PICTURE OF JOHN RATLIFFS
TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES
OF
TRUMBULL COUNTY, OHIO.
CHAPTER I.
HOWLAND.
GENERAL FEATURES.
Howland, the fourth township in the third range, lies east of the adjoining township of Warren, between it and Vienna. Bazetta is north and Weathersfield south of it. The city limits of Warren encroach slightly upon its western line.
The Mahoning river cuts across a small corner in the southwest of Howland. Mosquito creek, here a stream of considerable size, flows through the township from north to south, dividing its surface into two very nearly equal portions. The land is rolling. On the east side of the creek a crest of considerable height rises gradually, being two hundred feet above the level of the slream, and on the west side about one hundred and fifty.
East of the creek the soil is somewhat sandy and gravelly ; on the west side it contains more or less clay. The improvements in this township are very marked. Good farms, with many costly and beautiful houses, large and convenient barns, well-fenced fields and carefully tilled gardens, show that the residents of this township are possessed of wealth, enterprise and good taste.
The towns of Warren and Niles afford convenient and ready markets, and abundant railroad privileges for farmers and shippers of produce. Real estate is constantly appreciating in value. No agricultural community in Trumbull county is more fortunate in its location than Howland township.
PIONEER SETTLEMENT.
Excepting one family, the first settlers of Howland were Pennsylvanians.
The honor of making the first settlement in this township belongs to Captain John H. Ad- gate, who penetrated the wilderness of this section, bringing his family with him in 1799. He owned one thousand six hundred acres of land in the southwest of the township and here he built the first cabin and made the first clearing. Captain Adgate's children were Sally, Belinda, Caroline, John H., Nancy, Charles, Ulysses, and James. Benoni Ockrum, a Stockbridge Indian, also lived with this family. John H., Jr., remained some years on the old homestead, then moved away. Several of his sons reside in Howland.
Soon after Captain Adgate came John Earl, Michael Pellz, John Daily, James Ward, John Reeves, Jesse Bowell, John Ewalt, and Joseph Quigley, most of whom made permanent settlement in 1802.
John Earl settled on the farm now owned by C. Milliken. Sixteen strong, active, and healthy boys and girls were his children. The sons were Ebenezer, Edward, Moses, John, George, Washington, William, and Charles. There were eight daughters. Our informant remembers the name of seven of them—Rebecca, Susan, Betsey, Nancy, Mary, Sarah, and Olive. The father moved to Lordstown after several years residence here.
Michael Peltz, a genuine specimen of the genus homo commonly denominated Dutchmen, moved away about 1814, or soon after. He acted as a drummer on several occasions when
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there were military parades. It is related that when the first tidings of the opening movements of the War of 1812 reached Howland Michael got hold of the news. Not knowing what was meant by it he determined to consult the 'squire, who he doubtless supposed held the concentrated wisdom of the township, and having found 'Squire Heaton he asked : "'Squire, vat dey means by all dis talk, eh ? Have de Pritishers done some dinks pad ?" Like every Heaton the squire was fond of a joke, and answered the Dutchman thus : "Yes, bad enough, I think, They have set Lake Erie on fire and burned the whole it." Michael believed the 'squrre—who would question a statement from such an authority ?—and with his eyes distended with astonishment went home to his "frau" and narrated to her the wonderful doings of "de Pritishers." "You old fool," said she, "you tinks the Pritishers can purn up a lake ? A lake is wasser ! Go out and feed dem pigs." And crestfallen and humbled he obeyed.
Jesse Bowell moved from Green county, Pennsylvania, to Howland in 1801 or 1802. He married Rebecca Hank, and they had the following children : Calvin, David, John, Bazil, Hannah, Rebecca, and Jesse. Mr, Bowell went to the War of 1812, and returned home to die soon after, Mrs. Bowell afterwards married John Cherry, from Washington county, Pennsylvania, a Howland settler of 1807, and had by him two children, Daniel and Margaret. Three members of this famrly are now living, John Bowell, in Washington county, Pennsylvania; Daniel Cherry, in Howland, and Mrs. Margaret Mason, Weathersfield. Davrd died young ; the others all reached years of maturity. Bazil, Jesse, and Hannah (Luse) died in Niles ; Rebecca (Luse) died in Illinois ; Calvin died in Mahoning county. Mr. Cherry died in 1846, aged sixty-three ; Mrs, Cherry in 1864 at the age of eighty-seven,
John Daily settled on the Kinsman farm, but moved away early. James Ward did not remain later than 1814.
John Reeves, Sr., was a permanent settler, having located on lot twelve in 1803. His son John still lives upon the old farm. Other sons were Jesse, Abner, Ephraim, and Samuel Q. There were three daughters, Sarah, Eugenia, and Nancy.
John Ewalt settled on the farm which is now the property of his son Harris. He reared a good sized family. Harris, and Z. T., of Howland; Jacob, of Bazetta, and John, who resides near Pittsburg, are his sons. One of the daughters, Mrs. Abigail Wainright, is also living in Pittsburg.
Joseph Quigley settled on the Deacon Smith farm, now the Ratliff farm, but moved away early.
William Kennedy in 1805 settled on the farm now belonging to Ebenezer Brown. He was a miller, and worked in Warren, Liberty, and other parts of the county. His son Samuel M. lived and died in Howland. Another son, William A., is still living in the township.
Dr. John W. Seely in 18o6 settled where Milo McCombs now lives. This farm was first improved by Jesse Bowell about 1802. Among Dr. Seely's sons were Richard L., Dr. Sylvanus, and William.
Isaac Heaton and James, his brother, settled in the southeastern part of Howland in 1805, James sold out to Abraham Drake and wenl to Weathersfield. Isaac, universally known to the settlers as ‘Squire Heaton, lived and died in Howland. He had but two children—a daughter, Maria, and a son, Dr. Heaton, who practiced in Warren with distinguished success. 'Squire Heaton, being the magistrate of the township, of course had many disputes to settle. But he always strove to adjust matters and have the disputants settle their difficulty, if possible, without resorting to legal proceedings. Once a young lawyer from Warren took exception to one of the 'squire's rulings and said to him, " Why, 'squire, that isn't law !" "Law, law? what do I care about law? All the law I want is here," returned the 'squire laying his hand upon his old leather-covered Bible. He was a man of good judgment and sound common sense, though of limited education.
Abraham Drake settled in 1805. His sons were Abraham, Jacob, Aaron, and George, all of whom are dead, Jacob lived on the old homestead. Abraham and Aaron also resided in the township. George moved to Wooster.
Barber King settled in 1806. He was from Massachusetts and was the only Yankee of the settlement. He had five sons: Jonathan, James, Samuel, William, and David B., and two daughters, Anna and Sarah, The sons all settled,
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lived, and died in thrs vicinity. Sarah is still living. William lived on the old homestead, where his son James F. now resides.
William Wilson in 1806 settled on land now owned by James F. Kennedy. He moved away about 1812.
Thomas Crooks, another settler of 1806, died early. His widow brought up the family, which was a large one. Thomas, Robert, and John, her sons, remained in Howland, and died here. William died in Bazetta. Henry arid Samuel moved away. There were also two daughters.
William Medley, an early. settler in the northeast of the township, had a family of sixteen children. One of his sons still resides in Bazetta, and one in Vienna. Other members of this family are scattered widely.
John and Uriah Williams were settlers of 1803. Uriah lived in the southeast of the township, near the springs. His son John, still living, is one of the oldest residents of Howland. One daughter, Mrs. Drake, is still living in Warren.
John Williams lived on the Perkins farm, west of the creek. His sons were Joseph and Benjamin.
ORGANIZATION.
In 1812 the commissioners of Trumbull county organized township four, range three, into a separate township and election district. Who the first township officers were cannot be learned, as the early records have been lost. Howland was named from the purchaser, James Howland, who paid $24,000 for Howland and Greene town ships,
FOOD AND CLOTHING OF PIONEERS.
Fortunate indeed was it for the pioneers that they possessed the rare quality, contentment, which the luxurious tastes of modern times have in no small measure destroyed. They were enabled to live up to that sound precept of Horatian philosophy which advises men to "preserve an equal mind in adversity," and blessed with such a mind, they were thankful in prosperity and patient under afflictions. At their rude firesides they ate the bread which their toil had earned, and though it was coarse, it was wholesome, and far ahead of many articles of modern cookery in nutritious qualities. Plenty of exercise rendered digestion healthy, and good appetites made every article of food relish,
Corn-bread was a staple article of food—would that it still were. Johnny-cake, as it was called, was usually baked in lhrs wise : the dough having been spread on a smooth board, kept especially for lhis purpose, was placed before the hot, roaring fire, and some young member of the family directed to watch it. The side next the fire would quickly bake, then the board was turned around and the other side received the heat in turn. Careful lending and a good fire soon finished the job, and the johnny cake, beautifully browned and steaming hot, was placed upon the table with good fresh milk in bowls, and big spoons. There was a supper fit for a king.
Potatoes, buckwheat cakes, or biscuits, often venison and sometimes bear-steak, were about the only kinds of food, always excepting the johnny cake. Dutch ovens were perhaps the most useful kitchen utensils—excepting the johnny-cake board. The Dutch oven was an iron kettle which was provided with a cover capable of holding a heap of fire coals. The oven was placed upon the coals, and the heat thus applied to both top and bottom usually resulted in what housekeepers called a good bake, while none of the savory odors of the cooking food could escape. Stoves, ranges, and all other modern improvements in kitchen utensils are good and useful enough, yet probably as well-tasting dishes were prepared in Dutch ovens as any now produced by masters of the culinary art.
In the matter of clothing; too, eighty years have wrought wonderful changes. During the first years of this settlement every article of clothing worn by men, women, and children was manufactured in the homes of the wearers. Mr. John Ratliff, son of a Howland pioneer, says that until he was sixteen years of age he never saw a dress-coat of broadcloth or similar material upon any man.
Every farmer kept a few sheep, the wool of which was carded, spun, and woven by the hands of the female members of the family. Cotton was bought just as it was taken from the bale, carded with hand cards, and spun into warp. Wool, after undergoing similar processes, made the filling, and the cloth made from these two materials in old-fashioned looms was cut and made into garments for winter wear. Long frocks reaching below the knee were made for men and boys. Butternut bark or the bark of
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some other tree furnished the dye-stuff which was used in coloring the cloth.
Summer clothing was usually made from cloth of tow and linen warp and cotton filling. Why did not women buy calico for dresses? Perhaps it is sufficient answer to this question to state that calico was fifty cents per yard and butter only six cents a pound. These home-made garments were worn to church and all other gatherings. Could a lady in a fashionable suit such as are now worn have been seen among the country maids and matrons of those days, she would have seemed like a creature from another land if not from another world.
Buckskin was considerably worn by men; but as it was usually but imperfectly tanned, after a short season of use and a few wettings it became stiff and hard and had to be laid aside.
EARLY SCHOOLS.
The first school-house was built on the 4th of July near where Ward lived, on lot eighteen. A term of school was taught in it the same year by Ruth Alford. This old building was a simple structure of logs. Its benches were rude and primitive, formed from slabs without backs or other appliances for the rest of the arms and body. Boards upon wooden pins driven into the wall formed the pupil's writing desk. In those days a boy or girl, after a hearty breakfast of johnny-cake and bacon, required no support for an aching back—a thing to them unknown. And as for comfortable heating furnaces, to dry wet clothing or warm cold fingers and cold feet, these were provided in the shape of a huge fire-place which extended entirely across one side of the house. This was kept in full blast by long, heavy logs, which were rolled into it from time to time. The simplicity of this style of heating apparatus, however, yielded after a while to the aristocratic notions of Mr. Heaton, who supplied the building with a rudely formed cast-iron stove, manufactured at Heaton's furnace.
Other log-houses were built early, among them one in the northwest of the township, and another in the King neighborhood. John Ewalt taught in the former about 1812. About 1814 Montgomery Anderson taught in the King district,
One after another, as they were needed, buildings for school purposes were erected until ten had been built in the township. Not many years ago the township was redistricted, and now there are in all but six school-houses, three on each side of Mosquito creek.
CHURCHES.
The first religious meeting in this township, or the first in which a sermon was preached, was held at the house of John Reeves in 1803. A Baptist minister conducted the services.
Rev. Joseph Curtis, pastor of the Warren church, organized a Presbyterian church about 1815, with thirteen members. In 1820 a log building was erected in the northeast of the township, which served both as church and school-house. In this building a Methodist church of about ten members was organized in 1821. After Rev. Curtis left Warren, the Presbyterian organization ceased lo exist. We cannot learn that the Methodists ever had regular preaching here.
The Disciples' church of Howland was organized in 1828. The Drake family, Jacob, Simeon, Aaron, and George, were its mainstay and support. They were devout and sincere Chrrstians of noble character. In 1830 this denomination built a church edifice near lhe forks of the road on Simeon Drake's farm, at a cost of about $3,000. The only church building in the township at present was erected by the Disciples in 1862, at the center, and cost about $1,700. Among the early and faithful laborers in the Drsciples' church were the preachers Campbell, father and son, Scott, Bentley, Hayden, Bentley, Henry, Bosworth, Hartzell, and olhers. The proximity of Howland to Warren accounts for the fewness of churches.
DR. SEELY.
About the year 1806 Dr. John W. Seely settled in this township and began the practice of medicine. He was a competent physician, and skilled, especially in surgery. Genial and affable toward every one, he sustained an honorable reputation and lived a useful life. For many years he had a large practice throughout this part of the county, and his memory is still revered by those who knew him. Soon after the opening of the canal he was seized with an apoplectic fit, and died at Akron while on a journey. His son, Dr. Sylvanus Seely, continued the practice of his father, residing in Howland, and afterwards in Warren. His death was from the same disease which carried off his father.
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FIRST EVENTS.
The first child born in this township was Samuel Q. Reeves, March 10, 1804.
The first marriage was in 1803, when Jack Legg and Conny Ward embarked upon the sea of matrimony. 'Squire Loveless performed the ceremony.
It is not remembered who built the first frame house. The first frame barn was erected by Barber King in 1822 on the farm now owned by his son Franklin. The second frame barn was built in 1826 by John Ratliff. Both are still standing.
Dr. Seely built a stone dwelling house in the southeast of the township at an early date.
The first store was opened about 1831 by John Collins, at the corners.
Isaac Heaton was the first justice of the peace in this township.
PUBLIC OFFICERS.
In its early history, this part of Trumbull county was represented in the State Legislature by Dr. John W. Seely. Howland has also furnished the following county officers: John Ratliff, associate judge ; John Reeves, treasurer; Z. T. Ewalt, treasurer; and Harris Ewalt, infirmary director.
THE BIG STORM.
Here, as in other portions of the county, the great snow storm of February, 1818, occasioned great Inconvenience and some hardships. Houses were rendered almost invisible; traveling was almost impossible ; and even for the farmer to get from hrs cabin to his barn became an undertaking involving no small amount of labor. Fortunately wood was plenty and good fires cost nothing. If people had depended upon stores for their supplres of food in those days, what suffering and famine this storm would have caused.
Perhaps the wild animals suffered more than lhe inhabitants. Deer could scarcely move through the snow-drifts to their usual haunts, and the prowling wolf became nearly famished while engaged in a fruitless search for prey.
WILD ANIMALS AND HUNTS.
In early times bears and wolves were very plenty, and stock had to be carefully watched to save it from destruction. Sheep had to be kept closely penned at night, for they might as well have been slaughtered by their owners as to be left in a place where it was possible for bears or wolves to reach them. Mr. Ratliff one morning turned out his sheep, and before they had gone more than a few rods from his house a wolf was among the flock and soon had a sheep down. At night the howling was sometimes frightful. In one part of the forest a wolf would raise a cry, those near him would repeat it at intervals, others farther away would answer, and soon the sounds became so loud, so terribly dismal, that to the mind of a superstitious person who had never before heard them, they would have suggested that pandemonium must be close at hand.
With so many fierce wild animals in the forest one would almost think it strange that men were not oftener attacked by them; but the reason for the comparative good behavior of the bears and wolves is to be found in the abundance of wild game which then inhabited the woods. Wild turkeys, partridges, and other of the feathered tribe, as well as rabbits and other small animals were frequently captured by their stealthy enemies; and only a desire to regale their palate with a taste of pork or mutton enticed the beasts of prey from their haunts toward the settler's clearing. They came. to know that the white man's rifle was a deadly weapon, and doubtless he was more feared on this account ; for whether beasts reason or not, it is certain that they observe and remember.
Next to wolves and bears the settlers were annoyed by a wild hog—once domesticated but now a savage—which made sad havoc in the corn-fields along the creek bottom. He had long been at large, and the amount of mischief he caused assumed such magnitude that it was determined that he ought to be exterminated. To effect this a grand hunt was undertaken by men and boys with dogs. The hog was routed without difficulty, and then began an exciting chase. At length he. was run into a swamp, and then ensued a desperate encounter with the dogs, in which he succeeded in killing three or four of them. At last he was captured, and, after the tusks had been knocked out, allowed to escape. A few days thereafter it appears that he was attacked by a bear, and from the appearance of the ground upon which they had fought, the conflict must have been a terrible one. Both were victors ; hog and bear were found dead a short distance
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from each olher on the scene of conflict, bearishness and hoggishness, obstinacy and fortitude had met ; the result satisfied man, their enemy.
Hogs and cattle were allowed the freedom of the woods. One night in the spring of 1812 as John Ratliff was driving his hogs into the pen he discovered that one was missing. Suspecting that it had gone to satisfy the hunger of a bear he sent for his neighbor, Noah Bowen, quite a noted bear hunter, and the next morning Bowen. Ratliff, and his son John started into the woods, following the tracks made by the hogs, to discover and punish the cause of the mischief. Bowen's best dog soon got on track of the bear and began to bark. " The dog is pretty near him," said Bowen, as the barking increased. The three hastened after the dog, and having followed about a mile discovered the bear high up in a tree, sixty or sixty-five feet from the the ground, resting upon a limb. Bowen brought his rifle to bear, putting a bullet through the animal's eye. From his lofty perch the bear fell tumbling to the earth, dead. He was a huge, heavy fellow, over three hundred and fifty pounds in weight,
AN EPIDEMIC.
Doubtless the pioneers of Howland thought that they had enough disadvantages to contend with, even when in the full enjoyment of health and strength. But in the winter of 1811-12 many were attacked by a raging epidemic fever. Among those who fell victims to this scourge and died were Mrs. William Anderson, Mrs, John Cherry, and three sons of the Norris family.
Much suffering and anxious watching was endured in many a household, even where the disease did not result fatally,
ACCIDENTS,
At the raising of a log barn on the Perkins farm, in at , for a man named Bentley, Lawyer Webb, of Warren, was the victim 0f a severe and most painful accident. He was a young man and had just come to Warren from the East, and in company with others attended the raising to see the fun, The walls of the barn were up and material was being raised for the roof by means of long poles or "skids," upon which the timbers were slid upward ; each end of the log being in a forked stick was raised simultaneously by the builders. The skids had been peeled in order to facilitate the work of getting the weight-poles to the top. A log which was being raised thus suddenly slipped out of the fork, which held one end and came down rapidly. Webb was beneath and Sri, it falling. He ran backward to get out of the danger, but fell over a log lying upon the ground and the descending weight struck one of his legs, breaking it in a frightful manner, so that the bone protruded from the flesh. Dr. Seely was summoned, and found it necessary to amputate the limb above the knee.
Another accident, which came near being a fatal one, occurred about 1835. One Sunday in that year Archibald Reeves went into the woods hunting, In the course of his rambles he discovered a spot where, evidently, a bear had been at work, tearing a rotten log and scratching the earth. While examining these traces he heard a sudden noise like the cracking of a twig or the shell of a nut, and, peering through the bushes discovered a small patch of long black hair, moving about slightly among the twigs. Supposing of course that the hairy object was a part of the body of a bear, he took aim and discharged his rifle. The dimly outlined form fell, and much to Reeves' surprise, cries of a human being in distress reached his ears. He hastened to the spot, and discovered that, instead of a bear, he had shot his neighbor, John Rutledge, who, unbeknown to Reeves, was likewise engaged in a Sunday bear-hunt. Rutledge was helpless, and to all appearance mortally wounded. And was summoned and he was borne to the nearest house. Dr. John B. Harmon, of Warren, was sent for to attend to the sufferer. When he arrived, he ordered Rutledge's frock and shirt to be removed, and this being done, the bullet dropped out of the clothing upon the floor. It was found upon examination that the ball had struck the shoulder-blade, then glancing had passed around to the front of the body and passed out through the flesh of the upper arm. Dr. Harmon said that if the bullet had slruck a very little lower a fatal wound must have been the consequence. He dressed the shoulder and, in due time, the wounded man recovered.
MILLS.
The first mill, a rude affair, of very limited capacity, was built about 1815, by Septimus
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Cadwalader, on a small branch of Mosquito creek in the northern part of the township. No one would now judge that the water-power was ever sufficient to run a mill. The mill was of logs, small, and provided with but one run of stones, Though it could do but little work and that litlle very imperfectly, yet this mill was a great convenience to the settlers for some ten or fifteen years, until the establishment of other and better mills in this vicinity caused it to be deserted by customers.
The first saw-mill was built in 1814 by Samuel Kennedy, and was located on the same slream. It was remodeled several times, and is now owned by James Kennedy. It has not done any work for several years.
STONE QUARRIES.
West of Mosquito creek in the northwest of the township, and underlying the surface is an extensive bed of flag-stone of the best quality. This stone bed runs nearly the whole length of the township, from north to south, beginning with the Austin quarry and extending through the Ewalt and Davis quarries south of it. This stone is most valuable, being among the best to be found anywhere in the country. The strongest acid will not affect it, and its hardness is so great that it wears but slowly. The rock is found at depths ranging from eight to twelve feet below the surface in the Austin quarry, but in other Portions of the bed it comes much nearer the top of the ground. Generally there are three layers of the stone with shale rock or soap-stone between. The hardest of the stone lies deepest. After being exposed to the atmosphere the rock hardens very rapidly.
Warren is especially fortunate in having this valuable natural deposit of flagstone so near. The sidewalks of this beautiful little city are mostly lard with this material. The stone splits or shales into thicknesses of three to five inches, and can readily be broken into pieces of such length and width as are desired. Its surface is usually quite smooth.
Of the quarries operated that of Messrs. Austin & Co. is the most extensive, and affords employment to several men throughout the year. The stone from this quarry is much used in this part of the State, and makes sidewalks of unsurpassed excellence and durability. Besides the large flagstones material is here found for paving, gutter, and cross-walk stones. The supply is great, and it will take many years to exhaust it.
The Howland springs are located on a tract of land originally owned by John Hank, a settler who came from Pennsylvania in 1802. He bought the ground, made some improvements, and afterwards sold to Dr. John W. Seely. The property has since changed owners several times, and is now owned by Shedd Brothers, of Youngstown, who have improved and beautified the grounds, making the place quite a noted summer resort. Good buildings and accommodations for pleasure-seekers attract many visitors each summer. The water of the springs is believed to possess medicinal and health-giving properties.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
JOHN RATLIFF.
Among the surviving pioneers of Trumbull county few are more deserving a place in this history than Judge Ratliff. He was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, December 17, 1799. His grandparents came to this country from England, but at what date is not known. His father was John Ralliff, and hrs mother Mary Vandyke, both of whom were natives of Delaware, where lhey lived until about the year 1798, They moved to Westmoreland county and thence to Beaver county in 1801, near the Pennsylvania and Ohio Slate line. On the 1st day of April, 1811, his parents removed to Trumbull county, Ohio, arriving at their destination in the northwest part of H0wland township on the 3d day of the same month. There the subject of this sketch grew to manhood, surrounded by all the difficulties attending a pioneer settlement. In 1818 he married Elizabeth Wilson, daughter of Robert and Elizabeth (Hyde) Wilson, who were natives of Ireland but came to this country when quite young. In April, 1821, he was elected township clerk of Howland and served in that capacity for a period of eighteen years. About the year 1823 there was a regiment of volunteer riflemen organized in Trumbull county. The township of Howland raised a company of about eighty men, who were uniformed and equipped with good rifles. At the first election of officers
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Richard L. Seeley was chosen captain but was afterwards promoted and Judge Ratliff was elected captain, serving seven or eight years, shortly after which the regiment was disbanded. About the year 1839 he was elected justice of the peace and served in that capacity six years, when, in 1845, he was elected one of the associated judges of the common pleas court of Trumbull county, which office he filled with ability until the change in the State constitution in 1851. His associates on the bench were Edward Spear, of Warren, and Asa Haines, of Vernon, the presiding judge being Hon. Benjamin F. Wade.
September 1, 1844, Judge Ratliff became a member of the Disciples church of Warren, and in the following year was elected by the congregation one of the overseers of the church and officiated in that capacity till about 1870, when he was released fr0m the duties of the office on account of his age, May 3, 1855, the Disciples church in Warren became an organized body under the laws of Ohio for the incorporation of churches and he was elected one of the trustees and still holds such office.
He is the father of seven children. Two died in infancy. The others are as follow : Isaac, now living in Howand; Robert W,, of Warren; Ann (deceased), wife of Josiah Soule; Mary (deceased), wife of Henry Hoagland; and Lydia Maria, wife of Daniel L, Jones, of Warren, with whom the subect of this sketch makes his home, Mrs. Ratliff died in Warren March 16, 1875, aged seventy-seven.
Judge Ratliff's occupation through life has been that of farming. He has been unusually blessed with good health, and, possessing a naturally vigorous constitution, he is to-day, notwithstanding his advanced age, a hale and hearty old gentleman. At this writing (March 17, 1882) he is eighty-two years and three months old.
JAMES FRANKLIN KING.
James Franklin King, widely and favorably known throughout this part of Ohio as a stock dealer and farmer, is a descendant of one of the earliest settlers of the county. His grandfather, Barber King, was a native of Connecticut, and was employed in that State as an iron worker. He made the acquaintance and courted Irene Schoville, a lady of aristocratic family, whose parents objected to her marriage with a laborer; and the old Connecticut statutes made it a crime for a man to lead a lady to Hymen's altar without her parents' consent. But Cupid has never been easily bound by statutes, and when in earnest always finds a way of evading them. In this instance Miss Schoville rode to her affianced's house, gave him a place behind her on her horse, and rode to a magistrate's office, where they were lawfully married. Mr, King joined the second company of surveyors sent out by the Connecticut Land company in 1797, and while thus employed selected a place for settlement near the present site of Canfield. The following spring he removed with his wrfe from Connecticut and made an improvement on the lot which had been selected. They lived there two years, then removed to a lot at the present village of Girard. After a residence on this lol of about six years, having made considerable impr0vement, General Perkins proposed an exchange of one hundred acres in Howland for the lot on which Mr. King lived. After viewing the ground the proposition was accepted, on condition that the center of the one hundred acres should be a certain strong, clear, flowing spring. Beside this spring Mr. King built his house in Howland, and moved into it in June, 1806, on the day of a total eclipse of the sun. The house stood on the ground now occupied by J. F. King's residence. Mr. King was a plain, unambitious farmer. He lived to the age of sixty-nine years. Mrs. King lived to the advanced age of eighty- six years. During the Revolution she was taken prisoner at Wyoming by the Indians and held captive for six months. The family of Barber and Irene King consisted of seven children— Jonathan, James, Samuel, William, Bliss, Anna, and Sarah. Sarah (Mrs. William Brinton) is the only member of the family living. They all settled in Howland township except James, Anna (Mrs. Jabez Bell), and Sarah Brinton.
William King, father of James F. King, was born April 9, 1798, and died October 8, 1866. He was married in 1820 to Mary B. Kennedy, a daughter of Samuel and Jane Kennedy. She was born in 1801, and died January 3, 1869. Mr, King was a man of great energy and pro-
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gressive ideas; his wife was plain, unassuming and industrious. They were both members of the Presbyterian church and were remarked in their neighborhood for sympathy and kindness in cases of sickness.. Their family consisted of four children—James F., Irene (deceased), Orvilla (Mrs. William Chamberlain), and Jerusha (Mrs. Charles Hunt).
James Franklin, whose portrait appears on an adjoining page in this volume, was born March 12, 1822. He owns and resides on the old homestead of his grandfather and father, and where he was born and raised. He attended the district school and received a fair English education, but it was farm work that mainly occupied his attention. Soon after thoroughbred shorthorn cattle had been introduced into the county, in 1841, by Thomas and Frederick Kinsman, Henry B. Perkins, and the Cowdens of Gustavus, Mr. King saw the opportunity of building up a successful industry. The first importations 0f cattle had been from New York. Mr. King accompanied Messrs. Kinsman and Perkins to the Bluegrass region in Kentucky in 1850, at which lime he made a purchase of short-horns, and has since continued to supply his herds with stock cattle from that region and from southern Ohio. He has for about forty years given close and intelligent attention to the breeding and rarsing of stock cattle. He keeps on his farm about one hundred head. Of late years Mr. King has been dealing to some extent in thoroughbred Southdown sheep. He has been identified with the Trumbull County Agricultural society as an officer ever since its re-organization in 1846, and for eight years was president. Under his management the annual fairs were made of special interest to the general farmers. He aimed to make the annual exhibitions what they professed to be—agricultural fairs. He is a man of good executive talent, being energetic, correct and decided. Mr. King married in 1862 Miss Cornelia J. Andrews, daughter of Samuel and Lorena (Hutchins) Andrews, of Howland township. They have a family of two children.
DRAKE FAMILY.*
Abraham Drake, of Monmouth, New Jersey, was in the habit of going wilh others to Schooley mountain, in lhat State, in the fall of the year, for the purpose of hunting. On one of these occasions he became. acquainted with a Miss Stark, a relative of Colonel John Stark of Revolutionary fame, and married her. He bought two hundred acres of land near Haskelstown, New Jersey, where they settled, and to them were born three sons, viz : Abraham, Aaron, and Sylvenius. Abraham, the oldest, was born in in 1756. In 1788 or 1789 he married Sarah Bell, of Sussex county, New Jersey. To them three daughters and six sons were born, viz: Elizabeth, Sarah, and Meriam, Jacob, Simeon, Aaron, George, Abraham, and Amos. And for some years they lived near the above-named town, but the father dying, and having willed all his property to his son Aaron, Abraham and Sylvenius were dissatisfied. Abraham endeavored to persuade Aaron to allow him to have the house and a small piece of land belonging lo his father's estate, and on which he then lived, and which would enable him lo maintain his family by his occupation, being a weaver, but in lhis hrs efforls proved to be of no avail, and on returning home from this mission, late one evening, sadly disappointed, and as no other avenue seemed open to him whereby he might support his family, he said to his wife, "We will go West," and with this decision, which was characteristic of the man, he soon bid his friends and native place a last farewell, for he never returned, and the writer believes never heard of them afterward. He removed his family to Jefferson village, Morgan township, Washington county, Pennsylvania, where they stayed s0me six months, while he went on to Ohio to look for a place to locate their future home. This was in the year 1804 or 1805. He purchased three hundred and twelve acres of land in Howland township, for which he paid $655, and settled on that part of it which is the farm now owned by his grandson, Amos Drake. Here they began by earnest and unceasing toil to supply their wants from their own productions, amid the privations and hardships incident to the times. It was even no small task to guard the few domestic animals, which they had or could get,
*Prepared by Amos Drake.
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from the attacks of wild beasts. Well does the writer remember the log pen in which the sheep were secured at night to keep the wolves from them, and also of the trap made of logs in the woods, to catch those prowling invaders, yet with all of their vigilance sheep were frequently killed, and bears would kill the hogs and calves, and the dee1 would persist in feeding upon their wheat in the fall and spring.
And yet amid these scenes with willing hands they soon began to gain for themselves a comfortable home. But when it seemed they most needed each other's presence to assist and cheer them in their efforts death took from the home the wife and mother. She died May 16, 1808, aged forty-two, leaving the husband and eight children, the youngest a son only a year old,
The household duties henceforth devolved upon the daughters, Elizabeth and Sarah. In 1813 he built the house (yet standing) in which he afterwards lived until his death, July 17, 1818, aged sixty-two years, and here would my pen fondly linger to pay a tribute to one whose industry, honesty, and uprightness of character were proverbial. The impress of the virtues of that father and mother was seen upon thei1 children in after years, and made them moral, upright, unassuming, faithful men and women.
Elizabeth having married, the care of the family fell on Sarah, which duties she faithfully performed for some years, she and Jacob keeping and living on the homestead. Simeon and Aaron settled on a part of the land which belonged to their father; George and Abraham settled on the west side of the creek in this township. Elizabeth moved to Poland, now Mahoning county, all following agricultural pursuits. George in 1844 removed with his family to Howard, Knox county, Ohio, Sarah in 1833 sold her interest in the homestead to Jacob, and built a house on the farm of Abraham, where she lived until April 1851, when she ceased to keep house, and lived with Aaron and his family until April, 1860, when she returned to the old home, and lived with her nephew up to the time of her death October 26, 1864, aged seventy-two years. She and her brother Amos were not married he dying July 30, 1821. Meriam died in infancy in New Jersey. The following are marriages of the sons and daughters of Abraham and Sarah Drake; the number of children born to each marriage; the death and age of parents, and the number of children now living.
June 11, 1811, by Dan Eaton, justice 0f the peace, James Stull, of Poland, and Elizabeth Drake, of Howland. To them were born three daughters and one son. Death and age of parents unknown. One daughter survives.
January 3, 1822, by Isaac Heaton, justice of the peace, Simeon Drake and Lucretia Williams, of Howland. No children, she dying soon after marriage; age unknown.
May 8, 1825, by John Hank, justice of the peace, Aaron Drake and Mary Willrams, of Howland. To them were born five s0ns and three daughters. He died August 22, 1855, aged fifty-six years ; his widow, three sons, and one daughter survive.
June 9, 1825, by R. L. Seely, justice of the peace, Simeon Drake and Olvina Hank, of Howland. To them were born four sons and one daughter. The father died March 12, 1859, aged sixty years ; the mother February, 1880, aged seventy-six years. Three sons survive.
June 15, 1826, by Alford Brunson, justice of the peace, George Drake and Nancy Smrth, of Hubbard. To them one son was born, The mother died May, 1827. The son survives.
May 30, 1829. by Adamson Bently, minister, George Drake and Mary McElroy, of Washingt0n county, Pennsylvania. To them were born two daughters. The mother dying in 185-; the father February 23, 1871, aged sixty-eight years. One daughter survives.
May 17, 1830, by A, Bently, minister, Abraham Drake and Jane McElroy, of Washington county, Pennsylvania. To them 0ne son was born ; the mother dying October, 1842; the son surviving.
May, 1844, by A. S. Hayden, Abraham Drake and Phebe Moffit, of Solon. To them was born one daughter ; the father dying May 24, 1849, aged forty-four years. His widow survives.
April 11, 1826, by Joseph W. Curtis, minister, Josiah Drake and Agnes Anderson, of Howland, To them were born two sons and one daughter, viz : Amos, Alva, and Agnes. The mother died September 19, 1831, aged thirty-six years.
February 12, 1833, by John Henry, minister, Jacob Drake and Artlissa Lane, of Austintown. To them were born a son and daughter, viz: George and Emily. The father died September
PICTURE OF A. A. DRAKE
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28, 1842, aged forty-six years ; the mother August 22, 1846, aged thirty-seven years ; his daughter Agnes October 4, 1846, aged fifteen years.
The following are the marriages of the sons and daughter of Jacob Drake referred to and the number of children surviving :
April 24, 1851, by Isaac Errett, minister, Amos Drake, of Howland, and Lavinia J. Hull, of Champion. To them a son and daughter were born—Charlie W. and Ida M.—who reside as above written,
September 6, 1860, by Mathias Christy, minister, Alva A. Drake and Lide J. Grove, both of Howland, where they still reside.
Emily went to Clinton county, Iowa, in 1847, where she married Dr. S. D. Golder. They settled in Charleston, Missouri. To them four sons and one daughter were born. The mother died January 31, 1875, aged forty-one years. The daughter and three sons survive.
George went to Colorado in 1860, where he married Martha A. Brown. To them two sons and one daughter were born. An infant son survives.
Alva A., second son of Jacob and Agnes Drake, was born in Howland township in the year 1829. After obtaining a fair English education he devoted himself to agricultural pursuits. In 1860 he married Miss Lide Grove, daughter of Jacob and Rachel Grove, of Austintown, and later of Howland. Mr. Grove was born in Beaver, Pennsylvania, in 1802. While bul a child his parents removed to Austintown, and there he married, in 1830, Rachel Woodward. He removed to Howland in 1850, and died April 16, 1881. Mrs. Grove died March 31, 1880. They had two children—John C. and Lide. The former died in 1861, leaving two children—Minnie and Lulu. Mr. Drake settled on the farm on which he now resides in 1865. He is an extensive and practical farmer and dealer in fine Merino sheep. He has accumulated two hundred and fifty acres of land, which is in good condition. While he is enterprising and industrious he is at the same time liberal and companionable. He held the office of justice of the peace in Howland township, and on account of reliable judgment in business matters was chosen real estate appraiser. He is a representative of one of the oldest and most respectable families in the township, as the preceding family sketch will show.
KENNEDY FAMILY.
Samuel Kennedy (Howland), the pioneer of this family in Trumbull county, was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, in 1764, from whence he moved to Ohro in 1814, and settled on the Kennedy homestead in Howland, where he lived until his death, which occurred in 1816. On this farm he erected the first saw-mill in the township on Kennedy run, on the east part of the farm. This mill was operated from that time until about 1873.
He was married to Jane Kennedy, and to them were born the following children : Montgomery K. (deceased), Nancy, now living in Howland, Elizabeth (deceased), Mary, mother of J. F. King, Tabitha (deceased), James, now on the home-farm, Maxwell (deceased), Thomas and Willram, of Bazetta; and Ann, widow of M. J. Iddings, of Howland.
James Kennedy was born in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, in 1807, and came with his father lo Ohio, when he was but seven years old. From his boyhood to his present advanced age he has been a resident of Howland, and always prominently identified with all the public interests of the township. In early times every settler from necessity became expert in the use of a gun; but Mr. Kennedy was, and is now rated, as an extra good shot. He relates that he succeeded in killing forty-two wild turkeys in forty-four shots; and now exhibits a target about two inches in diameter in which eight bullet holes cluster about the center. He was also a mechanic and manufactured articles of furniture and cutlery with considerable skill.
He was married in 1831 to Miss Alice Scott, who was born in 1809. Their children are William Wallace, of Newton Falls; George W., of Howland; James Lawrence, of Warren, and John Scott.
The Kennedy family of Howland was represented in the late civil war by George W. Kennedy, who enlisted August 22, 1861, in company C, Second Ohio cavalry. The regiment immediately went into camp at Cleveland, where they spent the winter. Afterwards were ordered
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west to Platte City, Missouri, and were employed mostly as ,scouts in the Indian country, The first skirmish in which they were engaged was at Independence, Missouri, afterwards being engaged in a battle at Cow-skin prairie, and, also, at the second battle ,at Pea Ridge. In 1862 or 1863 they returned from the West and in foll0wing campaign were engaged as scouts in Kentucky and Tennessee ; was through the memorable campaign of the wilderness under Grant; also at the seige of Knoxville, Tennessee. He was considerably disabled by his horse falling on him at Somerset, Kentucky, breaking a leg and three ribs.
In the fight at Piney Creek church his horse was shot from under him while in command of his company, to which he succeeded on account of the cowardice of his captain while under fire, he holding the rank of sergeant at the time. At the famous battle at Winchester, Virginia, he had another horse disabled, and was present when General Phil. Sheridan appeared afler his famous ride—"saving the day at Winchester,"
After following the regiment through many hard campaigns he was discharged September 18, 1864, on account of injuries received above mentioned. On his return home he was married November 11, 1865, to Eliza Bailey, who was born July 25, 1837. They now have one child, Jimmie Frank, who was born April 5, 1868. After his marriage, he settled on the east part of the homestead farm and operated a saw-mill. He afterwards returned to Sharon, Pennsylvania, where he kept a hotel ; also, afterwards engaged in same business at Warren. He removed to lhe present farm in Howland in 1877, where he now resides—having served his township as assessor, scho0l trustee and supervisor.
John Scott Kennedy was born in 1850, and was married in 1876, to Jennie King, who was born in 1855. They have one child, Grace,
He is now a member of the firm of M. C. & J. S. Kennedy, marble and granite works, C0rtland, Ohio; was census enumerator of 1880, and had the honor of presentrng the best set of books in the census district ; he has also held the office of town assessor for two years, having been elected to that office while absent from home. He now resides on the home-farm in Howland,
NOTES OF SETTLEMENT,
John Reeves, Sr., was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, June 6, 1781; married April 16, 1801, Sarah Quinby, who was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, April 30, 1786. They moved to Howland in the spring of 1803, he having been out the fall previous and purchased one hundred and sixty acres in lot twelve. He brought his goods by water in a canoe down the Monongahela and Ohio to Beaver, thence up the Beaver and Mahoning to Warren, while his wife made the journey on horseback. During the War of 1812 Mr. Reeves was drafted but furnished a substitute. Shortly afterward he removed to Washington county, Pennsylvania, where he kept a tavern on the National pike some three years. He returned again to the farm but did not remain long, removing to and residing in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, about three years. He then moved to Sharon, Mercer county, where he operated a carding machine, grist- and saw-mill some three years. He then returned to the farm where he lived until his death November 20, 1851, aged seventy years. His wife lived until February 3, 1880, aged ninety-three years and nine months.
Provisions were very scarce in the early settlement, and on one occasion Mr. Reeves went to Beaver to procure them, leaving his wife with a child and a neighbor's girl to take care of the stock. On a very dark night during his absence the wolves attacked the small flock of sheep near the barn, some ten rods from lhe house, killing all but one, which Mrs. Reeves c0urageously rescued from the rapucious beasts. She, with the aid of the girl, pulled the wool from the dead sheep and afterwards carded and spun it, and had it woven into coverlets, some of which still remain as relics in the family.
Francis Andrews was born in Vienna township in 1818, and was married first in 1840 to Ann King, who was born in 1820, and died in 1852. To them was born Kennedy K. in 1841. Mr. Andrews was again married in 1854 to Esther Ann Kennedy, who was born in 1836. Their children were Daniel and Anna, both deceased, and Linda now living at home, He has been mostly engaged as a farmer and dealer in Durham cattle ; also buying and selling horses, and was previously engaged in the dairy business, He settled on the farm on which he has
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since reside,d, in 1843, where he now lives in the retired enjoyment 0f the fruits of a busy life.
Isaac Ratliff was born February 6, 1818, on the farm on which his son James now lives. He was married in 1839 to Phoebe King, who was born in 1821. To them were born the following children : Mary, William (who died in the army in Kentucky in 1862), and James, and Josiah. Mr. Ratliff has been mostly engaged as a farmer, but has served as a supervisor for a number of years. About 1865 he began quarrying stone in the quarry which he afterwards sold to the Harmon Austin Stone company.
James Ratliff was born in 1845, and was married to Barbara Snair, who was born in 1846. To them were born the following children : William, John, Anna (deceased), and Judson. Mr. Ratliff has been engaged in various occupations-working in stone quarry, farming, and is now engaged with his brother Josiah in operating the steam saw-mill. He is known as one of the rising young men of this township, throughout which he is well and popularly known.
Josrah Ratliff was born in 1847 and married to Eliza Wilson, who was born in 1847. Their children are as follows: Mina and Bertie. He enlisted in 1864 in the One Hundred and Ninety sixth Ohio volunteer infantry, and served about one year, doing garrison duty at Fort Delaware, and in the Shenandoah valley. Mr. Ratliff returned from the army and settled to the peaceful pursuits of a farmer's life in Howland township. He has served his township as trustee, and at present is engaged with his brother James in running the steam saw mill near their residence in the northwest part of the township.
John Reeves, Sr., came from Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, in the fall of 1803, and purchased the well known Reeves homestead farm, being part of lots twelve and thirteen, Howland township. He moved in the spring of 1804 and settled on this farm, having brought his goods down the Monongahela and up the Ohi0, Beaver, and Mahoning rivers in a common canoe. He was born June 5, 1781, and died in 1851; was married April 16, 1801, to Miss Sarah Quinby, who was born April 30, 1786. Their children were. Arthur, Samuel, Abner, Jesse, Ephraim Q., Joseph P., John, Lewis, Sarah (now Mrs Reno of Chicago), Eugenia (now Mrs. Little, of Chicago), Nancy (now Mrs. I, N. Dawson, of Warren), and Hannah B., deceased. John
Reeves, Jr., the seventh child, was born Tuesday, March 21, 1815, and was married in 1839 to Harriet Mason, who was born September 11, 1820. To them were born the following children: Ellesif, Abner M., Sarah, Mary, James, and John. Mr. Reeves was elected treasurer of Trumbull county in 1856, and served two years ; has been several times elected justice of the peace of his township. During the late war he was actively engaged in enlisting soldiers, having recruited company B, One Hundred and Fifth Ohio volunteer infantry, in about nine days, and of which he was commissioned captain. He is now one of the well known, leading men of his township, engaged as a farmer on the homestead farm.
James Bolin was born in Weathersfield, Trumbull county, Ohio, December 7, 189 ; son of John and Delilah (Williams) Bolin. John Bolin came to Ohio in 1817, settling in Weathersfield, and cleared up the place now owned by his sons James and John. He raised a family of five children, three of whom survive-James, John, and Mrs. Maria Kyle. He died in January, 1841. His wife came to Trumbull county with the family of James Heaton in 1801. James Bolin married, January 3, 1844, Miss Elizabeth Drake, who was born in Pennsylvania March 7, 1812. They have one son and two daughters, as follows: Warren S., born December 28, 1845 ; Candace, September 9, 1847; Maria E., wife of William. Van Wye of Weathersfield, June 4, 1851. In the spring of 1861 Mr. Bolin settled on the place where he now lives, in Howland, on which Samuel Drake settled about 1816.
Milo McCombs was born in Weathersfield, Trumbull county, February 3, 1818, son of James McCombs. He removed to Howland township in the fall of 1855, settling on the place now owned by his son Nelson J., the old Dr. Seely place. He married for his first wife Harriet Nelson, who died in 1851, and in 1853 he married Rebecca Hake, who is still living. He died in June, 1879. Nelson J., his oldest son, was born in Weathersfield June 24, 1842, and married, October 4, 1870, Miss Charlotte Sowers, born in Cuyahoga county in March, 1843, and has a son and a daughter-Harry C., born October 27, 1873, and Mary Bell November 23, 1878.
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John Williams was born in Howland township October 1, 1806. His father, Uriah Williams, was a native of Pennsylvania, where he was married, He came to Ohio with his family in 180i and settled in Howland on the farm now occupied by his son John. The family consisted of three sons and seven daughters, of whom three are living. His death occurred in 1814. John was the youngest son. He was raised on the farm and his father's death threw upon him at an early age considerable responsibility in the management of the place. He 0btained a good education for that time, and taught school one term. He was married in 1842 to Miss L. Scott, by whom one son, Lewis, was burn December 13, 1852; a carpenter by trade. M-s. Williams died January 3, 1865. He was married again September 13, 1866, to Mrs. Elizabeth Kyle, daughter 0f James W. Russell, who was an early settler in Austintown. By her first husband Mrs. Williams had one child--Laura E. Kyle, wife of M. L. Hyde. Mr. Williams settled on his present farm in 1842. He was active during the war in the Union cause.
Z. T. Ewalt was born in Howland township September 6, 1816. His father, John Ewalt, was born in New Jersey in 1776, came to Ohio in 1801, and settled in Howland township in 1802 on the place now owned by his son, Harris Ewalt, where he died about 1858. His family consisted of ten children, five of whom are living. He was a member of the Society of Friends, as was also his wife. Z. T. Ewalt was reared on his father's farm and resided at home until twenty-seven years old. He spent the year 1841 in the West. He was married April 10, 1843, to Belinda Adams, who was born in Little Beaver, Pennsylvania, September 6, 1823. Their family consists of six children, four of whom are still living, viz : John A., Madison county, Ohio, a Presbyterian minister; Z, T., Jr., resides in Howland ; Florence I., wife of S. B. Reed, resides in Windham, Portage county; Olive B., resides in Howland. Mr. Ewalt settled on his present farm in 1843. He has filled several township offices, including justice of the peace, to which he was first elected in 1863, and served twelve years ; was county c0roner eight years, and again elected justice of the peace in 1881, In politics he was a Whig and is now a Republican.
William W., the only son of Samuel M. and Tabitha Kennedy, was born in Howland township, March 27, 1836. His father, Samuel Kennedy, was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, in 1798. He came to Ohio with the family and settled in Howland township. His family consisted of two children—William W. and Mrs. Ann E. Gilbert, who resides on the homestead. Samuel Kennedy was much esteemed as a neighbor and citizen. He died February 21, 1875. William W. Kennedy married, September 25, 1877, Miss Addie Ewing, by whom one son was born—Samuel E. Mrs. Kennedy died August 6, 1878. Mr. Kennedy was married again April 19, 1882, to Miss Barbara Jones. He resides on the homestead in Howland.
John Lane was born in Austintown, Mahoning county, Ohio, May 29, 1812; married, February, 1840, Miss Anna Westover, and soon afte1 was appointed superintendent of the county infirmary, filling that position some three years. He purchased a farm in Champion, where he lived some thirty years, with the exception of a year and a half in Vienna. In 870 he purchased the Simeon Drake farm, where he afterwards lived. He had a family of four children. Austin W., born February 20, 1841, enlisted, in 1861, in the Fourteenth Ohio battery, and was in the battle of Shiloh. Being prostrated by sickness he was soon removed to Cincinnati under the care of his father. He died April 29, 1862. Chester, born March 5, 1843, died September 7, 1844. Frank B., born April 2, 1855, died October 20, 1859. Irenus L., the only survivor, was born in Champion township, January 3, 1853. He attended a normal school at Orwell, and Hiram college some five terms; also took a commercial course at Eastman's Commercial college, Poughkeepsie, New York, In the spring of 1875 he took charge of the home place, He married, June 8, 876, Miss Maggie D., daughter of Adam Dawson, of Howland.
Jonathan Folsom was born in Essex county, New York, July 31, 1814. His parents were Jonathan and Betsey (Leonard) Folsom. Jonathan, Sr., was a native of New Hampshire, born April 18, 1784. He came to Trumbull county, Ohio, in 1833, and settled in Weathersfield, clearing up a place now owned by John Parks. He died in 1850, and his wife the same year,
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Jonathan Folsom, the subject of this sketch, was united in marriage in 1836 to Milly A. Dunlap, by whom he has two children living, viz: Nalhan D., superintendent of Trumbull county poor-house ; 0. W., a .resident of Hiram. Mrs. Folsom died August 5, 1841, and he married for his second wife, December 16, 1841, Miss Jane Scott, whose parents settled in Vienna township at an early date, removing to the place now occupied by the subject of our sketch in 1828. He died in 1863. Mrs. Fols0m was born in Vienna, March 10, 1818. Six children were born of this marriage, of whom four are living, as follows: Cyrus B., born November 8, 1842, a merchant of Youngstown ; Emma C., October 20, 1844, wife of S. A. Corbin, of Warren ; Elizabeth J., January 22, 1847, wife of Lewis H. Thayer, a merchant of Youngstown ; Olive L., April 26, 1849, at home. Mr. Folsom continued to reside in Weathersfield until 1863, having purchased the old homestead, when he moved to Howland.
J. R. Chamberlain, now a resident of Howland, was born in Ontario county, New York, August 25, 1833. His family came to Ohio in 1834 and settled in Vienna township. After passing through the course of the common schools and Vienna academy he attended Poland academy two terms, and then engaged in teaching for several years, teaching in winter and farming in summer. He was married November 21, 1860, to Tryphena Hibler, daughter of Jacob Hibler, an early settler of Hubbard township. They lived in Vienna and Brookfield townships until 1870, when the place on which they now reside was purchased. Both Mr. and Mrs. Chamberlain are members of lhe Presbyterian church in Vienna.