USA > Ohio > Mahoning County > History of Trumbull and Mahoning counties with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, Vol. II > Part 98
USA > Ohio > Trumbull County > History of Trumbull and Mahoning counties with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, Vol. II > Part 98
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Sabrina Lane, afterwards Mrs. Wheeler, was probably the first child born in the township. She was born about the year 1807.
The first death was that of a child of Asa Lane.
The first marriage was probably the wedding of a daughter of Mr. Donaldson to Mr. Norton, of Parkman.
Isaac Lane kept the first tavern, in the south of Champion, some thirty-five years ago. Ed- win Weiss kept a public house at the center later.
Thomas Hodds, an Englishman, kept a small grocery on the main road south of the State road, about 1850. This was the first store. Champion is too near Warren to offer any in- ducements for merchants to locate here.
The county infirmary farm in the southeast of Champion was purchased in 1839.
SAW-MILLS.
Three water saw-mills have been in operation in this township since the advent of the settlers of 1828; and during recent years a number of steam saw-mills. There never was a grist mill or a distillery in Champion.
The first saw-mill was built by William Durst, and was situated on Young's run. The second was on the same stream and was erected by Ed- ward Pierce. Both were run several years. An- other water saw-mill was built in the western part of the township, on Chocolate run, later, but it was not a success.
INDUSTRIES.
Excepting agriculture there are no important industries in Champion at present. One small store at the center serves to supply the farmers when they are too busy to go to Warren for the purpose of trading.
John N. McCombs & Son have a steam saw- mill at the center, which is the only one now In the township. This mill was erected in 1880, and does a considerable amount of sawing.
The cheese factory of David Caldwell and
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Luther Rutan, at the center, has been in success- ful operation for ten years or more. It furnishes the dairymen with a convenient market for milk, and produces a large amount of that article of food which is fast becoming one of the staple commodities of the northern part of Trumbull county.
Much attention is given to sheep-raising by the farmers of this township. The business is considered profitable by those who have most thoroughly tested it. Much care is exercised in obtaining good breeds, both of sheep and of cattle.
The soil is good grass land, and affords excel- lent pasturage. Good crops of wheat are secured almost every year. The use of phos- phates upon the land has, in some instances, more than doubled the usual yield. In early years but little wheat could be raised.
Champion contains many fine thrifty orchards and the apple crop is usually an important one.
NOTES OF SETTLEMENT.
Horace Harper, an old resident of Champion township, was born in Charlestown, New Hamp- shire, November 3, 1796. His father, John, was also a native of New Hampshire. Mr. Horace Harper came to Ohio in 1819, and settled in Farmington township, Trumbull county, for seven or eight years, when he returned East and resided in New York for three years. He then came to Ohio and located in Champion township upon the farm where we now find him. He began in the woods and cleared up a good farm.
James Walker, an early settler of Champion, was born March 4, 1806, in Armstrong county, Pennsylvania. He came to Ohio in 1833, and settled upon the farm where his son Taylor now lives, in Champion township. He came from Pennsylvania with an ox team. His brother Samuel came at the same time. Mr. James Walker was a carder and cloth-dresser by trade. He was the first carder in Warren. He cleared up a good farm in Champion, which he carried on in connection with his trade. He died July 25, 1878, leaving a family of eight children to mourn his loss.
Thomas Packard, a well-known resident of Trumbull, was born in Berlin township, Mahon- ing county, March 27, 1809. His father, Garret, was a native of Virginia and came to Ohio in 1803, first locating in Austintown township for a
short time, then moved to Deerfield where he resided until 1809, then moved to Berlin town- ship, Mahoning county. He purchased his land of General Perkins, and suffered all of the trials incident to pioneer life. Mr. Thomas Packard, the subject of this sketch, was the first white child born in the township. Garret Packard lived in Berlin until his death, which occurred November 20, 1820, aged forty-four years. He left a family of ten children and widow to mourn his loss. Thomas Packard came to Champion township March 31, 1835, and located upon the farm where we now find him nicely situated. He, like his father, began in the woods and cleared up a nice farm, the fruits of which he now enjoys. He was married in 1832 to Miss Sarah Russell, daughter of Robert Russell of Austintown township. Ten children have been born to them, seven of whom are living. Three of the sons were in the war. Mrs. Packard died in April, 1880. She was a faithful member of the Disciple church at Warren, and a loving Christian mother. Mr. Packard is also a mem- ber of the Disciple church and a most worthy citizen.
Joseph Pierce, a well known resident of Champion, was born in Armstrong, Clarion county, Pennsylvania, in 1808. His father, Peter Pierce, was a native of New Jersey, and came to Pennsylvania when very young in com- pany with his parents, who settled in Westmore- land county, Pennsylvania, for a few years, then moved to Indiana county, Pennsylvania, where he cleared up a farm, and reared a family of six children, all of whom lived to maturity. Mr. Peter Pierce died in Champion, December 7, 1866, while on a visit to his son Joseph. He was a cooper by trade, and was among the early settlers of Clarion county, Pennsylvania. There were eight children in his family, five of whom are living. Mr. Joseph Pierce left Clarion county April 14, 1835, with a four-horse team, and arrived in Champion on the 19th of April. He stopped with his cousin, Edward Pierce, a short time while a cabin was being erected, then moved upon his present farm which was then a dense forest. Mr. Pierce was married in 1832 to Sarah R. McKee, daughter of Samuel Mc- Kee, of Westmoreland county, l'ennsylvania. They have had six children, only two of whom are living. Mrs. Pierce died in 1856. He was
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married the second time in 1857 to Miss Eliza Chambers, daughter of John Chambers, of Champion. Mrs. Pierce died in August, 1877. She was a member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Pierce is also a member. In politics Mr. Pierce is a sound Republican, and has held several township offices-has been magistrate six years, and is still serving.
John N. McCombs, an old resident of Cham- pion, was born October 5, 1807, in Poland town- ship, Mahoning county. His father, William, was a native of Pennsylvania, and came to Ohio in 1800; settled upon the farm where Morris McCombs now lives. He was a pioneer in the wilds of Ohio, and did much in his day toward improving the county. He cleared up a good farm and lived upon it till his death. There were ten children in his family. Mr. John Me- Combs came to Champion township in 1837, and located upon the farm where he now lives. Like the early settlers of Champion he made his farm. He was married in 1836 to Miss Jane B. Scott, daughter of Matthew Scott, of Liberty township. Three children were born to them. Mrs. McCombs died in 1846. For his second wife Mr. McCombs married, in 1847, Miss Laura E. Scott, sister of his first wife. He had four children by his second wife. Mr. and Mrs. Mc- Combs were members of the Presbyterian church. Politically Mr. McCombs was a Re- publican. He has held several of the township offices. He has been trustee several terms, also assessor, thus showing the confidence placed in him by his fellow-citizens.
Daniel Hartman was born in Clinton township, Pennsylvania, in 1810. His father, Nicholas Hartman, was also a native of Pennsylvania, and came to Ohio in 1834, and settled in Jack- son township, Trumbull county, now Mahoning. The following year Mr. Daniel Hartman came to Ohio and located in the same township, where he resided nearly two years, then came to Champion township and settled upon the farm where his widow now lives. He was one of the first settlers in the western part of the township. He cleared up a good farm and lived to enjoy the fruits of his labor till 1865, when he died, leaving a family of ten children and a widow to mourn his loss. Seven of the children are now living. Mr. Hartman was formerly a member of the United Brethren church. He was married
in 1837 to Miss Catharine Fowler, daughter of James Fowler, of Pennsylvania. She was born January 13, 1814. Mr. Hartman was well known and highly esteemed by all who knew him.
Alfred Osborn, an old resident of Trumbull county, was born in Youngstown June 25, 1808. His father, Joseph Osborn, was a Virginian by birth and came to Ohio in 1804 or thereabouts, and settled in Youngstown township, in the western part, and was among the early pioneers. He cleared up a good farm. He died in 1846, leaving a family of ten children and a widow. Mrs. Osborn followed her husband in about nine years. She was in her eightieth year. Mr. Alfred Osborn came to Champion township in 1838 and is consequently among the early set- tlers of the township. The forest yielded to his axe and in a few years he had a good farm. He was married November 1, 1838, to Miss Lena Kyle, daughter of John Kyle, of Kinsman township. This union was blessed with two children, only one of which is living. Mrs. Osborn is a member of the Methodist church and a devoted Christian. Mr. Osborn has been an active, enterprising man in his day. At the present time he is nearly blind, though he bears up under the misfortune bravely, knowing that he has lived an honest, upright life.
Amos Weiss was born January 24, 1826, in Austintown township. His father, Abraham Weiss, was born in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, and came to Ohio in about 1823 or 1824, set- tling in Austintown, where he lived till 1839. He then moved to Champion township, and settled upon the farm where his widow and one son now live. Mr. Weiss died in September, 1853, leaving a family of nine children. Mr. Amos Weiss has always lived in the township since his coming from Austintown. He is engaged in general farming. He was married in April, 1849, to Miss Hannah Price, daughter of John Price, of Champion township. Six children are the fruits of this marriage : John P., Charles, Saloma, Walter, Nellie, and Mary. John and Charles are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Weiss are members of the Disciple church. Politically Mr. Weiss is a Republican.
John Anderson was born in Ireland March 5, 1817, and came to America in March, 1837, landing at New York after a passage of six weeks and three days. He lived about one year in
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Pennsylvania, then came to Ohio and resided in Warren and Liberty townships two years. He then returned to Pennsylvania and was employed for two years in the construction of the canal at Greenville, then returned to Ohio and located upon the farm where he now lives. The farm was but partly improved at the time of his com- ing, though now he has a fine home. He has made dairying and stock raising his chief busi- ness. He was married in 1844 to Miss Catherine Hyde, daughter of Captain Ira Hyde, of Farming- ton. They have had six children-Oliver, Ella, Eliza, Ira, Perry, and Mary. The last three are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson are Method- ists; and are esteemed by all who know them.
Isaac Lechleitner was born April 15, 1818, in Northampton county, Pennsylvania. His father, George Lechleitner, was also a native of Penn- sylvania, and came to Ohio in 1831, and settled in Jackson township, Trumbull county, now Ma- honing, and lived here till his death, which oc- curred in November, 1860, leaving a family of six children, three of whom are living. Mrs. Lechleitner died in November, 1880. Mr. Isaac Lechleitner came to Champion in 1844, and located upon the farm where we now find him most pleasantly situated. He began in the woods and cleared up a good farm ; has one hundred and seventy-three and one-half acres of excellent land. He was married, in 1843, to Miss Sarah Clemmens, daughter of Daniel Clemmens, of Jackson township. They have three children- Louis, Eli, and Nancy E. Mr. and Mrs. Lech- leitner are devoted members of the United Brethren church. Mr. Lechleitner is one of the substantial and well-to-do farmers of the town- ship.
William Clemmens was born in Jackson town- ship July 4, 1824. His father, Daniel Clem- mens, was a native of Washington county, Penn- sylvania, and came to Ohio in 1821 and settled in Jackson township, and was among the early settlers. He began in the woods, and by hard labor, for which the Clemmens family is well known, he soon he had a good farm, upon which he lived until his death, in September, 1873, leaving a family of eleven children, ten of whom are living. Mrs. Clemmens died several years before Mr. Clemmens. Mr. William Clemmens came to Champion in 1844, and was married two years afterwards to Miss Eliza Hoover,
daughter of Jonas Hoover, of Bazetta town- ship. They have had seven children, four of whom are living. Mr. Clemmens began in the wilderness and cleared up a good farm. Mrs. Clemmens did her first cooking by the side of a stump for some time, and therefore knows some- thing about the trials of pioneer life. Mr. and Mrs. Clemmens are supporters of the United Brethren church. Politically he is a good Re- publican.
John Osborn was born in Canfield in 1828. His father, Jonathan, came from Virginia to Ohio in about 1804, and settled in Canfield and was one of the early settlers in the town- ship. His father, John Osborn, lived in Canfield till his death. He doubtless be- gan in the wilderness and cleared up a good farm. There were ten children in the family. Mr. Jonathan Osborn came to Cham- pion township in 1845, and settled where John Osborn, the subject of this sketch, now lives. He died in March, 1867, leaving a family of six children, five of whom are living. Mrs. Osborn died in 1850. Mr. John Osborn, the subject, has a farm of two hundred acres of good land. He was married in 1848 to Miss Eliza- beth Shiveley, daughter of Jacob Shiveley, of Bristol township. They have had five children, four of whom are living. Mr. Osborn is a good farmer and merits the esteem of all who know him.
Edward Jones was born in Austintown town- ship December 19, 1828. His father, John, was also a native of Ohio, and was the first white child born in Warren township (according to some accounts). Caleb Jones, grandfather of Edward, came to Ohio in a very early day. The family was of Welsh descent. Mr. John Jones spent his days in what was once Trumbull county. He went to Austintown township when he was a young man, and cleared up a good farm, which is now occupied by Mr. A. B. Jones, and lived here until his death in 1837. Mrs. Jones died in February, 1878. Mr. Edward Jone came to Champion March 19, 1850, and settled one mile east of his present farm. He cleared up a good farm and lived upon it ten years. He then moved upon the one where he is now located. He was married August 19, 1846, to Miss Martha J. Osborn, daughter of Abram Osborn, of Austintown. They had eight
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children, five of whom are living. Mrs. Jones died in February, 1874. She was a member of the Disciple church, a faithful wife and loving mother. Mr. Jones is an active, wide wake farmer. Stock raising is his chief business. He has a fine farm, which he keeps in the best of condition, showing industry and thrift.
Robert Russell was born in Austintown town- ship in 1820. His father, Robert Russell was a native of Virginia, and came to Ohio in 1802, and first settled at Mentor, where he re- sided till 1806; then moved to Austintown and was a pioneer in the township; built up a good farm and lived upon it till his death in January, 1879. Mrs. Russell died in 1873 or 1874. There were nine children in the family, six of whom are living. Mr. Robert Russell, the sub- ject of this sketch, came to Champion in 1851 and settled upon the farm where he has since lived. He has one hundred and twenty acres of good land, and is engaged in general farming. He was married in 1851 to Miss Elizabeth Lan- terman, daughter of William Lanterman, of Aus- tintown. They have three children-George C., Alice E., Cornelia J. Mr. and Mrs. Russell are members of the Disciple church. Politically he is a Republican.
William Hunt was born in Canfield township, Mahoning county, December 31, 1824. His father, Samuel Hunt, was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, and came to Ohio in about 1820, and settled in Canfield township, where he lived till 1846, when he moved to Champion township. He began in the wilderness and cleared up a good farm upon which his widow and son, C. F. Hunt, now live. He died De- cember 26, 1879, in his seventy-ninth year. There were eleven children in his family, eight of whom are living. He was a member of the Presbyterian church, as was Mrs. Hunt. Mr. Wil- liam Hunt has lived upon the farm where we now find him since 1852. He is engaged in general farming. He was married in 1850 to Miss Sarah Ann Weiss, daughter of Abram Weiss, of Champion. Mrs. Hunt died in March, 1872. There were seven children, six of whom are living. He was married the second time in 1872, to Miss Ramsey, daughter of James Ram- sey, of Canfield. Both are members of the Meth- odist church.
David Leach was born October 16, 1815, in
Sussex county, New Jersey. His father, John, was a native of New Jersey, and came to Ohio in 1820, and settled in Austintown township, Trumbull county, now Mahoning. Here he re- sided several years, and was among the early settlers of the township. He was a blacksmith by trade. He died in 1826 or 1827, leaving a family of eleven children and a widow to mourn his loss. His family moved to Lordstown town- ship in 1827 or 1828, and were among the earliest settlers in Lordstown. Mrs. Leach, mother of David Leach, died in 1875 in her ninety-fourth year. Mr. David Leach came to Champion in 1876, and located upon the farm where we now find him. He has made it a practice to move once a year since his marriage. He was married September 30, 1838, to Miss Effie Jones, daughter of John Jones, of Austin- town. They have had five children, three living. Mr. and Mrs. Leach are members of the Dis- ciple church. In politics a sound Republican.
N. D. Folsomi was born in 1837 in Weathers- field township, Trumbull county. His father, Jonathan, was a native of Essex county, New York, and came to Ohio in 1834. He located in Weathersfield township, where he resided till 1864, being engaged in farming in the meantime. He then moved to Howland township, where he has since lived. Mr. N. D. Folsom came to Champion township in March, 1880. He is superintendent of the infirmary farm, and gives the best of satisfaction, fulfilling his duties faith- fully and well. He was married November 29, 1879, to Miss Mary McMullen, daughter of Washington McMullen, of Brookfield township. Mr. and Mrs. Folsom are consistent members of the Disciple church. In politics Mr. Folsom is a sound Republican.
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CHAPTER XXIV.
GREENE.
"This township, by location in the original sur- vey of the Reserve, was known as township seven in range three, the townships numbering from the south line of the Reserve north, and the ranges from the Pennsylvania line west. The members of the Connecticut Land com- pany who owned it were Messrs. Parkman and Greene, of Boston, who had it surveyed into sections one mile long east and west, and one- half mile wide north and south, the northwest corner section being number one.
The general surface is level, with the eastern part rolling and sloping west. The soil in the eastern part is elay, with sand enough mixed through it to make it a clay loam, the quantity of sand increasing towards the central part, the farms near Mosquito creek valley being quite sandy. The west half of the township at some remote period was undoubtedly overflowed with running water, which formed numerous gravelly ridges and knolls of slight elevation. The soil of the level land surrounding the ridges and knolls is a mixture of muck and sand, and being easily drained is very productive.
At least two-thirds of the farms are well sup- plied by streams and springs with good water, and for mixed farming, that is, combining dairy- ing and stock raising with growing grain and po- tatoes, the township will rank above the average of the Reserve.
STREAMS.
Musquito creek is the largest stream in the township. It rises in Cherryville, Ashtabula county, and flowing across the corner of Wayne and through Colebrook, it enters this township about one mile west of the northeast corner. Following a southwest course for the first two miles it turns, and with its course due southwest and a little east of the center it crosses the rest of the township, and continuing south through Mec- ca, Bazetta, Howland, and into Weathersfield, it empties into the Mahoning river at Niles. In early days it was quite a mill stream in this town- ship, furnishing water power for two grist-mills, three saw-mills, and one woolen-mill. It sup- plies some thirty farms with water, but the mills are gone, and it makes its water power felt only in great freshets, as in September, 1878, when
in a single night it made a clear sweep of all the rail fences in its valley from the north to the south line of the township. There are seven large brooks that empty into the creek from the east and two from the west. In the northwest part there is a large brook that makes one of the headwater branches of Rock creek, a branch of Grand river, so that the township is partly in the Mississippi valley, and partly in the valley of the lakes.
There are no prehistoric mounds or works in the township. Indian relies are numerous and indicate that this was a hunting and sugar-mak- ing region for the Indians.
FIRST SETTLEMENTS.
Early in the spring of 1817 six men, John and Wilham, Harrington, John Wakefield, Ephraim Rice, Roswell Bartlett, and Ichabod Merritt, came into the township to examine the soil, tim- ber, etc. Selecting sections seven, fourteen, and seventeen, they went to Warren and bought them of the owner's agent, General Simon Per- kins, at $2.50 per acre, paying one-third down. The following boundaries by local points will in- elude the purchase: Beginning at the old cem- etery on the east bank of Mosquito creek, thence north one and one-half miles to the east and west road, at a point about thirty roads west of Mineral Springs Cheese factory, thence east along that road-except when it angles to the south at the mill-to the west line of Timothy Higgins' farm, thence south to the northeast corner of the Sloan farm, thence west to the old cemetery, and contained nine hundred and sixty acres of land. This tract they divided into six equal parcels, each one mile long east and west and eighty rods wide. To Ichabod Merritt-he being the youngest-they gave the first choice. He took the north piece because there was a "deer lick" on it located near where the cheese factory now stands. William Harrington being next in age took the south piece. John Har- rington took next to Merritt, and John Wake- field next to William Harrington, Ephraim Rice taking the north, and Roswell Bartlett the south middle pieces. That spring Ichabod Merritt, Ephraim Rice, and John Wakefield built three log cabins, sixteen feet square and seven feet high. The roofs were made of oak shakes held on with poles ; the floors, of puncheon, were made by splitting out flat pieces from logs and
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smoothing them with axes. Merritt's mother occupied the first cabin built, keeping house for her two sons, Ichabod and Aaron.
These cabins were followed by ones for John Harrington, Bartlett, and William Harrington. That fall Ebenezer Kee bought part of section four, just west of Merritt, and built a cabin and moved into it.
In the spring of 1818 David Rice came and bought out Ichabod Merritt, who purchased the northeast part of section thirty-four, and built a cabin on it. Ephraim Kee came that spring and bought what was called the wild plum lot in sec- tion thirty-four, joining Merritt, and settled on it. There being no roads laid out and each purchase of land except Ephraim Kee's and Merritt's be- ing crossed by the creek, the building sites were selected near that stream and the first road cut out started from E. Kee's, near where the south cemetery now is, and went north to J. Merritt's, then northwest to W. Harrington's cabin, near the old cemetery, and then followed up the creek to John Wakefield's, Bartlett's, E. Rice's, John Harrington's, and David Rice's, to Eben- ezer Kee's. In 1819 John Martin, J. B. Spring, H. P. Higgins, James Bascom, and C. P. Hay- ford settled, and in 1820 Timothy Higgins, John M. Jestin, Robert Evans, and Samuel Hayford, moved in.
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