USA > Ohio > Columbiana County > History of Columbiana County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 35
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98
THE COAL INTERESTS
of Elk Run are worthy of notice. This valuable mineral generally abounds, and has been mined in many localities
Digitized by Google
133
TOWNSHIP OF ELK RUN.
to supply the local demand. As early as 1830, Wm. Green and John Whan opened banks in the western part of the township, and a little later Gideon Baker engaged in this business in the same locality, as did also Andrew Armstrong at Elkton. About 1848, William Orr began mining on a more extensive scale, producing yearly about 30,000 bushels, nearly all of which found a market at New Lisbon. Fif- teen years later Chauncy Andrews & Co., of Youngstown, leased several thousand acres of land in the western part of the township, and soon thereafter began operating for coal near where Mr. Orr had been engaged on section 18. The Niles and New Lisbon Railroad extended its track from New Lisbon to a point south of the mine, to which the coal com- pany laid a track about three-fourths of a mile long, thus enabling shipments by rail to be made directly from the mine. From forty to sixty miners were employed for the next five or six years, and immense quantities of coal were taken out, practically exhausting the better qualities of coal north of the creek. The company's track was then taken up and work abandoned. In this region mining is now carried on to supply local demand by Messrs. Loch, Steven- son, Mackey, and others.
ORCHARDS.
Much of Elk Run seems especially adapted for fruit cul- ture, and an important industry of the present is the rais- ing of orchards.
One of the pioneers of this interest is Christian Bowman. In 1862 he set out apple-trees on an area of thirteen, acres in a single orchard, and four years later planted a second orchard, containing ten acres more of the same fruit, which has attained to splendid bearing. The peach is also exten- sively grown in the township, and the pear to a limited extent.
Among the principal growers of all kinds of fruit, but chiefly peaches, are John M. Walter, A. K. Pike, John Hawkins, Leonard Trunick, the Armstrongs, the Raleys, the Morrises, Henry Morlan, Thomas Burson, Joseph H. Baker, John Stapleton, Taylor McMillan, and the Dickeys.
MANUFACTURING INTERESTS.
Among the first improvements of the water-power of the township for milling purposes were those of Isaac James, on section 2. About 1810 he utilized the power of Little Bull Creek to operate saw- and grist-mills, which were car- ried on by the James family many years. The saw-mill was abandoned about 1850, but the grist-mill is yet operated, and is at present the property of James Dickey.
On the same section, but lower on the stream, John Snyder had a pioneer grist-mill, which was destroyed by a storm and never rebuilt; and still lower down the stream Nathan Heald had a saw-mill and Joseph Martin a carding- machine, both of which have passed away. These were succeeded by a saw-mill, which is now operated by John Raley (1879).
On the northwest quarter of section 12, Joseph and Henry Morlan put up a saw-mill in 1826, which, after being operated many years, was allowed to go down; and on the same section, near the township-line, Joseph Mor- lan, Sr., and his son Stephen erected a grist-mill in 1822,
which, in an improved condition, yet remains, and belongs to William Taylor. A saw-mill was here built at a more recent period, and steam-power has been supplied to operate both, supplementary to the water-power. On section 2 a steam saw-mill has been operated during the past twenty years by Hiram Bell.
In the eastern part of the township, on Big Run, James Brisbine started a saw-mill,-a pioneer among mills,-which has long since been discontinued, and at a point lower down the same stream Joseph Henry erected,a mill in 1846, which is yet carried on by him.
On the northern part of section 35, John Cannon em- ployed the power of the Middle Beaver to operate a grist- mill from 1812 to the building of the canal, when the mill- site was destroyed. Above this point, on Pine Run, Chris- tian Bowman erected a saw-mill after 1812, which was dis- continued in about ten years. In 1845 he put up another mill, farther up the stream, which has ever since been oper- ated. In 1867 steam-power was supplied. The present owner is William Armstrong.
The first to use the power of Elk Run was Samuel Kem- ble. He built a saw- and grist-mill on section 9, and suc- cessfully operated them for a number of years. Subsequently, the grist-mill passed into the hands of Seth McClure. It is now operated by Isaac Chamberlain, and the saw-mill by James Welker, both mills having been rebuilt or repaired a number of times. The manufacture of linseed oil and cement was carried on at these mills at different periods a number of years ago. On the same stream Alexander Rogers put up a mill on section 16 about 1825, which was afterwards operated by Samuel Kemble, and last by Nathan Simpkins. This power and the one below, on the same section, are at present idle. The latter was improved in 1831 by James Clark, who put up a woolen-mill 40 by 80 feet, two and a half stories high. In 1840, James Batch- elor and Thomas Crook began the manufacture of woolen goods at this point, and after a few years the former was succeeded by William Allaway. From 1851 to 1862 Thomas Crook was the sole proprietor, and sold to Joseph Hudd, who abandoned the mill two years later. The build ing has been demolished.
The interests at Elkton are noted in connection with the history of that village. On the Middle Beaver, near Centre township-line, is a small saw-mill belonging to Gen. Jacob B. Roller. Here Lewis Kinney had a carding-mill, and later a woolen-mill, which he operated in connection with Orth & Beaumont. The latter removed his interests to New Lisbon. The power is feeble and but little employed.
In the northwestern part of the township, on Middle Run, Thomas Hawkins operated a saw-mill in 1828, and on this site mills have since been kept up by the Hawkins family. In 1843, Thomas Pike erected a mill farther up the same stream, which is now carried on by William Pike.
Nearly all the foregoing industries are small, and are operated only to supply the local demand. Joseph Paxson is authority for the statement that in 1825 the township had eight distilleries, and that among others engaged in distilling were Messrs. Ward, Armstrong, Means, Mont- gomery, and Freed.
Digitized by Google
134
HISTORY OF COLUMBIANA COUNTY, OHIO.
VILLAGES.
MIDDLE BEAVER.
Some time before the building of the canal through the township, Edward Crawford platted a small tract of land on section 36 for a village, to which he gave the name " Middle Beaver." He opened a store, and, in addition to the buildings occupied by himself, a few small houses were built on the lots which he had sold.
The place was not favorably located for a village, and had too formidable a rival in Williamsport,-only a short distance below, in Madison township,-so that when the canal, which was to quicken it into life, was abandoned, every hope for the town's prosperous existence vanished. The lots and streets have been vacated, and what was once Middle Beaver. now constitutes a part of an ordinary farm.
ELKTON.
On the 30th day of April, 1835, J. G. Williard, the county surveyor, platted the village of Elkton, for William Kemble, on the north bank of Beaver Creek, near the centre of section 21. The survey embraced one principal street,-named " Canal,"-50 feet wide, having the same general course as the creek, and being located about four rods from the base of the hills which here form the north- ern boundary of the valley. The old New Lisbon road, which ran along the edge of the hill, was vacated and made to coincide with the course of Canal Street. On the north side of the street were twenty-four lots, and on the south forty-seven. At this time the only buildings in this locality were the mills and houses belonging to William Kemble, his residence being where is now the home of Jesse Johnson.
In the same year (1835), Kemble erected a large frame house near the centre of the village, which is yet standing, and is at present occupied by W. O. Shafer.
Later that season, Geo. H. Brown built the large house on the opposite side of the street, and Ephraim Powell the building opposite the free church, both of which structures remain to this day.
About 1848 the village attained its maximum growth, having then as many buildings as at present,-about twenty- five houses,-and, after the canal was suspended, gradually lost its importance as a business centre, being at present simply a country trading-point.
It is said that Daniel Ikard was the first to engage in the sale of goods in Elkton, but John A. Huffman was the first to establish a noteworthy trade. About 1840 the latter opened a store in the building which is now Culler's blacksmith-shop, in which he traded as a principal or part- ner more than fifteen years, transacting a business whose importance at that time was not surpassed in the county. In the later years of his career as a merchant in the village, he and his brother Adam occupied the warehouse-building. Their predecessors in the warehouse were the Kembles and Oglevie. The house was built in 1844 by Wm. Kemble, and was designed for mercantile purposes and for use as a warehouse on the canal, and for the latter purpose was very conveniently built. The successors of Adam Huffman were
John and Thomas Crook and the present firmn, John Haw- kins & Sons.
The Shafer house was first used as a store by Jacob Pettit. Afterwards the place was occupied for mercantile purposes by Geo. Oglevie, Hezekiah Long, and George Poland.
In the long frame building west of the present store merchandising was carried on by Isaac Mankin, who had also a tavern. He was followed by Andrew Armstrong, who continued both enterprises. After his retirement Wil- liam Mechan occupied the building for mercantile purposes only.
The first tavern in the village was kept by George Mor- rison, in the house built by George H. Brown. Other landlords at that stand were Nicholas Eckes, John Wallace, and Wm. Mankin. Here also a store was kept for a short time by Geo. Oglevie. On the east side of Elk Run, Far- mer & Hawkins were in trade subsequent to 1861.
The Elkton post-office was established about 1845. George Kemble was the first postmaster. His successors have been John Crook, John A. Huffman, O. C. Farmer, and F. H. Hawkins. The office is supplied with a tri- weekly mail from New Lisbon.
The first physician to locate in the practice of his pro- fession was a Dr. Hardman, about 1850. The following year Dr. William Moore established a practice, which was continued until 1866. A second Dr. Wm. Moore then fol- lowed, but remained only a short time. For ten years the place was without a physician ; but in 1877, Dr. J. N. Cal- houn located, and is yet in practice.
S. W. Orr resided west of the village many years as an attorney, having his office in New Lisbon.
At Elkton, and in its immediate vicinity, but little manu- facturing has been carried on. The first machinery was in a saw-mill put up by William Kemble, about 1830, and operated until 1843, when it was displaced by a woolen- factory, which was also erected by Kemble. In this building the Clark brothers manufactured woolen goods many years, and were succeeded by David Farrand, who operated the factory until 1871. The machinery was then removed and the building converted into a wheelwright-shop, which was operated by water-power. This shop has been carried . on by John Albright, John A. Stiegleman, and Samuel Shadle. The building is at present idle. The wagon- maker's trade is followed by Edmund Crow, and black- smithing by William P. Culler. The first smith in the place was Joseph Paxson, and for many years George Nuzum followed the trade in the village.
The village shoemaker, for twenty-two years, was James Atchison, who was promoted from the bench to the office of recorder of the county. Since 1871, William O. Shafer has here plied that trade.
A short distance above Elkton, William Kemble erected good saw- and grist-mills, in 1832, on a power furnished by the Middle Beaver, which were carried on by the Kemble family until 1871. Since that period David Morris has been the proprietor. The grist-mill has a good capacity, and is the chief mill of the kind in the township.
The history of the village and Elk Run would be incom- plete without a brief account of
Digitized by Google
-
-
--
135
TOWNSHIP OF ELK RUN.
THE GREAT FLOOD OF 1861.
The village site of Elkton is elevated only a few feet above the general level of the creek, and the stream fre- quently overflows its banks in times of freshets; but these occasions seldom produced any damage or caused apprehen- sion, although a severe storm, after a dry season, when the steep hills which line the streams shed the rain with wonderful rapidity, is liable to produce disastrous effects. Preceding the great flood of Aug. 11, 1861, but little rain had fallen for several months; the earth was hard and dry from the effects of the midsummer heat, and when the clouds began to lower in the afternoon but little rain was expected. About six o'clock the gentle rain of a few hours before descended with so great volume as to cause the water to flow in the streams on every hand, and the people rejoiced that Nature was at last smiling so kindly upon them. Little did they think of the sad havoc and loss of life which would so soon ensue. As night came on the fury of the storm increased, and the rain fell as an unbroken sheet of water, causing the streams to overleap the narrow bounds which confined them to their channels, or seethe impatiently in the half-dozen mill-ponds near the village. Suddenly, as if by preconcerted action, these dams gave way, and the liberated waters rushed down the valleys of Beaver Creek and Elk Run with irresistible fury, forming a wall several feet high, and sweeping away every- thing in their course. At Elkton these mad currents came in collision with each other, and forced the restrained streams over the village with such rapidity that the fright- ened inhabitants had barely time to repair to the upper rooms of their houses or flee to the surrounding hills.
In less time than it takes to record this occurrence the water stood eight feet deep in Canal Street, and the rain still poured down in torrents. The women and children stood huddled together, covered with the scanty garments they could gather in their flight, and praying that the angry element would spare their homes. The men strained their eyes, when the flashes of lightning illumined the in- tense gloom of the night, to see whether aught of their years of toil remained, or helped to rescue those who had deferred flight from their houses, but who now sought a more secure place. The crashing noise of breaking tim- bers told of the destruction and probable obliteration of some homes, but the darkness and want of communication prevented a knowledge of the facts. It was a night of fearful suspense and anxiety, and never was the approach of day more desired. It came at last, and the storm, hav- ing lulled meantime, now ceased altogether. By the aid of the dim twilight the extent of the destruction became ap- parent. All the bridges and half a dozen buildings had been swept away. Two of these were dwellings, whose occupants, if they had not escaped, must have met an un- timely death. It soon became known that the sole inmate of one, the widow Nuzum, alarmed at the sudden rise of the water, had fled to a neighbor's house, and thus saved her life; but of the fate of four others, who occupied the long dwelling near the Elk Run bridge, nothing could be learned. As the day advanced and brought no tidings of their safety, hope died away, and sorrow for the unfortunate ones took its place. Mrs. Susan Kemble, the mother of
the founder of the village, aged seventy-three years, her grandson, Alonzo Hawkins, fifteen years old, Mrs. John A. Huffman, and her two-year-old child, had been carried down the stream to a certain death. A vigorous search was instituted, and towards evening of that sad day John Hawkins found the body of his son six miles below Elkton, lying on the tow-path of the old canal ; and on the following day the remains of Mrs. Kemble and the child were re- covered, at a point a few miles nearer the village. - Soon after, the body of the last victim, Mrs. Huffman, was found lodged on the woodwork of Downey's canal dam.
The remains of these persons were taken to the home of John Hawkins, and from thence to the Kemble Cemetery, where they were buried, in the presence of the grief-stricken community. The funeral was the largest ever held in the township.
The destruction of property at Elkton was very great, nearly every family having lost whatever was in the lower story of their dwelling. The villagers were left without food, and, in some instances, without raiment; but the gen- erous sympathy of the people of the surrounding country brought aid which relieved their needs, so that but little suffering ensued. For many weeks the little village bore the marks of the fearful desolation wrought by the impetu- ous flood, and even now its horrors are well remembered.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
No satisfactory account of the public schools of the township can be given prior to its division into districts under the act organizing the general board of education. In 1853 the number of districts, their directors, the youth of school age, and the appropriations received from the State were as follows:
Number Am'ts of youth. rec'd.
District.
Directors.
No. 1. Enos McMillen, Wm. W. Longshore, Adon Siddall
77
$65.49
No. 2. Jonathan Morris, Jas. T. Caldwell, Hannibal Hepburn.
76
64.64
No. 3. Brooks Caldwell, Ephraim Holloway, Thos. Caldwell 32 27 22
No. 4. Wm. Vaughan, John Hawkins, John Robeson .. 51 43.38
No. 5. Wm. Moore, Wm. Kemble, Joseph Hudd.
88
74.84
No. 6. Samuel Crawford, Joseph Cope, Henry Walter ..
64 54.43
No. 7. Jesse Williams, David Wright, Jacob Barnes .. 48.48 57
No. 8. George Kells, William Wallace, Lindsey Cameron. 70
59.54
No. 10. Henry Morlan, George Young, Thomas T. Baker 59
50.18
No. 9 was reported as a fractional district. At present Nos. 7, 9, and 11 are fractional districts. The condition of schools in 1878 is shown in the appended table :
Secretary of directors.
Number of males.
females.
Total.
No. 1. Kemble Bell.
15
23
38
No. 2. William Nuzum.
21
23
44
No. 3. A. K. Pike ..
18
12
30
No. 4. John Johnson
32
25
57
No. 5. Perry Armstrong.
41
32
73
No. 6. Alfred Dickey
28
18
46
No. 7. .
...
...
16
No. 8. George Williams.
31
20
51
No. 9.
...
...
17
No. 10. Joseph Love.
30
30
60
No. 11.
10
2
12
These 444 youths were entitled to $308.25 from the State fund, and the special levies and income from other sources enabled the township to maintain good schools. Perry Armstrong is the president of the board of educa- tion, and W. O. Shafer secretary.
RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.
It appears that the Friends were the first to establish public worship in the township. About 1810 they built a
Digitized by Google
Number of
District.
136
HISTORY OF COLUMBIANA COUNTY, OHIO.
meeting-house on section 2, on a piece of land given for this purpose by Isaac James, who was the first minister. This house remains, but, since 1860, has seldom been occupied for meetings. The Friends at Elk Run have united with others at Carmel, in Middleton township, in forming a monthly meeting and assembling at both places alternately.
Among those who attended the Particular meetings in early times were Isaac James, Benjamin Harrison, James Cowgill, Isaiah Morris, Nathan Heald, Aaron Hustis, Joseph James, Latham Harrison, Martha Bell, John James, John Tullis, Jason Tullis, Joseph Smith, David James, Jesse James, Isaac James, Jr., Levi Haines, William Sid- dall, Abijah Richard, Joseph Fisher, Francis Pallett, Thos. Hepburn, Jas. McConnell, Edward McConnell, and Lydia McConnell. The latter was a minister. Some of these joined the Hicksite meeting in 1828; many removed about 1840. These depletions and other causes dismembered the meeting, leaving but a few to represent the Orthodox Friends in the township.
THE BIBLE-CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF ELK RUN.
In 1822 the services of this denomination were first held in the township of Fairfield, but without promoting the establishment of a permanent society. Four years later, Rev. John Adams, at that time a resident of Elk Run, began to preach at the house of Joseph Paxson,-at what is now known as Chamberlain's Mills,-and soon succeeded in associating a respectable number in church fellowship. Among these are remembered Morgan Wellington and wife, Jesse Crow and wife, John Ward and wife, John Barnes and wife, Hugh Pike and wife, Thomas Hawkins and wife, Nancy Morris, Polly Job, Rebecca Eaton, Elizabeth McCoy, and Joseph Paxson. The latter became a preacher, and occa- sionally ministered to the society for the next six years.
In 1828 the society built its first meeting-house, on what is now called Church Hill, on section 9. It was a log building, with no inside lining when first used. It bad a loose floor, but no stove or fireplace. The room was warmed by a mass of charcoal set aglow in Joseph Paxson's iron kettle, around which the members sat on slab seats. In 1835 a frame house was built, on the old foundation, by George Hawkins, which was in use until 1872, when the present edifice was erected for the society by John Haw- kins. It is a plain but spacious and comfortable building, and cost $2750. The building committee was composed of Lemuel Scovil, A. K. Pike, R. B. Johnson, Macy Morris, William Farmer, Joseph Baker, and Joshua Whitacre.
The church has at present (1879) 125 members and the following board of officers : Joseph Baker, A. K. Pike, and Lemuel Scovil, Trustees ; Lewis Pike and Joshua Whitacre, Deacons; S. S. Pike, Treasurer; and Smedley Baker, Sun- day-school Superintendent.
In addition to the ministers named, Rev. Robert Haw- kins, of Pennsylvania, preached for the society about twice a year, and soon regular preaching was supplied by the fol- lowing clergymen : Revs. John Secrest, James Hughes, Lewis Comer, James McVay, William Teegarden, Thomas Whitacre, John Whitacre, the Mitchells, Andrew Hanger, D. V. Hyde, Edward Cameron, and Albert Dunlap.
Mr. Dunlap is the present pastor, and preaches also once a month in the free church at Elkton for the accommoda- tion of members living in the southern part of the town- ship.
Simeon Newhouse, a native of Elk Run, became a Bible- Christian minister.
THE KEMBLE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
A class of Methodists was formed at the house of Sam- uel Kemble, on section 9, as early as 1814, embracing among its members Samuel Kemble and his wife Susan, Samuel Wallahan and his wife, George Freed and wife, James Ward, Polly Job, and Mary Paxson.
Occasional preaching was had at the houses of the mem- bers and in the school-house in that locality ; but about 1825 a log house was built, which was used, in a repaired condition, until 1862, when the church found a new home on the same section, but farther east. The old house is still standing, and is used as the residence of R. Newhouse. The new edifice is on a lot adjoining the cemetery-ground, which was set aside in the early settlement of the town- ship by Samuel Kemble. It was built under the direction of John Hawkins, David Ward, and Hiram Bell, and is a plain frame building, costing $1450. At present the con- trolling trustees are John Hawkins, Smith Bell, William Nuzum, Samuel Steward, and Hiram Bell.
The members worshiping here number 35, and the church since 1860 has been one of four charges constitut- ing the Elkton circuit. Until 1840 it was connected with New Lisbon and other appointments in the county ; after that period and until 1860 it was one of the many appoint- ments in the southeastern part of the county, constituting the Liverpool circuit.
The names of the ministers who were on these circuits, and the years of their service, as near as can be ascertained, were as follows : 1820, Jacob Hooper, - Dowler; 1821, Wm. Tipton, - Trescott, Henry Knapp; 1822, Samuel Brookonier, William Tipton ; 1823, Dennis Goddard, Bil- lings O. Plympton ; 1824, Ezra Booth, Albert G. Richard- son ; 1825, Samuel Adams, Robert Hopkins; 1826, John Knox, Wm. Henderson ; 1827, Edward Taylor, John Som- erville ; 1828, B. O. Plympton, Nathaniel Callender; 1829, George Brown, - Winans; 1830, Wm. Henderson, Alfred Bronson ; 1831, John Crawford, Jacob Jenks; 1832, John P. Kent, W. Summers; 1833, M. L. Weekly, D. Gordon ; 1834, Alcinus Young, J. M. Meacham ; 1835, Alcinus Young, P. S. Ruter ; 1836, Daniel Sharp, John McLean ; 1837, Daniel Sharp, J. W. Auld; 1838, George McCaskey, J. Montgomery ; 1839, George McCas- key, Joshua Monroe ; 1840, Joshua Monroe; 1841-42, Henry Wharton, Cornelius Jackson, - Day ; 1843-45, James M. Bray, Willie P. Blackburn; 1846-47, Nathaniel Callender, J. K. Miller; 1848-49, Robert Cunningham, Thomas W. Winstanley ; 1850-51, Wm. C. Henderson, A. J. Dale ; 1852-53, John Huston, Warren Long ; 1854-55, David Kemble, John R. Roller; 1856-57, Andrew Huston, John Ansley ; 1858-59, A. W. Butts, E. Williams, H. W. Baker; 1860, M. W: Dallas, A. W. Taylor; 1861-62, M. S. Kendig; 1863, Warren Long; 1864, Louis Payne; 1865, John Wright; 1866-67, G. D. Kinnear; 1868-70,
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.