Century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens, 20th, Part 25

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 25

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HISTORY OF MAHONING COUNTY

In October, 1867, they were joined by the re- maining members of the church, which had first been established in the northwest part of the township, the older mem- bers of which had died, and there having been for a long time but very few accessions. Since then the church has had a prosperous and useful existence. The building has lately been remodeled, both inside and out. The membership is about sixty ; that of the Sunday school thirty-five. Of the latter Mrs. Anna Osborne is superintendent.

REFORMED.

The Reformed church, formerly known as the German Reformed Lutheran church, was organized previous to 1810, by a number of German settlers in the township, the first pas- tor being the Rev. Henry Stough. A log church was built in the same year and was used by both the German Reformed and Lu- theran congregations until it was destroyed by fire in 1845. It was replaced in the same year by a new and more suubstantial building. For more than fifty years the services were conducted in German, which language subse- quently gave place to English, for the benefit of the later generation. Some twelve years ago the church was again burned down, the present building, located about three-quarters of a mile north of Canfield village, being erected in 1895. The membership of the church is 145, with a Sunday school attend- ance of fifty.

SCHOOLS.

The first school house in Canfield stood about a mile and a quarter east of the center, the first teacher being Caleb Palmer. Here the educational system of Canfield was inaugu- rated with a three months' term in the winter of 1800-01. Miss Getia Bostwick and Ben- jamin Carter were among the early teachers, as was also Miss Olive Langdon, who taught school in a small log building about two miles south of the center. Elisha Whittlesey also

taught school in 1806, being a successor of Caleb Palmer.

The early schools were carried on without much system or method, no sound working plan of education being devised until 1867, when the union school law was adopted and a board of education elected. Since that time Canfield has been well abreast of other town- ships in educational matters, her schools being provided with a thoroughly efficient corps of teachers, the Normal school, already men- tioned, providing students with excellent op- portunity for acquiring more advanced knowl- edge.

An advanced school known as the Mahon- ing Academy existed in Canfield from 1857 to 1860, or a little later. It was established by David Hine, A. M., a graduate of Williams College, Massachusetts, who was also its prin- cipal. In October, 1860, it had 240 students on its rolls, but the war, by draining the coun- try of so many of its young men, caused its downfall, and it perished during the continu- ance of that struggle. The building was after- wards converted into a dwelling.

THE PRESS.

The first newspaper in Canfield was the Mahoning Index, a Democratic sheet that was started in May, 1846, by two printers from Warren-James and Clate Herrington. They sold out later to John R. Church, a prominent Democrat, who conducted the office and pub- lished the paper until September, 1851, when the building with all its contents was destroyed by fire. In the following year another Demo- cratic paper was established-the Mahoning Sentinel-and was conducted for some time by an association, with Ira Norris as editor. The paper was printed by H. M. Fowler. It subsequently passed through several hands, be- ing purchased and repurchased until in 1860 John M. Webb, who was then the proprietor, removed the office to Youngstown. In the spring of that year a small Republican paper called the Herald was started, the proprietor being John Weeks, who came from Medina at

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the instance of Hon. Elisha Whittlesey. It also passed through a number of hands, until it came into those of Mr. Ed E. Fitch, who had for a time been Mr. Weeks' partner, and by whom, in 1870, it was enlarged. Two years later Mr. Fitch sold it to McDonald & Sons, who changed its name to The Mahoning County Newes. After being thus conducted for eighteen months it was disposed of to W. R. Brownlee, who made the paper Democratic and afterwards sold out to Rev. W. S. Peter- son, who soon after removed to Warren. Can- field was then without a newspaper until Mr. H. M. Fowler started the Mahoning Despatch in May, 1871, which paper is still in existence, and in a prosperous condition, being now con- ducted by Mr. C. C. Fowler, son of the first proprietor.

CANFIELD'S INDUSTRIES.

The following information in regard to Canfield's present industries is taken from a local source, and may be considered reliable :

The manufacturing interests of Canfield, Ohio, though not as extensive as they might have been have been sufficient and worthy of consideration. The town has contributed brains and skill that have produced great and extensive results, and had not petroleum oil been discovered, the fields of cannel coal would have been made and developed an immense re- source for public utility, by light and fuel. We can safely say, our possibilities are scarcely discovered. In our fire clay lies a proposition, yet to be solved. The persistent drilling for coal in special, not isolated, localities, bids favorable for the future good. Our forests are stocked with the finest timber suitable for the world's demands. Ship timbers of im- mense size are frequently forwarded, and our product runs down almost to the clothes-pin and tooth-pick trade. The trade at large rec- ognizes that the Canfield product has a special quality and finish now well known, and its de- mands are beyond our present output. The proof of this lies in the fact that for the last eight years solicitation for orders has not been needed.

About three hundred thousand handles were distributed to the trade in general last year, by the Canfield Manufacturing & Nov- elty Company, a plant originally erected in 1882, by George N. Boughton with a pay roll at present of twenty-eight, distributing its funds almost entirely at home, for crude products and labor. Although a modest concern, yet the fact of its distributing annually over $10,000 to its em- ployes and eventually to the merchants, makes it a desirable proposition for our community. It is a public institution in which many of our prominent and active citizens are personally interested. The demands of the agricultural field have not been forgotten, for over 200,000 hand-rakes have been placed by them on the market during the last ten years, and over 5,000 horse-rakes, besides wood novelties of various kinds.

But this is not our only wood-working es- tablishment. The Canfield Lumber Company, originally established-by W. J. Gee, Mr. Stark and Mr. Brobst, but now with new owners, new buildings and new machinery, is laying the foundation for a valuable acquisition. The new owners, Weikart & Overhultzer, have the grit and push to make things go.

The grist mill under J. V. Calvin's man- agement is advancing fast to the front, and winning its way to the hearts, as well as to the stomachs of the public. It has grown beyond the home demand and enjoys a good trade in other markets.

A commodious elevator for a heavy deliv- ery of grain, is a leading feature at Callahan & Neff's large plant.

Delfs & Sons, though not making and changing their feed product as the manufac- turers, yet place a fine stock of grain before the farmers. This with their coal, tile, etc., gives them a favorable trade.

Kimerle Brothers have not forgotten the public need, for uses of pleasure and utility. by the buggies and wagons they turn out.

J. W. Johnson, also for work of a similar character, must not be forgotten.

Besides all this, Canfield is not so lost in the sordid manufacturing of essentials as to

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HISTORY OF MAHONING COUNTY

overlook the needs of the eye and pleasures of the aesthetic tastes of heavenly beauties. To meet that want, extensive greenhouses, erected five years ago by W. J. Smith of Pittsburg, and organized under the name of the Altino Culture Company in 1907, is an institution of large possibilities. The immensity is more fully realized by a personal inspection of its lengthy glass-covered buildings and its forty- acre tract of land, one space, 200x40 feet and another 400x40 feet, being under glass.

The manufacture of oil from cannel coal was carried on by several companies in the southeastern part of the township from 1854 to 1863. This business came to an end with the discovery of the naturally flowing oil wells. These manufactories, which were established at a cost of about $200,000, were built by eastern capitalists, who during the somewhat brief spell of their existence did a .considerable business.

Canfield has usually been favored by the high character for faithfulness and ability of her public officials. Those now in control areno exception to the rule. Hon. H. A. Manches- ter, who as mayor exercises the largest share of influence in the local government, is an old resident of the town, thoroughly versed in its history and having a clear and sympathetic understanding of the needs and aspirations of the community. He is well supported by the subordinate officials, who are efficient in their respective spheres of duty, and have the full confidence of the people by whom they were elected to office.

COITSVILLE TOWNSHIP

This township, which lies directly east of that of Youngstown, being adjacent thereto, was purchased previous to the year 1798 by Daniel Coit, of Connecticut, from the Connec- ticut Land Company, and derives its name from him. "It does not appear that he ever became a resident of Ohio, but authorized Si- mon Perkins, of Warren, as his general agent."

The township was surveyed by John P. Bissell, Asa Mariner and others, Mr. Bissell

being appointed a sub-agent to sell the land. He made a clearing and built a house at the center in 1799. In the following year he brought his family from Lebanon, Connecti- cut, the journey occupying forty days.

The first white settler in the township was Amos Loveland, a Revolutionary soldier, who came in 1798, and who spent the summer in assisting Mr. Bissell in surveying. In the fall of the same year, he purchased all the lands in that part of the township on the south side of the Mahoning river-some 424 acres -- and then returned to Vermont for his family. After settling his affairs there, he and his fam- ily left Chelsea in December, in two sleds drawn by four horses. After going some dis- tance the snow melted, and he exchanged his sleds for a wagon, with which they continued their journey. Says Mr. Shields, the source of our information : "After many trials, hard- ships and discouragements, they arrived at their future home, in the rich and beautiful Mahoning valley, April 4, 1799, themselves and their horses much the worse for their long winter journey. Where they landed they found a log cabin erected for their residence, one-half of it floored with puncheons, split out and dressed with an axe, the other without a floor except Mother Earth. Cynthia Loveland was the first white child born in the township. She was born in June, 1799, and died at the age of six- teen years. Her brother David, the second white child born in Coitsville, attained an ad- vanced age, residing in a house upon the orig- inal homestead, of which he owned about 300 acres."

On December 4, 1806, Coitsville was set off as a separate township by the commissioners of Trumbull County, the record reading as follows :

"Ordered by the Board of Commissioners for the County of Trumbull, that No. 2 in the first range of townships in said county, be set off as a separate township, by the name of Coitsville, with all the rights, privileges, and immunities by law given to and invested in any township in this state, and the first meeting of said township shall be held at the house for-

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merly occupied by John P. Bissell, in said township.

"Attest : WM. WETMORE,

"Clerk Commissioners pro tem."

The first election was held April 6, A. D. 1807, Alexander McGuffey, chairman; John Johnson and Joseph Jackson, judges of elec-

tion. The following officers were chosen : Township clerk, Joseph Bissell; trustees, Wm. Huston, Joseph Jackson and William Stewart; overseers of the poor, John McCall and Tim- othy Swan; supervisors of highways, William Martin and Ebenezer Corey; fence viewers, David Cooper and John Stewart; appraisers of houses, James Stewart and Alexander McGuffey ; lister, Alexander McGuffey; con- stable, James Lynn; treasurer, John Johnson.

CHARACTER OF THE SETTLERS.

In 1801 settlers began to come into the township in large numbers. They were mostly farmers from Western Pennsylvania, es- pecially from Beaver and Washington coun- ties, while some came from east of the moun- tains. They were in general a moral and church-going people, a number of different sects being represented among them, while there were a few who were loose-living, fond of drink and opposed to Bible religion.

The year 1811 brought hard times for many of the pioneers of Coitsville. Mr. Bissell died in that year. His financial affairs were found in bad condition, which brought disas- ter to many of those who had purchased their land from him. Some had paid for their lands, received their deeds, and were consequently safe. Others who had not got their lands paid for and received their titles were caught up. . No matter how much they had paid, all fared alike and received a small per centage on their money. The land had to be repurchased or abandoned. It was supposed that had Mr. Bissell lived to settle up his own affairs, the result would have been different. Another cause of discouragement was a series of very rainy seasons, which flooded the low flat lands, and caused them to be unproductive. This caused a bad report to be put into circulation

concerning the town, and many emigrants passed by. Then the War of 1812 came on and many of the men subject to military duty were drafted, or volunteered, and went into the service. There were few left at home ex- cept women and children, old men, cripples and invalids.

A majority of the settlers, however, with- stood their trials, and many of those who had lost their lands made new contracts for them with Mr. Perkins, and were finally successful. The soldiers returned home amid great re- joicings without losing a man, it is said; the rains ceased their profusion, the fields again yielded good crops, and soon every farm had its occupant, and Coitsville was again pro- gressing.

HIGHWAYS.

The first public highway laid out in this township is the east and west road, known as the Mercer and Youngstown road; it was opened in 1802. Soon after that date the Yel- low Creek road leading from Poland village to Hubbard, was opened through the township. In 1827 the Youngstown and Mercer road be- came a post road from New Bedford, Pennsyl- vania, westward. The Coitsville postoffice was first established in that year at the center of the town; William Bissell was appointed postmaster.

MILLS.

The first sawmill in the township was built by Asa Marriner and James Bradford on Dry Run, about a mile northwest of the center. There were five other sawmills built on the same stream at later periods, all of which have long since disappeared, having been replaced by steam sawmills in different parts of the town.

TANNERIES.

The first successful tannery in Coitsville was established by William Stewart and R. W. Shields in 1832, Mr. Stewart becoming sole

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owner by purchase in 1855. The plant was rebuilt in 1875, with the addition of modern machinery and other improvements, by Mr. Stewart and his son, D. C. Stewart.

SCHOOLS.

The first school was taught in a log cabin on the farm of Joseph Beggs, a short dis- tance west of the center, Jeremiah Breaden, afterwards Dr. Breaden, being the first teach- er. The second school organized was in the Harris district, in the northeast portion of the township. It was held in a log cabin erected for that purpose, which was afterwards taken away, a frame house being built on its site. The new one was used for a number of years, but was burned about the time that the union school system came into effect.

In this school, as in many others in early days, the Bible was used as a reading book, the younger scholars reading from the New Testament, while the older ones read in the Old Testament.

Rev. William McGuffey, whose name be- came famous in connection with his excellent series of school books, entitled "McGuffey's Eclectic Readers," and who was long a resi- dent of Coitsville, did a great deal for the cause of common school education in thus pro- viding suitable school books. Though a col- lege graduate and licensed to preach the Gos- pel, he was never settled as pastor over any congregation, but spent his life in promoting the cause of education. He died in Dayton, Ohio, at the age of sixty-five years. Mr. Mc- Guffey's home in Coitsville was on Gravel Hill, which is interesting to geologists as be- ing a remarkable deposit of the glacial period. The present schools of the township are in a sound and flourishing condition. Mr. S. D. L. Jackson, a leading attorney of Youngstown, is now president of the school board, J. S. Palmer being clerk. Quite a number of the advanced scholars who live near the street car lines attend the Rayen high school in Youngs- town, it being more easily accessible to them than the high school of their own township.

CHURCHES.

Among the early settlers of Coitsville was the Rev. William Wick, who afterwards be- came the pastor of the Presbyterian churches at Youngstown, Hopewell and New Bedford, Pennsylvania. Yet, notwithstanding that the religious and moral element had a preponder- ance among the inhabitants of the township, there was no church edifice until 1836. The Methodists had an organized society for a number of years before, but held their meet- ings in barns, private houses and school houses. In 1837 they erected a meeting house on a lot half a mile west of the village, the lot being the gift of Isaac Powers, of Youngs- town. This building was destroyed by fire in 1847. In 1848 a new and handsome church was built on the site of the old one. Rev. Mr. Patterson, of Youngstown, is the present pastor of the M. E. church, the membership of which has fallen off in recent years, owing to the death of many of the older members and the removal of others. The Sunday school, which is in a more flourishing condi- tion, having a roll call of forty-five scholars, is presided over by C. F. Shipton.

PRESBYTERIAN.

The old-school Presbyterians organized a congregation in 1836 and erected a church building at the village. Rev. William Nesbit was their first pastor. In 1870 the old church was torn down, and a new and substantial one erected in its place. The pastors since 1882, with dates of their employment, have been as follows: Rev. Hair, October, 1882; Rev. V. Verner, June, 1886; Rev. Robert Stranahan, September, 1889; Rev. A. D. Collins, March, 1894; Rev. Mr. Foster, June, 1896; Rev. J. U. Harvey, May, 1897; Dr. Evans (supt.), June, 1903; Rev. J. S. Grimes, April, 1904; Rev. A. A. Loomis (present pastor), April, 1905.

A RESIDENCE SUBURB.

Coitsville has no incorporated village. Though formerly well wooded, the trees have

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now largely disappeared. The township has a plentitul supply of clear, pure water, there being many artesian wells and springs, and the water of Dry Run Creek, fed largely by arte- sian wells, being suitable for drinking pur- poses. The East End Park of Youngstown, which follows the course of this creek, over- laps the boundary line and has an entrance in the western part of this township. In recent years Coitsville has become a favorite resi- dence suburb for Youngstown people, which has had a tendency to advance the price of real estate here, and indicates that the future pros- perity of the township is to be found chiefly in enhancing its natural beauty and attractive- ness, rather than in seeking to become a rival of Youngstown as a place of business and manufactures.

ELLSWORTH TOWNSHIP

This township was settled mainly by peo- ple from Connecticut and Pennsylvania. The immigration commenced in 1804. Among the first comers was Captain Joseph Coit, who be- gan making improvements in that year. The family of James Reed, it is said, was the first in the township. His daughter Polly, who married a Mr. Bowman and settled in Goshen township, where she was living in 1882, being then over ninety years of age, said that her father came to Ellsworth from Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, in 1803, and remained during the summer. He made a clearing and raised a crop of corn that year, occupying a camp on the bank of Meander Creek. He had previously made several trips from his home in Pennsylvania to Canfield carrying supplies to the settlers on pack horses. In 1804 he brought his family, and erected a rude log structure for shelter, one side of which was open and used for an entrance. This was oc- cupied until a more substantial house could be erected. Bears and deer were numerous, and the children sometimes found young fawns lying in the bushes near the house.

Mr. Reed resided in Ellsworth not much over a year, selling his farm and removing

to Canfield township, where he died in 1813.

Several other settlements were made about the same time by men who remained but tem- porarily, soon removing to other localities. The second family to arrive in the township was that of Thomas Jones, of Maryland. He be- came a permanent settler, dying in Ellsworth in 1852, at the advanced age of ninety-two. His wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Wil- son, survived her husband in longevity, dying in 1865 at the age of about ninety. They were the parents of fifteen children.

Philip Arner, from Pennsylvania, pur- chased land in Ellsworth in 1803 and built a cabin in 1803. In the following year he brought out his family and settled on land east of the Meander. Hugh Smith, of Maryland, who had made a previous visit, settled on the main branch of the Meander in 1806. He had a family of five sons and three daughters. He died suddenly about 1821.

In 1805 Elisha Palmer and William and Hervey Ripley, with several others, came from Windham County, Connecticut, and began im- proving land west of the center. William Rip- ley served as justice of the peace for many years, was a member of the legislature in 1826 or 1827, and was afterwards state senator. Richard Fitch was another early settler near the center. So was Andrew Fitch, who mar- ried Lucy Manning, and who when quite old returned to Connecticut. John Leonard and family settled near the Meander about 1806, but died at an early date; he left several chil- dren. James Parshall was an early settler in section twenty-four. James McGill and fam- ily in section twelve. David and Philo Spauld- ing came about 1813, David settling about a quarter of a mile west of the center, and Philo in the southwestern part of the township. The latter died in 1876 in his ninetieth year. Other early settlers were, John and Robert Mc- Creary, who settled on section nineteen; Mi- chael Crumrine; William Logan, the first cooper in the township, who died dur- ing the war of 1812: John Bingham, from New London County, Connecticut, who married a daughter of Richard Fitch;

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Asa W. Allen, of Windham, Connecticut, who came to Ellsworth in a one-horse buggy in 1817, and who married Sophia Hopkins. Mr. and Mrs. Allen reared a family of five or more children. In 1864 he removed to Columbiana County.

FIRST EVENTS.

The first child born in Ellsworth was Thomas Jones, Jr., son of the Thomas Jones already mentioned, who came from Maryland in 1806, the child being born in that year. In the same year two other births occurred- those of Jeanette, daughter of Hugh Smith, and Mary L., daughter of Richard Fitch.

The first death was that of a child of Mr. Bell, a miller, who remained in the township but a short time. The second death is thought to have been that of William Logan, which occurred in 1812.

The first marriage was that of Hezekiah Chidester and Lydia Buell, the latter a sister of the wife of Richard Fitch. Mr. Chidester was a resident of Canfield. Richard Fitch was the first captain of a company of cavalry that was organized in 1810 in Boardman, Poland, Canfield and Ellsworth townships.

SOME HISTORICAL FACTS.

March 22, 1810, or eight years after the first white man settled here, the Board of Commissioners of Trumbull County set off a tract of land from the townships of Newton and Canfield, and called it Ellsworth, after a prominent citizen of Connecticut. The land thus set off was five miles wide, north and south, and ten miles from east to west; but eighteen years later the County Commissioners set off the western half and formed Berlin township. April 2, 1810, eleven days after Ellsworth was established, the first township election was held. Just how the voting was done we are not certain, but the electors were all present at 10 A. M. and as soon as the elec- tion was over the officers qualified and took the oath of office. The records do not state where this election was held, but it is presumed that it was held at the residence of Richard

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Century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens, 20th, Part 25

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