Century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens, 20th, Part 23

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 23

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families and many of their descendants still reside in the township. From the same county came George Zedaker with his son John. The latter was the last survivor, in Boardman, of the war of 1812, dying in the late seventies of the century just closed. George Pope, who came to Boardman from Virginia, after set- tling on Benjamin McNutt's farm removed to the northwestern part of the township near Mill Creek : he attained the age of ninety-eight years. Other pioneers, with the date of their advent in the township, were as follows: John Twiss, 1818; Charles Titus, 1819; Amos Bald- win, 1811; Asa Baldwin, brother of Amos, 18II or earlier; Thomas and Elizabeth Agnew, from Pennsylvania, 1824; Henry Fos- ter, previous to 1808; Philip and Catherine Stambaugh, 1811; Eli Baldwin, from Con- necticut, 1801; the De Camps, Shields and Woodruff families, 1801; Josiah Walker, 1803; Isaac Newton, 1811; William and Pa- melia Fankle, 1816; David and Mary ( Walk- er) Porter, 1815. The last named who came from Adams county, Pennsylvania, settled in the southeast corner of the township. They had five children, one of whom was named David. Another, Harvey, removed to Kansas. Their daughter, Martha, married a Mr. Slaven. The father, David Porter, Sr., was killed by a fall- ing tree in June, 1819.

FIRST ELECTION.

The first township meeting for the election of officers was held April 7, 1806, previous to which year the township had been included in Youngstown. It was organized as Boardman township in 1805. Eli Baldwin was the first justice of the peace. The amount of taxes levied in Boardman in 1803 was $17.47, being distributed among twenty-nine tax payers.

ABUNDANCE OF GAME.

The early settlers were much troubled with bears and wolves, and hunting was both a fav- orite amusement and most useful occupation. A bounty of $6 each was paid by the county for the scalps of wolves. There were also

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abundance of deer, turkeys and pheasants, and more than enough of rattlesnakes, upon which the settlers, of course, made constant war. There was scarcely a house without a rifle, whose crack meant usually either the destruc- tion of a common enemy or food for the family. It is related that Curtis Fairchild, a noted hunter in those days, killed 105 deer in one season, besides trapping thirteen wolves. The skin of a deer was worth seventy-five cents, but the meat was not valued and was unsalable.

THE WAR OF 1812.

There were three drafts made during the War of 1812, each taking one-third of the militia. There were few, if any, volunteers. At one time, though but for a short period, not an able bodied man was left in the township. Boardman's soldiers took part in some sharp fighting with the Indians at the Battle of the Peninsula, near Sandusky. After the war and until 1820 money was scarce, though provis- ions were cheap in comparison with the prices which prevail today. Butter could be bought for five cents a pound, wheat was twenty-five cents a bushel in paper money, and eggs cost four cents a dozen, in "store pay." Every article of clothing was manufactured, except leather for shoes. Shoes, however, were only used on special occasions in the summer, most of the settlers going barefoot. Many of the men wore buckskin breeches.

CHURCHES.

St. James Episcopal church is the oldest in the county, having been organized in July, 1809. Among the first members were many of the principal settlers, including Turhand Kirtland, Jared Kirtland, Arad Way, Josiah Wetmore, Charles Crittenden, Eleazer Fair- child, Eli Platt, John Liddle, Joseph Platt, Ethel Starr, John Loveland, Lewis Hoyt, Joseph Liddle, Samuel Blocker, Fran- cis Dowler, Russell F. Starr, and Ensign Church. All these persons were instrumental in forming the first Episcopal society. The

congregation worshipped in schoolhouses and private dwellings until 1828, when a church edifice was erected.

The German Reformed church, one of the oldest churches in the township, was erected in 1816, the church edifice being rebuilt in 1845. The present pastor is Rev. E. D. Weadock.

A Congregational church was established in 1813 by Rev. John Field, from Connecti- cut. Among its first officers were Charles A. Boardman and Samuel Swan. In 1849 the organization ceased to exist on account of the death or removal of its principal members. It was sometimes called the Presbyterian church.

The Methodist Episcopal church was found- ed at an early date, though the year is not known. Oswald Detchon, elsewhere men- tioned, was one of the most prominent among its early members, and the first meetings were in a log schoolhouse on his farm. The church edifice was erected about 1835, those chiefly instrumental being Thomas Agnew, Major Samuel Clark, and Josiah Beardsley.

The Disciples church was organized about 1854 by an evangelist named Reeves, and a church building erected two years later, but organization ceased to exist about 1872, and the church was sold to the township which converted it into the town hall.

The first burials in Boardman township were made upon the farm of Adam Simon, and soon after the German cemetery was laid out. The cemetery near the center was laid out in 1805.

SCHOOLS.

The first log school house was built a few rods west of the center in 1803 or 1804. Na- thaniel Blakely was the first teacher. Mrs. Simeon Mitchel, who settled at the center in 1810, also taught school for several terms. In 1809 a two-story frame school house was erected, which was called "The Academy," and "was used for school, church, and meet- ings for forty years or more." In the seven- ties it was moved a mile and a half east of the center and converted into a stable. About the same time as the school house at the center

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was erected, the Simons built a log school house, where for some years German alone was taught. Jacob Simon was the first teacher.

The present frame school building at the center of the township, known as the "Cen- tralized school," has four rooms, with Prof. W. B. Randolph, Minnie Kiper, Olive Beard and Ethel Walters, teachers. The Wood- worth school, on the south line of the town- ship, is a one-room brick building; Alice Ren- kenberger is the teacher.

The Heintzman school in the southwest corner of the township has one room and is taught by Alice Winter.

The yearly cost of maintenance for the township schools is $4,500.

INDUSTRIES.

In 1805 George Stillson built the first frame house in the township, where he after- wards kept tavern for twenty-five years. Jo- seph Merchant, who came from Connecticut in 1804, started a tavern about 1814 a short distance east of the center.

MILLS.

Baird's mill on Mill creek, near Lanter- man's Falls, was the first grist mill in the town- ship. It was at first a small log building, but afterwards a larger one was built on the same site. Thomas Shields was the proprietor for many years and was succeeded by Eli Baldwin. About 1808 a sawmill was built a mile and a half from the center, and was conducted for a short time by Richard Elliot and Elijah Board- man. Another sawmill, known as De Camp's, was constructed in the northwestern part of the township, but like the first named had a short lease of life. Another sawmill and a grist mill were erected later on Mill creek by Eli Baldwin : also a cloth mill.

The were several small stills in the town- ship, and in 1808 or 1809, Eli Baldwin, who seems to have been a very enterprising citizen for his day, built a distillery near the north line of the township on the Youngstown road,

and carried on a good business for several years.

James Moody, who came to Boardman in 1804, built a tannery, and continued in bus- iness as a tanner for forty years or more sub- sequently. Charles Boardman and William Ingersoll opened the first store in a room of Stillson's tavern.

SOME FIRST EVENTS.

The first white child born in Boardman township was James D. McMahon, the date of this event being October 31, 1799. Horace Daniels, whose parents came in 1799, was born in March, 1800. In 1823 he drove the first stage westward on the old Pittsburg and . Cleveland stage line.

Andrew Webb, the first blacksmith in the township, came about 1804. He manu- factured scythes, which he sold for $2 each, eastern scythes being then worth $2.50. John Davidson and Elijah Deane were probably the first shoemakers in the township.

Peter Stillson, in 1804, made the first cheese in Boardman, which was also, perhaps, the first made on the Western Reserve. He carted several hundred-weight of it to Pitts- burg, where he easily disposed if it.

The first sermon was preached, in 1804, in the log school house at the center, by Rev. Joseph Badger, a Presbyterian missionary from Connecticut.

CANFIELD TOWNSHIP

Canfield, the central township of Mahon- ing county, was one of the earliest settled townships on the reserve, and has always been the home of a thrifty and prosperous agricul- tural class, having besides contributed able men to the leading professions, especially that of law. That her sons have not been equally prominent in trade, commerce and manufac- tures, is due to the limited opportunities af- forded by the township in those directions. No large stream flows through Canfield, but there are plenty of small creeks and fresh water springs, affording a plentiful supply of pure

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cold water for dairy and agricultural pur- poses. These industries are further favored by the soil, which is a rich and easily cultivated loam, suitable to a large variety of crops.

Canfield was township No. I in range No. 3 of the purchase of the Connecticut Land Company, and contained 16,324 acres. It was purchased from the company by six persons who owned in the following proportions : Judson Canfield, 6,171 acres; James John- son, 3,502 acres ; David Waterman, 2,-

745 acres ; Elijah Wadsworth, 2,069

acres ; Nathaniel Church, 1,400 acres ; Samuel Canfield, 437 acres. The total price paid was $12,903.23, or a trifle more than seventy-nine cents per acre. Lot No. 2 in township No. I in the tenth range, consisting of fifty-eight and a half acres, was added to it under the equalization system adopted by the Connecticut Land Company, which has been explained in a previous chapter.

In 1798 the land was surveyed into lots and improvements commenced. The surveys were superintended by Nathaniel Church, who was accompanied by Nathan Moore, of Salis- bury, surveyor ; Eli Tousley, Nathaniel Gridley, Barker King, Reuben Tupper, Samuel Gilson, Joseph Pangburn, and one Skinner, of Salis- bury. Gilson and Pangburn were axemen. The center of the township was first found, the east and west road laid out, and clearings made, and some oats and wheat sown. A log house was erected at the center and two houses and a barn east of the center.

About a month after their arrival the first family of settlers arrived, consisting of Cham- pion Minor, with his wife and two children, who made the journey in an ox team from Salisbury. A few days after their arrival the youngest child died, and was buried in a coffin of split wood, which was the first white burial in the county. After cutting through the east and west road most of the party returned to Connecticut, Samuel Gilson and Joseph Pang- burn remaining, with Champion Minor and his family. The township was denominated Campfield by the surveyors above mentioned, but on April 15, 1800, it was voted that it should be called Canfield, in honor of Judson

Canfield, who was there as early as June, 1798, and who owned the greatest amount of land in it.

In 1799 the settlement was strengthened by the arrival of Phineas Reed, Eleazer Gilson and Joshua Hollister, and in the following year by that of Nathan Moore and family, who arrived May 15, after a journey of forty-five days. In 1801 came James Doud and family, Calvin Tobias, Abijah Peck and Ichabod At- wood. In 1802 there was a larger immigra- tion and thenceforth for a number of years there was a steadily increasing stream of set- tlers, some of whom, however, remained but a short time, afterwards moving to other town- ships. All of the first settlers came from Con- necticut. A number of Germans came in 1805, and during subsequent years, those who settled permanently doing much to develop the agri- cultural resources of the township.

An epidemic, in 1813, carried off a large number of the settlers, including Aaron and Lavinia Collar, who came to Canfield in 1802. They left descendants who still reside in the township. William Chidester, who also came in 1802, was the first justice of the peace in Canfield, and in early days officiated at nu- merous marriages, both in this and other town- ships. He died in 1813, at the age of fifty- seven. Some of the pioneer settlers lived to a remarkable age. John Everett, one of the oldest among the immigrants, died in 1819, at the age of ninety-two. Mrs. Esther Beardsley, wife of Captain Philo Beardsley, died at the age of ninety-one; and Ethel Starr, a compar- atively early settler, was ninety-two years old at the time of his death in 1861.

Herman Canfield, Sr., who was a brother of Judson Canfield, settled here in October, 1805. He and his wife, whose maiden name was Fitia Bostwick, were the parents of five children-Herman, William H., Elizabeth, Cornelia and Lora. Lieutenant-Colonel Her- man Canfield died at Crumps' Landing April 7, 1862, while in the service of his country. He was an able lawyer and served as state sen- ator of Medina county. William H. Canfield, who studied law under Hon. Elisha Whittle- sey, removed to Kansas in 1866, and in 1870

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was appointed judge of the Eighth Judicial District of that state, which position he held until his death in 1874.

James Reed, one of the immigrants of 1805, whose father, also named James, came out and lived with him, during the war of 1812 set up a distillery to furnish the soldiers with whisky, that being considered an essential part of their rations. He died in 1813; his wife survived him forty-seven years, dying in 1860 at the remarkable age of ninety-eight. They were the parents of ten children, several of whom lived to an advanced age.

One of the most important immigrants was Elisha Whittlesey, who came in 1806, a sketch of whom may be found in the chapter of this volume entitled "Bench and Bar." He was one of the foremost lawyers in the county, and was almost constantly in public service up to the time of his death in 1863. A number of distinguished men acquired a part of their legal training in his office, among them being Hon. Benjamin F. Wade, General Ralph P. Buck- land, Hon. Joshua R. Giddings and W. C. Otis.

In 1806 came also Adam Turner and wife, Margaret, from New Jersey, with their five sons and three daughters; they settled in the northwestern part of the township, on the road that was afterwards known as Turner street.

SOME FIRST EVENTS.

The first male child born in Canfield was Royal Canfield Chidister, the date of his na- tivity being June 22, 1802, his parents resid- ing near the center of the township. The first person buried in the cemetery east of the cen- ter was Olive, wife of Charles Chittenden; she died September 30, 1801.

Joseph Pangburn and Lydia Fitch were the first couple to get married in Canfield, the cer- emony being performed April 11, 1801, by Ca- leb Baldwin, Esq., of Youngstown. There would have been an earlier marriage-that of Alfred Woolcott to Mary Gilson, in February, 1800-but there being no person duly quali- fied to perform the ceremony, they were obliged to go to Pennsylvania to be married.

The building of a sawmill was begun in the northwestern part of the township, in 1801,. by Jonah Scoville, but before finishing the mill, he sold out his interests to a Mr. Atwood, who. completed it and put it in operation in the spring of 1802. In the same year another sawmill was erected on what was known as. the "Brier lot," one-half being owned by Eli- jah Wadsworth, the other proprietors being Tryall Tanner, William Sprague and Matthew Steele. The land was rented by Mr. Wads- worth from Judson Canfield for seven years, the consideration being "one pepper-corn year- ly, to be paid if demanded." About 1810 a carding machine propelled by horse power, was erected by a company, and for some time did a fair business.

EARLY MERCHANTS.

The first store was opened in 1804 by Zal- mon Fitch and Herman Canfield, who were partners. Mr. Fitch also kept a tavern in Can- field until his removal to Warren in 1813. In 1807 Messrs. Fitch and Canfield took as an ad- ditional partner in the business Comfort S. Mygatt, who had arrived in that year from: Danbury, Connecticut, with his family. The latter consisted of four daughters, two sons and two step-sons. Two years later the part- nership was dissolved and the business was continued by Mr. Mygatt during the rest of his life, which terminated in October, 1823.

In 1828 there were three merchants in. Canfield-William Hogg, Alson Kent and E. T. Boughton. C. S. Mygatt, son of Comfort S., began business in Canfield in 1833 with the firm of Lockwood, Mygatt & Co., general mer- chants, and was subsequently in business here until 1860, most of the time in partnership.

Other industrial and mercantile enterprises were established from time to time, of some of which we must omit mention for lack of space ..

CANFIELD, THE COUNTY SEAT.

As we have seen in a previous chapter. on the creation of Mahoning county during the legislative session of 1845-46, Canfield, being

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the geographical center of the county, was made the county seat, which it continued to be for thirty years. This naturally made Can- field a place of importance; the legal business of the county was transacted here, and the volume of general business increased. But this state of things was not to continue. The establishment of the iron industry in Youngs- town gave that place a formidable advantage over her one-time rival, and she gradually forged ahead, slowly at first, but afterwards with big strides, until she had left Canfield far behind in the race for industrial and commer- cial importance. Being thus superior in wealth and population, she went a step farther and began to proclaim her intention of having the county seat. A rival agitation was at once begun, which was carried on spiritedly on both sides until the legislative session of 1874-5, when Youngstown gained her point, and in 1876 became the county seat of Mahoning.

CANFIELD VILLAGE.

The village of Canfield was incorporated by act of legislature in 1849, and the first elec- tion held in April of that year, L. L. Bostwick being chosen mayor ; H. B. Brainerd, recorder; and John Clark, Thomas Hansom, M. Swank, Charles Frethy and William B. Ferrell, trus- tees.

Canfield is like a "city that is set on an hill" and "beautiful for situation." The town is about a square mile in area and situated on a gradually rising elevation 1200 feet above sea-level and 640 feet higher than Lake Erie.

Its elevation and natural drainage caused by the land surface falling away in gentle un- dulations of hill, plain and valley in all direc- tions, together with the total absence of mill and factory smoke and dust, give the town an abundance of pure, invigorating air all the year round. Its healthiness is excellent, just what would be expected from such favorable condi- tions. Adding very much to the health, com- fort and beauty of the place, the streets are wide and lined with noble trees, elms and ma- ples predominating. Main and Broad streets crossing at right angles are each ninety-nine

feet wide and a mile in length. A neatly laid- out park of eleven and one-half acres, studded with rows of trees, stretches its avenues of shade through the town from north to south for two-fifths of a mile.

The material conditions and natural en- vironments of a community exert a silent but continuous and decided influence on its moral and social life. And this is especially true of mosphere are good and wholesome, making it an ideal place of residence.

NORTHEASTERN OHIO NORMAL COLLEGE.

Overlooking the park from the south end and near the highest elevation, stands the N. E. O. Normal College, commanding a fine out- look and panoramic survey of the park and town and of the surrounding country of mead- ows, rolling uplands and native forests for miles in every direction. From both the moral and educational point of view the location of the Normal College in such quiet, healthful surroundings in the midst of a fertile, prosper- ous and intelligent farming community, is al- most ideal. The history of the institution since its opening in 1882, incorporated 1881, gives ample testimony to the advantages of such wholesome and healthful surroundings and location.

Although the particular aim of the school has always been and still continues to be the training of young men and women efficiently for the profession of teaching and business pursuits, her many graduates from the colle- giate courses who are now filling positions of trust and honor in the learned professions of the Christian ministry, law, medicine and jour- nalism, attest the excellent character of the work done. Many of these received no other academic training than what they obtained at the Normal, while others found here the kind of preparatory training needed for entering other and older colleges.

The Commercial Department has sent large numbers of trusted and successful ac- countants into every line of business, while the department of Music has played its important

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part in the education of the student body by its refining and elevating influences.

From the Normal or Pedagogy department have gone successful teachers into all grades of public school work, school superintendents and college instructors. The institution points with just pride to the sterling worth and Christian character of her alumni and students, qualities which make for the largest success.

The present outlook is promising and as- suring. The great scarcity of teachers throughout Eastern Ohio, Western Pennsyl- vania and West Virginia opens the way for a greater usefulness of the school and a larger attendance than ever before. To meet the urg- ent demands of the teaching profession, and to meet the requirements of its patrons, it aims to give the students of the Normal Department the most practical and thorough instruction and the most helpful preparation possible for the work in which they are to engage. This part of the work is carefully planned and per- haps has never been stronger than it is now. The faculty has under consideration the open- ing of a well organized summer school in 1908. The Music Department is in a flourishing con- dition under the very competent direction of Miss Anna K. Means, a graduate of Oberlin Conservatory of Music, an accomplished pian- ist and vocalist and a successful teacher of both voice and piano.

Charles O. Allaman, A. B., graduate of Wooster University, is president and has charge of the departments of Latin, Greek and English Literature, and conducts the teachers' class in literature.

Franklin B. Sawvel, Ph. D., one of the in- structors associated with Prof. Helman during the earlier history of the Normal, has the de- partments of Philosophy, History and Peda- gogy and the teachers' training class in Arith- mėtic.

Miss Florence Rose Wilson, Ph. M., has charge of the department of German, Normal branches and the review classes in United States history and English grammar.

R. W. Correll, A. B., is professor of science and mathematics and the review class in geography.

The commercial courses, including short- hand, typewriting and penmanship, are under the direction of Munson Buel Chidester, B. C. S.

The school is interdenominational and therefore unique in character among Normal schools and colleges. It has now about one hundred scholars.

Among Canfield's other acquisitions, she rejoices in an up-to-date and interesting news- paper, the Mahoning Despatch, which was es- tablished by Henry M. Fowler, father of the present editor, C. C. Fowler, and has just com- pleted its thirtieth year of existence. Mr. C. C. Fowler, who began his connection with the paper as printer's devil at its origin, has con- tinued with it ever since, and has made it one of the most robust and firmly established enter- prises of the village. In his own words, "It circulates very largely throughout Mahoning County and weekly visits nearly every state in the Union. Its advertising patronage is not surpassed by any local publication in this quarter of the state, while the job printing de- partment output has steadily grown in public favor." On March 29th of the present year, (its thirtieth anniversary), it printed an issue of approximately 3,000 copies of a twenty-four page paper. An interesting feature of the newspaper is its publication from time to time of valuable articles dealing with local history.

We can give no better description of Can- field during the last thirty years than is con- tained in two articles of this kind that were published in the anniversary issue above re- ferred to. One is from the pen of Hon. Charles Fillius, who became a resident of Can- field thirty-two years ago, when a young man of twenty-three, and who was for some three years thereafter superintendent of schools: he describes Canfield as it was at that time. The other article is by Dr. J. Truesdale. well known as one of Canfield's oldest and most prominent citizens, and as a local historian of well-earned repute. Dr. Truesdale depicts the changes which have occurred in the period under review. We quote largely, if not entirely, from both articles. Mr. Fillius writes as follows :

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Century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens, 20th, Part 23

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