USA > Ohio > Columbiana County > History of Columbiana County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 76
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MOUNT NEW LAND FARM. RES. OF J. S. STRAWN, GOSHEN TP., MAHONING CO. O.
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ABEL STRAWN.
MRS. ABEL STRAWN.
ABEL STRAWN.
Abel Strawn was born in Bucks Co., Pa., in 1800; lived with his father until 1822, when he emigrated to Ohio and settled in Goshen township; in 1823 married Miss Hannah Spencer, who lived to rear a large family.
His father (Daniel Strawn) entered land in Goshen township in 1805, which is now owned by his grandson, D. P. Strawn. Daniel Strawn's family consisted of sixteen children,-eight boys and eight girls. This large family all lived to be grown and married.
When Mr. Abel Strawn purchased his land but little of it was ready for cultivation. He has cleared it and made for himself and family a desirable home. This he has done by hard labor and strict economy. He did not devote his entire time to farm-work, but found time to engage in the manufacture of brick, his sons, J. S. and D. P. Strawn, managing this part of the work a part of the time. Mr. Strawn is now living at the age of fourscore years. He has lived to see the almost unbroken forest give place to the beautiful farm-houses with their modern con- veniences which dot every hill and valley around him, and to see villages on either side of him with
their stores, mills, churches, schools, and comfortable residences.
The Strawn family held a reunion in July, 1879. From the Salem Republican the following notice is taken : "The family connections of Abel Strawn gathered at the old homestead, three miles west of Salem, on the 8th of July, to celebrate his eightieth birthday. Those present were Abel Strawn (the sub- ject of this sketch); Jesse Strawn, his only surviving brother; Ella Livesley, his only surviving sister ; and her husband, Jason Livesley." It then enu- merates forty-six other family connections, adding : " And these are all Republicans. After partaking of a refreshing supper and tarrying a while in the evening, cheered with pleasant music, they all returned to their several homes well pleased with the reunion, feeling it was time well spent."
Mrs. Strawn has been deceased some time. The helpmate of a pioneer in all the vicissitudes of a new country, with its trials and privations, fills no less an important place than the pioneer himself. Such an one was Mrs. Strawn. The place left vacant by the death of a good mother can never be filled. " Her children rise up and call her blessed."
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but now almost unknown. Amid such scenes young Davis spent nineteen years of his early life, when he left home and commenced the manufacture of brick, which business he continued for forty-two years. Nov. 5, 1833, he mar- ried Susan, daughter of Nicholas Leonard. To them were
JONATHAN DAVIS.
born three children, viz. : Sarah J., James, Harriet M., all deceased. Sarah died April 14, 1835; James died Oct. 5, 1836; Harriet died Aug. 26, 1872. Harriet was married to a Mr. Townsend, and left two children at her death,- Horace D., who lives with his father, and Howard W., who is with his grandfather, Jonathan Davis.
Mrs. Davis died Jan. 16, 1850. Mr. Davis married for his second wife Emily, daughter of G. and Rachel Aten, in October, 1850. She died Aug. 13, 1856. His third wife was Margaret, daughter of Levi and Rhoda Burden, to whom he was married March 17, 1857.
Mr. Davis bought the farm upon which he now lives in 1862. Both himself and wife are regular attendants of the Methodist church. And now, after seventy years of life's experience, lighted with joy and shaded with sorrow, Mr. Davis is looking forward to the time when he will hear the dip of the boatman's oars who comes to ferry him across the dark river, which his loved ones have already crossed, to the joy of the reunion " over there."
D. P. STRAWN.
One of the thiriftiest farmers in Goshen township is D. P. Strawn. He was born in Columbiana County, in 1827, where he assisted his father in the business of farming and brick-making during the early part of his life. He and his brother J. S. Strawn superintended the manufacturing of the brick. At nineteen years of age he left this busi- ness and decided to commence the battle of life for himself, hiring out by the month to work. From the time of his earliest recollection he had a great desire to have an edu- cation. This he revolved in his mind, and finally. decided it could be done. While laboring by the month he used the strictest economy, both in time and money, not wasting
his evenings and leisure moments, as many young men of his day were then doing. He had received but little assist- auce from the district schools, as they were poor; but, by studying at night, he was able, finally, to enter Mount Union College, in Stark Co., Ohio, and there took his place in the highest class in mathematics then in the school. He attended schcol here two years, and during his entire stay was a hard student and ranked among the best in mathe- matics in the institution: In 1855 he purchased his first real estate, consisting of a house and lot joining his father's farm. In 1856 he added fifty acres to this. In 1856 he was elected to the office of township clerk, and in 1857 justice of the peace. These offices he held with credit to himself and perfect satisfaction to the community. He still farmed for several years and taught school during the winter months. Thus we see he has ever been engaged in active life, bo- lieving it " better to wear out than to rust out."
In 1864 he sold his farm and bought one hundred acres in Goshen township, Mahoning Co, which had been entered by his grandfather (Daniel Strawn) in 1805. He is still living on this farm, having spent much time and money in its improvement. He has taken pride in getting together a fine collection of fruit-trees, an illustration of which can be seen on another page of this work, in connection with a view of his house. D. P. Strawn has been solicited often by prominent men of the county to accept offices of trust, but, not wishing to become a public man, has always declined this honor. He is fully competent to fill any of these offices, as he has spent considerable time in the study of law, never having been admitted to the bar because he has never made an application to be admitted. In 1855, D. P. Strawn married Esther, daughter of Wm. R. and Judith Spencer. Their family consists of five children, all boys, and all living at home with their parents.
Mr. and Mrs. Strawn rightfully enjoy the respect and esteem of the community in which they live, and we feel assured that their portraits, as also the illustration of their residence, will be a source of satisfaction to themselves, to their children, and to their many friends.
J. S. STRAWN.
J. S. Strawn was born in Butler township, Columbiana Co., July 29, 1824, on the farm owned by his grandfather, John Spencer, who purchased the farm in 1805, and came from Pennsylvania with his family in 1806.
When J. S. Strawn was but one year old he was brought over to Goshen township by his parents, who had bought a farm there two years before. J. S. Strawn remained on the farm with his father until he was twenty-two years old ; he then bought a farm of eighty acres in Goshen township. This purchase was made in March, 1847. He has since added seventy-four acres more to his first purchase, making a farm of one hundred and fifty-four acres. . One hundred acres of this land has been cleared by him and put under cultivation. Jan. 28, 1848, J. S. Strawn married Betsey, daughter of John and Mary Mead. They have four chil- dren,-Esther M., Margaret A., Eva H., and Josephine. All are living. Esther is now Mrs. Albert Burton. Mar- garet is now Mrs. J. P. Smith. J. S. Strawn has been
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engaged not only in farming, but has had charge of a saw- mill, of which he bought a half-interest from William Kidd. These two gentlemen ran the mill two years, when Kidd sold his interest to Mead, and it was in operation under the management of this firm for sixteen years. In 1872, J. 8. Strawn sold to a son of Mead. This mill was built in 1847, sad the engine then put in by Thomas Sharp is still in the mill. Mrs. Straws is of English descent, and was born in England, Oct. 26, 1827, coming to this country with her parents when but three years of age.
J. S. Strawn has held several offices of trust in the township in which he lives. He is at present treasurer of the Summit Oil Company, of Pennsylvania. Portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Strawn, together with an illustration of their pleasant home, will be found elsewhere in this work, where it will remain as a monument to their industry and economy.
JOEL ARMSTRONG.
Joel Armstrong first saw the light on the morning of Aug. 9, 1808. His native element was the farm. He was born on a farm in Columbiana County. To agricultural pursuits alone he devoted his earliest and his latest labors, and no other business had sufficient charms to draw him away from his plow. Mrs. Armstrong was born in Fayette Co., Pa., April 26, 1821.
The family of Mr. Armstrong consisted of eight children, of whom six are living. Ann P., born Dec. 1, 1838, died Aug. 17, 1873. Elizabeth T., born Feb. 18, 1840, was married to J. W. Templin, Oct. 18, 1860, living in Mahon- ing County ; Wm. T., born March 2, 1842, was killed at the battle of Perryville, on the 18th of October, 1862; Martha D., born Feb. 13, 1844, married to J. B. Templin, living in Nebraska; S. H., born Sept. 26, 1846, married Addie, daughter of Mathias Johnson, living on the home- farm; Sarah S., born Sept. 29, 1848, married to W. H. Arnold, living in Salem ; Charlotte, born Sept. 23, 1850, living at the old home; R. S., born June 21, 1853, living at the old home.
Joel Armstrong died Feb. 10, 1865; Mrs. Joel Arm- strong is still living. She, with three of her children, above mentioned, live at the old home. This farm was entered by the father of Joel Armstrong in 1805, owned by Joel, and is now in the hands of the third generation, the son, S. H., who inserts the view of this old and much-
loved home. Many pleasant associations cluster around s home like this, when the forefather left a home, perchance, of comparative ease and comfort, and came to an almost unsettled country to endure the privations and hardships incident to new settlers, till his steady and earnest toil was rewarded by the blessings and crowned with the many bounties of Providence. Great changes grow out of steady and constant strokes; the sturdy forest is laid low; and there in time is reared the pleasant home, with all its cherished adornments.
GEORGE KEELER.
In the State of New Jersey, George Keeler first opened his eyes to the light of day on the 4th of October, 1817. When he was. eight years old his parents and their family moved to Columbiana County. The family consisted of eleven children,-six sons and five daughters; six of these were born in New Jersey, and five in Ohio. George resided with his parents during the early part of his life, assisting on the farm. He concluded to begin life for himself, his first important transaction being his marriage. In the year 1842 he led to the altar Tabitha, daughter of John and Mary Addis, a very estimable lady. His decision then was to secure a home in the country. His first purchase was one hundred and sixty acres of land, for which he paid thirty dollars and fifty cents per acre. Shortly after this purchase he made the second, of fifty-three acres, at fifty dollars per acre, and the third, of ninety acres, at forty-five dollars per acre; the last purchase is situated in Berlin township, Mahoning. Co. He has devoted much of his time to trading and dealing in stock. He now has on his farm about four thousand dollars' worth of cattle and sheep, eighty head of cattle, and three hundred heud of sheep. By industry and frugality, coupled with a certain degree of shrewdness, he has managed to secure a comfortable com- petency, which he now enjoys, with a fair prospect of con- tinuing thus to reap the benefits of a successful career for yet many years. In politics, Mr. Keeler has always been called a Democrat, but he has not always supported the nominations of that party, reserving for himself the right to select from the two parties the man he considered best fitted for the position to be occupied.
Mr. Keeler's family consists of eight children, as follows : Markis, Fred, Mary J., Martha, Franklin, Oren, Jobe, and Huldah M. All are living but. one,-Markis. who died April 10, 1846, aged three years.
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GEORGE KEELER
MRS.GEORGE KEELER.
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RESIDENCE OF GEORGE KEELER, GOSHEN TEMAHONING CO O.
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GREEN.
This township is situated on the southern border of Mahoning County, near the centre, and is bounded on the north by the townships of Ellsworth and Canfield; on the east by the township of Beaver; south, by Salem and Perry ; and west, by Perry and Goshen. Its northern boundary is the southern line of the " Western Reserve."
The surface is that of an undulating upland, broken only by the valleys lying along the middle fork of Beaver Creek. This fork enters the township in section 7 (near the north part, on the west line), flows southeasterly, passing near New Albany, crosses section 29 of Perry township, and enters Green again on section 28; thence it flows south- east through section 33, passing into the township of Salem, about half' a mile west of the corporation of Washington- ville.
One of the forks of Beaver Creek rises in the northeast part of the township, flows southerly through the second tier of sections from the east, and passes out on the south border at Washingtonville.
The soil of the township is well adapted to the cultiva- tion of trees, small fruits, grass, and grain. The vulleys and slopes are heavily timbered with oak, chestnut, and beech. Woodlands and cultivated fields abound, and form on every hand pictures pleasing to the eye.
EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
The attention of the Germans, and of the people of the eastern part of Pennsylvania, was early attracted by the excellence of the land in the Northwest Territory ; and soon after the lands were surveyed and made accessible, and lund-offices opened, many emigrated with their families to the then far West. Green township received its propor- tion of the incoming tide of population.
SECTION I.
For many years this section was unoccupied. It was entered by a man who lived at the East, and was afterwards bought by Eben Newton, of Canfield, whence it is known as the "Newton Section." It has been subdivided into smaller farms. In the northern part of the section are several small coal-banks.
SECTION II.
Among the emigrants who came to this country from Germany were Henry P'yle and his wife. They entered section 2 about the year 1804, and were the first who set- tled in that part of the township. They lived in a small log house on section 10, afterwards used as a school-house, before they moved upon the land they had bought. In after-years the section was divided among his children. A daughter of IIenry Pyle married David Loveland, and
their descendants are living on a farm purchased from the government.
The Niles and New Lisbon Railroad runs through this section, and a station culled " Loveland" is situated upon the lower border. Near the depot is a saw-mill owned by J. Paulin. An Evangelical Association church is also sit- uated near the station. A fruit and ornamental nursery, situated on the northeast quarter of the section, and owned by Lewis Templiu, has been for several years in successful operation.
A post-office was established at Loveland in 1869. Lewis Templin is postmaster. Mr. Templin was one of the contributors to the history of Mahoning County.
SECTION III.
The first person who built a house on this section was a Mr. Spangler, a squatter, who did not remain many years.
The section was entered by - Rhodes, but he did not live upon it. It remained in his possession until 1829, when he sold the northwest quarter to John Beard, the northeast quarter to Caspar Kenreich, the southeast quarter to Nicholas Knauff, and the southwest quarter to John Goodman. A steam saw-mill is on the northwest quarter of the section, and is owned by Jacob Toots.
SECTION IV.
Henry Beard, with his wife and five children, sons and daughters, emigrated from Germany to this country in 1804, and entered section 4, built a log house, and commenced subduing the native forests. The mighty ouks and tower- ing chestnuts fell beneath the sturdy blows, the dense woods gave way to small clearings, which in turn were enlarged under the plodding persistence of this hardy family of Teutons.
John, the eldest son, succeeded to the northeast quarter of the section. John Goodman, a son-in-law, came into possession of 100 acres on the south side of the section. Henry, a son, occupied 100 acres north of Goodman's farm. Caspar Kenreich and Valentine Clay, sous-in-law, had each 100 acres, and Nicholas Knauff, a grandson, occu- pied the homestead. Much of this section is in the possession of the family at the present time, 1879.
A union church stands on this section, a little north of the middle. George Hively (who married a daughter of - Rhodes, who entered section 3) purchased a farm in the southeast quarter, upon which his descendants still re- side.
SECTION V.
James Webb, a son of John Webb, of Salem, entered the south half of section 5, paying therefor $1.25 per acre, and Jolin Beard, the son of Henry, who entered section 4,
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purchased the north half. In 1846, Henry Beard, a son of John Beard, purchased of James Webb the place where he now lives. His son Samuel, and Henry E., son of John, Jr., occupy the south half of the section.
SECTION VI.
This section was first settled upon by Philip Bauman, who exchanged for it land he owned in Redstone, Pa. It was afterwards divided among his children,-Christian, Joshua, John, and a son-in-law, -the descendants of whom are still living on this section, and on adjoining sec- tions in Green and Goshen. Comfort C. Bauman is living on the northwest quarter of section 6, and John Bauman on the southwest quarter.
SECTION VII.
Michael Durr and two sisters, Elizabeth and Mary, emi- grated from Ireland, and entered section 7 in 1804. With the exception of a farm in the northeast quarter, owned by Joshua Bauman, and one by John Cessna, in the northwest quarter, the section remained in the possession of the family.
SECTION VIII.
This section was occupied early by a man named Rupert, who lived where St. Clair Travis now lives, on the south- west quarter. A man named - Hahn settled on the same quarter. John D. Cook, later, bought the north west and southeast quarters, and James Webb the northeast quarter.
SECTION IX.
Early settlers upon section 9 were Jacob Cool, who set- tled on the northeast quarter, where H. Goodman resides, and George and Jucob Countryman, who located on the southeast quarter, where Jacob Cook lives. On the latter farm is a large spring. Mr. Gross settled near the middle of the cast half of the section where M. Kenreich lives.
SECTION X.
Philip and Jacob Cool, John Hafely, and - Van Amin, were early on this section,-Van Amin on the northeast and Hafely on the southeast quarter, where Pierson D. Cook resides.
SECTION XI.
For many years this section remained unsettled, the per- sons who entered it living in the East. Jacob Miller and Michael and George Culps were probably the first to open the way and commence the development of the rich and yielding soil.
The Culps held land in the south part of the section which is now occupied by . Deacon Cook and L. M. P. Frederick. Andrew Cockel purchased a part of the farm of Jacob Miller. James McKee was in the northeast part of the section, where John Beard lives.
SECTION XII.
Philip Houts, a German, settled on the west part of section 12, and divided it among his children. On the place was a large spring, where Houts built a distillery, which was in operation for many years, and until about
1830. There is a school-house on the northwest corner of the section. A part of the family of Houts now live on the farm.
SECTIONS XIII. AND XXIV.
These two sections were purchased about 1815 by Joshua Calvin for his sons, who came out from New Jersey with their families in 1816, arriving April 27th, of that year. Section 13 had been previously entered by Michael and Rudolph Cook, who sold to Joshua Calvin. Samuel, son of Joshua, located on this section, and Luther, another son, located upon the section south. These sections are yet chiefly in the possession of the family.
Two hundred acres of the northwest quarter of section 24 were bought quite early by William Hendricks from a man who lived "on the other side of the mountains." A school-house stands on the southwest corner of section 13. A Baptist church and a burying-ground are situated on the northwest corner of section 24.
SECTION XIV.
Section 14 was entered by a stranger who became in- volved in financial difficulty and sold it to Abram Garbor. The latter sold the southeast quarter to Robert Calvin, who, with his sons, still occupies it. Jonas Slagle purchased the northeast quarter. The west half passed through many hands. The Niles and New Lisbon Railroad passes through the section parallel with the western line, and a short dis- tance therefrom. Greenford station is on the east-and-west highway, near Green Village.
SECTION XV.
Lewis Baker, a native of Kentucky, married Elizabeth, a daughter of John Zimmerman, who entered section 34. In 1808 they located on the southeast quarter of section 15, where the Lutheran church now stands. Lewis Baker, Jacob Wilhelm, and Jacob Cook owned the land where the village of Green is situated. The northern part of the section was purchased by - Rhodes, who had entered section 3. It passed subsequently into the possession of the Cools and Callabans.
SECTION XVI.
This section was set aside by government as a school lot. A law of the State permitted a sale of the lot for school purposes, and in 1849 a majority of the people decided it should be sold. In accordance with such decision, the auditor of state ordered a public sale in the year named. John D. Cook purchased the southwest quarter; - Bly, the northwest quarter ; Wesley Coy, 60 acres; S. Hulin, 69 acres ; M. Kenreich, 100 acres ; and Janies L. Cook, 70 acres, the last four purchasing on the east half.
SECTION XVII.
Job Cooke, one of the early settlers at Salem, entered section 17 and divided it among his sons. Jacob was given the south third, Thomas the middle, and William the north third. This third afterwards passed into the hands of George Pow, to whose estate it still belongs. One or two small coal- banks have been opened in the southwest quarter of the section.
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SECTION XVIII.
About 1810, James Wilson entered this section, and held it in the family many years. He divided it among his children. William came into possession of the northwest quarter, and James the northeast quarter. John and his two sisters occupy the south half, the old homestead. There is a coal-bank on the farm, which has been opened many years, but is not much worked at present.
SECTION XIX.
Edward Bonsall came from Mount Pleasant, Jefferson Co., Ohio, having married Rachel, the daughter of Abram Warrington. Mr. Warrington had located section 19 for him in 1811. It was afterwards divided between Mr. Bonsall's sons. Edward lives on the southeast quarter. Ivan and Joshua live on the northeast quarter, where John Sears now lives; Isaac, on the southwest quarter.
Edward Bonsall, thirty-five or forty years ago, began an ornamental and fruit nursery, which is still in successful cultivation. His son, Joseph, started a market-garden, and has extended his business to the cultivation of flowers. Coal has been mined to some extent on this section for many years. The vein is an average of three feet in thick- ness, and yields, as now worked, nearly 40,000 bushels annually.
SECTION XX.
Elisha Teeter entered this section for his sons about the year 1808. Jobn had the south third, where John Gor- don resides ; Jonathan, the middle third; William, the east side of the north third; Wilson lived on the homestead, where the town of New Albany is situated. Wilson Teeter and Edwin Webb built at New Albany, in 1822, the first steam-mill in this part of the country. The engine was brought from Pittsburgh, and, it proving to be very faulty, a law-suit grew out of its purchase. The next year after, a grist-mill was erected at the settlement. These mills continued many years, and were finally sold to David Ball, who removed the machinery of the saw-mill to Green Village.
A coal-bank was opened by the Teeters about forty-five years ago, and is now owned by Charles Getz. It is prob- ably the largest in the township, excepting the banks at Washingtonville, and extends under the surface half a mile. The vein is about three feet thick. The bank now owned by John Gordon was also opened by the Teeters, but is worked by Robert Auld, master.
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