Century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens, 20th, Part 16

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 16

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W. T. Gibson January 1, 1903-1906 F. L. Baldwin . January 1, 1906

CITY OFFICERS-1907.

Mayor-Hon. F. L. Baldwin.

Judge of Criminal Court-Anthony B. Calvin.

Solicitor-F. L. Oesch.

Auditor-W. I. Davies.

Treasurer-C. G. Jacobs.

Clerk-P. W. Hubler.

Engineer-F. M. Lille. Building Inspector-C. C. Knox.

Chief of Police-W. W. McDonald.

Superintendent of Sewers-Wm. Powell. Fire Engineer-William H. Loller. .

City Electrician-Ambrose Perkins.

Board of Public Service-David Heinsel- man, Philip Hagen, J. Edgar Rudge, George T. Prosser, clerk.

Board of Public Safety-L. E. Davis, James Butler.

Board of Sinking Fund Trustees-S. L. Clark, F. C. Brown, F. A. Scott, James Square, W. I. Higgins, secretary.

City Council-M. C. Higgins, president ; P. W. Hubler, clerk; James Whitehead, ser- geant-at-arms. Members-First ward, W. H. Hayden; Second ward, Lionel Evans; Third ward, William L. Bence; Fourth ward, J. A. Green ; Fifth ward, Sol S. Davis; Sixth ward, R. D. Campbell; Seventh ward, M. A. Sweeny. Members-at-large-Harry Parrock, E. H. Welsh, Warren Williams.

Board of Health-Mayor F. L. Baldwin, president; Dr. M. S. Clark, vice-president ; Clate A. Smith, secretary ; Dr. H. E. Welch, health officer; G. C. Steventon, chemist ; W. H. Peterson, plumbing inspector ; B. F. Thomas, Dr. E. M. Ilgenfritz, Andrew Lawton, Benja- min Jenkins.

Board of Education-W. N. Ashbaugh, clerk; N. H. Chaney, superintendent of schools; T. J. Helrigle, M. Samuels, E. J. Anderson, Dr. C. O. Brown, J. G. Morgan, L. E. Guess, T. H. Jenkins.

YOUNGSTOWN CITIZENS IN 1841.

The following names are taken from a di- rectory of Youngstown in 1841 :

Merchants-Lemuel Wick, Henry B. and Hugh Wick, Jr., P. and A. D. Jacobs, Frank and Joseph Barclay, Wick and McClelland, John Kirk, Thornton and Corrl.

Commission Merchants-John Kirk, E. S. Hubbard, Hon. William Rayen, president board of public schools.

Taverns-Mansion House, A. Gardner ; Eagle House, A. Mckinney, Youngstown Hotel, F. Reno.

Groceries-J. Weiser, C. Cost.

Tailors-S. King, William S. Crouse, Calvin and Fowler.

Saddlers-J. Marshall, D. E. Brisbene, H. C. Fuller.

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Boot and Shoe Makers-J. Pettygrew, J. G. Haney, John Squire, John Sett.

Wagon Makers-A. W. Upham, C. Barr, J. Brothers.

Iron Finishers-Spencer & Co., Fairmount Iron Works.

Dealer in Tin and Copper Goods-Ashael Medbury.

Gunsmith-S. F. Bernett.

Physicians-Timothy Woodbridge, Henry Manning, Thomas L. Bane, Chas. C. Cook, Theodatus Garlick, and Chas. Dutton.

ONE ATTORNEY.

Attorney-at-Law-Robert W. Tayler. Blacksmiths-J. Pierce, H. McKinnie.

Copper, Tin and Sheet Iron Worker- A. Brown.

Postmaster-James Hezlep.

Cooper-J. Cleland.

Tanners-J. Van Fleet and Wm. Wood- bridge.

Hatter-S. Strickland.

Milliner-Mrs. Avery.

Cabinet Maker-H. Heasley.

Stone Mason-William Jones.

Chair Maker-J. Laughredge. Fanning Mill Maker-William Rice.

Canal Collector of Tolls-S. B. McEwen. Carpenter-R. Boillan.

Grist and Saw Mill Maker-L. Murry.

CLERGYMEN.

Presbyterian-Rev. Charles Boardman.

Protestant Methodist-Rev. Mr. Inskeep.

Episcopal Methodist-Rev. Wm. Plimp- ton, Rev. Wm. Clark.

NO NEWSPAPER.

There was no newspaper published in Youngstown at that time, but four years later Ashael Medbury started the Mahoning County Republican, a vigorous Democratic weekly.

There was no bank, and business men of Youngstown went to the Western Reserve Bank at Warren. A good part of the capital

stock of this bank was owned by Youngstown men, and on the board of directors of the bank were men of Youngstown and vicinity, to-wit: William Rayen, Henry Wick, Sr., Henry Wick, Jr., Lemuel Wick, David Clen- dennen, Turhand Kirtland, Jared P. Kirt- land, Adamson Bentley, Charles Dutton of Youngstown and Comfort S. Mygatt and Elisha Whittlesey of Canfield.

Citizens of Youngstown and vicinity who were incorporators of the Western Reserve Bank were George Tod, William Rayen, Tur- hand Kirtland and Comfort S. Mygatt.

OF HIGH CHARACTER.

The physicians then here had a high repu -. tation throughout Northern Ohio as men of high character of their profession. Dr. Theo- datus Garlick was the first man in America to demonstrate the possibilities of hatching fish eggs in the artificial way.

It is a tragic story as far as regards the career of this benefactor of the human race.

The only practicing attorney was Robert W. Tayler, although Judge George Tod and Homer Hine, both widely known as eminent. lawyers, resided here, but both had retired from active practice of their profession. Soon after this David Tod moved from Warren to Brier Hill.

John S. Dennison, who died in Youngs- town, at the age of 83 years. April 17, 1907, was a pioneer resident of this locality. He was a native of Liberty township, Trumbull County, O., where he lived until his early man- hood. In 1842, when he was eighteen years of age, he came to Youngstown to do black- smithing work for John Shehy. The shop in which he worked stood near the Robert Mont- gomery homestead on the banks of the canal. Youngstown was then a village of less than 2,000 inhabitants.

The land where the John H. Fitch whole- sale house now stands was then offered for sale at $40 an acre. It was used as a dump for an old tin shop. No building then stood between it and the old American House since demol- ished. Between the Diamond and Spring

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HISTORY OF MAHONING COUNTY

Common there were corn and potato patches in a high state of cultivation, and the land which was not thus occupied was, for the most part, of a swampy character. One or two small houses stood in the vicinity, and they were built of logs. Where the court house now stands was the Youngstown cemetery.

Mr. Dennison helped to do the black- smithing for the first rolling mill in the city. Youngstown was then a station on the old stage road running from Cleveland to Pitts- burg, and Mr. Dennison did his share of shoe- ing stage horses.

Colonel Rayen lived in the finest house in town at Spring Common. There was a man by the name of Medbury located in South Hazel street who operated a distillery there. The Disciple Church was located where the opera house now stands. There were two doc- tors in town at that time, Dr. Cook and Dr. Manning. Wick avenue was then graced by but two residences, one a small brick house and the other a log shanty. The land around these buildings was selling for $20 an acre. Mr. Dennison often related that he had heard his father say that on first coming to this sec- tion in 1800, he had shot deer over the present oak trees in Wick avenue, as they were then scrubs only a few feet high.

OAK HILL CEMETERY.

Oak Hill Cemetery was founded in 1852, the Cemetery Association being incorporated in that year with Dr. Henry Manning as its first president. About sixteen acres of the original land was purchased from Dr. Man- ning and formed part of his farm. The land has been improved at considerable expense, and now consists of twenty-seven acres, beauti- fully situated upon a high hill on the south bank of the Mahoning River. To this ceme- tery were gradually conveyed the remains of those who had been previously interred in the old burying ground on Wood street and Wick avenue. In it about 14,000 interments have been made up to the present time. The ceme- tery is not conducted for the profit and no dividends are declared. Myron C. Wick is

now president of the association, with Mason Evans secretary and treasurer. The grounds are tastefully laid out and kept in admirable order under the careful superintendence of Mr. J. D. Orr. With its retired and picturesque situation, elevated far above the noise and smoke of the valley, it makes an ideal City of the Dead, where bereaved ones may commune awhile in spirit with those who have passed away. There are seven costly private burying vaults now in the cemetery.

BELMONT PARK CEMETERY.

The Belmont Park Cemetery Association was incorporated in July, 1903. The cemetery, which is located on the Belmont avenue ex- tension, with the main entrance on the Holmes road, comprises two hundred acres of rolling farm land, of which, up to date, but forty have been improved. These are well and tastefully planted with trees and shrubs, interspersed here and there with forty-foot flower beds. Spacious driveways render every part of the cemetery easily accessible. The improved por- tion is all hand mowed in lawn fashion, and there are no raised graves. Several small lakes, connected by rustic bridges, and fed by an artificially designed fountain, serve to en- hance the picturesqueness of the surroundings. The water for these lakes is drawn from nat- ural wells by electric pumps and stored in two large tanks-one of 12,000 and one of 15,000 gallons capacity. A tasteful building near the main entrance serves as the headquarters of the superintendent, Mr. G. E. Whitaker. The present officers of the association are J. H. Fitch, president; E. F. Shellaberger, vice- president; F. G. King, secretary treasurer.

MILL CREEK PARK.

The brief description of this beautiful park which follows is taken from a longer descrip- tive article, which appeared in the report pub- lished in 1904 by Mr. Volney Rogers, who, more than anyone else has been instrumental in securing and improving the park for the benefit of the inhabitants of Youngstown and the vicinity.

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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

Mill Creek Park is the property of Youngs- town township, including the City of Youngs- town. It is located partly within the city lim- its, and has two entrances, each one and one- fourth miles from Central Square, the central business portion of the city. The park has an area of 482 acres, and when completed it will have over 500 acres within its boundaries. Its total cost up to January I, 1904, was $339,- 920.47.

"The one dominating feature of the park is its natural, beautiful and picturesque scen- ery. An eminent landscape architect, the late Charles Eliot of Boston, who visited the park in 1891, after careful observation, said: 'So far as natural beauty is concerned there is no park in the country to compare with Mill Creek Park. It is as if a bit of choice scenery had been taken from the mountains of Switzer- land and deposited in a level country.'" Sim- ilar testimony has been given by other well- known landscape architects. The late H. W. S. Cleveland, of Minneapolis, who visited the park in 1893, said: "The existence of a tract comprising such a rare combination of attrac- tive natural features in the immediate vicinity of a city is, so far as my experience goes, un- paralleled elsewhere."

"The park is, in brief, a gorge, and its environments : A picturesque stream coursing through its center, having fine cascades and waterfalls, cliffs and bluffs upon each side of from sixty to over a hundred feet in height clothed with sylva and flora exceedingly rich in variety and beauty.

"In a direct line the park is two and one- fourth miles in length. Its width varies from a few hundred feet at places where the gorge is narrow, to a half, three-fourths, and in one instance over a mile, where it includes Bear Creek and its enchanting surroundings. The windings of Mill Creek make the park seem much longer than it really is; the main drive- ways follow the banks or bluffs of the main stream upon each side and are connected by a bridge across the gorge, where most remote from the city, ninety feet in height.

"Where the drives are necessarily upon the bluffs foot-paths have been made along the

banks of the main stream on each side, and fine vistas have also been opened from good view points along both driveways and foot- paths. *

* There are meadows, lakes, islands, swift-running streams, waterfalls, cliffs, natural grottos, and wooded hills of un- ending variety and interest.

"The park is naturally well-drained and abounds with ample shade, as well as excellent springs of pure, clear water, convenient to all its parts. It adjoins the city on the west, or windward side, insuring pure air from the country for the refreshment of visitors while at the park, and in a measure preserving and passing to the city generally, better air at all times than would have been the case had this large territory been occupied for residence or manufacturing purposes. The benefits to health that will result from the establishment and preservation of this park are incalculable.

MILL CREEK AND ITS RELICS IN THE PARK. :

The source of Mill Creek is about twenty miles south of Youngstown, and the stream flows almost directly north through portions of Columbiana and Mahoning counties to its confluence with the Mahoning River within the corportate limits of Youngstown. It drains seventy-five square miles of territory, and its waters flow slowly and peacefully until about three miles from Youngstown, when they sud- denly become turbulent upon reaching Mill Creek Park and dashing over a series of rapids and waterfalls, make a descent of 1321/2 feet before they reach the Mahoning.

"Geologically the stream is new, likewise the greater portion of the gorge, that is, they have been formed since the glacial period. The lower central portion of the gorge, however, is the partially filled valley of an ancient river."

A hundred years ago the water shed of Mill Creek was covered by a dense virgin for- est, resulting in a constantly amply flow of water in its streams, and when the first set- tlers came to Ohio at the close of the eigh- teenth century, that portion of Mill Creek which passes through the gorge above

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HISTORY OF MAHONING COUNTY

described was in good demand for mills and factories ; many being established and operated successfully there by water power, hence the name.

The first of these was erected by John and Phineas Hill about 1798 at Mill Creek Falls, (Lanterman's). It was constructed of round logs and contained machinery for grinding grain and sawing lumber. It was a primitive affair, but when ready to be raised there were not men enough in the neighborhood to do the work and help came from Pennsylvania.

On the day the mill was erected a bear was killed near by and its flesh served as meat to the men engaged in that work. This mill was replaced by a larger and better one, built by Eli Baldwin, the father of the late Hon. Jesse Baldwin of Boardman, Ohio, and Mr. Homer Baldwin, of Youngstown, about 1823. It was a frame structure, and was entirely washed away by an unprecedented flood in the summer of 1843; when, it is said, Mill Creek suddenly became larger than the Mahoning River. All dams in Mill Creek and some dwellings in the creek valley were swept away in the mad rush of waters, resulting in great loss of property and some loss of human life.

The present mill structure on the same site, known as the Lanterman mill, was built by the late Samuel Kimberly and the late German Lanterman in 1845 and 1846. It was oper- ated as a flouring mill until about 1888, and became the property of the park commissioners in 1892, whose purpose is to preserve the relic.

Another object on the bank of Mill Creek that ought always to be of interest, is what is now called "The Pioneer Pavilion." This stone structure was built for a woolen factory by James Eaton in 1821, but later was used as a store-room in connection with a charcoal furnace near it, built by Daniel Eaton, a brother of James, in 1826.

LAKE COHASSET.

Lake Cohasset, has, including two small islands, a surface area of twenty-eight acres. It is surrounded by bluffs varying from sixty to one hundred and ten feet in height, and just

above its head is a vertical cliff one hundred feet high, with Mill Creek swiftly running at the base of the cliff to the inlet of the lake. These bluffs and cliffs are clothed with natural forest growth, largely of handsomeevergreens, suggesting the name "Cohasset," an Indian word, meaning "Place of Pines." The lake was formed by the construction of a masonry stone dam of excellent design and workman- ship, twenty-three feet in height, resulting in a picturesque body of water in three connected pools. There is a drive and a foot-path upon each side-the drives mostly overlooking the lake from the bluffs; the foot-paths are at the bottoms of the bluffs trailing the shores. The west drive, however, descends to the lake at one point and follows its shore for some dis- tance.

The vistas from both drives, and from the foot-paths present some of the most charming park scenes in America. The prospects from boats on the lake are very different from those on shore and seem even grander at times.

The cliffs and bluffs around the lake and in view from its waters are clothed with lichens, mosses, ferns, wild flowers, and shrubs, as well as trees, and, as a whole, pre- sent one of nature's very best lake borders.

In conclusion we may say, once more in the words of Mr. Rogers, "To the stranger who visits Mill Creek Park there is a pleasant surprise always, and to the resident of Youngstown who is somewhat familiar with its more prominent features there is always- something new. The face of nature changes there as the seasons come and go, in forms and pictures of wondrous beauty. Mill Creek Park is a place that never disappoints an in- telligent, appreciative visitor.

EAST END PARK.

The East End Park. Youngstown, is com- posed of about sixty-two acres of land, extend- ing along the valley of Dry Run, fifteen acres being included within the limits of Coitsville township. The land was purchased about two years ago, at a cost of $19,600. The park oc- cupies the bottom lands of the creek, which

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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

runs through it, and which it follows in gen- eral direction. In some places the banks are steep and in others rocky, but in general the slopes are gentle, and covered with nice tim- ber. In the plan of development laid out it is proposed to retain all its natural features of beauty, and to add thereto such artificial con- veniences and improvements as may be re- quired to transform it into an ideal summer resort for Youngstown people. These im- provements include a band stand, which has already been constructed, several bridges, graded roads and driveways, with possibly a dam, in order to form a pool for swimming or skating. This park contains one the largest glacial boulders in the State of Ohio, the stone being split into two parts. Many years ago the Delawares and several other Indian tribes used to come to the Mahoning Valley yearly for their supply of corn and salt. The corn was grown in the fertile river bottoms, and the salt was obtained from the salt springs. After the battle of Braddock, which was fought July 9, 1755, the Indians came here to celebrate their success. The place selected for the big feast was the usual ground around Nea-To- Ka, or Council Rock, the large boulder above mentioned. In all there were six tribes repre- sented and 3,500 Indians at the feast. While it was in progress a hurricane struck the place. Many Indians were killed by falling trees. Four chiefs were killed when lightning struck the rock. The dead Indians were buried on the site of the present Haselton furnaces. The Indians thought the calamity a visitation from the "Great White Spirit," and none of them ever visited the spot again. The Indian name for Dry Run Creek was Sem-is-co-le-to, which means shady water.

The East End Park is easy of access, and has three entrances, one of which is in the township of Coitsville.

WICK PARK,

Which takes its name from the Wick family. was deeded to the city of Youngstown by the heirs of Hugh B. Wick, in 1889, on condition that the city would improve and beautify it for

park purposes. It is a large piece of ground, rectangular in shape, situated in the north part of the city, and measuring about 1,700 feet in length by 1,200 feet in width, including the streets which form its boundaries. It is crossed by several spacious driveways and has six entrances. The land is finely timbered, but the main attractions are the flower beds, which are very taste- fully laid out, and in the summer time present a fine appearance. In accordance with the conditions of the deed of gift, the city has spent thousands of dollars in setting out flowers and caring for them and making the grounds attractive. As many as twelve thousand tulips have been set out in one sea- son, while there is an abundance of other favor- ite flowers. During the present year ( 1907) it is proposed to erect a fine band stand, which will be built of pressed buff brick, with concrete floor and tile roof, with other useful and ar- tistic improvements.

YOUNGSTOWN CITY WATER WORKS.

The Youngstown City Water Works was established by an ordinance passed in City Council, May 23, 1871. In the year 1872 a pumping station was erected on the bank of the Mahoning River just west of what was then known as Stull street, now known as. North West Avenue. The equipment of the plant at that time was as follows: One Holly Gang pump of one million gallons capacity per twenty-four hours; two Holly rotary pumps, one of two million gallons capacity, and one of three million gallons capacity ; one Holly vertical boiler to generate steam for rotary pumps; two return tubular boilers for generating steam for gang pump. With about seven miles of water mains, in sizes from 15- inch to 4-inch, cast iron, and 2-inch gas pipe. This plant was installed at a cost of about $135.000. In the year 1886 the Holly rotary fire pumps were replaced by a three million gallon Worthington duplex non-expanding condensing pump. In the year 1879. the Holly rotary fire pumps were replaced by a million gallon Dean duplex compound condensing

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HISTORY OF MAHONING COUNTY

pump, thus completing the retirement of the entire original pumping plant in the short period of fourteen years. Changes were made from time to time, so that from the humble beginning in 1872, as stated above, the plant has grown in the short period of thirty-four years to the following equipment :

One five million gallons Deane duplex compound condensing pumping engine. Two five million gallon William Tod & Co. cross compound condensing, crank and fly-wheel pumping engine. Two 200-horse-power Stirl- ing water tube boilers. Two 150-horse-power Babcock & Wilcox water tube boilers. Two 200-horse-power Scotch marine boilers. One 3,000 gallons centrifugal pump, used as a booster to increase pressure for fire purposes in high ground.

The Electric Light Plant consists of one Bullock, 50 K. W. generator, direct connected to a 85-horse-power vertical Shepard engine.

There is a filter plant of ten million gallons normal capacity, equipped as follows :

Two ten million gallons William Tod Co. centrifugal pumps, direct connected to Reeves vertical cross compound engines. One four- five million gallons William Tod Co. centri- fugal pump, direct connected to a simple verti- cal Reeves engine. Two 125-horse-power Sterling water tube boilers.

The outside equipment consists of two stand-pipes of 528,768 gallons capacity each. Ninety-five miles of cast iron water pipe, ranging in size from 4-inch to 24-inch, to- gether with valves, etc. Altogether the equip- ment has a value on January 1, 1906, of $1,- 303, 171.16.

YOUNGSTOWN FILTER PLANT.

A mechanical filter plant of 10,000,000 gallons capacity has been built at Youngs- town ( 1905) to treat the water of the Mahon- ing River, which was formerly pumped under direct pressure into the mains of the distri- bution system without any attempt at purifi- cation. The Mahoning River has a watershed of 960 square miles above the pumping station of the water works in Youngstown and is

subject to sudden and considerable variation in flow with corresponding variation in the character of the water.

The sewage from several towns above Youngstown, which is discharged into the river, together with the drainage from several large steel mills in Youngstown above the pumping station, rendered the river unsatis- factory as a source of supply, unless the water from it was filtered. In attempting to secure a more satisfactory supply, several projects were first considered for developing reservoir sites on creeks in the vicinity which are tribu- taries of the river and bringing the water by gravity from these reservoirs to the pumping station. The adoption of any of these sources, however, would have required the erection of a filter plant to insure a sanitary supply, so it was decided to adhere to the river as a source of such supply, and build a filter plant near the old pumping station; then, if necessary, de- velop a further supply on one of the creeks.

The pumping station on the north bank of the river is in a very closely built-up section, with little room to expand and no feasible site for a filter plant. A tract of vacant ground of several acres, bordering on the south bank of the river, and immediately across from the pumping station, was acquired and the filter plant erected on it near the river and about 500 feet up stream from the station.

The filter plant embraces an intake in the river, a main filter building and a clear water well.

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Century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens, 20th, Part 16

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

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