Century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens, 20th, Part 28

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 28

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"Mr. and Mrs. John McCully were the first couple married in Poland, the ceremony being performed by Judge Kirtland, the guests coming through dense forests to be present at the wedding.

[The History of Trumbull and Mahoning Counties, published at Cleveland in 1882, gives the first marriage as that of John Blackburn and Nancy Bryan, about 1830, Judge Kirt- land officiating.]

"As a sample of the weddings of that day, I will describe that of Isaac P. Cowden, of Poland, and Anne Gibson, whose home was at the well-known Gibson spring between this place and Youngstown. This wedding took place in 1831, the young man being careful to call himself Isaac P. Cowden, second, to dis- tinguish himself from a cousin bearing the same name. The evening before the wedding, the groom, who lived at what is called Kansas

Corners, took his 'waiter,' as the groomsman was called, and repaired to the home of the bride, where her 'waiter' was in attendance, and spent the evening practicing the ceremony for the next day. Next morning, at an early hour, the guests invited by the groom assem- bled at his home and formed a procession, led by himself and his 'waiter,' and went to the home of the bride, making a point on arriving of riding in great style entirely around the cabin before alighting at the door, where they were received by the bride's friends.

"The whole company stayed until the fol- lowing morning, then accompanied the newly wedded pair to the groom's home, where they had another day and night of feasting. The company were all mounted on horses, the pro- cession being headed by the bride and her gal- lant Isaac, the ride ending with the usual circle around the cabin, though a sister of the bride marred the affair a little by falling from her horse, causing someone to shout, 'thirty-five on horseback and one on the ground,' showing that a large number not only of 'beasts,' as horses were called, but people also attended these festivities.

"Mrs. Esther Gibson Dickson, a sister of the bride, and present at this wedding, says 'it took a great deal of time to get married those times, as three or four days were spent going from house to house feasting, closing Saturday by the 'waiters' spending the night at the bride's home, so as to aid in making an appearance at the meeting next day.

"It was custom, also, for the owners of cabins passed by the wedding procession to fire a salute, so, when Isaac Cowden was taking his new wife home, Peter Webber, who lived where James Brownlee now resides, not seeing the cavalcade in time to get his rifle, seized a pitchfork, and hastening into the path, stopped the whole train by aiming directly at the bridal party, who, intent on themselves, did not no- tice what he held in his hand, and halted at once, lest so near a shot should alarm their lively steeds.

"John Arrel, Sr., and a man named Love. owned a cart and two horses between them; into the former they crowded their household

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goods, their wives and children, and crossed the mountains to this place from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, arriving in 1801, and living in a shanty made of rough logs and covered with chestnut bark.

"Mr. Walter Arrel still owns the original Arrel farm. Stephen Sexton, Sr., came from Washington County, Pennsylvania, also in 1801, purchasing what is still known as the Sexton farm. After clearing and sowing a small piece of land, and partly preparing a cabin, he returned home, the next spring fetch- ing his family, also a solid black walnut door for the cabin, which he carried in the bottom of his cart. This door was in use until re- cently. Its hinges were long pieces of strap iron, fastened on by great spikes clinched quite through the wood. The lock was a famous one, whose key is still kept as a relic.

"Mr. Sexton, David Loveland and Wil- liam Buck came to Poland inside the same the same twelve months, were born within the same year, all lived to be ninety-three years of age, and all died within twelve months of each other. Joseph Sexton, son of Stephen Sexton, lived to be older than his father.

"James McNabb came to Poland from Washington county, Pennsylvania, in 1801, feeling that he was coming to the fartherest west. He brought his family, and all his household goods, on two horses, one bearing a load that would not admit the added weight of a rider, the other having across the saddle a bed-tick opened in the center, one end being filled with bedding, the other having in the bottom a set of shoemaker's tools, over which a board was placed as a seat for three children, whose heads protruded through the opening. On the saddle sat the brave mother holding her babe, and in one hand the head of her large spinning wheel and the flyer of her small one, that being the only way she could carry them and feel sure they were safe. Mr. McNabb walked the whole distance, save when his weary wife begged him to take her seat, and the babe, and let her rest by walking. When they stopped at night they asked the privilege of sleeping on the tavern floor, the pretense of economy giving them the privi-

lege of laying down a quilt into which they had quilted their money, the children laying on the precious article, while the parents slept on either side guarding both.

"Mr. McNabb purchased the farm on which his grandson, James McNabb, now lives, his cabin being near the site of the old furnace, the little caves in the banks of the creek being used as hiding places for the children when the Indians were about, each child having its own cave.

"In 1800, Capt. Dunlap came here, his father having preceded him, and in 1803 he dug for Judge Kirtland the well from which Isaac Walker, a son of one of the early settlers, still refreshes himself.

"In 1802 Jared Kirtland, father of the late Mrs. Dr. Mygatt, built the tavern that so long stood where we now see the pleasant home of Robert Walker. The hostelry was noted for its commodious rooms whose walls and wood- work were all hand-finished very handsomely; for its hospitality and choice liquors. It was also the half-way house between Cleveland and Pittsburg, and often at night the ample yard and large stables were crowded with 'beasts' great six-horse covered wagons and four-horse coaches. The proprietor of this famous house had two daughters who attracted the attention of a rising young physician in Youngstown, then known as 'a small settlement near Po- land.' One day this youth called on Mr. Kirt- land, saying he was looking for a wife and would like one of his daughters, it being quite immaterial to him which one he got. Mr. Kirtland replied that he thought it appeared better for an older sister to marry first, so she being willing, the matter was soon settled, the marriage so strangely arranged proved satis- factory to all concerned.

"The old brick store was another well con- structed and handsomely finished building whose upper floors had large double parlors, dressing rooms, and other conveniences, where the lads and lassies met to dance, and where shows, lectures, and other public meetings were held.

"For many years there lived at Poland Center a man who made splint bottom chairs,

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one set having been ordered by Sally Black- man, who was sent through the forest by her mother on an errand. One of this set of chairs I have owned for several years, it being still in good condition. As long as she lived Miss Sally used for herself the chair on which her mother sat in a wagon, carrying her babe, while the young father walked beside guiding the team as they came to this place from Con- necticut.

"The 'old furnace,' the ruins of which are on the creek below the village, was the first blast furnace in the now noisy and smoky Mahoning valley. This furnace was aban- doned about the year 1835.

"The first blacksmith was a man named Hoadly, whose forge was where the school property now stands, John McCully working with him, having learned his trade at Fort Pitt. These men were often annoyed by wolves howling about their shop at night, and twice James Barclay, a son-in-law of Mr. McCully, was chased by the festive creatures, from whom his fleet horse enabled him to es- cape.

"Dr. Issac Cowden was the first settled physician in this region, living to be very old. Dr. Jared Potter Kirtland also practiced here for a considerable time, afterwards removing to Cleveland, where he died a few years since one of the most extensively known men in the profession in the state, while Drs. Eli Mygatt and Joseph Truesdale are still held in kindly memory, the former practicing here for more than fifty years, and the latter nearly as long.

"Squire Drake's name also appears as one of the early citizens of our famous village, many yellow documents existing to which his signature as justice of the peace is attached, while the late venerable brothers, George and Billious Kirtland, were worthy a high place among scientists.

"The Presbyterian church was organized in 1802 by Rev. Joseph Badger, who was sent to this benighted region by the Connecticut Mis- sionary Society. For sometime previous to his coming there had been a strong desire to have a church organization, so when an evening was set apart for the purpose a little band of men

came to the meeting from a log-rolling, all covered with soot, having worked until too late to go home and 'slick up.'

"Among the first to put their hands on the roll of membership were James Adair, Sr., John McClelland, Josiah Walker, Thomas Mc- Cullough, Robert Smith, Stephen Sexton, Sr., John Hunter, Joseph Porter, David Justice, and others whose names I did not learn,

"The first house for worship was erected in 1804 on the land donated by Mr. Kirtland, near which, in 1828, the white frame church, which preceded the present brick one, was built, it being considered a fine structure, with its three galleries and high pulpit.

"The earnest worshippers came to their first log temple by foot-paths, bridle-paths and corduroy roads, the women wearing homespun gowns (calico cost four dollars for eight yards, the amount needed for a dress), and the men hunting shirts, made of linen and reaching to the knees. Each man carried a rifle, and often a tomahawk, the former being stacked in one corner of the church ready for use should a desirable deer or bear come in sight for food or an undesirable Indian or wolf appear behind some tree.

"Rev. James Wright was the first settled pastor of the Presbyterian church, holding the office in connection with the society at West- field, just over the state line. Mr. Wright lived in what is known as the Rohrbaugh house. He was married three times, two of his wives being buried in the old graveyard in Poland, a few steps from the Presbyterian church; his own grave, and that of his third wife, being near the pulpit in Westfield, where he lived and worked so many years after leav- ing here. He was a good man whose faithful service was rewarded by the princely sum of two hundred dollars a year, his 'steepens,' as his salary was called, being collected by him- self as best he could, he gladly taking pigs, corn, grain, wool, and not unfrequently good, old rye whiskey, the latter being then the chief circulating medium, as well as the chief part of the diet of many respectable persons, as was proven at least once at good father Wright's own home, the occasion being a wood-bee giv-

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en him by his neighbors, at which several be- came so tired and limber as to be unable to do their share of work.

"The Rev. Algernon S. MacMaster, D. D., succeeded Mr. Wright at Westfield, after- wards being pastor of the Presbyterian church here for twenty-four years.

"The old Seceeder church, now the well- known United Presbyterian, was organized in 1804, the first pastor being the Rev. Mr. Doug- lass, a good young man, who died early, and it is to be hoped his heavenly estate was rich in proportion to the meagerness of his earthly one, his personal property being found to con- sist of a saddle, bridle and two barrels of whiskey.

"A few Covenanters were scattered among the early settlers, to whom Rev. George Scott sometimes preached, using the Presbyterian church about eight Sabbaths in the year, that being all the gospel privileges they felt able to pay for.

"A Methodist church was not established here until 1834, at which time a meeting was held in the school-house where the Presby- terian church now stands, and a society formed; Mr. and Mrs. William Logan, Sr., Mrs. Elizabeth Barclay, Herman Blackman, and his sister Sally, being among the first who joined. Services had, however, been previous- ly held in a log school-house at Cook's Corners, and once a camp-meeting was held in Elkana Morse's orchard, at which a great revival took place. Another remarkable revival was held in Josiah Beardsley's barn in Boardman. The upper part of the present Methodist church was the first building erected for public wor- ship by this society, and has been in constant use ever since. The faith and good works of many of the first members of this church, and its hard toiling pastors, are still held in affec- tionate memory, notably one of its earliest ministers-the Rev. Mr. Preston.

"Mrs. Anna Diantha Detcheon, who was one of the first workers in the Methodist so- ciety, says she always felt an interest in her church but did not personally know many of the Poland people in her young days as she

lived out of the village and 'somehow did not get from home much, having the care of four children under five years of age, and spinning the first year after her marriage yarn for seventy yards of woolen cloth, besides linen threads for sheets, towels, and other things, and doing her own housework.'

"The first school-house stood on the spot where the Presbyterian church is now located. The state had then no control of public schools, the 'master,' as the teacher was called, taking a school for a certain sum of money and divid- ing the amount among the families who pat- ronized him, according to the number each sent, lost time sometimes being filled in by per- sons not in regular attendance, John Barclay recalling one young man whose educational ad- vantages consisted of two days' study, obtained in this way. A favorite method of punishing pupils in these schools was to compel them to hold an arm out at full length until it could be held so no longer.

"Mrs. Kirtland allowed the children to come from the old school-house to drink from her famous well, near which she one day emptied a vessel that contained cherry-bounce. The children picked up and ate a quantity of the rich berries, and so did a flock of mother Kirtland's turkeys. The teacher could do noth- ing with his pupils the rest of that day; but the poor turkeys had a bitter lesson, for they soon fell over, apparently stone dead, and Mrs. Kirtland, thinking some fell disease had killed them, thought she would at least save the feathers, so at once plucked them carefully, being greatly surprised an hour or two later to find her birds walking about the yard, call- ing in the sad way peculiar to their kind.

"The first select school in Poland was held over what is now Mr. Koontz's store, by a man named Bradley, who afterwards sold out to Mr. Lynch, the owner, builder and principal of the Academy, now used by Mrs. Gheehan as a dwelling. John Barclay says he hauled stone and mortar on a slip with a horse, for this building, in that way paying for his tui- tion. The masons for whom he worked were John Wishard and Joseph Stacy.

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"When the present Presbyterian church was built the old school-house was removed to where it still stands, next the dwelling of Mr. Stewart, and in the room now used by our Italian friend as a shoe shop, Miss Eliza Blakely, now Mrs. Henry K. Morse, taught the first school for girls, having about twenty pupils, who awarded their teacher the same loving regard offered her by scores of others in after years. B. F. Lee, who did so much for higher education in our village, organized this school, its influence, and that of its successors, being still felt far and wide."

EARLY TAX RATE.

In 1803, Poland paid a tax of $48.24, which was assessed upon the fifty-five property holders of the township. Turhand Kirtland also paid $17.55, and Jared Kirtland, $5.08, leaving an average of about forty-eight cents apiece for the rest of the inhabitants. And this was a larger tax than was paid by any other township in what is now Mahoning county.

MILITIA.

A militia company was enrolled in 1802, with John Struthers as captain, and Robert McCombs as first lieutenant. There were eighty-seven names on the roll. In 1805 the eastern part of the township formed one com- pany and the western another. The two com- panies met at the village for drill, and a shoot- ing contest was arranged between the two best marksmen of each company, the competitors being Tom Clees of the eastern company and one Garner of the western company. No decision was rendered, as each marksman hit the exact center of the target.

POLAND VILLAGE.

The village of Poland, picturesquely situa- ted on Yellow Creek, about the middle of the 'west line of the township, was first known as "Fowler's" taking its name from the tavern of Jonathan Fowler, built in 1804. The vil-

lage was once a trading place of some impor- tance, being in this respect ahead of Youngs- town, the stages to Pittsburg, both from the- north and west passing through it. The build- ing of the canal which passed two and one- half miles from it caused it to suffer a loss of trade, which was proportionately increased later when it was similarly isolated from the railroad. It is, however, a quiet pleasant vil- lage, free from the noise and dirt of the great business centers, with a widely-famed educa tional institution, and a fair proportion of stores, shops, and other industries.

POLAND UNION SEMINARY.

In 1835, Mr. John Lynch, a pupil of Mr. Bradley, erected a building and opened an academy, which was conducted for about ten years, when it was discontinued. For a few years thereafter Poland was without an edu- cational institution devoted to the higher branches of learning. But in 1848 a new academy (referred to in Mrs. Maxwell's ar- ticle already quoted), was founded on the west side of the town by Mr. B. F. Lee, a student. just from Allegheny College, and was opened in the fall of 1849. About the same time, or shortly after, the Presbyterians opened an. academy on the east side of Yellow Creek, which was conducted successfully for about six years until the buildings took fire and were destroyed and the school was afterwards dis- continued.

Mr. Lee's school, which was known as Poland . Institute, was the germ from which sprang the present Poland Union Seminary. After being continued at the same location for about six years, the school was removed to a more commodius building, a three story brick edifice, 60x80 feet, on a near-by site, the man- agement having in view at the time a prospec- tive endowment from the Pittsburg and Erie annual Methodist Episcopal conference. As only a portion of the sum expected was secured by the conference, it never became available and the school became dependent upon the tui- tion fees from students and contributions from

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the citizens. The first building, erected by Mr. Lee, was purchased by Judge Hayden and M. A. King Esq., and used by them for a law school. This school, however, was subse- quently removed to Cleveland.

The "Institute" or college, as it is now called, struggled along until 1862, being kept up only by the earnest efforts of the citizens, and the indefatigable exertions of Mr. Lee, un- til in the year just mentioned the religious denominations of the town united and raised funds for the benefit of the institution, which was at that time chartered as Poland Union Seminary.

In 1871 an effort was made to secure an endowment of $15,000, from the Presbytery of Mahoning county. Mr. Lee was appointed the financial agent of the presbytery, into whose control the school was to pass when $10,000 had been secured. Mr. Lee's canvass was successful and the school passed into the hands of the presbytery, close affiliation, how- ever, being maintained with other religious or- ganizations. Five thousand dollars was sub- sequently added to the endowment by a bequest of Mr. George P. Miller, now deceased. Among the students have been many young men and women who have filled important and responsible positions, including the late Presi- dent William McKinley. Miss Ida M. Tarbell, the well known authoress and magazine writer, was formerly an instructor at the Seminary.

About ten years ago one of the brick par- titions in the old building gave way, rendering the building unsafe. It was therefore razed, and a new two story brick building of smaller dimensions erected on the site of the old build- ing.

Two teachers are employed, with an occa- sional third assistant. The school aims to fit its pupils for college, or to become teachers in the public schools. There are from thirty to fifty students in attendance. The present principal, T. S. Orr, has had charge of the school for several years. Other recent prin- cipals have been H. J. Clark, Rev. William Dickson, D. D., W. B. McCarthy, Walter Houston, and Harvey Gault.

POLAND TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS.

The early schools of Poland were very much the same as those in other parts of the county. A small log school house was started as early as 1801. Another school was started in Struthers at an early date. At Poland Cen- ter there was a small school house, that in early days had an average of about forty scholars. On special occasions, such as singing school or other meetings, it was made to accommodate one hundred. Among the early teachers were Perly Brush, Rev. Mr. Cook and James An- derson.

The present superintendent, M. A. Kimmel, took charge of the public schools of Poland village in April, 1880. At that time there were two teachers employed. A third teacher was added to the force at the beginning of the winter term in 1880. In 1882 and 1883 a four room brick building was constructed at a cost of $10,000, including furniture. In 1884 the schools were graded and a fourth teacher was employed. In 1888 a three years' high school course was added, and a fifth teacher was secured. The attendance is from 125 to 160. The high school numbers from fifteen to twenty students. Fifty-two gradu- ates in all have gone out from the institute. Miss Lizzie McNabb, afterward Mrs. J. R. Stewart, for fourteen years a most successful and beloved teacher, died about ten years ago.

LOWELLVILLE.

Lowellville is a thriving village situated on both sides of the Mahoning river, in Poland township, and with picturesque hills on either hand. It has excellent transportation facilities, both steam and electric, being on the lines of the Pennsylvania Railroad, the Pittsburg & Lake Erie, the Baltimore & Ohio, and the Ma- honing Valley Electric Railway Co. Its growth began at about the time of the completion of the Pennsylvania and Ohio canal, and was much accelerated by the mining of coal, and by the erection of the Lowellville furnace by Wilk- inson, Wilkes & Co. in 1846. The village had

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22I

been laid out about ten years previously by Mr. Wick and others. In 1840 the postoffice was established, with S. H. McBride as the first postmaster.

John McGill built the first gristmill in the place, and Robert McGill was proprietor of the first sawmill. A larger gristmill was erected in 1838 by William Watson and John S. Hun- ter, and was operated by them until 1866, when is passed into other hands. The Hope flourmill was established by James Brown about 1857 and after his death came into pos- session of and was conducted by his heirs. A tannery was started by Wilson and Crawford about 1844, and was rebuilt two years later by William Moore, who carried on the business until 1874, after which it went out of opera- tion.

The Mt. Nebo coal mine was opened about 1828 by Elijah Stevenson, and subsequently passed through various hands, at one time be- ing extensively worked by the Lowellville Fur- nace Company to obtain coal for use in their iron works. It was finally abandoned because the water became too deep for successful oper- ations. Other mines have been successfully worked at different times in the history of the village.

The Lowell Coal Mining Company, em- ploying about thirty-five men, are now en- gaged in the mining of block coal, their output being about seventy tons per day. Jacob Stambaugh is president and C. N. Clingen sec- retary and treasurer.

The Meehan Boiler and Construction Company was organized in 1897 by Robert Gray, Patrick, Paul, and James Meehan, and John Meehan, a nephew of the other three Meehans. The business, which is incorporated with a capital stock of $50,000 was at first a partnership, and was known as the Meehan Boiler Co. The five partners purchased the present site of their factory, upon which stood an old sawmill, which they also purchased to- gether with the creamery which stood on the adjacent lot. They at first employed about 25 or 30 men, which number has since been in- creased to 200. Their principal output is the

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Century history of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Ohio, and representative citizens, 20th, Part 28

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