History of Trumbull and Mahoning counties with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, Vol. II, Part 3

Author: Williams (H.Z.) & Bro., Cleveland, Ohio, pub
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Cleveland : H. S. Williams
Number of Pages: 726

USA > Ohio > Mahoning County > History of Trumbull and Mahoning counties with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, Vol. II > Part 3
USA > Ohio > Trumbull County > History of Trumbull and Mahoning counties with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, Vol. II > Part 3

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Canfield and Zalmon Fitch, under the firm name of Mygatt, Canfield & Fitch, and opened a store of dry goods, groceries, and general merchan. dise. The partnership was dissolved after about two years, and the business was continued by Mr. Mygatt during the remainder of his life. He died in October, 1823. In 1811 Mr. My- gatt and his wife rode on horseback from Can- field to Danbury, but returned in a two-wheeled carriage, driving one horse before the other. The journey,- a distance of five hundred and thirty miles, occupied eleven days.

In 1828 the merchants of Canfield were three, Alson Kent, Eli T. Boughton, and William Hogg.

Boughton came here a young man. He was a tailor by trade. As a merchant he continued to do a fair business for many years. He died in Canfield. His first wife was a daughter of Comfort S. Mygatt, and his second the widow of Ensign Church.

· Alson Kent came to this place from Ravenna, and was in business several years.

William Hogg came from Petersburg and was a fairly successful merchant. A store built by him is now a dwelling, owned by Charles French.

C. S. Mygatt, son of Comfort S., was born in Canfield in 1815. In 1833 he began business with the firm of Lockwood, Mygatt & Co., dealers in general merchandise. From that date until 1860 he was in business here as a merchant, part of the time in partnership. Mr. Mygatt is still a resident of his native town.

Among others who have been merchants in Canfield, and are still residents of the place, are William Schmick, John Sanzenbacher, and Pierpont Edwards. For particulars see their biographies.

CANFIELD'S MERCHANTS.

Below we briefly mention the firms now doing business in Canfield, beginning at the store situ- ated on the corner northwest of the center of the township and proceeding south to the court- house, crossing the street and asking the reader to accompany us down on the other side:

W. H. Kyle, dealer in hardware, etc., began business in 1878 in the corner store formerly oc- cupied by C. S. Mygatt as a grocery. Betts & Sons manufacture and deal in pumps in a part of the same building.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

Truesdale & Kirk, who have an extensive stock of dry goods and general merchandise, be- gan business in Schmick's block in 1876. The senior member of this firm, Dr. J. Truesdale, began keeping a general store in 1859 in Odd Fellow's block, having James McClelland as partner, the style of the firm being McClelland & Truesdale. Three years later McClelland went out, and Dr. Truesdale continued business alone till 1867, and then formed a partnership with Charles E. Boughton, the name of the firm being Truesdale & Boughton. The part- nership continued three years, and in 1870 Mr. J. C. Kirk became the Doctor's partner. Mr .. Kirk is a native of Berlin towrship, this county, and began his business life as a clerk in 1866, at the age of seventeen.

Hollis & Brother, dealers in stoves and hard- ware, have been in business since 1860. G. H. Hollis began in 1857, and was joined by his brother, R. S. Hollis, in 1860. They were burned out in 1867, after which occurrence they built the store they now occupy. Lynn Brothers, dealers in drugs, groceries, and notions, com- menced in 1873. The firm consists of Messrs. G. F. & E. D. Lynn, both young men and natives of the township. They are doing a good business. The store which they occupy had been previously used by Gee & Blythe, who were in the same business.

Samuel Ewing opened his meat market in 1878 in the shop owned by the widow Lynn.

G. Fishel, dealer in confectionery, tobacco, cigars, ice cream, etc., commenced in 1877.

George Bartman, repairer and dealer in clocks, has been at work in this place over twenty years.

G. Rupright, grocer, bought out John Miller in 1864. He moved to Canfield village from a farm in the southeastern part of the township.

A. G. Arnold began the furniture business about fifteen years ago. He is now agent for Eli Creps, and does business in the store built and now owned by Robert Hole, of Salem.

G. W. Shellhorn, manufacturer and dealer in boots and shoes, came to Canfield in 1853 from Summit county, and purchased of Henry Hoff- man the store formerly occupied by G. G. Weare.

J. O. Corll, druggist, began in November, 1879, having bought the store of Dr. W. M. Corll. He keeps a large stock of first-class goods, both drugs and groceries, and aims to

meet all the wants of his rapidly increasing list of customers.

H. B. Brainerd, tailor, came to Canfield in October, 1828, and began working at his trade, which he still continues to follow. Mr. Brainerd was born at Saratoga Springs, New York, in 1808. He came to Ohio in 1811 with his father, George Brainerd, who settled in Boardman. There are four survivors of this family, viz: Henry, Liberty, Trumbull county; Mrs. Eliza Davidson, Boardman; John H., Cuyahoga Falls, Summit county ; and Horace B., Canfield. George Brainerd, the father, died in 1870 at the age of ninety-two. Mrs. Brainerd died in 1824 aged forty-four. H. B. Brainerd served his ap- prenticeship in Cleveland when that place was but a small village. He acted as insurance agent in Canfield about thirty-five years.

S. K. Crooks began the harness business in 1861. This he still continues in connection with dealing in grain and feed. He occupies the store formerly John Metzal's meat shop. The build- ing was erected for an office and occupied for some time by John Wetmore, revenue collector.

John Dodson, dealer in groceries, books, stationery, etc., commenced business in Canfield in 1859. He has moved several times, but has been in his present store since 1868. The build- ing was formerly a cigar factory. In 1881 Mr. Dodson began building a large and commodious store, two stories, 59x19 feet, which he intends to occupy as a store as soon as it is completed, at the same time carrying on business in his present quarters.

Ira H. Bunnell, manufacturer and dealer in saddles, harness, and trunks, commenced in 1870 in the building he now occupies. Mr. Bunnell was born in Canfield township in 1822. His father, Charles A. Bunnell, came here quite early and was a carpenter by trade. Mr. Bun- nell has served as justice of the peace several years.

At present there is but one store in operation on the east side of Broad street until Main street is reached, and that one is the grocery and saloon of J. P. Saddler, who began business in 1880.

Pierpont Edwards had a well-filled store north of the Congregational church, but closed out his business in 1881.

M. V. B. King, druggist, Church block, cor-

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

ner of Main and Broad streets, has been in his present business since May, 1878. He succeed- ed 1. W. Kirk, grocer and postmaster. Mr. King was appointed postmaster in 1879.

Edwards & Dyball, dealers in dry goods and general merchandise, commenced in May, 1881, succeeding P. Edwards. They occupy a store in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows' block.

TAVERNS.

Who kept the first tavern in Canfield we have not learned. In early days every house was a "house of entertainment," and new arrivals were made welcome and treated to the best the house afforded.

Cook Fitch came to Canfield in 1802. For some years he kept tavern north of Main street, on the east side of the road-the fourth house north of the corner where the brick block stands. He was a quiet, straight-forward man, and kept a good house, which was a stopping place for the Cleveland and Pittsburg stages.

The brick hotel, now known as the American house, was built by Joel Keck. M. L. Edwards kept hotel a number of years in a frame hotel, afterwards burned, which occupied the site of the American house. The American, under the management of Ira M. Twiss, is proving very popular.

L. L. Bostwick enlarged his father's dwelling, converted it into a public house, and acted as landlord a number of years. The house is still known as the Bostwick house.

Besides the American and the Bostwick, Can- field has two other hotels : Canfield house, H. Hoffman, and the Union house, Christian Pat- terman.

BANKING.

Canfield has no National bank, or savings institution. Van Hyning & Co. commenced banking in 1871. The stock company originally consisted of fourteen members, which number is now reduced to seven. In 1873 they erected the bank building which they now occupy. The names of the stockholders are as follow: Henry Van Hyning, president ; Peter Gee, cashier; Eben Newton, Hosea Hoover, Warren Hine, Giles Van Hyning, and S. W. Brainerd.

TANNERY AND BELT MANUFACTORY.

'The leading manufacturing interest in Canfield is represented by the firm of J. Sanzenbacher

& Co. The history of this industry, briefly sketched, is as follows: In 1865 John Sanzen- bacher bought of F. A. Brainard his tannery, and commenced work in it. The tannery at the time of its purchase had a capacity for dressing about five hundred hides per year. Mr. Sanzen- bacher enlarged the building, and doubled the amount of work done. About 1865 he ceased tanning, and commenced the manufacture of leather belting. In 1867 he disposed of the building and machinery to Royal Collar. In 1869 Mr. Sanzenbacher again engaged in the making of belts in the house which he had formerly occupied as a dwelling. In October, 1869, he formed a partnership with Pierpont Ed- wards, who is still a member of the firm. Frank Schauweker was one of the firm from 1872 to 1876. In 1872 was erected the tannery and belt factory now in operation. The capac_ ity of the works was about five thousand hides per annum, but in 1879 an addition was made to the main building, 81 x 42 feet, and the amount of work considerably increased. Until 1876 all of the stock was worked up into belts. Since that time the manufacturers have been making a speciality of harness leather. This firm sends and receives more freight than all the rest of the town combined. They pay to the railroad com- pany about $2,000 a year on freight received. Employment is given to twenty men on an aver- age, and the pay roll amounts to $200 per week. The proprietors have thus far found a ready market for all of their products, and their es- tablishment has gained a reputation for first-class work.

CLEWELL'S SAW-MILL AND LUMBER YARD.

In 1854 J. H. Clewell and Eben Newton pur- chased of John Wetmore his saw-mill and lumber yard and began business. Mr. Clewell soon bought out Judge Newton's share, and then went into partnership with Warren Hine for several years. Mr. Hine sold his interest to Frederick Whittlesey, who continued the business with Mr. Clewell a short time. Since 1867 the business has been carried on by Mr. Clewell alone. He has recently built an addition to the mill and is doing a larger business than ever, manufacturing and dealing in all kinds of house furnishing lumber.

STAR FLOURING MILL.

This mill was built in 1879 by J. and C. W.

Edmund P. Tanners

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

Harroff. From them it was purchased in 1880, by Stafford & Calvin, who are doing a good business. About twenty barrels of flour are produced daily.

CARRIAGE MAKING.

Matthias Swank was extensively engaged in the manufacture of wagons and carriages for a number of years. Beginning in 1835 he con- tinued the business until his death in 1881. At one time he employed from fifteen to twenty men and turned out a large amount of work yearly. His son, E. C. Swank, now carries on the business at the old stand on East Main street.

THE COUNTY SEAT AND ITS REMOVAL.

The county of Mahoning was created by act of the Legislature in the winter session of 1845- 46, and Canfield, its geographical center, fixed upon as the county seat. This good fortune was a source of much satisfaction and pride to the citizens of Canfield. It gave increased value to real estate, and made the town of more import- ance every way. The court-house was erected in 1847-48. The first court was held in it in 1848. The jail was built in 1850.

For a time all was harmonious; Canfield was happy; the county was satisfied, and men came to Canfield, very naturally and properly, to trans- act their legal business, to patronize the merchants and hotel-keepers, to arrange for caucuses and conventions, and carry out political programmes. Meanwhile Youngstown was getting on in the world at a rapid rate. In 1860 the town had about three thousand inhabitants; in 1870, eight thousand. With prosperity Youngstown became avaricious. Canfield had no iron furnaces and her growing rival was soon far, far ahead in point of wealth and commercial importance. Youngs- town became gleeful, Canfield grew despondent. What were the reasons? Let us glance back a little and investigate. Possibly one might have seen in Youngstown and vicinity little groups of magnates occasionally conferring together in whispers. Had Canfield heard those whispers ? Did she suddenly become aware of the familiar fact that big fishes eat up little ones and fear for her own safety? Perhaps. But Youngstown did not long talk in whispers. Her word became murmured, then boldly spoken, then shouted, "We're going to have the county seat!" She at

length proclaimed it in stentorian tones. Can- field was a little taken aback, to be sure, but then, she was possessed of Spartan pluck, and assuming as fierce an attitude as was possible she defiantly uttered the words, "Let's see you get it!"

Youngstown got it; Canfield survived the shock as well as could reasonably be expected. We need not hère repeat the arguments that were made pro and con, or otherwise stir up troubles now irrevocably settled. In 1874-75 the Legislature took action upon the matter; in 1876 Youngstown became the county seat of Mahoning.

INCORPORATION.

Canfield village was incorporated by act of the Legislature in 1849, Warren Hine, John Clark, H. B. Brainerd and John Wetmore incorpora- tors. The first election was held in April, 1849. L. L. Bostwick was chosen mayor; H. B. Brain- erd, recorder; and Charles Frethy, John Clark, William B. Ferrell, M. Swank, and Thomas Hansom, trustees. A list of the mayors and recorders follows :

Mayors-1850-51, John Wetmore; 1852, Na- than Hardman; 1853-57, J. B. Blocksom; 1858, William B. Dawson; 1859-67, F. G. Servis; 1868-71, H. G. Ruggles; 1872-77, M. H. Burky; 1878, M. V. B. King; 1879, J. S. Roller ; 1880-82, S. E. Dyball.

Recorders-1850-51, Thaddeus Foot, Jr .; 1852-53, H. B. Brainerd; 1854, B. S. Hine; 1855-57, E. G. Canfield; 1858, William Neir; 1859, H. H. Edsall; 1860, G. G. Weare; 1861- 65, John M. Edwards; 1866-69, T. L. Carroll; 1870-71, C. S. Mygatt; 1872, H. B. Brainerd, C. S. Mygatt ; 1873-74, J. C. Kirk; 1875-76, I. H. Bunnell; 1877, W. H. Mygatt; 1878-82, C. S. Mygatt.

CEMETERIES.

Soon after the settlement began, a graveyard was laid out east of the center, which is now the principal cemetery of the township. The spot is a pretty one, and its appearance has been much improved of recent years by the labor of loving hands. Here repose the bones of the founders of Canfield; peaceful be their rest after their generous toil! In this quiet spot has been laid all that was mortal of several men whose talents and energies achieved for them during their lifetime, honor, respect, and applause. The

TRUMBULL, AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

resting place of men whose reputation is wide- spread and National, the Canfield cemetery should ever be fondly cared for and protected by the living.

Many costly monuments have been erected during the past few years, and they present a marked contrast to the rude stones and half effaced inscriptions which mark the graves of the earlier settlers. This is fitting and proper; and is but another indication that the wealth and prosperity, for which they formerly labored, have been realized. It is less difficult for sons and daughters of to-day to procure a costly mon- ument for the graves of their departed parents, than those of sixty years ago to purchase the lowly and humble headstones, which are here so numerous. After all, what does it matter to the dead, whether a lofty column of polished granite stands above them, or only a plain slab of unlet- tered sandstone.

" The leaves of the oak and the willow shall fade, Be scattered around and together be laid ;

And the old and the young, and the low and the high, Shall moulder to dust and together shall lie."

The next largest and next oldest graveyard is situated about one mile north of the village, and has been the burying place of the German population since their first advent to the town- ship. Here, too, are many tasteful stones and monuments; and the shadow of the church where they were faithful worshipers for many a year, many-the aged, the sick, and the infirm- have at length found peaceful repose, while not a few in the morn of life and the bloom of youthful promise have been laid away. But "All that breathe will share their destiny."

There is another graveyard in the township, near the spot where the old Disciple church stood, northwest of the center.

CHURCH HISTORY. THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

This is the oldest religious organization in Canfield. The church was organized April 27, 1804, on "the accommodation plan," by Revs. Joseph Badger and Thomas Robbins, from the Connecticut Missionary society. John and Sarah Everett, Nathaniel and Hepsibah Chap- man, Jonathan Sprague, Lydia Doud, Mary Gil- son, Mary Brainard, and Lavina Collar were ad- mitted to membership.

The first baptisms recorded took place Octo-

ber 14, 1804, when three persons were baptized, Jarvis Weeks and Ammial, children of Aaron and Lavina Collar, and Maria, daughter of Jona- than and Sarah Sprague.

Services were held in private houses and school-houses until a church building was erected. The records are not continuous, but from them it is learned that Revs. Horace Smith and Mr. Curtis in 1818 and in 1822 were sup- plying the congregations of Ellsworth, Board- man, and Canfield. From 1818 to 1828 the names of Revs. Dwight, Coe, Vallandingham, Hughes, and Sullivan, are mentioned as minis- tering here.

In 1820, as the result of a subscription to which citizens of all denominations contributed, a house of worship was erected in the village on the east side of the Public square-a good sub- stantial frame building which is to-day the finest church in the town. The building committee were Comfort S. Mygatt, Cook Fitch, William Stoddard, James Doud, Edmund P. Tanner, David Hine, and Erastus Chidester. The terms of subscription are somewhat peculiar, some agreeing to pay the amounts opposite their names in labor, others in building materials, others in produce, etc. Aaron Collar subscribed $75, to be paid "one-third in produce, one-third in boards, and the remainder in whiskey." The largest subscriptions were as follow: Comfort S. Mygatt, $500; heirs of E. Wadsworth, $225; Elisha Whittlesey, $200; James Doud, $150; Eli T. Boughton, $125; Cook Fitch, $100; Aaron Collar, Rhoda Wadsworth, David Hine, $75 each ; and Jerusha Boughton, Edmund P. Tan- ner, Myron Sackett, William Dean, Adam Turner, Philo Beardsley, Herman Canfield, Mabel Scofield, Thomas Jones, $50 each.

Rev. William O. Stratton was the officiating clergyman from 1830 to 1835. In the latter year occurred a division which resulted in the organization of the Presbyterian church in Can- field. The Presbyterian portion withdrew and organized a church of their own, while the Con- gregationalists became the owners of the church property. The names of the pastors who have served here are as follow: William Beardsley, 1836; David Metcalf, 1837; Edward Evans, 1839-44: Davis R. Barker, 1845.47 ; L. B. Lane, 1848-49; Willard Burr, 1849; John A. Allen, 1857-59; S. W. Pierson, 1860-62; J. W. C. Pike,

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

1863-64; Tertius S. Clark, 1866-69; Mortimer Smith, 1870-71; Samuel Manning, 1871-74; W. S. Peterson, 1875-76; R. A. Davis, 1880; R. G. McClelland, 1881.

There have been .several intervals during which the church had no pastor. During the most of its history the pastors of this church have preached here a portion of the time only. Latterly, however, the pastors have served here all of their time.

The membership is about thirty at present. There is an interesting Sabbath-school of fifty or more.

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH .*

This church was originally established on the plan of union adopted by the general assembly of 1801. It was organized April 27, 1804 The church consisted of nine members, and thev adopted the confession of faith and covenant that were commonly received in the Congrega- tional churches in the vicinity as their standards of doctrine and discipline. It had been their practice to hold meetings on the Sabbath from the early settlement of the town, and clergymen of all orthodox denominations were invited to preach when present. Most of the inhabitants having received a religious education usually at- tended, and when they did not enjoy preaching they habitually attended their lay meetings, which were regarded as interesting and useful. Meetings were first held in a large log school- house that stood on the corner of a burying- ground. Afterwards in the summer seasons they met in partially finished houses and in barns, until a house was finally erected for the use of both meetings and schools northeast of the cen- ter. During these early periods of their exist- ence a great degree of brotherly love existed in the church. In the autumn of 1831 the church was visited with an interesting and precious re- vival of religion which resulted in adding some twenty-five members. This precious revival con- tinued from August until December. This church enjoyed the labors at different periods of the following ministers: Rev. Messrs. Badger, Robbins, Chapman, Wick, A. Scott, I. Scott, Leslie, Derrow, Hanford, Curtis, Field, Dwight, Cooke, Coe, Smith, Duncan, Wright, Hughes, Beal, Vallandigham, Stone, Sullivan, Lathrop,

Bouton, Treat, Woods, Satterfield, Sample, Strat- ton, and McCombs. Mr. Stratton was the first minister that was installed pastor of this church. They frequently attempted to obtain a settled minister, but failed, although they were re- markably united in their counsels and prompt in the payment of their pecuniary obligations. Mr. Stratton first preached as a licentiate in connec- tion with the presbytery of New York. Septem- ber, 1827, he returned to New York, and was there ordained and finally installed pastor of the church in October, 1828.

The congregation remained under the govern- ment of the plan of union in 1801 until 1835. The presbytery of Beaver, wich which it was connected by a special resolution, requested those churches under their care, that were or- ganized under that plan, to change their organi- zation to that of regularly constituted Presby- terian churches. The presbytery repeated their recommendations or injunction, and the pastor (Mr. Stratton) and the Presbyterian portion of the church and congregation felt themselves constrained in conscience, and in obedience to the authority of their presbytery, to carry out the recommendation, although they were soon led to believe it would result in their separation from the Congregational part of the society, with whom they had been long happily connected. From them they accordingly separated, and on the 22d day of January, 1835, the pastor and fifty members organized themselves into a regu- lar Presbyterian church, adopting the confession of faith and catechism of the Presbyterian church in the United States as their exclusive standards of doctrine and discipline. The congregation met for divine worship in the house of Mr. C. Frithy during one season, their numbers con- stantly increasing. With great energy and per- sonal effort they united together and erected the house of worship they have since occupied. On the first Monday of January, 1838, Rev. Wil- liam O. Stratton, the pastor, submitted to the congregation a request that they would consent to a dissolution of his pastoral connection with the congregation. The congregation, how- ever, not considering the reasons assigned suffi- cient, and unwilling to part with him, did not give their assent. Mr. Stratton resolved to travel as an agent for the Western Theological seminary for some months, and during his ab-

*By Rev. William Dickson.

TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.

sence engaged the Rev. William McCombs to supply his pulpit. On his return the following June, Mr. Stratton applied to the presbytery for the dissolution of his pastoral connection, which, with the consent of the congregation, was ac- cordingly done.

In August of the same year a unanimous call was made out for Mr. McCombs, which he ac- cepted, and in April, 1839, he was installed pas- tor of the congregation. After a successful pas- torate of several years Mr. McCombs resigned, and then the church secured as his successor in the pastoral office Rev. James Price, an eloquent and able minister. Mr. Price was succeeded by Mr. J. G. Reaser, now of St. Louis, Missouri. Dr. William G. March succeeded Mr. Reaser, and, after a successful pastorate of about twelve years, resigned to take charge of the Presbyte- rian church of Marysville, Ohio. Rev. J. P. Ir- win succeeded Mr. March, and remained pastor of the church for about eleven years. The present pastor is Rev. Dr. William Dickson, who was brought up in the congregation which he now serves as pastor.

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History of Trumbull and Mahoning counties with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, Vol. II, Part 3

Author: Williams (H.Z.) & Bro., Cleveland, Ohio, pub Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Cleveland : H. S. Williams Number of Pages: 726

Author: Williams (H.Z.) & Bro., Cleveland, Ohio, pub
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Cleveland : H. S. Williams
Number of Pages: 726