USA > Ohio > Mahoning County > History of Trumbull and Mahoning counties with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, Vol. II > Part 53
USA > Ohio > Trumbull County > History of Trumbull and Mahoning counties with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, Vol. II > Part 53
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JEDEDIAH BURNHAM.
The life of Jedediah Burnham, through a pe- riod of nearly eighty-seven years, has been inti- mately and variously connected with the growth and progress of the township of Kinsman. His counse's and acts, whether in the military, civil, or religious organizations of the town, as well as in the administration of all township and county affairs entrusted to him, have been marked with eminent justice, propriety, and wisdom. He came to Kinsman not far from the time that he became of age, and was very soon appointed to office. From that time to the period when
the infirmities of age began to press upon him, he was actively employed in the responsible du- ties to which he was called by his fellow-citizens of the town and county. He was an active mem- ber and honored officer of the Congregational and Presbyterian church in Kinsman, from its beginning to the day of his death. Pre-eminent- ly a peace-maker, he was commonly the first one in the town resorted to for the settlement of any misunderstanding or difficulty between neighbor and neighbor, or trouble of any sort that had sprung up in the community.
He was born in Lisbon, Connecticut, in 1785, the son of Dr. Jedediah Burnham, a respectable physician of that place, who in old age, with his wife and daughter, removed to Kinsman, and lived and died in the family of his son. In 1804 Mr. Burnham left the home of his parents and went to Virginia, with the hope of finding in that State a location that would please him. He returned however, without locating, but through an ar- rangement with Mr. Kinsman he returned to Ohio the next year, and entered the employ of Kinsman. The new house of Mr. Kinsman was being rapidly brought to completion. The first work of Mr. Burnham was to assist in putting in the stone chimney. After that he was busy in various work of the farm until winter, when he was engaged to teach the first regular school of the township. The next spring and summer he was again employed on the farm, and assisted in putting in a crop of oats on the bottom lands south of Wayne Bidwell's. The product was an abundent crop of straw as well as oats, which was mowed and stacked for winter fodder, near Mr. Kinsman's house.
In the winter of 1806 he again commenced the school, with the understanding that Benjamin Allen would take his place as soon as he had finished a job of work in Hubbard. In accord- ance with this arrangement Mr. Burnham was relieved about midwinter, and went into Mr. Kinsman's store in the capacity of a clerk, where he remained until the breaking out of the War of 1812, when he was called to serve in the army.
In the organization of the township militia Mr. Burnham was first appointed lieutenant in Captain Randall's company, and afterward pro- moted to captain. Returning from the army, Captain Burnham at once devoted himself to the cultivation and improvement of his farm.
James @ Bishops
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He was married to Miss Sophia Bidwell, of Gustavus, 1814. In 1816 he was elected justice of the peace, in which capacity he served un- interruptedly twenty-one years. His official acts were ever marked with justice and propriety ; and of all his decisions appealed from during his long administration, it is said that not any (if any, certainly but very few) were reversed by the higher courts.
In 1806 he was chosen collector of the civil township of Green, embracing under that name what is now Kinsman, Gustavus, and Green. Afterward he was appointed county collector, when the law required the collector to call at the residence of every person taxed to make the collection. This arduous duty was performed by himself alone, going on horseback from house to house throughout the county. Afterward he had the office of county assessor, the duties of which were performed in a similar manner, and required about the same amount of time and labor. The duties of his office were attended to with a high degree of exactitude, promptness and fidelity.
He held the office of deacon in the Vernon, Hartford, and Kinsman church, and, after the formation of the Congregational and Presbyterian church in Kinsman, the same office in that until his death. His long, prosperous, eventful, and useful life closed early in the year of 1874.
JAMES C. BISHOP.
James C. Bishop, well known in the northern part of Trumbull county as a dealer in fine stock, is the subject of an illustration on an adjoining page. He was born in New Haven, Connecti- cut, July 9, 1810. His parents were Ebenezer and Lucinda Bishop, who removed with their family to Herkimer county, New York, in the year 1813. Mr. Bishop built a factory, and en- gaged extensively in the manufacture of cheese. -
In the year 1833 James C. Bishop came to the Reserve, and the following year purchased one hundred and thirty-seven acres near the present site of Kinsman station. After having made a clearing and planted the fall crop, he sold his land and went South, finding employ- ment at the carpenter trade is Mississippi. When spring opened Mr. Bishop returned to his
old home in New York on a visit. The trip re- sulted in his parents selling their farm, and the removal of the whole family to Gustavus town- ship. This was in the spring of 1834. They purchased a dairy farm, and erected a cheese factory similar to those in use in Herkimer county. It was the first of the kind in Trum- bull county, though other manufacturers were not slow to imitate its advantageous features.
Mr. Bishop brought with him from New York what was at that time a great curiosity in the north part of this county-a spring buggy. Reu- ben Roberts, a blacksmith in Gustavus, used the springs for patterns and engaged with profit in their manufacture. James C. operated his father's factory about four years, and then purchased it. He conducted the business with profit to him- self and with entire satisfaction to dairymen in the neighborhood for a period of about twenty years. He purchased a second farm in Gustavus and engaged in breeding and trading in fine stock. He brought to the county the first thor- oughbred cow, from which was descended many of the best cattle in this part of the State. Two oxen raised by Mr. Bishop were sold in the Pitts- burgh market for $300. Mr. Bishop, George Hezlep, and George Cowden were the leading stock dealers in Gustavus township. He was a patron of the Trumbull County Agricultural so- ciety, and received premiums on the productions of his farm.
Mr. Bishop married, in 1839, Philena Gates, a daughter of Philo Gates, of Gustavus town- ship. She died in 1845, leaving one son-Chap- lin J. Bishop, of Chicago. In 1859 Mr. Bishop sold both his farms in Gustavus and purchased the old Swift farm in Kinsman, which he con- tinues to own. In 1860 he married for his second wife Mrs. Dr. Joseph P. Morford, of Johnston township. Her maiden name was Hannah Dunbar.
Mr. Bishop is a well preserved man; has a clear recollection of past events, and retains the business sagacity of former years.
THE FOBES FAMILY.
Horatio Fobes, youngest son of Joshua and Dorothy Fobes, was born in Ashtabula county, Ohio, February 16, 1812. Joshua Fobes settled
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in Wayne township, Ashtabula county, in 1802. He raised a family of ten children, of whom six are living. Horatio Fobes, until nineteen, was engaged in farming on the home place, coming to Kinsman in 1831. He commenced with Ben- jamin Allen the carding and cloth dressing bus- iness. He afterwards rented and purchased the business and conducted it until about 1852. He was married in 1835 to Miss Louisa Dodge, of Ashtabula county, but a native of Connecticut. They became the parents of one daughter, Char- lotte L., born in 1840, died in 1863. About 1859 Mr. Fobes purchased a half interest in the Bidwell & Fobes flouring mill, which, in connec- tion with Bidwell and other parties he has since operated; was township treasurer for many years.
Lotta Louisa, only child of Horatio and Louisa (Dodge) Fobes, was born in Kinsman in the year 1840, and died Nvember 7, 1863. She was the pride of fond parents, and the beloved of a large circle of friends. In her the charm of a graceful figure was united with the attrac- tion of a a cultured mind and beautiful charac- ter. Faithful, gentle, loving, she was death's shining mark. No words can more nearly ex- press a parent's feelings than the lines Byron once wrote beneath a friend's picture:
Dear object of defeated care, Though now of love and thee bereft. To reconcile me with despair Thine image and my tears are left.
'Tis said with sorrow time can cope; But this, t fear, can ne'er be true; For by the death-blow of my hope My memory immortal grew.
RIVERIUS AND EUNICIA BIDWELL ..
Riverius Bidwell and his wife Eunicia Bidwell were among the earliest settlers of Gustavus township, the date of their emigration being the year 1812. Mr. Bidwell was born in Connecti cut, September 5, 1790. He received a fair English education, and at the age of about nine- teen engaged to teach school in a small village near New Haven, where he had planned to pur- sue his course at Yale college, the village now known as Westville, a suburb of New Haven, was then commonly called Hotchkisstown, it be- ing the seat of the numerous and prominent family bearing the name of Hotchkiss. A friend-
ship between the young schoolmaster and Euni- cia Hotchkiss soon ripened into matrimony. They were married in New Haven, Connecticut, June 27, 1810, by Rev. Abram Allen, and two years later sought a home in the wild, cheerless West.
Riverius Bidwell, Sr., father of our subject, lived in Canton, Hartford county, Connecticut. His family consisted of three sons and five daughters, with whom he emigrated to Ohio in the year 1813, and also settled in Gustavus. He died July 22, 1822, aged fitty-nine years. His wife, Phebe Bidwell, died August 17, 1837, aged seventy-six years. Their children were Wayne, died June 10, 1832; Esther (Cone), died in Kinsman January 27, 1816; Achsah (Dyer), died in Canton, Connecticut; Sophia (Burn- ham), died at Kinsman, January 5, 1851, aged fifty-four; Zehiel, died September, 1864; Phebe Humphrey, died in New York. Marietta, wife of Buell Barnes, is the only surviving member of the family.
Riverius Bidwell, Jr., was somewhat eccentric in habit, but was one of the most pushing, per- severing and active men on the Reserve. Under an old law in Ohio taxes were collected by an officer who was appointed for that purpose, at the homes and places of business of the citi- zens. The office was very laborious on account of the great size of the county and bad condi- tion of roads which connected the sparse set- tlements. Mr. Bidwell served as collector two years. He walked from house to house till every house in the county had been visited, part of the time being barefooted, always at a brisk gait. After collections had all been made, he walked to Columbus and made settlement with the Treasurer of State. This is but one inci- dent of many which might be written to show his perseverance. He was always ready witted, and rarely found himself in a puzzling situation. He kept the first post-office in Gustavus, but being absent most of the time Mrs. Bidwell transacted most of the business.
Mr. Bidwell was justice of the peace and held other local trusts. He sold his farm in Gustavus in 1834 and removed to Kinsman. He took an active interest and was influential in securing to Kinsman a line of railway. This was about the last work of his busy life. He died February 6, 1870, aged eighty-one years. Mrs. Bidwell, who
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Miss Lottie Goles
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is yet living, was born March 24, 1794. She is a woman of great strength of character, is yet strong, and is able to recall with clearness events of eighty years ago.
The family of Mr. and Mrs. Bidwell consisted of three sons and one daughter-Hannah Mariah, born September 20, 1811, at Canton, Connecticut, and died in childhood; Jasper Ri- verius, born July 25, 1813, and died at the age of twenty years; Caleb Hotchkiss, born. Septem- ber 26, 1815, graduated at Western Reserve col- lege at nineteen years of age, studied law with Whittlesey & Newton, was admitted to the bar, and died at the age of twenty-five; Wayne, the only child living, was born May 6, 1821. He mar- ried Mary Hyde, who was born January II, 1824, in Vernon township.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Bidwell were members of the Presbyterian church and exemplary Chris- tians.
NOTES OF SETTLEMENT.
Charles Burnham, oldest son of Jedediah Burnham, (a sketch of whom is given elsewhere) and Sophia Bidwell, was born in Kinsman, Ohio, March 17, 1817. He remained at home until 23 years of age, and in his younger days was engaged in clerking in Kinsman and elsewhere. He purchased the place where he still resides, the old Ford place, in 1853. He was married June Ist of the same year, to Elizabeth A. Gal- pin, daughter of Elnathan Galpin, born in 1825. They have three children, as follows : Abbie S., born March 15, 1857; Lizzie G., February 19, 1859 ; Charles B., February 20, 1861. Mr. Burnham was justice of the peace from 1861 to 1865, and was elected again the latter year, but declined to serve ; has also served as assessor three terms. His brother Thomas was a soldier in the Union army in the Rebellion, and was killed at Kershaw mountain, Georgia.
Benjamin Allen was born in Kinsman town- ship, Trumbull county, Ohio, March 23, 1817. His father, Benjamin Allen, Sr., was one of the earliest settlers and prominent citizens of the township, coming in 1805. He was a clothier by trade, and had the first establishment of the kind in Kinsman. He was a Representative in the State Legislature two terms, was justice of the peace, township trustee, and county commis-
sioner, and a lieutenant in the War of 1812. He died in 1851, aged sixty-seven. Benjamin, Jr., was taught the occupation of his father, but afterwards adopted farming as a pursuit. When eighteen he attended the Grand River institute for two years; was engaged in teaching school two terms in Kinsman. Married, January 6, 1841, Charlotte, daughter of Elnathan Galpin of Kins- man, born in Litchfield county, Connecticut, in 1820. They have one son, Arthur B., born January 2, 1858; married November 10, 1880, Albie H. Morehead, born in New Castle, Penn- sylvania. Deacon Allen was township clerk for many years ; was justice of the peace, but de- clined to qualify. He has been a prominent member of the Presbyterian church for some forty years.
Lyman P. Andrews was born in Kinsman, Trumbull county, Ohio, May 26, 1822. John Andrews, his father, a native of East Haddam, Connecticut, came to Ohio in 1804. He settled first in Gustavus, where he cleared up a farm east of Gustavus center ; afterwards removed to Kinsman, where he engaged in mercantile business. He was the owner of sixty acres of land at the time of his death. He was a sucess- ful business man, was a justice of the peace, and a member of the Presbyterian church. His oldest son, C. B. Andrews, was a clergyman of the same denomination ; went as missionary to the Sandwich Islands, under the auspices of the American Board of Foreign Missions, in 1843; actively engaged there for some thirty years. While returning to the islands he died in 1876. John Andrews married Hannah Reeve, daughter of Ebenezer Reeve, and raised a family of six children, of whom two survive-the sub- ject of this sketch, and Mrs. Caroline Parker, of Cleveland. Lyman P. Andrews derived his education at the common schools of Kinsman, and at Hudson college, which he attended two years. He was married August 3, 1843, to Miss Betsy Fobes, daughter of Aaron Fobes, one of the pioneers of this region. Mrs. Andrews was born in Kinsman about 1826. They have three children-Frank A., born in August, 1853, a resi- dent of Chicago, Illinois ; J. Edwards, July, 1856; and Emma S., December, 1861, both at home. Mr. Andrews was a resident of Flint, Michigan, for eleven years from 1867, where he removed for the purpose of educating his children. He
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removed from the home place in Kinsman to the one he now occupies in 1879. He was elected justice of the peace in Kinsman about 1848, serving six years, and was also an incumbent of the same office in Michigan one term. Enlisted in 1864 in the One Hundred and Seventy-first Ohio National guard, and was commissary ser- geant ; was taken prisoner by the rebels at Cynthiana, Kentucky ; was paroled and finally mustered out of service at Johnson island, near Sandusky, Ohio. He took an active part in the establishment of the Kinsman cemetery, originat- ing it, and is still president of the board of trustees.
Isaac Meacham was born in Kinsman, Trum- bull county, Ohio, May 4, 1828. Isaac Meacham, Sr., his father, was a native of Hartland, Connec- ticut, born in April, 1778, came to Ohio in 1806 and settled on the line of Kinsman and Gustavus townships, Trumbull county, where he cleared up a farm of a hundred and eighty-five acres wholly himself. He was married twice, first in 1808 to Lovisa Morse, by whom he had three children. In 1827 he married Anna Trunkey, and raised a family of four children. He was a successful and industrious farmer, always occupy- ing the place where he originally settled, until his death, which took place in 1861. His wife died in 1860. He offered his services in the War of 1812, and was on duty fourteen days. Isaac, Jr., enlisted in the One Hundred and Seventy- first Ohio National guard, in 1864; married in 1850, Rebecca Baldwin, by whom he had three children, two of whom survive, viz: Charles F., born February 26, 1856, now a resident of Green- ville, Pennsylvania, and Harvey S., born Sep- tember 3, 1857, a book-keeper in Cleveland. His first wife died April 19, 1864. His second wife was Hannah E. Yeomans; died in 1868. His present wife nee Julia E. Peck, to whom he was married December 22, 1869, was born in Craw- ford county, Pennsylvania, August 27, 1840. They are the parents of two children-William E., born January 2, 1874, and Marian Lulu, born February 24, 1876. Mr. Meacham occupied the old homestead until 1866, when he removed to Kinsman village, where he still resides.
Allen W. Gillis, son of Robert and Mary Gil- lis, was born in Kinsman, Trumbull county, July 28, 1830; married, in 1852, Miss Harriet Webber, born in Kinsman in 1833. He has
three children living, as follows: Byron F., a merchant in New York city; Cora B., residing with her uncle in Ashtabula county; Maud H., at home. His first wife died in 1869, and in De- cember, 1870, he married Mary C. Webb, of Erie county, Pennsylvania. In 1861 he enlisted in company B, Twenty-third Ohio volunteer in- fantry, and with his regiment was in many en- gagements, including those of South Mountain and Antietam, serving nearly three years. He was discharged for physical disability. In June, 1864, he again offered his services to the Gov- ernment, joined the One Hundred and Seventy- first Ohio National guard, and had command of his company at Cynthiana, Kentucky. He was finally discharged as first lieutenant. He settled in Kinsman village after the war, where he now resides.
Robert Gillis (deceased) was born in Mary- land in 1801; came to Ohio with his father, Thomas Gillis, in 1806, who put up the first grist-mill in Kinsman, on the creek near the center of the township. The site is now occu- pied by Hamilton Brothers' mill, the present mill being the third built by the Gillis family. Robert Gillis conducted the mill during his lifetime. February 23, 1825, he married Mary King, daughter of Robert and Isabella King, born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, November 3, 1801. Her parents came to Kins- man in 1809, settling on the place now owned by Gordon Burnside. Robert King was a sol- dier of the War of 1812, a member of Captain Burnham's company. He raised a family of twelve children, of whom nine are living. Rob- ert and Mary Gillis have had one daughter and eight sons-the daughter, Isabella, was the wife of Lewis Moats, of Mercer county, Pennsylvania, and died at the age of twenty-four ; Thomas lives in Jefferson, Ashtabula county ; John K. died in California in 1878, where he went in 1852; Allen W., of Kinsman village, of whom a brief sketch is given elsewhere; G. W., now liv- ing in Kansas (was a member of the Sixth Ohio volunteer cavalry three years during the Rebel- lion); Anderson J., now living in Jefferson town- ship, Ashtabula county (was a member of com- pany B, Twenty-third Ohio volunteer infantry, serving three years, afterwards re-enlisted and served until the close of the war); Amos F. en- listed in company B, Twenty-third Ohio volun-
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teer infantry, and served three years; re-enlisting, was promoted to captain and was killed in action at Berryville, Virginia, September 3, 1864, leav- ing a widow and one daughter now residents of Cleveland. Two children died in infancy.
T. B. Scott, son of James and Sarah (Smith) Scott, was born in Kinsman, Trumbull county, Ohio, January 28, 1849; married October 19, 1870, to Miss Ada Williams, of Bazetta town- ship, adopted daughter of John and Jane Wil- liams, and has three children living, as follows: Jennie Ellen, born July 29, 1872; Sarah Alice, May 25, 1876; Mary Emeline, November 21, 1880. John W. died in infancy. After marriage Mr. Scott continued to reside on the hoine place some six years, removing to his present place in the spring of 1877. He owns one hundred and eighty acres at the village of Kinsman, and is a prosperous farmer and dairyman. Himself and wife are members of the Methodist church.
John S. Allen was born in Kinsman, Trum- bull county, Ohio, November 1, 1813, oldest surviving son of Benjamin and Lydia (Meacham) Allen remained at home until twenty-five, when he was united in marriage October 24, 1838, to Miss Julia E., daughter of Roswell Moore. She was born in Connecticut February 24, 1819. Mr. and Mrs. Allen have had three children, two of whom are living: Darwin F., born June 27, 1839, and Antoinette J., born May 26, 1842, both at home. Darwin was a member of the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Ohio volunteer infantry, and later of the One Hundred and Sev- enty-first Ohio National guard ; was mustered out in the fall of 1864. September 15th of the same year he was married to Jennie M. Collins, and has one son and one daughter-Fred I .. , born October 31, 1864, and Theresa E., May 12, 1867. Our subject settled on the place where he still lives in 1838, which was then but partially improved. He was active in militia af- fairs during his early years; was first elected jus- tice of the peace about 1860 and held that po- sition six years, and was township trustee many terms. Mr. and Mrs. Allen are members of the Presbyterian and Congregational church.
John W. McCurdy was born in Butler county, Pennsylvania, October 22, 1804, oldest son of James and Margaret McCurdy. He was brought up to agricultural pursuits, remaining at home until twenty-six. He married, September 4, 1832,
Mrs. Catharine Thorn, born in Kinsman town- ship November 3, 1804, daughter of George Matthews, who settled there in the spring of that year. He was a prominent farmer and church member; died about 1855. Mr. and Mrs. Mc- Curdy are the parents of four children, three living and one dead, viz: Joseph Thorn, born May 16, 1830, now a resident of Michigan; George, July 29, 1833; Jane, April 22, 1835, died August 5, 1861 ; James, January 27, 1837, a resident of Missouri, and an artist by profes- sion. After his marriage Mr. McCurdy resided for one year in Butler county, Pennsylvania, coming to Ohio in the fall of 1833. He settled where he now lives about 1840, which place was then entirely wild. Mr. McCurdy was township trustee one term. He has been a member of the Presbyterian and Congregational church for many years.
Joseph Reed, oldest son of John and Eliza- beth (West) Reed was born in New York, June 29, 1824. With his parents went to Bath, Steuben county, New York, about 1826, where he went to school. Was engaged in the lumber business in Pennsylvania for some twenty years, being a partner in a steam saw-mill. He was married July 7, 1852, to Rebecca Everhart, born in Blair county, Pennsylvania, April 3, 1831, and is the father of seven children as follow: Wil- liam A., born July 21, 1853, now a merchant of Kinsman, of the firm of Gee & Reed; Susan E., born July 20, 1855, now wife of George Bennett, of Kinsman; Ella G., born October 10, 1858; May R., May 19, 1860; Augusta D., September 3, 1862; Edith B., August 18, 1864; Minnie B., July 29, 1866. Mr. Reed resided in Pennsyl- vania until 1869, when he purchased the Galpin place in Kinsman, where he has since lived.
Charles B. Webber, son of Ebenezer and Amanda (Brown) Webber, was born in Kinsman, Trumbull county, Ohio, February 14, 1822. Ebenezer Webber was born in Massachusetts, in 1778; married in 1805, and came to Ohio in 1811, settling on the place now owned by his son Charles B., in Kinsman, in the spring of 1812. He cleared up that place and reared a family of eleven children, of whom five are still living. He died December 15, 1843. Charles B. upon the death of his father took charge of the farm ; was married February 21, 1850, to Miss Rachel G. Matthews, daughter of Thomas
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