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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 351 APPENDIX. Annual Meeting of the Pioneers—County Fairs—Harvest Home Picnics—Home for Aged Women. On Thursday, June 29, 1905, at Tolerton's Grove, Salem, the 36th annual meeting o: the Columbiana County Pioneer and Historica Association was held. The retiring president William B. McCord, presided. Hon. James A. Martin, probate judge of the. county, mad the annual address, which was an eloquent an masterly effort, his subject being "Memories of the Old Home." Hon. J. M. Dickinson, o Lisbon, made a report touching the prospect o securing a permanent home for the society and Mrs. J. B. Park read the necrological report, giving a list of names ages and dates of death of members and other aged persons it the county who had crossed the "Dark River' since the last annual meeting. A very unique feature was the proceedings of the recitation of Mrs. Laura Thompson, of Leetonia, she being arrayed in the style of garb worn in an early years of the 19th century. Another very attractive feats re was the singing of old-time songs by an old-time quartette of singers pretty well advanced in years, several aged persons present as guests. volunteering to sing solo and duets. A number of the pioneers present related some of their experiences of 50 year or more gone by, and a very rare collection of relics was displayed and admired by the large number of people present. The following named persons were elected as officers for the ensuing year : President. William G. Bentley of Salem: vice-president. A. R. Sinn, of Salem secretary, J. B. Park, of Salem (re-elected) treasurer, J. W. Cope. of New Waterford necrologist. Mrs. J. B. Park. of Salem (re-elected) ; historian, Hon. J. M. Dickinson, of Lisbon. The invitation of the Salem Business of Association, extended to the society to hold its next annual meeting in Salem on Thursday of Salem's centennial week in June of 1906, was so accepted. Some of the ladies of the society and of Salem served a bountiful dinner in the dining hall of the grove, and altogether this "rare day in June," in the beautiful grove, proved a very enjoyable one indeed. A brief historical sketch of the Pioneer society was read at the 32nd annual meeting, at Lisbon, June 13, 1901, by Dr. J. M. Hole, of Salem, one of the original members and promoters and always a faithful member up to the time of his death, which occurred July 26, 1901 he being then 79 years of age. As Dr. Hole was the historian of the society almost all of the 32 years during which he was a member, some extracts from his paper on the occasion referred to will avail to give a brief history of the association, with its purposes, etc. They extracts follow : "Thirty-two years ago last March. Hon. J. K. Rukenbrod, then editor of the Salem Republican, called at the office of Dr. J. M. Hole. s Salem. Ohio. These two men then made out a list of some 60 names, pioneers of the county and arranged a program to call a meeting of these citizens, both—men and women, to meet in the City Hall, Salem. the following June (1869). This call and program were published in the Salem Republican, and brought to ; that meeting a large and earnest number of pioneers, all anxious to have an organization inaugurated at once in the county. Thereupon a large committee was selected to recommend 352 - HISTORY OF COLUMBIANA COUNTY officers for the organization. The following officers were elected: Gen. Jacob Roller, president; Hon. J. K. Rukenbrod, secretary ; Dr. J. M. Hole, treasurer, and several others were elected vice-presidents. The society was also provided with committees whose duty it was to prepare a dinner for the pioneers take the names of those in attendance, and collect a small fee of 50 cents from the men who became members; to select a place to hold the meeting the following year ; to make out a program; to receive and care for the relics and other things presented to the Society, and all to act as auxiliary committees for the benefit of the society until their successors were chosen. After the transaction of routine business, the president called on those present to make remarks, and any one who wished to tell of his experience in the settling of the county, and of the difficulties of getting out into the forest as it was then called; the building of cabins and clearing of farms; preparing to raise food for themselves and their animals: the troubles from Indians and wild animals, such as bears, wolves, wild-cats, panthers, deer and turkeys. geese, ducks and other wild fowls. There was quite an account of bears and wolves, and as to how some families had to depend for a few years for their meat on wild game that was easily obtained by the men folk, if they had guns and ammunition, which, by the way, were at times very scarce and hard to get: how some made traps or pens of logs or rails to capture these animals; how some of the settlers had to live for weeks on hominy or boiled corn, no mills, to grind the wheat into flour or corn into meal, for miles from where they had fixed their homes: no salt, unless packed on horse-back from the Ohio River: how they had to keep their sheep and pigs in pens at night near the cabins, lest bears or wolves would kill them. Many times these animals would keep up such a howl of disappointment that persons could not sleep for the noiSe, so near would they come to the cabins; how they built the cabin, which constituted a kitchen, parlor, sitting-room. dining-room. and bed-room, all inside of a 25 by 25 feet square of a house ; how they had to walk or go on horse-back, as there were no wagons. cars or automobiles to travel in in those days. Even the fire had to be kept in at night, for it went out, and the neighbors two or three miles away had kept theirs, they had to go that distance to borrow a faggot from them. As a general rule, however, most of the farmers kept punk and flint and a big knife, and when they wanted a fire would strike the knife quickly against the flint, the friction would make a spark which would set the punk on fire, somewhat as lightning does, and they would carefully apply more punk and thus coax it to burn. All these and hundreds of other reminiscences were related in five to ten minute talks by the pioneers. which would be of great interest and were descriptive of practices that were maintained by the old settlers. This is a sample of many of the meetings since then, and naturally a large and increasing membership resulted. Later on Prof. W. D. Henkle proposed adding the name historical, to that of pioneer. and thereafter calling the society the Pioneer and Historical Association, so as to admit all persons over 21 years of age. The change of name was adopted. The association was incorporated 15 years ago and its financial standing is good. We have no debts, we collect sufficient money to pay incidental expenses, and our officers are not paid for their services." Following are the places and dates of meetings of the Columbiana County Pioneer and Historical Association, from the beginning down to the last meeting, in Salem, June. 1905 : New Lisbon, September 8. 1870 : Salem. September 7, 1871 ; New Lisbon. September 5. 1872: New Lisbon, September 13, 1873 ; Salem. September 12. 1874: Columbiana, September 14 and 15. 1875 : East Liverpool. September 5. 1876 : Hanover. September 5. 1877: New Lisbon. September 3, 1878; Salem, September 17. 1879 ; New Lisbon, September 9, 1880: Fair Grounds, New Lisbon, September 7, 1881; Fair Grounds, New Lisbon, September 14, 1882: New Lisbon, August 29, 1883 ; Wellsville. June 17, 1884: Salem. June 17, 1885 ; Hanover. June 10, 1886: Salem. June 9, 1887: Leetonia. June 14, 1888: East Liverpool. June 13, 1889 ; East Palestine. June 12, 1890: Salem. June 11, 1891 ; East Palestine. June 9, AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 353 1892; East Rochester, June 15, 1893 ; New Waterford, June 14, 1894; Rogers, June 29, 1893; Columbiana, June 18, 1896; Salem, June 17, 1897; Salem, June 16, 1898; Negley, June 13, 1899; Rogers. June 14, 1900; Lisbon, June 13, 1901 ; Leetonia, June 19, 1902; Lisbon, June 17, 1903; New Waterford, June 16, 1904: Salem, June 29, 1905. The Columbiana County Agricultural Society held its 36th annual fair September 12-14, 1905. The society was organized in 1849, and these fairS had been held annually without a lapse since the beginning. always on the grounds at Lisbon where the first exhibition was given, and always successfully. It is a county institution, and received aid from the State Board of Agriculture in 1905, the appropriation being $800. The officers for 1905 were : President, William M. Travis : vice-president, J. M. Levan : secretary, E. F. Moore; treasurer. F. G. Bowman managers, —Lee Deemer. J. C. Billingsley. C. F. Lease, Seymore Pottorf, William M. Travis. J. W. Hoopes. F. G. Bowman, L. H. Copeland. J. M. Levan and E. F. Moore. An annual event of for the time being, absorbing interest, especially to the rural communities of the county, is that of the Columbiana County Harvest Home Picnic, held annually, on the last Saturday of August. at Shelton's Grove, a beautiful resort, five miles east of Salem. At the gathering held on Saturday, August 26, 1905. about 8,000 people were present, which was about the average attendance. The addresses on that occasion were made by Hon. Philip M. Smith, of Wellsville. and Rev. Earl D. Holtz. D. D.. of Allegheny. These officers were elected for, the ensuing year : President, K. D. Bell. Rogers : vice-president, Clark Halverstadt, Salem township : secretary, H. A. Halverstadt, Salem township ; treasurer. Watson E. Stewart : executive cornmittee,—Frank Betz, Homer Everett. P. M. Bowman, Peter Smith, Orlando Frederick and A. H. Arter. The Township Line Farmers’ Club was another organization which for many years had existed for pleasure and profit. It held annually a harvest home picnic, usually at Smith's Grove, on the farm of Wilson S. Smith, in St. Clair township, and was a great meeting place for local political aspirants, as well as a social resort for families and friends. The members also clubbed together for the advantageous purchase of seeds, fertilizers, agricultural implements, etc. The Home for aged Women is a very worthy charitable institution of Salem. The inception of the home was largely due to the active interest, in the class to he benefitted, of Mrs. Joseph Koll, who was instrumental in setting a movement on foot in 1886, which culminated in 1887 in the purchase of the Evans Homestead a large and substantial brick building with spacious grounds, on East Main street. now McKinley avenue. Mrs. Eliza Jennings made the first donation, of $1,000. The home was opened in October, 1888, and had since, up to the summer of 1905, furnished a comfortable abiding place to from eight to twelve inmates. It was understood that the home would be enlarged and its facilities for usefulness increased commensurately with the demands upon it. and as the revenue would permit. In 1900 the institution was enlarged by the addition of four rooms, and other improvements were made. The first matron was Phebe Gruell, and she was succeeded by Mrs. Lucy Pettit, who served in the capacity for 11 years, or until August 1, 1905. Her successor was Mrs. Brokenshire. The officers in 1905 were : President, Mrs. Simeon Sharp ; vice-presidents,—Mrs. M. L. Edwards, Elma F. Haves and Mrs. Mary R. Silver; treasurer. Mrs. Joseph Koll ; secretary, Mrs. Anna B.. Heatom. |