USA > Ohio > Columbiana County > History of Columbiana County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 42
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. Spelled variously Craig and Kraig.
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HISTORY OF COLUMBIANA COUNTY, OHIO.
was swooping through the country and would soon be at hand. This was just after Hull's surrender, and the neigh- borhood, catching the quickly-spread story carried by young Rigby, believed it. From some distance about the people, gathering what valuables they could carry, fled for protection to Brown's mill, and even farther on to MeKaig's mill, where, for the better part of twenty-four hours, they ro- mained in trembling fear. At the end of that time it came to be understood that the report about the Indians was a wild and false alarm, and the inhabitants returned again to their homes and their ordinary avocations.
Thomas Robertson was an early settler upon section 9, where he resided until his death. Richard Schooley located upon section 16, where his son Amos now lives, and, west of him, Simou, Joseph, and Andrew Rice. David John- son was a settler upon the place now occupied by William Kepner, at New Garden ; Nathan Baker lived where Joseph Humphrey now resides, and John Thomas where Job Ritter now lives, on section 4.
Samuel Fugat, of Pennsylvania, settled about 1804 upon section 12. A son, Addison, and daughter now live upon the old place. Fugat entered the whole section, and sold the north half of it to Thomas Charlton.
Michael Arter, for many years a prominent man in Hanover township, removed from New Lisbon to Hanover- ton village in 1817, and there continued to reside until his death, in 1879. Mr. Arter was conspicuous early in life for the earnest and energetic stand he took as a supporter of the anti-slavery doctrine, and guve freely of his time, energies, and means in assisting fugitive slaves from the South on their way to Canada, to which many of them passed through Hanover, where, and in the vicinity, there were important stations on the " underground" railroad.
Mr. Arter was frequently called to fill places of public trust, and served as county commissioner, justice of the peace, and treasurer of the Sandy and Beaver Canal Com- pany, as well as in local affairs.
A record of the residents of Hanover township, April 1, 1816, will be found herewith in a list of persons who voted at an election held that day at the house of Price Keith for a justice of the peace in the place of James Keith : George Brown, David Johnson, and Robert Raley were judges of election ; Absalom Craig and John Brown were clerks ; Da- vid Johnson and Joseph Grissell were the candidates, the lutter of whom was defeated by a vote of 29 to 24. The voters' names follow here : Henry Fox, David Johnson, Enos Ellis, John Edwards, John Sinclair, Robert Raley, Samuel Sinclair, Joseph Raley, Richard Taylor, Philip Fox, Thomas Bell, Michael Shane, Richard Schooley, Jno. Heston, Joshua Wiliman, Simon Rish, William Winder, Thomas Vorsen, David Meyers, Benjamin Stackhouse, Jacob Milburn, Da- vid Ehrhardt, Martin Snider, Andrew Rish, James Miller, Wm. Ware, Aaron Mendenhall, Thomas Robinson, George Brown, Owen Stackhouse, Jacob Wilson, Benjamin Town- send, John and Joseph Rish, Samuel Milburn, John Brown, Robert Combs, David Sinclair, Lewis Halladay, Fred. Biard, Samuel Holland, Wm. Brown, George Sinclair, Isaac Craig, Abner John, Andrew Milburn, Jehu Brown, George Tomlin, Wm. Brown, Jr., Peter Lindesmith, Absa- lom Craig, John Lindesmith, Wm. Reeder, Andrew Combs,
Samuel Reeder, Robert Burton, Henry Schooley, John Ryne, Samuel Craig, and Thomas Metcalf.
Samuel Fox now lives upon a place once occupied by David Sinclair, an early settler upon section 20. Jacob Ritler settled upon section 4, upon which section his son Job now lives. Joshua Whitacre lived next to Aaron Mendenhall on the east, where S. Hawkins lives, on section 11, and there died. East of him was Edward Whitacre, where Rachel Hostetter now resides. Philip and Samuel Ira settled upon section 3, and John Couser on the State road, upon section 7. Frederick, his son, married a daugh- ter of Andrew Rice.
James Waugh kept tavern in 1815, and before, on the old State road, where the present village of New Garden is. His tavern consisted of two log cabins,-one on either side the road,-and besides them there were but two other cabins upon the site now occupied by New Garden. Wm. Rogers kept the stand many years, and then moved to Stark County, whence, however, he returned to New Garden. John Wat- son came over from New Lisbon and held forth as the land- lord, and was the last one. He sold the property to James Graham, and moved to Iowa. Mr. Graham built a store- house upon the site, which is the one now occupied by the store owned by his widow.
Price Keith, William Nixon, and Owen Williams were early tavernkeepers near Hanover village, and men of con- siderable fame they were, too.
Arthur Lockard, with his wife and four children, sailed from Belfast, Ireland, in 1816, in the " Grand Turk," and after a tedious passage of sixteen weeks landed at New York. In April, 1817, with William Kennedy and his wife, they crossed the mountains in carts, and in that month settled in Hanover village, at which time the place contained but four or five houses. The log house occupied by Lockard after reaching the village still stands. Lockard and Kennedy bought the grist-mill built by James Craig, and afterwards put into it the first buhr-stones seen in these parts. William Lockard, son of Arthur, came to Hanover with his father, and at the age of seventy still plies the trade of blacksmith in the village, in which he is the veri- table "oldest inhabitant." Joseph Lindesmith and his wife, with John Lindesmith and wife and Peter Lindesmith, came into Hanover from Somerset Co., Pa., in 1808. Jo- seph purchased of one - Hoge a quarter on section 36, and with Peter and John bought a quarter in section 25, and a quarter in Franklin township where Jonas Fife now lives, on section 2. John Eidenhire was a settler in 1808, upon the place now occupied by Chalmers Brown and owned by William Ramsay. Henry Atterholt lived next north of Eidenhire, both of them, be it observed, being distillers in a small way. Philip Andre lived where Jona- than Andre now resides, about a mile northwest of Dun- gannon. Peter Crissinger and Philip Ehrhart were neigh- boring settlers, and upon the place now occupied by the widow A. H. Lindesmith, in section 35. William Har- desty was among the pioneers. Mandeville Kountz, of Somerset Co., Pa., settled upon the place owned by the widow of J. Sultner, in section 26. Thomas Thompson moved upon the place now occupied by William Thompson, and lived there until his death.
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TOWNSHIP OF HANOVER.
Samuel Reeder settled in Hanover in 1806, and put up his cabin upon the place now occupied by David Milburn, near Kensington, where he lived until his death. Four of his children are still living,-Samuel Reeder, at Kensing- ton ; Mrs. Todd, at Hanoverton ; Mrs. Battin, in West township; and Mrs. John, in Iowa.
Charles Petit settled in Hanover in 1808, coming in from Pennsylvania, and brought with him a case of fine joiner's tools. He opened a shop for making fanning- mills, and soon afterwards began to make window-sash and coffins.
Joseph Whitacre set out about 1808 from Virginia with his family to settle in Hanover township, having previous to that time cutered a quarter on section 11, where the widow of James Hostetter now lives. He died en route, but his family, keeping on, occupied the land and cleared it. Joshua Whitacre, a member of the family, located upon that portion of the section owned now by J. W. Couser, and along the hill on the highway just west planted two rows of peach-trees, wherefore that hill has ever since been known as Peach Hill. Edward Whitacre, another . member of the family, cut out the first road from their place to New Lisbon.
Among the early settlers upon the eastern part of the township were Amos Frost, a man of conspicuous promi- nence, who, about 1807, located upon section 34, where Mrs. Dinah Frost now lives; Nicholas Miller, upon the same section in the north, where Peter and John Miller live; and Isaiah Williams, upon section 13, where Eli Whit- acre owns a farm.
Benjamin Saunders, who, with Sinclair, laid out New Garden village, entered land now occupied by John Murray and owned by Jonas Murray, upon section 9. Robert Bur- ton, who settled in the west part of the township in 1806, was the first justice of the peace. None of his descendants are living in Hanover. The second justice of the peace was George Brown, already named.
Joseph Dutton located in Hanover in 1810, and leased a quarter-section owned by James Adamson, of Middleton. Dutton afterwards entered a quarter on section 18, where his sons Elisha and David live. Robert Raley settled about 1806, upon land now owned by - Sharon, a mile northwest of Hanover village. Joseph Figley, one of the early settlers in Wayne township, moved afterwards to Hanover. He served in the war of 1812, and was esteemed a valuable citizen.
Levi Miller settled in 1810 upon two quarters in sections 32 and 29, entered by Mahlon Haines. Miller sold to Sumuel Holland, from whom the property descended to Samuel Muy Holland, the original proprietor of Kensington village.
ORGANIZATION.
Hanover township was organized in 1806, and the tax levy for 1807 amounted to $66.37. In 1821 the tax levy amounted to $113.94.
The early records of the township have been mislaid and lost, and the list of persons who have served as trustees, clerks, and treasurers can be given only from 1846 to 1879, as follows :
1846 .- Trustees, Joseph Rhodes, Jacob Dutton, Hosea Hawkins; Treasurer, James Graham ; Clerk, William Johnson.
1847 .- Trustees, Jacob Dutton, Hosea Hawkins, William Hamilton ; Treasurer, James Graham ; Clerk, William Johnson.
1848 .- Trustees, Hosea Hawkins, Jacob Dutton, Hugh Jordan ; Treasurer, James Graham ; Clerk, William Johnson.
1849 .- Trustees, Hosea Hawkins, Jacob Dutton, William Clark ; Treasurer, James Graham ; Clerk, William Gore.
1850-51 .- Trustees, Hosea Hawkins, William Clark, Moses Louthan ; Treasurer, James Graham ; Clerk, William Gore.
1852 .- Trustees, Mosos Louthan, William Clark, George Smith ; Treasurer, James Graham ; Clerk, William Johnson.
1853 .- Trustees, George Smith, William Clark, Henry McCann; Treasurer, James Graham ; Clerk, Samuel Fox.
1854 .- Trustees, William Clark, George Smith, Caleb Whitacre; Treasurer, James Graham; Clerk, William Lockard.
1855 .- Trustees, J. W. Grissell, E. C. Rhodes, David Heston ; Treas- urer, James Graham; Clerk, Joseph B. Smith.
1856 .- Trustees, J. W. Grissell, David Heston, William Johnson ; Treasurer, James Graham; Clerk, John Robertson.
1857 .- Trustees, William Johnson, David Heston, Joshua Batten ; Treasurer, Henry Ruth; Clerk, John Robertson.
1858 .- Trustees, William Johnson, David Burson, Caleb Copo; Treasurer, Henry Ruth; Clerk, John Robertson.
1859-61 .- Trustees, William Johnson, David Burson, Caleb Cope ; Treasurer, Henry Ruth ; Clerk, Samuel Fox.
1862 .- Trustees, James Baker, James IIosti tter, Hiram Baker ; Treas- urer, A. R. Arter ; Clerk, Samuel Fox.
1863 .- Trustees, James Baker, Hiram Baker, John Yates; Treasurer, A. R. Arter ; Clerk, W. R. Steen.
1864 .- Trustees, John Yates, George Voglosang," W. R. Keepner; Treasurer, A. R. Arter; Clerk, W. R. Steen.
1865 .- Trustees, George Voglesang, E. Dutton, G. O. Haldeman ; Treasurer, A. R. Arter; Clerk, William Johnson.
1866 .- Trustees, G. O. Haldeman, David Milburn, James Robertson ; Treasurer, A. R. Arter; Clerk, Williamn Johnson.
1867 .- Trustees, David Milburn, t George Voglesang, George Coulson ; Treasurer, A. R. Arter; Clerk, William Johnson.
1868 .- Trustees, G. O. Haldeman, George Coulson, Samuel Bye ; Treasurer, A. R. Arter ; Clerk. William Johnson.
1869 .- Trustees, G. O. Haldeman, Samuel Bye, John Loevinger ; Treasurer, A. R. Arter; Clerk, William Johnson.
1870 .- Trustees, John Yates, David Galbraith, J. B. Ritchie; Treas- urer, A. R. Arter; Clerk, William Johnson.
1871 .- Trustees, John Yatos, J. B. Ritchie, John Kimble; Treas- urer, A. R. Arter ; Clerk, William Johnson.
1872 .- Trustees, Ed. Dutton, John Yates, J. B. Ritchie; Treasurer, W. L. Parthe; Clerk, Frank Fox.
1873 .- Trustees, A. G. Hostetter, D. J. Powell, E. Dutton; Treasurer, W. L. Partho; Clerk, Franklin Fox.
1874 .- Trustees, David B. Combs, Isaac Clemson, J. B. Taylor ; Treasurer, R. A. Pearce; Clerk. F. Fox.
1875-77 .- Trustees, William B. Kepner, Isaac Clemson, D. V. Combs; Treasurer, R. A. Pearce; Clerk, John Eidenire.
1878 .- Trustees, Thomas Chambers, Elwood Miller, Georgo. Andre; Treasurer, J. B. Ray ; Clerk, John Hastings.
1879 .- Trustees, Elwood Miller, Thomas Chambers, Alex. Mckee; Treasurer, J. B. Ray ; Clerk, J. T. Jackson.
VILLAGES.
HANOVER VILLAGE.
Hanover village (known as Hanoverton Post-office) was laid out in May, 1813, by James Craig, who, purchasing the northwest quarter of section 28 of Joseph Milner, platted a village, and called it Hanover. The village street was the one now called Plymouth Street, running north and south. Craig organized a stock company, or co-opera- tive store, obtained an appointment as postmaster, built a saw- and grist-mill, and gave the village a good start. The
* Spelled Voglesang and Voglesong. t Spelled Milbourn and Milburn.
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HISTORY OF COLUMBIANA COUNTY, OHIO.
company-store failed, however, to prosper, and after a some- what checkered career, of brief duration, fell into inglorious failure. George Sloan kept a store there not long after- wards, as did Charles Pope, who committed suicide one day, but no one ever learned why.
The village of Hanover got on slowly and uneventfully until 1834, when, the Sandy and Beaver Canal being pro- jected to pass through Hanover township, near Hanoverton, there was a general brisk awakening to probable prosperous results, and, accordingly, Michael Arter, George Brown, and Horace Potter purchased land along the proposed canal at the village, and luid out an addition upon what is now Canal Street,-the present business portion of the village. Lots sold readily; the land-which had been a swamp-was excellently drained ; improvements grew apace; general ex- pectation was rosy ; and Hunoverton was to have an im- portant future. The canal project stopped, however, in the panic of 1837, and the progress of Hanoverton received a check, to be revived, however, more emphatically in 1845, 1846, and 1847, in which latter year the canal was an ap- parently realized hope. By that time David Arter and Perry Nicholas had built a great warehouse,-still standing opposite the Mansion House at Hanoverton,-and J. R. aud A. R. Arter a still larger one,-further up,-now oc- cupied by Arter & Swearingen. For a brief space of time the village transacted a good deal of business in buying and shipping produce, but, the canal failing utterly in 1847, Hanovertou's prospects came also to an end, and, settling down after that into a quiet determination to make the best of it, the village has since moved in a groove of moderate prosperity. The village is removed about a mile from Kensington,-the nearest railway station,-enjoys a good trade with the neighboring country, and, as a place of residence, offers the attractions of a picturesque situation and healthful atmosphere.
Hanover was incorporated March 12, 1836, since which time it has had as mayors, recorders, and councilmen the following :
1836 .- Mayor, Michael Arter; Recorder, John Alexander; Council- men, George Friese, David Arter, Samuel Fox, Jacob End- ley, Peter Spangler.
1837 .- Mayor, Wm. Armstrong; Recorder, Isaac Craig; Councilmen, George Friese, David Arter, Samuel Fox, Abel Cary, Thomas W. Greer.
1838 .- Mayor, Eli Davidson; Recorder, Michael Arter; Councilmen, Seth Ball, Jacob Meyer, Joseph Hillerman, James McQuil- ken, Robert Woodside.
1839 .- Mayor, Isaac Craig ; Recorder, J. R. Arter; Councilmen, Da- vid Arter, John Endley, George Sloan, E. Davidson, Chas. Nichols.
1840 .- Mayor, Isaac Craig; Recorder, J. R. Arter; Councilmen, Da- vid Arter, Eli Davidson, George Sloan, Daniel Voglesang, James Keys.
1841 .- Mayor, Isaac Craig; Recorder, Thomas T. Ickes; Councilmen, David Arter, Charles Nichols, Jesse Sinclair, Daniel Vogle- sang, Zadock Downer.
1842 .- Mayor, Joel Cowgill; Recorder, George Sloan; Councilmen, Hayden Sinclair, Jesse Sinclair, Michael Arter, Henry Mc- Can, Samuel Fox.
1843 .- Mayor, Isaac Craig; Recorder, George Sloan; Councilmen, Henry McCan, Hayden Sinclair, Michael Arter, James Keys, Samuel Fox.
1844 .- Mayor, Isaac Craig; Recorder, George Sloan; Councilmen, Samuel Fox, Hayden Sinclair, James Keys, Hugh Jordan, Michael Arter.
1845 .- Mayor, William Hilliman; Recorder, John L. H. Vallandig- ham ; Councilinen, Charles Atwell, Chas. Nicholas, Thomas T. Ickes, Henry McCan, Edward Hall.
1846 .- Mayor, Isaac Craig; Recorder, Charles Atwell; Councilmen, John Whitacre, Samuel Fox, Charles Nichols, Edward Hall, E. Swearingen.
1847 .- Mayor, Isaac Craig ; Recorder, J. L. H. Vallandigham ; Coun- cilinen, George Sloan, Thomas T. Ickes, A. V. Kinesu, B. Sinclair, Daniel Voglesang.
1848 .- Mayor, Samuel Fox ; Recorder, George Sloan; Councilmen, Michael Arter, Daniel Voglesang, Jesse Sinclair, Henry McCun, E. Swearingen.
1849 .- Mayor, Samuel Fox ; Recorder, William Gore; Councilmen, George Watson, William Lockard, John Milburn, Jesse West, George Sloan.
1850 .- Mayor, Samuel Fox ; Recorder, Charles Atwell; Councilmen, Perry Nicholas, Michael Arter, George Watson, Henry Mc- Can, George Sloan.
1851 .- Mayor, Samuel Fox ; Recorder, Charles Atwell; Councilmen, George Watson, Perry Nicholas, Thomas E. Guisce, George Sloan, Michael Arter.
1852 .- Mayor, Samuel Fox ; Recorder, James L. Smith; Councilmen, Michael Arter, L. L. Shoemaker, Perry Nicholas, Thomas Baxter, E. Swearingen.
1853 .- Mayor, Samuel Fox ; Recorder, J. B. Smith; Councilmen, Michael Arter, Perry Nicholas, L. L. Shoemaker, B. Sin- clair, J. M. Kuhn.
1854 .- Mayor, Benjamin Sinclair; Recorder, J. B. Smith ; Council- men, M. Arter, L. L. Shoemaker, P. Nicholas, J. M. Kuhn, E. Swearingen.
1855 .- Mayor, Benjamin Winder; Recorder, J. B. Smith; Council- men, George Stephens, George Brown, L. L. Shoemaker, E. Swearingen, J. W. Watson.
1856 .- Mayor, Samuel Fox ; Recorder, J. B. Smith; Councilmen, Benjamin Sinclair, George Brown, J. W. Watson, M. Arter, Josiah Fox.
1857 .- Mayor, Jesse West; Recorder, A. R. Arter; Councilmen, L. L. Shoemaker, J. J. Yales, Philip Voglesang, Josiah Fox, Thomas Baxter.
1858 .- Mayor, L. L. Shoemaker; Recorder, John Robertson ; Coun- cilmen, David Coulson, George Voglesang, Theodore Arter, Louis Milbourn, Isaac Shaw.
1859 .- Mayor, L. L. Shoemaker; Recorder, J. G. Caruthers; Coun- cilmen, George Voglesang, Isaac Shaw, Louis Milbourn, Josiah Fox, George Brown.
1860 .- Mayor, L. L. Shoemaker; Recorder, J. G. Caruthers; Coun- cilmen, H. R. Ruth, John Vinacke, George Voglesang, Louis Milbourn, Josiah Fox.
1861 .- Mayor, L. L. Shoemaker; Recorder, Theodore Arter; Coun- cilmen, George Smith, J. W. Vinacke, George Brown, J. R. Fox, H. R. Ruth.
1862 .- Mayor, Samuel Fox; Recorder, Theodore Arter; Councilmen, Henry Walser, David Johnson, Levi Reeder, John Levin- ger, George Ickes.
1863 .- Mayor, Milo Cain; Recorder, R. G. Williams; Councilmen, Isaac Shaw, Reason Pritchard, A. R. Arter, George "ogle -. sang, Isaac Grim.
1864 .- Mayor, Samuel Fox ; Recorder, R. Pearce; Councilmen, Louis Milbourn, George Brown, Isaac Shaw, A. J. Haldeman, Joseph Heston.
1865 .- Mayor, Jesse West; Recorder, Joseph Heston; Councilmen, George Voglesang, A. J. Henry, James Sloan, Louis Mil- bourn, E. B. Shaw.
1866 .- Mayor, George Voglesang; Recorder, J. G. Caruthers; Coun- cilmen, A. R. Arter, E. L. Strahn, John Levinger, A. J. Haldeman, Louis Milbourn.
1867-68 .- Mayor, George Voglesang; Recorder, Milo Cain; Council- men, A. J. Haldeman, John Levinger, Louis Milbourn, A. R. Arter, E. S. Strabn.
1869 .- Mayor, George Voglerang; Recorder, R. A. Pearce; Connoll- men, Lewis Parthe, John Levinger, B. F. Marsh, Louis Milbourn, L. H. Eells.
1870 .- Mayor, Milo Cain; Recorder, Richard Pearce; Councilmen, Lewis Parthe, Louis Milbourn, B. Sinclair, L. H. Eells, John Hotchkiss, A. Durhamma. .
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TOWNSHIP OF HANOVER.
1871 .- Mayor, George Voglesang; Recorder, Alonzo Arter; Council- men, Lewis Parthe, Louis Milbourn, William Johnson, George Brown, William Lawson, H. Ruth.
1872 .- Mayor, George Voglesang : Recorder, Alonzo Arter; Council- men, H. Ruth, William Lawson, George Brown, A. R. Arter, Dr. Robertson, John Levinger.
1873 .- Mayor, George Brown; Recorder, Alonzo Arter ; Councilmen, A. R. Arter, Dr. Robertson, John Levinger, John Scotland, R. Pearce, Joseph Kreush.
1874 .- Mayor, George Brown ; Recorder, R. C. Milner; Councilmen, John Scotland, R. Pearce, Joseph Kreush, A. R. Arter, George Entrekin, Joseph R. Ray.
1875 .- Mayor, George Brown ; Recorder, R. C. Milner; Councilmen, Joseph R. Ray, George Entrekin, A. R. Arter, George W. .Yunt, Samuel J. Hole, A. A. Halden-n.
1876 .- Mayor, A. V. Johnson; Recorder, J. T. Jackson; Council- men, A. A. Haldeman, Samuel J. Hole, George W. Yunt, A .. R. Arter, George Voglesang, W. Martin.
1877 .- Mayor, A. V. Johnson; Recorder, J. T. Jackson; Council- men, W. Martin, George Voglesang, A. R. Arter, Reason Fox, J. B. Taylor, J. Scotland.
1878 .- Mayor, George Voglesang ; Clerk, G. A. Sheets; Councilmen, J. Scotland, J. B. Taylor, Reason Fox, William Lawson, William Martin, C. Milbourn.
1879 .- Mayor, George Voglesang; Clerk, G. A. Sheets; Councilmen, C. A. Milbourn, William Martin, William Lawson, J. B. Taylor, John Scotland, R. Fox.
GILLFORD VILLAGE.
The village of Gillford, although now but a quiet, unpre- tending rural settlement, possesses an interesting history, and, like at least two other villages in the township, bloomed years ago with bright hopes and promising antici- pations of future greatness.
In 1835, upon the projection of the Sandy and Beaver Canal, a part of whose chosen course was to pass through section 12, Hanover township, Dr. George McCook, J. G. Willyard, and Jacob Schreiber purchased of John Menzer the northeast quarter of that section, upon which Menzer had built a log cabin and made a small clearing.
They laid out a town, advertised both near and far the prospective advantages likely to flow towards the place from the construction of the canal, and announced an auction sale of town-lots. About the same time Samuel Fugat and John Hanna laid out lots on the southeast quarter, and when the day of sale came to hand there was on the ground a large and enthusiastic gathering of people,-re- membered now as numbering upwards of 3000,-from Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and even more distant States. Excitement ran high ; everybody thought Gillford was destined to be a great city, and, as a consequence, building- lots-many of which were covered with growing timber- sold at fabulous prices, and were bought with that frenzied eagerness inseparable from the enthusiastic American tem- perament when brightened with visions of prospective gain and brilliant promise. Meanwhile, work on the canal was being vigorously pushed; the town began to put forth stores, dwellings, hotels, and kindred indications of civiliza- tion, and was given the name of Gillford, in honor of Gill, the engineer in charge of the work on the canal.
At the first sale upwards of 150 lots were sold, and in some instances so wild were purchasers that $250 a lot was more than once paid. After the canal bubble burst, many of the lots that had been bought for $250 each were sold for fifty cents and a dollar apiece.
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The first store in the place was opened by Caleb Hawley and James Graham directly after the first move to create the town. James Graham had for years been a store- keeper at New Garden. Caleb Hawley-now residing at Gillford, and known as the "Squire"-had been a clerk with Graham. Samuel Boots, a farmer, sold his farm, bought a lot in Gillford, and put up a big tavern-stand, in which for two years he did an immensely profitable business. Other stores and taverns followed, business grew, houses kept going up, rents were exorbitantly high, the canal was pushing rapidly on, and within a year after the town's birth, there being 400 or 500 inhabitants therein, it was incorporated in 1836, Thomas Brandon being chosen mayor and William Torrance clerk. The next mayor was Moses Louthan, chosen in 1837, but in that year the golden pros- pects of Gillford took wings, and, although the village still possesses its charter, it has never since 1837 chosen to exercise the functions of an incorporated village. As a municipality its existence was of short duration. Travel to and from Gillford in those days was enormous, and road- side taverns sprang up thickly and drove a flourishing trade, the most popular and successful one being that kept by . Rachael, widow of Daniel Hostetter, still living on the old place west of Gillford.
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