HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS OF THE MAHONING VALLEY-page 18

Poland is the southeast township of the tract of land known as the Connecticut Western Reserve, and is range No. 1, township No. 1. By the diary of the late Turhand Kirtland, I find he arrived here with Esquire Law and six other men on the 1st day of August, 1798. On the fourth day of the same month Alfred Wolcott, a surveyor, commenced running the south line of the township; August 18th, found a mill site on Yellow Creek; August 31st, sold to John Struthers, of Cannonsburg, Pennsylvania, four hundred acres of land, through which Yellow Creek ran. There were two mill sites upon the stream and on his land. On the 20th day of May, 1799, Jonathan Fowler and family came, and were the first white settlers in the township. They landed at Powers's landing, in the township of Youngstown. They came from Guilford, Connecticut (left there October 19, 1799), to Pittsburg by land conveyance; thence by water down the Ohio to the Beaver; up the Beaver and Mahoning Rivers in a canoe. The first night they encamped at the root of a tree which had fallen; shortly after, moved into a log cabin built from logs which Squire Law had prepared beforehand. He built the first grist and saw mill built at Poland village, in the year 1801. Also built, in 1804, and kept the stone tavern, which is still kept as a public house. He was drowned in the Beaver River on the 12th of April, A. D. 1806, while attempting to cross the Falls in a canoe, accidentally falling overboard. Although being reported an excellent swimmer, was unable to save himself from drowning. Mrs. Rachel Riley, of Poland village, his daughter (to whom we are indebted for many facts), was the first white female child born in the township, which event occurred February 16, 1800.

October 19, 1799, John Struthers and family arrived, and settled on his purchase. Ebenezer, his son, was the first white male child, and was born in August, 1801. In 1800 John Arrell bought the land now occupied by his sons. John M'Gill bought a tract of land with a mill site on the Mahoning River, where the village of Lowell now is. Jacob Dawson purchased a tract, and settled upon it. Rev Duncan purchased a tract, and settled upon it on the north side of the Mahoning, adjoining the Pennsylvania line. He was the first pastor of United Presbyterian Church in Poland. He also preached upon what is called M'Bride's Hill, sometimes known as the "tent," across the line, in the State of Pennsylvania.

John Dixon, Patrick M'Keever, Samuel Lowden, Wm. M'Connill, Samuel W. and John Hineman, Joseph Cowden, Jonathan Frazier, Samuel M'Cullough, Andrew Dunlap, William Dunlap, and Ludwig Ripple, all came into the township, purchased the land, and settled.

In 1801 came Francis Henry and family, Wm. Back, Thos. Gordon, and John Gordon and families. Isaac Buchanan, James Buchanan, John M' Connell, Johnson Lowry, Benjamin Leach, William Read, Francis Barclay, Peter Shoaf, and Jonas Hoffmaster, came in 1802. Gilbert Buchanan, Walter Buchanan, William M'Connel, Mr. Truesdale, and Robert Smith, came in 1803. In 1804, Thos. Lowe, John Blackburn, Matthew Hartford, James Adair. His sons, James, Alexander, and William, owned land, and lived in the township.

The first marriage ceremony was near 1800, and was celebrated on the farm then owned by John Blackburn. John Blackburn and Nancy Bryan had agreed to get married. The trouble was to get some one to marry them, as they were determined to have the wedding before the surveyors left after finishing the survey. Here was the dilemma. No minister, no justice of the peace, in fact, no one authorized to marry. They finally agreed that Judge Kirtland, having some kind of authority in Connecticut, where he emigrated from, should officiate. When that was settled upon, it was discovered they had given no notice, as required by law, for posting notices ten days. Dr Charles Dutton said he could remedy that. So he wrote four notices, and posted one on each side of the log cabin. Then Judge Kirtland looked up his Episcopal prayer book, which contained the marriage ceremony. The company in waiting, a stool was placed in front of the Judge, and upon it a white cover. On this the Judge had placed his book. There were about seventy persons in attendance. A slight delay occuring at the moment when all appeared to be ready, some one proposed that they should take a drink of whisky all around before they were married. This was agreed to unanimously. And while the Judge was taking his drink some one stole the prayer book, leaving the Judge without any guide. But he said, if they were agreed to it, they should say so. They were both agreed; and thus ended the ceremony.

Rev Nathaniel Pittenger was the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, and settled in the township in the year 1801. The Winter of 1801-2 the first school was taught by John K. Stanton and Mr. Ferris; and Dr J. P. Kirtland, of Cleveland, taught in 1804, with Perley Brush.

In the year 1802* Dan Heaton built a blast furnace for making iron on Yellow Creek. He used charcoal for fuel, and made two and one-half or three tons per day. The product of the furnace was used entirely for making castings for the settlers. In the year 1806 Robert Montgomery, David Clendennin, and ____Alexander built the second furnace on Yellow Creek; made from two and one-half to three tons per day They also used charcoal for fuel. The ores used in this and the Heaton furnace were gathered along the banks of Yellow Creek. It was run until 1812. At that time the men were principally all drafted into the army. The furnace went out of blast and never afterward run. Subsequently, the third furnace on Yellow Creek was started by the Heatons. It was very similar to the other two, and run but a short time.

*This date must be a mistake. The time was probably 1805. - Editor.

In the year 1802 the militia were enrolled. John Struthers was elected captain, and Robert M'Combs first lieutenant. There were eighty-seven names on the roll; when it was called the first time every man was present. In 1805 the eastern part of the township was one company, and the western part another. The two companies met in the village the same day for drill. A rivalry existing between them as to which company had the best marksmen, they arranged for a test, to be decided that day. The distance was sixty yards, off-hand, with a rifle. The eastern company chose Tom M'Clees. He was entitled to the first shot; stepped forward, took his position, and drove the center. The western company chose a man by the name of Garner. He followed him, and also drove the center. It had been agreed that each man was to have but one shot; consequently, there was no victory.

M'Clees shot the only beaver ever known to have been killed in the township. In the Mahoning, near M'Gill's dam, Garner shot three panthers, at different times, in a ravine near Mount Nebo, which bears the name of Panthers' Run ever since.

I am under obligations to Mrs. Thomas Riley, Thomas. Struthers, and Joseph Sexton, the oldest settlers now living, for information.

James Brownlee,

Vice -President Poland Township

The following communications have been furnished, which we take pleasure in perpetuating:

"Mount Nebo, October 16, 1875

"Mr. William Powers:

Dear Sir, Samuel H. M'Bride has requested me to give you information in regard to pioneer life in Poland Township. I have put a few rambling thoughts on paper; some of the names and dates I have from others, and the rest from personal recollection. I have lived the most of my lifetime in this township. In January, 1836, I removed with my husband, Colonel John Stewart, to Coitsville Township. We remained there until 1854, and then returned. We brought with us six sons and one daughter, all alive at present except Isaac W., our oldest. In March, 1859, he engaged in the City Bank in Cleveland. Here he remained until September, 1860. On the 30th of that month he went out, as financial agent, to the gold regions, landing in San Francisco 27th of October. He remained there during the winter, waiting the arrival of machinery to be used in the mines, to come by the way of Cape Horn. In the spring of 1861 he crossed the Sierra Nevada Mountains, making the trip with ox teams in twenty days. They located in Aurora, Esmeralda County, Nevada, in the fall of that year. Not being satisfied with the company, he left them, and, with a partner, located a ranch on Walker River, where he was quite successful in farming. In January, 1865, he and a companion, Robert Rabe, went to the Columbus, a distance of ninety miles, and located some silver mining claims. On their return trip they were waylaid, and both murdered by Indians at Walker Lake. Those two men were the first victims at that terrible outbreak of Indians in 1865. This account of our son's death is modern, but it shows what pioneer life has been in our country.

"Jonathan Fowler, of Guilford, Connecticut, was the first white settler in Poland Township. He, with his wife and an infant daughter, arrived in this township May 29, 1799. The part of the journey from Beaver, then called Mackintosh, was made in a canoe. Turhand Kirtland and Jared Kirtland, brothers of Mrs. Fowler, came at the same time and located homes, but did not bring their families until 1802. Turhand was long and favorably known as a land agent and public spirited man. In 1804 Jerad Kirtland started a tavern in a large frame building, which remains standing on the high ground east of the creek. It was a first-class house in its time. Mr. Fowler and his wife lived in a cloth tent for six weeks on the west bank of Yellow Creek, near the present site of the flouring mill. They erected a substantial house, in which the first white child in the township was born, Rachel Fowler, who was married in 1820 to Thomas Riley. She and her husband are still residing in the village. Mr. Fowler erected the stone tavern, a frame house, and a flouring mill in the village. He, Mr. Fowler, lost his life in 1806 by drowning in the Big Beaver while superintending the boating of merchandise destined for New Orleans. Dr. Chauncey Fowler, of Canfield, and Mrs. Riley, are the only survivors of the family.

"John Struthers came from Washington County, Pennsylvania, and settled on the "Struthers Farm", on which the village of Struthers is now situated. Mr. Struthers built a flouring mill on Yellow Creek, the first in the township, and one of the first on the Western Reserve. He was engaged with Mr. Montgomery in building and operating a blast furnace on Yellow Creek, a short distance from its mouth. The furnace continued running until the war of 1812. Of the family of Mr. Struthers but two are living. Lieutenant Alexander died at Detroit in the latter part of 1813 in the service of his country. John resides on a farm adjacent to the Struthers Farm. Ebenezer, the first white male child born in the township, born August, 1800, is now dead. The other survivor, Hon. Thomas Struthers, is well known in this community.

"The year 1800, Mr. William Buck, Stephen Frazer, father of the late Mrs. Isaac Powers, John Jordan and Thomas Gordon, with their families, settled on or near the road leading to Youngstown. Patrick M' Keever, on the north side of the river, and James Patton, near the Pennsylvania line, were also early settlers in the course of a few years. John Truesdale, James Riley, Robert Smith, John Arrel, William, Joseph and T. P. Cowden, William Moore, Gilbert and Walter Buchanan, James and William Adair, William Guthrie, James Stewart, John M' Gill, and others not now remembered, came and settled in different parts of the township. James Stewart built the flouring mill on the north side of the Mahoning River, on the property where the village of Newport was laid out some years ago. The building, a substantial stone structure, was torn down by the Pennsylvania and Ohio Canal Company. The head race and a small part of the dam can still be seen. Mr. M'Gill also built a flouring mill on the Mahoning River, around which has built up the village of Lowell. This mill was done away with by the canal, but afterward was rebuilt.

"Nathaniel Walker, my grandfather, emigrated from Chester County, Pennsylvania, and settled on a farm in the northeast of the township. It is now owned by T. W. Kennedy. My father, Isaac Walker, was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, August, 1780. My mother, Rachel, was born in Adams County, Pennsylvania, October 31, 1785. She came to this country on horseback in April, 1811, to visit her sister. They were married here in November of that year. In less than two years my mother made three trips across the Allegheny Mountains on horseback. They settled on my grandfather's farm, where I was born in 1813. In the Fall of 1812 my father was elected captain of a military company; on the 10th of February, 1813, started with his company for the seat of war. Soon after reaching Fort Stephenson, he was stricken down with the camp fever, which terminated his life on the 5th of April following. My mother remained in possession of the farm, and resided thereon until her death, March 20, 1870.

My first day's experience in attending school is strongly fixed in my memory. The school house was at the center, and two hundred acres of unbroken forest lay between our house and it, making it a serious undertaking for a child of six years. On the first morning of my attendance, May, 1819, my mother said she was going on horseback to the village, and that she would carry me on the horse behind her to the school house, which she did. On her return she brought me a Webster's spelling book, and made arrangement with the teacher to board with us, for some time, on my account. His name was James Campbell, an estimable young man, gone to his reward. The school house was built on the southeast corner of the crossroads; built of round logs, with clapboard roof held on by weight poles. I do not remember to have seen a nail about the premises. On the north side was a window of four lights of eight by ten. It was set high up above the reach of the smaller juveniles, a wise arrangement for the safety of the glass. It afforded sufficient light for the teacher's desk under it. On the other three sides of the house was a space made by cutting out a log, all except sufficient to hold up the corners. In this was a sash for eight by ten, one light high, but no glass. In the winter the sash was covered with writing paper, saturated with grease applied to it by a hot flat iron. These windows let in what was considered sufficient light for school purposes, and by the time the winter school was over there was but little of the paper left. The writing desks were large slabs, flat side up, supported by pins let in to the wall in holes made by a large auger. The seats were of narrower slabs, with supports made of dogwood saplings put into holes near the ends made by those same augers. There was a ten plate stove in the center of the room, inscribed on each of the side plates, "Dan Eaton, Hopewell Furnace". The stove was set on blocks of wood, protected by one brick at each corner between the wood and iron. The cast iron supports made for it were hanging on a wooden pin, driven into the wall for want of sufficient iron to make two rods to hold them together. The stove pipe was formed of what was called "cot and clay". Its circumference was near that of a flour barrel, as it had several barrel staves around it which were held on by hoops that I suppose had once been on the ends of barrels. This pipe ran through the upper floor, and the smoke had to find its way through the roof.

"In 1819 there was a small church standing a few rods south of the corners, owned by a congregation of Seceders' New Associate Church. They held their services in this house during the winter, and in the summer in the grove adjoining. There have been three pastors of this society: Revs. James Duncan, Robert Douglas, and David Goodwille. The latter is still living, but labors in a different charge.

"The old school house and the old church are gone. More pretentious buildings supply their places. The forest has given place to cultivated fields, meadows, and orchards. The old people are passing away and the young are taking their places, together with many strangers who know not of the school house, the old church, nor the many pioneers who have gone to their rest.

"Yours truly, Mrs. John Stewart"

Milton Township, Mahoning County, Ohio

General Description

Milton is the northwest township in Mahoning County, and is bounded on the north by Newton, on the east by Jackson, on the south by Berlin, and on the west by Palmyra. The Mahoning River, flowing a northerly direction, crosses the western part of the township. The soil is generally fertile, being well adapted to either farming or grazing, and is well watered by springs, good wells, and numerous brooks. On the east bank of the river, and about one mile south of the north township line, is a sulphur spring from three to five feet deep. The water in it, which is always cool and very clear, has been recommended by physicians for medical uses.

Near the center of the township is an extensive stone quarry, from which freestone of an excellent quality for building purposes is obtained. Coal has been mined in small quantities in southeast and southwest parts. In early days blacksmiths of this vicinity obtained coal for forging from west bank of river, south of center of township. Several attempts to find oil have been made near Fredericksburg; all, however, have proved to be unsuccessful.

At present there are no villages worthy of note in the township. In the early years of settlement, Fredericksburg, situated on the river near the southwest corner, and Price's Mills, in the northern part of township, were both flourishing little country villages. The former, being on the "old stage road" leading from Pittsburg to Cleveland, was one of the stopping places for stage drivers and passengers. At one time it contained three taverns, two stores, the "Frederick post office", a tailor, a hatter, a blacksmith, and a wagon maker; now an old church and a few old dwelling houses are left to tell us where the village once was. Price's Mills is not quite so nearly extinct, yet it too presents the appearance of a place that has seen its best days. It formerly contained one store, the "Milton post office," a grist mill, saw mill, oil mill, carding machine, and foundry for making castings for plows.

Settlement and Organization

The first settlement was formed about the years 1803 and 1804, beginning in the vicinity of Price's Mills, and extending up the river across the western part of the township. Of the early settlers we will mention the following: Jesse Holliday, Judge Clarke, Nathaniel Stanley, Thomas L. Fenton, Samuel Daniels, Aaron Porter, the Craigs, the M' Kenzies, ___ Munson, Captain Venetten, and Joseph Depew. Soon afterward a settlement was formed in the eastern part of the township, and among the first settlers here were Samuel Bowles, Daniel Stewart, Peter De Courcey, the Orrs, Thomas Reed, the Winans, Alex French, John Permell, Alex Campbell, John Johnston, and Robert Russell.

From records found in Newton we learn that John Johnston, of Milton, and Bildad Hine, of Newton, were elected justices of the peace in the year 1814 by the joint townships of Newton and Milton. In a year or two after this a separate organization was formed, and from recollection we give the following names of justices elected prior to the year 1840: John Johnston and Daniel Vaughn, Robert Price, Johnston Vaughn, William Strander, Milton Rogers, Jno Matherspaw, James Moore, John Eckis, Jr., and Peter Kinnaman.

At an early date the first post office (Milton) was established at Price's Mills, with Judge Clarke postmaster. First Church, which was of Presbyterian denomination, was organized in 1807 or 1808, and was composed of citizens of Milton and Newton, the church building being on the Newton side, near Price's Mills.

In the year 1806 a grist mill was erected by Jesse Holliday on the site now occupied by woolen factory and grist mill owned by the heirs of J. G. Calendar. In 1816 Mr. Holliday sold his mill to John Price, and in the year 1818 it passed into the hands of Judge Price, who owned it for a number of years.

Probably the first bridge built across the Mahoning River, above Warren, was a trestle work bridge on the line between Milton and Newton. This broke down in 1822 while Joseph Depew was crossing it driving three yoke of oxen. Four of the oxen were killed in the fall, the driver and foremost yoke escaping uninjured. This bridge was soon replaced by another of similar construction, which was carried away by the breaking up of the ice in 1831. A short time afterward the bridge now standing was built in a more substantial manner than the first two, it being lattice work on stone abutments.

In about the year 1817 an ashery and a distillery were built near Orr's Corners by James Orr. The distillery he sold soon after building to his brother John Orr. A second distillery was built near the same date by John Hindman in the northeast corner of the township, and some years after a third by John Reed near the location of the first.

A tannery was started in the Fall of 1823 in the eastern part of the township by John Johnston and James Moore. Some time after this another was started by Robert Laughlin, and in 1827 a third by James Moore, one-quarter of a mile west of Orr's Corners.

Our first physician was Tracy Bronson, who came from New England in 1814, traveling the entire distance on horseback. Being a single man, he boarded for some time with Judge Clarke. After a few years he married a Miss Freeman, and settled in Newton, near Price's Mills, where he spent the remainder of his days. He lived to a good old age, and continued to practice medicine throughout his life, being one of the best physicians of Milton and Newton.

From recollection we give the following names of some of our early school teachers: Peggy Stevens, Gain Robison, Joseph Duer, Phoebe Canfield, and Billings O. Plimpton, who afterward became a famous Methodist preacher. For many years teachers were paid by subscription, receiving during summer terms from four to five dollars per month, and during winter terms from nine to ten dollars per month, and very often taking their pay in grain or orders on some of the neighboring stores. On one occasion a teacher who was to be paid in grain ordered it to be taken by the farmers to J. Orr's distillery, and a few months afterward he carried his winter's wages home in liquid form in a barrel.

That the reader may know that the pioneers of Milton did not escape all the privations and hardships experienced by "first settlers," we give the following circumstances connected with Captain Venetten's coming to our township, as related to us by his daughters, Mrs. M'Kenzie and Mrs. Patterson. He, with his family, came to Milton in the Spring of 1806, and selected as a place for their new home land west of the river and south of the center of township. After their arrival, three weeks passed before they succeeded in completing their house. During this time they slept in their wagon, and cooked and ate in the open air. When all was in readiness for the putting up of their cabin, owing to the scarcity of men, the women were called upon to give assistance in raising the logs to desired height. Some time after coming here Captain Venetten procured a pair of spoon molds, which were used by his wife for several years, in making spoons for herself and many of her neighbors, the material used being old pewter dishes. If at any time a spoon was broken, the pieces were laid carefully away until they could be taken back to be made over again just as good as new.

As late as 1806 three Indians, Nicksaw, Cayuga, and Cadishua, were living on the west bank of the river, south of the center road. Indian like, they subsisted chiefly by hunting and fishing, paying but little attention to agriculture, only raising a little corn on bottomland along the river. They were friendly, and lived on good terms with the white settlers, neighboring and trading with them as occasion required.

For a number of years after the settlement of the township wild game of different kinds abounded in great numbers, affording a source of recreation and enjoyment to sportsmen, as well as a source of annoyance to farmers. Especially were the wolves troublesome neighbors; for they sometimes committed sad depredations among the stock, coming at times very near to dwelling houses in order to get a fat lamb or some other choice bit for their supper. One incident, given us by Mrs. Shearer, a daughter of Alex French, is as follows: Herself and sisters, being up late one night, heard wolves howling, and a disturbance among some cattle in a field near by. They soon aroused the other members of the family, when all started toward the scene of action. The wolves were soon frightened away, not, however, until they had succeeded in killing one of the cattle. The last instance of a bear being known to be in the township was in 1835, at which time Joseph Mead tracked one, traveling in a northerly direction, and crossing the line into Newton, where it was killed.

Now, after giving you a bear story, as related to us by William Orr, we will make our bow and leave the floor for the next speaker. The circumstance occurred about one mile southeast of Orr's Corners. In about 1817 Matthew M' Connell, on going into the woods one morning to catch his horses, saw a young bear, and was about to catch it when "Madame Bruin" made her appearance, and, seeing her little one in danger, attacked the intruder, who with a club returned the assault, and after a hard fought battle drove her from the field. He then succeeded in catching the cub and carrying it home in triumph, as a trophy of his unexpected encounter.

F. R. Johnston

Milton, Ohio, January 3, 1876

Jackson Township, Mahoning County, Ohio

Samuel Calhoun, who died in 1873, was the first actual settler in this township. Samuel Riddle, John Morrison, and William Orr were others who settled very early, and Andrew Gault was the first white child born in the township. The township was organized about the year 1815; was then called West Austintown, afterward Jackson.

The Covenanter Church Association was organized in 1830, in the southeast part of the township, in the Gault and Ewing settlement. This society is still worshiping at the same place where organized. The Methodist Episcopal Church Society was organized the same year, 1830, at the center. Some time after that they purchased a building and lot a little east of the center, which they afterward sold; and in 1840 they erected a new house for worship, one-fourth mile north of the center, which they continue to occupy. In 1834 the German Lutherans and German Presbyterians were organized into a society, and in common erected a house for public worship one-half mile north of the center, which they still continue to use. It has, however, been refitted once since its erection. The pastors of the Lutheran denomination have been two, Rev. Henry Hewitt, the first; afterward the Rev. F. C. Becker, who is still in charge. The Presbyterians, Revs. Peter Nemasmith, Heaton Rhule, Swisler, and J. B. Zumpe, and have each been in charge in the order mentioned, Zumpe being the present pastor. The English Presbyterian societies of Ohlton and Orr's Corners united in one organization, and in 1872 erected a good, substantial house for worship a few rods east of the center. This building has a bell, from Troy, of one thousand pounds weight, and it is heard four or five miles when rung. The Rev. T. R. M'Mahon was the first pastor who remained with them three years. The Rev. M. Graham is now in charge. All of the religious societies are in a prosperous condition.

The public schools were few, and but little interest taken in education until 1840, when a new impulse moved the settlers. They divided the township into eight school districts, with a fractional district in the southwest corner. They hired competent teachers, secured a good attendance of scholars, and from that time until the present. The citizens have felt a deep interest in the cause of education; and, as a consequence, the schools are in good condition, and the community are intelligent. An academy was erected at the center in 1859. The efforts of those who erected it have met with fair success.

Merchandising has been carried on by the following named persons: Colwell Porter, being the first who opened a store in a log cabin; he was followed by the firm of Porter & Anthony. Mr. Koons had a store he sold to Mr. Graten, about the same time Porter sold his interest to Anthony. David Anderson commenced business in 1843; afterward sold to John Cartwright. About the same time Trumbull & Welkers had a store on the northwest corner of the center. David Anderson again commenced on the southeast corner, and Anthony & Flaugher on the southwest corner, 1856. Anderson & Flaugher formed a partnership under the name of D. Anderson & Co., and in 1862 the name was changed to Anderson, Shaffer & Co. That firm is doing business at the present time. Welkers sold to Moherman, Osborn & Lynns. Lynns retired. The firm was then Moherman, Osborn & Moherman, which afterward was changed to Wm. and A. Moherman. They were followed by Dickson & Kirk, who were burned September, 1874. Folk & Anderson commenced in 1866. Anderson retired, and the new firm of Folk, Metzal & Wanamaker commenced in 1868. Metzal and Wanamaker retired, and Gideon Folk continued the business until his death, February 14, 1873. G. W. Osborn, and Osborn & Jones were in business a short time between 1865 and 1870. Shields, Orr & Co., also had a furniture store for about one year.

We have two physicians, one hotel, one tin shop, one broom shop, two wagon and carriage shops, one harness, three shops, four blacksmiths, and six saw mills in this township.

D. Anderson

Lordstown Township, Mahoning County, Ohio

The land in this township was owned by ___ Lord, from whom the township derived its name. He did not offer the land for sale until about the year 1824, and in two years was all sold but fifty to one hundred acres, and all bought by actual settlers. The first log cabin was built by ____ M' Coy, one-half mile southwest of the center. The cabin is now used for a hay barn. M'Coy was a hunter, and subsisted principally upon game, which at that time was in abundance here.

I was born in 1805, at Cornersburg, Mahoning County, Ohio. I moved into a log cabin three-fourths of a mile west of the center of this township in 1830. The cabin was a poor one, a child could have crawled through the cracks in the walls. In April, 1830, I was elected supervisor on a road that was laid out from the center of the township to the Palmyra road, one and three-fourth miles. I at once notified all the men in the neighborhood, who came out the next day, and we cut the road through in two days.

We have now in the township seven schools houses, four churches, two saw mills, and one cheese factory. We had at one time seven hundred children in the school list, but the number has dwindled down to about two hundred and seventy-five.

We have found no minerals in paying quantities. There is, however, which is valuable here, a sandstone quarry, covering about four hundred acres, with a covering on top of only one to three feet. The surface and soil of the land is much diversified, although clay predominates. The eastern portion is gravelly. The township contains very little waste land, and is one of the best farming districts in the county. The Little Meander Creek, in the southeast part, and the Little Duck Creek, in the northern part, are the principal streams.

My father was in the War of 1812; was in the battle of Fort Meigs, where the famous General Joseph M'Mahan was wounded; was afterward discharged; on his way home fell into the hands of hostile Indians.

Very respectfully, Thomas Duncan

To John M. Edwards, Esq., Corresponding Secretary.

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