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 51
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
Current Ravenna city officials are: Mayor-David E. Greene.
Council-Robt. B. Fosnight, Pres .; Frank
450
PORTAGE HERITAGE
Rock, C. E. Greenwalds, Thayer M. Dietrich, Earl Flowers, Paul Wilson, Ben Clements, Walter N. Miller.
Auditor-Ray E. Hartung.
Treasurer-Ethel I. Kester. Safety Director-Peter D. Carter. Service Director-Richard J. Miller. Solicitor-Geo. G. McClelland.
Secretary Council-Marie P. Bisson. . City Engineer-Karl Dussel; Asst., Don MacConaugha
Waterworks Clerk-P. W. Jones; Asst., Mary L. O'Hare.
Supt. Streets-Thomas H. Ewell; May- or's Secretary-Lorane Ewell.
Board of Health-Don Wilson, Jr., Pres .; Orville Christman, P. F. Cipriano, Dr. D. S. Palmstrom, Ruth Fairchild. H. W. Thompson is Health Commissioner. Civil Service Commission-H. W. Kane, Sec .; Norman Richcreek, Harold Short.
City Recreation Board-M. J. Tontime- onia, Angelo Sicuro, E. G. Willyard, Dr. J. C. Beal, Lee Havre, Jr.
City Park Commission-Harvey Middle- ton, Hubert J. Knapp, Russell W. Vair.
Zoning Board-Dr. E. F. Grodecki, Joe Kerzie, R. M. Curtiss, Lester Camp- bell, Mayor David Greene, Richard J. Miller, Harvey Middleton, Genevieve Rorke, Sec.
Boxing Commission-E. A. Barkes, Hen- ry Romito, C. A. Baxter, Sr., C. E. Greenwald, Tom Mariana, Ray Har- tung.
Shade Tree Commission-Roger Thom- as, Richard Miller, Mayor David Greene.
Chief of Police-John W. Brown; Fire Chief, Andrew Batsch; Supt. Water Works, Paul Stewart; Supt. Disposal Plant, Herbert W. Hansen; Building Inspector, Royal Snively; Electrical In- spector, James Batsch.
Ravenna Sisterhood, Dames of Mal- ta No. 233, was instituted Aug. 21, 1922, at Ravenna with 47 charter members. First Queen was Lady Mary Hayward. Present officers are: Queen, Mrs. Alice Collins; Sister Ruth, Mrs.
Josephine Simon; Sister Naomi, Mrs. Pearl Moser; Junior Past Protector, Mrs. Fannie Jones; Keeper of Arch- ives, Mabel Stem; Bursar, Mildred McBride; Deputy Herald, Mrs. Patty Skelley; First Color Bearer, Mrs. Eliz- abeth O'Neill; Second Color Bearer, Mrs. Ann Snyder; First Guard, Mrs. Anah Swauger; Second Guard, Mrs. Marguerite Selkirk; Pianist, Merrible Myers Irmiter; First Messenger Mrs. Bertha Moyer; Second Messenger, Mrs. Blanche Richardson; Trustee Mrs. Julia Daugherty.
Long active in Ravenna and Port- age County affairs has been Old Northwest Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution. It was organ- ized Feb. 22, 1901, by Mrs. Ellisef Reeves Beebe with 13 members which in 1956 had increased to 72.
In carrying out the general objec- tive of inculcation of patriotism, the chapter has accomplished much through local projects. These include setting up a marker for Captain Brady at Brady Lake; locating and marking graves of Revolutionary soldiers; assisting in naturalization classes; furnishing a room at the Hos- pital; presentation of American flags to various groups and places; conduct- ing a Good Citizenship contest; con- tribution of work and funds to various community drives. Mrs. Merrible My- ers Irmiter is Current Regent.
Ravenna Woodmen organized a lodge in 1898.
Loyal Order of Moose had a lodge first in 1891.
The Ravenna Cavalry Troop of the Ohioan National Guard was organized in 1920 with Perry Stevens as captain.
The Ravenna Lions Club was or- ganized in 1925.
Cressett Lodge, K. of P., Ravenna, was installed in 1886.
CHAPTER XXXV
Rootstown
By A. R. and GRACE L. HORTON
Two Connecticut men, Ephriam' Root and John Wyles, were first owners of the land now comprising Rootstown township. These men own- ed considerable more land elsewhere in the Reserve, and though Root was only a temporary resident, he gave the township its name. Wyles was not particularly interested here. Root was a native of Coventry, Conn., and was a graduate of Yale. At one time he served in the Connecticut legislature.
In the spring of 1800, together with a young man named Harvey Daven- port, Root came from Hartford and began to make improvements. They brought a surveyor named Nathaniel Cook to survey the township. It was subdivided into 48 lots, eight ranges of six lots each, with Lot No. 1 in the Southeast corner, then running north, then south, ending up with Lot 48 in the Southwest corner. Young Daven- port died while working here-Roots- town's first death.
In the spring of 1801, Root return- ed, bringing his brother David with him. This year they made substantial improvements on Lot 6, around Campbellsport. Root chose this lot because it lay near the Indian trail connecting the Ohio and Cuyahoga rivers. The brothers built a log house, but apparently it was on Lot 7. Na- than Muzzy came over from Deerfield to do the carpenter work. Though of logs, the house was two stories high. Helping to erect it were three families from Deerfield, one from Atwater
and one from Hudson. This house was both a residence and a tavern and a hospitable gathering place for early settlers during their first winter here, while their own cabins were being built. A sketch of Nathan Muzzy ap- pears elsewhere.
COMES TO STAY
In the fall of 1801 the Roots put in their crop of wheat and again re- turned "home" for the winter. In April, 1802, David Root came back and occupied the house built the year before, to be Rootstown's first permanent resident. Ephriam Root never considered himself a permanent resident. In the same year of 1802, Henry O'Neill and Samuel McCoy and families moved in from Pennsylvania and settled on Lot No. 3. Later the McCoys moved to Lot No. 28 near the well known McCoy Springs, building a cabin there. Ephriam Root had pre- viously offered a prize of 50 acres of land for the first white child born in the township and this was won by John McCoy, son of Samuel. A child born to the David Roots came on second best.
In the fall of 1802, Michael Hartle and Frederick Caris originally from Pennsylvania, came to town. Caris took Lot 43 west of Muddy Pond, and Hartle Lot 42 on the east side. Their descendents lived in that vicinity many years.
January of 1803 brought John Car- is, son of Frederick, and Arthur An- derson, both to be employed by Mr.
45l
452
PORTAGE HERITAGE
Root clearing land. In April John Caris, a brother of Frederick, and wife also settled at Muddy Lake. On May 2, Lydia Lyman, who lived with the David Root family, became the wife of Ashur Ely of Deerfield, Roots- town's first wedding. Squire David Hudson of Hudson tied the knot.
Arrivals in 1804 included Frederick Caris, Sr., father of Frederick, Jr. In the fall came the families of Thad- deus Andrews, Nathan Chapman and son Ephriam and Jacob, Charles and Abram Reed, brothers, all later prom- inent in affairs. Andrews selected a lot on the northwest corner at the center, which site he selected, but for a time he operated the Root tavern. The Chapmans selected Lot No. 4 in the east part of the township. Abram Reed selected Lot 15, east of the cen- ter, but later moved to the Center on Lot 22.
A barn built by Root in 1804 is said to have been the first frame building in Rootstown. The Mc- Whorter mill sawed the lumber and David Wright and Nathan Muzzy worked on it.
Coming in 1805 were Beman Chap- man and his brother David, and fam- ilies, and Stephen Colton and family. Beman Chapman was a manufacturer of brick. In 1806 came Gershom Bost- wick and family, and his parents, Ed- mund Bostwick and wife. When over 80, Edmund Bostwick rode horseback to Vermont via Philadelphia and back again, dying at 96. In this year also, Eliakim Merriman of Randolph mar- ried Hannah Russell, who had come with Mr. and Mrs. Thaddeus An- drews. The Calvin Ellsworth family arrived in July. In the fall came Al- pheus Andrews, two brother of Thad- deus; and Samuel Andrews, with their
families and Mary Whitney; and the Martin Bissells.
MOTHER WARD'S POND
Another character of importance coming this year was "Mother Ward," a woman of great physical strength and endurance. She came alone but she could do a man's work, settling in the northern part of the township. A lake near her home was known as "Mother Ward's Pond" or "Washtub." It is now Crystal Lake. In December, 1806, Mary Whitney, who had come with the Andrews families, married Nathan Chapman, Jr. The wedding, performed at the Root home, was a notable affair for those days. "All Trumbull county was there," they said. The bride later became known as "Aunt Polly", strongly opposed to the use of whiskey. When their house was built in 1832, Polly forbade the use of whiskey at the "raisin". Some said this couldn't be done, but workers came just the same, with the affair a success. She died at 99. Her husband, well known as a chair maker and in- ventor, died at 96. They had 12 chil- dren.
In 1807 there arrived Mr. and Mrs. Hiram Roundy; their adopted son G. H. R. Prindle; and Titus Belding, who soon married Lucy Bostwick, daughter of Gershom. Robt. Mc- Knight, who previously had bought 300 acres, brought his wife and son, Robert, Jr. They set up an orchard on their home east of the center. Wm. and James Alcorn, Irish bachelors, came with McKnight.
With the township thus populated, in 1808 two industries were started. A pottery was started by Ebenezer Bost- wick, on Lot 17, and a saw-mill was set up by Ephriam Root north of the Center. Arriving this year also were Philip Williard and Valentine Coos-
453
PORTAGE HERITAGE
Sandy Lake, later Stafford, was a popular place for recreation in other days. This is the hotel.
ard. Coosard lived to reach the age of 105. But George Austin, born that year, lived to be 106. As a young man, Austin carried mail on horseback be- tween Ravenna and Canton. Later he worked as a carpenter. Many pieces of furniture made by him are still ex- tant.
In the summer of this year, Ariel Case and James Wright cleared a piece of ground and sowed wheat. An imposing house was erected by Mr. Case and is still standing. During its life the house has been the scene of 17 births.
CARRIED TO GRAVE
In 1809 the Israel Coes settled in northwest Rootstown and William and Chauncey Newbury, brothers, se- lected homes west of the Center. Na- than Chapman, Sr., died this year at the age of 51. Because there was no road open, his body was carried from
his home to the Old Cemetery, a dis- tance of a mile.
In 1810 and 1811, arrivals from the East included Merriam Richardson, David Parker; Daniel and Reuben Hall and their families; Samuel Spel- man; Asa Seymour, Ashem Gurley; Robert J., Jr., David and Daniel Col- lins and their families. Spelman and Gurley settled in the east part of the township. Samuel Spelman had a son, Harvey B., who moved to Akron. Har- vey's daughter, Laura became the wife of John D. Rockefeller. Other de- scendents have been prominent in Portage county business.
Records of these early years are in- complete but the above include the names of those coming in the first ten years of township history. The clearings were small and homes were mostly log cabins.
Of those who first came in most
454
PORTAGE HERITAGE
were from Connecticut, Massachussets, New York and Pennsylvania. A few were born across the sea. Among those who arrived later were many of Rootstown's best citizens. They in- cluded the Olmsteds, the Hallocks, the Camps, the Holcombs, the Demings, the Seymours, the Houghs, the Par- sons, the Fraziers, the Bosworths, and the Whitneys. There were Squire Wright, first postmaster and justice of the peace many years; Dr. Bassett, first resident physician; the Bogues, the Baldwins, the Barlows, the But- lers, the Clarks, the Austins, the Pit- kins, the Cases and many others. They helped to make Rootstown what it is today.
Beginning about 1832 settlers of German descent came into the south- west part of town. Those from Penn- sylvania included Henry France, Jacob Brown, Joseph Jones and George Hipp. Among the Germans were Adam Kline, John Adam Kline, John Berlin, John Luli, Nicholas Knapp, Adam Schweigert, Charles Fisher, John Gauer, John Heisler, Peter Knapp, Adam Winkler and numerous others. They were excellent farmers, thrifty and hard working and con- tributed much to local prosperity.
COME FROM NANTUCKET
The summer of 1845 was long re- membered as the year when black erysipelas struck the community. Those taking the disease invariably died. Dr. Bassett himself was the first to die of it. At least 49 persons died in this epidemic.
The year of 1850 brought a notable band of migrants, when some 16 sea captains from Nantucket decided to seek homes here and in adjourning towns. The names include Captains John Rodgers, Albert Ray, Isaac Bray- ton, Gardner, William Whippey,
Josiah Whippey, Alexander Coffin, Barnard, Chase, Russell, Josiah Long, Geo. W. Greene, Phelps and Wyer. Later on, W. Victor Folger also came from Nantucket. Annual "Nantucket picnics" were held for many years.
In 1850 Rootstown's population was 1308, though it later dwindled. Some 7,000 acres of land were under cultiva- tion, with still more in pasture and woodland. Nearly every farm had a maple sugar "camp", ranging from 200 to 500 trees in size. For a time Rootstown was a center of apple, pear and peach orchard activity until a blight struck about 1900. Large oper- ators were George Prindle, William Camp, John Smith and John Chap- man.
In this time a great deal of butter and cheese was being made, the butter mainly in the homes. Cheese was fac- tory and home-made. In one year 200,- 000 pounds of cheese was produced with some 87,000 pounds of butter. Cheese making utensils were primi- tive but effective. In the '70s the Hor- ace Camp factory operated north of the station with H. F. Hudson west of the Center. It operated many years and Hudson had factories in other townships as well. In the present cen- tury the Reick-McJunkin Co. of Pitts- burgh were large purchasers and pro- ducers of certified milk. A carload of certified milk went out daily for Pitts- burgh. The "Reicks" were large em- ployers.
Soon after 1850 Noble Bradshaw ran a cooperage shop west of the Center and in 1853 Nelson Converse opened a general store at the Center- Rootstown's first mercantile establish- ment. Converse ran the store 40 years.
But Rootstown Station, or New Milford, as it was later called, had a general store, a grist and flour mill
455
PORTAGE HERITAGE
and later a saw-mill operated by An- son Bissell in partnership with Oscar Shewell. John Bean and helper, Mr. McLain, were skilled boot-makers there, and the Kraiss carriage shop did a good business. It was operated by Jacob Kraiss and his sons, Jake, An- drew and George. A large freight business was done on the C. & P. here. An electric trolley line paral- leled the railroad through Rootstown from about 1912 to 1932.
FIRST ELECTION
The first Rootstown election was held in 1810. Gershom Bostwick was chairman and Samuel Andrews and Jacon Reed were judges. Those elect- ed were: Alpheus Andrews, clerk; Gershom Bostwick, Frederick Caris, Jr., and Thaddeus Andrews, trustees; Samuel Andrews, justice of the peace. In 1812 trustees were Stephen Colton, Thaddeus Andrews and Frederick Caris, Jr .; Alpheus Andrews, clerk; with Israel Coe, Ephriam Chapman, Philip Williard and Stephen Colton, supervisors.
Current township trustees are Har- old Williams, Roy Armitage and G. W. Allen.
Many persons have served as justice of the peace. Work of this office in Portage County was taken over in 1954 by a county municipal court. The last Rootstown justice was A. R. Horton who was elected in 1920 and served continuously until Jan. 1, 1956.
A post-office was established at Rootstown in 1821. Postmasters since that time have been James Wright, Roman M. Butler, Otis Reed, Nelson Converse, Geo. W. Greene, Geo. W. Bow, Charlie M. Bow, Loren A. Min- er, Martin L. Stahl, Wallace P. Kim- mel, John M. Parham, Henry J. Mich- ael, Wm. D. Avery, Howard S. Blake,
Wm. S. Weldon, Hiram L. Peck and Gertrude Deming. The first, James Wright, held the office 20 years, oth- ers for shorter terms.
Rootstown people held a strong de- sire for education of their children from the first. The first step was taken early. It was in 1804 when Mrs. Ephriam Chapman taught her own children and several others during the summer. That fall David Root taught classes in a dwelling at Campbellsport, which a few Rootstown children at- tended. The first school open to all was that of Samuel Andrews in a log cabin at the Center in 1807-8. In 1815 men of the community erected a frame building just east of the park, to be used as a town hall, meeting house and school house. Various school mas- ters held forth there. It is said chil- dren reached the school by following a trail of blazed trees. The second school house was at the Station - considered wonderful because it was brick. Reading and writing and arith- metic were only subjects taught until 1831 when geography and grammar were added. Meantime the state legis- lature had enacted new laws which authorized the setting up of districts. Soon Rootstown had ten districts. A 1831 law permitted women to teach and Mrs. Marcus Spelman taught for 16 weeks for $16.00 and boarded at home.
FORM HIGH SCHOOL
In 1884 a two-story school building was erected south of the Center. It cost about $3,400 and had both high school and grade classes. Start of cen- tralization was made in 1909 when pupils from two districts were brought in and gradually other dis- tricts were absorbed so that by 1916 another building was necessary. This was a brick building just north of the
456
PORTAGE HERITAGE
Center. This was considered large then but by 1939 an addition was necessary.
Rootstown people are proud of their school. Added courses are music, manual arts, home economics and a commercial department. The school now has a 50-piece band which is con- sidered exceptionally good. In the manual arts department, a girl is en- rolled in mechanical drawing. Much interest is taken in athletics and nu- merous honors won. Howard Cook is principal today, with a teaching force of 27, two custodians, six buses and a present enrollment of 750. First grad- uating class (1893) numbered four. In 1955 there were 38 graduates.
Supporting the work of the schools is a Parent-Teacher Association said to be the largest in the county. It was organized in 1930, largely through the efforts of Ward W. Davis, then principal. First president was Mrs. Louise Kreachbaum. One of the proj- ects fostered was the instalment of lunch facilities which became a mod- ern school cafeteria. The Association has helped to obtain library facilities for the children; supported immuniza- tion and vaccination programs; urged summer kindergarten; helped raise money for playground equipment and other projects.
The P.T.A. membership has in- creased from 43 in 1930 to 568 in 1955. It has helped to create and main- tain harmonious relationship between home and school.
At present there are several church- es in Rootstown. At the Center, there are two - Congregational and Meth- odist.
CHURCH IN 1810
Early settlers were accustomed to church attendance back East. Here they began to assemble in private homes. In a frame building erected
for all meetings, the first church in the township was organized in 1810 with 14 members, under direction of Rev. Giles H. Cowles, a Congregation- al missionary from Connecticut. But there was no regular minister at first, so that members conducted their own meetings. The key for the singing was taken from a pitch pipe.
In 1815 the church, with 41 mem- bers, joined the Grand River Presby- tery but in 1818 transferred to the Portage Presbytery. The first regular pastor was Rev. Joseph Meriam who was installed in 1824 and by 1832 a new church had been erected and dedicated. One notes that in 1834 it was decided to buy a stove for the church. The first Sunday School (for children only) was organized in 1821. In 1842 the church voted to use un- fermented wine at communion. It soon took a strong anti-slavery stand and as a result joined the Puritan Conference in 1853.
The church continued to grow and in 1955 a membership of 277 was re- ported at the annual meeting. A total of 27 ministers have served the church. Among these have been E. E. Lamb, George Beach, T. G. Colton, H. W. Robinson, E. C. Partridge, T. L. Kiernan, Judson Townley and W. Roy LeGrow. Mr. Robinson served 14 years, the longest pastorate.
From this church four men have gone out to serve as ministers in other places. These are Joel M. Seymour, R. H. Bosworth, C. R. Seymour and Vernon H. Deming. Mrs. Sarah Sey- mour DeHahn has gone out as a mis- sionary.
Through the years changes and al- terations were being made in the orig- inal building, including stained glass, decorations, new floors, dining room and kitchen, new roof, metal ceiling,
PORTAGE HERITAGE
457
Rootstown Modern School Building.
bell and heating system. Growth of the church brought about plans for a large addition, with important al- terations, which was completed in 1955. Dedication exercises were held on Oct. 23, 1955. The church now bears a new memorial steeple. A pipe organ was a gift to this church by Mrs. John D. (Spelman) Rockefeller in 1897. A chapel was built in 1887 with windows donated by Mrs. Har- vey B. Spelman. Mrs. Julia Reed gave church pews in 1892.
A little more than ten years after Rootstown was settled, a blind local preacher named Henry Shewell or- ganized the first Methodist class in his home. Classes continued here more than a year and other meetings were held in various parts of the township. The present church building was be- gun in 1836, but in 1876 it was re- modeled. A balcony was removed and a new vestibule and spire built. A new bell, new pews and new ground glass windows were put in. The improve- ments cost $2,667.00. During the pas- torate of Rev. F. W. Hart a pipe or- gan was purchased and memorial win- dows replaced the old. These win-
dows bear the names of Camp, Chap- man, Everett, Lumley, Powers, Ladies Aid, Sunday School, Epworth League. In the pastorate of Rev. O. L. Wil- liams an addition was begun, complet- ed under the leadership of Dr. S. B. Bartlett in 1942, all made possible by a $1,000.00 bequest by John W. Lum- ley. Additional room was soon neces- sary and an addition was completed in 1950, giving the church Sunday School rooms, rest rooms, kitchen and recreational facilities much needed. This expansion program was helped by a bequest of $1,000.00 from the estate of Mrs. Lena Andrews Cress. Dedication services were held in Aug- ust, 1950, Rev. D. L. Springer, pastor.
EARLY PASTORS
Names prominent in the early church membership included Sylves- ter Jerome, Wilkes Payne, and Alvin Bissell. The first pastor was Rev. Ira Eddy. Others were Rev. A. Reeves and Rev. F. Carr. Fruitful revivals came in the pastorates of Rev. Kings- bury and Rev. W. Whyte. Many new members were added. From time to time gifts of $100.00 have been made or left to the church. One, from Mary
458
PORTAGE HERITAGE
Amick, was used to purchase new hymnals. Mrs. Catherine McGee and Mrs. Lena Litsinger also left bequests.
The church has made far-reaching contributions to the community and her people have been intensely inter- ested in sending the gospel to other places.
Of the Germans who came into Rootstown in the early 1800s, many professed the Catholic religion. For years it was necessary for them to travel to St. Joseph's in Randolph to worship. After the Civil War they wanted to build their own church, nearer home. Permission was obtained and in Dec. 1866, an acre of land was bought from Adam and Catherine Winkler, between the Breakneck Creek bridges on Old Forge road. First parish trustees were Adam Kline, Francis Gauer, Martin Miller, Mich- ael Bills and Geo. Gouthier. The cem- etery now back of the church received its first burial in 1867, before the church was built, which event took place in 1868. With the Gothic style church was a class room for the pur- pose of schooling and religious in- struction.
ST. PETER'S OF FIELDS
St. Peter's was served as a mission church of St. Joseph's from 1866 to 1899, at which time a resident pastor, Father John J. Boyle, came, serving until 1900. The church has been min- istered by many fine pastors after this, namely: Rev. Timothy O'Connell and Rev. Fr. Kirch. Then came the well beloved Father John Lindesmith who resided at St. Peter's. In 1919 Rev. Louis Le Miller came and was suc- ceeded by Rev. Anthony Battes, Rev. Siegfried Heyl, and Rev. Walter J. Fowler, who is buried at St. Peter's. Rev. Robert Delmege served 1940-54
and Rev. Joseph Tomach has served to the present.
Old St. Peter's, off the beaten high- way, down a side road, still among the fields, has grown to be a beauty spot of the Youngstown Diocese, and is now known as St. Peter's of The Fields.
The United Brethren denomination erected a church at the Station about 1879. The congregation was small and the ministers who served the church did so at a personal sacrifice. It is now known as the New Milford Commun- ity House, but Sunday services are held under the auspices of the Chris- tian and Missionary Alliance organ- ization.
In the summer of 1935 a group now known as the Christian Assembly began meeting, and for several years used the Town Hall. Recently they bought and remodeled a building east of the Center, where they now hold services. Herman W. Reusch was or- ganizer and leader of this group.
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.