Century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens, 20th, Part 14

Author: Sanderson, Thomas W., comp
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1074


USA > Ohio > Mahoning County > Youngstown > Century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens, 20th > Part 14


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).


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Resolved, That this convention, representing every township in the county, deny the truthfulness of the Youngstown convention of June 28th, they being a gross ·exaggeration and misrepresentation of the facts ; but on the contrary we claim the seat of government, being now centrally located, of convenient access from all portions of the county, and having good and ample buildings for the accommodation of the public, the re- moval of it to one corner of the county, largely for the benefit of a few capitalists, and to satisfy uneasy po- litical agitation would be an act of gross injustice to the greater portion of the county, etc.


The first triumph was gained by the re- movalist party in the election of Mr. Newton, October, 1873. In accordance with a bill of- fered by Mr. Newton, the State Legislature at the next session passed the following act :


Section I. That from and after taking effect of this section of this act. as hereinafter provided, the seat of justice in the county of Mahoning shall be re- moved from the town of Canfield to the city of Youngs- town in said county.


Section 2. That the foregoing section of this act shall take effect and be in force when and so soon as the same shall be adopted by a majority of all the elec- tors in said Mahoning county voting at the next gen- eral election after the passage thereof, and when public "buildings shall have been erected as hereinafter pro- ·vided.


Provision was made in the act for sub- mitting the question of removal to the votes of the electors. The removal was made de- pendent, however, upon the following con- ditions embodied in Section V.


That in case a majority of electors of said county shall vote for removal as heretofore provided, the seat of justice and county seat shall be deemed and taken to be removed from Canfield, in said county, to the city of Youngstown, and to be located in said city of Youngstown; provided, however, that nothing in the act shall be so construed as to authorize the removal of the seat of justice to said city of Youngstown until the citizens and township of Youngstown shall have donated a lot or lots of land in the city of Youngs- town and of sufficient size and suitably located to ac- commodate the court house, jail and necessary offices for said county, and shall have erected thereon and completed thereon suitable buildings for court house, jail, and all other offices and rooms necessary for the transaction of all public business for said county, at a cost for said buildings of not less than $100,000, and to the satisfaction and acceptance of the commissioners of said county, and all such buildings shall be com- pleted within two years from the date of the election at which said act shall be ratified; and said commis- sioners shall not, nor shall any other authority of said county levy any tax on the taxable property of said county for said lands or buildings; provided that the citizens of Youngstown may within two years build said buildings and tender the same to said commis- sioners.


Preparations to fulfill the above-named con- ditions were at once made by the citizens of Youngstown. The necessary committees were appointed, and a vigorous removal campaign was begun in which general politics were lost sight of. By August 10, 1874, the sum of $100,000 for the erection of public buildings had been subscribed, but the building com- mittee desired to increase that sum to $200,- 000. The vote in October resulted in a large majority in favor of removal, and preparations were at once made for the erection of the build- ings. In March, 1874, the city council author- ized the mayor to convey to the building com- mittee two lots on the corner of Wick Avenue and Wood Street, valued at $40,000, for the nominal sum of $10. The contracts for the buildings were let and immediately the con- struction of the new court house began.


But the citizens of Canfield were not dis- posed to submit to the removal without a strug- gle. Under the leadership of Eben Newton they filed a petition in the district court "en- joining the commissioners against removing


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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS


the county seat to Youngstown on the ground that the law of 1874 was unconstitutional, be- cause it contemplated the violation of a contract between Canfield and the State, which guaran- teed to that village the permanent location of the county seat."


On the Youngstown side it was argued that the word "permanent" meant simply, "without any intention of changing," and that "the law of 1846 could not be construed to mean that Canfield should have the county seat forever, for such a construction would take out of the hands of the legislature the authority of regulating the government of the State and would consequently make the act of 1846 un- constitutional."


In 1876 the case was taken from the dis- trict court to the supreme court of Ohio, which decided that the power to establish and remove county seats cannot be made the subject of con- tract, and that consequently the legislature of 1846 had no authority to pass an act making Canfield the perpetual county seat. But further, the act of 1846 was not in the nature of a specific contract, the words of which should be certain and direct. That it merely created the county "with the county seat at Canfield, and then provides that it shall not be considered as permanently established at Canfield" until a donation shall have been made of a suitable lot and $5,000 for the erection of the county buildings. It also held that even had the act of 1846 been a specific contract, and the con- tract constitutional the validity of the act of 1874 would not be impaired. for the words "permanently established," as used in that act, must be taken to mean "established as other county seats were established," subject to change by future legislation. That the donors (of the lot and buildings) had had thirty years enjoyment under the supposed contract, and that as their property would re- vert to them on the removal, they had no just ground for complaint. The court, therefore, five judges concurring, dismissed the petition.


The case was thereupon taken by the plain- tiffs to the Supreme Court of the United States, where it was tried in October, 1879,


with James A. Garfield and others for the citizens of Canfield, and Thomas W. Sander- son, of Youngstown, for the petitioners. General Garfield argued that the eighthi section of the act of 1846, when complied with by the citizens of Canfield, amounted to a specific con- tract, and was valid under the constitution of the United States, which protected contracts made between any State and its citizens. Gen- eral Sanderson's chief argument was that the word "permanently" as used in the statutes at that time did not mean "forever," but the phrase "permanently established is a formula in long and frequent use in Ohio with respect to county seats established otherwise than tem- porarily." The result of the trial was that the court affirmed the judgment of the State courts and the county seat was confirmed at Youngstown.


Amid the general congratulations at Youngstown and the other parts of the county that were favorable to the removal and thanks to those who had been chiefly instrumental in effecting the change, the Youngstown Register and Tribune, in holding out the olive branch to the opposition, said: "We want the people of Green, Smith, Goshen and Canfield to feel that Youngstown is their county seat, and that the beautiful temple of justice that has been built here is their court house. We would have them appreciate the truth that we are actuated by no spirit of hostility against their section, but throughout the controversy have only de- sired the claims of the majority shall be heeded, and that we shall have what is justly ours."


The handsome and commodious buildings which were then erected have since served well their purpose, until recent years, when the phe- nomenal growth of the city combined with other causes have made new buildings and a new location a necessity. A favorable site for the new structure was chosen on Market street at the beginning of the present year, and soon Mahoning County will have a still more beauti- ful and commodious temple of justice than that which was the cause of such a bitter and long continued controversy, which will cost more than a million and a half dollars.


CHAPTER XIV


COUNTY OFFICIALS SINCE THE ORGANIZATION OF MAHONING COUNTY


Auditors-Sheriffs-County Commissioners-Treasurers - Recorders - Prosecuting At- torneys-Probate Judges-State Representatives-State Senators-Vote for Governor.


AUDITORS.


The auditors are also clerks to the Board of County Commissioners. Their term begins on the second Monday in November of alter- nate years. Andrew Fitch served from March I, 1846, to March 1, 1848; Benjamin Votaw, 1848 to 1850; Thomas Roller, 1850 to 1852; S. C. Clark, 1852 to 1855; Jackson Truesdale, 1855 to 1859; Timothy D. Baldwin, 1859 to 1863; David Simon, 1863 to 1867; B. G. Wil- cox, 1867 to November, 1871; James K. Bailey, 1871 to 1875; James B. Hughes, 1875 to 1880; Freeman H. Sherer, 1880 to 1886; Thomas E. Davey, 1886 to 1892; Conrad F. Benner, 1892 to 1899; William R. Leonard, 1899 to 1904; Will B. Jones, 1904.


SHERIFFS.


The sheriff's term begins on the first Mon- day in January of every alternate year. James Powers from March 1, 1846, to January, 1848; William Schmick, 1848 to 1850; William Meeker, 1850 to 1852; Erastus Platt, 1852 to 1856; Albert Cook, 1856 to 1858; Samuel Smith, 1858 to 1862; Matthew Logan, 1862 to 1864; N. P. Callahan, 1864 to 1868; Charles


Townshend, 1868 to 1872; John R. Davis, 1872 to 1876; James B. Drake, 1876 to 1880; George W. Ludwick, 1880 to 1884; Eli B. Walker, 1884 to 1888; Samuel O. Ewing, 1888 to 1892; James K. Orr, 1892 to 1894; C. F. Callahan, 1894 to 1899; J. Howard Shields, 1899 to 1901; James M. Thomas, 1901 to 1904; F. De Normandie, 1904.


COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.


The first county commissioners were: Rob- ert Turnbull, who was elected for one year from March 1, 1846; Isaiah Bowman, elected for two years, and James Justice, elected for two years. All their successors were elected for terms of three years each.


In 1847 Daniel Parshall took Turnbull's seat. In March Jacob Leyman was elected. At this time the court extended the terms of those then in office from March to November, and. thereafter these officials were elected at the regular October elections. On November I, 1849, John Cowden took the place of James Justice ; December 2, 1850, Daniel Thoman succeeded Daniel Parshall. On the first Mon- day in December, 1851, Jacon Brunstetter suc- ceeded Jacob Leyman. On the first Monday


AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS


in December, 1852, John Stewart succeeded man, 1898; William K. Wagner, 1899; John W. Van Auker, 1900; Marcus Westerman, 1901 ; Thomas R. Jones and Warren H. Kale, 1902; Thomas R. Jones and Warren H. Kale, re-elected in 1903; Thomas R. Jones and John C. Hannie, 1904; Thomas R. Jones, 1905; Warren H. Kale, 1906. John Cowden. On the first Monday in Decem- ber, 1853, Furman Gee succeeded Daniel Thoman. On the first Monday in December, 1854, John R. Kennedy succeeded Jacob Brun- stetter. On the first Monday in December, 1855, Alexander Pow succeeded John Stewart. On the first Monday in December, 1856, Con- - rad A. Bunts succeeded Furman Gee. On the TREASURERS. first Monday in December, 1857, John Warner succeeded John R. Kennedy. On the first John H. Donald, from March, 1846, to De- cember, 1847; Hosea Hoover, 1847 to 1851; John Wetmore, 1851 to 1853; Singleton King, 1853 to 1855; Lewis Ruhlman, 1855 to 1859; James W. McClelland, 1859 to 1863; Robert M. Wallace, 1863 to 1867; John R. Trues- dale, 1867 to 1871; James Barclay, 1871 to 1873; Alexander Dickson, 1877 to 1881 ; Wil- liam Cornelius, elected 1880, took office 1881; George W. Canfield, elected 1884; John W. Smith, 1888; John W. Brown, 1890; J. C. Schnurenberger, 1892; R. T. Johnston, 1894; James Hiney, 1899; F. A. Hartenstein,. 1902. Monday in December, 1858, John Shields suc- ceeded Alexander Pow. On the first Monday in December, 1859, Conrad A. Bunts became his own successor. On the first Monday in De- cember, 1860, William A. Miller succeeded John Warner. On the first Monday in Decem- ber, 1861, James Duncan succeeded John Shields. On the first Monday in December, .1862, Stephen Case succeeded Conrad A. Bunts. William A. Miller was elected in 1863. Lewis Templin in 1864. Stephen Case was his own successor in 1865. In 1866 Robert Lowry succeeded William A. Miller. In 1867 Shelden Newton succeeded Lewis Templin. In 1868 RECORDERS. William Johnson succeeded Stephen Case. In 1869 Robert Lowry was re-elected. In 1870 Saxon Sykes, March I, 1846, to October 18, 1849; George Hollis, from October 18, 1849, to October 23, 1856; A. P. Flaugher, October 23, 1856, to June 1, 1863; J. B. Leach, June 1, 1863, to the second Monday in January, 1865; J. V. McCurley from the- second Monday in January, 1865, to January, 1868; F. M. Simon, from January, 1868, to. January, 1875; S. B. Reiger, from January, 1875, to January, 1878; Thomas H. Ward, from January 8, 1878, to January, 1881 ; Thomas H. Ward elected as his own succes- sor, 1880, took office in 1881 ; A. S. McCur- ley, elected in 1883; Henry W. Davis, 1889; William McClog, 1892; Henry W. Davis,. 1895; William McClog, 1899; W. H. Mc- Ginnis, 1902. Lewis Templin succeeded Newton. In 1871 William Johnson was re-elected. In 1872 Sam- uel Wallace succeeded Robert Lowry. In 1873 Jonathan Schillinger succeeded Lewis Templin. In 1874 M. J. Jackson succeeded William Johnson. In 1875 Shelden Newton succeeded Samuel Wallace. In 1876 J. H. Blackburn succeeded Schillinger. In 1877 George Wetzel succeeded J. M. Jackson. In 1878 Frank Mc- Master succeeded Shelden Newton. In 1879 J. H. Blackburn was re-elected. In 1880 A. D. McClurg succeeded George Wetzel. In 1881 Frank McMaster was re-elected. John Gault was elected in 1882; A. D. McClurg in 1883; Louis Gluck, 1884; John Gault, 1885; Frank White, 1886; Louis Gluck, 1887; David T. Moore, 1888; Frank White, 1889; John M. Davis, 1890; James S. Price, 1891; John C. PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS. McMillin, 1892; John M. Davis, 1893; James S. Price, 1894; Charles T. Agnew, 1895; William Ferguson, from 1846 to 1848; James B. Blocksom, 1848 to 1850; E. G. Can- John W. Van Auker, 1896; John W. Van Auker, 1897 (re-elected) ; Marcus Wester- | field, 1850 to 1852; R. J. Powers, 1852 to


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HISTORY OF MAHONING COUNTY


I856; T. W. Sanderson, 1856 to 1858; R. J. Powers, 1858 to 1860; William C. Bunts, 1860 to 1862; James B. Blocksom, 1862 to 1863; F. G. Servis, 1863 to 1867; H. G. Les- lie, 1867; Asa W. Jones, 1867 to 1869; W. G. Moore, 1869 to 1871; A. W. Jones, 1871 to 1873; I. A. Justice, 1873. to 1875; C. R. Truesdale, 1875 to 1877; M. W. Johnston, 1877 to 1881 ; C. R. Truesdale, 1881 to 1883; (James B. Blocksom and H. G. Leslie died while in office, Disney Rogers (elected) 1884; James B. Kennedy, 1890; S. D. L. Jackson, 1896; William T. Gibson, 1900; William R. Graham, 1902.


PROBATE JUDGES.


The probate court of Mahoning county was organized on March 8, 1852. The time of service of the judges dated from the second Monday in February of each year. William Hartsel served until Feburary 12, 1855; Gar- retson I. Young until February 9, 1861 ; Giles Van Hyning until Febuary, 1867; Joseph R. Johnston until February 10, 1873; M. V. B. King until February 14, 1876; Leroy D. Thoman until 1879; Louis W. King until February, 1882. Judge King became his own successor at the election held in October, 1881 ; and served till 1899; Elliott M. Wilson till 1894; George E. Rose till 1901; J. Calvin Ewing till 1907; David C. Griffith was elected in 1906.


STATE REPRESENTATIVES FROM MAHONING COUNTY.


David Huston, 1849; George Pow, 1850- 1851; Joseph Montgomery, 1852-1853; Jacob Musser, 1854-1855; Joseph Truesdale, 1856- 1857; Samuel W. Gibson, 1858-1859; Jesse Baldwin and Joseph Bruff, 1860-1861 ; Robert Montgomery, 1862-1863; Reuben Carroll, 1864-1865; Joseph Bruff, 1866-1867; George W. Brook, 1868-1869; George W. Brook, 1870-1871; Cook F. Kirtland, 1872-1873; Shelden Newton, 1874-1875; Joseph Barclay, 1876-1877; Robert Mackey, 1878-1879; Thos. H. Wilson, 1880-1881; William B. Pollock,


1882-1883; Alexander Dickson, 1884-1885; Alexander Dickson, 1886-1887; Lemuel C. Oh1, 1888-1889; Lemuel C. Ohl, 1890-1891; Lemuel C. Ohl, 1892-1893; Randall Mont- gomery, 1894-1895; Randall Montgomery, 1896-1897; William R. Stewart, 1898-1899; Hugh A. Manchester, 1900-1901; William F. Maag and W. J. Williams, 1902-1904; W. J. Williams and R. C. Huey, 1905-1906; R. C. Huey and Randall H. Anderson, 1906-1908.


STATE SENATORS-23RD DISTRICT. (Since organization of Mahoning County.)


John F. Beaver, 1846-1849; Milton Sut- liff, 1850-1851; Jonathan I. Tod, 1852-1853; Ira Norris, 1854-1855; Robert W. Taylor, 1856-1859; J. Dolson Cox, 1860-1861; Samuel Quinby, 1862-1863; Eben Newton, 1864-1865; George F. Brown, 1866-1867; L. D. Woodworth, 1868-1871; L. C. Jones, 1872-1875; J. R. Johnson, 1876-1879; H. B. Perkins, 1879-1883. (Subsequent dates are those of election.) H. B. Perkins, 1883-1885; A. D. Fassett, 1884-1885; A. D. Fassett, 1885-1888; J. M. Stull, 1889-1890; E. A. Reed, 1891-1892; L. C. Ohl, 1893-1894; L. C. Ohl, 1895-1896; John J. Sullivan, 1897- 1898; John J. Sullivan, 1899-1900; Benja- min F. Wirt, 1901-1903.


Hon. Thomas Kinsman, who is the present state senator, was first elected to that office in November, 1903, and was re-elected in 1905.


VOTE FOR GOVERNOR.


1848-Seabury Ford, whig, 1,269; John B. Weller, dem., 2,069.


1850-Reuben Wood, dem., 1,862; Wil- liam Johnston, whig, 828; Edward Smith, abol., 477.


1851-Reuben Wood, dem., 1,546; Sam- uel F. Vinton, whig, 484; Samuel Lewis, abol., 633.


1853-William Medill, dem., 1,360; Nel- son Barrere, whig, 381 ; Samuel Lewis, abol., I,004.


1855-Salmon P. Chase, rep., 1,592; Wil- liam Medill, dem., 1,495; Allen Trimble, know nothing, 60.


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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS


1857-Salmon P. Chase, rep., 1,891 ; Henry B. Payne, dem., 1,825; Philip Van Trump, know nothing, 2.


1859-William Dennison, rep., 2,424; Rufus P. Ranney, dem., 2,04I.


1861-David Tod, rep., 2,505; Hugh J. Jewett. dem., 1,566.


1863-John Brough, rep., 3,206; C. L. Vallandigham, dem., -.


1865-Jacob D. Cox, rep., 2,504; George W. Morgan, dem., 2,184.


1867-Rutherford B. Hayes, rep., 2,898; Allen G. Thurman, dem., 2,602.


1869-Rutherford B. Hayes, rep., 3,003; George H. Pendleton, dem., 2,552.


1871-Edward F. Noyes, rep., 3,087; George W. McCook, dem., 2,602; Gideon T. Stewart, pro., 160.


1873-William Allen, dem., 3,003; Ed- ward F. Noyes, rep., 3,460; G. T. Stewart, pro., 48; Isaac Collins, lib., 16.


1875-Rutherford B. Hayes, 3,788; Wil- liam Allen, 3.947; Jay Odell, 27.


1877-Richard M. Bishop, dem., 2,820; William H. West., rep., 2,947; H. A. Thomp- son, pro., 34; Stephen Johnston, green., 1,339. 1879-Charles Foster, rep., 4,179; Thos.


Ewing, dem., 3,854; G. T. Stewart, pro., 16; A. Saunders Piatt, green., 219.


1881-Charles Foster, rep., 4,030; John W. Bookwalter, dem., 3.390.


1883-Joseph B. Foraker, rep., 5,016; George Hoadley, dem., 4,457.


1885-J. B. Foraker, rep., 4,752; George Hoadley, dem., 4,002.


1887-J. B. Foraker, rep., 5,004; Thomas E. Powell, dem., 4,396.


1889-J. B. Foraker, rep., 5,345; James E. Campbell, dem., 4,906.


1891-William Mckinley, Jr., rep., -; James E. Campbell, dem., 5,177.


1893-William Mckinley, Jr., rep., 6,738; Lawrence T. Neal, dem., 5,649.


1895-Asa S. Bushnell, rep., 6,129;


James E. Campbell, dem., 5,006.


1897-Asa S. Bushnell, rep., 6,410;


Horace L. Chapman, dem., 5,456.


1899-George K. Nash, rep., 6,180; John R. McLean, dem., 4,726.


1901-George K. Nash, rep., 6,829; James Kilbourne, dem., 4,745.


1903-Myron T. Herrick, rep., 7,027; Tom L. Johnson, dem., 5,25I.


1905-Myron T. Herrick, rep., 6,902; John M. Pattison, dem., 5,734.


CHAPTER XV


YOUNGSTOWN-THE COUNTY SEAT


Laid Out by John. Young-First Events-Discovery of Coal-Judge Kirtland's Remin- iscences-Celebrating the Fourth-First Murder Trial-Pioneer Schools-Feminine Costumes-Wet Seasons of 1810-12-Early " Amusements-Pioneer Houses-Elec- tions-Incorporation-City of the Second Class-Extensions of Limits-Mayors of . Youngstown-Other Officials-Youngstown Citizens in 1841-Cemeteries-Parks- Water Works, and Filter Plant-Fire Department-Police Department-Mahoning & Shenango Railway & Light Co .- Boardof Trade and Chamber of Commerce-Ma- honing Gas Fuel Co .- Telephone Companies-Humane Society-Opera House-Park Theater- A Few Statistics-Notable Personages.


It has been shown in a previous chapter . that, on the completion of the survey of the Western Reserve by the Connecticut Land , Company, the land was partitioned among the stockholders of the company by draft. "Prior to the draft some portions of the land had been sold by the company to individuals not stockholders. Youngstown was not in- , cluded in the land partitioned in the draft, and the name of John Young does not appear among the stockholders of the company. Hence we infer that he contracted for the pur- chase of the township directly from the com- pany and prior to the draft, but at what time and in what manner this contract was made the records do not show. The records, how- - ever, do show that on April 9, 1800, the trus- tees of the company conveyed to John Young township No. 2 in the second range, called Youngstown, containing 15,560 acres of land, for the consideration of $16,085. On the same « day Mr. Young executed to the trustees a


mortgage of the township to secure the pay- ment of the purchase money. '


"Mr. Young, according to tradition, visited the township about 1797 with Alfred Wolcott, a surveyor, for the purpose of surveying it into lots and commencing a settlement. Colonel James Hillman, who then resided in Pittsburg, and had been for a number of years engaged in trading with the Indians on the Reserve, making his voyages up the Mahoning in a canoe, in returning from one of his expedi- tions, saw a smoke on the bank near Spring Common. On landing he found Mr. Young and Mr. Wolcott. He stayed with them a few days, when they went with him to Beaver on the Ohio river, to celebrate the Fourth of July. Colonel Hillman, at the instance of Mr. Young, returned with him to Youngstown, and they commenced the settlement of the town by the erection of a log house, which stood on the east bank of the Mahoning river near Spring Common.


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"Mr. Young laid out a town plat, which is now embraced within and is only a small part of the present city, and divided it into building lots. Adjoining the town plat he laid out lots of a few acres each, which he named out-lots, and the rest of the township he sur- veyed into larger tracts, suitable for farms. The town plat was not recorded until August 19, 1802. On June I of that year Mr. Young executed an instrument commencing, 'Know ye that I, John Young, of Youngstown, in the county of Trumbull, for the consideration ·of the prospect of advancing my property, have laid out and established in the town- ship of Youngstown aforesaid, on the north side of the Mahoning river, a town plat of the following description.' Then follows the de- scription, wherein Federal street is described as '100 feet in width, and 1,752 feet in length, beginning at a corner post standing in front of Esquire Caleb Baldwin's house, a little west of his well, running south 62 de- .grees. 30 minutes east through the mid- dle of the plat and public square.' Other .streets running north and south and the public square are then described. There are 100 lots .in the plat contained in the instrument, the southeast lot being No. 1, and the northeast lot being No. 100. Two lots, one 'on the east and one on the west side of Market ·street, are described as 'burying ground,' but are not so noted in the deed. The instrument concluded as follows : 'And all the land .con- tained in the before-mentioned streets I have appropriated to the use and benefit of the pub- lic, to remain public highways so long as said plat shall remain unvacated.' The instrument is signed and sealed by John Young, and wit- nessed by Calvin Pease, but not acknowledged before a magistrate."


Thus were the foundations of. Youngstown laid by its original proprietor, and others were not slow to build thereon. Stores, mills, schools and churches soon sprang up as set- tlers came in; marriages were celebrated, courts of law established. and all the delicate machinery of civilized society began to turn, slowly and unevenly at first, but gathering momentum and steadiness with each passing


year, until reaching that condition of well- balanced adjustment that we behold today.


THE FIRST MILL.


The first mill in Youngstown township, if not on the Reserve, was erected by John and Phineas Hill about 1798 or '99, at the falls on Mill creek, in the southwest part of the township, on the site where Lanterman's old mill now stands. It was built of round logs, and contained machinery for both grind- ing and sawing. The machinery was put in by Abraham Powers, one of the early settlers, who was a practical millwright. It was a small and rather primative affair, but it answered in a measure the needs of the inhabitants. It was related by an old settler, Nathan Ague, long since passed away, who was present when a boy, at the raising of the mill, that "there were not men enough in the neighborhood to raise it, and they had to send to Greensburg, now Darlington, Penna., for hands, and got a keg of whisky for them. On that day his father killed a bear, which furnished the meat used by the men who raised the mill. The fam- ily used the bear's skin afterward for a bed."




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