USA > Ohio > Mahoning County > History of Trumbull and Mahoning counties with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, Vol. II > Part 94
USA > Ohio > Trumbull County > History of Trumbull and Mahoning counties with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, Vol. II > Part 94
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S. H., youngest child of Joseph H. and Eliza- beth Norton, was born in Southington township October 2, 1833. His whole life has been spent on the farm. He was married August 14, 1852, to Miss Betsy Morris, who was born in Portage county, February 7, 1834. Their family con- sists of three children, two of whom are living -- Sarah E., born June 6, 1856, died September 9, 1875; Samuel C. born November 8, 1860, and Charles O., born June 13, 1865. Mr. Nor- ton resided on the home farm until 1861, when he enlisted in Company H, Forty-first Ohio vol- unteer infantry, and served with the regiment at Shiloh and Corinth. In 1862, on account of a wound in the hand he was discharged. He has since lived on the homestead farm, except for a period of three years, during which he lived in Portage county.
Ira Veits, son of David and Lucretia Rice Veits, was born in Litchfield county, Connecti- cut, September 5, 1807. His father brought his family to Ohio in 1825 and settled on the farm now occupied by Ira. The family consisted of six children, three of whom survive. Ira Veits married in 1828 Miss Hurd, daughter of S. Hurd, one of the pioneers of Southington town- ship. They have four children, viz: James M., a resident of Michigan; Jerusha (Walker), resi- dence Portage county ; Rosanna S. (Kibler), res- dence Portage county, and Almira Culp, of
Southington. Mrs. Veits died in 1841. In No- vember following, Mr. Veits married for his sec- ond wife Miss Dianna Hurd, also a daughter of Smith Hurd. She was born in Southington Sep- tember 23, 1823. The fruit of this union was one son, Alvin, born March 26, 1846, and died February 14, 1877. Mr. Veits settled on his present farm in 1829.
Joseph C. Hart, son of Joseph C. and Rosanna (Goff) Hart, was born in Weathersfield, Connect- icut, September 22, 1828, and came to Ohio with his parents. He worked on the farm until of age. In 1849 he returned to Connecticut, and worked in an edge tool factory. May 20, 1852, he married Margaret Lane, who was born April 12, 1829, in East Hartford, Connecticut. They are the parents of three children, viz: Al- gernon D., born May 20, 1853, Central Fall, Rhode Island; Carrie J., born June 18, 1858, wife of Emery P. McCorkle, Farmington ; Burt E., born July 28, 1871. In 1853 Mr. Hart re- turned to Ohio, and the following year went to California, where he engaged in mining with considerable success until 1857, when he re- turned and began work upon his farm in South- ington. Mrs. Hart is a member of the Method- ist Episcopal church. In 1871 Mr. Hart began the manufacture of cheese, utilizing the milk of from four hundred to five hundred cows. His partner in the business is M. B. Haughton.
Dennis White was born in Colebrook, Con- necticut, June 9, 1801. His father, Ephraim White was a soldier of the Revolution for six years. Dennis White visited Ohio early at vari- ous time, removing with his family in the fall of 1831. They came by team and wagon to Albany, thence to Buffalo by canal, and from there to Fairport on a lake vessel. He settled in South- ington, Trumbull county, and lived there the balance of his life, dying April 9, 1873. He was quite a hunter and on his first visit to Ohio engaged to some extent in the fur trade. He was a deacon in the Baptist church at the time of his death. He married Lydia Baxter and raised three children. Two are living-Henry C., and Mrs. Charles Harshman, of Southington. Henry C. White was born in Berkshire county, Massachusetts, October 27, 1830. He was brought up to farming, attended the Western Re- serve college at West Farmington two terms, and taught school one term. He married, May 4,
:
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1853, Miss Esther A. Rogers, born in Bazetta township September 7, 1830. Her mother, Lydia Rogers, is still living in Ashtabula county at the advanced age of ninety eight years. Mr. White removed from his farm to Warren in the spring of 1877. He has held the office of township trustee both in Southington and Howland.
W. J. Helsley, oldest son of Henry and Sarah (Diehl) Helsley, was born in Ellsworth, Mahon- ing county, December 14, 1839. His father was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, in 1811, and came to Ellsworth about 1821, with his parents. He was the father of two daughters and four sons, of whom but three sons survive. Finley, the second son, was a member of the One Hundred and Fifth Ohio volunteer infantry, and was killed while in the service, at Perryville, Kentucky, October 8, 1862. Henry Helsley came to Southington in 1851, locating on the farm now owned by his widow and his son, Henry G. He was a member of the Disciple church. He died May 24, 1870. W. J. Hels- ley went to Pike's Peak in 1859, and was absent eight months. September 10, 1861, he married Mary Yancer, a native of Bazetta township, this county. Their children are as follows : Finley S., born December 24, 1866; Ami, died in 1871, aged two years; Mary Ella, born February 9, 1875. In October, 1861, Mr. Helsley enlisted in the Nineteenth Ohio volunteer infantry, and with that regiment he participated in the battles of Pittsburg Landing, Lookout Mountain, Chick- amauga, etc. He served four years and was mustered out in November, 1865. In 1874 he settled on the farm which he now occupies. He is a member of the Disciple church and an of- ficer in the Southington grange.
David P. Jones, son of Edward and Mary (Price) Jones, was born in Austintown, Mahon- ing county, December 26, 1819. His father was a native of Pennsylvania, who came to Ohio early in the present century. He was a stone-mason by trade. He settled in Warren, removing thence to Austintown at an early date. He died about 1856. David P., married Febru- ary 18, 1841, Laura, daughter of Charles and Dorcas (Osborn) May. Her father, Charles May, was one of the first settlers, and located on the farm now owned by David Harshman. He was the father of eight children, three of whom are living. He died in Braceville in 1836. For
many years he was class-leader in the Methodist Episcopal church. Mrs. Jones was born in Braceville March 26, 1820. Mr. and Mrs. Jones have had eight children, of whom three survive- Laura Ann, born April 4, 1852, resides with her parents; Ada J., now the wife of Frederick Joy, born July 23, 1859; and Viola, now Mrs. Frank Dabney, of Warren, born May 31, 1862. Mr. Jones settled on an unimproved farm in Braceville, where he remained until 1865, when he purchased the Edward Jones homestead, upon which he now lives. He and his wife are members of the Disciple church.
William B. Ives, son of Luther and Laura (Johnson) Ives, was born in Litchfield county, Connecticut, January 2, 1821. His father was born about 1795, and died January 15, 1871. In 1817 he married Miss Johnson, who was born in Litchfield county, Connecticut, October 29, 1799. She is still living and at her son's home. W. B. Ives, in 1842, purchased the farm
on which he now lives-an unimproved place at that time. He erected a log cabin, in which he lived alone until March 28, 1850, when he mar- ried Adaline, daughter of Gilbert Osborn, one of the Southington pioneers. Mrs. Ives was born December 25, 1827. Their children are as follows: The first died in infancy; C. F. was born November 7, 1853, and resides at South- ington center; Mary Ella, born August 5, 1856, is married and resides in Newbury, Geauga county; Emma, born in 1858, died at the age of eleven; Minnie Belle, born April 17,-1866. Mrs. Ives died November 19, 1867.
Edward Thorp was born in Lower Canada May 26, 1833. He is a son of Edward and Phebe (Jones) Thorp, and came with his parents to Parkman, Geauga county, in 1840. Novem- ber 17, 1867, he married Augusta C. Jones, daughter of Edward Jones. She was born in Southington March 20, 1845. Mr. and Mrs. Thorp have had seven children, four of whom are living: Nina M., Edward R., Lillian A., and an infant daughter, Mr. Thorp is exten- sively engaged in farming and stock raising and owns a large farm of excellent land. Mrs. Thorp's father, Edward Jones, born in Austin- town in 1811, came to Southington about 1832, and for several years was a prominent citizen of the township. In 1866 he sold out and went to Wisconsin and thence to Iowa, where he died in
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1880. He was twice married, first to Orpha Hill, in 1832. They had five children, four sur- vive, and three reside in Southington: Mrs. Calvin Haughton, Mrs. William Haughton, and Mrs. Thorp. Edward T. resides in Illinois. Angeline was the wife of Alvah G. True; she died in Jackson county in 1866. Mr. Jones was an active member and a deacon of the Dis- ciple church. His second wife was the widow of Cyrus Parmley. Mr. Thorp has resided on his present tarm since 1867.
Daniel Brobst, son of John and Polly Kessler Brobst, was born in Warren township, September 8, 1842. His youth was spent in the common schools and at common labor on the farm by the month. He enlisted in company H, Twentieth Ohio volunteer infantry, in 1861, and at the ex- piration of his term of enlistment he re-enlisted in the veteran service, and was mustered out in July, 1865, having been on duty four years. After leaving the army, he settled in Michigan. February 13, 1868, he married Augusta, daughter of Jeremiah Miller, an early settler of Southing- ton township. She was born in 1846. They have a family of four children, viz : Adella P., Laura L., Bertine S., and Lillie M. Mr. Brobst purchased his present residence in 1872, owning one of the best farms in the township.
CHAPTER XXII.
LORDSTOWN.
The boundary lines of Lordstown were orig- inally run by the surveying party of the Connec- ticut Land company, and, like the other town- ships of the county, has always been considered as embracing an area of five miles square, but subsequent investigation has revealed the fact that this township contains but 14,492 acres, and is the smallest township in the county. The surface is generally of beautiful rolling land, and consists of a sandy loam and clay soil.
From the southwest to the northwest, diagon- ally across the township, with a variable width of a half-mile or less, extends a gravel and sand ridge. On the northeast side of this ridge the
soil is of a sandy loam, and on the southwest side is the rich loam especially productive of wheat. Grazing is general throughout the town- ship, and many of the farmers take special pride in raising fine-wool sheep.
Much of the land has been redeemed from boggy wastes to fertile fields by artificial drain- age, and lands once producing cranberries in wild profusion, are now productive farms, dotted with substantial farm residences and well filled barns.
NATURAL DRAINAGE.
Little Duck creek takes its rise in the south- western part and winds eastward toward the cen- ter, and again turning northwest leaves the town- ship at the northwest. It is the natural drainage of a swamp or tract of lowlands in the south- west part of the township, and is the most im- portant stream in the township. A small branch known as the Meander rises about the center of the south part, and, flowing toward the east, en- ters Weathersfield.
LOCATION.
Lordstown is located second from the west in the last tier of townships of the county border- ing on Mahoning county. It is town three and range four, and is bounded on the north by Warren, on the east by Weathersfield, south by Mahoning county, and on the west by Newton.
EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
Henry Thorn came from Virginia in 1822, and built the first log-cabin in Lordstown, about two and one-half miles east of the center ; soon afterward his brother William came and settled near him. He soon after moved south of the center where he died.
John Tait and his brother Robert settled to- gether on lot number fourteen, north of the center, in 1824. They began blacksmithing, and were the first to engage in blacksmithing in the township. Robert Tait purchased a farm north- east of his brother where he now resides, and is the oldest pioneer now living in the township. In 1826 Thomas Pew settled near the Wood- ward residence, immediately south of the center. In this same year William Moore settled on what was then known as the " old Indian trail," which lead from the salt springs in Weathersfield to Sandusky, and his log-cabin stood about forty rods north of the present Ohltown road, on lot number seventy-three.
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TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.
In 1826 Lyman Lovell, Peleg Lewis, John Lewis, Samuel Bassett, Peter Snyder, Leonard Miller, Thomas Longmore, and John Owens lived north of the center, and Andrew Grove and James Preston lived south.
From this time the township began to im- prove and increase in population ; small tracts of land were sold to suit the small means of the purchasers, thus affording homes for a greater number of families ; but as some grew richer they began purchasing more land, and the farms grew larger, but the number of families less. The census reports show that in 1860 this town- ship had a population of nine hundred and ninety ; in 1870, eight hundred and fifty ; and in 1880, eight hundred and four.
FIRST OFFICIAL ACTS, AND INDENTURES.
The overseer of the poor had a very unpleas- ant service to perform, or so it would seem now, as the law compelled them to warn persons who were likely to become township charges to de- part from the township immediately. The first act of this kind was done by Thomas Duncan and Moses Haskell, overseers, who ordered the constable, John Lewis, to warn "certain poor and dissipated persons, namely: Jacob Lane, John Wilson, Hannah Moore, and Matilthe Freehearty, to depart out of the township." The changes in the manner of treating the poor can be better appreciated when contrasting our pres- ent public buildings designed for those who are unable to care for themselves with the consta- ble's writ ordering them to "move on"-any- where, out of the township.
The practice of "binding out" apprentices and servants was a very common occurrence in this township, and these indentures disclose some peculiarities and also illustrate some of the pe- culiar views as well as circumstances of the fore- fathers of Lordstown.
One boy is "bound" until he becomes eight- een years of age for the consideration on the part of his master that he is to receive instruc- tion "in the art and mystery of farming " and twelve months' schooling in the eight years. In 1835 a girl is bound to a lady " to be her faith- ful, obedient maiden-servant; to keep the secrets of her mistress as well as her own, and not contract marriage or carry off any property be- longing to her mistress." Another at the age of nine years and five months, "bound to keep the
secrets of his master and not to embezzle his master's goods, etc.," for which he was to receive "instruction in the art and mystery of agricul- ture," and "schooling sufficient to enable him to read and write, and cipher as far as the single rule of three." Another boy is not allowed to "play at cards, visit tippling houses, or places of gaming." At the expiration of the time each one is to receive a "common and a Sunday suit of clothes," and also "one new Bible ;" and some were even fortunate enough to receive a colt or a calf in addition.
NAME, ETC.
Samuel P. Lord was the original proprietor who lived at Lyme, New London county, Con- necticut, and who owned, by grant from the State of Connecticut to him as one of the suffer- ers, or as purchaser from original claimants, nearly all the territory embraced within the limits of the township, the exception being a portion of the "old salt springs tract" in the southeastern part of the township. He, while yet in Connecticut, sent his agents to his lands in the Reserve, who reported the land here as fertile as his own in Connecticut, so he gave his own name to the township, and concluded to hold the land for advanced prices, that would follow the settlement of the neighboring town- ships, thus preventing the earlier settlement of the township.
From records of deeds it is found that Samuel P. Lord died at Cleveland, and left his posses- sions in Lordstown to his wife Ann and his sons, William M., Richard S., and Stephen 1., also a daughter, who was represented by her husband, Charles J. McCurdy. From these heirs or their agents the deeds for the farms were received. Many of the farms were first "articled," out of which a great many difficulties grew, involving the titles, and otherwise retarding the advancement of the agricultural interests of the township.
INDUSTRIES.
The industries of Lordstown belong almost wholly to the agricultural department. The first saw-mill was built northeast of the center about sixty rods, by John Carrolton, a small water mill. The next was a steam-mill, just east of the center, where the present school-house stands, and was built by Burke & Leach.
Shiveley's mill stood on a branch of the Little
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TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.
Meander, southeast of the center. The present steam saw-mill was first built about 1850, and the Simon's steam mill in 1860.
LORDSTOWN CENTER.
As in the case of the townships generally the central part was chosen as the point of business and trade, and in the early times small stores and branches of ordinary industries were begun, generally on a very small scale and increased or otherwise as the demand of the country war- ranted.
The settlement at the center had its time of prosperity and a good business was once done here in several branches of trade, but its close proximity to larger trade centers, and the in- creased facilities for trade led the trade away from Lordstown and left the little village with several empty store-rooms and other indications of former business operations. The first store at the center was opened by Burke & Siddell. Lawrence Pierce began at an early date and operated a successful business for about twelve years. Two stores were once supported here, kept by Thomas Egbert and John McCangh- try. The first hotel was kept by Jehu Wood- ward, in the house now occupied for that purpose by Mr. Nuhnberger. The post-office was established in 1835, with William Packard postmaster, who kept his office in David Leach's shoeshop, north of center.
Jimmy Richardson was the first shoemaker, who seems to have been very accommodating in promises, much above the capacity of his shop to fulfill, but he is remembered as a "good old soul." The first wagonmaker was George Hanen.
The present town hall located here is a two- story frame building used for general township purposes, the graded school and Grange hall. The first floor is fitted with a stage and necessary appurtenances for dramatic entertainments, lec- tures, and other literary purposes. The village now contains two churches, hotel, blacksmith and wagon-shop, and some other minor branches of industry. Though never having reached law- ful proportions necessary to incorporation, it is generally regarded as a peaceful and orderly community.
SCHOOLS.
Too much cannot well be said on the subject of education or the question of public schools,
entering as it does every branch of interest that goes to make up the general condition and wel- fare of any community. This is now generally regarded as a conceded point, but strange as it may seem in the light of the present, it has not always been so regarded. Many communities now enjoying the blessings of good public schools are indebted therefor to leaders in an aggressive, hard-fought contest, that the future generations, if not their own, might have the benefit of good schools. That some difficulty in this respect was experienced in Lordstown should not be re- garded as a remarkable occurrence.
On the 14th day of October, 1828, the first school districts were laid out by the trustees. The first district was as follows: Beginning at the northwest corner of lot five, thence east to the northeast corner of township, thence south to southeast corner of lot thirty, thence west to southwest corner of lot twenty-five, thence north to place of beginning. The first school-house in the township was built in this district on the Moses Haskell farm (lot six) and it stood on a knoll on the west side of the center road, in the center and north part of the township. It was a log honse, after the pioneer style of arch- itecture, and the first teacher was a man by the name of Everett, of whom nothing more can now be ascertained.
The above district contained at this time thir- teen householders. Afterwards district number two was made and extended from the northwest corner of the township to the northeast corner of lot nine, thence south to southeast corner of lot twenty-nine, thence west to the southwest corner of lot twenty-one, thence north to the beginning ; and the school-house was built at Bailey's cor- ners. It will be seen that that the latter district embraces the former, and it also added twelve more householders to the school district.
In January, 1830, another district was made and the others changed. Altogether the house- holders of Lordstown at that time were, Al- exander and Thomas Longmore, John Nuhn- burger, John Troup, David Fuller, Samuel Bas- sett, John Owen, James Kennedy, Peleg Lewis, Moses Haskell, John and David Lewis, Peter Snyder, Ira Lovell, George Rhinesmith, John Tait, James Pew, John Patton, Cyrus Bosworth, Andrew Scott, Lemuel Church, Alexander Camp- bell, Joseph Scott, George Raster, John Cun-
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TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.
ningham, James Richardson, George Spange- burgh, Daniel Bager, James Mills, John Bailey, John Troup, Cornelius Boyd, Hugh Cunning- ham, Samuel Crum, Sarah Thompson, John Cunningham, Jr., Andrew Hine, Ransom Butter- field, Joseph C. Sankey, John Gordon, William Cameron, James Preston, William and Henry Thorn, Andrew Kidler, Sr., Andrew Kidler, Jr., William Baker, Mr. Bright, William Moore, Noah Stanley, John Underwood, John Cotton, Andrew Grove, Nicholas Leonard, George Wan- ner, Leonard Woodward. Of these early house- holders Andrew Grove is the only one now liv- ing in the township. Though Robert Tait had settled here earlier his name does not appear in the records and he probably was not a house- holder at the time. Also Thomas Duncan, who came in 1829, probably was not yet on the list of householders. There may have been others residing in the township whose names are not on this list, but if there were they could not at this time be ascertained ; so the list is given to show the extent of the settlement of the town- ship in 1830, three years after its organization, whereby some estimate can be made of the many changes in the last fifty years.
The list also shows the names of those who were taxed for the first schools, and was made for that purpose.
The first school-house at the center stood a short distance south, near "the ledge," and was a small log cabin. The first teacher of whom any account can now be ascertained, was Anna Harmon. She was a dear lover of Bohea tea, and carried it with her to school, and always kept a tin full hot by the school-house fire, and many times " Aunt Anna," as she was called, found more than tea grounds in the bottom of her tin. It seems that "Aunt Anna" had limits in which she thought it necessary that the pioneer youth- ful mind should be circumscribed, and hence at the beginning of the school the first class would begin at "crucifix" and the other class at "baker," and at the close, finish as usual at "The Fox and the Bramble." Next term the same ground would be patiently and with profound gravity gone all over again. The next teacher was John Fullerton, an old bachelor, who was given to mirth, and indulged in occasional "sprees," but succeeded, however, in pushing the expanding mind of the scholars as far as the
English reader, and the "rule ot three," which then embraced the highest branches of educa- tion, and was deemed amply sufficient for all the demands of life. Granville Sears afterwards combined his trade of making boots at night with teaching school in the day time ; and it is related of him that in an emergency he could " lay about him with a hickory gad" in a way that commanded the respect if not the admira- tion of the students of his academy.
About 1840 a frame school building was erected at the center, on the site of the present district school-house, which was burned down, but another soon replaced the loss. The first select school was taught by Joseph King, now a minister of the gospel in Pittsburg. He was a great worker in the cause of education, and sub- sequently, as his school increased in numbers, taught in the town hall, and succeeded in fitting many teachers for successful work, and secured quite a reputation for the school at Lordstown. After him came his brother, John King ; then Mr. Campbell, and after that the interest in the school seemed almost entirely lost, until S. F. De Ford came, who was an excellent educator, and he taught two terms in the old hall, but afterwards began and finished the Lordstown academy; the school was very successful for some time. After De Ford, R. W. Duncan taught the school four years. The school was afterwards allowed to cease, and in 1870 the building was sold for a cheese factory, but about 1877, the township purchased the building for township purposes.
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