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 44
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Titus Hayes and his wife Deborah Beckwith came to Hart- ford in 1804 with their son, Col. Richard Hayes. Titus Haves spent the winter under Washington at Valley Forge. Richard Hayes was colonel in the Ohio militia and was in the war of 1812. Edward Hayes, the grandson of Titus, was a colonel in the war of the rebellion.
One of the strong characters of Hartford was Elam Jones and his wife Sarah Hyde. They kept the first tavern at the center of the township. He brought the first books for the library which long existed in the township and he was the librarian. Mrs. Jones was born in 1776 and lived ninety-five
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years. Mrs. Bushnell says that Mrs. Jones arrived with her husband and her baby on the 4th of July, 1805. "When they reached the center of the township all the men of the town were celebrating Independence day by clearing off the forest trees from the green upon which the schoolhouse soon appeared, followed in 1819 by the church which now (1896) stands. This church is said to have been the first church building with a steeple in Trumbull County." Women as well as men helped to bild this Congregational church. Mrs. Jones did her part by furnishing dinners for the carpenters and finishers, and her daughters, Harriet Jones, afterwards Mrs. Parker, and Electa Jones, afterwards Mrs. Bushnell, carried the dinners in their hands a half a mile so that the men might not lose any time by coming for it. The brother of these enterprising girls was Hon. Lucien C. Jones, who for many years was one of the lead- ing attorneys at the Trumbull County bar, residing in later life in Warren, and his children, Harriet and George, reside in Warren now.
Most of the townships in Trumbull County were fortunate in having German settlers. Those in the southern tiers had the most. Mr. and Mrs. John Kepner were the first Germans of Hartford. No matter where we have found these settlers, what their condition was, we always find flowers. Mrs. Kepner brought tulips, lilies, roses and herbs, and some of these lilies a few years since were thrifty bulbs, sending up beautiful white flowers. "Her beautiful hemstitched linens, high feather beds and sanded floors were the admiration of her neighbors."
The first justice of the peace, Titus Brockway, was also the first postmaster.
The first dwelling house at the center was built by Seth Thompson Sr., in 1810. It was of course of logs and it stood north of "the green."
The first apple tree was on the farm of Titus Brockway.
The war of 1812 added largely to the inhabitants of the town of Hartford, as it did to most of the northeastern town- ships.
The first white child born in the township was Harriet Merry (1801). A flag used for the celebration of the Fourth of July in 1824 was made at her house, she having married Theron Plumb. Her sons were Hon. Samuel Plumb, of Ober- lin, Ohio, and Hon. Ralph Plumb, a leading citizen of Streator, Illinois.
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The first bride was Jerusha Bushnell, who married Linus Hayes, and she the first adult to die.
The first person to be buried in the cemetery at the center was Lucy, the daughter of Asa and Lucy Andrews.
The first physician in Hartford was Dr. Daniel Upson. After a time he moved to Worthington, Franklin county, Ohio, and later to Talmadge, where he died in 1863. He was the father of Judge William Upson of Akron, and his grandson Henry is one of the leading physicians of Cleveland.
The first school which the children of Hartford attended was one at Burghill, taught by Miss Bartholomew; scholars from Vernon and Hartford both attended here. In 1805 a frame building was erected on the "green." It was one of the first frame buildings in the town. It was moved around from one position to another and served as church and town hall as well as schoolhouse. The first woman teacher in this school- house was Amanda Finney. Wells Andrews taught in the winter.
One of the largest early schools had one hundred and six scholars, and Theodore Trade was the teacher. He not only taught this day school, but taught writing and spelling in the evening, and for this day and night service he received $17 a month.
The first schoolhouse in the "mill" district was erected about 1808, and General Charles Woodruff was the teacher. The second schoolhouse was near the mill-dam and Miss La- vinia Flower was the teacher, and that winter Thomas Bushnell Jr. had charge. This schoolhouse was of logs, as was the one in the east district. The east school was taught by Electa Jones. We quote the following from Williams history: "The first school on the ridge was taught by Miss Pluma Moore. The first schoolhouse in the west district stood on the Bates farm about one-half mile north of Bates Corners." Among the teachers of Hartford was Marshall Woodford. He was at one time the principal of the schools in Warren, and when he stopped teaching and began practicing his profession, law, he was elected member of the Warren school board, and did most excellent service in that capacity. He was also one of the founders of the Warren Library, and his sudden and unex- pected death was a shock to all his acquaintances.
A schoolhouse built in 1827 at Burghill and one the next year at the center were used by Hartford pupils for nearly
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a quarter of a century, when they were removed to make room for new ones.
In the early '80s there were nine distriet schools in the township. At present their common schools are centralized, and William R. Lingo is superintendent.
The first school of the higher grade was tanght by John Crowell in 1824 at the house of Thomas Thompson. Sixteen years later Miss Caroline Billings had a school for young ladies, which was so thorough and efficient as to be still remembered.
The general assembly passed an act incorporating the Hartford high school in 1849, and the fall of that year John Lynch began teaching. Ile was a very efficient instructor. In 1871 the school was held in the old church which had been aban- doned. It was repaired at the cost of $2000. Edwin Bennett was among the trustees, and the school was named Hartford Academic Institute. This school was maintained by tuition and private contribution.
Rev. Joseph Badger, who organized most of the Presby- terian and Congregational churches in Trumbull County, was the first preacher to hold service in Hartford. In 1800 peo- ple from Hartford and Vernon attended his meetings and three men, Edward Brockway, Isaac Jones, and Charles Merry, probably their wives also, were present from Hartford. Although there was some agitation about the formation of a church society, it was not until 1803 that Edward Brockway and his wife. Sarah Bates, Timothy Crosby, Titus Brockway, Plumb Sutliff, Sarah Palner, and Sarah Smith decided to be- come members. The church was organized on the plan of union. Their first connunion was held in a grove because so many people were present that no building would accommo- date them. Forty communicants were present. Rev. Mr. Tait, of Mercer, preached the sermon. Captain Thomas Thompson must have been a publie-spirited citizen, since, as we have seen, the first high school was held in his house and in 1804 a four- days' meeting of the Congregationalists was held in his barn. Wells Andrews, the teacher of 1805 above referred to, was one of these first communicants, and afterwards became pastor of the church. So far as we know this was the first church or- ganized on the union plan in the present Trumbull County. It was called "The Church of Christ in Hartford, Vernon and Kinsman. "
The meetings were held in the different townships, and
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as there was no settled place of worship, neither were there any settled pastors. In 1819 a church was erected. Rev. Harvey Coe became the pastor in 1814. Like the Rev. Mr. Badger he is mentioned in several places in this history. For nine years Mr. Coe preached in the three towns. The first deacons of the llartford branch were Titus Brockway and Daniel Bushnell. Two years after the erection of the church, that is 1821, there were 210 members. In September. 1823, forty-three persons, among them many of the best known citi- zens of the township, decided to form a church of their own. Rev. Harvey Coe was at this organization and later resigned his pastorate. He was succeeded by the Rev. Wells Andrews, who was so connected with this church through family ties, through early days spent in the township, that he was very valable in the church life. The church prospered for a num- ber of years. In 1840, forty-two persons withdrew to form a Presbyterian church. Rev. George Young was the minister and the first meeting was held at the center in the brick school- house. Subsequent meetings were held in Alva Hart's store, and a church erected in 1846. Hon. Seth Haves gave a larger part of the money for the building of this church, and his wife, Sarah, presented the bell. In 1852 the church re-united with the original church. In the meantime Philo Borden and his son Russell gave land on which a parsonage was built in 1843. Jolin Keep was one of the early pastors and Theodore J. Keep was also a pastor. Rev. B. Fenn. one of the noted early Pres- byterian divines, was also a pastor.
The first Methodist church to be organized on the Western Reserve was at Vernon. The year was 1801. The history of this is given in detail in the history of Vernon township. The people of Vernon and Hartford were so closely connected, and the place of meeting in Vernon was so near Hartford, that it was moved into the latter township. Readers interested in this church may read about it in Vernon.
About 1820 occasional meetings were held in the school- house at Brockway Mills. Regular preaching was not had un- til 1822, when the circuit riders appeared quite regularly. Later a class was formed and meetings were held regularly, but the time had to be set to suit the riders. In 1850 a regular minister was given the church, and seven years later a build- ing was constructed. Miss Sarah Fowler, danghter of Abner Fowler, was one of the largest subscribers to, and most de-
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voted member of. this church. In the '80s Miss Cynthia Bur- nett, who later married and moved to Florida, was the superin- tendent of the Sunday school.
The Disciple church was organized during the excitement of the early Campbellites. The men who did the preaching and the organizing of the other churches in Trumbull Comty, visited Hartford. The labors of Hayden and Marcus Bos- worth brought forth fruit. Alexander Campbell and Walter Scott both preached here. The organization had twenty-two members; George W. Bushmell was the overseer, and Elihu Bates, leader. For twenty years this church held its meetings in the schoolhouse on West street where it was organized, but in 1853 it moved to the center.
The oldest cemetery in Hartford is at the center. The land was given by Titus Brockway in 1805. Here are buried many of the pioneers of whom we have just read: Asahel Brainard, Edward Brockway, etc. The west burying ground was given to the township by Elilm Bates, and Mrs. Samuel Bates, who died in 1837, was the first buried there. The bury- ing ground at Burghill is the best preserved and the most used now. Eliza Hayes' body was the first interred here. The ground was given by the Hayes family and a goodly share of this family sleep there. There was no burying place at Orange- ville until 1841. when land for that purpose was donated by Augustus Reid. The first interment was An Catherine Root.
The author has tried to mention in each of the townships persons who have achieved national reputation. Hartford's best known citizen was Fanny Dana Gage, who wrote under the pen-name of "Aunt Fanny" and who was one of the leaders in the Woman Suffrage cause. She was a fine talker. and wielded a forceful pen. There are preserved in this county addresses which she made to Congress, and letters which she wrote to prominent senators and legislators. When the century has rolled around, and the question of woman's advancement has been studied, it will be found that Mrs. Gage played a part in the solution of that question greater than any of her townsmen could imagine, and greater than her co- temporaries realized.
Orangeville, situated in the township of Hartford, spreads out into Pennsylvania. The state line is one of its main streets. It was organized in 1868. Nelson Hyde was its first mayor. As soon as it was organized, a schoolhouse was built
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and its schools have always been excellent. The land on which it stands was part of the land owned originally by Brockway and Merry. The first settler was a German named Jacob Loutzenhiser. He early built a mill which he sold in 1802. We have read in other parts of this history how the early pioneers of venturons spirit and commercial inclination loaded flat-boats and went down the rivers, Mahoning, Beaver, Ohio, and Mississippi, to New Orleans. Such a boat made such a journey from Orangeville in 1821.
The first merchant of Orangeville was Moses Beach.
The first postmaster was Rensselaer Root.
The first mail route was between Warren, Ohio, and Franklin, Pennsylvania. Letters were delivered weekly.
The population was so scattered that in the beginning two or three townships united in the formation of churches. This was true of the Baptist church of Orangeville. In 1816. through the influence of Jonathan Sheldon, a Baptist church of Fowler, Hartford and Vernon was organized. As Mr. Sheldon lived at Fowler, the meetings were more often held there, al- though Hartford had its share. The first meetings of this as- sociation, like those of others, were held in schoolhouses and private dwellings, sometimes barns. Sidney Ridgon, of Vir- ginia, who figured in the early Baptist and Christian churches. lived at Hartford for some months and preached for these early Baptists. The interest which the Baptists in many town- ships took in the Christian faith, was taken in Hartford, and so many believed in the new teaching that the old church was greatly crippled. Finally in 1835 it was re-organized at Orangeville. It was then Baptist. Rev. John Winters, of whom we read in the Warren Baptist church, preached in Orangeville in 1843 and added many members. The church still exists.
The Orangeville Methodist church was organized in 1837. The congregation soon built a small meeting house and in 1872 erected a new church.
The United Brethren church, which was originally organ- ized in Pennsylvania, moved to Orangeville in 1872. The resi- dents of Orangeville contributed liberally to the support of this church upon the condition that when it was not being used by the association for its church meetings, it could be opened to other denominations and for public entertainments as well.
CHAPTER XL .- HOWLAND.
JOHN HARTE ADGATE .- DANIEL HANK .- A NOTED HOTEL .- SEELEY FAMILY .- BARBER KING .- RATLIFFS .- REEVES FAMILY .- THE HEATON STOVE .- EWALT .- KENNEDY .- SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS .- HOWLAND FLAG-STONE .- CHURCHES.
Range 3, number 4, was called Howland from Joseph Howland, he having paid $24,000 for the township. He was a cultured gentleman whose ancestors came over in the May- flower. His wife. Lydia. was a connection of the Huntington family.
The first settler in this township was John Hart Adgate. who came here in 1799. He had purchased 1,600 acres of land, built his cabin, and started his home. lle had a goodly family of children, and an Indian. Benoni Ockrum, lived with him. His descendants up to the present time have lived within a few miles of the old home, and they have married into some of the most respectable families of the county. Their connection now numbers hundreds. Those bearing the name of Adgate who are in business in Warren are John and his son Frank, florists.
Another family widely known was that of Hank. Daniel Hank and his wife, Mary Masterson, came from Washington county. Pennsylvania in 1804. They drove the first covered car- riage in the township. The youngest child, Richard. was brought on horseback. The father died in 1821, leaving a debt upon his farm, and a large family. Mary Hank then accomp- lished a remarkable thing. She reared her own children. and five orphans besides, educating and clothing them all. while in addition she paid off the debt on the farm.
Richard Hank, and his wife, Harriet, for many years kept a hotel at Howland Springs. Here people repaired to rest and
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drink the iron water, and here were held balls and parties and picnics. Mr. and Mrs. Hank were most genial to guests. Everybody who had once been in their home respected them. Mrs. Hank was a famous cook, her fried chicken, waffles, cream potatoes, and fried apples, are still remembered by the peo- ple who ate them.
General Garfield often visited this hostlery, and under the trees near the old bowling alley, he and the politicians of Trumbull County talked by the honr over the stirring events of the early days of the war. Here his wife and their little daughter, commonly called "Trot," after Dickens' "Betsey Trotwood," spent many summer days. "Trot" received this name because the General and Mrs. Garfield expected and wanted her to be born a boy. However. she did not live many years, and lies buried in the cemetery in Hiram. The sons which came to the General afterwards have all been a credit to him, and yet, to the mother, Molly, the youngest child, has been the great comfort of her later years.
Mary Hank lived to be eighty-one years old, and her son Richard and his wife both lived to great age. Probably no two people ever spent more happy days together than they. In their latter lives they lived in Hiram, and, being devoted to the Disciple church, had a great deal of comfort from their religion.
The Seely family, Dr. John W. and Sylvanns, were How- land people, and most of their lives were spent in that town- ship. Sylvanus finally moved to town, and with his children, George and Jane Seeley Van Gorder (the mother of Mrs. John Kinsman), lived at one time in the honse now standing on Sonth Park avenne, just sonth of the fire department.
Barber King, a native of Connecticut, was an iron worker. The story is told of his romance with a lady of the aristocracy who, against her parents' wishes, married him, and came to live in this new country. It is family tradition that he was one of the Connectient Land Company surveyors of the second summer. He chose land in Canfield, and there brought his wife. After a residence of two years they moved to Girard. and later honght of General Perkins a hundred acres of land in Howland, and moved into the honse he built in 1806. It hap- pened this day was the one on which occurred a total eclipse of the sun. At the time of the massacre of Wyoming, referred to several times heretofore, Barber King was captured by the
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Indians and held six months. He was sixty-nine when he died, and his wife lived nearly twenty years longer. His son Will- iam married Mary B. Kennedy, a daughter of Samuel Kennedy, and he operated the home farm. His grandson, James Frank- lin, commonly known as Frank, was one of the most success- ful farmers Howland has ever produced. He married Cornelia J. Andrews, a daughter of Samuel Andrews, and she was in every way a helpmeet to him. The spring water which was at Howland Springs ran through their farm, and they had a picturesque spring house in which their milk was kept and their butter was churned. Mrs. King was one of the most sue- cessful butter-makers of Trumbull County. Upon the death of her husband, ten or fifteen years ago, she moved into town, re- sided with her father, Samuel Andrews, and later she and her sister built a comfortable home on Harmon street, where she resided until her death two years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Franklin King had two children, Kate, who married a Mr. Edwards, descendant of Jonathan Edwards of Massachusetts, and lives in Troy, Ohio; Elmer, the son, lives on the home place, making the fourth King of the fourth generation occupying this farm. The latter is now county commissioner.
Another family identified with the history of Howland was that of the Ratliffs. They emigrated from Pennsylvania in 1811. John married Elizabeth Wilson, of Irish extraction. He was township clerk in 1821, and served eighteen years. He was justice of the peace six years. He was associate justice with Edward Spear, the father of Judge William T. Spear, and Asa Haines, the grandfather of Judge D. R. Hilbert. Hon. Ben- jamin F. Wade was the presiding judge. Mr. Ratliff was a de- voted member of the Christian church from 1844 to 1870, being an overseer. At one time he was also a trustee. His daugh- ter married Josiah Soule and his granddaughter, Mrs. Howard Weir, now lives in Warren. Gen. R. W. Ratliff was a son.
Mrs. William H. Beebe, the granddaughter of John Reeves Sr., thus writes in the "Memorial to Pioneer Women" in regard to her family :
"Sarah Quinby, daughter of Samnel and Achsa Park Quinby, came to Howland in 1803, riding her Narragansett mare across the country from Westmoreland county, Penn- sylvania, where her home had been since her marriage with John Reeves in 1799. Their first child, Arthur Tappan,
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bore a distinguished name. The cabin upon the present Reeves place had been put up the previous year on the two hundred and fifty acres of land, but one acre of which was cleared of the virgin forest. The linen chest was fitted with wooden legs for a table, and the furniture consisted of loom, wheels, reels and a dresser to contain pewter plates. With these all in place in one room, Mrs. Reeves was well supplied. The next spring two orchards of small trees were set, yet standing, one on the present Kinsman place and the other opposite the location of the cabin where on March 10, 1804, the first white child was born in Howland, and named Samuel Quinby, and rocked in a sugar trough. Appren- ticed to learn carding and spinning his active brain carried him to New York City, where in April, 1845, he died. leav- ing a daughter Engenia. In 1806 the birth of Abner Reeves was the occasion for buying a cradle, in payment of which a ten-hundred-thread linen shirt was made, the flax grown, spun, woven and the shirt made by Mrs. Reeves. Spring work prevented delivery of the desired article. So she insisted upon her husband carrying the baby while she managed to convey the cradle home on horseback, a dis- tance of sixteen miles through the four-mile swamp and along a bridle path. There was no wagon road at that time. The cradle yet rocks the babies in the family. 'Tis made of polished walnut, dove-tailed together, four feet long and fitted with a top. Mrs. Reeves was married when she was fifteen, had twelve children and lived to be ninety- four years old. Many of her children lived to old age and her home was the home of her son John. Most of her children and grandchildren became successful and useful citizens."
Her husband was in the war of 1812. He left in such a Imurry that she had to haul in the oats. She hid her copper kettle under a stack. "buried her spoons and waited two days in hourly expectation of being murdered by the Indians."
John Reeves Jr. married Harriet Mason, whose brothers Henry and Hiram and sister Mrs. Josiah Robbins were among the most substantial citizens of Niles. Mr. Reeves was iden- tified with the history of Trumbull County in the '40s. '50s and '60s, holding the office of treasurer, and he died on his seventy- ninth birthday. He is buried in the cemetery across from the.
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old Reeves home, where his parents and some of his children lie. Mrs. Reeves was a woman of education, refinement and with a lovable nature. Only two children of this large family survive, Ella. Mrs. William Beebe, who probably knows more ahont the history and the personnel of Trumbull County than any other person, and the youngest chikl, John. above referred to. Sarah, the third child, who married JJames R. Lamb, and died a year or so ago, was one of the loveliest characters of the Reeves and Mason families. Her mother called her the "peace- maker." She was ever ready to do her duty in the home of her childhood, of her sisters or in her own. She was a mother to her niece, Mary, and withal had such excellent business judgment as to make a business success of her life. The grandfather, John Reeves Sr., is referred to in the history of the Baptist church in Warren, as is his daughter, Nancy. The grandson John now lives on the homestead farm, and he has a son, John, who at this writing is a member of the senior class of the high school. She has great-grandchildren living in Warren and Cleveland.
James Heaton, who with his brother Daniel manufactured the first iron west of the Alleghenies, chose Howland for his home because the residents of that township were cultured and companionable. He lived on the Youngstown road near Mos- quito creek, and planned to make a commercial center at that spot. Later he went to the mouth of Mosquito creek in Niles. and his history, with that of his family, will be found in the Niles chapter. He early began to manufacture, from bits of iron, stoves and like articles. The log schoolhouse in Howland, unlike most of the other schoolhouses of that time, had a stove of the kind which was known throughout this district as "the Maria Heaton stove."
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