USA > Ohio > Mahoning County > History of Trumbull and Mahoning counties with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, Vol. II > Part 17
USA > Ohio > Trumbull County > History of Trumbull and Mahoning counties with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, Vol. II > Part 17
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Michael Simon, farmer, Boardman township, Mahoning county, was born in Boardman town- ship July 13, 1820. His father, Adam Simon, was one of the earliest settlers in the county, having come here from Washington county, Pennsylvania, about the year 1800. He was father of six children, three of whom are living, viz: Andrew, Reinhart, and Michael. The two first named reside in Wood county. Michael Simon was married, in 1846, to Rosini Gentholtz, a native of Wittenberg, Germany. They have
seven children living, five deceased, viz: Ezra A., born March 26, 1848; Lenora C., born March 26, 1848; Cornelius A., born February 25, 1850; Catharine E., born December 15, 1851, married Mr. Stempel, died September 19, 1873; Rebecca M., born April 1, 1853; Caroline S., born May 5, 1855; Julius A., born October 24, 1856; Elmer E., Bishop C., Ira C., born July 21, 1861. Bishop died August 22, 1861; Ira died February 12, 1862; and Warren, born May 3, 1868. Mr. and Mrs. Simon belong to the Lutheran church. Mr. Simon is a Repub- lican. He is a leading farmer and respected citizen.
Joseph Cart
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J. H. Shields, farmer, Boardman township, Mahoning county, was born in Boardman town- ship November 12, 1840. The farm on which he was, born and where he now lives was pur- chased in 1798 by Thomas Shields, and has since been in possession of the Shields family. Thomas Shields bought two mill-sites and several hun- dred acres of land, then returned to his home in Augusta county, Virginia, where died shortly after. His sons, Thomas, James, and William, came in 1800 and settled on the farm. Thomas Shields was a miller by trade, and the first miller west of Rochester, Pennsylvania. James and William were in the War of 1812; Thomas was exempted from service on account of being a useful and necessary member of the community -a miller-and the only man exempted in his neighborhood. William Shields had two sons. The family moved to Indiana about 1848. James had no children. Thomas had five sons and a daughter. All are now dead, nearly every one reaching the age of seventy years. Andrew Shields, son of Thomas, was the father of J. H. Shields. He married Jane Price, of Youngstown township. They had two sons and two daugh- ters, viz: J. H., Lois H. (Hopkins), Louisa M. (Anderson), and Wallace, who died young. An- drew Shields died in June, 1880, in his seventy- second year. Mrs. Shields is still living. J. H. Shields married, in 1863, Miss L. H. Starr, of this township. They have three children living, one deceased, viz: Maud M., born in 1866; Budd S., born in 1867; Mary J .; Allora C., born in 1873. Mary J. was drowned July 9, 1879, aged eight years. She fell from a log while at- tempting to cross the creek when the water was high. Mr Shields is one of our largest and most prosperous farmers. He manages six hun- dred acres of land and deals quite extensively in cattle and sheep.
T. M. Twiss, farmer, Boardman township, Mahoning county, was born in Boardman town- ship, November 28, 1833. His father, John Twiss, came here from Connecticut in 1818, and brought up a family of eight children, of whom Mr. T. M. Twiss is the youngest. Mr. Twiss has made farming his principal business; he also deals considerably in stock. He has a farm of one hundred and seventy-three acres, good land well improved. Mr. Twiss was married in 1860 to Mary Hyde, of Orangeville, Trumbull county. 13*
She died in 1864, in the 27th year of her age. Mr. Twiss was again married, in 1874, to Mrs. Carrie Minnis, of Mercer county, Pennsylvania. Mr. Twiss is a Republican. He has been town- ship trustee and assessor. Mrs. Twiss is a mem- ber of the Methodist church.
CHAPTER IV.
ELLSWORTH.
SURFACE AND SOIL.
Ellsworth, or township one in range four of the Western Reserve, has a varied surface and a fertile soil. The Meander and its branches cut the eastern portion by a number of narrow val- leys, quite deep and winding, forming ridges and knolls of varying dimensions. The main branch of the stream enters the eastern side of the township about a mile below the Canfield road, flows westerly about one mile and a half, then turns abruptly to the north, and winding north- ward and to the east, passes into Jackson town- ship about three-fourths of a mile from the southeastern corner of Jackson. The western part of the township is quite smooth, and con- tains many wide tracts of level land.
The soil is fine clayey loam, somewhat sandy in places. It is well adapted to wheat, and the farmers generally secure a good crop of this cereal. The township was originally covered,- and much of it is to-day, --- with a heavy growth of white oak, sugar maple, beech, basswood, walnut, hickory, etc. The underlying lime rock and sandstone crops out in several places, the latter affording a good quality of stone for build- ing purposes.
SETTLEMENT.
This township was settled mainly by Connec- ticut and Pennsylvania people. Captain Joseph Coit, whose biography will be found elsewhere, came in 1804 and began making improvements. From the most reliable information we are able to obtain, it appears that the settlement of the township began in that year. The family of James Reed was the first in the township. Mrs. Reed was the first white woman who entered the township, and lived here six months without ever
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seeing the face of a female excepting her daugh- ters.
From Mrs. Polly Bowman, an old lady past the ninetieth year of her age, now residing in Goshen township, is gathered the following infor- mation regarding her father's settlement :
James Reed came to Ellsworth from West- moreland county, Pennsylvania, in 1803, and re- mained during the summer. He made a clear- ing, built a camp, and raised a crop of corn that year. While he was encamped on one side of the Meander, an Indian occupied a camp oppo- site, across the stream. Mr. Reed began opera- tions on what is now called the Harclerode farm. Before he came here to live he had made several trips from his home in Pennsylvania to Canfield, carrying supplies to the settlers on pack-horses.
Toward the latter part of February, 1804, Mr. Reed and two of his daughters returned to the camp. They came with a pair of oxen and a cart, following a course of travel marked by blazed trees, and cutting a road for the team when necessary. Mr. Reed then went back for the remainder of his family, leaving his daugh- ters in the care of a man who worked for him. They reached here in April following. The camp was a log structure, with three sides, the fourth being open and used as an entrance. The ground was the floor, and into it was driven forked stakes for bed-posts. Here the family lived until a house could be erected. During the spring of 1804 they made a considerable quantity of maple sugar.
Mr. Reed brought out some stock, including several hogs. Six of the hogs, being averse to living in a wild country, escaped and made their way back to l'ennsylvania, where they were found by Mr. Reed's father one morning sound asleep in their old nest. They had made the whole distance of sixty miles alone, guided only by instinct or memory.
One night a fat hog belonging to Mr. Reed was killed and partially devoured by a bear, very quietly it would seem, as none of the family were awakened by any noise. Indians were frequent visitors at the house, but were never trouble- some. Bears were often seen. Polly Reed, then a girl of about eleven years, was after the cows one night when she saw a huge black fellow just across the ravine. He reared upon his hind legs as soon as he saw her, while she, much
frightened, ran to the house crying for aid. Deer were numerous, and the children sometimes found the young fawns lying in the bushes near the house.
Mr. Reed lived in Ellsworth a little over a year, then sold his farm to John and Nicholas Leonard, and moved to Canfield township, where he died in 1813.
In 1804 a clearing was made one mile west of the center by two men from Connecticut, or.e of them named Penuel Cheney. These men did not settle here, but returned to their own State. The land was bought by William and Harvey Ripley in 1806.
Joseph Coit had eight acres cleared at Ells- worth center in the summer of 1804. He also erected a log-house the same year.
Thomas Jones settled on the east line of the township in 1804, his family being the second that arrived in this township. He was born in Maryland, and died in Ellsworth in 1852, at the age of ninety-two. His wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Wilson, died in 1865, aged about ninety. They were the parents of fifteen children, ten of whom arrived at maturity, seven sons and three daughters. Three sons and two daughters are still living. Their names are: Mary, Margaret, Thomas, James, Joseph, John, Samuel, Rosanna, Elijah, and Matthew. Mary married Ashur Squier, and is still living in Can- field; Margaret married James Bruce, and died in Randolph, Portage county; Thomas married Rachel Webb, and died in Edinburg, Portage county ; James married Huldah Tanner, and died in Canfield; Joseph married Ann and died in Portage county; John married Nancy Calhoon for his first wife, for his second Desire Phelps, and lives in Ravenna; Samuel married Betsy Calhoon, and lives in North Jack- son ; Rosanna married Columbia Lancaster, and now lives in Washington Territory ; Elijah mar- ried Phebe Manchester, and died in St. Clair county, Missouri; Matthew married Eliza Man- chester, and he now lives in Missouri.
Philip Arner, a native of Pennsylvania bought land and erected a cabin in 1803, and returned to his home. He came back to Ellsworth in 1804 with his family and settled east of the Meander.
George Broadsword, one of the first settlers, located on the place where Martin Allen now
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lives. He brought up. a family of fourteen chil- dren, and all but two of them are living. The names of his sons were Peter, Daniel, John, David, Anthony, Matthias, and Levi. The daughters became Mrs. Abigail Allen, Mrs. Rachel Wagoner, Mrs. Mary Winans, Mrs. Charlotte Rhodes, and Mrs. Lucy Parker. The oldest two, Betsey and Eliza, remained single. The sons are all living except David, and all the daughters except Mrs. Wagoner. Anthony, Matthias, and Mrs. Winans reside in this town- ship.
John Huston came in 1804 to buy land, but did not purchase that year. He built a log house in 1807 and remained until about 1813, then sold to John Baker. In 1817 A. W. Allen bought the place of Baker.
Hugh Smith, who had been here previously, came from Maryland in 1806 and settled on the main branch of the Meander. He brought up five sons and three daughters. Two sons and two daughters are now living in the western part of this State. Mr. Smith died quite suddenly in 1821 or 1822. He was going toward the barn one evening in a cheerful mood, singing the hymn commencing with the lines,
Oh, when shall I see Jesus, And dwell with him above.
A few minutes later he was found dead between the house and barn.
In 1805 William Ripley, Hervey Ripley, Elisha Palmer, and one or two others, came from Scotland, Windham county, Connecticut, and commenced improving land west of the center, which they had previously purchased. In 1806 William Ripley returned to Ellsworth with his wife, Susan Bingham, and settled at the center. Hervey Ripley died here in 1813, aged forty years. William Ripley was a justice of the peace for many years, a member of the Legisla- ture in 1826 or 1827, and afterwards a State Senator.
Daniel Fitch and wife, from Norwalk, Con- necticut, came in 1806, and settled one-half mile north of the center. They had four sons and four daughters, several of whom are dead. None of the survivors reside in this township. Daniel Fitch died in 1826.
In 1806 Thomas Jones and family, from Maryland, settled in the eastern part of the township. Mr. Jones had seven sons and three
daughters. He lived to be an old man. After his death the family moved away.
The Fitch brothers, Richard, William and Charles, came from Salisbury, Connecticut, in 1806 with their families. Richard settled at the center, and cleared the farm north of there, where his son Richard now lives. William and Charles remained eight or ten years and then moved to Tiffin, Seneca county, Ohio. William afterwards returned and settled two miles north of the center, where he resided several years, thence removing to Ashtabula county, where he died at the age of ninety-four. Charles died in Chicago, aged eighty years.
Philip Borts came from Pennsylvania in 1805 with his family and located near Philip Arner. He had two sons and three daughters. He be- came one of the wealthiest men in this region, and gave a farm to each of his children. One of his daughters married George Harding, whose son, G. W. Harding, now lives on the old Borts homestead, and has the finest house in the town- ship.
John Leonard and family settled near the Meander about the year 1806. Mr. Leonard had several sons and daughters. One of his sons, James, now lives in Portage county. John Leonard died at quite an early date.
Nicholas Leonard settled one mile from the centre. He had a large family, seven sons and five daughters. Abram, the youngest son, resides in Wood county, and a daughter, Mrs. Dorothy Swartz, in Ashtabula county.
Andrew Fitch, an early settler, located at the centre. He married Lucy Manning. He lived here until quite old, then returned to Connecti- cut and died there. He had one daughter, who is now living, the wife of Silas C. Clark, of Washington, District of Columbia.
James Parshall settled on the southwestern corner of section twenty-four at an early day. He had several sons and daughters, none of whom are now residing here.
Thomas and Robert Mckean settled on the diagonal road running northwest from the cen- ter. Thomas died quite early. He brought up a family of three sons and one daughter. Robert McKean lived here until his death in 1843. He had four sons and four daughters.
James McGill and family settled on section twelve, where Thomas Young now lives, resided
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there several years, then sold and moved to Poland.
Peter Walts settled on the Meander previous to 1810, and resided there some years, moving thence to Medina county.
Wolf and Painter, Broadsword and Razor, were some of the fierce sounding names belong- ing to Ellsworth's early citizens.
John and Robert McCreary settled on section nineteen. Robert remained single. John had two daughters, both of whom died quite young. Janet married John Howard and two of her sons reside in the township.
Michael Crumrine settled on the west side of the Meander. He had four sons, one of whom died here. The others remained some time, then moved to Berlin township.
James Byers settled here quite early and raised a large family. He moved into Berlin township and was killed by a falling tree.
William Logan, the first cooper in the town- ship, died during the War of 1812.
The Spauldings, David and Philo, came about 1813. David settled one-fourth of a mile west of the center. Philo settled in the southwestern part of the township. He died in 1876, in his ninetieth year. His son Moses is still living in Ellsworth.
John Bingham, from New London county, Connecticut, settled on section eight in 1816. He married a daughter of Richard Fitch, who is still living in the township.
Asa Witter Allen was born in Windham, Con- necticut, June 3, 1795. He came to Ellsworth in 1817 with a one-horse buggy, and was seven- teen days on the road. He married Sophia Hopkins, who was born in Vermont in 1799. Both are still living. Two sons and three daugh- ters are also living. Mr. Allen lived in Ellsworth township until 1864, and then moved to Perry township, Columbiana county, where he now re- sides.
FIRST EVENTS.
The first child born in the township was Thomas Jones, Jr. His parents were from Mary- land. They settled near the eastern line of the township. Jeannette, daughter of Hugh Smith, was the second child born in the township, and Mary L. Fitch, daughter of Richard Fitch, the third. These births all occurred in 1806.
The first death was an infant child of Mr.
Bell, the miller. The parents were here a short time only. The second death is believed to have been that of William Logan. They were both buried in the cemetery near Ellsworth center.
The first marriage in the township took place at the house of Richard Fitch a year or two after he settled here. Lydia Buel, a sister of Mr. Fitch's wife, was married to Hezekiah Chidester of Canfield township.
The first frame dwelling house of any size was erected by General William Ripley, as late as 18200r 1821. This house is still standing about one-half mile west of the center. Richard Fitch had previously erected a framed addition to his tavern as early as 1810 or 1812.
The first Sabbath-school was organized the second Sabbath in October, 1818, and is said to have been an excellent school in all respects. Daniel W. Lathrop was its instigator.
Mrs. Smith, wife of Hugh Smith, was the first person who offered public prayer in Ells- worth.
Ira F. Powers was the first volunteer for the Rebellion from this township. He enlisted July 4, 1861, in the Eleventh Ohio infantry.
A company of cavalry composed of members from Boardman, Poland, Canfield, and Ells- worth was organized as early as 1810. Richard Fitch was the first captain, succeeded by Joseph Coit.
ORGANIZATION.
The first entry upon the township records of Ellsworth is as follows :
It is hereby certified that the board of commissioners al their March meeting, 1810, did apart and set off from the townships of Canfield and Newton a new township and election distriet by the name of Ellsworth, with all the privi- leges and immunities of a township as by law designated, within the following lines, to wit : Beginning at the south- west corner of the county of Trumbull, thence north on the county line to the northwest corner of township number one in the fifth range of townships, thence east on the township line to the northeast corner of number one in the fourth range, thence south to the southeast corner of number one in the fourth range, thence west on the county line to the place of beginning; in fact, comprising townships number one in the fourth and fifth ranges.
ELI BALDWIN, Clerk pro tem. of Commissioners.
WARREN, 22d March, 1810. A true copy.
JOSEPH COIT, Township Clerk.
Ellsworth, as then organized, included the townships of Ellsworth and Berlin. Berlin was set off from Ellsworth and erected a separate
Martin Altens
mrs Lucy M. Allen.
TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.
township by the county commissioners March 4, 1828.
FIRST ELECTION.
The first election was held April 2, 1810. The following officers were chosen : Joseph Coit, clerk; Andrew Fitch, Daniel Fitch, Hugh Smith, trustees; William Ripley, James Parshall, overseers of the poor; John Leonard, Robert McKean, fence viewers; Daniel Fitch, lister; Daniel Fitch, William Fitch, appraisers; Jesse Buel, constable; Peter Watts, George Painter, James McGill, supervisors; Hervey Ripley, treas- urer.
At the first election after Berlin was created a separate precinct the following were chosen as the officers of Ellsworth township, April 7, 1828: William Ripley, Jacob Dustman, Robert McKean, trustees; Walter Smith, Asa W. Allen, overseers of the poor; John Bingham, Harvey Allen, fence viewers; John C. Webb, John Mil- ler, constables; Andrew Fitch, treasurer. Also a road supervisor for each of the eleven districts.
OTHER RECORDS.
Richard Fitch qualified as a justice of the peace * June 19, 1810; Robert Mckean (or McCane, as the name is spelled upon the old records), was commissioned as justice March 13, 1813, re- signed June 23, 1815; William Ripley was com- missioned August 21, 1815, October 17, 1818, October 29, 1821, December 11, 1824, March 17, 1828; Henry Boyd, June 6, 1826; Thomas Fitch, April 30, 1831; George Matson, May 7, 1832. Later than this date the records are not complete.
The first selection of jurors, or the first of which there is any record, occurred March 2, 1812. William Ripley and Richard Fitch were chosen grand jurors ; William Logan, Andrew Fitch, and Thomas Mckean, traverse jurors.
That the people of this township in early days were rigid in their determination to prevent the spread of pauperism in their midst will appear from the following entry upon the records :
To Jesse Buel, constable of the township of Ellsworth, greeting :
Whereas, it appears from information by us received, that -- is likely to become a township charge ; these are theretore lo command you to warn the said
to depart from this township.
Given under our hands at Ellsworth, this sixth day of June, 1811.
CHARLES B. FITCH, Overseers of the Poor. PETER WALTS,
JUNE 8, 1811. - - Served the within warrant by reading it to Lhe within-named person, at the house of William Fitch, in Ellsworth.
JESSE BUEL, constable.
A true copy.
JOSEPH COIT, Lownship clerk.
Many similar entries appear on the records for years following. The persons warned, however, were not obliged to quit the township ; but if they afterwards become so poor as to require aid, the township officers were relieved from the re- sponsibility of furnishing it. Often these severe measures doubtless served to " foster home industry." Sometimes the most worthy citizens were " warned," on account of the complaints of those who bore them some ill-will.
For many years the township elections were held at the house of Richard Fitch.
The town hall was built in 1818 by private subscriptions. Thenceforth religious meetings, schools, elections, etc., were held there.
EARLY INCIDENTS.
February 3, 1818, three feet of snow fell in one day. Some who are yet living remember wading through it when it reached higher than their waists.
The most of the families coming from Con- necticut in 1806 were not provided with cabins, so they stopped at Captain Coit's until homes could be built for them. Coit was then a single man, and required little room ; besides, he was at work the greater part of the time making im- provements on his land in the northern part of the township. While thus engaged one day his . house took fire and was destroyed, together with his watch, money, books, and clothing. Mr. Coit came home toward evening, and gazed un- moved upon the destruction the flames had made. He found the women in tears, and almost in despair. He, however, seemed in ex- cellent spirits ; and, seating himself near the ruins, began singing in a rich, full voice the air, Contentment, the first verse of which is :
" Why should we at our lot repine, Or grieve at our distress ? Some think if they should riches gain, They'd gain true happiness. Alas ! how vain is all our gain, Since life must soon decay ; And since we're here with friends so dear, Let's drive dull care away !"
In the early part of the summer of 1806, William Ripley had his leg broken by a log
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falling on it, while he was helping to raise the cabin of Daniel Fitch. The fracture was a severe one, and he was unable to work the greater part of that summer. There were then no physicians nearer than Youngstown.
At an early day, Captain Coit offered a poor fellow named Alexander Crawford ten acres of land in this township, if he would dig a well for him and put it in working order. Crawford ac- cepted the job, and toiled alone until he had excavated a good well, twenty-eight feet deep, throwing the dirt up from one scaffold to another until it reached the top. He then exchanged work with a neighbor, and got assistance in stoning it. He received a deed of the land as pay for his labor. Land soon commenced to rise in value, and a few years later he sold the ten acres and with the proceeds bought an eighty-acre lot in Hancock county, this State, which he made into a good farm.
A story is told concerning Mrs. Hugh Smith, which shows that she was a lady possessed of strength of mind and courage which is seldom equalled. She heard a noise in the hog-pen one evening, and, on investigating the cause of it, discovered a large bear attacking a lusty porker. She seized a club and pounded the bear until he was glad to retreat without any pork for supper.
An incident which occurred during the War of 1812 was often laughed about and talked over by the early settlers. Some half-breed Indian hunters who had spent the night hunt- . ing coons, returned to the vicinity of the set- tlement about daylight, and to amuse them- selves began firing at a mark. The whole neighborhood was aroused by the reports of their rifles, and much consternation ensued, as it was thought the Indians were attacking the settlers. Houses were fastened up and valuables hidden away. At length two experienced hunt- ers were prevailed upon to go and learn the cause of the alarm. They mounted horses and proceeded to the spot where the firing had been heard, but by the time they arrived there the hunters had gone and no "Indians" were visible. When the whole affair was thoroughly under- stood there was much hearty laughter over "the great Indian raid."
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