USA > Ohio > Trumbull County > A twentieth century history of Trumbull County, Ohio; a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests, Volume I > Part 11
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At the time of the building of the canal two Texans, brothers, David and George Law, had the contract for the dig- ging of the canal near Warren. George was a very peaceful man but David was a fighter. The latter rode a big dun-colored mule and people who knew him at the time said that he could get off that mule and whip any Irishman who was working on his line. Ile was six feet in height and of powerful build and a Warren citizen says "Nothing nor nobody could head off George Law."
In the late sixties and seventies this hotel was known as the Eagle House and it had not a very good reputation as a hostelry. Few people were seen there except on circus and "other big days." when accommodations were hard to obtain. Just when it disappeared from view nor where it went no one seems to know.
No matter how old, how decrepit, how indifferent men or
-
(Loaned by the Tribune. )
DANA MUSICAL INSTITUTE, First a store, then a hotel.
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women may be, a love story attracts all. For this reason the tale of the building of the old American House has been given over and over again in newspapers and magazines. James Scott had a large family of children, the daughters were all at- tractive, one especially being spirited. In 1826 a young cabinet maker, named Lowe, who came to Warren to work, had a modest little shop on the northwest corner of Park and High streets. He soon fell in love with Miss Scott. She did not fancy him, and gave him to understand she did not care to have him call upon her. Stories told of this young girl make her say that she was the daughter of a rich man and could look down on his little shop from her window. This statement is so unlike any Scott descendant that the anthor discredits it. Since this was true it hurt Lowe's feelings very much. He then retorted by saying that he would put up a building so high that he. could sit in his room and look down on her. Ile borrowed the money and began the work but when half done he died of smallpox. As Mr. Leieester King had loaned him the money for the enterprise, he was obliged to finish it in order to save himself. Mr. Isaac Ladd, one of the best carpenters of that time, had the contract for the woodwork above the first story, which had already been completed. Mr. King rented this building as a store until 1840, when it became a tavern and was known as the "American House." There was considerable rivalry between the American HIonse and the Gaskill House in the '60s. The location of the former was in its favor, but the good cooking of the German housewives connected with the latter balanced the location. Pro- prietors of the American Honse at different times have been William H. Newhard, Henry Lowe, Mr. MeDermont, Edwin Reeves, James Ensign, and Benjamin Gilbert. Of these men Mr. Reeves is the only one living. This hotel had a ball room and for many years people met here for dances and enter- tainments. At the time of the building of the Atlantic & Great Western Railroad the American House was the headquarters of the engineers. During war times large bodies of soldiers were fed there. In 1869 or '70, Junins Dana purchased the building and it has been used as a Musical Institute ever since. It is now in poor repair and will, undoubtedly, before long be removed. Its huge pillars running full length make it an imposing looking building.
A wooden hotel built by Asael Adams standing at the corner of Market street and Park avenue for many years accommo-
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dated not only travelers but boarders as well. It had a great sign of four boards made in a square and fastened to a huge post upon which were large letters, "Franklin House." A long cord rimning from the front of the house to the stable connected with a bell which brought the hostler to the front of the house to take charge of the horses. The stable stood where the Lamb & Strong Building is now. Among the landlords best remembered were ". Billy" Williams and Daniel Thompson, the father of Mrs. Dr. Sherwood. After the grading for the sewerage was done, the building was reached by a long flight of wooden stairs. This structure was removed to make way for the present Franklin Block.
Alanson Camp kept a hotel on Market street for many years. D. B. Gilmore and Jesse Paneoast. John Hoyt, and the Elliott brothers were among the landlords there. Very re- cently this building has been reconstructed and is the property of E. A. Voit, and Mr. Christianar; the proprietor is Frank McConnell.
The oldest building erected for mercantile purposes in the business part of Warren and now standing well preserved and unchanged in its appearance at the front, is the two-story brick building with stone front at No. 7 North Park avenne. It was erected by Asael Adams in 1836 for general mercantile purposes and was at that time the most complete mereantile building in northern Ohio ontside of Cleveland. In the '60s the lower part was used for a postoffice; the upper part as a residence of Mr. and Mrs. Orlando Morgan. For a few years the MeFarland Brothers had their undertaking establishment here. It is now owned by W. W. Dunnavant, who has a moving picture show, valled "Dreamland." At this writing he is making a one-story addition to the rear, to accommodate his growing business.
One of the oldest honses in town was that which stands on the river bank, on the site now occupied by William H. Baldwin. Ilenry Lane Jr., who gave the land for the first cemetery now on Mahoning avenne, lived here. The house was of logs, and Mrs. Lane, a lovely woman, who was very fond of flowers, had a beautiful garden there. When working with her flowers she destroyed the sight of one of her eyes. When the town began to name its streets, the street running direetly east from the Lane home was ealled Lane street. What influence was brought to bear to blot out the name of this good old eitizen is not known, but, within the recollection of the writer, Lane street
REAL ESTATE OFFICE
OLD FRANKLIN CORNER, WHERE "BILLY WILLIAMS" SO LONG KEPT HOTEL.
Reproduced by Andrews for this history from an original taken about 1888.
(Loaned by the Chronicle.)
FRANKLIN BLOCK IN 1874.
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became Belmont. This house was for many years the home of Mrs. James VanGorder, and her daughter Ann Mary. who late in life married Rev. JJoseph Marvin. The wing of the house was the old log house which fleury Lane first put up. It is a com- mon belief that part of this log structure is in the present build- ing, but Mr. Baldwin, who repaired it some years ago, says that there is no part of the log house left. If there were, it would probably be the oldest house standing. In 1807 Mrs. Lane went to Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, and Mary Reeves, her niece, who had been left motherless, returned with her. Miss Reeves was a cousin of the late John Reeves, of Howland. She married Henry Stiles and lived, all her married life, a few rods from her aunt's home. She was the grandmother of Mrs. Rolla Cobb, Mr. Henry Quinby Stiles, Miss Harriet Jones, and Mr. George Jones, of Warren. Hemy and Mary Stiles had a goodly sized family, all of whom were genial and friendly. The Stiles homestead, with its long, low porch, which all adult residents of that day well remember, was the rendezvous of the young people of this city. Mrs. Albert Watson, of Cleveland, who, as Luey Morgan, used to be a guest of the Stiles family, says that in no house in Warren did the young people ever have a merrier time.
llorace Stevens, the brother of Benjamin and Augustus Stevens, was a hatter by trade. Miss Aurelia Pier, who lived in Vermont, was betrothed to him. She came west with Judge Leicester King and family. They came by water to Fairport, and Mr. Stevens, with George Parsons, went to meet them. Mr. Stevens and Miss Pier were married at the home of Judge King. Mr. Stevens built the house which stood on the lot now owned by the Misses Hall on Mahoning avenue. Ilere their oldest child, Mary, was born. Mr. Stevens afterwards branched out in business, sold his property to General Crowell, and moved to Newton Falls. At that time, because of the water power, Newton Falls was a thriving hamlet. Mr. Stevenis owned the grist mill and the saw mill, which property has been purchased by the Hydro Electric Company since the writing of this history was begun. Mary Stevens married Ira Fuller at Newton Falls and came to Warren to live. She had a large family of children ; all of those who reached adult age married. Six are now living and all are prosperous people. Her danghter and granddaugh- ter, Mrs. Cornelia Harmon and Miss Ella, are residents of War- ren. Mr. and Mrs. Fuller lived in Warren all their married life, most of the time on the northeast corner of Vine and Mar-
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ket streets. The office of Mr. Fuller, which stood on Vine street, is now on Atlantie street and is very old. It is used as a dwell- ing. When Mr. Stevens retired from business, he returned to Warren and made his home with Mrs. Fuller. The Stevens home stood on a lot on Mahoning avenne above referred to, which runs east ahnost to Harmon street. This property was offered for sale by John Crowell to William Woodrow for $325, twenty-five dollars to be paid ontright and the rest when convenient. Mr. Woodrow did not purchase it, but Mr. James Dunlap bought and occupied it for many years. At the time he erected the present brick house it was moved on to South street, next to the corner of Elm street, where it now stands. It is one of our oldest houses and is still doing good service.
The oldest dwelling honse in the city which is in good re- pair is that occupied by Elizabeth, William and Frank Iddings, on the north side of South street, between Vine and Pine streets. It was built by John S. Edwards in 1807 and stands on the spot it originally occupied. It was purchased by Hon. Thomas D. Webb, and he, his children, and grandchildren have lived there ever since. He had three daughters, Lanra, Elizabeth and Ada- line. Laura married Dr. Warren Iddings in 1846; the others never married.
It was the intention of Mr. and Mrs. Edwards to use the honse as two wings, erecting a main house between them. Mr. Edwards' early death prevented this. The house is a little larger than the original, Mr. Webb having added a kitchen at the rear. It is in good condition. Miss Iddings has a number of pieces of fine old furniture which have withstood the wear of time. In 1844 or '45 Mr. White designed and made a sofa in the shop which stood north of the Presbyterian church. It was cov- ered with brocade haireloth purchased by him in New York City. It has stood in the parlor of Mr. Webb and the Iddings family ever since, and the wood, the haircloth, nor the springs show wear.
Another old house which has withstood the ravages of time is now owned by Timothy Case and stands just east of Edward Smith's house on Market street. This was built by Judge Calvin Pease before 1816. His office stood on the same lot but it was not of brick, as was the house, and was moved carly to the lot next the corner of Vine street and made into the house where Frederick Shaler so long lived. Two men who have always been much interested in the history of Trumbull County were born in
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this house, one, Irwin Ladd, born in 1828, and the other, Arthur Woodrow, born many years later.
The Pease house stood on a hill almost directly north of the Webb house. A sharp embankment led down to a small creek which ran through Harmon Austin's place on High street diagonally through the lots between, on to Jolm Campbell's place on Market, and then into what was then Mr. Pease's land. It eventually crossed South street and emptied into the canal. This house was situated on the land known as the " Pease Addi- tion" and was kept in the family until a very few years ago. It was occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Orlando Morgan for a number of years. Mr. Pease had planted trees and bushes, and these bore fruit within the recollection of the children of the late '60s. However, none of these children ever had the faculty of passing the watchful eye of Mrs. Morgan and never enjoyed the pleasure of eating stolen fruit.
The home of Hon. Richard Iddings, one of the staunchest of the early settlers, is in good repair today and stands east of the home of Miss Mary Iddings on Market street. After Mr. Iddings ceased to occupy it, it was sold to W. O. Forrest and passed through the hands of several others. It now belongs to L. W. Sanford. Richard Iddings came to Warren in 1806. He was a tailor, and had his business over the store of Henry & Charles Smith. He was elected to the legislature in 1830, together with Rufus P. Spaulding. His children were Lewis J., Morris, War- ren, Hiram and Elizabeth. Richard Iddings died in 1872. He married Justina Lewis, of Reading, Pennsylvania, a woman of sweet character, and at first they lived in a house where the Park Hotel now stands. Later they erected a house on the west side of the lot and in 1829 built the house which their children occupy. This is one of the oldest houses in the city. Mrs. Iddings belonged to a substantial family of Reading, and in 1821 her sister Betsey came to live with her. The Iddings home was one of the most hospitable in the city. It was constantly full of guests and Mrs. Iddings and her sister made all feel welcome. Betsey Lewis was one of the strongest characters Warren has ever had. So far as we know she was the first woman suffragist in the town or county. She was a constant reader, perfectly familiar with all phases of political questions, and although gentle like her sister, was sprightly and active both in body and mind. She was greatly interested in the questions which preceded the
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war, and died just as the war was breaking out. It is hard for ns to realize it, but so muddy was Market street in the days of the early thirties that when Mrs. Iddings and her sister wished to call on the neighbors across the street they went on horse- back.
Samuel Chesney, who was born in Juniata county, Pennsyl- vania, in 1778, came to Warren in 1803. He had taught school in Pittsburg before settling here and held the office of deputy postmaster for a long time, and was justice of the peace. Among the men who came late in the fall of 1799 was Benjamin Davison. He put up a eabin below the Fusselman farm, near Mr. Case, and went east, bringing his family the next May. There were ten children. It was at this house that the boys who went to Salt Springs with the party at the time the Indians were killed, stopped at the end of their three-mile run. Samuel Chesney mar- ried Mary Davison and their first home was on Market street, where Albert Guarnieri now has his fruit store. This block is still owned by the family of Lewis Iddings and was built on the land of Mr. Chesney. For many years it was called the " Empire Bloek." Mr. Lewis Iddings married Jane Chesney. Their chil- dren are Miss Mary Iddings, Mrs. H. C. Baldwin, Mr. S. C. Id- dings, and Lewis M. Iddings, consular agent to Egypt. When Jane Chesney was a little girl she lived in this house and used to attend the Academy. The court house yard was dreadfully muddy and the streets almost impassable. When she got her first rubbers and was able to keep her shoes clean, it made such an impression upon her that she never forgot it.
When Jane Chesney married Lewis Iddings they moved into the honse which the family now occupy, so that Mrs. Iddings' entire life was spent on Market street in this city. Mr. Samuel Chesney built a house on Chestnut street which is still standing. It was between Market and South streets on the east . side, but some years since was moved back to make room for a new building. Here Samuel Chesney died.
At one time the fashionable part of town centered around the corner of Main and South streets. Ilere lived Judge Francis Freeman, Samuel L. Freeman, John McCombs, Henry Smith. Charles Smith, and Mathew Birchard. The Birchard home- stead was very near the river, and was very attractive in its early days. Judge Birchard was a man of large acquaintance among publie men. In 1841 he married Jane Elizabeth Weaver. daughter of Captain William A. Weaver. She was a gentle
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woman of education and pleasing manners. Their daughter, Jane, was the leader among the girls of her time. She married Frank Mason, now consul general to Paris. Mr. Mason was a son of Edson Mason, of Niles. Frank and his wife, Jane, have spent the greater part of their married life abroad, he going into the consular service in 1877. Mrs. Birchard died in Paris since this work was begun. The people of today, when they pass the Birchard homestead, now owned by JJacob Knotsky, and see the yard piled high with junk, cannot imagine how attractive this place was in the early days.
A sidewalk as wide as the general sidewalk on Main street followed down the west side of the Main street nearly to the canal bed. On the edge of this walk was a row of locust trees. The first house below the railroad track belonged to Mr. Bul- lard; the second honse was the property of Henry W. Smith. Here he and his large and attractive family lived for many years. After a time they moved out onto the farm now owned by the estate on the Youngstown Road, and Mr. Goldstein, long a snecessful merchant in Warren, ocenpied this house. Later it was owned by Mrs. Nancy Dawson and upon Mayor Dawson's death it became the property of the B. & O. Railroad. In the original, it stood high, had basement rooms, a wide hall leading through it and was a very attractive place. The children of the late '60s remember this place because of the apricot tree which stood in the back yard. When the railroad people seenred it. they set it on the ground, turned it quarter abont and no sem- blance of the old building is left. It is still used for a railroad station. although having been condenmed by the city board of health. If railroad promises are redeemed, when this volume is in the hands of the readers, a new station will ocenpy this site.
The next house to the south was that owned by David Tod and later became the homestead of M. B. Tayler, whose large and kindly family made the house seem more like a boarding school than a home. Nine girls in one house, with two boys thrown in, is something to make the homes in apartments today seem like play-honses.
The next and last house was the home of Charles Smith. He, too, had a goodly family, and being of a very sociable nature. had much company aside from the relations. So, in this row lived the three children of Charlotte Smith, one of the staunch- est and best of Warren's early citizens.
Mr. Leicester King built, about 1828, the house which is
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now occupied by the children of Henry W. Smith, fronting Mon- umental Park, on Mahoning avenue. At the time this building was constructed it was thought to occupy the finest location in the city and opinion in regard to it has not changed. Its colonial hall, high ceilings, natural wood, are as acceptable now as then. It has been occupied only by three families in all these years, those of Mr. King, Mr. H. C. Belden and Mr. Smith.
The home of Thomas and Charles Kinsman, standing be- tween the Smith and the Perkins home, is one of the old build- ings, and by many architects considered to be the finest of any home in the city. Certainly the southern exposure with its wide porch, its high pillars, is most attractive to persons driving up Mahoning avenue. This house remains about as it was built, in 1835, having been repaired somewhat but not changed except the hall, which was extended clear through the house. Frederick Kinsman married Laura Pease, the brilliant daughter of Calvin Pease. His first wife, Olive Perkins, sister of Hon. Henry B. Perkins, whose children died in infancy, lived but a little time. Frederick and Cornelia Kinsman had five sons, and at their home have been entertaining more people of note, more old resi- dents coming back for visiting, and more of the town people, than in any other one house. Mr. Kinsman was a man very much interested in the early welfare of the city, was one of the associate judges, gave his advice and his opinion to all who asked for it and was most practical in that advice. He and his family were interested in the raising of fruits, vegetables and flowers, so that his place had a special attraction for friends and visitors. Mrs. Kinsman was a genial. capable, loving woman, and was one of the most popular persons Warren has ever had. Iler sons adored her and she was for many years the leading worker in the Episcopal church and in town philanthropy in general. Mr. Kinsman long survived his wife, and four sons, John, Frederick, Thomas and Charles, are living, Henry, the youngest, dying before the father.
Another old house is the one at the end of Pine street where the river turns. It was owned at one time by Mr. Charles Smith, and was known among the children as the haunted house. The date of its erection is not exactly known.
One of the early houses still in existence is that of General Simon Perkins. Its site was about the same as that of the present Perkins homestead on Mahoning Avenue. It was a frame house, of good lines, and of medium size. Standing in the same
(Loaned by the Tribune.)
HOMESTEAD OF THOMAS AND CHARLES KINSMAN.
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HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY
yard. east of the present office, stood General Perkins' office. Here is where he did so much of the business for the Connectiont Land Company. After he had lived in his home some years a Boston architeet was employed to make some changes. At that time this architect built the house now occupied by J. P. Gilbert, at the corner of Mahoning avenue and Monroe street. After Mrs. Perkins' death, the homestead was closed for a number of vears and about 1870 it was moved onto the farm now owned by the Perkins estate, in Howland, just outside the city limits. The front is substantially the same now as then, but it has an addition. It is in fine repair.
One of the other early houses still standing is that known as the Southworth house, standing on the corner of Chestnut and South streets. This was built prior to 1816, was occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Silas Southworth. Their nephew, Silas Davis, still lives in Trumbull County.
Ephraim Quinby's first house stood on the site of the Erie depot, and was of logs; the second house was a frame one, or at least partially frame, and stood on the lot occupied by Mrs. Gif- ford on Highland Avenue, while the Quinby home familiar to the people of today was erected by Samuel Quinby at rather early date and stands on the high point of land at the head of Highland avenue, known until recently as "Quinby Hill." It is now the property of John Long, who has lived all his life in Warren, and whose father lived here before him.
Another old house is that standing on the northeast corner of Main and South streets. This was known as the old Free- man home. It was built by Judge Francis Freeman, occupied later by his danghter, Olive Freeman Ratliff, by his son, Samuel L. Freeman, and has since been used largely as a boarding house. The brick house standing at the east of the Freeman house was built, about 1848, for Samuel L. Freeman and ocen- pied by him before moving into the house on the corner. All of these homesteads in this part of the city depreciated in value and were sold by the owners after the Mahoning Railroad was established, the noise and the dirt making this section of the town undesirable as a residence section.
Three of the old one-story wooden schoolhouses are still standing. That known as the north school is on the rear of Mrs. Eunice Hawkins' lot next to the Prospect street schoolhouse. The one on East High street was moved to the rear of General Ratliff's lot at the time he erected his brick dwelling and became
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part of the stable. The Fulton street building now stands on Clinton street, is used as a dwelling and is owned by Mrs. Beahr.
The house on the southeast corner of Park and High streets, formerly the homestead of John Harsh, was erected in the neighborhood of 1820. Its architecture was the common one for brick houses of that day. The lot on which it stands is one of the most desirable in the city.
The home of Lewis Hoyt, on South street, now owned by his daughters, Annie and Abbie, was built in 1820. Oliver Brooks' house stood within a block of the Hoyt house, on the north side of the same street. This was one of the early hospitable homes. A few years since it was moved to the rear of the lot, and now stands where it can be seen from Park avenue, and back of the house which the Seelys early occupied.
Mr. Lewis M. Iddings in contributing "Sketch of the Early Days of Warren" to the " Mahoning Valley Ohio Historical Col- lection," made a map which is so interesting and so accurate that we are reproducing it here. Mr. Iddings is consular agent (practically minister) to Egypt, and is so far distant that we cannot ask his permission. He is greatly interested in the old- time history because of his family connection, and we feel sure will be glad to have the readers of this history in possession of this information, especially as the volume above referred to is ont of print and this information should be preserved.
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