450 - HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

MESOPOTAMIA TOWNSHIP, TRUMBULL COUNTY.

THE township of Mesopotamia was principally owned by Pierepont Edwards, of New Haven; Connecticut, and he, or his son John Stark Edwards for him, offered to give one hundred acres, in addition to what they might purchase, to the first five settlers that should occupy the land for five years. In the Fall of 1800 Mr. Hezekiah Sperry, his son Alpheus, and daughters Martha and Cynthia, moved in, being the first settlers. Soon after Otis Guild and family came. He had moved to Canfield, but, not satisfied with that location, came to Mesopotamia. Seth Tracy, who had previously selected his land, started from Pittsfield, Massachusetts, with several teams and his family, Griswold Gillette driving one of the teams. At Whitestown, New York, he procured a boat, and proceeded as far as Niagara Falls. Here the boat and contents were hauled around the Falls on trucks, with cattle, and again committed to the water. After coasting along the south shore of Lake Erie to the mouth of Grand River, they entered the river, and followed up to within one mile of the residence of Judge Grisword, in Windsor, and from thence to Mesopotamia by land, where they arrived May 8, 1801.

Mr. Sperry afterward returned to Woodbridge, Connecticut, and brought out the rest of his family, his wife and part of the children not having come till the location had been made and a log-house erected. He had thirteen children in all. Dr. Joseph Clark came in 1802, and was the first practicing physician, followed by Joseph Noyce, making the first five settlers. The three first got the premium, but who the other two were that stayed the five years is not now certain.

Charlotte Guild (now Widow Sheldon), daughter of Otis and Lois Guild, was the first child born. She still lives, and has a vivid recollection of early days. She well remembers seeing a bear come out of the woods, take a pig, and leave to enjoy his repast. The first grave was opened to receive the remains of Mrs. Noyce, who died of consumption in 1804. The first marriage was Griswold Gillette to Clarissa Tracy, in 1806, the ceremony, being performed by the bride's father, who had been elected' the first justice of the peace. Samuel Forward taught the first school, in 1803, in a room

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in the house of Seth Tracy. The next Winter school was taught by Samuel Higley, of Windsor, followed by a Summer school, taught by Jerusha Guild.

The first merchandise, consisting of about as much as could be packed in a Saratoga trunk, was offered for sale in the house of Isaac Clark, by a Mr. Ware, from Franklin, Mass. He soon closed out his stock and retired. The first regular store was not opened until 1818, by Linus and Addison Tracy. The first framed house was built by Hezekiah Sperry, on lot 28 ; the frame was afterward re-covered, and is still standing. The first saw-mill was built by John S. Edwards, about 1803; the first grist-mill by John Crawford, in 1806. His brother, William Crawford, was afterward killed by falling between the water-wheel and the rocks. The first school-house was built on the north part of Seth Tracy's farm, near the center, in 1806. The first sermon was preached by Rev. Joseph Badger. The first Church was the Presbyterian, organized in 1817, with eight members. They built the first church-edifice in 1822. It answered the double purpose of meeting-house and school-house. The first Methodist minister was named Daniels, but at what date he commenced we are unable to say. Randolph Stone was the first pastor of the Presbyterian Church.. Joseph Morse was the first blacksmith.. John Tomlinson made the first tombstones, from stone got out of the bed of Mill Creek. Some are still standing.

For a number of years each settler was his own shoemaker, making and mending for his own family. Hezekiah Sperry, Jr., went back to New Haven, Conn., and worked a year at shoemaking. He then came back, and went from house to house making up a year's supply, and a pair of boots or shoes each was considered a good supply. The women spun shoe-thread. He furnished his own kit of tools, and made his own pegs by sawing off blocks of soft maple, and splitting them up into pegs with a shoe-knife, and seasoning them before the fire. He "whipped the cat" (as it was called) for many years.

There were but a few Indians in this town. One old chief, Pauqua, sometimes came around, oftener begging for something to drink than to eat, and it was always a relief to some of the children when he left. After the war of 1812 a small band of Indians visited Grand River to hunt. The inhabitants made their camp a visit, but found the Indians absent. They broke some of their kettles, made the form of an Indian on the bark of a tree, shot a ball into it, and left. The Indians took the hint, and left too.

452 - HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS.

March 14, 1806, the Commissioners of Trumbull County ordered that Windsor, Mesopotamia, and Henshaw (as Farmington was then called), "should be erected into, and declared, a township district, with. all the rights, privileges, and immunities given to, and vested in, townships within this State, by the name of Troy, and the first township meeting shall be held at the house formerly occupied by Dr. Clark, in said district."

At a meeting held in the district of Troy and county of Trumbull, on Monday, the 7th day of April, Anno Domini 1806, voted and made choice of Otis Guild, Chairman of said meeting; Hezekiah Sperry and Jonathan Higley, Judges of said meeting; Ephraim Clark, Township Clerk; William Cox, Gager Smith, and Jonathan Higley, Trustees; Skene D. Sacket arid Abraham Daley, Overseers of the Poor; Griswold Gillette and Alpheus Sperry, Fence Viewers; Isaac Clark, Appraiser and Lister; Timothy Alderman, Appraiser; Joseph Alderman, Jr., Amadeus Brooks, and Wm. Read, Supervisors of Highways; Griswold Gillette and Samuel Forward, Constables ; Ephraim Clark, Treasurer.

It is needless to say that the early settlers had many hardships to encounter. The story of one settlement is in a measure the story of all. The first settlers usually built rude huts of poles and bark, with a cloth of some kind for a door, taking the precaution, however, to roll some logs up before it at night, to keep the bears out. Occasionally a bear would rise upon his haunches, put his fore paws upon the top log, and take a peep within. The sight of the fire usually sent them on their way in a hurry. The huts were soon vacated for the more stately log-house, and some new-comer would move into the but until he could build a house of his own. Game was plenty, and it was not many years before provisions were plenty. An old bear and two cubs were killed in this township as late as 1836. Deerskins were tanned, and made into jackets, roundabouts, and pants, and were very serviceable, although liable to chafe after having been wet and left to dry.

After the introduction of sheep and flax, the women carded, spun, and wove their own cloth, using roots and leaves of different kinds for coloring the same; and when the boys had got a suit of homespun, they thought they had arrived at the acme of bliss, and they said, "Now our pants won't be all. the time crawling above our knees, and stand alone when we take them off."

Wolves were very plenty, and made frequent depredations upon the flocks, the last that were seen being a pack of five, that killed and

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wounded some eight or ten sheep for the widow of Elias Sperry, in the north part of the town, as late as 1837.

A man by the name of Teele had moved into the north part of this town or edge of Windsor. His possessions were very limited except in children, of which he had six. He soon became disgusted, having got somewhat in debt, with no means of paying. Early one morning he was seen with his family leaving. He had a poor old horse, across the back of which he had placed a straw-tick pannier fashion, from each end of which protruded the heads of two of his progeny, and thus they left for parts unknown.

A military company had been formed under the command of Captain Hill, of Windsor. On the breaking out of the war of 1812 a call was made for volunteers. Linus Tracy, Oliver Guild, Jairus Guild, and Whitney Smith volunteered; and afterward another call was made, when Matthew Laird, Elias Sperry, Griswold Gillette, Ebenezer K. Lamson, Amadeus Brooks, Lucius Sperry, and Isaac Clark went. Elias Sperry was wounded by the Indians in a fight on the "Peninsula," as it was called. His brother Lucius took the fever, came home, and died, as did also two of his sisters, who attended him and took the fever from him.

It was not until 1819 that Mesopotamia became independent, Windsor and Farmington having been set off or seceded. An election was held at the Center School-house April 5, 1819, and the following officers elected ; namely, Otis Guild, Chairman ; Zimri Baker and Moses Bundy, Judges of Election ; Addison Tracy, Clerk ; Luther Frisby, Moses Bundy, and Elisha Sanderson, Trustees ; Reuben Joslin and Job Reynolds, Overseers of the Poor; John Sanderson and Amadeus Brooks, Fence Viewers ; Lucius Frisby, Appraiser and Lister; Linus Tracy, Appraiser ; Matthew Laird, Job Reynolds, Zimri Baker, Noble Strong, Levi Pinney, Anson Hatch, and Guien Crawford, Supervisors ; Lucius Frisby, Constable; Luther Frisby, Treasurer. The duties of the overseers of the poor were not to take care of them, but to see that every one that moved in that would be likely to become a town charge should be warned to depart, so that they could not gain a legal residence, and often those that afterward made the best inhabitants were " warned out," as the old,. records will show.

C. A. BRIGDEN.

MESOPOTAMIA, O., December 14, 1875.

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HOWLAND TOWNSHIP, TRUMBULL COUNTY.

MR. J. T. EWALT, of Howland Township, furnishes us with the following in regard to the history of Howland. He says:

"After diligently inquiring of some of the oldest citizens, I find that the first settler was probably Captain John H. Adgate. He arrived in the Summer of 1799, and located on a tract of one thousand six hundred acres of land near the south-west corner of the township. His family came with him. John Earl, Michael Peltz, John Cherry, James Ward, John Daily, John Reeves, Jesse Bowell, John Ewalt, and Joseph Quigly came in very early from Pennsylvania, with the exception of Ewalt, who came from New Jersey. They were all here in 1802. Isaac and James Heaton came in 1804, William Kennedy in 1805. In 1806 Barber King, William Wilson, and Thomas Crooks came in.

" The first birth in the township was Samuel Q. Reeves, in the Spring of 1804. The first school-house was built on the 4th day of July, 1804, near where Ward lived. The school was kept in it the same year by Ruth Alford. John W. Seely, physician, settled here about the year 1806. He was followed in his profession by his son Sylvanus. The first marriage was solemnized by Squire Loveless, uniting 'in the Fall of 1803 Jack Leg and Corny Ward. The first sermon was delivered by a Baptist missionary in the house of J. Reeves in 1803. The first Church organization was the Presbyterian, and was organized by Joseph Curtiss about the year 1815, and in 1820 a building was erected in the north-east part of the township, designed to be used as both church and school-house. In this building was organized the Methodist Episcopal Church, 1821; by a membership of ten persons. The Disciple denomination built a church edifice in 1830 in the south-east part of the township at a cost of about three hundred dollars. The present Disciple Church building, the only church building in the township, was erected in 1862 at a cost of one thousand seven hundred dollars. Jesse Bowell built a frame house as early as 1808. The first grist-mill, a kind of corn- cracker was built at an early day by Septimus Cadwallader.

" Trumbull County was represented in the Legislature at an early day by Dr. John W. Seely. The following named gentlemen have

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filled other offices from time: John Ratliff, Associate Judge ; John Reeves, Treasurer ; Z. T. Ewalt, Coroner; Harris Ewalt, Infirmary Director.

" The first store was opened by John Collins at the Corners about 1831. The first saw-mill was built by Samuel Kennedy in 1814 in the north-east part of the township. It has been remodeled and rebuilt from time to time, and is now owned by James Kennedy.

" The tract of land upon which the celebrated Howland Springs,' are situated was settled by John Hank in 1802. He made some improvement, and afterward sold it to Dr. John W. Seely, since which time they have changed hands several times, and they are now owned by the Shedd Brothers, of Youngstown, who have improved and beautified the grounds, until they are at present one of the most pleasant Summer resorts in the State, and the medicinal qualities of the waters bring a large number of health-seekers. Convenient buildings and accommodations have been provided for the comfort and entertainment of the visitors. The water has been analyzed by competent chemists, and pronounced to be equal to any in the country in health-giving qualities.

"The inhabitants in early times were annoyed greatly by bears and wolves. But what gave some of the early settlers as much trouble and annoyance was a large boar that had gone wild, and frequented the corn-fields in the Fall of the year along the Mosquito Creek bottom. He became so troublesome that it was finally determined by the settlers to exterminate him. A grand hunt was inaugurated, and his hogship was run into a swamp where, after a desperate encounter with the dogs, in which he succeeded in killing three or four of them, he was at length captured and maimed, his tushes were knocked out and then allowed to go. A few days subsequent, it appears, he was attacked by a bear, and from the appearance of the ground which had been fought over, the conflict must have been terrible, as both bear and boar were found dead a. short distance from each other on the ground over which they had fought."

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NEWTON TOWNSHIP, TRUMBULL COUNTY.

COMMUNITIES starting on the colonial plan, or by families mainly from the same section or State, have been able to transmit to descendants, by record or tradition, much more history than our pioneers could do, of whom scarcely two families knew each other prior to settling here, and of whom very few amongst us even perpetuate their names. As a further reason why our history is imperfect, it may be said that only three persons are now living here who voted in the township in 1833.

As at present advised, the settlement of the township began at three points, the earliest at Duck Creek in 1802 ; next at the river, near Milton line, in 1804 ; and last at the present site of Newton Falls, in 1806 or 7. The township may be said to have been organized in 1808; but not with its present limits, as at that time, and for many years afterward, Newton, Milton, and Lordstown were one election precinct and under the same jurisdiction. In 1814 they elected a Justice of the Peace in common, and in 1826 the Trustees of Newton controlled road work in Lordstown.

In 1802 Alexander Sutherland moved from Westmoreland County, Penn., and settled at what is now called Duck Creek Corners, Mrs. Downer, his daughter, being then two years old. Their house was built by planting posts in the ground and covering the top and sides with bark, and using quilts for doors. It is probable that Ezekiel Hover, then single, arrived about the same time, as -he and Mr. Sutherland marked the first path to Youngstown, to reach the nearest grist-mill. In 1806 Mr Hover was elected county surveyor. In 1805 or 1806 Mr. Sutherland was elected county recorder, and held the office several years. His son, James, when twelve years old, carried the mail from Warren to Canton, when there was no house between Warren and Duck Creek, and often did not get home till midnight. Their nearest post-office was Warren. There were a number of Indian camps near them. An Indian, Kioog, came into their house drunk, and threatened to shoot some one. Hover broke a chair over` his head, and another Indian, Nickshaw, settled the matter.

In the Fall of 1803, Jesse Holliday started from Warren up the Mahoning River on a tour of exploration. Near the south line of New-

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ton his canoe grounded on the rapids, and he soon decided to improve the place as a mill-power, disembarked, built a shanty, and in October of the next year started his mill, afterward known as Price's Mill, and soon after opened a road to Warren by way of the Ledge. In October, 1804, William Stanley, Nathaniel Stanley, Daniel Dull, and Mr. Kale arrived. To raise their houses they got men and whisky from Warren. Afterward Manuel Hover and Charles Adgate arrived. In 1805 Isaac Hutson arrived from Huntingdon County, Penn., and settled on Cale Creek, and in 1811 John Hutson settled in the same neighborhood. In 1814 Dr. Tracy Bronson arrived from New Haven, Conn., and remained at his river home during life.

The first male child born in the township was Noah Dull, and the first female, Elsie Sutherland. The first couple married was Thomas M'Cay and Polly Moore. The first death a child of Peter De Coursey. The first sermon was preached by Rev. James Boyd, in 1808, being his first sermon, and this in the open air, at the river settlement. His remains rest near the same spot. In 1808 these two settlements organized the first congregation with a membership of seven persons, and in 1809 this congregation (Presbyterian) built, at the river, the frame church, which is still standing, but used as a warehouse. In 1807 the Gilmore family settled at Duck Creek, and had as neighbors Thomas Reed, Peter De Coursey, Alexander Sutherland, and his father John S.; George Sheffelton, John Machman, John M., Jr., and his brother, Alexander ; Jacob Custard, and E. Hover. In 1808 Leonard Miller and family arrived from York County, Penn., and stayed till he erected his own cabin further down the creek.

It may be interesting to note some items concerning the persons referred to above. Captain Dull died in the Maumee campaign, and was buried at Defiance in 1813. The news of Hull's surrender, in 1812, reached Mr. Boyd's Church on Sunday, during sermon. Services were immediately dismissed, and all hurried home, blew their horns, and rallied for the march to Cleveland under Captain Dull, to defend the frontier against the Indians.

The first justice of the peace was Benjamin Davison (1808); first treasurer, Daniel Dull ; one of the first trustees, David Carlile. Patrick Davison was a tanner; Benjamin Davison, a clothier; and Geo. L. Davison worked in wood-probably a carpenter.

Last in the order of time was the settlement of what is now the village of Newton Falls, on the west branch of the Mahoning. In this vicinity the earliest proprietor of land was Judson Canfield, who took title from the State of Connecticut, and early contemplated the

458 - HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS.

building of what he seems to have regarded as a rural city, in order to utilize the immense water-power which falls on the two branches of the Mahoning here afforded. For this purpose his lands were surveyed into " large lots" of from four to ten acres.

In the Autumn of 1807 John Lane built his domicile on the river bank, and June 16, 1808, Bildad Hine and family arrived from Canfield, and were received with true Western hospitality into the mansion of Mr. Lane. For this the facilities were ample, as the house was planned for emergencies, being on the ground sixteen by eighteen feet, and one story high,—and only thirteen of a family, all told. For a milk-house they used a cave in the rock bank, and one board served as door to exclude the skunks.

In the Summer of 1808 Mr. Canfield, with Harmon Ruggles, built a saw-mill where the woolen factory now stands ; and near it, in February, 1811, started a grist-mill, and ground the first grist of wheat for Joseph Allen, who bolted it at home through a hair sieve. The millstones were quarried in Redding Hill, in Hiram Township. This mill was burned down in December, 1817, by a drunken man, who had taken lodgings in it for the night. The mill was not rebuilt, but its place was filled in 1829 by Horace and Augustus Stevens, who erected the present Eagle Mills on the west side of the river. In 1808 Benjamin B. Yale moved from Canfield to Samuel Oviatt's, in Braceville, and was mill-Wright, at one dollar per day, at the erection of these Falls mills, and was afterward miller for Canfield and Ruggles ; then, in 1812, for Canfield and Gillson, and in 1813 and 1815 mill-wright for John Lane, as renter of the property; and from December, 1816, to July, 1817, ground on shares for one Hopkins, then owner. It is said that in 1806 E. Hover, County Surveyor, made the first surveys and plat for Mr. Canfield, and that subsequently (1829) Joshua Henshaw made a second for Cornelius Du Bois, and had much difficulty in finding the lines, and failed largely in finding the amount conveyed by Canfield and other parties. The lines were afterward adjusted by F. E. Stow, who remapped the village plat for Dr. H. A. Du Bois in 1836, under the name of Du Boisville, but subsequently put it on record with its present name, June 20, 1837.

Levi Jacobs, Henry Story, Ira Trescott, and Russell Trescott, soon settled on the west side of the river, and Henry Harsh, Anson Johnson, and John Bridges on the east side. The old burial ground was donated by B. Hine and Jonathan Jacobs, and Captain Reuben Bostwick, father-in-law of Mr. Hine, was the first buried in it, July 16, 1813, aged seventy-eight years. Mr. Jacobs's tomb-stone reads

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March 21, 1822, aged seventy-seven years ; Mr. Hine's, September 12, 1839, aged sixty-six years. Indians visited the Falls as late as 1809 or '10. The 'nearest post-office was at Palmyra.

The first stock of goods was kept by B. Hine, in 1817, who had exchanged land with Thomas D. Webb for six hundred dollars' worth of dry goods, and in addition to these sold " red earthenware," made by Ezbon and Edmund Bostwick, of Edinburg, and "Roram" (woolen body, and coon-fur finish) hats, made by Cook Fitch, of Canfield. Prices ran on this scale : Cotton shirting, 50 cts. ; cotton cloth, 56 cts.; black cambric, 70 cts.; calico, 68 to 70 cts.; nails, 20 cts.; gunpowder, $1.25; skein silk, 12 cts.; salt, $16.00 per bbl. In 1813, H., as agent, traded a large and likely pair of cattle at Fairport for six barrels of salt, and brought it home with an ox-team.

The first church erected at the Falls was in 1837, by the Associate Reformed (seceder) congregation, Rev. William Douthett being pastor. This house has since been occupied by the Regular Baptists, afterward by the Episcopalians, and is now a Town Hall.

In 1823 Samuel Oviatt built a saw-mill, and in 1834 the Earl brothers built the East Branch Grist-mills near it.

Want of space precludes many reminiscences of incidents of pioneer life, and especially of the almost daily exciting encounters and victories over the deer, bears, wolves, rattlesnakes, and other denizens of the forest. With such neighbors our first settlers had probably their full quota of contests and triumphs.

J. F. PORTER.

NEWTON, January 1, 1876,

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BROOKFIELD TOWNSHIP, TRUMBULL COUNTY.

JUDGE SAMUEL HINKLEY owned this township, and sold it out in lots. James M'Mullin, Sen., is supposed to have been the first settler. He came, •probably, about the year 1796, and located in the eastern part of the township, near the State line. A Mr. Chatfield, Judge Hughes, Constant Lake, Ethan Newcomb, John Briggs, and Benjamin Bentley were among the next settlers. They came prior to 1806.

Among the first marriages in the township were those of Samuel M'Mullin to Elizabeth Chatfield, and of John Treat to a Miss Humason, daughter of Jacob Humason, one of the first settlers.

The first frame barn built that I have an account of was that of James Bentley. It took three days to raise it, although two barrels of whisky were consumed in the affair, and two hundred men were present to assist.

The first birth is supposed to have been that of Captain James M'Mullin. The first death was that of Mrs. Henry Gaudy. The first saw-mill and grist-mill was built by Judge Hughes about the year 1808. The first school was taught by Miss L. Sanford, on Yankee Creek, east of the center, about the year 1807. The first settled physician was Dr. Upson, about 1807. The first store was opened by Messrs. Rev. Thomas G. Jones and Benjamin Jones, on Yankee Run, a little south of the L. and W. Center Road. The township has been represented in the Legislature by John Briggs, Esq.

From the first political organization up to 1810 the townships of Vienna and Brookfield constituted one election precinct. The first election, held in Brookfield Township proper, was on the 14th day of May, 1810, at the house of Constant Lake, when the following persons were chosen for the positions named: Diament Whitaker, Chairman; William Cunningham and Anthony Patrick, Judges; Henry H. Gaudy and Jacob Humason, Clerks of Election; Jacob Humason was elected Clerk; William Cunningham, John D. Smith and Anthony Patrick, Trustees ; Isaac Flower, Jr., Treasurer; Isaac Flower, Jr., Constable; Jacob Humason, Lister; Henry B. Gaudy, Appraiser; Diament Whitaker, Clark Rathbun, and Timothy Alderman, Supervisors; Robert Hughes and Benjamin Bentley, Overseers of Poor; James Montgomery and Johnson Patrick, Fence Viewers.

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The first justice of the peace was probably Judge Hughes, who officiated as such before Brookfield was organized as a separate district. He was also agent for Judge Samuel Hinkley from its first settlement up to the time of his death, in 1820.

About the year 1814 several men in this township, Gaudy, Whitaker, Young, and others, built a boat at the mouth of Yankee Run, on the Shenango River, took their families and goods on board, floated down that and Beaver to the Ohio. From there down that to the mouth of the Miami River. Ascended that river and settled in the vicinity of Dayton, 0.

About the year 1826 John Beer, John Lock -Dilley, and John Waldross built a boat at the same place on the Shenango River, and loading it with dried apples, dried peaches, pork, whisky, etc., worked their way down to New Orleans, sold out their load, and then sold their boat for fire-wood.

Captain James Hughes was killed while assisting to raise a log building for a distillery December 16, 1826.

The first coal-mine opened for shipping coal was by General Joel B. Curtis in 1838, although several other openings were made and coal mined for domestic purpose before that date.

The first and only woolen factory built in Brookfield was built in 1826, by John Myers and, Franklin Peck, at which wool was carded into rolls and cloth was fulled. The machinery was run by oxen on a tread-wheel. After a few years, about 1832, it was sold to William Montgomery, who continued the business till 1847.

The Presbyterian Church of Brookfield was organized April 3, 1816, the sermon on the occasion being preached by Rev. James Saterfield, of Mercer County, Penn. The number of members at that time was sixteen. Matthew Thompson, Robert Montgomery, and Jacob Ulp were chosen trustees; Robert Hughes, as clerk; and Matthew Thompson, treasurer. The first minister employed by the congregation was Rev. Mr. Johnson, who died here, and was the first person buried in the cemetery here. The second, the Rev. James Saterfield; and the first pastor was Rev. John Core. The present pastor (1875) is Rev. Joseph Rea Stockton. The first house of worship was built about the year 1817, which remained until 1835. In 1841 the present house was erected.

The first and only blast furnace built in Brookfield for the manufacture of iron was built by Lawrence Smith in 1836-37. It was located about forty rods east and thirty rods north of the Public Square in the village. It was the size called quarter-stack. A

462 - HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS.

foundry was attached, at which ploughs, stoves, and hollow-ware were manufactured. Charcoal was used exclusively for smelting the ore, and also for melting pig and scrap iron for casting. The ore was obtained principally from the farm of Timothy Roberts, in Hubbard Township. Some bog ore was used. It was obtained from the farms of Captain James Christy and Robert Christy, in Brookfield. In 1839, or 1840 the whole works passed into the hands of Hart, Miner, and Norton, and was run by them a few months. Then it was blown out and lay idle for some time, after which it was bought by Galbraith & M'Cleery, of Newcastle, Penn. Then, after a few months, it passed into the hands of William Wheeler, and was run by him a few months. The enterprise proved disastrous to all who engaged in it.

J. E. STEWART.

BROOKFIELD, December 29, 1875.

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VIENNA TOWNSHIP, TRUMBULL COUNTY.

TOWNSHIPS No. 4, in the first and second ranges, now known as Brookfield and Vienna, were organized by the Commissioners of Trumbull County on the 12th day of March, 1806, and was to be known as the Township of Vienna. They also ordered an election to be held on the first Monday of April following at the house of Simon Wheeler, now Payne's Corners. Accordingly the qualified electors met at the time and place appointed, and then and there proceeded to elect township officers. The meeting was called to order by electing Robert Hughs, Chairman; Samuel Clinton and James Montgomery, Judges; Dennis C. Palmer and Jacob Hummason, Clerk. The following is the ticket elected that day : Trustees, Isaac Woodford, Isaac Flowers, Jr., William Clinton; Treasurer, Robert Hughs; Constable, Isaac Hummason ; Township Clerk, Dennis C. Palmer ; Fence Viewers, Samuel Hutchins, Robert Hughs; Overseers of the Poor, Joseph Bartholomew, Slevin Higby; Lister, Isaac Lloyd ; Appraiser, Isaac Lowrey; Supervisors, Joel Hummason, Jacob Middleswath.

On the seventh day of July, 1809, Sheldon Scofield was qualified as justice of the peace. The citizens of Brookfield obtained an order for the election of another justice to accommodate their part of the township, an election was held in July, 1809, and Robert Hughs, of Brookfield, was elected, and qualified on the 26th day of August the same year. Brookfield township was set off by itself as a township in the year 1811.

Mr. Horace Flowers taught a district-school in the Winter of 1805-6 in a log cabin on the land of Mr. Samuel Clinton. The first school-house built in the township was a frame of about twenty by twenty-six feet. It was built at the. Center in 1806. School was taught there the following Winter by Andrews Bushnell, of Hartford, and no school was taught in the township except what was taught in that house.

On the 22d day of September, 1805, the Rev. Thos. Robbins, a missionary, organized the first Presbyterian Church by accepting of the following members, to wit : Isaac Flowers, Rosanna Williams, Samuel Clinton, Ann Wheeler, Joseph and Sylvia Bartholomew, John

464 - HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS.

and Levi Clark, Robert Hughs and Margaret Hughs, James Montgomery, Jane Montgomery, and Isaac Woodford. The Winter of 1810 Nathan B. Darrow, also a missionary from the State of Connecticut, was called to take the pastoral charge of this congregation, and was installed in office the next Spring. Previous to that time, from 1805 to 1810, the Church was supplied occasionally with preaching by missionaries. Mr. Darrow resigned his charge in the Winter of 1815, during which time thirty-three more members were added to his membership. In the year 1825 a small house was erected, twenty-six by thirty-six feet, for the purpose of holding meeting in and for the use of township purposes. It was occupied as a meeting-house until the year 1837. During that year it was removed, and a house forty-two by sixty erected upon the ground.

Respectfully, ALEX. S. STEWART.

[Mr. Stewart has omitted to menlion other Church societies. We shall endeavor to have a full report in our next reunion.—EDITOR.]

PAYNE'S CORNERS, VIENNA TOWNSHIP, December 25, 1875.

Being requested by the vice-president of the Historical Society for Vienna Township to write a few items of its early history I willingly try, hoping, however, that some earlier settler may send you a better manuscript.

The township was purchased of the Connecticut Land Company by ____ Holmes about the year 1796 or 1797, and a party of surveyors sent out from Connecticut to survey it into lots. Among the party, a young man by the name of Samuel Hutchins, a boy that Holmes had brought up, and for his services in surveying the township was to have his choice of any one hundred acres in the township. His choice was on the East and West Center Road, three-quarters of a mile west of what is now known as Payne's Corners, and he probably owned the first farm in the township, on which he lived until too old to have the care of a farm, when he sold it, and removed to Warren.

Darius Woodford, Dennis C. Palmer, Isaac Flowers, Samuel Clinton, and Isaac Woodford moved into the township about the year 1799.* Darius Woodford settled on the farm on which his widow now resides, she being about ninety-six years of age, and the oldest person in the township at the present time (1875).

The next year, 1800, came Joel Hummason, Isaac Hummason,

* NOTE.—A little too early.

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Simeon Wheeler, Seth Bartholomew, and Sylvester Woodford. They all came from Connecticut by the way of Pittsburg with ox teams and the old Yankee ox cart, cutting their road most of the way from Youngstown to Vienna through the woods. Joel and Isaac Hummason settled on the farms now owned by Geo. Patterson and Henry Fowler, Simon Wheeler settled on the farm now owned by Payne, and Woodford on the farm now owned by George Chamberlain, and Bartholomew settled south of the center, near J. Woodford's.

At that time the township was an unbroken forest, abounding in all kinds of game,—deer, bear, wolves, turkeys, etc.,—from which the pioneers were supplied with all the meat they had. Rude cabins of logs were soon put up, covered with bark, greased paper serving the place of window-glass. Huge chimneys, constructed of sticks and mortar, served as a place to cook their frugal meals and to warm them, the light of the fire serving to light the whole cabin. Cabins being erected, the next thing was clearing some land, and they went at it with a will. The forest began to melt away before the woodman's ax, and let the sun shine in and around the cabins. Corn was planted ; but the "varmints" took their share, and but little was left for the settlers. In due time wheat was sown with better success, but when gathered the difficulty then was to get it ground, the nearest mill being fifty miles, at Beaver. Isaac Hummason, taking a little for each family, with oxen and cart started there to mill. This trip took about one week, and the job was so irksome that the hand-mill was resorted to. It was made by cutting down a large tree and cutting or burning out the center of the stump, making a huge mortar, into which the grain was put, and pounded with a large pestle made from a piece of sapling until it was fine enough for cooking purposes. And for salt some of the men had to go to Salt Springs in Weathersfield Township with their kettles, and boil salt for a week or ten days, and then get but little, as the Indians monopolized most of the salt business there.

Soon other families began to come in, and in the two or three years following there was quite a settlement. About the year 1814 Alexander Stewart, from Center County, Penn., purchased quite a large tract of land in the south-east corner of the township, and settled there with quite a large family, his descendants still living on the same lands, and are quite numerous.

The first white child born in the township was Lavina Flowers, now Mrs. Steele; is still alive, and is now living in Painesville, Ohio, hale and hearty. Her mother lived to the -advanced age of one hun-

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dred years, and was buried in the cemetery at the Center long after it had been peopled by its scores or hundreds.CShe was for many years known as Granny Thompson, and lived with Dexter Clinton for many years near the Center. She was the oldest person that has ever died in the township, Dorothy Gates being the next oldest. She lived for many years with her son-in-law Solomon Payne, and died at the age of ninety-nine.

The first death was Abiel Bartholomew, who was killed felling a tree, in the year 1805. The first marriage was probably that of Samuel Hutchins to Freelove Flowers. The first school taught in the township was taught by Miss Tamar Bartholomew, one mile south of the Center in the Summer 1805, a hog-pen being used temporarily for the purpose. It is believed the first law suit occurred in 1806. A wife entered suit against her husband for maltreatment; probable cause, whisky. The case was tried at the house of Samuel Clinton near the Center. The first store was opened by Isaac Powers at the Center in 1820. The first saw-mill was built by Samuel Lowrey near the south-west corner of the township on Squaw Creek.

During the few first years of the settlement of the town the Indians were quite numerous, but were friendly to the whites ; but were constantly begging for bread and fire-water, and occasionally would bring a wild turkey or a quarter of venison to those that would treat them well. Bear, deer, and wolves were very plenty, the latter making it very unprofitable for the settlers to keep sheep, as they had to be put in pens near the house every night, and then they were often taken by them. But as soon as enough settlers had come in to do so, wolf hunts were in order. This was done by all the settlers of several townships being invited to meet and surround a certain portion of woods and drive them into a center or ring of a few acres, where they were soon dispatched by the hunters. Wolves, bear, and deer were this way taken in great numbers. Bear would often visit the hog-pens and carry off a good-sized porker in daylight.

One Sunday morning Samuel Hummason, living in the east part of the township, heard his hogs making a great ado about something, and he went to see what was the matter, and lo! a huge black bear after them. He drove it off, and then went about a mile after David Wheeler and Arnna Alderman, two experienced hunters. They were soon on the ground with dogs and guns; the dogs were put on the trail, and soon had their game at bay. Alderman got in the first shot, and killed the bear. It weighed four hundred pounds, being the largest one ever killed in the township.

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Alfred Wheeler and Upson Andrews, two boys, were cutting brush one day in the Summer. They heard a hog squealing, and ran to see the cause, and a large bear had the hog killed when they got in sight of it. They at once ran for David Wheeler. A Mr. Lewis being at Mr. Wheeler's house at the time with a very large dog, went with Wheeler to see his dog have a bear fight. The bear was still eating at the hog. Wheeler shot and wounded the bear, Lewis let his dog go ; but one blow of the bear tore nearly all the flesh from one side the dog, and having no further opposition, the bear fled and escaped.

The people during the early settlement were very friendly, always ready to help one another. Samuel Hutchins's barn was struck by lightning and burned. The people, for quite a distance, turned out en masse, and in one day hewed the timber, framed it, raised the barn, put on the roof and siding (shaving the shingles from the tree), finishing it all up, and hauled in a load of hay. The barn was twenty- eight by thirty-eight feet, and is still standing and in good repair. A barn for Mr. Giddings and a house for Jared Spencer were built in the same way, one day for each building. These were in the west part of Brookfield Township.

Simeon Wheeler set out the first orchard on the farm now owned by Ichabad B. Payne. The trees are now very large, some of them being over two feet in diameter and fifty feet high, and fifty-six bushels of apples have been picked from a single tree.

Soldiers of the War of 1812.—These are the names of the soldiers as far as now ascertained who were residents of Vienna : Asa Hutchins, Captain ; Isaac Hummason, Joel Hummason, Chauncey Alderman, Wm. Bartholomew, John Lafferty, James Lafferty, Wm Lafferty, Abijah T. Bolton, Darius Woodford, Samuel Gleason, John Treat, and probably several others names not obtained.

These are the names of the soldiers that enlisted in the war of the Rebellion, residents of Vienna Township as far as ascertained: Wm. M'Clurg, David Summerville, Merit Emmerson, Lieutenant, Wm. S. Tuttle, Osman Tuttle, Albert Tuttle, J. E. Tuttle, Jacob Pound, Noah Pound, Henry Pound, Henry Truesdell, Selden Truesdell, Jonathan Truesdell, John Truesdell, E. E. Truesdell, Rodney Leet, Warren Leet, Charles Stewart, Robert J. Stewart, Joel Hawley, Addison Perkins, Wm. Feather, Miles King, Hiram Patton, Alfred Combs, Daniel Robb, John Dray, Worthy Williams, George Scoville, Wallace Williams, Stephen Pruden, Zachary Rogers, Robert Stranahan, Wm. Overmire, David Oswald, Erastus Bartholomew, Thomas Snider, Howard Hultz,

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Wheeler Lewis, Riley Alderman, Robert A. M'Murren, Abram Wort- man. Besides these, twenty-eight men were drafted, and furnished substitutes non-residents of the township.

There is at the present time eleven school-houses in the township, with schools in all, and are very well filled with pupils. Four stores, one drug-store, one book-store, post-office. Two hotels, and, I am very sorry to say, we have twenty places where whisky and other drinks are sold. Five coal banks in running order, and two others will soon be open.

Yours, respectfully, ICHABOD B. PAYNE.

PAYNE'S CORNER, O., January 4, 1875.

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GUSTAVUS TOWNSHIP, TRUMBULL COUNTY.

ITS NAME, SURVEY, AND EARLY SETTLEMENT.

OF the eight townships into which Trumbull County was originally divided Vernon comprised those numbers now known as Kinsman, Gustavus, and Green, as well as many others lying north and south of these. Afterward these three were called Green in honor of Gardiner Green, who had the title to the western part.

In the year 1800 the township was surveyed, and the lots were numbered. Col. Lemuel Storrs having now purchased a part of No. 2, he gave it the name of his son, Gustavus.

Josiah Pelton, of Killingworth, Conn., having purchased a section of land north of the center of Gustavus, came in that year (1800) on horseback to view and locate his farm. Having arrived amid this grand unbroken forest, it was no easy task to find forage for the horse; but along the Pymatuning Creek was plenty of coarse grass, and here he turned the animal to roam at will. After feeding here for nearly a year, it had grown so fat and wild and fond of freedom it could be caught only with a lasso, the capturing of it being the most difficult part of its owner's preparations for returning to Connecticut. He made the trip in company with a missionary who had no horse, so the use of this was, shared between them. Safe at home again, he proclaimed that he would give one hundred acres of land to the woman who would first make her home on his part of the western wilderness.

His son, Jesse, quickly accepted the offer in behalf of Ruhamah De Wolf, of Granby, Conn. ; being assured that she was willing to undertake, with himself, the hardships of pioneer life. She came with her father's family to Vernon, where she remained till a clearing was made on her farm and a log cabin built. On the 4th of June, 1802, men came from Vernon to the "raising," and a heavy rain coming on, all were obliged to remain at the cabin over night, and reached home next day only by felling trees across the intervening creeks.

As Mrs. Pelton did not move into her cabin until December of that year (1802), her husband brought all his bread from Vernon. Going thither one day for his baking, he discovered a panther in a

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tree on the bank of the Pymatuning Creek. Tying his hat and coat upon a bush near by, and leaving his dog there to watch them, he turned back three miles, to the Center, for his gun. The dog stood guard faithfully, and the panther, when killed, was found to measure nearly seven feet.

Elias Pelton, a brother of Jesse, was the second who, with his family, became residents of Gustavus. Their daughter Barbara, afterward wife of Hezekiah Barnes, was the first white child who survived, and her brother, Storrs, was the first white boy born in the township.

June of 1804 brought Obadiah Gilder, of Canton (that the name there was Gildersleeve it may be wholly unnecessary to mention, as the last syllable was dropped simply for the convenience of the general public), and Calvin Cone, of Hartland, Connecticut. Up to this time the nearest neighbors on the north were eighteen miles away, and fifteen on the west , two or three families having settled in Mesopotamia.

Here was a paradise for hunters. If there was a fault, the animals were too tame. Now, and for years after, the wolves howled at night about the sheep-folds, coming within a few yards of the house, and attacking not only sheep, but calves and hogs. Sometimes their glittering eyes might be seen peering between the house- logs, where a lump of the chinking was gone. Wild turkeys came often to eat corn with the pigs, and so were readily caught. Raccoons dined in the cabin loft. The deer, too, not having learned that man was their enemy, were easily taken. At a little stream a few yards north of the Center, one came to drink while Jesse Pelton was chopping close at hand. Springing suddenly from behind a stump, he caught it around the neck, and, after a brief struggle, brought it to the ground His wife heard him shout, " Bring a knife !" and with this weapon the deer was quickly dispatched. East of the Center a half-mile were some springs of saltish water especially relished by them, as well as by cattle, and hence were called "deer-licks." Near to one of these two young sons of Mr. Gilder built a bark seat in a tree, and, watching here, shot many a deer as if came by moonlight to drink.

A few Indians still remained, and John Omick, their sachem, with his father, would often step in without invitation, or even permission, and, having helped themselves to whatever eatables they could see, would leave again as unceremoniously as they came. They seemed like outlaws, who feel that their country owes them a living, and it

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is theirs to obtain it as best they can. Still they were never quarrelsome, though in looks they were frightfully savage.

This band of Indians, who until the year 1810 had encamped on the west bank of the Pymatuning Creek, were supposed to be a remnant of the Chippewa tribe. Their totem, or family designation, was the venomous black rattlesnake, called the Massasauga. But they were peaceable (until the war of 1812), disturbing no man's property or person.

Burning the White Dog was their annual religious festival, and to this they always invited white men to come. The sacrifice was offered each year in a certain spot in the north-east part of the township, and the country was hunted over to find a dog purely white for the offering. A pole was supported at either end by forked sticks set firmly in the ground ; beneath it were placed wood and kindlings for the fire. The dog was carefully bound with thongs, passed over the pole in such a way that the victim could be raised or lowered at will. Whisky and food were provided, and as the dusky band assembled their weapons were stacked and a guard placed over them, so that no one in a moment of excitement should seize a weapon for retaliation or destruction. The fire was kindled, and as a circle of these swarthy worshipers danced slowly around the altar, mingling their wailing songs with the beating of rude drums, the victim was lowered into the flames, then raised at intervals, and thus tortured till life was extinct.

Attempts, it is said, were made to Christianize them; but at last, very many having fallen victims to small-pox, they thought the Great Spirit frowned upon them for staying here, so the survivors moved westward in 1810, and afterward became allies of the British.

Of the privations suffered in the earlier days, an incident in the experience of one family will give some faint idea

"About the year 1807 there was great scarcity of grain food. How it came I can not tell, for we were little then; but I know that bread was often wanting, and I can yet remember the look on the face of our mother when we asked her for a larger portion of food. 'T was a longing, pitying, mournful look, that could penetrate even the heart of a child, and linger ineffaceable for fourscore years in that heart. But it was Summer time, and there was much to make us happy. A good appetite made the boiled beech leaves taste very good, though we wondered much at the lack of bread. We had not even 'mush' (we called it 'hasty pudding' in our Connecticut home). So we set to scraping an old trough, where formerly some calves had

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fed, to save some grains of meal that had dried fast on. We wet up a little cake the size of an egg, and baked it in the fire. How disappointed we were when our mother, assuring us it might be unwholesome, forbade our eating it. Our father was away at Hartford, harvesting wheat for a farmer there, and was to bring some home as soon as the kernel would part from the husk. For three days we had eaten nothing but boiled beeeh leaves.

"On the fourth day my brother, then twelve years old, came hurrying in, saying, Give me the gun! Mother, the gun! I believe I can shoot a deer.' From its high place on the wall she handed it down to the eager boy, catching a little of hope, I think, from his word. How we all wanted to run with him, and help ! but our mother, trembling more than ourselves with eagerness, hindered and hushed us to listen for the gun. Soon came the report, and a boy's shout of joy told us of success. Then mother and children all ran out to see. There was the quivering, prostrate form of the deer. To us children it suggested but one thought, and that was—meat! 'Now, mother,' we all cried out, 'now we'll have meat.' Of all queer things in this world, there were our mother's tears falling down ! Was it pity at the look of the large, tender, sad eyes of the deer ? Nay; but the thought that the All-merciful Father had not left her little ones to beg or to starve, and she wept for joy. That night our father came home with some wheat."

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POLAND TOWNSHIP, MAHONING COUNTY.

POLAND is the south-east township of the tract of land known as the Connecticut Western Reserve, and is range No. 1, township No. 1. By the diary of the late Turhand Kirtland, I find he arrived here with Esquire Law and six other men on the 1st day of August, 1798. On the fourth day of the same month Alfred Wolcott, a surveyor, commenced running the south line of the township ; August 18th, found a mill site on Yellow Creek; August 31st, sold to John Struthers, of Cannonsburg, Penn., four hundred acres of land, through which Yellow Creek ran. There were two mill sites upon the stream and on his land. On the 20th day of May, 1799, Jonathan Fowler and family came, and were the first white settlers in the township. They landed at Powers's landing, in the township of Youngstown. They came from Guilford, Conn. (left there October 19, 1799), to Pittsburg by land conveyance; thence by water down the Ohio to the Beaver; up the Beaver and Mahoning Rivers in a canoe. The first night they encamped at the root of a tree which had fallen ; shortly after, moved into a log cabin built from logs which Squire Law had prepared beforehand. He built the first grist and saw mill built at Poland village, in the year 1801. Also built, in 1804, and kept the stone tavern, which is still kept as a public-house. He was drowned in the Beaver River On the 12th of April, A. D. 1806, while attempting to cross. the ,Falls in a canoe, accidentally falling overboard. Although being reported an excellent swimmer, was unable to save himself from drowning. Mrs. Rachel Riley, of Poland village, his daughter (to whom we are indebted for many facts), was the first white female child born in the township, which event occurred February 16, 1800.

October 19, 1799, John Struthers and family arrived, and settled on his purchase. Ebenezer, his son, was the first white male child, and was born in August 1801. In 1800 John Arrell bought the land now occupied by his sons. John M'Gill bought a tract of land with a mill site on the Mahoning River, where the village of Lowell now is. Jacob Dawson purchased a tract, and settled upon it. Rev. Duncan purchased a tract, and settled upon it on the north side of the Mahoning, adjoining the Pennsylvania line. He was the first pas-

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for of United Presbyterian Church in Poland. He also preached upon what is called M'Bride's Hill, sometimes known as the "tent," across the line, in the State of Pennsylvania.

John Dixon, Patrick M'Keever, Samuel Lowden, Wm. M'Connill, Samuel W. and John lineman, Joseph Cowden, Jonathan Frazier, Samuel M'Cullough, Andrew Dunlap, William Dunlap, and Ludwig Ripple, all came into the township, purchased the .land, and settled.

In 1801 came Francis Henry and family, Wm. Back, Thos. Gordon, and John Gordon and families. Isaac Buchanan, James Buchanan, John M'Connell, Johnson Lowry, Benjamin Leach, William Read, Francis Barclay, Peter Shoat*, and Jonas Hoffmaster, came in 1802. Gilbert Buchanan, Walter Buchanan, William M'Connel, Mr. Truesdale, and Robert Smith, came in 1803. In 1804, Thos. Lowe, John Blackburn, Matthew Hartford, James Adair. His sons, James, Alexander, and William, owned land, and lived in the township.

The first marriage ceremony was near 1800, and was celebrated on the farm then owned by John Blackburn. John Blackburn and Nancy Bryan had agreed to get married. The trouble was to get some one to marry them, as they were determined to have the wedding before the surveyors left after finishing the survey. Here was the dilemma. No minister, no justice of the peace—in fact, no one authorized to marry. They finally agreed that Judge Kirtland, having some kind of authority in Connecticut, where he emigrated from, should officiate. When that was settled upon, it was discovered they had given no notice, as required by law, for posting notices ten days. Dr. Chas. Dutton said he could remedy that. So he wrote four notices, and posted one on each side of the log cabin. Then Judge Kirtland looked up his Episcopal prayer-book, which contained the marriage ceremony. The company in waiting, a stool was placed in front of the Judge, and upon it a white cover. On this the Judge had placed his book. There were about seventy persons in attendance. A slight delay occurring at the moment when all appeared to be ready, some one proposed that they should take a drink of whisky all around before they were married. This was agreed to unanimously. And while the Judge was taking his drink some one stole the prayer-book, leaving the Judge without any guide. But he said, if they were agreed to it, they should say so. They were both agreed; and thus ended the ceremony.

Rev. Nathaniel Pittenger was the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, and settled in the township in the year 1801. The Winter

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of 1801-2 the first school was taught by John K. Stanton and Mr. Ferris; and Dr. J. P. Kirtland, of Cleveland, taught in 1804,with Perley Brush.

In the year 1802* Dan Heaton built a blast furnace for making iron on Yellow Creek. He used charcoal for fuel, and made two and one-half or three tons per day. The product of the furnace was used entirely for making castings for the settlers. In the year 1806 Robert Montgomery, David Clendennin, and Alexander built the second furnace on Yellow Creek ; made from two and one-half to three tons per day They also used charcoal for fuel. The ores used in this and the Heaton furnace were gathered along the banks of Yellow Creek. It was run until 1812. At that time the men were principally all drafted into the army. The furnace went out of blast and never afterward run. Subsequently, the third furnace on Yellow Creek was started by the Heatons. It was very similar to the other two, and run but a short time.

In the year 1802 the militia were enrolled. John Struthers was elected captain, and Robert M'Combs first lieutenant. There were eighty-seven names on the roll ; when it was called the first time every man was present. In 1805 the eastern• part of the township was one company, and the western part another. The two companies met in the village the same day for drill. A rivalry existing between them as to which company had the best marksmen, they arranged for a test, to be decided that day. The distance was sixty yards, off-hand, with a rifle. The eastern company chose Tom M'Clees. He was entitled to the first shot; stepped forward, took his position, and drove the center. The western company chose a man by the name of Garner. He followed him, and also drove the center. It had been agreed that each man was to have but one shot ; consequently, there was no victory.

M'Clees shot the only beaver ever known to have been killed in the township. In the Mahoning, near M'Gill's dam, Garner shot three panthers, at different times, in a ravine near Mount Nebo, which bears the name of Panthers' Run ever since.

I am under obligations to Mrs. Thos. Riley, Thos. Struthers, and Joseph Sexton, the oldest settlers now living, for information.

JAMES BROWNLEE,

Vice-President Poland Township.

* This date must be a mistake. The time was probably 1805.—EDITOR.

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The following communications have been furnished, which we take pleasure in perpetuating :

" MOUNT NEBO, October 16, 1875.

" MR. WILLIAM POWERS :

"DEAR SIR,—Samuel H. M'Bride has requested me to give you information in regard to pioneer life in Poland Township. I have put a few rambling thoughts on paper; some of the names and dates I have from others, and the rest from personal recollection. I have lived the most of my life-time in this township. In January, 1836, I removed with my husband, Colonel John Stewart, to Coitsville Township. We remained there until 1854, and then returned. We brought with us six sons and one daughter, all alive at present except Isaac W., our oldest. In March, 1859, he engaged in the City Bank in Cleveland. Here he remained until September, 1860. On the 30th of that month he went out, as financial agent, to the gold regions, landing in San Francisco 27th of October. He remained there during the Winter, waiting the arrival of machinery to be used in the mines, to come by the way of Cape Horn. In the Spring of 1861 he crossed the Sierra Nevada Mountains, making the trip with ox-teams in -twenty days. They located in Aurora, Esmeralda County, Nevada, in the Fall of that year. Not being satisfied with the company, he left them, and, with a partner, located a ranch on Walker River, where he was quite successful in farming. In January, 1865, he and a companion, Robert Rabe, went to the Columbus, a distance of ninety miles, and located some silver-mining Claims. On their return trip they were waylaid, and both murdered by Indians at Walker Lake. Those two men were the first victims at that terrible outbreak of Indians in 1865. This account of our son's death is modern, but it shows what pioneer life has been in our country.

"Jonathan Fowler, of Guilford, Conn., was the first white settler in Poland Township. He, with his wife and an infant daughter, arrived in this township May 29, 1799. The part of the journey from Beaver, then called Mackintosh, was made in a canoe. Turhand Kirtland and Jared Kirtland, brothers of Mrs. Fowler, came at the same time and located homes, but did not bring their families until 1802. Turhand was long and favorably known as a land agent and public-spirited man. In 1804 Jerad Kirtland started a tavern in a large frame building, which remains standing on the high ground east of the creek. It was a first-class house in its time. Mr. Fowler and his wife lived in a cloth tent for six weeks on the west bank of Yel-

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low Creek, near the present sitd of the flouring mill. They erected a substantial house, in which the first white child in the township was born—Rachel Fowler—who was married in 1820 to Thomas Riley. She and her husband are still residing in the village. Mr. Fowler erected the stone tavern, a frame house, and a flouring mill in the village. He, Mr. Fowler, lost his life in 1806 by drowning in the Big Beaver while superintending the boating of merchandise destined for New Orleans. Dr. Chauncey Fowler, of Canfield, and Mrs. Riley, are the only survivors of the family.

"John Struthers came from Washington County, Penn., and settled on the "Struthers Farm," on which the village of Struthers is now situated, 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 engaged with Mr. Montgomery in building and operating a blast furnace on Yellow Creek, a short distance from its mouth. The furnace continued running until the war of 1812. Of the family of Mr. Struthers but two are living. Lieutenant Alexander died at Detroit in the latter part of 1813 in the service of his country. John resides on a farm adjacent to the Struthers Farm. Ebenezer, the first white male child born in the township, born August, 1800, is now dead. The other survivor, Hon. Thomas Struthers, is well known in this community.

"The year 1800 Mr. William Buck, Stephen Frazer, father of the late Mrs. Isaac Powers, John Jordan and Thomas Gordon, with their families, settled on or near the road leading to Youngstown. Patrick M'Keever, on the north side of the river, and James Patton, near the Pennsylvania line, were also early settlers in the course of a few years. John Truesdale, James Riley, Robert Smith, John Arrel, William,, Joseph and T. P. Cowden, William Moore, Gilbert and Walter Buchanan, James and William Adair, William Guthrie, James Stewart, John M'Gill, and others not now remembered, came and settled in different parts of the township. James Stewart built the flouring mill on the north side of the Mahoning River, on the property where the village of Newport was laid out somc years ago. The building, a substantial stone structure, was torn down by the Pennsylvania and Ohio Canal Company. The head race and a small part of the dam can still be seen. Mr. M'Gill also built a flouring mill on the Mahoning River, around which has built up the village of Lowell. This mill was done away with by the canal, but afterward was rebuilt.

"Nathaniel Walker, my grandfather, emigrated from Chester

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County, Penn., and settled on a farm in the north-east of the township. It is now owned by T. W. Kennedy. My father, Isaac Walker, was born in Chester County, Penn., August, 1780. My mother, Rachel, was born in Adams County, Penn., October 31, 1785. She came to this country on horseback in April, 1811, to visit her sister. They were married here in November of that year. In less than two years my mother made three trips across the Alleghany Mountains on horseback. They settled on my grandfather's farm, where I was born in 1813. In the Fall of 1812 my father was elected captain of a military company ; on the 10th of February, 1813, started with his company for the seat of war. Soon after reaching Fort Stephenson, he was stricken down with the camp-fever, which terminated his life on the 5th of April following. My mother remained in possession of the farm, and resided thereon until her death, March 20, 1870.

"My first day's experience in attending school is strongly fixed in my memory. The school-house was at the center, and two hundred acres of unbroken forest lay between our house and it, making it a serious undertaking for a child of six years. On the first morning of my attendance, May, 1819, my mother said she was going on horseback to the village, and that she would carry me on the horse behind her to the school-house, which she did. On her return she brought me a Webster's spelling book, and made arrangement with the teacher to board with us, for some time, on my account. His name was James Campbell, an estimable young man, gone to his reward. The school-house was built on the south-east corner of the crossroads; built of round logs, with clapboard roof held on by weight-poles. I do not remember to have seen a nail about the premises. On the north side was a window of four lights of eight by ten. It was set high up above the reach of the smaller juveniles, a wise arrangement for the safety of the glass. It afforded sufficient light for the teacher's desk under it. On the other three sides of the house was a space made by cutting out a log, all except sufficient to hold up the corners. In this was a sash for eight by ten, one light high, but no glass. In the Winter the sash was covered with writing paper, saturated with grease applied to it by a hot flat-iron. These windows let in what was considered sufficient light for school purposes, and by the time the Winter school was over there was but little of the paper left. The writing-desks were large slabs, flat side up, supported by pins let in to the wall in holes made by a large auger. The seats were of narrower slabs, with supports made of dogwood saplings put into holes near the ends made by those same augers. There was a

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ten-plate stove in the center of the room, inscribed on each of the side-plates, "Dan. Eaton, Hopewell Furnace." The stove was set on blocks of wood, protected by one brick at each corner between the wood and iron. The cast-iron supports made for it were hanging on a wooden pin, driven into the wall for want of sufficient iron to make two rods to hold them together. The stove-pipe was formed of what was called "cot and clay." Its circumference was near that of a flour barrel, as it had several barrel staves around it which were held on by hoops that I suppose had once been on the ends of barrels. This pipe ran through the upper floor, and the smoke had to find its way through the roof.

"In 1819 there was a small church, standing a few rods south of the corners, owned by a congregation of Seceders' New Associate Church. They held their services in this house during the Winter, and in the Summer in the grove adjoining. There have been three pastors of this society—Revs. James Duncan, Robert Douglas, and David Goodwille. The latter is still living, but labors in a different charge.

" The old school-house and the old church are gone. More pretentious buildings supply their places. The forest has given place to cultivated fields, meadows, and orchards. The old people are passing away and the young are taking their places, together with many strangers who know not of the school-house, the old church, nor the many pioneers who have gone to their rest.

"Yours truly, MRS. JOHN STEWART."

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MILTON TOWNSHIP, MAHONING COUNTY.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION.

MILTON is the north-west township in Mahoning County, and is bounded on the north by Newton, on the east by Jackson, on the south by Berlin, and on the west by Palmyra. The Mahoning River, flow- in a northerly direction, crosses the western part of the township. The soil is generally fertile, being well adapted to either farming or grazing, and is well watered by springs, good wells, and numerous brooks. On the east bank of the river, and about one mile south of the north township line, is a sulphur spring from three to five feet deep. The water in it, which is always cool and very clear, has been recommended by physicians for medical uses.

Near the center of the township is an extensive stone quarry, from which freestone of an excellent quality for building purposes is obtained. Coal has been mined in small quantities in south-east and south-west parts. In early days blacksmiths of this vicinity obtained coal for forging from west bank of river, south of center of township. Several attempts to find oil have been made near Fredericksburg ; all, however, have proved to be unsuccessful.

At present there are no villages worthy of note in the township. In the early years of settlement, Fredericksburg, situated on the river near the south-west corner, and Price's Mills, in the northern part of township, were both flourishing little country villages. The former, being on the scold stage road" leading from Pittsburg to Cleveland, was one of the stopping-places for stage drivers and passengers. At one time it contained three taverns, two stores, the " Frederick Post- office," a tailor, a hatter, a blacksmith, and a wagon-maker ; now an old church and a few old dwelling-houses are left to tell us where the village once was. Price's Mills is not quite so nearly extinct, yet it too presents the appearance of a place that has seen its best days. It formerly contained one store, the " Milton Post-office," a grist-mill, saw-mill, oil-mill, carding machine, and foundry for making castings for plows.

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SETTLEMENT AND ORGANIZATION

The first settlement was formed about the years 1803 and 1804, beginning in the vicinity of Price's Mills, and extending up the river across the western part of the township. Of the early settlers we will mention the following: Jesse Holliday, Judge Clarke, Nathaniel Stanley, Thomas L. Fenton, Samuel Daniels, Aaron Porter, the Craigs, the M'Kenzies, Munson, Captain Venetten, and Joseph Depew.

Soon afterward a settlement was formed in the eastern part of the township, and among the first settlers here were Samuel Bowles, Dan'l Stewart, Peter De Courcey, the Orrs, Thomas Reed, the Winans, Alex. French, John Pennell, Alex. Campbell, John Johnston, and Robert Russell.

From records found in Newton we learn that John Johnston, of Milton, and Bildad Hine, of Newton, were elected justices of the peace in the year 1814 by the joint townships of Newton and Milton. In a year or two after this a separate organization was formed, and from recollection we give the following names of justices elected prior to the year 1840 : John Johnston and Daniel Vaughn, Robert Price, Johnston Vaughn, Wm. Strander, Milton Rogers, Jno. Matherspaw, James Moore, John Eckis, Jr., and Peter Kinnaman.

At an early date the first post-office (Milton) was established at Price's Mills, with Judge Clarke postmaster. First Church, which was of Presbyterian denomination, was organized in 1807 or 1808, and was composed of citizens of Milton and Newton, the church building being on the Newton side, near Price's Mills.

In the year 1806 a grist-mill was erected by Jesse Holliday on the site now occupied by woolen factory and grist-mill owned by the heirs of J. G. Calendar. In 1816 Mr. Holliday sold his mill to John Price, and in the year 1818 it passed into the hands of Judge- Price, who owned it for a number of years.

Probably the first bridge built across the Mahoning River, above Warren, was a trestle-work bridge on the line between Milton and Newton. This broke down in 1822 while Joseph Depew was crossing it driving three yoke of oxen. Four of the oxen were killed in the fall, the driver and foremost yoke escaping uninjured. This bridge was soon replaced by another of similar construction, which was carried away by the breaking up of the ice in 1831. A short time afterward the bridge now standing was built in a more substantial manner than the first two, it being lattice-work on stone abutments.

In about the year 1817 an ashery and a distillery were built near

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Orr's Corners by James Orr. The distillery he sold soon after building to his brother John Orr. A second distillery was built near the same date by John Hindman in the north-east corner of the township, and some years after a third by John Reed near the location of the first.

A tannery was started in the Fall of 1823 in the eastern part of the township by John Johnston and James Moore. Some time after this another was started by Robert Laughlin, and in 1827'a third by James Moore, one-quarter of a mile west of Orr's Corners.

Our first physician was Tracy Bronson, who came from New England in 1814, traveling the entire distance on horseback. Being a single man, he boarded for some time with Judge Clarke. After a few years he married a Miss Freeman, and settled in Newton, near Price's Mills, where he spent the remainder of his days. He lived to a good old age, and continued to practice medicine throughout his life, being one of the best physicians of Milton and Newton.

From recollection we give the following names of some of our early school-teachers: Peggy Stevens, Gain Robison, Joseph Duer, Phoebe Canfield, and Billings 0. Plimpton, who afterward became a famous Methodist preacher. For many years teachers were paid by subscription, receiving during Summer terms from four to five dollars per month, and during Winter terms from nine to ten dollars per month, and very often taking their pay in grain or orders on some of the neighboring stores. On one occasion a teacher who was to be paid in grain ordered it to be taken by the farmers to J. Orr's distillery, and a few months afterward he carried his Winter's wages home in liquid form in a barrel.

That the reader may know that the pioneers of Milton did not escape all the privations and hardships experienced by "first settlers," we give the following circumstances connected with Captain Yen etten's coming to our township, as related to us by his daughters, Mrs. M'Kenzie and Mrs. Patterson. He, with his family, came to Milton in the Spring of 1806, and selected as a place for their new home land west of the river and south of the center of township. After their arrival, three weeks passed before they succeeded in completing their house. During this time they slept in their wagon, and cooked and ate in the open air. When all was in readiness for the putting up of their cabin, owing to the scarcity of men, the women were called upon to give assistance in raising the logs to desired height. Some time after coming here Captain Venetten procured a pair of spoon-molds, which were used by his wife for several years, in making

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spoons for herself and many of her neighbors, the material used being old pewter dishes. If at any time a spoon was broken, the pieces were laid carefully away until they could be taken back to be made over again just as good as new.

As late as 1806 three Indians, Nicksaw, Cayuga, and Cadishua, were living on the west bank of the river, south of the center road. Indian-like, they subsisted chiefly by hunting and fishing, paying but little attention to agriculture, only raising a little corn on bottom- land along the river. They were friendly, and lived on good terms with the white settlers, neighboring and trading with them as occasion required.

For a number of years after the settlement of the township wild game of different kinds abounded in great numbers, affording a source of recreation and enjoyment to sportsmen, as well as a source of annoyance to farmers. Especially were the wolves troublesome neighbors; for they sometimes committed sad depredations among the stock, coming at times very near to dwelling-houses in order to get a fat lamb or some other choice bit for their supper. One incident, given us by Mrs. Shearer, a daughter of Alex. French, is as follows : Herself and sisters, being up late one night, heard wolves howling, and a disturbance among some cattle in a field near by. They soon aroused the other members of the family, when all started toward the scene of action. The wolves were soon frightened away, not, however, until they had succeeded in killing one of the cattle. The last instance of a bear being known to be in the township was in 1835, at which time Joseph Mead tracked one, traveling in a northerly direction, and crossing the line into Newton, where it was killed.

Now, after giving you a bear-story, as related to us by William Orr, we will make our bow and leave the floor for the next speaker. The circumstance occurred about one mile south-east of Orr's Corners. In about 1817 Matthew M'Connell, on going into the woods one morning to catch his horses, saw a young bear, and was about to catch it when "Madame Bruin" made her appearance, and, seeing her little one in danger, attacked the intruder, who with a club returned the assault, and after a hard-fought battle drove her from the field. He then succeeded in catching the cub and carrying it home in triumph, as a trophy of his unexpected encounter.

F. R. JOHNSTON.

MILTON, O., January 3, 1876.

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JACKSON TOWNSHIP, MAHONING COUNTY.

SAMUEL CALHOUN, who died in 1873, was the first actual settler in this township. Samuel Riddle, John Morrison, and William Orr were others who settled very early, and Andrew Gault was the first white child born in the township. The township was organized about the year 1815; was then called West Austintown, afterward Jackson.

The Covenanter Church Association was organized in 1830, in the south-east part of the township, in the Gault and Ewing settlement. This society is still worshiping at the same place where organized. The Methodist Episcopal Church Society was organized the same year, 1830, at the center. Some time after that they purchased a building and lot a little east of the center, which they afterward sold; and in 1840 they erected a new house for worship, one-fourth mile north of the center, which they continue to occupy. In 1834 the German Lutherans and German Presbyterians were organized into a society, and in common erected a house for public worship one-half mile north of the center, which they still continue to use. It has, however, been refitted once since its erection. The pastors of the Lutheran denomination have been two, Rev. Henry Hewitt, the first; afterward the Rev. F. C. Becker, who is still in charge. The Presbyterians, Revs. Peter Nemasmith, Heaton Rhule, Swisler, and J. B. Zumpe, and have each been in charge in the order mentioned, Zumpe being the present pastor. Tile English Presbyterian societies of Ohlton and Orr's Corners united in one organization, and in 1872 erected a good, substantial house for worship a few rods east of the center. This building has a bell, from Troy, of one thousond pounds weight, and it is heard four or five miles when rung. The Rev. T. R. M'Mahon was the first pastor who remained with them three years. The Rev. M. Graham is now in charge. All of the .religious societies are in a prosperous condition.

The public-schools were few, and but little interest taken in education until 1840, when a new impulse moved the settlers. They divided the township into eight school districts, with a fractional district in the south-west corner. They hired competent teachers, secured a good

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attendance of scholars, and from that time until the present. The citizens have felt a deep interest in the cause of education; and, as a consequence, the schools are in good condition, and the community are intelligent. An academy was erected at the center in 1859. The efforts of those who erected it have met with fair success.

Merchandising has been carried on by the following-named persons: Colwell Porter, being the first who opened a store in a log cabin; he was followed by the firm of Porter & Anthony. Mr. Koons had a store he sold to Mr. Graten, about the same time Porter sold his interest to Anthony. David Anderson commenced business in 1843; afterward sold to John Cartwright. About the same time Trumbull & Welkers had a store on the north-west corner of the center. David Anderson again commenced on the south-east corner, and Anthony & Flaugher on the south-west corner, 1856. Anderson & Flaugher formed a partnership under the name of D. Anderson & Co., and in 1862 the name was changed to Anderson, Shaffer & Co. That firm is doing business at the present time. Welkers sold to Moherman, Osborn & Lynns. Lynns retired. The firm was then Moherman, Osborn & Moherman, which afterward was changed to Wm. and A. Moherman. They were followed by Dickson & Kirk, who were burned September, 1874. Folk & Anderson commenced in 1866. Anderson retired, and the new firm of Folk, Metzal & Wanamaker commenced in 1868. Metzal and Wanamaker retired, and Gideon Folk continued the business until his death, February 14, 1873. G. W. Osborn, and Osborn & Jones were in business a short time between 1865 and 1870. Shields, Orr & Co., also had a furniture store for about one year.

We have two physicians, one hotel, one tin shop, one broom shop, two wagon and carriage shops, one harness, three shops, four blacksmiths, and six saw-mills in this township.

D. ANDERSON.

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LORDSTOWN TOWNSHIP, MAHONING COUNTY.

THE land in this township was owned by — Lord, from 'whom the township derived its name. He did not offer the land for sale until about the year 1824, and in two years was all sold but fifty to one hundred acres, and all bought by actual settlers. The first log cabin was built by M'Coy, one-half mile south-west of the center. The cabin is now used for a hay barn. M'Coy was a hunter, and subsisted principally upon game, which at that time was in abundance here.

I was born in 1805, at Cornersburg, Mahoning County, Ohio. I moved into a log cabin three-fourths of a mile west of the center of this township in 1830. The cabin was a poor one, a child could have crawled through the cracks in the walls. In April, 1830, I was elected supervisor on a road that was laid out from the center of the township to the Palmyra road, one and three-fourth miles. I at once notified all the men in the neighborhood, who came out the next day, and we cut the road through in two days.

We have now in the township seven schools-houses, four churches, two saw-mills, and one cheese factory. We had at one time seven hundred children in the school list, but the number has dwindled down to about two hundred and seventy-five.

We have found no minerals in paying quantities. There is, however, which is valuable here, a sandstone quarry, covering about four hundred acres, with a covering on top of only one to three feet. The surface and soil of the land is much diversified, although clay predominates. The eastern portion is gravelly. The township contains very little waste land, and is one of the best farming districts in the county. The Little Meander Creek, in the south-east part, and the Little Duck Creek, in the northern part, are the principal streams.

My father was in the War of 1812; was in the battle of Fort Meigs, where the famous General Joseph M'Mahan was wounded; was afterward discharged;. on his way home fell into the hands of hostile Indians.

Very respectfully, THOMAS DUNCAN.

To JOHN M. EDWARDS, ESQ., Corresponding Secretary.

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BOARDMAN TOWNSHIP, MAHONING COUNTY.

THIS township, as is well known, is comprised within the limits of what was early known as New Connecticut, or the Connecticut Western Reserve. The first settlement began in the Spring of 179S. The town was owned most, if not entirely, by a number of gentlemen. uniting and forming the Connecticut Land Company, as it was named. Their purchase was not confined to this township, but embraced lands in other parts of the Reserve. In the Spring of 1798 Mr. Elijah Boardman, a resident of New Milford, in Connecticut, and one of the above-mentioned Company, came here, spending the entire Summer in surveys, establishing corners, and informing himself as to the relative values of the different lots. No longer since than the past Summer an examination was made of the buried stone, marking the center of this township. The stone bore the initials E. B., 1798.

Mr. Boardman was accompanied by six able and resolute men, whom he employed to commence a settlement. The entire season was devoted to that purpose. Two of those men were brothers by the name of Blakely, one or both of whom afterward purchased and occupied the farm, one and one-half miles east of the center— the same now owned by Jesse Baldwin, Esq. The names of the other four I am not able to give. Five of these men returned to Connecticut in the Fall ; the other, one of the Blakely brothers, remained, becoming a permanent settler. This, without doubt, gave him an opportunity of making a careful examination of the different lands, and selecting, accordingly, what was then .to be his future home. He doubtless foresaw the necessity of direct communication and transportation from New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburg, and through to Cleveland, which would soon, most likely, be established, and, in fact, afterward was established, running directly in front of his farm.

In the Spring of 1799 or 1800, some of those who had been his companions in the Summer of 1798, returned to Boardman as permanent settlers; others also, Judge Eli Baldwin, some of the Brainards, perhaps the Stitsons, George Herman, and Luther. From that date emigration steadily continued ; installments following installment of the Yankee nation—the Baldwins, Davidsons, Tituses, Twisses, Starrs, Lockwoods, Nobles, Fitches, Merkers, Newtons, Clarks, Mer-

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chants, Beardsleys, and many others I am unable to recall. Quite a number, also, from Maryland—Moody, Bishop, and Ditchon, with their families; then a Mr. Agnew, from Old England, born, as he often remarked with great pride, apparently, within a stone's-throw of a cathedral; again, a real Hibernian, Mr. Dowlers, pure in blood, and proud of his nativity. All of the above, or nearly so, are now represented in the township by descendants, respected and esteemed, as their parents were before them.

There are also, in the north and north-east part of the township, several families of the Simonses, the date of whose coming I am not so familiar with. They were, however, among the earliest settlers, and built, I believe, the first house of worship (a log one) erected in the township, which must have been previous to or about 1820. That house has long since been superseded by a good and substantial frame building for the same use, and is now recognized by the name Dutch Church. Their first minister that I have any knowledge of was Mr. Hewet. He owned a farm one and one-half miles north of the center, where he lived, and, I believe, died, many years since, a worthy and highly respected man, thoroughly devoted to his duties as a minister. I remember well his repeated calls at my father's, wearing corduroy pants, faced with buckskin, a kind of saddle armor-horseback being his mode of traveling.

My parents, Henry M. and Sarah H. Boardman, came in Spring of 1819. It was their bridal trip, and fully or nearly equal to a trip to Europe at the present day. My father left a counting-room for a home in a new country. To be sure, he underwent no more than others; but his business thus far in life had been very different. The change to practical farming was indeed great, for he had never engaged in it previously, and it was of necessity experimental ; but he entered into it with great zest, diverting himself frequently in hunting and shooting, of which he was very fond, and in which he continued to indulge as long as he lived. In those days there was scarcely a house without a rifle, and really it was the most appropriate musical instrument they had. The crack of the rifle was cheering to the pioneer. It meant either the destruction. of a common enemy or food for the family.

There was organized, as early as 1S09, an Episcopal Church, officers elected, and all the forms of that Church fully complied with, which organization has had a continuous existence from that day to this, as the records in my hands show. It is also the oldest organized parish in this State. The first clergyman, I believe, was a

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Mr. Douglas; succeeding him, Mr. Kemper, afterward Bishop of Wisconsin; then Mr. Searle; and again Mr. Chase, afterward Bishop of this diocese. There has also been connected with this parish a Ladies' Missionary Society, which can date its organization back forty-five years.

The Presbyterians and the Methodists had also society organizations. The former, however, lost its existence by deaths and removals of its members, many years since; the latter still continues. They each embraced amongst their numbers some of our best and most worthy citizens. I am unable to give the dates of their first society meetings, or the names of their early clergy.

The wives and mothers of those early days were most remarkable women. Possessed of great force of character and resolution of purpose, they endured with wondrous cheerfulness the many privations and discomforts incident to pioneer life. Their .devotion to their families' interests and welfare was scarcely distinguishable from their kindly feelings toward their neighbors. The writer of this well remembers some of them, and the many happy hours spent in their log-cabins, and in front of great wood fires, listening to the many and oft-told tales for his diversion, or an admonition perhaps, administered with so gentle a grace that even a child could not be offended, but would mentally determine not to repeat the act which gave rise to the reproof again. It would be unnatural to suppose their thoughts never reverted to their childhood homes and associations, their many friends left far behind. They did indeed often speak of visiting the old hearth-stones, and of their anticipated visits there. Some one or two of them did return, making the entire journey on horseback from here to Connecticut. Others, in all probability, would have done the same had their means been sufficient, or their families of a suitable age to leave behind. The journey itself, although made, as I said before, on horseback, was considered as nothing remarkable to those sturdy and self-reliant women; and the only remark you would hear was that they too might, at some future time, repeat the journey in that or some other way.

The forests in those days, to the great delight of sportsmen, abounded in game, deer, bear, wolves (which, by the by, are not considered so gamy, in that sense), and most of the smaller kinds, together with turkeys, pheasants, etc. I very well remember the exhibition of a wolf from house to house, even in the school-house, which had been caught in a trap set for that purpose. That was the first menagerie I ever attended. I can also recollect killing an

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immense black rattlesnake, held by Mrs. Thayer with her large fire- shovel while I did the pounding. These are simply incidents that occurred in early times, and then not considered of much moment, they being very common.

When we compare the conveyances and necessary mode of travel of those early times with the comforts and conveniences of the present day, it is with perfect amazement we contemplate the changes that time and man's ingenuity have accomplished. Those early settlers made the journey in wagons drawn, some by horses, others by oxen, the rate of speed not greatly varying, the roads miserable, and in some cases little but blazed trees to guide them; and after their arrival, in case of sickness, without relief, excepting loving hearts and gentle hands, and the kindly sympathy of what few there were of neighbors. And when I say sympathy I mean it ; for I tell you there was none of that selfish feeling that prevails to too great an extent at this day, no quarreling or jangling over trifles or imagined insulted dignity, but a hearty confidence, sociability, and kindness, which cheered them in their isolation from early scenes and associations, and kept the paths from house to house worn smooth by their oft- repeated visits from one to the other. It seems a glorious fact to contemplate, no rivalry beyond a healthy one, all feeling an active interest in each of the other's welfare. This it was that cheered them, this their greatest comfort, a common interest and a commonunity of feeling.

F. A. BOARDMAN.

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CHAMPION TOWNSHIP, TRUMBULL COUNTY.

CHAMPION received its name from Henry Champion, who was the proprietor at the time of its being named. William Rutan, John Rutan, William Woodrow, William Cronninger, Andrew Doneldson, Asa Lane, and H. Nickols were the first settlers of the township, and, excepting the Indians, they and their families were the only residents for over twenty years. A band of Indians having a village of eight or ten cabins a short distance from the settlement lived there, but were friendly, and often visited the houses of the whites, and ground their tomahawks, got tobacco, etc. Wolves, during all that time, were numerous and troublesome. Sheep had to be penned every night to protect them. A pack of them attacked and killed a two-year old heifer belonging to one of the settlers. Game was abundant.

Henry Lane and William Hall, of Warren Township, came there repeatedly to hunt; acquired the name of bear-hunters. At one time they had an adventure that came near ending the life of Hall. There is a swamp in the north part of the township known as the Long Swamp, which was a resort for bears. In one of their hunts they went to this swamp, Hall taking the east and Lane the west side. They sent their four dogs into the swamp to drive out the game. Hall carried a spear and Lane had a gun. They had not proceeded far before Hall discovered a bear coming out of the swamp and directly toward him. It raised on its hind legs and advanced toward him. Hall aimed his spear at the ber's breast, but it glanced, and he fell forward under the bear. The bear attacked him by tearing his back. His screams brought the dogs to his rescue, who engaged the bear's attention until Lane came up, who shot him.

The first election in the township was held December 26, 1831, at the house of William Woodrow, and the following officers were elected, to-wit: John Chambers, Benjamin Ross, and John Woodrow, Judges; William Woodrow and Joseph Cook, Clerks; George Fulk, William Rutan, William Woodrow, Trustees; Henry L. Rutan, Township Clerk; Joseph Cook, Treasurer; Samuel Pierce, Constable; Frederick Myers, Edward Peins, Poor Masters; John Thompson, Samuel Booth, Taylor Bradfield, Fence Viewers; and Joseph Pierce,

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Supervisor. The first school taught in the township commenced in May, 1815; was by Catherine Church, of Warren. The first church edifice built was in 1842, by the Presbyterian denomination. The first post-office established was in 1850.

Jacob H. Baldwin, in 1839, Commissioner of Trumbull County, purchased two hundred acres of land for a poor farm in the south part of the township. They have since that purchased one hundred and fifty acres additional. Benjamin Stevens, of Warren, William Woodrow, of Champion, and George Hapgood, of Warren, were appointed directors, to erect buildings and provide for the maintenance of the paupers of the county. William Geddes was appointed as the superintendent. Their successors were elected by the voters of the county, H. L. Rutan, George Hapgood, Edward Potter, since which time the farm has been improved and the building enlarged from time to time, and at the present time the main building throughout is heated by steam. The average number of paupers for the year 1875 is sixty-five. The first settlers came to the township in 1806-7.

Yours, respectfully, H. L.

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RUTAN. GREEN TOWNSHIP, MAHONING COUNTY.

WILLIAM POWERS, Esq.,

DEAR SIR,—I comply with your request to furnish for publication the history of the early settlement of Green Township with considerable reluctance. I was not in this country until 1822, and only nine years old then ; consequently know but little about it except as I came in contact with pioneers or their offspring. I think the object of your society is a laudable one, and all the facilities within your reach ought to be brought into requistion to make your book as full of facts as possible. I therefore take the matter in hand, and hope that my feeble efforts may in some degree contribute to the end in view. I would here acknowledge that for the principal facts of the settlement of the south part of the township I am very much indebted to General J. B. Roller, of New Lisbon, who was raised and spent the most of his prolonged life (now eighty-three years old) in this township ; without the start he gave me I would not have attempted it.

Elisha Teeters was the first settler of Green Township. He came in the year 1801, and settled where the village of New Albany stands; and the second house he built is yet standing, and is now used as a dwelling. Baltzer Roller (father of J. B. Roller), in 1802, John Roller, in 1803, settled in the south-east corner of the township; Samuel Davis in 1804, in the south-west corner, where part of Salem is now built. In 1830, or thereabout, four square miles were taken from Green to form the new township of Perry, Columbiana County. John Webb settled on the Albany road where Wm. Dunn now lives. James Wil¬son, in 1802, settled three miles north of Salem, where three of his children yet live. He was grandfather to the sprightly young Dr. Wilson, who now resides in your city. Further north, Michael Dunn, as early as 1802, where his widow and most of his children now reside. George Snyder afterward settled on the same section on the Salem and Ellsworth road. In the north-west corner of the township, Philip Bowman, a Revolutionary soldier, settled at a very early day. He was grandfather to the Bowmans who live in Goshen and Ellsworth at this time. A few years later Krepps, Morfoot, Hahn, Knauff, John Beard, Sen.; the Clays, Goodmans, and Kenreicks, all in the northern row of sections. Jacob, Thomas, and William Cook, settled just north of New Albany about 1804. About the same time

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the Callahans settled on the east side of the creek that runs south through the township. The writer knew the four brothers, James, William, Jesse, and Jeremiah. Further south, four brothers, Peter, Joseph, Henry, and John Zimmerman, settled a few years later. North of Zimmerman John Weikart settled as early as the year 1803, and lived there until his death in 1872. Jacob Weikart located on the same section in 1810. East of Weikarts, a Mr. Harnish built the mill afterward known as J. B. Roller's upper mill, and his remains lie buried under a wild cherry-tree north of the mill not far from the track of the N. N. T. R. R. On the east side of the township, two brothers, Samuel, Luther, and Widow Calvin, settled in 1816. Further north, John Houts settled where John Shivenberger now lives. The year 1814, Stacy Cook north-east of New Albany, near the big swamp. He was father to Jacob Dane, John D., and Osborn, and Stacy. The last-mentioned is still living. These and the Cooks, first above-named, were all from New Jersey, but their blood relationship was very remote. North of Green village, Philip Cool, and his nephew, Jacob Cool, settled as early as 1816. John Haifley settled in section eleven, in 1805. John Crowl about the same time. Henry Pyle settled in the north-east 1807.

The first justice of the peace was Jacob Roller. He represented the county in the legislature a great many years. The first Preacher was Jacob Staugh (Lutheran). There were Methodist Episcopal Church traveling preachers and local. preachers, among whom were Dr. Bostwick and Dr. Adams. The first marriage was Conrad Zimmerman to Elizabeth Fox, of Beaver Township. The first school was taught by Jacob Picking, in 1805.

The trials and privations of the earlier settlers of this township were no doubt similar to those of any other sections of country at the time of which we write. I said at the outset I know nothing prior to 1822; but I have frequently listened with eagerness to the recitals of the pioneers relating the trials they had to pass through when they first came in the wilderness. Mary Stevenson (daughter of the first-named Teeters, whose husband had been in the legislature) was very frequently at my father's house, and used to entertain us with her narratives. She said it was no uncommon occurrence for their cows to come home with their flanks and sides torn by the wolves ; and what care they had to take of their pigs, lambs, and calves to keep the wolves and bears from devouring them; and how the wolves would howl around their houses; and how her brother John would hunt bears and have hand to hand conflicts with

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them; how plenty deer and wild turkeys were, and the trouble they had in making roads. Their house was the home of those who were in search of land. They would often get lost, and have to stay out all night in the woods. These and many other things she would relate, and have us listening with such eagerness that we would be afraid to go outside of the house after dark. They had to go sometimes thirty miles to mill, and then on horseback, and all the salt they used was packed on horseback over the mountains. She would relate how the youngsters who wanted to get married, and if their parents opposed them, would run 'off to the State line to get married, as they did not have to get license there. In fact, it was cheaper in those days to do it, for the money to buy the license was hard to get. She had a sister (Mrs. Duff) living near Greensburg, now Darlington, whose husband was a justice of the peace, and done considerable of the marrying. She used to relate and laugh over it, how a certain Dutch squire named Miller would conclude the marriage ceremony thus : "Before my plack Harry, my wife Mary, and Gott, and all dese oder beeples, I call you man and wife."

After we came to this country Berlin (it was Hart & Mather then) was the common hunting ground. A good many would have their regular hunts every Winter. Jonathan Teeters was returning home one night from one of his hunting trips, and knowing the path Ile must travel, my oldest brother and Robert Stevenson, thinking to have some fun, secreted themselves, and when Teeters was opposite, one of them imitated the scream of the panther. But he just told them "if they were sick they could puke it up," and kept on his way. One day when at school word came that a bear's track was seen in the big swamp. Several went in search, and before night Jacob Cool had killed him near where the blacksmith of D. Clugston now stands in the town of Canfield.

I can recollect when wheat was only thirty-one and one-quarter cents per bushel; oats and corn were not objects of traffic; butter, five cents per pound ; eggs, three cents per dozen. There was a cash price and trade price for every thing. Flaxseed would not buy sole leather ; a bushel of wheat would not buy a pound of coffee. It is related by Jacob Weikart that he and his brother John kept bachelor's hall together, and that while John went to Unity Township to be married to Miss Sheets, he, Jacob., churned the butter in a coffee-pot for the infair or home-bringing of the bride.

All of which is respectfully submitted,

LEWIS TEMPLIN.

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COITSVILLE TOWNSHIP, MAHONING COUNTY.

PREVIOUS to the year 1798 Daniel Coit, of the State of Connecticut, purchased this township from the Connecticut Land Company, and gave it its name. It does not appear that he ever became a resident of Ohio, but authorized Simon Perkins, of Warren, his general agent.

John Partridge Bissel came, in company with Asa Mariner and others, to assist in surveying and dividing this and some other townships into lots, preparatory to putting the land into market. Mr. Bissel was appointed a sub-agent to sell the land. He made a clearing, and built a house at the center of the township in 1799. The farm then opened is still in possession of his heirs, and is the home of his daughter, Mrs. Mary Kyle, to whom we are indebted for the above facts, stated in this communication. In 1800 Mr. Bissel brought his family from the town of Lebanon, Conn. After forty days' wearisome journeying through the wilderness they arrived at their new home in Coitsville. The first white family that settled in the township was Amos Loveland, a Revolutionary soldier. He came to the Reserve in 1798; spent the Summer in assisting Mr. Bissel in surveying. In the Fall of that year Mr. Loveland purchased all the lands in that part of the township on the south side of the Mahoning River, four, hundred and twenty-four acres. He then returned to Vermont, and, after settling up his affairs there, he and his family started from Chelsea in the month of December in two sleighs, drawn by four horses. Soon after starting the snow melted, and he exchanged his sleighs for a wagon. With this they continued their journey. After many trials, hardships, and discouragements they arrived at their future home, in the rich and beautiful Mahoning Valley, April 4, 1799, themselves and their horses much the worse for their long Winter journey. Where they landed they found a log cabin erected for their residence, one-half of it floored with puncheons, split out and dressed with an ax, the other without a floor, except mother earth. David Loveland was the first white child born in the township, and is residing in a house upon the same ground upon which that cabin was built, and owns about three hun dred acres of the old homestead.

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In 1806, December 4th, the following was given at Warren, Trumbull County:

"Ordered, by the Board of Commissioners for the County of Trumbull, that No. 2, in the first range of townships in said county, be set off as a separate township, by the name of Coitsville, with all the rights, privileges, and immunities by law given to and invested in any township in this State, and the first meeting of said township shall be held at the house formerly occupied by John P. Bissel, in said township.

Attest: Wm. WETMORE,

"Clerk Commissioners fro tem."

The first election was held April 6, A. D. 1807, Alexander M'Guffey, Chairman, John Johnson and Joseph Jackson, Judges of the election. The 'following officers were chosen: Township Clerk, Joseph Bissel; Trustees, Wm. Huston, Joseph Jackson, and Wm. Stewart; Overseers of the Poor, John M'Call and Timothy Swan; Supervisors of Highways, Wm. Martin and Ebenezer Corey; Fence Viewers, David Cooper and John Stewart ; Appraisers of Houses, James Stewart and Alexander M'Guffey; Lister, Alexander M'Guffey; Constable, James Lynn; Treasurer, John Johnson.

John P. Bissel was the first acting justice of the peace, and filled the office previous to 1805. How lie received his commission I am not informed. Daniel Monteith was commissioned a justice of the peace by Edward Tiffin, Governor of the State, September 25, 1806, nearly three months before the township was organized and set off as a separate township. He served in this capacity six years. After him Wm. Huston served in the same office also six years.

In 1801 Coitsville began to settle up rapidly. Mr. Bissel was successful in disposing of numerous lots of land to farmers from Pennsylvania, who were seeking homes in what was then the far West. The titles to lands in Western Pennsylvania being very precarious and uncertain, many of the emigrants chose to pitch their tents on the Ohio side of the line, where the titles were considered unquestionable. A large percentage of the emigrants were from Beaver and Washington Counties, Penn. Others came from east of the mountains, and were moral and Church-going people, a large majority of whom were Calvinists, some Old-school Presbyterians, some Associate Presbyterians or Seceders, Associate Reform Presbyterians or Unions, and some Reformed Presbyterians or Covananters. There were a few Methodists, and one or two Roman Catholic families, a light- mix of Universalists, and some who were not partial to any sect, and some

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opposed to Bible religion generally. And there were many bacchanalians, often drunk.

Rev. Wm. Wick was one of the early settlers in this township. He was the first pastor of the Presbyterian congregations at Youngstown, Hopewell, and at New Bedford, Penn. He came to Coitsville about 1801, and settled on a farm of one hundred and fifty acres of land, adjoining the State line, and at the crossing of the old Youngstown and Bedford road. It is now owned by, and the residence of, James Beggs. Coitsville is much indebted to Mr. Wick for the influence he exerted with religious families, pious and moral persons, to have them settle in this township, and his labor is doubtless bringing fruit even to this day. Notwithstanding that the religious and moral element had a large preponderance among the Coitsville people, yet there was no church edifice until 1836. The Methodist Episcopal Church had an organized society in the township for many years before, but their meetings were held in private houses, and sometimes in barns and school-houses. In 1838 they erected a meetinghouse on a lot a half mile west of the village, the lot being the gift of Isaac Powers, of Youngstown. This building was destroyed by fire in 1847—kindled, no doubt, by the torch of an unprincipled and malicious incendiary. It was supposed the cause which instigated this crime was the discussion of the slavery question, which at that time shook Church and State to their centers, and caused a dissension in that society. In 1848 there was a new, neat, and handsome church erected upon the site of the old one. The Old-school Presbyterians organized a congregation in 1836, and erected a church building at the village. Rev. Wm. Nesbit was their first pastor, and officiated there for several years. In 1870 the old church was taken down, and a neat, substantial church erected in its, place. These are the only churches that have been built in the township.

The year 1811 brought hard times for many of the pioneers of Coitsville. Mr. Bissel died in that year. His financial affairs were found in a bad condition, which brought disaster to many of those who had purchased their lands from him. Some had paid for their lands, received their deeds, and were, consequently, safe. Others who had not got their lands paid for and received their titles were caught up. No matter how much they had paid, all fared alike and received a small percentage on the money which they had paid. The land had to be re-purchased or abandoned. It was supposed, had he lived, to settle up his own affairs, the result would have been different. Another course of discouragement was a series of very rainy

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seasons, which flooded the low, flat lands, and caused them to be unproductive. This caused a- bad report to be put into circulation concerning our town, and many emigrants to pass us by. Again, the war of 1812 was upon us, and many of the men subject to do military duty were drafted or volunteered, and went into the service. There were few left at home except women and children, old men, cripples, and invalids.

My father was notified to give up his lands, on which he had spent nine years' hard labor in improving them, and had paid all but a few dollars for his two hundred and twenty-eight acres, and on that same day he was drafted to the war. I tell you it was dull times at our house, as it was at many another fireside in Coitsville. Some abandoned their claims and left, discouraged, dejected, and disgusted. Others exchanged their farms for other property, and felt glad to get away ; but a majority withstood their difficulties and trials, and many of those who had lost their lands made new contracts for them with Mr. Perkins, and continued their efforts and were finally successful.. In a few years the dark cloud which hung over our skies broke and passed away. The- rains ceased their profusion and came only in fruitful showers. The fields again yielded good crops, and there was an abundance of food for man and beast. The war terminated, the red-skins and red-coats had met a Harrison, a Jackson, a Perry, and other brave leaders who, with their Yankee soldiers and our Hornet, had "tickled the British birds' tail" so that John Bull and his allies concluded that peace was desirable. Our soldiers returned home without losing a man, I believe. If there had been mourning- heretofore among us when they left us there was now great rejoicing at their return. The Perkins's claims for the re-purchased farms were liquidated. The fee-simple titles on record, and Coitsville was again progressing, and soon every farm had its occupant, and vacant lots were no more to be found in the township.

SCHOOLS.

The first school taught was in a log-cabin on the farm of Joseph Beggs, a little distance west of the center, and was taught by Jeremiah Breaden, afterward Dr. Breaden. Some of the scholars of that school are yet living, old and feeble persons. The second school organized was in the Harris District, in the north-east portion of the township. It was held in a cabin-house erected for that purpose, which was afterward taken away, and a frame house was built on its site. The new one was used for a number of years, and was finally

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burned near the time Ohio commenced enacting laws for the regulation and support of common-schools. In that school the Bible was one of the most important school-books used. We had a class of young beginners in reading. They read the New Testament. Those more .advanced read in the Old Testament. The latter was called the Bible-class. This certainly could not be justly called a godless school.

Rev. Wm. M'Guffey, author of the popular and excellent series of school books titled M'Guffey's Eclectic Readers, known and used. in the common-schools in many if not all the States in the Union, was born in Washington County, Penn., in 1797. This worthy adopted son of Coitsville probably did more for common-school education by furnishing them with suitable books than any other person that ever lived in our country. His father, Alexander M'Guffey, also his grandfather, Wm. M'Guffey, with their families, came here very early—probably in 1800. The exact date is not known to me. His mother used to tell of cradling him (the reverend) in a sugar- trough while she was picking brush and helping to clear up their new farm. The elder Mr. M'Guffey and wife emigrated from Scotland, and were members of the Seceder Church. The reverend's father's family were Old-school Presbyterians, and by a court of that Church he was licensed to preach the Gospel. He graduated at Oxford College. Was never settled as a pastor over any congregation, but spent his life in promoting education. He presided over several colleges in this State and in Virginia. He died. at the residence of his daughter in Dayton, Ohio, in the seventy-sixth year of his age.

HIGHWAYS.

The first public highway laid out in this township is the east and west road, known as the Mercer and Youngstown Road. It is one- half mile south of, and parallel to, the east and west center line. It was established and opened in 1802. Soon after that date the road known as the Yellow-creek Road, leading from Poland Village to Hubbard, was opened through this township. In 1827 the Youngstown and Mercer Road became a post-road from New Bedford, Penn., westward. That same year our first post-offrce was established. It was at the center of the town, and Wm. Bissel was appointed postmaster.

SAW-MILLS.

The first saw-mill in this town was built by Asa Marriner and James Bradford on Dry Run, one mile north-west of the center, and

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was of great advantage to the early settlers. There were five other saw-mills built on the same stream at later periods, all of which now are out of use and rotted down, and superseded by steam mills in other parts of the township.

TANNERIES.

The first attempt at tanning leather was made by David Shields. It was a failure. In the year 1832 Wm. Stewart and R. W. Shields commenced the business at the village, and the tannery started by them has been operated successfully to the present time. Mr. Stewart became owner by purchase of Mr. Shields's interest in 1855. In February, 1875, the building with the engine and boiler and a large amount of stock was destroyed, the loss occasioned thereby amounting to several thousand dollars. It has been rebuilt with the addition of all the modern improvements and machinery by Mr. Stewart and his son D. C; Stewart.

COAL.

There has been some prospecting for coal, but no deposit of that mineral has been found sufficiently large to justify opening and preparing a way to get it to market.

The first child born in this township was Cynthia Loveland, daughter of Amos Loveland, born in June, 1799 ; died in 1815. The first marriage ceremony was that of Ebenezer Corey and Polly Thompson, about the year 1803. The first death was an infant son of John P. Bissel, and occurred in 1801.

There never was a drinking saloon kept in Coitsville Township for the purpose of retailing intoxicating drinks for any considerable length of time.

ENCOUNTER WITH A BEAR.

Patrick Thompson, in 1803 or 1804, was returning home from Youngstown, and stopped at J. P. Bissel's to transact some business which detained him until near evening, when he proceeded toward borne. When he arrived on the farm of Josiah Dalby, near the State line, he discovered a cub bear in his path. Determining to make its acquaintance, and it offering no violent opposition, he took it up in his arms. It, however, soon became dissatisfield with his nursing, and with loud cries notified its mother ; she, being within hearing distance, hastened to its rescue with mouth open and bristles up. Thompson seeing that a fight was imminent, strove to get rid of his new acquaintance. But Cub refused to break up friendly relations

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so abruptly and clung to his arm with a regular bear hug After some effort he loosed its grip, and to use his own language, he "threw the little devil into its mother's face."

The battle now began, and Thompson seeing his danger of defeat attempted to climb a tree near by, but as often as he began to ascend the bear would catch him by the feet and pull him back, and with such energy did she make her attacks that she tore the bottoms froth his shoes, and so lacerated his feet that he was ever afterward a cripple, although he lived many years after this event. Up to this time victory seemed to be on the bear side ; a few more crunches at his feet, and she would have had it all her own way. But fortunately, at this juncture, he obtained a large splinter, and again making the attempt to climb the tree she again made for him. He made a drive at her with the splinter, and luckily sent it deep into one of her nostrils. She then resolved to have a truce until she could get rid of the splinter; she would strike it with one paw, then with the other, until she effected her purpose. By this time Friend Thompson was high in the tree, and neither party was disposed to renew the fight. Bruin soon retired with a sore nose. Thompson became faint from loss of blood. It was now in the night. A heavy rain commencing to fall, he squeezed the water from his linen hunting-shirt into his mouth, which revived him somewhat. His hallooing was heard at the house of the Rev. Mr. Wick, and they came to his relief. When they arrived the bear and her family had left. This was the only encounter with a wild bear in this town that I know of.

HOW THE POOR WERE CARED FOR 1N THOSE DAYS.

COPIED FROM THE TOWNSHIP RECORD, BOOK NO. 1, PAGE 19.

" Coitsville, January 1, 1810.—Whereas information hath been given us that there is a certain Elizabeth Eward come into our town, who is likely to become a town charge, we, therefore, according to law, command you, James Mares, Constable of Coitsville Township, to warn said Elizabeth Eward to depart said township instantly, without putting the town to any further trouble. And you are to return, etc., etc.

"Signed, WILLIAM HUSTON,

"JAMES BRADFORD

Overseers of the Poor."

THE SQUIRRELS.

COPY OF TOWNSHIP RECORD ROOK, NO. 1. PAGE 98.

"At a meeting of Wm. Huston, Joseph Jackson, and Wm. Stewart, Trustees for the township of Coitsville, at the dwelling-house of

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Joseph Bissel, of said town, on April 27, 1808, ordered that every person subject to pay a county tax, according to time act passed by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, December 24, 1807, to kill ten squirrels, and in addition to the ten squirrels, each person to kill two squirrels for each cow and four for each horse, and if a person has but one cow she is exempt.

"Attest, JOSEPH BISSEL, Township Clcrk."

Same page.—"At a meeting of the inhabitants June 27, 1808, voted that the Squirrel Act be continued to the 1st day of August next, before returns are made to the collector of county taxes.

"Attest, JOSEPH BISSEL, Township Clerk."

THE STRUTHERS TRAGEDY.

In February, 1826, Miss Drucilla Struthers left her father's residence in Coitsville for the purpose. of going to the post-office at Poland Village, where she expected to get a letter from her affianced lover, then residing in Washington County, Penn. Her younger sister, Emma, accompanied her down to the Mahoning River, which was very high at that time, intending to ferry her across, and then return home. The skiff in which they were to cross was fastened nearly opposite the mouth of Yellow Creek, and directly opposite the present village of Struthers. The young ladies were daughters of John Struthers, who settled in Poland Township in 1799, held the office of Sheriff of Trumbull County, and other responsible offices, and was well known and respected by the pioneers of this country. They were sisters of the Hon. Thomas Struthers, who was the proprietor of the thriving village of Struthers.

When the young ladies came to the bank of the river, Emma laid off her shawl and bonnet on the shore, and they embarked on their fatal voyage. Emma was good with an oar, and practiced in rowing and managing a skiff.

At this point the known history of their lives ends. It is involved in mystery that can not be unraveled. No human eye saw them on their fatal voyage, as they were not spared to relate the events of that awful hour, of what happened or befell them; why they were unable to propel their craft across the stream ; what were their feelings and actions when they discovered their dangerous and helpless situation; how many plans they devised to regain a landing; how hope and despair alternated each other in .quick succession! how their terrors increased as their disappointments were repeated; and as they approached the dam over which they were soon to be

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precipitated how their souls sank within them, when they beheld the foaming waters beneath them, and hope gone; what thoughts agitated their souls as they made the fatal descent, their craft overturned, and the dark waters received them!

Alexander Cowden heard their cries, but did not apprehend at the time that they came from persons in distress. David Brownlee . reported having crossed the river a short time previous in that skiff, and that one of the oars or rowlocks was •defective in some way, which doubtless was the cause of the disaster.

When they were missed an active search commenced. The next day the remains of Drucilla were found, fastened to a bush which grew on the river bank, one and one-half miles below where they embarked. The search was continued for six weeks before they found the body of Emma. It was found at the head of an island near the Dixon Farm, in the drift-wood. Their remains were buried in the United Presbyterian cemetery at Poland Center. They were members of the United Presbyterian Church at that place.

Mr. J. R. Cowden has favored us with the above facts. He was one of the searching party from the first, and until the body of Emma was found.

THE GREAT SNOW-STORM OF 1818.

The Fall of 1817 was dry; not much snow in December, or January of 1818. On the morning of February 3d, when the sun arose, the eastern horizon was covered with blood-red clouds, variegated with somber draping, giving unmistakable warning that an approaching storm was near at hand. Soon it began to snow, moderately at first, but increasing as the day passed, a snow-fall with but little wind, and when night came the earth was deeply covered. With night came also old Boreas, with his unearthly moans and hurricane with some of its fury, and a .pelting, blinding snow, falling at a fearful rate, making night hideous for man or beast that was without shelter, but adding much to the happiness of those within the sheltering walls and around the blazing, cheerful fires in our pioneer cabins contrasting their situation with that of being out in that dreadful war of elements which was raging without. Then we realized to its full extent the beautiful phrase, "Home, sweet home!"

When morning came the storm had spent its fury, the winds were hushed, and the snow had ceased to fall. But such a sight as presented itself to our vision! Fifty-eight years have passed since that memorable event, and it has not been repeated within that time.

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The earth was covered four feet deep. No stumps, no fences, no logs, were to be seen on the newly cleared fields. All was smooth as the surface of a calm lake, and presented a most desolate appearance. I will not attempt to describe the labor of the days immediately succeeding the storm, in clearing away the snow, and opening such roads as were necessary for the convenience of the people.

Deer were plenty at the time. They found it very diffIcult traveling through the snow. They could only move by leaps and bounds, and when they alighted were completely buried. The mercury soon sank below zero, and continued frozen for many weeks,

1NSTINCT OF SWINE.

AS RELATED BY JOHN BROWNLEE, OF COITSVILLE.

In the Spring of 1806 or 1807 David Brownlee settled in Coitsville. He hailed from Washington County, Penn. In emigrating he brought with him a sow and half a dozen pigs, five or six months old. They all seemed satisfied with their new Buckeye home, regardless of dangers from the prowling wolf, the bear, the panther, and other wild beasts, plenty in our forests in those days, and lovers of pork, and indulged in it at every opportunity. These swine were in their sty every evening, and regularly at their troughs at feeding-times, and things for a time went on very pleasantly with the porker family. Anticipation ran high with Mr. Brownlee in prospect of the good and profitable things coming in the shape of ham, shoulders, flitch, spareribs, sausage, etc. Now one evening in early Summer the pig-sty was empty; none of its occupants put in an appearance. Not much solicitude was felt about their absence for a few days; then a diligent search was made for their whereabouts, but they could not be found and were given up for lost. The old matron had an attack of homesickness—longing for the hills and vales of Pennsylvania. After mature deliberation and consultation, undoubtedly, with her family, they commenced their journey for the place of her nativity, proceeding on their journey slowly, grunting with satisfaction as they went along, until they came to the Ohio, that beautiful river, whose pure waters at that time had never been disturbed by the revolution of the wheels of the magnificent steamboat, nor its surrounding hills been made vocal by the screams of the steam whistle, or, as Johnny Bull would call it, " The American Devil." Our pilgrims, after resting awhile and taking a view of the situation, and fully comprehending the dangers of the undertaking, plunged into the swift current, young and old, each one "paddling his own canoe." They all arrived safe

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and sound on the Washington County side, pursued their journey, and reached the old home, having traveled a distance of sixty miles, at least.

After a time Mr. Brownlee went back to Washington County to harvest his wheat that he had left growing. To his great surprise, he found all his swine, with an addition of eight or ten pigs to the family, not one missing. When Mr. Brownlee was ready to return to his home he gathered his herd of swine, notified them of his purpose, and started them on their way. None making any determined opposition, they passed on before him until they came to the river, where they took to the water cheerfully and landed safely on the other side and took the direct road for Coitsville, nor ceased their efforts at all reasonable hours until they reached their Coitsville home and rested again within the sty, and fed from the trough which they had clandestinely deserted a few months before.

Another case.—When Mr. David Stewart emigrated to Coitsville he brought his hogs with him. When they came to the Ohio River they drove the hogs, with other stock, on to the ferry-boat, and pushed off into the stream. One hog jumped from the boat when near the middle of the river and swam back to the shore. They did not attempt to recover the hog, and when they landed drove on. On the second evening after they crossed the river Mr. Stewart put up for the night at Amos Loveland's, in Coitsville, and put the hogs in an inclosure by the wayside. Next morning the missing hog was lying on the outside of the fence which inclosed its mates, composed as if nothing remarkable had happened. It must have recognized that it was lost from its companions, swam the river, took the cold track of the herd, and followed on persistently, tired and hungry, until it overtook them.

JOHN SHIELDS.

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GREENE TOWNSHIP, TRUMBULL COUNTY.

COMPILED BY J. M. EDWARDS, FROM ADDRESSES DELIVERED ON THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SETTLEMENT OF THE TOWNSHIP, BY WALTER BARTLETT AND MAJOR CHURCHILL.

THE township of Greene, in Trumbull County, derives its name from Gardiner Greene, one of the members of the Connecticut Land Company, and a large-landed proprietor in this and other townships. Prior to 1806 it comprised the present townships of Colebrook, Wayne, and Williamsfield, in Ashtabula County ; and Kinsman, Gustavus, and Greene in Trumbull County. Ashtabula County was organized in that year, and the townships in that county were detached from Greene. The three townships in Trumbull County retained the name of Greene until 1820, when Kinsman and Gustavus were organized as separate townships.

On the 4th September, 1820, the first election of the township of Greene, at present organized, was held at the house of William Harrington. Ephraim Kee, John Harrington, and Roswell Bartlett, were elected Trustees, and Ebenezer Kee, Clerk. The first justice of the peace was Roswell Bartlett. His commission bore date May 20, 1822. The second justice was Noah Coleman, whose commission was dated June 28, 1823. He served six or seven terms. The first permanent settlement was made in 1817. In the Spring of that year six men, originally from the Eastern States, in search of a location in the new country, visited the township. Their names were Ephraim Rice, John Wakefield, Roswell Bartlett, John Harrington, William Harrington, and Ichabod Merritt. After much consultation they selected lots Nos. 7, 14, and 17, which they agreed to purchase and divide equally between them. On the 1st of April they visited Warren and made a contract with Simon Perkins, land agent for large tracts of the Reserve, for the purchase of those lots at $2.50 per acre, paying $33.00 in hand, and getting four years' time for the balance of the purchase-money. Messrs. Rice, Wakefield, and Merritt, returned to their homes in Pennsylvania, and on April 6th started for Greene with their families. They put up temporarily in a deserted log-cabin called the Newton Place, about one mile west of the center of Gustavus. These families, aided by Roswell Bartlett and William Harrington,

508 - HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS.

erected three log-cabins sixteen feet square and about seven feet high on their land in Greene, into which they moved, and then commenced their clearings and putting in a crop in the girdling. Other settlers came in gradually, among them John Harrington, about the 1st of March, 1818, and on the 14th of that month his only daughter, Deborah, was born, this being the first birth in the township. At this time there was a flood, owing to the melting of the snow which fell on the second day of February nearly three feet deep. This season passed off quietly. Nothing in particular tended to break the monotony of the ax-men and of the ringing of cow-bells until the 18th of October, when it was announced that the wife of John Wakefield had a son, whom they subsequently named Edwin. This was the second birth in the township.

In June, 1820, came Timothy Higgins and family, consisting of wife and five children. John M. Justin came in September of that year, and in the following November was married to Ruth Higgins, being the first couple married in the township. During the first year of the settlement the nearest store was in Kinsman, kept by John Andrews. Salt then sold at $14.00 to $15.00 per barrel. Grain could not be sold for cash. Wheat would only bring three York shillings a bushel at any of the stores in dry goods. Not an ounce of tea could be got for any thing but cash. The first grist-mill was built on Musquito Creek, by David Rice and Noah Bowen, with the aid of the inhabitants. It was commenced in 1821 and got to running in 1822. The same year Samuel Hayford built a saw-mill. In 1824 David Rice and Noah Bowen put up a saw-mill near their grist-mill. Other small mills were subsequently erected in different parts of the township. These mills were all of a temporary character, but supplied the inhabitants until others of a more durable and better quality were built. There are now in the township one grist-mill and three saw-mills running by steam.

In 1826 the first mail-route was established through Greene. The office was named Greensburg. Major Churchill was appointed postmaster, and retained the office eighteen years. There were then thirty-seven families in the township. In the early periods of the settlement the inhabitants assembled on, the Sabbath at the different houses, and sermons were read. In September, 1818, Rev. M'Clain, a seceder minister, from Pennsylvania, by request, came and spoke a sermon in John Harrington's house. Soon after Elias Morse, from Williamsfield, a Methodist minister, made some standing appointments. In August 1819, Rev. E. T. Woodruff from the Connec-

MAHONING VALLEY - 509

ticut Missionary Society, organized a Church of eleven members. Their names were Enoch Rice, Ephraim Rice, David Rice, Ephraim Kee, James Bascom, Olive Rice, Mehetable Rice, Lucy Rice, Miriam Kee, Helena Bascom, and Deborah Harrington. Others were added to them. Their preachers were Mr. Darrow, Alvin Coe, Randolph Stone, Joseph Badger, Robert Crane, and others. There was occasional preaching by the Calvinist Baptists. Elder Adamson Bentley came and immersed Steward Kee and his wife, the first ever immersed in the township. Sidney Rigdon and Elder Goff preached one or two seasons, once a month, but no church was ever organized. As the township grew older and population increased, other Churches of different denominations were organized and are now prospering.

The early settlers took a deep interest in education, and when there were only eight families in the township, and but . eighteen scholars, and some of these living three miles apart, a school-house was erected, and in the Winter of 1818-19 Roswell Bartlett taught the first school. The next Winter James Bascom taught. The following Winter John Harrington. In 1821 William Harrington, and in 1822 W. Bartlett. The Summer schools during these four years were taught by Rhoda Rice, Mary and Syrena Evans, an Charlotte Bascom. Good schools have always been maintained in, the township.

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THE DEAN RAFTS.

IN December, 1804, an elderly gentleman came to this town representing that he wished to contract for squared white-oak timber and staves, the timber to be used for ship-building, and the staves to be taken to the Madeira Islands for wine casks. He was referred tol Isaac Powers, of this township, and Amos Loveland, of Coitsville Township, as men that could furnish what he wanted. He called upon them, and made a bargain, which they had to go to Poland to have written. The contract was drawn at the house of Jonathan Fowler, and written either by him or Terhand Kirtland. The sizes and lengths of the timbers were all specified. It was all large timber. The contract for the timber was made with Isaac Powers, and the staves with Amos Loveland. Mr. Dean was evidently a man that understood his business, and capable of doing a sharp bargain, as he succeeded in getting Mr. Powers into a contract entirely in his own favor. Mr. Powers, although being a good mechanic in timber, never had the experience of the cost of furnishing timber of such sizes and weight, and consequently got but little to pay the scant wages due his workmen and for his own time and labor. He, however, furnished the timbers as called for by the contract. Mr. Loveland's part of the bargain will be understood by giving it in the words of his daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth M'Farland, who is now living in Coitsville Township, • and is eighty-five years of age. She says:

"My recollection of the Dean rafts is that they were three in number, and were got up about the year 1803 or 1804. They were composed of squared timbers hewed out, and of large air-tight casks. My father, Amos Loveland, furnished all the timber for the casks, and helped to take it out. He also furnished the trees standing in the woods from which the square timber was made. He was not under contract for building the casks or for any other part of the labor of constructing. He however, had the contract to furnish the staves dressed. The staves were got out dressed and finished, and then set up for the wine casks, and afterward knocked down, that is, taken apart, and the staves destined for each cask bunched or bundled, each bundle being secured by a small hoop at each end. John Moore,

MAHONING VALLEY - 511

father of Wm. 0. Moore of the Sarah J. Stewart tragedy, James Walker, Holmes, with the help of my father, were the coopers Who split them .out (the staves) in the Summer, set them up and built the casks in the Fall and Winter. The casks were intended to buoy up the rafts. We furnished the boarding and lodging and shop for these coopers. We were often hard put to to furnish the table with the necessary substantials of life. For meat we often had game; namely, wild turkey, venison, and occasionally bear meat.

"Mr. Powers took out all the squared timber, and built the rafts. It took about one year to get them completed. They were successfully launched in the Mahoning River in Coitsville Township at the south end of the present Lawrence Railroad Bridge at the Spring flood in 1806. The river was swollen to its highest watermark, and most of the inhabitants of the surrounding neighborhood were there to see them off. An old gentleman, Mr. Dean, contracted for the building and launching of them. He was not here often, but his nephew, James Dean, bossed the job. He, James, fell out of a canoe between this and Beaver Falls. He with two men were traveling in the canoe. Tire others went ashore to sleep, leaving Mr. Dean in the canoe to watch their trunks and outfit. The next morning he was found at the bottom of the river, wrapped in his blanket, dead. The rafts went to pieces on the falls of Beaver on account of insufficient depth of water to float them over."

The timbers of the rafts were lost, but most of the staves were gathered, loaded in flat-boats, and taken to New Orleans. These rafts were about one hundred feet in length, and about twenty-five feet wide. The casks for buoys or floats were made air-tight, and frames or yokes were made, in which they were 'confined. Upon this frame or yoke the raft timbers were placed. The casks were about four feet in diameter and six feet in length, and made of very heavy staves, and well bound with hoops. The exact number to each raft is not known, but we are led to believe it was twenty-four. They were framed in the timbers in pairs, to move endways on the water. On the top of the rafts were piled the staves.

Jonathan. Fowler, the first settler of Poland Township, was drowned at that time at Hardscrabble in the Beaver River. He was accompanying the party that was running the rafts. While passing the rapids at that place, the canoe in which he was riding struck a rock and upset, and he was lost. The others that were in the canoe at that time were rescued.

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At the time these rafts were got out, and until after they were gone and lost, there were no suspicions but what they were intended to be used for legitimate purposes. It, however, afterward was rumored that Dean was a confederate or in the employ of Aaron Burr, and it was supposed and believed by many that they were intended to be used by him in his treasonable purposes against the Government. Nothing, however, positive was ever known to the people of this country as to their intended destination.

Yours, etc.,

YOUNGSTOWN, O., December 24, 1875.

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BEGINNING OF THE MANUFACTURE OF IRON IN THE MAHONING VALLEY.

THE manufacture of Iron in the Mahoning Valley, now one of its most important interests, was first commenced near the mouth of Yellow Creek, a short distance from Struthers's Station, and about five miles south-east of Youngstown, by two brothers, James and Daniel Heaton. These brothers were of an enterprising and experimenting disposition, and their faces will easily be remembered by many of the older settlers in and about Youngstown.

In 1805 or 1806 they erected, on Yellow Creek, near the Mahoning River, a charcoal furnace, which soon went into active operation. Connected with, and belonging to, the furnace proper were about one hundred acres of well-timbered land, Which supplied the charcoal and much of the ore for the works. The "blast" was produced by an apparatus of rather peculiar construction, and was similar in principle to that produced by the column of water of the early furnaces. It consisted of a square wooden box set in a cistern, with an opening at the top for the ingress of water, and one in the side to conduct the air or " blast" to the furnace. The surplus water escaped underneath. The water, flowing in through a pipe at the top of the box, was accompanied by air, which, being compressed by the continual flow, was forced through the side opening, and conducted from thence by -a pipe to the furnace stack. The "blast" thus obtained has always, I am informed, been considered objectionable on account of its damp and chilly character. At any rate, it was the case in the present instance.

After this furnace had been in operation for some time, James Heaton transferred his interest in the property to his brother Daniel, and went up to Niles, where he built another furnace. Daniel continued at the old works, and manufactured considerable iron, much of it consisting of stoves, large kettles, and other castings, the appearance of which might be considered rude in these days.

While thus engaged, Robert Montgomery (with whom, I think, was then associated David Clendenin, our member of Congress elected in 1814) built a furnace on the same creek, about a half-mile below Heaton's. It was constructed substantially in the same manner

514 - HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS.

as Heaton's, except that the blast was much better, being generated by a water-wheel, walking-beams, and two wooden cylinders.

Soon after the last-named furnace went into operation, its owner, Montgomery, purchased the Heaton furnace property, paying for the same one thousand dollars in hand, and giving a mortgage for the balance of the purchase money. It went out of blast almost immediately after it changed hands. It then got into the courts, and after being in litigation for several years was re-transferred to Daniel Heaton, its original owner, who about that time, or shortly afterward, had his name changed by act of legislature to Dan Eaton. It was never started up again, however, after its sale to Montgomery; and, in all, never made iron for more than three years. Both furnaces went to ruin after the year 1812.

This, in brief, was the inception of our now great branch of trade. The writer, now in the seventy-fifth year of his age, was born and raised in close proximity to the things which he has just detailed and described. And though he might justly distrust his early recollections; he would add that they have often been verified and confirmed by subsequent acquaintance and intercommunication with the Heatons, and many of the older settlers and early pioneers of this region. And it is with pleasure that he now has the opportunity of testifying to the merits of those two brothers, James and Daniel Heaton, who, with indomitable will, but under the most unfavorable and discouraging circumstances, first gave life to an industry which, from a wilderness, has created a city almost continuous for a score of miles along the Valley of the Mahoning.

DAVID LOVELAND

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STATISTICS.

MEMBERS ELECTED FROM DISTRICTS IN OHIO, COMPRISING TRUMBULL AND THAT PART OF MAHONING COUNTY INCLUDED IN THE WESTERN

RESERVE, WITH DATE OF SERVICE.

FOR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.

Sam'l Huntington, March term

Benj. Tappan, December term

George Tod

Calvin Cone

George Tod

Calvin Pease

Dan Eaton

Turhand Kirtland

Eli Baldwin

John W. Seely

Eli Baldwin

Samuel Bryson

Thomas D. Webb

Seat contested and given to

Henry Manning

Eli Baldwin

Thomas D. Webb

Wm. Ripley

1803

1803

1804-1805

1806-1809

1810-1811

1812

1813

1814

1815

1816-1817

1818-1821

1822-1823

1824

1825

1826-1827

1828-1829

1830-1831

Ephraim Brown

Leiscester King

David Tod

John Crowell

Eben Newton

Samuel Quinby

John F. Beaver

Milton Sutliff

Jonathan I. Tod

Ira Norris

Robert W. Tayler

J. Dolson Cox

Samuel Quinby

Eben Newton

George F. Brown

L. D. Woodworth

L. C. Jones

J. R. Johnson

1832-1833

1834-1837

1838-1839

1840-1841

1842-1843

1844-1845

1846-1849

1850-1851

1852-1853

1854-1855

1856-1859

1860-1861

1862-1863

1864-1865

1866-1867

1868-1871

1872-1875

1876-1877

James Kingsbury,

John P. Bissell,

John W. Seely,

James Montgomery

Rich. J. Elliott,

Robert Hughes,

Aaron Collar,

Thomas G. Jones,

Thomas G. Jones,

Samuel Bryson,

Samuel Bryson,

Benj. Ross,

Benj. Ross,

Samuel Leavitt,

Wilson Elliott,

James Hillman,

Samuel Bryson,

W. W. Cotgreve,

Homer Hine,

Henry Lane,

Eli Baldwin,

Edward Scoville,

Henry Lane,

Edward Scoville,

Henry Lane,

Henry Manning,

Dan Eaton,

Elisha Whittlesey

Thomas Howe,

Elisha Whittlesey

James Mackey,

Cyrus Bosworth,

Homer Hine,

Ephraim Brown,

Ephraim Brown,

Eli Baldwin,

Henry Lane,

Roswell Stone,

Titus Brockway,

Wm. Ripley,

Jared P. Kirtland,

George Swift,

Benj. Allen,

Richard Ridings,

Calvin Pease,

Jared P. Kirtland,

Jedediah Fitch,

Benj. Allen,

Walter Johnson,

Thomas Robbins,

1806

1807

1808-1809

1810

1811

1812

1813

1814

1815

1816

1817

1818

1819

1820

1821

1822-1823

1824

1825

1826

1827-1828

1829

1830

1831

1832

1833

Jared P. Kirtland,

Wm. A. Otis,

Eli Baldwin,

Tensard R. De Wolf,

Seth Hayes,

Tracy Bronson,

John C. Woodruff,

Tracy Bronson,

Tracy Bronson,

Thomas Howe,

Isaac Powers.

Thomas Howe,

Peter Allen,

Josiah Robbins,

John Briggs

Jacob H. Baldwin,

Nathan Webb,

Henry Manning,

Asahel Medbury,

Buell Barnes

Buell Barnes,

Henry Boyd,

Joseph Truesdale

Joseph Truesdale,

John Harrington,

Isaac Lee,

Albert G. Riddle,

John Hutchins,

Albert G. Riddle,

More C. Bradley,

Gamaliel H. Kent

Franklin E. Stowe

Matthew Birchard

Ralph Plumb,

Geo. T. Townsend

Geo. T. Townsend

Geo. H. Howe,

Robert H. Walker

George H. Howe

Austin D. Kibber

Austin D. Kibber

Wm. Ritezel

Wm. Ritezel,

J. K. Wing,

J. K. Wing

Thomas J. M'Lain Jr.

Thomas J. M'Lain,

Jr. D. J. Edwards,

1834

1835

1836

1837

1838

1839

1840

1841

1842

1843

1844

1845

1846

1847

For Trumbull and

Geauga - 1848

For Trumbull and

Geauga - 1849

For Trumbull and

Geauga - 1850-1851

1852-1853

1854-1855

1856-1857

1858-1859

1860-1861

1862-1863

1864-1865

1866-1867

1868-1869

1870-1871

1872-1873

1874-1875

1876-1877

MAHONING VALLEY - 517

F. KINSMAN'S EXAMINATIONS AND CONJECTURES

IN REGARD TO THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT OF PROFESSOR JARED P. KIRTLAND, IN REFERENCE TO. THE SOUTH LINE OF THE RESERVE.

" THE company of surveyors who run out the Western Reserve in 1796 placed the south-east corner stake at the south-east corner of Poland, one-half mile south of the forty-first degree of north latitude; there drove a stake, built a stone cairn, and from thence ran a line one. hundred and twenty miles west to the south-west corner of the Fire Lands, which was on the exact line of the forty-first degree, on which line, at Poland, the cairns should have been established. This error caused much trouble between the Connecticut Land Company and the United States, till, after some years of delay, Congress sanctioned and established that line. These facts seem not to be known by Ohio historians and map-makers."

On reading the foregoing extract of Dr. J. P. Kirtland's, communicated in this volume, page 12, which was issued by the Society soon after their meeting of 1874, it struck me as a matter of history so important and new (to me) that I wrote to the Doctor for the authority on which it was founded, to which he made me the following reply :

" EAST ROCKPORT, February 7, 1876.

" HON F. KINSMAN,

"Dear Sir,—If you will refer to Col. Whittlesey's Early History of Cleveland,' at page 171, you will find John M. Holley's diary during his" survey of the Western Reserve, and on following him to the south-east corner of Poland, page 201, you will observe that on July 23, 1796, the surveyors set a large oak post on latitude 41̊ 20'. The next day, July 23d, another on 41̊ was also set.

" By his account, their compass disagreed; all was confusion and uncertainty, which never left the tracks and lines of the surveying company till their labors ended in 1797. Time and circumstances ultimately decided that the first post was correctly located on the forty- first degree. The second, Judge Stow and others informed me, was set one-half a mile, .by measure, south of the first, and is at this day both the established south-east corner of Poland and the Western Reserve. Further perusal of that 'Early History of Cleveland"

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will explain the confusion attendant on the further progress of the survey. If you have not that work at command, it is in my library and at your service.

" Very respectfully yours, J. P. KIRTLAND."

His letter to me not being convincing of the fact I again wrote him and sent him the result of my investigation; but owing to increased years and bad health he has, I am advised, been unable to reply. The following is a copy of an extract from the field notes or diary of John W. Holley :

"Thursday afternoon we arrived at the corner, and prepared to make an observation of the polar star for the variation of compass. The next day Mr. Porter and Pease fixed the quadrant for an observation of the sun at noon. The day was fair and their observation was good. In the evening we again took the variation by the star, and Mr. Pease observed several of the stars for the latitude. After comparing observations, they made the latitude to be 41̊ 20' north. We set a large square oak post, on which is July 23, 1796, north side.

"Saturday July 23.—Mr. Warren with a party of thirteen arrived last evening. Saturday afternoon Mr. Porter went down to the corner, and set a chestnut post, sixteen inches by twelve ; on the south side is latitude forty-one degrees north, variation one minute twenty- one seconds east, west side is south-east corner New Connecticut, July 23, 1796."

From the foregoing extract it will be seen that, at the point where Porter and Pease were located for their observation, the instruments showed that they were twenty seconds north of the forty-first degree, which by estimate will be found to be about three-eighths of a mile. The same Saturday they measured down and set a post on the forty- first parallel, and there is nothing in this record, neither do I find it in Whittlesey's book, to show that this was not the true corner recognized, and in the right place.

Seth Pease before entering upon his duties as surveyor and astronomer, spent some six or eight months with Rittenhouse, of Philadelphia, to perfect himself in the duties of his office, and he certainly ought to have known how to make an astronomical observation to find the true parallel line.

Dr. Kirtland refers to the fluctuation of the compass (or needle), as having something to do on determining the location of the parallel. I am unable to see how in any way the compass can be used to determine any thing in regard to it. I can, however, see

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that when the parallel was determined, that the surveyors, with compass in hand, might be embarrassed to keep it without continued astronomical observations.

I have searched the land laws of Congress, and Gen. Garfield was so kind as to procure an examination of the records at Washington, all of which is without finding any United States Government action upon the subject of this line.

A copy of a letter from Abraham Tappan to Thomas D. Webb, in reference to surplus land on the Reserve line west of the Tuscarawas River, will be found herewith. I have thought it possible that the Doctor may have confounded The south-east with the south-west corner, the controversy about which Tappan gives a detailed account in his letter.

Judge Stow and Judge Kirtland had much to do in connection with Tappan in arranging those surveys, and the Doctor claims to have derived much of his information from them. This is a point in history that should not be misstated. I know it is dangerous ground to controvert statements made by such authority as Dr. Kirtland, but if there is a doubt it seems to me that it should be left open for proper correction. F. KINSMAN.

WARREN, OHIO, August 21, 1876.

" UNIONVILLE, O., March 30, 1852.

" THOMAS D. WEBB, Esq. :

"DEAR SIR,—Your favor of the 19th instant came to hand some days since, but ill health has prevented my answering it until now. I had, some two or three years since, written an account of my survey of the Connecticut Land Company's land lying west of the Cuyahoga River, which was first published in the Cleveland Herald in June, 1851, and copied from the Herald into several of the other public Journals on the Reserve. That publication gave a somewhat full history of running, measuring, and remeasuring of the south line of the Reserve, and also the cutting off of the half million acres of Fire Lands, and all the transactions of the Equalizing Committee. That publication you probably have not met with.

"For your information I would mention, the south line of that part of the Reserve lying east of the Cuyahoga River, as is well known, was run by Seth Pease in 1796. From the Pennsylvania line to the Tuscarawas was fifty-six miles, which, at that time, was its western terminus. From the Tuscarawas to the south-west corner of the Reserve sixty-four miles remained to be run, whenever the Indian title to the land west of the Cuyahoga should be extinguished. This took place in 1805. The running of the south line,

520 - HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS.

the establishing of the south-west corner, and running the west line of the Reserve, was to be done by, and at the expense of, the United States Government—the half million acres to be cut off by the survey of the Fire Lands.

"Seth Pease, Esq., was appointed by Mr. Gallatin, Secretary of the Treasury, to run the remainder of the south.line of the Reserve, and also the west line. This he performed, commencing 24th of June, 1806, starting at the terminus of the first line on the Tuscarawas, and finishing in July.

"As the surveyor of the Fire Lands could not proceed in his survey until the half million acres was set off, the people he brought with him from Connecticut, as assistants, were employed by Pease in the United States service as chainmen, axmen, etc. The names of the chainmen were S. S. Baldwin and — Stodard; Baldwin, who was himself a surveyor, carried the hind end of the chain, Stodard the forward end.

" I could not make a finish of my contract the first season, as the division line between the Fire Lands and the Company lands was not run. I would venture no farther west than the eighteenth range. I so far finished, however, that the Equalizing Committee began their explorations on the 1st day of September. I accompanied the Committee through the entire route. We were in the different townships. in the woods nearly two months, coming into Cleveland the latter part of October. The Committee were Turhand Kirtland, Eliphalet Austin, and Martin Smith—all gentlemen well known to you:

"The Committee had reason to suppose that the surveyor of the Fire Lands, Almon Ruggles, Esq., would have run and established the boundary between the Fire Lands and the Company lands by the time the Committee had made a finish of their explorations. That was necessary, as the remainder, after the half million of acres was taken off, would be left to the Company, and the number of acres ascertained to be divided to the individuals composing the Company. But, contrary to the expectation of the Committee, the boundary had not been established.

"Amos Spafford, of Cleveland, was the agent of the Company, and Roger A. Sherman, of New Haven, was agent for the Fire Lands, to superintend the running of the division line. If I recollect aright the best cordiality did not exist between the agents in making the divisions.

" In order to ascertain how far east from the west line of the Reserve, as run by Pease, a line was run, and measured parallel to the

MAHONING VALLEY - 521

south line, and a check line run for temporary purposes between the lands of the two companies. But in comparing the measure of the parallel line with the measuring of the south line, there was wide difference in the measure, and it was very evident improper measuring had been made somewhere. In consequence, no line was run, and Spafford, the agent, and the whole surveying party returned to Cleveland. An agreement had been made between Judge Kirtland and Spafford that, immediately on the completion of the running of the boundary, the doings of the agents should be forwarded to me at Harpersfield.

"With the doings of the agents, I was to go by the way of Austinburg and notify Judge Austin, from there by the way of Vernon and notify General Smith, and with them proceed to Kirtland in Poland, where the Equalizing Committee were to meet, and equalize the value of the new townships west of the Cuyahoga.

"After waiting impatiently for some time I received the information that the running of the line had failed. Having received a letter inclosed in one to me to Kirtland, and knowing his very great desire to make a finish of the business in hand, I immediately started for Poland, and from Vernon Smith went with me. As no business could be transacted as the matter then stood, Kirtland and myself started for Cleveland immediately, and by much exertion reached that place in four days.

"This was about the middle of December. We found the agent and the surveying party at that place making some preparation to go out again, and make another trial to establish the boundary.

" By the urgent request of the agent and Judge Kirtland I was induced to go out with the surveying party, to superintend running a line, the agent really not wishing to go out, as it would be midwinter before the line could be run.

"In running a line parallel and six miles north of the south line to the check line before spoken of, our measure and the measure of the south line did not agree as well as we could wish. But, by comparing the measure of the different lines the agent of the Fire Lands (Almon Ruggles) and myself finally agreed upon a point from which to start, and run a line to time lake for a division line.

" With our doings I went to Poland; Smith went with me; Austin went a few days afterward.

"The committee made a finish of equalizing the townships the first week in February, and Kirtland started on horseback for Hartford, Conn., to meet the Connecticut Land Company. A division of the

522 - HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS.

whole land among the proprietors was made, but the Company not dissolved. The equalizing lots I run in in 1807.

"When the United States surveyors took the measure of the south line in 1807 to survey the Government land south of the Reserve the two measures did not agree, and the Secretary of the Treasury was not satisfied with the former measure of the south line by the Company. Accordingly, the Company appointed Joshua Stow, an agent, to remeasure the south line from the Tuscarawas to the south-west corner, and also the west line. Stow was very exact, not allowing the chainmen to proceed except his eye was upon them. It would appear, from the exact measure of the line, that the former chainmen, especially he who carried the forward end, had come to the conclusion, as others have done since, that what could be filched from Uncle Sam was legitimate plunder, and as they proceeded westward by the mere stretch of the chain, one-half mile had to be taken off the west side of the Fire Lands, as formerly run, yet leaving a surplus of five thousand four hundred acres West of the former division line as belonging to the Connecticut Land Company. And this is the land of which you wish me to give you information.

" I have written a long history of the running of this boundary, which necessarily gives the history of the surplus land. The great difficulty was in the unfaithful measure by the first chainman. The same chainmen were employed by those running and measuring the trial and check lines.

" In running the west line it had not been run parallel to the Pennsylvania line, and shows the reason why the north line and the south line of the surplus was not of the width. • . .

" Sincerely yours, ABRAHAM TAPPAN."

NOTE.-The gore or surplus land was five chains, fifty links at the north end, and thirty-eight chains and seventy-two links at the south end. In this Tappan's theory is not correct. The surveys in the nineteenth range show the west line of all of the tracts (which were equalizing tracts) to be on a line, varying from a north line about equal to a parallel line to the State line, and the west line of the nineteenth range was undoubtedly the line run the year before.

The line established between the two companies, after discovering the error in 'the survey, is nearer a north and south line than the west line of range No. 19; hence, Tappan's theory would make the north end of the gore the widest.

F. KINSMAN.