USA > Ohio > Mahoning County > History of Trumbull and Mahoning counties with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, Vol. II > Part 41
USA > Ohio > Trumbull County > History of Trumbull and Mahoning counties with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, Vol. II > Part 41
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PRIMITIVE METHODISTS.
The society ot this name in Niles is the only one of the kind in the county. The doctrine is like that of the Methodist Episcopal church, but the method of the church government is differ- ent. The church was organized in 1873 by Rev. M. Harvey, its first pastor. In 1879 a neat little house of worship was erected in the neighbor. hood of the Russia mill. At present there are about thirty-one members, nearly all of whom are employed in the Russia Iron works. There is a Sunday-school of about eighty members, and nine teachers. The church property is valued at $1,100. Rev. Thomas Large is the pastor. His predecessors have been Revs. Harvey B. Whillock, J. A. James, John Mason, and Thom- as James.
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BAPTIST CHURCH.
This church was organized with a small num- ber of members in 1868. A house of worship was erected in 1872-73. The first pastor was Rev. I. T. Griffith, who remained in charge but a short time. In 1874 Rev. D. C. Thomas took charge, and continued as pastor three years. He then went to Nebraska for one year. Then returned and resumed the pastorate, and still remains in charge. The membership is twenty-eight, and is made up of mill employes.
CATHOLIC CHURCH.
St. Stephen's Roman Catholic church was formed by Rev. E. M. O'Callahan of Youngs- town, by whom the building was erected. Rev. J. Kulhn succeeded him for a short time. Then Rev. A. R. Sidley, who remained two years. The priests who have since had charge of this church, named in the order of their succession, are as follows : Rev. E. Conway, B. B. Kelly, T. Mahony, M. A. Scanlon, and the present pas- tor, J. Monahan. The church embraces about one hundred families at present. Connected with it are three schools conducted by four of the sisters of the Humility of Mary, of New Bedford, Pennsylvania.
WELSH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
This church, known also as the Calvinistic Methodist, has a neat little church edifice, erected in 1872 at a cost of about $6,000. The church had been organized previous to this date, and had held meetings in the building of the Cum- berland Presbyterians-a society which is now extinct. In 1872 there were about sixty mem- bers of the Welsh Presbyterian, and the number at present is about the same, though there were one hundred and fifty a short time before the panic. The first pastor was Rev. John Moses, succeeded by Rev. T. C. Davis, of Pittsburg, and Rev. Ebenezer Evans, the present minister. The deacons are D. H. Davis and Reese Davis.
SECRET SOCIETIES.
MASONIC.
Mahoning lodge No. 394, Free and Accepted Masons, was granted a charter June 22, 1867. Previously, however, T. C. Van Antwerp, of Leavittsburg, had held a school of instruction, drilling the proposed members in the precepts of the Masonic order; and for six months previous to the receipt of the charter the lodge had been
working under a dispensation from the Grand lodge. There were sixteen charter members, viz : James C. Southard, S. D. Young, I. M. Butler, Josiah Robbins, Jr., George Harris, Wil- liam Davis, E. J. Warner, H. B. Gilman, T. B. Tait, Thomas James, S. A. Corbin, J. G. Butler, Jr., Evan Davis, J. R. Noble, James Crandon, Lewis Gebhart.
The first officers were J. C. Southard, W. M .; Josiah Robbins, Jr., S. W .; and William Davis, J. W. One hundred and twenty have been ad- mitted to membership since the charter was granted. The present membership is sixty-six. The lodge occupies a neat and convenient hall, comfortably and tastefully furnished, and is in every way prosperous.
Present officers: S. D. Young, W. M .; C. W. Talbitzer, S. W .; L. W. Sanford, J. W .; J. K. Wilson, treasurer: L. S. Cole, secretary; William Farr, S. D .; George Reeves, J. D .; William Templeman, tyler.
ODD FELLOWS.
Falcon lodge No. 436, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was instituted in January, 1870, with the following charter members: F. Cas- par, H. Scott, J. K. Wilson, John McElroy, A. D. Ferguson, and J. L. Wills. The first officers were Ed. Scott, N. G .; F. Caspar, V. G .; J. K. Wilson, secretary; Lewis Gephart, permanent secretary, and Samuel Evans, treasurer. Over one hundred and fifty have been admitted to membership in this lodge. In August, 1871, a number of members withdrew and started a lodge at Mineral Ridge. The present member- ship of the Falcon lodge is about seventy. In 1881 the lodge purchased the building in which the meetings are held. The lodge is prosperous financially, owing no bills, and with money in the treasury.
THE FORESTERS.
Court Providence lodge No. 5782, Ancient Order of Foresters, was instituted at Niles De- cember 28, 1862, with fifty charter members and the following named officers: Daniel Fisher, C. R .; Evan S. Williams, S. C. R .; George S. Williams, treasurer, and John Meredith, sec- retary. The lodge has a good membership and is prosperous.
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MINERAL RIDGE.
This place is appropriately named. Exten- sive coal deposits are found in the vicinity and near the village some of the principal mines of the Mahoning valley are located. The black- band iron ore, whose use during recent years has rendered the iron products of the valley justly famous, is found underlying the coal in strata varying from one to ten inches in thick- ness. Thirty years ago Mineral Ridge was a farming community. But after the mines began to be largely developed, and especially since the advent of the railroad in 1869, the population increased rapidly. During the panic there was a temporary check, but the ground lost was speedily recovered. Mineral Ridge is now an incorporated village of some twelve hundred in- habitants, as well as several hundred who reside just outside of the corporation limits. It is situ- ated on the south line of Weathersfield township, and the unincorporated portion of the village ex- tends over the county line into Austintown town- ship. The main street is something like a mile and a half in length, but is not thickly lined with houses. There are two fine brick buildings In the village-the Odd Fellows' block and the public school. Six churches indicate that the moral atmosphere of the place ought to be pure.
Mineral Ridge is situated immediately south of Niles, and from the latter place is the first station on the Niles & New Lisbon railroad. Main street runs along the ridge of land which gives the village its name.
INCORPORATION.
Mineral Ridge became an incorporated village in 1871. Joseph Stuart was the first mayor elected, and he has been continued in office up to the present time.
COAL AND IRON.
The first coal was mined at Mineral Ridge in 1835, the mine being situated on Coal run, on the south side of the village, on the farm of Michael Ohl, in Austintown township. In 1833 Roger Hill, a Pennsylvania coal miner, moved to Mineral Ridge. He showed Mr. Ohl the coal exposed in the run, and advised him to open a mine. Two years later Mr. Hill commenced work for Mr. Ohl, and drifting into a hill, found a seam of coal four feet in thickness. He se- cted a smooth, square and heavy piece, and
carried it home to test its quality. The piece would not burn, and Hill pronounced it bastard cannel coal, or blackstone. Other parts of the seam proved to be of good quality, and the blackstone was left unworked, forming the floor of the mine. The coal found a ready sale for blacksmithing and household use.
John Lewis, a miner, originally from Mon- mouthshire, England, had settled at Mineral Ridge in 1854. One day while sinking a hole in the floor of his working place to set up a prop he was struck with the similarity of the " black- stone" to the blackband ore he had mined in the old country. He stated to Messrs. Ward & Co., his employers, his opinion of the coal floor,-that it was a valuable deposit of black- band ore. He was directed to mine and calcine a quantity of it. The results proved the cor- rectness of the miner's knowledge. All the old coal openings were now re-opened and searched for the blackband, and it was lifted in every working place, old and new.
It was not until 1868, however, that the real value of the ore was fully appreciated. The art of calcining and using it prudently in connection with the lake ores, in the blast furnace, was not well understood. Since that time, however, the iron made from a judicious mixture of the black- band of the Mahoning valley has taken a front rank in the markets of the United States and is everywhere known and prized as " American Scotch."
The first coal shipped from Mineral Ridge to Cleveland was shipped in 1857 from the mines of Rice, French, Cook & Co. The coal of this region has always maintained a good repu- tation, and is especially adapted for rolling-mill purposes, and the generation of steam as well as for house fuel .*
The blackband ore continues to be mined along with the coal, and is a most valuable prod- uct. Its principal use is in foundry iron, which it renders of a superior quality.
The Cambria mine was opened in 1850 by Morris & Price. The Peacock mine was opened in 1853 by Rice, French, Cook & Co. The John Morris & Co. shaft was opened in 1856 by Tod, Wells & Co. The Ashland mine was opened the same year by Jonathan Warner.
* Condensed from the report of the State inspector of mines.
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The principal mines now in operation at Mineral Ridge are as follow : Austin shaft, Tod, Wells & Co .; Cambria, W. T. Williams & Co .; Weath- ersfield ; Osborn slope, Osborn Coal Co .; Pea- cock, W. I. Metcalf.
MERCHANTS.
The first store at Mineral Ridge was opened by James Ward & Co., to supply men who were working their coal-bank. It was kept by E. Smith, on the lot now owned by Jonathan War- ner. The first store excepting this company store was opened in 1862 by J. L. Pierce, who continued in business about six years. He has been railroad station agent at this place since the road was opened to the public.
Below we give the names of the principal merchants who are now doing business in the village, and also the date at which they com- menced :
General stores : Joseph Stuart, 1863 ; Daniel Wilcox, formerly in partnership with 1ra and Isaac Wilcox, 1864; C. F. Whitney, 1876; Mc- Connell Brothers, 1878; J. B. Lewis, 1878 ; E. M. Morgan, 1878; C. D. James, 1879; A. J. Garry, successor to Spill & Son, 1880. Hard- ware dealers: W. & W. H. Johnson, 1869. Un- dertaker : M. E. Burford, 1872. Dealer in drugs, medicines, notions, etc .: E. J. Ohl, suc- cessor to S. C. Wilson, 1876. McConnell Brothers have the largest and best filled store in the village. They occupy both of the large store-rooms in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows block, and have a large and complete stock of dry goods, groceries and provisions, boots and shoes, etc. Messrs. E. J. Ohl and J. B. Lewis also have good assortments of all arti- cles in their respective lines.
In addition to the above, there are several saloons and a few small stores. Mineral Ridge merchants appear to be prosperous.
PHYSICIAN.
One physician, Dr. L. A. Bard, attends to the wants of the sick and afflicted.
MINERAL RIDGE FLOURING MILL.
This mill is now owned by W. I. Metcalf. It was built in 1873 by Dunlap, Ohl & Co. A large amount of custom milling is done here, and flour and feed are shipped and kept on hand for sale. A mill upon the same site was moved
to this place from Canfield, and after being operated several years, was destroyed by fire.
MINERAL RIDGE FURNACES.
In 1858-59 Jonathan Warner, in company with Captain James Wood of Pittsburg, erected the first furnace at this place, called the Ashland furnace, for using the Mineral Ridge coal and blackband ore for the manufacture of pig-iron. This furnace was run quite successfully. In June, 1862, Mr. Warner bought of Captain Wood his interest, and in 1863 or 1864 bought the Porter or Meander furnace in Austintown and moved it here. Early in 1866 a company was formed and incorporated under the name of the Mineral Ridge Iron and Coal company. The stockholders were Milton Sutliff of Warren, Lemuel Wick of Cleveland, Joseph H. Brown of Youngstown, and Jonathan Warner of Mineral Ridge. Mr. Warner was made manager and general agent, and held the position until July or August, 1868, when the company sold out to William H. Brown of Pittsburg, who afterwards formed a new company known as the Brown Iron company. In 1870 the furnaces passed Into the hands of James Ward and wife of Niles, from whom in 1871 they were re-purchased by Mr. Warner, and run until after the failure of Cooke in 1873, and up to 1874 or 1875, when Mr. Warner and those in interest with him were obliged to stop business and take advantage of the bankrupt law. Since then these furnaces have been sold and torn down and are now numbered with the things that are no more.
ODD FELLOWS.
Mineral Ridge lodge No. 497, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was instituted August 23, 1871, by Horace F. Beebe, D. G. M., of Ra- venna. The following are the names of the charter members: J. Jones, J. B. Lewis, Eli J. Ohl, R. Lloyd, Ed. Foulk, James Matthias, James Morris, William Jones, Thomas J. Rob- erts (deceased), John Miles (deceased), John Elias, E. G. Ohl, Robert Roberts, W. J. Wil- liams, and Thomas T. Jones. The first officers were J. Jones, N. G .; J. B. Lewis, V. G .; E. J. Ohl, P. S .; and R. Lloyd, C. S. The number of members admitted since the lodge was formed has been two hundred and twenty-eight. The present membership is one hundred and forty. In 1874 this lodge built the fine large brick
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block now known as the I. O. O. F. block, at a cost of $16,500. The building is fifty-four feet high, three stories, and 40 x 70 feet on the ground. The first floor is fitted for two large store-rooms; the second contains a public hall with good scenery, a stage and five hundred and eight chairs. The third story is all occupied by the lodge rooms. There is ample room and a good hall 40 x 50 feet. The lodge is now very prosperous.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
About 1858 a few of the inhabitants of this place formed a Sabbath-school, and held prayer- meetings in the district school-house. Both were well attended and considerable interest was aroused, In September, 1862, Rev. J. H. Scott was invited to come here and preach ; he ac- cepted and became the instrument of much good. From the school-house the band of wor- shipers changed the place of holding their meet- ings to a building temporarily fitted up for the purpose. January 11, 1863, a church of eleven members was formally organized by the com- mittee of Trumbull presbytery, consisting of Revs. W. C. Clark, S. B. Wilson, A. Cone, and H. L. Hitchcock, D.D., of the Western Reserve college. Dr. Hitchcock preached a sermon on this occasion, taking for his text Phillipians 11 : 14-15. The following persons were received into the new organization : By letter-Mrs. Ellen E. Scott, from the First Presbyterian church of West Liberty, Iowa ; Miss Mary A. Brook, from the Presbyterian church of Niles, Ohio ; Mrs. Lucy A. Prevost, from the Methodist Episcopal church of Minersville, Pennsylvania ; George Otterman, from the Methodist Episcopal church of Girard, Ohio ; Charles H. Jackson, Jonathan Warner, and Mrs. Eliza Warner, from the Presbyterian church of Youngstown ; and by profession, Alexander Brown, Maria Lewis, Har- riet E. Scott, and Mary A. Clark. After organ- izing, the church proceeded to elect an elder ; Mr. Jonathan Warner, formerly an elder in the Youngstown church, was elected to the office and has since held it.
Early in 1863 preparations for the erection of a church edifice began. Friends in adjoining towns subscribed what they could, and a little help was received from Youngstown and Cleve- land. Mr. Jonathan Warner did far more than any other person towards completing the struct-
ure ; indeed it may be said that his liberal giving and encouragement started the project and car- ried it successfully through. The house com- pleted, the church was between $1,400 and $1,800 in debt. It is one of the finest houses for a vil- lage of the size of Mineral Ridge to be found in this section of the State. On January 26, 1865, the church was dedicated to the service of God and the new pastor, Rev. B. F. Sharp, was installed over the congregation which then num- bered over one hundred persons. At this time a collection was taken up and new subscriptions made, sufficient in amount to wipe out the entire church debt. A parsonage has since been built and the church still remains debt free. The pastors, since Mr. Sharp left, have been Revs. Williams, Dalzell, Graham, and the present pas- tor, Rev. J. M. Mercer, who has labored here since 1878. Rev. Mr. Scott and Rev. Dalzell, left their charge on account of ill health, and together with Mr. Williams they have since gone home to their rewards.
Several interesting revivals have blessed the labors of the different pastors. Especially was this true of the pastorate of Rev. J. J. Graham. As many as sixty-three persons were added to the church during one of these interesting seasons.
The church is and has been in a flourishing condition. A pastor is sustained and employed for all his time. At present about one-half of the members come from the surrounding coun- try; hence the church is more certain of a pros- perous condition in the future than if it depended for its support upon the population of Mineral Ridge alone, as, in a mining town, many are con- stantly going and coming. The present member- ship is considerably more than one hundred, not- withstanding numerous removals and a large number of deaths of members. In the dona- tions to the boards of the Presbyterian church of the Mahoning presbytery, this church ranks as the eleventh, and it is proposed to make this record even better in the future. For these facts we are indebted to Mr. Warner and the pastor.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,
This church was organized in 1867, with three members, but was soon increased by the addi- tion of thirty or forty names to the books. In 1868 a house of worship was erected and dedi- cated by Bishop Kingsley, December 23d. From the books we learn that the society was
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TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.
clear of debt at that time. The house is neat and comfortable, well furnished, both in the main room and basement. A church parlor is one of the improvements recently made-cost $300.
The first members of this church were W. T. Williams and wife, Mrs. Mary Hartman, Edwin Warner and wife, Joseph and Mary Clark, George and Mary Greenville, Jonathan Hofius, David Jones, John and William Browning, and others. The first pastor was Rev. R. M. Bear, under whose labors the church was organized. After the house was built Rev. Manasseh Miller was sent to this circuit, which comprised Ohltown and Mineral Ridge. A glorious revival resulted from his work. Revs. E. H. Prosser, T. B. Tait, and James Shields succeeded him. In 1876 Mineral Ridge was transferred to the Jackson circuit, and Revs. George Crooks and John Bee- than sent to labor here. In September, 1880, this was made a station, and Rev. C. E. Locke, the present pastor, appointed. The number of members is ninety. An interesting Sabbath- school numbers one hundred and sixty. The society is out of debt, and every way prosperous.
DISCIPLES CHURCH.
This church was organized with twenty mem- bers on the 2d day of January, 1870, in the old school-house. They continued to meet in the school-house for public worship until September, 1872. The church edifice was erected in the fall of that year, at a cost, including the lot, of $3,000. It was dedicated September 29, 1872. The first church officers were : J. I .. Pearce and L. L. Campbell, elders; John Crum and Evan Owens, deacons. The first pastor was Elder J. M. Van Horn. His successors have been J. S. Ross, R. T. Davis, D. J. White, N. N. Bartlett, and George Musson. The number of members is now one hundred and ten.
CATHOLIC CHURCH.
This church was organized and the house erected about the year 1871. The membership is quite large. The priest who officiates here also has charge of the East Palestine and Salem churches.
WELSH CHURCHES.
The Welsh of this township seem to take a great interest in religion, and have a church wherever there is a sufficient number to sup- port it.
The Welsh Baptist church at Mineral Ridge was built in 1858, and is a comfortable building, of ample size for the accommodation of its members.
The Welsh Independent church was built soon after the Baptist. At present it has a good sized congregation and is prosperous. The house has recently been enlarged.
MINERAL RIDGE SCHOOLS.
In 1870 Jonathan Warner and L. L. Campbell called a school meeting and steps were taken to form a union district in this village. In Decem- ber of that year a vote was taken which resulted in the formation of such a district. Before that time Mineral Ridge had only a common district school system.
In 1872 an elegant school building was erected 62x62 feet on the ground, built of brick, two stories, with a basement for heaters and rooms for the scholars to occupy during the noon inter- missions. There are four school-rooms, two recitation rooms, and halls above and below. The lot upon which the house stands is over two acres in extent. The site, building, and furniture together cost about $18,500.
In 1873-74 H. B. Clark was principal of the school. Mr. L. L. Campbell took charge in the summer of 1874, and continued as superintendent until March, 1881. Through his efforts the schools were all properly graded and put in ef- ficient working order. Much credit is due to him for his untiring and generous labor for the good of the school. It was with the regrets of every patron of the school that he resigned his posi- tion. Mr. B. A. Bowe is the present superin- tendent.
Upon an average from fifteen to twenty pupils from outside the district attend the high school. The rates of tuition are $1.25 per month for high school scholars, and $1 per month for in- termediate.
OHLTOWN.
This is a quiet little village in the southwest- ern part of the township, a mile and a half west of Mineral Ridge. It was laid out by Michael Ohl, its first settler. There are some thirty houses, two small stores, kept by T. J. Moore and J. A. Rumsey, a blacksmith's shop, and the grist-mill of Flick Brothers.
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TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.
Michael Ohl built a grist-mill and a saw-mill in this place soon after settling here in 1815. The mill was a small affair, and had but one run of stones at first, but another was afterwards put in. The grist-mill was torn down and a new one erected upon its site. The second mill was burned. The mill now standing was built by Mr. Ohl in 1843 or 1844.
Michael Ohl kept the first store in the place, in a part of his house. He also built an oil mill, which was abandoned after a few years, as the business was found not to be a paying one.
OHLTOWN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The following facts were obtained from Father Joseph Turner, now deceased, and recorded up- on the church book :
The first class was formed about the year 1838, consisting of fifteen members, Joseph Turner being class leader. Of this number but two survive, viz : Rachel Turner and Ellen Pat- rick. Ohltown was made an appointment of Liberty circuit, and the following preachers were sent to labor here :
Hiram Norris, Ditton Prosser, Stephen Hub- bard, Hiram Kellogg, Thomas Guy, Ahab Kel- ler, Nelson Brown, George Brown, A. Reeves, J. H. Vance, W. N. Reno, W. F. Day, Albert Norton, Stephen Heard, J. W. Hill, R. M. Bear, Ezra Wade, Frederick Vernon, William Hayes, J. H. Vance, up to and including 1866.
In 1867 the circuit was divided, and Mineral Ridge and Ohltown formed a circuit. The same preachers labored at both places until 1880, when Ohltown was added to the Jackson circuit. J. J. Excell and G. W. Anderson have been the appointees since that date. The society has a comfortable house and a membership of about sixty.
OTHER CHURCHES.
The German Reformed people formerly had a church in this place, but their organization con- tinued but a few years. They built a house about 1845, which they afterwards sold to the Methodists.
The German Reformed congregation was con- verted into an organization of the Cumberland Presbyterians, under the labors of Dr. A. M. Blackford. After a brief existence this organiza- tion also died out.
The regular Presbyterians also had a church
in this place, and built a house about 1845. Rev. Koons was the first preacher and was succeeded by Revs. March and Spear, pastors, besides sev- eral supplies. They sold their house to a body . of Primitive Methodists, who kept up a church for three or four years.
OHLTOWN SELECT SCHOOL.
This school was started about 1857, princi- pally through the efforts of Michael Ohl, Jr. Almon McCorkle was the first teacher. The school was in existence a few years only. It was kept in the old Methodist church.
WEATHERSFIELD.
This is a little mining community in the south- eastern part of the township, containing some twenty or thirty houses, the most of them very dilapidated in appearance. The first coal bank here was operated some thirty-eight years ago. Mining was carried on, on a small scale, for sev- eral years; but about fifteen or twenty years ago banks were opened and operated largely, one hundred and seventy-five or more men being employed in them. But the banks were soon worked out-that is, the principal ones, and now less than half of that number find employment here. The place has neither store or post-office.
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