History of Columbiana County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 39

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 39

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Application for the formation of a church organization for Columbiana was made to the Presbytery of New Lisbon in May. 1865. Ac- cordingly the church was organized May 13. 1865, with 13 members. In July. William C. Faulkner, a licentiate, began his ministry with

the church. The first meetings were held in School Hall, but in 1867 a frame building was erected by Hiram Bell for the society. Rev. J. F. Kirkbride was pastor of the church in 1905.

, In 1834 a small meeting house was built on the Petersburg road, in the edge of Colum- biana, which was intended primarily for the Methodists, but was to be free for other de- nominations when not occupied by the former. This house was used until 1859, when the brick building on the lower part of Main street was erected by the denomination. In 1873 a par- sonage was built on the lot adjoining on the south, and in 1900 an addition to the church was built. In 1905 the pastor of the church was Rev. A. M. Carr, D. D.

A temporary organization of the Disciples faith was effected December 29, 1876. Meet- ings were thereafter held in School Hall, and in January, 1878, a hall on Main street was fitted up by the society as a place of worship. The society afterward adopted the name of the Christian Church of Columbiana. The removal of a number of the members to other points brought about the abandonment of the organi- zation before the close of the century. How- ever, about 1898, a new organization was effected and a comfortable frame structure for a place of worship was built. In 1905 the con- gregation had no pastor.

Methodist meetings were held in East Fair- field as early as 1835. An organization was formed a few years later. About 1842 a small house of worship was built, which in 1876 was replaced by a larger and more presentable edifice.

About 1825 a society was organized at East Fairfield, which assumed the name of "Primitive Christians" and worshiped accord- ing to the forms of that body for several years. They built a meeting house on a lot which later formed a part of the cemetery. In February, 1828. ministers of the Disciples Church held a series of meetings which resulted in many conversions, and in the adoption by the society of the tenets of the Disciples. The old meeting house was used until 1851, when a neat brick edifice was built.

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A little earlier than 1840 a meeting house was built of logs on the farm of Elias Holo- way, on section 29, which was at one time oc- cupied by a flourishing congregation. It was known as the Bethel Methodist Episcopal Church. The congregation disbanded prior to 1860.

In 1835 the people of the western part of the township built a small meeting house, in which a society of Bible Christians and others worshiped, the latter belonging chiefly to the' "Church of God." In about 10 years this home was removed to section 20, three-quarters of a mile northeast of its original location. Then the title to the new property was vested in Sam- uel Ney, David Galbraith and Samuel Hea- ton and their successors, as trustees, "To be free to all sons and daughters of Adam."

The Mennonite denomination built a log house of worship, near the west line of section 7, Fairfield township, about 1828, for the use of people of their faith in that township and of Beaver township, Mahoning County. The log building was replaced in 1873 by an unpre- tentious structure of brick. In 1905 it still oc- cupied a beautiful knoll surrounded by stately forest trees.

VILLAGES AND HAMLETS OF FAIRFIELD TOWN- SHIP.

Middleton was originally platted by Wil- liam Heald soon after the settlement of the township, to embrace the southeast corner of section 23. It was always well supplied with churches and schools, with a few shops for mechanical industries in a small way, and with several stores at different times. In 1905 the population was less than 200. The inhabitants generally engaged in fruit culture.

East Fairfield was laid out in 1803, on the southeast quarter of section 36. It is the oldest village in the township; but never having had a railroad it was outstripped by its neighbors with less natural advantages. It contained a good school house, two churches and a public hall, with a population of nearly 300. The postoffice is one of the oldest in the county. The village was on the old stage route, and

was supplied with mail earlier than 1809. The first permanently located physician was Gus- tavus Allen. The father of William Mckinley was in the foundry business in East Fairfield before 1850.

HANOVER TOWNSHIP AND ITS HAMLETS.

Hanover township is No. 15 .in range 4, and is six miles square as originally laid out. The surface of the country is slightly undulating and is well adapted to agricultural purposes. The townships of Hanover, Knox, Butler and West form a portion of the "divide" between the waters of the Erie and the Ohio River. The west fork of Little Beaver Creek flows through the township, southward along the eastern border, emerging at section 25. In' 1806 William Winder located upon a portion of section 33. William Rhodes settled on sec- tion 32, Samuel Reeder on section 33, and just east of him Benjamin Stackhouse. Stephen McBride settled in 1805 or 1806 in what was later Kensington, near where later the Friends' Meeting House stood, which Mr. McBride was chiefly instrumental in erecting. In 1805 John Sinclair and Frederick Bayard (who was a great hunter) entered the northeast quarter of section 20. Enos Ellis and James Craig were early settlers of Hanoverton-in 1806 and 1807. Edward Carroll settled in Han- over township shortly after 1804, on the north- west quarter of section I. Thomas Griswold, a Friend preacher, located in 1806 on the place afterward occupied by Francis Blythe. His son Joseph was a justice of the peace for a long time. John Farmer and his grandfather, Joseph Jones, Quakers from Georgia, ancestors of James Farmer, who was prominent in the industrial development in Salineville, settled near New Garden in 1804, and in 1812 or 1814 removed to Salineville. Michael Arter re- moved from New Lisbon to Hanoverton in 1817 and there continued to live until his death in 1879. Mr. Arter was conspicuous early in life for the earnest stand he took as a supporter of the anti-slavery doctrine, and gave freely of his time and means in assisting fugitive slaves from the South on their way to Canada

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through Hanover village which was a station on the "Underground Railroad." James Waugh kept tavern in 1815 on the old State road where later was located the village of New Garden. His tavern consisted of two log cab- ins, one on either side of the road, and beside them at that time there were but two other cabins upon the site of New Garden. Samuel Reeder settled in the township in 1806 and Charles Petit in 1808. The latter, for years operated a shop wherein was manufactured fanning-mills, coffins and window-sash. Among the early settlers in the eastern part of the town- ship were Amos Frost, who, about 1807, located on section 34; Nicholas Miller, on the same sec- tion, and Isaiah Williams, on section 13. Ben- jamin Saunders settled on section 9. Robert Burton, who settled in the western part of the township in 1806, was the first justice of the peace. Joseph Figley, one of the early settlers in Wayne township, moved afterwards to Han- over. Levi Miller settled in 1810 on two quar- ters in sections 29 and 32, entered by Mahlon Haines. Miller sold to Samuel Holland, from whom the property descended to Samuel M. Holland, the original proprietor of Kensington village.

Hanover township was organized in 1806, Hanover village (long known as Hanoverton P. O.) was laid out in May, 1813, by James Craig. Craig organized a stock company, or co-operative store, and obtained an appoint- ment as postmaster. Among the early stores were those kept by George Sloan and Charles Pope. "Pope," says an old history, "committed suicide one day, but nobody ever learned why." In 1834, when the Sandy and Beaver Canal was projected to pass through Hanover town- ship, near Hanoverton, there was a general awakening and "brushing up" among the busi- ness men. Michael Arter, George Brown and Horace Potter purchased land along the pro- posed canal at the village, and laid an addition upon what was later Canal street, which after- ward became the business portion of the vil- lage, Properties were improved and everything seemed favorable for a prosperous future for Hanoverton. The canal project, however, re- ceived a backset in the panic of 1837, and the

business projects of Hanoverton received a check, to be revived, however, in 1845, when the canal project seemed to be approaching realization. David Arter and Perry Nicholas built a great warehouse, which was still stand- ing, opposite the Mansion House, in 1905, and J. R. and A. R. Arter a larger one, which was still occupied as a business place in the early years of the new century. For a brief time business was good in Hanoverton in the buying and shipping of produce, but the canal failing in 1847, Hanoverton's bright prospects also came to an end, and the town has since been moving along quietly, and enjoying a moderate degree of prosperity.

Hanover village was incorporated in 1836, Michael Arter being the first mayor and John Alexander, the first recorder. The population in 1900 was 399. In 1905 A. V. Johnson was mayor and C. H. Swearingen, clerk.

Gillford was another of the "boom" vil- lages of Hanover township, boomed as a result of the Sandy and Beaver Canal project. In 1835, upon the projection of the canal, a part of whose chosen course was to pass through section 12, Hanover township, Dr. George McCook, J. G. Willard and Jacob Schreiber purchased the northeast quarter of section 12 and laid out a town, advertising an auction sale of town lots. About the same time Samuel Fugit and John Hanna laid out lots on the southeast quarter; and on the day of sale about 3,000 people from Ohio, Penn- sylvania and Virginia, with some from more remote States, were present and ready to bid for these choice properties. Excitement ran high, for everybody thought Gillford was destined to be a great city. Consequently the lots sold at fancy prices. Meanwhile work on the canal was being pushed. Houses were built and stores and hotels opened up. The town was named in honor of Gill, the engineer in charge of the canal work. At the first sale 150 lots were sold, some bringing sums as high as $250. After the canal bubble had burst, many of these lots were sold for fifty cents to one dollar each. Samuel Boots sold his farm, bought a lot in Gillford and put up a big tav- ern, in which for a couple of years he did a

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great business. The town was incorporated in 1836, with a population of 400 or 500. The first officials were: Thomas Brandon, mayor, and William Torrance, clerk. The next mayor was Joseph Louthan, in 1837, in which year the golden prospects of the town took to them- selves wings. As a municipality its existence was of very short duration. In 1845, when the revival of the canal scheme gave to the hamlet some promise of the final fruition of its earlier hopes, there was a temporary awaken- ing, but it was never a brisk one; and after the final collapse of the canal Gillford lapsed into the importance of a rural village, which it ever afterwards maintained.

The village of New Garden was laid out in 1810, and an addition was made to it in 1832. It has always been a quiet though reasonably prosperous hamlet, situated as it is in a rich farming section. James Graham was a pros- perous merchant and the postmaster. for 40 years. E. K. Liber had a carriage manufac- tory and Charles Liber conducted a small foundry.

George Sloan purchased 20 acres on sec- tion 35, and in 1838 laid out Dungannon, call- ing it for his native land in Ireland. The pro- jectors of the town shared with those of Han- overton and Gillford their bright expectations based upon the canal project, and like them of course' were doomed to disappointment. Many of the inhabitants of the village, with those of the immediate neighborhood, were Catholics, and a church of their faith has been maintained there,

The village of Kensington was laid out in 1852 upon the building of the Cleveland & Pittsburg Railroad, being first called Mayville, as a tribute to Samuel May Holland, who had owned the village site. The name Kensington was adopted in 1876. The first station agent was Jacob Dutton, who opened the first store. Oliver Miller was for many years station agent. B. C. Battin kept a hotel for about 25 years in the town.

THE CHURCHES OF HANOVER TOWNSHIP.

The Methodist Episcopal Church at Han- Overton was organized in 1834. It was at-

tached originally to the New Lisbon circuit. The first church building was erected in 1837, preaching having originally been held in the Disciples Church. The building was demol- ished June 30, 1876, by a wind storm, but was at once rebuilt.

The Methodist Episcopal Church at New Garden was organized in 1840. Public wor- ship was held in the village schoolhouse until 1841, when a frame church was erected. Rob- ert Dennis donated the land for the church. The Methodist Episcopal Church at Gillford was also organized in 1840. In 1846 J. P. Conly donated a lot upon which the church was built.

The Disciples Church at Hanoverton traces its origin back to 1820, when the Christian Church was organized there. The first house of worship was a log cabin just south of Han- over village. In 1830 the congregation was reorganized as the Disciples Church. An addi- tion to the church was built, and that house served until 1859, when a new building was completed. The Disciples Church at New Gar- den was organized in 1842, as a branch of the church at Hanoverton. A frame house was built, but in 1856 the branch returned to its parent stem at Hanoverton.

About 1810 John Stauzh, a German Luth- eran minister, gathered together a band of wor- shipers from the German Lutheran settlements in Center and Hanover townships, and he was engaged to preach for them. In 1813 he or- ganized St. Martin's Lutheran Church, and shortly after a log church was built. Rev. Mr. Stauzh preached several years without .com- pensation. With small remuneration he served the society until 1847. A brick church was built in 1847, and in 1876 a frame structure took its place.

St. Philip's Catholic Church was organized- at Dungannon in 1814. In 1827 a church was built near the site of the Catholic graveyard. In 1847, the majority of the members living at Dungannon, a location was obtained in the town and a large brick building was erected at a cost of about $15,000.

The first church built in Hanover town- ship was a log meeting house built by the So-

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ciety of Friends, east of New Garden, about 1806. In 1840 the log church was replaced by a commodious structure. Soon the Friends began to move away, the church was aban- doned and, in 1859, the structure was demol- ished. About the date of the building of the church at New Garden, the Friends living near Hanover erected a log meeting house. At that time this was the only church in the neighbor- hood. In 1872 they replaced the log house with a brick structure. The services of the New Garden Meeting of Friends were trans- ferred to Winona in 1839, they having been held in Hanover township prior to that time.

The First Presbyterian Church of Han- overton was organized about 1830 by Rev. James Robertson, a minister somewhat noted in Columbiana County for his success in organ- izing churches. A frame church had been built in anticipation of the organization. Rev. Mr. Robertson was the first pastor, and served until 1846, when he organized a Free Presbyterian Church at Hanoverton, and became the pastor. In 1841 the frame church building was re- placed by a brick structure. In 1846 the church developed factions on the question of slavery, a portion of the congregation going with Rev. Mr. Robertson to the Free Presbyterian Church.

Probably the first burying ground laid out in Hanover township was the one at the Friends Meeting House near Hanoverton. William Craig is supposed to have been the first person buried there. He died about 1808. Although the ground was laid out by the Friends, it was free for public use, and many persons from a distance conveyed their friends thither for burial. There is an old burying ground, also, near New Garden. That, too, was laid out by the Friends, near their. meeting house; and, although the Friends have passed out of the township, and their meeting house, too, is gone, the graveyard still remains, being still free to all denominations and the public gen- erally.

THE TOWNSHIP OF KNOX.

Knox township is the northwest corner township of Columbiana County. It is slightly

rolling as to its topography, and is drained by the Mahoning River and its tributaries. At an early day the land was largely taken up by speculators, who, however, disposed of their holdings in many cases to actual settlers at rea- sonable figures. The first permanent settler of the township was John Thomas, who came from Pennsylvania. He entered sections 27, 28 and 29, in 1804. Jacob Shaffer also set- tled in Knox in 1804. During the Sunday morning services, June 2, 1822, on the banks of the Sandy, Mrs. Shaffer and her infant child were killed by a falling tree. Daniel White- leather, living at the close of the century at North Georgetown, is one of a family of eight children, sons and daughters of Andrew White- leather. This family, all grown, settled in the township in 1807. Parmenas Lamborn set- tled on section 13 in 1814. John Weaver, Jr., from Bedford County, Pennsylvania, settled on section 35 in 1819. John Weaver, the father of John Weaver, Jr., settled on section 36 in 1822. In 1821 Cornelius Sheehan of Lan- caster County, Pennsylvania, settled on section 32. In his family were 10 children-five sons and five daughters. James Johnson entered a quarter of section 17 in 1823. James Beer, a pensioner of the War of 1812, settled in Wayne township in 1805, and in 1830 removed to Knox, bringing a wife and family. Rev. Joshua Beer, son of the pioneer James Beer, had settled in Knox in 1825, leaving, in Port- age County, whence he came, a family of grown sons and daughters. Rev. Mr. Beer had preached in Knox as early as 1818. While preaching in the Middle Sandy Presbyterian Church, he was taken suddenly ill, and died a few days afterward. Christian Dellenbaugh .settled in Knox township in 1824. Dr. Dellen- baugh, a son of Christian, began the practice of medicine at North Georgetown, continuing 28 years. Daniel Burton, a native of Burlington County, New Jersey, bought lands from the government, comprising a part of section 9, receiving a grant therefor, bearing the signa- ture of President John Adams. He settled on the land in 1826. Samuel Hoffman, a pio- neer of Salem township, settled on section 21 in 1829. John, the oldest son living of a fam-

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ily of eight children, still resided on the home farm in Knox township a few years before the close of the century. George M. Bowman set- tled on section 23 in 1832. John Kuntz, of Union County, Pennsylvania, with his wife and son Robert, settled in North Georgetown in 1836. Benjamin Anderson entered land in section 30. He died in 1875. Among the early settlers of the township also were Jacob Stoffer, Henry Keister, Daniel Shiveley, George and Adam Wolf, George and John Mountz, Stophel Miller, Obadiah Crew, Thomas Stan- ley,. Pleasant Cobbs and Adam and Michael Falor. James McLaughlin, an old Revolution- ary soldier, who had served under the im- mediate command of General Washington, came to Columbiana County from Northum- berland County, Pennsylvania, and settled near the village of Calcutta, St. Clair township, in the year 1797. In 1830 he removed to Knox township and settled on section 18. There he resided a few years and then removed to Wayne township where he died about 1834, in his gIst year.

Knox township was organized June 14, 1808. Jacob Crumbacher and Benjamin An- derson were the first trustees.

North Georgetown occupies a pleasant, ele- vated site, and has a population of about 200. It is located on sections 24 and 25, and was laid out in 1830. The village was platted by John Whiteleather and George Stiger. The first building erected on the site was a log house, built by John Weaver in 1828. In 1833 a hotel was opened by Jacob Ritter, who kept it in operation several years. George Wolf, Alex- ander Crump, David Eckstine, David Summers, and Samuel Sturgeon, respectively, succeeded to the proprietorship of the house. At the death of Mr. Sturgeon, the house was aban- doned as a hotel. Another hotel was started in 1874 by Jacob Kuntz.

Homeworth, a thriving little town on, the line of the Cleveland & Pittsburg Railroad, was laid out August 28, 1851, under the pro- prietorship of Jonas Ruff, Samuel Fox and Jacob Williams. While there had been a clus- ter of buildings on the site of Homeworth as early as 1840, yet the town really owes its

existence to the Cleveland & Pittsburg Rail- road. The postoffice prior to 1869 was known as "Sandy Postoffice." The first hotel was built by Jonas Ruff in 1852. Over the door of the house for several years was displayed the words, "Call and see Jonas Ruff." Reuben Shidler succeeded Ruff in 1863. In 1871 P. W. Taylor bought the property and continued the hotel in connection with his duties as post- master. The development of the Homeworth oil field, told of elsewhere in this work, in 1904- 05, gave the town something of a boom. Prior to 1880 for about 25 years, the Home- worth Agricultural Works did a large busi- ness in the manufacture of grain drills, corn shellers and various other agricultural imple- ments.

Reading, a small and practically extinct hamlet, situated midway between North Georgetown and 'Homeworth, was platted about the year 1840, when a little cluster of houses was built. It was expected by some that this would be the center of trade for the town- ship. The hamlet never extended beyond the limits of its original 40 acres.

The first regular divine service held in Knox township was in the summer of 1816, Rev. Robert Semple, of the Hartford (Connecti- cut) Presbytery, officiating. The service was held in the woods near the site later occupied by the Middle Sandy Presbyterian Church. November 10, 1821, the church was organized by Rev. John Core, of the same presbytery. The first house of worship was built about 1825, and the structure still in use in 1905 was built in 1853.

The early meetings of the German Baptist Church society were held in log houses as early as 1810 -- but they were of an informal char- acter. . These house to house meetings were continued until 1860, when a house of worship ivas erected on section 27. In 1878 the church building was enlarged and remodeled. This is the largest church edifice in the township, and will seat 600 persons.

The. Disciples or Christians of Knox town- ship held informal services as early as 1830. In 1866 the society purchased the schoolhouse on section 10, and removed it to lands of Dan-

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iel Borton, on section 9, where they continued to worship.

Bethel Church (German Reformed) was organized about 1830. Jacob Cronig and Ja- cob Miller in 1838 donated a site for a church on section 15, where a house was built. The original structure was replaced by a larger one in 1860.

In 1830 a house of worship was built on the hill east of Georgetown, to be occupied in common by the German Reformed and Evan- gelical Lutheran societies. A discussion aris- ing as to the form of service to be used. whether English or German, resulted in the withdrawal of those who preferred the English. These 16

organized the Evangelical Lutheran Church in 1861.

A Methodist Episcopal society was organ- ized about 1840, which some time subsequently built a church edifice on the hill east of Home- worth.

The first school in Knox township was opened in a log cabin by Samuel Thomas. on section 29, in the year 1806. In 1826 the town- ship contained four school districts. In 1852 the township was divided into it districts, which number was afterwards increased to 12. The districts were all provided with good and comfortable buildings.

CHAPTER XIX.

THE TOWNS AND TOWNSHIPS-II.

East Liverpool, the County's Metropolis-Madison Township and the "Scotch Settle- ment"-Middleton, St. Clair, Franklin and West Townships-A Quintette of Thrifty, Rural Communities.

EAST LIVERPOOL AND LIVERPOOL TOWNSHIP.

"Fawcettstown" settled by Thomas Fawcett. 1798

Laid out as "St. Clair," 1802

First tavern opened. 1809

Post office established 1810

Town renamed Liverpool. 1816

First school house 1820

First steam sawmill. 1830

Incorporated as East Liverpool. 1834

Township of Liverpool organized. 1834 First church building. 1834

Sandy and Beaver Canal begun 1834

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History of Columbiana County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 39

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