USA > Ohio > Mahoning County > History of Trumbull and Mahoning counties with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, Vol. II > Part 73
USA > Ohio > Trumbull County > History of Trumbull and Mahoning counties with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, Vol. II > Part 73
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99
There was a Mr. Stewart at the corners, who after clearing four or five acres and building a house already to raise, suddenly left and never came back. This property was afterwards taken by Alfred Bronson, the Methodist preacher. The property owned by William Meeker, previ- ously mentioned, was cleared by a settler whose name has passed from recollection-fenced in part, logs cut and hauled ready for raising a house, when he suddenly left and never returned. This property, one hundred acres in all, was one-
415
TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.
half mile south of the corners. The next lot south of this, now owned by Asahel Tyrrell, was at first taken by Hezekiah Reeder, who cleared and fenced about four acres, planted his garden, raised his house but never covered it, then left and never returned. This house was on the bank of a little brook, which has since been called Reeder's run. Mr. Reeder bought it in 1810, paying at that time $3 per acre. Mr. Tyrrell bought it in 1824 and paid $5 per acre. He was then thirty-two years of age and is now seventy-nine years old and has owned it ever since. But since that time what a change! Then it was all a wilderness; now the land is all cleared up, and a railroad runs through it within four rods of where the old Reeder house stood. The depot is about twenty rods from it. From four to six trains now pass daily on this road, and some of the land is laid out in village lots and a number of houses have already been built. Mr. Tyrrell built a large flouring-mill, a hotel, and a store. There are also some shops of different kinds, and a nail-keg head factory that is doing some business.
About the year 1813 John Webster and New- man Tucker moved into the place with their fam- ilies. Webster moved into one end of John Vaughn's house, which stood a little west of the corners. He afterwards built a house three- fourths of a mile south of the corners on the east side of the road. Tucker moved into Alfred Bronson's house, while Bronson was out in the army. Tucker was taken sick, caused by a journey of forty five days duration without inter- mission, except for a single day, and when Preacher Bronson came home the neighbors turned out (what few had not gone to the war) and built a brush house for Tucker. It was built in one day. Four posts were driven at suitable distances apart in the ground, the other ends being forked, and upon these forks poles were laid, reaching from one post to the other. Small poles were also pinned on the sides. Brush was then collected, and the roof and the sides of the shanty were plaited with leaves and twigs. The roof was covered with brush. A blanket was hung over the opening. Into this domicile the family moved, and lived two months. The Tucker family consisted of eight persons in all --- the two old people and six children, four boys and two giris. The boys were Charles, Jabez,
William, and John. The girls were Betsy and Marilla.
Mr. Newman Tucker was the first male teach- er in the township. He taught school in John Vaughn's house the winter after he came here.
THE WAR OF 1812.
There were but a few scattering families at this time in the township, and the militia of Fowler and Johnston townships was put under the command of Captain Elijah Tyrrell. Cap- tain Tyrrell was ordered to draft one-half of his men, taking every other man in order as the names stood on the muster roll. This was the order given to each of the captains in the county. It caused considerable excitement and hardship, as half of the whole number of able- bodied men taken at such a time from their midst would leave them in straitened circum- stances. There were nine in number drafted from Fowler township. Their names were : Captain Elijah Tyrrell, Alfred Bronson, Hoyt Tyrrell, Roswell Tyrrell, Isaac Farrow, Cable Meeker, and three of the Gateses. The service of these men was not very long, most of them coming home in three months. Some of the number staid six months. Roswell Tyrrell re- enlisted. John Gates was killed in the first en- gagement he was in.
Up to this time immigration was not very rapid, but after the war the people began to see better times, and settlers took up all the land except the swamps.
As late as the year 1826 there was no road passable for teams, and few settlers from the center of Fowler to the center of Hartford, and all the travel was done by the way of Tyrrell's corners from Bazetta, Fowler, and other places north to get to Hartford, or Burg Hill.
Mr. Asahel Tyrrell, then a mere a boy, usually went to mill for his father and the neighbors. His trips were made to Brockway's or to Bent- ley's, and sometimes to Sharon. The distance was great for a boy to make, and the wolves sometimes were so voracious as to cause him some apprehension for his safety. His father's old white mare which he rode, was the only one in the neighborhood.
PIONEER CUSTOMS.
In former times the women spun and wove what clothing was worn, excepting the buckskin
416
TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.
breeches and jackets which were worn by the men in the winter. Linen was worn in the sum- mer. Cotton was but little used in early days; the home-made linen served all purposes then. Many of the youngsters never wore boots or shoes, except wooden ones or moccasins, in their childhood and youth. Leggings were frequently worn. They were lashed tight over the shoes and tied with garters around the knees. Instead of glass they had wooden bottles that were often filled with whiskey from Mr. Bushnell's distillery in Hartford. It was nothing unusual to send a boy to the distillery for whiskey, with a bag thrown across a horse with a gallon wooden bot- tle in one end and a stone in the other to bal- ance. These were times when a log-rolling, house-raising, or a corn-husking was not com- plete without the aid of this much-prized stimu- lant. These were times, too, when the daugh- ters not only worked at the loom and spinning- wheel, but hoed corn, raked hay, bound grain, pulled flax, and did any other work, either out of or in doors, as the case seemed to demand. Stock, grain, or labor were used instead of money for exchange, cash price, or cattle at trade prices, or grain, cattle, or stock notes, were the terms used when making a "dicker," or driving a bargain.
WILD ANIMALS
were numerous and often troublesome. Stock, especially young cattle and sheep, had to be looked after very carefully or it would be destroyed. Hogs were sometimes allowed to run in the woods to feed upon acorns, and not unfrequently some of them became a prey to hungry bears.
Abner Fowler one day discovered a tree in the forest which was scratched from top to bottom, as though it had frequently been climbed by some sharp-clawed animal. Having a curiosity to know what beast, if any, used the hollow tree as a dwelling-place, Mr. Fowler eut it down. Out rushed a huge bear, which the pioneer soon suc- ceeded in killing.
As an evidence that the women of pioneer days were possessed of the same courageous spirit that characterized the men, the following incident is related :
Mr. Ira Fowler, son of Abner Fowler, Jr., states that when he was about four years old, just as night was coming on one evening the
family were disturbed by the howling of wolves. His father was away from home and only Mrs. Fowler and her three small children were in the house. Mr. Fowler had just purchased a few sheep and this night they had failed to come up to the house as usual. His mother, as soon as she heard the cries of the wolves, hastily un- dressed the children and put them in bed, com- manding them on no account to rise until she returned. Then lighting a torch of hickory baik she went out into the fast gathering night alone to hunt up the sheep. She found them huddled together in the middle of a field with their heads erect. It was perfectly evident that they were aware that their foes were in search of them. The howls sounded nearer, but Mrs. Fowler began calling the sheep and they followed her obediently homeward. Arrived at the house she built up a bright fire in front of it. By this means the wolves were kept away and the sheep preserved.
SCHOOLS.
The first school, already mentioned, was for the benefit of the seven Connecticut families, though it may have been attended by children of the other settlers.
The first regular school for the accommoda- tion of all was taught in a school-house built of logs, in the winter of 1814-15 by Polly Nichols. The next summer Phila Wright taught there, and the following winter Thomas Bushnell, of Hartford. The school-house was situated south of the center about one mile, on the east side of the road, opposite where the present school- house stands.
A DISTILLERY
was built in 1835 by Asahel Tyrrell. At that time there were a great many apples and peaches. He had been successful in securing a great many barrels (a statement is made of his having eight hundred barrels) of cider which he had stowed out doors, but the night previous to his starting the still some person cut holes in his barrels and vats and the cider was wasted. A loss of about $1, 100 was sustained by Mr. Tyrrell by this malicious act. The next spring he manufactured two hundred barrels of cider, and afterwards stilled some more. In 1837 he built a storage house 30x40 feet, two stories high, adjoining his saw-mill (the saw-mill was
417
TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.
built on Yankee creek in 1826, and had a capac- ity of ten thousand feet of lumber per day). The still had a capacity of twenty-five barrels per day and made about four gallons to the barrel, and in 1838 about two thousand barrels of cider was in this way used. In 1839 he built still larger rooms, where he could store three thou- sand barrels, but he made a mistake in cement- ing his vats with water-lime, which when taken up by the cider, destroyed it. He afterwards shipped brandies to New York but lost money on them. Later he sold some for home con- sumption, but the parties breaking up he sus- tained such a loss as to induce him to quit the business.
THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
This church was organized quite early, but at what date is not known. The house was built as early as 1836. There is but little known of its early history, save that the membership was at first so limited that when help by subscription was received the trustees appointed were in- structed by previous arrangement to permit ministers of other denominations to preach in the house when the occasion so demanded. The organization after many years' existence was abandoned on account of the fewness of its mem- bers. Simon Aldrich, Charles Tucker, Henry Sanders, Jolın Morrow, Carrie Barnes, of the Methodist Episcopal church, purchased the lot and paid for the same the sum of $25. Gideon Waterhouse and his wife, Phoebe, made the deed. The trustees of this church, Robert Morrow, Harry Beach, and Joseph Jones, in consideration of $160 received, transferred all right and title over to the Methodist Episcopal church. This was on the 18th day of August, in the year 1873, since which time the Method- ist people have all claim to the church prop- erty of the former organization.
THE UNITED BRETHREN
have an organization formed some time about the year 1840, in the western part of the town- ship.
THE METHODIST CHURCH.
This church was organized about the year 1815 by Rev. Alfred Bronson, and consisted of himself and wife, Abner Fowler and wife, New- man Tucker and wife, and Charles Tucker. These were all of the first members. Soon after
Rev. Joseph Davis, a local preacher, and his wife joined, and several members of the Barnes family. Their first church, a small frame build- ing, was erected south of the center.
THE DISCIPLES CHURCH.
This organization took place at quite an early date. The ministers of this denomination first preached in the various homes of the new settlers, then in the warerooms near Mr. Claw- son's store, and in the old carding-mill property now owned by Mr. Alderman, and used as a nail- keg-head factory. The society built their church during the year of the great hail storm in 1852. A. C. Williamson was the architect. The church is at the present time in a prosperous condition. The society have a church at the ridge. Rev. Mr. Bonewell is in charge.
PHYSICIANS OF FOWLER.
Dr. Porter was probably the first practicing physician who settled in the township. He came to the center about the year 1819, from New York State, practiced his profession a few years, and then bought a farm one and a half miles west of Fowler, where he lived the re- mainder of his days. The date of his death is not given. Following him Dr. Harry Beach came to this place in the year 1826, and prac- ticed medicine in this whole country in all fifty- four years, when he moved to Cortland, Bazetta township, adjoining, in the year 1880, and where he is now in the full enjoyment of bodily health and vigor of mind, but retired from prac- tice.
In 1853 there was a physician of the eclectic school who moved in and staid about fifteen years. Dr. Wells A. Horton moved to the cen- ter, but died in 1868. His family, consisting of his wife and two sons, then moved to Cleveland. There was one Dr. Tinker, who came to Fowler about the year 1868, and staid about four years, and following him came Dr. Arthur Hold, in 1872, but he only staid one year, since which time there have not been any physicians in the place, save Dr. Beach, who left in 1880. At this time there is no one practicing the profes- sion of medicine in the township.
MISCELLANEOUS.
The first frame house in Fowler was built about 1814 by James Fowler, the son of Samuel Fowler, the proprietor of the land of the town-
53
418
TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO
ship. It stood on the southwest corner at the center and was used for many years as a dwel- ling. It is still standing, but has been removed from its original location and is now an out- building on a neighboring farm.
The first trial was an action for stealing, in- stituted against Abijah Bolton by his brother-in- law, Gates. Bolton was convicted and sent to the penitentiary. The township has been re- markably free from crimes of a violent char- acter.
The first merchant was Elijah Barnes, who kept a store at Tyrrell Hill. Adam McClurg kept the first full stock of goods at the center. This was in 1838, when he opened up a full line of goods. Mr. George Halleck, however, kept a small line of goods, long before McClurg.
Fowler center is a small village near the center of the township. The store and post-office is kept by Mr. E. E. Clawson ; a blacksmith shop by Warren Boston, and another by Mr. Josiah Enos; hotel by John F. Trowbridge; nail- keg heads are manufactured by Lewis Alder- man on an extensive scale; a cheese factory, operated by C. A. Campbell, who manufactures about fifteen cheese per day. There are two good churches, one Methodist and one Disciple.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
ROBERT MORROW.
One of the earliest settlers of Fowler, and probably the earliest whose descendants remain residents of the township, was John Morrow. He was a native of Ireland, and after emigrat- ing to this country with his parents became a settler of Washington county, Pennsylvania. While living there he married his wife, who was also a native of Ireland. In 1804, with their family, they removed to Fowler. There were at that time but four other families in the town- ship. Mr. Morrow's family consisted of three sons and three daughters -- Robert, James, John, Jane (Mrs. David Wright), Sarah (Mrs. William Jones), and Eliza. Mrs. Sarah Jones is the only survivor of the family. She resides in Fowler.
Robert, the oldest son of John Morrow, was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, Oc-
tober 4, 1800, and was consequently but four years old when his parents came to the township. His boyhood, youth, manhood, and old age was spent on the same farm which he had helped to clear and prepare for cultivation. Like every other boy of the period Mr. Morrow experienced many hardships incident to pioneer life. People were poor, and their resources of a character that much labor was required to develop them. Mr. Morrow married, February 23, 1833, Harriet, daughter of Jared Hill, who came from Connec- ticut to Ohio in 1811. Mr. Hill's family con- sisted of six children by the first marriage and four by the second. Robert and Harriet Mor- row have had a family of five children, three of whom are living-James, at Burg Hill; Jared, at Fargo, Dakota; and Martha, in Fowler.
Mr. Morrow became owner of the farm on which his father settled, and died on the same farm December 16, 1879. He was in every re- spect a man of good character and pure life. He was without aspirations further than to be a good man, and merit the respect of his neighbors. In early life he united with the Congregational church and lived faithful to his professions to the end of his life. Mrs. Morrow, who survives her husband, was a member of the same church, and a kind mother and loyal wife. She contin- ues to reside on the old homestead.
One of Mr. Morrow's characteristics was a delight of story-telling. In this his Irish descent was traceable. With a rich Irish accent he was accustomed, in his older years, to narrate to his children and his neighbors' children experiences of the early day, when the woods, almost un- broken, were infested with wild animals and ven- omous reptiles. When his father first came to Fowler the family lived in the wagons till a cabin could be erected. One night after they had be- come settled in their little home the dog was heard to make an unusual noise, and something seemed to be crawling across the floor. No one was alarmed at the disturbance, or, indeed, paid any attention to it. But daylight revealed the fact that it was fortunate no one had arisen, for a snake seven feet long had invaded the house. It was tracked and killed but a short distance away.
Wolves were troublesome, and sheep had to be securely penned up every night. This work, of course, fell chiefly upon Robert. On one of
Robert Harrows
419
TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.
these errands he saw a panther, an animal very rare in this section of the West. He also took pleasure in the sports of the early period of set- tlement, and altogether had a large fund of in- teresting ancedotes.
SETTLEMENT NOTES.
William Jones (deceased) was a native of Massachusetts, born February 28, 1800. He was by occupation a farmer and stock dealer. He was married September 26, 1820, to Sarah, daughter of John and Hannah (Irwin) Morrow, natives of Ireland. She was born February 18, 1799, and came to Ohio with her parents in 1804; the family settling on a place now owned by Mrs. Robert Morrow. She taught school one or two terms prior to her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Jones had ten children, six of whom are living-Edwin W., a farmer ; Robert, also a farmer and stock dealer ; James, now a resident of New Mexico ; Aaron, a resident of Kansas ; John D., and Frank at home. Mr. Jones settled on a farm one mile north of Fowler center, putting up a log-house. He died June 4, 1861. He was a member of the Congregational church (as is also his widow), and was a respected citi- zen and successful farmer. Mrs. Jones has a farm of fifty two acres.
Asahel Tyrrell was born in Bridgeport, Con- necticut, September 23, 1802; oldest son of Elijah and Clarissa (Meeker) Tyrrell, of Connec- ticut. His father was born March 8, 1775, and his mother May 21, 1774. They were married July 23, 1796, and came to Ohio in October, 1806, and located at Tyrrell's corners in Fowler township, Trumbull county. They were among the pioneers of the county, and worthy ones, too. They raised a family of eight children, six of whom are living. Elijah Tyrrell was a black- smith by trade and also a successful farmer. He bought one hundred acres and cleared the same, now owned by A. H. Tyrrell. He was an active Whig. He died April 11, 1848. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and his father, Asahel Tyrrell, was in the Revolutionary war and was killed at the surrender of Burgoyne, in October, 1777. Asahel Tyrrell, the subject of this sketch, was a scholar in the first school taught in Fowler township, taught by Miss Esther
Jennings, one of the original party consisting of seven families that came to the county with the Tyrrells. The heads of those families were all uncles of the subject of this sketch. Mr. Tyrrell's opportunities for obtaining an education were exceedingly limited, attending school but one month. He assisted his father in the black- smith shop and also learned the trade of carpen- ter and joiner. He had built a saw-mill of green timber in the woods before coming of age. He erected a house for his father to compensate him for eight months of his time before reaching his majority. He followed building and contracting for some twenty years, erecting many of the finest residences in Fowler and surrounding townships. Mr. Tyrrell was first married in 1823, to Lucretia Webster, by whom he had four children, all living. One son, A. H., is a well- known resident of Fowler township. Mr. Tyr- rell's first wife died November 10, 1871, and he has since been married twice. His present wife, to whom he was married February 20, 1875, was Polly Reeder, born in Connecticut September 1, 1811. Mr. Tyrrell has always been active in promoting every public enterprise, was prominent in the founding of Tyrrell Hill, and has taken an interest in the building of the railroad and other interests. He was formerly a Whig, but has been a Republican since the formation of the party. His home residence was erected in 1840. The farm consists of one hundred and forty-five acres, and he also owns three hundred and eighty acres in Vienna and Howland townships.
Asa Foote was born in Fowler township, Trumbull county, Ohio, August 31, 1807. The Foote family was among the earliest pioneers of the county, and the fifth family that settled in Fowler township. Levi Foote, father of Asa, moved with his family into that township in 1800. He served in the War of 1812. It is said that Lyda Foote (Barber), who died in the spring of 1880, was the first white female child born in Fowler. Asa was the oldest son of Levi and Amelia (Allen) Foote, and he distinctly rec- ollects when the red men roamed through the forests of Fowler. He married November 12, 1840, Mary Dickinson, born in Connecticut, April 22, 1817, by whom he had six children. Levi was a member of the Forty-first Ohio volun- teer infantry, and died in hospital January 23, 1862. Philip M. was a lawyer by profession;
420
TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.
died April 19, 1872. Curtis was a member of the One Hundred and Seventy-seventh Ohio votunteer infantry, and died at Nashville, Ten- nessee, February 27, 1865. He was married to Orell Baldwin, December 31, 1868. Lovilla died in infancy. Helen L. is the wife of L. G. Spen- cer, of Hartford township, and has two children, Bennie F. and Byron H. Aureil D., born Sep- tember 27, 1857, wife of Frank E. Clark, resides on the home place. Mr. Foote was kicked a number of years ago on the head, by a horse, and severely injured, thirty pieces of broken bone being taken out, since which time he has been almost totally deaf. Mrs. Foote died March 15, 1872.
Leonard Clark, son of Abel and Eunice (Lam- phear) Clark, was born in Petersburg, Rensse- laer county, New York, February 27, 1808. His early educational advantages were limited, yet by self study he acquired a fair education for the times. He remained at home (but working for others) until he was twenty years of age. He was a resident of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, en- gaged in factory work for seven years. Decem- ber 23, 1836, he was united in marriage to Miss Lucy Olds, who was born in Middlefield, Massa- chusetts, January 17, 1813. The following spring he removed to Ohio and settled upon the place where he still resides in Fowler township. The land was then wild, but he rapidly improved the place, supplanting the log house with his present residence in 1845 The farm is now fully improved, and comprises two hundred acres, having deeded three farms to his children. Mr. Clark is a prosperous, self-made man, and a gentleman of literary tastes, He was one of a family of twenty-two children. One of his brothers, Adam A., was a drum major in the War of 1812, and was a celebrated drummer. Mr. Clark is the father of eight children, of whom six are living, as follow: Harriet E., born July 29, 1839, now wife of Emanuel Evarts, of Brookfield township; Leonard, born March 4, 1841, widow of Abner Viets, living in Fowler township ; Lester A., born June 18, 1843, living on a farm adjoining the home place; George W., born December 17, 1845, a resident of Hart- ford township; Sherman S., born September 26, 1850, at home; Lucy, born November 5, 1852, wife of Henry Viets, of Fowler township. Since coming to Ohio Mr. and Mrs. Clark have been
members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Fowler center.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.