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 13
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57
In 1848, when Seabury Ford was nominated for governor at Columbus, some of the delegates going to that meeting had the hardest coaching trip of their lives. The two youngest mem- bers of that convention were Jacob B. Perkins of Warren and Ezra B. Taylor of Ravenna. They wont part of the way by coach, part of the way by wagon. It was February. Many times they got out and walked, and, finally, when within eleven miles of Columbus, plastered with frozen mnd and dirt, they aban- doned the coach and walked in.
The first stage coach running between Erie and Cleveland was in 1818.
On September 27, 1827, an advertisement appeared in the Western Reserve Chronicle showing that the stages, which had been running from Warren to Youngstown, via Brookfield and Salem, to Erie, were then extended to Dunkirk.
In 1828 the fare on the stage coach from Warren to Youngs- town was 50 cents, and from Warren to Fairport was $1.75. "Now and Then," in the Chronicle, says that when Paltzgroff. Shoenberger, Fulk kept the hotel which then stood on the eor- ner of Main and South streets, there were as many as eight coaches a day running from Ashtabula to Wellsville, and they stopped at this hotel for meals.
If any reader does not sympathize with the movement to save the American forests, he has only to study the history of a
Sept 16 1879
( Photo by Andrews from sketch of John W. Bell. )
THE OLD COVERED BRIDGE ON SOUTH STREET AND THE BROKEN TRESTLE OF THE MAHONING RAILROAD, IN THE '70s.
131
HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY
small portion of the United States to see how the cutting of the timber affects the size of rivers, consequently transportation, and prosperity generally.
In 1806 the Legislature declared the Mahoning river navi- gable to Newton Falls. In 1829, navigable to Warren. "Flat boats were paddled from Pittsburg as far as Warren in all sea- sons easily, except at two or three shoals, where light lifting was needed."
The early settlers had no roads, no bridges. When they eame to the stream they waded or swam. After a time enter- prising men, at the places where the road crossed the river, car- ried passengers on flat boats for money. In the auditor's office of Trumbull County we find the following:
"At the general meeting of the board of commissioners in and for the County of Trumbull it was ordered that the sales for ferry license for the year 1811 shall be $4.00, and the pay allowed to receive for ferriage for each man and horse 1212 cents, and 61/4 cents for each man or woman. 50 cents for loaded wagon and team, 371- eents for every other four-wheeled carriage, 18 cents for an empty cart and team or sled or sleigh and team, 5 cents for every horse, mare, mnle or head of neat cattle, and 11/5 cents for each head of sheep and hogs.
"Wm. MeCombs. Clerk."
Today there are about twenty-five bridges spanning the Mahoning river in Trumbull County. This number does not in- elude railroad bridges. All creeks and rivulets have small bridges and sluice ways.
The early settlers soon learned that because of the nature of the soil and the heavy timber, roads might have impassable places even in the summer time, and that the easiest way to travel was by stream where it was possible. Therefore in 1807 they decided to take some action for improving waterways or constructing new ones.
They determined to improve the Cuyahoga and Tusearawas rivers, thus forming a means of communication between Lake Erie and the Ohio. They were to dredge, elear and deepen the rivers, make a road so good between the two that loaded wagons could be driven over it. The estimated cost for this was $12,000, and the legislature sanctioned it, but did not provide for taxa-
132
HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY
tion. allowing instead the running of a lottery by which the funds could be raised. There did not seem to be any question about this being the proper thing to do, and the men who had charge of it were among the most influential citizens. They were Samuel Huntington, Amos Spafford, John Walworth, Lorenzo Carter. James Kingsbury, Turhand Kirtland, Timothy Doan, Bezaleel Wells, Jonathan Cass, Seth Adams, Zachias A. Beatty and John Shorb. H. K. Morse of Poland has one of these orig- inal tickets of this lottery. It reads:
"Cuyahoga & Muskegon Navigation Lottery. THIS Ticket entitles the bearer to such prize as shall be drawn against its number (if called for within twelve months after the drawing is completed), subject to the deduction of 121 per cent. No. 4472.
(Signed)
"J. Walworth, Agent for Board of Commissioners."
There were 12,800 tickets, price $5 each. The first prize was for $5,000; two prizes of $2,500; five prizes of $1,000; ten prizes of $500; fifty prizes of $100; one hundred prizes of $50; three thousand four hundred prizes of $10. The Commissioners had great faith in this lottery, and tiekets were expected to be sold in Massachusetts, New York, and in local Ohio towns. However, the publie did not take much interest in this matter, and after putting off the drawing from time to time, the selieme was finally abandoned and the money returned to those who had paid it.
As early as January, 1817, a resolution on the construction of the Lake Erie and Ohio Canal was introduced into the legis- lature. In 1819 the question was again up. In 1820 a survey was authorized, and in 1822 the legislature provided for the survey of four routes; one was to run from Sandusky Bay to the Ohio river: one from Mamnee river to the Ohio river; one from Cuyahoga, or Black river, by way of the Muskingum, to the Ohio, and one from the month of the Grand river, via the Mahoning, to the Ohio. The commissioners into whose hands this work was given, at the following session of the legislature, reported that any of these routes could be used, but asked for more time to consider which was the most practical. At the session of 1823-24 they chose the one for the Seioto Valley, the Licking and upper Muskingum. In the summer of 1824 two
133
HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY
routes were determined upon, one from the Maumee river to Cincinnati, and one starting at the mouth of the Scioto, to Cosh- oeton, and then up to the lake by three different routes. In 1825 the canal commissioners were ordered to proceed on these two routes. When completed the western one was called the Miami Canal, and the eastern the Ohio. From Coshocton the Ohio canal followed the Tusearawas, out the okl portage and followed the Cuyahoga to Cleveland. Great preparations were made for the opening of this canal. General La Fayette was in this country. and it was expected that the first shovel of earth would be lifted by him at the portage summit. This was the very spot over which the men of 1799 came, which the earlier settlers had attempted to make a good road for the carrying of baggage. Two counties received their names from this spot- Portage and Summit. Unfortunately, General LaFayette had promised to be in Boston on July 4, 1825, and the whole plan was changed. The first ground was broken July 4, 1825, at Lick- ing summit. Gov. De Witt Clinton. of New York, who had been so interested in all canal projects, raised the first shovelful of earth. and ex-Governor Morrow of Ohio the second. Hon. Thos. Ewing of Lancaster, Ohio, was the orator of the occasion. The canal was completed from Cleveland to Akron in 1827, and in 1830 boats were running from Cleveland to the Ohio river.
The Mahoning Canal was a branch of the Ohio, running from AAkron to Beaver. From that point the river was used to Pittsburg. The residents of Portage and Trumbull counties worked long and faithfully to seenre this canal. Conventions were held in Warren and in Ravenna, and in 1826 a bill for the incorporation of the Pennsylvania and Ohio Canal was pre- pared. This was passed by the legislature in 1827, and was to be effective when the state of Pennsylvania would pass a like one. The date of Ohio's aet was January 10; of Pennsylvania's. April. Notwithstanding this good start, nothing was done until 1833, when meetings were again held and the charter of 1827 was renewed and granted December 31, 1835. Pennsylvania had also renewed its old charter. The city of Philadelphia was al- lowed to have $780,000 of the stock, and in less than an hour from the time the books were opened this was all taken. The whole amount of stock was to be a million dollars, and the re. mainder. $220.000, in a few weeks was taken by people in Port- age and Trumbull counties. The stockholders met May 31, 1835. at New Castle. The survey was begun in June of 1835, near
134
HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY
Ravenna. The whole length of the canal from its intersection with the Pennsylvania Canal below New Castle to its intersec- tion with the Ohio Canal at Akron covered 82 miles. Ditches led from some of the smaller lakes in western Portage county to the canal. These were known as "feeders."
It was hard work to finance this as the work went on, and the governor of Ohio had to come to the assistance of the com- pany. but in 1840 it was opened for business clear through.
For twelve years this was a success, and then the building of the Cleveland & Pittsburg Railroad, running through Ra- venna (1851), interfered with it largely, and the construction of the Cleveland & Mahoning Road brought about its destruc- tion. People would neither ride nor ship goods on a slow line when there was a faster one, and in 1863 the state sold the stock which it had in the Mahoning branch of the canal to the Cleve- land and Mahoning Railroad Company. A few boats ran occa- sionally after that to pick up a little business which was off these railroads, but eventually the canal was abandoned. It was com- pleted as far as Warren in 1839. The Western Reserve Chron- idle of May 23, 1839, says:
"On Thursday last, May 23rd, our citizens were greeted with the arrival of a boat from Beaver. The packet On- tario, Captain Bronson in charge, came into town in gallant style. amid the roar of the cannon and shouts and hearty cheers of our citizens. The boat was crowded with gentle- men from Pennsylvania and along the line, and accom- panied by four excellent bands of music. On arriving at the foot of Main street they were greeted by the Warren band, and a procession formed which marched through the square to the front of Towne's Hotel, where a neat and appropriate address was made to the passengers by John Crowell, Esq., mayor of the town. * The rest of the day was spent in hilarity, and on Friday the boat left for Beaver, carrying abont forty citizens of Youngstown, who were highly delighted with the exenrsion. * Arrange-
ments had been made by Messrs. Clark & Co. for running a daily line of packets from this place to Beaver. Three boats, the Ontario, Huron and Hudson, are fitted up in superior style to carry fifteen tons of freight and sixty passengers. and to leave Warren daily at noon and arrive at Beaver next morning."
135
HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY
The committee of arrangements for this celebration were A. M. Lloyd, Lieut. J. Ingersoll, C. C. Seely, James Hoyt and J. D. Tayler. So far as we know, no descendants of these people are now living here except James, the son of JJames Iloyt. who now resides in the Hoyt homestead on Tod avenue, and Annie and Abbie Hoyt. nieces of James, and Mrs. Mary VanGorder Kinsman, a niece of Mr. Ingersoll.
At four o'clock in the afternoon a banquet was served, over which Gen. J. W. Seely presided, and the toasts were many and patriotic. One of them was "The Packet Ontario-the first boat that ever floated the waters of the Ohio and Pennsylvania Canal." F. J. Clark of Beaver offered the toast, "The Village of Warren -- we admire it not more for its own beauty than for the liberality and enterprise of its citizens." The music which followed this toast was " In the Green Village," and was played by the Youngstown Band.
When the canal was completed to Akron there was another gala-day for Warren. Governor Porter of Pennsylvania came with the party, and there was hardly standing room on the packet. The visitors landed, walked in the deep mnd up to the court house, where Gen. Simon Perkins read an address of wel- come and Governor Porter and others replied. The party re- turned to the canal boat and proceeded to Akron. General See- ly, who had been so much interested in the canal from the be- ginning, was taken ill on the boat going to Akron, and died soon after arrival. General Seely was the great-grandfather of Mrs. John ( Mary Van Gorder) Kinsman.
Warren was a lively place during the construction of the canal. In the first place, everybody was filled with enthusiasm and conrage, and then it was necessary to employ a large num- ber of men for the work, and the boarding of these men brought quite a revenue to the little village.
As soon as the canal was finished warehouses were built along its banks. The main one stood on the east side of Main street, exactly opposite the Warren Paint Company's factory. M. B. Tayler owned this business, in whole or part, and long after the canal was abandoned his name, in large letters of a brownish-red color, still remained on the end of the warehouse. Mr. Tayler's sons, George and M. B., and his daughters, Mrs. H. T. MeCurdy, Mrs. B. J. Taylor and Mrs. Luey T. Page, still reside in Warren. Mr. William Minyoung afterwards conducted the business in this same building, and was a successful mer-
136
HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY
chant, dealing in flour, feed, etc. Ilis daughter, Mrs. Predmore, and his son, William, live in Trumbull County. the former in Warren.
After the canal was abandoned there was always more or less water in the bed, which was south of town. The canal entered Warren about where the B. & O. road runs now. on the west side. There was a lock in the neighborhood of the Van- Gorder dam, and here the canal crossed the river. Because the canal bed inclined in a southerly direction, and because the river was near, water seeped through the lock, and when the river was high, ran over. In this stagnant water, which in the recol- lection of the writer was covered with a thick, green seum, mosquitoes bred, and spread malaria, so that Warren was for a time a malarions town. The general belief is that these mosqui- toes little by little traveled down from the Cuyahoga river. where they were a pest. The towns along the canal, after its opening, were infested with them, and after the abandonment were free from both mosquitoes and malaria. This back water, running from the VanGorder mill eastward, was used by chil- dren for skating in winter and for fishing in summer. Many a nice string of sunfish has been snatched from this water in a few hours' time by little folks of that day.
Before the completion of the canal the farmers in this part of the country made cheese. These were cared for in ware- houses, and when cured were hauled to Pittsburg for market. Iron, nails, glass, cotton goods, and dry goods were exchanged in Pittsburg and brought back. Sometimes the Warren mer- chants, Henry and Charles Smith, particularly. when the river was high, would buy a raft or flat-boat and load it "with cheese, whiskey, dried apples and wooden clocks and go to Rochester, Pennsylvania," and then float down the Beaver and Ohio to Cincinnati, selling their products as they went.
The Mahoning Canal was not only a great advantage to the county seat of Trumbull County, but it was of great advan- tage to Niles and to Newton Falls, both of which were flourish- ing villages. It filled a temporary want, and it proved to the people of Trumbull County that if they had means for transport- ing their products they would become a very prosperous people. In one year, 1844, M. B. Tayler bought and shipped 1,309,620 pounds of cheese.
[n 1840 there was built in Warren a canal boat known as the Trumbull. It was made as large as could go through the
(Loaned by the Chronicle. )
STONEWORK OF OLD LOCK ON CANAL, OPPOSITE THE OLD VAN GORDER MILL.
13:
HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY
loeks, and the Presbyterian church promised its Sunday school scholars a ride to Youngstown. Consequently, on Saturday morning, July 4th, the children gathered at M. B. Tayler's ware- house and were surprised to find the banks of the canal fairly lined with the residents of the town. When they were all aboard there were so many of them that the deck was black and there was little place to sit or rest. The man who was steering could not see the bank, and every little while would run into it. Much time was consumed in backing off until they got into slack water. They had a delightful time going down, went to Rayen's grove. where the pie, the cake, the ginger bread and lemonade were as free as air. The sun was getting low before they started for home. Surely somebody was short-sighted. They worked their way until they reached Girard, where the boat was stopped, candles and potatoes secured. The latter were to serve as sticks for the former. By the light of these tallow dips the noble ship proceeded. Whether it was imagination, too much cake, or whether there was a motion to the boat is not known. but what is known is that nine-tenths of the gallant passengers suffered tortures from mal de mer. Mr. Irwin Ladd, now in the eighties, then a boy, wearing his Sunday snit, was a passenger. He suffered less from sickness than many of his boy friends. One of these. Fitch Adams, was desperately sick, and Irwin held him in his arms, notwithstanding he realized that his Sunday snit, because of contact with Fitch, would never be the same again. So greatly did young Adams appreciate this kindness that he said nothing would ever be too good for Irwin, and nothing he could ever do would be too much trouble for him to do. He was as good as his word. It was between one and two o'clock a. m. of July 5th when the Trumbull was made fast at Tayler's warehouse. It had been eight hours coming from Youngstown. Among some of the Warren residents who partici- pated in this voyage were Whittlesey Adams, Sarah II. Van Gorder, James G. Brooks, all of whom are still living.
It is seen that the canoe, the horse and saddle, the stage coach and the canal were not sufficient, nor efficient to take care of the travel and traffic of north-eastern Ohio. In 1827 plans were formulated for connecting Lake Erie with the Ohio river by railroad. The point of starting on the lake was not definitely fixed, but it was to be either in Lake or Ashtabula counties, and it was to touch the Ohio river somewhere in Cohn-
138
HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY
biana county. One million dollars was to be used in its construc- tion. A few men could see the advantage of this, but even after the result of having a canal was seen, there were conservatives, and the money was not raised. Eleven years later a company known as the Ashtabula, Warren & East Liverpool R. R. Co. was formed for the same purpose, but this time there was added $500,000 to their capitalization. The panie of 1836 and '37 put an end to this plan. In the meantime the usual thing happened, that is, there was a compromise-the Ohio Canal was built. However, the stage coaches continued to run and men believing in railroads continued to work.
The first railroad built running through Trumbull County was the Cleveland & Mahoning. The conception of this enter- prise was had at Warren. The charter was granted February 22, 1848, but the work was not commenced nntil 1853.
Mr. Wirt W. Abell, a grandson of James Scott. still resid- ing in Warren, was a member of the engineer corps which worked on this ( Erie) railroad. He says the first engine for that road arrived in Warren from Cleveland on the Erie Canal. and was slid over on iron rails and set up on the track. Mr. W. S Crawford, who had lived in Gustavns but then resided in Girard, was the first condnetor, and acted in that capacity for twelve or fifteen years. Junins Dana at one time had a run on this road as conductor, but kept it only a little time. The first train run on this road was July 1, 1856, and on the 4th of July a special train was run from Warren to Cleveland. The east terminal of the road at that time was about where the Warren Electric & Specialty Company's building now stands. There were several coaches for the accommodation of ladies, and flat- cars, with boards across, for men.
Among the Trumbull Connty directors at that time were Junius Dana, Jacob and Henry B. Perkins, Charles Smith and Frederick Kinsman.
To Mr. Jacob Perkins is due the success of this road, be- cause at several times when financial disaster seemed imminent he encouraged his business associates and, at one time, stood personally responsible for a large amount of indebtedness. He died in 1859, but the people of the Mahoning Valley, even to this third generation, feel grateful to him for his courage dis- played at that time. He did not foresee it, but this act of his added largely to his personal fortune. In 1860 the engines running on the Mahoning Road had names, and one of
139
HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY
these, the newest and best, was called "Jacob Perkins." The Cleveland & Mahoning road in the beginning was and is now a paying one, and after its consolidation, or, rather, its lease, its steady earnings were of great financial benefit to the lessor.
In 1851 the Franklin & Warren Railroad Company was or- ganized, the purpose of which was to construct a railroad from Franklin (now Kent), Portage county, through Warren, to Pennsylvania. There were a number of plans for the construc- tion of railroads which would eventually join with this, but in the beginning only this short line was to be constructed. It was broad-gauged, but after several years of trial the width was made standard. All attempts at wide or narrow gauge railroads have been failures. So far as the writer knows, the only living original director of the Atlantic & Great Western Railroad is E. B. Taylor of Warren. Lewis Iddings, H. B. Perkins and .J. N. Tyler were a commitee to investigate where the road should go through Warren. This road, like all other early railroads, had its financial troubles, and was finally financed by an English company, foremost among whom was MeHenry. The road was finally completed, and the English party came to New York City and made a trip over the route. The people of Trumbull County, although exceedingly self-respecting, always have been devoid of airs. When the English party arrived in Warren, at the small station standing on the east side of Mahoning avenue, where Mrs. Dietrich now lives, many citizens were at the depot. Possibly there was a regularly appointed committee to receive the guests. General Thomas J. Mebain, who was a prominent citizen, a lawyer, a banker, a man of fine presence, extended a word of greeting on behalf of the townspeople. The Englishman replied and MeHlenry was loudly called for. He was so modest, unassuming or insignificant looking that he was not recognized, although he had been standing on the platform all the time. In those days the Illustrated London News was taken very largely by the people of the United States, many copies arriving regu- larly in Warren. In the course of time, a report of this railroad trip appeared and the citizens of Warren had a good deal of fun at the expense of General Melain, because in relating the stop at Warren, the reporter had said, among other things, "Here ( Warren) the peasantry was all out in its holiday attire. and one large peasant stepped forth and addressed us."
After a time the Atlantic & Great Western Road, through various changes and leases, became the New York, Pennsylvania
140
HISTORY OF TRUMBULL COUNTY
and Ohio Railroad Company, and finally, the Cleveland-Mahon- ing Company and the Franklin-Warren Railroad Company were leased by the Erie.
The Ashtabula & New Lisbon Railroad referred to above, had only constrneted thirty-five miles, when, in 1869, it was sold to private parties and operated until 1872, when it was leased to the Erie. It was the third railroad constructed in Trumbull Connty.
A small line of road known as the Liberty & Vienna, which was built in 1868 and extended to Youngstown in 1870, became part of the Cleveland-Mahoning Valley Railroad Company at the time of the consolidation.
In 1870 a company known as the Ashtabula, Youngstown and Pittsburg Railroad Company was chartered and entered into contract with the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chieago Railroad Company, to construct a line from the terminals of the Lawrence branch of the Pennsylvania road at Youngstown, to Ashtabula. A piece of road from Niles towards Ashtabula, and another part of the Liberty & Vienna Company from Youngstown to Niles, were purchased, a connecting link from Niles to Girard was construeted in 1873. This was the fifth railroad built in Trumbull County and was a part of the Pennsylvania System.
In 1870 a company was organized for the construction of the first narrow-gange line in this part of Ohio, if not in the state. The partially constructed Painesville and IIndson road was bonght for $60,000, and in 1873 cars were running from Painesville to Chardon. Later arrangements were made with the contractors whereby the road was completed to Niles. the Ist of Jamary, 1874, and a little later reached Youngstown. The road went into the hands of a receiver in 1877 and after some delay became the property of a new company, under the name of the Painesville & Youngstown Railroad Company. About $1,300,000 in stocks and mortgages was the priee paid. Just as the broad-gauge had not proved satisfactory, so was this narrow-gauge unsatisfactory. Time could not be taken to shift freight or passengers from one car to another. The gange had to be uniform to avoid delay. Within a few years this road came in conjunction with the B. & O. at DeForest and it was leased or bought by the B. & O. It is the ontlet from the Valley to the lake of the B. & O. System. In its early days its nick name was the Peewee, but now it is known as the Lake division of the B. & O. There are two or three railroads which run through Trum-
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.