Twentieth Century History of Youngstown and Mahoning County Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 29

Author: Sanderson, Thomas W
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago, Ill., Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 993

USA > Ohio > Mahoning County > Youngstown > Twentieth Century History of Youngstown and Mahoning County Ohio and Representative Citizens > Part 29

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Two teachers are employed, with an occa- sional third assistant. The school aims to fit its pupils for college, or to become teachers in the public schools. There are from thirty to fifty students in attendance. The present principal, T. S. Orr, has had charge of the school for several years. Other recent prin- cipals have been H. J. Clark, Rev. William Dickson, D. D., W. B. McCarthy, Walter Houston, and Harvey Gault.

POLAND TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS.

The carly schools of Poland were very much the same as those in other parts of the county. A small log school house was started as early as 1801. Another school was started in Struthers at an early date. At Poland Cen- ter there was a small school house, that in early days had an average of about forty scholars. On special occasions, such as singing school or other meetings, it was made to accommodate one hundred. Among the early teachers were Perly Brush, Rev. Mr. Cook and James An- derson.

The present superintendent, M. A. Kimmel, took charge of the public schools of Poland village in April, 1880. At that time there were two teachers employed. A third teacher was added to the force at the beginning of the winter term in 1880. In 1882 and 1883 a four room brick building was constructed at a cost of $10,000, including furniture. In 1884 the schools were graded and a fourth teacher was employed. In 1888 a three years' high school course was added, and a fifth teacher was secured. The attendance is from 125 to 160. The high school numbers from fifteen to twenty students. Fifty-two gradu- ates in all have gone out from the institute. Miss Lizzie McNabb, afterward Mrs. J. R. Stewart, for fourteen years a most successful and beloved teacher, died about ten years ago.

LOWELLVILLE.

Lowellville is a thriving village situated on both sides of the Mahoning river, in Poland township, and with picturesque hills on either hand. It has excellent transportation facilities, both steam and electric, being on the lines of the Pennsylvania Railroad, the Pittsburg & Lake Erie, the Baltimore & Ohio, and the Ma- honing Valley Electric Railway Co. Its growth began at about the time of the completion of the Pennsylvania and Ohio canal, and was much accelerated by the mining of coal, and by the erection of the Lowellville furnace by Wilk- inson, Wilkes & Co. in 1846. The village had

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been laid out about ten years previously by Mr. Wick and others. In 1840 the postoffice was established, with S. H. McBride as the first postmaster.

John McGill built the first gristmill in the place, and Robert McGill was proprietor of the first sawmill. A larger gristmill was erected in 1838 by William Watson and John S. Hun- ter, and was operated by them until 1866, when is passed into other hands. The Hope flourmill was established by James Brown about 1857 and after his death came into pos- session of and was conducted by his heirs. A tannery was started by Wilson and Crawford about 1844, and was rebuilt two years later by William Moore, who carried on the business until 1874, after which it went out of opera- tion.

The Mt. Nebo coal mine was opened about 1828 by Elijah Stevenson, and subsequently passed through various hands, at one time be- ing extensively worked by the Lowellville Fur- nace Company to obtain coal for use in their iron works. It was finally abandoned because the water became too deep for successful oper- ations. Other mines have been successfully worked at different times in the history of the village.

The Lowell Coal Mining Company, em- ploying about thirty-five men, are now en- gaged in the mining of block coal, their output being about seventy tons per day. Jacob Stambaugh is president and C. N. Clingen sec- retary and treasurer.

The Meehan Boiler and Construction Company was organized in 1897 by Robert Gray, Patrick, Paul, and James Meehan, and John Meehan, a nephew of the other three Mechans. The business, which is incorporated with a capital stock of $50,000 was at first a partnership, and was known as the Meehan Boiler Co. The five partners purchased the present site of their factory, upon which stood an old sawmill, which they also purchased to- gether with the creamery which stood on the adjacent lot. They at first employed about 25 or 30 men, which number has since been in- creased to 200. Their principal output is the

Mechan boiler, but in addition they do a great deal of iron and steel construction work, in- cluding the building of blast furnaces, the busi- ness amounting to about $200,000 per year. The present officers of the company are, Pat- rick Meehan, president; Robert Gray, vice- president and general manager; James Mee- han, Jr., secretary and treasurer.

The Ohio Iron & Steel Company, of Low- ellville was established about 1842, by Wilk- inson, Wilkes & Co., and was the first furnace in the United States to smelt iron ore with raw coal. In 1879 Henry Wick made an examina- tion of the furnace plant located at Lowellville, then owned by William McCreary, the estate of Thomas Bell, and J. S. Dillworth, at which time an option was taken on the property, and later the plant was purchased. The organiza- tion was effected with directors and officers as follows: Directors-Paul Wick, John C. Wick, Myron C. Wick, Thomas H. Wells, Henry Wick and Robert Bentley. March II, 1880, the following officers were elected : Thomas H. Wells, president; Henry Wick, vice-president : Robert Bentley, secretary and treasurer. The executive committee was Thomas H. Wells, Henry Wick and Myron C. Wick. The present officers are, Robert Bent- ley, president and general manager; David Davis, secretary; Fred H. Wick, treasurer. The directors are, Robert Bentley, Myron C. Wick, Samuel Mather, John C. Wick, W. S. McCombs, David Davis, F. H. Wick, T. F. Woodman, and Richard Garlick. The com- pany is extensively engaged in the manufac- ture of Bessemer pig iron. About 180 men being employed.

The Lowellville Savings and Banking Company was incorporated March 8, 1906, with a capital of $30,000, the company taking over the business of the Lowellville Bank, which had been founded in 1905 by a few New Castle ( Pennsylvania) capitalists.

The Bessemer Limestone Company, whose plant is situated just outside the limits, are en- gaged in the quarrying of limestone for fur- nace use and ballast, having a capacity of 5,000 tous per day. They employ about 500 men.

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SCHOOLS.

Lowellville is a special school district, with two schools. W. C. Dickson is the present clerk of the Board of Education. The North Side school is the larger, having eight rooms. The principal is D. W. Mumaw, with Auley McAuley as assistant. There are besides four other teachers, Misses Ibbie Dickson, Lizzie Houston, Maude Lotz and Clara Elliott. The South Side School, which has two rooms, is taught by Margaret McCabe and Edith Fer- guson.

CHURCHES.

Lowellville has now four churches, the Catholic, Methodist Episcopal, Presbyterian, and Christian. The two last named having no regular pastor, the Methodish church being supplied from Youngstown, and the Christian church from Warren.

Holy Rosary Mission Church .- The erec- tion of a Catholic church at Lowellville was first proposed about 1867, some twenty Catho- lic families having taken up their residence in the place, owing to the building of the Ashta- bula & Pittsburg Railroad, and also the start- ing of a furnace. The foundation was begun in 1868, but owing to the failure of the above named furnace most of the Catholics left Lowellville, and the building of the church was indefinitely postponed. It was not resumed until 1882, when the village began to revive from its long period of financial depression, the furnace was reopened and two new rail- roads were commenced. Father Franche then took up the work commenced in 1868. collect- ing funds along the railroads, at the furnaces, and in the neighboring stone quarries. The church was built in 1884. It is a neat brick structure, 26x56 feet. Mass was celebrated in it for the first time Christmas day, 1884. It was dedicated August 15, 1888, by Mgr. F. M. Boff, V. G. Father P. F. Obyrne is the present pastor.

The origin of the Lowellville Presbyterian church is found in the Free Presbyterian

church, which was organized by Abolitionists who were dissatisfied with the attitude of the Presbyterian church on the subject of slavery. It was the first congregation of that denomin- ation organized in this vicinity, and was atten- ded by the anti-slavery people of Poland, Mt. Jackson, New Bedford, Coitsville, and the in- termediate country. The first meetings at Low- ellville were held by Rev. John D. Whitham, in the summer of 1848, in the old McGillsville school-house, on Jackson street. In the winter of 1848 the place of meeting was changed to Liggett's warehouse, on Canal street, and early in 1849 the church was organized. Rev. John D. Whitham was the first minister. James S. Moore and Jolin M. Porter were the first elders, and Elias King, John McFarland and James S. Moore were the first trustees. On February 5, 1850, the present site was pur- chased from James Duncan, and the church building was raised May 9, 1850. Rev. Whit- ham continued as pastor from 1849 to 1857. Rev. W. Bushnell was stated supply for six months, and was succeeded by Rev. J. C. Bing- ham, stated supply, from October, 1858, to- December, 1864, after which a Rev. Mr. Mc- Elhaney was stated supply until the disband- ment of the Free Church, on the adoption of the Fourteenth amendment to the Constitution of the United States. In 1865 or 1866 most of the Lowellville congregation united with the new school branch of the Presbyterian church, North, and were placed under the jurisdiction of the Pittsburg Presbytery. The Rev. J. Franklin Hill was pastor for two or three years during the time that the congregation was under the jurisdiction of the New School Presbyterian church. He was followed by a Rev. Mr. Johnston, stated supply, after which all religious services by this denomination ceased until 1876, when the church was revived and reorganized by Rev. Mr. Wishart. Rev. J. C. Kreusch was stated supply from June of that year until 1882, and was followed by Rev. J. H. Jones, from April, 1883, to April, 1884. In 1884 the church again became dormant. A Union Sunday-school by Presbyterians was, however, continued until 1888, when it was

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divided, part going to the Methodist church and part remaining in the Presbyterian church and becoming the Sabbath school of the present congregation, which may be said to date from the revival and reorganization of 1888. In this year revival meetings were held and the church greatly strengthened and built up. Rev. Robert Stranahan was stated supply from April, 1889, to April, 1893, and was followed in 1894 by Elmer E. Patterson who continued for two years. During his charge the old church building was practically rebuilt and re- furnished and many new members received in- to the church. Just as the improvements were finished the building was wrecked by a storm, but was immediately repaired and fitted up as it now stands. In 1895 the Sunday school was reorganized on its present basis, with Mr. D. A. Pence as its first superintendent, who con- tinued in office until 1901. June 3, 1896, the congregation was incorporated under the style of "The First Presbyterian Church at Lowell- ville, Ohio," the first meeting of the members of the corporation being held in the Town Hall, June 18, 1896, when the corporation was organized and a temporary board of trustces chosen. In October, 1896, all the real estate and property of the conregation was trans- ferred to the congregation.

Rev. James W. Harvey became regular pastor, May 18, 1897, of the Lowellville and Coitsville congregations, at which time the church had a membership of sixty-seven. During his pastorate a large number were re- ceived into the church. The present pastor is W. D. Harrell.

The Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor was organized in 1897 with Mr. W. B. Moore as its first president. The Woman's Missionary Society came into existence in 1897; Mrs. Jane McCombs was its first presi- dent. Both societies have done good and effec- tive work along the lines for which they were organized.

Lowellville has a Volunteer Fire Depart- ment, established in 1903. and consisting of twenty-five men. A. E. Schrader, police- officer, serves also as chief of the fire de-

partment. The present mayor is Thomas F. Varlcy.

STRUTHERS.

John Struthers, from whom this village is named, arrived October 19, 1799, from Washington county, Pennsylvania, and bought land on which a large part of the village of Struthers is now situated, which he converted into a farm. He was accompanied by his fam- ily, and in 1801 became the father of a son, Ebenezer, who was the first white male child born in the township. Mr. Struthers built a flouring mill on Yellow Creek, the first in the township, and one of the first on the Western Reserve. He was also engaged with Mr. Montgomery in building and operating a blast furnace on the same creek, a short distance from its mouth, which was operated until the war of 1812. His son, Lieutenant Alexander Struthers, died at Detroit, in 1813, while in the service of his country. Two other sons, John and Thomas, were long respected residents of the community. An account of the early fur- nace above mentioned may be found the chap- ter on the coal and iron industries. In Febru- ary, 1826, two daughters of John Struthers, Drusilla and Emma, who were then residing. with their father in Coitsville, were drowned while attempting to cross the Mahoning river, near the mouth of Yellow Creek, in a skiff, being carried over the dam, owing, it was thought, to a defective rowlock. The body of Emma, the younger daughter, was not found for six weeks afterwards. They were mem- bers of the United Presbyterian Church at Poland Center, and their tragic death, na- turally cast a gloom over the community.

MANUFACTURES.

The Struthers Furnace Co. was estab- lished April 1, 1869, by Thomas Struthers, John Stambaugh, Thomas W. Kennedy, and John Stewart. Subsequently Daniel B. Stam- bangh and H. T. Stewart were admitted as partners. The firm was known as "Struthers

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Iron Company," and was so operated until February 1, 1882, at which time the plant was sold to the Brown-Bonnell Iron Co. In 1896 another change of ownership was made, the plant coming into the possession and under the control of "The Struthers Iron Company." The company also has a plant in Struthers which manufactures cements for all kinds of concrete and similar work.

The Morgan Spring Company, of Struth- ers, was organized in 1905, with a capital stock of $700,000. In the main factory at Struthers are manufactured wire rods, wire nails, staples, and other wire articles. About 250 men are employed at the works.

The J. A. and D. P. Cooper Co. was es- tablished, in 1888, by J.A. and D. P. and John Cooper, the last named being an uncle of the two first partners mentioned, all being resi- dents of Coitsville. In 1892 the concern was incorporated with a capital stock of $50,000, The directors include the officers of the com- pany with the addition of Charles R. Trues- dale. The company is engaged in the manu- facture of carriage gear-woods and ironed parts, its product being shipped to all parts of the United States and Canada. The works give employment to about 100 men.

The Struthers Savings & Banking Com- pany was established in July, 1902, with a capital stock of $50,000, paid in. The com- pany, which is in a prosperous condition, owns its own building, a brick structure, 33x80 feet and two stories high, the upper floors being used for lodge purposes by the Knights of Pythias and other fraternal orders.

SCHOOLS.

The Struthers school district embraces, be- sides the village, a small portion of the country territory, but all the school buildings are lo- cated in the village. Of these there are now five, four being small buildings of a single room each that have long been in use. The other is a large, new brick building of eight commodius rooms, which is just being com- pleted at a cost of $40,000. Upon its occu- pation, two of the other school buildings will

be continued in use, and probably three of them, thus furnishing ample accommodations to the scholars in the district. The school en- numeration shows a total of 750 pupils, while the actual school enrollment is about 500. The new building will be used as a high school, be- sides, including the common grades. Two, and possibly four, new teachers will be engaged this fall ( 1907). W. P. Moody is the sup- erintendent.

St. Nicholas Mission Church (Catholic) .- Struthers was first attended as a station, from 1865 to 1870, by Rev. J. J. Begel from New Bedford, Pennsylvania. In 1870 a lot was secured, and on it the present frame church was built, in 1871, by the Rev. H. D. Best, then resident pastor of St. Joseph's church, Youngstown. The Rev. P. McCaffrey, of Brier Hill, was the next priest in charge of the Mission, until April, 1872. He was succeeded by the Rev. F. J. Henry, who also attended it from Brier Hill until November of the same year. It was attached to St. Columba's, Youngstown; for some months in 1873, and later again to St. Joseph's, Youngstown, whence it was visited monthly. In July, 1881, the Rev. N. J. Franche, chaplain of the convent at Villa Maria, Pennsylvania, was given charge of Struthers as a Mission. In October, 1888, Struthers was made a mission of the church at Haselton (now Sacred Heart church, Youngstown) and has been attended since then by Rev. G. Leeming.

The Poland United Presbyterian Church, at Struthers, was founded as long ago as 1804, the first church building being erected about 1812. About 1830 the original building gave place to a brick structure, which in turn was superseded by the present structure in 1849. All these buildings were located first at Poland Center, the present building having been taken down and removed to Struthers in 1884. The church has a membership of 240; Rev. J. A. C. McQuiston is pastor. Other officers are as follows: Members of session- Alexander Gault, H. T. Cowden, Edward Ryan, John J. Hill, Edward Robinson and D. H. Stewart ; trustees-E. C. Harris, John L. Becker, John Shafer and R. M. Cooper;

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president of the church organization-D. P. Cooper.

SMITH TOWNSHIP

Smith township is situated in the southwest corner of Mahoning County, the greater part of the township lying west of the general west- ern boundary line formed by the two town- ships to the north of it-Milton and Berlin. The surface is undulating, and in the north- eastern part hilly. The most depressed por- tion of the township is at and around the cen- ter, the land rising as it approches the boun- daries. The township is drained by the Ma- honing river, which passes through the south- western portion, and by its tributaries.

The first settlement in Smith township, of which there is any record, was made by James Carter, of Pennsylvania, who, having pur- chased some land in the Western Reserve, of which the north line of Smith township forms part of the southern boundary, in 1803, built a log house, and made some improvements on what he. supposed was his land. In the fol- lowing year he discovered that he had by mis- take settled on a tract (of 640 acres, govern- ment section 3) that had been purchased by William Smith, who arrived with his family in the year last named. Smith paid Carter for the improvements he had made, and the latter removed to the tract which he had in fact purchased. The first permanent settler, therefore, was Smith, who resided in the town- ship for many years, dying in 1841, at the age of seventy-three; his wife survived him four years, dying at the age of seventy-two. Their remains were interred in the family burying ground, near the present village of North Ben- ton.

In 1805 James C. Stanley, of Hanover County, Virginia, who was probably the sec- ond settler in Smith township, made his ap- pearance, accompanied by his wife and a fam- ily of eight children. He located on section 24, which he had purchased from the govern- ment, and which was afterwards called the "Stanley neighborhood." We have no record of any more settlers for several years, though

it is by no means unlikely that there were some, either permanent or otherwise. In the years 1811 and 1812 other Stanleys from Hanover County, Virginia, arrived, together with Joshua Crew, who had married Millie, daughter of Thomas Stanley. The last named -Thomas Stanley-who came in 1812, was accompanied by his family, which included three sons-John, who died in 1877; Elijah, who died in 1836; Edmund. who died in 1842 - and two daughters - Millie, above men- tioned, and Frances, who became the wife of Isaac Votaw and died in 1818. Thomas Stan- ley afterwards married a second wife, Pris- cilla Ladd, by whom he had five children.

The township was settled but slowly, as by 1828 it contained but twenty-three voters. A number of subsequent residents settled tem- porarily before coming to Smith. Thus, Levi and Rebecca Rakestraw, who came from New Jersey in 1812, located first in Goshen, where they lived until 1825, then becoming perma- nent settlers of Smith. Nathan Heacock, also, who settled in Salem, Columbiana County, in 1816, came to Smith township in 1825, bring- ing with him a good old-fashioned family of ten children. James Cattell, of New Jersey, who settled in Goshen in 1810, removed to Smith in 1833, and remained until his death in 1860. Gideon Hoadley, with his wife and children settled in Smith in 1823. His daugh- ter, Maria, married John Detchon, who came here from Trumbull County in 1822. Sam- uel Oyster located on section 31 in 1826, being the first settler in the western part of the town- ship. He contributed to the population of the township a family of fourteen children. An- other man with a large family was Peter Wise, who came from Pennsylvania in 1832. In the following year came James M. Dobson, with his wife and one child-John. Other early settlers were William Atkinson, who came from Goshen; Solomon Hartzell, Hugh Wright, William Johnston, Job Lamborn, Christian Sheets, Jacob Paxton, Jolin Thompson, Jona- than Hoope, John Trago, Matthias Hollow- peter, John Cowgill, Abram Haines, Hugh Packer, Abram and Samuel Miller, Leonard Reed, Adam McGowan, John Hillerman,

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John Shaffer, William Matthews and Amos Allerton.

ORGANIZATION.

Smith township was organized at a meet- ing of the Columbiana County commissioners in March, 1821, upon the petition of Judge William Smith, one of its pioneers, in honor .of whom it was named. The books of the township, containing records of the first meet- ings, and of the election of the first officers, are lost or destroyed. James C. Stanley was probably clerk of the first town meeting.

NORTH BENTON.

This village was formally laid out in March, 1834, settlements in the locality hav- ing been made as early as 1830. It was named in honor of Thomas Benton, a re- nowned statesman and "hard-money" Demo- crat of the period, the word North being pre- fixed in order to distinguish it from another place of the same name. The first hotel was built in 1832 and called "The Benton Ex- ·change."

WESTVILLE.

Westville was named and partially laid out in 1831, under the proprietorship of Aaron Coppack, and then consisted of part of sec- tions 35 and 36. An addition was made in 1835, the enlarged plat being recorded Oc- tober 15, 1835.

BELOIT.

Beloit commenced its existence as a station on the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad, and was originally called Smithfield Station, the name being changed to Beloit in 1863.

SEBRING.

The thriving little city of Sebring was founded by the four Sebring brothers-George E., Oliver H., Elsworth H. and Frank A. Se- bring-natives of Pennsylvania, and sons of George and Elizabeth (Larkins) Sebring, who had in all ten children. The parents removed

to East Liverpool, Columbiana County, Ohio, in 1866, where the boys secured in part their education, and a practical knowledge of the pottery trade. Frank A. and George E. Se- bring were engaged in the pottery business in East Palestine, Ohio, as proprietors of the Ohio China Company for several years. In 1895 the four brothers mentioned originated the French China Company, building a plant at East Liverpool. In July, 1899, they con- solidated their interests, purchased two thou- sand acres of land in Smith township, just over the Columbiana County line, and platted the city of Sebring. Here in 1900 they erected their first plant-that of the Olive China Com- pany. They then sold their several plants in Columbiana County and organized the Se- bring Pottery Company. They subsequently added other plants until the various buildings now cover many acres of ground, giving em- ployment to about 1200 workmen. The com- pany manufactures a high grade of decorative porcelain ware, and the value of their annual output exceeds $1,750,000. They have devel- oped a flourishing city, with paved streets, flagstone walks, electric lights, and water works-one that is ideal both of the artisan and the man of wealth. The pay roll of the company runs from $12,000 to $14,000 per week. The receipts of the railroad depot for freight and passengers amount to from $10,- 000 to $11,000 per month. A cooperage com- pany connected with the potteries gives em- ployment to twenty-five men, their product supplying home needs with some for export. The Buckeye Forge Works is engaged in the manufacture of drop forgings and a special closed turnbuckle.

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Twentieth Century History of Youngstown and Mahoning County Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 29

Author: Sanderson, Thomas W Publication date: 1907 Publisher: Chicago, Ill., Biographical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 993

Author: Sanderson, Thomas W
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago, Ill., Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 993