History of Trumbull and Mahoning counties with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, Vol. II, Part 49

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 49
USA > Ohio > Trumbull County > History of Trumbull and Mahoning counties with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, Vol. II > Part 49

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).

They were members of the Methodist Epis- copal church nearly half a century. They were always active and energetic people. In early times they are said to have made journeys to Pittsburg and Beaver with oxen, taking their cheese and farm produce to exchange for fam- ily supplies; often making journeys to Warren, Ohio, and Mercer, Pennsylvania, on horseback to trade. Once Mrs. Borden made a trip to Mercer and back in one day, the round trip being a journey of over forty miles, bringing home on her horse a tea-set of crockery, gro- ceries, and other articles for the family. Their children were all daughters. Eliza (who was brought a baby on the long journey from Con- necticut) married Richard Gates, Elsa married Paul Wellman, Phebe married George Hallock, Jemima married Daniel Loomis, Hannah died at the age of fourteen, Polly married Abel Whitney, Maria married Abner Banning, and Deborah L. still remains at the old home with her sister, Mrs. Banning.

Sylvester Borden married Amoret Bushnell, daughter of Daniel Bushnell, and their children were John, Edmund, Truman, and Amelia, wife of Rev. Robert Crane, of Green.

Russel Borden settled on the farm now occu- pied by the Thompson family, on the diagonal road, where he died in 1813. His family con- sisted of Captain Philo Borden, a resident of the township over fifty years, a prominent man in the Congregational church, a teacher many years, and a respected citizen, who married first in Connecticut, Miss Betsy Priest, and second Abigail Thompson; Florilla, wife of Seth Thomp- son; Fannie, wife of Alva Hart; Polly, died in 1813; and Catharine, wife of Robison Trues- dale. This name of worthy pioneers, once so familiar, is now almost extinct in the township.

DAVIS FULLER.

Davis Fuller, one of the pioneers of Hartford, emigrated from Hartland, Connecticut, in 1806, and settled on lot twenty-five. He was a saddle- and harness-maker, and pursued that vocation during his life. He was a soldier in Colonel Hayes' regiment in the War of 1812; an active member and deacon of the Congregational church, also a prominent man in the anti-slavery movement. He died May 5, 1855, at the age of seventy-three. His wife, Hannah (Bushnell) Fuller, died in 1849, at the age of seventy-one. As an incident of pioneer life it may be related that the first Sunday after moving into their log- cabin a peculiar hissing sound was heard under the floor, which was recognized as that of a rat- tlesnake. "Uncle Davis" having removed a puncheon, discovered the intruder, and with an old-fashioned fire-shovel struck the snake and held him fast while his wife got down under the floor and cut off his head with a butcher-knife. The snake had eighteen rattles and was five feet long.

The children of Davis and Hannah Fuller were Eunice, Samuel, Henry (who died of fever when eighteen years of age, in 1828), Chloe, Harvey, and Alexander. Of this family only Sam- uel is a resident of the township. He married Eunice Holcomb, and their children were Eme- line, who died at the age of five years; Jerusha, wife of Albert Rathbun, and died in Chicago October 27, 1868, at the age of thirty-three; Emeline, wife of Warren Bates, and Lieutenant Davis C. Fuller, who died October 13, 1870, at the age of twenty-nine, from disease contracted in the army.

THE JONES FAMILY.

All the Jones families now residing in Hart- ford, with the exception of one, are descendants of the same family. The earliest account of this family in America which we have been able to obtain is of Benjamin Jones, who was a resident of Enfield, Connecticut, and in 1706 removed to Somers, Connecticut, and was the first settler in that township. His grandson, Israel Jones, removed from Enfield to Barkhamsted, Connec- ticut, and was the second settler in that town- ship in 1759, fixing his home on East mountain.

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This farm is now, by regular descent, the prop- erty of his great-grandson, Hon. Edwin P. Jones.

The children of Captain Israel Jones were Samuel, Thomas, Colonel Israel Jones, Jemima (wife of Asahel Borden, Sr.), Mrs. Joshua Gid- dings, Mrs. John Billings, William, and Isaac. Many of this family, like their ancestors, became "first settlers," Isaac, William, and Jemima, also . Elam, son of Samuel, being pioneers of Hartford; others of this family, including Samuel, Jr., and the Giddings family, being pioneers of Ashtabula county, Ohio.

Isaac Jones, youngest son of Captain Israel Jones, was the first to emigrate, coming from Barkhamsted, Connecticut, with his family in the spring of 1800, and settling on lot twenty-two, near Burg Hill. He was one of the three first settlers in the township. His wife, Abigail, was the daughter of Edward Brockway, who came at the same time. Their children were Mrs. Asahel Brainard, Mrs. Abner Moses, Mrs. Aaron Rice, Selden, John, James F., and Mrs. George Hewit; the most of them residents of Hartford many years.

James F. Jones was the only son of Isaac and Abigail Jones born in Hartford, and is now the oldest man living who is a native of the place. He was born January 31, 1804, resides on lot eleven, and married first Sarepta Wilson, second Mrs. Mary Pfouts. Their children are Malinda, Asahel, Albert, Mary Ann, Lorinda, Florus, Mandana Juliett, Arial Gordon, Calvin Judson, and Willie Dayton.

William C. Jones, son of Captain Israel Jones, emigrated from the same place in 1802, and located on lot twenty-seven, and on the farm now occupied by Amos Fell, where he died in 1841, at the age of eighty-one years. He was a veteran of the Revolutionary war, having taken part in the battles of Bunker Hill and Saratoga. His children were William, Jr., Selden C., Dr. Asahel Jones, Amelia, Sallie, and Allen. From this family are descended Philander Jones and Asahel Jones, Esq., of Youngstown, Ohio; Dr. Allen Jones, of Kinsman, Ohio; R. C. Jones, of Burg Hill; William C. Jones, of Hartford, and Edward B. Jones, of Orangeville.

William C. Jones, son of Selden C. and Lau- rinda (Brockway) Jones, was born in Hartford, June 29, 1817, and married Elvira Gates, of the 36*

same township, December 27, 1843. She was born December 27, 1823. Their children are : Eliza Laurinda, born October 13, 1844, and married James D. Burnett, June 21, 1866 ; Alice Minerva, born August 25, 1846, and died No- vember 8, 1854 ; Edna Luella, born July 21, 1850, died November 22, 1854; Asahel Hallock, born January 15, 1852, and married Clara L. Sponsler, May 16, 1875-

Edward B. Jones, also son of Selden C. and Laurinda (Brockway) Jones, is a resident of Orangeville. He was born on the farm where he now resides, May 8, 1822. This farm has been in the possession of his ancestors since 1799, his grandfather, Edward Brockway, hav- ing purchased the same of the original proprie- tors of the township. He first married Miss Mary E. Leonard, October 24, 1850, who died September 8, 1851; she left one son, Edward M. born September 8, 1851, and died October 14, 1852. He was again married to Ellen D. Jones, of Sheffield, Massachusetts, May 14, 1856. She was born August 26, 1827. Their children are : Lizzie E., wife of Willard C. Hull ; Ivah L., and Hattie L.

These brothers, William and Edward, early left fatherless, learned lessons of industry, perse- verance, and economy, which have enabled them each to acquire a competency, and they are among the most prosperous farmers in the town- ship.

Elam Jones, son of Samuel, and grandson of Captain Israel Jones, was born at the old Jones home, on East mountain, Barkhamsted, Septem- ber 29, 1774. He was a man of more than ordinary education and acquirements for his day, having received private instructions of Rev. Aaron Church, of Hartland, Connecticut, and followed the profession of a teacher for many years in his native State. He married Sarah Hyde, of Hartland, April 27, 1801. They emi- grated from Barkhamsted in 1805, making the journey in six weeks. They settled on lot twelve in Hartford, Ohio. Their children were : Sarah, wife of Jarvis Gates, a resident of Hartford ; Harriet, wife of Linus Parker, a resident of Kinsman ; Electa, wife of Eli W. Bushnell, a resident of Hartford; Eunice Lemyra, wife of George Hezlep, for many years a merchant of Gustavus ; Hannah, wife of Dr. Edward Best, who died at Freedom, Ohio, October 2, 1838 ;

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and Hon. Lucian C. Jones, a resident of Warren, Ohio. In 1828 he built the first public house at the center of Hartford. He was for many years postmaster, and held the office of town clerk twenty years, in early days. He was a surveyor in early life. He served in the War of 1812 in Colonel Hayes' regiment. He died December 2, 1851, at the age of seventy-seven. Mrs. Sarah Hyde Jones died September 30, 1870, in her ninety-fifth year.

MCFARLAND FAMILY.

Robert McFarland, the first settler in the east part of Hartford, was from the north of Ireland, and of Scotch descent. He came from Wash- ington county, Pennsylvania, in the fall of 1803, with one son and one daughter. He built a cabin about seventy rods from the State line, and west of the present residence of his grandson, Thomas W. McFarland. In the spring of 1804 the remainder of the family followed to the new home prepared for them in the wilderness of Ohio. He only lived to see his family well established, as he died in May, 1814. Mrs. McFarland's maiden name was Martha Burnside. She lived until 1836, and died at the age of eighty-six. They were members of the Presby- terian church. Their children were Martha, Robert (who was killed by lightning in Washing- ton county, Pennsylvania), Archibald, Jane, Margaret (who was blind and died soon after her father), John, and Polly.

The three sons all settled in the township, John remaining at the old home, Thomas set- tling a short distance south on the same road, and Archibald locating on lot thirty-seven, in the southwest part of the township. They all lived and died on the farms they had labored so faith- fully to clear of trees and convert into fruitful fields, and these farms are each occupied by their descendants. Thomas and Archibald both served as soldiers in the War of 1812, in Colo- nel Hayes' regiment.

Thomas McFarland was born September 24, 1785, and died October 27, 1862, at the age of seventy-seven. He married first Martha Fell, and second Mrs. Agnes McKnight. Their chil- dren were Nathan, Robert, Smith, George, Cyn- thia, Thomas F., Phebe, and Amelia.

Thomas F., son of Thomas and Agnes Mc- Farland, was born April 13, 1828, and married first, Parthenia Leslie, who died September 23, 1871; and second, Alice B. Brockway. Their children were Wright D., born February 17, 1854, and married Rosie Wallahan; Julia M., born September 17, 1855, wife of Scot Bates; Mary Florence, born July 2, 1857, died August 19, 1871; Selma A., born June 22, 1859, wife of Wright Banning; Bertha, born May 31, 1864; and Agnes Jane, born June 15, 1873.

John McFarland, youngest son of Robert and Martha McFarland, married Esther Fell. Their children were Mary, Archibald, Thomas W., Eliza, Harriet, and Lucinda. He died in 1857, at the age of sixty-five.

Thomas W. McFarland, son of John and Es- ther McFarland, married Olive Brockway, and resides at the old ancestral homestead of the fam- ily, where Robert McFarland first settled nearly eighty years ago. The family of McFarland in- cludes some of the most thrifty and enterprising citizens of the township.

KEPNER FAMILY.

John Kepner, the pioneer settler of the south- eastern portion of the township of Hartford, and the ancestor of all the Kepners in this vicin- ity, was born October 7, 1784, in Cumberland, Cumberland county, Pennsylvania. In 1805 he made his first journey to Ohio on foot, and im- mediately purchased a tract of six hundred and thirty-six acres of land, being lot nine in the town- ship of Hartford. He brought the gold and sil- ver coin to pay for the same, in two small, home- made linen bags. He soon made a small clear- ing and erected a log cabin which was burned. This accident was occasioned by Indian fires running in the woods. After this he returned home and spent the winter, but returning in the spring of 1806 he built a second log house, in which for a time greased paper performed the office of glass in the windows. A second time he returned home for the winter and mar- ried Elizabeth Dubs, who was born in Cumber- land September 4, 1785.

Early in the spring of 1807 they emigrated to their new home in the forest, coming with large Pennsylvania covered wagons over the Alle-

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gheny mountains, camping out wherever night found them, and arrived at their new home in time to put in spring crops. Content and pros- perity took up their abode with them, and on this farm they lived and died. Their children were: John, born February 15, 1808, and mar- ried Lucinda Hull; Sallie, born September 2, 1809, married John Carnes; Benjamin, born August 9, 1811, and died in infancy; Jane, born March 13, 1813, married Eli Myers; Mary, born May 22, 1815, and married Alex. Spencer; Jacob, born June 12, 1818, married Eliza Parsons, and then Mary McKnight; Catharine, born March 18, 1821, and married Charles Banning; Eliza- beth, born March 7, 1823, and married John VanGorder; David, born May 23, 1825, and mar- ried first Mary Bates, second Laura Simons; Ruhama, born June 20, 1827, and married John Bates; Henry, born May 23, 1825, and married Adaline Lynch.

The father of this large family, as faithful to his country as to his children, served in the War of 1812, in Colonel Hayes' regiment. In the spring of 1833, while assisting to re-roof his barn, he fell and received fatal injuries from which he died March 20th. He and his wife were members of the Lutheran church. She was a woman of uncommon executive ability, and after her husband's death faithfully per- formed her duty to the large family thus left in her care. She lived to see them all married, and in her last days resided with her youngest son on a portion of the original estate, and died July 6, 1862, at the advanced age of seventy-eight years.

John Kepner, the eldest son of the pioneer, settled on a portion of the original property. His son Lucious, Lorenzo, and Luzerne each have homes and reside on the original Kepner farm.

Jacob, second son of the pioneer, resides on the farm, and in the house formerly occupied by the pioneer, Asahel Brainard, on lot eighteen. He married, first, Eliza Parsons, who died soon, leaving one son-Allen Parsons Kepner. He then married Mary McKnight, and their children are Thomas Eugene, Linda, Florence, Frankie, Emory, Adell, Maud, and Frederick.

David Kepner is a resident of the northwest- ern part of the township.

Henry, youngest son of John and Elizabeth

Kepner, also retains a portion of the original es- tate, and his residence stands near the home where his pioneer parents resided. He married Adaline Lynch March 22, 1859. Their children are Sanford H., William L., and John H.

These Kepner brothers, sons of the pioneer, are all industrious and wealthy farmers and re- spected citizens of the township.

FOWLER FAMILY.

The first settler in the township of Fowler was Abner Fowler, formerly a resident of Southwick, Massachusetts. He was a brother of the pro- prietor of the township, Hon. Samuel Fowler, of Westfield, Massachusetts, for which place the township was first named; this name afterwards being changed in honor of the proprietor to the name it now bears. In 1798 he came to the township in the employ of his brother as sur- veyor of his western lands ; finally located and remained till death, February 18, 1806, his death being the first in the township. Abner Fowler, Jr., born July 25, 1782, married Miss Esther Jennings, August 18, 1807, in Fowler. She was from Fairfield, Connecticut, and a descendant of the Rev. Peter Bulkley, who came to America in 1635. Their children were Julia, who married Thomas J. Collins; Ira, Sarah, Abner, Harvey, James, and Rhoda, who married Daniel Parsons. Mr. Fowler remained in Fowler till 1816, when he changed his location to Brookfield, where he resided till his death April 23, 1843. He was a very intelligent farmer, a man of the utmost integrity, and of high Christian character. He was identified with the Methodist church in Fowler at its first organization, also, after his re- moval, with the Brookfield church.

In politics he was a Whig till the formation of the Liberty party, when he took his stand on the side of humanity, and was one of the first five voters of that party in Brookfield. His son Ira Fowler, born in Fowler township, January 21, 1810, married Miss Sarah Ann Williams, May 6, 1840, and settled on lot twenty-three, on the south line of Hartford township, where he now resides. She died May 15, 1841, leaving one daughter, Elizabeth. Mr. Fowler was again married, to Miss Lovina Wheeler, and they have one son, Harvey.

James Fowler, born February 1, 1820, mar-

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ried Miss Lucina Miner ; their children are Esther L., Addison J., Dwight A., Albert R., James C., Sicily, and Ida.

These Fowler brothers, sons of Abner Fowler, Jr., are both residents of Hartford; intelligent farmers, courteous, worthy Christian gentlemen, and highly respected citizens, in whom the virtues of their ancestors are perpetuated, Ira Fowler and family being connected with and among the leading members of the Method- ist Episcopal church near his place, and Mr. James Fowler long having been an elder in the Disciple church at Hartford center.

The Fowler family have a long line of ances- tors in America, the first of which, William Fow- ler, was one of the company which came from London with Rev. John Davenport, Governor Eaton, and others, and arrived in Boston June 26, 1637, and settled in New Haven in 1638. He was a prisoner in Bridewell, England, with other Puritans in 1592. He was at the famous meeting in Mr. Newman's barn in New Haven, where the peculiar constitution and policy of Mr. Davenport, which afterwards characterized the New Haven colony, was agreed upon, and Mr. Fowler subscribed to that agreement. In 1639 he was elected one of the " seven pillars " of the church of Milford, Rev. Peter Pruden pastor. He was elected magistrate yearly till 1654.

GEORGE SNYDER, SR.

George Snyder, Sr., was born March 9, 1799, in Mahatonca, Dauphin county, Pennsylvania. His father, Thomas Snyder, dying when he was about four years of age, he was raised by his maternal grandfather, John Kepner, till he was fourteen years of age, when he went to Harris- burg, Pennsylvania, to learn the trade of a cabinet-maker. Although in a school-room hut three days in his life, he acquired a fair educa- tion. He came on foot to Hartford, Ohio, in 1817, and purchased seventy acres of land of his uncle, John Kepner, in lot nine, near Mes- sersmith's comers, for the consideration of $300, on which he immediately built a house. When he was only nineteen years of age he married Elizabeth Carnes, daughter of Godfrey Carnes, a Revolutionary soldier and pioneer of Mercer county, Pennsylvania. Here he ereeted a shop,

and was the first cabinet-maker in the township; also working at the carpenter business part of the time for some years. Their children, all born on this farm, were Mary, Margaret, Jane, Ruhama, James, A. C., Uriah, and George W.

In October, 1835, he purchased an addition of two hundred and thirty-seven acres of land lying east of his original purchase, for the con- sideration of $1,513. On this land he erected a saw-mill, which was run by water for twenty years, when he purchased an engine and run the mill by steam till 1858, when he sold the mill and seventy-nine acres of this land to his son James, and the remainder of this tract to his sons, Uriah and Cornelius Snyder, and in 1861 sold his old home of seventy acres, where he first settled, to Benjamin Messersmith, and re- moved to the center of the township, purchasing the store and property formerly owned by G. L. Woodford, where he resided for a time, and carried on a grocery store. This property he sold to Dr. Daniel Artherholt, and removed to Brookfield township, where he resided for a time, but being afflicted with paralysis he sold his Brookfield property to his son George, spending the remainder of his days with his children, dying March 8, 1880, aged eighty- one years. Mrs. Snyder was born in 1795, and died June 6, 1859, aged sixty-four years.

George W. Snyder, the youngest son, was born in 1839. He spent his early life on his father's farm, and attended district school till he had reached the age of eighteen years. He then spent three years in Hartford academy, and one term in Folsom's Commercial college, Cleveland. He began the study of law in Hartford, in the office of L. C. Jones, now of Warren. He en- listed under the first eall for volunteers, in 1861, being the first man in Hartford to offer his ser- ices, but the quota having been filled, he, like many others, was discharged without being mus- tered in. In 1862 he again enlisted in the Eighty-fourth Ohio volunteer infantry, and served with that regiment four months. In 1867 Mr. Snyder was admitted to the bar, and opened an office in Orangeville. He has been elected mayor of the village five successive times, and since 1879 has been postmaster. Though his whole family belonged to the Democratic party, Mr. Snyder, in 1860, cast his first vote for Lin- coln, and has been an active Republican ever

S.W. Snyder

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since. He has been a member of every county convention and several State conventions since attaining his majority. He married, in 1871, Julia A. Wilson, daughter of Nathaniel Wilson, of Orangeville. Their family consists of three children, Sharlie L., Blaine Carlisle, and Vera E.

DR. R. M. BEEBE.

Robert McEwen Beebe was born in Winches- ter, Connecticut, April 28, 1811. His parents were James Beebe, a prominent citizen of Litch- field county, Connecticut, five times a member of the Legislature of that State, and Abi Mc- Ewen Beebe, a sister of the Rev. Dr. Abel Mc- Ewen, of New London, Connecticut.

He was a member of Yale college class of 1835, but did not finish his course for want of means. Soon after leaving he commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Benjamin Weich, Tr., in Norfolk, and continued his medical studies in Yale and Berkshire Medical schools, graduating from the latter in the class of 1836-37. In 1837 he married Miss Huldah Case, of Norfolk, and in 1838 removed to Hartford. Here he entered immediately on a large and successful practice of medicine, which he continued till his death, November 16, 1864. Few physicians ever enjoyed more of the love and confidence of the community where they lived, or have been more deeply mourned in their death.

The following is taken from a letter written by Hon. L. C. Jones, who was a resident in Hart- ford at the time Dr. Beebe came to the town- ship, subsequently was a student in his office, and continued to live in the place till 1862:

Professionally Dr. Beebe almost at once took lank among the first physicians in the vicinity. Among his brethren his thorough scholarship and learning in his profession, his ur- banity and courtesy, rapidly won for him their good will and high esteem. They soon learned to know that his judgment and conclusions in critical cases of disease were of the high- est value, and as a necessary consequence he was oftener called in consultation than any other physician in this part of the county.

As a citizen he was active and zealous in all matters of pub- lic interest, and always, notwithstanding the great demands upon his time by his large practice, took a leading part in civit and political affairs.

Among the most marked traits in his character were his liberality and self-sacrificing labors to the poor. The needed relief, both professional and pecuniary, was prompt and ready, cheerful, and without evasion or excuse.

To his self-sacrificing labors in his profession may be at-

tributed in a great degree his early death. He died in the height of his usefulness, in the prime of his life, with the har- ness on, leaving behind him a reputation for honor, integrity, professional skill, second to none in the county of his resi- dence, which is remembered by none better than the writer, to whom he was the valued friend and counsellor, the sincere and constant friend."

He left a family of four children, one of whom, Robert, follows his father's profession, and re- sides in Cleveland. Lizzie G. (Mrs. J. Jones) was a poetess of considerable local reputation.

SULLIVAN HUTCHINS

is the second son of Hiram and Eliza (Lane) Hutchins, and grandson of Samuel Hutchins, who was one of the pioneers of Vienna town- ship. Samuel Hutchins was born in Bolton, Connecticut, August 30, 1777, and was raised by Colonel Holmes, the original proprietor of Vienna and Hartford townships, in Hartland, Connecticut. He came to Vienna with Uriah Holmes, Jr., and his company of surveyors in 1798, and for his assistance in surveying Mr. Holmes gave him his choice of a farm in Vienna, which farm was located in lot four in that town- ship. He married Miss Freelove Flower in Jan- uary, 1803. They are said to have been the first couple married in Vienna. She and her half sister were the first white women to arrive at this new settlement. The teams with which the family came not being able on account of bad roads to proceed farther than Youngstown, they continued the journey on foot alone through the unbroken wilderness to Vienna settlement to procure assistance, and, strange to say, arrived safely and were received with great astonishment and pleasure.

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History of Trumbull and Mahoning counties with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, Vol. II, Part 49

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