Century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens, 20th, Part 27

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 27

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VILLAGES.

Green Village, situated near the center of the township, was first laid out by Lewis Ba- ker, Jacob Wilhelm and Jacob Cook. The postoffice was established in 1831, William Van Horn being the first postmaster. The

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present postmaster at Greenford is William I. Hahn.

Washingtonville was laid out about 1832, the first store being opened in the following year by Jacob Stobbes, who became the first postmaster in 1836. The present postmaster is Joseph Thorpe. The postoffice is situated in Columbiana County, just across the line from Green. Peter Miller was the first black- smith to open a shop.

New Albany was laid out by Wilson Tee- ter and Edwin Webb, the first postoffice being established prior to 1853. The first postmaster was Henry Thulen, who was succeeded by Joshua Webb.

SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES.

At an early date after the settlement of the township a log school house, 20x24 feet in size, was built on a piece of ground situated on the east side of section 20, and donated by Elisha Teeter. Edward Bonsal was the first teacher. Another log school house was built by Henry Pyle on the New Lisbon road in section 10. Samuel McBride and George Pow were the earliest teachers, the former be- ing engaged to teach in 1814. After Mr. Pow's retirement no school was taught there until the district schools were opened in 1827.

West of Green Village was a log church, in which the first school was taught near the center. About 1815 Henry Zimmerman taught school in a log school house in section 34, on land belonging to. Jacob Stofer. An- other log school house was subsequently built on this section, and was taught for a time by William, Rachael and Samuel Schofield.

In 1818 a school was opened at Washing- tonville in a log church built by Michael and Baltzer Roller.

In 1844 there were twelve schools in the township, with ten teachers, with an average daily attendance of 169 males and 131 females, the branches taught being reading, writing, arithmetic, English grammar and geography. The changes since then have been chiefly in the line of improving general conditions, pro- viding a higher class of text books, with more

comfortable school houses and a better system of instruction. There are now twelve teach- ers employed and the schools are well attended and in a flourishing condition.

The Evangelical Lutheran church at Greenford was founded in 1840, the present building being erected in 1884. The first pas- tor was Rev. John H. Huffman, and the church was started with forty-one members. The pastors since 1876 have been as follows : Rev. J. M. Ruthrauff, 1876-80; Rev. S. P. Kiefer, 1880-82; N. W. Lilly, 1882-85; Rev. T. S. Smedley, 1885-90; Rev. A. B. Kast, 1890-92; Rev. J. B. Burgner, 1893-98;

-; Rev. A. K. Felton, 1900-03; Rev. H. M. Nicholson, eighteen months to 1905; Rev. M. L. Wilhelm, eighteen months to 1907; Rev. P. L. Miller, 1907 -. The Sun- day school superintendent is R. R. Zimmer- man.

Green township is essentially a farming community, but has several small manufactur- ingg industries, including a tile works, of which C. C. Pettit is manager ; a planing mill, conducted by M. G. Hoffman; a grist mill, by Fred Mattix; sawmill, V. V. Zimmerman. Coal mining is also carried on to some extent by Bush Brothers.

JACKSON TOWNSHIP

This is an agricultural township and was named after Andrew Jackson, the hero of New Orleans and our seventh president. The sur- face of the township is somewhat broken and uneven. Meander Creek drains the eastern portion, while a number of small streams flow into the creek from the westward. Here and there a stretch of woodland affords a pleasing contrast to the wide-spreading acres of culti- vated land, and contributes to the make-up of a picturesque and varied landscape.

From the historical reminiscences of Mr. D. Anderson and from other sources, we learn that Samuel Calhoun, who died in 1873, was the "first actual settler in this township. Samuel Riddle, John Morrison and William Orr were others who settled very early, and Andrew Gault was the first white child born

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in the township. The township was organized .about the year 1815, and was then called West Austintown, afterwards Jackson."

In the year 1803 there were just six tax- payers in the township-Samuel Calhoun, An- drew Gault, William Orr, James Starnford, Samuel Riddle and Joseph McInrue-the total taxes being $3.07.

The first marriage was probably that of John Ewing and Margaret Orr, in 1805, the ceremony being performed by 'Squire Chid- ester, of Canfield.

The first death was that of Mary, daughter of William and Mary Orr, which took place February 18, 1805, when she was in her four- teenth year.

SCHOOLS.

There was but little interest taken in edu- -cation in early days in Jackson. The first log . school house was a very rude, ramshackle sort . of structure, with a roof of loose boards, weighted down, and a floor or split timber. It was in the southeastern part of the township, on the side of a steep bank. John Fullerton . and a man named Ferguson were, it is thought, the first teachers. In the same neigh- borhood, on a hill northeast of the Covenanter " church, a second log school house was after- wards erected. The name of Matilda Taylor has been preserved as that of the first teacher -of summer school in this part of the township. Mr. Fullerton, above mentioned, seems to have been a practical joker, as there is a story to the effect that he once assisted some of the larger boys of the school in placing a wagon on the roof of the school house, gravely informing ·the owner, who came to him with a wrathful .. complaint of the misconduct of his pupils, that he would do his best to ascertain the au- thors of the outrage and punish them as they deserved.

Other school houses were afterwards built in different parts of the township, all the early " ones being constructed of logs, these later giv- ing way to frame buildings.

About 1840 the settlers began to take more interest in education. Up to this time English

had been taught in the school a part of the time and German the remainder. But about this time English alone was substituted by Samuel Jones, who had been elected school director and who having made a canvass among the settlers, had discovered that nearly all of them were in favor of the change. The township was now divided into eight school districts, with a fractional district in the south- west corner. Competent teachers were en- gaged, and a good attendance of scholars se- cured.

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There are now nine school districts in the township, though only six school buildings are in use, owing to the fact that the board has adopted, so far as possible, a policy of central- ization, conveying three districts to the graded school at North Jackson. Mr. Guy Hoover is the present superintendent, Miss Fern Win- stead, assistant. The other teachers are as fol- lows: District No. I, Miss Emma Klingeman ; No. 2, David Walters; No. 3, Stephen Gold- ner; No. 4 (two rooms), G. S. Hoover and Miss Fern Winstead; No. 5, no school; No. 6, Miss Etta M. Lynn; No. 7, Miss Isa Flick; No. 8 and No. 9, no school in use.

There are no special districts, and no new school house has been erected for the last six- teen years. The total number of scholars now in attendance is 170.

CHURCHES.

The Covenanter church was organized in 1830, in the southeastern part of the township, in the Gault and Ewing settlement. In 1833 a division occurred, which led to the formation of two societies, one locating in Austintown, and the other continuing to worship in the old church for many years.

The Methodist Episcopal society was or- ganized in the same year at the center and is still in existence. Their church, north of the center, was erected in 1840. In 1834 the Ger- man Lutherans and German Presbyterians were organized into a society, and in common erected a house for public worship one-half mile north of the center, which has been refit- ted once or twice since then. The Presbyte-

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rians of Ohlton and Orr's Corners united in one organization, and in 1872 erected a good substantial house for worship a few rods east of the center. The Rev. T. R. McMahon was the first pastor. The pulpit is now filled by the Rev. Charles Wiseman, The other churches in Jackson are the Disciples' church, pastor, Rev. S. H. Bush; Reformed, Rev. Mr. Schaff.

INDUSTRIAL ENTERPRISES.

Among the early merchants were Colwell Porter, who was the first to open a store in a log cabin; Mr. Koons, who sold out to Mr. Graton; David Anderson, who commenced business in 1843 and afterwards sold out to John Cartwright, and Trumbull & Welkins, who had a store on the northwest corner of the center. Anthony & Flaugher began busi- ness on the southwest corner in 1856. Ander- son & Flaugher formed a partnership under the name of D. Anderson & Company and in 1862 the name was changed to Anderson, Shaffer & Company. Welkers sold to Moher- man, Osborn & Lynns. Lynns retiring, the firm became Moherman, Osborn & Moherman, and afterwards William & A. Moherman. They were followed by Dickson & Kirk, who were burned out September, 1874. Folk & Anderson commenced in 1866. Many subse- quent changes have occurred, which lack of space forbids us to chronicle. The leading in- dustrial enterprises of the township at present are, Kirtler Brothers, roller mills, capacity, 100 barrels per day; H. H. Lynn, sawmill, planing mill and feed mill, in connection with an up-to-date lumber yard, with supplies of building material. There are also the usual stores carrying supplies of furniture, farm ma- ·chinery and provisions.

Jackson has also a prosperous Knights of Pythias lodge, which owns its own hall.

MILTON TOWNSHIP

The township of Milton, situated in the northwestern corner of Mahoning County, was settled about the year 1803, in the vicinity of

Pricetown; and also about the same time on the eastern side of the township. Nathaniel Stanley, who settled in the western part, near the Mahoning river, was probably the first actual settler. He remained, however, but a short time, removing north to Newton town- ship. Asa Porter, who came from Pennsyl- vania in 1803, is said to have been the second settler. He located west of the river, and af- terwards went to reside on the farm of his sons, Enoch and Joseph. He brought up a family of twelve children. He was a man of great physical and constitutional strength, and lived to the remarkable age of ninety-six years.

Another settler in the western part of the township, in 1803, was John Vanetten, who came to Milton from Delaware, with his wife and three children, seven others being after- wards born to them here. Mrs. Vanetten's maiden name was Anna Lebar.

Among the other early settlers were Sam- uel Linton, Samuel Bowles, who afterwards removed to Portage County ; Isaac, James and held the office of associate judge; Daniel Jacob Winans, who came from Delaware in 1804; Jesse Holliday, Reuben S. Clarke, who Stewart, who settled south of Orr's Corners; John DeLong, Joseph Depew, James and John Craig, who settled east of the river; John Mc- Kenzie, who came in 1805, and William Par- shall, who settled west of the river and kept a store.

Robert Price, from whom Priceville was named, came in 1817. Robert Rose, a native of Bath, Virginia, born in 1786, came to Ells- worth from Poland township with his father when a youth. He was living in 1881, being then ninety-six years of age, and possessing a remarkable degree of vigor.

INDUSTRIES.

Jesse Holliday, one of the earliest settlers, in 1804, built a grist mill, sawmill and carding mill, selling them twelve years later to John Price.

Afterwards they came into the possession of Robert Price, who operated them for sev- eral years. A flouring mill was built in the

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late thirties by Dr. Jonathan I. Tod, son-in- law of Judge Price, and remained in posses- sion of Dr. Tod and his widow until 1861, when it was purchased by Mr. Calender. Dr. Tod also built a foundry on the west side of the river, which was operated for several years and then converted into a linseed oil manufac- tory. Another foundry erected by the Doctor was changed by Mr. Calender into a flax mill. J. M. Calender established a woolen factory, which was carried on for a number of years. There are now no manufactories in the town- ship. At Blanco there is a general store keqt by Emory Kale. In the southwest part of the township there is a small bank of coal, which supplies the local trade.

ORGANIZATION.

There are no township records of early date in existence. In 1814 John Johnston and Bildad Hine were elected justices of the peace by the joint townships, Newton and Milton. A year or two later Milton became a township and voting precinct by itself.

SCHOOLS.

At an early date there was a log school house east of the river, which was taught by Daniel Depew, an elderly man. John John- ston taught school about 1812 in a log school house that was situated on the center road, three-quarters of a mile west of the Jackson township line. Other early teachers were, Robert White, Margaret Depew, Tillinghast Morey, Nancy Best, Peggy Stevens, Joseph Duer, Gain Robison and Billings O. Plimpton. The last named afterwards became a famous Methodist preacher. The teachers were paid about $4 or $5 a month in summer, and $9 or $10 in winter, a part only in cash and the rest in orders on the store keepers.

There are now six schools in the township, with an attendance of about 100 scholars.

CHURCHES.

A Presbyterian church was organized about 1808 by citizens of Newton and Milton,

and a church erected in Newton near Price's Mills. Rev. James Boyd was the first pastor, and was succeeded by Rev. John Beer, after which the church was "supplied" for a num- ber of years. About 1836 Rev. W. O. Strat- ton became the pastor and during his ministry (in 1847) a new church was built at Orr's Corners, the old one being no longer used. In 1871 many of the members left and joined the new church at Jackson. This weakened the church so that it died a gradual death and is no longer in existence as an organization.

The Methodists organized a society and church about 1812 and held meetings in the school house at Orr's Corners. The pulpit was supplied by circuit preachers, among whom was Dr. Boswick, Rev. Ira Eddy, Rev. B. O. Plimpton and others. Tillinghast Mo- rey, Isaac Mitchell, with the Winans and Vaughns, were prominent members and sup- porters of this church. Mr. Morey's house was a frequent stopping place for Methodist preachers while on their circuits, and services were often held there. The Methodist church is now the only denomination represented in the township. The building is a frame struc- ture located a little west of the center. The congregation numbers about fifty.

The Disciples organized a church about 1830, and held meetings at the Orr's Corners school house. William Hayden and Walter Scott were among their first preachers. Their organization came to an end about 1860 or earlier.

CEMETERIES.

The early settlers were all buried in New- ton, near Price's Mills. There are now two cemeteries - the Vaughn cemetery, situated west of the center, and the Eckis cemetery, in the southeastern part of the township. The old cemetery located in the northwestern part of the township has been abandoned, and is now in ruins.

POLAND TOWNSHIP

Poland was one of the earliest settled por- tions of Mahoning County and by 1810 had a

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considerable population, which consisted largely of emigrants from Pennsylvania. The township has an uneven surface, being deeply cut in the northeastern portion by the Mahon- ing river and in the northwest by Yellow creek, which flows through Poland Village. The soil is deep and fertile and in most places well adapted to farming. Considerable coal and iron ore have been found in the township, and some small veins of coal are still worked, though, owing to the exhaustion of the best mines, that industry is not so flourishing as formerly. Others have taken its place, how- ever, as the busy, prosperous villages of Low- ellville and Struthers fully evidence. An ac- count of the early furnaces may be found in the chapter on the coal and iron industries of the county. An account of some of the most interesting events in the early history of Po- land was contained in a paper read by Mrs. Mary M. Maxwell at the Columbus celebra- tion in Poland October 21, 1892, from which we here quote extensively :

"The first to lay out and take claims in this place was Turhand Kirtland, afterwards known as Judge Kirtland, a surveyor named Woolcott coming with him. These men be- gan work in 1798, remaining here during the warm weather, and returning east in the win- ter, until 1803, when Mr. Kirtland brought out his family and settled on the spot where Isaac Walker now lives. This was done to the great sorrow of his beautiful wife, who declared that if she had to leave her eastern home, she would never return for even a visit, a promise she faithfully kept.

"Mr. Kirtland and Mr. Woolcott had many strange adventures and endured many hardships during the years they spent in the forest surveying, a minute detail of which is found in Mr. Kirtland's diary, now in the pos- session of Hon. C. F. Kirtland, his grandson, and which is very interesting reading. Much of the time they spent far from any habita- tion ; a large beech tree, standing until recently near the home of Charles Kirtland, marking at least one spot where they camped, proof of which was given by the names cut in its smooth bark. They seem, also, to have been 12

often ill from exposure, an example of what they suffered being found in the diary under date of May, 1799, and reading as follows: 'The rain began to fall extremely hard, filling up the swamps and streams. It rained for three days, but we kept on, reaching Burton. after bridging, swimming and wading, being. all one day in the water.' No complaint, how- ever, is ever entered, but on the contrary such notes as this frequently occur after a hard day in a swamp: 'At night we made a tent of bark and slept sweetly.' Indeed, all the pages of this closely written diary are but records of toil, privation and dangers truly painful to read, though not unfrequently an amusing story is told, one being how he fetched, on one of his journeys west, a quantity of money in a box under the seat of his cart, marked 'Bi- bles,' leaving it safely wherever he stopped, no one showing any desire to rob a traveler so pious as to carry Bibles by the quantity.

"The laying out and starting of a town on Yellow creek was a pet idea with Mr. Kirtland and Mr. Jonathan Fowler, in which they were aided by Mr. Woolcott, whose careful survey of 'Town one, Range one,' I find recorded in a beautiful manner in a large book kept with the diary of Mr. Kirtland, the site of our present village being referred to as 'very pleasing.' The name of the young town was a matter of much thought, Poland being chosen as unlikely to be duplicated in other places, thus avoiding the annoyance of missent letters. One of the first acts for the encour- agement of his town was a gift by Mr. Kirt- land of a portion of land 'to be kept for a. church, school and other public purposes,' and for a graveyard.

"May 29, 1799, Jonathan Fowler came from Connecticut on horseback, bringing his wife, a sister of Mr. Kirtland, and their child; also their household goods. The part of the journey from Beaver, then called Mackintosh, was made in a canoe. Until a cabin was built they camped near a spring back of where John Brown now lives, sleeping at night in the hol- low, but friendly, heart of a large tree. In 1804 they left their cabin for the stone tavern, still one of our landmarks, and whose well pre-

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served walls could, were they able, tell many an interesting tale, relating not only to the .early history of Ohio, but more or less con- nected with that of the United States. Mr. Fowler kept a store in part of the stone house, taking in exchange for goods such produce as the scattered settlers could furnish, once a year packing it on horses, or with an ox team, to Beaver Point, where he placed it on a raft .and poled it to New Orleans, then the nearest market, the trip requiring three months' time. At New Orleans the produce was exchanged for sugar, molasses and other needed articles. The nearest mill was also at Beaver Point. While preparing his raft for one of these long journeys, Mr. Fowler was drowned, his last act being an endeavor to save his assist- ants, all of whom escaped. Mr. Fow- ler's daughter, Rachael, was the first white female born in Poland; Ebenezer Struthers being the first white male. Indians were their only neighbors, the nearest white family living eight miles to the west, and a ten-mile swamp separating them from the nearest cabin on the east, some of the logs which later on formed a corduroy road over the swamp having been, this summer, uncov- ered near the home of James Sexton, and be- ing still perfectly sound. This road was sur- veyed in 1802, the one to Youngstown having been cut the year previous.

"Mrs. Fowler was greatly tried by the In- dians, who had never before seen a white babe, asking almost daily for little Rachael, fre- quently carrying her off, and keeping her for hours. She dreaded risking the child out of her sight, also the condition in which its filthy nurses usually returned it, but did not dare re- fuse their request lest they should be made angry.

"Rachael was married in 1820 to Thomas Riley. A good black silk gown had been pre- pared for the event, but at the last moment she concluded to wear the one in which her mother had been married, a thing easily done, as fashions did not then change with each moon. Mr. Riley, being a good tailor, probably wore a suit of his own making, and not those of Mr. Fowler, his wife's father, which consisted

of a fine blue 'swallow tail' cloth coat, with brass buttons, white satin knee breeches, and light blue stockings, the latter still owned by his grandson, Jared Riley.

"Jonathan Fowler saw his wife but once before marriage, their courtship being carried on by letter, the following most dignified epistle being a copy of the last one sent his future wife before their marriage.

" 'Guilford, Conn., October 21, 1799. " 'Madam :- As the time draweth near that we are to be one (God willing), suffer me to call on you once more to examine yourself by yourself, to see if your love to me is such love as will keep you constant to me before all others, in comfortable, or neglectuous circum- stances ; whether you feel yourself able to take the charge with me of a family so as to do yourself honor, and render you my greatest earthly blessing, and the world a useful mem- ber of society. I believe I have carefully con- sidered every particular myself, and hope the world will not censure my actions. But when I consider that there is so much trouble in the marriage state, it almost discourages me to be sure. When I see men of able heads, and I hope of better hearts, err in this, what may not I be left to do in my infirmity? I hope this diffidence in my heart proceeds not from any jealousy of its own by nature, but from desire of doing what is right in the eyes of the Lord, for we are now laying the foundation of our future happiness or misery, and for that reason we must not neglect any part of our duty. We must first consider what is our duty to each other, and what we may reason- ably expect, one from the other, and that is, true, inviolable friendship, which will make us willing to give ourselves to each other, and, if need be, give ourselves one for the other. If this is too much for you to submit to, then let us stop where we are now, and never suffer me to press your breast to mine, for these are the only terms I can agree to.

" 'We have friends, and they may reason- ably expect our friendship. Then don't let us disappoint their expectations, but show them

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and the world at large that we are reasonable creatures, and not made for ourselves alone, but are only instruments in the hands of Prov- idence to distribute his bounty with liberal hand to the distressed whenever they happen to fall in our way.

" 'You may expect to see me next week, if I hear nothing from you, and it is likely that I shall bring some company with me. Re- member my duty to your mother, and all other friends, and accept my best wishes for your- self. These from, Madam, yours, " 'JONATHAN FOWLER.'

"When Mrs. Fowler lived in her cabin near the spring, she each night, after sunset, blew for a long time, a wooden horn, so that any belated travelers hearing it could follow the sound and find shelter with her, instead of spending the long, dark hours as did a man named Kidd, who, while off looking at some land he afterwards bought, was chased up a tree by a bear, near where Chauncey Lee now lives. Horns were blown at intervals all night, with the hope that he would hear, and reach Fowler's cabin. He heard, but could not leave his airy refuge until about nine o'clock the next morning, as the bear patiently watched him until that hour.

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Century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens, 20th, Part 27

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