USA > Ohio > Mahoning County > History of Trumbull and Mahoning counties with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, Vol. II > Part 80
USA > Ohio > Trumbull County > History of Trumbull and Mahoning counties with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, Vol. II > Part 80
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Mr. Payne married December 18, 1848, Betsy Jane Vinton. She was a daughter of John and
Sally Vinton, and was born March 10, 1826. Her parents removed to Brookfield township from Rochester, New York. They had ten children, seven girls and three boys, seven of whom are living: Mary (Alderman), deceased ; Elcena (Miner), resident of Bloomfield; Hiram, Mercer county, Pennsylvania; Betsy Jane (Payne); Aaron, Vienna; Almira (Roy), Mercer county, Pennsylvania; Eliza (Snyder), Hartford; Harriet, died single; Arnitha (Seaburn), deceased ; Homer resides in Brookfield. John Vinton was born August 7, 1794; he married Sally Madison Janu- ary 13, 1820. She was born June 30, 18or, and still resides in Vienna.
Ichabod B. Payne was chosen from time to time to fill the several offices of his township, being justice of the peace several terms. In 1867 the Republican county convention placed him in nomination for county commissioner, an office to which he was elected, and again re- elected in 1869. He took to the office good business talent, and gave close and conscientious attention to the public affairs. During the war Mr. Payne took an active part in the recruiting service, and when Cincinnati was threatened by Kirby Smith with a strong rebel force, he hurried to the danger point in obedience to the call of Governor Tod, being one of that unorganized force known as "squirrel hunters." He con- tributed considerable time and money to clear the township of draft, and altogether his record was highly creditable. In politics Mr. Payne was an active and working Republican, and in relig- ion was a Disciple. His connection with that denomination covered a period of twenty-two years. In appearance he was striking, being six feet four and a half inches tall, and well propor- tioned, having an average weight of two hun- dred and fifty pounds. He was always indus- trious, painstaking, and reliable in everything in which he engaged, whether private business or public affairs. He left at his death besides the record of an honorable life a competence for his family.
The family of 1. B. and Mrs. Payne consists of four children-Jerusha P., wife of Benton Williams; Almon W., married to Rilla Card and lives in Vienna; Ellen G., and Cornelia M.
Mrs. Payne lives on the old homestead at Payne's corners, a place thus named on account of the prominence of this family.
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JAMES J. AND ELIZA HUMASON.
James Julius Humason was born in the city of Hartford, Connecticut, September 27, 1801. His parents, James and Honor Humason, re- moved from Connecticut to Ohio and settled in Brookfield township. Their family consisted of Leonard, Henrietta, Maria, James J., Mary, and Laura Sterne. Soon after his settlement in Brookfield Jacob Humason died, and the family removed to Vienna, where Mrs. Humason died August 3, 1843, aged seventy-three years.
James Julius Humason taught district school and followed other employments in the summer. He was married April 12, 1829, to Eliza Wood- ford, a daughter of Darius and Bathiah Wood- ford. This introduces us to one of the largest and most respected families in the township. Four of the sons of Isaac Woodford settled in Trumbull county. Isaac, Jr., was for many years deacon in the Vienna Presbyterian church ; he had a family of fourteen children. Sylvester Woodford had thirteen children; he removed from Vienna to Sandusky county in 1832 and died the following year. Sidney settled in Farm- ington township and afterwards removed to Man- tua ; he was one of the founders of West Farm- ington seminary. Darius was born at the old family seat in Farmington, Connecticut, in the year 1780. He was married in Connecticut to Bathiah Bass, and in 1805 removed to Vienna. Six of the family of thirteen children came to maturity, viz: Eliza (Humason), Celarcia (Hayes), Sophronia (McClung), Henry, Mary, and Darius. Mr. Woodford died March 28, 1867; Mrs. Wood- ford died December 11, 1877, aged ninety-three years.
Eliza, the oldest daughter, was born January 10, 1810. She attended district school and received instruction at Warren. The year 1828 she spent at Hartford and attended part of the time the seminary at that place while Catherine Beecher was principal and Harriet Beecher Stowe assistant. Mrs. Humason expresses pref- erence for the former but retains a warm admira- tion of both these illustrious women. After leaving the seminary she learned the milliner and dressmaking trade in Hartford. The following year she was married and settled with her hus- band on the farm which she still owns, and which was given to her by her father. Mr. Humason taught school and gave some attention to the farm
during his lifetime. Since his death, which oc- urred April 13, 1853, the entire management has devolved upon his widow. She is a woman of extraordinary energy and strength ; is intelligent and possesses a correct and radical judgment. She is a persistent temperance advocate. On the temperance question her family have a record. Her uncle, Deacon Sidney Humason, organized the first temperance society in the county, and one of the first in the State, in the year 1827. He soon prevailed upon his brothers and neighbors to abandon the free use of whiskey and grad- ually worked a revolution in public opinion on that topic. Mrs. Humason joined her uncle's society and her chief source of pride in the fami- ly is founded on the fact that none of them were drunkards. She hopes to have the privilege of casting a vote in favor of total abolition of the traffic.
James J. and Eliza Humason have had a family of four children-Celarcia is married to Miles Munson and lives in Fowler township ; J. Eliza died in childhood ; Martha Jerusha married Henry Fowler and lives in Vienna ; James Henry married Juliette A. Betts and lives in Vienna.
SETTLEMENT NOTES.
Harry Truesdell was born in Connecticut in 1799, and came with his father, J. J. Truesdell, to Trumbull county in 1805, locating in Vienna township; married Miss Emaline Woodford in 1834. No children. Mr. Truesdell served as justice of the peace for twenty-one years; town- ship clerk several years. Mr. Truesdell is ex- celled by few in correct business habits.
John Treat came from Milford, Connectient, where he was born in 1795, to Trumbull county, in 1818, locating where Mr. Alexander Stewart now resides, in Vienna township. He married Miss Mary Humason in 1820. The names of their children are as follows: Elizabeth A. Bushnell, residing in Johnston township; Sidney C., residing in Hazelton; G. A., residing in Vienna township; one died in infancy; Mary E., died in 1865; Julius, died in 1858. Mr. Treat is now one of the oldest and most respected men in Vienna, having been a consistent member of the Presbyterian church since 1852.
J. H. Humason, born in Vienna in 1839,
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married Miss Juliette A. Betts, and has five chil- dren-Martha, at home; James H., Charles, John, and Frank. Three died young. Mr. Humason is proprietor of the rake factory which was established in 1879, and employs from ten to fifteen hands; manufactured in 1880 about three thousand rakes. Present capacity about four thousand per annum. The rake manufact- ured by the Vienna Rake company is of superior quality and excellent finish, being manufactured from the best of slack timber. One of the most important features of this rake is the substitute of the steel spring by which the rake is com- pletely under the control of the operator.
Calvin Munson was born near New Haven, Connecticut, in 1769. He came to Vienna township, Trumbull county, in September, 1804, locating on the farm now owned by his son Randil. He married Miss Sarah Hungelford. The fruits of this union were five children- Randil, residing in Vienna township; Rillson, dead; Lucy Scoville, dead; Diadamia Reader, residing in Ashtabula county; Susanna Newbern, residing in Iowa. Randıl Munson married Miss Lucinda Loveland in 1819. They have four children living-H. B., in Wisconsin; Erpi, re- siding in Bazetta township; H. N., in Mecca township; Charles, died in the army; and A. C. Mr. Munson has always been a farmer, and has worked on the farm where he now resides, ever since his first settlement in the county. He is the oldest settler (1881) now living in Vienna township.
R. Bartholomew, born August 13, 1831, in Vienna township, removed with his father to Cuyahoga county, when three years of age, where he remained until he was twenty-two years old, when he returned to Warren, where he resided fifteen years; returned again to Cleve- land, where he was engaged in contracting about seven years, whence he returned to Vienna township, where he now resides. He married Miss Phila E. Truesdell, 1854. They have eight children: Ida A. Gillson, resides in Chicago ; C. J., in Vienna ; Mary E. Wemberg, Chicago ; Milton ()., William S., Frank P., Susan M., Eugene E., at home.
Isaac Woodford, Sr., came from Connecticut to Trumbull county in 1802, locating on the farm now owned by Albert Powers, Vienna town- ship. He married Miss S. Cowles. There were
twelve children; ten grew to maturity. Mr. Woodford was elder of the Presbyterian church from the time of its organization. His son Isaac married Miss Phebe E. Merritt. The names of their children are as follows: Frank, residing in Kansas; Jerusha M. Sanford, resides in Vienna ; Isaac W., in Vienna; Lovilla M. Struble, dead ; Eliza and Martha E. died young. Mr. Wood- ford has always been a farmer, having resided on the same farm forty-eight years.
Timothy Norton came from near Hartford, Connecticut, in 1819, locating in Vienna town- ship. He married Annie Humason. They had eight children ; six grew to maturity-Mrs. H. Greenwood, residing in Vienna township; Mrs. Nancy Greenwood, in Pennsylvania; Merit, in Vienna.
Merit Norton, born in Trumbull county in 1822, married, nrst, Diadamia Cratsley. Their children are: Edson, residing in Pennsylvania; Luther, in Akron ; Rosaline Lampson, in Pier- point, Ohio; Celestia Cowan, in Cortland ; Em- erson, at home ; Allie, at home. Mr. Norton married for his second wife Mrs. Betsey Wilson; no children. Mr. Norton has never been an aspirant for office, preferring the quiet and inde- pendent life of a farmer. He has resided on the same tarm twenty-nine years. His son Charlie was accidentally shot and killed August 27, 1879.
John Greenwood came from Massachusetts in 1813, locating where his son, Nathaniel C., now resides. He married Sarah Webster. They had eleven children, six only living: Nathaniel C., residing in Vienna township; Harriet, in Fowler; Morgan, in Fowler; Betsey, in Vienna; Oliver died in Indiana in 1879; Frank died in Indiana in 1880; the other children died young. Nathaniel C. Greenwood was born in Massachu- setts in 1809. He married Miss Ladora A. Wright in 1833. They had four children, as fol- low: Leander, residing in Fowler; Hiram, in Howland; Holmes, in Vienna; Ellen Rogers, in Vienna. Mr. Greenwood followed the occupa- tion of a gunsmith over five years. He is now engaged in farming.
Andrew Mackey, a native of Ireland, came into Trumbull county in 1805. He married Miss Mary Murray. They had six children, none of whom are now living. Andrew Mackey, Jr., was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, in
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1779. He married Miss Jane Scott. They had seven children, six of whom are living, viz: Mary, residing on the old homestead; James; John died in 1853, aged twenty-eight years; Eleanor Mun- son, residing in Vienna; Robert, residing in Howland; A. H. residing in Vienna; Elizabeth, residing in Vienna. Mr. Mackey was one of the most enterprising farmers of Vienna township, having two hundred and twenty-five acres of land under cultivation at the time of his death.
Abraham Wartman was born in Pennsylvania in 1768 and came to Vienna in 1827, locating on the farm now owned by his son Solomon. He married Miss Ann M. Rhodes. They had eleven children, six of whom are living, viz: Catherine Hake, residing in Missouri; Rebecca Hake, residing in Vienna ; Solomon, residing in Vienna; Sarah Shaffer, residing in Howland; Elizabeth Wehrenberger, residing in Lordstown; Rachael Hake, residing in Missouri; Marie Hake died in 1877; Jonathan, Abraham, Mat- thias, and Henry, are also dead. Solomon Wartman married Miss Louisa L. Whitten in 1839, September 27th. Five of their children are living: Cline, residing in Vienna; Elizabeth A. Hulse resides in Illinois; Solomon resides in Vienna; Mary A. is at home; Louisa L., Lucy, and James are dead. Mr. Wartman is a tanner by trade, having learned the trade from his father, but is now engaged in farming. He pays special attention to stock raising, dealing prin- cipally in fine stock, especially fine wooled sheep. He is also proprietor of the old saw-mill, which is located near his home.
Archibald McFarland came from Washington county, Pennsylvania, in 1808, into Vienna township. He married Miss Amelia Ball, by whom he has twelve children. The names of those living are Harvey, residing in Summit county ; Robert, residing in Iowa; John, residing in Hartford township; Archie, residing in Fowler township; Emily A. married Edwin Griffin in 1850, has two children, and lives in Vienna township ; Erastus and Augusta A. at home. Mr. Griffin was a natural mechanic, being able to make anything in wood and iron. He died in 1860, aged twenty-nine years. He was a man of remarkably even temper, never known to be thrown off his guard.
Joseph Rogers was born on Long Island in 1788, came to Trumbull county in 1812 and 58+
settled in Vienna township. He was drafted from Vienna in the War of 1812 and served in that war. He carried on a tannery in Vienna, also shoemaking in connection with farming. Later in his life he conducted a hotel at Vienna. After the War of 1812 he married Lydia Lowry and raised a family of two daughters and six sons all of whom are living. He lived to the advanced age of ninety-three, dying in 1881. His son, Royal L. Rogers, was born in Vienna, Trumbull county, Ohio, January 9, 1820. With his broth- er he began keeping hotel, and in 1834 was mar- ried to Caroline, daughter of Samuel Wise, an ear- ly settler in Youngstown, where Mrs. Rogers was born January 29, 1827. After marriage he con- tinued in the hotel business and for sixteen years was located at Johnson centre. He resided in Ashtabula county for two years. In the spring of 1874 he came to Warren where he now resides. He is the owner of a large farm in Ashtabula coun- ty and another in Weathersfield, Trumbull coun- ty. He is the father of three children, Amarillis, James C., with his father in business, and Alley R., now a student at Oberlin College.
CHAPTER XV.
NEWTON .*
This is the extreme southwest township of the county, town three north, and range five. It lies immediately south of Braceville, with Lords- town on the east, Mahoning county south, and Portage county on the west; and contains fourteen thousand nine hundred and forty-six acres of land. The east branch of the Mahon- ing river (locally known as East river) extends from south to north across the township west of the central line. Kale creek, a tributary of the East river, flows from the southwest corner. The west branch of the Mahoning, called West river, flows across the northwest corner. Duck creek extends from south to north across the township along the western part. The township being thus well watered, and having much bottom land with rolling surface between the streams, the
*The thanks of the historian are due Dr. I. F. Porter, of Newton Falls, for much of the data contained in this sketch.
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agricultural advantages are superior, and it may be classed above the average township in the county. The usual products are found in abun- dance here, while great quantities of white oak ship-timber are exported from this locality for ship-building and other manufacturing purposes.
POPULATION.
The township has three distinct settlements --- Deer Creek, the " River," and Newton Falls- which were more marked in early times than at present.
There is but one incorporated town, Newton Falls, in the township, in and around which the population and business interests now center.
According to the census reports of 1860 and 1870 the population decreased during that dec- ade from fourteen hundred and ninety-six to twelve hundred and eighty, but in 1880 it in- creased again to thirteen hundred and fifty-eight.
ORGANIZATION AND PROPRIETORSHIP.
The township was organized in 1808, but hav- ing a larger political jurisdiction than at present, embracing Milton, now of Mahoning county, and Lordstown, in the same voting precinct un- der the same jurisdiction. This is evident from the fact that in 1814 John Johnson, of Milton, was elected justice of the peace and filed the date of his commission with the clerk of New- ton ; and as late as 1826 the road funds and job road work of Lordstown were under the control of the Newton trustees. Justin Ely, Elijah White, and Jonathan Brace were the original pro- prietors who drew this township in the partition made of the Western Reserve. On the roth of December, 1800, they associated themselves with Roger Newberry, Enoch Perkins, and Jonathan Brace, who were the proprietors of Braceville, and made the conveyance of the lands of New- ton as further described in the history of Brace- ville township. Why the township was called Newton is not now known, unless it was so called in honor of Sir Isaac Newton, the great philosopher.
At the time of the organization of the town- ship (1808), a book was opened for the purpose of registering "ear-marks of cattle, sheep, and hogs. From this register are gleaned the following names of settlers in the township at that time: E. Hover, Robert Caldwell, Nathaniel Stanley, George L. Davison, Jacob Custard, Leonard Miller, George
Sheffelton, John Lane, Benjamin Davison, James Huffstetter, Daniel Dull, Jacob Winans.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
The first justice, Benjamin Davison, was elected in 1808, and the following persons have been elected to that office in the township: Daniel Dull, 1810 ; G. L. Davison, 1813-16; John Johnson, 1814; Bildad Hine, 1814-17, and 1830 ; Dr. Tracy Bronson, 1819; Ezekiel, Hover, 1820-23; Stephen Oviatt, 1825-28 ; Charles Adgate, 1829; Alexander Sutherland, 1832-34; Austin Parker, 1833; Samuel Oviatt, Jr., 1834: William Porter, 1836-39; H. Hin- man, 1838; Hiram Austin, 1838; U. D. Kellogg, 1841; J. I. Todd, 1842-45.
In 1826 the election of justice of the peace was contested between Ezekiel Hover and Steph- en Oviatt before a jury and Hervey Stow, Esq., of Braceville, which resulted in favor of Oviatt on account of illegal voting. The second was between the same parties before Milton Rogers, of Milton, and resulted in the same way. The third contest between these parties is supposed to have resulted in favor of Oviatt, as the records do not show that Hover held a commission after- wards.
THE RIVER SETTLEMENT.
Perhaps a short time prior to the Duck creek settlement, a settlement was made on the Ma- honing river in the present vicinity of Price- town-now Callender's mills.
Jesse Halliday, Robert Caldwell, William and Nathaniel Stanley, David Carlile, Daniel Dull, Mr. Allen, and Benjamin Davison with their families composed this little colony.
Jesse Halliday paddled a canoe from Warren in about 1805, as far as the south line of New- ton township, and finding rapids here, concluded he could build a mill which was in operation in 1807, and stood on the site of the present Cal- lender mills (at Pricetown). This mill, however, being necessarily an imperfect structure, was often incapable of supplying the wants of the settlers, thus subjecting them to great inconven- ience, as Garrettsville was the nearest mill, fifteen miles away. This, in the absence of any road except a blazed route, was something of a journey for a boy with his grist on horseback.
The Indians, owing to the trouble with the whites, were at this time fast leaving the country.
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Their place of general rendezvous, salt springs, was readily reached from this settlement by the Indian trail, thus affording an important accom- modation to the settlers in the way of procuring salt, as supplies had to be imported from Cleve- land, or New Lisbon, twenty-five miles south.
The first marriage in this locality was Thomas McCoy to Polly Moore, and the first death was a child of Peter Decoursey.
In 1805 Isaac Hutson, from Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, settled on Kale creek with a family of five sons and six daughters, and in 1811 John Hutson settled in the Lane neigh- borhood. Both had a large family of boys and girls. The boys were all good marksmen and "full-hands" at a hunt or shooting-match, and most of their names are found as contestants in a shooting-match on Christmas at Newton Falls, where Bildad Hine took this method of closing out his stock of goods-the first brought to the falls.
CHURCH AT "RIVER" SETTLEMENT.
The first Presbyterian church was organized in 1808 with a membership of seven-William Stanley and wife, John Sutherland and wife, Polly Wilson, Mrs. Davison, and Mrs. Gilmer.
After the death of Rev. Boyd, Rev. Hughes, from Beaver, preached occasionally, and Rev. Joshua Beer followed as next regular pastor. In 1809 the two settlements (Duck Creek and "River") united and built the frame church, which was removed a few years ago over into Milton township.
DUCK CREEK SETTLEMENT.
Alex. Sutherland settled at Duck Creek in 1802, and the only meat the family had the first year was deer and bear meat, furnished by the Indians in exchange for bread. The cabin in which he moved was made by setting posts in the ground, covered with bark on the sides and roof, and quilts hung up for doors.
There were five or six Indian camps near this cabin, and at one time an Indian chief namcd Kiogg came into the Sutherland cabin drunk and made threats of shooting some of them, but Ezekiel Hover broke a chair over his head, and another chief named Nickshaw afterwards set- tled the difficulty.
Alex. Sutherland and Ezekiel Hover marked the first path from Duck Creek settlement to
Youngstown, to reach the nearest mill, a distance of almost twenty miles. Their nearest post- office was Warren-eight miles. Bears and wolves were very plenty, and the settlers were compelled to carry torches and keep their sugar- camp fires burning to keep them away.
Mr. Sutherland was elected county recorder soon after his arrival here. His son James car- ried the mail from Warren to Canton when there was no house from Duck Creek to Warren, or Quinby hill as it was then called. His son John, while mowing on the farm of E. Hover, cut off the head of a yellow rattlesnake seven and a half feet long. He skinned the reptile and made a cap of part of the hide, and Mr. Hover took a pait for a shot pouch. The colors of the skin were very brilliant, being a light green and pale yellow, and glittered in the sunshine.
Ezekiel Hover built the first saw-mill where George Johnston's mill now stands.
James Gilmer and family settled in this locality April 30, 1807. The cabin home, which occu- pied the site of the present barn of John R. Johnson on the east bank of Duck creek, had been erected and roofed the previous autumn, and had served as shelter to a squad of Indians during the winter.
The settlement consisted of the following fam- ilies : Thomas Reed, Peter Decoursey, Alex- ander Sutherland and his father, John, George Sheffelton, John Mashman and son, Alexander Mashman, Jacob Custard. Ezekiel Hover was then a young man holding the office of county surveyor.
SCHOOLS AT DUCK CREEK.
For several years after the first settlements were made the necessity for every man, woman, and child to assist in all kinds of labor, together with the scarcity of money, put the matter of school privileges out of the question. About 1812 or 1813 a log school-house was erected a short distance below where the saw-mill of G. R. Johnson now stands. It was a log cabin with rough stone chimney; a foot or two cut from the logs here and there admitted light through greased paper over the holes. A huge fire-place, puncheon floor, a few benches made of split logs, the flat side up, and a well-developed " birch," constituted all the requirements of the pioneer school house. The first teacher was a young man by the name of Brooks, who received a
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compensation of $10 per month, payable in wheat, rye, or corn.
The usual methods of training the youthful minds common in early times were employed in these pioneer schools. The attendance of the scholars was necessarily irregular, and the appli- ances for imparting knowledge were exceedingly meager. Notwithstanding all this, however, it is found that the graduates from the log cabin col- leges were good farmers, many of them adepts in mathematics, zealous and able ministers of the gospel, and successful business men.
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