USA > Ohio > Columbiana County > History of Columbiana County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 63
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MINING.
Coal and iron mines are in the south part of the town- ship. Coal veins from three to seven feet in thickness are found on lands of Samuel Shelton, Solomon Shive, and Simon Arter. These veins have been opened many years for private use. The one on Mr. Shelton's farm was opened for shipment of coal in 1874, and is leased by Mr. Barrett, of Cleveland.
The veins on the lands of Mr. Arter and Mr. Shive were operated first for shipment by Coleman & Thompson and a Mr. Armstrong, of Cleveland. The drifts enter the hill between two hundred and three hundred yards. About one hundred tons a day are now mined. The mines are on the line of the Niles and New Lisbon Railroad, and their yield of coal is loaded directly into cars. The iron-ore found in the same locality is known as kidney-ore or wash-de- posit, and is found chiefly within a radius of ten miles. The most extensive operations in ore are carried on by B. F. Lewis, ou the farm of Uriah Teegarden, on the west side of the middle fork of Beaver Creek, a little north from Teegarden Station. About seven thousand tons of ore were taken out during the year ending July 1, 1879. The ore contains, by analysis, forty-five per cent. of iron.
RAILROADS.
The Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne and Chicago Railroad, opened in 1852, traverses the township from east to west a little north of the centre, passing through Leetonia. The railroad station at Leetonia was opened in May, 1866. . J. G. Chamberlain was agent until 1867, when J. L. Trues- dell was appointed, and has continued until the present time.
The Niles and New Lisbon Railroad, opened in 1865, traverses the township near its centre, in a northeast and southwest direction, passing through the towns of Wash- ingtonville, Leetonia, Franklin Square, and Teegarden.
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UNITY.
THIS township forms the northeastern corner of the county, and is known in the government survey as township 8, in range 1. Its original proportions are yet preserved, Unity being six miles square, and bounded on the north by Springfield, in Mahoning County, on the east by Pennsyl- vania, on the south by the township of Middleton, and on the west by Fairfield township. The surface of the north- ern part of Unity is level, but is more broken in the parts near the southern. boundary and along the streams in that part of the township where are high hills, marking the limits of small valleys. Nearly the entire surface is suffi- ciently undulated to afford natural drainage, the area of swampy lands being comparatively small. The greater part of the township has been denuded of the virgin forests which covered it, but enough timber of the common varie- ties remains for domestic use. The surface is underlaid with coal, which, in the southern part especially, is of an excellent quality. Potter's clay may be procured in the eastern part, and indications of iron - ore abound. The principal streams are Little Beaver Creek, in the northeast ; Lesslie's Run, south of the centre ; and Bull Creek, in the southwest, all having a general southeasterly course. For- merly these streams had greater volume than at present, there being now insufficient water to afford much power.
The soil of the township varies in fertility, being a clayey, sandy, or gravelly loam. It is easily cultivated, and well adapted to the mixed husbandry which prevails.
PIONEER SETTLERS.
The traditions of the early settlements are vaguely re- membered; and, no recorded history of that important period having been preserved to prompt the memory of the few remaining pioneers, the accounts they give are often so ob- scure as to render them unsatisfactory. It appears that the first to occupy the soil of Unity were a class of people called squatters, who came there in the belief that it was Pennsylvania territory, and that they could hold their lands by right of settlement. Having no means to pur- chase their lands, they gave way for another class of men, who had enough means to secure the land. It is said that a man named Beard was the first settler in the township, he having located on section 19 some time before 1800, or in that year. What became of him, or when he left, cannot be learned. Others came a little later, to remain identified with the township. Some of these are here briefly noticed :
Richard Dildine came from Essex Co., N. J., in 1801, and entered the whole of section 20. He had at that time but one child,-John, who is yet living on this section, and is the oldest settler in the township. Seven daughters and two sons were born in Unity. One of the latter, Richard, now occupies the original homestead. Mr. Dildine experi-
enced many hardships, and could not procure some articles of provisions nearer than Pittsburgh. He died on his place in 1824.
Adam Rupert, a Revolutionary soldier, located on section 17 in 1802, where he reared four sons,-John, Jacob, Adam, and Benjamin, whose descendants yet live in that locality or in Fairfield.
A few years later, Courad and Matthias Yarrian came from Westmoreland Co., Pa., and settled on sections 7 and 8. They had large families, and some of the members yet live in that part of the township.
On section 6, John Snook located some time about 1802. Christopher and David Harrold settled on section 8 in 1804. The former reared sons named John, Michael, Ben- jamin, and George; and the sons of David were Daniel, Samuel, Jacob, John, David, and Isaac, some of whom live in the northeastern part of the county.
On section 17, Michael Baker settled as early as 1802, living there until his death. On the same section Peter Heck was an carly settler.
A man named Pinnock lived on section 19 at an early day, and had a neighbor in Emanuel Dixon; the latter built a saw-mill on Bull Creek about 1803, which he sold to Frederick Roos soon after.
John Heinman, from Westmoreland Co., Pa., came about 1802, and made a settlement on section 29. In after-years he had a small shop for making grain hand-sickles. Hein- man sold part of his land to Robert Simison, who settled here about the same time. A son of the latter yet lives on section 29. Simison was one of the first associate judges of the county.
On section 27, David McCalla was the pioneer. His son Alexander yet lives on section 28. This was purchased, in 1803, by a man named Mason, who parceled it out among his sons-in-law Fronks, Maple, and Rich. David Routsou was also an early settler on this section.
Richard Beeson entered section 32 in 1801, and soon after came on to live, remaining until his death. In his duy he was one of the most prominent men of the county, holding important trusts. He put up one of the first grist- mills, and made other desirable improvements. He reared sons named Henry, Samuel, Richard, John, and Mahlon, some of whom yet live in that neighborhood.
Northwest from Beeson, Jolin Sands settled about 1803, and was soon after joined by Aaron and Isaac Chamberlain, the latter living on the farm now occupied by Wm. C. Baker, who came to this locality in 1816. In this neigh- borhood lived, before 1805, James Armstrong, John Ben- nett, Stephen Ogden, and Benjamin Reeves, and a little farther north, in 1808, Joseph Taylor, of Washington Co., Pa., became a settler. He had sons named Joseph, who
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yet lives near New Waterford, and Jacob, living in Middle- ton township. The latter is the father of Professor A. Y. Taylor, a well-known educator of the county.
Section 1 was entered by Wm. Harrah about 1802, who divided the land among his sons, and section 2 was taken soon after by Jacob Greenamyer and his sons Jacob, Solo- mon, and Daniel. They all had large families, the sons of Jacob being William, John, Jacob, Solomon, Benjamin, Josiah, and Peter. The sons of Daniel were Samuel, Jacob, Joseph, and Eli.
Solomon Greenamyer was a justice of the peace more than twenty years, and was widely known. He had fourteen children, twelve attaining mature years. Six of these were sons, named William, Jacob, David, Elihu, Jehu, and Euos.
On section 3, Moses Blackburn settled in 1802, dividing the land among his sons-John, James, Benjamin, and Moses-and his son-in-law, James Earley, who was an ex- cellent blacksmith, making grain-sickles, etc. The latter and Benjamin Blackburn served in the State Legislaturc. The Blackburns had a carding-mill on the stream running through their land, and at a little later day also fulled cloth.
Henry Forney, of Adams Co., Pa., purchased section 10 in 1802. He had six sons, John, Peter, Andrew, Henry, Adam, and Nicholas, among whom his land was divided. All lived in the township until their death. The middle part of this section is now the property of Benjamin Forney, a son of Adam, and includes the place where Henry Forney built his log cabin, the family, meanwhile, living under a large grape-vine.
Peter Eyster was an early settler on section 11, and afterwards most of his family settled there. At a some- what later day Isaac Earley became a resident of section 15, on the place now occupied by B. F. Earley. Other sons, H. V. M. and R. S., live near New Waterford. At the latter place lived Joseph Taylor, a well-known pioneer, and some of his sons yet reside there. In the same neigh- borhood, David McClaskey, James Nevin, and the Mercer family were among the old and prominent settlers. The latter homestead is now occupied by Cyrus Mercer.
Charles Long came to Unity in 1802, from Rockbridge Co., Va., and entered section 13. His family at that time consisted of a son, Charles, who yet lives on this section, at the age of eighty years, and a daughter. On the jour- ney hither another sou was born, while the family was crossing the Allegheny. From this circumstance he was usually called "Mount." A fourth child was born in 1810. Charles Long attained the rare age of ninety years, dying in the township.
Section 23 was entered by Frederick Sheets, of Cumber- land Co., Pa. He moved west in 1802, stopping about a month where Allegheny City now is, but did not like the country. Continuing his westward journey, he selected Unity as his future home, and built his house near where is now the residence of Jacob Strawhacker. He had sons named Jacob, John, Frederick, Christian, Samuel, and Abraham. The latter became a well-known physician. One of the daughters, Margaret, married William Stacy, who came to the township in 1818; another became the wife of George Augustine, belonging to a family of very
carly settlers on an adjoining section. All of the Sheets family are dead, but a large number of grandchildren yet live in that locality.
In 1801, John Taggart, of Mercersburg, Pa., entered section 25, and soon after brought on his family,-a wife and daughter. The latter became the wife of Hon. Robert Forbes. In 1804, James C. Taggart was born, and later other sons named Robert and John, all of whom lived on section 25 until their death. Other daughters became the wives of Dr. Robert Chamberlain and J. T. Brewster. John Taggart was a major in the war of 1812, and was subsequently a member of the Legislature.
After 1805 the township received a heavy immigration, many soon removing to points still farther west, and others abiding permanently. Among the more prominent may be named the Hatchers, Kees, Cress, Justison, Mendenhall, Boatman, Crum, and Martin families.
In no way can the condition of the township's settlement be better indicated than by a list of freeholders prepared in 1826, by William Irwin, Richard Beeson, and William Hatcher, for school purposes.
District No. 1, composed of sections 1, 2, 3, 10, 11, and 12, had William Harrah, James Harrah, Jacob Greena- myer, Daniel Greenamyer, Solomon Greenamyer, George Hale, John Stallsmith, Moses Blackburn, Benjamin Black- burn, John Blackburn, James Blackburn, Samuel Ritchie, John Musser, William Lewis, John Lewis, Peter Eyster, Elias Eyster, Abraham Christ, Thomas Davis, Daniel Faulkner, Daniel Rauch, Michael Kentner, Frederick Oberland, John Smith, James Carson, James Earley, Wil- liam McCready, John Forney, Jacob Forney, Nicholas Forney, Peter Forney, Andrew Forney, Christian Forney, Adam Forney, Frederick Roderick, John Hahn, John Livingston.
District No. 2, composed of sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, had as freeholders Jacob Shiely, Jacob Shiely, Jr., An- drew Shiely, Jacob Buhecker, Adam Reichard, Frederick Rapp, Israel Stahl, John Hoffman, William Aultman, Mar- tin Sitler, David Harrold, William Phillips, George Snook, Christian Harrold, Peter Fought, Paul Smith, Andrew Shepler, Jacob Shellenberger, Abraham Shellenberger, God -. fred Reach, George Trefts, William Wernwug, John Snook, John Snook, Jr., Elizabeth Whitmeyer, Conrad Yarrian, Mathias Yarrian, John Metz, Martin Shellenberger, Tobias Heverley, John Hoffmaster, Ferdinand Alkinger.
District No. 3, embracing sections 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21, had David Allen, Benjamin Allen, Adam Rupert, Jacob Rupert, Adam Rupert, Jr., Samuel Bigler, Stephen Burson, Thomas King, Russell Kees, Wm. Parker, Ann Dildine, Isabella Kees, George Vought, Peter Heck, John Baker, Daniel Hinly, Andrew Alexander, Daniel Walla- han, Andrew Nichols, John Rogers, Jehu Dildine, John Dildine, John Hadley, Jesse Hatcher, Thomas Mercer, James Scott, James Dillon, John Roos, David Mercer, John Earley, Jr.
In district No. 4, embracing sections 13, 14, 15, 22, 23, and 24, lived William Phillips, David M. Haye, John Ear- ley, David Earley, David Boies, Shadrach Hyatt, James Irwin, George Yeagle, Eli Lessley, Danicl McCarter, Wil- liam Hutchinson, Samuel Boies, Frederick Beal, Charles
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HISTORY OF COLUMBIANA COUNTY, OHIO.
Wetsel, Jacob Kentner, George Mintzer, Charles Long, Joshua Bailey, Catherine Johnson, Thomas Rogers, Wil- liam Stacy, John Sheets, Jacob Sheets, Paul Crawford, George Leibert, Isaac Augustine, Abraham Augustine, John Adams, John Mollenkopf, Henry Forney, Hezekiah Woods, Win. Forney, Lewis Slichter, George Heist, Jo- seph Taylor, George Cook, Catherine Augustine, George Clupper, Jacob Mollenkopf, James Paden, Abraham Au- gustine, John Augustine, William Irwin, Frederick Sheets, Christian Shects, William Sheets, James Boals, Mary Routzen, John McCalla, Wm. McCloskey, Wm. Andrews, Betsey McArter.
In district No. 5, containing sections 25, 26, 27, 34, 35, and 36, were William Wagner, Thomas Watson, George Sands, Jacob Harper, William Grate, William Murray, George Clay, Melchor Mellinger, John Taggart, James Taggart, Barnard Boatman, Sebastian Lozer, George Jus- tinson, John Ladd, Robert Leonard, Barnard Van Horn, Jeremiah Simpkins, Eleanor Meck, Samuel Meek, Thomas Means, John Ache, Robert Andrews, Sarah Piper, James McCalla, Thomas McCalla, James McClurg, John Curry, Jonathan Gorbay, Sarah Hartsough, Nicholas Crum, Rich- urd Baylies, John Shook, and Stephen Palmer.
District No. 6, composed of sections 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, and 33, had these freeholders : Frederick Keller, George Cress, Hugh Chain, David Routzon, Catherine Simison, Peter Rich, James Feazel, Jacob Stump, David McCalla, Jane Hindman, Joseph Hindman, Jesse Davis, Joseph Taylor, Aaron Mendenhall, David Scott, Joseph Wicker- sham, William Chamberlain, Samuel Armstrong, Benjamin Bradfield, Richard Beeson, James Boies, Lewis Moore, John Pudmore, Thomas Taylor, Aaron Mapel, John Taylor, William Hatcher, Isaac Chamberlain, John Lambertson, Benjamin Reeves, John Luckey, and John Miller.
In addition to the foregoing, there were many who had not gained a place in the list by holding estate. The township had, also, a few people of African descent, as will be seen from the following curious advertisement in the county paper of 1820 :
"ONE CENT REWARD .- Ran away from the subscriber, living in Unity township, Columbiana Co., Ohio, on Monday, the 23d inst., an indentured Mulatto girl, named Anna Barnhill, about seventeen years, ten months old. Whoever takes up said girl and delivers her to me shall have the above reward, and twenty-five lashes in the bargain ; but neither thanks nor charges paid by Martin Shellenbergher."
CIVIL LIST.
The records of the township from its organization in 1805 till 1826 having been lost, no official list prior to that date can be given in this connection. The principal officers from that period to the present have been :
TRUSTEES.
1826 .- William Hatcher, Wm. Irwin, Richard Beeson. 1827 .- James Blackburn, John Ladd, Wm. Forney. 1828-29 .- Charles Witzel, John Roos, Daniel Heck. 1830-31 .- David Allen, Samuel Meck, Thomas King. 1832 .- Hugh Martin, John Snook, Jehu Stough. 1833 .- Solomon Greenamyer, John McClymonds, Jehu Stough. 1834 .- Solomon Greenamnyer, John McClymonds, Robert Chamber- lain.
1835-36 .- Solomon Greenamyer, Thomas King, Adam Rupert. 1837 .- S. S. Simison, Joseph Taylor, Adam Rupert.
1838 .- S. S. Simison, J. C. Taggart, Adam Rupert. 1839. - Samuel Meek, Conrad Yarrian, John Blackburn. 1840,-Samuel Meek, Conrad Yarrian, Thomas King. 1841 .- Adam Rupert, Charles Long, Thomas King. 1842 .- Adam Rupert, Charles Long, Samuel Meek. 1843-44 .- Benjamin Blackburn, Charles Long, Joseph Dildine. 1845 .- Thomas King, Charles Long, Jacob Losier. 1846-47 .- Charles Wetzel, Solomon Greenamyer, Jacob Losier. 1848 .- Hugh Chain, Solomon Greenamyer, Jacob Losier. 1849 .- Hugh Chain, S. W. Dickinson, Joseph Dildine. 1850 .- John Uncapher, S. W. Dickinson, William Geiger. 1851 .- John Uncapher, Benjamin Blackburn, Jacob Losier. 1852 .- John Yarrian, Benjamin Blackburn, Jacob Losier. 1853 .- S. W. Dickinson, Hugh Chain, Joseph Dildine. 1854 .- John Clupper, Hugh Chain, Joseph Dildine. 1855 .- John Clupper, Solomon Greenamyer, S. S. Simison. 1856 .- James Davis, John Hoffmeister, S. S. Simison. 1857 .- Charles Long, John Hoffmeister, Robert Chain. 1858 .- A. S. Nevin, William Wernwag, Robert Chain. 1859 .- A. S. Nevin, David Ertsinger, W. Wernwag. 1860 .- John Mollenkopf, David Ertzinger, S. S. Simison. 1861 .- John Mollenkopf, John Baker, S. S. Simison. 1862-63 .- James R. Hamilton, Isaac Rummell, John Hoffmeister. 1864 .- T. S. Hamilton, George Yarrian, John Hoffmeister. 1865 .- T. S. Hamilton, William Smith, John Kipp. 1866 .- Hugh Chain, S. S. Simison, John Kipp. 1867 .- Hugh Chain, S. S. Simison, John Hoffmeister. 1868 .- Richard Dildine, Wm. Smith, Charles Shook. 1869 .- H. M .- Little, Wm. Smith, Charles Shook. 1870 .- Richard Dildine, Wm. Smith, Thomas King. 1871-72 .- James R. Hamilton, O. C. Rupert, Eli Harmon. 1873-74 .- Solomon Vollnagle, D. J. Forney, S. S. Simison. 1875,-W. C. Wallace, D. J. Forney, S. S. Simison. 1876 .- W. C. Wallace, Isaac Rummell, Richard Dildine. 1877 .- John Kipp, Isaac Rummell, Richard Dildine. 1878 .- John Kipp, William Wernwag, John Rupert. 1879 .- W. C. Wallace, William Wernwag, John Rupert.
CLERK8.
1826-28, Melchor Mellinger ; 1829, David McCalla; 1830, Adam Powers ; 1831-33, Thomas Kent; 1834, John Blackburn ; 1835 -37, Isaac Earley ; 1838, John Blackburn ; 1839, Robert Cham- berlain ; 1840, Isaac Earley ; 1841, David Boies; 1842, Joseph Curry ; 1843-45, David Boies; 1846, Isaac Earley ; 1847-51, Thomas Keener; 1852-53, Benjamin Forney ; 1854, William Miller; 1855, Thomas Keener; 1856, Benjamin Forney ; 1857 -58, Robert Sheets; 1859-78, Benjamin Forney; 1879, Jonathan Rouch.
TREASURERS.
1826, James Harrah ; 1827, David Boies ; 1828, Robert Dean; 1829 -30, William Forney ; 1831-32, Melchor Mellinger; 1833-35, Hugh Martin; 1836-38, Thomas Kent; 1839-40, Thomas King, Jr .; 1841, Eleazer King; 1842, David Boies ; 1843-46, Adam Rupert; 1847-52, John Paxon ; 1853, Thomas Keener; 1854-55, Wm. Geiger; 1856-57, Thos. King, Jr .; 1858-59, Joseph Young ; 1860-61, Robert V. Sheets; 1862, Thomas King ; 1863-65, Martin Koch; 1866-74, Thomas Keener ; 1875-78, Joseph Young; 1879, Samuel Wilhelm.
THE HIGHWAYS.
Many of the roads of the township were located before its organization with their present diagonal courses, which, while they shorten the distance between extreme points somewhat, impair the appearance of many fine farms. Other roads, as much as practicable, have been located on the sec- tion or half-section lines. Most of these highways are in a good condition, and some of the streams are crossed on very substantial culverts, or covered wooden bridges.
The completion, in 1852, of the Pittsburgh and Fort Wayne Railroad greatly promoted the interests of the township, and was the means of directing attention to its
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TIP TOP MILLS.
MILLS & RESIDENCE OF J. C.SCOTT & CO., NEW WATERFORD.COLUMBIANA CO., O.
RESIDENCE OF THE LATE JOHN TAGGART, BUILT BY JOHN TAGGART, 1806. UNITY TP., COLUMBIANA CO., O.
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mineral resources, and their subsequent development. The road enters Unity a little north of the middle of section 25, and has a general westerly direction about five miles, when it passes up the valley of Bull Creek northwest, pass- ing out near the corner of section 18. Two convenient stations have been provided, one at East Palestine, in the eastern part, and another at New Waterford, four miles west.
VILLAGES. UNITY.
This is the oldest village in the township, having been platted in 1810 by John Augustine. It has a high and pleasant location, on the northeast part of section 15, and before railroads diverted trade to other points was a place of much greater importance than at present. It contains a store, post-office, the usual mechanic-shops, a Methodist church, and about 180 inhabitants.
Robert Veon had a pioneer store, and was followed by those named below as principal merchants: Harrison Pow- ers, John McClymonds, John Harrah, David Augustine, Hoffstead & Young, Joseph Taylor, Eleazer King, Jesse Thoman & Bro., John McKerahan, and by the present Thomas Keener, who has been in trade since 1870.
Henry Forney had the first public-house before 1820, on the southeast corner of the square, in a small brick house with a frame lean-to. Other places were occupied for taverns by Daniel McCarter, Christian Keener, and one or two others for short periods.
It is said that John McClymonds was the first postmaster, keeping the office in his store. He was followed by Thos. Kent, a school-teacher, and he in turn by David Boies. The office has also been held by Thomas Keener, John Mollenkopf, Lovina Earley, John McKerahan, and, since 1870, again by Thomas Keener. The office is supplied with tri-weekly mail from East Palestine.
Dr. Hugh Martin is remembered as the first permanent physician, coming some time before 1828, and remaining until about 1840. A part of this time Dr. Jehu Stough was also in practice. Other physicians located here were Drs. Wm. W. Heinman, Isaac Snyder, John Thomas, Samuel Ball, J. L. D. Hindman, and Nathaniel Dustin. The place has been without a physician the past twelve years.
Twenty years ago the manufacture of shoes was exten- sively carried on by Wm. Hoffstatt, umployment being given to six or eight hands.
A tannery has been operated many years by Charles Shook & Sons, and near the village brickmaking is carried on by Benjamin Unger. In 1873, Emanuel Welk and Daniel Crum put up a steam saw-mill, and yet operate it.
NEW WATERFORD.
This village has a pleasant location on both sides of Big Bull Creek, on sections 19, 20, and 29, and was laid out, about 1851, by John and Robert Silliman. Two additions have since been made by Joseph Taylor. When the rail- road first located a station here, it was known by the name of the Creek, but the present name was soon after selected.
The village received a post-office about the same time, George Cornell being the first postmaster. His successors
have been John Baker, Frank Cox, D. M. Bloom, and the present incumbent, Mathew Kane, who has the office in his drug-store, in connection with the express-office.
John Silliman was the first to engage in merchandising, having a store where are now D. D. Chidester & Co. At this stand have also been in trade Samuel and James Spencer and Wm. Chidester.
On the south side of the creek, John Nevin engaged in trade about 1857, at the stand now occupied by James Creese. Other merchants at this place have been George Crawford and Charles B. Fisher. Mollenkopf & Mellinger have a shoe store. All of these stores transact a large business, and New Waterford has an excellent reputation as a trading centre.
Public-houses have been kept by Fred. Hauptman, who yet continues landlord, and John F. Mitchell. The latter house has been changed to a residence.
The only physicians who located permanently are the present practitioners, Drs. Frank Cox and D. M. Bloom.
The first improvement of the water-power of Bull Creek in this vicinity was a mile above the village. Soon after 1804, John Hatcher erected saw- and grist-mills, which have been kept in almost constant operation since. Among -the different owners have been Jesse Allen, C. W. Fisher, and James Scott. The grist-mill was discontinued about four years ago.
Below the village a grist-mill was gotten in operation by Joseph Heinman, which was subsequently owned by James Tritt and I. Thompson ; the latter supplied steam-power. For some time this mill has been idle. Still farther down the stream Richard Beeson put up pioneer mills, about 1803, which, in time, gave place to mills of greater capacity. In after-years they were known as Mendenhall's. The power is at present unemployed.
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