HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS OF THE MAHONING VALLEY-page 19

This township, as is well known, is comprised within the limits of what was early known as New Connecticut, or the Connecticut Western Reserve. The first settlement began in the spring of 1798. The town was owned most, if not entirely, by a number of gentlemen uniting and forming the Connecticut Land Company, as it was named. Their purchase was not confined to this township, but embraced lands in other parts of the Reserve. In the spring of 1798 Mr. Elijah Boardman, a resident of New Milford, in Connecticut, and one of the above mentioned Company, came here, spending the entire summer in surveys, establishing corners, and informing himself as to the relative values of the different lots. No longer since than the past summer an examination was made of the buried stone, marking the center of this township. The stone bore the initials E. B., 1798.

Mr. Boardman was accompanied by six able and resolute men, whom he employed to commence a settlement. The entire season was devoted to that purpose. Two of those men were brothers by the name of Blakely, one or both of whom afterward purchased and occupied the farm, one and one-half miles east of the center, the same now owned by Jesse Baldwin, Esq. The names of the other four I am not able to give. Five of these men returned to Connecticut in the fall; the other, one of the Blakely brothers, remained, becoming a permanent settler. This, without doubt, gave him an opportunity of making a careful examination of the different lands, and selecting, accordingly, what was then to be his future home. He doubtless foresaw the necessity of direct communication and transportation from New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburg, and through to Cleveland, which would soon, most likely, be established, and, in fact, afterward was established, running directly in front of his farm.

In the spring of 1799 or 1800, some of those who had been his companions in the summer of 1798, returned to Boardman as permanent settlers; others also, Judge Eli Baldwin, some of the Brainards, perhaps the Stitsons, George Herman, and Luther. From that date emigration steadily continued; installments following installment of the Yankee nation, the Baldwins, Davidsons, Tituses, Twisses, Starrs, Lockwoods, Nobles, Fitches, Merkers, Newtons, Clarks, Merchants, Beardsleys, and many others I am unable to recall. Quite a number, also, from Maryland: Moody, Bishop, and Ditchon, with their families; then a Mr. Agnew, from Old England, born, as he often remarked with great pride, apparently, within a stone's throw of a cathedral; again, a real Hibernian, Mr. Dowlers, pure in blood, and proud of his nativity. All of the above, or nearly so, are now represented in the township by descendants, respected and esteemed, as their parents were before them.

There are also, in the north and northeast part of the township, several families of the Simonses, the date of whose coming I am not so familiar with. They were, however, among the earliest settlers, and built, I believe, the first house of worship (a log one) erected in the township, which must have been previous to or about 1820. That house has long since been superseded by a good and substantial frame building for the same use, and is now recognized by the name Dutch Church. Their first minister that I have any knowledge of was Mr. Hewet. He owned a farm one and one-half miles north of the center, where he lived, and, I believe, died, many years since, a worthy and highly respected man, thoroughly devoted to his duties as a minister. I remember well his repeated calls at my father's, wearing corduroy pants, faced with buckskin, a kind of saddle armor, horseback being his mode of traveling.

My parents, Henry M. and Sarah H. Boardman, came in spring of 1819. It was their bridal trip, and fully or nearly equal to a trip to Europe at the present day. My father left a counting room for a home in a new country. To be sure, he underwent no more than others; but his business thus far in life had been very different. The change to practical farming was indeed great, for he had never engaged in it previously, and it was of necessity experimental; but he entered into it with great zest, diverting himself frequently in hunting and shooting, of which he was very fond, and in which he continued to indulge as long as he lived. In those days there was scarcely a house without a rifle, and really it was the most appropriate musical instrument they had. The crack of the rifle was cheering to the pioneer. It meant either the destruction of a common enemy or food for the family.

There was organized, as early as 1809, an Episcopal Church, officers elected, and all the forms of that Church fully complied with, which organization has had a continuous existence from that day to this, as the records in my hands show. It is also the oldest organized parish in this State. The first clergyman, I believe, was a Mr. Douglas; succeeding him, Mr. Kemper, afterward Bishop of Wisconsin; then Mr. Searle; and again Mr. Chase, afterward Bishop of this diocese. There has also been connected with this parish a Ladies' Missionary Society, which can date its organization back forty-five years.

The Presbyterians and the Methodists had also society organizations. The former, however, lost its existence by deaths and removals of its members, many years since; the latter still continues. They each embraced amongst their numbers some of our best and most worthy citizens. I am unable to give the dates of their first society meetings, or the names of their early clergy.

The wives and mothers of those early days were most remarkable women. Possessed of great force of character and resolution of purpose, they endured with wondrous cheerfulness the many privations and discomforts incident to pioneer life. Their devotion to their families' interests and welfare was scarcely distinguishable from their kindly feelings toward their neighbors. The writer of this well remembers some of them, and the many happy hours spent in their log cabins, and in front of great wood fires, listening to the many and oft told tales for his diversion, or an admonition perhaps, administered with so gentle a grace that even a child could not be offended, but would mentally determine not to repeat the act which gave rise to the reproof again. It would be unnatural to suppose their thoughts never reverted to their childhood homes and associations, their many friends left far behind. They did indeed often speak of visiting the old hearth stones, and of their anticipated visits there. Some one or two of them did return, making the entire journey on horseback from here to Connecticut. Others, in all probability, would have done the same had their means been sufficient, or their families of a suitable age to leave behind. The journey itself, although made, as I said before, on horseback, was considered as nothing remarkable to those sturdy and self reliant women; and the only remark you would hear was that they too might, at some future time, repeat the journey in that or some other way.

The forests in those days, to the great delight of sportsmen, abounded in game, deer, bear, wolves (which, by the by, are not considered so gamy, in that sense), and most of the smaller kinds, together with turkeys, pheasants, etc. I very well remember the exhibition of a wolf from house to house, even in the school house, which had been caught in a trap set for that purpose. That was the first menagerie I ever attended. I can also recollect killing an immense black rattlesnake, held by Mrs. Thayer with her large fire shovel while I did the pounding. These are simply incidents that occurred in early times, and then not considered of much moment, they being very common.

When we compare the conveyances and necessary mode of travel of those early times with the comforts and conveniences of the present day, it is with perfect amazement we contemplate the changes that time and man's ingenuity have accomplished. Those early settlers made the journey in wagons drawn, some by horses, others by oxen, the rate of speed not greatly varying, the roads miserable, and in some cases little but blazed trees to guide them; and after their arrival, in case of sickness, without relief, excepting loving hearts and gentle hands, and the kindly sympathy of what few there were of neighbors. And when I say sympathy I mean it; for I tell you there was none of that selfish feeling that prevails to too great an extent at this day, no quarreling or jangling over trifles or imagined insulted dignity, but a hearty confidence, sociability, and kindness, which cheered them in their isolation from early scenes and associations, and kept the paths from house to house worn smooth by their oft repeated visits from one to the other. It seems a glorious fact to contemplate, no rivalry beyond a healthy one, all feeling an active interest in each of the other's welfare. This it was that cheered them, this their greatest comfort, a common interest and a common unity of feeling.

F. A. Boardman

Champion Township, Trumbull County, Ohio

Champion received its name from Henry Champion, who was the proprietor at the time of its being named. William Rutan, John Rutan, William Woodrow, William Cronninger, Andrew Doneldson, Asa Lane, and H. Nickols were the first settlers of the township, and, excepting the Indians, they and their families were the only residents for over twenty years. A band of Indians having a village of eight or ten cabins a short distance from the settlement lived there, but were friendly, and often visited the houses of the whites, and ground their tomahawks, got tobacco, etc. Wolves, during all that time, were numerous and troublesome. Sheep had to be penned every night to protect them. A pack of them attacked and killed a two year old heifer belonging to one of the settlers. Game was abundant.

Henry Lane and William Hall, of Warren Township, came there repeatedly to hunt; acquired the name of bear hunters. At one time they had an adventure that came near ending the life of Hall. There is a swamp in the north part of the township known as the Long Swamp, which was a resort for bears. In one of their hunts they went to this swamp, Hall taking the east and Lane the west side. They sent their four dogs into the swamp to drive out the game. Hall carried a spear and Lane had a gun. They had not proceeded far before Hall discovered a bear coming out of the swamp and directly toward him. It raised on its hind legs and advanced toward him. Hall aimed his spear at the bear's breast, but it glanced, and he fell forward under the bear. The bear attacked him by tearing his back. His screams brought the dogs to his rescue, who engaged the bear's attention until Lane came up, who shot him.

The first election in the township was held December 26, 1831, at the house of William Woodrow, and the following officers were elected, to wit: John Chambers, Benjamin Ross, and John Woodrow, Judges; William Woodrow and Joseph Cook, Clerks; George Fulk, William Rutan, William Woodrow, Trustees; Henry L. Rutan, Township Clerk; Joseph Cook, Treasurer; Samuel Pierce, Constable; Frederick Myers, Edward Peins, Poor Masters; John Thompson, Samuel Booth, Taylor Bradfield, Fence Viewers; and Joseph Pierce, Supervisor. The first school taught in the township commenced in May, 1815; was by Catherine Church, of Warren. The first church edifice built was in 1842, by the Presbyterian denomination. The first post office established was in 1850.

Jacob H. Baldwin, in 1839, Commissioner of Trumbull County, purchased two hundred acres of land for a poor farm in the south part of the township. They have since that purchased one hundred and fifty acres additional. Benjamin Stevens, of Warren, William Woodrow, of Champion, and George Hapgood, of Warren, were appointed directors, to erect buildings and provide for the maintenance of the paupers of the county. William Geddes was appointed as the superintendent. Their successors were elected by the voters of the county, H. L. Rutan, George Hapgood, Edward Potter, since which time the farm has been improved and the building enlarged from time to time, and at the present time the main building throughout is heated by steam. The average number of paupers for the year 1875 is sixty-five. The first settlers came to the township in 1806-7.

Yours, respectfully, H. L. Rutan

Green Township, Mahoning County, Ohio

William Powers, Esq.,

Dear Sir, I comply with your request to furnish for publication the history of the early settlement of Green Township with considerable reluctance. I was not in this country until 1822, and only nine years old then; consequently know but little about it except as I came in contact with pioneers or their offspring. I think the object of your society is a laudable one, and all the facilities within your reach ought to be brought into requistion to make your book as full of facts as possible. I therefore take the matter in hand, and hope that my feeble efforts may in some degree contribute to the end in view. I would here acknowledge that for the principal facts of the settlement of the south part of the township I am very much indebted to General J. B. Roller, of New Lisbon, who was raised and spent the most of his prolonged life (now eighty-three years old) in this township; without the start he gave me I would not have attempted it.

Elisha Teeters was the first settler of Green Township. He came in the year 1801, and settled where the village of New Albany stands; and the second house he built is yet standing, and is now used as a dwelling. Baltzer Roller (father of J. B. Roller), in 1802, John Roller, in 1803, settled in the southeast corner of the township; Samuel Davis in 1804, in the southwest corner, where part of Salem is now built. In 1830, or thereabout, four square miles were taken from Green to form the new township of Perry, Columbiana County. John Webb settled on the Albany road where Wm. Dunn now lives. James Wilson, in 1802, settled three miles north of Salem, where three of his children yet live. He was grandfather to the sprightly young Dr. Wilson, who now resides in your city. Further north, Michael Dunn, as early as 1802, where his widow and most of his children now reside. George Snyder afterward settled on the same section on the Salem and Ellsworth road. In the northwest corner of the township, Philip Bowman, a Revolutionary soldier, settled at a very early day. He was grandfather to the Bowmans who live in Goshen and Ellsworth at this time. A few years later Krepps, Morfoot, Hahn, Knauff, John Beard, Sr.; the Clays, Goodmans, and Kenreicks, all in the northern row of sections. Jacob, Thomas, and William Cook, settled just north of New Albany about 1804. About the same time the Callahans settled on the east side of the creek that runs south through the township. The writer knew the four brothers, James, William, Jesse, and Jeremiah. Further south, four brothers, Peter, Joseph, Henry, and John Zimmerman, settled a few years later. North of Zimmerman John Weikart settled as early as the year 1803, and lived there until his death in 1872. Jacob Weikart located on the same section in 1810. East of Weikarts, a Mr. Harnish built the mill afterward known as J. B. Roller's upper mill, and his remains lie buried under a wild cherry tree north of the mill not far from the track of the N. N. T. R. R. On the east side of the township, two brothers, Samuel, Luther, and Widow Calvin, settled in 1816. Further north, John Houts settled where John Shivenberger now lives. The year 1814, Stacy Cook northeast of New Albany, near the big swamp. He was father to Jacob Dane, John D., and Osborn, and Stacy. The last mentioned is still living. These and the Cooks, first above named, were all from New Jersey, but their blood relationship was very remote. North of Green village, Philip Cool, and his nephew, Jacob Cool, settled as early as 1816. John Haifley settled in section eleven, in 1805. John Crowl about the same time. Henry Pyle settled in the northeast 1807.

The first justice of the peace was Jacob Roller. He represented the county in the legislature a great many years. The first preacher was Jacob Staugh (Lutheran). There were Methodist Episcopal Church traveling preachers and local preachers, among whom were Dr. Bostwick and Dr. Adams. The first marriage was Conrad Zimmerman to Elizabeth Fox, of Beaver Township. The first school was taught by Jacob Picking, in 1805.

The trials and privations of the earlier settlers of this township were no doubt similar to those of any other sections of country at the time of which we write. I said at the outset I know nothing prior to 1822; but I have frequently listened with eagerness to the recitals of the pioneers relating the trials they had to pass through when they first came in the wilderness. Mary Stevenson (daughter of the first named Teeters, whose husband had been in the legislature) was very frequently at my father's house, and used to entertain us with her narratives. She said it was no uncommon occurrence for their cows to come home with their flanks and sides torn by the wolves; and what care they had to take of their pigs, lambs, and calves to keep the wolves and bears from devouring them; and how the wolves would howl around their houses; and how her brother John would hunt bears and have hand to hand conflicts with them; how plenty deer and wild turkeys were, and the trouble they had in making roads. Their house was the home of those who were in search of land. They would often get lost, and have to stay out all night in the woods. These and many other things she would relate, and have us listening with such eagerness that we would be afraid to go outside of the house after dark. They had to go sometimes thirty miles to mill, and then on horseback, and all the salt they used was packed on horseback over the mountains. She would relate how the youngsters who wanted to get married, and if their parents opposed them, would run off to the State line to get married, as they did not have to get license there. In fact, it was cheaper in those days to do it, for the money to buy the license was hard to get. She had a sister (Mrs. Duff) living near Greensburg, now Darlington, whose husband was a justice of the peace, and done considerable of the marrying. She used to relate and laugh over it, how a certain Dutch squire named Miller would conclude the marriage ceremony thus: "Before my plack Harry, my wife Mary, and Gott, and all dese oder beeples, I call you man and wife."

After we came to this country Berlin (it was Hart & Mather then) was the common hunting ground. A good many would have their regular hunts every winter. Jonathan Teeters was returning home one night from one of his hunting trips, and knowing the path he must travel, my oldest brother and Robert Stevenson, thinking to have some fun, secreted themselves, and when Teeters was opposite, one of them imitated the scream of the panther. But he just told them "if they were sick they could puke it up," and kept on his way. One day when at school word came that a bear's track was seen in the big swamp. Several went in search, and before night Jacob Cool had killed him near where the blacksmith of D. Clugston now stands in the town of Canfield.

I can recollect when wheat was only thirty-one and one-quarter cents per bushel; oats and corn were not objects of traffic; butter, five cents per pound; eggs, three cents per dozen. There was a cash price and trade price for every thing. Flaxseed would not buy sole leather; a bushel of wheat would not buy a pound of coffee. It is related by Jacob Weikart that he and his brother John kept bachelor's hall together, and that while John went to Unity Township to be married to Miss Sheets, he, Jacob, churned the butter in a coffee pot for the infair or home-bringing of the bride.

All of which is respectfully submitted,

Lewis Templin

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