History of Columbiana County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 37

Author: McCord, William B., b. 1844
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 912

USA > Ohio > Columbiana County > History of Columbiana County, Ohio and representative citizens > Part 37

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J. B. Morgan, born in Leetonia April 6, 1869; read law under C. M. Snyder, Leetonia ; admitted October 5, 1892; solicitor of Lee- tonia, 1903-05.

F. J. Mullins (Carey & Mullins, Salem), born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1857; read law under John B. Jeffries, Wooster, Ohio; ad- mitted in 1880.

W. A. O'Grady was one of the young at- torneys in Wellsville in 1905.

R. H. Perry, born in Columbiana County, July 14, 1875; read under L. T. Farr, Rogers, and graduated LL. B. course, Valparaiso (In- diana) law school; admitted December, 1903.

W. S. Potts, Lisbon; born in Carroll Coun- ty, Ohio, February 9, 1846; read law under Hon. Jonathan H. Wallace and at Ann Arbor (Michigan) law school; admitted. 1873 ; prose- cuting attorney Columbiana County 1875-76.

H. D. Pritchard, born in New Lisbon Sep- tember 26, 1875; read law with Billingsley, Tayler & Clark, and took three years course in Georgetown University, Washington, D. C.

J. J. Purinton, born in Illinois, November 13, 1862; read under Col. H. R. Hill; admit- ted October 6, 1887; city clerk, East Liverpool, 1880-87; president City Council, 1897-98; president sinking fund commission, 1903-05.

A. A. Ramsey, born in Columbiana County August 25, 1852; read law under the Mor- risons, New Lisbon; admitted September 3, 1879.

S. W. Ramsey, Salem; born October 19, 1854, in Columbiana County'; read law with the Morrisons, New Lisbon; admitted Septem- ber, 1879.

J. W. Reilly, Wellsville, born in Akron, Ohio, May 21, 1828; read law under George M. Lee, Wellsville; admitted to bar in 1851; Representative, Lower House of Ohio Legis-

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lature, in 1861-resigning to enter 'United States service in the War of the Rebellion; served as mayor of Wellsville; in 1873 member of Ohio constitutional convention; trustee of the Soldiers' Orphans' Home, located at Xenia, 1876-78.

C. P. Rothwell, East Palestine; born in Columbiana County January 20, 1860; read law with the Morrisons, New Lisbon ; admitted November 1, 1881 ; solicitor of East Palestine for 15 years.

Lodge Riddle, Lisbon; born in Wellsville, June 13, 1869; studied law at Ada University ; admitted June, 1895.

John E. Rogers, born in Columbiana Coun- ty, May 9, 1851 ; read law with H. C. Jones ; admitted in 1878.

Philip M. Smith, born in Yellow Creek township, Columbiana County, in 1852; read law with Judge W. A. Nichols, Lisbon; admit- ted February, 1879; succeeded to practice in Wellsville, of Judge W. G. Wells, when the latter was elected probate judge; prosecuting attorney, 1885-91 ; appointed judge of Com- mon Pleas Court by Governor Mckinley to fill vacancy in 1886, and resigned in 1900 to re- sume the practice of the law in Wellsville.

Alex. G. Smith, born in Yellow Creek town- ship, Columbiana County, January 27, 1856; read law under Philip M. Smith, Wellsville; admitted October, 1882 ; city solicitor of Wells- ville, 1887-93.

Charles S. Speaker, born in New Lisbon; read law with Nichols & Firestone; admitted in November, 1880; mayor of New Lisbon, 1881- 88; prosecuting attorney of county, 1891-97.

, John E. Scott, Salem; born in Indiana, Jan- uary 13, 1870; read law with King & McVey, Youngstown, and S. W. Ramsey, Salem; ad- mitted in 1895.

W. A. Snediker, Wellsville; admitted and practiced law some years, but latterly devoted his attention to savings and loan business.

E. P. Speidel, Hanoverton ; born March 17, 1870;' studied with Potts & Moore, New Lis- bon, and in Ohio State University; admitted June 8, 1893; deputy sheriff in 1903.

W. H. Spence, Lisbon ; born in Columbiana County in 1859; studied at Ann Arbor and

Cincinnati law schools, and with Wallace & Billingsley and J. W. and H. Morrison ; admit- ted in 1882.

A. W. Taylor, Salem; born in Hanover township, December 2, 1861; graduated from Cincinnati Law School May 27, 1885 ; admitted May 28, 1885; city solicitor ; mayor of Salem two terms.

R. G. Thompson, born in East Liverpool in 1873; read law with J. H. Brookes; admitted in March, 1897.

G. Y. Travis, East Liverpool ; born at Den- nison, Ohio, February 12, 1869; read law with A. R. Mackall; graduated Cincinnati Law School, class of 1890; admitted 1890.

John C. Wallace is one of the young attor- neys, a product of East Liverpool, practicing regularly at the Columbiana County bar, as is also W. H. Vodrey.

George S. Walton, born in Salem October 22. 1867; read law at Yale Law School; ad- mitted New Haven, Connecticut, June, 1893, Columbus, Ohio, October, 1893; served as clerk Board of Supervisors of Elections, Col- umbiana County.

W. G. Wells, born in Wellsville, June 3, 1837; read law with Gen. J. W. Reilly; ad- mitted April 3, 1860; mayor of Wellsville, 1860, and again 1872-74; probate judge of county, 1879-85.

F. L. Wells, born in Wellsville, September 17, 1864; read law with Hon. W. G. Wells, New Lisbon; degree of LL. B., Cincinnati Law School, 1888; admitted 1888; city solicitor, Wellsville, 1898-1902.

WV. E. Warren, East Liverpool; born in Columbiana County, March 7, 1865; read law with Charles S. Speaker, New Lisbon; admit- ted June 5, 1890; solicitor of Leetonia 1894- 97, and 1898-1902.

A. J. Williard, Homeworth, born in New Lisbon, February 28, 1848; studied at Ann Arbor Law School, Michigan; admitted in Michigan, February 28, 1883, and at Colum- bus, Ohio, October 2, 1883.

F. A. Witt, Columbiana; born in West- moreland County, Pennsylvania, April 2, 1853 ; read law with George Duncan, Columbiana, admitted August 11, 1874.

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HISTORY OF COLUMBIANA COUNTY

ROSTER OF CIRCUIT, COMMON PLEAS AND PRO- BATE JUDGES.

On the circuit court bench (Seventh Cir- cuit of Ohio) the following Columbiana Coun- ty lawyers have served : Peter A. Laubie, 1885 ; third full term will end 1911; John M. Cook (latterly of Jefferson County), 1901 to 1907.

On the common pleas bench, the following jurists have served Columbiana County : As- sociate judges (old style)-1803-08, Robert Simison, Henry Bauchman, William Smith; 1808-10, George Atterholt, George Brown, William Smith; 1810-17, George Atterholt, Henry Bauchman, William Smith; 1817-25, John J. Bowman, George Brown, William Smith; 1825-32, John J. Bowman, Thomas Creighton, George Endly; 1832-37, John J. Bowman, George McCook, George Endly; 1837-38, John J. Bowman, William Arm- strong, George Endly; 1838-42, Daniel Har-

baugh, William Armstrong, George Endly; 1842-45, Daniel Harbaugh, Jacob Roller, George Endly ; 1845-47, Joshua A. Riddle, Jacob Roller, Samuel Clark; 1847-51, Joshua A. Riddle, John Dellenbaugh, Samuel Clark.

Common pleas judges (under Constitution of 1851)-1852-55, George W. Belden; 1856, John W. Clark; 1857-59, Lyman W. Potter; 1860-61, John W. Church; 1860-67, Jacob A. Ambler; 1875-85, Peter A. Laubie; February, 1885, to October, 1885, Jonathan H. Wallace ; 1885-93, William A. Nichols; 1893-95, Nathan B. Billingsley; 1895-1900, Philip M. Smith; 1900-10, Warren W. Hole.

Probate judges (Columbiana County) -- 1852-53, John Reid; 1854-59, James Martin ; 1860-65, Cornelius Curry ; 1866-71, Solomon J. Firestone ; 1872-77, Simon J. Wisden; 1878- 85, William G. Wells; 1886-91, James G. Moore; 1892-97, Peter C. Young ; 1898-1903, J. C. Boone; 1903-06, James A. Martin.

CHAPTER XVIII.

THE TOWNS AND TOWNSHIPS-I.

Some of Columbiana County's Municipalities-Small Beginnings-Growth and Rapid De -- velopment of Cities, Towns and Hamlets of the County-Something About the Town- ships and Their Early Settlement-Butler, Center, Elkrun, Fairfield, Hanover and Knox Townships-Lisbon the' County Capital

BUTLER TOWNSHIP

Is in the northern range of townships, the sec- ond from the western border of the county. The soil is fertile, the contour of the land pre- senting a rolling aspect. It is well adapted to the cultivation of grain, to grazing and to fruit culture. Among the earliest settlers of the township were William Whinnery, who entered section 27 in 1800 or 1801, and settled with his family in 1806 on the southwest quarter of that section. Mr. Whinnery divided the section among his six sons, Robert, John, Thomas, James, William and Zimri. Dr. J. C. Whin- nery was the son of James, and father of Miss Abby Whinnery, who became a famous vocalist, singing in the leading soprano parts of orato- rios for many years. She was still living in 1905. William Whinnery, son of William Whinnery, settled on the northwest quarter of section 32. Sampson King settled on the south- west quarter of section 31, George Mountz locating on the northeast quarter, while Rich- ard Beck became owner of the northeast quar- ter. Other pioneers of the township were: David Burson and John Johnson, who located in 1803; William and James Randels, in 1806; Isaiah Harris and family of seven, also in 1806; Isaiah Woolf and family and Garrett Campf and family, in 1804 ; and John and Hugh Burns, Jacob Gaunt and Philip .. Irey, in 1805. William

Hereford, John Coppock, Samuel Aaron, Jesse Lynch, Jesse Walton, Obadiah Crew and Jacob Schriver all settled in the township in 1806, and William Kennett, James French, and Dan- iel Burns, between 1810 and 1820. Isaac Test came to Butler when his father, Zaccheus, came to Perry township. Abram Warrington, Jr., came from New Jersey in 1805, lived with his. uncle Abram Warrington in Salem for a short time, and then went to Damascus, stopping the first night with Samuel Morris, who lived on the northeast quarter of section 5, and had been there about a year. Mr. Morris was killed by falling from a tree while hunting a coon in the spring of 1806. Abram Warrington, Jr., bought the Morris place. He married Keziah Woolman on Christmas Day, 1806, in the Friends' Meeting House in Damascus. Theirs was the first marriage in the settlement.

Legislative authority for. the organization of the township was enacted in 1806, but the date of the first election of township officers is not known, as the first and second volumes of the township records are missing. The third volume begins with the records of 1839. Jo- seph Coffee, Jonathan Walton and John Elliott were trustees in 1839-41. -

Damascus, Winona and Valley are villages in the township. Damascus was platted in 1808 by Horton Howard, agent for the owner of the site at the time, a Mr. Hooper. of Eastern

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HISTORY OF COLUMBIANA COUNTY

Pennsylvania. The Mahoning and Columbiana County line now divides the town in almost equal parts. Winona became a post office site in 1868, with James Dean as the first postmas- ter. The village of Valley was established in 1809 by John Emerich.

A very excellent sketch of Damascus, and of the "meeting houses," which were among the chief features of the town, was published in the summer of 1904 by the Daily News, a news- paper published in the then new town of Se- bring, just across the Mahoning County line, from which the following sketch is extracted :

"The village of Damascus lies in the midst of a fertile agricultural community, and con- tains probably 450 people. It has two Friends' churches, the 'Gurney' and the 'Wilber,' be- :

sides the Yearly Meeting House, Methodist Episcopal Church, two large general stores. stove and tin store, agricultural implement depot, meat market, hotel and job printing office, carriage shop and splendid schools, in- cluding an academy under tutorship of the Friends' Church. The town is midway between Sebring and Salem and the line of the Stark Electric Railway traverses along the northern edge of the village. Prior to the building of this road, the nearest railway facilities were at Garfield on the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chi- cago, one and one-half miles north.

"The first meeting house of Friends was erected in 1805, or three years before the vil- lage was platted. It was a small, primitive one. built of logs, but its interior was cozy and it served well the needs of the people and the requirements for which it was built. Its first ministers were Joshua Lynch, of New Jersey, and Catlett Jones, of Virginia. Additions were made to the little church from time to time to accommodate the increasing membership, until in or near the year 1827, a commodious house of brick was built on the same site. This church was blown down during a storm, April 14, 1856, but was rebuilt the same or the follow- ing year, the same being used for religious serv- ices at this day. It is known as the 'Old Brick Meeting House,' and stands just south of the 'site of the large Yearly Meeting House.

"At the time of the regretted division of the

church membership on the matter of discipline in 1854, still remembered by a number of the older church people of the village, there still remained the spirit of brotherly love one with the other, that the one church was used for wor- ship by both factions until after the destroying of the building by wind, as above mentioned, when the Wilbers erected a separate home.

"The Yearly Meeting House, in which the sessions of the big conferences are held, has a seating capacity of 1,000 people and it is esti- mated that there have on several occasions been as many as 1,500 people crowded within its walls. It was first built about 1865, but to-day it much larger, than the original, a third more seating capacity having been added. It was built for any large assemblage of people which occasion of religious worship or moral present- ment might bring together.

The first Yearly Meeting at Damascus was held in either 1864 or 1866. Hitherto these had been held at Mount Pleasant, but since that time the meeting has alternated between the two places. This change was deemed prudent for the encouragement and convenience of mem- bers of the different localities."

The burying-ground in Damascus, situated near the Friends' Meeting House, was the first in the township. Henry Woolf presented five acres of land for burial purposes, situated on the northwest quarter of section 30. A township house was first built in Butler in or, about 1842, in the schoolhouse lot near the center of the township. It was built in connection with the schoolhouse of the district, a partition only separating the two. In 1876 a lot was pur- chased adjoining the first site on the north, and a substantial brick edifice built. In 1905 Curtis Votaw, of Winona, and J. S. Walker, of Da- mascus, were justices of the peace, and Edwin Thomas was township clerk.

CENTER TOWNSHIP AND LISBON.

Township 14 in range 3 was given the name of Center --- because of its central location- upon its organization in 1803. The surface of the township is generally broken into hills and valleys, except in the northern part, where

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the land is rolling and more fertile than in the southern and central portions. The middle fork of Beaver Creek enters the. township from Salem township, near the east line of section 5, and, having a general southeast course, passes out on the south line of section 13. I has a rocky and, for the most part, tortuous course. Traversing almost the entire length of , the township from north to south, near the west line, is Cold Run. A mile above the point where it leaves the township it receives the waters of the west fork of the Beaver, and is known by that name below the junction. There are sev- eral other small streams in the township. These creeks and brooks were important factors in the early days of the county, as they furnished power for many years to the "mills of the pio- neers," which are treated of in another chapter.

It is probable that the first settlement in Center township was that of Lewis Kinney and associates in 1802. Mr. Kinney purchased the present site of Lisbon, and erected a cabin at what in 1905 was the foot of Jefferson street. Christian Smith built a log tavern in 1803, also on the site of the town. Thomas Frederick took up section 12 in 1804. Frederick Bleeker, Andrew Brinker, Jonathan Hamilton, William Paul. Michael Mowry, Harmon Fagan, Jehu Powell, Jacob and Conrad Worman, also came into the township prior to 1808. About this time, also, Gabriel Laird, Frederick Crubaugh, Robert Blackledge, the Branderberrys and George Lee, became residents of the township by settlement. Early settlers also were: The Koffel family, on section 29; Jacob Springer and Peter Glessner, on section 30; Daniel Lin- desmith, on section 31 ; John and James Pol- lock, on section 32; John J. Bowman, on sec- tion 8; Rev. John Stough, who was the father of six sons, all born in the township, and was the first settled minister in the township, lo- cated on section 8 in 1805; Joab Gaskill with his five sons, on section 25.

The records of the township from its organ- ization in 1803 until 1825 are lost. In 1825 the township trustees were: Jacob Watson, John Gaskill and Joshua Chandler. In 1905 the justices of the peace of the township were : Joseph B. Richie, Lodge Riddle and J. M.

Dickinson, all of Lisbon. The township clerk was J. J. Bennett, Lisbon.

February 16, 1803, Lewis Kinney laid out New Lisbon, the plat being acknowledged a short time afterward before Esquire Alexander Edie, of Jefferson County. The lots were num- bered from the northeast corner of the plat, and the first block was set aside for a cemetery. The two blocks on the southeast Mr. Kinney re- served for himself, but in 1805 sold them to John Arter. With a view to securing the county seat, he set aside for the use of the county a number of lots where was later erected the Union school building, but was induced to change the location to what afterwards was made the Public Square and where the Court Houses were built in later years. Many addi- tions were afterward made to the plat of the town. The first buildings erected in the village were of logs. The first postmaster in New Lisbon, says Brant & Fuller's "History of the Upper Ohio Valley," was William Harbaugh, who kept the post office in an old log building on Washington street, where the carriage shops of William Myers were afterwards located. Col. Thomas Rowland succeeded Harbaugh as postmaster and when in 1812 Colonel Row- land entered the service to fight the British, Fisher A. Blocksom presided over the post office in a little brick building on Market street. At that time the mail came in once a week on horseback from Pittsburg to New Lisbon, and was forwarded thence to Cleveland.

Dr. John Thompson was the first physician in the town. He located in 1807. Dr. Horace 'Potter came in about 1808. Dr. George McCcok located in New Lisbon in 1817 and practiced for many years before removing to Pittsburg. The first bank in Columbiana County was the Columbiana Bank of New Lis- bon, under a charter granted by the Ohio Leg- islature. The first meeting for the election of directors was held on the 7th of March, 1814, and Thomas Gillingham, Thomas Moore, James Craig, William Harbaugh, Holland Green, Alex Snodgrass, George Endly, Horace Potter, Martin Helman, Joseph Richardson, John Street, Elderkin Potter, and Gideon Hughes were elected directors, books having

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HISTORY OF COLUMBIANA COUNTY

been previously opened for subscriptions of stock at Steubenville, Pittsburg, Canton, Beaver, Greensburg, Salem, Beaver Mills, Petersburg, Poland, Sandy Store, Fairfield, Yellow Creek and New Lisbon. Martin Hel- man was chosen president of the bank, Elder- kin Potter, cashier, and Fisher A. Blocksom, attorney. A stone building was erected imme- diately, south of the new Court House, which structure was used as a bank for many years .. Owing to the monetary troubles of 1827 the bank ceased to do business. In 1835, however, it was reorganized, Andrew W. Loomis being elected president, and B. W. Snodgrass, cashier. A new two-story banking house was built on the corner, of Beaver and Walnut streets, where William Steel's grocery was afterward located. The directors under the new organization were : Horace Potter, George Graham, George Endly, Charles D. Coffin, William Carey, Joshua Hanna, John Burns, David Begges, David Small, George Garretson, Holland Green and Benjamin Hanna. The First National Bank was organized in 1874, with John McDonald, president; R. B. Pritchard, vice-president, and O. W. Kyle, cashier. In January, 1878, M. J. Child was appointed cashier, Mr. Kyle hav- ing resigned. One morning in October, 1898, the bank closed its doors, the affairs of the in- stitution having become involved. Simulta- neously Cashier Child disappeared, and no trace had been discovered of him up to 1905. Indeed, little, if any, effort seemed ever have to been made to find him. I. B. Cameron was made receiver November 12, 1898, and a little later, he being elected State Treasurer, L. C. Laylin succeeded him, and he, in turn having been elected Secretary of State, was succeeded by Judge J. G. Moore, January 1, 1902. The affairs of the bank had not yet been entirely closed in 1905, although creditors had been paid 73 per cent. In 1879 the Firestone Broth- ers established a private bank, which was still doing business in 1905. The Lisbon Banking Company, also a private institution, was estab- lished in 1900 with former County Auditor George B. Harvey as cashier and manager. It also continued to do business. The People's Savings & Loan Association was organized in

1889, with A. A. Ramsey as secretary and. manager. The association was capitalized at a half million dollars. . The Columbiana County Mutual Fire Insurance Company of New Lis- bon was incorporated in 1837, with John Arm- strong as president and George Endly as treas- urer. The company was still in successful oper- ation in 1905, with William M. Hostetter, sec- retary and treasurer.

LISBON CHURCHES.

The first minister of the Gospel to locate: in New Lisbon was Rev. Clement Vallandig- ham, of the Old School Presbyterian Church. : He came in 1807 and preached to the people. of New Lisbon, continuously, until the year of his death, which was in 1839. His first ser- mons were preached in the old log Court House, and afterward a tent was used for a consider- able time except in inclement weather. The first Presbyterian house of worship was built in 1814. This was replaced in 1841 by a more pretentious building, which served the congre- gation as a house of worship until 1897, when a handsome building which cost approximately $15,000 was dedicated. Rev. Robert H. Pugh was pastor in 1905. The United Presbyterian Church was incorporated in 1859 and a build- ing erected in 1860. Rev. S. F. Herron was the first pastor. Rev. A. Y. Young was pastor in 1905, having been called to the field in 1904.

In August, 1827, the Mahoning Baptist As- sociation met in New Lisbon. One item of business transacted was the choice of Walter Scott, a man of considerable power as an ora- tor, and who was teaching school in Steuben- ville at the time, to be an evangelist to work among the 15 or 20 churches then embraced in the association, which had adopted the name: of Disciples. His preaching was followed by. great results. In 1841 the society built a new house on the site of the old one. In 1875 Rev. William Baxter, in a memorial sermon, said in referring to Elder Walter Scott's preaching and its results: "Nothing has ever occurred' in the history of this town of such importance to the world as the sermons delivered by Walter Scott. Not a single congregation of this body:

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(the Disciples, later still the 'Christian' Church) was in existence when he began his plea in 1827 ; now there are 300 or 400 congre- gations in this State. The echoes of Scott's preaching have gone round the world; myriads of hearts have been gladdened. The teachings of other religious bodies have been modified by the truth which he and his fellow-laborers so ably and earnestly presented." Rev. J. W. Gorrell was the minister in 1905.

In 1826 a brick structure was built by the Methodists on the hill near Market street. In 1838 they erected the building which stood near the site of the new Court House; and in 1888 the congregation built the modern house of worship at the corner of Market and Washing- ton streets, at a cost of $16,000. Rev. Amos A. Brown was the minister in 1905.

In 1813 the Society of Friends began to hold meetings in a dwelling house, and about 1816 a small meeting house was built on Jeffer- son street, which was still standing in 1905. But the existence of the society as an organiza- tion had ceased some years before. The Prot- · estant Episcopalians formed an organization in 1863, and in 1876 a neat chapel was built on Walnut street. Rev. Mr. Spence, a young man, was in 1905 serving the parish as rector, it being still a mission station. The Reformed Church had an organization still in 1905, of which Rev. C. H. Brant was pastor. The A. M. E. denomination, too, had an organization, but no settled pastor. St. George's Catholic Church was joined in parish work with the con- gregation at Dungannon.

SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES OF LISBON.

Hon. H. H. Gregg, in the country's centen- nial year of 1876, prepared an article upon the early schools of Lisbon and of the county for the State school commissioner, some of the main points at least `of which are worthy of being preserved as matters of history. "The lot or square of ground on North Market street, on the hill (in New Lisbon), occupied from the commencement of the town for school pur -. poses," Mr. Gregg says, "was originally a beau-' tiful grove of white-oak saplings or, bushes, in

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History of Columbiana County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 37

Author: McCord, William B., b. 1844 Publication date: 1905 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Biographical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 912

Author: McCord, William B., b. 1844
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 912