History of Columbiana County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 45

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 45

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

WV. D. Sexton. DeCosta Pomerene, B. F. Boyle, W. F. McCauley (stated supply ) and W. L. Swan, who was installed in March, 1903, and was still the pastor in 1905. The following persons composed the session of the church in 1905: Hiram Taylor, Mason Beau- mont, C. W. Harris, G. A. Bayerd, George Cooper, E. T. Cope, B. F. Stanton and W. S. Arbaugh. The membership of the church numbered in 1905 a little over 500.

The beginning from which ensued the or- ganization of a Baptist Church in Salem was the recording of a deed from John Straughan and his wife Mary, dated November 10, 1809, conveying lots 55 and 56 on the corner of what were afterwards Depot and Race streets, in Salem, for the sum of $14, to David Gaskell, Sr., Joseph Willets and Joseph White, as trus- tees of the regular Baptist Church. As nearly as can be ascertained the early members were : David Gaskill, Sr. and wife, Jacob Gaskell, Mr. Ogle, Joseph Wright and wife, John Spencer and wife, Clarissa McConner and Mary Straughan. A small log church was built on the property. In 1820 a small brick house was built on the same lots. On Novem- ber 23rd an organization was effected with 40 members, and November 6, 1824, a church constitution was adopted. Thomas Miller was the first regular pastor, and was succeeded by Revs. Jehu Brown, David Rigdon, Rogers, Freeman, Williams, Blake, Matthias, Suman, Phillips, Stone, Morris, Green, Justus, Ask, Thomas P. Child, B. F. Bowen, T. J. Lamb, John Hawker, P. J. Ward, A. S. Moore, C. H. Pendleton, G. W. Rigler, R. K. Eccles, C. W. Fletcher, A. B. Whitney, Ross Matthews and Herman Lang-Mr. Lang being pastor in 1905.

The frame building afterward known as the "Broad Gauge Church" was erected in 1836. At a meeting held February 2, 1867, it was resolved that all books, papers and property be turned over to a new Baptist Church, which was organized February 12, 1867. Forty-two members then joined the Baptist Church of Salem, and the old church disbanded.

The Second Baptist Church of Salem was constituted November 8, 1840, as a result of

322

HISTORY OF COLUMBIANA COUNTY

dissensions in the First Church over the ques- tions of slavery and temperance. December 12, 1840, the trustees purchased, from the Meth- odists, a house on Green street. The pastors of this society were: Revs. Morris, Willard, Green and Kirk. The church disbanded in 1867, in order to unite with the members of the First Church in forming the "Baptist Church of Salem," as already related. Forty-two members from the First and 17 from the Sec- ond joined in this reunion movement. In 1869 the large and well-appointed edifice at the cor- ner of Main street and Lincoln avenue was built at a cost of about $10,000.

In 1900 the Bethany Baptist Church of Sa- lem was organized by a faction of the member- ship, which had withdrawn from the regular Baptist Church. Services were held in the Gurney Block for almost three years, when a frame building on Ohio avenue was bought and transformed into a house of worship. Rev. James Lister was pastor.

The first Episcopal church service held in Salem was on April 19, 1817, in a log school- house, which stood on Main street near the site of the City Hall. It was conducted by Rev. Philander Chase. Transient services were "held at long intervals until 1859, when, on March 14th of that year, the Church of Our Saviour was organized. A vestry was elected, consisting of Thomas Read. S. W. Whitney, S. D. Hawley, Allan Boyle. E. Smith and Robert and E. Turner. Rev. Mr. Hollis was the first rector ; his successors have been : Revs. H. H. Morrell, A. T. McMurphy, Ephraim Watt, C. L. Pinder, F. E. McManus, E. L. Wells, Guthrie Pitblado and (in 1904-05) O. A. Simpson. A school building and then rooms in a business block were occupied by the con- gregation until 1889, when the handsome stone edifice on Mckinley avenue was completed. The vestrymen in 1905 were: C. T. Steiner. senior warden; Robert Curtis, junior warden : F. J. Mullins, William L. Deming. Lewis brereton, I. E. Callen and Claude Taylor. The membership of the church was 120.

The Christian or Disciples Church of Sa- lem was organized March 15, 1859. Prior to that time occasional services were held here by

William Schooley, Amos Allerton, Walter Scott, John Henry, J. J. Moss, T. J. Newcomb and others. The building which occupied a site in the rear of the church edifice afterward built on Ellsworth avenue, and owned by the Methodist Episcopal congregation, was pur- chased from the Methodists and occupied until the new church was built and dedicated in 1881. This building cost originally about $13,000, and in 1893 it was enlarged and im- proved at a cost of $7,000. The pastors since 1859 have been: Revs. Theobald Miller, Ster- ling McBride, S. B. Teegarden, J. W. Lamp- hear, E. B. Cake, J. H. Jones, W. H. Spindler, H. Cogswell, T. J. Lyle, J. L. Darsie, J. A. Hopkins, T. E. Cramblett, M. J. Grable, R. C. Sargent and Walter B. Mansell. The last named, after a pastorate of five and a half years, resigned, September 1, 1905, to accept a call to Columbus, Ohio, whither he went early in October of that year. The membership of the church at that time was about 450. The elders were: M. E. Farr, J. T. Smith, John Pow and H. R. Kale.

About 1855 a Catholic mission was estab- lished in Salem, and occasional services held until 1868, when Rev. E. W. J. Lindesmith, who then had charge of the churches of that denomination at Alliance and Leetonia, took pastoral charge here also. He held services once a month in the houses of parishioners and four times a year in the Town Hall. This ar- rangement continued until 1880. Rev. C. Trie- ber became resident pastor that year, and No- vember 28, 1886, the church on Mckinley ave- nue was dedicated. Father Trieber was suc- ceeded by Rev. S. Finican, and he in turn by Revs. F. Senner, G. C. Schoeneman, Colon and John T. Moran, the last named entering the Salem work February II, 1905. Connected with the parish at that time were 68 Catholic and 24 mixed families. In 1901 a parsonage was built adjoining the church, and in 1904 a fine parochial school building, costing $12,000, ad- joining the parsonage on the west.

The first Evangelical Lutheran Church in Salem was organized January 6, 1878, with 40 members. Rev. William B. Roller was the first pastor. The organization held together

323

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

for some years, but did not prove permanent. The Emanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized in 1895, and in 1897 the church building on South Lundy street was erected, and dedicated January 16, 1898. The church in 1905 had a membership of about 75.

Unity Church of Salem was organized in the autumn of 1900 by Charles E. St. John, secretary of the American Unitarian Associa- tion, and Rev. George N. Young, of Massachu- setts, who was pastor of the church for a short time. Rev. C. S. S. Dutton became pastor of the church February 1, 1902, and in 1905 con- tinued in that capacity. The services were held in the Pioneer Block.

The Church of Christ ( Scientist) of Salem was organized February 3, 1902. The first services of the society had been held July I, 1899, at the home of Mrs. Ellen D. Meyer- hoefer, on Lincoln avenue. In October, 1899, rooms were secured in the Pioneer Block, where services were still held in 1905. A reading room was maintained, as is the rule in all Chris- tian Scientist churches. Mrs. Ellen D. Meyer- hoefer continued to serve as reader. The mem- bership had been from 10 to 14.

A small congregation of the Church of God denomination organized and erected a house of worship in 1888 on West Main street, near the city limits. For several years up to 1905 the congregation had services with an approach to regularity. Rev. P. Neil was pastor in 1905.

The A. M. E. Zion congregation organized in the '60s and in 1870 built a comfortable house of worship at the corner of Howard and East High streets. In a few years a separation occurred, and the Bethel A. M. E. Church was built farther east on High street. Each of these societies had a membership of about 50, and each gave support to a minister part time.

SALEM'S SCIIOOLS.

The first school in Salem was opened about 1804. The teachers from that date to 1810 were Hannah Fisher and Judith Townsend. . A log school house was built in 1810, where Joseph Shreve and James Tolerton taught from 1810 to 1816. Shreve taught again from

1822 to 1833. The Friends erected a brick schoolhouse at the corner of Broadway and Dry street in 1828, which for those days, secured a large patronage. Provision was made for the early schools by the parents and guardians subscribing to an article of agreement by which each subscriber agreed to send and pay for the tuition of one of more pupils. Back in the '40S Reuben Millan, Jesse Markham and Lewis T. Park were successful teachers. In 1854 Al- fred Holbrook was made the first superintend- ent. In 1861 H. H. Barnaby succeeded to the position. In #1863 William D. Henkle began a period of service which lasted for II years ex- cept two years of a lapse, during his term as State school commissioner. Both Professors Barnaby and Henkle served as State school commissioner. The superintendents succeeding Professor Henkle have been William S. Wood, Myron E. Hard, W. P. Burris and Jesse S. Johnson, the latter of whom took charge of the Salem schools in 1900, and was continuing a very successful period of service in 1905. The Fourth Street school building is among the finest in the State. It was dedicated in 1897. Besides this, there were three other buildings, all comparatively new, namely : McKinley Avenue, Columbia Street and Prospect Street. In 1905 the schools of Salem were in a very prosperous condition. In the four buildings there were 35 rooms, and the corps of teachers employed. including the superintendent, the supervisor of music and the supervisor of writing and drawing, numbered 37. The school enumeration of the city in the spring of 1905 was 2,006 and the school enrollment 1,523, which was about 100 less than it had been a year earlier, that amount representing in round numbers those pupils who left the public schools . for the parochial school which was opened that year. In the school year of 1904-05 the paro- chial school in its two rooms-three grades- had 147 pupils, under the care of three teachers.

TIIE SALEM CARNEGIE LIBRARY.

An institution in which Salem may justly take pride is the Carnegie Library-not more For the handsome building on Mckinley ave-

324

HISTORY OF COLUMBIANA COUNTY

nue, which was the gift of Andrew Carnegie, than because of the public spirit and devotion of a few women and men of Salem, which cul- minated in the establishment and maintenance for many years of a library for the benefit of Salem people. The idea originated back in 1895, when 40 men and women of Salem met statedly as the "Monday Night Club" for self- improvement. The need of books of refer- ence was felt, and a movement started to se- cure the nucleus of a library. A stock com- pany was organized and a charter secured. Shares were placed at $25 each, and in a short time $1,700 was raised. The plan was to ex- pend all the money thus secured for books, in- terested persons giving their services to the cause of establishing and perpetuating the work. At the outset about 1,200 volumes were bought at a cost of $1,200. A room was se- cured at a rental of $5 a month, in the Gurney Block, the furnishings of which were donated. In a year or two this room became too small and a larger one in the same building was rented. Then, in 1899, the library was re- moved to the rooms in the Pioneer Block, which were occupied until the removal into its permanent home in August, 1905.

Under the original plan the subscribers to the stock were to enjoy the advantages of the library perpetually without the payment of further membership fees, while other patrons were to pay each an annual fee of $2. The limited number of membership fees, small amounts from fines and a few cash donations (one anonymous friend contributing $100 an- nually for three years) covered the actual run- ning expenses. The ladies who were back of and actively supporting the movement al- ternated in giving attention to the library when it was open to patrons and the public, which was at the first but one day, and later two days a week. In 1898 it was made a free pub- lic library and advantage was taken of the State law which, upon proper application to the county auditor, imposed a levy of from three to five tenths of a mill for the sup- port of a public library. The maximum levy was made, and from this source from $1,000 to $1,200 a year was obtained, which up to

1905 had been the only fixed source of rev- enue, aside from that already mentioned. In 1889 the rooms in the Pioneer Block were se- cured and the number of books had increased from 1,200 in the first year of the existence of the library, to 6,500 at the time of removal into the new building in 1905. The circula- tion during the preceding year had aggregat- ed 35,000. Sixty per cent of the books read were fiction, against 40 non-fiction. The per- sonnel of the original board of directors was: Walter F. Deming (president), Mrs. C. Carey (vice-president), Elizabeth Brooks (secre- tary), Alice McMillan (treasurer), Prof. G. C. S. Southworth, Josephine Taylor and F. J. Mullins. The board in 1905 was constituted as follows: F. J. Mullins (president), W. W. Hole (vice-president), Mrs. Elizabeth Em- eny (secretary), W. B. Carey (treasurer), Dr. T. T. Church, Mrs. W. L. Deming and Dr. James Anderson.

In February, 1903, application was made to Andrew Carnegie for a library building. He readily responded with a tender of $17,500, which was later increased to $20,000. The site on McKinley avenue near Lincoln avenue was purchased, the deed being dated June 19, 1903. A building committee, consisting of W. B. Carey and T. T. Church, was chosen, plans adopted, and the work of building com- menced in the spring of 1904. The structure was completed, occupied and ready for dedica- tion in August, 1905. On August 31st the library was dedicated, Rev. S. F. Scovel, D .. D., of the University of Wooster, making the address. The building is 45 by 70 feet in di- mensions, full story and high basement, the architectural design being pure colonial. The walls are of pressed brick, with terra-cotta trimmings, the portico being supported by marble columns. The inside finish is of weath- ered oak, and the furniture and appliances are all in harmony with the general design, while the idea of comfort and convenience has al- ways been kept prominently in view. The grounds, 176 feet fronting on Mckinley ave- nue, and running back 247 feet, amply shaded by large elm trees, have an easy grade, and furnish a harmonious setting for the hand-

325

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

some though modest building which occupies their center. Altogether the library is a lega- cy which Salem people will long appreciate and enjoy.

SALEM CEMETERIES.

The first burying ground established by the Friends about 1805, was abandoned in 1817 or 1818. About 1818 a lot of about two acres on Depot street was bought of John Straughan, which property was used as a bur- ial place more or less for 60 or 70 years, and which, in 1905, while for many years it had had no interments, was in a very neglected state. Lots 55 and 56, on Depot street, deeded in 1809 to the trustees of the Baptist Church for a site for a house of worship and burying- ground, were also in a neglected condition. having been out of use for a number of years. A plat of ground on Howard street containing about an acre and a half was purchased by the Methodists and used as a burying ground from 1830 to 1860, and had not been entirely abandoned in 1905, although the remains in many cases have been removed to Hope Cem- etery.

Hope Cemetery, as it was in 1905, was the result of a consolidation of what had been originally the Presbyterian Cemetery (started in 1833), Salem Cemetery (laid out in 1853), and a five-acre addition made in 1864 by Jacob Heaton, in all amounting to nearly nine acres. This had for 60 or 70 years supplied the prin- cipal ground in which the Salem people and those for some distance about the city had been burying their dead. This cemetery had, by the opening years of the new century, fallen some- what into neglect. But in the early part of 1905 a movement was set on foot through which a fund was raised for the purpose of improving and beautifying the grounds; and a better state of affairs was promised for the future.

In 1900 the Salem Cemetery Association was organized under the Ohio statutes, a charter obtained and trustees and officers elected, who set about looking for a site upon which to open a modern cemetery. The old

Beeson farm (later Ruth's) was found to be the most desirable, and a tract comprising about 30 acres was purchased, which proved an ideal site. Grandview Cemetery was laid off and opened in 1901, and by 1905 wonder- ful progress had been made in the way of landscape engineering, in the growth of trees, shrubbery and lawns, until. what with the cost- ly vaults and beautiful monuments already being erected, Grandview gave promise of be- ing unsurpassed by any city of the dead in this section of the State.

SALEM TOWNSHIP.

Township 15, of range 3, in the original survey of Columbiana County, is known as Salem township. It is the center township of the northern tier of townships in the county. It originally contained 36 full sections, but lost four of them at the time of the erection of Perry township. The surface of the land is of a gently rolling character and the soil is fer- tile and well adapted to fruit growing and general agricultural purposes. In 1905 it had not been entirely denuded of its forest trees, of which originally there was an abundant sup- ply. The township is well drained by the head waters, in two branches, of Beaver Creek.

Peter Miller seems to have been the earliest settler. In 1803 he located on section I John Blair, J. Gongware and Fred Belger occupied eection 2 about the same time. Jesse Hol- loway settled on section 9 near the same period. Shearer later sold a portion of his tract to John Hilliard and John Rakestraw. Urban Betz with his five sons settled on section II, which later furnished the town site of Leetonia. David Hardman and Christian Meese occupied section 12 in 1803, while section 13 was settled by the Anglemeyers, the Zimmermans and Joseph Longnecker. Henry Dixon early loca- ted on section 14, and Samuel Reeves on section 15, taking up also section 22. Section 16 was held for school purposes. Section 17 was set- tled upon by William Furl. William Shinn, and Abram Webb in 1809. Nathan Hawley pur- chasing the southeastern quarter in 1816. Ben- jamin Gaunt early occupied section 19. Hugh

326

HISTORY OF COLUMBIANA COUNTY

Stewart, William Crane and Robert Phillips locating on section 20. C. Long, C. Bennett and M. Mothinger were also pioneers, locating on parts of sections 20 and 21. Henry Dixon settled on section 23 in 1809, and John, Hen- ry and Elizabeth Hoke about the same time occupied section 24. Gen. Rezin Beall early occupied section 26, afterward selling to Henry Halverstadt. Jacob Karns, William Groner and Daniel Keck settled on section 27, and Garrett Hart and Samuel Shelton on section 28. Nathan McCracken purchased a part of this section in 1812. In 1804 C. K. Betz set- tled on section 29 and Preston Peck on sec- tion 30. James Yates subsequently acquired the west half of the latter section. William Treegarden, James Blackledge and Uriah White settled on section 31, and Levi Black- ledge and Mahlon Ervin on section 32. In 1803 Bazaeleel Wells of Stubenville entered section 33. three years later selling it to Ab- ram Arter, George Butz. Andrew Brinker and Conrad Wormer. Section 34 was settled by M. Stewart, John Brinker, Daniel Burger and Henry Wormer. George and Andrew Simon and Jonathan Lodge were early set- tlers on sections 35 and 36. Lodge brought with him a wife and nine children.

The first postoffice in Salem township was located in section 32, at what was later known as Teegarden, on the Erie Railroad.

Salem township was organized May 10, 1803. In 1905 the Salem township trustees were W. E. Neff, G. A. Burton and W. D. Marshall.

SALEM TOWNSHIP'S BUSY TOWN.

The village of Leetonia is in the north- eastern part of Salemn township, and was named after William Lee, of Randolph, New York, one of the incorporators of the Leetonia Coal & Iron Company, by which company it was laid out in 1886-87. It is situated on the Pittsburg. Ft. Wayne & Chicago Division of the Pennsylvania lines, where it intersects the Niles and Lisbon branch of the Erie Sys- tem. The first hotel was opened in 1866, in an old brick farm house, and later known as

the "Leetonia House." This place had been previously known as the farm of David Hardman. This farm. house and one owned by Mr. Anglemyer were the only buildings in Leetonia prior to the erection of the railroad station building in 1865. On petition of 110 voters to the commissioners of the county, May 6, 1869, praying for the incorporation of a village to be called "Leetonia," the commis- sioners-Samuel Burger, Uriah Thomas and Andrew Armstrong-passed the necessary or- der for incorporation and for an election to be held August 23, 1869, for mayor, recorder and five trustees. A. F. Hill was chosen may- or; M. E. Taggart, recorder; F. Fillnagle, treasurer; and J. G. Chamberlain, Samuel C. Mellinger, W. S. Church, H. F. Christy and J. M. Mowry, trustees. An addition was made to the corporation south of State street in 1872. The postoffice was established in 1886, before the village was laid out, with J. G. Chamberlain as postmaster.

The first school house was built in 1870, Allen Smith being the first principal. The building was a frame, 26 by 36 feet in dimen- sions, and cost $800. In 1872 a large new school building was completed, which with site, cost nearly $35,000. It was declared in 1905 that there was no better building than this in the State, considering its cost of con- struction and age. It has 12 rooms. A good four-room building was erected in 1901. The school enumeration in 1905 was 480. Prof. J. W. Moore, who had been superintendent for 14 years, was entering upon another three- year term.

In 1905 the population of Leetonia was es- timated at 3,200. The business prospects of the town had greatly improved under the im- petus of the improved conditions of the iron business noted in another chapter. T. A. Greenamyer was mayor and Jacob Kugel clerk.

Leetonia's first regular banking institution. the Leetonia Banking Company, went under in 1876, when the town received a financial and commercial shaking up, from which it had only fairly recovered in the early years of the new century. In 1905 the First National

CARNEGIE LIBRARY, SALEM (INCOMPLETE)

FRIENDS' MEETING HOUSE, SALEM

HIGH SCHOOL, SALEM

HOME FOR AGED WOMEN, SALEM

329

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS. -

bank was doing a fine business. Its capital, stock was $100,000. The officers were : C. N. Schmick, president; William Floding, vice- president ; and W. H. Schmick, cashier.

The People's & Loan Association Com- pany had been in operation about 10 years,, and was in a very prosperous condition. The officers were: H. R. Garlock, president; C. E. Greenamyer, secretary; and David Ran- kin, treasurer.

CHURCHES OF SALEM TOWNSHIP.

The Presbyterian Church of Leetonia was organized July 19, 1867, with the following members : Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Ball, Mr. and Mrs. John McMillan, Mr. and Mrs. David Betz, Lydia Stetson, Eleanor Beard, John Reeves and. Mary E Porter. The pulpit was supplied from February 15, 1867, until No- vember 1, 1868, by Rev. John Gilmore. Rev. I. G. Hall was installed pastor June 15, 1869. He remained until November 1, 1870, when Rev. A. B. Maxwell accepted a call and was installed December 17, 1871. On the same date the first church edifice built by this con- gregation was dedicated. The house was burned about 1900, and a substantial brick structure took its place the following year. In 1905 the church had a membership of 179. Rev. A. D. Collins was pastor. The elders were : J. W. Carver, C. D. Dickenson, J. A. Greena- myer, William Woodward, L. D. Royer and W. F. Corll.

About 1869 a class of adherents of the Methodist Episcopal Church was organized at Leetonia, of which Samuel Keene was the leader. Public services were soon after held in the public hall and a church society was or- ganized. In the early '70's the society pur- chased the house which had been occupied by a society of the United Presbyterian Church. The early pastors of the congregation were : Revs. Jackson, Ross, Long, Coyle, Chamber- lain and Crouse. The pastor in 1905 was Rev. J. A. Rutledge. The membership was near I50.

In 1872 the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Leetonia was organized. During 1873 a frame church building was erected and dedi-

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Columbiana County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 45

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