USA > Ohio > Portage County > Portage heritage; a history of Portage County, Ohio; its towns and townships and the men and women who have developed them; its life, institutions and biographies, facts and lore > Part 46
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
405
PORTAGE HERITAGE
were Dr. Alva Baldwin and Dr. Clate Baldwin.
Ministers included Rev. W. M. Evans, (who came in 1900), Rev. Maurice Jones (1909) who dropped dead at Owen Jones' funeral; and Owen Williams, 1912.
SAME FAMILY NAME
The number of Welsh people liv- ing in Palmyra is shown by the fact that at one time there were 19 Jones families living on a single mail route and of these, eleven of them were not related to others. David Enoch Jones came from Wales in 1859 and in October of that year Enoch, Ellis, Elizabeth and Arthur came.
Palmyra township in the past has had more than the average number of churches, though today only one sur- vives. It is probable that the first church was of Presbyterian faith, or- ganized in 1813 by Rev. Nathan Dar- row, the widely known missionary from Connecticut. Not much is known today about this church.
The second was a Baptist church organized in 1817 by Rev. Andrew Clark. Other ministers were Rev. Thomas and Rev. Miller.
In 1841 a Campbellite Church (Dis- ciple) was organized in the Whip- poorwill section. It continued, with varying fortunes, until about 1911.
A Congregational (Welsh) church was organized in 1847. Among its ministers were Revs. John Lloyd, B. Harris, James, Jones, Rollins and Hughes.
There was a Christian church at Diamond for a time. Its pastors in- cluded Rev. Mr. Cline and Rev. Mr. Oliphant.
Date of the organization of the Methodist church at the Center was 1879. Its pastors included Revs. D. W. Chandler, Jos. Marvin, T. J. Kurtz,
H. B. Edwards, M. G. McCaslin, Jos. Gledhill, V. Baker, N. B. Stewart, J. W. Wilson, O. H. Pennell, J. V. Has- kell, J. A. Martin, I. M. Life, T. W. Anderson, F. D. Wolf, R. O. McRae, E. L. Lea, John McCleary, A. E. Can- non, Gordon Riegler, W. N. Webster, J. M. Silk, T. A. Keyser, C. C. Davis, and W. C. Knipe, later pastor of the Community Church.
The regular Welsh Baptist church was organized in 1862. It was the Soar Church (Stone).
There was also a Welsh Methodist church at the Center.
The Palmyra Christian church stood in the southwest part of the township and was sometimes known as the Mckown church. It was or- ganized about 1859 and closed in 1902 after various other denomina- tions had used the building.
TELEPHONE ARRIVES
In 1900 the Palmyra Telephone Co. was established by S. A. Church, Ward Craig, Perry Robison, Cass Shepard and Hart Wilson. Florence Lewis and Mrs. Jenkins were the first opera- tors. First subscriber rates were $1.00 per month. Miss Lewis later became a teacher and retired in 1955 after 41 years service.
Principals of the schools with which she was connected were Wm. Mc- Quiston, J. W. White, Mr. Parker, Mr. Turpin, W. H. Kohr, Thos. Grif- fiths, Roger Richmond, Max Man- schel, V. Donley, Vernon Campbell, A. J. Garrett, C. P. Rausch, Boyd Myers, Elizabeth Barclay, Glen Pow- ell, E. E. Braid, John Vett, Sam Cip- riano, Leroy Reeves, Gene Dutter and John Mendiola.
Some of the blacksmiths that have served the Palmyra community are "Old Bill" Davis (who had three blacksmith sons); John Bebb, Char-
406
PORTAGE HERITAGE
ley Hartzell, Billy Williams and the Tuttles of the Tuttle carriage shop; and German Wick.
VILLAGE OF GROVER
Soon after the first coal mine was opened in southeast Palmyra, a small community came into existence, known as Grover. Nearly all the in- habitants were miners and their fam- ilies. Its postoffice was known as Davis and located on the railroad. When the first mines died out nearly all Grover people followed new mines in Deerfield. Many of the hous- es were moved away entirely. Little of Grover remains today.
An important family in Palmyra and nearby were the Corbitts. Chison Corbitt came to Palmyra in 1822 and ran a general store and hotel. A son, Leonard Corbitt, remained in Palmyra and drove a freight team on the Cleve- land-Pittsburgh route. It is said that when he decided to move his house to a new location about a mile away, he invited his neighbors to help and men with 48 teams responded. The house was then placed on skids and 16 teams hitched to each skid and the house pulled slowly away. The only cost was a barrel of whiskey and as much food as the men could eat. The house still stands. The original Corbitts came from Normandy.
Rural free mail delivery was start- ed here in 1904. Some of the rural carriers have been "Preacher" Evans, Wallace Bigelow and James Evans. Star route carriers have included John Breeze, Jim and Jake Glass, Wells Kelly and George Wilson.
Luman Westover came here from Connecticut in 1808. His son, Fred, owned a yoke of oxen, each animal weighing 3,000 pounds. He was of- fered large prices for the mammoth
oxen but refused all offers, keeping them until they died.
REAL HORSE FAIR
On one occasion the Welsh Fair was a real "Horse Fair." Some out- standing animals were shown. A black Percheron stallion, named WXEM, was purchased by a local group and attracted much attention. It was handled by Cass Shepard. A fancy Hackney was shown by Fred Clark. On one occasion 12 stallions were on exhibition. These animals were the sires of improved local stock. On fair days there was always a brass band in attendance and this wound up the day by serenading the Seedhouse sa- loon.
At one time Palmyra had 21 saloons. Among owners were Jim Jones, Tom Bowen and Seedhouse at Palmyra; Joe Stone, Ben Clifton and Stephen Har- ris at Diamond; and Tom K. Jones, John Davis and Bill Stone at Lloyd.
For a long time in older days the town had a cannon kept for celebra- tion purposes. It is said to have been brought in from Braddock Field. John Hawk had the job of firing it. When someone took the cannon to the woods and loaded it to the muzle and fired, it was blown to pieces.
At one time Palmyra had a news- paper called the Wide Awake. Rev. Erastus B. Lewis was the editor. It did not last long.
In 1913, through the efforts of local citizens and the Portage County Im- provement Association, Palmyra got its first brick pavement-from Dia- mond to the foot of Kibler Hill, a distance of two miles. This was fol- lowed by a concerted drive by prop- erty owners to improve the side roads and in getting aid from the county and state for this purpose. Abutting farm property was assessed $1.00 per
PORTAGE HERITAGE
407
Dr. Howard Jones, Pal- myra native, now presi- dent of Youngstown University
acre to a depth of one mile. Burnt slate from the mine dumps was much used for road building and frequent- ly was hauled to the road without charge. Those who owned no teams did the loading. Later, other methods were used. Palmyra today has busy Route 18 passing through as well as Route 627.
The "tile plant", Palmyra's prin- cipal industry today, was started about 1902 with Mike Shibley, Henry Her- bert, S. A. Church and Frank Mattes subscribing $1,000.00 each. Mattes was superintendent. In 1908, Al Hart bought control, but later sold to Sam B. McPhall. Today it is known as the Universal Sewer Pipe Co., with mod- ern equipment. The U. S. Concrete Pipe Co. at the same location north of Diamond is operated in conjunc- tion with it.
The old hotel still stands on the northwest corner of the square. It was built in 1832 by John Lewis, from brick made across the road. The clay for these was drawn in by oxen and burned in crude kilns. In 1888, the
K. of P. lodge built on the third story and this lodge now owns the whole building. The hotel was at one time a relay station on the Pittsburgh- Cleveland freight and stage route. The door step to the office and bar is of sand stone and has been worn down six inches from the original level.
VARIED ACTIVITIES
John (Shoemaker) Williams had his shoe shop in his home a half mile north of the Center. His son John (Fiddler) Williams married Mary Baldwin of the Andros Baldwin fam- ily. They had four children.
Jake (Dutch) Stoltz had a home and shop south of the Center. Being the butt of practical jokes, he became angered to the point of shooting an annoyer. In making his escape, he fell from a railroad trestle over Kale Creek and broke his leg.
Elijah Noel lived southwest of the Center. With his three sons helping him, he operated his farm, a saw mill, a cider mill and apple butter factory. Andrew Noel was a musician, play- ing in an orchestra over many years.
Billy Williams was another musi- cian, a vocalist, noted for a fine tenor voice. He operated a wagon and car- riage shop a half mile south of the Center.
John Hawes had a harness shop, also a half mile south of the Center.
Solomon Wert came to Diamond about 1875. Without education, he conducted a number of businesses, in- cluding a saw mill, cider mill, and he bought hay and straw, had a horse- power bailer and several teams, em- ploying a number of men. His wife cared for his accounts and did his bookkeeping.
Before the establishment of the high school in 1886, Palmyra had the Palmyra Central Academy. Some of
408
PORTAGE HERITAGE
the teachers of the high school were Geo. R. Wolf, H. Pardee, J. N. Mc- Call, Geo. Douthitt, E. F. Robison, E. R. Turnbull, J. A. Dufford, J. O. Shaffer, W. J. Robison, Perry Robi- son, J. W. Kasserman, J. W. Robem, J. W. White, J. F. Keoppe, M. Kohr, V. D. Campbell and Florence Powell. District schools were consolidated be- ginning in 1911.
Dr. Howard W. Jones is a native of Palmyra, son of Mr. and Mrs. Evan L. Jones, born Sept. 27, 1895. He was educated in Palmyra schools, Alliance High School and Hiram College. After navy service he was in educational work in the Cleveland Y.M.C.A. school, later becoming assistant to the president at Hiram. In 1931 he went to Youngstown to head the new Youngstown College and is now pres- ident of the institution, now called Youngstown University. He married Mabel L. Hurd of Southington. They have two children.
In the field of fraternal and cul- tural organizations, Palmyra has had a variegated experience. About 1886, a chapter of the Good Templars, a temperance society, was organized. The Knights of the Golden Eagle had a chapter at one time. The Knights of the Maccabees and Ladies of the Mac- cabees flourished for a time. The For- esters of America were at one time quite strong.
There were quite a number of Masons in the township from its be- ginning but there was no formal or- ganization until 1883 when Charity Lodge No. 530, F. & A. M. came into existence. The order now has its own hall. An auxiliary chapter, the Eastern Star, is also found here in Palmy Chapter No. 114, O. E. S., founded in 1900. Knights of Pythias have es-
tablished Diamond Lodge No. 136, started in Diamond in 1882, but later with headquarters at the Center. The women's branch of Rathbone Sisters was organized in 1923.
According to stories handed down, an Indian Camp was once located at Rocky Springs, north of the Center.
R. H. Johns had the first electric lights in the township.
The Bigelow family has long been active in Palmyra affairs. Timothy, John and Loren Bigelow came from Connecticut by wagon in 1814 and took up 1200 acres of land. Timothy had a daughter and a son, Loren. The first John was a doctor and also served in the state legislature.
Albert Dix I lived in Palmyra for a time and later became a well known Ohio newspaper publisher.
Railroad Gates Ajar
When the present New York Central railroad was run through Palmyra and Deerfield in 1877, the farmers there were so much interested that they often gave free right of way. However, they continued to maintain their fences, with gates for passage of trains. When a train came along the engineer opened the gate, the train passed through and the brake- man closed the gate after it. The first line, a narrow gauge affair, ran from Phalanx to Palmyra. Later it was ex- tended to Alliance. It became a broad gauge road and later on, a standard gauge. At one time there were three rails in order to accommodate both broad and standard gauge cars. First freight cars carried a fifteen-ton load. The old end- of-the-line turn table still remains at Diamond.
CHAPTER XXXII
Paris
By ELIZABETH THOMAS
The land now embraced by the township of Paris originally was own- ed by shareholders of the Connecticut Land Co. These men were Samuel G. Storrs, .Henry Champion, Gideon Granger and Thomas Bull. It was Township 3, Range 6 of the original surveys. It did not become a separate township until 1820, previously having been a part of Deerfield, and later of Palmyra.
At first the township was known as Storrsboro, after one of the propri- etors. Owing to the nature of the land, the place gained a poor reputation. The land was flat and the early home hunters avoided it because of the swampy ground. It was commonly re- ported, and generally believed, that the entire township was one vast mud- hole and next to impossible to traverse with horse and wagon. Because of this reputation settlement of the township was delayed until 1814.
Actually, the situation was bad enough but drainage and subsequent cultivation demonstrated that the land was second to none for grazing and that the soil was fertile enough to produce excellent crops.
Paris received its first settler in 1811. He was a hardy Pennsylvanian from Woodbury, Huntington County, and his name was Richard Hudson.
HAD NO NEIGHBORS
Mr. Hudson lived on Lot 21, where he had selected his land, until the time of his death in June, 1819. The
Hudsons were the only family in the township until the spring of 1813. At that time their son-in-law, John Bridges, and family, arrived and built a house on the Hudson farm.
In 1813 two more families arrived, also coming from Huntington County, Pennsylvania. These were the John Young and John Cot families, so that in two years time, four families had found homes in Paris (or Storrsboro). But in April of 1815 there was a further addition when Chauncey Haw- ley and William Selby and their families came in from Saundersfield, Berkshire county, Mass., locating on Lot 27 and Lot 33, which were long known as the Hawley farms, and where the Hawley cemetery was later located.
In the autumn of 1815 Calvin Hol- comb and family migrated here from Granby, Hartford county, Conn. and settled on Lot 21. There was no fur- ther arrival until December of 1816, when Brainard Selby, Sr., Newton Sel- by and wife, Thomas B. Selby and Austin Wilson arrived from Saunders- field, Mass. Brainard Selby lived with his son, William, who had come the previous year to investigate conditions for the others. Newton Selby lived on Lot 40 while Wilson had selected Lot 39. In the summer of 1817, John Smith arrived and settled on Lot 27, and in the fall of the same year, Justus Wilson and family arrived from Saundersfield, Mass. The Rufus Smiths came in from Whitestown, N.
409
410
PORTAGE HERITAGE
Y. The Wilsons lived temporarily with their son, Austin, who had come previously. Smith settled on Lot 39.
Migration was steady, if only slow. In February of 1818 another party came from Whitestown, N. Y. They were Stephen Bingham, Sr., Stephen Bingham, Jr. and John W. Whitely and families. All located on the Northwest part of Lot No. 34.
Up to this time the territory was a part of Palmyra township.
With the population now making a respectable showing, the residents wanted their own local government. A petition was presented to the county commissioners for separation from Palmyra and the setting up of a new township under the name of Storrs- boro. The first election was held Nov. 10, 1820. At this election there were 25 voters. For some reason they were dissatisfied with the name of Storrs- boro and then, by vote, decided to change it to Paris.
FIRST WELSH ARRIVE
New settlers came in. In the year of 1831 John Morgan arrived in the township from Wales and purchased part of Lot 32, erecting a log cabin thereon. From this beginning, other countrymen of Morgan came from time to time and it is said that by 1885, the population of Paris was two- thirds Welsh. Today a large number of these people have descendents in Paris.
In the township's first election in 1820, Justus Wilson, Stephen Bing- ham and Wm. Selby were judges. Rufus Smith and Stephen Bingham, Jr. were clerks. These officials were elected: Trustees-Rufus Smith, Jus- tus Wilson and John Smith; Clerk - Cheney V. Senter; Overseers - John W. Whiting, Titus Stanley; Fence Viewers-Austin Wilson, Calvin Hol-
comb, Jr .; Lister - Bidwell Pinney; Appraiser-Newton Selby; Treasurer -Stephen Bingham, Jr .; Constables- Chauncey Hawley, Luther Wilson; Road supervisors - Newton Selby, John Smith; Justices of the peace - Stephen Bingham, Calvin Holcomb.
The Wayland Welsh Baptist Church was organized in 1835 by Rev. David Jenkins. It included the following members: Richard Morris, Mary Mor- ris, Edward Morris, Anna Morris, John Morris, Robert Roberts, Eliza- beth Roberts, Mary Williams, Wil- liam Probert, Maria Probert and Widow Probert. This church met at the Center.
The Old Stone Church, Congrega- tionalist, was organized in 1844. An- other church had been located on the Paris-Palmyra road, just inside Pal- myra, organized in 1834. Some of the members from Paris thought it would be better to have a church of their own and formed one in 1844, with a small edifice 25 x 25 in Newport (now Wayland). The formal organization was completed in 1850 and recorded at Ravenna March 2 of that year. In 1861 a new church was built at the Center, and remodeled in 1904. Rev. David Davies at first conducted serv- ices in the Welsh language.
The Bethany Baptist church was or- ganized in 1882, but its members soon wanted services held in a language they better understood (English). Art- icles of incorporation were drawn up May 16, 1889, signed by the follow- ing: J. A. Griffith, David Griffith, J. B. Williams, Alphonso Patterson, Richard Morris and James P. Davis. The lot on which the church stood was donated by Thomas George. The first resident pastor was Rev. A. M. Ely. It was during his pastorate that the original Bethany Baptist church building was erected.
411
PORTAGE HERITAGE
Type of early brick architecture. The Moses Tibbals home in Deerfield, built in 1816.
Other pastors were Revs. Llewel- lyn, Relyea, Wood, J. W. Stone. The building was destroyed by fire Dec. 18, 1889. Members then worshipped in the old Welsh church in Paris which by this time had become the town hall. But plans were quickly made for a new church at Wayland with J. T. Griffith, T. O. Jones, Wm. E. Morris, Richard Morris and T. B. Thomas as building committee. The building was dedicated May 12, 1901 and in 1912 a parsonage was built ad- jacent to it. Pastors have included Revs. J. C. Calvin, James Lister, E. T. Haddock, W. H. Wilson, Philip Evans and Robert Foster.
CHURCHES FEDERATED
On April 28, 1918, the Bethany Baptist and the Congregational churches became federated through action of committees from both churches composed of C. M. Blanken- horn, J. F. Ickes, E. C. Morris, Daniel Griffith, J. L. Thomas, T. E. Griffith, J. M. Hurd, H. J. Woen, R. C. Burr.
Pastors of the Federated Church have been Revs. J. B. Jones, M. H. Jones, C. W. Mainwaring, H. A. Eich- er, Harsh and W. C. Knipe. The latter was pastor 14 years until his death in 1955. Rev. Gordon Hinkle is present pastor.
The first school of any kind in Paris township was at the house of Richard Hudson in 1819, with Betsy North as teacher. It was in the sum- mer of that year. This was a private school, entirely for the benefit of the children of Uncle Richard, but two of the boys of Chauncey Hawley were also admitted. The first public school was organized for the winter of 1819- 20. It was in a log cabin located on the northwest corner of Lot 34, with Daniel Leavitt of Trumbull County as teacher and a pupil list of 25 boys and girls. Districts were set up later, there being seven in all until 1905, when the township schools were centralized.
The present school building was
412
PORTAGE HERITAGE
erected in 1912-13 with an addition in 1927, and the first principal was Dud- ley Douthitt. In 1950 the people of the township voted in favor of be- coming a part of the Southeast dis- trict, so that now only elementary pupils receive instruction at the Cent- er, while high school pupils attend the Southeast high school in Palmyra. Paris school had been made a first grade high school in 1927. A cafeteria was installed in 1926-27.
Courses in home economics and manual arts were added in 1932, and a commercial course in 1936, with Robert Hall and Kathryn Hurd as in- structors. In 1945 a flag pole was put up and playground equipment added and in 1948 a well was drilled.
The bell now used on the building at the Center has an interesting his- tory. In the winter of 1872-73, Miss Anne James, a teacher at the school, decided that the school needed a bell. She got up an entertainment and from its proceeds obtained enough money to buy a bell. The bell has been used regularly since that time.
NO INDIANS HERE
Old historians of the township say nothing about the presence of Indians so that it is quite likely that no red- skins were around when the first set- tlers arrived. But there were evidences of older Indian camps and trails have been found.
The first white child born in the township was Elijah Hawley, October 11, 1815. He was the fourth son of Chauncey Hawley.
The first marriage in Paris was that of William Bradford and Betsy Hud- son in 1813. The first death was that of Susan Cox, wife of John, in 1814.
Settlers early realized the need for roads. The first highways established through the township were laid out
in 1817. One came from Charlestown and passed on to Newton Falls. The other came from Palmyra. Today Par- is has a good system of county and township roads and through it passes busy State Route 5 which was straightened and improved just before World War II. Because of its topog- raphy, road building is not particular- ly difficult.
Paris received its first important business stimulation when the Penn- sylvania & Ohio canal was opened in 1840. This traversed the township, east to west. It gave an outlet for its farm products and provided a means of travel, crude as it was. Two "ports" were established - Harrisport, now McClintocksburg; and Newport, now Wayland. For many years both were quite busy and were considered of enough importance to lay out towns.
The first saw mill in the township was built by Alexander and Titus Stanley at McClintocksburg - date unknown.
The first frame building, a barn, was built by Calvin Holcomb in 1819, on Lot 21. But the first frame dwell- ing house did not come until 1823 and was built by A. H. Case, at the Paris Center. In 1827, Case started to keep a tavern but died in the following year. After that the business was car- ried on by his widow, familiarly known as Aunt Crilla, until 1832. The house was a landmark in old Paris.
MCCLINTOCKSBURG ACTIVE
Paris had no postoffice of its own until 1828, when one was established with William Selby as postmaster. The office was at his home on the northeast corner of Lot 33 and a week- ly mail service was received via War- ren. Previously, Paris depended on mail by way of Palmyra and Newton Falls. The old postoffice at the Center
413
PORTAGE HERITAGE
was known as Parisville.
One of the first manufacturing es- tablishments was a tannery operated in the southern part of the township by Patrick Davidson. Date of it is un- known. Chauncey Hawley also manu- factured hats at an early time, and there were also a chair and parts fac- tory and a small iron foundry for making flat irons, hand irons and other small wares.
McClintocksburg is a community in the eastern part of the township, along the Mahoning River. It was started by a man named McClintock in 1835 and after the P. & O. canal was put through, it was an important shipping place, though it then existed under the name of Harrisport. In 1835, also, Isaac Hopkins arrived from Pittsburgh and opened a general store at the Center - Paris' first.
John D. Williams, a native of Wales, came to Paris in 1836 and es- tablished a blacksmith shop one mile south of the Center. After his death in 1884, the work was carried on by his son, John B. Williams, who later moved the business to Wayland.
The first grist mill was not put in until 1839 and this was owned by Wil- liam Philpot and Philip Price. This was at Wayland.
The early farming activities of the township were of a general nature. A great many sheep were raised but later residents turned to dairying. In form- er days much maple syrup and sugar was produced. Cheese and other dairy products were much in evidence.
CYCLONE STATION
With the advent of the P. & O. canal which began operations in 1840, Newport and Harrisport were very busy centers for those days. The canal extended from Akron to Beaver Falls, Pa., thence on to the east. Pas-
senger fare to and from Pittsburgh was $3.60 and it required 26 hours to make the trip, one way.
Business again was stimulated in 1882, when the P. C. & T. railroad be- gan operations, with the right of way over the old canal bed. Wayland, es- pecially, began to be an important place. The station at Wayland was called Cyclone. When this railroad be- came the P. & W. and later the B. & O., the station was again called Way- land, with the route about one mile north.
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.