USA > Ohio > Mahoning County > History of Trumbull and Mahoning counties with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, Vol. II > Part 46
USA > Ohio > Trumbull County > History of Trumbull and Mahoning counties with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, Vol. II > Part 46
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A society was also formed at Burnett's mill, but soon after was united with the center society.
PUBLIC HOUSES.
The first public house was kept by Aaron Brockway at Burg Hill, as early as 1802 or 1803. David Lane soon afterward engaged in the same business, and followed it for many years. He was located on the south side of Burg Hill, the old military headquarters, and near the old pa- rade ground, where now stands the residence of his grandson, Henry Lane.
" In days long gone 'his' was deemed of goodly inns the chief."
The sparkling spring near by, freely as of yore, yields to thirsty man and beast refreshment pure, but,
"Never more the sign board swinging, flaunts its gilded wonder there;
Never, as with nearer tinkle through the dust of long ago, Creeps the Pennsylvania wagons up the twilight, white and slow."
This pioneer host is said to have been very obliging and very funny. As people often halted at the spring near his house to water their horses, he would kindly assist them, and of course re- ceive the usual thanks. It is said of him that he always counted a "thank you" worth a shil- ling (121/2 cents), and a "thank you, sir" worth a quarter of a dollar, and he used to say some days he made several dollars just by obliging people passing by.
Once in early days a band of sneaking Indians entered the kitchen and appropriated for their own use a baking intended for special company, without even a "thank you," much to the dis- comfort of the weary housekeeper. That time the joke seems to have been on the landlord, and he was consequently "out of pocket."
It was often customary in those days to have a peculiar sign. His had represented upon it a horse, and a plumb line suspended from the cen- ter above it, accompanied with the following quo- tation: "Amos 7th Ch. 7th, 8th v."
Later, Samuel Hewitt and Lester Lane were engaged on the "Hill" in the same business.
The first public house at the center of the township was built by Elam Jones, and opened in 1829. In 1846 he retired, and was followed by Cornelius Silliman. Later by William Christy, J. B. Nelson, and the present proprietor, Daniel Parsons.
About 1841 G. C. Reed opened a second pub- lic house a little south of the center. He sold to Jehiel Lane, who was succeeded by Alva Merriam ; later by Solon Gilky, who, after a time, converted it into a private residence.
POSTAL MATTERS.
The first postmaster was Titus Brockway; Philo Borden, however, acting as his deputy for many years. Edward Brockway held the office a short time while his father was a member of the Legislature. Later the office has been held successively by James Miller, Elam Jones, G. C. Reed, L. C. Jones, John Yeatman, J. H. C. Johnson, Jay Baker, and H. B. Thomas, the present incumbent.
At Burg Hill the first postmaster was Erastus Olin, the office being in Hayes & Plumb's store building; it was, however, soon removed to the railroad station of the same name in Vernon.
A weekly mail for years supplied our citizens with news of the outside world. About 1830, however, postal facilities were increased, and mail was carried in a four-horse Concord coach. The route became an important one between the lake and the river, for the conveyance of passen- gers as well as mail. After the financial crash of 1837 mail service was reduced, to be again in- creased at a later date. For a long time it was a tri-weekly mail between Conneaut and Youngstown. A weekly mail between Warren and Franklin, Pennsylvania, and later a tri-
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weekly from the former place to Greenville, Pennsylvania, passed through here, but was dis- continued after the building of the Atlantic & Great Western railway. The north and south route was also shortened, so that it now extends only from this office to Burg Hill station, from which point daily mails are received.
MERCHANTS.
The first store was opened in 1814 at Burg Hill by James Heslep, who sold out in a few months to Colonel Richard Hayes. At this time goods were brought from Philadelphia in large Pennsylvania six-horse covered wagons, carrying nearly three tons. Colonel Hayes soon learned that the new country must pay its debts in a currency which could transport itself to the seaboard and accordingly engaged in buying large droves of cattle, some numbering as high as five hundred head, which were driven by him over the mountains to Philadelphia market. It is said that Benjamin F. Wade was employed on two or three occasions to assist Colonel Hayes' son Alvin in driving these cattle to the eastern markets.
Goods were also bought to some extent by dealers who would go among the farmers and purchase butter, cheese, and produce, take it to Pittsburg in wagons and exchange it for dry goods and groceries, school books and almanacs, or anything their customers saw fit to order. About two weeks were required to make the round trip. Frequently farmers for themselves and neighbors would carry their produce to Pittsburg and make the needed exchanges.
Colonel Hayes continued in buying until his death in 1837. Seth Hayes, his son, succeeded him in business.
Ralph Plumb was for many years a partner of Seth Hayes. He was an active, energetic busi- ness man. He is now a resident of Streator, Illinois. Plumb was succeeded in the partner- ship by Thomas Vernon.
On West street Draton Andrews carried on a small store for some years.
Horace Flower sold goods in the south part of the township for a short time.
About 1820 Ambrose Hart opened a store in a two-story log-building, which then stood on the north and south center road near the southwest corner of lot eighteen. At a later period he removed to the center of Brookfield, and with
Alva Hart and Seth Thompson as partners con- tinued in the same business.
About 1829 Alva Hart returned to Hartford and with his brother, Gad Hart, built the store building now standing near the northeast corner of the public square, and opened the first store at the "center." Gad Hart soon after sold to his brother and engaged in farming. Alva Hart continued in trade until 1846, a part of this time with S. H. Benton and Salmon N. Hart as partners. In 1837 G. C. Reed opened a store in a building standing near the present location of the east church. Later L. C. Jones, Milton Graham, G. L. Woodford, M. Christy, Jay Baker, Joel Miner, J. L. Pierce, A. R. Gates, and H. B. Thompson have each been engaged in mer- chandizing at various times and places.
PHYSICIANS.
The first resident physician was Dr. Daniel Upson. Previous to his settlement Dr. Jeremiah Wilcox, of Vernon, practiced here. Upson soon after removed to Hudson, Ohio, and was suc- ceeded by Dr. Jeremiah C. Wilcox, who prac- ticed some twenty years and then removed to Richfield, Ohio.
Dr. Asahel Jones, a student of Dr. Wilcox and a cotemporary also followed the profession for some years until the time of his decease.
Dr. George W. Bushnell, still residing here, and Dr. Robert M. Beebee, deceased, then fol- lowed with many years of successful practice. Dr. Daniel W. Atherholt and Dr. James Irwin are the present medical practitioners.
At Orangeville Dr. Asahel Brainard com- menced practice in 1837, and resided here until his death in 1881. He was a son of Asahel Brainard, the pioneer, who came into the town- ship in 1799.
Dr. G. W. Hamilton settled here in 1864, and is at present the only physician in the village.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
The Rev. Joseph Badger, who was sent out by the Connecticut Missionary society, first visited Hartford late in December, 1800, and soon after preached in Vernon. The people of the townships, five families in Vernon and three in Hartford, collected to attend the meeting. The three families in this township were doubtless those of Edward Brockway, Isaac Jones, and Charles Merry.
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Some preliminary steps were taken as early as 1802 toward the formation of a church society, but it was not until September 17, 1803, that Mr. Badger met the following persons for that purpose : Edward Brockway and Sarah, his wife, Mrs. Sarah Bates, Timothy Crosby, Titus Brockway, Plumb Sutliff, Sarah Palmer, and Sarah Smith. They adopted the commonly re- ceived Congregational confession of faith and covenant, and were constituted a church of Christ.
On the following Sabbath the first season of communion was held in a grove, there being no building that would accommodate the people. Rev. Mr. Tait, of Mercer, Pennsylvania, preached the sermon, and assisted in the com- munion service. About forty communicants were present.
In 1804 a four-days' meeting was held in the barn of Thomas Thompson, which stood where the steam saw-mill now stands, near the present residence of Henry Bennett. Some additions were made to the church as the result of this meeting. Wells Andrews, who afterwards be- came the pastor of the church, was one of the number.
This was probably the first Congregational church formed within the present limits of the county, as the Warren church was not organized until October 19th of the same year. This church was known as "The Church of Christ in Hartford, Vernon, and Kinsman." The church adopted the "plan of union" as proposed by the general assembly of the Presbyterian church of America, and approved by the general associa- tion of Connecticut known as the "accommoda- tion plan."
Meetings were held in rotation in these town- ships, the citizens of each attending church in the other as often as convenient. The barn of Thomas Thompson was used as a place of wor- ship for a time, afterwards the school-house, un- til the erection of the church in 1819. The society had no settled pastor, but enjoyed the oc- casional labors of Revs. Badger, Darrow, Rob- bins, and Leslie for the first twelve years of its existence.
In 1813 the church had increased to eighty members, and at this time made the acquaintance of the Rev. Harvey Coe, of Granville, Massa- chusetts, and invited him to become their pastor.
On the 4th of April, 1814, he was installed at the residence of Dr. Wilcox, in Vernon, the school-house, the usual place of holding meet- ings, not being large enough to accommodate those in attendance. The Rev. John Seward preached the installation sermon.
The church had been until this time under the care of the presbytery of Hartford, which em- braced ministers of western Pennsylvania as well as those living on theWestern Reserve, and belonged to the synod of Pittsburg. Among these ministers were Revs. Badger, Barr, Leslie, Darrow, Wick, Hughes, and Tait. This presby- tery seems to have been merged into Grand River presbytery about 1814.
For some nine years Mr. Coe's pastorate in- cluded the three branches of this church.
Titus Brockway and Daniel Bushnell were the first deacons of the Hartford branch of the church, and served in that capacity for many years. Chester Andrews was afterwards elected to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Daniel Bushnell.
In 1821 the membership had increased to two hundred and ten. A church having been built in Hartford in 1819 of sufficient size to accom- modate the people, it became desirable to have greater religious privileges than were possible under the united church of Hartford, Vernon, and Kinsman, and accordingly the following persons, forty-three in number, were dismissed by letter September 15, 1823, for the purpose of organizing a separate church in this township, viz: Titus Brockway, Chester Andrews, Philo Borden, Abigail A. Borden, William Rathbun, Dorothea Rathbun, Asahel Brainard, Polly M. Brainard, Sarah Jones, Phebe Borden, Shalor Fitch, Lovisa Fitch, Joseph A. Gould, Orrey Gould, Lament Bushnell, Lucy Andrews, Davis Fuller, Hannah Fuller, John B. Fitch, Rebecca Bushnell, Phebe Tracy, Phebe Olmstead, Re- becca Woodford, Chester Francher, Thomas Dutcher, Jemima Francher, Daniel M. Bushnell, Betsy Spencer, Alva Hart, Fanny W. Hart, Amoret Border, Polly Jones, Daniel C. Bush- nell, Polly Bushnell, Seymour A. Moses, Rhoda Moses, Gad Hart, Lucretia Hart, Lucy Jones, Lorena Wilcox, Hope Beach, Hannah Andrews, Hannah Hutchins.
On the 4th of December, of the same year, they were formed into a church at the meeting-
34*
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house in Hartford by Rev. Harvey Coe. About this time Mr. Coe resigned the pastorate of this branch of the church. In 1826 the Rev. Wells Andrews, pastor of the second Presbyterian church of Alexandria, District of Columbia, ac- cepted a call to this church, and for some ten years remained here. He had formerly been a resident, and was a relative of many members of the church and society, and at an early day cleared up a farm, chopping days and studying nights during his preparation for college, being one of the pioneers of the township. This seems to have been the golden age of this church, Mr. Andrews having been able to exert a great influence in the community.
During this period quite an extensive revival occurred, and many additions were made to the church. The Rev. Lucius Foot assisted Mr. Andrews in these revival labors. Revs. Rock- well, Cochran, and Young, each successively filled the pastorate about this period. The church at this time (1837) numbered a hundred and sixty-four communicants. In October, 1840, Chester Andrews, Alva Hart, Seymour A. Moses, Edward Brockway (second), Michael Quiggle, Amos Jones, and others to the number of forty- two persons, withdrew to form a Presbyterian church, which was immediately organized with the Rev. George D. Young as pastor. They first met in the brick school-house at the center. Soon after a room was fitted up in the upper part of Alva Hart's store building, now the post-office, where meetings were held until the building of the new church in 1846. The Hon. Seth Hayes contributed the greater portion of the funds for this purpose. Mrs. Sarah B. Hayes, his wife, contributed funds for the purchase of the bell. It was known at this time as the Presbyterian church. Rev. Horace Palmer, and the Rev. Benjamin Fenn, each had pastoral charge of this society for a time, until it was again united with the original church in 1852.
In 1842 the Rev. John Keep became the pas- tor of the Congregational church, and remained some four years. He was one of the prominent anti-slavery clergymen at that time, and during his residence here the church took quite an ad- vanced position on the subject of slavery. This church was considered by people generally to hold extreme views on that subject.
In 1842 Philo Borden, one of the pioneers of
the township, and his son, Russell Borden, gave to the church three-quarters of an acre of land on which to erect a parsonage, which was accord- ingly built in 1843, and first occupied by the Rev. John Keep.
The church at this time obtained an act of incorporation, for the purpose of becoming a cor- porate body, with all the rights and privileges incident thereto.
In 1847 the Rev. Theodore J. Keep accepted the pastoral charge, but owing to ill health was compelled to resign in 1849.
The Rev. Henry Fairchild (at present presi- dent of Berea college, Kentucky), was called to fill the vacancy thus made, and during his pastorate in this church, and that of the Rev. B. Fenn in the Presbyterian, the churches were reunited under its original name of " The Church of Christ in Hartford," as before men- tioned, in April, 1852. Soon after this period the Rev. Robert Burgess preached for a time, and was followed by the Rev. Benjamin Walker, who was succeeded. by the Rev. Joseph Tor- rence, Rev. J. B. Davison, and Rev. U. T. Chamberlin, who resigned on account of ill health, and died January 10, 1880. At the present time (1881) the church has no settled pastor.
In 1868 the society sustained a great loss in the death of Deacon Edward Brockway, who had become greatly endeared to the church by many years of faithful Christian service. Deacon Norman E. Austin was elected his successor, but in a few years he also died, and the vacancy was filled by Deacon Truman Jones, who was soon called by death to follow his predecessors.
The present officers of the church are Deacon Simeon C. Baker, who has acted in the capacity of deacon for over thirty years, and Deacon Charles Hyde. Mr. James M. Jones is clerk, and the three above named are also the trustees. From a very early day Sunday-schools have been maintained. Deacon Daniel Bushnell was the first superintendent. He gave catechetical and Bible instructions, as was the custom in those times. Out of this grew the present form of conducting Sunday-schools. After other churches were formed for many years three Sun- day-schools were kept up, but in time, churches having been formed at different places in the township, the number of attendants at the
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"center " was greatly diminished, and it was thought best to unite the different schools. This was accomplished about 1860, since which .time a union Sunday-school has been conducted, which meets alternately in the Congregational and Methodist Episcopal churches at present. Thomas Miller, superintendent ; Frank Stewart, secretary and treasurer.
HARTFORD METHODIST CHURCH.
This society was first organized within the present limit of Vernon by Rev. Obed Crosby, with five members-Obed Crosby and wife, Ewing Wright and wife, and Eunice Brockway, afterwards Mrs. Daniel Bushnell, of this town- ship. It was the first church of this denomina- tion on the Western Reserve, having been or- ganized in 1801. The place of meeting being near the line of Vernon and Hartford, and the mem- bers increasing in Hartford more rapidly than in Vernon, it was removed into Hartford and took its name. Their place of worship was in the school-house at Burg Hill until 1836, when they removed to the center of the township, and built the present house of worship, Isaac Win- ans being elder, and S. Hubbard and W. French preacher in charge during this year. In 1874 the church was repaired at an expense of $1, 100.
So many churches of the same denomination having been formed in this immediate vicinity, the membership of this center church has been materially decreased.
Among those who have been prominent mem- bers of this church during its later history may be mentioned the McFarland families, Mr. and Mrs. Asahel Borden, Dr. Robert Beebe and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Joel Miner, Mr. and Mrs. Lyman Rathbun, and Mr. and Mrs. U. H. Brockway. The old members have all passed away, and it has been impossible for the writer to obtain a full history of this church.
DISCIPLES CHURCH.
This church was organized May 1, 1830, by William Hayden, with the following named per- sons as members, viz: Elihu Bates, William Vince, George W. Bushnell, John Bates, Julius Miner, George Fell, John Jones, Sally Vince, Sally Bushnell, and Julia Bates. Two of these, George W. Bushnell and Julia Bates, are still living.
Marcus Bosworth, John Henry, Alexander Campbell, Walter Scott, Harvey Brocket, and Andrew Burns, were the early preachers of this denomination.
This church was organized on West street, and for over twenty years their place of worship was the school-house in that vicinity. In 1853 it was changed to the center of the township.
The membership at this time is about seventy. G. W. Bushnell, Alexander Spears, James Fowler, Samuel Bates, Abner Banning, and A. D. Drury, have been prominent members of this society for many years. Elder Peter Vogle is the pres- ent preacher.
BROCKWAY MILLS METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
Quite early Brockway mills school-house be- came one of the occasional preaching places of the early preachers of the Methodist church.
Dr. Charles Elliot and Rev. Alfred Bronson were probably the first (about 1820). About 1822 preaching was regularly furnished by Rev. William Tipton and Rev. A. G. Richardson, who traveled Youngstown circuit, which then included this place.
Subsequently a class was formed, among the members of which were Abner Fowler and Esther, his wife, John Newcome and wife, Ben- jamin Reeder and Polly, his wife, with other members of their family, Jane and Margaret Lafferty, Abel Walker and wife, David Snyder and family, Michael Bear and family, and also members of the Byers family. For a long time meetings were held on week days and Sunday evenings, as most convenient for the preachers.
About 1850, however, regular Sunday preach- ing was established by Rev. Ahab Keller, and in 1857 a church was built. It was dedicated in January, 1858, Elder Norton preaching the dedi- cation sermon, Rev. J. W. Hill being preacher in charge. Miss Sarah Fowler, daughter of Abner Fowler, was one of the largest subscribers to the building fund, and during her life was one of the most faithful members.
At present the church numbers some forty members, and has a flourishing Sunday-school under the superintendence of Miss S. C. Bur- nett.
MASONRY.
The first meetings of Jerusalem lodge No. 19, Free and Accepted Masons, of Hartford, Ohio, were held under a dispensation of the Grand
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lodge of Ohio, dated February 15, 1812, and issued by Lewis Cass, grand master. Regular meetings were held under this dispensation until 1814.
The following were the officers appointed for their first meeting : Martin Smith, W. M .; Daniel Bushnell, S. W .; Samuel Spencer, J. W .; Joseph DeWolf, treasurer; Richard Hayes, sec- retary; Sterling G. Bushnell, S. D .; Lebbeus Beech, J. D .; Thomas McMillen, tyler.
At the first meeting recorded under this dis- pensation, May 20, 1812, Linus Hayes, Plumb Sutliff, Zopher Case, and Gilbert Palmer were initiated.
A number of the early members of this lodge appear to have previously been among the petitioners for the charter of Old Erie No. 3, established at Warren in 1804, and are known to have been members of Turkey Hill's lodge in Connecticut.
Their first place of meeting is not definitely known, but as early as September, 1812, it was at the public house kept by David Lane at Burg Hill.
At a meeting of the Grand lodge held at Chil- licothe January 4, 1814, an application for a charter was presented signed by the following members, viz : Martin Smith, Daniel Bushnell, Samuel Spencer, Richard Hayes, Joseph De- Wolf, Sterling G. Bushnell, Lebbeus Beech, and Linus Hayes.
A charter was granted dated January 5, 1814, with the above mentioned persons as charter members, and signed by Henry Brush, grand master, and Robert Kercheral, grand secretary.
Soon after this their place of meeting seems to have been for a short time in the township of Vernon at the public house of Ambrose Palmer, but in 1817 they were for a time located at the residence of Titus Brockway, Esq., in Hartford, and afterwards at the residence of Daniel Bush- nell, and in 1829 at the public house of Elam Jones, at the center of the township, where they remained till 18.44, when they again removed to the public house of G. C. Reed. In 1854 the present lodge rooms were erected by the society where their meetings have since been held.
In 1816 St. John's Day was celebrated at Ver- non by Jerusalem, Erie, and Western Star lodges, sixty-three members of the fraternity being pres- ent. The oration was delivered by George Tod.
Clergyman present, Adamson Bentley and Harvey Coe. Among the visiting fraternity present were Elisha Whittlesey, Asahel Adams, Seth Tracy, John W. Seely, Arad Way, and Francis Freeman.
It is recorded that this society laid the corner- stone of the brick church in Vernon on August 3, 1826.
The following are the past masters from 1812 to 1881: Martin Smith, Sterling G. Bushnell, Theron Plumb, Horace Flower, Andrews Bush- nell, John C. Smith, Garry C. Reed, Marion Hyde, L. C. Jones, D. S. Tracy, Joel Bushnell, Rev. R. W. Crane, Willis Reeder, A. D. Fell, J. D. Burnett, and Brunell Hull. The officers elected for 1882 are Joel Bushnell, W. M .; D. S. Tracy, S. W .; D. H. Artherholt, J. W .; A. D. Fell, treasurer; L. G. Spencer, secretary: C. W. Hawkins, S. D .; James Weir, J. D .; N. A. Reeder, tyler. The number of members that have been enrolled in this lodge is three hundred and eleven, and the present number ninety-three. The society owns the building in which its com- modious lodge-rooms are situated. The ground floor of this building is occupied by a store, and the second floor is devoted to lodge-rooms. The society was never in a more prosperous condi- tion.
BURG HILL GRANGE NO. 1107.
This society was organized January 4, 1875, in the school-house at Burg Hill, by O. P. Laird, deputy of the National Grange. The following are the charter members:
Colonel Edward Hayes, Mrs. E. C. Hayes, A. D. Fell, Mrs. H. M. Fell, William H. Bush- nell, Mrs. Eliza Bushnell, Job Biggins, Mrs. Sa- rah Biggins, C. H. Roberts, Mrs. L. B. Roberts, James Fowler, Mrs. Lorinda Fowler, Osman Hull, Mrs. L. E. Hull, Ransom Hull, Mrs. N. S. Hull, H. G. Bates, Mrs. S. E. Bates, R. K. Miner, Mrs. Paulina Miner, Lucius Holcomb, Mrs. Orra Holcomb, George K. Pelton, Mrs. E. P. Mizener, George W. Holcomb, Brunel llull, W. A. Bacon, Isaac Pfouts, Joel Bushnell, Henry Biggens.
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