USA > Ohio > Mahoning County > History of Trumbull and Mahoning counties with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, Vol. II > Part 38
USA > Ohio > Trumbull County > History of Trumbull and Mahoning counties with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, Vol. II > Part 38
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able families in the township, as the preceding family sketch will show.
KENNEDY FAMILY.
Samuel Kennedy (Howland), the pioneer of this family in Trumbull county, was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, in 1764, from whence he moved to Ohio in 1814, and settled on the Kennedy homestead in Howland, where he lived until his death, which occurred in 1816. On this farm he erected the first saw-mill in the township on Kennedy run, on the east part of the farm. This mill was operated from that time until about 1873.
He was married to Jane Kennedy, and to them were born the following children : Mont- gomery K. (deceased), Nancy, now living in Howland, Elizabeth (deceased), Mary, mother of J. F. King, Tabitha (deceased), James, now on the home-farm, Maxwell (deceased), Thomas and William, of Bazetta; and Ann, widow of M. J. Iddings, of Howland.
James Kennedy was born in Northumber- land county, Pennsylvania, in 1807, and came with his father to Ohio, when he was but seven years old. From his boyhood to his present ad- vanced age he has been a resident of Howland, and always prominently identified with all the public interests of the township. In early times every settler from necessity became expert in the use of a gun; but Mr. Kennedy was, and is now rated, as an extra good shot. He relates that he succeeded in killing forty-two wild tur- keys in forty-four shots; and now exhibits a target about two inches in diameter in which eight bullet holes cluster about the center. He was also a mechanic and manufactured articles of furniture and cutlery with considerable skill.
He was married in 1831 to Miss Alice Scott, who was born in 1809. Their children are William Wallace, of Newton Falls; George W., of Howland; James Lawrence, of Warren, and John Scott.
The Kennedy family of Howland was repre- sented in the late civil war by George W. Ken- nedy, who enlisted August 22, 1861, in company C, Second Ohio cavalry. The regiment im- mediately went into camp at Cleveland, where they spent the winter. Afterwards were ordered
28+
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west to Platte City, Missouri, and were employed mostly as scouts in the Indian country. The first skirmish in which they were engaged was at Independence, Missouri, afterwards being en- gaged in a battle at Cow-skin prairie, and, also, at the second battle at Pea Ridge. In 1862 or 1863 they returned from the West and in follow- ing campaign were engaged as scouts in Ken- tucky and Tennessee; was through the mem- orable campaign of the wilderness under Grant; also at the seige of Knoxville, Tennessee. He was considerably disabled by his horse falling on him at Somerset, Kentucky, breaking a leg and three ribs.
In the fight at Piney Creek church his horse was shot from under him while in command of his company, to which he succeeded on account of the cowardice of his captain while under fire, he holding the rank of sergeant at the time. At the famous battle at Winchester, Virginia, he had another horse disabled, and was present when General Phil. Sheridan appeared after his famous ride-"saving the day at Winchester."
After following the regiment through many hard campaigns he was discharged September 18, 1864, on account of injuries received as above mentioned. On his return home he was married November 11, 1865, to Eliza Bailey, who was born July 25, 1837. They now have one child, Jimmie Frank, who was born April 5, 1868. After his marriage, he settled on the east part of the homestead farm and operated a saw-mill. He afterwards returned to Sharon, Pennsylvania, where he kept a hotel ; also, after- wards engaged in same business at Warren. He removed to the present farin in Howland in 1877, where he now resides-having served his township as assessor, school trustee and super- visor.
John Scott Kennedy was born in 1850, and was married in 1876, to Jennie King, who was born in 1855. They have one child, Grace.
He is now a member of the firm of M. C. & J. S. Kennedy, marble and granite works, Cort- land, Ohio; was census enumerator of 1880, and had the honor of presenting the best set of books in the census district ; he has also held the office of town assessor for two years, having been elected to that office while absent from home. He now resides on the home-farm in Howland.
NOTES OF SETTLEMENT.
John Reeves, Sr., was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, June 6, 1781; married April 16, 1801, Sarah Quinby, who was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, April 30, 1786. They moved to Howland in the spring of 1803, he having been out the fall previous and pur- chased one hundred and sixty acres in lot twelve. He brought his goods by water in a canoe down the Monongahela and Ohio to Beaver, thence up the Beaver and Mahoning to Warren, while his wife made the journey on horseback. During the War of 1812 Mr. Reeves was drafted but furnished a substitute. Shortly afterward he re- moved to Washington county, Pennsylvania, where he kept a tavern on the National pike some three years. He returned again to the farm but did not remain long, removing to and residing in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, about three years. He then moved to Sharon, Mercer county, where he operated a carding machine, grist- and saw-mill some three years. He then returned to the farm where he lived until his death November 20, 1851, aged seventy years. His wife lived until February 3, 1880, aged ninety.three years and nine months.
Provisions were very scarce in the early settle- ment, and on one occasion Mr. Reeves went to Beaver to procure them, leaving his wife with a child and a neighbor's girl to take care of the stock. On a very dark night during his absence the wolves attacked the small flock of sheep near the barn, some ten rods from the house, killing all but one, which Mrs. Reeves courageously rescued from the rapacious beasts. She, with the aid of the girl, pulled the wool from the dead sheep and afterwards carded and spun it, and had it woven into coverlets, some of which still remain as relics in the family.
Francis Andrews was born in Vienna town- ship in 1818, and was married first in 1840 to Ann King, who was born in 1820, and died in 1852. To them was born Kennedy K. in 1841. Mr. Andrews was again married in 1854 to Esther Ann Kennedy, who was born in 1836. Their children were Daniel and Anna, both de- ceased, and Linda now living at home. He has been mostly engaged as a farmer and dealer in Durham cattle ; also buying and selling horses, and was previously engaged in the dairy busi- ness. He settled on the farm on which he has
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since resided, in 1843, where he now lives in the retired enjoyment of the fruits of a busy life.
Isaac Ratliff was born February 6, 1818, on the farm on which his son James now lives. He was married in 1839 to Phobe King, who was born in 1821. To them were born the following children : Mary, William (who died in the army in Kentucky in 1862), and James, and Josiah. Mr. Ratliff has been mostly engaged as a farmer, but has served as a supervisor for a number of years. About 1865 he began quarrying stone in the quarry which he afterwards sold to the Har- mon Austin Stone company.
James Ratliff was born in 1845, and was mar- ried to Barbara Snair, who was born in 1846. To them were born the following children : William, John, Anna (deceased), and Judson. Mr. Ratliff has been engaged in various occupations-work- ing in stone quarry, farming, and is now engaged with his brother Josiah in operating the steam saw-mill. He is known as one of the rising young men of this township, throughout which he is well and popularly known.
Josiah Ratliff was born in 1847 and married to Eliza Wilson, who was born in 1847. Their children are as follows: Mina and Bertie. He enlisted in 1864 in the One Hundred and Nine- ty-sixth Ohio volunteer infantry, and served about one year, doing garrison duty at Fort Delaware, and in the Shenandoah valley. Mr. Ratliff re- turned from the army and settled to the peaceful pursuits of a farmer's life in Howland township. He has served his township as trustee, and at present is engaged with his brother James in running the steam saw mill near their residence in the northwest part of the township.
John Reeves, Sr., came from Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, in the fall of 1803, and purchased the well known Reeves homestead farm, being part of lots twelve and thirteen, Howland township. He moved in the spring of 1804 and settled on this farm, having brought his goods down the Monongahela and up the Ohio, Beaver, and Mahoning rivers in a common canoe. He was born June 5, 1781, and died in 1851; was married April 16, 1801, to Miss Sarah Quinby, who was born April 30, 1786. Their children were Arthur, Samuel, Abner, Jesse, Ephraim Q., Joseph P., John, Lewis, Sarah (now Mrs Reno, of Chicago), Eugenia (now Mrs. Little, of Chicago), Nancy (now Mrs. I. N. Dawson, of
Warren), and Hannah B., deceased. John Reeves, Jr., the seventh child, was born Tues- day, March 21, 1815, and was married in 1839 to Harriet Mason, who was born September 11, 1820. To them were born the following chil- dren : Ellesif, Abner M., Sarah, Mary, James, and John. Mr. Reeves was elected treasurer of Trumbull county in 1856, and served two years ; has been several times elected justice of the peace of his township. During the late war he was actively engaged in enlisting soldiers, having recruited company B, One Hundred and Fifth Ohio volunteer infantry, in about nine days, and of which he was commissioned captain. He is now one of the well known, leading men of his township, engaged as a farmer on the homestead farm.
James Bolin was born in Weathersfield, Trum- bull county, Ohio, December 7, 1819 ; son of John and Delilah (Williams) Bolin. John Bolin came to Ohio in 1817, settling in Weathersfield, and cleared up the place now owned by his sons James and John. He raised a family of five children, three of whom survive-James, John, and Mrs. Maria Kyle. He died in January, 1841. His wife came to Trumbull county with the family of James Heaton in 1801. James Bolin married, January 3, 1844, Miss Elizabeth Drake, who was born in Pennsylvania March 7, 1812. They have one son and two daughters, as follows: Warren S., born December 28, 1845 ; Candace, September 19, 1847 ; Maria E., wife of William Van Wye of Weathersfield, June 4, 1851. In the spring of 1861 Mr. Bolin settled on the place where he now lives, in Howland, on which Samuel Drake settled about 1816.
Milo McCombs was born in Weathersfield, Trumbull county, February 3, 1818, son of James McCombs. He removed to Howland township in the fall of 1855, settling on the place now owned by his son Nelson J., the old Dr. Seely place. He married for his first wife Har- riet Nelson, who died in 1851, and in 1853 he married Rebecca Hake, who is still living. He died in June, 1879. Nelson J., his oldest son, was born in Weathersfield June 24, 1842, and married, October 4, 1870, Miss Charlotte Sow- ers, born in Cuyahoga county in March, 1843, and has a son and a daughter-Harry C., born October 27, 1873, and Mary Bell November 23, 1878.
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John Williams was born in Howland township October 1, 1806. His father, Uriah Williams, was a native of Pennsylvania, where he was mar- ried. He came to Ohio with his family in 1801 and settled in Howland on the farm now occu- pied by his son John. The family consisted of three sons and seven daughters, of whom three are living. His death occurred in 1814. John was the youngest son. He was raised on the farm and his father's death threw upon him at an early age considerable responsibility in the management of the place. He obtained a good education for that time, and taught school one term. He was married in 1842 to Miss L. Scott, by whom one son, Lewis, was born December 13, 1852; a carpenter by trade. M.s. Williams died January 3, 1865. He was married again September 13, 1866, to Mrs. Elizabeth Kyle, daughter of James W. Russell, who was an early settler in Austintown. By her first husband Mrs. Williams had one child -- Laura E. Kyle, wife of M. L. Hyde. Mr. Williams settled on his present farm in 1842. He was active during the war in the Union cause.
Z. T. Ewalt was born in Howland township September 6, 1816. His father, John Ewalt, was born in New Jersey in 1776, came to Ohio in 1801, and settled in Howland township in 1802 on the place now owned by his son, Harris Ewalt, where he died about 1858. His family consisted of ten children, five of whom are liv- ing. He was a member of the Society of Friends, as was also his wife. Z. T. Ewalt was reared on his father's farm and resided at home until twenty-seven years old. He spent the year 1841 in the West. He was married April 20, 1843, to Belinda Adams, who was born in Little Beaver, Pennsylvania, September 6, 1823. Their family consists of six children, four of whom are still living, viz : John A., Madison county, Ohio, a Presbyterian minister; Z. T., Jr., resides in Howland ; Florence I., wife of S. B. Reed, resides in Windham, Portage county ; Olive B., resides in Howland. Mr. Ewalt set- tled on his present farm in 1843. He has filled several township offices, including justice of the peace, to which he was first elected in 1863, and served twelve years ; was county coroner eight years, and again elected justice of the peace in 1881. In politics he was a Whig and is now a Republican.
William W., the only son of Samuel M. and Tabitha Kennedy, was born in Howland town- ship, March 27, 1836. His father, Samuel Ken- nedy, was born in Westmoreland county, Penn- sylvania, in 1798. He came to Ohio with the family and settled in Howland township. His family consisted of two children-William W. and Mrs. Ann E. Gilbert, who resides on the homestead. Samuel Kennedy was much es- teemed as a neighbor and citizen. He died February 21, 1875. William W. Kennedy mar- ried, September 25, 1877, Miss Addie Ewing, by whom one son was born-Samuel E. Mrs. Ken- nedy died August 6, 1878. Mr. Kennedy was married again April 19, 1882, to Miss Barbara Jones. He resides on the homestead in How- land.
John Lane was born in Austintown, Mahon- ing county, Ohio, May 29, 1812; married, Feb- ruary, 1840, Miss Anna Westover, and soon after was appointed superintendent of the county in- firmary, filling that position some three years. He purchased a farm in Champion, where he lived some thirty years, with the exception of a year and a half in Vienna. In 1870 he pur- chased the Simeon Drake farm, where he after- wards lived. He had a family of four children. Austin W., born February 20, 1841, enlisted, in 1861, in the Fourteenth Ohio battery, and was in the battle of Shiloh. Being prostrated by sickness he was soon removed to Cincinnati under the care of his father. He died April 29, 1862. Chester, born March 5, 1843, died Sep- tember 7, 1844. Frank B., born April 2, 1855, died October 20, 1859. Irenus L., the only survivor, was born in Champion township, Jan- uary 3, 1853. He attended a normal school at Orwell, and Hiram college some five terms; also took a commercial course at Eastman's Com- mercial college, Poughkeepsie, New York. In the spring of 1875 he took charge of the home place. He married, June 8, 1876, Miss Maggie D., daughter of Adam Dawson, of Howland.
Jonathan Folsom was born in Essex county, New York, July 31, 1814. His parents were Jonathan and Betsey (Leonard) Folsom. Jona- than, Sr., was a native of New Hampshire, born April 18, 1784. He came to Trumbull county, Ohio, in 1833, and settled in Weathersfield, clearing up a place now owned by John Parks. He died in 1850, and his wife the same year.
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Jonathan Folsom, the subject of this sketch, was united in marriage in 1836 to Milly A. Dunlap, by whom he has two children living, viz: Na- than D., superintendent of Trumbull county poor-house ; O. W., a resident of Hiram. Mrs. Folsom died August 5, 1841, and he married for his second wife, December 16, 1841, Miss Jane Scott, whose parents settled in Vienna township at an early date, removing to the place now oc- cupied by the subject of our sketch in 1828. He died in 1863. Mrs. Folsom was born in Vienna, March 10, 1818. Six children were born of this marriage, of whom four are living, as follows: Cyrus B., born November 8, 1842, a merchant of Youngstown; Emma C., October 20, 1844, wife of S. A. Corbin, of Warren ; Eliz- abeth J., January 22, 1847, wife of Lewis H. Thayer, a merchant of Youngstown; Olive L., April 26, 1849, at home. Mr. Folsom continued to reside in Weathersfield until 1863, having pur- chased the old homestead, when he moved to Howland.
J. R. Chamberlain, now a resident of Howland, was born in Ontario county, New York, August 25, 1833. His family came to Ohio in 1834 and settled in Vienna township. After passing through the course of the common schools and Vienna academy he attended Poland academy two terms, and then engaged in teaching for sev- eral years, teaching in winter and farming in summer. He was married November 21, 1860, to Tryphena Hibler, daughter of Jacob Hibler, an early settler of Hubbard township. They lived in Vienna and Brookfield townships until 1870, when the place on which they now reside was purchased. Both Mr. and Mrs. Chamber- lain are members of the Presbyterian church in Vienna.
CHAPTER II. WEATHERSFIELD.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION.
Weathersfield is one of the townships on the southern line of Trumbull county, and is town- ship three of range three of the Reserve. It is south of Howland and north of Austintown. Liberty adjoins it on the east and Lordstown on
the west. The soil is of good quality and the surface generally level-in portions low and wet.
Weathersfield is well watered, and though it has great mineral wealth its agricultural advan- tages are of no inferior order. The Mahoning river enters the township a short distance from the northwestern corner, and flows southerly until west of Niles, where it makes an abrupt turn toward the east ; thence pursuing a south- easterly course, just east of Niles it reaches a point south of the center line of the township, then makes a graceful bend to the northward, gradually winding easterly and southeasterly until it enters Liberty township about three- quarters of a mile below the center line. At Niles the Mahoning receives the waters of Mos- quito creek from the north and of the Meander from the south. The former stream enters Weathersfield almost directly north of the center of the township, and flows southerly, with few deviations, until its confluence with the Mahon- ing. Meander creek crosses the county line at Ohltown, about one mile and a quarter from the southwestern corner of the township, pursues a general course toward the northwest, though with numerous turnings, and joins the river a few rods below the mouth of Mosquito creek.
The famous salt spring, known to the whites years before any settlements were made in Ohio, is situated about one-half mile sonth of the Ma- honing and a mile west of the village of Niles.
This township includes the important manu- facturing town of Niles, and the enterprising mining village of Mineral Ridge.
Weathersfield has sixteen churches, a larger number, we venture to assert, than can be found in any township of its population in the State.
ORGANIZATION.
Township three of range three was organized into a township and election district by the name of Weathersfield in 1809. No record of the first township officers can be found.
THE SALT SPRINGS.
Samuel Holden Parsons, of Middletown, Con- necticut, obtained a grant of about thirty-six thousand acres under an order of the General Assembly of the State of Connecticut and re- ceived a deed of it bearing the date February 10, 1788, signed by Samuel Huntingdon, Gov- ernor. This was the first grant of land made by
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the State of Connecticut, and was made before any survey of the lands of Ohio by the former State.
The description of the land as given in the deed was upon the hypothesis that the townships were to be laid out six miles square, and refer- ence was made to townships and ranges as if the boundaries were already run. The tract in- cluded within its boundaries very nearly what is known as the "great salt springs tract," in which are the salt springs of Weathersfield. The salt springs tract having been granted to General Parsons, was held by him or his heirs at the time of the purchase of the lands of the Re- serve by the Connecticut Land company, and formed no part of its purchases.
The salt springs were known to the whites as early as 1755, and marked on the Evans map of that date. They contained but a very small percentage of saline matter, which, however, was sufficient to attract the deer for miles around. Deer licks and Indian trails leading to the prin- cipal springs were discovered by the first settlers.
General Parsons, after receiving his grant, came on and established salt works, but while re- turning to Connecticut was drowned at Beaver falls, and his works were abandoned. The early settlers have transmitted to us accounts of their discovery of old kettles in which the boiling was done, and huge heaps of ashes, showing that considerable labor had been expended here.
Doubtless the abundance of deer in the vicin- ity of this spring originally brought the locality to the knowledge of the whites by attracting hunters hither.
SETTLEMENT.
Doubtless the first settler of this township was Reuben Harmon, as his name only appears up- on the duplicate tax-list of Trumbull county as a resident tax-payer of township three, range three, in the year 1801. Of course other tran- sient residents had been at the salt springs before him. He came to Ohio from Vermont in 1797, having purchased five hundred acres of the salt spring tract, and engaged in the manufacture of salt. Early in 1800 he returned to Vermont and in August came with his family. He was the father of Heman R. Harmon and Dr. John B. Harmon, both of whom became prominent and well known citizens of this county.
The settlers of this township nearly all came
from Pennsylvania, and many of them, after sev- eral years' residence here, moved further West, leaving no record either of their coming or their going, except the marks of their sturdy industry upon the forests, fields, and meadows.
The first settlers were very naturally attracted to the salt spring, possibly with dimly outlined visions of wealth in their heads as a result of the manufacture of salt. But they soon learned that the value of the waters of the spring had been vastly over-estimated, and came to rely up- on the results of the chase and the products of the land as a means of livelihood.
The lands along the river next attracted at- tention and soon each bank was sparsely lined with cabins, sending up their blue smoke from little clearings made in the depth of the heavy forests. The northeast of the township was also settled early, doubtless on account of the eleva- tion of its land and its consequent adaptability to agriculture.
John Tidd lived at the salt spring as early as 1802. He was the step-father of Thomas Bris- tol, the potter. Two potteries, for the manufact- ure of glazed earthenware, were in operation near the spring in 1816. They were run by Orrin Dunscom, and Bristol. They made use of the clay found in the vicinity of the spring, but the discovery of better clay elsewhere put an end to the business after a few years.
Among the first settlers were the Heatons, who were here in 1806 and probably some years before that date. There were five brothers, James, Dan, Bowen, Reese, and Isaac. The lat- ter settled in Howland.
James settled on the east side of the creek at Niles, and lived here in a small log cabin. Three of his children, Lewis, Warren, and Maria (Rob- bins), reached mature years. All settled and died in Weathersfield.
Dan Eaton, not Heaton, as he went to the trouble of having his name changed by act of the Legislature from Daniel Heaton to Dan Eaton, settled east of the creek on the A. G. Bentley place. His sons were Jacob, Bowen, and Isaac; his daughters Hannah, Ann, and Amy. All of the sons moved away excepting Jacob, who died here.
Dan Eaton was the pioneer iron manufacturer of the Mahoning valley. He was one of the oddest mortals that ever lived. A pronounced,
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deist and a most outspoken unbeliever, he was, nevertheless, friendly to ministers of the gospel and entertained many of them in his hospitable home. He was social with old and young, but his opinions, like himself, were odd, -- very. Among his neighbors he called every man "brother," and every woman, "sister." His knowledge of politics was sound for those days. In 1813 he was elected as State Senator from Trumbull county, and again in 1820 he received an election to the popular branch of the Legis- lature. Old Dan lived a pure and simple life and arrived at a ripe old age honored and re- spected. He was a "good hater," and shams and evils of every kind received no encourage- ment from him. His animosity was strongly aroused against intemperance, and he never failed to give the whiskey traffic a blow whenever opportunity allowed. He had peculiar financial ideas, and during the last years of his life gave much attention to a plan for the issue of National currency, which was afterwards adopted in part in the issue of greenbacks. Dan's idea was original with him. He believed that the Government and not banks should issue the paper currency of the Nation, making it a legal tender, and in order to keep up its value should allow a low rate of interest, say one per cent., to the holder of its notes. He talked up his theory with everybody, and secured quite a lengthy list of names to a petition which he cir- culated recommending and urging his views.
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