History of Columbiana County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 43

Author: D. W. Ensign & Co.
Publication date: 1879
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 541

USA > Ohio > Columbiana County > History of Columbiana County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 43

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In 1836, Gillford's interests received a fresh impetus through the construction at that place by the canal com- pany of two reservoirs, from which it was proposed to feed the canal in the dry seasons of the year. The larger res- ervoir contained 490 acres (which cost about $25 per acre), and was surrounded by a high embankment, in some places as high as 22 feet, the total cost of the reservoir, including land-fixtures and embankment, being about $70,000. The embankment still remains, as do many of the great pipes and stone walls, and these will long remain as sad reminders of one of the greatest follies of the age.

Gillford flourished and waxed exceedingly strong while work on the canal continued; but when, in 1837, the great financial panic stopped the canal enterprise, Gillford col- lapsed more rapidly even than it had swelled, and, in com- mon with many other places, descended to wreck and ruin, carrying with it all who had pinned their faith and fortunes upon it.

The town lay dead and dormant until 1845, when the revival of the canal project awakened, although weakly, the energies of the place; but the awakening was never a brisk one, and, after a faint struggle of two years, Gillford sank with the sinking of the canal in 1847, since which time it has quietly pursued the even tenor of its way"as a country village, with naught to disturb or excite it. The first as- sessed valuation of the town rated town-lots at an average of $60 ; after 1837 four-fifths of the lots of the town were sold for taxes, and sold in some cases as low as twenty-five cents each.

NEW GARDEN VILLAGE.

The village of New Garden, about three miles due north from Hanover, was laid out in 1810 by - Sinclair and Benjamin Saunders, who were early settlers upon section 9. Jacob Ritter laid out an addition April 4, 1832. Unlike the other villages of the township, New Garden has never experienced any especially eventful episode, and is to-day

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HISTORY OF COLUMBIANA COUNTY, OHIO.

what it has always been,-a quiet rural village receiving tribute from the surrounding agricultural districts. James Graham, one of the most prominent men in the town, kept store there, and was postmaster as well for about forty years. Since his death, in 1870, his widow has continued his busi- ness interests at New Garden.

At this place E. K. Liber has a carriage-manufactory of some importance, and Charles Liber has a foundry. There are other minor industrial interests, two stores, cooper-shops, etc. It is a pleasantly attractive village, and populated with thrifty and well-to-do people.

DUNGANNON.

In 1835, Philip Ehrhardt sold twenty acres of his farm on section 35 to George Sloan, who, in anticipation of the passage of the Sandy and Beaver Canal near that point, laid out a village and called it after his native village of Dun- gannon, in Ireland. In 1839, Philip Ehrhardt laid out an addition to the town, of which much had been and more was expected by reason of the canal passing through it. The first houses were built by Samuel Crissinger, John Lindesmith, and Frederick Wagely, and were nothing but "shanties." Dungannon shared with Gillford and Hano- ver in the enthusiastic expectations of future greatness that the canal was to create, and like them saw a day of disappointment. Robert Fleming and Gideon Gaver started a store there in 1834, and in the same building, not long afterwards, Hiram Gaver kept tavern. Frederick Wagely kept tavern there in 1837, and in 1839 James Hagan opened a store, which he continued to keep uninterruptedly until 1877, when he was succeeded by his son. Daniel O'Brien was a tavernkeeper about 1845, when the canal project revived, and after that date Dungannon's star de- clined, although it is a substantial agricultural settlement, peopled chiefly, as is the immediate vicinity, with Irish and German Catholics, who have for years supported a Catholic church in the village.

KENSINGTON VILLAGE

was laid out in 1852, upon the completion of the Cleveland and Pittsburg Railroad, and was called Maysville, as a tribute to Samuel 'May Holland, who owned the village site. The work of laying out the town, he being in California, be delegated to Messrs. Wm. Holland and Robert Miller. As a railroad station, however, the place was known as Hano- ver. There being other places in Ohio named Maysville and Marysville, much confusion attended the shipment of goods, and the name of the village here considered was in December, 1876, changed to Kensington, as a railroad station, post-office, and town. The first station-agent was Jacob Dutton, who opened also the first store in the town. Edwin Dutton succeeded him as agent, and in 1866 Oliver Miller was appointed, and has filled the place ever since. The storekeepers who succeeded Mr. Dutton were Matthew Graff and Richards & Swearingen. B. C. Battin opened a hotel in the town in 1859, and for twenty uninterrupted years has been the only landlord the village has had. Tradition states that in the winter of 1811 the site of Kensington was occupied by a great encampment of Indians, who, although their presence alarmed the settlers, occasioned no trouble.

CHURCHES.

TRINITY REFORMED CHURCH (GERMAN).

About 1810, Rev. John Stauzh, a German Lutheran minister, wandered with his wife and two children over the Alleghanies towards the far West. Coming eventually upon a German Lutheran settlement in the townships of Centre and Hanover, in Columbiana County, he was engaged to preach for them, and services were at once inaugurated, and thereafter continued in the log cabins of the members of the faith.

Mr. Stauzh settled in Centre township, and in 1813 he organized St. Martin's German Lutheran church. Shortly thereafter a log church was erected near the present site of the Trinity Reformed church.

Mr. Stauzh preached several years without receiving any compensation, and when at last his congregation concluded that they ought to pay him for his preaching, they con- tributed about $30 worth of grain, and estimated that it would pay him for a year's service. He was a farmer. as well as preacher, and because he could support himself otherwise never worried himself about getting pay for preaching, satisfied to preach for the gratification it brought. With occasional help from others, he preached for the soci- ety until 1847, when, being enfeebled, he resigned his charge and removed farther west, where, at his son's home, he died at a ripe old age.

A brick church-edifice was built in 1847, and in 1876 it was replaced by the frame structure now in use, and standing close to the line between Hanover and Centre townships, on the west fork of Little Beaver. The name of the church society was in 1876 changed to that of Trinity Reformed.

The preachers since 1847 have been Revs. A. Wanner, S. N. King, G. M. Allbright, G. W. Willyard, and J. T. Hale. The latter was in charge in June, 1879, when the membership was 72.

The present elders are John Willyard, Jr., and James France; the deacons are Frank Chandler and John Ream ; and the trustees, Joseph Willyard and Benjamin Ream.

FROST'S METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

The early history of this church-now located in Centre township, and known as Point Pleasant church-is identi- fied with the history of Hanover township.

Amos Frost, one of the early settlers in Hanover upon the west fork of the Little Beaver, busied himself actively in promoting the organization of a Methodist Episcopal church in his neighborhood. Soon after his settlement, and about 1820, the organization was effected, with a mem- bership list as follows: Amos Frost and wife, Thomas Whit- acre and wife, Garrett Hart, Elizabeth Frost, William Frost and wife, Daniel Haldeman and wife, Thomas Coney and wife, Mrs. Breidenstine, Mrs. Paxson, Mrs. Fugut, Eleanor McLean, James Frost and wife, Amos, Jr., Mary Ann, George, and Mabela Frost.

From 1820 to 1842 services were held at the houses of the members, but chiefly at the Frost homestead, by the following preachers : Revs. Jacob Hooper, - Deuler, Wm. Tipton, Charles Tresalt, Henry Knapp, Samuel Brock- meir, Dennis Goddard, B. O. Plympton, Ezra Booth, A. G.

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Richardson, Samuel Adams, Robert Hopkins, John Knox, William Henderson, Edward Taylor, John Somerville, Nathaniel Calender, George Brown, - Winans, Alfred Bronson, and William Harolson. The earliest class-leaders were Garrett Hart, John Stoy, and William Frost.

In 1842 a frame church-edifice was erected near the Frost residence by Amos Frost's heirs. In obedience to his expressed wish, it was called Frost's church, and upon its weatherbeaten front may yet be seen traces of the legend setting forth the fact. After the church was built,- there having been no trustees previously,-the trustees were John Stoy, William Frost, James Frost, Joseph G. Keith, and David Arter. The preacher first heard in the new church was Rev. Joseph Montgomery, and after him, among those who served, were Revs. Sleetz, King, and Williams. Late in 1877 the place of worship was changed to Centre township, where a new church had been built; and in the history of that township, therefore, the later history of the church will be found.

"FRIENDS'" MEETING-HOUSES.

The first church built in Hanover township was a log meeting-house erected by the Society of Friends, just east of New Garden village, about 1806, or shortly previous. Nathan, Thomas, and James Galbraith were leading men in the society and in the formation of the church. Meetings were held every Sabbath, and, as there was no other church in the vicinity, people of all denominations assembled there for worship, so that the congregation was always numerous, while many of those who were Friends came from a great distance. In 1840 the log church was displaced by a handsome and commodious brick edifice upon the same site. The members of the church joined in the erection of the structure, themselves burning the brick and bestowing such other labor as was required. Not long after that the Quakers living thereabout, being somewhat disheartened at the damaging overflows upon their farms from the canal reservoir at Gillford, began to move away, and in a short time nearly all the Quakers were gone from the neighbor- hood. The church organization was accordingly abandoned, and after standing until 1859 the building was demolished.

About the date of the building of the church at New Garden, the Friends living near Hanover village erected a log meeting-house about a mile west of the village. The first elders were Stephen McBride (the founder of the church), Sarah, John, and Levi Miller, and the first preacher Sarah Shaw. This was the only church in the neighborhood for some time, and not only Quakers, but many others, worshiped there, the attendants usually num- bering 100 or more. In 1827 the present brick meeting- house replaced the log church, but since that date removals from the settlement have made inroads upon the church membership, which is at present small, but zealous as of old.

THE DISCIPLES' CHURCH OF HANOVER

traces its history back to 1820, when a Christian church was organised at Hanover, Gainor and Enos Ellis being the chief movers in the matter. Preachers came over from Kentucky upon the organization of the church, among them being Messrs. Sechrist, Hughes, and others. The first

house of worship was a log cabin put up just south of Han- over village.

About 1825 dissensions began to show in the church, owing to the rise and growth therein of the Disciple doc- trine, and these dissensions, continuing until 1830, ended with a victory for the Disciples, who, absorbing wellnigh the entire congregation, reorganized the church according to their faith, leaving the Christians to pass from view. Joseph Rhodes and Christian Keith were prominent in the new organization, at which event there were about 100 members. An addition to the old log church was at once built, and that place of worship served until 1859, when, in June, the present church-edifice was completed. Among those who have preached for the Disciples since 1830 may be named John Whittaker, Wesley, Lanphear, Vanvoris, John Henry, Jonas Hartzell, George Lacey, Cyrus Bos- worth, Harrison Jones, and Isaac Ehrhardt. Charles Strahn, officiating also at Augusta, in Carroll County, was the church pastor June 1, 1879, when the membership num- bered 120.

THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF GILLFORD

was organized in 1836, and a frame house of worship built south of the town upon a lot donated by Samuel Fugat. The church flourished for eight or ten years, but, losing most of its members by removals from the place, was eventually dissolved.

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF GILLFORD was organized about 1844, when, and shortly thereafter, John Hester, Mr. Dales, and John Hoffman were class- leaders. Previous to that time the Methodists at Gillford worshiped at New Lisbon. About 1846, J. P. Conly settled in Gillford as a storekeeper, and shortly afterwards donated a lot, upon which the Methodists erected a church. Mr. Conly preached occasionally, and there were also occa- sional services by circuit-preachers, but the congregation has never been large and has never had'a stationed pastor. With New Garden and Hanover, it is attached to the Han- over circuit, and is in charge of Rev. Williams.

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF HANOVER

was organized in 1834, when Joseph Hillerman was chosen leader. The seven original members were Joseph and Elizabeth Hillerman, Hannah Ball, Charlotte Arter, Mr. and Mrs. James Kynett, and Mrs. Verner. The first trus- tees were Michael Arter, Joseph Hillerman, and Jacob Meyers. Revs. Alcinus Young, Eddy, Gardner, Montgom- ery, Weekly, Petty, Crouse, Gilmore, Stevens, Brown, Jordan, McClure, Elliott, Rogers, McGregor, Kagle, Sleetz, Wright, McClure, King, and Williams have served as pas- tors. Mr. Williams was the pastor June, 1879, when the active membership numbered 60. The church, which is now in the Hanover circuit, was attached originally to the New Lisbon circuit.

The first church-building was erected in 1837, and, after being used a year for school purposes as well, received the addition of a second story, preaching having previously been held in the Disciples' church. The building was utterly demolished June 30, 1876, by a violent and destruc- tive wind-storm, which caused much other damage in the

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town. The church now in use rose upon the ruins of the destroyed temple in 1876, and was in 1877 formally occupied.

THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF HANOVER

was organized about the year 1830 by Rev. James Rob- ertson, then a resident of Hanover, and a. preacher noted for organizing churches in Columbiana County. Mr. Rob- ertson, George Sloan, and others had built a frame church at Hanover in anticipation of the organization, and in that building the organization was effected.

Previous to that time, Rev. C. L. Vallandigham and Mr. Robertson used to preach occasionally in the village, and oftentimes the Presbyterians of Hanover worshiped at Bethesda church, in Franklin.

The first elders of the church were John Calder, Hugh Jordan, and George Sloan. Mr. Robertson was the first stated pastor and preached until 1846, when he organized a Free Presbyterian congregation at Hanover, and preached for that church. After him, in the Presbyterian church, the pastors were Revs. Robert Dickson, Dalzell Carson, Robert Johnston, Dundas, and Miller. The church has at present about 80 members and depends upon supplies, Rev. Mr. Hare being the supply June, 1879. The elders now serving are Henry Swearingen, Wm. Martin, and Ed- ward Dutton. The frame church erected in 1830 served until 1841, when it was replaced by the present brick structure.

In 1846 the church became divided on the slavery question, and Rev. Jas. Robertson, the pastor, going with the Free Presbyterians, fitted up a house belonging to him as a house of worship, and therein, until 1861, the Free Presbyterians held services under the successive ministra- tions of Revs. Robertson, King, and Burgess, and after that year rejoined the parent church.

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF NEW GARDEN was organized in 1840, among the members then being Lewis Rider, his wife, one son, and three daughters; David Scattergood, wife, three sons, and two daughters; Nathan Baker, wife, and two daughters; Robert Dennis and wife ; Mrs. Wiles and two daughters; Edward Jones and wife; James Garside, wife, and John, Thomas, Samuel, Martha, and Mary, their children ; William and Hannah Nicholas ; Peter and Amy Ward.

Worship was held in the village school-house until 1841, when a frame church was erected upon a lot adjoining the school-house, and dedicated by Rev. Jos. Montgomery, who, with Rev. Martin S. Weekly, preached in the church for some time thereafter as they traveled the circuit. Robert Dennis, who donated the land for the church, was one of the first trustees, of whom the others were Nathan Baker, David Scattergood, and Lewis Rider. Joshua Monroe was the first presiding elder, and the first class-leader Robert Dennis, after whom came Lewis Rider and Peter Ward.

The earliest preachers were Revs. John P. Kent and Thos. McGrath, who preached in the school-house. After them followed Revs. Montgomery, Weekly, Petty, Crouse, Gilmore, Stevens, Brown, Jordan, McClure, Elliott, Rogers, McGregor, Kagle, Sleetz, Wright, McClure, King, and Wil-

liams, the latter being now the preacher on the Hanover circuit, to which the New Garden church is attached.

The present leaders are George Waters and Jacob Shiss- ler, and the trustees D. B. Casidy, Geo. Waters, A. Teo- garden, John Murray, Frank Ingram, Daniel Scattergood. The present church-building, occupying the site of its pre- decessor, was built in 1875.

THE DISCIPLES' CHURCH OF NEW GARDEN.

A Disciple congregation was organized at New Garden in 1842 as a branch of the church at Hanover, although the members of the congregation worshiped in the town school- house and Methodist church previous to and in 1841, and in that year built a frame church south of the centre of the village. At the organization there were fully 50 members, of whom Thomas Robinson, Anthony Taylor, and John Montgomery were chosen trustees. The congregation wor- shiped in the frame church until 1856, when, the member- ship having materially declined in number, the separate organization was abandoned and a return made to the church at Hanover, where the members of the New Garden congre- gation thereafter attended worship. The church-building was shortly afterwards sold and removed bodily farther north, and now serves as the residence of James Moots in the village.

In 1874 the growth of membership had assumed a health- ful tone, and, a reorganization of the church being effected with about 100 members, a new church-building-the one now in use-was erected in 1875. The trustees upon re- organization were Wm. C. Flick, Jonathan Elton, Emanuel Angomar, they being also the present trustees.

During the early days of the church's history dependence for preaching was made upon occasional supplies as they could be procured. Since the reorganization the preachers have been James Wilson, T. J. Newcomb, Callahan Harier, Samuel Teegarden. The congregation has recently, through removals, been much reduced in numbers, and depends, as earlier, upon supplies.

ST. PHILIP'S (CATHOLIC) CHURCH.

When Andrew McAllister settled in Franklin township, in 1814, he lost no time in undertaking to effect the establishment there of a Catholic church, and by 1816 several settlers of the Catholic faith having come into the neighborhood, intelligence thereof was conveyed to Canton, Ohio, where the now Bishop Fenwick was a priest, and he, journeying at once to McAllister's house, assembled the members of the faith and held mass. Mass continued to be held at McAllister's house until about 1827, when a church was built near the site of the Catholic graveyard, east of Dungannon, and called St. Paul's church. About 1830 or 1832, Rev. James Conlon was a preacher on a circuit comprising Steubenville, Wellsville, and other places, and probably then began to preach at St. Paul's church. The first stationed pastor was Rev. McCready. In 1847, . majority of the members of the congregation being at Dun- gannon, it was resolved to change the place of worship to that point, and in that year the large brick edifice now in use there was built at a cost of about $15,000. It occu- pies a commanding eminence, and is visible from a long dis-

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tance. Philip Ehrhardt, of Dungannon, having donated the church-lot, the name of the church was changed to St. Philip's. Among those who have labored there were Rev. Fathers Henry (now archbishop of Milwaukee), Kennedy, Monahan, O'Connor, Crash, Moes, Peters, Flume, Ludwig, Vattman, Spearing, and Voght, the latter being in charge June 1, 1879, when the attendants numbered 100 families, divided between Irish and Germans.

SCHOOLS.

Isaac Craig, brother of the founder of Hanover village, taught a subscription school in 1809 in the log meeting- house built by the Friends. Andrew Pettit, one of Han- over's early settlers, succeeded Craig, and taught many years, bis school being exceedingly popular and his teaching somewhat better than the average. James Shaw and Levi Miller were also early school-teachers near Hanover; and one of the first near New Garden was John Montgom- ery, who was accounted a man of extraordinary ability. He taught in a log school-house, which was erected upon the spot now occupied by the New Garden school-house. Mr. Edward Murray, an old resident near New Garden, says he assisted in building the school-house flue, and remembers the day to have been Feb. 3, 1818. He remem- bers, moreover, that the weather was so bitter cold and the house so imperfect a structure that on the 4th of February, when the children first attended school there, many of them froze their feet, although sitting near the fire, and that the ink froze to solid ice. Besides Montgomery, the early teachers were Benjamin Townsend and Thos. Galbraith.

William Knepper, who lived in Franklin township, taught school in Hanover, near Dungannon, in 1818, in the second story of a "spring" which stood on Peter Crissinger's farm, now occupied by Joseph Fife. Knepper had about thirty scholars and taught there three winters, after which Henry Benner taught there, and, several winters afterwards, in a log school-house on Crissinger's farm.

Excluding the town school at Hanover, there are eleven schools in the township, to wit : two (high and primary) at Dungannon, two (high and primary) at Kensington, one at New Garden, one at Gillford, and one each in districts 3, 5, 6, 7, and 9. The average attendance at the township schools is 320, and appropriations for the support of the schools in 1878 aggregated $2650. The Hanover union school contains three departments, and has an average attendance of 190.

CEMETERIES.

One of the first, if not the first, burying-grounds laid out in the township was the one at the Quaker meeting-house near Hanover. William Craig, father of James 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 people from a long distance conveyed the bodies of their friends thither. The ground, which is a neatly-kept spot, is still used. So much was the ground in demand that there were within it not long ago eight hundred visible graves.

There is an old burying-ground, also, near New Gar- den. That too was laid out by the " Friends," near their meeting-house, and, although the Friends and their meeting-

house have passed out of the township, the graveyard still remains, and, while being used by the general public, is kept in excellent repair and tastefully beautified from time to time.

HANOVER FIRE COMPANY.

About 1840, Hanover organized a fire-engine company, with A. N. Kineau as foreman, and it flourished well for a few years, but, conflagrations being exceedingly rare, the members lost interest in the company, and the organization was gradually dissolved. About 1860 the company was revived, only to pass, however, through a similar experience that ended in dissolution. The old hand fire-engine is still at hand, but, somewhat rusty from disuse, would probably in case of a fire be passed over in favor of the old-fashioned " bucket brigade."

SECRET SOCIETIES.

SANDY VALLEY LODGE, NO. 408, F. AND A. M.,

was organized at Hanoverton, October, 1868, with charter- members as follows : R. Pritchard, J. Sultner, R. R. Bourn, T. Keith, J. Fife, R. J. Boyce, W. L. Parthe, W. E. Pat- terson, Thos. Shaw, W. Lims. The first officers were R. R. - Bourn, W. M .; S. Keith, S. W .; R. Boyce, J. W .; R. Pritchard, S. D .; T. Shaw, Treas .; Theo. Arter, Sec. The lodge had, June 1, 1879, a membership of 60, and the following for officers : J. B. Ray, W. M .; L. Hoops, S. W .; F. F. Conser, J. W .; Stephen Keith, Treas .; D. B. Cas- sidy, Sec .; A. E. Petit, S. D .; T. Kepner, J. D .; John Loevinger, Tyler.

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History of Columbiana County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 43

Author: D. W. Ensign & Co. Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Number of Pages: 541

Author: D. W. Ensign & Co.
Publication date: 1879
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 541