200 - HISTORY OF MAHONING COUNTY Asa W. Allen, of Windham, Connecticut, who came to Ellsworth in a one-horse buggy in 1817, and who married Sophia Hopkins. Mr. and Mrs. Allen reared a family of five or more children. In 1864 he removed to Columbiana County. FIRST EVENTS. The first child born in Ellsworth was Thomas Jones, Jr., son of the Thomas Jones already mentioned, who came from Maryland in 1806, the child being born in that year. In the same year two other births occurred—those of Jeanette, daughter of Hugh Smith, and Mary L., daughter of Richard Fitch. The first death was that of a child of Mr. Bell, a miller, who remained in the township but a short time. The second death is thought to have been that of William Logan, which occurred in 1812. The first marriage was that of Hezekiah Chidester and Lydia Buell, the latter a sister of the wife of Richard Fitch. Mr. Chidester was a resident of Canfield. Richard Fitch was the first captain of a company of cavalry that was organized in 1810 in Boardman, Poland, Canfield and Ellsworth townships. SOME HISTORICAL FACTS. March 22, 1810, or eight years after the first white man settled here, the Board of Commissioners of Trumbull County set off a tract of land from the townships of Newton and Canfield, and called it Ellsworth, after a prominent citizen of Connecticut. The land thus set off was five miles wide, north and south, and ten miles from east to west ; but eighteen years later the County Commissioners set off the western half and formed Berlin township. April 2, 1810, eleven days after Ellsworth was established, the first township election was held. Just how the voting was done we are not certain, but the electors were all present at 10 A. M. and as soon as the election was over the officers qualified and took the oath of office. The records do not state where this election was held, but it is presumed that it was held at the residence of Richard Fitch, as the succeeding elections were held there for many years. The judges of this election were Harvey Ripley, Andrew Fitch and Daniel Fitch. The township officers elected were: Joseph Coit, clerk ; Andrew Fitch, Daniel Fitch and Hugh Smith, trustees; William Ripley and James Porshall, overseers of the poor ; John Leonard and Robert McKean were fence viewers ; Daniel Fitch and William Fitch, appraisers ; Jesse Buel, constable ; Harvey Ripley, treasurer ; Daniel Fitch, lister, which corresponds to the present office of assessor. It is worthy of note that a good citizen was allowed to hold three offices, besides acting as judge of the election of the offices to which he was elected. Corruption was evidently not the political bugbear that it is nowadays. The newly elected trustees levied a road tax for the township equal to that prescribed by law for county purposes. This tax for the first year was $27.60 for the township. Five years later the taxes were $39.80, and ten years after the organization of the township they had doubled being $56.80. While we often feel like complaining we are thankful that this increase did not continue, though the taxes of the township run from $600 to $700 at the present time. Richard Fitch, the first justice of the township, qualified for office June 19, 1810, and was sworn in by Wm. Chidester, Justice of the Peace of Canfield. It seems that the citizens did not intend to be burdened with paupers for the first fourteen months at least after its first settlement. The township records contain the information that someone notified the overseers of the poor that one Polly Reeves was likely to become a charge of the township. Whereupon said overseers at once ordered the constable to notify her to leave forthwith. This was an old Yankee custom that our forefathers brought with them, and occasionally resorted to, though not justified by statute; but there was a statute enacted twenty years later, taking effect June, 1831. In 1817 the trustees decided that they would allow for each day's work on the public highway, for a yoke of oxen or a team of AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 201 horses 50 cents; for a wagon, 37 1/2 cents; plow, 25 cents. In the spring of 1819 there was an enumeration of the white male inhabitants above the age of twenty-one years. We have no record of the result of that enumeration. It is interesting for the younger generation to note the ear-marks in use for branding cattle at that early day. We can give but a few examples : Joseph Coits' mark, a crop off the right ear and a slit in the left ear. Richard Fitch's mark, a square crop off the right ear and a half-penny on the side of same. Thomas McKean's mark, square crop off the right ear and swallow tail in end of left ear ; and so on, each man having different marks. The same custom is in use today on some of the Western ranches. March 26, 1826, the trustees ordered the balance of the money after the annual statement, (this being $6.62 1/2), to be invested in a plow for the township, this being the first tool or implement that the township owned, April 12, 1826, the second justice of the peace was allowed by the common pleas court. The assessors' report, dated February, 1845, showed there to be fifty-four able-bodied white male citizens, between the ages of twenty-one and forty-five years, in the township. Two years later the report. shows forty-nine white male citizens of the age from twenty-one years to forty-five years, able-bodied. Two years later the number had increased to sixty-six. The original deed of the first land sale made in Ellsworth township is still in existence, in the possession of Mr. Eli Arner, son of the man who made the first purchase from the Connecticut Land Company. 1804-1854 ELLSWORTH'S SEMI-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. Early in June, 1854, it was decided to hold on July 4th a Semi-Centennial Celebration in commemoration of the settlement of Ellsworth township in 1804. A committee was appointed and full arrangements made. Judge Eben Newton of Canfield, and Rev. L. Chandler, pastor of the Congregational church in Ellsworth, were the principal speakers. Stirring toasts elicited tremendous applause.. Poems were read by Dr. James Hughes and P. A. Spicer, both of Berlin township. Mr.. Spicer also read a short history of part of the. earliest events occurring in the township of Ellsworth. The stand for speakers, band stand, and seats were placed in Uncle Andrew Fitch's fine old orchard, not far from the township centre.. An old cannon of the kind used in the Revolutionary war was placed in position on the public square. A signal man was located in the road opposite the speaker's stand and at appropriate times the roar of this cannon emphasized applause. Publication of suitable memorials of this celebration for some unexplained cause was not accomplished. Mr. Spicer, so far as known,. is the only one now living who took active part on the platform that day. Earnest solicitation induced him to furnish for publication such parts of the early history not lost in the shuffle of more than fifty years. PART OF THE EARLIEST HISTORY OF ELLSWORTH TOWNSHIP, TRUMBULL (NOW MAHONING) COUNTY, OHIO. Just when the government made survey of this part of Ohio was not definitely known to my informant. The work was evidently completed some time previous to the year 1804. Captain Joseph Coit, a resident of Connecticut, left his home that year, and about July 4th, the same year, located land at Ellsworth Center, which at the time was an unbroken wilderness, although Canfield township next east had been settled five or six years. Captain Coit did not personally clear his land ;however, he cut the first tree which was felled for the purpose of clearing land in Ellsworth township. The names of men coming here at the same time with Capt. Coit or near this time, were : General W. Ripley, Messrs. Fitch, Ware, Borts, McCain, McGill, Broadsword, Logan, 202 - HISTORY OF MAHONING COUNTY Steele, Porter, Moore, Smith, Jones, Leonard, and Amer. There may have been one or two others. Among his varied accomplishments, Capt. Coit was a land surveyor. Assisted by Mr. Moore, also a surveyor, the work required in this line was readily done. Capt. Coit was the first postmaster at Ellsworth Centre, and, in fact held the office continuously for years. His store for the sale of dry goods and groceries was the first established in the township. Ellsworth was on the direct stage and freight route from Pittsburg to Cleveland, and before the construction of the railroad connecting these cities immense amounts of freight and quite heavy passenger travel passed through Ellsworth daily. From one Concord coach drawn with four horses which passed both ways daily, soon after the opening of the route, in time there was from two to four coaches each way as often. The freight was mostly transported in very large covered wagons drawn by from four to six horses—bell teams. Rev. John Bruce was the first minister who preached regularly at Ellsworth Centre. His house was a somewhat capacious log dwelling, said to have had five front doors. Miss Clara Landon taught the first district school in the township. 'Squire Fitch, as he was familiarly called, was the proprietor of the first hotel, an exceedingly popular hostelry. Some of the first business done by the village in council was to secure suitable burial grounds, or cemetery. The plot of ground for this purpose was a gift to the village ; but if the name of the donor was ever made known, it does not appear. The first interment was one William Logan. At this time there were no temperance societies. Not infrequently some who followed the rush of emigration westward would take a stop off, and spend some time resting up at Ellsworth. It was not an uncommon occurrence for some of these persons to get beastly drunk. In fact, some few of the regular residents (accidentally of course) occasionally be came a trifle hilarious. To suppress this in a measure, the village council passed an ordinance to this effect : "Any one found drunk, shall be compelled to dig out a tree stump from the highway, or pay a fine of five dollars, and the cost of prosecution. * * *" Tradition records that the desired reform was brought about, but not before numerous stumps in and near the highway had been removed. Thus far there had been no weddings in Ellsworth. It is not to be supposed that this was on account of any backwardness on the part of any one, but for reasons not unusual in newly settled territory. One day, among passengers on the stage coach who took dinner at the hotel, there was a fine looking young lady. Her name was on the coach way bill showed her destination to be Cleveland. The roads at that time were very rough; nearly all low ground. On account of the heavy travel, would have been impassable during certain parts of the year, without the pole, or corduroy road. The surroundings in Ellsworth, as well as the hotel must have appeared pleasant ; at any rate this young lady seemed to feel the need of rest for a few days. She procured a ;top off check. Among those who managed in some way to secure an early introduction, was the stalwart, good-looking Robert McGill. It is reported on good authority that Miss Polly did not resume her journey quite as soon as expected, and further that, go-ahead Bob. McGill was responsible for the delay. When she resumed her journey, accompanied by the said McGill, her full name was somewhat different from that on the stop off check. This couple was the first married in Ellsworth. SCHOOLS. The first school was taught in a log house east of the center, Miss Clara Landon of Canfield being the first teacher. She was followed consecutively by Miss Matilda Sackett, Jesse Buell, Hiram B. Hubbard and Asa W. Allen. During the winter of 1817-18, when Mr. Allen taught, there were not over twenty scholars in the township. There are now six schools, with AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 203 as many teachers, the whole being maintained at a cost of about $3,400 per year. The total number of scholars is 134. District No. 1 has two school houses. The original building not being large enough, the board purchased a school building from the Berlin Board of Education for the primary scholars. Bertha Bonsall is the teacher of the primary department, and J. L. Gray of the higher grade. No. 2, or Ellsworth Station School, is located near the railroad station; John Boyer is teacher. No. 3, or Geeburg School, is situated in the northeast corner of the township ; Goldie Swartz, teacher. No. 4, or Germany School, situated in the .southeast corner of the township, has Grace Johnson as teacher. No. 5, or Prospect School, one and one-half mile south of the center, is taught by Emma Lovelocks. All the school buildings in Ellsworth at present are wooden structures of one room each. CHURCHES. The Presbyterians were the first in the Ellsworth field, the Rev. John Bruce being the first preacher.. The first meeting house was situated just north of the center, and was a -rude structure, built of hewn logs and without any floor. Other log buildings were subsequently used, and services were frequently held in the open air, in. barns, school-houses, and private dwellings. In 1818 the Presbyterian and Congregational denominations united and organized a union church, under Revs. William Hansford and Joseph Treat, missionaries, the town hall being used as a place of worship until 1833, when the Presbyterian church was built. This church has had but few regular pastors, missionaries, or "stated supplies" usually conducting the services. It has no pastor at the present time. The Methodist, it is thought, organized a society in Ellsworth about 1824, the Rev. Nicholas Gee, a native of New York, having settled in the township the year previous. He 'was licensed to preach in 1824, and acted as local preacher here for same 'years. Meetings were first held in private residences, and then in the school-house in district three. About 1835 the church in that district was completed and dedicated. The organization, however; became disrupted in 1856. In 1839 a society was formed at the center, and through the efforts of Mr. Gee, Mr. Bunts, Dr. Hughes, John Smith, and others a build ing was commenced, which was completed in 1840. The congregation worshipped here until the present church edifice was erected in 1880—dedicated February 17, 1881. The society is in a prosperous condition. The present pastor is L. D. Spaugy. GOSHEN TOWNSHIP This township lying between Smith and Green, on the lowest tier of townships of the county, possesses an undulating surface, and fertile soil,' with good grazing lands. It is watered chiefly by the middle fork of Beaver Creek; which flows through its eastern portion, and by a branch of the Mahoning river, which flows in a northerly course through the western portion, besides, some smaller creeks and tributaries. SETTLEMENT. The first settler of whom there is any record was Anthony Morris, who located in section thirty-one in 1804. 'He married Hannah French, of which union there was a daughter, Sarah, who became the wife of James Bruff, who took up his abode in the township in 1822. Anthony Morris was overseer of the poor in 1812. Other Frenches settled in the same neighborhood, among them Barzilla, on section thirty-one, Thomas, who located in Damascus in 1805, and who was followed by his brother Elijah. Jonas Cattel settled at an early date in Salem, and one of his daughters became the wife of Thomas French. Cattel rented a part of his farm to David Venable, who came to Goshen in 1805. The following year came Issac and Thomas Votaw from Winchester, Va. Isaac was trustee of the township from 1812 to 204 - HISTORY OF MAHONING COUNTY 1818. Thomas Votaw, who settled on section six, was supervisor and trustee. Another early settler and township official was Robert Armstrong, some of whose descendants still reside in the township. In 1806 came Stacy Shreeve and wife from New Jersey and settled in section 19, as did also Shreeve's brother-in-law, Joseph Kindele. In the same year came James Brooke and Isaac Ellison, the former settling in section 7. Ellison married a daughter of James Cattell, while a daughter of Mr. Brooke married Dr. James Hughes. In 1808 came Aaron Stratton, who built a grist mill on Beaver Creek; also Henry Hinchman from New Jersey, who had a family of seven or more children. Benjamin and Hannah Butler, with seven children, came from near Philadelphia, arriving in Salem in the spring of 1811, where they remained for a year on the farm of Robert French, afterwards removing to Goshen. Mr. Butler ultimately settled on one hundred and sixty acres in section 18, where he remained until his death in 1828. His son, John, married Priscilla Fawcett, who died in 1830, and four years later he married a second wife. He was a member of the Society of Friends. William Fawcett came from Virginia with his wife in 1811 and settled on section thirty-two. Peter Gloss bought land in section twelve, about the year 1820, and built a factory where he manufactured wooden bowls. Other early settlers were Samuel and Thomas Langstaff, 1812; Joseph Wright, from New Jersey, 1810; Benjamin Malmesbury and family 1812 ; Basil Perry and wife, from Maryland, 1811 ; Adam Fast, 1816, who settled in section 1; Jacob Lehman, who married Mr. Fast's daughter ; Drade Husk, who settled in section 2, and 'William Bradshaw, 1832, who settled in section 9. ORGANIZATION. The township of Goshen was incorporated September 11, 1810. In December Thomas Watson was chosen to the office of constable. At a meeting in April, 1812, a committee con sisting of Isaac Votaw, Michael Stratton, Thomas Conn, Thomas French, and Joel Sharp, was appointed to "view the southeast quarter of section 16 and to conclude on a suitable piece of ground to set a house for to hold elections in." At the same meeting township officers were chosen as follows : Joseph Wright, clerk ; Michael Stratton, Isaac Votaw, Levi Jennings, trustees; Anthony Morris and Isaac Barber, overseers of the poor; Thomas French, Josiah Stratton, appraisers of property ; Robert Armstrong, Asa Ware, fence viewers ; Bazilla French, Stacy Shreeve,. Thomas Votaw, Thomas Conn, Abram Warrington, supervisors ; George Baum, treasurer ; Joseph Kindle, constable. VILLAGES. The village of Damascus was platted and laid out by Horton Howard in 1808. It was made a postoffice in 1828, with James B. Bruff as first postmaster. It is a pleasant country village with good stores, and is the seat of Damascus Academy, further mention of which will be found in this article. E. E. Walker is the present post-master. Patmos was settled by John Templin, William Ware, Benj. Regle and Levi A. Leyman. It was named after the old-fashioned hymn. tune of that name. Mr. Leyman was the first postmaster, being appointed in 1850, and holding the office twelve years. Garfield, first Garfield station, was established as a postoffice in 1875, with S. A. Fogg,. postmaster. INDUSTRIES. The inhabitants of Goshen township are largely engaged in farming and dairying, and kindred occupations. There are a number of large and flourishing creameries and cheese factories.. All the villages are well supplied with stores of various kinds suited to the needs of an agricultural community. AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 207 SCHOOLS. The township now has eight schools, the enumeration of scholars (taken May, 1906), being 271. There are two special districts—Garfield special district and joint sub-district, which is composed of territory in Butler, Knox and Smith townships. DAMASCUS ACADEMY. Damascus Academy was founded in 1857. In 1885 it was regularly chartered under the laws of Ohio by the Friends' Church. It has since remained under the same control. While the school has not the financial aid that would be desirable, yet the endowment fund gives much material support, and gives the school a guarantee of permanency. In addition to this, an effort is now being made to place the Academy on even a firmer financial basis. But the spirit of education shown by those who have charge of its management, is in itself sufficient guarantee of the school's welfare. The Academy is located at the east end of the village of Damascus, which is on the line between Columbiana and Mahoning counties, about five miles west of Salem, and with the Stark Electric Railroad running through it. The surrounding country is rolling and picturesque. The Academy Building is a large frame structure, well lighted and arranged. It contains five large rooms—three on the second floor and two on the first floor—besides basement and hallways. The Library contains several hundred volumes of well selected books, of kinds best suited for aiding the student in his researches, new books being added from time to time as circumstances permit. The Laboratory is well arranged and fitted with apparatus and material for successful work in chemistry and physics. The cabinet contains a good collection of rocks and minerals, also some relics, which have been obtained from different parts of the country. The rocks and minerals are classified so that the student can find in them much valuable aid. The literary work of the academy is carried on under the auspices of The Delphian Literary Society. It is required that each student. take an active part in such work, as it is one of the most potent sources of strength. It is the aim of those who control the Academy to make: it an institution for the inculcation of Christian: virtues and the development of a Christian spirit. Helpful chapel exercises, conducted by the faculty, are held each morning in Literary Hall. These exercises are of a devotional character. Visitors and friends of the Academy are often present to assist in these convocations. TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS. The earliest schools in Goshen township) were established by the Friends, who formed a majority of the population. These schools were small and scattered, some of them being, known as family schools. Samuel Votaw, son of Isaac Votaw, taught in the first log school house built in the township, which was opened in the winter of 1812. Soon after another school was opened and. taught by Daniel Stratton. Among the early teachers at the school first opened were Mar tha Townsend, William Green, William Titus,. Joshua Crew, Benjamin Marshall, John Butler, Isaac Trescott, Solomon Shreeve,. Jesse Lloyd and Stephen Roberts. At the first school built at Damascus the early teachers were Joshua Lynch, James. Bruft, John P. Gruel, Jacob Hole, Simeon Fawcett, Lydia M. Stanley. Elizabeth Blackburn taught at the Votaw settlement, and James Hemingway in the Benjamin Malmesbury neighborhood. About 1825 a log school house was built in district. No. 1, of which Andrew Templin was the first teacher. The Garfield Special District High School: wes erected in 1875 at a cost of $2,740. It is a two-room brick building, and was at first a sub-district of Goshen township, becoming a special district by act of legislature March 1, 1893. In 1890 it suffered severe damage from a storm, which necessitated extensive repairs. The present principal is Prof. Frank 208 - HISTORY OF MAHONING COUNTY H. Close. A two years' course of study is provided. CHURCHES. The Friends, or Quakers, established the first church in Goshen township, and worshipped in it until it was destroyed by fire in 1842. They built a brick church in 1852. The Methodists organized a class as early as 1820, and in 1867 they built the Methodist church on section eight. The principal founders of this church were John Templin, Joseph King, Newton French, Joseph Keeler, William Cassaday, William Stratton and N. K. Gunder. The first pastor was Rev. McCartney. On October 1, 1903, Rev. John W. Eicher assumed the pastorate. The present membership of the church is about 200. The Sunday school superintendent is A. B. Williamson. The pastors since 1880 have been as follows : J. R. Roller, 1879-82 ; Rev. Clark, 1882-83 ; John Hunter, 1883-85 ; T. J. Ream, 1885-86; W. H. Dickerson, 1886-88; A. W. Newlin, 1888-90; J. J. Billingsley, 1890-91; W. D. Stevens, 1891-93; F. I. Swaney, 1893-96; M. C. Grimes, 1896-99; T. W. Anderson, 1899-03 ; John W. Eicher, 1903—. The Goshen M. E. church, sometimes known as "The Bunker Hill M. E. church," stands among the first missionary churches, for gifts to foreign missions, in the entire East Ohio Conference. Other churches in Goshen are, the Friends' church, pastor, O. L. Tomlinson ; the Friends' Branch church, at Garfield, which has no regular pastor, the present officiant in that capacity being G. B. Malmsberry. GREEN TOWNSHIP Green township has a generally undulating surface, with soil well adapted to the cultivation of trees, small fruits and grain. The most common native trees are the chestnut, oak and beech. Most of the early settlers of Green township were German, as is evident by such names as Knauff, Bauman, Kenreich, Houtts, Stahl, and Zimmerman, which we find in glancing over the records. Eben Newton, of Canfield, became the purchaser of section 1, on which account it was afterwards known as the "Newton tract." Henry Beard and family, Germans, were the first settlers in section 4, and his descendants remain in the vicinity to this day. Section 5 was bought by James Webb and John Beard. Henry Pyle and wife, who came from Germany about 1804, settled in section 2. Some of the other sections passed rapidly through various hands. Coal was found and was formerly worked to some extent in sections 17, 19 and 20. Section 16 was the "school lot" and in 1849 was sold to a number of different persons. In section 14, which was entered by a stranger who sold it to Abram Garber, is Greenford station, on the old Niles and New Lisbon Railroad. Philip Houtts, who purchased the west part of section 12 on which was a spring, carried on a distillery there until about 1830. Elisha Teeter entered section 20 for his four sons—John, Jonathan, William and Wilson—in 1808, and in 1822 the first steam mill in this part of the country was erected by Wilson Teeter. The large vein of coal found on this section was opened and operated by this family. Section 36 was entered by Jacob Roller in 1803. His son, Col. Jacob B. Roller, served under General Harrison, and at Fort Meigs and was state representative for twenty-one years. ORGANIZATION. Green township was incorporated. June 3, 1806, and formed a part of Columbiana County until the organization of Mahoning County in 1846. VILLAGES. Green Village, situated near the center of the township, was first laid out by Lewis Baker, Jacob Wilhelm and Jacob Cook. The postoffice was established in 1831, William Van Horn being the first postmaster. The AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 209 present postmaster at Greenford is William I. Hahn. Washingtonville was laid out about 1832, the first store being opened in the following year by Jacob Stobbes, who became the first postmaster in 1836. The present postmaster is Joseph Thorpe. The postoffice is situated in Columbiana County, just across the line from Green. Peter Miller was the first blacksmith to open a shop. New Albany was laid out by Wilson Teeter and Edwin Webb, the first postoffice being established prior to 1853. The first postmaster was Henry Thulen, who was succeeded by Joshua Webb. SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES. At an early date after the settlement of the township a log school house, 20x24 feet in size, was built on a piece of ground situated on the east side of section 20, and donated by Elisha Teeter. Edward Bonsai was the first teacher. Another log school house was built by Henry Pyle on the New Lisbon road in section 10. Samuel McBride and George Pow were the earliest teachers, the former being engaged to teach in 1814. After Mr. Pow's retirement no school was taught there until the district schools were opened in 1827. West of Green Village was a log church, in which the first school was taught near the center. About 1815 Henry Zimmerman taught school in a log school house in section 34, on land belonging to Jacob Stofer. Another log school house was subsequently built on this section, and was taught for a time by William, Rachael and Samuel Schofield. In 1818 a school was opened at Washingtonville in a log church built by Michael and Baltzer Roller. In 1844 there were twelve schools in the township, with ten teachers, with an average daily attendance of 169 males and 131 females, the branches taught being reading, writing, arithmetic, English grammar and geography. The changes since then have been chiefly in the line of improving general conditions, providing a higher class of text books, with more comfortable school houses and a better system of instruction. There are now twelve teachers employed and the schools are well attended and in a flourishing condition. The Evangelical Lutheran church at Greenford was founded in 1840, the present building being erected in 1884. The first pastor was Rev. John H. Huffman, and the church was started with forty-one members. The pastors since 1876 have been as follows : Rev. J. M. Ruthrauff, 1876-80 ; Rev. S. P. Kiefer, 1880-82; N. W. Lilly, 1882-85; Rev. T. S. Smedley, 1885-90; Rev. A. B. Kast, 1890-92 ; Rev. J. B. Burgner, 1893-98; ___________; Rev. A. K. Felton, 1900-03; Rev. H. M. Nicholson, eighteen months to 1905 ; Rev. M. L. Wilhelm, eighteen months to 1907; Rev. P. L. Miller, 1907—. The Sunday school superintendent is R. R. Zimmerman. Green township is essentially a farming community, but has several small manufacturingg industries, including a tile works, of which C. C. Pettit is manager ; a planing mill, conducted by M. G. Hoffman; a grist mill, by Fred Mattix ; sawmill, V. V. Zimmerman. Coal mining is also carried on to some extent by Bush Brothers. JACKSON TOWNSHIP This is an agricultural township and was named after Andrew Jackson, the hero of New Orleans and our seventh president. The surface of the township is somewhat broken and uneven. Meander Creek drains the eastern portion, while a numbed of small streams flow into the creek from the westward. Here and there a stretch of woodland affords a pleasing contrast to the wide-spreading acres of culti-, vated land, and contributes to the make-up of a picturesque and varied landscape. From the historical reminiscences of Mr. D. Anderson and from other sources, we learn that 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 210 - HISTORY OF MAHONING COUNTY in the township. The township was organized about the year 1815, and was then called West Austintown, afterwards Jackson." In the year 1803 there were just six taxpayers in the township—Samuel Calhoun, Andrew Gault, William Orr, James Stamford, Samuel Riddle and Joseph Mclnrue—the total taxes being $3.07. The first marriage was probably that of John Ewing and Margaret Orr, in 1805, the ceremony being performed by 'Squire Chid. ester:, of Canfield. The first death was that of Mary, daughter of William and Mary Orr, which took place February 18, 1805, when she was in her fourteenth year. SCHOOLS. There was but little interest taken in education in early days in Jackson. The first log school house was a very rude, ramshackle sort of structure, with a roof of loose boards, weighted down, and a floor or split timber. It was in the southeastern part of the township, on the side of a steep bank. John Fullerton and a man named Ferguson were, it is .thought, the first teachers. In the same neighborhood, on a hill northeast of the Covenanter .church, a second log school house was afterwards erected. The name of Matilda Taylor has been preserved as that of the first teacher of summer school in this part of the township. Mr. Fullerton, above mentioned, seems to have been a practical joker, as there is a story to the effect that he once assisted some of the larger boys of the school in placing a wagon on the roof of the school house, gravely informing the owner, who came to him with a wrathful complaint of the misconduct of his pupils, that he would do his best to ascertain the authors of the outrage and punish them as they deserved. Other school houses were afterwards built in different parts of the township, all the early .ones being constructed of logs, these later giving way to frame buildings. About 1840 the settlers began to take more :interest in education. Up to this time English had been taught in the school a part of the time and German the remainder. But about this time English alone was substituted by Samuel Jones, who had been elected school director and who having made a canvass among the settlers, had discovered that nearly all of them were in favor of the change. The township was now divided into eight school districts, with a fractional district in the southwest corner. Competent teachers were engaged,' and a good attendance of scholars secured. There are now nine school districts in the township, though only six school buildings are in use, owing to the fact that the hoard has adopted, so far as possible, a policy of centralization, conveying three districts to the graded school at North Jackson. Mr. Guy Hoover is the present superintendent, Miss Fern Winstead, assistant. The other teachers are as follows : District No. 1, Miss Emma Klingeman ; No. 2, David Walters ; No. 3, Stephen Goldner; No. 4 (two rooms), G. S. Hoover and Miss Fern Winstead; No. 5, no school ; No. 6, Miss Etta M. Lynn; No. 7, Miss Isa Flick ; No. 8 and No. 9, no school in use. There are no special districts, and no new school house has been erected for the last sixteen years. The total number of scholars now in attendance is 170. CHURCHES. The Covenanter church was organized in 1830, in the southeastern part of the township, in the Gault and Ewing settlement. In 1833 a division occurred, which led to the formation of two societies, one locating in Austintown, and the other continuing to worship in the old church for many years. The Methodist Episcopal society was organized in the same year at the center and is still in existence. Their church, north of the center, was erected in 1840. 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 has been refitted once or twice since then. The Presbyte- AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 211 rians 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. The Rev. T. R. McMahon was the first pastor. The pulpit is now filled by the Rev. Charles Wiseman, The other churches in Jackson are the Disciples' church, pastor, Rev. S. H. Bush ; Reformed, Rev. Mr. Schaff. INDUSTRIAL ENTERPRISES. Among the early merchants were Colwell Porter, who was the first to open a store in a log cabin ; Mr. Koons, who sold out to Mr. Graton ; David Anderson, who commenced business in 1843 and afterwards sold out to John Cartwright, and Trumbull & Welkins, who had a store on the northwest corner of the center. Anthony & Flaugher began business on the southwest corner in 1856. Anderson & Flaugher formed a partnership under the name of D. Anderson & Company and in 1862 the name was changed to Anderson, Shaffer & Company. Welkers sold to Moherman, Osborn & Lynns. Lynns retiring, the firm became. Moherman, Osborn & Moherman, and afterwards William & A. Moherman. They were followed by Dickson & Kirk, who were burned out September, 1874. Folk & Anderson commenced in 1866. Many subsequent changes have occurred, which lack of space forbids us to chronicle. The leading industrial enterprises of the township at present are, Kirtler Brothers, roller mills, capacity, 00 barrels per day ; H. H. Lynn, sawmill, planing mill and feed mill, in connection with an up-to-date lumber yard, with supplies of building material. There are also the usual stores carrying supplies of furniture, farm machinery and provisions. Jackson has also a prosperous Knights of Pythias lodge, which owns its own hall. MILTON TOWNSHIP The township of Milton, situated in the northwestern corner of Mahoning County, was settled about the year 1803, in the vicinity of Pricetown ; and also about the same time on the eastern side of the township. Nathaniel Stanley, who settled in the western part, near the Mahoning river, was probably the first actual settler. He remained, however, but a short time, removing north to Newton township. Asa Porter, who came from Pennsylvania in 1803, is said to have been the second settler. He located west of the river, and afterwards went to reside on the farm of his sons, Enoch and Joseph. He brought up a family of twelve children. He was a man of great physical and constitutional strength, and lived to the remarkable age of ninety-six years. Another settler in the western part of the township, in 1803, was John Vanetten, who came to Milton from Delaware, with his wife and three children, seven others being afterwards born to them here. Mrs. Vanetten's maiden name was Anna Lebar. Among the other early settlers were Samuel Linton, Samuel Bowles, who afterwards removed to Portage County ; Isaac, James and held the office of associate judge; Daniel Jacob Winans, who came from Delaware in 1804; Jesse Holliday, Reuben S. Clarke, who Stewart, who settled south of Orr's Corners ; John DeLong, Joseph Depew, James and John Craig, who settled east of the river; John McKenzie, who came in 1805, and William Par-shall, who settled west of the river and kept a store. Robert Price, from whom Priceville was named, came in 1817. Robert Rose, a native of Bath, Virginia, born in 1786, came to Ellsworth from Poland township with his father when a youth. He was living in 1881, being then ninety-six years of age, and possessing a remarkable degree of vigor. INDUSTRIES. Jesse Holliday, one of the earliest settlers, in 1804, built a grist mill, sawmill and carding mill, selling them twelve years later to John Price. Afterwards they came into the possession of Robert Price, who operated them for several years. A flouring mill was built in the 212 - HISTORY OF MAHONING COUNTY late thirties by Dr. Jonathan I. Tod, son-in-law of Judge Price, and remained in possession of Dr. Tod and his widow until 1861, when it was purchased by Mr. Calender. Dr. Tod also built a foundry on the west side of the river, which was operated for several years and then converted into a linseed oil manufactory. Another foundry erected by the Doctor was changed by Mr. Calender into a flax mill. J. M. Calender established a woolen factory, which was carried on for a number of years. There are now no manufactories in the township. At Blanco there is a general store keqt by Emory Kale. In the southwest part of. the township there is a small bank of coal, which supplies the local trade. ORGANIZATION. There are no township records of early date in existence. In 1814 John Johnston and Bildad Hine were elected justices of the peace by the joint townships, Newton and Milton. A year or two later Milton became a township and voting precinct by itself. SCHOOLS. At an early date there was a log school house east of the river, which was taught by Daniel Depew, an elderly man. John Johnston taught school about 1812 in a log school house that was situated on the center road, three-quarters of a mile west of the Jackson township line. Other early teachers were, Robert White, Margaret Depew, Tillinghast Morey, Nancy Best, Peggy Stevens, Joseph Duer, Gain Robison and Billings O. Plimpton. The last named afterwards became a famous Methodist preacher. The teachers were paid about $4 or $5 a month in summer, and $9 or $10 in winter, a part only in cash and the rest in orders on the store keepers. There are now six schools in the township, with an attendance of about i00 scholars. CHURCHES. A Presbyterian church was organized about 1808 by citizens of Newton and Milton, and a church erected in Newton near Price's Mills. Rev. James Boyd was the first pastor, and was succeeded by Rev. John Beer, after which the church was "supplied" for a number of years. About 1836 Rev. W. O. Stratton became the pastor and during his ministry (in 1847) a new church was built at Orr's Corners, the old one being no longer used. In 1871 many of the members left and joined the new church at Jackson. This weakened the church so that it died a gradual death and is no longer in existence as an organization. The Methodists organized a society and church about 1812 and held meetings in the school house at Orr's Corners. The pulpit was supplied by circuit preachers, among whom was Dr. Boswick, Rev. Ira Eddy,—Rev. B. O. Plimpton and others. Tillinghast Morey, Isaac Mitchell, with the Winans and Vaughns, were prominent members and supporters of this church. Mr. Morey's house was a frequent stopping place for Methodist preachers while on their circuits, and services were often held there. The Methodist church is now the only denomination represented in the township. The building is a frame structure located a little west of the center. The congregation numbers about fifty. The Disciples organized a church about 1830, and held meetings at the Orr's Corners school house. William Hayden and Walter Scott were among their first preachers. Their organization came to an end about 1860 or earlier. CEMETERIES. The early settlers were all buried in Newton, near Price's Mills. There are now two cemeteries — the Vaughn cemetery, situated west of the center, and the Eckis cemetery, in the southeastern part of the township. The old cemetery located in the northwestern part of the township has been abandoned, and is now in ruins. POLAND TOWNSHIP Poland was one of the earliest settled portions of Mahoning County and by 1810 had a AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 213 considerable population, which consisted largely of emigrants from Pennsylvania. The township has an uneven surface, being deeply cut in the northeastern portion by the Mahoning river and in the northwest by Yellow creek, which flows through Poland Village. The soil is deep and fertile and in most places well adapted to farming. Considerable coal and iron ore have been found in the township, and some small veins of coal are still worked, though, owing to the exhaustion of the best mines, that industry is not so flourishing as formerly. Others have taken its place, however, as the busy, prosperous villages of Lowellville and Struthers fully evidence. An account of the early furnaces may be found in the chapter on the coal and iron industries of the county. An account of some of the most interesting events in the early history of Poland was contained in a paper read by Mrs. Mary M. Maxwell at the Columbus celebration in Poland October 21, 1892, from which we here quote extensively : "The first to lay out and take claims in this place was Turhand Kirtland, afterwards known as Judge Kirtland, a surveyor named Woolcott coming with him. These men began work in 1798, remaining here during the warm weather, and returning east in the winter, until 1803, when Mr. Kirtland brought out his family and settled on the spot where Isaac Walker now lives. This was done to the great sorrow of his beautiful wife, who declared that if she had to leave her eastern home, she would never return for even a visit, a promise she faithfully kept. "Mr. Kirtland and Mr. Woolcott had many strange adventures and endured many hardships during the years they spent in the forest surveying, a minute detail of which is found in Mr. Kirtland's diary, now in the possession of Hon. C. F. Kirtland, his grandson, and which is very interesting reading. Much of the time they spent far from any habitation; a large beech tree, standing until recently near the home of Charles Kirtland, marking at least one spot where they camped, proof of which was given by the names cut in its smooth bark. They seem, also, to have been often ill from exposure, an example of what they suffered being found in the diary under date of May, 1799, and reading as follows `The rain began to fall extremely hard, filling up the swamps and streams. It rained for three days, but we kept on, reaching Burton after bridging, swimming and wading, being all one day in the water.' No complaint, however, is ever entered, but on the contrary such notes as this frequently occur after a hard day in a swamp : 'At night we made a tent of bark. and slept sweetly.' Indeed, all the pages of this closely written diary are but records of toil, privation and dangers truly painful to read, though not unfrequently an amusing story is told, one being how he fetched, on one of his journeys west, a quantity of money in a box under the seat of his cart, marked 'Bibles,' leaving it safely wherever he stopped, no one showing any desire to rob a traveler so pious as to carry Bibles by the quantity. "The laying out and starting of a town on Yellow creek was a pet idea with Mr. Kirtland and Mr. Jonathan Fowler, in which they were aided by Mr. Woolcott, whose careful survey of 'Town one, Range one,' I find recorded in a beautiful manner in a large book kept with the diary of Mr. Kirtland, the site of our present village being referred to as, `very pleasing.' The name of the young town was a matter of much thought, Poland being chosen as unlikely to be duplicated in other places, thus avoiding the annoyance of missent. letters. One of the first acts for the encouragement of his town was a gift by Mr. Kirtland of a portion of land 'to be kept for a church, school and other public purposes,' and for a graveyard. "May 29, 1799, Jonathan Fowler came from Connecticut on horseback, bringing his wife, a sister of Mr. Kirtland, and their child; also their household goods. The part of the journey from Beaver, then called Mackintosh, was made in a canoe. Until a cabin was built they camped near a spring back of where John Brown now lives, sleeping at night in the hollow, but friendly, heart of a large tree. In 1804 they left their cabin for the stone tavern, still one of our landmarks, and whose well pre- - 12 - 214 - HISTORY OF MAHONING COUNTY served walls could, were they able, tell many an interesting tale, relating not only to the early history of Ohio, but more or less connected with that of the United States. Mr. Fowler kept a store in part of the stone house, taking in exchange for goods such produce as the scattered settlers could furnish, once a year packing it on horses, or with an ox team, to Beaver Point, where he placed it on a raft and poled it to New Orleans, then the nearest market, the trip requiring three months' time. At New Orleans the produce was exchanged for sugar, molasses and other needed articles. The nearest mill was also at Beaver Point. While preparing his raft for one of these long journeys, Mr. Fowler was drowned, his last act being an endeavor to save his assistants, all of whom escaped. Mr. Fowler's daughter, Rachael, was the first white female born in Poland; Ebenezer Struthers being the first white male. Indians were their only neighbors, the nearest white family living eight miles to the west, and a ten-mile swamp separating them from the nearest cabin on the east, some of the logs which later on formed a corduroy road over the swamp having been, this summer, uncovered near the home of James Sexton, and being still perfectly sound. This r0ad was surveyed in 1802, the one to Youngstown having been cut the year previous. "Mrs. Fowler was greatly tried by the Indians, who had never before seen a white babe, asking almost daily for little Rachael, frequently carrying her off, and keeping her for hours. She dreaded risking the child out of her sight, also the condition in which its filthy nurses usually returned it, but did not dare refuse their request lest they should be made .angry. "Rachael was married in 1820 to Thomas Riley. A good black silk gown had been prepared for the event, but at the last moment she -concluded to wear the one in which her mother had been married, a thing easily done, as fashions did not then change with each moon. Mr. Riley, being a good tailor, probably wore a suit of his own making, and not those of Mr. Fowler, his wife's father, which consisted of a fine blue 'swallow tail' cloth coat, with brass buttons, white satin knee breeches, and light blue stockings, the latter still owned by his grandson, Jared Riley. "Jonathan Fowler saw his wife but once before marriage, their courtship being carried on by letter, the following most dignified epistle being a copy of the last one sent his future wife before their marriage. " 'Guilford, Conn., October 21, 1799. " 'Madam :—As the time draweth near that we are to be one (God willing), suffer me to call on you once more to examine yourself by yourself, to see if your love to me is such love as will keep you constant to me before all others, in comfortable, or neglectuous circumstances; whether you feel yourself able to take the charge with me of a family so as to do yourself honor, and render you my greatest earthly blessing, and the world a useful member of society. I believe I have carefully considered every particular myself, and hope the world will not censure my actions. But when I consider that there is so much trouble in the marriage state, it almost discourages me to be sure. When I see men of able heads, and I hope of better hearts, err in this, what may not I be left to do in my infirmity ? I hope this diffidence in my heart proceeds not from any jealousy of its own by nature, but from desire of doing what is right in the eyes of the Lord, for we are now laying the foundation of our future happiness or misery, and for that reason we must not neglect any part of our duty. We must first consider what is our duty to each other, and what we may reasonably expect, one from the other, and that is, true, inviolable friendship, which will make us willing to give ourselves to each other, and, if need be, give ourselves one for the other. If this is too much for you to submit to, then let us stop where we are now, and never suffer me to press your breast to mine, for these are the only terms I can agree to. " 'We have friends, and they may reasonably expect our friendship. Then don't let us disappoint their expectations, but show them AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 215 and the world at large that we are reasonable creatures, and not made for ourselves alone, but are only instruments in the hands of Providence to distribute his bounty with liberal hand to the distressed whenever they happen to fall in our way. " 'You may expect to see me next week, if I hear nothing from you, and it is likely that I shall bring some company with me. Remember my duty to your mother, and all other friends, and accept my best wishes for yourself. These from, Madam, yours, " 'JONATHAN FOWLER.' "When Mrs. Fowler lived in her cabin near the spring, she each night, after sunset, blew for a long time, a wooden horn, so that any belated travelers hearing it could follow the sound and find shelter with her, instead of spending the long, dark hours as did a man named Kidd, who, while off looking at some land he afterwards bought, was chased up a tree by a bear, near where Chauncey Lee now lives. Horns were blown at intervals all night, with the hope that he would hear, and reach Fowler's cabin. He heard, but could not leave his airy refuge until about nine o'clock the next morning, as the bear patiently watched him until that hour.. "Mr. and Mrs. John McCully were the first couple married in Poland, the ceremony being performed by Judge Kirtland, the guests coming through dense forests to be present at the wedding. [The History of Trumbull and Mahoning Counties, published at Cleveland in 1882, gives the first marriage as that of John Blackburn and Nancy Bryan, about 1830, Judge Kirtland officiating.] "As a sample of the weddings of that day, I will describe that of Isaac P. Cowden, of Poland, and Anne Gibson, whose home was at the well-known Gibson spring between this place and Youngstown. This wedding took place in 1831, the young man being careful to call himself Isaac P. Cowden, second, to distinguish himself from a cousin hearing the same name. The evening before the wedding, the groom, who lived at what is called Kansas Corners, took his 'waiter,' as the groomsman was called, and repaired to the home of the bride, where her 'waiter' was in attendance, and spent the evening practicing the ceremony for the next day. Next morning, at an early hour, the guests invited by the groom assembled at his home and formed a procession, led by himself and his 'waiter,' and went to the home of the bride, making a point on arriving of riding in great style entirely around the cabin before alighting at the door, where they were received by the bride's friends. "The whole company stayed until the following morning, then accompanied the newly wedded pair to the groom's home, where they had another day and night of feasting. The company were all mounted on horses, the procession being headed by the bride and her gallant Isaac, the ride ending with the usual circle around the cabin, though a sister of the bride marred the affair a little by falling from her horse, causing someone to shout, 'thirty-five on horseback and one on the ground,' showing that a large number not only of 'beasts,' as horses were called, but people also attended these festivities. "Mrs. Esther Gibson Dickson, a sister of the bride, and present at this wedding, says `it took a great deal of time to .get married those times, as three or four days were spent going from house to house feasting, closing Saturday by the 'waiters' spending the night at the bride's home, so as to aid in making an appearance at the meeting next day. "It was custom, also, for the owners of cabins passed by the wedding procession to fire a salute, so, when Isaac Cowden was taking his new wife home, Peter Webber, who lived where James Brownlee now resides, not seeing the cavalcade in time to get his rifle, seized a pitchfork, and hastening into the path, stopped the whole train by aiming directly at the bridal party, who, intent on themselves, did not notice what he held in his hand, and halted at once, lest so near a shot should alarm their lively steeds. "John Arrel, Sr., and a man named Love, owned a cart and two horses between them into the former they crowded their household 216 - HISTORY OF MAHONING COUNTY goods, their wives and children, and crossed the mountains to this place from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, arriving in 1801, and living in a shanty made of rough logs and covered with chestnut bark. "Mr. Walter Arrel still owns the original Arrel farm. Stephen Sexton, Sr., came from Washington County, Pennsylvania, also in 1801, purchasing what is still known as the Sexton farm. After clearing and sowing a small piece of land, and partly preparing a cabin, he returned home, the next spring fetching his family, also a solid black walnut door for the cabin, which he carried in the bottom of his cart. This door was in use until recently. Its hinges were long pieces of strap iron, fastened on by great spikes clinched quite through the wood. The lock was a famous one, whose key is still kept as a relic. "Mr. Sexton, David Loveland and William Buck came to Poland inside the same the same twelve months, were born within the same year, all lived to be ninety-three years of age, and all died within twelve months of each other. Joseph Sexton, son of Stephen Sexton, lived to be older than his father. "James McNabb came to Poland from Washington county, Pennsylvania, in 1801, feeling that he was coming to the fartherest west. He brought his family, and all his household goods, on two horses, one bearing a load that would not admit the added weight of a rider, the other having across the saddle a bed-tick opened in the center, one end being filled with bedding, the other having in the bottom a set of shoemaker's tools, over which a board was placed as.a seat for three children, whose heads protruded through the opening. On the saddle sat the brave mother holding her babe, and in one hand the head of her large spinning wheel and the flyer of her small one, that being the only way she could carry them and feel sure they were safe. Mr. McNabb walked the whole distance, save when his weary wife begged him to take her seat, and the babe, and let her rest by walking. When they stopped at night they asked the privilege of sleeping on the tavern floor, the pretense of economy giving them the privilege of laying down a quilt into which they had quilted their money, the children laying on the precious article, while the parents slept on either side guarding both. "Mr. McNabb purchased the farm on which his grandson, James McNabb, now lives, his cabin being near the site of the old furnace, the little caves in the banks of the creek being used as hiding places for the children when the Indians were about, each child having its own cave. "In 1800, Capt. Dunlap came here, his father having preceded him, and in 1803 he dug for Judge Kirtland the well from which Isaac Walker, a son of one of the early settlers, still refreshes himself. "In 1802 Jared Kirtland, father of the late Mrs. Dr. Mygatt, built the tavern that so long stood where we now see the pleasant home of Robert Walker. The hostelry was noted for its commodious rooms whose walls and woodwork were all hand-finished very handsomely; for its hospitality and choice liquors. It was also the half-way house between Cleveland and Pittsburg, and often at night the ample yard and large stables were crowded with 'beasts' great six-horse covered wagons and four-horse coaches. The proprietor of this famous house had two daughters who attracted the attention of a rising young physician in Youngstown, then known as 'a small settlement near Poland.' One day this youth called on Mr. Kirtland, saying he was looking for a wife and would like one of his daughters, it being quite immaterial to him which one he got. Mr. Kirtland replied that he thought it appeared better for an older sister to marry first, so she being willing, the matter was soon settled, the marriage so strangely arranged proved satisfactory to all concerned. "The old brick store was another well constructed and handsomely finished building whose upper floors had large double parlors, dressing rooms, and other conveniences, where the lads and lassies met to dance, and where shows, lectures, and other public meetings were held. "For many years there lived at Poland Center a man who made splint bottom chairs, AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 217 one set having been ordered by Sally Blackman, who was sent through the forest by her mother on an errand. One of this set of chairs I have owned for several years, it being still in good condition. As long as she lived Miss Sally used for herself the chair on which her-mother sat in a wagon, carrying her babe, while the young father walked beside guiding the team as they came to this place from Connecticut. "The 'old furnace,' the ruins of which are on the creek below the village, was the first blast furnace in the now noisy and smoky Mahoning valley. This furnace was abandoned about the year 1835. "The first blacksmith was a man named Hoadly, whose forge was where the school property now stands, John McCully working with him, having learned his trade at Fort Pitt. These men were often annoyed by wolves howling about their shop at night, and twice James Barclay, a son-in-law of Mr. McCully, was chased by the festive creatures, from whom his fleet horse enabled him to escape. "Dr. Issac Cowden was the first settled physician in this region, living to be very old. Dr. Jared Potter Kirtland also practiced. here for a considerable time, afterwards removing to Cleveland, where he died a few years since one of the most extensively known men in the profession in the state, while Drs. Eli Mygatt and Joseph Truesdale are still held in kindly memory, the former practicing here for more than fifty years, and the latter nearly as long. "Squire Drake's name also appears as one of the early citizens of our famous village, many yellow documents existing to which his signature as justice of the peace is attached, while the late venerable brothers, George and Billious Kirtland, were worthy a high place among scientists. "The Presbyterian church was organized in 1802 by Rev. Joseph Badger, who was sent to this benighted region by the Connecticut Missionary Society. For sometime previous to his coming there had been a strong desire to have a church organization, so when an evening was set apart for the purpose a little band of men came to the meeting from a log-rolling, all covered with soot, having worked until too late to go home and 'slick' up.' "Among the first to put their hands on the roll of membership were James 'Adair, Sr., John McClelland, Josiah Walker, Thomas McCullough, Robert Smith, Stephen Sexton, Sr:, John Hunter, Joseph Porter, David Justice, and others whose names I did not learn. "The first house for worship was erected in 1804 on the land donated by Mr. Kirtland, near which, in 1828, the white frame church, which preceded the present brick one, was built, it being considered a fine structure, with its three galleries and high pulpit. "The earnest worshippers came to their first log temple by foot-paths, bridle-paths and corduroy roads, the women wearing homespun gowns (calico cost four dollars for eight yards, the amount needed for a dress), and the men hunting shirts, made of linen and reaching to the knees. Each man carried a rifle, and often a tomahawk, the former being stacked in one corner of the church ready for use should a. desirable deer or bear come in sight for food or an undesirable Indian or wolf appear behind some tree. "Rev. James Wright was the first settled pastor of the Presbyterian church, holding the office in connection with the society at Westfield, just over the state line. Mr. Wright lived in what is known as the Rohrbaugh house. He was married three times, two of his wives being buried in the old graveyard in Poland, a few steps from the Presbyterian church ; his own grave, and that of his third wife, being near the pulpit in Westfield, where he lived and worked so many years after leaving here. He was a good man whose faithful service was rewarded by the princely sum of two hundred dollars a year, his 'steepens,' as his salary was called, being collected by himself as best he could, he gladly taking pigs, corn, grain, wool, and not unfrequently good, old rye whiskey, the latter being then the chief circulating medium, as well as the chief part of the diet of many respectable persons, as was proven at least once at good father Wright's own home, the occasion being a wood-bee giv- 218 - HISTORY OF MAHONING COUNTY en him by his neighbors, at which several became so tired and limber as to be unable to do their share of work. "The Rev. Algernon S. MacMaster, D. D., succeeded Mr. Wright at Westfield, afterwards being pastor of the Presbyterian church here for twenty-four years. "The old Seceeder church, now the well-, known United Presbyterian, was organized in 1804, the first pastor being the Rev. Mr. Douglass, a good young man, who died early, and it is to be hoped his heavenly estate was rich in proportion to the meagerness of his earthly one, his personal property being found to consist of a saddle, bridle and two barrels of whiskey. "A few Covenanters were scattered among the early settlers, to whom Rev. George Scott sometimes preached, using the Presbyterian church about eight Sabbaths in the, year, that being all the gospel privileges they felt able to pay for. "A Methodist church was not established here until 1834, at which time a meeting was held in the school-house where the Presbyterian church now stands, and a society formed ; Mr. and Mrs. William Logan, Sr., Mrs. Elizabeth Barclay, Herman Blackman, and his sister Sally, being among the first who joined. Services had, however, been previously held in a log school-house at Cook's Corners, and once a camp-meeting was held in Elkana Morse's orchard, at which a great revival took place. Another remarkable revival was held in Josiah Beardsley's barn in Boardman. The upper part of the present Methodist church was the first building erected for public worship by this society, and has been in constant use ever since. The faith and good works of many of the first members of this church, and its hard toiling pastors, are still held in affectionate memory, notably one of its earliest ministers—the Rev. Mr. Preston. "Mrs. Anna Diantha Detcheon, who was one of the first workers in the Methodist society, says she always felt an interest in her church but did not personally know many of the Poland people in her young days as she lived out of the village and somehow did not get from home much, having the care of four children under five years of age, and spinning the first year after her marriage yarn for seventy yards of woolen cloth, besides linen threads for sheets, towels, and other things, and doing her own housework.' "The first school-house stood on the spot where the Presbyterian church is now located. The state had then no control of public schools, the 'master,' as the teacher was called, taking a school for a certain sum of money and dividing the amount among the families who patronized him, according to the number each sent, lost time sometimes being filled in by persons not in regular attendance, John Barclay recalling one young man whose educational advantages consisted of two days' study, obtained in this way. A favorite method of punishing pupils in these schools was to compel them to. hold an arm out at full length until it could be held so no longer. "Mrs. Kirtland allowed the children to come from the old school-house to drink from her famous well, near which she one day emptied a vessel that contained cherry-bounce. The children picked up and ate a quantity of the rich berries, and so did a flock of mother Kirtland's turkeys. The teacher could do nothing with his pupils the rest of that day ; but the poor turkeys had a bitter lesson, for they soon fell over, apparently stone dead, and Mrs.. Kirtland, thinking some fell disease had killed them, thought she would at least save the feathers, so at once plucked them carefully, being greatly surprised an hour or two later to find her birds walking about the yard, calling in the sad way peculiar to their kind. "The first select school in Poland was held over what is now Mr. Koontz's store, by a man named Bradley, who afterwards sold out to Mr. Lynch, the owner, builder and principal of the Academy, now used by Mrs. Gheehan as a dwelling. John Barclay says he hauled stone and mortar on a slip with a horse, for this building, in that way paying for his tuition. The masons for whom he worked were John Wishard and Joseph Stacy. AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 219 "When the present Presbyterian church was built the old school-house was removed to where it still stands, next the dwelling of Mr. Stewart, and in the room now used by our Italian friend as a shoe shop, Miss Eliza Blakely, now Mrs. Henry K. Morse, taught the first school for girls, having about twenty pupils, who awarded their teacher the same loving regard offered her by scores of others in after years. B. F. Lee, who did so much for higher education in our village, organized this school, its influence, and that of its successors, being still felt far and wide." EARLY TAX RATE. In 1803, Poland paid a tax of $48.24, which was assessed upon the fifty-five property holders of the township. Turhand Kirtland also paid $17.55, and Jared Kirtland, $5.08, leaving an average of about forty-eight cents apiece for the rest of the inhabitants. And this was a larger tax than was paid by any other township in what is nc w Mahoning county. MILITIA. A militia company was enrolled in 1802 with John Struthers as captain, and Robert McCombs as first lieutenant. There were eighty-seven names on the roll. In 1805 the eastern part of the township formed one company and the western another. The two companies met at the village for drill, and a shooting contest was arranged between the two best marksmen of each company, the competitors being Tom Clees of the eastern company and one Garner of the western company. No decision was rendered, as each marksman hit the exact center of the target. POLAND VILLAGE. The village of Poland, picturesquely situated on Yellow Creek, about the middle of the west line of the township, was first known as "Fowler's" taking its name from the tavern of Jonathan Fowler, built in 1804. The village was once a trading place of some importance, being in this respect ahead of Youngstown, the stages to Pittsburg, both. from the north and west passing through it. The building of the canal which passed two and one-half miles from it caused it to suffer a loss of trade, which was proportionately increased later when it was similarly isolated from the railroad. It is, however, a quiet pleasant village, free from the noise and dirt of the great. business centers, with a widely-famed educa tional institution, and a fair proportion of stores, shops, and other industries. POLAND UNION SEMINARY. In 1835, Mr. John Lynch, a pupil of Mr.. Bradley, erected a building and opened an. academy, which was conducted for about ten years, when it was discontinued. For a few years thereafter Poland was without an educational institution devoted to the higher. branches of learning. But in 1848 a new academy (referred to in Mrs. Maxwell's article already quoted), was founded on the west side of the town by Mr. B. F. Lee, a student just from Allegheny College, and was opened in the fall of 1849. About the same time, or shortly after, the Presbyterians opened an academy on the east side of Yellow Creek, which was conducted successfully for about six years until the buildings took fire and were destroyed and the school was afterwards discontinued. Mr. Lee's school, which was known as Poland Institute, was the germ from which sprang the present Poland Union Seminary. After being continued at the same location for about six years, the school was removed to a more commodius building, a three story brick edifice, 60x80 feet, on a near-by site, the management having in view at the time a prospective endowment from the Pittsburg and Erie annual Methodist Episcopal conference. As only a portion of the sum expected was secured by the conference, it never became available and the school became dependent upon the tuition fees from students and contributions from 220 - HISTORY OF MAHONING COUNTY the citizens. The first building, erected by Mr. Lee, was purchased by Judge Hayden and M. A. King Esq., and used by them for a law school. This school, however, was subsequently removed to Cleveland. The "Institute" or college, as it is now called, struggled along until 1862, being kept up only by the earnest efforts of the citizens, and the indefatigable exertions of Mr. Lee, until in the year just mentioned the religious denominations of the town united and raised funds for the benefit of the institution, which was at that time chartered as Poland Union Seminary. In 1871 an effort was made to secure an endowment of $15,000, from the Presbytery of Mahoning county. Mr. Lee was appointed the financial agent of the presbytery, into whose control the school was to pass when $10,000 had been secured. Mr. Lee's canvass was successful and the school passed into the hands of the presbytery, close affiliation, however, being maintained with other religious organizations. Five thousand dollars was subsequently added to the endowment by a bequest of Mr. George P. Miller, now deceased. Among the students have been many young men and women who have filled important and responsible positions, including the late President William McKinley. Miss Ida M. Tarbell, the well known authoress and magazine writer, was formerly an instructor at the Seminary. About ten years ago one of the brick partitions in the old building gave way, .rendering the building unsafe. It was therefore razed, and a new two story brick building of smaller dimensions erected on the site of the old building. Two teachers are employed, with an occasional third assistant. The school aims to fit its pupils for college, or to become teachers in the public schools. There are from thirty to fifty students in attendance. The present principal, T. S. Orr, has had charge of the school for several years. Other recent principals have been H. J. Clark, Rev. William Dickson, D. D., W. B. McCarthy, Walter :Houston, and Harvey Gault. POLAND TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS. The early schools of Poland were very much the same as those in other parts of the county. A small log school house was started as early as 1801. Another school was started in Struthers at an early date. At Poland Center there was a small school house, that in early days had an average of about forty scholars. On special occasions, such as singing school or other meetings, it was made to accommodate one hundred. Among the early teachers were Perly Brush, Rev. Mr. Cook and James Anderson. The present superintendent, M. A. Kimmel, took charge of the public schools of Poland village in April, 1880. At that time there were two teachers employed. A third teacher was added to the force at the beginning of the winter term in 1880. In 1882 and 1883 a four room brick building was constructed at a cost of $10,000, including furniture. In 1884 the schools were graded and a fourth teacher was employed. In 1888 a three years' high school course was added, and a fifth teacher was secured. The attendance is from 125 to 160. The high school numbers from fifteen to twenty students. Fifty-two graduates in all have gone out from the institute. Miss Lizzie McNabb, afterward Mrs. J. R. Stewart, for fourteen years a most successful and beloved teacher, died about ten years ago. LOWELLVILLE. Lowellville is a thriving village situated on both sides of the Mahoning river, in Poland township, and with picturesque hills on either hand. It has excellent transportation facilities, both steam and electric, being on the lines of the Pennsylvania Railroad, the Pittsburg & Lake Erie, the Baltimore & Ohio, and the Ma-honing Valley Electric Railway Co. Its growth began at about the time of the completion of the Pennsylvania and Ohio canal, and was much accelerated by the mining of coal, and by the erection of the Lowellville furnace by Wilkinson, Wilkes & Co. in 1846. The village had AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 221 been laid out about ten years previously by Mr. Wick and others. In 1840 the postoffice was established, with S. H. McBride as the first postmaster. John McGill built the first gristmill in the place, and Robert McGill was proprietor of the first sawmill. A larger gristmill was erected in 1838 by William Watson and John S. Hunter, and was operated by them until 1866, when is passed into other hands. The Hope flourmill was established by James Brown about 1857 and after his death came into possession of and was conducted by his heirs. A tannery was started by Wilson and Crawford about 1844, and was rebuilt two years later by William Moore, who carried on the business until 1874, after which it went out of operation. The Mt. Nebo coal mine was opened about 1828 by Elijah Stevenson, and subsequently passed through various hands, at one time being extensively worked by the Lowellville Furnace Company to obtain coal for use in their iron works. It was finally abandoned because the water became too deep for successful operations. Other mines have been successfully worked at different times in the history of the village. The Lowell Coal Mining Company, employing about thirty-five men, are now engaged in the mining of block coal, their output being about seventy tons per day. Jacob Stambaugh is president and C. N. Clingen secretary and treasurer. The Meehan Boiler and Construction Company was organized in 1897 by Robert Gray, Patrick, Paul, and James Meehan, and John Meehan, a nephew of the other three Meehans. The business, which is incorporated with a capital stock of $50,000 was at first a partnership, and was known as the Meehan Boiler Co. The five partners purchased the present site of their factory, upon which stood an old sawmill, which they also purchased together with the creamery which stood on the adjacent lot. They at first employed about 25 or 3o men, which number has since been increased to 200. Their principal output is the Meehan boiler, but in addition they do a great deal of iron and steel construction work, including the building of blast furnaces, the business amounting to about $200,000 per year. The present officers of the company are, Patrick Meehan, president; Robert Gray, vice-president and general manager ; James Meehan, Jr., secretary and treasurer. The Ohio Iron & Steel Company, of Lowellville was established about 1842, by Wilkinson, Wilkes & Co., and was the first furnace in the United States to smelt iron ore with raw coal. In 1879 Henry Wick made an examination of the furnace plant located at Lowellville, then owned by William McCreary, the estate of Thomas Bell, and J. S. Dillworth, at which time an option was taken on the property, and later the plant was purchased. The organization was effected with directors and officers as follows : Directors—Paul Wick, John C. Wick, Myron C. Wick, Thomas H. Wells, Henry Wick and Robert .Bentley. March 11, 1880, the following officers were elected : Thomas H. Wells, president ; Henry Wick, vice-president ; Robert Bentley, secretary and treasurer. The executive committee was Thomas H. Wells, Henry Wick and Myron C. Wick. The present officers are, Robert Bentley, president and general manager ; David Davis, secretary ; Fred H. Wick, treasurer. The directors are, Robert Bentley, Myron C. Wick, Samuel Mather, John C. Wick, W. S. McCombs, David Davis., F. H. Wick, T. F. Woodman, and Richard Garlick. The company is extensively engaged in the manufacture of Bessemer pig iron. About 180 men being employed. The Lowellville Savings and Banking Company was incorporated March 8, 1906, with a capital of $30,000, the company taking over the business of the Lowellville Bank, which had been founded in 1905 by a few New Castle (Pennsylvania) capitalists. The Bessemer Limestone Company, whose plant is situated. just outside the limits, are engaged in the quarrying of limestone for furnace use and ballast, having a capacity of 5,000 tons per day. They employ about 500 men. 222 - HISTORY OF MAHONING COUNTY SCHOOLS. Lowellville is a special school district, with two schools. W. C. Dickson is the present clerk of the Board of Education. The North Side school is the larger, having eight rooms. The principal is D. W. Mumaw, with Auley McAuley as assistant. There are besides four other teachers, Misses Ibbie Dickson, Lizzie Houston, Maude Lotz and Clara Elliott. The South Side School, which has two rooms, is taught by Margaret McCabe and Edith Ferguson. CHURCHES. Lowellville has now four churches, the Catholic, Methodist Episcopal, Presbyterian, and Christian. The two last named having no regular pastor, the Methodish church being supplied from Youngstown, and the Christian church from Warren. Holy Rosary Mission Church.—The erection of a Catholic church at Lowellville was first proposed about 1867, some twenty Catholic families having taken up their residence in the place, owing to the building of the Ashtabula & Pittsburg Railroad, and also the starting of a furnace. The foundation was begun in 1868, but owing to the failure of the above named furnace most of the Catholics left Lowellville, and the building of the church was indefinitely postponed. It was not resumed until 1882, when the village began to revive from its long period of financial depression, the furnace was reopened and two new railroads were commenced. Father Franche then took up the work commenced in 1868, collecting funds along the railroads, at the furnaces, and in the neighboring stone quarries. The church was built in 1884. It is a neat brick structure, 26x56 feet. Mass was celebrated in it for the first time Christmas day, 1884. It was dedicated August 15, 1888, by Mgr. F. M. Boff, V. G. Father P. F. Obyrne is the present pastor. The origin of the Lowellville Presbyterian church is found in the Free Presbyterian church, which was organized by Abolitionists. who were dissatisfied with the attitude of the Presbyterian church on the subject of slavery. It was the first congregation of that denomination organized in this vicinity, and was attended by the anti-slavery people of Poland, Mt. Jackson, New Bedford, Coitsville, and the intermediate country. The first meetings at Lowellville were held by Rev. John D. Whitham, in the summer of 1848, in the old McGillsville school-house, on Jackson street. In the winter of 1848 the place of meeting was changed to Liggett's warehouse, on Canal street, and early in 1849 the church was organized. Rev. John. D. Whitham was the first minister. James S. Moore and John M. Porter were the first elders, and Elias King, John McFarland and James S. Moore were the first trustees. On February 5, 1850, the present site was purchased from James Duncan, and the church building was raised May 9, 1850. Rev. Whit-ham continued as pastor from 1849 to 1857. Rev. W. Bushnell was stated supply for six months, and was succeeded by Rev. J. C. Bingham, stated supply, from October, 1858, to December, 1864, after which a Rev. Mr. McElhaney was stated supply until the disbandment of the Free Church, on the adoption of the Fourteenth amendment to the Constitution of the United States. In 1865 or 1866 most of the Lowellville congregation united with the new school branch of the Presbyterian church, North, and were placed under the jurisdiction of the Pittsburg Presbytery. The Rev. J. Franklin Hill was pastor for two or three years during the time that the congregation was under the jurisdiction of the New School Presbyterian church. He was followed by a Rev. Mr. Johnston, stated supply, after which all religious services by this denomination ceased until 1876, when the church was revived and reorganized by Rev. Mr. Wishart. Rev. J. C. Kreusch was stated supply from June of that year until 1882, and was followed by Rev. J. H. Jones, from April, 1883, to April, 1884. In 1884 the church again became dormant. A Union Sunday-school by Presbyterians was, however, continued until 1888, when it was AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS - 223 divided, part going to the Methodist church and part remaining in the Presbyterian church and becoming the Sabbath school of the present congregation, which may be said to date from the revival and reorganization of 1888. In this year revival meetings were held and the church greatly strengthened and built up. Rev. Robert Stranahan was stated supply from April, 1889, to April, 1893, and was followed in 189 by Elmer E. Patterson who continued for two years. During his charge the old church building was practically rebuilt and refurnished and many new members received into the church. Just as the improvements were finished the building was wrecked by a storm, but Was immediately repaired and fitted up as it now stands. In 1895 the Sunday school was reorganized on its present basis, with Mr. D. A. Pence as its first superintendent, who continued in office until 1901. June 3, 1896, the congregation was incorporated under the style of "The First Presbyterian Church at Lowellville, Ohio," the first meeting of the members of the corporation being held in the Town Hall, June 18, 1896, when the corporation was organized and a temporary board of trustees chosen. In October, 1896, all the real estate and property of the conregation was transferred to the congregation. Rev. James W. Harvey became regular pastor, May 18, 1897, of the Lowellville and Coitsville congregations, at which time the church had a membership of sixty-seven. During his pastorate a large number were received into the church. The present pastor is W. D. Harrell. The Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor was organized in 1897 with Mr. W. B. Moore as its first president. The Woman's Missionary Society came into existence in 1897; Mrs. Jane McCombs was its first president. Both societies have done good and effective work along the lines for which they were organized. Lowellville has a Volunteer Fire Department, established in 1903, and consisting of twenty-five men. A. E. Schrader, police-officer, serves also as chief of the fire department. The present mayor is Thomas F. Varley. STRUTHERS. John Struthers, from whom this village is named, arrived October 19, 1799, from Washington county, Pennsylvania, and bought land on which a large part of the village of Struthers is now situated, which he converted. into a farm. He was accompanied by his family, and in 1801 became the father of a son, Ebenezer, who was the first white male child. born in the township. 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 also engaged with Mr. Montgomery in building and operating a blast furnace on the same creek, a short distance from its mouth, which was operated until the war of 1812. His son, Lieutenant Alexander Struthers, died at Detroit, in 1813, while in the service of his country. Two other sons, John and Thomas, were long respected residents of the community. An account of the early furnace above mentioned may be found the chapter on the coal and iron industries. In February, 1826, two daughters of John Struthers,. Drusilla and Emma, who were then residing. with their father in Coitsville, were drowned while attempting to cross the Mahoning river, near the mouth of Yellow Creek, in a skiff, being carried over the dam, owing, it was. thought, to a defective rowlock. The body of Emma, the younger daughter, was not found for six weeks afterwards. They were members of the United Presbyterian Church at Poland Center, and their tragic death, naturally cast a gloom over the community. MANUFACTURES. The Struthers Furnace Co. was established April 1, 1869, by Thomas Struthers, John Stambaugh, Thomas W. Kennedy, and John Stewart. Subsequently Daniel B. Stambaugh and H. T. Stewart were admitted as partners. The firm was known as "Struthers. 224 - HISTORY OF MAHONING COUNTY Iron Company," and was so operated until February 1, 1882, at which time the plant was sold to the Brown-Bonnell Iron Co. In 1896 another change of ownership was made, the plant coming into the possession and tinder the control of "The Struthers Iron Company." The company also has a plant in Struthers which manufactures cements for all kinds of concrete and similar work. The Morgan Spring Company, of Struthers, was organized in 1905, with a capital stock of $700,000. In the main factory at Struthers are manufactured wire rods, wire nails, staples, and other wire articles. About 250 men are employed at the works. The J. A. and D. P. Cooper Co. was established, in 1888, by J.A. and D. P. and John Cooper, the last named being an uncle of the two first partners mentioned, all being residents of Coitsville. In 1892 the concern was incorporated with a capital stock of $50,000. The directors include the officers of the company with the addition of Charles R. Trues-dale. The company is engaged in the manufacture of carriage gear-woods and ironed parts, its product being shipped to all parts of the United States and Canada. The works give employment to about 100 men. The Struthers Savings & Banking Company was established in July, 1902, with a capital stock of $50,000, paid in. The company, which is in a prosperous condition, owns its own building, a brick structure, 33x80 feet and two stories high, the upper floors being used for lodge purposes by the Knights of Pythias and other fraternal orders. SCHOOLS. The Struthers school district embraces, besides the village, a small portion of the country territory, but all the school buildings are located in the village. Of these there are now five, four being small buildings of a single room each that have long been in use. The other is a large, new brick building of eight commodius rooms, which is just being completed at a cost of $40,000. Upon its occupation, two of the other school buildings will be continued in use, and probably three of them, thus furnishing ample accommodations to the scholars in the district. The school en-numeration shows a total of 750 pupils, while the actual school enrollment is about 500. The new building will be used as a high school, besides, including the common grades. Two, and possibly four, new teachers will be engaged this fall (1907). W. P. Moody is the superintendent. St. Nicholas Mission Church (Catholic).—Struthers was first attended as a station, from 1865 to 1870, by Rev. J. J. Begel from New Bedford, Pennsylvania. In 1870 a lot was secured, and on it the present frame church was built, in 1871, by the Rev. H. D. Best, then resident pastor of St. Joseph's church, Youngstown. The Rev. P. McCaffrey, of Brier Hill, was the next priest in charge of the Mission, until April, 1872. He was succeeded by the Rev. F. J. Henry, who also attended it from Brier Hill until November of the same year. It was attached to St. Columba's, Youngstown, for some months in 1873, and later again to St. Joseph's, Youngstown, whence it was visited monthly. In July, 1881, the Rev. N. J. Franche, chaplain of the convent at Villa Maria, Pennsylvania, was given charge of Struthers as a Mission. In October, 1888, Struthers was made a mission of the church at Haselton (now Sacred Heart church, Youngstown) and has been attended since then by Rev. G. Leeming. The Poland United Presbyterian Church, at Struthers, was founded as long ago as 1804, the first church building being erected about 1812. About 1830 the original building gave place to a brick structure, which in turn was superseded by the present structure in 1849. All these buildings were located first at Poland Center, the present building having been taken clown and removed to Struthers in 1884. The church has a membership of 240; Rev. J. A. C. McQuiston is pastor. Other officers are as follows : Members of session—Alexander Gault, H. T. Cowden, Edward Ryan, John J. Hill, Edward Robinson and D. H. Stewart ; trustees—E. C. Harris, John L. Becker, John Shafer and R. M. Cooper;