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196 - TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO


CHAPTER XII.


GREEN.


Green township is bounded on the north by the townships of Ellsworth and Canfield, east by Beaver, west by Perry and Goshen, and north by Salem and Perry, in Columbiana county. Its surface is undulating, broken only by the valleys lying along the middle fork of Beaver creek, which fork flows in a general southeasterly direction through the township, passing into Salem township about a half mile west of the corporation of Washingtonville. Another fork of Beaver creek rises in the northeast part of the township, and flows southerly through the second tier of sections from the east, and passes out on the south border at Washingtonville,


The soil of the township is well adapted to the cultivation of trees, small fruits, and grain. The valleys and slopes are heavily timbered with oak, chestnut, and beech. Woodlands and cultivated fields abound, and form on every hand pictures pleasing to the eye.


EARLY SETTLEMENTS.


The early settlers of Green were for the most part Germans, attracted to the then far west by the excellence of the land.


Section one was unoccupied for many years. It was finally bought by Eben Newton, of Canfield, whence it was known as the "Newton tract."


The first settlers of section two were Henry Pyle and wife, who came from Germany about 1804. A daughter of Pyle married David Loveland, and her descendants still live in this section, "Loveland," a station on the Niles & New Lisbon railroad, is in this section, and has a post office, saw mill, Evangelical church, etc,


Section three remained in possession of a man by name of Rhodes until 1829, when it was sold to John Beard, Casper Kenreich, Nicholas Knauff, and John Goodman.


Section four was first settled by Henry Beard, with his wife and five children, who came to this county in 1804 from Germany and much of the section still remains in possession of his family and their connections. A union church stands on this section.


Of section five James Webb entered the south half, paying $1.25 per acre; and John Beard, son of Henry, purchased the north half.


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Section six was first owned by Philip Bauman who exchanged for it land he owned in Redstone, Pennsylvania, and afterward divided it among his children.


In 1804 section seven was entered by Michael Durr and his two sisters, Elizabeth and Mary.


Section eight had for its first owners a man named Rupert, John D. Cook, and James Webb.


Jacob and Philip Cool, George and Jacob Countryman, John Hafely and Van Amier were the first settlers on sections nine and ten.


Section eleven remained unsettled many years, its owners living in the East. Jacob Miller and Michael and George Culp were the first to open the way.


The west part of section twelve was settled by Philip Houts, a German, who divided it among his children. On the place was a large spring, where Houts built a distillery, which was in operalion for many years, until about 1830. A school-house stands in the northwest corner of the section.


Sections thirteen and twenty-four were purchased by Joshua Calvin for his sons, who came from New Jersey, with their families, arriving April 27, 1816. A school-house stands on the soulhwest corner of section thirteen, and a Baptist church and burying-ground on section twenty-four.


Section fourteen was entered by a stranger who sold it to Abram Garber. The Niles & New Lisbon railroad has a station on this section called Green ford.


Section fifteen was settled in 1808 by Lewis Baker, a native of Kentucky, who married Elizabeth, daughter of John Zimmerman, who entered section thirty-four.


Section sixteen was the "school lot," and was sold in 1849 to John D. Cook, Bly, Wesley Coy, M. Kenreich, and others.


Section seventeen was entered by Job Cooke, and divided among his sons. A couple of small coal banks have been opened in this section.


About 1810 James Wilson entered section eighteen, and divided it among his children.


Abram Warrington located section nineteen about 1811, and divided it between the four sons of Edward Bonsall, who had married Warrington's daughter Rachel. The sons were Edward, Ivan, Joshua, and Isaac. Edward started a nursery forty years ago, which is still in operation. One coal mine in this section yields about forty thousand bushels annually.


About 1808 Elisha Teeter entered section twenty for his sons—John, Jonathan, William, and Wilson. In 1822 the first steam mill in this part of the country was erected by Wilson Teeter. A coal bank opened by the Teeters fifty years ago is, with one exception, the largest in the township. It contains a vein three feet thick and extends half a mile under the surface.


Sections twenty-one and twenty-two were held as " reserved lands " for many years, but were finally settled by Jeremiah Callahan, Philip Bush, Jacob Wilhelm, Caleb Roller, John Stahl, and others. A Disciple church and graveyard are situated on section twenty-one and a schoolhouse stands on its north side.


In 1816 section twenty-three was sold to Michael Roller and Michael Dressel by a man from Pennsylvania who had previously entered it.


In 1804 sections twenty-five and twenty-six were entered, it is believed by John Harness and Jacob Momert, who years after sold to the Stouffers, Rollers, Knopp, and others. A school house stands on the southwest quarter of section twenty-six.


Some time in 1804 Peter Weikert and John Carr, neighbors in Adams county, Pennsylvania, started westward on horseback to view the country for the purpose of finding 'homes for their families where soil and climate were both good. Pleased with section twenty-seven Weikert entered it at Steubenville, while Carr went farther west. Section twenty-seven is still in possession of the Weikert family. One son, Dr. Andrew Weikert, is a practicing physician at Green village.


In 1804 Elias Adgate and William and James Callahan, all brothers-in-law, from Redstone, Pennsylvania, entered section twenty-eight, and divided it among themselves, each afterward dividing his share among his children. Two other brothers of the Callahans, Jeremiah and Jesse, settled in this section for a short time previous to 1812.


Section thirty-three was entered by Samuel Davis in 1803. He received a deed from the Government signed by Thomas Jefferson, dated March 10, 1807. He disposed of it by gift and sale. About 1819 John Briggs built a grist-mill


198 - TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO.


on the creek, and a few years later another was built by Aaron Holloway, which is slill standing, a short distance below the first.


John Zimmerman, of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, entered section thirty-four in 1804 and moved upon it with his family the next year, Subsequently he divided it among his five sons and three daughters.


From Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, came three brothers in an early day, Michael, Baltzer, and Caleb Roller. Michael entered section thirty-five in 1804, divided it among his sons, Jacob, William, Thomas, and James, Land was given for a church and burying-ground in a very early day by the Rollers. Part of Washingtonville is located in sections thirty-five and thirty- six of this township.


Baltzer Roller entered section thirty-six rn 1803. His son, Colonel Jacob B., served the district as State Representative for twenty-one years. He was in General Harrrson's army and at Fort Meigs. While stooping to drink at a spring in the woods near the fort one day, a ball from an Indian's rifle grazed the back of his head. He grasped his gun and fired at the retreating Indian, but missed him.


ORGANIZATION.


Green township was incorporated June 3, 1806, and was then in Columbiana county, where it remained until attached to Mahoning county, upon its organization in 1846. It originally contained thirty-six square miles, but was reduced to thirty-two by the organization of Perry township in 1832.


GREEN VILLAGE


is situated near the center of the township, on sections fifteen and twenty-two, and was first laid out by Lewis Baker, Jacob Wilhelm, and Jacob Cook. Abram Stofer (or Stauffer) kept the first store. Samuel Hardman, David Weikert, and J. M. Hole succeeded him. The first post-office was established in 1831, and William Van Horn was the first postmaster. He has been succeeded by David Weikert, William Roller, Daniel Beam, N. P. Callahan, A. S. Griffith, and Henry Shray.

The village contains three churches, Lutheran, German Lutheran, and Swedenborgian, a post- office, school-house, drug-store, two dry goods and grocery stores, a tannery, steam saw- and planing-mill, grist-mill, two blacksmith shops, two wagon shops, two shoe shops, and one millinery store, In the village are two practicing physicians,


WASHINGTONVILLE.


This town was laid out about 1832, principally through the exertions and influence of Michael Frederick, and is situated in the townships of Green and Salem, It contains two churches (Methodist and Evangelical Lutheran), a post-office, school-house, three hotels, two blacksmith shops, four grocery stores, one dry goods store, one drug store, two carriage shops, lwo shoe shops, about seventy-five dwellings, and has a population of eight hundred.


The first hotel was opened by Michael Frederick, about 1833. The first store was opened in what is now Railroad Tavern, by Jacob Stoffer, who was appointed postmaster upon the establishment of the post-office, in 1836. He was succeeded as postmaster by Jacob Borlon, Henry Estep, George R. Hillburn, John B, Stover, Samuel Greenwold, and John R. Stover.


Peter Miller was the first blacksmith who opened a shop. Before removing to Washingtonville he resided one year at New Lisbon, where he built the first brick house, About 1828 John Miller, a blacksmith, began the manufacture of edge-tools, which he continued for about ten years.


NEW ALBANY.


New Albany is situated about two miles and a half west from Green village, and contains a store, post-office, blacksmith shop, and twenty- two dwellings. The first steam mill in the county was built at this place by Wilson Teeler and Edwin Webb, by whom the town was laid out. The post-office was established prior to 1853. The first postmaster was Henry Thulen, who was succeeded by Joshua Webb, Daniel Beam, Charles Taylor, Lemuel Hixson, Solomon Russell, David Coy, and Lewis Pow,


SCHOOLS.


Soon after the settlers came to the township an effort was made among the widely scattered families to assemble the children for purposes of education, Elisha Teeter gave for school and burying purposes a piece of ground situated on the east side of section twenty, and a log schoolhouse was built, about 20x24 feet in size, with a puncheon floor and a door with wooden hinges,


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The children from sections seventeen, eighteen, nineteen, and twenty attended school at this house. The first teacher was Edward Bonsall, who was succeeded by Rachel, his wife, and Priscilla Fisher, wife of William Fisher—both daughters of Abram Warrington. John Cowdin, Patrick Smith, and Daniel Stratton were also teachers before the adoption of the district school system.


The first school-house for children living in the north iniddle part of the township was on the New Lisbon road, on section ten. This was a log house built by Henry Pyle. It was fitted with slab seats, and with desks fastened against the walls with wooden pins. In 1814 Samuel McBride was hired to teach. George Pow succeeded him. No school was taught there after Mr. Pow retired until the district schools were opened, in 1827. The children from other sections, far and near, attended school in this log building.


The first school in the center of the township was held in the log church west of Green village. A log school-house was built on section thirty-four, on land belonging to Jacob Stofer. Henry Zimmerman was the first teacher of this school, about 1815. William; Rachel, and Samuel Schofield, sons and daughter of David Schofield, afterwards taught in a second log schoolhouse, built on the same ground.


At Washingtonville a school was opened about 1818 in the log church built by Michael and Baltzer Roller. John Roller and Henry Gilbert were among the first teachers.


Owing to the imperfect records of schools in the early days but little information can be obtained respecting them.


The following is from the earliest existing records (in 1844):


Twelve schools taught in township; number of teachers, 10; number of children between the ages of four and twenty-one years, 338 males, 346 females; number of children enrolled, 295 males, 241 females; average daily attendance, 169 males, 131 females; amount paid to teachers of common schools from public fund—to males, $367.83; to females, $125. Amount paid from other sources—males, $23; females, $23,50. Branches taught: reading, writing, arithmetic, English grammar, geography.


The township has an Evangelical Lutheran church at Washingtonville, and one at Green village; a German Lutheran church; a Swedenborgian church at Green; Concord Presbyterian church on the line of Goshen and Green; a Baptist church; a union church on section four; a Disciple church on section twenty-one, with a burying-ground attached; and an Evangelical Association church at Loveland station.


The Niles & New Lisbon railroad traverses the township in a general north and south course, and has three stations in the township—Loveland, Green village, and Washingtonville.