USA > Ohio > Mahoning County > History of Trumbull and Mahoning counties with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, Vol. II > Part 26
USA > Ohio > Trumbull County > History of Trumbull and Mahoning counties with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, Vol. II > Part 26
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SETTLEMENT.
The first pioneers were nearly all of the Scotch- Irish race, and moved to the township from Pennsylvania. Samuel Calhoun was the first actual settler. He located on the south line of the township in 1803, and there passed the remainder of his days. His sons were Andrew, Samuel, and Matthew; his daughters Nancy, Betsey, Isabel, Sally, Anna, Martha, and Esther. Andrew Calhoun lived in the township, on the eastern part, through his life. Anna became the wife of David Leonard, and is still living in Ellsworth township. The name is spelled Cal- hoon by some of those who bear it.
William Orr, from Washington county, Penn- sylvania, settled in 1803 or 1804 upon the farm which remained in possession of the Orr family many years. He built a frame house at an early date, which was probably the first in the town- ship. It was a story and a half in height, per- haps twenty-four feet wide, and somewhat longer. There was a stone chimney in the middle of the house; it was both large and wide, and took up a considerable amount of room. William Orr died in 1815, in his sixtieth year. His wife Mary died in 1849, in her ninetieth year. Their family consisted of eleven children, viz : James, Margaret, John, Humphrey, William, Thomas, Russel, Anna, Abraham, Isaac, and Mary. John, Humphrey, William, and Russel settled in Mil- ton and died there. Thomas lived in Jackson for a time, then returned to Pennsylvania. James moved to some distant part. Abraham and Isaac are the only survivors of the family. The former lives in Trumbull county and the latter in Illinois. Anna was the wife of John Johnston. Margaret married John Ewing.
Andrew Gault came to the township in 1803, and made a permanent settlement in 1804. His sons were Ebenezer, Robert, and Andrew ; his daughters Rachel, Betsey, and Ann. Robert and Andrew settled in the township, Andrew upon the old place. Rachel married Andrew Duer and settled in Ellsworth. Betsey married Robert Gibson. Ann became the wife of Robin- son Young, and lived in Austintown.
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About 1804 Samuel Riddle, from Pennsylva- nia settled in the southeast part of the township. His house stood near where Mr. Kimmel's now stands. His children were David, James, An- drew, John, Samuel, Catharine, and Ann. Da- vid married Betsey Van Emmon, and settled one mile and a half northeast of the center. He brought up a family of two sons and four daugh- ters. James married Jane Bell of Pennsylvania, and lived upon the old homestead. His family consisted of ten children. Andrew married Matilda Taylor and settled on the Meander, in Ellsworth. He was the father of three sons and two daughters. John became a doctor and prac- ticed some time in Wooster. He married Rho- da Winters and had four daughters. Samuel married Mary Campbell, and settled one mile west of the old place. He brought up two sons and two danghtets. The daughters are dead. His sons live in Jackson. Catharine married John McCready, and lived in Bedford, Pennsyl- vania. Ann married Nicholas Van Emmon and resided in the western part of this township.
Robert Kirkpatrick was among the earliest set- tlers, and probably came to this township soon after the families just mentioned. He was a native of Ireland, of Scotch-Irish blood. Five of his children arrived at maturity, viz : Martin, Isaac, Josiah, Martha, and Eleanor. Martin and Isaac lived and died in Ellsworth, where their father purchased farms for them. Josiah passed his life upon the old farm. Martha became Mrs. McGeorge, and Eleanor Mrs. Wilson. Martha is the only survivor. Robert Kirkpatrick first settled in Austintown near Smith's corners, but soon afterwards made a permanent settle- ment in Jackson, on the Meander. He died in 1847, in the seventy-ninth year of his age. Catharine, his wife, died in 1856, at the age of eighty-seven. Josiah, the youngest son, died in 1878, aged sixty-four.
John Ewing, and his brother Archibald Ew- ing, natives of Ireland, came with their mother and sister in 1803 or 1804. They first settled in Austintown, and Archibald took up and lived upon the old Ewing farm in that township. The first night after their arrival the family passed be- neath the shelter of a walnut tree. The sister mentioned became Mrs. Robert Kirkpatrick. John Ewing located in Jackson upon the farm now owned by Mr. Kimmel. He married Mar-
garet Orr, and reared a large family. A sketch is given elsewhere.
John and Eleanor Morrison settled in 1805 on the place where the widow Lynn now lives, south- west of the center. James, Jane, John, Nancy, Thomas, Martha, and Mary Ann were the names of their children. The sons moved away quite early-James to Holmes county ; John to the northern part of Trumbull county ; and Thomas to Pennsylvania. Mary Ann was married to David Johnston, and is living in Jackson. She is the only member of the family now in this county.
In 1805 or 1806 Nicholas VanEmmon settled one mile and a half west and a mile south of the center of the township. His wife died here, after bringing up a large family. He married again and moved away. None of the children settled in the township.
From 1810 to 1820 there were scarcely any permanent settlements made in the township. Quite a number came and remained a short time, but a few years' experience with the swamps and the bad roads disgusted them, and they either returned to civilization or pressed on to- ward the newer settlements, declaring that such a country wasn't " fit for a white man to live in." The process of development was consequently a slow one.
A man named Crooks was living on the farm west of the Lynn farm in 1811, but moved away soon after. Two of the sons afterwards came back and settled in the northern part of the township, where they remained a few years.
Thomas Dinwiddie was also a resident of the township at that date, upon the farm now owned by James Oswald. He moved away later.
James and Martha Patterson were early set- tlers on the north side of the road, one-half mile west of the center. They had no children. In 1823 they moved to Wayne county.
David McConnell settled in the northwestern part of the township about 1817, but sold out after making a few improvements.
John Graves settled near Joseph Pierce about 1819. His farm was east of Mr. Pierce's. He made considerable improvement. Joseph Mc- Corkle bought the farm from him, moving to it from the eastern part of the township. Mr. Mc- Corkle died on the farm and his widow is still living there.
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George Ormsby settled in Jackson previous to 1820 and lived to be an old man.
Joshua T. Cotton, who was a captain in the War of 1812, moved to Jackson township about 1818. He married in Youngstown Miss William- son, and brought up a large family. From Jack- son he moved to Indiana, where he died. Cap- tain Cotton was a true specimen of the hardy pioneer as well as a good and brave soldier.
About the same date John Pearsall settled one and three-fourth miles east of the center. He moved to another farm in this township, then to Milton, and finally to Pennsylvania.
Joseph Pierce and wife, the father of Joseph Pierce, one of the oldest residents of the town- ship, moved from Youngstown to the northwest- ern part of the township in the fall of 1818. Mrs. Pierce died the following winter. Joseph Pierce, Jr., came from Warren to this township in 1819, with an axe as his only property. It proved a very serviceable tool, for miles of road had to be cut in order to reach his land. He used to work from before daybreak until nine and ten o'clock at night in the clearings. His energy and industry won him a home which he still lives to enjoy.
Thomas Duer settled on the west side of the township about 1820 and died soon afterward. His son Joseph passed his life on the old place.
John McMahan, of Pennsylvania, moved from his native State to the northern part of Board- man township in 1799, and remained until 1806, when he settled on a farm in Austintown. He served three months in the War of 1812, and died while on his way home. He was the father of five sons and one daughter-James D., Benjamin, John, Thomas, Harriet, and Joseph. James and Benjamin settled in Jackson in 1820. John went West and has never been heard from. Thomas settled in Lordstown, removed to Penn- sylvania and died. Harriet, the wife of John Cory, lives in Champion, Trumbull county. Joseph died in Morgan county, Ohio.
In 1820 the widow of John McMahan, Sr., removed from Austintown to Jackson with her sons. She died in 1855, aged about eighty-three years.
James D. McMahan, who is perhaps the old- est man living of those born upon the Reserve, was born in Boardman township October 31, 1799. He was one of the pioneers of Jackson.
He married Betsey Cory and had a family of eight children, four of whom are living-John, on the old homestead in the northern part of Jackson; Thomas, one mile east of Warren; Silas, in Champion township, and Mary in San Fran- cisco, California. Mrs. McMahan died in 1868. Mr. McMahan has since been living with his sons. For a man of his years he is wonderfully bright, active, and cheerful.
Benjamin McMahan settled in Jackson and died in 1878. He was married three times. His first wife bore three children, his second one, and his third four. All these are living ex- cepting one.
John Cartwright settled about 1827 on the farm northwest of Abraham Moherman's, but moved away a few years later.
Abraham Moherman, son of Frederick Moherman, one of the first settlers of Austin- town, came to Jackson in 1827 and settled one mile and a half west of the center where he now lives. He was married in the township to Anna, daughter of Daniel Rush, and has a family of four children living.
John Moherman settled some time after his brother. He married Mary Cassiday, now de- ceased, and has four children living.
Thomas Woodward settled on the farm where he now lives in 1828.
Robert Turnbull moved from Austintown to Goshen township, and in 1828 located at Jack- son center, where he made the first clearing in what is now the village. His house stood on the corner where the drug store now is. Squire Turnbull is well remembered by the old resi- dents, and is generally described as having been a "smart man." He was married twice ; first to Celia, daughter of John Wolfcale, of Austin- town. One son by this marriage is now living in Portage county. His name is Cyrus. For his second wife Mr. Turnbull married Anna Ormsby, of this township. One of the sons, Lewis, was killed in a saw-mill in Indiana. The family was a large one.
Jonathan Osborn bought land in the township in 1828, and settled here permanently in 1836.
William Young, a native of Pennsylvania, bought his farm in 1830, paying $5 per acre for it, when land in the northern and western part of the township was worth $3 to $4 per acre.
From 1825 until 1835 the Pennsylvania Dutch
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flocked to the township in large numbers. The Schlabach, Wetherstay, Lodwick, Wannemaker, Ebert, Shoencberger, Iry, Shively, and other families were the earliest and most prominent. The limits of this article forbid us to go into particulars regarding the settlers of this date; for though they may be regarded as pioneers in- asmuch as they began in the woods, we cannot in strict propriety call them early settlers.
By 1840 the settlement had grown almost to its present dimensions. The census of that year showed a population of 1,124. The Ger- mans with their characteristic thrift and sturdy industry have been largely instrumental in add- ing to the wealth of the township.
One reason why the township was not settled faster may be found in the fact that a consider- able portion of the land it contains was not put in the market by the proprietors until long after many other townships had become thriving and populous.
TAXES IN 1803.
Here is a list of the tax-payers of Jackson for the year 1803:
RANGE FOUR, TOWN TWO.
Amount of tax.
Amount of tax.
Calhoun, Samuel $ 20
Starnford, James, $ 24
Gault, Andrew.
32
Riddle, Samuel. I 59
Orr, William 32 Melnrue, Joseph. 40
Total. $3.07
FIRST EVENTS.
Andrew Gault, born in 1804, was the first white male child born in the township, and James Van Emmon the second. Mary Ewing (Mrs. Andrew Gault) was born in 1807, and is said to have been the first female child.
Probably the first marriage was that of John Ewing and Margaret Orr, which took place in 1805 in a little log-cabin on the Orr place, now known as the Goldner farm. The ceremony was performed by 'Squire Chidester, of Canfield.
The first death was that of Mary, daughter of William and Mary Orr, who died February 18, 1805, in the fourteenth year of her age. Her grave is in the old burying ground adjoining the Covenanter church.
EARLY SCHOOLS.
The first school-house in the township was on the cast line in the southeastern part. It was
made of logs, the cracks daubed with mud, and the roof covered with loose boards weighted down. The floor was made of split timber and there were a few hard benches. The house was placed on a side-hill or steep bank. John Ful- lerton and a man named Ferguson were prob- ably the first teachers. Fullerton was the school- master of the settlement for many years. The second school-house in this district, or rather in this neighborhood, was a small log house, and was situated on the hill northeast of the Cove- nanter church, where it stood several years. In one corner of the school-room was a stump- its roots still in the ground and the floor fitted around it-which had been sawed off and made into a seat. This was called the "dunce block," and for a refractory urchin to be placed upon it was deemed the most humiliating punishment that could be administered.
Matilda Taylor probably taught the first sum- mer school in this part of the township.
One night while Fullerton was the teacher he and some of the larger boys succeeded in getting a wagon fixed upon the roof of the school-house; and when the wrathful owner of the conveyance appeared and demanded that the mischief-makers should be punished, the pedagogue gravely as- sured him that he would do his best to find out who they were and treat them as they deserved.
A third school-house of hewed logs was built at the cross roads west of the Covenanter church.
The house in which William Young now lives was the first framed school-house in the district.
Among the early teachers in the northwestern part of the township were Orman Deane, Hayes Bell, and Amelia Streeter.
In the Jackson Centre district previous to 1840 English was taught a part of the term and German the remainder. Soon after Samuel Jones settled he was elected a school director and made a canvass of the district to find out how many were in favor of substituting English alone. He found only three opposed to this plan, and those three had no scholars. The change was accordingly made and the German language ceased to be taught in the township.
In the first schools the "three R.'s" were all the branches in which instruction was given. The spelling book and Bible were text books for all scholars, whether old or young. Geography and grammar were not introduced for many
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years, and their admission into the schools at all was bitterly opposed by the conservative, old- fashioned parents. They were considered inno- vations unnecessary and worthless. "We got along without studying them-why can't our children ?" This style of argument has always met the friends of education, but we are thank- ful that it no longer carries conviction with it.
EARLY MILLS.
The first grist-mill in the township was built by Samuel Riddle, Sr. It was on the Meander, in the southeastern corner of the township, and must have been erected more than seventy years ago. It was a small affair, and was made as cheaply as possible. It was succeeded by a mill situated just southeast of the old site. This second mill was built by a man named Amos Stoddard, and was run by the Riddles several years. It was owned later by a man named Butler, then by Benjamin McMahan, but was destroyed by fire some years ago.
The Riddle saw-mill was built near the first grist-mill mentioned above, but was in Ellsworth township. It was probably erected as early as 1810. A saw-mill situated on a little run north- west of the center, was standing in 1830. It was known as Haynen's mill, afterwards as Camp's mill. It ran until 1850 or later. No trace of its site is now visible and the stream, for a mill-stream, is decidedly a diminutive one.
James Crooks operated a carding- and fulling- mill, about a mile and a quarter north of the center, some fifty years ago. Horace Platt owned the mill after him. About the same time a saw-mill was built by the McMahan's on the same stream, north of the carding-mill. It was run by different parties until within a few years.
Reuben Craver put up a saw mill on Morri- son's run, and Andrew Gault bought it. William Young built a saw-mill on the same stream in 1844. It is still standing but disused.
CHURCH HISTORV.
The early settlers of Jackson were a church- going people, and had a place for public worship at a very early date, so early that in these days one can but wonder where the worshipers came from and how they managed to pay a preacher. But it is not reasonable to suppose that the con- gregations were large, or that the preacher re- ceived more than a meagre salary. People rode
horseback or walked to church and came from all the region around.
THE OLD LOG CHURCH.
The first church building in the township was a structure of hewn logs, and was situated on a hill near the west line of the township, on the south side of the road running east and west. It was probably built in 1818, or perhaps a little earlier. The house contained a few rude seats and had no floor except some loose boards. An aged resident of Jackson remembers that he at- tended services there and sat upon a sleeper which formed a part of the building. This primitive house of worship was used but a short time. It was erected and used by the Presbyte- rians of Jackson and Austintown. Rev. Joshua Bier was the minister. He is described as a good and pious old man, who adhered rigidly and uncompromisingly to the strongest and most old-fashioned doctrines. As a preacher he had only ordinary talents, but his earnestness and sincerity always secured the attention of his hearers. On account of an unfortunate family trouble he severed his connection with his little flock, and the old church ceased to be a meet- ing-house.
THE COVENANTERS.
As early as 1818 the Reformed Presbyterians or Covenanters of the southeastern part of the township organized and formed a church, and were supplied by a minister who also presided over the congregation of the same denomina- tion at Little Beaver, Pennsylvania, thirty miles distant. Mr. Williams, an aged missionary, preached in the settlement occasionally before the organization was effected. Rev. Robert Gibson was the first regular preacher, and supplied the congregation three or four years. Meetings were held in barns in summer and in dwelling- houses in winter. After Mr. Gibson resigned his charge, there was a vacancy which continued several years. About 1830 Rev. George Scott was ordained pastor, and soon afterwards was erected a small frame house, perhaps 25 x 30 feet in its dimensions. It was plain and cheaply furnished, containing movable seats, and was never painted cither inside or out. This build- ing was used as a church for many years, but was finally taken down and carried to the cen- ter, where its materials were used in construct- ing W. B. Mansel's wagon-shop.
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In 1833 occurred the division in the church which resulted in the formation of two schools of Covenanters. Mr. Scott resigned his charge, and joined the new school, which built a church in Austintown later. Another vacancy ensued until Rev. James Blackwood became pastor. The church having been reorganized, a branch of the same church at Greenville, Pennsylvania, some forty miles distant, having been added to the charge, which still included Little Beaver and Jackson, Mr. Blackwood resigned on ac- count of poor health and the large amount of labor his pastorate demanded. Until about 1847 the church remained unsupplied, but at that date Rev. Samuel Sterrett began his minis- trations, and continued as the pastor over twenty years. Soon after he entered upon his labors here, the church building now standing was erected-a very neat little country church of ample size for the accommodation of its congre- gation. Rev. R. J. George became pastor in 1870; succeeded by Rev. T. C. Sproul until 1879. The church is at present without a pastor and its membership small. Under Mr. Sterrett Greenville was thrown from the charge, and later Little Beaver. The two last ministers were sup- ported by the Jackson and Poland branches, Poland branch having been added in place of those that were dismissed.
The old church has had many periods of ad- versity. Its prosperity was once quite marked. Commencing with but a handful of members, it grew to over seventy, then began to diminish. Archibald Ewing, John Ewing, Robert Kirk- patrick, Andrew Gault, William Knight, William Young, Robinson Young and their families were the principal and earliest members. The first elders were Archibald Ewing, Andrew Gault, and James Truesdale.
THE METHODIST CHURCH.
The first preaching by this denomination was begun in 1823 by Rev. Charles Elliot. In 1824 a class was formed consisting of eight members. The first meetings were held at the house of John Erwin.
Private houses and school-houses were used as places for worship for some years, then the building which is now Mansel's wagon shop was purchased and occupied until the present build- ing was erected north of the center in 1847.
Among the earliest Methodists who worshiped
in this township were John Pearsall and wife, Richard Osborn and wife, Mrs. Susanna Mc- Mahan, J. D. McMahan, George Ormsby and wife, John Erwin and wife, and Mrs. Kincaid.
The early preachers were "circuit riders," who filled a large number of appointments and often preached every day in the week.
LUTHERAN AND GERMAN REFORMED CHURCH.
The early meetings of these societies were held in private houses. In 1835 an organization was effected and the corner-stone of the present building land. The house was built by the united efforts of the Lutherans and German Reformed inhabitants of Jackson. The house is situated a short distance north of the center, and is a quaint, old-fashioned building, square, with high pulpit and galleries. It was dedicated in 1836, the sermon on that occasion being preached by Rev. Mr. Holder.
The first pastor of the Lutherans was Rev. F. C. Becker, who has since served. The first German Reformed pastor was Rev. J. P. Mah- nenschmidt.
The Fulks, Shoenenbergers, Klingensmiths, and others were among the leading members at the time of the organization. The first trustees were Samuel Klingensmith (Lutheran) and Peter Fulk (German Reformed) ; first elders, Martin Goldner (Lutheran) and Mr. Schlabach (Re- formed).
The Sunday-school is made a union school and supported by both denominations.
Father Becker, the venerable pastor of the Lutherans, resides in Lordstown, and notwith- standing the many busy years he has spent in his holy calling, he is still vigorous and as attentive to his work as in his youthful days. Mr. Becker is father of most of the Lutheran church organi- zations in this section.
THE DISCIPLES.
This denomination has a comfortable little house situated just south of the center. The church was organized in the fall of 1852 by Rev. C. Smith, with fifty-two members. For a time it was in a flourishing condition, but it gradually passed into a state of somnolence, and in 1874 was resurrected and reorganized by H. C. Carl- ton, with thirty-four members. W. B. Dean, Joseph Pierce, James Russell, George and Chris- tian Shively have been most active in this church,
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and have contributed largely toward its support.
The church edifice, small but comfortable, is situated at the center. There are now from sixty to seventy members. The pastors have been Revs. Smith, Wakefield, Reeves, Calvin, Green, Carlton, Bartlett, and Bush.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
This church was organized in November, 1871, by members of the churches at Orr's corners and Ohltown. There were twenty-one members from the Newton church at Orr's corners, who petitioned to become members of the new church, and fifteen from the Rehoboth church, Ohltown, were admitted to membership by letter. Five persons, not at that time members of any church, were received upon profession of faith.
The church building, a neat and tastefully made house, probably the best country church in the county, was completed the same fall. The dedication took place December 28, 1871, Rev. John McMillan preaching the sermon on that occasion. Among those who were the largest subscribers to the building fund were William Riddle, Samuel Riddle, David Ander- son, Miles Marshall, David Calhoun, David John- son, and Samuel Johnson.
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