USA > Ohio > Mahoning County > History of Trumbull and Mahoning counties with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, Vol. II > Part 16
USA > Ohio > Trumbull County > History of Trumbull and Mahoning counties with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, Vol. II > Part 16
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A post-office named Woodworth was estab- lished a few years ago, in the southern part of the township. Uriah Stafford is the present post- master.
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THE FIRST MILLS.
The first grist-mill in Boardman was a small affair. It was a log building, but was soon re- placed by a good one. It was situated on Mill creek, near Lanterman's falls, and was known as Baird's mill. It was run for many years by Thomas Shields. Eli Baldwin afterwards owned it. The flood of 1843 carried it almost entirely away. This was one of the first mills in the Re- serve, and probably the very first.
The first saw-mill was built one and a half miles from the center, in a southeasterly direc- tion, on a small tributary of Mill creek. Elijah Boardman and Richard Elliot were the proprie- tors. It was probably built in 1808. DeCamp's was the next mill erected, on a small stream in the northwestern corner of the township. Neither of these saw-mills was run very long.
Eli Baldwin had a saw-mill, a grist-mill, and a cloth-mill upon Mill creek, at a later date. The saw-mill was destroyed by fire and the grist-mill torn down and removed years ago.
The Zedakers built a cider-mill in 1818.
A saw-mill built by the Walkers' is still stand- ing but unused.
THE FIRST STORE
was opened in a room of Stilson's tavern by Charles Boardman and William Ingersoll. They continued in the business but a short time, how- ever. Later, Calvin Brainard kept store on the corner where G. E. Lanterman's house now stands.
DISTILLERIES.
Many people operated small stills but none were of much importance, except the distillery of Eli Baldwin. He commenced distilling in 1809 or 1810 and conducted the business for several years, manufacturing considerable quan- tities of liquor. This distillery was located near the north line of the township on the Youngs- town road.
TANNERY.
A tannery was built by James Moody just north of the center. He came in 1804 and be- gan working at his trade in 1805. At first he ground bark by rolling a heavy stone over it, afterwards introducing improvements, He con- tinued in the business over forty years and was considered a good workman. His buildings, -house, barn, mill, and bark-house-were first
made of logs and replaced later by frame build- ings.
MISCELLANEOUS.
The first white child born in the township was James D. McMahon, born October 31, 1799. For his history see Jackson township:
Horace Daniels was born in Boardman in March, 1800. His parents came in 1799. In 1823 he drove the first stage westward on the old Pittsburg & Cleveland stage line.
The first sermon was preached in the old school house at the center in 1804, by Rev. Mr. Badger, a Presbyterian missionary from Con- necticut.
The first blacksmith was Andrew Webb, who came about 1804. In company with Samuel Swan he made scythes and sold them for $2 each. Eastern manufactured scythes were then worth $2.50. Webb first had a shop at the center, and afterwards moved one mile west where he continued working at his trade for some years.
George Brainard, a blacksmith, came in 1812, and worked at his trade in a shop near the cen- ter for some thirty years. He sold out and went to Austintown.
John Davidson was probably the first shoe- maker in the township.
Elijah Deane, who settled on the farm now owned by James Hughes, was also one of the first shoemakers.
The first cheese made in this township, and perhaps the first made on the Western Reserve, was made by Peter Stilson in 1804. He carried a few hundred-weight to Pittsburg and sold it there.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES,
THE BOARDMAN FAMILY.
Henry M. Boardman, son of Elijah and Mary Anna Boardman, was born in New Milford, Litchfield county, Connecticut, January 4, 1797. Elijah Boardman, for whom the township of Boardman was "amed, was a member of the Connecticut Land company and owned extensive tracts of land in different portions of the Western Reserve. He came here in 1798 and spent the summer establishing land-marks and making sur-
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veys, but did not settle. Henry M. Boardman married, December 13, 1818, Sarah Hall Ben- ham, daughter of Rev. Benjamin Benham, pas- tor of St. John's parish at New Milford, and the next year removed with his wife to Boardman. He located at the center of the township, first occupying the house which is now the dwelling of his son, Frederick A. This house had been erected two years before by Isaac Newton, who at first occupied and cultivated land for the pro- prietor, Elijah Boardman. The house was con- structed entirely of oak, and so strongly and sub- stantially was it built that after the lapse of sixty- five years it is apparently as firm and substantial as ever. Mr. Boardman occupied this dwelling but a short time. In 1820 he built and occupied the house on the corner opposite, in which he resided until his death.
The life of Mr. Boardman, like those of nearly all the pioneers, was of a commonplace character. From the very nature of their circumstances and surroundings there could be little in their careers which would furnish a biographer with materials for anything more than a brief and simple narra- tive. Their lives were a continuous round of toil, often of deprivation, and sometimes of suf- fering. He who looks for exciting interest, spirit, or variety in the "simple annals" of the pioneers must look in vain. Mr. Boardman was a farmer by occupation and he did not neglect his busi- ness for other things. But his principal charac- teristic was his interest in the moral and religious welfare of the community and his devotion to his church. The religious element in his nature seems to have been predominant.
The next year after his settlement in Board- man (in 1820), to supply the existing want of pastoral services, he united with a few neighbors in organizing a parish at the center under the title of St. John's church. Of this parish he was clerk for twenty-five years, and as lay reader, licensed by the bishop of Ohio, he conducted public services both at Boardman and at Can- field, generally twice every Sabbath. For many years he was senior warden of the parish, and as a delegate he represented it at the annual dioce- san convention. He took an active part in the erection of the church building, drawing with his own teams much of the timber used in its con- struction, and he contributed in addition to this materials to the value of more than $500. Mr.
Boardman was well equipped for an efficient worker in the church, which he was, being a man of more than ordinary ability, of excellent principles, and of deep, earnest piety. Possessing a retiring disposition he always declined appoint- ments to offices of honor and trust, although frequently urged to accept them. The only office which he was induced to accept was that of cap- tain of light infantry. This position he filled for some time and he performed the duties with such general acceptance that it was determined to promote him to the rank of major-general. But he at once declined the proffered honor. He frequently acted as arbiter in the settlement of disputes and disagreements, and took great pleasure in being instrumental in effecting an amicable settlement.
Mr. Boardman's death was the result of an accident received while getting into his buggy. He died December 17, 1846, two days after the accident occurred. His wife survived him many years, dying February 8, 1870, aged seventy- four. They were the parents or four boys, viz: Frederick A., Elijah G. (who died May 11, 1853), William J., and Henry W., residing in Cleveland, the former an attorney.
Frederick A. Boardman, who is prominently identified with the interests of Mahoning county, was born in Boardman, September 1, 1820, and has always resided at the center. He has been extensively engaged in agricultural pursuits, but is at present practically retired from active pur- suits. He was married March 20, 1848, to Mary Ann Williams, who was born in New Milford, Litchfield county, Connecticut, Novem- ber 3, 1817. Mrs. Boardman's father, Jehiel Williams, was a noted physician of New Milford, where he practiced for more than fifty years, and died at the age of over eighty years. Mrs. Boardman is a zealous and efficient member of St. John's church. Henry Mason Boardman, the only child of Mr. and Mrs. F. A. Boardman, was born June 18, 1849. He was graduated at the Polytechnic institute of Troy, New York, in the class of 1871. He is married and resides in Brooklyn, New York, engaged in the drug business.
Dr. A. Boardmans
Mrs. Mary A Boardman
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HON. SHELDEN NEWTON.
Shelden Newton, son of Isaac and Olive (Warner) Newton, was born in Washington, Litchfield county, Connecticut, February 24, 1804. When he was seven years of age (in 1811) his father removed with his family to Boardman, now Mahoning county, settling at the center. Isaac Newton worked land for Elijah Boardman for some twelve years, engaged in dairying, and erected the dwelling house in which Mr. F. A. Boardman now lives in 1817. In 1824 he moved on to a farm one and one- half miles south of the center, where he resided until his death. He died January 31, 1850, aged eighty years. His wife, Olive, died Octo- ber 9, 1830. They were the parents of two sons, the subject of this sketch, and Timothy, who died in Boardman, in December, 1846. Shelden Newton's advantages in early life for the acquirement of an education were of the most meager character, attending the ordinary district schools a few months in the winter only till he was sixteen. Being the elder of the two sons, the larger share of the work upon the farm fell to his lot. October 16, 1836, he married Rachel Hahn, of Boardman, born December 5, 1814. After his marriage he resided in Poland some three years, and worked by the month for Dr. Kirtland. In 1845 he removed to Boardman center, and has always since resided there, en- gaged in farming, save when attending to his public duties, of which he has had his full share. He was elected justice of the peace in 1840, and held the office for thirty-six consecutive years, with the exception of an interval of only eighteen months. He was elected county com- missioner of Mahoning county in 1867, and again in 1875. He was elected to the State Legislature in the fall of 1873 on the "removal" ticket, and served on several important com- mittees, being a member of the committee on new counties, State library, and roads and turn- pikes.
Although Mr. Newton had few school privi- leges when young, there are few men of his age better informed on current topics or endowed with a more accurate and retentive memory. Politically, he is a strong Republican. Mr. and Mrs. Newton have two children living, North and Olive. The former married Marietta Kirk, and resides at Boardman center, and the latter,
now the wife of Hiram Thorn, resides in Brook- lyn, New York. The oldest son, Warner, served in the Union army during the whole period of the war of secession, and gave his life for his country. Enlisting at Youngstown in April, 1861, in the Nineteenth Ohio volunteer infantry for three months, he afterwards went out as pri- vate with the Second Ohio cavalry. He was promoted to captain of company E, and was wounded March 29, 1865, at the battle of Five Points, near Richmond, Virginia, and died April 9, 1865.
JACOB H. BALDWIN.
The subject of this sketch, Mr. Jacob H. Baldwin, was born at Queensburg, Washington county, New York, October 13, 1792. His life, until 1811, was spent here and in Morceau, Saratoga county. In November of 1811, in company with his father and other members of the family, he came to Boardman (then in Trumbull county), Ohio, where the remainder of his life was spent. In 1815 he married Miss Florinda Walter, daughter of David Walter, of Palmyra, Portage county ; and in April, 1816, removed to Baldwin's Mill, Youngstown, and engaged in partnership with his uncle, Eli Bald- win. They had for neighbors and customers Thomas Packard, John Woods (father of Dr. Woods), Benjamin Ross, William Smith, James Taylor, Joshua Kyle, Robert Kyle, Wendell Grove, Jedediah Fitch, Camden and Paine Cleveland, James Hillman, Dr. Henry Manning, and others. In 1819 he was appointed by James Mackey, John H. Patch, and William Bushnell (county commissioners) collector of taxes, in which capacity he visited every tax-payer in the county. In 1820 he was again appointed county collector, and also was appointed by John Harmon, of Zanesville (who was marshal of Ohio), to take the United States census. This he did, finding the population of Trumbull-con- sisting then of thirty-five townships-to be, in all, 15,542, including Warren and Youngstown. In 1821 he was appointed county auditor by the General Assembly of Ohio, the office having been created at that time, in which office he continued for seventeen years, having been elected by the people eight times-two years each term. During much of this time his family
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resided in Youngstown and Boardman. In 1840 he was appointed by the court of common pleas appraiser of real estate for taxation. He began this work at Poland in the month of May, and finished in October, having visited person- ally every tarm in the county, and appraised all the small lots in the towns and villages. During these years his acquaintance throughout Trum- bull was necessarily greater than most men, and the memory of those days and the events of the time were indelibly impressed upon his mind. In 1842 he was elected a member of the Legis- lature of Ohio, and served one year in the House of Representatives. In 1844 he was elected a Presidential elector, and cast his vote for Clay and Frelinghuysen for President and Vice-President. In the year 1850 he was appointed by Jones, of Mount Vernon, marshal of the State of Ohio, to take the census in district one hundred and forty-three, north division of Trumbull county, which included the townships of Champion, South- ington, Farmington, Bristol, Bloomñeld, Meso- potamia, Greene, Mecca, Gustavus, and Kinsman. James Hoyt had the remainder of the county in his division. Afterwards he was appointed assistant assessor in Warren, and served a part of the term, when he resigned, and James Hoyt was appointed his successor.
SETTLEMENT NOTES.
S. P. Blackman, farmer, Boardman township, Mahoning county, was born in Poland in 1844. His parents, Heman and Phyllis Blackman, were residents of Poland. Heman Blackman came to this county from Connecticut in 1807. Mr. Blackman has always followed farming. He was married in 1866 to Kate A. Shaffer, daugh- ter of George Shaffer, of Springfield township. They have four children, born as follows: Fan- nie, May 23, 1868; Asa, February 1, 1870; Per- ry, July 29, 1871; Clark, December 3, 1874. Mr. Blackman is a Republican. He has resided in Boardman township since 1866.
George Baldwin, farmer, Boardman township, Mahoning county, was born in Boardman town- ship, September 30, 1825. His father, Garry Baldwin, came here from Fort George, Washing- ton county, New York, in 1811. His mother,
Harriet Meeker, was a native of New Preston, Connecticut, and came here in 1823. Garry Baldwin died September 7, 1869, aged sixty- nine. Mrs. Baldwin is still living, at the age of seventy-five. George Baldwin lives upon the old farm. He has one hundred and forty-two acres, and does a thriving business. His land is good, his home is pleasant and pretty. He built a large barn in 1880, 36x50 feet, by far the best in the township. Mr. Baldwin was married January 31, 1856, to Eliza Detchon, born in this township January 11, 1833. They have three children: Hattie M., born January 3, 1860; Henry J., born November 27, 1864; Stanton, born August 16, 1869. Mrs. Baldwin is a member of the Disci- ple church. Mr. Baldwin is one of our most successful farmers, and occupies a high social position. In politics he is a Republican.
Captain Charles C. Chapman, farmer, Board- man township, Mahoning county, was born in Ellsworth, April 27, 1833. He worked at car- riage trimming ten years; was ten years a mer- chant at Youngstown; enlisted in November, 1862, in company G, One Hundred and Twenty- fifth Ohio infantry, and served until December, 1865. He was promoted from a private to sec- ond lieutenant, then to first lieutenant, and after- wards to captain. He was in some of the severest engagements of the war, including the battles of Chickamauga, Atlanta, Kenesaw mountain, etc. Mr. Chapman bought the farm on which he now resides, in 1877. Mr. Chap- man was married in 1857 to Julia Campbell, daughter of William Campbell, of Trumbull county. She died in 1867, aged about thirty- five years. He was married a second time, in 1871, to Mrs. Sophia E. Thomas of Youngstown. They have one child, Ada A., born September 13, 1874. Mrs. Chapman is a member of the Methodist church. Mr. Chapman is a Republi- can. He held several local offices while in Youngstown; was constable, city marshal, and deputy United States marshal. He is a member of the Odd Fellows.
Henry B. Dowler, farmer, Boardman town- ship, Mahoning county, was born in Boardman township February 29, 1820; hence has had his birthday but fifteen times, at this date. His grandfather, Francis Dowler, a native of county Cavin, Ireland, was among the earliest of those who took up land in this country. He came
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here in 1801, as did also his son John, the father of Henry. Francis Dowler died in 1846, aged ninety-six years. John Dowler died in 1839, aged fifty-four. His wife was Nancy Packard. They had seven sons and three daughters; four sons and two daughters are still living, viz: William F., Henry B., Francis A., Thomas J., Nancy P. (Kentner), and Betsey A. Mr. H. B. Dowler, excepting from 1847 to 1857, while he was in the South engaged in making and selling fanning- mills, has always resided in the county. He resides upon the farm which his grandfather settled. Mr. Dowler has never married. He is an old-style Jacksonian Democrat, a prominent fariner, and a respected citizen.
Norman Davidson, farmer, Boardman town- ship, Mahoning county, was born in Washington, Litchfield county, Connecticut, August 7, 1803. His parents, John and Charlotte Davidson, came to Boardman township in 1805 and settled in the midst of the forest near the center of the town- ship. John Davidson had two sons and a daughter; of these Norman Davidson is the only survivor. He is one of the few old settlers now living. Mr. Davidson has a fine farm of a hun- dred and forty-five acres, with neat and tasty buildings. He was married, January 13, 1831, to Eliza Brainard, who was born June 23, 1805, in Washington, Litchfield county, Connecticut. They have had three children, one of whom is living. Sarah A., born May 2, 1833, died De- cember 3, 1834; Charlotte, born February 2, 1836, died July 29, 1864; Edward, born January 4, 1839, is married and resides at home. Mr. and Mrs. Davidson have been members of the Episcopal church for many years. They bear an excellent reputation in the community where they have so long resided. Mr. Davidson is a thorough Republican. He has held several local offices, such as assessor, trustee, justice, etc.
Alexander Gault, farmer, Boardman township, Mahoning county, was born in Jackson township, May 26, 1838. His father, John Gault, still liv- ing in Jackson, is among the old citizens. His grandfather, who died in the War of 1812, was among the early settlers in this county. Mr. Alexander Gault resided in Jack- son until 1867, when he came to Boardman and purchased the farm on which he now is. He was a soldier in the Rebellion; enlisted in Sep- tember, 1862, and served until November, 1865,
and saw some of the severest battles. He was in company F, Forty-first Ohio volunteers. Mr. Gault was married in 1867 to Miss Anna E. For- sythe, a native of Muskingum county, this State. They have one child living, one deceased- Mary Sylvia, born August 30, 1870; Robert J. S., born July 20, 1873, died June 21, 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Gault are members of the United Presbyterian church. Mr. Gault is an earnest Republican.
James Hughes, farmer, Boardman township, Mahoning county, was born in Pembrokeshire, South Wales, November 10, 1831. He came to this country in 1840 with his parents, who settled in Palmyra, Portage county, Ohio. There Mr. James Hughes remained until 1847, when he came to Youngstown and engaged in mining. In 1872 he bought the farm on which he is at present. He has an excellent farm of one hun_ dred and eighty-one acres, and does a large bus- iness. Mr. Hughes was married December 31, 1857, to Lydia H. Jackson, daughter of John Jackson, of Youngstown. Mrs. Hughes died No- vember 19, 1876, in the thirty-ninth year of her age. They had six children, all living-John K., Minnie, Weltha, Dan, Sammie, and James; all reside at home. Mr. Hughes is a Repub- lican and a member of the Presbyterian church.
G. E. Lanterman, farmer, Boardman township, Mahoning county, was born in Austintown town- ship March 22, 1841. His father, John Lan- terman, was a native of this county, and his grandfather, Peter Lanterman, among the earli- est settlers in Austintown. Mr. Lanterman was left an orphan at the age of two years by the death of his father. His mother died when he was sixteen, and from that time forward he acted for himself. In 1861 he went West to Virginia City, thence crossing the plains to California; he was seven months on the way. He spent three years in the West, then returned to this county, and after living four years in Austintown he bought the farm on which he now resides. He has one hundred and fifteen acres of excellent land with the best of buildings and improve- ments; he deals considerably in stock. Mr. Lanterman was married in 1864 to Miss Eliza- beth Kistler, daughter of John B. Kistler, of this township. They have six children living, one deceased: German U., Bettie A., John S., Mary I. (died when about six weeks old), Jennie
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D., Blanche G., Frederick A. Mr. Lanterman is a straight-out Democrat and an active business man. His wife is a member of the Lutheran church.
Richard J. McClurg, farmer, Boardman town- ship, was born in Boardman June 22, 1840. He is the son of Samuel McClurg, a native of Allegheny county, Pennsylvania. Samuel Mc- Clurg settled in this county quite early and lived here until the time of his death, bringing up a family of three children, of whom two, Richard and Andrew, are living. Richard lives on the home farm, which contains one hundred and eighty acres of excellent land with good buildings and improvements. Mr. McClurg was married in 1866 to Miss Kesia Mccullough, of Spring- field. They have two children-George, born July 25, 1871; Samuel H., born November 16, 1878. Mr. McClurg and wife belong to the Presbyterian church. Mr. McClurg is a sound Republican. He is a prominent citizen ; has been township trustee, etc.
Thomas Matthews, farmer, Boardman, Ma- honing county, was born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, August 17, 1813. He came to this county when nine years of age with his par- ents, Thomas and Jane (McClurg) Matthews. Mr. Matthews bought his present farm about thirty-eight years ago. He has one hundred and sixty-five acres of excellent land; is engaged in mixed farming and sheep raising. He was mar- ried, in 1842, to Cynthia Shannon, daughter of Major John Shannon, of Pennsylvania, a soldier of the War of 1812. They have three children living and three deceased-William S., born Oc- tober 30, 1843, now a successful physician at Youngstown; Bruce S., May 1, 1846; Charles W., March 31, 1851; Ellen J., February 20, 1855, died April 1, 1855; Ellen D., June 2, 1857, died December 16, 1863; Cora C., December 10, 1858, died January 29 1866. Mr. and Mrs. Matthews are members of the Methodist church. Mr. Matthews is a Republican and an esteemed citizen.
Eli Reed, farmer, Boardman township, Ma- honing county, was born in Canfield township in $816. His parents, James and Mary (Tur- ner) Reed, came to this county in 1806, Mr. Reed from Washington county, Pennsylvania, and Mrs. Reed from New Jersey. They brought up a family of five children, three of whom are
yet living, two sons and a daughter. James Reed died October 13, 1854, in his sixty-sixth year. Mary Reed died April 8, 1863, in her eighty-fourth year. Adam and Margaret Turner, grandfather and grandmother of Eli Reed, set- tled in Canfield in April, 1806, coming from New Jersey by team. Adam Turner was born September 5, 1763, and died September 3, 1837. Margaret (Mizner) Turner was born June 11, 1766, and died October 28, 1840. Eli Reed was married, in 1843, to Margaret Thomas, of Canfield township. They have five children living, four deceased, including a daughter that died in infancy-Amanda M., born July 24, 1845, now the wife of Samuel Steele of Youngs- town; Alvin T., September 27, 1847; Sibyl C., August 15, 1849, died October 24, 1851; Florus A. and Flora C., July 4, 1853, Florus dying Oc- tober 9, 1853, and Flora May 18, 1855; Hattie E., September 29, 1856, is the wife of Almon Alderman, Evart, Michigan; Oscar W., March 13, 1859; Clinton E., June 1, 1864. Mr. Reed has been a Republican since the organization of the party. He has been assessor two terms and trustee three terms. He is a worthy and re- spected citizen.
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