(RETURN TO THE MAHONING AND TRUMBULL COUNTIES INDEX) 450 - YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY the members met in the old courthouse, in private homes and in the old Academy Building, but in 1836 a movement was begun for a church building and on November 9, 1837, this structure was dedicated. This church stood on the high river bank at what is now the west end of Franklin Street. Benjamin Stevens, A. Van Gorder, A. R. Reeves, Isaac Van Gorder and George Hapgood were the building committee. Until this time services had been conducted by lay members and visiting ministers, but in 1839 the Warren Church was made a station with Rev. L. D. Mix as attendant. Membership increased steadily, if not rapidly, and in 1857-58 it was found necessary to remodel the old church building. Ten years later, on March 15, 1868, the church was formally incorporated as the First Methodist Episcopal Church, with Albert Van Gorder, Allison Chew, Benjamin Crannage, B. P. Jameson, William Hap- TOD AVENUE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH good, George Van Gorder, William A. Ernest, Albert Wheeler and J. M. Stull as incorporators. About the same time it was decided that a new church was necessary and on March 30, 1868, a building lot was purchased in High Street and plans were made for church construction. On March 28, 1873, the last service was held in the old church and in June, 1874, the new church was dedicated, the service being conducted by Rev. B. I. Ives, D. D., of Auburn, New York. This edifice, complete, cost $55,000, a great amount of money for that day, and the burden on the congregation was rendered greater when the cyclone of 1878 tore the roof from the building and damaged the auditorium until it had to be practically rebuilt. The structure sufficed, however, for more than forty years, or until the present church building in North Park Avenue was built in 1915. This is probably the finest of Warren church edifices. The First Methodist Episcopal Church is now one of the leading religious organizations of Warren. Rev. A. B. Salmon is pastor. YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY - 451 The Tod Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church congregation was formed in 1897 by members of the First Church. In 1898 B. F. Wonders, R. P. McClennan, A. R. Moore, C. L. Bailey, A. F. Spear and J. F. Wilson, church trustees, purchased a church site at Tod Avenue and Buckeye Street, construction work was begun immediately and in August, 1898, the church building was dedicated. Rev. L. W. LePage had been named pastor of the congregation soon after its organization in 1897. In May, 1912, the old church building was removed and the same year construction of a much larger edifice was begun. This building was dedicated in 1913. Rev. S. E. Sears is the present pastor of the church. CHRISTIAN The Central Christian Church of Warren is an outgrowth of the First Baptist Church, and its early history is the history of that church. In 1821 Rev. Adamson Bentley of the Baptist Church became interested in the teachings of Alexander Campbell, and seven years later the evolution from Baptist to Christian, or Disciples, church began with revival services held at Warren by Walter Scott, in January, 1828. Reverend Bentley and all but six members of the Baptist Church accepted the new teachings and within three months there were 127 baptisms, giving the church a membership of almost 200. Apparently this was considered a Baptist congregation until about 1841 or 1842. In the latter year Alexander Campbell visited Warren and the Disciples faith was firmly established. Cyrus Bosworth and 0ther elders served the congregation after 1831, and in 1846 Rev. John T. Smith came as resident pastor. Rev. J. W. Lamphear had been engaged in 1843, but returned to Lisbon, although he later served Warren. The old Baptist Church building had been retained by the Disciples, but on June 16, 1880, a modern church building in High Street was dedicated under the pastorate of Rev. E. B. Wakefield. This building has recently been entirely remodeled. The Christian Church is a religious organization of exceptional strength in Warren and its congregations are large and flourishing. Rev. Walter Mansell is the present pastor of the Central Church. The Second Christian Church was formed from the Central, or parent church, in 1905 and preparations were begun immediately for building. The cornerstone of the new church was laid on October 21, 1906, and on April 04, 1907, the edifice was dedicated. This young congregation soon found itself out of debt and vying with the older organization in strength. The church building has recently been remodeled and modernized. Rev. F. W. Brown is pastor. ROMAN CATHOLIC Members of the Catholic faith began to come to Warren in numbers about 1835, and in 1837 Rev. Patrick O'Dwyer of Cleveland visited them and held the first services of this church. Father O'Dwyer continued to come at intervals until 1839, between 1839 and 1846 Warren was unat- 452 - YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY tended, and from 1846 to 1849 Rev. James Conlan, resident pastor at Dungannon, Columbiana County, visited regularly, Warren being one of his stations. From 1856 to 1868 Warren was attended by priests from Randolph, Akron, Summitville and Youngstown. For many years Mass was read in private homes, and during one summer in the open air in Freeman's ST. MARY'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH woods, but in 1864 Rev. E. M. 0 Callaghan of Youngstown purchased two lots at Park Avenue and Franklin Street and remodeled the Episcopal Church that stood on one of these lots, this building being used for church purposes for thirty-five years thereafter. In April, 1868, Rev. E. J. Conway was appointed the first resident. pastor. For the next eight years the Warren Church, then Our Lady of Mount Carmel parish, had a resident priest part of the time and was YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY - 453 attended during the remaining time from Niles. Since then there has been a resident pastor except for a short time in 1886. In July, 1886, Rev. Ambrose A. Weber was appointed parish priest and under his fifteen years' of ministration the church thrived notably. The church and parish house were remodeled, a cemetery laid out and in 1900 Father Weber purchased the present church site at High and Seneca streets. In July, 1901, Father Weber was succeeded by Rev. P. C. N. Dwyer, and under Father Dwyer ground was broken for a new church in 1902. Construction of a parochial residence was also begun, and in June, 1907, St. Mary's Church was dedicated. Father Weber also purchased a school site in 1900, and under the ministrations of his successor and those of Rev. C. J. Moseley, the present parish priest, St. Mary's has flourished. REFORMED First services of the Reformed Church were held in Warren about 1841 by Rev. Nathan Paltzorff, the McFarland Block at Park Avenue and South Street being engaged for this purpose. Reverend Paltzorff remained but a short time, but returned in 1846 and resumed services in the King Block in Main Street, the church being regularly organized at this time. In 1848 a lot was purchased in Vine Street and a church building was erected, but later Reverend Paltzorff became identified with the English Evangelical Synod, a great part of the congregation going with him. The church building remained in possession of the new congregation, but services became irregular and in 1866 the building was sold to the Lutherans and to the members of the Reformed Church who had held to the old faith. In the fire of 1868 this building was destroyed and the members of the Reformed Church held services in the basement of the Baptist Church. For a time the church suffered by the defection to the Evangelical Synod, the dissolution of the joint arrangement with the Lutherans and the destruction of the church building, but later revived in membership. The present First Reformed Church building, located in East Market Street and built in 1912, is one of the most attractive church edifices in Warren. Rev. R. W. Bloemker is the pastor. LUTHERAN Lutheran services were held in Warren in the early '40s at least, and in 1866 the members of this denomination united with the Reformed Church in purchasing the old Reformed Church building in Vine Street, a structure that they used jointly. Previous to this services had been held in the old Empire Hall and in the basement of the Baptist Church. The building used jointly by the two congregations burned in 1868, but was rebuilt by the Lutherans and used solely by this congregation thereafter. On October 23, 1870, St. Paul's Lutheran Church was reg- 454 - YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY ularly organized by Rev. H. Shultz, having a membership of about sixty. Rev. John Bauch came that year as the first pastor, remaining until 1873, when he was succeeded by Rev. R. Schmidt. Rev. F. C. Snyder is the present pastor. The Emanuel Evangelical Lutheran congregation was founded on February 4, 1912, being organized under the leadership of Rev. F. R. Sutter. The church building at Buckeye and Cherry streets was built soon afterwards, and dedicated on April 6, 1913. Rev. R. H. Long, the first pastor, was succeeded by Rev. Charles L. Rush, present head of the congregation. The Finnish Lutheran congregation was founded about fifteen years ago and has a new church building, located in Clinton Street. Rev. Ever Maatala is pastor. UNITED EVANGELICAL Evangelical Church services were first held in Warren about 1850 but eventually this congregation went out of existence, most of the members becaming identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church. Later many younger members of the rural churches began to locate in Warren, and at the Ohio conference of the United Evangelical Church at Akron in September, 1902, a committee consisting of Rev. S. E. Rife, Rev. T. R. Smith, Rev. J. A. Grimm, M. B. Templin, G. W. Ripple, Heman W. Masters and Levi Beaver was named to select a church site in Warren. A location was picked in Belmont Avenue, but before the church was built a meeting was held in the Mercer Street school building on May 21, 1903, when the church was organized under the direction of Rev. H. D. Shultz. In July ground was broken for the church and the building was dedicated on November 22, 1903, by Bishop R. Dubs of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, as Grace United Evangelical Church, Reverend Shultz remaining as pastor until 1905. Rev. F. A. Firestone is the present pastor. UNITED BRETHREN The United Brethren Church of Warren was organized in 1909 and a temporary tabernacle erected in which to hold services. On Easter Sunday, 1911, a start was made toward raising funds for a permanent church building and more than $2,500 was subscribed and pledged. A site was selected in North Park Avenue, the dwelling house removed to the rear for parsonage purposes and on June I, 1911, ground was broken. The cornerstone was laid on August 27, 1911, and in April, 1912, the church was formally dedicated under the pastorate of Rev. John Pringle. The congregation is a growing one, with Rev. E. L. Ortt as the present pastor. Reverend Jones was the organizer and first pastor of the church. The United Presbyterian Church of Warren is located in Market Street, this church structure having been erected but a few years ago. Rev. J. I. Wherry is pastor. YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY - 455 The Hebrew congregation was organized about fifteen years, and after worshiping in temporary quarters for some time now has a temple in First Street. Rabbi Samuel Greenstein is pastor of this congregation. Other religious bodies include the Free Methodist Church, 212 Oak Street, Rev. C. W. Smith, pastor ; First Church of Christ, Scientist, reading room and meeting hall in Hippodrome. Building; Rumanian Greek Orthodox Church, 104 South Vine Street, Octavian Muresan, pastor; Christian and Missionary Alliance, South Pine Street ; Pentecostal Mission, Market Street; International Bible Students, Market Street; Warren Bible School Mission, South Park Avenue, and the Transcendant Church. The Grace African Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1874 by Rev. J. F. Lee and is now a good-sized congregation. This or ganization has a church building in Market Street and is under the ministry of Rev. M. L. Gordon. PROFESSIONS As the business center of a great territory in the early days of Ohio, Warren ranked high in all professions, but it was in the profession of the law that it shone with especial splendor. This is not surprising, since it was originally the capital of a small empire and the center to which all the great men of this profession from Northeastern Ohio gravitated. The Trumbull County bar of early days was famed in itself,, but even from outside Trumbull came men like Giddings and Wade, Peter Hitchcock and Andrew W. Loomis to practice there. Benjamin Tappan and Edwin M. Stanton practiced at Warren in their early years, James A. Garfield appeared there in later times. The Trumbull County bar produced one governor of Ohio, Jacob Dolson Cox, and six justices of the Supreme Court of the state, Calvin Pease, Matthew Birchard, Rufus P. Spaulding; Rufus P. Ranney, Milton Sutliff and William T. Spear, while Judge George Tod was elected to the same bench when Youngstown was still in Trumbull County. John Stark Edwards, first Trumbull County lawyer and probably the first lawyer on the Western Reserve, was born at New Haven, Connecticut, August 23, 1777, a son of Pierpont Edwards and Frances Ogden Edwards. His father was one of the original members of the Connecticut Land Company. Graduating at Princeton in 1796, he studied law, was admitted to the bar at New Haven in the spring of 1799, and left soon after for Warren, where he arrived in June, 1799. He later repaired to Mesopotamia Township, which was owned by his father, and cleared ground and erected a cabin there, but practiced his profession a great deal of the time at Warren and finally located there permanently in 1804. He was one of the attorneys for Joseph McMahon, defendant in the first trial in Trumbull County, in September, 1800. In March, 1811, he was commissioned lieutenant-colonel in command of the Second Regiment, Third Brigade, Fourth Division, Ohio Militia and marched with his regiment to Cleveland when the Trumbull 456 - YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY County troops responded to the call to war in the summer of 1812. In October, 1812, he was elected to Congress from the Sixth Ohio District, comprising all Northeastern Ohio, the first resident of the Western Reserve to attain this honor. In January, 1813, he set out for Put-in-Bay on a business mission, started back from Lower Sandusky before completing his- journey and was taken ill on the road. He died on February 22, 1813. On February 28, 1807, John S. Edwards was married, at Springfield, Vermont, to Louisa Maria Morris, daughter of General Lewis Morris. They had three children, but one of whom, William J. Ed wards, long a prominent Youngstown man, grew to mature years. In 1814 Mrs. Edwards was married to Major Robert Montgomery, by whom she had three children, Robert, Mrs. Caroline Hazeltine and Mrs. Ellen Louisa Hine. Calvin Pease was born at Suffield, Hartford County, Connecticut, September 9, 1776. He located at Youngstown in 1800, was admitted to the bar at Warren the same year and located at Warren in 1803. He was elected clerk of the first court of Trumbull County in August, 1890, and named by the Legislature president judge of the Court of Common Pleas for the Third Circuit, serving until 1810. Judge Pease was elected to the State Senate in 1812, named judge of the Supreme Court of Ohio in 1816 and elected to the Lower House of the State Legislature in 1831. He died September 17, 1839. Thomas Denny Webb, born at Windham, Connecticut, May TO, 1784, a son of Peter and Tamasin Denny Webb, located at Warren in 1807. In 1812 he established the Trump of Fame, the first newspaper on the Western Reserve, in 1813 was named collector of internal revenue for the Eighth District, and in 1832 was a candidate for Congress against Elisha Whittlesey. He practiced law at Warren until 1857 and died on March 7, 1865, leaving two children, Adaline and Laura, the latter the wife of Dr. Warren Iddings. Mrs. Webb was Betsey Stanton and was married to Mr. Webb on. January 13, 1813. Matthew Birchard was born at Becket, Massachusetts, January 19, 1804. In 1812 he settled in Windham Township with his father, read law with General Roswell Stone, was admitted to the bar in 1827 and entered into partnership with David Tod. He was postmaster of Warren from 1829 to 1833, president judge of the Court of Common Pleas, 1833 to 1836, solicitor of the general land office at Washington for the next three years and solicitor of the treasury department until 1841. He was justice of the Supreme Court of Ohio from 1842 to 1849 and in 1853 was elected to Congress as a Democrat from a strongly Whig district. Thereafter he practiced law at Warren until his death on June 16, 1876. General Roswell Stone, born at Burlington, Hartford County, Connecticut, in 1794, graduated at Yale in 1817 and located at Warren in 1822. He was prosecuting attorney of Trumbull County in 1833-34, securing the conviction of the only murderer ever hanged in the county. He died in 1834. Judge Milton Sutliff was one of four brothers, all of whom became YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY - 457 noted Trumbull County lawyers. Born in Vernon Township on October 16, 1806, he graduated from Western Reserve College in 1833 and began the practice of law in 1834. A pronounced anti-slavery man, he early affiliated with the Free Soil party and was elected to the State Senate in 1850. He became a Republican on the organization of that party, was elected a justice of the State Supreme Court in 1857 and attended the convention of 1860 that nominated Abraham Lincoln. He was a vigorous supporter of the Civil war, but in 1872 left the Republican party, TRUMBULL COUNTY COURTHOUSE supported Horace Greeley and was a Democratic candidate for Congress against General Garfield. He died on April 24, 1878. Calvin Sutliff was born in Vernon on April 17, 1808, admitted to the bar at Warren and practiced there until his death in 1802. Levi Sutliff formed a partnership at Warren with Judge Matthew Birchard. He died in 1864. Flavel Sutliff, the fourth of the lawyer brothers, died when a young man. Rufus P. Spaulding, born 0n the Island of Martha's Vineyard in 1799, graduated from Yale, was admitted to the bar and came to Warren. I [ere he taught school and practiced law, becoming famed in his profession and being elected judge of the Supreme Court of Ohio in 1849. In 1852 he located at Cleveland and in 1862 was elected to Congress. He lied at Cleveland. 458 - YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY Rufus P. Ranney was born in Hampden County, Massachusetts, October 30, 1813, came to Portage County with his father in 1824, read law with Giddings and Wade and was admitted to the bar in 1836. He practiced law for several years at Jefferson but removed to Warren in 1845. He was the Democratic candidate for Congress in 1842, 1846 and 1848, member of the state constitutional convention of 1851 and justice of the Supreme Court from 1851 to 1856. After 1856 he practiced law at Cleveland. Judge Ezra B. Taylor was born at Nelson, Portage County, July 9, 1823, read law, was admitted to the bar in 1845, located at Ravenna in 1847 and in 1849 was married to Harriett M. Frazier. He was named prosecuting attorney of Portage County in 1854 and in 1862 remoVed to Warren. In 1864 he enlisted in the One Hundred and Seventy-First Ohio National Guard and on his return home was elected colonel of his regiment. In 1877 he was appointed to succeed Judge Francis Servis and in 1878 was elected to this office. On August 12, 1880, he was nominated for Congress by the Republicans of the Nineteenth District to succeed James A. Garfield, elected and served twelve years, or from 1881 to 1893 Gen. John Crowell was born in Connecticut in 1801, educated and read law at Warren and was, admitted to the bar in 1827. He was elected to the State Senate in 1840, to Congress in 1848 and in 1852 removed to Cleveland. Philo E. Reed was a native of Hartford, born there on June 20, 1831. He was admitted to the bar in 1854, practiced for a short time and removed to Illinois. He was killed while .serving in the Union army. Ira L. Fuller was born in Broome County, New York, in 1816, came to Brookfield with his parents in 1833, was admitted to the bar and twice elected prosecuting attorney of Trumbull County. He died on October 16, 1864. Thomas Jefferson McLain was born in Huntington County, Pennsylvania, in 1801, located in Warren in 1830 and was admitted to the bar in 1842. He was a newspaper publisher, postmaster, mayor of Warren and banker as well as lawyer, a man-of varied pursuits. Judge George M. Tuttle was born at Torrington, Litchfield County. Connecticut, on June 19, 1815, located in Ashtabula County in 1838 and was admitted to the bar in 1841. He was elected judge of the Common Pleas Court in 1866 and afterward practiced law with F. E. Hutchinson. John Hutchins was born in Vienna on July 25, 1812, admitted to the bar in 1838, was clerk of courts from 1839 to 1844, an avowed anti-slavery man, member of Congress from 1859 to 1863 and active in recruiting for the army. In 1868 he removed to Cleveland. Gen. Robert W. Ratliff was born June 30, 1822, in Howland Township. Admitted to the bar in 1846, he taught school, engaged in banking, and practiced law until 1861, when he enlisted in the Union army. In August, 1861, he was made lieutenant-colonel of the Second Ohio Cavalry and was mustered out in 1865 as a brigadier-general. In 1867 he resumed the practice of law at Warren. YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY - 459 Gen. Jacob Dolson Cox was born at Montreal, Quebec, in 1828, the son of American parents. He graduated from Oberlin in 1851, located in Warren the same year, was admitted to the bar in 1854 and elected to he State Senate in 1859. In April, 1861, he abandoned peaceful pursuits to recruit an Ohio detachment for war service and on April 23, 1861, was commissioned a brigadier-general of Ohio Volunteers: He was subsequently made a major-general, and while still in the field, in October, 1865, was elected governor of Ohio on the Republican ticket. He declined re-election, was named Secretary of the Interior by President Grant but resigned and located in Cincinnati where he remained until his death. Judge Charles E. Glidden was a native of New Hampshire, where he was born on December 4, 1835. He located at Poland, was elected judge of the Court of Common Pleas in 1861 and again in 1866 and retired because of ill-health at the close of his second term. Whittlesey Adams was born at Warren, November 26, 1829, a son of Asahel Adams and Lucy Mygatt Adams. He was admitted to the bar in 1860, was paymaster in the United States army in 1864 and later became prominent in the insurance business at Warren. William T. Spear was born at Warren, June 3, 1833, admitted to the bar in 1858, elected prosecuting attorney of Trumbull County in 1871 and served two terms, was elected judge of the Court of Common Pleas in 1878 and elected to the Ohio Supreme Court in 1885. Other practitioners at the Trumbull County bar prior to the Civil war days were, John F. Beaver, Jonathan Ingersoll, Buel Barnes, Francis E. Hutchinson, Charles W. Smith, captain in the Civil war ; Nathan 0. Humphrey, admitted in 1838 and three times prosecuting attorney of the county; George W. Beet, James D. Tayler, Sidney W. Harris, Robert W. Tayler, later of Youngstown ; Col. Joel F. Asper, Gen. M. D. Leggett, William Porter, William 0. Forrest, George F. Brown, Joel B. Buttles, William L. Knight, Charles Olcott, David 0. Belden, Benjamin F. Curtis, George L. Wood, W. J. Bright, Orlando Morgan, Judge Joel W. Tyler, Azor Abell, Jefferson Palm, lawyer, writer, political leader, and man of parts ; C. A. Harrington, Albert Yeomans, Union soldier and probate judge ; John M. Stull, prosecuting attorney, mayor of Warren and one of its most public-spirited citizens for many years ; Lucian G. Jones, Riverius B. Barnes, E. H. Ensign and Homer Norton. Benjamin F. Hoffman, whose biography is given in connection with the Mahoning County bar, began the practice of law at Warren in 1836 as a partner of Judge George Tod. Shortly afterwards he entered into partnership with David Tod. He served as postmaster of Warren from 1838 to 1841 and was associated in practice until 1856 with Mr. Tod and with Matthew Birchard, John Hutchins and Gen. R. W. Ratliff. In 1856 he was elected common pleas judge, serving five years, acted as secretary to Governor Tod from 1862 to 1864 and in 1865 opened a law office at Youngstown. He removed to Youngstown in 1870 and remained there until 1886 when he located in California, dying at Pasadena in 1909, at ninety-six years of age. Many Canfield and Youngstown attorneys were practitioners at Warren until the division of the county in 1846. This step necessarily de- 460 - YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY tracted from the fame of the Trumbull County bar, but this loss has been more apparent than real for the high standard of the old days has been maintained. Not only is Warren well represented in the legal profession, but there is a good representation in all the other incorporated muncipalities of the county. The Trumbull County Bar Association was organized on July 26, 1879, with Judge George M. Tuttle as president ; Jefferson Palm, vice president ; F. D. McLain, secretary; Judge T. I. Gillmer, treasurer; Judge John M. Stull, C. A. Harrington and T. I. Gillmer, executive committee. This was an informal organization, and on January 19, 1920, the association was reorganized, Judge Charles M. Wilkins being elected president ; E. O. Dilley, vice president; A. O. Lea, secretary; A. E. Wonders, treasurer. The Trumbull County bar also has a Trumbull County Law Library Association with quarters in the courthouse where there is an excellent collection of legal works. MEDICINE Dr. John B. Harmon, whose biography is given more fully elsewhere in this work, was probably the first practitioner in the Warren neighborhood, although it was about 1807 before he located in Warren. Dr. John W. Seeley of Jefferson, Green County, Pennsylvania, located in Howland Township in 1801 and was virtually a Warren practitioner from that time forward. In the War of 1812 he attained the rank of general, practiced medicine again after the war, was an earnest promoter of the Pennsylvania-Ohio canal and died from an apoplectic stroke on the occasion of the celebration in connection with the canal. Dr. Enoch Leavitt was born on May 12, 1775, came to Warren in 1805 and practiced until his death in 1827. Dr. Sylvanus Seeley was born in Green County, Pennsylvania, in 1795, studied under his father in Howland Township, entered the War of 1812 as a surgeon's mate and practiced in Warren after the war. Doctor Seeley married a daughter of Col. George Jackson in 1814 and was the father of Mrs. Cyrus Van Gorder and George J. Seeley. Dr. Daniel B. Woods was born at Youngstown on November It, 1816, studied under Dr. John A. Packard at Austintown, received his degree from the Ohio Medical College and began practice at Warren in 184o. He became a famed Ohio surgeon and was one of the first in the state to use ether as an anaesthetic. He was also active in politics, having been a Democratic candidate for Congress three times. Doctor Woods married Phoebe L. Holliday of Warren in 1842, one of his sons, Dr. Dallas M. Woods, succeeding him in practice at Warren. Dr. John R. Woods was born at Youngstown in 1825, studied medicine under his brother, Dr. Daniel B. Woods, graduated from the Cleveland Medical College in 1850 and practiced at Warren. Dr. Warren Iddings was born at Warren on March 4, 1817, studied under Dr. Tracy Bronson at Newton Falls and Kuhn and Seeley at Warren, graduated from Ohio Medical College in 1844 and began the YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY - 461 practice of his profession at Warren. He married Laura Webb, daughter of Thomas D. Webb.   Dr. J. R. Nelson was born in Liberty Township in 1813, attended medical school in Cleveland, began practice at Garrettsville in 1844 and removed to Warren in 1847.   Dr. J. R. Van Gorder was born at Warren in 1825, a son of James L. Van Gorder. He studied under Dr. Sylvanus Seeley, attended lectures at the University of Pennsylvania and began practicing at Warren in 1852.   Dr. Frederick Bierce, who removed from Ashtabula County to Warren in 1861 ; Dr. Eben Blattsley, Doctor Kuhn, Dr. D. W. Jameson, Doctor Nichols and Dr. William Paine were early practitioners. Doctor Myers was a surgeon in General Sigel's division in the Civil war and   WARREN CITY HOSPITAL   located at Warren in 1862. Dr. L. Spear was born in Austintown in 1828, began practice in 1855, came to Warren in 1858 and accompanied the One Hundred and Seventy-First Ohio Volunteers to Sandusky in 1864.   Dr. Cyrus Metcalf began practice at Bristolville in 1846 after receiving a degree from Geneva Medical College, New York, and in 1866 located at Warren. Dr. H. A. Sherwood began practice in 1876 and Dr. C, S, Ward in the same year.   Since 1880 the number of physicians, surgeons and members of the dental profession has notably increased, accessions being especially rapid in the last ten years. Warren is the headquarters of the flourishing Trumbull County Medical Association, an organization of which Dr. W. W, McKay is now president and Dr. J. D. Knox, secretary.   Warren has a vigilant health board, a City Hospital and a Detention Hospital. The City Hospital was founded in 1938, this institution being   462 - YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY   made possible by generous donations from organizations and individuals of the city. The hospital was built at an original cost of $50,000 and has been increased in size as Warren has grown. It is maintained by receipts from pay patients together with a city appropriation each year.   The capacity of the institution is 85 beds, including medical, surgical and obstetrical. The hospital staff includes, Miss Mary Elizabeth Sur-bray, R. N., superintendent ; Miss Caroline M. Wilson, R. N., directress of nurses ; Miss Emily M. Valiquette; R. N., operating room supervisor; Miss Marie Marek, R. N., night supervisor; Miss Mary Hair, R. N., supervisor of surgical division ; Miss Pauline Tweeddale, R. N., laboratory technician ; Miss Marion Price, dietician ; Miss Margaret H. Kehler, medical statistician ; Miss Edna Fawcett, housekeeper ; Miss Dorla Trask, bookkeeper.   NEWSPAPERS   Warren has three newspapers, the Warren Chronicle and Warren Tribune, dailies, and the Western Reserve Democrat, weekly.   The first named takes precedence historically as the oldest newspaper on the Western Reserve. It was on Tuesday, June 9, 1812, that the first issue of the Trump of Fame was put out by Thomas D. Webb, with David Fleming as printer. Like most newspapers of that day it specialized in foreign and Washington news, yet in the War of 1812 it brought the first news of the declaration of hostilities to the Reserve and a little more than a year later was the first newspaper in America to announce Perry's victory on Lake Erie, a news "beat" seldom equaled.   In December, 1813, James White became associated with Webb, and a year later Webb was succeeded by Samuel Quinby. The paper was then sold to Fitch Bissell who, on October 4, 1816, changed the name to the Western Reserve Chronicle. In 1817 Samuel Quinby and Elihu Spencer became the publishers and in 1819 George Hapgood succeeded Spencer. Hapgood remained until 1841, Quinby, Otis Sprague, E. R. Thompson, William Quinby, John Crowell, Calvin Pease, Jr., and A. W. Parker being successively associated with him. Parker sold to E. D. Howard in 1853 and the Western Reserve Chronicle and the Western Reserve Transcript were merged under the name of the Chronicle and Transcript. James Dumars was associated with Howard for. a short time and Jacob Dolson Cox was for a time associate editor. In April, 1855, Comfort A. Adams and George N. Hapgood became proprietors and again made the paper the Western Reserve Chronicle. In February, 1861, the Trumbull Democrat became merged with the Chronicle and William Ritezel of the Democrat became associated with the Chronicle. Adams retired in 1865, Hapgood died the same year and Ritezel was sole editor and proprietor until 1877 when B. J. Taylor and F. M. Ritezel became associated with him, under the name of William Ritezel and Company. On the death of William Ritezel in 1901 the establishment reverted to Taylor and F. M. Ritezel. In 1905 F. S. Van Gorder purchased Mr. Taylor's interest and Mr. Ritezel and Mr. Van Gorder have   YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY - 463   since conducted the paper under the name of William Ritezel and Company Mr. Ritezel is editor and Mr. Van Gorder business manager.   In 1883 William Ritezel and Company launched the Warren Chronicle as the daily edition of the Western Reserve Chronicle. The latter is still published weekly, and in 1912 celebrated its one hundredth birthday anniversary. Today it can look back to the days when it was eagerly read in the War of 1812, the Mexican war, the Civil war, the Spanish-American war and the World war.   The Warren Tribune had its origin in the Canfield Herald, started at Canfield, then county seat of Mahoning County, in 1860. John Weeks, of Medina, was the founder of the paper. It had several owners within a few years and in 1872 became the Mahoning County News. In the spring of 1875 the News was purchased by Rev. W. S. Peterson who published it for more than a year. When Canfield lost the county seat in 1875 Rev. Peterson sought a more promising field and decided upon Warren. Removing there he made the paper the Warren Tribune and issued the first number in August, 1876. In 1891 the daily Tribune came into existence and the daily and weekly have been published since, the Tribune Company being the present operating concern. Mrs. Zell Hart Deming is publisher and has been a most successful one   The Warren Chronicle and Warren Tribune are both Republican papers.   The Western Reserve Democrat, weekly, was founded in 1883. Horace Holbrook is editor and publisher. The Trumbull Rural Associate is a weekly agricultural paper.   Warren has seen the rise and fall of several other newspapers. In 1830 the News-Letter was launched by T. J. McLain and J. G. McLain. It was a vigorous Andrew Jackson supporter. In 1839 it became the Trumbull Democrat and was published under this name until 1861 when it was united with the Western Reserve Chronicle.   The Trumbull County Whig was established in 1848. Later it became the Western Reserve Transcript and in 1854 was absorbed by the Chronicle. The Liberty Herald was launched in 1850 and survived but a short time. The Warren Constitution was established in 1862 by Jefferson Palm and was published for many years. The Warren Record, like the Constitution, was a Democratic paper and was founded in 1876 with S. B. Palm as editor.   WARREN PUBLIC LIBRARY   Having been at all times a seat of learning and culture it is not surprising that Warren should have been a pioneer in library work, or that it should have today one of the best libraries found in Ohio in a city of this size.   The Warren Public Library had its inception in the "Trumbull Library," founded in 1814 with ',c00 volumes of history and biography, the library room being located in the first floor of the White and Spear cabinet shop in Mahoning Avenue. In 1848 the Warren Library Association was founded by Jacob Perkins, Dr Julian Harmon, Orlando Mor-   464 - YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY   gan, Judge G. M. Tuttle and others, the books were turned over to this association and library quarters were fitted up en the second floor of the Van Gorder block with George Van Gorder as librarian.   The enterprise was too large for Warren of that day and in 1854 the library was suspended. It had at this time 2,000 volumes, and on suspension these were sold. Twenty-three years later, in 1877, the library association was revived with Professor E. F. Moulton as president and Dr. Julian Harmon as secretary and a number of books were gathered together and placed in Dr. Harmon's office. On July 18, 1888, the present Warren Library Association was formed at a meeting of fifteen persons in P. L. Webb's office, the call being sent out by President Moulton. The   WARREN PUBLIC LIBRARY   294 volumes then in the library were removed to Mr. Webb's office in the Opera House Block and the library opened to the public with Mr. Webb as librarian. The dues for library association membership were one dollar a year at this time, and following this reorganization a lecture course series was arranged to extend over the next five years as a means of raising library funds. In August, 1890, the library association was incorporated and Marshall Woodford was elected president, B. J. Taylor, vice president ; 0. L. Wolcott, treasurer ; T. D. Oviatt, secretary and librarian. In 1895 an income of $515 a year for five years was obtained by individual subscriptions and on April 1, 1898, the institution became a free public library, library quarters being fitted up in the west room on the first floor of the courthouse.   Shortly afterward it was decided to erect a library building. Judge Milton Sutliff had left a bequest of $10,000 for this purpose and Andrew   YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY - 465   Carnegie agreed to donate $20,000. Subsequently the Carnegie gift was increased to $28,383 and on February 5, 1906, the present public library in High Street was opened.   Marshall Woodford was succeeded as president, on his death in 1895, by J. Taylor. Mr. Taylor's successor was Homer E. Stewart, who died shortly after his election, and was succeeded by T. I. Gillmer, the present president. Other officers are, Mrs. H. C. Baldwin, vice president ; Frank E. Elliott, treasurer; C. M. Wilkins, S. W. Park, Charles Fillius, A. R. Hughes and W. C. Pendleton, trustees ; Josephine Lytle, librarian. The library has now approximately 17,500 volumes. Its circulation in 1919 was 33,951 books, an increase of 6,500 over 1918 and the number of borrowers is 4,500, new cards issued in 1919 alone being 1,348.   CIVIC AND FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS   The leading civic organization, of course, is the Board of Trade, whose history has already been given. Since its reorganization in 1909 0. R. Grimmesey has remained as president of this body and George C. Braden secretary. W. A. Walcott is vice president.   An organization that deserves special mention in connection with Warren is the Ohio Woman Suffrage Association. Strictly speaking, this is a state and not a local body, yet in a sense it is a Warren organization because the headquarters are located here and Warren is the home of its guiding spirit, Mrs. Harriet Taylor Upton. Year in and year out Mrs. Upton has fought the battle of equal suffrage, has fought fairly and fought without cessation, never giving away for a moment in the face of repeated defeats and discouragements. The Ohio Woman Suffrage Association has been succeeded by the Ohio League of Women Voters, but it will always be remembered as the champion of a just cause and its leader w:11 rank with Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and other great lights in this cause. Scarcely less credit must go to Miss Elizabeth J. Hauser, another Trumbull County woman.   Old Erie Lodge, No. 3, Free and Accepted Masons, is the oldest of Warren fraternal organizations. It was in 1803 that a number of members of the Free and Accepted Ancient York Masons, Samuel Tylee, Martin Smith, Tryal Tanner, Camden Cleveland, Solomon Griswold, Aaron Wheeler, John Walworth, Charles Dutton, Arad Way, Gideon Hoadley, Ezekiel Hover, Turhand Kirtland, John Leavitt, William Rayen, George Phelps, James B. Root, James Dunscomb, Samuel Spencer, Joseph DeWolf, Daniel Bushnell, Calvin Austin and Asahel Adams, applied, to the Grand Lodge of Connecticut for authority to form a lodge under Connecticut jurisdiction. Most of these were members of Connecticut lodges, and in residence they represented other parts of the Western Reserve as well as Warren.   On October 19, 1803, the prayer was granted and Samuel Tylee, who had journeyed to New Haven with the petition, was made deputy grand master with authority to form the new lodge. On March 2, 1804, Deputy Master Tylee, and temporary officers named for the occasion, formally opened the lodge as Erie Lodge, No. 47, Free and Accepted York Masons.   Vol. I-30   466 - YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY   Deputy Master Tylee then consecrated and installed the brothers and the first officers of the lodge, Turhand Kirtland, master ; John Leavitt, senior warden ; William Rayen, junior warden ; Calvin Austin, treasurer; Camden Cleveland, secretary ; Aaron Wheeler, senior deacon; John Walworth, junior deacon ; Charles Dutton and Arad Way, stewards ; Ezekiel Hover, tyler. The first meeting was held on the evening of the same day.   On March 11, 1807, Erie Lodge instituted the movement toward erecting a Grand Lodge of Ohio. Lodges at Marietta, Cincinnati, Zanesville and Chillicothe responded to the call. On March 4, 1807, representatives of these five lodges and of the Worthington lodge assembled at Chillicothe, and on March 5, 1807, the Grand Lodge of Ohio was organized, George Tod of Erie Lodge being named grand warden. On December 5, 1808, George Tod, Samuel Huntington and John H. Adgate were named representatives to the grand lodge communication to be held in January, 1809.   On January 5, 1814, a charter of constitution was received from the Grand Lodge of Ohio appointing Samuel Tylee, Francis Freeman, Elisha Whittlesey, Seth Tracy, William W. Cotgreave, John Leavitt and Calvin Austin, and their successors forever, a regular lodge of the Free and Accepted Masons under the name of Erie Lodge, No. 3. The lodge continued to function until about 1830 when it succumbed to the anti-Masonic wave then sweeping the country. The charter was burned in a fire that destroyed the home of Edward Spear in 1833.   After a quarter of a century better times dawned and on October 17, 1854, a charter was granted to Richard Iddings, Jacob H. Baldwin, J. B. Buttles, W. H. Holloway, Henry Stiles, J. Rodgers, H. Benham, Gary C. Reed, J. Veon, Benjamin Stevens, Edward Spear, John B. Harmon, Alexander McConnell and H. McManus, men who had cherished the principles of Masonry during its dark days, under the name of Western Reserve Lodge. On October 19, 1854, the old name was restored, Old Erie Lodge, No. 3 coming into existence.   The first Masonic meeting house was apparently the frame building in which the Western Reserve Bank was first located. Later the lodge occupied the Hadley tavern, the log schoolhouse west of the public square and the meeting place in "Castle William." After reorganization in 1855 meetings were first held in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Hall, later in the Gaskill House, in a building where the Second National Bank Building is now located, in rooms over the First National Bank and finally in the present Masonic Temple on its completion in 1904.   Masonic organizations in addition to Old Erie Lodge include, Mahoning Chapter, No. 66, Royal Arch Masons ; Warren Council, No. 58, Royal and Select Masons ; Warren Commandery, No. 39, Knights Templar; Morning Light Chapter, No. 80, Order of the Eastern Star.   Mahoning Lodge, N0. 29, Independent Order of Odd Fellows was chartered on May 21, 1844, with Charles Pease, John Benson, Josiah F. Brown, L. P. Lott and E. W. Weir as the original members. The lodge Was instituted on the same day, the first officers elected being, Lewis P. Lott, N. G. ; Josiah F. Brown, V. G. ; Charles Pease, secretary ; E. W. Weir, treasurer. During the great fire of 1846 the block in which the   YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY - 467   lodge was quartered was destroyed, by fire, causing a great financial loss. It recovered, however, from this and subsequent reverses and fifteen years ago erected its own building in Park Avenue. In addition to Mahoning Lodge there are three other Independent Order of Odd Fellows organizations in Warren, Trumbull Encampment, No. 47 ; Canton Warren, No. 79 and Warren Lodge, Daughters of Rebekah.   Independence Lodge, No. 90, Knights of Pythias, was instituted on July 27, 1875, with John G. Thompson, grand chancellor for Ohio, in charge, the number of original members being fifty. The first officers were, L. M. Lazarus, past chancellor ; G. B. Kennedy, C. C. ; E. A. Cobleigh, V. C.; H. A. Potter, prelate ; George H. Tayler, M. of F.; T. McQuiston, Jr., M. of E. C. L. Hoyt, K. of R. and S.; F. M. Ritezel, M. of A. Since 1900 this lodge has been one of the thriving organizations of Warren and now has its own building. In addition Warren has Western Reserve Division, No. 103, Uniform Rank Knights of Pythias and Independence Temple, No. 159, Pythian Sisters.   Warren Lodge, No. 295, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, was instituted on July 26, 1895, the promoter of the movement being Louis Geuss of Youngstown lodge, then a resident of Warren. The event is a memorable one in the history of fraternal societies in Warren. The Elks now have their own home in High. Street.   Warren Council, No. 620, Knights of Columbus, was organized on January 6, 1902, largely through the enthusiasm and the efforts of Rev. P. C. N. Dwyer, who became the first chaplain of the council. D. K. Moser was named the first grand knight. The organization has flourished and still has a large membership even though many of its Niles members were organized into a new lodge at Niles in April, 1913. The Knights of Columbus now have their own meeting hall.   In addition to the above mentioned Warren fraternal organizations, and organizations along similar lines, include, Warren Circle, No. 82, Protected Home Circle ; Court Trumbull, No. 707, Independent Order of Foresters ; Warren. Tent, No. 162, Knights of the Maccabees ; Mahoning Castle, No. 138, Knights of the Golden Eagle ; Martha Washington Temple, No. 53, Ladies of the Golden Eagle ; Warren Camp, No. 4807, Modern Woodmen of America; Trumbull Lodge, No. 186, Loyal Order of Moose ; Warren Aerie, No. 311, Fraternal Order of Eagles ; Warren Branch, Ladies' Catholic Benefit Association ; Warren Council, No. 203, National Union ; Clan Campbell, No. 325, Order of Scottish Clans ; Western Reserve Council, No. 386, Royal Arcanum ; Warren Review, No. 381, Women's Benefit Association ; Athenian Court, No. 80, Tribe of Ben Hur ; Warren Council, No. 222, United Commercial Travelers ; Warren Legion, No. 788, National Protective Legion ; Trumbull Camp, No. 1433, Royal Neighbors of America ; Warren Lodge, No. 3170, Knights and Ladies of Honor ; Home Chapter, American Insurance Union; Warren Grange, No. 1715 ; Mt. Nebo Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons ; Louis Mitchell Lodge, No. 222, Improved Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of the World. Among the patriotic organizations are numbered, Bell-Harmon. Post, No. 36, Grand Army of the Republic ; Bell-Harmon Corps, No. 58, Women's Relief Corps ; Clarence Hyde   468 - YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY   Post, American Legion ; Warren Camp, No. 40, Sons of Veterans; Rebecca Taylor Long Tent, No. 47, Daughters of Veterans. The Maccabees, Moose and Modern Woodmen also have their own buildings.   YOUNG WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION   The Warren Young Women's Christian Association was organized in June, 1916, with Mrs. A. L. Phelps as president ; Mrs. B. W. Edwards, vice president ; Mrs. H. Q. Stiles, second vice president ; Mrs. Arner   WARREN POSTOFFICE   Clark, recording secretary ; Miss Helen Hunt, corresponding secretary; Mrs. H. D. Warren, treasurer.   The organization now has rented quarters in Park Avenue, but has grown satisfactorily and has greatly increased its usefulness in four years. Its work includes, dormitory service, with forty permanent girl roomers and transients; cafeteria, serving 525 persons a day ; industrial department, with organized clubs ; girls' work department, with 25o girl re250rves ; employment bureau, rooms registry, colored branch and international institute for foreign born. The present officers of the association are, Mrs. H. Q. Stiles, president ; Mrs. A. L. Phelps, vice president; Mrs. B. W. Edwards, second vice president ;;. Mrs. C. Dickinson, cor- responding secretary ; Mrs. A. E. Burch, recording secretary; Mrs. Ella McKee, treasurer ; Miss E. Alberta Brenner, general secretary.   YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY - 469   PARKS   Warren itself has often been described as a great park, owing to beauty of much of the residence portion of the city.   Aside from this, however, it has specially designated outdoor places or the young and old. The public square, or City Park, donated to Warren by Capt. Ephraim Quinby, founder of the city, is a singularly beautiful spot, adorned with stately elms and maples. In the preservation of this five-acre tract Warren has been especially fortunate. Opposite Court House Park is another two-acre tract, Monumental Park, located on a great bend in the Mahoning River. Here the soldiers' monument is located and here the old city hall formerly stood. Oak Grove Park, or the fair grounds, is another attractive spot.   Packard Park, a tract of approximately fifty acres, lies one mile north of the courthouse and was given to the city by W. D. Packard, who also gave $4,000 for its improvement. The city has since invested $80,000 in equipping and beautifying this place until it is now the mecca for picnickers, lovers of athletic games and those anxious to get away among the trees. Baseball diamonds, football fields, tennis courts, basket ball courts, picnic grounds and croquet grounds have been fitted up and a large shelter house has been built. It becomes more valuable daily as Warren increases in size. Packard Park is managed by a special board of trustees.   WARREN TOWNSHIP   The City of Warren occupies but a comparatively small part of Warren Township, much of that subdivision being farming land. The Ma-honing River enters the township from Braceville Township to the west and, after making a wide sweep through the northern part of the township, flows southerly again through the City of Warren into Howland Township.   Outside Warren the one municipality of any size in the township is Leavittsburg, located on the Mahoning River just west of the center. It was perhaps only chance that made Warren rather than Leavittsburg the metropolis of Warren Township, as the latter place would naturally have had the advantage because of its location. The cleared ground found in the old Indian meadows and the good mill sites probably influenced the selection of the site of Warren for first settlement, although Leavittsburg has a good mill location and has had a grist mill for many years.   In the apportionment of Warren Township the Western part fell to the ownership of John Leavitt, Jr. Leavitt removed to Warren with his wife and seven children in I800, and in 1805 settled on a farm near the center of the township, dying at Warren in 1815. Samuel Leavitt visited Trumbull County in 1800 and purchased a farm adjoining John Leavitt's property. He removed here from Connecticut in 1802, being the first settler in the center of the township. Enoch Leavitt came soon afterwards and purchased the ground on which the Village of Leavittsburg now stands. Benajah Austin, step-son of Samuel Leavitt, came from   470 - YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY   Vermont in 1803, married Olive Harmon and located at the cen afterwards. Phineas Leffingwell and Jabez Leffingwell located here about 1818.   With the original settlement of the Leavitts a village site was dedicated cated and an open square provided by the owners of the land, as was customary on the Western Reserve in that day. A few years later Samuel Forward built a sawmill and Richard Iddings built a grist mill and the place became known as Leavittsburg, although actually there was no village settlement and eventually even the open park became farm land.   The present village is slightly west of the proposed location of the original town and came into existence with the construction of the railroad that is now the Erie line. It has today a population of perhaps 1200, although with the tendency to locate new industries farther up the Mahoning River it is in a position to expand greatly within a few years. A grist mill is still operated and the plant of the D. and M. Cord Tire Company is located here. There are two grocery stores, conducted by Johnson Bros., and Brobst and Strong, a confectionery conducted by W. G. Stoll and one restaurant, the McLowman. Mahoning Park, located on the river at Leavittsburg, is a noted pleasure resort and picnic place.   Officials of Warren Township include, Harry P. Johnson, S. P. Van Houter and John Miller, trustees. Grandon Moran, clerk ; Robert Brown, treasurer ; C. C. Bubb and Carl Rice, justices of the peace. W. C. Reeker is postmaster at Leavittsburg.   Warren Township schools, outside the City of Warren, are supervision district No. 2. The townships schools are thoroughly centralized with W. W. Glass as principal of the high school, Clarence Seavers, Erma E. Ward and Lucile E. Morrison, high school teachers and Edith Nelson, Mabel Fox. Jennie Nelson and G. C. Lathouse, grade school teachers.   CHAPTER XXIII   NILES   EARLY HISTORY OF THE METROPOLIS OF WEATHERSFIELD TOWNSHIP -HEATON'S INDUSTRIES THAT MARKED THE BEGINNING OF THE CITY-MIDDLE DAY INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITY-THE FINANCIAL CRASH OF 1874 -MODERN NILES, A GROWING AND BUSY INDUSTRIAL CITY.   Several times in the course of this history the writer has had occasion to refer to Weathersfield Township, Trumbull County, because the story of 'early days on the Western Reserve could not be told otherwise. It is linked inseparably with this territory, for it was perhaps only chance that prevented the founding of a settlement here several years before the first permanent occupation of the Reserve at Youngst0wn became' a reality in 1796-97.   Niles, metropolis of Weathersfield Township and the largest municipality in the Mahoning Valley except Youngstown and Warren, is located a little north of the center of the township, on the Mahoning River. Mosquito Creek, the largest tributary of the Mahoning, flows into the river at Niles, coming from the north. Meander Creek also enters the river here, coming from the south. The municipality is not 0nly the metropolis of the township but contains the greater part of the population as well, although Mineral Ridge is a good-sized Weathersfield Township village and the agricultural districts are well populated.   Actual settlement of Weathersfield began on the "Salt Springs" tract, perhaps a mile west of Niles. With the death of Gen. Samuel Holden Parsons, owner of this tract, in 1789, no attempt was made to colonize it until 1797 when Reuben Harmon of Vermont located on a five-hundred acre plat that he had bought from the Parsons' heirs, this acreage including the salt springs. Settlers from nearby townships als0 came here to "make" salt, and a few other families located nearby in 1799 and 1800. Perhaps the first habitation was built at, or near, the present site of Niles about this time, but the actual founder of this modern industrial city was James Heaton.   James Heaton and his brother, Daniel Heaton, came to the Mahoning Valley in 1802, James being at that time thirty-two years of age, his brother two years younger. In that year, or in 1803, they built, on Yellow Creek in Poland Township, the first blast furnace in the Ma-honing Valley. Two years later, or in 1804, this partnership was dissolved with the withdrawal of the elder brother, Daniel remaining in Poland in charge of the little iron furnace.   - 471 -   472 - YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY   In 1805 James Heaton located on a farm in Howland Township, his brother Isaac purchasing a home there at the same time. Heaton was perhaps a qualified farmer, but his inclinations were distinctly industrial, so that it is not surprising that 1806 saw him located on Mosquito creek, in Weathersfield Township. While this stream runs through a comparatively low-lying country that gives no great fall to the water there was sufficient power capable of development to fill Heaton's needs and he acquired lands on both sides of the creek from its junction with the northward, taking over sufficient acreage to make possible the construction of a dam and mill race and to protect himself against overflow caused by the dam. He built for himself and family a log cabin that stood near the east end of the present Mosquito Creek bridge, and from this settlement Niles may be said to date its founding.   It is scarcely necessary to describe the site of Heaton's dam, as a dam has stood there ever since—just north of the city bridge over the stream. Alongside the backwater formed by the present dam is the plant of the Fostoria Glass Company. From the dam Heaton began the construction of a mill race on the west side of, the creek.. This race winds along the creek for a quarter to a third of a mile, whence the water is turned back into the creek, giving a fall of eight to ten feet. At this point Heaton built the saw mill and the grist mill that were the first industries of Niles.   The pioneer saw mill has long since passed away but the grist mill it still grinding away after 114 years of life. The original structure put up by James Heaton was rebuilt in 1839 and perhaps has undergone exterior repairs since. From an outside view it is not imposing, but a visit t0 the interior confirms one in belief in its stability even while leaving n0 doubt of its age. Its immense pillars, hewn square and as solid as the day there shaped, its hardwood beams, its smooth floors, worn to a polish with the meal and dust and tramp of feet—all these convince one that the march of progress rather than age will bring about its abandonment. It is a bit of pioneer life just a few steps away from the heart of a busy little city of modern industries. The old overshot wheel has vanished and the water turbine has taken its place, electricity has been installed as an auxiliary power for emergency and the mill property and water rights have been purchased within the past year by the Republic Iron and Steel Company—otherwise it is a flour and feed mill of the days when this sort, of plant was the leading industry of any Western Reserve community, and its present owners and operators, Drake and McConnell, are experienced millers, as well as descendants of early pioneers.   The passion for iron making that had made James Heaton and his brother engage in the apparently profitless task of building the Yellow Creek furnace was strong in the miller, however, and it was but three years later that he built on the banks of Mosquito Creek a small forging plant for the manufacture of iron with charcoal, the output being the first bar iron manufactured in Ohio. The pig iron from which Heaton manufactured this product was obtained from the Yellow Creek furnace   YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY - 473   and this supply prevailed until the War of 1812 closed down the stack by calling the furnace men to arms.   A less energetic man might have been discouraged under such circumstances, but James Heaton was not. If there was no pig iron to be bought he would make it. He had not the funds to carry out this project but on November 6, 1812, he borrowed $1,448 from his brother, John Heaton, giving a mortgage on much of his lands and on his saw mill, grist mill and blooming forge, and in 1813 built a charcoal furnace on the banks of Mosquito Creek at the foot of a bluff and just a short distance east of the old high Niles High School Building. This furnace he named the "Maria," after his daughter, the practice of naming blast furnaces after individuals, and very often after women, being a common one in the Maligning Valley down to the present time.   No attempt will be made here to give a complete description of James Heaton's iron industries or to go into details concerning his methods of manufacture. These are fully described in the chapter of this work relating to Mahoning Valley industries. It will suffice to say that with these industries as a nucleus a village sprang up along Mosquito Creek that became known as Heaton's Furnace.   It was for many years but a diminutive place. A small store was opened up for the convenience of Heaton's employees and others, Heaton rebuilt his forge in 1820, and in 1819 a postoffice was established at Weathersfield, northeast of Heaton's Furnace, with David A. Adams as postmaster. Daniel Heaton in the meantime had followed his brother and located at Heaton's Furnace, although if he had any part in the operations of the industries there it is not apparent. A log schoolhouse was built south of the river at a very early day and was perhaps the first school in Weathersfield Township. On the hill above the grist mill, now in the center of the business district of Niles, another school was built for the children of Heaton's Furnace. This school was taught by Heman R. Harmon, son of the pioneer salt maker.   In 1830 James Heaton retired from the active management of his furnace and was succeeded by Heaton and Robbins, the firm being made up of his son, Warren Heaton, and his son-in-law, Josiah Robbins, who had settled in Weathersfield Township in 1826 and had married Maria Heaton. Robbins retired in 1834 and the furnace was managed by Warren Heaton, although with no great profit, as the market was limited and real money was almost unknown. Even the furnace hands were paid mostly in provisions.   About this time, however, modern Niles had its beginning. In its almost thirty years of existence Heaton's Furnace had remained 'a small hamlet, but the middle '30s were days of activity along the whole length of the Mahoning Valley, for the canal connecting the Ohio River and Lake Erie had become a certainty. In 1834 James Heaton and Warren Heaton anticipated this improvement by laying out a village plat. It was a diminutive municipality when compared with Niles of today, for it embraced only a small section of land lying west of Mosquito Creek and north of the Mahoning River. At this time too, or about this time,   474 - YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY   the name of Heaton's Furnace gave way to the title that furnishes the basis for the present name.   Although less eccentric than his brother Daniel, who was most unusual in his idiosyncrasies—even going to the extent of having his name changed to Eaton because he believed the initial letter superfluous—James Heaton was not free of peculiarities. In particular he was most positive in his political convictions, although violent adherence to a political party was so common in that day that it could hardly be considered a peculiarity after all. Being a pronounced Whig he was a faithful subscriber to a Baltimore newspaper variously known at different times as the Niles Register. Niles Weekly Register and Niles National Register. To Heaton this newspaper was the court of final decision in all things   MONUMENTAL PARK, WARREN   political. To its editor he ascribed amazing knowledge and abilities. Its views, or the views of its editor, he quoted as the last answer in political controversies, and it may be accepted that he loved a political debate as thoroughly as did all strong men of his day. It is not surprising then that he conferred the title of "Nilestown" on his newly platted village.   The town makers had judged well. Several new houses sprang up in the year the village was platted. In 1836 the first store, other than the company store, was started by Robert Quigley, and a few years later another store was started by Josiah Robbins and Ambrose Mason, Robbins having married Mason's daughter after the death of his first wife, Maria Heaton Robbins. In 1836, also, Jacob Robeson opened a hotel in a house built by Samuel Dempsey in 1834, a location that -he abandoned a year later when he erected a hotel building. Previous to this   YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY - 475   there had been only a tavern on the south side of the river. The first brick building was constructed by James Crandon and it was some years later before the Mason Block, the first, brick structure of any appreciable size, was put up.   The completion of the Pennsylvania and Ohio Canal to Warren in the spring of 1839 saw the realization of the dream of Mahoning Valley residents for an ample transportation line, and all villages in the Mahoning Valley shared in the resulting prosperity. Nilestown outstripped in importance thereafter all other Weathersfield Township settlements until on March i6, 1843, the Weathersfield Station postoffice gave way to one in this village near the mouth of Mosquito Creek, the municipality becoming plain "Niles," by decree of the postoffice department. Ambrose Mason was the first postmaster.   The ten-year period between 1840 and 1850 was one of rapid growth for Niles. With the coming of the canal began the era of coal mining on which so many Mahoning Valley towns were founded. Niles participated in the growth of this industry, although never dependent upon it to the extent that some of its neighboring villages were. It was upon the manufacture of iron that Niles was built.   Heaton's little plants had been the sole reliance of Niles in this respect up to the days of the canal, but in 1841 there came an industry that dwarfed these. This was the plant of James Ward and Company, an industry begun in the above year and completed and put in operation in 1842. Associated with James Ward, Sr., in this enterprise were his brother, William Ward, and Thomas Russell, Pittsburgh men. They had first built at Lisbon, Columbiana County, then New Lisbon, but finding conditions unsatisfactory removed their plant to Niles. Here they rolled the first iron made in the Mahoning Valley by this process, perhaps the first made in Ohio. The output was bar iron, sheet iron, horseshoe iron and tire iron, products most in demand at the time. This was the industry that gave Niles its impetus, an industry, strangely enough, that was later to deal Niles almost its death blow.   Meanwhile the pioneer Maria furnace blazed away. On the death of Warren Heaton in 1842 it was leased to McKinley, Reep and Dempsey, the senior partner of this firm being William McKinley, Sr., father of President William McKinley. Succeeding lessees were Jacob Robeson and Company, Robeson and Bowen, and Jacob Robeson and John Battles, its last operators. The actual ownership of the old furnace was vested in the Heaton family until the stack passed out of existence in 1854.   To care for their pig iron needs James Ward and Company leased the Falcon furnace at Youngstown for several years and in 1859 built the Elizabeth furnace at Niles. Eventually this stack was removed to Youngstown and became the Hannah furnace of the Mahoning Valley Iron Company. This stack, rebuilt several times, is now the property of the Republic Iron and Steel Company.   With the coming of the Civil war in 1861 Niles felt the early depression and the later industrial activity that accompanied this conflict. The village, and Weathersfield Township, responded n0bly to the call   476 - YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY   for men and industries were at first crippled, although later this loss was adjusted.   The period immediately succeeding the Civil war was a most prosperous one for Niles. James Ward, Sr., died in July, 1864, and until his estate was adjusted the affairs of the iron company were managed by his brother, William Ward, but in 1866 James Ward, Jr., son of the founder, became the active head of the concern. In that year he rebuilt the old mill of the James Ward and Company, in 1867 built the Falcon Iron & Nail Company plant and in 1868 built the Russia mills. This last named plant was designed to make genuine Russian sheet iron as well as ordinary black sheets and although it was not successful in the former respect remained in existence as a sheet mill. James Ward and Company apparently made nails even before the death of the senior Ward, but the industry was launched by the younger man on an extensive scale.   The expansion of the Ward interests was not the extent of Niles' growth in this period. In 1865 a mill equipped with puddle mill, sheet mills and a bar mill was built by a partnership in which William Davis, George Harris, James Harris, Corydon Bean, James Jose, James Russell and Dr. A. M. Blackford were interested, Blackford being a son-in-law of Thomas Russell of the original James Ward and Company firm. In 1870 Davis retired and this became the Harris and Blackford mill. In 1870 William Ward built a blast furnace that was operated under the firm name of William Ward and Company, the Niles Boiler Works was built in 1871 by Jeremiah Reeves and George Reeves and the Niles fire brick plant was started in 1878 by John R. Thomas. The Globe Foundry and Machinery Company was an industry antedating these, having been built in 1858 by Thomas Carter. In 1873 it came into the possession of James Ward and Company.   Niles was thus an industrial community of the greatest importance in the early '70s ; one apparently destined to be a competitor of Youngstown and to outstrip Warren. The growth was unhealthy, however, even though it appeared solid enough on the surface. James Ward, Jr., had built and taken over manufacturing plants with a lavish hand for that day. Apparently his enterprises were prospering and his firm was sound and solvent. Its standing made its credit of the highest order until James Ward's "paper" was considered almost as good as government greenbacks. It was accepted with as little hesitation and Ward used this credit freely in operating his industries.   The "scrip" form of currency employed by Heaton and his successors in the pioneer industries of Niles remained in use long after the new industries had come and a more plentiful supply of legal currency had made it unnecessary. In 1868, however, "scrip" was abolished on protest of Niles merchants and for five years actual money was used by manufacturers in paying workmen and by workmen in paying bills. In 1873, however, came the financial depression that has gone down in history as the "Panic of '73," and the use of "scrip" was resorted to all over the Mahoning Valley. It was revived in Niles, with the agreement of the merchants, some of whom gave their consent reluctantly. B. F.   YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY - 477   Pew, still an active Niles resident and then in business with his father, says he held out to the last against accepting this mere promissory form of payment but finally acceded. With many the high standing of the manufacturing firm was sufficient guarantee of the worth of this tender.   The panic was acute all over the United States. Iron making districts felt it with especial keenness, and from Warren to Lowellville there was depression, privation and suffering. But all the neighboring towns escaped lightly in comparison with Niles, for the firm of James Ward and Company made an assignment in February, 1874, that struck Niles with all the force of a tornado.   The Ward "paper" was held throughout the entire valley and there was scarcely a person in Niles from laborer to manufacturer who was left unaffected. Ward had expanded too rapidly and his notes as well as "scrip" had been accepted with too little question. A few more years of prosperity, of course, might have seen the withdrawal of this "paper" and found the Ward industries on a sound basis. The panic was merely something that could not be foreseen and when it came it was a black day alike for those who had payments to meet and payments due.   The “old" Ward mill, the Falcon mill and the Russia mills, owned by James Ward, Jr., were taken over by a receiver, the William Ward and Company blast furnace followed and the Globe Foundry and Machine Works reverted to the Carter family, its original owners, after having been operated by James Ward and Company.   The Ward failure is said to have been for a greater amount than the taxable value of all the property in Niles. This, perhaps will give some idea of the manner in which every business house in the village was ruined or at least shaken to its very foundation. Ten years earlier, or in 1864, Niles had attained such a size that it became an incorporated municipality, but now its growth was halted. The panic days disappeared and other communities recovered, but Niles never revived from the shock until the last decade. Not only had it been hit harder, but there came in succession three other setbacks scarcely less cruel than the first.   In the industrial reorganization of 1874-76 the Ward Iron Company became the operators of the original Ward mill, and the Russia mills were operated by L. B. Ward and Company. James Ward, Jr., was general manager of both, although previously Carter and Gephart had taken over one or both of the plants for a short time. The Falcon Works came into the ownership of the Arms Brothers and others of Youngstown, the William Ward and Company blast furnace was operated by creditors for a time and purchased by John R. Thomas in 1879 and the Harris and Blackford mill came into the ownership of C. H. Andrews, W. C. Andrews and L. E. Cochran of Youngstown and operated by them under the name of the Niles Iron Company.   In the early '80s the firm of L. B. Ward and Company failed. The immediate results to Niles were less disastrous than they had been in the first instance, but the ultimate effect was not less marked. It dealt a blow to Niles just when it was beginning to recover from the first adversity. In this failure the banking firm of A. G. Bentley and Company went down and the "old mill" of the Ward Company was abandoned and   478 - YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY   dismantled. This plant, it might be added, stood on the site now occupied by the Pennsylvania Passenger Station and Freight House. The Russia mills were taken over by Summers Bros. & Co. The plant of the Niles Iron Company had already been dismantled and the machinery removed to the works of the Andrews Bros. Company at Youngstown.   This left Niles with only the Russia mills, the Falcon Iron and Nail Company, the Thomas furnace, the Globe Foundry and Machine Company and the Niles brick works as its leading industries. Its industrial equipment was poorer than it had been ten years before.   In the late '80s the Falcon Mill interests t0ok over the Russia mills, thus becoming operators of sheet mills, bar mills, nail plate mill and nail fact0ry. A few years later, or about 1891, Niles received its first industrial accession after years of reverses in the construction by the Falcon Iron and Nail Company of a tin plate mill. This plant became known immediately as the "McKinley Mill," and a more fitting name could not have been chosen. William McKinley was born at Niles on January 29, 1843, and it was the McKinley tariff bill, passed in 1890, that made possible the establishment of the tin plate industry in the United States by protecting America against ruinous competition with old world plants. The "McKinley" Mill was the first large tin plate plant built in the United States.   The new plant had scarcely gotten in operation when the panic of 1893 came on. Niles felt this like all iron making centers, although perhaps in a less degree than some others for tin plate and sheet plants operated to a better advantage during the depression than did most iron industries. This reverse was less severe than the ones that had preceded it or the one that was to follow.   In 1898 began the era of combination of iron and steel industries. To a few iron and steel centers, among them Youngstown, the formation of the "trusts" was a boon, for the policy of the steel combinations was to centralize activities. The Youngstown plants that were taken over were modernized and enlarged. The money that Youngstown men received for the sale of their industries went into new plants for the benefit of Youngstown. But if centralization meant increased activity in such places it meant disaster to Niles.   Niles men were quick to realize that their remaining industries might be dismantled by their new owners, or removed to points where the combinations were centralizing. To prevent this they banded together in a commercial organization and launched a movement to save all that remained. Citizens' delegations met the managers of the new combinations and secured a promise that the Niles plants that had just been taken over would not only be left intact but would be remodeled and enlarged if this were possible. It was a comforting reassurance, but the period of rejoicing was short. The final notification from the "trust" management was that the Niles mills were in such shape that it would be impossible to modernize them. The mills were dismantled.   This was a severe blow after more than a quarter of a century of fighting for industrial life but. Niles did not quit. Niles people, in fact, are not of the quitting kind. In business, baseball, politics or boxing   YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY - 479   they are always ready to meet challengers. "They've taken away our industries ; it's up to us now to get some more," was the word passed around among Niles residents.   Back in 1890 a board of trade had been organized by R. G. Sykes and B. F. Pew ; the initial purpose being the construction of public utilities. Private interests had offered to install waterworks and an electric light plant, but under the leadership pf the board of trade Niles voted to build these plants with public funds and operate them municipally. Within a year this was done.   This first trade body languished, for the '90s were not years of civic activity, but in 1900 when it became apparent that something had to be done to save the city from near extinguishment another institution of this kind was naturally proposed as the medium through which to work. The Niles Board of Trade was therefore formed as an unincorporated body and with an initial membership of fourteen, including W. H. Smiley, T. A. Winfield, Ivor J. Davis, B. F. Pew, C. G. Harris, F. C. Robbins, L. L. Holaway, William Herbert, Evan J. Job, Wade A. Taylor, H. H. Mason, J. N. Baldwin, C. P. Souders and A. J. Leach. Mr. Smiley was elected president of the organization and Mr. Winfield secretary. The first industry landed was the Harris Automatic Press Company, a concern that was given a site and a bonus of $1,500 and that remained a Niles plant until 1914 when it was removed to Cleveland following labor troubles and inability to get a sufficient supply of skilled workmen.   The upward movement was now on in Niles and new industries came, one by one. The Niles policy was not merely to invite plant builders to locate at Niles but to use verbal persuasion and even more substantial aid. The experiment succeeded so well that on April 14, 19o8, the Niles Board of Trade was reorganized and incorporated with a membership of thirty. T. E. Thomas was elected president ; L. L. Holaway, first vice president ; W. F. Thomas, second vice president ; J. N. Baldwin, secretary, and F. W. Stillwagon, treasurer. The remaining members were, C. G. Harris, W. A. Thomas, T. A. Winfield, John S. Naylor, F. E. Bryan, William C. Allison, J. D. Waddell, William Herbert, M. J. Flaherty, H. H. Hoffman, B. F. Pew, W. G. Duck, W. A. Hutchings, W. S. Sayers, S. I. Manchester, C. P. Souders, C. G. Thomas, D. J. Finney, J. W. Rogers, Julian Cowdery, William Holzbach, W. H. Pritchard, J. W. Eaton, Vincent Mango and Clare Caldwell.   The energetic manner in which Niles went after industries is shown by some of the inducements offered manufacturing companies to locate there. The Thomas Steel Company received $10,000 and a free site ; Empire Steel Company $13,333 ; Fostoria Glass Company, $50,000; Ma-honing  Valley Steel Company, $20,000; Falcon Steel Company, $44,000. Small bonuses were given several other plants. All these plants are still located at Niles and prospering. The Thomas and Empire mills were sold later to the Brier Hill Steel Company and the men interested in the Empire works then erected the DeForest Sheet and Tin Plate Company plant, also at Niles, but asked no bonus. The plant of the Niles Car and Manufacturing Company, manufacturers of street cars, was built by home capital.   480 - YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY   Other Niles industries today include the Standard Boiler and Plate Iron Company, Stanley, works, Grasselli Chemical Company plant, Youngstown Steel Car Company, Ohio Galvanizing Company, Bostwick Steel Lath Company, Basic Steel Company, Hubbard Pressed Steel Company, Engel Aircraft Company, Metal Post and Culvert Company, National Sand and Stone Company, Niles Fire Brick Company (the nucleus of which was the old Niles Fire Brick works), Niles Forge and Manufacturing Company, Niles Iron and Steel Roofing Company, Niles Lumber Company, Western Reserve Lumber Company, Stevens Metal Products Company, Sykes Metal Lath and Roofing Company, Tritt China Company, Wilson Manufacturing Company, and the Electric Alloy Steel Company. The last named company was organized in 1920 and is now about to build a modern electric steel plant. The Globe Foundry and Machinery Company is now the pioneer industry, the Thomas furnace is the prcperty of the Carnegie Steel Company and the DeForest Sheet and Tin Plate mills are owned by the Republic Iron and Steel Company. The Republic has purchased a great acreage adjoining this plant and has made great additions while even more extensions are now under way, these new works having a valuation of fully $2,000,000.   In addition to upbuilding the city industrially the Niles trade body gained for Niles the new Erie passenger station, a most creditable structure for the city, and it was at a board of trade banquet. in 1910 that J. G. Butler, Jr., made the first public suggestion for the construction of the McKinley Memorial building.   In 1919 the Board of Trade became the Niles Chamber of Commerce. Its headquarters are in the McKinley Memorial building and it is still boosting Niles and doing so successfully. J. D. Waddell is the president of this body, J. E. Thomas, first vice president ; L. 0. Wurtemberger, second vice president ; M. M. McGowan, treasurer and Edward J. Samp, managing secretary. J. N. Baldwin retired as secretary in 1917 after nine years' service, during which tithe Niles made much of its modern progress.   FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS   Niles has a healthy-sized retail trade and is the business center of an extensive territory. The pioneer banking firm of the city was Wick; Bentley and Company, organized in 1869. A year later it became Bentley and Crandon and in 1871 was succeeded by the Citizens Loan and. Savings Association. In 1880 this firm gave way to A. G. Bentley and Company, a banking firm that remained until after the second Ward Failure in 1883 or 1884.   Niles now has four financial houses. The Home Savings and Loan Company, organized in 1897, is the oldest and the largest of these. Its banking house is located in Mill Street and the concern has a capitalization of S300,000. D. J. Finney is president of this organization, J. M. Elder, vice president ; George J. Taylor, secretary ; H. W. Stevens, treasurer.   The Dollar Savings Bank was incorporated in 1905 and has a capital   YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY - 481   of $150,000. Its banking house at Main Street and Park Avenue is one of the most attractive buildings in the city. W. A. Taylor is president of this bank, J. W. Eaton and C. S. Thomas, vice presidents ; W. H. Stevens, secretary and treasurer ; A. W. Kirkbride, assistant secretary and assistant treasurer.   The Niles Trust Company was formed in 1909 to do a general banking as well as trust company business and occupies a banking room at Main and Mill streets. The officers of this institution are, C. P. Wilson. president ; D. J. Finney and T. E. Thomas, vice presidents ; J. D. Waddell, secretary; R. J. McCorkle, treasurer. Its capital is $125,000.   The McKinley Savings and Loan Company was incorp0rated in 1918. Its banking house is located in Main Street on the site of the house in which President William McKinley was born and the institution has a capital of $100,000. The present officers, who were the first officers also, are T. J. Thomas, president; H. H. Hoffman, first vice president ; Sol Lowendorf, second vice president ; C. C. McConnell, secretary ; R. M Smith, treasurer ; W. F. MacQueen, attorney.   NEWSPAPERS   Niles' first newspaper was the Niles Register, started in the summer of 1867 by Edward S. Butler and E. E. Moore. It suspended after six months.   The Niles Independent was launched in 1868 by J. H. Fluhart, who sold out in June, 1871, to M. D. Sanderson. In 1872 the paper became the property of Fred C. McDonald and in 1873 was purchased by Dyer and Sanderson. Caught in the crash of 1874, the paper suspended, but was reVived on October I, 1875, by M. D. Sanderson, who made it the Trumbull County Independent. He sold out after a few weeks to N. N. Bartlett and shortly afterward J. H. Fluhart became associated with Mr. Bartlett. In May, 1876, the plant was purchased by McCormick and Williams and subsequently the original name of the Niles Independent was revived. The Independent, a newsy and vigorous weekly, is now owned by Mrs. Ella M. McCormick and edited by A. A. Mooney. It is Democratic in politics.   The Niles News, a Republican daily, was launched in 1890 and after several changes in ownership the Niles Printing and Publishing Company became the Niles Daily News Company in 1918. The ownership of the company is vested in E. R. Smith, who purchased the plant in 1919, and the paper is edited by A. W. Thorpe. Mr. Smith is also the owner of the Newton Falls Herald.   MCKINLEY BIRTHPLACE MEMORIAL   It is peculiarly fitting that the city of Niles should be the site of the McKinley Birthplace Memorial, an institution designed not merely to honor a great President but to serve as a depository for heirlooms pertaining to the McKinley family, documents relating to the life of the late President, memoirs and souvenirs of the political campaigns in the days   Vol. I-31   482 - YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY   when William McKinley was one 0f the foremost statesmen of the country, and state papers relating to his incumbency as President. All the Mahoning Valley is crowded with incidents relating to William McKinley. At Poland he received his later education, enlisted in the Union Army and studied law, at Youngstown he numbered intimate friends and associates from boyhood days and over the industries, the cities and the villages of the valley he exercised a watchful care throughout his entire life, but it was at Niles that he was born and spent his early days.   No memorial of stone is needed to perpetuate his memory here in Northeastern Ohio. Tradition hands down now, and will hand down from generation to generation, the story of his rugged adherence to principles and ideals, his unfaltering Christian faith, his devotion to home, his cheerfulness in the face of adversities, his remarkable charm of manner and his simple democracy and modesty that remained unchanged even after ascending the heights of prominence, responsibility and power. Nor was the birthplace memorial designed in any such narrow sense. It was planned as a national institution and has become one in every sense of the word.   The plan to perpetuate the memory of President McKinley by a fitting monument at his birthplace was first announced at a gathering of the Niles Board of Trade on February 4, Iw0, by Joseph G. Butler, Jr., a boyhood companion and a lifelong friend of William McKinley. The proposal was received with enthusiasm, but it remained for Mr. Butler to bring it to a successful realization, and toward this work he bent his energy and zeal.   Broached to McKinley admirers in all parts of the country the plan received such instant and wholehearted approval that the project expanded rapidly beyond even its original scope. Mr. Butler saw that by consistent presentation of his proposal it would be possible to secure funds sufficient to build something besides the modest structure he had originally planned. The movement became one for the erection of a building that would rank with the finest examples of memorial architecture in the United States. Slightly more than a year was then spent in organizing the move-men thoroughly, and with this work the project took legal form when the movement was incorporated by special act of Congress, passed on March 4, 1911, and signed by President William H. Taft, Vice President James S. Sherman as president of the Senate and Speaker Joseph G. Cannon of the House of Representatives. The incorporators were Joseph G. Butler, Jr., Myron T. Herrick, J. G. Schmidlapp, John G. Milburn and W. A. Thomas. The incorporators met in New York City on May 17, 1911, and elected Joseph G. Butler, Jr., president ; John G. Milburn, vice president ; J. G. Schmidlapp, treasurer ; W. A. Thomas, secretary; the executive committee consisting of Myron T. Herrick, chairman; Joseph G. Butler, Jr., and W. A. Thomas. Mr. Schmidlapp was later succeeded as trustee by H. C. McEldowney; who also became treasurer.   The project was now ready for further presentation to the nation, and it is a matter of congratulation that while Mr. Butler gave largely of the efforts for carrying out the work, the funds for the erection of the memorial have come in a large degree from all the people. It was to make the movement thoroughly democratic that the fee for membership   YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY - 483   in the National McKinley Birthplace Memorial Association was fixed at a small sum, and the McKinley souvenir gold dollar, minted specially by the United States for this purpose was issued.   On their part, the people of Niles gave substantiated evidence of their approval of the project by providing the memorial site. A location on .the ground on which the house in which William McKinley was born actually stood was not possible. This building was removed some years ago to Mineral Ridge, remodeled and later removed again. On the site stands now the building occupied by the McKinley Savings and Loan Company, located in Main Street, about a quarter of a mile from the memorial grounds. The location selected fronts on Main Street, between Park Avenue and Church Street, and on this spot stood the little white schoolhouse in which William McKinley received his earlier education.   The means available and the character of the work to be done made it essential that the best architectural design possible should be selected for the memorial building. Appreciating their responsibility thoroughly, the memorial association trustees decided to secure this design by an archtectural competition, a movement in which the great architects of the United States were invited to participate. Six firms of nation wide prominence submitted plans—all of these being offered without, any marking that would designate the authorship—and f rom the six the judges selected a design by McKim, Mead and Company, of New York, a firm that has designed more important structures of this kind than any other architectural concern in America. The erection of the monument was entrusted to the John H. Parker Company, of New York, and a little more than two years was required for the work of construction. The cornerstone was laid with fitting ceremony on November 20 I925, 'addresses being made on this occasion by President Joseph G. Butler, Jr., of the memorial association, Governor Frank B. Willis of Ohio and Myron T. Herrick, trustee of the memorial association, former governor of Ohio and former ambassador to France. A letter of felicitation was also received from President Woodrow Wilson.   The dedicatory ceremony, on October 5, 1917, was an even more notable event, attracting to Niles an immense gathering of people that represented every state in the Union, officialdom and plain private citizens alike being present to do homage. The number of national officials in attendance was lessened by the fact that the. President and the Congress were then engaged with the momentous questions arising from the World war in which America had announced its part but six months earlier. The ceremonies consisted of a parade, followed by addresses and the dedicatory ritual of the Grand Army of the Republic. President J. G. Butler, Jr., of the memorial association presided as chairman on this occasion and made the opening address, the chief address was delivered by Judge James H. Hoyt, the dedicatory address was delivered by former President William Howard Taft and the closing address by Myron T. Herrick. The memorial was thus formally presented to the nation.   Of the memorial structure itself it can be said that it typifies the spirit of William McKinley. In its simple beauty and unusual design it is one of the most striking monuments in America.   484 - YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY   The building stands amid park-like surroundings in the heart of city of Niles, and, erected of Georgia marble, it is pronounced by ma one of the noblest works of its kind in America. In dimensions it is 232 feet in length and 136 feet in width, with a height of 38 feet. It consists of a semi-circular open court of honor flanked by two lateral wings, the court of honor being laid out as an Italian garden, with hedges, vases and parterres. It is supported by twenty-eight monolithic columns, and about the interior of the court runs a broad walk, flanked by statues of David Tod, war governor of Ohio and pioneer coal operator and iron maker ; Cornelius Newton Bliss, Secretary of the Interior in President   THE NATIONAL MCKINLEY BIRTHPLACE MEMORIAL   McKinley's Cabinet ; Justice William R. Day of the United States Supreme Court ; John Hay, famed American statesman and Secretary of State in the McKinley Cabinet ; Theodore Roosevelt, statesman and William McKinley's successor; former President William Howard Taft, Elihu Root, statesman and attorney general in the McKinley Cabinet; Philander C. Knox, statesman and now United States senator, and M. A. Hanna, United States senator from Ohio, manufacturer, intimate friend of William. McKinley and manager of his presidential campaign. Surmounting them all, and toward the rear of the open part of the court of honor is a heroic marble statue of President William McKinley, the work of the famous American sculptor, J. Massey Rhind, who pronounces it the   YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY - 485   greatest of his life efforts. It is a wonderful likeness of the late president and a faithful representation of the subject in his noblest mood, that of statesman engrossed in the heavy task of steering the ship of state and formulating the policies of the world's greatest nation.   To the right of the court of honor is the main assembly hall—designed to accommodate an audience of i,000 and provided with comfortable seats—a semi-circular stage, dressing rooms and all necessary adjuncts. The acoustics are excellent, the lighting and heating designed with the utmost care. This auditorium, equipped with a large motion picture machine, has been placed at the disposal of the public for all gatherings worthy of such a meeting place and its use is invoked with growing frequency.   To the left of the court of honor, as one enters, is located the public library wing, equal in size to the auditorium. This wing, however, is of two-story construction, the first being devoted t0 the library proper, while the second, reached by marble stairways, contains the museum, or McKinley memorial rooms, Grand Army of the Republic meeting place and meeting room of the township trustees.   The McKinley museum, or historical room, was designed as a resting place for relics and souvenirs associated with the life of the late president. Many mementoes of this kind have already been received and the number is being augmented daily by offerings from those who possess relics of William McKinley and wish to see them placed not alone where they may inspire the sightseer but will be forever safe from the ravages of time. Here such mementoes will be absolutely safe from destruction by fire or accident. A careful record is kept of such articles, the name of donor or lender, and such additi0nal information as is appropriate.   Within the building arranged in a manner to constitute a notable "Hall of Fame," are appropriate busts and tablets commem0rative of the men whose industry and influence has made ,them marked figures in the industrial and political history of America.   The bronze bust of Henry C. Frick stands within the main library room. Others who are commemorated by busts are, Jonathan Warner, pioneer in the Lake Superior iron ore region and the Mahoning Valley in ore development and pig iron making ; George F. Baker, president of the First National Bank of New York and one of the founders of the United States Steel Corporation ; James A. Farrell, president of the United States Steel Corporation ; E. H. Gary, jurist, chairman of the United States Steel Corporation, and president of the American Iron and Steel Institute ; James. H. Hoyt, lawyer and orator; Alexander L. Crawford, industrial leader and pioneer in production of block coal and promotion of railroads and blast furnaces ; James Ward, first maker of wrought iron in the Mahoning Valley; B. F. Jones, A. M. Byers, Henry W. Oliver, Andrew Carnegie, John R. Thomas, C. H. Andrews, L. E. Cochran, Frank Buhl and John W. Gates, giants in the iron and steel business. Commemorated by busts are James Heaton, founder of Niles and builder of the first blast furnace in the Mahoning Valley ; Frank H. Mason, Thomas Struthers, Joseph H. Brown and Richard Brown, whose names are inseparably connected with the story of iron making.   486 - YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY   The public library, occupying the entire ground floor in the left wing of the memorial building, is deserving of especial mention. The Niles Library Association was formed in 1908 and, supported by private subscription and by city and school board appropriations, started in a modest way in a room in State Street. Later the library was removed to the postoffice building where it remained until 1916 when a building on the McKinley Memorial grounds was occupied for a year. In 1917, with the completion of the memorial building; the library was installed therein and in 1918 the name of the organization was changed to the Memorial Library Association, although it is a municipal institution and discharges all the functions of a public library.   It is doubtful if there is a public library in any other American city the size of Niles that is so splendidly equipped. The main library room is large and commodious, and serves also as the memorial registry, for the memorial building is a daily Mecca for sightseers and a record of all these is kept. In addition there, are, to the right and left, the children's reading room, adults' reading room, reference rooms, magazine room and library office, while to the rear are large stack rooms, equipped with three story stacks. The library contains more than 8,000 volumes, including 1,000 given by the late Henry C. Frick, and its circulation last year was 42,922.   The library is cared for by Miss Ida E. Sloan, librarian, who has two assistants. Officers of the library association are, D. J. Finney, president; A. J. Bentley, vice president; G. R. Millet'', treasurer. These, with Mrs. Kate. H. Strock, Miss Carrie E. Jones, T. E. Thomas, J. E. Thomas, G. H. Trimber and A. B. Campfield, make up the board of trustees.   The McKinley Memorial Building is designed to occupy, with its ground, an entire square. Thus far it has not been possible to secure all the property necessary to this end, but since such a structure should have an appropriate setting it is felt that ultimately all the other buildings within this square will be razed and the ground devoted to memorial purposes. The grounds surrounding the building are already extensive and artistically laid out under the direction of a competent landscape artist.   To provide for the maintenance of this institution an endowment fund has been created, this being fixed at $200,000. In raising the original fund Henry C. Frick was the largest contributor with a gift of $50,000, but there were numerous small contributors, many of them giving one dollar, and the endowment has also been made of large and small contributions alike.   PROMINENT ORGANIZATIONS   While the Chamber of Commerce and Memorial Library Association are the leading civic bodies of Niles there are numerous organizations founded on fraternal and similar lines.   Court Providence Lodge No. 5, Foresters of America, is an outgrowth of Court Providence Lodge, Ancient Order of Foresters, instituted on December 28, 1862. Mahoning Lodge, No. 394, Free and Accepted   YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY - 487   Masons was granted a charter on June 22, 1867, and is still a thriving organization, other Masonic lodges being, Mount Moriah Lodge, No. 46. Ancient Free and Accepted Masons ; Trumbull Chapter, No. 5, Royal Arch Masons ; Niles Council, No. 1, Royal and Select Masters ; St. John's Commandery; No. 1, Knights Templar ; Ida McKinley Chapter, No. 229, Order of the Eastern Star.   Falcon Lodge, No. 436, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was instituted in January, 1870. The allied association is Ferndale Lodge, No. 607, Daughters of Rebekah. The Independent Order of Odd Fellows is one of the prominent structures of Niles and its meeting hall is the gathering place of many societies.   Other organizations of this character include William McKinley Post, No. 106, American Legion ; a newly organized Elks Lodge; Niles Council, 1681, Knights of Columbus, instituted in April, 1913 ; Niles Lodge, No. 436, Knights of Pythias ; Trumbull County Division, No. 18, Uniform Rank Knights of Pythias, Ada H. Assembly, No. 47, Pythian Sisters ; McPherson Post, No. 16, Grand Army 0f the Republic ; McPherson Corps, No. 260, Woman's Relief Corps ; McKinley Memorial Lodge, No. 96, Sons of Veterans; Nancy Allison Tent, No. 36, Daughters of Civil War Veterans; Trumbull Conclave, No. 1135, Royal Arcanum ; Niles Castle, No. 72, Knights of the Golden Eagle ; Nancy McKinley Lodge, No. 35, Ladies of the Golden Eagle ; Niles Tent, No. 66, Maccabees ; Niles Review, No. 44, Women's Benefit Association of Maccabees ; Niles Circle, No. 22, Protected Home Circle ; Branch No. 71, Catholic Mutual Benefit Association ; Branch No. 710, Ladies Catholic Benev0lent Association ; Gennessee Tribe, No. 15, Improved Order of Red Men ; Ponemah Council, No. 14, Daughters of Pocahontas ; Division No. 1, Ancient Order of Hibernians ; Division No. 1, Ladies Auxiliary Ancient Order of Hibernians ; Progressive Council, No. 314, Junior Order of United American Mechanics; Niles Lodge, No. 2978, Knights and Ladies of Honor; Niles Camp, No. 5076, Modern Wo0dmen of America ; Niles Lodge, No. 627, Loyal Order of Moose ; Niles Home, N0. 50, Home Guards of America ; Niles Lodge, No. 308, American Insurance Union ; Niles Aerie, No. 1476, Fraternal Order of Eagles.; Niles Council, No. 151, Daughters of America; Order of the Sons of Italy.   CHURCHES   The first religious organization in Niles, or Weathersfield Township, was a Methodist Episcopal Sunday School class formed in 1814 by Rev. Samuel Lane, a circuit rider. This class was organized at the home of Ebenezer Roller, who lived within what is now the City of Niles.   From this small beginning grew the Methodist Episcopal congregation that is now the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Niles. A plain church building was erected in 1870, and sufficed until the present church, a most creditable structure, was put up in 1908. This building stands at Park Avenue and Arlington Street. The congregation is a flourishing one, with Rev. E. A. Jester as pastor.   488 - YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY   PRESBYTERIAN   On application made in 1838 Rev. William O. Stratton of the New Lisbon Presbytery was appointed to organize a Presbyterian Church at Niles, for Weathersfield Township members of this denomination, At a meeting held at the Niles schoolhouse at Niles, Miller Blachly, Phoebe Blachly, Eben Blachly, Anna Blachly, Miller Blackly, Jr., Mary Blachly, Robert Quigley, Catherine Reiter, Andrew Trew, Margaret Biggart, Elizabeth Biggart, James McCombs, Elizabeth McCombs and Eleanor Bell were duly enrolled and the First Presbyterian Church of Niles organized. The congregation was supplied until July 11, 1867, when Rev, T. Calvin Stewart was named as the first resident pastor, remaining until 1876. The congregation has a commodious church building at Main and Church streets, and has a large membership. Rev. E. S. Tonsmeier is the present pastor.   The Second Presbyterian Church was originally organized as the Welsh Presbyterian Church in the day when Niles had a large Welsh-speaking population. It dates back to about 1870. The congregation met at first in the church building of the Cumberland Presbyterians, a denomination no longer in existence. Rev. John Moses was the first pastor. The church has retained the membership of the families that founded it but is now an English-speaking congregation. Rev, E, S. Robert is pastor.   CHRISTIAN   The First Christian Church of Niles was organized in 184o by an evangelist, Elder John Henry, with a charter membership numbering Elder Joshua Carle, Margaret Carle, Elder A. Jackson Cluse, Eleanor Cluse, Deacon Jacob Robeson, Dorcia Robeson, Deacon Samuel Burnett, Deacon Lewis Heaton, Milly Ann Heaton, Nancy Carle, Josiah Dunlap, Polly Dunlap, William Winfield, Seymour Hake and others. Members of the Mason and Robbins families were also early members.   The first church was erected and dedicated in 1844, and Rev. Hervey Brockett was the first minister, although Reverend Henry, founder of the congregation, presided at the dedication. More ample church accommodations were arranged later and in 1894 the present modern church building was constructed at Church and Arlington streets. In 1919 the Church Lot Club was organized in the congregation to raise the sum of $15,000 from members and by March 1, 1920, the goal had been reached, The congregation is one of the largest in Niles. Rev. W. H. McLain is the present pastor.   ROMAN CATHOLIC   Roman Catholic services at Niles began in 1853 when the village was made a station attached by the Dungannon, Columbiana County, church, Rev. Francis Stroker being the first attending priest. In 1858 Niles was attached to the newly founded St. Columba's parish at Youngstown as a   YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY - 489   station and in 1864 was made a mission. In this year Rev. E. M. O'Callaghan of St. Columba's built the original St. Stephen's church, a small frame building, and in July, 1865, Rev. A. R. Sidley was named as the first resident pastor, remaining until 1868. In 1888 a movement was begun for the erection of a new church and the present brick structure was built in 1890-91 under the direction of Rev. F. M. Scullin, who came as pastor in 1889 and remained for many years. First services were held on Christmas day, 1891, and the church was dedicated on May 8, 1892. St. Stephen's is a growing parish, in charge of Rev. D. B. Crotty.   Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, Robbins Avenue, is a younger Catholic parish. Rev. Nicholas Santoro is the pastor of this congregation.   BAPTIST   The Niles Baptist Church was organized in 1868 and the first church building was erected in 1872-73, Rev. I. T. Griffith being the first pastor. He was succeeded by Rev. D. C. Thomas who remained for a number of years. The Baptist Church is a frame building in East Church Street and plans are now under way for remodeling this structure and improving it extensively. The congregation is a good-sized one, with Rev. R. J. Murphy as pastor.   PRIMITIVE METHODIST   The Primitive Methodist congregation in Niles was organized in 1873 by Rev. M. Harvey, who remained as the first pastor, the membership of the church being made up largely of mill workers. The church building is located at Bert and Olive streets, the congregation being attended by Reverend McPhee.   EPISCOPAL   St. Luke's Episcopal Church was formed in 1890 and remained a mission until 1914 when it became a parish. The parish has a neat and modern church building in Robbins Avenue and an attendance of approximately 250. Rev. F. C. Roberts has been pastor since 1917.   OTHER CHURCHES   There are several other churches and missions, including the Christ English Lutheran congregation, Rev. C. A. Dennig, pastor, that meets in the old high school building, and the International Bible Students' organization.   SCHOOLS   The first schoolhouse at Niles, probably the first one in Weathersfield Township, has been described before. It was a small log building located south of the river. After the founding of James Heaton's pioneer in-   490 - YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY   dustries another school was built on the bluff above the grist mill, no the heart of the city. This school was probably in existence by 1815   In the '30s there appears to have been a brick schoolhouse at Nil one-room building, of course, and about the time the village was laid a white frame schoolhouse was built on the present site of the Mc ley Memorial Building. It was in this structure that William McKin received his earlier education, his first teacher being Alva Sanford, kno locally as "Santa Ana," perhaps from some supposed resemblance to the Mexican general-president, or perhaps as a humorous tribute to peaceful nature as distinguished from the warlike, bloody Mexican w was then leading the war against the United States.   With the incorporation of Niles Village and the rapid growth of the municipality in Civil war days and immediately thereafter a Union school district was organized with Josiah Robbins, Jr., T. C. Stewart, S, D. Young, William Davis, W. C. Mason and William Campbell as the first school board. This organization was effected in 1869 and in the same year it was decided to build a modern school building for the village, at a cost of $15,000. This amount later was increased and in 1871 the school building was ready for occupancy.   At the time of its erection this school structure was easily the best in Trumbull County; being a three-story brick building with the best furnishings obtainable. It sufficed as a union school and high school f Niles for more than forty years and is even yet not entirely in disuse being used for the manual training department of the Niles schools.   In October, 1869, Rev. T. Calvin Stewart was elected superintendent of the school district, giving two days a week to this work in connection with his duties as pastor of the Presbyterian Church. Reverend Stewart served capably for two years, being succeeded by L. L. Campbell. In addition to the high school there were two primary school buildings at Niles in the early days of the school district.   The old high school sufficed for Niles until 1914 when the present high school structure was built and opened. This building, located in West Church Street is a large and attractive structure of light brick and ranks among the best high schools of Northeastern Ohio. The building has thirty-one rooms and a gymnasium and auditorium.   Within the City of Niles there are also six grade school buildings. The Niles school district extends outside the city, covering a territory of five square miles and including the McKinley Heights School.   Superintendent W. C. Campbell, under whom the Niles schools made notable progress, retired in June, 1920, and was succeeded by Samuel L. Ebey, a competent educator and executive. The staffs of the other schools with the city follow :   Senior High School—J. Boyd Davis, principal ; Esther Mayer, French and English ; Mrs. Charles E. Mull, English ; LaVerne Delin, Latin; Eliza Allison, history ; Ellen Holst, Spanish ; Willis Neuenschwander, history; Miles Dearth, physics and chemistry ; Minnie Roth, mathematics; Eulalie Hill, shorthand and typewriting; Guy Ross, bookkeeping; Charles E. Mull, manual training; Mrs. Mary Watson, printing.   Junior High School.—Seventh Grade : Reba Hadley, mathematics   YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY - 491   Hilda Thomas, geography ; Hazel Hewitt, English; Mrs. Alta Jones, istory.   Eighth Grade : Ethel Hadley, history ; Elenor Galster, mathematics; Anna Hostetler, English; Betty Nelson, civics and elementary science.   Ninth Grade : Alice M. Gilbert, mathematics ; Faye Motz, English; Marion Maiden, Latin ; Otto Dearth, general science ; Mrs. J. Boyd Davis, bookkeeping; J. S. Blair, manual training.   Cedar Street.—Rebekah A. Cook, principal ; Nellie Pickett, Gertrude Nims, Mrs. Emmit Baker, Miss Lula Hall, Alma Evans, Pauline Crofford, Florence Waldorf, Mrs. Earl Tritt.   Warren Avenue.—Mrs. Kittie Craig, principal ; Mrs. Frank Forney, Mrs, George Alexander, Mrs. Fred Baer, Hilda Underwood, C. E. Bliss, Eva Ballentine, Leta Crisler.   NILES HIGH SCHOOL   Bentley Avenue.—Helene Sliffe, principal ; Lyda Peterson, Beryl Spafford, Edna Millard, Ida Trumbull, Margaret Mackey, Edna Brown, Mabel Neiss.   Bert Street.—Mary A. Morrall, principal ; Beatrice Millard, Lilian McCulloch, Freda Moats.   Third Street.—Louise McLloyd, principal ; Clara Haible, Mrs. Rutheda Crofford, Ellen Messenger.   Leslie Avenue.—Violet Madley, principal ; Edyth Hadley.   Special Teachers.—Olga DeVries, domestic art ; Dorothy Williams, domestic science ; Beatrice Dickinson, physical training; J. C. Loman, athletic coach; Jane 0. Dorsey, supervisor of music; Eileen M. Gorham, supervisor of penmanship ; Rena Pottorf, supervisor of drawing; J. L. Cleaver, Smith-Hughes Co-ordinators.   The high school is a first grade institution, on the accredited list of the North Central Association of. Colleges and Universities. The enroll-   492 - YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY   ment of the high school is approximately 400 and of the grade schools, 1900.   Members of the Niles board of education include, Fred Williams president ; R. M. Haun, clerk ; Mrs. Miriam Kelly, F. C. Wagstaff and James Clark.   St. Stephen's parochial school was organized in 1868. In 1893 the old church building was converted into scho0l rooms but in 1900 a modern brick school structure was erected in Arlington Street on the site of the old building. In 1898 an academy was opened and still flourishes. Both these schools hold a high rank among Niles educational institutions.   PUBLIC AFFAIRS   For more than a half century of its existence Niles was an unincorporated part of Weathersfield Township and under township rule. The township was formally organized in 1809, having been part of the civil township of Warren before that time. There is no record of the first officers elected.   In 1843 Niles became a postoffice station, and on August 27, 1864, a petition was presented to the commissioners of Trumbull County asking the incorporation of the village. This petition read :   "To the Commissioners of Trumbull County, State of Ohio :   "We, the undersigned, inhabitants and qualified voters of Weathersfield Township in said county, not embraced within the limits of any city or incorporated village, desire that the following described territory within the township of Weathersfield be organized into an incorporated village, to wit:   "Beginning at a stake or c0rner of the farm of John Fee near the dwelling of H. H. Mason, and running west one mile to a stake or corner on the land belonging to the heirs of J0hn A. Hunter, deceased, near the dwelling of S. H. Pew, thence due south one and one-fourth miles to a stake or corner on the farm of John Battles, thence east one mile to a stake or corner on the farm of C. S. Campbell, thence north to the place of beginning—an accurate map or plat thereof is hereunto affixed—and that said village be named and called Niles, and that A. M. Blackford be authorized to act in behalf of the petitioners in prosecuting this claim,"   The petition was granted and on January 23, 1866, the first municipal election was held. H. H. Mason was named mayor ; James Draa, recorder; James Ward, Jr., William Davis, David Griffiths, Richard Holton and Henry Shaffer, members of council.   The present city officials, for the term 1920-21, include Charles Crow, mayor; W. F. MacQueen, solicitor ; Howard Rosensteel, treasurer; Homer Thomas, auditor and clerk ; Samuel Cartwright, president of council ; John Stafford, Joseph Rummell, James Holloway, Murray Wick, James Lapolla, Harty Hughes and R. J. Hubbard, councilmen ; B. L. Hogan, director of public service ; George Pendleberry, director of public safety ; Frank Ward, city engineer.   Niles long ago reached the city class and in 1883 a city hall was built in West Park Avenue. This building is still in use, being the police and   YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY - 493   fire headquarters as well as the mayor's office. Next door is the site of the proposed new postoffice.   The police department came into existence when the office of marshal was created on the incorporation of the village. With the advancement of Niles to the city class the marshal was displaced by a chief of police, L, J. Rounds holding this position n0w. The Niles fire department was organized as a volunteer institution in 1870 and a second hand engine was used until 1875 when a modern steamer was purchased. T. D. Thomas was chief of the department from the time of its organization until 1880, when George W. Bear was named for the place. The department is now motorized and well equipped, being under the direction of Chief A. I. Orr.   The Niles water works came into existence about 1891 as a municipal utility, the first water supply coming from artesian wells. Later an intake was built to bring water from, the Mahoning River. The water works building is an ample brick structure, and in 1909 a filtration plant was added, A reservoir on Robbins hill gives good pressure to all parts of the city. The municipal lighting plant is also in the water works building, Power is furnished by the Hydro-Electric Company. Bert Holloway is the city superintendent of water and light.   The 1920 census gave Niles a population of 13,080. This is a gain of 4,179, or 56.4 per cent, over 1910.   CHAPTER XXIV   STRUTHERS   FOUNDING OF SETTLEMENT THAT HAS DEVELOPED INTO AN ENTERPRIS ING CITY-EARLY DAYS AND GRADUAL GROWTH TO VILLAGE AND TWENTIETH CENTURY INDUSTRIAL CENTER-STRUTHERS IN A BU NESS, EDUCATIONAL AND RELIGIOUS WAY.   Struthers as a settlement is almost as old as Youngstown, and as village has been in existence for more than half a century. Modern Struthers, h0wever, is purely a twentieth century municipality, its story going back for scarcely twenty years.   On August 30, 1798, John Struthers,. from Washington County, Pennsylvania, purchased from Turhand Kirtland 400 acres of Poland Township land, this tract being the present site of Struthers. Lying at the mouth of Yellow Creek and containing a good mill site, it was desirable land, yet considered less valuable perhaps than that farther up Yellow Creek where the Village of Poland was to be located.   Struthers settled on his new possessions on October 19, 1799. His first cabin, according to J. W. Sexton, a life long resident of Struthers and a grandson of Stephen Sexton, one of the early settlers of Poland Township, was built on the site now occupied by the parsonage of St. Nicholas' Church. In 1800 he built a grist mill, the first in Poland Township and to this later added a sawmill, both of these, of course, being located on Yellow Creek. Here, too, in August, 1800, was born Ebenezer Struthers, the first male white native of Poland Township,   In 1802 or 1803 Daniel Eaton built a blast furnace on Yellow Creek, located south of Struthers' land. John Struthers also saw the possibility of the iron business and in 1806 he associated himself with Robert Montgomery and David Clendennin in the erection of a second stack, this being on Struthers' land, and about a mile and a half down Yellow Creek from Eaton's furnace. Subsequently Struthers, Montgomery and Clendennin also purchased the Eaton stack.   The diminutive Struthers stack prospered until the War of 1812, a conflict that called away available workmen and left the furnace idle, Struthers' stack was never again operated and Struthers himself emerged from the havoc of the war with his industry and his lands gone. To his sorrow was added the death of his son, Lieutenant Alexander Struthers, who was killed at Detroit in the latter part of 1813. Struthers removed to Coitsville Township and was later elected sheriff of Trumbull County. Here in his new h0me another tragedy came into his life   - 494 -   YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY - 495   in 1826 when his two daughters, Drucilla and Emma Struthers, were drowned while crossing the Mahoning River in a skiff at the site of the present City of Struthers.   For more than three score years the site of the present municipality could scarcely rank even as a village. The construction of the Pennsylvania and Ohio Canal in 1839-40 was a boon to Youngstown and gave considerable impetus to the youthful Village of Lowellville but had little influence on the settlement at the mouth of Yellow Creek. It remained for the railroad to bring Struthers to life.   Thomas Struthers, son of John Struthers, had located in Warren, Pennsylvania, following the family adversity, and in 1865 b0ught back the family homestead, or much of it, and laid out the village that he gave his family name to. The younger Struthers had prospered in his new home, and with prosperity fulfilled this hope of a lifetime. Two railroads came through the site of the town, a postoffice was established in 1866 with Richard Olney as postmaster, and about 1867 Thomas Struthers revived industry there by erecting a saw mill.   Iron making, the pioneer industry, was revived in 1869 on a modern scale with the construction of the Anna furnace by the Struthers Iron Company, an enterprise promoted by John Struthers, associated with T. W. Kennedy, John Stambaugh and John Stewart, Daniel B. Stambaugh and T. W. Stewart later becoming members of the firm. This industry gave a real impetus to the new village, and to round out his activities Thomas Struthers erected a hotel in 1873 that gave Struthers Village a creditable standing.   Even with this start the growth of Struthers was leisurely. It became an agricultural-industrial community rather than a strictly industrial one. Its connections with Youngstown and other Mahoning Valley towns were better than those of rural villages of the county because of the railroads, but between the village and Youngstown was only a great stretch of farming territ0ry. To the blast furnace and sawmill, the only industries in 1880, was added the sheet mill plant of the Summers' Brothers Company, built by Samuel and William Summers in the early '80s. Later still, in 1888, was built the plant of the J. A, and D. P. Cooper Gear Company.   For more than a dozen years this latter works was the village's most famed industry. A good percentage 0f the populati0n depended upon it ; in fact it was looked upon as a village, rather than a mere private, institution. The annual picnics of the Cooper plant assumed the aspect of civic outpourings. Business was suspended in all lines for the day and Fourth of July was hardly observed more zealously. Struthers' residents who are still young can recall these days, and do recall them with delight.   Yet one hundred years after John Struthers had built his first cabin and erected the saw mill and grist mill plant Struthers was still a village of somewhat less than a thousand inhabitants. The blast furnace had passed into the ownership of Brown, Bonnell Iron Company and still later into the possession of the Struthers Furnace Company, with W. C. Runyon of Cleveland as the chief stockholder. The Summers   496 - YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY   Brothers sheet mill plant had been transferred to Warner and Patterson and thence to the ownership of the American Sheet and Tin Plate Company, but no industries had been added.   In 1899 Struthers was brought into closer communication with Youngstown and the upper Mahoning Valley by the construction of the interurban electric line, and two years later saw the beginning of the erection of the neighboring village of East Youngstown, following the incorporation of the Youngstown Iron, Sheet and Tube Company late in 1900.   Modern Struthers dates from the beginning of work on the construction of the initial units of this great work in 1901. It was not a Struthers enterprise, yet the site selected was almost on the edge of the village, although on the opposite side of the river from that occupied by the village. This proximity, and the fact that the founding of this plant was accepted as the beginning of a greater industrial era in the entire Struthers neighborhood brought on a "boom" in the village.   The years 1901 and 1902 were therefore periods of activity and of enthusiasm. The population grew rapidly and the community took on another aspect. New stores and new allotments sprang up ; the main street became something more than a village road.   Up to this time Struthers was a mere unincorporated part of Poland Township but the need of a better government became apparent and in November, 1902, Struthers was made a formally incorporated municipality. The first village election was held on December 6, 1902, after a short campaign into which Struthers entered with all the ardor of an old municipality. The first village officers, elected on this occasion, included Thomas Roberts as mayor; Andrew E. Black, clerk ; Seth McNab, treasurer; George Demmil, marshal ; George, Zumpky, William Maurice, Harry Swager, W. A. Morrison, Clark McCombs and John H. Shaffer as councilmen.   Struthers' growth has been rapid since 1902, and the village—or city—has kept pace commercially with the growth in population. Its manufacturing possibilities are limited by its location between high hills, yet it is an important industrial community today. Except for the Struthers Furnace Company, which still remains' an independent company, operating the only strictly merchant blast furnace in the Ma-honing Valley proper, its industries are confined almost entirely to departments of the Youngstown Sheet and Tube Company that justified early optimism by spreading to the village. The plant of the American Sheet and Tin Plate Company eventually came into the ownership of the Sheet and Tube Company and the site is now occupied by the conduit plant of this great concern. Another industry that sprang up in Struthers in 1902 was the Youngstown Manufacturing Company, manufacturers of nuts and bolts. This works passed to the ownership of the Morgan Spring Company and still later became the property of the Youngstown Sheet and Tube Company, the location now being occupied by the rod and wire department of this company. The Ward Nail Company is Struthers' most recent industry.   The Struthers Savings and Banking Company, the pioneer financial   YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY - 497   concern of the municipality, opened for business on July 1, 1902, and remained in existence until April 3, 1920, when it was closed by the State Banking Department, following the discovery of gross mismanagement and misappropriation of its funds.   A branch bank of the Dollar Savings & Trust Company, of Youngstown, was opened at Struthers in June, 1920, and occupies the quarters of the original bank.   The Home Savings and Loan Company of Youngstown operates a branch institution in Struthers, the second business house of this kind in the municipality. In 1919 the company built a splendid building in Poland Avenue to replace the temporary quarters used until that time.   Struthers has a weekly newspaper in the Struthers Tribune, founded in 1914 by H. I. Countryman and still published by him. It is Republican in politics and is issued each Thursday.   The Struthers Chamber of Commerce is the city's business commercial organization. Its membership includes the progressive residents of the community and its officers number L. S. Baldwin as president ; J, J, Hill and Charles Pleas as vice presidents; Bruce R. Campbell, treasurer; George L. Sauer, secretary. The Rural Community Improvement club is an active organization for Lyon Plat and other suburbs.   Struthers has made many municipal improvements and progressive residents are working for more. It has several good business blocks, but also has too many buildings of this kind not in keeping with the wealth of the community.   SCHOOLS   At an early day in the Western Reserve, perhaps as early as 1801, a school was started in a log house where Struthers now stands. This was before there was a school at Youngstown 0r Poland Village: Tradition records that Perlee Brush, the first school teacher in Youngstown, was also the first teacher in Poland Township, and if this is true his service there must have antedated even his service at Youngstown.   Whether a school was maintained continuously here after that date cannot be determined, but after the founding of the village country school facilities prevailed. Twenty years ago the village school system consisted of but four one-room buildings, but shortly after this date the first of the modern brick buildings was erected and occupied.   The Struthers school district embraces not only the municipality but some territory outside, and in the last ten years considerable gain has been recorded educationally. The program mapped out has been to abandon the antiquated 0ne-room buildings but even the construction of increased accommodations did not serve to do this until 1920, owing to the rapid growth of the place.   The present school facilities include the Elm Street building of eight rooms; Highland Avenue building, eight rooms ; Sexton Street building, ten rooms ; Center Street building, twelve rooms; and the newly built high school structure in Euclid Avenue, a thirty-room building.   Vol. I-32   498 - YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY   The present school staff includes W. P. Moody as superintendent; Ray S. Palmer, high school principal; Raymond A. McBride, William G. Oyler and Carrie Coburn, grade school principals ; L. H. Behney, C. E. Seeger, Hilda Vogan, Elizabeth Wenger, Ethel Milligan and Mary Alana Dennison, high school teachers ; George Oyler, eighth grade teacher ; Elizabeth Meade, Binnie Struble and Paul Buchanan, seventh grades ; Mary Evans, Mrs. Clara Lee, Anna Smith, Paulina Cooke, sixth grades; Mrs. Mary Jayne, Catherine Richards, Rachel Becker, fifth grades ; Dorothy Shive, Elva Hinton, Mrs. Ray Palmer, Mrs, Patricia Lowry, Mrs. Ruth Behney, fourth grades ; Bertha Thompson, Alice James, Mrs. Gladys Williams, Florence Erskine, third grades; Mrs, Harriet B. Fredericks, Mrs. Bertha Williams, Sarah Oyler, Florence Irving, Mrs. Bessie Gough, Margaret Rhodes, second grades ; Gertrude Demming, Catherine Roberts, Mrs. James Bennett, Helen Morris, Mrs, Jane Stansbury, Grace Davis, first grades; Mrs. Florence Pond, supervisor of domestic art ; Carrie Coburn, supervisor of penmanship; Goldie McClintock, supervisor of music ; H. D. Pollen, assistant principal.   The new high scho0l was built in 1920 at a cost of $275,000 and is a community building as well as a school. In addition to class rooms it has an auditorium with a capacity of 800, complete domestic science equipment and equipment for the other arts and a splendid gymnasium, With its completion the two remaining one-room school buildings of the old regime were abandoned by Struthers.   At the Sexton Street School in the last session Superintendent Moody inaugurated a half-day school system that proved so successful that it attracted the attention of national educational authorities, being the first of its kind in the State and operated under state approval, Two sets of teachers were used in carrying out this system, pupils attending half-day sessions six days a week. This innovation was made necessary by the congested state of the schools before the construction of the new high school buildings.   The Struthers school district is entirely separate from the county school system. The board that administers its affairs consists of C, E, Kimmel, president ; S. L. Friedman, A. B. Stough, John J. Hill and Harry M. Kerr, with Seth McNab as clerk.   PUBLIC AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES   Struthers has two public playgrounds, using this word in the sense of playgrounds for adults as well as children, in Yellow Creek Park and Campbell Park.   Yellow Creek Park is a municipal institution, and while it is already a most desirable outing place present provisions for the park will be only a beginning if Struthers is at all alive to its opportunities, The wildly beautiful gorge of Yellow Creek, rivaling that of Mill Creek at Youngstown, begins within the village and extends practically for miles, Between Struthers and Hamilton Lake of the Mahoning Valley Water Company it is especially beautiful. The valley, or gorge, is of various widths, the hillsides steep and covered with evergreen, the fall of water   YOUNGSTOWN AND THE MAHONING VALLEY - 499   in the creek abundant and resembling a rushing mountain stream rather than a midwest waterway. Happily it has not been marred by its contact with civilization and it is still possible to preserve the entire valley.   Yellow Creek Park occupies only the lower part of the gorge, beginning at the village. It has not been improved as yet to the extent it should be, but already has a dam, swimming pool, shelter houses and picnic grounds and provision is being made for increasing the size of the pool. Within this park is the site of the old furnace built by John Struthers and his associates in 1806.   The affairs of the park are administered by a board consisting of John E. Longnecker, Charles Pleas, B. F. Diefenderfer and Otis Heldman.   Campbell Park is a Youngstown Sheet and Tube Company institution, but lies largely within the village. It occupies a smaller, but pretty, gorge, and has been improved by liberal donations from the company that sponsored it. It too has a pool, playgrounds and special provisions for picnics, outings of all kinds and athletics.   The Struthers Reading Circle is a pr0gressive women's organization, with Mrs. Seth McNab as president. This organization has done much in a social and educational way and is the leading spirit now in the movement to establish a Struthers public library, an institution much needed in the municipality. The library will be established in the new corporation building.   Struthers fraternal organizations include Struthers Lodge, 933; Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and lodges of the Maccabees, Protective Home Circle, Daughters of Isabella, Knights of Pythias Lodge No. 720, and Eagles. Many members of the Masonic fraternity, the Knights of Columbus and similar organizations at Youngstown reside at Struthers.   MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT   Since its incorporation eighteen years ago Struthers has remained under the village form of government, but the present administration: is the last village body that will rule over the city. The census of 1920 placed Struthers in the city class, with a population of 5,847, and the 1921 election will be held for city officers as provided by the Ohio code.   The present municipal officers of Struthers include : Horace L. Wilson, mayor; Seth J. McNab, clerk ; j. F. Pearce, treasurer ; Henry Rex, marshal; Perry Robison, solicitor; Hugh B. Houston, John C. Kochis, Jesse A. McCleery, George L. Sauer and J0seph H. Wills, councilmen. Hugh B. Houston is president of the body. C. A. Haessly is engineer ; Harry H. Swager, street commissioner and D. C. Moore supervisor of health affairs for Struthers, Lowellville and Lyon Plat, the latter being a populous suburb just outside Struthers. William Dehn is postmaster.   The fire department is a volunteer institution with M. J. Dittmar as chief and the police department, under Marshal Henry Rex, includes Andrew L. Lindsay and William McCarthy, desk sergeants ; George W: