USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > Jefferson County, Pennsylvania : her pioneers and people, 1800-1915, Volume I > Part 94
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OFFICIALS
D. J. Plotner, of Munderf. D. Varner, of Richardsville, and Noah Webster, of Munderf. were elected school directors of the township November 2, 1915 ; at the same election. C. A. Sharp, of Munderf, was chosen supervisor : and D. O. Dixon, of Pueblo, constable.
SOLDIERS' REUNIONS
.A grove on the Ezekiel Dixon farm in Polk township has been the scene of several en- joyable picnics for the old soldiers. The first gathering was held on August 17, 1010, and the second in September, 1914, when the invi- tation was extended to everybody, with a spe- cial request for the presence of the old soldiers. It was a basket picnic, but the okl soldiers took no provender with them, as Mr. Dixon had perfected arrangements for feeding them. And the provision made for them was most generous. There was enough for all, and enough for many more. By eleven o'clock most of the company had gathered. Before dinner there was a short program of recita- tions by the boys and girls of the neighbor- hood. The exercises were good, well desery- ing of praise. The dinner served was abun- dant and excellent. After all had caten to the
full there was enough to feed more than had caten. A platform was erected for speakers, and seats for hearers. W. L. McCracken took charge of the meeting immediately after dinner, and after a short address introduced Judge Reed, who spoke briefly. Dr. McKnight was then introduced, but had little more than commenced his address when a rain came on, which compelled the company to take shelter in Mr. Dixon's house and barn. The rain fell in a copious stream for an hour, ending the picnic. However, the day had been pleas- antly spent so far, and every one felt well re- paid for going.
Several hundred persons came to this pic- nic, and among them thirty-four soldiers of the Civil war. Following is the list of soldiers who were present: Robert Disert, Twenty- second Pennsylvania ; R. W. Shaffer, Sixty- second Pennsylvania ; William Kirkman, Eighty-second Pennsylvania; Al Hawk, One Hundred and Fourth Pennsylvania; Capt. S. 1. Craig. W. 11. H. Manners, Lewis Rhodes, One Hundred and Fifth Pennsylvania; A. Dixon, John McMurray, One Hundred and Thirty-fifth Pennsylvania : John W. Smith, J. W. DeMotte. S. Swineford. John Milliron, One Hundred and Forty-eighth Pennsylvania ; B. G. Carnahan, One Hundred and Ninety- ninth Pennsylvania ; - - English, B. W. Reitz, R. E. Gilligan, Two Hundred and Sixth Pennsylvania ; Ezekiel Dixon, J. T. Alford, Fulton Schaffner, James Mackey. Two Hun- dred and Eleventh Pennsylvania ; H. MeKillip, Second Pennsylvania Cavalry ; Shannon Mc- Fadden, Elias W. Jones, George McDowel, Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry ; G. E. Luther. Fourteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry; Thomas Mclaughlin, Ed. MeLaughlin, Eighteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry; William Gilbert, Sec- ond Pennsylvania Battalion; Robert Kelley ; W. J. Mcknight, Fifty-seventh Pennsylvania, United States Emergency Volunteers ; S. R. Milliron, Eighteenth U. S. Infantry ; John W. Walker, Ninety-eighth Ohio; William Was- son, One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Ohio.
The third pienie was held on Thursday, September 9. 1915, when the attendance was about four hundred, including about thirty- five veterans from Brookville and the sur- rounding country. Two ball games were played, and the Richardsville band furnished excellent music during the day. Among the leading speakers of the day were Dr. W. J. MeKnight, toastmaster, Hon. John W. Reed, W. L .. MeCracken, Esq., and Capt. S. A. Craig, all of Brookville.
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A PIONEER OF POLK
JOHN DIXON, JR., was the fourth child of John Dixon, Sr., and Sarah (Armstrong) Dixon. John, Jr., was born November 20, 1807. in a log cabin on the old homestead. About the year 1812 young Dixon attended a term of school in a log cabin schoolhouse, with greased paper windows, near Kirkman, under Master John Kilgore. His book was Dill- worth's speller. A year or two later he went to the same school under Master Kiscadden. In his teens his father sent him through a deep wilderness, where scarce the sun could cast a ray along a winding path, to Indiana, Pa., where he attended a term of school, do- ing chores for his boarding. Three short terms of subscription school (under the law of 1809) is all the schooling young Dixon had.
In 1828 he and four others founded a "Methodist class" in an old log barn, then owned by David Butler, on the North Fork at the head of what is now A. W. Cook's dam. This was the beginning of the M. E. Church of Brookville. John Dixon, Jr., was a faith- ful, devoted Methodist for over seventy-two years. Born, reared and having always lived in the county, he witnessed all our pioneer struggles, and witnessed and enjoyed all the blessings and prosperity. Marvelous the changes.
On November 12, 1832, John Dixon, Jr., married Lydia Adams. The rite was per- formed in Brookville by Hon. Elijah Heath, a pioneer and prominent Methodist. Thirteen children were born to this union, of whom sev- eral are now living. In 1838 he moved his family from Brookville to a farm, late the Rose township poor farm. In 1840 he leased the right to mine coal on this property for five years. His output the first year was about five hundred bushels. He paid one cent roy- alty for each bushel. The vein was about three
feet thick and in operating he drifted. He sold his coal at the bank for three cents a bushel, each and every bushel being measured in a "bushel box." The late Gabriel Vas- binder, of Brookville, delivered this coal to customers in this wise: For delivering a load Vasbinder's pay was a load at the bank. Dixon wheeled his coal from the drift in an ordinary wheelbarrow. About 1847 some miners used a barrow made something like a tricycle, with three wheels-one in front and two behind. In this barrow about four or six bushels could be loaded. About 1852 my friend, the late Jacob Mineweaser, of Brookville, introduced the wooden railroad, on the cars of which about eight bushels could be loaded and removed. Dixon's customers in 1840 were Riddleberger, the blacksmith, John Pierce, the tavernkeeper, John Heath, William Jack and a few others, all of whom burned their coal in grates. The county buildings used wood for fuel until 1845. In 1848 Jolin Dixon, Jr., moved to a farm in what is now Polk township, occupied to-day by his son Ezekiel. In 1857, when the town- ship of Polk was organized, John Dixon was elected supervisor. He held the office of con- stable in this township altogether for a period of twelve years. In addition to being a devout Methodist, he was an active Republican, read the daily Pittsburgh Times, and was alive to the interests of the country. In stature he was five feet high, of slight build, never weighed over one hundred and forty pounds ; in dispo- sition cheerful, fond of company and happy ; had all his faculties, and read without spec- tacles ; never tasted tea or coffe until after he was ten years old. He never drank any whisky or beer, never smoked a pipe or a cigar, or chewed any tobacco, in his life. John Dixon, Jr., died in 1903, aged about ninety- seven years. He was a good man and lived a Christian life. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."
CHAPTER XLIII
OLIVER TOWNSHIP .
ORGANIZATION-SETTLEMENT-INDUSTRIES - SCHOOL, CHURCHI, CEMETERY-FIRST ELECTION- PRESENT OFFICIALS-PIONEER TAXABLES-POPULATION - MILITARY COMPANY - SQUIRREL IJUNT-A TRAGEDY
Oliver township, named in honor of Oliver II. Perry, was organized in 1851, and was taken from Perry. It is bounded on the north by Knox and Rose townships, on the east by McCalmont and Young townships, on the south by Perry township and on the west by Beaver and Ringgold townships.
SETTLEMENT-INDUSTRIES
The first settler in what is now Oliver town- ship was Reuben Hickox, who came in 1822. He was a hunter as well as farmer. Other pioneer settlers were William Newcome, in 1825; John Jones, in 1826; Peter Depp, in 1828; Samuel Catheart and William Hadden, in 1831. Mr. Hadden was a hunter of some note, having killed in his lifetime in Jefferson county over six hundred deer, besides many bears, elk and other game. He followed lum- bering, and farmed quite extensively. Alex- ander and William Mckinstry, Adam Dob- son and Samuel Gaston located there in 1833; James Gray, about 1836; Jacob Rishel, in 1837: George Stewart, in 1838, and the Coul- ters, in 1841.
Coolspring, Oliveburg and Sprankle Mills were the pioneer villages. All have post offices now, as well as Markton. The pioneer store was opened at Coolspring by James Gray. David Frank opened a store in 1846 at Sprankle Mills. Frederick Sprankle, from Indiana county, built the first gristmill in 1833 at or near the junction of Big run and Kel- lar's run. The first sawmill was built near this gristmill by John Sprankle. John McKee erected a carding machine in 1846, near Me- Kinstry's, the present site of Coolspring. The first tannery was at Oliveburg and was owned by Joseph M. Elder.
In 1878 Sprankle Mills was called Fred- ericksburg, the post office, however, retaining the old name.
SCHOOL, CHURCHI, CEMETERY
The first schoolhouse was built of logs, and was located at the crossroads, near the res- idence of William Newcome. The Cumber- land Presbyterians built the first church in the township, locating it at Oliveburg in 1854. Rev. D. A. Cooper preached in it at some period in its history. The first graveyard was located on the farm of John Kellar. The sec- ond one was laid out at Oliveburg in 1853.
FIRST ELECTION
The first election was held in the township in 1851, when the first township officers were elected as follows: Justice of the peace, John Scott; constable, John Ferguson ; supervisors, Samuel Gaston and Robert Reed; assessor, William Hadden ; auditors, John P. McKee, Joseph Manners, Peter Depp; poor overseers, George Cochran and II. Doverspike: school directors, Samuel Jordan, George W. Shaffer, Matthew Barr, Henry Hoch, George C. Mc- Kec ; township clerk, William B. Mckinstry ; judge of election, William P. Gaston; in- spectors, George Newcome and George Man- ners.
PRESENT OFFICIALS
On Nov. 2, 1915, the following officials were elected to serve in Oliver township : School directors, O. C. Smith and John Alcorn; supervisor, Jacob Glontz; constable, J. W. Rodgers.
THE PIONEER TAXABLES
Personal assessment in Oliver township in 1852 showed the following taxables: Abra- ham Burkett: Henry Barr, two oxen; Hugh Brown, cow; William Brown, horse, cow;
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JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Jacob Burkett; Henry Brown, two horses, two cows; Samuel Burkett, horse, cow; George Brown; John C. Brown, cow; Matthew Barr, two cows, two oxen ; John Baightel, horse, two cows; William Bush, two cows; William Culp; Asa Cropman ; Mathew Cochran, cow ; David Cochran; Nathaniel Copman, cow; George Cochran, horse, five cows ; John Coulter, horse, four cows; Clark Cathcart, two horses, two cows; Jane Clyde, two horses, five cows; Isaac Cochran, cow ; George Campbell, horse, cow; John Clyde, horse; Peter Depp, Jr., two horses, two cows; John Dobson, cow; Adam Dobson, two horses, two cows; Henry Dover- spike, two horses, cow ; George Eckers ; Daniel Enterline, horse, cow; Eli Enterline; Daniel Farr, two horses, two cows; Joshua B. Farr; John Faltz, cow; Joseph Freus, cow, two oxen; Jacob Sishell, two horses, two cows; William H. Sishell, cow; Fred Funk, two horses, two cows; John France, cow; Perry Griffe; William Gumbert, two horses, cow; Samuel Gaston, Sr., horse, cow; Robert Gas- ton, horse, two cows; James Gaston, two horses, five cows ; William Gaston, cow ; Sam- uel Gillhouse ; Levi Gillhouse, two cows ; David Gaston, cow, two oxen; Eli Gillenhouse, Sr .; Fred Gillenhouse, horse, cow ; Eli Gillenhouse, Jr., horse, two cows; Joseph Gaston, cow ; Adam Gumbert, two horses, cow; Samuel Gaston, Jr., cow, two steers; William Gill- housen, two horses, cow ; Phillip Hetrick ; Wil- liam Iladden, three horses, five cows; T. R. Holt, horse, cow ; Charles Hickory, two cows; Samuel Harp, two horses. two cows; James Harl; Henry P. Holt, two horses, cow ; Henry Ileckendorn, cow; David Had, two horses, two cows; John W. Heckendorn, horse, cow ; Jacob P. Hannah ; Joseph Haugh, two cows; Henry Ilaugh, horse; Thomas Ifolt, horse, three cows; David Hopkins, cow; Adam Hetrick; Jonathan Horner, three horses, three cows; David Hawthorne, cow ; William Haw- thorne, horse, cow ; William P. Horner ; Ben- jamin Haines, cow ; John P. Imler ; John Jones, horse, two cows; Alexander Jordan, horse. two cows; Samuel Jordan, horse, three cows; Isaac Jordan, two horses, two cows; Joseph N. Jordan; John J. Jones ; Henry Johnson, cow; William Jordan: Daniel Keifer, cow; Joseph Kinnier, cow; James Kaylor, cow, two oxen; Samuel Kelly, two horses, two cows; John Keller, horse, two oxen; James Luch ; Jacob Lingenfelter, horse ; James R. McMil- len, two horses ; Samuel Mckean, two horses, two cows; Alex Mckinstry, three horses, four cows, two oxen; John Millen, Jr., cow, two oxen; Joseph Manners, horse, two cows;
Isaac Mock, cow ; John Mock, horse, two cows ; Henry Mock, two horses, cow; George Millen, horse, two cows; Hugh Millen, horse, three cows; James Mabon, three horses, three cows ; John McMinich, three cows; Joseph Millen, two horses, cow; Elias Motter, two cows, two oxen ; William Mckinstry, two cows; William B. Mckinstry; Samuel McCartney; James Millen; George Manners, horse, two cows; Gilmore Montgomery, cow, two oxen; John P. McKee; George C. McKee, two horses, two cows; Samuel Mauk, cow, two oxen; John Millen, cow, two oxen; William L. McWitt; John McElhaney, horse, three cows; William McAninch; William Newcome, two horses,
four cows ; George Newcome, horse, five cows ; IIenry Nolph, two cows; William and Harri- son Newcome; McKee C. Newcome, cow; Alexander and Robert Parks, two cows; John Philiber, two horses; David Parsons, cow ; James Pantall, two horses, three cows; Wil- liam Parks, cow: Ilance Robinson ; James Reed, two horses, two cows; William Reed, two horses, cow; Margaret Reed, cow; Jonas Raybuck, two horses, cow ; Benjamin Reed, two horses, cow; Jonathan Rowan, two horses, two cows; Robert Reed, two horses, cow; Hezekiah Reed; Henry Rhoades; Jacob Smathers, cow, two oxen; Andrew Smith, two horses, two cows; William Smith, Jr., horse, cow; William Smith, Sr., cow; Jacob Steele, horse, two cows; Elizabeth Sprankle; Will Law ; Solomon Steele; John Scott, Esq .. cow; William Sadler, cow; William Shiffer, cow; George Shaffer; William Stewart; Wil- liam Sprankle; Fred Sprankle ; Nicholas Shaf- fer; Jacob and Parker Shoffner, cow; Jacob Wink. horse, cow; Stacy B. Williams; Joseph T. Williams; David Wanderick; Jonathan Whitsell, cow.
POPULATION
In 1860 the population of Oliver township was 977 ; 1870, 1,117 ; 1880, 1,305; 1890, 1,362; 1900, 1,455; 1910, 1,417.
MILITARY COMPANY
In 1859 Oliver had a military company, commanded by Capt. Joseph B. Morris.
SQUIRREL HUNT
On June 10, 1858, a squirrel hunting con- test came off in Oliver, with six contestants on each side. The captains were John Swisher
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and William Depp. Ten hundred and sixty squirrels were killed. Swisher's side lost.
A TRAGEDY
On Monday morning, May 8, 1871. Samuel Jordan, a well-to-do farmer of Oliver town- ship. horribly murdered his wife, formerly a Miss Henry. Mrs. Jordan was in the act of crossing a fence that inclosed the yard around the Jordan home. when Jordan seized the axe and literally chopped her to pieces. Mr. Jordan's brother was present, but was unable to prevent the crime. Jordan's friends claimed that it was the act of a madman and that Jordan was insane, but the authorities arrested him, brought him to Brookville, and jailed him for the crime of murder. At the September court. 1871, he was arraigned be- fore Judge James Campbell and his associates,
Means and Altman, for the crime of murder. The jury was composed of the following gen- tlemen; Solomon Harriger, R. J. Baxter, William Johnston, W. B. Shick, John Bullers, Wilson Keys, Rev. David Eason, William Hall. Robert Reed, William Goss, L. J. Boyington and James Magee. A stubbornly fought and lengthy trial followed. The question of sanity was prominent and a reasonable doubt caused the jury to deliberate thirty-six hours, after which they returned a verdict of second-degree murder. The neighbors present as witnesses swore Jordan was sane, but physicians unan- imously swore Jordan was insane. The sen- tence imposed by the judge was three years in the penitentiary. Mr. Jordan served but a few months in the penitentiary, when he was taken to Dixmont, and after sojourning there a long time was discharged as a harmless lunatic.
CHAPTER XLIV KNOX TOWNSHIP
ORGANIZATION-PIONEERS AND EARLY DEVELOPMENT-GAS AND COAL PRODUCTION-TAXABLES,
ASSESSMENT OF 1854-FIRST ELECTION-POPULATION-OFFICIALS-TOWNS
Knox township, so called in honor of John C. Knox, then president judge, was organized in 1853 and was taken from Pinecreek town- ship, which bounds it on the north. On the east it is bounded by Pinecreek and Winslow townships, on the south by MeCalmont and Oliver townships, and on the west by Rose and Oliver townships.
PIONEERS AND EARLY DEVELOPMENT
Joseph Carr was the first settler in what is now Knox township, coming there in 1817. George Gray and Samuel MeQuiston came ten years later. John Matthews came in 1830. Elijah Clark in 1833, Andrew Hunter and William Wylie in 1834. Israel Swineford and Elijah Chitister in 1835, and John S. Lucas in 1848. I knew these people well, for when was a boy they attended services in the Į Brookville Presbyterian Church.
A German settlement was made in the early forties near what is now Knox Dale, by the Baileys, Wolfs and Rhodeses. To procure ready money these persons marketed in Brook- ville large quantities of chestnuts, berries and other wild fruits.
In 1838 a sawmill was built on Sandy Lick creek by John J. Y. Thompson. The place was afterwards called Bellport, and Calvin Rodgers located there in 1856.
The first schoolhouse was built in 1830 of round logs. The Presbyterians built the first church, in 1850, near Knox Dale, of hewed logs. The first graveyard was on the farm now owned by B. McCann, and the second one was on the Lewis Matthews farm.
Many hard "knocks" the fathers received before the land was fitted for the plow. It required the iron nerve of old John Knox him- self to persevere when the clearing seemed almost the opposite of the term. They did not follow the poet's advice, "Woodman, spare that tree," but early and late the stately pine, the beautiful hemlock, or the majestic oak could be heard crashing everything before it as it fell before the all-conquering ax.
GAS AND COAL PRODUCTION
Knox township holds the first place in the county as a gas-producing district. On the 5th day of July, 1887, a company commenced drilling a well for gas on the farm of Wil-
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JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
liam Love, about three miles from Brookville. At a depth of seven hundred and twenty-five feet the first gas was struck; the second at nine hundred and twenty feet, and the third at ten hundred and forty feet. This was piped into Brookville and supplied two hundred fires until the Standard succeeded to the business in the fall of 1889. This is now a great gas and coal territory.
FIRST ELECTION
The first township election was held in 1853, when the following township officers were chosen: Justices of the peace, Nicholas Mc- Quiston and Israel Swineford; supervisors, Henry Rhodes and Andrew Hunter ; auditors, Amos Austin and Lewis Matthews ; assessor, Samuel Davison ; poor overseers, M. E. Steiner and Israel Swineford ; school directors, Nich- olas McQuiston, John H. Bish, Andrew Hunter, Patterson Hopkins, John S. Lucas, George S. Matthews; judge of election, Wil- liam Davidson; inspectors, Horace Harding and Nicholas MeQuiston ; town clerk, Elijah Chitister.
TAXABLES, ASSESSMENT OF 1854
Amos S. Austin, horse, cow, six oxen ; Anthony Ashbaugh, cow; Nelson Allen, cow ; Jacob Ashbaugh ; Thomas W. Anderson, two cows; David Bailey, cow ; David Baughman ; John H. Bish, cow ; James Barr ; Peter Bailey, cow; Solomon Bailey, cow ; R. P. Bair, three cows; George R. Barten & Co .; Templeton, Barton & Brady, sawmill, two horses, four oxen ; Jacob Freedling estate, cow; Hubbert Harding. two horses, two cows ; Andrew Hunt- er, four horses, two cows ; Patterson Hopkins, horse, two cows; George Harriger, cow ; John Howard, two horses, cow; Martin Howard, cow: Thomas Hopkins: Amos Hinderliter ; Aaron Harmon, cow ; John Hiddinger ; Hor- ace Harding, two horses; Jacob Johns, two oxen; Samuel Johns; Jacob Kroh, Jr., cow, two oxen; John Kirker, two horses, cow; Joseph Keck, two cows; Rufus Kent, two cows, two oxen; George and David Keck, sawmill; David Kerr ; Daniel Kougher; John S. Lucas, horse, two cows, ox; F. D. Lake ; Lewis Matthews. cow, two oxen; George Mathews, two cows; John A. Mathews, two horses, two cows; Henry Milliron, two cows, two oxen ; Nicholas McQuiston, two horses, three cows, two oxen; John Manners, two horses, two cows ; Jesse McQuistin, two horses, cow ; David Mathews, two cows; John Rhodes, cow; George Rhodes; Daniel Rhodes, cow,
two oxen ; Henry Rhodes; Christopher Rhodes; Phillip Rhodes; William Rice, two horses ; Michael Stenon, cow, four oxen ; Jacob Siverling, horse, cow ; William Smathers, cow, two oxen; Jacob Siverling ; William Siverling ; Michael Siverling, Jr .; Daniel Silvis, two horses, cow: John Smith, horse, cow, two oxen ; Israel Swineford, two horses, two cows ; John Strawcutter, horse, cow, two oxen; Abe Shirey, two cows, two oxen; John Smith ; Reuben Shirey ; E. Thompson, Jr., two cows, four oxen; Jackson White; John Wolf, Jr., two oxen; Samuel Wolf, horse, cow; John Wiley ; Jacob Wolf, cow ; James Wiley ; Daniel Wolf, cow, two oxen; Michael Wolf, two horses, cow, two oxen; William Wiley; Jacob Wolfgang, cow, two oxen ; John W. Wyncoop, two cows, ox; William H. Wiley, two horses ; George N. Wiley; Hugh Wiley, two horses; Samuel Yount, cow.
POPULATION
The population of the township in 1860 was 637 ; 1870, 863 ; 1880, 1,011 ; 1890, 1,360; 1900, 1,255 ; 1910, 2,067.
OFFICIALS
At the election held Nov. 2, 1915, the fol- lowing township officials were elected: John E. Cummings, I. N. Stewart (both of Knox Dale) and J. E. Bixby (of Ramsaytown), school directors ; J. Irvin Allshouse, of Ram- saytown, supervisor; R. S. Bailey, of Knox Dale, constable.
TOWNS
Knor Dale, originally known as Shadagee. was plotted by MI. E. Steiner in 1851, on lands owned by Daniel Freedline. Steiner resided there, was a prominent citizen, and sold the lots. The pioneer physician there was Dr. D. J. Steiner, grandfather of the present Dr. Steiner. In 1860 Knox Dale had a public house, a church (Albright), a schoolhouse. a blacksmith shop and seven families. By 1880 the population was 103, in 1890 167. The pioneer store in the village was opened in 1865 by M. H. Hammond, and in 1888 there were two stores, those of J. G. McCracken and Jacob Hopkins, who started in 1884. Knox Dale has a railroad, a post office, and is quite a prosperous place.
Ramsaytoron, quite a mining town, and a post office, is located in Knox township, on a branch of the Shawmut railroad.
Fuller and Iowa are small villages in the township. Erdice post office is at Fuller.
CHAPTER XLV BELL TOWNSHIP
FORMATION-SETTLEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT-FIRST ELECTION-EARLY TAXABLES, 1858-POP- ULATION
Bell township, named in honor of James H. Bell, one of its citizens, was organized in 1857. and was taken from Young township. It is bounded on the north by McCalmont township, on the east by Henderson and Gas- kill townships, on the south by Indiana county, and on the west by Young township.
This township is heavily underlaid with coal, and several mining towns are situated within its boundaries. (See Jefferson county map in this volume.)
SETTLEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT
The pioneer settler in what is now Bell town- ship was Nathaniel Tindell, in 1819. Other early settlers were Jesse Armstrong, Jacob Bowersock, Daniel Graffins and John Hess.
The first sawmill was built in 1828 by John Iless and J. Bowersock, and the first grist- mill was erected in 1833 by James HI. Bell, at what is now Bell's Mills station, on Mahoning creek, on the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburgh railroad. Mr. Bell, in 1840, started the first store in the township, at Bell's Mills. He located there in 1831, and about 1854 or 1855 was elected one of the associate judges of the county. Henry Brown was another prom- inent citizen of the township. Like Mr. Bell, he lived and died here.
The first schoolhouse within the limits of the township was built in 1830. We have the roll of the scholars who attended the Grube settlement school taught by Squire Morris' father, James M. Morris, in 1838-39. The school term was three months. Mr. Morris began the term Dec. 3, 1838, and closed the last of February, 1839. He walked from his home, near where E. 1. Kessler lives on the Brookville road, to his schoolhouse, which stood near Joseph Grube's residence, a dis- tance of four or five miles. The pupils on his roll were: George, David, John, Susannah, Jacob, Henry, Sarah and Joseph Grube ; John,
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