in Ellsworth township. Henry
C. Beardsley married, in 185 1, Miss Elizabeth
Smith, and has had eight children. Four daugh-
ters and two sons are now living, viz: Laura, W.
L., Ora, Lucy M., Edith, and Arthur. Mr. Beards-
ley still resides on the old homestead. He is a
member of the Presbyterian church. In politics
he is a Republican.

Henry Boyd, grandfather of Dr. F. Wilson,
came to this county in 1830; settled in Ellsworth
township first, afterwards in Berlin ; was a mem-
ber of the State Legislature in 1847, and it was
probably on his recommendation that the lines
bounding the county were run. He was a justice
of the peace for many years ; an elder in the
Presbyterian church ; was a man of influence
and highly esteemed. He died in Lima, Ohio,
in 1864.

CHAPTER V.

BERLIN.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION.

Berlin is township one of range five, Connecti-
cut Western Reserve, and was, until the forma-
tion of Mahoning county, the southwest corner
township of Trumbull count)'. Berlin has Mil-
ton on the north, Ellsworth on the east, Goshen
and Smith on the south, and Deerfield, Portage
county on the west. In natural beauty it is un-
surpassed by any portion of the county. The
winding Mahoning washes a portion of the west-
ern borders of the township. The surface in
its vicinity is more or less broken, and with

k../^iC^i3^^

(

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

113

woody banks and verdant valleys, the river
helps to make a scene of picturesque loveliness.
Mill creek waters the southwestern quarter of
the townshij). One of its tributaries has the
suggestive name of Turkey Broth. Turkey
Broth creek is a small stream rising in the north-
eastern i)art of the township, and flowing south-
westerly until it reaches Mill creek. Several
small runs empty into it.

The land of Berlin is mostly very nearly level,
and consists of a succession of broad swells
with wide and very slight depressions interven-
ing. The surface is so nearly uniform that an
observer, upon almost any of the gentle rises ol
land, can obtain a view of nearly all parts of the
township. The soil is deep and fertile; very lit-
tle clay or sand, but a good strong loam, well
adapted to fruits and cereals. A traveler along
almost any of the roads in the township can
scarcely fail to note and admire the beautiful
fields on every hand.

Berlin center, a straggling settlement of twenty
or more houses, is the only village, and is pleas-
antly situated on a slight elevation a short dis-
tance east of the geographical center of the town-
ship.

Belvidere, where Schilling's mill is located,
advanced far enough toward the dignity of a vil-
lage to receive a name, and apparently its ambi-
tion was satisfied. Shelltown in the northeast is
a thickly settled community. At Christy's cor-
ners, in the southwestern part of the township,
quite an extensive business has been carried pn
for a number of years in the manufacture of
pottery.

The township was but sparsely settled until
about 1824 for the reason that the greater por-
tion of the land was not offered for sale until
that time.

0RG.\NIZ.\TI0N.

The township, which for several years had
been a part of Ellsworth, was erected a separate
township and election precinct by the county
commissioners in March, 1828.

THE FIRST ELECTION

of township officers took place at the school-
house near the center April 7, 1828, Matthias
Glass, Salmon Hall, and Joseph Stall being
judges of election, and Peter Musser and Joseph
H. Coult, clerks. The following officers were

elected: Nathan Minard, Thompson Craig,
Samuel Kauffman, trustees; Salmon Hall, treas-
urer; Joseph H. Coult, clerk; John Stuart, con-
stable ; William Kirkpatrick, Christian Kauff-
man overseers of the poor; Joseph Davis, Joseph
Leonard fence viewers; Edward Fankle, Benja-
min Misner, Abraham Craft, supervisors.

SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

In 1828 the township was divided into four
school districts. Four years later the number
had increased to nine. The old township rec-
ords give the following names of the inhabitants
of the four school districts in 1829. Where the
name is illegible in the old book, or where the
spelling is of doubtful authenticity, a question
mark (?) is placed after the name :

District Number One. — Joshua Minard, John
Vosburg, William Kirkpatrick, Edward Fankle,
John Crumrine, John Ween (?), Benjamin Leon-
ard, Nathan Minard, Adam Morningstar, Henry
Morningstar, Adam Morningstar, Jr., John Lud-
wick, John Kimmel.

District Number Two.— John Smith, Henry
Powell, William Bishop, Ephraim Horner, Elisha
Fogg, Adna B. Silver, Joseph Huntley, Enoch
Sharpe, Isaac Sharpe, Hofifman Brown, James
Ramsey, Jacob Strong, John Shatio(?), David Par-
shall, Henry Houck, Joseph Davis, John Thomas,
Samuel Leonard, John Leonard, Joseph Leon-
ard, Jacob Starling, Isaac Phipps, Andrew Hull,
Joseph Poll (?), Peter Helsel, Joseph H. Coult.

District Number Three. — George Ripple, Eli
Rush, John Craig, James Packard, John Carter,
John Stump (?), William Parker, Eleanor Pack-
ard, George Boom (Baum ?), Jacob Welly, Wil-
liam Leonard, George Foster, Abraham Craft,
John Foster, Salmon Hall, John Best, Henry
Rummell, John Rummell.

District Number Four. — Daniel Myer, John
Rummell, John Phillips, Jonathan King, John
Cline, Peter Glass, Adam Schilling, David Mis-
ner, Samuel Misner, Samuel Phillips, Phillip
Wise (?), Jacob Stump, Henry Fulk, Matthias
Swanz, Benjamin Misner, George Hartzell,
Abraham Hawn, William Glass, Christian Kauff-
man, Samuel Kauffman, David Mauen (?), Wil-
liam Mell, Jacob Eib, Matthias Glass, Adam
Zedaker, Daniel Greenamyer, Peter Musser,
Moses Ross, Jacob Greenamyer, James Winans,
James Byers, William Stult (?), Emmanuel Hull.

This is doubtless a complete list of the prop-

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

erty holders and taxpayers of the township for
the year 1829.

JUSTICES.

The first justice of the peace was Peter Mus-
ser, appointed in 1828. His immediate succes-
sors were Joseph H. Coult, WiUiani Hartzell,
James B. Boyd (resigned), and D. A. Fitch.

SETTLEMENT.

Oarrett Packard, the first white settler of Ber-
lin, came from the vicinity of Winchester, Vir-
ginia, to Austintown in 1803. Two years later
he moved to Deerfield, where he resided until
March, 1809, at which date he settled on a farm
on Mill creek, in the southwestern part of Berlin
township, having previously purchased the land
of General Perkins. He had sold his place in
Deerfield and was contemplating a move to this
purchase when he was taken sick, and for some
time was unable to do any work. His Deerfield
neighbors generally combined their efforts and
erected a log cabin upon his land, — rude and
primitive to be sure, but it served to shelter the
family. The structure was of rough logs, three
sides, the fourth side serving as a door, over
which blankets were hung in cold weather. The
spaces between the logs were filled with moss.
Like many pioneer dwellings, this had no floor
except the earth.

Soon after the arrival of the family in the
township, Mrs. Packard gave birth to a son, who
is now a well known citizen of Champion town-
ship, Trumbull county, — Thomas Packard, born
March 27, 1809, the first white child born in
Berlin. Garrett Packard's was tlie only family
in the township for several years. At the time
of the War of 1812 he was the only man resid-
ing in what is now Berlin. He was drafted and
was in the service three months. He died No-
vember 20, 1820, aged about forty-five, his death
being the first that occurred in the township.
, Mrs. Packaid, whose maiden name was Eleanor
Hendrickson, survived until May 13, 1830, and
died in Austintown while visiting the home of her
son-in-law, John McCoUum. She was fifty-four
years of age. Below we briefly mention each of
the ten children of the family : Betsy became the
wife of George Baiim, and resided in Berlin
township. They had seven children, six of whom
arrived at maturity. Five are still living, three
sons and two daughters. Mrs. Baum died in
Atwater, Portage county, in 1877. Polly be-

came the first wife of John McCollum, and died
in Milton in 1867. She was the mother of six
children, three sons and three daughters. Two
sons and two daughters are still living. James
H. was killed in 1829 when about twenty five
years old by the fall of a pile of boards which
he was drying by means of a fire. It was a
rainy day, and he probably lay down by the fire
and fell asleep. The board kiln being loosely
built, fell over upon him, and when his friends
came to look for him they found only his bruised
and mangled body beneath the pile of lumber.
Jane became the wife of Daniel Parshall, and
resided in Milton township. She died in 1843.
Her family consisted of two sons and three
daughters, all of whom are living, excepting one
son. Esther married Jesse Rose, son of David
Rose, resided in Jackson and afterwards in
Champion. She is now a widow and lives in
Washington county, Iowa. She has no children.
Charlotte was the second wife of Joseph H.
Coult. She had one son and one daughter.
The son is living. Mrs. Coult died in Ellsworth
in 1854. Thomas resides in Champion. Asby
went West when a young man, and is now a
resident of Johnson county, Iowa. He is the
father of two sons and five daughters. One son
and four daughters are living. John W. resides
in Columbus, Ohio. His family of three sons
and three daughters are all living excepting
one son. Garrett resides in Johnson county,
Iowa. He has two sons and three daughters
living.

Jacob Weldy was the second settler. He
came with his family from east of the mountains,
but at what date we are unable to learn. He
located in the northwestern corner of the town-
ship. His son Jacob lived upon the old place
after him. Samuel also lived and died in Berlin.
The family was a large one.

George Baum was the next comer. His father
emigrated from Germany and settled in Salem.
George came to Berlin when a young man.
About 1815 he married Betsey Packard. This
was the first marriage that occurred among the
residents of " Hart and Mather's." They went
to Ellsworth and the ceremony was performed
by 'Squire William Ripley. Baum settled in the
southwestern part of the township on the next
tarr.i east of Weldy. None of his children reside
in the township.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

Abraham Hawn came to the township about
1820, and located two miles north and a little
east of the center. He brought up a family of
six children. Two of the sons, Peter and Mat-
thias, died in Berlin; Jacob lives in Akron;
Michael D., in Berlin. His daughters were:
Christina, who became the wife of Joseph Clme,
and died in this township, and Mrs. Susanna
Smith, Deerfield.

Joseph H. Coult was the first settler at tlie
center. His family was the fourth or fifth that
came to the township. Coult acted as land
agent for Amos Sill, the proprietor of the greater
part of the township, and sold the land to the
settlers. He came about 1823. He made the
first clearing at the center and built the first
frame house in the township. In 1842 he sold
his place to Thomas Hawkins, who still resides
upon it. Mr. Coult moved to Ellsworth and
thence to Atwater.

Matthias Glass settled in the northwest of the
township about 1822. His sons were John, Wil-
liam, Matthias, Peter, Jacob, Solomon. There
were also several daughters.

Reuben Gee, Joseph Davis and David Parshall
bought land and settled in the township about
1824. Gee remained but a short time. Joseph
Davis is remembered by some of the old settlers
as a very religious man, and an earnest friend of
the church and preachers. His son James re-
sided in the township for a while. David Par-
shall settled about one mile west of the center
on the south side of the road. He sold out
and moved.

From 1824 to 1830 the settlers came in rap-
idly, but of the families who came during that
time comparatively few are represented in the
township. The early as well as the later set-
tlers were chiefly Penns) Ivanians, quiet, unobtru-
sive, but progressive people. Their characteris-
tic thrift has borne its fruit, and Berlin, the
youngest of the Mahoning county townships,
will compare very favorably with some sections
where improvements were begun much earlier.
We have space to mention a few early comers.

Jonathan King was born in Pennsylvania in
1804. In 1823 he came to Springfield town-
ship, this county, where he worked for some
time. In 1825 he married Lydia Keck, and in
1S26 settled in Berlin township. They had ten
children. Seven arrived at matuiity, and five

are still living. Mr. King first settled two miles
north of the centre and a little east, and there
made the first improvements on the farm where
his son Joseph now lives. Mr. King has
probably been a resident of Berlin longer than
any other man now living in the township.

John Cline, a native of Pennsylvania, settled
in Boardman township quite early; thence
moved to Canfield, and in 1828 settled in the
northern part of Berlin. He was the father of
seven sons and four daughters. Three sons and
one daughter are still living, viz: Jonathan,
George, and Conrad, and Mrs. Sarah Hawn, the
oldest of the family. All are residents of this
township.

George Ripple was an early settler west of the
center.

Salmon Hall settled on the west side of the
Mahoning.

The Misner family settled in the northern part
of the township.

Henry Houck located on the road west of the
center.

David and Tobias Hartzell were early settlers.

William Kirkpatrick settled east of the center
on the farm now occupied by Jonathan King.
He kept tavern at the center a few years. His
name was changed to Kirk on his petitioning the
Legislature. His sons, William, James, and
Isaac were residents of Berlin for a time. James
died here.

Emanuel Hull, an early settler in the north-
east of the township, lived and died on the farm
now owned by his son George, and his daughter
Mary. Michael, his son, also resides in the
northeastern part of the township.

John Kimmel settled on the east line of Berlin
township in 1828. He brought up five sons and
four daughters. Four sons and two daughters
are yet living. Daniel, one of the sons, lives on
a part of the old homestead.

George Best came to Berlin township in 1830
and settled northwest of the center, where he
now resides. He has brought up a family of
eight children, six of whom are living.

Horace Rowland has been a resident of the
township since 183 1. He began in the woods
in the southeast of Berlin. Later he moved east
of the center and bought the farm on which
Michael Crumrine had made the first improve-
ment.

ii6

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

Zimri Engle has resided in Berlin since 1832.

In 1833 John Burkey came from Petersburg
and settled in the northeast of the township.
He brought up a family of eleven children, nine
of whom are living, five sons and four daughters,
Peter, Solomon, and Sophia (Hull) being resi-
dents of this township.

John Carson came to Berlin in 1832, and in
1834 settled on the farm he now occupies, in the
northwestern corner of the township. Adam
Zedaker had been living on the place and had
made some imjjrovements before Mr. Carson
purchased it.

Lawrence Shively came to the northwestern
part of Berlin in 1833. His family of ten chil-
dren are all living. Mr. Shively moved to
Milton in 1848, and resided there several years.
He is now living in Berlin.

About the year 1800, Peter Hoyle came from
Virginia and settled in Ellsworth township, where
he lived until 1836. At that date he settled in
the eastern part of Berlin. He brought up five
sons and two daughters. All are now living
excepting one daughter. George and Peter are
residents of this township.

BERLIN

was the name given the township at the instance
of Matthias Glass. He, being a German, desired
to have his adopted home bear a name which
would remmd him of the Fatherland. Previous
to the organization, the township was known to
the early settlers for miles around as Hart and
Mather's, from the names of two men who were
originally pro|)rietors of a tract withm it.
General Perkins owned a thousand acres or
more in the southwest corner, and it was of him
that Packard and other early comers purchased
their land. About two-thirds of the township
was owned by Amos Sill, and sold by his agent,
Joseph H. Coult, who was the first settler at the
center.

TURKEY BROTH CREEK

was so named by Garrett Packard. His journey
with his family from Austintown to the place
where lie settled in Deerfield, a distance of nine-
teen miles, occu[)ied three days. The first night
he stayed at the house of Philip Ports, in Ells-
worth; the second night encamped beside the
creek, and while there shot a wild turkey and
made broth, using water from the stream, which

has since borne the name he bestowed upon it.
The third day Packard arrived in Deerfield.

HARD TIMES.

A majority of the settlers of Berlin came after
surrounding townships were considerably settled,
and thus had some advantages over the first
pioneers upon the Reserve. Stores had been es-
tablished and mills were in operation, and neigh-
boring settlements were beginning to assume
some of the habiliments of civilization. Yet
pioneer life everywhere is attended with priva-
tions and hardships ; and these the early resi-
dents of Berlin did not escape. In the matter
of game, however, they were especially fortu-
nate. " Hart and Mather's " was long a favor-
ite hunting-ground for sportsmen from miles
around. The number of deer that have been
slaughtered within the limits of the township, if
it could be ascertained, would no doubt cause
open-eyed astonishment among the youth of to-
day.

But notwithstanding the fact that there was
enough meat running about in the forest, the
people subsisted largely upon coin bread. In
the busy season the farmer could not leave his
field to go hunting.

Thomas Packard, in a conversation which the
writer had with him, while speaking of his boy-
hood in Berlin and the difiference between now
and then, incidentally made allusion to a " hom-
iny block," which formed a part of the household
furniture of his father. On being asked an ex-
planation of those mysterious words, Mr. Pack-
ard said :

You know there were few mills in this part of the country
ill tliose days, and the few small affairs that had been erected
were frequently rendered useless in a dry season. Such sea-
sons— and likewise at times when people were so much oc-
cupied with planting or sowing that there was no oppor-
tunity for going to mill— the hominy block was in requisition.
I remember ours perfectly well. It was a large, solid block
of wood, in the end of which a hollow had been cut and
smoothly shaved. This cavity would hold nearly half a
bushel. Ry means of this hollow block and a large and
heav-y stick, smooth and round, corn and wheat were con-
verted by pounding into substitutes for meal and flour. This
hominy was usually cooked Iiy boiling; it was healthy food,
and tasted well, too.

A NARROW ESCAPE.

In early days Indians were probably as numer-
ous along the Mahoning as in any [jart of this
region, and here, too, they continued to remain
some years after the white man appeared and
made his home in the forest.

I

■^(I'fAci^f^ J2yi t^yit^cz::)

vy-

tci.j<::y[ ^-j^^-pz)

i

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

17

While Garrett Packard was living in Deerfield,
both he and his wife were at work in the field
one day, when Mr. Packard chanced to get a
splinter in his finger. His wife came to his assist-
ance, stood by his side, and picked it out with a
pin. Soon afterwards an Indian emerged from
the woods close at hand bearing a gun. Said
he, "While you were standing near together, I
was there by yonder tree. I could have shot you
both, and laid one on the ground there, and the
other there," indicating the place by his finger.
"But then me think, white man never harm me;
why me kill him ? So me no shoot." Both
thanked the Indian heartily for his thoughtful
consideration and self-restraint — for so good a
mark seemed to have much impressed the savage.
He was invited to the cabin to dinner, and from
that day forward remained a warm and earnest
friend of the family.

.MILLS.

About the year 1825 Matthias Glass built a
saw-mill and grist-mill on the Mahoning, a short
distance above Frederick. The first grist-mill
was destroyed by fire. Isaac Wilson purchased
the mill-site of Glass and put up the flouring-
mill which is still standing. His sons, J. B. and
J. S. Wilson, ran it for some years. It was then
purchased by its present owner, George Schilling.
This is the only grist-mill ever built in Berlin
township.

In 1826 David Shoemaker built a saw-mill on
Mill creek, in the southwestern part of the town
ship. It was sold to Jacob Sheets, who run it
several years.

About the same date Joseph H. Coult put up
a saw-mill on Turkey Broth a short distance
north of the center. Coult sold it to Jonathan
King, King to Henry Morningstar, and Morning-
star to Joseph Cline.

T.^NNERV.

A man named McKean carried on tanning
and shoemaking at the center, some forty-five
years ago. His tannery was on the Turkey
Broth, west of the center.

MERCH.\NTS.

The first storekeeper in Berlin was Joseph
Edwards, who commenced business in 1833 on
the southeast corner at the center, where Dr.
Hughes now lives. He lived in a small log
house and kept his goods in a small frame build-

ing. Garrison & Hoover were the next mer-
chants, followed by Daniel A. Fitch. David
McCauley came next and moved the store to the
northeast corner, where it now stands. John
Ward, Warren & Webber, R. H. King, Hughes
Brothers, A. G. Ramsdell, and B. T. Stanley
have since occupied the store. For a time there
were two stores at the center. Richards & Cot-
ton kept one in the building now occupied by J.
M. Brown. It then stood on the southwest cor-
ner lot. William Porter had goods there after
Richards & Cotton, and employed a man named
Linton to sell them.

In addition to these stores William Kirk kept
goods for sale in his tavern. Joel Booth also
had a store opposite the blacksmith shop some
thirty years ago. Kirk's place of busine.ss was
the old unoccupied building now standing west
of the town-house.

T.-\VER.\S.

Probably Peter Musser, in the northern part
of the township, kept the first tavern. William
Kirk kept several years in a building now stand-
ing just east of the town-house. George Taylor
kept public house a number of years where R.
H. King now lives.

Wilson's .store.

Isaac Wilson put up a store at Belvidere in
1839, soon after he bought the mill privilege
there. His sons sold goods there for some years.
Jacob W. Glass purchased the store from them.
Morgan Reed, Langstaff, and others have ear-
ned on merchandising there in later years. For
some time the building has not been used as a
store.

PHYSICIAN'S.

Dr. James W. Hughes was the first regular
physician in the township. He settled in Berlin
in 1834, and practiced successfully until his
death in 1869. His son. Dr. W. K. Hughes,
succeeded to his practice and continues to be
the physician of the township. Other doctors
have located at the center, but they have mainly
been residents only a short time.

POST-OFFICES.

The first post-office in Berlin township was
established about 1828, Peter Musser post-
master. Amity was the name of the post-office.
Musser kept tavern on the old stage road in the
northern part of the township, very near the line.

ii8

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

He soon moved and the office was discontinued.
Frederick post-office, of which mention is made
in the history of Milton township, is now kept in
Berlin. The Berlin post-office (at the center)
was established in 1833. The mail was then
received but once a week. Joseph Edwards
was the first postmaster, succeeded by Daniel
A. Fitch, David Routsawn, Thomas L. Dutton,
Cyrus O. Warren, R. H. King, Lizzie Hughes,
A. G. Raiiisdell, and B. T. Stanley. Daily mails.

EARLY .SCHOOLS.

In another portion of this chapter will be
found a list of the inhabitants of the original
school districts of the township, interesting not
only in connection with the school history, but
valuable as showing who were the heads of fami-
lies in the township at the time this record was
made.

But schools had been maintained previous to
the organization of the township. A little log
school-house was erected on the banks of the
Turkey Broth, near the center, at a date which
was probably not far from 1824. Sarah Gee was
one of the first teachers.

Martha McKelvey and afterwards Eliza Mc-
Kelvey taught school in a deserted log-cabin in
the southwestern part of the township at an early
dale. In the northern part ot the township a
school-house was built quite early. English and
German were taught alternate weeks or alternate
terms. Alexander Hall was one of the first
teachers in this school.

THE FIRST WEDDING

at Berlin center took place at the house of Joseph
H. Coult, now the residence of Thomas Haw-
kins, on a cold and wintry night in December.
The parties wedded were William Ripley and
Miss Allen. The guests were the nearest neigh-
bors, some from Benton and some from Ells-
worth. As there was no wagon road between
l'',ilsworth and Benton, the visitors from the
latter place came on horseback, carrying torches
in their hands for the purpose of keeping wolves
at bay. The next morning it was noticed that
the wolves had followed the party some distance
and left tracks all around the house and even on
the doorste))S.

AN INCIDENT OF SLAVERY DAYS.*

Marius R. Robinson, a Presbyterian minister

•Contributed by E. P. Thorn, Ellsworth.

residing in Salem, Ohio, came to Berlin in June,
1837, having been invited to deliver a lecture on
the slavery question. He was one of the early
Abolitionists, and was about thirty-one years of
age at the time of his visit to Berlin. Here he
became the guest of Jesse Garretson, a Quaker
merchant. It being impossible to secure any
public building for a lecture he spoke in Mr.
Garretson's dwelling on Friday, June 2d.

Another meeting was announced for the fol-
lowing Sunday, when the lecturer proposed to
vindicate the Bible from the charge of supporting
slavery. The South at that time largely con-
trolled public opinion in the North and forbade
the agitation of the slavery question, therefore
the announcement of an "abolition" lecture
threw the village into a state of fierce excitement.

About ten o'clock Saturday evening Mr. Rob-
inson was sitting in the store with Mr. and Mrs.
Garretson, when several men rushed in and
seized him, saying, "You have got to leave this
town to-night ; you have disturbed the peace of
our citizens long enough." A struggle ensued,
Mr. Garretson and his wife making desperate ef-
forts to protect him, but they were overpowered;
the lecturer was taken out, stripped of his cloth-
ing and covered with tar and feathers. While
some of the men were holding him, waiting for
others to bring the tar and feathers, Mr. Robin-
son made several attempts to talk, but was pre-
vented by being struck at each effort. He was
bleeding freely from a cut or wound in the arm,
near his left shoulder. After the tar and feathers
had been applied, his clothes were put on again
and he was carried in a wagon a distance of
about eleven miles to a point about one mile
south of Canfield, and there left in the road.
Although a stranger in that locality he found his
way to the house of Mr. Wetmore, where he was
kindly cared for.

Twelve of the men who committed the outrage
were arrested and had a preliminary trial before
a justice of the peace at Ellsworth ; but while
Mr. Robinson's attorneys, Milton Sutliff and
Robert Taylor, of Warren, and Joshua R. Gid-
dings, of Ashtabula, were preparing the case for
the court of common pleas, a compromise was
effected, each of the parties charged paying Mr.
Robinson the sum of $40.

The effect of tills affair was wide spread.
Salem became known throughout the whole

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

country as a "hot-bed of abolitionism;" and it
was this incident and Mr. Robinson's subsequent
work that made it so, or contributed largely
toward that result. Mr. Robinson was an able
man and devoted the remaining years of his life
to fighting slavery as a lecturer and as editor of
the Anti-slavery Bugle, until the institution was
swept out of existence by the w-ar.

CHURCH HISTORY.

The history of the churches of Berlin is not a
record of brilliant successes. Probably the
township contains, in proportion to its popula-
tion, an average number of devout people ; but
the mistake has been made of trying to support
too many churches, and consequently we have
several failures to chronicle.

THE GERMAN CHURCH.

The Germans held meetings at the house of
Abraham Hawn for several years. In 1828
those belonging to the Lutheran and German
Reformed denominations erected a small house
for public worship, north of the center about two
miles. The building served both as a church
and a school-house. It was built of hewn logs,
and was perhaps 22x28 feet. They next erected
a frame building in 1836, with gallery, lofty
pulpit, etc. — in short, an old-fashioned Dutch
church. This house continuedto be used until
1872, when the church now standing was erected.

Prominent among the early Lutherans were
Abraham Hawn, Jonathan King, John Eckis,
John Eckis, jr., John March and Henry Houck.

Among those who were members of the Re-
formed church we mention Henry Rummel,
Jacob Greenamyer, Peter Kimmel, and Daniel
Kump.

The Lutherans and the Reformed have always
occupied the church in common. For some
years all of the preaching was in German. In
1842 occurred a great revival. The membership
of the Reformed church has been growing grad-
ually less until they no longer support a pastor,
and the meetings are now conducted wholly by
the Lutherans. The first preacher of the Lu-
therans was Rev. Henry Hewett, who supplied
the pulpit many years. Revs. John C. Ellinger,
Samuel Seachrist, J. VV. Sloan, William B.
Roller, George Moore, Peter Smith, and I. J.
Miller have been his successors. The pastors of
the Reformed congregation have been Rev. J. P.

Mahnensmith, first ; Revs. Hess, Bechtley,
Sigler, Grether, Mechtley, Otting, and others.

The Germans have the neatest and by far the
prettiest church building in the township, and
are evidently in a good condition, both finan-
cially and morally.

THE METHODISTS.

The Methodists formed a society previous to
r83o, and for some years held meetings in
school-houses and private dwellings. They com-
menced with very few members, prominent
among whom were Joseph Davis and wife, Sam-
uel Leonard and wife,' David Parshall and wife.
In about 1839 a house for public worship was
erected at the center, through the efforts of the
church people, assisted liberally by the leading
citizens of various beliefs. Early preachers were
Revs. Nicholas Gee, Stubbs, Prosser, Ingraham,
Clark, and others.

Until within the past two or three years the
society has held regular services each Sabbath.
Now services are held once in two weeks. The
church has about fifty members at present.

THE UNITED BRETHREN.

This denomination once had two churches in
the township, and now has none. Had the two
concentrated perhaps the church might have
been alive now. The motto, "United we stand,
divided we fall," applies to churches, as well as
to political parties.

About 1835, the United Brethren organized
and held meetings at the houses of Jacob Strong
and Joseph Davis, south of the center. A few
years later they built a house two miles west of
the village. Among those who preached here
were Charles Carter and Father Biddle. Promi-
nent among the first members were Jacob Strong,
Joseph Davis, and Jonathan Davis. About
1 85 1 the United Brethren and Evangelical
Association built a union church at Shelltown.
Active members: Michael Hull, John Hull,
Madison Traill, and Alexander McNutt. The
society was small and short-lived. Carter's Zion
drew away several members, and the few that
remained were not able to pay a preacher.

MOUNT CARMEL EVANGELICAL CHURCH.

This is a small society, and is known from its
location as the "Shelltown church." About the
year 1850 the church was organized under the
preaching of Rev. Bainhart. .Xmong the early

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

and prominent members are mentioned Jacob
Shellenbarger and wife, Jonathan Cline and wife,
Andrew Cline and wife, Mrs. Mock, and Cather-
ine Hull. A year or two after its organization
tht society joined the United Brethren in their
efforts to build a union church. A small house
was erected, which these two denominations,
and occasionally the Methodists, continued to
use until 1873, when the Evangelical Association
[uirchased of Jonas Barringer the house which
was built for the use of the Zion church.

.•\s the preachers of this denomination are
itinerants, they have been quite numerous.
The church comprises perhaps twenty-five mem-
bers, and has service once in two weeks.

ZION CHURCH.

Charles Carter, a dissenter from the United
Brethren, among whom he had been an elder and
a preacher for several years, began preaching in
Ashtabula in the interests of a new denomination
of which he was the author and leader, if not
the object of worship. Having succeeded in
starting a church in Ashtabula he came here and
by vigorous efforts secured enough members to
form a class, which he styled the Zion church.
Meetings were held in the house belonging to
the United Brethren un'.il an earnest protest from
the members compelled the Zionites to seek new
quarters. About 1870 a church was built —
principally through the means of Jonas Barringer.
But the disciples of Carter soon became weary
and the organization died out. The house
passed into ths possession of the Evangelical
denomination as is elsewhere mentioned. We
would be glad to tell our readers the tenets and
doctrines of the Zion church but we regard them
as past finding out, as diligent inquiry failed to
give us any light.

THE CHRISTIANS.

In 1867 the Christians, or Bible Christians, of
Berlin, organized and formed a church. There
were twelve members enrolled February 26,
1867. The number was increased to twenty-
four during that year. Elder Miles Harrod was
the organizer and became the first pastor of the
church. In 1868 a house for public worship was
erected.

The preachers in this cluircli have been:
I'^lders Harrod, Winget, Cameron, Middleton,
McCowan, and Dunlap. There are about thirty

members at present. They have no regular

services now.

:emeteries.

There are three small burying grounds in the
township. That adjoining the German church
is probably the oldest, though the graveyard near
the center was probably laid out nearly the same
time with it. In the German graveyard the
earliest recorded death that is legible is that of
Noah Boyer, died December 27, 1831. Doubt-
less interments were made much earlier, but the
all-effacing fingers oi time have already blotted
out some inscription: that were placed upon rude
headstones of sandstone.

BERLIN business DIRECTORY.

The following is believed to be a correct list of
all occupations carried on in the township, other
than tanning:

B. T. Stanley, merchant, center. J. Mock &
Soil, carriage and blacksmith shop, center. A.
VVillsdoff, tannery, center. R. H. King, hotel,
center. J. M. Brown, raloon, center. John
Lally, shoemaker, center. Blacksmiths : George
Humphrey, west; B. F. Kirkbride, southeast.
Saw-mill and grist-mill: George Schilling & Son,
northwest. Steam sawmills: David King &
Son, south; E. H. Miller & Son, northeast; Cline
Brothers, noitheast. Cooper: Samuel Jolly,
west. Planing-mill and cabinet shop: Daniel
Kimmel, east. Manufacturers of pottery : Stew-
art Christy's heirs; Andrew Dustman, Christy's

Biographical Sketches

DR. JAMES W. HUGHES.
No class of men experienced more fully the
trials incident to pioneer life than the early phy-
sicians of the Reserve. Their work required that
they should be men of vigorous body, capable
of great endurance, for such was the difficulty
of travel that none but hardy natures could bear
the constant exertions required of them. The
roads and forest paths were in a state that for-
bids description. Houses were few and far
apart, and could only be reached by traveling on
foot or on horseback. Besides, the people were
generally |)oor and some families even destitute.
There were no maikets where agricultural prod-

i

William Strong, the father of the subject of this sketch,
was born in Durham, Connecticut, and in 1806 removed with
his wife, whose maiden name was Abigail Crane, to Atwatei
township, then Trumbull county, now Portage county, Ohio.
There Alonzo was born in 1805 in Connecticut. William
Strong, his father, was a soldier in the War of i8ij, and was
seized with a fatal fever, of which he died in 1814, and he was
buried on the shore of I^ke Eric.

Mr. Strong is the only survivor of the three children, one

being a daughter named Eliza, and the other a son, Luzerne.

After the arrival of the family in Ohio he was sent back east

to attend school, and remained some two years. He then
returned to Ohio and was bound out to Joseph Hartzell for
eight years. After his term of service with Hartzell e.vpired
he learned the trade of cloth dressing but worked at it only
about si.\ months. He learned the carpenter's trade which
he followed some si.v years, but finally engaged in farming
on the place where he now lives. In 1828 he married Miss
Christina Lazarus, by whom he had six children, as follow :
Lovina, who married Elijah Whinnery, and resides in
Salem, Columbiana county; William A., who married Miss
Annie Marshall, and resides in Alliance; Levi (dead), l-'rcd-

eiick (dead). Julia, unmarried, and a child that died in
infancy. Levi was in the war of the Rebellion, enlisting in
1862, and in 1863 was taken prisoner. He was taken to
Richmond, then to Andersonville where he died. Mrs.
Christina Strong died in 1842, and in 1845 Mr. Strong was
married again, to Elizabeth Whinnery, whose parents were
early settlers in Columbiana county, removing from Pennsyl-
vania in 1804. By his second marriage he has had nine chil-
dren, as follow : Serena, wife of William Heckler, resides in
Illinois; Edward and Edwin, twins, Edward is living and

Edwin IS deceased; Lovisa, wife of .Alvin Smith, resides
in [llinois; Ashley, who married Miss Annie Malmsbery, and
resides in North Benton; Ophelia, unmarried; Leora E.,
wife of Henry Koch, lives in Columbiana county; Alonzo
C, and Wendell H. Edwin, the only deceased member of
the family, was drowned at the age of eighteen months.

Mr. Strong cultivates a large farm of two hundred and
fifty acres, and gives particular attention to the raising of
sheep. He has served one term as justice of the peace.

I

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

ucts could be exchanged for money. As a con-
sequence the physician received little hard cash
to remunerate hnn for his hard and fatiguing
labor. Their self-sacrificmg spirit cannot receive
too great a tribute of praise. These men, gen-
erally liberally educated and thoroughly skilled,
spent their lives amid the humble scenes of
pioneer settlements, administering to the sick
and afflicted, when, if they had chosen, they
could easily have gained a lucrative practice in
old settled communities, and at the same time
maintained the highest standmg in the upper
circles of society. But instead, they adopted
the life of a pioneer and labored arduously, riding
night and day in the service of others.

Dr. James W. Hughes was one of the first
settlers of Berlin. He was a native of Mont-
gomery county, Maryland, and a graduate of the
medical college of Washington, District of Co-
lumbia. In the year 1832 he came to Goshen,
where he practiced two years, after which he
came to Berlin, which was then but newly set-
tled, and entered upon the practice of his pro-
fession, which he continued until his death in
1869. In 1834 he married Miss Pau'ina S.
Brooke, who still survives. Their four children
are Wallace K., Adaline V., Elizabeth H., and
James B., all living except James B., who died
July 25, 1 88 1, at the age of thirty-five. Dr. J.
W. Hughes died of paralysis. He was long a
member of the Methodist Episcopal church,
and did much toward supporting it. He was
successful as a physician, and was a well known
practitioner throughout all surrounding town-
ships. Dr. Hughes was a man of much infor-
mation, well versed in current literature, a fre-
quent contributor to the religious and secular
press and to medical journals. As a speaker he
was gifted with more than ordinary ability. He
was deeply devoted to his profession, and
achieved in it a useful, honorable career.

During the war of the Rebellion Dr. Hughes
not only gave liberally of his means, but gave
the benefit of his medical skill gratuitously to
the families of soldiers of his acquaintance.
This is but one example of his many benevolent
acts.

Dr. Wallace K. Hughes, oldest child of Dr.
James W. Hughes, was born in Berlin township,
now Mahoning county, Ohio, July 18, 1835. He
passed his boyhood at home, and attended the

district school until of sufificient age to begin the
study of medicine under the tuition of his father.
After having pursued his studies for some time,
he attended lectures at the Cleveland Medical
college, and graduated therefrom in 1859.

.After graduating he returned home and began
practice. In the fall of 1862 he received his
first appointment as assistant surgeon, and
started to join the Thirty-eighth regiment, Ohio
volunteers, which was then at Nashville, Tenn-
essee. Owing to obstruction of the railroad
between Louisville and Nashville, he was unable
to report to his regiment, and by order of
the surgeon-general he reported to General
Wright, commanding forces at Covington, Ken-
tucky. Here he was placed on detached service,
and remained about five months, during which
time he organized an hospital, afterwards known
as the Greenup-street hospital, at the corner of
Greenup and Front streets. From this place he
was transferred to Camp Dennison. After three
months' failing health he was compelled to re-
sign, and he returned home in the spring of
1863. The 2ist of May the same spring he
married Miss Martha F. Smith. In the follow-
ing fall he received a request from the surgeon-
general desiring him, if he felt able and willing,
to return to military duty, rfaving expressed a
willingness to return, the doctor was appointed
assistant-surgeon of the Twelfth Ohio volunteer
cavalry, and entered upon his duties. After-
wards the surgeon retired, and Dr. Hughes was
promoted to that position, and filled it most ac-
ceptably until the close of the war. He was
mustered out November 25, 1865. He was
with the force that captured Salisbury prison,
and was also with the forces under General
Stoneman that followed Jefferson Davis in his
failing fortunes, from Virginia, through North and
South Carolina to Macon, Georgia, where he
was captured.

Dr. Hughes is a member of Perry lodge No.
185, Free and Accepted Masons, Salem, Ohio.
As a physician he is deservedly popular, and en-
joys an extensive practice.

Mr. and Mrs. Hughes have never been blessed
with children, but they adopted a boy, Oscar,
who died .^pril 2, 1879, aged eight years. Upon
him they bestowed the deepest affection, and his
loss was severely felt.

Mrs. Hughes was born in Berlin township, No-

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

vember 22, 1834. She is the fourth child of
Dr. and Mrs. Lavina Smith. Her father is one
of the first settlers of Berlin township, and lo-
cated on the farm now owned by David King.
Those of the family now living are: Mrs. Esther
Porter, residing in Missouri ; Mrs. Elizabeth
Beardsley, residing ni Ellsworth ; Mrs. Mary
King and Mrs. Hughes, Berlin. Her father
married for his second w-ife Abigail Meach.
Their three children are all dead.

JONATHAN KING.

Jonathan King was born in .'\rmstrong c.unty,
Pennsylvania, January 5, 1804. His father,
George King, was a native of the same State and
married Sarah Sylvis, by whom he had a family
of seven children, viz : Jonathan, the subject of
this sketch; Christina (Frankfort), deceased;
Elizabeth, deceased; Mary (McCulloch), de-
ceased ; Henry, a resident of Berhn ; Anna
(Wahl), and Phebe (Ramsdell), both of whom
are residents of Indiana.

At the age of fifteen Jonathan King was ap-
prenticed to a potter. He served a full appren-
ticeship but was dismissed without receiving the
customary "apprentice suit" of clothes.

During the following winter he went with his
uncle, John Wile, on a raft of saw-logs to Pitts-
burg to trade for flour for his mother. Failing
to get flour sufficient in exchange for the saw-
logs to last till harvest, and having no money he
returned home. But not discouraged he started
with several others with a four-horse team for the
West, stopping in Springfield township, Mahon-
mg county (then Columbiana county), Ohio,
where he engaged to work during the summer
for wheat, which was ])aid in advance, and
sent back to his mother with the persons
with whom he came. In the fall of the same
year he returned to Pennsylvania and removed
his m.other, brothers, and sisters to Springfield
township, Ohio.

In 1825 he was married to Lydia Peck, and
in April, 1826, removed to Berlin township, Ma-
honing county (then Trumbull), Ohio, where he
had purchased a farm the fall previous.

He settled upon his farm and devoted himself
with diligence to the work of building up a
home. His busy days and years oi toil bore

fruit, and now in his old age (seventy-nine years)
he can review his well spent life with the satis-
factory reflection that none of his time has been
wasted.

By strict integrity and economy Mr. King
acquired considerable property, though he start-
ed with nothing but nature's endowments.

Before the days of railroads he was a noted
teamster and made frequent trips from Pittsburg
to Cleveland, and from Cleveland to the mouth
of Huron river, usually driving six horses. At
one time he made a trip from Pittsburg to Erie,
Pennsylvania, for which he received $75. But
such was the condition of the roads at that time
that the entire amount except $2.60 was required
to pay the necessary expenses of the journey.
The life of a teamster in those days was one of
hardships, and none but the most vigorous could
long endure it..

In 1842 Mr. King was elected a captain of
militia and held the office until the company
disbanded.

He was the father of ten children, four of
whom died in infancy and youth. The remaining
six^are as follow: David, who married Miss
Mary Smith, and resides in Berlin; Catharine,
married to George Kail, moved to Michigan,
where she died ; Joseph, married to Miss Lu-
cinda Greenamyer, and resides in Berlin on the
farm upon which his father first settled; Susan-
nah, married to J. B. Shively, and resides in
Berlin ; Sarah, married to R. B. Engle, and re-
sides in Salem, Ohio ; Hannah, married to J. B.
Hughes (who served two terms as auditor of
Mahohing county, and is now deceased), and 1
resides in Youngstown. 1

Mrs. King was born August 13, 1806, in Le-
high county, Pennsylvania, and moved with her
parents to Springfield township, Mahoning coun-
ty, Ohio, in 1808. She died February 22, 1875.

In religion, Mr. King was a firm adherent to
the Protestant faith, and of deep conviction,
zealous in good works and liberal in his contri-
butions to the cause of Christ. He and his wife
have both been lifelong members of the Evan-
gelical Lutheran church. Politically he stood
with the Democratic party, voting for General
Jackson at the lime of his second election, until
the abolitionist Hale came before the people for
their suffrages, when he voted for him. .After
the organization of the Republican [)arty he

.^^^^/^<^

ci-4<i-<^'^'^

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

'-'3

voted with it until 1881, when his strong temper-
ance principles compelled him to cast his ballot
for the Prohibition candidate.

Mr. King is one of the most social and agree-
able of men. His cheerful disposition and his
sterling worth make hirn a favorite among the
old and young.

The King family possess considerable native
ingenuity and skill in the use of tools. Jonathan
King is quite proficient in blacksmithing, car-
|ientry, etc. His grandson, W. H. King, son of
Joseph King, of this township, is the inventor
of the King wind-mill, now so widely used
throughout the Western Reserve. The manu-
facturers of threshing machines are indebted to
David King for many suggestions and improve-
ments in grain separators and clover huUers.
David King began threshing when seventeen
years old, and still follows the business. Joseph
King has also been the proprietor of a threshing
machine for a number of years, running one now
with a steamer.

David, and his son, Mervin \V., are the pro-
prietors of a steam saw-mill, which is doing an
extensive business. David also owns a half in-
terest in the planing-mill, in the eastern part of
the township, known as the Kimmel & King
mill, which is also doing an extensive business

Honesty and sobriety characterize the entire
family.

ALONZO STRONG.

William A. Strong, the father of the subject of
this sketch, was born in Durham, Connecticut,
and in 1804 removed with his wife, whose maiden
name was Abigail Crane, to Atwater township, then
Trumbull, now Portage county, Ohio. There
Alonzo was born the following year, in 1805.
William Strong, his father, was a soldier in the
War of 18 1 2, and was seized with a fatal fever, of
which he died in 18 14, and he was buried on
the shore of Lake Erie.

Mr. Strong is the only survivor of three chil-
dien, the others being daughters, named Eliza
and Lucerne. After the arrival of the family in
Ohio, he was sent back east to attend school,
and remained some three years. He then
returned to Ohio, and was bound out to Joseph
Hartzell for eight years. After his term of ser-
vice with Hartzell had expired, he learned the

trade of cloth dressing, but worked at it only
about six months. He learned the carpenter's
trade, which he followed some six years, but
finally engaged in farming on the place where he
now lives. In 1829 he married Miss Christina
Lazarus, by whom he had six children, as
follows : Lavinia, who married Elijah Whinnery,
and resides in Salem, Columbiana county ; Wil-
liam A., who married Miss Annie Marshall, and
resides in Alliance ; Levi, dead ; Frederick,
dead ; Julia, unmarried, and a child that died in
infancy. Levi was in the war of the Rebellion,
enlisting in 1862, and in 1863 was taken
prisoner. He was taken to Richmond, then to
Andersonville, where he died. Mrs. Christina
Strong died in 1842, and in 1845 ^^- Strong
was married again to Elizabeth Whinney (or
Whinnery), whose parents were early settlers in
Columbiana county, removing from Pennsylva-
nia in 1804. By his second marriage he has
had nine children, as follows : Serena (or
Lorena), wife of William Hicker, resides in
Illinois ; Edward and Edwin, twins — Edward is
living and Edwin is deceased; Lovisa, wife of
Alvin Smith, resides in Illinois ; Ashley, who
married Miss Annie Malmsby, and resides in
North Benton ; Ophelia, unmarried ; Leora E.,
wife of Henry Koch, resides in Columbiana
county; Alonzo C, and Wendell P. Edwin, the
only deceased member of the family, was
drowned at the age of eighteen months.

Mr. Strong cultivates a large farm of two hun-
dred and fifty acres, and gives particular atten-
tion to the raising of sheep. He has served one
term as justice of the peace.

GEORGE CARSON.
George Carson was born in Dauphin county,
Pennsylvania, August 19, 1812. His parents
were John and Catherine (Wentz) Carson, who
removed to Trumbull county, Ohio, in 1832,
and first settled on the furm now owned and oc-
cupied by James Weasner, in Berlin township.
After residing there a number of years he moved
to Milton, where he died at the age of seventy-
four years. Mrs. Carson survived her husband
a couple of years. They raised a family of seven
sons and five daughters, named as follow:
Sarah (dead), John, in Berlin; George in Berlin;

124

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

Sophia (Hiser), in Michigan; Jacob, in Portage
county; Harriet, dead; William, in the West;
Samuel, in Michigan ; Robert, in Milton ; David,
in Michigan; Susan (Vaughn), in Ashtabula
county.

George Carson was brought up on the farm.
He was married in 1835 to Miss Catharine
Gross, daughter of John and Christina Gross,
who was born in York county, Pennsylvania,
July 17, 1818. After his marriage he settled
near Schilling's mills, in Berlin, where he resided
until his removal to a farm at Berlin center,
some eighteen years ago. The same fall he was
elected justice of the peace and has held that
office continuously since with the exception of
only a few months. Mr. Carson, besides his
farm at the center of Berlin, still owns a part of
the farm on which he originally settled, near
Schilling's mills.

Mr. and Mrs. Carson have had eleven chil-
dren, one dying young. The others are as fol-
low : Cathairine married Cornelius Mott and
lives in Portage county; Harriet married John
Cessna and lives in Weathersfield township;
Uriah married Mary Jones and lives in Lords-
town ; David has been married twice and lives in
Deerfield, Portage county; Emily married Law-
rence Shively, in Berlin; Minerva married
Frank Keiser, both deceased; Ella married Jere-
miah Shively, and lives in Berlin; Elmer mar-
ried Addie Newton, and lives at Berlin center;
William F., single, of Deerfield center. Portage
county, is fitting himself for the medical profes-
sion ; Clara married Amos Hoyle, and lives in
Berlin. Uriah volunteered at the first call for
troops in 1861, going out with the Nineteenth
Ohio volunteer infantry and served three years.
He was also out in the one hundred days' service
as member of the One Hundred and Fifty-fifth
Ohio National guard. David was also out in
the same regiment.

Mr. Carson has always been an intelligent and
industrious farmer and has prospered in his busi-
ness. He and his wife are members of the
Christian church.

HORACE ROWLAND
was born in Litchfield, Connecticut, February
18, 1805. He is the elder of two sons of David
and .Anna (Taylor) Rowland, the other son being

Orrin. Mr. Rowland came to Berlin township
in 183 1, and located on the farm now owned by
John Cronick, where he resided for twenty-five
years. He then removed to the farm where he
now is. He mariied, December 15, 1829, Miss
Fidelia Caldwell, who was the youngest child of
James and Esther (Pierce) Caldwell, who were
born respectively March 20, 1760, and October
II, 1766. Their family consisted of the follow-
ing children, viz: Betsey, born March 10, 1790;
James, March 14, 1791 ; Margaret, June 9,
1792; Beulah, September 18, 1793; Samuel \V.,
December 27, 1794; Oby, March 12, 1796;
Milo, April 20, 1802 ; Lovina, November 29,
1804; and Fidelia, October 11, 1807 — all now
dead except Mrs. Rowland. Mr. Caldwell was
a native of Scotland, and he and his wife were
members of the Episcopal church. Mr. Rowland
has accumulated a goodly share of this world's
goods through his industry and economy, and is
now living in comfort and independence. Mr.
and Mrs. Rowland have no children. They are
worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal
church, their connection with the church extend-
ing over a period of about thirty years.

Rev. I. J. Miller was born in Springfield town-
shij), Mahoning county, February 22, 1850.
He is the son of George and Elizabeth (Wilhelm)
Miller and grandson of Henry Miller, who with
his father moved into the woods in the west central
part of Springfield when but a boy, about the year
1800. His early days were spent on the farm and
in the district school. At the age of eighteen he
began school-teaching, teaching during the win-
ter and prosecuting his studies during the
spring and fall at Poland Union seminary.
Subsequently he took a regular course of theol-
ogy in the Theological seminary in connection
with Wittenberg college, Springfield, Ohio. He
was licensed to preach the gospel by the East
Ohio synod of the Evangelical Lutheran church
at Canton, Ohio, October 18, 1875, ^"d ordained
to the gospel ministry by the same synod at
Ashland, Ohio, September 11, 1S76. .August i,
1876, he took charge of the Berlin pastorate,
consisting of two congregations — one situated in
Berlin township, the other in Lordstown, Trum-
bull county — of which he still continues to be the
pastor (January 26, 1882). He has two brothers,

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I

I

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

125

viz: Eli and A. C, both of whom are graduates
of Wittenberg college and seminary, and are
regularly ordained ministers of the Lutheran
church. Also six sisters, three of whom are
married to ministers of the same church, viz:
J. F. Sponseller, Elias Minter, and W. M. Smith.
He was married to Miss Louisa Spait, of Beaver
township, and has two children, viz: Clarke E.
and Cora A., aged respectively eight and six
years.

Hezekiah Parshall, farmer, Berlin township,
Mahoning county, was born in Springfield town-
ship, Columbiana county, now Mahoning, in the
year 181 2. His father, James Parshall, was a
native of Orange county. New York, and came
to Ohio in 181 2 and settled in Milton township.
His wife was Margaret Bacht, who bore him
fourteen children. Mr. Parshall was one of the
pioneers of that part of the county. He was a
man of industry and reared a large family. They
both died many years ago and are buried in Mil-
ton. Hezekiah Parshall was married, in 1839,
to Miss Maria Shaffer, and has had a family of
seven children, as follow: Mary, Susanna, Mar-
tha, Sophina, Solomon, Lewis, and James, all of
whom are living but Sophina, who died at the
age of five years. Mr. and Mrs. Parshall are
members of the Lutheran church of Berlin.

John Eckis, the first of the family who came
to Ohio, was born in Maryland in 1774, and
about 1800 settled in Springfield township, then
Columbiana county, now Mahoning. He settled
in the woods, being among the first of the
pioneers, built him a log-cabin, and there lived
for upwards of twenty-five years, when he re-
moved to Milton and purchased the place now
owned and occupied by his son George. His
wife was Catharine Lind, by whom he had the
following children: Nicholas, John, Jacob,
George, Daniel, Mary, Joseph, Susan, Catharine,
Hannah, and Samuel. Joseph, Susan, Cather-
ine, and Hannah are deceased. Mr. Eckis died
ill 1861, at the advanced age of eighty-seven.
George Eckis, the fourth child of John and
Catharine, was born in 1806 in Springfield town-
ship, now Mahoning county. At the age of
twenty-six he was married to Miss Elizabeth
Kale, and has had six children, viz : Tobias,
Joshua, Eliza, Frederick, Mary, and George, all
living but Eliza, who died at the age of thirty-
eight. Mr. Eckis is a farmc by occupation, but

is able to work but little on account of his age.
He and his wife are members of the Lutheran
church. Tobias Eckis, the eldest son of George
and Elizabeth, was born in Milton township, now
Mahoning county, in 1833. He lived at home
with his parents until he was thirty-four
years of age when he married Miss Sarah
Forder, by whom he has two children, George
and Charles; another died in infancy. Mr.
Eckis lived in Milton some three years after his
marriage, when he bought the place where he
now resides in Berlin township. He and his
wife are members of the Lutheran church.

Robert Kirkbride was born in Bucks county,
Pennsylvania, in the year 1800. He married, in
the year 1824, Miss Sarah Shaw, and in 1832
removed to Ohio and settled upon the farm now
owned and occupied by his widow in Berlin
township, Mahoning county. There he resided
until his death, and raised his family, consisting
of nine children, two of whom are now deceased.
Three died in infancy. The names of those
who grew up are as follows: Nancy, Ferdinand,
Mary, Benjamin F., Watson, James, Joseph,
Asher, and Mahlon, all living but Mary and
Asher. The latter enlisted in the One Hundred
and Fifth Ohio volunteer infantry in 1862, and
served until 1864, when he was mortally wound-
ed at the battle ot Lookout Mountain, and died
in a few hours. The mother is still living, at the
age of seventy-six.

Benjamin F. Kirkbride, the fourth child of
the subject of the preceding sketch, was born in
Penns)lvania in 1831. In 1853 he married Miss
Lucinda Hoadley, who died in 1877. By this
marriage there were no children. In 1878 Mr.
Kirkbride was married to Miss Ellen Dickson, by
whom he has had one child — Mabel. He fol-
lowed farming until he attained his majority,
when he went to blacksmithing, at which he still
continues. Mr. and Mrs. Kirkbride are mem-
bers of the Presbyterian church.

Houston Porter was born in 1822, and in 1847
was married to Esther Smith, who was a native
of Connecticut, but came to Berlin township at
an early date. The parents of Mr. Porter were
among the early pioneers. He lived for fourteen
years on the old homestead, and then bought
the farm now owned and occupied by T. Camp-
bell, where he lived sixteen years, and then re-
moved to Missouri, w^here he now resides. He

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

is tlie father of fourteen children, namely: Lovi-
na C, Cecil S., Augusta A., Theda E. and The-
ron W. (twins), Wilbur O., Leroy W., Almedus,
Ella S., Birdie P., Ida L., Effie M., George W.
B., and Ulysses S. G. Theron W., Ida L., and
Almedus are deceased. Lovina C, the eldest
child, who was born in Ellsworth in 1848, be-
came the wife, in 1876, of Elias Beckman, of
Sweden. Mr. Beckman came to America in
1869, and first went to Illinois, where he re-
mained two years. He then came to Ohio. He
is now engaged in the tailoring business at Ber-
lin center. Mr. and Mrs. Beckman have three
children, Martha F., Cora L., and Arthur Gar-
field.

Eli Myers, the youngest child of Daniel and
Anna Myers, was born on the farm where he
now lives in Berlin township, Mahoning county,
in 1837. His father, Daniel Myers, was a native
of Pennsylvania, and came to Ohio with his
parents in 1802, and settled in Springfield town-
ship, the county then being a dense wilderness.
He afterwards moved to Berlin township, where
he also settled in the woods, on the farm now
occupied by his son Eli. He was married at
the age of twenty-five to Anna Mary Rummel,
and had a family of nine children, as follows :
Christina, Susanna, Elizabeth, Margaret, Lucin-
da, Henry, John, Peter, and Eli. They are
all living with the exception of Susanna and
Lucinda. Mr. Myers was a hard-working
and prosperous farmer, and lived to the
good old age of eighty-two years. Mr.
Eli Myers was married to Miss Barbara E.
Reichards in 1859, and has eight children, as
follows: John, Emery J., Henry, Clark, Elina,
Serena, Martha J., and Anna Mary, all of whom
survive. Mr. Myers has always followed farm-
ing, and is now (1881) serving his first term as
justice of the peace. He and his wife are mem-
bers of the Lutheran church.

Henry King was born in Armstrong county,
Pennsylvania, in 181 1. He came to Ohio in
1823 and settled in Springfield township, where
he resided some four years. He was then de-
prived by death of his mother, whose loss was a
severe blow to the family. He was then em-
ployed for three years by a man by the name of
John Cams, and afterward learned the cabinet
trade, at which he worked until lie was twenty-
one years of age. He then went to iMemont,

Ohio, and worked at the carpenter and joiner
trade. An epidemic breaking out there he re-
turned to Berlin and settled on the farm on
which he now lives. He was married in 1836
to Miss Julia Ann Shrontz and has had seven
children, viz: Royal, Wesley, Emeline, Isaac,
'Zephaniah, Margaret, and Lucy, all livmg but
Isaac and Zephaniah. At the time of Mr. King's
settlement there was only a small clearing on the
place. He built him a log cabin and in connec-
tion with farming worked at the joiner trade, which
he followed for about thirty years, when he was
compelled by reason of his age to lead a less
active life. He lived for three years in Deerfield,
and while there, in 1873, his companion departed
this life. She was a devoted wife and mother.
Mr. King is one of the oldest and best known
citizens of this township. He is a member of
the Methodist Ediscopal church and a worthy
citizen.

Adna B. Silver was born in New Jersey in
1800; mairied in 1821 to Miss Lydia Allen, and
had a family of five children, viz: Sarah, Joseph,
Elizabeth, Allen, and Mary, all of whom are liv-
ing e.xcept the son Joseph. Mr. Silver came to
Ohio in 1827 and settled in Berlin township,
Mahoning county, on the farm now owned and
occupied by his daughter Mary Linton. He
erected his log cabin in the wcods, as the coun-
try was yet new. He was the pioneer black-
smith in that region, and made most of the im-
plements which his neighbors used in clearing
their farms. His wife died in December, 1868.

CHAPTER VL

AUSTINTOWN.

PHYSICAL FEATURES.

Austintown is township two of range three of
the Connecticut Western Reserve. It is bounded
on the north by Weathersfield, Trumbull county,
on the east by Youngstown, on the south by
Canfield, and on the west by Jackson. The
surface is quite level, excepting along the
streams. The soil is similar to that in other
jiarts of llie county, is easily tilled, and produces
good crops. Portions of it are stony, but there

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

127

is a large number of excellent farms with good
timber and pasture land. The Meander and
several small creeks flowing into it drain the
western half of the township. The eastern half
has four small streams, the largest of which is
known as Four-mile run, flowing towards the
Mahoning. Four-mile run rises southeast of
Austintown center and flows north and north-
easterly until it leaves the township near the
corner. Meander creek winds along the western
border of the township, a part of its course
being in Jackson, and enters Weathersfield town-
ship not far from the northwestern corner of
Austintown.

The villages of the township are Austintown,
West Austintown, and a part of Mineral Ridge.

ANCIENT WORKS.

On the tarm of J. H. Fitch, near the village,
was pointed out to the writer a spot which the
early settlers believed to have been an Indian
burying-ground. It is a space about three rods
square, and at the time of its discovery by the
whites, was loosely covered to the depth of sev-
eral inches with small stones, which looked as
though they had been thrown upon it. When
these had been removed, beneath them were
found stones closely packed together, the most
of them being flattish in shape and set up edge-
wise. These stones vary m size, some being
no larger than a man's fist, while others are as
large as a man's head. They are so closely im-
bedded that it is a difficult task to remove them.
Much of this curious structure yet remains un-
disturbed and is believed to extend downward a
depth of several feet. Why they were placed
there and what they conceal still remains a mys-
tery. On the trees which stood near the spot
were noticed marks made as if by a hatchet,
showing that the prehistoric people had a path
to the place, marked, as were the white man's
first roads, by blazed trees.

On the farm of Abraham Strock, west of the
l)lace above described, there is a work of similar
nature, and likewise one on the Weaver farm, near
West Austintown. The two last mentioned are
somewhat smaller than that on the Fitch place.
Some enterprising archaeologist might find here
material worthy of his investigation. These
mounds or graveyards are all three situated near
the Limestone run and were the densest part of
the forest.

The early settlers say that the Indians had a
lead mine somewhere on the Meander, from
which they obtained large supplies of ore for the
manufacture of bullets. They kept the spot a
secret, however, and diligent search has failed to
reveal it to the white man.

TlMUER.

The township was originally covered with a
dense growth of timber. From the Meander to
the center or the Salt spring tract, there was a
magnificent growth of white oak. On the low
lands were maples, and in various parts of the
township, chestnut, beech, hickory, ash, cucum-
ber wood, poplar, etc.

EARLY RECORDS.

The first records of the township have all been
lost or destroyed. Only those of recent date are
now in possession of the township clerk, there-
fore the first officers' names cannot be given.

Among the first justices of the peace were
James Russell, John Carlton, and William Trues-
dale. The township was- named after Judge
Austin, of Warren, who was its land agent.

SETTLEMENT.

From the fact that many of the first settlers
located here for only a short time, and then
moved away, and owing to the meagre sources
of information, the following account is not as
complete as we should have made it, could we
have found anybody at all well versed in the
township's early history.

John McCoUum bought the first land in the
township in 1798 and erected a cabin upon it
the same year. This cabin was on the farm now
owned by his son Harvey, and was situated
about one-half mile west of the township line,
between Austintown and Youngstown. Here he
moved his family in 1800. John McCollum was
born in New Jersey, December 25, 1770. He
married Jane (Hamson) Ayers, June 10, 1798.
She was born in New Jersey, September 27,
1767, and married Robert Hamson, by whom
she had five children : Elizabeth, Rachel,
Michael, Jane, and Susan. By Mr. McCollum
she had eight children: David and Mary (twins),
Robert, John, Daniel, Anna, Ira, and Harvey.
Mrs. McCollum was a woman of industry and
economy, and largely assisted in paying for the
farm by taking weaving to do. In the midst of
an almost impenetrable wilderness, whose silence

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

was unbroken save by the howling of wolves and
the wild cries of bears, this worthy couple lived
and completed their self-appointed task of se-
curing a home for themselves and their children.
John McCollum died April 7, 1849, a short
time after his wife, who died March 19, 1849.
Mr. McCollum was in the War of 1812 for a
short time, under Colonel Rayen. He was for
many years a Baptist, afterwards joining the
Disciples. He was a life-long Democrat in
politics.

^Vendall Grove, from Pennsylvania, settled
where his son, John Grove, now resides, in 1801.

Jacob Parkus settled on the farm of Jacob
Leach at an early day. He sold out to Benja-
min Leach, who spent his life in the township.
John and Abraham Leach, brothers of Benjamin,
also settled in the eastern part of the township,
and remained several years.

James Russell was an early settler on land
now owned by the widow Arms. After he left
the place Jacob Miller, then Theophilus Cotton,
owned the farm. Russell was a captain of
militia in early times.

John Carlton settled on land now owned by
the Webbs. He moved to Lordstown, thence to
Brookfield.

The Webb family came to the township in
1 819.

Edward Jones was an early settler on Four-
mile run, who lived and died in the township.
He brought up a large family. His son
Seymour lived upon the old place until his
death, some three years ago. Caleb Jones, a
brother of Edward, was an early settler in the
same neighborhood.

John Lane was an early settler on a farm
part of which is now owned by Thomas James.
He located in the woods, lived and died here.
Henry, one of his sons, lived on the old place
after him ; moved to Missouri, and is now dead.

David Dillon was an early settler on the farm
now owned by Jojiathan Edwards, of Youngs-
town. He was the first captain of militia in this
township. He sold out and moved west in this
State, where he died. William, Aaron, Asa,
Jonathan, Jesse, Cyrus, and Eh were his sons.
Several of them are yet living in different parts
of Ohio.

Robert Russell, in 1806, settled on Stony
ridge, in the southwestern part of the townshij).

His parents came with him. After locating
here, Robert was married to Miss Hamson.
James, who resides in Jackson township ; John,
on the old place ; Hamson, and Samuel, who
died a few years ago, were his sons.

John Duncan was an early settler on the
Hammon farm, in the southeastern part of the
township. He sold to Gaily.

Among the earliest settlers were George Gil-
bert and family, who took up a farm adjoining
the Russell farm on the east. There was a large
family. George, the oldest son, settled in the
western part of the township ; his brother Jacob
lived upon the old place. Both are now dead.
Others of the family settled in different parts of
the county.

Henry Ohl located where D. Lawrence now
resides, in 1803. The sons and daughters are
now all dead, excepting, perhaps, one daughter.
Several members of the family resided for some
time in the township and vicinity. Henry, one
of the sons, lived on a farm near the old place
some years, and died in Canfield. David and
Michael were drafted for the War of 181 2, but
got only as far as Youngstown when they were
returned. Henry Ohl, Sr., was a blacksmith,
and had a shop on the farm. He was possessed
of a good property, and was considered a shrewd,
careful business man. Michael, David, Jacob,
John, Abraham, Henry, and Jonathan were liis
sons, and Eve, Mary, and Polly the daughters.
When the family came to the township the road
had just been " slashed out," and they were
obliged to clamber over the fallen logs to reach
their home. In very early times the women
were sitting one day on the porch of their two-
story log house, when their little dog came out
from under the porch, barking fiercely. On in-
vestigating to learn the cause of his excitement,
they discovered a monster rattlesnake upon the
stone steps. Eve, a female gifted with a differ-
ent spirit from the first lady by that name, pro-
cured a stick, killed the serpent, and hung its
body upon the gate. The reptile w-as so long
that it touched the ground on both sides of the
gate.

James J. Russell, from Pennsylvania, came
about 1806. He died in 1870. He was a sol-
dier of 1 81 2. He was thefather of ten children,
six sons and four daughters, seven of whom are
yet living, only two of them in this township, viz:

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I

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

[29

Mrs. Jane Moore and Mrs. Davis Randolph.

John Truesdale was an early settler about
one-half mile southwest of the center. He
brought up a large family, none of whom are
now living. His sons, John, James, and Wil-
liam, all married, lived, and died in the township
upon the old farm.

Robert Fullerton settled on the southwest
corner lot of the center, cleared up a farm and
brought up a large family. His oldest son,
Andrew, lived for a time in Austintown, then
moved to Pennsylvania. The two next in age,
Samuel and Joseph, sold their interest in the
property to their youngest brother, Robert, who
owned the whole farm a number of years. He
died in Girard. None of the original family are
now living.

William Wick, an early settler m the eastern
part, had the first bearing orchard in Austin-
town.

Anthony and Henry Weatherstay were early
settlers near the Four-mile run. Their sons and
daughters are all now either dead or moved
away.

Jacob Wise was an early settler in the same
neighborhood. His sons, John and Jacob, still
live in the township.

Jacob Harding, son of John Harding, an early
inhabitant of Canfield, located on the place now
owned by his son John, in 1808. The farm had
been somewhat improved and cleared previously
by a family of negroes by the name of Sisco.
Jacob Harding had one son and four daughters.
The son and three of the daughters are stfll liv-
ing.

Archibald Ewing settled on the farm now oc-
cupied by his son John at about the same date.
His children were Ale.xander, Thomas, William,
John, Archibald, and Anna. Archibald lived
and died in the township. Alexander and
Thomas moved to Columbiana county, and Wil-
liam to Pittsburg.

The Cotton family were among the first set-
tlers. Joshua, a captain of militia, lived and
died in the township. Theophilus settled on
part of the old farm, resided there several years,
then moved north. John took a part of the old
farm, sold out and moved away.

James Henry lived and died upon a farm
about one-half mile south of the center, and
brought u]5 five or six children. One of the
■7*

daughters, Mrs. Mary Grove, still resides in the
township.

Frederick Moherman in 1803 settled in the
eastern part of the township. His sons, Daniel
and Winchester, still reside in the township, and
are reckoned among its prosperous farmers.
Three sons also reside in Jackson.

Thomas Reed settled on the road running
south from the center quite early. His widow is
still living upon the old farm with her son
Stephen. Amos also lives on the same road.

Henry Strack settled in the south part of the
township; lived and died upon the farm now
owned by Henry Crum, second. His sons were
Henry, Samuel, John, William, Joseph, and
Jacob. Several of his descendants now reside
in the township.

Jacob Harrofif settled in Canfield, then moved
to this township. By his first marriage the chil-
dren were John and Elizabeth, both of whom
died in Portage county. By his second marriage
the sons were Jacob, Andrew, William, and
Lewis, all of whom lived and died in Austin-
town. Susan, Leah,' and Rachel were the three
daughters.

Henry Crum was an early settler at Smith's
corners.

Abraham Wolfcale and his sons, John and
Abraham, were quite early settlers on the road
east of the center.

Henry Brunstetter was an early settler in the
southeast of the township.

George Fulk settled north of the center road
in the western part of the township. The family
scattered and died.

The Harshmans were also early settlers. Jacob,
David, and Matthias resided in the townshi]5 sev-
eral years.

John Jordan, a native of Ireland, came to the
township in 1813. Previous to his coming here
he had resided a few years in Poland township.
His farm was the one adjoining on the west that
now owned by his son, J. S. Jordan. His family
consisted of five sons and five daughters. Two
of the sons are yet living — James Jordan, in
Crawford county, Pennsylvania, and J. S. Jor-
dan. The father died in. 1824, and the mother
some years after. Abraham and James lived
upon the old farm some years.

The Whitman tract, a part of the Salt springs
tract, contained eight hundred acres, and be-

'30

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

longed to the Whitman heirs in Connecticut.
Samuel \\'hitman cleared up a part of it, and
settled at the center. Until about forty-five
years ago no other clearing had been made upon
the land.

In 1812 Frederick Shively settled upon the
place where his son George, one of the oldest
residents of the township, is now living.

The first white child born in Austintown town-
ship was John McCollum, son of the first set-
tler. The date of his birth was 1803. He set-
tled in Milton township, where he died in the
fall of 1 88 1.

E.\RLY L).\YS.

Every cabin was a factory where clothing was
manufactured. Busy hands kept the spinning-
wheel and loom buzzing and slamming early and
late. The number of mouths to feed and bodies
to clothe was large in almost every household.
Shoes were used sparingly, for new pairs might
not be forthcoming when the old were gone.
Often the girls and women could be seen walk-
ing to church barefooted, carrying shoes and
stockings, which they put on when near the
house. Tow and linen, buckskin, and smiilar
goods, " home made," were the clothing worn by
males of all ages. The girls' best dresses were
frequently spun and woven by the wearer. An
old resident remarks that the young ladies
were just as pretty in those days as now ; but
could one of our fashionably dressed belles have
stepped among them, some might have gone wild
with envy and excitement.

Bears and wolves abounded, and it required
the utmost vigilance to protect stock from them.
Sheep, esjiecially, often fell a prey to their rav-
ages. At night the howling of the wolves could
be heard in all directions. Deer were often shot,
and furnished the early settlers an amount of
meat of no small im[)ortance.

THE FIRST CHURCH

was a small log building, built by the Presbyte-
rians on the Webb farm in the northern part of
the township. It must have been built nearly
seventy years ago Later they erected a small
frame church mentioned elsewhere.

THE FIRST SCHOOLS.

Of these little can be learned. They were
usually kept in some log-cabin, which the thrifty
old settler had abandoned fcjr a inore comfort-

able home. The children of those days had
smalt advantages for gaining an education. As
the schools were all conducted on the tuition
plan, only those parents who were able to pay
could send their children.

One of the first school-houses was situated
near the spot where the Disciple church now
stands. It was made of hewed logs, and con-
tained a huge stone chimney. Asa Dillon and
Ellas Wick taught there years ago. Few of their
pupils are now living.

A school was taught in a log-cabin on the
Shively farm at an early date. Mr. John Grove,
born in 1813, says that John FuUerton was the
first teacher he remembers.

The spelling-book and the Bible were the
principal text-books used. School-boy nature
was then much the same as now, but mischief was
not so openly carried on, for the rod was used
unsparingly.

In 18 1 2 there were several schools taught in
log-cabins in various parts of the township.
Isaac Alley was an early teacher in a cabin on
the farm of Jacob Park us.

T-iVXES LONG .AGO.

\Ve give below a list of the tax-payers of Aus-
tintown in 1803, and the amount of their taxes
for that year. The whole amount ($9.22) could
not have been enough to pay the expenses of
assessing and collecting, unless, as was probably
the case, county olificers were content with a less
salary than those of the present day.

.■\USTINTUVVN. RANGE THRK.E, TOWN TWO.

Bayard. Willian
Bayard, Benjam
Britlon, Nathan
Duncan, John..

Ewi:

lohn

Ewing, Archibald
Grove, Wendell . .
Guy, Matthew . . ,
Hayes, William,

Samuel Ferguson....
Kirkpatrick, Robert..

Moore. Samuel

McAllister, Alexander

Morgan, Thomas....

Total

15 McCollum, John

25 Musgrove, John

20 Moherman, Frederick.

52 Packard, Thomas. .. .

60 Packard, Daniel

32 Roberts, Gilbert

40 Sanford, George

40 Sisco, James

Sisco, Benjamin

60 Sisco, William

32 Teinplelon, William . .

16 Walker, Nathaniel, ..
40 Withington, William.

I

CHURCH HISTORY.

The inhabitants of Austintown have always
held various religious beliefs. On account of
death and removals the membership of the dif-

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

ferent churches is now quite small. There are,
however, many earnest and sincere Christians in
the township who have labored long and bravely
to keep alive the religious interests.

THE DISCIPLES.

Elder Bently, of Warren, Walter Scott, of
Pittsburg, and William Hayden, of this town-
ship, started what was known as the reformation,
which resulted in the building of this church.
The Disciples organized in 1828, and soon after-
wards erected a church building in the north-
eastern part of the township on Four-mile run,
which was used until the present house was built,
in i860 or 1861. John Henry and William Hay-
den were the first elders. Ira McCuUom, Mrs.
Jane Henry, the Hayden family, John Lane, and
several of the Lantermans, Dillons, Lanes, and
others were among the earliest members. Wil-
liam Hayden and John Henry were among the
first preachers. Alexander Campbell often
preached in the church. The Disciples have
now about one hundred and twenty members,
and hold services regularly.

THE BAPTISTS

were formerly quiie numerous in this part of the
township. They had an organization and held
meetings in the Osborn school-house in Youngs-
town, also in a log church situated at the four
corners between Austintown, Canfield, Board-
man, and Youngstown townships. Many of
them became members of the Disciples, and
soon after the latter denomination built their
church they disbanded.

THE PRESBVTERI.^NS

also had an organization and a church quite
early. It was known as the Rehoboth Presby-
terian chuich. They built a house one mile
north of the center, which was afterwards moved
to Ohitown on the north line of the township,
where it remained until recently.

THE COVENANTERS,

or Reformed Presbyterians, built a house at
Austintown center in 1844. The building was
erected by the combined subscriptions of citi-
zens of all denominations, with the agreement
that it was to be used by any denomination
when the Covenanters did not want it for their
meetings. Among the principal subscribers
were James Jordan, Abraham Jordan, Scott Jor-

dan, Caldwell and William Porter. James Trues-
dale and John Truesdale were both elders and
prominent members. The first regular preacher
was Rev. McCrackoran. Since his time the
preaching has been by various ministers sent by
the presbytery. Formerly the church was quite
large, there being about one hundred members
shortly after the house was built.

EVANGELICAL.

The Evangelical church. West Austintown,
was organized about 1841, and the house erected
about 1853. The first meeting was held in Jacob
Harroff's barn. The first prayer-meeting was at
the house of Mrs. Catharine Gilbert. Meetings
were held in private houses, barns, school-houses,
groves, etc., for some time. Among the early
members were Valentine Boley, Christina Gil-
bert, George Ohl, Conrad Lodwick, George
Shaffer, Mary Kisner, and Betsey Ripple.

The first preacher was Rev. Joseph Long.
Revs. Staley, Stofer, and Swartz were also early
preachers in this church.

The society is small at present, as the most of
the old members have died and their places have
not been refilled.

THE UNITED BRETHREN,

West Austintown. A class was formed about
1859, comprising about ten members, among
them being Sylvanus Pennell and wife, Leah
Shaffer, Ira Wilcox and wife, Matthias McMahan
and wife, and others. The first pastor was Rev.
J. Knight. Other pastors — J. K. Sweihart, H.
F. Day, David Kosht, and others. First pre-
siding elder, Eli Schlutz. The house was built
in 1863. The church now has about forty-five
members, and maintains regular service.

THE EVANGELICAL EBENE2ER CHURCH,

at Smith's corners, was organized in 1861, and
the house of worship erected in 1861-62. John
Gilbert, Henry Smith, and David Strock were
the building committee. The principal sub-
scribers were : J. P. Snyder, David Strock,
Michael Buck, Jonas Naff. Number of mem-
bers in 1862, seventeen. The church was dedi-
cated December 21, 1862, Bishop Joseph Long,
Presiding Elder J. L. Sibert, Revs. G. S. Domer
and S. Wantersal being present. The first
preachers were G. S. Domer and S. Wantersal
for the years 1862 and 1863. Other pastors —
J. D. HoUenger, Abraham Leohnar, J. J. Barn-

132

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

hart, Isaac Roller, John Domer, Weaver,

John Carmony, and Mr. Haupt, the minister
now in charge. The church is small. Services
are held every two weeks.

WEST AUSTINTOWN.

This thriving little settlement, a station on the
Niles & New Lisbon railroad, has been built
since the completion of that road in 1869. The
first store was kept by D. B. Blott. He was
afterwards in company with Homer Williams,
and later with Wesley Ohl. Calhoun & Hard-
man kept store, in the building now occupied by
Wesley Ohl, for about four years, commencing in
1 87 1. The Anderson block was built by Robert
McClure in 1871. The hotel was built the same
year by James Kane, of Youngstown. He run
this as a hotel until 1875, and still owns the
property, but rents it. Wesley Ohl's store was
built m 1 87 1 by Calhoun, Hartman & Baldwin.
The store occupied by Mr. Booker was built by
him in 187 1-72, but has been enlarged twice.
He has been in business as a hardware dealer
since 1872; has carried a stock of drugs during
the past year.

The post-office was established in 1870, Win-
sor Calhoun postmaster, succeeded by Wesley
Ohl, the present incumbent.

The stores in West Austintown are now as
follows: Wesley Ohl, J. T. McConnell, general
merchandise; Anderson & Brother, groceries;
James Booker, hardware and drugs.

The physicians of West Austintown have been
many, considering the short time since the village
started. Dr. J. T. McKinley, now of Niles,
opened an office here about 1870. He did not
reside here, but in Jackson; had a drug store in
West Austintown, and considerable practice,
much of which he still continues. Dr. G. E.
Rose, who had been a student in the office of
Dr. McKinley, bought out the drug store and
practiced here some five years, then moved to
liirmingham, Erie county, having disposed of
his stock of drugs to B. F. Phillips, of North
Jackson. Dr. Kline was the next physician, for
a short time. Dr. L. B. Ruhelman, of Green,
ne.xt practiced about two years, then moved to
North Lima. Dr. S. T. Keese, of North Jack-
son, has practiced in this place three or four
years; he opened an office here last spring. Dr.
1. W. Bard, of Mineral Ridge, located here in

AUSTINTOWN CENTER

is a thriving little country village or " cross-
roads," pleasantly and prettily located. It was
not settled so early as other parts of the town-
ship, although more than si.xty years have elapsed
since the first house was located here.

The first store was kept on the southwest cor-
ner by Alexander Thompson, probably as early
as 1822. Soon after him Dr. Alfred Packard
started a small store on the corner where Corll's
tavern stands. Dr. Packard sold out to James
Hezlip, who started Caldwell Porter in business
in 1830. Caldwell Porter afterwards moved to
the southwest corner, where he continued busi-
ness until about 1848. He came here a poor Irish
boy, but by his unwavering industry, energy, and
scrupulous attention to business, he became
quite wealthy. A few years after he settled here
he returned to Ireland and married, and then
came back to his store. He was widely re-
spected during his residence here, and his suc-
cessful business career may well be pointed out
to the young as an example of what pluck and
strict attention to business are able to accom-
plish. From .\ustintown he went to Cincin-
nati, and there, too, he prospered. He is now
dead. Few country merchants can point to a
more prosperous record than that left by him on
the minds of the people of Austintown.

Judge Rayen started a store here — date not
known, perhaps 1 830 — on the corner where the
Doncaster house is, and employed Cornelius
Thompson to keep it. About 1834 he built the
brick store on the northwest corner. The busi-
ness changes have been so many that it is not
very easy to trace them. John Cotton kept store
on the southeast corner in 1831-32. Joseph
McCaughtesy kept a public house, and later a
clothing store on the same corner. He put up
the greater part of the present hotel, and was
quite a successful business man for several years.
William Porter was in company with his brother
a short time, then bought him out, and con-
tinued as a merchant here until 1857. Austin
Corll kept a tailoring and clothing establishment
for several years. Isaac Hoover and Levi Crum,
who acted as clerks for William Porter, were
merchants in this [)lacea number of years. John
Lanterman kept in brick store a short time.

Who kei)t the first tavern we are unable to
learn. Alexander McKinney, Snyder, Whitsal,

i

TRUMBCLL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

133

Robert Fullerton, and others, have kept the
house now owned by Corll.

The business of the place at present is rep-
resented by the following : Meander house, Eli
Corll; Doncaster house, J. P. Hill; Fitch, Smith
& Co., and Abram Forney, general stores; E.
Creps, undertaker and furniture dealer. There
is also a blacksmith and wagon-shop, a shoe-
maker's shop, and a harness shop.

The post-office was probably established as
early as 1820. Theophilus Cotton was the first
postmaster. His successors' names cannot be
learned.

The first physician was Dr. Peer. Dr. Alfred
Packard was the only one who resided here for
any great length of time. He was a son of
Thomas Packard, an early settler in the south-
eastern part of the township.

CO.AL MINES.

The first mine opened at West Austintown
was the Harroff slope, where operations were
begun in 1870 by John M. Owen, John Stam-
baugh, and others, under the name of the Har-
roff Coal company. The Harroff slope having
become e.xhausted, in the fall of j88o this com-
pany sank a shaft and commenced mining on
the Jordan farm. The shaft is one hundred and
seventy-one feet deep. They employ about
sixty-five men and produce about one hundred
and thirty tons of coal per day.

In 187 1 the New Lisbon Coal company
opened the Pennell mine and are still working
it successfully. The slope is about four hundred
and fifty feet and the coal of pnme quality.
This company employs about seventy-five men
and mines about two hundred and fifty tons per
day.

The Anderson Coal company opened a bank
on the Anderson farm in 1878, which they
worked for a short time, but as it was not suc-
cessful the mine was abandoned.

Dalzell & Co., of Niles, have commenced
work on a new bank just north of West Austin-
town during the present summer of 1881.

The Tod, Wells & Co. bank, on the farm of
Henry Kyle, near Mineral Ridge, was opened and
a shaft sunk about 1858, and has been quite suc-
cessfully and largely operated up to the present
time. Morris, Robbins & Co. leased the mine
and operated it for some time, but it is now in
the hands of Tod, Wells & Co.

The Ohltown bank, Harris, Maurer & Co.,
was opened about 1868, and worked quite ex-
tensively until 1880, when it was exhausted.

The McKinney shaft on the Tibbetts farm
near Mineral Ridge was begun in 187 1 by Henry
Smith & Co., and afterwards worked by Powers
& Wick, and Warner, Arms & Co. During the
last five years it has not been in operation.

The Thornton bank was on the old Cleveland
farm. Operations were commenced in 1870 by
Case, Thornton &: Co., under the name of the
Ohltown Coal company. Some of the bank is
still worked by the John Henry Mining company,
who sank a shaft about three years ago. They
employ about sixty men and produce about one
hundred tons daily.

The Leadville shaft on the Lanterman farm
was commenced some eight years ago. A great
deal of capital has been expended upon this
mine, but the water in it has always been trouble-
some. During the summer of 1S81 a fire in
this shaft caused great damage.

The mines just mentioned are only the most
important. There are many small banks which
have been operated on a small scale. The min-
ing interest in Austintown is of great importance.
The supply of coal will doubtless continue to
hold out many years.

OTHER BUSINESS INTERESTS.

The township contains many deposits of
iron ore, both of the kidney and black-band
varieties. Before the days of railroads ore was
taken out and hauled to the furnaces in consid-
erable quantities.

Limestone of good quality has been quarried
in many parts of the township, and the supply is
almost inexhaustible. Several lime-kilns have
been in successful operation. There are also
quarries of sandstone and of flagstone yielding
good material.

A mill for crushing and grinding limestone, to
be used as a fertilizer, has recently been set up
in the southern part of the township by Calhoun
&Co.

The first and only furnace for the reduction
of iron ore in this township was the Meander
furnace, built by William Porter and others near
Ohltown.

The only grist-mill, so far as is known, was
built by William Irvin on Four-mile run, near
the northeastern corner of the township. Al-

'34

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

though it was a small affair, it did considerable
work for several years.

There were no saw-mills at an early date. The
first one was built some thirty-five years ago in
the eastern part of the township, south of the
center road. It was built by Andrew J. Brick-
ley. A .''ew years later Harvey McCoUum built
a saw-mill on the same stream or "run," near the
township line. These, with the steam saw-mills
of recent date, are believed to have been the
only ones in the township.

John Justice, recently deceased, operated a
tannery north of the center on the Ohltown
road for many years. Robinson Young also had
a tannery m the southwestern part of the town-
ship for some years.

Many of the early settlers operated small cop-
per stills, which they turned to account by using
up their surplus grain, and putting it into a more
salable form.

Henry Ohl built a mill upon his land at an
early date for the manufacture of linseed oil.
It was upon a small stream on the D. Lawrence
place. There was a dam and a mill race some
eighty rods in length. A part of the latter is
still visible. This oil mill was one of the first
built in this i)art of the country, but it was not
a success.

Robinson Young settled in the township in
1826, and soon afterwards built a tannery, which
he operated in company with his brother Wil-
liam. They boarded at Archibald Ewing's for
seventy-five cents per week each. The tannery
contained about twelve vats. The Youngs cut
and closed boots and shoes and had them bot-
tomed, and in this way disposed of their leather.
Robinson Young used to work on the shoe-
bench with the Bible open before him, diligently
studying its pages. It is said that he learned the
book almost by heart in this way.

i;ravev.\rds.

Of these there are five in the township. That
known as the Brunstetter graveyard is the old-
est, and was laid out as early as 1823. The first
burial made there was the body of John Doane,
a grandson of Robert Russell, one of the earliest
settlers. Doane died when quite a young man.
William Truesdale was the next person buried
there, probably in 1823. The next year twenty-
two children were carried off by dysentery in less

than two weeks, and all were buried in this
graveyard.

The graveyard adjoining the Disciples' church
is probably the next oldest.

Biographical Sketches,

WILLIAM PORTER.

William Porter, Austintown township, Mahon-
ing county, was born in county Donegal, Ire-
land, May 22, 1801. He was educated in the
common schools. In 1837 he came 10 Mahon-
ing county, and was a merchant for twenty years.
In 1857-58 he built the Meander furnace, and
was engaged in smelting lor two years. Through
unfortunate endorsements, in less than three
years he lost his fortune, and since that time has
engaged in no active business.

In September, 1843, Mr. Porter was married
to Mary Nesbat, a native of Mercer county,
Pennsylvania. They have had four children, the
youngest dymg in infancy — James N., superin-
tendent of a coal company in Jefferson county,
Pennsylvania; Charles W., druggist, Niles,
Trumbull county; and Isabella, who married
Robert McCordy, president of the First National
bank, Youngstown.

In politics Mr. Porter is a Democrat; in re
ligion a Presbyterian. His wife is a Covenanter.
During the past year, though over eighty years
of age, he assessed Austintown township. Mr.
Poter is a liale and hearty old man, enjoying the
respect of all who know him.

D.'^VID ANDERSON.
David Anderson was born in Londonderry,
Ireland, August 12, 181 6. He was the youngest
of three children of David Anderson, farmer.
His mother died when he was a boy, and after
that event finding home life distasteful, he left
his father, a well-to-do citizen, and his two sis-
ters, Margaret and Jane, and started alone for
the land of the free. To one accustomed to the
refinements and comforts of home, never having
been away from home a day in his life, crossing
the broad Atlantic to gain a living in a strange
land was an undertaking of great moment. He

I

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

landed in Philadelphia in 1832 and remained
there seven years. His first work was setting
curb-stones; next he went into a wholesale
grocery, in which he remained several years. In
April, 1839, he came to Youngstown, Ohio, and
engaged in a general merchandise store with a
partner, the firm being Anderson & Wick. The
firm in a few years became somewhat involved
and the partnership was dissolved. Mr. Ander-
son, by reason of his known integrity and busi-
ness capacity, was enabled to go into business
for himself, which he did, and he afterward paid
every dollar of his mdebtedness. He carried on
his business for one year at Austintown, and
then for thirty-seven years kept a general assort-
ment store at Jackson, Mahoning county. This
store he closed out April, 1881, being then the
oldest merchant in the valley. Some twenty
years ago he traded his stock of goods for a fine
farm in Lordstown township, Trumbull county,
and sold his interest in a foundry he had pur-
chased and commenced business again with his
previous success and with his old patrons. April
10, 1842, he married Julia Phillips, who was
born in Warren township, and was a step-daughter
of 'Squire Robert Carr. About sixteen months
after her marriage she died — August 8, 1843.
February 10, 1847, he married Hannah L.
Shaw, a native of Lawrence county, Pennsyl-
vania, the result ot which union was four chil-
dren, viz: W. S., an attorney of Youngstown,
Ohio; Julia E.; Margaret J., who married Charles
K. Phillips, who was killed three years ago by a
hay-fork falling upon him, and David Fitch,
resides at home. The wife and mother died
October 14, 1879, aged sixty. Mrs. Anderson
was a daughter of Dr. William Shaw, a leadmg
physician of New Castle, Pennsylvania, and was
born and brought up m that town, where she
resided until her marriage, bhe was a member
of the Presbyterian church, a good and faithful
wife and mother, highly esteemed by all who
knew her.

Mr. .'\nderson is at present largely engaged in
farming and stock raising. He has the manage-
ment of about nine hundred acres of land. But
his enterprising business spirit will not admit of
his devoting his entire attention to agriculture,
and he intends to again engage in mercantile
business. For many years Mr. Anderson has
been a member of the Presbyterian church.

NOTES OF SETTLEMENT.

Charles Gilbert, farmer, Austintown township,
Mahoning county, was a native of Pennsylvania.
About the year 182 1 he came to Mahoning
county, where he remained four years, and then
bought a farm north of Warren, on which he
lived until his death. He was of German de-
scent, his grandfather having come from Ger-
many. His father, George Gilbert, came to
Ohio several years in advance of him. Charles
Gilbert married Magdalene Miller, a native of
the same State, by whom he had nine children —
Mary, Hannah, Benjamin, Elizabeth, Manly,
Susan, Margaret, David, and Catharine. Han-
nah, widow of Thomas Reed; Benjamin, who
resides in Warren ; Susan, who married Martin
Bear and resides in Hicksville ; and Margaret,
who married James Morgan, and now lives m
Western Ohio, are still living. Mrs. Gilbert's
l^arents were also from Germany.

William H. Burford, undertaker, Mineral
Ridge, Ohio, was born in Swansea, Glamorgan-
shire, Wales, March, 1813. He was educated
in the Swansea academy, and the Carmarthen
academy, also at the Academy of Bristol, Eng-
land. At one time he studied with the inten-
tion of entering the ministry, but afterwards
gave it up. He was apprenticed to a linen draper
at Carmarthen, and after thoroughly learning
the trade, he procured a situation at London,
and worked in that and other places for a num-
ber of years. He had determined to emigrate
to this country and locate in Texas, but did
not at that time. Preferring some other
trade to the one he had adopted he learned that
of cabinet-making. He finished this trade when
about twenty-seven, and for about three years
subsequent was engaged as a teacher in the
country schools, and was usher in the grammar
school at Swansea for a time. February 6, 1849,
he was married to Mary E. Jenkin, by whom he
has three children — William R., born February
5, 1850; Sarah Louisa, November 27, 1859;
Maggie E., June 17, 1862. Two years after his
marriage he emigrated to America, finally settling
in Scranton, Pennsylvania, where he resided
some six years. In the fall of 1856 he came to
Mineral Ridge. Here he engaged in his busi-
ness of the manufacture of furniture, and under-
taking, in which he still continues. He is a
member of the Episcopal church and of the so-

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

ciety, "Temple of Honor." In politics he is a
Prohibitionist. Mr. Burford is the pioneer busi-
ness man of Mineral Ridge.

Stephen .Anderson (deceased) was a native of
Ireland. He was born June 21, 1799, and came
when a small child with his parents to America.
His parents were among the early pioneers of
Trumbull county, having settled in Liberty town-
ship about 1802. Stephen was raised upon the
farm and after he became old enough he was
given the management of a large farm and a saw-
mill. He married on his nineteenth birthday
-June 21, i8i8^Elizabeth McKinley of Trum-
bull county, and had a family of ten children:
James, Eliza, Margaret, William, Nancy, Han-
nah, Mary, Silas, John and Alvin. James and
Mary are deceased. He was a member of the
Presbyterian church, as was also his wife. In
politics he was a Democrat. He died July 9,
1872, and his wife December 7, 1879.

Silas Anderson, grocer, West Austintown, Ma-
honmg county, son of Stephen and Elizabeth
Anderson, was born in Liberty township, Trum-
bull county, February 2, 1836. He worked
upon the farm and in the saw-mill until he was
about twenty years of age, the last two working
for himself. He then engaged for two years in
the livery business at Austintown. During the
next few years he operated in coal, engaged prin-
cipally in prospecting, leasing and drilling. He
then moved upon the farm where he now lives,
near West Austintown. Some four years ago he
started a grocery store at West Austintown, and
soon after purchased the brick bljck in which
his business is located. May 7, 1861, he was
united in marriage to Mary, daughter of William
Hawser, who was born March 24, 1843. They
had five children, three of whom are living, viz:
Edward, born January" 18, 1865; Manning, born
February i, 1867; Laura, born July 9, 1880.

Levi Crum, dealer in wool, etc., Austintown
township, Mahoning county, was born in Austin-
town township February 7, 1832. He is the
fourth of nine children of fohn Crum, born in
Pennsylvania, but who came to this county when
four years of age. John Crum's father, Henry
Crum, Sr., was a native of Pennsylvania, and a
farmer by occupation. He was a soldier in the
War of 181 2. He was the father of five chil-
dren: John, Jon.itlian, Lydia, Henry, and Sam-
uel. Only J()n:ithan and Henry are now living.

John Crum was a farmer and stock-dealer, a
man well and favorably known as a successful
business man. His wife was Catharine Fenste-
maker, of Bedford county, Pennsylvania. They
had nine children, viz : Eli, Gideon, Mary,
Levi, Susan, Margaret, Sarah (deceased), Aman-
da, and John (deceased). Mr. Crum was a
Presbyterian, and in politics a Democrat. He
died November 14, 1873, in his seventy-second
year. His wife died October 3, 1875, '" h^""
seventy-fifth year.

Levi Crum remained at home until of age,
then engaged in clerking for four years, after
which he bought out Joseph McCaughtery and
kept a general merchandise store for eight years.
Then he had J. H. Fitch as his partner for eight
years, and afterwards A. Forney for three years.
About five years ago Mr. Crum sold out to For-
ney & Raver and since then he has been in the
wool business. On the 7th of February, 1857,
he mariied Meno Winters, who came from Ger-
many when ten years of age. This marriage re-
sulted in two children, one of whom died in in-
fancy. The oldest, Lillie F., was born Septem-
ber 6, 1858. She married William S. Fairman,
of Youngstown. Mr. Crum's wife died in
January, 1864. March 20, 1866, he married
Eunice Grove, nee Ousborne. She had two chil-
dren by her former marriage, Minnie and Lulu
Grove. Mr. Crum is a Presbyterian, and in
politics a Democrat. He is a thorough business
man, and his integrity and genial disposition
have gained him many friends.

Adam Flick, farmer, Austintown township,
Mahoning county, son of Frederick and Mary
Flick, old time residents of Tuscarora valley, in
what is now Juniata county, Pennsylvania, was
born in said State, April 6, 1783. September 2,
1806, he married Elizabeth Polm, daughter of
John Polm. To them eleven children were
born : John, born April 3, 1807 ; Jacob, March
24, 1809 ; Benjamin, January 28, 181 1 ; Samuel,
February 25, 1813 ; Sarah, January 7, 1815 ;
Thomas, March 2, 1817 ; William, December 4,
1818; Margaret, December 8, 1820; Susan,
December 28, 1822; Nancy, March 12, 1825,
and Mary, May 25, 1829. Margaret, Mary, and
Susan, died in infancy. Benjamin, Jacob, and
Samuel have died within the last six years.
Jacob married Henrietta Rumsy, of Austintown,
and removed to Mercer county, Pennsylvania ;

]

^^^<a:^^-^^/^v Miz::^

^■/e^c:Z>

TRUMBITLL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

■37

Benjamin married Jane Gibson, daughter of
Robert Gibson, of Trumbull county, and lived
for a number of years at Farmington ; Samuel
married Mary, a sister of Henrietta Rumsy, and
afterward moved to Lordstown ; John married
Mariah McCoy, and resides in Lordstown ;
Sarah, wife of Samuel Cook, lives on the home
place ; Nancy, wife of Michael Diehl, lives in
Wells county, Indiana. Adam Flick, with his
family, came to Austintown township in 1824,
and lived for the first four years on the Buck
farm. He bought for $3.50 per acre one hun-
dred acres of wild land, upon which he built a
log house in the fall of 1828, and moved into it
in the following spring. At once began the task
of clearing away the forest and making fertile
fields in the wilderness, and raising therefrom,
not only food for the family, but the means with
which to pay for the farm. They came with one
wagon and three horses, two of which died soon
after their arrival. Years of steady toil had its
effect upon the stubborn forest, and Adam Flick
lived to see the wilderness become almost a gar-
den, and the region round about possessing all
the advantages of civilized life. His life, which
was one of many hardships, closed April 28,
1 85 I. His wife could read English and German
with ease, although her attendance at school
lasted but about six months. She did her part
fully m making a home in the wilderness, and
died February 29, 1843.

Thomas Flick, farmer, son of Adam Flick, was
born in Pennsylvania, March 2, 1817. He, like
his father, received but little schooling, but by
observation has succeeded in gaining much valu-
able knowledge, which has made hmi a first class
farmer and business man. His brother William
had but little better school advantages. To-
gether they have added to the old farm, and now
have over two hundred acres, which is one of the
best managed farms in the county. They deal
largely in horses and cattle. Both are Repub-
licans, practical farmers, and worthy men. They
have lived in the same school district over fifty-
seven years.

Frederick Moherman, one of the earliest pio-
neers of Austintown township, was a native of
Maryland. On account of the destruction of
l^roperty during the Revolutionary war, he and
an uncle moved to Washington county, Pennsyl-
vania. He was then about sixteen years of age,

and remained in Pennsylvania several years,
when he and a family by the name of Park came
to Austintown to look at the country. He sub-
sequently came out again, and then purchased
a hundred and fifty acres in the southeast corner
of Austintown township, erected a cabin and
made a clearing. He then returned to Washing-
ton county, Pennsylvania, and married Mary
Horn, and the next spring he moved out and
settled in Austintown, where he spent the re-
mainder of his life. When he settled there the
Indians had not disappeared, and the wild ani-
mals were far more plenty than neighbors.
There were no roads for miles around, and no
mills. With these surroundings he and his young
wife began housekeepmg. They both lived to
witness vast changes wrought, and to see the
wilderness become a prosperous region. They
had nine children, as follows : John, Abraham,
Daniel, Robert, Ann (now Mrs. Woodward, of
Lordstown), Betsy, who died when about twenty;
Austin, who resides at Ashland, Ohio; Rachel,
who married George Lynn, of Canfield, and
Winchester, who lives on the old homestead.
Daniel lives near him in Austintown, and the
three other brothers live in Jackson.

Robert Moherman, the fourth son of Freder-
ick Moherman, was born in Austintown town-
ship, Mahoning county, February 11, 1809. He
received his education in the pioneer subscription
schools, but after he got to be of a size to work,
he was permitted to attend even those but little.
When about twenty-seven he began clearing and
improving the farm on which he now lives, board-
ing with a family that occupied the place some
nine years. In October, 1840, he was married
to Catharine, daughter of Robert McCain, of
Ellsworth township. This marriage was blessed
with four children: Robert, John, Seth, and
Mary Ellen, who became the wife of Ogden
Rose. Mr. Moherman cast his first vote for
Andrew Jackson ; he is now a Republican.

Wendell Grove, deceased, was a native of Nor-
thumbeiland county, Pennsylvania. He was a
carpenter by trade, but principally a farmer by
occupation. From Northumberland he went to
Beaver, Pennsylvania, where he married Miss
May, by whom he had five children: Katie,
David, Benjamin, Susan, and Elizabeth. This
wife dying, he married Jane Coon, of Juniata
county, Pennsylvania. They had eight children:

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

Jacob, Andrew, Maria, Eve, John, Abraham,
Joseph, and Reuben, of whom Jacob and the
two daughters are dead. Between the birth of
the second and third child, they removed to
their new home in the wilderness, settHng in
Austintown township, where he purchased about
two hundred acres of land at $1.25 an acre.
This farm is now occupied by his son John.
About two years prior to his moving here with
his family, he came and cleared a piece of land
and made other preparations for his removal.
He arrived at his new home on the third day of
.\pril, 1800. There were no neighbors nearer
than five miles, and wild animals were numerous
and often troublesome. He was a great hunter,
as well as a hard working farmer. He had been
in the war of the Revolution, and lived to the
great age of ninety-nine years and six months.
He witnessed, during his long life, which closed
in Springfield township, December 19, 1849,
great and important changes — greater than many
are permitted to see. His wife survived him
until March 27, 1857. Both were members of
the Lutheran church.

John Grove, farmer, Austintown township, was
born in Mahoning county January 4, 1813. He
is the fifth child of Wendell Grove. He re-
mained upon the farm with his father until he
reached the age of twenty, when he went to
Youngstown and learned the carpenter's trade,
which he followed for some six years. For sev-
eral years he was engaged in various occupations
until at length he bought the old homestead,
where he now live.s. He now has two hundred
and thirty-two acres of land under good cultiva-
tion. His farm is managed as a stock farm. He
married, January 11, 1838, Mary McCuUick, a
native of Canfield township. They have had
five children — Rosina, Orlando R., Melvina,
Florence K, and C. G. The third child died
when quite small.

Rogers Hill was born in Sussex county, Dela-
ware, January 31, 1799. When he was five
weeks old his parents removed to Redstone,
Pennsylvania, where they remained two years,
when they moved to the forks of the Beaver in
Columbiana county, where they remained until
Rogers was of age. He was the oldest of ten
children of Robert and Patience Rogers Hill,
both natives of Delaware. Grandfather Rogers
was an Englishman and a sea captain. On his

father's side they were from Holland. Rogers
Hill took up shoemaking, which he followed for
twenty-one years in Pennsylvania and Ohio. Sep-
tember 20, 1820, he married Eliza Chambers, a
native of Pennsylvania and daughter of W.
Chambers, also a native of Pennsylvania. Her
ancestors were from Ireland. Their children are
John, Robert, William, Eliza, Jane, Joseph,
George, Matthew, Patience, Mary, Ann, Alvira,
and James. The mother died February 4, 1873.
April 9, 1874, he married Phoebe Anderson of
Hubbard, Trumbull county. From Little Beaver
he removed, in 1833, to Ohltown, where he re-
sided several years engaged in farming. He
then moved to the mouth of Little Hocking in
Washington county, where he remained thirty
years, attending a wood yard. September, 1872,
he returned to Austintown township.

James P. Hill, hotel-keeper, Austintown, Ma-
honing county, youngest child of Rogers Hill,
was born in Wood county, now West Virginia,
March 4, 1845. He attended the common
schools of his native State and for one year the
Iron City college of Pittsburg. When nineteen
he was apprenticed to a blacksmith and served
three years. After working at his trade one year
he went upon the Ohio river as cabin watchman
on a boat which ran between Cincinnati and
Louisville, in which he continued for some time,
and then established a wagon shop at Parkers-
burg. In this business he continued a year and
then came to Austintown, where he carried on
liis trade for a short time and then commenced
the business in which he is now engaged. Some
two years since he went to Jackson and kept the
Jackson house. In the spring of 1881 he pur-
chased the Northwestern house at Austintown,
and is still located there, and is now pioprielor
of the Doncaster house. He was married,
October 18, 1870, to Lucy Strock, born October
21, 1846, and daughter of Abraham Strock, of
.\ustintown township. They have four children,
viz: Guy, born February 5, 1872; Minnie,
August 28, 1874; Edna, December 24, 1876;
Earl, November 27, 1S79. In politics Mr. Hill
is a Democrat.

Lewis Harroff, Jr., farmer, .'\ustintown town-
shi]), Mahoning county, was born in said town-
ship May 13, 1833. He is the third child of
Lewis HarrofT, Sr., who was a native of Pennsyl-
vania and who came to Mahoning county when

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

139

but two years of age, settling first in Boardman
township. His father, Jacob Harroff, was a
shoemaker by trade, and before his marriage was
a soldier in the Revolution. He married Kittie
Kline. They had eight children — Polly, Susan,
Jacob, .Andrew, William, Lewis, Leah, and
Rachel. By a former marriage there were two
children — John and Betsy. Lewis, Sr., being a
son of poor parents was permitted to attend
school but little and never learned to read or
write. He early began farming, which occupa-
tion he has since followed. May 11, 1827, he
married Mary Gilbert (who died in October,
1880), daughter of Jacob Gilbert, by whom he
had five children — Catharine, Sarah, Mary Ann,
Lewis, and William. The two oldest girls died
during early childhood. Mary, wife of John
Franklin, died a few days before her mother, who
died in October, 1880. The sons still reside
in the township. Lewis Harroff, Jr., had
but limited school advantages. At the age
of twenty he apprenticed himself to John
Gilbert, a cabinet-maker of Austintown, and
served there two years, but never worked
at the trade afterward. The next three
years he worked in a carriage shop at Taylor's
corners, and there began carpentering, at which
he has been more or less engaged up to the
present time. In 1870 he moved upon the
farm where he now lives. November 11, 1859,
he married Rebecca Brunstetter, daughter of
Henry Brunstetter. She was born May 9, 1836.
To them have been born three children, one of
whom is dead, viz : Perry, who was born Feb-
ruary 4, 1859, and died December 30, 1S63;
W. Henry, born February 24, 1865; and Minnie
Pearl, March 13, i88o. Both Mr. and Mrs.
Harroff are members of the Evangelical church.
He is a Republican, though never a politician,
having never sought or held office. He is a
straightforward man, well and favorably known.

Seymour A. Jones, deceased, was born in Aus-
tintown township, Mahoning county, October 17,
182 1. His wife and children are still living
here. He was a farmer by occupation, an ear-
nest Republican in politics, and in religion a
member of the Disciples' church. His first wife
was Martha Burnett, by whom he had four chil-
dren, viz : Mary, Virgil, Samantha Jane, and
Edson Scott. His second wife, whom he mar-
ried December 9, 1856, and who is still living,

was Mary, daughter of William and Susan
(Earnest) Powers, of Perry countv, Pennsylva-
nia. She was born June 20, 1833. Her parents
came to Ohio when she was about one year old.
Her father was a merchant for several years
when a young man, but went to farming later on
account of his health. Mrs. Jones is the oldest
of six children, the names of whom are as fol-
lows: Mary, John, Belle, Almira, William, and
Lucius F^oster. Mrs. Jones is the mother often
children, — George, William, Kittie, Birdie E.,
Lucy E., John, Grant, Minnie A., Thomas, and
Etta May. Mr. Jones died July '°' 1878.

T. F. James was born in Somersetshire,
England, May 15, 1834. He was educated in
the public schools of his native country, attend-
ing only until about twelve years old. From
that time until he was eighteen he was engaged
in mining. In 1852 he came to Austintown
township, where his work was the same as in
England until fifteen years ago, when he began
farming about a mile east of Mineral Ridge,
where he is at present engaged in raising fine
stock. April 5, 1858, he married Margaret
Blunt, daughter of Edward Blunt of Weathers-
field township, Trumbull county. She was
born May 15, 1838. This marriage was blessed
with eight children, Susan, Celia A., Hannah,
Maggie, Sadie, Will, Edward, and John. Mrs.
James is a member of the Disciples' church.
Her father. Rev. Edward Blunt, was born in
North Wales in 1805, and lived to the age of
sixty-six. For twenty-four years prior to his
death he lived and labored at Mineral Ridge.
He preached for some years for the Welsh
Methodist church in Pennsylvania. After com-
ing to Ohio he became a convert to the Disci-
ples' faith, and joined the Welsh Baptist church.
He was a zealous Christian.

Solomon W. Lynn, farmer, Austintown town-
ship, Mahoning county, was born in Canfield
township, then Trumbull county, December 29,
181 7. His father was John Lynn, a native of
Berks county, Pennsylvania, a weaver by trade,
but during his residence in Ohio followed farm-
ing. He came here in the early settlement of
the country, and erected a saw-mill upon his
farm, known as the 'Squire Lynn farm When
Solomon was about six years of age his father
returned to his old home in Pennsylvania, where
he resided until his death. By his wife, Barbara

140

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

Will, he had seven children, three girls and four
boys. The girls all died when they were quite
small, and in a few days of each other. Of the
boys, all are now deceased except the subject of
this sketch. When about thirteen his father
died, and he worked upon a farm for some three
years, when he was apprenticed to learn the
shoemaker's trade, at which he worked for two
and a half years. He eventually came to Pick-
away county, Ohio, but afterwards moved to
Canfield, Mahoning county, where he followed
his trade. He carried on his trade for twenty-
three consecutive years. In 1844 he moved to
Canfield, and in 1849 'o 'he farm where he now
lives. August 30, 1849, he married Elizabeth,
daughter of George Lynn, a brother of John
Lynn's father (our subject's grandfather), Philip
Lynn. She was born in Canfield, June 28, 1822.
They have two children, George W., born Au-
gust 14, 1850; Mary E., September 19, 1856.
Mr. Lynn's politics is Democratic.

Benjamin Leach, a native of New Jersey,
came to Austintown township, Mahoning count)',
in the year 1819, and bought the Jacob Park-
hurst farm of one hundred acres, which was
partially improved and for which he paid $1,800.
He was a blacksmith by trade, but after coming
to Ohio he engaged jsrincipally at farming.
Within a year or two after his arrival he erected
the house in which his son, J. B. Leach now
resides, and which at that early day was consid-
ered the best house in the county. July 12,
1802, he married Dinah Brown, by whom he had
four children, Harriet, Julia Ann, Susan, and
Dinah. The mother of these children died May
27, 1812. Of these children only Julia and
Susan are living. February i, 18 14, he married
Hannah Raynor, who was born in New Jersey.
She became the mother of five children, Try-
phena, Mary, Jacob B., Stephen F., Elias D., of
whom all are living but the oldest. These
parents were members of the Presbyterian
church. The father died a few years after com-
ing to Ohio.

J. B. Leach was born near Morristown, New
Jersey, February 8, 1819. During the first year
of his life he came with his parents to Austin-
town township, Mahoning county, where he has
lived ever since. His education was obtained
in the common schools of that early day. Soon
after he attained his majority he came into po.s-

session of the old homestead and has lived upon
it all his life. In 1846 he married Adaline Eck-
man, daughter of John Ecknian, then a resident
of Warren. They had four children, Benjamin,
Emory, Jennie, and Margery, of whom all save
Benjamin are living. His wife dying October
16, 1852, he, on January 20, 1859, married Olive
Jones, daughter of Asa Jones, a stone-mason by
trade, and an old resident of Austintown town-
ship. This marriage was blessed with two chil
dren, Charles and Anna. Mr. Leach was a
Democrat until the breaking out of the war, and
since then has been a Republican. He has held
various township oflices and was three times
justice of the peace, and for three years recorder
of Mahoning county, being in ofifice twenty-five
successive years.

Jacob Maurer, farmer, .Austintown township,
Mahoning county, was born near Reading, Penn-
sylvania, January 19, 1811. He is the oldest of
the sons of Peter Maurer, who in his native State
of Pennsylvania followed the trades of a weaver
and miller, but after coming to Ohio engaged in
farming. Jacob Maurer worked at shoemaking
until he came to Ohio, and has since been a
farmer. He went with his parents about the
year 1832 to Pickaway county, where he re-
mained some seven years, coming to Austintown
township at the end of that period. In 1831 he
married Magdalena Sies, a native of Northamp-
ton county, Pennsylvania, born February, 181 1.
They had eight daughters and three sons, who
are all living except one son and one daughter:
Mary .'\., Marietta, Alexander, Perry C, Eliza-
beth, Louisa, Susan, Adaline, Lucy, and Melissa.
Mrs. Maurer died June 7, 1877. Mr. Maurer
is a conscientious Christian, a member of the
Lutheran church, and a man of worth. He is a
Democrat in politics.

John Maurer, deceased, was born near Read-
ing, Pennsylvania, January 13, 181 3. He was
the second son of Peter and Barbara (Wcis)
Maurer, both natives of Pennsylvania. Their
children were Jacob, John, Susan, Elizabeth,
George, and Peter, who died young. John
Maurer went with his father to Pickaway county,
Ohio. When about twenty-four years old he
came to Austintown, where he engaged in farm-
ing. He was married December 4, 1839, to
Lucy .'\. Buck, daughter of David and Mary
Buck, who came to this county Irom Seneca

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

county, New York, in 1839. She was born July
22, 1821. They have two children, Alfred, born
November 22, 1840, and Eliza J., born January
27, 1844, "ow the wife of William Ohl. John
Maurer was an earnest Democrat and took a
great interest in ijolitical matters. He was an
industrious man and from nothing made a hand-
some property. He was an honored and re-
spected citizen. He died February 26, 1873.

Perry C. Maurer, coal operator, Mineral Ridge,
Ohio, was born in Austintown township, Decem-
ber 3, 1840. He was educated in the common
schools and at Canfield academy. During his
school days he also taught in the district schools,
his first term before he was eighteen. He was
engaged for one year as a clerk at East Lewiston.
He next went to Idaho, where he spent the sum-
mer. He afterwards acted as a clerk for one
year for James Crandon & Co., at Niles, then
went to Homewood, Pennsylvania, and had
charge of a furnace. In 1867 he engaged in
the mercantile business with Charles Warner,
and later with J. B. Warner. In 1869 he began
business as a coal operator in company with
Jenkin Harris, James Ward, and others. He
has lately opened a mine at New Lisbon, which
yields one hundred and twenty-five tons daily.
His other mines yield even larger quantities.
November 29, 1865, Mr. Maurer married Rachel
Anderson, daughter of James Anderson. She
was born in this county, May 14, 1847. She died
April 30, 1876, leaving three children — Ivan
Anderson, Lalla Rookh, and Grace Edna. He
was again married June 27, 1877, to Nettie A.
Marshall, daughter of Isaac H. Marshall, of
Weathersfield, Trumbull county. She was born
May 22, 1854. Mr. Maurer is a member of the
Presbyterian church. In politics he is a Demo-
crat.

James McGrew, deceased, was born in Gettys-
burg, Pennsylvania, January i, 1810. When he
was about eight years old his mother, Mrs.
Letitia Porter, came to Poland, Mahoning
county, thence going to Girard, Trumbull county,
and afterwards to Ashtabula county. After com-
ing to this State she married James Reed. James
McGrew was apprenticed at the age of sixteen to
learn the blacksmith's trade. He worked at his
trade about twenty-one years at Howland corn-
ers, Weathersfield township, Trumbull county.
In 1846 he bought the farm on which his son

now lives, and for the rest of his life was en-
gaged in farming. December 15, 1831, he mar-
ried Margaret Pennell, daughter of Robert Pen-
nell. She was born April i, 18 16. She bore
him seven children — Letitia, Ann, Rosetta,
Robert, Sarah Jane, Juhn, Mary M., and
John C. Mrs. McGrew died May 29, 185 1.
Mr. McGrew was married May 12, 1853, to
Margaret S. Dougherty. She was a native of
Pennsylvania, and was born August 20, 1822.
She died August 19, 1866, leaving five children,
the oldest and the youngest of whom are de-
ceased— Grover F., Emma R., Alva F., James
H., and Eva A. Mr. McGrew was married De-
cember 24, 1867, to Katie Spencer, born in Hart-
ford, Trumbull county, October 9, 181 4. She
died November i, 1872. On September 17,
1874, he married Nancy Faunce, of Cortland,
who survives her husband. Mr. McGrew died
April 24, 1878.

J. C. McGrew, farmer, Austintown township,
Mahoning county, was born in that township,
March 19, 1848. He was married June 4, 1872,
to Susan Miller, daughter of William Miller, a
former resident of Mahoning county. Mrs. Mc-
Grew was born October 18, 1851.

John Miller, Sr., immigrated to Ohio from
Pennsylvania in 1812, and settled in Canfield
township. He was educated in the common
schools of his native Stale, and, when a young
man, learned the carpenter's trade. He was a
first-class workman, but, after coming to Ohio,
worked entirely at farming. He remained in
Canfield township seven years, and then re-
moved to the northeast part of Austintown town-
ship, the same county, and settled in the woods
near the spot where the residence of Jacob Mil-
ler now stands. As a " deadening" had been
made, and the land allowed to grow up with trees
again, the work of clearing was exceedingly diffi-
cult. He married Elizabeth Stittle, by whom
he had the following named children : Samuel,
Sarah, Jacob, Martha, William, John, Susan,
Levi, Lydia. Susan, Sarah, John, Levi, and
Jacob are yet living. He was a member of the
German Lutheran church. He died in the fall
of 1867, having lived to see the wilderness trans-
formed into fine, productive farms.

John Miller, Jr., was born September 14, 18 16,
in Canfield township. He was educated in the
common schools and early began farming, which

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

has been his Hfelong occupation. He staid with
his father until the age of twenty-three, when he
began farming for himself on the same farm on
shares for a time, and then bought hall of it, upon
which he still lives. February ii, 1845, he
married Maria Lanteiman, daughter of William
Lanterman, of Austintown township. She was
born June 28, 1822, and died February 18,
1878. She was an estimable Christian woman
and a member of the Disciple church. Five
children were born to them, viz : Austin, born
May 31, 1846; Sophia, December 21, 1847;
Joseph, October 13, 1849; Laura, April 2, 1852;
John, March 29, 1854. Mr. Miller is a member
of the German Lutheran church.

Oen Naff, farmer, Austintown township. Ma
honing county, was born in Lehigh county, Penn-
sylvania, March 12, 1827. His mother died
when he was about six weeks old, and he was
brought up under the care of his grandfather,
Christian Meassamer. When Oen was about
six years old his grandfather moved to Jackson
township, and resided there until the time of his
death. Oen is the only child of George and Eva
(Meassamer) Naff. His father still resides in
Lehigh county, Pennsylvania. When Mr. Naff
was eighteen years of age he began learning the
cabinet maker's trade, at which he worked many
years. Since 1850 he has been engaged in farm-
ing. He moved upon the present farm in i860,
and has a pleasant home. Mr. Naff was mar-
ried January 3, 1850, to Madelina Hood, daugh-
ter of David Hood. She was born in Mahoning
county, June 5, 1828, and died February 17,
1859. She was the mother of two children,
whose names are Mary Magdalene and John
Wallace. Mr. Naff was again married, March
4, i860, to Maria Buck, who was born March 5,
1825. She was the daughter of David Buck.
They have two children: George Oliver and
Lucy Alice. Mr. Naff is an active member
of the Republican party.

Michael Ohl was a native of Northampton
county, Pennsylvania. When a young man he
came with his father, Henry Ohl, to Mahoning
county, and settled in Canfield township. The
family of children were Michael, Jacob, Henry,
David, John, Abraham, Eve Hood, Maria Wag-
goner, and Mary Shatto. Shortly after their ar-
rival Michael married Eva Moyers, who came to
Mahoning county with her husljand's family.

They first settled in the southwest corner of Aus-
tintown township, where they lived some twelve
years, and then moved to that part of the town-
ship where Ohltown is now located. He was a
cooper by trade, and worked at this some in the
new country, but his principal occupation was
farming, in addition to managing a saw- and grist-
mill. He owned the land which is now occu-
pied by Ohltown, which he laid out over fifty
years ago, and to which he gave his own name.
He was the father of the following named chil-
dren : Charles, Catharine Hood, Elizabeth
Dustman, Henry, David, John, Eve Campbell,
Aydelott, Michael (who was killed at Warren
during the building of a bridge), Samuel, Abi-
gail, McDonald, Andrew, Mary Kraus, and fulia
Rose. Mr. Ohl was hotel-keeper at Ohltown,
and also engaged at distilling. He died October
21, 1857, at the age of seventy-four. His father,
Henry Ohl, died September 7, 1849. Eve Ohl
died July 11, i860.

David Ohl was born in Austintown township,
Mahoning county, December 22, 1818. He re-
ceived his education in the common schools and
aided his father until he became of age, when
he began learning the millwright's trade with his
brother Charles. After working with him three
years he began building mills. He was engaged
at this business for thirty-five years. Directly
after his marriage he began farming where he
now lives. January 15, 1846, he married Eliza-
beth A. White, daughter of James White. She
was born in Weathersfield township, Trumbull
county, April 29, 1828. They have had seven
children — Ezra, Albert, Julia Ann, Michael,
James, Olander, and Jennie (Samantha Jane).
Mr. and Mrs. Ohl are old-time members of the
Methodist church.

Wesley Ohl, merchant. West Austintown, Ma-
honing county, was born in Austintown township,
June 19, 1843. He is the oldest child of George
Ohl, son of David Ohl, a Pennsylvanian by
birth, who came to Mahoning county, then
Trumbull, in an early day, and was a ])rominent
farmer and stock dealer in his day, and was en-
gaged in driving stock to the East over the
mountains. George Ohl acquired a good edu-
cation at the public schools, and for a number
of years was engaged in teaching, attending to
his farm at the same time. Farming was his
chief occupation tlirough life. He was born in

I

J

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

143

Austintown township; married Lydia Graber, a
native of Bucks county, Pennsylvania. This
union resulted in two children, the eldest dying
in infancy. He was a member of the Evangeli-
cal Association, and a Republican in politics.
He and his wife are both dead. Wesley Ohl
remained upon the farm until 1872, when he en-
gaged in the mercantile business with D. B.
Blott. This partnership continued two years,
since which time Mr. Ohl has carried on the
business alone at West Austintown. He married
Miss Carrie, daughter of William Hauser. They
have one child, Elva Irene, born October 7,
1878.

Davis Randolph, Esq., Austintown township,
Mahonmg county, was born in Juniata county,
Pennsylvania, July 25, 1810. He is a brother
of William Randolph, of Windsor, Ashtabula
county, and a son of John and Mary (Davis)
Randolph. His mother was of Welsh descent.
The old stock of Randolphs came from Virginia.
Davis received but a limited common school
education. He learned the shoemaker's trade
with his brother, with whom he came to Austin-
town and commenced business, in which he
continued about twenty-five years. Mr. Ran-
dolph is an influential member of the Democratic
party. He has held nearly all of the township
offices, and since 1859 has been justice of the
peace. He married Elizabeth McCarter, of Ma-
honing county, November 30, 1837, by whom he
had one child, Elizabeth McCoy, October 21,
1841. His wife died February 14, 1842. On
January 16, 1843, he married Caroline Russel,
of Austintown, daughter of James Russel, a
soldier of 181 2. They have seven children
born as follow: James Clark, January 19, 1844;
Mary Jane, February 12, 1845; Jonathan Russel,
October 28, 1846; John Clayton, May 30, 1848;
Charles, November 6, 1854; Cornelia Emeline,
May 6, 1856; Luella C, May 4, 1862. Each of
the oldest three of the sons served two years in
company E, Twelfth Ohio cavalry, enlisting be-
fore they were of age. Mr. Davis is a member
of the Disciple church and is a man who has
gained honor from a long life of steadfast in-
tegrity.

Thomas Reed, farmer, Austintown township,
Mahoning county, was born in Loudoun county,
Virginia, September 24, 1789. His father, James
Reed, was an old time resident of Poland town-

ship. He married Hannah Gilbert, born Sep-
tember II, 1807, daughter of Charles Gilbert,
a native of Pennsylvania. Her mother was Mag-
dalene Miller, a native of the same State. To
Mr. and Mrs. Reed were born seven children :
Peggy, born June 27, 1825 ; Betsy, December i,
1826; Polly, March 9, 1829; Stephen, Novem-
ber 26, 1830; Nancy, October 10, 1832; Han-
nah, November 3, 1835; and Amos, May 27,
1839. Peggy, Nancy, Hannah, and Stephen,
still make their home with their mother on the
old farm. Mr. Reed was a Covenanter in relig
ion, and in politics a Republican. He was a
practical farmer and a worthy citizen. His
death occurred February 18, 1865.

James Raver, a native of Allentown, Lehigh
county, Pennsylvania, was born April 2, 1823.
He was the son of William Raver, who came to
Austintown township when James was thirteen
years of age. After living here a few years he
removed to Lordstown township. James and
his father were both coopers by trade, but were
principally engaged in farming. William Raver
was the father of seven children, Lovina, James,
Eliza, Lewis, AVilliam, Catharine, and Maria, all
living at the present time. He married Catha-
rine Bailey, who was born in Canfield township.
May 13, 1821. Their children, Levi, Lewis W.,
Sarah A., and Mary Sophia, are living, with the
e.xception of Mary. After the death of his first
wife he married Clarinda Dustman, a native of
Canfield, by whom he had one child, Henry F.,
who died at the age of six years. In 1852 James
Raver moved into Canfield township, where he
has since been engaged in farming.

L. W. Raver was born in Lordstown township,
Trumbull county. May 11, 1849. He is the
second child of James Raver. When seventeen
years of age he was apprenticed to learn the
plasterer's trade, serving two years, and during
the winters he also learned harness-making. He
worked at the former of these seven summers
and at the latter six winters. He then with
Abraham Forney engaged in mercantile business
for three years, when he sold out and soon after-
ward went into the drug business with Dr. C.
B. White. This partnership lasted but one year.
He then for a few months went into the furni-
ture business. He is now keeping a general
store with J. H. Fitch and Joseph Smith.
March 16, 1873, he married Melvina Wilson,

M4

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

daughter of William Wilson, born December 5,
1848. They have three children, James O.,
Allen Thurman, and HarryRush.

Robert Russell, Austintown township, Mahon-
ing county, was born in Loudoun county, Vir-
ginia, August 23, 1784. When he was two years
of age his father, Robert Russell, Sr., moved in-
to Washington county, Pennsylvania, and in
1802 into Lake county, Ohio. In 1806 or 1807
he came into Austintown township, Mahoning
county. At this early date there had not been
a road laid out in the entire township. He was
a farmer by occupation, and lived to see the
wilderness converted into fine farms possessing
the comforts and refinements of civilized life.
He married, May 17, 1809, Rachel Hampson,
who was a daughter of Robert and Jane Hamp-
son, and was born in New Jersey, October 24,
1786. They reared nine children, all living to
celebrate their parents' golden wedding, and
even their sixtieth anniversary. Mr. Russell
lived an exemplary lile, and was a member for
fifty years of the Disciple church at Four-mile
run. He was ever a friend to the poor and
needy. His useful life closed January 31, 1879,
and his wife died February 20, 1872.

Hampson Russell, farmer, Austintown town-
ship, Mahoning county, son of Robert Russell,
the pioneer, was born August 24, 1822. His
education was received in the pioneer schools of
his native township. He early began the work
of farming upon the home farm, and at the age
of twenty-five moved upon the farm where he
now resides, two miles southwest of the center
of the township. In May, 1849, he married
Elizabeth Reed, daughter of Thomas Reed, of
Austintown township. She was born December
I, 1826. This couple have but three children :
Charles Warren, born May 24, 1852^ Amos Cal-
vin, May 14, 1856; Thomas Robert, June 20,
i860. Mr. Russell is a member of the Disciple
church and his wife is a Covenanter. He is
a Republican in politics.

Abraham Strock, farmer, Austintown town-
ship, Mahoning county, was born in Perry coun-
ty, Pennsylvania, April 7, 18 13. He is a son of
John Henry Strock and a twin brother of Zach-
aiiah R. Strock. His father was born in Nor
thumberland county, Pennsylvania, October 14,
I 78 1. He married Catharine Rice, a native of
Pennsylvania, by whom he had eleven children:

Benjamin, Elizabeth, Mary, Isaac, Abraham,
Zachariah, Catharine, Anna, Susan, Joseph, and
Julia. Of these the sons are all living and the
daughters all dead. John H. Strock was a
Presbyterian and a Democrat. He died in the
forty-ninth year of his age, December 14, 1830.
The father of John H. Strock was Joseph Strock,_
a native of France, who came to this country an
orphan boy nine years old. After coming here
he was bound out to pay for his passage. He
was married in Pennsylvania and had seven
sons and four daughters. He can.e to Mahon-
ing county and settled in the southern part of
Austintown township. Abraham Strock has re-
sided here since his father came in 1815. He
began learning carpentry and joining when four-
teen years old and worked at those trades forty-
seven years. He has erected so many churches
that the title " the old church-builder" is often
applied to him. September 7, 1834, he married
Sophia Wetzell, who was born in Pennsylvania,
December 18, 1807. They had seven children:
Sarah, William H., Eliza, Caroline, Benjamin,
Lucy, and George. Mrs. Strock died August
ti, 1869. Mr. Strock was one of the first Abo-
litionists in this county and is now an earnest
Republican. Since retiring from active business
he has studied a variety of subjects, upon each
of which he is well informed.

Joseph Smith, a native of Mercer county,
Pennsylvania, was born May 27, 1853. When
he was about two years old his father, Henry
Smith, moved into Jackson township. After re-
maining here a few years he moved to Smith's
corners, Austintown township. Joseph received
his education at this place, attending school
winters and working on the farm summers.
When eighteen years old he began clerking for J.
H. Fitch & Co. He remained here for one year
and then worked for J. H. Fitch until April i,
1880, when he bought an interest in the stock of
goods and the firm of Fitch, Smith & Co. was
formed. He married Elizabeth Wetzel, daugh-
ter of Jacob Wetzel, an old-time hotel proprietor
of Austintown.

Daniel Thornton, who was a native of Long
Island, came to Youngstown township, Trum-
bull county, now Mahoning, in the year 181 7.
.After remaining here five or six years he went
back to his old home, but not being satisfied
there returned to this county. He served in the

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

'45

War of 1812 before he was eighteen, first three
months as substitute and afterward a time for
himself At the close of the war he began learn-
ing the ship-carpenter's trade, serving an appren-
ticeship of three years. He followed this trade
in the Island until his removal to Ohio. Just
before leaving Long Island he married Hannah
Rogers, a native of that island. She became
the mother of three children — Jesse A., merchant
of (lermantown, Pennsylvania; Mary, who died
in infancy; and Hiram, of Austintown. He was
a Democrat through early life but eventually be-
came a Republican.

Hiram Thornton, third child of Daniel Thorn-
ton, was born in Youngstown township, Trum-
bull county, now Mahoning, January 18, 1823.
His school advantages were very limited as there
was no school in his district until he was of age.
But by reading and observation he has become
well informed. He is a natural mechanic, un-
derstanding several different trades. His early
life was spent upon the farm. At the age of
seventeen he began making whiskey, at which
occupation he continued for five years, at the
end of which time he began carriage- and wagon-
making, which he carried on for about eleven
years. Since then he has been engaged in va-
rious pursuits, among others that of operating in
coal. He is now superintending mines for H.
Baldwin, of Youngstown. He married, August
5, 1849, Matilda Smith, daughter of William
Smith, of Austintown. She was born in Eng-
land, August 31, 1830. To them have been
born fifteen children — Daniel, Mary, Stephen,
Joseph, Henry, Elizabeth, Sarah, William, Wal-
ter, Lovin.i, Ida, George, Myron, Ella, Edward,
of whom Daniel, Ida, and George are dead. He
IS a Republican and a worthy and respected
citizen.

William Tibbit (deceased) was born in Mary-
land, June 25, 1805. When he was still an in-
fant his father, Jerry Tibbit, moved to Youngs-
town. Here he lived until he was eighteen, when
his father, who was a saddler and harness-maker
in Youngstown, moved to Austintown, where he
resided until his death engaged in farming. Wil-
liam Tibbit received his education in the
Youngstown schools. He remained with his
father until he was twenty-four, assisting in the
shop and on the farm. He then bought the
business and carried it on for about seven years.

meanwhile purchasing the farm on which his
widow and family now reside. He moved upon
this farm in 1836, and engaged afterwards at
farming. November 28, 1833, he married Thank-
ful Almyra, daughter of Judge Camden Cleave-
land, a native of Connecticut. Judge Cleave-
land emigrated to Liberty township, Trumbull
county, about 1800, and when his daughter, Mrs.
Tibbit, was about four years old moved to
Youngstown, where he taught school for several
years. He afterwards operated the Cleaveland
mill on Mill creek. He married Elizabeth
Adams, daughter of Asahel Adams, who was
also a pioneer in this region. Judge Cleaveland
had a family of two boys — Camden H. and
Mason A. (who died young), and five girls: Eliza
P., Thankful Almyra, Olive A., Charlotte M.,
and Harriet M. Judge Cleaveland was a brother
of Moses Cleaveland, after whom the city of
Cleveland was named. William Tibbit was a
member of the Presbyterian church, and a mem-
ber of the Republican party. He was an un-
assuming man, a conscientious Christian, a kind
father and husband, and a good citizen. He
died October 14, 1856. He was the father of
eight children, six of whom are living — Nancy
E., Charlotte M., Asahel C, Laura E., John
Ferris and Mary Ann.

Jacob Wolfcale, farmer, Austintown township,
Mahoning county, was born in the same town-
ship October 23, 1819. He is the third of the
children of Abram Wolfcale, a native of Vir-
ginia, who, with his brother John, and his father,
John Wolfcale, Sr., came into this country at an
early date, and bought tracts of land on part of
which their children are now living. Abram
Wolfcale was a cabinet-maker and Carpenter by
trade. He also carried on a tarm. He was
born January 14, 1785. He married Elizabeth
Brooks, who was born in Maryland October 6,
1792. They had five children — Margaret, Jona-
than, Jacob, Polly, and Elizabeth. Of these
Polly died in infancy, and Jonathan when about
forty years of age. Margaret married Roswell
Matthews, and lives upon the old homestead.
Jacob Wolfcale is a blacksmith by trade, but is
engaged in farming. He was married July 17,
1843, to Lavina Oatstein, a native of Mahoning
county. They have seven children living, three
deceased. The names of those living are :
Owen, Abram, William, Milo, Elizabeth, Filena,

.46

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

and Mary. Mr. Wolfcale is a Democrat. He
has surrendered the care of his farm to his sons
and is now enjoying the (juiet which a Hfe of ac-
tivity has earned him.

Ira Wilco.K, farmer, .^ustintown township, Ma-
honing county, is a native of that county, born
March 9, i8i6. His father, Isaac Wilcox, was
a native of Maryland, and was in the War of
181 2. Isaac Wilcox was married to Catharine
Kussurd, and shortly afterward came to Canfield
township, now Mahoning county. About twenty,
five years later he removed to Virginia. He was
a class leader in the Methodist church, and for a
long time a justice of the peace in Canfield. He
had four children: Ira, Reuben, Eli, and Han-
nah. Eli died when but fourteen years old.
Hannah married Jacob Umstardt, and died
many years ago. Reuben is living at Rootstown,
Ohio. Ira Wilcox, when about twelve years of
age, was apprenticed to the shoemaker's trade,
at which he served until he was eighteen, in the
meantime working upon the farm of his employ-
er. He followed his trade some eighteen years.
After his marriage he resided in Jackson town-
ship for a short time, then returned to his former
home. In 1839 he bought a small part of his
present farm, which was then in the woods. He
has since added to his first purchase until he now
has a fine farm. April 11, 1835, he married
Rebecca Oilman, who was born in (now) Mahon-
ing county, November 16, 181 6, and is a daugh-
ter of Jacob Oilman. Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox
have nine children, as follows: Christina, Dan-
iel, Isaac, Sarah, Ira, Jr., Mary, Cecilia, Anson
B., and Ella. Their church relationship is with
the United Brethren in Christ.

Jacob Wise, deceased, was born in Lehigh
county, Pennsylvania, January 21, 1786. He
came to Trumbull county in 18 10, and bought
one hundred acres of land at $3 per acre.
Several years later he purchased what is now
knownasthe Peters farm, one hundred and thirty-
three acres, and afterwards he bought one hun-
dred and twelve acres on the tract where the
Tod mine was opened. Coal was mined there
over fifty years ago. In iSio Jacob Wise mar-
ried Susanna Weitzel, who lived only about one
year after giving birth to a child named Jacob,
born June 24, 1813. In 1815 Mr. Wise mar-
ried I'riscilla Pyle, who was born in Little York,
Pennsylvania, in 1797. They had thirteen chil-

dren— John, Mary, Eliza, Sarah, Hannah, Pris-
cilla, Lydia, Solomon, Jonathan, Rebecca, Ada-
line, Rachel, and Elias, who died when quite
young. Priscilla, Rebecca, Mary, and Solomon
are also deceased. Jacob Wise was a soldier in
the War of 1812. Both he and his wife were
members of the Presbyterian church. He died
October 24, 1854, and Mrs. Wise September 7,
1862.

John Wise, farmer, Austintown township, Ma-
honing county, was born in Trumbull county,
August 13, i8i6. He is the second son of
Jacob Wise. He was married October i, 1844,
to Mary Cam, who was born in Canfield, Febru-
ary 18, 1820. Her father, a tailor by trade,
came from Pennsylvania. The union gave them
two children, Zenas, an attorney at Pine BlufT,
Kansas, and Thomas Jefferson, a coal operator
at Canfield. Mrs. Wise died May 24, 1854.
Mr. Wise was married a second time February i,
1855, lo Rachel A. Morns, born in Monmouth-
shue, England, February 26, 1828. They have
two children, Lucy, born February 7, 1856, the
wife of E. Grover Marshall, Weathersfield town-
ship, Trumbull county,and David, born May 30,
1865, now residing at home. Mrs. Wise is the
seventh of fourteen children of William Morris,
who emigrated to America in 1839, and settled
in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, where he was
a coal operator some years ; he then moved to
Weathersfield township, Trumbull county, and
was there a superintendent of mines.

CHAPTER VH.

JACKSON.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION.

This township, named in honor of Andrew
Jackson, is township two of range four of the
Western Reserve, and is bounded on the north
by Lordstown, Trumbull county; on the east by
Austintown; on the south by Berlin; and on the
west by Milton. The Meander creek drains the
eastern part of the township, pursuing its zigzag
course northward partly in this township but
mostly in .\ustintown. A number of small
streams erUer the creek from the westward, rcn-

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

dering the surface broken and uneven. There
are no long or very steep hills, but quite a num-
ber of undulations such as may be found in
prairie countries. The western half of the town-
ship may be briefly described as level. Many
broad fields, acres in extent, are apparently as
flat and even as the surface of a calm lake.
Likewise in the southern part of the township,
the fields which have been formed from the an-
cient swamp-land are almost uniformly smooth.

There is a large average of woodland inter-
spersed with acres of cultivated fields, this com-
bination producing an eff"ect very pleasing to
lovers of natural beauty. When the green man-
tle of spring is spread over all, or when the
magic painter, Autumn, with divinely skilled hand
has touched the forest trees, transformed their
foliage with countless tints of crimson, gold, and
scarlet, these groves assume a beauty which is
indescribable.

The soil is generally deep and rich, and is
well adapted to wheat and corn. But little of
the land is stony and all is easily cultivated.
The farm-houses are good and comfortable,
though by no means large or imposing in ap-
pearance.

There is but one village in the township, —
North Jackson, which is not north geograph-
ically but situated at the very center. The post-
office has been called by this name to distin-
guish it from the many other Jacksons in this
country.

Farming is the principal business. There has
never been a railroad through the township, but
one is now in process of construction and other
lines have been surveyed. The Alliance, Niles
&: Ashtabula road will pass diagonally through
the western and northern portion of the town-
ship, and with its completion there may be an
inception of other industries.

The western and much of the northern ]iart
of the township were originally covered with a
dense growth of hard wood, principally oak and
hickory. On the Meander there were many
sugar-maples. In the southern part of the town-
ship there were several kinds of soft wood found
in some tracts including considerable poplar.
Beech and ash grow in various parts of the
township.

A fair quantity of surface coal has been mined
in several places, but the deposits are not ex-
tensive. As yet no banks containing paying
quantities have been opened.

SETTLEMENT.

The first pioneers were nearly all of the Scotch-
Irish race, and moved to the township from
Pennsylvania. Samuel Calhoun was the first
actual settler. He located on the south line of
the township in 1803, and there passed the
remainder of his days. His sons were Andrew,
Samuel, and Matthew; his daughters Nancy,
Betsey, Isabel, Sally, Anna, Martha, and Esther.
Andrew Calhoun lived in the township, on the
eastern part, through his life. Anna became the
wife of David Leonard, and is still living in
Ellsworth township. The name is spelled Cal-
hoon by some of those who bear it.

William Orr, from Washington county, Penn-
sylvania, settled in 1803 or 1804 upon the farm
which remained in possession of the Orr family
many years. He built a frame house at an early
date, which was probably the first in the town-
ship. It was a story and a half in height, per-
haps twenty-four feet wide, and somewhat longer.
There was a stone chimney in the middle of
the house; it was both large and wide, and took
up a considerable amount of room. William
Orr died in 181 5, in his sixtieth year. His wife
Mary died in 1849, in her ninetieth year. Their
family consisted of eleven children, viz : James,
Margaret, John, Humphrey, William, Thomas,
Russel, Anna, Abraham, Isaac, and Mary. John,
Humphrey, William, and Russel settled in Mil-
ton and died there. Thomas lived in Jackson
for a time, then returned to Pennsylvania. James
moved to some distant part. Abraham and
Isaac are the only survivors of the family. The
former lives in Trumbull county and the latter in
Illinois. Anna was the wife of John Johnston.
Margaret married John Ewing.

Andrew Gault came to the township in 1803,
and made a permanent settlement in 1804. His
sons were Ebenezer, Robert, and Andrew ; his
daughters Rachel, Betsey, and Ann. Robert
and Andrew settled in the township, Andrew
upon the old place. Rachel married Andrew
Duer and settled in Ellsworth. Betsey married
Robert Gibson. Ann became the wife of Robin-
son Young, and lived In Austintown.

148

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

About 1804 Samuel Riddle, from Pennsylva-
nia settled in the southeast part of the township.
His house stood near where Mr. Kimmel's now
stands. His children were David, James, An-
drew, John, Samuel, Catharine, and Ann. Da-
vid married Betsey Van Emnion, and settled one
mile and a half northeast of the center. He
brought up a family of two sons and four daugh-
ters. James married Jane Bell of Pennsylvania,
and lived upon the old homestead. His family
consisted of ten children. Andrew married
Matilda Taylor and settled on the Meander, in
Ellsworth. He was the father of three sons and
two daughters. John became a doctor and prac-
ticed some time in \\'ooster. He married Rho-
da Winters and had four daughters. Samuel
married Mary Campbell, and settled one mile
west of the old place. He brought up two sons
and two daughtets. The daughters are dead.
His sons live in Jackson. Catharine married
John McCready, and lived in Bedford, Pennsyl-
vania. Ann married Nicholas Van Emmon and
resided in the western part of this township.

Robert Kirkpatrick was among the earliest set-
tlers, and probably came to this township soon
after the families just mentioned. He was a
native of Ireland, of Scotch-Irish blood. Five
of his cliildren arrived at maturity, viz : Martin,
Isaac, Josiah, Martha, and Eleanor. Martin and
Isaac lived and died in Ellsworth, where their
father i)urchased farms for them. Josiah passed
his life upon the old farm. Martha became
Mrs. McGeorge, and Eleanor Mrs. Wilson.
Martha is the only survivor. Robert Kirkpatrick
first settled in Austintown near Smith's corners,
but soon afterwards made a permanent settle-
ment in Jackson, on the Meander. He died in
1847, in the seventy-ninth year of his age.
Catharine, his wife, died in 1856, at the age of
eighty-seven. Josiah, the youngest son, died in
1878, aged sixty-four.

John Ewing, and his brother Archibald Ew-
ing, natives of Ireland, came with their mother
and sister in 1803 or 1804. 'I'hey first settled
in Austintown, and Archibald took up and lived
upon the old Ewing farm in that township. The
first night after their arrival the family passed be-
neath the shelter of a walnut tree. The sister
mentioned became Mrs. Robert Kirkpatrick.
John Ewing located in Jackson upon the farm
now owned by Mr. Kimmcl. He married Mar-

garet Orr, and reared a large family. A sketch
is given elsewhere.

John and Eleanor Morrison settled in 1805 on
the place where the widow Lynn now lives, south-
west of the center. James, Jane, John, Nancy,
Thomas, Martha, and Mary Ann were the names
of their children. The sons moved away quite
early — James to Holmes county ; John to the
northern part of Trumbull county ; and Thomas
to Pennsylvania. Mary Ann was married to
David Johnston, and is living in Jackson. She
is the only member of the family now in this
county.

In 1805 or 1S06 Nicholas VanEmmon settled
one mile and a half west and a mile south of the
center of the township. His wife died here,
after bringing up a large family. He married
again and moved away. None of the children
settled in the township.

From 1810 to 1820 there were scarcely any
permanent settlements made in the township.
Quite a number came and remained a short
time, but a few years' experience with the swamps
and the bad roads disgusted them, and they
either returned to civilization or pressed on to-
ward the newer settlements, declaring that such
a country wasn't " fit for a white man to live in."
The process of development was consequently a
slow one.

A man named Crooks was living on the farm
west of the Lynn farm in 1811, but moved
away soon after. Two of the sons afterwards
came back and settled in the northern part of
the township, where they remained a few years.

Thomas Dinwiddle was also a resident of the
township at that date, upon the farm now owned
by James Oswald. He moved away later.

James and Martha Patterson were early set-
tlers on the north side of the road, one-half mile
west of the center. They had no children. In
1823 they moved to Wayne county.

David McConnell settled in the northwestern
part of the township about 1817, but sold out
after making a few improvements.

John Graves settled near Joseph Pierce about
181 9. His farm was east of Mr. Pierce's. He
made considerable improvement. Joseph Mc-
Corkle bought the farm from him, moving to it
from the eastern part of the township. Mr. Mc-
Corkle died on the farm and his widow is still
living there.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

George Ormsby settled in Jackson previous to
1820 and lived to be an old man.

Joshua T. Cotton, who was a captain in the
War of 181 2, moved to Jackson township about
1818. He married in Youngstown Miss William-
son, and brought up a large family. From Jack-
son he moved to Indiana, where he died. Cap-
tain Cotton was a true specimen of the hardy
pioneer as well as a good and brave soldier.

About the same date John Pearsall settled one
and three-fourth miles east of the center. He
moved to another farm in this township, then to
Milton, and finally to Pennsylvania.

Joseph Pierce and wife, the father of Joseph
Pierce, one of the oldest residents of the town-
ship, moved from Youngstown to the northwest-
ern part of the township in the fall of 1818.
Mrs. Pierce died the following winter. Joseph
Pierce, Jr., came from Warren to this township
in 1819, with an axe as his only property. It
proved a very serviceable tool, for miles of road
had to be cut in order to reach his land. He
used to work from before daybreak until nine
and ten o'clock at night in the clearings. His
energy and industry won him a home which he
still lives to enjoy.

Thomas Duer settled on the west side of the
township about 1820 and died soon afterward.
His son Joseph passed his life on the old place.

John McMahan, of Pennsylvania, moved from
his native State to the northern part of Board-
man township in 1799, and remained until 1806,
when he settled on a farm m Austintown. He
served three months in the War of 181 2,
and died while on his way home. He was the
father of five sons and one daughter — James D.,
Benjamin, John, Thomas, Harriet, and Joseph.
James and Benjamin settled in Jackson in 1820.
John went West and has never been heard from.
Thomas settled in Lordstown, removed to Penn-
sylvania and died. Harriet, the wife of John
Cory, lives in Champion, Trumbull county.
Joseph died in Morgan county, Ohio.

In 1820 the widow of John McMahan, Sr.,
removed from Austintown to Jackson with her
sons. She died in 1855, aged about eighty-three
years.

James D. McMahan, who is perhaps the old-
est man living of those born upon the Reserve,
was born in Boardman township October 31,
1799. He was one of the pioneers of Jackson.

He married Betsey Cory and had a family of
eight children, four of whom are living — -John,
on the old homestead in the northern part of
Jackson; Thomas, one mile east of Warren; Silas,
in Champion township, and Mary in San Fran-
cisco, California. Mrs. McMahan died in 1868.
Mr. McMahan has since been living with his
sons. For a man of his years he is wonderfully
bright, active, and cheerful.

Benjamin McMahan settled in Jackson and
died in 1878. He was married three times.
His first wife bore three children, his second
one, and his third four. All these are living e.x-
cepting one.

John Cartwright settled about 1827 on the
farm northwest of Abraham Moherman's, but
moved away a few years later.

Abraham Moherman, son of Frederick
Moherman, one of the first settlers of Austin-
town, came to Jackson in 1827 and settled one
mile and a half west of the center where he now
lives. He was married in the township to Anna,
daughter of Daniel Rush, and has a family of
four children living.

John Moherman settled some time after his
brother. He married Mary Cassiday, now de-
ceased, and has four children living.

Thomas Woodward settled on the farm where
he now lives in 1828.

Robert Turnbull moved from Austintown to
Goshen township, and in 1828 located at Jack-
son center, where he made the first clearing in
what is now the village. His house stood on
the corner where the drug store now is. Squire
Turnbull is well remembered by the old resi-
dents, and is generally described as having been
a "smart man." He was married twice ; first to
Celia, daughter of John Wolfcale, of Austin-
town. One son by this marriage is now living
in Portage county. His name is Cyrus. For
his second wife Mr. Turnbull married Anna
Ormsby, of this township. One of the sons,
Lewis, was killed in a saw-mill in Indiana. The
family was a large one.

Jonathan Osborn bought land in the township
in 1828, and settled here permanently in 1836.

William Young, a native of Pennsylvania,
bought his farm in 1830, paying $5 per acre tor
it, when land in the northern and western part
of the township was worth $3 to $4 per acre.

From 1825 until 1835 the Pennsylvania Dutch

'5°

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

flocked to the township in large numbers. The
Schlabach, Wetherstay, Lodwick, Wannemaker,
Ebert, Shoeneberger, Iry, Shively, and other
famihes were the earliest and most prominent.
The limits of this article forbid us to go mto
particulars regarding the settlers of this date;
for though they may be regarded as pioneers in-
asmuch as they began in the woods, we cannot
in strict propriety call them early settlers.

By 1840 the settlement had grown almost to
its present dimensions. The census of that
year showed a population of 1,124. The Ger-
mans with their characteristic thrift and sturdy
industry have been largely instrumental in add-
ing to the wealth of the township.

One reason why the township was not settled
faster may be found in the fact that a consider-
able portion of the land it contains was not put
in the market by the proprietors until long after
many other townships had become thriving and
populous.

TAXES IN 1803.

Here is a list of the ta.x-payers of Jackson for
the year 1803:

RANGE FOUR, TOWN TWO.

-Amount Amount

of tax. of ta-^v.

Calhoun, Samuel $ 20 St.arnford, James $ 2^

Gault. Andrew 32 Riddle, Samuel i 59

Orr, William 32 Mclnrue, J osepli 40

Total.

FIRST EVENTS.

.\ndrew Gault, born in 1804, was the first
white male child born in the township, and James
Van Emmon the second. Mary Ewing (Mrs.
Andrew Gault) was born in 1807, and is said to
have been the first female child.

Probably the first marriage was that of John
I'Aving and Margaret Orr, which took place in
1805 in a little log-cabin on the Orr place, now
known as the Goldner farm. The ceremony was
])crformed by 'Squire Chidester, of Canfield.

The first death was that of Mary, daughter of
William and Mary Orr, who died February 18,
1805, in the fourteenth year of her age. Her
grave is in the old burying ground adjoining the
Covenanter church.

F.AKI.V SCHOOLS.

The first school-house in the township was on
the east line in the southeastern [)art. It was

made of logs, the cracks daubed with mud, and
the roof covered with loose boards weighted
down. The floor was made of split timber and
there were a few hard benches. The house was
placed on a side-hill or steep bank. John Ful-
lerton and a man named Ferguson were prob-
ably the first teachers. Fullerton was the school-
master of the settlement for many years. The
second school-house in this district, or rather in
this neighborhood, was a small log house, and
was situated on the hill northeast of the Cove-
nanter church, where it stood several years. In
one corner of the school-room was a stump —
its roots still in the ground and the floor fitted
around it — which had been sawed off and made
into a seat. This was called the "dunce block,"
and for a refractory urchin to be placed upon it
was deemed the most humiliating punishment
that could be administered.

Matilda Taylor probably taught the first sum-
mer school in this part of the township.

One night while Fullerton was the teacher he
and some of the larger boys succeeded in getting
a wagon fi.xed upon the roof of the school-house;
and when the wrathful owner of the conveyance
appeared and demanded that the mischief-makers
should be punished, the pedagogue gravely as-
sured him that he would do his best to find out
who they were and treat them as they deserved.

A third school-house of hewed logs was built
at the cross roads west of the Covenanter church.

The house in which William Young now lives
was the first framed school-house in the district.

Among the early teachers in the northwestern
part of the township were Orman Deane, Hayes
Bell, and Amelia Streeter.

In the Jackson Centre district previous to
1840 English was taught a part of the term and
German the remainder. Soon after Samuel

Jones settled he was elected a school director
and made a canvass of the district to find out
how many were in favor of substituting English
alone. He found only three opposed to this
plan, and those three had no scholars. The
change was accordingly made and the German
language ceased to be taught in the township.

In the first schools the "three R.'s" were all
the branches in which instruction was given.
The sjielling book and Bible were text books for
all scholars, whether old or young. Geograjjhy
and grannnar were not introduced for many

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

years, and their admission into the schools at all
was bitterly opposed by the conservative, old-
fashioned parents. They were considered inno-
vations unnecessary and worthless. " We got
along without studying them — why can't our
children?" This style of argument has always
met the friends of education, but we are thank-
ful that it no longer carries conviction with it.

The first grist-mill in the township was built
by Samuel Riddle, Sr. It was on the Meander,
in the southeastern corner of the township, and
must have been erected more than seventy years
ago. It was a small affair, and was made as
cheaply as possible. It was succeeded by a mill
situated just southeast of the old site. This
second mill was built by a man named Amos
Stoddard, and was run by the Riddles several
years. It was owned later by a man named
Butler, then by Benjamin McMahan, but was
destroyed by fire some years ago.

The Riddle saw-mill was built near the first
grist-mill mentioned above, but was in Ellsworth
township. It was probably erected as early as
1810. A saw-mill situated on a little run north-
west of the center, was standing in 1830. It
was known as Haynen's mill, afterwards as
Camp's mill. It ran until 1850 or later. No
trace of its site is now visible and the stream, for
a mill-stream, is decidedly a diminutive one.

James Crooks operated a carding- and fulling-
mill, about a mile and a quarter north of the
center, some fifty years ago. Horace Piatt
owned the mill after him. About the same time
a saw-mill was built by the McMahan's on the
same stream, north of the carding-mill. It was
run by different parties until within a few years.

Reuben Craver put up a sawmill on Morri-
son's run, and Andrew Gault bought it. William
Young built a saw-mill on the same stream in
1844. It is still standing but disused.

CHURCH HISTORY.

The early settlers of Jackson were a church-
going people, and had a place for public worship
at a very early date, so early that in these days
one can but wonder where the worshipers came
from and how they managed to pay a preacher.
But it IS not reasonable to suppose that the con-
gregations were large, or that the preacher re-
ceived more than a meagre salary. People rode

horseback or walked to church and came from

all the region around.

THE OLD LOG CHURCH.

The first church building in the township was
a structure of hewn logs, and was situated on a
hill near the west line of the township, on the
south side of the road running east and west.
It was probably built in 1818, or perhaps a little
earlier. The house contained a few rude seats
and had no floor except some loose boards. An
aged resident of Jackson remembers that he at-
tended services there and sat upon a sleeper
which formed a part of the building. This
primitive house of worship was used but a short
time. It was erected and used by the Presbyte-
rians of Jackson and Austintown. Rev. Joshua
Bier was the minister. He is described as a
good and pious old man, who adhered rigidly
and uncompromisingly to the strongest and most
old-fashioned doctrines. As a preacher he had
only ordinary talents, but his earnestness and
sincerity always secured the attention of his
hearers. On account of an unfortunate family
trouble he severed his connection with his little
flock, and the old church ceased to be a meet-
ing-house.

THE COVENANTERS.

As early as 1818 the Reformed Presbyterians
or Covenanters of the southeastern part of the
township organized and formed a church, and
were supplied by a minister who also presided
over the congregation of the same denomina-
tion at Little Beaver, Pennsylvania, thirty miles
distant. Mr. Williams, an aged missionary,
preached in the settlement occasionally beforethe
organization was effected. Rev. Robert Gibson
was the first regular preacher, and supplied the
congregation three or four years. Meetings
were held in barns in summer and in dwelling-
houses in winter. After Mr. Gibson resigned
his charge, there was a vacancy which continued
several years. About 1830 Rev. George Scott
was ordained pastor, and soon afterwards was
erected a small frame house, perhaps 25 x 30
feet in its dimensions. It was plain and cheaply
furnished, containing movable seats, and was
never painted cither inside or out. This build-
ing was used as a church for many years, but
was finally taken down and carried to the cen-
ter, where its materials were used in construct-
ing W. B. Mansel's wagon-shop.

152

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

In 1833 occurred the division in the church
which resulted in the formation of two schools
of Covenanters. Mr. Scott resigned his charge,
and joined the new school, which built a church
inAustintown later. Another vacancy ensued
until Rev. James Blackwood became pastor.
The church having been reorganized, a branch
of the same church at Greenville, Pennsylvania,
some forty miles distant, having been added to
the charge, which still included Little Beaver
and Jackson, Mr. Blackwood resigned on ac-
count of poor health and the large amount of
labor his pastorate demanded. Until about
1847 the church remained unsupplied, but at
that date Rev. Samuel Sterrett began his minis-
trations, and continued as the pastor over twenty
years. Soon after he entered upon his labors
here, the church building now standing was
erected— a very neat little country church of
ample size for the accommodation of its congre-
gation. Rev. R. J. George became pastor in
1870; succeeded by Rev. T. C. Sproul until 1879.
The church is at present without a pastor and
its membership small. Under Mr. Sterrett
Greenville was thrown from the charge, and later
Little Beaver. The two last mmisters were sup-
ported by the Jackson and Poland branches,
Poland branch having been added in place of
those that were dismissed.

The old church has had many periods of ad-
versity. Its prosperity was once quite marked.
Commencing with but a handful of members, it
grew to over seventy, then began to diminish.
Archibald Ewing, John Ewing, Robert Kirk-
patrick, Andrew Gault, William Knight, William
Young, Robinson Young and their families were
the principal and earliest members,
elders were Archibald Ewing
and James Truesdale.

THE METHODIST CHURCH.

The first preaching by this denomination was
begun in 1823 by Rev. Charles Elliot. In 1824
a class was formed consisting of eight members.
The first meetings were held at the house of
John Erwin.

Private houses and school-houses were used as
places for worship for some years, then the
building which is now Mansel's wagon shop was
purchased and occupied until the present build-
ing was erected north of the center in 1847.

Among the earliest Methodists who worshiped

The first
Andrew Gault,

in this township were John Pearsall and wife,
Richard Osborn and wife, Mrs. Susanna Mc-
Mahan, J. D. McMahan, George Ormsby and
wife, John Erwin and wife, and Mrs. Kincaid.

The early preachers were "circuit riders," who
filled a large number of appomtments and often
preached every day in the week.

LUTHER.\N .\ND GER.M.\N REFORMED CHURCH.

The early meetings of these societies were held
in private houses. In 1835 an organization was
effected and the cornerstone of the present
building laid. The house was built by the united
efforts of the Lutherans and German Reformed
inhabitants of Jackson. The house is situated a
short distance north of the center, and is a
quaint, old-fashioned building, square, with high
pulpit and galleries. It was dedicated in 1836,
the sermon on that occasion being preached by
Rev. Mr. Holder.

The first pastor of the Lutherans was Rev. F.
C. Becker, who has since served. The first
German Reformed pastor was Rev. J. P. Mah-
nenschmidt.

The Fulks, Shoenenbergers, Klingensmiths,
and others were among the leading members at
the time of the organization. The first trustees
were Samuel Klingensmith (Lutheran) and Peter
Fulk (German Reformed) ; first elders, Martin
Goldner (Lutheran) and Mr. Schlabach (Re-
formed).

The Sunday-school is made a union school and
supported by both denominations.

Father Becker, the venerable pastor of the
Lutherans, resides in Lordstown, and notwith-
standing the many busy years he has spent in his
holy calling, he is still vigorous and as attentive
to his work as in his youthful days. Mr. Becker
is father of most of the Lutheran church organi-
zations in this section.

THE DISCUM.ES.

This denomination has a comfortable little
house situated just south of the center. The
church was organized in the fall of 1852 by Rev.
C. Smith, with fifty-two members. For a time it
was in a flourishing condition, but it gradually
passed into a state of somnolence, and in 1874
was resurrected and reorganized by H. C. Carl-
ton, with thirty-four members. W. B. Dean,
Joseph Pierce, James Russell, George and Chris-
tian Shively have been mo.st active '

1 this church.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

and have contributed largely toward its support.
The church edifice, small but comfortable, is
situated at the center. There are now from sixty
to seventy members. The pastors have been
Revs. Smith, Wakefield, Reeves, Calvin, Green,
Carlton, Bartlett, and Bush.

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

This church was organized in November, 1871,
by members of the churches at Orr's corners and
Ohltown. There were twenty-one members
from the Newton church at Orr's corners, who
petitioned to become members of the new church,
and fifteen from the Rehoboth church, Ohltown,
were admitted to membership by letter. Five
persons, not at that time members of any church,
were received upon profession of faith.

The church building, a neat and tastefully
made house, probably the best country church
in the county, was completed the same fall.
The dedication took place December 28, 187 1,
Rev. John McMillan preaching the sermon on
that occasion. Among those who were the
largest subscribers to the building fund were
William Riddle, Samuel Riddle, David Ander-
son, Miles Marshall, David Calhoun, David John-
son, and Samuel Johnson.

The church received several additions to its
membership shortly after its organization, and
now numbers over ninety communicants. The
house was refurnished in 1881, and is now a
very pretty and very comfortable church. There
have been two settled ministers. Rev. Robert
T. McMahan was the first ; Rev. James W.
Reese, who is now in charge, the second.

GRAVEVARDS.

The oldest burial place in the township is in
the southeastern part near the Covenanter
church. Here, in an uneven piece of ground,
neglected, and overgrown with weeds and briers,
the bones of the first settlers and many of their
descendants repose.

There is a small graveyard in the northwest-
ern part of the township, less than a half acre in
area, which contains about twenty grave-stones.
The earliest death there recorded is that of
Lydia, wife of Anthony Stogdill, who died June,
12, 1832, aged thirty-seven.

North of the center are two graveyards ad-
joining the Methodist and the German churches.

IN EARLY DAYS.

We can find no traditions of mighty hunters;
but here must have been an ample field for
sportsmen. Deer were very numerous, and
there were a large number of their trails leading
through the township toward the salt springs.
Killing wolves was pursued, not for sport, but as
a matter of serious business, with a two-fold ob-
ject in view, namely, — to preserve the flocks
from their depredations, and to obtain the boun-
ty for their scalps. Mi. Joseph Pierce relates
that in one night seventeen sheep, — all of his
flock but three, — were destroyed by these hun-
gry marauders. John Pearsall, an early settler
in the eastern part of the township, was chased
one night by a pack of wolves. He was un-
armed at the time, but by seizing a heavy club
and making good use of it he was enabled to
reach home in safety.

One night in the winter of 18 19 Mrs. Pierce,
mother of Joseph Pierce, lost her way while
going to the house of her neighbor, McConnell,
and took by mistake a path which led toward the
salt spring, in Weathersfield. When the family
became alarmed because of her absence they
aroused the neighbors and hastened to search
for her. She was found about midnight some
miles from home. She contracted a severe cold
from this exposure and never recovered from its
effects.

Johnny, a little eight-year-old son of David
McConnell, got lost one day while going from
Pierce's house to his home. It was in the spring
of the year and a very wet season, the lowland
being entirely covered with water. The whole
neighborhood was aroused and men and women
commenced searching for the lost boy, wading
through water and mud. Trumpets were blown
and all joined in shouting, hoping that the boy
would be guided to his friends by the sounds.
After several hours Johnny was found near Jack-
son center by some of John Irwin's family. He
had reached a creek so swollen by rains that he
could not cross it, and had sat down by a tree
to rest, where it is supposed he fell asleep. A
heavy rain came on and awakened him sud-
denly. He began crying and thereby attracted
the attention of the Irwins, who came to his
rescue and restored him to his anxious parents.

The roads of Jackson township were long in
condition which rendered travel on foot or

154

TRUMBULL AND ^L\HONlNG COUNTIES, OHIO.

horseback anything but pleasurable. Wagons
were not much used, and many of the pio-
neers got along for years without one. The
State road running east to Youngstown was
cut out early in the present century, but for a
long time it remained impassable for any kind
of vehicles. West of the center there was a
long strip of "corduroy" road — formed by lay-
ing round logs in the mud. From 1830 to 1840
many improvements were made in the highways
previously marked out, and new roads built.
Mr. William Young says that when he came to
the township there were plenty of paths running
through the woods, but no roads worthy the
name. He was instrumental in having the north
and south road west of his place constructed,
and also assisted in making the north and south
center road. For several years the first named
road, now a much frequented thoroughfare, was
not traveled enough to keep the grass down.

The swamps and swales of the southern part
of the township were often covered with water
for weeks at a time.

Canfield and Warren were the nearest trading
places for the early settlers. There were very
few articles bought at the stores, however.
Sugar, clothing, etc., were manufactured at home.
Salt, leather, tea and coffee were necessarily pro-
cured of the merchants. Few families took a
newspaper, and letters were rarely sent or re-
ceived.

JUSTICES OF THE PE.ACE.

From the fact that no township records are in
existence, excepting those of a comparatively
recent date, we can give no names of early town-
shi[) otficers. It is generally agreed that Andrew
Gault was the first justice, and John Pearsall the
second. Robert TurnbuU, William L. Roberts,
Thomas Woodward, Jonathan Osborn, Jonas
Ebert, David Camp, Jackson Truesdale, Samuel
Johnston, Samuel Jones, William Anderson,
Moses Felnagle, G. W. Osborn, and perhaps
others, have held the office.

THE VILLAGE.

Jackson center, or North Jackson— it is the
same place whichever name you use — is a thrifty
little couiitry village containing a goodly number
of white houses, as well as four churches, four
stores, a hotel, a saloon, three blacksmith shops,
a tannery, two saw mills, a naxiiiill, a wagon-

shop, a harness shop, and a tailor's shop. A
daily mail is received from West Austintown.

MERCHANTS.

Colwell Porter, Austintown's most successful
merchant, started the first store in 1834, and em-
ployed a man named Housel to keep it. The
goods were kept in a part of 'Squire Turnbull's
log house. Afterwards Gideon Anthony managed
the business, the firm being Porter & Anthony
A man named Koons had a store in 1834,
which he sold to Augustus Grater about the time
Porter sold his interest to Anthony. Grater &
Hoffman were in business on the southeast
corner some years. David Anderson com-
menced in 1843, '"i^d afterwards sold to John
Cartwright. About the same time Turnbull &
Welkers had a store on the northwest corner of the
center. David Anderson again commenced in
1856 on the southeast corner, and Anthony &
Flaugher on the southwest corner. Anderson &
Fusselman formed a partnership under the name
D. Anderson & Co., and in 1862 the firm was
changed to Anderson, ShafTer & Co.; the firm is
now G. W. Shaffer & Co. Welkers sold to
Moherman, Osborn & Lynn. Lynn retired, and
the firm then became Moherman, Osborn &
Moherman, afterwards changed to William & A.
Moherman. They were followed by Dickson &
Kirk, who were burned out in 1874. Fulk &
Anderson commenced in 1866; Anderson with-
drew, and the firm of Fulk, Wetzel & Wanne-
maker commenced business in 1868; Wetzel and
Wannemaker retired, and Gideon Fulk con-
tinued until his death in 1873. Daniel B. Blott
is now the proprietor of the store. G. W. Os-
born and Osborn & Jones were in business as
drug and hardware merchants a short time be-
tween 1865 and 1870. Shields, Orr & Co. had a
furniture store for about one year. B. F.
Phillips, who carries an extensive stock of drugs,
medicines, notions, and jewelry, has been in
the place since 1878. The two dry goods stores
are well stocked, and their owners are receiving
a large and well-merited patronage. Samuel
Jones opened a hardware store in 1880. Con-
sidering the size of the place, there is a large
amount of trading done at North Jackson.

PHYSICIANS.

The doctors who have resided for a short
time in Jackson have been many. It is evident-

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

ly a good place in which to begin the practice of
medicine. Dr. Isaac Powers was the first physi-
cian, and remained less than a year. Dr. James
F. Porter came in 1839, and was a successful
practitioner for some years. Dr. Jackson Trues-
dale, Drs. Davis, Davidson, Gilmore, Connor,
Burger, McKinley, Keith, Wilson, and others
have each been here for short periods. Dr.
^Vells Spear was here some twenty years ago,
and remained long enough to make an excellent
reputation.

The present physicians are Dr. H. H. Webster
and Dr. E. D. Hughes. Both are constantly
increasing their practice, and rising in the respect
of the people.

INDUSTRIES.

It was some time after the stores were opened
at the village before there were any other in-
dustries.

In 1848 the steam saw-mill now owned by D.
D. Jones was erected by Gideon Anthony and
John Wannemaker. The mill now operated by
Gault & Fullerton was built by Henry Prince at
a later date.

The tannery of Miles Marshall & Sons was
built by Mr. Marshall and Samuel Jones in 1848.
Mr. Jones was in business with Mr. Marshall for
about two years. The original building has been
enlarged and its proprietors are doing a good
business.

The hotel was built about 1844 by Benjamin
Wannemaker, who was its landlord for souiC
years, then sold to Samuel Wannemaker. In
i860 the house was purchased by its present
proprietor, Cyrus Koons, who has enlarged and
improved it.

In 1870 Samuel Wannemaker put up a build-
ing west of the center where he dresses fla.x,
presses hay and straw, etc.

THE FIRST TAVERN.

Robert TurnbuU kept a house of entertain-
ment, but perhaps not a regular tavern. Jacob
Probst, who also worked at his trade of tailoring,
was keeping tavern in 1837 in the building now
used by W. B. Mansel as a wagon-shop. Mr.
Mansel, as will be seen from these pages, owns
two buildings that once were churches, as well
as a tavern and a school-house. The old tavern,
the Methodist church, and the school-house are
tlie same building, however.

OTHER M.\TTERS.

Robert Turnbull was the pioneer at the cen-
ter, and built the first house. He came about
1828, and died in 1852. David Urick was the
second settler at the center, coming soon after
'Squire Turnbull. He lived where 'Squire Jones
now resides. He was a carpenter by trade, a
good workman, and helped to build many houses
in the township. Abner, one of his sons, is still a
resident of Jackson.

Solomon Stroup moved from Pennsylvania to
Jackson in 1833, and is still living here. He
says he thinks there were but two houses at the
center at the time of his coming. The growth of
the place was slow. In 1840 there were seven
or eight houses in the village.

Eli Marberger was the first blacksmith at the
center. He was the strongest kind of a Demo-
crat as well as a good citizen and an industrious
worker. The post-ofifice was kept in his shop
for some years. He was elected justice of the
peace, but resigned after serving a very short
time. Mr. Marberger sold out and went to
Niles.

THE POST-OFFICE.

The first postmaster at North Jackson was
Robert Turnbull. The office was established in
1834 or 1835. Dr. James Portei,D. Anderson,
Eli Marberger, Gideon Fulk, and G. W. Shaffer
have succeeded in the office.

NORTH JACKSON HIGH SCHOOL.

A general feeling of interest in educational
matters seems to have come upon the citizens
about the year 1856. A select school was formed
soon after, and Robert A. Kirk became the
teacher. The building now used as a paint-shop
was used as a school-room for a few terms. In
i860 the academy was erected, and thereafter,
until recently, there have been regular terms of
school. O. P. Brockway was the first teacher in
the new house.

About four years ago the building was pur-
chased of the stockholders by the trustees of the
township, to be used as a town hall, but with the
understanding that the citizens of the township
should have the privilege of using the house for
a select school whenever they desired.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

Biographical Sketches.

THE OSBORN FAMILY.

Nicholas Osborn, when a young man, emi-
grated to this country from England and settled
in Virginia. He married in that State Margaret
Cunnard, and reared a family of children, as
follows: Jonathan, Sarah, Abraham, Richard,
John, Elizabeth, Anthony, Mary, Joseph, and
Aaron. His occupation was farming and mill-
ing. In 1804 he sold out and came to Trum-
bull county, Ohio, now Mahoning county, and
purchased a large tract of land, one thousand
acres of which was in Youngstown township and
five hundred acres in Canfield, and he had in
addition to these still other tracts. With him
came Abraham, Anthony, Joseph, and their fam-
ilies, Aaron, then single, and the family of Wil-
liam Nier. John and his family came a short
time before the rest. Joseph Osborn was born
in Virginia in May, 1775, and when twenty-two
years of age he married Margaret Wolfcale,
daughter of John Wolfcale, who was born Octo-
ber 7, 1774. They became the parents of ten
children, viz: Sarah, Mary, Mahlon, Jonathan,
John W., Alfred, Abner, Thomas P., Elizabeth,
and Joseph. On the 25th day of December,
1S04, Joseph Osborn moved upon a part of the
one thousand acre tract, which contained a log
house erected by a man by the name of Park-
hurst. The floor consisted of a few loose boards,
and the door and windows were simply openings
cut out of the sides of the house. There was
no ceiling, and the fire-place had no hearth.
Ujion that |)lace he resided and toiled until his
death, which occurred February 17, 1846. His
wife died July 20, 1854. Jonathan Osborn, a
son of Joseph and Margaret Osborn, was born
in Loudoun county, Virginia, May 28, 1804. The
same year his parents removed to Ohio, and
settled on the land which had been purchased
in Trumbull county, as previously mentioned.
Jonathan had but few early advantages for the
acquirement of an education, but he has be-
come, by reading and observation, a well in-
formed man. He remamed upon the farm until
after he was twenty-one. When he started for
himself he had only a two-year-old colt. For
the first five years he worked for Judge Baldwin,
commencing at $2 per month. During this time

he bought two hundred acres of land, paying
$2.30 per acre for it. January 28, 1836, he mar-
ried Mary Ann Gofif, daughter of Humjjhrey
Goff, then of Youngstown. She was born Feb-
ruary 15, 1818, near Lewistown, Pennsylvania.
This marriage was blessed with si.x children, viz:
George W., Margaret J., Albert M., William N.,
Mary Alice, and Jonathan W. William and
Jonathan died in early childhood. Mr. Osborn
resides on a finely improved farm in the north-
west part of Jackson township.

NOTES OF SETTLEMENT.

Andrew Calhoon was born in Pennsylvania
October 5, 1777. In the first settlement of the
country he and his father, Samuel Calhoon, came
to Jackson township, now Mahoning county,
bought them land and made preparations for the
arrival of the mother, Nancy Calhoon, and
Samuel and Matthew, and their ten sisters.
Their only neighbors were the wild animals.
Their greatest drawback was the heavy timber
which occupied the soil, but the soil when ex-
posed to the sun produced abundantly and there
was no danger of starvation. But the wheat and
corn had to be taken many miles during the first
years of the settlement of the county in order to
be ground for food. In a few years, however,
neighbors began to come in, fields expanded, and
the log cabins gave place to more commodious
dwellings. Andrew Calhoon married Elizabeth,
daughter of James Marshall, of Weathersfield,
Trumbull county. She was then eighteen years
of age. The result of this marriage was twelve
children, nanely: Isaac, Nancy, Lydia, David,
Elizabeth, Matilda, Andrew, Samuel, James,
Malissa, Belinda, and one that died in infancy.
.'Ml of those named lived to maturity, although
Nancy and Lydia are now deceased. Andrew
Calhoon died October 5, 1833. His wife lived
a widow something over forty years and died
December 28, 1873.

David Calhoon, son of the subject of the pre-
ceding sketch, was born in Jackson township,
Mahoning county, December 18, 18 14. He at-
tended only the pioneer schools where the "three
R's " (reading, 'riting, and 'rithmetic) were
taught. He remained on the home farm until
he was of age and then bought a part of the

I

1fe»

J/(?2^?««?/5C<?-s^'^' (Qj-C'tp

c-i'fi^:^:::)

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

[57

farm where he now resides in Jackson, which
was then heavily timbered. He has since added
to his first purchase and now has about two
hundred acres. April 16, 1840, he married
Rebecca Riddle, who was born in western Penn-
sylvania January 17, 1818, and when about two
years old came with her parents to Jackson
township. By this marriage there were seven
children, to-wit: Andrew C, Samuel S., David
B., John M., Elizabeth J., Sylvester J., James
W, all living at this writing. Mr. and Mrs.
Calhoon are members of the Presbyterian
church.

Andrew Gault, Jr., youngest of seven children
of .Andrew Gault, Sr., was born in Jackson town-
ship, Mahoning county, December 7, 1804. An-
drew Gault, Sr., was a native of Ireland and
when about seventeen years of age he emigrated
to America and after a time settled in Washing-
ton county, Pennsylvania. April 22, 1788, he
married Eleanor Chesney, by whom he had seven
children. In 1803 he emigrated with his family
to Trumbull county, Ohio, and settled in Jack-
son township, where his grandson, James G., and
his mother now live. He died January 8, 1832,
surviving his wife, who died April 27, 1829. An-
drew Gault received a good education for the
times, attending, besides the common schools,
select schools and the Canfield school. He
helped to clear the farm on which he lived and
devoted his life to his chosen occupation, that
of farming. March 31, 1831, he married Mary
Ewing, daughter of John Ewing, of Jackson
township. She was born May 22, 1807. The
result of this marriage was ten children, viz :
Eleanor, Margaret, John E., Andrew R., Robert
A., Margery Ann, James G., Sarah J., Mary C.,
and Rachel E., all of whom are living except
Eleanor and Margery. It is said that Andrew
Gault, our subject, was the first white male child
born in Jackson township, and that his wife was
the first female child. Mr. Gault was an intel-
ligent but unassuming man and a Christian. He
was a member of the Covenanter church. He
died at the age of about si.\ty-si.\.

Robert A. Gault, son of the above, was born
on the old homestead in Jackson, August 26,
1839. In 1 85 1 he enlisted in company F,
Forty-first Ohio volunteer infantry, serving four
years and two months in the Army of the Ten-
nessee and was in the battles of Pittsburg Land-

ing, Murfreesboro, Dallas, etc. He entered the
service as a private but rose to the position of
captain. In 1867 he was married to Miss Mar-
tha Johnson and has three children, viz : Cas-
sius, Homer J., and Edith E.

James G. Gault, youngest son of Andrew
Gault, Jr., was born in Jackson township August
21, 1842. In 1864 he went out in the one
hundred day service, enlisting in company G,
One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Ohio National
guard. In 1869, June isth, he married Mary
Ellen Ewing, who was born November 24, 1844.
They have three children, viz: Charles C, Lois
M. B., and Grace Irene.

Robert Gault, Jr., was born in Green town-
ship, Mahoning county, on December 8, 18 14.
He is the only child of Robert Gault, Sr., who
was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania,
on March 31, 1789. Robert Gault, Sr., was the
oldest child of Andrew Gault. Robert Gault
was educated in the schools of Pennsylvania,
and thus had probably better advantages than
his younger brothers, whose chances for "school-
ing " were in the pioneer schools. He aided in
clearing up and making a home and a sus-
tenance on the tract of land which now consti-
tutes the homestead. He and his father, when
he was grown, purchased a farm of one hundred
and sixty acres, on which the subject of this
sketch now resides. In the fall of 1813 he mar-
ried Charlotte Bowman, daughter of Phillip
Bowman, a pioneer of Green township. He was
a German by birth and immigrated from Mary-
land to Iowa. Prior to his immigrating he was
one of the soldiers of the Revolutionary war. A
few months after their marriage Robert Gault,
Sr., was drafted in the War of 181 2, and started
for Detroit. At Cleveland he was taken ill, but
for fear of being called a coward he proceeded
with his company toward Detroit, but on the way
was taken worse and died at Rocky River, Ohio,
at the house of Widow Miner, October 29, 1814.
Mrs. Gault, meanwhile, had gone to her father's
in Green township, Mahoning county, where soon
after her husband's death she gave birth to her
only child by this husband. She afterwards
married Joseph Hudson and moved to Iowa.
When Robert Gault, Jr., was two years old he
went to live with his grandfather, Andrew Gault.
With him he grew up. On December 9, 1835,
he married Margery Ewing, daughter of John

tS8

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

Ewing, of Jackson township. She was born in
Jackson township on June 3, 1816. This mar-
riage was blessed with twelve children — John,
born December 27, 1836; Alexander and Mar-
garet Sarah (twins), May 26, 1838; Mary, De-
cember 14, 1839; Andrew, November 14, 1841;
Caroline, July 8, 1843; Martha J., March 8,
1845; Gideon, November 6, 1846; Samuel S.,
March 11, 1S48; William, March 28, 1850; Gib-
son J., December 6, 1852, and Robert E., March

7, 1855. Caroline died August 31, 1844. An-
drew enlisted in 1861 in the Forty-first regiment,
Ohio volunteers, and was in the Army of the
Cumberland. He was wounded in the arm at a
skirmish at Dallas, Georgia, while retreating.
This necessitated amputation, from the effects of
which he died July 8, 1864. Both Mr. and Mrs.
Gault are members of the United Presbyterian
church.

Samuel Riddle, the subject of this sketch, was
born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, July

8, 1794. His father, whose name was also
Samuel, came to Jackson township, now Ma-
honing county, about the year 1803 or 1804.
He settled on the Meander where he erected one
of the first mills in that locality, which was long
known as Riddle's mill. Samuel Riddle, our
subject, was married June 18, 1818, to Polly
Campbell, daughter of William Campbell, who
was born m Pennsylvania March 28, 1792. By
this marriage there were six children, viz: William
C, Martha J., Margaret, Samuel, and a pair of
twins that died in infancy. Both the daughters
are now deceased. Margaret was the wife of
Gibson Ewing. Samuel Riddle died March 30,
1869, and his wife Polly November 2, 1854.

William C. Riddle, the oldest of the children
of the subject of the preceding sketch, was born
in Jackson township, Mahoning county, then
'iVumbull, May 13, 1819. He remained at home
upon the farm until he was twenty-seven, when
he married and settled upon a farm two miles
southeast of North Jackson, where he lived until
five years ago, when he moved to that village.
June 27, 1848, he married Martha J., daughter
of John and Margaret Ewing, of Jackson town-
ship. She was born August 12, 1823. Though
living in town Mr. Riddle superintends his farm,
wliich is situated a short distance from his
present residence. Himself and wife are mem-
bers of the Presbyterian church.

Samuel Riddle, a younger brother of William
C, was born in Jackson township. May 16, 1827.
He derived his education at the district schools,
which he attended for the most part during the
winter season. When he was seventeen he
taught his first school, and subsequently con-
tinued school teaching for six winters, and taught
the school he formerly attended the winter after
his marriage. Some six years after his marriage
he bought the farm on which he now lives, east
of North Jackson. He was united in marriage
April 17, 1851, to Mary Spear, daughter of
Alexander Spear, of Hartford, Trumbull county,
who was born at Mount Jackson, Pennsylvania,
August 12, 1824. For over twenty years he and
his wife have been members of the Presbyterian
church of Ohltown and of North Jackson.

John Ewing was a native of county Donegal,
Ireland, and when about seventeen years of age
his mother (his father having previously died)
with two sons and two daughters emigrated to
America. They first setttled is Penn's valley,
Pennsylvania, where for seven years he worked
a farm on shares. In 1803 John Ewing came
to Jackson township, now Mahoning county,
wliere he bought a piece of land and erected the
second house in the tow^nship. His older broth-
er, Archibald, came out at the same time and
settled in Austintown. The county was then
almost a complete wilderness, with few neigh-
bors (if settlers living miles apart and separated
by dense woods can be called neighbors), the
nearest mill being near Darlington, Pennsyl-
vania ; it was with these surroundings and under
these circumstances that the subject of this biog-
raphy began to build up a home. But his in-
dustry and energy brought piosperity, and he
added to his original tract from time to time un-
til he had a large property. When he com-
menced farming labor was worth only* $4 per
month. He married Margaret Orr, daughter of
William Orr, then of Jackson but a native of
Pennsylvania. They had a family of tw^elve chil-
dren, as follow : Mary, Eleanor, Ann, Margaret,
Alexander, Margery, Sarah, Gibson, Catharine,
Martha J., John, and Rebecca, all of whom
lived to adult age. Margaret, Sarah, Catharine,
and Rebecca are now deceased. The father
died July 13, 1842, aged seventy-one years. His
wife survived him. He was drafted in the War
of 1812 and started for the field, but the news

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

from Hull's army caused him with others to re-
turn to their homes. He was an honest, up-
right man, and a good citizen, warmly attached
to his adopted country, but owing to some pecul-
iarity of his disposition never became natu-
ralized. He and his wife were members of the
Reformed church.

Alexander E. Ewing, oldest son and fifth child
of John Ewing, of the preceding sketch, was
born in Jackson township, Mahoning county,
October 2, 18 14. He remained with his father
on the farm until he was twenty-seven, when, in

1842, he moved on the farm where he now lives
which was then covered with forest. On May
19, 1842, he married Mary Ann Cook, daugh-
ter of James Cook, of Lawrence county, Penn-
sylvania. She was born March 14, 182 1. They
had five children: Margaret J., born March 24,

1843, died June 7, i860; William J., born May
II, 1845; James C, born May 7, 1847; Gibson
C, born February 24, 185 1; and Mary Ellen
Tirzah, born August 17, 1S59. Mr. and Mrs.
Ewing are members of the Reformed Presby-
terian church. Mr. Ewing is the oldest resident
of this township who was born in it.

Gibson Ewing, second son and eighth child of
John Ewing, was born in Jackson township,
Mahoning county, July 23, 1818. He attended
the common schools of his boyhood days a short
time during the winter months, but he acquired
learning easily and made such progress that for
five successive winters after his nineteenth year
he taught school. He remained at home until
he was nearly twenty-five engaged at farming,
when not teaching, and on May 19, 1842, mar-
ried Margaret Riddle, who was born in Jackson
township September 18, 1823. This union
resulted in eleven children, five dying in infancy.
The following lived to maturity, viz: Samuel
J., born July 17, 1844; Martha, born August 7,
1846; James R., born October 4, 1852; Ruther-
ford B., born October 9, 1858 (died January 23,
1881); Mary A., born May 18, 1861; Sarah M.,
born November 3, 1863. Samuel was in the
army in the war of the Rebellion in company F,
Forty-first regiment, and was shot at the battle
of Murfreesboro, on Stone river. Mrs. Ewing
died January 10, 1872. She was a member of
the Reformed Presbyterian church. Mr. Ewing
is now connected with the United Presbyterian
church of Younostown.

William Shafer was a native of Virginia, born
in 1813. When he was yet a boy his father,
Samuel Shafer, emigrated from northern Vir-
ginia and settled a little over a mile southwest of
Austintown center. He was the father of eight
children, viz: Henry, John, William, Samuel,
Daniel, Edward, Maria, and Eliza Jane. School-
houses in that early day being very scarce, Wil-
liam and his brother attended school for a time
in Jackson township. William received but a
meager education in these schools, working
meanwhile upon the farm. A few years after
his mariiage he bought one hundred acres of
land in Champion township, on which there had
not been a stick of timber cut. The first winter
they lived in a log house which was built without
a fire-place and which was destitute of a stove.
He lived upon that place, clearing and improv-
ing it, and working also at his trade, that of
stone-mason. He married Elizabeth, daughter
of George Gilbert, of Austintown. He was a
soldier in the War of 1812. This marriage re-
sulted in a family of five children, viz : Eliza-
beth, Henry, Jonathan R., Cornelius, and Phebe
J., of whom all are living e.Kcept Cornelius, who
died in the winter of 1880-81. William Shafer
died in 1855 in the forty-second year of his age.

Henry Shafer, oldest son of the subject of the
foregoing sketch was born in Austintown town-
ship, Mahoning county, October 28, 1835. His
parents having settled in the woods when he was
a child, where the nearest school-house was over
two miles distant, and there being so much hard
work required upon the farm he enjoyed slender
advantages for the acquirement of an education.
He remained upon the farm until he was about
twenty years of age, when he learned the car-
penter's trade, and has made this a part of his
business since, though farming is his chief occu-
pation. In October, i860, he was married to
Louisa, daughter of Abraham Strock, of Austin-
town township, by whom he has had six children,
as follow : William, Frank B., Leander D., .
Lewis A., George W., and Charles Caster, of
whom William and Lewis are dead. Mrs. Shafer
died November 2, 1879. She was a member of
the Christian church.

Jonas Wannemaker was born in Lehigh
county, Pennsylvania, December 12, 1821. His
father, Daniel Wannemaker, was also a Pennsyl-
vanian and a miller by trade. He married Cath-

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

arine Kistler, whose father was a Revolutionary
soldier and died of camp fever near Philadel-
phia. By this marriage there were seven chil-
dren— Nathan, Sophia, Abbie, Daniel, John,
Benjamin, and Jonas. Abbie and John are
dead. When the subject of this sketch was
about twelve years of age his lather died and
some three years afterward his mother and her
family, except the oldest child, emigrated to
Trumbull county, and located in Southington
township. Mrs. VVannemaker there married
Daniel Murrboyer, of Warren township. When
the subject of this sketch was seventeen he be-
gan clearing a farm of one hundred and eight
acres, which fell to him and his brother Benja-
man from the estate. For some four years after
he was twenty-one he worked most of the time
at carpentering with his brothers, Daniel and
John. Since that time he has been engaged at
farming. About thirty years ago he purchased
and moved upon the farm where he now lives.
January, 1847, he married Hannah Ebert, of
Jackson, by whom he has had ten children —
Mary, Charles A., Thomas, Wesley, William
Henry, Sarah A., Lottie C, Elmer D., Jonas F.,
and L. Dell. Mary died in infancy and Charles
at the age of twenty-two. Mrs. Wannemaker
died May 23, 1879. She was and he is a mem-
ber of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Tobias Kimmel was born in Somerset county,
Pennsylvania, in 1802. When quite a small
boy his father, Isaac Kimmel, came to Youngs-
town township, Trumbull county, now Mahon-
ing, where he remained for a number of years
and then removed to Coitsville township. He
was a farmer by occupation. Tobias Kimmel
when a young man learned the blacksmith trade
and for a number of years carried on a shop in
Youngstown. About 1824 he moved to his
farm which he occupied some eight years, when
he moved to Poland township where he resided
until his death. His wife was Rebecca, daughter
of \Villiam Smith, of Mercer county, Pennsyl-
vania, who became the mother of the following
named children, all living to mature age, viz:
Abraham, William, Philip, Smith, Dwight, Mary,
John, Sarah, Ruth Ann, and Tobias M. Philip
died at the age of twenty-two. After his wife's
death Mr. Kimmel married Lida Shearer, nee
McBride, who is still living. Mr. Kimmel died
January 20, 1S80.

Smith Kimmel was born in Coitsville town-
ship September 9, 1830. He derived his educa-
tion in the common schools, and farming has
been his chief occupation although for a number
of years he has carried on a blacksmith shop
with his brother Abraham in Coitsville township.
Decembei 21, 1852, he married Julia Ann,
daughter of David Struble, of East Hubbard.
This marriage has been blest with eight children,
to wit: Martin A., David A., Alice N., Mary
E., Frank E., Charles E., Gilbert B., and Arthur
D. Alice is deceased. In 1864 Mr. Kimmel
was called out with his company and regiment —
company C, One Hundred and Seventy-first
Ohio National guard — and served one hundred
days under Heintzleman. While in the service
he contracted a fever from which he has never
wholly recovered. He resided in Coitsville
township until six years of ago when he pur-
chased the John Ewing place, in Jackson town-
ship, where he now resides.

James Hervey Webster was born in the State
of New York. He was a mason by trade and
also carried on a farm in Chautauqua county.
When a few years old he moved to Sandusky
county, Ohio, where he married Mary Ann Tucker,
daughter of Nathaniel and Mary Tucker, now
living at an advanced age in Sandusky county.
Soon after their marriage they moved upon a
farm in Chautauqua county. New York, where
he remained until his death, which occurred
April I, 1870. He was an old-time Whig and
afterward a Republican. He was the father of
ten children, of whom three died in infancy,
Jason, Herbert T., Henry H., Ella A., Ralph
D., Israel J., and Nelson R. The mother of
these children afterward married Philip R.
Snider, and is now living near Port Clinton,
Ottawa county, Ohio.

H. H. Webster, M. D., was born in Portland
township, Chautauqua county, New York, July
30, 1849. He is the third child of James H.
Webster, a sketch of whose life has been given.
Dr. H. H. Webster was educated in the common
schools, and through the influence of his brother.
Dr. H. T. Webster, for five years a practicing
physician of Jackson, he began studying medi-
cine, and graduated after attending three courses
of lectures at the Eclectic Medical institute of
Cincinnati, in the spring of 1873. He located
first at Niles with his brother, where he remained

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

until August, 1874, when he went to Montville,
Geauga county, where he remained until January
II, 1879, when he came to Jackson and bought
out his brother, and has since practiced in that
town and vicinity. February 18, 1875, he mar-
ried Martha Jones, daughter of Samuel Jones, of
Lordstown township. She was born May 18,
1850. They have two children, Samuel J.,
born October 25, 1876; Hervey, born Novem-
ber, 1877. Mrs. Webster is a member of the
Disciple church. Dr. Webster is a member of
the society of Free and Accepted Masons.

Thomas Woodward, a native of Milford town-
ship, Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, was born De-
cember 17, 1799. He is the fifth child of Jehu
Woodward, who married Rachel Rummins, of
Mifflin county, Pennsylvania. They had the
following children: James, Ruth, Joseph, Lydia,
Thomas, William Leonard, Jehu, Elizabeth,
Rachael, Joel, and Ezekiel. When Thomas was
seventeen years old he was apprenticed to learn
the carpenter's and cabinet-maker's trade, serving
two years, after which he worked at his trade
about two years. In April, 1823, he came to
Austintown where he remained a year, then went
to Youngstown where he built houses which are
yet standing. He then bought land which con-
stitutes his present farm. This was a dense for-
est at that time, out of which he made a fruitful
farm and comfortable home. He married Janu-
ary 10, 1823, Margaret Shively, daughter of
Frederick Shively, of Austintown. She was
born in Tyron township, Cumberland county,
Pennsylvania, August 17, 1805. They had thir-
leeen children: Jehu, Leonard, Jolin, Abraliam,
Elizabeth, Margaret, Rachel, Joel, Angeline,
Mary, Ezekiel, Melissa Olive, and Almina, of
whom Leonard, Rachel, Margaret, and Ezekiel
are dead, the two former living to be grown.
He has been a Democrat from Jackson's time;
has held several township offices, and was for
eleven years justice of the peace of Jackson.
He is one of the oldest residents of the town-
ship. Mrs. Woodward has been for years a
member of the Methodist church. He is an
upright man enjoying the esteem of all who know
him.

William Young was born in Little Beaver town-
ship, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, January 14,
1804. He was the fourth in a family of nine
children of James and Esther Young. He re-

mained with his father until he was about six-
teen, and on starting out in life he went to
Buffalo where he worked out six months teaming.
He spent the winter at home threshing with a
flail for the tenth part, and m the spring he
went up the Allegheny river, and for three years
was at work on the canals m Pennsylvania
and Ohio. September 8, 1830, he married
Sarah McGeorge, a former school-mate, and on
the third day after their marriage he and his
young bride started on horseback for Tfumbull
county, Ohio. He purchased the farm on
which he now lives and moved upon it in 1837.
There was but little clearing done and a log
house and barn constituted the improvements.
He has since added to his original purchase
until he owns over three hundred and twenty
acres in the southeast part of Jackson township.
His farms are now managed by his three sons.
By his first marriage he had eight children :
William, Hatton, Adaline, Julia A., James,
John, Mary, and Clark, of whom the oldest and
youngest are dead. His first wife died October
27, 1854, aged fifty-two, and July 5, 1855, he mar-
ried Margaret Anderson, of Poland township, by
whom he had two children : Emily and Mar-
garet. His second wife died April 9, 1858,
aged nearly forty-two, and he married a third
time. May 5, 1859, Ellen Wallace, from near
Petersburg, Mahoning county. His third wife
died April 4, 1880, aged sixty-two. He had by
this marriage one child, W. M. Wallace. Mr.
Young is a member of the Reform Presby-
terian church. His daughter Adaline married
John Truesdale and is now living in Richland
county, Wisconsin ; Julia married Daniel Gib-
son, and now resides in Beaver county, Pennsyl-
vania ; Mary became the wife of Charles An-
thony, and lives in Nodaway county, Missouri;
Margaret married Sylvester Calhoon, and resides
in Sumner county, Kansas ; and Emily resides
at home with her father.

James Russell was born in Austintown town-
ship, Mahoning county, July i, 1S15. His father
was Robert Russell, who settled in that town-
ship in 1806. The subject of this sketch de-
rived his education in the schools of that early
period, the teachers of which, in many instances,
taught both English and German. He worked
upon the home farm until he was twenty-six
years of age, when he moved to the farm in

i6j

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

Jackson where he now lives, which now consists
of two hund'ed acres. May 4, 1841, he married
Catliarine, daughter of Henry Foos, one of the
pioneers of Austintown and a soldier of the War
of 181 2. He moved into Austintown just at the
close of the war. Mrs. Russell was born Octo-
ber 21, 1820. They have a family of seven
children, as follows: Clark, Austin, Henry,
Robert, Newton, Almeda A., and James Mon
roe. Mr. Russell has always attended strictly to
his ow^n affairs ; has never been a witness at court
and has never been a litigant, either as plaintiff
or defendant, which few can say. He and his
wife are members of the Disciple church, and
are worthy citizens.

Gideon Fusselman, a native of Lehigh county,
Pennsylvania, renioved from that State to Ohio in
tlie year 1814, and settled in Warren township,
Trumbull county, on the Storer farm which was
then owned by John Fusselman, Sr. In about
a year he removed to Canfield and established a
tannery (he being a tanner by trade) one mile
north of the center. This was conducted by
him until his death. In about 181 2 he married
Eve Schriber, also a native of Lehigh county.
They had five children, John C, Mary, Sarah,
Catharine, and Elizabeth, all of whom are living.
Gideon Fusselman died August 30, 1844, in
Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, while on a visit to
that place. His wife died January 22, 1878, at
the age of eighty-three years.

John C. Fusselman was born in Lehigh
county, Pennsylvania, February 25, 1813. He
was the oldest child of Gideon Fusselman who
removed to Ohio when John was about a year
old. He received a common school education
and staid upon the farm with his father until
June, 1830, when he began clerking for J. R.
Church at Canfield in a general merchandise
store, remaining here five years. He then went
into partnership with Mr. Church in Ellsworth
in merchandising, where he remained until 1840.
He then clerked for William Ripley one year,
when he went into business for himself until
1856. He then came to Jackson and began the
same business with D. Anderson, which contin-
ued six years. Then the firm of Anderson,
Shaffer & Co. was formed. April, 1881, Mr.
Anderson retired, and the firm Shaffer & Co.
continue the business, with a full assortment of
goods usually kept in a country store. On Au-

gust II, 1837, J. C. Fusselman married Catha-
arine Houts, daughter of William Houts, then
of Green township, Mahoning county. She
was born September 24, 1815. Tiiis union was
blessed with seven children — Louisa -^nn, Lottie
B., Frank A., Mary, Ella H., John R., and
Ralph, who died at three years of age. He and
his wife are both members of the Methodist
church. For twenty years prior to 1856 he was
justice of the peace of Ellsworth township.

D. B. Blott, was born in Jackson township,
Mahoning county, October 6, 1837. He is the
second child of Benjamin Blott, a native of
Pennsylvania, who was born January 16, 181 2.
He is a farmer, residing a short distance south
of North Jackson. D. B was educated in the
common schools, and attended also for a short
time Hiram college. At the age of fifteen he
was apprenticed to learn the bricklayer and stone
mason trade, serving two years — afterward work-
ing at his trade for ten years, when, on account
of poor health, he was obliged to stop work for
about three years. Then for six years he kept a
store in Lordstown. After this he kept a store
for several years at West Austintown. He now
keeps a store at Jackson, where he carries a line
of assorted goods. He married Lucinda Bailey,
daughter of Jesse Bailey. They have five chil-
dren, Charley C, born 1863 ; Seamon Edward,
1S65, William A., 1869, Marietta, 1874, and
Emory B., 1876.

Robert McClure, a native of county Donegal,
Ireland, was born November, 1816. His father,
Robert McClure, died when he was three years
old, when he was taken by his paternal grand-
father, who was a farmer. He remained with
him until 1839, when he sailed to America, com-
ing in the same ship with William Porter, of Aus-
tintown. He came at once to Austintown and
began as day laborer here and there, and for five
months worked on the extension of the Erie
canal. A few years afterward he bought the land
where he now resides. He at one time owned
over two hundred acres of land, but by unfortu-
nate indorsements he lost a part of this. He
owns one hundred acres under good cultivation.
May 14, 1846, he mairied Eliza Anderson,
daughter of Arthur Anderson, of Poland town-
ship. She was born in that township November
20, 1 81 9. This marriage was blessed with eight
children, William, a physician of Cleveland ;

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

'^3,

Mary, who married William Turner, of Aus-
tintown : Arthur, who died in early child-
hood ; John S., an attorney of Chicago ; Em-
ily ; Nettie ; Nancy, a teacher of Youngs-
town ; Robert, a teacher, who, with Emily,
are still at home. He is a member of the Pres-
byterian church, and his wife is a Covenanter.

Peter Ivy was born in Perry county, Pennsyl-
vania, March 8, 1805. He was a son of Sam-
uel Ivy, and twin brother of William Ivy, who
at last accounts was living in Clark county, Ohio.
His father, Samuel Ivy, died when he was an
infant, and his mother married Michael Wag-
goner, and soon after the family removed to
Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, whence in the
fall of 1822 they immigrated to Stark county,
Ohio, where they remained about four years,
during which time Mr. Waggoner died, when
Peter brought the family to Austintown, where
he had gone in the spring of 1823. After farm-
ing there a few years, Peter moved in 1831 upon
the farm where he now lives, which he purchased
the previous year, and upon which he made a
small clearing and erected a cabin. He has now
over a hundred acres under cultivation. August
13, 1826, he married Sarah Miller, daughter of
Jacob Miller, a Virginian, who, in advanced life,
became a resident of Austintown township. She
was born in Augusta county, Virginia, Septem-
ber 12, 1798. She became the mother of seven
children, Mary, Christian, John, Alfred, William,
Elizabeth, who died when small, and Sarah.
The oldest child died before it was named. She
was a Presbyterian in belief, and an estimable
lady, who, after a long and useful life, died Sep-
tember 8, 1879. He cast his first vote for Jack-
son.

John Lynn, son of Nicholas Lynn, was born
in Berks county, Pennsylvania, and emigrated to
Ohio with his brothers, Peter and George, and
settled in. Canfield township, Trumbull county
(now Mahoning), about the year 1806. They
settled in the same neighborhood. John, in
company with his sister Barbara, purchased the
farm originally owned by Ira Wilcox, and they
lived together a number of years. Late in life he
married Sophrona F. Burgart of Ellsworth town-
ship, by whom he had six children, viz: Sarah
Ann, who married Joseph Hartman; John N.
O., David, Elizabeth, who married George E.
Harding, George, who died in infancy, and

Mary, who died when two years of age. Mr.
Lynn died in 1835, at the age of fifty-six years.
He was a member of the German Reformed
church. His widow afterwards married Solomon
Gordon, of Canfield.

John N. O. Lynn was born in Canfield town-
ship, August 8, 1826. When he was about
twenty years of age he and his brother and two
sisters began the management of the farm,
which he continued for seven years. He after-
ward moved to Atwater township. Portage
county, where he lived eighteen years engaged
in farming, which has been his lifelong occupa-
tion. In April, 1875, he returned to Mahoning
county, and has since resided at North Jackson.
April 29, 1855, he was married to Elizabeth,
daughter of Abraham Moherman, who was born
March 15, 1835. They have no children, but
are raising two — Chester and Mary. He and
his wife are members of the Disciples church.

David Lynn, second son of John Lynn, was
born December 31, 1829. He adopted the oc-
cupation of his father, cultivating the soil and
dealing to some extent in stock and fruit grow-
ing. At the age of twenty-five he married Miss
Mary Ann Peters, by whom he had four sons^
Willis, Emory, Homer, and Alfred. While en-
gaged attentively at his business he has not
neglected the education of his children, his old-
est son graduating at Heidelberg college. Tiffin,
Ohio, in the class of 1878. Mr. and Mrs. Lynn
are members of the Reformed church.

CHAPTER VIIL

COITSVILLE.*

INTRODUCTORY.

This is township two of range one of the
Connecticut Western Reserve, and forms the ex-
treme northeastern corner of Mahoning county.
Coitsville is thus bounded : on the north by
Hubbard, Trumbull county ; on the east by
Pennsylvania ; on the south by Poland ; and on
the west by Youngstown. The township con-
tains the little village of Coitsville Center, which,
however, is situated a Utile south of the geo-

*MainIy from facts collected by John Shields.

i64

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

graphical center of the township ; also a por-
tion of the little mining village known as Thorn
Hill, now in a condition of decline.

The land of the township is excellent for
farming purposes, the soil being generally a deep
and fertile loam. The nearness of Youngstown
gives the farmers the advantage of a ready
market, and as their land is constantly rising m
value, we find them generally well-contented
and prosperous.

The surface is quite variable. In the eastern
and southern portions of the township are a
number of steep hills of considerable elevation,
reaching back some distance from the Mahon-
ing river. This stream cuts across the south-
eastern part of the township, and its green banks
and fertile bottom lands here form some of the
finest natural scenery in the whole county.
From the big hill east of Strutliers can be ob-
tained a view of the Mahoning valley surpassing-
ly rich in its extent and beauty. Busy hamlets
overhung by dark clouds of smoke impress the
spectator with the greatness of the industries of
the valley ; while vast expanses of woodland, in-
terspersed with many richly cultivated farms
adorned with fields of waving grain which sur-
round the comfortable farm houses and barns ;
the sleek cattle grazing in the meadows; the
busy farmers in their corn-fields, or driving along
the roads with wagons heavily laden with the
fruits of their toil, all show that the agricultural
community is as thrifty and as active as the
manufacturers. Could one of the men who in
1798 entered this beautiful valley and found it
as silent and as wild as ever primeval forests
were, its solitude invaded only by the prowling
savage, the stealthy beasts of prey or flocks of
birds — could such a one now rise from his years
of sleep in the grave and behold this bustling
scene, his astonishment, surprise, and amaze-
ment would doubtless equal the feelings of Rip
Van Winkle on his return to his former home.

Excepting the Mahoning, the streams in this
township are small and unimportant. Dry run
pursues a winding course and drains a consider-
able portion of the surface. Other small streams
are numerous.

Coal has been mined to some extent in former
years, but at present no mines of importance
are in operation. Thorn Hill and vicinity formed
a busy mining community, but the banks were

deserted for other and more promising ones not
situated in Coitsville. Agriculture is the main-
stay and support of nearly all the inhabitants of
the township.

PURCHASE AND SURVEY.

Previous to the year 1798 Daniel Coit, of the
State of Connecticut, purchased from the Con-
necticut Land company township number two in
the firsl range, and gave to it the name of Coits-
ville. It does not appear that he ever became
a resident of the township, but authorized
Simon Perkins, of Warren, to act as his general
agent.

In 1798 Mr. Coit sent on a party to survey his
land and put it in the market. John Partridge
Bissel was the chief surveyor and also the sub-
agent for the sale of the land.

ORGANIZATION AND FIRST ELECTION.

In 1806, December 4th, the following was
given at Warren, Trumbull county:

Ordered, by the board of commissioners for the county of
Trumbull, that number two, in the first range of townships
in said county, be set off as a separate township, by the
name of Coitsville, with all the rights, privileges, and im-
munities by law given to and invested in any township in this
State, and the first meeting of said township shall be held at
the house formerly occupied by John P. Bissel, in said town-
ship.

Attest : William Wetmore,

Clerk Commissioners pro tt'm.

The first election was held April 6, A. D.
1807, Alexander M'Guffey, chairman, John John-
son and Joseph Jackson, judges of the election.
The following ofificers were chosen : Joseph
Bissel, township clerk; William Huston, Joseph
Jackson, and William Stewart, trustees; John
M'Call and Timothy Swan, overseers of the
poor; William Martin and Ebenezer Corey, su-
pervisors of highways; David Cooper and John
Stewart, fence viewers; James Stewart and Alex-
ander M'Guffey, appraisers of houses; Alexander
M'Guffey, lister; James Lynn, constable; John
Johnson, treasurer.

INTERESTING TOWNSHIP RECORDS.

The records of the township for a few years
following its organization show a number of in-
teresting facts. Here is one which we copy from
Towship Record Book No. i, page 98:

PiX a meeting of William Huston, Joseph Jackson, and
William Stewart, trustees for the township of Coitsville, at
the dweUing house of Joseph Bissel of said town, on April
27, 1808, ordered, that every person subject to pay a county
tax, according to the act passed by the General Assembly of

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

•6S

the State of Ohio. December 24, 1807, to kill ten squirrels,
and in addition to the ten squirrels, each person to kill two
squirrels for each cow and four for each horse; and if a per-
son have but one cow she is exempt.

.Attest : JOSEPH Bl.SSEL,

Township Clerk.

Same page :

At a meeting of the inhabitants June 27, 1808, voted that
the squirrel act be continued to the ist day of August ne.\t,
before returns are made to the collector of county taxes.

..\ttest : Joseph Bissel,

Township Clerk.

There are several records made of warning
poor people, likely to become township charges,
to quit the township.

TAXES IN 1803.

From ancient records we learn that the entire
amount of taxes assessed upon Coitsville in the
year 1803, was $14.95. ^ copy of the list is
given.

COITSVILLE, RA.N'GE ONE, TOWN ONE.

Amount .Amount

of tax. of tax.

Augustine, Daniel $ o 57 Pauley, James $ o 65

Bissell, Joseph.
Cooper, David.

Fitch, Andrew-
Given, John. . .

Gillan, Matthew..
Houston, William.
Harris, Barnabas..
Loveland, Amos . .

Meers, James

Martin, William . .

71 Robb, Matthew. 44

60 Shehy, Roger 80

86 Shields. James 46

61 Smith, James 20

32 Stewart, William Jr.. 40

20 Thompson, John ]r. . 81

64 Thompson, George. . 70

40 Weeks, William 60

: 56 Wilson, Robert 32

20 Wilson, Daniel 30

20 WTiite, James 40

McGuffey, Alexander.. 64 White, Francis 24

McBride, Samuel 40 Welch, James 20

McCall, John 32

Potter, John 20 Total. $14 95

EARLY SETTLERS.

To Amos Loveland belongs the honor of
having made the first permanent settlement in
the township. He was a Revolutionary soldier
and served three years. He came to Coitsville
in the spring of 1798, joined the surveying party
and spent the summer assisting them. In the fall
he returned to his home in Chelsea, Orange
county, Vermont, having purchased all the land
in Coitsville situated on the south side of the Ma-
honing— a tract of four hundred and twenty-six
acres, mostly level, rich, and fertile. In December,
1798, with his wife and six children, he left
Chelsea for his new home. Mr. Loveland started
from Vermont with two sleighs loaded with bed-
ding, furniture, farmmg utensils, etc., each sleigh
being drawn by two horses They traveled in

this way until they reached the Susquehanna,
which they crossed on the ice at Whitestown ;
the snow disappearing soon after, Mr. Loveland
traded his sleighs for a wagon, transferred his
goods into it and continued his journey. April
4, 1799, he arrived with his family upon his farm.
They began housekeeping in a small log cabin
which he had erected the previous year. This
cabin was about eighteen feet square ; it had no
glass windows, and its door was made of clap-
boards with two sticks across, two of them being
hinges fastened by wooden pins. Not a nail had
been used in the construction of this dwelling.
A puncheon or split log floor covered about half
the ground included within the log walls. There
was no upper floor, and no chimney except a
stone wall built up about five feet to keep the
fire from the logs. In this cabin, of course with
the addition of some improvements, the family
lived six years, and then erected a larger and
more convenient one.

During the first year the family depended
largely upon the results of hunting for their food,
with occasional supplies obtained from the few
neighboring settlements. Mr. Loveland cleared
up his farm and resided upon it until his death,
which occurred at the age of ninety. Mrs. Love-
land died when ninety-three. Her maiden name
was Jemima Dickerson. The Lovelands were
the first family in the township, and to them were
born the first male, as well as the first female
child born in Coitsville. Cynthia Loveland was
born in June, 1799, and died in 1815. Her
brother David, born a year or two later, was the
second child born in the township. He spent
the whole of a long life upon the old homestead,
and his heirs still own some three hundred acres
of the oiiginal farm. Elizabeth Loveland, one
of the daughters, became the wife of VV'illiam
McFarlin and the mother of six sons and six
daughters. She died June i6, 1881, aged ninety
years, ten months and nine days. She enjoyed
the distinction of being a resident of the Western
Reserve longer than any other person, having re-
sided continuously in the Mahoning valley over
eighty-two years.

John P. Bissel, the surveyor of 1798, pur-
chased a farm including the center of the town-
ship, made a clearing, and built a log-cabin. In
1800 he emigrated from his home in Lebanon,
Connecticut, with his family, consisting of three

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

sons and six dauj^hters, and settled on his pur-
chase. The family remained in Coitsville until
1805 or 1806 when they removed to Youngs-
town in order that the children might have
better school advantages. Mr. Bissel was the
first acting justice of the peace in Coitsville.
He died in 181 1. His daughter Mrs. Mary
Kyle resided upon the old homestead from the
time of his father's death until her own. She
died in 1880, in the eighty-third year of her age.

Asa Mariner, then a single man, was one of
the surveying party. In 1708 he purcliased a
farm a little northwest of the center of the town-
ship, upon which he settled in 1800. He mar-
ried Sally Beggs and reared a numerous and
respectable family. This couple lived to a good
old age, honored and respected. Mr. Mariner
was a member of the Disciple church, his wife
of the United Presbyterian. The old farm is still
in the possession of two of the sons, Major
James Mariner and his brother Ira.

Rev. William Wick was a pioneer of Coitsville.
He was a native of Long Island, New York, but
came to this county from Washington county,
Pennsylvania. September 1, 1799, he preached
a sermon in Youngstown, said to have been the
first sermon preached on the Reserve. About
1 80 1 he purchased a farm on the State line
which is now occupied by the Beggs family. Mr.
Wick was ordained a preacher of the gospel by
the Presbyterian church and installed pastor of
the congregations of Youngstown and Hopewell,
now Bedford, Pennsylvania. All the Coitsville
Presbyterians of the old school attended his
church. He continued in his relation as pastor
until death called him home in 1815. He was
a very popular preacher and was instrumental in
persuading persons of moral and religious char-
acter to settle in Coitsville. During his pas-
torate he preached fifteen hundred and twenty-
two sermons and solemnized si.xty-nine marriages.
He was the father of eight sons and five daugh-
ters. Of this family eleven lived to mature age.
Some of his sons attained some eminence in the
]K)litical world. William was Secretary of State
in Indiana and' James a judge of the court of
common pleas in Mercer county, Pennsylvania.
The family were noted for being fine singers
and proficients in penmanship.

Barney Harris, the first blacksmuh in Coits-
ville township, came from Washington county,

Pennsylvania, and settled on section eleven pre-
vious to 1802. He brought up ten children,
three sons and seven daughters. George, the
only son now living, resides with his family in
Iowa. Three daughters with their families still
in this vicinity. Mrs. Harris was a daughter of
Andrew Poe, noted for his encounter with an In-
dian near Georgetown, on the Ohio river. Mr.
A. B. Wilson, a grandson of Barney Harris, re-
sides on the old Harris farm. David Wilson
came from Washington county, Pennsylvania, in
1803 or 1804. He had two sons and three
daughters. Of this number only one son, David,
is now living — a resident of Bedford, Pennsylva-
nia. Mr. Wilson was a wheelwright by trade.
In early years the little spinning-wheel was an
indispensable article in every household, and Mr.
Wilson engaged in its manufacture, and for many
years gave employment to several men in his
shop, where he made wheels, reels, and cofifins.
The improvements made in spinning machinery
as time progressed destroyed one branch of this
business, but he continued the undertaking bus-
iness for many years. Mr. Wilson erected a
grist-mill to be run by ox-power, but after a few
years' trial it was pronounced a failure and aban-
doned. He erected a brick house in 181 5,
which is still occupied by his descendants.

Alexander McGuffey and family moved from
Washington county, Pennsylvania, to Coitsville
in about the year 1800. His father and mother,
who were natives of Scotland, also came with
him. The family were zealous Presbyterians.
Alexander was a farmer, and settled near Sand
Hill. His son. Rev. William McGuffey, became
widely known as the author of a series of school
books known as McGufTey's Eclectic Readers.
William was brought to Coitsville in infancy.
His mother — an excellent woman — used to de-
light in recounting the hardships they endured
during the first years of their residence here,
and how she used to place William in a sugar-
trough while she assisted her husband in clearing
up the farm. William received his common
school education in Coitsville, the writer of these
sketches being one of his school-mates. Our
school-house was a cabin built of round logs, sit-
uated at the corners of the farms now occupied
by Thomas Brownlee, Rev. H. S. Boyd, Al. Wil-
son, and Ambrose Shields. William McGuffey
afterwards taught school in the same place. He

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

.67

began the study of the dead languages under
John McCready, who taught a select school near
Pulaski, Mercer county, Pennsylvania, in 1817;
completed his college course and graduated from
the college at Oxford, Ohio. He was licensed
as a preacher by the presbytery, hut was never
the settled pastor of any congregation. Instead,
he devoted his life to the advancement of edu-
cation. He died in his seventy-sixth year at the
residence of his daughter in Dayton, Ohio.
But his memory will be long perpetuated by his
works. William McGuffey was a man of genial
temperament, a pleasant and affable speaker.

David and Rebecca (Armstrong) Cooper set-
tled in the township in 1800. Five of their
children still reside in Coitsville. He was a na-
tive of Maryland; his wife of Pennsylvania.
Mr. Cooper was a member of the surveying
party of 1798.

James Lynn settled early on section eleven.
His farm is now the Dalby farm. About the
same tmie with him John Johnson settled on
section ten.

Sampson Mocre, about 1802, settled on sec-
tion ten. He lived and died in this township,
and brought up his family here. None of his
sons became settlers of Coitsville. ■

William, James, John, and David Stewart
came here at different dates. All were early
settlers. David settled west of the village.
William, James, and John took up farms in the
northwestern quarter of the township. David
Stewart, son of William, lives on his father's
old place. Robert Stewart, son of William,
lives on section three. John and James set-
tled near William. Mr. Rush owns a part of
James' farm, and the Grays a part of John's.

Thomas Early was among the first settlers in
the western part of the township. The Fitch
family, elsewhere mentioned, were among the
early settlers on the Mahoning.

David Brownlee, his parents, and his sister
Margaret, were early settlers near the south line
of the township. John Brownlee, who lives
near the Pennsylvania line, is a son of David.
The family consisted of ten children, of whom
three sons and one daughter are still living,
John being the oldest.

Matthew Robb was an early settler on the
William Price farm. He afterwards sold this
and built where Mr. McCartney lives.

Daniel Augustine, a sober, industrious, honest
German, settled in the township in 1802. His
family is still well represented in this township.
It is related of him that he was once offered
$15 for a cow which he had for sale. He re-
fused the price; said that $13 was all that she
was worth, and all he was willing to take.

William Bell was an early settler in the north-
east of the township, lived and died here.
Some of his sons remained for a time, then
moved away. One, John Mason Bell, lived
upon the old place until his death.

In the same neighborhood was Ebenezer Co-
rey, whose family are all gone from the town-
ship.

A man named Thompson was an early settler
on Ambrose Shields' farm. He sold to Timo-
thy Swan, who lived and died there.

Joseph and Mary (Goe) Beggs, natives of Ire-
land, settled in Coitsville, west of the village, in
1802. Their son, James Beggs, Esq., born June
17, 1799, is still a resident of the township. Jo-
seph Beggs was a soldier of 181 2.

John Johnson, from Mercer county, Pennsyl-
vania, settled in the eastern part of the town-
ship in 1803. He married Jane Caldwell, of
Beaver county, Pennsylvania, and brought up a
family of nine children. Only two are now liv-
ing, Samuel in Iowa, and John in this township.
David Johnson, one of his family, died in April,
1881.

James Shields, a native of Ireland, came to
Coitsville in 1802 and purchased a farm of two
hundred and thirty acres east of the village. The
same year he married Margaret Walker. He
died in 1854 aged eighty years. He reared three
sons and five daughters, all of whom settled in
Coitsville and had families, except one daughter
who died young. All of the original family are
now dead excepting John, the oldest son, and
James, the youngest. The latter resides in
Loveland, Colorado. James Shields, Sr., built
and operated the first distillery in the township.
It was erected in 1803. He operated it for a
few years, but not finding the business profitable,
sold out and thenceforth devoted himself to em-
ployments more useful and beneficial. Animi
R. and Prudence (Burrows) Bissel settled a little
north of the village in 1806. Their son. Partridge
Bissel, born in 1803, is still a resident of the
township. .\mmi Bissel was a brother of John

I 68

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

P., and came from Vermont. He was the father
of five sons and two daughters. He was the first
carpenter in the township, and was energetic and
active in his work. He was a good neighbor
and an honest man.

The Widow McFarhn {nee Margery .Anderson)
came to this township from Ireland about the
year 1804, with a family of four sons and two
daughters, all of whom married after coming
here. Isabel, the oldest, married James McGill;
Mary married Robert McKean, settled in Ells-
worth and died there; .•\lexander settled south of
the center of Coitsville. He was accidentally
killed by the falling of a tree. He had seven
sons and two daughters, most of whom settled in
this vicinity. William settled on the top of the
hill on the Hazelton road. He reared a large
family. Eleven children arrived at years of ma-
turity. But one son is living, Anderson, at Coits-
ville. Four of his daughters are living, viz:
Mrs. Lydia Mahan, Liberty, Trumbull county;
Miss Jemima McFarlin, Niles; Mrs. Matilda
Price, Coitsville, and Mrs. Lavma Harris, Youngs-
town. Andrew settled in the southern part of
the township, but later moved to Indiana and
died. He had a large family. His sons are all
dead. Several daughters are living in Indiana.
James settled on the road leading west from
the village and died there. He had several chil-
dren, none of whom remain.

The first shoemaker, Stephen Allerton, came
from New Jersey, and settled south of the cen-
ter, early in this century. He was honest and a
good neighbor, but intemperate in his habits.

The first tailor was John Potter, a very early
settler. He was a good citizen, and a strict
Presbyterian. His farm was on the Hubbard
and Lowell road. He had a large family, but
not a branch of it remains here at the present
day.

The oldest man in this township is Alexander
Beggs, born in Ireland about the year 1789.
He settled in Coitsville in 1822.

'i1u' first marriage ceremony was performed
about 1803, uniting Ebenzer Corey and Polly
Thompson in the bonds of wedlock.

The first death was that of an infant son of
John P. Bissel, and occurred in 1801.

HAKI) TIMKS.

The year 181 1 brought hard times for many
of the pioneers of Coitsville. Mr. Bissel died

in that year. His financial affairs were found in
a bad condition, which brought disaster to many
of those who had purchased their lands from
him. Some had paid for their lands, received
their deeds, and were, consequently, safe.
Others who had not got their lands paid for and
received their titles were caught up. No matter
how much they had paid, all fared alike and re-
ceived a small percentage on the money which
they had paid. The land had to be re-purchased
or abandoned. It was supposed, had he lived
to settle up his own affairs, the result would have
been different. Another cause of discourage-
ment was a series of very rainy seasons, which
flooded the low, flat lands, and caused them to
be unproductive. This caused a bad report to
be put into circulation concerning the town, and
many emigrants to pass us by. Again, the War
of 181 2 was upon us, and many of the men
subject to do military duty were drafted or vol-
unteered, and went into the service. There were
few left at home except women and children,
old men, cripples, and invalids.

Farmers, who had spent years of hard labor
upon their lands, were asked to give them up.
At many a fireside there was dejection and de-
spondency. Some men abandoned their claims
and left. Others exchanged their farms for other
property; but a majority withstood their difficul-
ties and trials. Many of those who had lost
their lands made new contracts for them, and
succeeded, finally, in retaining them.

In a few years the dark cloud broke and
passed away. The fields yielded good crops,
and there was an abundance of food for man
and beast. The war terminated, and the Coits-
ville soldiers came home without the loss of a
man, it is believed. If there had been mourn-
ing there was now rejoicing. The claims for the
re-purchased farms were liquidated, the fee sim-
ple titles on record, and soon every farm had its
occupant, and vacant lots were no more to be
found in the township.

HIGHW.WS.

The first public highway laid out in this town-
ship is the east and west road, known as the
Mercer and Youngstown road. It is one-half
mile south of and parallel to the east and west
center line. It was established and opened in
1802. Soon after that date the road known as
the Yellow Creek road, leading from Poland vil-

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

169

lage to Hubbard, was opened through the town-
ship. In 1827 the Youngstown and Mercer road
became a post-road from New Bedford, Pennsyl-
vania, westward.

ENCOUNTER WITH A BE.\R.

Patrick Thompson, in 1803 or 1804, was re-
turning home from Youngstown, and stopped at
J. P. Bissel's to transact some business which
detained him until near evening, when he pro-
ceeded toward home. When he arrived on the
farm of Josiah Dalby, near the State line, he
discovered a cub bear in his path. Determin-
ing to make its acquaintance, and it offering no
violent opposition, he took it up in his arms.
It, however, soon became dissatisfied with his
nursing, and with loud cries notified its mother ;
she, being within hearing distance, hastened to
its rescue with mouth open and bristles up.
Thompson seeing that a fight was imminent
strove to get rid of his new acquaintance. But
cub refused to break up friendly relations so
abruptly and clung to his arm with a regular bear
hug. After some effort he loosed its grip, and
to use his own language, he " threw the little
devil into its mother's face."

The battle now began, and Thompson seeing
his danger of defeat attempted to climb a tree
near by, but as often as he began to ascend
the bear would catch him by the feet and pull
him back, and with such energy did she make
her attacks that she tore the bottoms from his
shoes, and so lacerated his feet that he was
ever afterward a cripple, although he lived many
years after this event. Up to this tune victory
seemed to be on the side of the bear ; a
few more crunches at his feet and she would
have had it all her own way. But fortunately,
at this juncture, Mr. Thompson obtained a
large splinter, and again making the attempt to
climb the tree she again made for him. He
made a drive at her with the splinter, and
luckily sent it deep into one of her nostrils.
She then resolved to have a truce until she
could get rid of the splinter; she would strike it
with one paw, then with the other, until she
effected her purpose. By this time friend
'i'hompson was high in the tree, and neither
party was disposed to renew the fight. Bruin
soon retired with a sore nose. Thompson be-
came faint from loss of blood. It was now in
the night. A heavy rain commencing to fall, he

squeezed the water from his linen hunting-shirt
into his mouth, which revived him somewhat.
His halloomg was heard at the house of the
Rev. Mr. Wick, and they came to his relief.
When they arrived the bear and her family had
left. This was the only known encounter with
a wild bear in this township.

THE STRUTHERS TRAGEDY.

In February, 1826, Miss Drucilla Struthers
left her father's residence m Coiisville for the
purpose of going to the post-office at Poland
village, where she expected to get a letter from
her affianced lover, then residing in Washington
county, Pennsylvania. Her younger sister,
Emma, accompanied her down to the Mahoning
river, which was very high at that time, intend-
ing to ferry her across, and then return home.
The skiff in which they were to cross was fastened
nearly opposite the mouth of Yellow creek, and
directly opposite to the present village of Struth--
ers. The young ladies were daughters of John
Struthers, who settled in Poland township in
1799, held the office of sheriff of Trumbull
county, and other responsible offices, and was
well known and respected by the pioneers ot this
county. They were sisters of the Hon. Thomas
Struthers, who was the proprietor of the thriving
village of Struthers.

When the young ladies came to the bank of
the river Emma laid off her shawl and bonnet
on the shore, and they embarked on their fatal
voyage. Emma was good with an oar, and prac-
ticed in rowing and managing a skiff.

At this point the known history of their lives
ends. It is involved in mystery that can not be
unraveled. No human eye saw them on their
fatal voyage, as they were not spared to relate
the events of that awful hour, of what happened
or befell them; why they were unable to propel
their craft across the stream ; what were their
feelings and actions when they discovered their
dangerous and helpless situation ; how many
plans they devised to regain a landing; how hope
and despair alternated each other in quick suc-
cession ; how their terrors increased as their dis-
appointments were repeated ; and as they ap-
proached the dam over which they were soon to
be precipitated how their souls sank within them,
when they beheld the foaming waters beneath
them and hope gone ; what thoughts agitated
their souls as they made the fatal descent, their

[70

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

craft overturned, and the dark waters received
them.

Alexander Cowden heard their cries, but did
not apprehend at the time that they came from
persons in distress. David Brownlee reported
having crossed the river a short time previous in
that skiff", and that one of the oars or rowlocks
was defective in some way, which doubtless was
the cause of the disaster.

When they were missed an active search was
commenced. The next day the remains of Dru-
cilla were found fastened to a bush which grew
on the river bank, one and one-half miles below
where they embarked. Six weeks elapsed before
the body of Emma was discovered. It was
found at the head of an island near the Dickson
farm.

Mr. J. R. Cowden has favored us with the
above facts. He was one of the searching party
from the first and until the body of Emma was
found.

RELIGIOUS HISTORY.

A majority of the early settlers of Coitsville
were church-going people, yet there was no
church edifice erected in the township until
1838. The inhabitants went to church in two
different States, Ohio and Pennsylvania ; in four
different counties, Trumbull and Mahoning in
Ohio, Lawrence and Mercer in Pennsylvania ;
and in eight different townships, Coitsville, Po-
L'jnd, Voungstown, Liberty, and Hubbard in
Ohio, and Shenango, Pulaski, and Mahoning in
Pennsylvania. Many still continue members of
churches in these various places. The Method-
ists for some years held meetings in barns,
school-houses and dwellings. In 1835 they ef-
fected an organization, James McKinley, class-
leader. This organization took place after a
series of revival meetings held in Tobias Kim-
ball's barn, in which Revs. Green, Preston, and
others took part. They had no church building
until 1838. Then Isaac Powers, late of Youngs-
town, presented to the society a lot of land for
a church site and cemetery, the lot lying on the
old Youngstown and Bedford road, where the
Poland road intersects it. John Bissel and
James McCartney were very active in securing
funds with which to build and complete the
meeting-house. James McCartney, Abraliam
Jacobs, and John Bissel were the first trustees.
Ujion this land, deeded to the society in 1839,

the house was erected ; and a living, working
congregation worshiped there in peace and unity.
But when the agitation of the slavery question
struck this little band, division and bitterness
came with it. Troubles increased until in 1847
some Godless incendiary applied a torch to the
church, and it was destroyed. The guilty wretch
has never been detected. In 1848 a new build-
ing was erected upon the same site, superior to
the old in style and finish, and there the Method-
ist Episcopals continue to hold their services.

The Presbyterians organized a congregation in
1836. A commodious edifice was erected at the
village in 1836 or 1837, and Rev. William Nes-
bit became pastor. John Jackson and John
Lynn were elected ruling elders, and soon after
Thomas McGeehan and George Harris were
elected, and their names added to the session
roll. Mr. McGeehan is the only member of the
original session now left, and he is nearly four-
score years of age. Since Mr. Nesbit, who re-
mained several years, a number of clergymen
have officiated as stated preachers : Revs. Dick-
son, McCombs, Dobbins, Kerr, Price, McCrea-
dy, and Rice. The present incumbent is Rev.
Krush ; the present session, Thomas McGeehan,
George Gray, and Joseph Hanna. The roll of
communicants shows twelve males and twenty-
five females. Is it not a question worthy of our
consideration whether the above proportion of
males and females will hold good in Heaven as
well as here ?

In 1870 the old house was taken down and
rebuilt in better style, and in a more substantial
manner. The constitution of this church is
dated 1839, and to it are attached the names of
William Reed, John and Davis Jackson, J.
I. Hirst, George Harris, Samuel Jackson, An-
drew McFarlin, Ebenezer Corey, and James
Kerney.

Of the early settlers the Lynns, Swans, John-
sons, Moores, Martins, Bells, Coreys, Monteiths,
Murdocks, Jacksons, and Wicks were Presbyte-
rians; the Aliens, Stewarts, Cobpers, Houstons
Milligans Beggses, Dicksoiis, McGufTeys, Mc-
Brides, Reeds, Thompsons, and others were
United Presbyterians; the McCartneys, Bissels,
Kirks, Kimmels, Vails, McFarlins, Jacobses,
and others were Methodist Episcopal. Various
othi.r denominations were also rciiresented by
Coitsville people.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

THE FIRST MARRIAGE

in the township was that of Ebenezer Corey and
Polly Thompson, about the year 1803. The
wedding festival took place in and about a little
log cabin, which was standing until within a few
years, on the farm of Ambrose Shields. This
couple lived together until three children were
born. Then the husband died. The widow
afterwards married James Crooks and had a
large family.

EARLY SCHOOLS.

The first school in Coitsville was taught in a
log cabin on the farm of Joseph Beggs early in
the present century. The cabin was a short dis-
tance west of the center. Jeremiah Breaden,
the father of Dr. Breaden, was the teacher.
Many of the scholars resided at a long distance
from the school-house. There were few roads,
and many were guided through the woods by
blazed trees. Some of the members of that
school were afterwards representatives to the
Legislature ; David Houston being one of this
number.

The first school-house proper, was a little log
building, damp and uncomfortable. It was
situated in the northeastern part of the township,
and was built about 1807 or 1808. The only
branches taught were reading, writing, and arith-
metic. The Bible was the class book for reading.
The more advanced pupils read in the Old Testa-
ment and were called the Bible class. The
younger readers used the New Testament. The
Bible, Webster's Spelling-book, and Welsh's
arithmetic, were ihe only text-books. When a
scholar had mastered the rule of three his edu-
cation was considered finished, though some of
the boys did not stop when they had accom-
plished this much, but finished the book. The
old log school-house was removed about 18 15
and replaced by a comfortable frame house,
which was used for school purposes until de-
stroyed by fire, about the time the State Legisla-
ture took our schools under its protection.

Several other school-houses were built and
used in the township, but none were so perma-
nent as the Harris school. In winter male
teachers taught and were paid by assessing a cer-
tain rate per scholar. Summer schools were
usually taught by ladies whose wages were raised
by voluntary subscriptions. The township is now

divided into seven school districts, and is well
supplied with good school-houses.

MILLS.

The first saw-mill in the township was erected
by Asa Mariner, one and one-fourth miles north-
west of the center, on Dry run. There was also
a corn-cracker run in connection with the saw-
mill.

The next mill was the McFarlin mill in the
south of the township. The building of mills
continued until there were seven saw-mills in
operation on Dry run, all propelled by its waters.
But as the lands were cleared the water of the
stream diminished, the mills became less useful
each year, until all were abandoned. In later
years steam saw-mills took the place of the old
water mills. There have been ten of these op-
erated in the township at different times and
places. Now there are but two.

There was a good grist-mill erected by Asa
Mariner, but it departed with the old saw-mills.
There have been three mills in the township
which were run by horse- or ox-power — Wilson's,
Buchanan's, and Brownlee's — but they were in
operation but a short time.

DISTILLERIES.

Here, as elsewhere, distilling was considerably
carried on in early times. James Shields had the
first distillery. Seven others were afterwards
built, some of them of little importance; but
four of them, namely, Loveland's, Brownlee's,
William McFarlin's, and James McFarlin's,
pushed their business with energy for some years,
consuming about twenty-four bushels of grain
daily at least one hundred and fifty days out of
the year, thirty-six hundred bushels per annum,
and putting upon the market nine thousand gal-
lons, more or less, of ardent spirits.

MORALS.

Never was a drinking saloon in Coitsville suc-
cessfully operated. A few attempts were made
to start them, all resulting in failure, except in
the northwest part of the township in a little
mining village. When the coal was dug out the
miners left, and the grog-shops failed for want of
customers.

No one was ever accused of murder here ex-
cept William O. Moore, who was tried and found
guilty of murdering his sister-in-law, Sarah Stew-
,irt, and sentenced to State prison for life. The

172

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

beginning of the trouble was the violation of the
seventh commandment. Moore served a num-
ber of years in prison, then was sent home to
die of consumption. Contrary to expectation,
he grew fat and enjoyed his liberty some years.
Except Moore only one other person has ever
been sent to the penitentiary from this township.
He was a tramp and horse thief, named Fair-
brother, and had been in Coitsville only a few
months.

bi:ri.\l places.

The cemetery near the Methodist church was
located in 1836 or 1837. The first interment
was that of a son of John Bissel, a merchant at
the village. This burial was made in 1837.

The cemetery adjoining the Presbyterian church
at the village was gotten up by private enterprise.
Samuel Jackson purchased a piece of ground
and donated it to the church for burial purposes
in 1878.

The remains of most of the old settlers of
Coitsville are buried in the Deer Creek Church
cemetery, New Bedford, Pennsylvania.

THE VILLAGE.

Coitsville has two stores, two wagon shops,
two blacksmith shops and a tannery. There is
at present no hotel. Andrew McFarlin kept the
first hotel, the "Temperance house," some years.
John Bissel had the first store in the place in
in 1831 or 1832.

The carriage works of Mr. D. P. Cooper are
worthy of special mention. The proprietor is a
young man of enterprise, and seems determined
to win success. He is already doing a very good
business.

EARLY JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

John P. Bissel, D. Monteith, William Hous-
ton, and James Shields were justices of the peace
jirevious to 1818.

POST-OFFICE.

The first post road from New Bedford, Penn-
sylvania, to Youngstown was established in 1827.
Mail was received once a week. William Bissel
was appointed postmaster at Coitsville; John
Shields, Andrew McFarlin, James Milligan,
Thomas McC.echan, David Jackson, and An-
derson Mrl''arlin were his successors in office.
Mrs. Joscjih llanna is the present incumbent.

TANNERIES.

I'he first tannery was operated by David

Shields. It was a failure and was soon aban-
doned. In 1832 William Stewart and R. W.
Shields commenced the business at the vil-
lage and the tannery started by them has been
successfully operated up to the present time.
Mr. Stewart became owner by purchase of Mr.
Shields' interest in 1855. In February, 1875,
the building was destroyed by fire together with
a large amount of stock and the machinery, the
loss amounting to about $5,000. A new and
much larger building has been erected, 86x40
feet and two stories high, and Mr. Stewart is
doing a good business in company with his son
D. C. Stewart.

INCIDENTS OF THE l8l2 WAR.

William Crawford, who had first settled in the
northeast of the township, was drafted into
General Wadsworth's division of the northwest-
ern army early in the fall of 1812, and marched
to Camp Avery on the Huron river about six
miles from the lake. On Sabbath evening, Sep-
tember 28th, a runner came into camp with a dis-
patch from Sandusky bay stating that a company
of Indians had landed on the peninsula. A call
for volunteers to proceed to that point was made
instanter, and some sixty or seventy responded,
Crawford among the number. They were put
in command of Captain Cotton, and started for
their destination in the night. They arrived at
Cedar Point, on the bay, about daylight Monday
morning, crossed over the bay, and reached the
peninsula about sunrise. On their way they had
been joined by others until they numbered abou
ninety men. They then marched inland three
or four miles, and discovered satisfactory evi-
dence that there was a large number of Indians
on the peninsula.

F"or some reason they decided to retrace their
way to the four boats in which they had crossed,
which boats they had left in charge of eight
men. They had not gone far on their returning
march when Indians concealed in the high grass
began firing upon them. Captain Cotton or-
dered his men into line of battle. Crawford
hastened to the captain and remonstrated, telling
him that they would all be shot down if thus
exposed. An order was then issued allowing
each man to do as he chose — " paddle his own
canoe, take care of himself and pick off" a red-
skin at every opportunity." The firing was
briskly kept up for a short time, then ceased, ap-

'ci-7^€J K^yr%}t4'Ctrici-'yt<=Z:>

7'

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

173

parently by mutual consent. In this skirmish
three of the soldiers were killed and three
wounded. The dead were buried, and the
wounded cared for, then the march toward the
boats was again begun in good order. They
had proceeded but a short distance, however,
when the enemy again began to fire upon them.
The fire was returned with spirit and with good
effect, every soldier taking care of himself as in
the previous encounter. The captain ordered a
retreat. But Crawford and his friend John
Eurrell, another Coitsville man, were too eagerly
engaged in the fight to hear the order. While
concealed in the grass he noticed a movement
near him and creeping a little closer, saw an
Indian loading his gun. Crawford fired and the
Indian lay stretched in death. Presently another
savage was seen some distance away, nearly con-
cealed from the soldier's sight by intervening
grass and a tall weed near him. Crawford fired ;
the weed doubled down and so did the Indian.
Burrell first noticed that the company had re-
treated and notified Crawford of the fact. They
at once made haste to overtake their comrades
and soon came to a tangled pile of fallen timber,
at each end of which an Indian met them. Mr.
Crawford used to say that he never could tell
how he got over those fallen trees, but he passed
them safely, and so did Burrell. Soon they came
up with a soldier carrying his brother, who was
mortally wounded. They assisted him in car-
rying the dying man to a cabin where they lifted
up the floor, placed him beneath it and contin-
ued their flight. They soon came to a house at
wiiich Captain Cotton and about half of his men
had halted ; the other half had gone on to the
boats, taking with them all of the wounded,
eight in number. On arriving at the shore they
found that the Indians had sunk two of their
boats, while the men left on guard had taken the
other two and escaped. They, however, came
back, and the soldiers were transferred to Cedar
Point. The wounded were then placed in the
boats and sent on to the camp which they
reached in safety. Tuesday Crawford said to
Burrell that he would as lief be shot by the In-
dians as starved to death, and as he had had no
food since the previous morning, he proposed to
reconnoiter and see if some means of relief could
not be discovered. Burrell accompanied him.
They went down to the bay and discovered an

old canoe concealed in the grass. They imme-
diately returned to their companions and told
them of their good fortune. Two experienced
men were selected to go down the bay in the
canoe and give notice at the camp of their situ-
ation. This plan succeeded admirably and in
-due time reinforcements arrived with material
aid and all were brought off in safety.

RELIGIOUS EXCITEMENT.

A strange, mysterious visitation came upon
the Presbyterian churches about 1805-06. The
excitement is said to have originated in Ken-
tucky and spread northward through western
Pennsylvania and northern Ohio, agitating many
Presbyterian congregations. Hopewell, one of
Rev. William Wick's charges, where most of the
Coitsville people attended church, was touched
by its influence. Its subjects were mostly young
people and generally females. They first be-
came excited in regard to their future state and
their condition here as sinners against Heaven
in the sight of God. Sobbings would convulse
them; spasmodic jerkings and twitchings then
ensued; finally they fell down prostrate and to
all appearances unconscious. In this state they
would remain for a long time, but when the con-
gregation was dismissed they appeared to waken
and gain their usual mind. At the time there
was great controversy as to the cause of these
remarkable occurrences, some holding that it
was the influence of the Holy Spirit, while others
held that it was the work o( an evil spirit. Some
assigned mesmerism as a reason; others fanati-
cism. But soon all traces of the excitement van-
ished to return no more.

NOTES OF SETTLEMENT.

James Milligan was born in county Tyrone,
Ireland, March 15, 1806, and came to
this country with his parents, John and Mar-
garet, when a lad of twelve years. Three
brothers, John, Dixon, and Robert, came also at
this time. The oldest brotlier, William, re-
mained in Ireland with his grandfather Milligan.
He was at length employed by a wealthy shipping
company as clerk, and afterwards taken into
partnership. He died April 2, 1882, having
amassed a fortune of $2,000,000. Dixon settled
in the western part of Ohio, where he became a
successful physician. He died in February,
1874. Robert died in 1875. At the time of

174

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

his death he was prominently connected with the
Kentucky university. He was the author of
several works on tlie ]iible, and held a high
position as an educator. John lived a quiet and
honorable life on the homestead, and died Janu-
ary, 1876. Isabel, Thomas, and Samuel were
born after the family came to America. James
possessed a great memory, and the recollection
of his boyhood days was very vivid. The voy-
age across the ocean was an intensely interesting
event to the keen Irish lad, and many were the
anecdotes he could relate in connection with it.
The family settled in the northwest part of
Coitsville township about two and one-half miles
from the present city of Youngstown. In 1826
James married Catharine, sister of William Mc-
Guffey, author of school readers bearing his
name, and afterwards engaged in the dry goods
business in Vienna. He afterward returned to
his first place of residence, where he held the
office of justice of the peace for three terms. In
1846 he was elected commissioner of Trumbull
county. He was a Democrat in politics, and an
influential member of the party. He was an
active member of the Methodist Episcopal
church, which he served in many capacities. In
1850 his entire family was prostrated by typhoid
fever, at which time his wife and two children,
Margaret and Alexander, died. The survivm.a;
children were Isabel, John, Sarah, and Mary.
He married again Nancy M. Reed, daughter
of William Reed. By this marriage there were
two sons, Di.xon and James. He was a public-
s|)irited and influential man, and his death,
which occurred March 30, 1881, was sincerely
and widely lamented.

John Shields, Coitsville township, was born
Sejnember i, 1804. His father, James, a native
of Ireland, came to the farm where Mr. Shields
now resides in 1802, from Beaver county, Penn-
sylvania. He was born November 26, 1773,
died January 19, 1854. His wife, whom he
married in 1802, was Margaret Walker, of Mer-
cer county, Pennsylvania. She was born Octo-
ber I, 1783, died February 14, 1852. They
brought up a family of eight children, of whom
two sons are yet living, John and James. The
lattei; resides in Loveland, Colorado. A daugh-
ter, Mrs. Mary Davidson, of Coitsville, died
July 6, 1881, aged seventy-eight years. John
Shields was married in 1S29 to Sarah Davidson,

of Youngstown, born May 17, 1809. They have
had four children, and the three sons are yet liv-
ing, each of their farms being near the old home-
stead. Names of children: James Davidson,
born January 24, 1831; Ann Jane, Junes, 1834;
John Gailey, June 15, 1843; Ambrose, -August
18, 1849. Ann Jane died January 17, 1868.
Mr. Shields and all of the family are Republic-
ans,^ temperance men, and members of the
United Presbyterian church. Mr. Shields has
been honoied by election to the following offices :
county commissioner, coroner, justice of the
peace, postmaster, etc. He has been an elder in
his church for over forty years. His oldest son,
one of our leading farmers, was married Decem-
ber 12, 1865, to Mary Gilchrist, of Coitsville.
The other sons are also married. J. D. Shields
has a splendid farm residence, and the best barn
in the township. The Shields family is one of
activity and integrity.

William Stewart was born in Coitsville, May
18, 1808. He is the son of William Stewart, a
native of Adams county, Pennsylvania, who
came to this county previous to 1804, and settled
in the western part of Coitsville township, where
he lived and died, bringing up five sons and
three daughters. Four sons are still living, Eli-
jah, Robeit, William, and David. Elijah resides
in DeKalb county, Illinois; the others in this
township. William Stewart, Sr., was one of six
brothers who came xto the Western Reserve in
early times and settled in Trumbull and Mahon-
ing counties. All brought up families and lived
to be old. Mr. Stewart, when eighteen years of
age, learned the business of tanning, in which
he is still engaged. He established his tannery
at Coitsville in 1832, and is still doing business
there. He married Jane Brownlee in 1833.
Four of their children are living: Mary E. (de-
ceased), Huldah, Morilla, David C, and Flor-
ence; all married except Huldah. Mrs. Stewart
died in 1863, aged forty-eight years. She was a
devoted member of the United Presbyterian
church for several years. Mr. Stewart is well
and favorably known as a business man ; has
held several townshi]) offices.

John S. Brownlee was born at Turfoot, Len-
wickshire, Scotland, March 6, 1806. He came
to America in 1830, and settled in Coitsville
township, where he still resides, in 183 1. He
has a fiirm of over two hundred acres and a very

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

pleasant and comfortable home. Mr. Brownlee
was married April 19, 1830, to Janet Patterson,
who was born in Strathhaven, Scotland, Septem-
ber II, 1811. They have had eight children,
three of whom are living, Margaret W., Ellen F.,
Jane P., John A., James P., Randal Scroggs,
and William W. The second child, a daughter,
died in infancy. Jane, Randall S., and William
W., are yet living. Mr. and Mrs. Brownlee are
members of the Presbyterian church. They are
among the most respected citizens of Coitsville.

Robert Davidson was born in Youngstown in
1807. His father, James Davidson, a native of
Ireland, settled in Youngstown previous to the
year 1800. He was married before coming to
the county to Margaret Croskery, a native of
Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. They
brought up eleven children, eight of them still
living, Robert Davidson being the fourth child.
Mr. Davidson bought the farm on which he now
lives in 1831, and moved there the following
year. He has been twice married — first in 1832
to Anna Shields, daughter of James Shields, one
of the first settlers in Coitsville ; she died in
1835. In 1839 Mr. Davidson married Catha-
rine Lackey of Lawrence county, Pennsylvania.
They have three children, Anna, Mary, and
Frances. Mary is the wife of James Cowden,
of Wheeling, West Virginia, and Frances is the
wife of D. C. Stewart of Coitsville. Mr. and
Mrs. Davidson have belonged to the United
Presbyterian church for many years. Mr. David-
son has been an elder in this church for over
forty years. He is a sound Republican and a
worthy citizen.

John H. Reed, farmer, was born in Coitsville
township in 1816, and has always resided here.
His parents, William and Martha Reed, were
among the early settlers. They brought up a
family of five children, three of whom are living,
viz: John, William, and Nancy (widow of James
Milligan). John H. Reed lives upon the farm
settled by his father. The farm contains at pres-
ent one hundred and seventy-two acres. Mr.
Reed was first married in 1838 to Jane Kimmel,
daughter of Philip Kimmel, of Coitsville. They
had seven children, three of whom are living:
Lycurgus S., born September 22, 1839, died
March 14, 1864; Martha M., August 12, 1841,
died .August 28, 1859; Philip K., July 4, 1845,
died July 19, 1859; William H., February 24,

1849; Susan W., April 20, 1853; Elizabeth T.,
Edward P., (twins), June 26, 1856. Elizabeth
died November 14, 1871; Mrs. Reed died Feb-
ruary 24, 1862. In 1863 Mr. Reed married
Mrs. Samantha McParlin, daughter of William
McClelland, by whom he has two children: Al-
thea, born April 23, 1865, and Pluma, June 20,
1866. Mr. Reed is a Republican. He has
held the office of township trustee. He does an
excellent farming business.

John F. Robison was born in Mercer county,
(now Lawrence county) Pennsylvania, February
17, 1829. He came to Mahoning county in 1857,
locating in Coitsville township. He purchased
his present farm in 1863; has one hundred and
fifteen acres in Coitsville, with good buildings
and improvements, and owns also seventy-six
acres with buildings, etc., in Poland township.
He raises grain, cattle, sheep, etc. Mr. Robison
was married March 25, 1854, to Hannah Mc-
Williams, of Lawrence county, Pennsylvania.
They have six children, Almina, Ellen, George
L , William J., Elmer and Edward Lee (twins),
and Audley O. Mr. and Mrs. Robison are
members of the Presbyterian church. Mr.
Robison is a sound Democrat.

Anderson McParlin, a descendant of some
of the very earliest settlers in the county, was
born in Coitsville April 12, 1828, and has always
resided here. He is the owner of a good farm
of one hundred and ninety acres situated near
the. center of the township. Mr. McParlin was
married April 26, 1849, to Sarah Kirk. Mrs.
McParlin is the daughter of Andrew and Eliza-
beth (Baldwin) Kirk. Andrew Kirk came at an
early date from Washington county, Pennsyl-
vania; he was originally from New Jersey. Eliz-
abeth Baldwin was the daughter of Caleb Bald-
win, one of the first settlers in Youngstown.
Mr. McParlin is one of a family of twelve chil-
dreij, and Mrs. McParlin the youngest of thir-
teen. Their children are William E., Alice K.,
Vina J., Mary E., Bettie B., William K., Prank
M., Thomas E., and Charles A. William E.,
Alice K., and Charles A. are deceased. William
K. is now engaged on the new through-line
railroad in the capacity of civil engineer. Mr.
McParlin has been a Republican since the party
was formed. He was postmaster at Coitsville
for seventeen years. The family are well known
and highly respected in this county.

.76

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

Robert Lowry, Coitsville township, was born
in Poland township August 12, 1818. His
parents were William and Mary (Houston) Low-
ry. William I,owry was a native of the north of
Ireland, who settled in Poland township about
the year 1806, and brought up three sons and six
daughters; two sons and four daughters are now
living. His wife, Mary Houston, of Scotch
parentage, was born in Lancaster county, Penn-
sylvania. Her father, William Houston, came
to this county about the year 1800. Robert
Lowry was the fifth child of William Lowry. He
settled in Coitsville township in 1842. He was
married September 22, 1842, to Margaret Stew-
art, daughter of William Stewart, of Coitsville
township. They had four children, all living:
Mary Jane, wife of D. C. McBride, Mahoning
township, Lawrence county, Pennsylvania ; Wil-
liam S., Pulaski township, Lawrence county,
Pennsylvania; Theoressa J., wife of J. W. Mc-
Nabb, Pulaski township, Lawrence county,
Pennsylvania; Sarah E., wife of W. S. Allen,
Coitsville township. Mrs. Lowry died July i,
1873, aged fifty-six years. Mr. Lowry was mar-
ried a second time May 18, 1876, to Miss
Anna Madge, daughter of Robert Madge, of
Lackawanna township, Mercer county, Pennsyl-
vania. Mr. and Mrs. Lowry are members of the
United Presbyterian church. Mr. Lowry is a
sound Republican. He has held several offices:
was justice of the peace for twelve consecutive
years, commencing in 1856; county commission-
er from 1866 to 1872, and has held several town-
ship ofifices.

J. M. Jackson was born in New Bedford,
Pennsylvania, August 5, 1828. His father, John
Jackson, settled in Coitsville township in 1803.
J. M. Jackson has followed a variety of occupa-
tions. When young he taught school for several
years; then was a merchant. He now owns a
saw-mill, which does a good business, and is one
of our largest farmers. Mr. Jackson settled in
Coitsville in 1864. From 1844 to that date he
had been in business in Trumbull county. He
owns two hundred and twenty acres in this town-
ship. Mr. Jackson was married March 9, 1852,
to Rebecca L. Roberts, daughter of Thomas N.
Roberts, Hubbard, Trumbull county. They
have two sons and two daughters — Marietta,
Sidney Delamar (a successful attorney in Youngs-
town), Kliza Jane, and John Calvin. Mr. Jack

son has been quite prominent in local affairs,
and has held the offices of justice of the peace,
county commissioner, township clerk, trustee,
etc. He is one of our solid and energetic busi-
ness men. He served in the army a short time
as captain in company C, One Hundred and Sev-
enty-first Ohio volunteers, enlisting April 28,
1864, for the one hundred days' service.

F. D. Kirk, Coitsville township, was born in
that township July 11, 1846. His parents were
Andrew and Sylvina Kirk. His father is still
living. Mrs. Kirk died eight years ago. Mr.
F. D. Kirk is one of our active farmers; has
ninety acres of good land; raises stock, and in-
tends to go into sheep-raising. In 1880 he re-
ceived over $150 in premiums at fairs, mostly on
pigs. Mr. Kirk was married, in 1869, to Miss
Almira J. Bailc)-, daughter of C. T. Bailey, of
Coitsville township. They belong to the Method-
ist Episcopal church. Mr. Kirk is a Republi-
can, and a strong temperance man. He was in
the army. He enlisted in January, 1864, serv-
ing until the close of the war in company G,
Seventy-eighth Pennsylvania volunteers, under
General Thomas.

Nicholas Jacobs (deceased) was born near Gi-
rard, Mahoning county, January 13, 1810. His
parents were Abraham and Elizabeth (Kimmel)
Jacobs, who came here at quite an early date.
After his birth they returned to Washington
county, Pennsylvania. In 1S32 .\braham Ja-
cobs and his son Nicholas returned to Mahon-
ing county, and settled near together in the
northern part of Coitsville township. Nicholas
Jacobs was married January 19, 1832, to Isabella
Brown, of Washington county, Pennsylvania.
They had two children, Lewis J. and Francis P.,
both now residents of Youngstown. Mrs. Ja-
cobs died February 18, 1836, aged twenty-two
years. Mr. Jacobs was again married September
12, 1837, to Phuebe Kirk, of Coitsville town-
ship. Six children : Sheldon, Charles, Louisa,
Caroline, Alice and Phoebe. Charles died in
the army, at Chattanooga, September 30, 1863,
aged twenty-two years. Phoebe died September
9, 1 85 1, aged one year. The others reside in
the county. Mrs. Phoebe Jacobs died April 11,
1850, aged thirty-one. His third wife, whom he
married October i, 1850, was Mrs. Juliana Cal-
vin, nee Briggs. She was born in Dighton, Mas-
sachusetts, September 25, 1820. She was mar-

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

'77

ried in 1842 to Robert Calvin, of Beaver county,
Pennsylvania, by whom she had two children,
Josephus and Gustavus ; the latter a resident of
this township, and Josephus of Hollidaysburg,
Pennsylvania. Mr. Calvin died February 1 1,
1845, aged twenty-seven. Mr. and Mrs. Jacobs
had seven children: Mary, Spencer, Myron,
Jessie, Clarinda, William, and Charles G. Jessie
died December 2, 1870, aged fourteen; Clarinda
September28, 1861, aged two. The others reside
in Coitsville township. Mr. Jacobs died Decem-
ber 14, 1880, nearly seventy-one years of age.
He had been an earnest member of the Disci-
ples' church for about forty years of his life.
He was well known in this county, and highly
respected

Andrew Garner Fitch came to this county
from Lebanon, Connecticut, and settled in the
western part of Coitsville township, on a farm
which had been taken up previously and some-
what improved by a man named Robinson. His
wife was Mary Levenwell. They had nine chil-
dren, none of them now living. Samuel Fitch
was the fifth child, and the longest survivor of
the family. He was twelve years of age when
he came to the county, having been born in
1789. Samuel Fitch and his brother Henry
were soldiers in the War of 1812. The wife of
Samuel Fitch was Mary T. Simpson, a native of
Maysville, Kentucky. They had five children,
Mary Jane, Elizabeth B., Julia A., Joseph T.,
and Caroline S. Only Elizabeth and Julia are
now living. They reside at the old homestead.
Mrs. Fitch, their mother, died in 1848, aged
fifty-two years. She was for many years a devot-
ed member of the Presbyterian church. Mr.
Fitch died in 1875. He lived to a ripe old age,
and was always an honored and respected citi-
zen. He was an earnest friend of the Union,
and though he had no sons to send to the army,
he gave liberally of his means to aid in the
cause.

John Cooper, lumber manufacturer, Coitsville
township, was born September 15, 1815. His
parents were David and Rebecca (.Armstrong)
Cooper, the former a native of Maryland, and
the latter of Washington county, Pennsylvania.
David Cooper came to Coitsville in 1798 and
helped to survey the Western Reserve. He
then went back to Maryland, and in 1800 re-
turned to Coitsville, took up four hundred acres,
23'

and spent the remainder of his life here. He
died in 1855 in the ninety-fifth year of his age.
He was a man of strong constitution, active
industry, and business ability. He was married
about the year 1806, and was the father of
twelve children : eleven arrived at maturity and
five are yet living, viz: John, David, Eliza,
William, and Robert, all residents of Coitsville
township. Mrs. Cooper died in 1852 aged sixty-
six years. John Cooper lives upon a portion of
the original farm. He is engaged in the lumber
business and has been running a saw-mill since
1849. The Cooper family is one of the oldest
in the township, and comprises some of its best
citizens.

John White, farmer, Coitsville township, Ma-
honing county, was born in county Monaghn,
Ireland, in 1820. He came to America in 1835,
and after three or four years settled in Coitsville.
Mr. White is a large farmer; he has at present
two hundred and seventy-six acres of land in a
good state of cultivation. He built a large and
convenient house in the spring of 1877. Mr.
White is engaged in mixed farming, raises cattle,
sheep, and gtain. He was married November
24, 1853, to Eliza Dickson, daughter of George
Dickson, of Coitsville township. They have five
children, born as follows: Hugh J., November
II, 1854; George D., November 4, 1856; Wil-
liam B., December 22, 1858; John B., October
24, i860; Robert F., February 22, 1863. Mr.
and Mrs. White are members of the Presbyterian
church. Mr. White is a Democrat. He has
been township trustee and judge of elections,
and is a most worthy and respected citizen.

William H. Wick, farmer, Coitsville, Mahon-
ing county, was born in this township in 1827.
His parents, Daniel and Elizabeth (Armitage)
Wick, were old residents, having come to the
place where Mr. Wick now resides in 181 5.
Daniel Wick had previously been a resident of
.'\ustintown, having come there from New Jersey
about 1796. He was a soldier in the War of
1812. He died June 18, 1863, in his seventy-
seventh year. His wife, Elizabeth Armitage,
whom he married in 1813, was born in Hunting-
don county, Pennsylvania, and came to Jackson
township, Mahoning county, when a child. She
was a daughter of Benjamin Armitage. Her
mother's name was Drake, a descendant from
Sir Francis Drake. Mrs. Wick died February

>78

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

5, 1869, aged seventy-six years. She was the
mother of si.\ children, all of whom are living,
Mr. W. H. Wick being the youngest. William
H. Wick was married March 7, 1855, to Sarah
A. Williams, daughter of William Williams, of
Wayne county, Ohio. They have five children;
Mary Ella Pearl, born March 7, 1857, wife of
Albert Martin of Lawrence county, Pennsj Ivania;
Louie Evangeline, born May 19, i860; Lizzie
Carrie, born August 31, 1865; Grace Gertrude,
born March 3, 1869; Vernon Victor, born
May 21, 1876. Mr. Wick has always been a
stanch Republican. He has been township
trustee, and has held other local offices. He
does an extensive farming business, owns one
hundred and eighty acres; and is one of the
most active and successful farmers in the town-
ship.

CHAPTER IX.

MILTON.

Milton IS township two of range five, and is
the northwest corner of Mahoning county, hav-
ing Newton, Trumbull county, on the north,
Jackson on the east, Berlin on the south, and
Palmyra, Portage county, on the west.

The Mahoning river — that marvelously crooked
stream, which flows northward through the west-
ern part of the county, but after passing into
Trumbull county and going through all manner
of twisting and turning returns to the territory
named after it and flows through its eastern por-
tion in a southeasterly direction — is here a nar-
row and very pretty stream, cutting the western
half of the township into two very nearly equal
portions. The bottom land along the river is
quite broad in some places and generally of more
than average fertility.

Going from the eastern side of the township to
the west, you will notice that there are a number
of broad ridges of land of gradual slope and
gentle elevation with numerous runs cutting
them. Nearer the river the ridges are not so
broad but are higher ; none of the surface is
exactly level, and little is very hilly. Limestone
and sandstone arc exposed in a few places.

The soil is a clayey loam, with a few fields that
are composed almost wholly of heavy clay.
Most of the soil, however, is fertile and easily
worked; well watered, both by springs and
brooks, and seems especially adapted for grazing.

On the east bank of the river and about one
mile south of the north line of the township is a
sulphur spring. The water is deep and cool and
flows constantly. It has sometimes been recom-
mended for medical uses.

Coal has been obtained in small quantities in
the southeast and southwest portions of the
township. Several attempts have been made to
find oil in years past, and at the present writing
wells are being drilled with the same object in
view.

The township contains no villages except one
almost as extinct as Herculaneum, and a portion
of the little settlement at Price's mills. The
population is small, many farms being without
houses or occupants. The farmers are generally
comfortably situated, contented, and happy.

The timber is principally white oak and hick-
ory; there is a little ash and not much maple.

E.ARLY TOWNSHIP OFFICERS.

No township records of an early date are in
existence. We learn that John Johnston of
Milton, and Bildad Hineof Newton, were elected
justices of the peace, in 1814, by the joint town-
ships, Newton and Milton. .\ year or two later
Milton became a township and voting precinct
by itself. Justices of the peace prior to 1840:
John Johnston, Daniel Vaughan, Robert Price,
Johnston, Vaughan, William Strander, Milton
Rogers, John Matherspaw, James Moore, John
Eckis, Jr., and Peter Kinnaman.

SETTLEMENT.

The first settlement in the township was made
about the year 1803 in the vicinity of Pricetown.
In the course of three or four years quite a
number of families had come to the township
and located along the river on both sides of it.

About the same date (1803) a settlement was
commenced on the eastern side of the township.
For some years the central and southern as well
as the southeastern portions of the township lay
unimproved.

It is claimed that Nathaniel Stanley, one of
those belonging to the western or river settle-
mtnt, was the first actual settler. He took up

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

179

and improved land just south of the old Judge
Clarke farm on the east side of the river, a short
distance above Pricetown. He sold out to Jacob
Cole quite early and moved north into Newton
township.

Aaron Porter, said by his sons to have been
the second settler in the township, came from
Pennsylvania in 1803, and located west of the
river on the farm where Henry Wmfield now
lives, afterwards (in 1812) moving to the farm
where his sons, Enoch and Joseph Porter, reside.
He brought up a family of twelve children, three
of whom were born in this township. Porter was
a strong man and of great endurance. He
reached the age of ninety-six. The names of
the surviving members of his family are : Mar-
garet, wife of John Jones, Medina county ;
Robin, in Indiana ; Nancy, widow of Joseph
McKenzie, Huron county ; Enoch and Joseph,
Milton township.

In 1803 John Vanetten and family came from
Delaware to the western part of the township.
The second dwelling built by him, a two-story
log house with a large stone chinmey, is still
standing. They came with a wagon, and after
their arrival three weeks elapsed before a cabin
was completed. During this time they slept in
the wagon and cooked and ate in the open air.
The family at this time consisted of Mr. Van-
etten, wife, and three children. When all was
in readiness for the erection of the cabin, owing
to the scarcity of men in the vicinity, the women
were called in to assist in raising the logs to the
proper height. Some time after coming here
Captain Vanetten procured a pair of spoon-
molds, which his wife used for years in making
spoons for the settlers, and for use in her own
family. Old pewter plates furnished the ma-
terial. If a spoon was broken the pieces were
carefully saved until they could be run over and
made into a new spoon. Captain Vanetten was
married in Delaware to Anna Lebar. They had
ten children in all, whose names were as follows:
Margaret married Daniel Parshall, and died in
this township; Daniel died in Crawford county,
Pennsylvania; Mary married Joseph Depew and
died in Allen county; Elizabeth became the wife
of Jacob Parshall and died in Michigan; Sally is
living, the wife of John McKenzie of this town-
ship; Jacob is living in Wood county; .^nn mar-
ried Hugh Patterson and died in Milton; John

died in Wood county; Jonah died in Indiana;
Aaron died in Oregon. John Vanetten, Sr.,
served as a captain in the War of 181 2. He
lived to the age of seventy-seven. His wife
died at the age of sixty-eight.

Samuel Linton was an early settler on the
farm now owned by the Ewing heirs. His sons
were Samuel and Adam. The latter lived and
died in Milton. Samuel is sill living in Berlin
township. There were also three daughters.

Samuel Bowles was one of the earliest settlers
of the township, and came heie about 1803. He
settled in the eastern part of Milton, on the farm
now owned by Josiah Fenton. In 1823 he
moved with his entire family to Portage county.

In about 1804 three brothers by the name of
Winans, Isaac, James, and Jacob, moved from
Delaware to the eastern part of the township, and
each took up a farm. They all lived to be old
men. Isaac died on the farm where he settled.
His children were Jacob, Isaac, John, Sarah,
Eleanor, Phebe, Rebecca, Hannah, and Susan.
Jacob lived on a part of the old place and died
there ; Eleanor married Russel Orr, of Milton,
and after his death moved to Illinois, where she
died at a ripe old age; Phebe married Andrew
Moore, and lived and died in Milton ; Susan be-
came the wife of John McCollum, and died in
this township.

James Winans also died in Milton. He
brought up four sons — Jacob J., Isaac, Henry,
and James, all of whom settled in this township
but Isaac and James. Isaac is still living. He
was a preacher for several years, as was also his
brother Henry. The daughters of James, Sr.,
were Polly, Jemima, Anna, Susan, and Hannah;
all dead. Polly was the wife of Jesse Delong,
of this township.

Jacob Winans passed the most of his life in
this township, but died in Pennsylvania. His
son Jacob is still a resident of Milton. His
daughter Rachel married a Porter, and is still
living in the township. Jemima, one of the
girls, marred Robert Short, and lived here many
years.

Jesse Holliday was one of the first settlers,
and a very enterprising business mati, although
he had more energy than capital. He remained
but a few years, and none of his tamily became
permanent residents.

Reuben S. Clarke was one of the first settlers

I So

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

at Pricetown, and died upon the Tarm which he
took up and improved. He was associate judge
at quite an early date. His sons were John
Quincy and Reuben. The former remained on
the farm with his widowed mother until her
death. Reuben went to Iowa. There were
several daughters, but none of them settled in
Milton. The Clarke farm began at the township
line and extended up the river on the east bank.

Daniel Stewart settled south of Orr's corners,
on land now owned by Daniel Eckis, at an
early date, probably 1804. He sold and moved
to another part of the township, but afterwards
returned to the original farm and died there.
None of the family are left in Milton.

John Delong was an early settler south of
Orr's corners. He had two sons, Jesse and
Aaron, who settled in the township and remained
several years.

Joseph Depew was an early settler on the farm
east of the river afterwards owned by Ste[)hen
Case. From Depew's hands the farm passed to
John Gibson. Parkus and Joseph Depew, sons
of Joseph, passed their lives in this township.
One of their sisters became Mrs. Craig.

A man named Munson was an early settler on
the river but moved away before making much
improvement.

John Brunton made the first improvements
on the farm now owned by Leonidas Carson.

James and John Craig were early settlers east
of the river. John moved to Berlin and died
there. James died in this township and his
family scattered.

Thomas L. Fenton settled early at Pricetown
and carried on his trade of blacksmithing. About
1 81 7 he moved to the eastern part of the town
ship and settled on a farm just west of the old
Johnston farm. He had three sons — Hiram C,
Jesse, and Josiah. The youngest lives on the
farm ; the other two are in the West. His
daughters were Mary, Lucy Ann, Jane, Chris-
tina, and Harriet. Three of them are living :
Mrs. Jane Johnson, Newton Falls ; Mrs. Chris-
tina Kale, Milton ; and Mrs. Harriet Flaugher,
Jackson.

George Snyder settled east of the river about
1805 and cleared up a farm, which he afterwards
sold to Shepard. It is now owned by John
Scott. Snyder moved to Green township.

In 1805 John McKenzie settled on the farm

now owned by Frank Keefer. His son John
still resides in the township and is one of its old-
est inhabitants.

Samuel Daniels settled on the Vaughn farm
west of the river about 1806, but later moved
with all his family.

John Pennel was an early settler in the eastern
part of Milton. He afterwards bought a farm
in the northwestern part where he died quite
early. His family scattered.

Peter DeCourcey settled in the township pre-
vious to 1809. Three of his sons remained here
some time but did not become permanent resi-
dents.

Robert Russell came from Poland township to
the eastern part of Milton when a young man. ,
He married after coming here a daughter of
Alexander French, and reared a family of ten
children, two of whom survive, James and Enoch,
of this township.

Alexander French settled in the northeastern
part of the township about 1809. He had only
one son, William, who lived here some years and
then emigrated to Allen county, Ohio, where he
died. His daughters were Margaret, Martha,
Jane, Ann, Betsey, and Sarah. All married here
except Martha, who remained single. Betsey is
still living, the wife of John Shearer, of New-
ton.

Thomas Reed settled in the eastern part of
the township, north of Orr's corners, about the
year 1810. Two of his sons — Benjamin and
John — resided here some years. Two of his
daughters were also residents of the township —
Catharine, the wife of Thomas L. Fenton, and
Mary, wife of James Chalfant. Both died years
ago.

William Parshall, son of Samuel Parshall, was
an early settler west of the river, and kept store
a few years opposite Captain Vanetten's house.
He moved to New Castle, Pennsylvania.

John Johnston settled on the east line of Mil-
ton township in 181 1. He was of Irish descent
and was born in Pennsylvania in 1773. He was
married in his native State to Margaret Robin-
son. They had six children living at the time
they settled here, and two were born afterwards.
The names were as follow: Mary, John, Mar-
garet, David, Samuel, Elizabeth, Thomas, and
Francis R. Mary married Alexander Gilmore
and lives in Newton. She has brought up five

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

children, two of whom are living. John
settled in Jackson and brought up five chil-
dren by his first wife and four by his
second. He died in 1868. Margaret married
James Moore and resided m the township. Both
are dead. Mrs. Moore died in 1881, leaving
two children living and four deceased. David
settled on the west line of Jackson, where he
now lives. He has a family of seven children
living. Samuel settled on the west line of Jack-
son and has seven children living. Elizabeth
married Alexander Moore and now resides in
Milton, and has four children living. Thomas
resides in Milton, on the east line, a mile and a
half north of the center road. He has eight
children living. Francis R. occupies the old
farm. He is the father of eleven children, only
two of whom are living. John Johnston, Sr.,
died in 1842, and his widow in 1849. When he
came to this township he moved into a small log
cabin, perhaps si.xteen feet square, which had
been erected by a previous settler. There was
a puncheon floor, made from roughly split logs,
and a stick and mud chimney. For a few weeks
this small cabin, containing but one room, in
which was a loom in addition to other household
furniture, was inhabited by two families. Alex-
ander Campbell lived there while he was build-
ing a cabin for himself He came to Milton
about 1810, and remained a resident of the
township until 1823, when he moved to Lords-
town, where he died some years later.

Five members of the Orr family, sons of Wil-
liam Orr, of Jackson, settled in Milton at differ-
ent dates. They were John, Humphrey, WW-
liam, Russell, and Isaac. Many of their de-
scendants continue to reside here.

Henry Lingo settled in 1813 on a farm north-
east of the center. His sons were Allen, Joseph,
Robert, Samuel, John, Henry, and Hamilton.
His daughter Susan became the wife of Robert
McKenzie. Several of the sons lived and died
in this township.

Robert Price, afterwards Judge Price, came to
the little village now called by his name, in 1817,
and was one of its prominent men for several
years.

Robert Rose, one of the oldest residents of Ma-
honing county, and perhaps the oldest man within
its borders, was born near Bath, Viiginia, April 7,
I 786. When about fourteen years old he came to

Poland township with his father, Jesse Rose, who
settled in the eastern part of Poland, near the
Pennsylvania line. Jesse Rose moved from Po-
land to Ellsworth and died there. His family
consisted of eight children, Robert being njw
the only survivor. David, Robert, Jesse, and
James were the sons; Mary, Nancy, Rhoda, and
Hannah the daughters. David and Jesse set-
tled and died in Ellsworth. James settled in
Jackson but moved west. Mary became the
wife of William Howard and lived in Ellsworth.
Nancy married John Brothers and lived in
Pennsylvania. Rhoda nr.arried John Rose and
lived in Mecca, Trumbull county. Hannah
married Ebenezer Cole and lived on the old
farm where her father settled, in Poland. Robert
Rose was married in Poland to Catharine Shoaf,
who bore eight children. For his second wife
he married Catharine Wortenbarger. About the
year 1816 Mr. Rose moved to Milton township,
took up and settled upon a farm in the southeast,
on the old Palmyra road, where he resided until
about thirteen years ago, and has since been liv-
ing with his sons in Berlin township. Mr. Rose
is one of the few surviving veterans of the War
of 1812. His oldest brother was also a soldier
of that war. The writer made a visit to Uncle
Robert, as he is familiarly called, one pleasant
day in November, 1881. One of his "boys," a
gray-haired man, directed us to the place where
we found the old gentleman. He was in the
woods, at least three-quarters of a mile from the
house, in his shirt-sleeves and was busily engaged
in gathering hickory-nuts. Few men reach their
ninety-sixth year, and very few attain to Mr.
Rose's age and retain full possession of their fac-
ulties. We found Mr. Rose's memory of early
events clear, distinct, and accurate. His hear-
ing is but little impaired. His mind is active,
and his face and conversation cheerful. In his
early years he was a very Hercules in physical
strength, and even now, considering how near he
is to the age of a centenarian, his vigor is re-
markable.

Calvin Shepard came out with Judge Price
from New Jersey, and worked for him some
years. He married Isabella Beck and settled on
land now owned by John Scott. There were eight
children, seven of whom are living, none of them
in this township.

Frederick Byers, from Pennsylvania, came to

l82

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

the township about 1824, and settled just west
of the liver, on the farm now owned by Robert
Weasner. His son Frederick occupied it after
him a number of years. Mr. Byers, Sr., caused
the village to be laid out which is called by his
first name.

John Eckis came from Maryland to Spring-
field township in 1801, and in 1826 moved to
Milton, and was a pioneer of the southeastern
part of the township. Even at that date there
was no improved farm west of his place, until
the river was reached.

John McCollum recently deceased, came to
the township in 1828, and took up an unim-
proved farm in the southeastern quarter.

From 1830 to 1840 the township gtew rapidly
in population. In that period both Frederick and
Pricetown were flourishing villages. But the ad-
vent of the New York and Ohio canal, turning
business and travel aside, gave these places a
staggering blow; and a few years later the rail-
road came through and finished them ; for the
iron horse, like the canal mule, "passed by on the
other side" of Milton. In 1840 the census re-
turns gave the township a population of twelve-
hundred and seventy-seven. Each succeedmg
decade has witnessed a gradual falling off, until
now the entire population is between seven and
eight hundred, making this the smallest township
in the county.

price's mills.

Price's Mills, or Pricetown, was once a flour-
ishing place, but is so no longer. It is situated
on the line between Milton and Newton, and as
nearly all of its business enterprises were carried
on in this township, we include a sketch of them
here.

Jesse Holliday came to this place among the
very first of the settlers, and in 1804 erected a
grist-mill, carding-mill, and saw-mill. The grist-
mill was a good size for those days ; two stories
in height, perhaps 34x40 feet, and contained
two run of granite stones. The wheel was an
undershot, twenty-two feet in diameter. The
sawmill had an old-fashioned " flutter wheel."
These mills were on the sites of the present
gristmill and saw-mill. The carding-mill was
just north of the grist-mill. Holliday run these
mills until i8i6, and then sold them to John
Price. A year or two later they came
into the possession of Robert I'rice, who

operated them many years. In 1834 Price
put up a stone flouring-mill. It was badly
built and fell down a few years later. It was re-
built by Dr. Jonathan I. Tod, son-in law of
Judge Price, who in the meantime had purchased
the entire mill property. The mills remained in
possession of Dr. Tod and his widow until 1861,
when they were purchased by Mr. Calender,
father of the present owner. The saw-mill now
standing was also built by Price.

In 1837 Dr. Tod built a foundry on the west
side of the river. It was in operation five or six
years, and was tlien changed into a linseed oil
manufactory. It disappeared some years ago.
In 1842 Dr. Tod erected a foundry on the east
side of the river. Calender bought it and
changed it into a flax-mill.

J. M. Calender erected a frame building north
of the grist-mill in 1866, and transferred the ma-
chinery of the grist-mill to it. He converted the
stone mill into a woolen factory, where spinning,
weaving, cloth-dressing, etc., were successfully
carried on until about the time of his death. In
1875 the machinery of th» grist-mill was restored
to the stone building.

The first tavern in the place was kept by
Thomas L. Fenton, on the northwest corner of
the Newton side. Robert Weasner, Peter Bell,
Peter Smith, and Noah Smith have since kept
tavern in the place. Bell built a second build-
ing for a hotel.

Who kept the first store we are unable to learn
for a certainty. Booth & Elliot, and Elliot &
Ingersol have been mentioned as the first store-
keepers. Robert Price began business as a mer-
chant in 181 7. Jonathan I. Tod, William Por-
ter, Carpenter & Avery, Porter & Bronson, Por-
ter & Moffat, James M. Calender, Fiester & Por-
ter, Charles Curtis, and Noah Smith have all
been engaged in the mercantile business here.
John L. Greer kept a second store for a time,
while Carpenter & Avery were in business.
Some of the firms mentioned did a large bus-
iness. But the place is now scarcely able to
support one small grocery.

AN EXTINCT VILL.^GE.

Frederick, or Fredericksburg as it is frequently
called, was a flourishing Lttle village on the liver,
near the south line of the township, forty or fitly
years ago. Now a few dilapidated old houses
and a church, wmdowless and almost roofless,

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

■S3

remain to mark its site. But in days gone by,
those primitive days which shall return no more
forever, when the stages from Pittsburg and
Cleveland passed through Frederick daily, the
little village was at the zenith of its prosperity.

The first merchant in the place was a man
named Swift. This is all that is known of him.
Peter Kinnaman, from Petersburg, this county,
began keeping a store in a part of Lebaugh's
tavern in 1834. Soon after he built a store and
occupied it some years. John Eckis was the
next merchant in the place. Carpenter &
,\very had a small store for a time. Matthias
& George Christy and Maito.x & Raymond were
merchants in the later years of the village.

Louis Lebaugh kept the first and the principal
hotel. The stage stopped at his door. His
house was on the north side of the road and op-
posite the corner. Moses Everett kept another
house of entertainment west of the bridge, on
the south side of the road. Frederick Myers
was the landlord of a long two-story building,
situated west of Everett's, between it and the
corner. His tavern was a large one for those
days. The three houses were all open to the
public at the same time.

A distillery was operated by Dyer Fitch for a
short time. Mecca, or lubricating oil, found in
the vicinity, got in the water used so much that
it spoiled the liquor, and the business had to be
dropped.

A tannery was successfully worked for a time
by a German named John Kreitzinger. In ad-
dition to these industries the busy little place in-
cluded among its inhabitants the following
named artisans : William Cowell, hatter; Daniel
Mauen, tailor; McWilliams and William Shoe-
maker, wagonmakers, as well as several black-
smiths and shoemakers.

CHURCH HISTORY.

At present there are but two church buildings
in the township, the Methodist and the Presby-
terian. The Disciples once had two churches,
but they no longer have an organization. The
Germans go to church in Berlin.

THE PRESBVTERI.^NS.

In 1807 or 1808 a Presbyterian church was
organized by the citizens of Newton and Milton,
and a church erected in Newton near Price's
mills. Rev. James Boyd was the first pastor of

the congregations of Newton and Warren. He
died in 1813 and is buried in the old graveyard
at Pricetown. Rev. Joshua Beer was the next
pastor. There were then several supplies for a
number of years. Rev. William O. Stratton was
a settled pastor for a number of years, com-
mencing about 1836. During his ministry the
old church ceased to be used, and a new one
was built at Orr's corners about 1847, which is
still called the Newton church. Rev. J. B. Mil-
ler, Rev. Thomas P. Spear, Revs. Sharp and
Taylor have presided since. When the Jackson
church was built in 187 1, it drew away a large
portion of the members of the Newton church,
and left it in a weak condition. It is now with-
out a pastor. We append names of some of the
prominent and active members of this church in
early years : Nathaniel and William Stanley,
Thomas Gilmer; elders, John Craig, Thomas
McCoy, Nicholas Van Emmon, Isaac Winans,
Jacob Winans, second, Emanuel Hoover, Sr. and
Jr., Robert Russell, John Johnston.

THE METHODISTS.

The Methodist church was organized about
1812. Meetings were held in the school-house
at Orr's corners, often on weekdays, for the ac-
commodation of circuit preachers whose duties
were multifarious. Rev. Billings O. Plimpton,
Dr. Bostwick, Nicholas Gee, Ira Eddy, Rev.
Prosser, and others were early preachers. The
prominent members of the church were the
Winans, Vaughns, Tillinghast Morey, Isaac
Mitchell, and others. About 1830 the organiza-
tion built a brick church at Baldwin's corners in
the northeastern part of the township. This
building was destroyed by a gale in 1849. A
few years later the present church, a small frame
building, was erected. The church keeps up its
organization and has regular preaching in con-
nection with other societies.

From an old History of Methodism in the
West we make the following extract :

During the summer of 1810 Mr. Tillinghast Mowry
[Morey I moved from Connecticut and settled in Milton, one
mile west of the center, where his house became a welcome
home for Methodist preachers who were sent to labor on
Hartford circuit, and was for many years a preaching place.
Father Henry Shewel, residing in Deerfield, Ohio, after toil-
ing through the week with his hards would on .Sunday find
his way through the woods to the new neighboring settlements
to break the bread of life to the hungry souls in the wilder-
ness. He established a preaching appointment at Mr.
Mowry 's and a class was formed comprising Tillinghast

1 84

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

Mowry, leader, and wife; Jacob Allen and wife, Joseph
Depew, Margaret Hudson, Mr. Cole and wife, and perhaps
others. The appointment wa= soon added to Hartford cir-
cuit and supplied with circuit preaching.

THE DISCIPLES.

The Disciples organized as early as 1830. Wil-
liam Hayden and Walter Scott began preaching
here about 1827, and baptized several persons.
Many of the Methodists joined them. They
held their meetings in the Orr's corners school-
house for a time, then built a small church one-
fourth of a mile east of the corners. Their or-
ganization went down more than twenty years
ago. Early preachers: Webb, Flick, Shaffer,
and others. Early and prominent members :
Isaac Mitchell, Thomas L. Fenton, John
Thatcher, Joseph Pierce, Amos Pierce, Joseph
Pierce, Jr., and Jacob Winans, Sr.

The Disciples also built a church at Freder-
ick, the fiame of which is still standing. This
church was organized through the efforts of Her-
man Reeves, who became its first pastor. The
house was erected in 1852. Reeves, Shaffer,
(Jriffin, Phillips, Hillock, Chapman, Megowan,
and others were preachers in this church. Mat-
thias Christy and William Cowell were the first
elders ; Christy also preached occasionally.
John Carson, M. Smith, and Aaron Fink were
elders and prominent members. The church
was organized with thirty or forty members, and
the number increased to nearly one hundred.
Many members moved, and the war and its issues
caused divisions which resulted in the dissolu-
tion of the organization.

BURIAL PLACES.

The first settlers were all buried in Newton
near Price's mills. There are three small pub-
lic burying places in this township, of which the
one west of the river and a little north of the
center road is probably the oldest.

POST-OFFICES.

The first post-office was established at Price's
mills, or Pricetown, about the year 1808. Al-
though Milton is the name of the post-office it
has been kept in Newton township almost if not
(juite as much as in Milton. The office was
originally on the route between Warren and
Ravenna. The first postmaster was probably
Judge Reuben S. Clark, succeeded by Robert
Price, Jonathan I. Tod, Frank Porter, Noah

Smith, and J. M. Calender, the present incum-
bent.

The post office at Frederick was established
previous to 1830. John Shoemaker, Sr., was
probably the first postmaster. His successors:
Peter Kinnaman, John Eckis, John Shoemaker,
Jr., David Byers, Lydia A. Steffey, Robert Weas-
ner, Madison Traill, John Carson. Since Mr.
Carson took the office, about fifteen years ago, it
has been kept in Berlin township. The mail is
received twice a week.

PHYSICIANS.

Dr. Tracy Bronson, who lived just over the
line in Newton township, was the practicing phy-
sician in Milton for many years, and is remem-
bered with gratitude and affection by many of
his old patients.

Dr. George Ewing had quite a large practice
in the township. He settled on a farm but con-
tinued attending to the calls of his patients up
to the time of his death. There have been many
other physicians in the township, but none that
have been permanent residents.

THE FIRST SCHOOLS.

For several years teachers were paid by sub-
scription, their wages in summer terms being
four or five dollars per month, and nine or ten
in winter, not all in cash but frequently in grain
or orders on the store-keepers.

Daniel Depew, an aged man, was one of the
first school-teachers in a log-cabin situated east
of the river. A very few of his pupils are still
living. Other early teachers in different parts of
Milton were Tillinghast Morey, Robert White,
Margaret Depew, Nancy Best, Peggy Stevens,
Gain Robison, Joseph Duer, Phebe Canfield,
and Billings O. Plimpton, afterwards quite cele-
brated as a Methodist preacher.

John Johnston taught school two winters,
1811-12 and 1812-13, in a little log school-
house which was situated on the center road
about three-fourths of a mile west of the Jackson
township line. The school-house contained an
immense fire-place in a chimney at one end of
the room. The house was perhaps sixteen feet
square; paper was used for glass in the windows,
and the door was pinned together with wooden
pins in place of nails. Probably twenty scholars
attended this school while Mr. Johnston taught.
The cabin just described was used as a school-

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

house until about 1818, when a building of
hewed logs was erected on the lot where the
present school-house stands.

The method of instruction in these early
schools was somewhat different from that which
is now in use. First, the pupil was taught the
alphabet ; then spelling, reading, writing, in suc-
cession, and finally arithmetic. Many of the
old settlers never attended a school in which
grammar or geography was taught.

IN THE WILD WOODS.

As late as 1806 three Indians, rejoicing in the
euphonious names of Nicksaw, Cayuga, and
Cadashua, were living on the west bank of the
river on the best of terms with their white neigh-
bors. They subsisted chiefly by hunting and
fishing, though they raised a little corn on the
river bottom. There are those now living who
remember having seen these Indians at their
homes.

Game of all kinds was abundant. Squirrels
and other small pests attacked the corn and
wheat, and wolves were ever ready to make way
with lambs and other young stock. It was no
uncommon thing tor a farmer to wake up in the
morning and find that a bear had killed his hog,
or a wolf destroyed some of his sheep.

The last known instance of a bear in the
township was in 1835. At that date Joseph
Mead tracked one across Milton into Newton
where it was killed.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Probably the first bridge across the Mahoning
above Warren, was a trestle-work bridge on the
line between Newton and Milton. This broke
down in 1822 while Joseph Depew was crossing it
with three yoke of oxen. Four of the oxen were
killed by the fall, but the driver and the head
yoke got out uninjured. This bridge was soon
replaced by another of similar construction,
which the breaking up of the ice in 1831 de-
stroyed. Soon after the bridge now standing was
built in a more substantial manner.

Captain Vanetten had a distillery in very early
times. During the War of 18 12 it was run by
his wife, who, the captain declared, could make
more and better whiskey from the same amount
of grain than he could. There were numerous
stills in all parts of the settlement. James Orr
built a distillery and an ashery near Orr's corners

about the year 1817. Soon after he sold the
distillery to his brother John. John Hineman
built a distillery in the northeastern corner of the
township about the same date. Some years later
John Reed built a third near the location of the
first.

John Johnston and James Moore started a
tannery in 1823. It was situated about one-half
mile north of the center road on Johnston's
farm. It was worked until 1839, when it was
moved by Samuel Johnston to his farm in Jack-
son, where he carried on the business until about
1870. Robert Laughlin started a tannery some
time after this. In 1827 James Moore built an-
other one-fourth of a mile west of Orr's corners.

A grist-mill and a saw-mill were built by Jesse
Holliday and Joseph Hoover on the Mahoning,
about two and one-half miles south of Price's
mills, in 1824. A carding machine was operated
in connection with these mills for some time.
The grist-mill was sold to a man named Brian
and later to John Nolan. While he was the
owner it was destroyed by fire and rebuilt. A
few old timbers still remain to mark the spot
where it stood. John and George Forder some
years later had a grist-mill and saw-mill on their
land.

A BEAR STORY.

Aaron Porter was a famous hunter, and the
history of his experiences and achievements
would make an interesting book. Early and
late, in every season and all kinds of weather,
he busied himself in the pursuit which he so
dearly loved. With his moccasins — he never
would wear boots while hunting — and his rifle,
he could often be seen striding through the
forest, either going in quest of adventure or re-
turning victorious after a day's exploits. He was
a man of strong limbs and powerful frame, capa-
ble of enduring almost any amount of physical
exertion. Miles were nothing to him. With an
easy, swinging, rapid gait he would traverse the
woods hour after hour, apparently with no
thought of fatigue or desire for rest. The man
who would attempt to follow "Uncle Aaron " all
day would have been considered rash indeed.

We will here note one of his many hunting
episodes, as told by his son. One day while
Porter and his son Samuel were hunting near
the north fork of the Mahoning, while ranging
the woods they suddenly came across an old In-

i8(5

TRUMBULL. AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

dian and a young brave who had treed an old
she bear and her cubs, and were attempting to
secure them. The animals had taken refuge
within a large hollow tree and were some dis-
tance from the ground. Porter came where the
red men were, and at once comprehending
the condition of affairs, made signs to the In-
dians that they should allow him to cut the tree
down. The old hunter shook his head, and in-
timated that the bear would run away. Porter
pointed to two dogs which were following him;
but the Indian uttered a contemptuous "Ugh !"
and declared that the dogs were " too light." As
they were only small water spaniels, his reason-
ing was apparently well founded. The Indians
soon lighted a fire at the base of the tree, and
as the smoke found its way up the cavity where
the bear was, she began to scramble upward in a
very lively manner, until she reached an opening
just large enough to put her head through. As
soon as the black nose was visible to the hunters,
and while its owner was in full and complete en-
joyment of fresh air, the old Indian fired. The
bear fell back into the tree and there was much
noise and commotion among the cubs. Porter
then asked the Indian if he should cut the tree,
and, receiving an affirmative reply, set to work
and soon the trunk went crackling to the earth;
and lo! out rushed the bear which the Indian
thought he had killed, and bounded away at a
lively rate. Uncle Aaron fired off his gun to ex-
cite the dogs, and all started in hot pursuit of
the running game e.xcept the old Indian, who
stopped to secure the cubs, and then followed as
fast as his limbs could carry him.

The dogs, which were well trained, and had
participated in many a bear-hunt before this one,
soon brought the animal at bay, by biting her
hind legs and otherwise worrying her. Porter,
as usual, caught up with the dogs before the
other hunters, but he could do nothing, as his
gun was empty. Before he had time to reload
his son came up, and taking his gun, uncle
Aaron walked up close to the bear's head and
shot her. Soon the young Indian ariived, and
he, too, poured his rifle's charge into the bear,
which Porter's shot had already killed. The old
Indian next appeared and took his turn at shoot-
ing. By this time the animal was "dead enough
to skin;" as all the hunters unanimously agreed ;
and tile Indians, with deft and skillful fingers,

soon had the hide removed. The old red man
then cut off a large piece of the shoulder, which
he offered to Porter. The latter declined it by
shaking his head. The Indian, however, insist-
ed ; made signs of eating, pointed to the meat
and then to his mouth to declare that it was
good ; and Porter, to please him, accepted the
gift and wrapped it carefully in some bark, that
he might carry it home without the inconven-
ience of being daubed with bear's grease. The
young Indian next cut off some of the meat and
wrapped it up as Porter had done. The old
warrior then took the remainder of the caicass,
entiails and all, put the cubs, which were still
alive, into it, wrapped the whole securely in the
bearskin, making a bundle plenty large and
heavy for one to carry, shouldered it and marched
toward his wigwam, doubtless well pleased with
the result of his hunting, and thankful for the
white man's assistance.

NOTES OF SETTLEMENT.

John McKenzie, the fifth child of John and
Elizabeth McKenzie, was born in Pennsylvania in
the year 1803. He came to Ohio with his par-
ents in 1S05, who settled in Milton township on
the farm now owned by Frank Keefer. They
were the first settlers in that locality, and the
country was then a wilderness. At the age of
twenty-one the subject of this sketch was mar-
ried to Miss Sally Vanetten and has had a fam-
ily of ten children, viz: Royal, Anna, Simeon,
Harriet, Maryette, Martin Van, Jeannette, Ad-
dison, and Alice. One child died in infancy
Maryette, Anna, and Jeannette are also dead.

Robert Russel was born in Pennsylvania in
1778. His father's family, consisting of his wife
and five children, came to Ohio in 1803 and set-
tled in Poland township on a farm now occupied
by Mrs. Sullivan. The father lived to the good
old age of ninety years. Robert Russell fol-
lowed shoemaking for over fifty years. He mar-
ried in 1814 Miss Anna French and had a large
family of sons, named James, Alexander, John,
Robert, Enoch, Joseph, Robert, Enoch (second),
Joseph, and Ebenezer. The only survivors are
James and Enoch. James, the eldest of the
family, was born in 1815. In 1843 he married
Miss Kate Gillmer and has two children, Ann
Elizabeth and Sarah Margaret. Mr. Russell has
always followed farming and stock raising, and
now occupies the old homestead. He and his

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

1S7

wife are both members of the Presbyterian
church of Newton.

Russell Orr was born in Pennsylvania in 1798.
He came to Ohio with his parents, who settled
in Jackson township, now Mahoning county, at
an early date, on the farm now occupied by Mr.
Goldsmith. Russell Orr removed to Milton
township in 1824, where he lived until his death.
He was married in 1820 to Eleanor Winans, and
became the father of ten children, to-wit: Ellen,
Rodney, Gates, James, Casselman, Susan, Mary,
Jacintha, Olive, and Russell, all of whom survive
except James. Mr. Orr died at the age of forty-
one, and his wife at the age of seventy-nine.
Rodney Orr, the second child, was born in Jack-
son, in 1823. At the age of thirty he was mar-
ried to Miss Elizabeth Moore. In 1862 he
enlisted in the Forty-first Ohio volunteer infantry.

John \V. Osborn, whose family still live in
Milton, was born in Youngstowu township, Ma-
honing county, June 8, 1806. His father was
Joseph Osborn, who was born in Virginia in
1776, and died on his farm in Youngstown town-
ship in 1846 at seventy years of age. The orig-
inal settler of the family was Nicholas Osborn,
further mentioned elsewhere. He was a native
of England, born in 1729, emigrated to Virginia,
and located on a (arm in Loudoun county ; mar-
ried and resided there until the death of his
wife. In the fall of 1804 he moved with his
family to Youngstown township, then Trumbull
county, Ohio, purchasing one tjiousand acres of
land in the southwest corner of that township,
which he afterwards divided among his children,
with whom he made his home. He died June,
1 8 14, at the age of eighty-five years. John W.
Osborn was raised on a farm, receiving a com-
mon school education, such as the district
schools of the time afforded. While a young
man he learned the cabinet and carpenter trade,
which he followed more or less for a number of
years. He married, in 1835, Mary Harclerode,
of Ellsworth, and resided in that township about
two yeais. He then purchased a farm in Milton,
to which he moved in 1837. He thencefortli
resided in Milton, principally engaged in farming,
until his death, which occurred December 12,
1874. He owned at his death a good farm, on
which his widow still lives, at the age of sixty-
eight years. There were born to them three boys
and four girls, all of whom are living.

Robert Carson, twelfth child of John and Cath-
arine Carson, was born in Pennsylvania in 1828
and came to Ohio with his parents in 1832. At
the age of twenty-two he was married to Miss
Martha Patterson, by whom he has had three
children: Willis S., Eva, and Orra. Willis S.
is deceased. At the age of thirty-three Mr. Car-
son started in the flax business in which he con-
tinued some fifteen years. He now follows farm-
ing. He has been justice of the peace twelve
years and is at this writing still holding that
office.

Leonidas Carson was born in what is now
Mahoning county in 1835. He lived upon the
farm with his parents until he was of age when he
married Miss Rebecca Weasner. This union
resulted in six children as follow : Lucy, Han-
nah, George, Mary, Ellen, and Jessie; all living.
Mr. Carson was first lieutenant of company
G, One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Ohio National
guard, and served one hundred days. He is
now extensively engaged in the raising of bees
and the production of honey, in which he is
quite successful. He and his wife are members
of the Disciple church of Deerfield.

Richard Woodward was born in Pennsylvania
in 1800. He was reared at home until he was
sixteen years of age, when he went to learn the
trade of weaving (the weaving of double cover-
lets) at which he continued five years and then
went into business for himself. At the age of
twenty-two he was married to Miss Nancy
Roberts and had six children: Jonah, Mary A.,
Caroline, Ann M., John, and Joseph, of whom
Ann and John are deceased. Mr. Woodward
came to Ohio in 1835 and settled on the farm
now owned and occupied by his son Joseph. He
died at the age of sixty-eight and is buried in
Jackson. Joseph R., the youngest child, was
born in Milton township in 1844. In 1867 he
married Miss Sarah Phillips and has five chil-
dren, viz: Daniel N., Arlinna B., Joseph E.,
Homer, and Anna M.; all living but Daniel,
who died at the age of twenty months. Mr.
Woodward and wife are members of the Disciple
church.

William Weasner was born in New Jersey in
1786. He came to Ohio in 1841, and settled in
Milton township, on the Morey farm, where he
lived until his death in 1864. He married, in
1S26, Miss Mahala Boyd, and had a family of

iS8

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

twelve children, viz : Susan, Rebecca, Robert,
William, James, Margaret, Sarah, Horace, Han-
nah, Lewis, Jeffrey, and Grace ; Susan, William,
and Lewis are deceased. Mrs. Weasner is still
living.

Robert \Veasner, third child of William and
Matilda Weasner, was born in New Jersey in
1836. He was married, in 1857, to Miss Rachel
Best, by whom he has had three children — Alva
H., Maud A., and Lee Etta ; Maud A. is de-
ceased. Mr. Weasner is a farmer by occupation
and has held the office of justice of the peace
for thirteen years, and still retains it. He and
his wife are prominent members of the Lutheran
church of Berlin, and Mr. Weasner has been
superintendent of the Sunday-school of the
church for about fifteen years. He enlisted in
the Nineteenth Ohio volunteer infantry in 1S61,
served nine months when, on account of physical
disability, he was honorably discharged.

Hiram Taylor w-as born in Middletown,
Springfield township, now Mahoning county, in
1830. When he was four years of age his par-
ents removed to Austintown township. When
twenty-five years of age he married Miss Martha
Justice and settled in Ohltown and engaged in
the business of carriage making, which he car-
ried on for about twenty years. He resided in
Trumbull county about six years when he bought
the old homestead in Austintown. He occupied
this two years and then purchased the place
where he now lives. Some twenty-four years
after his marriage his wife died, and in 1881 he
married Miss Mary Chessman, of Salem. He
now follows farming in connection with his trade.
Himself and wife are members of the Presby-
terian church.

Nathaniel Smith was born in Sussex county,
New Jersey, in 1812. He resided with his par-
ents until he was twenty years of age, when he
was married to Miss Mary ^Velsh. They have
had eleven children, named as follow: Emory,
Nathan, Z. T., H. E., Catharine, Elizabeth,
Sarah, Orpha, Ezra, Charles, and .Anna. The
three last-named are deceased. Mr. Smith came
to Ohio in 1843 and settled in Milton township
on the place where he now lives. He has been
justice of the peace eleven years. He and his
wife are members of the Disciples church.

Thomas L. Fenton, a native of Pennsylvania,
and his wife, Catharine Reed, came to Ohio in

an early day, and first settled on a farm now
owned by Robert Walker, in Milton township,
in Mahoning county. He was a blacksmith by
trade, which he followed in connection with
farming. After occupying this place for some
time, he moved to the place where his son
Josiah now lives. He was the father of eight
children, viz: Hiram, Jesse, Josiah, Mary, Lucy,
Jane, Christina, and Harriet. Lucy and Maty
are dead. Mr. Fenton survived his wife three
years, and died at an advanced age. Josiah
Fenton, the third child, was born on the farm
where he now lives in 1817. At the age of
twenty eight he was married to Hannah Corll and
and has had thirteen children, viz: Chauncey,
Urinas, Samuel, Albina, Mary A., Alverett,
Charles, Josiah, Landa, Arvilla, Herman, Cora,
and Bert.

Daniel Reichard was born in Guilford town-
ship, Franklin county, Pennsylvania, in the year
1 81 5. He came to Ohio in 1845, and settled
on the farm where he now lives. At that time
there was about five acres cleared on the place,
and a rude log cabin. In this the family resided
until 1870, when he erected the substantial resi-
dence which he now occupies. At the age of
twenty-one, he began teaching school, at which
he continued for some six years, when he went
to farming. He was married in 1841 to Miss
Rebecca Benedict, by whom he had four chil-
dren, John B., Alfred, Daniel, and Rebecca, who
died in infancy. Mrs. Reichard died in 1848,
and in 1850 he married Eliza J. Forder. By
this marriage there were eleven children, Frank-
lin, Octavia, Hattie J., B. F., Helen M., Ran-
dolph, Clarence, Clara,. George W., Pulaski, and
Ruhama V. Octavia and Clara are dead. Mr.
Reichard has been justice of the peace three
years.

John Greenamyer was born in Columbiana
county in 1809. He remained with his parents,
Jacob and Catharine, and worked at farming
until he was twenty-one when he went to learn
the carpenter's trade. This trade he followed
until he was thirty-six years old, when, in 1845,
he began farming, removing to the place where
he now lives in Milton township. At the age of
twenty-four he was united in marriage to Miss
"Mary Kale, by whom he had thirteen children,
as follow: Samuel, John, Solomon, Lucy Ann,
Caroline, Reuben, Hannah, William, Mai tin,

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

Delvina, Benjamin, Edwin, and one died in in-
fancy ; Reuben and Delvina are also deceased.
Mr. Greenamyer and his wife are members of
the Reformed church.

David Beard was born in .Springfield town-
ship, now Mahoning county, m 1825. At the
age of eighteen he went to learn the trade of
shoemaking which he followed twelve years. He
then engaged in the grocery business at Canfield
some seven years, after which he purchased the
place in Milton, Mahoning county, where he
now lives and has since followed farming. In
1859 he married Miss Mary Heintzleman,
and has five children, as follow : James B., Ida
H., Dorothea A., Theron A., and Lucy E. Mr.
Beard was elected treasurer of his township in
1855, which office he held two years. He and his
wife are members of the German Lutheran
church.

Ancil Johnson was born in Milton township,
Mahoning county, on the place where he now
lives m 1849. I" 1873 he was united in mar-
riage to Miss Elizabeth Strock, by whom he had
four children : Lisle, and three that died in in-
fancy. Mr. Johnson has always given his undi
vided attention to farming, and is an industrious
and successful agriculturist.

CHAPTER X.

BEAVER.

Before 181 1 this township was known as town-
ship three, range two, but in that year was or-
ganized with the name Beaver. Since 1846 it
has formed a part of Mahoning county. It is
bounded on the east by Springfield, north by
Fairfield, and west by Green.

The surface is moderately level with a general
drainage to the north and east. In parts it is
slightly broken by low hills, and along the
streams are some lands too low and level for cul-
tivation, being subject to overflow. There are
also a few small swamps. The township was
originally covered with a heavy growth of oak,
ash, maple, beech, elm, and a limited quantity
of pine. Timber still remains in considerable
quantity.

Mill creek, the principal stream flows, through
the township northward west of the center, re-
ceiving the waters of a number of small brooks.
On account of its low banks but little water-
power is afforded. The head of Big Bull creek
is in the southeastern part of the township, but
its volume here is no greater than a brook.
Nearly every section has enough springs to fur-
nish water for domestic use, or it may easily be
obtained by digging wells.

Building stone and coal abound, and sand
may be procured in several localities. The soil
is variable, being a light loam or sandy clay,
generally free from stones and easily cultivated.
The inhabitants are mostly occupied with the or-
dinary farm pursuits, but lately increasing atten-
tion has been given to dairying and the raising
of live stock.

THE PIONEERS.

One of the first settlers was Major Jacob Gil-
bert, a native of Maryland, who settled on the
farm now occupied by Michael Wieland about
1802. The Wielands of this township descended
from one of his seven children, a daughter, who
married Adam Wieland. Major Gilbert took an
active part in the War of 18 12, and was one of
the prominent men of the township in his day.

About the same time John Shanefelt, also a
soldier of 181 2, settled near Gilbert on the
homestead afterward occupied by his son John.

Adam Little was an early and prominent set-
tler near the center of Beaver.

The first settler in the north of the township
was an old bachelor named "Billy" Stewart, who
lived alone many years in a small log cabin.
Still farther west Abraham Miller was the
pioneer.

On section one, the first settler was Peter
Stevens, who had a lease on a small tract of land.
He is credited with being the discoverer of the
coal in this locality, which he mined, in a small
way, for two cents per bushel.

Farther south, on section thirteen, settlement
was made in 1803 by Christopher Mentzer, and
soon after Christian Clinker settled in the neigh-
borhood of North Lima, with his sons, Abner,
Josiah, Samuel, and Isaac. Not far from
here were, also, as early as 1804, Frederick and
Michael Dutterer, and in the southern part of
the township, among the pioneers of that period,

JQO

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

were John Harman, Henry Neidigh, and Fred-
erick Sponseller.

John Coblentz, from Frederick, Maryland,
settled on the south side of section twenty-five
in 1804. His family consisted of four sons and
a daughter, who married John Elser, who has
resided on this section since 1827.

Other early and noteworthy settlers were John
Crumbacher, George Hoke, Balzer Mowen, John
Neidigh, Jacob Grouse, Christian Crabs, David
Gerringer, Peter Eib, Isaiah Bachman, George
Augustine, Michael Shaefer, George Hively,
Christian Fox, Adam Movingstar, Mathias Glass,
William Hecknian, Henry Myers, George Pon-
tius, Abraham Stoufifer, Abraham Boyer, Jacob
Whitter, David Coy, Jacob Mellinger, John
Metz, John Rukenbrod, Jacob Overhaltzer,
Henry Snyder, and Jacob Rupert.

Settlements were rapidly made and many
changes took place. This can best be seen from
a list prepared twenty years later.

The freeholders living in the township in 1830
were as follows : On school district number
one — Christian Ackerman, John Frankfelter,
Andrew Hahn, George Lonefelter, Ebenezer
Stahl, William Sullivan, David Sprinkel, Jacob
Witter, John Bennett, Jacob Gilbert, John Gil-
bert, Jacob Paulin, W. Sheckel, John Shanefelt,
Jr., Frederick Shanefelt, Adam Wieland.

On the second district — John Blosser, Daniel
Cohler, Patrick Dilley, Andrew Forney, John
Fox, Jacob Linn, Jacob Miller, Abraham Miller,
Henry Sponseller, Joseph Sprinkel, Frederick
Smith, Jacob Wansettler, John Chub, Aaron C.
Cain, John Fellnagle, Jacob Fellnagle, John
Heller, Adam Little, George Messerley, William
Shepler, Peter Steffey, Michael Shank, Ferdi-
nand Shantz.

On distiirt number three lived John Bach-
man, George Bachman, Jacob Boyer, Abraham
Boyer, Benjamin Bechtel, John Coy, Adam
Frankfelter, Reuben Grimes, Tobias Heverly,
David Hoover, William Kendricks, Michael
Kulp, Henry Kulp, John Kulp, Daniel Mack-
ley, Frederick Roos, Mathias Topper, Martin
Wilderson, John Bright, John Calvin, George
Foreman, E. Gardner, John Harmon, Charles
Hammer, Philip Houck, Abraham Myers, John
Myers, Henry Myers, John Nold, John Shoe-
maker, Henry Thomas, Peter Yoder.

On district number four were John Aultman,

John Bieber, Peter Blosser, Solomon Crouse,
Jacob Crouse, William Crouse, Frederick Fell-
nagel, John Glass, John Hahn, Jacob Jokis,
Michael Huyler, Michael Keek, Christopher
Mentzer, Jacob Mentzer, William Miller, Catha-
rine Augustine, Jacob S. Buzard, John Cohler,
John Clinker, Isaac Clinker, Michael Dutterer,
John Fasnacht, David Gerringer, Jacob Harman,
R. P. Justice, G. Hutchin, F. Leitzey, Adam
Myrice, David Metzler, Jacob Mowen, John
Mowen, Peter Mowen, Balzar Mowen, Daniel
Shilling, Michael Wieland, William Eyster,
Jacob Reephard, James Simpson, Jacob Shoe-
maker.

In district number five lived George Bush,
Frederick Frankfetter, Adam Fisher, Mathias
Gilbert, Andrew Little, John Shanefelt, David
Shanefelt, Gabriel Erb, George Fox, John B.
Fox, Jacob Lenhart, John Simons, Henry Woh-
ford.

On the sixth district were Alexander Ander-
son, John Borlan, Samuel Detweiler, John Fox,
Peter Fox, Jacob Haltereth, Gotlieb Hedler,
Jacob Landis, Mary Mellinger, John Royer,
David Stephens, George Bachman, Jacob Bach-
man, Joseph Frederick, Peter Hendricks, Wil-
liam Heckman, George Haltereth, Jacob Knob,
Tobias Miller, Jacob Oberholser, Jacob Ober-
holser, Jr., Solomon Sloop.

District number seven had the following free-
holders: Joseph Borlan, Jacob Baker, David
Coy, Samuel Coy, John Esterly, Jacob Hill,
Peter Kleckner, Henry Kendig, Augustine Miller,
George Bloom, Christian Shiely, John Stiver,
Frederick Stiver, Michael Unger, Christian Ber-
inger, Frederick Beringer, E. Crumbacher, Jacob
Detweiler, William Hooker, Peter Hibble, Baltas
Kutcher, H. B. Myers, Jacob Paetner, Chris-
tian Rinkinberger, Abraham Shaeffer, Abraham
Stauffer, Frederick Ungelbower.

In district number eight lived William Cox,
Widow Coblentz, Jacob Cope, Frederick Dut-
terer, Michael Dutterer, George Dutterer, John
Elser, George Glaser, John Glackler, Jacob
Glackler, John Harman, Jr., Solomon Harman,
Henry Harman, George Candle, Mary Lipply,
Catherine Myers, (Jeorge Rukenbrod, Michael
Rukenbrod, John Rapp, Sr., John Rapp, Jr.,
Frederick Sponseller, George Sponseller, Mi-
chael Sponseller, John Schnurrenberger, Conrad
Snyder, Amos Worthington, John Zeigler.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

CIVIL LIST.

The township was organized for civil purposes
in the year iSii, and in the following year Bea-
ver was added to the tax list of the county, the
assessment for 1812 being $35.25.

The first election was held April i, 1811, the
judges being Christian Clinker, Frederick Spon-
seller, and Peter Eib. The following were
elected: Trustees — John Crumbacher, Christian
Clinker, Frederick Sponseller ; clerk, George
Hoke ; treasurer, John Harman ; lister, Adam
Little; house appraiser, John Coblentz; consta-
ble, Jacob Gilbert; overseers of the poor, Balzar
Mowen, David Geriinger; fence-viewers, John
Neidigh, Sr., Christopher Mentzer; road super-
visors. Christian Crebs and Jacob Crouse. Peter
Eib and Adam Little were justices of the peace.

MINING AND MANUFACTURING.

Coal may be procured in almost every section
of the township, and is profitably mined in the
central and northeasten parts. One of the most
extensive mines is that of Azariah Paulin, in sec-
tion one, which yields fifteen hundred to two thou-
sand tons yearly. South from him David Sprinkel
has a mine in which is a vein of cannel coal five
feet in thickness ; and a little southwest are
mines operated by Catterhead & McGill, Inser
& Shaefer, and others. On section six coal was
mined about twenty-five years ago to supply a
furnace for the manufacture of coal oil. Near
the center of the township there are coal banks
on the farms of Daniel Crouse and Abraham
Yoder, and farther west, south of East Lewis-
town, are a number of mines yielding good coal.

On Mill creek, section fifteen, the first mill
was put in operation about 1805 by Matthias
Glass. A small affair, it was displaced by one of
greater capacity by Jacob Crouse. In 1849 the
present mill was built by Anthony Smith and
steam power added. Subsequent owners have
been Solomon Elser, John Faulk, Henry Nerr,
and since 1877, Hasness, Thoman & Co. It if
a three-story frame, and has three run of stones.

Abraham Stauffer had grist- and saw-mills
further south, on Mill creek, but they were aban-
doned about 1840.

North of the old Glass mill Peter Glass put up
a saw-mill, which was operated many years by
Solomon Crouse.

On Turkey Broth creek, in section nine, Jacob

Detwiler put up a water-power saw-mill, which
was changed to steam by John Fellnagel, and is
now in operation.

Quite a number of steam mills are now in
operation in the township.

At the village of North Lima a steam grist-
mill, erected a few years ago by John Spait, is
now in operation.

In the early history of the place, Jacob Ester-
ley had a tannery near the site of the present
hotel. Another tannery was established in 1852
by Solomon Clinker.

Here were formerly distilleries carried on by
Lewis Ruhlnian, John Fasnacht, Anthony Smith,
Samuel Summers, and John Fisher. The village
has a carriage shop and a number of mechanic-
shops.

NORTH LIMA

is a pleasant village, located chiefly on the south
half of section fourteen, and was founded about
1826 by James Simpson. The original plat con-
tained only a few lots along the county road.
Additions have been made by John Northrup,
Martin Hasness, Samuel Crouse, and J. S. Buzard.
The village did not grow fast, and owes its exist-
ence wholly to the demand for a local trading
point. The population is about three hundred.
There are three fine churches and two handsome
school-houses. The one in the west district is
of brick, 32x40 feet, and was built in 1868 at
a cost of $2,500. The east house is of the same
material, 36x48 feet, and cost to build in 1871
$2,700. There is also a village hall, the old
Evangelical church having been altered for this
purpose in 1876.

As early as 1828 a man named Hartzell sold
goods in a small way in the village ; other small
traders were John Glass and John Northrup.
The first regular store was opened by the Niell
Brothers in a building where is now Raus' tin-
shop. John G. Leslie was their clerk, becoming
their partner when the store was moved down
street. Others here in trade were Croilse &
Northrup, Buzard & Co., J. H. Donalb, Mentz,
Hahn, Fell & Co., Miller, Ruhlman, George
Buzard, and J. Ernst.

In the buildings on the opposite corners have
been stores by Truesdell, Baldwin, Kirtland, Fel-
ger, Haller, Buzard, Henkle, Shaefer, Heindle,
and Witter. The village has also had a few
small grocery stores.

192

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

In 1830 John Glass opened the first public
house in a building since used for that purpose.
Among the landlords which followed were John
B. Fox, John H. Rowell, William McKeown,
E. Rdhlman, M. E. Dutterer, John Weaver, and
Amos Clinker.

The post-office was established about 1828,
with Jacob Gilbt-rt as postmaster. A .man named
Stillson carried the mail, going afoot to Liver-
pool. Owing to the difficulty in getting the mail
the office was discontinued about 1831. It was
re-established in 1834, and the postmasters since
that period have been J. G. L'islie, Samuel Rohr-
baugh, J. G. Buzard, John H. Donald, Samuel
Rau, George Buzard, and Henry Buzard. It has
three mails per day.

About 1 83 1 Drs. Manning and Willet came to
the place to establish a practice m medicine, but
did not remain long. They were followed for a
short space of time, by Drs. Correll, Blocksom,
Eddy, Campbell, Truesdell, etc. In 1846 Na-
than Hahn became the first permanent physician,
remaining until his death, in 1874. Contempo-
rary practitioners were Drs. Stewart, Dawson,
Davis, Bowman, etc. Dr. S. S. Schiller came in
1870, and Dr. H. H. Hahn in 1876.

Two miles west of North Lima is the village of

EAST LEWISTOWN.

It has a very handsome location on sections six-
teen and twenty-seven, and but for the advantage
enjoyed by North Lima in being the older vil-
lage, would have become the more important
place. Village lots were laid out about 1830 by
Peter Coder, Sr., John Nold, Henry Thoman, Sr.,
and George Houck; but it was not until 1836
that building commenced, when the place grew
rapidly, attaining, in a few years its maximum.
It contains about forty buildings, and a school-
house of attractive appearance, erected in
1867, at a cost of $3,300.

Jesse Motter opened a store in the village in
1839, in the house occupied by H. Thoman as a
residence, and was in trade until 1845. Mean-
time another store was conducted on the south-
west corner of the square by Hoover & Rud-
isill. The village has had as merchants Jacob
S. Thoman, Daniel Thoman, T. G. Northrup,
Frederick Fellnagle, Franklin Dunn, Smith &
Buzard, Abraham Miller, and George Buzard.

A man named Morrow kept the first public
house about 1843, in a building opposite the

Thoman residence. Ten years later Conrad
Stigletz opened an inn on the square, which he
kept till 1863. He was followed by George
Heindle. About the same time a tavern was
kept on the north side of the square by Isaac
Thoman, which was continued only a short time.

The post-office was established about 1851,
and had Philip Fetzer as the first postmaster. It
then had a semi-weekly mail; at present it is sup-
plied daily from Columbiana. The other post-
masters of this office have been Daniel Thoman,
Josiah Rohrbaueh, Isaac Thoman, David Won-
derlin, and George Buzard.

The first to practice the healing art was an
herbalist, a Dr. Pappenaugh. Dr. Ethan A.
Hoke was the first regular physician.

The hamlet of Woodworth, locally called
Steamtown, is situated on the Boardman line,
there being but a few houses and a steam saw-
mill on the Beaver side.

SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES.

The township has taken great interest in edu-
cation, and given particular attention to supply-
ing an excellent class of school-buildings. It is
stated, on the authority of a State official, that
Beaver leads all the other townships in this re-
spect.

There are eleven districts, and every one of
them is provided with a commodious and hand-
some brick house, with belfry, inside blinds, and
modern furniture, costing from $2,700 to $3,500,
whose attractive appearance reflects great credit
upon the people of the township.

A small log meeting-house was built in 1808,
by the Lutheran and Reformed congregations.
Mount Olivet Reformed congregation was formed
in 18 10. Paradise church was built on section
nine in 1849. The old Overholtzer Mennonite
church was erected in 1825 and the present one
in 187 I. The Dunkers built their present church
in 1872. Calvary Evangelical church at North
Lima was organized in 1836, and their present
edifice erected in 1876. A Methodist church,
not now in existence, was organized at North
Lima in 1840.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

193

CHAPTER XI.

The township of Goshen (number seventeen,
range four) contains thirty-two square miles. Its
prmcipal streams are the Middle fork of Beaver
creek, which rises in Perry, flows through the
eastern part of Goshen, and a branch of the
Mahoning river, which rises in section nineteen
and flows in a general course northerly through
the western portion of the township, and leaves
it about a mile east of the northwest corner.

The township of Goshen has an undulating
surface, and yields to the landscape outlines of
quiet beauty in infinite variety. The soil is
fertile and well adapted to grazing and the rais-
ing of small fruits.

FIRST SETTLEMENTS.

Anthony Morris came in 1804, and settled in
section thirty-one. His wife was Hannah French.
He was overseer of the poor in 1S12. His
daughter Sarah married James Bruff, who came
in 1822.

Barzilla French also settled on part of section
thirty-one.

Thomas French first came to Damascus in
1805, and his brother Elijah soon after. Thomas
married a daughter of Jonas Cattell, who located
in Salem.

Horton Howard entered several sections of
land in Goshen for a man named Hoopes and
acted as his agent. The tract was bought by
Benjamin Wright in 1847 and divided among,
his five daughters.

David Venable came to Goshen in 1805 and
settled as a tenant on the farm of Jonas Cattell.

Isaac and Thomas Votaw came from Win-
chester, Virginia, in 1806. Isaac purchased
two hundred and forty acres on section nineteen
and died in 1820. He had two sons, Benjamin
and David, and was trustee of the township in
1812-18. Thomas Votaw settled in section six,
and served as supervisor and trustee. He had
three sons, Thomas, Samuel and Isaac. De-
scendants of both Isaac and Thomas live in the
township.

Robert Armstrong was an early settler and
held various township offices. His descendants
still live in the township.

About 1806 Stacy Shreeve came with his wife

from New Jersey and settled in section nineteen.
John, his son, lives on the old homestead.

Joseph Kindele, a brother-in-law of Shreeve,
also located on section nineteen in 1806.

James Brooke came from York State in 1806,
and settled in section seven. A daughter of
Mr. Brooke married Dr. James Hughes and re-
sides in Berlin.

Isaac Ellison came from Virginia in 1806 and
married a daughter of James Cattell, locating on
section seven. Zachariah Ellison, father of Isaac,
came in 1816 and settled in section nineteen.
He married Mary, a sister of Isaac Votaw, and
died at the age of eighty.

William and James Cattell came before 18 10.
William settled about a mile west of Goshen.
James had a large family of daughters and settled
on section nineteen.

Samuel Davis, of Salem, entered section twen-
ty as early as 1804, receiving a deed from the
Government dated November i, 1808. He
gave the southeast quarter of the section to his
daughter Rachael, who married Lewis Towns-
end, a brother of Mrs. Dr. Benjamin Stanton, of
Salem. The northeast quarter was given to
William Davis, a son, who was killed on the
mountains a few years after, when the property
passed to his children.

Joshua Morris came in about 18 lo and lo-
cated a farm a little north of William Fawcett.
He sold it in 1S18 to James Hemingway, from
New Jersey, whose son James was clerk of the
township from 1827 to 1842.

Aaron Stratton, elder brother of Michael and
Stacy, came from New Jersey in i8c8 and settled
in section twenty-three, on Beaver creek, where
he soon after built a grist-mill, which well ac-
commodated the country round. The property
was sold in 1834 to Emor F. Weaver, and after-
wards to Samuel Mathers.

Henry Hinchman came from New Jersey
about 1808 with a large family of children, —
John, Henry, Aaron, Hannah, Elizabeth, Grace,
and Mary, — and settled on section thirty-six.
His son Henry lives in the township. Aaron
published a newspaper in 1842, which he printed
in his father's house. He afterwards removed
to Salem.

Benjamin Butler, Haiinali his wife, and their
children, Lawrence, Ellen, Hannah, John,
Meribah, .-^nn, and Sarah, came from near Phil-

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

adelphia, by the way of Lancaster, Harrisburg,
and Pittsburg, in a two-horse wagon, and were
about four weeks on the route. They arrived
at Salem in April, 1811. Mr. Butler was poor
and settled on the farm of Robert French, in
section thirty-six, where he lived a year. He then
moved into the present township of Goshen and
occupied land owned by Aaron Street, near the
western boundary, and lived there two years. A
Friend gave him an opportunity to buy and build,
and he purchased one hundred and sixty acres
on section eighteen, where Elihu Cobb lives, and
moved into a building of round logs which he
there erected. He lived in this until August,
1828, when he died.

John Butler, son of Benjamin, purchased a
farm adjoining the Friends' meeting-house, and
in 1825 built a two-story cabin, of hewn logs, m
which he began housekeeping in August of that
year. His wife was Priscilla Fawcett, whom he
married at the Friends' meetmg house in Salem.
In 1829 he purchased the farm he now occupies,
which was at that time all woods. Here he
built, in 1830, a log house with a shingle roof,
but, his wife dying in that year, he changed his
plans, and did not move to the farm until his
second marriage, in 1834. While living with
his father on the farm in section eighteen, it fell
to his lot to do the "milling." He generally
carried to mill about two bushels of grain. The
mill was nearly due east from the farm, on a
branch of Beaver creek, was known as the
"Stratton mill," and was probably built about
1809.

Mr. Butler, a prominent member of the So-
ciety of Friends, was appointed one of the as-
sociated executive committee of Friends of the
Central Indian Superintendency of the United
States.

William Fawcett, with his wife, came from
Virginia in 181 r, and purchased one hundred
and sixty-four acres on section thirty-two.

Samuel and Thomas Langstaff m 181 2 set-
tled on section eighteen, where now is a hamlet
called " Boswell."

Joseph Wright came from New Jersey in 18 10,
settled first on section thirteen, and moved there-
from to section fourteen. He lived to old age,
and served the township in various offices almost
continuously until the time of his death.

Benjamin Malmsbury came from New Jersey

with his wife and children about 181 2, and
bought one hundred and sixty acres on section
thirty-six.

Bazel Perry and his wife came from Maryland
in 181 1 and settled on section five, east of
Thomas Votaw. He was not an aspirant for
position evidently, for in 1813 he declined the
honor of an election to the office of constable.

Benjamin Lloyd settled on the southwest quar-
ter of section twenty-one.

Caleb Shinn settled in the township very early,
where some of his descendants remain.

Richard Templin, from Lancaster county,
Pennsylvania, a moulder bv trade, settled in sec-
tion thirteen about 1825. His son John moved
to Patmos about T831, and settled on section
three. John K.ing, from the same place, and
also a moulder, settled on section one in r83i,
where Joshua Bowman lives. His son Joseph
lives in Patmos.

Jesse Straughn, in October, 1820, caine from
Bucks county, Pennsylvania, and lived a while
w^ith John Straughn, his brother. In 1822 he
settled on section thirty-four, of which he bought
seventy-four acres. Daniel Straughn, father of
John and Jesse, some years earlier settled the
east half of section thirty-four, and gave it to his
children.

Stacy Stratton (a brother of Michael and Aaron
Stratton, who came in 1806) came from Burling-
ton county. New Jersey, and settled first on Mr.
Cattell's farm, on the Ellsworth road.

Adam Fast, in 1816, purchased the southwest
quarter of section one, and was probably the first
person who settled in that part of the township.
Jacob Leyman, from Lancaster county, Penn-
sylvania, who married the daughter of Mr. Fast,
received from him this piece of land in 1821.

Peter Gloss, about 1820, bought land in the
southeast quarter of section twelve, where he built
a factory and manufactured wooden bowls. He
afterwards settled upon the Cessna farm.

Josiah and Jacob Bowman (sons of Philip
Bowman, who settled in Green township,) about
1 83 1 settled on the northeast quarter of section
one. This part of the section was entered by a
man named Bowers in 18 16.

Drade Husk entered and settled upon the
northwest quarter of section two, which was
afterwards pui chased by Raphael Campbell.

William Piradshaw, in 1832, rame from Bucks

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

county, Pennsylvania, and bought one hundred
and six acres of section nine. This land was
entered by William Swenn as early as 1820.

Among other early settlers may be mentioned
Noah Deed, Christian and David Countryman,
Isaac Evans, Enoch Gaus, Joseph Mirl, Nathan
Brown, Benjamin and Joshua Owen, Thomas
Johnson, Levi Rakestraw, Charles Curl, and
Abraham Keffer.

ORGANIZATION.

Goshen w^as incorporated September 11, 1810.
The first volume of records contains, as the first
minute of proceedings, under date of December
30, 1810, an account of the appointment of
Thomas Watson to the office of constable by
the trustees. The names of the trustees are not
given.

Januarys, 1812, "the township officers met
on the first Second day of March," and settled
the town accounts. April 6, 181 2, the following
resolution was passed at a meeting of the in-
habitants :

Resolved, That Isaac Votaw. Michael Stratton, Thomas
Conn, Thomas Frencli, and Joel Sharp be a committee to
view the southeast quarter of section number sixteen, and to
conclude on a suitable piece of ground for to set a house for
to hold elections in, and to warn the inhabitants to meet and
raise a sufficient house for that purpose, and to have tlie
house to hold the fall election in.

The following officers were chosen at this
meeting: Joseph Wright, township clerk; Michael
Stratton, Isaac ^'ota\v, Levi Jennings, trustees ;
Anthony Morris, Isaac Barber, overseers of the
poor; Thomas French, Josiah Stratton, ap-
praisers of property; Robert Armstrong, Asa
Ware, fence-viewers; Barzilla French, Stacy
Shree\e, Thomas Votaw, Thomas Conn, Abram
Warrington, supervisors; George Baum, treasurer;
Joseph Kindle, constable.

There seems to have been some difficulty in
securing a constable, foi-, on April 10, 1813, out
of thirty-three persons named for that office,
thirty were summoned, of whom twenty-eight
refused to serve, and were fined. The following
is the list of the names chosen : Isaac Ellison,
Bazel Perry, Henry Hinchman, Christian Coun-
tryman, Joseph Hoile, Simeon Jennings, Isaac
Gaus, William Johnson, Levi Rakestraw, Joshua
Owen, Enoch Gaus, Joseph Mirl, Joel Sharp,
Charles Stratton, Nathan Brown, Robert French,
John Webb, Noah Reed, David Countryman,
Robert McKim, Evan Gaus, Levi Hoile, Joshua

Morris, William Faucett, Richard Webb, Abra-
ham Barber, Thomas Johnson, Jonathan Votaw,
Benjamin Owen, Samuel Votaw, Charles Curl,
Abraham Keffer.

VILLAGES.

Damascus, situated on the line between But-
ler and Goshen townships, was platted and laid
out by Horton Howard in 1808. It contains
about four hundred inhabitants, and on the
Goshen side has one church (Wesleyan), a post-
office, academy, steam saw-mill, woolen-mill, and
several stores and shops. The post-office was
established in 1828 with James B. Bruff as post-
master.

Patmos was first settled by Benjamin Regie,
John Templin, William Ware, and Levi A. Ley-
inan. James W. Templin opened the first store
in 1850. Levi A. Leyman was the first post-
master, appointed in 1850, and continued in of-
fice twelve years. While Leyman and Captain
Coit, of Ellsworth, were cogitating upon a name
for the new post-office which should be different
from any other in the State, they noticed an open
music book near by upon whose pages appeared
the good old time "Patmos." The word was
spoken and the name adopted, and " Patmos ''
it remains. The postmasters who have succeeded
Mr. Leyman have been Mrs. Catharine Roller,
William Bradshaw, and J. W. Templin. The
settlement contains a post-office, store, saw-mill,
blacksmith shop, carriage shop, and a dozen
dwellings.

Boswell post-office was established in 1850,
John Martin first postmaster.

Garfield post-office was established in 1875 at
Garfield station, on the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne
&: Chicago railroad. S. A. F'ogg was appointed
postmaster.

SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES.

The Friends at an early day formed by far the
largest part of the population of the township,
and instituted schools, which they kept up even
after the organization of the township into school
districts. There were at one time nine schools
under the care of a visiting committee appointed
by the " monthly meeting," whose territory com-
prised the townships of Butler and Goshen.
Several of these were family schools.

The first school- in the town was opened in
the winter of 181 2 at the log meeting-house in

.y6

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

Goshen, a settlement near the west line of the
township. The house was in size about 15 x 24
feet, and was built for both school and " meet-
ing " purposes. The first teacher was Samuel
Votaw, a son of Isaac Votaw, an early settler in
the northwest section of the township.

A school was opened a little later near the
Stratton mill, and was taught by Daniel Stratton.
The teachers who served at the school in the
Goshen neighborhood after Mr. Votaw were
Martha Townsend (now Mrs. Martha Stanton,
living at Salem), who taught in the fall of 1814;
William Green, an Irishman ; William Titus, a
Yankee; and Joshua Crew, who let the pupils do
as they pleased ; Benjamin Marshall, who taught
three winters ; John Butler, who taught ten
winters ; Isaac Trescott, Solomon Shreeve, Jesse
Lloyd, and Stephen Roberts.

At Damascus a school was first taught by
Joshua Lynch, afterwards by James Brufi, John
P. Gruel, Jacob Hole, Simeon Fawcett, Lydia
Maria Stanley, and others.

Professor Israel P. Hole, with his brother
Jacob, afterwards established a school in a large
two-story building of brick, situated is spacious
grounds on the Goshen side. This they con-
tinued for three or four years, when the Friends
purchased the property for a " quarterly-meeting
school." Jesse Lloyd, William P. Pinkham, and
Otis Beal were the principal teachers.

There was a school in the Votaw settlement in
its earlier years, mostly taught by females.
Elizabeth Blackburn taught during several sum-
mers. James Hemingway taught in the Benja-
min Malmsbury neighborhood.

A log school-house was built and a school
supported by subscription about 1825, in what is
now district number one, half a mile east of
Patmos. Andrew Templin was the first teacher.
The town has eight school districts.

The first church or " meeting-house " was
built by the Friends. It was burned in 1842. In
1852 their present brick church was erected. A
Methodist class was formed about 1820. Their
present building on section eight was built in
1863. Two miles east of Patmos is the Bethel
Methodist Episcopal church, built in 1847, ^nd
another Methodist church exists at Damascus.

A newspaper called the Self-Examiner was
]Hiblished at {}oshen a short time in 1842.

CHAPTER XII.

GREEN.

Green township is bounded on the north by
the townships of Ellsworth and Canfield, east
by Beaver, west by Perry and Goshen, and north
by Salem and Perry, in Columbiana county. Its
surface is undulating, broken only by the valleys
lying along the middle fork of Beaver creek,
which fork flows in a general southeasterly direc-
tion through the township, passing into Salem
township about a half mile west of the corpora-
tion of Washingtonville. Another fork of Bea-
ver creek rises in the northeast part of the town-
ship, and flows southerly through the second tier
of sections from the east, and passes out on the
south border at Washingtonville.

The soil of the township is well adapted to the
cultivation of trees, small fruits, and grain.
The valleys and slopes are heavily timbered with
oak, chestnut, and beech. Woodlands and culti-
vated fields abound, and form on every hand
pictures pleasing to the eye.

E.\RLY SETTLEMENTS.

The early settlers of Green were for the most
part Germans, attracted to the then far West by
the excellence of the land.

Section one was unoccupied for many years.
It was finally bought by Eben Newton, of Can-
field, whence it was known as the "Newton
tract."'

The first settlers of section two were Henry
Pyle and wife, who came from Germany about
1804. A daughter of Pyle married David Love-
land, and her descendants still live in this sec-
tion. "Loveland," a station on the Niles & New
Lisbon railroad, is in this section, and has a post-
office, saw-mill. Evangelical church, etc.

Section three remained in possession of a man
by name of Rhodes until 1829, when it was sold
to John Beard, Casper Kenreich, Nicholas
Knauff, and John Goodman.

Section four was first settled by Henry Beard,
with his wife and five children, who came to this
county in 1804 from Germany and much of the
section still remains in possession of his family
and their connections. A union church stands
on this section.

Of section five James Webb entered the south
half, paying $1.25 per acre; and John Heard, son
of Henry, purchased the noith half.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

Section six was first owned by Philip Bauman
who exchanged for it land he owned in Red-
stone, Pennsylvania, and afterward divided it
among his children.

In 1804 section seven was entered by Michael
Durr and his two sisters, Elizabeth and Mary.

Section eight had for its first owners a man
named Rupert, John D. Cook, and James
Webb.

Jacob and Philip Cool, George and Jacob
Countryman, John Hafely and Van Amier were
the first settlers on sections nine and ten.

Section eleven remained unsettled many years,
its owners living in the East. Jacob ^liller and
Michael and George Culp were the first to open
the way.

The west part of section twelve was settled by
Philip Houts, a German, who divided it among
his children. On the place was a large sprmg,
where Houts built a distillery, which was in ope-
ration for many years, until about 1830. A
school-house stands in the northwest corner of the
section.

Sections thirteen and twenty-four were pur-
chased by Joshua Calvin for his sons, who came
from New Jersey, with their families, arriving
April 27, 1816. A school-house stands on the
southwest corner of section thirteen, and a Bap-
tist church and burying-ground on section twenty-
four.

Section, fourteen was entered by a stranger
who sold it to Abram Garber. The Niles &
New Lisbon railroad has a station on this section
called Greenford.

Section fifteen was settled in 1808 by Lewis
Baker, a native of Kentucky, who married Eliza-
beth, daughter of John Zimmerman, who en-
tered section thirty-four.

Section sixteen was the "school lot," and was

sold in 1849 to John D. Cook, Ely, Wesley

Coy, M. Kenreich, and others.

Section seventeen was entered by Job Cooke,
and divided among his sons. A couple of small
coal banks have been opened in this section.

About 1810 James Wilson entered section
eighteen, and divided it among his children.

Abram Warrington located section nineteen
about 181 1, and divided it between the four sons
of Edward Bonsall, who had married Warring-
ton's daughter Rachel. The sons were Edward,
Ivan, Joshua, and Isaac. Edward started a

nursery forty years ago, which is still in operation.
One coal mme in this section yields about forty
thousand bushels annually.

About 1808 Elisha Teeter entered section
twenty for his sons — John, Jonathan, William,
and Wilson. In 1822 the first steam mill in this
part of the country was erected by Wilson
Teeter. A coal bank opened by the Teeters
fifty years ago is, with one exception, the largest
in the township. It contains a vein three feet
thick and extends half a mile under the surface.

Sections twenty-one and twenty-two were held
as " reserved lands " for many years, but were
finally settled by Jeremiah Callahan, Philip
Bush, Jacob Wilhelm, Caleb Roller, John Stahl,
and others. A Disciple church and graveyard
are situated on section twenty-one and a school-
house stands on its north side.

In 1816 section twenty-three was sold to
Michael Roller and Michael Dressel by a man
from Pennsylvania who had previously entered it.

In 1804 sections twenty-five and twenty-six
were entered, it is believed by John Harness and
Jacob Momert, who years after sold to the
Stouffers, Rolleis, Knopp, and others. A
school house stands on the southwest quarter of
section twenty-six.

Some time in 1804 Peter Weikert and John
Carr, neighbors in Adams county, Pennsylvania,
started westward on horseback to view the coun-
try for the purpose of finding homes for their
families where soil and climate were both good.
Pleased with section twenty-seven Weikert en-
tered it at Steubenville, while Carr went farther
west. Section twenty-seven is still in possession
of the Weikert family. One son, Dr. Andrew
Weikert, is a practicing physician at Green
village.

In 1804 Elias Adgate and William and James
Callahan, all brothers-in-law, from Redstone,
Pennsylvania, entered section twenty-eight, and
divided it among themselves, each afterward di-
viding his share among his children. Two other
brothers of the Callahans, Jeremiah and Jesse,
settled in this section for a short time previous
to 1812.

Section thirty-three was entered by Samuel
Davis in 1803. He received a deed from the
Government signed by Thomas Jefiferson, dated
March 10, 1807. He disposed of it by gift and
sale. About 18 19 John Briggs built a grist-mill

[98

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

on the creek, and a few years later another was
built by Aaron Holloway, which is still standing,
a short distance below the first.

John Zimmerman, of Lancaster county, Penn-
sylvania, entered section thirty-four in 1804 and
moved upon it with his family the next year.
Subsequently he divided it among his five sons
and three daughters.

From Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, came
three brothers in an early day, Michael, Baltzer,
and Caleb Roller. Michael entered section
thirty-five in 1804, divided it among his sons,
Jacob, William, Thomas, and James. Land was
given for a church and burying-ground in a very
early day by the Rollers. Part of Washington-
ville is located in sections thirty-five and thirty-
si.x of this township.

Baltzer Roller entered section thirty-six m
1803. His son. Colonel Jacob B., served the
district as State Representative for twenty-one
years. He was in General Harrison's army and
at Fort Meigs. While stooping to drink at
a spring in the woods near the fort one day, a
ball from an Indian's rifle grazed the back of his
head. He grasped his gun and fired at the re-
treating Indian, but missed him.

ORGANIZATION.

Green township was incorporated June 3, 1806,
and was then in Columbiana county, where it
remained until attached to Mahoning county,
upon its organization in 1846. It originally con-
tained thirty-six square miles, but was reduced
to thirty-two by the organization of Perry town-
ship in 1832.

GREEN VILLAGE

is situated near the center of the township, on
sections fifteen and twenty-two, and was first laid
out by Lewis Baker, Jacob Wilhelm, and Jacob
Cook. Abram Stofer (or Stauffer) kept the first
store. Samuel Hardman, David Weikert, and
J. M. Hole succeeded him. The first post-office
was established in 1831, and William Van Horn
was the first postmaster. He has been succeeded
by David Weikert, William Roller, Daniel Beam,
N. P. Callahan, A. S. Griffith, and Henry Shray.
The village contains three churches, Lutheran,
German Lutheran, and Swedenborgian, a post-
office, school-house, drug-store, two dry goods
and grocery stores, a tannery, steam saw- and
planing-mill, grist-mill, two blacksmith shops, two

wagon shops, two shoe shops, and one millinery
store. In the village are two practicing physi-
cians.

WASHINGTONVILLE.

This town was laid out about 1832, principally
through the exertions and influence of Michael
Frederick, and is situated in the townships of
Green and Salem. It contains two churches
(Methodist and Evangelical Lutheran), a post-
office, school-house, three hotels, two blacksmith
shops, four grocery stores, one dry goods store,
one drug store, two carriage shops, two shoe
shops, about seventy-five dwellings, and has a
population of eight hundred.

The first hotel was opened by Michael Fred-
erick, about 1833. The first store was opened
in what is now Railroad Tavern, by Jacob Stoffer,
who was appointed postmaster upon the estab-
lishment of the post-office, in 1836. He was
succeeded as postmaster by Jacob Borton, Henry
Estep, George R. Hillburn, John B. Stover,
Samuel Greenwold, and John R. Stover.

Peter Miller was the first blacksmith who
opened a shop. Before removing to Washington-
viUe he resided one year at New Lisbon, where
he built the first brick house. About 1828 John
Miller, a blacksmith, began the manufacture of
edge-tools, which he continued for about ten
years.

NEW ALBANY.

New Albany is situated about two miles and a
half west from Green village, and contains a
store, post-office, blacksmith shop, and twenty-
two dwellings. The first steam mill in the coun-
ty was built at this place by Wilson Teeter and
Edwin Webb, by whom the town was laid out.
The post-office was established prior to 1853.
The first postmaster was Henry Thulen, who
was succeeded by Joshua Webb, Daniel Beam,
Charles Taylor, Lemuel Hixson, Solomon Rus-
sell, David Coy, and Lewis Pow.

Soon after the settlers came to the township
an effort was made among the widely scattered
families to assemble the children for purposes of
education. Elisha Teeter gave for school and
burying purposes a piece of ground situated on
the east side of section twenty, and a log school-
house was built, about 20x24 feet in size, with a
puncheon floor and a door with wooden hinges.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

'99

The children from sections seventeen, eighteen,
nineteen, and twenty attended school at this
house. The first teacher was Edward Bonsall,
who was succeeded by Rachel, his wife, and
Priscilla Fisher, wife of William Fisher — both
daughters of Abram Warrington. John Cowdin,
Patrick Smith, and Daniel Stratton were also
teachers before the adoption of the district
school system.

The first school-house for children living in
the north middle part of the township was on
the New Lisbon road, on section ten. This was
a log-house built by Henry Pyle. It was fitted
with slab seats, and with desks fastened against
the walls with wooden pins. In 1814 Samuel
McBride was hired to teach. George Pow suc-
ceeded him. No school was taught there after
Mr. Pow retired until the district schools were
opened, in 1827. The children from other sec-
tions, far and near, attended school in this log
building.

The first school in the center of the township
was held in the log church west of Green village.
A log school-house was built on section thirty-
four, on land belonging to Jacob Stofer. Henry
Zimmerman was the first teacher of this
school, about 1815. William, Rachel, and Sam-
uel Schofield, sons and daughter of David Scho-
field, afterwards taught in a second log school-
house, built on the same ground.

At Washingtonville a school was opened about
i8i8 in the log church built by Michael and
Baltzer Roller. John Roller and Henry Gilbert
were among the first teachers.

Owing to the imperfect records of schools in
the early days but little information can be ob-
tained respecting them.

The following is from the earliest existing
records (in 1844):

Twelve schools taught in township; number of teachers,
10; number of children between the ages of four and twenty-
one years, 338 males, 346 females; number of children en-
rolled, 295 males, 241 females; average daily attendance,
169 males, 131 females; amount paid to teachers of common
schools from public fund— to males, $367.83; to females,
$125. Amount paid from other sources — males, $23; females,
$23,50. Branches lauglit: reading, writing, arithmetic,
English grammar, geography.

The township has an Evangelical Lutheran
church at Washingtonville, and one at Green
village; a German Lutheran church; a Sweden-
borgian church at Green; Concord Presbyterian

church on the line of Goshen and Green; a
Baptist church; a union church on section four;
a Disciple church on section twenty-one, with a
burying-ground attached; and an Evangelical
Association church at Loveland station.

The Niles & New Lisbon railroad traverses
the township in a general north and south course,
and has three stations in the township — Love-
land, Green village, and Washingtonville.

CHAPTER XIIL

The township of Smith is of range num-
ber five township eighteen north from the Ohio
river. It is bounded north by Deerfield, in Port-
age county, and Berlin township, in Mahoning
county; east by Goshen, in Mahoning county;
south by Knox township, Columbiana county;
and west by Lexington, in Stark county. The
general surface of the land is undulating, and
in the northeastern part hilly, where the greatest
elevation is attained. The center, within the ra-
dius of two miles from the town-house, is the
most depressed portion of the township, the land
gradually rising as the township lines are
approached. The township is drained by the
Mahoning river and its tributaries. The Mahon-
ing proper passes northwesterly across the south-
west corner of the township, which it again
enters on section six, at the northwest corner,
crossing it in a northeasterly direction.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

Probably the first white man in Smith town-
ship, by whom any material improvements were
made, was James Carter, from Pennsylvania, in
the year 1803. His advent was entirely an acci-
dent. Carter having purchased land on what is
known as the Western Reserve (of which the
north line of Smith township forms part of the
southern boundary) entered and cleared a portion,
and built a log house on what he supposed to be
his own lands. The same year William Smith pur-
chased from the government section three, con-
taining six hundred and forty acres, and went with
his family to occupy the same in 1804. On his
arrival he found that Carter had bv mistake built

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

his cabin on his (Smith's) land. Smith paid
Carter for the improvements he had made, who
soon after left to occupy the lands he had in fact
purchased. Although the first improvements
were made by Carter in 1803, and the first house
built by him at that time, the distinction of first
permanent settlement properly belongs to Wil-
liam Smith and his family. William Smith died
in 1841, aged seventy-three years; his wife died
in 1845, aged seventy-two years. Both were in-
terred in the family burying-ground on the hill,
near the present village of North Benton.

James C. Stanley, of Hanover county, Vir-
ginia, was one of the pioneers of Smith town-
ship, and probably the second settler. He came
in the year 1805, and located on section twenty-
four, which he had purchased from the Govern-
ment, and which lies about four miles southeast
of William Smith's section, m what was after-
wards called the "Stanley neighborhood." He
brought with him a wife and eight children.
The house built by the pioneer James C. was
the second in the township, and the first south
of the center line.

In the year 181 1 Edmund, oldest son of
Thomas Stanley, of Hanover county, Virgmia,
in company with John White (a colored family
servant), came to Smith and built a log house in
the eastern part of the township, preparatory to
the coming of the family. Thomas Stanley ar-
rived with his family in the spring of 1812. His
children were John, who died in 1877; Elijah,
who died in 1836; Frances, who married Isaac
Votaw, and died about 18 18; Edmund, who died
in 1842; Millie, who married Joshua Crew, and
came with the Stanley family or a few weeks
later. Joshua Crew died about the year 1845,
after which his wife went to Iowa, where she died
about 1868. These were the children of Thom-
as Stanley by his first wife. His second wife was
Priscilla Ladd, and their children were Isaac,
Thomas Binford, Sarah, who married Thomas
Woolman, and Micajah. Micajah Stanley mar-
tied Unity Coppack, by whom he had eight chil-
dren.

John Detchon, son of Oswell and .\nnie
(Carr) Detchon, pioneers of Trumbull county,
came to Smith in 1822. In 1S24 he married
Maria Hoadley, seventh child of Gideon
Hoadley.

Gideon Hoadley, with his wife and children,

settled in the township in 1823. In 1824 Henry
Hartzell's family settled here.

In 1 81 2 Levi Rakestraw and his wife Rebecca
(Bryan) came from New Jersey and located in
Goshen township, where they lived until Novem-
ber 10, 1825, when they moved to Smith town-
ship, where they spent the remainder of their
lives. Joseph Snods came from the same State
in 1824 with his wife and three children. His
son William now lives in Smith township.

One of the most prominent of the early set-
tlers was Benjamin Votaw, who settled perma-
nently in Smith township in 1829. He oper-
ated the first mill in the township before his
settlement, built on Island creek about 1823 by
James Smith, -son of Judge William Smith, the
pioneer.

Samuel Oyster was the first settler of the west-
ern part of Smith township, locating on section
thirty-one in 1826. He raised a family of four-
teen children.

Among the old families of the township was
that of Nathan Heacock. He settled near
Salem, Columbiana county, in 1816, coming
from Bucks county, Pennsylvania, and in 1825
came to Smith, bringing a family of ten chil-
dren.

Peter Wise came from Pennsylvania to Smith
in 1832 with a large family.

In 1810 James Cattell, of New Jersey, located
in Goshen township, and in 1833 moved to
Smith, where he died in i860.

James M. Dobson came to Smith in 1833
with his wife and one child — John.

George Atkinson was a resident of Goshen in
1816, and one of his sons, William, afterward
became a resident of Smith.

Other early settlers were Solomon Hartzell,
Jacob Paxson, Job Lamborn, Christian Sheets,
William Johnston, Hugh Wright, and John
Thompson.

There were families among the early settlers
whose history is not recorded. Of these some
are dead, others have left the township, and no
authentic record of the dale of their settlement,
death, or departure can be obtained. On infor-
mation from the oldest living residents, the names
of many have been obtained as follows: Mathias
HoUowpeter, Jonathan Hoope, John Cowgill, the
Cobbs, Hugh Packer, John Trago, Abram Haines,
Leonard Reed, Abram and Samuel Miller, .-Xdam

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

McGowan, William Matthews, John Hillerman,
Amos AUerton, John Schaffer. These were
probably settled in the township prior to 1830;
yet it is possible that some were later, as in 1828
there were but twenty-three voters in the town-
ship.

ORGANIZ.'^TION.

Smith township was organized at a meeting
of the Columbiana county commissioners in the
month of March, 1821, upon the petition of
Judge William Smith, one of its pioneers, in
honor of whom it was named. The books of
the township, containing records of the first
meetings and of the election of the first officers,
are lost or destroyed. Notice of the organiza-
tion was found in the old commissioner's journal.
James C. Stanley was probably clerk of the first
town-meeting.

NORTH BENTON.

The village of North Benton was surveyed
and laid out on the 27th and 28th days of
March, 1834, under the proprietorship of Wil-
liam Smith, Dr. John Dellenbaugh, and James
Smith. The map or plat was recorded March
31, 1834. Although not till then foimally laid
out, yet as early as the year 1830 a number of
buildings had been erected, and the village was
a general gathcting place for the people in that
vicinity. North Benton was named in honor of
Thomas Benton, a " hard-money " Democrat of
the time, who had many friends and admirers in
that community. " North " was prefixed in
order to distinguish it from another place of
that name. The first hotel was built in 1832 by
one Fitch, and called the " Benton Exchange."

The village has a population of about two
hundred and fifty, comprising about seventy
families, and has two churches, a school, several
stores, and business interests of various kinds.

WESTVILLE.

In the year 1831 the town or village of West-
ville was named and partially laid out, under the
proprietorship of Aaron Coppack, and then was
composed of a portion of sections thirty-five and
thirty six. The map was recorded September
27th ot the same year. In 1835 an addition
was made, and portions of sections one and two
of Knox township included within the village
limits. This was done under the direction of
Aaron Coppack, Samuel Coppack, Joseph Cobbs,

and Edward Randolph, proprietors. The plat
was recorded October 15, 1835. The village
continued to grow until about 1850, and became
a convenient trading centre, having a saw-mill on
section thirty-five and a general country store.
Since that time there has been no material in-
crease in population.

BELOIT.

This hamlet, although never regularly laid out
or incorporated as a village, is indebted for its
existence to the building of the Pittsburg, Fort
Wayne & Chicago railroad, in the years 1848-
49. It was originally called " Smithfield Station,"
and a post-office established there under that
name. In about 1863 the name was changed to
Beloit, there being then another Smithfield vil-
lage in the State. Within the limits of what
may properly be called Beloit are a church, saw-
mill, two stores, a wagon manufactory, and a
blacksmith shop. The village has a population
of about one hundred and fifty.

E.\ST ALLIANCE.

East Alliance, as it is called, is but one of the
suburbs of .Alliance, Stark county, resulting from
the growth of the latter place. In 1879 East
Alliance was made the second election district
of Smith township.

CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS.

Smith township has four churches. The first
erected was in 1829 by the Friends on section
thirty-four. This building was also used for a
school, taught by Hannah Courtney. A Method-
ist Episcopal church was erected at North Ben-
ton in 1840. A Presbyterian congregation
formed in Deerfield, Portage county, moved to
Smith, and elected a church near North Benton
in 185 1. A union church was built in 1859 on
section twenty-six, but was sold to the Presby-
terian society in 1870.

The first school of the township was taught
in an old log-house on the site of North Benton,
but by whom is not known. Margaret Davis
taught the school at a very early day. The
township was originally divided into four dis-
tricts, but now comprises ten. The annual cost
of the maintenance of schools is about $2,500.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

CHAPTER XIV.

SPRINGFIELD.

The township is bounded on the north by the
south line of the Western Reserve ; on the east
by the State of Pennsylvania; on the south by the
township of Unity ; and on the west by the town-
ship of Beaver. It is designated in the Govern-
ment survey as town nine, in range one. It
was one of the oldest townships in the county,
having been organized for civil purposes in 1803.
In 1846 Springfield was attached to Mahoning
county.

The general surface of the township is broken
by hills of moderate height, between which are
intervales and lowlands, originally somewhat
swampy. The whole township was covered with
a fine growth of the common woods, and a
liberal supply of timber yet remains. Building-
stone may be obtained in various localities, and
coal is unusually abundant.

The principal streams are Honey creek and
several small creeks, flowing southeast from the
central and the western parts of the township ;
and the Little Yellow creek in the northwest,
having a northerly course. Numerous springs
abound, and the natural drainage is generally
sufficient to afford an arable surface. The soil
varies from a sandy loam to a heavy clay, along
the streams being more or less of an alluvium.
The whole is fertile and well adapted to the prod-
ucts of mixed husbandry. The people are
chiefly engaged in agriculture.

PIONEER .SETTLERS.

The early history of Springfield is somewhat
obscure. None of the original settlers remain,
and what little recorded history they had has
been destroyed. The recollections of the de-
scendants of those who came to the township as
pioneers are not clear, and their statements con-
cerning that period are contradictory. It ap-
pears, however, that the township was permanent-
ly settled about 1801, and that Peter Musser
was the first to establish himself in what is now
Springfield. He came from York county, Penn-
sylvania, and having considerable means pur-
chased the four sections in the southeast corner
of the township, living a little north of the pres-
ent village of Petersburg. Here he built small
grist- and saw-mills, and made other desirable

improvements. He died in 1808, leaving a
family of four sons and two daughters. The
oldest son, John, succeeded to the mill property,
but after a few years removed to Missouri. Peter
was the proprietor of the village site, and the
founder of Petersburg. He removed to the
northern part of the State. The third son,
Jacob, lived in the village, selling there the first
goods. He enlisted in the army of 1812, and
afterwards in the regular army of the United
States, serving as drum-major ; he finally settled
in Missouri.

One of Musser's daughters was married to
Israel Warner, who came with his father-in-law
in 1801, and settled on the farm now occupied
by his son Ellis. Other sons of Warner were
John, George, Peter, David, Israel, William, and
Jacob. Some of these yet live in Springfield
and the adjacent towns. Israel Warner was a
captain in 1812. The other daughter of Musser
married Jacob Rudisill, and lived north of the
Warner homestead.

James Wallace was one of the first and fore-
most settlers and is yet well remembered as a
merchant. Having been elected judge of Ma-
honing county, he removed to Canfield. To
that place, also, removed Hosea Hoover, one of
Petersburg's early settlers, who was elected county
treasurer.

On the farm now occupied by C. B. Wilson
John Pontius was the original settler, and was
followed by his son John. East of the village,
on the farm yet occupied by his family, Henry
Miller settled at an early day ; and north of the
|)lace the Bock, Beight, and Dressel families
were among the first settlers.

In the western part of the township Daniel
Miller, from Adams county, Pennsylvania, was
the earliest settler, coming in 1802, and settling
on section eighteen.

The same year C. Seidner and his son-mlaw,
C. Mentzer, came from Hagerstown and settled
south of Miller. A few years later this locality
was settled by Jacob Shafer, George Macklin,
Jacob Christ, John May, Hugh Chain, John
Robinson, and Peter Shreiver.

Section six was settled in iSoi by Adam
Hohn, who soon after put up a sawmill there.

Section four was settled before 1863 by George
Stump and his sons George, Henry, .'\braham,
and lohu, and section five was settled in 1802

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

203

by John Summers of York county, Pennsylvania.
One of Summers' sons-in-law, George Elser, set-
tled on the same section in April, 1806, where
he died in 1847.

In the northeastern part of the township the
early settlers were: John Shoemaker, about
1804; Henry Myers, on section twelve, in 1803;
Peter and Henry Raub and Peter Benedict, on
section eleven, about the same time; and before
1806 settlements had been made by men named
Empie, Taylor, Barnard, Parsons, and Messerly.

In the neighborhood of New Middleton were
the Burkey, Kuhn, Schillinger, Gray, Cublin,
and Schiller families, some time before 1810,
and after that period Joshua Hahn, Simon Mar-
tin, the Welker, Beard, and Ilgenfritz families
took place among the prominent settlers. Immi-
gration was so great between 1805 and 1815 that
it is impossible to gather up the names of all who
became pioneers of Springfield.

CIVIL LIST.

The records of this township from its organiza-
tion in 1803 until 1868 have been lost in some
way, making the compilation of an accurate civil
list impossible and necessitating the omission of
much valuable and interesting matter.

THE COAL INTERESTS

of the township deserve brief mention. Al-
though coal generally abounds in the township
but little effort has been made to develop its
riches outside of the territory in the northwest
part of the township along Little Yellow creek.
East of that stream mining was carried on to
some extent on the Ruhlman, Kurt and Heine
farms; but the principal product is on the west
side on section seven, where three mines are in
successful operation, whose united output is two
thousand five hundred tons per year. The first
mine in the township was opened by the Sum-
mers family and is still worked.

PETERSBURGH.

The oldest and most important village in the
township was founded before 1810 by Peter
Musser, on section thirty-six, and named in his
honor Petersburgh. It now has a population of
five hundred, and is a busy, bustling little place.

The post-office was established first with name
of Musser's Mill, and in 181 1 Jacob Musser was
postmaster. It subsequently received the pres-
ent name and has had the following officials :

Peter Musser, F. Spaeth, Colonel James Miller,
Martha Miller, O. H. P. Swisher, Robert Wal-
lace, C. C. Swisher, Lewis Sholl, Gideon Schiller,
George Herr, T. S. Guy, and Henry Myers.
Mail IS received twice a day.

It is said that Jacob Musser sold the first
goods in the place in the building now the resi-
dence of J. P. Swisher, the oldest frame house
in Petersburgh. James Wallace was the first to
engage regularly in trade, opening a store where
is now the post-office building, about 18 15. He
converted that house into a hotel and opened a
store on the north side of the street, where he
remained about thirty years. W. C. Dunlap was
a cotemporary merchant, opening a store where
is now S. Ernst's residence. The principal mer-
chants that followed them were : Robert Forbus,
Spaeth & Swisher, J. G. Leslie, O. H. P. Swisher,
David and John Shearer, James Mathews,
Ernst & Hahn, Hoover & Seidner, and others.
The place now has three good general stores, a
drug store, harness shop, furniture store, and
boot and shoe store.

A foundry was established by R. C. Bean in
1870, and is still carried on in the manufacture
of plows, light castings, and in repair work. The
village has two tanneries employing steam power.
The first tannery was carried on by John Em-
brie and has gone through a number of hands
since. The place has also two carriage shops,
as well as other indispensable mechanical indus-
tries.

As early as 1803 Peter Musser put in opera-
tion saw- and grist-mills, a little north of the vil-
lage, on the site of the present old mill on
Honey creek. John Musser, John Pontius, and
D. Whitmyer were among its subsequent owners.
About 1825 a mill was put up near the State
line on the same stream, by John Miller, which
was operated by him and his family until a few
years ago. Between these sites John Musser
put up a mill, which was operated until i860.

In 1874 a steam fiouring-mill, havmg three
runs of stones, was erected near the center of the
village by Maurer & Edler Brothers. It is now
successfully operated, but by other men. A
steam saw-mill, erected west of the village in 1870
by Ernst & Rauch, is still in operation; and in
the village a saw-mill, planer, and machines for
making bent work were put in operation in 1875
by Failer Brothers & Miller.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

The first public house was kept by Peter Mus-
ser on his farm, now owned by A. Kneasel. The
next was kept in the J. P. Swisher residence by
Kinneman, Douglas, Pontius, and others. James
Wallace was a well known landlord for many
years. Henry Kale opened a public house where
the Lochiel house stands, and was succeeded by
Kelley, Mathews, Conrad, George Kneasel (who
changed the house to its present comfortable
condition), and others.

Dr. Luther Spellman was probably the first
physician to locate permanently in the village.
Dr. B. F. Adams died here. Others in practice
have been : Drs. Jehu Stough, John D. Cofifin,
John Wise, John McCook, Ferdmand Casper,
P. H. Swisher (since 1828), George W. Pettit,
P. W. Welker, and perhaps others.

Richard Smith practiced law here a short time.
Jacob Musser was the justice of the peace from
1845 to 1875, and was succeeded by William F.
StoU.

Dr. G. W. Pettit, physician, Petersburgh, Ma-
honing county, son of Samuel Pettit, was born
in New Lisbon, Columbiana county, March 21,
1828. Samuel Pettit was a native of Chester
county, Pennsylvania, and came to Ohio in 1808
with his parents, who settled at New Lisbon. He
died in 1873. His widow is still living. Dr.
Pettit studied medicine with Dr. McCook at
New Lisbon and graduated at the Cleveland
Medical college in 1852, having practiced for
two years previous. He began practice, after re-
ceiving his degree, at Marlborough, Stark county,
where he remained ten years. He then came to
Petersburgh, where he now lives. He has an
extensive practice, and is a successful physician.
He was united in marriage in 1855 to Miss
Emily, daughter of Ebenezer Stevens of Stark
county. They have had three children, two of
whom are living. Mrs. Pettit is a member of
the Methodist church.

Solomon Ernst, merchant, Petersburgh, Ma-
honing county, was born in Springfield town-
ship, Mahoning county, then Columbiana, April
20, 1830. He is a son of Peter Ernst, who was
a native of Maryland, and came to Ohio in 1826
or 1827 and located in Springfield township.
He was by occupation a farmer. Solomon
Ernst followed farming until he was twenty-one
or twenty-two years of age, then engaged in mer-
cantile business at Middleton where he re-

mained ten years. He then came to Petersburgh
where he now is, conducting a dry goods and
grocery store. He was married in 1857 to Miss
Louisa, daughter of Henry Welk, of Springfield
township, and has one child, John. Mr. and
Mrs. Ernst are members of the Reformed church.

NEW SPRINGFIELD

is located on the southern part of section twenty-
nine, and is a pleasant little village of three hun-
dred and fifty inhabitants. It was laid out some
time before 1825 by Abraham Christ, who
platted twenty-eighl lots around the present
square or "diamond." Additions have since
been made by Jacob Fulgerson, Christian
Harker, John Wagner, and David Spiltner, until
the village spreads over a considerable area. Its
moral welfare is watched over by two churches,
and it is supplied with a good school-house.

The first store was opened in a building near
Shale's distillery by Joseph Davis. On the
square, Thomas Knight erected a building for
a store about 1828, and conducted business
there about twenty years. Nicholas Eckes,
Jacob Spaeth, William May, William Phillips,
Schillinger and Eckert & Peters, Tobias Elser,
George Smith, and George Slutter are among
those who have been engaged in active business
here.

The village has a daily mail from Columbiana.
The postmasters have been Nicholas Eckes,
George Smith, S. F. Hadley, John Peters, To-
bias Elser, and George Slutter.

Among the keepers of public houses are re-
membered John Peters, William May, S. F.
Hadley, Joseph Thompson, and a few others
who sometimes entertained strangers without
having regular inns.

Christian Seidner and John May have oper-
ated saw-mills on the brook southeast of the vil-
lage ; and below, on the same stream, Solomon
Crouse had an early grist-mill. The location is
now occupied by steam and water-power grist-
and saw-mills. In the village a steam saw-mill
put up prior to i860 by Diser, Shale & Feiger is
still in operation.

The first distiller was Joseph Davis, many
years ago. A grain and fruit distillery are now-
running in the village.

A tannery was at one time carried on by
Conrad & Shawacre.

In 1872 William May and .\dam Seidner

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

205

built a foundry in the lower part of the village.
In 1878 it was removed to its present location,
where, by the aid of steam-power, stoves, plows,
and agricultural implements are produced.

The New Springfield Bent works are the out-
growth of a small business established by George
Felger & Son near the square. In August, 1877,
their shop was destroyed by fire, together with
the dwellings of J. S.' Shearer and S. F. Hadley.
A large building was then erected on the out-
skirts of the village, in which the business has
since been carried on, with the aid of steam-
power.

Besides the industries mentioned, the village
has carriage shops, tin shop, harness shops, and
a half dozen other shops, where the ordinary
trades are carried on.

Professional men have not been very numer-
ous. The first physician was Dr. Louis Zeigler,
followed by A. King, Dustin, Hamilton, Hein-
man, William Stafford, and R. E. Warner. Hor-
ace Macklin is the only practicing lawyer ever
located in the village. Three sons of George
Miller, Isaiah, Eli, and Aaron, have become
ministers of the Lutheran church.

NEW MIDDLETON,

a bright little village of two hundred and fifty
inhabitants, is located on section ten, chiefly on
Youngstown street. It was laid out before 1825
by Samuel Moore, and additions have been made
by William Brotherton and John Miller. David
Shearer put up the first frame house just north
of the mill.

A small store was opened about 1830 by
Joshua Dixon, in a house now occupied by D.
Metz. He was followed in trade by Adam
Powers and David Shearer. Later came Brun-
gard & Davison, at the stand where was after-
wards Tobias Hahn. The store was burned in
1851, and was rebuilt by Hahn. It was after-
wards occupied by Henry Miller, Tobias Hahn,
and at present contains the store of John F.
Smith. South of this building Henry Miller
put up and occupied a good business house,
which was burned in 1870, when occupied by
Brungard & Brother. Seven years later Tobias
Hahn opened a large store near by, which, in
August, 1878, was robbed and burned by the
burglars to prevent detection. Besides the store
mentioned, there are in trade J. G. Smith, H. A.

Whelk, and R. L. Floor, the latter having a
drug store.

The establishment of the post-office cannot be
clearly determined. Among the postmasters
have been David Shearer, T. Hahn, David John-
son, Henry Miller, and Abraham McCurley.
The office has a daily mail from Youngstown.

As physicians are remembered Drs. Elisha
Murray, Greble, Connor, Henry, Zimmerman,
and Frank, R. L., and John Floor.

The first public house was kept by Samuel
Moore, before 1830, in a building which stood
on the site of J. G. Bacher's residence. In the
old house Adam Powers, John B. Miller, Wil-
liam Forbus, and David Johnson were among
the keepers. The latter built the present house
after the destruction of the old one, in 185 1. At
this stand Oliver Stanford was the last landlord.
South of this place was another public house, in
which Shearer, Dixon, Cox, and others, kept
entertainment. At one time the village had four
taverns.

About the first attempt at manufacturing in
the village was made in 1841 by Welker, Pease
& Co., who put up a carding-mill which was
operated by horse-power. In after years there
was a distillery in this building ; and still later
machinery was supplied to carry on the manu-
facture of linseed oil. Steam-power was then
employed. In 1871, while the property of T.
Hahn, the building was burned to the ground.

In 1849 Welker & Brungard put up a steam
saw-mill. In 1870 a stock company of twenty
members was formed to build a steam grist-mill
m the village. After the lapse of several years
this property passed into the hands of Fred.
Fouser, and was destroyed in the conflagration
of August 27, 1878. The present mill was soon
after built by Mr.- Fouser, and is now success-
fully operated. The village has a full comple-
ment of the ordinary mechanic-shops.

On section six, Adam Hahn, the original set-
tler there, had a saw-mill on Yellow creek before
1805 ; later, his son Andrew had a mill, and at
present the Printz family have here in operation
a steam saw-mill.

•.I

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■/^

TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES
TRUMBULL COUNTY. OHIO.

CHAPTER I.

HOWLAND.

GENERAL FEATURES.

Rowland, the fourth township in the third
range, lies east of the adjoining township of
Warren, between it and Vienna. Bazetta is
north and Weathersfield south of it. The city
limits of Warren encroach slightly upon its west-
ern line.

The Mahoning river cuts across a small corner
in the southwest of Howland. Mosquito creek,
here a stream of considerable size, flows through
the township from north to south, dividing its
surface into two very nearly equal portions. The
land is rolling. On the cast side of the creek a
crest of considerable height rises gradually, be-
ing two hundred feet above the level of the
stream, and on the west side about one hundred
and fifty.

East of the creek the soil is somewhat sandy
and gravelly ; on the west side it contains more
or less clay. The improvements in this town-
ship are very marked. Good farms, with many
costly and beautiful houses, large and convenient
barns, well-fenced fields and carefully tilled gar-
dens, show that the residents of this township
are possessed of wealth, enterprise and good
taste.

The towns of Warren and Niles afford con-
venient and ready markets, and abundant rail-
road privileges for farmers and shippers of pro-
duce. Real estate is constantly appreciating in
value. No agricultural community in Trumbull
county is more fortunate in its location than
Howland township.

PIONEER SETTLEMENT.

Excepting one family, the first settlers of How-
land were Pennsylvanians.

The honor of making the first settlement in
this township belongs to Captain John H. Ad-
gate, who penetrated the wilderness of this sec-
tion, bringing his family with him in 1799. He
owned one thousand six hundred acres of land
in the southwest of the township and here he
built the first cabin and made the first clearing.
Captain Adgate's children were Sally, Belinda,
Caroline, John H., Nancy, Charles, Ulysses, and
James. Benoni Ockrum, a Stockbridge Indian,
also lived with this family. John H., Jr., re-
mained some years on the old homestead, then
moved away. Several of his sons reside in How-
land.

Soon after Captain Adgate came John Earl,
Michael Peltz, John Daily, James Ward, John
Reeves, Jesse Bowell, John Ewalt, and Joseph
Quigley, most of whom made permanent settle-
ment in 1802.

John Earl settled on the farm now owned by
C. Milliken. Sixteen strong, active, and healthy
boys and girls were his children. The sons were
Ebenezer, Edward, Moses, John, George, Wash-
ington, William, and Charles. There were eight
daughters. Our informant remembers the name
of seven of them — Rebecca, Susan, Betsey,
Nancy, Mary, Sarah, and Olive. The father
moved to Lordstown after several years' resi-
dence here.

Michael Peltz, a genuine specimen of the
genus homo commonly denominated Dutchmen,
moved away about 18 14, or soon after. He
acted as a drummer on several occasions when

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

there were military parades. It is related that
when the first tidings of the opening movements
of the War of 1812 reached Howland Michael
got hold of the news. Not knowing what was
meant by it he determined to consult the 'squire,
who he doubtless supposed held the concen-
trated wisdom of the township, and having
found 'Squire Heaton he asked : '"Squire, vat
dey means by all dis talk, eh ? Have de Prit-
ishers done some dinks pad ? " Like every Hea-
ton the 'squire was fond of a joke, and answered
the Dutchman thus : "Yes, bad enough, I
think. They have set Lake Erie on fire and
burned the whole it." Michael believed the
'squire — who would question a statement from
such an authority ? — and with his eyes distended
with astonishment went home to his "frau" and
narrated to her the wonderful doings of "de
Pritishers." "You old fool," said she, "you tinks
the Pritishers can purn up a lake ? A lake is
wasser ! Go out and feed dem pigs." And
crestfallen and humbled he obeyed.

Jesse Bowcll moved from Green county, Penn-
sylvania, to Howland in 1801 or 1802. He mar-
ried Rebecca Hank, and they had the following
children: Calvin, David, John, Bazil, Hannah,
Rebecca, and Jesse. Mr. Bowell went to the
War of 1812, and returned home to die soon
after. Mrs. Bowell afterwards married John
Cherry, from Washington county, Pennsylvania,
a Howland settler of 1807, and had by him two
children, Daniel and Margaret. Three members
of this family are now living, John Bowell, in
Washington county, Pennsylvania; Daniel Cher-
ry, in Howland, and Mrs. Margaret Mason,
Weathersfield. David died young ; the others
all reached years of maturity. Bazil, Jesse, and
Hannah (Luse) died in Niles ; Rebecca (Luse)
died in Illinois ; Calvin died in Mahoning coun
ty. Mr. Cherry died in 1846, aged sixty-three ;
Mrs. Cherry in 1864 at the age of eighty-seven.

John Daily settled on the Kinsman farm, but
moved away early. James Ward did not remain
later than 1814.

John Reeves, Sr., was a permanent settler,
having located on lot twelve in 1803. His son
John still lives upon the old farm. Other sons
were Jesse, Abner, Ephraim, and Samuel Q.
There were three daughters, Sarah, Eugenia, and
Nancy.

John I'^walt settled on the farm whirh is now

the property of his son Harris. He reared a
good sized family. Harris, and Z. T., of How-
land; Jacob, of Bazetta, and John, who resides
near Pittsburg, are his sons. One of the daugh-
ters, Mrs. Abigail Wainright, is also living in
Pittsburg.

Joseph Quigley settled on the Deacon Smith
farm, now the Ratliff farm, but moved away
early.

William Kennedy in 1805 settled on the farm
now belonging to Ebenezer Brown. He was a
miller, and worked in Warren, Liberty, and
other parts of the county. His son Samuel M.
lived and died in Howland. Another son, Wil-
liam A., is still living in the township.

Dr. John W. Seely in 1806 settled where Milo
McCombs now lives. This farm was first im-
proved by Jesse Bowell about 1802. Among
Dr. Seely's sons were Richard L., Dr. Sylvanus,
and William.

Isaac Heaton and James, his brother, settled
in the southeastern part of Howland in 1805.
James sold out to Abraham Drake and went to
Weathersfield. Isaac, universally known to the
settlers as 'Squire Heaton, lived and died in How-
land. He had but two childien — a daughter,
Maria, and a son. Dr. Heaton, who practiced
in Warren with distinguished success. 'Squire
Heaton, being the magistrate of the township,
of course had many disputes to settle. But he
always strove to adjust matters and have the dis-
putants settle their difficulty, if possible, without
resorting to legal proceedings. Once a young
lawyer from Warren took exception to one of
the 'squire's rulings and said to him, " Why,
'squire, that isn't law !" "Law, law? what do I
care about law? All the law I want is here,"
returned the 'squire laying his hand upon his old
leather covered Bible. He was a man of good
judgment and sound common sense, though of
limited education.

Abraham Drake settled in 1S05. His sons
were Abraham, Jacob, Aaron, and George, all of
whom are dead. Jacob lived on the old home-
stead. Abraham and Aaron also resided in the
township. George moved to Wooster.

Barber King settled in 1806. He was from
Massachusetts and was the only Yankee of the
settlement. He had five sons: Jonathan, James,
Samuel, William, and David B., and two daugh-
ters, .\nna and Sarah. The sons all settled,

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

lived, and died in this vicinity. Sarah is still
living. William lived on the old homestead,
where his son James F. now resides.

William Wilson in 1806 settled on land now
owned by James F. Kennedy. He moved away
about 18 1 2.

Thomas Crooks, another settler of 1806, died
early. His widow brought up the family, which
was a large one. Thomas, Robert, and John,
her sons, remained in Howland, and died here.
William died in Bazetta. Henry and Samuel
moved away. There were also two daughters.

William Medley, an early settler in the north-
east of the township, had a family of sixteen chil-
dren. One of his sons still resides in Bazetta, and
one in Menna. Other members of this family
are scattered widely.

John and Uriah Williams were settlers of 1803.
Uriah lived in the southeast of the township,
near the springs. His son John, still livmg, is
one of the oldest residents of Howland. One
daughter, Mrs. Drake, is still living in Warren.

John Williams lived on the Perkins farm, west
of the creek. His sons were Joseph and Benja-
min.

ORGANIZATION.

In 1812 the commissioners of Trumbull coun-
ty organized township four, range three, into a
separate township and election district. Who the
first township ofificers were cannot be learned,
as the early records have been lost. Howland
was named from the purchaser, James Howland,
who paid $24,000 for Howland and Greene town
shi]3s.

FOOD AND CLOTHING OF PIONEERS.

Fortunate indeed was it for the pioneers that
they possessed the rare quality, contentment,
which the luxurious tastes of modern times have
in no small measure destroyed. They were
enabled to live up to that sound precept of
Horatian philosophy which advises men to "pre-
serve an equal mind in adversity," and blessed
with such a mind, they were thankful in pros-
perity and patient under afflictions. At their
rude firesides they ate the bread which their toil
had earned, and though it was coarse, it was
wholesome, and far ahead of many articles of
modern cookery in nutritious qualities. Plenty
of exercise rendered digestion healthy, and good
ap|)etites made every article of food relish.

Corn-bread was a staple article of food — would
that it still were. Johnny-cake, as it was called,
was usually baked in this wise : the dough having
been spread on a smooth board, kept especially
for this purpose, was placed before the hot, roar-
ing fire, and some young member of the family
directed to watch it. The side next the fire
would quickly bake, then the board was turned
around and the other side received the heat in
turn. Careful tending and a good fire soon
finished the job, and the johnny cake, beauti-
fully browned and steaming hot, was placed upon
the table with good fresh milk in bowls, and big
spoons. There was a supper fit for a king.

Potatoes, buckwheat cakes, or biscuits, often
venison and sometimes bear-steak, were about the
only kinds of food, always excepting the johnny
cake. Dutch ovens were perhaps the most use-
ful kitchen utensils — excepting the johnny-cake
board. The Dutch oven was an iron kettle
which was provided with a cover capable of hold-
ing a heap of fiie coals. The oven was placed
upon the coals, and the heat thus applied to both
top and bottom usually resulted in what house-
keepers called a good bake, while none of the
savory odors of the cooking food could escape.
Stoves, ranges, and all other modern improve-
ments in kitchen utensils are good and useful
enough, yet probably as well-tasting dishes were
prepared in Dutch ovens as any now produced
by masters of the culinary art.

In the matter of clothing, too, eighty years
have wrought wonderful changes. During the
first years of this settlement every article of
clothing worn by men, women, and children was
manufactured in the homes of the wearers. Mr.
John Ratliff, son of a Howland pioneer, says
that until he was sixteen years of age he never
saw a dress-coat of broadcloth or similar material
upon any man.

Every farmer kept a few sheep, the wool of
which was carded, spun, and woven by the hands
of the female members of the familj'. Cotton
was bought just as it was taken from the bale,
carded with hand cards, and spun into warp.
Wool, after undergoing similar processes, made
the filling, and the cloth made from these two
materials in old-fashioned looms was cut and
made into garments for winter wear. Long
flocks reaching below the knee were made for
men and boys. Butternut bark or the bark of

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

some other tree furnished the dye-stuff which
was used in coloring the cloth.

Summer clothing was usually made from cloth
of tow and linen warp and cotton filling. Why
did not women buy calico for dresses? Perhaps
it is sufficient answer to this question to state
that calico was fifty cents per yard and butter
only six cents a pound. These homemade
garments were worn to church and all other
gatherings. Could a lady in a fashionable suit
such as are now worn have been seen among the
country maids and matrons of those days, she
would have seemed like a creature from another
land if not from another world.

Buckskin was considerably worn by men; but
as it was usually but imperfectly tanned, after a
short season of use and a few wettings it became
stiff and hard and had to be laid aside.

EARLY SCHOOLS.

The first school-house was built on the 4th of
July near where Ward lived, on lot eighteen.
A term of school was taught in it the same year
by Ruth Alford. This old building was a sim-
ple structure of logs. Its benches were rude and
primitive, formed from slabs without backs or
other appliances for the rest of the arms and
body. Boards upon wooden pins driven mto
the wall formed the pupil's writing desk. In
those days a boy or girl, after a hearty breakfast
of johnny-cake and bacon, required no sup-
port for an aching back — a thing to them un-
known. And as for comfortable heating fur-
naces, to dry wet clothing or warm cold fingers
and cold feet, these were provided in the shape
of a huge fire-place which e.\tended entirely
across one side of the house. This was kept in
full blast by long, heavy logs, which were rolled
into It from time to time. The simplicity of this
style of heating apparaius, however, yielded after
a while to the aristocratic notions of Mr. Heaton,
who supplied the building with a rudely formed
cast-iron stove, manufactured at Heaton's furnace.

Other log-houses were built early, among theni
one in the northwest of the township, and an-
other in the King neighborhood. John Ewalt
taught in the former about 1812. About 1814
Montgomery Anderson taught in the King dis-
trict.

One after another, as they were needed, build-
ings for school purposes were erected until ten
had been built in the township. Not many years

ago the township was redistricted, and now there
are in all but six school-houses, three on each
side of Mosquito creek.

CHURCHES.

The first religious meeting in this township, or
the first in which a sermon was preached, was
held at the house of John Reeves in 1803. A
Baptist minister conducted the services.

Rev. Joseph Curtis, pastor of the Warren
church, organized a Presbyterian church about
1815, with thirteen members. In 1820 a log
building was erected in the northeast of the
township, which served both as church and
school-house. In this building a Methodist
church of about ten members was organized in
1821. After Rev. Curtis left Warren, the Pres-
byterian organization ceased to exist. We can-
not learn that the Methodists ever had regular
preaching here.

The Disciples' church of Howland was organ-
ized in 1828. The Drake family, Jacob, Simeon,
Aaron, and George, were its mainstay and sup-
port. They were devout and sincere Christians
of noble character. In 1830 this denomination
built a church edifice near the forks of the road
on Simeon Drake's farm, at a cost of about
$3,000. The only church building in the town-
ship at present was erected by the Disciples in
1862, at the center, and cost about $1,700.
Among the early and faithful laborers in the
Disciples' church were the preachers Campbell,
father and son, Scott, Bentley, Hayden, Bent-
ley, Henry, Bosworth, Hartzell, and others. The
proximity of Howland to Warren accounts for
the fewness of churches.

DR. SEELV.

About the year 1806 Dr. John W. Seely set-
tled in this township and began the practice of
medicine. He was a competent physician, and
skilled, especially in surgery. Genial and affable
toward every one, he sustained an honorable rep-
utation and lived a useful life. For many years
he had a large practice throughout this part of
the county, and his memory is still revered by
those who knew him. Soon after the opening
of the canal he was seized with an apoplectic fit,
and died at Akron while on a journey. His son,
Dr. Sylvanus Seely, continued the practice of his
father, residing in Howland, and afterwards in
Warren. His deatli was from the same disease
which carried off his father.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

FIRST EVENTS.

The first child born in this township was Sam-
uel Q. Reeves, March lo, 1804.

The first marriage was in 1 803, when Jack Legg
and Conny Ward embarked upon the sea of mat-
rimony. 'Squire Loveless performed the cere-
mony.

It is not remembered who built the first frame
house. The first frame barn was erected by
Barber King in 1822 on the farm now owned by
his son Franklin. The second frame barn was
built in 1826 by John Ratliff. Both are still
standing.

Dr. Seely built a stone dwelling house in the
southeast of the township at an ea\ ly date.

The first store was opened about 1831 by John
Colhns, at tlie corners.

Isaac Heaton was the first justice of the peace
in this township.

PUBLIC OBTICERS.

In its early history, this part of Trumbull coun-
ty was represented in the State Legislature by
Dr. John W. Seely. Howland has also furnished
the following county officers: John Ratliff, associ-
ate judge ; John Reeves, treasurer; Z. T. Ewalt,
treasurer; and Harris Ewalt, infirmary director.

THE BIG STORM.

Here, as in other portions of the county, the
great snow storm of February, 18 18, occasioned
great inconvenience and some hardships.
Houses were rendered almost invisible; travel-
ing was almost impossible ; and even for the
farmer to get from his cabin to his barn became
an undertaking involving no small amount of
labor. Fortunately wood was plenty and good
fires cost nothing. If people had depended
upon stores for their supplies of food in those
days, what suffering and famine this storm
would have caused.

Perhaps the wild animals suffered more than
the inhabitants. Deer could scarcely move
through the snow-drifts to their usual haunts,
and the prowling wolf became nearly famished
while engaged in a fruitless search for prey.

WILD ANIMALS AND HUNTS.

In early times bears and wolves were very
plenty, and stock had to be carefully watched to
save it from destruction. Sheep had to be
kept closely penned at night, for they might as
well have been slaughtered by their owners as to

be left in a place where it was possible for bears
or wolves to reach them. Mr. Ratliff one morn-
ing turned out his sheep, and before they had
gone more than a few rods from his house a
wolf was among the flock and soon had a sheep
down. At night the howling was sometimes
frightful. In one part of the forest a wolf would
raise a cry, those near him would repeat it at in-
tervals, others farther away would answer, and
soon the sounds became so loud, so terribly dis-
mal, that to the mind of a superstitious person
who had never before heard them, they would
have suggested that pandemonium must be close
at hand.

With so many fierce wild animals in the forest
one would almost think it strange that men were
not oftener attacked by them; but the reason for
the comparative good behavior of the bears and
wolves is to be found in the abundance of wild
game which then inhabited the woods. Wild
turkeys, partridges, and other of the feathered
tribe, as well as rabbits and other small animals
were frequently captured by their stealthy ene-
mies; and only a desire to regale their palate with
a taste of pork or mutton enticed the beasts of
prey from their haunts toward the settler's clear-
ing. They came to know that the white man's
rifle was a deadly weapon, and doubtless he was
more feared on this account ; for whether beasts
reason or not, it is certain that they observe and
remember.

Next to wolves and bears the settlers were
annoyed by a wild hog — once domesticated but
now a savage — which made sad havoc in the
corn-fields along the creek bottom. He had
long been at large, and the amount of mischief
he caused assumed such magnitude that it was
determined that he ought to be exterminated.
To effect this a grand hunt was undertaken by
men and boys with dogs. The hog was routed
without difficulty, and then began an exciting
chase. At length he was run into a swamp, and
then ensued a desperate encounter with the dogs,
in which he succeeded in killing three or four of
them. At last he was captured, and, after the tusks
had been knocked out, allowed to escape. A few
days thereafter it appears that he was attacked by
a bear, and from the appearance of the ground
upon which they had fought, the conflict must
have been a terrible one. Both were victors ;
hog and bear were found dead a short distance

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

from each other on the scene of conflict. Bear-
ishness and hoggishness, obstinacy and fortitude
had met ; the result satisfied man, their enemy.

Hogs and cattle were allowed the freedom of
the woods. One night in the spring of 1812 as
John Ratlifif was driving his hogs into the pen
he discovered that one was missing. Suspecting
that it had gone to satisfy the hunger of a bear
he sent for his neighbor, Noah Bowen, quite a
noted bear hunter, and the next morning Bowen.
Ratliff, and his son John started mto the woods,
following the tracks made by the hogs, to dis-
cover and punish the cause of the mischief
Bowen's best dog soon got on track of the bear
and began to bark. " The dog is pretty near
him," said Bowen, as the barking increased.
The three hastened after the dog, and having
followed about a mile discovered the bear high
up in a tree, sixty or sixty-five feet from the
the ground, resting upon a limb. Bowen brought
his rifle to bear, putting a bullet through the
animal's eye. From his lofty perch the bear fell
tumbling to the earth, dead. He was a huge,
heavy (cllow, over three hundred and fifty
pounds in weight.

AN EPIDEMIC.

Doubtless the pioneers of Howland thought
that they had enough disadvantages to contend
with, even when in the full enjoyment of health
and strength. But in the winter of i8ii-i2
many were attacked by a raging epidemic fever.
Among those who fell victims to this scourge
and died were Mrs. William Anderson, Mrs.
John Cherry, and three sons of the Norris
family.

Much suffering and anxious watching was
endured in many a household, even where the
disease did not result fatally.

ACCIDENTS.

At the raising of a log barn on the Perkins
farm, in 181 1, for a man named Bentley, Law-
yer Webb, of Warren, was the victim of a severe
and most painful accident. He was a young
man and had just come to Warren from the
East, and in company with others attended the
raising to see the fun. The walls of the barn
were up and material was being raised for the
roof by means of long poles or "skids," upon
which the timbers were slid upward ; each end
of the log being in a forked stick was raised

simultaneously by the builders. The skids had
been peeled in order to facilitate the work of
getting the weight-poles to the top. A log which
was being raised thus suddenly slipped out of
the fork, which held one end and came down
rapidly. Webb was beneath and ssw it falling.
He ran backward to get out of the danger, but
fell over a log lying upon the ground and the
descending weight struck one of his legs, break-
ing it in a frightful manner, so that the bone pro-
truded from the flesh. Dr. Seely was summoned,
and found it necessary to amputate the limb
above the knee.

Another accident, which came near being a
fatal one, occurred about 1835. One Sunday
in that year Archibald Reeves went into the
w-oods hunting. In the course of his rambles
he discovered a spot where, evidently, a bear had
been at work, tearing a rotten log and scratching
the earth. While examining these traces he
heard a sudden noise like the cracking of a twig
or the shell of a nut, and, peering through the
bushes discovered a small patch of long black
hair, moving about slightly among the twigs.
Supposing of course that the hairy object was a
part of the body of a bear, he took aim and dis-
charged his rifle. The dimly outlined form fell,
and much to Reeves' surprise, cries of a human
being in distress reached his ears. He hastened
to the spot, and discovered that, instead of a
bear, he had shot his neighbor, John Rutledge,
who, unbeknown to Reeves, was likewise engaged
in a Sunday bear-hunt. Rutledge was helpless,
and to all appearance mortally wounded. Aid
was summoned and he was borne to the nearest
house. Dr. John B. Haimon, of Warren, was
sent for to attend to the sufferer. When he
arrived, he ordered Rutledge's frock and shirt
to be removed, and this being done, the bullet
dropped out of the clothing upon the floor. It
was found upon examination that the ball had
struck the shoulder-blade, then glancing had
passed around to the front of the body and
passed out through the flesh of the upper arm.
Dr. Harmon said that if the bullet had struck a
very little lower a fatal wound must have been
the consequence. He dressed the shoulder and,
in due time, the wounded man recovered.

MILLS.

Tlic first mill, a rude affair, of very limited
capacity, was built about 1S15, by Septimus

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

213

Cadwalader, on a small branch of Mosquito
creek in the northern part of the township. No
one would now judge that the water-power was
ever sufficient to run a mill. The mill was of
logs, small, and provided with but one run of
stones. Though it could do but little work and
that little very imperfectly, yet this mill was a
great convenience to the settlers for some ten or
fifteen years, until the establishment of other
and better mills in this vicinity caused it to be
deserted by customers.

The first saw-mill was built in 1814 by Samuel
Kennedy, and was located on the same stream.
It was remodeled several times, and is now
owned by James Kennedy. It has not done any
work for several years.

STONE QU.\RRIES.

West of Mosquito creek in the northwest of
the township, and underlying the surface is an
extensive bed of flag-stone of the best quality.
This stone bed runs nearly the whole length of
the township, from north to south, beginning
with the Austin quarry and extending through
the Ewalt and Davis quarries south of it. This
stone is most valuable, being among the best to
be found anywhere in the countiy. The strong-
est acid will not affect it, and its hardness is so
great that it wears but slowly. The rock is found
at depths ranging from eight to twelve feet below
the surface in the Austin quarry, but in other
portions of the bed it comes much nearer the
top of the ground. Generally there are three
layers of the stone with shale rock or soap-stone
between. The hardest of the stone lies deepest.
After being exposed to the atmosphere the rock
hardens very rapidly.

Warren is especially fortunate in having this
valuable natural deposit of flagstone so near.
The sidewalks of this beautiful little city are
mostly laid with this material. The stone splits
or shales into thicknesses of three to five inches,
and can readily be broken into pieces of such
length and width as are desired. Its surface is
usually quite smooth.

Of the quarries operated that of Messrs. Aus-
tin & Co. is the most extensive, and afl'ords em-
ployment to several men throughout the year.
The stone from this quarry is much used in this
part of the State, and makes sidewalks of unsur-
passed excellence and durability. Besides the
large flagstones material is here found for paving.

gutter, and cross-walk stones. The supply is
great, and it will take many years to exhaust it.

The Howland springs are located on a tract
of land originally owned by John Hank, a set-
tler who came from Pennsylvania in 1802. He
bought the ground, made some improvements,
and afterwards sold to Dr. John W. Seely. The
property has since changed owners several times,
and is now owned by Shedd Brothers, of Youngs-
town, who have improved and beautified the
grounds, making the place quite a noted sum-
mer resort. Good buildings and accommoda-
tions for pleasure-seekers attract many visitors
each summer. The water of the springs is be-
lieved to possess medicinal and health-giving
properties.

Biographical Sketches,

JOHN RATLIFF.
Among the surviving pioneers of Trumbull
county few are more deserving a place in this
history than Judge Ratliff. He was born in
Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, December
17. '799- His grandparents came to this coun-
try from England, but at what date is not known.
His father was John Ratliff, and his mother Mary
Vandyke, both of whom were natives of Dela-
ware, where they lived until about the year 1798.
They moved to Westmoreland county and thence
to Beaver county in 1801, near the Pennsylvania
and Ohio State line. On the ist day of April,
181 1, his parents removed to Trumbull county,
Ohio, arriving at their destination in the north-
west part of Howland township on the 3d day
of the same month. There the subject of this
sketch grew to manhood, surrounded by all the
difficulties attending a pioneer settlement. In
1818 he married Elizabeth Wilson, daughter of
Robert and Elizabeth (Hyde) Wilson, who were
natives of Ireland but came to this country when
quite young. In April, 1821, he was elected
township clerk of Howland and served in that
capacity for a period of eighteen years. About
the year 1823 there was a regiment of volunteer
riflemen organized in Trumbull county. The
township of Howland raised a company of about
eighty men, who were uniformed and equipped
with good rifles. At the first election of officers

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

Richard L. Seeley was chosen captain but was
afterwards promoted and Judge RatHff was
elected captain, serving seven or eight years,
shortly after which the regiment was disbanded.
About the year 1839 he was elected justice of
the peace and served in that capacity six years,
when, in 1845, he was elected one of the asso-
ciated judges of the common pleas court of
Trumbull county, which office he filled with
ability until the change in the State constitution
in 185 I. His associates on the bench were Ed-
ward Spear, of Warren, and Asa Haines, of Ver-
non, the presiding judge being Hon. Benjamin
F. Wade.

September i, 1844, Judge Ratliff became a
member of the Disciples church of Warren, and
in the following year was elected by the congre-
gation one of the overseers of the church and
officiated in that capacity till about 1870, when
he was released from the duties of the office on
account ot his age. May 3, 1855, the Disciples
church in Warren became an organized body
under the laws of Ohio for the incorporation of
churches and he was elected one of the trustees
and still holds such office.

He is the father of seven children. Two died
in infancy. The others are as follow : Isaac,
now living in Howand; Robert W., of Warren;
Ann (deceased), wife of Josiah Soule; Mary
(deceased), wife of Henry Hoagland; and Lydia
Maria, wife of Daniel L. Jones, of Warren, with
whom the subect of this sketch makes his home.
Mrs. Ratliff died in Warren March 16, 1875,
aged seventy-seven.

Judge Ratliff 's occupation through life has
been that of farming. He has been unusually
blessed with good health, and, possessing a
naturally vigorous constitution, he is to-day, not-
withstanding his advanced age, a hale and hearty
old gentleman. At this writing (March 17,
1882) he is eighty-two years and three months
old.

JAMES FRANKLIN KING.
James Franklin King, widely and favorably
known throughout this part of Ohio as a stock
dealer and farmer, is a descendant of one of the
earliest settlers of the county. His grandfather,
Piarber King, was a native of Connecticut, and
was employed in that Slate as an iron worker.

He made the acquaintance and courted Irene
Schoville, a lady of aristocratic family, whose
parents objected to her marriage with a laborer;
and the old Connecticut statutes made it a crime
for a man to lead a lady to Hymen's altar with-
out her parents' consent. But Cupid has never
been easily bound by statutes, and when in ear-
nest always finds a way of evading them. In
this instance Miss Schoville rode to her affi-
anced's house, gave him a place behind her on
her horse, and rode to a magistrate's office, where
they were lawfully married. Mr. King joined
the second company of surveyors sent out by
the Connecticut Land company in 1797, and
while thus employed selected a place for settle-
ment near the present site of Canfield. The
following spring he removed with his wife from
Connecticut and made an improvement on the
lot which had been selected. They lived there
two years, then removed to a lot at the present
village of Girard. After a residence on this lot
of about six years, having made considerable
improvement. General Perkins proposed an ex-
change of one hundred acres in Howland for
the lot on which Mr. King lived. After viewing
the ground the proposition was accepted, on
condition that the center of the one hun-
dred acres should be a certain strong,
clear, flowing spring. Beside this spring
Mr. King built his house in Howland, and
moved into it in June, 1806, on the day of a
total eclipse of the sun. The house stood on
the ground rttiw occupied by J. F. King's resi-
dence. Mr. King was a plain, unambitious
farmer. He lived to the age of sixty-nine years.
Mrs. King lived to the advanced age of eighty-
six years. During the Revolution she was taken
prisoner at Wyoming by the Indians and held
captive for six months. The family of Barber
and Irene King consisted of seven children —
Jonathan, James, Samuel, William, Bliss, Anna,
and Sarah. Sarah (Mrs. William Brinton) is
the only member of the family living. They all
settled in Howland township except James,
Anna (Mrs. Jabez Bell), and Sarah Brinton.

William King, father of James F. King, was
born April 9, 1798, and died October 8, 1866.
He was rnarried in 1820 to Mary B. Kennedy, a
daughter of Samuel and Jane Kennedy. She
was born in 1801, and died January 3, 1869.
Mr. King was a man of great cneigy and pro-

^^^^^^-^'-r^c?

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

215

gressive ideas; his wife was plain, unassuming
and industrious. They were both members of
the Presbyterian church and were remarked
in their neighborhood for sympathy and kindness
in cases of sickness. Their family consisted of
four children — James R, Irene (deceased), Or-
villa (Mrs. William Chamberlain), and Jerusha
(Mrs. Charles Hunt).

James Franklin, whose portrait appears on an
adjoining page in this volume, was born March
12, 1822. He owns and resides on the old home-
stead of his grandfather and father, and where
he was born and raised. He attended the dis-
trict school and received a fair English educa-
tion, but it was farm work that mainly occupied
his attention. .Soon after thoroughbred short-
horn cattle had been introduced into the county,
in 1841, by Thomas and Frederick Kinsman,
Henry B. Perkins, and the Cowdens of Gustavus,
Mr. King saw the opportunity of building up a
successful industry. The first importations of
cattle had been from New York. Mr. King
accompanied Messrs. Kinsman and Perkins to
the Bluegrass region in Kentucky in 1850, at
which time he made a purchase of short-horns,
and has since continued to supply his herds with
stock cattle from that region and from southern
Ohio. He has for about forty years given close
and intelligent attention to the breeding and
raising of stock cattle. He keeps on his farm
about one hundred head. Of late years Mr.
King has been dealing to some extent in thor-
oughbred Southdown sheep. He has been
identified with the Trumbull County Agricul-
tural society as an officer ever since its re-organ-
ization in 1846, and for eight years was president.
Under his management the annual fairs were
made of special interest to the general farmers.
He aimed to make the annual exhibitions what
they professed to be — agricultural fairs. He is a
man of good executive talent, being energetic,
correct and decided. Mr. King married in 1862
Miss Cornelia J. Andrews, daughter of Samuel
and Lorena (Hutchins) Andrews, of Howland
township. They have a family of two children.

DRAKE FAMILY.*

Abraham Drake, of Monmouth, New Jersey,
was in the habit of going with others to Schooley
mountain, in that State, in the fall of the year,
for the purpose of hunting. On one of these
occasions he became acquainted with a Miss
Stark, a relative Of Colonel John Stark of Revo-
lutionary fame, and married her. He bought
two hundred acres of land near Haskelstown,
New Jersey, where they settled, and to them
were born three sons, viz : Abraham, Aaron, and
Sylvenius. Abraham, the oldest, was born in
in 1756. In 1788 or 1789 he married Sarah
Bell, of Sussex county. New Jersey. To them
three daughters and six sons were born, viz:
Elizabeth, Sarah, and Meriam, Jacob, Simet)n,
Aaron, George, Abraham, and Amos. And for
some years they lived near the above-named
town, but the father dying, and having willed all
his property to his son Aaron, Abraham and Syl-
venius were dissatisfied. Abraham endeavored
to persuade Aaron to allow him to have the
house and a small piece of land belonging to
his father's estate, and on which he then lived,
and which would enable him to maintain his
family by his occupation, being a weaver, but
in this his efforts proved to be of no avail, and
on returning home from this mission, late one
evening, sadly disappointed, and as no other
avenue seemed open to him whereby he might
support his family, he said to his wife, "We will
go West," and with this decision, which was char-
acteristic of the man, he soon bid his friends and
native place a last farewell, for he never returned,
and the writer believes never heard of them af-
terward. He removed his family to Jefferson
village, Morgan township, Washington county,
Pennsylvania, where they stayed some six
months, while he went on to Ohio to look for a
place to locate their future home. This was in
the year 1804 or 1805. He purchased three
hundred and twelve acres of land in Howland
township, for which he paid $655, and settled on
that part of it which is the farm now owned by
his grandson, Amos Drake. Here they began
by earnest and unceasing toil to supply their
wants from their own productions, amid the pri-
vations and hardships incident to the times. It
was even no small task to guard the few do-
mestic animals, which they had or could get,

*Prepared by Amos Drake.

2l6

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

from the attacks of wild beasts. Well does the
writer remember the log pen in which the sheep
were secured at night to keep the wolves from
them, and also of the trap made of logs in the
woods, to catch those prowling invaders, yet with
all of their vigilance sheep were frequently killed,
and bears would kill the hogs and calves, and
the deer would persist in feeding upon their
wheat in the fall and spring.

And yet amid these scenes with willing hands
they soon began to gain for themselves a com-
fortable home. But when it seemed they most
needed each other's presence to assist and cheer
them in their efforts death took from the home
the wife and mother. She died May 16, 1808,
aged forty-two, leaving the husband and eight
children, the youngest a son only a year old.

The household duties henceforth devolved
u])on the daughters, Elizabeth and Sarah. In
1813 he built the house (yet standing) in which
he afterwards lived until his death, July 17, 1818,
aged sixty-two years, and here would my pen
fondly linger to pay a tribute to one whose indus-
try, honesty, and uprightness of character were
proverbial. The impress of the virtues of that
father and mother was seen upon their childien
in after years, and made them moral, upright,
unassuming, faithful men and women.

Elizabeth having married, the care of the fam-
ily fell on Sarah, which duties' she faithfully per-
formed for some years, she and Jacob keeping
and living on the homestead. Simeon and Aaron
settled on a part of the land which belonged to
their father; George and Abraham settled on the
west side of the creek in this township. Eliza-
beth moved to Poland, now Mahoning county,
all followmg agricultural pursuits. George in
1844 removed with his family to Howard, Knox
county, Ohio. Sarah in 1833 sold her interest
in the homestead to Jacob, and built a house on
the farm of Abraham, where she lived until April
185 1, when she ceased to keep house, and
lived with .\aron and his family until April, i860,
when she returned to the old home, and lived
with her ne])hew up to the time of her death
October 26, 1864, aged seventy-two years. She
and her brother Amos were not married — he dy-
ing July 30, 182 1. Meriam died in infancy in
New Jersey. The following are marriages of the
the sons and daughters of Abraham and Sarah
1 )rake ; the number of children born to each mar-

riage; the death and age of parents, and the
number of children now living.

June II, 1811, by Dan Eaton, justice of the
peace, James Stull, of Poland, and Elizabeth
Drake, of Howland. To them were born three
daughters and one son. Death and age of par-
ents unknown. One daughter survives.

January 3, 1822, by Isaac Heaton, justice of
the peace, Simeon Drake and Lucretia Williams,
of Howland. No children, she dying soon after
marriage; age unknown.

May 8, 1825, by John Hank, justice of the
peace, Aaron Drake and Mary Williams, of
Howland. To them were born five sons and
three daughters. He died August 22, 1855,
aged fifty-six years; his widow, three sons, and
one daughter survive.

June 9, 1825, by R. L. Seely, justice of the
peace, Siitieon Drake and Olvina Hank, of How-
land. To them were born four sons and one
daughter. The father died March 12, 1859,
aged sixty years ; the mother February, 1880,
aged seventy-six years. Three sons survive.

June 15, 1826, by Alford Brunson, justice of
the peace, George Drake and Nancy Smith, of
Hubbard. To them one son was born. The
mother died May, 1827. The son survives.

May 30, 1829. by Adamson Bently, minister,
George Drake and Mary McElroy, of Washing-
ton county, Pennsylvania. To them were born
two daughters. The mother dying in 185-;
the father February 23, 187 1, aged sixty-eight
years. One daughter survives.

May 17, 1830, by A. Bently, minister, Abra-
ham Drake and Jane McElroy, of Washington
county, Pennsylvania. To them one son was
born ; the mother dying October, 1842; the son
surviving.

May, 1844, by A. S. Hayden, Abraham Drake
and Phebe Moffit, of Solon. To them was born
one daughter; the father dying May 24, 1849,
aged forty-four years. His widow survives.

April II, 1826, by Joseph W. Curtis, minister,
Josiah Drake and Agnes Anderson, of Howland.
To them were born two sons and one daughter,
viz : Amos, Alva, and Agnes. The mother
died September 19, 1831, aged thirty-six years.

February 12, 1833, by John Henry, minister,
Jacob Drake and Artlissa Lane, of Austintown.
To them were born a son and daughter, viz:
George and Emily. The father died September

4e7-/^6;:Z^

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

able families in the township, as the preceding
family sketch will show.

KENNEDY FAMILY.

Samuel Kennedy (Howland), the pioneer of
this family in Trumbull county, was born in
Chester county, Pennsylvania, in 1764, from
whence he moved to Ohio in 1814, and settled
on the Kennedy homestead in Howland, where
he lived until his death, which occurred in 1816.
On this farm he erected the first saw-mill in
the township on Kennedy run, on the east part
of the farm. This mill was operated from that
time until about 1873.

He was married to Jane Kennedy, and to
them were born the following children : Mont-
gomery K. (deceased), Nancy, now living in
Howland, Elizabeth (deceased), Mary, mother
of J. F. King, Tabitha (deceased), James, now
on the home-farm. Maxwell (deceased), Thomas
and William, of Bazetta; and Ann, widow of M.
J. Iddings, of Howland.

James Kennedy was born in Northumber-
land county, Pennsylvania, in 1807, and came
with his father to Ohio, when he was but seven
years old. From his boyhood to his present ad-
vanced age he has been a resident of Howland,
and always prominently identified with all the
public interests of the township. In early times
every settler from necessity became expert in
the use of a gun; but Mr. Kennedy was, and is
now rated, as an extra good shot. He relates
that he succeeded in killing forty-two wild tur-
keys in forty-four shots; and now exhibits a
target about two inches in diameter in which
eight bullet holes cluster about the center. He
was also a mechanic and manufactured articles
of furniture and cutlery with considerable skill.

He was married in 1831 to Miss Alice Scott,
who was born in i8og. Their children are
William Wallace, of Newton Falls; George W.,
of Howland; James Lawrence, of Warren, and
John Scott.

The Kennedy family of Howland was repre-
sented in the late civil war by George W. Ken-
nedy, who enlisted August 22, 1861, in company
C, Second Ohio cavalry. The regiment im-
mediately went into camp at Cleveland, where
they spent the winter. Alterwards were ordered

28, 1842, aged forty-six years; the mother Au-
gust 22, 1846, aged thirty-seven years; his
daughter Agnes October 4, 1846, aged fifteen
years.

The following are the marriages of the sons
and daughter of Jacob Drake referred to and the
number of children surviving :

April 24, 1851, by Isaac Errett, minister,
Amos Drake, of Howland, and Lavinia J. Hull,
of Champion. To them a son and daughter
were born — Charlie W. and Ida M. — who reside
as above written.

September 6, i860, by Mathias Christy, min-
ister, Alva A. Drake and Lide J. Grove, both of
Howland, where they still reside.

Emily went to Clinton county, Iowa, in 1S47,
where she married Dr. S. D. Colder. They set-
tled in Charleston, Missouri. To them four
sons and one daughter were horn. The mother
died January 31, 1875, 'iged forty-one years.
The daughter and three sons survive.

George went to Colorado in i860, where he
married Martha A. Brown. To them two sons
and one daughter were born. An infant son
survives.

Alva A., second son of Jacob and Agnes
Drake, was born in Howland township in the
year 1829. After obtaining a fair English edu-
cation he devoted himself to agricultural pur-
suits. In i860 he married Miss Lide Grove,
daughter of Jacob and Rachel Grove, of Austin-
town, and later of Howland. Mr. Grove was
born in Beaver, Pennsylvania, in 1802. While
but a child his parents removed to Austintown,
and there he married, in 1830, Rachel Wood-
ward. He removed to Howland in 1850, and
died April 16, 1881. Mrs. Grove died March
31, 1880. They had two children — John C.
and Lide. The former died in 1861, leaving
two children — Minnie and Lulu. Mr. Drake set-
tled on the farm on which he now resides in
1865. He is an extensive and practical farmer
and dealer in fine Merino sheep. He has accu-
mulated two hundred and fifty acres of land, which
is in good condition. While he is enterprising
and industrious he is at the same time liberal
and companionable. He held the office of jus-
tice of the peace in Howland township, and on
account of reliable judgment in business matters
was chosen real estate appraiser. He is a repre-
sentative of one of the oldest and most respect-

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

west to Platte City, Missouri, and were employed
mostly as scouts in the Indian country. The
first skirmish in which they were engaged was at
Independence, Missouri, afterwards being en-
gaged in a battle at Cow-skin prairie, and, also,
at the second battle at Pea Ridge. In 1862 or
1863 they returned from the West and in follow-
ing campaign were engaged as scouts in Ken-
tucky and Tennessee ; was through the mem-
orable campaign of the wilderness under Grant;
also at the seige of Knoxville, Tennessee. He
was considerably disabled by his horse falling on
him at Somerset, Kentucky, breaking a leg and
three ribs.

In the fight at Piney Creek church his horse
was shot from under him while in command of
his company, to which he succeeded on account
of the cowardice of his captain while under
fire, he holding the rank of sergeant at the time.
At the famous battle at Winchester, Virginia, he
had another horse disabled, and was present
when General Phil. Sheridan appeared after his
famous ride — "saving the day at Winchester."
After following the regiment through many
hard campaigns he was discharged September
18, 1864, on account of injuries received as
above mentioned. On his return home he was
married November 11, 1865, to Eliza Bailey,
who was born July 25, 1837. They now have
one child, Jimmie Frank, who was born April
5, 1868. After his marriage, he settled on the
east part of the homestead farm and operated a
saw-mill. He afterwards returned to Sharon,
Pennsylvania, where he kept a hotel ; also, after-
wards engaged in same business at Warren. He
removed to the present farm in Howland in
1877, where he now resides — having served his
township as a.ssessor, school trustee and super-
visor.

John Scott Kennedy was born in 1850, and
was married in 1876, to Jennie King, who was
born in 1855. They have one child, Grace.

He is now a member of the firm of M. C. &
J. S. Kennedy, marble and granite works, Cort-
land, Ohio; was census enumerator of 1880,
and had the honor of presenting the best set of
books in the census district ; he has also held
the office of town assessor for two years, having
been elected to that office while absent from
home. He now resides on the home-farm in
Howland.

NOTES OF SETTLEMENT.

John Reeves, Sr., was born in Westmoreland
county, Pennsylvania, June 6, 1781; married
April 16, 1801, Sarah Quinby, who was born in
Washington county, Pennsylvania, April 30, 1786.
They moved to Howland in the spring of 1S03,
he having been out the fall previous and pur-
chased one hundred and sixty acres in lot twelve.
He brought his goods by water in a canoe down
the Monongahela and Ohio to Beaver, thence up
the Beaver and Mahoning to Warren, while his
wife made the journey on horseback. During
the War of 181 2 Mr. Reeves was drafted but
furnished a substitute. Shortly afterward he re-
moved to Washington county, Pennsylvania,
where he kept a tavern on the National pike some
three years. He returned again to the farm but
did not remain long, removing to and residing
in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, about three
years. He then moved to Sharon, Mercer
county, where he operated a carding machine,
grist- and saw-mill some three years. He then
returned to the farm where he lived until his
death November 20, 185 1, aged seventy years.
His wife lived until February 3, 18S0, aged
ninety-three years and nine months.

Provisions were very scarce in the early settle-
ment, and on one occasion Mr. Reeves went to
Beaver to procure them, leaving his wife with a
child and a neighbor's girl to take care of the
stock. On a very dark night during his absence
the wolves attacked the small flock of sheep near
the barn, some ten rods from the house, killing
all but one, which Mrs. Reeves courageously
rescued from the rapacious beasts. She, with
the aid of the girl, pulled the wool from the dead
sheep and afterwards carded and spun it, and
had it woven into coverlets, some of which still
remain as relics in the family.

Francis Andrews was born in Vienna town-
ship in 1818, and was married first in 1840 to
Ann King, who was born in 1820, and died in
1852. To them was born Kennedy K. in 1841.
Mr. Andrews was again married in 1854 to
Esther Ann Kennedy, who was born in 1836.
Their children were Daniel and Anna, both de-
ceased, and Linda now living at home. He has
been mostly engaged as a farmer and dealer in
Durham cattle ; also buying and selling horses,
and was previously engaged in the dairy busi-
ness. He settled on the farm on which he has

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

219

since resided, in 1843, where he now lives in the
retired enjoyment of the fruits of a busy life.

Isaac Ratliff was born February 6, 1818, on
the farm on which his son James now lives. He
was married in 1839 to Phrebe King, who was
born in 1821. To them were born the following
children : Mary, William (who died in the army
in Kentucky in 1862), and James, and Josiah.
Mr. Ratliff has been mostly engaged as a farmer,
but has served as a supervisor for a number of
years. About 1865 he began quarrying stone in
the quarry which he afterwards sold to the Har-
mon Austin Stone company.

James Ratliff was born in 1845, ^"^ was mar-
ried to Barbara Snair, who was born in 1846. To
them were born the following children : William,
John, Anna (deceased), and Judson. Mr. Ratliff
has been engaged in various occupations — work-
ing in stone quarry, farming, and is now engaged
with his brother Josiah in operating the steam
saw mill. He is known as one of the rising
young men of this township, throughout which
he is well and popularly known.

Josiah Ratliff was born in 1847 and married to
Eliza Wilson, who was born in 1847. Their
children are as follows: Mina and Bertie. He
enlisted in 1864 in the One Hundred and Nine-
ty-sixth Ohio volunteer infantry, and served about
one year, doing garrison duty at Fort Delaware,
and in the Shenandoah valley. Mr. Ratliff re-
turned from the army and settled to the peaceful
Ijursuits of a farmer's life in Howland township.
He has served his township as trustee, and at
present is engaged with his brother James in
running the steam saw mill near their residence
in the northwest part of the township.

John Reeves, Sr., came from Westmoreland
county, Pennsylvania, in the fall of 1803, and
purchased the well known Reeves homestead
farm, being part of lots twelve and thirteen,
Howland township. He moved in the spring of
1804 and settled on this farm, having brought
his goods down the Monongahela and up the
Ohio, Beaver, and Mahoning rivers in a common
canoe. He was born June 5, 1781, and died in
1851; was married April 16, 1801, to Miss Sarah
Quinby, who was born April 30, 1786. Their
children were Arthur, Samuel, Abner, Jesse,
Ephraira Q., Joseph P., John, Lewis, Sarah (now
Mrs Reno, of Chicago), Eugenia (now Mrs. Little,
of Chicago), Nancy (now Mrs. I. N. Dawson, of

Warren), and Hannah B., deceased. John
Reeves, Jr., the seventh child, was born Tues-
day, March 21, 1815, and was married in 1839
to Harriet Mason, who was born September 11,
1820. To them were born the following chil-
dren: EUesif, Abner M., Sarah, Mary, James,
and John. Mr. Reeves was elected treasurer of
Trumbull county in 1856, and served two years ;
has been several times elected justice of the
peace of his township. During the late war he
was actively engaged in enlisting soldiers, having
recruited company B, One Hundred and Fifth
Ohio volunteer infantry, in about nine days, and
of which he was commissioned captain. He is
now one of the well known, leading men of his
township, engaged as a farmer on the homestead
farm.

James Bolin was born in Weathersfield, Trum-
bull county, Ohio, December 7, 1819; son of
John and Delilah (Williams) Bolin. John Bolin
came to Ohio in 181 7, settling in Weathersfield,
and cleared up the place now owned by his sons
James and John. He raised a family of five
children, three of whom survive — James, John,
and Mrs. Maria Kyle. He died in January, 1841.
His wife came to Trumbull county with the
family of James Heaton in 1801. James Bolin
married, January 3, 1844, Miss Elizabeth Drake,
who was born in Pennsylvania March 7, 181 2.
They have one son and two daughters, as follows:
Warren S., born December 28, 1845 ; Candace,
September 19, 1847 ; Maria E., wife of William
Van Wye of Weathersfield, June 4, 1851. In
the spring of 1861 Mr. Bolin settled on the
place where he now lives, in Howland, on which
Samuel Drake settled about 18 16.

Milo McCombs was born in Weathersfield,
Trumbull county, February 3, 1818, son of
James McCombs. He removed to Howland
township in the fall of 1855, settling on the place
now owned by his son Nelson J., the old Dr.
Seely place. He married for his first wife Har-
riet Nelson, who died in 1851, and in 1853 he
married Rebecca Hake, who is still living. He
died in June, 1879. Nelson J., his oldest son,
was born in Weathersfield June 24, 1842, and
married, October 4, 1870, 'Miss Charlotte Sow-
ers, born in Cuyahoga county in March, 1843,
and has a son and a daughter — Harry C, born
October 27, 1873, and Mary Bell November 23,
1878.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

John Williams was born in Howland township
October i, 1806. His father, Uriah Williams,
was a native of Pennsylvania, where he was mar-
ried. He came to Ohio with his family in 1801
and settled in Howland on the farm now occu-
pied by his son John. The family consisted of
three sons and seven daughters, of whom three
are living. His death occurred in 18 14. John
was the youngest son. He was raised on the
farm and his father's death threw upon him at
an early age considerable responsibility in the
management ot the place. He obtained a good
education for that time, and taught school one
term. He was married in 1842 to Miss L. Scott,
by whom one son, Lewis, was born December
13, 1852; a carpenter by trade. M'-s. Williams
died January 3, 1865. He was married again
September 13, 1866, to Mrs. Elizabeth Kyle,
daughter of James W. Russell, who was an early
settler in Austintown. By her first husband
Mrs. Williams had one child — Laura E. Kyle,
wife of M. L. Hyde. Mr. Williams settled on
his present farm in 1842. He was active during
the war in the Union cause.

Z. T. Ewalt was born in Howland township
September 6, 1816. His father, John Ewalt,
was born in New Jersey in 1776, came to Ohio
in 1801, and settled in Howland township in
1802 on the place now owned by his son, Harris
Ewalt, where he died about 1858. His family
consisted of ten children, five of whom are liv-
ing. He was a member of the Society of
Friends, as was also his wife. Z. T. Ewalt was
reared on his father's farm and resided at home
until twenty-seven years old. He spent the
year 1841 in the West. He was married April
20, 1843, 'o Belinda Adams, who was born in
Little Beaver, Pennsylvania, September 6, 1823.
Their family consists of six children, four of
whom are still living,_viz: John A., Madison
county, Ohio, a Presbyterian minister; Z. T., Jr.,
resides in Howland ; Florence I., wife of S. B.
Reed, resides in Windham, Portage county;
Olive B., resides in Howland. Mr. Ewalt set-
tled on his present farm in 1843. He has filled
several township offices, including justice of the
peace, to which he was first elected in 1863,
and served twelve years ; was county coroner
eight years, and again elected justice of the
peace in 1881. In politics he was a ^^'hig and
is now a Republican.

William W., the only son of Samuel M. and
Tabitha Kennedy, was born in Howland town-
ship, March 27, 1836. His father, Samuel Ken-
nedy, was born in Westmoreland county, Penn-
sylvania, in 1798. He came to Ohio with the
family and settled in Howland township. His
family consisted of two children — William W.
and Mrs. Ann E. Gilbert, who resides on the
homestead. Samuel Kennedy was nriuch es-
teemed as a neighbor and citizen. He died
Febiuary 21, 1875. William W. Kennedy mar-
ried, September 25, 1877, Miss Addie Ewing, by
whom one son was born — Samuel E. Mrs. Ken-
nedy died August 6, 1878. Mr. Kennedy was
married again April 19, 1882, to Miss Barbara
Jones. He resides on the homestead in How-
land.

lohn Lane was born in Austintown, Mahon-
ing county, Ohio, May 29, 1812; married, Feb
ruary, 1840, Miss Anna Westover, and soon afte
was appointed superintendent of the county in
firmary, filling that position some three years
He purchased a farm in Champion, where he
lived some thirty years, with the exception of a
year and a half in Vienna. In 1870 he pur-
chased the Simeon Drake farm, where he after-
wards lived. He had a family of four children.
Austin W., born February 20, 1841, enlisted,
in 1 861, in the Fouiteenth Ohio battery, and
was in the battle of Shiloh. Being prostrated
by sickness he was soon removed to Cincinnati
under the care of his father. He died April 29,
1862. Chester, born March 5, 1843, died Sep-
tember 7, 1844. Fiank B,, born April 2, 1855,
died October 20, 1859. Irenus L., the only
survivor, was born in Champion township, Jan-
uary 3, 1853. He attended a normal school at
Orwell, and Hiram college some five terms; also
took a commercial course at Eastman's Com-
mercial college, Poughkeepsie, New York. In
the spring of 1875 he took charge of the home
place. He married, June 8, 1876, Miss Maggie
D., daughter of Adam Dawson, of Howland.

Jonathan Folsom was born in Essex county.
New York, July 31, 1814. His parents were
Jonathan and Betsey (Leonard) Folsom. Jona-
than, Sr., was a native of New Hampshire, born
.'\piil 18, 1784. He came to Trumbull county,
Ohio, in 1833, and settled in Weathersfield,
clearing uj) a place now owned by John Park.s.
He died in 1S50, and his wife the same year.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

Jonathan Folsom, the subject of this sketch, was
united in marriage in 1836 to Milly A. Dunlap,
by whom he has two children living, viz: Na-
than D., superintendent of Trumbull county
poor-house ; O. W., a resident of Hiram. Mrs.
Folsom died August 5, 1841, and he married for
his second wife, December 16, 1841, Miss Jane
Scott, whose parents settled in Vienna township
at an early date, removing to the place now oc-
cupied by the subject of our sketch in 1828.
He died in 1863. Mrs. Folsom was born in
Vienna, March 10, 181 8. Six children were
born of this marriage, of whom four are living,
as follows: Cyrus B., born November 8, 1842, a
merchant of Youngstown; Emma C, October
20, 1844, wife of S. A. Corbin, of Warren; Eliz-
abeth J., January 22, 1847, wife of Lewis H.
Thayer, a merchant of Youngstown; Olive L.,
x\pril 26, 1849, 3t home. Mr. Folsom continued
to reside in Weathersfield until 1863, having pur-
chased the old homestead, h hen he moved to
Howland.

J. R. Chamberlain, now a resident of Howland,
was born in Ontario county, New York, August
25, 1833. His family came to Ohio in 1834
and settled m Vienna township, .'\fter passing
through the course of the common schools and
Vienna academy he attended Poland academy
two terms, and then engaged in teaching for sev-
eral years, teaching in winter and farming in
summer. He was married November 21, i860,
to Tryphena Hibler, daughter of Jacob Hibler,
an early settler of Hubbard township. They
lived in Vienna and Brookfield townships until
1870, when the place on which they now reside
was purchased. Both Mr. and Mrs. Chamber-
lain are members of the Presbyterian church in
Vienna.

CHAPTER II.

WEATHERSFIELD.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION.

Weathersfield is one of the townships on the
southern line of Trumbull county, and is town-
ship three of range three of the Reserve. It is
south of Howland and north of Austintown.
Liberty adjoins it on the east and Lordstown on

the west. The soil is of good quality and the
surface generally level — in portions low and wet.

Weathersfield is well watered, and though it
has great mineral wealth its agricultural advan-
tages are of no inferior order. The Mahoning
river enters the township a short distance from
the northwestern corner, and flows southerly
until west of Niles, where it makes an abrupt
turn toward the east ; thence pursuing a south-
easterly course, just east of Niles it reaches a
point south of the center line of the township,
then makes a graceful bend to the northward,
gradually winding easterly and southeasterly
until it enters Liberty township about three-
quarters of a mile below the center line. At
Niles the Mahoning receives the waters of Mos-
quito creek from the north and of the Meander
from the south. The former stream enters
Weathersfield almost directly north of the center
of the township, and flows southerly, with few-
deviations, until its confluence with the Mahon-
ing. Meander creek crosses the county line at
Ohltown, about one mile and a quarter from the
southwestern corner of the township, pursues a
general course toward the northwest, though with
numerous turnings, and joins the river a few
rods below the mouth of Mosquito creek.

The famous salt spring, known to the whites
years before any settlements were made in Ohio,
IS situated about one-half mile south of the Ma-
honing and a mile west of the village of Niles.

This township includes the important manu-
facturing town of Niles, and the enterprising
mining village of Mineral Ridge.

Weathersfield has sixteen churches, a larger
number, we venture to assert, than can be found
in any township of its population in the State.

ORG.-VNIZATION.

Township three of range three was organized
into a township and election district by the name
of Weathersfield in 1809. No record of the
first township officers can be found.

THE SALT SPRINGS.

Samuel Holden Parsons, of Middletown, Con-
necticut, obtained a grant of about thirty-six
thousand acres under an order of the General
Assembly of the State of Connecticut and re-
ceived a deed of it bearing the date February
10, 1788, signed by Samuel Huntingdon, Gov-
ernor. This was the first grant of land made by

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

the State of Connecticut, and was made before
any survey of the lands of Ohio by the former
State.

The description of the land as given in the
deed was upon the hypothesis that the townships
were to be laid out six miles square, and refer-
ence was made to townships and ranges as if the
boundaries were already run. The tract in-
cluded within its boundaries very nearly what is
known as the "great salt springs tract," in which
are the salt springs of Weathersfield. The salt
springs tract having been granted to General
Parsons, was held by hmi or his heirs at the
time of the purchase of the lands of the Re-
serve by the Connecticut Land com|3any, and
formed no part of its purchases.

The salt springs were known to the whites as
early as 1755, and marked on the Evans map of
that date. They contained but a very small
percentage of sahne matter, which, however, was
sufificient to attract the deer for miles around.
Deer licks and Indian trails leading to the prin-
cipal springs were discovered by the first settlers.

General Parsons, after receiving his grant,
came on and established salt works, but while re-
turning to Connecticut was drowned at Beaver
falls, and his works were abandoned. The early
settlers have transmitted to us accounts of their
discovery of old kettles in which the boiling was
done, and huge heaps of ashes, showing that
considerable labor had been expended here.

Doubtless the abundance of deer in the vicin-
ity of this spring originally brought the locality
to the knowledge of the whites by attracting
hunters hither.

SETTLEMENT.

Doubtless the first settler of this township was
Reuben Harmon, as his name only appears up-
on the duplicate tax-list of Trumbull county as
a resident tax-payer of township three, range
three, in the year 1801. Of course other tran-
sient residents had been at the salt springs before
him. He came to Ohio from Vermont in 1797,
having purchased five hundred acres of the salt
spring tract, and engaged in the manufacture of
salt. Early in 1800 he returned to Vermont and
in August came with his family. He was the
father of Heman R. Harmon and Dr. John 15.
Harmon, both of whom became prominent and
well known citizens of this county.

'I'he settlers of this township nearly all came

from Pennsylvania, and many of them, after sev-
eral years' residence here, moved further West,
leaving no record either of their coming or their
going, except the marks of their sturdy industry
upon the forests, fields, and meadows.

The first settlers were very naturally attracted
to the salt spring, possibly with dimly outlined
visions of wealth in their heads as a result of
the manufacture of salt. But they soon learned
that the value of the waters of the spring had
been vastly over-estimated, and came to rely up-
on the results of the chase and the products of
the land as a means of livelihood.

The lands along the river next attracted at-
tention and soon each bank was sparsely lined
with cabins, sending up their blue smoke from
little clearings made in the depth of the heavy
forests. The northeast of the township was also
settled early, doubtless on account of the eleva-
tion of its land and its consequent adaptability
to agriculture.

John Tidd lived at the salt spring as early as
1802. He was the step-father of Thomas Bris-
tol, the potter. Two potteries, for the manufact-
ure of glazed earthenware, were in operation
near the spring in 18 16. They were run by
Orrin Dunscom, and Bristol. They made use of
the clay found in the vicinity of the spring, but
the discovery of better clay elsewhere put an
end to the business after a few years.

Among the first settlers were the Heatons,
who were here in 1806 and probably some years
before that date. There were five brothers,
James, Dan, Bowen, Reese, and Isaac. The lat-
ter settled in Howland.

James settled on the east side of the creek at
Niles, and lived here in a small log cabin. Three
of his children, Lewis, Warren, and Maria (Rob-
bins), reached mature years. All settled and
died in Weathersfield.

Dan Eaton, not Heaton, as he went to the
trouble of having his name changed by act of
the Legislature from Daniel Heaton to Dan
Eaton, settled east of the creek on the A. G.
Bentley place. His sons were Jacob, Bowen,
and Isaac; his daughters Hannah, Ann, and
Amy. All of the sons moved away excepting
Jacob, who died here.

Dan Eaton was the pioneer iron manutacturer
of the Mahoning valley. He was one of the
oddest mortals tliat ever lived. A |)ronounced,

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

deist and a most outspoken unbeliever, he was,
nevertheless, friendly to ministers of the gospel
and entertained many of them in his hospitable
home. He was social with old and young, but
his opinions, like himself, were odd, — very.
Among his neighbors he called every man
"brother," and every woman, "sister." His
knowledge of politics was sound for those days.
In 1813 he was elected as State Senator from
Trumbull county, and again in 1820 he received
an election to the popular branch of the Legis-
lature. Old Dan lived a pure and simple life
and arrived at a ripe old age honored and re-
spected. He was a " good hater," and shams
and evils of every kind received no encourage-
ment from him. His anmiosity was strongly
aroused against intemperance, and he never
failed to give the whiskey trafific a blow whenever
opportunity allowed. He had peculiar financial
ideas, and during the last years of his life
gave much attention to a plan for the issue
of National currency, which was afterwards
adopted in part in the issue of greenbacks.
Dan's idea was original with hnn. He believed
that the Government and not banks should issue
the paper currency of the Nation, making it a
legal tender, and in order to keep up its value
should allow a low rate of interest, say one per
cent., to the holder of its notes. He talked up
his theory with everybody, and secured quite a
lengthy list of names to a petition which he cir-
culated recommending and urging his views.

Bowen Heaton, Dan's brother, did not settle
permanently in the township. Reese Heaton
settled upon the Luse farm. In 1836 he re-
moved to Illinois with his family. The Heatons
were rough-mannered, sturdy men; good citi-
zens in the main, but each had his individual
traits and peculiarities. The name, once so
familiar in the township, is now known here no
longer. Not a single Heaton or Eaton now
remains in VVeathersfield. But in the corner of
the cemetery upon the hill, are many tombstones
upon which the name is inscribed; so many that
a settler of 1835 upon first visiting the spot
gave utterance to this exclamation: "Why, this
township is all settled by Heatons, and they are
all dead ! "

Aaron Bell was an early settler, but sold out
to Miller Blachly. Miller Blachly settled about
one mile from Niles, a little northeast of the

town. He had three sons, Eben, Miller, and
Bell; and three daughters, Phebe (Dunlap),
Eleanor, who remained single, and Sarah (Brad-
ley). Eben became a doctor, and practised
several years in Niles and Warren. He married
Minerva, only daughter of Dr. John Seeley.
Miller, Jr., was also a physician and practised
here. Bell married and settled in Weathersfield.
All moved to Wisconsin. Miller Blachly was a
very good man, but positive, and sometimes even
obstinate in adhering to his opinions. He was
a devoted Presbyterian and a strong temperance
advocate. In early days the roads in his neigh-
borhood were very bad, and sometimes teams
stuck in the mud and could not move their loads.
Mr. Blachly was usually ready to lend his team
to assist over the difticult places; but when a
man who was hauling a load of grain to a neigh-
boring distillery asked for such assistance, he
obtained only a very stern refusal.

Andrew Trew, by trade a weaver and a
maker of cloth, settled early in the northeastern
part of the township. His children were Nancy
(Bell), who lives in Pennsylvania; Robert, de-
ceased; Eliza (Burk-y), Howland; Nelson, de-
ceased ; Jane ( Blachly ), Kansas ; Lettie (Osborn ),
Bazetta ; Margaret ( Ewalt ), Howland ; and
Phebe and John, deceased. Mr. Trew was the
first postmaster in the township. He did a large
amount of weaving in early times, making
woolen and tow cloth, flannel, etc.

William Carlton, an early settler of the south-
eastern part of the township, had three sons,
William, Joseph, and Bryson, one of whom, Wil-
liam, is still living near Girard.

About 1809 John Horner settled on the farm
now owned by H. T. Mason. His children
were: David, who remained and died upon the
old farm; John, who now lives in Pennsylvania;
Jane (Hultz), who died in Pennsylvania; and Jo-
seph, who removed to Hardin county.

John and Isaac Clay settled in the eastern
part of the township, but left after several years'
residence. Matthew Atchison settled on the
Clay farm. His children were Jane (Mc-
Michael), David, Anna (McLain), John, Charles
Steen, and Minerva. The latter is now living in
Pennsylvania. David died in Vienna. John and
Charles S. went to Iowa.

Aaron Loveland was among the first settlers.
His farm was situated in the northeast part of

2 24

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

the township. Two of his daughters are still
living in Vienna township at an advanced age
— Mrs. Munson and Mrs. Williams. The other
children are all dead. Jacob Hake and Isaac
Pope were also early settlers in the same neigh-
borhood.

Augustus A. Adams located on the east line of
the township and reared a family, none of whom
now remain in the township.

John Bnlen was an early settler, who lived
north of Niles, on Mosquito creek. He was the
miller at Heaton's old mill.

Several brothers by the name of St. John were
among the earliest settlers. They have no de-
scendants here. Their names were James,
Thomas, Charles, and George. They were em-
ployed about the Heaton forge.

Nathan Draper, a native of Connecticut, set
tied on lot five of the salt spring tract in this
township in 1807. His family lived the first
summer in a bark hut or wigwam, which stood
on the bank of the Mahoning, near where the
iron bridge crosses that stream, one mile west of
Niles. He married Hannah Cartright in 1792.
Their children were John, Benjamin, Elihu, Sal-
ly, Katie, Polly, and Milly Ann John and Ben-
jamin had no families. Elihu married Rachel
Dunlap and reared five boys and four girls. Two
of his sons, Warren and Nathan, enlisted in the
Nineteenth Ohio volunteer infantry, and served
through numerous campaigns. Sally (Arm-
strong), Katie (McMuUen), Polly (Dunlap), and
Milly Ann (Heaton), each raised large families.
The descendants of the Draper family are now
scattered from Pennsylvania to Minnesota.

Peter Reel settled on the farm now owned by
Peter Stillwagon in the northwestern corner of
Weathersfield in 1801. Samuel, one of his sons,
remained here until his death. John Reel, a
brother of Peter, took up a farm near him.
David was an early settler in the same neighbor-
hood.

Robert I'enton settled about one mile east of
Niles, on the T. N. Robbins farm. His chil-
dren were Samuel, William, Mary Ann, Mar-
garet, Joseph, and John. In 1837 the family
moved to Putnam county.

The Reese family were here early, but none
arc now remaining.

William Dunlap located on the soutli side of
the Mahoning, and there lived and died. His

sons were Jonathan, Josiah, William, Stephen,
Chauncy, and Perry. Two of them died here,
William and Stephen. Chauncy and Perry are
living, Chauncy in Vienna and Perry in Lords-
town. The daughters became Mrs. Draper,
Mrs. McCartney, and Mrs. Gibson.

John McConnell settled in the south of the
township on the farm adjoining William Dun-
lap's. His sons were Alexander, John, Matthew,
James and William; his daughters, Polly, Re-
becca and Rebecca. All married and had fam-
ilies.

Joseph Hunter, John and James White were
the names of other early settlers in the township.

David Moser moved to this township in 1817;
Jacob Hake in 1812; Isaac Pope in 1816;
Aaron Loveland in 181 2; Frederick Plot about
1820; Daniel Evert in 1820.

Isaac Marshall settled on a farm adjoining the
land of William Dunlap and John McConnell.
His brother John settled in the same neighbor-
hood. Two sons of the latter, John and Hous-
ton, are still residents of Weathersfield.

Bariah Battles in 18 14, bought eighty acres,
which is now included within the corporation
limits of Niles. He was from Crawford county,
Pennsylvania. In 1816 he moved here with his
family, which consisted of eleven children. Five
sons and a daughter are still living, viz: Rebecca
(Dray), Allen county; Caleb, Akron; John, Niles;
Edward, Howland; Asa, Hancock county. Bariah
Battles died in 1838, at the age of seventy-seven.
His wife {/nv Mary Jones) died in 1855, aged
eighty-six. John Battles, one of the oldest resi-
dents of the township, was born in 1807, and
came to Weathersfield with his parents. He
married Sarah J. Leavings, of New York State,
by whom he had seven children, all of whom are
living: Mary Jane (Schwindler), Lucy (Dunlap),
John E., Sarah (.Mlison), Laura (White), Frank-
lin B., and William. Mr. Battles worked at iron
manufacturing from the age of twenty years until
1854. With Jacob Robinson he ran the Heaton
furnace from 1849 'o i854-

Michael Ohl moved trom Austintown to
Weathersfield in 1815, and settled on the Mean-
der at the place where the little village of Ohltown
grew up. His sons were Charles, David, Samuel,
Henry, John, Michael, and Andrew. Henry
went west and died. Michael died in this town-
ship. The others are all living. His daughters

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

225

were Catharine (Hood), Liberty; Abbie (Mc-
Donald), Weathersfield; Julia (Rose), Weathers-
field; and Eve (Adelhart), dead.

James McCombs settled in the southern part
of Weathersfield at an early date. His sons
were Milo and John. The latter is cashier of
the First National bank of Warren. The former
is dead. James McCombs was drafted in the
War of 181 2. Robert McCombs settled in the
same neighborhood. His sons were John, Wil-
liam, James, and Andrew. John is in the West.
William died in the lake mining region. James
is still living.

Martin Barnhisel located in the eastern part
of the township. Of his children, Rachel (Wil-
derson) lives in Newton; Eliza (Hood), Liberty;
George died in Wisconsin; Mary (Fee) lives in
Warren; Sarah (Shadel), and Caroline (Bell),
Liberty.

John Edwards, father of S. C. and William
Edwards, settled within the present limits of
Niles in 1823. In 1830 he moved one mile
from the village.

Josiah Robbins settled in this township about
1826. He married Maria, daughter of James
Heatori. Their family consisted of four children,
all of whom are living except Jesse, — James,
Josiah, Jesse, and Frank. His first wife died in
1835. In 1'836 Mr. Robbins married Electa
Mason, who bore three children, who are still
living, — Ambrose, Maria, and Charles.

John Tibbetts settled in the northeast of the
township about 1830. His children were Henry
and Sarah, dead; Jeremiah, California; Austin
and Charles, Weathersfield, and Ann (Gettis),
Liberty.

George Young, a comparatively early settler
located one mile east of Niles. All the family
moved to another part of the State except John,
who died here.

Warren Luse settled in the northeast of the
township. He married Hannah Bowell, and had
three children, Rebecca (Tibbetts), deceased;
Jesse and Clara (Sykes), Weathersfield.

Ambrose Mason moved from Essex county.
New York, to this township in 1835, and settled
one mile east of Niles. There were eight chil-
dren, viz: Lucy (Woodworth), Cleveland; Aman-
da (Goodrich), Lockport, New York; Eliza (Cran-
don) and Dean Edson, deceased; Electa (Rob-
bins), Hiram T., Henry H., Niles, and Harriet

(Reeves), Howland. Mr. Mason died in 1870,
in his ninetieth year. He was the first postmas-
ter at Niles, and one of the first merchants. Mrs.
Mason («« Jemima Turner) died in 1866, aged
eighty-one. Both were devoted members of the
Disciples church.

Thomas Brooks, John White, John Battles,
William McConnell, and John Marshall, have
been residents of We^hersfield longer than any
other men now living in the township.

Thomas Brooks, now seventy-three years of
age, is the oldest resident of this township.

Dr. A. M. Blackford came to Niles to practice
medicine in 1846; and practiced ten years. He
has been connected with various interests of the
town, including the iron industry. In 1848 he
opened the first drug store in the place. Dr.
Blackford was born in Fayette county, Pennsyl-
vania, in 1813. He was educated for the minis-
try of the Presbyterian church at Madison
college, and continued as a preacher ten years.
His health then failing, he began the practice of
medicine. He afterwards entered upon the
duties of the clerical profession, but was com-
pelled to retire at the end of five years. Dr.
Blackford is still a resident of Niles. He mar-
ried Eliza, daughter of Thomas Russell of this
place.

EARLY SCHOOLS.

Concerning the early schools little can be
learned. An old log school-house, with greased
paper for windows, was situated south of the
river at Niles. On the brow of the hill near
the site of the grist-mill, was a school-house
where- the children of the little settlement sur-
rounding Heaton's furnace attended school.
Heman R. Harmon was an early teacher here.

rOST-OFFlCES.

The first post-office in the township was estab-
lished in the northeast of Weathersfield about
1825, Andrew Trew, postmaster. This office,
which was known as Weathersfield, continued
until 1843, when a post-office was established at
Niles, Ambrose Mason being postmaster. His
successors have been H. H. Mason, Mor-
gan, J. W. Leslie, Josiah Robbins, Sr., C. W.
Robbins, Josiah Robbins, Jr., William Campbell,
and H. H. Mason, the present incumbent.

The second post-office was the Ohltown office,
of which Michael Ohl was the fir«t iwstmaster.

226

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

This post-office was formerly on the old stage
route to Ashtabula, and then received a mail
from each way daily ; now a tn-weekly mail is
received from Mineral Ridge.

An office was established at Mineral Ridge in
i860, Azariah Hughes, postmaster. It was kept
in Mahoning county, and a semi-weekly mail
was procured from Niles. It was discontinued
after a few months on account of political differ-
ences and a lack of support. Leading citizens
wanted a Democratic postmaster, but no one in
that party could be found who was willing to per-
form the duties of the office. A semi-weekly
mail was not sufficient for the business men of
the place, and a prominent business man had his
own mail brought from Niles daily. This largely
diminished the receipts of the office, and the
postmaster became tired of his position and re-
turned the mail bags to the Government post-
office department. In 1863 the office was re-
established with a daily mail, and J. L. Pierce
was appointed postmaster. A few years later the
office became Mineral Ridge, Trumbull county.
M. L. Campbell, Mrs. Sarah Wilson, and E. J.
Ohl have since been postmasters.

TEMPERANCE WORK.

Dan Eaton and Miller Blachly were the leaders
and incorporators of a temperance society in the
time of the Washingtonian temperance move-
ment. A number of good earnest workers
joined them, and the society, which began about
1830, continued in existence several years.
Meetings were held at school-houses and private
dwellings.

Dan Eaton, when about to build a barn, an-
nounced that whiskey should have no part in the
work of raising it. Accordingly, after the timber
had been prepared, as was customary in those
days, he invited his neighbors to come and help
him get the frame up. But no one would come
unless whiskey was to be furnished, and Dan ad-
hered resolutely to his determination that none
should be used upon his premises. He was
therefore compelled to hire men to do the work
for him, and the barn was built without the aid
of whiskey. It was probably the first building
erected in the township in which the ardent
liquid was not a [jrominent feature at the " rais-
ing."

E.\KLV MILLS.

The Heatons built a saw-mill and gristmill

on Mosquito creek very early. Both were in
operation in 1816. The present grist-mill at
Niles was built by the Heatons in 1839.

Probably the second mill in the township was
that of Michael Ohl, elsewhere mentioned.

Mills were often stopped during the dry sea-
son and when this happened the settlers were
obliged to go to the Cuyahoga for milling.
Roasting-ears from the corn-field served in part
to supply the want of meal.

AN UNPERFORMED MIRACLE.

In the early years a poor, half-crazy old fellow
named Dobbins, a Methodist and great talker,
one day asserted that he had as much faith as
ever any of the apostles had, and that he be-
lieved himself capable of performing miracles
through this faith. " Can you walk upon the
water ? " asked one oi his listeners. " Walk on
the water ? Yes. Peter tried it, but couldn't.
He hadn't faith enough. I have faith and can
perform the act." A number of idlers and boys
collected and dared him to try it. He yielded
to their wishes, and proceeded to the river at once.
Here he uttered a short prayer, removed his
shoes and stockings, and drew near to the water's
edge. The excitement in the crowd was now at
a high pitch, when suddenly the old man paused
and asked : " Have you all faith that I can do
this thing?" A voice in the crowd: "No,

you old fool I " " Well, then we might

as well abandon the undertaking. Faith on your
part is necessary as well as on mine, for without
faith we can do nothing." So the promised mir-
acle was never performed.

MORMON MEETINGS.

Although old Dan Eaton was one of the most
outspoken of unbelievers, yet his house was
always open to religious meetings of whatever
character. A Mormon missionary named Mc-
Clellan, and Sam Smith, a brother of Joe Smith,
labored in Weathersfield in the winter of 1833-
34, and held meetings at Dan Eaton's house.
They secured a number of converts, but so far
as can be learned none followed them hence.

DISTILLING.

So far as can be learned there were only a few
small stills operated in this township in early
times. Simon Hood, Jacob Wise, and James
McCombs had copi^cr stills, and made whiskey
in small quantities.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

CEMETERIES.

The first burial-place in the township was sit-
uated near the salt spiing. A number of inter-
ments were made there, but all of the bodies
were subsequently removed to other cemeteries
and nothing now remains to indicate the location
of the old graveyard.

The graveyard at Ohltown was established
quite early.

The Union cemetery, northeast of Niles, is
the principal cemetery of the township. Inter-
ments were made here as early as 1804. The
grounds are beautifully situated on the slope of
a hill, and are large and tastefully kept. They
are adorned by a number of beautiful ever-
greens and other evidences of the care bestowed
upon them. The earliest inscription which we
discovered upon a cursory examination was that
upon the stone erected to the memory of Han-
nah, daughter of James and Margaret Heaton,
who died February 2, 1806, in her sixth year.
James Heaton died in 1856, aged eighty-six
years. Dan Eaton died in 1858, aged eighty-
five. His wife, Naomi, died in 1818, aged thirty-
eight. Upon an old-fashioned stone near the
little monument which marks the grave of Dan
Eaton, is the following quaint and curious
epitaph :

NAOMI EATON,

Wife of Dan Eaton, was born December 2d, U. S. 4, and on
the 5th of November, U. S. 43, became like unto a potter's
vessel that was stripped of its glazing and its gilding, but as
she believed the work wou'd not be lost but wou'd be
moulded in another form and become fit for the Master's

We doubt if another instance of the use of
the year of the United States instead of Anno
Dcmiiii ca.n be found in all the tombstone liter-
ature of the country.

^Ve notice here the recorded death of another
of the pioneers, William Bell, died in 1808, aged
sixty-eight years. His wife, Priscilla, died in
181 4, aged sixty-eight.

There are also several small graveyards in the
township.

NILES.

This is one of the busiest towns in northeast-
ern Ohio. The iron industry has built it up,
and is still its main support. Niles is situated
in the northern part of Weathersfield township,
its southern limits reaching a little below the
center. The incorporated portion includes at
present a territory extending a mile and a half east
and west and a mile and three-fourths north and
south, with an estimated population of four
thousand. It is most favorably situated as re-
gards railroad facilities, being on the Mahoning
branch of the New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio,
and forming the northern terminus of the Niles
& New Lisbon branch of the same road. The
Ashtabula & Pittsburg and the Painesville (&
Youngstown roads also pass through this place.
Two new railroads are building, on both of
which Niles will be a station — the Alliance, Niles
& Ashtabula, and the Pittsburg, Youngstown &
Chicago. When these roads are completed and
put in operation we may expect to see a new im-
petus given to the business of the town and its
thrift and prosperity much augmented in conse-
quence. All present indications augur a pros-
perous future.

The village was laid out in 1834 by James
and Warren Heaton, but only on a very limited
scale, as the original plat was made to include
only a small part of the present town lying west
of Mosquito creek and north of the river between
it and the New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio rail-
road. Numerous additions have since been
made on all sides.

The name Niles was given to the village by
James Heaton in honor of the editor of Niles'
Register, a journal published at Baltimore, Mary-
land. Mr. Heaton was a subscriber of this
paper and held a very exalted opinion of the
abilities of its chief editor. He was fond of
quoting the Register, and usually agreed most
fully with the opinions which it expressed edi-
torially. Therefore he called the town after the
name of his favorite journalist. Who says that
the influence of the press is not widespread?

Previous to 1834 the village had no existence,
and only a few huts and shanties in the vicinity
of the furnace marked its future site. Warren
Heaton built a house in 1832 on a lot which is
at present included within the village limits.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

In the winter of 1834-35 a few buildings were
erected, among them the dwelling houses of
Thomas Evans and Samuel Dempsey. The

village grew slowly until 1842 when the estab-
lishment of Ward's rollin£!-mill brought a consid-
erable number of workmen into the place. By
1850 the population had increased to nearly or
quite one thousand persons. From that date
until 1873 the place grew steadily. The panic
and the consequent failure of the leading busi-
ness firm gave Niles a blow from which it has
only recently recovered.

BUSINESS BEGINNINGS.

Although Niles, as we have stated, was an un-
known place previous to 1834, yet by its former
name of Heaton's furnace, the place had been
known far and wide for years. In 1809 James
Heaton built a small refining forge on Mosquito
creek for the manufacture of bar iron, with char-
coal, from the pig iron made at the Yellow creek
furnace. Here were produced the first hammered
bars in the State. In 1820 he rebuilt this forge
which continued in operation many years. It
was run by the same water-power with the fur-
nace, and was situated near it. In 181 2 the
famous Mosquito creek furnace was erected a
few rods east of where the public school building
now stands. This was a cold-blast, charcoal
furnace, run by the water of the creek. The
stack was about thirty-six feet high and the bosh
seven or eight feet. This furnace was owned
and operated by James Heaton for many years,
and was in the possession of the Heatons until
it went out of blast in 1854. In 1830 the fur-
nace was leased. Campbell, McKinley & Demp-
sey operated it for a considerable period. From
1849 until 1854 it was run by Robinson & Bat-
tles. In its first years its product would not
average a ton of iron per day. Its capacity was
somewhat increased, but five tons per day would
have been considered a large yield at any period
of its history. Castings for stoves, andirons,
kettles, and other household utensils were made
and found a ready market. The Heatons ac-
quired considerable property through this indus-
try, but net a fortune ; for great wealth from the
manufacture of iron is not to be had through
the use of such primitive means as they em-
jjloyed. Native ore was always used in this fur-
nace, chiefly the kidney ore found in Weathers-
field, Austintown, and vicinity. This, briefly.

was the inception of the great industry which has
contributed so largely to the building up of Niles.

A store was kept for the supply of the furnace
hands as long as the furnace was in operation.
The first store excepting this company store was |

kept by Robert Quigley on the northern corner I

of Mill and Main streets. He built and began |

business there in 1836. After a few years he 1

sold out and went to Pennsylvania, where he |

was connected with the management of a fur-
nace. In the time of the gold excitement Mr.
Quigley started for California, but died on his
way there. The second store in Niles was started
by Robbins & Mason in 1839. H. H. Mason,
son of Ambrose Mason, one of the proprietors,
was their successor and continued the business
until 1864.

The first hotel was kept by Jacob Robinson
about 1836, in the house built by Mr. Dempsey.
This house, much enlarged, is now the Sanford
house. In 1837 Robinson built a hotel opposite
Quigley's store, on the west side of the street,
and kept it for many years. The present Com-
mercial house was formerly the dwelling of James
Ward. Previous to Robinson's public house, a
grog-shop or tavern was kept in a log cabin on
the south side of the river by a man named
Parker.

The first brick building for mercantile pur-
poses was built by James Crandon and occupied
by him as a store until recently. It is the store
on Main street now occupied by C. P. Moore,
dealer in flour and feed.

The Mason block, the first block of any im-
portance, was erected in 1867 by the combined
efforts of five different parties.

1NC0RP0R.4TI0N.

The following petition was addressed to the
commissioners of Trumbull county August 27,
1864:

To the Coinmissioners of Trumbull countv, i^t.\te of Oliio:

We. the undersigned, inliabitants and qualified voters of
Weathersfield township in said county, not embraced within
the limits of any city or incorporated village, desire that
the following described territory within the township of
Weathersfield be orsjanized into an incorporated viU.age,
to wit :

Beginning at a stake or comer on the farm of John Fee
near the dwelling of H. H. Mason, and running west one
mile to a stake or corner on the land belonging to the heirs
of Johri A. Hunter, decea.sed, near the dwelling of S. H.
Pew. thence due south one and one-fourth miles to a stake
or corner on the farm of John Battles, thence east one mile
to a stake or corner on the farm of C. .S. Campbell, thence

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

north to the place of beginning— an accurate map or plat
thereof is hereunto annexed— and that said village be named
and called Niles, and that A. M. Blackford be authorized to
act in behalf of the petitioners in prosecuting this claim.

This petition having been granted the organ-
ization was effected. The first election was held
January 23, 1866, when the following officers
were chosen: H. H. Mason, mayor; James
Draa, recorder; James Ward, Jr., William Davis,
David Griffiths, Richard Helton, and Henry
Shaffer, council.

In 1867 J. B. Noble was chosen mayor to fill
a vacancy.

The mayors and recorders have been as follows:
Mayors: 1868, John Ohl ; 1869, F. Caspar, to
fill a vacancy; 1870, J. H. Fluhart; 1872, M.
D. Sanderson; 1874, Ephraim Thomas; 1876-
78-80, William Davis. Recorders: 1868, A. C.
Allison; 1870, M. G. Butler; 1872-74, George
W. Mawby; 1876-78, B. D. Smith; 1880,
George L. Campbell.

FIRE DEP.\RTMENT.

The village of Niles has one of the best
volunteer fire departments in the State. The
chief engineer, who is paid by the village, de-
votes his whole time to the care of the depart-
ment. Two teamsters and a fine span of horses
are kept on hand constantly.

The fire department was organized in 1870.
Messrs. Ward and Carter procured a second-
hand engine from Pittsburg, which was used until
1875, when a fine steamer was purchased. T.
D. Thomas was the chief officer for ten years,
and managed affairs with skill and efficiency.
George W. Bear has since been in charge. The
company are well drilled and well equipped,
efficient and faithful.

PHYSICIANS.

Niles is well supplied with good and reliable
physicians. Dr. F. Caspar is the oldest resident
physician, and has been in constant practice
since i860; Dr. A. G. Miner comes ne.xt, having
labored here many years. The other physicians
of the town are Dr. A. J. Leitch and partner.
Dr. Z. W. Shepherd, and Dr. I. B. Hargett.
The two last named are homeopaths.

ATTORNEYS.

J. N. Cowdery and C. H. Strock look after the
legal interests of the village.

NILES SCHOOLS.

The Union school district was organized in
1869, and the following school board elected:
Josiah Robbins, Jr., and T. C. Stewart for three
years ; S. D. Young and William Davis for two
years ; W. C. Mason and William Campbell for
one year. Mr. Robbins was elected president,
and Mr. Stewart secretary of this board.

At a meeting held May 22, 1869, it was voted:
First, that the board be empowered to procure a
site for a school-house. Second, that the board
be empowered to buiid upon said site such a
school-house as will, in their estimation, be
adapted to the wants of the district. Third,
that a tax of $15,000 be levied in said district
for the building of said school-house, and that
said money be raised in three successive annual
instalments of $5,000.

In 1870 two new members of the board of
education were elected : George S. Baldwin and
W. Campbell for three years. May 18, 1870, it
was voted to accept the proposition of C. E.
Cooley & Co., of Cleveland, to build the house
for $27,950, taking the bonds of the district at
eight per cent, in payment. Previous to this ac-
tion, however, a vote was taken to make an ad-
ditional levy of $10,000 for erecting the house.
The building was completed and ready for occu-
pancy in 187 1. Some of the principal expenses
are included in the following items : For the
school site, one acre and sixty rods of land,
$1,375; school desks and school furniture,
$2,000; bell, $573; besides the cost of the heat-
ing apparatus of the building, the wages of
workmen employed in setting up the furniture,
the heaters, etc. Twenty-three thousand dollars
in bonds were issued, and all paid up May 15,
1875-

The school building is by far the best in the
county. It is large, built in a good style of
architecture, forming an ornament to the town
and a monument to the enterprising spirit of the
citizens of Niles. The house is of brick, three
stories and a basement. There are four school
rooms on the first floor, and the same number on
the second. The grammar and high school use
the upper floor, which is also a public hall for
entertainments of various kinds. It is furnished
with a good stage, scenery, etc.

In October, 1869, Rev. T. Calvin Stewart
was elected as acting superintendent of the pub-

230

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

he schools of the district, to devote at least two
days of each week to the schools, at a salary of
$400 per year. In 187 1 L. L. Campbell was
elected superintendent and principal, and proved
a very faithful and efficient teacher. In 1872
his salary was increased to $1,200. He con-
tinued as superintendent until 1875, when he
was succeeded by Miss M. J. Stewart for two
terms. C. E. Hitchcock began his labors as
superintendent in the spring of 1876; continued
the balance of that year and through the school
year of 1877-78. T. H. Bulla, who had been
the high school teacher under Mr. Hitchcock,
was elected to the superintendency in September,
1878, and still continues to discharge the duties
of that responsible position in a most capable
and satisfactory manner. His present salary is
$1,100 per year. The school has been ably
managed by faithful teachers ever since the
union district was formed. Among those whose
long service in the schools of Niles is a sufficient
testimonial of their ability and fidelity as teach-
ers, we mention Mrs. Nellie B. Sanderson, Miss
Lottie Bowell, and the Misses Thorne.

At present the schools are well graded, with
courses of study admirably arranged. Nine
teachers and a superintendent are employed in
the brick building, outside of which there are
two primary schools. The school population of
the district as ascertained by the enumeration of
1881 was 1,337.

The janitor of the school building, Mr. J. R.
Davis, has taken laithful care of the school
property for many years, and deserves honorable
mention in this connection.

.MERC.\NTILE.

Niles is well supplied with shops and stores.
We have space to notice only a few of the
principal firms and the dates at which their bus-
iness was established.

Ciephart & Co., Main street, dry goods.

S. A. Russell, Main street, grocer; began bus-
iness May I, 1 88 1, in the store formerly occu-
pied by Gephart & Co. He has a large and
first-class stock of all articles in the grocery and
provision line.

A. Ristedt, merchant tailor. Main street, 1881;
successor to Radle & Ristedt. Large stock.

Mrs. O. S. Crandon, groceries and provisions,
Lewis (.V I'ear building, Main street; successor

to James Crandon, who began this business in
1877.

George B. Robbins, dry goods and clothing,
former banking room, Main street; fall of 1880.

E. C. Moore & Co., wholesale and retail
dealers in flour and feed, Main street; fall of
r88o.

Dalzell & Co., dry goods, clothing, groceries,
etc., successors to J. M. Bowman & Co., cor-
ner of Main and Mill streets; established in No-
vember, 1874.

Cook & Co., drugs, notions, stationery, cigars,
etc.. Mason block. Mill street, 1878; successors
to Moore & Blachly. Mr. Cook, the head of
this firm, is an enterprising young man and his
business is constantly increasing.

Young Brothers, grocers. Mason block. Mill
street, 1878. The senior partner, Mr. S. D.
Young, has been in the mercantile line in Niles
since 1865.

C. W. Thomas, Mill street, 1877. Mr. Thom-
as began business opposite the post office. Fur-
nace street. He carries a large and well selected
stock of books, stationery, toys, music, musical
instruments, picture frames, etc., and his store is
deservedly popular. He has occupied his present
location since 1881.

Taylor Brothers, dealers in buggies, sleighs,
sewing machines, stoves, tin and hardware, corner
Furnace and Mill streets, 1876. The business
was formerly conducted by R.-G. Svkes, then by
Sykes & Taylor, now by G. J. and T. N. Taylor.

Church & Coffee, Exchange block, Furnace
street, 1880 ; successors to McConnell &
Church, who began business in 1878. Church
& Coffee run a large dry goods and grocery es-
tablishment, occupying two separate store rooms,
each with its own corps of clerks. Their stock
IS extensive, and embraces everything usually
found in a first-class store. They employ a larger
number of clerks than any other mercantile
house in town, and are doing a fine business.

C. W. Porter, drugs, school-books, stationery,
lamps, cigars, and notions. Exchange block. Fur-
nace street. Mr. Porter has a commodious
store, well filled with a great variety of articles.
He began business in 1875, ^^'''^ ^^^- '^- J-
Leitch, under the firm name of Leitch ..'v: Porter.
In October, 1S79, Mr. Porter purchased Dr.
Leitch's interest.

John C. Kerns, jeweler, Furnace street, 1873.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

23'

James Bowden, boots and shoes, Mill street,
1871.

C. W. Brieder, dealer in stoves, tin, and hard-
ware, Furnare street, has been in business in
Niles since 1874. He began in company with
William C. Mann & Co., under the firm name of
W. C. Mann & Co. W. C. Mann went out, and
the firm then became Brieder & Co. This part-
nership was dissolved in 1878, since which time
Mr. Brieder has conducted the business. In
1880 Mr. Brieder bought the hardware stock of
John Dithridge, his former partner, and added
it to his own. He is doing a large business in
roofing, job work, etc.

We have mentioned some of the principal
business houses. In addition to the above
stores there are a large number of groceries and
provision stores, and saloons innumerable. The
commercial prosperity of Niles is advancing
rapidly.

HOTELS.

Niles has two hotels at present, the Sanford
and the Commercial. Beth are overrun with
business.

In 1868 L. W. Sanford purchased from Joseph
McCaughtery the hotel known as the American
house. Some five years later he changed its
name to the Sanford house. He has made some
improvements, and his hotel bears an excellent
reputation. Connected with the house is a good
livery-stable, Sanford & Pierce, proprietors.

The Commercial house has been in charge of
E. R. Miller since April, 1880. This was form-
erly known as the Iron City house. Good livery
attached.

BANKING.

Banking was begun in Niles, in 1869, by
Wick, Bentley & Co. The firm was soon
changed to Bentley & Crandon, and in 1871
was succeeded by the Citizens' Loan & Saving
Association. The association continued to con-
duct the business until October, 1880, when it
was succeeded by A. G. Bentley & Co. This
firm do a large general banking business.

INDUSTRIES.
THE WARD ROLLING MILL.

This mill, one of the most extensive in the
Mahoning valley, has played a prominent part in
the history of Niles, and during its e.xistence has
brought both prosperity and disaster to the town.

The works were begun in 1841 by James Ward,
Sr., and finished and put in operation in 1842.
We have the statement made by a prominent
citizen of Niles, whom we consider the very best
of authority upon the subject, that the first rolled
iron ever made in the Mahoning valley was pro-
duced in 1842 at this mill. This important fact
should add another laurel to the memory of the
enterprising spirit of the man whose business
career was so long inseparably connected with
the growth and development of this thrifty town.
James Ward & Co. operated these works suc-
cessfully from the time they were built until the
death of their originator in 1864. In 1866 the
works were rebuilt. Since then they have been
much enlarged and the capacity greatly increased
by the introduction of much costly machinery of
the most improved patterns. James Ward &
Co. — the James Ward being the son of the
original proprietor — carried on the business suc-
cessfully a number of years until the great finan-
cial panic came, when the firm failed and conse-
quently nearly every business interest in Niles
received a shock from which the recovery has
been slow and painful. The mill is now running
under the control of the Ward Iron company,
and turning out larger and more valuable prod-
ucts than ever before. James Ward is the gen-
eral manager. He is a man well fitted by nature
and training for the important position.

The works comprise twenty puddling furnaces,
six heating furnaces, and five trains of rolls.
The products are bar, plate, and sheet iron, the
annual capacity being about fourteen thousand
net tons. Over two hundred men are employed
in this rolling-mill, and the pay-roll amounts to
about $15,000 per month.

THE RUSSIA SHEET IRON MILLS.

Mrs. L. B. Ward is the proprietor, and James
Ward general manager of these works. The
mill was built in 1864, but since that date many
changes, repairs, and improvements have been
made. The works consist of twelve puddling
and four heating furnaces, and three trains of
rolls. The products are sheet iron in widths
from twenty to forty-nine inches, shingle bands,
Sykes' improved metallic roofing, plate iron, etc.
The annual capacity is about four thousand five
hundred net tons. About two hundred and
twenty men are employed and the pay-roll
amounts to between $10,000 and $14,000 per

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

month. This mill was formerly a part of the
works of James Ward & Co.

THE ELIZABETH FURNACE.

This furnace was erected in 1859. It had one
stack 65x14^^ feet. After a few years its name
was changed to the Mahoning Valley Iron com-
pany's works. It was removed from Niles to
Youngstown some time ago.

THE THOMAS FURNACE.

This furnace was built in 1870 by William
Ward & Co., and operated by them until 1875,
when it passed into the hands of the trustees of
the creditors of the original owners and remained
out of blast until 1879. It was then purchased
by John R. Thomas, who gave the plant a thor-
ough repair, preparatory to putting in blast.
Since that time the furnace has been in success-
ful operation, turning out about one thousand
tons of iron per month. The furnace is fifty-six
feet high and fourteen feet at the boshes. The
motive power consists of one blast engine and two
large steam pumps for water supply — with two
batteries of boilers cf three large boilers each.
The owners are at present placing another large,
new blast engine to work in connection with the
one now in operation, and making other impor-
tant improvements in the plant.

GLOBE FOUNDRY AND M.\CHINE WORKS.

These works were built in 1858 by Thomas
Carter and run by him until 1873. James Ward
& Co. then managed the business for about two
years. In 1875 John Carter took charge and
has since been operating the works. He man-
ufactures and deals in iron and brass castings,
engmes, pumps, and machinery, also Carter's
patent ore pulverizer ; and, in fact, makes and
repairs all kinds of machinery used in coal banks,
blast furnaces, etc. Employment is given to
about fifty men on an average. The original
buildings have been enlarged several times and
at present a larger business than ever before is
carried on.

NILES IRON WORKS.

In 1865 the project of building a rolling mill
in Niles was conceived by William Davis, George
Harris, and James Harris. They were joined by
Corydon Beans and Thomas Jose, and on the
loth of .\ugust the works were completed and
set in operation. Alter the company had been
organized, A. M. Blackford, and subsecjuently

James Russell, became members of it. Busi-
ness was carried on under the firm name of Har-
ris, Davis & Co. The mill cost $50,000. The
works at first consisted of three boiling furnaces,
three heating furnaces, one sheet mill, and one
ten-inch train of rolls. While under the man-
agement of this firm, the capacity of the works
was considerably enlarged. The product was
six tons of sheet iron, or sixteen tons of sheet
and bar iron per day. In 1870 Mr. Davis dis-
posed of his interest, and the firm then became
Harris, Blackford & Co. This firm failed and
made an assignment. The works then came in-
to the hands of C. H. Andrews & Co., who re-
built and enlarged the mill in 1872. The works
have since been run by the Niles Iron company,
producing bar, sheet, rod, skelp and band iron,
the annual capacity being twelve thousand net
tons. L. G. Andrews is president of this com-
pany and L. E. Cochran secretary. The pud-
dling department has been removed to Youngs-
town, and we understand that the remainder of
the works will follow.

FALCON IRON AND NAIL WORKS.

These works were built in 1867, and then had
twelve single puddling furnaces, three heating
furnaces, forty-four nail machines, and three
trains of rolls (one eight, one eighteen, and one
twenty-one inch). The products are nails and
guide-iron. The capacity was formerly eleven
thousand tons annually, but has been in-
creased. Two puddling furnaces are now
building, and a new train of rolls has been
put in. The officers of the original company
were James Ward, superintendent, and J. Key
Wilson, secretary and treasurer. In 1875 '^e
company was reorganized. The present officers
are John Stambaugh, president; Henry Wick,
vice-president, and Myron I. Arms, secretary and
treasurer. Two hundred hands are employed,
and the pay roll amounts to about $12,000 per
month. The products of the Falcon Iron and
Nail company go to all parts of the country.

NILES BOILER WORKS.

These works, the only manufactory of the
kind in Trumbull county, were built in 1S71 by
Jeremiah and George Reeves, who still continue
to operate them. They manufacture all kinds
of portable and stationary steam boilers, oil
tanks, blast furnace stacks, and sheet-iron work.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

^33

They also deal in brass goods, pipes and fittings.
The Reeves Brothers employ thirty-five men in
their works, and sixty men in the States of New
York and Pennsylvania, who set up work shipped
from the factory. They have m progress the
erection of additional works which will double
the present capacity and necessitate a large in-
crease in the number of workmen.

NILES FIRE-BRICK WORKS.

These works were built in 1872 by John R.
Thomas, the present manager, and excepting
about one year, have been in operation since
that time. In 1876 Mr. Thomas invented a
composition for fire-brick and obtained a patent
upon it. Since then the improved bricks have
been manufactured in large quantities and shipped
to nearly all parts of the country where fire-brick
is used. The manufacturers make a specialty
of fire-brick of various shapes and sizes suitable
for rolling-mills and blast furnaces.

The present capacity is between two and
three thousand per day, but the owners expect
to greatly increase the amount of brick manufact-
ured at an early date. About fifteen men and
boys are at present employed.

S.WV-MILL AND PLANING-MILL.

In 1878 the Erwin Lumber company built a
saw-mill 100x40 feet, with a planing-mill 60 x
50 feet. The mill was run one year by this
company. The proprietors are now C. P. Sou-
der and David Erwin, — firm name C. P. Souder
& Co. The mills give employment to six men
and manufacture all kinds of building lumber.
These mills are near the New York, Pennsyl-
vania & Ohio depot.

NEWSPAPERS.

The history of the press in Niles represents a
career of numerous, though not unusual or un-
natural, vicissitudes.

The first paper started in this place was the
Niles Register, begun in the summer of 1867,
by Edward Butler and E. E. Moore, publishers,
and Rev. William Campbell, editor. It was of
about the same size as the paper at present pub-
lished here. After six months it was suspended
on account of a lack of support.

In the spring of 1868 J. H. Fluhart began the
publication of the Niles Independent, and ran it
with varying success until June, 187 1, when M.
D. Sanderson succeeded hmi as editor and pro-

prietor. Mr. Sanderson and his immediate suc-
cessors had all of the paper ptinted at home, and
made it a very neat local journal. November i,
1872, Fred C. McDonald assumed the manage-
ment of the Independent, and at the end of one
year sold out to Dyer & Sanderson. This firm
changed the name of the paper to the Niles
Home Record, and continued publication until
November, 1874, when as a result of the panic
and of the failure of the leading business of the
village, they were compelled to suspend. Pre-
vious to the panic the paper attained a circula-
tion of about nine hundred copies, and appeared
to be on the road to prosperity. October i,
1875, M. D. Sanderson revived the paper and
brought it out as the Trumbull County Inde-
pendent, a six-column quarto. He published
but four numbers, then sold out to N. N. Bart-
lett, who continued to publish under the same
name and in the same form. Soon after enter-
ing upon the management of the paper, Mr.
Bartlett took J. H. Fluhart into partnership.

In May, 1876, the present proprietors, Mc-
Cormick & Williams, bought the paper from
Bartlett & Fluhart. The Independent is now a
seven-column folio, well printed, and liberally
patronized by business men as an advertising
medium. It is independent in politics, and de-
votes the most of its space to local news and the
encouragement of home industries. The pro-
prietors are young men and bid fair to make the
paper permanently prosperous. Under their
management the circulation has largely increased.

NILES CHURCHES.
METHODIST CHURCH.

In 1814 a Methodist class was formed at the
house of Ebenezer Roller, who lived where the
village of Niles now stands, by Rev. Samuel
Lane, a circuit preacher. It was a small class,
but was soon enlarged, and from it the Niles
Methodist Episcopal church has grown. From
the fact that there are none of the early mem-
bers of this church now living, we are able to
give but little information as to the progress and
growth of this church.

The churches, like everything else in Niles,
felt the evil effects of the panic, but this church
has been steadily gaining ground since good
times returned. It is mainly supported by
workingmen. The present membership is one

•u

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

hundred and thirty. The church edifice now in
use was erected in 1S70. Though its exterior is
unpretentious and devoid of any trace of beauty,
the audience-room is tastefully furnished, large,
and capacious.

PRESKYTERI.-VN CHURCH.

In 1838 application was made to the presby-
tery of Beaver by certain inhabitants of Weath-
ersfield and vicinity for the action of that body
to recognize them as a congregation, and to take
measures for organizing a church to be known as
Weathersfield church. After some initiatory
steps in that presbytery, since by the division
made by the synod of Pittsburg the petitioners
resided within the presbytery of New Lisbon,
the petition was committed to the latter presby-
tery and granted by it. The congregation was
taken upon the rolls of the New Lisbon presby-
tery in 1839, and Rev. William O. Stratton was
appomted to organize into a church so many
among them as were members of sister churches
at the time, or who wished to connect themselves
with the church. The following persons were
received at a regular appointed meeting at the
brick school-house in Niles, as members in good
and regular standing : Miller Blachly and
Phebe, his wife, Eben Blachly, Anna Blachly,
Robert Quigley, Catharine Reiter, Andrew Trew,
Margaret Biggart, Elizabeth Biggart, Miller
Blachly, Jr., and Mary, his wife, James Mc-
Combs and Elizabeth, his wife, and Eleanor Bell.
Eben Blachly and Miller Blachly, Jr., were ap-
pointed to the office of ruling elders, and at the
same time were ordained and installed. In
February, 1842, William Dunlap, third, was
ordained a ruling elder. This office has since
been held by Ebenezer G. Stewart, George
Campbell, William Ward, Robert Moffatt,
Ephraim Thomas, J. C. Southard, and A. J.
Leitch. Revs. Stratton, Kerr, Dickey, and
others, including several stated supplies, acted
as pastors until July 11, 1867, when Rev. T.
Calvin Stewart was installed, and continued as
pastor until 1876. During his pastorate seventy-
one members were added on examination and
forty-three by certificate. Rev. S. T. Street was
pastor from 1877 to 1880, and Rev. A. A.
Mealey in i88o-8i. At the present writing
there is a vacancy. The church numbers one
hundred and fifty members, and has a commodi-
ous and well-furnished house of worship.

DISCIPLE CHURCH.

This church was organized in 1840 by Elder
John Henry, an evangelist. The members at
the time of organization were as follows: Elder
Joshua Carle and his wife Margaret, Elder A.
Jackson Luse and his wife Eleanor, Deacon Ja-
cob Robinson and his wife Dorcia, Deacon Sam-
uel Burnett and wife. Deacon Lewis Heaton and
his wife Milly Ann, Nancy Carle, Mrs. Battles,
Josiah Dunlap, Polly Dunlap, William Winfield,
Seymour Hake, and others. Early members:
Elihu and Rachel Draper, Benjamin and Louisa
Goodheart, J. R. and Elizabeth Noble, John and
Laura Draper, Stephen and Hannah Dunlap, No-
ble T. and Adeline Robbins, Polly Sheeler, Eliz-
abeth St. John, Ambrose and Jemima Mason,
Matilda L. Cleveland, Jerusha Stoddard, Hiram
T. and Margaret C. Mason.

The church edifice was erected in 1S43-44,
and dedicated in 1844, with services conducted
by Rev. John Henry. The ministers who have
labored here are as follow : Revs. Hervey Brock-
ett, John Henry, John T. Smith, John Applegate,
AViUiam Winfield, William Higby, F. S. Whitzler,
Theobald Miller, Thomas Hallock, Gideon Ap-
plegate, Walter Hayden, Mathias Christy, S. B.
Teagarden, Orrin Gates, J. M. Monroe, W. H.
Rogers, C. C. Smith, E. W. Wakefield, N. N.
Bartlett, C. L. Morrison, and L. W. Shepherd,
the present pastor. The present membership is
over one hundred. The present church officers
are: Elders, Benjamin Leach, Hiram T. Mason,
and Lewis Reel; deacons, Hiram Ohl, George
Battles, and Lewis N. Young.

PRIMITIVE METHODISTS.

The society ot this name in Niles is the only
one of the kind in the county. The doctrine is
like that of the Methodist Episcopal church, but
the method of the church government is differ-
ent. The church was organized in 1873 by Rev.
M. Harvey, its first pastor. In 1879 a neat little
house of worship was erected in the neighbor,
hood of the Russia mill. At present there are
about thirty-one members, nearly all of whom are
employed in the Russia Iron works. There is a
Sunday-school of about eighty members, and
nine teachers. The church property is valued
at $1,100. Rev. Thomas Large is the pastor.
His predecessors have been Revs. Harvey B.
Whillock, J. A. James, John Mason, and Thom-
as James.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

235

BAPTIST CHURCH.

This church was organized with a small tium-
ber of members in 1868. A house of worship was
erected in 1872-73. The first pastor was Rev.
I. T. Griffith, who remained in charge but a short
time. In 1874 Rev. D. C. Thomas took charge,
and continued as pastor three years. He then
went to Nebraska for one year. Then returned
and resumed the pastorate, and still remains in
charge. The membership is twenty-eight, and is
made up of mill employes.

C.VTHOLIC CHURCH.

St. Stephen's Roman Catholic church was
formed by Rev. E. M. O'Callahan of Youngs-
town, by whom the building was erected. Rev.
J. Kulhn succeeded him for a short time. Then
Rev. A. R. Sidley, who remained two years.
The priests who have snice had charge of this
church, named in the order of their succession,
are as follows : Rev. E. Conway, B. B. Kelly,
T. Mahony, M. A. Scanlon, and the present pas-
tor, J. Monahan. The church embraces about
one hundred families at present. Connected
with it are three schools conducted by four of
the sisters of the Humility of Mary, of New
Bedford, Pennsylvania.

WELSH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

This church, known also as the Calvinistic
Methodist, has a neat little church edifice, erected
in 1872 at a cost of about $6,000. The church
had been organized previous to this date, and
had held meetings in the building of the Cum-
berland Presbyterians — a society which is now
e.Ktmct. In 1872 there were about sixty mem-
bers of the Welsh Presbyterian, and the number
at present is about the same, though there were
one hundred and fifty a short time before the
panic. The first pastor was Rev. John Moses,
succeeded by Rev. T. C. Davis, of Pittsburg,
and Rev. Ebenezer Evans, the present minister.
The deacons are D. H. Davis and Reese Davis.

SECRET SOCIETIES.
MASONIC.

Mahoning lodge No. 394, Free and Accepted
Masons, was granted a charter June 22, 1867.
Previously, however, T. C. Van Antwerp, of
Leavittsburg, had held a school of instruction,
drilling the proposed members in the precepts of
the Masonic order; and for six months previous
to the receipt of the charter the lodge had been

working under a dispensation from the Grand
lodge. There were sixteen charter members,
viz : James C. Southard, S. D. Young, I. M.
Butler, Josiah Robbins, Jr., George Harris, Wil-
liam Davis, E. J. Warner, H. B. Oilman, T. B.
Tait, Thomas James, S. A. Corbin, J. G. Butler,
Jr., Evan Davis, J. R. Noble, James Crandon,
Lewis Gebhart.

The first officers were J. C. Southard, W. M.;
Josiah Robbins, Jr., S. W.; and William Davis,
J. W. One hundred and twenty have been ad-
mitted to membership since the charter was
granted. The present membership is sixty-six.
The lodge occupies a neat and convenient hall,
comfortably and tastefully furnished, and is in
every way prosperous.

Present officers: S. D. Young, W. M.; C. W.
Talbitzer, S. W.; L. W. Sanford, J. W.; J. K.
Wilson, treasurer: L. S. Cole, secretary; William
Farr, S. D.; George Reeves, J. D.; William
Templeman, tyler.

ODD FELLOWS.

Falcon lodge No. 436, Independent Order of
Odd Fellows, was instituted in January, 1870,
with the following charter members : F. Cas-
par, H. Scott, J. K. Wilson, John McElroy, A.
D. Ferguson, and J. L. Wills. The first officers
were Ed. Scott, N. G; F. Caspar, V. G; J. K.
Wilson, secretary; Lewis Gephart, permanent
secretary, and Samuel Evans, treasurer. Over
one hundred and fifty have been admitted to
membership in this lodge. In August, 1871, a
number of members withdrew and started a
lodge at Mineral Ridge. The present member-
ship of the Falcon lodge is about seventy. In
1 88 1 the lodge purchased the building in which
the meetings are held. The lodge is prosperous
financially, owing no bills, and with money in the
treasury.

THE FORESTERS.

Court Providence lodge No. 5782, Ancient
Order of Foresters, was instituted at Niles De-
cember 28, 1862, with fifty charter members
and the following named officers : Daniel
Fisher, C. R.; Evan S. Williams, S. C. R.; George
S. Williams, treasurer, and John Meredith, sec-
retary. The lodge has a good membership and
is prosperous.

236

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

MINERAL RIDGE.

This place is appropriately named. Exten-
sive coal deposits are found in the vicinity and
near the village some of the principal mines of
the Mahoning valley are located. The black-
band iron ore, whose use during recent years
has rendered the iron products of the valley
justly famous, is found underlying the coal in
strata varying from one to ten inches in thick-
ness. Thirty years ago Mineral Ridge was a
farming community. But after the mines began
to be largely developed, and especially since the
advent of the railroad m 1869, the population
increased rapidly. During the panic there was
a temporary check, but the ground lost was
speedily recovered. Mineral Ridge is now an
incorporated village of some twelve hundred in-
habitants, as well as several hundred who reside
just outside of the corporation limits. It is situ-
ated on the south line of Weathersfield township,
and the unincorporated portion of the village ex-
tends over the county line into Austintown town-
ship. The main street is something like a mile
and a half in length, but is not thickly lined
with houses. There are two fine brick buildings
in the village— the Odd Fellows' block and the
public school. Six churches indicate that the
moral atmosphere of the place ought to be pure.
Mineral Ridge is situated immediately south
of Niles, and from the latter place is the first
station on the Niles & New Lisbon railroad.
Main street runs along the ridge of land which
gives the village its name.

I^•CORl>ORATION.

Mineral Ridge became an incorporated village
in 1 87 1. Joseph Stuart was the first mayor
elected, and he has been continued in oflice up
to the present time.

CO.\L AND IRON.

The first coal was mined at Mineral Ridge in
183s, the mine being situated on Coal run, on
the south side of the village, on the farm of
Michael Ohl, in Austintown township. In 1833
Roger Hill, a Pennsylvania coal miner, moved to
Mineral Ridge. He showed Mr. Ohl the coal
exposed in the run, and advised him to open
a mine. Two years later Mr. Hill commenced
work for .Mr. Ohl, and drifting into a hill, found
a seam of coal four feet in thickness. He se-
cted a smooth, s(i uare and heavy piece, and

carried it home to test its quality. The piece
would not burn, and Hill pronounced it bastard
cannel coal, or blackstone. Other parts of the
seam proved to be of good quality, and the
blackstone was left unworked, forming the floor
of the mine. The coal found a ready sale for
blacksmithing and household use.

John Lewis, a miner, originally from Mon-
mouthshire, England, had settled at Mineral
Ridge in 1854. One day while sinking a hole
in the floor of his working place to set up a prop
he was struck with the similarity of the " black-
stone " to the blackband ore he had mined in
the old country. He stated to Messrs. Ward
& Co., his employers, his opinion of the coal
floor, — that it was a valuable deposit of black-
band ore. He was directed to mine and calcine
a quantity of it. The results proved the cor-
rectness of the miner's knowledge. All the old
coal openings were now re-opened and searched
for the blackband, and it was lifted in every
working place, old and new.

It was not until rS68, however, that the real
value of the ore was fully appreciated. The art
of calcining and using it prudently in connection
with the lake ores, in the blast furnace, was not
well understood. Since that time, however, the
iron made from a judicious mixture ot the black-
band of the Mahoning valley has taken a front
rank in the markets of the United States and is
everywhere known and prized as " American
Scotch."

The first coal shipped from Mineral Ridge to
Cleveland was shipped in 1857 from the mines
of Rice, French, Cook & Co. The coal of
this region has always maintained a good repu-
tation, and IS especially adapted for rolling-mill
purposes, and the generation of steam as well as
for house fuel.*

The blackband ore continues to be mined
along with the coal, and is a most valuable prod-
uct. Its principal use is in foundry iron, which
it renders of a superior quality.

The Cambria mine was opened in 1850 by
Morris & Price. The Peacock mine was opened
in 1853 by Rice, French, Cook & Co. The
John Morris & Co. shaft was opened in 1856 by
Tod, Wells & Co. The Ashland mine was
opened the same year by Jonathan Warner.

* Condensed from the report of the State inspector of

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

The principal mines now in operation at Mineral
Ridge are as follow : Austin shaft, Tod, Wells
& Co.; Cambria, W. T. Williams & Co.; Weath-
ersfield ; Osborn slope, Osborn Coal Co.; Pea-
cock, W. I. Metcalf.

MERCHANTS.

The first store at Mineral Ridge was 'opened
by James Ward & Co., to supply men who were
working their coal-bank. It was kept by E.
Smith, on the lot now owned by Jonathan War-
ner. The first store excepting this company
store was opened in 1862 by J. L. Pierce, who
continued in business about six years. He has
been railroad station agent at this place since the
road was openrd to the public.

Below we give the names of the principal
merchants who are now doing business in the
village, and also the date at which they com-
menced :

General stores: Joseph Stuart, 1S63; Daniel
Wilcox, formerly in partnership with Ira and
Isaac Wilcox, 1864; C. F. Whitney, 1876; Mc-
Conneli Brothers, 1878; J. B. Lewis, 1878; E.
M. Morgan, 1878; C. D. James, 1879; A. J.
Garry, successor to Spill & Son, 1880. Hard-
ware dealers: W. & W. H. Johnson, 1869. Un-
dertaker : M. E. Burford, 1872. Dealer in
drugs, medicines, notions, etc. : E. J. Ohl, suc-
cessor to S. C. Wilson, 1876. McConnell
Brothers have the largest and best filled store in
the village. They occupy both of the large
store-rooms in the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows block, and have a large and complete
stock of dry goods, groceries and provisions,
boots and shoes, etc. Messrs. E. J. Ohl and J.
B. Lewis also have good assortments of all arti-
cles in their respective lines.

In addition to the above, there are several
saloons and a few small stores. Mineral Ridge
merchants appear to be prosperous.

PHYSICIAN.

One physician. Dr. L. A. Bard, attends to the
wants of the sick and afflicted.

MINERAL RIDGE FLOURING MILL.

This mill is now owned by W. I. Metcalf. It
was built in 1873 by Dunlap, Ohl & Co. A
large amount of custom milling is done here,
and flour and feed are shipped and kept on hand
for sale. A mill upon the same site was moved

to this place from Canfield, and after being
operated several years, was destroyed by fire.

MINERAL RIDGE FURNACES.

In 1858-59 Jonathan Warner, in company
with Captain James Wood of Pittsburg, erected
the first furnace at this place, called the Ashland
furnace, for using the Mineral Ridge coal and
blackband ore for the manufacture of pig-iron.
This furnace was run quite successfully. In
June, 1862, Mr. Warner bought of Captain
Wood his interest, and in 1863 or 1864 bought
the Porter or Meander furnace in Austintown
and moved it here. Early in 1866 a company
was formed and incorporated under the name of
the Mineral Ridge Iron and Coal company.
The stockholders were Milton Sutliff of Warren,
Lemuel Wick of Cleveland, Joseph H. Brown of
Youngstown, and Jonathan Warner of Mineral
Ridge. Mr. Warner was made manager and
general agent, and held the position until July or
August, 1868, when the company sold out to
William H. Brown of Pittsburg, who afterwards
formed a new company known as the Brown
Iron company. In 1870 the furnaces passed
into the hands of |ames Ward and wife of Niles,
t'rom whom in 187 1 they were re-purchased by
Mr. Warner, and run until after the failure of
Cooke in 1873, and up to 1874 or 1875, when
Mr. Warner and those in interest with him were
obliged to stop business and take advantage of
the bankrupt law. Since then these furnaces
have been sold and torn down and are now
numbered with the things that are no more.

ODD FELLOW.S.

Mineral Ridge lodge No. 497, Independent
Order of Odd Fellows, was instituted August 23,
187 1, by Horace F. Beebe, D. G. M., of Ra-
venna. The following are the names of the
charter members: J. Jones, J. B. Lewis, Eli
J. Ohl, R. Lloyd, Ed. Foulk, James Matthias,
James Morris, William Jones, Thomas J. Rob-
erts (deceased), John Miles (deceased), John
Elias, E. G. Ohl, Robert Roberts, W. J. Wil-
liams, and Thomas T. Jones. The first officers
were J. Jones, N. G.; J. B. Lewis, V. G.; E. J.
Ohl, P. S.; and R. Lloyd, C. S. The number
of members admitted since the lodge was formed
has been two hundred and twenty-eight. The
present membership is one hundred and forty.
In 1874 this lodge built the fine large brick

238

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

block now known as the I. O. O. F. block, at a
cost of $16,500. The building is fifty-four feet
high, three stories, and 40 x 70 feet on the
ground. The first floor is ficted for two large
store-rooms; the second contains a public hall
w'ith good scenery, a stage and five hundred and
eight chairs. The third story is all occupied by
the lodge rooms. There is ample room and a
good hall 40x50 feet. The lodge is now very
prosperous.

FIRST PRESBYTERI.\N CHURCH.

About 1858 a few of the inhabitants of this
place formed a Sabbath-school, and held prayer-
meetings in the district school-house. Both were
well attended and considerable interest was
aroused. In September, 1862, Rev. J. H. Scott
was invited to come here and preach ; he ac-
cepted and became the instrument of much
good. From the school-house the band of wor-
sliipers changed the place of holding their meet-
ings to a building temporarily fitted up for the
purpose. January 11, 1863, a church of eleven
members was formally organized by the com-
mittee of Trumbull presbytery, consisting of
Revs. W. C. Clark, S. B. Wilson, A. Cone, and
H. L. Hitchcock, D.D., of the Western Reserve
college. Dr. Hitchcock preached a sermon on
this occasion, taking for his te.xt Phillipians 11 :
14-15. The following persons were received
into the new organization : By letter — Mrs.
VA\en E. Scott, from the First Presbyterian
church of West Liberty, Iowa ; Miss Mary A.
Brook, from the Presbyterian church of Niles,
Ohio ; Mrs. Lucy A. Prevost, from the Methodist
Episcopal church of Minersville, Pennsylvania ;
George Otterman, from the Methodist Episcopal
church of Girard, Ohio ; Charles H. Jackson,
Jonathan Warner, and Mrs. Eliza Warner, from
the Presbyterian church of Youngstown ; and by
profession, Alexander Brown, Maria Lewis, Har-
riet E. Scott, and Mary A. Clark. After organ-
izing, the church proceeded to elect an elder;
Mr. Jonathan Warner, formerly an elder in the
Youngstown church, was elected to the office
and has since held it.

Early in 1863 preparations for the erection of
a church edifice began. Friends in adjoining
towns subscribed what they could, and a little
help was received from Youngstown and Cleve-
land. Mr. Jonathan Warner did far more than
any other person towards completing the struct-

ure ; indeed it may be said that his liberal giving
and encouragement started the project and car-
ried it successfully through. The house com-
pleted, the church was between $1,400 and $1,800
in debt. It is one of the finest houses for a vil-
lage of the size of Mineral Ridge to be found
in this section of the State. On January 26,
1865, the church was dedicated to the service of
God and the new pastor, Rev. B. F. Sharp, was
installed over the congregation which then num-
bered over one hundred jiersons. At this time
a collection was taken up and new subscriptions
made, sufficient in amount to wipe out the entire
church debt. A parsonage has since been built
and the church still remains debt free. The
pastors, since Mr. Sharp left, have been Revs.
Williams, Dalzeli, Graham, and the jiresent pas-
tor, Rev. J. M. Mercer, who has labored here
since 1878. Rev. Mr. Scott and Rev. Dalzcll,
left their charge on account of ill health, and
together with Mr. Williams they have since gone
home to their rewards.

Several interesting revivals have blessed the
labors of the different pastors. Especially was
this true of the pastorate of Rev. J. J. Graham.
As many as sixty-three persons were added to the
church during one of these interesting seasons.

The church is and has been in a flourishing
condition. A pastor is sustained and employed
for all his time. At present about one-half of
the members come from the surrounding coun-
try; hence the church is more certain of a pros-
perous condition in the future than if it depended
for its support upon the population of Mineral
Ridge alone, as, in a mining town, many are con-
stantly going and coming. The present member-
ship is considerably more than one hundred, not-
withstanding numerous removals and a large
number of deaths of members. In the dona-
tions to the boards of the Presbyterian church
of the Mahoning presbytery, this church ranks
as the eleventh, and it is proposed to make this
record even better in the future. For these facts
we are indebted to Mr. Warner and the pastor.

METHODIST EP1SC0P.\L CHURCH.

This church was organized in 1867, with three
members, but was soon increased by the addi-
tion of thirty or forty names to the books. In
1868 a house of worship was erected and dedi-
cated by Bishoi) Kingsley, December 23d.
From the books we learn that the society was

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

239

dear of debt at that time. The house is neat
and comfortable, well furnished, both in the main
room and basement. A church parlor is one of
the improvements recently made — cost $300.

The first members of this church were W. T.
Williams and wife, Mrs. Mary Hartman, Edwin
Warner and wife, Joseph and Mary Clark, George
and Mary Greenville, Jonathan Hofius, David
Jones, John and William Browning, and others.
The first pastor was Rev. R. M. Bear, under
whose labors the church was organized. After
the house was built Rev. Manasseh Miller was
sent to this circuit, which comprised Ohltown
and Mineral Ridge. A glorious revival resulted
from his work. Revs. E. H. Prosser, T. B. Tait,
and James .Shields succeeded him. In 1876
Mineral Ridge was transferred to the Jackson
circuit, and Revs. George Crooks and John Bee-
than sent to labor here. In September, 1880,
this was made a station, and Rev. C. E. Locke,
the present pastor, appointed. The number of
members is ninety. An interesting Sabbath-
school numbers one hundred and sixty. The
society is out of debt, and every way prosperous.

DISCIPLES CHURCH.

This church was organized with twenty mem-
bers on the 2d day of January, 1870, in the old
school-house. They continued to meet in the
school-house for public worship until September,
1872. The church edifice was erected in the
fall of that year, at a cost, includmg the lot, of
$3,000. It was dedicated September 29, 1S72.
The first church officers were : J. L. Pearce
and L. L. Campbell, elders; John Crum and
Evan Owens, deacons. The first pastor was
Elder J. M. Van Horn. His successors have
been J. S. Ross, R. T. Davis, D. J. White, N.
N. Bartlett, and George Musson. The number
of members is now one hundred and ten.

CATHOLIC CHURCH.

This church was organized and the house
erected about the year 1871. The membership
is quite large. The priest who officiates here
also has charge of the East Palestine and Salem
churches.

WEL.SH CHURCHES.

The Welsh of this township seem to take a
great interest in religion, and have a church
wherever there is a sufficient number to sup-
port it.

The Welsh Baptist church at Mineral Ridge
was built in 1858, and is a comfortable building,
of ample size for the accommodation of its
members.

The Welsh Independent church was built soon
after the Baptist. At present it has a good sized
congregation and is prosperous. The house has
recently been enlarged.

MINERAL RIDGE SCHOOLS.

In 1870 Jonathan Warner and L. L. Campbell
called a school meeting and steps were taken to
form a union district in this village. In Decem-
ber of that year a vote was taken which resulted
in the formation of such a district. Before that
time Mineral Ridge had only a common district
school system.

In 1872 an elegant school building was erected
62x62 feet on the ground, built of brick, two
stories, with a basement for heaters and rooms
for the scholars to occupy during the noon inter-
missions. There are four school-rooms, two
recitation rooms, and halls above and below.
The lot upon which the house stands is over two
acres in extent. The site, building, and furniture
together cost about $18,500.

In 1873-74 H. B. Clark was principal of the
school. Mr. L. L. Campbell took charge in the
summer of 1874, and continued as superintendent
until March, 18S1. Through his efforts the
schools were all properly graded and put in ef-
ficient working order. Much credit is due to him
for his untiring and generous labor for the good
of the school. It was with the regrets of every
patron of the school that he resigned his posi-
tion. Mr. B. A. Bowe is the present superin-
tendent.

Upon an average from fifteen to twenty pupils
from outside the district attend the high school.
The rates of tuition are $1.25 per month for
high school scholars, and $1 per month for in-
termediate.

OHLTOWN.
This is a quiet little village in the southwest-
ern part of the township, a mile and a half west
of Mineral Ridge. It was laid out by Michael
Ohl, its first settler. There are some thirty
houses, two small stores, kept by T. J. Moore
and J. A. Rumsey, a blacksmith's shop, and the
grist-mill of Flick Brothers.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

Michael Ohl built a grist-mill and a saw-mill
in this place soon after settling here in 1815.
The mill was a small affair, and had but one run
of stones at first, but another was afterwards put
in. The grist-mill was torn down and a new
one erected upon its site. The second mill was
burned. The mill now standing was built by
Mr. Ohl in 1843 or 1844.

Michael Ohl kept the first store in the place,
in a part of his house. He also built an oil mill,
which was abandoned after a few years, as the
business was found not to be a paying one.

OHLTOWN METHODIST EPISCOP.\L CHURCH.

The following facts were obtained from Father
Joseph Turner, now deceased, and recorded up-
on the church book :

The first class was formed about the year
1838, consisting of fifteen members, Joseph
'I'urner being class leader. Of this number but
two survive, viz : Rachel Turner and Ellen Pat-
rick. Ohltown was made an appointment of
Liberty circuit, and the following preachers were
sent to labor here :

Hiram Norris, Ditton Prosser, Stephen Hub-
bard, Hiram Kellogg, Thomas Guy, Ahab Kel-
ler, Nelson Brown, George Brown, A. Reeves,
J. H. Vance, VV. N. Reno, W. F. Day, Albert
Norton, Stephen Heard, J. W. Hill, R. M. Bear,
Ezra Wade, Frederick Vernon, William Hayes,
J. H. Vance, up to and including 1866.

In 1867 the circuit was divided, and Mineral
Ridge and Ohltown formed a circuit. The same
preachers labored at both places until 1880,
when Ohltown was added to the Jackson circuit.
J. J. Excell and G. W. Anderson have been the
appointees since that date. The society has a
comfortable house and a membership of about
si,xty.

OTHER CHURCHES.

The German Reformed people formerly had a
church in this place, but their organization con-
tinued but a few years. They built a house
about 1845, which they afterwards sold to the
Methodists.

The German Reformed congregation was con-
verted into an organization of the Cumberland
Presbyterians, under the labors of Dr. A. M.
Blackford. After a brief existence this organiza-
tion also died out.

The regular Presbyterians also had a church

in this place, and built a house about i84.'5. Rev.
Koons was the first preacher and was succeeded
by Revs. March and Spear, pastors, besides sev-
eral supplies. They sold their house to a body
of Primitive Methodists, who kept up a church
for three or four years.

OHLTOWN SELECT SCHOOL.

This school was started about 1857, princi-
pally through the efforts of Michael Ohl, Jr.
Almon McCorkle was the first teacher. The
school was in existence a few years only. It
was kept in the old Methodist church.

WE.ATHERSFIELD.

This is a little mining community in the south-
eastern part of the township, containing some
twenty or thirty houses, the most of them very
dilapidated in appearance. The first coal bank
here was operated some thirty-eight years ago.
Mining was carried on, on a small scale, for sev-
eral years; but about fifteen or twenty years ago
banks were opened and operated largely, one
hundred and seventy-five or more men being
employed in them. But the banks were soon
worked out — that is, the principal ones, and now
less than half of that number find employment
here. The place has neither store or post-office.

WEATHERSFIELD CHURCHES.

There are two Welsh churches here. The
Welsh Baptist church was built in 1866. Meet-
ings have been kept up regularly ever since.
Rev. Edward Jenkins was the first pastor and
Rev. John James is at present in charge. The
membership is small. A tasteful little cemetery
is situated near the church.

The Welsh Calvinistic Methodist church was
organized previous to 1867 and a house was
built at that date. Rev. T. C. Davis was the
first pastor. Meetings have been held ever
since the organization, though not always at
regular intervals. The church now numbers
about sixty members. Rev. J. L. Jeffreys is the
pastor.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

Biographical Sketches,

JAMES WARD.

It is but proper that a sketch of the Hfe of the
man to whom more than any other the industrial
development of Niles is due should be included
in this work. The following sketch was pub-
lished in a book containing an account of the
principal manufactures and manufacturers of
Ohio :

James Ward was born November 25, 1813,
near Dudley, Staffordshire, England. When four
years old he came with his parents to Pittsburg,
where he received an ordinary school education
which concluded when he was thirteen years of
age. He then began work in earnest, aiding his
father in the manufacture of wrought iron nails.
This he continued until he was nineteen, when
he commenced to learn engineering and re-
mained engaged in that business until 1841. In
1843 he moved to Niles and was connected with
the rolling-mill business of James Ward & Co.,
continuing the same until his death, July 24,
1864.

James Ward was looked upon by business
men, even when a boy, as possessing all the ele-
ments suitable for the avocation he pursued, and
many predicted that in time he would attain the
first rank in his business and stand at its head.
This prophecy was abundantly fulfilled.

Mr. ^^'ard was married in 1835 at Pittsbuig,
to Miss Eliza Dithridge, of that place, daughter
of William and Elizabeth Dithridge. The issue
of this marriage was seven children, all of whom
are dead except James Ward, Jr. Mr. Ward is
supposed to have been the first man to practical-
ly use pig iron made from raw coal, also the first
to practically utilize the blackband ore of this
region. The furnace built by him in 1859 was
operated a number of years.

He left a name known not only in his immedi-
ate vicinity, but as wide-spread as the country,
an honorable and liberal man, endowed with
great enterprise and business capacity, and was
cut down while yet in his prime. He had
garnered wealth and reputation without creating
the envy which so usually accompanies these
possessions. He won golden opinions from all,
and there are none who knew him who do not
respect his memory and appreciate his character.

3i'l

SETTLEMENT NOTES.

John McConnell (deceased) was born in Wash-
ington county, Pennsylvania, April 3, 1778.
February 25, 1802, he married Miss Nancy
Travis, and had a family of five sons and five
daughters — Alexander, born April 5, 1803; John,
born September 3, 1804; Polly, Januarys, 1806;
Rebecca, October 19, 1807; Peggy, April 2,
1809; Matthew, November 26, 1810; Elizabeth,
August 17, 1812; James, June 6, 1814; William
C, February 2, 1816; Martha J., January 24,
1818. John, Rebecca, Peggy, Matthew, and
Martha J. are deceased. Mr. McConnell, with
his family, consisting then of his wife and oldest
son, came to Trumbull county, Ohio, in 1804,
settling in Weathersfield township. He erected
a log-cabin in the woods, building it one day and
moving into it the next. He resided there until
his death, which took place September 27, 1853.
His wife died February 26, 1841, and he was
married again to Mrs. Lovinia Rice, who lived
until January 17, 1881, reaching within less than
a month the great age of one hundred and three
years. The old homestead is now occupied by
William C. McConnell. He has been married
three times. His first wife was Harriet Mc-
Combs, by whom he had six children — Sally,
Olive, John T., William J., Charlie, Kittie H.
After twenty-five years of married life his wife
died. He married for his second wife Miss
Sarah J. Simpson. By this marriage he had one
son, Clyde W. The mother died December 26,
1867, and he again married Mrs. Eusebia Camp-
bell, widow of Calvin S. Campbell. She had
one son by her former husband, George C.

Josiah Robbins was born in Youngstown, Ma-
honing county, Ohio, August 21, 1802, son of
Josiah and Elizabeth (Newport) Robbins. Josiah
Robbins, Sr., settled in Youngstown township in
1799, on the place now owned by James Smith,
which he cleared up and on which he lived until
1850. He was for many years a justice of the
peace and was a member of the Swedenborgian
church. He raised a family of four sons and
four daughters, of whom but two are living:
Mrs. Matilda Cleveland, of Niles, and Mrs. Eliza
Heaton, of Illinois. He died in 1855. Josiah,
Jr., married in 1827 Maria, daughter of James
Heaton. She was born in 1806. To that mar-
riage were born four sons, three of whom are
living. Mrs. Robbins died in 1835, and in 1836

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

Mr. Robbins married Electa, daughter of Judge
Ambrose Mason. She was born in Moriah,
Essex county, New York, January 28, 1815. By
this marriage there were born two sons and one
daughter, all of whom are living. Josiah Rob-
bins, Jr., settled on the Heaton homestead, now
occupied by \\'illiam B. Mason, in 1827. He
was engaged in the furnace business in connec-
tion with his brother-in-law, Warren Heaton, for
ten or twelve years, until 1843, when he was
elected to the State Legislature for one term.
He took an active part in the cause of temper-
ance and was a strong and influential anti-slavery
man. His home was frequently visited by that
able and stalwart abolitionist, Joshua R. Gid-
dings, and furnished a refuge for fugitives from
slavery. He was engaged for many years in the
lumber trade. He was also engaged m farming,
owning four hundred acres, upon which the
greater part of Niles is situated. In company
with a son and a Mr. Lawson, he erected a flour-
ing mill at Princeton, Illinois, in 1854, and one
also in Chicago. During the latter part of his
life he was engaged in market-gardening, which
he followed merely as a pastime. He did much
for the improvement of Niles, building many of
the principal buildings there, including the post-
office. He was postmaster for eleven years,
holding the position at the time of his death,
which occurred December 11, 1873. at the age
of seventy-one years, four months, and twenty
days.

The Dunlap family, of which William Dunlap,
Sr., was the first representative in Trumbull
county, were among the earliest settlers here.
William Dunlap, Sr., emigrated Irom Washington
county, Pennsylvania, to Poland township, then
Trumbull county, Ohio, about 1800. He after-
wards purchased seven hundred acres of land in
Weathersfield, and moved to that township about
1806. His sons settled around him on this tract.
He had a family of six sons and four daughters.
He died in Liberty township at the residence of
his daughter, Mrs. Carlton, at the age of
about nmety-six. His son William married
Rachel Frazee, of Poland, and lived on the farm,
which is now occupied by the widow of the late
Stephen Dunlap, son of William, Jr. William
and Rachel Dunlap were the parents of nine chil-
dren, of whom three are yet living, to-wit:
Rachel (Lewis) and Perry in Lordstown, and

Chauncy in Vienna. Stephen Dunlap was born
November 30, 1813, in Weathersfield, on the
farm, where he lived until his death December
iS, 1881. He married in 1840 Hannah McMul-
len, of Brookfield, who was born in 1822. Mrs.
Dunlap still resides on the old Dunlap home-
stead. She has three children, as follows : George
in Wisconsin, B. F. in New York city, and Em-
ma at home.

Benjamin B. Robbins was born in Youngs-
town, Ohio, December 11, 1830. He was the
eldest of three sons of N. T. Robbins, who settled
on what is still the family homestead, in 1834.
The two younger sons are still living, T. N. in
Niles, and J. D. in Cleveland. B. B. Robbins
was united in marriage September 29, 1853, to
Miss A. E. Carle, daughter of Joshua and Mar-
garet (Oliver) Carle, who was born in Smithfield,
Jefferson county, Ohio, on the ist of March,
1834. After their marriage they settled on
the place where the family still reside. Mr.
Robbins was a farmer by occupation and a suc-
cessful and prosperous man. He was noted for
his benevolence and generosity. He died No-
vember 21, 1881. He was the father of five
sons and two daughters, six of whom are living :
George B., born September 2, 1854, a merchant
of Niles; Noble T., February 22, 1856, a grad-
uate of the Albany, New York, law school ;
Frank C, May 30, 1858, in trade with his
brother George ; Henry J., February 17, 1862,
on the home place ; Maggie N., January 30,
1865; OUie K, April 17, 1868.

Abram Van Wye (deceased) was born in
Washington county, Pennsylvania, in 1797. In
1819 he married Charity Laird and had a family
of twelve children, as follows: Charles, John,
Lydia, Mary, Nancy, Catharine, Amanda, A\'il-
liam, Joseph W., Darthula ^V., Almyra S., and
Sabina H., of whom six are living. In the
spring of 1834 he emigrated to Ohio and set-
tled in Weathersfield township, Trumbull county.
His original purchase comprised one hundred
and fifty acres of land, but at the time of his
death he owned four hundred acres. He was
well and favorably known throughout this region.
He died May 2, 1854, his wife surviving him
about ten years. Charles, the oldest son, who
owns the family homestead, was born March
28, I S20; married Miss Katie Draper, and has
had ten children — Abram, Elihu, \\'illiam,

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

243

George, Charles, Alice May, John, Kit, and two
unnamed, dying in infancy. His first wife died
in 1873, ^"d he afterwards married Rebecca
Caldwell (her maiden name). No children by
this marriage. Joseph W., the fourth son, was
born on the old homestead in Weathersfield,
April 16, 1837. In 1877 he married Alia Troxel
and has had one daughter — Almyra. Mrs. Van
Wye had been previously married and had one
son — Freddie. He purchased the farm on which
he now lives in 1872. He was in the war of
secession three months as member of company
B, Eighty-fourth Ohio volunteer infantry. Abram
Van Wye was born in Weathersfield township,
November 19, 1845. He was in the service of
his country during the war of the Rebellion, a
member of company C, Nineteenth Ohio vet-
eran volunteer infantry, and participated in a
number of severe engagements, among them the
battles of Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree
Creek, Atlanta, etc., but came through without
a scar, and returned to peaceful pursuits. Mr.
Van Wye married Sarah Leach. They have
three children, all living — Warren, Frank, and
Anna. William Van Wye was born upon the
homestead farm July 7, 1850. He has always
followed farming, and now resides upon a por-
tion of the old homestead. In October, 1873,
he married Maria E. Bolin, by whom he has one
child — Lizzie Bolin Van Wye.

Jonathan Warner was born in Sodus, Wayne
county, New York, February 10, 1808. When
fifteen or sixteen years of age he went to Oswego,
where he was employed as a clerk m a store.
He afterwards returned to Sodus and engaged
in mercantile business. He was married No-
vember 22, 1829, to Eliza Landon, who was born
in Oneida county, New York, April 6, 18 10.
Mr. Warner contmued in business in Sodus until
about the year 1843, when he removed to
Youngstown, Ohio, where he carried on the
same business many years. He afterwards en-
gaged in the iron business, and with Mr. Phil-
pott built the first furnace at Brier Hill in that
section, and operated there some two years. A
short time previous to the war of 1861-65 he
removed to Mineral Ridge, where he has since
resided. He had acquired large coal and iron
interests at Mineral Ridge, built two blast fur-
naces, and afterwards carried on an extensive
business there many years. He finally sold his

furnaces for a large figure, taking in part pay-
ment several thousand acres undeveloped min-
eral lands in the Lake Superior region. He or-
ganized the Republic Iron company, of Mar-
quette, Michigan, of which he was president
several years, and in which he is still a stock-
holder. Mr. Warner was the first to discover the
unprecedented richness of the mine originally
called Smith Mountain, and inaugurated the
movement for its development. In 1872 he
bought back his furnace at Mineral Ridge. The
panic came the next year, and proved disastrous
to his business, and he was compelled to make
an assignment. He subsequently went to North
Carolina and leased a gold mine, which proved
unremunerative, and after remaining there a
couple of years he returned to Mineral Ridge,
where he has since led a substantially retired
life. Mr. Warner's career has been one of great
activity, and he has done much for the material
development of the region in which he has lived.
He has also been a generous donor to moral and
religious enterprises. Mr. and Mrs. Warner are
the parents of five children, who are all living,
as follows: Mrs. Myron I. Arms, of Youngstown;
Edwin J. and Jacob B., of Denver, Colorado ;
Charles M. and William H., of Mineral Ridge.

Isaac Marshall was among the early settlers of
Weathersfield township, where he purchased
fifty-four acres of land. He was born in r78s
and 1808 married Jane Megee, who was born in
1784. They had a family of four boys and five
girls, as follows : John, Benjamin, Huston, Miles,
Sally, Betsey, Jane, Mary, and Lucinda. Isaac
Marshall died March, 1858, and his wife Septem-
ber, 1868. He was drafted in the War of 18 12
for three months.

John Marshall was born March 14, 1810 ;
married in March, 1836, Mary A. Nelson, born
October 5, 1813. Their children were John
Calvin, a son who died in infancy, Margaret
Jane, Sarah Samantha (deceased). Electa Ann,
and Linus Ida. John Marshall attended the
pioneer schools of Weathersfield. The building
was of the rudest kind. It was built of round
logs daubed with mortar ; the floors were laid
down loose, a fire-place on one side, split logs
for benches, boards fastened onto pins driven
into the walls for writing desks, and windows of
greased paper. Such is a brief description of
the earliest school-houses, and all the schooling

344

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

he ever got was obtained in such a house. There
was no church building in his township until as
late as 1833.

George McCartney, oldest son of Andrew and
Eleanor (Wilson) McCartney, was born in Liberty
township, Trumbull county, Ohio, September 7,
181 1. His father was a native of Indiana
county, Pennsylvania ; came to Ohio first about
1806. He was then a single man, and tended
saw-mill at Mill creek for Judge Baldwin. He
married Eleanor, daughter of James Wilson, of
Youngstown township, and settled within one
mile of where Girard now is. James Wilson, the
father of Mrs. McCartney, was one of the earli-
est pioneers of Youngstown township. He was
a Revolutionary soldier, servmg during the entire
war. About three years after his marriage An-
drew McCartney removed with his family to In-
diana county, Pennsylvania, and occupied the
old homestead nineteen years. He then re-
turned to Trumbull county and bought a grist-
mill at Girard, and afterwards built a saw-mill,
fulling-mill, and carding machine, which he
operated for many years. He was made justice
of the peace in Liberty township and served nine
years. He died March 30, 1858, in the seventy-
fifth year of his age. His wife survived him
about ten years. They had six sons and two
daughters. George McCartney obtained his
schoohng in the log school-house of those days.
He was brought up to milling and tended his
father's mills until the building of the Pennsyl-
vania & Ohio canal necessitated the abandon-
ment of the grist-mill. He married first, March
22, 1836, Mary Eckman, and continued to live
at Girard. His wife died October 9, 1847, 'sav-
ing two daughters and one son — Elizabeth, wife
of Jacob Stambaugh, Eleanor, wife of John
Rush, of Girard, and Andrew J. McCartney, of
Youngstown. May 25, 1848, Mr. McCartney
married Mrs. Mary Ann Brooks, who died De-
cember 10, 1851. He was married a third time
to Elizabeth Osborn, of Youngstown township,
born in 1815, who is still livmg. By this mar-
riage one daughter was born — Mary L., now wife
of Calvin Marshall. About 1839 Mr. McCart-
ney located on the farm where he now lives.
There was then but three acres cleared and a
small log cabin on the place. He has lived to
see a vast improvement in the appearance of the
county, and is enjoying the fruit of an active life.

Camden A. Cleveland was born in Liberty
township in 1803. February 24, 1830, he mar-
ried Matilda, daughter of Josiah and Elizabeth
(Newport) Robbins, born in Youngstown, De-
cember 31, 1804, and settled in Austintown
township, where he cleared up a farm, and
where he lived until his death, which occurred
in 1839. They were the parents of three chil-
dren— Eliza L., wife of Samuel Campbell, died
in 1867; Albert A., a resident of Youngstown,
and at present engaged in mining in Colorado ;
Alice M., wife of Hiram Ohl, of Niles. Mrs.
Cleveland removed to Niles, where she lived
nme years, and then returned to Austintown
until 1872, when she again moved to Niles,
where she has since resided.

Samuel C. Edwards was born in Jefferson,
Greene county, Pennsylvania, March 30, 1811.
His parents, John and Jane (Rook) Edwards,
removed with their family from Pennsylvania to
Weathersfield township, Trumbull county, in
June, 1823. In the spring of 1830 he removed
further north and purchased fifty-seven and one-
half acres at $2.50 per acre, which he cleared up
and improved. He died in February, 1855, aged
seventy years. His widow removed to Niles,
and died at her son Samuel's residence, at the
age of eighty-nine years, six months, and nineteen
days. Of the eight children born to them five
are still living — Samuel C; John, who resides in
Mecca; William, who occupies the old home-
stead ; George, who lives in West Geneva,
Michigan ; Mary Jane, wife of John Reel, liv-
ing in Girard, Ohio. Samuel was married March
15, 1839, to Miss Ann Jane Wilson, by whom
he had four «ons and three daughters — James L.,
John F., George E., William C, Amanda,
Esther, and Alice. Alice and George are de-
ceased. George lost his life February 3, 1881,
by an explosion in Ward's iron mill in which he
was employed as engineer. His first wife died
August 23, 1854, and he afterwards married the
widow of Aaron Kingsley. They had seven
children — Mary, Martha, Luther, Phila A., Wil-
liam H. H., Sarah S. J., and Franklin. Mr.
Edwards has been during his life engaged in dif-
ferent pursuits. While young he learned the
shoemaker's trade, but in later years he has given
his principal attention to farming.

William Arnold was born in Washington
county, Pennsylvania, November 30, 1802. He

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

245

came to Weathersfield, Trumbull county, Ohio,
in the year 1827. He married Miss Catharine
Justice, of Springfield township, Columbiana
county, born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, in
1804. To Mr. and Mrs. Arnold were born two
children, James E., now residing in Iowa, and
Mrs. James McRoberts. Mr. Arnold purchased
his farm, consisting of one hundred and four
acres, paymg for it out of his earnings in a saw-
mill, his wages being $9 per month, at the rate
of $4 per acre. He cleared up the farm, and
occupied it until his death, April 10, 1857. Mrs.
Arnold is still living, making her home with her
daughter.

John Park, son of Elijah and Margaret Park,
was born in Wells, Rutland county, Vermont,
May 22, 1794. He was married December
5, 1816, to Miss Sophia Broughton, and has
had a family of five children, four sons and one
daughter, named as follows: Samuel, Cephas,
John H., Rachel Ann, Servetus W., all born in
Vermont but the youngest, who was born in
Moriah, New York. Mr. Park removed from
Vermont to Essex county, New York, where he
resided some five or six years, when he came to
Ohio in the spring of 1831. He was accom-
panied by Jonathan Folsom, and with him pur-
chased five hundred and fifty-two acres in
Weathersfield township, near Niles. The tract
was afterwards divided, our subject getting one
hundred and eighty-four acres off the south part.
He brought out his family in the fall of 1831.
That section was still quite new, the nearest
post-ofifice being Hake's corners. His wife died
January 3, 1854, and the following year he mar-
ried Miss Mary Ann Cline, by whom he had
three children, one son and two daughters —
Mary, Seth, and Cora. Of the children by his
first marriage all are dead except Cephas, John
H., and Servetus. John H. occupies the old
homestead. He was married May i, 1845, to
Mary Weisell and had the following children :
Edwin, Minerva J. (dead), Rachel A., Rebecca
R., John, C. K, and Samuel H. Mrs. Parks
died June 14, 1880. Mr. Parks, Sr., is still
living in a pleasant home adjoining the home-
stead at the advanced age of eighty-seven.

Thomas B. Wilson, with a wife and five chil-
dren, came from Perry county, Pennsylvania, to
Weathersfield, Trumbull county, Ohio, in 1833.
He was married in 18 12, immediately on his re-

turn from the war, and had a family of the follow-
ing children: Margaret, Anna, James, Mary,
Caroline, Rachel, and Elizabeth. He was a
hatter by trade, but did not follow it after com-
ing to Ohio, but successfully pursued farming
until the time of his death, which occurred in
April, 1869. His wife, whose maiden name was
Agnes Thompson, survived him, dying in June,
1878. The old homestead is owned and occu-
pied by their son James.

Jacob May was born in Columbiana county,
Ohio, August 6, 1814. He was brought up on
a farm and has always followed farming as an
occupation. He moved to his present farm in
Weathersfield township, Tumbull county, in
1835, purchasing one hundred acres. He now
owns two hundred and ninety-three acres and is
one of the substantial farmers of the county; is
the owner of property in Niles and also in Girard.
In September, 1834, he married Miss Elizabeth
Floor, and had a family of eleven children, as
follows: Samuel, Mary, Freeman, Daniel, Katie,
John, Zenas, William, Amanda and Lucy (twins)
and Lines, all living but Freeman.

H. H. Mason was born in Essex county. New
York, January 3, 1819. He came to Ohio in
April, 1835, ^^ith his parents and settled near
Niles, Trumbull county. During the next four
years he was employed as clerk for William H.
Goodhue and William McFarland, each a year
and a half, and for Smith & McCombs one
year. In 1839 he returned to Niles and engaged
in mercantile business in which he continued
until 1864. August 16, 1880, he was appointed
postmaster at Niles, which position he still holds.
His father, Ambrose Mason, was the first incum-
bent of the office, appointed in 1842, and as as-
sistant to his father he distributed the first mail
received there. He was married, February 22,
1842, to Miss Adaliza T. Kingsley, and has six
children, four sons and two daughters.

Hiram T. Mason, third son of Ambrose and
Jemima Mason, was born in Essex county. New
York, in 1816; came to Ohio with his parents in
183s ; married in 1839, Miss Margaret Cherry,
by whom he has had three sons and two daugh-
ters, as follows: A. C, Albert H., Jesse E.,
Ahce A., and Clara A. A. C. and Alice are
deceased. A. C. died in the army during the
Rebellion, and is buried at Chattanooga, Tennes-
see. He was captain of company C, One Hun-

246

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

dred and Fifth Ohio volunteer infantry. Mr.
Mason, our subject, was elected county commis-
sioner in i85i, and served six years. He is a
prominent member of the Disciples church, and
has been deacon in his church for twenty years
and an elder for ten years.

James Ward, St., was a native of Staffordshire,
England. He came to America in 181 5, and in
1 84 1 located at Niles, Trumbull county, Ohio,
and in company with his brother William, and
Thomas Russell, under thelirm name of James
Ward & Co., erected the first rolling mill estab-
lished at Niles, and in 1859 built the first blast
furnace. Mr. Ward was one of the most pros-
perous and enterprising citizens of the Mahon-
ing valley, and Niles owes its growth and pros-
perity principally to him. He died in 1864.
His widow, Eliza Ward, is still living, residing
with her son James. They had a family of
seven children, of whom Mr. James Ward, of
Niles, is the only survivor, the well-known iron
manufacturer of Niles. He married Miss Eliza-
beth, daughter of William H. Brown, of Pitts-
burg, Pennsylvania, and has five children, James,
William H., Charles S., May B., and Lizzie B.

E. J. Ohl, druggist. Mineral Ridge, Trumbull
county, was born in Ohltown, Weathersfield
township, Trumbull county, in 1847. He is a
son of Henry Ohl. When six years of age he
went with his parents to Allen county, Indiana,
where his father engaged in farming. At the age
of fifteen and one-half years Mr. Ohl enlisted as
a private in the Thirtieth regiment of Indiana
volunteers. This regiment witnessed some hard
engagements, among which were the battles of
Shiloh, Lookout Mountain, and at Atlanta.
January i, 1863, Mr. Ohl's company went into
the battle of Stone River with thirty-one men,
and twenty-one of these were killed and wounded.
His term of enlistment expired September 29,
1864, and he returned to Trumbull county.
After four months he enlisted in the One Hun-
dred and Ninety-sixth Ohio volunteers, and was
commissioned second lieutenant of company K
by Governor Brough. The members of this
com))any presented Lieutenant Ohl with a fine
gold watch in token of their esteem. When the
war closed he returned to Ohltown. In 1867 he
engaged in mercantile business in partnership
with Andrew Ohl, at Mineral Ridge. In 1875
the store, of which he was the sole proprietor, be-

ing destroyed by fire he engaged in farming for
one year. He was then appointed postmaster at
Mineral Ridge, and still manages the office in
connection with the drug business. In 1875
Mr. Ohl recruited a company of the Ohio Na-
tional guard and was elected captain. In 1877
he was appointed lieutenant-colonel, and 1880
colonel. Colonel Ohl has also held a number
of local offices. In 1866 he married Sarah J.
Herring, of Weathersfield township. They have
five children — Sadie Olive O., William Arthur,
Mary Ida, Harry Carlton, and Nellie Herring.
Mr. Ohl is one of the charter members of the
Mineral Ridge Independent Order of Odd Fel-
lows' lodge.

J. T. McConnell, merchant, senior member of
the'firm McConnell Brothers, of Mineral Ridge,
Trumbull county, is a son of William C. and
Harriet McConnell. He was born in Weathers-
field township, Trumbull county, in 1848. He
began business with John Leavitt at Mineral
Ridge, under the firm name John Leavitt & Co.,
and continued in this partnership about six years.
In 1878 McConnell Brothers bought out Mr.
Leavitt and have since been in the business.
They have by far the largest and best furnished
store in the village, and their custom is constantly
increasing. In 1876 Mr. McConnell married
Fannie L. Church, of Canfield, by whom he has
two children, Freddie and Willie. He is a
member of the Niles Masonic lodge.

W. J. McConnell, junior partner in the above
named firm, was born in Weathersfield township
in 1852, and began mercantile life in 1878. In
1879 he married Jennie Jones, of Mineral Ridge,
and has one child, Blanche.

William Davis, mayor of Niles, Trumbull
county, was born in Bilston, county of StaflFord,
England, May 8, 1817. In early life be began
to work in a rolling-mill, and continued until he
emigrated to America in 1842. Landing in New
York in June of that year, he proceeded to
Pittsburg and worked in a rolling-mill from 1842
to 1846. In April, 1846, he moved to Frank-
lin, Venango county, Pennsylvania, and there
held the position of guide-roller and nail-plate
roller until 1851, when he removed to Niles.
Here he worked at a heating furnace for James
Ward & Co. In 1859 he became superintend-
ent of the mill, and continued in that capacity
until the death of James Ward, Sr., in 1865.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

247

He then went to Youngstown to manage the mill
of Brown, Bonnell & Co. But having formed
the purpose of establishing a rolling-mill in
Niles, in company with George and James
Harris, Mr. Davis was released from his engage-
ment, and the mill, since bought by C. H. An-
drews & Co., was erected and operated by Har-
ris, Davis & Co. Mr. Davis continued a member
of this firm until 1870, when he sold out. He
then bought William Fisher's boot and shoe store,
and was in that business about three years. Oc-
tober 4, 1872, Mr. Davis was thrown from a
buggy in Warren, and received a compound frac-
ture of his ankle, which compelled him to use
crutches for three years. Since 1876 he has
been acting as mayor of Niles, and is now serv-
ing his third term in that office. In 1839 he
married Mary Ann Jones, a native of England,
who still shares his home. They have ten chil-
dren living and two sons deceased. Names and
residences : John M., New Castle, Pennsyl-
vania; William W., Canfield; James R., Jeffer-
son C, Thomas R., Niles; Alexander M. B.,
Youngstown; and Joseph M., Niles. Daughters:
Mrs. Susie Wood and Mrs. Sarah A. Spencer,
Youngstown; Miss Lida Ward Davis, Niles.

Sexton Sykes, deceased, was a native of the
State of Vermont, born in 1809. He lived in
New York State several years. When a young
man he came to Ohio and settled in Green town-
ship, now in Mahoning county. He was elected
the first recorder of deeds of Mahoning county
in 1846 and served two terms. He then went
to California and engaged in mining and keeping
boarders. He died in Placerville, California, in
1853. He was married in 1836 to Rachel,
daughter of David and Elizabeth Gilson, of
Columbiana county. She was born in 1809 and
now resides in Canfield, Mahoning county, where
her home has been since 1846. She is the
mother of six children, all of whom are living,
viz : Phebe, Niles, Trumbull county; Melissa,
married James Lowry, resides in Boardman;
Celestia, married James Shorten, resides in Cin-
cinnati; Robert, married Anna Mclntyre, lives
in Holmes county; Loretta, married Daniel
Strickler, resides in Salem, Columbiana county;
and Raymond G., married Clara Loose, resides
in Niles, where he is engaged in the manufacture
of iron roofing.

John Carter, proprietor of the Globe Foundry

and Machine works, Niles, Trumbull county,
was born in Niles in 1853 and has always resided
in the place. When young he began work in
the foundry and machine shop of his father,
Thomas Carter, and later succeeded him in the
management of his business. Mr. Carter is do-
ing a large and prosperous business.

E. I. Moore, bookkeeper at Russia Iron
mills, Niles, Trumbull county, was born in Niles
in 1854, and is a son of Irwin and Mary N.
Moore. He was educated at Oberlin college.
After finishing his school work Mr. Moore acted
as book-keeper and then as cashier of a bank
for five years; he then engaged in the drug busi-
ness in Niles in company with Dr. McKinley for
one year, then served one year in the bank. In
1879 he was engaged as book-keeper for L. B.
Ward, a position which he still holds.

William Spill was born in Thornburv, Eng-
lang, November 5, 1822, the oldest son of Wil-
liam Spill, Sr., and Ann Brett. The family
removed to Wales about 1837, where he worked
as tallow-chandler. He was engaged as superin-
tendent of coal banks for some three years. He
married in 1845, Jane Hanson, a native also of
England, and has two sons now living in War-
ren, George and Thomas. His first wife died in

1853. He married in 1859 Mary Williams, his
present wife, born in Wales in 1822. Mr. Spill
came to this country in 1852 and to Ohio in

1854, having lived for two years in Maryland.'
He first located in Weathersfield township and
engaged at his old occupation, coal mining. In
1866 he removed to Mineral Ridge, where, with
his son George, he was engaged in merchandis-
ing some twelve years. He removed to Warren
in 1880 and has since lived a retired life.

Dr. A. J. Leitch, son of Robert and Eliza
Leitch, was born near Belfast, Ireland, in 1848,
and came to Niles, Trumbull county, Ohio, with
his parents in the spring of 1852. He adopted
the medical profession, and after a course of
reading graduated from the Cleveland Medical
college in 187 1. He commenced practice the
same year in Niles in partnership with Professor
H. G. Landis, of the Starling Medical college,
Columbus, Ohio, with whom he continued some
four years. He then engaged in the drug busi-
ness, in which he was engaged until the fall of
1879, when he formed a partnership in the prac-
tice of medicine with Dr. A. P. McKinley, of

248

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

Niles, tlie firm being McKinley & Leitch. Feb-
ruary 17, 1 88 1, he was united in marriage to
Miss Ella M. Ward.

Dr. F. Caspar was born in Strasburg, France
(now Germany), in 18 16; came to the United
States in the summer of 1831 and located in
New Lisbon, where he was educated. He
studied medicine with Dr. George McCook, of
New Lisbon, and subsequently attended lectures
at the Jefferson Medical college, Philadelphia.
He commenced practice in 1840 at Petersburg,
now Mahoning county, and remained there until
1853 when he removed to Canfield, where he
was engaged in the practice of his profession
seven years. In i860 he removed to Niles,
where he has resided since. In 1839 he was
married to Miss Mary Ann Russell, daughter of
William E. Russell, a former prominent attorney
of New Lisbon. Mrs. Caspar was botn in Steu-
benville, Ohio, in 1S22. To this marriage six
children were born, of whom three sons and one
daughter survive. Joseph Caspar, the father of
Dr. Caspar, was a soldier under Bonaparte, serv-
ing three or four years.

Warren Lewis (deceased) was born in Clarks-
ville, Pennsylvania, September 12, 1800. He
married, November 26, 1829, Miss Hannah M.
Bowel, daughter of an early settler in Howland,
the family settling there about 1802. After his
marriage he returned to his home in Pennsylvania,
but subsequently came to Ohio and purchased
a farm in Weathersfield township, Trumbull
county, where he located and reared a family of
six children, named as follows : Henry, Rebecca
M., Mary, Charlotte, Jesse B., and Clara, wife of
R. G. Sikes. Henry, Rebecca, Mary, and Char-
lotte are dead. Rebecca was twice married, first
to James M. Robinson, by whom she had one
daughter. Her second husband was Jerry Tib-
bits. Mr. Lewis died October 24, 1859, and his
wife September 28, 1864. Jesse B. Lewis was
in the Union army in the war of secession, and
was wounded at Atlanta in the right arm, which
finally necessitated amputation. He married
Miss Ella M. Woodward, of Cleveland, by whom
he had one child, Ella E., who died in infancy.
His wife died August 13, 1872, and he was again
married January 1, 1874, to Miss Frances
Lamphear, and has two sons by this marriage,
Warren S. and Raymond J. Mr. Lewis occupies
the old family homestead.

Andrew McRoberts (deceased) was born in
Ireland in 1804. In 1832 he married Miss
Mary McClure, by whom he had eight children,
viz: James, John, and Georgiana, who were born
in Ireland, and Caldwell, Mary Ann, Jordan,
Helen, and Rachel, born in Mahoning county.
In 1837 Mr. McRoberts purchased a farm of
fifty acres in Austintown township, Mahoning
county, where he made settlement. He re-
moved to Lawrence county, Pennsylvania, in
1852, where he resided until his death, in 1863.
His widow is still living, and resides in New
Castle, Pennsylvania. James, their eldest son,
married, October, 1858, Miss Laura M. Draper,
by whom he had four children, as follows :
Ida, .-Mice, John, and Mary. His first wife died
May 31, 1870, and he subsequently married
Miss Isabella White. He was in the service
during the war of the Rebellion nine months.
He now resides on the old Draper homestead
near Niles.

Samuel H. Stillwagon, only son of Josiah and
Jane Stillwagon, was born in Butler county,
Pennsylvania, in 1850. He came to Weathers-
field township, Trumbull county, Ohio, in 1865,
the farm now owned and occupied by him being
purchased by his uncle, William Milford. June
II, 1872, he was married to Miss Kittie Hake.
They have had two children, Freddie and Millie.
The latter died April 21, 1880. Mr. Stillwagon
is the owner of two hundred and eighty-five
acres, the home place comprising nearly two
hundred. Himself and wife are members of the
Disciples church. His father died February 29,
1852. His mother still survives, and resides
with him.

John R. Thomas, manufacturer of fire-brick
and iron, Niles, Trumbull county, was born in
Aberdale, county of Glamorgan, South Wales,
in 1834. In 1866 he emigrated to America.
While in Wales he was engaged in the manu-
facture of fire-brick, a business which he has
followed nearly thirty years. In 1866 Mr.
Thomas went to California, returned thence to
Wales, and in 1868 came to Youngstown. He
has since resided in that place and in Niles. Mr.
Thomas is connected with two of the leading in-
dustries of Niles, being a member of the Thomas
Furnace company, and the Niles Fire-brick com-
pany. In 185s he married Margaret Morgan, a
native of Brynllor, county of Carniathen, South

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

249

Wales, and has five children living, viz : John
M., of Albany Law school, New York; Thomas
E., William A., Margaretta and Mary Ann, of
Niles. Mr. Thomas is a member of the Masonic
order. In politics he has always been a Repub-
lican. He is one of the successful and honored
manufacturers of the Mahoning valley.

E. E. Ferris was born in the town of Buck-
ingham, Ottawa, Canada, September 28, 1842.
He came to Trumbull county, settling in Weath-
ersfield township, in 1869. He married Sep-
tember 8, 1875, Miss Savilla Moser, and pur-
chased, where he now lives, in 1876. He owns
altogether one hundred and forty-four acres of
land.

C. W. Brieder, hardware merchant, Niles,
Trumbull county,was born in New York city in
1849. When fifteen years of age he began
learning the printing business in Youngstown.
This he followed about three years, and then be-
gan the hardware business, which he still con-
tinues. In 1871 he moved to Niles. In 1873
he married Lizzie L. Sheible, of Niles. Mr.
Brieder is a member of the Independent Order
of Odd Fellows.

C. W. Thomas, merchant, Niles, Trumbull
county, was born at Clark's Cove, near Pitts-
burg, in 1857. He has followed clerking and
dealing in merchandise. He was in business
with his father, D. C. Thomas, in Newburg,
Ohio, in 1872-73. In December, 1873, Mr.
Thomas came to Niles and was in business with
his father until 1S77, '1"^ has since been in busi-
ness for himself. In 1S80 he married Miss F.
E. Talbitzer, of Niles, by whom he has one
child— Carl D.

S. A. Russell, merchant, Niles, Trumbull
county, was born in Huron county, Ohio, in
1851. He was employed upon a farm until
eighteen years of age, then entered a grocery
store in Elyria, Ohio, as clerk, and remained
three years. In 1873 he came to Niles and
learned the drug business, clerking for W. L.
Gaston & Co. Then for four years he clerked
for James Crandon, grocer, and in 1881 engaged
in the same business for himself. In 1875 he
married Miss Lena Scheible, of Niles, and has
two children — Leroy and Hattie. He is doing
a good business.

C. W. Porter, druggist, Niles, Trumbull county,
was born in Austintown township, Mahoning

county, in 1850. In 1867 he engaged in the drug
business for E. A. Smith at Warren, and contin-
ued there until 187 1, then was in the same busi-
ness in Meadville, Pennsylvania, until 1874. In
1875 he began the same business in Niles and
still continues to follow it. Mr. Porter was mar-
ried in 1879 to Miss Ella Leslie, of Niles. He
is prospering finely in his business.

Fred. J. Church, merchant, Niles, Trumbull
county, was born in Canfield, Mahoning county,
in 1854, son of Darius and Electa Church, and a
descendant of Nathaniel Church. Mr. F. J.
Church was educated in Canfield and at the age
of nineteen began the mercantile business with
his father. In 1878 he removed to Niles and
became a member of the firm McConnell &
Church. In 18S0 this firm was changed to
Church & Coffee, who have the largest store in
Niles.

A. B. Cook, druggist, Niles, Trumbull county,
Ohio, was born in Chaidon, Geauga county, in
1856. His father, A. Cook, and his grandfather
followed the drug business. Mr. A. B. Cook
commenced working in his father's store in
Chardon in 187 1, and continued until 1878, when
he removed to Niles and began business in part-
nership with his father under the firm name of
Cook & Co. Mr. A. B. Cook conducts the bus-
iness and is successful. He was married in 188 1
to Miss Mary Wagstaff, of Niles.

Hiram Dunlap, fifth son of James and Cath-
arine Dunlap, was born in Brookfield, Trumbull
county, Ohio, in 1819. In 1848 he married
Miss Lydia Van Wye, the result of which union
was three children, one son and two daughters,
as follow : James A., Emma J., and Lydia C. —
James being the only survivor. Mrs. Dunlap
died September 7, 1854, and he married for his
second wife Miss Amanda Hartzell, by whom he
had seven sons, viz: Franklin H., Willie L.,
Edward H., Elmore W., Henry G., Thomas J.,
and Ferdinand C, all living but Thomas.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

CHAPTER in.

HARTFORD.

This townshi[) was known under the surveys
of the Connecticut Land company as number
five, first range, in the Connecticut Western Re-
serve. It was called Hartford, after the State
capital of the same name. According to draft
book, page 225, draft seven-three was drawn by
Urial Holmes and Ephraim Root. This draft
drew all of Hartford township, containing seven-
teen thousand three hundred and seventeen
acres of land. The Connecticut Land company
executed a deed April 22, 1798, to Root and
Holmes for a consideration of $12,903.23, being
less than seventy-five cents per acre.

The township was surveyed into lots by
Raphael Cooke. It was bounded on the east by
the Pennsylvania State line ; on the north by
Smith field, afterwards named Vernon; on the west
by Westfield, afterwards named Fowler ; and
on the south by Brookfield.

According to Stowe's map of Trumbull county
in 1800, numbers four and five in range one and
two, and also numbers six, seven, eight, and nine
in range one, two, and three, were known as
Vernon.

Elections were held at Burg Hill, number
five, for this territory of Vernon, which is now
divided into sixteen townships, lying in Trum-
bull and Ashtabula counties.

Burg Hill, located in the north part of the
township of Hartford, may have received its
name from the fact that it was the business point
and place for elections and militia musters for
many years early m the century.

The earliest records to be found show that a
separate township organization must have been
in existence in 1811. Elam Jones was elected
township clerk at the April election of that year.

Legal papers bearing date as late as 181-4
were drawn in some cases, as if the names of
Vernon and Hartford were both used to desig-
nate this township.

The deed of Holmes and Root to Titus Brock-
way, drawn in 1803, in which they reserved one
acre of land for a "green," on which to build a
" meeting-house," speaks of the township as
" Hartford." In a deed of Edward Brockway
to his son Titus, drawn in 1802, the township is
called Vernon, " in the territory of the United
States, northwest of the Ohio river."

The first deed by said Urial Holmes and
Ephraim Root was made September 23, 1799, to
Edward Brockway, conveying 3,194 acres and a
fraction of land, being lots seven, eight, fifteen,
sixteen, twenty-one, and twenty-two, for a con-
sideration of $500, being less than sixteen cents
an acre. According to tradition he exchanged
his farm of two hundred acres in Hartford,
Connecticut, for nearly one-fourth of the town-
ship, and perhaps this formed a part of the
consideration in addition to the amount men-
tioned in the deed. A number of others ex-
changed their farms for land here.

GENERAL FE.\TURES.

The soil is clayey through the central portions,
but becomes less so as you approach the princi-
pal streams — Yankee run on the west, and Pyma-
tuning in the northeastern part of the township.
The first named takes its rise in the marsh and
runs in a southern direction in the western part
of the township, until it meets the Little Yankee,
which runs nearly east from Fowler to its junc-
tion with the main stream. Near the south line
it runs to the east, crossing the Brookfield and
Hartford road at Burnett's mill, and a short dis-
tance further leaves the township.

Yankee run is said to have been so named by
the Indians because they found the body of a
white man at the forks of the stream. Mill
brook rises in the north central portion of the
township, and runs north into Vernon. The
Pymatuning was first called Smith's creek, after
General Martin Smith, later Venango, the latter
name appearing in old deeds which were made
out by pioneer proprietors early in the century,
and also in maps of a similar date. For many
years it has been called Pymatuning. By some
this is supposed to be an Indian name, by others
it is claimed to be of French origin. This stream
furnishes the water-power which has been so
long utilized at Orangeville. Hewitt run rises
on the farm which bears the same name, and the
larger stream in that vicinity was known on early
maps as Brockway run, named after Edward
Brockway, the pioneer settler, and as its course
nearly all lay within lands purchased by him, it
should still bear his name. They are both trib-
utaries of the Pymatuning. McCullough run
rises in the central and south central portion of
the township. The two branches unite on the
farm of T. A. Bushnell, and run thence nearly

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

251

due east to the State line. It was named after a
pioneer settler who resided near its mouth.

In the west central portion of the township is
a sandstone ridge known as the ledge. It ex-
tends for some distance from north to south, be-
ing an abrupt precipice of rocks, of varying
height, with some small caves. At different
places the rock appears to show the action of
water, as if it had at one time been the bank of
a stream, and near the road a rocky ravine ex-
tends a short distance from east to west. It has
been a favorite local resort for school picnics,
and is not entirely devoid of interest to older
persons who have not been accustomed to the
rocks and hills of New England, or some simi-
lar region. Across the run to the southwest, on
the McFarland farm, a similar formation occurs,
but of less extent. This stone has been quarried
for many years, and is quite valuable for building
and bridge purposes.

The land at Burg Hill is a circular knob or
knoll comprising some fifty or more acres, and
rising to an elevation of perhaps fifty feet above
the general level, and is noted for the large num-
ber of springs near its base. The hill itself ap-
pears to be composed of conglomerate rock,
with a thin covering of surface soil. Since the
building of the railway the post-office and the
store have been moved a little north to the sta-
tion of the same name, within the township of
Vernon. It is now sometimes called Old Buig
Hill, and was formerly the residence of Colonel
Richard Hayes and his three sons, Seth, Alvin,
and Richard.

There are a few things of local interest,
which since the first settlement of the township
have been to some extent objects of curiosity to
our citizens. The first to which we will refer, is
known as the old road. It is located near the
center of the northeastern part of the township,
perhaps a mile or more west of Orangeville. It
is nearly a half mile in length, and its general
direction is from northeast to southwest. A por-
tion of the road, or whatever it may have origi-
nally been, varies but little from a straight line;
the remainder is more winding, but retains the
same general course. It has the appearance of
having been at some time thrown up like a turn-
pike. At some points it seems as if the depres-
sion was still visible which was made by the re-
moval of earth in constructing.

The embankment is generally the highest on
the southern portion, which is also the highest
ground, and as you go to the northeast the land
gradually descends, and at a short distance from
the New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio railroad, it
entirely disappears. At one point, south of the
Orangeville road, it resembles a railroad embank-
ment where it has been cut through by a stream
of water. The first settlers found it covered
with forest trees as large as at other places. Tra-
dition says that whenever deer were started by
hunters in that vicinity, they always made for the
old road, if possible, and used it as a runway
during their flight.

It seems to us it must have been of artificial
construction. It could hardly have been a forti-
fication, however, and it does not seem to meet
any of the requirements of military science. A
gentleman who has resided in the vicinity some
seventy years, informed the writer he had heard
It suggested that it was made as a boundary line
between two Indian tribes, but it would seem to
have been constructed by a more civilized race.

A boulder of large size, sometime in the his-
tory of the world, took up its residence in this
vicinity, and is another of our few local curiosi-
ties. There are many others of the same class,
but so much smaller as to receive but little atten-
tion. It is located near the top of Brockway's
hill, on the south part of the farm formerly
owned by the late Calvin Cone, and has been
variously estimated to weigh from seventy-five to
one hundred tons. It is surrounded by material
which has evidently formed, at some period, part
of the rock itself, but from the action of the ele-
ments has been reduced in size.

There are a few places in the township where
we find a bed of gravel, resting upon the ordi-
nary surface soil, and having all the appearance
of being artificial, but no possible reason can be
assigned for their construction, and no similar
material is found in the vicinity. One bed that
has been carefully examined, on A. P. Kepner's
land, is some forty feet in diameter, about three
feet deep in the center, growing thinner as you
approach the circumference or outer edge. It
certainly shows no correspondence to drift de-
posit, and cannot well be classed as kames.

On the farms of Luther and John Fitch, and
also on the farm of William Rathbun, at the
time of settlement were quite a number of exca-

252

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

rations very similar in general appearance.
They resembled wells, which havmg been dug
and left for years had partially filled up. In
early days they were so deep in some cases as to
require fencing to protect stock from danger.
They were known in the neighborhood as " old
wells." No exammation has been made to de-
termine their original purpose.

Coal has been found at various places in the
township, and a few thousand tons have been
recently mined at the ledge, but none has yet
been found in sufficient thickness to warrant ex-
tensive operations in mining.

FIRST SETTLEMENT.

The first settlement was made in 1799, by
Edward Brockway, Isaac Jones, and Asahel
Brainard, who spent their first night by a large
tree, then standing about one-fourth of a mile
north of the center of the township, nearly oppo-
site the residence of the late Elijah Woodford,
now owned by Oliver Perrine.

They commenced a clearing on the farm long
owned by the late William Bond, Edward
Brockway cutting the first tree. After having
built a cabin and sowed a field of wheat, Brock-
way and Jones returned East and brought out
their families in the summer of 1800.

Brainard remained alone through the winter,
engaged in clearing land. His nearest neighbor
was Martin Smith, of Vernon. Settlement had
been made previously at Vienna, Youngstown,
and Warren. It was during this winter that two
Indians, Flin and Kanoshua, came to Brainard's
cabin, and after partaking somewhat freely of
whiskey, left apparently on good terms, but soon
after fell into an altercation, in which the former
was killed. He was shot near the residence on
the dairy farm of U. R. Chapman. After the
transaction it was feared that trouble with the
Indians might grow out of it, and Smith being
best acquainted, started for their village near
Greenville, Pennsylvania, to notify them and put
the best face possible on the matter, but had pro-
ceeded no farther than Orangeville, when he met
them coming. The Indians having collected
from the various encampments, a consultation
was held, and after due deliberation, it was de-
cided that " Indian no kill him, but whiskey kill
him." He was soon after buried by them with
the usual ceremonies, near the east line of the
farm on which the first cabin was built. The

survivor, instead of departing for parts unknown,
as It was feared he might, leaving the blame to
rest on others, had informed his friends of the
matter, who were coming to bury their dead. A
few years later some medical students exhumed
his remains, and his bones were kept by them for
a long lime in the office of Dr. Wilcox, at Burg
Hill.

Isaac Jones settled at Burg Hill on the farm
now owned by Osman Hull. Charles Merry
came the same year with his family, and settled
within the present limits of Orangeville.

William Bushnell, the pioneer settler in the
south part of the township, bought three hundred
and twenty-seven acres in lot thirty, of Holmes
and Root, for a consideration of $816, the deed
being dated December 31, 1800.

He came into the township with his family in
June, 1 80 1, and located on the diagonal road
about half way up the hill. His first place of
shelter was made by felling a large chestnut tree,
taking off the bark, placing one end on the body
of the tree and the other on the ground, thus
making a shed under which the family found
shelter for nine days, during most of which time
a lain storm kept them closely "housed."

Titus Brockway also came into the township
in 1800, and was land agent for Holmes & Root.
He located in the central part, on the farm now
in the possession of his grandson, U. H. Brock-
way. His first cabin was built on the opposite
bank of the run, a little north of the present resi-
dence. It is said he was an unmarried man at
this time, and with a hired man kept "bachelor's
hall." Also, that Urial Holmes found it conven-
ient at times to share his cabin, and partake of
the plentiful game with which the immense forest
abounded. One day they were so fortunate as
to kill a bear. Thinking to have a little joke they
put it into the hired man's bed, and with much
gravity awaited the time for him to retire. We
are left to imagine his surprise, and perhaps
fright, and the uproarious laughter of the jokers.

In 1803 Daniel Bushnell located on lot thirty,
near the present residence of John Craton.

Samuel Si)encer located in Burg Hill.

Captain Thomas Thompson came from Farm-
ington, Connecticut, in 1803. He purchased
some five hundred acres, including two of the
center lots of the township, and a portion of a
third one, and located about one-fouith of a

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

253

mile south of the center, where H. Bennett now
resides. William C. Jones probably came in
1802, and located on the farm now occupied by
A. D. Fell.

Asahel Brainard, previously mentioned, located
at an early period on the farm where Jacob
Kepner now resides, one-half mile south of the
center.

Aaron Brockway first settled in Vernon in
1798, but in 1801 or 1802 changed his location
to Hartford.

Asa Andrews purchased about one thousand
acres of land and settled on lot twenty-seven,
where John McFarland now resides.

In 1803 Robert McFarland and family settled
on lot three on the State line, near the residence
of his grandson, Thomas W. McFarland.

The following named persons also came into
the township during 1804 and 1805. All but
two or three of them were married men and
brought their families : Richard Hayes, Thomas
Bushnell, Asahel Borden, Andrews Bushnell,
Asa Andrews, Jehial Hulburt, Samuel Tuttle,
Captain Alexander Bushnell, Shaler Fitch, Asa-
hel Borden, Jr., Elam Jones, Chester An-
drews, Jehial Hulburt, Jr., William Rathburn.
These were nearly all residents of Hartland,
Connecticut. In 1804 a colony of some ten
families left Hartland at the same time. The
occasion of their departure from Connecticut
was considered of so much importance that a
meeting was held, a farewell sermon preached,
and then the general leavetaking took place, as
their old friends and neighbors bade adieu to their
late homes and started on their journey of six
hundred miles for the Stale of their choice.
Some of them were men far past the prime of
life. Revolutionary fathers; one had borne a part
at Bunker Hill, that sad, yet glorious day, when
Warren fell ; another, barefooted at Valley Forge,
had camped with Washington, yet rather than
part with children and grandchildren, they con-
cluded to forego the comforts of civilization, and
endure the fatigues of a six weeks' trip to New
Connecticut, as it was then called, to build up
homes in a wilderness, not only for themselves,
but for coming generations.

DUTCH RIDGE SETTLEMENT.

The southeastern portion of the township was
first settled by families of German lineage from
Cumberland county, in eastern Pennsylvania.

John Kepner was the pioneer settler. Ac-
cording to tradition, he commenced a clearing in
1805 and built a cabin. The next spring it was
burned, and a hewed log-house was then built,
which stood until 1880, when it was replaced by
a fine frame house erected by his grandson,
Lucius Kepner. His .deed was made July 2,
1806, for six hundred and thirty-six and one
hundred and thirty-nine one-hundred and sixtieth
acres of land in lot nine. The consideration
was $1,785.

John Pfouts came in the fall of 1806 and
settled on the farm now owned by his son Isaac
Pfouts. The first cabin stood some forty rods
southwest of the present residence. Frederick
Shull located where Seth Carnes now resides.
Michael Quiggle settled on the farm now owned
by Orvis Shatto.

Later, settlement were made by Hull, Reeder,
George and John Snyder.

INDI.^N HUNTING C.\MP.

The remains of a large Indian hunting camp
were in existence for several years after the first
settlement, on the west side of lot twenty-four,
on the farm formerly owned by General Andrews
Bushnell. Some of the lodges were apparently
new, with all the appearance of having been oc-
casionally occupied; others were quite old and
dilapidated.

A DEN OF SNAKES.

During the year 1804, while Samuel Spencer
was residing at Burg Hill, some travelers hav-
ing called for water were directed to a spring
near the house, but soon returned, having dis-
covered a rattlesnake den at the head of it.
The neighbors were called upon lor assistance,
and in digging them out it was found necessary
to use a yoke of cattle to remove the stone sur-
rounding the den. It was quite cool weather in
early spring, and they had just begun to stir, and
were not fairly active. The boys used flails in
dispatching them. One hundred and seventy
of the spotted reptiles were dug out and killed.
Soon after Mrs. Spencer found one under the
bed, which she dispatched; another fell from over-
head to the floor, and last, not least, one day on
going into the pantry and taking down a basin,
she found one curled up within it — an uninvited
guest, truly ! What would our modern belles
say to an adventure like this ? I am afraid his

254

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

snakeship would have had a better chance for
his hfe than in the hands of Mrs. Spencer.

Early in the century the banks of Brockway
run were quite a harbor for rattlesnakes. Edward
Brockway was bitten by one of thera, and came
near losing his life in consequence, but by the
aid of an old Indian's prescription, he finally re-
covered. He, however, became the sworn enemy
of the whole fraternity of snakes, and soon an
agreement was made by those living in the vicin-
ity, to hunt for snakes, whenever they crossed
the stream at the proper season. It was his cus-
tom, when going to and returning from church,
to stop and hunt for them.

The northwestern part of the township, from
the " marsh " for some distance south on the
run, seems to be the favorite home of the mas-
sassauga. Formerly large numbers were killed.
Even in later years fair crops of them have some-
times been harvested. Some forty or fifty have
been killed on one farm, in a single year. The
war still goes on, and it may be a long time be-
fore they are entirely extirpated.

OTHER E.\RLY SETTLERS.

The following named persons came into the
township during its early settlement, most of them
probably from 1S04 to 181 1: Titus Hayes,
Russel Borden, Linus Hayes, Lester Hayes,
Philo Borden, Nehemiah Andrews, Davis Fuller,
Horace Flower, Sylvester Borden, Martin Gang-
yard, EbenezerChapman, Elijah Woodford, Thom-
as Dugan, David Lane, Lebbeus Beach, Levi
Giddings, and Isaac Olmstead.

EARLY EVENTS.

Ijinus Hayes and Jerusha, daughter of Thomas
Bushnell, were married September 11, 1805.
They were the first couple married within the
township. Previous to this time, however, in
1801, Titus Brockway, of this place, was married
to Minerva Palmer, of Vernon. Harriet Merry,
daughter of Charles Merry, was born in 1801,
and died August 24, 1864. She was the first
white child born in the township. She married
John Burnett. They resided some years in Ver-
non and then removed to Ravenna, Ohio, where
she died, and was buried at Burg Hill.

William Bushnell, son of Colonel William
Bushnell, born June 11, 1802, was the first white
male child born in the township. He married
Jane Potterficld June 19, 1S28. They both

died at the same time and were buried in one
grave.

The first death was that of a child of Isaac
Jones, from small-pox. It was buried at Burg
Hill, near the residence of Osman Hull. Mrs.
Samuel Tuttle died soon after and was buried
at Vernon. Lucy Andrews, a child of two years,
was the next, and was the first person buried in
the graveyard at the center. The site was se-
lected after her death, and the grave was sur-
rounded by an enclosure of logs in the forest.
She died October 11, 1805. Mrs. Jerusha
Hayes, wife of Linus Hayes and daughter of
Thomas Bushnell, died in 1806, and was the
first adult buried here, the next being Mrs. Dan-
iel Bushnell, who died July 7, 1809.

Edward Brockway was elected as the first
justice of the peace, in honor of having been the
first settler and cutting the first tree, but not
wishing to serve, Titus Brockway, his son, was
elected and served as the first justice, and was
also the first postmaster.

The oldest framed house in the township now
standing, and said to have been the second, if
not the first one built, is the present residence
of Seth Thompson, Jr., standing on the top of
the hill on the diagonal road. It was built by
Colonel William Bushnell, who sold it to Rus-
sel Borden, and a few years later it passed into
the hands of the Thompson family, who have
occupied it nearly seventy years.

The first dwelling house at the center of the
township was built by Seth Thompson, Sr., in
1810. It was a log house and stood north of
the "green," where James Stewart now resides,
and the second was built some years later by
Joseph A. Gould, on the west corner, who also
built a blacksmith shop near it.

The first apple-tree which bore fruit in the
township was planted by Titus Brockway, and is
still standing, a little north of the residence of
U. H. Brockway. The first crop consisted of
one peck of apples, which were carefully put into
the cellar, and when they were visited by their
neighbors, two or three were brought up and ex-
hibited, then carefully pared and cut into pieces
enough to go around. So the peck furnished
most of the people a sight and taste of the ap-
ples. Soon, however, fruit became so plenty it
had but little market value. Peaches were a
drug in the market at a shilling a bushel, and

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

255

large quantities were taken to Lester Bushnell's
still, at the foot of Brockway's hill, to be made
into peach brandy. Cider, at the nominal price
of fifty cents per barrel, was taken to the same
place to be made into "apple-jack," and then
stored in the cellar, to be used in treating friends
on extra occasions, as parties, weddings, etc., es-
pecially after the ten or twelve barrels of cider,
"all ripening in a row," in the cellars of most
farm-houses, had run low.

At this time the privations and hardships of
the early pioneers were growing less; fields of
corn and wheat gave evidence of present abun-
dance and a prospect of future luxury.

Additions were yearly being made to the set-
tlement by emigration from the older States, of
friends and neighbors, who hoped to better their
condition by making a home in the West.
Thus a few years swiftly passed away, with little
t(i vary the monotony of frontier life, save an
occasional foray upon the sheepfold by wolves,
or being awakened from sleep by the squeals of a
luckless pig, taken away from his sty by bruin, and
borne away to make a toothsome repast for him-
self, varied by his pursuit and capture, to pay
him for his pains. Frame houses and barns
were already beginning to take the place of log
ones ; orchards being set out, clearings enlarged,
and roads improved, until the i8th of June,
1812, when the war cloud which had for a long
time hung over the Nation, culminated in a dec-
laration of war against Great Britain.

The necessary demands upon the pioneers for
military service after Hull's surrender, and their
location near the frontier, served to check emi-
gration and general improvement until the close
of the war.

EPIDEMIC OF 1813.

The epidemic which prevailed so extensively
through the whole Western country during the
year 1813, visited this township, and carried off
fifteen persons, mostly elderly people, all the
deaths of the year except two or three, result-
ing from it. Among the deaths were Asa An-
drews, Jehiel Hulburt, Titus Hayes, Russel
Borden, and Mrs. Lucy Fitch, widow of John
Fitch, the inventor of steamboats, whose de-
scendants by one branch are still residing here.

A BE.\R STORY.

In November, 181 7, a large black bear was

caught in the woods of Daniel Bushnell. He
was in the habit of visiting Mr. Bushnell's corn
field at pleasure, going in and out at the same
place until the corn was harvested. At length,
finding no more corn he went to an adjoining
field, where he helped himself to a fat hog
weighing near two hundred pounds. After kill-
ing it and eating as much as he desired he at-
tempted to get it over the fence into the woods.
Finding it too heavy to lift he covered it with
leaves and left it in the corner of the fence for
his next meal. Mr. Bushnell's son George (now
Dr. Bushnell) finding the hog thought it best to
put a stop to bruin's depredations, and obtained
the assistance of two good hunters, William
Waters and T. H. Thompson. They tied the
hog to the fence and set two bear traps. At
night he came, pulled the hog away from the
fence, breaking the straps by which it was tied,
dragged it over the traps, sprung them, and then
ate his meal. The next night they chained the
hog to the fence, and set the traps again. He
came, and crawling up on the side rails of the
fence avoided the traps, reached the hog and
again got his supper. They then put the hog on
the woods side, fastened it tight to the fence,
staking around it with heavy stakes driven into
the ground, and leaving a door just large enough
for him to enter, planted or buried a twenty-
pound trap outside and another of twelve pounds
inside the door. That night he came, pulled
up the traps with the log chain with which they
were fastened, turned them over and sat down
on them. The next night was nearly a repeti-
tion of the last. Then moss from old logs was
crowded under the pan of the traps to make
them hard to spring, but this scheme availed
nothing. He still sprung them and secured his
supper as usual. They then built a pen of logs,
about four feet by eight, with the door end be-
tween two trees, securely fastening it to them
with pins and withes. The other end was staked
and withed as well as notched together. A door
was made of split puncheons and the pen was
finished with a log floor, and logs on top. They
then fastened the hog to a stick, one end of
which was put through the back end of the pen,
somewhat like the spindle to a box-trap. A
pole was then placed over the pen to the end of
the puncheon door (which was raised above the
entrance) and with a cord at the other end was

^56

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

tied to a lop-picce which had one end put in a
place in one of the logs, and the other into a
notch in the stick or spindle, to which the hog
was fastened — a huge log box-trap. The traps
and chains were then put at the door to remove
his fear of danger in the pen. At night he
came, and this time his bearship was outwitted.
He walked in and was caught.

He was kept in the pen a portion of the next
day for exhibition, and many of the people of
the township came to see him, as he had become
quite noted among them for his sagacity and
cunning. He had gnawed some of the logs half
off and would steadily continue to do so, unless
he was watched by some one to take his atten-
tion. He would spit, snort, and scratch on the
logs of the pen, jarring it until the tops of the
trees to which it was fastened would shake.

Those who approached the pen would receive
such a salute as would sometimes make them
start and jump, to the great amusement of the
spectators. Towards noon the bear was shot and
taken on an ox sled to the house. His live
weight was variously estimated from four hun-
dred to four hundred and fifty pounds. He
dressed three hundred and fifty pounds. His
skin weighed thirty pounds. In his spine was
found a half ounce rifle ball, and a scar of an-
other shot through the ribs, also an ounce ball
and a buckshot in his neck. Thompson and
Waters took the skin and one-half the meat for
their share. Daniel Bushnell had the remainder,
which furnished him sixty pounds of oil, in ad-
dition to the meat. His family had doughnuts
fried in bear's oil all winter, and bear meat in
place of the pork he had intended to use. The
meat is said to be between beef and ])ork in ap-
pearance and taste. Strangers on eating the
meat would sometimes pronounce it beef and
sometimes pork, but always good meat, at the
same time i)ehaps remarking they never could
eat bear meat. After the meal they were
generally informed of what they had partaken,
when they would exclaim in great surprise :
" Bear's meat ! impossible ! "

This same historical bear is well remembered
to this day (1882) by the postmaster, H. B.
Thompson. At that time the roads were full of
stumps which had been blackened by frequent
attempts to burn them out. He, a little fellow
of four years of age, returning from school, was

leisurely wending his way homeward down the
diagonal road swinging his dinner basket and oc-
casionally turning around to look back. He re-
members well on one occasion of seeing an un-
usual number of black stumps behind him, but
did not understand the reason till next day it was
explained to him by the excited children at
school, who informed him that some men work-
ing on Davis Fuller's barn, near the road, hap-
pening to look after the boy saw old bruin walk
out of the woods on the roadside and leisurely
trot on a short distance behind him. Some of
the men ran for their guns while the others kept
watch. In the meantime the unconscious Tittle
fellow was walking on, occasionally looking back,
at which times bruin would immediately sit down,
then as the boy again walked on he would arise
and follow. When the men had procured their
guns, however, and started in pursuit, he sud-
denly increased his speed and taking to the
woods was soon lost to thein. One can readily
imagine the pleasure the boy experienced when
he visited the trap and saw the old .''ellow caught
at last.

BEAR HUNT.

A Mr. Hummason having recently arrived
from Connecticut on a visit, was anxious to have
a bear hunt, and Colonel William Bushnell, as
anxious to gratify him, started with dogs and
gun to accompany him. On reaching Yankee
creek, below Asahel Borden's, they went north
on the bottom lands, and very soon were so
fortunate as to strike a bear track. They followed
it, and soon the dogs treed a white bear a little
north of Bates' corners on the hill. Before the
men reached them, however, it came down, and
was at length run into a thicket or wind-fall, near
Parson's corners. Bushnell fired and wounded
the bear. Hummason, much excited, got upon
a log to get a better sight of the animal, when he
slipped and fell. The wounded bear immediately
pounced upon him. Bushnell did not wait to
charge his gun, but turned in the powder from
the horn, and in his haste got in too much. He
went within three feet and fired at the head of
bear killing him instantly, but burst his gun and
injured himself. It was three months before
Hummason recovered sufficiently to return home.
This was the only white bear ever known to
have been killed in this region. The skin was

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

257

taken to Philadelphia, stuffed, and placed in a
museum.

RING, OR WOLF HUNT.

The first settlers, having suffered in the de-
struction of their flocks from the incursions of
the wolves, as well as their cousins, the bruin
family, who made their chief rendezvous in the
cranberry marsh m the southeast corner of John-
son (rattlesnakes and cranberries, with an un-
limited amount of the former, being the princi-
pal production), organized at different times,
conjointly with the citizens of the adjoining town-
ships, what was called a wolf, or ring hunt.
Those in each township who wished to share in
the sport met together and elected a captain for
the occasion. These four men were to have en-
tire control, and make all needful rules for the
day. Before the time set for the hunt the cap-
tains proceeded to lay out a line around the
swamp by blazing the trees, usually comprising a
circle of one-half or three-quarters of a mile in
diameter. On the day appointed the men were
to start at the highway leading from the center
of one township to the other, and at a given
time or signal move forward to the inside line,
keeping as nearly equally apart from each other
as possible, and drive all the game before them.
By the time the line was reached the game, deer
especially, would become aroused, passing
rapidly around to find a place of escape, serv-
ing the while as a target for the men on the line.
Sportsmen were allowed to shoot square across
or at right angles to the line, but not otherwise for
fear of accidents. Occasionally some old deni-
zen of the forest would make for a weak or un-
guarded portion of the line, and succeeded in
makmg his escape. After all were shot that
sought to make their exit, the captains would
select some of their most careful men to go and
shoot all the game found with the lines. The
game was then collected and sold at auction to
buy whiskey to treat the hunters. At one hunt
fifty deer were killed, besides bears and wolves.
At another time nine wolves were among the
trophies of the day. On the last occasion of
the kind one man was severely wounded. In
the fall of 1821 (according to George Hallock's
diary), at one of these hunts four black bear,
six wolves, two hundred deer, a number of
turkeys, and considerable other wild game was
killed.

THE OLD CHURCH.

The old church was erected in 1819-20 by
John Northrop and Oliver Stanford, of Board-
man, for $1,310, materials being furnished, one-
third of the amount to be paid in grain, cattle,
and labor, and the balance in money. Daniel
Bushnell, Titus Brockway, Richard Hayes, An-
drews Bushnell, and Seymour A. Moses were the
building committee. Contract signed Decem-
ber I, 1818.

It stands on the "green." The main part of
the building is forty-five feet square, and accord-
ing to the original contract, still in existence, was
built in the Doric style of architecture, had two
rows of small windows, and two large Venetian
windows, one in each end, and originally had a
high pulpit, a gallery on three sides, square
pews, a broad ai.sle in the center, with two narrow
ones on either side, a tall spire and weather
vane, all after the old Connecticut fashion. It
was built by the Congregationalists, with some
assistance from the people of the township, with
the understanding that it might be used for all
town purposes, and be free to all denominations
when not in use by themselves. In addition to
the names of the building committee, among the
largest subscribers were Thomas Thompson,
Davis Fuller, Chester Andrews, William Bush-
nell, Elam Jones, Calvin Cone, Philo Borden,
Seth Thompson, Shaler Fitch, Asahel Brainard,
and Aaron Brockway. These were followed by
the names of nearly all the men in the township ;
the young men subscribing an amount sufficient
for the erection of the steeple, which was not
included in the original contract.

This was the first church built in the county.
In 1846 it was repaired and materially changed.
During the decade following, the churches hav-
ing united, and the "old church" being no longer
used for religious purposes, it has been devoted
entirely to schools.

During its early history it was used for all pub-
lic purposes, ])olitical as well as religious. With-
in its walls in years past theories of all kinds
have been promulgated.

After the close of the War of 1812, emigra-
tion to the West largely increased, and the fol-
lowing named persons, most of them with fam-
ilies, settled in the township within a few years:

2S8

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

Calvin Cone, Seymour A. Moses, John Banning,
Lory Norton, Spencer Parsons, Romania Nor-
ton, Daniel Spencer, Elihu Bates, Nathan Spen-
cer, Azel Tracy, Joseph A. Gould, Amos Jones,
Ambrose Hart, Dr. J. C. Wilcox, Thomas Dutch-
er, Theron Plumb, Alva Hart, Gad Hart, Ches-
ter Fancher, Oris Mason, William Waterhouse,
Robinson Truesdale, Titus Rowe, Paul Wellman,
Hosea Mowrey, Isaac Taylor, Louis Canfield,
Levi Canfield, Jarvis Gates, Luman Canfield,
Matthias Gates, Richard Gates, Amos Hart,
Captain Asa Hutchins, Julius Miner, Jeremiah
Learning, Andrew Messersmith, Arial Chapman,
Isaac Learning, William Hull, Benjamin Reeder.

Calvin Cone was one of the pioneers of Gusta-
vus in 1804, and changed his residence to this
place in 1S17.

Captain Asa Hutchins came from Vienna in
1816.

William Hull was a pioneer settler of Vernon
in 1805, changing his residence to Hartford in
1821.

At a still later date came William Bond, Wil-
liam McCord, Norman E. Austin, Ira Fowler,
the Bakers, Bennetts, Beebes, Hulls, Truman
Parks, Billings O. Plimpton, Milton Holcomb,
and Asa Newman.

At this time almost every family made the
material for their own clothes. The clatter of
the loom, the humming of the great wheel, or
the buzzing of the little wheel, sometimes called
"grandmother's piano," gave life and bustle, as
well as business, to the whole household. Cur-
rency was so scarce that families were compelled
to live within themselves, and barter became
the usual rule in business. It was difficult at
times to raise money for the payment of taxes;
property being sold at almost any price to obtain
the necessary funds to pay the county treasurer.
School "marms" taught at seventy-five cents a
week, or less, even, and were sometimes partly
paid with "store orders," or "white backs," as
they were sometimes called, and with these they
purchased calico at fifty cents per yard for their
"Sunday best." Butter at si.x cents per pound,
]5ork and beef from two to three cents, did not
allow of large store bills. Men and boys, to
some extent, used buckskin breeches for every-
day wear. They had one merit, at least, that of
being durable if not elegant.

In the summer of 1S28 the township was

visited by the typhoid fever ; some thirty deaths
occurring within a few weeks, nearly all young
people, the family of Colonel William Bush-
nell losing seven members in a short time. It
commenced in Brookfield, came north into this
township, and spread to some extent from this
place. For a time it seemed to bafifle the skill
of the best physicians in the country. Those
first taken with it and having the most care and
attention, nearly all fell victims to the scourge.
Dr. Kirtland, of Poland, Dr. Manning of
Youngstown, Dr. J. C. Wilcox, and Dr. Asahel
Jones, of this place, were in constant attendance
for some weeks.

AXTI-SLAVERV MOVEMENT.

About 1832 the anti-slavery agitation com-
menced in this community. A society was soon
formed, and for a long time Hartford was a
prominent place for all lectures of that class.
As a result of this agitation a branch of the
memorable underground railway was run through
the township, with many farm-house stations on
its route, from which no fleeing bondsman were
ever turned away.

MILLS.

Jeffery Bently bought of Holmes & Root,
for a consideration of $100, two acres of land in
lot twenty-three, near the south line of the town-
ship, the deed bearing date September 7, 1803.
Upon this lot, according to the wording of the
deed, mills had previously been built by him.
The property was soon after sold to Titus Brock-
way and Daniel Hummason, for a considera-
tion of $700, deed bearing date April 9, 1805.
The first grist mill was so poorly constructed
that the grain when ground, had such a peculiar
appearance a facetious pioneer named it the
"maggot mill." Improvements continued to be
made, with some additions of land to the original
purchase, until finally Hummason sold his one-
half interest to Brockway, Decembe r2, 1808, for
a consideration of $1,500.

Previous to the building of tliis and the Orange-
ville mill, some families made mortars in the
tops of stumps, and with a pestle and spring
pole pounded their grain ; others boiled wheat
for food when the supplies ran low, and could
not be renewed.

For a short time the pioneers were compelled
logo to Beaver and Neshannock to a-.ill, or supply

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

259

their wants with more primitive means. In 1822
both mills were burned. It was supposed to
have been the work of an incendiary. They
were immediately rebuilt, however, with the saw-
mill at the first location and the grist-mill a
short distance farther south. The second grist-
mill was burned in 1826, and was never rebuilt.
The sawmill is still standing, which was built at
this time. This property soon after passed into
the possession of Titus Brockway's son Ed-
ward, who sold it to its present owner, Joseph
Burnett, in 1855. Water was the motive power
for mills of all kinds early in the century.

About 1817 Asa Hutchins built a saw-mill on
Yankee run, west of Burnett's mill, but it never
did much business and soon went to decay. At
a later date Alexander Spears built one, still
farther west, on the same stream, which was
used many years. On the west township line
one was built by Mr. Foot at an early period.
At the head of the ravine at the ledge a saw-mill
stood, some forty years ago, owned by Daniel
G. Andrews. On Brockway run west of Orange-
ville Lymon A. Moses built a mill, which was
afterward owned by Bradford Hewitt, and at a
later period was run by steam-power. On Mc-
CuUough run Wilson Bushnell and Harry Parker
built one, and only the remnant of a mill-dam
and race are now to be seen. On the ridge
George Snyder built a mill of the same class.
It was also used as a steam-mill for some time.
It has been removed.

So little reliance could be placed on the water
saw-mills, and steam as a motive power for
making lumber being unused, a project was
started for using oxen for this purpose. Such a
mill was built in 1821 and 1822, after original
plans by the proprietor. It was situated on lot
nineteen, a half mile east of the center, on land
now known as the Tracy farm.

The steam-mill south of the center was built
in 1849 by Jarvin Gates and Jay Parsons. It
was bought soon after by Daniel Parsons, who
sold to Benjamin Finn, Jr. It is now the prop-
erty of Hummason & McCuUum. It has at-
tained to an unusual age for a steam saw-mill,
having been in existence thirty-two years.

INDEPENDENCE D.W.

The first celebration of our National inde-
pendence in this place is said to have taken

place July 4, 1802, all the inhabitants in this
vicinity assembling for the purpose.

In 1805 the day was spent by the pioneers in
clearing the common, and was certainly a prac-
tical as well as patriotic way of spending the
day.

In 1 8 1 3 the day was celebrated with more for-
mality at the barn of William C. Jones, which is
now owned by his grandson, Robert C. Jones.
An oration was delivered by Rev. Harvey Coe,
and a dinner was provided at the tavern of David
Lane.

In 1824 a celebration on a large scale was
held at the center, and in 1842 the occasion par-
took more of a political character on account of
the anti slavery agitation, and that in 1861, on
account of the breaking out of the war, engen-
dered a military spirit and resulted in the organ-
ization of local military companies.

Our National centennial was celebrated in
Hartford at Institute hall, in the " old church "
building, by a Centennial tea party, which was an
occasion of much interest.

SCHOOLS.

Like all people of New England origin and
education, the pioneer had no sooner laid the
foundation of a church than a school was estab-
lished in the same vicinity.

In 1804 the first school in the township was
taught at Burg Hill by Miss Bartholomew, con-
sisting of twenty-four scholars from Hartford and
Vernon.

As soon as the " green " was cleared from
trees and brush, in 1805, the first school-house
was erected. It was a frame building and
stood nearly east of the town hall site. It was
the first public building and nearly the first
framed one in the township. After some four
removals it now stands on the farm of William
Mitchel. It has some historic interest connected
with it, as for a time it was the only school-house,
and for many years served also as church and
town-hall. The first summer school was taught
by Miss Amanda Finney. The following winter,
school was taught by Wells Andrews. Among
the early teachers we may mention Philo Borden,
Ambrose Hart, Chester Andrews, Joseph Trues-
dale, George Hallock, Miss Hannah Bushnell,
Miss Sally Gates, Miss Lura Bushnell, and Miss
Olive Hickox. Theodore Trade at one time
taught a school for two seasons in this school-

260

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

house, numbering one hundred and six scholars.
Besides his day labors his evenings were occu-
pied with special schools for writing and spell-
ing, for all of which he was paid the then large
salary of $17 per month.

For a time there were but two school districts
in the township, one at Burg Hill and one at the
center. The first log school-house at Burg Hill
stood opposite the residence of the late Seth
Hayes. Soon the increase of population, how-
ever, made others necessary. The first school-
house in the " Mill district " was of logs, and
stood on the township line where the Methodist
Episcopal church now stands. It was probably
built in 1808, and the first school was taught by
General Charles Woodruff. The second school-
house stood under the " old elm tree " north of
the mill-dam, and the first teacher in it was Miss
Lavinia Flower, in the summer of 1816, fol-
lowed by Thomas Bushnell, Jr., the ne,\t winter.

The first school-house in the east district was
also of logs, and stood upon the corner opposite
the residence of John B. Jones. The first two
terms were taught by Miss Electa M. Jones.
The first school on the ridge was taught by Miss
Pluma More. The first school-house in the west
district stood on the Bates farm about one-half
mile north of Bates's corner. Among the
names of those who have since taught in various
places in the township may be mentioned Buel
Barnes, Sarah M. Jones, Dr. William Bushnell,
now of Mansfield, Ohio, Joseph Marvin, James
Beebe, James L. Gage, whose wife was the well
known Mrs. Frances D. Gage, Bethuel Beaman,
Ira L. Fuller, Stephen Watkins, Miss Maria Aus-
tin, Miss Hannah Hutchins, Miss Amanda L.
Beer, Miss Mary J. Leslie, A. R. Bushnell, Miss
Mary Hoadley, Amos Thomas, N. G. Hyde,
Riley Hull, and Marshal Woodford.

In 1827 a two-story brick school-house was
erected at Burg Hill, the upper part of which
was used for many years by the Free-will Baptist
society. The first schools in this building were
taught by George Hallock and Miss Sarah M.
J ones.

In 1828 a two-story brick school-house was
built at the center. These two buildings were
used for some twenty-five years, when for some
good cause they were demolished, and the pres-
ent less [jretentious and more modern houses
were erected.

At the present time the common schools of
the township are nine in number. Number one
is known as Hartford special school district,
number five as Orangeville special school district;
the remaining schools, comprising four sub-
school and three fractional school districts, are
known as Hartford school districts. The school
enumeration for 1880 in this township was four
hundred and thirty-three. The amount paid for
the support of common schools for the same
year was $2,413. 16.

The first school of a higher grade was taught
by John Crowell in 1824, in the house now
standing, long known as the residence of Cap-
tain Thomas Thompson. At a later date the
Rev. Wells Andrews, Miss Caroline Andrews,
Miss Lorain Marvin, and Miss Ann Brigham
were also engaged at various times in teaching.

About 1840 a young ladies' school was taught
for a number of terms by Miss Caroline Billings,
and after a lapse of forty years is frequently re-
ferred to by citizens of the township as one
which has left a lasting impression.

Seth A. Bushnell taught in 1843; Rev. Hor-
ace Palmer a little later. About this time Mr.
and Mrs. Curtis taught at Burg Hill. Iri 1847
and 1849 John Lynch taught four months in the
upper room of the old brick school-house, and
gave general satisfaction. During the next sum-
mer a room was fitted up in the lower part of
the old church for school purposes, at an expense
of some $400. Dr. George W. Bushnell, Paul
Wellman, Dr. Robert M. Beebe, George Hallock,
and William Truesdale were chosen as a board
of trustees.

In the winter of 1849 an act was passed by
the General Assembly to incorporate the Hartford
high school, and the board organized under the
provisions of this act. In September, 1849, John
Lynch commenced teaching in this new school-
room, and in the winter following had over one
hundred scholars under his charge. Miss Mary
Conant, E. M. Cotton, Isaac W. Case, T. A.
Bushnell, and F. V. Hayden were his assistants.
He left to take charge of the union schools of
Ashland, and still later was principal of the
schools at Circleviile, Ohio. Mr. Lynch pos-
sessed a peculiar faculty as teacher, which has
never been equaled by any of his numerous suc-
cessors, and is held in high esteem by all classes.
IJst of principals and assistant teachers: Andrew

TRUMBULL AND MAHONINCx COUNTIES, OHIO.

261

Patterson, F. V. Hayden, 1850-51; Cornelius
Powers, Mrs. Minerva Powers, 1851-52; Hender-
son Judd, Mrs. Sarah C. Judd, 1852-53; A. K.
Warren, Miss Eraeline Warren, 1853-54; A. B.
Lyon, Miss M. J. Goodrich, 1854-55; J. R. Ken-
nedy, 1855-56, Edward Whiting, Miss E. Post,
1856-57; Erastus M. Cravath, Miss Mary J. An-
drews, 1857-59; E. H. Merrill, Miss J. A. Bush-
nell, 1859-61; A. H. Brown, Mrs. M. E. Brown,
1861-62; J. G. Knight, 1862-63; Missjerusha

A. Bushnell, 1863-64; Mrs. Ophelia Forward,
1865-66; John Hamilton, 1866-67; Ransom
Davis, 1867-68.

In 1871, theold church being no longer re-
quired for religious meetings, it was entirely
devQted to school purposes, and repaired at an
expense of some $2,000, the lower floors being
devoted to school-rooms, and the upper part
converted into a hall for public e.xercises. A
board of nine trustees was chosen by the sub-
scribers of the school fund, viz: Homer B.
Thompson, Peter Carlton, Edwin Bennett, Rev.
George W. Anderson, Seth Thompson, Rev. J.

B. Davison, T. A. Bushnell, Dr. James Irwin,
and Benjamin Fenn. These trustees became in-
corporated under a general law of the State, made
and provided for such cases, and the school was
named Hartford Academic Institute.

The list of teachers since the reorganization
has been as follows:

Mr. and Mrs. James W. Cheney, and Miss
Ermina J. Day, 1S71-72; J. W. Bowen and
Miss Ermina J. Day, 1872-73; Mr. P. D. Dodge
taught for three years, from 1873 to 1876, with
Miss Hattie Linn as assistant for two years, and
the third year with Miss F. M. Rogers and Miss
Etta Gorseline ; Mr. E. P. Madole, with Miss
M. C. Hulbert and Miss Albertson, 1876-77;
Mr. L. G. Spencer, with Miss Martha Hyde, in
1877-78, and also in 1879; C. B. Shaw, in
1879-80; Peter Vogel, 1880-81 ; Mr. and Mrs.
J. H. Rice, 1881-82.

For over thirty years, this school of a higher
grade has been maintained by tuitions and pri-
vate contributions, and during that time has been
of great benefit to this community and neighbor-
ing townships. It has in these years had its
time of prosperity and adversity, but as long as
the spirit of the pioneer fathers exists among the
inhabitants, it will doubtless be sustained and
supported.

MILITARY.

Among the pioneers were a few men who had
served in the Continental army at various periods
during the Revolutionary war, all buried at the
center, except William C. Jones, who is buried
at Burg Hill. He took part at the battle of
Bunker Hill, and also served under Gates at
Saratoga. Captain Alexander Bushnell, who re-
ceived his commission while serving under
Washington ; Titus Hayes, who endured the
hardships of the winter at Valley Forge ; Edward
Brockway, who took part in the capture of Bur-
goyne at Saratoga ; Thomas and Daniel Bush-
nell, who served in their father's company for a
time near the close of the war.

At the first military election, held May 7,
1804, William Bushnell was elected captain,
Daniel Hummason first lieutenant, and Ebenezer
M. Combs ensign. This company at that time
formed a part of the Second regiment. Second
brigade. Fourth division, Ohio militia, under
Major-general Wadsworth. At a little later
period it became the Third regiment. Third bri-
gade of the same division, and was so designated
during the War of 1812.

The following imperfect list of soldiers in the
war is given. It includes a few who settled here
since that period, and also two or three who
resided here many years, and were long identified
with the township but have since removed:
Colonel Richard Hayes, Seth Thompson, Thom-
as McFarland, Hosea Mowrey, Davis Fuller,
John Pfouts, Alexander Bushnell (3d), Selden
Jones, Michael Quiggle, Selden C. Jones, Elijah
Woodford, Jehiel Hurlburt, Wilson Bushnell,
Archibald McFarland, Peter Quiggle, Ezra Hart,
Harry Parker, Asa Andrews, A. W. Moses,
Lieutenant Andrew Bushnell, Alva Hart, Cap-
tain Asa Hutchins, Elisha Bennett, Elijah Saw-
yer, Mathias Gates, Lester Hayes, Frederick
Shull, John Groscost, Sherman Andrews, Joel
Hall, William Bates, George W. Cassiday, O. S.
Goodrich, Jacob DeWitt, John Kepner, Luman
Brockway, Ambrose Hart, Lester Bushnell.

Azariah W. Moses was the last surviving mem-
ber of Colonel Hayes' regiment in the township.
In 1823, by permission of Andrew Bushnell,
brigadier-general First brigade Fourth division,
Ohio militia, a company of light infantry was
organized here, and for some years, under the
command of Captain Philo Borden, Captain

262

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

Robinson Truesdale, Captain Azel Tracy, and
perhaps other officers, it was maintained with a
good degree of military pride. The company
was ordered out for guard duty at the execution
of Gardiner by Sheriff Mygatt.

In 1835, during the border troubles, the State
militia were called upon by Governor Lucas,
through the proper officials, for volunteers to
" march at a moment's warning to the northern
frontier of Ohio, to protect our fellow-citizens
residing within its constitutional limits, from the
lawless aggression and outrage of the authorities
of Michigan."

They probably all volunteered, as was custo-
mary in such cases. The matter was soon set-
tled, and their brief vision of military service
passed away. The company was made of good
material, and at a later date would doubtless
have made a good military record. After this
the company and regimental musters were all
that served to keep alive the military spirit, and
even these in a few years were abandoned.

The following is a list of those who died in
the war of 1861-65 • Lieutenant Calvin C.
Hart was killed at Murfreesboro December 31,
1862, Christopher A. Bennett was also wounded
at Murfreesboro and died January 10th. Charles
Bennett was wounded at Brown's Ferry October
7, 1863, and died December 8, 1863. Asbury
Hewitt was wounded at Resaca and died at At-
lanta, and was buried by the rebels, Albert Mc-
Farland was killed at Murfreesboro. George
Norton died in hospital at Louisville, Kentucky.
Milo Bushnell died in hospital at Gallipolis,
Ohio, April 17, 1863. Daniel W. Brockway died
in Cleveland April 12, 1864. Virgil Holcomb
died June 24, 1863, at Reedsville, Tennessee.
Owen Spencer died at Manchester, Tennessee,
August 16, 1863. Stewart Grosscost died in
Andersonville prison. William Shirey was killed
at Murfreesboro December 31, 1862. William
Law died in hospital September 29, 1864. Harry
Messenger, a member of the Seventy-si.\th Penn-
sylvania regiment, was killed in July, 1863.
Elliot S. Gilky, a member of the Fifty-seventh
Pennsylvania regiment, was killed May 7, 1864,
in the battle of the Wilderness. (Jeorge Dutcher,
a member of the Seventy-sixth Pennsylvania
regiment, was wounded at Bermuda Hundred by
a grape shot, and died in hospital at City Point,
Virginia. H. H. Brown was known to have died

of starvation in Andersonville prison September
14, 1864. Frank Curtis, J. Pelton, S. Moun-
tain, Luftus Murray, Harrison Allen, Melker
Mellinger, John Decker, and William Paden
also either died in battle or hospital during the
war.

Lieutenant Davis Fuller has since died from
disease contracted while in the army.
ladies' aid society.

Soon after President Lincoln's call for troops
in April, 1861, the ladies of the township, anx-
ious to bear their small share in the exertions and
privations to be imposed by the war, organized a
society for the purpose of sending needed aid to
the soldiers of our army in camp or hospital.
The first meeting was on June 5, 1861, at the
session room of the Congregational church. In
records still preserved it is shown that Mrs. Joel
Miner was elected its first president. Miss Ma-
linda Brockway and Miss Fanny Jones, vice-
presidents ; Mrs. A. G. Hart, secretary, and Mrs.
D. Parsons, treasurer. A committee was then
appointed to canvass the township to solicit
donations of money and goods. It consisted of
Mrs. D. S. Tracy, Miss Harriet Jones, Celia
Gallespie, Mary Fitch, Jerusha Bushnell, Mrs.
Gad Hart, Carrie Brockway, Mary Hoadly, Laura
Olmstead, Mrs. Seth Hayes, Mrs. M. Cook, Jane
Hale, Helen Hart, Ellen Bushnell, Matilda
Lafferty, Mrs. E. Space, Mrs. Jerome Hall, Miss
Elizabeth Myers, Miss Rebecca Jones.

With this competent and energetic corps of
officers and committee, commenced the three
years and a half of patient, unremitting, and
persevering labor which followed. Each week
the society met once, if not more, and much
work was given out to those who found it not
convenient to attend. After the first six months
the society was reorganized as a branch of the
Cleveland Aid society, and thenceforward received
directions for work from it. After this time the
officers were as follows : Presidents, Mrs. Ben-
jamin Fenn, Mrs. Daniel Parsons, Miss Eliza
Spear, Miss Jerusha Bushnell, Mrs. James Mat-
tox. Secretaries, Mrs. Albert Hart, Mrs. Robert
Johnson, Miss Mary Beebe. Treasurers, Mrs.
D. Parsons, Mrs. J. Mattox, Mrs. Jay Baker,
Miss E. Spear, Mrs. Augustus Drury. The dis-
bursements amounted in all to $18,000, part of
which was sent through the Cleveland branch of
the sanitary commission, and part sent direct to

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

263

the army. Beside this, quite an amount of sani-
tary stores and money were left on hand, at the
close of the war, which in time was divided
between the Freedmen and sufferers by the
Chicago fire. Among the earnest workers of this
society were Miss Lizzie Beebe, Mary Bushnell,
Mary Bennett, Anna Bates, Rhoda Moses, Mrs.
Elmer Moses, Miss Jerusha Fuller, Esther Wier,
Ida Thompson, Malinda Kepner, Mrs. Eliza
Bennett, Mrs. Solon Gilky, Mrs. Calvin Hart,
Mrs. Homer Thompson, Miss Deborah Borden,
Anna Hart, Sophia Bennett, Kate Bushnell,
Mrs. Henry Chamberlain, Miss Sarah Bushnell,
Janett Spear, Miss Caroline Dutcher, Lavina
Gallespie. The officers of the Orangeville so-
ciety, also in this township, consisted of Mrs.
Charles Hull, Mrs. Shelden Palmer, presidents;
Mrs. Edward Jones, Mrs. Jesse Hahn, vice-presi
dents ; Mrs. Augustus Moffitt, Mrs. Henry Reed,
secretaries and treasurers. Estimate of dis-
bursements, $15,000.

A society was also formed at Burnett's mill,
but soon after was united with the center society.

PUBLIC HOUSES.

The first public house was kept by Aaron
Brockway at Burg Hill, as early as 1802 or 1803.
David Lane soon afterward engaged in the same
business, and followed it for many years. He
was located on the south side of Burg Hill, the
old military headquarters, and near the old pa-
rade ground, where now stands the residence of
his grandson, Henry Lane.

"In days long gone 'his' was deemed of goodly inns the
chief."

The sparkling spring near by, freely as of yore,
yields to thirsty man and beast refreshment pure,
but,

"Never more the sign board swinging, flaunts its gilded

wonder there;
Never, as with nearer tinkle through the dust of long ago.
Creeps the Pennsylvania wagons up the twilight, white and

This pioneer host is said to have been very
obliging and very funny. As people often halted
at the spring near his house to water their horses,
he would kindly assist them, and of course re-
ceive the usual thanks. It is said of him that
he always counted a "thank you" worth a shil-
ling (i2;3 cents), and a "thank you, sir" worth
a quarter of a dollar, and he used to say some
days he made several dollars just by obliging
people passing by.

Once in early days a band of sneaking Indians
entered the kitchen and appropriated for their
own use a baking intended for special company,
without even a "thank you," much to the dis-
comfort of the weary housekeeper. That time
the joke seems to have been on the landlord,
and he was consequently "out of pocket."

It was often customary in those days to have
a peculiar sign. His had represented upon it a
horse, and a plumb line suspended from the cen-
ter above it, accompanied with the following quo-
tation: "Amos 7th Ch. 7th, 8th v."

Later, Samuel Hewitt and Lester Lane were
engaged on the "Hill" in the same business.

The first public house at the center of the
township was built by Elam Jones, and opened
in 1829. In 1846 he retired, and was followed
by Cornelius Silliman. Later by William Christy,
J. B. Nelson, and the present proprietor, Daniel
Parsons.

About 1 84 1 G. C. Reed opened a second pub-
lic house a little south of the center. He sold
to Jehiel Lane, who was succeeded by Alva
Merriam ; later by Solon Gilky, who, after a
time, converted it into a private residence.

POSTAL MATTERS.

The first postmaster was Titus Brockway;
Philo Borden, however, acting as his deputy for
many years. Edward Brockway held the office
a short time while his father was a member of
the Legislature. Later the office has been held
successively by James Miller, Elam Jones, G. C.
Reed, L. C. Jones, John Yeatman, J. H. C.
Johnson, Jay Baker, and H. B. Thomas, the
present incumbent.

At Burg Hill the first postmaster was Erastus
Olin, the office being in Hayes & Plumb's store
building; it was, however, soon removed to the
railroad station of the same name in Vernon.

A weekly mail for years supplied our citizens
with news of the outside world. About 1830,
however, postal facilities were increased, and
mail was carried in a four-horse Concord coach.
The route became an important one between the
lake and the river, for the conveyance of passen-
gers as well as mail. After the financial crash of
1837 mail service was reduced, to be again in-
creased at a later date. For a long time it
was a tri-weekly mail between Conneaut and
Youngstown. A weekly mail between Warren
and Franklin, Pennsylvania, and later a tri-

264

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

weekly from the former place to Greenville,
Pennsylvania, passed through here, but was dis-
continued after the building of the Atlantic &
Great Western railway. The north and south
route was also shortened, so that it now extends
only from this office to Burg Hill station, from
which point daily mails are received.

MERCH.\NTS.

The first store was opened in 18 14 at Burg
Hill by James Heslep, who sold out in a few
months to Colonel Richard Hayes. At this
time goods were brought from Philadelphia in
large Pennsylvania six-horse covered wagons,
carrying nearly three tons. Colonel Hayes soon
learned that the new country must pay its debts
in a currency which could transport itself to the
seaboard and accordingly engaged in buying
large droves of cattle, some numbering as high
as five hundred head, which were driven by him
over the mountains to Philadelphia market. It
is said that Benjamin F. Wade was employed on
two or three occasions to assist Colonel Hayes'
son Alvin in driving these cattle to the eastern
markets.

(ioods were also bought to some extent by
dealers who would go among the farmers and
purchase butter, cheese, and produce, take it to
Pittsburg in wagons and exchange it for dry
goods and groceries, school books and almanacs,
or anything their customers saw fit to order.
About two weeks were required to make the
round trip. Frequently farmers for themselves
and neighbors would carry their produce to
Pittsburg and make the needed exchanges.

Colonel Hayes continued in buying until his
death in 1837. Seth Hayes, his son, succeeded
him in business.

Ralph Plumb was for many years a partner of
Seth Hayes. He was an active, energetic busi-
ness man. He is now a resident of Streator,
Illinois. I'luuib was succeeded in the partner-
ship by Thomas X'ernon.

On West street Draton Andrews carried on a
small store for some years.

Horace Flower sold goods in the south part
of the townshij) for a short time.

About 1820 Ambrose Hart opened a store in
a two-story log-building, which then stood on the
north and south center road near the southwest
corner of lot eighteen. At a later period he
removed to the center of Brookfield, and with

Alva Hart and Seth Thompson as partners con-
tinued in the same business.

About 1829 Alva Hart returned to Hartford
and with his brother, Gad Hart, built the store
building now standing near the northeast corner
of the public square, and opened the first store
at the "center." Gad Hart soon after sold to
his brother and engaged in farming. Alva Hart
continued in trade until 1846, a part of this
time with S. H. Benton and Salmon N. Hart as
partners. In 1837 G. C. Reed opened a store
in a building standing near the present location
of the east church. Later L. C. Jones, Milton
Graham, G. L. Woodford, M. Christy, Jay Baker,
Joel Miner, J. L. Pierce, A. R. Gates, and H.
B. Thompson have each been engaged in mer-
chandizing at various times and places.

PHVSICI.\NS.

The first resident physician was Dr. Daniel
Upson. Previous to his settlement Dr. Jeremiah
Wilcox, of Vernon, practiced here. Upson soon
after removed to Hudson, Ohio, and was suc-
ceeded by Dr. Jeremiah C. AVilcox, who prac-
ticed some twenty years and then removed to
Richfield, Ohio.

Dr. Asahel Jones, a student of Dr. Wilcox
and a cotemporary also followed the profession
for some years until the time of his decease.

Dr. George W. Bushnell, still residing here,
and Dr. Robert M. Beebee, deceased, then fol-
lowed with many years of successful practice.
Dr. Daniel W. Atherholt and Dr. James Irwin
are the present medical practitioners.

At Orangeville Dr. Asahel Brainard com-
menced practice in 1837, and resided here until
his death in 188 1. He was a son of Asahel
Brainard, the pioneer, who came into the town-
ship in 1799.

Dr. G. W. Hamilton settled here in 1S64, and
is at present the only physician in the village.

CONGREG.\TIONAL CHURCH.

The Rev. Joseph Badger, who was sent out by
the Connecticut Missionary society, first visited
Hartford late in December, 1800, and soon
after preached in Veinon. The people of the
townships, five families in Vernon and three in
Hartford, collected to attend the meeting. The
three families in this township were doubtless
those of Edward Brockway, Isaac Jones, and
Charles Merry.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

265

Some-preliminary steps were taken as early as
1802 toward the formation of a church society,
but it was not until September 17, 1803, that
Mr. Badger met the~ following persons for that
purpose : Edward Brockway and Sarah, his
wife, Mrs. Sarah Bates, Timothy Crosby, Titus
Brockway, Plumb Sutliff, Sarah Palmer, and
Sarah Smith. They adopted the commonly re-
ceived Congregational confession of faith and
covenant, and were constituted a church of
Christ.

On the following Sabbath the first season of
communion was held in a grove, there being no
building that would accommodate the people.
Rev. Mr. Tait, of Mercer, Pennsylvania,
preached the sermon, and assisted in the com-
munion service. About forty communicants
were present.

In 1804 a four-days' meeting was held in the
barn of Thomas Thompson, which stood where
the steam saw-mill now stands, near the present
residence of Henry Bennett. Some additions
were made to the church as the result of this
meetmg. Wells Andrews, who afterwards be-
came the pastor of the church, was one of the
number.

This was probably the first Congregational
church formed within the present limits of the
county, as the Warren church was not organized
until October 19th of the same year. This
church was known as "The Church of Christ in
Hartford, Vernon, and Kinsman." The church
adopted the "plan of union" as proposed by the
general assembly of the Presbyterian church of
America, and approved by the general associa-
tion of Connecticut known as the "accommoda-
tion plan."

Meetings were held in rotation in these town-
ships, the citizens of each attending church in
the other as often as convenient. The barn of
Thomas Thompson was used as a place of wor-
ship for a time, afterwards the school-house, un-
til the erection of the church in 1819. The
society had no settled pastor, but enjoyed the oc-
casional labors of Revs. Badger, Darrow, Rob-
bins, and Leslie for the first twelve years of its
existence.

In 18 1 3 the church had increased to eighty
members, and at this time made the acquaintance
of the Rev. Harvey Coe, of Granville, Massa-
chusetts, and invited him to become their pastor.
34*

On the 4th of April, 1814, he was installed at
the residence of Dr. Wilcox, in Vernon, the
school-house, the usual place of holding meet-
ings, not being large enough to accommodate
those in attendance. The Rev. John Seward
preached the installation sermon.

The church had been until this time under the
care of the presbytery of Hartford, which em-
braced ministers of western Pennsylvania as
well as those living on theW estern Reserve, and
belonged to the synod of Pittsburg. Among
these ministers were Revs. Badger, Barr, Leslie,
Darrow, Wick, Hughes, and Tait. This presby-
tery seems to have been merged into Grand
River presbytery about 1814.

For some nine years Mr. Coe's pastorate in-
cluded the three branches of this church.

Titus Brockway and Daniel Bushneil were the
first deacons of the Hartford branch of the
church, and served in that capacity for many
years. Chester Andrews was afterwards elected
to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation
of Daniel Bushneil.

In 1821 the membership had increased to two
hundred and ten. A church having been built
in Hartford in 1819 of sufificient size to accom-
modate the people, it became desirable to have
greater religious privileges than were possible
under the united church of Hartford, Vernon,
and Kinsman, and accordingly the following
persons, forty-three in number, were dismissed by
letter September 15, 1823, for the purpose of
organizing a separate church in this township,
viz : Titus Brockway, Chester Andrews, Philo
Borden, Abigail A. Borden, William Rathbun,
Dorothea Rathbun, Asahel Brainard, Polly M.
Brainard, Sarah Jones, Phebe Borden, Shalor
Fitch, Lovisa Fitch, Joseph A. Gould, Orrey
Gould, Lament Bushneil, Lucy Andrews, Davis
Fuller, Hannah Fuller, John B. Fitch, Rebecca
Bushneil, Phebe Tracy, Phebe Olmstead, Re-
becca Woodford, Chester Francher, Thomas
Dutcher, Jemima Francher, Daniel M. Bushneil,
Betsy Spencer, Alva Hart, Fanny W. Hart,
Amoret Border, Polly Jones, Daniel C. Bush-
neil, Polly Bushneil, Seymour A. Moses, Rhoda
Moses, Gad Hart, Lucretia Hart, Lucy Jones,
Lorena Wilcox, Hope Beach, Hannah Andrews,
Hannah Hutchins.

On the 4th of December, of the same year,
they were formed into a church at the meeting-

266

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

house in Hartford by Rev. Harvey Coe. About
this time Mr. Coe resigned the pastorate of this
branch of the church. In 1826 the Rev. Wells
Andrews, pastor of the second Presbyterian
church of Alexandria, District of Columbia, ac-
cepted a call to this church, and for some ten
years remained here. He had formerly been a
resident, and was a relative of many members of
the church and society, and at an early day
cleared up a farm, chopping days and studying
nights during his preparation for college, being
one of the pioneers of the township. This
seems to have been the golden age of this
church, Mr. Andrews having been able to exert
a great influence in the community.

During this period quite an extensive revival
occurred, and many additions were made to the
church. The Rev. Lucius Foot assisted Mr.
Andrews in these revival labors. Revs. Rock-
well, Cochran, and Young, each successively
filled the pastorate about this period. The
church at this tune (1837) numbered a hundred
and sixty-four communicants. In October, 1S40,
Chester Andrews, Alva Hart, Seymour A. Moses,
Edward Brockway (second), Michael Quiggle,
Amos Jones, and others to the number of forty-
two persons, withdrew to form a Presbyterian
church, which was immediately organized with
the Rev. George D. Young as pastor. They
first met in the brick school-house at the center.
Soon after a room was fitted up in the upper part
of Alva Hart's store building, now the post-office,
where meetings were held until the building of
the new church in 1846. The Hon. Seth Hayes
contributed the greater portion of the funds tor
this purpose. Mrs. Sarah B. Hayes, his wife,
contributed funds for the purchase of the bell.
It was known at this time as the Presbyterian
church. Rev. Horace Palmer, and the Rev.
Benjamin Fenn, each had jiastoral charge of this
society for a time, until it was agam united with
the original church in 1852.

In 1842 the Rev. John Keep became the pas-
tor of the Congregational church, and remained
some four y^rs. He was one of the prominent
anti-slavery clergymen at that time, and during
his residence here the church took quite an ad-
vanced position on the subject of slavery. This
church was considered by people generally to
hold extreme views on that subject.

In 1842 i'hilo Ijorden, one of the pioneers of

the township, and his son, Russell Borden, gave
to the church three-quarters of an acre of land
on which to erect a parsonage, which was accord-
ingly built in 1843, aid first occupied by the
Rev. John Keep.

The church at this time obtained an act of
incorporation, for the purpose of becoming a cor-
porate body, with all the rights and privileges
incident thereto.

In 1847 the Rev. Theodore J. Keep accepted
the pastoral charge, but owing to ill health was
compelled to resign in 1849.

The Rev. Henry Fairchild (at present presi-
dent of Berea college, Kentucky), was called
to fill the vacancy thus made, and during his
pastorate in this church, and that of the Rev. B.
Fenn in the Presbyterian, the churches were
reunited under its original name of " The
Church of Christ in Hartford," as before men-
tioned, in April, 1852. Soon after this period
the Rev. Robert Burgess preached for a time,
and was followed by the Rev. Benjamin Walker,
who was succeeded, by the Rev. Joseph Tor-
rence. Rev. J. B. Davison, and Rev. U. T.
Chamberlin, who resigned on account of ill
health, and died January 10, 1880. At the
present time (1881) the church has no settled
pastor.

In 1868 the society sustained a great loss in
the death of Deacon Edward Brockway, who
had become greatly endeared to the church by
many years of faithful Christian service. Deacon
Norman E. Austin was elected his successor, but
in a few years he also died, and the vacancy was
filled by Deacon Truman Jones, who was soon
called by death to follow his predecessors.

The present officers of the church are Deacon
Simeon C. Baker, who has acted in the capacity
of deacon for over thirty years, and Deacon
Charles Hyde. Mr. James M. Jones is clerk,
and the three above named are also the trustees.
From a very early day Sunday-schools have
been maintained. Deacon Daniel Bushnell was
the first superintendent. He gave catechetical
and Bible instructions, as was the custom in
those times. Out of this grew the present form
of conducting Sunday-schools. After other
chuiches were formed for many years three Sun-
day-schools were kept up, but in time, churches
havmg been formed at different places in the
township, the number of attendants at the

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

267

"center" was greatly diminished, and it was
thought best to unite the different schools. This
was accomplished about i860, since which time
a union Sunday-school has been conducted,
which meets alternately in the Congregational
and Methodist Episcopal churches at present.
Thomas Miller, superintendent ; Frank Stewart,
secretary and treasurer.

HARTFORD METHODIST CHURCH.

This society was first organized within the
present limit of Vernon by Rev. Obed Crosby,
with five members — Obed Crosby and wife,
Ewing Wright and wife, and Eunice Brockway,
afterwards Mrs. Daniel Bushnell, of this town-
ship. It was the first church of this denomina-
tion on the Western Reserve, having been or-
ganized in 1801. The place of meeting being near
the line of Vernon and Hartford, and the mem-
bers increasing in Hartford more rapidly than in
Vernon, it was removed into Hartford and took
its name. Their place of worship was in the
school-house at Burg Hill until 1836, when they
removed to the center of the township, and
built the present house of worship, Isaac Win-
ans being elder, and S. Hubbard and W. French
preacher in charge during this year. In 1874
the^church was repaired at an expense of $1,100.

So many churches of the same denomination
having been formed in this immediate vicinity,
the membership of this center church has been
materially decreased.

Among those who have been prominent mem-
bers of this church during its later history may
be mentioned the McFarland families, Mr. and
Mrs. Asahel Borden, Dr. Robert Beebe and wife,
Mr. and Mrs. Joel Miner, Mr. and Mrs. Lyman
Rathbun, and Mr. and Mrs. U. H. Brockway.
The old members have all passed away, and it
has been impossible for the writer to obtain a
full history of this church.

DISCIPLES CHURCH.

This church was organized May i, 1830, by
William Hayden, with the following named per-
sons as members, viz: Elihu Bates, William
Vince, George W. Bushnell, John Bates, Julius
Miner, George Fell, John Jones, Sally Vince,
Sally Bushnell, and Julia Bates. Two of these,
George W. Bushnell and Julia Bates, are still
living.

Marcus Bosworth, John Henry, Alexander
Campbell, Walter Scott, Harvey Brocket, and
Andrew Burns, were the early preachers of this
denomination.

This church was organized on West street, and
for over twenty years their place of worship was
the school-house in that vicinity. In 1853 it
was changed to the center of the township.

The membership at this time is about seventy.
G. W. Bushnell, Alexander Spears, James Fowler,
Samuel Bates, Abner Banning, and A. D. Drury,
have been prominent members of this society
for many years. Elder Peter Vogle is the pres-
ent preacher.

liROCKWAY MILLS METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

Quite early Brockway mills school-house be-
came one of the occasional preaching places of
the early preachers of the Methodist church.

Dr. Charles Elliot and Rev. Alfred Bronson
were probably the first (about 1820). About
1822 preaching was regularly furnished by Rev.
William Tipton and Rev. A. G. Richardson, who
traveled Youngstown circuit, which then included
this place.

Subsequently a class was formed, among the
members of which were Abner Fowler and
Esther, his wife, John Newcome and wife, Ben-
jamin Reeder and Polly, his wife, with other
members of their family, Jane and Margaret
Lafferty, Abel Walker and wife, David Snyder
and family, Michael Bear and family, and also
members of the Byers family. For a long time
meetings were held on week days and Sunday
evenings, as most convenient for the preachers.

About 1850, however, regular Sunday preach-
ing was established by Rev. Ahab Keller, and in
1857 a church was built. It was dedicated in
January, 1858, Elder Norton preaching the dedi-
cation sermon. Rev. J. W. Hill being preacher
in charge. Miss Sarah Fowler, daughter of
Abner Fowler, was one of the largest subscribers
to the building fund, and during her life was
one of the most faithful members.

At present the church numbers some forty
members, and has a flourishing Sunday-school
under the superintendence of Miss S. C. Bur-
nett.

MASONRY.

The first meetings of Jerusalem lodge No. 19,
Free and Accepted Masons, of Hartford, Ohio,
were held under a dispensation of the Grand

268

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

lodge of Ohio, dated February 15, 1812, and
issued by Lewis Cass, grand master. Regular
meetings were held under this dispensation until
1814.

The following were the officers appointed for
their first meeting: Martin Smith, W. M.;
Daniel Bushnell, S. W.; Samuel Spencer, J. W.;
Joseph DeWolf, treasurer; Richard Hayes, sec-
retary; Sterling G. Bushnell, S. D.; Lebbeus
Beech, J. D.; Thomas McMillen, tyler.

At the first meeting recorded under this dis-
pensation. May 20, 181 2, Linus Hayes, Plumb
Sutliff, Zopher Case, and Gilbert Palmer were
initiated.

A number of the early members of this lodge
appear to have previously been among the
petitioners for the charter of Old Erie No. 3,
established at Warren in 1804, and are known to
have been members of Turkey Hill's lodge in
Connecticut.

Their first place of meeting is not definitely
known, but as early as September, 181 2, it was
at the public house kept by David Lane at Burg
Hill.

At a meeting of the Grand lodge held at Chil-
licothe January 4, 18:4, an application for a
charter was presented signed by the following
members, viz : Martin Smith, Daniel Bushnell,
Samuel Spencer, Richard Hayes, Joseph De-
Wolf, Sterling G. Bushnell, Lebbeus Beech, and
Linus Hayes.

,\ charter was granted dated January 5, 18 14,
with the above mentioned persons as charter
members, and signed by Henry Brush, grand
master, and Robert Kercheral, grand secretary.

Soon after this their place of meeting seems
to have been for a short time in the townshi]5 of
Vernon at the public house of Ambrose Palmer,
but in 181 7 they were for a time located at the
residence of Titus Brock way, Esq., in Hartford,
and afterwards at the residence of Daniel Bush-
nell, and in 1829 at the public house of Elam
Jones, at the center of the township, where they
remained till 1844, when they again removed to
ihe public house of G. C. Reed. In 1854 the
present lodge rooms were erected by the society
where their meetings have since been held.

In 1 816 St. John's Day was celebrated at Ver-
non by Jerusalem, Erie, and Western Star lodges,
sixty-three members of the fraternity being pres-
ent. 'I'hc oration was delivered by George Tod.

Clergyman present, Adamson Bentley and
Harvey Coe. Among the visiting fraternity
present were Elisha Whittlesey, Asahel Adams,
Seth Tracy, John W. Seely, Arad Way, and
Francis Freeman.

It is recorded that this society laid the corner-
stone of the brick church in Vernon on August
3, 1826.

The following are the past masters from 181 2
tor 881: Martin Smith, Sterling G. Bushnell,
Theron Plumb, Horace Flower, Andrews Bush-
nell, John C. Smith, Garry C. Reed, Marion
Hyde, L. C. Jones, D. S. Tracy, Joel Bushnell,
Rev. R. W. Crane, Willis Reeder, A. D. Fell, J.

D. Burnett, and Brunell Hull. The officers
elected for 1882 are Joel Bushnell, W. M.; D.
S. Tiacy, S. W.; D. H. Artherholt, J. W.; A. D.
Fell, treasurer; L. G. Spencer, secretary: C. W.
Hawkins, S. D.; James Weir, J. D.; N. A.
Reeder, tyler. The number of members that
have been enrolled in this lodge is three hundred
and eleven, and the present number ninety-three.
The society owns the building in which its com-
modious lodge-rooms are situated. The ground
floor of this building is occupied by a store, and
the second floor is devoted to lodge-rooms. The
society was never in a more prosperous condi-
tion.

BURG HILL GRANGE NO. irOJ.

This society was organized January 4, 1875,
in the school-house at Burg Hill, by O. P. Laird,
deputy of the National Grange. The following
are the charter members:

Colonel Edward Hayes, Mrs. E. C. Hayes,
A. D. Fell, Mrs. H. M. Fell, William H. Bush-
nell, Mrs. Eliza Bushnell, Job Biggins, Mrs. Sa-
rah Biggins, C. H. Roberts, Mrs. L. B. Roberts,
James Fowler, Mrs. Lorinda Fowler, Osman
Hull, Mrs. L. E. Hull, Ransom Hull, Mrs. N.
S. Hull, H. G. Bates, Mrs. S. E. Bates, R. R.
Miner, Mrs. Paulina Miner, Lucius Holcomb,
Mrs. Orra Holcomb, George K. Pelton, Mrs.

E. P. Mizener, George W. Holcomb, Brunei
Hull, W. A. Bacon, Isaac Pfouts, Joel Bushnell,
Henry Biggens.

First officers elected : Colonel Edward Hayes,
W. M.; A. D. Fell, W. O.; James 1-ouler, A\'.
L.; O. Hull, W. S.; R. R. Miner, W. .V S.; H.
G. Bates, W. C; George K. Pelton, W. Treas-
urer; L. B. Hull, W. Secretary; Henry Biggins,
W. G. K. Lady officers— S. E. Bates, W. C;

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

269

E. Roberts, W. F.; L. E. Hull, W. P.; H. M.
Fell, W. L. A. S.

This grange met at M. C. Graham's hall until
1878. They then built a hall at old Burg Hill,
where they have since held their meetings.

CEiMETERIES.

There are three cemeteries in the township,
the one at the center being the oldest. The site
was selected in 1805, after the death of Fidelia
Andrews, the land being given by Titus Brock-
way. She was buried in the forest, and her
grave was surrounded by an enclosure of logs.

Among the marble headstones of later years
are scattered here and there the old brown flag-
and sand-stones, which mark the early graves.
On many of these the inscriptions are rudely
chiseled, and some are almost obliterated by the
hand of time. Beside them grow the roses
planted by hands long since folded to rest in
other graves.

Here lies the first pioneer, Edward Brockway,
and a large number of his descendants are also
buried here. The soldier of the Revolution
and the soldier of the Rebellion are found here,
and near them lies Asahel Brainard, the first set-
tler, who spent the winter alone in this unbroken
forest, the only representative of this pioneer
family buried in the township. The Hon. Cal-
vin Cone, the Hon. Titus Brockway, Colonel
William Bushnell, and the Hon. James Beebe
are among the prominent persons interred in this
old cemetery, including Captain Alexander
Bushnell, Thomas Bushnell, Titus Hayes, Ed-
ward Brockway, and Daniel Bushnell, who were
soldiers of the war of the Revolution. Here
also aie buried Thomas McFarland, Davis Ful-
ler, Alexander Bushnell, Elijah Woodford, Selden
Jones, Seth Thompson, Hosea Mowrey, John
I'fouts, Wilson Bushnell, Michael Quiggle, Mat-
thias (jates, S. C. Jones, Elijah Sawyer, Ambrose
Hart, Jehial Hulburt, Lester Bushnell, General
Andrews Bushnell, Archibald McFarland, and
Elisha Bennett, soldiers of the War of 1812.
Also D. W. Brockway, Milo Bushnell, Lieuten-
ant C. C. Hart, Christopher A. Bennett, Charles
Bennett, and Lieutenant Davis Fuller, soldiers
of the Rebellion.

The burying ground at Burg Hill has been the
burial place of the pioneer families of Hayes,
Jones, Merry, and Hull. The first grave was
that of Eliza Hayes, daughter of Colonel Richard

Hayes, who died August 14, 1814. This site
was afterwards presented to the township by the
Hayes family. Isaac Jones, one of the first pio-
neers, William C. Jones, a pioneer and a veteran
of 1776, Colonel Richard Hayes, Lester Hayes,
Luman Brockway, and James Henry, soldiers of
the War of 181 2, and Robert Mizener, a Vernon
soldier of the late war, are buried here.

The west burying ground was given to the
township by Deacon Elihu Bates, and the first
grave was that of Mrs. Samuel Bates, in 1837.
Romanta Norton, Joel Hall, and William Bates,
soldiers of 1812 and George Norton, a soldier
of the late war, are buried here. This has been
the burial place of the Bates, Learning, Norton,
Parsons, Newman, Spencer, Mason, and Hall
families, mostly settlers of a later date. John
Groscost, a soldier of 18 12, was buried on lot
one, on the farm formerly owned by him.

At Orangeville no permanent place of burial
was selected until 1841, when Augustus Reed
made a donation of land for that purpose. Pre-
vious to this time most of the interments were
at the centre of the township, a few, however^
being made near the residence of Mr. Patton.
According to tradition, early in the century a
man was buried where the shop of Mr. Davis
now stands, and also two children by the name of
Totman on the south bank of the Pymatuning
east of the State line. The first interment in
the present cemetery was Ann Catherine, a
daughter of Rensselaer Root, who died June 10,
1841. John Cassidy, Jacob Dewitt, O. S. Good-
rich, William Games, and A. W. Moses, soldiers
of the Warof 1812, are buried here. Of the late
war Harrison Allen, Caleb Leonard, Milton Mel-
linger, George Wait, and a nonresident soldier
by the name of Fitzpatrick, who was killed on
the railroad, are also buried here.

OR.XNGICVILLIC.

For many years the northeastern portion of
the township has been known by the name of
Orangeville.

The construction of the New York, Pennsyl-
vania & Ohio Railway, and the opening of coal
mines east of it, has given some impetus to busi-
ness at this place. No good reason seems to
exist why it may not become a point for manu-
facturing interests of various kinds, much more
extensive than at present, if residents will only
take hold of the matter in earnest by investing

270

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

in such enterprises and hold out inducement to
others to do so.

The village was incorporated in 1868, and is
situated in the northeast corner of Hartford
township. It extends one mile from north to
south, and seven-eighths of a mile from east to
west. One of the principal streets being on the
State line, the business interests and history of
the place can not be fully shown, without, to
some extent, including territory outside of the
present corporate limits of the village, yet prac-
tically forming a part of it.

The first mayor was R. E. Grey ; and A. M.
Brockway, N. E. Austin, E. B. Jones, Dr. A. C.
Brainard, and S. H. Spear, were elected as mem-
bers of the first council. Nelson Hyde held the
ofifice of mayor for one year, and from that time
to the present it has been filled by the present
incumbent, George W. Snyder.

A village special school district was organized
in 1868, and a fine school-house was soon after
built. The school is at present being taught by
L. G. Spencer and Miss Bell Pollock. The
enumeration of scholars for 1881 was a hundred
and ten.

The territory comprised in the village limits
forms a portion of the land purchased of Root
& Holmes, in 1799, by Edward Brockway.
Charles Merry was the first pioneer settler within
•he present incorporate limits of Orangeville.
He settled on what is now known as the N. E.
Austin farm, at present owned by VVillard C.
Hull. He remained but a short time, however,
removing soon to Vernon. Not long after, Ed-
ward Brockway removed from his first location,
and settled on the farm now owned by his grand-
son, E. B. Jones.

According to the history and atlas of Mercer
county, Pennsylvania, the pioneer settler and
founder of Orangeville was Jacob Loutzenhiser,
who came in 1797 or 1798, probably in the
former year. He built a hew^ed log mill, with
an under-shot wheel twenty-five feet in diameter;
and on the 19th of April, 1802, sold to Adam
Hahn. This was the first mill in Pymatuning
township, Pennsylvania. This place was known
for several years as Hahn's mills. Judging by
all the facts that have come to the writer's knowl-
edge, he is of the opinion, however, that the mill
did not go into operation before 1801. .\rcord-
ing to tradition it was a rude structure, like

others of its day, yet served a good purpose in
relieving the pioneers of long trips to mill. A
sawmill was also built at a later period, so that
two of the prime wants of early settlers, food
and lumber, could be supplied. The era of
steam-power having taken the place of water in
lumbering, the old saw-mill has passed away.
The grist-mill soon gave place to a better struct-
ure, which was used for many years. It has since
been successively in possession of Keck, A. & L.
Mofifatt, Hoadley, Clark, and perhaps of some
others. In 1869, being in possession of Shafer
Brothers, the principal improvements were made
at an expense of $40,000 for mill and dam. The
present proprietors of the flouring-mill are Hen-
drickson & Walworth.

The first village lots were laid out in 1818 by
Augustus and Levi Moffatt.

The last named was a clothier by trade, and
the brothers built the first carding machine,
which they afterwards sold to Charles and Rich-
ard Hull, who settled here in 1834-35. Augus-
tus Moffatt remained here until his death, en-
gaged mostly in the occupation of farming.

In 1835 his three brothers, Levi, Lot, and
Zelotus, built two flat-boats and launched them
in the race below the mill. They were loaded
with produce likely to find a market on the way,
and with their families embarked on a journey
by river to the West.

About 1821 a flat-boat was launched here
which was loaded with butter and cheese and
sent to the New Orleans market.

A woolen factory was carried on here for
some years by Hull Brothers & Hurlburt. This
property was purchased by George McFarland,
and the business was soon after discontinued.
Moffat & Fell were engaged in the foundry busi-
ness for many )'ears.

The present industries of the villages not here-
tofore mentioned are a saw-mill owned by G. W.
Arnold, one by Dwight Wilson, a stave-mill by
W. R. Field, and the carriage factory of S. H.
Spear.

The first merchant at Orangeville was Moses
Beach. He was followed first by the firm of
Hyde, Reed & Bushnell, later by Morris Jones,
Horace Baily, Joel Smith, Hurlburt & Co., Ernst
& Hahn, Nathan Showers, Sylvester Fell & Son,
Shafer Brothers, Nelson Hyde & Co., Lewis
Reno, E. & A. Fell, Aurelius Fell, and at the

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

271

present time Trimble & Mcintosh are engaged
in trade, and. E. R. Fell & Co. in drugs and
general merchandise.

The first postmaster was Rensselrer Root. The
office has since been held by Dr. Asahel Brain-
ard, N. E. Austin, John Scaling (who held it for
over twenty years), Nathan Showers, Jonathan
Ernst, Eliza Johnson, Shelden Palmer, and G.
W. Snyder the present incumbent. The office
was established about 1845. The first mail
route was a weekly between Warren, Ohio, and
Franklin, Pennsylvania. Later it became a tri-
weekly from Warren to Greenville, Pennsyl-
vania, which was-superseded by railway service
after the construction of the railroad in 1862.

BAPTIST CHURCH.

In 1816 Elder Jonathan Sheldon settled in
Fowler, and through his instrumentality a church
was organized called the Baptist church of Fow-
ler, Hartford, and Vernon. Its meetings were
mostly held in Fowler and Hartford, in school-
houses and private dwellings, as circumstances
dictated.

Mrs. Nancy Lane, of Hartford, is said to have
been the first person in the township baptized by
immersion. Elder Jonathan Sheldon officiating.

The early records of the church were burned,
but according to tradition Elihu Bates, Ruth
Beach, Norman Holcomb, Osman Williams and
wife, Mary Black, and Joseph DeWolf were
probably among the pioneer members of this
church.

Among the Baptist ministers who occasionally
supplied the church were Elders Freeman, Gor-
man, Woodworth, and Sydney Rigdon, of Peters
Creek, Virginia, afterwards of Mormon notoriety.
He resided in Hartford foi some months, preach-
ing a portion of the time in the "old church" at
the "center."

About 1827 the doctrines of Alexander Camp-
bell began to prevail, and so many of the mem-
bers embraced the new faith that for some time
the church was almost extinct, yet a few held fast
to the old tenets.

In 1835 it was reorganized at Orangeville. Mr.
and Mrs. Chares Hull, Lyman Phelps and wife,
and a number of others from this vicinity united
withthechurch about that time.and asOrangeville
was now the most central point for the members,
the church began to hold meetings here and took
the name of this place. At first meetings were

held in the Methodist house of worship, but
about 1845 the present church was built. This
society belonged to the Beaver association until
the formation of the Trumbull association.

In 1843 quite an addition was made to the
church as a result of the revival labors of Elder
John Winters. In 1844 Elder R. B. Phelps was
pastor of the church, and contmued until 1848,
when Elder T. W. Greer became the minister,
and during his pastorate many additions were
made to the church. After this time Elder R.
B. Phelps again preached for this society for a
time. At the present time (1882) Elder T. W.
Greer again holds the pastorate of this church.
Mr. James Russel has been a prominent mem-
ber of this church for over fifty years, and at the
present time is one of its most stanch support-
ers. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Luce, Mr. and Mrs.
Lyman Phelps, and Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hull
have all been prominent members of this church.
The present membership is sixty-seven.

ORANGEVILLE METHODIST CHURCH.

This church was organized probably in 1837.
Among its first members were Augustus Reed and
wife, Charles Reed, Maria Reed, Harriet Reed,
Mrs Daniel Totman, Elisha Fox, and George
Fell. A small meeting-house was built soon
after, and used until the building of the present
church in 1872 at an expense of $5,000. At
present the church has eighty-seven members.

UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH.

This society was organized in Pennsylvania,
and was removed to Orangeville in 1872. The
ministers who have served this people since that
period are Revs. Cone, Williams, and Bedow.
It is now a small but prosperous society. Liberal
contributions were made outside of church mem-
bership for building purposes, with the under-
standing that it is to be open at all times for the
use of other denominations, and for lectures
when not occupied by the said church of the
United Brethren in Christ.

OLD PEOPLE.

Mrs. Chloe (Wait) Bushnell, wife of Captain
Alexander Bushnell, was born June 20, 1738, at
Lyme, Connecticut, and died here October 28,
1832, the oldest person deceased in the township
during the first seventy years of its history.
Nearly thirty years before she came here with
three generations of descendants, and but for an

272

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

accident might have lived her hundred years.
At the time of her death her descendants num-
bered three hundred and twenty-two, four being
of the fifth generation.

Mrs. Sarah (Hyde) Jones, wife of Elam Jones,
was born May i8, 1776, at West Hartland, Con-
necticut, and died August 30, 1870. She re-
tained her memory in an unusual degree, and to
her more than to any one else is the writer in-
debted for his data of our pioneer history. She
had been a resident of the township sixty-five
years at the time of her decease. She had, dur-
ing her life, a personal acquaintance with all of
our early citizens, and her narrations of incidents
in pioneer times were full of interest. She was
a daughter of Uriah Hyde, whose family has
been noted for its longevity.

Mrs. Elizabeth (Hyde) Hewitt, wife of Samuel
Hewitt, and daughter of Uriah Hyde, was born
in West Hartland, Connecticut, January 4, 1772.
She resided here for many years but removed
with her son, S. N. Hewitt, to Vernon. At
ninety-eight years of age she removed to Kan-
sas and a few months later to Fayettevilie, Arkan-
sas, where she died July 22, 1873, being over one
hundred and one years of age.

Mrs. Anna (Hyde) Hull, wife of William
Hull, and daughter of Uriah Hyde, was born
November 16, 1778, at West Hartland, Con-
necticut, and died July 11, 1874, being in the
ninety-sixth year of her age, and at the time of
her death the oldest person ever deceased in the
township.

Mrs. Lovisa (Borden) Fitch, wife of Shaler
Fitch, was born December 10, 1779, and died
June 6, 1871. They emigrated to Ohio in 1804.

Mrs. Mary Kepner Pfouts, wife of John
Pfouts, was born September 5, 1771, and died
January 9, 1864.

George W. Cassidy was born in Chester coun-
ty, Pennsylvania, September 15, 1780, and died
April 2, 1870. He was a soldier in the War
of 181 2 and lost his right arm at the battle of
Chi])pewa.

Mrs. Elizabeth (.Vllerton) Cassidy was born
.\pril 5, 1785, and died June 24, 1875.

Mrs. Phebe (Hushnell) Borden, wife of Asahel
15orden, was born August 2, 1784, and died
December 4, 1875. She was the last of the
adult pioneers to pass away.

Mrs. Catharine (Lavley) Roberts was born

near Baltimore, Maryland, August 20, 1776, and
died here January 10, 1881, at the residence of
her son-in-law, Mr. Jacob Barnhart. She had
attained the great age of one hundred and four
years, four months, and twenty days. In 1794
she was married to Peter Roberts, and for the
almost unparalleled period of seventy-eight
years they journeyed through life together, he
having reached the advanced age of ninety-six
years at the time of his death.- She always pos-
sessed a strong constitution and in her earlier
years was accustomed to doing much out-door
work and boasted of having been able to reap
more wheat than any man, not excepting her hus-
band. She kept house and did all her own
work until her husband's death, although she was
then ninety-eight years of age. She was the
wife of a soldier of the War of 18 12, and grand-
daughter of a soldier of the Revolution. She
was undoubtedly the oldest person in the county,
and probably on the Western Reserve, if not
in the State.

Nathaniel Wilson, for many years a resident
here, died in his ninety-second year.

Among the old people still living in the town-
ship who have arrived at fourscore years and
over, are Mrs. Alexander Bushnell, at the age of
87; Mrs. Seth Thompson, 85; Lory Norton, 84
John Jones, 82; George W. Bushnell, 82; Mrs
Isaac Leaming, 84; Edward Bowmiller, 83; Dor
othy Bowmiller, 83; Mrs. Elisha Cannon, 82
Margaret Bear, 82; Michael Pfouts, 80; Brad
ford Hewitt, 82; Rebecca Craton, 81 ; Mrs. Lou
isa Laird, 80; Mrs. Julia Bates, 80; John Adam
Sonk, 87. He was born in Bavaria May 10,
1794. In 1 8 14 he was drafted into the German
army, and served in the second company of fu-
sileers. Ninth regiment, commanded by Ferdi-
nand of Wurtemburg. He served six years, nine
months in active service, and the rest of the
time in garrison.

According to the census of 18S0 fifty three
persons in the township had passed their three-
score and ten years.

MISCELL.\NEOUS ITEMS.

A library was established early in the century,
and for a long time continued in a flourishing
condition. Elam Jones was librarian for many
years, some of the first books being brought by
him from Connecticut in 1805.

The first blacksmith who located here was

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

273

Levi Giddings, whose shop stood on the farm of
Peter Carlton, on lot twenty-three.

Captain Azel Tracy, a coach and chair maker,
from Norwich, Connecticut, came to Ohio about
18 18, and soon after located here and engaged
in the building of carriages and wagons. His
son D. S. Tracy is pursuing the same vocation
at the same place.

Early in the century Isaac Taylor built a tan-
nery at Burg Hill. About 1826 the property
came into possession of Arial Chapman, who
followed the business of a tanner for over thirty
years in the same place.

Davis Fuller was the first saddler and harness
maker, having located on lot twenty-five in 1806.
He followed the business in the same place for
nearly fifty years.

Since the settlement of the township four
small distilleries have had an existence here.
Three of them were built in pioneer times, when
whiskey was thought to be one of the necessi-
ties of life, and it was considered a breach of
hospitality not to pass the bottle to friends when
present. At the present time, however, there is
none made Dr openly sold in the township.
At an early period the citizens took a decided
stand against the manufacture and sale of intox-
icating liquors, and the prevailing sentiment, un-
til the present time, has been in favor of tem-
perance, and in strong opposition to the use of
alcohol as a beverage.

A carding mill was built at an early period at
the foot of Brockway hill by Lester Bushnell.
Another was built by C. & R. Silliman, a little
north of the center, and was soon after changed
into a clock factory by Hart & Truesdale. For
some years quite a business was done in the
manufacture of wooden clocks. Later it was
converted into a sash factory. Near the same
place a hat shop was carried on for a number of
years by D. Root & Co. Also a chair factory
by T. C. Davis & Son.

The pioneer cheese factory of the State, and
probably of the country, was started in this town-
ship in 1846 by Samuel Cone. He died during
the second season of the new enterprise. From
this has grown many or all of the modifications
that have been made in the dairy system since
that time. W. Pellon, Oris Mason, Sydney
Mason, Ralph Mason, A. O. Woodford, C.
Spencer, L. Fitch, John Fitch, and Peter Carl-

ton have each been engaged in the business
since that period. Eli W. Bushnell was engaged
in the manufacture of cutlery for some twenty
years. A new factory was built on lot nine-
teen in 1850, which was burned in September,
1859. The business was then discontinued.

Giles M. Hayes, who resides near the west
line of the township, has established a factory
for using the surplus products of the orchards
in making vinegar, apple-butter, and jellies.
This enterprise gives promise of being beneficial
to the fruit growers in this vicinity.

The township has few or no large farms, and
all of her interests are purely agricultural, espe-
cially so for the last thirty years. The growth of
mining and manufacturing towns around tends to
draw away all interests save those strictly pertain-
ing to agriculture.

A portion of the township is well adapted to
fruit growing, and although it has been an im-
portant business in our past history yet it de-
serves more attention than has so far been given
to it.

According to the census of 1820 the popula-
tion of the township was six hundred and twenty-
five, and it made a good per cent, of an increase
during the next decade, but for the last forty
years the numeration has gained hut slowly. For
at least two generations our people have been
emigrating to the West. The sons and daugh-
ters of the pioneers, inspired by the same spirit
which led their parents to leave New England
for Ohio, have been following the star of the
empire westward until this township has repre-
sentatives in almost every western city and State.
They have been heard in the halls of Congress,
in the Legislatures of different States, at the bar,
and in the pulpit; they have held positions in
the army and navy of the United States; on
the mountains and prairie we find them seeking
after wealth and fame, worthy sons of honored
sires, whom old Hartford claims with pride.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

Biographical Sketches.

EDWARD BROCKWAY.
The subject of this sketch, one of the three
pioneer settlers, formerly resided in Branford,
Connecticut. He removed to Hartland about
1786, and emigrated to New Connecticut in
1800, having in company with Brainard and
Jones visited the township, purchased his land,
and with them commenced a clearing in August,

1799. He arrived with his family June 19,

1800. He had purchased of the proprietors,
Root & Holmes, nearly thirty-two hundred acres
of land. At the present time over one hundred
families are residing on this property.

He first settled on lot twenty-two, but soon
after removed to lot eight. He was a soldier of
the Revolution, taking part in the battle of
Saratoga. He died March 4, 1813, aged seventy-
seven years. He had a family of seventeen
children. Three of his sons, Aaron, Titus, and
Philemon, settled here, .\aron Brockway first
settled in Vernon in June, 1798, with his family,
where his wife is said to have lived seven months
without seeing the face of a white woman.

Three years later he removed to Hartford. At
five different times during his life he shouldered
his axe and started anew to make a home for
himself and family in the woods, making, as we
think, a practical pioneer.

He died in Forest county, Pennsylvania, in
1848. Eight of the daughters of Edward Brock-
way married and settled in this township. Five
of this number married into the Jones family.

Titus Brockway settled a little south of the
center, where he resided until his death, Septem-
ber 6, 1840, at the age of sixty-five. He served
as postmaster, justice, member of the Legislature,
land agent, and was a prominent member of the
Congregational church. He had but two sons,
Edward, and Daniel Webster, and five daugh-
ters, Maria, Julia, Melissa, Martha W., Sophro-
nia, and Caroline.

HAVES FAMILY.

If it is fair to judge a man by the impression

he has produced upon the minds of those of his

cotemporaries who survive him, then Colonel

Richard Haves, who came to Hartford from

Hartland, Connecticut, in the spring of 1804,
must have been a man of remarkable energy
and power. He early engaged in trade, and
was one of the first to see that the new country
must pay its debts in a currency which could
transport itself, and he therefore organized the
cattle trade with Philadelphia, sending over the
mountains droves of from three to five hundred
head.

When there was any doubt as to the price
which ought to be paid, the people would fre-
quently tell him to take their stock along, sell
them, and pay what he could afford, and such
was his reputation for probity and fair dealing
that it is said his returns were never questioned.

When the War of 18 12 came on, the Third
regiment. Fourth division, Ohio militia, was called
out, and we find him in command. The order
calling out the regiment came late on Sunday
night, and the colonel at once mounted his two
sons, Seth and Alvin, as messengers, to notify
the captains to report on Monday for orders.
All preparations were completed on Tuesday, and
on Wednesday morning the regiment marched
for the frontier. When we consider that the
regiment had to muster from a territory ten by
thirty miles in extent, and that stores and trans-
portation had to be provided, the military reader
will see that the achievement was a remarkable
one. The late Joshua R. Giddings, who was a
private in the regiment, once gave the writer a
graphic sketch of the cohMiel as a commanding
officer, which we regret that we cannot repro
duce, but he described him as a man who could
be in more places and think of more things at
once, than any man he had ever met. .'"'''',*ATS':1

After the war he held the position of county
commissioner and associate judge of court of
common pleas, and although not a lawyer, it is
said that his decisions were marked by great
good sense and fairness. He often used to ride
to Warren over a winter road, remain all day in
court, and ride home at night, making thirty-six
miles in the saddle besides his day's work in
court. This life of a pioneer had told upon
him, and he died in 1837 at the age of sixty-five
years. He left three sons — Seth, Alvin, and
Richard, of whom only the last named is living.
All of them were active business men and in-
herited the old colonel's sturdy uprightness of
character. Seth Hayes was a member of the

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

275

Ohio Legislature in 1836. He was for many
years engaged as a merchant, and was noted for
his public and private generosity, and had an en-
viable reputation as an honorable business man,
and as a worthy Christian gentleman. He died
March 9, 1865.

Alvin and Richard Hayes were never in pub-
lic life. The former died in 1880, nearly eighty-
five years of age, leaving a reputation for mteg-
rity and uprightness which any of his descendants
may be proud to emulate.

There is a soldier streak in the family. Titus
Hayes, the father of Colonel Richard Hayes,
wintered with Washmgton at Valley Forge, and
at least three of his sons, Richard, Titus, and
Lester, were in the War of 18 12, and when the
war of 1861 came on, it "cropped out" in the
fourth generation. Among the number was Ed-
ward, grandson of Richard, and son of Alvin
Hayes. When the war broke out he felt it his
duty to keep out of it, if possible, as he had a
young family, and being an only son his aged
father and mother looked to him for care, but
after the first battle of Bull Run he saw that it
would be impossible for him to do so, and rais-
ing part of a company he went into the Twenty-
ninth Ohio infantry underColonel Lewis Buckley.
He was unfortunate in the outset of his military
career, being taken down with fever while at
Camp Chase, and to add to his ill fortune, his
regiment was ordered into West Virginia upon
the very day he was taken ill. As a natural con-
sequence, when he rejoined his command some
six week later, he found it in a quasi mutiny, the
members of his company having been led to be-
lieve that he was not actually sick, but that he
had shirked dut)-. His emaciated and generally
used-up condition went far to convince the men
of their mistake, and he informed them that he
did not intend to resign until the company had
been in at least one fight.

They got this fight at Kernstown near Win-
chester, Virginia, March 22, 1862, and Hayes
decided to stay with the company and let the
other fellows do the resigning, which proved
satisfactory to all concerned. It may be re-
marked of the Kernstown fight, that it was the
only time during the whole war that Stonewall
Jackson got a good square thrashing.

Hayes was next engaged at Port Republic,
June 9, 1862. There he with a part of his com-

pany had the misfortune to be taken prisoner.
The company had gone for a stand of rebel
colors and got them, but they had gone in too
deeply and could not get out. He summered in
the Confederate military prison at Salisbury,
North Carolina, and on his exchange in the fall of
1862 rejoined his command at Frederick City,
Maryland, finding it much cut up from the dis-
astrous fight at Cedar Mountain, August 9, 1862.
He was at Chancellorsville, Virginia, May i, 2,
and 3, 1863, where he commanded the left wing
of the regiment as acting major, and two months
later was at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where he
commanded the regiment, there being no field
officer present for duty, and Captain Stephens,
the ranking officer, being disabled very early in
the action. He was commissioned major the
week following Gettysburg, and lieutenant-colonel
in October following. He went to Chattanooga
with Hooker's Twentieth army corps, and was in
a part of the Wauhatchie affair, and in the battle
of Lookout Mountain; was within reach at the
battle of Missionary Ridge, but did not partici-
pate, being on other duty at the time. He was
active in inducing his regiment to re-enlist, and
after it did so came home with it on veteran fur-
lough in January, 1864. Returning to the field
with it he wintered at Bridgeport, Alabama, and
started with the army on the Atlanta campaign,
but on the 8th of May, 1864, at the battle of
Mill Spring, Georgia, he received a very severe
wound through the right shoulder. Major
Fifield, reginiental surgeon of the Twenty-ninth
Ohio, performed for him the difficult, and at that
time new, operation of " exsection," removing
the whole of the shoulder joint, and other por-
tions of the shattered bone, and a good deal to
his own surprise he got well; but as he was unfit
for service he was discharged in November, 1864,
on account of wounds received in action.

In 1865 he was elected county treasurer, and
held that position from September, 1866, to Sep-
tember, 1870, with a good degree of ability. He
is now employed in the Post-office department at
Washington, District of Columbia, and is satis-
factorily filling a responsible position.

276

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

BUSHNELL FAMILY.

Among the early pioneer families of Trumbull
county the Bushnells are probably the most
numerous. Captain Alexander Bushnell, the
immediate ancestor of the family, emigrated with
his descendants. He was born in Lyme, Con-
necticut, December 2, 1739, and was a descend-
ant of Francis Bushnell, one of the first settlers
of Guilford, Connecticut, who landed m Boston
about 1630.

He married Chloe Waite, of the same place,
February 12, 1761. She was a descendant of
Thomas Waite, member of Parliament, one of the
judges who signed the death warrant of King
Charles I, the Waite family coming to America
soon after the restoration in 1660. Theii de-
scendants are numerous, and very many of them
reside in Trumbull county. They had ten chil-
dren, all of whom were married in Connecticut,
and these families all emigrated about the same
period to Ohio.

He was a captain in the Continental army
during the Revolutionary war, receiving his com-
mission while serving under Washington. After
the close of the Revolution the tide of emigration
first set toward northern Connecticut, and he
with many others moved to Hartland, Hartford
county, in that State, about 1784.

In iSoo the tide of emigration started towards
"New Connecticut" in Northern Ohio, and this
now greatly increased family were swept by the
torrent to the Western Reserve, the first one
coming in 1801 and the remainder following
soon after. He died March 8, i8i8, in Hart-
ford, Ohio. Captain Bushnell's children were
Thomas, Daniel, and William, who with their
families settled in Hartford; Chloe, the wife of
Obediah Gilder, one of the pioneers of Gustavus,
where their descendants still reside; Alexander,
Jr., who with his family settled in Pittsburg;
Sterling G., who with his family first settled in
Vernon and in 1820 removed to Richland
county, Ohio; Mary, the wife of Hon. Calvin
Cone, who was one of the pioneers of Gustavus
in 1804, but in 181 7 removed to Hartford,
where some of their descendants still reside.
He served as member of the Legislature from
Barkhamsted, Connecticut, previous to his emi-
gration, and was State Senator in Ohio from
1806 to 1809. Hannah was the wife of Davis
I'ullcr, who was a pioneer of Hartford; Lucy

was the wife of Aaron Brockway, who was one of
the first settlers of Vernon. They soon removed
to Hartford, and about 1835 again removed to
Forest county, Pennsylvania. Phebe was the
wife of Asahel Borden. They settled on lot
thirty in Hartford in 1804, where they both
lived to a good old age, she dying at the age of
ninety-one, and was the last of this family of
pioneers to pass away.

Thomas Bushnell, eldest son of Captain
.Alexander and Chloe (Waite) Bushnell, was
born in Lyme, Connecticut, January 11, 1762.
He served during the last years of the Revolu-
tion in his father's company. He married Re-
becca Andrews, of Hartland, Connecticut, and
emigrated with a family of ten children to Ohio
in 1804. He located first on lot twenty-four,
and in a few years re-located on lot seventeen.
He only lived to endure the hardships and priva-
tions of pioneer life, not long enough to enjoy
its pleasures which follow. He died of fever
April 10, 1817. His was the first death in his
father's family. He was greatly respected in
the community and much beloved by his numer-
ous relatives, and his death was a severe shock
and a great loss to his own family.

His children were General Andrews BushntU;
Rebecca, wife of Colonel Horace Flower, who
settled first in Hartford, and afterward in Bloom-
field ; Jerusha, wife of Linus Hayes ; Hannah,
wife of Colonel Asa Hutchins and mother of
Hon. Wells Hutchins, of Portsmouth, Ohio ;
Matilda, wife of Lester Hayes ; Lorena, wife of
Dr. Cuilin Wilcox; Thomas, Jr., who lived for
many years in Bloomfield ; .\manda, wife of
Samuel Corning; and Eli, who lived and died
in Hartford.

General Andrews Bushnell, eldest son of
Thomas, was born in Hartland, Connecticut,
August 14, 1782, married Sarah Lane, of the
same place, and immediately started for New
Connecticut as it was then called. He settled
on lot twenty-four, in Hartford, where he died
June 17, 1851. He was an extensive farmer
and one of the pioneer breeders of blooded
cattle in northern Ohio. He was also in early
life an efficient and accurate surveyor; was for
four years sheriff of Trumbull county, and held
various other positions of trust and honor. He
held a lieutenant's commission in tiie War of
1812; commanded a com])any at the Thames

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

277

where Tecumseh was killed, and did brave and
honorable service in the defence of Fort Erie,
where he was wounded by a musket ball through
the left lung, for which he received a pension
the remainder of his life. He was an able
and well drilled officer, and after the close
of the war was made brigadier-general of militia,
which position he held with honor many years.
He was a member of the Congregational church,
and a Whig in politics until the formation of the
Liberty party, which he supported until his death.
His children were Jerusha, who died at the age
of nineteen years, a young lady highly esteemed
and sincerely regretted by the community; Da-
vid E., who is supposed to have died in Pales-
tine m January, 1840. He was intelligent young
farmer of great originality and veiy studious
habits, fond of historical reading and investiga-
tion. Restive of farm life he laid extensive
plans for foreign travel and research, for which
work he had remarkable qualities. He accord-
ingly left home in December, 1838. He landed
at Liverpool, traveled through England, France,
Switzerland, and Italy, spent some time in
Egypt, traveled up the Nile to Abyssinia, visited
the missionaries at Beyroot, and left that place
January 8, 1840, with a guide, intending to visit
Jerusalem and other points in Palestine. The
guide soon returned and reported that Bushnell
was short of money and had gone on alone, since
which time no tidings were ever received, and it
is supposed he was killed by his guide for his
money. General Bushnell's next child was Mary,
wife of Simon R. Estabrook, of VVarren ; and the
youngest, Seth A., for many years a resident of
Hartford, now o( Oberlin, Ohio.

Eli W. Bushnell, youngest son of Thomas
and Rebecca Bushnell, married Electa, daughter
of Elam Jones, one of the pioneers of Hartford.
He was a resident of the township of Hartford
the greater part of his life. He was well known
in tlie county as one of the best mechanics in
the State. For many years he was proprietor of
an axe-factory, and manufactured edge tools of
all kinds. At one time every tool in his estab-
lishnient'Was made by his own hands, including
anvils, vise, screw-plates, trip-hammers, etc. It
was a matter of pride with him to be able to
make or repair any tool which was constructed
of steel or iron, no difference how large or small.
His factory was destroyed by fire in 1859, after

which he was not again engaged in active busi-
ness.

He was an honest, conscientious man who al-
ways remembered to practice the Golden Rule.
His heart was ever open for deeds of charity,
and the poor and oppressed always found in him
sympathy and help. He was one of the ad-
vance guards of the old Liberty party, being
one of the twelve first voters of that party in his
township.

He was long a member of the Congregational
church, of which he was one of the deacons. He
died September 8, 1862. His children are
Thomas A., who resides at the old home of the
family ; Cordelia A., wife of F. B. Plimpton,
political editor of the Cincinnati Commercial;
and Sarah Pauline, residing with her brother.

Daniel Bushnell, the second son of Captain
Alexander and Chloe Bushnell, was born in
Lyme, Connecticut. December 18, 1763, and
married first Rebecca Banning, and second
Eunice Brockway.

He also served in the army for a short time
near the close of the war for independence
in his father's company. He emigrated from
Hartland, Connecticut, in 1803, and settled on
lot thirty, where he resided till he died, August
12, 1842. He was in early life a carpenter, hav-
ing been the builder of the Congregational
church in Hartland, Connecticut, in 1801. He
also took an active part in building the Congre-
gational church in Hartford in 1819. He was a
devoted and active church member, and in early
times, when ministers were not always to be had,
he conducted religious meetings and gave cate-
chetical and Bible instructions to the children of
the vicinity. He was an enthusiastic and in-
dustrious man, and possessed the requisite ele-
ments of a first-class pioneer. He was a life-
long and faithful member of the Masonic fra-
ternity. He raised a family of seventeen chil-
dren, most of whom lived to maturity; some be-
coming residents of this county and others going
west. Their names were Lewis, Lydia, Ziba,
Amoret, Daniel Milton, Clar.ssa, George Willis,
Hiram, Rhoda, Elijah Newton, Alexander,
Joseph, Joseph second, Rebecca, Philena, and
Beniamin. Of this large family but one, George
W., is at present a resident of Hartford, though
many of the descendants reside in Trumbull
county.

278

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

Dr. George W. Bushnell, third son of Daniel
and Rebecca Bushnell, was born in Hartland,
Connecticut, August ii, 1800, consequently was
three years of age at the time the family emi-
grated, and has the most of his life been a resi-
dent of Hartford. He married Miss Sally Bates,
September 8, 1824.

He endured as a child the jjrivations and
hardships of pioneer life, and early learned that
patience and industry were indispensable to suc-
cess. Striving to keep pace with all the necessities
of a new country, he learned anything necessary
to be lea'-ned. First, farming ; second, carpenter
work being in demand he learned to be a car-
penter; shoes being one of the great necessities,
he learned shoe-making. Early becoming dis-
satisfied with the allopathic treatment of dis-
eases, he studied the botanic practice for the
purpose of treating his own family. His success
at home was such he was soon called ujjon to
treat his neighbors' families. By faithful study
and strict attention to his patients, he soon ac-
quired a reputation as a successful physician,
and has since devoted his entire time to the
practice of medicine. He has made for himself
an honorable reputation for skill and integrity
worthy of emulation. In view of his worthy
labors the Physio-medical Institute of Cincinnati
conferred on him the honorary degree of doctor
of medicine.

He has been in the field of medical reform
for over fifty years ; for forty years has not used
tea or coffee, believing them to Be useless, if not
hurtful. He has never used tobacco in any
form, considering it a vile poison. Intoxicating
drinks he never employed. He has sought to
obey the laws of life in all things ; " to be tem-
perate m all things," and to practice what he
preaches, " the proper use of things proper for
use, and the total abstinence from things naturally
hurtful."

Dr. Bushnell was an active agent in the first
organization ot the church of the Disciples of
Christ in Hartford, May 1, 1830, and was at that
time chosen overseer of the church, which place
he filled with credit to himself and advantage to
the church. September 3, 1843, the church
gave him a certificate of recommendation to go
forth as an evangelist teacher, in which capacity
he faitlifuUy labored for some years in eastern
Ohio and western Pennsylvania.

On June 21, 1846, he resigned his office as
overseer of the church on account of the opposi-
tion to his anti-slavery sentiments, and finally
withdrew July 2, 1847, and united with the Con-
gregational church, where he remained till the
Disciple church passed the following resolutions
January 15, 1853:

Jicsolved, That we as a church of the Disciples of Christ
in Hartford, Ohio, do consider slave-holding to be man-
stealing.

Resolved, That we will have no Christian or church fellow-
ship with slave-holders, or those who hold their fellow-men
as chattel property, nor with those who justify and willingly
uphold, aid, or abet them in so doing.

Upon the passage of the above resolutions he
again united with the Disciples, and was again
chosen overseer, which office he continued to fill
until May 31, 1881, when he tendered his resig-
nation of office with good will to all, being eighty-
one years of age. His remarkable executive
powers, his untiring zeal, his undying devotion
to his belief of the truth, has made him the most
active worker in the church. His services were
never for filthy lucre's sake, his labors always hav-
ing been gratuitous. He has done more work,
contributed more money, and done more preach-
ing during the fifty years since the organization
of this church, than any other person in it, and
is yet a live member of the church, ready to do
his part of whatever may be needed, although
eighty-two years of age. The children of Dr.
George and Sally Bushnell that have arrived at
maturity are Curtis W., born October 14, 1825,
.and died at the age of twenty-nine years; Sarah
B., born September 8, 1827, married first Ste-
phen Watkins, and second Charles Davis; Gd-
ward, born Febuary 22, 1831, died at the age of
nineteen years; Allen R., born July 18, 1833;
Amoret, born June 20, 1835, married Addison
Ruey; John L., born December 13, 1837; Annie,
born December 7, 1841, married Dr. James Ir-
win; Milo F., born July 18, 1844, enlisted into
the United States service June 11, 1862, and
died in the United States hospital at Gallipolis,
Ohio, April 17, 1863. His father being notified
of his danger reached Gallipolis the evening of
the 14th, but on the morning of the 17th he died.
He caused his body to be embalmed and encased
in a metallic coffin, and returned with him to his
native place, where he was interred some days
later with military honor, the funeral being one of
the largest ever attended in the township. All

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

279

the sons of the family living in 1861 were Union
soldiers in the war of the Rebellion.

Allen R. Bushnell, son of Dr. George VV.
Bushnell, is a resident of Lancaster, Wisconsin.
Receiving his education in his native State, he
went to ^Visconsin in 1854, where he studied
law with Judge Stephen R. Payne, at Platteville;
was admitted to the bar at Lancaster in 1857,
commencing practice in Platteville. In 1861
he enlisted as a private in company C, Seventh
Wisconsm volunteer infantry. He was made a
first lieutenant and afterward captain, and served
with his regiment in the Iron brigade until 1863,
when he was discharged for disability, and re-
sumed practice at Platteville. He removed to
Lancaster m 1864. He is very little of a poli-
tician, but has been district attorney and mem-
ber of the Legislature.

Colonel William Bushnell, third son of Cap-
tain Alexander and Chloe Bushnell, was born in
Lyme, Connecticut, May 18, 1766, and married,
first, Mary Borden, of Hartland, Connecticut,
and second, Mrs. Candace Adams, of Bristol
township. He was the first of the Bushnell
family to emigrate and was the first settler in the
south part of the township of Hartford, his
deed being dated December 31, 1800. He
came with his family, then consisting of eight
children, in June, 1801, and located on what is
now known as Thompson hill, on the diagonal
road. A portion of his first purchase is still in
the possession of his grandson, Austin Bushnell.
He was elected captain of the first military com-
pany organized in the township, in 1804, and
afterwards served as colonel of the regiment.
He was among the early commissioners of the
county and filled other county and township of-
fices during the early part of the century.

He was a man of great firmness and decision
of character, ardent in all his feelings and honor-
able in all his dealings, and in his day a man
much respected.

His children were : Wilson, Daniel Cone,
Lester, Fanny, Alexander, Polly, Lovissa, Sophia,
William, and Austa, the last two only natives
of the township. These all lived to maturity,
married, and all settled in the township. In the
summer of 1828, when the typhoid fever pre-
vailed, his wife, five children, two grandchildren,
and a daughter-in-law all fell victims to the dis-
ease. Daniel Cone and Alexander lived for

many years and died in the township, respected
and worthy farmers, the latter having been
trustee of the township twenty-one years. Lovisa
was the wife of Ambrose Hart, for many years
merchant at Brookfield. Sophia married Amos
Hart and settled first in Hartford, and about
1840 emigrated to Brighton, Iowa. William was
the first white male child born in the township;
born June 11, 1802. Many of the descendants
of Colonel William Bushnell reside in Trumbull
and Mahoning counties.

Daniel Cone, born August 20, 1788, married
Polly Hutchins and their children were : Upson,
who resides in Gustavus; William, of Epworth,
Iowa; Dr. J. Hutchins Bushnell, of Washington,
District of Columbia: Nelson Bushnell, Esq., of
Franklin, Pennsylvania; and Austm, a resident of
Hartford.

Alexander, son of Colonel William Bushnell,
was born in Hartland, Connecticut, April 14,
1794, and married, first, Nancy Hummason, and
second, Martha Bailey. Their children are :
Luman, Lester, Candace, Joel, William, Huldah,
and Ellen.

Joel married Mrs. Mary G. Bussey, and resides
on the farm where his father first settled in 18 16,
and on land first purchased by his great-grand-
father. Captain Alexander Bushnell, from the
original proprietors of the township. He is at
present justice of the peace and trustee of the
township.

THE BORDEN FAMILY.
Among the pioneers who came into Hartford
during 1804 were Asahel Borden and his sons
Asahel, Jr., and Sylvester. They left Hartland,
Connecticut, May 29th, and arrived at their desti-
nation July 20th, having been fifty-three days on
the journey, traveling with an ox team. A few
years later Russel Borden, a brother of Asahel
Borden, Sr., and their mother. Widow Mary Bor-
den, also came. She was born in 1731, and was
probably, at the time of her death, the oldest
pioneer. She died in 1818, at the age of eighty-
seven. Asahel Borden and his son Asahel, Jr.,
settled on lot twenty-four on the diagonal road.
He died July 26, 1826, and his wife Jemima
(Jones) Borden, died December 22, 18 18. Asa-
hel Borden, Jr., and his wife Phebe (Bushnell)
Borden, continued to reside at their first location

28o

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

nearly seventy years, and will long be remem-
bered as social and hospitable pioneers. "The
latch-string of their log cabin was always out,"
and in later years their residence was as freely
opened to their numerous friends. They out-
lived all their pioneer associates, he dying in
1869, at the age of eighty-seven, and she in
1875, ^' t'lc age of ninety-one, being the last
one of the early settlers.

They were members of the Methodist Epis-
copal church nearly half a century. They were
always active and energetic people. In early
times they are said to have made journeys to
Pittsburg and Beaver with oxen, taking their
cheese and farm produce to exchange for fam-
ily supplies; often making journeys to Warren,
Ohio, and Mercer, Pennsylvania, on horseback
to trade. Once Mrs. Borden made a trip to
Mercer and back in one day, the round trip
being a journey of over forty miles, bringing
home on her horse a tea-set of crockery, gro-
ceries, and other articles for the family. Their
children were all daughters. Eliza (who was
brought a baby on the long journey from Con-
necticut) married Richard Gates, Elsa married
Paul Wellman, Phebe married George Hallock,
Jemima married Daniel Loomis, Hannah died
at the age of fourteen, Polly married Abel
Whitney, Maria married Abner Banning, and
Deborah L. still remains at the old home with
her sister, Mrs. Banning.

Sylvester Borden married Amoret Bushnell,
daughter of Daniel Bushnell, and their children
were John, Edmund, Truman, and Amelia, wife
of Rev. Robert Crane, of Green.

Russel Borden settled on the farm now occu-
pied by the Thompson family, on the diagonal
road, where he died in 1813. His family con-
sisted of Captain Philo Borden, a resident of the
township over fit'ty years, a prominent man in
the Congregational church, a teacher many
years, and a respected citizen, who married first
in Connecticut, Miss Betsy Priest, and second
Abigail Thompson; Florilla, wife of Seth Thomp-
son; Fannie, wife of Alva Hart; Polly, died in
1813; and Catharine, wife of Robison Trues-
dale. This name of worthy pioneers, once so
familiar, is now almost extinct in the townshii).

DAVIS FULLER.

Davis Fuller, one of the pioneers of Hartford,
emigrated from Hartland, Connecticut, in 1806,
and settled on lot twenty-five. He was a saddle-
and harness-maker, and pursued that vocation
during his life. He was a soldier in Colonel
Hayes' regiment in the War of 1812; an active
member and deacon of the Congregational
church, also a prominent man in the anti-slavery
movement. He died May 5, 1855, at the age
of seventy-three. His wife, Hannah (Bushnell)
Fuller, died in 1849, at the age of seventy-one.
As an incident of pioneer life it may be related
that the first Sunday after moving into their log-
cabin a peculiar hissing sound was heard under
the floor, which was recognized as that of a rat-
tlesnake. "Uncle Davis" having removed a
puncheon, discovered the intruder, and with an
old-fashioned fire-shovel struck the snake and
held him fast while his wife got down under the
floor and cut off his head with a butcher-knife.
The snake had eighteen rattles and was five feet
long.

The children of Davis and Hannah Fuller
were Eunice, Samuel, Henry (who died of fever
when eighteen years of age, in 1828), Chloe,
Harvey, and Alexander. Of this family only Sam-
uel IS a resident of the township. He married
Eunice Holcomb, and their children were Erne-
line, who died at the age of five years; Jerusha,
wife of Albert Rathbun, and died in Chicago
October 27, 1868, at the age of thirty-three;
Emeline, wife of Warren Bates, and Lieutenant
Davis C. Fuller, who died October 13, 1870, at
the age of twenty-nine, from disease contracted
in the army.

THE JONES FAMILY.

All the Jones families now residing in Hart-
ford, with the exception of one, are descendants
of the same family. The earliest account of this
family in America which we have been able to
obtain is of Benjamin Jones, who was a resident
of Enfield, Connecticut, and in 1706 removed to
Somers, Connecticut, and was the first settler in
that township. His grandson, Israel Jones,
removed from Enfield to Barkhamsted, Connec-
ticut, and was the second settler in that town-
ship in 1759, fixing his home on East mountain.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

This farm is now, by regular descent, the prop-
erty of his great-grandson, Hon. Edwin P.
Jones.

The chiidren of Captain Israel Jones were
Samuel, Thomas, Colonel Israel Jones, Jemima
(wife of Asahel Borden, Sr.), Mrs. Joshua Gid-
dings, Mrs. John Billings, William, and Isaac.
Many of this family, like their ancestors, became
"first .settlers," Isaac, William, and Jemima,
also -Elam, son of Samuel, being pioneers of
Hartford ; others of this family, including
Samuel, Jr., and the Giddiiags family, being
pioneers of Ashtabula county, Ohio.

Isaac Jones, youngest son of Captain Israel
Jones, was the first to emigrate, coming from
Birkhamsted, Connecticut, with his family in the
spring of iSoo, and settling on lot twenty-two,
near Burg Hill. He was one of the three first
settlers in the township. His wife, Abigail, was
the daughter of Edward Brockway, who came at
the same time. Their children were Mrs. Asahel
Brainard, Mrs. Abner Moses, Mrs. Aaron Rice,
Selden, John, James F., and Mrs. George Hewit;
the most of them residents of Hartford many
years.

James F. Jones was the only son of Isaac and
Abigail Jones born in Hartford, and is now
the oldest man living who is a native of the
place. He was born January 31, 1804, resides
on lot eleven, and married first Sarepta Wilson,
second Mrs. Mary Pfouts. Their children are
Malinda, Asahel, .Albert, Mary Ann, Lorinda,
Floras, Mandana Juliett, Arial Gordon, Calvin
Judson, and Willie Dayton.

William C. Jones, son of Captain Israel Jones,
emigrated from the same place in 1802, and
located on lot twenty-seven, and on the farm now
occupied by Amos Fell, where he died in 1841,
at the age of eighty-one years. He was a veteran
of the Revolutionary war, having taken part m
the battles of Bunker Hill and Saratoga. His
children were William, Jr., Selden C, Dr.
Asahel Jones, Amelia, Sallie, and Allen. From
this family are descended Philander Jones and
Asahel Jones, Esq., of Youngstown, Ohio; Dr.
Allen Jones, of Kinsman, Ohio; R. C. Jones, of
Burg Hill; William C. Jones, of Hartford, and
Edward B. Jones, of Orangeville.

William C. Jones, son of Selden C. and Lau-
rinda (Brockway) Jones, was born in Hartford,
June 29, 18 1 7, and married Elvira Gates, of the

same township, December 27, 1843. She was
born December 27, 1823. Their children are :
Eliza Laurinda, born October 13, 1844, and
married James D. Burnett, June 21, 1866 ; Alice
Minerva, born August 25, 1846, and died No-
vember 8, 1854 ; Edna Luella, born July 21,
1S50, died November 22, 1854; Asahel Hallock,
born January 15, 1852, and married Clara L.
Sponsler, May 16, 1875.

Edward B. Jones, also son of Selden C. and
Laurinda (Brockway) Jones, is a resident of
Orangeville. He was born on the farm where
he now resides. May 8, 1822. This farm has
been in the possession of his ancestors since
1799, his grandfather, Edward Brockway, hav-
ing purchased the same of the original proprie-
tors of the township. He first married Miss
Mary E. Leonard, October 24, 1850, who died
September 8, 1851; she left one son, Edward M.
born September 8, 185 i, and died October 14,
1852. He was again married to Ellen D. Jones,
of Sheffield, Massachusetts, May 14, 1856. She
was born August 26, 1827. Their children are:
Lizzie E., wife of WiUard C. Hull ; Ivah L, and
Hattie L.

These brothers, William and Edward, early
left fatherless, learned lessons of industry, perse-
verance, and economy, which have enabled them
each to acquire a competency, and they are
among the most prosperous farmers in the town-
ship.

Elam Jones, son of Samuel, and grandson of
Captain Israel Jones, was born at the old Jones
home, on East mountain, Barkhamsted, Septem-
ber 29, 1774. He was a man of more than
ordinary education and acquirements for his day,
having received private instructions of Rev.
Aaron Church, of Hartland, Connecticut, and
followed the profession of a teacher for many
years in his native State. He married Sarah
Hyde, of Hartland, April 27, 1801. They emi-
grated from Barkhamsted in 1805, making the
journey in six weeks. They settled on lot twelve
in Hartford, Ohio. Their children were : Sarah,
wife of Jarvis Gates, a resident of Hartford ;
Harriet, wife of Linus Parker, a resident of
Kinsman ; Electa, wife of Eli W. Bushnell, a
resident of Hartford ; Eunice Lemyra, wife of
George Hezlep, for many years a merchant of
Gustavus ; Hannah, wife of Dr. Edward Best,
who died at Freedom, Ohio, October 2, 183S ;

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

and Hon. Lucian C. Jones, a resident of Warren,
Ohio. In 1828 he built the first pubHc house at
the center of Hartford. He was for many years
postmaster, and held the office of town clerk
twenty years, in early days. He was a surveyor
in early life. He served m the War of 181 2 in
Colonel Hayes' regiment. He died December
2, 1851, at the age of seventy-seven. Mrs.
Sarah Hyde Jones died September 30, 1870, in
her ninety-fifth year.

McFARLAND FAMILY.

Robert McFarland, the first settler in the east
part of Hartford, was from the north of Ireland,
and of Scotch descent. He came from Wash-
ington county, Pennsylvania, in the fall of 1803,
with one son and one daughter. He built a
cabm about seventy rods from the State line, and
west of the present residence of his grandson,
Thomas W. McFarland. In the spring of 1804
the remainder of the family followed to the
new home prepared for them in the wilderness
of Ohio. He only lived to see his family well
established, as he died in May, 18 14. Mrs.
McFarland's maiden name was Martha Burnside.
She lived until 1836, and died at the age of
eighty-six. They were members of the Presby-
terian church. Their children were Martha,
Robert (who was killed by lightning in Washing-
ton county, Pennsylvania), Archibald, Jane,
Margaret (who was blind and died soon after her
father), John, and Polly.

The three sons all settled in the township,
John remaining at the old home, Thomas set-
tling a short distance south on the same road,
and Archibald locating on lot thirty-seven, in the
southwest part of the township. They all lived
and died on the farms they had labored so faith-
fully to clear of trees and convert into fruitful
fields, and these farms are each occupied by their
descendants. Thomas and Archibald both
served as soldiers in the War of 1812, in Colo-
nel Hayes' regiment.

Thomas McFarland was born September 24,
1785, and died October 27, 1862, at the age of
seventy-seven. He tnarried first Martha Fell, and
second Mrs. Agnes McKnight. Their chil-
dren were Nathan, Robert, Smith, George, Cyn-
thia, Thomas F., Phebe, and Amelia.

Thomas F., son of Thomas and Agnes Mc-
Farland, was born April 13, 1828, and married
first, Parthenia Leslie, who died September 23,
1 871; and second, Alice B. Brockway. Their
children were Wright D., born February 17,
1854, and married Rosie Wallahan; Julia M.,
born September 17, 1855, wife of Scot Bates;
Mary Florence, born July 2, 1857, died August
19, 1871; Selnia A., born June 22, 1859, wife of
Wright Banning; Bertha, born May 31, 1864;
and Agnes Jane, born June 15, 1873.

John McFarland, youngest son of Robert and
Martha McFarland, married Esther Fell. Their
children were Mary, Archibald, Thomas W.,
Eliza, Harriet, and Lucinda. He died in 1857,
at the age of sixty-five.

Thomas W. McFarland, son of John and Es-
ther McFarland, married Olive Brockway, and
resides at the old ancestral homestead of the fam-
ily, where Robert McFarland first settled nearly
eighty years ago. The family of McFarland in-
cludes some of the most thrifty and enterprising
citizens of the township.

KEPNER FAMILY.

John Kepner, the pioneer settler of the south-
eastern portion of the township of Hartford,
and the ancestor of all the Kepners in this vicin-
ity, was born October 7, 1784, in Cumberland,
Cumberland county, Pennsylvania. In 1805 he
made his first journey to Ohio on foot, and im-
mediately purchased a tract of six hundred and
thirty-six acres of land, being lot nine in the town-
ship of Hartford. He brought the gold and sil-
ver coin to pay for the same, in two small, home-
made linen bags. He soon made a small clear-
ing and erected a log cabin which was burned.
This accident was occasioned by Indian fires
running in the woods. After this he returned
home and spent the winter, but returning in the
spring of 1806 he built a second log house,
in which for a time greased paper performed
the office of glass in the windows. A second
time he returned home for the winter and mar-
ried Elizabeth Dubs, who was born in Cumber-
land September 4, 1785.

Early in the spring of 1807 they emigrated to
their new home in the forest, coming with large
Pennsylvania covered wagons over the AUe-

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

283

gheny mountains, camping out wherever night
found them, and arrived at their new home in
time to put in spring crops. Content and pros-
perity took up their abode with them, and on
this farm they Hved and died. Their children
were: John, born February 15, 1808, and mar-
ried Lucinda Hull; Sallie, born September 2,
1809, married John Carnes; Benjamin, born
August 9, 1811, and died in infancy; Jane, born
March 13, 1813, married Eli Myers; Mary, born
May 22, 1815, and married Alex. Spencer; Jacob,
born June 12, 1818, married Eliza Parsons, and
then Mary McKnight; Catharine, born March
18, 182 1, and married Charles Banning; Eliza-
beth, born March 7, 1823, and married John
VanGorder; David, born May 23, 1825, and mar-
ried first Mary Bates, second Laura Simons;
Ruhama, born June 20, 1827, and married John
Bates; Henry, born May 23, 1825, and married
x\daline Lynch.

The father of this large family, as faithful to
his country as to his children, served in the War
of 1812, in Colonel Hayes' regiment. In the
spring of 1833, while assisting to re-roof his
barn, he fell and received fatal injuries from
which he died March 20th. He and his wife
were members of the Lutheran church. She
was a woman of uncommon executive ability,
and after her husband's death faithfully per-
formed her duty to the large family thus left in
her care. She lived to see them all married, and
in her last days resided with her youngest son on
a portion of the original estate, and died July 6,
1862, at the advanced age of seventy-eight
years.

John Kepner, the eldest son of the pioneer,
settled on a portion of the original property.
His son Lucious, Lorenzo, and Luzerne each
have homes and reside on the original Keijner
farm.

Jacob, second son of the pioneer, resides on
the farm, and in the house formerly occupied by
the pioneer, Asahel Brainard, on lot eighteen.
He married, first, Eliza Parsons, who died soon,
leaving one son — Allen Parsons Kepner. He
then married Mary McKnight, and their children
are Thomas Eugene, Linda, Florence, Frankie,
Emory, Adell, Maud, and Frederick.

David Kepner is a resident of the northwest-
ern part of the township.

Henry, youngest son of John and Elizabeth

Kepner, also retains a portion of the original es-
tate, and his residence stands near the home
where his pioneer parents resided. He married
Adaline Lynch March 22, 1859. Their children
are Sanford H., William L., and John H.

These Kepner brothers, sons of the pioneer,
are all industrious and wealthy farmers and re-
spected citizens of the township.

FOWLER FAMILY.

The first settler in the township of Fowler was
Abner Fowler, formerly a resident of Southwick,
Massachusetts. He was a brother of the pro-
prietor of the township, Hon. Samuel Fowler, of
Westfield, Massachusetts, for which place the
township was first named; this name afterwards
being changed in honor of the proprietor to the
name it now bears. In 1798 he came to the
township in the employ of his brother as sur-
veyor of his western lands ; finally located and
remained till death, February 18, 1806, his death
being the first in the township. Abner Fowler,
Jr., born July 25, 1782, married Miss Esther
Jennings, August 18, 1807, in Fowler. She was
from Fairfield, Connecticut, and a descendant of
the Rev. Peter Bulkley, who came to America in
1635. Their children were Julia, who married
Thomas J. Collins; Ira, Sarah, Abner, Harvey,
James, and Rhoda, who married Daniel Parsons.
Mr. Fowler remained in Fowler till 181 6, when
he changed his location to Brookfield, where he
resided till his death April 23, 1843. He was a
very intelligent farmer, a man of the utmost
integrity, and of high Christian character.
He was identified with the Methodist church in
Fowler al its first organization, also, after his re-
moval, with the Brookfield church.

In politics he was a Whig till the formation of
the Liberty party, when he took his stand on
the side of humanity, and was one of the first
five voters of that party in Brookfield. His son
Ira Fowler, born in Fowler township, January 21,
1810, mairied Miss Sarah Ann Williams, May 6,
1 840, and settled on lot twenty-three, on the south
line of Hartford township, where he now resides.
Slie died May 15, 1841, leaving one daughter,
Elizabeth. Mr. Fowler was again married, to Miss
Lovina Wheeler, and they have one son, Harvey.

James Fowler, born February 1, 1820, mar-

284

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

ried Miss Lucina Miner ; their children are
Esther L., Addison J., Dwight A., Albert R.,
James C, Sicily, and Ida.

These Fowler brothers, sons of Abner Fowler,
Jr., are both residents of Hartford; intelligent
farmers, courteous, worthy Christian gentlemen,
and highly respected citizens, in whom the
virtues of their ancestors are perpetuated, Ira
Fowler and family being connected with and
among the leading members of the Method-
ist Episcopal church near his place, and Mr.
James Fowler long having been an elder in the
Disciple church at Hartford center.

The Fowler family have a long line of ances-
tors in America, the first of which, William Fow-
ler, was one of the company which came from
London with Rev. John Davenport, Governor
Eaton, and others, and arrived in Boston June
26, 1637, and settled in New Haven in 1638.
He was a prisoner in Bridewell, England, with
other Puritans in 1592. He was at the famous
meeting in Mr. Newman's barn in New Haven,
where the peculiar constitution and policy of
Mr. Davenport, which afterwards characterized
the New Haven colony, was agreed upon, and
Mr. Fowler subscribed to that agreement. In
1639 he was elected one of the " seven pillars "
of the church of Milford, Rev. Peter Pruden
pastor. He was elected magistrate yearly till
1654.

GEORGE SNYDER, SR.
George Snyder, Sr., was born March 9, 1799,
in Mahatonca, Dauphin county, Pennsylvania.
His father, Thomas Snyder, dying when he was
about four years of age, he was raised by his
maternal grandfather, John Kepner, till he was
fourteen years of age, when he went to Harris-
burg, Pennsylvania, to learn the trade of a
cabinet-maker. Although in a school-room but
three days in his life, he acquired a fair educa-
tion. He came on foot to Hartford, Ohio, in
1 81 7, and purchased seventy acres of land of
his uncle, John Kepner, in lot nine, near Mes-
sersmith's corners, for the consideration of $300,
on which he immediately built a house. When
he was only nineteen years of age he married
Elizabeth Games, daughter of Godfrey Carnes,
a Revolutionary soldier and inonecr of Mercer
county, Pennsylvania. Here he erected a shop.

and was the first cabinet-maker in the township;
also working at the carpenter business part of the
time for some years. Their children, all born on
this farm, were Mary, Margaret, Jane, Ruhama,
James, A. C, Uriah, and George W.

In October, 1835, ^^ purchased an addition
of two hundred and thirty-seven acres of land
lying east of his original purchase, for the con-
sideration of $1,513. On this land he erected a
saw-mill, which was run by water for twenty
years, when he purchased an engine and run the
mill by steam till 1858, when he sold the mill
and seventy-nine acres of this land to his son
James, and the remainder of this tract to his
sons, Uriah and Cornelius Snyder, and in 1861
sold his old home of seventy acres, where he
first settled, to Benjamin Messersmith, and re-
moved to the center of the township, purchasing
the store and property formerly owned by G. L.
Woodford, where he resided for a time, and
carried on a grocery store. This property he
sold to Dr. Daniel Artherholt, and removed to
Brookfield township, where he resided for a
time, but being afflicted with paralysis he sold
his Brookfield property to his son George,
spending the remainder of his days with his
children, dying March 8, 18S0, aged eighty-
one years. Mrs. Snyder was born in 1795, and
died June 6, 1859, aged sixty-four years.

George W. Snyder, the youngest son, was born
in 1839. He spent his early life on his father's
farm, and attended district school till he had
reached the age of eighteen years. He then
spent three years in Hartford academy, and one
term in Folsom's Commercial college, Cleveland.
He began the study of law in Hartford, in the
office of L. C. Jones, now of Warren. He en-
listed under the first call for volunteers, in i86i,
being the first man in Hartford to ofTer his ser-
ices, but the quota having been filled, he, like
many others, was discharged without being mus-
tered in. In 1862 he again enlisted in the
Eighty-fourth Ohio volunteer infantry, and served
with that regiment four months. In 1867 Mr.
Snyder was admitted to the bar, and opened an
office in Orangeville. He has been elected
mayor of the village five successive times, and
since 1879 has been postmaster. Though his
whole family belonged to the Democratic party,
Mr. Snyder, in i860, cast his first vote for Lin-
coln, and has been an active Republican ever

^.Qf\-^^yJ64y

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

285

since. He has been a member of every county
convention and several State conventions since
attaining his majority. He married, in 1871,
lulia A. Wilson, dau£;hter of Nathaniel Wilson,
of Orangeville. Their family consists of three
children, Sharlie L., Blaine Carlisle, and Vera E.

DR. R. M. BEEBE.

Robert McEwen Beebe was born in Winches-
ter, Connecticut, April 28, 181 1. His parents
were James Beebe, a prominent citizen of Litch-
field county, Connecticut, five times a member
of the Legislature of that State, and Abi Mc-
Ewen Beebe, a sister of the Rev. Dr. Abel Mc-
Ewen, of New London, Connecticut.

He was a member of Yale college class of
1835, but did not fmish his course for want of
means. Soon after leaving he commenced the
study of medicine with Dr. Benjamin Welch, Jr.,
in Norfolk, and contmued his medical studies in
Yale and Berkshire Medical schools, graduating
from the latter in the class of 1836-37. In
1837 he married Miss Huldah Case, of Norfolk,
and in 1838 removed to Hartford. Here he
entered immediately on a large and successful
practice of medicine, which he continued till his
death, November 16, 1864. Few physicians
ever enjoyed more of the love and confidence
of the community where they lived, or have
been more deeply mourned in their death.

The following is taken from a letter written by
Hon. L. C. Jones, who was a resident in Hart-
ford at the tune Dr. Beebe came to the town-
ship, subsequently was a student in his office,
and continued to live in the place till 1862:

I'rofessionally l)r, Beebe almost at once took lank among
the first physicians in the vicinity. Among his brethren his
thorough scliolar'iliip and learning in his profession, his ur-
banity and courtesy, rapidly won for him their good will and
high esteem. They soon learned to know that his judgment
and conclusions in critical cases of disease were of the high-
est value, and as a necessary consequence he was oftener
called in consultation than any other physician in this part of
the county.

As a citizen he was active and zealous in all matters of pub-
lic interest, and always, notwithstanding the great demands
upon his time by his large practice, took a leading part in
civil and political affairs.

Among the most marked traits in his character were his
liberality and self-sacrificing labors to the poor. The needed
relief, both professional and pecuniary, was prompt and
ready, cheerful, and without evasion or e.\cuse.

To his self-sacrificing labors in his profession may lie at-

tributed in a great degree his early death. He died in the
height of his usefulness, in the prime of his life, with the har-
ness on, leaving behind him a reputation for honor, integrity,
professional skill, second to none in the county of his resi-
dence, which is remembered by none better than the writer,
to whom he was the valued friend and counsellor, the sincere
and constant friend."

He left a family of four children, one of whom,
Robert, follows his father's profession, and re-
sides in Cleveland. Lizzie G. (Mrs. J. Jone*;)
was a poetess of considerable local reputation.

SULLIVAN HUTCHINS
is the second son of Hiram and Eliza (Lane)
Hutchins, and grandson of Samuel Hutchins,
who was one of the pioneers of Vienna town-
ship. Samuel Hutchins was born in Bolton,
Connecticut, August 30, 1777, and was raised by
Colonel Holmes, the original proprietor of
Vienna and Hartford townships, in Hartland,
Connecticut. He came to Vienna with Uriah
Holmes, Jr., and his company of surveyors in
1798, and for his assistance in surveying Mr.
Holmes gave him his choice of a farm in Vienna,
which farm was located in lot four in that town-
ship. He married Miss Freelove Flower in Jan-
uary, 1803. They aie said to have been the first
couple married in Vienna. She and her half
sister were the first white women to arrive at this
new settlement. The teams with which the
family came not being able on account of bad
roads to proceed farther than Youngstown, they
continued the journey on foot alone through the
unbroken wilderness to Vienna settlement to
procure assistance, and, strange to say, arrived
safely and were received with great astonishment
and pleasure.

Samuel and Freelove Hutchins' children were:
Hiram, born March 24, 1804, who married Eliza
Lane; Aurora Amoret, wife ot Richard Treat;
Mary Amney, wife of Augustus Fuller; John,
married Rhoda Andrews and was Representative
in Congress from 1859 to 1863; Serena, wife of
Augustus M. Reed; Urial H., married Emily
Bennett; Lucia, wife of L. Cotton, who died and
she again married Norman Andrews; and Betsey,
wife of Larman B. Lane, who went as missionary
to Siam.

Hiram and Eliza (Lane) Hutchins first settled
in \'ienna and afterwards removed to Vernon.

TRUMBULL AND ]\L\HONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

Their children who lived to maturity were : Sul-
livan, Lovisa, John L., and Elmer.

Sullivan Hutchins was born in Vienna Feb-
ruary 26, 1834, and married, first, Hannah
Akins, of Vernon, April 6, 1859. She died
April 7, 1875, and left one child, Hiram Howard,
born August 10, 1874, died Augusts, 1875. Mr.
Hutchins was again married, to Martha Bush-
nell, of Johnson, Ohio, May 10, 1876. They have
Grace Adel, born June 18, 1877. Mr. Hutchins
is the only descendant of Samuel Hutchins
bearing the name residing in Trumbull county.

WILLIS REEDER.

Willis Reader was born in Brookfield, Ohio,
October 28, 1830, and was the son of Washing-
ton and Caroline (Mattocks) Reeder, and grand-
son ot Benjamin Reeder, who came from
Geneva, Cayuga county, New York, and settled
on lot twenty-nine, in Hartford, July 9, 18 17.
When he was a boy of thirteen he found em-
ployment on the Erie extension canal. In 1845
the family removed to Louisville, Kentucky, and
soon he secured a situation on a flat-boat as
cook ; subsequently he became a pilot on a coal
boat, and continued on the Ohio and Mississippi
rivers in that capacity until the outbreak of the
Rebellion, when the business becoming unsafe
it was discontinued and coal was transported by
steamers. In 1862 he became a licensed steam-
boat pilot running between Pittsburg and New
Orleans, and during the last three years of the
war of the Rebellion was engaged in the trans-
portation service. After the close of the war he
took command of a tow-boat until failing health
caused him to retire from river life, and in 187 1
he settled on lot forty-three, in Hartford, where
he now resides. He married Maryett Bartholo-
mew .A.ugust 8, 1854, who was a descendant of
Seth Bartholomew, one of the pioneers of Vienna
township. Their children are Charlie Willis,
Ruby Ann, and Frank Carlyle. Mr. Reeder has
served two terms as trustee of the township, and
three years as justice of the peace. He is a
member of Jerusalem lodge No. 19, F'ree and
Accepted Masons, also a member of Mahoning
chapter No. 66, Royal Arch Masons. The first
ancestor of this family in .America, Joseph
Reeder, came from London, England, and set-

tled on Long Island some time previous to 1700,
and according to tradition in the family his wife
was sister to William of Orange, who superseded
James II. on the throne of England. Their
sons were Joseph, Benjamin, and William.
Joseph settled in New Jersey, and his son Jacob
settled in Pennsylvania, and his eldest son, Ben-
jamin, who was born May 15, 1769, with his
family settled in Ohio. Thus families follow the
" star of empire " westward.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES.

Peter Carlton was born in Liberty township,
October 28, 1821. He is a grandson of Francis
Carlton, a Revolutionary soldier, who emigrated
from New Jersey in 1799, and was one of the first
settlers of Warren, Ohio, and son of Peter CarL
ton, a soldier of the War of 181 2, who was one of
the boys present at Salt Springs when Captain
George was killed by McMahon, July 20, 1800.
Peter Carlton, Jr., married Miss Catherine Cauf-
field, of Brookfield, in 1850, and removed to Hart-
ford in 1857, and settled in the south part of the
township, on lot twenty-nine, on the farm where
he has since resided. Their children are Mary
B., Lizzie A., Jennie D., John B., and Bertha.
Mr. Carlton is a much respected citizen and
a peaceable, industrious farmer. He was elected
justice of the peace in 1866, and has been suc-
cessively re-elected four times, holding the office
fifteen years. Although he is an active worker
in the Republican party he has had the support
of all parties. He has considerable reputation
as a juror, often having served as grand, common
pleas, and United States juror. He was one of
the corporators of the Harvard Academic insti-
tute. He was the only man in the township who
attended the inauguration of President Garfield in
1881. He now holds the office of notary public.

William Hull emigrated from Hartland, Con-
necticut, to Ohio in 1S05, and first settled in
Vernon, where the family resided till 1821, when
they removed to Hartford, and in 1831 located
at Burg Hill, on the farm now owned by his son
Osman. He married Annie Hyde in Hartland,
Connecticut, September 18, 1802. Their chil-
dren were Harriet, wife of Elisha Beman, of
Gustavus; Horace; Clarissa, wife of .■\lexander
Morris; William, John, and ?-meline, wife of

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

287

Simeon C. Baker. Mr. and Mrs. Hull were
members of the Congregational church, and dur-
ing their life most worthy citizens. They lived
to a good old age, he dying November 30, 1857,
at the age of seventy-eight years, and she living
till July ir, 1874, reaching the advanced age of
ninety-five years and eight months. Osman
Hull retains the old home, and is now an enter-
prising and prosperous farmer, in early life, how-
ever, having been a mechanic. He married
Miss Lorinda Roper, of Braceville, Aprd 22,
1 84 1. They are both earnest Christian workers
in the temperance cause. Their sons are Ran-
som and Brunell. Mr. Hull is in politics a Re-
publican.

Norman E. Austin was born in Goshen, Con-
necticut, February 20, 181 2. In the year 18 15
his father, Russel Austin, removed to Geneseo,
New York, where Norman's early life was spent.
In 1836 Norman E. Austin came to this county
and purchased of John Kinsman the farm near
Orangeville, which still bears his name. He
married Mary C. Hamilton December 24, 1839,
and in 1846 came to Hartford to make a per-
manent home. He brought with him a superior
flock of fine-wool sheep, and in 1848 brought
the Morgan horse Bulrush. During his life he
was a prominent and successful farmer. He
served as county commissioner, and at the time
of his death was deacon of the Hartford Con-
gregational church. His only child, Lizzie M.,
married Willard C. Hull, who now occupies the
Austin farm. She died June 14, 1862; Norman
E. Austin died April 10, 1870. His wife, Mary
(Hamilton) Austin, continued to reside on the
farm with her son-in law till her death in the
spring of 1881.

Arial Chapman was born in Hartford, Con-
necticut, in 1800, and was of English descent.
His early home was at Cooperstown, New York,
but at fourteen years of age he went to Busti,
Chautauqua county, in the same State. Here
he learned the trade of a tanner, and also mar-
ried Miss Mary Derendorf, who was born in Co-
lumbia, Herkimer county. New York, and was
of German descent. They came to Ohio in
1826, settling at Burg Hill in Hartford. Here
Mr. Chapman carried on the tanning business
for many years. In later life, however, he
was engaged in agriculture, and resided at
the same place till his death; and here Mrs.

Chapman continued to reside till 1881, when she
died at the age of seventy-nine. They were
highly esteemed in the vicinity, and will long be
remembered. Their children were Dwight R.,
Margaret, Charlotte, and one adopted son, Albert
Reed. Dwight R. was born June 13, 1827, and
married Maria, only daughter of William Bond,
December 19, 1849. They have one son, Fred-
erick H. Chapman, and five daughters — Louisa,
wife of James Morrow; Kate, Lizzie, Lucy, and
Blanche. D. R. Chapman occupies the farm
where the first clearing was made in the town-
ship of Hartford, in 1799.

Charles Hull was a native of the State of New
York, and with his younger brother, Richard
Hull, came to Orangeville in 1834 and engaged
in business as clothiers, which they followed for
some length of time. Charles Hull was born
September 17, 1805, and married Miss Jane Ann
Chapin January 20, 1835. She was born Sep-
tember lo, 1814. They were active members of
the Baptist church in Orangeville during their
lives, and much respected citizens of the town-
ship of Hartford. Their children were Willard
C, George, and Emogene. In the later years
of Mr. Hull's life he was engaged in agricultural
pursuits, and died on his farm in Hartford, a lit-
tle south of the village of Orangeville, April 30,
1863. Mrs. Hull died in Orangeville, June 11,
1872.

Williair. Bond was a resident of Hartford over
forty years, a worthy farmer, who left behind him
a reputation for probity, uprightness, and honor.
He was born in Sandersfield, Massachusetts,
September 22, 1793. His father's family re-
moved to Avon, New York, where he married
Miss Lucy Cook, November 27, 1823. She was
born in New Hartford, Connecticut, January 28,
1800. They had but one daughter, Maria, wife
of D. R. Chapman. They removed to Hartford,
Ohio, in 1833, settling on the farm east of Burg
Hill, where they resided the remainder of their
lives. She died January 18, 1873, and Mr. Bond
died January 2, 1874.

Among the citizens of the township of Hart-
ford are a number of the descendants of John
Fitch, the inventor. His wife died here in 1813.
To him belongs the honor of having constructed
the first steamboat. Twenty years before the
great experiment of Fulton and Livingston, on
the Hudson, a steamboat was constructed and

288

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

put in operation in Philadelphia, under his sole
direction, and was found to go at the rate of
eight miles an hour. He was considered, in his
day, as quite visionary, and being a poor man
found it difficult to command the means to make
his experiments. Had his means been equal to
the accomplishment of his designs, there can be
no doubt that he would now hold undisputed
the honor of having given to the country this
most noble and useful invention. He at last
became discouraged and disheartened, and ended
his days by suicide in 1798, and lies buried at
Bardstown, Kentucky. This unhappy man,
weary of the world and disappointed in all his
expectations, still most honestly believed in the
correctness of the darling dream of his life, and
expressed a wish to be buried on the banks of
the Ohio, where the sound of the steam engine
would, in future years, send its echoes abroad.
For years there was nothing to mark his grave.
Some ])ains has been taken to identify it, and a
rough, unhewn, unlettered stone placed upon it
as a memorial. For genius and misfortune,
neglected in life and unhonored in death, it is
perhaps a more fitting monument than any
storied urn which might be placed over his last
resting-place. Let honor be given to whom
honor is due. Justice to his memory demands
that his name be recorded as the successful in-
ventor of steamboats, he having demonstrated
their practicability by his experiments beyond
the power of denial.

James D. Burnett is a grandson of William
Burnett, one of the pioneers of Hubbard town-
ship, and son of Benjamin Burnett, who settled
in Hartford, in 1844, on the farm one mile south
of Orangeville, where he died. Benjamin Bur-
nett was the father of eleven children, seven of
whom lived to maturity, and are all, except one
son, residents of Trumbull county. James D.
Burnett was a soldier of the war of 1861, and
was the first man in the township to enlist for
the three years service, his name being enrolled
May 27, 1 86 1, in company F, Twenty-fourth
regiment, Ohio volunteer infantry, and honorably
discharged June 18, 1864. He served in the
.\rmy of the Cumberland; was at Shiloh, Stone
River, Lookout Mountain, Chickamauga, Mis-
sionary Ridge, and many small engagements,
being under fire thirty-four days while in the
service. After Ihe war (June 21, 1866,) he mar-

ried Eliza Jones, daughter of William C. Jones.
Giles M. Hayes is a prosperous, enterprising
young farmer, residing on lot forty near the east
line of the township of Hartford; here he located
about 1S75, and married Miss Emma Barnhart.
He is a son of Almon Hayes and grandson of
Elias Hayes, late of Harrison county, Ohio, and
on his mother's side a descendant of Wilcox
Akins, one of the pioneers of Vernon, who came
from Norwalk, Connecticut, about iSio.

CHAPTER IV.

KINSMAN.

LOC.'\TION .\ND OWNERSHIP.

Kinsman — township number seven in the first
range — is situated in the northeast corner of the
county, adjoining the Ashtabula county line on
the north and the Pennsylvania line on the east.
On the south is the township of Vernon and on
the west the township of Gustavus. The town-
ship contains 16,664 acres, to which was annexed
by the equalizing board 1,857 acres (lot number
eight, tract two) in the eleventh range, being a
part of the land on which the city of Akron is
now located. The first township line run by the
surveyors began at the south line of the reserve,
five miles west from the Pennsylvania State line,
and deflected so much from a parallel line as to
be nearly five miles and a half from the State
line at the lake shore, which accounts for the
extra six hundred and sixty-four acres. The
draft was made in 1798 and is known as draft
number eighty-one of that series. The requisite
amount to make a draft of a standard township
was $12,903.23, and in this draft was assigned as
follows: Uriah Tracy and Joseph Coit, $4,-
838.61 ; John Kinsman, $8,064.62. Major
Joseph Perkins of Norwich, Connecticut, was a
joint owner in this township and in other lands
drawn in other drafts. In the division of the
Kinsman and Perkins interest Mr. Kinsman
took this township and Major Perkins the Akron
and other lands. Mr. Kinsman also purchased the
interests of Joseph Coit and Uriah Tracy, who
was then a United States Senator from Connec-
ticut.

TRUMBULL AND MAHoNING COUNTIES, OHIO.

289

PHYSICAL FEATURES, STREAMS, SOIL, TIMBER.

The surface of the township is in general of a
level character. The principal streams are the
Pymatuning, Stratton, and Sugar creeks, the
last two being branches of the first. The Pyma-
tuning rises in Cherry valley, Ashtabula county,
enters Kinsman near the northwest corner and
flows a southeasterly course through the west
half of the township. Stratton creek — named
for the first settler on its banks — comes into the
township near the northeast corner, takes a south-
west course, and unites with the Pymatuning
near the south line of the township. Sugar
creek rises in Johnston township and flows into
Kinsman near the southwest corner, uniting
with the parent stream. This creek derives
its name from the sugar maple groves found
along its course. Much of the soil of Kinsman
is of a superior quality, especially the bottom
lands along the Pymatuning, where an alluvial
soil is found, this stream frequently overflowing
its banks and covering the adjacent land for a
considerable distance on either side, and those in
the vicinity of the junction of Sugar creek and
the Pymatuning, which are exceedingly rich and
productive. A considerable proportion of the
soil of the township is a sandy loam.

The first settlers found Kinsman covered with
a heavy growth of timber with the exception of a
tract of about one thousand acres in the center
of the township, which was destitute of timber,
and which the settlers called "the prairie." The
principal varieties of timber were the oak, beech,
maple, hickory, chestnut, elm, etc. In the south
part of the township, in the west part of section
twenty-three, was a grove of white pines of about
twenty-five acres, presumably the largest grove of
the kind on the Reserve.

INDIANS.

In regard to the Indians of Kinsman a writer*
says :

There are many indications that Kinsman, at some early
day, was a place of Indian resort, where their villages and
wigwams were as permanently fi.xed as the nature of their
w.indering life would allow. The high ground back of
Wayne Bidwell's house, the meadow in front of it, and the
ground about the springs by the old ashery, showed marked
indications of having once been the seat of an Indian vil-
lage. The first plowing of the land revealed spots darkened
with charcoal, showing the places of their camp-fires: many

•Rev. H. B. Eldred in Mahoning Valley Historical Col-

flint arrow-heads and stone axes were found; traces of forti-
fications on the high grounds, and the dancing circle seen on
the flats, all conspire to establish this belief.

Although there were no permanently resident Indians in
the vicinity of Kinsman after its first settlement, they fre-
quently visited it in small straggling bands for the purpose of
hunting, trapping, and tradmg at Mr. Kinsman's store.
Furs, skins, and various articles of their manufacture, as
baskets, wooden trays, ladles, curiously worked moccasins,
sugar, and various trinkets were the commodities in which they
dealt. They also brought in the native fruits— |une-berries,
strawberries, raspberries, whortleberries, cranberries, haws,
plums, and crab apples, to exchange for milk, meal, flour,
bread— always wanting equal measure, no matter what was
brought or what was asked in return. Calico, blankets,
powder and lead, flints, whiskey, tobacco, knives, and some
little finery, as beads and the like, comprised their purchases
at the store. Some of the Indians were sharp .-it a bargain.
Many could talk broken English, and often showed them-
selves sood judges of the character of those with whom they
dealt. They were jealous of their rights, and shy of those
whites in whom they lacked confidence.

In the year 1800 a larger party of Indians made an encamp-
ment on the bottom-lands in Kinsman than were seen m the
township afterward. They broke into the cabin which Mr.
Kinsman had erected in 1799 for his surveyors, and appro-
priated camp-kettles and such articles as had been stored
there for future use.

ANCIENT REMAINS.

Upon this subject the same writer says :

Tliat part of the township commencing near the mouth of
Stratton's creek, skirting along the east bank of the Pyma-
tuning, and west bank of Stratton's creek, first regarded of so
little value, was a beautiful alluvial bottom, on which the first
settlers noticed the evident signs of an old Indian corn-field.
Further up the land rises into an undulating surface of deep
gravelly loam, which undoubtedly had been burned over by
the Indians for a hunting ground. Freed from timber the
elk and the deer, in the grazing season, would come out from
the dense forest on either side, to feed on the open grass plat
and plain, and thus could be approached, and presenting a
fairer mark for the Indian. Bordering on the open prairie,
on the farm now owned by Wayne Bidwell, Esq., upon the
high ground in the rear of his house, were the remains of
what was supposed to have been an old Indian fort. The
lines of an embankment and ditch were clearly defined and
were often noticed by the early settlers of the town. In the
vicinity of this fort flint arrow-heads and stone a.xes were
frequently found. So late as 1866 Mr. Plant, in plowing up
an old field on his farm (a part of the prairie), struck d nest of
arrow-heads, which were undoubtedly lost or buried there by
the Indians. Until the War of 1812 the Indians made their
yearly visits to this locality, where they spent weeks in hunt-
ing, fishing, and trapping. Spots of earth, dark with inter-
mingled charcoal, were found near the old fort, showing
what was evidently an Indian camping ground. The head-
waters of the Pymatuning were marked with a very perma-
nent beaver-dam, which had bei^ abandoned by its occu-
pants before the settlement of the country by the whites.
SURVEY AND FIRST IMPROVEMENTS.

Mr. Kinsman first came to the Reserve in
1799, making the journey, in company with
Simon Perkins, on horseback across the Alle-

290

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

gheny mountains by way of Pittsburg. He
reached Youngstown in the latter part of the
spring of the above year, where he met Mr.
Young, at whose house he made his head-
quarters a jjortion of the time while making
preparations for settlement. At Youngstown he
made arrangements for the survey of the town-
ship, which was done under the direction of
Alfred Wolcott. On arrivmg m this township
Mr. Kinsman and his party established them-
selves at the center, putting up a cabin near the
southeast corner of what is now the square.
The work of surveying was completed during the
year 1799. Mr. Kinsman was a large owner of
land in different sections of the Reserve, and
not until 1801 did he decide as to the place of
his location. In the spring of that year he left
Connecticut for his future home in Kinsman
township. He was accompanied by Calvin
Pease, Simon Perkins, George Tod, John S. Ed-
wards, Ebenezer Reeve, Josiah Pelton, Turhand
and Jared Kirtland, and others. Reeve was
employed by Mr. Kinsman to begin improve-
ments in the township, and, as an inducement
for him to leave his Eastern home for this pur-
pose, was to be paid $20 per month during his
absence, and the sum of $40 in case he did not
like the country and desired to return to his
former home, a quite probable contingency. But
it was also stipulated that if he liked the country
he was to ex'change his land in Connecticut for
land in Kinsman. The sequel to this agreement
will appear further on. The whole party came out
on horseback, with the exception of the two Kirt-
lands, who came with a team and wagon. That
they were a merry set of men, and intelligent as
well, may be inferred from the followmg, which
we quote from the writer previously mentioned :

Tlie comp;iny usually put up over nigln at the same plac-e.
They soon organized into a society called " the Illuminati."
All were titled, and in addressing each other the titles were
frequently used. To illustrate the use to which the society
was put, and show the wit and humor with which they be-
guiled the tediousness of their journey, a single case will
suffice. Mr. Kinsman was the only one ol the company
possessed of a hired man. Pease set up a claim to the right
of properly in this man Reeve. Kinsman resisted, and em-
ployed counsel to defend his rights. Pease instituted pro-
ceedings to recover the property. The case was brough'
before one of the titled dignitaries of the " Illuminati " and
called for hearing from night to night as they pursued their
journey. Profound arguments on the case were made, and
a lengthy and learned decision was at last given confirming
the title to the property in Mr. Kinsman.

On their arrival in Youngstown the party sep-
arated, a part going to Warren, Mr. Kinsman
and Mr. Reeve to Kinsman, and Pelton to his
purchase m Gustavus.

The first improvements in the township were
soon commenced by Mr. Kinsman beginning the
erection of a double log house in section
twenty-three, east of the Vernon road. When
the cabin had reached a height of six or seven
feet it was abandoned and another erected be-
tween the creek "and the store of Kay & Bur-
rill. In the fall of 1801 Kinsman and Reeve
returned to Connecticut, leaving John Cum-
mings, John and Isaac Mathews, in charge of
the place and to prosecute the work of cleaiing
during their absence.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

While the settlement of the township will date
fiom the improvements made by Messrs. Kins-
man and Reeve, above mentioned, Martin Tidd
and his son-in-law, James Hill, and David Ran-
dall are regarded as the first permanent settlers,
since they were the first to take up their abode
with their families, which they did in the spring
of 1802, Mr. Kinsman having made a contract
with ihem to this effect the previous fall.

In April the three families left Youngstown
together, with two teams and wagons. There
was probably a good natured strife between the
Tidd party, who occupied one wagon, and Ran-
dall, as to who should first arrive upon the
ground, but an accident happening to Randall,
his wagon breaking down at Smithfield (now
Vernon), he was detained there over night.
Tidd and family, with Hill and wife, proceeded
to Kinsman, and thus bore off the honors of be-
ing the first peimanent settlers. Tidd settled on
the hill north of the Seth Perkins farm, getting
one hundred acres in exchange for sixty acres
in Kinsman. Randall located on the Seth Per-
kins farm. Tidd and Randall were originally
from the Wyoming valley, Pennsylvania. The
former lived a siiort distance below the settle-
ment of Wyoming at the time of the massacre,
his house occupying a high bluff on the banks of
the Susquehanna river. His house is said tc
have been used as a blockhouse, and during the
massacre afforded a place of safety for many of
the inhabitants in the vicinity. Alter removing
from Wyoming he went to Westmoreland county.
In 179S he came to Youngstown witli his family

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

and nephew, Captain Hillman, where he lived
until his removal to Kinsman. Tidd possessed
tlie true spirit ot the pioneer, though he con-
tinued to live in Kinsman until his death, yet
he was restless during the progress of settlement
and improvement of the country, and was only
prevented from "moving on" by reason of his
advanced age and out of deference to the wishes
of his children, who did not inherit his pioneer
spirit. He died at an advanced age.

Randall moved from Pennsylvania down on
the Ohio river, settling near Marietta, Washing-
ton county, whence he came to Youngstown in
1800. In his frequent removals from place to
place he acquired an extensive acquaintance
with the Indians, with whom his dealings were
always characterized by such exceptional kindli-
ness and honesty as to invariably win their con-
fidence and good will. At the time of the Mc-
Mahan difficulty at the salt spring, elsewhere
related, he went with Captain Hillman to visit
the Indians, and endeavor to prevent the retali-
atory measures which they seemed determined
to inflict upon the whites.

Randall lived but a short time on the Perkins
farm, removing to the farm which m 1806 he
exchanged with John Allen for land in Ashtabula
county. He resided in Ashtabula but a short
time, returning to Kinsman and locating on
Stratton creek. He continued to live in Kins-
man until advanced in life, when he removed to
Michigan, where he died at the age of seventy-
two.

As a result of the contract between Mr. Kins-
man and Ebenezer Reeve, previously mentioned,
the latter exchanged his land in Norwich, Con-
necticut, for land in Kinsman, and in 1802
moved out with his two daughters, Deborah and
Hannah, and erected a log house opposite the
site of the Sutliff frame house, where he lived
until 1S07. In that year he built a two-story
frame house in front of where the house of
Wayne Eidwell was afterwards built. This was
the first twostory frame house erected in Kins-
man. Here Mr. Reeve spent the rest of his life.

Besides those already mentioned a few families
settled in 1802. Paul Rice and his mother
settled on land which subsequently became the
Webber farm. Alexander Clark began opera-
tions upon his farm. Uriel Driggs located east
of Driggs' hill.

In 1803 Captain Charles Case came into the
township, and assisted in tending the Kinsman
saw-mill. He was accustomed to give singing
lessons, free of charge, and gained considerable
popularity thereby. He removed to Williams-
field, and died there.

The same year settlements were made as fol-
lows : William Tidd, John Wade, John Little,
Walter Davis, Isaac and John Matthews — with
whom their sister Betsy lived — Robert Laughlin,
Peter Yetman, George Gordon Dement, George
Matthews, Joseph McMichael, Joshua Budwell,
and his son Henry, and William Knox settled in
the township. Several of these men brought
families ; others were young men and single.
Joseph Murray, a carpenter and a single man,
arrived and lived with the Davises.

In July, 1804, after a journey of seven weeks,
John Kinsman and family arrived in the town-
ship. His family then consisted of himself and
wife and four children — John, Joseph, Sally, and
Olive. Accompanying him were several persons
whom he had engaged to assist him in erecting a
house and other buildings for his family. In this
party of settlers were Chester Lewis and family,
also his mother-in-law, Mrs. Manning, and her
son Samuel. Lewis drove an ox team loaded
with household furniture and farming imple-
ments. Mr. Kinsman came with a number of
teams. On his way he bought a stock of goods,
and placed them in charge of Joseph Coit, who
came out to act as clerk in the store. Louisa
Morse, afterward the wife of Isaac Meacham,
and Eunice Morgan, afterward Mrs. John L.
Cook, came with the company ; also Cook and
Jahazel Lathrop, carpenters.

In 1804 Plumb Sutliff settled on the creek,
but moved to a farm on the center road a year
later, where he died, in 1834, aged eighty-three.
He married, the year of his settlement, Deborah
Reeve, of Kinsman.

William Scott settled on the ridge in 1804.

Deacon William Matthews settled during the
same year. He was a Revolutionary soldier. In
1808 he was appointed justice of the peace.
Deacon Matthews was one of the most earnest
of working Christians, and was largely instru-
mental in promoting the cause of religion in
the new settlement. He was always in attend-
ance upon the religious meetings, whatever the
weather, and frequently conducted the services,

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

as clergymen were seldom in the township during
its early years.

Thirty families comprised the inhabitants of
the township in 1805, together with twenty or
thirty young unmarried men, and twelve or
fifteen young women, who were single. Some of
the settlers whose names have not yet been men-
tioned were John Neil, Thomas, John, and
William Gillis, Stephen Splitstone, Captain Wil-
liam Westby and his sons, James, John, and
Ebenezer, William and Andrew Christy, Thomas
Potter, Leonard Blackburn, David and Elam
Lindsley.

John Allen, of Norwich, Connecticut, came
to the township in 1806. The Allen family has
played an important part m the affairs of this
township.

David Brackin, a native of Ireland, located in
this township in 1806. The same year came
John Andrews. He married Hannah, the young-
est daughter of Ebenezer Reeve, to whom eight
children were born. Mr. Andrews was born in
Connecticut, in 1782, and died at the age of
eighty-one. About 181 2 he engaged in business
as a merchant. He was a useful member of so-
ciety, and a warm sup|)orter of schools and
churches. As early as 1825 a boarding-school
in Kinsman grew up under his patronage, and ten
years later, at his house, built for such a purpose,
a female boarding school was opened and suc-
cessfully conducted until 1840.

Isaac Meacham came from Hartland, Connec-
ticut, in 1806, Lester Cone in 1807, Peter Lossee
in 1808, Jairus Brockett in 1809, Michael Burns
in 1808, Ira Meacham in 181 2, Joshua Yeo-
mans in 1814, Obed Gilder in 1815, Ebenezer
^Vebber, John Yeomans, Simon Fobes, and
others later.

EARLY EVENT.S.

In 1 80 1 Ebenezer Reeve began work on a
mill-dam, but it was swept away by the water the
following spring. The next year James King,
from Pennsylvania, as mill wright, built and com-
pleted a saw-mill for John Kinsman. It was put
in operation the same year.

In 1802 Mr. Kinsman brought a small stock
of goods for the supply of his family and the set-
tlers. David Randall and Zopher Case were
employed to tend the mill, and Joseph Coit sub-
sequently became clerk in the store. Mrs. Ran-

dall sometimes ran the mill and spun while the
logs were moving through.

TROUBLE WITH THE MILL-DAM.

The mill-dam erected in 1802 proved to be
very much of a nuisance. Those who dwelt
near it were afflicted with malarial sickness of a
severe nature. Z)phus and kindred diseases
raged violently in this and neighboring town-
ships. The dam caused back-water in the
creek for a distance of three miles on account of
the almost level bed of the stream, and so much
stagnant water no doubt caused a most unhealthy
atmosphere to prevail in the neighborhood.
Loud complaints soon began to be heard, and in
1805 Mr. Kinsman was waited upon by a num-
ber of representative men of Hartford, Vernon,
and other places, among whom were Rev.
Thomas Robbins and General Smith, who came
to demand that the dam be destroyed. He
treated them with hospitality, gave them a good
dinner, plenty of brandy, etc., and in reply to
their request said that it would but increase the
evil to tear down the dam in hot weather; that
he and others wished to do some sawing, but
that the trouble should be removed early in the
spring. The delegates went home satisfied ; but
their neighbors were not, and accused them of
having been bribed and made drunk, besides
making other insinuations not complimentary to
the characters of the distinguished gentlemen.

One night some self appointed regulators came
and cut the boards about the flume. Immedi-
ate action prevented serious damage, and in a
day or two the mill was running as usual. Mr.
Kinsman suspected who had done the mischief,
but allowed no talk upon the subject, thinking
that some of them would soon return to see
what their work had effected. He was correct
in his surmises. A short time after a man from
Vernon, whom Mr. Kinsman had suspected, Wits
seen on the opposite bank of the creek. Mr.
Kinsman mounted a horse, forded the stream,
and engaged in conversation with the visitor, in-
viting him to come over to the store. The latter
accepted, and the two entered the store together.
.-Vfter Mr. Kinsman had conversed with the fellow
sufficiently to satisfy himself that he had the guilty
party, he locked the door of the store, collared
the man and gave him a sound flogging. Then
knowing that he had acted unlawfully, he stepped
behind the counter and offered to settle. The

■t^€--U-(-td^ '-/C/-t<Z^l^

-J&^a-z^e^.

'id.(D.

e't'yicci-ci>-7(7-c^'Z't>^-t

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

293

proposition was accepted, and about $3 worth
of goods patched up the wounded feehngs of
the would-be destroyer of the dam. But when
the trespasser returned to Vernon he was threat-
ened with another whipping for settling on such
easy terms.

Other threats were made, but the dam con-
tinued to stand. In 1806 Chloe Gilder, of Gus-
tavus, and Anna Cone, of Gustavus, were riding
a horse near this dam when in some way the
animal became frightened and Miss Gilder, who
was behind, slipped off into the mud and water
and was drowned. In March, 1806, the pond
was drained and sickness abated. The road now
runs on tlie top of what was the old dam.

The first apples raised in the township came
from an orchard planted by David Randall, on
the farm subsequently owned by John Allen.

George Gorden Dement built and put in op-
eration a whiskey distillery in the southeastern
part of the township in 1803.

The first mechanics among the early settlers
were James Hill and Walter Davis, shoemakers;
Captain David Randall, cooper; David and
Elam Lindsley, Joseph Murray, John L. Cook,
Jahazael Lathrop, carpenters.

In 1806 the Gillis brothers erected a saw-mill
on Stratton creek, and subsequently a grist-mill.

The first frame house was erected for Mr.
Kinsman. It was begun in 1804. The second
frame house was built in 1806 by Plumb Sutliff.

A half mile below the Gillis mill Benjamin
Allen and Abner Hall built a shop for lulling and
cloth dressing. In 1813 a carding-machine was
put in Gillis' mill and transferred to Allen's shop
in 1814.

About 1806 William Henry, near Hartstown,
began work as a tanner. He at first manufact-
ured the lime which he used from shells found
in the creek.

In 1813 John .'Andrews established a store and
ashery for the manufacture of pearl ash.

In 1802 the first birth occurred. Twin daugh-
ters, Sally and Phebe, were born to Mr. and Mrs.
David Randall. Sally afterwards married R.
Brown, and Phebe Charles Woodworth, both of
Williamsfield.

The same year occurred also the first marriage.
Mr. Kinsman, as justice of the peace, united in
marriage Robert Henry and Betsey Tidd.

The first death was that of John Tidd, who

died in April, 1804, at the age of thirty-two.
He was buried in the lot which afterwards became
the old cemetery, on the corner near the church.
The first death of an adult female was that of
Mrs. Walter Davis, October 28, 1805. A child
of Samuel Tidd died of a burn in September,

1805. William Westby and son died of typhus
fever in 1805. Also a child of Urial Driggs
died September 11.

The same year while David and Elam Linds-
ley were clearing, a limb of a falling tree struck
David and fractured his thigh. The wound was
cared for by Dr. Wright, of Vernon, and Dr.
Hawley, of Austinburg. The broken pieces did
not unite and it was found necessary to amputate
the limb. The operation was performed by Dr.
Wilson, of Meadville, with a common handsaw
and a carving-knife.

The first military company was organized in

1806. David Randall was captain, Zopher Case
lieutenant, and George G. Dement ensign_
Previous to this date the men of Kinsman had
trained in Hartford and Vernon.

As in most thickly wooded new settlements,
the first way-marks of the town were blazed trees,
marking a line from one settlement to another.
Afterward these lines were underbrushed. Still
later they were cleared of their timber, and some
of them at least, worked into highways. There is,
however, scarcely a road in the town that follows
the first paths traced by the early settlers. The
roads commonly lay along the highest and dryest
grounds, and had reference to the places most
convenient for fording and bridging the streams.
Afterwards as the woods were cleared away and
the country settled, its thorougfares were laid out
to suit the convenience of the people, and facili-
tate intercourse between different parts.

The first road of any considerable length that
was constructed in this region is what was called
the "Old Salt road," laid out in 1S04 by Bemis
and David Niles. It began on the lake shore at
the mouth of Conneaut creek, continuing south
to the old county road, thence south through
the first range to Kinsman's mill. It took a
northerly course from Kinsman's store, along the
ridge by the residences of George Mathews, Wil-
liam Scott, and Marvin Leonard, of Williams
field, somewhere between the present State and

294

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

center roads, of the first range. South of Lake
Erie a settlement had been begun at Monroe.

Midway between Monroe and Kinsman a
temporary board cabin was erected, where men
and teams might find shelter for the night. Salt
was one of the pressing wants of the early inhab-
itants of Kinsman and adjoining towns, and was
one of the principal motives for the construction
of this road; hence the name given to the road.
Salt was manufactured in Onondaga, New York,
and transported in vessels on Lake Ontario to
Lewistown, below the Falls of Niagara; from
Lewistown it was carted to Buffalo; from Buffalo
it was brought to Conneaut in canoes and open
boats. It reached Kinsman by means of ox
teams, where its price was twenty dollars per bar-
rel.

In 1806 a road from Johnson to Kinsman
was laid out, beginning at the east and west cen-
ter road, on the south side of lot number forty-
five, in Johnson, and running thence to the Mer-
cer road, near the house of John Kinsman. The
same year a road was laid out from the
house of John Kinsman east to the State
line, near the house of William Mossman,
by the farms of Leonard Blackburn and Thomas
l^otler. This is known as the Mercer road. In
1807 the State road was laid out. In 1808, a
road from the north line of Warren Palmer's
farm, in Vernon, was surveyed to the crossing of
the Pymatuning creek, near the house of John
Kinsman.

The petition, in 1804, for a road from the
mouth of Conneaut creek south, shows that it
was to terminate at Kinsman's mill, whereas
the lecord of the survey makes it terminate at
an oak tree, one mile south of the south line of
Kinsman. It is conjectured that the first road
was legally established only to Kinsman's mill,
and the above piece is to make good the balance
of the first survey.

In 1810 the record shows there was a petition
to establish a road from Mr. Kinsman's toward
Meadville. The record is imperfect, and proper
legal action was not had. In 1835 new action
was taken, and the road surveyed by Buel
Barnes, surveyor, and the lines fixed from the
tavern barn, near Mr. Kinsman's, on the line of
the Meadville road to the State line, and the
whole legalized by the commissioners.

In 1815 the Mill road, so-called, was estab-

lished, beginning at the Mercer road west of the
house of Thomas Potter, by Gillis's mills to the
State road, near the houses of Elizabeth Lewis
and Nicholas Krahe.

In 181 1 a road was laid out from the vicinity
of the Griswold farm east, in Gustavus, to the
house of Mr. Kinsman, via the farm of J. Burn-
ham, Esq.

In 1818 a road was established from what was
then known as the Clark farm to the northeast
part of the township.

In 1819 a road was established by the farms of
Simon Fobes and William Mathews to the Mead-
ville road. Also the same year a road from the
meeting-house (near Dr. .Mien's), in Kinsman,
west through the center of Gustavus to the west
line of the county.

In 1820 the road from Johnson to Kinsman
was altered and straightened. In 1821 the road
beginning near the north line of Vernon, by
Obed Gilder, was established. In 1822 the
north and south center road was surveyed.

SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL BUILDINGS.

The first school in Kinsman was taught by
Leonard Blackburn, in a log cabin. He taught
a night-school, consisting of a few boys; also
during the day, in the winter of 1805-6, in the
log cabin of the Neals, on the Joshua Yeoman
farm, or in the Y'etman cabin, on the Seth Per-
kins farm. In the winter of 1806-7 his school
was in the Neal cabin. It was [jopular, princi-
pally on account of its cheapness. As there
were no public funds, and the "Yankee school"
charged $2.50 per term for tuition, some of the
people were displeased, and patronized the
cheaper school.

The first school-house was built of logs, six-
teen feet square, seven and a half feet in height,
and stood on the bank of Stratton creek, oppo-
site the house of John Andrews on the Randall
farm, afterward known as the Daniel Allen farm.
It had rough slab benches, and boards fastened
to the wall by wooden pins for desks, altogether
primitive in its fixtures and surroundings.

The first school taught here was by Jedediah
Burnham, Esq., beginning January 1, 1806, and
continuing one quarter. He taught also in the
winter of 1806-7, ^t ten dollars per month, and
took his pay mostly in grain and barter. He
boarded from house to house ; his scholars came
from all the surrounding settlements. Benjamin

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

295

Allen taught the first part of the winter of 1807
-1808. Dr. Peter Allen taught the balance of the
winter; also in 1808, assisted by Joseph Kins-
man, and the next winter assisted by John Kins-
man. Ezra Buell taught in this school-house
one or two winters, from 1810 to 1814. Joshua
Yeomans taught one winter, as late as 181 5 or
1816.

Miss Eunice Allen (wife of Jehiel Meacham)
taught the first summer school in 1807. Miss
Lucy Andrews, afterward Mrs. Jones, of Hart-
ford, and Miss Bushnell, afterward Mrs. Beecher,
of .Shalersville, were among the last who taught
in that buildmg.

The next school-house was of logs, erected
near the township line, north of William Scott's,
to accommodate families in AVilhamsfield. After-
ward one was built south, near the site of the
present Ridge school-house. The third was
also a log house, and stood near where
the "itone house built by Seymour Potter now
stands. Dr. D. Allen attended school there in
the summer of 1818. At this time there was a
school-house east of McConnell's, on the Penn-
sylvania hne, to accommodate settlers on both
sides of the State line.

In 1820 the township was divided into dis-
tricts, and the whole southwest quarter of the
town was organized into district number one.
The first frame school-house was erected by
subscription, 20x24, feet and placed in the angle
of the State and Meadville roads, on the
bite of the present hotel. The first school
taught in it was by Daniel Lathrop (since
Rev.), of Norwich, Connecticut, in 1820-21,
for $15 per month. The common price for
teaching winter schools was $10 per month.
The building was a commodious and good
one for the times. Afterward it was removed
to a rise of ground, a few rods north on
the Meadville road, near where the house of Eli-
jah Beckwith now stands. Here it was occupied
a number of years under the name of the Vil-
lage school-house. Here D. Cadwell (afterward
known as a distinguished lawyer, provost-
marshal of the Northern district of Ohio during
the civil war, and district judge of the Cleveland
circuit) taught about 1840, and I know not how
many others, who in after life filled honorable
callings. After the erection of the jiresent
school-building, 1853, near L. C. Perkins's, the

old one was sold, and is now the dwelling of R.
P. Hulse.

It was several years after the erection of this
first frame village school house that the schools
began to be aided by public funds. Only a few
of the common English branches were taught in
the schools, such as reading, spelling, writing,
arithmetic, and, to a very limited extent, geog-
raphy and grammav-.

About 1822 a log school-house was erected
north of Esquire King's — not far from the pres-
ent residence of Gordon Burnside. The second
frame school-house was built in 1825, on the
ridge, at the crossing, near George Matthews's.
The one by David Brackin was built in 1828.
The one near Mr. Crocker's, in the north part
of the town, on the Meadville road, the one
east, by Esquire Laughlin's, and the center
school-house, near Henry Lihies's, were built in
1834.

KINSMAN ACADEMY.

This institution was incorporated during the
winter of 1841-42, and its academy building
erected in 1842, the land on which it stands hav-
ing been donated by Mr. John Kinsman. The
timber for the frame was given in the rough by
Esquire Andrews. At the time of building the
times were hard and cash scarce. Only $50 in
money were paid for building purposes, although
many turns and credits were made that answered
the same as cash. The building was plain, well
proportioned, commodious, neatly and substan-
tially built. John Christy, Albert Allen, and
Dr. Dudley Allen, were its first trustees and
building committee. The stonework was pre-
pared and laid by Robert and George Braden.
P. S. Miner did the carpenter and joiner work,
and Zephua Stone the plastering and flues. Its
cost was not far from $1,500. In 1863 its
rooms were remodeled, at a cost of about $400.
It has done good service for the town and sur-
rounding communities.

The following is an imperfect list of its princi-
pals and assistant teachers: Charles F. Hudson,
assistant; Miss Brown taught in 1842-44;
Charles C. Clapp, assistant Miss Clapp, 1844-46;
John Lynch, 1846-49; Almon Sampson, 1849-
50; Robert F. Moore, 1850-51; John Myers,
1851-52; Miss Owen, 1852-53; Miss H. A.
Holt, 1853; Dr. W. R. Gilkey, 1853-55; Miss
Hannah P. Parker, 1855; Mr. and Mrs. \V. P.

2g6

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

Clark, 1855-58; E. L. Moon, assistant Mrs.
Moon, 1858-50; E. P. Haynes and Miss E. C.
Allen, 1859-60; Moses G. Watterson, 1860-61;
Edwin L. Webber, 1861-62; Mrs. A. A. F. John-
ston, 1862-65. Assistants; Miss Josephine C.
Field, Miss Celia Morgan, Miss Mary Christy,
Miss Louisa M. Fitch. Mrs. Johnston was prin-
cipal of the academy for a longer period than any
other teacher, and was greatly respected and be-
loved by her pupils.

Biographical Sketches,

JOHN KINSMAN AND FAMILY.*
The ancestors of Mr. Kinsman, on his father's
side, are traced from the time of their leaving
England, embarking in the ship Mary and John,
at Southampton, landing at Boston, settling in
Ipswich, Massachusetts, as one of the Puritan
fathers, in 1634. From that time the genealogi-
cal record is traced by regularly executed re-
corded wills of the ancestors of Mr. Kinsman
down to and including the last will and testa-
ment of his father ; and whatever of history is
shown links them with the patriots of their day
and generation. The ancestry of his mother is
traced from John Thomas, who came over from
England in the ship Hopewell, 1635, a boy four-
teen years of age, under the special charge of
Governor Edward Winslow, of Plymouth, from
whom sprang an honorable and patriotic line of
descendants. The name of Mr. Kinsman's
mother was Sarah Thomas, sister of General
John Thomas, of the American Revolution, one
of the generals first appointed by the Continen-
tal Congress.

Mr, John Kinsman was the son of Jeremiah
Kinsman, a thrifty farmer of Lisbon, Connecti-
cut. Here he lived, working on his father's farm,
.Tnd receiving such education as the schools of
that day afforded, until he was of age. At the
breaking out of the Revolution, 1776, being
then twenty-three years old, he enlisted in a
company of Connecticut militia, destined to
take an active part in the bloody and disastrous
battle of Long Island. In that battle he was

•From the Mahoning Valk'v Historical CollLxtions.

taken prisoner and was confined for some time
in one ot the prison-ships in New York harbor.
He suffered greatly from this imprisonment, be-
ing inhumanly treated, and never fully recovered
from its efifeccs upon his health. With two of
his companions he was finally released from the
prison-ship on parole and allowed to mess in a
room in the city of New York.

While in New York he acquired a knowledge
of the hatting business that induced him, imme-
diately on his release and return home, to embark
in that business. He at once established a shop,
placed in it an experienced workman, Mr. Cap-
ron, as foreman, purchased a stock of goods, and
devoted his time to the care of the store, furnish-
ing the shop, and making sales of the products.
He supplied the army largely with hats, and the
trade generally proved to be successful, and was
continued in Connecticut, with his farm opera-
tions, until after the war.

In 1792 he was married to Miss Rebecca Per-
kins, daughter of Captain Simon Perkins, of
Lisbon, Connecticut.

In 1797, having been elected to represent his
native town in the State Legislature, the office
was continued to him by successive re-elections
for three years. It was here that he became ac-
quainted with many of the ofificers and stock-
holders of the Connecticut Land company, and
familiar with their operations, and concluded to
become one of the proprietors of the company.
It was also about this time that he first enter-
tained the idea of a removal to Ohio.

His first trip to the Connecticut Western Re-
serve was in 1799. He came out to explore the
country, and to see and survey some of the
lands that had fallen to him in the drafts of the
year previous. That year he aided in the survey
of the township of Kinsman, and from this
time his life and business were very intimately
connected with the early history and settlement
of the township. His was the ruling spirit of
the settlement. His age, experience, enterprise,
wealth, and more than all, perhaps, his practical
sound judgment, gave him an influence in the
affairs of the town which no other individual
could pretend to exert.

While naturally firm and decided in his pur-
pose, he was conciliatory in his treatment of
others, eminently kind in his feelings and lenient
as a creditor.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

297

His first office in Ohio was that of justice of
the peace under the Territorial government. Lo-
cal justices were associated to form the courts
called quarter sessions. He was one of those
who assisted in constituting the government of
the first and subsequent county organizations,
providing for county jail, and fixing its limits,
etc. Under the State government, in 1806, he
was appointed one of the associate judges of the
county. Also held the office of postmaster from
the time of the first establishment of an office
in the town to the time of his decease.

His own increasing business, as well as that of
many others, now called for increased facilities
of trade and commerce, and was the occasion of
the establishment of the Western Reserve bank,
the first corporation of the kind in Northern
Ohio. Mr. Kinsman was one of its principal
projectors, and much the largest subscriber to
the stock of the company, taking one-fifth of the
$100,000 capital. He did not live, however, to
see the organization completed.

His business life was one of great activity and
toil, riding often on horseback to Connecticut,
New York, and Philadelphia, to purchase goods,
also over many parts of the Reserve, looking af-
ter settlements and sales of land, occasionally
camping out nights. Besides, the building of
mills, attention to his store, and the clearing
and improving of a large farm, brought upon him
exposures and cares greater than his somewhat
impaired constitution was able to bear. He died
August 17, 1813, aged sixty years. He died in-
testate, leaving a large estate, for that time, which
was administered upon by his brother-in-law,
General Simon Perkins.

Mr. Kinsman lived and died in the house
which he built on the south side of the square,
near where the store and warehouse of Kay cSj
Burrill now stands. A few years after his de-
cease the house took fire in the middle of the
night and burned to the ground. The family
afterwards occupied the old Sutliff house, a little
east of the one burned, until John Kinsman, the
eldest son of the deceased, built the house now
known as the "Kinsman homestead," which was
occupied by the family until by death, marriage,
or otherwise, their homes -were changed.

The widow, Mrs. Rebecca Kinsman, remained
there until her decease, May 27, 1854, aged
eighty years. Mrs. Kinsman was a woman of
3S'

decided and devoted Christian character, of
strong mind, and of large heart. She was active
in promoting the religious culture of the place,
both in word and deed. She gave freely and
largely to benevolent objects ; was a liberal
benefactor of Western Reserve college in its
earlier years, assisted largely towards the build-
ing of the Presbyterian and Congregational
house of worship, gave the parsonage and
grounds to be occupied by the minister of the
society, and contributed generously toward an
endowment for his support. Her liberal hand,
kind advice, and ready relief to those who were in
need have often been gratefully remembered and
acknowledged.

The family of Mr. and Mrs. Kinsman, when
they left Lisbon, Connecticut, consisted of the
following children : John, aged ten years;
Joseph, aged nine years; Sarah, aged five years,
died January 13, 1807; Olive Douglas, aged three
years.

John, the eldest of the children, soon took the
place of ^^ pater familias " in the household,
living in the old homestead, which he built. He
was married April 28, 1846, to Jane W. Cass,
widow of John Jay Cass, and died February 4,
1864.

He was identified with the early settlement of
the Western Reserve from his youth; and having
uncommon energy and business capacity, he
soon became connected with many of the pub-
lic and business interests of the day, and devoted
much of his time and means to the development
of the resources of the country, and adminis-
tered largely of his advice and means to the
wants of those around him.

In his extended business large credits, for pro-
visions and supplies, were freely given to relieve
the wants of the early settlers, at a time when
such credits were deemed absolutely necessary to
their success.

Joseph, after remaining with his father in Ohio
assisting in the store a few years, returned to
Connecticut, fitted himself for college at the
academy at Colchester, and entered the fresh-
man class at Yale college in 1816. After three
years of close application to study his health gave
way, and he was advised by his physician to go
South. He spent the winter in the West Indies
at St. Thomas and St. Croix, returning with the
return of spring. He died of consumption,

298

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

June 17, 1819, and was buried in the old ceme-
tery at Norwich, Connecticut. His age was
twenty-four years.

Olive Douglas, in 1812, was sent to Norwich,
Connecticut, to attend the school of Miss Lydia
Huntley, afterward Mrs. Sigourney. From there
she went to Hartford, afterwards to Litchfield,
where she finished her school education under
the instruction of Mrs. Pierce. While in at-
tendance upon Miss Huntley's school for young
ladies the intelligence of her father's death was
received. An only daughter, she was a favorite
of her father's, and his death was to her a great
affliction.

Returning from school in 18 ig, she rode on
horseback from Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, to
her home. Unaccustomed to this mode of
travel the journey was so severe that it produced
a spinal affection, from which she never re-
covered. She married George Swift, Esq., son
of Hon. Zephaniah Swift, chief-justice of Con-
necticut. He was a graduate of Yale college,
commenced the practice of law in Warren ; occu-
pied, for his first residence, a house on the cor-
ner of Main and Franklin streets, where the
Anderson block now stands. In 1823 he re-
moved to Kinsman, purchased a farm and built
a house upon it, which is now occupied by David
Bracken. He continued the practice of law for
some time, but in the latter part of his life devoted
himself mainly to the farm. He was a great
reader and an accomplished scholar, very agree-
able and instructive in conversation; was elected
a Representative to the State Legislature ; was a
devoted Christian, and aided much in the relig-
ious exercises, and the building up of the church
to which he belonged. He died March 14,
1845, of cancer. Mrs. Swift died June 24, 1835,
of spinal affection.

Thomas was the first of the family born in
Ohio, August 20, 1804. He was one of the
most extensive farmers in northern Ohio. His
lands, comprising about two thousand acres,
were located in the townships of Kinsman and
Ciustavus. The fine quality of its soil, well
watered by springs and spring-brooks, its good
timber, and well arranged farm buildings, made
his farm one of the most attractive in the State.
It was mostly under fine cultivation; a part
being devoted to dairy purposes, the number of
cows ranging from sixty to eighty each year ; the

balance to promiscuous farming. His large and
well-bred Durham herd constituted at all times a
prominent and attractive feature of his business.

His life as a citizen of the town numbers more
years than any one that has preceded him, and
at his death he was the oldest native inhabitant.
His life, from childhood to old age, has been
peculiarly marked by kindly relations with all
with whom he had to do. Buoyant in spirits,
with a strong mind abounding in wit and humor,
he drew around him a circle of friends; while his
marked integrity, consistent Christian character,
and a modesty that withheld him from any as-
pirations for fame or official position, rendered
him prominent as a counselor and adviser with
his neighbors and friends.

Frederick Kinsman, the only suiviving mem-
ber of the family, now resides at Warren, Ohio.

THE REEVE FAMILY OF KINSMAN.*
Jeremiah Reeve, Sr., was born at Norwich,
Connecticut, in April, 1779. His father, Eben-
ezer Reeve, was born at Southold, Long Island,
August 23, 1751, and his wife, Bethia Hudson,
at the same place, about five years after. They
were married at Southold, Long Island, in the year
1776, and moved to Morris, New Jersey. This
place was occupied at about this time by British
troops, and the inhabitants were considerably
annoyed by them. For this reason my grand-
father thought best to sell the farm which his
father had helped him purchase, and remove to
Norwich, Connecticut. He after this served as
a soldier in the war which had then commenced.
My grandmother was removed by death, at their
home in Norwich, on January 19, 1786, at the
age of twenty-nine, leaving three small children,
my father, the eldest, being not quite seven years
of age.

Of my father's early years I can speak but
very little, being at the time of his death only
nine years of age. Being the only son consider-
able pains was taken with his education. He
pursued the study of medicine, although never
practicing. That he had gifts as a public speaker
was shown by his being chosen to deliver an ora-
tion at Norwich, his native place, on the 4th of

•Bv Marv D. Reeve.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

299

July which followed the death of Washington.
His allusion to the then recent death of the
country's renowned chief and lamented ex-Presi-
dent, was considered by his friends quite a happy
effort.

That he was possessed of a sense of the hu-
morous and ludicrous, and perhaps a little of the
waggery which prompts to practical joking, seems
apparent from an incident related by deacon
Charles Wood, late of Kinsman. He was a fre-
quent passenger on boats plying between Nor-
wich and New T.ondon. On one of these occa-
sions, when about meetmg another boat, the
captain of his boat knowing something of his
mirthful propensities, said to him, " Now, Jerry,
keep quiet and be civil." My father demurely
replied, "I will," immediately picking up a section
of stove-pipe near him, turned towards the ap-
proaching boat through his improvised telescope
a long and steady gaze, which had the desired
effect of producing the uproarious applause and
merriment of both boat-loads. In 1802, my
grandfather having traded his farm m Norwich
with Judge Kinsman, for land on the Western
Reserve, moved with his two younger children,
Deborah, afterwards Mrs. Plumb SutlifiF, and
Hannah, afterwards Mrs. John Andrews, to their
new home in Kinsman, Trumbull county, Ohio,
ray father remaining East a year longer at school.
After coming West he engaged in teaching at
Hubbard, in this county, where he continued his
school for one year. He afterwards engaged in
teaching at Wooster, near Marietta, where he
became acquainted with and was afterwards mar-
ried to Miss Mary Quigley, on November 27,
1808. Their eldest and only child, Ebenezer
Reeve the second, was born at Kinsman, Ohio,
August 9, 1812. His mother died August 9,
1825. His last visit in Kinsman was about the
year 1842. He had previous to this been en-
gaged for three years in farming on a farm which
he iiad rented in Kentucky. He promised an-
other visit the next year, but did not come.
Several years after this news came to us of his
death by drowning in the Mississippi river.

The Reeve family for seven generations occu-
pied the same estate at Southold, Long Island,
which descended through the eldest son, who
usually, if not in every instance, bore the Chris-
tian name of James.

My grandfather was a younger member of a

large family of brothers, whose posterity scattered
and divided over the Union, and possibly with
earlier branches of the family in all parts of the
world, without doubt share distinguishing marks
which denote a common ancestry.

Chief Justice Tappan Reeve, of Connecticut,
was a relative of my grandfather, and a sense of
equity manifest in his writings display character-
istics of mind and heart which my father and
grandfather exemplified in daily life.

The psalmist's description of the man " who
sweareth to his own hurt and changeth not,"
from the knowledge which I have been able to
gain of father and son would eminently apply to
each.

My father died of typhus fever at Kinsman,
Ohio, September 21, 1836.

Sarah McMichael was born at Frederick, Mary-
land, November 27, 1800. Her children re-
garded the date as felicitous, the year commenc-
ing the century, and the day of the month and
the week sometimes being the same as that set
apart for our National Thanksgiving day.

My grandfather, Joseph McMichael, was born
in Ireland, not far from the year 1750, and was
of what is called Scotch-Irish descent. His
mother's family had a good estate about three
miles from Londonderry, and after his father's
death, which occurred when he was quite small,
himself and mother returned to their former
home.

Annie Masters was born near Dublin, Ireland,
some years later. Her father was of English birth,
and her mother, Catherine Carroll, of Irish
birth, and cousin of Charles Carroll, one of the
signers of the American Declaration of Inde-
pendence. While visiting my grandfather's rela-
tives in London my grandmother became ac-
quainted with a wealthy Scotch family, and en-
gaged with them as a governess for their children,
and soon after sailed with them to America,
Charleston, South Carolina, being their destina-
tion. She remained with them several years,
and then engaged as governess in the family of
Judge Bey, of Baltimore, Maryland, where she
remained until about the year 1795, near or at
the close of the Revolutionary war, when she
was married to my grandfather. My mother
was not quite five years old, and her only brother,
Joseph McMichael, Jr., an infant, when her
])arents removed to Kinsman, Ohio, in 1805.

3O0

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

My grandfather, Joseph McMichael, was a
trader, and crossed the Atlantic six times in the
course of his business, which was shipping linen
to this country and flax-seed back to Ireland. On
his third homeward voyage his ship was wrecked,
and with the survivors he was carried to London
by a rescuing vessel, where his mother's family
sent him needed assistance, and after visiting
home he crossed the sea the seventh and last
time. His death occurred in Kinsman, Ohio,
July 28, 1831. That of his wife at the same
place, February 27, 1845.

My mother lived to a good old age, and filled
out the life of usefulness which had been allotted
to her with a cheerful patience, meeting the ills
of life and infirmities of age with brave com-
posure and unyielding fortitude. Her death
took place April 25th, 1880. My parents were
members of the Congregational and Presbyterian
church of Kinsman.

Their home was at some distance from the
church, and it was no uncommon sight to see
them on horseback on their way to church on
Sabbath morning, my mother with the youngest
in her arms and the eldest seated behind her,
and my father with two others disposed in a
similar manner. In personal appearance my
father was rather tall, well formed, with brown
hair, a brown beard, blue eyes, and a very fair
complexion. He was a fine singer with an excel-
lent voice for bass. My mother was a trifle be-
low the ordinary height; in childhood her hair
was red, but when she grew up it turned black.
Her head was handsomely shaped, eyes blue.
Her complexion was not as fair as my father's,
but very clear and fresh. She was very lady-like
and agreeable in her manners, with refined
tastes and thoughtful mind. In singing she
could not distinguish one note from another,
and never attempted singing, although when her
children were small, and while she was busy
about her work, I have heard her humming in
monotones.

My parents were desirous of giving their chil-
dren the best advantages for acquiring knowl-
edge which the place would aflford. Their two
eldest, when but " tiny tots," could be seen
trudging morning and evenmg, when the season
and weather would permit, on their way to and
from school. An infant school, such as is de-
scribed in Miss (Gilbert's Career, written by the

late Dr. ]. G. Holland, was established in the
Kinsman village, a mile and a half from home.
My parents' two eldest infants managed to be
there to take their part in lessons in astronomy,
geometry, and other d^ep sciences, besides doing
their share of the marching, singing, clapping of
hands, etc., through the greater share of two
summer terms. Were all parents as earnest in
procuring educational facilities for their children,
laws for compulsory education would be useless.

My parents' family consisted of six children :
Mary Deborah, born September 5, 1827; Bethiah
Hudson, January 29, 1829; Annie Maria, April
3, 1831; Jane Eliza, October 11, 1833; Jeremiah
Reeve, Jr., March 15, 1835; James Albert, May
7, 1837. Bethiah H. Reeve was married to
Robert Clark at Paris, Edgar county, Illinois,
August 10, 1853, and died at the same place
April 9, 1854. Their infant daughter died at
Kinsman, Ohio, October 6, 1854. Jane E.
Reeve and George C. Harding were married
November 10, 1854. Their daughter, Flora
Krum Harding, was born at Charleston, Coles
county, Illinois, in the summer of 1855, and
died at Indianapolis, Indiana, August 20, 1874.
Their son, Ben Shillaber Harding, was born at
the same place, and was the victim of a railroad
accident on the Burlington & Quincy railroad,
near Ottumwa, Iowa, December 29, 1879, which
caused his instant death. Annie Maria Reeve
was married to John T. Edwards, of Chicago,
Illinois, at Cleveland, Ohio, June 6, 1859. His
widow and a son and four daughters survive the
father, who died at Benton Harbor, Michigan,
February 7, 1873, where his family still reside.

James A. Reeve and Eliza Woolmer were
married at Chicago, Illinois, where they now re-
side, in December, 1863. Their family consists
of two sons and a daughter. Two sons who died
in infancy were buried at Benton Harbor,
Michigan.

Jane E. R. Harding and John Morris were
married at Charleston, Coles county, Illinois,
where they still reside, April 16, 1865.
Their son, Charles Thomas Morris, was born
at Charleston, Illinois, September 13, 1866, and
died May 7, 1869. Helen Emily Morris was
born September 16, 1870, at Charleston, Illinois.
The eldest son and eldest daughter of my
parents still reside at Kinsman, their native
place. M. u. K.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

301

SETH PERKINS,
of Kinsman, was born in Hartland, Hartford
county, Connecticut, February 29, 1780; re-
moved to Barkhamsted, Litchfield county, Con-
uecticut, at the age of twelve, and at twenty to
Canandaigua, Ontario county. New York, where
he resided till April, 1804, when he emigrated
to Ohio, with his earthly possessions on his back
in a knapsack. He worked by the month through
the season, and in October was married to Lucy
Thompson, daughter of Thomas Thompson,
who came to Hartford, Trumbull county, Ohio,
the same year from Farmington, Hartford
county, Connecticut. It the winter he made a
clearing, and built a cabin on the center line of
Fowler, near the Vienna line, where he removed
with his wife, then eighteen years old, in the
spring of 1805, there being at that time only
four families in the township, the nearest one
mile distant through an unbroken forest. They
endured all the hardships incident to so new a
country, and made for themselves a home of
comfort, humble though it was. At the time of
Hull's surrender in 1812 he went with almost the
entire male population of the county, to defend
the northwestern frontier at Sandusky and Hu-
ron, from whence he returned about the ist of
January, 1813, with impaired health. He still
resided on his farm in Fowler, which he had im-
proved to a fine homestead, planted an orchard,
which now by its perfectly straight rows shows
his taste and care, and the fences being neat and
substantial were an evidence of industry and
thrift. In the autumn of 181 S he sold his farm
to Abijah Silliman, and in April, 1819, removed
to Kinsman, where he resided until February,
1846, when, by a fall, which resulted in concus-
sion of the spine, he died three days thereafter.
His family at the time of his settlement in Kins-
man consisted of himself and wife, six daugh-
ters, and one son, and afterward another son and
daughter.

DR. PETER ALLEN.
Kinsman has had no citizen more honored
and useful in his calling than Dr. Peter Allen.
He was born at Norwich, Connecticut, July i,
1787, the son of John and Tiizah Allen. His
father was a respectable and well-to-do farmer of
Norwich, and gave his son the best advantages

of education which the city at that time afforded.
He pursued and completed his professional stud-
ies with the eminent Dr. Tracy, of Norwich,
emigrating to Kinsman in 1808, and immediately
entering on the practice of his profession. He
was the first, and for nearly a quarter of a century
the only physician in the township and a some-
what extensive surrounding country. Possessed
of an uncommonly robust constitution and great
energy of character, he endured hardships and
performed an amount of labor in his profession
which in these days of bridges, good roads, and
short rides might seem almost incredible. It
was nothing uncommon for him in the early set-
tlement of the country to ride over bad roads
and along mere bridle-paths ten, fifteen, twenty
or more miles to visit a patient, often fording
streams or crossing them on logs or by canoes,
exposed to wet and cold, fatigues and discom-
forts that we are now little able to appreciate. In
his day the advantages of medical schools, hos-
pitals, clinics, dissections were enjoyed only by a
very few physicians. Notwithstanding the dis-
advantages with which he had to contend. Dr.
Allen attained a high standing in his profession.
He performed many dilificult surgical operations,
such as the operation for strangulated hernia,
ligating the femoral artery for aneurism, laryn-
gotomy, lithotomy, removal of cancers, amputa-
tion of limbs, and at the shoulder-joint, etc. He
stood high in the esteem of medical men, and
his counsel was much sought by them in difficult
cases of both medicine and surgery. He was
an active member of the Ohio State Medical
association from its first formation, and was at
one time its presiding officer. In the War of
181 2 he had the first appointment of surgeon
in the army on the northern frontier of the
State. He was also a member of the Ohio State
Legislature in 1840.

He married Charity Dudley, of Bethlehem,
Connecticut, May 15, 181 3. Mrs. Allen, a
superior and most estimable woman, was for
many years a great sufferer. Her death was
sudden, she having been thrown from the car-
riage in which she was riding, by the fright of her
horse, June i, 1840, and lived only a few hours
after. In 1841 Dr. Allen married Miss Fanny
Brewster Starr, a niece of Mrs. R. Kinsman and
General Simon Perkins. She died of consump-
tion in August, 1846. Dr. Allen had but one

302

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

child, Dr. Dudley Allen, born in June, 1814.

The first office of Dr. Allen was in his father's
yard, on the farm now occupied by Isaac Allen,
by the maple grove on the banks of Stratton
creek. This he occupied until the fall of 18 13,
when he moved into a double log-house which
stood in the yard in which he built his frame
house in 1821. This latter was in the time of
its erection and is still a beautiful house of
elaborate and superior workmanship. It was
much admired and cost $3,000, which was then
considered an extravagant sum.

His brother. Dr. Francis Allen, was in company
with him from 1825 to 1829, and his son from
1837 to 1852, at which time he mostly relin-
quished practice. The farm on which he lived
was purchased in 18 12 for $2 per acre.

Dr. Allen is remembered by those who knew
him, not merely as a skillful physician, but also
as an active and steadfast member of the church
of Christ. When his business permitted he was
always present in the house of God on the Sab-
bath. A regular attendant at the weekly prayer-
meeting, and in the latter part of his life was an
active member of the Sabbath-school.

After having relinquished the business of his
profession he was almost the standing representa-
tive of the church in meetings of synod, and at
the meeting next succeeding his death was spoken
of by that body in terms of high regard. Only
a few months before his last sickness he repre-
sented Trumbull presbytery as their lay delegate
in the general assembly, at Dayton. He retained
full possession of his faculties though advanced
in life, and his Christian example shone bright
unto the end.

JEDEDIAH BURNHAM.
The life of Jedediah Burnham, through a pe-
riod of nearly eighty-seven years, has been inti-
mately and variously connected with the growth
and progress of the township of Kinsman. His
counse'sand acts, whether in the military, civil, or
religious organizations of the town, as well as in
the administration of all township and county
affairs entrusted to him, have been marked
with eminent justice, propriety, and wisdom.
He came to Kinsman not far from the time that
he became of age, and was very soon appointed
to office. I'Vom that time to the i)criod when

the infirmities of age began to press upon him,
he was actively employed in the responsible du-
ties to which he was called by his fellow-citizens
of the town and county. He was an active mem-
ber and honored officer of the Congregational
and Presbyterian church in Kinsman, from its
beginning to the day of his death. Pre-eminent-
ly a peace-maker, he was commonly the first one
in the town resorted to for the settlement of any
misunderstanding or difficulty between neighbor
and neighbor, or trouble of any sort that had
sprung up in the community.

He was born in Lisbon, Connecticut, in 1785,
the son of Dr. Jedediah Burnham, a respectable
physician of that place, who in old age, with his
wife and daughter, removed to Kinsman, and lived
and died in the family of his son. In 1804 Mr.
Burnham left the home of his parents and went
to Virginia, with the hope of finding in that State
a location that would please him. He returned
however, without locating, but through an ar-
rangement with Mr. Kinsman he returned to
Ohio the next year, and emered the employ of
Kinsman. The new house of Mr. Kinsman was
being rapidly brought to completion. The first
work of Mr. Burnham was to assist in putting in
the stone chimney. After that he was busy in
various work of the farm until winter, when he
was engaged to teach the first regular school of
the township. The next spring and summer he
was again employed on the farm, and assisted in
putting in a crop of oats on the bottom lands
south of Wayne Bidwell's. The product was an
abundent crop of straw as well as oats, which was
mowed and stacked for winter fodder, near Mr.
Kinsman's house.

In the winter of :8o6 he again commenced
the school, with the understanding that Benjamin
Allen would take his place as soon as he had
finished a job of work in Hubbard. In accord-
ance with this arrangement Mr. Burnham was
relieved about midwinter, and went into Mr.
Kinsman's store in the capacity of a clerk, where
he remained until the breaking out of the War
of 18 1 2, when he was called to serve in the army.

In the organization of the township militia
Mr. Burnham was first appointed lieutenant in
Captain Randall's company, and afterward pro-
moted to captain. Returning from the army,
Captain Burnham at once devoted himself to the
cultivation and improvement of his farm.

J'

ri^f-t^eJ "-X:^ . H'Cf-e-4^0-.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

303

He was married to Miss Sophia Bidwell, of
Gustavus, 1814. In 1816 he was elected justice
of the peace, in which capacity he served un-
interruptedly twenty-one years. His official acts
were ever marked with justice and propriety ;
and of all his decisions appealed from during his
long administration, it is said that not any (if
any, certainly but very few) were reversed by the
higher courts.

In 1806 he was chosen collector of the civil
township of Green, embracing under that name
what is now Kinsman, Gustavus, and Green.
Afterward he was appointed county collector,
when the law required the collector to call at the
residence of every person taxed to make the
collection. This arduous duty was performed
by himself alone, going on horseback from house
to house throughout the county. Afterward he
had the office of county assessor, the duties of
which were performed in a similar manner, and
required about the same amount of time and
labor. The duties of his office were attended to
with a high degree of exactitude, promptness and
fidelity.

He held the office of deacon in the Vernon,
Hartford, and Kinsman church, and, after the
formation of the Congregational and Presbyterian
church in Kinsman, the same office in that until
his death. His long, prosperous, eventful, and
useful life closed early in the year of 1874.

JAMES C. BISHOP.

James C. Bishop, well known in the northern
part of Trumbull county as a dealer in fine stock,
is the subject of an illustration on an adjoining
page. He was born in New Haven, Connecti-
cut, July 9, 1810. His parents were Ebenezer
and Lucinda Bishop, who removed with their
family to Herkimer county, New York, in the
year 18 13. Mr. Bishop built a factory, and en-
gaged extensively in the manufacture of cheese.

In the year 1833 James C. Bishop came to
the Reserve, and the following year purchased
one hundred and thirty-seven acres near the
present site of Kinsman station. After having
made a clearing and planted the fall crop, he
sold his land and went South, finding employ-
ment at the carpenter trade is Mississippi.
When spring opened Mr. Bishop returned to his

old home in New York on a visit. The trip re-
sulted in his parents selling their farm, and the
removal of the whole family to Gustavus town-
ship. This was in the spring of 1834. They
purchased a dairy farm, and erected a cheese
factory similar to those in use in Herkimer
county. It was the first of the kind in Trum-
bull county, though other manufacturers were
not slow to imitate its advantageous features.

Mr. Bisho[) brought with him from New York
what was at that time a great curiosity in the
north part of this county — a spring buggy. Reu-
ben Roberts, a blacksmith in Gustavus, used the
springs for patterns and engaged with profit in
their manufacture. James C. operated his father's
factory about four years, and then purchased it.
He conducted the business with profit to him-
self and with entire satisfaction to dairymen in
the neighborhood for a period of about twenty
years. He purchased a second farm in Gustavus
and engaged in breeding and trading in fine
stock. He brought to the county the first thor-
oughbred cow, from which was descended many
of the best cattle in this part of the State. Two
oxen raised by Mr. Bishop were sold in the Pitts-
burgh market for $300. Mr. Bishop, George
Hezlep, and George Cowden were the leading
stock dealers in Gustavus township. He was a
patron of the Trumbull County Agricultural so-
ciety, and received premiums on the productions
of his farm.

Mr. Bishop married, in 1839, Philena Gates,
a daughter of Philo Gates, of Gustavus town-
ship. She died in 1845, leaving one son — Chap-
lin J. Bishop, of Chicago. In 1859 Mr. Bishop
sold both his farms in Gustavus and purchased
the old Swift farm in Kinsman, which he con-
tinues to own. In i860 he married for his second
wife Mrs. Dr. Joseph P. Morford, of Johnston
township. Her maiden name was Hannah
Dunbar.

Mr. Bishop is a well preserved man; has a
clear recollection of past events, and retains the
business sagacity of former years.

THE FOBES FAMILY.
Horatio Fobes, youngest son of Joshua and
Dorothy Fobes, was born in Ashtabula county,
Ohio, February 16, 1812. Joshua Fobes settled

304

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

in Wayne township, Ashtabula county, in 1802.
He raised a family of ten children, of whom six
are living. Horatio Fobes, until nineteen, was
engaged in farming on the home place, coming
to Kinsman in 1831. He commenced with Ben-
jamin Allen the carding and cloth dressing bus-
iness. He afterwards rented and purchased the
business and conducted it until about 1852. He
was married in 1835 to Miss Louisa Dodge, of
Ashtabula county, but a native of Connecticut.
They became the parents of one daughter, Char-
lotte L., born in 1840, died in 1863. About
1859 Mr. Fobes purchased a half interest in the
Bidwell & Fobes flouring mill, which, in connec-
tion with Bidwell .md other parties he has since
operated; was township treasurer for many years.
Lotta Louisa, only child of Horatio and
Louisa (Dodge) Fobes, was born in Kinsman in
the year 1840, and died Nvember 7, 1863. She
was the pride of fond parents, and the beloved
of a large circle of friends. In her the charm
of a graceful figure was united with the attrac-
tion of a a cultured mind and beautiful charac-
ter. Faithful, gentle, loving, she was death's
shining mark. No words can more nearly ex-
press a parent's feelings than the lines Byron
once wrote beneath a friend's picture:

Dear object of defeated care,
Though now of love and thee bereft.

To reconcile me with despair
Thine image and my tears are left.

'Tis;

'ith sorrow time can cope;

For by the death-blow of my hope
My memory immortal grew.

RIVERIUS AND EUNICIA BIDWELL.
Riverius Bidwell and his wife Eunicia Bidwell
were among the earliest settlers of Gustavus
township, the date of their emigration being the
year 1812. Mr. Bidwell was born in Connect!
cut, September 5, 1790. He received a fair
English education, and at the age of about nine-
teen engaged to teach school in a small village
near New Haven, where he had planned to pur-
sue his course at Yale college, the village now
known as Westville, a suburb of New Haven,
was then commonly called Hotchkisstown, it be-
ing the scat of the numerous and i)rominent
family bearing the name of Hotchkiss. A friend-

ship between the young schoolmaster and Euni-
cia Hotchkiss soon ripened into matrimony.
They were married in New Haven, Connecticut,
June 27, 1810, by Rev. Abram Allen, and two
years later sought a home in the wild, cheerless
West.

Riverius Bidwell, Sr., father of our subject,
lived in Canton, Hartford county, Connecticut.
His family consisted of three sons and five
daughters, with whom he emigrated to Ohio in
the year 181 3, and also settled in Gustavus. He
died July 22, 1822, aged fittynme years. His
wife, Phebe Bidwell, died August 17, 1837, aged
seventy-si.x years. Their children were Wayne,
died June 10, 1832; Esther (Cone), died in
Kinsman January 27, 1816; Achsah (Dyer),
died in Canton, Connecticut; Sophia (Burn-
ham), died at Kinsman, January 5, 185 1, aged
fifty-four; Zehiel, died September, 1864; Phebe
Humphrey, died in New York. Marietta, wife
of Buell Barnes, is the only surviving member
of the family.

Riverius Bidwell, Jr., was somewhat eccentric
in habit, but was one of the most pushing, per-
severing and active men on the Reserve. Under
an old law in Ohio taxes were collected by an
officer who was appointed for that purpose, at
the homes and places of business of the citi-
zens. The office was very laborious on account
of the great size of the county and bad condi-
tion of roads which connected the sparse set-
tlements. Mr. Bidwell served as collector two
years. He walked from house to house till
every house in the county had been visited, part
of the time being barefooted, always at a brisk
gait. After collections had all been made, he
walked to Columbus and made settlement with
the Treasurer of State. This is but one inci-
dent of many which might be written to show
his perseverance. He was always ready witted,
and rarely found himself in a puzzling situation.
He kept the first post-office in Gustavus, but
being absent most of the time Mrs. Bidwell
transacted most of the business.

Mr. Bidwell was justice of the peace and held
other local trusts. He sold his farm in Gustavus
in 1834 and removed to Kinsman. He took an
active interest and was influential in securing to
Kinsman a line of railway. This was about the
last work of his busy life. He died February 6,
1S70, aged eighty-one years. Mrs. Bidwell, who

c:^^aA//f'^'(^^^

€di:zz)

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

is yet living, was born March 24, 1794. She is a
woman of great strength of character, is yet
strong, and is able to recall with clearness events
of eighty years ago.

The family of Mr. and Mrs. Bidwell consisted
of three sons and one daughter — Hannah
Mariah, born September 20, 181 1, at Canton,
Connecticut, and died in childhood; Jasper Ri-
verius, born July 25, 1813, and died at the age
of twenty years; Caleb Hotchkiss, born- Septem-
ber 26, 18 1 5, graduated at Western Reserve col-
lege at nineteen years of age, studied law with
Whittlesey & Newton, was admitted to the bar,and
died at the age of twenty-five; Wayne, the only
child living, was born May 6, 1821. He mar-
ried Mary Hyde, who was born January 11,
1824, in Vernon township.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Bidwell were members of
the Presbyterian church and exemplary Chris-
tians.

NOTES OF SETTLEMENT.

Charles Burnhani, oldest son of Jedediah
Burnham, (a sketch of whom is given elsewhere)
and Sophia Bidwell, was born in Kinsman, Ohio,
March 17, 1817. He remained at home until
23 years of age, and in his younger days was
engaged in clerking in Kinsman and elsewhere.
He purchased the place where he still resides,
the old Ford place, in 1853. He was married
June ist of the same year, to Elizabeth A. Gal-
pin, daughter of Elnathan Galpin, born in 1825.
They have three children, as follows : Abbie S.,
born March 15, 1857 ; Lizzie G., February 19,
1859; Charles B., February 20, 1861. Mr.
Burnham was justice of the peace from 1861 to
1865, and was elected again the latter year, but
declined to serve ; has also served as assessor
three terms. His brother Thomas was a soldier
in the Union army in the Rebellion, and was
killed at Kershaw mountain, Georgia.

Benjamin Allen was born in Kinsman town-
ship, Trumbull county, Ohio, March 23, 1817.
His father, Benjamin Allen, Sr., was one of the
earliest settlers and prominent citizens of the
township, coming in 1805. He was a clothier
by trade, and had the first establishment of the
kind in Kinsman. He was a Representative in
the State Legislature two terms, was justice of
the peace, township trustee, and county commis-

sioner, and a lieutenant in the War of 181 2. He
died in 1 851, aged si.xty-seven. Benjamin, Jr.,
was taught the occupation of his father, but
afterwards adopted farming as a pursuit. When
eighteen he attended the Grand River institute
for two years; was engaged in teaching school two
terms in Kinsman. Married, January 6, 1841,
Charlotte, daughter of Elnathan Galpin of Kins-
man, born in Litchfield county, Connecticut, in
1820. They have one son, Arthur B., born
January 2, 1858; married November 10, 1880,
Albie H. Morehead, born in New Castle, Penn-
sylvania. Deacon Allen was township clerk for
many years ; was justice of the peace, but de-
clined to qualify. He has been a prominent
member of the Presbyterian church for some
forty years.

Lyman P. .\ndrews was born in Kinsman,
Trumbull county, Ohio, May 26, 1822. John
Andrews, his father, a native of East Haddam,
Connecticut, came to Ohio in 1804. He settled
first in Gustavus, where he cleared up a farm
east of Gustavus center ; afterwards removed
to Kinsman, where he engaged in mercantile
business. He was the owner of sixty acres of
land at the time of his death. He was a sucess-
ful business man, was a justice of the peace, and
a member of the Presbyterian chuich. His
oldest son, C. B. Andrews, was a clergyman of
the same denomination ; went as missionary to
the Sandwich Islands, under the auspices of
the American Board of Foreign Missions, in
1843; actively engaged there for some thirty
jears. While returning to the islands he died in
1876. John Andrews married Hannah Reeve,
daughter of Ebenezer Reeve, and raised a family
of six children, of whom two survive — the sub-
ject of this sketch, and Mrs. Caroline Parker, of
Cleveland. Lyman P. Andrews derived his
education at the common schools of Kinsman,
and at Hudson college, which he attended two
years. He was married August 3, 1843, to Miss
Betsy Fobes, daughter of Aaron Fobes, one of
the pioneers of this region. Mrs. Andrews was
born in Kinsman about 1826. They have three
children — Frank A., born in August, 1853, a resi-
dent of Chicago, Illinois ; J. Edwards, July, 1856;
and Emma S., December, 1861, both at home.
Mr. Andrews was a resident of Flint, Michigan,
for eleven years from 1867, where he removed
for the purpose of educating his children. He

3o6

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

removed from the home place in Kinsman to the
one he now occupies in 1879. He was elected
justice of the peace in Kinsman about 1848,
serving six years, and was also an incumbent of
the same ofifice in Michigan one term. Enlisted
in 1864 in the One Hundred and Seventy-first
Ohio National guard, and was commissary ser-
geant ; was taken prisoner by the rebels at
Cynlhiana, Kentucky ; was paroled and finally
mustered out of service at Johnson island, near
Sandusky, Ohio. He took an active part in the
establishment of the Kinsman cemetery, originat-
ing it, and is still president of the board of
trustees.

Isaac Meacham was born in Kinsman, Trum-
bull county, Ohio, May 4, 1828. Isaac Meacham,
Sr., his father, was a native of Hartland, Connec-
ticut, born in April, 1778, came to Ohio in 1806
and settled on the line of Kinsman and Gustavus
townships, Trumbull county, where he cleared
up a farm of a hundred and eighty-five acres
wholly himself He was married twice, first in
1808 to Lovisa Morse, by whom he had three
children. In 1827 he married Anna Trunkey,
and raised a family of four children. He was a
successful and industrious farmer, always occupy-
ing the place where he originally settled, until
his death, which took place in 1861. His wife
died in i860. He offered his services in the War
of 18 1 2, and was on duty fourteen days. Isaac,
Jr., enlisted in the One Hundred and Seventy-
first Ohio National guard, in 1864; married in
1850, Rebecca Baldwin, by whom he had three
children, two of whom survive, viz: Charles F.,
born February 26, 1856, now a resident of Green-
ville, Pennsylvania, and Harvey S., born Sep-
tember 3, 1857, a book-keeper in Cleveland. His
first wife died A|)ril 19, 1864. His second wife
was Hannah E. Yeomans; died in i858. His
present wife nee Julia E. Peck, to whom he was
married December 22, 1869, was born in Craw-
ford county, Pennsylvania, August 27, 1840.
They are the parents of two children — William
E., born January 2, 1874, and Marian Lulu, born
February 24, 1876. Mr. Meacham occupied the
old homestead until 1866, when he removed to
Kinsman village, where he still resides.

Allen W. Gillis, son of Robert and Mary Gil-
lis, was born in Kinsman, Trumbull county,
July 28, 1830; married, in 1852, Miss Harriet
Webber, born in Kinsman in 1833. He has

three children living, as follows: Byron F., a
merchant in New York city; Cora B., residing
with her uncle in Ashtabula county; Maud H.,
at home. His first wife died in 1869, and in De-
cember, 1870, he married Mary C. Webb, of
Erie county, Pennsylvania. In 1861 he enlisted
in company B, Twenty-third Ohio volunteer in-
fantry, and with his regiment was in many en-
gagements, including those of South Mountain
and Antietam, serving nearly three years. He
was discharged for physical disability. In June,
1864, he again offered his services to the Gov-
ernment, joined the One Hundred and Seventy-
first Ohio National guard, and had command of
his company at Cynthiana, Kentucky. He was
finally discharged as first lieutenant. He settled
in Kinsman village after the war, where he now
resides.

Robert Gillis (deceased) was born in Mary-
land in 1 801; came to Ohio with his father,
Thomas Gillis, in 1806, who put up the first
grist-mill in Kinsman, on the creek near the
center of the township. The site is now occu-
pied by Hamilton Brothers' mill, the present
mill being the third built by the Gillis family.
Robert Gillis conducted the mill during his
lifetime. February 23, 1825, he married Mary
King, daughter of Robert and Isabella King,
born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania,
November 3, 1801. Her parents came to Kins-
man in 1809, settling on the place now owned
by Gordon Burnside. Robert King was a sol-
dier of the War of 181 2, a member of Captain
Burnham's company. He raised a family of
twelve children, of whom nine are living. Rob-
ert and Mary Gillis have had one daughter and
eight sons — the daughter, Isabella, was the wife of
Lewis Moats, of Mercer county, Pennsylvania,
and died at the age of twenty-four; Thomas
lives in Jefferson, Ashtabula county ; John K.
died in California in 1878, where he went in
1852; Allen W., of Kinsman village, of whom a
brief sketch is given elsewhere; G. W., now liv-
ing in Kansas (was a member of the Si.xth Ohio
volunteer cavalry three years during the Rebel-
lion); Anderson J., now living in Jefferson town-
ship, Ashtabula county (was a member of com-
pany B, Twenty-third Ohio volunteer infantry,
serving three years, afterwards re-enlisted and
served until the close of the war); Amos F. en-
listed in company B, Twenty-third Ohio volun-

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

307

teer infantry, and served three years; re-enlisting,
was promoted to captain and was killed in action
at Berry ville, Virginia, September 3, 1864, leav-
ing a widow and one daughter now residents of
Cleveland. Two children died in infancy.

T. B. Scott, son of James and Sarah (Smith)
Scott, was born in Kinsman, Trumbull county,
Ohio, January 28, 1849; married October 19,
1870, to Miss Ada Williams, of Bazetta town-
ship, adopted daughter of John and Jane Wil-
liams, and has three children living, as follows:
Jennie Ellen, born July 29, 1872; Sarah Alice,
May 25, 1876; Mary Emeline, November 21,
1880. John W. died in infancy. After marriage
Mr. Scott continued to reside on the home place
some six years, removing to his present place in
the spring of 1877. He owns one hundred and
eighty acres at the village of Kinsman, and is a
prosperous farmer and dairyman. Himself and
wife are members of the Methodist church.

John S. Allen was born in Kinsman, Trum-
bull county, Ohio, November i, 1813, oldest
surviving son of Benjamin and Lydia (Meacham)
Allen remained at home until twenty-five, when
he was united in marriage October 24, 1838, to
Miss Julia E., daughter of Roswell Moore. She
was born in Connecticut February 24, 1819.
Mr. and Mrs. Allen have had three children, two
of whom are living: Darwin F., born June 27,
1839, and .Antoinette J., born May 26, 1842,
both at home. Darwin was a member of the
One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Ohio volunteer
infantry, and later of the One Hundred and Sev-
enty-first Ohio National guard ; was mustered
out in the fall of 1864. September 15th of the
same year he was married to Jennie M. Collins,
and has one son and one daughter— Fred L.,
born October 31, 1864, and Theresa E., May
12, 1867. Our subject settled on the place
where he still lives in 1838, which was then but
partially improved. He was active in militia af-
fairs during his early years; was first elected jus-
tice of the peace about i860 and held that po-
sition six years, and was township trustee many
terms. Mr. and Mrs. Allen are members of the
Presbyterian and Congregational church.

John W. McCurdy was born in Butler county,
Pennsylvania, October 22, 1804, oldest son of
James and Margaret McCurdy. He was brought
up to agricultural pursuits, remaining at home
until twenty-six. He married, September 4, 1832,

Mrs. Catharine Thorn, born in Kinsman town-
ship November 3, 1804, daughter of George
Matthews, who settled there in the spring of that
year. He was a prominent farmer and church
member; died about 1855. Mr. and Mrs. Mc-
Curdy are the parents of four children, three
living and one dead, viz: Joseph Thorn, born
May 16, 1830, now a resident of Michigan;
George, July 29, 1833; Jane, April 22, 1835,
died August 5, i86i; James, January 27, 1837,
a resident of Missouri, and an artist by profes-
sion. After his marriage Mr. McCurdy resided for
one year in Butler county, Pennsylvania, coming
to Ohio in the fall of 1833. He settled where
he now lives about 1840, which place was then
entirely wild. Mr. McCurdy was township
trustee one term. He has been a member of
the Presbyterian and Congregational church for
many years.

Joseph Reed, oldest son of John and Eliza-
beth (West) Reed was born in New York, June
29, 1824. With his parents went to Bath,
Steuben county. New York, about 1826, where
he went to school. Was engaged in the lumber
business in Pennsylvania for some twenty years,
being a partner in a steam saw-mill. He was
married July 7, 1852, to Rebecca Everhart, born
in Blair county, Pennsylvania, April 3, 1831, and
is the father of seven children as follow : Wil-
liam A., born July 21, 1853, now a merchant of
Kinsman, of the firm of Gee & Reed; Susan E.,
born July 20, 1855, now wife of George Bennett,
of Kinsman; Ella G., born October 10, 1858;
May R., May 19, i860; Augusta D., September
3, 1862; Edith B , August 18, 1864; Minnie B.,
July 29, 1866. Mr. Reed resided in Pennsyl-
vania until 1869, when he purchased the Galpin
place in Kinsman, where he has since lived.

Charles B. Webber, son of Ebenezer and
Amanda (Brown) Webber, was born in Kinsman,
TuimbuU county, Ohio, February 14, 1822.
Ebenezer Webber was born in Massachusetts, in
1778; married in 1805, and came to Ohio in
181 1, settling on the place now owned by his
son Charles B., in Kinsman, in the spring of
1S12. He cleared up that place and reared a
family of eleven children, of whom five are still
living. He died December 15, 1843. Charles
B. upon the death of his father took charge of
the farm ; was married February 21, 1850, to
Miss Rachel G. Matthews, daughter of Thomas

3o8

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

Matthews, one of the pioneers of the county.
Mrs. Webber was born in Kinsman July 7, 1829.
The children of Charles and Rachel Webber
are Dwight H., born January 30, 1853, now liv-
ing in Ashtabula county; Ellen A., October 11,
1854; Alfred P., July 30, 1856; T. B., May 22,
1858; Charles A., February 25, 1861; Frederick
G., November 25, 1862; Frank H., December
28, 1864; Theresa H., October 12, 1867. The
oldest child died in infancy. After his mar-
riage Mr. Webber continued on the home place,
taking care of his mother until her death Sep-
tember 2, 1868. He was township trustee for
many years, school director, etc. He enlisted
during t-lie Rebellion but was thrown out on ac-
count of physical disability. They are members
of the Presbyterian and Congregational church.

James W. Storier, son of James and Euphemia
Storier, was born in Kinsman, Trumbull county,
Ohio, June 11, 1847. James Storier, Sr., was a
native of Scotland and emigrated to America in
1845, commg to Trumbull county, Ohio, and
settling in Kmsman. He is still living, a suc-
cessful farmer in Gustavus township. He raised
a family of five children, of whom four are liv-
ing. The oldest son, John J., enlisted in the
One Hundred and Seventy-first Ohio National
guard, and at the battle ol Cynthiana, Kentucky,
June II, 1864, he was instantly killed, on his
twentieth birthday. James W. Storier was mar-
ried March 27, 1872, to Miss Emily Johnson,
daughter of John Johnson, of Kinsman, born
in Pennsylvania January i, 1847. He has three
daughters, as follows : Nannie, born Feb-
ruary 9, 1873; Euphemia, March 13, 1875; Es-
tella. May 22, 1878. He resided on a place
then owned by his father-in-law, now the residence
of John White, for some two years, removing in
the spring of 1874 to the place where he now
lives. In the fall of 1S81 he purchased the
Hugh Miller place, consisting of fifty-two and
one-half acres.

William B. Edwards, son of Lewis and Jane
(Parks) Edwards, was born in Fayette county,
Pennsylvania, July 28, 1825; was brought up in
the family of his uncle, James Edwards, and his
three sisters, with whom he came to Ohio in the
spring of 1848. He settled in Williamsfield,
Ashtabula county, on a farm which he still owns.
One of his aunts who accompanied him to Ohio,
is still living with him at an advanced age. He

continued to reside in Ashtabula county until the
spring of 1881, when he purchased the Lyman
Root place in Kinsman, where he now lives.
He married, October 3, 1855, Sarah F. Webb, of
Mercer county, Pennsylvania, born about 1833.
He was township trustee in Williamsfield one
term. Himself and wife are members of the
Methodist Episcopal church at the State line.
James Edwards, his uncle, died May 10, 1874;
was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal
church for many years.

Lester Matthews, oldest child of Reuben and
Lorenda(Eggleston) Matthews, was born in Kins-
man township, Trumbull county, Ohio, October
8, 1842. Reuben Matthews raised a family of
five children, of whom three survive. He died
in 1851, and his widow in 1864. Lester was
married January i, 1866, to Stella Woodworth,
a daughter of Andrew Woodworth, of Ashtabula
county. Mrs. Matthews was born in that county
in 1849. They have had one daughter, Minnie
A., born January 23, 1867; died at the age of
ten months. Mr. Matthews occupies the family
homestead, the dwelling having been built by his
father about 1840. Mr. and Mrs. Matthews are
members of the Congregational and Presbyterian
church. George Matthews settled in an early
day on the property now owned by his sons
Ezekiel, Elias, and Reuben's heirs. George
Matthews was born December 29, 1773, and his
wife, Nancy (Scott), 1775.

L. A. Cole, oldest living son of Harmon and
Polly (Blackburn) Cole, was born in Kinsman,
Trumbull county, Ohio, August 6, 1834. Har-
mon Cole was a native of Connecticut, born
about 1800, and coming to Ohio about 1818,
he settled in Kinsman, where he married Polly
Blackburn. He was a cooper by trade, and in
later life a successful farmer. He was justice of
the peace one term about 1850; died October 2,
1856. Mrs. Polly Cole is still living with her
sons, and is yet vigorous in mind and body. L.
A. Cole was united in marriage October 3, 1855,
to Amanda Simpkins. To this marriage were
born three children — Harmon B., a resident of
Kinsman township, born October 29, 1856;
Mary E., born October 2, 1S58, now wife of
John Brown, residing in the vicinity of her
father's home; Otis A., born April 21, 1861.
Mrs. Cole died February 4, 1870. September 7,
1870, he was again married, this time to Miss

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

3°9

Elizabeth Feather, born in Pennsylvania, Febru-
ary 19, 1835. To this union have been born
two children, of whom one is living — Harriet
Elizabeth, born January 9, 1873. After his mar-
riage he settled on a portion of the family home-
stead, where he still resides; has been township
trustee two terms.

Harmon Cole was born in Kinsman township,
Trumbull county, Ohio, August 4, 1826; son of
Richard and Priscilla Cole. Richard Cole was
a native of Connecticut, born in 1793; coming
to Ohio about 1820, and settling on the place
now owned by his son Harmon. He cleared up
this place, erecting a log house, where the pres-
ent residence now is, which was built in 1853.
He died in the spring of 1880, his wife having
died about 1854. Harmon Cole was married,
March 15, 1847, to ^^'ss SiviUa Royal, born in
Crawford county, Pennsylvania, August 24,
1827, daughter of Peter and Polly Royal, and
has had a family of seven children. Four are
living, as follows : Orra C, born January 3,
1848, now the wife of A. F. Waid, residing in
Kansas; Charles C, born February 15, 1850, a
farmer, residing in Ashtabula county, Ohio;
Albert S., born March 7, 1856, a resident of
Kinsman, and Emma L., born June 27, 1861.
Mr. Cole located on the home farm, where he
has since resided, consisting of about four hun-
dred acres of finely improved land.

Edwin Yeomans, son of John and Elizabeth
(Coyle) Yeomans, was born in Kinsman, Trum-
bull county, Ohio, February 22, 1823. His
father came to Ohio in 1819 and settled on the
place now owned by his son, David M. He had
a family of ten children, of whom three are liv-
ing. He died about 1853. His wife survived
him until 1881. He was a soldier of the ^Var
of 181 2, from Connecticut. Edwin remained at
home until his twenty-eighth year. In 1853 he
engaged in the paper manufacturing business at
Cu\ahoga Falls, where he resided until returning
to the home place in 1880, where he has since
resided.

J. M. King was born in Kinsman township,
Trumbull county, Ohio, January 17, 1825; oldest
son of William and Sarah (McConnell) King.
Robert King, the grandfather of J. M. King,
was a native of Ireland, coming to Ohio in the
first years of the piesent century. He settled
on the place now owned by Mr. Burnside, which

he cleared up and improved. He raised a large
family, the son William being the father of the
subject of this sketch. Robert King was justice
of the peace, probably one of the first that filled
that position. He was a soldier in the War of
18 1 2 from Kinsman township. J. M. King was
raised in the family of his maternal grandfather,
James McConnell, until of age. He was mar-
ried in 1847 to Harriet L. Christy, daughter of
James Christy, an early settler in the county.
The result of this union was ;ix children, three
of whom are living, viz : Frank C, Clara B.,
and Nellie. His first wife died in 1857, and in
December, 1858, he maried Miss L. C. Christy,
daughter of John and Hannah Christy, also
early settlers. By this marriage he has three
children, as follows : George E., Robert A.,
and Sadie M. After his marriage he rented the
farm of his grandfather for three years. He
afterwards bought a small place in another part
of Kinsman which he improved and occupied
until 1864 ; was a resident of Vernon for some
eight years, where he purchased the Palmer
farm, which he still owns. In the fall of 1872
he removed to the place where he now lives,
near Kinsman village. Himself and wife are
members of the Presbyterian and Congregational
church.

Gordon Burnside, son of James and Elizabeth
(McMullen) Burnside, was born in county Derry,
Ireland, March 12, 1826. He emigrated to
America in 1849, landing at New York city,
whence he came direct to Ohio, reaching Kins-
man township in June of that year. For a
number of years afterward he was in the employ
of others, engaged in farming. He purchased
the place where he still lives — the Robert King
homestead — in 1855, and January i, 1857, was
married to Miss Elizabeth Anderson, also a
native of Ireland, born February 21, 1835.
They are the parents often children, all of whom
are living but one, viz : John, who died in in-
fancy. The others are Samuel J., now a com-
mercial traveler, William W., Robert ]., Gordon,
Jr., Minnie J., Lena, George Q., Lizzie, and
Edith. Mr. Burnside was a member of the
One Hundred and Seventy-first Ohio National
guard in 1864, and was in the battle of
Cynthiana, Kentucky, and at Kelly Bridge ; was
taken prisoner with his regiment, but after some
twenty four hours detention the command was

3IO

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

released on parol, was finally mustered out after
serving out his term at Johnson's Island, in the
fall of 1864.

James J. Christy, oldest son of Andrew and
Elizabeth Christy, was born in Kinsman, Trum
bull county, Ohio, July 25, 1818. October 24,
1844, was married to Margaret Hunter, daugh
ter of James Hunter, of Mercer county, Penn
sylvania, where she was born November 22, 1822.
They have one son and one daughter — Wilbur
A., born September 26, 1845, a farmer of Mercer
county, Pennsylvania ; and Elizabeth J., Febru-
ary 25, 1847, now the wife of James Jack, of
Crawford county. Wilbur was a member of
the One Hundred and Seventy-first Ohio Na-
tional guard; served out his term of service, and
was mustered out with his regiment in 1864.
He married, in 1876, Isa Kinleyside, and has
two children, Eleanor S. and Margaret. In 1845
Mr. Christy settled on the place where he now
lives, which was originally settled by Joseph Mc-
Michael. He has been township trustee several
terms; is a member of the United Presbyterian
church, of which church, at Jamestown, Pennsyl-
vania, he is still ruling elder. He was formerly
a Whig and anti-slavery man, and was active in
assisting fugitives.

Isaac T. Allen, son of Daniel and Ruth
(Meachani) Allen, was born in Kinsman, Trum-
bull county, Ohio, November 5, 1S28. Daniel
Allen was born in Connecticut March 22, 17S9,
and came to Ohio with his father, John, in 1806,
settling on the place now owned by Isaac T., his
son. He was a captain in the militia ; died
February 20, 1859, aged nearly seventy years.
His wife died February 6, 1856. Isaac T. Allen
was married December 4, 1856, to Sophronia
Nackey, born in Butler county, Pennsylvania,
September 17, 1836. They have four children
living and two dead, viz: Ruth E., born Octo-
ber 24, 1857, now Mrs. D. T. Root, of Kinsman,
has one son, Allen D., born March 9, 1881.
Daniel F., born May i, 1859, of Kinsman;
Roswcll J., July 28, 1866; Joel K., May 9, 1873.
Mr. Allen is an extensive dairyman and stock-
raiser, owning two hundred and fiftv-five acres
of good land. He offered his services to the
Government during the Rebellion ; served out
his term of enlistment, and was mustered out at
Sandusky, Ohio, in the fall of 1864.

William A. Thomas, son of Daniel and Lu-

cinda Thomas, was born in Kinsman, Trumbull
county, Ohio, February 27, 1834. Daniel
Thomas was a native of New London county,
Connecticut, born in 1798. He came to Ohio
in 1830, locating on the place in Kinsman now
owned by his son, the subject of this sketch,
which he cleared up and occupied the balance
of his life. He died July 27, 1869. His widow
is still living with her son. William A., at the
breaking out of the Rebellion in 1861, enlisted
in the One Hundred and Eleventh Pennsyl-
vania volunteer infantry as private, but having
considerable knowledge of military tactics was
soon made a lieutenant. He participated in
some of the hardest fought battles of the war.
The first engagement took place near Harper's
Ferry, where he was commanding the company.
At Antietara Captain Thomas had command of
two companies. In this battle the regiment was
decimated fifty-five per cent. He was also in
the battles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg.
At the battle of Lookout Mountain he was
wounded and incapacitated for further service.
He was granted leave of absence to recuperate,
and returri home for a short time; went again to
the front at Nashville, Tennessee, obtaining per-
mission to join his regiment on crutches. He
went as far as .'\tlanta, where he was obliged to
remain. He was detailed to serve on court-
martial until 1864, when, on account of his in-
juries, he was discharged. He went on crutches
for eight years after the war. August 18, 1862,
he was married to Nancy J., daughter of 'Squire
Peter Doty, of Crawford county, Pennsylvania,
where she was born January 18, 1839; ^^^ ^
family of six children, as follows : Edith Grace,
Cornelia J., George H., Clara C, Eugenie G.,
and Frederick William. One child is deceased.
Mr. Thomas was a resident of Andover, Ashta-
bula county, for some four years. Upon the
death of his father in 1869 he took charge of
the home place, where he has since resided,
having bought the interest of the other heirs.
He was justice of the peace for the past three
years.

L. W. Roberts was born in Chittenden county,
\'ermont, .\pril 5, 1833, oldest son of H. P. and
.'\lvira Roberts. With his parents he came to
Ohio in 1834, the family locating at Madison,
],ake county ; was brought up to the trade
of carpenter; when nineteen served an ap-

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

311

])renticeship of two years at the blacksmithing
trade and subsequendy worked as journeyman
in various places, including Kansas City, for two
years; came to Kinsman December, 1855, and
the following spring commenced business for
himself at Kinsman village. September 16, 1857,
he married Mary J., daughter of Alexander and
Ellen Waid, who was born in Kinsman July 31,
1834. Mr. and Mrs. Roberts are the parents of
five children, viz: James W., born August 3,
1858, an attorney at law recently admitted to
the bar; Harriet A., born September 13, i860;
Frank A., .August 24, 1867; Perry M., Septem-
ber 19, 1870; .\rba L., April 18, 1872. In 1862
Mr. Roberts enlisted in the Tenth Ohio cavalry
and made the march to the sea under General
Sherman. He was wounded in the thigh in
April, 1865. He served until the close of the
war and was mustered out at Columbus, Ohio,
July 4, 1865. Returning home he resumed his
trade at Kinsman, which he continued until
1873 ; for seven years afterward resided in
Jamestown, Pennsylvania, for the purpose of
educating his children; returned to Kinsman
in the spring of 1880, and purchased a part of
the James Laughlin place, where he also estab-
lished a blacksmith shop, which he continues to
carry on, having a large custom.

John Sisley, youngest child of John and
Annie (Mattocks) Sisley, was born in Crawford
county, Pennsylvania, June 8, 1814; married
September 6, 1835, Mary, daughter of Rev. John
Belts, of Mercer county, Pennsylvania, where
Mrs. Sisley was born June 2, 18 15. The fruit
of this union was seven children, of whom only
two survive — William, born June 7, 1836, died
about 1856; Willis, born February 11, 1838,
enlisted in 1861 in the Twenty-ninth Ohio
volunteer infantry, and was killed June 9, 1862,
at Port Republic; Reason, born June 21, 1839,
a farmer of Kinsman ; Peter R., born November
^9, 1841, assisting in the management of the
home place. He was married, in 1868, to Mary
Clark, born in Pennsylvania in 1848, and has
had three sons. All the balance of the family
of John Sisley died young. After his marriage
he resided in Pennsylvania for some years, lo-
cating on his present place in 1853 — the Henry
Gale place. He owns nearly two hundred acres of
fine land. Mr. Sisley is a member of the Method-
ist Episcopal church. Rev. John Betts, the

father of Mrs. Sisley, was for years a pastor of
the Methodist Episcopal church, residing in
Greene township where he cleared up a farm.
He died thereabout 1862, upon the place owned
by Calvin Betts.

George H. Nickerson, son of Joseph and Rosa
(Thomas) Nickerson, was born in Cortland
county. New York, May i, 1833. His grand-
father, Edward, was a sergeant in a Massachusetts
regiment in the Revolution. In 1862 the sub-
ject of this sketch enlisted in company G, One
Hundred and Forty-fifth Pennsylvania volunteer
infantry, and with his regiment was in the battles
of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Spottsyl-
vania Court House, and all the battles around
Petersburg in Grant's flank movements. He
was taken prisoner and was in the hands of the
rebels two weeks, being confined in Castle
Thunder and on Belle Isle; was afterwards ex-
changed and returning to the front; was present
at the surrender of Lee, serving till the close of
the war with the rank of first sergeant ; was
mustered out near Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, in
the summer of 1865. He has been twice mar-
ried, first during the Rebellion, while home on a
furlough, July 16, 1863, to Miss Eliza C, Wade,
daughter of Alexander and Ellen Wade. She
died January 25, 1864. He married again Jan-
uary 31, 1867, Elizabeth L. Wade, a sister of his
first wife, who was born in Kinsman, Trumbull
county, Ohio, January 11, 1832. By this mar-
riage he has had four children, two of whom are
living: James A., born October 21, 1867, Ar-
thur J., born September 26, 187 1, the only sur-
vivor of triplets born on that occasion. Mr.
Nickerson came to Trumbull county, Ohio, in
the spring of 1870, locating on the place where
he still lives. Alexander Wade, the father of
Mrs. Nickerson, came to Ohio at an early day,
married October 25, 1827, Eleanor McConnell,
and raised a family of six children, of whom two
survive. He died December 15, 1853. His
widow, born June 17, 1806, is still living.

William R. Christy, son of Andrew and Eliza-
beth (McConnell) Christy, was born June 15,
1828, in Kinsman, Trumbull county, Ohio. An-
drew Christy came to Trumbull county in 1806.
He was married in 181 2; built a hewed log-
house, which they occupied until building the
present family residence in 1832. They raised
a family of eleven children, of whom six are liv-

3'2

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

ing. He was a soldier of the War of 1812 for
a short time. He was born in 1776, and died
in 1863. His wife died August, 1863. Wilham
R. Christy was married April 4, 1867, to Miss
Charlotte Davis, daughter of Walter Davis, and
has two sons — Lauren D., born September 25,
1868, and Ward P., born April 24, 1872. Mrs.
Christy's mother was Lucena Perkins, daughter
of Seth Perkins, one of the pioneers of Kinsman
township. Miss Sarah Christy is residing with
her brothet, William R., and is a vigorous and
intelligent lady, the oldest of the family.

Christian Betts, son of Christian and Eliza-
beth Betts, was born March 13, 1813, in Fayette
county, Pennsylvania. His father was a settler
of Crawford county, Pennsylvania, as early as
1790. Christian, Jr., was married May 8, 1835,
to Eliza Fister, who was born in Pennsylvania
September 16, 1815, and has had a family of
thirteen children, of whom eight are living, as
follows : Sarah, born 1836, now wife of Eli
Wakefield; Jacob, November 25, 1838; Mary,
September 25, 1840, wife of Joseph Parker;
Julia, December 7, 1843, now Mrs. Lewis Shaip;
Sylvester, February 4, 1848; Fred D., January
20, 1850; Charles S., September 6, 1855, (mar-
ried December 24, 1878, to Miss Mary Bush, of
Ashtabula county) ; Adella D., May 10, 1858,
wife of Chauncey Bidwell. All reside in Kins-
man except Mrs. Wakefield, who resides in
Ashtabula county. Cyrus, born April 12, 1841,
died October 28, i860; Wealthy, October 7,
1843, died March 22, 1876. Three others died
in infancy. After his marriage Mr. Betts re-
sided in Pennsylvania for some years. In Feb-
ruary, 185 I, he purchased where he now resides,
moving on the place a year after.

John M. Allen, son of Daniel and Ruth
(Meacham) .\llen, was born in Kinsman, Trum-
bull county, Ohio, November 5, 1827. He re-
mained at home until twenty-three, when he
went to Crawford county, Pennsylvania, for five
years, engaged in farming and conducting a saw-
mill. He married there March 24, 1853, Miss
Phebe Leach, who was born in Mercer county,
Pennsylvania, July 22, 1828. She died October,

1 854, leaving one daughter, now Mrs. Oscar Le-
land, of Geauga county, Ohio. November 8,

1855, Mr. Allen was again married, his second
wife being Jane Eckels, born July 30, 1831. By
this marriage he has had eight children, seven of

whom are living, viz : George S., born Septem-
ber I, 1856; Permelia, March g, 1858; Eva
Jane, October 25, i860; Wilber J., May 24,
1862 ; Charles A., July 22, 1865; Jessie A., No-
vember 23, 1868; Maggie H., April 2, 1872.
In the spring of 1855 our subject returned to Kins-
man from Pennsylvania, having the year before
bought the place where he now lives. In 1864
he enlisted in the One Hundred and Seventy-
first Ohio National guard, and participated in
the battle of Cynthiana, Kentucky, June 11,
1864; served out his term of enlistment, and was
mustered out at Johnson's island at expiration
of term of service.

William Christy, son of William and Mary
Christy, was born in Kinsman, Trumbull county,
Ohio, August 29, 181 1. William Christy, Sr.,
was a native of Westmoreland county, Pennsyl-
vania, born in 1778; came to Ohio in 1805, and
settled in Kinsman on the place now owned by
his son William. He raised a family of twelve
children, of whom but two survive — the subject
of this sketch and Mrs. Mary Gibson, of Kins-
man. He was a blacksmith by trade, which
trade he followed until advanced in years. He
died in 1854. He was a soldier in the War of
1812, under Captain Burnham. William, Jr.,
was married, September 29, 1853, to Phebe
Roberts, who was born in Pennsylvania April 29,
1820, and has a family of three children, as fol-
lows : Mary Jane, born December 25, 1855,
now wife of Levi S. Mowry, and has one child
— William R., born January 14, 1881; William
H., born February 20, 1857, at home; Robert,
born July 4, 18.^8, residing in Crawford county,
Pennsylvania. Mrs. Christy died October 6
1864. Mr. Christy built his present residence
in 1874, and owns one hundred and seventy-six
acres, well improved. He gives considerable at-
tention to dairying and stock-raising.

Albert W. Matthews was born in Kinsman
township, Trumbull county, Ohio, September 30,
1836. His grandfather. Deacon William Mat-
thews, came to Ohio in 1804, and settled on the
place where the subject of this sketch now lives.
William Matthews was a Revolutionary soldier.
Albert W. Matthews enlisted in tTie One Hundred
and Twenty-fifth Ohio volunteer infantry, in
1862, and with his regiment was in the battles at
Mission Ridge, Resaca, Dalton, .■\tlanta, and
Franklin. He served until the close of the war.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

313

securing a lieutenant's commission, and was mus-
tered out with his regiment at Nashville, Tennes-
see, June, 1865. He received a commission
after being mustered out as sergeant. After his
return home he took charge of the homestead
where he still lives. August 30, 1866, he was
married to Miss Sarah Johnson, daughter of John
and Nancy Johnson, of Mercer county, Penn-
sylvania, where Mrs. Matthews was born October
5, 1844. They have two children, as follows:
William Albert, born March 11, 1870, and Ruth
E., June 28, 187 1. For one year after his mar-
riage Mr. Matthews was a resident of Nebraska,
when he returned to his former home. He has
been township trustee several terms. His father,
Thomas Matthews, was a soldier of the War of
1812. In 1826 he had a leg amputated on ac-
count of injuries received by breaking through
the ice on the Ohio river.

David S. Gillis, youngest son of Francis and
Mary Gillis, was born in Kinsman, Trumbull
county, Ohio, September 6, 1845; married De-
cember 24, 1874, to Agnes M. Patrick, by whom
he had one daughter, Emma M., born Decem-
ber 4, 1875. His wife Agnes died January,
1879, and October 13, 1880, he married Miss
Sarah A. Wood, daughter of Deacon Charles
Wood, of Kinsman. By this marriage he has
had one daughter, Abbie, born August 26, 1881.
Since the retirement of his father he has taken
charge of the family homestead, giving consider-
able attention to dairying and stock-raising.

Francis Gillis, son of Thomas and Mary
(Mossman) Gillis, was born in Kinsman, Trum-
bull county, Ohio, July 8, 1806. His father
was one of the early pioneers of Kinsman, erect-
ing the first grist-mill in the township. He
raised a family of nine children. Francis was
reared a farmer and remained at home until of
age. His father gave him one hundred acres
east of the homestead. This place, now the
residence of his son David S., was then entirely
wild, and he cleared it up and improved it. Oc-
tober 26, 1837, he married Mary Ann Sawyer,
born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, 1816.
They were the parents of six children, three of
who are living, John, at home ; David S., a
farmer of Kinsman, and Malvina C. at home.
Subsequent to his marriage he resided on the
place now occupied by his son David until the
spring of 1 88 1 when he removed to Kinsman
40I

village. His wife died in 1876. She was a
member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Mr. Gillis was township trustee many years. He
owns over three hundred and seventy acres in
Kinsman. John, his oldest son, in 1862 enlisted
m the army and served until the close of the war.

John Craig, son of William and Susan Craig,
was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania,
September 27, 1822. Brought up on the farm
and remained at home until his marriage, June
20, 1855, to Mary Brackin, whose father, Eze
kiel Brackin, was one of the pioneers of the
county. Died about 1864. They raised a fam.
ity of nine children. Mrs. Craig was born in
Kinsman, Trumbull county. May 30, 1832. Mr.
and Mrs. Craig have had five children, as follow:
Lida, the oldest, died young ; Henry Clay, born
August 16, 1858; Delia M., born October 6,
i860; Fanny Blanche, January 16, 1864; David
B., October 14, 1866. After his marriage he
continued to reside in Pennsylvania until April,
1874, when he came to Ohio, purchasing the
Brackin homestead in Kinsman, where he still
resides.

Peter Lossee, youngest son of Peter and
Nancy (McLaughlin) Lossee, was born in Kins-
man township, Trumbull county, Ohio, May 10,
1812. Peter Lossee, Sr., was a native of New
Jersey; came to Ohio in 1808, settling on the
place where the son now resides. He raised a
family of four children, the subject of this
sketch being the only survivor. He died in
18 1 5, his wife surviving him thirty-three years,
dying in 1848. Peter, Jr., was married Septem-
ber 10, 1832, to Elizabeth Reed, born in Penn-
sylvania. Five children were born, four of whom
are living, as follows: Jane, born in 1833, and
died March 15, 1862; Amanda Morford (widow)
in Illinois; Wallace P., born in 1837 in Kins-
man; Helen E., at home; Hattie A., wife of
Lawrence Lefifingwell, of Kinsman. The mother
died in 1849, ^"d Mr. Lossee married for his
second wife Eleanor, daughter of John Little, an
early settler of Kinsman, where she was born
April 18, 1814. They were married May 21,
1850. Mr. Lossee has devoted considerable at-
tention to dairying and stock raising; also to
buying live stock, and has raised some valuable
horses. He sold two that brought $2,500. Mr.
Lossee, speaking of early times, says he has seen
deer to the number of thirty-five in one herd,

314

TRUMBULI- AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

and met a bear on one occasion, which the
neighbors finally killed. His only son, Wallace
P., was a member of the Second Ohio cavalry,
serving over four years until the close of the
war.

A. H. Porter, son of Daniel and Sally Porter,
was born in Washington county. New York, May
2, 1 82 2. Coming to Ohio in the fall of 1844, he
located in Andover, Ashtabula county, where he
bought a place; was married in 1846 to Miss
Ruth Dolph, born in Washington county, New
York, in 1824. They have had eight children,
five living, as follows: Henry A. and Nellie (now
wife of Reuben Foy) of Gustavus township; J.
M. and Nettie (wife of John TurnbuU) of Kins-
man, and Carrie, still at home. Mr. Porter con-
tinued to live in Ashtabula until the spring of
1S50, when he removed to Kinsman township,
Trumbull county, locating at what is known as
Porter's corners, building a saw-mill which he
still owns. He removed to his present home in
the spring of 1866. He was a member of the
One Hundred and Seventy-first Ohio National
guard in the Rebellion, and was in the battle of
Cynthiana, Kentucky; was taken prisoner and pa-
roled. He served out his term of enlistment and
was mustered out at Sandusky, Ohio.

Mrs. Rhoda Spencer was born in Trumbull
county, Ohio, June 20, 1809; oldest child of
John and Elizabeth (Mizener) Waldorf. Her
father was one of the pioneers of Hubbard.
\Vith her parents she removed to Vernon
township in 1812; was educated in the com-
mon schools; taught school three terms prior to
her marriage. She was married, January 15,
1829, to Warren Spencer, born in 1801. Hei
husband was a cooper by trade ; came to Ohio
about 1820, settling in Ashtabula county; came
to Kinsman about 1826. After their mar-
riage Mr. and Mrs. Spencer settled on ttie place
now owned by Scott Mizener; settled in the
woods, putting up a log house, cleared up and
improved the farm, which they occupied until
i860, when they purchased the place formerly
the Ben Allen farm, where Mrs. Spencer still re-
sides. Mr. Spencer was an original anti-slavery
man, and a Methodist until the division of the
church upon the question of slavery. He died
November 23, 1863. Mrs. Spencer is a mem-
ber of the Methodist Episcopal church at Kins-
man.

Mrs. Harriet B. Parker, daughter of Elam and
Sarah (Hyde) Jones, was born in Hartford town-
ship, Trumbull county, Ohio, February 2, 1806.
She attended a ladies' seminary at Kinsman;
taught school one season at home; married,
January 8, 1824, Linus Parker, a native of
Connecticut, born in 1778. He was a manu-
facturer of edged tools, and had quite an estab-
lishment in Kinsman. He came with his father
to that township in the early years of the present
century. He died in 1837. He was a member
of the Presbyterian and Congregational church
in Kinsman, of which his father, Lovell, was
deacon, and was an active member. He had a
family of four children, of whom three are living,
as follows: Sarah E., born September 27, 1825,
widow of William A. Gillis; Rufus H., born De-
cember 24, 1827; Lemira J. born September 27,
1835 ; all residing in Kinsman. The latter com-
pleted her education at an academy in Poland,
Mahoning county; Hannah P., born October 12,
1837, died November 29, 1855. Rufus H. re-
ceived his educational a high school in ^Vayne
township, Ashtabula county; was brought up
to farming; went to California about 1852, where
he was engaged some five or six years in mining
and farming. Returning to Ohio, he dealt in lum-
ber and live stock a number of years. After the
close of the war he traveled for three or four years
wholesaling goods for himself, establishing a
store-house in Mercer, Pennsylvania; opened a
wholesale family goods house in Sharon, Penn-
sylvania, and did an extensive trade. He has
now a fine home in Kinsman. Mrs. Parker con-
tinues to reside on the home place. She is a
member of the same church to which her hus-
band belonged.

George Baldwin, son of Jacob H. and Florinda
Baldwin, was born in Champion, Trumbull coun-
ty, Ohio, July 7, 1836; obtained his education
in the common schools, and at the high school
at Warren, supplemented by an attendance for one
term at Kenyon college. Gambler, Ohio. He
was engaged at clerking in Warren for one or two
years; married, October i, 1861, to Emma R.
Lesuer, born in Bolivar, New York. They have
two children: Gertrude F., born May 9, 1864,
and Albert L., June 29, 1870. He resided in
Warren two years after marriage, then removing
to Meadville, Pennsylvania, where he com-
menced the stove and tinware business. Ono

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

315

year afterwards his place of business was de-
stroyed by fire. He removed to Kinsman, Trum-
bull county, Ohio, in the spring of 1866, where
he engaged in the stove trade, buying out the
Kinsman foundry, which he conducted till 1870.
About 1873 he added to his business that of gen-
eral hardware, and is doing a prosperous busi-
ness. He has been a member of the Methodist
Episcopal church for the past twenty years, and is
superintendent of the Sunday-school.

Dr. Luman G. Moore, only son of Lorenzo
and Caroline (Miller) Moore, was born in Kins-
man, Trumbull county, Ohio, February 16, 1849.
Lorenzo Moore came to Ohio with his parents
about 1836, the family locating on the place
now owned by John Wallace, where he spent
the balance of his days. He died in 1869. His
widow, born in 1789, is still living with her son,
the subject of this sketch, quite vigorous for one
of her age. Dr. Moore was reared upon a farm,
attending the common and high schools until
twenty ; was a student one year at the Ohio
Wesleyan university, and also at Michigan uni-
versity, Ann .\rbor, one year ; began the study
of medicine with Dr. Jones in 1870, continuing
three years, during which time he attended a
course of lectures at Bellevue Medical college,
graduating from Long Island Hospital Medical
college. New York, in June, 1873. The same
fall he commenced practice at Kinsman, where
he has since been located. He was married in
^Lay, 187 1, to Miss EHzabeth Patterson, and has
two children living — Minnie, born June 29,
1879, and Luman G., December 17, 1880. He
has been township trustee one year, and town-
ship treasurer two years.

Lyman Root, oldest son of Chailes and Sally
Ann (Laughlin) Root, was born in Mecca,
Trumbull county, Ohio, June 2, 1839, and was a
student at a seminary in Jamesiown, Pennsyl-
vania, at the breaking out of the war. With
four companions he went to Columbus, Ohio,
and enlisted in the Eighty-fourth Ohio volunteer
infantry for three months; was at Camp Laurens,
Maryland, and returned home in October, 1862.
He re-enlisted in the One Hundred and Twenty-
fifth Ohio volunteer infantry for three years, and
with his regiment participated in some of the
principal battles of the war including Nash-
ville, Mission Ridge, Chickamauga, Lookout
Mountain, and Atlanta. He was on detached

duty as mail-carrier for some time, served until
the close of the war, and was mustered out at
Cleveland, Ohio, June, 1865. He resumed his
occupation of farming on the place formerly
owned by his grandfather, James Laughlin; was
married January 10, 1867, to Miss Irene S.,
daughter of Thomas Mathews, and has three
children: Hubert L., born October 19, 1867;
Alice S., February 2, 1874: Ralph, June 2,
1876. He remained on the Laughlin place until
buying at Kinne's corners about 1870. He
sold out in 1880, and in the spring of 1881
located in Kinsman village, engaging in mer-
chandising, having a general store. He has
been justice of the peace for twelve years in
Kinsman, and also assessor for two terms.

Daniel C. Clinginsmith, born in Mercer coun-
ty, Pennsylvania, May 16, 1824; married, April,
1847, Electa J., daughter of Thomas and Eleanor
(McLaughlin) Matthews, born October 11, 1823,
in Kinsman, Trumbull county, Ohio. Mr.
Clinginsmith was a farmer originally, afterward
engaged in mercantile business; removed to
Wisconsin in 1856, where he engaged in mer-
chandising and was also postmaster. He died
September 24, 1870; was worshipful master
Free and Accepted Masons at the time of his
death, and also member of the Methodist Epis-
copal church. Mrs. Clinginsmith continued to
reside in Wisconsin until the fall of 1879, when
she returned to Trumbull county and located in
Kinsman village, where she still resides.

Captain E. C. Briggs was born in Newport
county, Rhode Island, September 13, 1804; son
of Ethan C. Briggs and Mary Littlefield. His
father died when he was six, and when ten
years of age he ran away from his home and
mother; went to New York and engaged as
cabin boy on a New York and Philadelphia
packet, in which position he continued until
fourteen ; went before the mast to Patagonia,
was subsequently promoted to second mate, still
later to that of mate, and finally, when about
twenty-four, was placed in command of the pack-
et on which he began as cabin boy. After-
wards he was master of a vessel plying between
New York and Baltimore, and later filled the
same position on a vessel engaged in the Carib-
bean sea and the Spanish main. He was mar-
ried June, 1834, to Anna C. Stanhope. They
had four children, two living — James Theodore,

3i6

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

and Sarah R., residing in Denver, Colorado.
Ethan C, Jr., was born in 1843; enlisted in the
war of the RebelliDn and with his regiment par-
ticipated in numerous engagements. At Chatta-
nooga, Tennessee, September 21, 1863, he was
captured by the rebels, being wounded in the
leg. The limb was amputated and he died a
few weeks afterward. Henry Clay, the other
son, was thirty-three when he died, December
10, 1880. Mrs. Briggs died in 1863, and the
captain was again married February 21, 1867, to
Cordelia, daughter of Benjamin Ward. She was
born in Hartford, Connecticut, February 5, 181 6.
Captain Briggs continued the life of a seaman
until 1843. For the next four years he was en-
gaged in mercantile business in New York city.
Removing to Ohio in 1847 he settled on the
place where he still lives in Kinsman, and since
then has followed farraing. He is a fine speci-
men of the old style of sea captain, bluff and
hearty, and withal hospitable; is vigorous in body
and mind, and has never drank a tea-spoonful of
liquor in his life.

Wayne Bidwell, son of Riverius and Eunicia
Bidwell, was born in Trumbull township, Trum-
bull county, Ohio, May 6, 1S21. Besides his
attendance at the common schools he attended
school at Oberlin three or four terms. Married,
December 31, 1844, to Mary L., daughter of
Ezra Hyde, an early settler of Vernon township,
where she was born in January, 1823. Mr. and
Mrs. Bidwell are the parents of five children,
three of whom are living. Jasper R. lived to
the age of thirty-one and died in Iowa in 1879;
Caleb W. resides on the home place; Ezra H.,
of Kinsman village; and Chauncey D., of the
same place. Cora Lynn died when three years
of age. In addition to his farming Mr. Bidwell
deals extensively in the buying and shipping of
live stock.

J. VV. Chase was born in Vates county. New
York, November 23, 181 7; son of David and
Polly (Welsh) Chase. He was raised to the
trade of his father, that of carpenter and joiner.
^Vith his parents he came to Trumbull county,
Ohio, in the fall of 1835, and located in Gusta-
vus township, where he followed his trade, erect-
ing many of the best buildings in that vicinity.
In the fall of 1836 he started on a trip South, and
made an extended trip through the South and
West and also to the northwest as far as Green Hay,

Wisconsin, working at his trade at various places.
At Fort DesMoines he saw the famous Black
Hawk and seven hundred warriors. At Galena,
Illinois, he put up the second brick building in the
place. Returning home, the next year he again
went west, thence south to Vicksburg, Missis-
sippi, making a portion of the trip down the
Mississippi in a skiff. At Vicksburg he worked at
his trade some six years, the panic breaking him
up. He returned to Galena, where he remained
one year, then made a trip up the Wisconsin riv-
er to the pineries, and engaged in trafficking with
the Indians. He finally concluded his wander-
ings, and on November 10, 1843, was married
to Laura, daughter of David Chapman, born in
Vernon township, November 14, 1823. They
are the parents of three children, of whom two
are living — Leroy, born September i, 1844, re-
siding in Missouri, and Jane Ann, at home.
Mr. Chase continued to work at his trade until
compelled to give it up on account of rheuma-
tism. He followed farming for a time, conduct-
ing the farm of Thomas Kinsman, and run an
extensive dairy. Cheese then brought but four
cents per pound; subsequently kept a hotel in
Crawford county, Pennsylvania, for a couple of
years during the oil excitement, afterwards |)ur-
chasing a farm in Pennsylvania. October, 1861,
he enlisted in the Sixtii Ohio volunteer cavalry;
raised a com|)any and was made first lieutenant.
In the spring of 1872 he removed to Kinsman,
where he now resides. For the past thirty years
he has followed more or less the business of auc-
tioneer. He has also been efficient in detecting
horse thieves.

CHAPTER V.

FARMINGTON.

LOCATION AND NAITRAl. FICATURES.

F'armington township, number six in the fifth
range, is bounded on the north by Mesopotamia,
on the east by Bristol, on the south by Southing-
ton, and on the west by Geauga county. The
surface, like most of the townships of the coun-
ty, is undulating, and the soil is largely clay,
though in the northern pan a sandy loam is found.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

317

The principal streams are Grand river, Swine
creek, and Dead branch. Grand river runs
through the township a diagonal course from the
southwest to the northeast. Dead branch is a
southern branch of Grand river. Swine creek
drains the noith western part of the township.

OWNERSHIP AND SURVEY.

This township contains seventeen thousand
one hundred and fifty-seven acres, and was m
draft number fourteen, drawn with other lands
by Joseph Bowell, William F^dwards, Samuel
Hensliaw, Joseph Pratt, Luther Loomis, David
King, John Leavitt, Jr., Ebenezer King, Jr.,
Timothy King, Fidelio King, and Sylvester Gris-
wold. These owners sold to one another and
quit-claimed to others at different times from
1798 to 181 1, at which time Solomon Bond
owned the greater part of the township.

The survey was made under the direction and
personal superintendence of Luther Henshaw,
and the township was called Henshaw until it
was organized as Farmington in 181 7.

SETTLEMENT.

This township was first settled mainly by Con-
necticut people. Its growth was a slow one and
not until long after its organization was it thickly
populated.

Lewis VVolcott, best known as Captain Wol-
cott, and David Curtis, were the first arrivals.
They came in the spring of 1806, from Vienna
township. Lewis Wolcott, son of Theodore,
was a descendant of Henry Wolcott, who came
to this country about the year 1630. In the
spring of 1805 he made the journey from Con-
necticut to Ohio on foot, carrying all his earthly
possessions in a knapsack. He stopped one
year in Vienna, working foi Joel Humiston.
David Curtis, a son of lawyer Curtis, was the
companion of his journeying. Upon their ar-
rival here they built a pole cabin for a summer
residence, near the spot where Mr. Kibbee's
house now stands at West Farmington.

In the summer of 1806, Zenas Curtis, David
or lawyer Curtis, and Elihu Moses brought their
families and located. Zenas Curtis built a cabin
on the Fuller farm on the State road ; the land
is now owned by C. A. Mackay. David Curtis
built on the old Ransley Curtis farm, where Dr.
Meyers now lives, and Elihu Moses on the op-
posite side of the road from S. H. Loveland's.

The next arrivals are mentioned in the bio-
graphical sketch of the Wolcott family given
below :

Josiah WolcoU, was born September 17, 1755, and married
Miss Lydia Russell, of Weathersfield. May 13, 1779. The
children of this union were as follows: Catharine,
Daniel R., Horace, Susan, Mary, Josiah W., Erastus, and
Edmund P. The mother of Edmund P. died .'\pril 19, 1805,
aged forty-three years. His father again married ; his second
wife was Mrs. Nancy Higgins, widow of Dr. Higgins, of
Weathersfield, Connecticut ; the time of his marriage was
February 16, 1806. The names of the children following
this union were Lydia R., Caroline, and Chariotte. Their
mother died October 13, 1824, aged fifty-eight years. Josiah
Wolcott married a third time, the object of his affections be-
ing Mrs. Brown, of Warren. They had one daughter,
Nancy.

Mr. Wolcott died January 18. 1838, in his eighty-third
year. His native place was Weathersfield, which he left
about the year 1800, and settled in the town of Bristol, Con-
necticut. His occupation was that of a farmer. He lived in
Bristol until 1806, when he was persuaded, by the glowing
representations of a New Connecticut land speculator, one
Solomon Bond, to make a purchase of one thousand acres
of land in the then unbroken wilderness. He visited his new
territory in the fall or winter of 1806 and 1807, in company
with his son Horace. Mr. Wolcott's brother Theodore, and
his son Lewis, and Gad Hart, came out at the same time.
They ' ' rolled " up a log house, perhaps fifteen feet square,
without the help of a team; in this place they wintered. The
ground on which this bachelor residence stood on northwest
corner of centre, was a few feet west of the Wolcott store.
This building was raised, inclosed, floors laid, and inside
finished without having a sawed piece of timber in it. Here
the company passed the winter. At that time the place was
nothing more nor less than a wilderness; not an article of
food, either for man or beast, was to be had in the township.
They brought the straw to fill their bunks from Mesopotamia,
and as the forest was so dense that they could not get their
straw through, they were obliged to travel down the old path
from Mesopotamia to Warren, as far as Grand river, and
then come up on the ice to their lodgings.

Mr. Josiah Wolcott returned to his family early in the
spring, after a most fatiguing journey, made more so by los-
ing his horse in Pennsylvania; he made the rest of the jour-
ney on foot, at the time when the roads were in their worst
state. He disposed of his farm and arranged his affairs, and
left the land of "steady habits," as it then was appropriately
called, arriving with his family and three of his second
wife's children, viz: Nancy, .Silas, and Polly Higgins. In the
meantime his son Horace had put up a log house for the ac-
commodation of the family; the size, perhaps, might be
20 X 22. In this a family of from twelve to fourteen had to
find a home, but it was highly prized by all. Now the busi-
ness was to clear off the timber, and that was undertaken
Nvith a will; the boys were working at it every day, e.xcept the
Sabbath, and on that day services were held at some private
house, either at the centre or at some one's house at the
west, usually at David Curtis's. Situated as they were, it
would seem they had no time for sickness, or no accommoda-
tion when they were ill. Yet one of their number, a sister
Mary, was during the spring and summer months gradually
sinking under the scourge of our race, viz: consumption.
Their son. Dr. Silas, attended her, but notliing seemed to
produce a good effect, and she died September 2, i8o8. A

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

few trees were felled, and a grave dug. This spot was where
the present cemetery now is. Her funeral was the first, and
her grave the first in the township.*

Mr. Wolcott fell that meetings on the Sabbath must be
kept up, and succeeded in carrying out his convictions of pro-
priety in this particular idea, .•^s it was seldom the case that
they had preaching, when meetings were not requested at
other houses they held meetmg in their own place— often
had preaching m Parkman, and Judge Parkman and lady
frequently attended here. The way of getting to church was
on horseback for those who had horses, or with ox-teams.

Mr. Wolcott, considering the help had, had cleared quite
a farm before the breaking out of the War of 1812. But from
that time he saw the great disadvantage all were laboring
under, in not having mills of any kind; and in this state of
things two men called upon him, professing to be number
one mill-wrights, and persuaded him to undertake the build-
ing of a saw- and grist-mill.

They cut and hewed and hauled on to the ground a large
quantity of timber, and partially constructed running-gear,
etc. , but in consequence of indebtedness which was likely to
send him to the "lock-up," the main part of his workmen
left, and the undertaking was abandoned. The project of
mill-building rested for several years. Another mill-wright
appeared, who proposed to put up one on the spot where A.
D. Kibbee & Co.'s mill now stands; but their mill soon went
down, and proved a failure. The scheme went to rest again,
and after a space of one or two years a third trial was made,
and they succeeded in getting a good saw-mill.

About this time complaints were made by parties who had
erected mills above Seats; ve.Natious suits were commenced
and continued in court for some ten years. Several judg-
ments were obtained and paid. Mr. Wolcott being confi-
dent that his dam did not back water to the injury of the up-
per mills, the Legislature enacted a law giving the party
wishing to erect or sustain a dam across any stream the
privilege to summon a special jury, who should view the
premises and decide how high the party might raise a dam
without injury to others. This act was complied with, and
that put an end to the litigation. Twelve of the best men in
Trumbull county gave their verdict to the effect that he had
been put to all the costs and ve.xation of ten or more suits
unjustly.

li. P. Wolcott, sonof J'osiah Wolcott, was born November
17, 1800, in Bristol, Connecticut. His advantages for an ed-
ucation were limited; he however obtained a good practical
and business knowledge. He was reared a farmer, — worked
at it till he was thirty, — then went to selling goods at Farm
ington. He married Clarissa Bosworth, of Farmington, No-
veml^r ig. 1829; — result of this union, nine children, ;
of whom are living, viz; Julia E. , William W. , Amelia, Ce-
cilia, Charles F., Addison L., and Mary E. Mr. Wolcot
lived some ten years at Chagrin Falls, and while there was
justice of the peace. He also held several offices of trus

• Miss Wolcott's death was the result of a serious accident
happened while the family were on their way from Connect!
Ohio. As the roads were bad the women walked much of the way.
As Mary — or Polly — was attempting to cross a stream on a log,
steadying herself with a pole, she fell into the water. It being late
in the season she look a severe cold, from the effects of which she
never recovered. The following epitaph was placed upon the head-
stone which marks her grave :

*' Parents and friends, a long adieu;
I leave this wilderness to you;
My body lies neath this stone —
The arrests of death you cannot shun."

and honor in this township. He was a member of the Con-
gregational church; in politics, a Republican. It may be
said of this gentleman that he was one of the strong sup-
porters of the Congregational church; and the cause of
education had in him a warm supporter. He died March 21,
i88i.

Captain Erastus Wolcott, fourth son and si.\th child of Jo-
seph and Lydia. was born in Bristol, Hartford county, Con-
necticut, Maya, 1795. His advantages for an education were
nothing, in fact, only having had three months" schooling in
his life. He was early disciplined in all the details of farm
life, which he has followed as an avocation through life.
When but eight years old he came here with his father's fam-
ily. He married Miss Almira Hannahs, of Nelson, Portage
county, June 19, i8zo. She was born March 9, 1798, in
Hethlehem, Connecticut. She was the first teacher in this
town. Result of marriage, six children, all living and settled
well and doing well;— their names, Orlando K., Luther H.,
Catharine C, Julius E., Orvis A., and Helen C. Mr. Wol-
cott has held various offices in his town. Elected captain
of State militia about 1825. United with Presbyterian
church 1825; he was chosen deacon in 1841, succeeding his
father; he was ruling elder at the time of his death. His
wife died January 11, 1865. Deacon Wolcott was again
married, to Celesta Worrell, of Farmington, January 5,
1866. She was the widow of John Worrell. Captain Wol-
cott died December 26, 1867.

Horace Wolcott died June 28, 1872, aged eighty-seven
years and seven months. We subjoin the names, births, and
deaths of his family; Edward C, born October 21, 1809,
died .■\pril 5, 1864; infant daughter, born June 6, 1810, died
June 8, 1810; Louisa, born July 16, 1812, died May 13, 1813;
Russell, born May 23, 1814, died October 20, 1865; infant
daughter, born September 14, 1816, died September 15, i8i5;
Julia, born September 23, 1817, died February 21 1830; Ad-
dison, born .'\pril 18, 1820. died March 20, 1869; .Albert G.,
born August 30, 1823, living; Sophia, born September 15,
1826, died January 16, 1849; Caroline, born March 18, 1829,
living. Mrs. Sabrina Wolcott died Julv 28, 1865, aged
seventy-five. The heads of the above family were united
in marriage December 15, 1808. Albert G. is now living in
Wyandotte. Kansas, engaged in the lumber business and
"real estate. " Caroline Bughoflf is living at the center, with
her only child, Edwin F.

O. K. Wolcott, son of Erastus and Almira, was bom May
30, 1823, in this town (Farmington). Educational advantages
fair, for those early days. He was united in marriage to Miss
Catharine M. Stowe, of BraceviUe, November 13, 1845.
This lady was born May 21, 1821. Result of union, six
children, viz: Norman E.,* Cornelia A., Austin E., Miranda
C, Julius O.,* and Orvis O. Mr. Wolcott has held several
town offices. In 1865 he was chosen county commis-
sioner; he was re-elected in 1868. United with the Presby-
terian church April 10, 1859; he was several times chosen
superintendent of the Sunday-school. His wife is also a
member.

Theodore Wolcott was a member of Caj^tain
Benton's company, and made permanent set-
tlement here in 1814. His wife was Rhoda
Goodrich. They had nine children — Lewis,
Josiah, John, William, Nancy, Newton, Chester,
Emily, and Susan. Eight are dead. All resided

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

in Farmington and died here, excepting Emily
(Belden), who died in Kansas; WiUiam, who died
in Parkman, and Chester, who survives. Ches-
ter G. Wolcott, youngest son, was born in Con-
necticut in 1803. He married, in 1843, Louisa
S. Hudson, of Orwell. Their only child, Le-
ander H., was killed while in his country's ser-
vice in his nineteenth year. He was a member
of the Ohio National guard, and was killed June
II, 1864, at Covington, Kentucky, while serving
against Morgan's raider.^. Mrs. Wolcott died in
1867, aged sixty-one. Theodore Wolcott died
in 1837, aged about seventy-three. His wife
died in 1847 at the age of eighty-eight. Mr.
Wolcott was a deacon of the Congregational
church from its organization to the time of his
death. He was a man of liberality and worth.

O. L. Wolcott, son of Lewis, was born in
Farmington in 1823; was married m 1850 to
Martha F. Kibbee, and has five children living,
one deceased — Ella H. (Chamberlain), Louise
S. (deceased), Emma A., Carrie F., Grace L ,
and Frank B. Mr. Wolcott was county auditor
four years, 1859 to 1863; was a member of the
State board of equalization from this district,
serving the year 1S71-72; was then appointed
by Governor Noyes as commissioner of railroads
and telegraphs and served two years. He is
now engaged in farming and stock-dealing.

William Wolcott, son of Newton, was born in
Farmington m 1837. In 1866 he married
Hattie E. Gillette, who died in 1881, leaving
three children — Carrie E., Newton A., and Car-
roll. In February, 1882, he married Mrs. Sarah
Harrison. Mr. Wolcott served four years in
company D, Second Ohio cavalry. He has been
township trustee two terms.

F. J. Wolcott, son of Lyman B., was born in
Farmington in 1859. He is now in partnership
with Dr. O. A. Palmer, and C. S. Thompson,
and is secretary and treasurer of the Standard
Chair company.

Gad Hart, who came on with the Wolcott
brothers in 1806, moved with his family to Hen-
shaw in 1807, and took up his abode in the
cabin near where the Wolcott store stands, at the
center. This was the cabin erected the previous
year.

The house built by Horace Wolcott was a
little more pretentious than most pioneer dwell-
ings. He hauled boards from Parkman, and

made a very comfortable cabin, with floors above
and below and a door of boards. But when
the family arrived and surveyed it, the women,
thinking of the pleasant home they had left in
the East, burst into tears.

During the winter months of 1807-8, the
Wolcotts purchased their provisions in Mesopo-
tamia, of Esquire Tracy. Sometimes they bought
venison of the Indians; and on one occasion a
fine buck was purchased for a silver dollar.

At this time the only roads in the township
were paths marked by blazed trees. The State
road from Warren to Painesville, running across
the southwestern part of the township, had been
marked out but was not bridged or worked. A
little later it was cleared of its obstructions so
that ox-teams could travel it. There was a route
of travel from Warren via Bristol and Mesopo-
tamia, running diagonally through the northeast
of Henshavv, and a bridge across Grand river
about one mile and a fourth northeast of' the
center of the township. The winter of 1807-08
was spent in clearing, and in the spring crops
were put in which yielded fairly. During the year
the settlement received quite an addition to its
members by the arrival of William Wilson, Josiah
Wolcott (second son of Theodore), Gad Barthol-
omew, Ezra Curtis, John Hethman, J. P. Dan-
ford, Dennis Lewis, Jacob Bartholomew, and
one or two others. Some of these were married
and brought their families, others were single.

During the early years of the settlement the
nearest place where milling could be done was
Parkman. Garrettsville and Bristol were often
visited for the same purpose. Frequently the
man or boy who went to mill was obliged to
make the journey one of two days' duration.

Eben Wildman settled in the eastern part of
the township in 18 13, and for many years his
was the only house in the township east of the
center. Several of the name are still residents
of Farmington and vicinity.

Dennis Lewis came to West Farmington in
1 810, at which time there were but seven fami-
lies living in this place. His daughter, Mrs.
Chauncey Taft, now a widow, is still living, and
though seventy-eight years of age, is hale and
hearty. It was through the influence of Dennis
Lewis that the name of Henshaw was changed
to Farmington, also that of Bowlestown to
Southington.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

Quite a thriving settlement sprang up along
the old State road, and log cabins were plentier
there than frame houses are now. William Wilson
was one of the first settlers on this road, followed
by John Young, Daniel and Orrin Taft, and
others. From the various Taft families residing
here, that part of the township was long known
as Taftsburg.

John Young, from Pennsylvania, settled about
1810 on the north bank of Grand river. He
had but one child, a son, Eli, who soon after
coming here married Catharine Bellows. He
was a Quaker and paid his fine instead of going
to the War of 181 2. Eli Young raised a family
of four children, all of whom are living : Sarah
(Sager) Bristol ; Stephen, on the old homestead ;
Mary A. (Henry), West Farmington, and Newton,
Gustavus. John Young died in 1824.

Orrin Taft came about 1815, and his brother
Daniel soon after. Both settled on the State
road. Orrin's children were Frederick, Orrin,
Julia, Joseph, Lucy Ann, Eliza Ann, Calvin, and
Harvey. The two last named are living. Orrin
and Frederick died in Braceville. Lucy and
Eliza are still living.

Daniel Taft's children were Robert, Mary Ann,
Jane, Henry, Harriet, Laura, Caroline, and
Lovett. Jane (Green) lives at West Farming-
ton. Harriet and Caroline are also living.

Chauncy, Harvey, and Horace Taft, brothers
of Daniel and Orrin, also settled in Taftsburg
and reared families. They, however, were later
settlers.

In May, 1814, Captain John Benton and his
"company," consisting of his own family, Theo-
dore Wolcott and his family, and David Bel-
den with his family, left Connecticut for
Henshaw. They were provided with horse and
ox teams, and journeyed via Trenton, Philadel-
phia, Harrisburg, and Pittsburg. At the latter
place, then a little smoky village, they bought
some flour, which they ate upon their arrival in
Henshaw. The company reached here in safety
in June, following up the State road from War-
ren. From this road they were obliged to cut
their way through the woods to the center.

David Belden came from Weathersfield, Con-
necticut. He located where Colonel H. H.
Hatch now lives, and afterwards where Shelden
Spencer resides, near the river. His family con-
sisted of twelve children, all of whom lived to

be married and bring up families, except one
son, Daniel.

Chauncey Brockett, from New York State,
came to Farmington immediately after the War
of 18 1 2, and settled on the river where he
cleared up a farm. He died there at about the
age of seventy-six. Alanson Brockett, his son,
was born in western New York in 1805, and
came to Ohio with his parents. He married
Anna Maria Moffet and settled on a part of his
father's farm. In 1835 ^^ moved to Bristol,
settling on the old Moffet farm on West street.
The last three years of his life he resided in
Bristolville, where he died in 1875. He was
twice married, his first wife being the mother of
all of his children, fourteen in number, six boys
and eight girls. Four boys and two girls are dead.

John Benton moved to this township from
Bristol, Connecticut, making the fourteenth
family in Henshaw. They journeyed with one
yoke of oxen and a horse, and were forty
days upon the way. John Benton and his wife
{fiee Polly C. Upson) were the parents of four
children — George Washington, Henry D., Polly
(Brown), and Harriet C. (Loveland). Henry
D. and Harriet survive, the latter in Dakota.
Washington died at Beaufort, South Carolina,
and Polly at Council Blufl's, Iowa. H. D. Ben-
ton was born in 1810, and has resided in Farm-
ington the most of his life. He married in
1843 Harriet H. Baldwin, of Parkman. They
have three children living, one deceased — Her-
bert U., Edwin H., Marion I. (Underwood).
All reside in Iowa. Mary Augusta, the first
child, died at the age of seven.

In 181 7 Eli Hyde settled in the eastern part
of the township; and in 18 iS Joel and Ira Hyde,
Abijah Lee and others.

Socrates Loveland, a native of Connecticut,
moved from the State of Massachusetts to Farm-
ington township in 1818. He was the father of
ten children, of whom seven are living, two of
them, S. H. and Mrs. Cotton, in Farmington.
Mr. Loveland died in 1870; Mrs. Loveland,
whose maiden nan\e was Lydia Taft, in 1867.

S. H. Loveland was born in Farmington in
1822 and has resided in this township since, e.x-
cepting five years in California and Australia.
He married Mahala Rood, a native of Connecti-
cut, in 1856, and has two children, Lydia and
Henry.

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TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

Daniel Gates, born in western New York in
1807, settled in east Farmington in 1S17. He
married, in 1828, Eunice A. Chaffee, of Bristol,
and had five children, three of whom survive,
viz : Freeman, a prominent manufacturer of
Painesville, Ohio; Emily, wife of Rev. J. B.
Corey, of Cleveland; and Mary Maria, wife of
Dr. A. J. Brockett, of Bristolville. Mr. Gates
moved from Farmington to Greene in 1851, and
from Greene to Bristol in 1874. He died in
Bristol in 1880; his wife in 1879.

.Abijah Lee moved to Farmington from Mc-
Henry county, New York, in i8i8, coming the
whole distance of five hundred miles in a sleigh,
bringing his mother, then eighty-three years old,
his wife and eleven children. The names of his
children were as follows : Roswell, Lydia,
Isaac, Almira, Harriet, Polly, Simeon, Hannah,
Betsey, Seth, and Electa. Of these Roswell,
Isaac, Hannah, and Harriet are dead. Simeon
lives in Michigan; Lydia, in Ashtabula county;
the others are all in Farmington.

William S. Griffith came to Farmington from
McHenry county. New York, about the year

1820. Soon after coming here he married Al-
mira Lee, who is still living. Their six children
were : James Addison, Chauncy, Milo W., Wil-
liam W., Albert, and a son who died in infancy.
Addison died at the age of twenty, and Albert
at the age of twenty-one. The three surviving
sons reside in Farmington. W. W. Grififith, the
youngest of these, was born in 1836. He mar-
ried Mary Chandler. Mr. Griffith, the father,
died in 1864, aged sixty-four years. He taught
the first school in east Farmington in the old log
school-house, which stood near the present site
of the church.

Alonzo Osmer was born in Chardon, Ohio, in

1821. When four years old he came to this
township. In 1842 he married Lydia Folk, of
Southington. Their children are : Addison,
Orvel C, George H. (deceased), Charles S., Enio-
gene, Mary E., and Julia E. All are married ex-
cept the youngest.

Ethan Curtiss was born in Connecticut in
1783. In 1808 he removed from New England
to Brunswick, in this State, with a family of three
boys. .About the year 1827 he settled in Farm-
ington. By his first wife his children were Nel-
son, Lewis, and Giles — all born in Connecticut.
The mother of these children, Anna Sedgwick,

was born in Connecticut in 1783. His second
wife, Aurelia Strong, bore ten children, five of
whom are living. Of the first children, only
Giles is living. He resides in Northfield, Sum-
mit county. Nelson spent most of his days in
Wisconsin. Lewis was born in 1805. In 1831
he married Harriet Lewis (born in Farmington
in 181 1) who is still living. Mr. Curtiss died in
1874. Their children were named: Miles and
Giles (twins), Silas, Nancy, Judson, Martha,
Mary J., Ellen, .\lfreda. Nelson J. Two, Giles
and Judson, are dead.

Nelson J., youngest child of Lewis and Har
riet Curtiss, was born iYi this township in 1852.
In 1873 he married Victoria M. Symes, of Farm-
ington. She died in 1875, at the age of twenty-
three, having borne one child, Vernie Victoria.
In 1877 he married Nettie Lord, who was born
in Wisconsin in 1852. Their children are Vinnie
May and Fredie Maud. N. J. Curtiss lives upon
the old homestead.

LATER SETTLERS.

J. W. and Sarah (Lew) Lamberson came to
Farmington in 1832 from Ontario county, New
York, being originally from Herkimer county.
They settled in the east of the township and
reared six children, viz: William D., Charles,
Mary Ann, James, Eliza (Harshman), and Luetta
(Norton). Two, Mary Ann and James, are
dead. The others leside in Farmington, ex-
cepting Mrs. Norton, who lives in Bristol. W.
D. Lamberson, their oldest child, was born
in Herkimer county. New York, in 1826. He
came to Farmington with his parents and has
since resided here, excepting while he was in the
army. He married Emily A. McKay, a native
of New York. They have two children living
and one deceased : Sarah Catharine (died at
the age of eleven), Leora, and Addie May.

Justus Pierce, son of Shadrach Pierce, was
born in 1824; in 1847 married Sarah Jane
Housel. Their children are: James J., Olive
L., Peter H., and Mary J. Peter is dead. Mrs.
Pierce died in 1877.

William Fales was born in Buffalo, New York,
in 1825 ; has lived in Ohio forty-five years; was
brought up in this county; married Joanna
Proctor in 1847, and has seven children living,
one deceased. Mr. Fales is largely engaged in
buying and selling horses.

Chauncy Hickox came from New Haven

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

county, Connecticut, to Vienna township, this
county, in 1805, and resided the most of his
days there. In his old age he Hved in Bazetta
and died in Mecca at the age of seventy-five.
He raised eight children, who arrived at ma-
turity, seven of whom are still living — William,
of Bristol; Leverett and Chandler, Farmington;
Eliza M., Columbiana county; Abigail (Cald-
well), Champion; Mary (Barber), Vienna ; Sel-
den, Bristol; Isaac C, the fourth son, died in
Kansas at the age of sixty-one. Chandler Hick-
ox, now a resident of Farmington, was born in
Vienna in 1809, and has resided in the county
excepting two years. He is a carpenter by trade.
Mr. Hickox married Ursula Langley, of Hub-
bard, and has five children living and five de-
ceased. The names of those living are William
])., Hattie (Wolcott), Anna (Pierce), Jane
(Pierce), Myron E. Millaus R., the oldest son,
died in Andersonville prison in 1863. He was
in the Second Ohio cavalry. \\'illiam I), en-
listed in 1 86 1 and served through the war. He
was also a prisoner at Andersonville.

James M. Harwood was born in Hampshire
county, Massachusetts, in 1814. In 1833 he
came to Ohio, and settled in Greene township in
1838; was that year married to Hannah Knapp,
a native of Massachusetts. Two sons were born
of this union — Charles (deceased), and John
Avery, resident of Farmington. For his second
wife he married Sarah Kinney, who bore one
child — Sarah J. (King), now living with her
father. He married for his third wife Mrs. Mary
A. Pierce, of Farmington. Mr. Harwood has
resided in Farmington since i860.

Robert Kincaid, a brother of U'ilii.im Kincaid
whose parentage is given elsewhere, was born in
Youngstown in 1817. He married Mary Pierce,
of Farmington, and came to this township to live
about 1841. The children are foar living, two
deceased : Cornelia, Christopher, Robert (de-
ceased), Margaret, Allison (deceased), Alice.

Anderson Dana, a native of Connecticut, was
for many years a prominent citizen of Farming-
ton, holding the office of justice of the peace and
other responsible positions. He died in 1876 at
the age of eighty-six years. He was twice mar-
ried. His first wife, Ann Dennison, bore four
children, who are living, viz : Charles A., of the
New York Sun ; Junius, Maria, and David. For
his second wife he married .Mary .Ann Wright,

who bore three children : Daniel, Wright, and
William. The latter was killed in the army;
the two former are married and reside in Farm-
ington. Mr. Dana moved to Trumbull county
in 1832. His son, Daniel R. Dana, born in
1834, married Miss M. W. Kennedy in 1869,
and has one child, Harry R. Mr. Dana began
the manufacture of cheese in 1869 in the factory
now owned by Wilcox & Griffin, where he car-
ried on the business two years. He began work
in the factory which he now operates in 187 1.
The capacity of this factory is about seventy tons
per annum. Mr. Dana makes use of the patent
process.

Jared Housel was born in Northumberland
county, Pennsylvania, in 181 1. In 1812 he
went with his parents to Stark county, and after
eight years moved to Jackson township, now in
Mahoning county. In 1834 Mr. Housel and his
father, Peter Housel, came to Farmington.
Peter Housel had a family of seven children, all
of whom are living. Jared Housel married in
1839 Lucinda Miller, of Farmington. Six chil-
dren are the result of this union: Mary J., Isaac,
George, Survinus, Sophia, and Ira. George and
Ira live in Farmington; Mary J. in Bristol;
Isaac in Gustavus; Sophia in Kansas. Survinus
died in the army at the age of nineteen.

N. A. Gilbert, Esq., attorney-at law, now of
Cleveland, Ohio, is the son of Albert and
Esther B. Gilbert, who settled in Farmington
township in 1851. He was educated in the
common schools, and in West Farmington
seminary. He enlisted in 1862, in the Eighty-
seventh Ohio volunteer infantry, and afterwards
in the Eighty-sixth Ohio volunteer infantry and
One Hundred and Seventy-first Ohio National
guard, being in the service about fifteen months.
After the war Mr. Gilbert read law in the office
of Jones & Case at Youngstown, and was admit-
ted to the bar in 1867 at Canfield. He located
for practice temporarily at Niles, but after about
four months removed to Maysville, Union
county, Ohio, and from there in 1871 removed
to Cleveland, where he is in full practice. He
was married in 1867 to Anna M., daughter of
Joseph Allen, one of the pioneers of Bristol
township.

J. M. Conipton is engaged in the insurance
business in West Farmington. Ho represents
the best companies and does a good business.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

323

Mr. Compton is a young man of enterprise and
strict integrity, and his business is fast increasing.

EARLY TOWNSHIP ELECTIONS.

Previous to tiie year 1817, the south part of
Windsor, with Mesopotamia, Farmington, and
Southington, composed one election district, or
precinct. The elections were generally held in
Mesopotamia, and Seth I. Ensign for a long
time was clerk, and kept the records, which were
made in a plain, good handwriting. Also the
same territory composed one military district,
and they held their trainings alternately in the
several townshii)s.

The first election held in the township of Farm-
ington was on the 4th of July, 1817, of which
the following record was made:

Poll-book of election held in Farmington township on the
4th day of July, 1817; Josiah Woleott, chairman, Dennis
Lewis and Horace Woleott, judges of election. Theodore
Woleott was elected clerk; David Belden, Orrin Taft, and
John Benton, trustees; Gad Halt, Jacob Bartholomew,
overseers of the poor; Joseph Woleott, Gad Bartholo-
mew, fence viewers; Erastus Woleott and Ezra Curtis,
appraisers of property; Ezra Curtis, lister; Whitney
Smith, Zenas Curtis, and Joseph H. Woleott, supervisors of
highways; Erastus Woleott, constable; and Horace Wol-
eott, treasurer.

Poll-book of an election held in Farmington on the 5th of
July, 1817, for one justice of the peace; David Belden,
Aaron Taft, and John Benton, judges of election. Theodore
Woleott and Dennis Lewis w-ere severally sworn, as the law
directs, previous to their entering on the duties of office. It
is by us certified that the number of electors at this election
is twenty-five; and we do hereby certify that Josiah Woleott
had twenty-two votes, and was elected justice of the peace.

Signed by the proper officers. Then comes
the following notice :

Notice is hereby given to the qualified electors of Farming-
ton township to convene at tlieir usual place of holding elec-
tions, on the second Tuesday of October next, for the pur-
pose of electing two representatives, one county commis-
sioner, and one sheriff Benjamin Austin,

Sheriff of Trumbull county.

Warren, September 22, 1817,

Then follow the poll-books. The number of
electors voting were seven, viz: Orrin Taft, David
Belden, Lewis Woleott, Ephraim AVhite, Theo-
dore Woleott, Whitney Smith, and Jacob Bar-
tholomew. Lyman Potter and William Ripley
had each seven votes for representative; Reu-
ben Clark had seven votes for commissioner;
and Andrew Bushnell had seven votes for sheriff.

April 15, 1819, pursuant to an act of Assembly,
the trustees contracted with the different persons
as follow: Lewis Woleott, to make nineteen rods
of turnpike on State road, and twenty-nine rods

of cross-waying, for $25; Orrin Taft, to make
nineteen rods of crossing, to chop road sixty rods
in length and thirty feet in width, for $10;
Daniel Taft, to make twenty rods of cross-waying
for $5; Joseph Woleott to make nine rods of
cross-waying, for $5; Roswell Lee, to make nine
rods of cross-waying, for $5; Abijah Lee, to make
ten rods of cross-waying, for $5.

On October 12, 18 19, there was an election at
which there were twenty-one votes, as follow :
Joshua P. Danford, Chauncey Taft, Socrates
Loveland, Josiah Woleott (2d), John Benton,
John Moffitt, John Woleott, Ezra Curtis, Eras-
tus Woleott, Jacob Bosley, A. Taft, Josiah
Woleott, Roswell Lee, Theodore Woleott, Dan-
iel Taft, Ora Kibbee, Dennis Lewis, Abijah
Lee, Abiel Jones, Jr., Gad Hart, Ebenezer
White. Lemuel Reeves, sheriff; Martin Smith
and Benjamin Austin, commissioners; Henry
Manning and Harry Lane, Representatives ; and
voted for a convention.

EARLY INCIDENTS.

It is related of Joshua Danforth that he met a
bear in the woods one day, when he had no
weapon with him except an axe. Joshua was a
great chopper, and when the bear came at him
he jumped upon a fallen log and began chopping,
making chips fly in bruin's face so fast that the
animal soon beat a hasty retreat.

Captain Benton was out hunting turkeys one
day, and became so engrossed in the sport that
he forgot to take note of his wanderings. Near
night he discovered that he was lost, also that he
had but one charge of ammunition left and that
one was in his gun. He took matters very coolly
and began to retrace his steps, hoping thus to
arrive at some spot with which he was acquainted.
While picking his way carefully, an ominous
sound fell upon his ears; he knew well what it
was, and he fully realized the peril of his situ-
ation. Darkness was gathering; he was alone
and lost, and worse yet, the wolves were after
him. But he was a bold man, and pressed
onward. Soon the sound came nearer ; another
minute and he could see fierce eyes glaring at
him in the darkness. Something must be done,
and that speedily. Stumbling over an old log
with punk-wood in it an idea entered his head.
Discharging the contents of his gun into the
[)unk, the latter was set on fire. Hastily gather-
ing some bark and other combustibles, the

324

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

captain soon had a brisk fire blazing. The
wolves were frightened away, and two of the
captain's neighbors, Eden Wildman and Erastus
Wolcott, who were in search of him, guided by
the report of the gun, found the lost man and
conducted him home.

Gad Bartholomew and Lewis Wolcott were
fast friends. Each had his eccentricities and
peculiarities. Gad kept bachelor's hall for some
time after he settled here. His friend Lewis,
talking with him one day, asked him if he was
not lonely in his house at night. Gad replied
that he was frequently; and that he sometimes
heard scratching and other odd noises about his
dwelling, which sounded unpleasantly. Lewis
suggested that the sounds were probably
made by a bear, and added, by way of advice,
" If you are ever attacked by a bear, climb a
tree." One day Gad was out in the woods
alone chopping. He got to thinking of Lewis'
advice, and wondered if he could carry it into
effect if necessary. The more he thought of it
the more strongly did he preceive the soundness
of the advice; and finally, for the sake of prac-
tice, he selected a tree, imagined there was a
bear after him, put Iiis arms and feet around it,
and scrambled away as fast as he could climb.
After some moments of vigorous exertion, as
there was no real danger, he became tired, and
so stopped to see how far he had ascended. To
say that he was astonished at the result of his
efforts would give but a faint idea of the state
of his mind as he looked about — for lo ! he sat
flat on the ground just where he had started.
He could not climb.

When Gad went back to Connecticut to " buy
himself a wife," he took his money (silver) in a
buckskin purse in his pocket. Before he had gone
very far a heavy shower come on, accompanied by
thunder and lightning. Gad was afraid the
lightning would strike him because of the silver
in his pocket. He, therefore, cut a long pole,
tied his purse upon the end of it, and with this
novel lightning rod proceeded on his way, feel-
ing quite safe. He succeeded in his mission,
and returned to Hensbaw with one of the best
of wives.

M11,ITI.\.

The following document presents a roll of the
militia of Farminglon and Southington. Un-
fortunately the original has no dale ui)on it.

Old residents, however, think that the paper was
probably a roll for the year 182 1:

A ROLL OF THE FIFTH COMPANY, SECOND REGI-
MENT, FIR.ST BRIGADE, AND FOURTH DIVISION
OF OHIO MILITIA.

COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.

Captain Ephraim While.
Lieutenant Erastus Wolcott.
Ensign William W. Burley.

NON-CO.MMISSIONED OFFICERS.

Sergeant Roswell Lee.

Sergeant Stephen Crawford.

Sergeant Isaac Lee.

Sergeant Stephen Osborn.

Corporal Chester Can field.

Corporal Harmon Hurd.

Corporal Tom Walden.

Drummer Joy Hurd.

Fifer Comfort Hurd.

PRIVATES.

Gad Bartholomew, Harvey Belden, Burrage Belden, David
Curtis, Jr., James Ch.-ilker, Francis Curtis, Joshua C. Dan-
ford, Lemuel Frisby, Jonathan Hethman, Silas Higgins,
Horace Norton, Roderick Norton. Leonard Osborn, Stephen
Osborn, Gilbert Osborn, Rufus Rice, Benjamin Viets, Jona-
than Walden, Horace Wolcott, Josiah Wolcott, Josiah W.
Wolcott, Levi Ormsby, James Nutt, John Wolcott, Asahel
Belden, Wolcott Belden, Newton Wolcott, John Moffit, Ira
Hvde, Eli Hyde, Ithemur Linscott, Daniel Warner, Samuel
Horton (Haughton?), Retus Horton, David Hatch, Garrett
L. Grossbeck, Chauncy Taft, Asa Walden, Milton Rice,
Abiel Jones, Willis Curtis, Elisha Bosley, Elisha Brunsen,
Smith Hurd. Chauncy Curtis, Ebenezer White, John Bosley,
Orrin Taft, Joseph Rice, Levi Fowler, Eden Wildman,
Ezekiel Wilco.N, Willard Curtis, Levi Abrams, Philip Griffith.
Amos Eastman, Chester Canfield, Elkhara Dibble, Dennis
Lewis, Fredom Hurd, Eleazer D. Lamoine, Lawrence Ben-
net, John Benton, Volney Bemis, Newton Rice, Harmon
Hurd, Samuel H. Joy, Martin Re.\ford. Edmund P. Wol-
cott, John Hethman, Socrates Loveland, Alexander Craw-
ford, Ransley Curtis, Austin Smith, Harry B. Slannard, .Aus-
tin Walden, Elisha Walden, Horace Harper, Shelden Curtis,
Francis Curtis, David Belden, William Wolcott, William
Bolley, Daniel Maltby, Knapp.

EARLY EVENTS.

The first marriage — both parties living here —
was Mr. Louis Wolcott to Miss Nancy Higgins,
December i, 1808. She was the daughter of
widow Higgins, then the second wife of Josiah
Wolcott.

The second marriage was that of Horace Wol-
cott to Miss Sabrina Tracy, daughter of 'Squire
Tracy, of Mesopotamia. This wedding took
jjlace December 15, 1808, her father performing
the ceremony. Horace had been helping his
father build a cattle shed of logs and shakes, up
to about 4 o'clock v. m., when he brushed the
mud off his hands and said : " Father, I believe

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

325

I will not work any more to-day. I am going
up to Mesopotamia to be married to-night.
Won't you go up ?" The father said he guessed
not, it was too far. So Horace washed up, put
on his best suit (which was not the finest broad-
cloth), and went on foot to Mesopotamia and
was married.

As far as known Caroline Wolcott, afterward
the wife of George L. Holmes, was the first child
born in Farmington. She was born September
12, 1808. Both she and her husband are now
dead. The second child was Joseph H. Wol-
cott, son of Lewis and Nancy (Higgins) Wolcott.
He is now living in Kansas.

The first frame house erected in Farmington
township was built by Daniel R. Wolcott, oldest
son of Josiah Wolcott, in 1820. It was erected
on the south side of the common, or southeast
corner of the center, and is yet standing and in
good repair. It was for a long time the resi-
dence of H. W. Collar, Esq., and was afterwards
owned and occupied for a number of years by
Captain James Caldwell, and later still, the resi-
dence of S. J. Buttles. During the same season,
or soon after, a frame house was built in West
Farmmgton, on the northeast corner where the
Palmer brick now stands. It was erected by
Theodore Wolcott, and afterwards, owned and
occupied for a long time by Lewis Wolcott, son
of Theodore. Theodore Wolcott built a house
about half a mile south, where Mrs. S. S. Spen-
cer now lives, and where he lived until his death.
About the year 1823 or 1824 a frame house was
built on the northwest corner at the center,
where T. Hall's house now stands. The frame
was put up and enclosed, the roof put on, and
the chimney built all in one day. The most of
the timber used m its construction was taken from
the stumj). This house was built for Dr. Abiel
Jones. Captain Ira Hyde built the chimney.
They had plenty of good old rye whiskey, and
when they got through, the captain said he could
not see but that the chimney was perfectly
straight, but next morning they discovered it was
a little crooked.

The first school-house in Farmington was built
in the spring of 1816, and located near a pear
tree and a spring on the northeast corner at the
center. Captain Benton and Josiah Wolcott cut
the logs for the school-house one snowy day,
and Erastus Wolcott hauled them with an ox

team. Captain Benton, although the day was
cold, wore a pair of linen pants with holes in the
knees.

The first school kept in this house was taught
by Miss Almira Hannahs, of Nelson, afterwards
the wife of Erastus Wolcott. There was also the
same or the next season a log school-house built
at West Farmington and located near where the
store building, built by Kibbee & Loveland, now
stands, and the first school kept in that was
taught by Miss Nancy Wolcott, who afterwards
became the wife of Silas Higgins.

MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.

The houses of the early settleis were all built
of logs, and seldom was a board or a nail used
in their construction. Floors of puncheons, chim-
neys of sticks and mud, hearths of mortar, and
lights of hickory bark were some of the usual
necessary articles found in the pioneer's dwell-
ing.

Gowns were made from flax, spun and woven
by the wearers. When colors were desired but-
ternut and black walnut bark furnished them.
The gentlemen wore garments of tow and linen in
summer and buckskin or woolen in winter.
Shoes and boocs were worn very sparingly, as
their cost was great. Sociability and hospitality
prevailed.

The first tavern in the township was kept in a
log building where William Wilson lived in 1810.
Afterwards a frame addition, then a frame house
took its place. Huff, James, Joseph Whiting,
the Tafts, Herner and others were early land-
lords. William Kennedy at length bought the
property and continued the business. Herner
sold liquor and incurred the hostility of the tem-
perance people, and was prosecuted two or three
times. Afterwards one or two attempts were
made to run a saloon at the center, but the citi-
zens rose in opposition and from that time to
this Farmington township has been singularly
free from the pernicious influence of the rum-
seller. There are now two hotels in the town-
ship, both at West Farmington — the Lewis
house, of long standing, and the house of E.
Trunkey, just opposite.

The old red tavern on the State road ceased
to be a house of entertainment about 1847.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

The first store in the township was opened in
1825 on the southeast corner at the center by
Mr. Stewart, of Vienna. He was succeeded by
Tucker & Crowell ; then, about 1833, E. P.
AN'olcott engaged in the mercantile business, and
he and his sons carried it on nearly all of the
time for over forty years.

The first merchant at West Farmington was
Austin D. Kibbee, who in 1834 kept store in
part of his own house. Later he built a store
opposite his residence. He was succeeded
by Higgins & Wolcott. Kibbee & Wolcott then
conducted the business alone for some years.
Mr. Kibbee has done more to promote the
growth of the village than any other man.

CHURCHE.S.

The Congregational church at Farmington
center was organized on the union plan October
8, 181 7, by Revs. Joseph Badger and Abiel
Jones, and consisted of eleven members, viz :
Abiel and Rebecca Jones, Josiah and Nancy
Wolcott, David and Elizabeth Curtis, David and
Lois Belden, Eunice Hart, Polly Benton, and
Rebecca Jones. The same year Theodore Wol-
cott, Rhoda Wolcott, and Gad Hart were admit-
ted November 2d. The church grew slow-
ly until 1825. Twenty-six members were
added during that year. From 1818 to 1823
inclusive, Rev. Abiel Jones baptized twenty chil-
dren, and on the loth of July, 1825, forty chil-
dren were baiJtized by Rev. Luther H. Hum-
phrey.

November 22, 1817, Josiah and Theodore
Wolcott were chosen deacons. February 4, 1820,
David Belden and Gad Hart were elected church
committee. About the same date the church
was placed under the care of the Grand River
presbytery. The first missionaries and preach-
ers were Revs. Badger, Leslie, Darrow, Jones,
and others. In i860 the church became wholly
Presbyterian and so continued until 1874, since
which time it has been purely Congregational.

The first church edifice was built on or near
the site of the present one about the year 1828.
It was a frame house 40x50 feet, with a steeple,
and continued to be used until 1850. The pres-
ent house was then erected at a cost of $1,400.
The membership is now small and no regular
preaching is supported.

The Congregational church of West Farming-
ton was organized April 12, 1834, by Rev.
Daniel Miller, and consisted of sixteen male and
twenty-three female members, nearly all of whom
withdrew from the church at the center of Farm-
ington to join. This church has enjoyed a fair
degree of prosperity, and now has a nice house
and a good membership.

The Methodist Episcopal church first formed
a class in the fall of 18 18, in the old log school-
house, built the same year, in east Farmington.
This class consisted of seven members, viz:
Eden Wildman, his wife and wife's mother; Joel
Hyde, wife, and daughter; and Mrs. Mofifatt.
Rev. Ira Eddy was the organizer. The congre-
gation sat on blocks of wood and the sleepers of
the house. Rev. Eddy, Jacob Baker, and Father
Wilber, were among the fiist preachers.

About 1830 a frame meeting-house, much
like a barn, was erected in east Farmington. A
class was organized, which met for several years
on the old State road, then concentrated with a
class formed at West Farmington later, and built
the church at the latter |)lace. The old church
at east Farmington was replaced by another
built about 1837, and in 1874 the Methodists
and Disciples erected the present house of wor-
ship. The building at the center, now the town
hall, was erected for a Methodist church ; but as
the congregation were unable to complete it, the
township trustees purchased and finished. In
1 86 1 a class in the southeast of the township
erected a small church edifice which is still used.
The three churches — West Farmington, east
Farmington, and southeast Farmington, now
form one charge. The Methodists are quite
strong and zealously support the preaching of
the gospel.

A copy of the first subscription ever taken in
Farmington for supporting the gospel by preach-
ing, IS given in full below:

Kii.ne all men by l/icsc ficseiits That we, the Inhabitants of
Township No. 6, in the Range 5. called Henshaw, with the
neighboring towns, viz: Bristol, Mesopotamia, Parkman,
and Bowieston — (Southington), feeUng the importance of
public instruction by preaching the Gospel for ourselves and
children, etc. We do by these presents bind ourselves, our
heirs, executors, administrators firmly, to pay the sums an-
nexed to each of. our names annually without fraud or delay,
for the term of three years, to the Rev. Giles Cowles, begin-
ning as soon as the said Mr. Cowles shall remove his family
to the said town of Henshaw to live. The pay to be made
in wlieat. Rye. corn, oats, potatoes, mess pork, whiskey, etc.
The produce of farms as shall be needed by the said Mr.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

327

Cowles and family together with chopping, logging, fencing,
etc. We agree, likewise, should any contribute anything
within said term of three years, towards the support of the
said Mr. Cowles, it shall be deducted according to the sum
annexed to each man's name. We likewise agree that the
preaching in each town shall be in proportion to what each
town subscribes for said preaching. We likewise agree that
a committee of one man be appointed in each town to take
oversight of said business. We agree further that notwith-
standing this subscription shall terminate with the above
period; yet his establishment here as a preacher is perma-
nent and yet we may make such regulations and alterations
as our circumstances may require, as to our limits, and
method of proceeding, etc. Thus we covenant, agree, and
bind ourselves, etc., in writing thereof we have hereunto set
our hands

Henshaw, July 26, 1816.

Josiah Wolcott $30.00

David Curtis 8.00

William Wilson 10.00

Gad Hart 12.

Zenas Curtis, J r 6.

Lewis Wolcott 7.

Josiah Wolcott 5.

Gad Bartholomew 10.

Ezra Curtis 5.

J ohn D. Heathman 7.

Joshua P. Danford 8.

Dennis Lewis 10.

Jacob Bartholomew 13

Amos P. Woodford 8.

Horace Wolcott . .' 7.00

Subscribers at Bristol 77- 25

The price that the within mentioned produce is to be paid
in, viz:

Wheat $t.oo per bushel

Corn new 50 cents, old .75 per bushel

Rye 75 per bushel

Oats 34

Potatoes 34

Flax 12 per lb.

Linnen cloth 34 per yrd

Whiskey 75 per gall.

Beef 4.00 per cwt.

Pork 6.ooperc"

Chopping, logging, and fencing at the common price.

The Rev. Joseph Badger had been here and
preached previous to this time, and as also had
other missionaries.

In 1818 Abijah Lee, a Ba|)tist, settled in
Farmington with his family. In 1828 a great
revival rook place in Kirtland under the Disciple
preachers, Bentley and Rigdon. Isaac Lee, a
son of Abijah, who attended their meetings, was
converted and returned to F"armington in 1829.
He found Harvey Brockett much awakened on
the subject of religion. Lee converted him to
the new faith, and Brockett was baptized by him.
Benjamin Alton soon came and preached, and
in 1830 a church was formed, numbering about
twenty members with Abijah Lee leader. This

church received from the Baptists Abijah Lee
and Daniel Davidson and their wives.

Isaac Lee and Harvey Brockett preached and
exhorted successfully, and soon a strong working
congregation was gathered into the told. Other
early Disciple preachers who labored here, were
Revs. Applegate, Bosworth, Hayden, Collins,
Clapp, and Hartzell.

This congregation is now prosperous, and owns
one-half of the union church in east Farming-
ton.

MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

The Woman's Foreign Missionary society,
Akron district, was organized at West Farming-
ton, June 2, 1879, when the officers of the
auxiliary were elected as follow : Mrs. E. A.
Lamberson, president; Miss A. Young, Mrs.
J. Kennedy, Mrs. J. Hathaway, and Mrs. S. J.
Taft, vice-presidents ; Miss Augusta Goff, treas-
urer; Mrs. E. Thompson, recording secretary;
Miss E. C. Greer, corresponding secretary.

Number of life members in the society, five;
members, twenty-five.

MASONIC.

The Western Reserve lodge No. 507, Free
and Accepted Masons, Farmington, Ohio, was
granted a charter October 19, 1875, having been
previously organized under a dispensation. Fol-
lowing are the names of the chatter members:
William M. Smith, H. H. Hatch, O. R Barton,
Ervin Johnson, E. T. Barton, C. S. Thompson,
F. K. Lewis, A. L. Wolcott, E. B. Williams, C. S.
Curtis, and H. H. Pulsifer.

The following were the first officers elected
after the lodge received its charter: H. H.
Hatch, W. M.; C. S. Thompson, S. W.; D. T.
Smith, J. W.; Ervin Johnson, treasurer; E. T.
Barton, secretary; F. K. Lewis, S. D.; William
B. Loveland, J. D.; William M. Smith, tyler.
The lodge now numbers forty members.

PHYSICIANS.

The first physician in the township was Dr.
Abiel Jones, who acted in the double cajiacity of
doctor and preacher. Dr. Belden, now of
Youngstown, was an efficient practitioner of med-
icine in West Farmington for a number of years.
At present Drs. Latimer and Palmer, both of the
Eclectic school, furnish the medical aid required.

THE CEMETERY

is on a knoll of ground midway between the cen-

328

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

ter and West Farmington. It presents a beauti-
ful appearance ; is nicely fenced off, and the
grounds are well cared for, and it is here many
of the pioneer settlers of the township are buried.
It is under the control of the township trustees,
who have erected a capacious vault.

The soldiers' monument is a beautiful marble
structure erected in the cemetery at West Farm-
ington by the citizens of the township in com-
memoration of the gallant services rendered by
the soldiers from Farmington m the late war of
the Rebellion. It has the names of those who
lost their lives on the field of battle, or who
died from wounds in the hospital, inscribe^
upon it, as follows: Homer H. StuU, lieutenant;
William T. True, B. F. Kennedy, Newton T.
Wolcott, Calvin Caldwell, Adelbert M. Hart, Ira
Wildman, Charles E. Richards, William Dana,
Henry Lovell, E. E. Daly, A. Clark Flick, Le-
ander H. Wolcott, George W. Molifit, Virgil N.
Weir, Almon A. Lew, Hamlet B. Balden, William
Wilberforce Strickland, Judson S. Curtis, Thom-
as F. Hall, Jesse D. Kinear, Joseph J. Brown,
Henry Steel, Robert Mathews, John O. Cald-
well, Morris W. Freeman, Sylvanus House),
Frank G. Palmer, John W. Kingard, Frank Proc-
tor, Edmond E. Kinear, August W. Show,
Charles W. Gilbert, Stephen Wildman.

The monument cost $1,400, and was erected
and dedicated in 1865, James A. Garfield mak-
ing the speech on that occasion.

POST-OFFICES.

About 1 83 1 Farmington post-otifice was estab-
lished on the State road, Epaphroditus Fuller,
postmaster.

As early as 1834 an office was established at
the center, Daniel Wilcox postmaster.

About 1847 the Farmington office was re-
moved from the State road to West Farmington,
the center office being discontinued. Then
began a war between the two villages for the pos-
session of the office, which lasted through many
years, but was finally settled by the re-establish-
ment of the Farmington center office. The
name of the other office was then changed to
West Farmington.

INDUSTRIES.

The first mill in Farmington was a saw-mill
built a little southwest of the center, on Grand
river, by Deacon Josiah Wolcott as principal,

assisted by Eastman Small, part owner and mill-
wright, about the year 1816. This was a rude
structure, and in about three years was super-
seded by another built by Wolcott, principal,
and Russell, assistant and mill-wright. It was
owned afterwards by Reynolds & Co., then by
Kibbee, Malby & Co. In 1861 a flax-mill was
added which manufactured about twelve tons of
flax straw per year, and gave employment to
from ten to twenty-five hands. It was burned
down in 187 1, and a flour- and grist-mill was
afterwards erected with a capacity of grinding
about seventy-five bushels of grain per day.

The Bosley mill was an original affair consist-
ing of a saw-mill and then a grist-mill. The
Bosleys sold out to Smith & Kibbee, of Watren,
and they in turn to Snow, Taft & Co., who
added a blacksmith and wagon shop, and made
wagons years but eventually failed. It is now
owned by William H. & E. S. Higgins. It is in
the southwest part of the township.

Both these mills are run by steam and by
water. The capacity of this latter mill is about
the same as that of the Wolcott mill.

Of the manufactories in West Farmington rnay
be mentioned that of the Standard Chair com-
pany. It was started in June, 1881, with a
capital stock of $3,500. The officers of the
company consist of Dr. O. A. Palmer, president;
C. S. Thompson, agent, and F. J. Wolcott, sec-
retary.

The building just erected is a commodious
affair, 24x60 feet, two stories in height. The
company contemplate building an addition to
the main structure, and putting in machinery,
and will then give employment to about sixteen
hands.

The original cabinet factory, formerly owned
by Bowles, was purchased by C. S. Thompson in
1871, and afterward by C. A. Miller in 1873,
and is now operated under the name of Miller
& Co., whose enterprise gives emi)loyment to
about fifteen hands and turns out ten tables per
day.

Two cheese factories are now in successful
operation in this township. For several years
there have been three running. Cheese making
is one of the principal sources of income to the
people of this township.

West Farmington is a thriving little town, hav-
ing a population of four hundred and fifty. It

'~^i?z'. Uj^^i-^^ciyyf^ J^Q--y^c(i.t.i/.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

329

is west of the center, and contains some half-
dozen stores, two hotels, two livery stables, two
churches, two factories, the Western Reserve
seminary, and is the abode of a cultivated and
highly refined community. It is on the Paines-
ville & Youngstown Narrow-guage railroad, four-
teen miles from Warren. The location of the
town is as healthy as is generally found, and
there are no saloons of any kind in the place.

The center is somewhat less in size, but it has
a town hall, a good store and two or three shops.
A good sidewalk connects the two villages.

WESTERN RESERVE SEMINARY.

This institution is located on the PainesviUe
& Youngstown railroad, fourteen miles from
Warren, and receives a large patronage from this
and adjoining counties. It was origmally estab-
lished in 1 83 1, and known as the Farmington
academy until 1849. The building then used
is the present hotel owned by E. Trunkey. James
Greer was the first president or principal of this
institution and was very successful in his manage-
ment, the attendance averaging some years as
many as three hundred students. In 1849 it
had so far outgrown the expectations of its
founders that it became necessary to erect new
buildings capable of accommodating a larger
number of students. By liberal donations from
the citizens of the vicinity, a fine three-story
brick building was erected, and a school started
under the name of the Farmington Normal
school.

In 1854 the trustees transferred the control of
the institution to the Erie annual conference of
the Methodist Episcopal church, on the condi-
tion that they should maintain a first-class school,
in which all sects and denominations should
have equal rights and privileges. At this time
the name of the institution was changed to
Western Reserve seminary and a faculty em-
ployed that would compare favorably with any
in the country. In 1868 two commodious board-
ing halls were erected and furnished, which have
been a great benefit to the school in enabling
students, by means of club boarding, to reduce
their expenses to the lowest possible cost. The
control is vested in a board of trustees. The
laboratory is supplied with large and well se-
lected apparatus for the elucidation of the natural
sciences, and the library is well filled with the

42*

works of standard authors in the various depart-
ments of literature. The courses of study are
comprehensive, and the charter gives the institu-
tion power to confer the highest academic hon-
ors on those who complete the course success-
fully.

The faculty consists of Rev. E. B. Webster,
M. A., president ; assisted by Ernest Moench,
M. A., Mrs. E. B. Webster, Professor A. Tru-
man, B. A. Norville, C. W. Harshman, H. L.
Steves, and H. B. Steele. There are three
structures in the campus. The seminary is a
substantial brick, has served for many years, and
although old and too small for their increasing
demand, yet it is in good repair and presents a
very respectable appearance. Its many friends
are talking earnestly of erecting a larger one in
the near future.

Cory hall, erected by Rev. and Mrs. J. B. Cory
for the accommodation of lady students, is 84x30
feet, three stories high, and presents a fine ap-
pearance. The principal and family reside in it
and have general supervision. A large dining-
room and kitchen are provided where students
are boarded at cost.

Young Men's hall is a building 70 x 34 feet,
two stories high. It will accommodate fifty
young men. One professor lives in it.

Two well organized and successful societies,
the Philomathean and Lumsean, afford excellent
opportunities for literary exercises. The presi-
dent. Rev. E. B. Webster, yet a young man, is a
graduate of Mt. Union college, Ohio. He took
charge of the institution in the year 1877 under
the most adverse circumstances, the school
having been run down to the insignificant num-
ber of only fifteen students. He summoned his
energies, threw himself into the work, and suc-
ceeded in opening his first term of school with
that number just doubled. By close attention
to the duties then devolving upon him he suc-
ceeded in regaining the confidence of the former
adherents of the institution and opened the first
term of his second year in the work with one
hundred and thirty students. Since that time
the seminary has been increasing its numbers
until now the daily average attendance is about
three hundred. He is devoted to his work and
is assisted by his wife and a well chosen corps
of professors.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

Biographical Sketches,

JOEL AND ELIZA PECK.

Joel Peck was the son of Jesse Peck and was
born in Pompey, Canandaigua county, New
York, December 22, 1801. His father, Jesse
Peck, was a lad during the Revolution and at
the age of sixteen joined the patriot army, in
a company commanded by his father. He re-
moved to Farmington, Trumbull county, in the
year 1821, and settled on the farm now owned by
Mrs. Eliza Peck. The family consisted of four
children — Charles, Benjamin, Polly, and Joel,
the subject of this sketch.

Joel Peck married January 23, 1822, Eliza
Hyde, daughter of Joseph and Eunice (Hall)
Hyde. Her father, Joel Hyde, was born Jan-
uary 24, 1773; was married in 1793 to Eunice
Hall, in Huntington, Fairfield county, Connecti-
cut, whence they removed to Montgomery coun-
ty. New York. They had four daughters and
one son (who died in youth), viz: Hannah,
born in 1794; Sarah, 1796; Mary, 1798; and
Eliza, born September 26, 1800. In the year
i8i8 Joel Hyde with his family in company with
his brother Ira and Abijah Lee left their New
York home and after a journey of six weeks ar-
rived in Farmington. The three youngest daugh-
ters taught school, Sarah in Southington, Mary in
Bristol, and Eliza in Champion. Eliza also taught
the first summer school in east Farmington.
Hannah married in 18 18 Levi Abrams, Sarah in
1822 Comfort Hurd, Mary in 1830 Azra Brown,
a Methodist minister, and Eliza, as above noted,
Joel Peck.

Joel and Eliza Peck had a family of three
children— Delia, AUen F., and Fletcher W.
Delia was born in 1825, was married to James
C. Howard, then of Kentucky, in 185 i, and re-
sides in Butler county, Ohio. Allen F. was born
in 1829, studied medicine and practiced in Far-
mington; was married to Cordia Fuller in i86s ;
was assistant surgeon during the war in a cavalry
regiment and afterwards located in Cleveland,
where he died in 1878. He was six feet seven
inches tall and acquired a good reputation as a
[jractitioner of medicine.

Fletcher W. Peck was born in 1831, was mar-
ried to Coresta Smith, of Farmington, in 1856,
and resides on a farm two miles north of the

center. The past, in this timbered country, was
a generation of hardy, resolute men, strong both
in muscle and courage. The work required to
maintain life was an effectual barrier against the
weak and timid. It thus occurs that simple
truth requires us to say of almost every pioneer
that he was industrious, iron-muscled, and a
hard worker. Particularly was this true of Joel
Peck. He was six feet two inches tall, compact
and symmetrical and was never sick until shortly
before his death, though for ten years or more
his eyesight was seriously impaired by cataract.
During his life-time Mr. Peck improved more
than three hundred acres of land. Early in life
he united with the Methodist church and became
one of its most steadfast supporters and valuable
assistants to the itinerant clergy. He was an
earnest exhorter, and being a licensed local
preacher, often conducted the service. When
money was wanted he was the main standby. In
politics Mr. Peck always voted and co-operated
with the most radical anti-slavery sentiment. He
was a Whig, Free-soiler, and Republican. He
never sought or desired office, and was conse-
quently free to support his convictions with his
vote. He died September 25, 1869, in his sixty-
eighth year.

Mrs. Peck is a woman greatly esteemed in
Farmington, because of her sincerity, kindness
of heart and sympathy of feeling. Her church
association has always been with her husband.
Simple, unquestioning, confident belief is the
conforting angel of her declining years. She
often spoke fervently and earnestly in religious
gatherings. In the home she was always honest
and truthful, and has left upon her children the
impress of an excellent character. Since the
death of her husband Mrs. Peck has managed
the farm.

REV. WILLIAM KINCAID.
The grandparents of Rev. William Kincaid
were John and Martha (Hill) Kincaid, of Scotch
descent, who emigrated from Ireland to this
country, and settled near Chambersburg, Penn-
sylvania, in the last century. From their first lo-
cation they emigrated to Washington county,
Pennsylvania, and settled near Williamsport.
About the year 1800 they came to Youngstown,
and remained until the end of their days.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

331

John Kincaid was the father of three sons and
four daughters, all of whom lived to marry and
have families. Robert, the second child, was
about twenty-one when the family came to Ohio.
He married Margaret Erwin soon after. She
was a native of Virginia, daughter of Christopher
and Mary Erwin. She reared a large family,
ten children in all, seven sons and three daugh-
ters. Of this number, four sons and two
daughters are still living. William, the fourth
child of Robert and Margaret Kincaid, was
born April 15, 181 2, and passed his early life in
Youngstown, his native place. He received a
common school education ; was brought up a
(armer,and has made tilHngthe soil his business.
Mr. Kincaid was married in 1833 to Mary Er-
win, daughter of Joseph and Margaret Erwin, of
Youngstown. She was born in 1815; died June.

15, 1872. This union was blessed by nine chil-
dren, seven of whom survive. The family rec-
ord is as follows: Margaret, born October 29,
1834; Sherman, born September 20, 1835; ^L^^y,
born June 9, 1837; Robert, born March 4, 1839,
died March 10, 1841; Ammiel, born February
27, 1841; Martha J., born December 26, 1843;
John VV., born March 5, 1845, died September

16, 1864, at \Vashington, District of Columbia,
was in company D, Second Ohio cavalry; Caro-
line M., born December 27, 1850; William A.,
January 12, 1855.

The children are all married, and with the
exception of Martha, who lives in Ashtabula
county, all reside in this county.

In 1 83 1 Mr. Kincaid joined the Methodist
Episcopal church, and has since been one of its
most devoted adherents. His wife was also a
member ; she lived a pure, useful life, character-
ized by Christian benevolence and good works.

In 1845 Mr. Kincaid was licensed as an ex-
horter in his church, and labored in that capacity
nearly four years, when he was licensed as a
local preacher, and continued almost constantly
to keep regular appointments up to about four
years ago. On account of poor health he was
compelled to relinquish regular preaching, but
he still officiates occasionally. During his work
in the ministry he has filled appointments through-
out this region — from the Pennsylvania State
line westward into Portage and Geauga counties,
and north into Ashtabula. His labors have been
blessed by the Master. Mr. Kincaid can look

back over the long period of years in which he
has been a preacher with the satisfaction of
knowing that he has been the instrument of pro-
moting the cause which he so dearly loves. He
is held in high esteem by a large circle of ac-
quaintances.

SETTLEMENT NOTES.

Joseph Chauncey Hart, Sr., was born in Avon,
Connecticut, in 1804; married Hannah Goff,
born in West Springfield, Massachusetts, Sep-
tember II, 1807. They came to Ohio with
their family in 1840, and settled in Farmington
where they resided until their death. They
raised a family of thirteen children, as follows :
Hiram S., a blacksmith, of Gustavus; Sarah L.
(deceased); J. C., Jr., a farmer, of Southington;
Frances (Mrs. Fries), Sarah J. (Taft), Ann Jean-
ette (Mrs. Maltbie), all of Farmington; J. O., of
the clothing firm of Hart Brothers, Warren; A.
L., insurance agent, Warren; C. O., of the firm
of Hart Brothers, and now county treasurer; V.
M., now engaged in stock raising in the Indian
Territory; Adelbert M., who was in the army dur-
ing the Rebellion, taken prisoner, and confined
in a rebel prison for sixteen months, died on his
way home December 11, 1864, and was buried
at sea; M. C, an attorney, of Cleveland; and
Arlington M. (deceased). J. C. Hart, Sr., died
in Farmington March 19, 1867, aged sixty-three
years. Mrs. Rosannah Hart died at West Farm-
ington January 4, 1880, in her seventy-third year.
Mrs. Hart, or " Aunt Rosa," as she was familiar-
ly called by her acquaintances, was a woman of
more than ordinary endowments, both of mind
and heart, the religious element being predomi-
nant in her nature. She was energetic and per-
severing and being blessed with a good physical
organization she was well equipped for life's
duties. The poor and needy were often made
the recipients of her benefactions, and when she
died her loss came as a personal bereavement to
every one within the circle of her acquaintance.

Dr. Allen F. Peck was born in Farmington,
Trumbull county, Ohio, February 5, 1828. He
studied medicine and graduated at the College of
Physicians and Surgeons, New York city, and also
at the Western Reserve Medical college, Cleveland.
He practiced his profession in Springfield, Illinois,
and in Omaha, and also in Santa Fe, New Mex-

332

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

ico. While in the latter place he enlisted in the
First New Mexico cavalry, Colonel Kit Carson's
regiment, and served three years, being surgeon
of the regiment. He was mustered out in the
fall of 1864, on account of physical disability.
October 19, 1865, he married Miss Cordie A.,
daughter of Ephraim and Mary Fuller, who was
born in Farmington, February 6, 1845. Her
father was a native of Massachusetts, born in
1798, and removed to Ohio in 1825, settling in
Farmington. He was a major in the militia, and
postmaster at Taftsburg, Farmington. He died
in 1874. Dr. Peck continued to reside in Farm-
ington after his marriage, engaged in the practice-
of his profession until the spring of 1871, when
he removed to Cleveland, where he resided four
years. In 1875 he went to Akron, but returned
again to Cleveland in 1877. He died February
21, 1878. Mrs. Peck now resides in Warren
with her family, which consists of two children:
Frank J., born September 7, 1866, and Cora M.,
born April 25, 1871. Her second child, Flora
L., died in infancy.

CHAPTER VL

BRISTOL.

INTRODUCTORY.

Bristol is geographically situated as follows :
with Bloomfield on the north, Mecca on the
east. Champion on the south, and Farmington
on the west. The Ashtabula and Wairen turn-
pike runs through the township from north to
south, west of the center. The Ashtabula,
Youngstown & Pittsburg railroad crosses the
eastern half of the township in the same direc-
tion, and has two stations for the accommoda-
tion of the public — Bristolville and Oakland.
The former is a mile east of the village of Bris-
tolville, and the latter an eipial distance from
North Bristol.

Bristolville, or in local parlance "the center,"
is pleasantly situated about half a mile from the
geographical center of the township, and is a
neat, quiet country village of some forty houses.
In the center of the village is a tasty little public
square, with ornamental shade trees. In the
center of the sijuare is the soldiers' monument,

erected to the memory of the patriots of the
township who died in their country's service.
Two fine churches, well built and well furnished,
and a good school building, speak well for the
intelligence of the community.

North Bristol is a smaller village, on the turn-
pike, a mile north of Bristolville, and contains
one church, one store, a mill, etc.

The people of the township are industrious,
economical, sober-minded, and thrifty. Mixed
agriculture, dairying, and sheep and cattle rais-
ing are the principal occupations. C.ood build-
ings and well-improved farms abound.

The soil is generally a clayey loam, with some
sandy or gravelly ridges. The surface is gen-
erally very nearly level. The northern and
northwestern portions have a few small hills in
the vicinity of streams.

The drainage is carried northward by Center
creek and Baughman's creek, tributaries to
Grand river. The chief source of these
streams is in the northern part of Cham-
pion. Deacon creek, which rises in that
township, flows northward through the east-
ern part of Bristol until within about half a mile
of the Bloomfield line, when it joins a small
stream flowing west and northwest, which is
thenceforth known as Baughman's creek. All
these streams are small and unimportant.

The number of sugar orchards in this town-
ship is large. Many acres of apple orchards are
also found. Sager's nursery for raising fruit and
ornamental trees deserves mention.

This township was surveyed ea.ly in the pres-
ent century by Alfred Wolcott in behalf of the
Connecticut Land company, from whom he re-
ceived as payment for his services a grant of
three hundred and fifty acres of land in the
township. He built a cabin at the center during
his stay here, which was thefiist building erected
in the township.

THE PIONEERS.

.'Vbraham Baughman was the first actual set-
tler. In 1804 he brought his family and settled
on the creek which bears his name. His cabin,
the first one erected excepting that of Wolcott,
the surveyor, stood about one mile east of the
turnpike and about three-fourths of a mile from
the north line of the township. 'I"he land is

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

333

now H. Satterlee's farm. Baughman and family
removed to Richland county in 1816.

William Sager visited this township in 1802,
or perhaps previously. In company with three
other men he started from Shenandoah counly.
Virginia, to find in Ohio a suitable spot on
which to settle. On reaching the Ohio river two
of his companions refused to proceed farther in-
to the wilderness and deserted him. The other
came on with him and in due time both arrived
within the present limits of Bristol. They
camped one night m the forest, and after select-
ing a site for Mr. Sager's future home, started
on their return trip. They went to Youngs-
town and from that place followed an Indian
trail to the Ohio. Mr. Sager purchased of Wol-
cott, the surveyor, a piece of land on which he
afterwards settled. On the 4th day of June,
1805, Mr. Sager and family arrived in the town-
ship. Stopping over night with his brother-in-
law, Abraham Baughman, the next mornmg Mr.
Sager, Mr. Baughman, and his two sons, Jacob
and Abraham, proceeded to cut a road through
the wilderness a mile and a half to Mr. Sager's
land.

For a month or more, until a cabm could be
constructed, Mr. Sager and his wife, with their
one child, slept in his wagon. There was no
sawed timber to be procured nearer than at War-
ren, therefore the cabin was built without the use
of boards, as was generally the case with pioneer
dwellings. Soon he succeeded in getting his
logs together and had a cabin 18x20 feet in
size. As soon as the lower floor was laid the
family moved in. Mr. Sager hewed out a large
plank for a work-bench and proceeded to finish
off his dwelling. Thus its one room served all
the uses of kitchen, sitting room, dining room,
parlor, and work-shop. Mr. Sager was by trade
a niill-wright, but here he found it necessary to
act as carpenter, cabinet-maker, cooper, etc.

William Sager had married Mary Hammon,
of German descent, before coming to Ohio, and
they had one child, Joseph, born in 1802. Their
son Jacob, born in 1805, was the first child born
in this township. The names of the six other
children were Sarah, John, Solomon, Anna, Re-
becca, and William. John, Solomon, and Anna
are dead. The others are all living: Joseph,
Jacob, William, and Sarah in Bristol, and Re-
becca (Hyde) in Farmington. All lived to rear

families excepting Sarah, who remains single.

Gabriel Sager, William's father, emigrated from
Germany about 1758, first settling in Bucks
county, Pennsylvania, and thence removing to
Shenandoah county, Virginia, where he reared
a family of four sons and four daughters. His
certificate of naturalization, issued by the Com-
monwealth of Pennsylvania in 1765, is now
in possession of his grandson Joseph, and is as
quaint and old fashioned as any document
we have ever seen. Supreme court is printed
" supream court," and other deviations from
modern standards of orthography are numerous.
Mr. Sager being in religion a Mennonite would
not take an oath of naturalization but affirmed
instead, and was given a paper similar to those
issued to Quakers. In 1810 he removed to Bris-
tol, and settled on the farm now owned by Ed-
ward Kibbee in the northern part of the town-
ship. His son Samuel settled on the same farm
about 181 1 and remained until 1816, when he
removed to Beaver county, Pennsylvania, and
lived the remainder of his days there. Gabriel
Sager died about 18 16 but his wife survived him
several years. Their children who came to
Ohio were William and Samuel, and the four
daughters, viz : Elizabeth, wife of Abraham
Baughman; Barbara, wife of William Baib; Mar-
garet, wife of Henry Baughman ; and Mary, wife
of John Barb. The Baughmans remained but a
few years, but both Barb families were perma-
nent residents.

William Barb removed from Shenandoah
county, Virginia, in 1801, to Bristol, Trumbull
county, Ohio, and located where William Sager
now lives. He subsequently exchanged this
farm with the owner, Mr. Sager, and settled per-
manently on the place now owned by Martin J.
Barb. He was the father of six children, five
boys and one girl, named as follows: Gabriel,
William, Jacob, Peter, Abraham, and Mary, all
now dead. Abraham, who succeeded to the place
after his father's death, was born there in 1809.
He married Lydia Ann Curlin and raised a
family of seven sons and six daughters, of whom
four (sons) are deceased. He died January 7,
1868. Mrs. Barb is yet living and is now in her
seventieth year. Their son, M. J. Barb, occu-
pies the homestead where his grandfather settled
so long ago and where his father always lived.

John Barb settled on the present Thayer farm

334

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

in 1816. He had a family of eight children, three
of whom are still living. The names in order
of age were: Abraham, Margaret, Elizabeth,
Solomon, Polly, Jonathan, Barbara, and David.
Those living are Margaret (Parker), Bristolville;
Jonathan, Indiana; and Barbara (Thayer), North
Bristol. Solomon and Elizabeth (Norton) passed
their days in Bristol.

John Pansier settled north of Bristolville in
1806. His family was a large one. Two chil-
dren died before reaching mature years. The
following lived to marry and have families:
Michael, John, Solomon, Moses, Samuel, Anna,
George, David, and Margaret. Samuel and
David now live in Bristol, George in Fowler, and
Margaret in Iowa.

John and Sarah Hanimon settled in 1806
where their son Jacob now resides. Statistics
of their family have been mislaid and we are un-
able to give them.

Abraham, John, Jacob, and Isaac Kagy came
at different dates, Abraham as early as 1820,
and located on the east and west road in the
eastern part of the township. Samuel and John,
sons of Abraham, still reside in the township.
Jacob, another of his sons, died in the service of
his country. John, Jacob, and Isaac settled in
the same neighborhood. Isaac never married.
Some of John's children are still living here, viz:
John, on the old homestead; Joseph, Jacob, and
Michael. The latter lives on the old Abraham
Kagy place.

Jacob Norton in 1806 settled in the northeast
of the township. His children were Barbara,
Henry, Catharine, Zachariah, George, Sally,
Michael, David, and William. All lived in this
vicinity and reared families. None are now liv-
ing. Their descendants are numerous, influ-
ential and respected. The above were born
after Mr. Norton's second marriage. By his first
wife he had two sons in Virginia, John and
Jacob, who afterwards moved to Ohio.

All of the families above named were of Ger-
man origin and came to Bristol from Virginia.
The township was but sparsely settled until after
1820.

Lyman Potter settled on a farm just south of
the present village of Bristolville. After several
years' residence he and his family removed from
the township. He was the first justice of the
peace in Bristol and was well qualified by nature

and education for the position, having received
a liberal education with the intention (afterward
abandoned) of entering the ministry.

Aaron Fenton, as early as 1805, settled on the
farm now occupied by his son Aaron. His chil-
dren were Daniel, William, Mary, Aaron, Abra-
ham, Lydia, and Enoch. Daniel, William, Abra-
ham, and Mary are dead. William spent his
days in Bristol.

John Cox settled in the western part of the
township in 1805. In 18 16 William Cox came
and settled opposite the road from him. Wil-
liam had no children, but John had enough for
both. The most of his large family after marry-
ing moved away. Following are the names of
his children: Betsey, Abigail, John, Hannah,
Peggy, Polly, Amy, Susan, Catharine, Japheth,
and Martha. Of these only one, Mrs. Peggy
Barb, now lives in Bristol. Timothy resides in
Mesopotamia.

Captain Benjamin White was an early pioneer
of the northwestern part of the township. He
died during the War of 1812. His children were
Samuel, Elijah, Patterson, Benjamin, and Polly
(Smith). Samuel, well known as 'Squire White,
still resides in Bristol.

John Lloyd located in the northwest of this
township in 1S14. He owned five hundred
acres of land in Bristol and one thousand in
Kirtland township, which he divided equally
among his three children, Thomas, Lester, and
Roxana. The Lloyds were from Massachusetts.
The farm on which they settled had been im-
proved to a small extent by John and Thomas
Martin, who came here about 1807, but re-
mained only a few years.

Emmor Moore settled in 1805 or 1S06 on the
present Curtis farm, on the turnpike, south of
Bristolville. He died of consumption in 1810,
and was buried in the township burying-ground
at the center, it being the first interment of an
adult person there made. The tombstone mark-
ing his grave has the oldest date of any in the
cemetery. His son William married and settled
in Bristol, but deserted his wife and left.

William, John, Thomas, James, and Joseph
Cummings, with their sisters, Betsy, Anna, Polly,
and Sally, were one of the very first families that
settled in the township. They took up a farm
near the southwest corner of Bristol. Several
of the name still remain in the township.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

335

Robert Miller was one of the first comers.
He also located in the southwest of the town-
ship, but afterwards moved to the Gordon place
on the turnpike. Two sons, James and John,
are still residents of Bristol.

William Reed, Abraham Daily, and George
Barger, were among the first settlers, but re-
mained only a few years.

The greater part of the above-named settlers
were natives of Pennsylvania. In this sketch
we have attempted to include all of the pioneers
who resided here permanently, or whose descend-
ants now live in the township.

ORG.\NIZATION.

Township number six in the fourth range was
formerly included in the Middlefield election dis-
trict. In 1807 it was created a separate town-
ship and election precinct and named Bristol.

FIRST ELECTION.

The first election of township officers was held
on the first Monday in April, 1808, with the fol-
lowmg result : Lyman Potter, justice of the
peace ; Abraham Baughman, John Martin, and
William Wilson, trustees; John Cummings, clerk;
William Reed, constable ; Robert Miller and
George Barger, overseers of the poor ; Thomas
Martin, treasurer; William Cummings, and Abra-
ham Daley, fence-viewers; Emmor Moore and
Henry Baughman, supervisors; Joseph Cum-
mings, lister.

N.-\ME.

The township was named Bristol, after Bristol,
Connecticut, the home of the surveyor.

BRISTOLVILLE.

The growth of this village was slow, and com-
paratively few improvements were made until
after the turnpike was opened in 1819 and the
stage began running in 1828.

Samuel Swetland was the first store-keeper,
and after him Henry Hanks came but remained
only a short time. Norris, Howard & Kibbee
had a store quite early and erected the building
which is now E. L. Kibbee's store.

Lyman Potter, who lived at the south end of
the village, kept the first tavern for a number of
years. A number of others afterwards kept
public house in the village.

EARLY SCHOOLS.

The first term of school in this township was

taught by Gabriel Sager in the winter of 1810-
II. His pupils were members of the Sager
families and their relatives. German only was
taught.

The first English school was taught by Seth I.
Ensign in the winter of 181 2-13, in a deserted
log cabin one-fourth of a mile north of the Bris-
tolville corners. In 1814-15 Lucy Badger,
daughter of the Rev. Joseph Badger, taught
school near Bristolville in a cabin west of the
creek on the present Cory farm.

The first school-house was built in the fall of
1812 by William Barb, Samuel Sager, William
Sager and others, at North Bristol, on ground
which is now the mill-yard. It was a primitive
log structure and the school-room was lighted by
small windows or openings in the wall pasted
over with greased paper.

A school-house of logs was built at an early
day on the public square at Bristolville.

CHURCHES.

The first church organization in Bristol was
the Mennonite, organized by Gabriel Sager at his
own house in the northern part of the township
in 1 810 or 181 1. The place is now owned by
Edward Kibbee. The Mennonites originated in
Holland. Their belief is distinguished by a re-
jection of infant baptism, refusal to take oaths,
and the practice of feet-washing. This society
never erected a church building, and ceased to
exist after the death of Mr. Sager.

A society of Bible Christians was organized
previous to 1820, but they never built a church.
Their first preacher was Rev. John Cheney.
Meetings were held in school-houses, private
houses, and barns. Among the members were
members of the Hammon family, Mrs. William
Sager, Zachariah Norton, Joseph Chaffee and
wife from Bristol, Major Howe and wife, Aaron
Smith and wife, George and Michael Norton,
William Norton, Charles Thayer and wife, and
others, of Bloomfield; and Deacon Abijah Lee
and wife of east Farmington, most of whom
joined the Disciples.

The Disciples of this township built no church
until the North Bristol church was organized in
1868, but attended services in Bloomfield.

The Calvinist Baptists and Free-will Baptists
have maintained organizations in this township
in former years, but no longer continue to do so,

i36

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

most of the members having joined other
churches.

The church organizations in the township at
l)resent are four in number, viz: The Methodists
and Congregationalists, at Bristolville; the Dis-
ciples, at North Bristol, and the Dunkards, in
the east part of the township.

THE CONGREG.\TI0NAL CHURCH.

This church was organized June 14, 18 17, by
Revs. Giles H. Cowles, Abial Jones, and Joseph
Treat, under the name of the Presbyterian church
of Bristol and Bloomfield. The plan of union
was adopted allowing both Presbyterians and
Congregationalists to enjoy its privileges. After
a few years the church became known as the
Presbyterian and Congregationalist church of
Bristol, and so continued until a difference of
opinion regarding slavery sprung up among its
members, when it withdrew from the presbytery
and remained independent a few years. At
length the difficulty was settled ; but meantime
nearly all of the old Presbyterian members had
died, and accordingly the wishes of the Congre-
gationalists prevailed and the church united with
the conference of the Congregational denomina-
tion.

At the organization the church consisted of
seven members : John Barnes, Lucretia Barnes,
Leman Ferry, Lyman Richards, Lucretia C.
Richards, RoUin Dutton, and Nancy Dutton.
The first church officers elected were John
Barnes, standing moderator ; John Barnes and
Leman Ferry, church committee ; and RoUin
Dutton, clerk. To the membership thf^ follow-
ing were added at the dates given: June 15,
18 1 7, Elijah and Elizabeth Bigelow. November
9, 1817, Betsey Barnes. November 15, 1818,
John and Sally Morley. February 5, 1820, Mar-
garet Fansler. June 25, 1820, Matthew Current.
On the 1 8th of March, 1821, Shubal and
Lydia Hillman, Asa and Olive Smith, Rox-
ana Lloyd, and Mrs. Roxana Lloyd, and Lu-
cinda and Laura Hillman, and Peres R. His-
cock. June 30, 1822, Alpheus Alvord. Janu-
ary 16, 1825, Ira Rose, Gideon L. and Clarinda
Sprague, Wilmot Mayhew, Nancy and Lucretia
Mayhew. January i, 1826, Cherry Alvord, Lucy
Hiscock, Sophia Baker, and Anson Morley.
August 20, 1826, Chloe A. Miller, Orrin Ballard,
Holmes Mayhew, Chester and Abigail Hillman,
Melvin and Lucretia Mayhew. September 21,

1828, Margaret Ballard and Mary Case. These
were all up to 1830. The present membership
is over one hundred.

Among the earliest preachers in this church
were Rev. Messrs. Cowles, Jones, Joseph W.
Curtis, Jonathan Leslie, and Daniel Miller. Mr.
Miller was installed pastor and remained and
labored earnestly many years.

The first church in this township was erected
by the Presbyterians in 1812, five years before
they organized. It was of hewn logs and stood
on the farm of John Fansler, Sr., now owned by
Newell Maltby. The next edifice was a frame
building, two stories, which stood on the edge
of the old graveyard east of the village common.
The upper story was never finished, but the
lower was so far completed that meetings were
held in it, wooden benches serving as seats.
The present house, most tastefully ■ and beauti-
fully constructed, was erected in 1845 or 1846
and dedicated in February, 1847.

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

Concerning this organization very few facts are
obtainable, but the following statements, gleaned
mainly from the oldest living members, are be-
lieved to be substantially correct.

A class was formed by Rev. Ira Eddy, in
November, 1818, consisting of six members:
John Norton and wife, John and Sarah Ham-
mon, and Magdalena and Margaret Cline.
Among the first preachers were Revs. Eddy,
Green, Hill, Ayer, Crum, Chandler, and Scott.
Elder Green (afterwards presiding elder) was on
this circuit when it extended from Lake Erie to
Warren, and required six weeks for him to travel
it and keep his appointments.

Meetings were held in barns, school-houses,
and private houses, and for many years in an old
log building which stood upon the village com-
mon, near the spot where the soldiers' monu-
ment is located. Afterwards the two-story school-
house, now the tin-shop, was built, and used as
a place of meeting. The present church edifice
was erected in 1845 through liberal efforts on the
part of prominent members. In 1881 this house
was remodeled, much enlarged and improved,
and is now one of the finest churches to be
found in any small village in the State. It con-
tains three rooms besides the main audience
room, and all are most conveniently arranged.
The original cost of the building was not less

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

337

than $2,500. Mrs. Dr. Brockett gave the soci-
ety $1,000 with which to make the recent repairs
and improvements. A heavy bell of superior
tone now hangs in the belfry, being the fourth
bell since the church was built.

The seed planted in the wilderness by the
pioneer missionary in 1818 has germinated and
borne fruit abundantly. The church now num-
bers one hundred and eighty-five, being the
largest membership of any church in the town-
ship.

THE DISCIPLE CHURCH.

This church was organized February 19, 1868,
under the labor and superintendence of Rev. J.
N. Smith and Rev. N. N. Bartlett. Hiram
Thayer and A. A. House were elected overseers;
Samuel A. Davidson and Jacob Sager, Sr.,
deacons, and S. A. Davidson, clerk and treasurer.
Subsequently it was deemed advisable to have
three deacons, and Henry Clay was chosen as a
deacon. June 3, 1868, A. A. House, Hiram
Thayer, and William Sager were elected trustees.
Later S. A. Davidson was elected an overseer,-
and Solomon Sager, deacon, to fill the vacancy
thus occasioned.

The year of the organization a convenient
church was erected at a cost of about $2,000.
The church started with a good membership, and
soon numerous additions were made.

Rev. N. N. Bartlett was the first pastor. Rev.
E. Wakefield succeeded him for one year. Rev.
E. B. Wakefield, the present pastor, took charge
of this congregation in 1874. Under his minis-
tration the church has been blessed with a high
degree of prosperity, and now numbers about
one hundred and twenty-five faithful active
members. Services are held once in two weeks,
the preacher dividing his labors between North
Bristol and Bloomfield churches.

The Dunkard church was organized some
fifteen years ago, and has a small but convenient
meetinghouse. John Strohm is one of its
principal members and supporters. The mem-
bership is small.

CEMETERIES.

The two principal burying places in this town-
ship are located at Bristolville, one east and the
other west of the turnpike. Interments were
made in the township burying-ground east of the
public square in very early times. The oldest

grave-stone standing bears the date 18 10. The
new cemetery is large and prettily adorned with
shrubbery of evergreens. In the northern part
of the township is a small old burying-ground
where rest the remains of members of the Sager
family and others of the old settlers.

POST-OBFICE.S.

The first post-office was established about
1825, Gideon Sprague, postmaster. Mail was
then brought from Warren once a week by a man
on horseback. After the four-horse stage began
running the office was moved to the center and
[acob Hammon appointed postmaster. He
held the office over thirty years, and found it the
source of a great deal of bother and but very
little compensation. This being the first office
on the road north of Warren, an unassorted
mail, heavier than one man could lift, frequently
came here. Mr. Hammon was obliged to go
through it all, and perhaps find as the result of his
researches a single letter or paper for some citizen
of his town. The remaining mail was then put
upon the coach for the next postmaster on the
route to investigate in a similar way. As there
was then no hotel in the village, in cold weather
all the stage-coach passengers poured into Mr.
Hammon's house to warm themselves, and these,
together with those who were waiting for mail,
gave him no little annoyance. A. A. House
was the first postmaster at North Bristol, where
an office was established in 1S70. E. A. Pierce,
his successor, is the present incumbent.

EARLY MILLS.

The first mill in this township was built by
William Sager for Abraham Baughman, near
where the latter settled, in about 1806. A log
sawmill and grist mill were erected. One dam
served to make a water supply for both. The
grist-mill was of peculiar construction, the mo-
tive power being a wheel placed horizontally in
the water. To get the grain into the hopper it
must be carried up a ladder into the second
story of the mill, and when ground was removed
from a receptacle on the lower floor. One run
of stones made from a common rock was used
in grinding. The mill ground slowly, but not
" exceeding fine." Baughman ran these mills
as long as he remained in the township. John
Barnes then purchased the property and after
him Samuel Baker.

338

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

William Sager, about 1816, built a saw-mill
upon his farm and did some grinding by the at-
tachment of a small run of stones. About 1828
he built a grist-mill, the frame of which is still
standing. His mills were run by the water of
Baughman's creek.

About 1830 John Hammon built a saw-mill
west of the center, on the present McBride farm.
Later the McBrides had a small water-mill for
grmding erected there.

As early as 1830 Mayhew & Hillman built
and put in operation a fulling- and cloth dress-
ing-mill, near Sager's mills. The business of
dyeing, fulling, and dressing cloth was carried on
during the fall and winter months for several
years.

A turning mill for the manufacture of wooden
bowls, wooden plates, etc., was put in operation
on the same stream. Colonel Flower, of Bloom-
field, was its superintendent.

HUNTING ADVENTURES.

Game of all kinds was so abundant that some
of the early settlers obtained all the meat neces-
sary for family use by the aid of dog and gun.
In the creeks fish abounded; the forests were full
of bee trees; in short, this must have been almost
a sportsman's paradise.

William Sager was accustomed to spend con-
siderable time each fall in hunting for "bee
trees." Swarms that had come from the older
settlements had taken possession of some of the
hollow trees; they in turn sent out swarms and
occupied many of the suitable trees with their
colonies. One day, as Mr. Sager was bee-hunt-
ing, he saw that turkeys had been scratching the
leaves about. He took out his call-whistle,
made from the wing-bone of a turkey, and blew
upon it, imitating the noise made by a turkey.
Presently he saw a large wolf, which had been
attracted by the sound, prowling around under
the trees, snuffing the air and looking for turkeys.
Mr. Sager discharged his rifle and killed the
animal, and in due time received $10 bounty for
the act.

One day Sager started to go through the
woods to Baughman's, taking his gun as usual.
He had not gone far when he saw a deer, at
which he fired. The animal dropped and he ran
up to cut its throat with his knife, but the deer
was not dead and not severely wounded. Just
as Sager was upon him he jumped up, and doing

so knocked the knife from his hands, then
turned and attacked Mr. Sager with all his might,
trying to gore him with his antlers. Mr. Sager
caught the antlers and held on firmly, but was
thrown about by the deer until he was nearly ex-
hausted. He was beginning to despair of being
able to maintain his hold and feared that he
would be thrown down and trampled upon, but
just then his dog arrived, having heard the dis-
charge of the gun and followed his master from
home. The dog soon caught hold of the deer's
throat; Mr. Sager released himself and dispatched
the deer. After this adventure the intelligent
dog always accompanied his master on hunting
expeditions.

Bears were bold and troublesome. Some
times a cross old bear with cubs would follow
and attempt to attack a man if alone ; but when
two men were together the bear usually re-
treated. Hogs were provided with bells, so that
when attacked by bears, as they often were, their
owners would hear the alarm.

IN EARLY DAYS

people were frequently lost in the woods here.
Nathaniel Moore was out one night hunting rac-
coons, lost his way home, and was compelled to
pass the entire night in the woods. Daylight
revealed to him his whereabouts and he returned
to his alarmed family.

Flour and meal were very difficult articles to
obtain. Until about 1806 there were no mills
nearer than Warren, and no roads, such as would
now be considered passable, leading to that place.
To illustrate the difficulty of obtaining a grist
under such circumstances, we will give another
incident in William Sager's life. Before any
grain had been raised in the township, he heard
that a man in Mesopotamia had some wheat to
sell. He took his horse and with great difficulty
found his way through the trackless region to his
neighbor's (?) house, bought two bushels and re-
turned home. Thus one day had been spent in
obtaining the grain. Next morning accordingly
he started for Warren with his grist, and a whole
hard day's work it proved to reach the mill.
He had the grist ground in the evening, and the
next evening arrived with it at his home. Thus
three days were occupied in obtaining a two-
bushel grist and having it ground.

Some time before any road to Painesville or
the lake was opened, several of the settlers of

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

339

this township conceived the idea of navigating
the Grand river, and measures were undertaken
to carry the scheme into effect. The settlers
had some maple sugar and other articles which
they wished to sell, and having constructed a
canoe they undertook a voyage to the lake.
The Baughmans, Nortons, and Sagers were the
leaders of the project. They began to clear the
stream of brush, commencing at the mouth of
Baughman's creek, and were occupied several
days in this work. At night the boat was fast-
ened to a tree and a guard placed over the
merchandise. Two trips were made ; but as it
was found to be a long and laborious way of get-
ting to the lake, the boat was sold and naviga-
tion in these waters ceased.

AN ANCIENT WELL.

William Sager selected for his building spot a
place near what appeared to be a small spring is-
suing from the hillside. But when he proceeded
to clear out the spring, he was much surprised to
find a shallow well neatly walled up with stones.

OTHER INTERESTING DISCOVERIES

were soon made in the vicinity, among them a
lot of ashes about a foot under ground. When
Mr. Sager began plowing he found, near the
spring, over a quarter of an acre of ground that
had a very black appearance and showed many
remnants of charcoal, as though the ground had
been the bed of a large coal-pit. Some of the
pieces remained several years to puzzle and
mystify persons of an inquisitive turn of mind.

Mr. Joseph Sager thinks that pottery must
have been manufactured here ; for he remem-
bers, when a boy, digging in the dirt, as boys are
wont to do, that he found a small earthen vessel,
which could scarcely have been formed by
Nature's art. It was exceedingly brittle, and at
once crumbled to jiieces. The ground is still
black.

Several spots of earth covered over with stones
are to be seen in this township, and it is sup-
posed that each marks an Indian grave. The
mound-builders have left lasting monuments of
themselves in Bloomfield swamp. But this fact
scarcely serves to solve the secret of the old
coal-pit or pottery; rather it leaves us in doubt
whether to assign these works to that race or to
the red men. But if the Indians engaged in
burning coal, walling up springs, etc., here in

Ohio, the evidence of such laborious work ought
to remove from our mind the prevailing idea that
they were lazy and indolent.

A short distance from Mr. Sager's, near a
marsh, could be seen a spot where, evidently, a
well has been dug and the dirt thrown out. Do
these old works belong to the age of the mound-
builders, or are they of more recent origin ?
This is a question for the curious in such matters
to solve. But the fact of their existence is in-
disputable.

THE INDIANS

were the neighbors of the first settlers of Bristol,
and frequently visited their houses. A few years
after the arrival of the Sager family Mrs. Sager
was washing at the spring one day, having left at
the house the baby, Jacob, in charge of her old-
est son. Three Indians unceremoniously en-
tered the cabin and began to look about them.
They saw some turnips in a corner of the room,
and asked for some to eat. As they could speak
but little English, or German either, it was only
by watching their eyes and their gestures that
their wants became known to the boy. He gave
each of them a turnip, but they were unprovided
with knives and held their turnips, looking
around to see if they could discover any thing
to eat them with. Finally one of them pro-
nounced the word "messer" — German for knife
— and the boy supplied them with the desired
articles. They then ate their turnips in silence
and with apparent satisfaction, and left the cabin
as unceremoniously as they had entered.

A little later, two Indians and a squaw came
to the house one day in summer. Evidently
they had been traveling a long distance, and
they were weary. The two men lay down in the
shade of a corn-crib and went to sleep. The
squaw chose a sunny spot, lay down and appar-
ently fell asleep, too. She had been carrying a
bundle, and the little boy was curious to know
what it contained. He tip-toed softly up to the
side of the sleeping squaw and was about to lay
his hands upon the bundle, when a little dog
that accompanied the party began a violent bark-
ing. The boy made his way toward the house
as fast as his legs could carry him, while the
squaw sat up and called to him, "Hiscataw! his-
cataw!" The boy thought these words were in-
tended to urge the dog upon him, and, greatly
frightened, doubled his efforts to reach the house.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

But instead of this she was calling; the dog off,
and her words at once stopped his barlting. The
Indians had a hearty laugh over the boy's fright,
and in future visits the family often mentioned
the incident.

The chief Indian in this locality had a white
boy whom he had somehow obtained. He was
very reticent when questioned concerning him,
and only when under the influence of whiskey
would he say anything about him. But when
drunk he sometimes stated that he got the boy
when he was so high— indicating the child's
height by holding his hand about two feet from
the floor, and that he found him under an apple-
tree. All the Indians left in i8i I. Some twen-
ty years after they had gone a man from the
southern part of Pennsylvania stayed one night
at the house of Joseph Sager, who in the course
of the conversation mentioned to the stranger
something of the little boy who had lived with
the Indians. The stranger asked him to describe
the boy, and after he had done so averred that
he believed the child was one who had been
stolen from one of his neighbors in Pennsylva-
nia, that his parents were wealthy, and would pay
almost any price to have him back again. But
whether he ever returned to civilization or lived
and died among the savages we have no means
of ascertaining.

When the Indians approached a settler's house
they held their guns by the muzzle as a token
that they came as friends. They had the usual
Indian custom of carrying their pappooses upon
their backs, strapped to a board. When a squaw
entered a house she would set her pappoose down
by the door and leave it outside, where it was
frequently molested by the dogs or hogs that
were allowed to run about the place.

The first settlers found so many fish in Baugh-
man's creek that many families caught and salted
barrels of them for winter use. There was no
dam or other obstruction from the lake to
Baughman's mill until a mill-dam was built at
Austinburg some years after Bristol was settled.
William Sager on his first visit to this township
found such an abundance of fish in the creek
that he declared that a wagon could not be
driven through the water without killing some of
them.

TEMPERANCE CRUSADE.

The following extract from a county paper
dated June, 1858, may prove of interest:

A week or two since fitly women in a party assembled .and
made an attack on the grocery of one Miller; some dragged
tlie proprietor out of doors and held him down, while others
knocked in the heads of his cider, whiskey, vinegar, and
rum barrels. Miller has commenced a suit against them.
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES.

The first taxes were assessed on the following
plan: Horses twenty cents and cattle eight
cents per head. Concerning real estate the
records are silent.

The first frame house in this township was
built by Jonathan Walkley about one mile south
of Bristolville. It is still standing, but no longer
used as a dwelling.

The first sermon was preached by Gabriel
Sager at his own house. He was also the first
regular preacher and the first school-teacher.

The first marriage was that of Jacob Baugh-
man and Barbara Good. The ceremony was
performed by Lyman Potter, justice of the peace.
The first practicing physician was Dr. Chan-
dler B. Chapman. He remained a number of
years and was highly esteemed in his profes-
sional capacity and in society. He afterwards
became a professor in a Cincinnati Medical
school. Other physicians have been here to
tariy longer or shorter periods, and the township
now has two good doctors in its midst.

The first store was opened at the center by
Salmon S wetland, previous to 1830.

'Squire Potter kept the first tavern, Cyril
Green, Lyman Kibbee, and others, succeeding
him in the business.

TOWNSHIP BUSINESS DIRECTORY.

General stores : H. H. Pierce, E. L. Kibbee,
Bristolville; and E, A. Pierce, North Bristol.

Drug store : E. T. Finney, Bristolville.

Furniture store : A. E. Miner, Bristolville.

Tin shop : R. G. Kelso.

Bristolville post-of!ice, Jacob Norton, post-
master; North Bristol, E. A. Pierce postmaster.

Bristolville physicians : A. J. Brockett, M.
D., and F. C. Corey, M. D.

Grist-mills: McBride Brothers & Vraden-
burg, Bristolville; and Hutton & Freel, North
Bristol.

Carriage and bhicksmith shop, Eckstinc &
Reel, North Bristol.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

341

Cheese factories : Jcre Barton, North Bristol;
Tift & Chryst, southwest part of township.

Steam sawmills: Sfrome & Reed have a large
saw-mill, planing-mill, handle and spoke manu-
factory, etc., east of Bristolville station, and carry
on an extensive business. Mayhew Brothers
have a steam saw-mill and planing-mill at Oak-
field station. Two other saw-mills arc owned by
Sager & Cox, North Bristol; and Osborn &
Harclerode, in the southwest of the township.

The above are the principal business interests,
not including shoemaker and blacksmith shops.

NOTES OF SETTLEMENT.

Jacob Sager was born in Bristol township
October 25, 1805. His father, William Sager, was
a native of Shenandoah county, West Virginia,
and came to Ohio in 1805 and settled in Bristol
township, and was among the early settlers of the
township. He settled in the north part of the
township and resided upon his farm until his
death, which occurred in 1856. There were
eight children in his family — five boys and three
girls — Joseph, Jacob, Sally, John, Solomon,
Annie, Rebecca, and William. John, Solomon,
and Annie are deceased. Mr. Sager was a mill-
wright by trade, though he carried on farming in
connection. Mr. Jacob Sager has always lived
in the township. He was the first white child
born in Bristol. He has lived to witness many
changes; has seen a dense wilderness change to
a thriving community. He was married Sep-
tember 8, 1 83 1, to Miss Leah Kagy, daughter of
Jacob Kagy, of Bristol. They have had six
children, five of whom are living — Susan, Wil-
liam J., Henry F., Mary E., Sophia, and Jacob
A. Mr. and Mrs. Sager are members of the
Disciples church, and in every respect are good
citizens.

Joseph Sager, a well known resident of
Bristol, was born June i, 1802, in Shenandoah
county, Virginia, and came to Ohio in 1805 in
company with his father, William. Gabriel Sager,
father of William, was a native of Germany, and
came to America in an early day. Mr. William
Sager made a trip to Ohio in 1801, though it is
not known whether he made a purchase at this
time or not. In 1805 he removed his family.
He made his journey to Ohio in a covered
wagon, and lived in this several weeks while
a hut was in process of construction. He
brought a cow. Mr. Sager cleared up a good

farm, upon which he lived till his death, which
occurred September 24, 1856. Joseph Sager
is one of the oldest residents of the township.
He was married in 1829, to Miss Catharine
Peters, daughter of Daniel Peters, of Bristol
township. There were two children by this
marriage : Mary A. and Daniel W. Mrs. Sager
died in 1854. In 1856 Mr. S.iger was married
a second time, to Mrs. Hewitt, daughter of Eli
Young, of Farmington, and has one child by this
union: Frank J. Both himself and wife are
Methodists.

William Sager was born February 14, 1821, in
Bristol township, upon the farm where he now
lives. He is the youngest son of William Sager.
He has always lived in the township. Farming
has been his chief business. He has a farm of
one hundred and seventy-five acres of good
land. He was married in 1844, to Miss Mary
M. Norton, daughter of Zachariah Norton, of
Bristol. Eight children are the fruit of this
union: Flora, Delia, Olive, Julia, Jennie, George,
Minnie, William. William died in infancy.
Mrs. Sager is a member of the Disciple church.
Politically Mr. Sager is a firm Republican. He
has held several of the township offices, has
been township trustee, assessor, and justice of
the peace, thus showing the high esteem in which
he is held by his fellow-townsmen.

Isaac Barb, an old resident of Bristol town-
ship, was born December 18, 1822, in Bristol
township, Trumbull county, upon the farm where
he now lives. His father, Gabriel, was born in
Shenandoah county, Virginia, and came to Ohio
in 1805, when he was eleven years of age, in
company with his father, William, who came to
the township with the Sager family. There were
very few settlers in the township at the time of
their arriving. William Barb began in an un-
broken wilderness, and succeeded in building
up a grand farm, upon which he lived till his
death, which occurred in 1839, leaving a family
of six children, Peter, Gabriel, William, Jacob,
Abram, Mary. Mrs. Barb died in 1854 or 1855.
Mr. and Mrs. Barb were members of the Mennon-
ite church. Mr. Gabriel Barb came upon the
farm where his son Isaac now lives, in February,
1822. The first tree he cut down came very
near killing him. Timothy Cox did the most of
his chopping. Abram Kagy was his nearest
neighbor. At the time of Mr. Barb's death he

342

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

had about one hundred acres of land cleared.
There were three children in the family, Isaac,
Henry, and Elizabeth. Isaac and Henry reside
upon the old home place. Elizabeth (Diehl)
lives in Nebraska. Mr. Barb was a Mennonite.
Mrs. Barb was a Dunkard. Isaac Barb, the
subject of this sketch, has a farm of three hun-
dred and fifty acres. He is engaged in general
farming. He was married in 1848 to Miss
Elizabeth Norton, daughter of Zachariah Norton,
of Bristol. They have two children, Joseph S.
and Maria. Mr. and Mrs. Barb are church mem-
bers and are sincere Christians. Mr. Barb has
been unable to do w-ork for the last few years on
account of lameness. His son carries on the
farm.

Henry Barb was born January 14, 1826, in
Bristol township, upon the farm where he now
lives. His father, Gabriel, was one of the first
settlers in the township. Mr. Henry Barb has
always been engaged in farming, though in con-
nection with this he has been in a saw-mill, in
which he did an extensive business for several
years. He has one hundred and sixty-seven
acres of excellent land. Mr. Barb was united in
matrimony to Miss Jane A. Thompson, daughter
of Robert Thompson, of Bristol township. Three
children are the fruits of this union, Haniet,
Nettie A., George E. Harriet is deceased. Mr.
and Mrs. Barb are Methodists.

S. A. Davidson was born in 1800 in New
Haven, Connecticut, and came to Ohio in a very
early day, over fifty years ago, and settled in
Boardman township, Trumbull county, now Ma-
honing. Here he lived several years, and then
moved to Mecca township, Trumbull county,
where he resided till 1865, when he moved to
Bristol township and resided till his death in 1875.
He was a carpenter by trade. He was married in
December, 1838, to Miss Martha A. Chaffee,
daughter of Rev. J. Chaffee, of Bristol town-
shi[). They had five children, three of whom
are living — I.urena, Orrin E. Flora A. Mr.
Davidson was a member of the Disciple church.
Mrs. Davidson is also a member, He had been
justice of the peace twelve ye.irs; also notary
public nine years.

Rev. J. Chafiee was born in Massachusetts.
He came to Ohio about 1814 and settled in
Bristol township, west of tlic center, and was
among the early pioneers. He began in the

wilderness and cleared up a good farm, and lived
there till 1824, and then moved to Mecca town-
ship, where he resided till 1865; then returned
to Bristol and spent the remainder of his days.
He died September 3, 1869. Mrs. Chaffee died
September 14, 1874. Mr. Chaffee married Miss
Theodosia Fletcher, daughter of John Fletcher,
of Massachusetts, March i, 18 13. There were
nine children in the family — Theodosia, Sally L.,
Martha A., Joseph G., Eunice P., Mary M.,
John M., Betsy, and Nancy. Rev. ]. Chaffee
was a minister of the Disciple church, though he
carried on a farm; also worked at shoemaking at
intervals.

Hoshea Moffet, a former old resident of Bris-
tolville, was born March 22, 1787, in Connecti-
cut, and came to Ohio in 1828 and settled in
Bristol township, Trumbull county. He located
in the northwestern part of the township, where
he lived till his death, which occurred January
18, 1857, leaving a family of nine children to
mourn his loss. Mrs. Moffet died in 1830. He
was married November 6, 1801, to Miss Polly
Porter, daughter of Alexander Porter, of Con-
necticut. The names of his children are as
follow: Edwin, Lucine, .A.daline, Louisa, Orlando,
Erastus, Chauncey, Charles, Amanda. Edwin,
Orlando, Chauncey, and Amanda are deceased.
Mr. and Mrs. Moffet were members of the Meth-
odist church, and enjoyed the esteem and confi-
dence of all who knew them.

Stephen Osborn, an old resident of Bristol
township, was born in Litchfield county, town of
Colebrook, Connecticut, November 20, 1797.
His father, Joshua, was born in Connecticut, and
came to Ohio in 1809, and settled in Southing-
ton township, Trumbull county, and was among
the early settlers of the township. Like the early
pioneers he began in the woods and made him-
self a good farm and lived upon this till his
death. He died in 1837, leaving a family of
thirteen children — Chloe, Reuben, Mansfield,
Dorcas, Sheldon, Roxy, Gilbert, Leonard, Ste-
phen, Amanda, Sterling, .Annie, Phcebe. Ste-
phen, .\manda, .Annie, and Phoebe are the only
surviving members of the family. Mr. Stephen
Osborn came to Bristol township in 1830. He
first settled u])on the turnpike south of the cen-
ter and here resided about twenty years, then
moved upon the farm where he now lives. Many
improvements have been made by Mr. Osborn.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

343

Farming has been his occupation, and even at
his present advanced age he is able to do much
labor in the field. He was married in 1826 to
Miss Mary Hillman, daughter of Shubal Hill-
man, of Bristol. He had four children by this
marriage. Mrs. Osborn died in 1834. He then
married Miss Amanda Hillman, sister of his first
wife, and had four children by this marriage.
Mrs. Osborn died in 1855. He married in 1858
his third wife, Mrs. Rebecca DifTord, of Bloom-
field, who died in 1870. Mr. Osborn has one
hundred and thirty-four acres of good land. He
has been quite a hunter and trapper in his day,
and takes much pride in exhibiting his old
wolf-trap at the present day. He is a member
of the Methodist church.

Among the first settlers of Bristol was Aaron
Fenton, Sr., who removed from New Jersey.
He located where his son Aaron now lives. He
died many years ago, leaving a family of five sons
and two daughters, viz: Daniel, William, Aaron,
Abraham, Enoch, Mary, and Lydia (Baird).
William, the second son, was born in Bristol in
181 1 ; married Adaline Mofifet in 1835, and set-
tled at the center of Bristol, where he resided a
number of years, then purchasing the farm which
his widow still occupies. He was a carpenter by
trade. He died in i860. Mrs. Fenton was
born in Herkimer county. New York, in 1814.
Her father wasHoshea Moffet, a brief notice of
whom is elsewhere given. To Mr. and Mrs. Fen-
ton were born seven sons and two daughters, as
follows: William W., living in Bristol; A. W., dep-
uty collector of customs, Cleveland, Ohio; Shur-
ben, on the farm with his mother; Marshal, in
Warren, and Dr. Hoshea Fenton, of Troy, Geau-
ga county; Mortimer and Charles and the two
daughters, Mary and Delia, are deceased.

Jacob Norton, an old resident of Bristol, was
born in 1820 in Bristol. His father, Zachariah,
was a native of Shenandoah county, Virginia,
and came to Ohio in a very early day, and
settled in the northeastern part of the township.
Jacob Norton, the grandfather of Jacob, the sub-
ject of this sketch, came from Germany. He was
one of the early pioneers of old Trumbull.
Like the most of the early settlers he began in
the woods and cleared up a good farm, and lived
upon it until his death. There were nine chil-
dren in his family. Mr. Zachariah Norton lived
in the township till his death. He was a farmer

by occupation, and like his father made a farm for
himself. There were twelve children in his
family, ten of whom are living. Mr. Jacob Nor-
ton, one of the number, has always resided in
the township. He has been engaged in the
mercantile business chiefly, though he has been
postmaster since 1 861, and is still serving in that
position. He was married in 1844 to Miss
Hannah A. Whitmore, daughter of Beriah and
Nancy Whitmore, of Gustavus township. They
have one child, Francis B., who is a practicing
physician at Newburg, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs.
Norton are members of the Methodist church.

C. W. Huntly was born in Canandaigua, Ontario
county. New York, in 1813, June 3d. His father,
Rufus Huntly, was a native of Connecticut, and
came to Ohio in 1832, and settled in Sharon,
Medina county, where he lived till his death.
He was an early settler in the section where he
located. There were twelve children in his
family, only six of whom are now living. Mr. C.
W. Huntly came to Trumbull county in 1846,
and located in Bristol township, upon the farm
formerly owned by Jacob Norton. Here he lived
till he came to the center. He was proprietor
of the hotel at Bristolville about fifteen years,
and won the good wishes of the traveling public.
He was married in 1834 to Miss Julia A. F'air-
child, daughter of Abel Fairchild, of Ontario
county. New York. They have had thirteen
children, twelve of whom are living. Mr. and
Mrs. Huntly are members of the Methodist
church, and are sincere Christians. Mi. Huntly
served a short time in the late war. He had
four sons, who also acted in defense of their
country, one of whom died at Vicksburg. Mr.
Huntly may well take pride in the war record of
his family. Politically Mr. Huntly is a stanch
Republican, and is held in high esteem by his
fellow-townsmen.

Scott F. Huntly was born April 22, 1847, in
Bristol township, Trumbull county, Ohio. His
father, Calvin VV., came to Ohio in 1846. Mr.
S. F. Huntly has lived most of his life in Bris-
tol; was in Michigan nine months. At the pres-
ent time he is proprietor of a hotel at Bristol-
ville, and is universally liked by the traveling
public. He was married in 1869, to Miss Lizzie
Mullen, daughter of Samuel Mullen, of Mecca
township. Mr. Huntly served nearly two and
a half years in the Rebellion, though very young

344

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

at the time of his enlistment. He enhsted in
February, 1862, in the Twenty-third Ohio in-
fantry, and participated in thirteen different en-
gagements, was at Cloyd Mountain, New River
Bridge, Cedar Creek, and many others. Mr.
Huntley is a carpenter by trade.

Samuel White, an old resident of Bristol, was
born April i, 1808, in Bristol township, Trum-
bull county, Ohio. His father, Benjamin, was a
native of Washington county, Pennsylvania. He
came toOhioin 1802, and was among the pioneers
of the county. He first settled in the west
jiart of the township of Bristol. He purchased
his land of Richard Iddings, and soon after
bought the farm now occupied by Mr. Spitler,
through the agency at Warren. He probably
owned about one hundred acres. He cleared
up a good farm, and built the first grist-mill in
the township, which he carried on in connection
with his farming for several years. He then
went to Middlefield, Geauga county, where he
lived till his death, which occurred in November,
1815. Mrs. White died in November, 1875, in
her eighty-eighth year. They were married in
1804, in Bristol township, by 'Squire Tracy of
Mesopotamia. They had eight children, six of
whom are living, two dying in infancy — Samuel,
Elijah G., Polly, Jane, Patterson, and Benjamin.
Mr. Samuel White has always lived in the town-
ship, never having been out of it for a month at
a time since he was born. He learned the car-
penter trade when he was about eighteen years
of age, and followed it till 1840, though he pur-
chased a farm in 1834. He was married Oc-
tober.! 2, 1835, to Mary Ann Flower, daughter
of Horace Flower, of Bloomfield township.
Seven children were the fruit of this union,
three of whom are living. Mrs. White died
February 7, 1S51. Mr. White was married the
second time in 1854 to Mrs. Malvina Seaton, of
Erie county, New York. One child was born to
them. Mrs. White is a member of the Congre-
gational church. Mr. White has filled several of
the township otifices; was justice many years;
also has been town clerk and trustee. In politics
he is a firm Republican.

.Anan Gordon was born February 12, 1823, in
Warren, Ohio. His father, Robert (Jordon, was
born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, June
8, 1796. His grandfather, Colonel Thomas Gor-
don, came from Scotland in an early day, and

settled in Washington county, Pennsylvania. An
attempt was made to bribe him to go into Bur-
goyne's army in the Revolution, but Mr. Gordon
remained steadfast in his loyalty to the land of
his adoption, and spurned the insult with indig-
nation. In 1799 he came to Ohio and located
in Poland township, and was one of the first
in the township. He cleared up a good farm
and lived upon it several years, then moved to
Ashtabula county, where he resided till he re-
moved to Lordstown, Trumbull county. He
died in 1840. Mr. Robert Gordon came to
Warren about 18 17, from Ashtabula county.
He was a brick-maker by trade and lived in
Warren till his death. There were twelve chil-
dren in his family, six boys and six girls, all of
whom lived to maturity. Mr. Anan Gordon has
always lived in the county. In 1850 he went to
Bazetta township, where he lived twenty-one
years, and was engaged in farming in the mean-
time. In 1 86 1 he came to Bristol, where he has
since resided. He was married February 15,
1849, to Miss Ruanna Bell, daughter of Jabez
and Anna Bell, of Bazetta. There were two
children by this marriage. Second marriage
September 29, 1859, to Miss Harriet Nutt,
daughter of Chauncey Nutt, of Southington
township. Four children by this marriage.
Third marriage March 30, 1876, to Mrs. Fran-
ces F. Lightfoot, daughter of Michael Chandler,
of Parkman, Portage county. Mr. Gordon has
two hundred and thirty-three acres of fine land.
He is engaged in general farming.

Gideon Bowers was born May 21, 1831, in
Bristol township. His father, John Bowers, was
born in Shenandoah county, Virginia, and came to
Ohio in 1829, and settled in Bristol township,
west of the center, but soon after moved to the
eastern part of this township upon the farm
where he now lives. Mr. John Bowers began
in the dense wilderness and made for himself
a good farm. There were six children in his
family — Leah, Levi, Gideon, Lydia, Sarah, Mary.
Levi is deceased — was killed by the falling of a
a tree in 1848. Mr. John Bowers and lady are
still living. Gideon Bowers has always resided
in this township; farming has been his occupa-
tion. He was married in 1858 to Miss Sarah
Crozier, daughter of James Croziei, of Mecca
township. They have four children — Charles J.,
Hattie A., Jay L., George Washington. Mr.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

and Mrs. Bowers are members of the Methodist
church, also Hattie. Mr. Bowers is a sound
Reimblican.

Jacob Eckstine, a well known resident of Bris-
tol township, was born in Germany August 3,
1818. His father, Michael Eckstine, was also a
native of Germany and came to America in
1820, landing in Baltimore, Maryland, where he
resided a short time, then went to Virginia,
Shenandoah county, and located and lived until
1834, when he moved to Ohio and settled in
Bristol township, upon the farm where his son
Jacob now lives. He began in an unbroken
forest and built up a good farm and lived to en-
joy the fruit of his labor until his death, which
occurred July 23, 1861. Mrs. Eckstine died
January 17, 1864. There were two children,
Jacob and Mary. Mary died in West Virginia.
Mr. and Mrs. Eckstine were members of the
Lutheran church. Jacob Eckstine has always
lived upon the old home place ; has made farm-
ing a life occupation. He was married in 1848
to Miss Leah Bowers, daughter of John Bowers,
of Bristol township. Five children have been
born to them: Mary J., Amos, Cyrus, Charles,
Sarah Ann. Sarah, who is the oldest of the
family, is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Eckstine are
hospitable people and merit and enjoy the good
wishes of all who know them.

A. J. Brockett, M. D., son of Alanson and
grandson of Chauncey Brockett, early settlers in
Farmington, was born in Bristol, Trumbull coun-
ty, Ohio, m 1836. He was the first child born
on what is called West street, where his father
had settled the year before. Dr. Brockett read
medicine with Dr. C. T. Metcalf, of Bristolville,
now of Warren, for three years from 1858 to
i86i. In the spring of the latter year he grad-
uated at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
In the spring of 1864 he went into the army as
surgeon of the First regiment Ohio volunteer in-
fantry, serving until mustered out with the regi-
ment. He afterwards, as assistant surgeon, had
charge of the Eighty-eighth Ohio volunteer in-
fantry at Camp Chase, Columbus, until the close
of the war. He then returned to Bristolville and
bought out Dr. Metcalf and has been engaged
in the practice of his profession there since.
He is president of the Trumbull County Medical
society. In the spring of 1882 he formed a
partnership with his younger brother. Dr. O. H.

Brockett, a recent graduate of Cleveland Med-
ical college. He married January 10, 1878,
Amelia J. Noyes, who died February 21, 1879.
July 14, 1880, he married Mrs. Mary Maria
Pond, a daughter of Daniel Gates, an early resi-
dent of Farmington.

Dr. Frank C. Corey, a rising physician of Bris-
tol, was born October 7, 1853, in Bristol. His
father, Frank H., was a native of Vermont and
came to Bristol in 1850. Dr. Corey studied
medicine at Mt. Vernon with Dr. J. C. Gordon,
and graduated at Cleveland Medical college in
1874. He also attended one course of lectures
at Philadelphia. Dr. Corey practiced in Mt.
Vernon about thirteen months, then came to
Bristol, where he has since practiced. He was
married in 1877 to Miss Ida M. Bennett, daugh-
ter of Edwin Bennett, of Hartford township.
They have one child — Louie L. Mr. and Mrs.
Corey are members of the Congregational church
Politically he is a Republican.

Newell Maltby was born in Tompkins, New
York, in 1832, and moved with his parents, Na-
thaniel H. and Betsey (Patchen) Maltby to Bristol
township in 1841. They settled on the farm
now owned by Newell Maltby who is the young-
est of eight children, only three of whom are
now living. His mother died in 1836, and his
father in 1855, at the age of seventy-three. Mr.
Maltby was married, in 1856, to Jane Pierce, a
native of Vermont, daughter of Thaddeus Pierce,
who settled in Bristol in 1854. Their children
are Mellie J., and Hattie Dell.

E. D. Baldwin was born in Crawford county,
Pennsylvania, March 26, 1846. His father,
Isaac S. Baldwin, was a native of Vermont,
though he moved to New York when he was very
young and remained there until he was thirteen
years old, then moved to Pennsylvania where he
still resides. Mr. E. D. Baldwin came to Ohio
in 1877, in October, and settled in Bristol town-
ship upon the farm where he now lives. He is
engaged in general farming and has one hundred
and thirty-seven acres of good land. He was
married in 1877 to Miss Elizabeth McMahan,
daughter of Thomas McMahan of Howland
township. Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin are members
of the Congregational church and are good citi-
zens.

346

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTILS, OHIO.

CHAPTER VH.

BROOKFIELD.

This township is known as town number four
in range one, and is bounded on the north by
Hartford, east by the Pennsylvania State line,
^vith Hubbard on the south and Vienna on the
west. Save the coal interest which in recent
years has been one of considerable importance
and a source of great profit to many land owners,
Brookfield is purely an agricultural community.
It was first settled by a class of people, mainly
New Englanders, who were noted for their in-
telligence and morality. The settlement first
began at or near the center of the township,
and as families collected at that point a nucleus
was formed for the growth of the little village,
the largest in the township, known as Brookfield
center.

The main water-course is Big Yankee creek,
which takes its rise a short distance north ot the
central part of the north boundary, in Hartford
township, and flowing from this point in a south-
east direction empties into the Shenango river
in the southeast corner of the township. This
creek with its tributaries drains the northwest,
the west, and central parts of the township. Lit-
tle Yankee creek enters the township at the
northwest, and flows southeasterly across the
southwest corner, where at a point west of the
center it enters Hubbard township, but after
reaching Hubbard center it turns northeast, and
again enters Brookfield at the southeast corner
and flows into the Shenango. The Lake Shore
& Michigan Southern railroad extends across the
southwest corner, following in this township the
general course of Little Yankee creek, and has
its main station at the crossing of the main east
and west center road, about two miles west of
Brookfield village, and near Payne's corners.

The New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio rail-
road barely enters the township across the south-
east corner. Various coal-road branches are ex-
tended to the coal banks in the different locali-
ties.

The suiface of the township is generally roll-
ing; the soil generally clay, but in the northwest
part somewhat more gravelly soil is found. The
Yankee creek bottom lands, consisting of a black
loam, are especially productive. The southern
part of the townshij) is somewhat broken, and
in this part are situated the coal mines.

ORGANIZATION.

The township from its organization up to 1810
formed, with Vienna, one election precinct. On
May 14th of the above year the qualified electors
of the township were notified to meet at the
house of Constant Lake, for the purpose of
electing the usual township officers for the new
township of Brookfield. The election board
consisted of Diament Whitier, chairman; Wil-
liam Cunningham and Anthony Patrick, judges;
Henry Gandy and Jacob Hummason, clerks.
The following officials were then chosen by ballot
and were declared elected "according as the law
directs:" William Cunningham, Anthony Pat-
rick, and John D. Smith, trustees ; Isaac Flower,
Jr., treasurer and constable ; Jacob Hummason,
clerk and lister ; Henry H. Gandy, appraiser;
Diament Whitier, Timothy Alderman and Clark
Rathbun, supervisors; Robert Hughes and Ben-
jamin Bentley, overseers of the poor; Johnson
Patrick and James Montgomery, fence viewers.

On the 8th day of November, 1810, Isaac
Flower, Jr., appeared before Robert Hughes,
associate judge of the county, and took the re-
quired oath as the first justice of the peace of
Brookfield. It is stated as a probability, how-
ever, that Judge Hughes officiated as justice of
the peace here before the township was formally
organized, but the first elected justice of Brook-
field was Isaac Flower, Jr., as above stated.

POrl'LATION AND INDUSTRIE.S.

The population of the township in 1870 was
2,657 ; in iSSo, 2,569, showing a decrease.

Coal mining is carried on quite extensively in
various localities. Coal was first discovered and
used for domestic purposes prior to 1838, in
which year General Joel B. Curtis opened the
first mine from which coal was shipped. Sever-
al mines are now operated in the township.

In former years, about 1826, John Myers and
Franklin Peck built the only woolen-mill in
which wool was carded into rolls, and cloth was
fulled. The machinery was propelled by oxen
on a tread-wheel. William Montgomery after-
wards came in possession of this mill, and con-
tinued its operation until some time in 1847.

Lawrence Smith erected the only blast furnace
in the township about 1836. It was a quarter-
stack, and was located near the center. The fur-
nace had a foundry attached at which were

TRUMBULL AND MAFIONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

manufactured plows, stoves, and lioUow-ware.
The ore was obtained principally from the farm
of Timothy Roberts, in Hubbard, and char-
coal was used exculsively for smelting and also
for melting the pig and scrap-iron for casting.
It was obtained from the lands of James and
Robert Christy. The works passed into the
hands of Hart, Miner & Norton in 1839, who
operated a few months, after which it was blown
out and lay idle for some time until purchased
by Galbraith & McCleery, of Pennsylvania, who
after a short time sold to William Wheeler. But
the enterprise proved disastrous to all these
parties and the works were abandoned. The
only flour-mill was built by Daniel Arthurholtz
on Big Yankee run, on lot number fifty-six in
the northeast part of the township. It is now
operated by Asa Arthurholtz. The mill is now
doing a good general custom work, and has two
run of buhrs, propelled by both steam and water-
power.

VILLAGES.

Brookfield center is the only village in the
township. The leading kinds of business, such
as dry goods, groceries, etc., are well represented.
Its only hotel is conducted by Thomas A.
Ballou.

The religious element is well represented by
the commodious church buildings of the Presby-
terian, Disciples, and Methodist Episcopal
churches. The town and school buildings are
well located and amply sufficient for the de-
mand of the place, which taken altogether is a
prosperous, intelligent, and quiet neighborhood.

PROPRIETORSHIP.

The original owner of the soil of Brookfield
was Samuel Hinckley, of Northampton, Hamp-
shire county, Massachusetts. He was repre-
sented in the sale of the lands by Dr. Solomon
Bond, of Enfield, Hartford county, Connecti-
cut.

The proprietor donated the lands at the center,
commonly known as "the green," and the survey
of the place was made in 1806. He also do-
nated the original burying-grounds at the center,
embracing one acre of land in lot number
twenty-nine. The deed for this land was made
to James Montgomery, John Briggs, and John
D. Smith, township trustees, and is dated Ajiril
16, 1823. Soon after the grounds were im-

proved by private subscription and became the
public burying-place in the township. Here are
gathered in their last sleep many of the pioneer
farthers and mothers of Brookfield. The his-
tory of their lives and deeds, to a great extent,
has forever perished with them. To save what
time has not wholly obliterated and to rescue the
names of the pioneers from oblivion is the aim
of the historian.

E.\RLY SETTLEMENT.

The first white man who came into this town-
ship for the purpose of settlement was James
McMullen, Sr. The inducement held out to
him to come into this then unbroken wilderness
was an ofTcr of one hundred and sixty acres of
land in lot number seventy-eight in the east part
of the township. He arrived in the year 1796,
and erected his log cabin near a spring a few
rods southeast of the present school-house.

This cabin was a very rude structure, built of
unhewn logs notched and fitted together at the
ends and "chinked" with mud. The floor was
made of split logs familiarly known as pun-
cheons. McMullen had a family of seven sons,
namely: Thomas, Samuel, John, Martin, James,
William, and Doctor (the latter receiving this
unusual name on account of his being the
seventh son). Samuel was married to Elizabeth,
daughter of William Chatfield, in whose cabin
the marriage ceremony was performed by Rev.
Thomas G. Jones. This was the first marriage
in the township. The cabin stood immediately
south of the present residence of James Bentley,
lot sixty-seven. William, a son of James Mc-
Mullen and his second wife, was born in the log
cabin above mentioned and was the first white
child born in the townshi|).

Rev. Thomas G. Jones built a log cabin 111
1802, about one-half mile south of McMullen, and
in company with his brother Benjamin brought
the first stock of goods into the township and
started the first store in the above-mentioned
cabin. The cabin had but two rooms, one for
the store and the other for the family. And the
store room was back of the family room, and
had no outside door, the customers being com-
pelled to pass through the family room to get to
the store. The shelving of the first store in
Brookfield was constructed by driving large
wooden pins in the logs upon which puncheon
logs were laid. Here the early settlers did their

548

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

trading, and it is supposed that the facihiies of
Jones' store were amply sufficient to meet all the
demands of the settlement at that time. Mr. Jones
was a minister of the Baptist denomination, and
he sometimes held religious services at the
houses of the settlers; but at this tmie the gen-
eral services were held over the line in Pennsyl-
vania. To him, therefore, must be accorded the
honor of first introducing the gospel into Brook-
field.

John Briggs settled on the north road two
miles north of the center about 1806. In the
latter year, or previous, several of the prominent
settlers arrived. Anthony Patrick lived on the
farm now owned by Benjamin McMullen. Ben-
jamin Bentley settled on the present farm of his
son James, and built his cabin home about one
half mile north of the present farm residence.
The first frame barn built in the township was
erected by Mr. Bentley on this farm in 1808.
This seems to have been considered at the time
a great step in the way of building improve-
ments, and called together quite a number of
men from distant neighborhoods. It took two
or three days to raise the building that two or
three men could now soon put in position. To
accommodate the many persons who came to his
assistance on this occasion, Mr. Bentley killed
several sheep and a large ox, and generously
supplied the many other wants of his friends.

Johnson Patrick lived adjoining Mr. Bentley
on the west, and William Chatfield south of the
latter on the south part of lot sixty-seven.

Jacob Ulp lived southeast of Chatfield, and
Ethan Newcomb joined Mr. Bentley on the
north.

Thomas Thompson settled north of the
center on the west side of tiie road, lot number
forty, and Thomas Patten lived north of Mr.
Thompson. Samuel Patrick lived on the north
part of lot number fifty-one.

Judge Robert Hughes settled off the center
road south on lot number twenty-five; Henry
Gandy south of the center near the coal bank
on lot number forty-seven.

The first death in the towr.ship of whicli there
is any record, wa; that of Mrs. Henry Gandy.
The body was interred in the woods, a short dis-
tance south of the present Whitacre coal bank.

Matthew Thompson settled on lot number
forty-four, south of Brookfield, and Samuel

Clark south ui him on lot number forty-five.

Dr. Thomas Hartford lived with Constant
Lake, previous to 1806, on lot number forty,
one mile north of the center, and was the first
physician in the township. Dr. Upson settled
at the center soon after, and became a well-
known practitioner.

Robert Montgomery settled on lot number
twenty-six, south of Judge Hughes. Isaac
Flower on the northeast corner at the center,
where he opened the first store at the center.
Jacob Hummason settled on the southwest
corner at the center.

In 1811 the road districts were designated and
the supervisor elected received the names of the
persons whom he had under his charge, and the
following assignments are appended to show the
extent of the Brookfield settlement in that year.
The district assigned to Jacob Ulp included the
road leading from his house to Brockway's mills,
also the road running east on the center line
from Yankee run to the Pennsylvania line, and
embraced the following persons with himself :
Thomas G. Jones, Benjamin Jones, James Mc-
Mullen, Nathan Birge, Geo. Middleton, John
Tribby, John Patterson, Philip Yarnell, and
Daniel Groscost.

James Wilson was assigned to the road leading
west from the center to Simeon Wheeler's and
from thence south on the township line to the
Liberty township line, and included the follow-
ing persons, with himself : William White
Philip Quigley, David Wheeler, Samuel Munson
Jonathan Kerr, James and Robert Montgomery
James Haw, James Kerney, John D. Smith
Robert Hughes, Timothy Alderman, A. Alder
man, and Daniel Williams.

Henry H. Gandy was assigned to the road
leading from the center south through the town-
ship; also the road leading east from the center
to Yankee run, embracing the following persons,
with himself: Walter Clark, Collins Youngs,
Henry Reidsilly, Jacob Harris, Amos and
Charles Bradford, John Woods, John Patrick,
Jacob Hummason, Isaac I'"lower, Jr., and Eben-
ezer W. Comes.

William Cunningham's district included the
road leading from the center north to Brockway's
mill and from thence on the triangle road lead-
ing to Simeon \\'heeler's, and included the fol-
lowing persons : David Bacon, Constant Lake,

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

Clark Rathbun, Samuel Patrick, B'^njamin Bent-
ley, Ethan Nathan, John Briggs, Reuben Camp-
bell, James Thompson, Henry and John Hull,
James Russell, Jacob Reeder, Richard Creamer,
Thomas Pattens, Joseph R. Porter, Jonathan
Alderman.

SCHOOLS.

The first school was held in a small log school-
house near Big Yankee run, on the east and west
center road — lot number seventy-seven. The
teacher was Miss Lois Sanford, of Connecticut,
familiarly known as " Aunt Lois." This school,
as may be imagined, was not only very rude in
its accommodations, but also in the appliances
for imparting instruction.

David Shepherd is remembered as one of the
early teachers who taught in a house at the south-
east part of the center ; also, afterward, Jacob
Hummason, on the west side of "the green."
The latter teacher had been a merchant in the
East, and was considered quite a good teacher.
These schools soon gave way to the district
school system, of which the township now has
eleven, with nine separate districts. District
number one, embracing the village, supports two
schools in separate buildings, and enumerates
ninety scholars. District number eleven, located
in the southeastern part, also supports two
schools.

INDIANS.

The early settlers in this township, especially
along Big Yankee run, were often annoyed by
the Indians as they wandered up and down the
stream. The boys of these strolling parties be-
came very familiar with the white boys of the
settlement, with whom they often engaged in
many friendly trials of physical strength and
skill. The white boys could generally throw
their red skin antagonists, but when it came to
foot-racing the Indian boys could out-distance
them.

The Indians were generally friendly but were
in the habit of going over into the neighboring
towns of Pennsylvania to exchange their furs
for whiskey, on which occasions they frequently
became engaged in quarrels which often ended
in fights, causing no little alarm among the
whites. On one of these occasions an old
Indian, well known in the neighborhood by the
name of Flinn, who was generally disliked on ac-
count of his sullen disposition and love of

whiskey, butchered his squaw near the east
bank of Big Yankee run. The Indians seemed
to care little or nothing for the crime committed,
and the murdered squaw was buried along the
roadside near the present school-house on the
east side of the creek. The funeral was cele-
brated in the usual Indian custom and nothing
more was thought of the deed, and old Flinn
pursued his usual vagabond life up and down
Yankee run. But it is related that a white man
by the name of Carr determined to avenge the
murder and accordingly watched his chance,
and one day as he was going along the banks of
the creek he saw the murderer in the act of
stooping over to tie his moccasin and he imme-
diately sent a bullet through his brain and then
fled to his cabin. Soon after the Indians found
the body. They suspected the whites of the
murder and made threats of retaliation, but as
they had no proof of the person guilty of the
deed nothing more came of it. No one knew
who had killed the old Indian until years after-
ward when the mystery was cleared up by a con-
fession from Carr. Several well known chiefs,
among them "Cadashaway" and "Kiogg," were
frequent visitors in the neighborhood.

THE BROOKFIELD AGRICULTUR.\L SOCIETY.

This society was organized in the year 1865
by five stockholders, namely: Samuel Shilling,
Albert Christy, Allison Chew, James C. Stru-
ble, and James Clark. The first officials were
Samuel .Shilling, president ; Albert Christy, vice-
president; A. Adams, secretary; and John Shook,
treasurer. The first exhibition was given in Sep-
tember, 1865, and the annual sessions have been
held regularly since. The past years have been
successful, the exhibits comparing favorably with
other like societies, and the attendance has been
very large. During the first years the stock paid
good dividends, and in 1874 the exhibits num-
bered nineteen hundred and fifteen; of later
years, however, the attendance has not been so
large on account of the more complete exhi-
bitions held in neighboring cities, which naturally
attract attention from the smaller societies. The
present board is composed of the following gen-
tlemen: Thomas A. Ballou, president; Peter
Carlton, vice-president; John Cole, treasurer; A.
C. Burnett, secretary; John L. Doud, A. Price,
W. H. Bushnell, Jesse Hall, Jr., H. H. Carey,
and A. Seaburn, directors.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

THE PRESBYTERIAN (oLDSCHOOL) CHURCH.

The early organization of the Presbyterian
church at Vienna center had among its members
many of the early settlers of Brookfield, who as
soon as the country became more thickly settled
organized a society of their own. Concerning
this organization the following original paper is
still to be found among the records of the church
at Brookfield:

Brookfiei.i), April i, 1816.
We, the people, inhabitants of Brookfield, or others ad-
jacent, taking into serious consideration the great importance
of estabhshing a gospel ministry in this place, do hereby
form ourselves into a church or congregation and to be known
as the Presbyterian churcli or congregation of Brookfield,
and do hereby promise and engage to give all pecuniary aid
or the assistance that may appear necessary for the support
of the same. In witness whereof we have hereunto set our
hands the day and year above mentioned.
(Signed)

Robert Hughes, James Montgomeky,

Jacob Ulp, James Kerney,

Matthew Thompson, Robert .Montgomery,
John I^afferty.

On the day following the date of the above
document the church was organized by Rev.
James Satterfield, of Mercer, Pennsylvania, act-
ing under authority of the Hartford presbytery.
The original members were James and Martha
Montgomery, Robert and Martha Hughes, Mat-
thew and Sarah Thom|)son, Jane Montgomery,
and James Kerney, from Washington county,
Pennsylvania; Jacob and Elizabeth Ulp, New
Jersey; Abigail Lafiferty, Mary Lafferty and her
daughter Mary, .^nn Lafferty and her daughter
Ann, and Nancy Lafferty. The officials of the
church were as follows : Matthew Thompson,
Robert Montgomery, and Jacob Ulp, trustees;
Robert Hughes, clerk, and Matthew Thompson,
treasurer.

During the year 18 17 the first house of wor-
ship was built, and was on the northwest corner
of what is now the cemetery. This was a frame
building, and the nails used in its construction
were all made by Isaac Flower by hand. In the
winter of 181 7 Rev. John Core, a licentiate of
the Hartford |)resbytery, was requested to be-
come the pastor, and the following spring he was
ordained at Youngstown and installed pastor of
Youngstovvn, Vienna, and Brookfield.

On January 18,1818, Robert Hughes, Mat-
thew Thompson, and Jacob Ulp were elected
elders (perpetual). On .\pril 8, 1820, James

Dunlap and Robert Hughes were elected ruling
elders, and on August 13th of the same year,
John Hughes was ordained and installed, with
James Dunlap, as ruling elder. In the autumn
of 1819 Rev. Core resigned the pastorate of
Vienna, but how long he remained the pastor of
Youngstown and Brookfield jointly is not known.
A statement, however, appears of a settlement
with him as pastor dated September 10, 1825.

The congregation on April 8, 1833, decided
to secure the services of Rev. James Anderson,
a licentiate of Washington presbytery, and dur-
ing this year the church received nineteen ad-
ditions. The sessions of this church and of
Hubbard met together at Hubbard, and in all
probability one minister served both charges.

At the session of the church held in May,
1837, Rev. William Woods then being pastor,
upon the question of a division of the denom-
ination into the Old- and New-school, which took
place the next year, it was decided to remain
with the old school.

At the meeting of the session, December 30,

1843, K.<^^'- Joseph Smith officiated as moderator
and administered the Lord's supper, at which
time there was an addition of sixteen members.
At the meeting of the congregation on .^pril 4,

1844, the membership of the session was in-
creased by the election of the following elders:
Ambrose Hart, John Kerney, and William Jewell,
who were ordained and installed as ruling elders
the following April, by Rev. Joseph Kerr.

September 11, 1845, Rev. Ward was installed
as pastor, and during his ministry occurred the
only case of discipline in this congregation from
its organization to the present, a period of over
sixty years. The pastorate of Mr. Ward was one
of much prosperity, spiritually, to the congrega-
tion. He continued as pastor until 1849, ^"d
was succeeded in that year by Rev. Jacob Coon,
who was succeeded in 1853 by Rev. H. Webber.
In the following year the record shows a mem-
bership of sixty-two. In 1855 Rev. A. McCurdy
administered the Lord's supper and in 1856
Rev. W. G. March was moderator. In this
same year, August 23d, Dr. John E. Stewart,
Samuel Shilling, and John Long were elected
ruling elders, but only the former two were in-
stalled. Rev. N. B. Lyons was installed as pas-
tor in June of this year, and probably served un-
til i860.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

351

In 1866 Rev. G. S. Rice was the stated sup-
ply for a time.

The name of Rev. W. C. Falconer appears on
the records as moderator in 1868. The few
years following the congregation did not prosper,
the membership declined, and regular preaching
was discontinued until the winter of 187 1-72, when
a revival occurred in the Methodist Episcopal
church, and the religious fervor awakened the
few remaining members of this church, and an
effort was made to secure the regular ministration
of the Gospel in their own house, which during
the following summer was thoroughly repaired.

In the meantime Rev Willis Weaver, a licen-
tiate of the Mahoning presbytery, now a mis-
sionary to Bogata, South America, preached
here half his time.

In September, 1872, an engagement was
made with the present pastor. Rev. J. Rea Stock-
ton, who served as supply until the spring meet-
ing of the presbytery, the congregation then
numbering twenty. In 1873 the pastor was
installed, and Thomas M. Gordon elected elder.

Since his pastorate began the church has re-
ceived many additions, and the Sabbath-school
has been reorganized, and is now in a flourishing
condition. John A. Stewart, Frank B. McKay,
and Francis M. McKay were elected elders in
June, 1881.

THE METHODISTS.

The Methodist Episcopal church of Brook-
field has had an existence for many years, but
the writer found it impossible to obtain any defi-
nite information concerning its history The
early members are all gone and they have left no
records concerning its organization and growth
from which reliable data could be procured.

THE DISCIPLES CHURCH.

The organization of this society was effected
by Rev. N. N. Bartlett, February 22, 1874. The
first of^cial board was composed of Jesse Hoag-
land, Henry Patterson, and A. Taylor, elders;
R. S. Hart, H. Hamilton, and J. W. Groves,
deacons. The charter members of the society,
including the above officials, are S. C. Hamilton,
Susan Groves, Mary and Flora Taylor, Lucy
Struble, Caroline Seaburn, Mary Groves, Mary
A. Toward, Catharine, Hannah, and Carrie
Jones, E. A. Clark, Mary Christy, Emily, Kate,
and O. Hart, Elsie Mason, G. W. and Sarah Bur-

ton, J. and Mary McMullen, O. J. and Hester
Burnett, Mystilla Jones, L. and Mary Randall, A.
and Esther McCollum, Emily Patterson, Lorain
Hatch, Elnora Day, James Haney, and Lavina
Montgomery. The society first held services in
the town hall at Brookfield until 1876, when the
present church building was erected. From the
time of organization to the present the society
has been served by the following preachers :
Henry Patterson, N. N. Bartlett, H. D. Carlton,
P. Vogle, Elder Peckham, O. A. Richards.

The Sabbath-school was organized June 30,
1881, with A. Taylor, superintendent; W. P.
Kerr, assistant ; Dora Hart, secretary and
treasurer ; J. J. Gettins and Cora McClain,
librarians ; and J. Broadbent, organist.

The school now has an enrollment of eighty-
si.\ scholars, and is in a flourishing condition.
The church has a membership numbering ninety-
three ; forty-one having been received by immer-
sion and letter during the past year. Tiie or-
ganization is yet new, but the indications of the
present bid fair for continued prosperity and the
accomplishment of much good work for the
moral welfare of the community.

NOTES OF SETTLEMENT.

Dr. Elijah Flower was one of the most widely
known and popular of the early physicians of
Trumbull county. He was born in Burlington,
Hartford county, Connecticut, in 1782, and re-
moved to Ohio in the fall of 1813 with his
family, consisting of his wife and one child, Mrs.
E. D. King, then not quite two years old. His
father, Horace Flower, had moved out previously
and settled in Vienna, and his daughter Lavinia
is said to have been the first white child born in
that township. Dr. Fowler settled in the center
of Brookfield, and resided there until his death.
He had practiced his profession in Connecticut,
having studied medicine with Dr. Everett, of
Burlington. His professional life was one of
great activity. He enjoyed an extensive practice
in Trumbull and Mercer counties, and was de-
servedly popular, not only on account of his
professional skill, but also for his eminently
genial disposition and social qualities. He died
February 2, 1839. His wife was Sylvia Hart,
daughter of Bliss Hart, of Connecticut, of whom
and family a sketch may be found on another
page of this work. Sylvia Hart was born in
Burlington, Connecticut, April i, 1790, and was

35 =

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

married to Dr. Flower November 8, 1810.
They were the parents of eight children, of whom
only two survive — Mrs. E. D. King, living in
Warren, and Mrs. A. Chew, living in Mercer
county, Pennsylvania. The deceased children
were Amanda (first wife of Dr. T. Garlick),
Lucy (wife of Pierce Wallahan), Sylvia (second
wife of Dr. Garlick), Orlando, Emeline M., and
Peter Allen.

E. D. King was born in Montgomery county,
Maryland, November 20, 1804. His father, Ed-
ward King, was a native of the same place, and
removed with his family to Youngstown, Ohio,
m 1806. He resided in Youngstown until his
death which occurred at about the age of forty-five
years. His occupation was principally that of a
butcher. He married in Maryland, Catharine
Pool, and reared a family of five boys and five
girls ; four are now living. His wife survived
him a number of years and died in Youngstown.
E. D. King came to Ohio with his parents in
1806, being then the youngest of five children.
He was brought up to farming until twenty
years old, then engaged in the boot and shoe
business in Youngstown as an employe of George
Hardman. He remained with hun some four
years, then commencing the same business for
himself in which he continued for over twenty
years. In 1847 he engaged in the dry goods
business at Brookfield with his brother-in-law, A.
Chew, in which he continued for three years.
For the subsequent three years he kept the hotel
at Brookfield center, and afterwards, until 1872,
was engaged in farming in Brookfield and Vien-
na. In that year he removed to \Varren and
has since that time led a comparatively retired
life. Mr. King was a justice of the peace in
Brookfield for six years and was elected to the
same office in Vienna, but did not serve. In
1855 he was elected county commissioner, serv-
ing three years. He married in 1827, Maria,
daughter of Dr. Elijah Flower, of Brookfield,
born in Connecticut in 181 1.

Jacob Ulp came from New Jersey to Brook-
field in 1804 and settled on the farm where his
sons now live. He married Elizabeth Scheiner
and raised three sons and two daughters. All
are living except one daughter, viz: William
and Amos, Brookfield ; Enoch, Hickory town-
ship, Mercer county, Pennsylvania; Eliza (Clark)
Girard, Pennsylvania. Susan is dead. Jacob

Ulp died in i860 aged eighty-three ; Mrs. Ulp
died in 1836 aged about sixty-two. William Ulp
was born in Brookfield on the farm where he now
lives in 18 10. He married, first, Elizabeth
Carkuff, a native of New Jersey. She bore four
children, all now living: Timothy Dwight,
Enoch, William, and Adelaide. Mrs. Ulp died
in 1845 '''ged thirty-two. Mr. Ulp married for
his second wife Nancy Wright, a native of Mas-
sachusetts. Five children, Eliza, Jane, Leoni-
das, Ella, and Ida. Amos Ulp was born in
Brookfield in 1813, and is still a resident of the
township. He married Rachel Conover and has
three children — Robert, Charles, and Alfred.

Robert Montgomery, from Washington county,
Pennsylvania, settled in Brookfield in 1804.
He raised a family of seven children, who arrived
at maturity: Robert, James, William, Hugh,
Morgan, Eliza Jane, and Mrs. John Kearney.
All are now living except William and Mrs.
Kearney. Eliza Jane married Wyatt McKay, of
Mercer county, Pennsylvania. Mr. McKay died
in 1874, aged about fifty-four. He was the
father of six children, four of whom are living:
Myrtilla Jane, S. A., F. B. and F. M. (twins),
Nannie, James. The daughters are both dead.
The sons are living, located as follows : S. A.
married Maggie McMichael first, and second,
Mary Clark. He is now in Sharon in the book
and news business. F. B. married Mary Gill-
mer and resides in Brookfield ; F. M. married
Arie Long and resides in Brookfield ; James is
attending school in Valparaiso, Indiana, fitting
for the legal profession; Wyatt McKay settled on
the old Montgomery farm, where his widow still
resides. Mr. McKay was an active business
man and a prominent citizen of Brookfield.

James Bentley was born in Sharon, Pennsyl-
vania, in 1798. In 1806 he came to Brookfield
with his parents, Benjamin and Mary Bentley,
who settled north of the center road. They
raised eight sons and two daughters. All are
dead but James and Aholiab. The latter lives
ill Portsmouth, Ohio, where he has been engaged
in the iron business. Benjamin Bentley, the
father, died in October, 1818, aged sixty-two.
His widow died about 1867, aged eighty-six.
James Bentley lives on the old farm. He mar-
ried Temperance Buttles, a native of Connecti-
cut, in 1823. She moved from Connecticut to
Brookfield in 1817 with her parents, Benoni and

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

353

Mary Buttles. Mr. and Mrs. James Bentley
have five children living, two deceased : .\mos
E., Missouri; Anson G., Niles; Martin V. died,
in Iowa; Benjamin F., Brookfield; Joel B., Mis-
souri; Caroline (Woodbridge), Iowa; Eveline
(Devol), dead. Mr. Bentley served as justice of
the peace two terms. In 1840 he took the cen-
sus of the south half of Trumbull county before
Mahoning county was formed. Mr. Bentley is
in the enjoyment of vigorous health and has a
vivid recollection of pioneer times.

^V'illiam Squires was born in Burlington, Con-
necticut, in 1810, and came to Ohio with his
parents, Jason and Elizabeth (Wilmot) Squires,
when eight years old. They settled in Vienna,
on the farm where William lived. William
Squires in 1834 married Sarepta Woodford, who
survives him. They had si.x children : Jason,
Willard, Sidney, Docia, Lucia, and Nellie. Mr.
Squires died August 22, 1879. Mrs. Squires is
the daughter of Isaac and Statira (Cowles) Wood-
ford, who settled in this township among the
first arrivals. Only four of their children are
living, viz.: Isaac, Emeline (Tniesdell), Laura
(Smith), and Mrs. Squires.

Abiel Bartholomew came to Vienna from
Waterbury, Connecticut, arriving in October,
1S04. His son Ira came with him. Ira married
Boadicea Church. They raised five children :
.\biel, Mary, Eli, Rachel, Erastus. Abiel resides
in ^'ienna, Eli in Indiana, Mary (Fuller) in
Vienna. Rachel and Erastus are dead. Abiel
was born September 14, 1805. He married
Lorinda Maria Tyrrell in 1830. They have
seven children : Rebecca, Mary Antoinette,
Epenetus R., Boadicea, Ira, Celesta and Austin.
All are married and have families. Mr. Bar-
tholomew is the oldest native of the township
now living in Vienna.

James Stewart settled in Coitsville in 1802,
coming from Pennsylvania. He was twice mar-
ried. By his first wife he had four children, all
of whom are dead. For his second wife he
married Jane Buchanan. Eight children were
born to them, five of whom are living : Polly,
James, Joseph, Alexander, and David. David
Stewart was born in Coitsville in 1828. In 1849
he married Aurilla Gray, of Coitsville. They
have three children living — John M., George H.,
and Luella. Mr. Stewart first settled in Liberty
township, moved thence to Hubbard, and in

1867 moved to his present location in Brook-
field. Mr. Stewart is a member of the United
Presbyterian church. Mrs. Stewart died in Au-
gust, 1878, aged forty-nine. She was a member
of the same church. Both the sons are married.
John resides in Brookfield. George is in the
hardware business in Hubbard.

Phineas Wheeler was born in Erie county,
Pennsylvania, in 1826, and came with his par-
ents, William and Margaret Wheeler, to Brook-
field when young. Of William Wheeler's chil-
dren eight are yet living, five sons and three
daughters. Phineas, the fourth child, married
Emily Jones in 1859. She is a daughter of
John E. Jones, of Brookfield. Mr. and Mrs.
Wheeler have but one child. Earl. Mrs. Wheel-
er belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church.
Mr. Wheeler is a Republican in politics.

James Christy, a naiive of Sussex county,
New Jersey, settled in Brookfield in i8i6. His
wife was Elizabeth Struble. They had nine chil-
dren, six of whom are living, Robert, Emeline,
David, Seth, William, and John. James Christy
died in 1861 in his seventy-third year. Mrs.
Christy died about seven years later. Robert
Christy was born in New Jersey in 181 1, and
has lived in Brookfield since 18 16. He married
Amanda Reno in 1837. They have six children
— Albina, Minerva, J. N., Elizabeth E,, Charles
R., and J. P. Mr. Christy is a member of the
Presbyterian church. His wife is a Methodist.

Dr. Robert P. Hays was born in Venango
county, Pennsylvania, in 1840. He studied
medicine with Dr. Robert Crawford, at Coopers-
town, Pennsylvania. He attended medical lect-
ures at the University of Pennsylvania, Phila-
delphia, and graduated in March, 1866. In
May of the same year Dr. Hays settled in Vien-
na, where he now enjoys a large practice. He
is a member of the Masons and of the Temple
of Honor, and in politics a Prohibitionist. Di.
Hays was married in 1876 to Miss Lavinia C.
Bacon, of Vienna. They have one child, a
daughter — Frank — three years old.

Among the Welsh residents of Brookfield
David S. Jones, who lives on a farm in the
southwest of the township, is one of the most
prominent. At the time of our visit he was
absent, visiting his native land, therefore we are
unable to give a personal history of him.

John and Lucy Bentley were among the early

354

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIKS, OHIO.

settlers of Mercer county, Pennsylvania, adjoin-
ing Brookfield. Their son Elam Bentley was born
in 1811. He married first Rachel Dilley, and
after residing two years in Hubbard moved to
Brookfield and there spent the remainder of his
days. By his first wife he had six children,
three of whom are living, James Lauriston, John
Emery, and Cornelius. In i860 he married
Elizabeth Thomas, a native of Hartford, who
survives him. One child, Mary Louie, is living;
Lucy Anna died in 1881 aged ten years. Mr.
Bentley died in 1873. He was a member of the
Baptist church. Mrs. Bentley is a menibei of
the Methodist church.

Samuel D. Gettis came to Ohio from Carlisle,
Pennsylvania, and settled with his parents, James
and Margaret Gettis, in Liberty township, at an
early date. S. D. Gettis married, first, Eliza
Tully, by whom he had three children, two of
whom are living — Lorinda, Emeline, and Mary
Jane (dead). Mr. Gettis married for his second
wife Ellen Branning. Three children by this mar-
riage are living — John, Eliza M., and Lina.
Lorinda Gettis first married Austin Alderman.
One child by this marriage — Lyman G., dead.
Mr. Alderman died in 1857. His widow mar-
ried Joseph Hart, and by him had one child —
Mary Elizabeth. Mr. Hart died in i860. Mrs.
Hart still resides upon the homestead in Vienna.

Isaac D. Price, son of Isaac and Christiana
(Hibler) Price, was born in Hubbard in 1836.
His father was a native of Hubbard and his
mother came to that township from New Jersey
when young. Mrs. Price is still living. Mr.
Price died in 1867. Six of their children are
living, three sons and three daughters. I. D.
Price in 1867 married Nancy Hall, daughter of
Jesse and Jane Hall, old residents of Hubbard.
In 1873 Mr. Price settled in Brookfield. He is
the father of three children — Isaac, Clara J.,
and Mary F. Mr. and Mrs. Price are members
of the Disciples church. In August, 1862, Mr.
Price enlisted in the Ninety-fourth Ohio volun-
teen infantry, and served two years. He was
taken prisoner in September, 1862, near Lexing-
ton, Kentucky, but was released on jiarole after
two days. He was in the battles of Richmond,
Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, etc.

R. R. Miner, son of Julius and Lucy (Rowe)
Miner, was born in Hartford, Trumbull county,
in 1822. His father, from Ilartland, Connecti-

cut, came to Ohio in 1820; settled in Vernon;
lived there several years, removing to Hartford,
and died there at the age of seventy-seven. Mrs.
Miner was a daughter of Titus Rowe, who settled
in Hartford in 1820, and there lived and died.
R. R. Miner is the third son of a family of nine
children, of whom two sons and four daughters
are living. He was married in 1850 to Paulina
L. Lewis, daughter of Levi Lewis, of Vienna.
They have three children living: Eugenia
(Groves), Sharon; Cornelia (Sanburn), Brookfield,
and Clara, at home. Mr. Miner has lived in
Brookfield about twenty-seven years.

Peter Cook was born in the province of Bava-
ria, Germany, in 1830. In 1852 he came to
America, and remained in New York one year;
settled at Sharon, Pennsylvania, in 1853, and on
his present farm in Brookfield in 1865. He
married Margaret Dininger, also a native of
Germany, in 1855. They have nine children liv-
ing: Leonard J., Sophia R., Martha L., Theo-
dore H., Godlove G., Alfred C, Jonathan S.,
Martha, Selina. Mr. and Mrs. Cook belong to
the Lutheran church.

James Lafferty was an early settler of Brook-
field. He was a native of Ireland. His sons
were James and William; his daughters, Jane,
Rebecca, Martha, Margaret, Orpha, and Lettie.
Of this family only three are living — Martha, Or-
pha, and Lettie. William Lafferty lived in Brook-
field on the home place. He married Mary
Arthurholt for his first wife, and for his second
Fannie Eacrett. By the first marriage there were
six children, three of whom are living — Orpha,
Drusilla, and William Andrew. The children of
the second marriage are Ella and Edward, both
living. Mr. Lafiferty died in 1875 aged fifty-
eight. He was a member of the Methodist Epis-
copal church and a respected citizen.

J. G. Treat, son of J. H. Treat, was born in
1855 in Weathersfield township. He is now en-
gaged in keeping a livery stable at Cortland. He
followed the same business two years in Menna,
and moved from that place to his present location
in the spring of 1882.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

Biographical Sketches,

BLISS HART AND FAMILY.

The Hart family is a very numerous and
honorable one, and highly distinguished for
piety, industry, and patriotism, of which the
principal subject of this sketch is a worthy rep-
resentative. Bliss Hart, one of the pioneer
settlers of Brookfield township, was the third
son of the Hon. Simeon Hart, and his wife
Sarah (Sloper), of Burlington, Connecticut. He
entered the Continental army in 1777, at the
age of fifteen, was in a number of hard-fought
battles, and after much hardship, privation, and
suffering, was discharged May, 1780. In May,
1783, he married Sylvia Upson, a lady of good
family, and of first-rate intellectual endowments,
a brilliant conversationalist. Witty, beautiful, and
warm-hearted, she was worthy of her husband,
who was a man of strong powers of mind, and
was much respected, and had much influence in
the church, town, and society of Burlington,
which he represented at six sessions of the
General Assembly; was a magistrate, and was a
member of the convention to form the constitu-
tion, but having gone security for a large amount
for a friend he was obliged to sell his real estate
at a heavy sacrifice, and in the year 1823 re-
moved with his family, which at this time con-
sisted of himself and wife, and a son, Oliver
Ellsworth, and a daughter, Amanda (their other
children having previously married), to the south
part of Brookfield township, where he pur-
chased four hundred and fifty acres of land,
upon which he set at)out building up a new
home, clearing, erecting buildings, planting fruit
trees, etc., so that in a short time the wilderness
bloomed and blossomed as the rose.

Mrs. Hart was a woman of much native
strength of character, kmd-hearted, and sym-
pathetic, very energetic, with an indomitable
will, thrifty and mdustrious, possessed of a genial
and sunny disposition. She was a fit helpmeet
for her husband under the changed circum-
stances in which they were placed, and instead
of repining at the adverse dealings of Providence,
she went to work with a will, to help redeem
their fallen fortunes. Heaven smiled upon their
earnest endeavors, and plenty soon crowned their

hospitable board, while good cheer and happi-
ness reigned.

The broken soldier, kindly bade to stay,
Sate by the fire, and talked the night away,
Wept o'er his wounds, or, tales of sorrow done,
Shouldered his crutch, and showed how fields were won.

It is related, as an instance of Mrs. Hart's
pluck, that a rabid dog came into their door-yard
one day when there was no one at home e.xcept
herself and her two little grandchildren. She
saw that the animal was on its way to the barn-
yard, and with wonderful presence of mind,
without a moment's hesitation, ran out through
the wood-yard and picked up a stout hickory
club, which fortunately lay there, and armed
with this weapon of defense, drove the savage
animal away, and down the road, without its
having offered to attack her or showing any re-
sistance. Mr. and Mrs. Hart were among the
"pillars of the Presbyterian church, never ab-
senting themselves from its services, except in
case of severe sickness in their family. Mrs.
Hart was noted for her ministrations by the side
of the sick bed and also for her benevolence,
verifying the Scripture that it is more blessed to
give than to receive." After a long life of active
usefulness, beloved by all who knew her, "like a
shock of corn, fully ripe," she passed to her rest,
August 20, 1854, at the advanced age of eighty-
nine years, and was interred in the old burying-
ground in Brookfield by the side of her husband,
who departed this life March 6, 1831, aged
seventy years. Their children were Oliver Bliss,
Sylvia, Experience, Levi, Amanda, Oliver Ells-
worth, Rosalinda, Melissendia, and Robert
Sloper, the first and last of whom died young ;
the others lived to grow up and have families of
their own. All of them, except Experience)
finally removed to Brookfield, and settled there.
Upon the death of Bliss Han the old home-
stead reverted to his son, Oliver Ellsworth Hart,
who afterward married Susannah White Dan-
forth, of Palmyra, New York, a cultured. Chris-
tian lady, of excellent family, lovely in disposi-
tion, and exemplary in character. Five children
were the fruit of this union, two sons and three
daughters, all of whom were born and brought
up, at the old homestead, except one son, who
died at the age of three years. In middle life
Mr. and Mrs. Hart were called to their long
home. Surrounded by their children and friends

3S6

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

they died in the triumph of a living faith, and
were buried in the village graveyard in Brook-
field. A beautiful monument marks their graves.

Suneon O. Hart, the surviving son of Oliver
Ellsworth Hart and his wife, is a young man of
good natural ability, who has had good educa-
tional advantages, and has improved his mind
by extensive reading, observation, and travel. He
studied law at the Cleveland Law school ; but his
health failing he has never entered upon its
practice. In politics he is a Republican. At
the age of fifteen years he united with the
church of the Disciples, of which he is still a
constant member. He is known and respected in
business circles for his integrity of character. He
is the owner of considerable real estate in Trum-
bull and Mahoning counties, and in other parts
of the country.

Harriet Eliza Hart, granddaughter of Bliss
Hart and his wife Sylvia (Upson), and daugh-
ter of Oliver Ellsworth Hart and his wife,
Susannah White (Danforth), early evinced a love
of learning, and an aptitude for the acquisition
of knowledge. With a miser's greed she sought
knowledge, and eagerly devoured the contents of
every book or newspaper which fell into her
hands. She especially delighted in books of
poetry, history, and biography. She was diligent
and painstaking while in school, and always
stood at the head of her class. At an early age
she contributed to the press both prose and
poetry. It is related as an instance of her readi-
ness with the pen, that a leading member of the
Mahoning county bar, having read an article in
one of the newspapers dated at Brookfield, under
the signature of H., inquired of a friend of his,
whose home was in Brookfield, what legal gen-
tleman they had in their town capable of writing
such a paper as the one published in last week's
Review? His friend informed him that the
author of the contribution was Miss Hart. The
president of a college where she studied, says in
speaking of her: "She possesses a mind of the
highest order, as to powers of reading and forc-
ible, elegant, persuasive expression. I feel sure
that providence calls her to serve her generation
and age in some needed work, where her supe-
rior culture and deep sympathy with the needy
can be brought into active daily recognition."
She is an active temperance worker, and occu-
|)ies advanced ground upon all questions relating

to the uplifiing uf humanity. 'I'ruc to her con-
victions, she permits no lion in the way to turn
her aside from duty's path. Doing with her
might what her hands find to do, she will go on
her way, laboring for the advancement of every
good cause, until death shall crown her victor.

Orenus Hart, the oldest of the ten children of
Bliss and Sylvia (Upson) Hart, married Sabra
Lewis in Connecticut. They had five children,
viz: Charles (deceased), Robert S., Blucher B.
(deceased), Adeline (deceased), and Henry, who
died in Andersonville prison. Orenus Hart was
born in 1785, and died in his eighty-sixth year.
His wife died at the age of eighty-nine in No-
vember, 1877.

Robert S. Hart, only living representative of
the family of Orenus Hart, was born in Burling-
ton, Connecticut, June 29, 1814. In 1838 he
married Mary Ann Christy, a native of New Jer-
sey. She died in 187 1, leaving seven children,
six of whom are now living — Orenus, born 1839;
Seth, born 1842; Dennis B., born 1843; John,
born 1850; Florence (Forward), born 1852;
George, born 1853; Emeline, born 1854, died 1880.
Emeline married Samuel Seaburn, and left one
child, a daughter. The children are all married.
All live in Brookfield except Dennis B., who re-
sides in Portage county, and Florence in Wayne
county, Iowa. Mr. Hart served three years as
justice of the peace. His son Seth was in the
One Hundred and Fffth Ohio volunteer infantry,
and was under Sherman during his march to the
sea. In 1873 Mr. Hart married Mrs. Mary E.
Scovill, nee Roberts, a native of Vienna. Mr.
and Mrs. Hart belong to the Disciple church.
Mr. Hart recalls the manner of the journey from
Connecticut to Brookfield. His father and his
uncle Bliss journeyed with ox-teams, and were
six weeks upon the road. They came via Al-
bany, Buffalo, Erie, Meadville, and from Kins-
man down the first range of townships to Brook-
field. His father taught school at the center in
the winter of 1822-23, '" ^ small frame school-
house which stood on the present site of the
Disciple church. The scholars sat on benches
made from slabs. This was the only school '\x\
Brookfield at that time, and between fifty and
sixty scholars attended it.

Chauncey Hart, eldest son of .Xrd and Mil-
licent (Roberts) Hart, was born in lUiilington,
Connecticut, June 9, 1S02. He married in

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

357

Burlington, December 17, 1823, Millessendra
Hart, daughter of Bliss Hart, born in Burling-
ton December 17, 1803. They removed to
Trumbull county, Ohio, in 1825, and settled in
Vienna township, where they resided about seven
years. Subsequently they resided in Hartford
for a time, but in the spring of 1835 they located
in Brookfield, where he lived until his death,
September 18, 1844. Mrs. Hart afterwards be
came the wife of Samuel Baldwin and resided at
Ravenna, Portage county, Ohio, surviving the
death of her second husband. Chauncey and
Millessendra Hart were the parents of the follow-
ing named children : Helen M., born August
17, 1824, now wife of Henry H. Long, residing
in Hubbard; William E., born April 9, 1826, re-
siding in Cleveland; Alphonso, born July 4,
1830, a lawyer, residing at Hillsborough, Ohio
— ex-State Senator and e.\-Lieutenant-governor of
Ohio; Orlando, born July 29, 1832, residing at
Ravenna; Edgar L., born April 13, 1825, a mer-
chant of Cleveland.

William E. Hart remained on the farm until
eighteen, taught school and was employed as
clerk in a store until 1852, when he began a gen-
eral mercantile business at Newton Falls. Re-
mained there until i856, doing a prosperous bus-
iness, and removed to Cleveland. In the spring
of 1868 he engaged in the wholesale grocery
business under the firm name of Thompson,
Hart & Co. He continued m that business un-
til 1875, when his impaired health compelled his
retirement from busmess. He married in 1852
Miss Rachel H. Wheelock, born in Portage
county, and has a son and a daughter — Frank
W., born September 9, 1853, a member of the
firm of Hart & Co.; and Clara A., born Decem-
ber 2, 1857.

Edgar L. Hart was educated at a private
school in Youngstown, where he resided with his
mother until 1850; taught school two years (from
fourteen years of age to sixteen). In 1852 he
entered the employ of his brother, William E.,
in the dry goods trade at Newton Falls. He
was then a student at Bryant & Stratton's Com-
mercial college, Cleveland, taking a full course
and acquiring a practical knowledge of mercan-
tile business. He then entered the employ of
H. S. Day, of Ravenna, where he remained until
i860, when he went to Cleveland and engaged
as salesman for Morgan, Root & Co. After the

establishment of their wholesale house he be-
came a partner in the millinery and notion de-
partment, which connection he retained until
January, 1881. He then formed a partnership
with F. W. Hart and A. Van Tuyl, and pur-
chased the millinery branch of the business,
erecting the building on Bank street, 48 to 50,
where they are now located. This is probably
the most extensive house for the sale of millinery,
silks, and fancy goods in the State, a busmess of
half a million dollars per annutn being trans-
acted. Mr. Hart is unmarried.

CHAPTER VIIL

HUBBARD.

INTRODtlCTORV.

East of the Mahoning in the southern tier of
townships of this county the country for several
miles presents a broken surface consisting of a
succession of low hills, knolls, ridges and valleys.
From the tops of the principal elevations the ob-
server obtains a fine view of picturesque scenery
in which the results of the handiwork of Nature
and man's creative industry are harmoniously
blended. Fertile fields, green woodlands and
sparkling streamlets delight the eye, and the
subdued sounds of industrial activity greet the
ear. At the foot of the hills are busy towns and
hamlets, whence arise such dense clouds of
black smoke that one would almost fancy him-
self near the workshops of the Titans and Vul-
cans of antiquity. Toiling locomotives, dragging
heavy loads of coal and ore, wend their way
through the valleys, and from numerous hillsides
arise the puffs of smoke and steam which attest
that the coal-beds beneath the earth are being
made to yield up their hidden wealth. Every-
where the steam-engine is at work, even

Down in the depths of the fathomless mine

Its tireless arm doth play,
Where the rocks never saw the sun's decline

Or the dawn of the glorious day.

Hubbard township contains some of the most
extensive coal deposits of the Mahoning valley.
Two railroads, branches of the New York, Penn-
sylvania & Ohio and the Lake Shore & Michi-
gan Southern, pass through the township, having

3S8

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

their termini in Youngstown. Numerous coal
roads branch off from these and run to the
various banks in Hubbard. The coal and iron
interests of this township have contributed
largely towards increasing the wealth and pros-
perity of the inhabitants.

Hubbard also contains much good farming
land. The soil is variable, consisting of clayey,
sandy, and gravelly loams. As the most of the
surface is high and rolling, the soil is well-drained
and arable.

Little Yankee run is the chief stream in the
township. Crossing the township line about
three-fourths of a mile east of the northwestern
corner of Hubbard, it flows southerly and south
easterly, past the village of Coalburg to a poin
very near the center of the township and jus
north of Hubbard village, where it makes a U
shaped turn and flows easterly a mile; then bend
ing to the northward passes over into the south
east of Brookfield township, where it enters the
Shenango river. The stream in its course through
Hubbard township is very crooked; and the
New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio railroad, which
follows up its valley from Hubbard village, crosses
the Little Yankee five times in the township.

Hubbard township is the southeastern corner
of Trumbull county, and adjoins the Pennsylva-
nia line on the east. Brookfield is the next
township north of it; Liberty lies on the west,
and Coitsville, Mahoning county, on the south.
Hubbard is the third township in the first range
of New Connecticut.

OWNER.SHIP, ETC.

Nehemiah Hubbard, Jr., an original member
of the Connecticut Land company, was the owner
of the land of township three, range one, and it
was sold out to settlers by his agent, Samuel
Tylee.

The township was organized into an election
district in 1806, and named after its original
owner. No records of early elections can be
found.

SETTLEMENT.

Hubbard was first settled by people from Con-
necticut, New Jersey, Virginia, and other eastern
States ; a few Pennsylvanians were also among
the pioneers. Very few of the original families
are now represented in the township. The
growth of population was very slow. In 1834

there were only about one hundred voters in the
township.

Samuel Tylee and family were the first settlers.
They came from Middletown, Connecticut, and
arrived in Hubbard September i, 1801. Mr.
Tylee chose as a site for his cabin a spot north-
west of the present corners of the village, and
there began the life of a pioneer. He married
Anna Sanford, and they had a family of five chil-
dren when they came here. Mr. Tylee acted as
agent for Nehemiah Hubbard for the sale of the
land of the township to settlers, for many years.
He was born in Litchfield county, Connecticut,
in 1766, and died in Hubbard in 1845. His
first wife bore ten children, and his second, Eliz-
abeth Ayres, one. The names of these children
were Anna, Laura, Samuel, Mary, Sanford, Wil-
liam, Julia, Hannah, Maria A. and Olivia. Five
are still living, viz: William, in Kansas; Han-
nah (Bussey), New Orleans; Maria (Clingen),
Hubbard ; Eliza (Hagar), Hubbard ; and Olivia
(Barnheisel) San Francisco. Samuel Tylee was
the first justice of the peace in the township and
also a very [irominent business man, whose en-
terprise contributed not a little to the jjrosperity
of the settlement.

Sylvester Tylee, brother of Samuel, settled on
the northeastern corner lot at the cross-roads in
1802. The village became known as Tylee's
corners. His children are all dead. Their
names were Clarissa, Samuel, Alfred, Marietta,
Rebecca, and Homer.

William Burnett, from Sussex county. New
Jersey, settled in this township about the year
1801. He lived to the age of ninety-four. His
son Silas, born in December, 1802, was the first
white child born in the township. William Bur-
nett was twice married, and reared eleven chil-
dren to mature years. Those now living are :
Silas, Warren; Rachel (Bowen), Iowa; ZiUa
(Brockway), Iowa; Joseph, Hartford; and by his
second wife, William and Peter, in Pennsyl-
vania.

Enos Burnett, Silas, Edward, and Stephen
were also early settlers and nearly all passed
their lives in the township.

As definite dates of the several settlements
cannot now be ascertained, we mention below
several representatives of the pioneers, most of
whom came to the township between 1802 and
180S:

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

359

Jeremiah Wolf, from New Jersey, settled on
lot seventy-two in the southeast of the town-
ship, being among the first arrivals. His sons
John and Cephas still live in Hubbard. His
daughter Elizabeth, now Mrs. McGill, of Poland,
is said to have been the first white female child
born in Hubbard. He was a nail-maker, and
made the nails used by 'Squire Tylee in the first
frame house erected in the township.

Jesse Hall, from New Jersey, was an early
settler in the northern part of the township. So
many New Jersey settlers were located on the
road running north from the center that it was
long known as "Jersey street." Jesse Hall, Jr.,
is the only survivor of the original family now in
the township.

John Ayres was another of the Jersey settlers.
His son John lived and died on the old home-
stead. The family name is not represented in
the township at present.

Cornelius Dilley, another of the pioneers, had
two sons who passed their days in Hubbard —
John, on the old homestead, and Thompson in
east Hubbard.

Martin Swartzwelter and his father, of New
Jersey, settled in the northwest of this town-
ship. His son Thomas lives on part of the old
farm.

Samuel Leslie, father of Tames, of Irish de-
scent, or of Irish nativity, was also one of the
pioneers of the northwest of Hubbard.

Matthew Mitchell, a native of Ireland, set-
tled in the west of Hubbard in 1806, coming
hither from Pittsburg. His son, Nathaniel
Mitchell, Esq., is now the only survivor of the
family of two sons and three daughters.

William Porterfield, from Washington county,
Pennsylvania, was an early settler in the noith-
west of the township, on a place which had been
somewhat improved by a man named Chamber-
lain. Robert, the oldest son of William Porter-
field, now lives on the old place.

John Jewell, also from Allegheny county,
Pennsylvania, settled in the Porterfield neighbor-
hood. His son, Ale.\ander M., now living in
Warren, raised his family in Hubbard.

Joel Smith was among the first who located in
the southwest of the township. He moved away
quite early.

John Gardner, another inhabitant of the
southwest of Hubbard, reared a family of four

children, John, James, Andrew, and Elizabeth.
All lived and died in this township excepting
John, who died in Coitsville.

Amos Smith settled in the southwest of the
township. His sons, William, Amos, Nathan,
and Joel, lived in this township and reared fam-
ilies.

George Frazier lived on the farm adjoining
that of Amos Smith, Sr. His son George
brought up his family here. Hugh died on the
old place; John went West.

Stephen Doughton lived on a place adjoining
the Porterfield farm. His son David reared a
family of four children here, and died on his way
to California of cholera, in 1852.

David Bailey, from Connecticut, settled on the
south lot of the township, on the road leading to
the center. His sons were David, Seth, Tryan,
and Ritter. He also had four daughters.

William Parrish was one of the early Maryland
settlers. His son John, who is one of the oldest
residents of Hubbard, still lives upon the old
farm.

The Roberts and Clark families were among
the first of the Yankee settlers in the southern
part of the township. The names are no longer
to be found among the residents of Hubbard.
Edward Bussey, about 1803, settled north of the
Porterfield farm.

A. K. Cramer, a native of New Jersey, settled
in east Hubbard in 1816. His father. Captain
Frederick Cramer, was under the immediate
command of Washington during six years of the
Revolutionary war. Mr. Cramer came here a
young man and married Susan Price, by whom
he had four children, Elizabeth, Sarah (de-
ceased), Naomi, and Susan. By his second wife,
Matilda Pierce, seven children were born : J. P.,
Hannah, S. P., A. K., J. H., Matilda, and A. W.
Two of these, S. P. and A. K., reside in Hub-
bard and are engaged in the drug business. A.
K. Cramer, Sr., was one of the organizers and
main supporters of the Baptist church. He was
justice of the peace two terms and township
clerk thirty consecutive years. In 186=; he
moved to Iowa. He died in 1873 aged seventy-
seven. Mrs. Cramer died in 1877 aged seventy-
three. Of their sons, S. P., was township clerk
for years, and justice of the peace one term. A.
K., Jr., has been twice elected justice and three
times mayor.

360

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

EARLY EVENTS.

The first frame house in Hubbard township
was erected in 1808 by Samuel Tylee. It is still
standing m Hubbard township.

The first justice of the peace was Samuel
Tylee, who also served m later years. George
Frazier, Joel Smith, and Thomas Robinson were
also among the early justices.

George Frazier built the first brick house in
the township.

E.\RLY SCHOOLS.

Several log school-houses were built in the
township previous to 1810. The first was prob-
ably that built on the farm of John Gardner m
the southwest of the township. Who the first
teacher was is not to be ascertained. Joel Smith,
a middle-aged man, was a very early teacher in
the old school-house just named. Among his
pupils were a number of well-grown boys and
not too fond of study. The practice of bar-
ring out the schoolmaster was then almost uni-
versal, and was usually tried the mornmg follow-
ing Christmas. One day Smith came to the
school-house in the morning — the preceding day
had been Christmas and a holiday — and found
that his pupils were inside but every entrance
was barred by heavy logs. He demanded ad-
mission but this was refused. He then procured
a rail and pried out some of the chunks which
were fitted in between the logs. Failing to make
an entrance sufficiently large to admit him, he
went to a neighboring house for advice and aid.
The neighbor returned with him, and the two
men then climbed upon the roof, made a hole
through it and got inside upon the loft, which
was laid with loose boards placed across heavy
beams. Tearing up this flooring, they were pre-
paring to descend when several stout boys seized
a heavy wooden table, raised it upon their
shoulders and held it firmly against the opening.
The teacher jumped upon the table determined
to get it out of his way, when at a given signal
the boys let go and teacher and table made a
rapid descent into the room and sprawled over
the floor. Both were somewhat bruised but not
seriously injured. The schoolmaster was seized,
put out of doors and his castle again barricaded
from the interior. There was no school that day.

A. G. Babcock and Timothy Doty were the
names of early teachers in a school-house situ-
ated on the road west of the village

EARLY INDUSTRIES.

'Squire Tylee erected the first grist-mill about
1809. It was on Yankee run, a mile and a half
northeast of the village. It was built of logs
and had two runs of stones. He also had a
saw-mill near the grist-mill built about the same
time. Both were afterwards replaced by frame
buildings.

The first distillery in the township was erected
on the farm of 'Squire Tylee.

About 1 8 10 a carding-mill, situated near the
State line, was run by William Elliott. About
1824 'Squire Tylee erected a carding- and cloth-
fulling-mill on the present village lot of 'Squire
Mitchell. This mill was run by horse-power.

The first tannery was built by Jehiel Roberts,
early in this century, a little south of the center
of the village. Jesse Clark, who married the
widow Roberts, carried on the business after
him.

The first store was opened by Dr. John Mitch-
eltree, who came to the township about 1806,
and commenced business soon after. This store
was in Pennsylvania ; but as the end of the log-
cabin in which the merchant lived was in Hub-
bard, probably the latter has the best claim to the
establishment. His store was in the east end of
the cabin, so that while doing business in Penn-
sylvania, he was a resident of Ohio.

Dr. Mitcheltree was tlie first physican. He
was born in Ireland, but came to this country
young, and here learned the art of medicine.
For many years he was the only doctor in the
township. From his store and his practice com-
bined he accumulated sufficient property so that
he was accounted a wealthy man in those days.

Sylvester Tylee was the first postmaster. The
office was established previous to 181 2. He also
kept tavern and a few groceries.

The first store at Tylee's corners was kept in
his own house by Samuel Tylee as early as 1S18.

This enterprising little place is too young to
have much history. Up to 1861 it was merely a
country cross-roads, with few houses or inhabit-
ants. But when the coal-fields began to be
largely developed the corners rapidly became a
village, and in the course of ten years nearly two
thousand inhabitants were comprised within the
present limits of the village. The houses were

C?f

Klft^

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

36.

nearly all put up in haste, and many of them still
stand unimproved in appearance. Main street
is long and thickly dotted with houses and stores
for nearly a mile and a half.

The largest mercantile establishment in Hub-
bard is that of George M. McKelvey eV' Co., who
have been in business in this place since Septem-
ber I, 1877. The furnace and coal companies
have an interest in the store, and from it the work-
men receive supplies. Mr. G. M. McKelvey,
the head of the firm, was born in Indiana coun-
ty, Pennsylvania, in 1849. He was a merchant
in Youngtown ten years before coming to Hub-
bard. In politics he is Republican; in relig-
ion, a member of the United Presbyterian
church. He is married, and has two children.

D. T- Edwards, at present the clerk of the
Ohio House of Representatives,'is another of the
successful and respected merchants of this place.

A summary of the business of the village shows
the following: twelve stores of all kinds, one ho-
tel, numerous saloons, seven churches, one Na-
tional bank, three physicians, two lawyers, one
newspaper, one grist-mill, one rolling-mill, two
blast furnaces, etc.

INCORPORATION.

Hubbard village, comprising a tract about one
mile square, was incorporated in 1868. It now
has an estimated population of about two thou-
sand. The mayors, since the incorporation,
have been: Nathaniel Mitchell, L. R. Prior,
John Cramer, Add. Randall, Alexander Camp-
bell, J. D. Cramer, and A. K. Cramer. The lat-
ter is now serving his third term. The officers
consist of mayor, six councilmen, clerk, treas-
urer, marshal, and one street commissioner.

IRON MANUK,\CTURE.

Next to the coal business the manufacture of
iron has contributed most to the prosperity of
Hubbard.

Hubbard furnace, number one, was erected in
1868; number two, in 1872. Both are owned by
Andrews & Hitchcock. Eighty to ninety men
are employed. The daily capacity of both fur-
naces in one hundred and ten tons.

Hubbard rolling-mill was built in 1872 by the
Hubbard Rolling-mill company. It is now
owned by Jesse Hall & Sons, who were partners
in the firm from the start. The mill has twelve
puddling furnaces, one sixteen-inch muck train

of rolls, one twelve inch bar mill, and one eight-
inch guy mill. Product, merchant guide iron.
Capacity, one hundred and fifty tons of muck
bar per week. Employment is given to about
two hundred men.

HUBBARD FLOURING-MILL.

This mill was built by W. A. Loveless and
run by him for some time as a planing-mill. Five
years ago it was converted into a grist-mill and
run by Long Brothers & Co. The proprietors
are now Long & Shook. The mill has a capacity
of fifty barrels per day.

HUBBARD NATIONAL BANK.

This institution was organized in 1873 as Hub-
bard Savings bank, with A. M. Jewell president,
and G. M. Dill cashier, and continued as a
savings bank until 187S, when it was converted
into a National bank with a cash capital of $50,-
000. The present officers are A. M. Jewell,
president; R. H. Jewell, cashier; and the fol-
lowing directors : A. M. Jewell, D. J. Dennison,
S. L. Kerr, H. H. Long, A. T. Mizner, G. H.
Kerr, and S. Q. March.

NEWSPAPERS.

The first newspaper in Hubbard was estab-
lished by A. D. Fassett, and run by him trom
July, 1868, to November, 1872. For a few
months it was called the Standard, and was
printed in the Courier office at Youngstown. In
the winter of 1868-69 Mr. Fassett bought a
press and type and began the Miners' Journal,
which was at first a five-column folio with but
small circulation. It afterwards attained a circu-
lation of two thousand eight hundred, and was
the organ of the coal miners of Ohio. In Novem-
ber, 1872, Mr Fassett bought the Courier office
in Youngstown, moved his paper thither, and
continued its publication, changing the name to
the Miner and Manufacturer, making it a daily
—the first daily published in the Mahoning val-
ley. The Hubbard office was sold to W. T.
McGaughey, who ran a local newspaper for a
time, then sold out. The paper was continued
a while, then suspended. Ford Wharton next
published the Hubbard Signal for a year or two.

The Hubbard Enterprise was started in the fall
of 1877 by F. J. Horton, editor and proprietor.
In 1880 W. R. Wadsworth assumed the manage-
ment of the paper, provided new type and en-
larged the paper. Under his control the circula-

362

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

tion of the Enterprise has trebled. The paper
is a four-page seven-column sheet, largely devoted
to home affairs, county matters, and manufact-
uring notes. It is independent in politics. The
enterprise receives a considerable amount of ad-
vertising and turns out good job work. The
paper is neatly printed and is a very wide-awake
local journal.

HUliliARD SCHOOLS.

In 1 868 measures were taken to establish a
high school in the village which should be free
for all the scholars of the township. A school
building was built by the township and finished
in 1870, since which time the school has been in
successful operation. The house and furnishing
cost about $10,000. The superintendents of the
high school have been S. Q. March, Alexander
Campbell, J. L. Gillmer, D. A. Wilson, and the
present teacher, Mr. March, who began his
labors in the fall of 1881. The school has been
in charge of competent instructors and has ac-
complished good work, making it a blessing to
the entire community.

By act of the Legislature of 1873 the schools
of mcorporated villages became union schools.
The Hubbard village union schools are in four
departments and, apparently, well managed.
The free high school building is partially devoted
to the use of the village schools.

METHODIST EPISCOP.\L CHURCH.

In 1803 Rev. Noah Fidler, of the Erie confer-
ence, formed a Methodist class in Hubbard,
consisting of Revs. Amos Smith and William
Veach — both local preachers of excellent repu-
tation— and their wives, Mr. Parrish and wife,
Mr. Frazee and wife, Amos Snyder, Thomas
Snyder, Joshua Snyder, William Burnett, Enos
Burnett, and a few others. This class met for a
number of years a mile and a half west of the
center. Subsequently another class was formed
about the same distance east of the center. Both
were ultimately merged into the Hubbard village
church.

In 1 810 Rev. Jacob Gruber held a camp-meet-
ing in the eastern part of Hubbard, near what
has smce i)ecn known as the Veach meeting-
house, which resulted in adding fifty members to
the church.

In 1854 both the east and west churches be-
ing nearly or quite abandoned, all the Method-

ists of the township united and built a church
at the village at a cost of about $2,200. Rev.
S. K. Paden was on the circuit at that time.
James A. Johnson and Jacob Marsteller each
paid $150 towards building the new church.
The west church was sold for a school-house.
The Veach church is still standing and occasion-
ally used.

The church is now in a flourishing condition,
with one hundred and fifty members.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

This church was organized about 1804. The
exact date is not known, and as the early mem-
bers are all dead and the early records all lost
little information concerning it is attainable.
Rev. James Satterfield was a Presbyterian
preacher and devoted fifty years to ministerial
labor?. During nearly all of this time he was
either an occasional or a regular preacher in the
church of Hubbard. Other early preachers were:
Revs. McDermott, McCready, and Rockwell.
Among the early members were : Sylvester
Tylee, Samuel Tylee, William Clingham,
Thomas McMoran, William Porterfield, John
Jewell, Charles Stewart, and Robert Love, with
their wives and families. John Jewell, Sylvester
Tylee, and William Clingham were the first
elders.

The first church edifice in the township — a
rude structure of hewn logs — was erected by
this denomination. It stood at the south end
of the old graveyard north of the village. After
several years' use it was replaced by a frame
building which was used until the present house
in the village was erected in 1857.

The present membership is one hundred.
The pastor. Rev. J. H. Wright, was ordained and
installed in 1873. Several revivals have oc-
curred during his pastorate.

THE BAPTIST CHURCH.

The Baptists had an organization, or at least
held meetings very early, and probably were in
existence as a church long before the present
organization was formed, in 18 19. The informa-
tion concerning the Baptists is very limited.
The names of some of the earlier members will
be found in the sketch devoted to the Disciples.

The Baptists were few in numbers at first and
for many years struggled against difficulties. But
faith and perseverance enabled them to overcome

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

363

all obstacles and to-day they are most prosperous.
They have about two hundred and thirty-five
members. A fine church edifice was. erected by
this denomination in 1870 in the village of
Hubbard, at a cost of about $7,000.

This church erected the building which is now
the parsonage of the Lutherans and used it as a
place for public worship many years.

THE DISCIPLES CHURCH.

In 1819 a Baptist church was organized at the
house of Jesse Hall, who for fifteen years had
been a member of the Baptist church in Sharon,
Pennsylvania. Mr. Hall, A. K. Cramer, Archi-
bald Price. James Price, Walter Clark, and Silas
Burnett, with their families, were prominent
members. Jesse Hall was an influential man
among the Baptists, deacon, counselor, and chief
supporter. For some time the church met at
his house. When the "Christian Baptists" be-
gan their work, and Walter Scott, the evangelist,
came most of the members gave him a cordial
welcome. His forcible preaching brought all of
the Baptist church, eight or ten excepted, into
the Disciple fold. The church thus formed had
about forty members. Jesse and John Apple-
gate were appointed overseers and served with
faithfulness for about twenty-five years. Oliver
Hart and Warren Burton succeeded them.
Orenus Hart and David Waldruff served in the
same capacity, followed by James Struble, H.
Green, and A. K. Cramer, Jr., acting elders.
The church increased in members, strength, and
zeal. Applegate soon became a preacher and
served in his own church twenty years or more,
besides traveling much abroad. Others preached
here, among then Revs. Scott, Bentley, Hayden,
Henry, Hartzell, the two Bosworths, J. T. Smith,
Brockett, Perky, and J. W. Lamphear. In later
times W. T. Horner, William S. Winfield, Wil-
lard Goodrich, Matthias Christy, Harmon
Reeves, C. C. Smith, and J. A. Thayer, co-oper-
ated in extending the usefulness of this church.
In August, 1837, the Trumbull county yearly
meeting was held in Hubbard, and was one of
the largest assemblies of the kind ever gathered
on the Reserve. To this meeting came Camp-
bell, Bentley, the Bosworths, Henry, Hartzell,
(;. W. Lucy, Clapp, Applegate, Rudolph, J. J.
Moss, and A. S. Hayden, nearly all of whom
preached, exhorted, and held evening meetings.

Thirteen converts were made. Two years later
a meeting held at Youngstown resulted in sev-
eral accessions to this church. For a few years
meetings were held in a building belonging to
Jesse Hall, which he finally gave to the trustees
with the ground on which it stood. Subsequently
they erected a valuable edifice in the northern
part of the township. The church continues
prosperous with a large membership.

Most of the above facts are collected from the
writings of Rev. A. S. Hayden.

C.4TH0LIC CHURCH.

An organization was made and the church
supplied by priests from Hickory corners a few
years previous to 1868. At that date Rev. E.
O. Callahan, of Youngstown, built the church,
which is probably worth $3,000. After him
Rev. Peter Becker of Youngstown officiated
here. The first resident pastor was Rev. John
T. Schaffield, who came in 1870. He erected a
parsonage and organized a school. In 1880 he
was succeeded by Rev. J. Klute, who enlarged
the school-house and gave the sisters charge over
the schools.

The organization is known as St. Patrick's
Roman Catholic church, and has a membership
represented by one hundred and twenty families
of Irish, Germans, and Italians.

WELSH CONGREGATION.\L CHURCH.

The church of this denomination organized
and built a house in 1865. Dependent upon
workingmen for its support, the members have
been quite variable. There are now about fifty
members. The preachers of this church have
been Revs. J. Edwards, Thomas Davis, D. E.
Evans, David Powell, and some supplies. Rev.
David Davis is now preaching here one-half the
time.

WELSH BAPTIST CHURCH.

This church was organized in 1863 with forty
members. Their first meeting-house was a
building rented from the Protestant Methodists,
an organization now extinct. The church was
built in 1841, and about three years ago the
Baptists purchased it. At one time the Welsh
Baptists numbered over one hundred members.
They now have about thirty-five. The pastors
have been Rev. David Hopkins, Theophilus
Jones, Edward Jenkins, and Thomas M. Mat-
thews.

3*54

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

THE LUTHERAN CHURCH.

Si. John's church (German Lutheran) was or-
ganized in 1867 by Rev. Frederick N. Wolf,
with a membership represented by twenty-five
families. Previously, however, meetings had
been held, beginning in 1864. Mr. Wolf was the
first pastor, succeeded in 1869 by Rev. H. T. H.
G. Hengist. Rev. G. F. H. Meiser became
pastor in 1870. In that year the organization
was completed and a church council chosen.
Rev. H. A. Smith became pastor in 1872, and
remained until 1880, when he was succeeded by
Rev. L. A. Detzer, the present pastor.

The church edifice was erected in 1871 at a
cost of $3,074.

A school, supported six months of each year,
is connected with this church. This school was
organized by Mr. Smith in 1871, and taught by
him and Gustav Birdemann. Rev. L. A. Detzer
is now the teacher. He has upwards of eighty
pupils, and gives instruction both m English
and German.

CO.ALBURG CHURCHES.

The churches of Coalburg are three in num.
ber — Methodist Episcopal, Welsh Baptist, and
Welsh Congregational. The Baptist church was
built in 1870, the Methodist in 1871, and the
Congregational in 1872. All are still kept up,
though with diminished membership, and only
occasional preaching, except in the Methodist
church, which is supplied regularly in connec-
tion with Brookfield. All of these churches are
dependent upon mining people for their support.

CEMETERIES.

The principal cemetery of this township is lo-
cated a short distance north of Hubbard village.
Interments were made here very early, as the
old-fashioned grave-stones would attest, even if
no inscriptions were upon them. These stones
are common flagstones obtained from the creek-
bed, rudely carved and rudely lettered. Many
departures from modern methods of orthography
are observable. The oldest stone in the grave-
yard was erected

To the iiioiiiory of

JI'.IIIICL ROlili.ARTS,

wlio departed this life

laiuiary i6, 1809,

aged thirty years.

Roberts was a shoemaker, and was drowned

by breaking through the ice into the Mahoning

river, while he was carrying a bundle of shoes
to some of his customers. The shoes were
found lying upon the ice, and led to the recovery
of his body.

Another of these old grave-stones chronicles
the following history :

Ini

ANNA TYLEE,

who departed this life

February 2, 1818,

aged 45 yrs.

The first female citizen in Hubbard.

Of early settlers buried here, Ida, wife of Bar-
ney Lyons, died in 1812, aged thirty-eight; Bar-
nabas Lyons died in 1 841, aged eighty; Amos
Ayres died in 1817, aged fifty-two; Samuel Price,
aged seventy-six, died in 1827; Cornelius Dilly
died in 1824, aged fifty-three; Mary, wife of
Enos Burnett, died in 1813, aged forty-nine;
John Burnett died in 1843, aged forty-six ; Silas
Burnett, born in New Jersey, in 1791, died in
Hubbard in 1878.

In the northern part of the township adjoin-
ing the Disciples' church is another graveyard of
more recent origin.

ODD lEl.I.OW.S.

Hubbard lodge No. 495, Independent Order
of Odd Fellows, was instituted August 22, 1871,
with the following charter members : M. B.
White, A. P. Flaugher, D. J. Edwards, C. H.
Huff, Caleb Davis, D. Struble, William Camp-
bell, Samuel Walters, Alfred Crooks, John Wadle,
David Wallace, Daniel Jones, John Thomas
Jenkins, and Frederick James. A public instal-
lation of oflficers was largely attended by mem-
bers of other lodges. The following were the
first officers : M. B. White, N. G.; D. J. Ed.
wards, V. G.; D. Struble, R. S.; John Wadle, P.
S.; C. H. HulT, treasurer. The lodge has steadily
prospered ever since its formation.

TEMPLE OF HONOR.

Enterprise Temple of Honor No. 21, Hub-
bard, Ohio, was organized August 16, 1S74, with
seventeen members. This society has accom-
plished much good work in promoting temper-
ance. The lodge is now in good condition, has
forty-seven members and occupies a well-fur
nished hall.

I'OR ESTERS.

Court Lily of the N'allcy No. 6624, Ancient
Order of Foresters, of Hubbard, was organized

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

365

in 1 88 1 with about twenty members. Its mem-
bership is now eighty and constant additions are
bemg made. The society is in a most flourish-
ing condition. Its present officers are : E. O.
Jones, C. R.; Isaac Green, sub-C. R.; W. R.
Wadsworth, P. C. R.; James J. Davis, F. S., and
L. E. Davis, treasurer.

COALEURG.

This is a small village in the northwest of
Hubbard township. It was built up by the
mining business and has declined with it. At
one time Coalburg had a population of about
eight hundred, several stores, and was a thriving
place. It was hastily built and has few good
buildings. The population is now about three
hundred. The first store was started about 1863
by William Powers & Co. Jacob Sanders
was the first postmaster. Coalburg is a station
on the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern rail-
road.

COAL OPERATIONS.

The coal interests of this townshi]:) are on the
wane. The best mines have long since been
worked out. A vast amount of wealth has re-
sulted from the working of these mines during
the past twenty years, operations having been
carried on very extensively during the greater
portion of the time.

Jackson Brothers opened the first banks in
1 861. These were known as the Veach mines,
situated in East Hubbard. E. P. Burnett owned
the most valuable coal fields in the township,
and after opening a mine leased it to Andrews
& Hitchcock, who are still operating it. After
coal railroads had been built to various parts of
the township, mining went forward with an mi-
petus until very recently. The enterprising
firm, Andrews & Hitchcock, are still operating
(juite largely. P. Jacobs & Sons are now open-
ing mines in the southeast of the township and
preparing for an extensive business.

The first coal operations in the vicinity of
Coalburg began in 1863. Powers & Arms
leased coal fields from Jesse Hall, Madison
Powers, and others, and after working them a
short time leased to Brown, Bonnell & Co.,
who, under the name of the Mahoning Coal
company, have carried on the business very ex-
tensively. They built the railroad from Youngs-
town, which has since become the Lake Shore &
Michigan Southern branch, now extended north-

ward to the main line. Some of the banks once
yielded three to four hundred tons of coal per
day and gave employment to hundreds of work-
men. The Love, Burnett, and Cramer banks,
operated by Andrews & Hitchcock have each
been very productive. All are now more or less
exhausted, though the annual coal production of
this township still amounts to a large number of
tons.

Biographical Sketches.

WILLIAM BURNETT.

Closely identified with the history of Hubbard
township is the name of Burnett. In 1801
William Burnett and uncle Enos came from
Sussex county. New Jersey, and rettled here.
His family at that time consisted of three sons :
James, Benjamin, and John. Two little graves
were left behind. The whole of the long journey
was made in wagons over the poorest roads, or
where there was no road at all. After perils and
hardships which we can imagine but not de-
scribe, they reached Beaver late in the fall. As
no road was opened farther and the severities of
winter so near at hand, they decided to spend
the winter there. In early spring he came on to
Hubbard, the point for which he started. A
farm was purchased, small clearing made, and
log cabin put up. Surrounded by woods, Indi-
ans, and wild beasts, the struggle for life and
property began. Soon after they were settled in
their new home a fourth son, Silas, was added to
the family circle. This was the first male child
born in Hubbard township.

After ten years of labor which were crowned
with more than ordinary success, his wife died,
leaving him with seven children, the oldest be-
ing but fourteen, to continue the struggle alone.

During the next year, memorable in our Na-
tional annals, he was drafted to serve in the War
of 1 8 1 2. For this service he afterwards received
two quarter sections of land which he sold for a
mere nominal price. The following year he
married Barbara Huff, who died in 1863. Four
children from this union survived her, one,

366

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

Washington, having been killed at the age of
twelve, by the running away of a team which he
was driving. Mr. Burnett died just one week
after his wife, April 12, 1863, at the ripe age of
ninety-one years and four months, having lived
over sixty years near the spot where he first
erected his log cabin. Having given a neces-
sarily brief sketch of this pioneer's life, we can-
not refrain from glancing back at the early his-
tory of our country at the time when he made
his entry into this busy world, Decembers, 1771.

During a hundred and fifty years the work of
settlement in the colonies had been steadily go-
ing on, and they numbered three millions. They
had just passed through the period known as
the French and Indian war, and now the
country is ablaze with excitement over the
oppression of Great Britain. The struggle for
freedom had begun. "No taxation without rep-
resentation" was the cry. Three years after his
birth the famous "Boston tea party" was held.
When five years old, the great Liberty bell pro-
claimed freedom throughout the land in tones
that made tyrants tremble. How often this sub-
ject was discussed in that humble home just as
we now discuss the perpetuity of these institu-
tions. At the close of the war the subject of
this sketch was old enough to engage in the
general rejoicing. During the campaign in New
Jersey Washington spent several weeks near his
home, where he frequently saw and conversed
with him. Being twenty-one years old, he un-
doubtedly cast his first vote for him when he was
re-elected in 1793. It seems to us a great
privilege to vote for Washington, Jefferson, Jack-
son, and so on through the list of worthies who
so honorably filled the Presidential office. His
last vote was cast for Stephen A. Douglas in
i860. Born when our Nation was struggling for
an existence, his life went out during the strug-
gle for its continuance. There are now living
in 1882, as his descendants — four sons and two
daughters, also fifty-six grandchildren, one hun-
dred and seventy-nine great-grandchildren, sixty-
two great-great-grandchildren, a total of three
hundred and three persons.

Jose]5h ]kirnett, son of William Burnett, was
horn in Hubbard township May 2, 1808, and
resided with his father till his majority. From
1829 till the time of his marriage he was engaged
as a distiller of iiiiuor. In 1838 he married

Cassandra Courtney, of Virginia. Their family
consisted of eight children, five of whom survive.
From 1839 to 1855 he resided in Weathersfield
township, and engaged in sawing timber. In
1855 he purchased what is known as the Brock-
way mills property, situated in the south part of
Hartford township, where he now resides.

Although engaged in distilling in his early life,
he has always been a strictly temperate man,
and as an indication of the growth of temperance
sentiment we might say that his eldest daughter
Cythia is an active worker in the temperance
cause as a lecturer and writer, and his only son,
Albert Burnett, is a strong prohibitionist.

A. M. JEWELL.

A. M. Jewell, son of John and Jane (Miller)
Jewell, was born in Hubbard township, Trumbull
county, Ohio, June 18, 1808. His parents re-
moved from Allegheny county, Pennsylvania,
and settled in the west part of Hubbard on the
farm now occupied by Stephen Doughten, in the
spring of 1805. John Jewell died in Hubbard
in 1859. His wife survived him many years,
dying in Warren, January, 1873, in the ninety-sec-
ond year of her age. A. M. Jewell was married
in 1829 to Rebecca C. Love, born in West-
moreland county, Pennsylvania, December, 1806,
and came to Trumbull county with her parents
when she was but three or four years of age.
The family settled in Hubbard. Mr. Jewell has
been engaged in active business life, principally
in farming and trading in live stock, and has
been very successful. He eventually purchased
the home farm, which he occupied until 1870,
when he sold it, and moved to Warren the next
year, where he now resides. He is a stock-
holder in the First National and Mahoning Na-
tional banks of Youngstown, and also in the
Trumbull National, of Warren, having been con-
nected with the first named since its organization.
He is largely interested in the bank at Hubbard,
and is its president, his oldest son being the
cashier. He has six children living, one having
died when young, viz: Robert H., in Hubbard;
Sarah J. Kerr, in Hubbard; John 1)., in New
York city; WilHam A., in .Mississijipi; ^Llry A.,

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

367

at home with her parents, and Louisa (Veach), in
Allegheny City, Pennsylvania.

SETTLEMENT NOTES.

Jesse Hall was born in Hubbard township,
Trumbull county, Ohio. His father, Jesse Hall,
was a native of New Jersey, and came to Ohio
in 1801, and settled in Hubbard township,
about two miles north of the village, and was
one of the earliest settlers in the township. He
died in 1843, leaving a family of ten children,
and widow — Hannah, Esther, William, Margaret,
Jacob, Sarah, Elizabeth, Mary, Christian, and
Jesse. Sarah, Christian, and Jesse are the only
surviving members. Mrs. Hall died in 1861.
Both she and her husband were members of the
Disciple church. His son Jesse has always
lived in the township, upon the old home-
stead until 1874. He has been engaged in iron
manufacture and operating in coal in addition to
his farming. He was married in 1833 to Han-
nah J. Sheline, daughter of David Sheline, of
Carroll county. They have nine children —
Caroline, Miriam, David, Christiana, Nancy,
William, Clara, Harriet, and Jesse. Mr. and
Mrs. Hall are members of the Disciple church.

Nathaniel Mitchell, an old resident of Hub-
bard, was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania,
in January, 1805. His father, Mathew Mitchell,
a native of Ireland, came to America in 1803.
He resided in Philadelphia a short time, then
went to Pittsburg, and came to Ohio in 1805,
and settled in Hubbard, in the western part of
the township. He cleared up a good farm and
resided here till 1827, then moved to Liberty
township, where he lived till his death. He died
in June, 1831. There were five children in his
family. Nathaniel is the only surviving mem-
ber. Mrs. Mitchell died in October, 1874,
in the nintey-sixth year of her age. Mr.
Nathaniel Mitchell has always lived in this
township, and is one of the oldest settlers. He
has made farming his principal business. He
was married, in 1831, to Miss Elizabeth Mur-
dock, daughter of Abram Murdock, of Coitsville.
They have had five children, two of whom are
living — Mary J. and Maria. Mr. and Mrs.
Mitchell and daughters are members of the
Presbyterian church. Mr. Mitchell has been
a justice of the peace for thirty-six years, and is

probably the oldest 'squire in the county. He
has been township trustee, town clerk, treasurer,
etc.

Robert Porterfield, farmer, Hubbard township,
Trumbull county, was born May 12, 1799, in
Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. His father,
William, was a native of Cumberland county,
Pennsylvania, and came to Ohio in December,
1804, locating in Liberty township, where he
lived about eighteen months. He then removed
to Hubbard, where his son now resides. Wil-
liam Porterfield died September 14, 1831. His
wife died October 7, 1838. The family consisted
of seven children — John, Robert, Jane, William,
James, Sarah, and Mary. John, Jane, James,
and Sarah are dead. Mr. and Mrs. Porterfield
were among the earliest members of the Presby-
terian church in the township. Robert Porter-
field has resided in this township since 1806.
He was married November i, 1838, to Hannah
McMurray, daughter of William McMurray, of
Liberty township. They had six children : Wil-
liam H., Mary A., James M., Araminta M.,
Hannah M., and Charlotte J. — all living at home
except Mary, who is deceased. The family be-
long to the Presbyterian church. Mr. Porter-
field has served as coroner in this county.

Cornelius Price, farmer, Hubbard township,
Trumbull county, was born in Hubbard town-
ship, July 8, 1812. His father, Archibald Price,
was a native of New Jersey and came to Hub-
bard in 1807, and settled in the northwestern
part of the township, and was a pioneer of
that neighborhood. Four brothers of Archibald
Price came to Ohio and settled in this county.
Their names were James, David, John, and Ja-
cob. Archibald resided upon his farm until his
death in 1847. His widow survived until 1873.
The family consisted of ten children — Samuel,
Frederick, Cornelius, Elizabeth, Sarah, Mary,
Abram, Archibald, Hannah, and James. Samuel,
Frederick, and James are deceased. Cornelius
has always been a farmer, and a resident of this
township. In 1837 he married Anna Burnett,
born in 18 19. They have four children — Ma-
thias S., Harriet L., Smith B., and Clara M. Mr.
Price is a member of the Disciple church.
Politically he is a Democrat.

Lewis S. Burnett, farmer, Hubbard township,
Trumbull county, was born in Hubbard town-
ship, April 9, 1836. Smith Burnett, his father, a

368

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

native of New Jersey, came to the eastern part
of the township at a very early date. His father
settled on what is now the Beach farm, where he
passed the remainder of his days. Smith Bur-
nett died in the township in 1846 or 1847. The
family consisted of twelve children, whose names
were Harriet Ann, Marietta, Edmund, Lucy,
St. Clair, Malinda, Jane, Lewis, Seymour, and
Sarah. One child died in mfancy. Harriet,
Marietta, St. Clair, and Sarah are dead. Mrs.
Burnett died in 1870. L. S. Burnett is a
carpenter by trade, but carries on farming. He
was married October 23, 1856, to Miriam Hall,
daughter of Jesse Hall, of this township. They
have had seven children, six of who-n are living:
Lois L., Charles S., Almon L., Hattie L., Sarah
J., Loretta, and Jesse. Sarah is deceased. Mr.
and Mrs. Burnett and their oldest daughter are
members of the Disciple church.

Judson Ray Noble, Hubbard township, Trum-
bull county, was born in Kent, Litchfield county,
Connecticut, March 17, 1805, and came to
Ohio with his father, David Noble, the same
year. David Noble settled in Boardman. His
log cabm stood where the Methodist church
now stands. He died in 1816, February 24th.
Mrs. Noble died in April, 1836. Their children
were Roxilana, Austin B., Judson R., William
N., Calvin L., and David T., all living except
Roxilana. J. R. Noble lived in Boardman until
he was about twenty-five years of age, when he
went to Youngstown and worked at carpentry a
few years. He then moved to Niles, where he
resided until 1870. He married, December 31,
1829, Mary Ann Robbins, daughter of Josiah
Robbins, of Youngstown. By this marriage two
children were born — Sabrina S. and Calvin.
Calvin died young. Mrs. Noble died in 1847.
In February, 1850, Mr. Noble married Elizabeth
Price, daughter of Archibald Price. She was
i)orn May 26, 18 14. They have three children
— Mary, Hannah, and Anna. Mrs. Noble has
been a member of the Disciple church forty- five
years. Mr. Noble united with the Disciples in
1842. He has served as justice of the peace;
was court crier twenty-four years, and constable
several years in Niles.

Ceorge W. Randall, farmer, Hubbard town-
ship, Trumbull county, was born October 20,
1821, in Hubbard township. John Randall, his
father, was a native of Washington county, Penn-

sylvania, and came to Ohio with his father, Wil-
liam, in 1806, and settled on lot forty-eight in
the southeast of the township. John Randall
began farming on lot forty-nine and resided there
until his death, which occurred in 1872. There
was not a death in the family until Mrs. Randall
died in 187 1. The family consists of nine chil-
dren, viz : Amos, George, William W., Nancy
L., Joel S., Angeline, John, Austin, and Ad-
dison. The parents belonged to the Methodist
church. George Randall has resided in the
township all of his life excepting one year which
he spent in Pennsylvania. In 1843 ^^ married
Anna M. Burnett, daughter of James Burnett.
This union was blessed with six children, five of
whom survive : Ariminta, Albert O. and Orpha
A. (twins), Charles M., Mary R., and Jennie M.
Charles is dead. Mr. and Mrs. Randall and two
of the children are members of the Methodist
Episcopal church.

G. R. Stevenson, M. D., a well known resi-
dent of Hubbard, was born in Jefferson county,
Ohio, in 1838. His father, David, was a native
of Ireland. The family is of Scotch descent.
Mr. Stevenson studied medicine with Dr. Gib-
son in Illinois and graduated at Rush college in
1858, and has since been in practice in different
localities. He came to Hubbard in 1867. He
has a large and lucrative practice. He was
married in 1859 'o Miss Amanda Dentler, of
Lawrence county, Pennsylvania. One son by
this marriage. Mrs. Stevenson died in i860.
Mr. Stevenson's second marriage occurred in
1868, to Miss Ellen Bell, daughter of William
Bell, of Mercer county, Pennsylvania. Three
children were born of this union. Mr. and Mrs.
Stevenson are members of the United Presby-
terian church.

CHAPTER IX.

VERNON.

In the year 1800 Trumbull county was divided
into two election districts, of which Vernon,
Youngstown, and Warren constituted what was
known as the southern district, and the house of
Ephraim Quinby, Esq., at Warren, was made the

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

369

place for holding the elections of the district
thus formed. Vernon at this time embraced a
large expanse of territory from which several
of the adjoining townships were subsequently
formed.

The formal organization of Vernon township
as now constituted was effected in 1806. Pre-
vious to the organization the township was known
— locally, at least — as Smithfield, so called in
honor of Martin Smith, one of the first settlers
of the township, and why it was changed to
Vernon is not now known. At the time, however,
Mr. Kmsman, of Kinsman township, a zealous
friend of Mr. Smith, taking the action as an in-
sult to his friend, tendered him a farm in Kins-
man if he would remove from a township where
such an indignity had been offered him. Mr.
Smith, however, treated the matter lightly, and
remained in the township upon whose soil he
was one of the first to cast his lot. For the
name which it now bears there is no local cir-
cumstance to suggest an assignable reason.

PROPRIETORSHIP.

The original proprietors of the lands now em-
braced in Vernon township were Gideon Gran-
ger, who owned the entire north half; Jeremiah
Wilcox, the west part, and a Mr. Shepherd, the
east part of the south half. From these men the
original settlers made their purchases; the earliest
settlements being made on the northeast part of
the Wilcox tract.

LOCATION AND BOUNDARY.

Vernon is located in the northeast part of -the
county in town six (east), and range one, and is
bounded on the north by Kinsman, east by
Pennsylvania, on the south by Hartford, and
west by Johnston.

SURFACE FEATURES, SOIL, ETC.

The suiface of the township rises gradually into
rolling highlands from both sides of Pymatun-
ing creek, and is more or less undulating
throughout. On the east side of the creek the
highlands roll away in rich table lands of clay
loam highly productive of wheat and other
cereals common to this section of the State.
Throughout the western part the soil consists
mostly of clay, but inclined to be more damp
and heavy but generally productive. The Pyma-
tuning valley extends along the course of the
creek by the same name, with a variable width

of less than one mile, the soil of which is a
sandy loam and affords the best farming land of
the township.

DRAINAGE AND RAILWAYS.

Pymatuning creek, the most important stream,
enters the township from Kinsman at the central
part of the north boundary line and winds
through the central part and leaves the township
at the southeast, emptying finally into Beaver.
.Sugar creek, a smaller stream, extends across
the northwest corner.

The Mahoning coal road extends across the
northwest, and the Atlantic & Great Western
railroad runs through the southern part with the
main station at Burg Hill.

The original settlers of Vernon were mostly
trom the State of Connecticut, and the present
inhabitants are largely the lineal descendants
of the pioneers, though New York, Massa-
chusetts, Pennsylvania, and other eastern States
are represented.

The larger farms are mostly in the north and
west part of the township, gradually growing
smaller as they approach the north and south
centre road. Along this road the former settle-
ments were made, and the present centre of
population is distributed ; growing in density,
however, from Vernon center toward Burg Hill,
which is now the central point of business in-
terests and trade.

The census of i860 gives Vernon a population
of 964, which is reduced in 1870 to 930, but in-
creased again in 18S0 to 1,01 8.

The prospective outlook for Vernon in point
of equality in respect to future standing with the
other townships of Trumbull county, is to say the
least, fair. Her people are quiet and steady in
all iheir ways and for the most part peaceful, in-
dustrious and provident. The industries belong
mostly to the agricultural department, though
there are some branches of manufacture. The
manufacture of cheese is the most important ;
there are at this time four factories for this pur-
pose in the township.

The one flouring mill and several saw-mills,
together with some attention to raising cattle for
the dairy, and also sheep, will embrace the in-
dustrial operations.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

In the sprint; of 1798 Thomas Giddings and
Martin .Smith, the first white men to come with-
in the bounds of the township for the purpose
of making a settlement, paddled up the languid
current of the Pymatuning m a canoe, having
rowed all the way from Pittsburg. Their course
in the creek was often obstructed by the accumu-
lation of drift and logs, and they frequently were
compelled to cut away the obstructions before
they could proceed, and becoming entangled in
the drifts they were at tiines obliged to swim or
wade ashore. The craft which they thus slowly
and tediously propelled toward their destined
settlement in the wilds of the Reserve was laden
with bacon, flour, and that other necessary article
of consumption — a barrel of whiskey. They
finally landed at a point south of the present
center bridge, on the land now owned by Havi-
lah Smith, where between two trees they built a
fire and probably remained one night. Here
they stored the provisions as securely as possible
and began the exploration of the wilds of the
then dense forests of Vernon. They naturally
followed the course of a little branch whose
clear waters flowing into the Pymatuning led
them to suppose that it flowed from a spring of
good water, which was then a very necessary ad-
junct to a new settlement. Following the devious
and unknown course of the little brook they
found its (ountain-head in a spring near
the present residence of Thomas Jennings —
lot number two of the Wilcox tract. The fol-
lowing day they proceeded to the south line of
the township (then marked by blazed trees) at a
jjoint near the present residence of Samuel
Merry, and cutting a pole for a measuring stick
[iroceeded to lay off toward the north what they
sui)posed to be the land of Mr. Wilcox, of whom
they had purchased. This brought them to the
spring above mentioned, where they concluded
to build a log- house for temporary shelter while
they cleared a place for more extensive improve-
ments.

They began at once to cut the logs and roll
them together without hewing, and thus con-
structed a rude building. The first tree fell be-
fore the axe of Thomas Giddings and was rolled
in position as the foundation for the first human
habitation in Vernon. The sides of this building
were thus made of unhewn logs, while the roof

was made of thatched brush and leaves. It now
appears that by some means they had either
brought a horse with them, or, perhaps, bought
it from a party who had made settlement south
of them in Vienna or over the line in Pennsyl-
vania, but they had no harness. This necessity,
however, was soon supplied by stripping the
bark from an elnT tree, from which they con-
structed the necessary gearing. Two poles were
then procured and lashed together for shafts,
which extended long enough to drag on the
ground, and thus answer for a rude sled on
which the provisions, including whiskey, were
dragged from the first landing place on the
Pymatuning to the more secure shelter of the
new house. While they were engaged in chop-
ping in the clearing the sounds of their axes nat-
urally attracted the attention of the Indians,
who would come to them and invariably ask for
whiskey. Mr. Giddings would tell them that he
had none and would try to appease the appetite
of his red neighbors with bread and such other
eatables as he might have, but the presence of
the barrel of whiskey (on which Mr. Giddings
always sat as a guard during these interviews,
and on the head of which the Indians would tap
and say " heap full " ) was a standing witness
against him, and in this way gave him much an-
noyance, so much so that he finally rolled it un-
der a large brush heaj) and hid it from view.

Soon after the settlement of Giddings and
Smith, Aaron Brockway, Colonel Holmes and
Mr. Ely came, the former bringing his family,
and his wife was the first white woman in the
settlement. The first permanent cabin was then
erected for Brockway in July, 1798, and was
built by Giddings, Smith and Ely, and stood
near the present burial grounds at Vernon cen-
ter. At the raising of this cabin beside some
men who came up from the settlement in Vienna,
there were six Indians and one white woman.
Martin Smith, after sowing a field of wheat
returned to Connecticut with Colonel Holmes,
for his family, with which he returned the fol-
lowing spring. He was accompanied on his re-
turn by Joseph DeWolf and Paul Rice, com-
ing by way of Pittsburg and bringing valua-
ble acquisitions consisting of two horses and an
ox team. After leaving Beaver on the return they
were compelled to cut their way through the
woods and underbrush to Vernon.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

371

At harvest time they cut the wheat that Smith
liad sown, and after threshing a grist took it to
the mill at Beaver, which required an absence of
nine days, and before they succeeded in obtain-
ing wheat flour the settlers subsisted on wild
meat and corn pounded in a hollowed stump
with a spring-pole and pestle. In the fall of
1799 Caleb Palmer and his son Warren, with
Dr. Wilcox, and the family of Joseph DeWolf
arrived in the settlement. The beginning of the
year iSoo found only the families of Smith,
Brockway, and DeWolf in the Smithfield settle-
ment. Afterward immigration may be said to
have set steadily in, and the township soon
showed evident signs of general settlement.

In the spring of 1800 Rev. Obed Crosby came
and his family arrived the following year. In
June of this year Jeremiah Yemans, a lad of
about nineteen years of age, was m company
with several other men and boys bathing in the
the Pymatuning, and being unable to swim he
got beyond his depth and sank. He was seen to
rise the third time, but there seems to have been
no one there with sufficient courage to go to his
assistance. The alarm that was given brought
Martin Smith to the scene of the accident, and he
immediately entered the water to find the body.
After making several dives he finally succeeded
in bringing the body to the shore and it was car-
ried to the house of his sister, Mrs. Aaron Brock-
way. It appears that at this time the arrival of
the first native born settler of Vernon was seri-
ously expected at the house of Mr. Brockway,
and on this account the dead body of the brother
was laid in an out-house. That same eveiiing a
very heavy thunderstorm arose, and amidst these
unfavorable circumstances the little stranger was
born. But it was not permitted to live, and the
little community was called upon to attend this
double funeral and open the first grave in the
new settlement. The following morning the se-
lection was made for a cemetery, which was lo-
cated on the grounds donated by Mr. Brockway
on his farm, about a half-mile south of the cen-
ter on the west side of the center road.

The first person born in the township who
lived to maturity was Zachariah Palmer, who was
born in the fall of iSoo.

In June, i8oo, Abner Moses came with his
children — Abner, John, and Polly, .\fter them
the families of Caleb ['aimer and his son War-

ren, also Thomas Giddings after a brief absence,
returned to the settlement with his newly mar-
ried wife. In 1801 the settlement consisted of
the above families and their cabins ranged along
the present center road. Thomas Giddings
lived nearly opposite the present residence of
Havilah Smith, which was then the site of the
cabin of his father Martin. Caleb Palmer's
cabin stood where William Thompson now re-
sides; Joseph DeWolf where Mr. Fulton's house
now stands; Obed Crosby where A. \Voldrof
lives; Abner Moses near the present residence
of Dr. King; and Aaron Brockway where Mat-
thew Davis now lives. These were all log cabins
of the rudest kind with no floor but " mother
earth." They served as temporary lodgment
for the hardy pioneers until the forests that sur-
rounded them were subdued and the cleared
fields answered in abundance to their industry,
and the old logs were removed and more com-
modious residences took their places.

In the early times Andrew Burns was the hat-
ter and caaried on his trade east of Joseph De-
Wolf, with whom John Langley, then a lad of
ten years of age, worked at scraping the fur from
coon, muskrat, and other skins, of which was
constructed some wonderful head-gear for the
gentry of the times, especially for the militia
officers, whose high-cocked hats and waving
plumes were startling to behold and no doubt
struck terror to the hearts of their foes at very
long range.

It was not often that a beaver was caught, and
then generally by the Indians, and a hat made of
this fur brought to the revenue of the pioneer
hatter the sum of $10.

Some time prior to 18 10 Percy Sheldon came
with his wife and one child and settled on the
farm on which he lived and died.

Plumb Sutlifif about the same time took up
the farm south and adjoining Sheldon. Samuel
Sutliff also settled on the farm where he lived
until his death in 1840. Dr. Amos Wright set-
tled on the land south of Plumb Sutliff, now-
owned by Ralsa Clark. In 1803 Luther and
Thomas Thompson made the first improvement
on the east side of the Pymatuning, on the farm
now owned by James Brown.

Morgan Banning was also an early settler on
the east side south of Thompson. Ewing
Wright settled near the present Baptist church.

372

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

He was a blacksmith, and also manufactured
bells.

The first wedding in the township occurred
about 1802 under rather singular circumstances.
It appears that Josiah Felton, of Killingsworth,
Connecticut, had made purchase of a section of
land in Gustavus, and after a visit to the wilder-
ness he proclaimed that he would give one hun-
dred acres of land to the woman who would first
make her home there. This offer was quickly
accepted by his son Jesse in behalf of Ruhamah
DeWolf of Granby, Connecticut. She came
with her father to Vernon, where the marriage
ceremony was performed by Martin Smith, Esq.
She remained in Vernon till a clearing was made
and a log cabin erected on her farm in Gustavus.
The cabin was raised by the men of Vernon on
July 4, 1S02. Mrs. Pelton did not move to the
cabin until December of that year, and her hus-
band, while at work on the farm, brought all
his bread from Vernon. On his visits back and
forth he met with many incidents, among which
It is related that at one time he came across a
panther in a tree on the bank of the Pymatun-
ing. He had no gun with him, but leaving his
dog and a " paddy," made of his hat and coat,
to guard the animal, he returned a distance of
about three miles for his gun. On his return he
succeeded in killing the animal, which measured
nearly seven feet.

The first saw-mill was built by Joseph DeWolf
in 1800, on Mill creek, and was located about one
mile northwest of Vernon center.

General Martin Smith was the first justice of
the peace, m 1800, and his commission was
signed by Arthur St. Clair, and dated at Chilli-
cothe. Titus Brockway was constable this same
year. The marriage of the latter to Minerva
Palmer was the second wedding in \'ernon.

Joseph DeWolf framed the first barn for Mar-
tin Smith. It was covered with white oak
boards two feet wide, rabitted on the plate. On
them was a cleat four inches wide, fastened with
spikes made by the blacksmith. John Bos well
constructed the first loom for Mrs. Rutledge, sis-
ter of Mrs. Aaron Brockway, who lived where
Richard Brown now lives. At the completion of
this structure the neighbors from far and near,
especially the women, gathered to see if
the machine would work, as it was something
much neeiled in the settlement. The tim-

bers for the loom were liewn out roughly
with a common axe, and were sufificient for
the construction of an ordinary house in these
days, but it proved to be a good one, and the
garments of the early settlers were nearly all
produced from this rude loom.

.'SCHOOLS.

The first school-house was built about 1801-2
on lot number four of the Wilcox tract, on the site
of Samuel De Wolf's present residence, in which
Electa Smith first taught in the summer of 1802,
with eight scholars. Amos Wright taught the
next winter, and his sister Sarah the following
summer. Mr. Gilpin taught as early as 1803-4,
and after him Ebenezer Chapman at Vernon
center. The books used in this school (18 12)
were the well known text books which com-
prised the curriculum of the early schools,
Lindley Murray's grammar, and Webster' speller.
Mr. Chapman had many peculiarities, but was
in general a good teacher. He is remembered
as being very watchful of his scholars, and even
in his devotional exercises, which he conducted
regularly every morning, he did not forget the
Scriptural injunction "to watch as well as pray,"
for in the midst of his devotions he would sud-
denly open his eyes and detect the impious
pioneer youngsters in their tricks. When thus
detected the punishment that followed was very
severe ; so much so that the law was frequently
appealed to for the purpose of settling many
difficulties thus arising.

The cause of education has not been neglected
in Vernon. The various districts, six in number,
are all supplied with the ordinary requirements
of the common schools. In late years a graded
school of two departments has been established
at Burg Hill.

THE PKES1!VTERI.\N CHURCH.

Rev. Joseph Badger, the Connecticut mis-
sionary to the Reserve, made the first efforts to-
ward the organization of the " Church of Christ
in Hartford, Vernon and Kinsman," as early as
1802. In the following year, Friday, September
16, 1803, a meeting was called at the house of
Martin Smith, at which Rev. Badger presided,
and the following jiersons formed the first or-
ganization, namely, Edward Brockway and Sarah,
hi.s wife ; Timothy Crosby, .Aaron and Sarah
I'.ates, Titus Brockway, I'lnmh Sutliff, Susannah

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

373

Palmer, and Sarah Smith. On the following
day the above persons, with the exception of
Aaron Bates, adopted the commonly received
Congregational confession of faith and covenant,
and were constituted a Church of Christ. On
the Sabbath followmg, there being no building
large enough to accommodate the people, the
first communion was held in a grove. Rev. Tait,
of Mercer, Pennsylvania, preached the sermon,
followed by an address by Rev. Badger, after
which the communion was dispensed to about
forty persons. The society then adopted the
"plan of union," proposed by the general as-
sembly of the Presbyterian church and approved
by the general association of Connecticut. The
" plan of union" was evidently regarded as a tem-
porary arrangement, but proved a disappointment
to both Presbyterians and Congregationalists.
It did not make the churches Presbyterian nor
Congregational, but rather stood in the way of
both. The admixture of these different elements
often proved disastrous to the welfare of the
organized work of spreading the gospel, by the
different religious views being tenaciously held
and exercised by sticklers to church polity.

Rev. Harvey Coe was pastor of the church
thus formed, having been installed April 4, 18 14.
The following is the first subscription for his sup-
port by the people of Vernon : Aaron Bates,
$10; Henry Bignal, $5; Wilson Clark, $1.50;
Samuel Sutliff, $7.50; Martin Smith, $10; Stephen
Linsley, $8; Elam Linsley, $3; Isaac Gibbs, 50
cents; Ezra Hyde, $3; William Hull, $2; Charles
Clark, $4.50; Tully Crosby, $2; Luther Thomp-
son, $8: Calvin Smith, $2; Benjamin W. Tanner,
$2; Jeremiah Wilcox, $12; William Chapman, $8;
S. G. Bushnell, $5; Festus DeWolf, $2; Ira Case,
$5; Charles Merry, $1.50; John Moses, $3;
James King, $2; H. V. W., 75 cents; L C. Wil-
cox, $4; William Brown, $1.50; Charles Trun-
key, 75 cents; Asahel Banning, $3; Thomas
Beckwith, $3. The subscriptions of Chauncey
H. Wilcox, Horatio DeWolf, and Henry C.
Aiken cannot be deciphered. The total amount
was $120.50. The church was under the charge
of Hartford presbytery up to the time of Rev.
Coe's pastorate, of which Revs. Badger, Bar,
Leslie, Darrow, \Vick, Hughs, Tait, etc., were
members.

Rev. Coe continued as pastor for sixteen years,
the first nine of which embraced the congre-

gations of Hartford, Vernon, and Kinsman.
His pastorate was very successful, especially in
the year 1820, in which time one hundred and
eleven were added to the several congregations,
embracing in their numbers many heads of fam-
ilies and many of the leading members of society.
The number of baptisms recorded during his
ministry is over four hundred; two hundred and
fifty-four were added to the church; one hundred
and seven marriages were solemnized. The
amount received for his services in solemnizing
marriages were, Adam Wright, of Mercer, Penn-
sylvania, gave $10; seven others $5 each, some
$3, the remainder $2 and under, and one in a
border State generously promised a peck of po-
tatoes.

A large proportion of the cases of discipline
in the church were occasioned by the free use of
intoxicating drinks, and more were expelled from
the church for this cause than for all other
causes combined. Special effort to arrest this
evil was made by the church in 1829, and a
temperance society was organized.

The large two-story brick church that now
stands at Vernon center was built by this organ-
ization about 1825, but it is now deserted and
fast falling to decay. The members of the old
church, many of them, with their pastor, have
long since passed away, but their works still live
— not in plaster and stone, perhaps, but m the
work of moral reform, the basis of true pros-
perity, for which they labored long years ago.

THE FREE-WILL BAPTIST CHURCH.

This society was organized by Elder Ransom
Dunn, March g, 1840, and was called the Hart-
ford and Vernon Free-will Baptist Church of
Christ. The original members were Wilcox and
Lucinda Aikins, Amos, Herman, William, and
Rosella Eastman, Horace and Lucinda Hayes,
Loyal and Betsey Thompson, Orin and Electa
Nephew, Loring, William, and Lucinda Miller,
Edmund Burr, Mary S. Chase, Eunice Burr,
Sally Hull, Cynthia Crawford, Ursula Beecher,
Eliza Gilbert, Eliza Canfield, Edward Root, Peter
Miller.

The first quarterly meeting was held April 11,
1840, at which the following officers were elected:
Amos Eastman, deacon; Horace Hayes, clerk;
and Wilcox Aiken, secretary.

At this meeting it was resolved to send a rep-
resentative to the next session of the Ashtabula

3 74

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

quarterly meeting and request admission to that
body; and Amos and William Eastman and Ben-
jamin Perham were elected delegates.

In September, 1840, Rev. Ransom Dunn ac-
cepted a call as pastor to the church. In 1841
Wilcox Aiken and Amos Eastman were elected
deacons; Horace Hayes, treasurer; ^V. Aikens,
IS. Perham, P. Miller, and O. Nejihew, visiting
committee.

The following May Edward Root was granted
" power to hold meetings and improve his gift as
God shall direct."

The present church building at Burg Hill was
erected in 1871. The first meeting was held in
it May 26, 187 1, and the house was dedicated
May 28th. The dedicatory sermon was preached
by A. K. Matton assisted by Elder E. H. Hig-
bee. The church is located near the Hartford
line in central part of the township and the
membership reside in both Vernon and Hartford.
Elders Higbee, A. H. Case, Jeremiah Phillips,
the present pastor, have served this congregation.

UNITED IIRETHRKN CHURCH.

This society was organized about i860 by
Rev. Silas Casterline, in the house of Weston
Smith, about one-half mile west of the present
church building. Among the original members
were Edmund and Sapronia Burr, John and
Sarah Smith, Richard, Minerva, Jesse, Lydia,
Calvin, and Mary A. Mizner, Sullivan and Anna
Ralph, Weston and Julia Smith, Bissell Spencer,
Ransom, David and Hannah Ralph.

The present church building was erected about
one year after the organization and is located in
the southwest part of the township on the west
side of the west road. The trustees were Ed-
mund Burr, John Smith, and Calvin Mizner.
'Pile former of these also held the office of class-
leader and John Smith was also steward. Among
those who have served this congregation as min-
isters are W. H. Miller, H. F. Day, David Traver,
Samuel S. Evans, A,. Berzee, D. F. Reynolds,
Rev. Riley, J. E. Brown, R. Watson, N. Lewis,
1 ). W. Sprinkle, and B. A. Bonewell. The con-
gregation now belongs to P'owler circuit and
numbers about forty members. The union Sab-
bath-school held in the church numbers about
fifty, with Eva Williams superintendent.

Owing to recent changes in the circuit the
society is now witiiout a pastor and the general

condition of the organization is not so good as
in former years.

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH (iSURG HILL).

In the spring of 1800, Rev. Obed Crosby, a
local preacher of this denomination, came to
Vernon from Hartland, Hartford county, Con-
necticut. In the following year he brought his
family, and some time during this year he organ-
ized a class consisting of himself and wife, Ew-
ing Wright and wife, and Eunice (Brockway)
Bushnell. The first quarterly meeting was held
in Rev. Crosby's barn, and on this occasion the
eccentric presiding elder, Jacob Gruber, preached,
and the organization thus completed is said to
be the first Methodist organization on the ^Vest-
ern Reserve.

The society met for some time at the house
of Rev. Crosby, and afterwards in the log barn
belonging to Colonel Richard Hayes, which
stood on lot number twenty-eight in Hartford. In
1804 a log school-house was built on the same
lot, in which services were held until a frame
school- house was built on lot twenty-two (Hart-
ford) in i8og. This house was moved across
the street in 1822, near a spring a short distance
south of the Orangeville road. Services were
held in this house until the brick school-house
was built in 1827-28, on lot twenty-two (Hart-
ford), where services were huld until the Meth-
odist Episcopal church was built at Hartford.

Regular services were not held at Burg Hill
until Rev. A. N. Craft organized a class in 1866.
The class numbered about sixty and met at the
Burg Hill school-house. The first Methodist
Episcopal church building was erected in June,
1872, and dedicated September 7, 1876. Rev.
Niram Norton preached the dedicatory sermon
from Luke vii : 5, and Rev. R. M. Bear
dedicated the church. The building is of modem
design, located at Burg Hill.

About 1816-20 a class of this denomina-
tion was formed at school-house number four,
on lot number three (West Shepherd tract),
and this was a preaching place for some
twenty years. John Waldorf, John I'ell,
Chauncy Jones, and Anson Coe were prom
inent members here. The brick church at the
center was used by this class until 1867. Among
the ministers who have preached to this denomi
nation here were the Revs. Joseph Shane, Robert
R. Roberts (afterward bishop), Asa Shinn (after

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

375

ward a prominent leader in tlie "Mutual Rights "
movement, whicli culminated in the formation
of the Methodist Protestant church in 1828).
Noah Pidler was the first regular traveling min-
ister who preached at Burg Hill. Andrew Hemp-
hill, David Best, Caleb Reynolds, Job Guest,
James Charles, Thorton Fleming (who was pre-
siding elder until 18 10), James Ewen, James
Watt, James Ewing, Thomas J. Crockwell, John
Summerville, Jacob Gruber (presiding elder until
1813). In the meantime many other eminent
ministers of the church have preached here.
Burg Hill was formerly supplied with preachers
from the Baltimore conference until October,
181 2, and from the Ohio conference until 1825.
The circuit required a six week's journey, and
the allowance of an unmarried minister was $80
per year, which was double that amount for a
married minister. The present membership
numbets about forty-five, belonging to Burg Hill
and Orangeville circuit, of which Rev. Dunmire
is the pastor. The society has had a long and
arduous struggle with many difficulties, but now
takes position among the leading religious organ- .
izations of this locality, and has " come up
through many tribulations " with the pioneers of
Vernon.

OTHER CHURCHES.

The Disciples or Campbellites organized a
society in 1870-71, which met for a time in
Reeder's hall.

The Methodist Protestant organized a class of
about ten members in 1879 ^t the center, of
which Rev. George Stillwagon is pastor.

The Universalists secured the use of Reeder's
hall in the fall of 1881, and now hold regular
services under Rev. A. A. McMaster, pastor.

THE ANTI-SLAVERY MOVEMENT.

The question of human slavery in the United
States early agitated the lovers of "freedom and
equality before the law for all men," in Vernon.
The church organizations early incorporated in
their creeds the radical emancipation view of
this question. This is especially true of the
Free-will Baptist church at Burg Hill, as a
reference to its records will prove, and, in fact,
most if not all the leading citizens of the locality
generally were early champions of the "bond-
men." The famous "underground railroad"
had a good paying branch through Vernon, and

many able and efficient conductors were located
at convenient stations along the road.

The great question has been settled at last,
and the incipient stages of an unparalleled
struggle, together with the actors in them, be
long to the past in which they are buried, and
the operations of the "railroad" were shared so
generally by all, that the naming of special
ones might be deemed unjust to forgotten
meritorious services of others.

In the rural graveyard immediately south of
Burg Hill stands a plain tombstone with this his-
toric inscription:

Mary P. Sutliff («i'.' Plumb) died March 7, 1836, aged 23
years. The first secretary of the first Female Anti-slavery
society of Vernon.

On earth the friend of the needy; in heaven Jesus is her
friend.

FLOUR- AND S.A.W-MILL.

The only flouring-raill in the township is now
operated by Ransom Hull at Burg Hill, and was
erected by him in 1874. The building is a two-
story frame, 22x27, with a basement for ma-
chinery. It has two runs of stone propelled by a
twenty-horse steam engine, and has a capacity of
ten barrels of flour and from three to four tons
of chop. The saw-mill was built by O. Hull &
Son, in 1867, and has a capacity of three thou-
sand feet per day.

Burg Hill is the most important point of gen-
eral business in the township, and is located on
the Atlantic & Great Western railroad. Old
Burg Hill, whose name the new station retained,
is located in Hartford, a short distance south.
The building of the railroad induced the removal
to the present location. Since then the village
has gradually increased in importance and now
forms a pleasant and well-to-do community.
Various departments of trade usually found in
small villages and at railway stations are found
here. At present the business directory is
one general store, one furniture store, two hotels,
one saloon, one harness shop, one tin store, one
drug store, a union school and two churches.

Vernon center, the former point of trade in
the township, still retains a post-office and the
town house. Since the abandonment of the
Presbyterian church, a society of the Methodist
Protestant church has been recently organized.

376

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

The early settlers in the valley of the Pyma-
tuning were often very much annoyed by visits
from the strolling Indians who passed up and
down the creek. They never allowed an op-
portunity pass for drunken revels when by en-
treaty or barter they could procure whiskey. The
romantic idea of the Indian character as the
" noble red man " was not apparent in those who
were known to the settlers of Vernon.

" Yankee Jim " and " Cadashaway " were two
well known Indians who frequently visited the
settlement. It is related of them that they once
killed three elks in this neighborhood and took
notliing but the tongues. The antlers being after-
wards found were kept for a long while in the
settlement for ornaments.

THE INDIAN FUNERAL.

At one time a tribe of Indians were encamped
south of Vernon and two of their party visited
Martin Smith to procure some whiskey. The
old 'squire, after a great deal of persuasion and
fair promises that they would not become into.x-
icated, at least in the neighborhood, finally ac-
ceeded to their desires. The Indians started
homeward with their much coveted " fire-water,"
but on their way forgot their promise to the
'scjuire and indulged freely, so much so that they
both become intoxicated, and, as usual, began
quarreling, which resulted finally in a fight in
which one stabbed the other to death.

Soon after Asahel Brainard, of Hartford, came
upon the body of the dead Indian in the woods
and became very much alarmed for his own
safety, fearing that the Indians would accuse him
of the murder and take summary vengeance.
He reported the case to Squire 'Smith, and soon
the Indians also received word of the murder
and speedily apprehended the criminal. The
body was brought in funeral procession by
the tribe to Squire 'Smith's cabin, and Joseph
DeWolf, at the request of the Indians, made a
rude coffm of puncheon slabs, in which the
body was placed. It was then taken eastward
near the banks of the Pymatuning where the
grave was dug. During all this time the author
of the crime was present as a prisoner and self-
confessed murderer of his comrade, but made
the plea that "whiskey did it;" and was com-
])elled, as a punishment, to hold the feet of his

dead victim in both his hands during the cere-
mony of burial. At the grave a general powwow
was held, and quite a number of the tribe were
present. The squaw of the murdered Indian
put into the coffin a pair of moccasins, hunting
shirt, his rifle, knives, pipe and tobacco, and
finally a lighted coal of fire for the use of the
dead Indian in the "happy hunting grounds."
After these superstitious rites were performed
the tribe took their departure down the Pyma-
tuning, and the settlers who had gathered to
witness the strange spectacle returned to their
cabin homes.

Time has long since removed all marks of the
lone Indian grave, and the memory of it has
now almost passed into the realms of legends
with many stranger though truthful incidents of
the early times in Vernon.

Biographical Sketches.

EDMUND A. REED.

Edmund A. Reed, son of Allen and Silva
Reed, was born in Connecticut, September 21,
182 1. While yet a child his father died, and his
mother in 1830 removed with the family to
Trumbull county, and settled in Vernon town-
ship. The family consisted of three sons and
two daughters — Chester, Edmund .'\., and
Charles reside in Vernon ; the daughters were
Mary Ann (Mrs. Allen), and Harriet E. (Mrs.
Barnes), who is dead.

Mrs. Reed was poor, and the sons had to rely
upon their own efforts both for subsistence and a
start in life. Edmund A., the subject of this
sketch, attended district school in the winter
and worked by the month in summer. After he
had advanced far enough he taught school, by
which means he increased his annual income.
Though without money Mr. Reed had the good
fortune of possessing an earnest purpose, and
the will to attain the object of his reasonable
ambition.

In 1847 ^I"". Reed was married to Eliza M.
Smith, daughter of Havilah M. Smith, of ^'er-
non township. General Smith, grandfather of
Mrs. Reed, was one of the first settlers of Ver-
non, and her father was the second child born
in the town. Soon after his marriage Mr. Reed

^e€i/.

-^<^,

a.'i^f^ue-i-^ [ >V7^i-^:CD

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

began the management of a farm, and has ever
since devoted himself to that employment. Hav-
uig a well trained mind and natural business capac-
ity he soon became a local leader in politics and
public affairs generally. He has served through
the whole list of town ofifices, and for twenty-
one successive years filled the position of justice
of the peace. In 1866 the northeast part of the
county [jresented his name to the Republican
county convention for county commissioner, an
office to which he was chosen at tiie subsequent
regular election. He filled the position with
profit to tlie county and credit to himself for four
years.

In 1877 Mr. Reed was chosen to represent
Trumbull county in the General Assembly of
Ohio. He is spoken of by his associates as an
unostentatious and quiet, but diligent and atten-
tive member. During both terms of his service
he was a member of the committee on schools
and school lands, and on the committee on Fed-
eral relations. During his second term he was
chairman of the committee on new counties.

Mr. Reed introduced and succeeded in having
passed a bill for the re-survey of the State line
between the Reserve and Pennsylvania. The
location of this line had been a vexed question
ever since the first settlement of Ohio. There
had been no survey since the establishment of
the western boundary of Pennsylvania by Vir-
ginia and Pennsylvania surveyors, in 1786. In
1796 the Connecticut Land company surveyors
accepted the old Pennsylvania line, which was
indefinitely marked by a cleared line through the
forest. Difficulties grew chiefly out of questions
of jurisdiction in criminal cases, the disputed
ground being a sort of refuge where outlaws
could evade arrest. Mr. Reed's bill authoiized
the Governor to appoint three commissioners to
represent Ohio and a concurrent bill passed by
the Pennsylvania Legislature authorized a simi-
lar commission from that State. The Ohio com-
missioners were H. B. Perkins, James Mackey,
of Youngstown, and Mr. Rickey, of Steubenville.
The resurveyed line deviated slightly from the
formerly acknowledged line, but the chief ben-
efit of this measure was to establish a recognized
boundary.

Mr. Reed is a man of clear insight into affairs,
an intelligent observer, and a practical student.
These are qualities which distinguish him from

43'

the class commonly called average farmers, which
is unfortunately too large.

Two children are living, Charles E. and Har-
riet E. Allen died in his twenty-second year.

SAMUEL Nn<:RRY.

The Merry family, of which Samuel Merry is
the oldest representative in this county, is of
English descent. The genealogical record has
been traced to Samuel Merry, of Hartford coun-
ty, Connecticut, who was one generation re-
moved from his English ancestors. He had a
family of ten children, with whom, in 1789, he
removed to Herkimer county. New York, being
one of the earliest pioneers in that valley. He
died at Herkimer village, August ig, 1827, aged
seventy-seven years. Hannah Merrill Merry,
his wife, was born in Hartford, Connecticut,
September, 1747, and died at Litchfield, Her-
kimer county, New York, August 19, 1814.
Their children were Samuel, Jr., Enos, Charles,
Epaphras, Francis, Lucy, Edmund, Ralph, Har-
riet, and Hannah.

Charles Merry, the third son of Samuel Mer-
ry, was born in Hartford county, Connecticut,
in 1774, and was fifteen years old when his
father moved to New York. Pioneer life is
much the same everywhere — ceaseless toil, pri-
vation and discouragement. The decade spent
in Herkimer county was just the sort of prepar-
atory drill Mr. Merry needed for life in the new
West opened up by the Connecticut company's
purchase. In the spring of 1800 he started for
the Reserve, going on foot with a pack weigh-
ing twenty-four pounds on his back. He did
not follow the traveled roads which had been
cut out by previous emigrants, but took a
straight course through an unbroken wilderness,
swimming streams and sleeping in the open
air. One night he slept in an Indian hut. This
was probably the most uncomfortable night of
his journey, for, although there was no occasion
for alarm, he thought it prudent to keep one
eye on his host. His pocket compass finally
guided him to Hartford township, where Tim-
othy Brockway, his father-in-law, had previously
settled.

Mr. Merry had married in New York Martha
Brockway, whom he left at the old home in

378

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

Herkimer county until he could prepare a home
for her here. Having selected a piece of land
in Hartford township he made a clearing, built a
cabin, and planted sprmg crops. He was well
satisfied with his first summer's work, and hav-
ing planted a fall crop returned to New York for
his family, which at that time consisted of a wife
and one son. In the following spring he set-
tled in Hartford, where he remained about five
years and then removed to Vernon, where he
died.

Charles and Martha Merry had a family of
eleven children, seven of whom lived to mature
age : Erastus, Harriet, Aber, Samuel, Francis,
Matilda, and Charles.

Samuel Merry, the subject of an illustration
on another page, was born in Vernon, Janu-
ary 27, 1807. His early life was spent on
his father's farm, and odd hours occupied in
coopering until he had mastered the tiade. Dur-
ing the winter he manufactured large numbers
of cider barrels, whiskey barrels, and pork casks.
The price of the former at that time was four
and the latter five shiliings.

Mr. Merry married January i, 1836, Mary
Crossman, of Onondaga county, New York, and
began housekeeping on the farm on which he
continues to reside. They have had a family of
eight children. Judson L. resides in Arizona ;
Ellen (Mrs. James T. Weir), in Vernon ; Court-
land D., in Vernon; Delia C (Mrs. John Mor-
rison), in Ashtabula county; Charles T., in Ver-
non; Theodore T. and Willard P., in Burg Hill,
and Mrs. W. P. Crowell.

Mrs. Samuel Merry died December 17, 1881.
She had joined the Baptist church in New York
and during all her life was a Christian woman.
Mr. Merry united with the Methodist Protestant
church and remained a member until the church
was removed. His father, Charles Merry, was
one of the most prominent of the pioneers ; was
paymaster of militia from 181 1 until 1817, and
held various other local trusts.

JOHN I. KING, M. I).
The subject of this sketch was born in Harri-
son township, near Platteville, Grant county,
Wisconsin, November 13, 1848. His father,
John, son of James King, Sr., and I'^liza Jane

Smail, were married May 11, or 13, 1847, "C'^r
Jamestown, Pennyslvania, each being about
twenty years of age. They went to Wisconsin in
April, 1848, where young King was born. April,
1849, his father started for California to try his
success in the gold mines. He died a short
time after reaching Negro bar on the American
river, California, the first day of January, 1850,
lackmg a few days of being twenty-three years
of age. He was born in Vernon township,
Trumbull county, Ohio, January 13, 1827, and
his wife April 8th of the same year in West Salem
township, Mercer county, Pennsylvania. Mrs.
King married for her second husband Harvey
H., son of Chancey Jones, Sr., of Harrison
county, Wisconsin, February, 1851, by whom she
had two children, Eliza, born December 11, 1851,
and Harvey, born December 9, 1853. March
29, 1854, Mr. Jones with his family started by
the overland route for Washington Territory.
After a trip of varied and thrilling experience
they reached their place of destination on the
White river. King county, twenty miles from
Seattle, an important town on Puget sound, Oc-
tober 24, 1854. Here young King endured the
privations and inconveniences incident to a newly
and sparsely settled country. He had to walk
two miles to attend school, along a blazed path
through a dense forest at the risk of being killed
by Indians or mangled by panthers.

Sunday, October 28, 1855, his mother and
step-father were murdered in cold blood by a
party of about fourteen Klikitat Indians. After
the massacre he carried his little half-brother
and led his half-sister about three miles in hopes
of finding some of the whites near where he used
to attend school, which was done at the risk of
their lives, but all had become alarmed and had
(led. The houses were deserted and some of
them ransacked. The outlook was gloomy in-
deed. They had been driven from the breakfast
table, had had no dinner except a few potatoes
they had dug from the ashes of the milk-house
where they had been stored. It was getting late
in the afternoon of a short October day, the
children were becoming tired and hungry and
begging for food; the roots he had dug for them
to eat did not fully satisfy the cravings of a long-
fasting stomach. The youngest, not quite two
years of age, was inconsolable, and his sobs and
cries added the danger of detection to the al-

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

379

ready harrowing complication of adverse circum-
stances. He could not be made to comprehend
why he was being kept away from his mother,
and his piteous pleadings to be taken to her and
fur something to eat made the heart of young
King sick and faint. To add to the dismal
prospects he discovered an Indian coming
directly towards them, but from his manner he
was certain they had not been observed. There
was no time to be lost, and hastily securing the
children he returned and started to meet the ap-
proaching Indian, wliom he recognized as a
friendly one whom he had often seen before and
knew by the name of "Curly." They all were
taken to his wigwam, and his squaw set out a
great quantity of dried whortleberries and smoked
fish. Ample justice was done to her hospitality.
Nothing she or young King could do could in-
duce the two younger children to treat her with
anything but shyness and looks of fear and sus-
picion. Tired nature demanded her rights and
he soon had the satisfaction of seeing them
sound asleep, and never will he forget the min-
gled feeling of pride, sympathy and sorrow experi-
enced as he looked upon his sleeping charge.
Curly took them down the White river in a canoe
the next day and delivered them up to the
proper authorities. Their uncle John Small was
in California, where he heard of the massacre,
and immediately came to Seattle and took charge
of the children. Some time in June, 1856, they
left Seattle on the Government man-of-war De-
catur. The vessel came near foundering in a
gale off the mouth of the Columbia river. At
San Francisco the children received the most
generous attention, and a benefit was given them
in the American theater. Thence they went to
New York by the way of the Isthmus of Panama,
and from there were taken to Wisconsin. Eliza
and Harvey were left wiih relatives in that State
and young King was brought back to Ohio and
l)laced in the care of his uncle. Rev. David
King, and his wife, in September, 1856. He
joined the Methodist Episcopal church the 9th
of November, 1862. He never saw his half-
sister and half-brother after he parted with them
in 1856. Eliza died October 6, 1864, and
Harvey October 4, 1864, of diphtheria. They
had not seen each other for three weeks, and
had lived three miles apart.

Young King's boyhood days were spent as

most, and no pains were spared to secure to him
theadvantages of acommon as well as select school
education. He attended the Allegheny college,
Meadville, Pennsylvania, in the years 1867-68-
69-70, and 187 1. He began the study of medi-
cine in July, 1867, and entered his name as a
student in the office of David Best, M. D. in
Meadville, Pennsylvania, in January, 1S70. He
attended two courses of lectures of six months
each in the medical department of the University
of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, in the years 187 1
and 1872, and received his degree of doctor of
medicine from Bellevue Hospital Medical col-
lege. New York city, February 27, 1873. In
April of the same year he established him,self in
Greece City, in Butler county, Pennsylvania oil
regions. In November, 1874, he located at his
old home at Burg Hill, Vernon township, Ohio,
where he is still [1882] engaged in the practice
of his chosen profession.

January 31, 1875, he lost his uncle. Rev. David
King, aged sixty-five, and September 9, 1878,
his aunt, Jane King, wife of David, aged seventy-
four. He takes this opportunity of paying grate-
ful tribute to their memory. To their teaching
and example he renders the most profound ad-
miration and respect. Truthfully can it be said
they tried to live as they thought others should
live, and preached nothing they were not willing
to practice. Mr. King was united in marriage
to Miss Emorinda C. Brown, April 18, 1802.

Chancey Jones, Sr., was born in Barkhamsted,
Litchfield county, Connecticut, May 11, 1780.
His brothers were Israel, Pliny, and Horace, and
his sisters Clarissa, Mima, Rebecca, and Orpha.
At eleven years of age he removed to Herkimer
county, New York; came to Vernon about
1802 -3, and married Ursula, daughter of Rev.
Obed Crosby, August 28, 1804. His house
stood on lot six, southeast |5art. He subse-
quently lived near number four school-house.
His house was the stopping place for the weary
itinerant Methodist preacher. He took an act-
ive part in church affairs. He moved from Ver-
non to Illinois in 1838, and near Platteville, Wis-
consin, in 1839. He died there in 1859; also
his wife in 1876. His children were : Sterling,
born in 1804, and died in infancy; Chancey,
born in 1807, married Elizabeth Brown in 1830,
and died in 1S53; Obed Crosby, born in 1810;
Clarissa, born in 1813, married Jesse Waldorf in

380

tRtJMBULL ANt) MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

1S33, and her children were Ursula, Elizabeth,
and Laura Etta; Horace, born in 18 18, and died
in infancy; Jerusha, horn in 1822, and died in
infancy. Harvey, born in 1825, married Mrs.
John King in 185 1, and their children were Eliza
Olive and Harvey Percival, both dying in 1864.
He and his wife, Eliza Jane, were both murdered
by the Indians on White river, King county,
twenty miles from Seattle, Washington Territory,
Sunday morning, October 28, 1855. His body
was burned in his house, which the Indians set
on fire. Orpha was born in 1828, and died in
infancy.

Chancey Jones, Jr , was born in Vernon De-
cember 1 9, 1807, and married Elizabeth, -laugh-
ter of James and Hannah Brown, when he was
twenty-three years of age. He settled on the
east side of the Pymatuning creek, near number
four school-house in Vernon, where he remained
until 1837, when he went to the West, and fin-
ally located in the township of Harrison, Grant
county, Wisconsin, in 1840, where he died Sep-
tember 19, 1853. His children were Orlando
Sterling, born in 1831, married Sarah Elizabeth
Munger in 1852. Their children were Alice, who
married W. C. King, and Chancey, who married
and had two children, a son and daughter, who
died in infancy. Obed King, born in 1833, mar-
ried Harriet Elizabeth Guernsey in 1856. Their
children were De Forest and Charlotte Eliza-
beth; for his second wife he married Susie M.
Janney m 1867, and had two daughters and a
son. Hannah Orpha was born in 1836, and died
in 1846. James Horace was born in 1846, and
married Ortha A. McFall in 1864. They had
five children. .'\11 e.xcept James H. were born
in Vernon.

Rev. Obed Crosby was born in Hartland,
Hartford county, Connecticut, in 1753. He was
married to Jerusha Phelps in Hartland in 1782.
She was born in Connecticut in 1757. He was
in the Revolutionary war under General Wash-
ington. He came to Vernon in the spring of
1800 and erected a log house on lot seven, Wil-
cox tract, near the site of J. M. Dickerman's,
and boarded with Thomas Giddings while build-
ing it, and also held meetings and preached oc-
casionally, but where is not definitely known.
He returned to Connecticut, and the next sprmg
(1801) brought his wife and three children to
Vernon. 'I'hey came by the way of Pittsbuig,

Pennsylvania, in an open wagon drawn by a>oke
of oxen. Shortly after leaving that place one
of the oxen died and a cow was yoked to take
its place. They were six weeks on the trip from
Connecticut. He formed the first Methodist
Episcopal society ever organized in Vernon
(1801). He lived in his round log house six
months and then moved into his new house on
the exact site of A. Waldorf's on lot four, West
Shepard tract. This was the first hewn log house
in Vernon and a fine structnre for its day; had
a large room, two bed rooms, and a pantry down
stairs and a chamber ; had a board gable. The
nails used were hand-wrought in Pittsburg. He
died during the prevalence of a malignant type
of ty|)hoid fever January 13, 1813. His wife
died February 20, 1839. They lie side by side
in the burial ground just south of the center of
Vernon. His children were Ursula, born August
16, T785; died near Platteville, Wisconsin,
.\ugust 25, 1876. Polly died in infancy. Ezra
died near New Castle, Pennsylvania. No dates
of birth or death. Ezra had a son, Obed.
Jerusha, born in 1 790, died in Vernon, Ohio,
February 11, 1839.

James King was born in the county of Tyrone,
Ireland, in 1781. He had brothers Robert,
William, John, and a sister Mary. His mother,
Mrs. Jane King, married John Brackin, by
whom she had three children, Ezekiel, David,
and Elizabeth. John Brackin left Londonderry,
Ireland, in 1800, with his family, and landed at
Wilmington, Delaware, after a four weeks' voy-
age, and came to Strabane, Washington county,
Pennsylvania. Robert King first went to Kms-
man, Ohio, and the rest followed in 1804.
James worked for Mr. Kinsman in that town-
ship and subsequently bought of him a farm in
the north part of lot twenty-three. Kinsman,
now owned by J. R. Russell. In 1805-6 he
married Jerusha, daughter of Rev. Obed Crosby,
of Vernon, by whom he had eleven children,
three boys and two girls dying in infancy. .-\
short time after his marriage he traded his farm
m Kinsman for one in Vernon, with his brother-
in-law, Ezra Crosby, and became identified with
the interests of this township thereafter. He
held various offices of trust; was considered one
of the best farmers in the townshiji. The jokes
he jilayed were many and of a practical kind and
often repaid. One of his neighbors at one time

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

381

in his absence turned a drover's herd into a field
of clover nearly ready to be cut. He told him
it was all right, as it was to be plowed under,
then went to Mr. King and told him some one
had taken possession, and he better see about it.
Mr. King, as soon as he had had a talk with the
drover, could trace the joke back to his in-
former. He watched his opportunity and soon
had a chance to play a prank on him. This and
many other ones were played and repaid in the
best of humor. He was county commissioner
in 1837. His wife died in 1839. He was a
member of the Seceder church in Kinsman at
his death, which occurred May 9, 1842. His
children were Obed, born 1807, married Mary
Phelps, 1833, who had one child — died in in-
fancy. He died in 1840. David, born 18 10,
died 1875. George, born 1819, married Sarah
Waldorf, had children, Obed C, died aged ten,
and Will C, born 1853.* James, born 1S13,
an artist of much promise, died 1842. William,
born 1822, died in Platteville, Wisconsin, in
1865. John, born 1827, died 1850. See sketch
of J. I. King, M. D. The others died in in-
fancy.

Rev. David King was born in Kinsman town-
ship, August 22, 18 10. When about twenty-
four years of age he professed religion in Wayne^
.Ashtabula county. Attended Allegheny college,
Me.adville, Pennsylvania, in the years 1834 and
1835. Was licensed to exhort in 1834 and to
preach in 1836. Was missionary among the
Sioux Indians about Fort Snelling and St. Paul,
Minnesota, from 1836 to 1842 inclusive. Was
financial agent for Allegheny college in 1850-51
and 1853; was married in 185 1 in Pittsburg,
Pennsylvania, to Mrs. Jane Settlemires. He
died in Vernon, January 31, 1875. He was
noted for his zeal and peace-making. He was
not great, but good, and died respected, the
world being better for his having lived in it.

NOTES OF SETTLEMENT.

General Martin Smith was born in Connecti-
cut in 1762; removed to the Reserve in an early
day and was among the first settlers of Vernon
township. He was a soldier in the Revolution-
ary war. He followed merchandising in an early

day and was also by occupation a surveyor. He
was grand master Mason and in early times the
Masonic lodge held their meetings in his house.
He married Sarah Kellogg, born in 1763, and
had a family of eleven children. They were
prominent members of the Presbyterian church
and their home was the usual stopping place of
the pioneer preacher and missionary. He died
in Vernon in 1853; his wife July 22, 1834.

Harvilah Smith, son of the subject of the pre-
ceding sketch, was born in Vernon, Trumbull
county, Ohio, January 3, 1801, said to be the
second white male child born in that township.
His birthi)lace was on the farm where he still
lives near the center of Vernon. His memory
IS still quite good and he retains a vivid recollec-
tion of the experiences of pioneer life. He says
he can well remember when a small boy of lying
awake in bed at night listening to the wolves tear-
ing the bark from the logs of the cabin. Of the
four hundred acres comprising the Smith home-
stead there is not a field in which he has not as-
sisted in clearing it of the native forest. He
married, in 1824, Hannah Clark, born in Con-
necticut in 1802, and who removed to Vernon in
1813. They have children as follows : Erastus,
Eliza, Julia, Alexander H., Charles H., Lottie,
and Hannah.

Luman Hobart, son of Martin and Chloe
(Jennings) Hobart, was born in Pennsylvania in
181 2, February 7th. His father was a native of
Massachusetts, born October 13, 1779, and his
mother a native of Vermont, born in 1783. They
settled in Vernon, Trumbull county, Ohio, in
1834, on the land now owned by Isaac Morford.
Ten years later they removed to Michigan, and
in 1855 removed to New York State, where they
died. They had a family of eleven children, their
names all beginning with L, viz: Lorin, Lyman,
Lester, Luman, Lucy, Lemuel, Lois, Lucius,
Leonard, and Lewis; one died in infancy. Martin
Hobart was a commissioned officer in the War
of 1 81 2. Luman Hobart came to Trumbull
county with his parents in the fall of 1S34, and
has always since resided in Vernon township.
He married, July 4, 1837, Rebecca Splitstone,
born in Vernon July 11, 1818, and has a family
of six children: Mary L., born in 183S, now
wife of A. Brockway, residing in Mercer county,
Pennsylvania; Oscar F., born 1840, married,
March 7, 1872, Elvira Mifford, of Oneida

382

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

county, New Yoik, and has two children, Idelma
R. and Sylvia J.; Clinton, born 1842, married
Marilla Johnston, of Pennsylvania; Thomas C,
born J 844, married Lizzie Storier, of Vernon;
Dudley, born 1846, married, October 16, 1872,
Lydia Bates, of Mercer county, Pennsylvania,
and has three children, Sadie L , Albert C, and
Ella May; Lima O., born 1850, married J. V.
Bates, of Pennsylvania. Three of the sons,
Oscar, Clinton, and Corwin, were members of
company G, One Hundred and Seventy-first
Ohio National guard, served four months and
were discharged with their regiment. In 1852
Mr. Luman Hobart made a trip to California,
being one hundred and nine days in reaching
San Francisco, owing to sickness and other draw-
backs, and followed minmg about two years near
(Jrass valley. On his homeward trip in October,
1854, when out about twenty-four hours the
vessel struck a rock and sank. There were a
large number of passengers aboard and many
lives were lost. Mr. Hobart fortunately saved
his life, but lost nearly all of his effects.

John Langley. — This venerable gentleman is
one of the oldest residents of Trumbull county,
as he was one of its earliest pioneers. His res-
idence in the county spans a period of over
eighty years. He was born in Baltimore county,
Maryland, July 29, 1791. He came to Trum-
bull county in iSoi, and lived with his uncle,
.^ndrew Burns, until he was twenty-one. He
was drafted in the army in the War of 181 2,
and served three months under Captain Fobes,
when he was discharged on account of sickness.
He then began the improvement of his land, sit-
uated east of the center of Vernon. He put up
a hewed log house and barn, and in 18 14 put
in a small piece of wheat. In 1816 he married
Mary Waldorf, who came with her parents to
Hubbard township in an early day. Slie died
in Vernon December 28, 1871. Mr. Langley
is the lather of two sons and two daughters,
viz: John W., George W., Rhoda, and Lucinda.
John W., born October 11, 181 7, married El-
len Millikin, and has four children. George W.,
born .Xpnl, 1820, married in 1844 Margaret
Millikin, born December 29, 182 1, in Ireland,
and has a family of four children, viz: Jasper,
born March 10, 1846, married Movilla Fell
and has two daughters; Emery, April i, 1850,
married in 1S75 Ellen Biggins, born in England

in 1854, and has two children. Flora and
W^illie; Alfred, March i, 1855; Lucinda Dott
— his sister's daughter — born February 3, 1866.
Rhoda Langley, the third child of John and
Mary Langley, was born July 25, 1824, died
July 4, 1861. Lucinda, born December 20,
1831, died March 10, 1866. Mr. Langley, the
subject of this sketch, was present at the first
quarterly meeting held by the Methodist Epis-
copal church in Trumbull county. The presid-
ing elder was Jacob Gruber, and the meeting
was held in the barn of Obed Crosby.

Francis Haynes, son of .'\sa Haynes, Jr., was
born in Connecticut, December 24, 181 1, and
came to Ohio with his parents in 1S17, the
family settling in Vernon township, Trumbull
county. Colonel Haynes was born in Connecti-
cut March 29, 1791, and married in 18 10, Sarah
Rice, born in the same State the same year.
They had three children : Francis, Eliza J., and
Sylvia. Colonel Haynes was an associate judge
for several years. He died January 28, 1879,
his wife April 28, T857. Francis Haynes married
in 1835, Mary A. Davis, born July ig, 1812, in
New York. They have a family of five children,
viz: George F., Orlando W., Mary L., Amaret
A., and Fayette M. The three sons served in
the late war. .'Vsa Haynes, Sr., the grandfather
of the subject of this sketch, settled in Vernon
in 1818. They raised a family of ten children,
all of whom lived to raise families.

William E. Chapman, son of Erastus and
Lydia (Leonard) Chapman, was born in Vernon,
Trumbull county, Ohio, in 1827. His grand-
parents, William and Sylvia (Smith) Chapman,
of Connecticut, came to Trumbull county, Ohio,
in 1805, and settled in Vernon township. They
had a family of four children: Erastus, Fanny,
Electa, and Sylvia. Erastus, the father of
William E., was born in Connecticut in 1794,
came to Ohio with his parents, and subsequently
married Lydia Leonard, born in Massachusetts in
1 799, and had eight children. Erastus Chapman
died in Vernon in 1869. William E. Chapman
was married in 1848, to Charlotte Clark, born in
1829, and she died in 1857. He was again
married in 1859 to Mary A. Sheldon, born in
1 838. He had two children by his first marriage:
Erastus C. and William R.

Ralsa B. Clark was born in Hartford county,
Connecticut, in 1796, and came with his parents

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

383

to Vernon, Trumball county, Ohio, in 18 14.
His father, Eber B. Clark, was born in Con-
necticut in 1774, and his mother, Wealthy A.
Holcorab, in 1775; she died in 1861. They had
a family of eleven children. Ralsa Clark was
united in marriage in 1823 to Dorothy B. H61-
comb, born in 1799 in Connecticut. They have
had eight children, four of whom are living. Mr.
Clark, now one of the most wealthy farmers of
the county, started in life a poor man ; his pros-
perity and success are the result of his industry,
foresight, and economy. Laura S., a daughter
of Mr. Clark, was born in Vernon, Trumbull
county, Ohio, in 1839, married in i860 Jasper
D. Mattocks, now a resident of Toledo. They
had two children, a boy and girl.

Joseph P. Williams was born in Vernon town-
ship, Trumbull county, Ohio, January 18, 1818.
His parents, Asmond and Mary (Sheldon) Wil-
liams, removed to Vernon in 1S15. Asmond
Williams was born in 1790 and his wife in 1789.
He died in 1S65 and she in 1869. They reared
a family of nine children — four are living. Joseph
P. married Vienna Proper, who was born in
Venango county, Pennsylvania, in 18:22. She
died in 1865. He is the father of three chil-
dren : Sarah U., Amanda B., and Joseph P.
Mr. Williams is a farmer and dairyman.

Alfred F. Waldorf, son of John and Elizabeth
Waldorf, was born in Vernon, Trumbull county,
Ohio, in 1818. His grandfather, John Waldorf,
Sr., was a native of N'ew Jersey, born 1750, and
came to Ohio in 1802, and died in Hubbard
township, Trumbull county, in 18 10. He had a
family of six children. His son John, Jr., father
of the subject of this sketch, was born in New
Jersey in 1786, settled in Vernon township,
Trumbull county, in 1809, and died there in
1835. He married Elizabeth Misner, daughter
of Nicholas and Rhoda Misner. She was born
in New Jersey in 1789, and died in Vernon in
1876. They had a family of thirteen children,
of whom four are living. Alfred F. was united
in marriage in 1842 to Annis L. Wadsworth,
daughter of Henry and Laura Wadsworth, born
in New York State in 1823. Mr. and Mrs. Wal-
dorf have a family of six children, as follows:
Laura A , John H., Gertrude, Emma, Ada M.
and Ida M. (twins). Eugene is dead. Mr.
and Mrs. Waldorf are members of the Free-will
Baptist church.

George K. Pelton was born in Gustavus,
Trumbull county, Ohio, in 1818. His maternal
grandfather, Joseph DeWolf, was born in Hart-
land, Connecticut, in 1762, and settled in Ver-
non township, Trumbull county, one mile south
of the center, in the spring of 1800. He came
out a short time in advance of his family, who
followed with an ox team. On the way one of
the oxen died, and the cow, which they were
bringing with them, was yoked up in his place
and the journey completed in this way. Joseph
DeWolf married Sarah Gibbons (born in 1764),
and had a family of thirteen children. He was
a soldier in the war of independence, serving
through the whole struggle. As a pioneer he
battled not only with the forests of Vernon, but
frequently with the wild beasts as well. On one
occasion he had quite an adventure with a
wounded deer. On going up to cut its throat it
sprang up and at him, knocking him down. On
regaining his feet he ran for a log that lay up
some distance from the ground. Whenever the
deer would spring at him he would roll down
under the log and the deer would land on the
other side of the tree, and he would then roll
back and climb upon the log. This proceeding
was kept up for some time, finally wearing the
animal out, but not without himself receiving
many bruises. Mr. DeWolf died in Vernon in
1846, and his wife two years later. They were
highly esteemed by the entire community in
which they resided so long. Their oldest daugh-
ter, Ruhamah, was born in Connecticut in
1783 and became the wife of Joseph Pelton, a
native of Saybrook, Connecticut, and died in
1872. Mr. Pelton served in the War of 1812.
They.had eleven children. George K. married
in 1848 Mary A. King, daughter of William
King, of Kinsman. She was born in 182 1 and
died in 1874. Two children is the result of this
union — Myra and John S., both at home.

Ira Case, son of Abner and Hannah Case, of
Barkhamstead, Connecticut, was born March 15,
1782, came to Ohio about the year 1805 and set-
tled in Vernon, Trumbull county, where he lived
until his death which took place May 25, 1837.
His wife was Ursula, daughter of Uriah and
Mehitabel Hyde, born June 10, 1786, in Lyme,
Connecticut, died in October, 1864. They had
a family of seven children, namely : Julia,
born August 10, 180S, married Norris Hum-

;S4

RUMIJULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

|)lirey, and died January 26, 1870; Imri, born
March 4, 1810; Uriah N., born August 26,
iSii, of Orangeville; Hannah M., born March
6, 1813, wife of George Fell (second), of Vernon;
Eveline, born July 12, 1819, died about i860;
Lucy C., born May 7, 1821, died in 1879;
George S., born April i, 1826, of Vernon. He
married Mary Hoagland, of Brookfield, born
October 15, 1836. They have had five children,
as follows: Ida L., born July 27, 1856, died
in Colorado July 14, 1880; Jesse H., born De-
cember 7, 1858; Mary E., born March 26, 1862;
Cora D., born December 5, 1865, died Septem-
ber 5, 1866; Minnie D., born August 26, 1869.
James M. Dickerman, son of Isaac and Ann
Dickerman, was born in Massachusetts in 1826;
came to Ohio in 1854 and settled in Bloonifield
township, Trumbull county. Later he moved
to Vernon township and at present is proprietor
of the hotel at Burg Hill. His wife Harriet
was born in Massachusetts in 1828. In 1862
he enlisted in company B, One Hundred and
Fifth Ohio volunteer infantry, and served nine
months.

CHAPTER X.

BLOOMFIELD.

GENERAL FEATURES.

Bloomfield, the seventh township in the fourth
range, is in the northern part of Trumbull
county, adjoining Ashtabula county. It lies
between Greene on the east and Mesopotamia
on the west, and is north of Bristol. The largest
stream in the township is Grand river, which
enters near the southwestern coiner, and pursues
a general northerly direction parallel to the
western townshii) line, crossing the center road,
and passing out of the township into Mesopo-
tamia a short distance north of this road.
Several small streams, tributaries of this river,
drain the western portion of the township.
Baughman's creek enters the river in the south-
west; about a mile north of its mouth a small
run empties, and perhaps a half mile further,
Center creek flowing west from its headwaters in

the tamarack swamp, adds its waters to those of
the river. North creek rises north of the center
of the township, and flowing southwesterly, joins
the river near the township line. Still another
small creek, known as Haine's run, flows through
the northwestern portion of this township. The
streams are mainly in the western half of the
township. A large portion of the land in the
eastern half is covered by the tamarack swamp,
which extends from north to south almost entirely
across the townshi[), east of the Ashtabula &
Pittsburg railroad. The eastern and western
portions — the tamarack swamp and the valley of
Grand river — are low-lying and wet. The river
bottom is often flooded by rains which appear to
affect other localities much less. Through the
township from noith to south extends a swell or
ridge of land rising gradually from the swampy
regions on either side, and generally very nearly
level on its broad crest. The soil of this slight
elevation varies from sandy and gravelly loam on
the west to clay on the east. Along the turnpike
are many fine farms, with first-rate buildings and
improvements. This is an excellent farming
region, well suited for wheat. Dairying and
sheep-raising are carried on quite profitably.

The township was late settled, and even now
contains but a small number of inhabitants, there
being less than two hundred voters. The
tamarack swamp has not yet been subjugated, but
labor is now being expended upon it with a view
toward making its fertility and richness available
for the farmer. When this result has been ac-
complished the agricultural resources of Bloom-
field will be greatly enlarged. Another swamp
in the southwest of the township is the" black
ash swamp, containing three or four hundred
acres lying near Grand river. These swamps
have proved a drawback to Bloomfield, but they
soon must yield, subdued by the labor of the
progressive agriculturist.

The only village in the township is the center,
or, to give its post-otifice address. North Bloom-
field, situated a half mile west of the geographical
center. This is one of the pleasantest rural vil-
lages in the county. Beautiful shade trees line
its streets, and a level grassy lawn of nearly five
acres in the center of the village lends additional
beauty to the place. Forty or fifty houses, three
stores, and a few other shops, and two churches
are comprised in North Bloomfield.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

385

RONGIIAL OWNERS.

Peter Chardon Brooks, of Boston, was the pro-
prietor of large tracts of land in this portion of
the Reserve and this township was held by him
until 1814. He then sold it to Ephraim Brown,
of Westmoreland, New Hampshire, and Thomas
Howe of Williamstown, Vermont. Although
the purchasers were of nearly the same age, Howe
was Brown's uncle and the playmate of his boy-
hood. It is said that the first business transac-
tion between the two took place when the uncle
and the nephew were both less than ten years of
age, and was of a niost unique nature. Howe
rented a hen of Brown for the season, and, at
the expiration of the time agreed upon, returned
her with half her chickens. Two or three years
after purchasing the township, Howe sold out to
Brown, reserving one thousand acres in the south-
ern part.

SURVEY.

Soon after purchasing Howe and Brown en-
gaged S. I. Ensign, of Mesopotamia, to survey
this township — not an easy task, considering the
then swampy condition of the land. The town-
ship is divided into one hundred and seventy
lots, contaming from fifty to one hundred acres
each. These lots are numbered from north to
south, beginning with lot one in the northwest-
ern corner of the township.

THE FIRST SETTLER.

Leman Ferry, of Brookfield, Vermont, started
for his new home in the western wilds about the
10th day of January, 1815, and reached his des-
tination about the 20th of February following.
He started with two teams, one a sled drawn
by two yoke of oxen, the other a sleigh drawn
by a span of horses. The teams conveyed his
household goods and his family. Mr. Ferry was
accompanied by his hired man, Mrs. Ferry, and
two sons and three daughters. When west of
Buffalo it was found impracticable to proceed
further with the ox-sled on account of the scan-
tiness of snow. Therefore Mr. Ferry exchanged
the sled for a wagon and continued his journey,
but kept the sleigh along, the horses dragging it
over bare ground much of the way. He en-
tered this township from the northward, guided
only by spotted trees in the latter part of his
journey. There was then no house between
Rome center and Bristol township, and no road

through Bloomfield. Arriving in the vicinity of
his purchase Mr. Ferry found shelter for his fam-
ily in a deserted log cabin situated just over the
line in Bristol, until he had time to erect a shanty
upon his own land. Leman Ferry, Jr., his oldest
son, was at this time twenty-one years old, and
with his assistance and that of the hired man a
comfortable dwelling was soon finished. At first
no chimney was built, but a smoke-hole was cut
through the roof instead. The fire was built
against the green logs in the end of the room
until these were burned away somewhat, then a
kind of stone fire-place was made by heaping
up stones against the logs. Here the family
lived and worked. When spring came, a num-
ber of men came on to make clearings, and
as many as twenty at a time boarded at the
house of Mrs. Ferry. Benches made of split or
hewn logs were ranged round the room for seats,
and at night beds were made up on the floor.
Mr. Ferry had never built a log-house before this,
and therefore was not especially skilled in that
kind of carpentry; and the roof of the building,
which was covered by "shakes," or long shingles,
held down by weight-poles, was not properly con-
structed. One day Mr. Ferry's son Noble, then
a small boy, climbed upon the roof to rescue a
cat which had got u[) there and was afraid to
come down. When he was about midway of the
building, the whole roof suddenly started, shin-
gles, and weight-poles all together, and carried
the boy to the ground, burying him in the debris.
The hired man, who was chopping wood back
of the house, saw the fall and with the assistance
of young Leman Ferry soon extricated the
bruised and frightened child. P'ortunately no
bones were broken, and the victim of the acci-
dent still lives to relate the incident.

The summer following his arrival and settle-
ment Mr. Ferry returned to Conneaut, where he
had left his sled, taking back the wagon he had
purchased in order to reach Bloomfield. The
wagon he sold for six barrels of salt at $10 per
barrel, hauled the salt home on the sled, and
sold it out to the settlers at the price he had
paid.

Leman Ferry died in 1825, aged sixty. Mrs.
Ferry lived to reach her ninetieth year. They
were the parents of seven children, of whom
the youngest five came to Ohio with them.
The children were Editha (Pinney) and Lucy

3S6

TRUMBULT, AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

(Lamphere); Leman, Polly, Chloe, Lucinda,
and Noble B., of whom only the youngest sur-
vives. Leman, Jr., married Susan Hillman, and
afterwards moved to Garrettsville, where he died.
Polly married Dr. Andrew Clark and lived in
Newton township. Chloe married William Mc-
Clintock and resided in Bloomfield several years.
She died at Garrettsville. Lucinda married first
Samuel Tinan, of Rome, and second Thomas
Bushnell, of Bloomfield. N. B. married Abi-
gail Flower, and lives upon the old homestead.
His wife died in 1875. They had ten children;
nine are now living, the youngest son with his
father.

E.\RLY SETTLERS.

The spring and summer after Mr. Ferry's set-
tlement a number of others came and began im-
proving their farms, and a few brought their fam-
ilies during that year. In the spring of 1815
Willard Crowell, Israel Proctor, Samuel East-
man, and David Comstock came to this town-
ship from Vermont on foot.

Ephraim Brown, from Cheshire county, New
Hampshire, was one of the first settlers and most
prominent citizens. He settled at the center in
1815, in a log cabin built a short time previously
by Major Howe. The site of the cabin is now cov-
ered by the residence of his son, E. A. Brown.
Ephraim Brown married Mary B. Huntington,
and at the time of their arrival in the township
their family consisted of four children; five were
afterwards born to them. The names of the
children were Ephraim Alexander, George VV.,
Mary, Charles, Elizabeth H., James M., Marvin
H., Fayette, and Anne F. E. A. Brown now
resides upon the old homestead. He was in
business in Pittsburg from 1829 to 1845, princi-
pally as a wholesale dry goods merchant. George
W. died in Bloomfield; Mary (Wing) still lives
in the township as also Elizabeth; Charles died
in Georgia in 1880; James died in Massillon;
Marvin resides in Painesville, and Fayette in
Cleveland, \nn\e V. in Bloomfield. Ephraim
Brown died in 1845, ^^'^ ^"s widow in 1862.
Mr. Brown was the first postmaster, the first
merchant, and the second justice of the peace.
With Major Howe, and Judge Austin, of Austin-
burg, he was among the originators of the War-
ren and Ashtabula turnpike.

Lewis Clisby was the second settler at the
center, arriving soon after Mr. Brown.

Jared Kimball, from Vermont, settled north of
the public square in 1816, and here lived and
died. None of his family now remain. His
daughter, Mrs. Teed, also lived in Bloomfield.
Mr. Kimball was the first justice of the peace,
and a very worthy man. Of him the following
is related: A poor man living in the township
had rented a piece of grass land which he was to
mow and have a portion of the hay for his work.
He mowed the hay and stacked it. Soon after
the owner of the land set a fire, which after
working some time in the turf, at length reached
the renter's haystack and destroyed it. The
man sought to recover damages and the case
was brought before 'Squire Kimball. 'Squire
Brown made a plea stating the law applicable to
the case, but 'Squire Kimball said, "Here is a
law which applies," and quoted from the Bible,
"If a man set a fire which catch in the stubble
and destroy his neighbor's grain, verily that man
shall make restitution." Judgment was accord-
ingly rendered in favor of the poor man. 'Squire
Kimball was a Presbyterian deacon and a firm
believer in the doctrines of his church.

David Comstock, who came in 1815, worked
for Major Howe, and was noted as one of the
greatest wood-choppers of the time. He married
a sister of William McClintock and settled in
the northern part of the township, afterwards
moving to the center. They had no children.
Mrs. Comstock was a resolute woman, and prob-
ably such a frightful creature as a mouse, which
is now capable of frightening ladies nearly to
death, had no terrors for her. In her husband's
absence she kept house, and one day when a
bear attacked a hog in the pen, she took down
the rifle, went out and succeeded in driving the
intruder away, though she could not kill him.

Amasa Bigelow, a brother of Mrs. Leman
Fer^y, settled near Ferry in 1816. His son Elijah
made the first improvements upon the place. The
four sons were Daniel, Timothy, Amasa, and
Elijah. Amasa and Elijah did not reside per-
manently in Bloomfield. Daniel and Timothy
passed their lives here. One daughter, Jemima,
married John Weed.

Samuel Eastman was an early settler in the
northern part of the township west of the turn-
pike. He married Sophia Meecham, of Greene
township. He was a most eccentric character.

Jared and Cyril Green came to the township

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

5S7

in 1815, and settled on lot forty-six. Jared was
then unmairied. Cyril married Polly Sherman,
and she came with him. Cyril lived until 1874,
when he died in his eighty -first year. He was
favorably known as an enterprising, public-
spirited man. Two years after the arrival of
Jared and Cyril Green, their father, Jared Green,
came out and settled. Besides the two above
mentioned, his sons were Charles, Noah, Marcus,
and Archibald. Charles returned East ; Jared,
Jr., moved north ; Archibald is still a resident
of the township. One daughter, Julia (Whit-
comb), moved away.

In 181 7 Thomas Howe, of Williamstown,
Vermont, brought his family to this township,
and settled in the southern part on lot eighty-
five. He was born in Westmoreland, New
Hampshire, in 1799, and in early life was a mer-
chant. He carried on that business successfully
a number of years in Williamstown. His wife,
Clarissa, was born in Woodstock, Connecticut.
Both were esteemed and honored throughout
their lives. They had five children, all born in
Vermont — Clarissa (Wilder), Thomas M., Dr.
George W., Nancy (Green), and William H.
Thomas M. and Mrs. Green are dead. The
others all reside in Bloomfield. There was not a
death in the Hcwe family until the youngest
child was forty-six years old. Thomas M. lived
in Pittsburg, and represented his district in Con-
gress several terms. Dr. George W. has been a
Representative to the Legislature, following in
the footsteps of his father, and has held other
honorable positions.

Hezekiah Howe came from Vermont in com-
pany with Asa Works, in 1817, and settled on
lot sixty-five, where he still lives. He is now in
the ninety-sixth year of his age. None of his
sons now reside in the township.

.'\sa Works settled in 181 7, where his only son
Nelson now resides, on lot sixty-four.

Aaron Smith, about 1816, settled in the south
of the township. Soon after his arrival he built
a frame house, the first in the township. It is
still standing, but has been removed to Bristol.
Mrs. Smith's only child, a daughter, married
Leonard Osbo>-n and lives in Michigan.

Mayhew Crowell settled about a half a mile
north of the center in 18 15. His wife, Mehit-
abel (Howe) Crowell, died September 20, 1817,
bting the first death in the township. Her

daughter Harriet was the first child born in the
township. The Crowell family included five sons
and three daughters, who arrived at mature
years. All are now dead. Their names were as
follows: Willard, Obadiah, Henry, Thomas,
Roswell, Mehitabel (Bellows), Mercy, and Mary
(Butler). Charles Thayer settled in the north-
west of the township about the year 1816. None
of the family now remain in Bloomfield. One
son, Hiram, resides in Bristol.

John Bellows, about the same time, located
one mile northwest of the center. One of his
sons, Dr. Bellows, now resides in Michigan.
William moved to Chagrin Falls. None are left
here. The elder Mr. Bellows engaged in brick-
making quite early. His brother Benjamin re-
sided a while in this township.

Mr. Proctor, whose first name is not remem-
bered, settled in the northern part of the town-
ship early. He was a strong Presbyterian and a
good man. Two of his sons, Francis and Israel,
lived and died in Bloomfield. Francis married
Betsey Huntington, sister of 'Squire Brown's
wife. She is still living. Mrs. Israel Proctor is
also living.

Noyes Parker was a blacksmith and had a
shop near Brown's mill. He made axes and
scythes. One of his children was drowned in
the mill-race about the second day aftei he came
here to settle. Two or three years later an eight-
year-old son was drowned in the river. This so
disheartened the parent that he gave up his busi-
ness and moved away.

This, we believe, about completes mention of
the Vermont families who made the early settle-
ment.

Later, a number of English families established
homes in the township. This class now forms
more than half the population. They are in-
dustrious, thrifty, and excellent citizens.

Mr. William Haine was among the first of the
English settlers of the township, and still re-
sides here.

ORG,\NIZ.\T10N ."^ND FIRST OFFICERS.

This township was organized by a special act
of the Legislature, and received its present name
in 1816. The first township officers were chosen
on the 9th of April, 181 7, at an election held
at the house of Ephraim Brown and were as
follows : Aaron Smith, chairman; Leman Ferry
and Jared Green, judges of election; Cyril Green,

TKUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

township clerk; Jared Kimball, David Comstock,
and Leman Ferry, trustees; Mayhew Crowell
and Timothy Bigelow, overseers of the poor;
Leman Ferry, Jr., and Lewis Clisby, fence
viewers; Jared Green, Jr., and John Weed, ap-
praisers of property; Jared Green, Jr., lister;
Jared Kmiball, treasurer; Samuel Teed, consta-
ble; Mayhew Crowell and Leman Ferry, super-
visors.

ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS.

The following stories relative to early days in
this township are taken mainly from a published
historical sketch by Mr. George A. Robertson :

Many interesting incidents of early times are
still remembered by the children of the early
settlers, now gray-haired sires and grandsires,
some of which deserve a place here.

The cows and hogs, while the settlers were
commencing operations upon their farms, had
nowhere to run except in the woods. The hogs
were allowed much liberty during the summer,
and in the fall as many of them as could be
found were brought in and confined in rail pens
to be fattened. But usually some of them
would escape, and thus, in a comparatively short
time, vpild and ferocious hogs inhabited the
forests; and when they had attained five or six
years growth, their huge tusks and savage na-
tures rendered them about as formidable as any
wild beasts of the time. " Hunting the wild
boar," the sport of the feudal and middle ages,
so celebrated in the pages of song and romance,
was occasionally revived here in the wilds of
Ohio, and often many joined in it. Not un-
fretjuently some unfortunate modern Adonis,
would find himself too closely innsued and be
compelled to take refuge in a tree to avoid de-
struction.

Mr. N. B. Ferry relates that often, when a
boy, while hunting for the cows his dog would
start a wild hog whose squealing would arouse
others and attract them to the spot; and soon
they would collect in such force as to drive him
to a tree for safety, while the dog used every
effort to keep from being rended in pieces by his
savage pursuers.

TREED B^' WOLVES.

One evening when Mr. N. B. Ferry was a boy
he was out hunting for the cows, and not return-
ing as soon as usual, his father started out to find

him. Being unsuccessful in his search, he was re-
turning to the house, and when within a short dis-
tance of It he was startled by the howling of
wolves. Fearing that he would not be able to
reach his home, he climbed a tree and shouted
for help. Several men who were boarding at his
house each seized a gun and hastened to the spot.
The wolves were easily frightened away. It was
afterwards learned that they were not at first in
pursuit of "Mr. Ferry. Jared Green had killed a
deer that day and dragged it home ; The wolves
were following up the trail, and as Mr. Ferry un-
consciously took the same course, they turned
their attention to him.

TRAPPING A BEAR.

One night a cow belonging to Mr. Howe
came up without her calf, to which she had given
birth during the day. She was fastened for the
night, and in the morning loosed, and the boys
were directed to follow her as she would be sure
to proceed to the spot where the calf had been
left. The cow, on being untied, went some dis-
tance into the woods, and at length, coming to a
clump of bushes, stopped and began lowing.
This spot was undoubtedly the place where the
calf had been left, but now it nowhere appeared.
Traces of blood, and a trail where the calf had
been dragged, pointed plainly to its fate. Fol-
lowing this trail a short distance, the boys found
a portion of the carcass placed between two trees
and covered over with leaves. They returned
and related what they had seen to Mr. Norton,
who had quite a reputation as a bear trapper.
According he set a trap near the spot, and
awaited developments. The next morning the
trap was sprung, but the bear was not in it. The
remains of the calf were gone, too, and for some
distance, no trail was found. Mr. Norton direc-
ted that search be made in a circuit of some dis-
tance around the spot, as he believed that the
bear would carry his burden a short distance,
and then drag it. He was correct in his knowl-
edge of the habits of the bear, and soon the
trail was found. After following it up, they dis-
covered the remaining portion of the carcass
where it had again been deposited and covered
with leaves. Here Norton set two traps, at-
taching heavy clogs to them.

Next morning young Howe found the ground
around the spot torn up as though a drove of
hogs had been there. One of the iraps had

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

389

been sprung, but the bear had managed to get
his foot out of it. The other had gone and
with it *he clog. Following the course which
the bear had taken a short distance, Howe soon
heard the sharp clink of the trap against the
stones in the creek bottom near by. Norton
then came up, and put his dogs on the trail.
Soon their barking was heard, and hastening on
the hunters found the bear endeavoring to climb
a tree with the trap on one of his fore paws.
Hindered by this and by the dogs, he soon fell,
shot by the rifles of the men. He weighed over
four hundred pounds, and was well worth the
trouble it had cost to capture him.

PRACTIC.\L JOKING.

In their hunting expeditions these pioneers
would occasionally strive to make some new-
comer the victim of their fondness for joking.
A fellow had come to the township of whose
courage a very poor opinion was entertained.
He becaine at one time a member of a hunting
party who engaged in a hunt of several days'
duration, camping in the woods at night. It
was determined to have a little fun with him, to
pass away the time. One of the company ac-
cordingly went quietly outside of the camp, and
after all were quiet, began making strange, un-
earthly noises. The men who were in the secret
paid but little attention to the sounds, the most
of them apparently being sound asleep. But
the new member of the party became visibly
alarmed, and enquired what the noise was. He
was told that it sounded like the howl of a
catamount, and at this, his fear and discomfort
were so great that he requested that he be cov-
ered with a large trough which was near the
camp, so that the animal could not get at him.
A day or two later he learned the cause of his
alarm, and much of his cowardice disappeared.
Howe's dog argus.

In the spring of 18 15 several settlers came to
Bloomfield from Vermont. By their request Mr.
Howe allowed a valuable dog belonging to him
to accompany them. Argus was his name. But
somewhere in New York State the dog deserted
the men and they saw nothing more of him.
Some months later Howe drove through with a
horse and sleigh. On stopping at a tavern he
was much surprised to find .'Xrgus there, who re-
ceived his old master with every manifestation of

delight. On asking the landlord how he came
in possession of the dog, the landlord insisted
that he had raised him from a puppy. Mr.
Howe, though surprised at this claim, said, "The
dog belongs to me and I can prove it. Here,
Argus, get into that cutter and watch it ; and
now, landlord, if you can remove anything from
the cutter the dog is yours, otherwise he is mine."
"All right," replied the inn-keeper, as he ap-
proached the sleigh ; but by no amount of coax-
ing or threatening could Argus be induced to al-
low hiin touch the robe or the whip. When
Howe was ready to start he told the landlord
that he should not try to call the dog along, but
Argus needed no special request, and readily be-
came the traveling companion of his master.
He reached the new settlement and there be-
came a general favorite, acquiring much renown
as a deer and bear dog.

RESCUE OF SLAVES.

As the people of Bloomfield were returning
home from church one quiet Sabbath afternoon
in the month of September, 1823, a negro with
a woman and two children was seen on the turn-
pike. They appeared nearly worn out with
much travel and almost ready to lie down and
die. Those who saw them supposed, of course,
that they were fugitive slaves, but communicated
their suspicions to no one. About dark three
men, the slave-owner, his son, and an attend-
ant, rode up to the door of the tavern in
the village, and inquired if the negroes had
been seen. They were informed that they
had gone on a short distance. The landlord
advised the strangers to tarry with him all
night, as they could easily overtake the ob-
jects of their pursuit in the morning. Having
traveled very far that day and being much
wearied, they consented. The slave-hunters
retired early, asking the landlord to call them as
early as possible in the morning. When it be-
came known in the village that slave-hunters
were at the tavern, the greatest excitement pre-
vailed. The will to have the negroes escape
was strong, and 'Squire Brown, backed by the
public sentiment of almost the entire community,
devised a plan to effect this result. He sent his
covered wagon and a party of willing men, under
cover of darkness, to overtake the runaways.
About twelve miles from Bloomfield, in Rome,
.\shtabula county, they learned that the objects

390

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

of their search liad been secreted in a certain
house. They rode up to it, and on making
known their object to its owner, were repulsed
and ordered off his premises. Considerable ex-
postulation and explanation ensued before he
could be made to understand that their mission
was a friendly one. But when satisfied of the
sincerity of their intentions he allowed the
Bloomfield men to take the negro family into
the wagon. They then conveyed them south a
short distance to a tavern kept by a Mr. Crowell,
with a barn standing back of it in a field. Into
this barn the wagon was driven and the doors
securely closed.

Now let us go back to the Bloomfield tavern.
Morning dawned, but for some inexplicable ( ? )
rtason the landlord and his family were not
awake as soon as usual. In fact, the first to
awake and arouse the household was the slave-
owner. The landlord apologized; didn't know
when such a thing as his oversleeping had hap-
pened before; said he was much ashamed of him-
self; and so on. He tried to dress, but one
boot was missing. After much search it turned
up in some unusual place. Then he proceeded
to the barn; the door was locked and he had
left the key in the house. Back to the house
and then to the barn; the key didn't fit, and
much time was wasted in unlocking the door.
At length this was accomplished, and the horses
were led out. Another discovery — each animal
had lost a shoe and besides the hoof of one of
them was badly broken. The owners thought
the shoes of the horses were all right the night
before; at least they had not noticed that any
were missing. But they were missing now — that
was evident, and the services of the village
blacksmith were recjuired before the impatient
\'iiginians could proceed on their journey. Mr.
Barnes, the smith, was not at his shop, and it
required some time to hunt him up. Usually
he was at his post early — a model of prom|)tness.
:\fter he was found he had trouble in unlocking
the door, and succeeded poorly in making a fire.
He had not a nail in his shop, and used his last
shoes in a job which he did the ]irevious Satur-
day evening. Nails and shoes had to be made,
but the blacksmith appeared in no hurr)'. At
last the horses were shod, and about 9 o'clock
the slave hunters started off About noon they
drove up to llie tavern in front of the barn where

the wagon and the fugitives were. Through the
cracks in the barn the happy negro family saw
their pursuers start on. A little later the covered
wagon emerged from its hiding place and re-
turned to Bloomfield. Under the direction of
'Squire Brown a shelter for the fugitives had been
prepared — a rude camp constructed between the
roots of two upturned trees. Here the negroes
remained, being supplied with food by the kind-
hearted people of Bloomfield until all danger
was past. Then they were brought to a log
cabin near the center, where they resided for
some time, the man being employed by 'Squire
Brown. At length they were put on a vessel at
Ashtabula harbor and reached Canada in safety.
When the slave-hunters returned to Bloom-
field, after a fruitless search north of this place,
they were arrested on a warrant charging them
with having run a toll-gate north of Warren.
Supposing that the objects of their pursuit would
take the State road to Painesville instead of con-
tinuing on up the pike, they had paid toll only
to the former road. They were fined five dollars
each and costs. The village tavern-keeper re-
fused to admit them, or to feed their horses.
Some malicious mischief-maker removed the
hair from the tails and manes of the horses
while the owners of the team were at 'Squire
Kimball's house, and pinned to one of the
saddles a notice containing the following lines:

.Slave-liunters, beware !
For sincerely we swear
That if again here
You ever appear,
We'll give you the coat
Of a Tory to wear.

This slave rescue was the first of a series of
similar acts in which prominent citizens of
Bloomfield took an active part. After the under-
ground railroad was put in operation, it received
sympathy and support from the good people of
this region. Though there was hostility to the
Abolitionists, and though liberal rewards were
offered for the return of slaves to their owners,
there never was, so far as known, an instance
in whii:h a runaway was betrayed.

:-,\RI,V EVKNTS.

The first child born in this township was Har-
riet Crowell. The first male child was C'harles
'i'hayer.

■{'he first death was that of Mrs. Mehitabel

TRUMBUI.T. AND MAHONING COUNTIICS, OIUO.

Crowell, in 1817; the second, that of Mrs.
Hannah Brown, April 28, 1818.

The first marriage ceremony was performed by
Lyman Potter, Esq., of Bristol, in uniting John
Weed and Jemima Bigelow.

The first sermon was preached by Mr. Cole,
missionary, in Ferry's cabin in 1815. Mr. Bad-
ger, Congregationalist, preached soon after.
The first sermon by a Methodist minister was
preached in 181 7 by Rev. Ira Eddy, in Mr.
Thayer's house. Before any church was organ-
ized persons of different denommations united
in holding meetings, where professors of religion
offered prayer, and in the absence of a minister
sermons were read and hymns were sung by those
attending.

MILLS.

Aaron Smith was the fiist carpenter in the
township, and in 1817 built for Ephraim Brown
a saw-mill on Grand river, about two miles from
the center. In 1819 a grist-mill was built upon
the same stream, and managed by Leman Ferry,
Jr., the first miller. This mill was in operation
many years, with many changes in its ownership.
It was in a bad site, and the cost of keeping
up a dam was considerable.

Asa Law built for Mr. Brown a saw-mill on
Center brook at an early day, about a half mile
from the center.

William Haine's mill, in the northern part of
the township, was built for him in 1S55 by N. B.
Ferry.

THE FIRST STORE

in the township was started by Ephraim Brown
in 1 8 16. He brought on a stock of goods from
Boston, and having more than he could sell dis-
posed of a part of them at Warren to Mr. Bentley.
He built the store in Bloomfield, which is now
French's shoe shop, and continued the mercan-
tile business a number of years. Indians were
sometimes his customers, trading venison for
whiskey, tobacco, and other articles. A gallon of
whiskey would purchase a side of nice venison.

William A. Otis was the second merchant.
He made a good start here, removed to Cleve-
land and became a prominent and wealthy man.
He came to Bloomfield about 1823. His son,
Hon. Charles Otis, is an ex-mayor of Cleveland.

THE VILLAGE HOTEL.

In 1818 Samuel and John Teed undertook

the building of this house, but as they had not
the money to finish the work, they sold out to
'Squire Brown, who moved in and kept the house
a year or so, while his own residence was building.
In 1823 Milo Harris succeeded as landlord and
remained several years.

THE POST-OFKICE

in Bloomfield, now known as North Bloomfield,
was established about the year 1817, with Eph-
raim Brown as postmaster. Mail was carried to
and from Warren once a week by a horseback
rider. Judge Eliphalet Austin, of Austinburg,
Ashtabula county, was the first mail contractor on
the Warren and Ashtabula route.

EARLY SCHOOLS.

The first school-house was a log structure
erected on Leman Ferry's farm ini8i7. The
first school was taught in that house by Chester
Howard in the winter of 1817-18.

A school-house of logs was built at the center
quite early. The first term of school, however,
was taught in Lewis Clisby's log cabin in the
winter of 1819, by Noah M. Green. Elizabeth
M. Huntington, now Mrs. Proctor, also taught
school in the same cabin. She is now living,
over eighty-eight years of age.

Chester Howard was a brother of Major
Thomas Howe's wife, and during his lifetime
taught forty-two winter and twenty-six summer
terms. Some of his pupils, now gray-haired
old men, still live and hold him in grateful
remembrance.

REPRESENTATIVES.

This township has sent the following men to
the Legislature in the order named : Thomas
Howe, 1819; Ephraim Brown, Augustus Otis,
George VV. Howe, and J. K. Wing. Some of
them served several terms.

PHYSICIANS.

Soon after the settlement of the township Dr.
Reynolds, of Mesopotamia, came here to prac-
tice. The population of the township being
small, he found this an unpromising field and
removed after a short stay.

Dr. Benjamin Palmer next came, as early as
1824, and practiced twenty years or more with
distinguished success. He was a New Hamp
shire man, well educated. The surrounding
townships having no physicians, he had a wide
field for usefulness, and built up a large practice.

392

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

He left here having gained quite a large property
for a country doctor.

The next physician was Dr. Hartnian, now of
Baltimore, Maryland. Other physicians have
been quite numerous, as there has always been
a doctor in the township since Dr. Palmer lo-
cated.

Dr. G. W. Howe practiced in Bloomfield from
1847 till 1867. At the latter date he was ap-
pointed surgeon of the Pittsburg & Boston Min-
ing company, and went to Lake Superior. Dr.
A. O. Huntly assumed his practice, and is still
continuing it successfully.

METHODI.ST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

In 1818 Rev. Ira Eddy formed a class in this
township. Charles Thayer was leader and seven-
teen members composed the organization. After
a few years the religious interest died out some-
what, though occasional meetings were held by
circuit preachers, generally in the old log scliool-
house in the southern part of Bloomfield. In
1830 a revival of interest took place and a
number jomed the church, which has since pros-
pered steadily. Among the active members
were Leonard Osborn and wife, Zimri Baker
and wife, Willard Terrell and wife. Terrell was
class-leader and a faithful worker. The church
now has between one hundred and thirty and
one hundred and forty members.

Through the combined efforts of the Method-
ists and Presbyterians, in about 1836 a house for
jmblic worship was erected, which was destroyed
by fire later, through carelessness in taking up
ashes and leaving them in the building.

In 1857 the two congregations built the church
now standing, and continued to own and occupy
it jointly until about seven years ago, when the
Methodists bought the Congregationalists' share
of the property. The house is a good one>
pleasantly situated, and well furnished.

THE CONGREG.\TIONAL CHURCH.

This church was organized as Presbyterian
September 9, 182 1, by Rev. Giles H. Cowles,
missionary, and consisted of the following mem-
bers : Leman and Elizabeth Ferry, Jared Kim-
hall, and Jemima Chapman. The following
were afterwards received : October 22, 1822,
.\sa and Olive W. Smith; September 27, 1823,
Sybil Brown; June 5, 1825, Deacon John Barnes
and Lucretia Barnes, Francis and Nabby Proc-

tor, David Neal, William Root, and Charlotte
Kendall; April 9, T826, Noyes Parker, Ann
Beckworth Bigelow; June 11, 1826, Calvin and
Diadama Clark, Susan Parker; July 8, 1826,
Eliza Otis; August 19, 1827, Philena Otis, Helen
Hart, Sarah Comstock, David Comstock, Elijah
Ballard, Joel Morley, Chauncy H. Latimer ;
October 5, 1828, George Haskell ; January 4,
1829, Sally Teed, Pamelia Barnes, Mary Lati-
mer, Julia Ann Wright. These were all the
members prior to 1830.

Calvin Clark and Asa Smith were chosen dea-
cons July 8, 1826. Elijah Ballard was chosen
deacon January 14, 1832, and remained a faith-
ful officer a long term of years until he was called
from earth.

Among the early missionaries and preachers
who ministered to this little flock were Revs. G.
H. Cowles, J. W. Curtis, and Randolph Stone.
Rev. Edson Hart was ordained pastor of the
church June 6, 1827. In 1858 the church
adopted the Congregational form of government.
Slavery was the cause of the disruption. This
society in conjunction with the Methodists built
the house which the latter now occupy. During
recent years they have met in the house built by
the Disciples, from whom they pui chased a half
interest. The church is in a good condition
morally and financially. There are about seventy
members. Rev. E. B. Chase is the present pas-
tor.

THE disciples' CHURCH.

.'\bout 1827 Benjamin Alton, of Genesee
county, New York, settled in this township. He
was a man of much religious zeal, and was quite
early converted by the Methodists. In 1829 the
citizens of Bloomfield at a public meeting re-
solved to unite in raising money to support
preaching at the center school-house. This
union was to allow the Presbyterians the use of
the house one-half of the time, the Baptists and
Methodists one-fourth, and the Unitarians one-
fourth. Alton was engaged by 'Squire Brown to
preach the portion of the time allowed to the
Unitarians. He heard Thomas Campbell and
became a convert to his views, and on announc-
ing his belief the union exploded into fragments.
Alton, however, continued to keep his appoint-
ments, and in 1830-31 converted several to his
newly accepted doctrine. In 1832 he preached
half of the time, holding meetings in a school-

TRUMBULL AND MAHONlNCi COUNTlllS, OHIO.

393

house. The first persons gathered into
llie Disciple fold were ten in number, viz:
Mr, Nettlefield and wife, Benjamin Alton
and wife, Mary Sager, Polly Green, Mehitabel
Thayer, Nelson Works, Clarissa Wilder, William
Parker. Revs. Hayden, Henry, Applegate, Bos-
worth and others visited the little band and by
their labors added other worshipers. In 1836
Mr. Alton moved to Illinois, carrying with him
the best wishes and the prayers of the church in
Bloomfield. In October of the same year Rev.
Marcus Bosworth visited this place and meas-
ures were taken to complete an organization,
which was effected October 19, 1836. New
names were then added as follows : Ruhama
Luse, William M. Bellows, Benjamin Bellows,
Josiah and Rachel Bellows, Mary Ann Bellows,
Henry G. Neal, Clarissa Neal, William Parker,
Charles Thayer, Candace Green, Anna Sager,
and Mariam Smith. Early preachers were Revs.
Hayden, Henry Applegate, Hartzell, Cyrus and
Marcus Bosworth, Clapp, and Collins; a little
later Lucy, Brockett, Perky, Calvin Smith, E.
Wakefield, W. A. Belding, C. C. Foote, and H.
Reeves.

In 1848, under the preaching of Rev. Isaac
Errett the Disciples doubled their numbers. In
1849 the house at the center was built and Isaac
Errett became the first pastor. He remained
two years.

April 19, 1840, Nelson Works and H. G. Neal
were appointed elders. In 1842 John Sager was
elected deacon. April 19, 1S54, the officers,
who had thus far been unoidained, were or-
dained. Edwm Wakefield was ordained "to
the work of an evangelist ;" Nelson Works and
Charles Brown, elders ; John Sager, David
Snyder, Chester Howard, and N. B. Ferry, dea-
cons ; Cyrus Bosworth, M. S. Clapp, Isaac
Errett, and B. F. Perky were the officiating min-
isters.

To the unwavering faithfulness of Nelson
Works, now for many years an elder, the church
owes much of its prosperity. The present mem-
bership is about eighty. The church edifice,
erected in 1849, cost about $1,600. In 1875
half of the church building and grounds were
sold to the Congregationalists, who now occupy
it one-half of the time. Good will and harmony
prevails. The two congregations have remod-
eled, enlarged and repaired the church, added a

steeple and bell, and made other improvements.
The Second Adventists have an organization
and hold meetings at a school-house in the north-
ern part of the township. This society has been
m existence here some twelve or fifteen years and
numbers some very good people among its mem-
bers.

THE CEMEl'ERV.

The chief burying-place in this township is the
cemetery near the center. One acre of ground
was given to the township by 'Squire Brown, and
additional ground has since been purchased.
The cemetery is a beautiful spot, thickly shaded
by evergreens and other ornamental trees. In-
terments were made at an early day, and here
repose the pioneers, their life struggles ended.

Far from the madding crowd's ignoble strife,
Tlieir sober wishes never learned to stray;

Along the cool, sequestered vale of life

They kept the noiseless tenor of their way.

In the northern part of the township, a small
piece of land was purchased and laid out as a
graveyard. But few interments have been made
here.

TOWNSHIP DIRECTORY.

Bloomfield center: stores, William C. Savage,
D. W. Smith, and J. W. Haine. Post-office,
George W. Howe. Hardware, tinware, and fur-
niture, T. J. Sealey. Harness shop, R. Welch-
man. Manufacturer of wind-mills, H. F. Head-
ley.

Cheese factories: Center Brook factory, cen-
ter, Kincaid & Little. Clover Hill factory, north
part of the township, George E. Haine.

(kist-mill: William Haine, in the north of the
township.

Steam saw-mills: Russell & Ackley, east of
the center, and A. Can field in the north.

Hay-bailing: Steets & Davis, east of the
center.

MASONIC.

Rural lodge No. 328, North Bloomfield, was
granted a charier October 17, i860. The fol-
lowing were the charter members: James Peir-
son, Horace Flower, George W. Howe, Chester
Howard, Benjamin Cutter, Alvin A. House, Be-
riah Hill, Sumner Stoughton, Lucius S. Ball,
William Harrington, Walker M. Price, and_-
George W. Harrington. The lodge had been
working under a dispensation from December
22, 185S. The lodge has steadily prospered

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

ever since it was formed. At one time two liun-
dred and eighty members belonged, but the or-
ganization of lodges in neighboring places caused
several to withdraw, so that now only about sev-
enty members are included in Rural lodge. The
building in which the hall is, is owned by the
lodge. They have pleasant rooms tastefully fur-
nished, and are in excellent financial condition.

SCHOOLS.

The citizens of the village about fourteen
years ago succeeded in establishing a special dis-
trict at the center. A select school has been in
progress about three years under the care of Pro-
fessor Andrews. The school was divided into
three grades, and Rev. Hiscock elected principal
of the high school. He got the school into
good working order, and it has since continued
prosperous. Tuition scholars from abroad are
received. Mr. Viets, the present principal, is
now serving his second year in this school.
The school-building is a substantial two-story
frame house, used both for the school and as a
town hall.

ROAD .\ND RAILRO.\D FACILITIES.

Bloomfield is on the Ashtabula & Warren
turnpike, and is the southern terminus of the
Painesville & Bloomfield plankroad from the
northwest. The turnpike passes across the town-
ship from north to south, following a direct line
a half mile west of the center line of the town-
ship. Just one mile east of the turnpike the
Ashtabula, Youngstown & Pittsburg railroad
crosses the township, uniformly straight, except-
ing one slight bend near the soutiiern township
line.

Before the railroad was opened, Bloomfield
was comparatively far inland, and a journey to
Warren, sixteen miles distant, was necessary
whenever the inhabitants wished to go to market
or visit the county-seat. Consequently the peo-
ple formed the habit of living very much by
themselves, and established stores and shops of
almost every kind to avoid the necessity of fre-
quent trips over the turnpike to Warren.

The railroad station, one mile east of the vil-
lage, now affords great convenience to travelers
and shippers of produce.

THE SWAMP.

The tamarack swamp was known far and wide
as a favorite hunting ground for both white men

and Indians. The tamarack trees grow very
tall, and close together. Other kinds of soft
wood are also found here. Fine oak timber,
beech, maple, walnut, and hickory formerly
covered the surface of the higher portions of
the township, but tamarack, basswood, and
poplar abound in and about the swamp.
Whortleberry, or huckleberry bushes, covered
many acres of ground, and almost fabulous
numbers of quarts of berries were gathered in
this swamp years ago. The ground has been
burned over several times, and now but few
berries can be found.

Formerly pigeons in countless numbers flocked
to the swamp in autumn and spring, but hunting
them has destroyed so many that only small
flocks ever enter the swamp now.

The ground in this swamp was so wet in early
years that a horse could nowhere cross it. Now
it is easily crossed in almost any place, and if
the process of draining continues to be carried
on in a few years the great swamp will exist only
in the memory of the oldest inhabitants. On an
island, or rather a dryelevation in the midstof this
moist land, the Mound Builders have left a memo-
rial of themselves in the shape of three mounds.
They are circular in form, and raised several feet
above the adjacent surface. The largest is about
fifteen feet in diameter, and five or six feet deep.

SKTTLEMEXT NOTES.

John .Smith was born February 2, 1800, in
Warwick, Massachusetts. His wife, Julia Ann
Smith, tice Wright, was born at Northampton,
Massachusetts, September 4, 1806. They were
married December 31, 1829. Mr. Smith came
to Ohio in an early day, and settled in Bloom-
field township, south of the center. He cleared
up a good farm, and lived upon it till his death.
He died November 17, 1868; Mrs. Smith died
April 16, 1870. Farming was Mr. Smith's oc-
cupation. He was well known as a surveyor ;
was justice of the peace many years, also town
clerk. Mr. and Mrs. Smith were members of
the Congregational church, formerly Presby-
terian. There were four children in his family —
Cornelia, born May 8, 1831; Justin E., born
October 25, 1832; Dwight W., October 28,
1835; Mary Elizabeth, October 2, 1839; all born
in Bloomfield. Justin is deceased ; he died
February 2, 1862, in hospital at Cincinnati.

Dwight Smith, son of John Smith, was born

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

39S

in Bloumfield, October 28, 1835. He has always
resided m the township ; followed farming till
1872, then went into the mercantile business at
the center. He was married May 28, 1856, to
Miss Mary Richelieu, daughter of William P.
Richelieu, of Scotland. William P. Richelieu
was born November 5, 1805, in Scotland. Mrs.
Richelieu was born May 28, 181 7, in Scotland.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith have had five children —
John W., born April 10, .1857; Lazette and La-
fayette (twins) born March 28, 1858; Martha C,
April 8, 1864; Justui D., October 14, 1868.
Lazette, died August 30, 1873; Lafayette, Sep-
tember 6, 1858. Mr. and Mrs. Smith, also two
of the children, are members of the Congrega-
tional church.

Hon. Thomas Howe was born in Westmore-
land, New Hampshire, on the first day of Feb-
ruary, 1779. His opportunities for acquiring an
education were meagre; however, he improved
the chances presented him to the best ))ossible
advantage. Early in life he devoted himself to
mercantile pursuits, and eventually settled in
Williamstown, Orange county, Vermont, where
he carried on the business of a merchant suc-
cessfully. In 181 7 he moved with his family to
Bloomfield, Ohio, — a family comprising wife and
five children; his wife survived the subject of
our sketch about one year, and the children are
all living. Clarissa, wife of Thomas Howe,
was born in Woodstock, Connecticut. She was
a woman of exalted virtue and unbounded benev-
olence, exerting a Christian influence on all with
whom she had intercourse. Her memory is
treasured by her children. The late Hon.
Thomas Howe several times represented Trum-
bull county in the Ohio Legislature, honorably
to himself and to the satisfaction of his con-
stituents. He lived to be an octogenarian, and
his whole life was one of exceeding worth, and
fit for emulation by the youth and middle-aged,
and even by those made venerable by the gray
hairs of many years. The noblest tribute that
either poet, sage, or sophist could not excel, is
that expressed by his son, who has said that "he
remembeied no word or action of his lamented
father he would wish changed for his memory's
sake."

Dr. G. W. Howe, son of Hon. T. Howe, was
born in Williamstown, Vermont, December 21,
180Q. He was favored with the advantages for

acquiring a good education, and he wisely im-
proved the passing time. In the year 181 7 he
came to Bloomfield. During two winter seasons
he taught school. September 25, 1832, he was
united in marriage to Miss Julia A. Austin ; from
this union six children have been born ; three
are living. Mr. Howe studied medicine with
Dr. Benjamin Palmer ; followed his profession
forty-four years ; from 1862 to 1865 he was sur-
geon of board of enrollment ; near the close of
the service he received a communication from
the assistant provost-marshal-general, certifying
that the skill and fidelity manifested in the dis-
charge of his official duties were highly creditable
to himself, and deserving special commendation;
that there was only one surgeon that stood as high
as himself. Dr. Howe has twice represented his
people in the Ohio Legislature.

William H. Howe was born January 5, 18 17,
in Williamstown, Vermont. His father, Thomas
Howe, was one of the original owners of the
township. Mr. William Howe came to Ohio
with his father in 1817. In 1832 he went to
Pittsburg where he was engaged in mercantile
business till 1845. He then went to Michigan
and was among the first miners of copper about
Lake Superior. He remained here two years,
then returned to Bloomfield and went into busi-
ness for his brother George. In 1864 Mr. Howe
returned to Lake Superior and was engaged in
mining seven years. During the war he
was clerk in the provost office at Warren.
In 1 87 1 he went to Corry, Pennsylvania,
where he was an overseer in a manufactory of
pails, tubs, etc., for five years, then' returned to
Bloomfield township, where he has since re-
sided. He was married in 1850 to Miss Mal-
vina Flower, daughter of Hiram Flower, of
Bloomfield. They have had nine children, four
of whom are living. Mrs. Howe is a member of
the Congregational church.

Asa Works, an early settler of Bloomfield
township, was born in 1775 in Richmond town-
ship. New Hampshire. He came to Ohio in
181 7 and settled in Bloomfield upon the farm
now occupied by his son. Nelson Works. He
purchased two hundred acres of Brown &
Howe. The county was an unbroken wilder-
ness at this time. Ana Works died in 1826,
March 3d, aged fifty-one years. There were four
children in his family — Nelson, Sophia, Mary,

^9(>

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

and Martha. Sophia is deceased. Mr. Woiki
was a hatter by trade. Mrs. Works died Septem-
ber 28, 1862, aged seventy-nine years. Mr.
Works was a member of the Bible Christian
church. Mrs. Works is a member of the Dis-
ciple church. Mr. Nelson Works has always
lived in the township since he was six years old.
Farming has been his chief business. He mar-
ried Miss Delia Cleveland, daughter of William
Cleveland, of Aurora. He had two children by
his first marriage — Ellen A. and Laura J. Mrs.
Works died January 25, 1852. Mr. Works was
married again January 19, 1854, to Miss Harriet
A. Booth, daughter of Peter Booth, of Greene
township. She was born October 20, 1823. Mr.
Nelson Works was born December 15, 1811, in
Williamstown, Vermont. His family consisted of
three children — Charles N., Lilian M., John B.
Mr. and Mrs. Works are members of the Disciple
church. Politically Mr. Works is a sound Re-
publican. At the present time Charles is teach-
ing in Youngstown; Lilian attending school at
Hiram; John is at home; Ellen is teaching at
Niles, and Laura is the wife of Dr. Ferrey, of
Bloomfield.

William Haine, an old resident of Bloomfield
township, was born in Somersetshire, England,
February 8, 1806. His father, John Haine, was
a native of England and lived and died in the
old country. Mr. William Haine sailed from
England April 11, 1835, landing on Prince
Edward island after a passage of about thirty
days. He soon went to Pictou, Nova Scotia,
then to Castine, Maine, from there to Boston,
from Boston to Ohio, where he had two sisters
living in Bloomfield township, Trumbull county.
Mr. Haine purchased one hundred and fifty acres
of land of George Huntington, of PainesviUe,
though the original deed was from 'Squire Brown.
Mr. Haine began in the woods, or about the
same, as there was but a small clearing in which
he started. He has cleared most of his present
farm by his own hard labor. He was married
.•\pril 11, 1836, to Miss Mary Haine, daughter
of Joseph and Sarah Haine, of Somersetshire
l'".ngland. They have had ten children — William
J., Sarah, Lottie, Emma, George, Ellen, John,
Clara, Charles, and Ellen (deceased). Mr. and
Mrs. Haine are members of the Methodist
church, also the children. Politically Mr. Haine
is a Reinihlican.

John Sagcr was born A[)ril 12, iSio, in Biis-
tol township. His father, William, was an
early settler in Trumbull county. Mr. John
Sager spent his entire life in Bristol and Bloom-
field townships. He came to the latter in 1835
and settled upon the farm where his widow and
daughter now live. The farm was formerly
owned by George Norton. The many improve-
ments now apparent have all been made by Mr.
Sager. He was married April 12, 1835, to Miss
Louisa Mofifat, daughter of Hosea Moffat, of
Bristol township. She was born July 11, 1816,
in Orleans county. New York. They have had
seven children — Mary, Martin, Sarah, Albert,
Edwin, Sojihronia, and Ella. Mr. Sager died
April 2, 1S81. Martin was killed at Malvern
Hill, Virginia, July 28, 1864. He was in com-
pany A, Si.xth Ohio cavalry. Sophronia died
December 20, 1850. Ellen died May 29, 187T.
Mr. John Sager was a member of the Disci|ile
church, also Mrs. Sager and children.

Israel O. Proctoi, an early resident of Bloom-
field, was born February 4, 1796, in Manchester,
Massachusetts. His father, Francis Proctor, was
born F'ebruary 28, 1758, at Ipswich, Massa-
chusetts. His mother, Abigail Edwards, was
born in Manchester, Massachusetts, August 30,
1784. There were twelve children in Francis
Proctor's family : Isaac, Daniel, Francis, Israel,
Arriel, Arriel William, .Abigail, Abba, Eliza,
Lucy, Ann, all of whom are dead. Mr. Israel
Proctor came to Ohio in about 18 19, and settled
in Bloomfield township, and was a pioneer in
this part of the county. He began in an un-
broken forest and cleared up a good farm, which
he worked till his death. He was married Oc-
tober 2, 1833, to Miss Delana Cornell, daughter
of Richard Cornell, of Schenectady, New York.
She was born March 24, 1813. Mr. Proctor
died March 5, 1843. There are four children
in the family: Abbie, born July 19, 1834;
Richard, born December 29, 1835 ; Israel O.,
born September 27, 1837; Lucy D., born March
26, 1840. Abbie (widow Northway) is at home
with her mother. Richard is in southern Illi-
nois, Israel in Montana, Lucy (widow Pinney)
is teaching in Massillon, Ohio.

Joseph Knowles Wing, a son of Barri and
Lucy Clary Wing, was born in Wilmington, Ver-
mont, July 27, 1810. .\t si.xteen years of age
he left his home for a clerkship in a store in Al-

fe^-^^/.^*^^^:^^

^.u^^. ^. J^--

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

397

bany county, New York, and came from there to
Bloomfield, Trumbull county, Ohio, in June,
183 1, where he now resides. He married, Octo-
ber, 1842, Mary, the eldest daughter of Ephraim
and Mary Huntington Brown, of Bloomfield,
who was born May 28, 181 2. He has spent
some thirty years of his life as clerk and propri-
etor in mercantile pursuits. On the breaking
out of the civil war he was commissioned by
President Lincoln captam and assistant quarter-
master of United States volunteers, and brevet-
ted major and lieutenant-colonel: served on the
staff of General G. M. Dodge until the taking of
Atlanta, was then ordered to Newbein, North Car-
olina, as acting chief quartermaster of the dis-
trict of North Carolina, remaining there until
the close of the war. In 1S69 he was elected a
member of the House in the State Legislature,
and re elected in 1871. Their children are Mary
Huntington, Elizabeth Brown, Virginia Passa-
rant, died February 187 1; George Clary, resides
in Washington, D. C; Francis Joseph, resides in
Cleveland, Ohio; Julia King, and Anna Mar-
garet.

William C. Savage, a well known merchant of
Bloomfield, was born in Middletown, Connecti-
cut, April 25, 1S23. His father, Amasa Savage,
was also a native of Connecticut. He was a
ship carpenter by trade and followed this occu-
pation many years, and was master-builder of
many a craft upon the lakes after his coming to
Ohio in 1831. He settled in Ashtabula county
and lived there until his death, which occurred
in 1855. The "fated schooner" Washington
was probably the last he had charge of building,
ini838 or 1839. There were fourteen children in
his family, eight girls and six boys, twelve of
whom lived to maturity. Mrs. Savage died in
1865. Her maiden name was Sarah K. Hatch,
of Weathersfield township, Connecticut. She was
a devoted member of the Congregational church,
as also was Mr. Savage in his latter days. Wil-
liam C. Savage, the subject of this sketch, came
to Bloomfield in 1843. He has been engaged
m mercantile business all his life. He was mar-
ried in 1849 to Miss Martha L. Wright, daugh-
ter of Paul Wright, of North Hampton, Massa-
cliusetts. They have had but one child ; this
died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Savage are
members of the Congregational church and are
sincere Christians. Mr. Savage is a deacon of

the church. Politically he is a firm Republican
and has held several of the township offices; has
been town clerk, also was justice of the peace
several terms and finally refused a re-election,
thus showing the high esteem in which he is held
by his fellow townsmen. He was also post-
master several terms.

Aithur V. Crouch was born in Washington
county, Pennsylvania, August 2, 1827, oldest son
of George and Mary Crouch. George Crouch,
born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, in
1804, was a resident of Trumbull county some
ten years. He married, in 1826, Mary, daugh-
ter of Arthur Van Wye, who was a pioneer in
Weathersfield, where he settled about 1802. He
was a soldier from Trumbull county in the War
of i8i2. Mrs. Crouch was born in Weathers-
field in 1806 and died in 1848. A. V. Crouch
in earlier years followed school-teaching some
eight or ten years. Was a resident of Pittsburg
some time where he was deputy county treasurer
in 1S58. From 1859 to 1874 he was connected
with the Pittsburg Plow works, removing to
Greene, Trumbull county, Ohio, in 1863, and
conducting a branch business there, at the same
time being engaged in farming and dairying. In
April, 1 88 1, he removed to Bloomfield, where
he still resides. In 1858 he married Jennie F.
McVey, who died in 1862. In 1864 he married
Mrs. Mary F. Lewis, daughter of Captain Archi-
bald Green, of Bloomfield, where she was born
in 1842, and has si.x children, as follows: Martin
L., Mary F., Florence M., Arthur V., Jr., Archi-
bald G., and John B. Mr. Crouch was elected
county commissioner for Trumbull county in
1878, and re-elected in 1881.

Alex. Wright was born in Ireland December
25, 1805, and came to America in 1819 in com-
pany with his mother. His father died before
their coming to this country. Mr. Alex. Wright
and mother came to Ohio and settled in Liberty
township, Trumbull county, where he lived till
he moved to Bloomfield township about 1853.
His mother lived with her son John till her death
in i845.*^There were six children in her family
— Nancy, Margaret, Jane, Mary A., John, and
Alex. All are deceased. Mr. Alex. Wright lo-
cated in Bloomfield township, about one mile
north of the center. Farming was his chief
occupation. He was married March 20, 1850,
to! Miss Eliza Gilmore, daughter of James Gil-

39S

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

more, of Portage county. She was born Oc-
tober 6, 1S26, Mr. Wright died January 12,
1878. Mr. Wright was a member of the Meth-
odist church. Mrs. Wright is also a member.
PoHtically Mr. Wright was a firm Democrat. He
was highly esteemed by all.

L. Wellington Mears was born February 8,
181 7, in Poultney, Vermont. His father, Joseph,
was a'so a native of Vermont. The family is of
English descent. Mr. L. W. Mears came to
Ohio in 1832, in company with his mother, and
located in Hubbard township, Trumbull county.
He remained in Hubbard several years, then
went to Sharon, Pennsylvania, where he was en-
gaged in the mercantile business about eight
years. He was married in 1841, March 24th, to
Miss Amanda Flower, daughter of Horace
Flower, of Bloorafield township. They have
had five children, three of whom are living —
Byron, Albert, William, Horace, and Ida; i\lbei t
and Horace are -deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Mears
came to Ohio in 1848, and settled at first in
Mesopotamia, and lived there about three years,
then came to Bloomfield, where he has since re-
sided. Mr. Mears is at the present time traveling
in the West for a hardware house of Chicago.
Mrs. Mears is a member of the Congregational
church. In political matters he is a Repub-
lican.

Biographical Sketches,

EPHRAIM BROWN.
It is impossible within the limits of a short
sketch to give an adequate idea of the character,
or to detail particular events in the life of
Ephraim Brown. His father, whose name was
also Ephraim, resided at Westmoreland, New
Hampshire, and was much esteemed for his
many excellent qualities. His mother was Han-
nah Howe, a woman of deep religious feeling.
The family consisted of ten children, of whom
i'-phraim, born October 27, 1775, was the oldest.
Mr. Brown owned a small farm and by adding
to its productions the fruits of occasional labor
in some mechanical pursuit, his large family was
comfortably supported until he lost all his prop-
erty by going security for a friend, a loss from

which he never recovered. It thus happened
that the eldest son, at an early age, became the
main support of a large family. This misfortune
of his father offered him a field for the exercise
of that indomitable perseverance which was so
conspicuous an element of his character. At
this formative period of his life the engrossing
labor which circumstances threw upon him was
not allowed to interfere with his intellectual cult-
ure. He read the best books obtainable, and
sought the society of the best people in his
neighborhood and wherever business called him.
It is inferred from letters still in existence that
he soon became a young man of some mark, for
his advice was sought by elders, and his judg-
ment received with much deference. Consider-
able of his correspondence at this early period
related to moral, religious, and political subjects.
He shows in these letters habits of earnest and
honest thought, always ready to listen to argu-
ment, and when convinced of error always ready
to renounce it. For example, when a young
man he joined the Masonic fraternity, but years
afterwards, when a young man sought his advice
on the subject of joining he expressed the opin-
ion that with advanced civilization the need of
such societies was past.

Being a man of broad and tender sympathies
Mr. Brown very early in life conceived a bitter
hatred of the system of slavery, then fast growing
into a [jolitical power, which sixty years it re-
quired the whole energy of the nation to sup-
press. In a letter written in 1807 to a Southern
relative, who had located in the South and was
endeavoring to persuade him to follow by argu-
ing the superior facilities for making money in
that section, Mr. Brown questioned the method
by which wealth might be acquired so rapidly by
"commerce in human flesh," and added, "I
have been taught from my cradle to despise
slavery, and will never forget to teach my chil-
dren, if any I should have, the same lesson."
The same letter contains sentiments thirty years
afterwards given public utterance by William
Lloyd Garrison and other distinguished aboli-
tionists.

Mr Brown inherited from his mother deep
religious feeling, which was strengthened by ana-
lytic habits of thought and extensive reading.
But he distinguished between real piety and the
mere semblance of religion, and his whole life

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

was characterized by a high moral tone. His
denunciation of evil was always vigorous and
sometimes alarming to the more conservative and
temporizing souls about him. His love of free-
dom and habits of thought prevented him from
being closely associated with societies of any
kind, though as an individual he was always in-
dustrious and kind.

As early as 1803 Mr. Brown became engaged
in mercantile pursuits in connection with Thomas
K. Green, of Putney, Vermont, who had charge
of the business at that place, and Mr. Brown
managed the'branch at Westmoreland, and con-
tinued in business until his removal to Ohio in
1815. In the meantime he had represented his
town in the Legislature several times. He was
married on November 9, 1806, to Mary Buchan-
an, eldest daughter of Gordon and Temperance
(Huntington) Buchanan. She was born'at Wind-
ham, Connecticut, August 29, 1787; while yet a
child her father and mother removed to Wal-
jjole. New Hampshire. She was a woman of
talent, which she cultivated during her whole
life. She taught school before her marriage; her
attainments were therefore of a solid character.

In the year 1814 Mr. Brown formed a partner-
ship with his uncle, Thomas Howe, and pur-
chased of Peter C. Brooks, of Boston, township
seven, range four, of the Western Reserve, since
known as Bloomfield, to which place he removed
his family in the summer of 1815. The journev
was accomplished in six weeks and the family
reached its future home July 16, some prepara-
tions having been previously made for its com-
fort and support. The two partners, Messrs.
Brown & Howe, were in business temperament
and character the antipodes of each other. The
former was energetic, pushing, and fearless; the
latter slow, hesitating and doubting. It is not
strange that two such men should soon dissolve
business relations. Mr. Howe after a short time
retiied from the partnership, and Mr. Brown as
sumed the burden of the debt, which in a few
years, by the most scrupulous economy, unrest-
ing industry, and fortunate thriftiness was fully
discharged.

A few years after Mr. Brown's settlement in
Bloomfield (in 1819) the Ashtabula cS: Trumbull
Turnpike company was formed and chartered
under the laws of Ohio. Mr. Brown took an ac-
tive part in pushing this enterprise, which at that

time looked like an enormousj^undertaking, to a
successful completion. For many years he main-
tained a ceaseless care for the interests of the
company and the preservation of the road. The
post-otifice at Bloomfield was secured through his
influence. Within seven years after the first set-
tlement of Bloomfield daily four-horse mail-
coaches passed through the place on their route
between the lake and the Ohio river. Land rap-
idly advanced in value, and the more thrifty set-
tlers were soon able to improve their homes.

Mr. Brown was several times a member of the
General Assembly, and always gave his potent
influence to measures looking toward material
improvement and educational advancement. His
love of freedom was active, and influenced his
whole conduct. The effort of a prominent re-
ligious sect in 1S22 to dominate in politics, was
condemned and resisted as strongly as the effort
of the slave power to rule iiyeT country in after
years. In his younger years^ he was a Jeffer-
sonian Republican, and an [avowed abolitionist
always. He always offered_assistance and pro-
tection to fugitive slaves, as is shown by instances
elsewhere narrated.

The tide of colonel was conferred upon Mr.
Brown in New Hampshire, not, however, on ac-
count of any military service. He was captain
of a company of militia, and promoted Govern-
or's aid with the rank of colonel.

It has been said of Mr. Brown that he never
sought or desired fame, but in a certain sense he
won what was better than fame — the perfect re-
spect and confidence of all who were capable of
appreciating such a character. An intimate
friend at the time of his death said in a letter, "In
his social relations he was distinguished for his
kindness, benevolence, and hospitality ; in his
business transactions for prudence, promptness,
and integrity. Throughout a long and active life
he eminently sustained the character of a patriot,
philanthropist, and an honest man." He died
of paralysis after a short illness, April 17, 1845,
being in the seventieth year of his age.

Mrs. Brown was a woman of great excellence
as wife, mother, neighbor, and friend. A life of
well directed study gave her broad culture ; a
knowledge of the world widened her sympathies,
and tenderness of feeling made her charitable.
In her family she was gentle, loving, and inter-
esting. In the social circle her influence was

400

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

elevating and refining. Her death occurred
January 26, 1862.

The family consisted of nine children : .'\iex-
ander, born in 1807, lives in Bloomfield; George
W., born in 1810, engaged in business in Pitts-
burg and died in Bloomfield in 1841 ; Mary, born
in 1 81 2, married to Joseph K. Wing and resides
in Bloomfield; Charles, born in 1814, died in
South Carolina in 1880; Elizabeth, born in 18 16,
resides in Bloomfield; James Monroe, born in
1818, died 1867 in Massillon; Marvin Hunting-
ton, born in 1820, resides in Painesville, Ohio;
Fayette, born in 1823, resides in Cleveland,
Ohio; Anne Frances, born in 1826, resides in
Bloomfield.

HENRY CROWELL.

Henry Crowell was born in Grafton, Vermont,
in the year 1802. His father, Mayhew Crowell,
emigrated from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, resid-
ing in Grafton for a term of years and finally
removed with his family to Bloomfield, Trum-
bull county, Ohio. His maternal relative, Ma-
hitable Crowell, was the sister of Major Howe,
formerly of Bloomfield, and cousin of Ephraim
Brown, Esq., of the same township.

The subject of this biographical sketch re-
moved with his parents from his Vermont home
to Bloomfield in the year 1815. The journey
was accomplished by means of o.x teams and
was necessarily slow and tedious, si.x weeks be-
ing consumed before they reached its termina-
tion, a distance which can now be overcome
in less than twenty-four hours. For miles in
many places they had to cut their way through
dense forests, where the settler's axe had never
before swung, bridging streams and camping out
nights.

This journey proved no pleasure excursion.
Few m these days of good roads and easy loco-
motion can api^reciate the trials, privations, and
suffering incident to pioneer life iVi those times
when these little bands, severing the ties of old
associations, poor in purse but strong in will,
went forth in the early twilight of our Nation's
history sowing the seeds of empire and breaking
the way for future generations in the great West.

Arriving at Bloomfield, which at that time was
a dense wilderness broken here and there only

by small clearings, few and far between, his
father located a tract of land, a portion of which
he ultimately sold to his son Henry, who, with
characteristic industry, proceeded to clear and
prepare it for cultivation, erecting a dwelling
thereon. In the year 1832 he was united in
marriage with Miss Almena Saunders, the result
of which union was five sons and two daughters;
five of these seven children are still living.

In the year 1865 he removed to Cleveland,
Ohio. Here he afterwards resided until his death,
which occurred September 20, 1881, in the
eightieth year of his age, he being the last mem-
ber of a family of twelve. His temperate, or-
derly life, combined with habits of well regulated
industry, prolonged his years far beyond the
average span of existence.

He was a man of sterling integrity, most emi-
nently just in all his dealings, never having a
quarrel or case of litigation in the entire course
of his life. So sweetly ordered were all his ways
that in the beaten path of his daily walk and
conversation he never made an enemy or lost a
friend. Peaceful, quiet, and unostentatious ;
firmly grounded in his religious convictions, be-
neath a calm exterior flowed the tides of kindly
thought and feeling with scarce a surface ripple,
but strong, resistless, pure, and holy. He lived
a noble example of the possibilities of a religious
culture which rounds into symmetrical beauty
the best types of an exalted Christian manhood.

CHAPTER XI.

JOHNSTON TOWNSHIP.

The name of this townshii) w^as doubtless
derived from the original proprietor of the land,
Captain James Johnston, of Salisbury, Connecti-
cut, father of the late Edward Walter Johnston.

The township is in number six of the second
range. It was surveyed by Nathan Moore and
his assistant in the year 1802. It was then an
unbroken wilderness uninhabited by any save
the savage or wild beast of the forest. The first
settler was a family by the name of Bradley,
consisting of himself. Captain Bradley, his wife,
Asenath, and their three sons, Thaddeus, Moore
Bird, and Ariel. They bid adieu to their native

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIKS, OHIO.

town, Salisbury, Connecticut, on the 7th of
June, 1803, and performed a journey of five or
six weeks and six or seven hundred miles, reach-
ing Canfield, this State, before they made a stop.
Mr. James Bradley at that time was a man not
far from fifty years of age, and his sons were
young men just in the strength of early man-
hood.

Mr. Bradley and family remained at Can-
field a few days to visit friends of former ac-
(juaintancesliip, after which they resumed their
journey by marked trees and bridle paths, mak-
ing their way from one clearing to another, which
however, were few and far between. After a few
days they came to the last opening, about five
miles distant frcjm the locality selected for a
home in the new township. The whole region
at that time for a space of ten miles square
around this spot selected for spending the re-
mainder of their days, was an unbroken wilder-
ness, uninhabited. Their neighbors were a family
by the name of Barnes between this and Vienna,
one family in the southwest part of Bazetta, be-
tween this and Warren, on what was known as
the Quinby farm, a few families in Vienna, a
few in Gustavus, and a few in Kinsman. They
camped the first night in the township by a
little stream, taking rest preparatory to the work
of penetrating the unbroken forest still further
on the morrow.

Captain Bradley and his family settled on a
lot a little west of the center, but he subsequently
removed to a farm in the west part of the town-
ship, where he lived about fourteen years, and
died respected at the age of sixty-two. His
widow lived fifteen years longer and died a
venerable matron of four-score years, June 15,
1832. From the time she left the family of Mr.
Barnes, in P'owler, and came into this township,
it was a year and some months before she saw
again the face of a white female.

Of the sons of Captain Bradley, Thaddeus,
the eldest, spent much time from home aiding
the family by such employment as he could find
in Ravenna or the neighboring settlements in
merchandising or teaching till he at length re-
turned and settled in the west part of the town-
ship, where he died in October, 1865, at the old
homestead which was afterwards owned by
James D. Bradley, his oldest son. About six
hundred acres of land was inherited by his three

children and a granddaughter. Moore Bird, the
second son, after laboring a few years in clearing
away the forest, turned his attention to the study
of medicine. He was the first medical student
under the instruction of Dr. Peter Allen, and
after studying and reading with him for a time
he practiced his profession in Mansfield and
eventually settled in Pennsylvania, where he died,
leaving a widow. Ariel, the youngest son, en-
gaged in the more rugged employment of clear-
ing the farm. He was the hero of the axe, who
felled the first tree previously noted. But his
strong constitution gave way under toil and
disease and subsequently he too studied med-
icine, with his brother, and practiced as a physi-
cian. Late in life he married Miss Laura L.
Barstow, who still lives, the widow of the first
physician of the township.

The next arrivals were two young men, who
were carpenters, without families. One was a
mill-wright. They set themselves to work to
look up a suitable location for a mill seat, and
fixed upon a site in the northeastern part of the
township. Those young men were Jared Hill
and James Skinner. They came in July. 1804,
and staid until winter, raised their saw-mill, then
left until the next season. They went to Canfield,
married, and soon after came back with their
wives. When they moved in they came up
through the first range, through Vernon, and
cat a path a mile and a half to make an opening
to get their teams through to their new abode in
the wilderness. There they remained, and as
the men were mechanics, their wives were some-
times left alone from Monday morning until
Saturday night, their nearest neighbors being a
camp of Indians a half mile down the stream
from the'mill.

In about a year and a half after their settle-
ment Messrs. Hill & Skinner had their saw-
mill in use to the very great accommodation of
the settlement. They soon added a grist-mill
which further accommodated the inhabitants.
Before the erection of this mill their nearest
place for grinding was at Orangeville, Pennsyl-
vania. Of these families Miss Sallie Hill died
July I, 1822, aged forty years, and Jared Hill,
Esq., died July 6, 1839, aged sixty-five years.

A few weeks after Hill and Skinner first came,
in September, 1804, came a Mr. Jaqua with his
family, which consisted of himself and wife and

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

five children, two sons and three daughters. This
family settled near the cross roads east of the
center. In this family was the first marriage in
the townshi]). Solomon Brainard was married
to Charity Jaqua. The exact date is not known,
but it was'in less than two years after the family
came as it was before June, 1806. Mr. Jaqua
was the first magistrate chosen in the township.
His two sons died in a time of sickness which
will be noted in the proper place. The family
removed to Pennsylvania, where they lived the
remainder of their days. Of the family of Solo-
mon and Charity Brainard, the second son,
John Brainard, after laboring for a time as a
clothier and also as an engraver, occupied the
chair of a professor in the homeopathic college
in Cleveland.

In the spring of 1805 David Hine and a Mr.
Hanchet, single men, came and put up a shanty
where Mr. Henry K. Hulse afterwards lived,
west of the center, but they did not remain.

Probably the next family which came in was
that of Mr. Zebulon Walker. He came in the
late part of the summer or in the fall of 1805.
His family consisted of a wife and several chil-
dren. He first settled near Mr. Jaqua, on the
northeast corner of the cross-roads. He built a
small house and made a little improvement,
which he subsequently exchanged for a lot to-
wards the north part of the township, to which
he removed and afterwards left town. As near
as can be ascertained the first white child born
in the township was a child of Mr. Walker.

Most, or all of those mentioned in the above,
were from Litchfield, Connecticut.

November 2, 1805, brought in quite an ad-
dition to the settlement: Four families came
from Warren, Connecticut. Daniel Hine, Jr.;
Erastus Carter, Howard Fuller, and Benjamin
Andrews. There were also some young men
who came with them, among whom were Augus-
tus Adams, Josiah Finney, and a Mr. Breman.
This company were three days coming from
Youngstown. Mr. Carter settled near where
Mr. Dunbar's tavern afterwards stood, and the
others in different parts of the township. They
engaged immediately in [)utting up their cabins
for .shelter for their families for the coming
winter. While in the midst of their work in
rolling u]) their logs for Mr. Fuller's house, Mr.
Hine had his leg broken below the knee, which

laid him up for most of the winter. When Mr.
Hine first came he stored his goods in the
shanty built by his brother and Mr. Hanchet,
and it was there he was cared for until he re-
covered from his injury.

Mr. Carter did not unload his goods until he
had rolled up a house for hnnself. About one
year after Mr. Carter came into the township he
lost his infant child. It was buried in what is i

now the graveyard for the township, and was
the first grave made in the ground, and this
was probably the first death which occurred
among the early settlers. Mr. Hine dug the
grave.

In June, 1S06, the next year, added another
company to the settlement. Daniel Hine, Sr.,
David Webb, AVilliam McKey, and Morris
Smith arrived with their families. This com-
pany suffered from sickness on the road. Mrs.
McKey was so unwell that she was obliged to
stop at the house of Isaac Woodford, in Vienna,
where they had serious sickness, the complaint
being dysentery. Daniel Hine settled on the
place afterwards owned by William Boor, but
later, in a few years, left for Canfield, where he
removed his family. David Webb settled on or
near the place where his late widow, Sarah Webb,
lived and died, afterwards occupied by Mr. Hale.

Mr. McKey settled where his son Henry Mc-
Key afterwards lived. These families furnished
a large accession to the number of young people
in the township. Mr. Hine had two sons and
three daughters. Mr. Webb had five sons and
two daughters, and Mr. McKey had three chil-
dren. Daniel Abell, subsequently Major Abell,
another single man, came in June, 1806. Nathan
Webb, the eldest son of David Webb, a clothier*
by trade, soon turned his attention to secure a
site for his business. He first attempted to build
a little below the mill of Messrs. Hill & Skinner.
After he had spent one season in building a dam
the result of his labor was swept away by a
freshet, and he subsequently secured the priv-
ilege of the water-power at the mill of Hill &
Skinner. He returned to Connecticut and mar-
ried Miss Anna Gregory, from Milton, with
whom he settled on the place which for many
years he afterwards occupied. His wife was a
professor of religion before she left Connecticut,
and did much to advance the cause of Chris-

A maker of clotli,

formerly used.

TRUMBULl. AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

403

tianity in the new seltlemenl. Mr. David Webb
was found dead in his bed on the morning o^
March the 22d, 1827. He was seventy-one
years old. His widow, Sarah Webb, was also
found dead in bed on the morning of October
6, 1852. She was ninety-two years old.

Mrs. Laura Hine, wife of David Hine, Jr.,
died September 15, 185 1, aged twenty-one years-
She was honored in the memory of all who knew
her.

Mr. Augustus Adams, who came in Novem-
ber, 1805, settled on the lot afterwards occupied
by Frederick Stevens. He married one of the
daughters of David Hire, Sr.

Mr. Ahell commenced the improvement where
Ebcnezer Jackson afterwards lived, but went
back and was married to Miss Root, and when
he returned he settled on he place afterwards
owned by Mr. Bennett.

About the time that Mr. Abell commenced
his improvement on the west street the son of
Captain Bradley commenced the improvement
which they subsequently occupied near Mr_
Abell. The improvement first commenced by
Mr. Abell was' afterwards occupied by Mr. Spen-
cer, and still further north on the place occupied
by a Mr. Dickerson, Mr. Consider Faunce set-
tled. He remained there till his death, which
ooccurred April i, 1819, at the age of sixty-nine.
His widow lived to an advanced age, much es-
teemed as a mother in Israel, and died at the
house of her son, Joseph Barstow, March 19,
1848, aged ninety-eight years.

About this time also we find the family of
Mr. Lilly settled at the center, on the place
afterwards owned by Rev. O. S. Eells; also a
son of his and a Mr. Hunt settled at the south
]).irt of the township on the center line, Mr.
Hunt nearly opposite where Mr. E. Allen's barn
stood and where the old mill was in use for a
long time. Mr. Lilly was farther south.

In the fall of 1810 the widow Anna Jackson
came in and settled first with her two sons, John
and William, on the place, a long time after-
wards owned by Mr. Amzi Webb; John was
married and William was single at that time.
They subsequently removed to the south part
of the township, purchased the improvements
made by Mr Hunt and Mr. Lilly, and after
about five or six years their older brother, Ebe-
nezer, came, and settled where his widow fitly

years afterwards was living. Mrs. Anna Jackson
died June 22, 1818, aged fifty-eight years. Mr.
John Jackson moved east of the center.

About the same time, 1810, Mr. Amasa Ham-
lin settled in the west part of the township on
the farm afterwards owned by Mr. Greer, former-
ly by Mr. Joseph Barstow. Mr. Hamlin after-
wards left.

.SICKNESS.

In the winter and spring of 1811 the settle-
ment was visited with distressing sickness. It
prevailed so extensively that the well were not
enough in numbers to take care of the sick.
While many recovered there were four young
persons who died. Jesse Perry was tlie first.
His parents lived somewhere near the center,
but as he was not in a situation to be taken care
of there he was removed to the house of David
Webb, where he died.

The disease, typhus fever, prevailed in the
family of Mr. Webb, and their daughter, Debby
Webb, died May 2, 181 1, aged eighteen years.
Two sons of Mr. Jaqua died also about the same
time, of the same disease, and also a young man,
William Adams, who died of consumption. It
has been stated that Mr. Adams was the first
adult who died in the township. He died at
the house of his brother, Augustus Adams.
Also the wife of William Key died not far from
this time. Her health was poor when she came
into the county, and while here was always
a feeble woman. These funerals were solemn
and sad gatherings in the wilderness for the little
community with scarcely enough to assist at the
necessary preparations. Sometimes they had
the aid of Mr. Crosby, a local Methodist
preacher from Vernon, to conduct religious ser-
vices. Sometimes some of the settlers offered
a prayer, and sometimes the dead were taken
up in silence and borne away to the grave.
The first of the settlers who aided in a religious
service at funerals was Mr. Hamlin. Said one
of the witnesses on one of these occasions :
" Although I had no particular interest in re-
ligious subjects at that time, I did feel thankful
that we had some one among us who could pray
at a funeral."

E.\RLV RELIGIOUS MEETINGS.

The first attempt to hold anything of the
character of the social religious meetings on

404

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

the Sabbath was not until some time after the
arrival of the company in June, 1806. As we
have remarked, there were a number of young
people in the company, some of them singers,
and nearly all accustomed to attend meetings
on the Sabbath before they came West. Al-
though not professors of religion, and none of
them feeling qualified by religious experience to
conduct the devotional exercises of religious
worship, yet they agreed to meet on the Sabbath
and join m the exercises. Mr. Daniel Mine,
Jr., invited them to meet at his house the first
Sabbath of their meetings. Dr. Wright, of
Vernon, was providentially visiting the sick
in the place, and learning of the meeting
he attended and assisted by leading the
congregation in prayer, in connection with their
reading and singing. As there was, however, no
one among them of sufficient confidence and
Christian experience to lead the devotional ex-
ercises of public worship, after a few times these
meetings were suspended, and no more regularly
religious meetings were held on the Sabbath,
till after the arrival of Mr. Hamlin, and as far as
can be learned, not till after the season of sick-
ness. Mr. Hamlin was a Methodist of very
respectable qualifications, and consistent relig-
ious character, of a liberal mind and disposed to
seek and promote religious society. After be-
coming acquainted with the community and
asceriaining the willingness and desire to have
meetings for worship on the Sabbath, he invited
the people to meet together, and met with them.

By his influence and aid the meetings were
conducted by prayer, singing, and reading dis-
courses, and by such free conference as the
members present were disposed to engage in.
This was the beginning of the permanent estab-
lishment of public worship on the Sabbath in
this place. It is believed that from this time it
has been habitually maintained. There was at
that time no ecclesiastical organization, but all
met together simply for worship. The preacheis
of all denominations, either residing on the bor-
der or traveling through as missionaries, occa-
sionally spent a Sabbath or calltd at other times
and gave them a sermon.

Among the early preachers who visited them
was Mr. Crosby from Vernon, already mentioned;
Father Badger from Gustavus, and Mr. Robbins,
a Congregational missionary from Xernon ; Mr.

Dai row from Vienna, a Presbyterian; also Mr.
Sheldon from Fowler, and Elder Rigdon, a Bap-
tist missionary, and later, Mr. Simon Woodruff",
and Mr. William Hanford, missionaries from the
Connecticut Missionary society.

During the occasional visits'and the labors of
these men there was an interesting revival of
religion, in which some of the leading heads of
families were hopefully converted to Christ, and
who have since been pillars in the difTerent
churches here. Mr. Crosby, after a few visits
finding a number of the Methodist denomina-
tion, suggested to them that if they would re-
quest it of the conference they would probably
send a circuit preacher, who would gather a class
and make a regular preaching station at this
place. It was accordingly done abt)Ut the year
1812.

FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

Rev. James McMahan is remembered as
among the first'circuit'preachers, and he was on
the circuit in 1813. It was then known as the
Mahoning circuit, belonging to this conference,
which was set off in 181 2 from the Baliiniore
conference.

This was then a frontier circuit, extending
north into .Ashtabula, and west into Cuyahoga
and Portage counties. The preachers some-
times got swamped between their appointments.
One of them, somewhere in the valley of the
Mosquito creek, was compelled to seek a dry
spot in the midst of the wide waters and
swamp for the night.

The meeting for forming the class was held at
the house of Mr. Lilley, nearly across the street
from the house now used. Among the male
members were Mr. Hamlin, Mr. Spencer, and
probably Mr. Dickinson, and soon after Mr.
Judson Tyrrel. The wives of most of these
were with their husbands. Other names were
also associated, but the early records were lost
and they can not be ascertained.

The Presbyterian or Congregational church
was organized October 16, 1814, under tiie labors
of Rev. William Hanford, a missionary of the
Connecticut Missionary society. It consisted at
first of six members — Solomon Brainard and his
wife, Nathan Webb and wife, and Amzi Webb
and wife. The church was organized in a log
schooi-hnuse, the first one built in the place. It

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

405

stood on the south side of the street and nearly
opposite the east school-house. Rev. Osias S.
Eells was installed pastor of the Congregational
church October 10, 1827. At the time he came
they met in a hewed-log school-house, standing
on the northwest corner at the center. At that
time a frame meeting-house was in course of
erection on the southeast corner, where Andrews
& Finney's store afterwards was built.

Although the house above mentioned was the
first school-house, a school was commenced be-
fore that house was built.

The first school was taught by Miss Elizabeth
Hine, daughter of Daniel Hine, Sr., who after-
wards became Mrs. Thaddeus Bradley. It is
said that it did not begin until after the removal
of Mr. Hine to Canfield, and that she was sent
for to come back and teach the school. It was
taught in the house built by Mr. Zebulon Walker
on the corner opposite the house of Mr. Wilbur.

The log school-house was built in 18 — and
the next school-house was a hewed-log house and
was built where the house and store of John
Jackson, Esq., stood afterwards. This second
school-house was built for the double purpose of
school and church, and had a stand arranged for
the minister's use.

This settlement, together with all the other
new settlements, experienced some alarm from
the war on the frontier at that time. War was
declared January 19, 181 2, and forces were
raised by draft for the defense of the frontier.
The militia mustered at that time under Colonel
Hayes, of Hartford. At first both Mr. Hill and
Skinner were drafted, but Mr. Skinner did not
go on account of some lameness. About two
months after the first draft a rumor was set afloat
that the enemy were landing at Cleveland, and
all the enrolled men were called out to go im-
mediately. At that time nearly all the able-
bodied men in the settlement left. Mr. Daniel
Hine was never enrolled in the militia on ac-
count of his broken limb. He, together with
some old men past the age of service, were about
all who were left behind.

The alarm proving to be false, most of the
men went no farther than Austinburg or Harpers-
field, from whence they returned, but some of
them went out to Erie county, to Camp
Avery, near where Milan now stands, and were
in the service about six months. Before this

time Mr. Judson Tyrrell had come and settled
in the township, and was among the men who
remained in the service. Subsequently his
brother, Sherman Tyrrell, came and settled near.
The Dickenson family also were in the township.
So also were the Halsteads, and many others
whose history we are not able to get in full.
Some families were brought in later by relatives
or interests already here. A son and daughter
of Captain Johnston, from whom the township
was named, came in. Colonel Walter Johnston
in 1828 settled first where Dr. Moore Bradley
afterwards lived, but who subsequently left it for
his brother-in-law, Captain Ebenezer Mix, who
came in later, and Colonel Johnston moved into
the house of his son, Herman Johnston. Cap-
tain Mix died November 21, 1839, aged sixty-
three years. His wife, Sally Mix, died July 27,
1846, aged fifty-six years. Colonel Johnston
died December 2, 1849, aged sixty-eight years.
Mr. George Root, a brother of Mr. Abell, came
into the country early and took up a lot of land,
and returned, but did not come to take up his
residence until eighteen years afterward. In the
interval another brother came to make a perma-
nent home.

LATER SETTLEMENTS.

About 1830, through the aid of Mr. John Boone,
afterwards of Mecca, a very respectable emigra-
tion of Protestant Irish commenced a settlement
in the northwest corner of the township, and
though Mr. Boone himself resided in Youngs-
town he came, after a short time, and occupied
a farm in the northwest corner of the township,
and as the settlement increased they became or-
ganized into schools and a Methodist society,
and afterwards secured for themselves a good
substantial house of worship. The settlement
embraced parts of Gustavus, Greene, and
Mecca.

Mrs. Rosier, on the north line of the township,
was there before the settlers came from Ire-
land.

In the southeast corner of the ownship com-
menced a settlement in 1840. Messrs. Thomas
Tudhope and Alexander Curry were the first
persons of the company who came.

The first family from Scotland was that ofMr.
Robert Hamilton. They were afflicted in cross-
ing the ocean by the loss of a son, whose mortal
remains were consigned to the deep.

4o6

TRUMBULL AND AL\HONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

Mr. Dewy was in the neighborhood during the
time the first Scotch settlement came. The
district was afterwards ahnost exclusively Scotch.
They established their school and often had
religious worship among them. They were
mostly Presbyterian. While Mr. Dewy resided
in that district, and Mr. Halstead where Mr.
Gomery afterwards lived, and Mr. Van Aikin
where Mr. Stodard afterward lived, there was a
meeting of United Brethren maintained, and
also another class in the northeast, or what was
called the Henry settlement, but their regular
appointments have ceased.

ORGANIZATION OF TOWN.SHIP.

Johnston was originally embraced in a poll
district with Vernon, Hartford, and Fowler, elec-
tions being held in Hartford in the Hayes neigh-
borhood. Subsequently Mecca and Bazetta
were attached to Johnston, which formed a new
election district. The first election for the town-
ship was held in this township October 9, 181 6,
at the house of Abijah Perry, near the center.
Captain Jatjua was made chairman of the meet-
ing, and Nathan Webb and Jared Hill judges.
The election resulted as follows : Jared Hill,
clerk, Samuel Hine, Jr., David and John Jack-
son, trustees. Mr. Rose and Mr. Dawson, of
Mecca and Bazetta, were among the otticers
elected.

Biographical Sketches,

THE BUSHNELL FAMH.Y.
I^ewis Bushnell was born in Johnston town-
ship, Trumbull county, March 23, 18 18. De-
cember 30, 1841, he was married to Elizabeth
A. Treat, of Vienna, who was born July 4, 1821.
The father of Lewis (his name also was Lewis)
was born April 12, 1787, in Hartland, Hartford
county, Connecticut. When about sixteen years
of age his father (Daniel B.) and family emi-
grated to Hartford, Trumbull county, Ohio, and
he came with the family, of which he was the
oldest. He (Lewis B., Sr.) was married to Sally
Webb December 27, 1808. She also was born
in Connecticut, on September 26, 1790, and had
come with her people to Johnston, Trumbull

county, Ohio. Her father, David Webb, was
one of the Revolutionary soldiers. After their
marriage they lived in Hartford for several years
and then removed to Johnston. They had four
children, viz : Linus, who died September 22,
1828, aged nineteeen years; Debby, who died
October 3, 18 12, aged nineteen months; Lorenzo,
born January 29, 1813, who resided in Johnston
until 1852, when he went to Waukon, Allamakee
county, Iowa, where he has since lived ; and
Lewis, who has always resided in Johnston.
Three months after the birth of Lewis, Jr., (June
29, 181 S) his father died, and ten years later his
mother was married to James Bascom, of Greene,
Trumbull county. They also had four children.
Lirus and John, the two older sons, were in the
army and there lost their lives. Linus died in
the hospital on December 29, 1862, aged thirty-
one years. His body was wounded in nine
places, and like so many other brave soldiers
his sufferings were beyond description. John
went home from the hospital on a furlough in
the fall to vote at the ensuing election, and died
a few days after reaching there. His home was
in Wisconsin. The other two children are living.
Sarah D., born July 8, 1829, married Allen
Mallory, and went to Massachusetts, where she
has since lived, and Lyman W., born June 30,
1836, still resides in Johnston.

Young Lewis Bushnell spent the first part of
his life with his mother, helping her to keep the
"wolves from the door," and this phrase was at
that time used in another sense than the figura
tive, for it was not an uncommon event for them
to see wolves and bears, as for instance, his
mother hearing a noise in the pig-pen one night,
went out and found a bear there ready to help
itself to the pork, but was frightened away by
the light she carried in her hand. Mrs. Bascom
died February 4, 1878, in her eighty-eighth year.
At the age of twenty-three Lewis married. His
wife's father, John Treat, was born February 15,
1795, in Milford, Connecticut. He came to
Vienna, Trumbull county, in 1818. His wife,
Mary Hummason, was born March 20, 1804, in
Hartford, Connecticut. She was the daughter
of Jacob Hummason, who was a merchant of
that place. He emigrated to Brookfield about
the year 1803, his wife and family coming a year
or so later. They found a log house with split
log door, and greased paper for windows very

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTII'S, OHIO.

different from the home they left, where plenty
of luxuries reigned. Mr. Humniason was one
of the best educated men of the county, one of
the first teachers in the schools in Youngstown,
and an active man in public life. They had six
children, of whom Mary was the fifth. She was
married to John Treat May lo, 1820, and they
have since lived in Vienna. They had six chil-
dren, viz: Elizabeth A.; Sidney C, born July 5,
1823, and now living in Hazelton, Mahoning
county ; Julius H., who died June 16, 1858, aged
thirty years ; Mary E., who died November i,
iS65,aged forty years, and Garry A., born April
17, 1830, and now living in Vienna. Mr. and
Mrs. Treat have always been noted for their
kindness, especially to the poor and friendless.
In 1832 they united with what is now the Pres-
byterian (then Congregational) church of Vienna,
and he has filled the ofifice of deacon or
elder since his election to it in 1848, till three
years ago because of his age he insisted on lay-
ing aside those duties. In May, 1870, the
fiftieth anniversary of their marriage was cele-
brated, and each of the eleven years since the
children and grandchildren have spent a glad
holiday with the aged couple. Though in their
living together sixty-one years they have been
more favored than most couples, we hope
many more years may be added to their united
lives. After the marriage of Lewis Bushnell
with Elizabeth Treat they went to housekeeping
in Johnston, and there they have lived, and
their eight children were born. Hubert T., the
oldest was born September 26, 1843. When
seventeen years old he taught a term of school,
and then returned to the store where he had
clerked the previous year, and with the exception
of the time spent in the army has since been
engaged in mercantile business. He was a
volunteer with the ninety-day men, and also in
the nine months service.

On December 23, 1868, he was married to
Jennie HoUett, of Watkins, New York. About
two years after they went East, and are still re
siding in Hartford, Cortland county. New York.
They have one child, Charles La Verne, born
January 10, 187 1.

Mary E. was born October 27, 1845. She
began teaching at the age of seventeen, and fol-
lowed It quite closely, and with evident success
for about thirteen years. On the 15th of June,

1876, she was married to Frank C. Hinman, of
Tallmadge, Summit county. Their home is in
Easton, Wayne county. They have two children :
Louis C, born September 28, 1877, and Flora
E., born August 28, 1879.

Martha A. was born January 4, 1848. On the
loth of May, 1876, she was married to Sullivan
Hutchins, of Hartford, and are still living upon
their farm in that township. They have two
children, Grace A., born June 18, 1877, and
Mary E., born January 11, 1880.

Howard L. was born January 18, 1850. He
has followed speculating much of the time. On
September 18, 1876, he was married to Kit Clark,
of Vienna. Their home is in that place. They
have one child, Ira E., born July 17, 1880, also
one adopted child, Freddie, born August, 1878.

Linus S. was born January i, 1853. At six-
teen years of age he began teaching, and fol-
lowed it winters for several years. He was
married to Emma A. Taylor, of Mecca, January
I, 1876. They have one child, Ida M., born
March S, 1877. They settled on a farm in
Johnston.

Esther T. was born January 30, 1855. She has
followed teacliing several years, and at present
is teaching in the graded schools of Orwell, Ash-
tabula county.

Sarah E. was born June 15, 1857. She has
followed teaching a part of the time.

George A. was born April 20, 1861.

Though the persons named in this sketch have
never gained world-wide fame, they have pos-
sessed honesty, energy, and enterprise, and re-
joiced to see the many improvements of the
country, and while they have helped to put down
slavery, intemperance, or any other evil which
assailed society, they have tried to strengthen
that which is good and all that tended to the ad-
vancement of social and public interest.

NOTES OF SETTLEMENT.

Captain James Bradley and family were the
first settlers of Johnston township. Mr. Bradley
was born in Connecticut June 18, 1755, died
March 3, 181 7. His wife, Asenath Bird, was
born June 10, 1752, in Connecticut, and died
June 10, 1832. They had three children —
Thaddeus, Dr. M. B., and Dr. Ariel. Dr. Ariel

4o8

'KUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTII'S, OHIO

Bradley was the first settled physician in Johnston
township. Thaddeus Bradley was born in Ver-
mont February ii, 1787, died October 7, 1865.
He married Elizabeth Hine. She was born in
Connecticut February 16, 1790, and died Febru-
ary 13, 1867. They had a family of six children —
Mary, James D., Dr. Moor C, Lester, Timothy,
and Myron. James D. Bradley, the son of
Thaddeus and Elizabeth Bradley, was born March
14, 1817, died March 11, 1875. He married
February 8, 1859, Laura A. Minor, born Febru-
ary 17, 1831. They have two children — Frank
T. and Dudley A. Dr. Moore Bird Bradley, the
second child of James and Asenath Bradley, was
born in Vermont, May 2, 1790, died February
i6, 1841. He was the father of eight children.
Dr. Ariel Bradley, the third child of James
and Asenath Bradley, was born in Vermont in
July, 1792; died in Johnston township October
7, 1859. He came to Ohio with his parents
at the age of nine years, where he lived until his
death. He studied medicine and was the first
practitioner in Johnston township. He was mar-
ried in 1828 to Laura L. Barstow, daughter of
Joseph and Betsey Barstow, both natives of
Sharon, Connecticut. Laura was born in 1809,
in Norway, New York, and came to Ohio with
her ])arents in 1818 and settled in Johnston
township where she still lives. Her father was
born in 1781, October 2, died at the age of
eighty-eight years. Her mother was born in
1787, died aged seventy-seven years. Ariel and
Laura Bradley had one child, Reumah, born in
March, 1829, died in 1854. She married Buell
Pelton. They had two daughters, Emma A.,
and Reumah. Emma was born in June, 1851.
Reumah was born in 1853. Ariel Bradley served
in the War of 181 2. Mrs. Bradley was one of
a family of eight, as follows : John, Laura,
Wallace, Samuel, Emma, Mary A., Adaline, and
one that died in infancy.

George Root was born in Connecticut, 1789,
died 1869. He came to Ohio in a very early
day and purchased land in Johnston township.
He returned to Connecticut and married Mary
Johnston, born 1799, died 1853. They had
nine children, all dead but three. Mr. and Mrs.
Root were members of the Congregational
church. Shortly after their settlement their little
log hut was burned and they were left without
shelter in the wilderness. Eunice C, the second

child, was born in 181 9, in Connecticut, and
came to Ohio with her parents and married in
1842, Giles L. Day, son of Giles and Hannah
Day. He was horn October 30, 18 15, in Ver-
mont, and came to Ohio with his parents. He
died April i, 1S79, after a lingering illness of
twelve years. They had six children. Maty R.,
deceased, Emma A., Cornelia R., Elvia V.,
Alvira, and Mary L. Mr. Day was lieutenant of
the home guard. He was a member of the
Disciple church for a number of years, then took
up the faith of Spiritualism. His parents came
to Ohio about the year 1829. They had a
family of eleven children. Giles L. and Eunice
C. Day have six grandchildren.

Hezekiah Green was born in Maryland in r8oi,
died in 1879. He married in 1828 Comfort
Burnett, born in Hubbard township in 1804,
the first white child born in Hubbard township;
is still living. They had seven children. Seth,
the second child, was born in 1832, and came to
Johnston township with his parents in 1836. He
married in i860 Miss Sophia Skinner, daughter
of Sherman and Betsey Skinner. She was born
in Johnston township in 1840. They had four
children, Carrie, Lydia, Harley and Arba. Mr.
Green is a farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Green are
members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Mrs. Green's grandparents, James and Nancy
Skinner, were the first settlers in Johnston town-
ship. They came from Connecticut. Mr. Skin-
ner was loved and esteemed by every one that
knew him.

Rev. Ozias Eells came to Johnston township,
Ohio, in March, 1827, and was soon employed
to labor as a minister of the gospel. He enjoyed
the privilege to live in the pious family of Dea-
con Nathan Webb. The house for public wor-
ship was constructed of hewed logs and stood
on the northwest corner of the land in the center
of the town. In this house he officiated twice
on the Sabbath and attended a prayer-meeting in
the house of a member of the church in the
course of the week. He was influenced to lo-
cate in this locality on account of an expected
donation of fifty acres of land, situated in Mec-
ca, belonging to William Ely. This land, which
he received, together with fifty acres obtained at
a vendue sale, was a great pecuniary hel[)tohim.
He visited the families and took a census of the
town, and at that time there were sixty families.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

409

He was to some extent engaged in the instruc-
tion of the young, and prepared three young
men to enter the Western Reserve college, at
Hudson. In addition to a subscription for the
support of his work in Fowler, where he was also
engaged to jireach, assistance was furnished by
a missionary society in Massachusetts. Mr. Eells
says the church furnished suitable accommoda-
tions for him to live in a married state, and that
a good Providence jjrovidcd a suitable person
for his wife, and they were married by Rev. Har-
vfy Coe, of Vernon. He attended a meeting of
the presbytery of Grand river, was e.xamined and
received as a member. After preaching about
six months he received a call to take the pastor-
al charge of the church in Johnston and another
in Fowler. The call was accepted and the in-
stallation services were held in Mr. Robert Mor-
row's house, Rev. Wells Andrews preaching the
sermon. In 1831 the ])resbytery appointed him
to attend the general assembly in Philadelphia.
.After the establishment of Oberlin college and
young men from that institution could be ob-
tained to preach, some of the membeis were
desirous of procuring the services of one of them
and Mr. Eells was dismissed. He accepted an
invitation to preach in other towns and thus
continued his ministerial labors. After fifty
years of married liie his golden wedding was cel-
ebrated, on which occasion a large number of
neighbors and friends assembled, and pleasant
it was to all, and a number of valuable gifts were
jiresented to the esteemed couple.

Truman Buell was born in Litchfield, Con-
necticut, in 1784; died in 1867. He was mar-
ried in 1804 to Nancy Hinman. She was born
in 1785; died in 1866. They had eight chil-
dren— George, Ezra, Albert, Alban, David,
Lorain, Mary, and Angeline. George, the old-
est son, was born in 1809, in Litchfield, Connec-
ticut, and died in Johnston December 27, 1869.
He married Mary Halcomb, of Connecticut.
She was born November 28, 1806, and died in
Johnston in 1867. She was the daughter of
Amasa and Abigail Halcomb. George Buell
came with his family of four children to John-
ston in 1846. His children were as follows:
Truman S., George P., James K., and Mary L.
James K. was born December 31, 1842, and was
married, in 1869, to Susan Moran, daughter of
William and Elizabeth Moran. She was born in

Ireland. They have three children — Georgiana,
Mary V., and Carrie M. Mrs. Susan Buell's
parents, William and Elizabeth Moran, were
born in Ireland, Leitrim county. He was born
in 1784, and died in the ninty-seventh year of
his age ; his wife was born in 1800, and died in
her eightieth year. The had nine children —
John, Alice, Mary A., Robert S., Eliza, Jane,
William B., Francis E., and Susan M. They
settled in Vernon in 1846. Warren Buell was
born August 13, iSoo, in Hartford county, Con-
necticut. He married, in 1823, Electa Squires,
born in 1798 in Connecticut. They came to
Ohio in 1832, and settled in Johnston township,
where they still reside. They had seven chil-
dren ; six are living, and one died in infancy —
Daniel W., Harvey L., Wayne, Zenas W., Norris
L., Celestia A. Mr. Buell is a blacksmith. Har-
vey L., the second child, was born in Connecti-
cut in 1827, and came to Ohio with his parents.
He was mariied April 23, 1862, to Elizabeth M.
Tennant, daughter of William H. and Elizabeth
Tennant, born in Scotland, May 25, 1845. They
have one daughter, Lizzie, born in 1 869. Mr. Buell
is a general farmer, and has a farm of fifty acres.
William Buell, son of Norman and Emily Buell,
was born in 1823, in Connecticut. He came to
Ohio in 1841, and settled in Portage county,
where he resided until 185 1, then moved to
Johnston township. He married, in 1848, Har-
liet Curtis, of Geauga county, Ohio, born in
1825. They have four children — Charles L.,
Mora (deceased), Ida, Franklin, and Frederick.
Mr. Buell follows the lumber business. Mr. and
Mrs. Buell are members of tlie Methodist Epis-
copal church.

Matthew Miller (deceased) was a native of Ire-
l.md, born in 1732, emigrated to Westmoreland
county, Pennsylvania, about the year 1760; was
a Revolutionary soldier; married in 1762, Mar-
garet Corrnehan, and had a family of nine chil-
dren, tliree boys and six girls, named as follow:
Robert, William, and Isaac; Jenny, Betsey,
Nancy, Mary, Margaret, and Dorcas, all of
whom lived to be married and raise families,
except William, who lived in Westmoreland
county, Pennsylvania, until 1814, when he
moved to Millersburg, Holmes county, Ohio,
where he died in 1817, at the age of eighty-five
years.

Isaac Miller, deceased, son of Matthew Miller,

TRUMUUI.l. AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

was born in Greensburg, Westmoreland county,
Pennsylvania, February 8, 179S; was married
to Sophia Dabney, January 26, 1819; moved to
Holmes county, Ohio, where he lived thirtetn
years, thence moved to Voungstown, Mahoning
county, in January, 1S32. May i, 1850, he
moved to Farmington, Trumbull county, ard
resided there until November, 1854, and then
moved to Johnston township, where he died
April 2, 1875. He had a family of seven sons
and five daughters: John, Lucinda, Robert,
Nathaniel G., Margaret Mary, Elizabeth, Eben-
ezer D., William (first), Sophia, Catherine E., Wil-
liam (second), and Isaac J. Four are living and
married; six died in childhood, and one in Cali-
fornia in 1 85 1, aged twenty-one years. Nathaniel
G. was married to Maria Reader about 1848;
lived in Bristol township, Trumbull county, and
died at the age of thirty-four years; had a family
of four boys, viz: Isaac Jefferson, Frank R.,
Charles, Clinton ; three of whom are married and
one single. Lucinda Miller was married to
Jared Housel September 6, 1839, and lives in
Farmington; has had a family of six children,
five living and married, viz : Mary Jane, Isaac,
George A., Sophia, and Ira. Sylvanus died in
the Union army at the age of nineteen years.
Margaiet Miller was married to Ephraim Boon,
and since then has lived in Gustavus township ;
has a family of three children, namely: Addie,
Miller, and Thomas, of whom Addie and Thomas
are married, and Miller is deceased. Catherine
E. Miller was married to Frank B. Wood, August,
1857, and since has lived in Johnston township;
has a family of three girls, one married and two
single — Orissa A., Edna I., Maud E. Isaac J.
Miller was married to Ella M. Fairchild, Octo-
ber 5, 1870, and has since resided in Johnston
township, Trumbull county. He has a family of
four children, as follow: Jay E., Katie E.,
Arvine D., Isaac J. The occupation of the sons
and sons-in-law of the subject of this sketch is
farming.

Isaiah Bartlett, born in I'limpton, I'lymuulh
county, Massachusetts, June 12, 1793, married
Miriam Mason, born in Litchfield county, Con-
necticut, in 1795. They resided in Litchfield
until 1833, when they removed to Johnston,
Trumbull county, Ohio, and settled where their
son Robert now lives, and resided there until
their death. Mr. Bartlett died in 1S67; Mrs.

Bartlett in 1870. They had a family of five
boys and three girls, as follows : Rev. P. M.
Bartlett, president of Marysville (Tennessee)
college ; Jerusha (Jackson) deceased ; Lucius,
now in Warren ; Rev. Alexander M., professor
of Greek and Latin in Marysville college ; Mary
E. (Leroy) in Kansas ; Emma C. (Root), and
Robert A., on the home place in Johnston, and
S. F., in Warren.

Harvey Selleck was born in Salisbury, Con-
necticut, in 1805, and came to Ohio in 1828 and
settled in Johnston township. He married Lucia
Landon, born in Salisbury in 1805, died in 1S71.
They had a family of two daughters, Samantha
(deceased), and Harriet. Mr. and Mrs. Selleck
are members of the Congregational church, being
among the founders of the Congregational socie-
ty of Johnston. Mr. Selleck is a general farmer.

Charles W. Brinsmade was born in Salisbury,
Connecticut, in 1809. He came to Ohio in 1850
with his family, and settled in Medina county.
He married Maria E. Lockwood, born June
12, 1813, died November 28, 1875. They had
a family of nine children, viz: A. F., Alonzo L.,
Charles P., George E., Almira P., Frances M.,
Wesley H., and two that died in infancy. A. F.
Brinsmade was born in 1834, in Salisbury, Con-
necticut, and came to Ohio with his parents and
married Harriet S. Selleck. He is a farmer.

Daniel Hine was born in Litchfield county,
Connecticut, in 1777; died in 1859. He mar-
ried Laura Finney, who was born in Connecti-
cut in 1779, and died in 1850. They came to
Trumbull county and settled in Johnston town-
ship. They brought with them two children —
Josiah and Wealthy. The remainder were born
in Ohio, their names being Lester, Niram, Chancy,
and Lucinda. Mr. Hine was married again
in 1852 to Mary Palmer, who was born in 1785,
and died in 1870. Mr. and Mrs. Hine were
members of the first Congregational church. He
was a farmer. His parents and four brotheis
followed him to Ohio. Lester, the third child,
was born in Johnston township January 3, 1809.
He was married in i860 to Eliza Bradley, who
was born in Connecticut, and died in 1864. Mr.
Hine is a farmer. Josiah Hine was born May
23, 1803, and died July 26, 1879. He was mar-
ried March 5, 1848, to Desire B. Pitcher. She
was born January 27, 1822, in Norwich, Connec-
ticut, and came with her parents to Ohio in

TRUMPUI.L AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

1846, and settled in Johnstun township. 'I'hey
had five children, three of whom are living. The
first and second were twins, born in 1848, both
now deceased. George, born in 1850, resides in
Colorado; Mary E., born in 1852, resides at
home; Daniel E., born in i860, resides at home.

Abiel Cram was born in New Hampshire in
1S02, [uly 30th. His parents moved to Vermont
and in 18 17 came to Ohio, and settled in Mon-
roe township, Ashtabula county, and in 1819
moved to Pennsylvania, where he was married,
in 1827, to Sarah Madlam. She was born in
Pennsylvania in 1810, and in 1865 came to Ohio
and settled in Johnston township. They had
eight children; two died in infancy, two in youth:
Mary, John, Horace, Sarah, Hannah, Nancy.
John died in the army, shot May 21, 1S61 ; was
m company L, Sixteenth Pennsylvania cavalry.
The first, third, and fourth are living. Mr.
Cram was a farmer. He died June 21, 187S.
His wife survives him. They were members of
the Methodist Episcopal church. Horace, the
third child, was born September 30, 1832, in
I'cnpsylvania. He married in 1858 Nancy
Dufficld. She was born in 1828, July 30. They
have two children, William A. and Sarah E.
Mr. Cram is a farmer. They are members of
the Methodist Protestant church.

David Ailing, a native of Connecticut, married
Clementine Judd, of Connecticut. They came
to Ohio in a very early day and settled in Vienna
township, and afterwards moved to Johnston
township. They had seven children. Edward,
the second child, was born in Connecticut in
1807, He married Charlotte Roberts, born in
Connecticut in 1811. They have three children,
Luther, Lucius, and Charley. Mr. and Mr.s.
.Ailing are members of the Congregational church.
He IS a general farmer. Luther, the first child,
was born in Johnston township in 1833. He
married in 1854 Miss Jane Moran, daughter of
Francis and Bridget Morun, born in Ireland in
1832. They have four children, Augustus,
Estella, Frank,' and Alvia. Mr. Ailing is in the
saw-mill business, and also manufacturing pumps.

Thomas Millikin was born in county Lei-
trim, Ireland, on the i6th day of May, in the
year i8i6;died in Johnston in the year 1875,
December 19th. He came to America in 1831,
and in 1842 married Tamar Clark, daughter of
John and Mary Clark. She was born in Penn-

sylvania December 4, iSiS, and came to Ohio in
1840 and in 1842 came to Johnston township.
They have a family of eight children, all living :
George R., John C, Thomas J., Richard, James
T., Charles W., Allen, and Mary E. Mr. and
Mrs. Millikin are members of the Methodist
Episcopal church. He was a farmer ; held the
ofifice of township trustee for several years.

James Currie was born in Scotland, where he
died leaving a wife and nine children, who came
to America in 1845, ^^'^ settled in Johnston
township, Trumbull county. Mrs. Currie's maid-
en name was Marian Hamilton. The chil-
dren were Catharine, Margaret, Alexander,
Ellen, Marian, Jeannette, John, James, Isabelle.
Alexander and James reside in Johnston town-
ship and are unmarried. They follow farming
on a farm of two hundred and forty-one acres.
Alexander was born August 29, 1822, and James
in 1835. They are extensive sheep raisers.

Reuben Mowrey was born in Connecticut in
1753, and died in Gustavus township in 1841.
He married Lucy Couch, born in 1755, died in
1839; they had ten children. Isaac, the young-
est child, was born May 9, 1800, and came to
Ohio with his parents in 18 12. He married
Betsey Pelton, born August 22, 1803. They had
ten children. Eunice, the fifth child, was born
September 11, 1832, in Gustavus township, and
married in 1854 T. A. Bradley. They have one
child, Mary P., born May 20, 1867. They re-
side in Johnston township.

CHAPTER XII.

FOWLER.

This township, formerly known as Westfield,
contains 16,500 acres. It was purchased fioni
the Connecticut Land company by Samuel
Fowler, of Westfield, Massachusetts, and sold to
settlers under his direction. Titus Brockway
was granted power of attorney to dispose of
10,000 acres. Abner Fowler, brother of the
proprietor, in consideration of services rendered
in surveying this land, received 100 acres at the
center of the township.

The township was purchased by Mr. Fowler
in 1798, for less than fifty cents per acre.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

In 1806 Fowler was included in the Vernon
election district, which was organized thrct year.
In 1807 it w^as set apart as a distinct township
and election precinct.

Fowler is a good farming region. Its soil is
mostly a fertile clayey loam. The surface is
generally slightly undulating. The western part
of the township is drained by two small creeks
which flow westward into Mosquito creek.
Branches of Yankee creek form the watercourses
of the eastern half.

Fowler center, a neat and enterprising little
village, is situated about one mile west of
Fowler station. Tyrrell Hill, a lively, growmg
little place, is on the southern township line,
about one mile from the corner of Fowler and
Hartford. The Youngstown branch of the Lake
Shore railroad passes northward through the
eastern half of the township.

Fowler is the fifth township of the second
range, and is bounded on the north by Johnston,
on the east by Hartford, on the south by Vienna,
and on the west by Bazetta.

In 1880 this township produced 6,187 bushels
of wheat, 76 bushels of rye, 38 bushels of buck-
wheat, 16,924 bushels of oats, 13,547 bushels of
corn, 2,950 tons of hay, 213 bushels of flax seed,
23,746 pounds of butter, 272,970 pounds of
cheese, and in 1881, 12,437 pounds of maple
sugar, and 691 gallons of maple syrup.

PIONEER HISTORY.

.\bner Fowler was the first settler. The first
cabin was built by him in the spring of 1799,
and stood on the site of the public scjuare a lit-
tle northeast of the cross-roads. Mr. Fowler's
wife had died before he left Massachusetts and
he lived alone in his pioneer dwelling until other
settlers arrived. The Fowlers were descendants
of one of the oldest of New England families
and several of them were prominent both in the
affairs of their native State and of the Nation.
Abner Fowler acted as advance agent, or as a
solicitor of settlers, and it was principally through
his influence that the first families of the town-
ship were induced to locate here. Mr. Fowler
lived to see his settlement fairly started and the
foundations of permanent improvement laid.
He died in 1806. This was the first death that
occuned in the township. His body rests in
the 1)1(1 graveyard at the center.

Only two of Abuer Fowler's children settled
here, .-\bner, Jr., came out in 1805, and Ches-
ter in 1806 or 1807. The first marriage cere-
mony was performed in August, 1807, in uniting
.'Vbner Fowler, Jr., and Esther Jennings. They
were married by Titus Brockway, Esq., of Hart-
ford. The wedding took place at the house of
Wakeman Silliman, in Fowler. .Abner moved
to Brookfield in 1816 and there ended his days.
Chester passed the most of his life in Fowler and
died in Hartford.

The first family in the township wms that of
Levi Foote, from Westfield, Massachusetts.
Foote located near the center in 1801. Lydia
Foote, daughter of Levi and Milly (Allen) Foote,
was the first white child born in the township.
Her birth took place July 5, 1805. She died
,\pril 21, 1881. The Foote family was quite
large. Levi Foote's mother was Miss Bathsheba
Burr, a relative of .Aaron Burr. She was born
in Granby, Connecticut, in 1755, and lived to be
one hundred years old, lacking five days. She
was married three times. Her first husband was
.Asa Foote, her second Isaac Flower, and her
third a Mr. Thompson. She died and was
buried :n Vienna. Auntie Thompson, as she
was long familiarly called, experienced many of
the hardships of pioneer life. It is said that the
first wolf killed by a settler of Fowler was
brought down by a gun in her hands. Her hus-
band was absent when the hungry beast visited
the pig pen and was bold and voracious enough
to seize one of the little porkers in midday.
When this fact was made known to Auntie
Thompson, she seized a gun and fired. The
wolf fell and wa« then carried to her doorstep by
herself and thought to be dead, but to make sure
of her work the wolf was struck with a club.
This brought it to consciousness and it sprang to
its feet and would have been off had she not
hurriedly dispatched it. Mrs. Thompson spent
the last years of her life at the home of Dexter
Clinton, near Vienna center.

Only five families settled in the township be-
fore 1805. Tiiese were the families of Levi
Foote, already mentioned; Lemuel Barnes, who
lived one-half mile north of the center; John
Morrow, at the center; Hillman Msher, and
Drake, who lived on the ridge.

In 1S06 seven families arrived from Connec-
ticut, having left that Stale in the fall of the

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

same year. A month or six weeks later they ar-
rived in New Connecticut. Tliese emigrants
were Elijah Tyrrell and wile, nee Clarissa
Meeker, with her brothers. Justice, Daniel, Ly-
man, and William Meeker; John Vaughn and
Wakeman SiUiman. They all settled in the
southeast of the township m the vicinity of
Tyrrell Hill or Tyrrell corners.

This company first halted at the house of Joel
Hummason, in Vienna, and the women and chil-
dren remained there, while the men went for-
ward into Fowler, cutting roads to their lands to
build cabins. This work completed the families
took up their abode upon the farms which they
afterwards improved, and where most of them
lived and died.

Elijah Tyrrell built his house at the corners,
on the northwest of the same. The lot lines
were established a few years later and the place
has been called Tyrrell's corners and Tyrrell Hill
ever smce. The corners are one mile from the
east line of the township, and a mile north of
the Vienna line.

Justice Meeker built his house one-half mile
north of the corners; Wakeman Silliman, a few
rods further north; L; man Meeker, three-fourths
of a mile north, and his brother Daniel on the
opposite side of the road. William Meeker set-
tled lialf a mile south of Mr. Tyrrell's, and John
Vaughn one-half mile east.

Miss Esther Jennings, afterwards Mrs. .\bner
Fowler, was one o( this jxirty of settlers, and
soon after the families were established in their
homes taught school — the first in the township —
in the cabin of Wakeman .Silliman. This cabin
stood on the bank of Yankee creek — a stream
named after the Yankee settlement made m its
vicinity.

John Kingsley was one of the pioneers, and
for many years was an honored citizen. He
died in 1856 at the age of seventy-three. He
was the first justice of the peace in Fowler.

The family of Matthias Gates was also in the
township quite early. Later they removed to
Haitford.

Elijah Tyrrell built the largest .md most sub-
stantial cabin in that day. It was built of small
logs, 18x24 fejt, chinked and daubed with mud.
The roof was made of clapboards, split out of
oak logs, three and one-half feet long, and from
six to eight inches wide. These were laid

double and held down by weight poles. The
upper floor of this cabin was made of the same
material; the lower or first floot was made of
logs about eight feet long. These logs were split
from four to six inches in thickness, and hewed
on the upper side. The windows consisted of
mere holes cut in the sides of the cabin, with
upright and horizontal sticks placed across for
sash, and over the whole of this net-work was
pasted oiled white paper through which light
was admitted. The door, rudely constructed,
was hung by means of two large wooden hinges
reaching across the door and pinned on with
wooden pins. The hook or pin upon which the
hinge played was of wood also. Neither nail
nor spike was used in the construction of the
building. The bedsteads were made in the cor-
ners of the rooms with one post for each bed,
made of a round stick two and a half feet high,
with two holes bored through it, one above the
other and at right angles. Also two holes bored
in the logs of the house, and poles |ilaced in
these holes, reaching from post to house logs.
These posts formed the bed rails, and for bed
cords hichory withes were used, laid across or
stretched from side to side. The tables were
made of four small poles, in pairs, crossed, which
formed the legs. Through the center of each of
these pair of legs a pole the length of tlie table
was put, and then on top a puncheon was
pinned fast for a leaf In this way their tables
were made, somewhat clumsily, to be sure, but
very solid and durable.

The chairs were also of an odd construction,
and were made of blocks of wood; in short the
furniture was in every respect of the simplest
manufacture, and was made more for use than
for ornament. Their knives, forks, spoons,
plates, and dishes were very limited as to num-
ber. These times, however, did not last long,
for about the year 1807 Justice Meeker built a
shop, in which he put his lathe, the only one
then and for a long time afterwards used in the
township. This lathe had a spring-pole fastened
over head, with a buckskin string connecting the
two, by which the motive power was communi-
cated. With this machinery many and valu-
able were the articles manufactured, especi-
ally the wooden plates, bowls, spoons, and
wooden dishes, also wooden knives and foiks.
The best of timber, generally maple, was used

•RUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

in the iiianul'aclure of these articles. These
vessels were used for various purposes, in short,
for as many purposes as the culin.iry art of that
early day required.

In 1805 Hilhiian and Daniel Meeker were in
the township before they moved their families,
and at that time commenced the building of a
saw-mill, but did not complete it until 1807,
when the mill was put in operation, and from
that time on the neighbors could secure boards
instead of puncheons for their floors, and for
many other purposes. This mill was the first
one in the township. It was situated one-half
mile north of the corners, and one-half mile east
on Yankee creek. The stream becoming turbu-
lent washed out the dam before the mill was set
to running.

Groceries were hard to obtain in those days.
Sometimes the neighbors would take their rifles
and ox teams and go to Youngstown. These
trips were not particularly dangerous, save for
the troublesome wolves, that kept the men awake
at night, and on guard, to protect themselves
and their property. Salt was at that time worth
$25 per barrel, and other necessaries of life were
proportionally high and hard to obtain. In
1807 Harvey Hungerford built a flouring-mill on
the north side of Yankee creek, on land subse-
(juently owned by Milo Dugan, which was the
first flouring-mill in the township. It was built
on the south end of the dam of Meeker's saw-
mill. Ebenezer Barnes made the mill-stones
out of a large bowlder found in the woods, one-
half mile west of Tyrrell Hill, or about two
miles from the mill. Justice Meeker was the
miller at that time.

Some time previous Elijah Tyrrell had in-
creased the size of his blacksmith shop and was
by this time largely increasing his business; in
fact, the corners was becoming widely known.
A saw-mill, a grist-mill, and a blacksmith shop
being located here, drew custom from many of
the townships, and even from Youngstown and
other points. In 181 2 .'\bijah Tyrrell moved to
tile township, and at first lived with his twin
brother I'^lij.ili, until he could build himself a
house, and went with Elijah Tyrrell's son, Asahel,
now a resident of Tyrrell Hill, into the black-
smith shop. In this shop, which partook some-
what of the character of a machine-shop, they
manufa<lured plows, shares, axes, scythes, shav-

ing knives, hoes, chains, etc. The Tyrreils made
the first scythes manufactured in Trumbull
county, and were largely patronized in this
branch of industry until a Mr. Parker, of Kins-
man, started up a scythe factory, that was run by
water-power, by which the cost of manufacture
was so much reduced that the Tyrreils discon-
tinued their business.

In 1807 Rev. Joseph Badger, the noted pio-
neer missionary, visited the settlement and
preached the first sermon.

About this time Soth and Enoch Perkins ar-
rived and settled one mile west of Tyrrell Hill.
Enoch Perkins soon after his arrival married
Clarissa Barnes. This was probably the second
wedding in the township.

Two settlers, Richard Houlton and Joseph
Pittman, came in 1S08. They built their cabins
within a few rods of each other in the southern
part of the township, dug a well, cleared some
land, and after living here three or four years
gave up pioneer life and returned to their former
homes. Houlton, however, afterwards returned
and settled in another part of the township.
Solomon Dundee and Abraham Farrow came to
Fowler with these men and became permanent
settlers. They located east of Tyrrell corners.

Other early comers in the township made a
few improvements, but becommg weary of life
in the woods or discouraged by hardships, re-
turned to civilization. Only stout hearts and
determined spirits can endure the life of a
pioneer.

Alfred Bronson settled at Tyrrell's corners in
181 2, and for many years was a local preacher
of the Methodist church He is still living and
resides in Piairie du Chien, Wisconsin. He is
now in the ninetieth year of his age. While he
resided in Fowler he was often the orator at
Fourth of July celebrations.

There was a Mr. Stewart at the corners, who
after clearing four or five acres and building a
house already to raise, suddenly left and never
cime back. This property was afterwards taken
by Alfred Bronson, the Methodist preacher.
The property owned by William Meeker, previ-
ously mentioned, was cleared by a settler whose
name has passed from recollection — fenced in
part, logs cut and hauled teady for raising a
house, when he suddenly left and never relumed.
This property, one hundred acres in all, was one-

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

415

half mile south of the corners. The next lot
south of this, now owned by Asahel Tyrrell, was
at first taken by Hezekiah Reeder, who cleared
and fenced about four acres, planted his garden,
raised his house but never covered it, then left
and never returned. This house was on the
bank of a little brook, which has since been
called Reeder's run. Mr. Reeder bought it in
1 810, paying at that time $3 per acre. Mr.
Tyrrell bought it in 1S24 and paid $5 per acre.
He was then thiitytwo years of age and is now
seventy-nine years old and has owned it ever since.
Hut since that time what a change ! Then it
was all a wilderness ; now the land is all cleared
up, and a railroad runs through it within four
rods of where the old Reeder house stood. The
depot is about twenty rods from it. From four
to six trains now pass daily on this road, and
S(jme of the land is laid out in village lots and a
number of houses have already been built. Mr.
Tyrrell biiilt a large flouring-mill, a hotel, and
a store. There are also some shops of different
kinds, and a nail-keg head factory that is doing
some business.

About the year 1813 John Webster and New-
man Tucker moved into the place with their fam-
ilies. Webster moved into one end of John
Vaughn's house, which stood a little west of the
corners. He afterwards built a house three-
fourths of a mile south of the corners on the east
side of the road. Tucker moved into Alfred
Bronson's house, while Bronson was out in the
army. Tucker was taken sick, caused by a
journey of forty- five days duration without inter-
mission, except for a single day, and when
Preacher Bronson came home the neighbors
turned out (what few had not gone to the war)
and built a brush house for Tucker. It was
built in one day. Four posts were driven at
suuable distances apart in the ground, the other
ends being forked, and upon these forks poles were
laid, reaching from one post to the other. Small
poles were also pinned on the sides. Brush was
then collected, and the roof and the sides of the
shanty were plaited with leaves and twigs. The
roof was covered with brush. A blanket was
hung over the opening. Into this domicile the
family moved, and lived two months. The
Tucker family consisted of eight persons in all —
the two old people and six children, four boys
and two giris. The boys were Charles, Jabez,

William, and John. The girls were Betsy and
Marilla.

Mr. Newman Tucker was the first male teach-
er in the township. He taught school in John
Vaughn's house the winter after he came here.

THE WAR OK l8l2.

There were but a few scattering families at this
time in the township, and the militia of F^owler
and Johnston townships was put under the
command of Captain Elijah Tyrrell. Cap-
tarn Tyrrell was ordered to draft one-hall of
his men, taking every other man in order as
the names stood on the muster roll. This was
the order given to each of the captains in the
county. It caused considerable excitement and
hardship, as half of the whole number of able-
bodied men taken at such a time from their
midst would leave them in straitened circum-
stances. There were nine in number drafted
from Fowler township. Their names were:
Captain Elijah Tyrrell, Alfred Bronson, Hoyt
Tyrrell, Roswell Tyrrell, Isaac Farrow, Cable
Meeker, and three of the Gateses. The service
of these men was not very long, most of them
coming home in three months. Some of the
number staid six months. Roswell Tyrrell re-
enlisted. John Gates was killed in the first en-
gagement he was in.

Up to this time immigration was not very
rapid, but after the war the people began to see
better times, and settlers took up all the land
except the swamps.

As late as the year 1826 there was no road
passable for teams, and few settlers from the
center of Fowler to the center of Hartford, and
all the travel was done by the way of Tyrrell's
corners from Bazetta, Fowler, and other places
north to get to Hartford, or Burg Hill.

Mr. Asahel Tyrrell, then a mere a boy, usually
went to mill for his father and the neighbors.
His trips were made to Brockway's or to Bent-
ley's, and sometimes to Sharon. The distance
was great for a boy to make, and the wolves
sometimes were so voracious as to cause him
some apprehension for his safety. His father's
old white mare which he rode, was the only one
in the neighborhood.

PIONEER CUSTOMS.

In former times the women spun and wove
what clothing was worn, excepting the buckskin

•JvUiMnL'Ll, AN'l) MAIIONIKC; COUN'J'IKS, OHIO.

breeches and jackets which were worn by the
men in the winter. Linen was worn in the sum-
mer. Cotton was but little used in early days;
the home-made linen served all purposes then.
Many of the youngsters never wore boots or
shoes, except wooden ones or moccasins, in their
childhood and youth. Leggings were frequently
worn. They were lashed tight over the shoes
and tied with garters around the knees. Instead
cif glass they had wooden bottles that were often
filled with whiskey from Mr. Bushnell's distillery
in Hartford. It was nothing unusual to send a
boy to the distillery for whiskey, with a bag
thrown across a horse with a gallon wooden bot-
tle m one end and a stone in the other to bal-
ance. These were times when a log-rolling,
house-raising, or a corn-husking was not com-
plete without the aid of this much-prized stimu-
lant. These were times, too, when the daugh-
ters not only worked at the loom and spinning-
wheel, but hoed corn, raked hay, bound grain,
pulled flax, and did any other work, either out
of or in doors, as the case seemed to demand.
Stock, grain, or labor were used instead of
money for exchange, cash price, or cattle at trade
prices, or grain, cattle, or stock notes, were the
terms used when making a "dicker," or driving
a bargain.

WILD .\NIMALS

were numerous and often troublesome. Stock,
especially young cattle and sheep, had to be looked
after very carefully or it would be destroyed.
Hogs were sometimes allowed to run in the woods
to feed upon acorns, and not unfrequently some
of them became a prey to hungry bears.

Abner Fowler one day discovered a tree in the
forest which was scratched from top to bottom, as
though it had frequently been climbed by some
sharp-clawed animal. Having a curiosity to
know what beast, if any, used the hollow tree as
a dwelling-place, Mr. Fowler cut it down. Out
rushed a huge bear, which the pioneer soon suc-
ceeded in killing.

As an evidence that the women of pioneer
days were possessed of the same courageous
s])irit that characterized the men, the following
incident is related:

Mr. Ira Fowler, son of .Abner Fowler, Jr.,
states that when he was about four years old,
just as night was coming on one evening the

family were disturbed by the howling of wolves.
His father was away from home and only Mrs.
Fowler and her three small children were in the
house. Mr. Fowler had just purchased a few
sheep and this night they had failed to come up
to the house as usual. His mother, as soon as
she heard the cries of the wolves, hastily un-
dressed the children and put them in bed, com-
manding them on no account to rise until she
returned. Then lighting a torch of hickory
bark she went out into the fast gathering night
alone to hunt up the sheep. She found them
huddled together in the middle of a field with
their heads erect. It was perfectly evident that
they were aware that their foes were in search of
them. The liowls sounded nearer, but Mrs.
Fowler began calling the sheep and they followed
her obediently homeward. Arrived at the house
she built up a bright fire in fiont of it. By this
means th'; wolves were kept away and the shee|i
preserved.

SCHOOLS.

The first school, already mentioned, was for
the benefit of the seven Connecticut families,
though it may have been attended by children
of the other settlers.

The first regular school for the accommoda-
tion of all was taught in a school-house built of
logs, in the winter of 1814-15 by Polly Nichols.
The next summer Phila Wright taught there,
and the following winter Thomas Bushnell, of
Hartford. The school-house was situated south
of the center about one mile, on the east side of
the road, 0|iposite where the present school-
house stands.

A DISTILLERY

was built in 1S35 by Asahel Tyrrell. At that
time there were a great many ap|)les and peaches.
He had been successful in securing a great
many barrels (a statement is made of his having
eight hundred barrels) of cider which he had
stowed out doors, but the night previous to his
starting the still some person cut holes in his
barrels and vats and the cider was wasted. A
loss of about $1,100 was sustained by Mr.
Tyrrell by this malicious act. The next spring
he manufactured two hundred barrels of cider,
and afterwards stilled some more. In 1837 he
built a storage house 30x40 feet, two stories
high, adjoining iiis saw-mill (the sawmill was

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

4'7

built on Yankee creek in 1S26, and had a capac-
ity of ten thousand feet of hunber per day).
The still had a capacity of twenty-five barrels per
day and made about four gallons to the barrel,
and in 1838 about two thousand barrels of cider
was in this way used. In 1839 he built still
larger rooms, where he could store three thou-
sand barrels, but he made a mistake in cement-
ing his vats with water-lime, which when taken
up by the cider, destroyed it. He afteivvards
shipped brandies to New York but lost money
(in them. Later he sold some for home con-
sumption, but the parties breaking up he sus-
tained such a loss as to induce him to quit the
business.

THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

This church was organized quite early, but at
what date is not known. The house was built as
early as 1836. There is but little known of its
early history, save that the membership was at
first so limited that when help by subscription
was received the trustees appointed were in-
structed by previous arrangement to permit
ministers of other denominations to preach in
the house when the occasion so demanded. The
organization after many years' existence was
abandoned on account of the fewness of its mem-
bers. Simon Aldrich, Charles Tucker, Henry
Sanders, John Morrow, Carrie Barnes, of the
Methodist Episcopal church, purchased the lot
and paid for the same the sum of $25. Gideon
Waterhouse and his wife, Phtebe, made the
deed. The trustees of this church, Robert
Morrow, Harry Beach, and Joseph Jones, in
consideration of $160 received, transferred all
right and title over to the Methodist Episcopal
church. This was on the i8th day of August,
in the year 1873, since which time the Method-
ist people have all clami to the church prop-
erty of the former organization.

THE UNITED BRETHREN

have an organization formed some time about
the year 1840, in the western part of the town-
shi|).

THE METHODIST CHURCH.

This church was organized about the year
1815 by Rev. Alfred Bronson, and consisted of
himself and wife, Abner Fowler and wife, New-
man Tucker and wife, and Charles Tucker.
These were all of the first members. Soon after

Rev. Joseph Davis, a local preacher, and his
wife joined, and several members of the Barnes
family. Their first church, a small frame build-
ing, was erected south of the center.

THE DISCIPLES CHURCH.

This organization took place at quite an early
date. The ministers of this denomination first
preached in the various homes of the new
settlers, then in the warerooins near Mr. Claw-
son's store, and in the old carding-mill property
now owned by Mr. Alderman, and used as a nail-
keg-head factory. The society built their church
during the year of the great hail storm in 1852.
A. C. Williamson was the architect. The
church is at the present time in a prosperous
condition. The society have a church at the
ridge. Rev. Mr. Bonewell is in charge.

PHYSICIANS OF FOWLER.

Dr. Forter was probably the first practicing
physician who settled in the township. He
came to the center about the year 1819, from
New York State, practiced his profession a few
years, and then bought a farm one and a half
miles west of Fowler, where he lived the re-
mainder of his days. The date of his death is
not given. Following him Dr. Harry Beach
came to this place in the year 1826, and prac-
ticed medicine in this whole country in all fifty-
four years, when he moved to Cortland, Bazetta
township, adjoining, in the year 1880, and
where he is now in the full enjoyment of bodily
health and vigor of mind, but retired from prac-
tice.

In 1853 there was a ])hysician of the eclectic
school who moved in and staid about fifteen
years. Dr. Wells A. Horton moved to the cen-
ter, but died in 1868. His family, consisting of
his wife and two sons, then moved to Cleveland.
There was one Dr. Tinker, who came to Fowler
about the year t868, and staid about four years,
and following him came Dr. .'Vrthur Hold, in
1872, but he only staid one year, since which
time there have not been any physicians in the
place, save Dr. Beach, who left in 1880. At
this time there is no one practicing the profes-
sion of medicine in the township.

MISCELLANEOUS.

The first frame house in Fowler was built
about 1814 by James Fowler, the son of Samuel
Fowler, the projirietor of the land of the town-

4iS

•i;U.MI'.Ul-L AND MAlloXlXG COUNl'llOS, OHIO

ship. It stood on the southwest corner at the
center and was used for many years as a dwel-
Ung. It is still standino;, but has been removed
from its original location and is now an out-
building on a neighboring farm.

The first trial was an action for stealing, in-
stituted against Abijah Bolton by his brother-in-
law, Gates. Bolton was convicted and sent to
the penitentiary. The township has been re-
markably free from crimes of a violent char-
acter.

The first merchant was Elijah Barnes, who
kept a store at Tyrrell Hill. Adam McClurg
kept the first full stock of goods at the center.
This wns in 1838, when he opened up a full line
of goods. Mr. George Halleck, however, ke[)t
a small line of goods, long before McClurg.

Fowler center is a small village near the center
of the township. The store and post-office is
kept by Mr. E. E. Clawson ; a blacksmith
shop by Warren Boston, and another by Mr.
Josiah Enos; hotel by John F. Trowbridge; nail-
keg heads are manufactured by Lewis Alder-
man on an extensive scale ; a cheese factory,
operated by C. A. Campbell, who manufactures
about fifteen cheese pei day. There are two
good churches, one Methodist and one Disciple.

Biographical Sketches,

ROBERT MORROW.

One of the earliest settlers of Fowler, and
probably the earliest whose descendants remain
residents of the township, was John Morrow.
He was a native of Ireland, and after emigrat-
ing to this country with his parents became a
settler of Washington county, Pennsylvania.
While living there he married his wife, who was
also a native of Ireland. In 1804, with their
family, they removed to Fowler. There were at
that time but four other families in the town-
ship. Mr. Morrow's family consisted of three
sons and three daughters — Robert, James, John,
Jane (Mrs. David Wright), Sarah (Mrs. William
Jones), and Eliza. Mrs. Sarah Jones is the only
survivor of the family. She resides in Fowler.

Robert, the oldest son of John Morrow, was
born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, Oc-

tober 4, 1800, and was consequently but four
years old when his parents came to the township.
His boyhood, youth, manhood, and old age was
spent on the same farm which he had helped to
clear and prepare for cultivation. Like every
other boy of the period Mr. Morrow experienced
many hardships incident to pioneer life. People
were poor, and their resources of a character
that much labor was required to develop them.
Mr. Morrow married, February 23, 1833, Harriet,
daughter of Jared Hill, who came from Connec-
ticut to Ohio in iSii. Mr. Hill's family con-
sisted of six children by the first marriage and
four by the second. Robert and Harriet Mor-
row have had a family of five children, three of
whom are living — James, at Burg Hill; Jared, at
Fargo, Dakota; and Martha, in Fowler.

Mr. Morrow became owner of the farm on
which his father settled, and died on the same
farm December 16, 1879. He was in every re-
spect a man of good cliaracter and pure life. He
was without aspirations further than to be a good
man, and merit the respect of his neighbors.
In early life he united with the Congregational
church and lived faithful to his professions to
the end of his life. Mrs. Morrow, who survives
her husband, was a member of the same church,
and a kind mother and loyal wife. She contin-
ues to reside on the old homestead.

One of Mr. Morrow's characteristics was a
delight of story-telling. In this his Irish descent
was traceable. With a rich Irish accent he was
accustomed, in his older years, to narrate to his
children and his neighbors' children experiences
of the early day, when the woods, almost un-
broken, were infested with wild animals and ven-
omous reptiles. When his father first came to
Fowler the family lived in the wagons till a cabin
could be erected. One night after they had be-
come settled in their little home the dog was
heard to make an unusual noise, and something
seemed to be crawling across the floor. No one
was alarmed at the disturbance, or, indeed, paid
any attention to it. But daylight revealed the
fact that It was fortunate no one had arisen, for
a snake seven feet long had invaded the house.
It was tracked and killed but a short distance
away.

Wolves were troublesome, and sheep had to
be securely penned up every night. This work,
of course, fell chiefly upon Robert. On one of

-^^^/C^,

e^M-^^w^z:^

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

these errands he saw a pantlier, an animal very
rare in this section of the West. He also took
pleasure in the sports of the early period of set-
tlement, and altogether had a large fund of in-
teresting ancedotes.

SETTLEMENT NOTES.

William Jones (deceased) was a native of
Massachusetts, born February 28, 1800. He
was by occu[)ation a farmer and stock dealer.
He was married September 26, 1820, to Sarah,
daughter of John and Hannah (Irwin) Morrow,
natives of Ireland. She was born February 18,
1799, and came to Ohio with her parents in
1804; the family settling on a place now owned
by Mrs. Robert Morrow. She taught school
one or two terms prior to her marriage. Mr.
and Mrs. Jones had ten children, six of whom
are living — Edwin W., a farmer; Robert, also a
farmer and stock dealer ; James, now a resident
of New Mexico ; Aaron, a resident of Kansas ;
John D., and Frank at home. Mr. Jones settled
on a farm one mile north of Fowler center,
putting up a log-house. He died June 4, 1861.
He was a member of the Congregational church
(as is also his widow), and was a respected citi-
zen and successful farmer. Mrs. Jones has a
farm of fifty two acres.

Asahel Tyrrell was born in Bridgeport, Con-
necticut, September 23, 1802; oldest son of
Elijah and Clarissa (Meeker) Tyrrell, of Connec-
ticut. His father was born March 8, 1775, and
his mother May 21, 1774. They were married
July 23, 1796, and came to Ohio in October,
1806, and located at Tyrrell's corners in Fowler
township, Trumbull county. They were among
the pioneers of the county, and worthy ones,
too. They raised a family of eight children, six
of whom are living. Elijah Tyrrell was a black-
smith by trade and also a successful farmer.
He bought one hundred acres and cleared the
same, now owned by A. H. Tyrrell. He was an
active Whig. He died .^pril 11, 1848. He was
a soldier in the War of 1812, and his father,
Asahel Tyrrell, was in the Revolutionary war
and was killed at the surrender of Burgoyne, in
October, 1777. Asahel Tyrrell, the subject of
this sketch, was a scholar in the first school
taught in Fowler township, taught by Miss Esther

Jennings, one of the original party consisting of
seven families that came to the county with the
Tyrrells. The heads of those families were all
uncles of the subject of this sketch. Mr. Tyrrell's
opportunities for obtaining an education were
exceedingly limited, attending school but one
month. He assisted his father in the black-
smith shop and also learned the trade of carpen-
ter and joiner. He had built a saw-mill of green
timber in the woods before coming of age. He
erected a house for his father to compensate him
for eight months of his time before reaching his
majority. He followed building and contracting
for some twenty years, erecting many of the
finest residences in Fowler and surrounding
townships. Mr. Tyrrell was first married in
1823, to Lucretia Webster, by whom he had four
children, all living. One son, A. H., is a well-
known resident of Fowler township. Mr. Tyr-
rell's first wife died November 10, 1871, and he
has since been married twice. His present wife,
to whom he was married February 20, 1875, ^^s
Polly Reeder, born in Connecticut September i,
181 1. Mr. Tyrrell has always been active m
promoting every public enterprise, was prominent
in the founding of Tyrrell Hill, and has taken
an mterest in the building of the railroad and
other interests. He was formerly a Whig, but
has been a Republican since the formation of the
party. His home residence was erected in 1840.
The farm consists of one hundred and forty-five
acres, and he also owns three hundred and eighty
acres in Vienna and Howland townships.

Asa Foote was born in Fowler township,
Trumbull county, Ohio, August 31, 1807. The
Foote family was among the earliest pioneers of
the county, and the fifth family that settled in
Fowler township. Levi Foote, father of Asa,
moved with his family into that township in
1800. He served in the War of 181 2. It is said
that Lyda Foote (Barber), who died in the
spring of 1880, was the first white female child
born in Fowler. Asa was the oldest son of Levi
and Amelia (Allen) Foote, and he distinctly rec-
ollects when the red men roamed through the
forests of Fowler. He married November 12,
1840, Mary Dickinson, born in Connecticut,
April 22, 18 1 7, by whom he had six children.
Levi was a member of the Forty-first Ohio volun-
teer infantry, and died in hospital January 23,
1862. Philip M. was a lawyer by profession;

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

died April 19, 1872. Curtis was a ineniber of
the One Hundred and Seventy-seventh Ohio
votunteer infantry, and died at Nashville, Ten-
nessee, February 27, 1865. He was married to
Orell Baldwin, December 31, 1868. Lovilla died
in inf.incy. Helen L. is the wife of L. G. Spen-
cer, of Hartford township, and has two children,
Bennie F. and Byron H. Aureil D., born Sep-
tember 27, 1857, wife of Frank E. Clark, resides
on the home place. Mr. Foote was kicked a
number of years ago on the head, by a horse, and
severely injured, thirty pieces of broken bone
being taken out, since which time he has been
almost totally deaf Mrs. Footc died March
15, 1 87 2.

Leonard Clark, son of Abel and Eunice (Lam-
phear) Clark, was born in Petersburg, Rensse-
laer county. New York, February 27, 1808. His
early educational advantages were limited, yet by
self study he acquired a fair education for the
times. He lemained at home (but working for
others) until he was twenty years of age. He
was a resident of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, en-
gaged in factory work for seven years. Decem-
ber 23, 1836, he was united in marriage to Miss
Lucy Olds, who was born in Middlefield, Massa-
chusetts, January 17, 1813. The following
spring he removed to Ohio and settled upon the
place where he still resides in Fowler township.
The land was then wild, but he rapidly improved
the place, supplanting the log house with his
present residence in 1845 1 he farm is now
fully improved, and comprises two hundred acres,
having deeded three farms to his children. Mr.
Clark is a prosperous, self-made man, and a
gentleman of literary tastes. He was one of a
family of twenty-two children. One of his
brothers, Adam A., was a drum major in the
War of 181 2, and was a celebrated drummer.
Mr. Clark is the father of eight children, of
whom six are living, as follow: Harriet E., born
July 29, 1839, now wife of Emanuel Evarts, of
Hrookfield township ; Leonard, born March 4,
1 84 1, widow of Abner Viets, living m Fowler
township; Lester A., born June 18, 1843, living
on a farm adjoining the home place; George W.,
born December 17, 1S45, a resident of Hart-
ford township; Sherman S., born September 26,
1850, at home; Lucy, born November 5, 1852,
wife of Henry Viets, of Fowler township. Since
coming to Ohio Mr. and Mrs. Clark have been

nieaibeis of the Methodist Episcop.il church at
F'owler center.

A. L. Stewart, son of Robert and Catharme
(Sinclair) Stewart, was born in Huntingdon
county, Pennsylvania, November 12, 181 1.
Robert Stewart was among the early settlers of
Trumbull county, coming to I^iberty township in
the spring of 1812, and settling on a place where
he spent the balance of his life. He died about
1850. When sixteen years of age our subject
learned the blacksmith trade, at which he served
an apprenticeship of two years; and afterwards
working as a journeyman for five years. He
started in the business in Liberty township in
183s, and has since carried on the business
there and for many years in Vienna township, re-
moving to Fowler township in the spring of
1872, purchasing the place where he still lives in
the northeast corner of the square at Fowler
center, where he owns sixty-nine acres of well-
improved land, the house being originally built
for a hotel by Alanson Smith. In connection
with his trade he owned seventy-five acres of
land in Vienna, upon which was discovered coal,
which he sold, and the influx of miners caused
him to seek a more retired home in Fowler.
December i, 1836, he married Miss Isabel,
daughter of Thomas and Rebecca Wilson, early
settlers in Liberty township. Mrs. Stewart was
born there December r, 1819. They are the
parents of five children — Robert W., born
October 3, 1837, residing in Iowa; Rebecca E.,
born April 9, 1842, now the wife of John P.
Barber, and resides in F'ranklin Square, Ohio :
Kate A., February 28, 1849, wife of Wilson S.
Powers, and residing in Niles, Ohio ; Ettalissa,
October 13, 1851, wife of B. H. Long, of Hart-
ford township; Emma, born June 26, 1859,
died September 3, 1864.

Abner Leonard, youngest son of Caleb and
Margaret (Morrow) Leonard, natives of Pennsyl-
vania, was born in Bazetta township, Trumbull
county, Ohio, February 27, 1823. Caleb Leon-
ard was a mail-carrier from Ashtabula to Warren
a', an early day, making his trips on foot. He
died about 1830. Abner was a pupil of the
common school in Bazetta until reaching the age
of about fifteen. In 1837 or 1838 he removed
to Fowler township where he completed his at-
tendance at school, living in the family of Jolin
F. Kingsley uiilil becoming of age. He was

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

married August 28, 1845, to Miss Delia Clark,
who was born in Southwick, Massachusetts, in
1818. After his marriage Mr. Leonard pur-
cliased a place and settled in the northeast part
of Fowler township. He carried on the dairy
business on the J. S. Jones place. He was a
resident of Hartford township for seven years,
but about 1865 returned to Fowler township,
purchasing the place where he still resides — the
old Gersham Turner place. His farm consists
of sixty-three acres of well-unproved land. Mr.
and Mrs. Leonard have an adopted son, Charles
J., born February 22, 1861.

Phineas R. Tucker was born in Great Barring-
ton, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, October
20, 1808, and came to Ohio with his parents in
1813. The fatnily settled in the woods where
the family homestead now is, the land then be-
ing in an entirely wild state. Newman Tucker,
the father of Phineas, died in 1831. He raised
a family of eight children, three of whom, be-
sides the subject of our sketch, are living, viz :
Betsey, widow of Isaac Leonard, residing in
Hartford township; Marilla (born April 14,
1802), who still resides upon the home place,
and Henry, a resident of Kansas. Phineas
Tucker was brought up to farming, and en-
joyed only the advantages of a common
school education. He was married May 27,

1852, to Catharine B. Stevens, born in Howland
township, Trumbull county, Ohio, June 25, 1823,
daughter of Samuel Stevens, an early settler in
Howland. Mr. and Mrs. Tucker were the par-
ents ol two sons: Nelson R., born November 8,

1853, and Homer P., born October 24, 1855.
The latter was married to Hannah Stevens,
March 19, 1879, ^nd has one child, Wilbur S.,
born June 7, 1881. Both of the sons reside at
home. Phineas Tucker was a successful farmer
and an esteemed citizen. He died September
23, 1880. The home place consists of one
hundred and seventy-nme acres, the present res-
idence being built in 1828.

John Kingsley, only son of John F. and
Sabrina (Gilbert) Kingsley, was born in Massa-
chusetts, March 13, i8n. John F. Kingsley
was one of the pioneers of Trumbull county,
settling upon the place now owned by his son, in
the spring of 1813, clearing up the farm, where
he spent the balance of his life. He was a suc-
cessful farmer and a iirominent citizen. He

held the office of justice of the peace for fifteen
years, bemg elected five successive terms. He
had a family of four children, of whom two
survive. He died about the year 1856. John
Kingsley received his education in the common
schools of Fowler township, where he came
with his parents in 181 3. He was raised a
fanner and remained at home until he was of
age. He was married February 9, 1836, to
Caroline Ames, born in Jefferson county. New
York, March 11, 181 7. Mr. and Mrs. Kings-
ley are the parents of twelve children, as follows:
Jasper B., a resident of Vienna township; James>
of Fowler township; Julia A., now wife of Jamen
Cole, of Michigan; John, in some West-
ern State; Jane, wife of Wilson Trumbull,
of Fowler township ; Flavel, a fanner of Fowler
township; Hymen B., a resident of Vienna, own-
ing a saw-mill ; Randolph J., of Fowler ; Helen
M., wife of Gershom Turner, of the same town-
ship ; Esther C, a school-teacher by profession,
now teaching in Michigan ; Frank W., at home,
and Mary L., wife of Walter D. Campbell, of
Fowler. Mr. Kingsley has resided in different
places in Fowler township, settling in 1857 upon
the family homestead, where he has since resided.
The farm consists of one hundred and seventy-
five acres. The house, originally built by his
father in 1824, has been rebuilt and improved in
later years by his son. Mr. Kingsley was town-
ship treasurer five years. He is a Republican in
politics and was active during the war in raising
troops.

N. C. Rhodes, son of Jonathan and Hannah
(Davis) Rhodes, was born in Cazenovia, New
York, April 13, 1806. With his parents he came
to Ohio in 1816, settling in Fowler township,
where he now lives. He helped his father clear
off the farm, remaining at home until of age, and
for a few years aftet wards was in Pennsylvania
employed in making shingles. February 17, 1831,
he was married to Eliza Campbell, the result of
which union was nine children, of whom four are
living as follow: Catherine, wife of Addison J.
Dawson, L. W., and Robert N., both farmers of
Fowler township, and Orpha, wife of Calvin
Tyrrell, of Tyrrell Hill. After his marriage in
1833 he settled on the place where he now re-
sides. His farm consists of two hundred and
eighteen acres, well im]iroved, and he has given
each of his sons a farm. His first wife died

TRUMRULI- AND i\[AHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

July 1 8, 1853, and November 30, 1858, he mar-
ried for his second wife Lucy M. Lewis, who
was born in Connecticut March 30, 1820. By
this marriage was born one son, Edwin Eugene,
April 13, 1862; died October 18, 1868. Mr.
Rhodes has been elected township trustee for
several terms, first about 1840. Was elected
justice of the peace in the spring of 1857, but
after one year's service resigned the office.

George Alderman was a native of Brookfield,
Trumbull county, Ohio, born in the year 1816.
November i, 1838, he married Mary M., daugh-
ter of John and Sarah (Webster) Greenwood,
born in Trumbull county, June 21, 1823. Mr.
.Mderman remained u]5on his father's jilace in
Brookfield until the spring of 1842, when he re-
moved to Fowler- township, settling on the place
now owned by G. M. Greenwood, which place
he cleared up. He subseqtiently resided in
Brookfield again a year and a half. In the
spring of 1856 he removed to the place which is
now the family home. Mr. .Mderman was an
active, successful business man and a worthy cit-
izen. He died November 5, 1871. Mr. and
Mrs. Alderman were the parents of seven chil-
dren, as follow : Harriet C, born .\pril 25,

1840, now wife of Josiah Medley, residing in
X'ienna township; Eliza J., born Dcremlier 3,

1841, died November 19, 1857; John S., born
on the 22d day of November, in the year 1843,
now of Michigan, married about the year 1869,
and has four children: Erastus S., born October
9, 1848, now conducting the home farm, married
October 3, 1877, to Miss Alice Thompson, born
in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, March 11, 18515,
and has one daughter and one son : Delia, born
August 14, 1878, and Roscoe, May 5, 1880;
Worthy L., died in i860, at the age often years;
Betsey S., born March 12, 1852, wife of ]. L.
Kennedy, of Warren; Homer L., born April 2,
1859, also of Warren. After her husband's death
Mrs. Alderman continued to carry on the farm
which is now conducted by her son Erastus. In
1S78 he raised on two acres the unprecedented
crop of five hundred and thirty-eight bushels of
corn, in the ear.

Samuel M. Meakcr was born in I-'owlcr lown-
shi|), Trumbull county, Ohio, .^pril 9, 1817. H-^
married. May 8, 1842, Perlia Clark, daughter of
Samuel Clark, a well known citizen of Hartford
township. Mrs. Meakcr was liorn in Soutliwick,

Hampden county, Massachusetts, January 6,
1821. .^fter his marriage our subject settled in
Fowler, on the farm still owned by his widow,
occupying a log house which gave way to the
present residence built in 1850. Only slight im-
provement had then been made. The farm con-
sists of one hundred and fifty acres and is now
fully improved. Mr. Meaker was an industrious,
respected citizen, upright in all his dealings. He
served as township trustee one term. He died
November 17, 1876, aged fifty-nine years, seven
months and eight days. Mrs. Meaker continued
to reside on the home place until 1880, when
she purchased the old Captain Jones' place, in
Fowler center, where she now lives. There was
built the first framed house in Fowler township.
Mr. and Mrs. Meaker were the parents of one son
and one daughter — Lucy, born August 11, 1843;
died October 21, 1850, aged seven years, two
months, and ten days; Isaac, born July 1 1, 1845, a
]-,romising, well educated young man, died Octo-
ber TO, 187 1, aged twenty-six years, two months,
and twenty-nine days. He attended a college in
Cleveland two winters, fitting himself for a
chemist. Mrs. Meaker came to Ohio with her
parents in the winter of 1835, who settled in
Hartford township. There were five children,
four of whom are still living, viz: Mrs. \hner
Leonard, Mrs. Orson Trumbull, and Mrs.
Meaker, of Fowler township, and Mrs. Milton
(loddard, of Iowa.

Alpheus R. Waters, son of Gideon and Phoebe
(Rhodes) Waters, was boin in Lee, Massachusetts,
January 15, i8ro. With his parents he came to
Ohio in February, 1818, the family locating on
the place now the home of James McCleery, in
Fowler township. Gideon Waters was one of
the hardy pioneers of the county ; cleared up
several farms. He was a cooper by trade. He
was prominent in the militia, of which he was
captain. He raised a family of seven children,
five of whom are still living. He died about
[859. Alpheus was brought up to farming, but
also learned the trade of cooper; remained at
home until after becoming of age. About 1835
he bought a place adjoining his present home.
November 9, 1837, he was married to Miss Mary
R., daughter of Andrew C. Meaker, one of the
original settlers of Fowler township. She was
born September 3, t8i8. One son was born of
this marriage, )amcs W., born December 15,

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

1838, married August 6, 1879, to Lina E: Mur-
phy, born in i860, and has one son, Ray A.,
born May 23, 1880. The first wife of our sub-
ject died January 7, 1839, and April loth of the
same year he married Rosamond P. Bushnell, a
native of Connecticut, born August 22, 1809,
by whom he has one child living, Julia P., born
March 5, 1847. His second wife died August
17, 1857. Mr. Waters settled on the place
where he now lives, in the spring of 1838, cleared
up the farm and made all the improvements.
James W. Waters enlisted in 1862 in the One
Hundred and .Seventy-first Ohio National guards,
and was taken prisoner at Cynthiana, Kentucky ;
was paroled after three days, returned to John-
son's island and was finally mustered out at the
close of term of service at Sandusky, Ohio.

Sandford L. Stewart was born in Fowler town-
ship, Trumbull county, Ohio, October 5, 18 19,
being the eldest son of Sandford and Bridget
(Tew) Stewart. Sandford Stewart was born in
Tolland, Massachusetts, about 1794; was mar-
ried about the year 181 1, and came to Ohio in
1815, first settling in Portage county, and then
came to Trumbull county in 1817 and settled
on the place now owned by his son, the subject
of this sketch, which place he cleared up and
improved. He was justice of the peace for his
township in 1832. He died in 1837. Sandford
L. worked out some three years after his father's
death, and in 1842, January 5th, he was married
to Clarinda, daughter of Linus Hall, who settled
in Fowler township in 1815. She was born No-
vember 5, 1819, in Fowler township. After mar-
riage he located on the homestead, which he still
occupies, first occupying a log house built by his
father, erecting the present dwelling in 1844.
He was township trustee in 1862, and again in
1867. He has had a family of three children,
only one of whom survives — Eliza C, born
March 19, 1843, s''" ^t home. Pluma A. was
the wife of Ahira Sigler, and died March 21,
1879. Lucy M. was born June 21, 1848, and
died July 17, 1875. She was the wite of A. G.
McCleery, and left one child — Nettie A., born
September r, 1874, who resides with her grand-
parents.

James McCleery, son of William and Margaret
McCleery, was born in county Tyrone, Ireland,
November 20, 1818. He came to this county
with his parents in 1S19, and the family the

same year came to Trumbull county, locating in
Liberty township. They afterwards removed to
Bazetta township, where William McCleery
cleared up a farm and spent the balance of his
life. He died about 1856, and his wife in 1871.
They were the parents of eight children, of whom
three are living. James McCleery was married
December 29, 1843, to Isabel C. Sigler, by whom
he had four children — George A., born Decem-
ber 16, 1844, a resident of Fowler township;
Isabel L., born January 26, 1848, was the wife
of George A. Clark, and died August 23, 1877;
James Luman and Andrew L., born June 18,
1850, both residing in Fowler. Mrs. McCleery
died September28, 1864, and November 22, 1865,
he married a sister of his former wife, Mary C,
daughter of Uriah Sigler, born in Fowler township
January 3, 1819. Mr. McCleery, subseiiuent to
his marriage, continued to reside on his original
location until the spring of 1872, when he re-
moved to the place where he now lives.

Henry Tew, a native of Rhode Island, was
born in 1799. He came to Ohio about the year
181 9, locating on tlie place now owned by his
son, C. M. Tew, and where he spent the balance
of his life. March i, 1825, he married Mary
Smith and raised a family of eleven children
of whom five are now living. He died in
1873, and his wife in 1856. C. M. Tew,
the youngest son, was born in Fowler town-
ship June 8, 1846; married May 27, 1877,
Miss Alice M. Smith, daughter of William Smith
of Bloomfield township, where she was born Jan-
uary 23, 1856. She died June 2, 1878, and he
married as a second wife, May 12, 1880, Miss
Susie, daughter of Thomas Bennett, bom in
Greene township,Trumbull county, Ohio, January
12, 1859. Mr. Tew has always resided on the
family homestead which consists of one hundred
acres, and is a successful farmer and dairyman.

Lewis Alderman, oldest son of Lyman and
Lydia (Munson) Alderman, was born in Brook-
field township, Trumbull county, Ohio, Septem-
ber 4, 1820. He was brought up to farming and
remained at home until his marriage, January 17,
1849, to Annie Hutchins, of Hartford township.
By this marriage he has one daughter. May,
born May 8, 1850, and still at home. His
first wife died May 17, 1850, and .\pril 21,
1852, he married Miss Margaret Butts, daugh-
ter of Jonathan Butts, an early settler in Brook-

TRUMBULl. AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

field, where Mrs. .'Mdernian was born May
I, 1826. This union has resulted in five chil-
dren, as follow: Homer J., born January 15,
1S53, living in California; Ella F., April 29,
1854, now wife of Charles Hallock, of Fowler
township; Fred A., July 20, 1858; Harry H.,
May I, 1868; Maria L., November 28, 1869.
The three last named are at home. Homer J.
married Ida J., daughter of Darius Baldwin.
After liis marriage Mr. Alderman settled at Tyr-
rell Hill, where he remained three years. He
was a resident of Wisconsin a year and a half;
was largely engaged in farmmg in Brookfield a
couple of years. February, 1858, he located in
Fowler center and engaged in the manufacture
of cheese-box, shingles, and nail-keg heading, in
which he did an extensive business. Mr. Alder-
man has been township trustee two terms, clerk
two terms, and treasurer seven terms. He and
his wife are niembeis of tlie Disciple church and
active in Sunday-school work.

Curtis Hall, oldest child of Ainasa and Sarah
(Remington) Hall, was born in Fowler township,
Trumbull county, Ohio, March 21, 1820.
Amasa Hall was one of the pioneers of Fowler,
settling upon the place now owned by his son,
F. A. Hall, in 1814. He raised a family of six
children. He died in 1859. The subject of
this sketch remained at home until his marriage,
which took place October 24, 1839, when he
settled on the farm where he now lives. His
wife was Almira Sigler, daughter of George Sig-
ler, Jr., by whom he has had three children.
Two died in infancy. The daughter, Mary E.,
born October 29, 1843, became the wife of Allen
Cadwallader, and died July 10, 1874, a few days
after the birth of her son Elmo, born July i,
1874. Tlie subject of this sketch has been
twice married. His first wife dying September
28, 1875, he married again January 23, 1878,
Millie Barber, daughter of Romania Barber, of
Fowler township. She was born in 1840. Mr.
Hall was first elected justice of the peace in
1859, and has held the office constantly since.
He has also been township trustee at various
times. During the war of the Rebellion he was
active in raising volunteers.

Simeon Baldwin was born in Youngstown,
Ohio, April 17, 1821. His parents were Jacob
H. and Florinda (^Vallcr) Baldwin, natives re-
s|)ectivcly of New \'ork and Connecticut. Jacob

H. Baldwin was a pioneer of Mahoning county,
settling with his parents in Boardman township
about 1804. He was a prominent citizen. He
removed to Warren in an early day and was
county auditor of Trumbull county for fifteen
years, and held other offices. He died in De-
cember, 1880. Our subject derived his educa-
tion at Warren. He was brought up to farming,
and remained at home until his marriage in
1S49. His wife was Lucy, M. Baldwin, widow
of Homer Baldwin and daughter of Richard
Gates, an early settler in Hartford township,
where she was born June 9, 1822. Mr. and
Mrs. Baldwin are the parents of two children,
one of whom is living — George L., born Oc-
tober 14, 1859, at present engaged in school-
teaching, and Charles R., born October 14,
1850, and died in infancy. After his marriage
Mr. Baldwin settled in Champion township,
where he owned and improved a farm until
1854, when he removed to Fowler township and
settled on the farm where he now lives, which
consists of one hundred acres of land under a
good state of cultivation. Mr. Baldwin is a
Republican in politics and was active in raising
recruits during the Rebellion.

Riley Hall, oldest son of Linus and Ruth
(Barnes) Hall, was born in Fowler township,
Trumbull county, Ohio, .August i8, 182 1. Linus
Hall was born in Hampden county, Massa-
chusetts, in 1797, and came to Ohio about the
year 1815. He married about the year 181 9,
and had a family of nine children, six of whom
are still living. He settled on the farm now
owned by his son the subject of this notice, the
same year that Amasa Hall settled on the ad-
joining farm. He cleared up the farm, first oc-
cupying a log house, building the dwelling now
occupied by the son, about 1831. He died there
in 187 1. Riley Hall was united in marriage,
December 19, 1844, to Lucy Merritt, by whom
he had one son Linus, born November 20, 1847.
His wife died February 17, 1S48, and he was
again married August 14th of the same year, to
Mary J. Forward, daughter of (jeorge Forward.
She was born in Hampden county, Massachusetts,
January 5, 1827. The fruit of this union is one
daughter and one son, Ella M., born August 30,
1849, now wife of Lucius Doud, of Rowland,
and .\rthur, born December 8, 1S50, residing in
Mecca townshiji. In 1861 our subject enlisted

•I'RUiMBUl.L AND MAHONINC, COUNTIES, OHIO.

in the Sixth Ohio cavalry, and after some ten
months' service, owing to an accident (his horse
having fallen upon him) he was discharged.
Returning to civil life he followed the carpenter
and joiner business for some time. He pur-
chased a place in Fowler, upon which he resided
seven or eight years, then purchased another
south of where he now lives. He was a resident
of Ashtabula county some five years, returning
to Trumbull in the spring of 1859, and most of
the time since has resided on the old home-
stead.

Sylvester I. Rand, son of Daniel and Lois
(Tanner) Rand, was born in Vienna township,
Trumbull county, Ohio, May i, 1823. Daniel
Rand was an early settler in Vienna township.
He died in 185 i. Our subject was married to
Clarinda Burns, April 8, 1851, by whom he had
one daughter and two sons: Eva J., wife of
Cyrus C. Butts, of Fowler township; Frank C,
telegraph operator at Waterloo, Pennsylvania,
Arthur M., at home. His first wife died March
13, 1864. His present wife, to whom he was
married November 7, 1865, was Mrs. Lucy
E. Applegate, daughter of Levi E. Hart, a set-
tler in Brookfield township, where she was born
September 10, 1833. By this second marriage
he has had two sons: Charles S., born August i,
1868, and Edward H., September 8, 1871.
After his marriage he was a resident of Vienna,
also of Champion and Vernon townships. In
the spring of 1865 he purchased the old Wil-
liam Tanner place, and moved on to the same
in 1866. Mr. Rand was the first man drafted
in Vienna township. He was in camp one
month, being finally rejected on account of
physical disability. Mrs. Rand has one daughter
by her first marriage: Ida M., now the wife of
Darius B. Smith, of Fowler township.

^Varren A. Hall, son of Amasa and Sarah
(Remington) Hall, was born in Fowler township,
Trumbull county, Ohio, March 20, 1831. He
remained at home until about twelve years of
age and subsequently resided with his uncle. Dr.
Remington, of Hartford county, Connecticut,
for three years. Returning to Ohio he shortly
afterward commenced an apprenticeship, when
about seventeen, of about four years at the har-
ness and saddlery trade, at Bloomfield, Trumbull
county. After acquiring a knowledge of the
trade he worked as journeyman in the District of

54'

Columbia, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, also in
Ravenna for some six months. About 1856 he
came to Warren, where he has since resided, with
the exception of one year in Farmington. He
was married July 16, 1859, to Dorcas E. Mac-
key, daughter of John Mackey, of Vienna town-
ship, born in July, 1841, and has two daughters :
Allie I. and Blanche M., born respectively in
1861 and 1S78. About 1864, in connection
with his brother-in-law, F. J. Mackey, he com-
menced the harness and saddlery business in
Warren, the firm name being Hall & Mackey.
Mr. Hall has been councilman for a number of
years and has also held other local offices. He
is a member of the Masonic order, and has been
an active Republican since the formation of the
party.

Gcrshani Turner, son of Henry and Joanna
(Roberson) Turner was born on Long Island, New
York, July i, 1803. He was brought up to farm-
ing; came to Ohio about 1823, and after attain-
ing his majority he served an apprenticeship of
two years at the blacksmith trade, at which he
worked as journeyman a few years. He located
upon the farm which he now owns, which was
then but partially improved. He was married
about 1828 to Mary A. Tyrrell, daughter of
Abijah Tyrrell, and had six children, four now
living; M. Junot resides on the home place; Hen-
ry R., a farmer, in Prowler; Betsy, wife of Henry
Scofield, died in 1854; Harriet, wife of Alfred
Lewis, residing in Fowler. Mr. Turner has re-
sided on the place for the last twenty-seven years.
He has made his own way in this world, having
had no start in life. He is a successful farmer
with pleasant surroundings. He is a member of
the Methodist Episcopal church at Fowler center.
Mrs. Turner is a member of the Disciples church.

Addison R. Silliman, oldest son of Abijah and
Naomi Tyrrell Silliman, was born in F'owler
township, Trumbull county, Ohio, July 2, 1823.
Abijah Silliman was one of the early settlers of
Fowler township, a prominent citizen and suc-
cessful farmer. He was a director in the old
Mahoning National bank, and held various
township offices. He died March 14, 1865.
His wife, Naomi Tyrrell, was a daughter of
Abijah Tyrrell. She was born September
24, 1801, and is still living with her daugh-
ter in Mahoning county. A. R. Silliman was
married November 28, 184S, to Lucy, daughter

426

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

of Ephraim Baldwin, born June 21, 1827.
They have had a family of ten children, of
whom seven are living, viz: Willard C, a
merchant of Cortland; Alice L., wife of L. Sig-
ler, of Cleveland; Mary R., wife of Calvin Claw-
son, of Cortland; Afton E., born November 20,
1857; Olive M., born April 15, i860; Carrie L.,
August 20, 1863; Lottie May, October 5, 1868.
The three deceased are, Ella, born November 28,
1855, died May 12, 1857; Grant L., born May
I, 1866, died June 22, 1875; J. Edward, August
16, 1872, died in infancy. In January, 1849, Mr.
Silliman settled on the family homestead in
Fowler, which he occupied until the spring of
1 88 1, when he moved to Warren, where he now
lives. During his active business life Mr. Silli-
man was largely engaged in the buying and ship-
ping live stock as well as in farming. The home
place is now occupied by his son, Afton E. Silli-
man, who took charge upon the retirement of his
father in the spring of 1881. December 23,
1880, he married Miss Georgie Hathaway, of
Cortland, born March 14, 1862. The farm con-
sists of two hundred and sixty acres, and is fine-
ly improved.

Ezra S. Ames, oldest child of Benjamin and
Euretta (Shafif) Ames, was born in Jefferson
county, New York, on the 7th of August, 1801.
He came to Ohio with his parents in the spring
of the year 1826, the family settling one-half
mile north of his present residence in Fowler
township. Benjamin Ames was a successful
farmer, a school-teacher for several years, and
also for several years township clerk. He reared
a family of twelve children, of whom three only
are living. He died on the farm which he had
cleared up, about the year 1870, aged eighty-four.
His wife died March i, 1878, aged eighty-six.
Mr. Ames was a soldier in the War of i8t2, and
was stationed at Sackett's Harbor. Ezra S. Ames
was brought up upon a farm and enjoyed such
educational opportunities — limited enough — as
were to be had in that day. He married De-
cember 4, 1834, Catherine Campbell, born Feb-
ruary 5, 1807. After his marriage he remained
on the old home place one summer, removing
to his present residence in the spring of 1836.
His first wife died March 17, 1873, and on Au-
gust 18, 1874, Mr. Ames married his present
wife, I'hila H. Stocking, born in Connecticut
April 2, 1S36. He is the father, by his first

wife, of three sons, only one now living, to wit :
William C, born August 22, 1837, died April
14, 1873 ; he married November 26, 1863,
Lozetta H. Patch, and had two children. Hor-
ace B., born June 14, 1840, enlisted in the
Forty-first Ohio volunteer infantry September 4,
1 86 1, and was killed at Pittsburg Landing, his
first battle, .'\pril 7, 1862. Cyrus D., born F"eb-
ruary 10, 1842, is a well known farmer of Fowler
township. He married in 1875 Ellen Hoover.
Mr. Ames, the subject of this sketch, has been
township trustee some five or six years. During
the Rebellion he was active in raising the quota.
Mrs. Ames is a member of the Congregational
church.

David ^L Butts, oldest son of Jonathan and
Eleanor Butts, was born in Washington county,
Pennsylvania, December 4, 1818. With his par-
ents he came to Ohio in the springof 1819. The
family settled in Brookfield township, Trumbull
county, Ohio, where they remained till the spring
of 1829, when they removed to Fowler township.
David M. Butts obtained an ordinary education
in the common schools, and at the age of fifteen
began an apprenticeship, serving some six years
at the blacksmith trade. He worked as journey-
man one winter, when he commenced the busi-
ness for himself at Fowler center, and continued
for ten to fifteen years. March 15, 1842, he
was married to Melissa, daughter of Gideon
Watters, an early settler in Fowler township.
Mrs. Butts was born in Fowler February i, 1820.
Mr. and Mrs. Butts have had three children, two
daughters and one son — Malvina, born August
4, 1844, and died November 5, 1865; Cyrus C,
born May 2, 1846, now a resident of Fowler
center, and was married in 1S78 to Eva
J. Rand, daughter of Sylvester J. Rand, of
Fowler, and has one daughter, Oracle B.,
born August 25, 1880; Phcebe Maria, born
July 9, 1855, and died December 11, 1862.
Mr. Butts settled upon- the place where he
now lives in the spring of 1850. He owns over
one hundred acres of fine land, which is well
improved. He was for four or five years en-
gaged in milling. He was elected justice of the
peace three terms at various times, and has
been township treasurer five terms. Has also
been trustee. The family are members of the
Disciple church.

Austin N. Silliman (deceased), son of Abijah

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

427

Silliman, was born in Fowler township, Trum-
bull county, Ohio, December 18, 1829. He
married in 1870 Lucy A., daughter of William
H. and Melinda (Humason) Clawson, born in
Vienna township, Trumbull county, August 25,
1842. With her parents she removed to Mer-
cer county, Pennsylvania, about 1843, where
they resided until the spring of 1865, when they
returned to Trumbull county. Mr. SilUiman
was a successful farmer and stock dealer of
Fowler township, owning three hundred acres of
land at the time of his death. He died March
17, 1875. He was the father of three children,
two daughters and one son — Barton N., born
December 28, 1870; Mella N., January 27,
1873; Haltie M., February 27, 1875. Since
her husband's death Mrs. Silliman has resided
at Fowler center, where she erected a substantial
residence in 1880.

Edward Oatley was born in Bazetta township,
Trumbull county, Ohio, May 15, 1830, youngest
son of William and Sophia (Rhodes) Oatley.
He resided at home until he was eighteen, when
he conmienced an apprenticeship of three years
at the blacksmith trade in Farmington ; worked
as journeyman some four years in various places.
He was united in matrimony April 18, 1856, to
Helen Morse, born in Ashtabula county, Ohio,
in 1832. The result of this union was six chil-
dren, of whom are living as follows: Edward P.^
born January, 1859; Charlotte E., 1862; Leota,
1864; Abiah, October, 187 1. The mother of
these children died September 24, 1873. June,
1874, our subject was married to a daughter —
Mary — of Rev. William Kincaid, a well-known
resident of Farmington township, where Mrs.
Oatley was born in 1838. Some three years after
his marriage Mr. Oatley resided in Minnesota.
In the spring of 1859 he made a trip to Pike's
Peak. Returning to Trumbull county he en-
gaged at his trade in Cortland, continuing there
four years, when in the fall of 1864 he pur-
chased fifty acres where he now lives in Fowler
township, where he also established a shop and
has since carried on the business in connection
with farming.

Richard Steer, son of Elisha and Lois (Aid-
rich) Steer, was born in Hampden county, Mas-
sachusetts, November 4, 1800. He came to
Ohio in the fall of 1830, settling on the farm
where he still lives, in Fowler township. The

farm was then but little better than a wilderness.
He erected a log house which he occupied until
about 1835, when the present residence was
built. Mr. Steer was married to Anna Gillett
January 6, 1829, by whom he had four children,
viz: Mary, born January 25, 1830, now the
wife of James Weir, of Johnsonville; Sarah A.,
July 4, 1832, wife of Rev. Milton Smith, a resi-
dent of New York State; Smith G., born March
15, 1836, living on a farm adjoining the home-
stead; Emma A., June 15, 1838, now the wife
of John Steer, a resident of Massachusetts. Mr.
Steer's first wife died March 19, 1852, and Oc-
tober toth of the same year he married Mrs.
Agnes Gillett, who was born in Massachusetts
March 28, 1806. At the time of her marriage
to Mr. Steer she was the mother of four children,
three of whom survive. Mr. Steer owns one
hundred and forty acres of land and has aided
his children. He was justice of the peace dur-
ing a residence of some six years in Geauga
county. The family are members of the Meth-
odist Episcopal church, himself an active mem-
ber for over sixty years. His father was a Rev-
olutionary soldier.

Isaac A. Smith, youngest son of William V.
and Sarah E. (Townsend) Smith, was born in
Beaver county, Pennsylvania, January 15, 1813.
He remained at home until he was sixteen, when
he served an apprenticeship of some three years
in Pittsburg at the cabinet trade. He came to
Trumbull county in 1831, settling at Fowler
center in the fall of 1832, working for Wesley
Hoge, the first cabinet-maker of that place.
After working for him some two years he com-
menced the cabinet and undertaking business
for himself at Fowler center, where he has since
continued. He was married February 25, 1836,
to Mary Hawley, daughter of Chandler Hawley,
botn November 13, 1818. He is the father of
six children, of whom are living Sarah, wife of
Hiram Post; Orpha, wife of Henry Sheldon;
Emogene, wife of Marshall Scovill; Vanzant I.,
who conducts the home farm; and Adell Lily,
wife of Artual Dawson. Mr. Smith was ap-
pointed postmaster at Fowler center at an early
day, and was for twelve years township treasurer.

Orlin H. Hayes, oldest son of Enoch and
Aseneth (Gillette) Hayes, was born in Hartford
county, Connecticut, March 20, 1812. His
father came with his family to Trumbull county

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

in the fall of 1832, and settled on the place now
occupied by James Mclntyre. Enoch Hayes was
the father of six children. Of these but two are
living, the subject of this sketch and Richard
A., a farmer of Mecca township. Mr. Hayes,
Sr., died in 1867. Orlin purchased the farm
where he still lives about 1837. He married
January 6, 1841, Miss Mary Ann Fox, who was
born in Hartford county, Connecticut, May 6,
1820, daughter of Joel and Jannet (Mason)
Fox. Mrs. Fox was born in Chester, Connecti-
cut, June 13, 1786, and is still living with her
daughter, and is a remarkable specimen of
mental activity and bodily vigor.

Lewis G. Lampson, eldest son of Milo and
Martha A. (Cook) Lampson, was born in Fow-
ler township, Trumbull county, Ohio, August
29, 1836. His father has been a resident of the
county since 1823, when he settled on the ridge
road, locating on his present place about 1850.
He has raised a family of eight children, seven
of whom are living. He is still a vigorous and
hearty old gentleman. Lewis G. was educated
in the common schools and obtained a fair edu-
cation. He was brought up to farming, and
worked out some for others. He now owns
seventy-seven acres which he has acquired by his
own industry. He bought his present place in
1865. He had some war experience during the
rebellion, was in Kentucky, and was engaged in
several skirmishes.

William Cratsley was born in Hunterdon, New
Jersey, October 29, 1817; oldest son of Frederick
and Emma (Chamberlain) Cratsley. The family
removed to Ontario county, New York, in 1825,
and thence to Ohio in 1837, locating in Vienna
township, where the father died in 1859. Wil-
liam derived a good common school education
and taught school during seven winters. Novem-
ber 4, 1 84 1, he was married to Miss Sabrina
Kingsley, daughter of John F. Kingsley, born
in Fowler township in 1824. They were the
parents of eight children, of whom six are liv-
ing— Mary E., wife of Hugh Lowry, of Cort-
land; Martha J., wife of J. S. Webster, residing
in Michigan; Olive M., wife of Moses Cooper,
same Slate; Lucy, wife of Joseph Holland, also
in Michigan; John F., a carpenter and joiner of
Fowler center, born December 22, 1851, mar-
ried in 1872 to Artelissa Rand, who was born
in .Mecca in 1853, and has two chiklrcn ; l''rank,

born December 29, 1855, a book-keeper in
a large mercantile firm in Toledo. Mrs.
Cratsley died in 1873. Our subject pur-
chased a place and settled in Fowler township,
and engaged in farming, clearing up a place and
living there until about 1874. In 1878 he re-
moved to Fowler center, where he has since re-
sided and led a retired life. He was elected
township clerk first in 1846, which office he held
ten years; was elected justice of the peace in
1856, and served in that capacity fifteen years;
was county commissioner in 187 1; also assessor
three years and notary public seven years.

Charles F. Hallock was born March 19, 1838,
in Fowler township, Trumbull county, Ohio,
youngest son of George and Phebe Hallock, of
Long Island, New York. George Hallock was
born November 23, 1798, and emigrated to the
Reserve in the early years of the present cen-
tury, locating in Brookfield township, Trumbull
county, Ohio. He was engaged in mercantile
business in Brookfield, and for two or three
years subsequent to his removal to Fowler
center. He located on the farm now owned by
the subject of this sketch about the year 1836,
where he spent the balance of his life. The
place was then unimproved with the exception
of a log house and a small clearing. He died
April 18, 1870. He was a man well and favor-
ably known throughout this region, and of more
than ordinary energy of character. Was justice
of the peace one or more terms. At a celebra-
tion July 4, 1824, held at Hartford, he was the
orator of the day. His widow still resides on
the home place, vigorous in mind and body.
Charles Hallock remained at home until of age,
when he took charge of a cheese factory at
Fowler center, which he conducted successfully
some ten years. He was married in 1872 to
Miss Ella, daughter of Lewis Alderman, born
April 29, 1854, and has one son, Asel J., born
July 13, 1877. After his marriage he located
upon the home place, where he still resides.

Noah Belford, youngest son of John and
Sally (Tanner) Belford, was born in Fowler town-
ship, Trumbull county, Ohio, August 15, 1839.
Mrs. Belford was a daughter of William Tanner,
an early settler of Fowler. She died January 5,
1869. She made her home with her son, the
subject of this sketch, during the latter years of
her life. At fifteen Noah was thrown upon his

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

own resources. At the age of eighteen he
learned the carpenter trade; he continued that
trade some eighteen years, during which time he
has built many fine buildings in Fowler and else-
' where. In the fall of 1873 Mr. Belford pur-
chased the Tyrrell Hill flouring mills, which had
not been used as a mill for some years. He
enlarged and remodeled the buildings, putting
in modern machinery, including a new engine
and boiler, and doing an extensive business.

Josiah Enos, son of John and Theodosia
(Bushnell) Enos, was born in Genesee county,
New York, July 18, 1818. John Enos was a
soldier m the War of 181 2. Josiah served an
apprenticeship at the blacksmith trade' at Buffalo
when eighteen, and after learning the trade came
to Ohio in 1839. He worked as journeyman at
Warren, Trumbull county, for a time, where he
was married December 12th of the same year
to Sarah Neere born in Portage county, Ohio, by
whom he has had six children — Mary A., born
March 4, 1 84 1, still at home; Elizabeth, born
May 25, 1843; Emily, September 5, 1847; Cor-
nelia, February 28, 1849, wife of John McFet-
ridge, residing in Pennsylvania; Josephine, born
September 5, 1852, wife of John Burnett, resid-
ing in Pennsylvania; Alice, June 7, 1855, wife
of William Lewis, of Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. Enos
commenced the blacksmith trade at Fowler im-
mediately after his marriage, and has since car-
ried on the business there. In 1861 Mr. Enos
enlisted in the Gighty-seventh Ohio volunteer in-
fantry, afterwards enlisting the Twelfth Ohio
cavalry, and took part in some of the principal
engagements of the war, such as the Second Bull
Run, Pittsburg Landing, and other battles. He
served until the close of the war, and was mus-
tered out at Chattanooga, Tennessee, in Septem-
ber, 1865. He was present at the surrender of
Joe Johnston. He has been a member of the
Disciples church for thirty years, and his wife
was also a member of the same church.

Lester A. Clark, oldest son of Leonard Clark
of the preceding sketch, was born in Fowler
township, Trumbull county, Ohio, June 18,
1843. He attended the schools in Fowler until
he was eighteen, when he went to Hiram college
one term. He was brought up on the farm,
where he remained until he was twenty-two or
twenty-three years of age. October 15, 1866, he
married Ellen Coleman, born in Lorain county.

Ohio, in 1843, by whom he had three children,
viz: Almira, born in 1867, died February 5,
1875; Coleman C, born August i, 1870; Lillie
M., born November 15, 187 1. His first wife
died November 3', 1875, ^"d October 23, 1878,
he was married to Miss Malinda, daughter of
W. H. Clawson, of Fowler. She was born in
Mercer county, Pennsylvania, June 8, 185 1.
One child is the fruit of this marriage, Lettie M.,
born October 8, 1878. After his marriage Mr.
Clark remained on the homestead one year and
was also a resident of Hartford one year. He
located on his present place in the fall of 1868.
In connection with farming he does an extensive
business in the manufacture and sale of wood
pumps.

Daniel Trowbridge was born in Palmyra, Port-
age county, Ohio, July 8, 1826, youngest son
of Wheeler and Anna (Shaw) Trowbridge. He
was thrown upon his own resources at an early
age; worked out, and also bought live stock.
He removed to Fowler township, Trumbull coun-
ty, in the fall of 1845. He purchased the place
where he now lives in the spring of 1854, then
only partially cleared, now fully improved. June
21, 1854, he was married to Anna Baldwin,
daughter of Ephraim Baldwin, one of the early
settlers of Fowler township, where Mrs. Trow-
bridge was born in 1835. Mr. and Mrs. Trow-
bridge are the parents of six children, viz: John
F., proprietor of Fowler hotel at Fowler center;
Frederick M., Celestia M., Ernest .A., Jessamine,
and Carlton E.; the last five at home. Mr.
Trowbridge has a farm of one hundred acres,
and while engaged in farming has dealt largely in
the business of buying and shipping live stock.

E. J. Forward, oldest son of George and Or-
phia (Hawley) Forward was born October 19,
182S, in Southwick, Hampden county, Massa-
chusetts. Besides his attendance at the common
school in his native State he went one term to an
academy in Southwick. He came to Ohio in 1850,
and January 19, 1853, was united in marriage to
Maria Sigler, daughter of Philo and Esther
Siglcr, who settled in Fowler township, Trum-
bull county, as early as 1812. Mrs. For-
ward was born there January 30, 1833. After
his marriage he settled on his father-in-law's
place, where he remained till the spring of i868.
He is the father of five children, of whom one
is deceased. The survivors are .Mice M., born

430

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

October 5, 1853, now wife of Adelbert Card, of
Fowler; Philo H., born March 30, 1S58, now-
engaged in clerking; Minnie M., December 19,
1861; George M., August 13, 1863. Amelia A.,
died when five years old.

CHAPTER XIIL

LIBERTY.

In 1806 the people residing in range two
(south) and town three, by petition to the prop
er authorities gained their Liberty, and the land
situated south of Vienna, with Hubbard on the
east, Mahoning county south, and U'eathersfield
west was organized as a township, taking the
name of Liberty.

The north part of the township is generally
level ; the east and southeast rolling and more
broken between Church Hill and Girard. In
the north the soil is of heavy clay, but
toward the east it is more of a gravel or sandy
nature, and the south is generally of clay. The
usual farm products are produced here with
good average yield with other sections of the
county. Coal is the chief production, and this
is strictly a mining region, the chief industry be-
ing in this line. It was first discovered and the
first mine was opened in i860 on the farm of
Alexander McCleery. The land was leased by
one Strain, from Mr. McCleery, and operations
were commenced. The first drilling was made
without success; another start was made and a five
foot vein was struck which was worked out, but
as it did not prove to be profitable the lease was
sold. Governor Tod afterward visited the mine,
which was obstructed by "horse-backs." He made
some effort to encourage the work by advising
the owners to work around the obstructions, but
the mine was abandoned.

About 1864-65 the Church Hill Coal com-
])any was formed and opened a bank at the vil-
lage, which has been successfully operated since.

'I'he Briar Hill company afterwards ojiened the
Kline coal bank in 1868, which is also in suc-
cessful operation.

The (iarfield bank, on Wright's farm, the
Hancock bank, on the farm of Calvin Denison,
and Bank No. 9, have all been opened recently.

The Mahoning river flows across the south-
west corner of the township, into which the land
in the northwest part is drained by Squaw run.
The western part is drained by Crab creek and
its tributaries. The Lake Shore & Michigan •
Southern and the Atlantic & Great Western
railroads extend across the southeast corner, and
the latter has a branch, which with the Ashtabula,
Youngstown & Pittsburg and Painesville &
Voungstown railroads extends across the south-
west.

POI'UL.^TION, ETC.

The mining interest has naturally attracted a
large element of the working class who reside in
close neighborhoods near the coal banks, and
among which the foreign element predominates,
in which the Welch is largely represented. Gi-
rard and Church Hill are villages of some note,
the former being the larger and most important,
neither of which have been incorporated.

The discovery of coal, and the manufacturing
interests about Girard have been the means of
increasing the population from 1,367 in i860 to
2,420 in 1870, and 3,657 in the year 1880.

In very early times grist-mills were of great
importance to the pioneer, and the introduction
of a mill capable of grinding the cjin for meal
was hailed with special pleasure by the early set-
tlers. One Mr. Steen in very early times built a
mill near the forks of the road south of Powers'
plat, which was propelled by water-power re-
ceived from a tributary of Crab creek. This
mill supplied as best it could, with the limited
facilities, the wants of the settlers in this locality.

The first mill built on the Mahoning river at
this point was erected by Mr. Wilkinson where
the road crosses the river west of Tod's plat.

Another was erected near the present farm
residence of E. Mahan, and another on Squaw
creek, near Holliday's, in very early times. To
these rude appliances for crushing corn and
wheat the settlers made their regular visits with
their frugal grists, and when a boy was old
enough to go to mill he was then considered an
important personage in the settlement, as the
lonely journey required no little amount of cour-
age, and the success of his journey a very im-
portant consideration to those who depended
upon the scanty siipp'y of meal for subsistence.

■niK I'l.ATS.

The several plats indicated on the map of this

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

431

township were laid out in anticipation of locali-
ties forming near the mines, and some of them
have been successful in inducing settlements,
but the uncertainty of coal mines have made it
necessary tor miners' families to be often re-
moved, and hence there are many vacated
premises. Tod's plat, Kline's plat, and Powers'
plat were all designed for communities ot work-
ingmen, and are more or less settled.

EARLY SETTLEMENTS.

It is not known with absolute certainty who
was the first settler in Liberty. The late Samuel
Dennison is authority for the statement that
Jacob Swager was the first, and as Mr. Dennison
was about sixteen years of age when he came
with his father in 1801, his recollections are en-
titled to great credit. Robert Stewart, now liv-
ing in Brookfield, who came with his father in
1800, and was nine years old, thinks that Henry
Swager, a cousin of Jacob's, was the first to com-
mence the subjection of the wilderness of old
Liberty.

Valentine Stull came in 1799, and from his
grandson, John E. Stull, it is learned that when
his grandfather came to Liberty there were but
four families here, and that Henry Swager was
one of them, and must have been here as early
as 1798.

Mr. Swager settled on what was known after-
wards as the Henry Ricard farm, immediately
west of Church Hill, on the east and west center
road, on the northeast corner of lot number
eight. He lived here for several years, when he
sold to Jacob Boyd and purchased a farm of one
hundred acres in the southeast part of the town-
ship, where he lived until the age of over ninety-
seven, when he died. He was a great hunter,
and many were the bears, deer, wild turkeys, and
other game that fell victims to the unerring aim
of Liberty's pioneer marksman.

James Matthews came in 1798, and settled in
the southwest part of the township on lot num-
ber one, where he continued to reside until
1825, when he removed to Warren township.
Mr. Matthews kept the first public house in early
days, and also erected and operated the first
distillery in the township.

John Stull came in 1798, and settled about
one-half mile from Girard toward Church Hill.

Valentine Stull came alone in 1799, and pur-
chased a half section of land, lots eleven and |

twelve, to which he removed his family from
Washington county, Pennsylvania, in 1800.

Archie Ralston emigrated from Virginia in
1802, and settled on the northwest part of lot
nineteen, the same lot on which his grandson,
Tames Nelsoii, died.

John Ramsey removed from Lancaster county,
Pennsylvania, in 1800, and settled on lot num-
ber nine, south of Mr. Stull, and known after-
wards as the George Herring farm. George
Campbell, a native of Ireland, but for some
years a resident of Lancaster county, Pennsyl-
vania, came to Liberty as early as 1 800-1, and
settled on the north part of lot number seven,
where he lived until his death in 1847. He was
the father of eight sons and six daughters, all of
whom lived until mature age. About this same
time James .Applegate came and settled on lot
number five in the southeast part of the town-
ship, on the west side of the road where William
Watson now lives, and who for some unknown
reason committed suicide by hanging himself.

John Thorn, whose wife was a sister of James
Matthews, came soon after his brother-in-law,
and bought a lot of forty acres on the north side
of the Mahoning river, on which he built a tan-
nery. He was the father of James Thorn, who
afterwards became a noted teacher in Liberty
and Youngstown. It is related of this teacher
that when a child he was twice rescued by his
mother from drowning in the vats of his father's
tannery, near which their dwelling was located.

William Stewart came from Huntingdon coun-
ty, Pennsylvania, when his son Robert was nine
years old, and cut his way through the trackless
wilds of Liberty from Youngstown and settled
where John B. McMurry now lives. They arrived
in time of heavy rain and flood and were com-
pelled to live in their wagons for some time.

Some time after their buildings were erected,
the forest around them was so dense, the roads
unbroken, the places of human habitation so
few, and the marks of civilization yet so unde-
fined that when any of the family were out at
night but a little way from the cabins they would
soon become lost and their cries would be an-
swered by those in the house rapping on the
roof for signals.

John and Abram Nelson came from Vir-
ginia about 1804 and settled in the northwest
part of the township — lot twenty-one — where

4.52

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

Abram Storms now lives, and Abram Nelson built
his cabin where Samuel Beemer now lives.

William Stewart's father settled near Sodom
in very early times.

Samuel Dennison settled north of William
Stewart on lot number fifteen, west ]iart.

Neil McMullen settled near the farm residence
of the late James Clark, west of Stewart.

The marriage of William McCombs, of Poland,
to a sister of John Nelson, was (as is believed)
the first wedding in Liberty.

James Nelson, brother of Abram and John,
was accidentally killed by the fall of a tree while
cutting a road from Painesville to Warren, and
on the same day of his death Abram was en-
gaged at work in the valley of Squaw creek, in
Liberty, and he has often related that at this
time he heard the voice of his brother James
calling his name — Abram — three times in suc-
cession, when he left his work and went to his
house expecting to find his brother James there,
and was astonished to find that he had not been
there. In a few days the news came of the ac-
cident that ended his brother's life, which hap-
pened on the day and hour that the voice was
heard by Abram in the valley. This incident is
sufficiently authenticated by undoubted authority
and is here recorded for either an item of history
or an illustration of wonderful hallucination.

Andrew Boyd came from Huntingdon county,
Pennsylvania, and settled about one-half mile
east of Church Hill, and started a tannery on
the north side of the road, opposite the present
residence of Mr. Leslie, which he operated
about nine years.

James Anderson, a native of Ireland, removed
with his family from Chester county, Pennsylva-
nia, about 1804, and settled on the farm adjoin-
ing Valentine Stull on the north, where he lived
until his death, in 1848.

William McClellan came with his family from
Creene county, Pennsylvania, in 1805, and set-
tled on land in lots numbers seven and eight,
where he lived until 1S43, 'when his decease oc-
curred.

Nehemiah Scott came from Long Island in
1805 and made a settlement west of the present
residence of Peter Kline, in a log cabin. He
was a hatter by trade and carried on his trade at
his shop, about one-fourth mile from the main
road.

Robert Walker came in 1807-8 and settled
near the present residence of Homer Walker,
where he kept store until he moved to the center.
His son. Dr. Robert H. Walker, kept the first
store at Church Hill in 1832-33.

These were the early settlers of Liberty, or as
many of them of whom anything can now be
found. Others there may have been and doubt-
less were, but the memory of their names with
the records of their history have passed into the
grave with them, save what they may have left
written not with the pen, but in the cleared
farms and the early planted germs of civilization
now blooming in full fruition in Liberty. Many
of their graves are still kept green in the old
burial grounds at Church Hill. Some of them
in after years bade adieu to the scenes of early
conflicts of pioneer life and found homes else-
where. While time has crept on and changes
have come, early footprints have long since been
worn away, and the new generations are fast
covering them deeper and deeper as the years
bring wealth and prosperity. The log cabins
have given way to many fine residences and
beautiful rural homes, and the lightning e.xpress
dashes over the blazed route of the pioneer.
Mines of wealth that slumbered beneath the feet
of the hunters and axmen of 1798 now give
forth their hidden treasures to the giant power of
steam and the cities of swarthy workmen gath-
ered about the deepening tunnels.

CHURCH HILL

is located near the central part of the township,
and derived its name from the eminence on which
It stands and the location of the church at this
point. The name was first selected for the post-
office. Since then the name seems to have been
very appropriately chosen, as there are now five
churches located here: Old-school Presbyterian,
Methodist Episcopal, Welch Methodist, Welch
Baptist, and Welch Independent — the three lat-
ter are of recent origin. The village now has a
union school, one dry goods store, drug store,
book store, barber shop, wagon shop, blacksmith
shop, shoemaker shop, ten saloons, and one
hotel. Though the saloons outnumber the
churches two to one yet the force and influence
of the latter are amply strong, and the commun-
ity of Church Hill, from all appearances, is a
quiet and pleasant neighborhood.

The post-office was established in 1S33, and

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

Matthew Walker was the postmaster. The office
was first known as Liberty, but the official de-
partment at Washington, District of Columbia,
sent back word that there was another office by
that name. The Presbyterian church was then
ui course of erection, and as the location is on
something of an elevation Church Hill was sug-
gested and accepted.

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

The pioneer religious organization of Liberty
was effected by the Associate Presbyterian con-
gregation. The history of this congregation
begins with the early records of Liberty town-
ship, and indeed is one of the oldest organiza-
tions in this part of the Western Reserve. The
last pastor, David Goodwillie, D. D., having
voluntarily resigned his pastorate of fifty years in
the year 1875, '^ "o^^' living in Girard, and
kindly furnished the following history of the
congregation : About the beginning of the
present century a number of families located \n
this neighborhood while as yet it was an un-
broken forest. Among these were William,
James, Joseph, John, David, and Robert Stewart,
from Marsh creek, Adams county, Pennsylvania.
They were members of the Associate church,
'i'hey settled in the northwest part of Coitsville
and the southeast part of Hubbard. James
1 )avidson, from Ireland, settled in the east part
of Youngstown; James Applegate, from the Forks
of the Youghiogheny, Pennsylvania, John Deni-
son, from Washington county, Pennsylvania, and
Alexander McCleery, from Ireland, in the east
part of Liberty, and Samuel Ferguson, from Ire-
land, William Ralston, from Scotland, John
Ramsey, from Washington county, Pennsylvania,
and William McKinley, from Westmoreland
county, Pennsylvania, in the west part.

These men and their families did not leave
their religion behind them when they came to
this wilderness, but in their log cabins they re-
membered the Lord God of their fathers, and in
1803-1804 they invited Rev. James Duncan, pas-
tor of the Associate Congregations of Mahoning,
Little Beaver, and Brush Run, to nreach for
them occasionally, which he accordingly did with
great encouragement, holding the meetings in
the log cabins, and in the woods.

In the year 1804 he organized a congregation
in Poland, and during the same time preached
one third of the tune in Liberty, where in the

winter of the following year, 1805, he organized
Liberty congregation. The congregation was
then under the jurisdiction of Chartier's presby-
tery, but the records of the presbytery make no
mention of any authority given Rev. Duncan to
organize the congregations at Poland or Liberty,
and it is supposed that he did this altogether
on his own responsibility, and he seems to have
regarded them as branches of the Mahoning con-
gregation.

The organization was effected by the election
and ordination as elders of William Stewart and
James Davidson, the number joining in the or-
ganization supposed to be about thirty or forty.

One of the first things to engage their atten-
tion was the selection of a lot as the site for a
meeting-house and graveyard. Their attention
was first directed to a lot in the woods near the
southeast corner of Liberty, offered by James
Applegate, and now owned by his son Calvin.
This was an elevated and beautiful site, and so
confidently was it expected that it would be ac-
cepted that the remains of some persons were
buried there, and the graves are yet to be seen.
But at a meeting of the congregation at the
house of Alexander McCleery, it was resolved to
accept a lot offered by him, which is now occu-
pied by the church and graveyard.

The deed for this lot was not made until
March 15, 1828, twentv-five yeais after the pur-
chase was made, and was given by Alexander
McCleery to "Matthew Mitchell, James Boys,
and William Geddes, trustees of the Presbyterian
congregation of Liberty, belonging to the Associ-
ate Synod of North America."

In 1858, the Associate and Associate Re-
formed branches of the church having united,
the congregation accepted the terms of said
union and consequently became the United
Presbyterian congregation of Liberty. In 1859
the congtegation at Youngstown was formed
from Liberty, eighteen or twenty members being
disjomed for that purpose. The lot when pro-
cured was heavily covered by timber and the
first thing done was the erection of a tent for
preaching, which was built about where the
northeast corner of the present church stands.
It fronted to the east and the people were seated
before it on temporary seats or on the ground.
It was here the first communion of the Lord's
supper was dispensed, on a table of rough

434

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

boards, extending from the tent eastward. Here,
under the shadow of the ancient trees of the
forest, did the forefathers of Liberty assemble
together from their cabin homes in the woods to
celebrate for the first time in this wilderness the
dying love of our great Redeemer; here, under
the wide canopy of Heaven did they lift up their
song of praise and their voice of prayer.

But it soon became necessary to clear the
ground for the purpose of burying the dead,
and the tent was moved to a piece of woods on
the north side of the road, directly opposite the
lot. Some time afterwards the ground was
wanted for clearing, and the tent was removed
to the woods, a short distance southeast of the
crossroads, and afterward carried back to the
church lot, where it finally gave place to the first
meeting-house. This house was constructed of
round logs with clapboard roof, and stood on
the northwest corner of the lot. It was a small
building and not much used, as the private
houses and the tent were yet used for preaching
services. The second house was commenced in
iSii but the war came on the next year and
the men were called away, so the house remained
unfinished until the close of the war, being used,
however, occasionally, in its unfinished state, the
people sitting on the sleepers. It was constructed
of very large hewed logs, many of them being
nearly two feet through.

In 1825 the house was enlarged and other-
wise improved, and in 1836 the present house
of worship was built, which in 1869 was remod-
eled.

The ruling elders and deacons who from time
to time exercised their office in the congregation
were William Stewart, James Davidson, John
Denison, James Applegate, John Abercrombie,
James Stephenson (or "Steen " as he was usually
called), Alex. Stewart, William Geddes, Samuel
Denison, Joseph Stewart, John Milligan, William
Smith, Robert Stewart, James Nelson, James
Kennedy (Vienna), William Denison, John R.
Kennedy, David Stewart, Armstrong Stewart, D.
B. McGeehan, Stewart Denison, Joel K. .Apple-
gate.

The first pastor, Rev. James Duncan, preaclied
for many years with acceptance and success, but
at length days of difficulty and trouble came.
He was charged before the presbytery at Can-
nonsburgh, Pennsylvania, in May, 18 15, for

preaching several grievous errors in relation to
original sin, Christ's atonement and interces-
sion, and publishing a book in their defense.
He acknowledged his errors before the synod
and received censure; but on his return to the
congregation he denied his acknowledgment of
error save in one particular. For public mis-
representations of his case he was suspended by
the presbytery from the ministry and communion
of the church. In personal appearance he was
robust and corpulent; possessed a strong mind
and great argumentative powers, and in private
conversation was agreeable and instructive. He
was careless in the management of his worldly
affairs, and made poor provision for his family,
and grossly addicted to tobacco. It was no un-
common thing for him while preaching to take
a bite from his plug of tobacco, twisting it off in
his hand. On one occasion, at least, he was
known to have stopped in the midst of his dis-
course, go to one of the elders and borrow a
chew of tobacco, and, returning to the tent, go
on with his sermon. After his suspension little
is known of his subsequent life. During the
vacancy which occurred the congregation was
supplied until 1820, when Rev. Robert Douglass
was installed, who died in 1823, to whose mem-
ory the congregation erected a monument over
liis grave at Poland center.

On the 26th of April, 1S26, Rev. David Good-
wiUie, D. D., was installed pastor of Poland,
Liberty, and Deer Creek congregations. In
1S33 he resigned the pastorate of Deer Creek,
and for twenty-six years served Poland and Lib-
erty. In i8";9 he resigned Poland, and from
that time until 1875 he was the pastor of Liberty
alone. During his pastoral charge he has re-
ceived into the church seven hundred and
twenty-one ; dispensed and assisted in dis-
pensing sacraments three hundred and eighteen
times; baptized thirty-six adults; solemnized two
hundred and twenty-nine marriages, and preached
no less than five thousand sermons. He was born
at Barnet, Caledonia county, Vermont, August
28, 1802. His father was an able minister of
the Associate church. He attended school at
Cambridge academy. New York, four years, and
then entered the sopiiomore class at Dartmouth,
New Hampshire, and graduated there in 1820.
He then attended the Eastern Theological sem-
inary of the Associate church in Philadeljjhia,

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

435

and was licensed to preach in 1823 at Ryegate,
Vermont, and after some very extensive mission-
ary work in various places he was called to the
pastorate of Liberty, as above mentioned. On
April 20, 1826, he was married to Francis
Hamill, daughter of John Hamill, of Mercer
county, Pennsylvania. Their eldest son is the
Rev. D. H. Goodwillie, of Commerce, Michi-
gan. The youngest son, Thomas, is a merchant
of Cleveland, Ohio. The only surviving daugh-
ter is now Mrs. Rev. A. F. Ashton, of Monroe,
Ohio. Dr. Goodwillie has formally retired from
the pastorate, but in compliance with the wishes
of his devoted people he has determined to end
his days with them in quiet and peace.

METHODIST EPISCOrAL CHURCH, CHURCH HILL.

The original organization of this society was
effected in 1821, under the ministry of Rev.
Dillen Prosser. The first class numbered about
sixty members, among whom were : Edward
Moore and wife, Edward Mahan and wife, Peter
Kline, wife and family (including his son Zenas,
now one of the leading members), William
Trotter and wife, John and Naomi Scott, Caro-
line Scott, William B. and Eliza Leslie, William
Smith and wife, Matthew and Mary Trotter, Al-
exander Wright and wife, John and Miss Wright,
John Hindman, William Henderson and wife,
Jerome Monroe and wife, Irvin, William,
Thomas, and Eliza Moore, Maria Wannamaker,
Salome Henderson, Edward Irvin, John Clark,
and William Trotter — the latter was the first
class-leader and was succeeded by John Clark.
The first building was erected the following
summer, and is now used as town hall, and
stands a short distance east of the original site.
In this building the congregation worshiped until
1873, when the present church edifice was com-
pleted and dedicated. Among the ministers
who have served this congregation were: Revs.
Lane Plant, Ira Norris, William Day, Dr.
Reeves, William Folgum, Peter Horton, Foutz,
George Maltby, Holmes, Martin, Hurd, John
Vance, Thomas Guy, Wesley Hill, Keller, Hub-
bard, Ezra Wade, William Hayes, Ely, Clark,
C. F. Kingsberry, J. H. Starrett, T. Hodson,
and Rev. McCleary, present pastor.

When first organized it belonged to Youngs-
town circuit, now known as Girard and Liberty.

As before stated the present church was dedi-

cated under the ministry of Rev. Thomas Guy,
Rev. Ives preaching the sermon.

The building is a frame of modern style of
architecture, and cost $13,000; has an audi-
ence room with a seating capacity of four hun-
dred, also lecture and Sabbath-school room, all
heated by furnace and registers.

Soon after the society was organized the Sab-
bath-school was instituted by William Trotter
and John Clark.

Special revivals were held by Revs. John
Vance, Ely, and others ; special accessions
under Thomas Guy.

The first school-house was located near
Church Hill, at the west side of the cemetery.
This house was rudely constructed after the
well-known style of early times. The school
was first taught by John Taylor, an elderly
man about sixty years of age. Another
house was then built about one-half mile
east of Church Hill. Where William Samp-
son's barn now stands the principal school-house
of the neighborhood was built in 18 18. It was
a huge log house covered with clapboards which
were held to their places with weight-poles. Ell-
as Grover was the first teacher. He came to the
neighborhood as a stranger, announcing himself
as being from the District of Maine. His school
was very successful, and well attended. Many
pupils came from a distance and boarded in the
neighborhood for the purpose of attending this
school. This teacher first made the advance in
educational matters beyond the speller and "single
rule of three," which then comprised the highest
degree of pioneer education, and introduced
grammar, geography, and surveying, which he
successlully taught for some years.

A graded school .was afterwards held in the
house built for that purpose, now occupied by
the Welsh Methodist church.

The present union school building was
erected in 1871, and is a commodious building
of three departments, and located at Church Hill.

The school was organized under the superin-
tendency of William Barrett, and is supported
by the union of three districts, which now
enumerates from five to six hundred children, of
which, however, not more than one-half attend
school.

436

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO

The township besides supports nine school
districts in which there are the usual provisions
for ordinary schools.

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (OLIJ SCHOOL).

This congregation was originally organized
from the congregation at Voungstown, where the
original members first attended services. The
organization was effected in 1832, in the fall of
which year the frame of the present church
building was erected. The presbytery of Beaver
first sent Rev. James Satterfield, who succeeded
in organizing the society. The first elders were
John Nelson and James Anderson. The first
settled pastor was Rev. John W. Scott, who after-
wards became president of Washington college,
Pennsylvania. He preached about four years
and was followed by Rev. Joseph Kerr, who re-
mained about ten years. He was followed by
Rev. N. B. Lyon, who served the congregation
three or four years, and was followed by Rev. T.
C. Stewart, who preached about six years. The
present pastor, Rev. J. H. Wright, resides in
Hubbard and preaches at the latter place and
Liberty. The membership now numbers about
thirty-four.

GIRARIi.

The settlement about the present village of
Girard was later than the general settlement of
the township, and was no doubt first made
near the early mills located on the river. Special
interests began to center here more extensively
on the construction of the old Pennsylvania &
Ohio canal, from Girard to Niles, in 1837.

About this time the original Girard plat was
made by a company formed at Warren, among
whom was Governor David Tod. Since then
many additions have been made, principally along
the lines of the railroads and bounded on the
cast by tlie State road. The Hartzell plat lies
immediately north of the old Girard plat: north
of this is the Stambaugh and Bush ]jiats. The
Osborn plat lies immediately south and Morris
plat south of this. Between the latter and the
Mahoning river Arms, Morris, and Tod made an
additiimal plat, and across the river is Raycn's
plat.

METHODIST KPlSCOrAL CHURCH (ciRARl)).

The first society of the Methodist Episcopal
church in Girard was organized by Rev. Dillon
I'rosscrin 1843. It consisted of Peter, Hannah,

and Mary Carlton, Mary and Mrs. Hollings-
worth, Abigail Osborn, Betsey McLean, and
Samuel McMillan — the latter was appointed
class-leader. The place of worship was a log
school-house built on the ground now occupied
by the residence of Obadiah Sheadle. Soon
afterward they removed to a room in the store of
Mr. HoUingsworth, afterwards the residence of
George Spray, where services were held until the
completion of the new frame school-house in
which the meetings were then held. In 1852,
after a great struggle to secure the necessary
funds, a small chapel of very plain style was
built without steeple, belfry or other mark to dis-
tinguish it from the surrounding buildings, ex-
cept, perhaps, the two doors in front and windows
above.

This was their home for twenty-seven years.
The following have served this congregation :
Dillon Prosser (1843), Ira Norris and Allen Foutz
(1844), W. F. Day (1845), A. Norton, and J.
L. Holmes (1846), A. Keller and S. Hubbard
(1847), A. Keller and H. Kellogg (1848), W. N.
Reno (1849), A. Reeves and W. N. Reno
(1850), I). C. Wright and J. H. Vance (1851),
J. H. Vance (1852), J. W. Weldon (1853), S. K.
Paden (1854), N. C. Brown (1855), S. Heard
(1856-57). J. W. Hill (1858-59), R. M. Bear
(i860), E. Wade (1861-62), F. Vernon (1863),
W. Hays (1864-65), J. H. Vance (1866-67, L.
W. Ely (1868-69), W. A. Clark (1870), T. (luy
(1871-73), C. T. Kingsbury (1874-76), J. H.
Staratt, (1877-80), and Thomas McCleary, the
present incumbent. The present house was dedi-
cated January 18, 1880, by Rev. C. H. Payne,
president of the Ohio Wesleyan university, from
II. Chronicles, vi., 18, "But will God in very
deed dwell with men on the earth?" This edifice
is of Gothic style, with main audience room
40x50 feet, with transepts, right, left, and in
front, 10 X 28 feet, cut off on the inside by fold-
ing doors which thiow all the rooms together
when required, with a seating capacity of four
hundred, and costing about $4,500. The total
indebtedness was discharged at the dedication
exercises, and the building is certainly a fit
temple for the purpose to which it is dedicated.

THE DISCIPLES CHURCH (CIRART)).

The first meetings of this denomination were
held in the school hall, and among the ministers
who |)reachcd during that time wcic Waller Hay-

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

437

den, Gideon Applegate, Orin Higgins, and
others. The organization was effected February
5, 1867, by Orin Gates, who was sent by the
missionary society of the church for that pur-
pose. The original officials were Charles C.
Fowler, James Shannon, and Ambrose Mason,
eldersj William Shannon, S. H. Miller, and John
Patton, deacons. The original members of the
church were Lucy Shannon, Laura Gilbert, Alice
Harper, Louisa I). Fowler, Nancy Reel, Eliza-
beth Reed, Malinda and Minerva Phillips, Eliza-
beth Stanbaugh, Cynthia Young, Collins At-
wood, Elizabeth Gantholtz, and Florence Mc-
Lain. The present number of members is about
sixty. The present church building was erected
in 1 87 1 at the time of Rev. N. N. Bartlelt's
ministry, and was constructed by William and
James Shannon and John Reed, building com-
mittee, and Charles Fowler, contractor and car-
penter. Among the ministers who have served
this congregation from time to time were Henry
Camp, James Van Home, E. D. Wakefield, T.
S. Hanselman, N. N. Bartlett, and S. S. Bartlett.
The society is now in a good, prosperous condi-
tion, with a Sabbath-school of about fifty mem-
bers. The present officials are James Shannon,
Alanson Miller, and C. H. Stanbaugh, elders;
William Wallace, and Frederick Coonly, dea-
cons, and A. Wayne Kennedy, treasurer.

THE APOSTOLIC CHRISTIAN ASSEMIILV.

This society was organized in 1878 by Rev. J.
Bollinger, who preached until last year, when he
was succeeded by Rev. Joseph Bella.

Meetings of this denomination had been held
previous to the organization at the residence of
William Ludt, in Girard ; and the first minister
of this denomination was Rev. John Bakody.
The original members were: Mr. and Mrs.
William Ludt, Charles and Mrs. Schenoenfeld,
and Mrs. Mary Fachield. The present beautiful
little church at Girard was built in the year
above mentioned at a cost of $1,600.

The society now numbers about fifty members,
and is in a general state of prosperity, having
regular services with the expectation of soon or-
ganizing a Sabbath-school. The society is com-
posed of Germans who are wholly orthodox in
their belief ; and their efforts to maintain a church
of their own people is commendable, and should
be successful.

THE LUTHERAN CHURCH (GERMAN).

The building in which this society holds ser-
vices at present, is situated on the State road
about one-half mile north of Girard. The first
house built by this society was a log building,
and was situated on the site of the present
church. The present house was erected in 1833;
and among tlie early members of the church
were Henry Barnhisel, Peter Reel, George Hood,
Jacob Reel, and others. Among the ministers
who have served this society were Rev. Morris
Smith, Rev. Hess, Rev. Baker, Rev. Paultzgrow.
The membership now numbers about forty, and
services are held regularly at the above place,
under the present ministry of Rev. Meisner.
The cemetery grounds adjoining belong to the
church.

THE GIRARD UNION SCHOOL.

The general movement for improvement of the
educational facilities at Girard was begun about
i860. On March 12, 1861, the local directors
of school district number two, Liberty township,
namely, J. C. Allison, Abner Osborn, and Henry
Barnheisel, with a committee appointed by the
people consisting of William Johnson, Edward
Ray, Martin Houston, Abner Rush, and H. P.
Gilbert, met together for the consideration of a
plan for the erection of a suitable school build-
ing. Abner Rush was appointed treasurer and
clerk for the purpose of effecting this object.
The present commodious brick building was
then soon erected and completed at a cost of
about $21,000, when Hugh Caldwell, now of
Cleveland, Ohio, was first engaged as principal.
In September, 1870, the present principal, A.
Wayne Kennedy, took charge of the school with
three assistants, and has continued in charge
since with commendable success, the school in-
creasing until now there are seven apartments
with the following assistants: Miss Kit Mc-
Glarthery, Lara S. Schaeffer, Lizzie Kennedy, Del-
la V. Reed, Mary E. Walker, and Louise M.
Hauser. The whole number in the school is
now three hundred and three. During the su-
perintendency of Mr. Kennedy the following
persons have been graduated from this school,
namely: Charles Allison (engineer), William
Lotze (telegraph operator), Evan Jones, and
Ella Bowman. Frank E. Buntz was called away
from his class just before graduation to enter the
naval school at Anna|)olis, Maryland.

438

'RUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

The curriculum of the school embraces philos-
ophy, geometry, astronomy, and various higher
branches of science and mathematics, and the
school is now in the zenith of prosperity, and
every indication bespeaks success. The build-
ing is conveniently and pleasantly located, and
both in external appearance and the design
for which it was built is a pride and honor to the
people of Girard.

COURT LILY OF GIR.\RD NO. 6625.

This court of the Ancient Order of Foresters
was organized January 31, 18S0, when the fol-
lowing officials were elected : D. J. VVoodford,
C. R.; John Bevan, sub-C. R.; Morgan Thomas,
F. S.; Morgan L. Jones, R. S.; Benjamin Parry,
treasurer; William Moss, senior woodward; John
Phillips, junior woodward; John Jinkins, senior
beadle; L. D. Jones, junior beadle. The charier
members were T. W. D. Jones, D. J. Wood-
ford, and L. I). Jones. The society makes
allowance of $5 per week in cases of sickness;
also appointing attendants in cases of necessity.
At this time it has a membership of twenty-
eight, and meets every alternate Saturday night
in Odd Fellows hall.

.\MALGAMATEi:) ASSOCIATION OF IRON AND STEEL
WORKERS.

Shiloh lodge of Ohio No. 16, was organized
August 4, 1876, with the following officials:
Thomas S. Evans, president; John Bevans, vice-
president; Thomas D. Davis, recording secretary;
James Richards, guide; John Evans, I. G., Rod-
erick Evans, O. G. The society is organized for
mutual aid and protection, and holds its meet-
ings in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows
hall.

CURAKD LODGE NO. 432, INDEPENDENT ORDER
OF ODD FELLOWS.

This lodge was instituted July 20, 1869, by
Horace Beebe, special deputy G. M. The char-
ter members were : S. J. Lambert, Calvin Eck-
man, Hugh Gilmore, Horatio M. Prindle, C. D.
Goodrich, John P. Miller, L. Beaver, W. F.
Adams, Jacob Stambaugh, Emanuel Hartzell,
Jr., H. A. McCartney, Evan Morris, and C. S.
Miller. The first officials were : Jacob Stam-
baugh, N. G.; Evan Morris, V. G.; S. J. Lam-
bert, secretary; Hugh Gilmore, treasurer.

The lodge is now in a prosperous condition
and holds its regular meetings in its own lodge-

rooms on Liberty street, with the present offi-
cials: Robert Shaw, N. G.; John Allen, V. G.;
Elias Lewis, secretary; C. G. Goodrich, F'. S.;
and E. Hartzell, Jr., treasurer ; with a present
membership of fifty-nine.

FRIENDSHIP LODGE NO. 65, KNIGHTS OF
PYTHIAS.

The above lodge was organized March 1 2,
1874, by Adams Emerson, G. C. The first offi-
cials were: E. Hartzell, Jr., C. C; Joseph Hull,
V. C; M. L. Kazertec, K. of R. S.; L. S. Fow-
ler, M. of F.; Edgar Cranton, M. of E.; S. E.
Knight, prelate.

The following, including the above officials,
were the charter members : James H. Gifford,
E. Hartzell, Jr., J. Jones, C. D. Goodrich, John
Wilkes, A. J. Jewell, James Jones, Robert
Thompson, and Thomas Hughes. The lodge
meets regularly in the Independent Order of
Odd Fellows hall, and now has a membership of
twenty-five, with the following officials : W. J.
Walters, C. C; A. E. Hartzell, V. C; C. D.
Goodrich, K. of R. and S.; A. J. Jewell, M. of F.;
E. Hartzell, M. of E.; S. E. Knight, prelate.

THE GIRARD STOVE WORKS.

The above extensive manufactory is located on
the west side of the river at Girard village. It
was first established about 1867 by Lambert
Crawford and C. B. Vanbroclin, who operated
about six months when Crawford sold to George
Johnson, and Faulkenstein about the same time
became a member of the firm. About this time
the works were closed and so remained about
one year, when it passed into the hands of Hart-
zell, Lambert & May, who operated about one
year. Hartzell then bought Lambert's interest,
which was transferred to his son, Alonzo H. About
this time A. J. Cartney and Jacob Stambaugh,
were members of the firm, when C. R. Johnson
purchased an interest of the latter; also Robert
Walker and D. T. Kincaid purchased a one-fifth
interest each. The company was then incorpo-
rated with Jacob Stambaugh president, C. R.
Johnson, secretary, and S. H. Wilson, superintend-
ent, the latter having purchased the interest be-
longing to Jacob May. The works are now
owned by John R. Walker, John Stambaugh, A.
J. McCartney, 1 ). T. Kincaid, and S. H.Wilson.
The foundry now requires from eight to ten
moulders, one machinist, two stove mounters.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

439

one pattern maker, two blacksmiths and helpers,
one engineer, two cupola tenders, and is now-
producing 'all kinds of work in this line. The
utmost capacity is a five-ton casting. From seven
to eight stoves are turned out per day, together
with other odd castings to the amount of ten
to twenty hundred pounds. A specialty is made
of coal-bank cages and coal cars. Three and
four of the latter are made per day. The works
now have one fifty inch cupola running a daily
heal and near full capacity. The engine used
is a forty-horse power, and the works are m act-
ive and successful operation.

THE GIR.\RD KLOUR-MILL.

The present flouring-mills located at (lirard
were built about 1840-41 by Jesse Baldwin and
Abner Osborn. The present company, under
the name of Morris, Prindle & Co., runs the
mill to a capacity of sixty or seventy barrels per
day, having four run of buhrs propelled by water-
power derived from the Mahoning river. The
company is doing a general shipping and local
custom trade.

GIRARD TANNERY.

The old tannery which stood on the site of the
present e.xtensive tannery of Krehl, Hauser cS;
Co., was built and operated for some time by
Elmadorus Cranden. The above company
came into possession in i860, and in 1873
very extensive improvements were made and
other improvements have from time to time
been made. The present capacity is six hundred
sides of leather per week, requiring the assistance
of twenty-five and more hands. The company
now makes a specialty of harness and belt
leather, also the manufacture of bands for driv-
ing machinery and fair line and collar leather.
The present complete appliances are all new and
the company is operating with every indication
of success and increasing prosperity.

THE GIRARD SAVINGS BANK.

The bank was organized in 1S73 under the
general banking law of the State. The original
officials were: R. H.Walker, president, and O.
Sheadle, cashier. The latter has served in this
capacity since, and is the present able and
efficient cashier of the bank. The original com-
pany was composed of R. H. Walker, William
B. Leslie, R. L. Walker, Evan Morris, John
Morris, and O. Sheadle.

The incorporation was made with a capital of
$50,000, and the deposits now amount to $100,-
000 with a surplus fund of $12,500.

The banking of this firm has been managed
with commendable efficiency, and no losses have
ever been experienced since the organization,
and the operations have embraced a general
banking business of almost ten years.

The present company is composed of R. L.
Walker, William B. Sampson, Zenas Kline, I. R.
Hayes, Rebecca and Margaret Leslie, and O.
Sheadle, with the following officials: William D.
Sampson, president, and O. Sheadle, cashier; the
company owning its own banking house on
Liberty street.

The present condition is in every way indica-
tive of future success, and general confidence is
felt in the condition and management of the
bank.

THE CORNS IRON COMPANY ROLLING-.MILLS.

These large and flourishing works were first
established here in 1872-73 by a jomt stock
company, known as the Girard Rolling-mill com-
pany. The present company is operated by the
following officials : Henry Wick, president;
Myron C. Wick, secretary, treasurer, and general
manager, who with John C. Wick compose the
present company, the works now being superin-
tended by T. H. Joy. The works now employ
one hundred and fifty-three hands, and have
fourteen puddling furnaces, three heating fur-
naces, one eighteen-inch muck-mill, one eight-
and one ten-inch finishing-mill, two batteries, one
of four and the other of two boilers. Special
attention is paid to the manufacture of irons for
agricultural implements, guard and finger irons,
drag and brace bars, knife back, iron cylinder bar,
and tooth iron for threshing machines, also chain,
nut, and bolt iron. Present capacity nine to ten
hundred tons per month.

THE GIRARD IRON COMPANY FURNACE.

The above furnace was first located here about
1866 by John Tod, J. G. Butler, William Rich-
ards, and Joseph Fleming. The present com-
pany is composed of A. M. Byers and Joseph
Fleming of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, with W. R.
Drake, of Warren, as manager. The company
has lately made considerable repairs and many
improvements. The appliances now consist of
the furnace sixty-six feet high with boilers of

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

sixteen feet, two Robinson, Ray & Co. blowing
engines of eighty-four-inch cyUnders, four pumps,
eight cylinder boilers forty-four feet long, a cast-
iron tower with Crane Brothers' automatic hoist,
a fine stock-house two hundred feet long and
sixty wide; also two hot blasts. The furnace
has a capacity of twenty thousand tons per month,
and has convenient connections with the Ashta
bula & Painesville, also the Mahoning division
of the New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio rail-
roads.

SODOM

is a small village in the northwestern part of the
township. The settlement here was made more
prominent about 1865 when the coal bank was
opened. The place derived the name from the
following incident : About 1840, when the
temperance question was strongly agitated. Dr.
Fisher gave a lecture on that subject at Church
Hill, and those who were interested in the cause
prevailed on the doctor to deliver a lecture in
the school-house where the above village now
stands. The lecturer did not meet with the suc-
cess he anticipated, and at the next lecture at
Church Hill he jocosely remarked that he had not
been successful in his effort at the school-house
and he feared that the locality was a perfect
Sodom; and from that time this name has been
retained. The village has some lines of trade
represented but operations in mining are the
main industrial pursuits.

The Methodist Protestant church is located at
the village.

THE EVANGELICAL ASSOCLATION CHURCH.

This organization first held meetings at the
house of George Herring, where Rev. Henry
Yambert preached as early as 1822. A few
years after a church was built on the south side
of the road about one and one-fourth miles from
Girard, between Church Hill and the former vil-
lage. This building was afterwards moved to
the present location, in the northeast part of the
township.

Besides Rev. Yambert, who was the first
preacher of this denomination in the townshij),
there were many others who from time to time
served this congregation. Among these were —
Revs. Grossman, Staley, G. S. Domer, Long,
Crowther, Rank, Xim Dorsal, ]5eatty, Wyckle
HoUinger, Somcrs, IJrown, Poling, Dunlap,

Weaver, and C. F. Harting, the present pastor.

William Herring was one among the first
class-leaders, also afterwards Jacob Miller. George
Frazier, Simon Goist, and I. Smith served in this
capacity. The present class-leader is George
Frazier.

The present trustees are Jacob Miller, William
Frazier, and Simon Goist, and the society is now
under the jurisdiction of the Pittsburg con-
ference.

THE METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH.

This society was organized February 22, 1862,
by Rev. Henry Palmer. The original members
were John and Phrebe Hawkins, Julius Trues-
dale and wife, Isaac D. Bard and wife, James
H. Bard and wife, Abraham Storm and wife,
Washington Powers and wife, John Barber and
wife, Samuel McKenzie and wife, Wilson and
Mary J. Powers, Henrietta and Sylvanus Moser,
John S. Bennett and wife, Isaac Sutton, Cor-
nelius Shook, Delilah Shook, Sarah Shook,
Ann and Lucinda Storm, Arabella Deni-
son, Harriet Goist, E. E. Goudy, Frank All-
bright, Elizabeth and Julietta Miller, John
Turner, Belinda Frazier, John Miller, Maria
Hickox. John Hawkins was the first class-leader
and J. H. Bard, steward. The church building
was erected in 1872, dedicated on June 26th the
same year. Rev. Thomas H. Colhour preached
the dedication sermon. The building committee
consisted of Isaac D. Bard, J. S. Denison,
Wesley Triplet, Henry H._ Jones, and A. S.
Stewart. The following ministers have served
this congregation : Henry Palmer, J. H. Mason,
T. H. Colhour, C. P. Jordon, John Hodg-
kinson, C. P. Goodrich, McLaughlin, Henry
Palmer, C. K. Stillwagon, William H. Glad-
den, E. A. Brindley. The society belongs to the
Pittsburg conference, Trumbull circuit. The
Sabbath-school was organized in 1S62 with John
Hawkins as superintendent. The first meetings
of the society were held in the school-house of
district number four for many years previous to
the organization of the church proper. The re-
vival of 1862, under Rev. Henry Palmer, was a
special season of ingathering to the church,
since which time there have been many revivals
under the various ministers. The jiresent mem-
bership numbers thirty eight, and the society is
in good condition.

(^^(^./Ae^J^(^^

■RUMBULL AND MAHOXINC COUNTIES, OHIO.

Biographical Sketches,

PETER KLINE.

The subject of this sketch is the most exten-
sive land owner in Liberty township. His father,
Abram Khne, removed from Northampton
county, Pennsylvania, to Ohio and settled in
Voungstown township in the year 1806, on a
farm opposite the mouth of Mill creek, on the
Mahoning river. He was of German descent
and a member of the Lutheran church. He
was stern, generous, and enterprising, persever-
ing in business, but always kind and social in
his dealings. His death occurred in the year
1816, from a rupture of a blood vessel. He had
accumulated a large estate, having farmed ex-
tensively and dealt successfully in live stock.
'I'he public sale of property after his death lasted
three days. He had a love of blooded horses
and one named Messenger was purchased by
General Wadsworth, of Canfield, at the sum of
$1,000. Mr. Kline was at the tniie of his death
about forty-six years old. His family consisted
of six children. Jonathan, the oldest son, set-
tled at Canfield, where he died at the age of
seventy-five years. He was small of stature,
his weight being only one hundred and twenty-
five pounds, but his frame was strong and his
muscles wiry, being able to stand in a half
l)ushel measure and shoulder three bushels of
wheat without assistance. He left each of his
four sons, who are all living, a good farm.

Solomon, the second son of Abram Kline,
resides in Cortland, Trumbull county, and is
extensively known as a man of large accumula-
tions of money, and sagacious business talent.
He has no children.

The three oldest children of Abram Kline
were daughters — Polly married Conrad Neff and
settled in Portage county, Sally married Daniel
Everett and settled in Hubbard, Betsey married
John Neff and settled in Canfield; all three are
dead.

Peter Kline, the youngest son and subject of
an illustration, was born in Northam]jton county,
Pennsylvania, February 7, 1803. His early life
was spent on his father's farm, and later in gen-
eral farm labor for other people. In 1835 ^^
purchased sixty-six acres of land in Liberty

township, on which he settled. Having inher-
ited a strong likir.g for stock, particularly cattle,
and the kind of talent required for stock specu-
lation, he turned his attention in that direction.
He has been the most extensive cattle dealer in
the southern part of Trumbull county, and his
success is shown by the continued increase of
his farm, which now embraces over seven hun-
dred acres.

Mr. Kline was married in 1822 to Esther
Brown, daughter of Rodger Brown, who with his
family removed from Connecticut and settled in
Coitsville township. Mrs. Kline was born in
1804 and died January 20, 1877. Their family
consists of four children — Sarah, Zenas, Abram,
and Jane. Sarah was born in 1823; she was
married to John Lynch, who died at Meadville,
Pennsylvania, leaving four children — Lucy, Lois,
John, and Charles. Lois was married to John
McMuUen, and has one child living named Lois,
a granddaughter of Peter Kline; Lucy is married
to Lyman Lease. Sarah married for her second
husband Joseph Wilson, of Weathersfield, where
she resides.

Zenas, second child of Peter Kline, was born
March 28, 1828; was married to Malinda Hooks
and lives in Liberty township.

Abram Kline was born May 5, 1831; was mar-
ried to Lucy McCartney, of Coitsville, and lives
at Church Hill, in Liberty township.

Jane Kline was born August 27, 1836; was
married to Rev. Charles W. Reeves, and resides
in Warren.

Mr. Kline was married August i, 1S77, to
Elizabeth Tayler, widow of George Tayler, of
Warren, and daughter of Elliott Woodbridge, of
Youngstown, and a great-granddaughter of Presi-
dent Jonathan Edwards, the illustrious New En-
gland preacher and philosopher. She was born
April 9, 1 819, and married to George Tayler, a
sketch of whom will be found elsewhere in this
volume. After his death, in 1864, she continued
to reside in Warren until her marriage with Mr.
Kline.

An excellent bed of coal was found on Mr.
Kline's farm at Church Hill, in 1867, and a mine
was opened the following year by Tod, Stam-
baugh & Co., lessees. It has been successfully
and extensively operated ever since, bringing to
its owner large revenues.

Mr. Kline is healthy, active, and strong.

TRU.N[BULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

Though eighty years of age he has the promise
of several years of Hfe yet. His physical powers
have never been impaired by strong drink, as
was too frequently the case with men of his bus-
iness and period of early life. He has made
total abstinence a life principle, and has rigidly
adhered to that principle. His whole family in
this respect have made him their e.xample. He
is using his large fortune liberally in the su])port
of charities and fur the benefit of his family.

NOTES OF SETTLE.MENT.

John Denison settled in Liberty in the first
settlement of the township. He was a native of
county Down, Ireland. He erected a rude pole
shanty in the east part of the township, in the
place where Stewart Denison now lives; purchas-
ing six hundred and forty acres of land, and lived
there until his death, October 29, 1821. He
was seventy-three years of age at the time of his
death. His children were Samuel, James, Hen-
ry, John, David, and Margaret, all now dead.
Samuel, the oldest of the children, married Betsy
Stewart, and lived upon the old homestead.
They were the parents of twelve children, of
whom ten are yet living. Samuel Denison was a
leading farmer in his township, and an influen-
tial and enterprising citizen. He held the oiifice
of justice of the peace for thirty-five years. He
died in 1869 at the age of eighty-seven or eighty-
eight. The surviving members of the family are
Frances, John, Mary (Holland), Stewart, Calvin,
Eliza (Applegate), Sarah (McMullen), Amy
(Henderson), Esther (Bailey), and Margaret; all
reside on a part of the original farm in Liberty
except John, who resides in Champion, Mrs.
Holland in Mahoning county, and Mrs. .Apple-
gate in Youngstown. John Denison is a farmer
of Champion, born June 4, 1818. He has been
married twice. Stewart Denison, born in 1822,
married in 1845 Rosannah Russel, of Vienna.

Samuel Goist was born in Lancaster county,
Pennsylvania, June 3, 1801. His father, George
Cioist, was a native of Pennsylvania. He came
to Ohio in 1801 or 1802, in company with two
of the family, coming on a flat-boat of their own
construction as far as Beaver, then by teams
through the wilderness to Liberty township,
where they all settled. Mr. Goist began in the

woods but soon had a good farm under cultiva-
tion, and lived upon this until his death. There
were six children in his family, three boys and
three girls. All of the girls are living. Mr.
Samuel Goist learned the wagonmakers' trade
and followed this occupation until within a short
time before his death, which accidentally occurred
on November 7, 1878, caused by being thrown
out of a buggy. Mrs. Samuel Goist, daughter
of Isaac Hoffman, was born in Chester county,
Pennsylvania, August 26, 1806. She is still liv-
ing with one of her daughters, and is a smart,
energetic lady. There were born to Mr. and
Mrs. Goist eight children, five of whom are
living. Mr. John M. Goist, one of the sons, of
whom this information was obtained, resides in
Liberty township. He was married in 1861
to Miss Rebecca Hoffman, daughter of Wash-
ington Hoffman, of Allegheny county, Pennsyl-
vania. Three children were the fruits of this
union. Mrs. Goist died in 1869. Mr. Goist
was married in 187 1 to Miss Mary A. Kirk,
daughter of Josiah Kirk, of Jackson township,
Mahoning county. One child by this marriage.
He has made farming his chief occupation
though has worked some at wagon-making and
milling.

Simon Goist was born in Liberty township in
1835. His father, Samuel Goist, was one of the
early settlers of the township. Mr. Goist has
always lived in Liberty. Farming and milling
have been his chief occupations. He was mar-
lied in 1858 to Miss Mary A. Shiveley, daughter of
Daniel Shiveley, of Liberty township. They
have three children — Alice L., William H., and
Iva F. Mr. Goist is a member of the Independ-
ent Order of Odd Fellows, and also of the
Grangers.

John C. \\'ilkin, an old resident of Liberty
township, was born in Allegheny county, Penn-
sylvania, October 16, 1804. His father, John, a
native of Ireland, came to America in an early
day and located in Allegheny county, where he
was engaged in farming for many years. He
died in Pittsburg, leaving a family of nine chil-
dren, three of whom are living. Mr. Wilkin
purchased land in Liberty, previous to 1800,
though he soon sold it, as he did not care to go
into a country where there were more Indians
than while men. .Mr. John Wilkin came to
Ohio in 1834 and settled in Champion township,

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

443

Trumbull county. He here began in the woods,
but soon had a good farm as a reward for his
hard labors. He lived here ten years, and then
moved to Howland township where he resided
seven years, then back to Champion for seven
years, then to Liberty, where we now find him.
He has a good farm of one hundred acres. He
was married in 1826 to Miss Mary Scott, daugh-
ter of William Scott, of Pennsylvania. He had
nine children by this marriage. Mrs. Wilkin
died in 1845. In 1847 Mr. Wilkin was again
married — to Miss Rosannah Oaks, daughter of
Isaac Oaks, of Pennsylvania. There were five
children by this marriage. Mrs. Wilkin died in
1856. For his third wife Mr. Wilkin married
in 1857 Miss Matilda Clark, daughter of
William Clark, of Liberty township, by whom
he had one child. She died in 1866. He
was married the fourth time in 1867 to
Miss Elizabeth Oaks, a sister of his second
wife. Mr. Wilkin is a member of the Presbyte-
rian church; Mrs. Wilkin of the Baptist church.
Mr. Wilkin is still an active, energetic man, a
good neighbor and citizen.

William Ward, a well-known resident of Trum-
bull county, was born in England in 1806, Janu-
ary nth, and came to .'\merica in 1818 with his
parents, William and Sarah Ward. They at once
went to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where they
lived till their deaths. Mr. Ward, the subject of
this sketch, came to Ohio in 1826 and located
at New Lisbon, where he was engaged in the
iron business two years, then went back to Pitts-
burg, where he manufactured nails fourteen years.
He then moved to Niles, Ohio, where he and
his brother, James Ward, and Thomas Russell
built the iron mills of James Ward & Co. Mr.
Ward resided at Niles thirty-six years. He came
to Girard in 1878, and is now engaged in farm-
ing. He was married in 1825 to Miss Ann Mc-
intosh, daughter of Duncan Mcintosh. Ten
children were the fruits of this union, five of
whom are living. Mr. and Mrs. Ward are mem-
bers of the Presbyterian church. In politics he
is a firm Re]3ublican. He has been one of the
active business men of the county, and is held in
esteem by all.

James B. McClelland, an old resident of Lib-
erty township, was born in Liberty, April 10,
181 1. His father, William McClelland, came
from Pennsylvania or New Jersey, somewhere

near Monmouth, though he was living in Greene
county, Pennsylvania, when he came to Ohio,
which was in 1805. He located in Liberty town-
ship, and was one of the early settlers, and knew
well from experience what the trials and hard-
ships were to which the pioneers were subject.
He cleared up a good farm and resided upon it
till his death, which occurred January 23, 1843.
Mr. William McClelland was a member of the
Presbyterian church, of which he was an elder
for many years, being appointed when he was
twenty-four years of age. Three of his children
lived to maturity — Robert, Ann, James. Mr.
James McClelland has always lived near his old
home. He has made farming an occupation,
though not exclusively. He has been justice of
the peace six years, giving the best of satisfac-
tion in his ofificial position. He is a stanch
Republican and a worthy citizen.

Abner Osborn, a well-known resident of Lib-
erty township, was born in Youngstown township,
September 5, rSio. His father, Joseph Osborn,
was born in Virginia and came to Ohio in 1S04,
locating in Youngstown township, Trumbull
county (now Mahoning), and was among the
early pioneers. Like other old settlers in the
wild country of Ohio at the time, he began in
the woods with a dense wilderness about him
in all directions, though he succeeded in making
a good farm and lived upon this till his death,
which occurred February 17, 1846, aged seven-
ty-two years. There were eight children in his
family, four of whom are now living. Mr. Ab-
ner Osborn came to Girard in 1841. He helped
build the present grist-mill in company with Jo-
siah Robins and Jesse Baldwin. Mr. Osborn
has been engaged in various occupations. In
connection with farming he is interested in coal
business in Carroll and Columbiana counties.
He was married in 1839, to Miss Abigail Allison,
of New Lisbon, Columbiana county. Six chil-
dren have been born to them, five of whom are
living. One son was killed in the Rebellion.
Mrs. Osborn is a member of the Methodist
church. Politically Mr. Osborn is a good Dem-
ocrat and is one of the enterprising men of the
county.

Edward Mahan was born in 1812 in Ireland,
and came to America in 1831, landing in Que-
bec after a perilous voyage of five weeks and
four days. His father, Thomas, came to America

444

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

about eighteen months afterwards, and at once
came to Ohio where his son resided in Trumbull
county. Here here mained several years, then
went to Guernsey county, Ohio, where he died in
1 841. There were nine children in his family,
five boys and four girls. Six of the children
came to this country. Mrs. Mahan died in
Bristol some years after the death of Mr. Mahan.
Mr. Edward Mahan has always lived in Liberty
township since 1831, with the exception of
eighteen months in Guernsey county. He
learned the brick makers' trade and followed this
for over thirty years, then went upon the farm
where we now find him. He was married in
1835 to Miss Lydia McFarland, daughter of Wil-
liam McFarland, of Coitsville, Mahoning county.
'I'hey have had twelve children, all of whom are
living and are the joy of their parents in their
old age. Mr. and Mrs. Mahan are members of
the Methodist church and are good citizens.

Gideon Carlton, an old resident of Trumbull
county, was born in Austintown, June 10, 1S12.
His father, John C, a native of New Jersey,
came to Ohio in a very early day, and was
among the pioneers of the section. Mr. Gideon
Carlton lived in Austintown till he was eighteen
years of age, then went to Lordstown with his
parents and resided there till 1845, when he
moved to Champion township, living there five
years, then came to Liberty township and made
It his home till 1864, then moved to Weathers-
field township and remained there till 1879, then
moved back to Liberty, where we now find him
on the north half of his father's old farm. He
was married in 1835 to Miss Mary Brougher,
daughter of John Brougher of Youngstown. By
this union there were seven children. Mrs.
Carlton died in March, 1850. Mr. Carlton was
married the second time on October 10, 1850,
to Mrs. .Sarah McKinley, daughter of Archibald
Prince, of Hubbard. He had four children by
this marriage, two of whom are living, Mrs.
Charlton is a member of the Disciple church. In
jiolitics Mr. Carlton is a firm Republican, and is
held in high esteem by all

K. T. Adams, an old resident of Trumbull
county, was born in Weathersfield township,
September 23, 1817. His father, David .\. Ad-
ams, came from Connecticut in an early day and
located in Weathersfield township, and was one
of the first settlers. He livctl in Weathersfield

till his death on October 3, 1855. ^.e was born
February 10, 1784. Mrs. Adams was born
April 26, 1794. She died December 21, 1864.
There were seven children in the family — four
boys and three girls. Mr. F. T. Adams has al-
ways lived in the county, is engaged in general
farming, and has one hundred and fifty-eight acres
of land. He was married in 184810 Miss Eliza-
beth Nelson, daughter of John Nelson, of Lib-
erty township. This union has been blessed
with six children, two of whom are living —
Charles F. and Calvin A. Mrs. .Xdams is a
member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. ,\d-
ams is a Republican and a good citizen.

John B. Tully, a well known resident of Lib-
erty township, was born September 4, 18 17.
His father, James Tully, was born in Lancaster
county, Pennsylvania, and came to Ohio in an
early day. John P. Tully, father of James, came
from Ireland before the Revolutionary war. He
was a cooper by trade though he did not follow
this exclusively, as he was upon the sea several
years — made a voyage to the East Indies. Dur-
ing the Revolutionary war he was taken prisoner
at Quebec. After the war he settled in Virginia
for a short time, when, having trouble with the
Indians, he moved to Westmoreland county,
Pennsylvania, and from there to Washington
county. He particijwted in the famous whiskey
insurrection at Ginger Hill. In the spring of
1804 he came to Ohio and located in Liberty
township upon the farm where Mr. J. B. Tully
now lives, having previously purchased it. He
cleared up a fine farm and lived upon it until his
death, in 1830. There were seven children in
the family. Mr. James Tully lived upon the
farm until 1861, his death occurring in this year.
Mrs. Tully died in 1852. There were four chil-
dren in this family. Mr. John B. Tully, the
subject of this sketch, lives upon the old home
farm ; he is engaged in general farming, though
he works at his trade some — that of a carpenter,
also wagon-making. He was man led in 1850 to
Miss May J. McGlathery, daughter of Joseph
McGlathery, of Liberty township. Three chil-
dren are the fruits of this marriage : Josephine
A., Hagar, Austa. Hagar is deceased. Mrs. Tully
and her daughter are members of the Disciple
church. Mr. Tully is one of the substantial citi
zens of the township.

James Tully, biclher of John li. Tully, was

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

445

born in Liberty township in 1824, and has
always hved upon the old home larni. He has
one hundred and thirty-two acres of excellent
land. He was married in 1850 to Miss Emily,
daughter of Samuel Geddis, of Liberty town-
ship. They have had five children, three of
whom are living. In religion Mr. Tully is very
liberal.

Jonathan Shook was born in 1823 in Colum-
biana county, Ohio. His father, Jacob Shook,
was a native of Pennsylvania, and came to Ohio
in an early day and settled in Columbiana
county, where he resided several years, then
moved to Liberty townshi[), Trumbull county,
where he lived until his death, in 185S; Mrs.
Shook died in 1836 or 1837. Five children in
the family, three of whom are living. Mr. John
Shook is engaged in general farming and is one
o( the successful farmers of the township. He
was married in 1845, 'o Miss Leah Hays, daugh-
ter of William Hays, of Liberty township. Seven
children have been born to them, five of whom
are living. Mrs. Shook died in 1878. Mr.
Shook is one of the most enterprising men of
the township, and is held in high esteem.

H. P. Gilbert was born in Austintown town-
ship in 1818. His father, Henry Gilbert, was
born in Pennsylvania, and came to Ohio in
company with his parents and settled in Austin-
town township, Trumbull county, now Mahon-
ing. He moved to Liberty township in 1821,
where he worked as a carpenter until 1837, when
he went to Bazetta township and cleared up a
farm, living there until his death, which occurred
in 185s or 1856. There were ten children in
his family, four of whom are living. Mrs. Gil-
bert died in 1861. Mr. H. P. Gilbert has lived
in Trumbull county since 1821, with the excep-
tion of a short time ; was engaged in mercan-
tile business at Austintown twenty-seven years,
though is now interested in coal. He was mar-
ried in 1845, to Miss Laura A. Rush, daughter
of Abner Rush, of Liberty township. Five
children have been born to them, three of whom
are living. Mrs. Gilbert is a member of the
Presbyterian church. Mr. Gilbert was in the
One Hundred and Fifth Ohio infantry, was dis-
charged in 1865 for disability. He is a Repub-
lican.

J. C. Bowman, M. 1)., an old physician of
Girard, was born in FJktoii township, C'olum-

biana county, Ohio, in 18 19. His father, David,
was a native of York county, Pennsylvania, and
came to Ohio in an early day, settling in Elkton
township, where he lived till his death, which
occurred in 1819. Dr. Bowman studied medi-
cine with Dr. Hahn, of North Lima, Columbi-
ana county; attended lectures at Ann Arbor,
Michigan, and graduated at the Eclectic Medi-
cal institute in Philadelphia, in 1855. He prac-
ticed several years in Beaver township, Colum-
biana county, now Mahoning, before graduating.
Since 1855 he has practiced in Southington,
Beaver, and Girard, coming to Girard in 1862.
He has a good practice. He was married in
1840 to Miss Sophia Hahn, daughter of John
Hahn. of Reaver township. They have had
seven children, three of whom are living. Mr.
and Mrs. Bowman are members of the Evan-
gelical Association. In politics Mr. Bowman was
formerly a staunch Abolitionist, but is now a
firm Greenbacker, being strongly opposed to
National banks. He is a good physician, and is
held in esteem by all.

William Rayen, one of the old residents of
Girard, was born in Venango county, Pennsyl-
vania, May 3, 182 1. His father, John Rayen,
was a Pennsylvanian and came to Ohio in 1827,
and located at Youngstown when it was a very
small place, and farmed upon what is now
a part of the city. He lived here till 1833,
when he moved to Champion township, where
he resided till his death, which occurred in 1852,
leaving a family of seven children and widow to
mourn his loss. Two of the children died be-
fore this. Mrs. Rayen is still living. Mr.
William Rayen came to Girard in 1853 or 1854,
and has been engaged in business at this place
ever since; first in the flax business, afterward
in mercantile, in which we now find him. He
was married in 1849 to Miss Lucy Moser, daugh-
ter of John Moser, of Liberty township. They
have had three children, two of whom are living.
Mr. Rayen is one of the active business men of
the township. Politically he has been a Repub-
lican, though is inclined toward Greenbackism.

William Wilson was born in Weathersfield
township in 1822. His father, Edward Wilson,
was born in Youngstown township; he died in
1836, leaving a family of eight children. Mr.
William Wilson, grandfather of Joseph, was
born upon the ocean while his ]iareiits were on

446

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

their way to America. He came to Ohio about
1800 and was among the pioneers of Ohio.
There were two or three houses in Youngstown at
that day. He cleared up a good farm, which re-
mains in the family. Mr. Joseph AVilson was
well known throughout this part of the Reserve
as a great hunter. Mr. William Wilson came to
Liberty township in 1847, from Niles, and set-
tled in Girard. About five years ago he moved
upon the farm where he now lives. He is a
wagonmaker by trade, though he follows farming
to some extent. He was married in 1845 to
Miss Martha McCartney, daughter of Andrew-
McCartney, of Liberty township. They have
had si.x children, four of whom are living. Mr.
and Mrs. Wilson are members of the Methodist
church. He is a Republican.

J. B. Hood was born in Liberty township,
Trumbull county, in 1830. His father, Amos
Hood, came from Washington county, Pennsyl-
vania, to Ohio in 1808, in company with his
father, George Hood, and settled in Liberty
township near the center of the town. Mr.
(ieorge Hood was a pioneer and passed through
the trials and hardships incident to pioneer life.
He began in the wilderness and cleared up a
good farm. He died in 1846. There were nine
children in his family, six boys and three girls.
Mr. Hood was a farmer by occupation. Mrs.
Hood died in 1852 or 1853. Mr. Amos Hood
spent the most of his life in Liberty. He died
in December, 1873. Mi's- Hood, wife of Amos
Hood, died in May, 1864. There were five
children in the family, three of whom are living.
Mr. J. B. Hood has ever lived in Liberty town-
ship. He is engaged in general farming and is
highly esteemed by all. He was married in
1856 to Miss Elizabeth Strock, daughter of John
Strock, of Southington. They have two children
— Vernetia and Ellis R. Politically Mr. Hood
is a firm Democrat.

W. B. Sampson was born in Westmoreland
county, Pennsylvania, in February, 1831. His
father, William Sampson, was a native of Pennsyl-
vania and lived and died there. Mr. W. B.
Sampson came to Ohio in 1843, and lias since
lived at Church Hill, Liberty township. He
married Miss Amanda Walker, daughter of Dr.
R. H. Walker, of Church Hill, in 1855. They
h.ive had four children, H.Utie J., John W., Wil-
liam H., and Robert H. Mrs. Sampson is a

member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Samp-
son is quite extensively engaged in stock busi-
ness, and is one of the energetic, wide-awake
farmers of old Trumbull. He is a staunch Re-
publican.

Dr. John McCartney, a well-known physician
of Girard, was born in Girard September 26,
1838. His father, James McCartney, a native of
of Ohio, is now living at Girard. Dr. McCart-
ney studied medicine with Isaac Barclay, M. D.,
and attended lectures at Cleveland Medical col-
lege, and graduated in 1861. He has since
practiced at Girard with the exception of three
years at Hubbard. Dr. McCartney has built up
a good practice. He was married in 1872 to
Mrs. Sarah Packard, daughter of John Crum,
of .\ustintown township. Mrs. McCartney died
in 1875. She was a member of the Lutheran
church. Dr. McCartney is a Free Mason — ])o-
litically a good Democrat.

George H. Beaver, a representative of an old
family of Liberty township, was born in Liberty
October 27, 1843. His father, Samuel Beaver,
was a native of Perry county, Pennsylvania, and
came to Ohio in 1822 in company with John
Stambaugh, of Youngstown. He came to Lib-
erty township in 1832 and settled upon a farm
in the southeastern part of the township. He
died in 1880. There were eleven children in
the family, five of whom are living. Mrs. Bea-
ver is still living. Mr. George Beaver has always
lived in the county, residing in Hubbard twelve
years and the remaining time in Liberty town-
ship. Farming has been his chief business,
though he has been engaged in the stock and
sheep business more or less. He was married
in October, 1867, to Miss Rebecca D. Miller,
daughter of Jacob Miller, of Liberty tovvnshi|).
They have three children. Mr. Beaver has been
township trustee two years, also school director
and member of board of education.

John Walters was born in Germany December
9, 1820. He came to America about 1848, and
at once came to Ohio and located in Warren,
Trumbull county, residing here one year, then
went to Youngstown, living there about twelve
months, then to Liberty township, where he was
engaged in the coal business for a short time,
then came to Girard and went into mercantile
business, in which he remained till his death,
which was accidentally caused by the explosion

■RUiMUULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

447

of kerosene oil, December lo, 1861, leaving a
family of nine children and a widow to mourn
his loss. He was a member of the Lutheran
church and was highly esteemed by his fellow-
townsmen. He was married in 1S46 to Miss
Sophia Bishop, daughter of Jonas Bishop. She
was born in 1826.

George Lotze was born in Germany in 1830,
and came to America in 1850 landing in New
York. He lived in Rochester and vicinity about
two years, then moved to Sharon, Pennsylvania,
where he resided three years, being employed as
an engineer and manager m furnace in the mean-
time. He then came to Ohio in 1855 and
worked one year in Vienna at his trade — black-
smithing. He then moved to Weathersfieid
township, living here one year, and in 1857 came
to Girard and has since resided here. He is
now engaged in the jewelry business in connec-
tion with the drug business, being assisted by his
son. He was married in 1853 to Miss Catharine
Kick, daughter of Henry Kick, of Germany.
They have had seven children, six of whom are
living. Mr. and Mrs. Lotze are members of the
German Reform church. He is a member of
the Knights of Pythias. Politically, a sound
Democrat.

T. F. Hawley, a well known druggist of
Girard, was born in Painesville, Ohio, in 1840.
His father, Cyrus A. Hawley, was born in Fair-
field county, Connecticut, and came to Paines-
ville in 1834, and was among the first business
men of the town. He was engaged in the drug
business in Painesville till 1853, and then traveled
six years through the South for a firm in Phila-
delphia. He came to Girard in 1867. Mr. T.
F. Hawley has been engaged in the drug busi-
ness at Girard since 1867. He was married in
1865 to Miss Flora Spencer, daughter of H. N.
Spencer, of Geauga county, Ohio. They have
two children. Mr. Hawley has been postmaster
ten or twelve years, and is at the present time.
He is a member of the Masonic lodge at Youngs-
town. He was in the Nineteenth Ohio infantry
three months, and afterwards in the Forty-first
Ohio, and served throughout the war, enlisting
in 1861 and discharged in 1865. Mr. Hawley
may well take pride in his military record. He
was wounded six times and carries as many scars
to this day.

Frederick Krehl, an enterprising business

man of Girard, was born in Germany in 1840,
and came to America in 1853. He at once
came to Ohio and located in Canfield, Mahon-
ing county, where he resided about four years,
and then went to Poland township, remaining
two years, when he came to Girard, where we
now find him extensively engaged in the tannery
business, employing between thirty-five and forty
men most of the time. He rebuilt the tannery
he now occupies in i860, though he has made
many additions, thus making one of the largest
tannery establishments in northeastern Ohio.
He was married in 1861 to Miss Sanzenbacher,
daughter of Jacob Sanzenbacher, of Lawrence
county, Pennsylvania. By this union there were
three children. Mrs. Krehl died in 1870, and Mr.
Krehl was married in 1872 to Miss Mary Krehl,
daughter of Frederick Krehl, of Indiana. There
were three children by this marriage. Mr. and
Mrs. Krehl are members of the Lutheran church.
Mr. Krehl is an active, wide-awake business man.

C. D. Goodrich was born in Hubbard in 1843.
His father, Roswell Goodrich, was a native of
Connecticut, and came to Ohio in 1838 or 1839,
and settled in Hubbard, where he was engaged
in a grist-mill until 1844, when he removed to
Liberty township and purchased the Holliday
mills. Mr. Goodrich resided here until 1852,
then moved to Vienna township where he lived
until his death, which occurred in 1853, aged
seventy-three years. Mr. C. D. Goodrich, the
subject of this sketch, came to Girard in March,
i860, and learned the cabinet-maker's trade,
serving three years as an apprentice and one
year as a journeyman, then began business for him-
self in 1864 in Hubbard and remained in it six
months, then came back to Girard, where he has
since been one of the active business men. He
was married in 1864 to Miss Mary A. "Keefer,
daughter of John Keefer, of Mercer county,
Pennsylvania. They have had seven children,
six of whom are living. Mr. Goodrich is a
Free Mason, Odd Fellow, and Knight of Pythias.
He has been justice of the peace for ten years,
also township trustee, and member of board of
education; politically he is a Republican.

Dr. A. J. Brooks was born in Weathersfieid
township, Trumbull county, Ohio, September
II, 1844. His father, Thomas Brooks, a native
of Ohio, IS still living in Weathersfieid. The
family are among the early settlers of the town-

448

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

ship. Dr. Brooks studied medicine with Dr.
Casper, of Niles, and graduated at the Cleveland
Medical college in 1871, and has since practiced
at Niles, Church Hill, and Girard, coming to the
latter place in November, 1880. Dr. Brooks has
a good practice and is well liked. He was mar-
ried in 1873 to ^I'ss Sylvia J. VanHorn, daugh-
ter of Abram VanHorn, of Carroll county, Ohio.
They have two children, Hattie A. and Harvey
T. Mr. and Mrs. Brooks are members of the
Disciple church. He is a member of the For-
esters ; politically he is a Republican.

Isaac Hartzell, a well-known merchant of
Girard, a member of the firm of Hartzell Bros.,
was born in Germany in 185 1, and came to
America in 1867, and at once came to Ohio
and located at Girard, where he has been in bus-
iness. The firm does an extensive business in
dry goods, hats, caps, etc. He was married in
1877 to Miss Rachel Lambert, daughter of S. J.
Lambert, of Kansas. They have one child,
Blanche. In politics he is a Conservative.
He is an active business man.

CHAPTER XIV.

VIENNA.

Vienna has a gently undulating surface and a
fertile soil, consisting of clayey loam with some
sand and gravel in places. Most of tlie land is
free from excessive moisture, and is well adapted
to agriculture and grazing. The drainage is by
several small water-courses flowing toward all
points of the compass.

The township is thickly populated and con-
tains a large number of fine houses, large and
well improved farms and other evidences of the
thrift and prosperity of its farmers.

The mineral resources of Vienna have been
found most valuable. A good quality of coal is
found, and mining has been carried on quite
extensively from 186S until very recently. Quite
a large mining village, which sprang up east of
Vienna center, is now in a state of dilapidation,
partly deserted, showing plainly that the coal
interest is now on the wane, the best mines hav-
ing been worked out.

Vienna center, a quiet and pretty country vil-

lage, is on the mail route from Warren to
Sharon. The place contains two churches, two
hotels, four stores, a drug store, and a book store,
as well as shops of various kinds. Brookfield
station, on the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern
road, three miles east, is the nearest railroad sta-
tion for passengers. The Vienna branch of the
New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio railroad passes
near the village, but this road no longer runs
passenger trains.

Vienna lies east of Howland townshi]), north
of Liberty, and south of Fowler. Brookfield ad-
joins it upon the east. Vienna is the fourth
township in the second range.

.SETTLEMENT.

The territory now known as Brookfield and
Vienna was originally owned by Uriel Holmes,
Ephraim Root, and Timothy Burr, of Connecti-
cut. Mr. Holmes was principal agent, and in
1798 came out with a surveying party to lay out
the farms. The part of the country chosen for
the first settlement was Vienna. After spending
some time here the party returned to the East,
and in the spring of 1799 came again to Vienna
bringing others with them, for the purpose of
settlement. Isaac Flower and Dennis Palmer
brought their families ; no other families came
until 1802.

Isaac Flower, according to good authority,
made a permanent settlement in the year 1799.
His second wife, the widow of Asa Foote, lived
to be one hundred years old, and was the oldest
person that ever died in the township. Dorothy
Gates, mother-in-law of Solomon Payne, was the
next oldest, and died at the age of ninety-nine.
Lavinia Flower, daughter of Isaac and Bathsheba
Flower, was the first white child born in Vienna.
She was born in 1801, and died in 1881. She
became Mrs. Steele and lived in Painesville,
Ohio. Isaac Flower died in 1S13, at the age of
fifty-seven.

Levi Foote, step-son of P'lower, came into
this township early, but settled in Fowler.

Of Dennis Palmer but little is known, save
that he was one of the surveying party in the
employ of Mr. Holmes. Among this party was
a young man named Samuel Hutchins, who had
been brought up by Holmes. For his services
rendered the surveyors he was allowed to choose
one hundred acres from any part of the town-
ship. He selected land on the east and west

<Z^c/tci M?a o'^-^/i?^^ CO

f 4

y^^^e/Y^. c^.

TRUMBULL AND ALVHONLN'G COUN I'lLS, OHIO.

center road, three-fourths of a mile west of the
place now known as Payne's corners ; this was
probably the first farm owned by any inhabitant
of the township. In 1802 he married Freelove
Flower, and settled upon his land, where he lived
until too old to labor ; then moved to Warren.
His marriage was the first that took place in
Vienna.

In 1802 Isaac Woodford and family settled
south of the center on lot twenty-five. 'This
made the third family m Vienna. They came
from Connecticut by way of Pittsburg with o.x
teams and the old Yankee ox-cart, and the
greater part of the way from Youngstown to
Vienna, they were obliged to cut their way
through the woods. Deacon Woodford, as he
was generally called, was a pious, God-fearing
man. At the age of twenty-four he united with
the church in his native town, and throughout
his life adhered to the motto, " As for me and
my house, we will serve the Lord." After his
arrival in the new settlement, he commenced
holding regular religious services on the Sabbath.
Up to this time there had been no religious
meetings of any kind. He not unfrequently was
the only one to take the lead in the meetings
and the Sabbath-school. He was also instru-
mental in forming the Presbyterian church of
Vienna. Deacon Woodford died at the age of
sixty-four years.

The year 1802 also brought from Connecticut
the families of Joel and Isaac Humason, Simeon
Wheeler, Seth Bartholomew, and Sylvester
Woodford. About the same time came Samuel
Clinton, who located near the center. Joel and
Isaac Humason settled on the farms now owned
by George Patterson and Henry Fowler; Simeon
Wheeler on the I. B. J'ayne farm; Woodford on
the George Chamberlain farm; and Bartholomew
on the Niles ro.^d. Some of these settlers had
been in the township working upon their lands
and preparing homes for their families every
summer from 1798 until the time of their re-
moval.

In 1803 or 1804 Samuel Lowrey and Samuel
Lowery, Jr., settled on the Rogers farm west of
the center. Other settlers of about the same
period were Joseph and Abiel Bartholomew,
Isaac Scott, William Clinton, and Calvin Mun-
son. In 1805 these were followed by John
Clark, Shelden Scofield, Andrew, Hugh, and

James Mackey, William Lafferty and his son
John, Chauncy Hicko.x, and J. J. Truesdell. In
1807 Epenetus Rogers (one of the original sur-
veying party) and Jesse Munson arrived. Few
came in the years 1808-9-10. In 181 1 Amasa
Scoville and Job and Noah Wheeler settled.

Darius Woodford, who located on lot ten, a
younger brother of Isaac Woodford, came to the
township about the year 1804, and lived until he
attained the ripe old age of eighty-eight years.
He was among those who came in those very
early days from Connecticut to Vienna, and by
whose industry and energy the forests were con-
verted into fruitful fields and comfortable homes,
and a foundation laid for the present prosperity
we find in all parts of the township. Mr. Wood-
ford was oneof the earliest temperance advocates
in the township, and certainly this fact is worthy
of record, for he lived when the times demanded
for every half day of log-rolling or barn-raising a
good quantity of whiskey. Those early pioneers
were very friendly, and during the first years of
the settlement liberally assisted each other in
erecting houses, barns, stables. The people
would turn out en masse and in a single day
would perform wonders. It has been stated in
a reminiscence given by I. B. Payne that when
Samuel Hutchins' barn was struck by lightning
the neighbors for quite a distance turned out,
hewed the timber for another, framed it, raised
the barn, put on the roof, and siding, shaving the
shingles (from the tree) finishing it all up and
hauling in a load of hay in a single day. The
barn was 28x38 feet and is still standing and in
good repair. He says a barn for Mr. Giddings
and a house for Jared Spencer were built in the
same way, one day for each building. These
were in the west part of Brookfield township,
which was then part of Vienna. These whole-
souled men, generous to a fault, needed restrain-
ing influences of good men like the Woodfords
to establish Christian principles for the coming
generation.

James J. Truesdell, a native of Connecticut,
came to the township in 1805, and settled in the
southwestern part, where he remained until his
seventy-seventh year, when he died in the year
1852. His was of the earliest families who came
to the township. He was a prominent man of
his day, and served as justice of the peace in all
about eighteen years.

45°

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

His son, Harry Truesdell, now residing a short
distance north of Menna center, is a representa-
tive of former times, having been born the 20th
of August in the year 1799, and is now in the
eighty-third year of age. In 1834 he was mar-
ried to Miss Emeline Woodford, the oldest
living representative of Deacon Woodford, and
a relative of Governor Woodford of Connecticut.
Mr. Truesdell served as justice of the peace
twenty-one years between 1842 and 1872.

Mr. and Mrs. Truesdell are in the enjoyment
of remarkable health and strength of mind for
people of their age. They possess powers of
recollection to a remarkable degree, and have
been useful members of society in their long
earthly sojourn in this land.

The foregoing list gives the names of those
early settlers who came at a time when the town-
ship was an unbroken forest, abounding in all
kinds of game — bear, wolves, deer, turkeys, etc. —
from which the pioneers were supplied with all
the meat they had. Rude cabins of logs were
put up, covered with bark, greased paper serving
in place of window-glass. Huge chimneys con-
structed of sticks and mortar, with a fire-place,
served as a place to cook their frugal meals and
to warm them, the light of the fire serving to
light the whole cabin. Cabins being erected, the
next thing was to clear some land, and they went
at it with a will. The forest began to melt away
before the woodman's a.\ and let the sun shine
in and around the cabins. Corn was planted,
but coons, squirrels, and other animals shared
with the settlers, leaving but little oftentimes for
the harvest. Wheat was sown afterwards and
with better success, but the one great difficulty
with the new comers was the need of a mill where
wheat could be ground. The most convenient
one in the whole country was at Beaver, Penn-
sylvania, and that was fifty miles away. The
little settlement would send one of their num-
ber with an ox cart loaded with wheat made up
by the different families, each sending a little, to
be ground. This trip usually took about a
week's time, but the journey was so long, tedious,
and irksome, that the hand mill was resorted to.
This mill was simply a large mortar into which
the grain was put and pounded with a large pes-
tle until fine enough for use. The block was
cut from some huge tree, and then by burning
and cutting away the center a large hole was

made. The pestle was made from a sapling or
piece of timber. The grain, alter being pound-
ed fine enough for cooking purposes, needed
seasoning to render it palatable. For salt the
settlers had to go to the salt springs in Weathers-
field township with their kettles, and boil salt
for a week or ten days, and then get but little.

About the year 18 14 Alexander Stewart, from
Center county, Pennsylvania, purchased quite a
large tract of land in the southeast corner of the
township and settled there with quite a large
family. His descendants still living on the same
lands are now quite numerous.

The settlement had received a serious back-set
during the war with Great Britain, but after its
conclusion many families arrived who, after hard
labor, gained pleasant homes and prosperity.

ORG.\NIZATION.

In March, 1806, townships number four, in
the first and second ranges, were separated from
the remaining territory of Hartford and Vernon
and constituted an election district under the
name of Vienna. In 1810 this territory was di-
vided and Vienna and Brookfield townships or-
ganized.

The commissioners of Trumbull county, on
the 6th day of Match, 1806, ordered that an
election be held on the first Monday of April
following at the house of Simon Wheeler, now
Payne's corners. Accordingly the qualified
electors met at the time and place appointed,
and then and there proceeded to elect township
officers. The meeting was called to order and
elected Robert Hughes, chairman; Samuel Clin-
ton and James Montgomery, judges; Dennis C.
Palmer and Jacob Humason, clerks. The fol-
lowing IS the ticket elected that day: Isaac
Woodford, Isaac P'lower, Jr., William Clinton,
trustees; Robert Hughes, treasurer; Isaac Huma-
son, constable; Dennis C. Palmer, township
clerk; Samuel Hutchins, Robert Hughes, fence
viewers; Joseph Bartholomew, Slevin Higby,
overseers of the poor; Isaac Lloyd, lister; Isaac
Lowrey, appraiser; Joel Humason, Jacob Mid-
dleswath, supervisors.

On the 7th day of July, 1809, Shelden Sco-
field was qualified as justice of the peace. The
citizens of Brookfield obtained an order for the
election of another justice to accommodate their
part of the township; an election was held in
July, 1S09, and Robert Hughes, of Brookfield,

TRUMP.ULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

was elected, and qualified on the 26th day of
August the same year.

THE INDIANS

were quite numerous, though never troublesome,
in the early years of the settlement. The forests
lying between the Mahoning and Shenango
rivers were favorite hunting-grounds with them.
They left just befote the war, and few, if any,
ever returned.

HUNTING REMINISCENCES.

The pioneers of Vienna had the usual amount
of trouble in keeping their hogs and sheep out
of the clutches of the wild beasts. Unless sheep
were put in strong pens every night some of the
flock would surely be found missing in the morn-
ing. One Sunday Samuel Humason, who lived
in the eastern part of the township, heard his
hogs making a great outcry, and on going where
they were saw a huge bear attacking them. He
drove it away, then went to his neighbors, David
Wheeler and Abner Alderman, both experienced
hunters, and told them of the bear's actions.
Both were soon on the ground with their dogs
and guns. The dogs soon found the animal and
the hunters killed it without much trouble. It
weighed four hundred pounds and was the
largest bear ever killed in Vienna.

One morning in summer two boys, Alfred
Wheeler and Upson Andrews, were cutting
brush, when they heard the squealing of a hog,
and running to ascertain the cause, found that a
large bear had killed a hog which had been al-
lowed to run in the woods. At this time a Mr.
Lewis, the owner of a large dog, was at Wheeler's
house, and the boys having told him what they
had seen he was an.xious to give his dog a little
experience in bear hunting. Accordingly he
took his dog and went with Wheeler to see a
dog-and-bear fight. When they reached the spot
the bear was still enjoying his dinner of fresh
pork, and seemed annoyed at being molested.
W'heeler shot and wounded the bear, then
Lewis let his dog go. The enraged beast gave
the dog one blow with his strong paw, tearing
nearly all the flesh from one side of his body,
and having no further opposition, took to his
heels and escaped.

Ring hunts were often engaged in, though but
little game was killed on such occasions, on ac-
count of the great noise made by a large party

of excited men, boys, and dogs. Notice of these
hunts was usually given to all the neighbors in
surrounding townships, and on the appointed
day all who wished to engage in the hunt — and
usually everybody who had received notice came
— met at a certain place, selected leaders, and
surrounded a large tract, sometimes a whole
township, endeavoring to drive all the game
within it toward a common point. It is strange
that no serious accidents occurred where so
many hunters were likely to shoot their bullets
in almost every direction.

SOLDIERS OF THE WAR OF l8l2.

The soldiers who left their homes in Vienna to
serve in the War of 181 2 were, as far as known
— Captain, Asa Hutchins; privates, Isaac Hum-
mason, Chauncy Alderman, William Bartholo-
mew, John Lafferty, Abijah T. Bolton, Isaac
Woodford, Samuel Gleason, and probably some
others.

FIRST EVENTS.

The first birth and the first marriage have
already been mentioned.

The first death was that of Abiel Bartholo-
mew, who was killed by a falling tree in January,
1805.

The first saw-mill was built by Samuel Lowery
near the southwest corner of the township on
Squaw creek.

The first store was opened in 1820, by Isaac
Powers, at the center.

The first law-suit was tried before 'Squire
Clinton in 1806. A wife entered complaint
against her husband for maltreatment. Whiskey
was the cause of the trouble.

The first orchard was set out by Simeon
Wheeler on the I. B. Payne farm. Some of the
trees are now fifty feet high and more than two
feet in diameter. Fifty-six bushels of apples
have been picked from a single tree.

The first frame building, a barn, was erected
by Joel Humason, and the second frame barn
by Simeon Wheeler. Both are still standing.
Isaac Humason's frame house is said to have
been the first erected in the township.

THE FIRST SCHOOLS.

The first school was taught a mile south of the
centre in the snmmer of i8os, by Miss Tamar
Bartholomew. It is stated that a hog-pen was
temporarily used as a school-house. However

45 2

TRUiMr.ULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

this may be, it is certain that the building after-
wards became a hog-pen. The following winter
taught school in a log cabin on the farm of Sam-
uel Clinton.

The first school house built in the township
was a frame buildmg 20 x 26 feet, erected at the
centre in 1806. Andrews Bushnell, of Hartford,
taught a school in that house the following winter,
it being the only school in the township. Now
the township has eleven schools, all well filled
with pupils.

THE prf:sbvtf.rian church.

The organization of this society was effected
by Rev. Thomas Robbins, a missionary from
Connecticut, on the 22d of March, 1805, under
the plan of union adopted by the Presbyterian
and Congregational churches.

The original members were Isaac Flower, Ro-
sanna Williams, Samuel Clinton, Ann Wheeler,
Joseph and Sylvia Bartholomew, John and Lois
Clark, Robert and Margaret Hughes, James and
Jane Montgomery, and Isaac Woodford.

The meeting for the purpose of making the or-
ganization was held at the house of Samuel Clin-
ton, where Ambrose Truesdell now lives, and
for the first few years the services were held at
private houses and school-houses. In 1810 Rev.
Nathan B. Darrow was called to the pastorate of
this society, and was installed as such tRe follow-
ing year, and served four years, when he re-
signed in order to e.\tend his usefulness as a
missionary in Indiana. He returned in a few-
years, and labored both in the church and in the
schools until his death, which occurred in 1828.
He was born in New London, Connecticut, Au-
gust 13, 1773, and spent his life as a faithful mis-
sionary of the gospel in the Western Reserve.
Rev. John Core succeeded him in the pasto-
ral charge, and was ordained at Youngstown as
l)astor over three churches — Youngstown, Vien-
na, and Brookficld. In 1830 Rev. Chester
Birge was installed as pastor — November 17th —
and remained until June, 1835, when he was
succeeded by Rev. E. B. Chamberlain, who was
installed in October, 1839.

In October, 1843, ^ call was made to Xeno-
])hon Belts, who was installed by the presbytery
of Trumbull at Vienna. He served the congre-
gation for nearly twenty-eight years, when his
decease occurred. May 18, 1S71.

On his funeral occasion the following resolu-
tion of respect was announced :

We acknowledge the grace and goodness of God in spar-
ing our deceased brollier to labor more than forty years in
the work of the gospel ministry, enabling him to fulfil his
course, setting us an example of Christian courtesy, patient
continuance in well doing, devoted and self-sacrificing labor
in his calling. In dying he leaves the church and people
where he labored a precious legacy of Christian influence
and of that faith which shall continue to speak to them long
after their pastor's lips have been sealed in death.

The church was now for some time without a
pastor, and among the supplies of this period
were: Elder Wadsworth, of the Baptist church,
Daniel Williams, and Willis Weaver

On May 7, 1873, the present pastor. Rev. J.
Rea Stockton, having been ordained April 24th
of the same year by the Mahoning presbytery, at
Canfield, was installed over the congre.gations of
Vienna and Brookfield.

The first account of any officials of the church
was in 1835, when Isaac Woodford was deacon ;
and in 1837 Samuel Hutchins appears in the
records as deacon; the following year De.xttr
Clinton was elected to that office, and the follow-
ing persons have served in that capacity since,
namely : Daniel Griffis and Orris Woodford,
1839; John Treat, 1848; H. Truesdell, 1850;
Ransom S. Doming, 1862; James G. Scott, 187 1.

On the evening of January 18, 1853, the
church building was burned down and everything
in it destroyed, but they immediately began the
present building, which was completed and ded-
icated May 3, 1854.

At a meeting held March 2, 1871, the follow-
ing resolution was unanimously adopted :

Resolved, That this church adopt the I'resbyterian form of
government and discipline.

THE METHODIST CHURCH.

The Methodist Episcopal church of Vienna is
quite an old organization but we have been unable
to learn when the first class was formed. Meetings
were held in the southwestern part of the town-
ship quite early, and the jjlace came to be known
as Methodist corners, a name which it still bears.
Timothy B. Clark was an original member and a
class-leader. A church was built at the corners.
Ira Bartholomew, Elisha Booth, Maria Fuller,
and Andrew Mackey weie early members.

About 1820 Vienna became a circuit and was
regularly supplied. Revs. Adams and Dunham
were among the preachers of those days. The
present meeting-house at the centei was erected

cJ^4^MAc.I2^^

4d . (D-tfi-^<^X2^t^'^f<f^eid</-y^ .

TRUMBUT.l. AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

453

about 1850. The society for many years has
been large, strong, and flourishing.

THE C.VTHOI.IC CHURCH.

Soon after the coal fields of Vienna began to
be largely developed the advent of quite a body
of foreigners caused the erection of a Catholic
church east of the center. The Catholics, now
much diminished in number, continue to have
occasional services in this house.

THE CEMETERY.

The old cemetery at the center is the resting-
place of many of the pioneers of Vienna. Root
and Holmes, proprietors of the land of the town-
ship, donated to the Presbyterian church two
acres to be used as a burial-place. The rernains
of Abiel Bartholomew were the first buried in
this cemetery. His death o'-cuired in 1805.
Common flag-stone was the material used for the
first head-stones. Rude lettering and still ruder
attempts at ornamentation can still be seen upon
some of these old stones, but the devastating
hand of time has already rendered many inscrip-
tions illegible. Costly monuments of polished
marble and granite now stand side by side with
these humbler testimonials of respect to the
memory of those who for long yeais have been
resting here — their generous toil and life's task
completed.

In 1872 the old ground being nearly all filled,
it was thought advisable to enlarge the size of
the yard, and an additional acre of giound was
according purchased.

ODD FELLOWS.

Trumbull lodge No. 532, Independent Order
of Odd Fellows, Vienna, Ohio, was instituted
July 24, T872, with the following chartei mem-
bers : R. H. Law, J. L. Russell, H. H. Carey,
1. B. McNaughton, H. Bittaker, George Young,
L. Horn, W. Crollman, David Wilson, John P.
Rosser, I. A. Beggs, John Bowen, A. C. Burnett,
and E. E. Folsom. The first ofificers were I. A.
Beggs, N. G.; J. B. McNaughton, V. G.; D. H.
Wilson, secretary; J. L. Wilson, permanent sec-
retary; and H. H. Carey, treasurer. The num-
ber who have been initiated as members of the
lodge since its formation up to March, 1882, is
one hundred and five. Fifteen or twenty have
also been admitted by card. The number of
members in good standing is sixtj- two.

ROYAL TEMPLARS OF TEMPERANCE.

Enterprise council No. 15, Royal Templars
of Temperance, was organized September 12,
1879, with fifteen members, and the following
were elected ofificers: Lucius H. Hatch, S. C;
G. A. Treat, V. C; W. I. Stewart, P. C; W. H.
Terry, recording secretary; N. C. Terry, financial
secretary, and G. A. Treat, treasurer. The pres-
ent membership is forty-two.

TEMPLE OF HONOR.

Laurel Temple of Honor and Temperance
was formed in 1877. On the 30th of July a
charter was granted to fifteen charter members.
The' first officers were as follows : J. B. Kings-
ley, W. C. T.; A. I. Powers, W. V. T.; Henry
Powers, W. R.; J. L. Russell, W. A. R.; J. S.
Bard, W. F. R., and K. Wortman, W. T. About
sixty-five members of the order are now in good
and regular standing, and the organization is in
a healthy condition.

The Social Temple, a branch of the Temple
of Honor, was formed in July, 1881, and is also
prosperous.

• COAL MINING.

The coal mines of this township have yielded
a large return to their owners and operators in
years past, but the chief ones are now nearly or
quite exhausted. Coal mining was begun in this
township about sixteen years ago. On the com-
pletion of the Vienna branch railroad to this
township in 1869 the coal-fields began to be
largely developed. In that year the Vienna Coal
company, representing a capital stock of $300,-
000, opened Vienna mines numbers one and
two, and soon were giving employment to three
hundred men and producing four hundred to six
hundred tons daily. The principal mining op-
erations in this township have been carried on
by the Vienna Coal company and by C. H. An-
drews & Co.

The first mine was opened on a corner of
Hampton Kerr's farm. I. B. Mackey was the
contractor and sank the shaft.

Banks are being opened and some are still
working, but probably the most valuable deposits
are worked out.

MANUFACTI:RE OF RAKES.

The manufacture of revolving horse-rakes at
the center of Vienna is an industry of consider-
able importance. Tlie business was begun Sep-

454

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

tember 2, 1872, by Woodford, Hurnason & Co.
The building occupied was formerly a planing-
mill, which was rebuilt and enlarged by this firm.
The following February the establishment was
bought by Mrs. J. A. Humason, who has since
conducted the busmess. From $8,000 to $12,-
000 worth of horse-rakes and harrows are made
and sold yearly. The industry is prosperous and
the products find a ready sale in oil parts of the
country, .'\bout twelve men are employed on
an average.

Biographical Sketches,

ICHABOD B. PAYNE.

I. B. Payne was a prominent and influential
citizen and a representative of one of the oldest
families in Vienna township. His father, Solo-
man Payne, was a native of Amenia, Dutchess
county, New York, and was born .\ugust 23,
1782. He was married to Polly Gates and re-
moved to the Reserve, having purchased the
farm on which Simeon Wheeler had made one
of the first settlements in the township. Dortha
Gates, Mrs. Payne's mother, at the time of her
death, January 7, 1855, was the oldest person in
the county, being in her centennial year. Solomon
Payne died October 22, 1857. Polly Payne, his
wife, died April 24, 1862, in her seventy-second
year. The family consisted of seven children :
David R. settled in Lawrence county, Ohio;
Almon L. settled in Jefferson county, Indiana;
Charlotte was married to Benjamin Brainard,
who lived in Gustavus township; Elihu R. set-
tled in Jefferson county, Indiana; Sally L. was
married to Alfred Russell, and is the only one
living — her home is at Clear Point, Ashtabula
county; Theophilus G. settled in Jefferson
county, Indiana; Ichabod B., the youngest son
who grew to maturity, was born in Vienna town-
ship, February 18, 1824; he attended the district
school till his eighteenth year and then began
teaching; he taught about twenty terms in Brook-
field, Weathersfield, Hartford, and Vienna town-
ships. As a teacher he was held in high regard
wherever known. Large and dignified, he gov-
erned a school with ease, and long practice made
him efficient in giving instruction.

Mr. Payne married December 18, 1848, Betsy
Jane \inton. She was a daughter of John and

Sally Vinton, and was born March 10, 1826. Her
parents removed to Brookfield township from
Rochester, New York. They had ten children,
seven girls and three boys, seven of whom are
living: Mary (Alderman), deceased; Elcena
(Miner), resident of Bloonifield; Hiram, Mercer
county, Pennsylvania; Betsy Jane (Payne);
Aaron, \'ienna; Almira (Roy), Mercer county,
Pennsylvania; Eliza (Snyder), Hartford; Harriet,
died single; Arnitha (Seaburn), deceased; Homer
resides in Brookfield. John Vinton was born
August 7, 1794; he married Sally Madison Janu-
ary 13, 1820. She was born June 30, i8or,
and still resides in Vienna.

Ichabod B. Payne was chosen from time to
lime to fill the several offices of his township,
being justice of the peace several terms. In
1867 the Republican county convention placed
him in nomination for county commissioner, an
office to which he was elected, and again re-
elected in 1869. He took to the office good
business talent, and gave close and conscientious
attention to the public affairs. During the war
Mr. Payne took an active part in the recruiting
service, and when Cincinnati was threatened by
Kirby Smith with a strong rebel force, he hurried
to the danger point in obedience to the call of
Governor Tod, being one of that unorganized
force known as "squirrel hunters." He con-
tributed considerable time and money to clear
the township of draft, and altogether his record
was highly creditable. In politics Mr. Payne was
an active and working Republican, and in relig-
ion was a Disciple. His connection with that
denomination covered a period of twenty-two
years. In appearance he was striking, being six
feet four and a half inches tall, and well propor-
tioned, having an average weight of two hun-
dred and fifty pounds. He was always indus-
trious, painstaking, and reliable in everything in
which he engaged, whether private business or
public affairs. He left at his death besides the
record of an honorable life a competence for his
family.

The family of I. B. and Mrs. Payne consists
of four children — Jerusha P., wife of Benton
Williams; Almon W., married to Rilla Card and
lives in Vienna; Ellen G., and Cornelia M.

Mrs. Payne lives on the old homestead at
Payne's corners, a place thus named on account
of the prominence of this family.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

455

JAMES J. AND ELIZA HUMASON.

James Julius Humason was born in the city
of Hartford, Connecticut, September 27, 1801.
His parents, James and Honor Humason, re-
moved from Connecticut to Ohio and settled in
Brookfield township. Their family consisted of
Leonard, Henrietta, Maria, James J., Mary, and
Laura Sterne. Soon after his settlement in
Brookfield Jacob Humason died, and the family
removed to Vienna, where Mrs. Humason died
August 3, 1843, aged seventy-three years.

James Julms Humason taught district school
and followed other employments in the summer.
He was married April 12, 1829, to Eliza Wood-
ford, a daughter of Darius and Bathiah Wood-
ford. This introduces us to one of the largest
and most respected families in the township.
Four of the sons of Isaac Woodfoid settled in
Trumbull county. Isaac, Jr., was for many years
deacon in the Vienna Presbyterian church ; he
had a family of fourteen children. Sylvester
Woodford had thirteen children; he removed
from Vienna to Sandusky county in 1832 and
died the following year. Sidney settled in Farm-
ington township and afterwards removed to Man-
tua ; he was one of the founders of West Farm-
ington seminary. Darius was born at the old
family seat in Farmington, Connecticut, in the
year 1780. He was married in Connecticut to
Bathiah Bass, and in 1805 removed to Vienna.
Six of the family of thirteen children came to
maturity, viz: Eliza (Humason), Celarcia (Hayes),
Sophronia (McClung), Henry, Mary, and Darius.
Mr. Woodford died March 28, 1867; Mrs. Wood-
ford died December 11, 1877, aged ninety-three
years.

Eliza, the oldest daughter, was born January
10, 1810. She attended district school and
received instruction at ^^'arren. The year 1828
she spent at Hartford and attended part of the
time the seminary at that place while Catherme
Beecher was principal and Harriet Beecher
Stowe assistant. Mrs. Humason expresses pref-
erence for the former but retains a warm admira-
tion of both these illustrious women. After
leavmg the seminary she learned the milliner and
dressmaking trade in Hartford. The following
year she was married and settled with her hus-
band on the farm which she still owns, and which
was given to her by her father. Mr. Humason
taught school and gave some attention to the farm

during his lifetime. Since his death, which oc-
urred April 13, 1853, the entire management has
devolved upon his widow. She is a woman of
extraordinary energy and strength ; is intelligent
and possesses a correct and radical judgment.
She is a persistent temperance advocate. On the
temperance question her family have a record.
Her uncle. Deacon Sidney Humason, organized
the first temperance society in the county, and one
of the first in the State, in the year 1827. He
soon prevailed upon his brothers and neighbors
to abandon the free use of whiskey and grad-
ually worked a revolution in public opinion on
that topic. Mrs. Humason joined her uncle's
society and her chief source of pride in the fami-
ly is founded on the fact that none of them were
drunkards. She hopes to have the privilege of
casting a vote in favor of total abolition of the
traffic.

James J. and Eliza Humason have had a
family of four children — Celarcia is married to
Miles Munson and lives in Fowler township ;
J. Eliza died in childhood ; Martha Jerusha
married Henry Fowler and lives in Vienna ;
James Henry married Juliette A. Betts and lives
in Vienna.

SETTLEMENT NOTES.

Harry Truesdell was born in Connecticut in
1799, and came with his father, J. J. Truesdell,
to Trumbull county in 1805, locating in Vienna
township; married Miss Emaline Woodford in
T834. No children. Mr. Truesdell served as
justice of the peace for twenty-one years; town-
ship clerk several years. Mr. Truesdell is ex-
celled by few in correct business habits.

John Treat came from Milford, Connecticut,
where he was born in 1795, to Trumbull county,
in 1818, locating where Mr. Alexander Stewart
now resides, in Vienna township. He married
Miss Mary Humason in 1820. The names of
their children are as follows : Elizabeth A.
Bushnell, residing in Johnston township; Sidney
C, residing in Hazelton; G. A., residing in
Vienna township; one died in infancy; Mary E.,
died in 1865; Julius, died in 1858. Mr. Treat
is now one of the oldest and most respected men
in Vienna, having been a consistent member of
the Presbyterian church since 1852.

J. H. Humason, born in Vienna in 1839,

456

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO

married Miss Juliette A. Betts, and has five chil-
dren— Martha, at home; James H., Charles,
John, and Frank. Three died young. Mr.
Humason is proprietor of the rake factory which
was established in 1879, and employs from ten to
fifteen hands; manufactured in 1880 about
thice thousand rakes. Present capacity about
four thousand per annum. The rake manufact-
ured by the Vienna Rake company is of superior
(|uality and excellent finish, being manufactured
from the best o( slack limber. One of the most
important features c( this rake is the substitute
of the steel spring by which the rake is com-
pletely under the control of the operator.

Calvin Munson was born near New Haven,
Connecticut, in 1769. He came to Vienna
township, Trumbull county, in September, 1804,
locating on the farm now owned by his son
Randil. He married Miss Sarah Hungelford.
The fruits of this union were five children —
Randil, residing in Vienna township; Rilison,
dead; Lucy Scoville, dead; Diadamia Reader,
residing in Ashtabula county; Susanna Newbern,
residing in Iowa. Randil Munson married Miss
Lucinda Loveland in 1819. They have four
children living — H. B., in Wisconsin; Erpi, re-
siding in Bazetta township; H. N., in Mecca
township; Charles, died in the army; and A. C.
Mr. Munson has always been a farmer, and has
worked on the farm where he now resides, ever
since his first settlement in the county. He is
the oldest settler (1881) now living in Vienna
township.

R. Bartliolomew, born August 13, 1831, in
Vienna township, removed with his father to
Cuyahoga county, when three years of age,
where he remained until he was twenty-two
years old, when he returned to Warren, where
he resided fifteen years; returned again to Cleve-
land, where he was engaged in contracting about
seven years, whence he returned to Vienna
townshi[), where he now resides. He married
Miss Phila E. Truesdell, 1854. They have eight
children: Ida .A. (lillson, resides in Chicago;
C. I., in \'ienna ; Mary E. Weinberg, Chicago ;
Milton ()., William .S., Frank 1'., Susan M.,
Eugene E., at home.

Isaac Woodford, Sr., came from Connecticut
to Trumbull county in 1802, locating on the
(arm now owned by Albert Powers, Vienna town-
ship. He married Miss S. Cowles. There were

twelve children; ten grew to maturity. Mr.
Woodford was elder of the Presbyterian church
from the time of its organization. His son Isaac
married Miss Phebe E. Merritt. The names of
their children are as follows: Frank, residing in
Kansas; Jerusha M. Sanford, resides in Vienna;
Isaac W., in Vienna; Lovilia M. Struble, dead ;
Eliza and Martha E. died young. Mr. Wood-
ford has always been a farmer, having resided on
the same farm forty-eight years.

Timothy Norton came from near Hartford,
Connecticut, in 1819, locating in Vienna town-
ship. He manied Annie Humason. They had
eight children ; si.v: grew to maturity — Mrs. H.
Greenwood, residing in \'ienna township; Mrs.
Nancy Greenwood, in Pennsylvania; Merit, in
Vienna.

Merit Norton, born in Trumbull county in
1822, married, first, Diadamia Cratsley. Their
children are: Edson, residing in Pennsylvania;
Luther, in Akron ; Rosaline Lampson, in Pier-
point, Ohio; Celestia Cowan, in Cortland ; Em-
erson, at home ; AUie, at home. Mr. Norton
married for his second wife Mrs. Betsey Wilson;
no children. Mr. Norton has never been an
aspirant for office, preferring the quiet and inde-
pendent life of a farmer. He has resided on
the same tarm twenty-nine years. His son
Charlie was accidentally shot and killed .'\ugust
27, 1879.

John Greenwood came from ^Lassachusttts in
1813, locating where his son, Nathaniel C, now
resides. He married Sarah Webster. They had
eleven children, six only living: Nathaniel C,
residing in Vienna township; Harriet, in Fowler;
Morgan, in Fowler; Betsey, in Vienna; Oliver
died in Indiana in 1879; Frank died in Indiana
in 1880; the other children died young.
Nathaniel C. Greenwood was born in Massachu-
setts in 1809. He married Miss Ladora A.
\Vright in 1833. They had four children, as fol-
low: Leander, residing in Fowler; Hiram, in
Howland; Holmes, in Vienna; Ellen Rogers, in
Vienna. Mr. Greenwood followed the occupa-
tion of a gunsmith over five years. He is now
engaged in farming.

Andrew Mackey, a native of Ireland, came
into Trumbull county in 1805. He married
Miss Mary Murray. They had six children,
none of whom are now living. Andrew Mackey,
Jr., was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, in

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

457

1779. He married Miss Jane Scott. They had
seven children, si.x of whom are Hving, viz: Mary,
residing on the old homestead ; James ; John died
in 1853, aged twenty-eight years; Eleanor Mun-
son, residing in Vienna; Robert, residing in
Howland; A. H. residing; in Vienna; Elizabeth,
residing in Vienn^. Mr. Mackey was one of the
most enterprising farmers of Vienna township,
having two hundred and twenty-five acres of land
under cultivation at the time of his death.

Abraham VVartman was born in Pennsylvania
in 1768 and came to Vienna in 1827, locating
on the farm now owned by his son Solomon.
He married Miss Ann M. Rhodes. They had
eleven children, six of whom are livmg, viz:
Catherine Hake, residing in Missouri; Rebecca
Hake, residing in Vienna; Solomon, residing in
Vienna; Sarah Shaffer, residing in Howland;
Elizabeth AVehrenberger, residing in Lordstown;
Rachael Hake, residing in Missouri; Marie
Hake died in 1S77; Jonathan, Abraham, Mat-
thias, and Henry, are also dead. Solomon
Wartman married Miss Louisa L. Whitten in
1839, September 27th. Five of their children are
livmg: Cline, residing in Vienna; Elizabeth A.
Hulse resides in Illinois; Solomon resides in
A'ienna; Mary A. is at home; Louisa L., Lucy,
and James are dead. Mr. Wartman is a tanner
by trade, having learned the trade from his
father, but is now engaged in farming. He pays
special attention to stock raising, dealing prin-
cipally in fine stock, especially fine wooled
sheep. He is also proprietor of the old saw mill,
whicli is located near his home.

Archibild McFarland came from Washmgton
county, Pennsylvania, in 1808, into Vienna
township. He married Miss Amelia Ball, by
whom he has twelve children. The names of
those living are Harvey, residing in Summit
county; Robert, residing in Iowa; John, residing
in Harttord township; Archie, residing in Fowler
township; Emily A. married Edwin Griffin in
1850, has two children, and lives in Vienna
township ; Erastus and Augusta A. at home.
Mr. Griffin was a natural mechanic, being able to
make anything in wood and iron. He died in
i860, aged twenty-nine years. He was a man of
remarkably even temper, never known to be
thiown off his guard.

Joseph Rogers was born on Long Island in
17S8, came to Trumbull county in 1S12 and
58"

settled in Vienna township. He was drafted
from Vienna in the War of 18 12 and served in that
war. He carried on a tannery in Vienna, also
shoemaking in connection with farming. Later
in his life he conducted a hotel at Vienna. After
the War of 1812 he married Lydia Lowry and
raised a family of two daughters and six sons all
of whom are living. He lived to the advanced
age of ninety-three, dying in 1881. His son.
Royal L. Rogers, was born in Vienna, Trumbull
county, Ohio, January 9, 1S20. With his broth-
er he began keeping hotel, and in 1834 was mar-
ried to Caroline, daughter of Samuel Wise, an ear-
ly settler in Youngstown, where Mrs. Rogers was
born January 29, 1827. After marriage he con-
tinued in the hotel business and for sixteen years
was located at Johnson centre. He resided in
Ashtabula county for two years. In the spring
of 1874 he came to Warren where he now resides.
He is the owner of a large farm in Ashtabula coun-
ty and another in Weathersfield, Trumbull coun-
ty. He is the father of three children, Amarilljs,
James C, with his father in business, and Alley
R., now a student at Oberlin College.

CHAPTER XV.

NEWTON.-

This is the extreme southwest township of the
county, town three north, and range five. It
lies immediately south of Braceville, with Lords-
town on the east, Mahoning county south, and
Portage county on the west ; and contains
fourteen thousand nine hundred and forty-six
acres of land. The east branch of the Mahon-
ing river (locally known as East river) extends
from south to north across the township west of
the central line. Kale creek, a tributary of the
East river, flows from the southwest corner. The
west branch of the Mahoning, called West river,
flows across the northwest corner. Duck creek
extends from south to north across the township
along the western part. The township being
thus well watered, and having much bottom land
with rolling surface between the streams, the

*The thanks of the historian are due Dr. \. F. Porter, of
Newton Falls, for mucli of tlie data contained in this
sketch.

;5«

TRUMHUI.I, AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

agricultural advantages are superior, and it may
be classed above the average township in the
county. The usual products are found in abun-
dance here, while great quantities of white oak
ship-timber are exported from this locality for
ship-building and other manufacturing purposes.

POPULATION.

The township has three distinct settlements —
Deer Creek, the " River," and Newton Falls —
which were more marked in early times than at
present.

There is but one incorporated town, Newton
Falls, in the township, in and around which the
population and business interests now center,

According to the census reports of iS6o and
1870 the population decreased during that dec-
ade from fourteen hundred and ninety-six to
twelve hundred and eighty, but in 1880 it m-
creased again to thirteen hundred and fifty-eight.

'0RGANIZ.4TI0N AND PROPRIETORSHIl'.

The township was organized m 1808, but hav-
ing a larger political jurisdiction than at present,
embracing Milton, now of Mahonmg county,
and Lordstown, in the same voting precinct un-
der the same jurisdiction. This is evident from
the fact that in 1814 John Johnson, of Milton,
was elected justice of the peace and filed the
date of his commission with the clerk of New-
ton; and as late as 1826 the road funds and job
road work of Lordstown were under the control
of the Newton trustees. Justin Ely, Elijah
White, and Jonathan Brace were the original pro-
prietors who drew this township in the partition
made of the Western Reserve. On the loth of
December, iSoo, they associated themselves with
Roger Newberry, Enoch Perkins, and Jonathan
Brace, who were the proprietors of Braceville,
and made the conveyance of the lands of New-
ton as further described in the history of Brace-
ville township. Why the township was called
Newton is not now known, unless it was so
called in honor of Sir Isaac Newton, the great
philosopher.

At the time of the organization of the town-
ship (180S), a book was opened for the purpose
of registering "ear-marks of cattle,sheep,and hogs.
From this register are gleaned the following names
of settlers in the township at that time: E. Hover,
Robert Caldwell, Nathaniel Stanley, George L.
Davison, Jacob Custard, Leonard Miller, George

Shefifelton, John Lane, Benjamin Davison, James
Huffstetter, Daniel Dull, Jacob Winans.

JUSTICES OF THE PE.\CE.

The first justice, Benjamin Davison, was
elected in 1808, and the following persons have
been elected to that office in the township:
Daniel Dull, iSio;G. L. Davison, 1813-16;
John Johnson, 1814; Bildad Hine, 1814-17,
and 1830; Dr. Tracy Bronson, 1819; Ezekiel,
Hover, 1820-23; Stephen Oviatt, 1825-28;
Charles Adgate, 1829; Alexander Sutherland,
1832-34; Austin Parker, 1833; Samuel Oviatt,
Jr., 1834; William Porter, 1836-39; H. Hin-
man, 1838; Hiram Austin, 1838; U. D. Kellogg,
1841; J. L Todd, 1842-45.

In 1826 the election of justice of the peace
was contested between Ezekiel Hover and Steph-
en Oviatt before a jury and Hervey Stow, Esq.,
of Braceville, which resulted in favor of Oviatt
on account of illegal voting. The second was
between the same parties before Milton Rogers,
of Milton, and resulted in the same way. The
third contest between these parties is supposed
to have resulted in favor of Oviatt, as the records
do not show that Hover held a commission after-
wards.

THE RIVER SETTLEMENT.

Perhaps a short time prior to the Duck creek
settlement, a settlement was made on the Ma-
honing river in the present vicinity of Price-
town — now Callender's mills.

Jesse Halliday, Robert Caldwell, William and
Nathaniel Stanley, David Carlile, Daniel Dull,
Mr. Allen, and Benjamin Davison with their
families composed this little colony.

Jesse Halliday paddled a canoe from Warren
in about 1805, as far as the south line of New-
ton township, and finding rapids here, concluded
he could build a mill which was in operation in
1807, and stood on the site of the present Cal
lender mills (at Pricetown). This mill, however,
being necessarily an imperfect structure, was
often incapable of supplying the wants of the
settlers, thus subjecting them to great inconven-
ience, as Garrettsville was the nearest mill, fifteen
miles away. This, in the absence of any road
except a blazed route, was something of a
journey for a boy with his grist on horseback.

The Indians, owing to the trouble with the
whites, were at this time fast leaving the country.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

459

Their place of general rendezvous, salt springs,
was readily reached from this settlement by the
Indian trail, thus affording an important accom-
modation to the settlers in the way of procurmg
salt, as supplies had to be imported from Cleve-
land, or New Lisbon, twenty-five miles south.

The first marriage in this locality was Thomas
McCoy to Polly Moore, and the first death was
a child of Peter Decoursey.

In 1805 Isaac Hutson, troni Huntingdon
county, Pennsylvania, settled on Kale creek
with a family of five sons and six daughters, and
in iSii John Hutson settled in the Lane neigh-
borhood. Both had a large family of boys and
girls. The boys were all good marksmen and
"full-hands" at a hunt or shooting-match, and
most of their names are found as contestants in
a shooting-match on Christmas at Newton Falls,
where Bildad Hine took this method of closing
out his stock of goods — the first brought to the
falls.

CHURCH AT "river" SETTLEMENT.

The first Presbyterian church was organized
in 1808 with a membership of seven — William
Stanley and wife, John Sutherland and wife,
Polly Wilson, Mrs. Davison, and Mrs. Gilmer.

.\fter the death of Rev. Boyd, Rev. Hughes,
from Beaver, preached occasionally, and Rev.
Joshua Beer followed as next regular pastor. In
1809 the two settlements (Duck Creek and
"River") united and built the frame church,
which was removed a few years ago over into
Milton township.

DUCK. CREEK SETTLEMENT.

Alex. Sutherland settled at L~)uck Creek in
1802, and the only meat the family had the first
year was deer and bear meat, furnished by the
Indians in exchange for bread. The cabin in
which he moved was made by setting posts in
the ground, covered with bark on the sides and
loof, and quilts hung up for doors.

There were five or six Indian camps near this
cabin, and at one time an Indian chief named
Kiogg came into the Sutherland cabin drunk and
made threats of shooting some of them, but
Ezekiel Hover broke a chair over his head, and
another chief named Nickshaw afterwards set-
tled the difficulty.

Alex. Sutherland and Ezekiel Hover marked
the first path from Duck Creek settlement to

Youngstown, to reach the nearest mill, a distance
of almost twenty miles. Their nearest post-
ofifice was Warren — eight miles. Bears and
wolves were very plenty, and the settlers were
compelled to carry torches and keep their sugai-
camp fires burnmg to keep them away.

Mr. Sutherland was elected county recorder
soon after his arrival here. His son James car-
ried the mail from Warren to Canton when there
was no house from Duck Creek to Warren, or
Quinby hill as it was then called. His son John,
while mowing on the farm of E. Hover, cut off
the head of a yellow rattlesnake seven and a half
feet long. He skinned the reptile and made a
cap of part of the hide, and Mr. Hover took a
pait for a shot pouch. The colors of the skin
were very brilliant, being a light green and pale
yellow, and glittered in the sunshine.

Ezekiel Hover built the first saw-mill where
George Johnston's mill now stands.

James Gilmer and family settled in this locality
April 30, 1807. The cabin home, which occu-
pied the site of the present barn of John R.
Johnson on the east bank of Duck creek, had
been erected and roofed the previous autumn,
and had served as shelter to a squad of Indians
durmg the winter.

The settlement consisted of the following fam-
ilies : Thomas Reed, Peter Decoursey, Alex-
ander Sutherland and his father, John, George
Sheffelton, John Mashman and son, Alexander
Mashman, Jacob Custaid. Ezekiel Hover was
then a young man holding the ofifice of county
surveyor.

SCHOOLS .\T DUCK CREEK.

For several years after the first settlements
were tnade the necessity for eveiy man, woman,
and child to assist in all kinds of labor, together
with the scarcity of money, put the matter of
school privileges out of the question. About
i8r2 or 1 8 13 a log school-house was erected a
short distance below where the saw-mill of G. R.
Johnson novv stands. It was a log cabin with
rough stone chimney; a foot or two cut from the
logs here and there admitted light through
greased paper over the holes. A huge fire-place,
puncheon floor, a few benches made of split logs,
the flat side up, and a well-developed " birch,"
constituted all the requirements of the pioneer
school house. The first teacher was a young
man by the name of Brooks, who received a

460

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

compensation of $10 per month, payable in
wheat, rye, or corn.

The usual methods of training the youthful
minds common in early times were employed
in these pioneer schools. The attendance of the
scholars was necessarily irregular, and the appli-
ances for impartmg knowledge were exceedingly
meager. Notwithstanding all this, however, it is
found that the graduates from the log cabin col-
leges were good farmers, many of them adepts in
mathematics, zealous and able ministers of the
gospel, and successful business men.

RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS.

The pioneers of Newton were not long with-
out public religious exercises. John Suther-
land, Sr., soon called those of his neighbors of
like inclination, and organized a weekly ])rayer-
meeting, which met alternately at the different
houses. In the summer of 1808 Rev. James
Boyd, a Presbyterian minister who was sent as a
missionary to the Western Reserve from New
England, found his way to the River settlement,
preaching the first gospel sermon in the town-
ship, in the open air, on the farm now owned by
Joseph G. Strock. An effort was then made to
secure the services ot Rev. Boyd as minister to
the River and Duck Creek settlements and War-
ren, which was successful. He spent his life in
ministerial labor with his people, and was laid
to rest near the spot where he delivered his first
sermon to the pioneers of Newton, in March,
1813. It is related of him that once as he was
riding from this place to Warren to fill his ap-
pointment that day — -it being Sunday — he hap
pened to glance backward and saw a wolf follow-
ing fast on his track. He put spurs to his horse,
and on the way dashed through a swollen stream
which otherwise would have been unfordable,
and but for the wolf the congregation at War-
ren would have been without a preacher that
day.

DISTILLERY.

In 1816 Stephen Oviait moved his distillery
from Braceville ndge, and established it in a rock
excavation, where water was plenty, near the pres
ent site of Eagle mills. In 1818, with Bildad Hine
as partner, it was moved to the east of the river
to what has been known as the Patterson farm,
and about 1823, seeking a central location, a
buck distillery was erected on the Joseph Wilson

farm, which finally came into the possession of
Judge Price.

INCIDENTS.

In 1813 the citizens of Newton and Brace-
ville agreed to co-operate in procuring a supply
of salt, and Newton furnished a wagon and one
yoke of oxen, which were procured of John
Lane. Braceville furnished a second pair, which
constituted the joint team. A third pair of oxen
were sent by Edmund Oviatt to trade for the
salt at Fairport. Bildad Hine was selected as
agent and ox driver, and after a week's absence
returned alone on foot to the settlement and re-
ported that he had traded the oxen for six bar-
rels of salt, but that in crossing Eagle creek below
Garrettsville the wagon stuck in the mud. The
next day the citizens turned out in force and with
teams, shovels, hoes, etc., proceeded to Eagle
creek and brought home the salt in triumph.

About the year 18 18 Robert Price, afterwards
judge, bought the Holliday mills and logically
claimed Holliday's interest in the Presbyterian
church near by ; and finding one Parker, a
Helsian preacher whose views were sufficiently
liberal, Price engaged him to preach the share
of the time belonging to him as a separate con-
gregation. On one Sunday morning when Father
Beer had occupied the pulpit, and during the
usual intermission preceeding the afternoon ser-
vices. Price said to Parker: "Now go over and
take the stand, and when you are through singing
and praying I will come over and hear you
preach." Parker went but found that he was
too late as the afternoon services had begun, and
he took a seat in the audience. Presently Price
came in and seeing the Helsian seated as a
hearer only, and thinking probably that he had
been refused the pulpit, cried out, "What the
h — 1 does this mean?" and forthwith mounted
the pulpit and brought the minister down, strug-
gling, under his arm. He then said to Parker,
"Now my little man go up there and preach."
Elder John Craig attempting to interfere was
promptly ejected from the house, after which it
is inferred that the services were allowed to
proceed.

INDIANS.

The early settlers were often annoyed and
sometimes not a little in fear of the dejjredations
of bands of Indians that wandered up and down
the river. In i Soy the Iiulinn chicl I'.Kiua, wiili

TRUiMBULl. AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

46.

his squaw and a tribe of ten or twelve Indians
and a white boy encamped for some time oppo-
site where Kistler's saw-mill now stands and
spent some days in drying venison into "jerk ; "
and in 1816 two Cornplanter Indians, called
Abram and Jonathan, spent some time and
became familiarly known at Newton Falls. The
only monument of this race (of which a more
general history will be found elsewhere in this
work) in this locality was known as tlie "Indian
grave." It was a structure of stone, evidently
erected by human hands and ingenuity; built in
the shape of a cone, fifteen feet in diameter and
ten feet high. When first discovered this eleva-
tion was heavily covered with a growth of hem-
locks, and was situated on the rock bank of the
west branch of the Mahoning river, a few rods
above where Porter's flour mill now stands. This
was a favorite place for holiday resort for the
children until in quarrying for stone to build the
canal the mound was destroyed.

WILD G.A.ME.

Eagle mill-pond afforded a sliding place for
the children of early days in their wmter sports.
On one occasion when Noble Hine and a num-
ber of other boys and girls were skating on this
pond, a large buck took refuge from the dogs by
running to the children on the ice. The dogs
were driven away, and the young folks amused
themselves by sliding around the deer and pull-
ing his hair. He might have been very indig-
nant at this treatment, but could not help him-
self on the slippery ice. After tiring of the fun
the deer, being too lean for table use, was driven
to the shore and allowed to escape.

On another occasion Mr. Yale saw a fine deer
chased into the river. It sought safety in an
open hole in the ice. He shut down his mill,
and after driving away the dogs he crept out to
the opening in the ice and the deer swam to
him. He helped it out of the water, and put-
ting his arm over its shoulders, went up the bank
with the deer at his side. The neighbors soon
gathered and w'ere desirous of dispatching the
deer, to which Mr. Yale positively objected be-
cause it had come to him for safety. He or-
dered all to stand back, and then stepping back-
ward a few feet he slapped his hands and the
deer bounded into the forest.

Jacob Miller had a hand to hand engagement
with a large bu(kuhich he caught in his arms

as it atteiripted to jump a fence, and held it un-
til Captain John Sheffleton cut its throat, but all
that was left of Miller's clothes was "collar and
hames."

The last deer seen in the township was killed
by Judge Porter in 1835, "■'' l''>"d now owned by
William Green in the east part of the township.

Venison formed a large part of the provision
of the early settlers, and the books of Messrs.
Hine & Yale show that for many years it was an
article of common traffic at from one to three
cents per pound; and buckskin was a (//MS!\ega\
tender.

SETTLEMENT AT NEWTON FALLS.

The proprietor of the lands in the locality of
Newton Falls was Judson Canfield, of New
Haven, Connecticut, w'ho early contemplated the
building of a rural city near the falls on the Ma-
honing river, in order to utilize the immense
water-power which the two branches of the Ma-
honing river here afforded. For the purpose ot
inducing settlement the land was surveyed into
lots of ten acres each, in the year 1807, and im-
migration was earnestly invited.

In the autumn of this year John Lane built
his log-cabin residence in the new city, on the
bank of the West river, on what is now Martin's
grocery lot. On the i6th of June Bildad Hine
and family arrived and were welcomed with true
pioneer hospitality into the mansion of Mr.
Lane. For this emergency the house seemed
to have been especially planned, as it was one
story high, i6.\i8 feet in size, and contained
ample accommodation for a family of thirteen.
The milk-house belonging to this house is now
in good condition, e.xcept the door, it being a
cave in the rock, projecting over the river, at the
rear of Stocking's wagon factory.

In the summer of 1808 a Mr. Canfield, with
Mr. Ruggles, built a saw-mill where Allen
Hoyle's woolen factory now stands, and, accord-
ing to the recollection of Barney C. Allen, in
February, 181 1, started the first grist-mill, and
ground the first grist of wheat for Joseph Allen,
the flour being afterwards bolted at home through
a hair sieve.

The mill-stones were quarried in what was
then called " Redding hill," in Hiram town-
ship. A part of one of these stones now lies at
the door of Porter &: Son's flour-mill.

The first mill was burned down in Ueccmbci,

462

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

1817, by a drunken man who had taken lodging
in it for the night, who was obliged to wade the
frozen river to escape the fire. The mill was not
rebuilt, but, in 1S29, Horace and Augustus
Stephens erected the old Eagle mills, on the
opposite side of the river.

James F. Porter & Sons afterwards erected
the present flouring-mill adjoining the old one ;
the drawings of which were made by William H.
Porter, son of J. F., who sent the drawings to
W'ilcox, Shinkle & Miller, who from these draw-
ings alone made the works ready to be put in
place; sent them on and erected the mill.

From the ledger of Benjamin B. Yale it is
shown that he came to Newton in 1808 from
Canfield, to the house of Samuel Oviatt, and was
engaged as mill-wright at one dollar per day; was
at the erection of the first mill, and afterwards
was engaged as miller for Canfield & Ruggles,
then for Canfield & Gilson in 181 2; and in 18 13
and 1815 he charges John Lane for work done
on the grist- and saw-mill.

In 1814 he worked for Jesse Halliday in his
mill, now owned by J. M. Callender, on the
soutli line of the township, and from December,
1S16, to July, 1817, operated the Falls mill for
one Hopkins. The latter had purchased the
mill from Cornelius Duboise, of New York, who
had came into possession from a Mr. Fluellen,
who had become indebted to him (Duboise) for
goods. It seems that Mr. Hopkins was not ac-
customed to pioneer life or was very economical,
for, as it was the custom as well as the necessity,
to cut down the trees to furnish browse for the
cattle, he could not quietly see the timber
wasted, and he had it cut and carried home on
the backs of his sons.

In 1813 the first bridge was built over the
west branch by subscription, and about ten years
after a second was built in the same way at the
"narrows," above the Indian grave. In 1832
C. Duboise sent from New York the drawings
of a lattice bridge, of which William North and
Solon Trescott made a model of laths, and
Barney C. Alien took the contract for the stone
and timber work and completed the bridge — one
Imndred and twenty-five feet long — for $440;
and $300 of this money was raised by subscrip-
tion, the balance was paid by the county. This
is said to be the first bridge of the kind in the
countv.

In these times wages as well as prices of all
kinds were low, except salt, which, as will be
seen, was very high. Mr. Yale in his ledger
charges a custcraer $5.50 per bushel, and $16
per barrel. As late as 1823 the trustees resolved
to allow fifty cents per day for a team of horses
or oxen on the road, and the same for a wagon.

In addition to those already named as early
settlers were Levi Jacobs, Jacob Storey, Ira Tres-
cott, and Russell Trescott, who lived on the west
side of the river. Henry Harsh, William John-
son, and John Bridges, soon after the above,
arrived in the settlement. Of those who took
part in the election of October, 1833, only four,
William N. Hine, Joseph Nichols, and John
Miller, are now living in the township.

NEWTON FALLS VILL.AGE

IS pleasantly situated between the east and west
branches of the Mahoning river, in the north-
eastern part of the township. The falls in the
west branch of the river, from which the village
takes its name, were originally about six or seven
feet high, and formed of layers of stone, thus
affording natural foundations for a mill dam, for
which it is now utilized. The village is the only
center of trade in the township, and all the
branches of merchandise are well represented,
and the indications of active business operations
are amply evident. The many branches of busi-
ness cannot be here specialy noticed, but special
lines of manufacture will be noticed elsewhere.
Several attempts have been made in Newton
Falls " to supply a long felt want " by the estab-
lishment of a newspaper, but without permanent
success. The formal incorporation was made
after some difficulty and no little strife; the
achievement of the object, however, now meets
with general approval, and the little city gives
ample promise of future prosperity.

Newton Falls village was incorporated March
10, 1872, by T. I. Gilmore, J. N. Ensign, \\'. L.
Hosier, and C. G. Graham, agents for the incor-
poration.

The first election was held April i, 1872,
which resulted in the election of the following
oflficials : Lyman T. Soule, Henry Taylor, and
James F. Porter,- trustees; H. S. Robbins, mar-
shall; C. G. Graham, clerk and tieasuer.

J. N. Ensign became mayor by virtue of his
office as justice of the peace.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

463

The population of tlie village at the time of
incorporation was five hundred and five, and in
1880 five hundred and seventy-four.

SURVEY OF VILLAGE.

In 1806 Ezekiel Hover made the first survey
and plat for Mr. Canfield, and in 1829 Joshua
Henshaw made a second for C. Duboise,
and had much difificulty in finding the lines, and
the number of the lots, and finally failed by
many acres, in his estimate of the nuinber of
acres conveyed by Canfield and other parties.
In 1836 the lines were adjusted by F. E. Stow
for Dr. H. A. Duboise. The latter proposed to
change the name of the village to Duboiseville,
but afterwards put on record the amended map
made by Mr. Stow, with the present name.

CHURCHES AT NEWTON FALLS.

The first church building at Newton Falls was
erected by the Associate Reform (Seceder) church,
under the pastorate of Rev. William Douthett.
This society has long since passed away, and
the house has since been occupied by the Regu-
lar Baptist society, which also has disappeared.
.Afterwards the Episcopalians remodeled the
building, in which they held services, but they
also have long since disbanded, and the building
is now used as the town hall.

THE PRESBVTERIAN AND CONGREGATIONAL
CHURCH ORGANIZATION.

On the 4th of September, 1836, agreeably to
previous appointment a number of individuals
favorably disposed to the cause of Christ, met
at the house of Horace Stephens in the village of
Newton Falls, for the purpose of consulting in
reference to the establishment of a church in
that place. Rev. John Treat, of the Presbyterian
church, being present, presided over the meet-
ing. Some fifteen or twenty persons were pres-
ent, and an organization of a church of Jesus
Christ was decided upon. It was also decided to
invite Rev. Joseph Treat, of Portage presbytery.
Rev. Josiah Town, of Trumbull presbytery, and
Rev. Chapin, of Cleveland presbytery, to assist
in the organization, and also that the church
should take the form of worship of the Congre-
gational church, and become attached to the
Trumbull presbytery. Accordingly, December
4, 1836, the church was organized, called the
Church of Jesus Christ. Joseph Treat and
Chapin Clark were the ministers in charge, and

effected the organization. The following persons
presented themselves for membership, viz:
Hiram and Martha Hinman, of Dutch Reform
church, Luther Lyman, of Congregational church,
John Payne, of Presbyterian church, Amelia and
Martha Beebe, of Presbyterian church, Lucy
Babbitt, of Presbyterian church, Pamelia Kidder,
of Congregational church, Amelia Stevens, of
Presbyterian church. Also Horace Stevens,
Reuben Babbitt, Henry Hutson, Emily Lyman,
Amelia Stevens, and Susan and Margaret Patter-
son presented themselves for admission on con-
fession of faith. The first public worship was
held on December 15th, and the sermon was
preached by Rev. Clark from Luke xiv: 28,
"For which of you intending to build a tower
sitteth not down first and counteth the cost."

The committee was appointed to prepare a
Confession of Faith, which was presented, being
the same, with some changes, as the one recom-
mended by the presbytery of Portage, and was
adopted at this meeting. December 24, 1836,
a meeting was held at the house of Horace
Stevens, and he was appointed clerk, and Hiram
Hinman and Luther Lyman leaders, to conduct
religious meetings and prepare rules for the
regulation of the church.

kui.es presented.
r. Standing committee not less than two or mote than
seven to take cognizance of pubHc offenses and manage the
prudential concerns.

2. Powers of the members of this committee same as
elders in Presbyterian church to those avowing their prefer-
ence to that church.

3. Committee to e.tamine applicants for admission.

4. Inconsistent to admit members of distant churches to
comnuinion who have resided in community less than one
year.

5. Prohibitine; ardent spirits.

7. Prohibiting hauling hay or grain, making sugar, haul-
ing milk or making cheese, attending any business, visiting
friends, e.\cept in sickness, on Sunday.

The rules were presented by Hiram Hinman
and Luther Lyman, committee. First delegate
to presbytery was Luther Lyman, December 16,
1837, and at same meeting E. Lyman, M.
Beebe, and H. C. Soule were appointed to se-
cure "a supply of preaching," and Rev. C. R.
Clark appears as the first "supply" in December,
1840, and Rev. Bennett Roberts the following
year. February 19, 1840, a subscription paper
was started to solicit aid in building a house for
the use, as stated in the paper, of "the Presbyte-
rian society and church of this village and vicin-

464

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

ity," to be erected on the lot then owned by
Isaac Stanley, where the house now stands.
This subscription paper bear.s this motto in cap-
itals— "Privilege to all — Exclusion to none."
The church was dedicated March 16, 1842, by
Professor Day, of Western Reserve college,
preaching from the text — :"And the glory of
(jod filled the house."

Rev. Robert C. Learned was minister in 1842,
and Daniel Emmerson in 1843. In the latter
year the church adopted a rule giving the pulpit
in charge of the minister, excluding from the
house all shows, models of new inventions, exhi-
bitions for the purpose of speaking dialogues,
comedies, orations or the like, "decorations cal-
culated to excite ttie gaze and call off the atten-
tion of the congregation," all political and o'her
meetings, unless permission be given by a vote
of three fourths of the congregation at a called
meeting. In 1843 Rev. Solomon Stevens was
called and his services began July ist. Among
the ministers who have served this society were
Dr. Pratt, J. A. Woodruff, W. R. Stevens, Eras-
tus Chester, Benjamin Walker, George Pierce,
Augustus Cone, Isaac Hall, S. D. Taylor, Henry
Farwell.

In 1868 it was proposed at a meeting called
for that purpose to change the organization to a
Presbyterian church, to which assent was made
by a vote of thirly-three to eleven, and in the
following June John Leonard, C. Price, William
Herbert, S. A. Austin, and H. C. Soule were
elected elders.

In 1879 a meeting was called, presided over
by P. Baldwin, in which, by motion of J. VV. Lit-
tle, it was decided to change the organization to
be known as the Congregational church, and the
rules of the Windham Congregational church
were adopted, and the organization now holds
worship here under the pastorate of Rev. D.
Waugh.

THE UISCIPI.es CHURCH, NEWTON K.\LLS.

The organization from which this church is an
offshoot was first effected as early as 1820. In
the fall of 181 9 Thomas Miller, a Baptist minis-
ter, [)reached at the house of Benoni Johnson in
Braceville, where F. L. Mervin now lives, and
Marcus Bosworth and wife were baptized. In
the following year the church, under the minis-
tiy of Rev. Miller, was organized with Marcus
Bosworth as deacon, and the following were the

original members: Marcus Bosworth and wife,
Amos and Lucinda Clark, Henry and Elizabeth
Harsh, Malinda Pells, Henry and Olive Hulen,
Jane Pells, Deborah and Huldah Bosworth,
Asaph and Rachel Stanley, Billius and Olive
Newton, Benoni and Amanda Johnson, Diana
Johnson, John and Eunice Conkling, Reuben
North, Mindwell Roberts, Ursula Allen. Mar-
cus Bosworth was the deacon and recognized
leader in the church, and afterwards became an
efficient minister. In 1825 Rev. Jacob Osborn
came to this locality and gave a new impetus to
scriptural investigation, resulting eventually in
the reorganization of the church as "Christians,"
which was effected March 12, 1828, being the
first formal adoption of the divine platform as
the only basis, by the church in the Western Re-
serve ; and Marcus Bosworth was elected over-
seer. In 1839 the church at Newton Falls was
completed, when the congregation there began
to worship, and of which Amos Clark, Joel Brad-
ford, Henry Harsh, and Benoni Johnson served
as overseers.

METHODIST EPISCOP.AL CHUKCH.

This church was originally organized in 1837
with seven members, as follow : William Earle
and wife. Widow Harris, Mrs. John Hutson, and
others whose names cannot now be recalled.
The ministers forming the organization were
Arthur M. Brown and E. J. L. Baker. The fol-
lowing winter they held a protracted meeting in
the Disciples church and a great number were
added to the church. In 1840 Lorenzo Rogers,
assisted by John Robertson, conducted a meet-
ing which resulted in eighty additions, and the
present church building was erected. From this
time until 1875 this society belonged to the same
circuit with Braceville, and the same ministers
served both churches.

In the above year the church at Newton was
separated from Braceville with a membership of
forty-six. The following ministers have served
this congregation since that time: C. V. Wilson,
J. H. Starrett, W. A. Clark, E. P. Edmunds, \\\
L. Davidson, John Tribby, and the present pas-
tor. Rev. J. J. Wallace. The present member-
ship is one hundred and forty-four, and the
church is in a good state of prosperity.

THE LUTHERAN AND GERMAN REFORMED
CHURCH.

This society was organized by Rev. F. C.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

465

Becker, the present Lutheran pastor, in 1835.
Rev. H. Huet and P. Mahnenschmid had
preached here several times previous to the or-
ganization by Rev. Becker. The school-house
in which the early meetings were held, and in
which the organization was effected, was located
about one-fourth mile from the present church
building, which stands east of tlie center of the
township.

The first officials were: Leonard Miller
(Lutheran) and Jacob Feister (Clerman Reform)
as trustees. The origmal members were: Leon-
ard, Jacob, and John Miller, George, Jacob, and
David Longenberger (Lutherans), and Jacob
Feister and John Loab (German Reformed).
The first house of worship was erected in 1837,
and the present one in 1850. Father Becker,
the present pastor of the Lutheran church, has
served this people for now almost fifty years, and
is well known throughout the community as an
able, zealous, and efficient pastor, and the work
of his hands in the moral and religious welfare
of his people will live after him.

The ministers who served the German Re-
formed congrestation were: Revs. Mahnen-
schmid, Rahhauser, Ruhl, Reuter, Fair, Reuter,
Fair, Grether, Perkins, and Otting. The two
congregations hold services alternately in the
present church building, which is locally known
as Miller's church.

CEMETERY.

Ihe original butial ground was donated by
Bildad Hine and Jonathan Jacobs, each giving
one-fourth of an acre. The first interment was
that ot Captain Reuben Bostwick, brother in-law
of Mr. Hine, who died July 16, 1813, aged sev-
enty-eight years. With the later additions made
to the grounds, in all about three acres, and many
other improvements, they now present a very
beautiful country cemetery, and will soon be in-
corporated under the jurisdiction of the town-
ship trustees.

.SCHOOLS.

In the summer of 18 12 the first school was
taught at Newton Falls by Miss Draper, who af-
terwards became Mrs. Collar, a relative of Dr.
Harmon. It is related of her that she forbade
her scholars to kill innocent striped snakes and
so strengthened her mandate by pleas of mercy
and justice th^t two of her scholars, well-known

men in this community, Herbert Hine and Bar-
ney C. Allen, have never killed one from that
day to this, and Mr. Allen has made it a rule to
dismiss from his employ any one guilty of such
an offense. In the winter of this same year the
school was taught by Jonathan Trescott, and the
following winter Hervey Stow, of Braceville, was
teacher. Edmond Yale (deceased) used to tell
how well he remembered getting a whipping
from his teacher for refusing to sit between two
little girls as a punishment for some previous of-
fence.

Hon. Eben Newton, then a beardless boy,
gave young America a winter's training in this
school-room.

It seems he was more accomplished in litera-
ture than in navigation, as the following incident
will illustrate. Having spent " an evening out "
on the east side of the East river, in attempt-
ing to return at an early hour he became lost in
a cranberry swamp and was compelled to remain
under the shelter of a tree until morning, when,
in great haste to get to his school, he came to the
river, which had been swollen by the rain during
the night and the current was rapid; he entered
his boat, seized the only oar and attempted to
cross. When about in the center of the stream
the oar broke and the boat began drifting rapidly
towards the falls. He saw no way of helping
himself only to pull at the mooring rope and
halloo for help. David Huffstetter was soon on
the bank and directed the helpless teacher as
follows : " Walk to this end of the boat and
then run to the other," which he did, and the
motion produced by the feet drifted the boat
to the shore.

The house occupied by this first school stood
near the site of the present south warehouse. From
this beginning the schools began to appear as the
township settled and became more numerously
populated. The village is now supplied with a
large school building in which the union school
is now held, of three departments, and in which
great pride is manifested by the community.
This school has been very successful and has at-
tracted pupils from distant parts of this section
to take advantage of superior instruction here.

The following report of the condition of the
school was made November 26, 1881.

Principal departmen
Second department .

466

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO

Grammar department ..... 33

Higli school department 39

Total 153

Average daily attendance 144

Non-residents 19

Present board : W. W. Herbert, president; Max Matles,
clerk ; A. L. F. Albertson, treasurer; C. G Graham, N.
Spencer, L. A. Robins, members.

John E. Mokkis, Principal.

THE WOOLEN MILLS.

The present woolen mill was built by Augustus
Stephens about 1825, and was enlarged and
otherwise im[)roved by H. C. Soule in 1843, ^^o
operated the mill until 1859, when he sold to
Allen Hoyle, who now has the factory in charge
manufacturing stocking-yarns and flannels. The
mill has a capacity of one hundred pounds of
wool per day. The spinning jack has one hun-
dred and forty-four spindles on a forty-inch con-
denser, and the mill has two broad power-Ioorns
propelled by water-power from West river.

NEWTON FALLS FOUNDRY.

This foundry was begun some years ago and
has undergone some changes of proprietorship.
At present it is operated by lease from J. ].
Pearson by Lewis Walters, who took possession
m December, 1880. As operated at present two
heats are made per week, and all kinds of ordi-
nary work, such as stoves, plow-shares, plates of
various kinds are moulded. The capacity of
the foundry reaches fifteen hundred pound
weight, but is not operated to full capacity. Gen-
eral custom and some shipping work is done,
employing two and three hands. The present
indications, under the efficient management of
Mr. Walters, are promising for future success in
this branch of industry.

NEWTON FALLS LODGE, FREE .AND .ACCEPTED
MASONS, NO. 462.

This lodge was organiEed May 13, 1872, with
the following charter members : Edward Spear,
L. T. Soule, E. F. Shaw, Davis Lowry, W. L.
Hosier, J. W. Little, L. C. Merrill, A. Elwell,
L. F. Humphrey, I. E. Brown, N. C. Smith,
M. Templeton, Mark Ames, John Patterson,
E. W. Williams.

The first officials elected were : L. T. Soule,
W. M.; L. F. Humphrey, S. W.; J. W. Little,
J. W.; L. C. Merrill, secretary.

The first meetings were held over Herbert
Bros.' store, and for the last two years the lodge

has held its regular meetings in Ames' block,
south side of Broad street.

The present number of Master Masons is
forty-two, and the present officials are: L. C.
Merrill, W. M.; T. H. Gilmer, S. W.; J- E.
Griffrich, J. W.; J. W. Little, secretary; B. V.
Rice, treasurer. Lodge is in good condition.

NEWTOX FALLS LODGE, I. O. O. F., NO. 2.S5.

The above lodge was instituted June 14, 1854,
and the first officials were W. Tew, N. G.; Thom-
as R. Gaskell, V. G.; John Campbell, secretary ;
and S. J. Grinnell, treasurer. The charter mem-
bers were composed of the above officials and J.
S. Tompkins. The order held its first meetings
over J. & W. Herbert's store, on the corner of
Canal and Broad streets, but now meet in their
own brick building on the north side of Broad
street. One hundred and fifty persons have held
membership in this lodge since its organization,
and its present membership is thirty-three. It
has expended in benefits and charities $1,500,
besides attendance, and now owns real and per-
sonal property to the amount of $2,500. The
piesent officials are L. C. Merrill, N. G.; R. F.
Templeton, V. G.; H. M. Reecer, secretary; and
H. Butts, treasurer. The lodge now enjoys a I
good degree of prosperity. |

THE MAHONING VALLEY .AGRICULTURAL AS- I

SOCI.ATION. I

This association was organized September 22,
1 87 1, with a capital stock of $3,000, which was
divided into si.x hundred shares. The first elec-
tion of officers occurred October 9, 187 1, and
resulted as follows: H. S. Robbins, president ;
William L. Hosier, first vice-president ; John
Snyder, second vice-president ; Charles G. Gra-
ham, secretary ; J. B. Stanley and C. W. Par-
sons, assistant secretaries ; T. I. Gilmer, treas-
urer. The board of directors was composed of
J. F. Porter, George Patterson, Charles Kistler,
Elisha Walker, J. P. Baldwin, Azel Delin.

The association owns in fee-simple twenty-two
acres of choice land, which lies immediately
south of the village of Newton Falls and near
the East branch of the Mahoning river. The
grounds are substantially fenced and contain
besides the necessary buildings a fine half-
mile track, said to be one of the best in the
State. The grounds and improvements cost
over $4,000, and the annual exhibitions of the

'RUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

467

association have done much to foster and encour-
age agricultural industries in this locality and to
stimulate local piide and energy among all
classes. The annual meetings occur on the first
Monday of February, and the present officials
are L. C. Merrill, president ; Henry Butt, vice-
president ; Charles G. Graham, secretary; D. H.
Gardner, treasurer ; and John Snyder, David
Carlisle, William King, Henry King, C. M.
Smith, B. F. Rice, and L. F. Merrill, compose
the official board.

THE MAHONING V.'iLLEY GR.'^NGE, NO. 1 272.

The organization of this Grange was effected
April 18, 1876, by O. P. Laird, deputy for Trum-
bull county. The first officials were William
King, W. M.; Hary King, overseer; L. D.
Miller, lecturer ; J. E. Johnson, steward ; Isaac
Hoyle, chaplain ; S. M. McKibben, assistant
steward ; Calvin Lybolt, treasurer ; William J.
Ebert, gatekeeper ; Mrs. Michael Bailey, Ceres ;
Mrs. Dallas Kistler, Pomona; Miss Maria King,
Flora ; Mrs. Mary A. Johnson, assistant steward.
The charter members, including the above offi-
cers, were: Reuben Kale, Angeline Kale, Reu-
ben Williams, W. D. Sutton, George Hewit,
Battle Ebert, Martha and James Lybolt, Mr.
and Mrs. H. A. Leach, Mr. and Mrs. Charles
Kistler, D. Lewis, Sarah Hoyle, Mr. and Mrs.
Daniel Herner, Mrs. Henry King, Fred and
Mary Sim, Mr. and Mrs. Michael Kistler, Mr.
and Mrs. Daniel King, Mr. and Mrs. Owen
Graver, Mrs. S. M. McKibben, Angeline Mc-
Collister, Esther and J- l'' King, and Michael
Bailey. The grange meets at Newcon Falls,
Ohio, on Saturday evenings, and at present has
a membership of fifty-eight, embracing a very
large proportion of the influential farmers of the
neighborhood. The greater part of the members
take advantage of the financial or business fea-
ture of the oiganization, purchases amounting to
several hundred dollars per year.

Socially the grange is now confident of gaining
ground in Newton, and if they have thus far
failed in making "two blades of grass grow where
but one grew before," they hope to do so in the
future.

PHYSICIANS.

The first physicians of old Trumoull whose
names have been handed down to posterity were
General J. W. Seeky, of Howland ; Enoch

Leavitt, of Warren center; Peter Allen, of
Kinsman ; Dr. Dutton, of Youngstown ; John
B. Harmon, of Warren ; Dr. Kirtland, of Po-
land ; and Harry Beach, of Fowler. The pro-
fession thus ably represented was further strength-
ened in 18 1 4 by the settlement of Dr. Tracy
Bronson in Newton township. He was born in
Middlebury, New Haven county, Connecticut,
in 1791. After receiving an academic training
he entered the medical department of Yale Col-
lege, from which he graduated in 1813. On
coming to Ohio the following year he purchased
land near Price's mills, in Newton township, on
which he settled, and joon was actively engaged
in the practice of his profession. In 1817 Dr.
Bronson married Mary Freeman, second daugh-
ter of Robert Freeman, of Braceville township.
Her death occurred in May, 1833. He married
for his second wife Sarah E. Stanwood, in 1834;
she died in 1866. Dr. Bronson's family con-
sisted of three sons and one daughter. James,
the oldest son, was born in 181 7, read medicine
with his father, and practiced in Newton from
1845 until his death in 1872 — he was a promi-
nent member of the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows ; Henry W. was born in 18 18, settled in
Wisconsin in 184.S, returned in 1872, and now
resides in Newton township ; Mary Freeman, the
only daughter, was born in 1821, was married to
S. W. Harris, of Warren, and died in Illinois in
1866; William, the youngest son, was born in
1832, and resides on the homestead farm in
Newton township. Dr. Bronson continued the
practice of his profession until a year previous to
his death, which took place October, 1859.
During the whole period of his professional
career he maintained an honorable standing,
among his contemporaries and the full confi-
dence of a large circle of friends. The duties
of citizenship were not neglected by him. He
served three times in the Ohio Legislature, hav-
ing been elected first in 1836. In 1840 he was
a member of the Whig National . convention
which nominated William Henry Harrison for
President. He was frequently the recipient of
local official honors.

SETTLEMENT NOTES.

Harvey ,\llen, a well known resident of Newton
township, was born June 28, 1807, in Berkshire
county, Massachusetts. His father, Joseph Al-

46S

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

len, was a native of Massachusetts, who came to
Ohio and settled in Braceville township, Trum-
bull county, in 1810. He reared a family of
nine children, five of whom are now living, four
sons and a daughter. All are now well advanced
in years. Mr. Harvey Allen is the youngest son.
The names of the children were, Sarah, born
December 14, 1791; James, October 31, 1793;
Amanda, September 29, 1795; Barney C, Sep-
tember 8, 1797; Amos, February 6, 1800; Barsha,
January 3, 1802; Avery, August 21, 1804;
Harvey, June 28, 1807; Eunice M., March 22,
1809. Joseph Allen was a shoemaker by trade;
he also carried on a tannery several years. He
died February 16, 1842. Mrs. Allen died Octo-
ber 12, 1853. ^^r. Harvey Allen resided in
Braceville township until 1875, then moved to
Newton Falls. He has always been engaged in
farming principally. He was married July 15,
1834, to Miss Mehitabel Frank. By this mar-
riage he had one child. Mrs. Allen died Decem-
ber 15, 1S40. He was again married Novem-
ber 15, 1843, to Miss Emeline Stanley. She
died November 7, 1848. They had one child.
He was married again November 8, 1849, to
Mrs. Jane L. Tilley. She had four children by
a former marriage. Mr. and Mrs. .\llen belong
to the Disciple church.

B. C. Allen, son of Josejih and Mary (Jacobs)
Allen, was born in Berkshire county, Massachu-
setts, September 8, 1797. He came with his
parents to Trumbull county in 1810. Joseph
Allen left Massachusetts with his family on the
20th day of May, and arrived in Braceville,
where they settled, on the 3d day of July. Of
the twenty-two persons who came with Mr.
.Mien only five are now living. He settled in
the southwest part of Braceville, where he spent
the balance of his life. He died in February,
1842. His wife died in October, 1853. They had
a family of nine children. Four sons and one
daughter are still living, viz : B. C. Harvey, and
Mrs. Eunice Minerva Sherman, at Newton Falls;
Amos in Eaton county, Michigan; and Avery in
Portage county. B. C. Allen was married first
in 1822 to Ursula Newton, of Braceville, who
(lied in February, 1850. He had ten children
by that marriage, eight of whom are living. He
nurried his present wife in 1868, Mrs. Martha
NL Sherman, whose first husband, Dr. B. Sher-

mnii, die

Mr.

Allen resided on the old homestead in Braceville
until the spring of 1872, when he removed to
Newton Fails, where he now lives nearly eighty-
five years of age.

John Henry Hewit, a native of Maryland,
moved with his family from Washington county,
Pennsylvania, to Boardman township, now Ma-
honing county, in the spring of 1815. He was
a minister of the Lutheran church, and the
second clergyman of that denomination in this
region. His work extended over a large extent
of country, and his life was an active one and
fruitful of good results. He died in Boardman,
where he first settled, in 1854, his wife, Esther
(Simon) dying tw& years after. They had a
family of fourteen children. Five are siill liv-
ing— Mrs. Margaret Fiester; Samuel, in Newton;
Catharine (Kale), in Milton, Mahoning county;
Elizabeth, unmarried, in Newton; Lydia (Moyer),
in Michigan. Samuel Hewit was born in Can-
ton township, Washington county, Pennsylvania,
December 21, 1800. He came to Trumbull
county with his isarents in 18 15. He married
in 1822 Sophia Berger, of Boardman, and in
1824 settled in F^llsworth township, and resided
there until 1850, when he moved to Newton,
locating where he now lives. His wife died Fel)-
ruary 19, 1876, in the seventy fifth year of her
age. They have had a family of nine children,
SIX of whom are living — John Henry, Hannah
(widow of Daniel Bailey), Elias, Esther (Bailey),
George, and Lewis, all living in Newton town-
ship, and all but one in the same neighborhood.

William Bronson, youngest son of Dr. Tracy
and Mary (Freeman) Bronson, was born in New-
ton township, Trumbull county, June 23, 1832.
Dr. Tracy Bronson was born in Connecticut in
1 79 1. He was a graduate of Yale college. In
1814 he came to Ohio, and settled in Newton
township, where he practiced his profession until
1850. He was the first physician in that town-
ship, and had an extensive practice. He married
in 1815, Mary, daughter of Robert Freeman, one
of the pioneers of Braceville township. He
raised a family of four children, two of whom are
living, viz: Henry W., a resident of Newton, and
the subject of this sketch. Dr. Bronson died
in October, 1859, and his wife in 1833. William
was brought up on a farm, and during the con-
struction of the Mahoning railroad he was en-
gaged some four years in civil engineering. In

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

469

1854 he married Emeline E. Blair. They have
had five children, viz: Mary Eugenia, who was
the wife of L. N. Patterson, and who died in
1880, leaving two children; Hattie R, wife of
George Patterson, residing in Titusville, Pennsyl-
vania; Freeman, born November 18, 1865, died
in August, 1867; Elizabeth M. and Tracy James
are still at home. William Bronson was justice
of the peace some fifteen years. In 1877 he
was elected county commissioner for Trumbull
county, and re-elected in the fall of 1S80.

Henry Wilderson, one of the old residents of
Newton, was born July 22, 181 1, in York county,
Pennsylvania, where he lived three years, and
then went to Maryland in company with his
parents, Charles and Christiana Wilderson. In
1832 Mr. Charles Wilderson came to Ohio, and
settled in Beaver township, Columbiana county,
now Mahoning county. He was a stone-mason
by trade, though he made farming his business
after coming to Ohio. He came to Newton in
1835, ^"d located upon the farm where his son
Henry now lives. Charles Wilderson died in
1863, surviving his wife several years. There
were eleven children in the family. Mr. Henry
Wilderson has lived in the township since 1835,
upon the farm where we now find him pleasantly
situated. He was married September 24, 1846,
to Miss Rachel Barnhisel, daughter of Martin
Barnhisel, of Weathersfield township. They
have had seven children, six of whom are living:
Ira N., Mary A., Martha M., Electa K, John H.,
Emma A., and Ella O. Mr. and Mrs. Wilder-
son are Methodists. Politically he is a Repub-
lican, and is highly esteemed.

David Carlisle, a well known resident of New-
ton, was born in Newton township upon the
place where he now lives. His father, David,
was a native of Mifflin county, Pennsylvania,
and came to Ohio in 1806, and located in New-
ton township, and was one of the earliest settlers
of the township. Beginning in a small clearing
made by the Indians when the country was wild,
he built up a nice farm, and lived here till his
death, which occurred March 7, i860. Mrs.
Carlisle died in December, 1856. The family
consisted of eight children, all of whom are
living. Mr. David Carlisle, the subject of this
sketch, is the youngest of the family. He has
always lived upon the old home place. He was
married December 3, 1S57, to Miss Martha

Linn, daughter of William Linn, of Guernsey
county, Ohio. They have had four children,
three of whom are living — Frank L., William A.,
Charles, and one died in infancy. Mrs. Carlisle
is a member of the Congregational church. Mr.
Carlisle is a Republican, and is highly respected.

John Lewis, an early pioneer of Trumbull
county, was born in 1801, in Washington county,
Maryland. His father, Morris Lewis, was born
in December, 1777. He was a farmer by occu-
pation and died September 9, 1807, in Poland
township, Trumbull county, now known as Ma-
honing county. Morris .Lewis, Sr., father of
Morris Lewis, was drowned in the Susquehanna
river, when Morris Lewis was a boy. Mr. John
Lewis, the subject of this sketch, had one brother
and two sisters: William Lewis, born April 29,1803,
in Allegheny county, Maryland; Rachel, born
February 18, 1806, died November 27, 1806;
Rachel L. was born October 29, 1808, in Trumbull
county, Ohio: she died April 21, 1880, in Kent
county, Michigan. Mr. John Lewis came to
Newton in 1843 from Portage county, Ohio, and
lived upon the farm whe,-e his sons now live and
was engaged in general farming until his death.
He had a family of seven children, five of whom
are living — Morris, William, Mary A., Isaiah,
Andrew, Jonathan, and David. Isaiah and Wil-
liam are deceased. Mrs. Lewis died July 29,
1876. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis were members of
the Lutheran church.

Samuel King was born in 1804, November
14th, in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania. His
father, Jacob King, was a native of Pennsylva-
nia, and spent his days in this State. He was a
farmer by occu|)ation, and died in 1829, leaving
a wife and five children. Mrs. King died in
1837. Mr. Samuel King came to Ohio in 1837,
and settled upon the farm where he now resides.
He was married in 1824 to Miss Elizabeth Faulk,
daughter of Daniel Faulk, of Lehigh county,
Pennsylvania. They have had ten children, all
of whom are living. Mrs. King died in 1S50.
She was a devoted member of the Lutheran
church. Mr. King and family are also members
of the same church, and are good citizens.

William King, one of the enterprising men of
Newton township, was born July 24, 1827, in
Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, and came to Ohio
with his father, Samuel King, in 1837, and has
since lived in the county. He learned the shoe-

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

making trade when a young man, and served a
little over a year as an apprentice. He began
work (or himself in 1847, and continued in the
boot and shoe business for twenty-eight years,
employing several hands at home. He had an
extensive trade, extending over the southern
part of Trumbull county, and was well known
as an upright business man. His health failing
he went to gardening, and has been engaged in
horticulture for the past few years. He was mar-
ried March 28, 1850, to Miss Esther Stroup,
daughter of John Stroup, of Warren, Ohio. By
this union there have been si.x children — Maria
K, William H., John R, Harriet L., Clara S.,
and George N. Mrs. King is a member of the
Lutheran church. Mr. King was formerly a
member, though at the present time is very lib-
eral m his views. In politics he is a conserva-
tive, voting for men rather than for party, and is
one of the esteemed citizens of the township.

John N. Pearce was born in 1821 in Jackson
township, Trumbull county, now Mahoning.
His father, Joseph, was a native of New Jersey,
and came to Ohio when he was about eight years
of age. Mr. John N. Pearce has always lived in
old Trumbull, living in Jackson until 1858 when
he moved to Newton. General farming has
been and is his occupation. He was married in
1845 to Miss Mary McConnell, daughter of
James McConnell, of Jackson township. They
have had ten children, seven of whom are living.
Mrs. Pearce died in 1870. Mr. Pearce's second
marriage occurred in 1872, to Mrs. Abram Ohl,
of Jackson township. Mr. and Mrs. Pearce are
members of the Disciples church. Politically
he is a Republican.

Joseph Nicholls, the oldest living resident of
Newton township, was born March 20, 1794, in
Washington county, Pennsylvania. His father,
Thomas Nicholls, was a native of Maryland,
though lived a long time in Pennsylvania, and
came to Ohio in 181 2 and settled in Jeffer-
son county, and was an early settler of this
part of the State. He lived and died here.
I'arming was his chief occupation. He died in

1831, leaving a family of eight children. Mrs.
Nicholls died m her ninety-first year. Mr.
Joseph Nicholls came to Newton township in

1832, and has since resided in the township,
lie was married m 1815 to Miss Mercy Dowden,
(laughter of Michael Dowden, of Maryland.

They have had nme children, seven of whom
are living. Mrs. Nicholls died in 1845. Polit-
ically Mr. Nicholls is a sound Democrat and is
highly esteemed by all. He retains his sight re-
markably and bids fair to round out the century.

Andrew J. Carlisle was born in 1827 in Lisbon,
Columbiana county, Ohio. His father, Henr)',
came from New Jersey to Ohio in an early day
and located in Columbiana county, where he lived
until 1832, when he came to Newton Falls where
he kept tavein for nineteen years. He died
.\pril 27, 1864. In the family there are four
children. Mr. Andrew Carlisle has been en-
gaged in farming chiefly. He was married Janu-
ary 8, 1858, to Miss Caroline De Forrest, daugh-
ter of Curtis De Forrest, of Portage county.
They have two children, Curtis and Isabel. In
politics Mr. Carlisle is a Democrat.

Joseph Strock was born September 25, 183 1,
in Austintown township, Trumbull county. His
father, Samuel Strock, was a native of Pennsyl-
vania, Cumberland county, and came to Ohio in
18 14 with his father, Joseph, who first settled in
Tuscarawas county for one season, then came to
Trumbull county and settled in Austintown,
where he lived till his death, which occurred in
1832, leaving a family of twelve children. Mrs.
Strock died in a few weeks after the death of
her husband. Mr. Samuel Strock came to New-
ton in 1840 and lived upon the farm where his
son Joseph now resides, till 1878, and died in
this year. Mrs. Strock died in 1868. Mr.
Strock, the subject of this sketch, has always
lived in what was old Trumbull. He has an ex-
cellent farm of two hundred and one acres. He
was married in 1853 to Miss Susan Kistler,
daughter of Michael Kistler, of Newton town-
ship. There were nine children by this marriage.
Mrs. Strock died in 1868. His second marriage
was in the fall of 1868 to Miss Almira Powers,
daughter of William Powers, of Ohltown, Ohio.
There were five children by this marriage. Mrs.
Strock died in 1876. Mr. Strock is an enter-
prising man.

Joseph VVilson w^as born in 181S in the county
of Tyrone, Ireland, and came to .Xmerica in
1834, and at once came to Austintown, Mahon-
ing county, where he lived about twelve years,
being engaged as a clerk for Caldwell Porter;
also drove team and worked upon the farm.
He then went to ^"oungstown where he acted as

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUN TILS, OHIO.

47'

a clerk in the warehouse of Parks & Co. two and
one-half years. He then bought the farm in
Newton township where he now lives, and has
since been engaged in stock-raising and general
farming. He was married in 1850 to Miss Cath-
arine Potter, daughter, of Edward and Lucy
Potter, of Warren. By this union there are four
children— William F., Caldwell P., Lucy, and
Elma J. Mrs. Wilson is a member of the Pres-
byterian church. In politics Mr. Wilson is a
good Democrat.

Ferdinand Graber was born November 30,
1814, in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania. His
father, Andrew Graber, was a native of Pennsyl-
vania. The family is of German descent. An-
drew Graber came to Ohio in 1815, and settled
in Canfield township, Trumbull county, now
Mahoning county. He was a farmer. He died
in 1850, leaving a family of nine children and
a widow. Mrs. Graber died in 1854. Both were
members of the German Presbyterian church.
Ferdinand Graber came to Newton in 1852,
and settled upon the farm where we now find
him. He was married in January, 1844, to Miss
Sarah Wehr, daughter of Simon Wehr, of Board-
man township, Mahoning county. They have
had four children, three of whom are living —
Ensign, Mary E., Anna M., Lucetta. Ensign is
deceased. Mrs. Graber died December 24,
1877. She was a devoted member of the Pres-
byterian church. Mr. Graber is also a member
of the same church.

Charles P. Wood was born .^pril 20, 181 1, in
Canandaigua county. New York. His father,
Josiah, was a native of New York, and came to
Ohio in 1813 or 1814 and settled in Canfield,
Trumbull county, now Mahoning county, and
was among the early settlers. Mr. Charles P.
Wood came to Newton in 1836 and located a
year later upon the farm where his boys now
live. Mr. Wood died May 29, 1880; Mrs.
Wood died June i, 1873. They had a family
of five children — Josiah E., S. A. Wood, A. S.,
E. E., H. A. Mr. and Mrs. Wood were members
of the Disciples' church.

Henry Taylor was born March 8, 1S20, in
Warren township, Trumbull county, Ohio. His
father, Samuel, was a native of Maryland, and
came to Ohio in an early day and was one of
the pioneers of the Western Reserve. He was
a shoemaker by trade, which occupation he fol-

lowed many years in Warren township, then
went to Bazetta township, Trumbull county,
where he pursued farming till his death, which
occurred in 1835. There were seven children
in the family — four boys and three girls. Mrs.
Taylor died in 1829. Mr. Henry Taylor has
always lived in Trumbull county. He learned
the blacksmith trade when a young man, and has
followed it as a vocation. He came to Newton
Falls March 7, 1837. He was married in 1845
to Miss Margaret Cole, daughter of Peter Cole,
of Newton Falls. They have had four children
—William H., Charles, Mary, Addison S. Mr.
and Mrs. Taylor are members of the Christian
church. He is a staunch Democrat, and has
held several of the township offices. He is
esteemed and respected by all.

William Herbert, a well known merchant of
Newton Falls, was born March 17, 1837, in
Portage county, Ohio. His father, Thomas Her-
bert, a native of Wales, came to America in
1823, and settled in Palmyra, Portage county,
Ohio, and was one of the pioneers of this sec-
tion. He was a tailor by trade, though followed
farming chiefly as an occupation. He died in
1877, leaving a family of eight children and a
widow to mourn his loss. Mrs. Herbert died in
1879. Mr. William Herbert is the oldest dry
goods merchant at Newton Falls. He has been
in business at this place twenty years, and has an
extensive trade. He was married in 1864 to
Miss Mary A. Jones, daughter of Richard D.
Jones, of Mahoning county. iNIrs. Herbert died
January i, 1865. He was again married in
1866, to Miss Marietta Hine, daughter of Noble
Hine, of Ravenna, Portage county. They have
three children. Mr. and Mrs. Herbert are mem-
bers of the Congregational church, as is also
their oldest son. In politics he is a firm Repub-
lican. He was second lieutenant in the One
Hundred and Seventy-first Ohio infantry.

Alfred L. F. Albertson, M. D., a successful
physician of Newton Falls, was born July 7,
1848, in Winslow, New Jersey. His father,
S.nmuel Albertson, was a native of Pennsylvania,
and for a long time was engaged in mercantile
business. Dr. Albertson was raised in Philadel-
phia. He commenced to study medicine in
1868 with Dr. Kerr, of Philadelphia, and at-
tended a course of lectures at the Jefferson
Medical college; also a course in Cincinnati, and

472

■RUMISULI, AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

graduated in Cleveland in 1875, ^"'^ has since
practiced at Newton Falls, though he practiced
here two or three years before going to Cleve-
land. He gives particular attention to the eye,
and has been very successful in his practice thus
far. He is a Free Mason, also an Odd Fellow.
In politics a Republican.

H. M. Reeser was born in 1848 in Austin-
town, Mahoning county. His father, Andrew
Reeser, was a native of Liberty township, Trum-
bull county. His grandfather, Daniel, was an
early pioneer. Mr. H. M. Reeser lived in Penn-
sylvania several years, and came to Milton town-
ship in 1865, where he lived till 1873, when he
was married to Miss Eunice A. Baldwin, daugh-
ter of J. P. Baldwin, of Newton township. They
have one child — Lucius E. Mr. Reeser is en-
gaged in teaching in connection with his farm-
ing, and is a wide-awake, enterprising man. He
is an Odd Fellow.

CHAPTER XVL

GUSTAVUS.

gp:o<;rai>hical and physical features.

(justavus is the second of the northern tier of
townships of Trumbull county, being the seventh
township in the second range. It is north ot
Johnston, east of Greene, and west of Kinsman.
Wayne township, Ashtabula county, adjoins it on
the north.

The soil is good, and agricultural industry
prospers. No railroad enters this township.
Kinsman station on the Lake Shore branch road,
four and a half miles from Gustavus center, is
the nearest railroad point. Farming is the prin-
cipal business of the inhabitants of this township.
Two small villages, Hart's corners and the cen-
ter, a mile apart, each contairis a dozen or more
houses, one store and a few shops. The surface
is undulating with no particularly striking fea-
tures. The soil is mostly sandy loam, some-
what gravelly in places. Some clayey si)ots are
found near the streams. The drainage of the
township is received by Pymatuning creek, which
crosses the northeastern corner of the township,
thence flows southeasterly through Kinsman and
N'ernon. Most of the streams are small, and are

confined to the eastern half of the township.
All flow toward the east.

This townshi]3 was surveyed and the lots num-
bered in 1800. Colonel Lemuel Storrs having
purchased a part of lot number two, gave the
township the name of his son, Gustavus.

SETTLEMENT.

Josiah Pelton, having purchased a tract of land
north of the center of this township, came out in
the year 1800, on horseback, to view his purchase
and select a spot for a home. Having arrived in
the unbroken wilderness, he turned his horse
loose to graze along the Pymatuning creek. Mr.
Pelton remained all summer, and during this
time his horse had became so nearly wild that
when he was wanted to carry his owner back to
Connecticut in the fall, Mr. Pelton was obliged
to catch him with a lasso, which proved a very
difficult job. But at length having succeeded,
Mr. Pelton made the return trip in company
with a missionary who had no horse, but was al-
lowed the use of this on a part of the way. Ar-
riving at home in safety Mr. Pelton made an offer
of one hundred acres of his land to the woman
who would first engage to make her home in the
wilds of Gustavus.

His son Jesse induced Ruhamah DeWolf, of
Granby, Connecticut, to accept this offer, and
she engaged to undertake with him the hard-
ships of pioneer life. She came with her father's
family to Vernon and there remained until a
clearing had been made and a log cabin built
upon the farm. The raising of this cabin took
place the fourth day of June, 1802, Mr. Pelton
being assisted in his labor by men from Vernon.
A heavy fall of rain came on, and all who at-
tended the raising were obliged to remain all
night at the cabin. The next day they reached
home, but were obliged to bridge some of the
swollen creeks intervening by felling trees across
them.

Mrs. Pelton did not take up her abode in the
new cabin until the following December. Her
husband meanwhile boarded himself, carrying
his bread from Vernon. One day as he was
going after a supply he saw a panther in a tree
on the bank of the Pymatuning. He tied his hat
and coat u[)on a bush, ordered his dog to watch
them, and then returned to the center after his

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

473

gun. The dog kept faithful watch until his
master's return, when the panther was killed and
found to measure nearly seven feet.

Elias Pelton, brother of Jesse, was the second
man who settled in Gustavus with his family.
His daughter Barbara, afterwards the wife of
Hezekiah Barnes, was the first white child in the
township who survived. She died in 1881. Her
brother Storrs was the first male child.

Soon aftei these settlers arrived Josiah Pelton,
the father, came here to reside. His sons were
Jesse, Harvey, Elias, Zenas, Ithemur, and Julius.
All remained a couple of years. Harvey died in
Geauga county; Zenas moved to Michigan with
his sons when an old man, and Jesse died in
Pennsylvania. The others lived and died in
Gustavus. All settled near the center on adjoin-
ing farms. Two daughters of Josiah Pelton,
Mrs. John Lane and Eliphaz Perkins, also re-
sided in this township. Of his grandchildren,
Tenserd D. and Cynthia, children of Jesse Pel-
ton, and Lysander, son of Julius, are still living
in this township ; also Mrs. Annis Barber, daugh-
ter of Julius.

In June, 1804, Obediah Gildersleeve and fam-
ily came. They journeyed by team in company
with Calvin Cone and others. Mr. Gildersleeve
— the name is now abbreviated to Gilder — was
from Hartland, Connecticut. He settled on a
farm about one-half mile east of the center.
Eight children were brought here and another
was born after the arrival of the family. Mr.
Gilder died in 1805 aged fifty years, and was
among the first to be buried in the township
graveyard north of the center. Mrs. Gilder
lived to be seventy. The children were Bailey,
Obed, Polly, Orril, Sally, Annis, Phebe, Chloe,
and Betsey. Chloe was drowned in the creek
when a child ; Betsey also died young. The
others all lived to mature years, and three, Obed,
Orril, and Phebe, are still living, aged respect-
ively eighty nine, eighty-seven, and eighty years.
The two former reside in Kinsman, and Phebe
in Gustavus.

Thaddeus Selby, from Hartland, Connecticut,
settled in 1804 one and one-half miles east of
the center. One of his daughters, Mrs. M. S.
Whittlesey, is living in Cleveland. The other
members of the family were Jeremiah W., who
died at St. Paul; Ephr.iim C, Laura E. (Be-
mnn), who lived in Gustavus, and Eliza (Ely),

who died in Illinois. Ephraim lived on the old
homestead till 1861, and died in Gustavus in
September, 1881. He married Wealthy Bishop,
who is still living. Their family of five children
all survive.

Calvin Cone, also of Hartland, settled in the
eastern part of the township, but moved to Hart-
ford township after some years. He was a State
Senator from Trumbull county in 1806-9, ^"d
a very prominent man in his day. He was the
first justice of the peace in Gustavus township,
and was probably appointed to that otifice about
iSoS.

A little later Asa and Dosey Case, brothers,
settled in the southwest of the township. Mrs.
Totten and Mrs. St. John, daughters of Dosey
Case, are the only representatives of the original
families now in this township.

John Lane, about 1805, settled one mile north
and a half-mile east of the center, where his son
Cyrus now lives.

Six weeks or more were required for a journey
from Connecticut to this township. Often the
travelers had to build bridges and repair roads
in order^to proceed upon their way. The usual
custom was to journey, a large company of emi-
grants to the West together, with ox teams and
large covered wagons. Gipsy like, they ate and
slept in these wagons.

After 1805 settlers continued coming gradual-
ly. Jehiel Meacham, better known as 'Squire
Meacham, came at the request of Calvin Cone,
Esq., who thought the settlement needed a black-
smith. Cone gave him fifty acres of land as an
inducement to settle. Meacham accordingly
came and located in a cabin across the road from
Cone's. Land was then worth $2 per acre and
upwards. Of the Meacham family, Jehiel, Jr.,
moved West when an old man and died; Ralph
died in Mecca; Horatio is living; Edmund died
in this township; Lydia (Allen) died in Kins-
man; Patty (St. John) resides in Gustavus; Lucia
(Moore) moved West.

Joseph Hart settled in Gustavus in 181 1.
His sons Nelson and Charles are still residents
of the township.

Riverius Bidwell, of Canton, Connecticut,
settled in the southeastern part of Gustavus in
1812. Other early settlers between the years
1810 and 1820 were Aaron Lyon, Lemuel New-
ton, William Linsley, Rufus Beman, and other.<;,

}74

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

mostly from Connecticut. One of the later
settlers and a thrifty farmer of Gustavus is Mr.
C. E. Fisher. He was born in Germany in
1S34. In 1847 he emigrated to America with
his ])arents. He lived in Herkimer county, New
V'ork, about six years, and in California about as
long. In 1861 he settled in Gustavus, on the
fine (arm which he now owns. Mr. Fisher mar-
ried Aurelia Hafer, a native of Germany, in
1861, and has three children — George, Henry,
and Andrew. In politics he is a Republican, in
religion a Methodist.

ORGANIZATION.

This township was detached from Greene in
1S21, and organized as a distinct townshi|).

The first officers were elected September 11,
1821, and were as follows: Ithemur Pelton,
Asa Case, Rufus Beman, trustees; William Rob-
erts, Abraham Griswold, overseers of the poor;
Ithemur Pelton, Walter W. Thornton, fence
viewers; Jehiel Meacham, Jr., Lester Waters,
constables; Joseph Hart, treasurer; Thaddeus
Selby, township clerk ; George Moses, lister ;
Marcus Andrews, Zenas Pelton, Thaddeus Selby,
Joseph Hart, Harvey Pelton, Solomon Waters,
Oliver Crosby, supervisors.

The first wedding was the marriage of Eliphaz
Perkins and Zilpah, daughter of Josiah Pelton,
April 6, 1804. The township had no justice of
the peace at that time, and it is said that this
couple waited a year for a missionary to come
and perform the ceremony.

PIONEER REMINISCENCES.

The first few years of the settlement, Beaver,
Pennsylvania, was the most convenient point at
which there was a grist-mill. After a few years
milling was done at Jamestown, Pennsylvania,
fifteen miles distant.

Boiled wheat, with maple sugar or syrup, was a
palatable and wholesome article of food much
used by the early settlers on account of the dif-
ficulty they experienced in obtaining Hour and
meal.

The small amount of store trading done by
the settlers of this townshij) at the newly estab-
lished store in Kinsman was by barter. Men
were glad to receive pay for labor in provisions.
A man's daily wages were forty cents; with a
yoke of oxen, seventy-five cents. \Vomen
worked for seventy-five cents and one dollar jier

week, seldom receiving cash. Wheat was thirty
cents per bushel ; corn fifteen, and oats eight
or ten cents. A good horse was worth $65.
Of articles which had to be procured at the store
the prices were about as follow: tea, $1.25 per
pound; codfish, eighteen cents per pound; the
poorest kind of brown sugar, twelve and a half
cents.

EARLY SCHOOLS.

The first school ever taught in this township
was held in the house of Elias Pelton. Roxy
Brock way was the teacher. It was a private
school, for the benefit of the Pelton children.
The first public school was kept in John Lane's
log barn about 1809, Sally Wakeman teacher.
Children found their way to this dispensary of
learning by following a path marked by blazed
trees.

The first school-house was built upon the farm
of Riverius Bidwell in 181 3. Soon after Esther
Bidwell taught school there. As all the chil-
dren were not provided with hats and caps some
came to school with handkerchiefs tied over their
heads. Miss Bidwell was a very popular teacher.

TEMPERANCE.

The evils of intemperance were painfully evi-
dent among some of the early settlers. Rev.
Joseph Badger was a rigid temperance man, and
his influence caused some reformations. Mar-
quis Andrews set on foot a temperance move-
ment and called a meeting for the purpose of
discussing the evils of immoderate drinking. He
offered a resolution embodying his views, which
the citizens so amended as to almost entirely
obliterate its original meaning. Then a pledge
was circulated so strongly worded that when it
came to Andrews he would not sign it. Like
many another temperance lecturer, he was not
willing fo practice total abstinence himself.
IN 181 2.*

The call for troops for the war was received
with enthusiasm, and nearly every able-bodied
man in Gustavus volunteered for the service.
The next day after the call was received here
Marquis Andrews led towards Fort Stephenson
at Lower Sandusky (now Fremont), a company
armed and equipped. Among these volunteers

*For lliis and many other facts included in this chapter,
the writer is indebted to a published article by Miss P. M.
Barnes, of Gustavus.

TRUMBULI- AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

were Joseph, Elias, and Julius Pelton, Lemuel
Newton, Aaron Rice, Joseph Hart, John Lane,
Thaddeus Selby, Aaron Lyon, Elam Linsley,
and Lester Cone.

An amusing incident connected with the call
was that when 'Squire Meacham learned that
equipments were demanded as well as men, he
proceeded to bury his two brass kettles in his
corn-field. But his son Jehiel enlisted and the
kettles had to be brought out for immediate use,
as each man was required to furnish his own
camp-kettle and blanket.

After the departure of the troops some ex-
perienced great anxiety through fear of an at-
tack by the Indians, who were known to be the
allies of the British. As the settlement was left
almost wholly without arms and men this fear
was not unnatural to the defenceless women and
children left behind.

One day some boys killed a fawn in the west-
ern part of the township, and expressed their
delight at their success in hunting by wild shouts
and other boyish actions. Mrs. Newton, who
lived two miles west of the center, was alone in
her house with two small children. She heard
the outcry and supposed that a band of Indians
were raising the war-cry. Hastily taking up her
children she left the house as secretly as possible
and went to the center where her nearest neigh-
bors lived. She and all others rejoiced when
the true cause of her alarm became known.

A NIGHT WITH WOLVES.

It is almost unnecessary to state that the dense
forests of this neighborhood were the lurking
places of wolves and other wild animals in great
numbers.

As a missionary Rev. Joseph Badger labored
in Gustavus as early as 1804; but it was several
years later that he entered the pulpit one Sunday
morning and related the experiences of the pre-
vious night. Said he:

I had started to come through from Ashtabula, but there
being no path I got ahead but slowly, and I cannot say how-
far I had come when darkness came upon me. As I could
make no headway through a pathless wood, I tied my horse
so that It could feed about some and then lay down on the
ground to rest. Ere long I was aroused by the cry of a wolf.
This cry was answered and soon it seemed that a hundred
ravenous wolves were howling for their prey. 1 quickly
arose, tied my horse more firmly, and, feeling about in tlie
darkness, found a stout limb, which I cut for a cudgel, and
prepared for an encounter with the enemy.

The wolves formed a circle about me. 1 drew near to my

horse and walked around him constantly. The wolves came
so near that I could hear the snapping of their jaws. All
night long I kept up this walk, beating the trees with my
stick and shouting to keep the hungry animals at bay. My
horse trembled, but trusting in my protection did not try to
get away.

In the first gray light of morning the wolves began to
creep slowly away. Their cries grew fainter and fainter in
the distance, and I found that they had left me. Blessing
God for the countless manifestations of His goodness in pre-
serving me through this and similar perils, I was again pro-
ceeding on my way when once more the barking of wolves
resuuTided through the forest. There was little opportunity
for me to hasten, as fallen trees, brush, and Iiushes were in
the way. The pursuers were coming quite near, and their
liowling rent the air, when suddenly there was a crashing
near me, and like a flash of light, a fine, full grown deer
leaped out, bubbles of white foam falling from his mouth,
and panting for breath. He thrust his head alongside my
faithful horse and so came beside me until we reached a
clearing probably four miles from the place where I had
spent the night. The hungry wolves were again bafifled,
and retired to await the coming of another night in which to
continue their search for food.

A BEAR STORY.

Ichabod Merritt was quite a noted hunter.
He was out one day with an old inan known as
"Old" Wheeler, and tracked a bear to a large,
hollow whitewood stump. The stump was too
large and smooth for a man to climb, so a tree
was cut and made to fall so as to lean against
it. Merritt was then able to climb to the top of
the stump, and, having reached this point, he
pointed his rifle down the hollow trunk and dis-
charged it. Before he could load again the old
bear came rushing out of the top of the stump
to avenge her own injuries and protect her young,
which were in the hollow hiding-place. Merritt
knew that to jump would be as certain death as
to remain within reach of the bear. He crept
out on a limb of the tree which he had cut, and
so managed to keep out of her clutches. "Old"
Wheeler, on the ground, nearly bereft of his
wits, was shouting : " Oh dear ! You'll be
killed ! you'll be killed !" in a voice loud enough
to frighten anything except a maddened bear,
and had not the presence of mind to use the
gun he held in his hand. Ike Mowry happened
to be not far away, and having heard Merritt's
gun and the shouts of Wheeler, came to the
rescue. With one shot he brought down the
bear and released the hunter from his peril. A
hole was then chopped into the stump and two
little cubs were taken out.

POST-OFKICE.

A post-office was established in (his township

476

TRUMRULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

a few years prior to 1830, and Riverius Bidwell,
who lived in the southern part of the township,
was appointed postmaster. The inhabitants of
the center were not satisfied with the location of
the office, and Rev. Joseph Badger sought to
change it. He drew a map of the township
showing the location of each house, thus proving
that the center was the most convenient point
for all to reach, and sent it to the department at
\Vashington. Shortly after he was commissioned
pos'tmaster, and the office was moved to his house
near the center. Now another difficulty began
to trouble him. The weekly mail arrived on
Sunday, and Rev. Badger had conscientious
scruples against secular labor on that day. He,
therefore, sent another remonstranct to Wash-
ington threatening to resign unless this arrange-
ment was changed. His letter had the desired
result, and the mail-carrier thereafter arrived in
Gustavus on a week day. Mr. Badger resigned
in 1830. While postmaster he kept the mail in
a small hand-basket. Marvin was mail-carrier.
This place now has a daily mail to and from
Burg Hill, on the New York, Pennsylvania &
Ohio railroad.

The first store in this township was opened on
the northeast corner at the center by George
Hezlep, about 1828. He had been clerk for
John Kinsman some years. Mr. Hezlep re-
mained many years and was a successful mer-
chant. Soon after he began business here
Stoddard Stevens and Alvin Hayes opened a
store in the eastern part of the township.

PHYSICIANS.

Dr. Allen, of Kinsman, was the first who prac-
ticed in this township. Not only the white
people but Indians as well were his patients.
Some of the latter who were living on the Pyma-
tuning had the small-pox in early times. Dr.
Allen attended them and controlled the disease
so effectually that it never spread at all.

The first doctor who settled in this township
was Naphtali Streetcr, who came [)revious to
1812. Although his qualifications were limited,
he nevertheless had some practice.

The only physician in the township at present
is Dr. Isaac Barclay, who, duiing his residence
here, has gained hosts of friends and an exten-
sive practice. Dr. l!ai( lay was horn in old

Trumbull county, in Poland, May 29, 1822. He
IS the son of Francis and Elizabeth Barclay, his
father being a native of Pennsylvania and his
mother of Virginia. Dr. Barclay is the youngest
of twelve brothers. The whole family consisted
of seventeen children, of whom eight are living,
six sons and two daughters.

He studied medicine in Youngstown with Dr.
Timothy Woodbridge, and graduated from the
medical department of the Western Reserve col-
lege, Cleveland, in 1847. He was engaged in
practicing in Youngstown nine years, in Girard
five, and at Mineral Ridge four. In 1865 he
came to Gustavus. Dr. Barclay was married in
1856 to Melvina Silliman, of Fowler township.
She died in September following their marriage.
He married his second wife, Mary Jane Hol-
comb, of Gustavus, in 1863. No children by
either marriage.

THE FIRST SAW-MILI,

in this township was built by Josiah Pelton on
his own farm in early times. No water grist-mill
was ever built in the townshi[).

GUSTAVUS ACADEMY.

A good school exerts a powerful inllucnce in
any community. Its fruits are apparent even to
the most careless observer, and we believe that
it is a standard truth that in a rural town where
a flourishing academy is located, the general
morals, to say nothing of intelligence, are better
than in places where no such schools are. Gus-
tavus has shown commendable enterprise in edu-
cational niattters. The project of building an
academy was started by Rev. Benjamin Fenn,
Buell Barnes, S. C Stevens, Stephen Linsley,
E. H. Bishop, George W. Cowden, and other
prominent citizens. In 1841 the matter took
definite shape, and a subscription paper was cir-
culated which received the signatures of a large
number. Each subscriber agreed to take a cer-
tain number of shares of the stock, each share
being $10. Some of the largest subscribers were
I'.benezer H. Bishop, ten shares ; S. C. Stevens,
fifteen ; Buell Barnes, twelve ; Philo Gales,
twelve ; George Hezlep, twenty ; James O.
Horner, fifteen.

Buell Barnes, then a member of the Legisla-
ture, succeeded in getting an art of incorpora-
tion passed. In 1S43 44, •> substantial two-
slory Ijrick building was erected, and in ihe fall

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHtO.

4?7

of 1844 the institution was opened with Franklin
B. Hough principal. The school has been fairly
successful considering the small population of
the community on which it depends for support.
The number of teachers has been large. James
H. Brainard, John B. Beach, and E. P. Ciisbee,
each taught several terms. The present princi-
pal, Mr. L. P. Hodgman, has been at the head
of the school two years. The usual number of
pupils is from fifty to seventy-five.

In 1881 a building to be used as a boarding
hall was erected. It cost, mcluding furnishing,
about $2,300.

MASONIC.

Gustavus lodge No. 442, Free and Accepted
Masons, was organized under a dispensation
April 19, 1870. A charter was granted October
19; 1S70, to the following charter members:
James S. Cowden, Robert Kennedy, Samuel
Jones, Jr., A. P. Case, J. H. Fobes, William P.
Fobes, Charles Wilder, C. C. Case, L. J. Morey,
Edward Bladen, Thaddeus Morey, L. H. Fobes,
A. D. DeBow, Charles Pease, J. R. Evans, John
C. Smith, T. D. Pelton, L. D. Brainard, George
C. Logan, Robert Sadler, David Allen, M. D.
Cowden, H. J. Barnes, A. E. Brainard, Lauren
Coleman, G. W. Harrington, J. H. Hubbard, R.
C. Rice, Robert Evans, George W. Phillips,
Marshall Lattin, L. B. Brainard, S. M. Hathaway,
and Edward Spear.

The first ofiicers were, Edward Spear, W. M.;
Robert Kennedy, S. W.; A. P. Case, J. W.;
Lauren Coleman, treasurer; John C. Smith,
secretary; L. J. Morey, S. D.; M. Lattin J. IX;
L. I). Brainard, tyler, and Rev. J. F. Hill, cliap-
lain.

The past masters from the foundation of the
lodge have been as follows: Edward Spear,
Robert Kennedy, Lauren Coleman, John C.
Smith, Richard K. Hulse, L. J. Morey, and F.
A. Kinnear.

The lodge is at present in a good condition
with filty-four members.

CHURCH HISTORY.

The first sermon ever preached in this town-
ship was delivered by Rev. Thomas Robbins, at
the house of Jesse Pelton, soon after the settle-
ment began. Robbins was sent to the Reserve
by the Connecticut Missionary society. He,
Mr. Badger, Mr. Osgood, and others preai.lied

occasionally in Gustavus until 1809, when Rev.
Henry Cowles (Congregationalist), of Austin-
burg, preached during the summer at the house
of Josiah Pelton, who paid him, principally, for
his work.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

The Methodist church at Gustavus center is a
very old organization, and as all of its early rec-
ords are lost, we have been able to gather very
few particulars concerning it.

A class was formed about 1809, and among
its members were Zenas, Polly, and Mercy
Pelton, Eliphaz and Roger Perkins, and Thomas
Partridge. Missionaries came but rarely to
visit them, and when there was no preaching
here the people met with the church in
Kinsman. In summer it was customary (or
those who walked to church to carry their shoes
and stockings in their hands until they came near
to the meeting-house; then sitting down, they
clothed their feet, and entered the sacred edifice
with becoming reverence. In winter little tin
foot stoves were carried to church. Warming
the house by stoves was a later, and some
thought a profane, innovation.

Singing was considered a part of the worship
and was conducted with much earnestness and
solemnity. "A joyful noise unto the Lord" was
made by the harmonious blending of the voices
of all the worshipers.

At an early date the Methodists erected a
house of round logs one mile north of the center,
where they continued to meet for some years.
Their present church edifice at the center was
erected about i860, and is a very neat and com-
fortable house. The church is now large and
prosperous. About two hundred members be-
long to it.

In the winter months of 18S1 one of the
greatest revivals ever known in this section took
place in this church. One hundred persons ex-
perienced religion. Rev. W. J. Wilson, the pres-
ent pastor, is grandly successful in his labors.

THE PRESPYTERIAN CHURCH.

A meeting was held for the purpose of form-
ing a church organization April 27, 1825. After
an introductory prayer by Rev. Joseph Badger a
sermon was delivered by Rev. Ephraim T.
Woodruff. Letters were read from the churches
of Vernon and \Vayne containing the following

478

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

names of persons to be constituted a church in
Gustavus : Jehiel arid Rhoda Bidwell, Joseph
and Eunice Hart, Asa and Hepsibah Case, Eliza
Cowden, Naomi Gerrills, Faith A. Mills, William
and Marquis Roberts, Aaron Lyon, Curtis B.
Coe, Ira Skinner (died March 17, 1825), Hepsi-
bah, Achsah, and Riley Skinner, Rufus and
Alcinda Beman, Luther and Mary Jones, Seth
St. John, Abner Waters and wife. Truman Cow-
den, Cyrus Bailey, and Abigail Bailey were e.\-
amined for admission and baptized. The above-
named persons were then solemnly organized
into a Congregational church.

The above is from the church record, signed
"Joseph Badger, moderator." The church was
organized on the plan of union adopted by the
most of the early Congregational and Presby-
terian churches.

June 15, 1825, the first church officers were
elected, as follows: Rufus Beman, clerk; Rufus
Beman, Asa Case, and Abner Waters, standing
committee; and Rufus Beman, deacon. At the
same date it was voted that the presbytery be
requested to take the church under its care. Oc-
tober 19, 1825, Rev. Joseph Badger was installed
as pastor. Rev. Mr. Cowles preachmg the ser-
mon upon that occasion. Rev. Joseph Badger
continued to supply this pulpit until 1835, when
he resigned on account of the infirmities of age
and a partial loss of his voice.

June 16, 1835, Rev. Benjamin Fenn was
installed pastor, in the presence of Revs. Towne,
of Warren; Bowton, of Farmington; Mcllvaine,
of Kinsman; Badger, former pastor; and Evans,
of Vernon.

He was succeeded by Rev. E. B. Chamberlain,
who was installed February 7, 1844. At this in-
stallation the following ministers were present
and took part in the exercises : Revs. O. S.
Eells, H. B. Eldred, T. J. Keep, A. Cone, B.
Fenn, J. T. Pitkin, and H. Belts. Since that
date the following have served as pastors and
supplies: J. B. Allen, 1850; A. Cone, 1855-59;
Josei)h H. Spelman, i860; E. B. Chamberlain,
1 861; Henry B. Dye, 1865. Mr. Dye closed
his labors in 1866, and the church has main-
tained no preaching since that date. Difference
of opinion upon the slavery question caused the
Congregalionalists to withdraw and form a sep-
arate church. The Presbyterians, greatly re-
duced in numbers, managed to struggle on a

while longer, but finally yielded to the might of
necessity.

At one time the church was very prosperous.
At the close of Rev. Badger's labors there were
sixty-six members. The number continued to
increase under his successors. A large and
costly church edifice w^as erected at the center,
which has never yet been disposed of by the
church.

The Scotch Presbyterians formerly had a
church organization in the eastern part of the
township, but it is now extinct.

THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

of Gustavus was organized September 5, 1852,
by Rev. F. E. Lord, with seventeen members —
Lucius and Huldah Badger, William Johnson,
Samuel Krahl, Phebe Gilder, Sally Gilder, L.L.,
Theodosia, and Curtis P. Sheldon, William and
Thersa Roberts, Mary A. Krahl, Huldah Hum
phrey, Adeline Meacham, Phebe Moses and
Wealthy Burlingame. Lucius Badger was chosen
deacon, November 25, 1852. In May, 1853,
Abram Griswold was elected deacon. December
28, 1853, the following church officers were
elected : William Johnson, Reuben Wakefield,
and C. P. Sheldon, trustees ; and L. L. Sheldon,
clerk. The first pastor was Rev. E. H. Fair-
child, followed by E. J. Comings, Johnson
Wright, W. W. Foot, H. D. King, B. F. Mark-
ham, L. J. Donaldson, and E. P. Ciisbee, who
began his labors in 1879. The numbei of mem-
bers is about fifty. The church has a very gootl
house.

CHAPTER XVn.

BAZETTA.

The original proprietors of the land now con-
tained in this township were David Huntington,
Nathaniel Shalor, Samuel P. Lord, Sylvester
Mather, and Richard McCurdy ; and it embraces
by the land company's survey 17,247 acres. Af-
terwards a special survey was made for these pro-
prietors by David Wolcott, when it was found
that the former survey was in error by two hun-
dred and seventy-five acres short, the surplus ac-
cruing to the purchasers. The above-named

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

479

persons formed a company and received the
deeds of the lands from the Connecticut Land
company, dated September 20, 1798. In 1802
the company formed by the proprietors, as above
mentioned, had the land surveyed in separate
portions and divided among themselves. Na-
thaniel Shalor received for his share the northern
part of the tract beginning at lot number one
and extending to lot number thirty-seven, inclu-
sive, comprising in all 7,300 acres. David Hun-
tington received lots numbers eight and thirty-
four. Sylvester Mather received lots numbers
thirty-nine and si.\ty-five, inclusive, and altogeth-
er amounting to 4,469 acres. Richard McCurdy
received lots numbers sixty-six and ninety, and
all inclusive, or 4,118 acres. S. P. Lord received
lots numbers ninety-one and one hundred on the
southern border, and all inclusive, or 1,635 acres.
From these proprietors the early settlers made
their purchases, and soon the settlement of Ba-
zetta began.

LOCATION AND BOUNDARY.

This township is the central one of the twen-
ty-five townships which now comprise Trumbull
county, and its central point therefore is the
center of the county. On this account some
years ago an efi'ort was made to have the county
seat located here; but other influences were then
more potent than the convenience of a central
location for the court-house and the business of
the county. The oldest settlement having been
made at Warren, and the settlement of the town-
ship itself having been made m the northeast
corner the project of removal of the court-
house proved unsuccessful.

Bazetta as now constituted is bounded on the
north by Mecca, east by Fowler, south by How-
land, and on the west by Champion. The nat-
ural drainage is effected by Mosquito creek,
which enters the township a short distance
east of the central part of the north boundary,
and after receiving several tributaries, mostly
from the east, and flowmg directly southward,
leaves the township at a central point on the
south.

This creek divides the township almost into
halves, and in former times formed a boundary
hne of distinction between the settlers on the
east and west side. Those of the west side were
known as "west-siders," and those on the east as
"east-siders."

Confusion run is a tributary of the Mosquito,
and takes its rise in the northeast part of lot fifty-
one, southeast of Cortland, and flowing south-
west empties into the Mosquito in lot eighty-six.
The singular name of this creek originated
from the following incident of early timesj:
Benjamin Rowlee, Henry K. H ulse, and an-
other man whose name cannot now be remem-
bered, were in the neighborhood on some ex[)e-
dition, and the wilderness was so dense, the roads
unmarked, and the signs of civilization so unde
fined that they became lost, and in wandering
through the woods would come upon this little
stream, from which they would take their "bear-
ings" and again attempt to find their way to the
settlement, but time and again they lost their
way and would find themselves at the creek
again. So they very appropriately called it
"Confusion," by which name it is known to this
day.

The soil in the western part of the town-
ship is mostly clay; the eastern portion is a mix-
ture of sand and gravel, and is generally product-
tive. In 1880 the estimated products were 8,103
bushels of wheat, 14,223 bushels of corn, 2,433
tons of hay, 192 bushels of flax-seed, 28,155
pounds of butter, 298,558 pounds cheese, 21,005
pounds of maple sugar, and in the spring of
1881, 687 gallons of maple syrup. The timber
is largely of maple, beech, and chestnut, and
various other kinds common to this section of
the State.

The Atlantic & Great Western railroad ex-
tends diagonally across the township from north-
east to southwest, with the main station at Cort-
land. Several stone quarries have been opened
in the township, especially in the southwest,
from which the stone peculiar to this section,
elsewhere described, is found in abundance.

POPULATION AND INDUSTRIES.

The first settlement having been made at what
is now Cortland, this locality has still maintained
the center of population in the township, while
the west and southern parts, however, are thickly
settled. Many large farms are located imme-
diately east of Cortland, but west of the west
center road they are divided into smaller tracts,
growing larger, however, toward the south and
southeast.

The industries are generally confined to the ag-

480

TRUMi;Ul.l, AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

ricultural department, while there is some atten-
tion |)aid to stock-raising, grazing, etc.

MILLS AND FACTORIES.

The only flouring-mill in Bazetta is operated
by J. H. & M. C. Post, and is located in the
southeast part of the village of Cortland. The
building is a frame, two stories high; has a base-
ment wall of stone sixteen feet high, and three
run of buhrs, with the usual capacity, propelled
by both steam- and water-power. The same firm
has also a steam saw-mill at the same place
which has a capacity of three thousand feet
per day. The trade is steady and increasing,
necessitating the employment of five and six
hands, and altogether embraces the most flour-
ishing and successful industrial enterprise in the
township.

THE DIAMONII CHEESE FACTORY

is now owned by Richard & Rose, and was built
by David Everet in 1875. The factory now has
a capacity of about ten boxes per day.

THE CORTLAND CHEESE FACTORY

is the largest factory in the township, and was
built about 1868. It is now operated by a stock ,
company, each stockholder a patron, partaking
mutually and in proijortion to the amount o(
milk he furnishes. At the present time the milk
is brought in by farmers from a large section of
the country, and representing the product from
eight hundred cows, from which the factory, un-
der the management of F. G. Kingdom, produces
about twenty-three cheese per day. Butter is
also extensively manufactured. Lewis Oatley is
the business manager, who sells the products, the
receipts of which — averaging about twenty-five
cents for butter and ten cents for cheese — is di-
vided among the stockholders.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

The first settler in Bazetta was Edward Scho-
field, who came to the township about 1804, and
settled on the farm now owned by N. A. Cowd-
ery, on lot twenty-two. He was born in Connect-
icut in 1777, and came to the Reserve in 1797.
He assisted in surveying lots in many of the
townships and finally settled in Bazetta, alone,
with his nearest neighbor five miles distant. In
18 1 7 he was elected to the State Legislature.
He was a jmous man, often preaching the
gospel to the early settlers, and was largely in-

strumental in founding the early religious organ-
ization of the township. He is remembered as
a generous and liberal man, eminently given to
hospitality.

About the same time with Schofield John
Budd and family came and settled south of
Schofield, on the farm how owned by William B.
Kennedy — lot thirty-two. After him came Henry
K. Hulse, and settled on the farm now owned by
Ephraim Post — lot eight — north of Schofield
and Budd ; also Joseph Pruden came and settled
north of Hulse, on the present William Davis
farm — lot nine. John Godden came about this
time, but he did not live long, having died about
1 810, and was buried in the orchard lot on the
Davis farm. Joshua Oatley and Moses Hamp-
ton also came about this same time.

These constituted the settlements made in
Bazetta up to the year 181 1. In the spring of
this year William Davis, Sr., came from Penn-
sylvania and settled where Mr. Pruden had first
settled, now owned by his son William, where
he planted the first orchard in the township.
He was accompanied to the new settlement in
Ohio by his wife, who yet lives in Bazetta, and
is the oldest living settler in the township. She
was born in New Jersey July i, 1784, and is a
granddaughter of General Stark, of the Revolu-
tionary war ; her maiden name was Ann Luce.
At the age of four years her father moved to
Washington county, Pennsylvania, where she
was afterward married to William Davis, January
I, 1804. She was soon left, by the misfortune of
her husband, with a large family and consider-
able debt on the farm; but being possessed with
remarkable energy, a good constitution, and
health, she inspired her children with energy
and perseverance that soon cleared the farm of
debt. She was left a widow in i860, the long
illness of her husband finally ending in his
death.

Mrs. Davis was one of the original members
of the Disciple church, and is the only surviving
member of that pioneer band. In addition to
her own large family she gave a home to three
orphan children, who were the subjects of her
care with her own. She is now in her ninety-
seventh year, and for several years a cataract m
the eyes has almost totally destroyed her vision,
and the past few years have rendered her frail in
body and mind, but she has tender care from

'IRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIE.S, OHIO.

4.S1

solicitous children, and her last days, so far as
human hands can minister, wilt be smoothed
peacefully down to the end.

Soon after Mr. Davis, Benjamin Rowlee came
with quite a large family of young rnen and wo-
men, also widow Dixon and family, James Parker,
and Moses McMahon with their families. In
the following year (181 2) the war commenced,
which very much retarded the growth of the
Bazetta settlement, and which also affected the
prosperity of the pioneers for some time. The
men of the settlement, with their neighbors
throughout the section of country, who were
capable of bearing arms, were soon called upon
to leave their just begun work when most it
needed their care, and go in defence of their
countr)'. The oat crop was then ready for
gathering, and some of the fields had been
mown down, and yet lay in the swath. Some
was standing, but the men had to leave all and
go.

In these early times very little could be lost
without serious damage to the meager supply of
the pioneer, whose simplest wants were hardly
supplied by the hardest toil.

Let us turn back a leaf in the history of
Bazetta, and see an example of patriotism, and
especially of female courage and hardihood as
shown by the early mothers of the township.
The men were gone at their country's call, and
the harvest stood half cut in the fields, and was
fast going to waste, and they could ill afford to
lose it. They saw that it depended upon them
to save the harvest, while they already had the
care of large families and the various other
household duties to perform, but with commend-
able spirit and hardy ambition they repaired
with their little ones to the fields, and having
arranged for the keeping of the infants in the
shades of the forest by the older children, they,
with sickle, pitchfork, and rake in hand, entered
the fields, and saved the grain. On the return
of the men they found the harvest well cared for
and the other work of the household and farm
had suffered but little if any during their absence.

Among those who were called away at this
time were Henry Hulse, Benjamin and Constant
Rowlee, James and Walter Dixori^ William
Davis, and Samuel Tanner. After a few skir-
mishes with the Indians at Sandusky they all re-
turned safely home except Walter Dixon, who

had been wounded but who subsequently recov-
ered.

At this time the larger part of the township
was almost an unbroken forest, with here and
there a log hut, some of them without floor,
save the ground ; no doors except what were pro-
vided by hanging bed quilts across the opening.
The windows were made by holes cut through the
logs or the mud chinking, over which greased
paper was pasted. The better cabins were pro-
vided with puncheon floors, but at best they
were rude cabins and but meagerly furnished.
The pioneer had little time and perhaps less de-
sire to provide himself with luxurious comforts;
his life was one of toil and privation, and was
spent before the days of luxuries came. His
strong frame, bent with toil, lies in the rural grave-
yard, and his hardened hands lie folded and
quiet at last, while others reap where he has
sown.

WILD ANIMALS

were very plenty, and every man was necessarily
provided with a dog and gun ; and most of the
meat on which the pioneers subsisted was ob-
tained from the wild animals of the forest.
Deer, bear, wolves, turkeys, and other animals
were common game in these days. The howl-
ing of the wolves made the night hideous, and
it was with difficulty that the sheep and other
domestic animals could be kept from being de-
voured by them. The pioneers were compelled
then to keep a few sheep to provide wool for
clothing, and for the purpose of keeping them
from the wolves a high, closely-built pen had to
be built in which, after being herded by the
boys during the day, they were securely fastened
at night. Many of the settlers were unable to
provide enclosures for their stock, and were com-
pelled to turn them loose in the forest to feed,
Prst having put bells on them. William Davis
relates that at one time he had so turned his
horses out, and desiring to do some ploughing
he started to find his horse, and following the
sounds of the bell he found the mother of a
young colt fighting five wolves that were tearing
the colt to pieces. He procured one of the
other horses and went immediately for his gun
and dog, and when he returned the dog made an
attack on the wolves, but was soon overpowered
and returned beaten to his master; as the wolves
followed the dog Mr. Davis killed one of them.

482

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

and secured the hide and scalp, for which he
afterwards received $7. Very often whole flocks
of sheep were destroyed by the wolves, thus
causing the early settlers no little annoyance and
serious loss.

Bears were also very destructive to the swine
that the owners were compelled to allow to run
in the woods to procure their own feed upon
which they were fattened. The sagacious brute
after seizing its prey seemed to anticipate pursuit
for his theft, and would seek some place where
he would have a commanding view of his sur-
roundings. One favorite place for one of these
animals was on the roots of a tree in the vicinity
of the Davis farm, where he would carry his vic-
tim and where the well-picked bones would after-
wards be found. The bears when killed, as they
often were, furnished meat if young, and if they
were somewhat old they would be rendered into
oil for the lamps.

Deer were very plenty in the fall, and the set-
tlers killed very many of them for venison and
from their hides manufactured their own cloth-
ing. The dressing of the hide was done by
soaking it in a brine made by the brams of the
animal and warm water. The hair was removed
by rubbing with a kind of knife, after which the
hide was allowed to remain in the brain water for
some time, then taken out, stretched, pulled, and
rubbed until it assumed the desired state ready
for manufacturing into pants, jackets, etc., the
common article of clothing for the early settlers.

Wild turkeys were more common than any
game except squirrels, and the boys were com-
pelled to keep watch over the buckwheat patches
to prevent the wild turkeys from destroying the
grain. When it is remembered that if the buck-
wheat crop was a failure, Pittsburg was the near-
est market where grain could be bought, and
that, with the scarcity of money, made the watch
over the growing crops a very necessary precau-
tion, upon which depended that very common
pioneer article of diet, the old-time buckwheat
cakes.

In 1816 Samuel Bacon and family came to
Bazetta, and at that time there were very (e\v
more families here than those mentioned. He
had formerly (1807) settled above Warren on the
Mahoning, where he had purchased a farm of
sixty acres, but in the above year he traded for
the mill here, then owned by Bentley & Brooks,

which was operated by the family from that time
until 1850, and was the only saw-mill in the
neighborhood. They built the upper dam about
1829, the grist-mill having been built by Mr.
Schofield about 1812.

The settlement made by Mr. Bacon was des-
tined to become the starting point of the princi-
pal settlement and ultimately the only village of
the township, indications of which were soon
apparent. He had erected at this point the first
frame building in the township, and soon after
the community began to increase in population
and the land was laid out in lots and other
initial steps were taken for the building of a
town. In 1829 Enos Bacon, son of Samuel,
opened the first store in the little town — then
and for a long time afterward known as Bacons-
burgh. After the completion of the railroad
through the village the railroad company named
the station at this place Cortland, since which
time the town has been known by that name.

CORTLAND.

This is the only town in Bazetta township, and
is pleasantly situated on the New York, Pennsyl-
vania and Ohio railroad, in the northeastern part
of the township. It is now a thriving town of
six hundred and fourteen inhabitants, and con-
tains three churches, two newspapers, stores,
mills, and other industries and business opera-
tions and enterprises. Two hotels and two
livery stables provide for the wants of the travel-
ing public. H. "G. Bacon in the principal dealer
in groceries of all kinds, and C. C. Clawson is
largely engaged in a dry goods and general mer-
cantile business. J. A. Bradford deals in all
kinds of furniture. These are a few of the
prominent business firms of the village.

INCOUPOKATION.

The town was formally incorporated in 1874,
and at the first election under the incorporation
the following officials were chosen : Asa Hines,
mayor; W. \V. Post, clerk; E. A. Faunce, treas-
urer; Joseph Voung, marshal; A. S. Gilbert, R.
1). Larned, J. H. Post, M. Bacon, M. Craft, and
A. G. Miller were elected councilmen.

NEWSl'Al'KKS.

The Cortland Gazette was established May
19, 1876, and is devoted to general and local
news, and has for its motto "One country, one
currency, and a credit based u))on coin," The

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

483

paper was first started by W. A. Craft, publisher,
and John Johnston, editor. The latter has since
become sole |iroprietor.

The Cortland Era is a sprightly little paper,
and has for its object " the greatest good to the
greatest number." It is independent in politics
and is issued by Caldwell & Hardy.

SCHOOLS.

Cortland is more noted for its educational
advantages, her citizens having made special
efforts in securing the location of a large arid
commodious union school-building, fitted with
all the modern facilities for educational pursuiis.

CORTLAND HIGH SCHOOL.

Cortland high school was established by a
special act of the Legislature, and was opened
for the admission of students September 3,
1S77. The aim and scope of the school is, in
many of its features, distinctly different from
that of the ordinary high schools. The aim of
the board of education is to furnish, not only to
the citizens of Cortland, but also to the citizens
of Trumbull and adjoining counties, a school of
high standing, in which thorough preparation
may be made for college, for the important work
of leaching, or for the duties of active life. A
liberal patronage and an increased interest in the
great cause of education has rewarded their
efforts.

The high school building stands upon an ele-
vated plat of ground overlooking the village of
Cortland and many miles of the surrounding
country, affording scenery of great natural beauty.
The building is new and commodious, consist-
ing of five well heated, lighted, and ventilated
rooms, furnished with comfortable sittings, and
with charts, globes, and other apparatus neces-
sary for the school-room. .Attendance (1881),
Indies 28, gentlemen 14, and non-residents 21.

EARLY SCHOOLS.

The pioneer school-house of Bazetta was built
in the valley immediately above the present
Cortland Cheese factory, on Walnut creek. This
was a small, rude structure of unhewn logs, and
as rudely furnished. The windows were made
by cutting out a part of a log here and there, and
over the apertures thus made oiled (real bear's
oil) paper was pasted. The paper, however, had
previously been used as copy books, and hence
the windows of the pioneer academy were well

decorated with those hieroglyphic characters
commonly known as "pot-hooks," and such
familiar mottoes as "Honesty is the best policy."

The writing desks were constructed by boring
holes in the wall, or logs, in which wooden pins
were driven; on these boards were laid, and
the desks were complete.

The course of study and supply of books were
exceedingly limited, and embraced in the furthest
advancement the well known acme of mathemat-
ical knowledge called the "single rule of three,"
now known as proportion.

When the old school-house was abandoned
another one was built somewhat better, but after
the same plan, and was erected about 1814.
The cause of education soon received special
and earnest attention from the people of this
township, and as it became more settled and the
population increased the various localities, as
soon as circumstances would allow, were supplied
with the usual common school facilities.

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

The first meeting appointed for this society in
Bazetta was held March 10, 1841. Morris
Headley was appointed moderator, and J. W.
Peck clerk. At the election which ensued J. A.
Root, Constant Rowlee, and Lucius Peck were
chosen as trustees; Silas Leonard and Joel Cas-
terline, collectors; J. W. Peck and Joel Caster-
line, choristers. At this meeting the subject of
building a house of worship was discussed and
decided upon favorably. Nathan Latin pre-
sented a proposition to donate the site of the
new church on his land at the center, and an-
other was presented by Ezra Marvin lor the
erection of the house on the corner near his
present residence.

A vote being taken it was decided to build the
church at the center, which they immediately
proceeded to carry into execution. The society
was afterward incorporated under the act of the
Legislature of the State, passed January 21,
1842.

The society was then incorporated as the First
Presbyterian and Congregational church society of
Bazetta, in which Lucius Peck, Joseph A. Root,
and their successors in office were elected a body
politic and corporate, known by the name above
mentioned. The present pastor is Rev. R. A.
Davis.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

THE DISCIPLES CHURCH.

The pioneer religious organization was effected
by the Baptists about 1818. The members of
this pioneer society held their meetings at private
houses and in the school-houses. Edward Scho-
field was the leading member of the society and
frequently officiated as minister. Mrs. Ann
Davis is the only person now living who belonged
to this pioneer band. This organization was
afterwards merged into what is now known as
the Disciples church, and the well-known leaders
in the new faith — Adamson Bentley, Walter
Scott, Hayden, Headley, and others, often min-
istered to the members of this society.

The society is now in a flourishing condition
in the village of Cortland.

The present church building was remodeled
in 1875 and now has a baptistry and prayer-
rooms, with ample seating capacity for the present
membership of about two hundred. Rev. D. P.
Thayer is the present pastor, and the present
board of elders is composed of the following per-
sons, namely: N. A. Cowdery, S. Hulse, and
Aaron Davis; deacons, E. Barnes, H. McHanah,
and H. G. Bacon. The Sabbath-school num-
bers about one hundred pupils.

This denomination also has another society at
West Bazetta, which was organized December 16,
1848, by Calvin Smith. The official board is
composed of Levi Bush and Alden Faunce,
overseers; and Ellis Pierce, Joseph Sage, and
Jacob Dice, deacons.

In 1853 this society was constituted an incor-
porate body, of which Stephen Mott, Hiram
Wilber, and Joseph Dilley were chosen trustees,
and John Diehl clerk.

The Disciples in the east part of the township
met on September 7, 1852, and an organization
was effected. At that time the association was
called "The Church of God," and the official
board was composed of Hetvey Post, Moses
Bacon, and Aaron Davis trustees, and Leman
Palmer clerk.

These societies arc now in a flourishing con-
dition, and with commendable zeal bearing their
respective part in the moral and religious work
in this township.

•riiK MKTlidinsr I'J'iscoi'ai. churcii.

l''rom the best authority, in the absence of the
K'CDnls, tiie (late of the orijniiizalion of this soci-

ety was about 1830. At this time the first build-
ing was erected, but the rapid growth of the so-
ciety soon necessitated the building of a new
edifice, and the old church was abandoned, and
was refitted for a hall. The new building was
begun in 1879, and is now (1881) finished. It is
a large and commodious brick structure of mod-
ern architecture, with audience rooms having a
seating capacity of over four hundred, also lecture
room, basement, and other chambers, eight in all.
The society now has a membership of about one
hundred and twenty, formed into four classes, of
which C. C. Clawson, Mahlon Craft, and F. .'\.
Richards are the leaders. The board of trustees
is composed of Solomon Cline, Mahlon Craft, C.
C. Clawson, A. J. Lamed, August Hayden, B. V.
Meek, and F. A. Richards; and the present pas-
tor is Rev. J. H. Starrett.

THE UNITEIi BRETHREN CHURCH.

This denomination has organized several
societies in the township. The one in Cort-
land was organized in 1869, when the church
building was erected. Rev. W. H. Millar was
the first pastor. He came from Portage county,
and took charge of this congregation, and the
one in the south part of the township. The
board of trustees, elected at the quarterly confer-
ence at the time of the organization, was com-
posed of Rev. W. H. Millar, Rev. Silas Caster-
line, Thomas Kennedy, James Hulse, and D. P.
Hayden. The latter was steward and David
Wilson leader. The membership at that time
numbered about twenty-seven, and was scat-
tered over a great extent of territory. The
church building was dedicated in January, 1870,
and the dedicatory exercises were presided over
by Bishop J. J. Glossbrenner, of Virginia. The
present membership numbers about fifty, under
the pastoral charge of Rev. D. A. Bonewell.
The present officials are Silas Casterline, James
Hulse, Thomas Kennedy, Fitch Mapes, and Or-
ville Hayden, trustees. The latter is also class-
leader and William Roberts steward.

is located in the southwest part of the town-
ship, and was organized by Rev. W. H. Millar in
1856. The membershii) at the first organization
exceeded one hunched, but at present is very

0.

aa^'yi'^ L/J<i.'Z^c<p^

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

48s

THE INDEPENDENCE CORNER CHURCH

is located in the northeast corner of the town-
ship. The society was organized about 1840.

THE BAZETTA, OR KENNEDY CHURCH,

was established about 1840. Rev. ]). A. Bone-
well is the present pastor.

THE RIDGE CHURCH.

This church building was erected in 1842.

Biographical Sketches,

AARON DAVIS.

This well and favorably known citizen of
Bazetta township was the oldest son and third
child of \\'illiam Davis, who was born in Wash-
ington county, Pennsylvania, in the year 1782.
His wife, Ann Luce, was a granddaughter of
General Stark, of Revolutionary fame. She was
born in 1783, and is yet living, being about
ninety nine years old, jirobabiy the oldest person
livint; in the county. The extreme old age to
which Mrs. Davis has lived will appear all the
more remarkable when it is known that she has
been the mother of fifteen children, named as
follows : Mariah, Susan, Aaron, Matthias, Reu-
ben, Mary, Permelia, Eliza, Sidney, William,
Stockton and Judson (twins), Mariah, Lucy, and
Elijah. Mr. Davis was a lieutenant of militia
when the news of Hull's surrender of Detroit
reached the Reserve, and at the first alarm pre-
pared for action. The wildest confusion pre-
vailed among the settlers, who seized all kinds
of arms and had a volunteer army on foot in a
miraculously short time, under command of
General Perkins. Lieutenant Davis urged the
necessity of guarding against an Indian incur-
sion, and also made provision for the safety and
supi)ort of the (amilies of volunteers. After the
war he engaged in the manufacture of potash on
his farm. While thus employed he one winter
suffered undue exposure to severe cold, and in
consequence lost his native power and steadiness
of mind. During the remaining years of his
life he was at times demented and suffered con-
stantly from feeble health. His death occurred
in i860.

Aaron Davis, the subject of an accompanying
illustration, was born A|)ril 23, 1S09. His early

life was spent on his father's farm. He was mar-
ried September 13, 1832, to Alvira C. Knox,
whose death occurred March 25, 1848. She left
a family of six children — Lavina C, wife of
Horace Detchon; Byron, resident of Mecca
township; Theodocia, deceased; Newton, Mecca
township; Mary, wife of Oswald Totton, John-
ston township, and Marshall, Cortland.

Mr. Davis married for his second wife Mary
Johnston, daughter of Colonel Walter Johnston,
and granddaughter of James Johnston, a mem-
ber of the Connecticut Land company and origi-
nal proprietor of Johnston township. She was
born March 4, 1824. The family by this mar-
riage consisted of three children living — Ransom
W., of Cortland ; Eliza A., wife of Henry
Day, of Gustavus township ; Burritt, of Bazetta,
and Jane M., deceased. Mr. Davis has held
various local offices. He served two terms on
the board of county commissioners, having been
first elected in the year i860. He was a
competent and faithful officer. For more than
two score of years he has been an active mem-
ber of the Disciple church. He was selected
one of the first board of trustees of Hiram in-
stitute, and was a member of the committee
which located and purchased the ground. He
served as trustee for a period of fifteen years, a
part of the time with James A. Garfield, with
whom he became well acquainted. He was a
member of the board when Garfield was first
employed as a teacher in Hiram. The follow-
ing anecdote was related to Mr. Davis by the late
President :

WHien I was a pupil in school in Geauga county I was, I
suppose, an ungainly looking lad, at any rate I was the sub-
ject of a great many tricks and jokes. Once they sheared oft'
my hair. I told the fellow who did the cutting that if I ever
became able I would give him a sound thrashing. A year
or two afterwards I fulfilled my promise. Several years later,
while I was president of Hiram college, I was out lecturing,
and one night saw tliis same fellow in one corner of the
house. It was with difficulty I could keep from laughing out
loud.

Mr. Davis has many other pleasant reminis-
cences of the Nation's late chief

Mr. Davis is a leady hand at almost anything;
while farming has engaged most of his attention,
he has also worked at carpentering, cabinet work,
etc. He is a quiet citizen, but always ready to
respond to the call of duty. He has been over-
seer of the Disciple church for forty years, and
is a practical Christian.

486

TRUMimLL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO

JAMES HERVEY POST.

The sons and descendants of Munson Post
are among the most prominent and influential
citizens of Pazetta township. The name is of
Welsh origin. Joseph Post was one of the
earliest settlers of Washington county, Pennsyl-
vania, where Munson was born January 24, 1785.
He was married February 7, 1811, to Elizabeth
Cooper, who was born March 17, 1792. They
lived in Washington county until the year 1826,
the date of their settlement in Bazetta. Mr.
Post was a man of quiet disposition, regular
habits, and good business qualifications. He
was universally respected, and died lamented,
March 17, 1870, being eighty-five years old.
Mrs. Post died July 18, 1874. Their family
consisted of ten children, viz: Sarah, born De-
cember 27, 181 1 ; Henry H., May 23, 1S13;
Joseph, August 20, 1815; Mary, February 22,
1818; James H., December 24, i8ig; Moses C,
May 23, 1822; Marcus, October 23, 1824;
Elizabeth, November 15, 1826; Ephraim, No-
vember 13, 1828, and Emeline, December 7,
1832. All the daughters are dead. Three of
the sons live in Cortland, and one near the
village — all successful men and respected citizens.

James Hervey Post built the first mill in
Cortland while it was yet known as Baconsburg.
W'ith the exception of an interval of three years
he has been connected with the milling industry
ever since. Since 1856 his brother, Moses C.
Post, has been in partnership with him. The
firm purchased the saw-mill m 1867, and in that
branch have been doing an extensive business in
sawing and prepared lumber, house-finishing
materials, etc. Further particulars are given in
the township history.

Mr. Post married in 1846, Miss Eliza Abell,
daughter of Lewis Abell, of Bazetta township.
She was born March 26, 1823. Their family
consists of three children : Louis M., Florence
E., and Calvin S.

Mr. Post is a man of good standing in his
own community, but has never aspired to a wide
])opularity. He has been busily and successfully
occupied with his business, and never aspired to
public positions, though he has frequently been
honored with local trusts. He has been treas-
urer of his township five years, and was formerly
trustee for several terms. He also served one
term on the county board of infirmary directors.

He is clear-headed and enterprising in business
transactions, and upright and liberal in all his
dealings. He is an active member and liberal
supporter of the Disciple church in Cortland.

WILLIAM B. KENNEDY.

Samuel Kennedy, father of William B. Ken-
nedy, was of Irish stock and was born in the
year 1764. Jane Kennedy, his wife, was born
in 1772. They lived in Northumberland county,
Pennsylvania, until the year 1814, when with
their family they removed to Howland township.
Mr. Kennedy died two years later at the age of
fifty two years. Mrs. Kennedy died in 1844.
They had a family of eleven children, who at one
time all lived within four miles of their mother's
residence on the old homestead. Their names
were as follows: Robert, Montgomery, Jane
Maxwell (Mrs. D. B. King), Nancy (Mrs. Samuel
King), Mary Barber (Mrs. William King), Tabi-
tha (Mrs. Samuel Kennedy), James, Maxwell,
Thomas, William B., Ann (Mrs. M. I. Iddings),
and Elizabeth (Mrs. Montgomery Anderson).
James, Nancy and Ann are living in Howland,
Thomas and William B. in Bazetta. The re-
maining members of the family are deceased.

William B. Kennedy was born in Northumber-
land county, Pennsylvania, September 21, 1812,
and was consequently two years old when his
father removed to Ohio. In the year 1837 he
was married to Eliza Davis, who was born in the
year 1818. They have had a family of five chil-
dren, the two youngest of whom, Ellen and Jud
D., are deceased. Anthony Wayne, the oldest
son, has been engaged in teaching since his
eighteenth year, during the last ten years as
principal of the schools at Girard. He has trav-
eled extensively, having spent four years on the
Rocky mountains. He is married to Eunice
Kellogg. Ann, the only daughter of William
and Eliza Kennedy living, is the wife of Ken-
nedy Andrews, of Warren. Cassius Clay, third
child of William and Eliza Kennedy, is married
to Alice Kellogg. He owns one of the best
farms in Bazetta township, and is a man of con-
siderable local prominence. He has taught dis-
trict school since the age of eighteen years.

Mr. Kennedy gave his children an early start
in life, and has the satisfaction in his old age of

J^ Oi^^^

■f,a/^

TRUMHULL AND MAHONING COUN'I'IES, OHIO.

-lay

seeing them in prosperous circumstances. He
lias lived on the same farm since 1837, and has
devoted himself industriously to agricultural pur-
suits. He lias lived for himself and family and
by diligence, sobriety, and honesty has made
hmiself a representative of that class of society
known as the substantial common people, which
gives soul and permanence to all industrial, moral,
and political institutions.

NOTES OF SETTLEMENT.

Lebbeus Beach came from Hartland, Connecti-
cut, and settled on a farm in Hartford township
in 181 2. He was born in the year of Inde
pendence — 1776 — and was married to Hope
Spencer (who was born same year) in June,
1799. The children were — Harry, Seneca (de-
ceased), Julia, now Mrs. M. Scott, of Gustavus;
and Laura, now Mrs. Hulburt, of Ashtabula
county. The family, with the exception of
Laura, he brought with him; he was also accom-
panied by the aged father of his wife (Frederick)
who was eager for the conquests of the new
country. He lived in Hartford until 1855,
eventually moving to Gustavus, where he lived
with his daughter Julia until 1859, when he died.
He was known as a farmer but held the office of
justice of the peace for twenty-four years.

Ur. Harry Beach was born NLay 20, 1800,
and was married to Mary Chew (born in 1805)
in 1823. To them were born the following chil-
dren : Emily, now Mrs. Ephraim Post; Leo-
nora, deceased; Francis, of Meadville, Pennsyl-
vania; Allison, of Wisconsin; Curtland, member
of company A, Forty first Ohio volunteer infan-
try, died at Nashville, Tennessee, in 1862. The
doctor was, as is seen by the above, a farmer's
son, but was given the advantage of the common
school, of which he made the best use and was
fit to begin the study of medicine, which he did
in the fall of 1820, under Dr. Wilcox, of Hart-
ford. There he remained two years, after which
he studied under Dr. Fowler, of Brookfield, and
commenced practice in the latter place in 1824,
continuing two years. He then settled in Fowler,
where he continued a successful practice for
fifty years, until now at the age of eighty years
he has retired from active life and lives with his
daughter, Mrs. Post, in Cortland. He is widely

known for a life of great usefulness in his pro-
fession, and also as the oldest living physician in
Trumbull county.

Moses Cooper Post was born in Washington
county, Pennsylvania, May 26, 1822, and came
to Ohio with his father when about five years of
age. He lived on the farm with his father until
he was about tvventy-one, when. May 28, 1843,
he was married to Elvily C. Freer, who was born
April 26, 1823. They are the parents of the
following children : Olive Cornelia, born March
20, 1844, who was married to J. W. Hathaway,
and moved to Marietta, where she died; Harriet
Orissa (deceased), born March 26, 1846; Orpha
Amanda, born September 29, 1848, now Mrs.
Burt Swager; Wills Watson, April 10, 185 1; Ella
Ophelia, August 6, 1854, now Mrs. Lewis Hut-
ton, of Bristol; Cora Estella, August 16, 1857,
now Mrs. Homer Smith; Jennie E. (deceased),
born July 22, i860; Alta B., born May 21,
1864; and Candace E., born March 13, 1867.
Soon after his marriage Mr. Post began life for
himself, but with very little capital, in the milling
business, having built his first mill on Walnut
creek. He is now engaged with his brother
Hervey in the milling business, operating the
only flour-mills in Bazetta. He was captain of
the Independent Rifle company that existed here
in former years, whose musters occurred twice
in the spring and once in the fall. His business
relations have precluded his service in any pub-
lic office except that of town trustee, which he
held two terms; was elected to other offices, but
for the above reasons he declined to serve. By
hard work, industry, and economy, he has arrived
at his present well-known position of affluence
in this community, in which he has spent the
quiet, but busy years of his manhood.

Ephraim Post was born November 13, 1828,
and was married to Orpha Hawley, who was
born February 14, 1826, and died September 2,
1870. He was again married September 11,
1872, to Emily (Beach) Trowbridge, who was
born March 16, 1830. His children are Jay,
born October 7, 1856; Viets C, born Octo-
ber 25, 185S, now living in Warren; Loren E.,
born May 3, 1861; Harry S., born August 28,
1864; Lizzie May, born November 5, 1867.
Mrs. Emily Trowbridge, present wife of Mr.
Post, had a family of four ciiildren, two now liv-
ing : Charles A., born July 20, 184S, living in

488

TRUMRULl. AND. MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

Fowler; Edward M., deceased, born November
19, 1850; Frank B., deceased, born January 21,
1854; Nora, born December 11, 1857, now Mrs.
C. C. Craft. Mr. Post, with whom the venerable
Dr. Harry Beach (father of Mrs. Post) now
makes his home, was born on the Post home-
stead farm, where he now lives, and where his
youth and manhood years have been spent, and
where he now expects to remain during life. He
is a farmer by occupation, has held the office of
councilman of the village of Cortland, and he and
his wife are members of the Disciple church.

Deborah Laiin came from New York in 1829
and settled in Bazetta. She was accompanied
by her two sons, Eli and Shepherd, she being a
widow. In 1831 her son Nathaniel came from
the same State and settled on the present Latin
homestead farm (lot fifty-five). He was a cab-
inet-maker by trade, which occupation he fol-
lowed for some time, but subsequently gave it up
and began farming. He first built a frame house
on the site of his ])resent residence, m which he
and his family lived until 1840, when the present
residence was erected. Laura Latin, his wife,
engaged in tailoring and made the first ready-
made gentlemen's clothing sold in Warren. She
furnished the prominent men— the lawyers and
doctors — with clothing, having in her employ
several apprentices. Fifty years ago, when the
Latin family came to Bazetta, there were no
clearings or roads on the farm, and the wild ani-
mals were plentiful. The "whistle" of the deer
was often heard from the door-stoop of the pio-
neer home, as they would come at night to the
deer lick only about forty rods in front of the
house. At this lick Nathaniel Latin killed a
deer weighing over two hundred pounds. What
was then known as Bristol swamjjs abounded
with bears and other wild animals that commit-
ted many depredations on the stock of the pio-
neers. Nathaniel Latin, deceased, was born Au-
gust 25, 1801, and married May 30, 1822, to
Laura Lonsberry, who was born March 15, 1802.
To them were born the following children :
Martin Havvley (deceased), born March i, 1824;
Warren A., February 1, 182C, now in Arizona;
Susannah M., July 4, 1829, now Mrs. Samuel
Bissel, of Pennsylvania ; Lura C, August 30,
1831, now Mrs. O. B. Bissel, of Iowa; Sarah J.
(deceased), born July 28, 1S33; Oliver L., De-
cember 9, 1834, of Kansas; Delilah, February

17, 1837, now Mrs. Fisk of New York ; Helen
F., February 13, 1839, now Mrs. W. D. Kelly,
of Kansas ; Laura, November 25, 1843, ^ow
Mrs. William T. Wright, of Colorado ; and Na-
thaniel, who was born December 10, 1847, '^nd
married Eliza Ellen Ciilbert May 7, 1873, who
was born September 22, 1851. To them was
born one child, Gilbert S., born May 19, 1874;
he now lives on the home farm in Bazetta.

Benjamin Rowlee was born m New Jersey,
August 19, 1780, from whence he moved to
Washington county, Pennsylvania, and afterwards
to Ohio in 1805, and first settled on the farm
now owned and occupied by his son Amos. He
was married February 16, 1808, to' Eunice Head-
ley, who wms born July II, 1 781. The family
were John H., born January 18, 1813; Sam-
uel, November 26, 18 14; William, July 30,
1816; Hannah, September 25, 1817; Phebe,
May 18, 1819; Mary, January 14, 1821; Abigail,
September 25, 1823; Amos, October 9, 1824.
He assisted in raising the first log-house in Mecca
not long after he came to the State. His own
house stood about forty rods north of the pres-
ent residence of his son Amos, where in 1820
he built a brick house, where he lived until his
death, which occurred December 15, 1841, fol-
lowed by the death of his wife February 19,
1864. When he first came to his farm (1805),
he deadened three trees. Two of them are now
to be seen remaining on the farm. He paid for
his farm by hard work, often cutting and splitting
two hundred rails for a day's work, and then re-
turning to his own work on the farm. Constant
Rowlee built the first frame building in the town-
ship), which he erected over a spring for a milk-
house, on the farm now owned by Solomon
Cline, adjoining Cortland. Amos Rowlee was
married in 1849, 'o Elizabeth Weir, who was
born December 3, 1833. Their children are
Lafayette, James, and Watson. He has served
as constable, member of town council and board
of education.

Samuel Bacon was the first of this family, ex-
cept his sister, Rachel Rankin, to come to Ohio,
where he arrived June 7, 1807, and settled on
the banks of the Mahoning river, two and one-
half miles north of Warren, having left Bridge-
town, New Jersey, May 18, 1807. He left the
following diary of the settlement : "And this
we call a new country, only six years old, of set-

TRUMUULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

489

tiers from New England, Pennsylvania, and New
Jersey." He was born April 21, 1773, and was
married in 1798 to Elizabeth Harris, who was
born October 10, 1780. Their children were
Charles, Enos, Richard, Moses, Phcebe, Grant,
and Mary. Enos Bacon was born April 6, 1802,
and was married in 1822 to Kiren Happuck, who
was born May 1, 1801, and died in 1856. Their
children were : Phoebe, Harrison, Laura, Alme-
dia, Miles, Henry, Olive. He was again mar-
ried to Elizabeth Forrester, who was born in
1S18. About 1829 he and his father started the
first store in Cortland, then known as Bacons-
burg. The building stood where Dutchon's
house now stands, but was destroyed by fire in
1834 or 1835. When nineteen years of age he
went to Lake Erie, and while there stepped on the
deck of the first steamboat on the lake, called
the Walk-in-the-Water. He and Aaron Davis
erected the first houses in Baconsburg, he build-
ing a house and Davis a shop near the corner of
Main and High streets, north of Main. After-
wards he went as contractor for bridges on the
canal, and built the bridge at the mouth of Mos-
quito creek, and several others. About 1S35 he
returned to Bazetta and engaged in milling, and
then erected a turning shop. Afterwards he
went to Pennsylvania, returning to Cortland in
1873, where he now resides.

H. G. Bacon, son of Enos, was born May 23,
1 83,s, in Cortland, and was married in 1856 to
Catharine Grimm, who was born February 9,
1S38. Their children are Ward L. and Alice.
He assisted his father in the mill until 1867,
when he began in the grocery business in Cort-
land, with A. D. Hathaway. He bought out his
partner in 1872, and has continued business for
himself since. He started with very small capi-
tal, but by personal effort and industry has suc-
ceeded in building up an excellent trade in his
line. He was a member of the town council
for two years. He has been a member and
served as deacon in the Disciple church since
1856. Mr. Bacon has been efficient in building
up his native town, having erected two stores
and three residences within its limits. He dis-
posed of his business interests here in 1876, and
took a trip to Colorado; was absent two months,
and then returned to his native town and former
business at his old stand, where he is now located
in a thriving grocery business.

6j*

Joshua Oatley, the pioneer representative of
this family, came from Virginia to Ohio about
1810. He was accompanied by his two sons,
William and Edward, and they first cleared land
on the farm now owned by Mrs. Abell, southwest
of Cortland, afterwards entering the section on
which Lewis now lives, and the cabin home was
erected about thirty-five rods west of the present
residence. On this lot afterwards three log
houses were built and joined together, one for
the parlor, one for the dining room and the other
for the kitchen. The chimney was constructed
of mud and sticks, after the pioneer style of
architecture. At this time the Indians were fre-
quent visitors to this locality, and were on friend-
ly terms with the elder Oatley, to whose cabin
they often came on friendly visits, thus affording
him ample occasion to make himself familiar
with the characteristics, the intents, and pur-
poses of his red-skinned neighbors, and by care-
ful management he succeeded in maintaining a
friendly feeling with them, though they often
passed his house painted in their fantastic colors
indicative of war, and though turning their faces
from him they passed his cabin in peace. The
elder Oatley was fond of travel, and after some
time had elapsed he went away from home,
going, as he said, on a trip '"down the river,"
since which time nothing has been heard of him.
Edward sold his part of the farm and went to
Ashtabula, and afterward to Michigan, \\illiam
Oatley was born in Virginia in 1787 and died (in
the house which he built, now the residence of
his son Lewis) .September 23, 1841. He was
married in 1813 to Sophia Rhodes, who was
born in Pennsylvania in 1 788. To them was born
the following family: Joshua was born April 2,
1814; Hannah, born April 27, 1817; Mary,
born June 29, 1819; Anna, born April 25, 1821;
Lewis; Melissa, born December 26, 1827, and
Edward, born May 15, 1830. Lewis Oatley was
born May 28, 1823, and was married March 11,
i860, to Thankful Brown, who was born July
22, 1837. Their family consists of the following
children: Blanche, deceased, born June 3,
1861; Eva L., born October 15, 1863; Burke,
born June 27, 1866; Anna B., born March 2,
1869, and Grace A., born May 14, 1873. Mr.
Oatley has been chiefly engaged in farming, and
by the hard work and economy of management
necessary to his occupation he has succeeded in

490

TRUMLULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

accumulating means sufficient to care for and
properly educate his children, to which laudable
purpose he is now earnestly devoted. In 1852
he made the trip to California via Nicaraugua,
and engaged in prospecting and mining for four
years, returning home in 1856. Three years
after he went to Colorado, but returned in the
fall of the same year, and in 1864 he visited
Montana. During the late war he furnished a
man for the regular army at an expense to him-
self of over $750, for which he never received
any credit from the military committee of his
town, though the man was accredited to Bazetta.
Mr. Oatley is well known as one of the represen-
tative men of his town, and though not seeking
any office he has served as town trustee and
member of the Cortland school board.

William H. Clawson was born m Berkeley
county, Virginia, March 20, 1815. He was
named after his father, and his mother's maiden
name was Betsey Whitmore. After living some
time in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, he came
to Ohio first at the age of twelve, where he re-
mained about six years, in Fowler township,
where his mother then lived. He then bound
himself to Isaac Woods, of Uniontown, Penn-
sylvania, to learn the trade of harness making.
He returned to Fowler when about nineteen and
worked at the center. He was soon after mar-
ried to Malinda Humason, who died about 1861.
They had a family of the following children —
William H., now living in Pennsylvania; Eliza-
beth, now Mrs. John Cievner, of Pennsyl-
vania ; Sylvia, now Mrs. T. R. Mackey, of
Illinois ; Allison M., of Mercer county, Penn-
sylvania ; Lucy A., now Mrs. Austin Silliman ;
(Miarles, of Mercer county, Pennsylvania; Lewis,
living in Fowler ; Calvin C, of Cortland ; Ma-
linda, now Mrs. Lester Clark, of Fowler ; Almira,
now Mrs. Charles Trowbridge ; Emerson E.,
of Fowler. The latter was born June; 15, 1859,
and attended school at Titusville. He is now
extensively engaged in the dry goods and general
mercantile business at Fowler center. Mr.
Clawson was married the second time February
21, 1878, to Perlina Gates, with whom and their
only child, Mina Josephine, he now lives on his
farm near Fowler center.

Calvin C. Clawson, son of \\'illiam H. Claw-
son, was born January 8, 1849, in Mercer county,
Pennsylvania, and was married October 15, 1872,

to Mary [R. Silliman, who was born May 6,
1853. To them were born three children, viz :
William H., born July 16, 1874; Maud Belle,
November 24, 1877; and Carrie May, December
5, 1880. He came to Cortland in 1874, and
went in partnership with W. C. Silliman, in the
general store and dry goods business, on the
corner of Maiket and High streets. He pur-
chased his partner's interest in 1875, ^"d has
continued the business since. He now carries a
stork of from $8,000 to $10,000, and employs
two clerks. He has held the office of treasurer
of town and school board, the latter during the
building of the new school-house, and is also a
member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He
also held the office of United States express
agent at Titusville, Pennsylvania.

Martineus E. Freer came from New York and
arrived in Bazetta July 7, 1832. He settled at
the corners afterwards known as Freer's corners,
taking the name from him. He was born Janu-
ary 10, 1 77 1, and was married to Mary Deyo,
who was born May 18, 1769. He died Decem-
ber 10, 1847, and her death occurred August 29,
1856. They were the parents of the following
children : Hannah, Elizabeth, Gideon, Jane,
Maltha, Henry, William D., Josiah, Harry.
Gideon Freer was born May 8, 1796, and came
with his father from New York State to Ohio,
and settled on the farm where he now lives.
He was married December i, 1818, to Jane
Windnagle, who was born January 11, iSoo, and
died February 22, 1874. To them were born
the following children : Eliza, Henry, Elvily,
Hiram D., Jeremiah, and Harriet. Hiram D.
Freer was born February 16, 1825, and was
married March 5, 1848, to Caroline P. Brown,
who was born July 6, 1826. Their family con-
sists of the following children: Alice J., born
April 14, 1849, now Mrs. Edwin Rathbun; Loice
A. (deceased), born September 29, 1851; De Witt
C, born January 25, 1853 ; Morgan M., born
December 22, 1854 ; Nora, born November 23,
1859, now Mrs. Byron Tousley ; Bertha, born
October 7, 1862, now Mrs. James F. Andrews ;
Slade, born October 17, 1868. He came to
Ohio with his father when about seven years of
age, and at the age of twenty-three he married
and moved to the log-house just west of his
fathci's, where ho lived about three years, after

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

49T

which he built his present residence, situated on
his farm about three miles southwest of Cortland.
He furnished a substitute during the late war,
who served from 1862 to the close of the war.
Mr. Freer has spent his life on the farm and
belongs to a family of well-known citizens of this
community.

James Atkinson, .Sr., was a son of General
.Atkinson, of the Revolutionary war. He settled
in Bazetta township, on the west side of Mosquito
creek, where he lived for a number of years,
afterwards moving to the western part of the
State, where he died at the age of ninety-two.
His son James came with his father when only
thiee years of age. At about the age of four-
teen he began work at the county infirmary,
where he continued under employment until
1852, when he was made overseer of the institu-
tion. In 1852 he was married to Elizabeth
Weiss, who died in 1857 or 1858. They were the
parents of two children — Milton E., and Mary
E. He was again married, in 1870, to Lucy A.
Fox, to whom were born the following children :
Charles W., James M., Millie W., Kittle, and
Terry S. He was a farmer by occupation, also
a member of the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows. He died in Champion township at
the age of fifty-three.

Milton Emon Atkinson, M. D., was born April
22, 1855, at the county infirmary, of which his
father was overseer. He was married May 7,
1878, to Jennie E. Harsh, who was born in 1858.
They are parents of two children, the first hav-
ing died in infancy, and Lena May. He first at-
tended school at the Westtrrn Reserve seminary,
after which he began the study of medicine
under Dr. D. B. Woods, of Warren. He then
began the regular course at Ann Arbor university,
Michigan, which was not quite completed when,
at the death of his father, he returned home and
afterwards finished his studies at Wooster. He
located in his profession at Cortland in August,
1878, where he is now actively engaged in a suc-
cessful and extensive practice.

John Bradford was born in Trumbull county,
Ohio, and settled on a farm between Cortland
and Warren, where he lived until his death,
which occurred in 1853. He was married to
Jane Meek, and to them were born the following
children: William (deceased), James, Mary Ann,
now Mrs. Ross Wakeman, of Iowa ; Olive, now

Mrs. H. K. Hulse, of Iowa ; Elizabeth, now
Mrs. Napoleon Gretsinger, of Iowa. He was a
stone-mason by occupation, and a member
of the Baptist church. James Bradford was born
April 20, 1842, and was married May 5, 1863,
to Jennette Hulse. To them were born the
following children : William, Lucy, Rhoda,
James, and Rena. He was again married, to
Mary Hulse, and they now have one child,
Clara. Mr. Bradford was raised on the farm
until about the age of sixteen years, when he
went to work at the carpenter trade with Thomas
Kennedy, working with him until he learned
the trade. In 1866 he engaged for himself, and
continued until 1878, when he commenced the
furniture business in Cortland. He began with
a capital of about $5,000. His trade has con-
tinued to increase, and he is now operating a
business of $2,500 per annum. He is engaged
in the general furniture trade on Market street,
next door east of the post-office, and is a mem-
ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

Charles Oliver, a native of Germany, left
home when about eleven years of age, and went
on the ocean as sailor. He afterwards rose to
the position of mate, and followed seafaring life
for thirteen years. He married when about
twenty-five in New York, Mary Park, a native of
Ireland, and with whom he became acquainted
during a trip across the ocean. He came subse-
quently to Trumbull county, and settled in Ba-
zetta, where he and his wife are still living. He
continued his former occupation, being captain
and mate on Lake Erie for number of years.
He has nine children living, as follows: William,
at Braceville center, born June, 1843, married
Zelia Dice and has two children, Jennie (Clark)
at Howland Springs, Maggie (Dice) in Brace-
ville; Mary (Kean) and Minnie (Lawrence) in
Carroll, Ohio; Frank in Bazetta, Emma, Ella, and
Nettie at home.

4t)i

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

CHAPTER XVIIL

MESOPOTAMIA.
INTRODUCTORY.

This is the northwestern township of Trum-
bull county, bounded on the north by Windsor,
Ashtabula county, east by Bloomfield, south by
Farmington, and west by Middlefield, Geauga
county. The surface is more variable than that
of most townships in the northern part of the
county, east of the center being low, moist land,
while the western and northwestern portions are
high, arable land, composed mostly of a succes-
sion of hills and ridges of moderate elevation.
The soil of Mesopotamia is fertile and well
adapted to grazing. It is also the best wheat
land in this part of the country. The soil, like
the surface, varies much. The Grand River
valley is sandy and clayey. The western portion
of the townshi]) has but little clay on the surface,
and sandy and gravelly loam predominates.

The principal water-course is the Grand river,
which crosses a small corner of the southeastern
part of the township, and after continuing its
windings through Bloomfield, again enters Mes-
opotamia north of the center road, and pursuing
a northerly course, passes out a short distance
from the northeast corner of the township.
Grand river is only a small stream in dry weather,
but when it and its branches are swollen by rains
it inundates a wide territory. Swine creek.
Plum creek, and Mill creek are the principal
streams flowing into the river. The two former
drain the western and southern portions of the
township, uniting in one stream about a mile
and a half south of the east and west center
road, and thence flowing northward about three
miles, where they join the river. A short dis-
tance below the mouth of Swine creek, Mill
creek enters the river from the northwest. Nu-
merous springs and small creeks supply an abun-
dance of water for stock, and the fertile mead
ows are excellent pasture lands for the same.

The only village in the township is at the cen-
ter, and is about the size of the average "center"
llirougliout the county.

ORCANI/ATION.

In 1806 townships number seven in the fifth
range, and number si.\ in the fourth range were
taken from the Middlefield election district
and formed n portion of the district of Trov.

Township number seven, in the fifth range, was
organized as a separate election precinct in 1819,
and named Mesopotamia — the name requested
in the petition to the Legislature.

FIRST OFFICERS.

At a meeting held in the district of Troy the
7th day ot April, 1806, the following officers
were chosen : Otis Guild, chairman; Hezekiah
Sperry and Jonathan Higley, judges of election;
Ephraim Clark, township cleik; William Cox,
Gager Smith, and Jonathan Higley, trustees; S.
D. Sackett and Abraham Daily, overseers of the
poor ; Griswold Gillette and Alpheus Sperry,
fence viewers ; Isaac Clark, appraiser and lister;
Timothy Alderman, appraiser; Joseph Alder-
man, Jr., Amadeus Brooks, and William Reed,
sujjervisors of highways ; Griswold Gillette and
Samuel Forward, constables; E|)hraim Clark,
treasurer.

After Mesopotamia became independent an
election was held at the center school-house
on the sth day of April, in the year 1819,
and the following officers elected, namely: Otis
Guild, chairman ; Zimri Baker and Moses Bun-
dy, judges of election ; Addison Tracy, clerk ;
Luther Frisby, Moses Bundy, and Elisha Sander-
son, trustees; Reuben Joslin and Job Reynolds,
overseers of the poor ; John Sanderson and
Amadeus Brooks, fence viewers ; Lucius P>isby,
appraiser and lister; Linus Tracy, appraiser;
Matthew Laird, Job Reynolds, Zimri Baker,
Noble Strong, Levi Pinney, Anson Hatcli, and
Guien Crawford, supervisors ; Lucius Frisby,
constable ; Luther Frisby, treasurer.

0\VXF,RSHII>.

This township was owned principally by Pier-
pont Edwards of New Haven, Connecticut, and
his son. Colonel John Stark Edwards, acted as
agent for its sale. After the death of the latter
in 1 8 13, Seth Tracy acted in that capacity.

SETTLEMENT.

The first settlers of this township came mainly
from Connecticut. Some five or ten years after
their arrival a few Pennsylvania families came in.
At the time of the \Var of 1812 there were about
a dozen families in Mesopotamia. The growth
of the township was slow, and not until after
1820 was there any considerable addition to the
number of settlers, 'i'hc village was also built
up very gradunlly.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

493

Pierpont Edwards, owner of the township,
through his son, John Stark Edwards, offered to
give one hundred acres of land to each of the
first five men who should purchase land, bring
their families to this township and reside here a
certain number of years (probably five); and to
each of the first five single men who came and
resided a like period he would give fifty acres.
John S. Edwards visited the township in 1799,
and put forth this offer on his return to Connec-
ticut. He thenceforth resided upon the Reserve
a portion of each year up to the time of his
death (1813). From 1800 to 1804 his home
was in Mesopotamia. Mr. Edwards was a grad-
uate of Princeton college. From 1800 to 1813
he was recorder of Trumbull county. Among
those who, as the heads of families, first settled
in Mesopotamia were: Hezekiah Sperry, Otis
Cruild, Joseph Noyes, Joseph Clark, and Seth
'I'racy. Sperry, Guild, and Tracy remained per-
manently, and in due time came into possession
of the hundred-acre gifts. What other settlers
received premiums is no longer certain.

In the fall of 1800, Hezekiah Sperry, his son
Alpheus, and his daughters, Martha and Cynthia,
moved in, being the first family. He built the
first cabm, on lot twenty-nine. The followmg
year he returned to VVoodbridge, Connecticut,
his former home, and brought out his wife and
the rest of his children. His cabin was situated
upon the present Woodruff farm. His family
consisted of four sons and nine daughters.
Seven cf the daughters lived to marry. The
sons were: Alpheus, Hezekiah, Elias, and Lu-
cius, all of whom lived and died in Mesopo-
tamia. Lucius never married. The three others
reared families, and some of their descendants
are still in the township. Captain Sperry died
in 1833, aged eighty-eight. His wife died in
1827.

The second arrival was that of Otis and Lois
Guild and their family. They came from Sharon,
Connecticut, to the Reserve in 1800, and after
about one year's residence, came to Mesopo-
tamia, and located on lot forty-one, near the
center of the township. They had eight chil-
dren, seven of whom grew to manhood and
womanhood. Two sons and one daughter are
still living. The names of the children were
Jerusha, Oliver, Jairus, Albert, Charlotte, Oswin,
Aurelia, first, and Anrclia, second. The young-

est daughters died, one at the age of two, and
the other at the age of eighteen. The three
now living are Oswin, and Mrs. Charlotte Shel-
don, Mesopotamia, and Dr. Albert Guild, Boston.

Seth Tracy, from Pittsfield, Massachusetts,
who had previously been here to locate a farm
on which to settle, arrived in this township the
8th of May, 1801. With his family, and several
teams, one of which was driven by Griswold
Gillette, he started from Massachusetts, and
journeyed as far as Whitestown, New York, by
land. There he procured a boat, transferred his
goods to it, and proceeded as far as Niagara
Falls. At this point the boat was hauled around
the falls on trucks, and again committed to the
water. The voyagers then coasted along the
south shore of Lake Erie until they came to the
mouth of Grand river, which they entered, and
followed to within one mile of the house of
Judge Griswold in Windsor, whence they pro-
ceeded to Mesopotamia by land. The day after
his arrival, Mr. Tracy erected a rude shelter of
poles and bark which his family occupied until a
log cabin was finished the following fall. Dur-
ing the season he cleared four acres sufficiently
to admit of planting corn, and from this field
secured an excellent crop. The large trees were
girdled and left standing. The smaller ones were
cut and burned. The method of corn planting
deserves mention. After the ground had been
cleared, holes were made in it by means of a
pick-axe, and into each of these holes a few
kernels were dropped. No cultivating or hoeing
was allowed the crop, except hacking down a few
weeds during the summer. Colonel Linus
Tracy, then seven years of age, is still living, and
has a vivid recollection of his pioneer labor,
which he began under the direction of his father
and the hired man. May 9, 1801.

Seth Tracy took up seven hundred acres of
land in lots lying near the center. On the four
acres first cleared the first orchard in the town-
ship was set out about the year 1806, in rows
exactly two rods apart each way. Most of the trees
are still living. They were procured from De-
troit by David Barrett, who made a nursery on
Mr. Tracy's land, and cultivated it until the trees
were large enough to be planted in an orchard.
Seth Tracy was the first justice of the jieace in
this section, and a very active man in his day.
He died in 1827 at the age of seventy, and his

494

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

wife when eighty-five. The family consisted of
seven children, the youngest of whom was born
in Mesopotamia: Clarissa, Pamelia, Sabtina,
Sophia, Adeline, Linus and Addison. Clarissa
married Griswold Gillette, and died m Cleve-
land. Pamelia married Deacon Horace Loomis,
and resided in Mesopotamia. Sabrina married
Horace VVolcott, of Farmington. Sophia mar-
ried Dr. John S. Matson, of Mesopotamia. Ade-
line, youngest of the family, married Mr. Pelton
and had one child. She died m Cleveland when
a young woman. Excepting her all lived to rear
families. Colonel Linus Tracy, the only sur-
vivor, was born in Massachusetts, March 2,
1794. He married Betsey Talcott, a native of
Massachusetts, who lived to be seventy-five. She
bore five daughters and two sons, all of whom
are still livmg, two of the daughters in Mesopo-
tamia and the two sons. One daughter resides
in Madison and two in Cleveland. Mrs. Tracy
died in 1873. Mr. Tracy, when a young man,
entered the store of William Bell, at \Varren,
and after a service of six months went into the
store of Judge King, where he retnained five
years. In 1818 he bought out Mr. King and
removed the goods to Mesopotamia, where he
contmued the business several years. He served
as a volunteer in the War of 1812, six months,
and was chosen corporal. Subsequently (in
1825) he .became a colonel of militia. The
manner in which he studied military tactics was
peculiar. While clerking for Judge King in
Warren he procured a manual of military tactics,
and had a hundred wooden figures turned, which
he maneuvred upon a board until he became
familiar with all the movements of troops. He
served as lieutenant, major, and colonel of
militia. In the time of the late war he also
hcli)ed to train military companies. Both his
sons were in the army. Colonel Tracy is as
smart and active as many men who have not
half his age, and is in full possession of all his
faculties, with a vivid recollection of early events.
He is one of the oldest residents of the county.
Joseph Noyes arrived in the township with his
family the 6th of July, iSoi, and settled a short
distance west of the center. He had received a
liberal education and graduated as a lawyer.
Considerable wealth inherited from his father
soon departed from him and he look to farming
in the wilds of Ohio. After residing heic a few

years he exchanged farms with Isaac Clark, of
Burton, and went to that township to live.

In July, 1801, Mr. Sperry harvested a good
crop of wheat upon land which he had improved
the previous year.

In August, 1801, Mr. Edwards wrote to his
sister, from Mesopotamia, as follows:

My seltlemeiu is doing finely. We have this day had a
lecture delivered by a clergyman. There were about forty
people present. Every part of our country is rapidly increas-
ing in numbers. You can have no idea of what pleasure is
derived from the improvements that are daily making; every
day brings a new inhabitant; a neighbor opens a new road,
raises a new barn, or begins a new farm. Indeed, the Scrip-
ture is fulfilled where it says, ' The wilderness shall be made
to blossom as the rose.' Our country does literally flow
with honey. Bees are beyond calculation numerous. Go
into a cornfield m blossom and you are stunned with their
noise. Trees of lh6m are found in every direction. The
rich variety of flowers which our woods afford it would give
you pleasure to see.

Dr. Joseph Clark, the first practicing physician,
settled near the center in iSor, but did not long
remain.

Isaac Clark located in 1804, on the northwest
corner of the roads crossing at the center. His
sons were Almon and Isaac. The former died
in this township, and the latter in Bloomfield.
His daughters were Electa and Susan. Electa
married Rensselaer Smith, and lived in Bloom-
field.

Ganger Smith settled in rSo5 on the farm
where his son Edmund now lives.

Thomas Bowyer, the first of the Pennsylvania
settlers, located in the south part of the township
early.

James Laird and family, from Washington
county, Pennsylvania, arrived in this township
April 15, 181 1, making the thirteenth family in
Mesopotamia. They lived in a log-cabin on the
spot where Captain C. P. Lyman's house now
stands, until October, 18 14, when they removed
the present J. H Laird farm, lot thirty-nine. Of
Mr. Laird's family of ten children eight came
with him, viz: John, Matthew, Andrew, Margaret,
Betsey, Polly, James, and William. His oldest
daughter, Rachel Morrison, moved into this
township with her husband in October, 181 1.
Josiah, the oldest son, settled in Beaver, Penn-
sylvania. Excepting him, the children spent
most of their lives in this township, and all of
them raised families but John and Rachel.
Three, NLitthew, James, and Mrs. Betsey Higby,
passed their lives in this township ; Matthew

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

495

upon the old place. Two only are now living,
William, in Cleveland, and Mrs. Margaret Hol-
brook in Toledo. John and Rachel (Chambers)
each married, but had no children. Andrew
married Tabitha Parish in 1823, and settled one
and one-half miles north of the center. He
reared a family of four children, now all living.
John resides in Stockwell, Indiana ; Orris P.,
in Mesopotamia : Maria, single, in Fresno City,
California; Mary is at present in New York
city. James Laird, Jr., married Catharine Cox
for his first wife, and had by her six children who
reached mature years. For his second wife he
married Lorain Joslin, who is still living. By
his first wife his children were Stephen, Josiah,
Ralph, Susannah, Minerva, and James. All are
living but Ralph. Stephen resides is Mesopo-
tamia, and is a member of the Ohio Legislature
for 18S1-82 — the first Representative ever sent
from this township. Josiah and James reside
near Jesup, Iowa. Susannah (Griswold) and
Minerva live at Hart's Grove, Ashtabula county.
Orris P. Laird, the second son of Andrew, was
born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, in 1829.
Six years later his father returned to Mesopo-
tamia, where Mr. O. P. Laird has since resided.
He was married September 9, 1857, to Betsey L
Atwood, of Licking county. Ohio. Their chil-
dren are Louie (deceased), Marcy C, and Mar-
tin W., living. Both are being educated at
Hiram college.

Seth Morrison, Laird's son-in-law, came about
the same time with the Laird family, and settled
on lot forty-two.

Zimri Baker, from Vermont, settled south of
the center as early as 181 2. None of the family
are now in Mesopotamia. His son, Porter,
lived on the old farm till his family were grown,
when he moved away.

Amadeus Brooks, who married a daughter of
Captain Sperry, settled on lot thirty previous to
1812, and remained a number of years. He
moved to Bloomfield, and thence to Warren,
where he died. He was a man of fine intelli-
gence and a good citizen. Indeed, the same
may be said of nearly every one of the [jioneers
of this township.

As early as 1815 Seth L Ensign settled one
and one-half miles south and a mile west of the
center, where he lived and died. He was an
early teacher in Bristol and a justice of the peace

in Mesopotamia a number of years. His daugh-
ter, Mrs. Parish, still lives upon the farm where
he settled.

Reuben Joslin came here quite early, and set-
tled on lot forty. He was a carpenter and had
worked at his trade in Boston before coming
here.

Moses Bundy settled in the southwest of the
township at an early date, and lived and died
here.

Elisha Sanderson settled on lot thirty-one
previous to 1S19. His widow, two sons, and
two daughters are still living.

Alpheus Winter married a sister of 'Squiie
Isaac Clark, and settled on lot twenty-five
previous to 1820.

In r8i6 Joseph Eaton and a family consisting
of nine children settled on lot twelve. They
were from Massachusetts.

Job Reynolds, a soldier of 1S12 and a native
of Rhode Island, located in this township in
1817.

Flavel Sheldon, born in Massachusetts in 1791,
died in Mesopotamia in 1832. He married
Charlotte Guild, who is still living, the motlier
of three children.

Alva Lake settled in this township in 1817.
He married Mary Hogan, a native of Vermont.
He was born in Castleton, Vermont, in 1799.

FIRST EVENTS.

The first birth that took place in this town-
ship occurred in 1801, when a daughter was
born to the wife of Dr. Joseph Clark. The
child died young. The second child was born
in September, 1801, and is still living. Her
name is Charlotte, widow of Flavel Sheldon.
She was the daughter of Otis and Lois Guild.
Sardis Morse, son of Joseph Morse, was the first
male child. His parents were here but a short
time. The first death occurred in the spring of
1802. Mrs. Joseph Noyes died of consumption.
The first wedding was in 1806, at the residence
of the bride's father. The wedded couple were
Griswold Gillette and Clarissa Tracy, and in ad-
dition to "giving away the bride," the father per-
formed the marriage ceremony, having recently
been elected justice of the peace. Mrs. Gillette
lived to be ninety-one years of age and died in
1874-

The first frame house, as well as the first
cabin, was built by Captain Sperry. Joseph

4y6

■IRUINIIJULI. AND MAHONING COUN TIES, OHIO.

Morse was the first blacksmith. John TomHn-
son made the first grave-stones from stone found
in Mill creek. Some are still standin}^.

For several years each settler acted as his own
shoemaker, making and mending boots and
shoes for his family. Some time after the settle-
ment Hezekiah Sperry, Jr., went to New Haven,
Connecticut, and vvorked a year at shoemaking.
He then returned and went from house to house
working at his trade. He carried his tools with
him and made pegs from maple. His shoe-
thread was made by hand-spinning.

KARLY SCHOOLS.

In nothing is the progressive sjiirit of the early
settlers more clearly shown than in the matter of
schools. The first tliought of the pioneer, after
becoming established in his log house, seems to
have been to provide for the education of his
children. And though the speller, the reader,
and the arithmetic — fortunate boy who possessed
all three! — were the only books used in these
early schools, many a pupil, who afterward be-
came noted for intelligence and usefulness,
received all of his educational training within
the walls of rude log buildings.

The first school in Mesopotamia was taught
by Samuel Forward, in 1803, in a room of Seth
Tracy's house. Samuel Higley, of Windsor,
taught the ne,\t winter term, which was followed
by a summer school taught by Jerusha Guild.

The first school-house was built on the north-
ern part of Seth Tracy's farm in i8o6, a few rods
south of the east and west center road. Linus
Tracy, whose own schooling amounted to only
about six months' attendance, taught school in
this building in early days, and was a successful
instructor. He has lived to see the most of those
who were his pupils grow old and die and be
gathered with their fathers in the quiet village
ihurchyard.

CHUKCH HISTORY.

It is said that the first sermon ever delivered
in this township was preached by the pioneer
missionary, Rev. Joseph Badger. The first
church organized was the Presbyterian in 1817,
with eight members. This organization still
lives and prospers but is now Congregational.
Among the early members were Deacon Zimri
Baker and family, Mrs. Silvina Tracy, Mrs.
Clarissa Gillette, Horace and Pamelia Loomis,
Jairus,l,aura,and(Jharlotte(;uild, Israel Sheldon,

Betsey Laird, Seth and Rachel Morrison, and
John Crawford. The Presbyterians erected the
first church edifice in 1822, at a cost of about
$500. The house now in use was built in 1843
and cost about $2,500. The early preachers
were Revs. Badger, Stone, Leslie, Cowles, Os-
born, and others. Rev. Randolph Stone was
the first pastor and remained a number of years.
He was a talented man, liberally educated, and
possessed great power and earnestness.

The first Methodist preacher was named
Daniels. A class was formed quite early, but
at exactly what date we cannot ascertain. The
Methodists erected a house about 1830, which
is still in use, having been twice rebuilt. Among
the early members were Elisha Sanderson and
wife, Matthew and Andrew Laird, John Easton
and wife, Seth I. Ensign, Ira Parker, Benjamin
Smith, and many others. The first quarterly
meeting was held in Elisha Anderson's barn.
Mrs. Sanderson was one of the most active and
influential female members. Elders Mack, Ira
Eddy, and William Brown were among the early
preachers. In 1833 a great revival took place and
about fifty persons experienced religion. Isaac
Winans and James McMechan were on this cir-
cuit at that time.

The Universalists had ([uite a flourishing
church in Mesopotamia, and built the edifice
which is now the town hall. Wishing to outdo
their orthodox brethren they built their church
one foot larger each way than the Congregational
house. Spiritualism and the lack of religious
interest destroyed their organization.

nURIAL PLACES.

The first burials were made on a hill north of
the center. Mrs. Noyes, a daughter of Mrs.
Guild, and Mr. Crawford were buried there.
Nothing now remains to indicate their resting-
lilace.

The first of Cai)tain Sperrj's family who died
were buried on his farm.

The first graveyard for the public was the pres-
ent one at the village. It is a pleasant s|)0t in
the rear of the churches and is thickly marked
with gravestones. The first person buried there
was the mother of Seth Tracy. She died in
1818, on the 4th of July.

.MILLS, STORKS, ETC.

The first saw-mill was built by John S. Ed-

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIKS, OHIO.

497

wards in the northwest of the township, on Mill
creek, in 1803. In 1805 a grist-mill run by water
from the same dam, was built. Fifteen years
later Isaac Clark erected a grist-mill on the same
stream, one mile below Crawford's. In the first
mill William Crawford, a brother of John, was
killed by falling between the water-wheel and the
rocks.

The first store in the township was opened in
1S18, by Linus Tracy, who with his brother Ad-
dison carried on the business a few years, then
shut up the store until 1827, when Colonel Linus
Tracy erected a new building for a store, and
continued the business. The first store stood a
few rods north of Colonel Tracy's present resi-
dence. Isaac Clark and his son Almon had a
store a short time about 1830. Mr. Clark built
the stone building on the southwest corner,
which, enlarged and remodeled, is still standing.

Griswold Gillette had a small distillery, con-
sisting of a copper boiler, in a log building near
the center, in early times. This was the only
establishment of the kind ever in the township.
.\n old resident assures us that he made a first-
rate article of whiskey, using only corn and rye
in its manufacture.

Seth Tracy gave George Ives an acre of land
on which to set up a tannery. He began the
business about 18 18, and carried it on success-
fully several years.

Dr. D. L. Newcomb, from New York, built
and kept the first tavern about 1823. The pres-
ent hotel was built by 'Squire Isaac Clark, and
kept for a lime by his son Hitam. The old
tavern forms a part of it.

Mesopotamia center was never laid off into
lots as a village. A piece of land fifteen rods
wide and one hundred rods long was donated
to the township as a public square, and around
this, buildings have been erected at the pleasure
of the inhabitants.

The first road, through the township was laid
out along the west end of the tier of lots front-
ing on tlie present road running south from the
center.

rHE INIll.^NS.

There were a few Indians in and about this
township in early times. An old chief, Pauqua,
sometimes came here, and though a "big Injun,"
he did not hesitate to beg food and drink. Be-
fore the War of 1S12 all tlie Indians withdrew

from this neighborhood. After the war a small
band encamped near Grand river, and engaged
in hunting. Some of the settlers visited their
camp one day, but found the Indians absent.
They broke some of the kettles in the camp,
drew the image of an Indian on the bark of a
tree, shot a ball into the head of the figure, and
returned to their homes. The Indians then cut
the figure of a white man upon a tree, and made
no mark upon it, in token of their friendliness.
But the white men's warning, doubtless, had the
desired effect, as the Indians left soon after.

SWINE CREEK.

It may be of interest to some of our readers
to know the origin of the singular name of this
stream. About the year 1S02 a sow belonging
to Seth Tracy wandered from his premises, and
for some time the owner could learn nothing as
to her whereabouts. Thinking that the Indians
might perhaps discover her during some of their
hunts, he caused the red men to be notified of his
loss, and desired that they would report to him
if they chanced to find the hog.

One evening an Indian came to the house
while Mr. Tracy was away. He poked some
ashes out upon the hearthstone, and drew a
winding line in the ashes with his finger, talking
in his own tongue meanwhile, and making fre-
quent use of the words "coosh-coosh " and
"pappoose coosh-coosh," but none of the family
understood what he was trying to explain. When
Mr. Tracy came home, the Indian again went
through with his talk illustrating it as before.
In the figure drawn in the ashes Mr. Tracy rec-
ognized the course of the cieek, and at a
certain bend which the Indian traced very
minutely, he was made to understand that his
lost hog was to be found. Mr. Tracy went the
next day to the spot indicated, and there found
his missing property with a fine litter of pigs.
Accordingly he named the stream " Hog creek;"
but some one more fastidious in the matter of
names suggested the modification now in use,
and it was immediately adopted.

THE EARLY RECORDS

of the township show that the system of "warn-
ing out" such persons as were considered likely
to become township charges prevailed; and also
that some of the men thus warned out remained
and afterwards became prominent, wealthy, and
respected citizens.

498

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

IN THE WAR OF l8l2.

A military company had been formed under
the command of Captain Hill, of Windsor. On
the breaking out of the war a call was made for
volunteers. Linus Tracy, Oliver Guild, Jairus
Guild, and Whitney Smith volunteered; and
afterward another call was made, when Matthew
Laird, Elias Sperry, Griswold Gillette, Ebenezer
K. Lamson, Amadeus Brooks, Lucius Sperry,
and Isaac Clark went. Elias Sperry was wounded
by the Indians in a fight on the "Peninsula."
His brother Lucius took the fever, came home,
and died, as did also two of his sisters, who at-
tended him and took the fever from hmi.

.STONE QU.\RRy.

An excellent quality of freestone is found in
this township, and the business of quarrying it
has been carried on quite successfully.

rO.ST-OFFICE.

A post-office was established about 1809, Seth
Tracy, postmaster. Mail was then brought once
a week from Warren by a man who usually trav-
eled on foot. Linus Tracy became postmaster
in 1825 or 1826. Under Jackson's administra-
tion,he was turned out, and Isaac Clark succeeded
him. Mr. Tracy again received an appointment
after 'Squire Clark had served his term, and
kept the office many years.

THE soldiers' monument.
This memorial of the brave boys in blue who
served in the late war stands at the south end of
the public square. It is of marble, eighteen feet
high, surmounted bv the image of an eagle. On
the north side of the base ate the words " Liberty
and Union;" on the south, the name of the patri-
ot president, Abraham Lincoln; on the east the
date of the dedication of the monument, 1867.
and on the west, " Honor the Brave." It was
erected by the citizens of the township at a cost
of $2,500.

TOWNSHII' directory.

Mesopotamia center : General store, l-^lias
Sperry ; hardware, C. E. Holcomb ; drug and
grocery store, V. C. Peck. A fire in the fall
of 1 88 1, destroyed two stores.

Cheese factories : Highland factory. Pierce &
Caldwell, in the northwest of the township;
Davis Brothers' factory one mile north and a half
mile west ot the center ; Center Brook factory.

Jacob Lepper ; Cold Spring factory, E. C. Cox,
center.

Hotel : Eagl« house, E. P. Griffin, proprietor,
center.

E. C. Co.\ has recently started a broom-handle
factory at the center.

Feed-grinding-mill : Woodford Bros., center.

Steam saw-mills : Sperry & Wilcox, center ;
A. R. Harshman, sawing-, planing-, and shingle-
mill, west of the center; Bridgen & Holcomb in
the southeast of the township are sawing lumber
for handles ; and in the northeast of the town-
ship Watson is sawing for Kirk & Christy, of
Warren.

Biographical Sketches,

ROSWELL A. BUTTON.
We can give in this volume but a brief outline
of the career and experiences of Captain Button.
His life has been written, and few more fascinat-
ing volumes have ever been published. It is
the record of ten years of seafaring life in its
most interesting phase. From the unpublished
manuscript we derive our information for this
sketch.

Captain Button is a descendant of Thomas
Button, a mariner whose name is found in the
record of North American discoveries and ex-
plorations in the seventeenth century. Among
the descendants were several sailors, and of his
father's family, consisting of ten children, there
were three— James, Erasmus, and Roswell A.
James was lost at sea near Kamtschatka. Eras-
mus became a partner of Roswell in the man-
agement of the merchant bark Clara Windsor.

Captain Button was born at Preston, New
London county, Connecticut, June 28, 1822,
and was the son of Allen and Anne A. (Witer)
Button, both natives of Connecticut. He was
quite young when his father died, and left with-
out the means of acquiring an education. He
attended the common schools, and early formed
a taste for reading. He was especially inter-
ested in works of travel and adventure, which
aroused his imagination and jjroduced an ardent
longing for the sea.

In 1843, having just passed his twenty-first

^.C^.C^Mrr//..

TRUMRULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

year and ambitious for adventure, he enlisted as
a common sailor before the mast on board the
whaling vessel Lowell of New London, about to
embark for the northwest coast of North Amer-
ica. Her course was by way of Cape of Good
Hope, Indian ocean, and across the Pacific.
After eight months voyaging the Isles of the
Azores were reached, where the sea abounds in
Its "mightiest of monsters." Here the first prize
of the seamen was spied, and after an exciting
chase captured. This voyage occupied three
years, during which time the vessel coasted
among the Azores, around Australia, touched
Van Dieman's Land, and coasted the Sandwich
Islands. We quote a ghmpse or two from the
manuscript volume of which we have spoken :

One of the most interesting peculiarities of the whale is
its immense loss of blood in death. It is presumed to have
a large supply arteriorized in a reservoir, which is brought
nito use when thnl m general circulation becomes vitiated
during a prolonged submergence. Tills reservoir is what
wlialemen term the life of the « hale, and it is the spot sought
by the harpoon and lance. When touched the bloody tor-
rent surcharges the lungs .and is expelled through the spout
hole, suffocation and death following, but when the wound
is slight the agonies of the dying beast are prolonged. The
poor creature will lie on the surface feebly propelhng itself
onward, and \\ ith quick repeated sobs will pour out its life
by slow degrees, coloring the surface of the ocean a deep
crimson. From tiiis stupor it is aroused to its last struggle.
The head rises and falls, and the flukes, which are fifty feet
long, thrash the water rapidly. With great speed it swims
in a large circle two or three times, and then falls on its
side dead.

The narrative of the first voyage concludes :

Now let us follow our old friend, the Lowell, on her way
home. When we left her she was near New Zealand in about
35' south latitude; here two speim whales were caught and
then on she went into the southern sea, and then doubling
the horn .and stormy capo in latitude 57' south, .^ifter tliis
her course Lay through the north .Atlantic, continuing her
voyage until port New London was reached, where sails
were furled, the anchor dropped, and to express their joy
for safe return and good success in achieving the object of

their expedition — a full (.hj/i •''. "il .i;ii| I ■ llicy fired

fifty-eight guns. Two«.'. ; ! ; rir cargo

was discharged and each 11; !]i ■.,,; ; 1:; •;! ,. ^ i.liir^^ to his
share. Then the sailors ubiuxl iliri, fiu-inii, inc Inst voyage

After SIX weeks spent in rest at home the
" Lowell of New London " a.gain raised anchor
and set sail for another voyage. After sailing
six months Kamtschatka was reached, northeast
of Asia, and the Yellow sea was traversed. At
the end of this voyage four thousand barrels of
oil, worth $50 per barrel, besides a large amount
of bone, was brought home. This second voyage

occupied the same period as the first with almost
equal results, but Mr. Button, who was one of
the experienced men, experienced more perils.
He had two boats stove and was once thrown
twenty feet into the water. He acquired the
reputation (an enviable one among sailors) of
being the strongest man in the whaling service.
We again quote from Jones' manuscript biography
of him :

The secret of Captain Button's wonderful strength lay in
the possession of a naturally strong constitution, increasing
instead of diminishing its energies by constant exercise and
tlie regular observance of temperance habits.

After returning from the second voyage on the
" Lowell " six more weeks were spent at home.
The '• Lowell " was sold and the Montezuma
purchased for a third journey. On the second
voyage he had been boatsteerer and was now
advanced to second mate. While at the Sand-
wich islands Mr. Button left his own ship and
engaged as first mate on the Clematis and after
returning to this country abandoned the whaling
service. His last seafaring was as captain of the
"Clara Windsor," a merchant vessel which made
regular trips between New York and St.
Domingo.

In 1853 Mr. Button quit the sea for more
quiet pursuits. He came to Ohio and settled
on the farm he now owns, west of Mesopotamia
center, and the following year married Miss
Caroline S. Reynolds, whose acquaintance he
had made in Connecticut. She was his perfect
counterpart, and their married life was a season
of unbroken happiness till the dread disease,
consumption, began to show signs of its presence.
Mr. Button traveled extensively in Cuba, Florida,
and California, m company with his wife, in the
hope of arresting the progress of the fatal
disease, but without effecting the desired result.
She died at Sacramento, California, December
28, 1873. From this time until his second mar-
riage, October 6, 1881, Mr. Button lived entirely
alone at Mesopotamia. The maiden name of
his present wife was Louie Humphries, daughter
of Richard and Ann H. Humphries, of Ashtabula
county.

50O

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO

WILLIAM LAIRD.
William Laird, son of James Laird, was born
in Washington county, Pennsylvania, November
20, 1809. He came to Mesopotamia in 181 1.
His father moving there at that time, and bring-
ing his wife and eight children, was the eleventh
settler in the township. His father and mother
both died in 1826, and William, who was the
youngest son, lived with an older brother until
he arrived at the age of eighteen, when he com-
menced life for himself. He resided m Meso-
|)otamia until 1874, at which time he went to
Dakota Territory, where he pre-empted a claim
in the Vermillion valley and became a citizen of
that Territory. In 1832 he was married to Han-
nah Chambers, of Champion, Trumbull county, a
daughter of John Chambers, with whom he lived
forty-two years, and buried in Dakota, October
9, 1874. In 1877 he came to Cleveland, Ohio.
In 1880 he was married a second time, to Mrs.
Eliza Sartm, of Cleveland, and now resides at
No. 34 Herman street, in that city. Of his chil-
dren, five in number, Matthew A., the oldest son,
married Rachel McDonald, of Toledo, Ohio,
and is now a manufacturer and dealer in Kansas
City, Missouri ; John Chambers, his second son,
died in 1855 at the age of eighteen and lies in
Mesopotamia; Elizabeth M., his only daughter,
married William B. Fauss, of Mesopotamia,'and
now resides with her husband and three children
at Elk Point, Dakota, in the town where her
mother is buried ; Edwards W. married Ada E.
\\'illiams, daughter of Justin Williams — he is a
member of the law firm of Marvin, Laird &
(.'adwell, of Cleveland, and resides at No. 266
Franklin avenue, in that city; Marcellus G., his
youngest son, died in Dakota, August 20, 1874.
Maggie Pierce, his wife, and daughter of Deacon
Joseph Pierce, of Champion, Ohio, died Septem-
ber 21, 1874, in the same Territory, and son and
daughter he by the side of the mother in Elk
Point. William Pierce, their son, and the name-
sake and only grandson, died in May, 1875, ^'
the house of his grandfather, in Champion. Mn
Laird is of Scotch descent, being of the third
generation born in this country. He has been a
member of the Presbyterian church for more
tiian fifty years, and was for many years one of
its ruling oflficers. His early life as well as a
part of his later years, has been spent on the
frontier and his whole life has been nn active

one, yet at the age of seventy-three he is hale
and hearty, retaining all his faculties. Though
residing in Cleveland, he retains his old home
in Mesopotamia, and says he will as long as he
lives, and when he says home it means either
Cleveland or Mesopotamia, the meaning of the
word depending upon which place is spoken of

SETTLEMENT NOTES.

Timothy Cox was born in York county, Penn-
sylvania, April 12, 1799. His father, John Cox,
was of English descent. He removed from
Pennsylvania to Ohio with his family in 1805
and settled in Bristol township, where he
was one of the earliest pioneers. The family
consisted of twelve children, three of whom
are living. Mr. Cox was one of the most en-
ergetic farmers and pioneers in Bristol, where
he died in 1856. Timothy Cox, the only
surviving son, remained at home until the age
of twenty-one years. He then took a contract
to clear forty acres of land, receiving in pay-
ment forty acres of wild land. Mr. Cox mar-
ried in 1824 Sarah Bonner, who was born in
Pennsylvania in 1805. They had a family of
ten children — Joseph A.; Ephraim ; Mariah
A., wife of Martin F. Smith, residents of Mes-
opotamia; Harriet, wife of Eben E. Caldwell,
resident of Cleveland; Seymour A., killed in
battle of Perryville, October 8, 1862; Clarissa
P., wife of John Ritter, resident of Washing-
ton, District of Columbia; Louisa M., resident-
of Mesopotamia ; Aaron P., resident of Cass
county, Nebraska; Phebe, wife of Edwin Brig-
don, of Mesopotamia; and Enos S., resident of
Nebraska. Mrs. Cox died February 12, 1882.
Mr. Cox lived in Bristol township until 1865,
when he removed to Mesopotamia.

Chauncey Bates was born in Cleauga coun-
ty, Ohio, July 19, 1835. His father, Wil-
liam M. Bates, was a native of Norwich, Con-
necticut, the date of his birth being 1808. He
came to Ohio and settled on a farm near his
present residence in 1829. In 1831 he married
Rachel, daughter of Alpheus Winter, one of the
pioneers of Mesopotamia township. She was
born January 28, 1810. The family of William
and Mrs. liates consisted of five children of
whom four are living. ICdwin, the oldest son,

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

was a volunteer in the One Hundrt-d and
Seventy-ninth Ohio volunteer infantry, and died
in the hospital at Nashville, Tennessee, in June,
1865. Chauncey Bates, after passing through
the common schools attended the seminary at
Orwell three terms. He subsequently taught
school eighteen winters. He was married Oc-
tober 14, 1858, to Eliza H. Hart, a native of
Geauga county. They have a family of three
children — Frank A., born June 3, i860; Earl H.,
born January 25, 1872; and Blanche E., born
January 5, 1877. Mr. Bates enlisted in the
United States service in 1865. He has served
several years as clerk of the township, and has
also filled other public positions. He is a mem-
ber of the Congregational church, leader of the
choir, and superintendent of the Sunday-school.

Edward P. Gritfin, the son of Edward and
Leah Gritifin, was born in Mesopotamia township,
Trumbull county, Ohio, in 1848. He followed
farming until 1872, when he took charge of the
hotel at Mesopotamia center, where he still con-
tinues. He married in 1870 Ella, daughter of
EUory and Saloma WJliams. She was born in
Mesopotamia in 1852. They have a family of
three children. Lulu, Maud, and Walter.

Seba and Jane Ensign, with their family, came
to Mesopotamia from Cattaraugus county, New
York. They were among the early settlers of
the township, settling in the northwest part. Se-
ba Ensign, Jr., married .Almira Smith, daughter
of Edniond Smith, one of the early, and now one
of the oldest residents of the township, having
been born in 1800. His wife, Polly, is still liv-
ing also. Mr. Ensign has been a carpenter and
joiner by trade. For the past seventeen years
he has been an invalid, being afflicted with dys
pepsia, and has endured much suffering, on one
occasion going without food for over twelve
days. Mr. Ensign has a family of one daughter
and two sons, viz: Julia, wife of Irvin E. Brig-
den, of Cleveland; Eugene J., in the same city,
and Frank, engaged in merchandise in Garrets-
ville, Ohio. The latter married Jessie Holcomb,
of Cleveland. E. J. Ensign was born in Meso-
potamia, June 23, 1850; married Betsey, daugh-
ter of Stephen W. Irwin, a well-known and early
family of Mecca township. Two children have
been born of this union, Leon E. and Carrie
Bell. Mr. I'jisign removed to Cleveland in
1 88 1, and is now engaged in business there.

CHAPTER XIX.

BRACEVILLE.

The original proprietors of the lands of this
township, who received their titles from the
State of Connecticut, were Jonathan Brace,
Enoch Perkins, and Roger Newberry, and the
deed conveying the lands to these persons is
dated April 22, 1799.

On the loth of December, 1800, the above
persons associated themselves with Justin Ely,
who with Jonathan Brace was proprietor of
Newton township, and they together conveyed
their several interests to Pardon Brown for the
purpose of reconveying the same lands to the
grantors, which was done the same day, and the
five proprietors above named became joint
owners of the soil. At a later period the pro-
prietors made a partition of their unsold lands,
giving to each one a separate interest in different
tracts. In 1802 the township was surveyed into
lots or sections one mile square, and by the survey
of the Connecticut Land company the township
embraced an area of fifteen thousand and four
acres of land. The first title deed made by the
proprietors to a purchaser was made to Francis
Freeman, on November 21, 1803, and is the
same land on which Ralph Freeman settled, be-
ing the west part of section sixteen, in the south-
west part of the township.

FIRST SETTLEMENTS.

In the spring of 1803, a man by the name of
Millan, a "squatter," built a small log cabin on
the ledge, on the township line between Brace-
ville and Warren. After completing the cabin
he left it for the purpose of bringing his family,
but during his absence a fire was started in the
woods, probably by the Indians, as it was a
common thing in those days, especially on the
hunting grounds, and the Millan cabin was
burned down, and he, hearing of the disaster,
never returned. From this incident the town-
ship was called Millantown, which it retained
until its organization in 181 1, when it was named
Braceville, after Jonathan Brace, one of the pro-
prietors, as before mentioned.

In July, 1803, Ralph Freeman and William
Mossman, two unmarried men, came into the
township and erected a log cabin on the bank of
the Mahoning river near the former residence of
Asa W. Parker, now the residence of John Hip-

502

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

pie. Mossman had puichased one hundred
acres of land on which the cabin was erected ;
Freeman becoming owner of the land deeded to
his brother, as before mentioned, in section six-
teen. They kept bachelor's hall for more than a
year, chopping on their lands. They had one
cow which fed on browse, and the milk they kept
in a gourd ; during the warm weather the handle
of this gourd became infested with maggots, and
to remedy the evil they cut it off, thus seriously
damaging the usefulness of the vessel. The
dishes belonging to the culinary department of
this pioneer establishment were necessarily very
few, and they partook of their plain fare in the
well-known Pennsylvania fashion of "sup and
bite."

William Mossman sold his interest m the land
to Ralph Freeman and went to Warren, where
he married and kept a public house for some
years, afterwards moving to near Buffalo. Free-
man remained on his farm alone and continued
to make necessary improvements, and is there-
fore entitled to the honor of being tlie first pio-
neer settler of Braceville.

In 1804 Samuel Oviatt, Sr., of Goshen, Con-
necticut, purchased about one thousand acres of
land in this township, and his sons, Samuel and
Stephen, with their wives, moved into Brace-
ville; these two women being the first white
women in the township. Their journey was a
long and tedious one, being over six weeks on
the road, and coming over the Allegheny moun-
tains by way of Pittsburg, to Warren, from which
place they were compelled to cut a road through
the wilderness, thus making the first wagon trail
from Warren to Braceville. In this same year
Jacob Earle came to the township. The winter
of 1804-5 was one of great destitution to the
pioneers of this township, there being as yet no
mills and little grain. The Oviatt families sub-
sisted prmcipally on boiled corn and baked pota-
toes and such wild game as they could get, and
for an entire week they subsisted on potatoes
alone. At one time, becoming entirely destitute
of provisions of any kind, just at sunset on a
.Sabbath evening, while they were redecting on
their destitute situation, as if sent by a kind
Providence, a fine turkey gobbler perched upon a
tree near their lonely cabin. One of the men
seized his gun, and though it was now quite
dark, he succeeded in bringing down his game,

and it is safe to say that that one turkey fur-
nished ample provision for all Braceville. Mrs.
Sally (Storn) Oviatt, wife of Stephen Oviatt, was
the mother of the first white child born in the
township — William J. Oviatt, who moved from
here to Wisconsin.

An incident is related of Mrs. Oviatt, as fol-
lows: One day in the absence of the men a
large deer came into the "chopping" near the
cabin; she seized her husband's rifle and with
unerring aim fired and brought down the game,
a noble buck. She look an axe and hurried to
where the deer lay, to make sure of the capture,
and in her excitement, it is stated that she cut
the animal's throat on the back of its neck ; at
least this is a standing joke on Mrs. Oviatt in
the community.

In February, 1S05, Joshua Bradford, with his
sons, Joshua, Joel, and William, settled on lot
fifteen ; and in the spring of the same year
Samuel Oviatt, Sr., and his sons, Edward (and
wife), Seth, and Mark, also his two daughters,
settled on lot twenty-three. At this time a
small tribe of Indians, with their chief, Paqua,
bad a camp in the forks of the Mahoning river,
where they remained until the spring of 1806.
This is the same tribe with which (ieneral
Cleveland held a council nearConneaut in 1796.
They were friendly and inoffensive, but some-
what annoying to the whites on account of their
constant begging for whiskey and powder. They
were especially so to the elder Oviatt, who had
brought a quantity of powder for the use of his
sons in the new settlement.

Early in the spring after the difficulty at Deer-
field — an account of which appears elsewhere in
this work — this tribe disappeared down the river
in their canoes. In searching through their
camping-grounds, among other things was found
a large iron kettle and other utensils for making
maple sugar. The kettle is npw kept as a relic,
and is supposed to have belonged to General
Parsons, who had used it in his operations at the
old salt works in Weathersfield in 1789.

FIRST ELECTION OF JUSTICE OF THE PEACE.

The first election for justice of the peace was
held April 22, 1812, and Fowler Merwin was de-
clared elected, Solomon Oviatt being the oppos-
ing candidate. The election was contested and
set aside on the ground that the successful can-
didate was the only clerk of election. On the

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

30th of May following another election was held
with the same candidates in the field, resulting
in the election of Solomon Oviatt. This elec-
tion was also contested and set aside on account
of informality. Forty votes were cast. The
above are the only cases of contested elections
or in which any election was set aside for any
reason, whatever, in this township.

On the 4th of July following a third election
was held, and the good people of Braceville be-
coming wearied of the contest between the two
candidates for the ofifice, and determining to
have a justice of the peace they went into the
election with that kind of patriotism common
in early days on 4th of July occasions, embrac-
ing all the elements that the day and occasion
usually required, and succeeded in electing Rob-
ert Freeman as the first justice of Braceville.
When the result of the election was officially an-
nounced three cheers were given by the crowd,
and the newly elected candidate was borne
upon the shoulders of the inspired electors, into
the school-house, where he made a very laconic
speech, of which there is no further report, and
according to the custom of the times called in a
"jug and grog." This would seem a rei:;arkable
mode of procedure in Braceville now, but it
was then the invariable rule for the successful
candidate in any election to "treat."

Robert Freeman, Esq., lived with his son
Ralph, and was affable and courteous in his man-
ner, amiable in disposition, kind and generous as
a neighbor, and prominent as a citizen. He was
chairman of the organization and first election
of the township; was one of the first trustees,
and held the office of justice of the peace until
his death, being the first adult person that died
in the township. He was first interred on the
Freeman farm, but was afterwards removed and
placed in the public cemetery at Braceville cen-
ter.

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

Robert Freeman, July 12, 181 2; Auren Taft,
May I, 1 813, three and one-half years ; Edman
Oviatt, September i, 1813, six years; Philoceles
Lewis, May 5, 1819, six years; Samuel Oviatt,
July 22, 1820, six years; Hervey Stow, August
4, 1825, three years ; Warren Arnold, June 20,
1826 (resigned); Seth Oviatt, September 2, 1826,
ihixc \oar, ; William Benedict, August 28. 1828,
eight- en years; Benami Johnson, August 22,

1829, six years; William Griswold, August 2,
1835, two years; Uriah Merwin, November 10,
1837, six years ; George Lyman, June 16, 1838,
nine years ; Franklin E. Stow, May 30, 1846,
six years; Ancil Bosworth, April 5, 1847, three
years ; Parker Boynton, April i, 1850, three
years; Allison A. Preston, May i, 1852, three
years; Augustus Elwell, October 13, 1857.

CONSTABLES.

Harvey Allen served as constable of Brace-
ville from 1S20 to 1S45 ; he was known as the
standing constable of Braceville. He was pleased
with the office and made an excellent officer,
and might have served his township many years
more had he not moved to Wisconsin where he
has since died. Jacob S. Smith was elected in
1844 and served seven years. He was an effi-
cient officer, and in 1859 was elected com-
missioner. John H. Clark served as constable
from 1850 to i860. The people of Braceville
do not allow the question of politics to exclude a
worthy man from holding township offices, and
though the township is largely Republican,
Franklin E. Stow as township clerk, and Nathan
O. Humphrey as treasurer, each held their re-
spective offices nine years, both being Democrats.

LOC.VnON — SURFACE FEATURES — POPULATION.

Braceville township is located in the south-
western part of the county — town four north,
and range five west, and is bounded on the north
by Southington, east by Warren, south by New-
ton, and on the west by Portage county.

The soil consists generally of sand and clay,
productive of the ordinary cereals and superior
quality of hay, and the surface generally rolling,
is well adapted to all kinds of agricultural pur-
suits and grazing. The timber is of the general
order, and varieties commonly found in this sec-
tion of the State — oak, maple, etc.

The Mahoning river takes its winding zig-zag
course from the central part of the south line,
and flowing westward across the southeast corner,
enters Warren township from section six, north
of the central part of the west boundary line.

The northern part of the township is drained
by Eagle creek and its tributaries, which takes its
rise in the extreme northwest, and flowing in a
southeasterly direction and crossing the west
boundary in the north part of the township, and
enters Warren where it empties into the Ma-
honing.

5°4

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

The Atlantic & Great Western railroad extends
from east to west almost directly through the
center, making the main station at Braceville.
The Cleveland & Mahoning road enters about
the central part of the west line, and takes a
northwest course through the township, with a
station at Phalanx, directly north of Braceville.

The Narrow Gauge extends through the central
part of the township from north to south, con-
necting the stations Braceville and Phalanx,
thus affording amjjle railroad facilities.

The population of the township is almost en-
tirely rural, there being no incoporated towns,
nor extensive manufacturing interests to collect
communities of any considerable size.

Braceville center is the most important point
of trade and local settlement, and has two
churches, two small stores, a post-ofifice, a wagon
and smith shop, a town house, and a number of
dwellings.

The township does not vary materially in the
census reports of the past thirty years. In i860
it was 1,049 ; in '870, 958, and according to the
last enumeration (1880) was 1,019.

POST-OFFICES.

Si.nce the day of railroads, telegraphs, and
other means of communication, the post-office
loses some of its importance to the public, but
in early times, when the mail-carrier was the only
means of communication, its importance was
well known and appreciated. In 1816 the first
jMstoffice was established at Braceville, of which
Auren Stow was appointed postmaster, and on
the ist day of January the first mail for Brace-
ville was received. The first postmaster served
until 1850, when he was succeeded by Franklin
E. Stow, who served until he was succeeded by G.
C. Reed, who was followed by Isaac Ingraham,
after which ¥. E. Stow again took the office,
which subsequently passed to the hands of the
jiresent postmaster — Seth Lee.

SCHOOLS.

The people of this township early sought
means for the proper education of their chil-
dren, and as early as Braceville had any organiza-
tion whatever she had a school. The first regu-
larly organized school in this township, and
among the first in Trumbull county, was taught
by Hervey Stow at the center of Braceville, and
thougli the towi-.ship has not been able to sup-

port schools of higher grades than the common
district schools, yet these have been supplied
from time to time with ample facilities for an or-
dinary district school education, and the town-
ship now sujjports eight schools, situated in vari-
ous localities of convenience throughout the
township.

A TERRIFIC TORNADO.

The year i860 will ever be ."emembered by
the people of this locality as the year of the tor-
nado. On July 23d of that year a tornado, of
which the following is an account left among the
papers of Franklin E. Stow, visited Braceville:

In the fore part of the day the clouds indi-
cated rain, with a gentle southwest breeze. About
n o'clock A. M. the wind lulled away and it be-
came extremely hot and sultry. The first indi-
cation of an approaching storm, about 12
o'clock, was observed in the excited state of the
clouds. Two dark clouds were seen rapidly
approaching each other, one from the north and
the other from the West; they came together
and instantly a dark body was seen to fall rapidly
toward the earth, about one* mile northwest of
Braceville Station, on the farm of Heman Rood,
where the work of destruction commenced. The
stoutest trees were twisted off and scattered like
wisps of straw, rocks torn from their beds, fences
swept away and scattered in every direction.
The storm raged, whirling and roaring, and
moving in a southeast direction with great rapid-
ity. The first building in its course was Dr.
Manly's farm-house, occupied by Gillette Griffin,
which was torn to atoms. In the house were
Mrs. Grifiin, two children, and Mrs. Charles
Mason; it was thrown six rods over a wood-pile
seven feet high, and while the building was mov-
ing Mrs. Griffin jumped out and had her collar
bone broken. Mrs. Mason and the children
were buried in the ruins, ttie former having her
skull fractured and was otherwise bruised ; the
children sustained but little injury; one of them,
however, was so entangled in the ruins that it
could not be extracted until the frantic mother
ran to the station for help. Next was the house
of Charles Mason, about twenty rods distant
from Manly's, which was torn to fragments ; the
heavier timbers were scattered over a space of
two acres, while the lighter materials were scat-
tered far and wide.

The power and wliiii of the wind is shown in

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

505

the fact that the first of these houses was taken
to the south and the other to the northeast. The
course of the storm was southeast, through
Manly's woods, crossing the raih'oad, and into
the woods belonging to F. E. Stow, upturning
the strongest oaks, twisting and whirling the
trees in every direction. Passing through the
woods it struck with its greatest force the rail-
road station-house and an adjoining grocery store
of Lucius \\'ood, the station agent. These
buildings were raised several hundred feet high,
and were revolved together, grinding and burst-
ing into thousands of fragments, that were borne
by the winds into regions unknown. The station-
house contained several tons of freight. A box
of hardware, containing bolts, buckles, etc., was
strewn over the ground for a distance of half a
mile; a bolt was found over half a mile distant
driven into a tree to the depth of an inch; a two-
pound weight was found over half a mile away;
pennies and quarters were found in many places,
and a hand-saw was carried over a mile distant.
Opposite the station stood the dwelling and
grocery of George Smith. The dwelling was
raised from its foundations, carried several rods,
and dashed to pieces. Mr. Smith was absent,
but arrived home in time to give his family warn-
ing of the approaching storm. They immedi-
ately fled from the house, and when the storm
came he clung to the woodpile; his son John
held to a stump, and while clinging there for his
life the violence of the wind would throw him off
his feet, and he was repeatedly struck and badly
bruised by falling rails, limbs of trees, boards,
etc. Charles Moren fled from the grocery and
took shelter under the station-house, and as it
raised from its foundations he was stunned by
falling debris, and was afterward picked up sev-
eral rods distant.

Mrs. Jeremiah Galvin, living a few rods from
the station, ran out with her umbrella to meet
her little son but was overtaken by the storm
and a limb or a rail was driven against her with
such force as to carry her several rods and crush
lier skull, causing instant death. " A freight car
loaded and standing on the track was thrown a
distance of sixty feet and totally wrecked. An-
other car was carried five hundred feet and
dashed to atoms. The large brick house and
frame barn of .Mr. Wood were unroofed. Money
packages from the express office amounting to

$700 were given to the wmds and never found.

Continuing onward in its mad career, upturn-
ing and crushing the forest trees like reeds for
a distance of two miles, it next spread devas-
tation on the farm of Jesse Benedict, uprooting
and destroying a large orchard. Among the
trees of this orchard was the first tree planted in
the township, having stood the blasts of fifty-five
years. Deep furrows were plowed m the hard-
est ground, unripened fields of oats were mowed
as with a scythe, and potatoes in the ground,
hills, and all, were taken off to an unknown
market by the swiftest express. Mr. Benedict's
house and barn were unroofed and otherwise
damaged.

The large frame dwelling of ^Villiam Benedict
was unroofed and shattered, the west side was
pierced with rails and boards, presenting the ap-
pearance of having been bombarded with cannon.
The chambers of the dwelling were rifled of
clothing, a bureau and chest with their contents
were carried completely away and never found.
Two feather-beds and a pair of woolen blankets
were picked up seven miles away. The gale
then visited the Mahoning river, following the
channel for nearly a mile, filling the stream with
trees and branches, and sucking up the water
and whirling and dashing it into foam and spray
against the banks, and killing a great number of
fish, from the minnow to the pike weighing sev-
eral pounds. Leaving the river it tore up the
orchard of Asa W. Parker, unroofing his house
and barn. The dwelling of a German family
named Kramer, in which were five persons, was
demolished. Kramer and a small child were
slightly injured, the wife had her collar-bone
broken, and John Carpenter was thrown some
sixty feet from the dwelling into a pile of stone
and rubbish and severely injured. Continuing
in the same direction through a corner of War-
ren and Lordstown, throwing down and unroof-
ing buildings and doing great damage, it
spread consternation and wild alarm through-
out the whole country. At a distance of about
fifteen miles from the beginning the wind rose
gradually higher in the air, a[)pearing like a dense
cloud filled with branches of trees, leaves,
shingles, boards, etc. Passing a little south of
the village of Niles and over Girard, rising higher
and higher, spreading wider, but moving slower
the further it went, scattcrinL; the accumulated

5o6

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

fragments, which descended over the townships of
Hubbard and Coitsville and as far into Pennsyl-
vania as New Castle, a distance of thirty-five
miles from where the storm began. Way-bills
from Braceville station, shingles, pieces of
boards, etc., were scattered profusely over -the
whole country, where the fallen rubbish marked
the path of the storm.

It commenced with the width of about ten
rods, rising and falling as it advanced, vary-
ing the width and lessening the violence, being
about forty rods in width where it left the earth.
In 1823 a similar tornado visited this locality,
commencing near Jesse Benedict's, overturning
a barn, rooting up an orchard, and going north
towards Champion, but confining its ravages to
the forests.

CEMETERY.

The burial grounds at Braceville center were
first laid out on grounds donated by Hervey
Stow, to which his son, Franklin E., afterwards
made valuable improvements, and beautified
the grounds. The grounds were laid out in
1S12, and the first interment was that of Sa-
ber Lane, wife of Isaac Lane, who died January
27, 1813. The cemetery is now under the juris-
diction of the township trustees, and is at
present a well-kept and beautiful resting place for
the dead, and many of the names of leading men
and the old pioneers, who have ample mention
in this history, may be found on these marble
slabs. "Men die but their works live forever."

RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS.

The first religious organization of this town-
ship was called the Bible Christian church, that
for a few years held religious services in the old
log school-house at the center, which was pre-
sided over by Father Ross, and his followers
were locally denominated Rossites. Among
those who belonged to this organization as
zealous workers were Hervey Stow and Edman
Oviatt. Barney C. Allen was here baptized —
" in the faith of his father and mother " — by the
venerable Ross, when but a small boy, but he yet
remembers that he knelt on the floor and was
cojjiously showered with water; he remembers
also that he had a very strong mental objection
to the quantity of water thought to be necessary
for his case. In 1812 Rev. William I'enn, a
Presbvterian, preached in the loii school-house

and organized a society. This organization con-
tinued for many years, built a church, and, no
doubt, effected many moral reforms and accom-
plished much good, but was finally disorganized,
and the building which they erected now serves
as the town hall at the center.

In 1814 the Congregational church of Brace-
ville was organized, and was composed at this
time of five members — Comfort Stow, William
McWilliams, Rachel and Theda Stow, and Mary
Oviatt. For seven years the responsibilities of
committeeman, clerk, and deacon devolved upon
Comfort Stow. Meetings were held in the
school-house, now town hall, at the center, under
the ministration of Revs. Joseph C. Curtis,
Benjamin Fen, William Hanford, Joseph Treat,
and others. In 1834 a society was formally or-
ganized, auxiliary to the church, and a house of
worship was erected in 1835. The church has
had several seasons of revival — notably among
these was the one held in 1836, at which time
twenty-seven were added to the church. In 1837
a call was made to Rev. Selden Haynes, who
served one year, and was succeeded by Rev.
Perry Piatt in 1839, who did much to unite the
church, endeared himself to the people, and at
his death was buried in the Braceville cemetery.
At this time the church numbered seventy-two
members, but dissensions having already crept
in were inflamed by the agitation of the slavery
question, and the church in 1876 voted to sell
its property and loan the funds to the American
Missionary society.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

In 1816 an itinerant Methodist preacher in the
person of John McMann, found his way to this
locality, and succeeded in organizing a class of
that denomination. As remarked elsewhere,
Hervey Stow and Edman Oviatt about this time
were working together to effect a permanent or-
ganization of the Bible Christian church, but
failing in this, Mr, Stow united with the Method-
ist, and his name ap[)ears first upon the church
record. He was class-leader, steward, and trus-
tee of the new church organization, and his
house for twenty years was the regular preaching
place, and for sixty years the itinerant preacher's
home; and the public singing of the congrega-
tion was led by him for twenty-five years. The
circuit to which the iJiaccville church belonged

TRUMBUIJ. AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

507

was called Mahoning circuit, and embraced what
now constitutes several districts.

In the early days such men as Elliott, Finley,
Eddy, and a host of well-known pioneer itiner-
ants threaded the wilds in the cause of the
Master, and found ready w-elcorae at the Brace-
ville charge. The first church building was a
large log house of hewn logs, substantially put
together, and strong puncheon floor, of well-
known pioneer architecture. Hervey Stow and
Hervey Allen made the trip to Pittsburg in a
road wagon, camping out on the way, to procure
the glass and nails for this building. This house
was occupied as a place of worship until the
present house was bmlt in 1838, which was re-
modeled in 1874.

When the class was organized at Newton
Falls, the same ministers that served Braceville
also preached there, and among the names of the
ministers the following are those who are now
remembered : Father Davis, Arthur M. Brown,
T. B. Tate, G. W. Maltby, Lewis Clark, J. W.
Lowe, E. B. Lane, Milo Butler, J. M. Plant, H.
M. Loud, R. W. Crane, G. W. Chesboro, J. K.
Hallock, H. B. Henderson, J. B. Grover, John
H. Tagg, John Graham, Hiram Kellogg, E. D.
McCreary, H. M. Chamberlain, C. C. Hunt, C.
R. Waters, J. K. Shaffer, N. C. Brown, E. M.
Nowlen, C. V. Wilson, and J. B. Corey.

Among the presiding elders were Ira Eddy,
B. O. Plimpton, Hiram Kingsley, H. N. Stearns,
Moses Hill, John Graham, J. Tribby, and A. D.
Morton.

On June i5lh, 1878, a reunion of the minis-
ters of this circuit was held at Braceville, and
was a meeting of great interest, and continued
from Saturday until the next Tuesday evening.
The programme consisted of special discourses,
addresses to young people, memorials, reminis-
cences of early times, of pioneer members and
pastors. This was was an occasion long to be
remembered by the members of the church and
the community in general.

Among the ministers who returned on this
occasion to the scenes ot their past labors, to
renew pleasant memories of the past were T. B.
Tate, W. H. Wilson, J. Tribby, H. P. Hender-
son, C. V. Wilson, J. B. Corey, H. M. Cham-
berlain, J. B. Grover, S. Graham, A. D. Morton,
Stephen Heard, F. A. Archibald, R. M. Bear, J.
Crum. Letters of regret at not being able to

attend were received from G. W. Chesboro, D.
Prosser, J. H. Tagg, J. K. Shaffer, and C. C.
Hunt.

The meeting was held under the ministerial
management of C. R. Waters, the pastor in
charge.

The church at Braceville is now enjoying a
good degree of prosperity, and bids fair to long
continue to bear a good share in the moral and
religious work in this community.

THE UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH.

The church building of this denomination is
located on the center road in the north part of
the township. The class was organized in 1857
and was composed of Eli Smith and wife, John
Weaver and wife, Henry Fuhlwaler and wife,
Benjamin Roberts and wife, Samuel Simpson,
and others.

The first meetings were held in the old school-
house that stood where the new school-house
now stands, on Eagle creek. The following min-
isters have served this congregation : William
Miller, Benjamin Smith, J. Noel, David Traver,
I. M. Moody, T- Excell, Ebons Hotchkiss, Rufus
Smith, C. Casterline, H. F. Day, and J. Shreffler.
The present building was erected in 1875, under
the direction of Jason Heard and Eli Smith,
building committee, and was dedicated June 4,
1875, by Bishop Glossbrenner.

THE DISCIPLES (cHRISTI.\n) CHURCH, BRACE-
VILLE CENTER.

The members of this congregation in appre-
ciation of the importance of preserving the his-
tory of the church, lately appointed a committee
consisting of Rev. J. S. Ross, Mrs. Lucinda A.
Smith, and Mrs. Oliver M. Benedict, to gather
the important facts connected with the early his-
tory of the congregation, and have them properly
recorded. Free access to these records was
cheerfully granted by Rev. Ross, and from the
labors of this committee the following facts are
noted.

During most of the year of 1867-68, Rev.
J. N. Smith was employed one-half his time at
Newton Falls; the remaining portion was secured
to the District Missionary society of the denom-
ination. Eliab \V. Bosworth, of Newton Falls
church, was corresponding secretary of the so-
ciety district, and was authorized to direct the
labors of Rev. Smith. In January, 1869, he

5o8

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

arranged with Rev. Smith to hold a series of
meetings in the town hall of Braceville center;
which began early in the month, lasting over
three Lord's days, and resulted in the conversion
of the following persons: David Hagar, Julia
Benedict (wife of George), Nancy and Martha
Joy, and Mary Matthews; also Heaton and Eliz-
abeth Joy were reclaimed.

The converts were baptized in the Mahoning
river opposite the residence of George Benedict.
While the meeting was in progress the question
of organizing a church at this place was talked
of among those interested, at various times, and
as the meeting was still successfully protracted
the feehiig in favor of an organization grew
stronger and definite action was finally resolved
upon, when it was announced that Edward
Shaffer, of Southington, and Solomon Brown,
of Newton Falls, had declared their intention of
uniting with the new organization at Braceville.

On the following Lord's day — January 31,
1869 — the church was organized with the follow-
ing charter members: Edward S. Shaffer and
wife (Sarah), Belle and Louiza Shaffer, Seth and
Susan Lee, David and Eleanor Hagar, Ezekiel
and Elizabeth Woodward, Morley H. and Eliza
Wirls, Heaton F. and Mary E. Joy, Julia A.
Smith, Nancy and Martha Joy, Julia and Olive
Benedict, Lucinda A. Smith, Lavina L., Mary E.,
and Salome Matthews, Maggie Austin, Lauris-
ton Lane, Lucy (Woodward) Lane, Mary Levings,
and Mary Wilson. Immediately after the organ-
ization John S. and Martha A. Myers, Frank
Foreman, and A. Smith, were received into the
church. At the first election the following offi-
cers were chosen: Edward Shaffer and Solomon
Brown, overseers ; Seth Lee and Ezekiel Wood-
ward, deacons.

Solomon Brown did not become a member of
the Braceville church, and Seth Lee was elected
in his place as overseer. The following minis-
ters have served this congregation: Rev. J. N.
Smith, who organized the church, lived at New-
ton Falls, and moved from here to Lanark, Illi-
nois; Rev. A. W. Olds, very soon after the organ-
ization was employed here for afternoon services,
preaching in the morning at Newton Falls, where
he resided; Rev. I. A. Thayer held services every
fourth Lord's day from some time in 1869 to
A[)ril, 1870. He was then just beginning his
ministry, and offered to serve the congregation

for what they might be able to pay or raise for
him. During the winter the church gave him a
donation in addition to what was paid him from
time to time. The donation party was held at
Dr. Rice's, where William Oliver now lives. The
following year he held services in the morning and
evening every alternate Lord's day, and received
another donation aggregating $70 and over. He
resided in Southington, where he labored half his
time, and also practiced medicine, being a physi-
cian of the Eclectic school.

Rev. Morgan P. Hayden, a student of Hiram
college, was engaged the following year each al-
ternate Lord's day, and was paid $6 per visit.
During this fall Rev. N. N. Bartlett held a pro-
tracted meeting, which resulted in nine additions
to the church. Afterwards he was engaged here
one-half his time until 1872, He lived at Niles,
where he also preached. In the fall of 1873
Rev. D. P. Thayer was engaged for services each
alternate Lord's day, mornings and evenings.

At an early period Rev. Bartlett had suggested
the building of a church, and about March,
1874, a meeting was called to decide the legal
status of the organization, which met at the
house of Augustus Elwell, and selected the
following trustees : James Burnett, Seth Lee,
and H. F. Austin. Efforts were made to pur-
chase the old Presbyterian church, but were
unsuccessful, and a purchase was made of the
north side of the present lot for $200, to which,
afterwards, an addition was made. The present
church building was erected in the summer of

1874, and Rev. D. P. Thayer served the con-
gregation the first year in the new building until

1875, when he was succeeded by Rev. O. C.
Hill, a professor in Hiram college, who held ser-
vices here until the following August.

The present pastor, J. S. Ross, began his work
here in the fall of 1875, preaching his first ser-
mon September 5th. He was at this time em-
ployed in the United States railway mail service,
and the congregation engaged Elder Lyman
Streator to hold a series of meetings which re-
sulted in two accessions. In 1877 Elder D.
C. Henselman held a meeting, with ten acces-
sions; and in the winter of 1877-78 the pastor
began a series of evening meetings, resulting in
sixteen accessions to the church. Other special
efforts have been made from time to time, esjie-
cially during the last winter, witli the assistance

'RUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

509

of Elder O. A. Richards, when twenty-five were
received into the membership of the church, and
the congregation is now enjoying a commendable
degree of prosperity.

PHALANX FLOUR-MILL.

In the year iSii Eli Barnum erected the first
flour-mill on the site of the present Phalanx flour-
mills on Eagle creek, in the northwestern part of
the township. It afterwards passed into the
hands of the Phalanx company, then to William
Bail, of whom W. P. and A. E. Goodrich pur-
chased. In 1865 A. G. Rood & Co. came into
possession and operated about eight years, when
the present company, F. A. & A. G. Rood, be-
gan operations. The capacity of the mills is
about si.\ty bushels of wheat per day; has two
run of stone — one for wheat and the other a
chopper. They also have a saw-mill attached,
and both propelled by water-power received from
Eagle creek.

THE TRUMBULL PHALANX COMPANY.

In 1S46 a company of about one hundred
and fifty persons settled in the northwestern part
of the township, and was known as the Trum-
bull Phalanx company. This company pur-
chased the Eli Barnum flour-mill and five or six
hundred acres of land, built a tannery, repaired
the mil], erected a wooden bowl factory, wagon-
shop, shoe-shop,'and]operated various other in-
dustries.

They erected one very long frame tenement
house and several log dwellings for the accomo-
dation of their families, and built a large school-
house for educational purposes, and m which
they held religious e.xercises and the free discus-
sion of religious beliefs. The company was or-
ganized on the " mutual " plan, each one shar-
ing equally from the dividends made from the
proceeds of the various industries, and each per-
son receiving credit tor work done.

The company continued in operation here for
about four years, when for some reason not now
known was disbanded. But while here this was a
place of considerable business activity as well as
a resort for neighborhood social gatherings and
other popular amusements common to rural
neighborhoods.

From this company the locality received the
name by which it is known and which it has
transmitted to the railroad station and post-office.

The station known as Phalanx is located on the
Cleveland & Mahoning railroad, and has but one
store ; it is a point for transferring coal and
other railroad business. Phalanx post-ofifice, of
which Mrs. Samuel Barnum is postmistress, is
located in convenience to this community.

THE CHEESE-BOX FACTORY.

This manufactory is located in the northern
part of the township on the center road, and on
the farm owned by the proprietor, Michael Tem-
pleton, who has operated in this locality for
twenty nine years. He first began making
cheese boxes by hand, then horse power until
1870, when he began at the present location,
where he is now extensively engaged using steam
power, propelled by a forty-horse power engine.
The capacity of the mill is about two hundred
boxes per day. The saw-mill is used in connec-
tion with the factory, and also in doing general
custom work.

EAGLE CREEK CHEESE FACTORY.

This factory is located near the Phalanx Flour-
mill, and was first operated in 1872 by Charles
Prentice, who continued about two years, when
he sold to Mr. Peck, who worked the factory but
one season, and sold to Walter Morton, who op-
erated here until the past fall, when George
Bear took possession, who operated with consid-
erable success, using in the best season six or
seven thousand pounds of milk per day, and re-
alizing good prices for his product. There is
another factory in the township located east of
the center, but it is not now in operation.

SETTLEMENT NOTES.

The second family in Braceville was that of
Samuel Oviatt. He removed (rom Goshen
township, Connecticut, in 1805, and built a log-
house across the river from where his grandson,
Henry H., now lives. His father, Samuel Oviatt,
Sr., came out a few years afterward and located
where his son had settled, the latter then build-
ing the home west of the river, where he always
lived afterward. He built, in 1808, the first
frame barn in the townshi]), which is still on the
place, and in good preservation. His brother,
Stephen Oviatt, and his young bride, they having
been married the day they left Connecticut, came
out at the same time. They lived in Braceville
a short time, and then moved to Milton. Lucre-
tia Oviatt, daughter of Samuel Oviatt, Jr., was

510

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

the fiist female child born in Braceville, born
about 1807. Samuel and Lois (Beckwith)
Oviatt were the parents of nme children who
grew to maturity of whom but four are now liv-
ing, as follows: Mrs. Joseph James, in Charles-
town, Portage county; Mrs. Thomas Douglass,
of Warren, Ohio; Mrs. Nathan Wilson, of Ra-
venna, Ohio; and Mrs. Lucina Mitchell, living
in Wisconsin. Moses L., the second child, who
occupied the homestead until his death, was born
in Connecticut, March 30, 1802. He married
July 26, 1825, Lovina Purple, of Parkman,
Geauga county, born July 25, 1803. They first
settled at Newton Falls, where he operated a
saw-mill and also engaged in farming. He after-
wards settled on his father's place, which he
purchased and occupied until his death, April
20, 1869. His wife survived him ten years lack-
ing four days. They were the parents of twelve
children, all of whom lived to reach manhood
and womanhood, except one. The following
are the survivors: E. L. Oviatt, of Marshall-
town, Iowa; Mrs. Harriet L. Stow, of Brace-
ville; Julia L. Humphrey, of Pans, Portage
county; Ancil P., in Ravenna; Cornelia, wife of
Comfort Ernest, of Warren township; Henry H.,
occupying homestead in Braceville; and Jemima
(unmarried), in Ravenna. E. L. served in the
Union army in the war of secession, and was a
prisoner one year at Belle Isle and Anderson-
ville. Henry H., born in August, 1844, married
Esther A., daughter of B. C. Allen, and has
three children living and two deceased.

Comfort Stow was born in Middletown, Con-
necticut, June 27, 1762. In 1783 he was mar-
ried to Rachel Goodwin and in 1810 with his
wife and oldest son, Hervey, removed to Brace-
ville, Trumbull county, Ohio. The most promi-
nent member of the family in this county was
Franklin E. Stow. He was born in Braceville
January 2, 1813. His father was Hervey Stow
and his mother Lucretia Oviatt, who came to
Braceville as early as 1805. Mr. Stow learned
surveying, and in April, 1834, was appointed
deputy county surveyor, and in 1835 was elected
county surveyor, and reelected in 1841. In
1842 he was elected justice of the peace, serv-
ing four terms; appointed postmaster in 1845,
which ofifice he resigned in 1850, when he
was nominated for State Representative. In
1856 he was again ajipointcd postmaster which

position he held until his death. In 1851 he
was elected a representative to the State Legisla-
ture and served with fidelity and ability. In
1847 he was appointed district assessor for the
purpose of valuing real estate. His district com-
prised six townships. His valuation was not
changed by the board of equalization but was
taken by them as a standard for the remainder
of the county. In the fall of 1861 he raised a
company of infantry which was attached to the
Nmeteenth regiment as company G. At the
battle of Shiloh he distinguished himself for gal-
lantry. He was subsequently prostrated by sick-
ness as a result of that battle, and died on board
the steamer Shenango, Tennessee river, April
30th. His remains were brought home for burial.
He was married on the 15th of May, 1837, to
Miss Mary Amy Heath, of Sandisfield, Massa-
chusetts. One son was born in 1844. Mrs.
Stow still resides in Braceville.

Ezra Roper was born in Connecticut in 17S4;
came to Ohio in an early day, and settled two
miles west of the center of Braceville. He
served in the War of 1812, and was wounded.
He was twice married, first, to Abigail Lawson,
by whom he had two children — Mary and Lo-
rinda. His first wife died March 15, 1834, aged
thirty-seven. He married for his second wife
Lois Bristol, of Nelson, Portage county, and by
this marriage had five children — Charles, living
in Nelson; Lois (Doty), in Cleveland; George, at
Braceville center; Aaron, in Youngstown, and
Francis, in Cleveland. Ezra Roper died June
7, 1850. George Roper was born in 1841; mar-
ried in March, 1862, Emeline Tousley, and has
three children. He located at Braceville center
twenty years ago, where he has carried on gen-
eral blacksmithing and carriage and wagon-mak-
ing for the past thirteen years.

Samuel Craig, son of Samuel and Elizabeth
(Baxter) Craig, born January 18, 181 1, in county
Monaghan, Ireland, came to the United States
in 1836, landing at Quebec. He came to War-
ren in July the same year, and worked on the
Pennsylvania & Ohio canal as stone-cutter,
which occupation he followed many years. He
purchased the farm in Braceville now owned by
William Anderson, about 1839, and erected the
first house in that part of the township, which
was then entirely a wilderness. He resided in
Warren two years, afterwards purchasing where

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

S'l

he now lives. He married in Pennsylvania in
1 84 1, Margaret Darlinc;, born in New York
State in 1822. They are the parents of nine
children, of whom five survive, viz: Samuel B.,
Benjamin, Josiah W'., Maggie (Daugherty), and
Charles F.

Robert A. Walker was born in Baltimore,
Maryland, December 27, 1790, and went to
Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, where he mar-
ried Abbie Griswold, removing afterwards to
Beaver county, where he resided until 1832,
when he removed to V/arren township, Trumbull
county, Ohio. He had purchased land in
Weatherstield and Warren a number of years
before his removal. He resided in Warren, where
he first settled, some twelve years, then moved to
Braceville, and settled where George Benedict
now lives. He afterwards moved to the north-
east part of the township, where he spent the
balance of his life. He died May 20, 1868.
In the early part of his life he followed the trade
of stone-mason. His wife died three years previ-
ous to his own death. Their family numbered
nine children, all of whom grew to mature age.
The survivors are Susan (Bartman) in Canfield,
Mahoning county; Rachel Ann (Regal) at Bald-
win's corners, Mahonmg county; Elisha in Brace-
ville, Trumbull county; J. P. in Cass county,
Michigan; Abby (North) in Braceville; Robert
A. in Jackson county, Michigan; William H. in
Brookfield, Eaton county, Michigan.

Elisha Walker was born in 1822, July 4th, in
Beaver county, Pennsylvania, and married in
1834, Lucy Ann Humphrey, who died in Octo-
ber, 1867. He again married in March, 1868,
Maria Clark (Richards), born May 14, 1832.
By the first marriage four children were born, viz:
Franklin D., Abbie S. (Benedict), Robert Norris,
Mary E. (Woodward). The result of the second
marriage is one daughter, Efifie B. Mr. Walker
first settled in Warren township west of Leavitts-
burg, afterwards removing to Wyandot county,
but after a short time returned to Trumbull
county, locating in Braceville, where he has since
resided.

John G. Gretzinger was born in Wurtemburg,
Germany, April 28, 181 1, and came to America
about the year 1839. He went to Pittsburg,
Baltimore, and other cities, following his business,
wliicli was that of butchering. He came to
Tniml) 111 ( wunty about 1842, and after residing

in Warren township purchased a farm in Brace-
ville, on Eagle creek, where he resided until his
death, which took place October 2, 1880. Mr.
Gretzinger was a hard-workmg and industrious
man. He was sick and helpless the last twenty
years of his life. He was first married m 1842
to Mrs. Rebecca Fry, who died in 1853. By
this marriage he had six children, of whom five
are living. He again married in 1856 Paulina
Crouse, of Columbiana county, born in W^urtem-
burg, (Germany, February 21, 1832, and coming
to this country in 1855. Four children were the
result of this marriage, three of whom are living
— Paulina (Brown), Henry W., and Mary A. In
the spring of 1882 Mrs. Gretzinger left the farm
and removed to the center of Braceville, where
she now lives.

Luther Matthews, son of James Matthews,
was born in Liberty township, Trumbull county,
Ohio, May 15, 1819. January 7, 1847, he 'mr-
ried Lavinia Lightbourn, daughter of Joseph and
Eleanor (Kyle) Lightbourn, who was born in
Youngstown, Mahonmg county, Ohio, June 29,
1825. Joseph Lightbourn was a native of Penn-
sylvania, born in 1795, came to Trumbull county
in an early day, and located in Youngstown. He
died in 1824. His wife survived him until Oc-
tober, 1856. After their marriage in 1847 Mr.
and Mrs. Matthews settled on the place where
she still lives, which they cleared up and im-
proved. Besides general farming he also dealt
in live stock. He died December 11, 1877.
They were the parents of si.\ children, of whom
five are living — Ella S., born November 21,
1847, now the wife of Frank Brown, and resid-
ing in Meadville, Pennsylvania; Frances M.,
born October 30, 1849, wife of C. P. Roden-
baugh, of Kent, Ohio; Mary E., born March 18,
1852 ; Alfred E., May 4, 1866 ; Luther E., Au-
gust 30, 1870.

William Ernest came to Trumbull county with
his mother and step-father when fifteen years of
age, in the fall of 1833. The family settled in
Champion township. He was born in 1818; mar-
ried in 1839 Nancy Leonard, and located in War-
ren. He learned the carpenter trade, and has
followed it ever since. He has always been a
hard-working, industrious man. He has three
children, viz ; Henry H., Comfort A., and Ma-
ry I., wife of John C. Pew, of Lordstown. Henry
was born in Warren, Ohio, April 14, 1S40, mar-

5'2

TRUMBULL AND iNLA.HONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

ried Fidelia McKibbin, of Braceville, and until
recently has lived in that township ; has one
child, Rowley Ward. Comfort A., born Febru-
ary lo, 1842, married Cornelia Oviatt, of Brace-
ville, and has three children, viz : Albert, Hat-
tie, and Jessie.

Christian Gleich was a native of Germany,
and emigrated to this country with his parents
when about eight years of age. His father, John
Gleich, was a soldier under Napoleon, and was
wounded in several engagements. He settled,
on coming to Trumbull county, in Warren town-
ship, afterwards removing to Braceville. He
died in Indiana at the age of ninety-three or
ninety-four, having removed to that Sate in 1867.
Christian Gleich married about 1847, Caroline
Smith, of Braceville, and settled soon after
where his son George now lives. He was en-
gaged in farming and dealing in live stock dur-
ing his life. He died in 187 1, in the fiftieth
year of his age. His widow is still living at
Phalanx. They were the parents of five children.
Two sons and two daughters are living, as fol-
lows: George, on the home place (married Al-
mira C. Heintzleman, and has four children);
Caroline (Weaver), in Braceville; Frank, at
Phalan.x; Eliza Ann living with her mother. Ed-
ward was killed by the kick of a horse in June,
1875, in his fifteenth year. George Gleich, who
occu|)ies the home place, is engaged in farming,
and is an extensive dealer in live stock.

John G. Barkley, a native of Germany, emi-
grated to the United States in an early day and
settled in. Warren township. He married Chris-
tina Houseman, also born in Germany. He
worked on the Pennsylvania & Ohio canal, and
also followed farming. He lived on Duck creek,
one mile south of Leavittsburg, and died there
in 1S48. His wife survived him, and died May
21, 1867. They were members of the Lutheran
church. Gottleib D. Barkley, their second son,
was born in Warren township, Trumbull county,
in 1843; married Emma Josephine, daughter of
Thomas Craig, of Warren township, and settled
where he now lives in Braceville. He has one
cliild living, and one deceased — John C, and
Lucy J.

James Burnett was born in Kent, Portage
county, Ohio, September 11, 1820. His father,
Samuel Burnett, was born in Pennsylvania, May
1 1, 1792, and came to Ohio in 1804, locating in

Portage county. He married in Trumbull county,
Isabel Matthews, and removed to Weathersfield
about 1835, and to Braceville in 1856, where
they lived until their deaths — he died in August
1869, and his wife in 1861. James Burnett
learned the blacksmith trade, and worked at his
trade in Austintown, now Mahoning county, two
years, then settled in Braceville, Trumbull
county, where he remained until 1871, when he
removed to Warren, purchasing the Dr. Leavitt
place, where he still lives. For the past three
years he has followed farming and stock-raising,
owning two farms of one hundred and fifty-three
and one hundred and thirty-five acres each. He
was married December 29, 1844, to Miss Eliza-
beth, daughter of Joseph Lightbourn, who was
born in Youngstown, Ohio, January 11, 1820.
Two children were born of this union — Mrs.
Reuben Johnson, born November 20, 1847, and
Mrs. S. A. Elwell, December 20, 1854.

CHAPTER XX.

MECCA.

GENER.^L FE.\TURES.

Mecca township is among the later settlements
of this county, consequently its history is not as
interesting in respect to pioneer life, adventures,
and hardships as that of some of the older com-
munities. A considerable portion of the town-
ship is well improved, and 'contains some excel-
lent farming land. Mecca has no important
manufacturing interests, no railroads, and no vil-
lages of importance, consequently it supports but
a small population, which is chiefly engaged in
agriculture.

The township is divided by Mosquito creek
into two unequal portions. This stream enters
the township from the north and pursues a
course almost directly southward, entering Ba-
zetta only a few rods east of the north and south
center line of that township. About five-eighths
of the land of Mecca lies west of the creek.
Several small brooks from the east and one from
the west join the Mosquito in this township.
The bottom land of the creek is quite extensive.
.•\s it is low it is frecjuently overflowed. The

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

513

surface is somewhat variable. A ridge extends
through the township, north and south, on the
east side of the creek; then come the bottom
lands, and in the northwestern quarter of the
township highlands more elevated than those
east of the creek. The southwest of the town-
ship is like a level plain. It contains much
swampy ground, which has never yet been im-
proved for farming purposes. The surface is
but little broken, the valleys of the smaller
streams being shallow.

The soil is good. In it clayey loam predomi-
nates, though a mixture of sand is usually found
in all the uplands. Grass and almost all other
staple farm crops flourish.

The geological features of this township are
of considerable interest. Underlying the surface
of the land west of the creek are found the
Mecca oils, to which further allusion will be
made in this chapter. A few discoveries of oil
east of the creek have been made in the north-
ern part of the township, but these deposits are
mostly confined to West Mecca. A natural car-
bon gas escapes from the ground in some places.
In one or two instances this gas has been utilized
for heatmg purposes. The well from which the
chief supply is obtained is east of the creek, and
appears to be inexhaustible. Mr. L. Pierson has
been burning gas in his stove for some time.

At East Mecca corners is a village of ten or
twelve houses, one store, three churches, etc.
This was the business place of the township for
many years, as settlements were not made west
of the creek until quite extended improvements
had taken place in East Mecca.

West Mecca has a few more houses than East
Mecca, but as it has but one church and one
store, the rival villages are of almost equal un-
importance.

Mecca is the sixth township in the third range,
and lies between Bristol on the west and John-
ston on the east. Greene is north and Bazetta
south of it.

OWNERSHIP.

The land in this township was purchased from
the Connecticut Land company by Turhand
Kirtland, William Ely, Kingsbury, and Cowles.
The Kirtland tract was the most extensive, in-
cluding nearly all of the northern half of the
township. The other tracts, like this, extended
across the townshi]) from east to west, and were

thus located, beginning at the north : Kirtland
tract, Cowles tract, Kingsbury tract, Ely tract.

Judge Kirtland lived in Poland, and being
anxious to have his tract settled, made very easy
terms with the purchasers, leaving the payment
of the principal optional with the contractor so
long as the interest was kept up. Such easy
terms no doubt induced many pioneers to come
to this township while it was yet a most uninvit-
ing region, remote from the rest of the world,
and only reached by difficult journeys through
extensive swamps.

SETTLEMENT.

The history of the settlement of Mecca is less
interesting than that of many townships for two
reasons : first, it was made quite late ; and sec-
ond, but few families descended from the first
pioneers are now represented here. From the
best sources of inlormation now available we
have succeeded in gathering the following state-
ments :

The first settler was Joseph Dawson, who
came from Poland township, the southeast cor-
ner of the Reserve, about the year 181 1. He
located about one and three-fourths miles north
of East Mecca, on what is known as the Read
farm. Here Dawson built the first cabin in the
township, and his family continued to be the
only one in the township for nearly two years.
Later he moved away.

John Rose, Dawson's father-in-law, came about
1 8 13, and settled north of Dawson, on the
Thompson farm. This family was also from
Poland, and and continued permanent residents
of Mecca, making worthy, straightforward citizens.
Some representatives of the family — the third
generation — still remain.

At just what date other early settlers arrived
nothing can now be definitely learned. From
the recollection of one of the old residents it
has been ascertained that in 18 19 the following
were inhabitants of this township, all living on
the east side of the creek : Lemuel Hickock,
Peter Row, Samuel Phillips, Sylvester Taylor,
Martin Daniels, Daniel Tucker, Joseph Phillips,
a Mr. Ballard, Joseph Headly, Joseph Barstow,
a Mr. Sturgis, and Seymour Hunt. With the
two families previously mentioned, these made a
total of fourteen families in the township at the
date given.

Joseph Phillips was the first blacksmith in the

5'4

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO

township. He resided on the farm where his
grandson Christopher now lives.

Lemuel Hickock lived at the corners. Of his
family, Oscar spent his days in Mecca, John
settled in Greene, and his daue;hter died quite
young.

Peter Row first settled one mile south of East
Mecca, where Herman Lake now lives.

Joy Sperry, previous to 1824, settled on a
farm one mile and a half south of the corners.
He sold to a man named Craft and moved to
the Herman Lake farm.

In 1820 the first settlement in that part of the
township lying west of the creek was made by
Joseph Buttles, who remained the only resident
of West Mecca for about eight years. His farm
was about a mile north of West Mecca, on Pow-
ers' corners, and is now owned by O. M. Ben-
ton. Two of his sons, Edmond and Justin, were
married and had families. Another son lived
here unmarried. x\ll moved away quite early.

In December, 1824, Joseph Chaffee settled
one-fourth of a mile north of East Mecca. He
came hither from Bristol township, to which he
had moved from Massachusetts in 1813. Mr.
Chaffee died in Bristol in 1869, having removed
there about two years before. He brought up
five daughters and one son. Two of the daugh-
ters are now living. The son, J. G. Chaffee, re-
sides in Mecca.

Ira Knapp was born in ^'ermont in iSoo. He
married in New York State, and in 1S25 came
to Mecca and settled in the eastern part of the
township. He reared a family of nine children,
all of whom were born in this towship. Five
are still living. Mr. Knapp is now the only liv-
ing pioneer who was the head of a family at the
time of coming here, with perhaps one or two
exceptions.

Of the township at the time of his coming Mr.
Knapp says:

The Buttles family were the only iiiliabilants of the nest
side of the creek. The only roads were paths marked by
blazed trees. The road to the Johnston line had not even
been bushed out. Some of the brooks had pole bridges
across them. There were no frame buildings in the town-
ship e.\cepl a few small shanties. A log school-house was
partly built at East Mecca when I came, and t helped to
finish it. Mr. Bartlett, of Greene, was among the first teach-
ers there. He received about $io per month, but not in
money. The settlers paid him for teaching by helping liini
clear his farm in Greene.

A few years after settling here Mr. Knapp

bought ten sheep of Judge Kirtland, of Poland.
The wolves caught all of them except two, in
several instances coming into the yard near the
cabin to seize their prey.

Martin Daniels lived where AVilliam Love now
resides. His son Stephen married a daughter
of Steven Pettis and moved to the northeast of
the township. Pettis was an early settler east of
the creek.

John Cook, from Cayuga county, New York,
settled south of the east corners in 1831. His
family consisted of nine children; five are still
living: James, Zachariah, Aaron, Polly, and
Wealthy. Nathan Cook, brother of John, came
to the township the next year. He is still living
on the farm where he first settled, at the center
of Mecca. He reared three sons and four
daughters.

Abner Mason, born in Cheshire, Massachu-
setts, in 1766, died in Mecca in 1841. Priscilla,
his wife, born in Dalton, Massachusetts, in 1771,
died here in 1847. Noble Mason, their son,
long known as 'Squire Mason, died in 1880.
He was born in Cazenovia, New York, in 18 10.
In 181 7 the faiiiily moved to Boardman town-
ship, and in 1828 to Mecca. They settled west
of the creek and were the second family in West
Mecca. Noble Mason taught the first school
west of the creek, when he was eighteen years
old. He married Lora P. Brown, who was born
in Connecticut in 1813 and still survives. To
them were born two sons and two daughters. The
sons and one daughter are still living. 'Squire
Mason was an elder and a prominent member of
his church. Besides being justice of the peace
several years he held about every township office.

N. W. Palmer, Esq., an old resident and
respected citizen of Mecca, was born in Stoning-
ton. New London county, Connecticut, March
13, 1811. After a few years' residence in New
York State, he settled m Mecca in 1833, where he
has since resided. September 22, 1837, he mar-
ried Lucretia M. Abell. The result of this union
has been two sons and two daughters. Mr. Pal-
mer has been justice of the peace many years.
He is one of our most substantial farmers.

Herman Benton, who bought out the Buttles
farm, lived and died in this township. His son,
Orris M., now lives on a part of the old place,
and William S. Benton, Esq., near East Mecca.

Tosei)h Wing was an early settler at West Mec-

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

5'5

ca corners. He sold out to Jacob Powers, of
Youngstown, who resided here several years.
The place is still called Powers' corners.

Joseph W. Smith and his father, William
Smith, were early settlers in the northwest of the
township. S. F. Smith, only son of Joseph, is
one of the worthy farmers and esteemed citizens
of this township.

ORG.'iNIZATION.

The township of Greene as organized in 1806
embraced the territory of the present townships
of Greene and Mecca, with other adjoining
townships. By 1821 number six of the third
range had sufficient population to form a distinct
township, and was therefore organized under the
name of iMecca. All the early records have
been lost, therefore no list of early township
officers can be given.

A DENSE WILDERNESS.

A heavy growth of the usual varieties of forest
timber originally covered the surface of this
township. This growth was thickly interspersed
with underbrush, frequently forming almost im-
penetrable thickets. Beech, maple, oak, hickory,
poplar, white-ash, black walnut, bass\vood, etc.,
covered the driest portion of the highlands, while
in the creek bottom and swales grew swamp oak,
black-ash, soft maple, etc., in abundance.

Game abounded ; deer and wild turkeys were
especially numerous. Said a pioneer to the
writer : " I have stood in the door of my log
cabin when a dozen deer were in sight."

The howling of wolves at night, a dismally
frightful sound, often resounded near the settler's
dwelling. Bears also lurked about, but it does
not appear that they caused the trouble here
which molested the earlier settlements.

For several years the only routes of travel
were roads bushed out sufficiently to allow the
passing of a horse or a yoke of oxen, and paths
marked by blazed trees. In wet seasons travel
was impossible through some parts of the town-
ship. As all the settlers usually went to Bristol
to do their milling, the wet land about the creek
and the swamps beyond had to be traversed fre-
quently, but It was long before any roads were
established.

I'RIMITIVE AGRICULTURE.

.^s the roots of the trees here grew quite near
to the top of the ground, it was usual for the

settler, having selected his driest ground, to fell
the timber and then burn over the ground as
thoroughly as possible. Then good crops of oats
and wheat could be raised by harrowing in the
seed, where the roots could be cleared away suf-
ficiently to admit of harrowing.

Very good crops of corn were often raised by
planting the seed in a hole made in the earth by
a hoe or an axe. No hoeing or cultivating en-
sued, excepting to cut up the " fire weeds " when
they appeared.

One crop of grain was usually harvested, then
the land was allowed to run to grass until the
roots and stumps had rotted so that a plow
could be used.

Many of the settlers while burning off the
timber carefully saved the ashes and from them
made potash — an article which usually had a
ready sale and brought cash.

THE FIRST HOUSES

in this township were not built by the early white
settlers, nor were the first trees cut by them. On
the contrary, much work had been accomplished
before any settler came into the township. Trees
had been cut, streams dammed, houses and even
villages had been built in this township, perhaps
centuries before the foot of man ever trod its
soil. These works were the result of the labor
of a race which is now nearly extinct, namely,
the beavers.

On the stream which enters Mosquito creek
from the west were several beaver dams of suf-
ficient height to flood several acres of land in
each pond. The most eastern of these dams
was about a mile north of the center of the
township, and it was converted into a mill-dam
by 'Squire Mason, who put up a saw-mill there
about the year 1834.

ELECTIONS

of this township are held alternately at East
and \\'est Mecca. This arrangement was made
in very early times, and has always been ob-
served. The offices are equitably divided be-
tween the representatives of the two com-
munities, and thus a harmonious relation is per-
petuated.

THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

This is the oldest religious organization in the
township. It was formed December 6, 1822, by
Rev. Ephraim T. Woodruff, of the Connecticut

Si6

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

Missionary society, and Rev. Harvey Coe, of
the Domestic Missionary society of Grand River.
The following were members of the church at the
time of its organization: John Rose, Sr., Friend
Buttles, Susannah Buttles, Sterling Adkins, Mary
Adkins, Ruhamah Tucker, Orilla Hickok,
Almira Buttles, Eunice Rose. The following
joined at the dates given :

September 15, 1827. Joseph Buttrick, Eliza-
beth M. Buttrick, Almon Cowdery, Mary Cow-
dery, Deney Cowdery.

July 2, 1829. Electa Buttles, Catharine Mead,
Betsey Knapp.

July 3, 1831. Justus St. John, Sally St. John,
Polly Hickok, Delia Hickok.

The church was received by the presbytery
February 4, 1824. The first officers were John
Rose, Sr., moderator; Friend Buttles, clerk;
John Rose, Sterling Adkins, and Friend Buttles,
standing committee.

In 1S42 a plan of union and articles of agree-
ment were entered into by both Congregation-
alists and Presbyterians. The church has now
been purely Congregational for some years.

Among the clergymen who have preached
here were Revs. Woodruff, Darrow, Miller, Eels,
Pepoon, Winans, and others. The latter was
first a Methodist, but changed to a Congrega-
tionalist, and supplied this pulpit many years.

The church numbered a total of fifty-one mem-
bers in 1881. They met in East Mecca at the
house owned by the Congregationalists and
Free-will Baptists. The first house which they
occupied was a small frame building bought by
them and fitted up as a church. It stood near
the present site of John Chaffee's house near
the Public square.

THE FRElvWILL B..\PTIST CHURCH

was organized June 4, 1832, by Elders I). M. L.
RoUin and George Collins. The meeting was
held at the house of Alanson Smith. The
church consisted of seven members, but who
they were is not stated in the record. Levi Rice
was chosen clerk. Among the earliest members
were Herman Johnston, Lyman Pierson, Almira
Smith, Mrs. Chaffee, Ezra Dickinson, Cynthia
Coats, N. Coats, Huldah Smith, Chloe Headley,
Rebecca Hadsell, Sally Ann Root, Electa Abell,
and Edward Root.

Rev. D. M. L. Rollin was the first preacher.

Associated wiih h

vork was IClde

Samuel Weir. Freeman Suaiglu field meetings
in 1840. In 1847 Rev. S. A. Aldritch was
pastor; in 1854 Rev. S. T. Bates. Sixteen addi-
tions to the church were made through the
preaching of the pastor and Evangelist McCon-
nough. Rev. E. H. Higbee, for ten years
the pastor, entered upon his labors in 1858.

In 1858-59 occurred a revival which added
fifteen members to the church. In 1863 Rev.
E. B. Baker assisted in holding revival meetings,
and fourteen members were added. Since 1863
the pastors have been Revs. John Rogers, N. M.
Farr, and E. H. Higbee.

Rev. Rufus Clark held meetings in 1876.
There has been no preaching since. In 1870
the church had thirty-seven resident members
and seventeen non-resident.

The church edifice of this denomination is a
union house, built by the Congregationalists and
the Free-will Baptists, each owning one-half of
the church property. The house was finished in
1839. It was erected some years previously,
and used for some time while in an unfinished
condition.

THE BAPTIST CHURCH.

The first regular Baptist society of Mecca was
organized February 13, 1833. Henry K. Hultz
was chosen moderator and Noble Mason clerk.
The officers then elected were 'Squire Mason,
John Cook, Virgilius E. Remington, trustees,
and David Campbell, clerk of the society. The
members were : John Cook, Henry K. Hultz,
Uzal W. Bowen, 'Squire Mason, David Camp-
bell, Alanson McCoUour, Daniel Ferguson, Vir-
gilius E. Remington, Martin Daniels, Philander
S. Crittenden, Asahel Chapman, George Sperry,
James Cook, Noah Bowen, and William Hull.
The first church was a hewed log house on the
site of the present edifice. It would appear from
the church record that the first organization did
not long survive, as we find one page of the
record headed "Constitution of the regular Bap-
tist society, formed April 4, 1841," with names
appended as follows: Henry K. Hultz, John
Cook, Abner Mason, James Cook, Noah Bowen,
Abisha S. Underwood, Lyman Pierson, Samuel
Buck, Amos Cook, Bela Phelps, Jr., Josiah Gal-
pin, William Liddle, Zachanah Cook, Samuel
Jerrold, Jesse Griswold, Lucius S. Brown, Dan-
iel Higby.

Ill 1 84 1 the ])resent beautiful church edifice

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

517

at East Mecca was built. Elder Joshua Wood
worth was the first regular preacher, and served
as pastor a long term of years. Mr. Dodge was
another early preacher. Rev. Bela Phelps was
pastor a long time. At one time the church had
eighty members, but its numbers gradually
diminished, and the society has mamtaintd no
preaching for several years.

METHODIST EPISCOP.\L CHURCH.

Of this church Mr. William Irwin, its oldest
member, says:

In 1837 a Methodist society, which met at East Mecca, was
in existence. How long it had been organized I cannot say.
The class was moved to West Mecca about 1839. .'Vmong
tlie menjbers at that time were Joseph Duncan, John Dean,
Ambrose Irwin, William Irwin, and others, with their wives.
Harrison Richards and wi(e joined soon after. Other mem-
bers I do not recollect. The house at West Mecca was built
in t845, at a cost of about $1,800. It is a good building,
and in good repair. The church has a strong membersliip
of fifty or mote.

The first preachers I remember were Stephen Hubbard, J.
L. Baker, Henry Winans, John Crum, and Elliott. A re-
vival conducted by Elders Holmes and Joseph Leslie, about
thirty years ago, added quite a number of members. Thir-
teen years ago there was a great revival under Rev. J. F.
Hill's preaching.

As no early records of this church can be
found the above is all that the writer can learn
concerning the organization.

THE disciples' CHURCH.

This church was organized March 22, 1851.
The following officers were then elected : Daniel
Hosford and Silas N. Jones, overseers; George
W. Dean and Thomas Stanley, deacons. Its
members were : Robert Wilson, Hanford Terry,
George W. Dean, S. N. Jones, Calvin Wanne-
maker, Daniel Hosford, Coresta Knapp, Lovina
Jones, Jane Wannemaker, Lucinda Walden,
Hannah Knox (Rice), Eunice McCollour, Maria
H. Dean, Laura Terry, Eliza Wilson, Mary A.
Milliken, Lewis Day, Thomas Stanley, Edward
Abell, Eliza Abell, Paulina Hosford, John Root,
Olive Root, Mary Ann Stanley, and Mary Ben-
nett. The church edifice is at East Mecca. It
was dedicated March 6, 1868. The church has
a fair membership of zealous workers.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES.

The first store was kept at East Mecca by
Babcock & Bradley. It was not a successful
enterprise, and continued but a short time.
\\"\v^. Dodd, and Roberts were the names of
oihLi i.iil^ merchants. James Hezlep had a

store here for a time ; he sold to Daniel Shehy,
who continued in business about fifteen years,
and gained considerable money. He sold and
removed to Youngstown. Jonathan Fowler built
the first frame store in the township, on the west
side of the public square, at East Mecca. It is
still standing.

The first postmaster was Lemuel Hickok.
Until an office was established, Warren and Bris-
tol were the nearest post-offices. The first mail
route through this township was from Warren to
Ashtabula. Afterwards an east and west route
was established, from Mercer, Pennsylvania, to '
Parkman. Ira Knapp was the contractor. This
route was soon discontinued. During its exist-
ence mail-bags often went through with nothing
in them. On the Warren and Ashtabula route
a stage was run for a time. The two post offices
of this township now get a daily mail from Cort-
land station.

The first tavern was probably kept by Powers.
Coats and St. John were early hotel-keepers.
Thomas Abell built and kept a public house
south of the public square. There was no great
amount of travel through Mecca in early times-
Joy Sperry, Samuel Jackson, Williams, Case,
Benton, and others built saw-mills quite early ;
only a small amount of work was done by any
of them. There were no early grist-mills in the
township.

The oldest graveyard in the township is situ-
ated south of East Mecca. It bears the marks
of neglect and dilapidation. The earliest deaths
recorded on the gravestones in it are the follow-
ing : Enos Clark Pettis, died in 1828, aged
twenty-one years; Olive, wife of Stephen Pettis,
died in 1829, aged thirty.

The first school-house was built of logs, and
stood near the corners at East Mecca. Salome
Fuller was the first teacher.- The house was
also used for religious meetings.

The first white child born was Nancy Dawson.
Martin Row is said to have been the first male
child. The first death is supposed to have been
that of the great grandfather of C. J. Hickok,
Esq.

The first practicing physician was Ariel Brad-
ley. The first permanent resident physician was
Dr. Isaac D. Powers.

WEST MECCA.

The first store at this place was started by T.

5'8

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

M. AbcU about i860. A number of stores,
groceries, hotels, etc., sprang up almost simul-
taneously, as the oil excitement was then at its
height. Numerous houses and shanties were
put up, and " Powers' corners " became for a
time a very lively place. The less said of its
morals and behavior during those days the better.
When oil stock went down, the village relapsed
into quiet somnolence, many of the mushroom
structures were removed, and West Mecca was
freed of its bad habits and bad characters.

It was known to the early settlers that there
was oil in the township of Mecca. Evidences
of it were frequently found in springs and wells,
and often a thin scum of it would collect on
standing water. A spring on the farm of Mr.
Philhps, south of West Mecca, was one of the
first places where oil was discovered. Phillips
found that it was a valuable oil for lubricatmg
purposes, and collected and sold small quantities
of it, nearly fifty years ago. It was considered
an unfortunate thing for a man to have oil upon
his farm, as it spoiled the water, and consequent-
ly rendered the land unsalable to settlers, there-
fore those who found oil seldom said anything
about it, thinking they might wish to sell out
some time.

But in the years 1859-60-61 the oil regions
of Mecca became known to speculators and the
supposed discovery that there were " millions in
it " gradually dawned upon the land owners of
this township. A well was dug, and pumping of
oil first commenced on the lot of William H.
Jeffries, at West Mecca. The com])any who
operated it were Bonnell, Woods & Jordan. It
was thought that a vast deposit had been reached
and consequently excitement soon ran up to
fever heat. Speculators came from all parts of
the country for the purpose of leasing lands.
Hundreds of wells were sunk — and likewise
thousands of dollars. Land doubled, trebled,
and quadrupled in value, and building lots in
Mecca ran up to city prices. West Mecca
seemed likely to become a great place. A town
was laid out in the southern part of the town-
ship, and named " Dixie," afterwards " Oil Dig-
gings." Hotels, groceries, shanties, fights, drunk-
enness, gambling, and other metropolitan vices,
in short all the usual accompaniments of great

speculative c.xcueuicnt, flourished in Dixie. Now
the place is "gone from off the earth."

The expected wealth did not flow into the
pockets of the capitalists as fast as they had an-
ticipated. It was soon learned that every well
was exhausted after pumping had been carried
on for a time. The bubble burst, and pocket-
books suffered. The war came on, and many of
the adventurers left to find excitement on the
field of battle instead of the oil regions.

The oil business is still carried on, however,
and with some profit. Rational methods have
superseded the wild schemes of speculation, and
considerable quantities of Mecca oil are still
being taken from the earth. Portable machinery
is now used, and when one well has been ex-
hausted another is sunk. The oil is found at a
depth of from thirty to sixty feet. It is thick
and quite heavy, and when relieved of its impur-
ities forms one of the best lubricants known.

LUMBERING.

One of the important industries of this town-
ship is represented by the firm of J. F. Klumpp
& Co., manufacturers and dealers in sawed lum-
ber of all kinds. This business was started in
1867, and has since been under the superin-
tendence of Mr. J. William Klumpp, who has
also been a partner in the firm since 1869. Mr.
Klumpp was born in Philadelphia in 1835, and
has resided in Mecca since 1867. He married
Miss Hattie M. Johnson, of Hartford, this
county. They have one child, Nellie. He is
an active business man, whose integrity and rep-
utation are unimpeachable. The firm of John
F. Klumpp & Co. own about one thousand six
hundred acres of timber land, from which sup-
plies for their sawing- and planing-mill are ob-
tained. The manufacture of plow-beams is a
special department of their work. One hundred
thousand plow-beams and two million feet of
sawed lumber have been manufactured by them
in one year. ']"he firm have just erected a new
mill in the southwest of Mecca and are doing a
large amount of business. J. F. Klumpp, the
senior partner, resides in New York city.

Thomas H. Rose was born in Mecca township,
Trumbull county, Ohio, in 1841. His father,
Jonathan Rose, was a native of Maryland, born
in 1797, but came to the Western Reserve of
Ohio with his parents in 1803. The family first
settled in Poland township, now Mahoning

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

5>9

county, but about 1813 removed to Mecca town-
ship, Trumbull county, locating on the farm
now owned by James Frazier. John Rose, the
father of Jonathan, died in 1832, his wife surviv-
ing him some eight years. Jonathan Rose was
married in 1834 to Miss Anna Craft, by whom
he had six children — Emily, John, Thomas,
Albert, Emily, and Mary. Three are now living.
Mr. Rose settled where his son Thomas now
lives. He died in 1858. His wife survived
him some fourteen years. Thomas H. Rose
was born on the place where he now lives. At
the age of twenty-six he married Miss Josephine
Gridley, and has a family of four children —
Frank, Jennie, Mary, and Lucy. He has always
followed farming, but for the last few years has
been interested in the cheese business.

J. S. Smith was born in Massachusetts in 1813.
Jacob Smith, his father, was born in 1778 in
Plymouth county, Massachusetts. He married
in 1802 Miss Huldah Shartliff, and had nine chil-
dren, namely: Susan A., Hiram S., Malinda B.,
Deborah, Samuel S., J. S., William N., Daniel,
and Huldah. Susannah, Hiram, Malinda, Sam-
uel, and Huldah are deceased. Mr. Smith re-
moved to Ohio in 1816 and settled in Ho\vland
township, Trumbull county, on the farm now
owned by Josiah Ratliff, on which there was then
only a small clearing. He lived there some thir-
teen years and then removed to Braceville and
settled on the farm now owned by his son Jacob,
where he resided until his death which occurred
in 1854. His wife died two years before. Jacob
S. Smith was married in 1841 to Miss Lucinda
Atwater, and has a family of four children, viz:
Newton S., Julia \., Hiram, and Lydia. Sum-
ner died when two years and a half old.

CHAPTER XXL

SOUTHINGTON.

Southington (township five of range five) is the
western township of the central tier of Trumbull
county, and adjoins Nelson township. Portage
county, upon the west. It lies between Braceville
on the south and Farmington on the north, while
Champion adjoins its eastern line.

The surface is slightly undulating, with no par-
ticularly striking features, and no prominent ele-
vations. Several small streams or runs diversify
the surface of the northern part of the township,
tributaries of Dead run, which is itself a stream
of but little importance. The east branch
of Dead run, from the southeast of the town-
ship, unites with the west branch about two
and three-fourths miles north of the center, and
thence flows northward into Farmington. The
west branch is fed by several small runs, most of
which have their source in the northwestern quar-
ter of the township.

The soil is mostly clay. Southington is chief-
ly an agricultural community, and has no other
industry of importance. Dairying and stock-rais-
ing are carried on profitably.

There are no villages in this township. At
the center there are two stores, a post-office, a
blacksmith shop, two churches, three church
buildings, and eight or ten houses. Bowmans-
ville, in the southeast, is a neighborhood of
about the same size, and contains a store, a
church, a post-office, etc. The post-office in the
latter place was formerly known as Pleasant Hill,
but has recently been changed to Delightful.

The only railroad now passing through the
township is the Painesville & Youngstown nar-
row gauge, which cuts across the northeastern
corner. At the State road in the western part
of Champion is the nearest station.

Southington contains a number of well-im-
proved farms with good substantial farm houses
upon them. Its people are mainly thrifty and
frugal, of temperate habits, and friends to moral-
ity. Four churches are well supported. The
church edifices here are far superior to ordinary
rural churches.

A heavy growth of timber, mainly of oak, origi-
nally covered the land. Many tracts are swampy,
but skillful labor has redeemed them largely from
this state.

ORGANIZ.ATION.

Township five, range five, became a separate
township and election district in 1817, and re-
ceived the name which it now bears.

THE FIRST ELECTION.

At an election held June 12, 1S17, at the
house of John James, the following township
officers were elected : Joshua Osborn, Seth Hurd,

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

and Rodeiick Norton, trustees; Lemuel Frisbie,
clerk; James Chalker and Elisha Brunson, over-
seers of poor; Gilbert Osborn, constable; Jay
Hurd and Leonard Osborn, appraisers ; Jay
Hurd, lister ; Levi Ormsby and Joseph Rice,
supervisors; John James and Elisha Walden,
fence-viewers; Joseph Rice, treasurer.

ORIGINAL OWNERSHIP.

Cowles, Bolles, and Ely were the proprietors
of a large tract of land in the Reserve, in which
tract the principal portion of township five,
range five was included. Bolles was the largest
proprietor of the land in this township, and
previous to its organization the township was
called Bollestown.

Ely came on after the settlement, and had the
center laid out as a village.

Several of the first settlers exchanged their
farms in Connecticut for land in this township.

SETTLEMENT.

The first settlers of the present township of
Southington were representatives of the bold
and progressive "Yankee nation" to which the
Western Reserve is mainly indebted for its
growth and prosperity. The first settlers were
from Litchfield county, Connecticut, and several
families came from one town — Colebrook. 'I'he
next arrivals were from New York State. A
few Vermonters came next, and last but not
least, the German Pennsylvanian.

The settlement began in 1805. In June of
that year arrived Luke Viets and his wife, David
\'iets, Luke's father, James Chalker, Roderick
Norton, and his brother Horace, who was then
but seven years of age. James Nutt came out
a year or two later. In 1807 he married and
settled in the township. The next settlers were
Seth Hurd and his son. Smith Hurd, making the
fifth family in the township. The Hurds arrived
May 21, 1808. May 29th came Henry White
and wife, and May 31st, Joseph Rice and Elisha
Brunson. July 30, 1809, Joshua Osborn and
('harles May arrived with their families.

FIRST EVENTS.

'i'he first cabin was built by Luke \'iets and
James (Jhalker.

The first marriage was that of James Nutt
and Polly Viets, and took place in February,
1807.

The first birth was that of Edmund, son of

James Chalker, May 30, 1807. He died Oc-
tober 8, 1808. This was the first death in the
township. The second birth was that of a
daughter of James Nutt, born March 11, 1808.
The third birth was that of Lovisa Brunson, Oc-
tober 7, 1808.

These facts are copied from memoranda made
by Roderick Norton, at or near the time the
events occurred, and are doubtless correct.

THE SETTLERS.

Luke Viets was the financial head of the first
party of settlers, and continued active in the
affairs of the township as long as he lived. He
owned one thousand acres of land, and several
of the settlers purchased their farms from him.
As already stated, his father, David, came here
with him. Soon after their settlement Benjamin
Viets, Luke's brother, came. Luke Viets was a
cripple, yet he always managed to look after his
business well. He built a cabin and settled
three-fourths of a mile west of the center, where
his son now lives. His wife was Hannah Nor-
ton. They had only one child — Zopher, who
now resides upon the old homestead. Luke
Viets died in 1827, aged fifty-nine. Hannah
Viets died in 1862, at the age of eighty-three.
Zopher Viets was born in 1810. He was mar-
ried in April, 1830, to I.ydia Curtis, who died
November i, 1880, having borne six children —
Mary, Russel, Harriet, Rebecca, Orrilla, and
Henry. Mrs. Harriet Chalker and Henry only
survive. Henry was born in 1843, and was mar-
ried in 1866 to Lucy F. Joy, daughter of Harvey
Joy. Zopher Viets married for his second wife
Eunice Heathman, daughter of Horace Norton,
August 27, 1 88 1. Benjamin Viets settled in the
eastern part of the township, south of the center
road. His children were Sally and Maria.

James Chalker settled on a farm adjoining the
land of Luke Viets, from whom he purchased.
His wife, Mercy Norton, had one child, Orrin,
born in Connecticut, in 1803. After reaching
Ohio in 1805 she stayed in Warren township a
short time, and there gave birth to a son, Joseph,
before she came to her new home. James
Chalker was a vigorous, robust man, and a true
specimen of the hardy pioneer. He was a great
hunter, and during his life here killed numerous
bears, wolves, and deer. He had wonderful
physical strength. It is said that he once carried

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

upon his back sixteen bushels of wheat. Getting
down upon his hands and knees he allowed the
boys to pile the bags of grain upon his back,
and when loaded with the sixteen bushels moved
the entire weight some distance, going upon "all
fours." His life was a pure one. He was
strictly temperate, and used neither tobacco nor
liquor. He reared a large family. The names
of his children were Orrin, Joseph, Edmund
first, Edmund second, James, Phebe, Anna,
Polly, Daniel, Calvm, Philander, Harrison,
Allen, and Mercy. Of these Joseph, the first
Edmund, Phebe (Babcock), and Calvin are dead.
Excepting the first Edmund, all lived to mature
years and had families. Of those living Philan-
der lives in Nelson township. Portage county, as
does also IVIrs. Anna Bancroft; Polly (Rice) and
Mercy (Chalfant) reside in Indiana ; the others
are residents of Southington. Orrin Chalker is
the oldest resident of the township. The
Chalkers are numerous and respectable. At the
death of James Chalker, Sr., he had over one
hundred children and grandchildren living.

Roderick Norton was born in Suffield, Con-
necticut, in November, 1783. He was one of
• the younger sons of a large family. His father,
Freegrace Norton, died when Roderick was six-
teen, and thenceforth he had to care for himself.
He was a member of the first party of settlers
who came to Southington in 1805. Upon the
arrival of the settlers Norton took his axe and
struck the first blow for the improvement of the
wilderness. He returned to Connecticut in the
month of November following, and remained two
years. He then came back to Ohio and battled
with the forest until January, 1810, when he
visited his native State for the last time. There
he remained during the summer and on the
8th day of October, 1810, was married to Olive
Miller, daughter of Job Miller. Their wedding
tour began immediately in a journey to the New
Connecticut. Their first winter they passed at
the house of their brother-in-law, Luke Viets.
Their eldest son, Homer Norton, a sketch of
whose life will be found in the- chapter upon the
bar of Trumbull county, was born July 23, 1812,
and now resides upon the spot where his father
made his first brush-heap in 1805. Roderick
Norton was drafted into the service in the sum-
mer of 1 8 14, and was first corporal in Lieuten-
ant Hezf kiah Hine's company of Ohio militia, in

the War of 18 12. At the close of the war he
was honorably discharged. During her hus-
band's absence Mrs. Norton realized to the ful-
lest extent the disagreeable features of pioneer
life. With her little son Homer and an infant
she passed the winter alone in a rude cabin, half
a mile from the nearest neighbor. She some-
times was obliged to burn gunpowder in a spoon
thrust through a crevice in the cabin walls, to
keep the wolves away. Roderick Norton died from
a cancer at the age of sixty-five. He was a modest,
unassuming man, a prominent and enterprising
citizen, strict in integrity and honest in his deal-
ings. For many years he was a true and faith-
ful member of the Methodist church. His chil-
dren were Homer, Albert, Hannah, Roderick,
Semantha, Olive, Fanny, Mary and Martha
(twins); all are living excepting Albert, Fanny,
and Mary. Albert received an academic educa-
tion, became a Methodist preacher, and labored
in his holy calling until near the end of his days.
He died in 1879, aged sixty-five. He married,
first, Sarah Gray, who bore two daughters and
one son. The son and one daughter are living.
For his second wife he married Hala Gordon,
and for his third, Sally Harmon. Hannah is the
wife of Rev. William S. Paul, of the Methodist
Episcopal church. She has five children living
and one deceased. Roderick is a Methodist
preacher of the Upper Iowa conference. He
married Caroline N. Pardy for his first wife. She
had two children, one of whom is living — Wil-
liam, a professor of Greek and Latin in Grinnell
college, Iowa. For his second wife Roderick
married Lucretia Snow. Semantha is the wife
of Dr. Joseph McFarland, Corsica, Ohio, she
has four children ; all living. Olive is the wife of
Charles F". Weed, Windham, Ohio, and has three
sons and three daughters. Fanny married Joseph
Tift, and resided in Southington. She died in
185 1, leaving two children, Norton and Alice,
both of whom are living. Mary married Fred-
erick W. Bond for her first husband, and had
one child, a son, who is now living. For her
second husband she married Mr. Wintersteen.
She died in 1853. She formerly resided in
Edinburg, Portage county. Martha is the wife
of Charles Wannemaker, Esq., Southington.
She has only one child, a daughter.

Horace Norton, Roderick's younger brother,
married Elizabeth Joy and settled in the west of

522

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

the township, a mile and a half from the center.
He afterwards moved to the northwest of the
township and died there. His children were
Joseph, Eunice, Betsey, and Homer. Joseph
lives in Illinois, Eunice is now the wife of Zopher
Viets, Betsey (Bowyer) and Homer are dead.

James Nutt settled one-half mile south of the
center road, about a mile east of the center line.
His children were Susan, Chauncey, Cyrus, and
Laura, none of whom now remain in the town-
ship. Chauncey lived upon the old farm and
died quite young. Cyrus graduated from Alle-
gheny college at the age of nineteen, and was
immediately engaged as a tutor in that insti-
tution. He was professor of Latin, Greek, and
mathematics in various colleges, and at length
was elected to the presidency of Bloomington
college, Indiana, where he died. James Nutt
was the first justice of the peace in this township,
and held the office twenty-one years. Toward
the end of his life he became melancholy and
despondent. At length he disappeared from his
town, and though vigorous search was made,
several months elapsed before any trace of him
could be discovered. A hunter in the woods
came across a portion of his blackened remains
suspended to a tree by a halter, and it was then
known that he had met his death by suicide.

Seth and Thankful (Ray) Hurd, from Cole-
brook, Connecticut, settled in this township in
iSo8. Both were natives of Massachusetts.
Seth Hurd was a soldier in the Revolutionary
war. Some years after he settled in Litchfield
county, Connecticut, where his home was until
he came to Ohio. He exchanged his farm in
Colebrook with Mr. Bolles for two three hundred
and twenty acre lots in the new settlement, and
came with his wife and six sons by wagon across
the Allegheny mountains, as did the most of the
first settlers. There were nine children belong-
ing to this family. The daughters married and
remained in Connecticut some time after their
parents came to Ohio. The names of the chil-
dren of Seth and Thankful Hurd were as fol-
lows : Smith, Esther, Hannah, Edith, Joy,
Comfort, Freedom, Harmon, and Isaac. Smith
was married and had one child before coming
to Ohio. He settled in the southern part of
the town.ship and aftei wards moved to the center.
He died in 1875 '" h'*' ninety-fourth year. His
son, Milo, and his daughter, Mrs. Diana Viets,

reside in Southington. Esther, the second of
the above family, married Moses Wright, in Con-
necticut; later she removed to Ohio and settled
in Austinburg, Ashtabula county. Hannah mar-
ried Daniel Mills and remained in Connecticut.
Edith married Lyford Mills, and settled in
Geneva, Ashtabula county. Joy married Nancy
Hudson, and raised up a family in Southington;
he moved to Geneva and died in Cleveland.
Comfort Hurd married Sarah Hyde and died in
Southington in 1851; he was the father of six
children, four of whom are living. Freedom
married Hannah Moore, of Parkman; he died
in Portage county;, they had eight children, of
whom six are now living. Harmon married
Hannah Norton and lived in the southeast of
the township; to them were born five children,
three of whom are living — Amy (Curtis),' Martin,
and Esther (Long), all in this township; their
mother is still living. Isaac Hurd is the only
survivor of the original family. He was born
in 1804, and has resided constantly in Southing-
ton since 1808, excepting two years. For his
first wife he married Lucretia Viets, who bore
eight children, four of whom are now living,
viz : Jason, Braceville; Grandison, Michigan;
Nancy (Haughton), Michigan; and Franklin,
merchant at Southington center. For his second
wife Mr. Hurd married Lettie Hess.

Henry White settled in the eastern part of the
township about a quarter of a mile north of the
center road, and about a mile from the township
line. He died at the age of .ninety-three. His
son, Henry K., lived and died in Southington,
and became the parent of a large family, which
is still well represented in the township.

Joseph Rice settled three-fourths of a mile
southeast of the center on the Warren road. His
sons were Joseph, Rufus, Milton, Newton, David
and Jonathan (twins), Reuben, and Dow. The
daughters were Clarissa, Huldah, and Lavina.
The latter all moved away after marrying. Ru-
fus and Jonathan passed their lives in this town-
ship. The remaining sons are scattered widely.

Elisha Brunson settled in the east of the town-
ship, a mile and a half from the center. Birds-
eye, a son, remained and raised a family here.
The daughters were Lovisa (Joy), Belinda (Doty),
and Mrs. Gumming, deceased; Mrs. Burns and
Mrs. Fishel, living. Birdseye and Sylvester are
dead. William is living in Southington.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

Joshua Osborn settled northeast of the center
about one mile. He reared eleven children, all
of whom lived to have families. Shelden, Gil-
bert, Leonard, Stephen, and Sterling were the
sons, and Chloe, Amanda, Anna, Phebe, Dorcas,
and Roxy, the daughters. Gilbert and Sterhng
lived and died m Southington. Shelden re-
mained in the East. Leonard resides m Bloom-
field. Stephen is still living in Bristol. Chloe
(White) lived in the East, but afterwards came to
Ohio. Amanda (Haughton), now resides in
Michigan. Anna (Crowell) resides in Rome,
Ohio, and Phebe (Hillman) in Bristol. Dorcas
(May) and Ro.xy (Frisbie) are dead.

Charles May and farnily remained for a time
in the township, then removed.

The foregoing families were all from Connecti-
cut, and for some years constituted nearly all of
the inhabitants of "Bollestown."

The Waldens, Joys, Haughtons, Frisbies, and
other families came during the early years of the
settlement. The growth 'of Southington was
very slow.

Henry Haughton. of New York State, made a
permanent settlement in iSi8. His two sons,
Samuel and Aretus, had been here and com-
menced improvements two years before. Henry
and Lucretia Haughton were the parents of four
sons, all of whom settled in Southington and
reared families, excepting Aretus, who married
but had no family. The sons were Samuel, Are-
tus, Alonzo, and Chauncy B. Alonzo is still
living in Michigan. The daughters were Mary
Ann (Curtis), Lois (Osborn), and Lovisa (Os-
born). One other daughter remained and died
in New York. All of the daughters are dead
with the exception of Mrs. Curtis, who went west
and is living.

Perhaps we have followed the history of the
settlement sufficiently far. But we cannot close
this article without some allusiDn to the German
families which now form a most important indus-
trial element among the inhabitants of this town-
ship. They are superior farmers, and their work
has been largely instrumental in developing the
eastern half of the township.

The first "Pennsylvania Dutch" families came
to Southington about 1834 or 1835. We men-
tion the names of the heads of a few of the
earliest: David Palm, Jonas Hoffman, George
Flick, Samuel Stroup, Isaac Strock, Jacob

Houck. Many others might be added if space
allowed.

SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL-HOUSES.

The first term of school in Southington was
taught by James Nutt in a log house situated
about three-fourths of a mile southeast of the
center, and perhaps a half mile south of the
center road. This was about 1814. Mr. Nutt,
afterwards 'Squire Nutt, is mentioned as having
been a good, faithful teacher. A few of his pu-
pils are yet alive, but the teacher has long "slept
the sleep that knows no waking."

William Knowlton was another of the early
teachers of this township.

The first building erected solely for school
purposes was built in 182.!; east of the center.
It was of logs, and stood where the old brick
school-house was built some years later. Both
have long since disappeared.

The following ancient papers in reference to
the erection of the first school house in South-
ington are in the possession of Homer Norton,
Esq., who has kindly furnished the writer with a
copy. The first is as follows :

We, the subscribers, being desirous ol having a school-
liouse erected in one of two places — said places are, one at
the center of Southington township, the other at the comer
of lots east of Asa Walden's— it is hereby agreed that the
place which gains the greatest amount of assignment shall
be deemed most convenient for the erection of a school-house,
and that the several sums annexed to our names be paid to
the committee who shall be appointed by said signers as they
or a majority of them shall direct.

Southington, November 23, 1824.

This is signed as follows :

Days' Days'

Labor. Labor.

Comfort Hurd 6 Comfort Hurd 3

James Nutt 3 James Xutt 3

Ehsha Brunson 8 Elisha Brunson 2

Caleb Brainard 2 Caleb Brain.ird 2

Smith Hurd 2 Smith Hurd 3

Joy Hurd 4 Joy Hurd 2

Elisha Walden 3

Asa Walden S Asa Walden 3

Henry K. White i

Martin Rexford 1

Ephraim Joy 4 Ephraim Joy 4

Jesse Rice „. i I esse Rice 2

Luke Viets 4 '-"ke Viets 4

James Chalker 6 James Chalker 6

Roderick Norton 2 Roderick Norton 6

Horace Norton i Hor.ace Norton 6

Isaac Hurd 2 Orrin Chalker 2

Apparently the subscrijitions in the first
column were deemed insufficient, and the ma-

524

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

jority of the signers were induced to increase, at
a later date, the amount of their subscriptions.
The second petition reads thus :

We, llie subscribers, do hereby agree to pay unto Elisha
Brunson and Roderick Norton, or either of them, the follow-
ing sums annexed to our names, for the erection of a school-
house at the center of Southington township, or as near as a
convenient place can be obtained to erect the same; said
house to be a frame of sufficient size to contain any number
of scholars that may be taught by one master; said sums or
articles to be delivered at the place on the order of said
Elisha Brunson and Roderick Norton, who are appointed to
act as a committee and see that said house is erected.

Witness our hands, Southington, November 24, 1824.

Roderick Norton $10 00.

Elisha Brunson $ro 00.

James Chalker 1,500 ft. of siding

Smith Hurd 5 days' work.

Joseph Rice $10 00

Caleb Brainard 5 days' work.

James Nutt 10 days' work.

Harmon Hurd 6 days' work.

Orrin Chalker 4 days' work.

Jesse Rice 1,000 shingles.

Joy Hurd 8 days' work.

Horace Norton 10 days' work.

Luke Viets 8 days' work.

Newton Rice 2 days' work.

This subscription failed to bring about the
desired object. But on the strength of the first
a good, substantial log school-house was built at
the corners, one mile east of the center of the
township. This was the first school-house in
Southington. Schools had ])reviously been
taught in one apartment of Joseph Rice's double
log-house.

CHURCH HISTORY.

The first meeting-house stood on a spot where
the Presbyterian church now stands. In 181 7
Mr. Ely came on and gave the township two
acres of land a short distance north of the cen-
ter, and furnished nails and glass for building a
union house for public religious exercises. The
church was put up and partially finished, and
used by the Presbyterians, Baptists and Method-
ists until it was torn away to make room for the
Presbyterian house now standing.

The Presbyterians and Baptists no longer
keep up organizations. At present the churches
of Southington are four in number — the Method-
ist and the Disciple at the center, the German
Reformed and Lutheran east of the center, and
the Evangelical at Bowmansville.

MKTHODIST CHURCH.

A class was formed ill about 1820 consisting

of a few members. In 1838 the neat and sub-
stantial church at the center was built. The
first meetings were held at the houses of Luke
Viets and Joseph Rice, and later in the old
brick school-house. Among the first members
were James Chalker, Sr., Orrin Chalker, Joseph
Chalker, James Nutt, Joseph Rice, Joy, Com-
fort, and Isaac Hurd, Luke Viets, Sterling Os-
born, and others with their families. Joseph
Rice was class leader. The eccentric Lorenzo
Dow is mentioned as being among those who
preached at Rice's house.

THE DAPTISTS.

Very soon after the settlement of the town-
ship a Baptist church was formed, and a log-
house erected where the Presbyterian church
now stands. Years later a house was built a
mile and a half north of the center, which was
afterwards moved to the northwestern part of
the township. Many of the early Baptists be-
came Methodists, and the few remaining joined
the Disciples and other churches. Dennis
White was a Baptist deacon and a zealous sup-
porter of the church many years.

THE PRESBYTERIANS.

As this organization is extinct and its mem-
bers all either dead or out of the township, little
of its history is known.

Presbyterian missionaries held meetings here
very early, and under their labors a church was
formed. Deacon Daniel Maltby and his large
family of fourteen children, all of whom resided
here, were its mainstay and support. Mr. and
Mrs. Sawyer and David Hatch and wife were
early members. The house at the center was
erected about twenty-five years ago, but ha? not
been used for ten years.

THE disciples' CHURCH.

The writer has made many efforts to obtain
the facts concerning the history of this church,
but without success. The following from Rev.
A. S. Hayden's writings is all the information
obtained : This church was formed in r828
mainly from the old Baptist church, under the
labors of Revs. Thomas Campbell, Scott, and
Applegate. Samuel Haughton was converted
and baptized by Campbell, and was one of the
most prominent of the early members. In ,1865
the church had a membership of or.e hundred.
A costly church edifice has been erected during

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

52s

recent years, and the congregation is prosperous.

THE EVANGELICAL CHURCH.

The church of the Evangelical Association at
Bovvmansville was the result of the labors of
Dr. J. C. Bowman, who, with his wife, was the
first member. It was founded in the spring of
1852. About the same time Revs. Leonard
and Hampy began preachmg here. In 1853 the
first protracted meeting was held by Rev. Staley,
and at its close the church was fully organized.
Jonathan Oswald was admitted to membership
by letter, and was chosen class-leader. Dr. J.
C. Bowman was appomted exhorter. Dr. Bow-
man, William West, and Jonathan Oswald were
among the most active and influential members
for several years. The first meetings were held
in an old school-house.

Mr. Staley's protracted meeting was held in a
log house south of the corners. The first church
edifice was erected in 1854, and Rev. J. Dick
held the first protracted meeting in it. The new
church was built in 1872. The project of build-
ing it was started under Rev. H. B. Summers,
then presiding elder, and completed under Rev.
J. Garner. The house was dedicated in Novem-
ber, 1872, by Bishop R. Dubs, of Cleveland.
Samuel Craig, William West, and David Kiefer
were the building committee.

The Sabbath-school has always been a leading
feature in this society. In 1870 quite an impetus
was given by the labor of Rev. H. B. Summers,
and since that time it has been continued
throughout the year. At present Eli Stine is
superintendent of the Sunday-school, and also
class-leader.

Rev. C. F. Hariung is the present pastor.
The church is in quite a flourishing condition,
with sixty members.

GERMAN REFORMED AND LUTHERAN CHURCH.

This church was organized in 1837 with the
following members: Andrew Stroup, Lambert
Camp, Jacob Houck, Jonas Hoffman, Gideon

Moyer, William Salem, Henry Crumb, Ash-

bauch, John Mahnensmith, Reuben Fusselman,
with their wives and families, and perhaps others.

Distinctions between the Lutherans and the
Reformed were not closely drawn, and of some
families a part belonged to one denomination
and others to the other. They built a house the
Na iiL' )i-:n lliey organized, but did not finish or

paint it. In 1855 or 1856 they erected the pres-
ent house on the site of the old one.

Peter Mahnensmith was the first pastor ot the
Reformed congregation and F. C. Becker of the
Lutherans. Rev. Mahnensmith was succeeded
by Revs. Rauhauser, Ruhl, and Zink. Father
Becker labored iri this church from the first until
about 1870. Since that date Revs. Grether and
Otting have been pastors, both belonging to the
Reformed church. Rev. Enghurst, the present
pastor, is a Lutheran. The church is well sup-
ported, and a good interest is manifested.

CEMETERIES.

The oldest graveyard in the township is at the
center. Before it was laid out, interments were
made, in some cases, on the farms of the settlers.
From an old paper we copy the following in
reference to the center graveyard :

Agreeable to a vote of the township of Southington, a
burying ground has been purchased by the trustees of the
said township. It is therefore necessary that money be
raised to pay for a burying ground, and it is thought to be
less expensive to pay it by subscription than by tax. The
sum will amount to about sixty cents for each family. Those
that are rich, are requested to sign accordingly, as a tax
must be the consequence if this subscription fails.

We, the subscribers, promise to pay the several sums an-
nexed to our names six months after date. Witness our
hands, Southington, November 23, 1820.

This paper is signed as follow :

Roderick Norton

•50

SethHurd

•50

Leonard Osborn

■25

Gilbert Osborn

. .25

Joshua Osborn

Stephen Osborn,...

Milton Osborn

•2=;

Stephen Crofford

■ . .50

Horace Norton

•25

Chauncy Taft

Eberander Crofford...

•SO

Comfort Hurd

.^0

Ephraim Joy

.60

James Chalker

■ -SO

Isaac Hurd

.2S

Chauncy Curtis

•50

Ira Rose

Daniel Maltbie

■ -3°

Luke Vie

s

m

The land, an acre and a half, was purchased
of Joseph Rice for the sum of $13.75, ^nd
deeded to the trustees of the township, Roderick
Norton, James Hatch, and Comfort Hurd. The
spot selected is a knoll of slight elevation a few
rods east of the center. For a country burying
ground, it is very tastefully kept, and is beautified
by a number of small evergreens.

The graveyard adjoining the German church
was laid out about the time the church was built.
There are two other burying places in the town-
ship— one in the northwest, near the old Baptist
church, and the other in the southeast at Bow-
mansville.

526

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

Dr. Porter was the first practicing physician.

James Nutt was the first justice of the peace.
He was an upright, honorable man, and led a
pure and useful life.

A man named Knapp was the first blacksmith.

Ephraini Joy was the firsf carpenter.

The first store was kept by Mr. Ackley. Chap-
man was the next merchant.

James Hatch was probably the first postmas-
ter. Southington had no post-office for fifteen
or twenty years after its settlement, but obtained
its mail at Warren.

CHEESE-MAKING.

This branch of industry receives considerable
attention in Southington. William Chalker has
a cheese factory and carries on the business suc-
cessfully. Mr. A. Kincaid had a cheese factory
east of the center in which he did an extensive
business for several years. He then sold out.
In 1878 the building was burned and has not
been rebuilt.

EARLY INDUSTRIES.

Luke Viets built a small tannery on his farm
in early times and operated it a number of years.

The first manufactory or mill of any kind was
a turning shop erected by Benjamin Viets about
1815 in the eastern part of the township. It
stood about one-half mile south of the center
road, and was run by the water of a small stream.
Here he made trenchers or wooden plates,
wooden bowls, mortars, and other articles for the
use of the settlers.

On account of a lack of sufficient water power
there never was any grist-mill erected in the
township. Samuel Haughton had a small saw-
mill in the north of the township, and Wanne-
maker & Camp built another three-fourths of a
mile east of the center, on Dead branch. The
latter mill was afterwards riin by Isaac Hurd.
■j'hese were built many years after the beginning
of the settlement.

THE SETILER's CAIilN.

There being no saw-mills in or near the town-
ship in very early times, every part of a cabin
was made with timber fashioned by the aid of
an axe. The floors, both the lower and upper,
were of puncheons. Split shingles of oak, usu-
ally from thiee and a half to four feet in length,
were used for roofing. I'hey were held in jilace

by weight poles, as nails- could not be procured
without great expense. Chimneys were built of
sticks and mortar until years later, when the clay
of the township was utilized in the manufacture
of bricks.

INCIDENTS OF PIONEER LIFE.

Elisha Brunson had traded his farm in Connec-
ticut for a large tract here. But upon reaching it,
he found that it was situated in the midst of a
then almost impenetrable swamp. He was dis-
heartened at this discovery and sat down almost
overcome with disappointment and melancholy.
But becoming convinced that repining could do
no good, he at once entered upon his labors
with earnestness. Having no home to return to
necessity nerved him to the task before him and
vigorous work soon made his land equal to the
best in the township.

In early days wolves were very numerous here
and very audacious. They sometimes came
even to the doors of cabins and ate the cast-out
remnants of food which they could pick up. One
instance is reported of a wolf approaching near a
burning brush heap and snatching a sheep that
had fled there for safety.

When Mr. Hurd was on his way hither he
stayed over night at the cabin of a man named
Bacon, on the Mahoning river. They heard
wolves during the nigl\t, and running out found
that a cow had been attacked by them. The
animal was so much injured that it was necessary
to kill her.

Bears were troublesome and often encount-
ered. Soon after the arrival of Joseph Rice he
heard a great noise among his hogs one night.
Going to the sty he found a bear with a hog
down. The beast was shot and proved to be a
large one, weighing over four hundred pounds.

Still later, when hunting "coons," people were
often driven from the woods by wolves or bears.
The dogs would start a coon, the wolves would
be attracted by the barking, and by the time the
"coon tree" was reached, the wolves would have
the advantage of the hunters and dogs, who, in
such cases, were obliged to give up the pursuit.

Dennis White and others had an adventure
with a bear which is, perhaps, worth recording.
A she-bear and a cub had been molesting stock
for some time, and it was at length determined
to hunt down and destroy the marauders. Dogs
were put upon the trail and followed it for some

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

time without encountering the bears. Sunday
came and some of the men did not desire to
Ncarch longer. But Mr. White knew that if the
day was allowed to pass, the old bear would be
pretty sure to make her escape ; so, with one or
two others, he continued the hunt. The man
owning the best bear-dog in the township would
not join him, and did not wish his dog to go ;
but White called the dog away from his master
and set him again upon the trail. At nightfall
they came up with the bear, but she at once
plunged into the swamp and was lost to view.
One of the hunters at length discovered her in
the twilight, and discharged his rifle, wounding
Iier in the neck, then the dogs came and attacked
her. She soon fell over, and White cut her
throat. The cub was searched for, but the ap-
proach of night rendered it impossible to find it.
Building a fire, the hunters dressed the bear, and
after slicing off steak for themselves and the
dogs, they cooked and ate their supper. They
remained by the spot all night, and in the morn-
ing returned to their homes with the bear skin,
leaving the carcass in the woods as food for the
wolves.

Henry White, while hunting, once treed a
bear instead of a 'coon. He at once commenced
calling to obtain assistance, and at the same time
keep the bear in the tree. Some fifteen men
soon collected. The bear was killed, skinned,
quartered, and divided up among those who had
assisted in slaying her.

Hunts were often undertaken, in which all the
men and boys of several townships joined.
Great sport resulted, and often many deer, bears,
and wolves were captured. But those days are
now gone forever, and the present generation
till the fields upon which their fathers and grand
fathers hunted. If boyish hearts should yearn
for a return to those sports in which their an-
cestors indulged, let them remember that modern
civilization has abolished them and be content.

It is stated that Dennis White traveled from
Southington back to Connecticut seventeen
times, making several of the trips on foot.

TEMPER.\NCE RAISINGS.

In early times a raising was an event more
talked of and more interesting than almost any
other occurrence. It was to the early settlers
what the launching of a ship is to the inhabitants
of some of our seaboard cities.

It had long been the custom to furnish liquor
to those who assisted on these grand occasions.
Dennis White, however, determined to make a
new departure, and when about 'to raise his
house told his neighbors that no liquor would be
furnished. The people of Farmington had
promised to help him if his own townsmen re-
fused their assistance. He had no difficulty,
however, and the raising passed off quietly with-
out the usual scenes of drunkenness.

Rufus Rice, when about to build a barn, de-
termined to proceed upon White's plan, but he
encountered opposition. One temperance rais-
ing was deemed sufficient by some of his neigh-
bors. So when the first side of the building
staited about one-third of the men present tried
to hold it down. But the temperance element
was too strong for them, and the disturbers of
the work, seeing that they were likely to be raised
with the building, joined in and helped the rest.

Biographical Sketches.

HOMER NORTON.
Homer Norton, the oldest son of Roderick
and Olive (Miller) Norton, was born July 23,
i8i2, in Southington, Trumbull county, Ohio.
Roderick Norton was a native of Suffield, Con-
necticut, born in 1783. He was one of the
younger boys of a large family, and was left an
orphan to take care of himself He came to
Ohio in June, 1805, in company with his brother-
in-law, James Chalker, and Luke Viets, and their
wives, David Viets, father of Luke, and Horace
Norton, his brother, then seven years of age.
These were the first settlers in the township of
Southington, and Roderick Norton is credited
with the honor of having struck the first blow
for permanent improvement. He married in
Connecticut October 8, 18 10, Olive, daughter of
Job Miller, and they immediately removed to
their new home in the western wilderness, spend-
ing the first winter with Luke Viets. In the
summer of 18 14 he was drafted into the army,
War of 181 2, and served as first corporal in
Lieutenant Hezekiah Hines' company, Ohio
militia, until the close of the war, being dis-
charged February 23, 1S15. The following ex-
tract is taken from a sketch previously published :

528

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

It was during the time of his absence that his adventurous
young wife realized pretty severely the hardships of early
pioneer life. With an infant, a few months old, and her lit-
tle son Homer, she spent the winter alone in the wilderness,
in a rudely constructed log cabin, half a mile through the
wood to her nearest neiglibor. Her faithful dog. Tiger,
frequently warned her of the approach of wild animals, or
possil:)ly the more dangerous aborigines: and she occasional-
ly burned gunpowder in a spoon through a crevice in her
cabin to scare the wolves away. On receiving his discharge,
he crossed the ice on Lake Erie, and again assumed the re-
lations of civil life. He was modest and unassuming: was a
prominent citizen of his township, and generally among the
foremost in matters of enterprise. He would never accept
the office of justice of the piece, though often requested to
do so. By his strict integrity and upright dealing he ac-
(juired among his neighbors the sobriquet of " Old Honesty."
In politics, a Whig. For many years a true and faithful
member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Had tliree
sons and si.\ daughters, viz: Homer, Albert, Hannah, Rod-
ericli, Samantha, Olive, Fanny, and Mary and Martha
(twins); all arc living except Albert, Fanny, and Mary.

Roderick Norton died on the homestead farm
March 15, 1849. Olive (Miller) Norton, his wife,
was born December 14, 1787, and died October
25, i860. Albert, the second son, was a Meth-
odist minister, and died at Berea February 22,
1880. Hannah was married to Rev. William S.
Pond, and resides in Carey, Ohio. Roderick,
Jr., is a Methodist minister of prominence in
Iowa. Samantha was married to Dr. Joseph
McFarland and resides in Corsica, Morrow
county, Ohio. Olive was married to Charles F.
Weed, of Windham, Portage county, Ohio.
Fanny was married to Joseph A. Tift. Mary was
married to Frederick A. Bond. Martha married
Charles Wannamaker and lives in Southington.

Homer Norton enjoyed but meager advan-
tages for the acquirement of an education, receiv-
ing his first instruction from his mother. At the
age of sixteen he was afflicted with a serious ill-
ness which affected one of his legs, unfitting him
for heavy farm labor, and making further atten-
dance at school impossible on account of the
long walk. He then learned the shoemaker's
trade. He finally recovered his strength, and
in 1834 he built the second frame school-house
ill Southington. The same fall he went to
Wellington and conducted a shoe shop for a man
named Case for some five months. Being am-
bitious to obtain an education he returned home
and entered West Farmington seminary. About
this time Piatt R. Spencer, of Harpersfield, Ash-
tabula county, was attracting considerable atten-
tion as a teacher of penmanship, and in the fall
of 1836 Mr. Norton left the seminary and placed

himself under Mr. Spencer's instruction. He
made rapid progress in penmanship, and soon
acquired great proficiency in that art. During
the following winter he taught successfully in
various townships in Trumbull county, and was
one of the first teachers of the Spencerian sys-
tem of penmanship in the county.

In the spring of 1837 he made a trip to Fort
Wayne, Indiana, on horseback, stopping at De-
fiance, Ohio, on the way, and teaching a writing
school for two terms, which netted him about
$100, and also formed a class at Fort Wayne.
Land speculation was running high in Indiana at
this time, and he invested his entire capital, con-
sisting of his earnings as writing teacher and his
horse, in two eighty-acre lots, one in Lagrange
and the other in DeKalb county. This subse-
quently proved a profitable investment. Tired
of adventure he returned to Ohio, making a
journey down the Mauiiiee river to Toledo, a
distance of over one hundred miles, with six
other young men in a canoe made out of a pop-
lar log forty feet in length.

After spending another term at the Farmington
academy Mr. Norton until 1851 devoted most of
his time in teaching penmanship in Ohio and
other States, excepting the summers of 1839
and 1 84 1, when he was a student at Allegheny
college. He took up his permanent residence
in Southington in 1851, and in the fall of the
same year was elected justice of the peace, an
office to which he was twice re-elected and held
until he resigned it in 1861. He held also the
otifice of township clerk three years, being first
elected in 1854. He was man led November 25,
1852, to Emma A., daughter of Jonas Bond, of
Edmburg, Ohio, and a sister of ex-Mayor Bond,
of Chicago. She was born March 7, 1832. Mr.
Norton first began the study of law as early as
1844, but it was not until after his election as
justice of the peace that he formed any serious
intention of entering upon its practice. He was
admitted to the bar in 1859 and soon had a
considerable practice in justice's courts in South-
ington and adjoining townships, and was also
frequently connected with cases in the courts of
common pleas in Trumbull, Portage, and Geauga
counties. He continued in active practice until
1881. In the fall of 1879 he was unanimously
chosen a real estate assessor, though not an ap.
plicant for the position.

^///V ^

'■ct^

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

529

Mrs. Norton died October 8, 1876. She was
the mother of eight children, viz: Albert Leslie,
born August 22, 1853, married, March 5, i88r,
Nora Doolittle, and lives on the homestead;
Eugene B., born May i, 1855, died July 17,
i860; Lilian Josephine, born October 4, 1857,
married, March 25, 1880, Dennis E. Miller,
and lives in Farmington; Florence Irene, born
August 22, i860, died October 31, 1864; Alta
Eugenia, born August 26, 1862, died November
10, 1864; Rolla Ulysses, born October 19, 1865;
Homer B., born March 2, 1868; Victor Clarence,
born April 20, 1870.

Mr. Norton has accumulated a large property,
and is spending the closing years of his life in
comparative ease.

THE CHALKER FAMILY.

James Chalker, Sr., the [)ioneer fanner, was
born in Saybrook, Connecticut, about the year
1773; died in Southington, November 3, 1867 ;
was married in Saybrook to Mercy Norton, who
died in Southington March 15, i860.

There is a kind of a tradition among the
Chalkers of the present day that at a very early
date in the history of this country, probably over
two hundred years ago, two or three brothers of
the name of Chalker came from England or
Scotland to this country and settled in the then
colony of Connecticut, from whom have de-
scended all who bear or have borne that name in
this country. Reliable information of persons
now living goes as far back as to one Samuel
Chalker, who was of the third generation before
the subject of this sketch. This Samuel
Chalker lived and died in Saybrook, Connecti-
cut, and raised p family of three sons, named
Samuel, Gideon, and Alexander.

Samuel (second), settled and lived in the
north part of Saybrook, now called Sayville, to
whom was born Daniel, Selden, and Sarah.

Daniel succeeded to the homestead of his
father, married Sarah Ingraham, and to them
were born the following children : Samuel, Sally,
Daniel, Anna, Patty, James (the subject of this
sketch), Phiebe(his twin sister), Joseph, Charles,
and Nathaniel.

This Daniel, the father of the subject of this
sketch, in or about the year 1805, removed from
Connecticut to Pennsylvania, first stopping for a

short time at Liberty, Susquehanna county, but
finally locating in Chocount township in the
same county, his above named children then
grown up to manhood and womanhood, either
accompanying or soon after tollowing him, and
all, except James, located in and about Cho-
count, some of them subsequently removing to
distant places. This journey of two hundred
and fifty miles or more was made solely on foot
and by the use of ox teams and wagons. Here
Daniel, Sr., purchased a small tract of woodland
on which he erected a log house, where he and
his wife passed the remainder of their days, near
to which, in a dilapidated country graveyard,
their remains now lie buried side by side.

James stopped but a short time in Chocount,
but with his family, consisting of his wife and
son, Orrin, who was born to them before leaving
Saybrook, and in company with Roderick Nor-
ton (his brother-in-law) and wife, and Luke Viets,
another brother-in-law, he pushed forward two
hundred and fifty or three hundred miles further
into the wilderness of the West, stopping on his
way, temporarily, at Warren, in this county,
where his second son, Joseph, was then born,
but located in Southington, about one-half mile
west of the center, in 1805. This whole jour-
ney from Connecticut, of from five hundred to
six hundred miles, was made by him on foot,
driving his ox-team, which drew a wagon in which
his wife and child and a few rude articles of
household furniture were conveyed.

Here in Southington he purchased a piece of
thickly and heavily timbered land, surrounded
by a dense, and for several miles unbroken for-
est ; Roderick Norton and Luke Viets purchas-
ing and settling upon other tracts near by. Here
he lived and labored, and suffered all the priva-
tions of poverty and early pioneer life, relying
largely upon deer and other wild game for his
subsistence. The quiet of his home was fre-
quently disturbed by bears and wolves, which
sometimes molested his domestic animals, a bear
on one occasion carrying off a live hog. Here
in the course of time, and by dint of energy and
perseverance, the large and thickly grown trees
disappeared before his axe, and in their place
appeared fields of grass and grain, and in the
place of the log house and rude stable were
reared commodious frame structures for man
and beast.

53°

TKUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO

From this early home, now occupied by their
son Harrison, Mr. and Mrs. Chalker never re-
moved, never returned to their home in Connec-
ticut. Here they raised to manhood and wom-
anhood nine sons and four daughters, named
respectively Orrin, Joseph, Edmond, Phoebe,
Polly, James, Annie, Daniel, Calvin, Philander,
Harrison, Allen, and Mercy, all of whom, except
Annie, first settled in Southington, where those
surviving yet remain, except Polly and Mercy,
who now reside in Indiana, and Annie and Phi-
lander, who reside in Nelson, Portage county,
Ohio. Joseph, Calvin, and Phcebe have died,
all leaving families.

James Chalker, Jr., farmer, whose [lortrait ap-
pears on another page, was the fourth son of
James Chalker, Sr., a sketch of whose life ap-
pears in this connection, and Mercy (Nor-
ton) Chalker, and was born in Southington June
[5, 181 1. His parents during his boyhood be-
ing in the most limited circumstances, having no
means except such as they carved out of a dense
forest, and there being but one school-house m
the township in those early days, and that sev-
eral miles from his home, James, Jr., never had
the privilege of attending school but one term,
and that a winter term of only three months, but
his boyhood and youth were spent upon his
father's farm aiding him in clearing away the
dense woods thereon, and in procuring subsist-
ence for his family, yet by private study he he-
came possessed of more than average intelli-
gence for a man of his times and surroundings.
At about the age of twenty-one years he pur-
chased fifty acres of heavily timbered land at $3
an acre, located two miles west of the center of
Southington, subsequently paying for the same
from what he produced on the i>remises. AW of
this tract of woods he without assistance chop-
ped and cleared up as he did several other
pieces, which he subsequently purchased. Many
of the rails that he split fifty years ago are still in
existence inclosing the fields that he then cleared
up, so that now he has one of the most desirable
farms of two hundred acres in the township, be-
sides a farm of fifty-seven acres in Nelson town-
ship, adjoining Southington, to which he re-
moved about ten years ago to pass the remainder
of his life in comparative ease and retirement.
Here he still resides, giving his attention to rent-
ing and managing his farms. In his younger

days he served as captain of militia, and has
filled several township offices. October 27,
1S36, he married Eliza Hyde, daughter of Eli
and Hannah Hyde, early settlers in Farmington
township, in this county, and settled upon the
piece of land he first purchased, which he yet
owns. There were born to them four sons:
Benson, who died in infancy; Byron, born
March 28, 1840, and resides in Southington;
Newton, born September 12, 1842, is a lawyer in
Akron; Columbus, born April 3, 1849, died
May 6, 1876. Mrs. Chalker died December 24,
1849. Mr. Chalker was married again June 5,
185 1, this time to Miss Adeline Timmerman, of
Manheim, Herkimer county. New York, who
was born November 9, 1828, and is still living.
Two children were born of this marriage, Mary
J., born March i, 1852, now the wife of Andrew
Morris, Southington, and Bertha, born October
5, 1854, now the wife of Thomas McConnell,
Southington. His lands, after they were cleared
up were better adapted to grazing than to agri-
culture, so that for the last half of his life Mr.
Chalker has been chiefly engaged in dairying
and stock-raising. He early joined the Methodist
church and has been an active member ever
since. In politics, though never taking a very
active part, he was a Whig prior to the formation
of the Republican party, of which party he has
been a member ever since its formation.

Philander Chalker, son of James, Sr., and
Mercy Chalker, was born in Southington, May
21, 1823. July 4, 1850, he married Betsey,
daughter of James Donaldson, a well-known
citizen of Parkman, Geauga county. Mr. and
Mrs. Chalker are the parents of two sons and
two daughters — Nancy, born May 18, 1854,
married and resides in Parkman ; Charles F.,
born December 27, 1856, at home; Nettie, born
March g, 1S60, and Emery, born March 5, 1862.
Mr. Chalker has resided in Southington, Bristol,
and Parkmaii. In the spring of 1876 he settled
where he now lives in Nelson, Portage county,
owning land both in Southington and in Nelson.
He and his wife have been members of the
Methodist Episcopal church for many years.
Mr. Chalker has much musical talent ; he has
taught singing school, and for a long time was
chorister of the Methodist Episcopal church.

f^^S^ 1

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

S3I

NEVVION CHALKER.
Newton Chalker, attorney at law, Akron, Ohio,
was born in Southington, Trumbull county,
Ohio, September 12, 1842, the third son of
James Chalker, Jr., and Eliza (Hyde) Chalker,
who died m December, 1849, daughter of Eli
and Hannah Hyde, of Farmington township, in
the same county. His grandparents, on both
sides, were born and reared in the State of Con-
necticut. The subject of this sketch remained
on his father's farm in the west part of Southing-
ton until he became fourteen years of age, when
he set out to obtain more than a common school
education. As an illustration of his youthful
determination to obtain such an education, one
or two incidents are mentioned. In August,
1856, having learned that there was a seminary
at West Farmington, for the purpose of making
arrangements to go to school there he went on
horseback alone and of his own accord to that
village, where he had never befcre been, called
upon the principal of the seminary, Rev. James
Creer, whom he had never before met, and with
his assistance rented a small house in which he
and his cousin, Ellen Chalker (now Hatch), and
Martha Norton (now Wannemaker) were to keep
house, and attend the fall term of the seminary.
This arrangement, however, failed, and he then
sought a situation in some family in the vicinity
of the seminary, where he could work for his
board and attend the seminary, and failed in this
plan until the middle of that fall term of school,
when arrangements were made with one of the
teachers. Prof H. U. Johnson, for him to board
in his family, do chores, and pay fifty cents a
week for his board, which he did the last half of
that term. In November, 1857, when fifteen
years of age, desiring to attend school at the
aforesaid seminary the following winter term, and
being without money, he made arrangements
with a fellow student to board themselves in a
room in the west wing of the seminary building,
and for fuel he went into his father's woods and
chopped three-quarters of a cord of wood, took
a yoke of oxen and went a mile to get a wagon,
drove to the woods, loaded the wood he had
chopped, and early the next morning started for
West Farmington, driving his ox team, himself
footing it all the way, returning late the same
day, making in all a distance of nineteen miles
that he drove his ox team in the cold weather

and bad roads of November to get a load of
wood to his school. To pay his tuition for that
term he carried the wood and kindled the fires
for the three main school-rooms of the seminary,
and to get his books he swept the school-room
floors the whole term. He continued to go to
school at this seminary two terms a year until
near the end of the spring term of 1862, board-
ing himself, as was the common custom, every
term except the first and last.

At the age of sixteen years he began teaching
the winter term of country schools, following the
old-time custom of boarding around with his
pupils, thus teaching for six consecutive winters,
in the following townships, respectively, Bracevillei
Southington, Parkman, Champion (two terms),
and Litchfield, Michigan. In June, 1862, he in
company with his cousin, William Chalker, went to
Columbus, Ohio, and enlisted in the Union army,
in company B, Eighty-seventh regiment Ohio
volunteer infantry, being mustered out in Octo-
ber of the same year by reason of the expiration
of the term of enlistment, having participated in
the three days' engagement at Harper's Ferry,
Virginia, in September of that year, in which the
Union troops were captured and taken prisoners
by General "Stonewall" Jackson and his army,
but were soon released on parole. In the spring
of 1863 he entered the freshman class of Alle-
gheny college, at Meadville, Pennsylvania, grad-
uating and receiving the degree of bachelor of
arts in the spring of 1866, having received no
]jecuniary aid except for one term, leaving col-
lege $50 in debt. In August, 1866, he went to
the State of Illinois in search of a situation as
teacher, and soon secured the position of princi-
pal of Dixon seminary, at Dixon, Illinois, a
town then of four thousand five hundred inhab-
itants, at a salary of $720 for the ensuing school
year. This institution employed a faculty of five
instructors, in which were taught the Greek,
Latin, German, and French languages, the
higher mathematics, and natural sciences, and
had an aveiage attendence of about one hundred
students a term. In August, 1867, he was em-
ployed as principal of the union schools at Dar-
lington, Wisconsin, at a salary of $1,000 a year.
At the end of the first year of this engagement
he decided to adopt the practice of law for his
life avocation, and after making a short visit to
his home in Southington in the summer of 1868,

532

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

he entered the law department of the University
of Albany, New York, where he studied law
under the instruction of Judge and Senator Ira
Harris, Judge A. J. Parker, and Professor I. Ed-
wards until the summer of 1869, when he grad-
uated at that institution, receiving the degree of
bachelor of laws, and was admitted by the New
York supreme court to practice law in that State,
and entered for a few months a law office in New-
York city. In September of the same year,
having decided to make his home in the West,
he visited several western towns and finally
located in Cameron, Missouri, a town of about
two thousand inhabitants, with flattering pros-
pects of soon becoming a city. Here he prac-
ticed law until May, 1874, when finding that
the town of his choice was destined, for many
years at least, to be but little more than a coun-
try village, he returned to Ohio to seek a home
in his native State, and on the i4ih day of
August of that year he located in Akron, a
thriving city now of twenty thousand inhabitants,
where he has practiced his profession ever since.

NOTES OF SETTLEMENT.

Dr. Ezekiel Moore is the only physician in
Southington township, where he has been con-
stantly-engaged in the practice of his profession
since 1849. He was born in Columbiana
county, Ohio, October 19, 1827. His parents,
John and Minerva Moore, were natives of Penn-
sylvania. He served an apprenticeship to a
tailor, taught school, and read medicine with Dr.
William Moore, now of New Lisbon. In the
session of 1852 he graduated from the Cleveland
Medical college. In 1854 he was married to
Sarah C, daughter of Samuel C. and Mahala
Bronson. They have one child — Frank, born
July 6, 1855. Dr. Moore is a member of the
Disciple church; also of the Masonic order. His
jiractice is extensive. The doctor was formerly
])resident and is now vice-president of the Trum-
bull County Medical society.

Joshua Osborne and his family were among
the very early settlers of Southington. Gilbert
Osborne, his son, was born in Colebrook, Con-
necticut, January 19, 1794, and came to South-
ington with his parents in 1808. He was a-
soldier of the War of 1S12. lie married l.oi'^

Haughton, and reared a family of three daughters
and one son. Porter G. and Mrs. John Schrontz,
now a resident of Illinois, are the only survivors.
About 1820 Gilbert Osborne settled in South-
ington upon the farm which his son now owns.
He lived to see a mighty change wrought by the
early settleis and their descendants and died
December 8, 1869. His wife died in 1871.

Henry K. White was born in Connecticut.
About 1815 he came to Ohio and settled in
Southington. His father. Captain Henry White,
was one of the pioneers of this township. Henry
K. married Lucy Wilson, and reared a family of
three sons and eight daughters, all living at pres-
ent. He was a school-teacher and a justice of
the peace several years. He died in 1S71; his
widow is still living. Their oldest son, H. J.,
served three years as a musician in a AVisconsin
regiment. He now resides in Hudson, Wiscon-
sin. George W., a member of the Second Ohio
volunteer cavalry, served four years. He was
seriously wounded at Little Rock. He now re-
sides in Dakota. Lewis P. \Vhite was born in
Southington April 30, 1837, and is now living on
a part of the farm where his grandfather settled
September 5, 1861, he enlisted in company D,
Sixth Ohio volunteer cavalry. He participated
in engagements at Aldie, Antietam, Gettysburg,
and in other severe battles. At Aldie a horse
was shot under him. At New Warrington, Vir-
ginia, while on patrol, he was ambushed, wound-
ed and taken prisoner with twenty-five comrades,
and was seven weeks in Libby prison. After re-
gaining strength at home he returned to the ser-
vice and took part in the Petersburg campaign.
He served three years, and was discharged in
November, 1864. July 20, i860, he married
Juliette Curtis. Their family consists of five
children — Mahlon D., Mary E., Ulysses G., Lil-
lian L., and Dora B. Mr. White is a member
of the Disciples church. Mrs. White's younger
brother, Addison, now a resident of Southington,
was a member of company H, Seventh Ohio vol-
unteer infantry, and was wounded in the service.
Riley, now of Southington center, was in the
same regiment and company and served a year
and a half

Smith and Sybil Hurd were among the early
settlers of Southington. They reared a family
of ten children, of whom five daughters and two
sons survive. Their son, Milo Hurd, an old and

TRUMBULL y\ND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

533

respected citizen of Southington, was born in
this township December 22, 1808. August 10,
1842, he married Selina Lenord, a native of
Pennsylvania. Of their six children but two
survive, the oldest and the youngest — Artemesia,
wife of John Robertson, Southington, and Hiram,
a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church,
located at Pittsburg. Mrs. Hurd, the mother, is
a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
In 1S48 Mr. Hurd settled in the wilds of this
township in a log-house, and made a good farm
by hard work. His father was a soldier in the
War of 1812, after Hull's surrender.

Harvey Joy was born in Vermont in 1807,
March 15th. He is ason of Ephraim and Eunice
(Freeman) Joy, who were the parents of five
sons and four daughters. Five of this family
are livmg. The family settled in the southeast
of Southington township in 181 7. The father
had been a captain during the War of 1812.
Besides farming he worked as a carpenter. He
was a member of the Disciple church. Captain
Joy died about 1855. Harvey Joy passed his
boyhood clearing land in the forest and attend-
ing school in the pioneer log school-house. Oc-
tober 28, 1829, he married Lovisa Bronson,
daughter of Elisha Bronson, an early settler.
Mr. and Mrs. Joy have five children — Rhoda L.,
wife of Robert Rice, was born August 25, 1830,
died October i, 1861; Orlin B., born June 23,
1833, now residing in Southington; Edwin O.,
born November 2, 1838, is a resident of Len-
nox, Ashtabula county ; Almeda H., born June
13, 1S42, is the wife of William Trask, South-
ington; Lucy F., wife of Henry Viets, of South-
ington, born October 3, 1847. Mrs. Harvey
Joy was a member of the Methodist Episcopal
church over forty years. She died January 20,
1881. Mr. Joy settled on his present farm, then
unimproved, in 1830. He originally bought
two hundred acres, but has given to his sons all
but seventy-five. He has held several township
offices, and has been a member of the Method-
ist Episcopal church over forty years.

Charles Harshnian was born in Jackson, Ma-
honing county, in April, 1833. He is the
youngest son of David and Rosanna (Stuart)
Harshman. His father was born in Pennsyl-
vania in 1799. When he came to Ohio, he first
^nili-d in Austintown, lemoved thence to Jack-
M.n, .iiul 11 1838 to Southington. The house in

which he lived, was built and kept as a stage
house for many years. He reared a family of
six children, four of whom survive. Mrs. Ros-
anna Harshman died February i, 1872. David
Harshman is still living, vigorous in health and
strength. He has beena member of the Meth-
odist Episcopal church since 1850. Charles
attended the common schools, Hiram college,
and the Western Reserve seminary of Farming-
ton. He has followed farming. September 5,
1S55, he married Eda A., daughter of Dea-
con and Lydia White, early settlers of this
township. Mrs. Harshman was born in South-
ington, January 16, 1835. The children born
of this union are as follow: Ida R., now Mrs.
Eli Overly, residing upon the home place ; Leora
L., wife of James E. Heathman, Southington;
Will H., Clara, Naomi, and Mary E. In the
spring of 1856 Mr. Harshman settled on his
present home farm. In 1862 he enlisted in
company B, One Hundred and Twenty-fifth
Ohio volunteer infantry, and served as second
lieutenant. On a physician's certificate of dis-
ability he resigned May 2, 1862. In 1871 Mr.
Harshman was elected county commissioner, and
was re-elected in 1874. He is a member of the
Masons. In company with W. B. McConnell he
started the first cheese factory in the township.
This establishment was destroyed by fire in
1879. At one time 16,000 pounds of milk per
day were used in this factory.

Calvin Haughton, son of Samuel and Aman-
da (Osborn) Haughton, was born in Southing-
ton township, December 14, 1830. His father,
a native of New York State, was a soldier in the
War of 1812. Calvin was educated at the com-
mon schools and at Hiram college, where he
was a school-mate of Garfield. January 12,
1856, he married Martha, daughter of Edward
Jones, formerly a well known citizen of South-
ington. Mr. and Mrs. Haughton have two
daughters — Emma, wife of Jefferson Moore,
Parkman, Geauga county, and Minnie May, at
home. After his marriage Mr. Haughton loca-
ted upon his present farm, an unimproved place.
He now owns two hundred acres, and has a fine
farm and a good house. Both Mr. and Mrs.
Haughton are members of the Disciple church.

Oliver K. Beemen was born in Canfield, Ma-
honing county, September 3, 1827. He is a
son of .\nsel and Ann M. (Gilson) Beemen.

534

TRUMBULL AND MAHONINCx COUNTIES, OHIO.

His father was born in Litchfield county, Con-
necticut, February 28, 1788. In 1806 he set-
tled in Canfield. He was married in 1809, and
died in 1854. His widow died in September,
1877. She was the daughter of Eleazer Gilson,
a Canfield pioneer. The family consisted of
six children, five of whom are still living. O. K.
Beemen taught school several winters when a
young man. February 7, 1856, he married
Harriet P., daughter of George Misner, an early
settler of Berlin township. She was born Sep-
tember II, 1833. Two of their three children
survive. Rosella A. resides at home. She is
an artist of much ability, and executes many
crayon portraits. Frank E. is now a student in
the literary department of Michigan university,
Ann Arbor. In 1856 Mr. Beemen settled on
the farm where he now lives. He was elected
justice of the peace in 1864 and in 1867, and
lias held several township offices. He is a mem-
ber of the Masonic lodge in West Faimington.

.S. H., youngest child of Joseph H. and Eliza-
beth Norton, was born in Southington township
October 2, 1833. His whole life has been spent
on the farm. He was married August 14, 1852,
to Miss Betsy Morris, who was born in Portage
county, February 7, 1834. Their family con-
sists of three children, two of whom ^re living
— Sarah E., born June 6, 1856, died September
9, 1875; Samuel C. born November 8, i860,
and Charles O., born June 13, 1865. Mr. Nor-
ton resided on the home farm until 1861, when
he enlisted in Company H, Forty-first Ohio vol-
unteer infantry, and served with the regiment at
Shiloh and Corinth. In 1862, on account of a
wound in the hand he was discharged. He has
since lived on the homestead farm, except for a
period of three years, during which he lived in
Portage county.

Ira V'eits, son of David and Lucretia Rice
Veits, was born in Litchfield county, Connecti-
cut, September 5, 1807. His father brought his
family to Ohio in 1825 and settled on the farm
now occupied by Ira. The family consisted of
six children, three of whom survive. Ira Veits
married in 1828 Miss Hurd, daughter of S.
Hurd, one of the pioneers of Southington town-
ship. They have four children, viz: James M.,
a resident of Michigan; Jcrusha (Walker), resi-
dence Portage county; Rosanna S. (Kibler), res-
dence Portage county, and .Mmira Culp, of

Southington. Mrs. Veits died in 1841. In No-
vember following, Mr. Veits married for his sec-
ond wife Miss Dianna Hurd, also a daughter of
Smith Hurd. She was born in Southington Sep-
tember 23, 1823. The fruit of this union was
one son, Alvin, born March 26, 1846, and died
February 14, 1877. Mr. Veits settled on his
present farm in 1829.

Joseph C. Hart, son of Joseph C. and Rosanna
(Goff) Hart, was born in Weathersfield, Connect-
icut, September 22, 1828, and came to Ohio
with his parents. He worked on the farm until
of age. In 1849 he returned to Connecticut,
and worked in an edge tool factory. May 20,
1852, he married Margaret Lane, who was born
April 12, 1829, in East Hartford, Connecticut.
They are the parents of three children, viz: Al-
gernon D., born May 20, 1853, Central Fall,
Rhode Island; Carrie J., born June 18, 1858,
wife of Emery P. McCorkle, Farmington ; Buit
E., born July 28, 1871. In 1853 Mr. Hart re-
turned to Ohio, and the following year went to
California, where he engaged in mining with
considerable success until 1857, when he re-
turned and began work upon his farm in South-
ington. Mrs. Hart is a member of the Method-
ist Episcopal church. In 187 1 Mr. Hart began
the manufacture of cheese, utilizing the milk of
from four hundred to five hundred cows. His
partner in the businesses M. B. Haughton.

Dennis White was born in Colebrook, Con-
necticut, June 9, 1801. His father, Ephraim
White was a soldier of the Revolution for six
years. Dennis White visited Ohio early at vari-
ous time, removing with his family in the fall of
1 83 1. They came by team and wagon to Albany,
thence to Buffalo by canal, and from there to
Fairport on a lake vessel. He settled in South-
ington, Trumbull county, and lived there the
balance of his life, dying April 9, 1873. He
was quite a hunter and on his first visit to Ohio
engaged to some extent in the fur trade. He
was a deacon in the Baptist church at the time
of his death. He married Lydia Baxter and
raised three children. Two are living — Henry
C, and Mrs. Charles Harshman, of Southington.
Henry C. White was born in Berkshire county,
Massachusetts, October 27, 1830. He was
brought up to farming, attended the Western Re-
serve college at West Farmington two terms, and
taught school one term. He married, May 4,

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

535

1853, Miss Esther A. Rogers, born in Bazetta
township September 7, 1830. Her mother, Lydia
Rogers, is still living in Ashtabula county at the
advanced age of ninety-eight years. Mr. White
removed from his farm to Warren in the spring
of 1877. He has held the office of township
trustee both in Southington and Howland.

W. J. Helsley, oldest son of Henry and Sarah
(Diehl) Helsley, was born in Ellsworth, Mahon-
ing county, December 14, 1839. His father was
liorn in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, in
1811, and came to Ellsworth about 182 1, with
his parents. He was the father of two daughters
and four sons, of whom but three sons siirvive.
Finley, the second son, was a member of the
One Hundred and Fifth Ohio volunteer infantry,
and was killed while in the service, at Perryville,
Kentucky, October 8, 1862. Henry Helsley
came to Southington in 1851, locating on the
farm now owned by his widow and his son,
Henry G. He was a member of the Disciple
church. He died May 24, I S70. W. J. Hels-
ley went to Pike's Peak in 1859, and was absent
eight months. September 10, 1861, he married
Mary Yancer, a native of Bazetta township, this
county. Their children are as follows : Finley
S., born December 24, 1866; Ami, died in 187 1,
aged two years; Mary Ella, born February 9,
1875. In October, 1861, Mr. Helsley enlisted
in the Nmeteenth Ohio volunteer infantry, and
with that regiment he participated in the battles
of Pittsburg Landing, Lookout Mountain, Chick-
aniauga, etc. He served four years and was
mustered out in November, 1865. In 1874 he
settled on the farm which he now occupies. He
is a member of the Disciple church and an of-
ficer in the Southington grange.

David P. Jones, son of Edward and Mary
(Price) Jones, was born in Austintown, Mahon-
ing county, December 26, 1819. His father
was a native of Pennsylvania, who came to
Ohio early in the present century. He was a
stone-mason by trade. He settled in Warren,
removing thence to Austintown at an early date.
He died about 1856. David P., married Febru-
ary 18, 1 84 1, Laura, daughter of Charles and
Dorcas (Osborn) May. Her father, Charles
May, was one of the first settlers, and located on
the farm now owned by David Harshman. He
was the father of eight children, three of whom
are living. He died in Braceville in 1836. For

many years he was class-leader in the Methodist
Episcopal church. Mrs. Jones was born in
Braceville March 26, 1820. Mr. and Mrs.
Jones have had eight children, of whom three
survive — Laura Ann, born April 4, 1852, resides
with her parents ; Ada J., now the wife of
Frederick Joy, born July 23, 1859; and Viola,
now Mrs. Frank Dabney, of Warren, born May
31, 1862. Mr. Jones settled on an unimproved
farm in Braceville, where he remained until
1865, when he purchased the Edward Jones
homestead, upon which he now lives. He and
his wife are members of the Disciple church.

William B. Ives, son of Luther and Laura
(Johnson) Ives, was born in Litchfield county,
Connecticut, January 2, 1821. His father was
born about 1795, and died January 15, 1871.
In 181 7 he married Miss Johnson, who was
born in Litchfield county, Connecticut, October
29, 1799. She IS still living and at her son's
home. W. B. Ives, in 1842, purchased the farm
on which he now lives — an unimproved place at
that time. He erected a log cabin, in which he
lived alone until March 28, 1850, when he mar-
ried Adaline, daughter of Gilbert Osborn, one
of the Southington pioneers. Mrs. Ives was
born December 25, 1827. Their children are
as follows: The first died in infancy; C. F. was
born November 7, 1853, and resides at South-
ington center; Mary Ella, born August 5, 1856,
is married and resides in Newbury, Geauga
county; Emma, born in 1858, died at the age of
eleven; Minnie Belle, born April 17,- 1866. Mrs.
Ives died November 19, 1867.

Edward Thorp was born in Lower Canada
May 26, 1833. He is a son of Edward and
Phebe (Jones) Thorp, and came w ith his parents
to Parkman, Geauga county, in 1840. Novem-
ber 17, 1867, he married Augusta C. Jones,
daughter of Edward Jones. She was born in
Southington March 20, 1845. Mr. and Mrs.
Thorp have had seven children, four of whom
are living: Nina M., Edward R., Lillian A.,
and an infant daughter, Mr. Thorp is exten-
sively engaged m farming and stock raising and
owns a large farm of excellent land. Mrs.
Thorp's father, Edward Jones, born in Austin-
town in 181 1, came to Southington about 1832,
and for several years was a prominent citizen of
the township. In 1866 he sold out and went to
Wisconsin and thence to Iowa, where he died in

536

'I'RUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

1880. He was twice married, first to Orpha
Hill, in 1832. They had five children, four sur-
vive, and three reside in Southington : Mrs.
Calvin Hau,a;hton, Mrs. William Haughton, and
Mrs. Thorp. Edward T. resides in Illinois.
Angeline was the wife of Alvah G. True; she
died in Jackson county in 1866. Mr. Jones
was an active member and a deacon of the Dis-
ciple church. His second wife was the widow
of Cyrus Parmley. Mr. Thorp has resided on
his present larm since 1867.

Daniel Brobst, son of John and Polly Kessler
lirobst, was born in Warren township, September
8, 1842. His youth was spent in the common
schools and at common labor on the farm by the
month. He enlisted in company H, Twentieth
Ohio volunteer infantry, in 1861, and at the ex-
piration of his term of enhstment he re-enlisted
in the veteran service, and was mustered out in
July, 1865, having been on duty four years.
After leaving the army, he settled in Michigan.
February 13, 1868, he married Augusta, daughter
of Jeremiah Miller, an early settler of Southing-
ton township. She was born in 1846. They
have a family of four children, viz : Adella P.,
Laura L., Bertine S., and Lillie M. Mr.
Brobst purchased his present residence in 1872,
owning one of the best farms in the township.

CHAPTER XXII.

LORDSTOWN.

The boundary lines of Lordstown were orig-
inally run by the surveying |)arty of the Connec-
til ut Land company, and, like the other town-
sliips of the county, has always been considered
as embracing an area of five miles square, but
subsequent investigation has revealed the fact
that this township contains but 14,492 acres,
and is the smallest township in the county. The
surface is generally of beautiful rolling land, and
consists of a sandy loam and clay soil.

iMom the sjuthwest to the northwest, diagon-
ally across the t<>wnshi|), with a variable width of
a half mile or less, extends a gravel and sand
ridge. On the northeast side of this ridge the

soil is of a sandy loam, and on the southwest
side is the rich loam especially productive of
wheat. Grazing is general throughout the town-
ship, and many of the farmers take special pride
in raising fine-wool sheep.

Much of the land has been redeemed from
boggy wastes to fertile fields by artificial drain-
age, and lands once producing cranberries in
wild profusion, are now productive farms, dotted
with substantial farm residences and well filled
barns.

NATURAL DRAINvVGE.

Little Duck creek takes its rise in the south-
western part and winds eastward toward the cen-
ter, and again turning northwest leaves the town-
ship at the northwest. It is the natural drainage
of a swamp or tract of lowlands in the south-
west part of the township, and is the most im-
portant stream in the township. A small branch
known as the Meander rises about the center of
the south part, and, flowing toward the east, en-
ters Weathersfield.

LOC.vrioN.

Lordstown is located second from the west in
the last tier of townships of the county border-
ing on Mahoning county. It is town three and
range four, and is bounded on the north by
Warren, on the east by Weathersfield, south by
Mahoning county, and on the west by Newton.

EARLY SETTLEMENTS.

Henry Thorn came from Virginia in 1822,
and built the first log-cabin in Lordstown, about
two and one-half miles east of the center; soon
afterward his brother William came and settled
near him. He soon after moved south of the
center where he died.

John Tait and his brother Robert settled to-
gether on lot number fourteen, north of the
center, in 1824. They began blacksmithing, and
were the first to engage in blacksmithing in the
township. Robert Tait purchased a farm north-
east of his brother where he now resides, and is
the oldest pioneer now living in the township.
In 1826 Thomas Pew settled near the Wood-
ward residence, immediately south of the center.
In this same year William Moore settled on what
was then known as the " old Indian trail," which
lead from the salt springs in Weathersfield
to Sandusky, and his log-cabin stood about
forty rods north of the present Ohltown road, on
lot number seventy-three.

'RUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

537

In 1826 Lyman Lovell, Peleg Lewis, John
Lewis, Samuel Bassett, Peter Snyder, Leonard
Miller, Thomas Loiigmore, and John Owens
lived north of the center, and Andrew Grove
and James Preston lived south.

From this time the township began to im-
prove and increase in population ; small tracts
of land were sold to suit the small means of the
l)urchasers, thus affording homes for a greater
number of families ; but as some grew richer
they began purchasing more land, and the farms
i^rew larger, but the number of families less.
The census reports show that in i860 this town-
ship had a population of nine hundred and
ninety; in 1870, eight hundred and fifty; and in
1880, eight hundred and four.

FIRST OFFICIAL .\CTS, AND INDENTURES.

The overseer of the poor had a very unpleas-
ant service to perform, or so it would seem now,
as the law compelled them to warn persons who
were likely to become township charges to de-
part from the township immediately. The first
act of this kind was done by Thomas Duncan
and Moses Haskell, overseers, who ordered the
constable, John Lewis, to warn "certain poor
and dissipated persons, namely : Jacob Lane,
John Wilson, Hannah Moore, and Matilthe
Freehearty, to depart out of the township." The
changes in the manner of treating the poor can
be better appreciated when contrasting our pres-
ent public buildings designed for those who are
unable to care for themselves with the consta-
ble's writ ordering them to "move on" — any-
where, out of the township.

The practice of "binding out" apprentices and
servants was a very common occurrence in this
township, and these indentures disclose some
peculiarities and also illustrate some of the pe-
culiar views as well as circumstances of the fore-
fathers of Lordstown.

One boy is "bound" until he becomes eight-
een years of age for the consideration on the
part of his master that he is to receive instruc-
tion "in the art and mystery of farming" and
twelve months' schooling in the eight years. In
183s a girl is bound to a lady "to be her faith-
ful, obedient maiden-servant; to keep the secrets
of her mistress as well as her own, and not
contract marriage or carry off any property be-
longing to her mistress." Another at the age of
nine years and five months, "bound to keep the

secrets of his master and not to embezzle his
master's goods, etc.," for which he was to receive
"instruction in the art and mystery of agricul-
ture," and "schooling sufficient to enable him to
read and write, and cipher as far as the single
rule of three." Another boy is not allowed to
"play at cards, visit tippling houses, or places of
gaming." At the expiration of the time each
one is to receive a "common and a Sunday suit
of clothes," and also "one new Bible;" and some
were even fortunate enough to receive a colt or
a calf in addition.

NAME, ETC.

Samuel P. Lord was the original proprietor
who lived at Lyme, New London county, Con-
necticut, and who owned, by grant from the
State of Connecticut to him as one of the suffer-
ers, or as purchaser from original claimants,
nearly all the territory embraced within the
limits of the township, the exception being a
portion of the "old salt springs tract" in the
southeastern part of the township. He, while
yet in Connecticut, sent his agents to his lands
in the Reserve, who reported the land here as
fertile as his own in Connecticut, so he gave his
own name to the township, and concluded to
hold the land for advanced prices, that would
follow the settlement of the neighboring town-
ships, thus preventing the earlier settlement of
the township.

From records of deeds it is found that Samuel
P. Lord died at Cleveland, and left his posses-
sions in Lordstown to his wife Ann and his sons,
William M., Richard S., and Stephen I., also a
daughter, who was represented by her husband,
Charles J. McCurdy. From these heirs or their
agents the deeds for the farms were received.
Many of the farms were first "articled," out of
which a great many difficulties grew, involving the
titles, and otherwise retarding the advancement
of the agricultural interests of the township.

The industries of Lordstown belong almost
wholly to the agricultural department. The
first saw-mill was built northeast of the center
about sixty rods, by John Carrolton, a small water
mill. The next was a steam-mill, just east of the
center, where the present school-house stands,
and was built by Burke & Leach.

Shiveley's mill stood on a branch of the Little

538

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

Meander, southeast of the center. The present
steam sawmill was first built about 1850, and
the Simon's steam mill in i860.

LORDSTOWN CENTER.

As in the case of the townships generally the
central part was chosen as the point of business
and trade, and in the early times small stores
and branches of ordmary industries were begun,
generally on a very small scale and increased or
otherwise as the demand of the country war-
ranted.

The settlement at the center had its time of
prosperity and a good business was once done
here in several branches of trade, but its close
|)roximity to larger trade centers, and the in-
cieased facilities for trade led the trade away
from Lordstown and left the little village with
several empty store-rooms and other indications
of former business operations. The first store
at the center was opened by Burke & Siddell.
Lawrence Pierce began at an early date and
operated a successful business for about twelve
years. Two stores were once supported here,
kept by Thomas Egbert and John McCaugh-
try. The first hotel was kept by Jehu Wood-
ward, in the house now occupied for that
purpose by Mr. Nuhnberger. The post-office
was established in 1835, with William Packard
Ijostmaster, who kept his office in David Leach's
shoeshop, north of center.

Jimmy Richardson was the first shoemaker,
who seems to have been very accommodating in
promises, much above the capacity of his shop to
fulfill, but he is remembered as a "good old
soul." The first wagonmaker was George
Hanen.

The present town hall located here is a two-
story frame building used for general township
purposes, the graded school and Grange hall.
The first floor is fitted with a stage and necessary
appurtenances for dramatic entertainments, lec-
tures, and other literary purposes. The village
now contains two churches, hotel, blacksmith
and wagon-shop, and some other minor branches
of industry. 'I'hough never having reached law-
ful proportions necessary to incorporation, it is
generally regarded as a jieaceful and orderly
community.

SCHOOLS.

Too mucli cannot well be said on the subject
of education or the question of public schools.

entering as it does every branch of interest that
goes to make up the general condition and wel-
fare of any community. This is now generally
regarded as a conceded point, but strange as it
may seem in the light of the present, it has not
always been so regarded. Many communities
now enjoying the blessings of good public schools
are indebted therefor to leaders in an aggressive,
hard-fought contest, that the future generations,
if not their own, might have the benefit of gocd
schools. That some difficulty in this respect
was experienced in Lordstown should not be re-
garded as a remarkable occurrence.

On the 14th day of October, 182S, the first
school districts were laid out by the trustees.
The first district was as follows: Beginning at
the northwest corner of lot five, thence east to
the northeast corner of township, thence south to
southeast corner of lot thirty, thence west to
southwest corner of lot twenty-five, thence north
to place of beginning. The first school-house
in the township was built in this district on the
Moses Haskell farm (lot six) and it stood on a
knoll on the west side ot the center road, in
the center and north part of the township. It
was a log house, after the pioneer style of arch-
itecture, and the first teacher was a man by the
name of Everett, of whom nothing more can
now be ascertained.

The above district contained at this time thir-
teen householders. Afterwards district number
two was made and extended from the northwest
corner of the township to the northeast corner of
lot nine, thence south to southeast corner of lot
twenty-nine, thence west to the southwest corner
of lot twenty-one, thence north to the beginning;
and the school-house was built at Bailey's cor-
ners. It will be seen that that the latter district
embraces the former, and it also added twelve
more householders to the school district.

In January, 1830, another district was made
and the others changed. Altogether the house-
holders of Lordstown at that time were, Al-
exander and Thomas Longmore, John Nuhn-
burger, John Troup, David Fuller, Samuel Bas-
sett, John Owen, James Kennedy, Peleg Lewis,
Moses Haskell, John and David Lewis, Peter
Snyder, Ira Lovell, George Rhinesmith, John
Tait, James Pew, John Patton, Cyrus Bosworth,
Andrew Scott, Lemuel Church, Alexander Camp-
bell, Joseph Scott, George Raster, John Cun-

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

S39

ninghani, James Richardson, Gtorge Spange-
burgh, Daniel Eager, James Mills, John Bailey,
John Troup, Cornelius Boyd, Hugh Cunning-
ham, Samuel Crum, Sarah Thompson, John
Cunningham, Jr., Andrew Hine, Ransom Butter-
field, Joseph C. Sankey, John Gordon, William
Cameron, James Preston, William and Henry
Thorn, Andrew Kidler, Sr., Andrew Kidler, Jr.,
William Baker, Mr. Bright, William Moore,
Noah Stanley, John Underwood, John Cotton,
Andrew Grove, Nicholas Leonard, George Wan-
ner, Leonard Woodward. Of these early house-
holders Andrew Grove is the only one now liv-
ing in the township. Though Robert Tait had
settled here earlier his name does not appear in
the records and he probably was not a house-
holder at the time. Also Thomas Duncan, who
came in 1829, probably was not yet on the list
of householders. There may have been others
residing in the township whose names are not
on this list, but if there were they could not at
this time be ascertained; so the list is given to
show the extent of the settlement of the town-
ship in 1830, three years after its organization,
whereby some estimate can be made of the
many changes in the last fifty years.

The list also shows the names of those who
were taxed for the first schools, and was made
for that purpose.

The first school-house at the center stood a
short distance south, near "the ledge," and was
a small log cabin. The first teacher of whom
any account can now be ascertained, was Anna
Harmon. She was a dear lover of Bohea tea,
and carried it with her to school, and always kept
a tin full hot by the school-house fire, and many
times " Aunt Anna," as she was called, found
more than tea grounds in the bottom of her tin.
It seems that "Aunt Anna" had limits in which
she thought it necessary that the pioneer youth-
ful mind should be circumscribed, and hence at
the beginning of the school the first class would
begin at "crucifix" and the other class at
"baker," and at the close, finish as usual at "The
Fox and the Bramble." Next term the same
ground would be patiently and with profound
gravity gone all over again. The next teacher
was John Fullerton, an old bachelor, who was
given to mirth, and indulged m occasional
"s])rees," but succeeded, however, in pushing
the expanding mind of the scholars as far as the

English reader, and the " rule ot three," which
then embraced the highest branches of educa-
tion, and was deemed amply sufficient for all the
demands of life. Granville Sears afterwards
combined his trade of making boots at night
with teaching school in the day time ; and it is
related of him that in an emergency he could
" lay about him with a hickory gad " in a way
that commanded the respect if not the admira-
tion of the students of his academy.

About 1840 a frame school building was
erected at the center, on the site of the present
district school-house, which was burned down,
but another soon replaced the loss. The first
select school was taught by Joseph King, now a
minister of the gospel ui Pittsburg. He was a
great worker in the cause of education, and sub-
sequently, as his school increased in numbers,
taught in the town hall, and succeeded in fitting
many teachers for successful work, and secured
quite a reputation for the school at Lordstown.
After him came his brother, John King ; then
Mr. Campbell, and after that the interest in the
school seemed almost entirely lost, until S. F.
De Ford came, who was an excellent educator,
and he taught two terms in the old hall, but
afterwards began and finished the Lordstown
academy; the school was very successful for some
time. After De Ford, R. W. Duncan taught the
school four years. The school was afterwards
allowed to cease, and in 1870 the building was
sold for a cheese factory, but about 1877, the
township purchased the building for township
purposes.

In 1875 tlie Lordstown Educational society
was formed, of which A. G. McCorkle, James
Wilson, Jr., D. K. Woodward, George W. Harsh-
man, John C. Pew, and L. C. Longmore, are the
working members. This organization proposes
to engage teachers for a graded school and pay
fiom theii own treasury the amount necessary
to employ competent teachers over and above
what the township trustees will allow to be paid
for teachers from the public fund. The board
of education this year made this a graded school
and has been very successful. The building is
well adapted for the school and for the various
purposes of public necessity for which it is
used, and especially is the school a credit to the
township and speaks well for the citizens, es-
pecially those who have labored so long and

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

faithfully in behalf of education and intellectual
improvement m this township.

FIRST ELECTIONS.

On the 2ist day of June, 1827, tiie qualified
electors of this township were notified to meet
at the house of James Kennedy, in said town-
ship, for the purpose of electing the first township
officers. Peleg Lewis, Ira Lovell, and Alex-
ander Campbell were appointed judges of the
election; Moses Haskell and James Kennedy,
clerks, " who being severally sworn on the
duties of their respective offices; whereupon the
electors forwarded by ballot to elect the follow-
ing otificers," viz : Peleg Lewis, Samuel Crum,
and Thomas Pew, trustees; James Kennedy,
treasurer; Moses Haskell, township clerk; John
Lewis, constable; James Preston and Alex
Campbell, overseers of the poor; Ira Lovell
and David Lewis, fence viewers. The bonds of
these officials were signed by Roxwell M. ALason,
justice of the peace.

On the 7th day of January, 1828, the qualified
electors met at the house of John Gordon, in
said township, for the purpose of electing the
first justice of the peace. The same judges were
appointed, with Moses Haskell and James Cole,
clerks. " Whereupon the electors (again) for-
warded by ballot " and elected Peter Snyder;
and in subsequent years, until 1848, Samuel
Crum, William Packard, Leonard Woodward,
M. G. Weisell, John Woodward, and Thomas
Duncan have served in this office. The trustees
met on the first Monday in March, 1828, and
selected James Kennedy to serve as grand juror
the ensuing year; and John Gordon was selected
as petit juror, October ig, 1828. The first
supervisors were elected April 7, 1828. They
were Peter Snyder, Alex Campbell, Samuel
Crum, John Gordon, John Patton, and William
'I'horne. The following year these officials re-
ported poll tax collected to the amount of $53.
At this same election the following officials were
chosen: John Gordon, Peleg Lewis, and Alex
Campbell, trustees; Moses Haskell, clerk; James
Kennedy, treasurer; John Lewis, constable;
William Thome and James Kennedy, overseers
of poor; Alex Campbell and Moses Haskell,
fence viewers.

movement outside the several churches, was ta-
ken by C. G. Beardsley at the raising of his barn
in 1845. I' "'^s customary at such meetings to
supply the men liberally with whiskey, and pub-
lic opinion generally approved of the time-hon-
ored custom. On this occasion it seems that it
was not expected that the custom would be set
aside, as it was thought no one would jeopardize
his own interests by risking giving offense to the
friends who had come together to assist in rais-
ing his building, and upon whom he must de-
pend for his assistance. But as Mr. Beardsley
was a man of strong convictions on this subject
he bade his carpenter to announce that he was
ready and willing to furnish anything to eat that
the men might desire, but that he would let the
building material rot where it was rather than to
furnish whiskey to have the building raised.
The building was raised, but it was the first one
in Lordstown in which the late "King Alcohol"
did not take a prominent part. The cause of
temperance has many supporters and hard-work-
ers in Lordstown, and there has been no small
struggle in the cause here, because there was a
time when strong drink ran riot, and as else-
where did its worst work. But the fact that
to-day there is no place within the bounds of the
township where intoxicating liquors are sold must
be regarded as a great victory for the right in the
great moral contest. Since then not more than
two warrants have been issued for assault and bat-
tery, and for Lordstown it is said that no citizen
of hers ever served a term in the jienitentiary or
was ever incarcerated in the county jail, or was
sent to the county infirmary as a pauper. But
many who received their education here have
gone to other places and have risen to dis-
tinction, though not one has ever received a
county or State office Irom this township.

E.-iRLV MEETINGS AT OHLTOWN.

In early times religious meetings were held
three times a' month at Ohltown, in Michael
Ohl's mill. The young people in the neighbor-
hood of the center would form in parties to at-
tend church. The young men, if able, were
dressed in blue swallowtail coals, bell-crown hats,
fur an inch long, and red bandanna handker-
chiefs. Some, however, wore "homespun" with
pewter buttons — old Frazier's make. The ladies
dressed in garments of their own manufacture,
with high back-combs, and thus adorned would

TRUMBULL AND MAHONINCx COUNTIES, OHIO.

54 1

start to Ohltown church with shoes and stock-
ings under their arms. When near the church
they would stop at the creek and put on their
shoes, attend the services, after which as soon
as they reached a convenient distance they
again took off their shoes, returning home bare-
footed. The merchants of Warren at one time
brought on a stock of paper bonnets, stamped
to imitate Leghorn, and gave one to each of those
who bought goods at the store. Many of the
girls in the Lordstown settlement got these bon-
nets, and on the following Sunday, all arrayed in
their new spring bonnets they started for Ohl-
town mill church; but on the way they were
caught in a shower of rain, and such a motley
picture of beauty adorned in slouched i)aste-
board bonnets was never before or since seen in
Lordstown.

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, LORIlSTOWN
CENTER.

Many years ago a Mr. Ashburn, whose wife
was a good Methodist, lived in the southeast
part of the township, and the itinerant ministers
of the church who often visited the family were
induced to preach in the old log school-house in
that locality. Meetings of irregular appointment
were held here for some years until in 1834 the
first Methodist Episcopal church in the town-
ship was organized in the school-house of dis-
trict number seven. Rev. J. W. Hill was the
first minister to this class, which at that time be-
longed to the Youngstown circuit. In 1835-36
a new circuit called Ellsworth was formed which
embraced Ellsworth, Berlin, Jackson, and Lords-
town under the pastorate of Rev. Dow Prosser.

In 1842 the present church building was
erected at Lordstown center. The dedication
sermon was preached by Rev. Robinson. The
Sabbath-school was organized in the spring of
1843, and was superintended by Thomas Pew.

The usual revival seasons, so popular with this
branch of the Christian church, have from time
to time visited this congregation to the strength-
ening and building up of the society. One now es-
pecially remembered occurred in 1839-40, when
many were brought into the church and the mem-
bership greatly revived and encouraged. In 1855
Rev. Tagg conducted a meeting in which thirty-
two were added to the church; and many other
i:i>p:irlnnt revivals have been held, not now re-
calied. Among the ministers who have served

this charge are J. W. Hill, Dow Prosser, Dillen

Prosser, Peter Burress, Gilmore, Ira Norris,

Lewis Clark, Samuel Leach, S. W. Ingraham,
Ira Eddy, Swayne Freer, W. V. Day, William

Sampson, H. Elliott, John H. Tagg, Mc-

Comb, T. B. Tate, S. Wilson, Chailes Reeves,
Stephen Hubbard, J. B. Grover, S. Nye, J. Mc-
Laine, Albert Vancamp, C. C. Hunt, S. Hol-
land, H. A. Cobbledeck, M. Moses, J. H. Meek,
J. Excell, James Shields, George Crook, G. W.
Anderson. The society now belongs to Jackson
and Ohltown circuit, Youngstown district; Rev.
Seeley, presiding elder.

THE UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH, EAST LORDS-
TOWN.

This church building is located about two and
a half miles southeast of Lordstown center, and
was erected under the ministry of Rev. Excell
in i860. The land on which it was built was
donated by Charles Ohl, and the property of the
chiirch includes a small cemetery lot near by,
where the deceased of this congregation are laid
in their last resting place.

The first organization was effected about 1855
by Rev. Hiram Knight, and among the original
members were William Hood and wife, Mr. and
Mrs. John Robb, Eve Dustman, Elizabeth Ohl,
and others.

The ministers are as far as can now be ascer-
tained were John Excell, Bolster, Jacob

Swihart, H. F. Day, Evans, W. Miller, D.

Traver, I. Moody, A. Berzee, R. Smith, J. G.
Baldwin, and D. Landaw, the present minister
in charge.

Much of the impoitant history of this church
lives now in the lessons taught in the moral
lives and Christian character of many who have
long since gone to rest m the little graveyard,
and who were nurtured in holy things within the
humble and unpretentious walls of the United
Brethren church.

THE DISCIPLE CHURCH, LORDSTOWN CENTER.

The pioneer religious organization of Lords-
town township was effected by that branch of
the Christian church known the Disciple or
Christian. The great revival of January, 1828,
under Revs. Walter Scott and James P. Mitchell,
held in Warren, was, no doubt, the beginning of
the religious fervor that spread throughout the
country in the neighborhood of Warren, and
crystalizcd in many distinct organizations in the

542

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

various lowubliips. Among the special conver-
sions during that remarkable meeting was that
of John Tait, who afterwards became one of the
leading members of the Lordstown society.

He was baptized in the Mahoning river in the
month of January, and at the hour of midnight.
The hymn sang on this occasion, as the congre-
gation marched from the church to the river, is
one long familiar to the pioneer members of this
church ; and begins —

Come and taste along with me
Consolation ranning free.

Very soon after this revival a congregation
sprang up in Lordstown. The new converts,
fruits of the revival, with some members already
here and others who had been gathered to-
gether by Revs. John Henry and Marcus Bos-
worth, about forty-one in number, proceeded to
organize a society in their own locality, thus
giving practical expression to their desire to
bring the Gospel to their neighbors, and plant
in the midst of their own homes a branch of
their own church, to which they were devoutly
and devotedly attached.

This organization was effected March 20,
1830, by Rev. John Henry, in the old log-cabin
school-house that stood on the northeast corner
of David Lewis' farm (lot number twenty-eight).

The officials elected at this meeting were
Robert Tait and Moses Haskell, overseers ;
David Lewis, and John Tait, deacons. The
original members were John Tait and wife,
Thomas Tait and wife, Robert, Catherine, and
Mary Tait, Peter Wilson and wife, Clementine
Wilson, Peleg, Fanny, and Rachel Lewis, Betsy
Snyder, Moses Haskell and wife, Ann Haskell,
David Lewis and wife, Peter Snyder and wife,
Samuel Bassett and wife, Sylvester Roberts and
wife, David Finn and wife, William, John, and
Mrs. Piior, Christopher Wanneraaker and wife,
Catherine Wannemaker, Charles, Enoch, Elijah,
and Jane Van Wye, Joseph Earle and wife,
Mary Earle, and Mrs. Hixson.

Among the early ministers were the well-known
names of Walter Scott, John Henry, .\damson
Hentley, Jonas Hartzeil, Marcus Boswoith, John
Ap]5legate, Matthew Clapp, Harvey Brockett,

William Hayden, Jacob Asburn, Sanders,

McCleary, Perkey, Webb, and

Calvin Smith.

In 1844 the first church building was erected

at a cost of $800, and was located near the Gor-
don corners, on the northwest corner of the
Gordon farm. Rev. John Henry preached the
dedication sermon. This distinguished minister
was a musical composer, and on this occasion
sang a hymn set to a tune of his own composi-
tion, to which at this time he had given no name;
and at the suggestion of Robert Tait he gave
this tune the name of '"44" in memory of the
year in which the Lordstown church was dedi-
cated, and this once favorite tune is now known
by that name and is so designated in the early
collections of sacred music. Rev. Henry was
a very popular preacher, was uncultured but not
rude, free and hardy, strong and ardent in the
cause to which he had given his life. It is
related of him that he was a leader among the
strongest men at the log-rollings and moved
among the pioneers to whom his work called
him as a man amongst men, bearing to them a
message of gospel peace, not a declaration of
glittering generalities. He had some striking
peculiarities, and it is related of him that once
on his way to church he met a poor man in the
way and invited him to church. The man made
the excuse that he had no shoes to wear, where-
upon the preacher pulled off his own shoes and
gave them to the man and preached his Sunday
sermon in his bare feet. Soon after the dedica-
tion of the Lordstown church he passed away —
May I, 1844.

Many able and efficient ministers have served
this congregation, and from the only records the
following names are gleaned : Christie Burns,

Rowe, Teagarden, Wakefield,

Southmaid, S. A. Griffin, Madison Monroe,

F. M. Greene, A. B. Greene, Harrison Jones,
Philander Greene, D. P. Thayer, E. A. Bos-
worth, H. D. Niles.

The present church building at Lordstown was
erected in 1868, at a cost of $2,200, under the
ministry of S. A. Griffin, and the dedication ser-
mon was preached by Madison Monroe. The
first revival meeting was held by F. M. Greene,
the next by A. B. Greene, followed by Harrison
Jones, but altogether with few additions to the
church.

In i858 Rev. Philander Greene was employed,
who moved his family to the place, and served
the society se.ven years, dividing his services,
however, with other charges. He was followed

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

by D. P. Thayer, under whose ministry the church
received a new impetus, receiving fourteen ac-
cessions to membership. His labors with this
society closed in 1877. He was followed by H.
I). Niles (to whom the society is largely indebted
for the preservation of its history) as the first
stationed minister to this congregation. Serving
the society two years, he left them at the close
enjoying higher degrees of spiritual and temporal
prosperity. He was followed by the present
pastor, Rev. L. H. Bush, who is assisted in the
management of the society by the following
officials : James Wilson, Jr., and Philip A. Beil,
elders; A. G. McCorkle, D. K. Woodward, L.
C. Longmore, and Z. K. Jones, deacons;
Rachel Dean, Miranda Jones, and Mary Tait,
deaconesses. The society at present enjoys a
good state of prosperity.

THE ENGLISH LUTHERAN CHURCH — (b.MLEV's
CORNERS.)

The first church building in this locality was
erected as a union church about one and one-
fourth miles northeast of Bailey's corners, near
the north township line. The two societies thus
uniting were the German (or the old school) Lu-
theran and the German Reformed, and the or-
ganization was effected in 1832 by Revs. P.
Mahnenschmid and H. Huett. The original
members of the organization were John Kibler
and Henry Wolford (Lutheran), and John Tiby
(Reformed). The first ofificials elected were
Philip Becker (Lutheran) and Daniel Marburger
(Reformed), trustees. Among the ministers who
served the early organization were Rev. T. C.
Becker (Lutheran, since 1835), and Revs. Mah-
nenschmid, Rahauser, Ruhl, Renter, Fair, Gre-
ther, Perkins, Hess, EUinger, Keller, Stoner, and
Paltzgraff. The first house erected was a log
building, but was soon replaced by a frame, in
which services were held until 1848, when the
house was destroyed by fire. The German Lu-
therans and Reformed then built a house of
worship in Warren township, but near the site of
the former building, where they still continue to
hold services. From the dissolution of the
above organization, which followed after the
burning of the church building, four different
denominations were originated — the two already
mentioned, and the General Synod Lutherans
and Methodist Episcopal. The latter societies
united and erected a church building on the

present church lot, donated by Isaac Bailey, at
Bailey's corners. The house was completed in
1849 3"d dedicated by Revs. Chapman and
Stoner. In 1878 the interest held by the Meth-
odists was purchased by the Lutherans, and they
continued to hold services until 1880, when the
old house was removed and steps were taken for
the erection of a more commodious house of
worship. By earnest eflbrt and wise and effi-
cient management, the present English Lutheran
church edifice was completed at a cost of $3,200,
and dedicated January 30, 1881, by Rev. H. L.
Wiles, D. D., and Rev. I. J. Miller, the pastor
in charge. The building committee was com-
posed of A. D. Bailey, William Salen, and L. F.
Kistler. The two former were also the trustees,
in which capacity they still continue to serve.

The building is a frame structure, 35 xso, of
modern architecture, and has a cupola, seventy-
five feet high, which is covered with slate. The
interior walls and ceiling are elegantly frescoed
in a very tasteful design, and the floor richly
carpeted. The pulpit is of walnut, and the
other woodwork is of natural, native wood —
butternut and chestnut — beautifully finished.

The colored-glass windows lend their softening
shades of various hues, and withal make a fit
temple for holy purposes, comparing favorably
with any other country church edifice in Trum-
bull county.

Among the pioneer members of this denomina-
tion were Isaac Bailey and wife, Christopher
Sowers, John Lewis, Michael Weaver, John
Stahl and wife, of whom Mrs. Bailey and Mrs.
Stahl alone survive.

Isaac Bailey and C. Sowers served as elders;
and Michael Weaver, John Lewis, and C. Sowers
as trustees of the original organization.

The following ministers have served this
society since its organization, namely: Revs.
Stoner, Paltzgraff, Seachrist, Sloan, Grether,
Roll, Reinoehl, Ritz, Moore, Smith, and the
present pastor, Rev. I. J. Miller, who has served
the congregation more than five years (18S1).

THE LADIES AID SOCIETY.

The ladies of this congregation met in the old
church on March 29, 1879, and organized an aid
society for the purpose of obtaining funds to
furnish the new church building, and also in
various ways to assist in the support of the
society.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

After formulating and adopting a constitution
and by-laws, the following officials were elected,
namely : Mrs. George Longinore, president ;
Mrs. William Salen, vice-president; Mrs. A. H.
Lintz, secretary; Miss Mary Simmons, treasurer.

The meetings were held bi-weekly at the resi-
dences of the members, the first being held at
the residence of the president, which was well
attended.

From the first meeting the interest of the
society has been increasing, and the community
at large has been generally enlisted in the cause
and has given generous assistance and patronage,
thus meriting the cheerful acknowledgment of
many obligations, by the members of the society.

The work of the society usually consists of
quilting, sewing, knitting, and fancy work ; also
in giving suppers of various kinds. "The little
brown money jug " system was introduced, from
which $42.30 was realized, also a "memorial
quilt," containing five hundred and thirty names
the proceeds of which were $61.75. By this
time the new church building was ready to fur-
nish and the society had accumulated $428.30
for that purpose, to which it was generously
given.

The work of the society did not cease, how-
ever, but still goes on with commendable
zeal and enterprise under the control of the
following officials : Miss Mary Simmons, presi-
dent ; Mrs. A. D. Bailey, vice-president ; Miss
Lottie Kistler, secretary; Miss Libbie Cunning-
ham, treasurer.

IlDEN GK.-iNGE NO. 1,294, LORDSTOWN CENTER.

The organization of Eden grange was effected
by the State deputy, O. P. Laird, November 4,
1876. The officials were elected as follows:
lames Wilson, Jr., master ; J. C. Pew, overseer ;
1). K. Woodward, lecturer; L. C. Longmote,
steward ; G. W. Simons, assistant steward ; A.
I). Bailey, chaplain; William Salen, treasurer;
A. G. McCorkle, secretary.

The organization began with thirty-two mem-
bers, and was increased during the first year to
fifty-one, embracing in its membership a majority
of the leading farmers of the township.

The first year the grange rented the town hall
from the trustees; refitted and turnished the
room completely, and purchased an organ.
They immediately put in practice the principles
of the organization by electing A. G. McCorkle

purchasing agent, through whom the purchases of
family supplies were made by special order from
the members designating the articles desired; the
general purchases were made of the general
agent, located at Cleveland. Ihey contin-
ued under the plan for about two years, when
James Wilson, Jr., was made purchasing agent,
and a fund was borrowed, purchases made, and
kept in store at the town hall, and sold to the
members. This plan is now in operation under
the management of C. G. Beardsley. The sec-
ond, but most important feature of the organiza-
tion is the social and literary. The first part of
the evening meetings is devoted to business, then
after an intermission the regular programme of
literary exercises follows, introduced with music,
followed by essays, select readings, and lectures,
etc. The lectures introduce subjects concern-
ing agricultural interests, which are taken up by
the members for general discussion. These
questions generally are arranged to embrace the
practical operations on the farm in their proper
seasons so that the ideas advanced may be im-
mediately utilized. This organization has also
what they call the Children's grange, in which
special meetings are arranged with exercises suit-
able for the children. Also during the year they
have suppers and other social meetings. From
these meetings has grown up a brotherhood
among the farmers of this community, linked to-
gether by social ties arising from pleasant and
social intercourse with each other, growing out
of which, imperceptibly to the casual observer it
may be, but nevertheless strongly and truly, are
neighborly bonds of fraternity and good social
feeling not to be soon obliterated. At present,
though not so strong numerically as at first,
the substantial members who fully appreciate the
important features of the organization are found
earnestly engaged in the work.

B.\ILEV'S CORNER.S.

Isaac Bailey came to Lordstown in the spring
of 1829, and settled on the farm now owned and
occupied by his son Abram I)., situated in the
northwest part of the township. He built his
first log cabin liome on the site of ihe present
cooper shop, near the crossing of the Miller and
Newton Falls roads, and thus originated the
corners, which have since been known as
"Bailey's corners." At this time there were
but two houses between his house and Warren;

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

one was the cabin of Alexander Longmore, and
another stood near Warren. At one time there
was a blacksmith shop here and subsequently a
cooper shop, school-house and church.

NOTES OF SETTLEMENT.

Thomas Duncan, an old resident of Trumbull
county, was born in Austintovvn township, Trum-
bull county, now Mahoning, July 5, 1805. His
father, John Duncan, was a native of Washing-
ton county, Pennsylvania. Mr. John Duncan's
father, George Duncan, came from Scotland with
his brothers, William and Alexander, all three of
whom were in the war of the Revolution. After
the war George settled m Washington county,
William located near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania,
and Alexander in Chester county. Mr. John
Duncan came to Ohio in 1799, and settled in
Austintown township, being one of the first set-
tlers in the township. He passed through all of
the trials and hardships incident to pioneer life,
beginning in the wilderness when a dense forest
was presented to view in all directions, by untir-
ing industry and perseverance he built up a fine
home, living here till 1837, when he moved to
Lordstown, locating on a farm north of the center,
and lived here till his death, which occurred
April 13, 1855, aged eighty years and six
months. Mrs. Duncan died ALarch 10, 1857.
She was born April 21, 1780. They had eleven
children : Rachel, Isabella, Margaret, Thomas,
Mary, Robert, Nancy, Martha, Elizabeth, John,
Josiah. Rachel, Isabella, Margaret, Mary, and
Martha are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Duncan
were faithful Christians of the Presbyterian
church, and were highly esteemed by all. Mr.
Thomas Duncan, the subject of this sketch,
came to Lordstown in 1832, and located upon
the farm where we now find him most pleasant-
ly situated. There were few families in the
township at this time. Mr. Duncan learned the
carpenter's trade, which he followed till he came
to Lordstown; since then he has been engaged
in farming. He has lived to witness many
changes; has seen what was a dense wilderness
change to a most thriving community. He was
married January 21, 1830, to Miss Susan Leech,
daughter of Benjamin Leech, of Morris county,
New Jersey. She was born in 1809. Ten chil-
dren have been born to them, eiglit of whom are
living. Mr. Duncan has held many of the town-
ship offices; has been justice of the peace nine

"9*

years, administering the office with fidelity. He
is an "old-line" Democrat, and is one of the
most genial old gentlemen it has been the good
fortune of the writer to meet.

Charles Ohl, an old resident of Lordstown
township, was born in Austintown in 1807. His
father, Michael Ohl, a native of Pennsylvania,
came to Ohio in 1804 or 1805, and settled in
Canfield township, Trumbull county, for a short
time, and then moved to Austintown, where he
lived many years. He then came to Ohltown,
Weathersfield township. The town derived its
name from Mr. Ohl. He was a farmer by occu-
pation, though he was interested in milling con-
siderably. The family is of German descent.
There were thirteen children in his family, seven
boys and six girls. Mr. Charles Ohl came to
Lordstown in 1839, and located upon the farm
where he now resides. His house was destroyed
by fire about a year ago, yet Mr. Ohl in his old
age is again building. In 1838 he married Miss
Elizabeth Robb, daughter of John Robb, of
Lordstown township. Eight children were the
fruit of this union. Mrs. Ohl died in August,
1S74. She was a member of the United Breth-
ren church. In politics Mr. Ohl is a Repub-
lican.

Peter Shiveley was born in Pennsylvania in
1810. His father, Frederick, was a native of
Pennsylvania, and came to Ohio in 1812, and
settled in Austintown. He died in 1828.
Eleven children in his family. Mr. Peter Shive-
ley came to Lordstown in September, 1832, and
settled in the southeastern part of the township.
He cleared up a good farm and resided here till
187 1, when, owing to some oil speculations, he
lost much of his property. He moved to War-
ren and lived there two years, then came back to
Lordstown center. He was married in 1828 to
Miss Hannah Flick, daughter of George Flick,
of Canfield township. They have had seven
children, six of whom are living. Mr. and Mrs.
Shiveley are members of the Presbyterian church.
Politically he is a sound Democrat.

Granville W. Sears was born in Putnam coun-
ty. New York, in 18 10. His father, Archibald
Sears, was a native of New York. Mr. Gran-
ville Sears came to Ohio in 1835, and settled in
Austintown for one year, then moved to 1 ,ords-
town, and has since lived in Trumbull county,
with the exception of five years in Ellsworth

546

TRUMBULL AND i\L\HONING COUNTIES, OHIO

township, Mahoning county. Mr. Sears has a
s])lendid farm, made mostly by his own labor.
It has recently been set off" into Warren town-
ship. He married Miss Clarissa Cassidy in
1833, daughter of John Cassidy, of Sussex
county, New Jersey. By this marriage there
were four children — James and John (twins),
Mary E., and Laura F. Mrs. Sears died m
1S70. Second marriage in 1873 to Miss Eliza-
beth J. Tait, daughter of John Tait, of Lords-
town. Politically he is a sound Republican.

Isaac Bailey, who came to Lordstown in 1829,
was born ui Northampton county, Pennsylvania;
died on the home farm, December 8, 1877, aged
seventy-one years, one month and twenty six
days. He left at his death, his wife, who is now
living, five sons, three daughters, forty-four
grandchildren, and four great grandchildren.
He was a carpenter by trade and put' up most
of the early houses in this locality, and built the
locks on the canal from Newton Falls to Youngs-
town. He was married, in 1830, to Rebecca
Weaver, who was six years younger than her
husband. They had a family of the following
children: Polly, deceased; Catharine, now Mrs.
George Wonders; Rebecca, deceased; Mary Ann,
deceased; Mariah, now Mrs. William Hahn; La-
vina, now Mrs. Crandall Seiple, Isaac, Jacob,
Abram D., Samuel, and George A. Mr. Bailey
was known as a promment man in all public
affairs of his neighborhood, especially in the
Lutheran .church, of which he was a devoted
member, and its most zealous supporter, liberal
almost to a fault in contributing both his time
and money to the support of the church and
the spread of the gospel. His house was known
as the Lutheran hotel of Lordstown, and the
ministers of the gospel always had a kind wel-
come there. He came to the township a poor
man, having only $4.50 in money; contracted
for one hundred acres of land, which, by hard
work, rigid economy, and frugal living, soon be-
came his own. Abram D. Bailey was born April
14, 1839, and was married to Mary J. Wonders
in i860, who was born March 4, 1837. To them
were born the following children : Laura (mar-
ried), Sarah Jos"phine, James Ulysses, Harry
Tecumseh, Mary Ann, Maria Antoinette, Edith
lone, Agnes Lavina, and Carroll Bismarck. He
settled on his father's farm immediately after
marriage, where lie has since lived, and where

all his children were born. He has served two
terms as trustee, being the first Republican
elected in this strong Democratic locality. He,
like his father before him, is a leading member
of the Lutheran church, to which he is earnestly
devoted; was a member of the building commit-
tee of the new church, and has been trustee of
the same for many years. In 1864 he served
one hundred days as member of the One Hun-
dred and Seventy-first Ohio National guard, and
with his regiment was taken prisoner at the battle
of Cynthiana, Kentucky, by General Morgan.
While on their way to Richmond they were over-
■ taken by the Union forces under General Bur-
bridge, near Augusta, paroled and sent to John-
son's island, where Mr. Bailey did guard duty
until the fall of the same year, when he was
mustered out.

C. G. Beardslcy, one of the well-known resi-
dents of Lordstown township, was born in Can-
field, January 2, 181 7. His father, Philo, was a
native of Litchfield county, Kent township, Con-
necticut, and came to Ohio in the fall of 18 14,
and bought a farm in Coitsville township, though
he never saw the farm after this. He went back to
Connecticut the same way as he came, and re-
mained in Connecticut during the winter, then
returned to Ohio, and located inCanfield, Trum-
bull county. In the fall of 1815 he went back
to Connecticut and wintered, and in the mean-
time was married to Miss Lois S. Gunn, daugh-
ter of Chauncey Gunn, of Washington township,
Connecticut. In the spring of 1816 he and his
brother Curtis left New Preston, and were twenty-
one days in reaching Ohio, driving a yoke of
oxen and a pair of horses. Mr. Beardsley lived
in Canfield many years, then went to Berlin
township, and resided there till his wife died,
then returned to Canfield, and resided there till
his death, which occurred in February, 1870.
There were twelve children in his family, nine of
whom were living at the time of his death. Mr.
Beardsley was a deacon in the Congregational
church. He was a public-spirited man, inter-
ested in all good works. Mr. C. G. Beardsley
came to Lordstown in March, 1840, on horse-
back through the woods with but fifty cents in
his pocket. Mr. Beardsley has since lived in
the township. He has a very pleasant home.
He was married September 2, 1842, to Miss
Elizabeth Wetmore, daughter of Hezekiah Wet-

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

547

more, of Canfield, who was one ot the earliest
settlers of the Western Reserve. Mr. Beardsley
is a Granger, has been school director, president
of the school board, and is a good citizen.

James Cassidy was born in Sussex county.
New Jersey, September 20, 181 5. His father,
John C, was a native of New Jersey, and
lived and died in that State. The family is of
Iiish descent. James Cassidy came to Ohio in
1837. He was a tanner by trade. He came to
Lordstown in 1838 or 1839, 3"^ built a tannery
at the center and followed his busmess for eight
years, then went upon the farm, where he now
lives. He has made dairying his chief occupa-
tion. He was married in 1839 to Miss Eliza-
beth Struble, daughter of Jacob Struble, of Sus-
sex county. New Jersey. They have had four
children, Granville, Adelaide, Elby, and John.
Granville was killed at Vicksburg while bravely
fighting in defense of his country. Mr. Cassidy
is a member of the Disciple church. Politically
he is a firm Democrat.

James Wilson, Jr., was born in Lordstown
April II, 1842. His father, James Wilson, is
still in the township. Mr. Wilson, Jr., has al-
ways lived in the township, with the exception of
a few years. He was in a drug store in Youngs-
town three years, and in the coal business in
Carroll county four years. Farming is his occu-
pation at the present time. He was mairied in
1869 to Miss Amanda Woodward, daughter of
Leonard Woodward, of Lordstown township.
They had two children, Burt and Leonard J.
Mrs. Wilson died November 11, 1875. He was
married the second time to Miss Almira Wood-
ward, sister of his first wife, October 24, 1878.
Mr. and Mrs. Wilson are members of the Disci-
ple church. Politically a Republican.

James Wilson, Sr., a well known resident of
Trumbull county, was born in Beaver county,
Pennsylvania, in October, 181 6. His father,
James W., was born in Washington county,
Pennsylvania, where he lived several years, then
went to Beaver county, where he resided till he
came to Ohio, which was in 1832, and settled
in Lordstown township, where he lived till his
death in 1842. There were seven children in
the family. Four of the family are now living.
Mr. James Wilson, the subject of this sketch,
learned the blacksmith, trade at Ohltown, where
he served two years' apprenticeship, and then be-

gan business for himself at Lordstown center,
working at his trade ten years, then moved uj^on
the farm where he now lives. He is engaged in
general farming and stock raising. He was mar-
ried in 1838 to Miss Mary Hutchinson, daugh-
ter of William and Ann Hutchinson, of Hub-
bard township. The offspring of this union
was five children. Mrs. Wilson died in 185 1.
Second marriage in 1852 to Miss Rebecca Haz-
lett, daughter of William Hazlett, of Lordstown
township. There were four children by this
union. Mrs. Wilson died in March, 1871.
Third marriage in May, 1872, to Miss Jane
Weisell, daughter of Matthew Weisell, of Lords-
town. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson are members of the
Disciple church. He is a Republican.

U. W. Carson was born in Berlin township,
Mahoning county, March 5, 1840. His father,
George Carson, was a native of Westmoreland
county, Pennsylvania, and came to Ohio with
his parents in 1833 and settled in Berlin town-
ship. Mr. U. W. Carson came to Lordstown in
the spring of 187 1 and settled upon the farm
where we now find him. He married Miss
Mary E. Jones, daughter of Samuel Jones of
Lordstown. Two children are the fruit of this
marriage — Francis A. and George S. Mr. and
Mrs. Carson are members of the Disciple church.
Politically he is a Republican.

Samuel R. Greiner was born in Salem, Colum-
biana county, Ohio, March 7, 1846; oldest son of
Cyrus K. and Rebecca (Reed) Greiner. He
finished his education in the State normal school
at Lebanon. He was engaged as book-keeper in
the mercantile business for three years in Phila-
delphia and returned to Ohio in 1867, and with
a partner under the firm name of Greiner, Steel
& Co., can led on a banking business at Alliance,
Ohio, until 1876. He then for three years re-
sided in Warren conducting the farm in Lords-
town where he now lives. In 1876 he married
Lina Lane, daughter of Benjamin Lane, a sketch
of whose life appears elsewhere. He removed
to the farm on which he now lives in Lordstown
in the spring of 1880.

Charles Kistler and his wife, Rebecca (Sechler),
of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, moved to Lords-
town, Trumbull county, about fifty years ago.
They settled on and cleared up the place on
which they still reside, section twenty-two. They
raised a familv of eight children, of whom seven

S48

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

are still living: L. F., Julia (Hoffman), Catharine
(Graver), C. E., Hannah (deceased), Rebecca,
Samuel, and Daniel.

C. E. Kistler, a well-known citizen of Warren,
was born in Lordstown in 1835. In 1859 he
married Mary A. Harris, of Lordstown, and re-
sided at Newton t'alls for ten years, engaged in
the manufacture of harnesses. In 1869 he
removed to Warren, where he has since been en-
gaged m the livery business.

William Salen, Sr., was born in Lynn town-
ship, Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, in 1804.
He was married there February 14, 1830, to
Hettie Moyer, and in 1834 removed to Trumbull
county, Ohio, settling in Warren township, where
he remained a short time, and then moved
to Southington. In 1840 he moved back to
Pennsylvania, and settled in Crawford county,
where he still lives. He has had a family of
eleven children, only two being residents of
Trumbull county, viz : J. P. in Warren, and
William, Jr., in Lordstown. William, Jr., was
born August i, 1842, in Crawford county, Penn-
sylvania, came to Lordstown to reside in Feb-
ruary, 1868, and September loth, the same year,
married Mary A., daughter of Michael and
Lovina Weaver, of Lordstown. Mrs. Salen was
born October 27, 1840, in Lordstown. They are
the parents of one child : Carrie M., born May
13, 1877. Mr. Salen located where he now
lives in Lordstown in the spring of 1874. Be-
sides his occupation as farmer he has been en-
gaged, since coming to Trumbull county, in the
manufacture and shipment of staves. Mr. Pew-
is a partner, the firm being Salen & Co.

Orman Dean, son of William Dean, settled in
Champion, Trumbull county, in 1835. He was
born in Canfield, now Mahoning county, in 1813.
His father settled in Canfield in 1811, coming
from Connecticut. He resided in Canfield until
his death. Orman Dean was by occupation a
farmer, though he had studied medicine, but did
not enter upon its practice. He married in 1835
in Canfield, Nancy Williams, of that township,
and immediately located in Champion, in the
woods, the country then being only little im-
proved. He resided there three years then re-
moved to Lordstown, where he has since lived.
He is still living, as is also his wife; have had
three children, two of whoiu are living, W. S. and
Mary /\. (ShlVLJey), holh in Lordstown; Dnicilla

is deceased. W. S., born in 1836, was married
in 1870 to Mary J. Preston, born in 1848, and
located where he now lives ; has two children,
Frederick C. and Ward P.

Sabastian Wonders was born in York country,
Pennsylvania, and was married to Mary Darr.
He came to Ohio about 1827, and settled in Stark
county, but afterward removed to Lordstow-n in
1852, where he lived until his death, which oc-
curred in 1854. George Wonders, his son, was
born May 20, 1825, and was married April 24,
1851, to Catharine Bailey, daughter of Isaac
Bailey, who was born September 20, 1831. They
have a family of the following children : Ben-
jamin, born January 22, 1852, now living in
Warren; Mary A. M., born April 7, 1853, now
Mrs. Alonzo Weaver, of Warren; Isaac Newton,
born August 15, 1854, of Cleveland; Sarah E.,
born October 11, 1856, now Mrs. Pierce Spade;
Helen Adelia, born July 22, 1858, living at
home; Maria A, born March 27, 1859, deceased;
Lillie B., born August 6, 1861, now Mrs. Curtis
Carlisle, of Kent; Frances Marion, born April 8,
1863, now living in Howland; Willian E. Sher-
man, born October 10, 1870, living at liome.
Mr. Wonders is a carpenter by trade, in which
occupation he is now engaged, and is also a
prominent member of the English Lutheran
church, in which society he has held several
offices. He is a well known citizen of Lords-
town.

William Pew (deceased) was a native of Ire-
land, and born in 1803. He came to America
in 1S25, and first settled in Pittsburg, Pennsyl-
vania, whtre he remained five years, and then
came to Lordstown, Trumbull county, Ohio, set-
tling upon the farm now occupied by his son.
In 1830 he married Miss Isabella McRora, and
had six children, four of whom died when quite
young. He died in 1858 on the farm where he
settled, leaving a wife and two children to mourn
his loss. His wife died in 1869. They were
for many years members of the Presbyterian
church of Warren. William H. Pew, the elder
of the two sons who survived them, was married
in 1857 to Miss Angeline, daughter of Thomas
Woodward, of Jackson, Mahoning county. He
died in February, 1861. John C. Pew was born
on the home farm in Lordstown (where he still
lives), September 3, 1837. In June, 1863, he
was united in marriage to Miss Eliznboth Pew,

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

549

daughter of Seymour Pew, of Warren. She
died in May, 1864. October 11, 1866, he mar-
ried Miss Mary Ernest, of Braceville, Trumbull
county. Three children were born of this union
— Adelbert E., Jennie C, and Blanche M. Mr.
and Mrs. Pew are members of the Disciple
church in Lordstown.

Alexander Longmore, the third settler in
Lordstown township, was born in Ireland in
1767 and emigrated to America in 1823. He
came to Ohio the following year and settled in
Braceville township for a year or two, then came
to Lordstown and located upon the farm where
his son George now lives. There were eight
children in the family, four boys and four girls.
Mr. Longmore was a weaver by trade, though he
he carried on farming. He died in 1848. Mrs.
Longmore died in 185 1. Mr. George Long-
more has always lived upon the old home farm.
He was married in 1867 to Miss Emily Fishel,
daughter of Samuel Fishel of Southington town-
ship. They have two children, Martha and
Blanche. Mrs. Longmore died February 6,
1881. She was a member of the Lutheran
church. Mr. Longmore is also a member.

Leonard Woodward, an early resident of
Lordstown township, was born in Pennsylva-
nia, May 25, 1804. His father, Jehu, was a na-
tive of Pennsylvania. Mr. Leonard Woodward
came to Lordstown in 1831 and settled upon
the farm where his son now lives. He began in
the woods, but by hard work he soon had a fine
farm. He was a carpenter by trade. He was
married March 20, 1831, to Miss Annie Moher-
man, daughter of Frederick and Mary Moher-
man, of Austintown. By this union there were
nine children, six of whom are living — Mary,
Rachel, Elizabeth, Almira, John, Amanda, Orlan-
do, Delbert, Charles. Mary, Elizabeth, Amanda,
are deceased. Mr. Woodward died September
1, 1867. Mrs. Woodward died August 22, 1S67.
She was a member of the" Disciple church and a
devoted Christian. Mr. Woodward was justice
many years. He was respected by all who knew
him.

Jacob Harshman was born in Washington
county, Pennsylvania, December 4, 1821. His
father, Jacob H., was a native of Washington
county, Maryland, near Hagerstown. He was
1) irn in 1790. The family is of German descent.
Ml';!. 1.1- ll.iishman, grandfather of Jacob Harsh-

man, the subject of this sketch, reared a family
in Maryland. He moved to Pennsylvania in
1800 and settled in Washington county, and
lived there till 1807, then came to Ohio, locating
in Youngstown township. He was among the
early pioneers of the township. Living here
seven years he moved to Austintown, where he
resided several years, then moved to Weathers-
field. In 1831 or 1832 he came to Lordstown,
where he lived till his death in the winter of
1837, leaving a family of ten children and a
widow to mourn his loss. Mrs. Harshman died
in the fall of 1851. Mr. Jacob Harshman, Sr.,
went back to Pennsylvania in 1813, where he re-
mained till 1836, then returned to Ohio and lo-
cated in Lordstown. He was married in 1814
to Miss Elizabeth Moninger, daughter of John
Moninger, of Pennsylvania. They had nine
children, of whom eight are living at the present
time — Mathias, John, Mary, Catharine, Jacob,
George W., Elizabeth, Levi, Ephraim. Mathias
is deceased. Jacob Harshman, the fifth child, has
lived in Lordstown since 1836. He was married
in 1840 to Miss Catherine Jones, daughter of
Samuel Jones of Lordstown. Eleven children
have been born to them, ten of whom are living.
Mr. and Mrs. Harshman are members of the
Methodist church, also five of the children. Mr.
Harshman has been justice of the peace twenty-
four years. In politics he is a good Democrat.

CHAPTER XXIII.

CHAMPION.

LOCATION, SUKFACK, AND SOIL.

Township five of range four lies immediately
north of Warren, east of Southington, west of
Bazetta, and south of Bristol. Through it passes
two railroads, the Painesville & Youngstown
Narrow-gauge, and the Ashtabula & Pittsburg.
The former enters Champion in the southeast of
the township, near the old Warren and Ashta-
bula turnpike, and running northwest passes into
Southington south of the center road. On the
State road, near the west line of the township, is
a station, but no depot. 'I'he Ashtabula & Pitts-
burg road enters the township near the south-

550

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

eastern curucr, and runs entirely across the
eastern half, bending gradually westward. This
road has two stopping-places in Champion, the
first at Pierce's crossing in the southeast of the
township, and the second, known as Champion,
at the crossing of the center road. These are
both flag-stations, and are likewise unprovided
with depots.

The land is almost unvarymgly low and level.
Numerous springs furnish a good supply of
water, and a number of small streams constitute
the drainage system. ' The northwestern part of
the township is the most undulating, but even
here there are no prominent elevations. The
water-shed dividing the waters which go north-
ward into Lake Erie from those which seek an
outlet into the Ohio river system, extends diag-
onally across the township from near the south-
western corner toward the northeastern, and,
curiously enough, the land constituting it is ap-
parently the lowest and levelest in the township.
Young's run is a small stream draining the
eastern and soutlieastern portions of Champion.
The land adjacent to it differs from the rest of
the township in having a more sandy soil. The
soil generally is clay. A number of small streams
or swales drain the northern [jortion.

The northern half of the township formerly
contained numerous swamps. Much labor has
been expended upon them, and the land after
being properly drained is found to be superior to
the drier soil in productiveness. Long swamp
extends a distance of a mile or more along the
line of the Ashtabula & Pittsburg railroad,
and still invites the labor of the husbandman for
its reclamation.

TIMBER.

A heavy growth of valuable timber originally
covered the surface of this township ; none
better could be found in the couiily, and if it
were now standing it would be worth thousands
of dollars, but the greater portion of it was
destroyed by girdling and by fire before timber
came to be of much value. JJeech, hickory,
oak, maple, elm, whitewood, walnut, and ash
were the principal varieties.

who, doubtless, had been attracted hither by the
abundance of game, had a little village of eight
or ten huts which ihey continued to inhabit after

the arrival of the settlers. They were but a
short distance from the settlement in the south-
ern part of the township. They lived on good
terms with their white neighbors, and frequently
visited the houses of the latter to grind their
tomahawks and beg food, tobacco, and "fire
water."

Traces of their work can still be seen and
arrow and spear heads are frequently found. In
the vicinity of some springs or deer-licks in the
southeastern part of the township, the Indians
made a number of excavations, sufficiently deep
to hide their bodies, and, having concealed them-
selves in these places, they watched and waited
until an unsuspecting deer approached near
enough to be shot. Many a fine buck fell a
victim to the unerring aim of the cunning savage.

LATE SETTLEMENT AND ITS CAUSE.

Champion was among the latest settled of the
townships of Trumbull county. Excepting a
few families who came here in 1806 to 1808 and
settled in the southern half of the township, no
settlets came for about twenty years. The land
of the township was held by Henry Champion,
an original member of the Connecticut Land
company. After disposing of a few farms to the
first settlers it appear^ that he resolved to hold
his land until it had increased in value largely,
and for this reason refused to sell, except at
prices which no settlers were willing to pay. But
while the owner was awaiting this augmentation
of the value of his property, death summoned
him from earth, and the land came into the pos-
session of his heirs, his son, Aristarchus Cham-
pion, and his son-in-law, Henry C. Trumbull.
The land was then divided, Champion receiving
the western half of the township and Trumbull
the eastern. About 1826 they sent on Mr. Cole
to survey it, and also established an agency for
its sale. But after twenty years of waiting, the
prices which could be obtained for the land were,
little in advance of those paid by the first set-
tlers of other townships.

THE FIRST SETTLERS.

The first improvements made in this township
were made on land which is now the farm of
Silas Mci\Lihan, on the State road, by a man
named Nichols. He remained in the township
but a few years and nobody now living remem-
bers him.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

55"

The first permanent settler was William Rutan,
who came from Pennsylvania and settled in
1806. He was a man of sterling worth, an oblig-
ing neighbor, an upright Christian, esteemed
aliive by old and young. For many years he was
a deacon of the Presbyterian church. Modest
and unassuming, his face is remembered by old
people as the very picture of honesty and good-
ness. He was the father of one son and one
daughter. The son, Henry L. Rutan, lived upon
the old homestead and died an honored citizen
in 1 881, at the age of seventy-six. The daughter,
Catharine, married Solon Gilson, and died i|uite
young.

John Rutan, William's brother, settled in this
township soon after the latter did, but moved to
Richland county with liis family after residing
here a few years.

Asa Lane, a brother of Mrs. William Rutan,
came to the township about 1807, and settled on
the present Ashtabula & Warren road north of
the Rutan farm. x\fter remaining four or five
years he and his family removed.

Andrew Donaldson settled on the farm adjoin-
ing William Rutan's upon the north and re-
mained twenty years or more. He removed to
Parkman, where some of his children had gone
previously.

William Croningcr settled in the same neigh-
borhood at about the same date. He remained
until after the War of 18 12, then moved away.

John Chambers purchased and settled upon
the farm where Croninger had made the first
improvements. He and his wife Mary were
fiom Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. Mrs.
Chambers died in 1829 aged forty-nine. Mr.
Chambers moved to Mesopotamia in 1836, and
died there in 1848, at the age of sixty-eight.
Their children were : Hannah, Eliza, Johnson,
Thompson, Wiley, Mary, and Clinton. Thomp-
son IS living in Hudson, Portage county; and
Mary (Mrs. Edward Pierce), in Champion. The
others are dead. Hannah (Laird) died in Da-
kota; Eliza (Pierce), in Champion; Johnson, in
Champion; Wiley, in Michigan; and Clinton, in
Mesopotamia.

William Woodrow, from Westmoreland coun-
ty, Pennsylvania, bought land in this township
in 1806 or 1807. In 1807 he made a clearing
and built a cabin. In May, 1808, he moved to
Champion with his family, which then consisted

of his wife and two children. They sent their
goods to Pittsburg to be shipped thence to
Beaver and remain there until they could be
brought to Champion. Mrs. Woodrow rode a
horse and carried her son John, then about two
and a half years old, in her arms. The horse
was loaded also with saddlebags, in which a few
household articles were packed. Mr. Woodrow
went on foot and drove two cows. Upon his
back he carried a knapsack and in it his son
Smith, who was then about six months old. The
family took up their abode in a log-house, per-
haps 15x215 feet on the ground, and twelve feet
from the ground to the eaves. A floor above
and one below were made of split oak timber.
The chimney was built of straw, split sticks, and
mortar. Though especial pains were taken to
have as much mortar on the inside as was possi-
ble, the chimney often caught fire, but was easily
lepaired. Of the trials which beset this family
during the first years of their housekeeping, Mr.
Smith Woodrow, who furnished these details to
the writer, gives many interesting reminiscences.

When Mrs. Woodrow came here she forgot her
scissors and left them in her Pennsylvania home.
It soon became necessary to make her husband
a pair of pantaloons, but how could she cut
them? Her woman's wit suggested a way out
of the difficulty. Accordingly she got the cloth
and marked it, and going to the chopping block
cut them out with an axe. It is not likely that
j\lr. Woodrow's ga.ment was a stylish fit, but
they served the purpose for which they were in-
tended and lasted equally as well as they would
had they been cut by a fashionable tailor.

Mr. and Mrs. Woodrow were the parents of
nine children, whose names were: John, ^Vil-
liam Smith, Martha, James Boyd, Morgan,
Mary, Henr)', Calvin and Alvin (twins). Two
survive, William Smith and Mary. John married
Polly Cox, of Bristol, settled upon the State road
in Champion and died there. His son Newton
now lives upon the place ; W. Smith married
Eunice L. Holt, a native of Massachusetts, and
settled in Warren, his present residence ; Martha
died at the age of fifteen; James Boyd remained
single and died when about twenty-eight; Morgan
married Mary Cleveland, of New York State,
settled in Warren, moved west, and died in
Michigan; Mary married John Ewalt and resides
in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania; Henry lived

552

.'RUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

and died upon the old place in Champion. He
married for his first wife Lydia Woolcott, of
Farmington; for his second, Zeviah Elwell; and
for his third, Fannie Esterbrook. Calvin died
when about one year old, and Alvin at the age
of twenty-three. William Woodrow and his wife
both died in 1848, Mrs. Woodrow about the ist
of May. Her husband's death occurred twenty
days later. Mrs. Woodrow, nee Martha Smith,
was of Scotch birth. Both became members of
the Presbyterian church in 1808, and led pure
and useful lives characterized by benevolence
and generosity. Isaac N. Woodrow was born in
Champion May 17, 1839, and married Miss
Mary Smith, of Akron.

Stephen Reeves bo.ught John Rutan's farm,
but left it and moved to Warren after a few years.

In 1826 there were but four families resid-
ing in Champion, namely: the Rutan, Wood-
row, Donaldson, and Chambers families. Eveiy
farmer had a sugar camp and manufactured sugar
and syrup enough to supply the family wants.

THE LATER SETTLERS.

The family of Edward Pierce was the fifth one
in the township. Mr. Pierce bought two hun-
dred acres in the southeast of the township,
where his son Edward now lives, paying
$500 for the same, and in 1828 moved
from Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, and set-
tled upon it. Edward Pierce died in 1844, in
his si.xty-fifth year. His wife Elizabeth died in
1843, at the age of sixty-eight. Their children
were Samuel, Elizabeth, Joseph, Edward, and
Robert; all are dead except Edward, who is now
si.xty-nine years old. He has always lived upon
the old homestead, and intends to spend the re-
maining days of his life upon the place where
his father and mother spent the most of their
lives. He was manied in 1848 to Miss Mary
Chambers, daughter of John Chambers, of Mes-
opotamia township. She was born in Champion
township, and is doubtless the oldest person liv-
ing in the township of those who were born in
it. They have had four children, three of whom
arc living. Mr. and Mrs. Pierce are members of
the Presbyterian church. He has held several
of the township offices, has been justice of the
peace six years, and is a most worthy citizen.
Samuel Pierce died in Kentucky. Elizabeth
married Sanniel Booth, of Champion, for lier
first husband; lor her second she married Wil-

liam Dudley. She died in Ashtabula county.

Joseph Pierce lived in Kentucky and Indiana,
and died in the latter State. Robert also lived
in Kentucky, but moved to Illinois, and died.

Joseph Pierce, son of the brother of Edward
Pierce, Sr., settled on the farm where he now
lives, in the east part of the township, in 1835.

The Foulks came to Champion about 1829.
George settled in the east of the township, but
afterwards moved to Pennsylvania, and died.
Daniel Foulk settled in the southeast of the
township on the line. Both he and his wife
died here, but none of the family now remain.

Benjamin Ross, in 1829, settled on a farm ad-
joining Edward Pierce's on the north, and re-
mained some fifteen years.

William Durst was one of the earliest of the
later settlers. He bought a farm, and settled at
the junction of the State road and turnpike. He
paid $4.00 per acre for the land. His sons,
David and Lewis, are residents of this township.

John Thompson and Joseph Cook were settlers
of 1S29-30, but sold out and left.

John Mikesell and John Hull were pioneers
who located on the turnpike. Hull sold out and
left. Mikesell died in the township. Clinton
Mikesell lives on the old place.

Several others made beginnings on the turn-
pike from 1829 to 1835, but left after a few
years.

Thomas Packard settled on the farm where
he now lives in 1835, and began when all about
him was in a very wild condition.

Abram Weiss was an early settler at the center.
His widow is still living. Two sons, .Vmos and
Freeman, reside in the township.

Ebenezer L. Smith came to this township
early. He died in December, 1881, and Mrs.
Smith in January, 1882. The family still remain.

James and Samuel Walker were among the
early comers, and settled in the eastern part of
the township. Both have sons living here.

Horace Harper, one of the earliest of the sec-
ond instalment of settlers, made the first improve-
ments on the farm where he now resides in the
south of the township, west of the turnpike.

John N. McCombs, a settler of 1837, has
lived in the township since that date.

Albert Osborn, nortli of the center, is another
of the pioneers who is slill living.

Simon Burstler, on the old Donaldson farm,

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

553

is one of the comparatively early settlers. His
father came here with him. His mother died
not long ago, at a very advanced age.

John Anderson has resided in the township
many years.

William McMurray, deceased, was a compara-
tively early settler. His family still remain.

On the Fowler road, in the northwest of
Champion, wt.-re two old settlers, Benjamin Fow-
ler and Daniel Hartman. Some of the Hart-
man family still remain.

From the beginning of the sale of land until
1840, settlements and improvements were made
rapidly.

HUNTING.

Champion was an inviting field to the sports-
man for years after the game had been driven
from other townships. Besides the bears and
wolves, deer and turkeys abounded. Frequently
they came in sight of the houses in the day time,
and if a family needed a supply of fresh meat a
few hours of hunting usually sufficed for obtain-
ing it.

AVolves were so destructive to sheep that but
few were kept, and those few were closely
guarded and put in strongly built log pens every
night. Bears seemed to have a greater fondness
for pork than for mutton. Many instances might
be given of their coming close up to the cabins
and attacking hogs in the stys.

Henry Lane and William Hall, of Warren
township, came to Champion many times and
engaged m bear hunts. In one of their adven-
tures in the Long swamp. Hall came near losing
his life. They entered the swamp one day with
four dogs, Hall taking the east and Lane the
west side. The former was armed with a spear
and the latter carried a gun. Before he had
proceeded far Hall saw a bear coming directly
towards him. As the bear saw him he reared
upon his haunches. The hunter rushed forward
with his spear and aimed a blow directly at the
bear's breast. The spear glanced aside, and the
impetus of the intended thrust carried the hun-
ter forward into the very clutches of the bear,
which at once began rending his back. He
shouted; the dogs heard him and rushed to the
scene. The bear turned its attention to them
until Lane came up and shot it.

Henry L. Rutan, when a young man, was the
Nimrod of this township. His success in hunt-

ing was great, and few equaled him in making
good shots and securing large quantities of game.

A bear had been causing Mr. Woodrow much
trouble, and he determined to capture the of-
fender. Accordingly, with the aid of John Co.x,
a young man who lived with him, he constructed
a huge bear trap of logs, making the sides and
top strong. One end of the pen was left open,
and a heaving sliding door was fixed above it,
and so arranged that when the bait fastened to
the wooden spindle was disturbed the door would
fall and fasten the bear securely in. The trap
was visited several times by young Cox and
found undisturbed. But one morning he
rushed to the house in great excitement and an-
nounced that the trap was sprung, and the bear
was in it. Mr. Woodrow went with him to the
spot and found the prisoner. Before killing the
animal Cox cut a small stick and whipped him
through the poles. The bear was greatly in-
furiated, and scratched wildly at the poles in
frantic but useless efforts to free himself. Cox
was much amused at his antics, and thought it
but fair to cliastise him as he had given so much
trouble.

Mr. Smith Woodrow once killed three deer in
one day as he was returning from Howland,
where he worked, to his home in Champion.
This was in 1829.

THE FIRST ROADS.

The first road built through Champion was
the old State road, used as a military road dur-
in the VVar of 181 2. It passed by the site of the
county infirmary, and followed the general direc-
tion of the present State road, though with many
twistings and turnings to avoid swamps and keep
on the high ground. Many low places were cov-
ered with corduroys, but they soon sank into the
mud to a considerable depth, and traveling over
such spots became a difficult matter. The pres-
ent State road was built after the old one became
impassable. It leads from Warren to Paiiiesville,
and runs across this township below the center
road in a northwesterly direction.

The ne.xt road through this township was the
so called Warren and Ashtabula turnpike, built
in 1 8 1 8. This is a clay road, but as it was built as
a private enterprise tolls were collected during
many years from all that passed over it. It does
not run directly through the center of the town-

554

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

ship, but crosses the center road a half-mile east
of the actual center.

The roads of Champion are now sufficiently
bad in wet weather, but what could they have
been in early days, when all the land was much
more moist than at present? We leave this
question to be answered as the imagination of
the reader may dictate.

ORGANIZATION AND FIR.ST ELECTION.

In December, 1831, this township was organ-
ized into an election district, and named Cham-
pion, from Henry Champion, its former proprie-
tor. The first election was held on the 26th of
the same month at the house of William Wood-
row, and the following township ofificers were
chosen: John Chambers, Benjamin Ross, and
John Woodrow, judges; William Woodrow and
Joseph Cook, clerks; George Foulk, William
Rutan, and William Woodrow, trustees; Henry
L. Rutan, township clerk; Joseph Cook, treas-
urer; Samuel Pierce, constable; Frederick
Myers and Edward Pierce, poor masters; John
Thompson, Samuel Booth, and Taylor Bradfield,
fence viewers, and Joseph Pierce, supervisor.

Apparently about every voter in the township
got an office; and from the fact that some held
two offices, it would seem that there were more
than enough offices to "go around."

SIXTY YEARS AGO.

Si.xty years ago Champion township was a
desolate region, almost uninhabited ; save the
improvements made by a few early settlers, not a
clearing existed. The deep swamps and the
dense woodlands were unbroken, and formed
the lurking places of wild animals and birds.
Only two roads in the township — the State road
and the old turnpike. On the latter the trees
had been slashed down coveiing a strip several
rods wide on each side, and left as they had
fallen. Soon underbrush and saplings grew up
between the fallen trunks and funned an almost
impenetrable thicket.

The Four-mile wood, as it was called, extended
from the northern limit of the settlement into
Bristol. It required sturdy labor and a great
deal of It to subdue this uninviting region and
render it fit for the abode of human beings ; to
convert the desolate waste into fertile farms ; to
displace the log-cabin by the modern dwelling,

supply churches, school-houses, and other requi-
sites of civilization. But " noble men and true,"
with faithful, prudent wives, came into the wil-
dernessand conquered it. Many excellent houses,
good barns, and well-improved farms bear wit-
ness to their toil and economy. Many of the
settlers of forty or even thirty years ago who
commenced in the woods in a primitive way and
felt many times the disagreeable thrusts of pov-
erty, now have pleasant homes and an amount
of property which sixty years ago would have
caused them to be reckoned among the rich.
They enjoy an abundance of the good things of
life, and understand fully the fact that their pros
perity can be continued by the same means it has
been gained, namely, through the all-powerful
medium, work.

Pioneers delight in recounting the difficulties
and hardships which at first beset them, and
what wonder? Surely their pride in their
achievements is pardonable. Their lives have
been characterized by the same spirit which ever
attends progressive civilization. They have lived
not for themselves alone — the results of their
labor will long outlast them and be enjoyed by
their children and children's children and many
generations yet unborn. Their heroism has won
for them independence, and deserves a hearty
tribute of praise.

EARLY SCHOOLS.

The first term of school in this township was
taught in 1815 by Catharine Church, of Warren.
The first school-house, a log one, stood a few
rods south of William Woodrow's house, on the
opposite side of the road. Several terms were
taught in this building, but the school had to be
given up as there were too few families to sup-
port It. For some years the children attended
school just over the line in Warren township.

In 1829 or 1830 a brick school house was
erected opposite the Presbyterian church, where
the present frame school-house stands. For
some years all of the scholars of the township
attended school here.

A school was taught in a log building — Wil-
liam Woodrow's shop, but formerly his residence
— some years previous to the erection of the
brick school-house. Sally Wilson, now Mrs.
Harper, was the teacher. Mrs. Rutan and Mrs.
Shelden also taught in the same place.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

555

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

.'^fter the general assembly of the Presbyterian church had
dissolved the plan of union and exscinded the synod of the
Western Reserve from ecclesiastical connection with said
church, a number of persons, residents of Champion, who
had always been attached to the strict doctrine and order of
the Presbyterian church according to the provisions the as-
sembly had made for such cases, consulted together to apply
to the presbytery of Beaver for direction as to the proper
course to maintain their connection with the churcli of their
choice. .Accordingly in September, T838, Mr. William Rutan
was appointed to attend the meeting of the presbytery at
Slippery Rock, to state their case and receive advice.

The presbytery, after hearing Mr. Rutan's statement, ap-
pointed the Rev. W'illiam O. Stratton to preach at Champion
and consult with the people themselves on the subject of the
organization of a congregation. Mr. Stratton, in the same
month, preached on the Sabbath by appointment, and on
Monday met with the people to ascertain their views in refer-
ence to the matter. On an interchange of opinions, it was
found that there was some diversity of views on the subject
of ecclesiastical connection, and it was thought best to defer
an organization for the present.

In January, 1839, however, Mr. William Woodrow was
appointed a commissioner to attend the meeting of the pres-
bytery of New Lisbon (which had been organized by the
synod of Pittsburg, and which met at New Lisbon), to
present the petition of the people for the organization of a
congregation. The presbytery granted the request, and took
the congregation of Champion under its care.

In .April Mr. Woodrow was again appointed and attended
the meeting of the presbytery at Canfield, to obtain stated
ministrations of the gospel. By mutual understanding he
applied for the labors of Rev. William McConibs for one-
fifth of the time.

At the meeting of the presbytery at Bethel in October,
Mr. William Rutan was sent to request the organization
of a church. Mr. McCombs was directed to organize a
church. In accordance with this direction, and by previous
appointment, on Monday, November 18, 1839, the congrega-
tion of Champion assembled at their usual place of meeting,
when, after a sermon by Rev. William McCombs, the follow-
ing persons handed in certificates of regular church member-
ship and were recognized as constituting the Presbyterian
church of Champion, viz : William Rutan, Rebecca Rutan,
Mary Rutan, Ebenezer L. Smith. Catharine Smith, Joseph
Pierce, Sarah R. Pierce, John N. McCombs, |ane V. Mc-
Combs, Sarah Harper, Mary Brown, William Woodrow,
Martha Woodrow, Edward Pierce, Sr., and Betsey Pierce.

According to previous notice the church now entered upon
tlie election of two elders. This election being held William
Woodrow and Ebenezer L. Smith were duly elected ruling
elders of this church.

Attest: William McCombs,

Moderator.

The above copy from the church records gives
a complete account of the organization of the
oldest church in Champion. Of the original
members, but four are now living. In 1842 this
church built the first house for public worship in
Champion. It is still in use, and is a good
sized, comfortable church. The house stands
on the old turnpike, south of tlie center of the

township. Rev. J. S. Dickey, the only regularly
installed pastor of this congregation, was labor-
ing here at the time the house was built.

Among those who have ministered here as
stated supplies, we find the names of Revs. Mc-
Combs, McDermott, Campbell, Coon, Galbraith,
Kerr, Walker, Bingham, and Bailey. The mem-
bership is small but active.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

The Methodist church of Champion was organ-
ized previous to 1848. Among its first mem-
bers w-ere George Bissel, Alexander Ashbauch,
Benjamin Fowler, Samuel Frank, Samuel
Fishel, Lazarus McLain, Jacob Snook, and
George Ross, with their families. George
Ross donated a piece of land for a church
site and burying ground, situated on the
State road near the west line of the town-
ship, and upon it a house was erected in 184S.
The church enjoyed a fair degree of prosperity
until the war broke out. The older members
died or removed, and its numbers became so
diminished about 1870 that this church ceased
to support preaching. During the greater por-
tion of its existence the church belonged to
Southington circuit. Among the mmisters who
labored here were the following, though not in
the order named : Revs. Wade, Bear, Crane,
Pinney, Grove, Brown, Stone, Meek, Moses, and
others. There has been no regular Methodist
preachmg in the houss since the church at the
center was built, but meetings continue to be
held by ministers of other denominations.

In 1870 the appointment in Champion was
changed from the State road to the center, and
meetings were held in the town house. In 1875
the members of this church combined their ef-
forts and erected a very tasty little country
church at the center. The house and its fur-
nishing cost $2,200. The building committee
was William Hunt, William Caldwell, John
Veasy, Amos Weiss, and C. Mikesell. The
heaviest subscriptions were those of John Veasy,
William Caldwell, J. J. Veasy, William Hunt,
and Amos Weiss.

Rev. M. Moses was the first minister. The
church started with about thirty-five members.
The house was dedicated in the fall of 1875, —
sermon by Rev. John Graham, presiding elder.
The society is out of debt and has a good mem-
bership of earnest workers. Since Mr. Moses

S56

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

the ministers have been Revs. Wade, Moore, and
Copeland. Rev. B. E. Edgell is the present
pastor.

THE UNITED HRETHREN.

This denomination formed a church some
twenty-five years ago, and held their meetings in
the house situated on the Champion and Bazetta
line, and at the four corners in the northeast of
this township. At the latter place a small edifice
was erected and continued to be used until the
new one was built. In 1878 a convenient and
comfortable church was erected here, and taste-
fully furnished. Among those who were most
active in furnishing means for building it were
Isaac Lechleitner, Jacob Shaffer, and Henry and
William Clemens. This church has a fair mem-
bership, and is in good condition. Among the
earliest members were Jacob Klingensmith (de-
ceased), Isaac Lechleitner, Philip and Henry
Clemens, Jacob Shaffer, John Shaffer, and others
with their families. Many zealous preachers
have labored here, and the church has enjoyed
a good degree of prosperity.

CEMETERIES.

The graveyards of Champion are three in
number, and situated one at the center, one ad-
jacent to the Presbyterian church on the turn-
pike, and the third near the old Methodist
church on the State road. The cemetery at the
center is the oldest. It was purchased by the
township for public use about 1840. It is quite
neat and tastily kept. The oldest gravestone in
it bears the date of 1842, and was erected to the
memory of Caroline, daughter of A. and P.
Rudisill, who died at the age of three years. The
graveyards adjacent to the two churches men-
tioned are small and but few interments have
been made in them.

POST-OFFICE.

The first post-office was established in 1850,
John Harper postmaster. He was succeeded by
Stephen Kimball. The office was found to be
unprofitable,and was discontinued alter a short
time. There was then no post-oftice in the town-
ship until the Ashtabula & Pittsburg railroad was
built. The only post-office at present is Cham-
pion, on the above road.

VARIOUS 1'AC:TS and ITEMS.

William Woodrow was the first justice of the

William Rutan built the first frame house in
the township.

William Woodrow built the first brick house
in 1828, and John Chambers the second in 1829.

The first religious services in the township
were conducted by Revs. Jones and Leslie, of
the Presbyterian denomination, and held at the
houses of Mr. Rutan and Mr. Woodrow.

Sabrina Lane, afterwards Mrs. Wheeler, was
probably the first child bom in the township.
She was born about the year 1S07.

The first death was that of a child of Asa
Lane.

The first marriage was probably the wedding
of a daughter of Mr. Donaldson to Mr. Norton,
of Parkman.

Isaac Lane kept the first tavern, in the south
of Champion, some thirty-five years ago. I^d-
win Weiss kept a public house at the center later.

Thomas Hodds, an Englishman, kept a small
grocery on the main road south of the State
road, about 1850. This was the first store.
Champion is too near Warren to offer any in-
ducements for merchants to locate here.

The county infirmary farm in the southeast of
Champion was purchased in 1839.

SAW-MILLS.

Three water saw-mills have been in oper.ition
in this township since the advent of the settlers
of 1828; and during recent years a number of
steam saw-mills. There never was a grist mill or
a distillery in Champion.

The first saw-mill was built by William Durst,
and was situated on Young's run. The second
was on the same stream and was erected by Ed-
ward Pierce. Both were run several years. An-
other water saw^-mill was built in the western
part of the township, on Chocolate run, later,
but it was not a success.

INDUSTRIES.

Excepting agriculture there are no important
industries in Champion at present. One small
store at the center serves to supply the farmers
when they are too busy to go to Warren for the
purpose of trading.

John N. McCombs & Son have a steam saw-
mill at the center, which is the only one now in
the township. This mill was erected in 1S80,
and does a considerable amount of sawing.

The (heese factoiy c.f Da\id Caldwell and

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

557

Luther Riitan, at the center, has been in success-
ful operation for ten years or more. It furnishes
the dairymen with a convenient market for milk,
and produces a large amount of that article of
food which is fast becoming one of the staple
commodities of the northern part of Trumbull
county.

Much attention is given to sheep-raising by
the farmers of this township. The business is
considered profitable by those who have most
thoroughly tested it. Much care is exercised in
obtaining good breeds, both of sheep and of
cattle.

The soil is good grass land, and affords excel-
lent pasturage. Good crops of wheat are
secured almost every year. The use of phos-
phates upon the land has, in some instances,
more than doubled the usual yield. In early
years but little wheat could be raised.

Champion contains many fine thrifty orchards
and the apple crop is usually an important one.

NOTES OF SETTLEMENT.

Horace Harper, an old lesident of Champion
township, was born in Charlestown, New Hamp-
shire, November 3, 1796. His father, John, was
also a native of New Hampshire. Mr. Horace
Harper came to Ohio in 1819, and settled in
Farmington township, Trumbull county, for seven
or eight years, when he returned East and resided
in New York for three years. He then came to
Ohio and located in Champion township upon
the farm where we now find him. He began in
the woods and cleared up a good farm.

James Walker, an early settler of Champion,
was born March 4, 1806, in Armstrong county,
Pennsylvania. He came to Ohio in 1833, and
settled upon the farm where his son Taylor now
lives, in Champion township. He came from
Pennsylvania with an ox team. His brother
Samuel came at the same time. Mr. James
Walker was a carder and cloth-dresser by trade.
He was the first carder in Warren. He cleared
up a good farm in Champion, which he carried
on in connection with his trade. He died July 25,
1878, leaving a family of eight children to mourn
his loss.

Thomas Packard, a well-known resident of
Trumbull, was born in Berlin township, Mahon-
ing county, March 27, 1809. His father. Garret,
was n native of Virginia and came to Ohio in
i,So3, lir-t locating in Austintown township for a

short time, then moved to Deerfield where he
resided until 1809, then moyed to Berlin town-
ship, Mahoning county. He purchased his land
of General Perkins, and suffered all of the trials
incident to pioneer life. Mr. Thomas Packard,
the subject of this sketch, was the first white
child born in the township. Garret Packard
lived in Berlin until his death, which occurred
November 20, 1820, aged forty-four years. He
left a family often children and widow to mourn
his loss. Thomas Packard came to Champion
township March 31, 1835, and located upon the
farm where we now find him nicely situated.
He, like his father, began in the woods and
cleared up a nice farm, the fruits of which he
now enjoys. He was married in 1832 to Miss
Sarah Russell, daughter of Robert Russell of
Austintown township. Ten children have been
born to them, seven of whom are living. Three
of the sons were in the war. Mrs. Packard died
in April, r88o. She was a faithful member of
the Disciple church at Warren, and a loving
Christian mother. Mr. Packard is also a mem-
ber of the Disciple church and a most worthy
citizen.

Joseph Pierce, a well known resident of
Champion, was born in Armstrong, Clarion
county, Pennsylvania, in 1808. His father,
Peter Pierce, was a native of New Jersey, and
came to Pennsylvania when very young in com-
pany with his parents, who settled in Westmore-
land county, Pennsylvania, for a few years, then
moved to Indiana county, Pennsylvania, where
he cleared up a farm, and reared a family of
six children, all of whom lived to maturity. Mr.
Peter Pierce died in Champion, December 7,
1866, while on a visit to his son Joseph. He
was a cooper by trade, and was among the early
settlers of Clarion county, Pennsylvania. There
were eight children in his family, five of whom
are living. Mr. Joseph Pierce left Clarion
county April 14, 1835, ^^''^ a four-horse team,
and arrived in Champion on the 19th of April.
He stopped with his cousin, Edward Pierce, a
short time while a cabin was being erected, then
moved upon his present farm which was then a
dense forest. Mr. Pierce was married in 1832
to Sarah R. McKee, daughter of Samuel Mc-
Kee, of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania.
They have had six children, only two of whom
are living. Mrs. Pierce died in 1856. He was

558

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

married the second tune in 1857 to Miss Eliza
Chambers, daughter of John Chambers, of
Champion. Mrs. Pierce died in August, 1877.
She was a member of the Presbyterian church.
Mr. Pierce is also a member. In politics Mr.
Pierce is a sound Republican, and has held
several township offices — has been magistrate
si.\ years, and is still serving.

John N. McCombs, an old resident of Cham-
pion, was born October 5, 1807, in Poland town-
ship, Mahoning county. His father, William,
was a native of Pennsylvania, and came to Ohio
in 1800; settled upon the farm where Morris
MrCombs now lives. He was a pioneer in the
wilds of Ohio, and did much in his day toward
improving the county. He cleared up a good
farm and lived upon it till his death. There
were ten children in his family. Mr. John Mc-
Combs came to Champion township in 1837,
and located upon the farm where he now lives.
Like the early settlers of Champion he made his
farm. He was married in 1836 to Miss Jane B.
Scott, daughter of Matthew Scott, of Liberty
township. Three children were born to them.
Mrs. McCombs died in 1846. For his second
wife Mr. McCombs married, in 1847, Miss Laura
E. Scott, sister of his first wife. He had four
children by his second wife. Mr. and Mrs. Mc-
Combs were members of the Presbyterian
church. Politically Mr. McCombs was a Re-
publican. He has held several of the township
offices. He has been trustee several terms, also
assessor, thus showing the confidence [jlaced in
him by his fellow-citizens.

Daniel Hartman was born in Clinton township,
Pennsylvania, in 18 10. His father, Nicholas
Hartman, was also a native of Pennsylvania,
and came to Ohio in 1834, and settled in Jack-
son township, Trumbull county, now Mahoning.
The following year Mr. Daniel Hartman came
to Ohio and located in the same township, where
he resided nearly two years, then came to
Champion township and settled upon the farm
where his widow now lives. He was one of the
fust settlers in the western part of the township.
He cleared up a good farm and lived to enjoy
the fruits of his labor till 1865, when he died,
leaving a family of ten children and a widow to
mourn his loss. Seven of the children are now
living. Mr. Hartman was formerly a member of
the United Brethren church, He was married

in 1837 to Miss Catharine Fowler, daughter of
James Fowler, of Pennsylvania. She was born
January 13, 1814. Mr. Hartman was well known
and highly esteemed by all who knew him.

Alfred Osborn, an old resident of Trumbull
county, was born in Youngstown June 25, 1S08.
His father, Joseph Osborn, was a Virginian by
birth and came to Ohio in 1804 or thereabouts,
and settled in Youngstown township, in the
western part, and was among the early pioneers.
He cleared up a good farm. He died in 1846,
leaving a family of ten children and a widow.
Mrs. Osborn followed her husband in about nine
years. She was in her eightieth year. Mr.
Alfred Osborn came to Champion township in
183S and is consequently among the early set-
tlers of the township. The forest yielded to his
axe and in a few years he had a good farm. He
was married November i, 1838, to Miss Lena
Kyle, daughter of John Kyle, of Kinsman
township. This union was blessed with two
children, only one of which is living. Mrs.
Osborn is a member of the Methodist church
and a devoted Christian. Mr. Osborn has been
an active, enterprising man in his day. At the
present time he is nearly blind, though he bears
up under the misfortune bravely, knowing that
he has lived an honest, upright life.

Amos Weiss was born January 24, 1826, in
Austintown township. His father, Abraham
Weiss, was born in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania,
and came to Ohio in about 1823 or 1824, set-
tling in Austintown, where he lived till 1839. He
then moved to Champion township, and settled
upon the farm where his widow and one son now
live. Mr. Weiss died in September, 1853,
leaving a family of nine children. Mr. Amos
Weiss has always lived in the township since his
coming from Austintown. He is engaged in
general farming. He was married in April,
1S49, to Miss Hannah Price, daughter of John
Price, of Champion township. Six children are
the fruits of this marriage : John P., Charles,
Saloma, Walter, Nellie, and Mary. John and
Charles are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Weiss are
members of the Disciple church. Politically
Mr. Weiss is a Republican.

John Anderson was born in Ireland March 5,
1817, and came to -America in March, 1837,
landing at New York after a passage of six weeks
and three days. He lived about one year in

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

559

Pennsylvania, then came to Ohio and resided in
Warren and Liberty townships two years. He
then returned to Pennsylvania and was employed
for two years in the construction of the canal at
Greenville, then returned to Ohio and located
upon the farm where he now lives. The farm
was but partly improved at the time of his com-
ing, though now he has a fine home. He has
made dairying and stock raising his chief busi-
ness. He was married in 1S44 to Miss Catherine
Hyde, daughter of Captain Ira Hyde, of Farming-
ton. They have had si.\ children — Oliver, Ella,
Eliza, Ira, Perry, and Mary. The last three are
deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson are Method-
ists; and are esteemed by all who know them.

Isaac Lechleitner was born April 15, 1818, in
Northampton county, Pennsylvania. His father,
(ieorge Lechleitner, was also a native of Penn-
sylvania, and came to Ohio in 1831, and settled
in Jackson township, Trumbull county, now Ma-
honing, and lived here till his death, which oc-
curred in November, i860, leaving a family of
six children, three of whom are living. Mrs.
Lechleitner died in November, 1880. Mr. Isaac
Lechleitner came to Champion in 1844, and
located upon the farm where we now find hmi
most pleasantly situated. He began in the woods
and cleared up a good farm ; has one hundred
and seventy-three and one-half acres of excellent
land. He was married, in 1843, to Miss Sarah
Clemmens, daughter of Daniel Clemmens, of
Jackson township. They have three children —
Louis, Eli, and Nancy E. Mr. and Mrs. Lech-
leitner are devoted members of the United
Brethren church. Mr. Lechleitner is one of the
substantial and well-to-do farmers of the town-
ship.

William Clemmens was born in Jackson town-
ship July 4, 1824. His father, Daniel Clem-
mens, was a native of Washington county, Penn-
sylvania, and came to Ohio in 182 1 and settled
in Jackson township, and was among the early
settlers. He began in the woods, and by hard
labor, for which the Clemmens family is well
known, he soon he had a good farm, upon which
he lived until his death, in September, 1873,
leaving a family of eleven children, ten of whom
are living. Mrs. Clemmens died several years
before Mr. Clemmens. Mr. William Clemmens
came to Champion in 1844, and was married
two years afterwards to Miss Eliza Hoover,

daughter of Jonas Hoover, of Bazetta town-
ship. They have had seven children, four of
whom are living. Mr. Clemmens began in the
wilderness and cleared up a good farm. Mrs.
Clemmens did her first cookmg by the side of a
stump for some time, and therefore knows some-
thing about the trials of pioneer life. Mr. and
Mrs. Clemmens are supporters of the United
Brethren church. Politically he is a good Re-
publican.

John Osborn was born in Canfield in 1828.
His father, Jonathan, came from Virginia to
Ohio in about 1804, and settled in Canfield and
was one of the early settlers in the town-
ship. His father, John Osborn, lived in
Canfield till his death. He doubtless be-
gan in the wilderness and cleared up a
good farm. There were ten children in the
family. Mr. Jonathan Osborn came to Cham-
pion township in 1845, and settled where
John Osborn, the subject of this sketch, now
lives. He died in March, 1867, leaving a family
of six children, five of whom are living. Mrs.
Osborn died in 1850. Mr. John Osborn, the
subject, has a farm of two hundred acres of good
land. He was married in 1848 to Miss Eliza-
beth Shiveley, daughter of Jacob Shiveley, of
Bristol township. They have had five children,
four of whom are living. Mr. Osborn is a good
farmer and merits the esteem of all who know
him.

Edward Jones was born in Ausiintown town-
ship December 19, 1828. His father, John, was
also a native of Ohio, and was the first white
child born in Warren township (according to
some accounts). Caleb Jones, grandfather of
Edward, came to Ohio in a very early day. The
family was of Welsh descent. Mr. John Jones
spent his days in what was once Trumbull
county. He went to Austintown township when
he was a young man, and cleared up a good
farm, which is now occupied by Mr. A. B. Jones,
and lived here until his death in 1837. Mrs.
Jones died in February, 1878. Mr. Edward
Jone came to Champion March 19, 1850, and
settled one mile east of his present farm. He
cleared up a good farm and lived upon it ten
years. He then moved upon the one where he
is now located. He was married August 19,
1846, to Miss Martha J. Osborn, daughter of
Abram Osborn, of .\ustintown. They had eight

560

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES. OHIO.

children, five of whom are hving. Mrs. Jones
died in Febru.iry, 1874. She was a member of
the Disciple church, a faithful wife and loving
mother. Mr. Jones is an active, wide wake
farmer. Stock raising is his chief business. He
has a fine farm, which he keeps in the best of
condition, showing industry and thrift.

Robert Russell was born in .'\ustintown town-
ship in 1820. His father, Robert Russell was
a native of Virginia, and came to Ohio in
1802, and first settled at Mentor, where he re-
sided till 1806; then moved to Austintown and
was a pioneer in the township; built up a good
farm and lived upon it till his death in January,
1879. Mrs. Russell died in 1873 or 1874.
There were nine children in the family, six of
whom are living. Mr. Robert Russell, the sub-
ject of this sketch, came to Champion in 1851
and settled upon the farm where he has since
lived. He has one hundred and twenty acres of
good land, and is engaged in general farming.
He was married in 185 i to Miss Elizabeth Lan-
terman, daughter of William Lanterman, of Aus-
tintown. They have three children — George C,
.'Mice E., Cornelia J. Mr. and Mrs. Russell are
members of the Disciple church. Politically he
is a Republican.

William Hunt was born in Cnnfield township,
Mahoning county, December 31, 1824. His
father, Samuel Hunt, was born in Washington
county, Pennsylvania, and came to Ohio in about
1820, and settled in Canfield township, where
he lived till 1S46, when he moved to Champion
township. He began in the wilderness and
cleared up a good farm upon which his widow
and son, C. F. Hunt, now live. He died De-
cember 26, 1879, '" h's seventy-ninth year.
There were eleven children in his family, eight
of whom are living. He was a member of the
Presbyterian church, as was Mrs. Hunt. Mr. Wil-
liam Hunt has lived upon the farm where we
now find him since 1852. He is engaged in
general farming. He was married in 1850 to
Miss Sarah Ann Weiss, daughter of Abram
Weiss, of Champion. Mrs. Hunt died in March,
1872. There were seven children, six of whom
are living. He was married the second time in
1872, to Miss Ramsey, daughter of James Ram-
sey, of Canfield. Both are members of the Meth-
odist church.

David Leach was born October 16, 1815, in

Sussex county, New Jersey. His father, John,
was a native of New Jersey, and came to Ohio
in 1820, and settled in .Austintown township,
Trumbull county, now Mahoning. Here he re-
sided several years, and was among the early
settlers of the township. He was a- blacksmith
by trade. He died in 1826 or 1827, leaving a
family of eleven children and a widow to mourn
his loss. His family moved to Lordstown town-
ship in 1827 or 1828, and were among the
earliest settlers in Lordstown. Mrs. Leach,
mother of David Leach, died in 1875 in her
ninety-fourth year. Mr. David Leach came to
Champion in 1876, and located upon the farm
where we now find him. He has made* it a
practice to move once a year since his marriage.
He was married September 30, 1838, to Miss
Effie Jones, daughter of John Jones, of Austin-
town. They have had five children, three living.
Mr. and Mrs. Leach are members of the Dis-
ciple church. In politics a sound Republican.

N. D. Folsoni was born in 1837 in Weathers-
field township, Trumbull county. His father,
Jonathan, was a native of Essex county. New
York, and came to Ohio in 1834. He located
in Weathersfield township, where he resided till
1864, being engaged in farming in the meantime.
He then moved to Howland township, where he
has since lived. Mr. N. D. Folsom came to
Champion township in March, 1880. He is
superintendent of the infirmary farm, and gives
the best of satisfaction, fulfilling his duties faith-
fully and well. He was married November 29,
1879, to Miss Mary McMullen, daughter of
Washington McMullen, of Brookfield township.
Mr. and Mrs. Folsom are consistent members of
the Disciple church. In politics Mr. Folsom is
a sound Republican.

TRUMHUl.L AND MAHONINC. Ct)UXI'li:s, OHIO.

561

CHAPTER XXIV.

GREENE.

This township, by location in the origmal sur-
vey of the Reserve, was known as township
seven in range three, the townships numbering
from the south line of the Reserve north, and
the ranges from the Pennsylvania line west.
'l"he members of the Connecticut Land com-
pany who owned it were Messrs. Parkraan and
Greene, of Boston, who had it surveyed into
sections one mile long east and west, and one-
half mile wide north and south, the northwest
corner section being number one.

The general surface is level, with the eastern
part rolling and sloping west. The soil in the
eastern part is clay, with sand enough mixed
through it to make it a clay loam, the quantity
of sand increasing towards the central part, the
farms near Mosquito creek valley being quite
sandy. The west half of the township at some
remote period was undoubtedly overflowed with
running water, which formed numerous gravelly
ridges and knolls of slight elevation. The soil
of the level land surrounding the ridges and
knolls is a mixture of muck and sand, and being
easily drained is very productive.

At least two-thirds of the farms are well sup-
plied by streams and springs with good water,
and for mixed farming, that is, combining dairy-
ing and stock-raising with growing grain and [jo-
tatoes, the township will rank above the average
of the Reserve.

STREAM.?.

Musquito creek is the largest stream in the
township. It rises in Ciierryville, Ashtabula
county, and flowing across the corner of Wayne
and through Colebrook, it enters this township
about one mile west of the northeast corner.
Following a southwest course for the first two
miles it turns, and with its course due southwest
and a little east of the center it crosses the rest of
the township, and continuing south through Mec-
ca, Bazetta, Howland, and into Weathersfield, it
empties into the Mahoning river at Niles. In
early days it was quite a mill stream in this town-
ship, furnishing water power for two grist-mills,
three saw-mills, and one woolen-mill. It sup-
plies some thirty farms with water, but the mills
are gone, and it makes its water power felt only
in great freshet';, as in September, 1878, when

7>*

in a single night it made a clear sweep of all
the rail fences in its valley from the north to the
south line of the township. There are seven
large brooks that empty into the creek from the
east and two from the west. In the northwest
part there is a large brook that makes one of the
headwater branches of Rock creek, a branch of
Grand river, so that the township is partly in
the Mississippi valley, and partly in the valley of
the lakes.

There are no prehistoric mounds or works in
the township. Indian relics are numerous and
indicate that this was a hunting and sugar-mak-
ing region for the Indians.

FIRST SETTLEMENTS.

E irly in the spring of 1817 six men, John and
Wilham Harrington, John Wakefield, Ephraim
Rice, Rosnell Bartlett, and Ichabod Merritt,
came into the township to examine the soil, tim-
ber, etc. Selecting sections seven, fourteen, and
seventeen, they went to Warren and bought
them of the owner's agent, General Simon Per-
kins, at $2,50 per acre, paying one-third down.
The following boundaries by local points will in-
clude the purchase: Beginning at the old cem-
etery on the east bank of Mosquito creek, thence
north one and one-half miles to the east and
west road, at a point about thirty roads west of
Mineral Springs Cheese factory, thence east
along that road — except when it angles to the
south at the mill — to the west line of Timothy
Higgins' farm, thence south to the northeast
corner of the Sloan farm, thence west to the old
cemetery, and contained nine hundred and sixty
acres of land. This tract they divided into six
equal parcels, each one mile long cast and west
and eighty rods wide. To Ichabod Merritt — he
being the youngest — they gave the first choice.
He took the north piece because there was a
"deer lick" on it located near where the cheese
factory now stands. William Harrington being
next in age took the south piece. John Har-
rington took next to Merritt, and John Wake-
field next to William Harrington, Ephraim Rice
taking the north, and Roswell Bartlett the south
middle pieces. That spring Ichabod Merritt,
Ephraim Rice, and John Wakefield built three
jog cabins, sixteen feet square and seven feet
high. The roofs were made of oak shakes held
on with poles ; the floors, of puncheon, were
made by splitting out flat pieces from logs and

562

TRUMBULL ANU MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

smoothing them with axes. Merritt's mother
occupied the first cabin built, keeping house for
her two sons, Ichabod and Aaron.

These cabins were followed by ones for John
Harrington, Bartlett, and William Harrington.
That fall Ebenezer Kee bought part of section
four, just west of Merritt, and built a cabin and
moved into it.

In the spring ot 1818 David Rice came and
bought out Ichabod Merritt, who purchased the
northeast part of section thirty-four, and built a
cabin on it. Ephraim Kee came that spring and
bought what was called the wild plum lot in sec-
tion thirty-four, joining Merritt, and settled on it.
There being no roads laid out and each purchase
of land e.xcept Ephraim Kee's and Merritt's be-
ing crossed by the creek, the building sites were
selected near that stream and the first road cut
out started from E. Kee's, near where the south
cemetery now is, and went north to J. Merritt's,
then northwest to W. Harrington's cabin, near
the old cemetery, and then followed up the
creek to John Wakefield's, Bartlett's, E. Rice's,
John Harrington's, and David Rice's, to Eben-
ezer Kee's. In 1819 John Martin, J. B. Spring,
H. P. Higgins, James Bascom, and C. P. Hay-
ford settled, and in 1820 Timothy Higgins, John
M. Jestin, Robert Evans, and Samuel Hayford,
moved in.

In 1821 Levi Rice, Ephraim Rice, second, and
Wyman Wakefield became settlers, and Noah
Bowen located on section forty-nine in the south
part of the township.

In 1822 Ami Churchill and his sons. Major
and Barnabas, with Noah Coleman, Levi Bailey,

Steward Kee, Sr., Ira Kee, and Sloan, father

of John and Isaac Sloan, built cabins and bought
land. From 1822 until 1840 the township set-
tled up rapidly, and probably had at the latter
year nearly as many inhabitants as at any time
since.

TOWNSHIP ORG.VNIZATION.

.\t the time of the first settlement of the
townsliip Kinsman, Gustavus, and Greene were
organized as one township and called Greene,
Kinsman being the place for holding the elec-
tions and meetings to transact the affairs of the
township. At the township election in the
s])ring of 1819 the voters living west of Py ma-
tuning creek not voting to suit those living east,
ihey ])L-titioncd to be set off as a township with

Kinsman as a name, which was granted, leaving
Gustavus and Greene under the old organization,
Gustavus being the place for meeting to trans-
act township affairs. At the election in the
spring of 1820 the voters from the new settle-
ment not voting to suit the more populous and
wealthy east part, the people of the east half
petitioned to be set ofT as the township of Gus-
tavus, which being granted left the new settle-
ment the township's name hut without town-
ship officers. The new settlement applied
for and was reorganized as a township that year,
and held the first election at William Harring-
ton's, in September (1820). The voters elected
Ebenezer Kee, clerk ; Ephraim Rice, John
Harrington, and Roswell Bartlett, trustees ;
David Rice, treasurer ; Ephraim Rice and John
Wakefield, overseers of the poor ; \V. A. Bas-
com, constable ; William Harrington, David
Rice, and Ephraim Kee, road supervisors ; Wy-
man Wakefield, fence-viewer. The next spring
Roswell Bartlett was elected justice of the peace,
and in the spring of 1823 Noah Coleman was
elected to the same office.

Up to this time but one wagon and one cart
were owned in the township, and but one
horse, owned by Roswell Bartlett, whereof a lit-
tle story. Bartlett, Merritt, and William Har-
rington started for Gustavus one morning, and
Bartlett, mounted on his horse, proposed that he
would ride on ahead and inform the people at
Gustavus that they were coming. " Look here,
Bartlett," said Jek, who had a poor opinion of
Bartlett's horse, "by hines we can beat you and
your old hoss there," and away he started on a
hunter's lope, closely followed by Harrington,
jumping the brooks and fallen timber, and dash-
ing through swales and brush, arrived in Gus-
tavus far in advance of Bartlett, and informed
the people there that Bartlett would be there
some time that day if " his old hoss didn't give
out." Oxen were the teams used and the settlers
took as much pride in owning a nice, well-
matched pair of oxen as our horsemen of to-
day do in a span of matched horses.

The |)rincipal article produced that would sell
for money was black salts, made by leaching the
ashes gathered from burnt log-heaps and boiling
the lye down into the salts in a large kettle.
Black salts looked somewhat like very brown
maple-sugar, and found a ready sale among the

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

563

trading merchants at $3 [>er hundred pounds.
The means used to transport the salts to market
was a large trough. The trough was made from
a large poplar log, hewed flat on one side for the
bottom; then one end tapered up and into a
notched point for hitching the chain to; then the
log was dug out with axes, making the inside as
wide and deep as the size of the log would allow.
With a good yoke of oxen hitched to one of
these troughs, loaded with black salts, the settler
could push through the woods to New Lyme, or
cross the big swamp to Bioomfield, or ford the
Pymatuning to Kinsman, without taking the
risk of broken wheels or axles. For crossing
swamps and swales, fording bridgeless streams,
getting over fallen trees and logs, or turning
sharp corners around stumps and among trees
no modern vehicle will equal one of the settlers'
troughs. Loaded with bags of corn and wheat
it was ready for niiil and on Sunday carried the
women and babies to meeting.

CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS.

The first church was built of hewed logs, and
covered like the log-cabins, with oak shakes held
on with poles, and stood on the square in front
of the Hubbard cliurch. This church was built
at the earnest solicitation of Ami Churchill. He
hewed all the logs for it himself.

Up to this time religious services had been
held at private houses, and at the log school-
house. 1 he church built, the next thing was
to get a settled minister. R. Crane, father of
Rev. R. W. Crane, was invited to settle in the
township and become their minister. He ac-
cepted the invitation, but not being regularly
ordained as a Congregationalist minister, the
society applied to the nearest presbytery, asking
that Mr. Crane be ordained and located as their
minister. But that body, after examining Mr.
Crane, refused to ordain him. About this time
Rev. John Tassey, a Scotch independent Pres-
byterian, came and preached in their church, and
hearing of their dilemma, offered to ordain Mr.
Crane as an independent Congregationalist.
His services were accepted, and Mr. Crane was
ordained. This being out of the regular order,
Mr. Crane and his church members were named
Tasseyites. About 1825 the members of the
Methodist Episcopal church living in the town-
ship, assisted by Ephraim Kee and his sons,
built a small frame church at the east corners,

and in 184- the Presbyterians built a large
church at the middle corners, which is now called
the Hubbard church. The Baptists formed a
society in 1831, and some years after built the
church they now occupy.

About 1850 the Disciples formed a society,
and built the church they now occupy, in 1852.

The first school-house was built of logs, and
stood a half-mile north of the east corners. The
second one was a frame building, and stood at
the cross-roads, near the south cemetery. The
first teachers were taken from among the settlers.
Roswell Bartlett, James Bascom, and William
Harrington taught winter schools, and Rhoda
Rice, Mary Evans, and Charlotte Bascom sum-
mer schools. The township never built an acad-
emy, but Charles A. Harrington, Lawrence Cole-
man, and Rev. S. D. Bates taught select schools
in the old Presbyterian church, and by their
ability in thorough teaching made their schools
a success and raised the standard of education
in the township to a point not often attained in
more pretentious buildings erected in populous
and wealthy townships.

MILLS.

In 1822 David Rice and Noah Bowen built a
grist-mill on Mosquito creek near where Mr. L.
Rice & Son's mill now stands. The next year
H. P. Higgins and Samuel Hayford put up a
saw-mill on the Merritt brook at the place now
known as Mount Hunger. In 1824 Rice &
Bowen built a saw-mill in connection with their
gristmill. In 1825 John M. Jestin and E.
Perkins built a saw-mill on the brook that crosses
the Timothy Higgins farm. In 1830 Ichabod
Merritt and Ephraim Kee built a saw-mill on
the Merritt brook, west of the south cemetery. In

1840 John Evans and Forward built a saw-

and grist-mill on the creek near the north line of
the township, and John Pettis built one near the
south line, on the creek, .\bout the same time
Emerson Gibbs erected a woolen-mill on the
creek east of the center. The charges for saw-
ing lumber was twenty-five cents per hundred
feet and the best poplar lumber sold at $6 per
thousand.

NOTES AND INCIDENTS.

The first birth was Deborah Harrington,
daughter of John Harrington, born in March,

564

■I'RUiMllUI.l. AXI) MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

The second was Edwin Wakefield, now Rev.
Edwin Wakefield, of this town, son of John
Wakefield, born October i8, 1818.

The first marriaf^e was John M. Jestin, to Ruth
Higgins, in November, 1820. The second was
William Harrington to Charlotte Bascom in
March, 182 1.

The first post-office was kept at the middle
corners. Major Churchill, postmaster. The mail
came through from Warren to Jefferson once a
week, and was carried on foot by Caleb Leonard,
of Bazetta, for $65 pei year.

The first merchant was Jonathan Worthen,
who came with a wagon load of goods and set
up in a small building _at the east corners. He
also put in machinery for carding wool, driven
by horse-power. George Hezlep and Stoddard
Stevens were merchants at the east corners in
early days, and were followed by George P. Cur-
tis, who commenced about 1835, ^"d continued
in business at the same stand for thirty-five
years.

For forty years the east corners was the main
business point in the township. Since the war
the center has been the business as well as the
geographical hub of the township.

Elk, deer, and wild turkeys were plenty, and
bears and wolves were frequently seen.

William Harrington purchased the first two
sheep owned in the township, in Bazetta. Tying
them together he drove them home. It getting
dusk before he reached his clearing, the wolves
began to howl as if on his track. He cut a
heavy cane from a young hickory and prepared
for a fight. It was not long before the wolves
were close to him and placing himself between
the sheep so as to hold them from running, he
fought the wolves off and then started his sheep
on. Three times before reaching his log barn
he had to fight the wolves to save the sheep.

Isaac B. Spring, better known in later days as
Dr. Spring, went to Warren in March, 1820, to
transact some business. On his return he
reached Mosquito creek in Bazetta about sun-
down, and being on foot got his feet wet in
crossing. He sat down on a log and took off
his shoes and wrung the water out of his stock-
ings. While he was doing this he could hear
the wolves howling, and just as he was putting
on his shoes he heard the brush rattle, and look-
ing around lie sawa wt)lf looking at him through

a clump of bushes ; soon he saw another, and
another, till some half dozen w^ere around him.
Making a spring for a limb, he climbed a tree
for safety. The wolves were kindly disposed to-
wards the doctor, and to keep him awake so
that he would not fall, howled arOund the tree
till daylight the next morning, then tiotted off,
and the doctor got down and tramped on to
Greene.

Ichabod Merritt had been a successful hunter
in Canada, and on settling here where game was
plenty became the most noted hunter in the set-
tlement. While hunting in the latter part of the
winter of 1822, in company with Isaac Mowrey,
Leonard Wheeler, and a new comer who had
been a sailor, they struck a bear track in the
west part of Gustavus. Following it to a large
poplar tree, they found the bear had climbed it.
Up some sixty feet the tree was broken off, leav-
ing two large limbs below the break. No bear
being in sight it was evident to them that the
stub above the limbs was hollow and made a den
for the bear. Having but one ax with them,
and the tree being very large, they were about
to give up getting the bear, when the sailor said
that if they would chop a beech tree that stood
near and lodge it against one of the limbs of the
poplar, he would go up the beech and shoot
the bear in its den.

The offer looking favorable for getting the
bear, as well as a chance of seeing a novel hunt-
ing exploit, Merritt and the others agreed to it,
and chopped the beech, lodging it as the sailor di-
rected. Taking a loaded gun he started up, Mer-
ritt boosting him as far as possible, but after sev-
eral attempts the sailor could not get any higher
than Merritt could boost him. Suspecting that
his courage had oozed out or failed, and that
they had spent time and labor for nothing, Mer-
ritt got angry and said, " Come down out of the
way; by hines I can climb better than that my-
self" Tying his gun to his back so as to have
free use of his hands and arms in climbing, up
he went to the top of the beech, and stepping
from that onto the large limb and straightening up,
he could look down into the hollow, where he
could see two eyeballs glaring at him in the dark.
Telling his companions what he saw, he gave di-
rections to them to stand readv to shoot the bear
should it come out, as he was going to shoot
down into the den. Planning which wa.-; the

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

56s

quickest way to get from the limb on which he
stood back into the top of the beech, and plac-
ing a bullet between his teeth ready to re-load,
he turned the butt of his gun up with the muzzle
in the hollow and fired. Without waiting to see
the efifect of his shot he clambered up the top of
the beech, and pouring some powder from his horn
into the gun he dropped the bullet in and gave
the butt a jam against a limb to "jar" the bullet
down and prime the gun. While Merritt was
getting from the poplar limb into the beech and
re-loading, the bear came out of the hollow
growling with rage, and made directly for Merritt.
Mowrey tried to follow Merritt's directions, but
his gun snapped. Wheeler, frightened out of
his wits, began yelling, "You're gone Jek, youVe
gone Jek ! " and fired his gun off in the air; then
thinking what he ought to do, rammed a bullet
down his gun without powder, broke his ramrod,
still yelling, "You're gone Jek; jump down
Jek ; Oh Lord, Jek ! " Just as the bear jumped
from the large limb into the beech at Merritt, he
brought his gun to his shoulder and fired, with
the muzzle close to the bear's head, and it rolled
off and dropped to the ground dead. Two cubs
climbed out of the hollow and ran out on the
limbs. Mowrey, having reprimed his gun, shot
one, and Merritt, reloading where he was, shot
the other, and then descended and saluted
Wheeler with, " By hines, Wheeler, I ain't a
gone Jek yet.''*

SETTLEMEN'T NOTES.

Deacon William Harrington, now aged eighty-
eight, is still residing in Greene with the wife of
his youth, where he settled sixty-five years ago.
He was one of the original six purchasers of
land in Greene, and the only survivor of that
company. He was born in Brookfield, Orange
county, Vermont, Febiuary 5, 1794. His father
died when he was young, and he attended school
but little after he was ten years old. Yet he was
an apt scholar, and acquired a good common
school education so that he subsequently taught
school a number of terms. When twenty-four,
in the spring of 1817, he came to Greene in
company with the first three families, and assisted
in making the first improvements in the town-
ship. His purchase comprised one hundred
and sixty acres in section seventeen, where he

* NoTi; — The guns used in early days were flint-lock

Still lives. March 6, 182 1, he married Helena
Bascom, daughter of James and Helena Bas-
com, born in Chester, Massachusetts, December
15, 1801. Mrs. Harrington's parents came out
in the spring of 1819, and settled in the neigh-
borhood of the Harrington's. Deacon Harring-
ton was the leader in the Congregational church
in Greene during its existence, uniting with it
about 1831. He was many years ago justice of
the peace for six years, and held other township
offices. But the position to which he looks back
with the greatest pride, as he says, was that of
president of a temperance society in Greene for
a period of thirteen years. This society was a very
flourishing one in its day, having enrolled in its
membership nearly every citizen of the township.
Mr. and Mrs. Harrington are the parents of five
children — C. A. Harrington, a well known at-
torney of Warren ; Corydon, a resident of Paines-
ville ; Ashley, who married Helen Ross, and oc-
cupies the home farm with his father ; Frederick,
in Rock Creek ; and Ermina (Ashley) in Cole-
brook, Ashtabula county.

Ephraim Rice, Sr., one of the first purchasers
of land in Greene, was a native of Worcester
county, Massachusetts. He moved out with his
family in 181 7, settled on the creek where
Samuel Jerauld now lives, and resided there
until his death. He was born in the year 1772,
and died July 3, 1869, in the ninety-eighth year
of his age. He was the father of four children,
as follow : Rhoda (Martin), Eli F., and Eph-
raim, all living in Greene, the oldest over eighty,
and Rebecca (Gill), dead. Eli F., the oldest
son, was born July, 1803; married Mary P.
(Alger) McKee, who died January, 1882. Their
children are William A., married and lives in
Mecca; Edward S., married and lives in Greene;
Mary, living at home, and Eli F., Jr., married
and occupies the farm with his father.

Orin Cory was born in Derby, Vermont, in
1809, where he lived until 1830, when he re-
moved to the State of New York. There he
engaged in the lumber business for several years.
In 1837 he married Polly Phillips and the same
year came to Trumbull county, and purchased
land in Greene township, where he settled. His
wife died in 1875 aged sixty-eight. They have
had a family of four boys and four girls. The
patriotism of this family is attested by the fact
that four sons were in the army during the war

566

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

of the Rcbcliion. Dwight enlisted in the Sixth
Ohio volunteer cavalry as private and came out
as captain. Nelson had an army experience of
about four years. J. B. enlisted in 1862 in the
Ohio volunteer infantry, and served one year.
Charles served about five months. Mr. Cory
was married a second time, in 1875, to Lizzie
Ayres, of Stark county, born in 1834.

Lucian Rice was born in VVilliamsfield, Ash-
tabula county, Ohio, August 15, 1810. His
grandfather, Aaron Rice, came to Ohio about
1829, and settled in Greene township, Trumbull
county. He was a soldier of the war of the
Revolution. He died at an advanced age about
1832. Aaron, Jr., son of Aaron and Anna
(Yale) Rice, was born in New York State in
I 781, and married Submit Jones, born October
20, 1786. He served in the War of 1812, and
died in 1865. Lucian Rice was married March
27, 1839, l^o Lovina Hays, born in 1815, and
died May 11, 1855. In 1856 he married Sarah
White, born in 1823. By his first marriage he
had five children, and by his second one son.

William C. Tuttle, son of Chester and Eliza-
beth (Cowden) Tuttle, was born in Oneida coun-
ty. New York, August 20, 1816. When four-
teen, in February, 1831, he came to Greene,
Trumbull county, Ohio, and has resided here
since. He learned the trade of tanning with his \
uncle, Alexander Cowden, with whom he came 1

to Ohio and who had a tannery where George
P. Curtis now lives. He married in September,
1838, Emeline Coleman, of Greene township,
who came to Greene with her parents in 1821.
Her father, Noah Coleman, was one of the
prominent early residents of Greene, having held
the office of justice of the peace for the period
of twenty-five years. He was one of the
pioneers of Colebrook, Ashtabula county. Mr.
Tuttle bought the busmess of his uncle when
twenty years of age, and carried on the business
at the old location until the spring of 1847,
when he established his business where he has
since been located, one mile east of the center
of Greene. His business is that of tanning and
harness making, and he formerly carried on shoe-
making. Mr. and Mrs. Tuttle are the parents
of five children, three living and two deceased.
Sylvia married Charles P. Jerauld, and died in
Nebraska City February 27, 1882. Chester
Tuttle, employed in business with his father; he
was a member of company C, One Hundred and
Twenty-fifth Ohio volunteer infantry, in the war
of the Rebellion; served two years and nine
months and was discharged for wounds received
in a skirmish at Lovejoy's station, Georgia.
Mary E. Tuttle, until lately engaged in school
teaching, now at home with her parents. Clin-
ton, who died young; and Charles A., residing
at Little Valley, New York.