History of Columbiana County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 70

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 70

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).

The Hime's Church Cemetery was platted at the time of the erection of the church-edifice. The land was do- nated by John Hime for the purpose. John Hahn was buried there in 1842. This was the first interment.

Taylor Wooley reserved a quarter of an acre of land on his farm near Rochester for the purpose of a burying- ground. It was called the Wooley Burying-ground, and intended to be used for the family interments. It was laid out in 1854. Mr. Wooley was the first person buried there. This cemetery has not been kept private, and many persons not members of the family have been interred there.

SCHOOLS.

One of the first schools in West township was located on section 35, in 1811, or before. In 1812, Nathan Pine, the pioneer, taught the school. It was at the same time used for church purposes. In the Sanor neighborhood, so called, was a log school-house in 1816. The township school districts have been frequently changed since their original division. The greatest number at any one time was fourteen. The present number is nine. Each district comprises four square miles of land, so joined as to form a square. The school-house is located as nearly as may be in the geographical centre of each square. The buildings themselves are, with but one or two exceptions, substantial structures, and especially adapted to the use intended. The fund derived from section 16 has been devoted to the im- provement and enlargement of the buildings and property. The annual expense of maintenance is about $3000. Nearly $1000 of this amount is received from the State and the revenue derived from section 16.

INDUSTRIES.

The township of West contains over 22,000 acres of farm and grazing lands. Its many streams and excellent natural

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JOHN CRISINGER.

8. Hime

JOHN HIME.

RESIDENCE OF J. L. HIME, WEST TP., COLUMBIANA CO.,O.

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TOWNSHIP OF WEST.

drainage offer inducements to stock-growing that but few of the other townships of the county can approach. The water-privileges have also led to the erection of several saw- and grist-mills. The Davis mill, so called, north of Rochester, was built about 1820, by David Davis, son of Isaac Davis, the pioneer. This is one of the best-appointed saw- and grist-mills in Columbiana County. Mr. Davis for many years supplied the people of West and adjoining townships with flour and plaster made at the mill. The surplus over the amount needed for home consumption was sent to Cleveland, and there found a market. The property after many years passed into the hands of Baxter & Mar- shall. In 1878, Henry Wilhelm and Owen Stack house became proprietors of the mill.

Milbourn's saw-mill, on section 9, was built in 1831, by Joseph Milbourn and Jacob Thomas. In 1878 the mill was rebuilt, but still retains its original name of " Milbourn's Mill." The present owners are Kelly & Albright.

The tannery at Chambersburg was built about 1843, by J. D. Koffel. The changes in its ownership have been fre- quent. At present it is owned by Peter Cline. Snyder's mill, so called, was built on section 17 in 1845, by Jacob Snyder. It is now owned and operated by Messrs. Coldsnow & Miller, of West township.

The Moultrie flour-mill was built by John Widle and George W. Newmacher in 1875.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

JOHN L. HIME

Was born Oct. 4, 1823, in Guilford township, Franklin Co., Pa. ; assisted his father (who was a blacksmith) at in- tervals in and about the shop from a very early age until in his seventeenth year. In the year 1840, the family, in company with those of three of his uncles, emigrated to Ohio. John Hime (the father) purchased 72 acres of what was then commonly called Hahn's section (section 8), in West township, Columbiana Co., where the subject of this sketch assisted in clearing up the farm, going to the district school during the winter term. When in his twentieth year, at the urgent request and solicitation of his father, but against his own inclination and desire, he went to An- drew Deppen, of New Franklin, Stark Co., to learn the trade of saddle- and harness-making; he served two years and nine months for the sum of sixty dollars, washing, mending, and two weeks free each harvest. After learning his trade he taught school two terms of three months each in Paris township, Stark Co., and one term of four and one- half months in West township, Columbiana Co.

Married Judith Crisinger, Oct. 20, 1849. Of this union were born two children, viz. : Mary E. and Anna S. Mary E. is married to a Mr. Burger. In 1849, John L. Hime located in New Chambersburg, and engaged in the saddle and harness business until the spring of 1864, when he moved on the northwest quarter of section 15, having pur- chased it two years previous of George Messimore. Hlas been postmaster at New Chambersburg from September,

1853, to April, 1864; has held the office of township treasurer five years, and clerk of the township two years. In politics is a Republican. The futher of Mrs. Hime (John Crisinger) was born Jan. 8, 1806, in Somerset Co., Pa. Within a year after his birth his father moved to Colum- biana Co., Ohio, and settled near Dungannon, on section 35, in Hanover township. John Crisinger resided here with his father until 1840, when he purchased one hundred acres of land in the northwest part of section 33, in Knox town- ship, Columbiana Co., and resided there until 1873; he then sold his farm and purchased a house and lot in Moul- trie, where he died of paralysis, August, 1874, in the sixty- ninth year of his age. During his residence in Knox township he held the offices of township trustee and town- ship treasurer. In the early part of his life he united with the Lutheran church; in later life he joined the Presbyte- rian. Politically a Democrat. In 1826 he married Sa- lome Lindesmith, who is yet living. Had seven children,- four sons and three daughters,-two sons and three daugh- ters yet living.

The father of Mr. Hime (John Hime) was born in North- umberland Co., Pa., Oct. 24, 1794, and although his father was a school-teacher, the son was in school only four weeks, and that in a German school,-the German language being used exclusively in that neighborhood until within the last fifty years. John Hime worked on his father's farm, which was poor and rocky, until he was apprenticed to a black- smith. After working at his trade four or five years he took to tramping, with a view of seeing more of the world, and settled in Franklin Co., Pa., where he subsequently married, and bought five acres of land and a house for nine hundred dollars. At the time of purchasing he had not one dollar to pay for his property, yet he managed to pay for it and save some money besides. Worked at black- smithing for twenty-six years. Married three times,-first wife a Miss Burkholder, who died shortly after marriage ; second wife Catharine Lehman, who died in 1834, the mother of six children, two of whom survive, viz .: J. L. Hime and Mary Hahn; third wife, Martha Burkholder, who died in 1854, the mother of five children, one only living at this time, viz. : Elizabeth Knight. John Himes died of paralysis in November, 1870, in the seventy-seventh year of his age. He was in politics a Democrat ; in religion a Lutheran.

JOHN WALTER.

The subject of this sketch was born in Adams Co., Pa., near Gettysburg, in 1811. He was the oldest son of Jacob Walter.

Jacob Walter was married to Susannah, daughter of Jacob Rumble, in 1810; came from Pennsylvania about 1826, and settled in New Lisbon, Columbiana Co .; he afterwards re- moved to Jay Co., Ind. Jacob Walter's family consisted of John (who inserts this sketch), Henry, Elizabeth, Peter, David, William, Catharine, Mary, Daniel, Washington, and Sarah. Of this large family all are living.

John and Henry are living in West township, Columbiana Co., one in Kansas, and the other members of the family

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HISTORY OF COLUMBIANA COUNTY, OHIO.

are in Jay Co., Ind. Jacob Walter is of German descent. John Walter married Rebecca Willet, Feb. 1, 1835. By this union were born four children, viz. : Mary Ann, Bene- zette, Harrie., and Elizabeth. All living except Elizabeth, who died in 1871.

Mrs. Rebecca Walter died April 23, 1844. John Walter married for his second wife Margaret, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Essick, Nov. 14, 1844. Their children were Sarah, Susan, John, William, Maria, Margaret, and Ella, all living. All married except two.

John Walter has held the office of assessor and township trustee in the township in which he resides. He is a mem- ber of the Disciples church, and for many years has main- tained his Christian profession with uniform consistency.

In politics he is a steadfast and earnest Republican. John Walter remained at home with his father until he was twenty-two, working on the farm, and received during that time a common-school education. His first purchase was a lot in New Lisbon, Columbiana Co., where he built a house and lived until 1841. He then removed to West township, where he purchased a farm of eighty acres of land; to this he has added from time to time, until he now has a beautiful farm of one hundred and eighty-eight acres.

John Walter has spent the greater part of his life as a farmer ; for four or five years he worked at the weaving business. He is an industrious and economical farmer, fair and honest in his dealings with others, and one of whom it can be said he is a good citizen and neighbor.

YELLOW CREEK.

THE township of Yellow Creek, lying partly upon the Ohio River, where that stream describes its great northerly bend, occupies range 2, is known as township 9, and con- tains nineteen full sections and four fractional sections, the latter lying upon the river.

The boundaries are, Madison township on the north, Jefferson County on the south, Liverpool township and the Ohio River on the east, and Washington township and Jefferson County on the west.

Except upon the river, the surface of the township is hilly and uneven, but the soil upon the highlands is fruit- ful, and richly-yielding farms are numerous. The interior streams are Big Yellow Creek and Little Yellow Creek, the former of which flows across the southwest corner, while the latter, a good mill-stream, crosses from north west southeasterly and empties into the Ohio at Wellsville.

The Cleveland and Pittsburgh Railroad, following the river's course, touches at Wellsville, and emerges at the south, to re-enter the township in the southwest, where it passes diagonally across.

Coal, iron-ore, fire-clay, water-lime, white sandstone, and flag- or building-stone are found in the township, and in many instances profitably utilized.

In this region Nature has been profusely lavish in scat- tering the fruits of her most skillful handiwork, and on the hills and valleys which adorn the prospect the eye of the traveler may, in the pleasant seasons of the year, rest without wearying.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

The land now occupied by the township of Yellow Creek was surveyed under government authority, together with adjoining tracts, by one Robert Johnston shortly previous to 1788. Johnston was to have $6 per day for his services, and at a government sale of Ohio lands, held in New York in 1788, he took some of the lands in payment of his ac- count, which amounted to $600. He received about thirty

townships in payment thereof, at the rate of 100 acres for $6.

In 1795, James Clarke, of Washington Co., Pa., pur- chased of Johnston, at $6 per acre, 304 acres, upon which the village of Wellsville is now located.

About this time Richard Vaughn and his son-in-law, George Clarke, " squatted" upon that part of James Clarke's purchase known as " the bottom," and put up the first log cabin built in the township (on what is now Sugar Street). James Clarke, finding himself unable to meet the payments on his land-purchase, transferred it to his son-in-law, William Wells, in 1796. Mr. Wells lived in Washington Co., Pa., and in 1797 moved with his family to his new lands in Ohio.

James Clarke retained about one-half of his original purchase until 1798, when he exchanged it with Mr. Wells for adjacent land which the latter had previously purchased. Before that event Clarke built a shingle-roof log house on what is the middle of Third Street, near its junction with Water, that house being the first of its kind built in the township. His first log cabin was the one built by Richard Vaughn on "the bottom" in 1795, and which Vaughn vacated when Clarke bought the land. Mr. Clarke was chosen to the Legislature in 1809, and continued to reside in the township until his death, which took place while he was visiting friends in Eldersville, W. Va., at which time he had reached his one hundred and fourth year.

Before Mr. Wells took possession several persons besides Vaughn and George Clarke " squatted" upon James Clarke's land, among them being one James Watson, who raised a crop of corn, and one George Hill, who was the father of eigh- teen children. Hill located upon a small tract near where the car-shops of the Cincinnati and Pittsburgh Railroad Com- pany are, but neither he nor Watson settled, since they-as well as some others, whose names are not attainable-simply passed the days upon the land in tilling it, and at night

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John Waller

MRS. JOHN WALTER .

RESIDENCE OF JOHN WALTER , WEST TP., COLUMBIANA CO., O.

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crossed to the Virginia side of the river, where, in the government block-house, they took shelter.

This block-house stood upon the site now occupied by the Arbuckle mansion, opposite Wellsville, and was one of the necessities, during and even after the Indian campaign which closed in 1795, to the protection of settlers against the approach of savages.

Mr. Wells entered with a will upon the improvement of his lands, and July 15, 1797, received a commission as jus- tice of the peace, signed by " Arthur St. Clair, governor and commander-in-chief of the territory northwest of the Ohio," his jurisdiction extending from the Muskingum on the west to Lake Erie on the north. He lived for years in a log house that stood in Wellsville, near the residence now occupied by John Burnet, corner of Sugar and Seventh Streets. Shortly after Mr. Wells' occupation, settlements were made by Adam Hickman, on the farm now occupied by the widow of J. A. McBane, Robert Boyce, adjoining Hickman, Alex. McDonald, on the farm now occupied by John McDonald, Thomas Swearingen, near the present car- shops, Dawson Swearingen, where Spring Hill Cemetery at Wellsville now is, and Robert Dobbins, upon the place now known as the Beane farm, and occupied by Richard Beane.

Dobbins, who came from Beaver Co., Pa., was a machin- ist by trade, and directly after settling in Yellow Creek became a Methodist class-leader and exhorter, and shortly afterwards, as a Methodist preacher, rode the " circuit," upon which he remained until he reached his ninety-second year.

The next settlements were made on the hills west of the river by Samuel Flowers, Daniel Maylone, Robert Strain, - Hooten, and his son James. Near Yellow Creek the settlers were John Scott, " Fighting Bill Wells," John Par- sons, - Bassett, and - Knapp, the most of whom were salt-boilers. Knapp was a powerfully-built fellow, and when he first located, being forced into a fight with a per- son high in repute as a bruiser, he acquired a high standard of citizenship by completely crushing his opponent, and became thereafter much noted as a great fighter. In those days muscle commanded respect, and occasionally frolics, followed by a general knock-down fight, while they only briefly disturbed the harmony of the community of salt- boilers, called for the display of pugilistic abilities of no mean order, and a consequent high regard for men who could hit hardest. Salt-boiling on Yellow Creek was, in 41812, quite an industry, and in that year as many as twenty wells were sunk there, but more profitable discoveries elsewhere ended the business after a brief existence.

Jacob Neisley, of Virginia, was among the early pur- chasers of land on Yellow Creek. He bought a tract in 1798 and gave it to his son, Jacob, who became a settler, although the elder Neisley always remained a citizen of Virginia. Nathaniel Meyers settled on Yellow Creek in 1798, as did - Emmons on " big bottom," upon a place subsequently owned by his son Isaac. About that time Robert Martin became a settler upon a farm bought by Richard Vaughn, after the latter's retirement from the land owned by James Clarke.

About 1800 a few people came over to America from the Highlands of Scotland, and made settlements upon the tract now known as the Scotch settlement, covering a tract about

ten miles in length and from three to five miles in width. The major portion of this tract is in Madison township, and a small part in Yellow Creek. Upon the portion in Yellow Creek the early settlers were Andrew McPherson (who lived to be ninety-nine), Alexander McBane, and one McLean, known as " the Prophet." McLcan considered himself called to preach to all mankind the doctrine of the Covenanters, and by the exercise of his energies in that direction he managed to divide the members of the Scotch settlement upon religious questions, and for a time the Cove- nanters and Presbyterians were stirred by dissensions through the efforts of Prophet McLean, the Presbyterians having the benefit of the religious teachings of the Rev. Mr. Hughes.

Andrew Smith, who was a justice of the peace, lived on the line between Yellow Creek and Madison, and was a man of much prominence. He was also a school-teacher, and taught school in a log school-house on Little Yellow Creek. " Big Billy McIntosh," who was an early settler, was fa- mous as a fighter, and of him it is told that, in a fit of re- sentful fury for some fancied injury, he armed himself with a fence rail, went into West Beaver, and routed the entire community, whose members fled before the approaching vengeance of Billy's fence rail like chaff before the wind.

Daniel Swearingen purchased considerable land in the township, but never settled. He gave a tract to each of his sons, and of their descendants the only one now living in Yellow Creek is George, his grandson.

Abel Geer, an early settler, was known as "the crop-eared Yankee." He lost one of his ears in Connecticut under the law of that State requiring a man's ear as the penalty for certain misdeeds, and it is. related of him that, being in a store in Ohio one day, he asked the storekeeper how much he would take for tobacco enough to reach "from ear to ear." The merchant thought ten cents would be about fair, whereupon Geer exclaimed, " Here's my right ear" (pointing to it), "and my left is nailed to a post in Con- necticut ; now measure your tobacco." How the merchant got out of the bargain, tradition fails to explain.

ORGANIZATION.

Yellow Creek township was organized in 1805, in which year the tax levy was $57.60. The territory originally set apart to the township embraced, besides the tract now within the township limits, a row of sections on the south, which, in 1832, upon the erection of Carroll County, were appor- tioned to Jefferson County, to compensate the latter for the loss of territory set off from it to Carroll County.

The early and subsequent township records are lost, and the list of persons who have served the township as trustees, treasurers, and clerks includes, therefore, only those who have acted from 1815 to 1835, and from 1856 to 1879, as follows :

1815 .- Trustees, Wm. Wells, Daniel Smith, Moses Marshall; Clerk, Moses Marshall; Treasurer, Robert Martin.

1816 .- Trustees, George Clark, John Ogilvie, Moses Marshall; Clerk, Moses Marshall ; Treasurer, -

1817 .- Trustees, George Clark, John Ogilvie, Henry Aten; Clerk, John Ogilvie; Treasurer, Robert Martin.

1818 .- Trustees, Moses Marshall, Henry Aten, Isaiah Burson ; Clerk, John Ogilvie; Treasurer, Robert Martin.

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1819 .- Trustees, Thomas Gillingham, Richard Boyce, Henry Aten ; Clerk, Richard Boyce; Treasurer, Robert Martin.

1820 .- Trustees, Richard Boyce, Samuel Swearingen, William Smith ; Clerk, Richard Boyce ; Treasurer, Robert Martin.

1821 .- Trustees, Elimelech Swearingen, Henry Aten, Daniel Smith ; Clerk, Daniel Smith; Treasurer, Robert Martin.

1822 .- Trustees, Henry Aten, James Marshall, William McCullough ; Clerk, E. Swearingen ; Treasurer, James Wells.

1823 .- Trustees, James Marshall, Henry Aten, E. Swearingen ; Clerk, Elimelech Swearingen : Treasurer, James Wells.

1824 .- Trustees, Wm. Mccullough, Wm. Workman, Philip Smith ; Clerk, E. Swearingen ; Treasurer, James Wells.

1825 .- Trustees, Wm. Workman, James Norton, Joseph Strain; Clerk, E. Swearingen ; Treasurer, James Wells.

1826-27 .- Trustees, Wm. Workman, Joseph Strain, Nathaniel Myre; Clerk, E. Swearingen ; Treasurer, James Wells.

1828 .- Trustees, Joseph Strain, John M. Jenkins, Robert Boyce; Clerk, John S. Orin ; Treasurer, James Marshall.

1829-30 .- Trustees, Nathaniel Myre, William McIntosh, Henry Aten; Clerk, E. Swearingen ; Treasurer, James Marshall. 1831 .- Trustees, John M. Jenkins, Samuel Swearingen, Daniel Smith ; Clerk, A. G. Maylone; Treasurer, James Marshall.

1882 .- Trustees, Nathaniel Myre, Thomas Swearingen, Allen Mo- Donald; Clerk, A. G. Maylone; Treasurer, James Marshall. 1833 .- Trustees, John M. Jenkins, Daniel Smith, Samuel Swear- ingen; Clerk, N. D. Swearingen; Treasurer, James Mar- eball.

1834 .- Trustees, E. Swearingen, Wm. Workman, Allen McDonald; Clerk, B. Crowl; Treasurer, James Marshall.

1835 .- Trustees, Allen MoDonald, Philip Smith, John M. Jenkins; Clerk, A. G. Maylone; Treasurer, James Marshall. .

1856 .- Trustees, John Noble, John House, Henry Cope; Clerk, Wm. G. Murdock ; Treasurer, John S. McIntosh.

1857 .- Trustees. Harmar Blackburn, John Noble, John House; Clerk, Wm. G. Murdock ; Treasurer, Samuel Cope.

1858 .- Trustees, John Noble, John House, H. Blackburn ; Clerk, Wm. G. Murdock ; Treasurer, Samuel Cope.

1859 .- Trustees, John Noble, John House, H. Blackburn; Clerk, Wm. P. Carpenter ; Treasurer, Samuel Cope.

1860 .- Trustees, H. Blackburn, John Noble, Henry Cope; Clerk, Wm. P. Carpenter ; Treasurer, Samuel Cope.

1861 .- Trustees, Harmar Blackburn, Henry Cope, John House; Clerk, J. G. Buchanan ; Treasurer, Gillis McGregor.

1862 .- Trustees, Harmar Blackburn, Henry Cope, John House; Clerk, Wm. G. Murdock ; Treasurer, Gillis McGregor, 1863 .- Trustees, Duncan Smith, Alexander Denham, T. R. Vantyne; Clerk, Wm. P. Carpenter; Treasurer, Samuel Cope.

1864 .- Trustees, Duncan Smith, Alexander Rogers, Wallace Fogo; Clerk, Wm. P. Carpenter; Treasurer, Samuel Cope. 1865-66 .- Trustees, Duncan Smith, Alexander Rogers, Wallace Fogo; Clerk, Wm. G. Foster ; Treasurer, Samuel Cope.

1867 .- Trustees, Wallace Fogo, Alexander Rogers, W. C. Smith; Clerk, W. G. Foster ; Treasurer, Samuel Cupe.

1868-71 .- Trustees, Wallace Fogo, Alexander Rogers, W. C. Smith; Clerk, W. G. Foster ; Treasurer, S. S. Cope.

1872 .- Trustees, Wallace Fogo, Alex. Rogers, Wm. C. Smith; Clerk, Daniel S. Noble; Treasurer, S. S. Cope.

1878 .- Trustees, Win. C. Smith, Wallace Fogo, Samuel Pollock ; Clerk, D. 8. Noble; Treasurer, Samuel S. Cope.

1874 .- Trustees, Wm. C. Smith, Harmar Blackburn, A. 8. Fogo; Clerk, D. S. Noble; Treasurer, S. S. Cope.

1875 .- Trustees, Michael Bowers, Harmar Blackburn, A. S. Fogo; Clerk, T. R. Andrews; Treasurer, S. S. Cope.

1876 .- Trustees, Harmar Blackburn, J. C. Smith, A. S. Fogo; Clerk, T. R. Andrews.

1877 .- Trustees, C. W. Paisley, A. 8. Fogo, J. C. Smith; Clerk, T. R. Andrews; Treasurer, J. R. Martin.

1878-79 .- Trustees, J. C. Smith, C. W. Paisley, H. Blackburn; Clerk, T. K. Andrews; Treasurer, J. R. Martin.

WELLSVILLE.

The village of Wellsville, charmingly situated upon the Ohio, which at this point flows towards the southwest, is

the only incorporated village in the township of Yellow Creek, and indeed the only place where there is a collected settlement.

It was here that the first settlers in the township located, and here William Wells bought the tract upon which the village now rests. Mr. Wells owned 304 acres, which reached from where the Cleveland and Pittsburgh Railroad car-shops now are to the mouth of Little Yellow Creek, but did not lay out the town until 1820, when he named it Wells- ville; and, making sale of a number of building-lots, upon which several substantial dwellings were erected soon after- wards, the outlook for future prosperity was promising.

Mr. Wells, besides serving as justice of the peace, was also a judge of the county court at Steubenville until 1803. He was devoted chiefly to his farming interests, and in the early days of his settlement practiced the art of " bleeding" upon such of the pioneers as required the exercise of that feature of medical skill, although his ventures as a physi- cian never went beyond that simple performance.

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History of Columbiana County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 70

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