USA > Ohio > Mahoning County > History of Trumbull and Mahoning counties with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, Vol. II > Part 27
USA > Ohio > Trumbull County > History of Trumbull and Mahoning counties with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, Vol. II > Part 27
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The church received several additions to its membership shortly after its organization, and now numbers over ninety communicants. The house was refurnished in 1881, and is now a very pretty and very comfortable church. There have been two settled ministers. Rev. Robert T. McMahan was the first; Rev. James W. Reese, who is now in charge, the second.
GRAVEYARDS.
The oldest burial place in the township is in the southeastern part near the Covenanter church. Here, in an uneven piece of ground, neglected, and overgrown with weeds and briers, the bones of the first settlers and many of their descendants repose.
There is a small graveyard in the northwest- ern part of the township, less than a half acre in area, which contains about twenty grave-stones. The earliest death there recorded is that of Lydia, wife of Anthony Stogdill, who died June, 12, 1832, aged thirty-seven.
North of the center are two graveyards ad- joining the Methodist and the German churches.
IN EARLY DAYS.
We can find no traditions of mighty hunters; but here must have been an ample field for sportsmen. Deer were very numerous, and there were a large number of their trails leading through the township toward the salt springs. Killing wolves was pursued, not for sport, but as a matter of serious business, with a two-fold ob- ject in view, namely,-to preserve the flocks from their depredations, and to obtain the boun- ty for their scalps. Mr. Joseph Pierce relates that in one night seventeen sheep,-all of his flock but three,-were destroyed by these hun- gry marauders. John Pearsall, an early settler in the eastern part of the township, was chased one night by a pack of wolves. He was un- armed at the time, but by seizing a heavy club and making good use of it he was enabled to reach home in safety.
One night in the winter of 1819 Mrs. Pierce, mother of Joseph Pierce, lost her way while going to the house of her neighbor, McConnell, and took by mistake a path which led toward the salt spring, in Weathersfield. When the family became alarmed because of her absence they aroused the neighbors and hastened to search for her. She was found about midnight some miles from home. She contracted a severe cold from this exposure and never recovered from its effects.
Johnny, a little eight-year-old son of David McConnell, got lost one day while going from Pierce's house to his home. It was in the spring of the year and a very wet season, the lowland being entirely covered with water. The whole neighborhood was aroused and men and women commenced searching for the lost boy, wading through water and mud. Trumpets were blown and all joined in shouting, hoping that the boy would be guided to his friends by the sounds. After several hours Johnny was found near Jack- son center by some of John Irwin's family. He had reached a creek so swollen by rains that he could not cross it, and had sat down by a tree to rest, where it is supposed he fell asleep. A heavy rain came on and awakened him sud- denly. He began crying and thereby attracted the attention of the Irwins, who came to his rescue and restored him to his anxious parents.
The roads of Jackson township were long in condition which rendered travel on foot or
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horseback anything but pleasurable. Wagons were not much used, and many of the pio- neers got along for years without one. The State road running east to Youngstown was cut out early in the present century, but for a long time it remained impassable for any kind of vehicles. West of the center there was a long strip of "corduroy" road-formed by lay- ing round logs in the mud. From 1830 to 1840 many improvements were made in the highways previously marked out, and new roads built. Mr. William Young says that when he came to the township there were plenty of paths running through the woods, but no roads worthy the name. He was instrumental in having the north and south road west of his place constructed, and also assisted in making the north and south center road. For several years the first named road, now a much frequented thoroughfare, was not traveled enough to keep the grass down.
The swamps and swales of the southern part of the township were often covered with water for weeks at a time.
Canfield and Warren were the nearest trading places for the early settlers. There were very few articles bought at the stores, however. Sugar, clothing, etc., were manufactured at home. Salt, leather, tea and coffee were necessarily pro- cured of the merchants. Few families took a newspaper, and letters were rarely sent or re- ceived.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
From the fact that no township records are in existence, excepting those of a comparatively recent date, we can give no names of early town- ship officers. It is generally agreed that Andrew Gault was the first justice, and John Pearsall the second. Robert Turnbull, William L. Roberts, Thomas Woodward, Jonathan Osborn, Jonas Ebert, David Camp, Jackson Truesdale, Samuel Johnston, Samuel Jones, William Anderson, Moses Felnagle, G. W. Osborn, and perhaps others, have held the office.
THE VILLAGE.
Jackson center, or North Jackson-it is the same place whichever name you use-is a thrifty little country village containing a goodly number of white houses, as well as four churches, four stores, a hotel, a saloon, three blacksmith shops, a tannery, two saw-mills, a flax-mill, a wagon-
shop, a harness shop, and a tailor's shop. A daily mail is received from West Austintown.
MERCHANTS.
Colwell Porter, Austintown's most successful merchant, started the first store in 1834, and em- ployed a man named Housel to keep it. The goods were kept in a part of 'Squire Turnbull's log house. Afterwards Gideon Anthony managed the business, the firm being Porter & Anthony A man named Koons had a store in 1834, which he sold to Augustus Grater about the time Porter sold his interest to Anthony. Grater & Hoffman were in business on the southeast corner some years. David Anderson com- menced in 1843, and afterwards sold to John Cartwright. About the same time Turnbull & Welkers had astore on the northwest corner of the center. David Anderson again commenced in 1856 on the southeast corner, and Anthony & Flaugher on the southwest corner. Anderson & Fusselman formed a partnership under the name D. Anderson & Co., and in 1862 the firm was changed to Anderson, Shaffer & Co .; the firm is now G. W. Shaffer & Co. Welkers sold to Moherman, Osborn & Lynn. Lynn retired, and the firm then became Moherman, Osborn & Moherman, afterwards changed to William & A. Moherman. They were followed by Dickson & Kirk, who were burned out in 1874. Fulk & Anderson commenced in 1866; Anderson with- drew, and the firm of Fulk, Wetzel & Wanne- maker commenced business in 1868; Wetzel and Wannemaker retired, and Gideon Fulk con- tinued until his death in 1873. Daniel B. Blott is now the proprietor of the store. G. W. Os- born and Osborn & Jones were in business as drug and hardware merchants a short time be- tween 1865 and 1870. Shields, Orr & Co. had a furniture store for about one year. B. F. Phillips, who carries an extensive stock of drugs, medicines, notions, and jewelry, has been in the place since 1878. The two dry goods stores are well stocked, and their owners are receiving a large and well-merited patronage. Samuel Jones opened a hardware store in 1880. Con- sidering the size of the place, there is a large amount of trading done at North Jackson.
PHYSICIANS.
The doctors who have resided for a short time in Jackson have been many. It is evident-
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ly a good place in which to begin the practice of medicine. Dr. Isaac Powers was the first physi- cian, and remained less than a year. Dr. James F. Porter came in 1839, and was a successful practitioner for some years. Dr. Jackson Trues- dale, Drs. Davis, Davidson, Gilmore, Connor, Burger, Mckinley, Keith, Wilson, and others have each been here for short periods. Dr. Wells Spear was here some twenty years ago, and remained long enough to make an excellent reputation.
The present physicians are Dr. H. H. Webster and Dr. E. D. Hughes. Both are constantly increasing their practice, and rising in the respect of the people.
INDUSTRIES.
It was some time after the stores were opened at the village before there were any other in- dustries.
In 1848 the steam saw-mill now owned by D. D. Jones was erected by Gideon Anthony and John Wannemaker. The mill now operated by Gault & Fullerton was built by Henry Prince at a later date.
The tannery of Miles Marshall & Sons was built by Mr. Marshall and Samuel Jones in 1848. Mr. Jones was in business with Mr. Marshall for about two years. The original building has been enlarged and its proprietors are doing a good business.
The hotel was built about 1844 by Benjamin Wannemaker, who was its landlord for some years, then sold to Samuel Wannemaker. In 1860 the house was purchased by its present proprietor, Cyrus Koons, who has enlarged and improved it.
In 1870 Samuel Wannemaker put up a build- ing west of the center where he dresses flax, presses hay and straw, etc.
THE FIRST TAVERN.
Robert Turnbull kept a house of entertain- ment, but perhaps not a regular tavern. Jacob Probst, who also worked at his trade of tailoring, was keeping tavern in 1837 in the building now used by W. B. Mansel as a wagon-shop. Mr. Mansel, as will be seen from these pages, owns two buildings that once were churches, as well as a tavern and a school-house. The old tavern, the Methodist church, and the school-house are the same building, however.
OTHER MATTERS.
Robert Turnbull was the pioneer at the cen- ter, and built the first house. He came about 1828, and died in 1852. David Urick was the second settler at the center, coming soon after 'Squire Turnbull. He lived where 'Squire Jones now resides. He was a carpenter by trade, a good workman, and helped to build many houses in the township. Abner, one of his sons, is still a resident of Jackson.
Solomon Stroup moved from Pennsylvania to Jackson in 1833, and is still living here. He says he thinks there were but two houses at the center at the time of his coming. The growth of the place was slow. In 1840 there were seven or eight houses in the village.
Eli Marberger was the first blacksmith at the center. He was the strongest kind of a Demo- crat as well as a good citizen and an industrious worker. The post-office was kept in his shop for some years. He was elected justice of the peace, but resigned after serving a very short time. Mr. Marberger sold out and went to Niles.
THE POST-OFFICE.
The first postmaster at North Jackson was Robert Turnbull. The office was established in 1834 Or 1835. Dr. James Porter, D. Anderson, Eli Marberger, Gideon Fulk, and G. W. Shaffer have succeeded in the office.
NORTH JACKSON HIGH SCHOOL.
A general feeling of interest in educational matters seems to have come upon the citizens about the year 1856. A select school was formed soon after, and Robert A. Kirk became the teacher. The building now used as a paint-shop was used as a school-room for a few terms. In 1860 the academy was erected, and thereafter, until recently, there have been regular terms of school. O. P. Brockway was the first teacher in the new house.
About four years ago the building was pur- chased of the stockholders by the trustees of the township, to be used as a town hall, but with the understanding that the citizens of the township should have the privilege of using the house for a select school whenever they desired.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
THE OSBORN FAMILY.
Nicholas Osborn, when a young man, emi- grated to this country from England and settled in Virginia. He married in that State Margaret Cunnard, and reared a family of children, as follows: Jonathan, Sarah, Abraham, Richard, John, Elizabeth, Anthony, Mary, Joseph, and Aaron. His occupation was farming and mill- ing. In 1804 he sold out and came to Trum- bull county, Ohio, now Mahoning county, and purchased a large tract of land, one thousand acres of which was in Youngstown township and five hundred aeres in Canfield, and he had in addition to these still other traets. With him came Abraham, Anthony, Joseph, and their fam- ilies, Aaron, then single, and the family of Wil- liam Nier. John and his family came a short time before the rest. Joseph Osborn was born in Virginia in May, 1775, and when twenty-two years of age he married Margaret Wolfcale, daughter of John Wolfcale, who was born Octo- ber 7, 1774. They became the parents of ten children, viz: Sarah, Mary, Mahlon, Jonathan, John W., Alfred, Abner, Thomas P., Elizabeth, and Joseph. On the 25th day of December, 1804, Joseph Osborn moved upon a part of the one thousand acre tract, which contained a log house erected by a man by the name of Park- hurst. The floor consisted of a few loose boards, and the door and windows were simply openings cut out of the sides of the house. There was no ceiling, and the fire-place had no hearth. Upon that place he resided and toiled until his death, which occurred February 17, 1846. His wife died July 20, 1854. Jonathan Osborn, a son of Joseph and Margaret Osborn, was born in Loudoun county, Virginia, May 28, 1804. The same year his parents removed to Ohio, and settled on the land which had been purchased in Trumbull county, as previously mentioned. Jonathan had but few early advantages for the acquirement of an education, but he has be- come, by reading and observation, a well in- formed man. He remained upon the farm until after he was twenty-one. When he started for himself he had only a two-year-old colt. For the first five years he worked for Judge Baldwin, commencing at $2 per month. During this time
he bought two hundred acres of land, paying $2.30 per acre for it. January 28, 1836, he mar- ried Mary Ann Goff, daughter of Humphrey Goff, then of Youngstown. She was born Feb- ruary 15, 1818, near Lewistown, Pennsylvania. This marriage was blessed with six children, viz: George W., Margaret J., Albert M., William N., Mary Alice, and Jonathan W. William and Jonathan died in early childhood. Mr. Osborn resides on a finely improved farm in the north- west part of Jackson township.
NOTES OF SETTLEMENT.
Andrew Calhoon was born in Pennsylvania October 5, 1777. In the first settlement of the country he and his father, Samuel Calhoon, came to Jackson township, now Mahoning county, bought them land and made preparations for the arrival of the mother, Naney Calhoon, and Samuel and Matthew, and their ten sisters. Their only neighbors were the wild animals. Their greatest drawback was the heavy timber which occupied the soil, but the soil when ex- posed to the sun produced abundantly and there was no danger of starvation. But the wheat and corn had to be taken many miles during the first years of the settlement of the county in order to be ground for food. In a few years, however, neighbors began to come in, fields expanded, and the log cabins gave place to more commodious dwellings. Andrew Calhoon married Elizabeth, daughter of James Marshall, of Weathersfield, Trumbull county. She was then eighteen years of age. The result of this marriage was twelve children, na nely: Isaac, Nancy, Lydia, David, Elizabeth, Matilda, Andrew, Samuel, James, Malissa, Belinda, and one that died in infancy. All of those named lived to maturity, although Nancy and Lydia are now deceased. Andrew Calhoon died October 5, 1833. His wife lived a widow something over forty years and died December 28, 1873.
David Calhoon, son of the subject of the pre- ceding sketch, was born in Jackson township, Mahoning county, December 18, 1814. He at- tended only the pioneer schools where the "three R's " (reading, 'riting, and 'rithmetic) were taught. He remained on the home farm until he was of age and then bought a part of the
Jonathan Cislorns
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farm where he now resides in Jackson, which was then heavily timbered. He has since added to his first purchase and now has about two hundred acres. April 16, 1840, he married Rebecca Riddle, who was born in western Penn- sylvania January 17, 1818, and when about two years old came with her parents to Jackson township. By this marriage there were seven children, to-wit: Andrew C., Samuel S., David B., John M., Elizabeth J., Sylvester J., James W, all living at this writing. Mr. and Mrs. Calhoon are members of the Presbyterian church.
Andrew Gault, Jr., youngest of seven children of Andrew Gault, Sr., was born in Jackson town- ship, Mahoning county, December 7, 1804. An- drew Gault, Sr., was a native of Ireland and when about seventeen years of age he emigrated to America and after a time settled in Washing- ton county, Pennsylvania. April 22, 1788, he married Eleanor Chesney, by whom he had seven children. In 1803 he emigrated with his family to Trumbull county, Ohio, and settled in Jack- son township, where his grandson, James G., and his mother now live. He died January 8, 1832, surviving his wife, who died April 27, 1829. An- drew Gault received a good education for the times, attending, besides the common schools, select schools and the Canfield school. He helped to clear the farm on which he lived and devoted his life to his chosen occupation, that of farming. March 31, 1831, he married Mary Ewing, daughter of John Ewing, of Jackson township. She was born May 22, 1807. The result of this marriage was ten children, viz : Eleanor, Margaret, John E., Andrew R., Robert A., Margery Ann, James G., Sarah J., Mary C., and Rachel E., all of whom are living except Eleanor and Margery. It is said that Andrew Gault, our subject, was the first white male child born in Jackson township, and that his wife was the first female child. Mr. Gault was an intel- ligent but unassuming man and a Christian. He was a member of the Covenanter church. He died at the age of about sixty-six.
Robert A. Gault, son of the above, was born on the old homestead in Jackson, August 26, 1839. In 1861 he enlisted in company F, Forty-first Ohio volunteer infantry, serving four years and two months in the Army of the Ten- nessee and was in the battles of Pittsburg Land-
ing, Murfreesboro, Dallas, etc. He entered the service as a private but rose to the position of captain. In 1867 he was married to Miss Mar- tha Johnson and has three children, viz: Cas- sius, Homer J., and Edith E.
James G. Gault, youngest son of Andrew Gault, Jr., was born in Jackson township August 21, 1842. In 1864 he went out in the one hundred day service, enlisting in company G, One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Ohio National guard. In 1869, June 15th, he married Mary Ellen Ewing, who was born November 24, 1844. They have three children, viz : Charles C., Lois M. B., and Grace Irene.
Robert Gault, Jr., was born in Green town- ship, Mahoning county, on December 8, 1814. He is the only child of Robert Gault, Sr., who was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, on March 31, 1789. Robert Gault, Sr., was the oldest child of Andrew Gault. Robert Gault was educated in the schools of Pennsylvania, and thus had probably better advantages than his younger brothers, whose chances for "school- ing " were in the pioneer schools. He aided in clearing up and making a home and a sus- tenance on the tract of land which now consti- tutes the homestead. He and his father, when he was grown, purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, on which the subject of this sketch now resides. In the fall of 1813 he mar- ried Charlotte Bowman, daughter of Phillip Bowman, a pioneer of Green township. He was a German by birth and immigrated from Mary- land to Iowa. Prior to his immigrating he was one of the soldiers of the Revolutionary war. A few months after their marriage Robert Gault, Sr., was drafted in the War of 1812, and started for Detroit. At Cleveland he was taken ill, but for fear of being called a coward he proceeded with his company toward Detroit, but on the way was taken worse and died at Rocky River, Ohio, at the house of Widow Miner, October 29, 1814. Mrs. Gault, meanwhile, had gone to her father's in Green township, Mahoning county, where soon after her husband's death she gave birth to her only child by this husband. She afterwards married Joseph Hudson and moved to Iowa. When Robert Gault, Jr., was two years old he went to live with his grandfather, Andrew Gault. With him he grew up. On December 9, 1835, he married Margery Ewing, daughter of John
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Ewing, of Jackson township. She was born in Jackson township on June 3, 1816. This mar- riage was blessed with twelve children-John, born December 27, 1836; Alexander and Mar- garet Sarah (twins), May 26, 1838; Mary, De- cember 14, 1839; Andrew, November 14, 1841; Caroline, July 8, 1843; Martha J., March 8, 1845; Gideon, November 6, 1846; Samuel S., March 11, 1848; William, March 28, 1850; Gib- son J., December 6, 1852, and Robert E., March 7, 1855. Caroline died August 31, 1844. An- drew enlisted in 1861 in the Forty-first regiment, Ohio volunteers, and was in the Army of the Cumberland. He was wounded in the arm at a skirmish at Dallas, Georgia, while retreating. This necessitated amputation, from the effects of which he died July 8, 1864. Both Mr. and Mrs. Gault are members of the United Presbyterian church.
Samuel Riddle, the subject of this sketch, was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, July 8, 1794. His father, whose name was also Samuel, came to Jackson township, now Ma- honing county, about the year 1803 or 1804. He settled on the Meander where he erected one of the first mills in that locality, which was long known as Riddle's mill. Samuel Riddle, our subject, was married June 18, 1818, to Polly Campbell, daughter of William Campbell, who was born in Pennsylvania March 28, 1792. By this marriage there were six children, viz: William C., Martha J., Margaret, Samuel, and a pair of twins that died in infancy. Both the daughters are now deceased. Margaret was the wife of Gibson Ewing. Samuel Riddle died March 30, 1869, and his wife Polly November 2, 1854.
William C. Riddle, the oldest of the children of the subject of the preceding sketch, was born in Jackson township, Mahoning county, then Trumbull, May 13, 1819. He remained at home upon the farm until he was twenty-seven, when he married and settled upon a farm two miles southeast of North Jackson, where he lived until five years ago, when he moved to that village. June 27, 1848, he married Martha J., daughter of John and Margaret Ewing, of Jackson town- ship. She was born August 12, 1823. Though living in town Mr. Riddle superintends his farm, which is situated a short distance from his present residence. lhimself and wife are mem- bers of the Presbyterian church.
Samuel Riddle, a younger brother of William C., was born in Jackson township, May 16, 1827. He derived his education at the district schools, which he attended for the most part during the winter season. When he was seventeen he taught his first school, and subsequently con- tinued school teaching for six winters, and taught the school he formerly attended the winter after his marriage. Some six years after his marriage he bought the farm on which he now lives, east of North Jackson. He was united in marriage April 17, 1851, to 'Mary Spear, daughter of Alexander Spear, of Hartford, Trumbull county, who was born at Mount Jackson, Pennsylvania, August 12, 1824. For over twenty years he and his wife have been members of the Presbyterian church of Ohltown and of North Jackson.
John Ewing was a native of county Donegal, Ireland, and when about seventeen years of age his mother (his father having previously died) with two sons and two daughters emigrated to America. They first setttled is Penn's valley, Pennsylvania, where for seven years he worked a farm on shares. In 1803 John Ewing came to Jackson township, now Mahoning county, where he bought a piece of land and erected the second house in the township. His older broth- er, Archibald, came out at the same time and settled in Austintown. The county was then almost a complete wilderness, with few neigh- bors (if settlers living miles apart and separated by dense woods can be called neighbors), the nearest inill being near Darlington, Pennsyl- vania ; it was with these surroundings and under these circumstances that the subject of this biog- raphy began to build up a home. But his in- dustry and energy brought prosperity, and he added to his original tract from time to time un- til he had a large property. When he com- menced farming labor was worth only' $4 per month. He married Margaret Orr, daughter of William Orr, then of Jackson but a native of Pennsylvania. They had a family of twelve chil- dren, as follow: Mary, Eleanor, Ann, Margaret, Alexander, Margery, Sarah, Gibson, Catharine, Martha J., John, and Rebecca, all of whom lived to adult age. Margaret, Sarah, Catharine, and Rebecca are now deceased. The father died July 13, 1842, aged seventy-one years. His wife survived him. He was drafted in the War of 1812 and started for the field, but the news
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