USA > Ohio > Columbiana County > Salem in Columbiana County > History of Salem and the immediate vicinity : Columbiana County, Ohio > Part 9
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His son Isaac was an important factor in this enterprise. During several terms he was a popular and successful teacher in the Friends' school. He was also a literary character-a friend to the circula- tion of good books. Wherefore he commenced the sale of books; first in a small way in his father's grocery, and then gradually enlarging. He first dealt only in books of the best class. As his business increased, he dealt in books of a miscellaneous char- acter, such as commanded the best sale. In time his bookstore became quite prominent. Then he sold some dry goods and notions. But books and paper of various kinds were his principal articles of trade.
For awhile he had three wagons traveling around and selling the aforesaid goods at wholesale and retail. Twice he was burnt out; but succeeded in reinstating himself in business soon afterwards.
Isaac Trescott was followed in book-selling by David Galbraith, J. C. Marshall, B. B. Davis, Joel McMillan, Thomas Bonsall, and some others.
1.34
HISTORY OF SALEM.
In March, 1835, Jehu Fawcett entered into part- nership with Isaac Wilson for mercantile business, to continue four years. By the terms of which, the latter furnished goods valued at $6883. Business was conducted very successfully by this firm till 1840. Jehu Fawcett then opened a store in his dwelling house, on the site of Fawcett's bargain store. He soon afterwards removed the old wooden building from his lot at the corner of Main and Lundy streets, and there erected a brick building. In 1846 this was enlarged so as to meet the increasing demands of his business.
In 1853 Charles I. Hayes came from Chester county, Pa., and engaged as salesman for Jehu Fawcett, and continued in this capacity till 1857. In May, 1854, he married a daughter of Jehu Fawcett; and in April, 1857, he rented the store, and by him business there was conducted till his death, then his son, Albert, continued the business. He was the principal factor during several previous years. William Morris has been here engaged as salesman over forty years.
In 1835 Robert G. and Archibald Woods came to Salem, and opened a store in the brick house now marked No. 101, on East Main street. They were Irish, and well understood their business, and they knew how to draw customers. They prospered, and, in a few years, built the block now occupied by Dr. Rush, A. Heck, Jacob Hole, and some others. Since their time it has been remodeled and additions made. Here the Woodses did a significant business during several years. Then they moved out of town.
In November, 1847, Leonard Schilling came to Salem and engaged as clerk and salesman for J. T. and J. J. Boone, who then had a store next east of
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THE MERCANTILE BUSINESS.
the Town Hall. They dealt mostly in dry goods. There Mr. Schilling continued four years and ten months. Then he took a lease on the store and goods, and he was joined by his brother Jacob. After the lease they bought the building at the north-east cor- ner of Main and Ellsworth streets. There they transacted a very successful business till 1871, when they dissolved. Leonard continued in the business and took Albert Brian as a partner. After some years they took in Walter Brian, and moved to the Gurney block, on Broadway, in 1877. They contin- ued thus selling goods till 1890; when they sold out and went into other business. About this time the Brian Brothers commenced business. The Schil- ling brothers had a remarkable faculty for drawing customers and suiting them.
The parties heretofore mentioned may be regarded as pioneers in their business in this place. There have been some others who did some business in this line. They dealt in varieties, but mostly dry goods. After their time each merchant confined himself more to a specific kind of goods. Alfred Wright kept the first hardware store. After a short time Samuel Chessman went into partnership with him. Their store became a prominent one of the kind. After some changes it became the property of Crumrine & Kale. The store of Carr & Tescher has also done a good business in this line. A. M. Carr & Son are now dealing in hardware, bicycles, etc., and J. F. Tescher in wagons, carriages and farm implements.
It was about the year 1850 that the custom of mak- ing a specialty of a certain kind of merchandise became general. While dry goods were the most common articles of trade, drug stores, shoe stores,
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HISTORY OF SALEM.
clothing stores, hat stores, book stores and some others became common. The time was when boot and shoe making, hat making, and tailoring were much in vogue here. But these trades are now superseded by the ready-made articles that are now offered in stores of their respective classes, the articles being manufactured in places from which they are furnished by wholesale to merchants of each class. While, by this means, the articles are sold at low prices, they are not always as substantially made, nor do they fit as well as when made for a specific customer.
During late years the different classes of mer- chandising have been best represented by the follow- ing: Dry goods-A. W. Jones & Co., C. I. Hayes, C. C. Snyder, and the Brian Brothers. Clothing- H. Cohen, E. Greenberger, and Triem & Murphy. Merchant tailoring-L. L. Shoemaker, J. H. Cowan, Donges & Co., C. H. Donges, and Herman Luttig. Groceries-S. Grove & Son, Seth Cook, H. J. Kopp, J. B. George, S. C. Moore, L. H. Dobbins, L. Tom- linson, E. H. McCarty, J. W. Lease, and some others. Books and paper-H. C. Hawley, Alice McMillan, and W. D. Turner. Furniture-Jacob Hole, Walter Hole, M. S. Smith, and D. E. Mather. Drugs-M. S. Hawkins. Trimble Brothers, Bolger & French, and Frank DeRhodes. Boots and shoes-C. F. Chalfant, R. Speidel & Son, G. M. Fink, C. Thumm, Day & Townsend, and H. G. Taylor. Variety stores-W. G. Fawcett, and The Mascot, kept by Miss Belle Mc- Garry. Besides the foregoing there are, and have been, establishments in which harness, wagons, farm implements, stoves and tinware, hats, wall-paper, periodicals, millinery goods, and various other arti- cles could be purchased.
CHAPTER XV.
THE ABOLITION CAMPAIGN.
OME time in the winter of 1834 and 1835 Augustus Wattles came to Salem, and gave a course of lectures on the crimi- nality of slave-holding. Large assemblies attended these lectures, and they were heard with much inter- est. They set the people to thinking, and created quite a furore. Some people regarded the excitement as a foolish thing. Slave-holding in the south, they considered none of our business; and that those who regarded slavery as a great evil ought to go to the south where slaves were held, and there show the evil of the system. To this the anti-slavery lecturers answered that it was dangerous to go there on such a mission, but that, by agitating the subject here, they would show what we were doing in the way of directly or indirectly upholding the system. If, by this means we could show slave-holders the iniquity in which they were implicated, our bounden duty would be accomplished.
The anti-slavery agitation was by no means con- fined to Salem. This was not the starting place of it. Throughout all of the northern states the excite- ment prevailed more or less. Many anti-slavery books and periodicals were published and circulated. Some of these got into the south, and there excited great indignation. The mails were sometimes seized and searched for "incendiary publications." In some instances papers and pamphlets having no bearing on slave-holding were eagerly seized on suspicion,
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HISTORY OF SALEM.
and destroyed. Many of this kind of publications (anti-slavery) were imported into our town and read with great eagerness. Some people took the matter very cooly and said but little, -others were not back- ward in declaring the course of the abolitionists impolitic. David Gaskill, then one of the most prom- inent merchants, publicly declared the abolition doc- trine " A stinking thing." William Reed, a prominent shoemaker and an active Methodist, published a communication in The Ohio Mercury, in which he declared that, after giving the subject much thought and praver, he was convinced " That no person could be a Christian and hold slaves." The most of the Hicks- ite Friends joined in the abolition work. The most of other church members kept aloof or said but little. Many who made no particular profession readily joined in the excitement. Some skeptics and unbe- lievers took up the subject as a condemnation of the creed of the orthodox churches. Every time that the mail arrived it brought some abolition documents that were read with as much avidity as any war news since that time.
Some people declared that the abolition movement was only a scheme to make money. This was effect- ively answered by the self-denial manifested by the lecturers and other agitators. All of the meetings were open to everybody; and there was no such a thing as taking a collection, or appealing to the generosity of the public for help to the lecturers. All opposi- tion in the form of argument was completely answered and vanquished. Both men and women engaged in the excitement.
In the early part of the year 1835 a society of young people was formed, and it was named "The
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THE ABOLITION CAMPAIGN.
Philanthropist Society.'' They published an able address, in which they strongly denounced slave- holding. Jonas D. Cattell, Isaac Trescott, John Stanley, Edmund Carey, and Samuel Reynolds were among the most active ones in the enterprise. They were all Orthodox Friends. Their movement did not meet the approval of some of the older members of that denomination, especially Amos E. Kimberly, who made the common objections to the anti-slavery work. In the latter part of the same year a society of a more general character was formed.
It was soon after this that Marius R. Robinson came to Salem to lecture on the subject. He found a congenial companion in Enr- ily Rakestraw. They were married and became co-labor- ers. Jesse Garretson, and a partner named Hoover, were then keeping a store at Berlin Center. Mr. Robinson gave some lectures there, and was entertained at Mr. Garretson's house. One evening in June, '37, MARIUS R. ROBINSON. a gang of hoodlums entered his house and dragged out Mr. Rob- inson. Then they took him to a place near Ellsworth Center and applied to him a coat of tar and feathers. When they left him he went to a house where he got much sympathy, and a chance to clean off his person -the effects of the pro-slavery argument. He soon afterwards published a full and graphic account of the affair in The New Lisbon Aurora. John Frost was editor of this paper, and was a thorough-going abo- litionist, and hence took much pleasure in publishing
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HISTORY OF SALEM.
the affair. This account was copied into other papers, and the fame and infamy of the transaction spread far and wide. Some of the perpetrators of this outrage, years afterwards, so far came to their senses as to acknowledge their malicious action and ask forgiveness of Mr. Robinson.
Rumors of other transactions of a similar charac- ter and attacks on anti-slavery meetings by mobs found an echo of sympathy and indignation in Salem. Especially might be mentioned the murder of Rev. Elijah P. Lovejoy, at Alton, Illinois. This occurred in the autumn of 1837. There were no railroads west of the Allegheny mountains at that time; and it was about ten days after the death of that hero of philan- thropy that the news of it reached this place. Only a tri-weekly mail was then received here. The assas- sination of a president, or a dissolution of a long term of congress-after the manner of Oliver Cromwell in the British parliament in 1653, -would not have made a greater sensation than the Alton tragedy. Everybody talked about it, even some who were luke- warm on the abolition theme were much stirred up.
A meeting of citizens was held in the Methodist church which then was where the Disciple church now stands. Rinear Swaim presided. and Jacob Heaton was secretary. Addresses were given by John Campbell, Amos Gilbert and some others. An account of the life and work of Elijah P. Lovejoy was read, and also, opinions of the press in various places. Some resolutions were prepared by a com- mittee of which Isaac Trescott was a member. These were adopted. One or two rowdies had the hardi- hood to respond "no" when the vote on them was taken. Rev. J. P. Kent carried the manuscript of the
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THE ABOLITION CAMPAIGN.
proceedings to Lisbon for publication. The editor of the Aurora was one of the most active abolitionists in the county, and hence was very willing to publish an account of this meeting.
A great temperance meeting was held in Lisbon on the following Christmas day. One of the speakers there feelingly alluded to the murder of Lovejoy, and declared that whiskey was concerned in the tragedy. It was talked about with emotions of horror by every- body. A young lady named Henrietta Fawcett, who had a fine intellect and some poetic genius, wrote an elegy that, perhaps, deserved publication, but print- ing presses were then few and far between, hence many literary efforts were only handed around in manuscript.
The rumors of other violent movements against the anti-slavery work found an echo in Salem. Espe- cially might be mentioned the burning of the Penn- sylvania Hall, in Philadelphia, the destruction of two or more printing presses in Cincinnati from which The Philanthropist was issued, the application of tar and feathers, and shaving the manes and tails of horses belonging to the traveling lecturers, which actions showed the vengeful folly and lack of sound reasoning of the pro-slavery people. The arguments of Augustus Wattles, Wm. L. Garrison, Stephen and Abby Foster were so logical that they could not be answered in their style, hence the rabble thought to do good service to the south by the aforesaid methods, thus only showing to what a contemptible position they could lower themselves.
The most active persons in the anti-slavery cam- paign in this place were Dr. Benjamin Stanton, Jacob Heaton, Isaac Trescott, Jonas D. Cattell, John Whin-
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HISTORY OF SALEM.
nery, I). Howell Hise and some others. Of honora- ble women who gave aid and comfort there were not a few who might be mentioned. These named indi- viduals became conductors on "The underground rail- road, " on which Salem was an important station. And many fugitive slaves on their way to Canada here got rest, refreshment and help on their pilgrim- age.
In June, 1845, Abby Kelly first came to Salem. Her first appearance was on the 5th of that month. at Lisbon. She then spoke of the magnificence of the anti-slavery enterprise, contrasting it with the revolutionary war, and endeavored to show the incon- sistency of calling our nation a land of liberty while so many of our fellow beings were held in bondage by the laws of the states. The revolutionary war, she declared, was merely about a tax of a few pence, while the abolition movement contemplated giving to all people their rights and liberties.
Afterwards she was in Salem, and was accompa- nied by William Lloyd Garrison, Frederick Douglas, Giles Stebbins, and others. A tent was pitched in the south part of the town, near the present cross- ing of Columbia and Penn streets. This place was then clear ground and showmen sometimes occupied it. No other kind of meetings gathered so many people as these. It was during this year that the Friends' meeting house on Green street was built. Anti-slavery meetings were often held in it-even before it was fairly finished.
"Not alone did the white brethren give voice to the demands for universal freedom. The escaped slave himself joined in the mighty anthem whose quickening burden, swelling to amplest volume, rolled
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THE ABOLITION CAMPAIGN.
from sea to sea. Among the fugitives were Wil- liam W. Brown-called William Box Brown from having once escaped from slavery concealed in a box -and Joe Mason, * who cheered on the cause with vigorous songs, adapted from plantation melodies, but not weighted with plantation sentiments. The following, with additional verses, as sung by Brown, was a favorite:"
" Ho! the car, Emancipation, Rides majestic through the nation, Bearing on its train the story, Liberty, a nation's glory. Roll it along, Throughout the nation, Freedom's car, Emancipation!"
"A carpenter shop about 18 by 48 feet in size was built by Samuel Reynolds about the year 1840, the upper room of which was the general meeting place of the people of the town for discussion of all sub- jects. When the agitation of the slavery question became so warmly discussed in the churches that difficulties arose, and the churches and school houses were closed to the defenders of universal brotherhood. they went to the room over the carpenter shop. This building was christened 'Liberty Hall, ' and was the cradle of the society which was evolved from that whirlpool of opinion caused by the counter-currents of thought respecting the slavery question. For many years it was kept as a place for discussions and caucus meetings, and, within it, a course of lectures was planned in which the best talent of the country was engaged. This course of lectures was deliv- ered in the Town Hall, and Wendell Phillips, Abby
Supposed to be a natural son of James Mason, ex- U. S. Senator and Governor of Virginia.
14+
HISTORY OF SALEM.
Kelly, John Pierpont, and William Lloyd Garrison were among the many speakers.''*
"In June, 1845, the largest church in Salem was closed against Abby Kelly, the abolition lecturer. The trustees of the church gave, as a reason for their refusal: 'We think the principles of the lecturer are dangerous to our common country.'"
"In January, 1850, a spy, in the employ of south- ern slave-holders visited Salem and obtained some information respecting the whereabouts of certain fugitive slaves. He represented himself as the agent of an anti-slavery society near Marietta, Ohio. Soon after this, two slave-holders from Virginia visited Salem and made some effort to catch sight of certain fugitives. Their presence soon became widely known, and the consequent excitement came near ending in a riot. They said that they had been informed that some of the fugitives were in a suffering condition, and were anxious to return to their old masters, and that they had come to administer to their wants. Finding the people of Salem aroused and fully determined to resist all attempts at kidnapping, they soon departed towards their home."+
It is not certainly known when fugitive slaves, on their way to Canada, commenced passing through Salem. But they always here found friends who were willing to help them on their journey from southern bondage. This town became an important station on the Underground Railroad. It was for this reason that Morgan, the notorious rebel-raider, declared to his deluded followers that he was going to burn Salem, and water his horses in Lake Erie. Doubtless he had his day-dreams of a great reward
Columbiann County History.
+Salem newspaper,
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THE ABOLITION CAMPAIGN.
when the confederacy should gain success and be recognized as one among the great nations of the world.
Some notable circumstances occurred when fugi- tive slaves passed through this place, and their mas- ters followed in pursuit of them. In one instance all of the colored people kept together for mutual defense during several days. A colored girl was rescued and adopted in a repectable family, and she was then named Abby Kelly Salem. One negro came here and worked for Josiah Fawcett eleven years; and, during that time, went and paid a visit to his old home-even went into his master's kitchen without being detected. This is only one sample of the ingenuity used by some of them in getting away from slavery. In April, 1850, a white and a negro woman stopped at Webb's tavern. The colored people of the town interrogated her about her residence, destination, etc. And they were thus led to believe that she was being decoved into Virginia, to be sold as a slave. She declared that she never had been a slave, and refused to go any further. Thus she was rescued.
Abolition meetings were sometimes held in Haw- ley's grove, which was east of the town. The place is now covered with houses and lots. These and other meetings of this character were addressed by Parker Pillsbury, Henry C. Wright, Wendell Phillips, Cassius M. Clay, and other champions of the abolition cam- paign.
The execution of John Brown and Edwin Coppock excited a due amount of sympathy here. The body of the latter was exhumed, and re-interred in Hope cemetery. There a monument marks his resting place. The work on it was done by D. Howell Hise, and the expense was paid by John Gordon. .
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HISTORY OF SALEM.
Anti-slavery papers were liberally patronized in Salem. In September, 1845, the publication of The Anti-Slavery Bugle was commenced.
The first editor was Samuel Brooke. - after him, Oliver . Johnson, M. R. Robinson, and lastly, Benja- min S. Jones. Its publication was continued until May 4th, 1861. It was a free and out-spoken paper in the principles for which it was an advocate. The most of the abolitionists disapproved of interference with any political or church creed, except wherein they could be shown to excuse, or, in any way, uphold slavery. The forming of a liberty party and anti- slavery churches did not meet the approval of the ultras. The design was to convince all churches and parties of the criminality of slavery, so that they would emancipate all slaves, and repeal all laws that sustained the system.
Now, their work is finished, and their societies are dissolved. Slavery is abolished in the United States; but it has not been done as the abolitionists wished. Very few of them wished to see it done as a war measure. They were conscientious in what they thought and said. Consequences they regarded as being less of their business than their duty in speak- ing out and protesting against this national iniquity.
CHAPTER XVI.
THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.
+ B ENJAMIN STANTON was born in North Carolina. At an early age he came to Mount Pleasant, Ohio, and there studied medicine under Dr. Hamilton. In December, 1815, he came to Salem, and here found a good opening. The town was then acquiring some significance, and there was no physician nearer than New Lisbon. Dr. H. Potter was then, and for many years after- wards, there regarded as the standard in the healing art. Dr. Stanton soon got into extensive practice, and continued so for about forty-five years. With such roads as there were then horseback-riding, or going on foot, was more common than any other method of going about; and. moreover, carriages and buggies were not easily obtained, nor were they adapted to new roads through the woods.
During his time in Salem Dr. Stanton had some students who led successful careers in medical prac- tice. Jesse Bailey, Alexander Tollerton, Thomas and Joseph Shreve were among the first. George Mendenhall, after his graduation in the Pennsylvania University, commenced in Cleveland; then he went to Cincinnati; where he attained great eminence. Besides these there were under his tuition Charles Kingsbury, John Harris, Jesse T. Boone. F. H. Irish, and, four of his sons, and a son-in-law, Charles Wea- ver. The latter practiced several years in New Brighton, Pa. Joseph, the second son in the family, practiced some years with his father, then at Akron
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HISTORY OF SALEM.
some years. David, another son, at the death of Charles Weaver, succeeded in his place. William, another one, after some years of medical practice, took up the legal profession, and is now in Califor- nia. Byron, the youngest, became a surgeon in the army, afterwards superintendent of the Northern Ohio Asylum for the Insane. Now he resides in Cincinnati. Kersey G. Thomas was another student who got into good practice at Alliance, and there closed his short and noble life.
Daniel Williams came to Salem in 1827. He was a devout Friend; and he had been a teacher, and took much interest in schools, and, in many ways, was a friend to intellectual improvement. He had also a sympathetic disposition, which qualities, combined with his standing in the Friends' Society, got him much practice.
In 1837 he was appointed superintendent of the Friends Boarding School, at Mount Pleasant. There he continued two years, and then returned to Salem. After a few years passed in his profession, he left the town and passed the remainder of his life on a farm. He had some students, one of whom was a brother, named Ephraim, who practiced a few years at Damascus. Michael Stratton was another. After a short career his life succumbed to ill health.
Abel Carey studied with Dr. Williams, and, after his graduation at Cincinnati, he engaged in partner- ship with Dr. James Robinson, of Hanover. In 1843 he returned to Salem and here remained in active practice till his death. He was especially known for his skill in surgery. " He was of philosophic turn of mind, genial and sympathetic, and yet ready and cool in emergencies involving professional skill and
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