USA > Ohio > Mahoning County > History of Trumbull and Mahoning counties with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, Vol. II > Part 66
USA > Ohio > Trumbull County > History of Trumbull and Mahoning counties with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, Vol. II > Part 66
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ward a prominent leader in the "Mutual Rights " movement, which culminated in the formation of the Methodist Protestant church in 1828). Noah Pidler was the first regular traveling min- ister who preached at Burg Hill. Andrew Hemp- hill, David Best, Caleb Reynolds, Job Guest, James Charles, Thorton Fleming (who was pre- siding elder until 1810), James Ewen, James Watt, James Ewing, Thomas J. Crockwell, John Summerville, Jacob Gruber (presiding elder until 1813). In the meantime many other eminent ministers of the church have preached here. Burg Hill was formerly supplied with preachers from the Baltimore conference until October, 1812, and from the Ohio conference until 1825. The circuit required a six week's journey, and the allowance of an unmarried minister was $80 per year, which was double that amount for a married minister. The present membership numbers about forty-five, belonging to Burg Hill and Orangeville circuit, of which Rev. Dunmire is the pastor. The society has had a long and arduous struggle with many difficulties, but now takes position among the leading religious organ- izations of this locality, and has "come up through many tribulations " with the pioneers of Vernon.
OTHER CHURCHES.
The Disciples or Campbellites organized a society in 1870-71, which met for a time in Reeder's hall.
The Methodist Protestant organized a class of about ten members in 1879 at the center, of which Rev. George Stillwagon is pastor.
The Universalists secured the use of Reeder's hall in the fall of 1881, and now hold regular services under Rev. A. A. McMaster, pastor.
THE ANTI-SLAVERY MOVEMENT.
The question of human slavery in the United States early agitated the lovers of "freedom and equality before the law for all men," in Vernon. The church organizations early incorporated in their creeds the radical emancipation view of this question. This is especially true of the Free-will Baptist church at Burg Hill, as a reference to its records will prove, and, in fact, most if not all the leading citizens of the locality generally were early champions of the "bond- men." The famous "underground railroad" had a good paying branch through Vernon, and
many able and efficient conductors were located at convenient stations along the road.
The great question has been settled at last, and the incipient stages of an unparalleled struggle, together with the actors in them, be long to the past in which they are buried, and the operations of the "railroad" were shared so generally by all, that the naming of special ones might be deemed unjust to forgotten meritorious services of others.
In the rural graveyard immediately south of Burg Hill stands a plain tombstone with this his- toric inscription :
Mary P. Sutliff (nce Plumb) died March 7, 1836, aged 23 years. The first secretary of the first Female Anti-slavery society of Vernon.
On earth the friend of the needy; in heaven Jesus is her friend.
FLOUR- AND SAW-MILL.
The only flouring-mill in the township is now operated by Ransom Hull at Burg Hill, and was erected by him in 1874. The building is a two- story frame, 22 × 27, with a basement for ma- chinery. It has two runs of stone propelled by a twenty-horse steam engine, and has a capacity of ten barrels of flour and from three to four tons of chop. The saw-mill was built by O. Hull & Son, in 1867, and has a capacity of three thou- sand feet per day.
VILLAGES.
Burg Hill is the most important point of gen- eral business in the township, and is located on the Atlantic & Great Western railroad. Old Burg Hill, whose name the new station retained, is located in Hartford, a short distance south. The building of the railroad induced the removal to the present location. Since then the village has gradually increased in importance and now forms a pleasant and well-to-do community. Various departments of trade usually found in small villages and at railway stations are found here. At present the business directory is one general store, one furniture store, two hotels, one saloon, one harness shop, one tin store, one drug store, a union school and two churches.
Vernon center, the former point of trade in the township, still retains a post-office and the town house. Since the abandonment of the Presbyterian church, a society of the Methodist Protestant church has been recently organized.
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INDIANS.
"The early settlers in the valley of the Pyma- tuning were often very much annoyed by visits from the strolling Indians who passed up and down the creek. They never allowed an op- portunity pass for drunken revels when by en- treaty or barter they could procure whiskey. The romantic idea of the Indian character as the "noble red man " was not apparent in those who were known to the settlers of Vernon.
" Yankee Jim " and " Cadashaway " were two well known Indians who frequently visited the settlement. It is related of them that they once killed three elks in this neighborhood and took nothing but the tongues. The antlers being after- wards found were kept for a long while in the settlement for ornaments.
THE INDIAN FUNERAL.
At one time a tribe of Indians were encamped south of Vernon and two of their party visited Martin Smith to procure some whiskey. The old 'squire, after a great deal of persuasion and fair promises that they would not become intox- icated, at least in the neighborhood, finally ac- ceeded to their desires. The Indians started homeward with their much coveted " fire-water," but on their way forgot their promise to the 'squire and indulged freely, so much so that they both become intoxicated, and, as usual, began quarreling, which resulted finally in a fight in which one stabbed the other to death.
Soon after Asahel Brainard, of Hartford, came upon the body of the dead Indian in the woods and became very much alarmed for his own safety, fearing that the Indians would accuse him of the murder and take summary vengeance. He reported the case to Squire 'Smith, and soon the Indians also received word of the murder and speedily apprehended the criminal. The body was brought in funeral procession by the tribe to 'Squire 'Smith's cabin, and Joseph DeWolf, at the request of the Indians, made a rude coffin of puncheon slabs, in which the body was placed. It was then taken eastward near the banks of the Pymatuning where the grave was dug. During all this time the author of the crime was present as a prisoner and self- confessed murderer of his comrade, but made the plea that "whiskey did it;" and was com- pelled, as a punishment, to hold the feet of his
dead victim in both his hands during the cere -. mony of burial. At the grave a general powwow was held, and quite a number of the tribe were present. The squaw of the murdered Indian put into the coffin a pair of moccasins, hunting shirt, his rifle, knives, pipe and tobacco, and finally a lighted coal of fire for the use of the dead Indian in the "happy hunting grounds." After these superstitious rites were performed the tribe took their departure down the Pyma- tuning, and the settlers who had gathered to witness the strange spectacle returned to their cabin homes.
Time has long since removed all marks of the lone Indian grave, and the memory of it has now almost passed into the realms of legends with many stranger though truthful incidents of the early times in Vernon.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
EDMUND A. REED.
Edmund A. Reed, son of Allen and Silva Reed, was born in Connecticut, September 21, 1821. While yet a child his father died, and his mother in 1830 removed with the family to Trumbull county, and settled in Vernon town- ship. The family consisted of three sons and two daughters-Chester, Edmund A., and Charles reside in Vernon ; the daughters were Mary Ann (Mrs. Allen), and Harriet E. (Mrs. Barnes), who is dead.
Mrs. Reed was poor, and the sons had to rely upon their own efforts both for subsistence and a start in life. Edmund A., the subject of this sketch, attended district school in the winter and worked by the month in summer. After he had advanced far enough he taught school, by which means he increased his annual income. Though without money Mr. Reed had the good fortune of possessing an earnest purpose, and the will to attain the object of his reasonable ambition.
In 1847 Mr. Reed was married to Eliza M. Smith, daughter of Havilah M. Smith, of Ver- non township. General Smith, grandfather of Mrs. Reed, was one of the first settlers of Ver- non, and her father was the second child born in the town. Soon after his marriage Mr. Reed
E. A. Read.
Samuel Marys
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began the management of a farm, and has ever since devoted himself to that employment. Hav- ing a well trained mind and natural business capac- ity he soon became a local leader in politics and public affairs generally. He has served through the whole list of town offices, and for twenty- one successive years filled the position of justice of the peace. In 1866 the northeast part of the county presented his name to the Republican county convention for county commissioner, an office to which he was chosen at the subsequent regular election. He filled the position with profit to the county and credit to himself for four years.
In 1877 Mr. Reed was chosen to represent Trumbull county in the General Assembly of Ohio. He is spoken of by his associates as an unostentatious and quiet, but diligent and atten- tive member. During both terms of his service he was a member of the committee on schools and school lands, and on the committee on Fed- eral relations. During his second term he was chairman of the committee on new counties.
Mr. Reed introduced and succeeded in having passed a bill for the re-survey of the State line between the Reserve and Pennsylvania. The location of this line had been a vexed question ever since the first settlement of Ohio. There had been no survey since the establishment of the western boundary of Pennsylvania by Vir- ginia and Pennsylvania surveyors, in 1786. In 1796 the Connecticut Land company surveyors accepted the old Pennsylvania line, which was indefinitely marked by a cleared line through the forest. Difficulties grew chiefly out of questions of jurisdiction in criminal cases, the disputed ground being a sort of refuge where outlaws could evade arrest. Mr. Reed's bill authorized the Governor to appoint three commissioners to represent Ohio and a concurrent bill passed by the Pennsylvania Legislature authorized a simi- lar commission from that State. The Ohio com- missioners were H. B. Perkins, James Mackey, of Youngstown, and Mr. Rickey, of Steubenville. The resurveyed line deviated slightly from the formerly acknowledged line, but the chief ben- efit of this measure was to establish a recognized boundary.
Mr. Reed is a man of clear insight into affairs, an intelligent observer, and a practical student. These are qualities which distinguish him from
the class commonly called average farmers, which is unfortunately too large.
Two children are living, Charles E. and Har- riet E. Allen died in his twenty-second year.
SAMUEL MERRY.
The Merry family, of which Samuel Merry is the oldest representative in this county, is of English descent. The genealogical record has been traced to Samuel Merry, of Hartford coun- ty, Connecticut, who was one generation re- moved from his English ancestors. He had a family of ten children, with whom, in 1789, he removed to Herkimer county, New York, being one of the earliest pioneers in that valley. He died at Herkimer village, August 19, 1827, aged seventy-seven years. Hannah Merrill Merry, his wife, was born in Hartford, Connecticut, September, 1747, and died at Litchfield, Her- kimer county, New York, August 19, 1814. Their children were Samuel, Jr., Enos, Charles, Epaphras, Francis, Lucy, Edmund, Ralph, Har- riet, and Hannah.
Charles Merry, the third son of Samuel Mer- ry, was born in Hartford county, Connecticut, in 1774, and was fifteen years old when his father moved to New York. Pioneer life is much the same everywhere-ceaseless toil, pri- vation and discouragement. The decade spent in Herkimer county was just the sort of prepar- atory drill Mr. Merry needed for life in the new West opened up by the Connecticut company's purchase. In the spring of 1800 he started for the Reserve, going on foot with a pack weigh- ing twenty-four pounds on his back. He did not follow the traveled roads which had been cut out by previous emigrants, but took a straight course through an unbroken wilderness, swimming streams and sleeping in the open air. One night he slept in an Indian hut. This was probably the most uncomfortable night of his journey, for, although there was no occasion for alarm, he thought it prudent to keep one eye on his host. His pocket compass finally guided him to Hartford township, where Tim- othy Brockway, his father-in-law, had previously settled.
Mr. Merry had married in New York Martha Brockway, whom he left at the old home in
43+
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Herkimer county until he could prepare a home for her here. Having selected a piece of land in Hartford township he made a clearing, built a cabin, and planted spring crops. He was well satisfied with his first summer's work, and hav- ing planted a fall crop returned to New York for his family, which at that time consisted of a wife and onc son. In the following spring he set- tled in Hartford, where he remained about five years and then removed to Vernon, where he died.
Charles and Martha Merry had a family of eleven children, seven of whom lived to mature age : Erastus, Harriet, Aber, Samuel, Francis, Matilda, and Charles.
Samuel Merry, the subject of an illustration on another page, was born in Vernon, Janu- ary 27, 1807. His early life was spent on his father's farm, and odd hours occupied in coopering until he had mastered the trade. Dur- ing the winter he manufactured large numbers of cider barrels, whiskey barrels, and pork casks. The price of the former at that time was four and the latter five shillings.
Mr. Merry married January 1, 1836, Mary Crossman, of Onondaga county, New York, and began housekeeping on the farm on which he continues to reside. They have had a family of eight children. Judson L. resides in Arizona ; Ellen (Mrs. James T. Weir), in Vernon ; Court- land D., in Vernon ; Delia C (Mrs. John Mor- rison), in Ashtabula county; Charles T., in Ver- non; Theodore T. and Willard P., in Burg Hill, and Mrs. W. P. Crowell.
Mrs. Samuel Merry died December 17, 1881. She had joined the Baptist church in New York and during all her life was a Christian woman. Mr. Merry united with the Methodist Protestant church and remained a member until the church was removed. His father, Charles Merry, was one of the most prominent of the pioneers ; was paymaster of militia from 1811 until 1817, and held various other local trusts.
JOHN I. KING, M. D.
The subject of this sketch was born in Harri- son township, near Platteville, Grant county, Wisconsin, November 13, 1848. His father, John, son of James King, Sr., and Eliza Jane
Smail, were married May 11, or 13, 1847, near Jamestown, Pennyslvania, each being about twenty years of age. They went to Wisconsin in April, 1848, where young King was born. April, 1849, his father started for California to try his success in the gold mines. He died a short time after reaching Negro bar on the American river, California, the first day of January, 1850, lacking a few days of being twenty-three years of age. He was born in Vernon township, Trumbull county, Ohio, January 13, 1827, and his wife April 8th of the same year in West Salem township, Mercer county, Pennsylvania. Mrs. King married for her second husband Harvey H., son of Chancey Jones, Sr., of Harrison county, Wisconsin, February, 1851, by whom she had two children, Eliza, born December 11, 1851, and Harvey, born December 9, 1853. March 29, 1854, Mr. Jones with his family started by the overland route for Washington Territory. After a trip of varied and thrilling experience they reached their place of destination on the White river, King county, twenty miles from Seattle, an important town on Puget sound, Oc- tober 24, 1854. Here young King endured the privations and inconveniences incident to a newly and sparsely settled country. He had to walk two miles to attend school, along a blazed path through a dense forest at the risk of being killed by Indians or mangled by panthers.
Sunday, October 28, 1855, his mother and step-father were murdered in cold blood by a party of about fourteen Klikitat Indians. After the massacre he carried his little half-brother and led his half-sister about three miles in hopes of finding some of the whites near where he used to attend school, which was done at the risk of their lives, but all had become alarmed and had fled. The houses were deserted and some of them ransacked. The outlook was gloomy in- deed. They had been driven from the breakfast table, had had no dinner except a few potatoes they had dug from the ashes of the milk-house where they had been stored. It was getting late in the afternoon of a short October day, the children were becoming tired and hungry and begging for food; the roots he had dug for them to eat did not fully satisfy the cravings of a long- fasting stomach. The youngest, not quite two years of age, was inconsolable, and his sobs and cries added the danger of detection to the al-
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ready harrowing complication of adverse circum- stances. He could not be made to comprehend why he was being kept away from his mother, and his piteous pleadings to be taken to her and for something to eat made the heart of young King sick and faint. To add to the dismal prospects he discovered an Indian coming directly towards them, but from his manner he was certain they had not been observed. There was no time to be lost, and hastily securing the children he returned and started to meet the ap- proaching Indian, whom he recognized as a friendly one whom he had often seen before and knew by the name of "Curly." They all were taken to his wigwam, and his squaw set out a great quantity of dried whortleberries and smoked fish. Ample justice was done to her hospitality. Nothing she or young King could do could in- duce the two younger children to treat her with anything but shyness and looks of fear and sus- picion. Tired nature demanded her rights and he soon had the satisfaction of seeing them sound asleep, and never will he forget the min- gled feeling of pride, sympathy and sorrow experi- enced as he looked upon his sleeping charge. Curly took them down the White river in a canoe the next day and delivered them up to the proper authorities. Their uncle John Smail was in California, where he heard of the massacre, and immediately came to Seattle and took charge of the children. Some time in June, 1856, they left Seattle on the Government man-of-war De- catur. The vessel came near foundering in a gale off the mouth of the Columbia river. At San Francisco the children received the most generous attention, and a benefit was given them in the American theater. Thence they went to New York by the way of the Isthmus of Panama, and from there were taken to Wisconsin. Eliza and Harvey were left with relatives in that State and young King was brought back to Ohio and placed in the care of his uncle, Rev. David King, and his wife, in September, 1856. He joined the Methodist Episcopal church the 9th of November, 1862. He never saw his half- sister and half-brother after he parted with them in 1856. Eliza died October 6, 1864, and Harvey October 4, 1864, of diphtheria. They had not seen each other for three weeks, and had lived three miles apart.
Young King's boyhood days were spent as
most, and no pains were spared to secure to hini the advantages of a common as well as select school education. He attended the Allegheny college, Meadville, Pennsylvania, in the years 1867-68- 69-70, and 1871. He began the study of medi- cine in July, 1867, and entered his name as a student in the office of David Best, M. D. in Meadville, Pennsylvania, in January, 1870. He attended two courses of lectures of six months each in the medical department of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, in the years 1871 and 1872, and received his degree of doctor ot medicine from Bellevue Hospital Medical col- lege, New York city, February 27, 1873. In April of the same year he established himself in Greece City, in Butler county, Pennsylvania oil regions. In November, 1874, he located at his old home at Burg Hill, Vernon township, Ohio, where he is still [1882] engaged in the practice of his chosen profession.
January 31, 1875, he lost his uncle, Rev. David King, aged sixty-five, and September 9, 1878, his aunt, Jane King, wife of David, aged seventy- four. He takes this opportunity of paying grate- ful tribute to their memory. To their teaching and example he renders the most profound ad- miration and respect. Truthfully can it be said they tried to live as they thought others should live, and preached nothing they were not willing to practice. Mr. King was united in marriage to Miss Emorinda C. Brown, April 18, 1802.
Chancey Jones, Sr., was born in Barkhamsted, Litchfield county, Connecticut, May 11, 1780. His brothers were Israel, Pliny, and Horace, and his sisters Clarissa, Mima, Rebecca, and Orpha. At eleven years of age he removed to Herkimer county, New York; came to Vernon about 1802 -3, and married Ursula, daughter of Rev. Obed Crosby, August 28, 1804. His house stood on lot six, southeast part. He subse- quently lived near number four school-house. His house was the stopping place for the weary itinerant Methodist preacher. He took an act- ive part in church affairs. He moved from Ver- non to Illinois in 1838, and near Platteville, Wis- consin, in 1839. He died there in 1859; also his wife in 1876. His children were : Sterling, born in 1804, and died in infancy; Chancey, born in 1807, married Elizabeth Brown in 1830, and died in 1853; Obed Crosby, born in 1810; Clarissa, born in 1813, married Jesse Waldorf in
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1833, and her children were Ursula, Elizabeth, and Laura Etta; Horace, born in 1818, and died in infancy; Jerusha, born in 1822, and died in infancy. Harvey, born in 1825, married Mrs. John King in 1851, and their children were Eliza Olive and Harvey Percival, both dying in 1864. He and his wife, Eliza Jane, were both murdered by the Indians on White river, King county, twenty miles from Seattle, Washington Territory, Sunday morning, October 28, 1855. His body was burned in his house, which the Indians set on fire. Orpha was born in 1828, and died in infancy.
Chancey Jones, Jr, was born in Vernon De- cember 19, 1807, and married Elizabeth, daugh- ter of James and Hannah Brown, when he was twenty-three years of age. He settled on the east side of the Pymatuning creek, near number four school-house in Vernon, where he remained until 1837, when he went to the West, and fin- ally located in the township of Harrison, Grant county, Wisconsin, in 1840, where he died Sep- tember 19, 1853. His children were Orlando Sterling, born in 1831, married Sarah Elizabeth Munger in 1852. Their children were Alice, who married W. C. King, and Chancey, who married and had two children, a son and daughter, who died in infancy. Obed King, born in 1833, mar- ried Harriet Elizabeth Guernsey in 1856. Their children were De Forest and Charlotte Eliza- beth; for his second wife he married Susie M. Janney in 1867, and had two daughters and a son. Hannah Orpha was born in 1836, and died in 1846. James Horace was born in 1846, and married Ortha A. McFall in 1864. They had five children. All except James H. were born in Vernon.
Rev. Obed Crosby was born in Hartland, Hartford county, Connecticut, in 1753. He was married to Jerusha Phelps in Hartland in 1782. She was born in Connecticut in 1757. He was in the Revolutionary war under General Wash- ington. He came to Vernon in the spring of 1800 and erected a log house on lot seven, Wil- cox tract, near the site of J. M. Dickerman's, and boarded with Thomas Giddings while build- ing it, and also held meetings and preached oc- casionally, but where is not definitely known. He returned to Connecticut, and the next spring (1801) brought his wife and three children to Vernon. They came by the way of Pittsburg,
Pennsylvania, in an open wagon drawn by a yoke of oxen. Shortly after leaving that place one of the oxen died and a cow was yoked to take its place. They were six weeks on the trip from Connecticut. He formed the first Methodist Episcopal society ever organized in Vernon (1801). He lived in his round log house six months and then moved into his new house on the exact site of A. Waldorf's on lot four, West Shepard tract. This was the first hewn log house in Vernon and a fine structure for its day; had a large room, two bed rooms, and a pantry down stairs and a chamber ; had a board gable. The nails used were hand-wrought in Pittsburg. He died during the prevalence of a malignant type of typhoid fever January 13, 1813. His wife died February 20, 1839. They lie side by side in the burial ground just south of the center of Vernon. His children were Ursula, born August 16, 1785; died near Platteville, Wisconsin, August 25, 1876. Polly died in infancy. Ezra died near New Castle, Pennsylvania. No dates of birth or death. Ezra had a son, Obed. Jerusha, born in 1790, died in Vernon, Ohio, February 11, 1839.
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