History of Columbiana County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 60

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 60

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).

Those who served as elders were Nicholas Dawson, Geo. Dawson, Sr., Herbert White, Geo. Dawson, Jr., - Young, - Foulks, Dr. Samuel Quigley, - McCam- mon, and John Montgomery.

'While Mr. Reid was in the pastorate dissensions arose in the church in consequence of conflicting sentiments over the display of sacred pictures at a church exhibition, and, as a result, a number of members seceded and organised an Associate Reformed church, of which more anon.

The membership of the church was therefore seriously lessened, and when, in 1850, Rev. Robert Hays, the next settled pastor, took charge, there were but 30 members, and fears were expressed lest the church would be forced to dissolve. Mr. Hays took hold with a will, however, and to such good purpose that at the close of his ministry of three and a half years the members numbered 90.

Following Mr. Hays, the pastors were Revs. David Robinson, Wm. Dickson, and Robert T. McMahon; the latter, who is the pastor at present, May 1, 1879, preach- ing two-thirds of the time at Calcutta and one-third at Smith's Ferry. The present membership is 128.

The brick church-edifice now used was built in 1868, and cost about $6000. The society also owns a parsonage, towards the erection of which the late George Thompson bequeathed $400.

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TOWNSHIP OF ST. CLAIR.

THE ASSOCIATE REFORMED CHURCH

was, as has been noticed, the outgrowth of dissension in the Long's Run church, and the scceders, about 1848, built a small brick church just above where Dr. Calvin now lives. . Previous to that, and directly after the secession, Dr. Presley of the theological seminary at Alleghany came down to Calcutta and organized the church in the barn of John Rauch, on the farm now owned by Adam Hickman. The first and only pastor the church had was Rev. Samuel W. Clark, who preached until the church united with the United Presbyterian church of Calcutta in 1858, and the Associate Reformed church ceased then, of course, to exist.

THE UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CONGREGATION OF CAL- CUTTA

was organized about 1815, and included at that time about 20 members. The destruction by fire of the church records removed the positive evidence of data, but the date and number above noted are doubtless correct.

Public services were held in a grove near the site of the present United Presbyterian church - building as early as 1812, but by what minister or ministers cannot now be stated. These services continued with more or less fre- quency until 1815, when, upon the organization of a church, Rev. Elijah Newton Scroggs was installed as the first pastor.

Mr. Scroggs was in charge also of congregations at West Beaver and " Four-Mile," Pa., for a number of years after his installation at Calcutta, but eventually devoted his en- tire attention to the latter two, and remained in charge thereof uninterruptedly until his death, Dec. 20, 1851,-a period of thirty-six years. His ashes repose in the ceme- tery near the church, where a monument marks his last resting-place.

Mr. Scroggs, like Mr. Vallandigham, was remarkable for his faithfulness in keeping his pulpit appointments in spite of discouraging obstacles, and in his journeys between the stations in his charge had often to swim rapid streams and contend with such difficulties as would have given many a man a plea for a non-fulfillment of his engagements. Hle . was a successful pioneer preacher, and organized a number of congregations in Columbiana and adjoining counties. A man greatly beloved by all out of the pulpit, he was a most uncompromising advocate of the truth, as he had professed it, in the pulpit. His life as well as his preaching was a constant reproof to all immorality, and his death, which was sudden and unexpected, was a public calamity.

Mr. Scroggs' successor was Rev. Joseph Barkley, whose pastorate continued four years, during which time he preached also at Glade Run. The next pastor, Rev. Thos. Andrews, died after a service of but a year, and in 1864 Rev. John W. Martin was called to the charge of the united congregations of Calcutta and East Liverpool. In 1867 he relinquished the charge of the Calcutta congregation, and in May, 1868, Rev. J. H. Leiper, then a theological student in the seminary at Xenia, Ohio, took the charge of the congregations of Calcutta and West Beaver, the date of his installation being June 30, 1868. He served both congregations until Jan. 1, 1876, after which his entire

time was devoted to his Calcutta charge, in which he still remains. The congregation numbers now 120 members, the additions during the present pastorate having been 120, and the retirement, by deaths and change of residence, 90. For many years it has been a sort of " recruiting-office" for other congregations, notably those in Western States. The present congregation is the result of the union of the Asso- ciate congregations of West Union and St. Clair in 1858.

The first house of worship was erected about 1818, and the second (the present one) on the same site, in 1865.

The bench of ruling elders was originally composed of John Stewart, John Ansley, and John Smith,-all of whom are dead. Following them, the elders-twelve of whom have passed away-were John Mayes, James Boyd, Andrew Stevenson, James Stewart, Alexander Young, Alexander Connell, Archibald Shaffer, David Asdell, John Eakin, Robert B. Stewart, James W. Martin, Samuel Roseburg, Thomas Laughlin, John W. Moore, Dr. Samuel Quigley, George Hettenbaugh, William Glenn, H. M. Rose, H. J. Abrams, David Simpson, S. G. Connell, Mathew Andrews. The board of deacons is composed of W. D. Rayl, J. D. West, J. L. Ansley, J. T. Abrams, and A. F. Sinclair.

THE DISCIPLE CHURCH AT FREDERICKTOWN

was organized, in 1827, by Elder Walter Scott. Previous to that date desultory preaching had been enjoyed for some time by the people of that faith in St. Clair. The resi- dences of a few inhabitants were utilized as houses of worship until the year above named, when the organiza- tion took place in the school-house located in district No. 1, of St. Clair township, and there worship was held until 1829.

The members of the church at the organization were John Jackman, Jacob Wollam, David Figley, their wives, Mary Gaston, and Rebecca Meck.

The first church-building was erected in Fredericktown in 1829, and in 1853 a new edifice was built upon a site about one and a half miles south of Fredericktown.

The last-named structure occupied that spot until 1877, when it was removed bodily to the village of Fredericktown, where it now serves the purposes of the society. It is a plain frame building, surmounted by a modest spire, but substantial in appearance, and conveniently adapted to the use for which it is intended.

Among the pastors of the church since the organization have been Elder John Jackman, Israel Belton, John Applegate, George M. Lucy, J. M. Davis, and many others, whose names are not at hand. Mr. Davis is the present pastor, and the present membership about 40.

Elder Jackman, who was the first pastor, continued as such many years, and did heroic service in prospering the church's interests, which are to-day in a fairly flourishing condition.

THE METHODIST SOCIETY OF CALCUTTA

was organized in 1869, and for the support of preaching Mr. George Thompson agreed to provide $50 yearly for the space of five years. Rev. Alexander Scott was the first minister, and continued to preach at Calcutta during his pastorate at East Liverpool. Upon his death, in 1869,

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HISTORY OF COLUMBIANA COUNTY, OHIO.

Mr. George Thompson bequeathed 8400 to the town to- wards the erection of a public hall, conditioned that it should be devoted, free of charge, to the use of any religious de- nomination, of whatsoever sect, desiring to worship therein.

Previous to the erection of the town-hall, in 1872, the Methodists worshiped in the Calcutta school-house, but upon the completion of the hall began to hold services there, and have continued since then to occupy it. Rev. W. B. Watkins, presiding elder, preached the first sermon in the hall during the ministry of Rev. William P. Turner, who was stationed at East Liverpool, and preached at Cal- cutta twice a month. The succeeding pastors were Revs. Ezra Hingely, William White, Cyrus Brough, Alonzo Shaw, and Sylvester Burt, the latter of whom, now serv- ing the church, preaches also at East Liverpool. After Rev. Mr. Hingely's term, the church was made a mission point. The average attendance at the services is now about 150.

SCHOOLS.

One of the earliest school-teachers, if not the earliest, was old Joseph Mckinnon, who taught about the year 1800 or shortly thereafter, in a log school-house on the Liverpool road, upon a place now owned by James McCoy. McKin- non's successor was Samuel Polk, noted for his convivial habits, and for being also an exceedingly able teacher.

About 1810, John Quinn, who settled in St. Clair, upon section 16, in 1808, taught in a log school-house above where Dr. Calvin lives, and William H. McGuffey taught in a frame building in Calcutta, now occupied as a residence by Robert Bradley. Mr. McGuffey was well known at a later period as the author of a " school-reader."

Still later, Joseph Hoy taught in a log school-house near the site of the present Calcutta school. There are now seven schools in the township, to wit : at Calcutta, Beaver Creek, Fredericktown, the Bell school-house, Mount Pleas- ant, near Cunnon's Mills, and on the Wellsville road. For their support in 1879 the sum of $700 was appropriated.

CEMETERIES.

The first burying ground in St. Clair township was doubtless a spot on John Mclaughlin's farm, now owned by A. B. Hickman, about a mile north of Calcutta. Graves were dug under a little clump of trees, but no heud- stones marked the resting-places of those who slept there, although marks of the graves are said to be seen there yet. Who were buried there cannot now be told, but it is certain that Samuel Huston, one of St. Clair's pio- necrs, and father of James Huston, now living in St. Clair, was one of the number.

The next burying-ground luid out was the one now ad- joining the Long's Run Presbyterian church of Calcutta. The first persons buried there were three boys, named John Coburn, Wm. Coburn, and Perry Burke, in the year 1812, or before,-perhaps 1810.

The cemeteries in the township are now three in number, -one at the United Presbyterian church, one at the Long's Run church, and one where the Disciples church used to be.

INDUSTRIES.

St. Clair occupies a fine farming region, and possesses im- portant agricultural interests. Corn and wheat are the

staple productions of the soil, but sheep-raising is the most important feature in promoting the prosperity of the hus- bandman, and to this business his energies are largely and profitably directed. Oil is found in the southeast, where a number of wells have been sunk, while an excellent quality of bituminous coal abounds in various parts of the town- ship; but lack of favorable transportation facilities prevents the production of either oil or coal to more than a limited extent, although coal is mined to an extent amply sufficient for local consumption.

Mr. C. Metsch has a fine steam grist-mill at Cannon's Mills, and at Fredericktown E. Seldener has a saw-mill and one of the largest grist-mills in the county. It is located on the north fork of the Little Beaver, is five stories in height, and has four run of buhrs. At Fredericktown also John Baxter has a tannery, and considerable business is done at this point in the manufacture of casks for East Liver- pool potteries. On the middle fork of the Little Beaver, Thomas Laughlin runs a steam stave-mill, and employs quite a number of people.

Hamilton & Davidson set up a carding-machine at Spruce- vale about 1840, and about that time Joseph Heep had a fulling-mill on the Little Beaver above Sprucevale; but these enterprises passed out of existence many years ago, as did a shingle-mill established in the neighborhood by a Mr. Ranney.

POST-OFFICES.

William Christy is recalled as the first postmaster known in what is now St. Clair township, and he had an office at Calcutta as early perhaps as 1820. It may be conceived that the duties of his office were not very onerous, for mails were few and light, but the few who did receive letters found it a great convenience to have them brought near home, instead of being compelled to go to distant points or to depend upon irregular and infrequent delivery at the hands of friendly messengers, as had been the case.

Mr. Christy's successors at Calcutta were Mathew Laugh- lin, A. M. Dawson, John Thompson, A. F. St. Clair, and T. M. Ashford. Mr. Ashford, the present incumbent, Was appointed in 1861.

Besides the office at Calcutta, there are post-offices in the township at Cannon's Mills and Fredericktown.

OIL-WELLS.

In May, 1865, the first attempt to find oil in St. Clair township was made by Geo. Hamilton, who sunk a well ou his farm, at Pine Run, near Fredericktown, but the yield was at no time greater than a half-barrel per day, and, the oil being heavy in quality, the well was soon abandoned.

Early in 1866, a well-the second one in the township- was sunk on Bealer's Run, by J. M. Hart, but it failed to produce profitable results. Shortly after that, several wells were sunk on Island Run, and, the yield proving fruitful, there arose a great and enthusiastic furore over the matter, and general expectation pointed to rich developments which would widen and promote the township's prosperity to a re- markable degree.

As many as fifteen wells were put down in the spring of 1866,-the Glasgow Oil Company being among the chief

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LACHLIN ROSS

MRS MARY ROSS.

VIEW OF BARNS.

RESIDENCE OF LACHLIN ROSS, ST. CLAIR TP., COLUMBIANA CO.O.

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TOWNSHIP OF SALEM.

operators. For a brief period, as high as one hundred bar- rels of oil per day were obtained, and it looked as if the bonanza would last, but the yield soon began to decline rap- idly, and in a short space the golden visions were dissi- pated and but little oil flowed from the bowels of the earth.

The oil interest is at present restricted to limited propor- tions. The Glasgow Oil Company own fourteen wells, but

work only a small number, and their yield, taken with that of a few wells operated by individuals, will not aggregate more than five barrels of oil daily.

Besides at the localities named, efforts have been made in other parts of the township to obtain oil, but with poor success. There is a considerable flow of natural gas from the wells on Island Run, but it is not utilized.

SALEM.

THE township of Salem is number 15, of range 3, in the original survey, and is the centre township of the northern tier in Columbiana County. It contains thirty- two full sections, four sections in the northwest quarter having been taken off in 1832 to form a part of the town- ship of Perry. The boundaries are Green and Perry town- ships on the north, Fairfield on the east, Centre on the south, and Butler on the west.

The surface is generally rolling, though the southern portion of the township is more hilly.

Iron-ore, known as kidney-ore or wash-deposit, exists in surface beds in this portion of the township. Veins of coal underlie the township, which are worked to a consid- crable extent in the northern and southern parts.

The soil is clay and gravelly loam, and is well adapted to the cultivation of grass, grain, and small fruits.

STREAMS

The principal streams are the middle fork of Beaver Creek, which enters from Mahoning County, on the north, and, flowing in a direction west of south, divides the town- ship into nearly equal parts; and two branches, one of which enters from Mahoning, east of Washingtonville, and, flowing south and southwest, unites with the middle fork near the centre of the township and north of Franklin Square. The other branch flows easterly through the western part of the township, and joins the main stream immediately west of Franklin Square. These streanis have several mill-sites, some of which have been occupied since 1803. Several smaller streams are tributary to those described, and others, flowing south, drain the southeastern portion of the township.

EARLY SETTLEMENTS. SECTION I.

Peter Miller, of Westmoreland Co., Va., as early as 1803, entered section No. 1 in this township, and paid therefor $300, of which sum his brother-in-law, Andrew Allerton, furnished $100. This land was entered at Steu- benville, and afterwards shared with Peter and William Altman, his brothers-in-law, and Michael Boston. Mr. Miller's share was subsequently apportioned among his children,-Charlotte, Susan, John, Jacob, and Peter.

The village of Washingtonville occupies nearly all of the

northwest quarter of this section, while the Cherry Valley Coal and Iron Company own most of the remaining three- quarters. Conrad Frederick purchased a part of the north half, which descended to his son Joseph, who sold to Michael Frederick, his cousin.

SECTION II.

John Bair. a brother of Rudolph Bair, entered section 2. His daughter married Philip Hontz, and succeeded to 202 acres on the east half of the section, which was after- wards sold to William Hillman. J. Gongware purchased the south part of the west third, and his descendants still own it. A Mr. Kitch bought the middle third, and sold it to Frederick Bilger, who divided it among his three sons. The corporation of Washington occupies about one-quarter of the section.

SECTIONS III. AND X.

Jacob Bossart came from Franklin Co., Pa., about 1809, to New Lisbon, where he kept store for a short time, and entered sections 3 and 10. In 1810 he moved upon section 3 with his wife, and built a cabin on the middle fork of Little Beaver Creek. He made a small clearing, and soon afterwards built a saw-mill and made the manufacture of lumber a specialty. On this mill-site Mr. Bossart built three mills at different periods ; the second was destroyed by fire. From about 1812 a mill has been in constant opera- tion upon this site, passing from Mr. Bossart successively to his son Jacob, John Betz, James Peeples, - Travis, and finally to James M. Hope, who is now in possession. With the exception of 20 acres sold to Peter Zimmerman, and 5 acres sold to Caleb Roller, both in the north west quar- ter, section 3 was kept by Mr. Bossart until his death, and then divided among his children. Of these, Jeremiah Bos- sart lives on the farm originally purchased; Dr. Jacob Bossart lives at Washingtonville. The southwest quarter of section 10 was sold by the sheriff to satisfy a bail-bond, the man for whom Mr. Bossart was bail being one day too late with the money. He kept the north half of section 10 until death, and left it to his children. John Albright bought the south part of the middle ; Christian Betz purchased 50 acres ; and Conrad Miller 18 acres.

SECTION IV.

Jesse Holloway came, in 1807, from Crooked Run, Va., and bought the northwest quarter of section 4, now owned

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HISTORY OF COLUMBIANA COUNTY, OHIO.

by Thomas Sharpnack and Joshua Davis. Thomas Ball and William Fawcett purchased where J. Campbell resides.

SECTION IX.

William Shearer, a tanner, from Westmoreland Co., Pa., came to the township in 1805, and entered the whole of section 9. His wife and four or five sons came with him. He sold the north half to John Hilliard ; 100 acres of the southeast quarter to John Sheets ; and the northeast quarter to Samuel Elton and John Rakestraw, whose descendants are now living there. The remainder was divided between his sons John and James.

SECTION XI.

John Betz came, in 1804, from Franklin Co., Pa., and entered section 11 for his father, Urban Betz. The next year Urban Betz came to occupy the land, with his wife and five sons,-John, the oldest, George, Christian, Wil- liam, and Frederick. A large house of logs was built where David Betz now lives. The axe in the hands of these sturdy pioneers soon made an opening in the forest where now the thriving town of Lectonia stands. A dis- tillery was built soon afterwards, which was in use for many years.

This section was worked by Urban Betz and his sons until his death, when it was divided. John had 175 acres in the southeast quarter, where " Grafton" stands, a suburb of Leetonia ; William and George had 175 acres each in the northwest quarter; Frederick had 100 acres in the middle of the south part, where the village of Leetonia is ; Christian, a blacksmith, worked at his trade, and received from his father's estate only 21 acres on the southwest quarter. He is said to have been the first to discover coal in the county, and the first to use it.

SECTION XII.

David Hardman, in 1803, entered section 12 for his father. It was subsequently divided, Christian Mecse, a brother-in- law of David, receiving the west third, and David the middle third. The latter built his log cabin where the " Leetonia House" now stands. He moved in a few years to Unionville, and occupied the Wilhelm farm. He sold the old farm to John Yoder, who afterwards sold to the Leetonia Iron and Coal Company. George Wyrick bought the east third of the section. Jacob Anglemeyer purchased the Mease farm, and afterwards sold it to the Leetonia Company.

SECTION XIII.

This section was entered by Rudolph Bair in 1804, who afterwards sold a part to Joseph Longanecker and a part to his son-in-law, John Smith. The section is now in pos- session of the Longaneckers, Anglemeyer, Zimmerman, and others.

SECTION XIV.

Rudolph Bair was interested in the early settlement of this section. Henry Dixson entered the southeast quarter in 1808, where his son-in-law, Daniel Sweitzer, lives.

SECTION XV.

The south half of this section was entered by Samuel Reeves, of New Jersey, in 1810, who entered at the same

time the northwest quarter of section 22. The property descended to Samuel and Isaac Reeves; the latter sold to Emor Fawcett. Ruth H. Nichols purchased the entire interests of Reeves and Fawcett in both sections, 15 and 22, and has since sold a portion of her purchase.

SECTION XVI.

This section was the school-lot, and was held for many years entirely on lease. It is still subject to lease, except the greater part of the northwest quarter. Of this N. McCann owns 40 acres, J. J. Brinker 40 acres, and J. Young 58 acres .. The remainder of the section is leased by the trustees of the township. There was erected on the creek, over fifty years ago, a woolen-mill, which was after- wards destroyed by fire. The township cemetery is in the southeast corner of the section, and contains five acres.

Jonathan Fawcett built in 1841 the stone mill which stands on a branch of the middle fork of Beaver Creek. The mill is 40 by 61 feet in size, and five and a half stories high. The foundation is laid twenty-five feet below the level of the road. The walls are four feet thick for twelve feet of their height, and thence decrease to three feet and two feet in thickness. The property was leased in 1836 for ninety- nine years, with privilege of renewal. It is now in posses- sion of B. Raney.

SECTION XVII.

In the year 1809, William Furl entered section 17. After- wards, Mr. Elwell had a part of the southwest quarter. Abram Webb purchased part of the north half. William Shinn bought in the southeast quarter. His son now lives on section 21.

In 1818, Jonathan Fawcett built a saw- and grist-mill on the section, on land given him by his grandfather, Thomas Temley, who came from Virginia in 1808, and settled in Perry township. Nathan Hawley, an elder brother of Ben- jamin Hawley, came to the township in 1816, and settled on section 17, in the southeast quarter, where Caleb Win- dell, a son-in-law, lives. Jesse Hawley, a son, lives in the northeast quarter.

SECTION XVIII.

In 1802, Jonathan Haynes entered section 18, and soon sold the southeast quarter to his brother Nathaniel. The remainder was sold in the year 1850. None of the family remain in the township.

SECTION XIX.

Section 19 was entered by Jonathan Taylor, of Belmont Co., Ohio, in 1803. In 1812 he sold the northwest quarter to Robert Phillips, who sold part of it, in 1828, to Benjamin Gaunt. The larger portion of the section he held and leased for many years, and finally sold it about thirty years ago. Senator Updegraff, of this State, is a grandson of Jonathan Taylor.

Benjamin Gaunt divided his lands on this section between his sons, John and Nerr. John is living on the homestead. Three daughters of Benjamin Gaunt live in Goshen, Ma- honing Co.,-Harriet, now Mrs. Kirtland; Rachel, now Mrs. Protheroe; and Mary. Elizabeth, another daughter, married George Hise, brother of Aaron and Howell, and lives in Iowa.

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TOWNSHIP OF' SALEM.

SECTION XX.

Abram Snyder entered section 20 in 1803, and sold the southwest quarter to Hugh Stuart, the southeast quarter to William Ogle and Patrick Kelly, and the northeast quarter to William Crane. He retained the northwest quarter till 1816, when he sold 40 acres thereof to Robert Phillips, who came to Salem township with his wife and six children, from Chester Co., Pa., in 1812.

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History of Columbiana County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 60

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