USA > Ohio > Mahoning County > History of Trumbull and Mahoning counties with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, Vol. II > Part 71
USA > Ohio > Trumbull County > History of Trumbull and Mahoning counties with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, Vol. II > Part 71
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years afterwards was living. Mrs. Anna Jackson died June 22, 1818, aged fifty-eight years. Mr. John Jackson moved east of the center.
About the same time, 1810, Mr. Amasa Ham- lin settled in the west part of the township on the farm afterwards owned by Mr. Greer, former- ly by Mr. Joseph Barstow. Mr. Hamlin after- wards left.
SICKNESS.
In the winter and spring of 1811 the settle- ment was visited with distressing sickness. It prevailed so extensively that the well were not enough in numbers to take care of the sick. While many recovered there were four young persons who died. Jesse Perry was the first. His parents lived somewhere near the center, but as he was not in a situation to be taken care of there he was removed to the house of David Webb, where he died.
The disease, typhus fever, prevailed in the family of Mr. Webb, and their daughter, Debby Webb, died May 2, 1811, aged eighteen years. Two sons of Mr. Jaqua died also about the same time, of the same disease, and also a young man, William Adams, who died of consumption. It has been stated that Mr. Adams was the first adult who died in the township. He died at the house of his brother, Augustus Adams. Also the wife of William Key died not far from this time. Her health was poor when she came into the county, and while here was always a feeble woman. These funerals were solemn and sad gatherings in the wilderness for the little community with scarcely enough to assist at the necessary preparations. Sometimes they had the aid of Mr. Crosby, a local Methodist preacher from Vernon, to conduct religious ser- vices. Sometimes some of the settlers offered a prayer, and sometimes the dead were taken up in silence and borne away to the grave. The first of the settlers who aided in a religious service at funerals was Mr. Hamlin. Said one of the witnesses on one of these occasions : " Although I had no particular interest in re- ligious subjects at that time, I did feel thankful that we had some one among us who could pray at a funeral."
EARLY RELIGIOUS MEETINGS.
The first attempt to hold anything of the character of the social religious meetings on
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the Sabbath was not until some time after the arrival of the company in June, 1806. As we have remarked, there were a number of young people in the company, some of them singers, and nearly all accustomed to attend meetings on the Sabbath before they came West. Al- though not professors of religion, and none of them feeling qualified by religious experience to conduct the devotional exercises of religious worship, yet they agreed to meet on the Sabbath and join in the exercises. Mr. Daniel Hine, Jr., invited them to meet at his house the first Sabbath of their meetings. Dr. Wright, of Vernon, was providentially visiting the sick in the place, and learning of the meeting he attended and assisted by leading the congregation in prayer, in connection with their reading and singing. As there was, however, no one among them of sufficient confidence and Christian experience to lead the devotional ex- ercises of public worship, after a few times these meetings were suspended, and no more regularly religious meetings were held on the Sabbath, till after the arrival of Mr. Hamlin, and as far as can be learned, not till after the season of sick- ness. Mr. Hamlin was a Methodist of very respectable qualifications, and consistent relig- ious character, of a liberal mind and disposed to seek and promote religious society. After be- coming acquainted with the community and ascertaining the willingness and desire to have meetings for worship on the Sabbath, he invited the people to meet together, and met with them.
By his influence and aid the meetings were conducted by prayer, singing, and reading dis- courses, and by such free conference as the members present were disposed to engage in. This was the beginning of the permanent estab- lishment of public worship on the Sabbath in this place. It is believed that from this time it has been habitually maintained. There was at that time no ecclesiastical organization, but all met together simply for worship. The preachers of all denominations, either residing on the bor- der or traveling through as missionaries, occa- sionally spent a Sabbath or called at other times and gave them a sermon.
Among the early preachers who visited them was Mr. Crosby from Vernon, already mentioned; Father Badger from Gustavus, and Mr. Robbins, a Congregational missionary from Vernon; Mr.
Darrow from Vienna, a Presbyterian; also Mr. Sheldon from Fowler, and Elder Rigdon, a Bap- tist missionary, and later, Mr. Simon Woodruff, and Mr. William Hanford, missionaries from the Connecticut Missionary society.
During the occasional visits and the labors of these men there was an interesting revival of religion, in which some of the leading heads of families were hopefully converted to Christ, and who have since been pillars in the different churches here. Mr. Crosby, after a few visits finding a number of the Methodist denomina- tion, suggested to them that if they would re- quest it of the conference they would probably send a circuit preacher, who would gather a class and make a regular preaching station at this place. It was accordingly done about the year 1812.
FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
Rev. James McMahan is remembered as among the first circuit preachers, and he was on the circuit in 1813. It was then known as the Mahoning circutt, belonging to this conference, which was set off in 1812 from the Baltimore conference.
This was then a frontier circuit, extending north into Ashtabula, and west into Cuyahoga and Portage counties. The preachers some- times got swamped between their appointments. One of them, somewhere in the valley of the Mosquito creek, was compelled to seek a dry spot in the midst of the wide waters and swamp for the night.
The meeting for forming the class was held at the house of Mr. Lilley, nearly across the street from the house now used. Among the male members were Mr. Hamlin, Mr. Spencer, and probably Mr. Dickinson, and soon after Mr. Judson Tyrrel. The wives of most of these were with their husbands. Other names were also associated, but the early records were lost and they can not be ascertained.
The Presbyterian or Congregational church was organized October 16, 1814, under the labors of Rev. William Hanford, a missionary of the Connecticut Missionary society. It consisted at first of six members-Solomon Brainard and his wife, Nathan Webb and wife, and Amzi Webb and wife. The church was organized in a log school-house, the first one built in the place. It
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stood on the south side of the street and nearly opposite the east school-house. Rev. Osias S. Eells was installed pastor of the Congregational church October 10, 1827. At the time he came they mct in a hewed-log school-house, standing on the northwest corner at the center. At that time a frame meeting-house was in course of erection on the southeast corner, where Andrews & Finney's store afterwards was built.
Although the house above mentioned was the first school-house, a school was commenced be- fore that house was built.
The first school was taught by Miss Elizabeth Hine, daughter of Daniel Hine, Sr., who after- wards became Mrs. Thaddeus Bradley. It is said that it did not begin until after the removal of Mr. Hine to Canfield, and that she was sent for to come back and teach the school. It was taught in the house built by Mr. Zebulon Walker on the corner opposite the house of Mr. Wilbur.
The log school-house was built in 18- and the next school-house was a hewed-log house and was built where the house and store of John Jackson, Esq., stood afterwards. This second school-house was built for the double purpose of school and church, and had a stand arranged for the minister's use.
This settlement, together with all the other new settlements, experienced some alarm from the war on the frontier at that time. War was declared January 19, 1812, and forces were raised by draft for the defense of the frontier. The militia mustered at that time under Colonel Hayes, of Hartford. At first both Mr. Hill and Skinner were drafted, but Mr. Skinner did not go on account of some lameness. About two months after the first draft a rumor was set afloat that the enemy were landing at Cleveland, and all the enrolled men were called out to go im- mediately. At that time nearly all the able- bodied men in the settlement left. Mr. Daniel Hine was never enrolled in the militia on ac- count of his broken limb. He, together with some old men past the age of service, were about all who were left behind.
The alarm proving to be false, most of the men went no farther than Austinburg or Harpers- field, from whence they returned, but some of them went out to Erie county, to Camp Avery, near where Milan now stands, and were in the service about six months. Before this
time Mr. Judson Tyrrell had come and settled in the township, and was among the men who remained in the service. Subsequently his brother, Sherman Tyrrell, came and settled near. The Dickenson family also were in the township. So also were the Halsteads, and many others whose history we are not able to get in full. Some families were brought in later by relatives or interests already here. A son and daughter of Captain Johnston, from whom the township was named, came in. Colonel Walter Johnston in 1828 settled first where Dr. Moore Bradley afterwards lived, but who subsequently left it for his brother-in-law, Captain Ebenezer Mix, who came in later, and Colonel Johnston moved into the house of his son, Herman Johnston. Cap- tain Mix died November 21, 1839, aged sixty- three years. His wife, Sally Mix, died July 27, 1846, aged fifty-six years. Colonel Johnston died December 2, 1849, aged sixty-eight years. Mr. George Root, a brother of Mr. Abell, came into the country early and took up a lot of land, and returned, but did not come to take up his residence until eighteen years afterward. In the interval another brother came to make a perma- nent home.
LATER SETTLEMENTS.
About 1830, through the aid of Mr. John Boone, afterwards of Mecca, a very respectable emigra- tion of Protestant Irish commenced a settlement in the northwest corner of the township, and though Mr. Boone himself resided in Youngs- town he came, after a short time, and occupied a farm in the northwest corner of the towr.ship, and as the settlement increased they became or- ganized into schools and a Methodist society, and afterwards secured for themselves a good substantial house of worship. The settlement embraced parts of Gustavus, Greene, and Mecca.
Mrs. Rosier, on the north line of the township, was there before the settlers came from Ire- land.
In the southeast corner of the ownship com- menced a settlement in 1840. Messrs. Thomas Tudhope and Alexander Curry were the first persons of the company who came.
The first family from Scotland was that of Mr. Robert Hamilton. They were afflicted in cross- ing the ocean by the loss of a son, whose mortal remains were consigned to the deep.
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Mr. Dewy was in the neighborhood during the time the first Scotch settlement came. The district was afterwards almost exclusively Scotch. They established their school and often had religious worship among them. They were mostly Presbyterian. While Mr. Dewy resided in that district, and Mr. Halstead where Mr. Gomery afterwards lived, and Mr. Van Aikin where Mr. Stodard afterward lived, there was a meeting of United Brethren maintained, and also another class in the northeast, or what was called the Henry settlement, but their regular appointments have ceased.
ORGANIZATION OF TOWNSHIP.
Johnston was originally embraced in a poll district with Vernon, Hartford, and Fowler, elec- tions being held in Hartford in the Hayes neigh- borhood. Subsequently Mecca and Bazetta were attached to Johnston, which formed a new election district. The first election for the town- ship was held in this township October 9, 1816, at the house of Abijah Perry, near the center. Captain Jaqua was made chairman of the meet- ing, and Nathan Webb and Jared Hill judges. The election resulted as follows: Jared Hill, clerk, Samuel Hine, Jr., David and John Jack- son, trustees. Mr. Rose and Mr. Dawson, of Mecca and Bazetta, were among the officers elected.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
THE BUSHNELL FAMILY.
Lewis Bushnell was born in Johnston town- ship, Trumbull county, March 23, 1818. De- cember 30, 1841, he was married to Elizabeth A. Treat, of Vienna, who was born July 4, 1821. The father of Lewis (his name also was Lewis) was born April 12, 1787, in Hartland, Hartford county, Connecticut. When about sixteen years of age his father (Daniel B.) and family emi- grated to Hartford, Trumbull county, Ohio, and he came with the family, of which he was the oldest. He (Lewis B., Sr.) was married to Sally Webb December 27, 1808. She also was born in Connecticut, on September 26, 1790, and had come with her people to Johnston, Trumbull
county, Ohio. Her father, David Webb, was one of the Revolutionary soldiers. After their marriage they lived in Hartford for several years and then removed to Johnston. They had four children, viz: Linus, who died September 22, 1828, aged nineteeen years; Debby, who died October 3, 1812, aged nineteen months; Lorenzo, born January 29, 1813, who resided in Johnston until 1852, when he went to Waukon, Allamakee county, Iowa, where he has since lived ; and Lewis, who has always resided in Johnston. Three months after the birth of Lewis, Jr., (June 29, 1818) his father died, and ten years later his mother was married to James Bascom, of Greene, Trumbull county. They also had four children. Linus and John, the two older sons, were in the army and there lost their lives. Linus died in the hospital on December 29, 1862, aged thirty- one years. His body was wounded in nine places, and like so many other brave soldiers his sufferings were beyond description. John went home from the hospital on a furlough in the fall to vote at the ensuing election, and died a few days after reaching there. His home was in Wisconsin. The other two children are living. Sarah D., born July 8, 1829, married Allen Mallory, and went to Massachusetts, where she has since lived, and Lyman W., born June 30, 1836, still resides in Johnston.
Young Lewis Bushnell spent the first part of his life with his mother, helping her to keep the "wolves from the door," and this phrase was at that time used in another sense than the figura tive, for it was not an uncommon event for them to see wolves and bears, as for instance, his mother hearing a noise in the pig-pen one night, went out and found a bear there ready to help itself to the pork, but was frightened away by the light she carried in her hand. Mrs. Bascom died February 4, 1878, in her eighty-eighth year. At the age of twenty-three Lewis married. His wife's father, John Treat, was born February 15, 1795, in Milford, Connecticut. He came to Vienna, Trumbull county, in 1818. His wife, Mary Hummason, was born March 20, 1804, in Hartford, Connecticut. She was the daughter of Jacob Hummason, who was a merchant of that place. He emigrated to Brookfield about the year 1803, his wife and family coming a year or so later. They found a log house with split log floor, and greased paper for windows very
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different from the home they left, where plenty of luxuries reigned. Mr. Hummiason was one of the best educated men of the county, one of the first teachers in the schools in Youngstown, and an active man in public life. They had six children, of whom Mary was the fifth. She was married to John Treat May 10, 1820, and they have since lived in Vienna. They had six chil- dren, viz : Elizabeth A .; Sidney C., born July 5, 1823, and now living in Hazelton, Mahoning county ; Julius H., who died June 16, 1858, aged thirty years ; Mary E., who died November I, 1865, aged forty years, and Garry A., born April 17, 1830, and now living in Vienna. Mr. and Mrs. Treat have always been noted for their kindness, especially to the poor and friendless. In 1832 they united with what is now the Pres- byterian (then Congregational) church of Vienna, and he has filled the office of deacon or elder since his election to it in 1848, till three years ago because of his age he insisted on lay- ing aside those duties. In May, 1870, the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage was cele- brated, and each of the eleven years since the children and grandchildren have spent a glad holiday with the aged couple. Though in their living together sixty-one years they have been more favored than most couples, we hope many more years may be added to their united lives. After the marriage of Lewis Bushnell with Elizabeth Treat they went to housekeeping in Johnston, and there they have lived, and their eight children were born. Hubert T., the oldest was born September 26, 1843. When seventeen years old he taught a term of school,
and then returned to the store where he had clerked the previous year, and with the exception of the time spent in the army has since been engaged in mercantile business. He was a volunteer with the ninety-day men, and also in the nine months service.
On December 23, 1868, he was married to Jennie Hollett, of Watkins, New York. About two years after they went East, and are still re siding in Hartford, Cortland county, New York. They have one child, Charles La Verne, born January 10, 1871.
Mary E. was born October 27, 1845. She began teaching at the age of seventeen, and fol- lowed it quite closely, and with evident success for about thirteen years. On the 15th of June,
1876, she was married to Frank C. Hinman, of Tallmadge, Summit county. Their home is in Easton, Wayne county. They have two children : Louis C., born September 28, 1877, and Flora E., born August 28, 1879.
Martha A. was born January 4, 1848. On the roth of May, 1876, she was married to Sullivan Hutchins, of Hartford, and are still living upon their farm in that township. They have two children, Grace A., born June 18, 1877, and Mary E., born January 11, 1880.
Howard L. was born January 18, 1850. He has followed speculating much of the time. On September 18, 1876, he was married to Kit Clark, of Vienna. Their home is in that place. They have one child, Ira E., born July 17, 1880, also one adopted child, Freddie, born August, 1878.
Linus S. was born January 1, 1853. At six- teen years of age he began teaching, and fol- lowed it winters for several years. He was married to Emma A. Taylor, of Mecca, January 1, 1876. They have one child, Ida M., born March 8, 1877. They settled on a farm in Johnston.
Esther T. was born January 30, 1855. She has followed teaching several years, and at present is teaching in the graded schools of Orwell, Ash- tabula county.
Sarah E. was born June 15, 1857. She has followed teaching a part of the time.
George A. was born April 20, 1861.
Though the persons named in this sketch have never gained world-wide fame, they have pos- sessed honesty, energy, and enterprise, and re- joiced to see the many improvements of the country, and while they have helped to put down slavery, intemperance, or any other evil which assailed society, they have tried to strengthen that which is good and all that tended to the ad- vancement of social and public interest.
NOTES OF SETTLEMENT.
Captain James Bradley and family were the first settlers of Johnston township. Mr. Bradley was born in Connecticut June 18, 1755, died March 3, 1817. His wife, Asenath Bird, was born June 10, 1752, in Connecticut, and died June ro, 1832. They had three children- Thaddeus, Dr. M. B., and Dr. Ariel. Dr. Ariel
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Bradley was the first settled physician in Johnston township. Thaddeus Bradley was born in Ver- mont February 11, 1787, died October 7, 1865. He married Elizabeth Hine. She was born in. Connecticut February 16, 1790, and died Febru- ary 13, 1867. They had a family of six children- Mary, James D., Dr. Moor C., Lester, Timothy, and Myron. James D. Bradley, the son of Thaddeus and Elizabeth Bradley, was born March 14, 1817, died March 11, 1875. He married February 8, 1859, Laura A. Minor, born Febru- ary 17, 1831. They have two children -- Frank T. and Dudley A. Dr. Moore Bird Bradley, the second child of James and Asenath Bradley, was born in Vermont, May 2, 1790, died February 16, 1841. He was the father of eight children. Dr. Ariel Bradley, the third child of James and Asenath Bradley, was born in Vermont in July, 1792; died in Johnston township October 7, 1859. He came to Ohio with his parents at the age of nine years, where he lived until his death. He studied medicine and was the first practitioner in Johnston township. He was mar- ried in 1828 to Laura L. Barstow, daughter of Joseph and Betsey Barstow, both natives of Sharon, Connecticut. Laura was born in 1809, in Norway, New York, and came to Ohio with her parents in 1818 and settled in Johnston township where she still lives. Her father was born in 1781, October 2, died at the age of eighty-eight years. Her mother was born in 1787, died aged seventy-seven years. Ariel and Laura Bradley had one child, Reumah, born in March, 1829, died in 1854. She married Buell Pelton. They had two daughters, Emma A., and Reumah. Emma was born in June, 1851. Reumah was born in 1853. Ariel Bradley served in the War of 1812. Mrs. Bradley was one of a family of eight, as follows : John, Laura, Wallace, Samuel, Emma, Mary A., Adaline, and one that died in infancy.
George Root was born in Connecticut, 1789, died 1869. He came to Ohio in a very early day and purchased land in Johnston township. He returned to Connecticut and married Mary Johnston, born 1799, died 1853. They had nine children, all dead but three. Mr. and Mis. Root were members of the Congregational church. Shortly after their settlement their little log hut was burned and they were left without shelter in the wilderness. Eunice C., the second
child, was born in 1819, in Connecticut, and came to Ohio with her parents and married in 1842, Giles L. Day, son of Giles and Hannah Day. He was born October 30, 1815, in Ver- mont, and came to Ohio with his parents. He died April 1, 1879, after a lingering illness of twelve years. They had six children, Mary R., deceased, Emma A., Cornelia R., Elvia V., Alvira, and Mary L. Mr. Day was lieutenant of the home guard. He was a member of the Disciple church for a number of years, then took up the faith of Spiritualism. His parents came to Ohio about the year 1829. They had a family of eleven children. Giles L. and Eunice C. Day have six grandchildren.
Hezekiah Green was born in Maryland in 1801, died in 1879. He married in 1828 Comfort Burnett, born in Hubbard township in 1804, the first white child born in Hubbard township; is still living. They had seven children. Seth, the second child, was born in 1832, and came to Johnston township with his parents in 1836. He married in 1860 Miss Sophia Skinner, daughter of Sherman and Betsey Skinner. She was born in Johnston township in 1840. They had four children, Carrie, Lydia, Harley and Arba. Mr. Green is a farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Green are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mrs. Green's grandparents, James and Nancy Skinner, were the first settlers in Johnston town- ship. They came from Connecticut. Mr. Skin- ner was loved and esteemed by every one that knew him.
Rev. Ozias Eells came to Johnston township, Ohio, in March, 1827, and was soon employed to labor as a minister of the gospel. He enjoyed the privilege to live in the pious family of Dea- con Nathan Webb. The house for public wor- ship was constructed of hewed logs and stood on the northwest corner of the land in the center of the town. In this house he officiated twice on the Sabbath and attended a prayer-meeting in the house of a member of the church in the course of the week. He was influenced to lo- cate in this locality on account of an expected donation of fifty acres of land, situated in Mec- ca, belonging to William Ely. This land, which he received, together with fifty acres obtained at a vendue sale, was a great pecuniary help to him. He visited the families and took a census of the town, and at that time there were sixty families.
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He was to some extent engaged in the instruc- tion of the young, and prepared three young men to enter the Western Reserve college, at Hudson. In addition to a subscription for the support of his work in Fowler, where he was also engaged to preach, assistance was furnished by a missionary society in Massachusetts. Mr. Eells says the church furnished suitable accommoda- tions for him to live in a married state, and that a good Providence provided a suitable person for his wife, and they were married by Rev. Har- vry Coe, of Vernon. He attended a meeting of the presbytery of Grand river, was examined and received as a member. After preaching about six months he received a call to take the pastor- al charge of the church in Johnston and another in Fowler. The call was accepted and the in- stallation services were held in Mr. Robert Mor- row's house, Rev. Wells Andrews preaching the sermon. In 1831 the presbytery appointed him to attend the general assembly in Philadelphia. After the establishment of Oberlin college and young men from that institution could be ob- tained to preach, some of the members were desirous of procuring the services of one of them and Mr. Eells was dismissed. He accepted an invitation to preach in other towns and thus continued his ministerial labors. After fifty years of married life his golden wedding was cel- ebrated, on which occasion a large number of neighbors and friends assembled, and pleasant it was to all, and a number of valuable gifts were presented to the esteemed couple.
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