Physical Features

     The surface of this township is gently undulating, and in many portions nearly level.  There are some hills, but none that are very steep.  The soil is mostly fertile, and well adapted to a variety of crops.  The western and northwestern part of the township is watered by Mill creek and its tributaries.  Yellow creek flows for over two miles through the southeast of Boardman, thence entering Poland township near the village.  Altogether, the natural aspect of this township is one of beauty, with just enough of hills and valleys, fields and woodlands, to please the eye by presenting to its gaze a varied and lovely landscape.  A ride from Boardman center in either direction, north, south, east, or west, takes the traveler through as pleasant a farming region as can be found in this part of the State.  Although a considerable portion of the land still remains uncleared, there are several large productive farms, with neat and pretty houses, large and convenient barns, showing that the owners are men of activity and thrift.  The southwestern quarter of the township is the least improved, and contains but a few inhabitants.  Here stands the Big Oak, on a path believed  by the old settlers to have been made by deer.  This oak is a stern monarch of the forest, five and a half feet in diameter, and seventeen feet in circumference three feet from the ground, as has been ascertained by actual measurement.  It has fifty feet of trunk and does not rise above the neighboring trees, or it might have been prostrated by the wind years ago.  Probably this venerable tree was a sturdy youth at the time America was discovered!  It is still at some distance from any improved land.
     In the northern part of the township, on the farm of J. B. Kistler, and in that vicinity, there are extensive coal deposits, which it is believed may become a source of profit to their owners ere many years have elapsed.

VILLAGES.

     Properly speaking Boardman has no village.  Boardman center, the only point which bears any resemblance to one, contains about a dozen houses, a carriage shop, and a post-office.  It is in a delightful situation, and if it should grove in future years, no pleasanter location for a town could be found.  A small portion of Poland village on the eastern border is included within this township.

INDUSTRIES, ETC.

     Boardman is essentially a farming community.  In former years there have been a few stores, some tanneries, several saw-mills, but never any manufacturing enterprises of much importance; and to-day farming is the principal business, and almost the only business carried on in the township.  The only store in the townships is that kept by Uriah Stafford on the south line of the township at Steamtown, which village, however, is all included in Beaver township except the store and post-office.
     STEWART SNYDER has a carriage and blacksmith shop at the center.
     ELIAS EYSTER, wagon-maker, has a shop one and a half miles north of the center, and near him is the blacksmith shop of Cyrus Simon.
     JOSEPH MILLER is also a blacksmith at Zedaker's corners, in the shop formerly occupied by John Westbecker.
     WILLIAM J. HITCHCOCK and W. Moherman each have steam saw-mills in the Boardman woods.
     GEORGE SIMON has a steam saw-mill near his residence.  In former years he manufactured shingles and barrel staves in quite large quantities.  Now he saws lumber only.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

     ELIJAH BOARDMAN, accompanied by six able men, among whom were Nathaniel and Ebenezer Blakely, and a man named Summers, came to this township in 1798.  Mr. Boardman was a resident of New Milford, Connecticut, and was a member of the Connecticut Land company.  He spent the entire summer her, making surveys and establishing land-marks, while the men

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whom he had brought with him were making clearings and preparing for other comers.  These pioneers brought two yoke of oxen, which they left at Youngstown to be wintered.  Five of the number returned to Connecticut on foot; the other, one of the Blakelys, remained and became a permanent settler.
     The township was named for Elijah Boardman.  A stone set by him to mark the center of the township was unearthed a few years ago, and his initials, E. B., discovered upon it.
     From 1800 to 1811 settlers came rapidly, the majority coming from Connecticut.  A few natives of Pennsylvania also found their way hither.
     In 1810 the population of the township was about 850, nearly as large as it is at the present writing.
     Upon the township records, containing a list and description of ear marks in the year 1806, there appear the following names, showing that these men were property holders here at that date:
Abner Webb, Linus Brainard, William Drake, Haynes Fitch, Eli Baldwin, George Stilson, John Davidson, Joseph Merchant, Oswald Detchon, Eleazer Fairchild and his sons - John, Amos, and Daniel - Elijah Boardman, Francis Dowler, Richard J. Elliot, Peter Stilson, Samuel Swan, David Noble, Warren Bissel.
     The same book also shows the following names at the dates given:
     1807 - Isaac Boardman, James Moody.
     1808 - Beach Summers, David Fitch, Ethel Starr.
     1809 - Andrew Hull, Herman Stilson, Jacob Frank, Elijah Deane.
     1813 - Simeon Mitchell, Eliakim Stoddard, John  Northop

     FRANCIS DOWLER, and his son John, the former a native of Ireland, settled in this township in 1801.
    
     JOHN and CHARLOTTE DAVIDSON settled near the center in 1805.  They were forty days on their way hither from Connecticut.
    
     HAYNES FITCH and his son Jedediah and David came in 1804, and settled on the farm where Alexander Gault now lives.
    
    ETHEL STARR settled on the west of Indian creek about 1807.  He lived to be quite aged.
    
     ISAAC BLACKMAN is an early comer, who settled on the Poland road one-half mile from the village.  In 1808 he built a good frame house, which is still standing, being now  used as a stable.  Afterwards he sold out and moved to Poland.
    
     ELIAKIM STODDARD came about the year 1804, and settled on the south road, one and a half miles from Boardman center.
    
     MAJOR SAMUEL CLARK came in 1810, and settled where his son William L. Clark now resides.  He was one of the first postmasters, and use to bring the mail from Poland once a week in hi spocket.  He served as justice of the peace in 1828 or 1829, and was a worthy man and a prominent citizen.  He was commissioned lieutenant, captain and afterwards majors militia.  His wife was Anna Northrup  She, like the major, was a native of Connecticut.  Major Clark died in 1847 in his sixty-first year.  Mrs. Clark died in 1860, more than sixty-seven years.
    
     RICHARD J. ELLIOT came in 1804 or 1805.  He was a member of the Legislature in 1808 and 1809.  At his last election he received every vote in his district, an honor probably never accorded to any other candidate either before or since.  He resided on the farm cleared by William Drake.
    
     OSWALD DETCHON, a native of England, was among the very first settlers.  He located three fourths of a mile cast of the center.

     The STILSON BROTHERS, Peter and George, came in 1800.  Peter Stilson settled on the south side of the road leading to Canfield, near the present residence of Eli Reed.  He had four sons, Herman, Anson, Luther, and Philip, all of whom lived here several days.
    
     DAVID NOBLE came in the year 1804 or 1805.  He settled on the south road about a mile from the center.
    
     DAVID WOODRUFF, a very early settler, located on what is now the J. B. Kistler farm in the northern part of the township.  After his death his sons sold out and went West.
    
     CAPTAIN WARREN BISSEL previous to 1806 settled about one mile west of Poland, on the road leading to Canfield.
    
     HENRY BRAINARD came in 1800 and settled about one mile from the center on the road running west.  He had several sons, one of whom, Dr. Ira Brainard, was probably the first and only settled physician in this township.  Dr. Brainard practiced here a few years, then moved to Can-

PORTRAIT of BILLIUS KIRTLAND]

PORTRAIT of MRS. B. KIRTLAND

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field.  The children of Henry Brainard were Solomon, George, Linus, Ira, and Henry and three daughters who became Mrs. Dowd, Mrs. Nathaniel Blakely and Mrs. Hermon Stilson.

     WILLIAM DRAKE made a clearing in  the southwestern quarter of the township of 1800.  In a small log hut on that farm occurred the first wedding in Boardman.  A man named Cummings married Drake's sister.  There also was born the second female child born in the township, that child being the widow Allhands, of Youngstown township, now deceased.

     JAMES STALL settled quite early in the northeastern part of Boardman, on the eastern line of the township.

     ELEAZER FAIRCHILD was an early settler.  He located on what is now Eli Reed's farm.  He had several sons, Eleazer, Amos, Daniel, and perhaps others.

     Among those who came to Boardman as early as 1801, and from that time until 1810, were several families by the name of SIMON, from Washington county, Pennsylvania.  Of these, probably Adam Simon came first.  He settled on the farm now owned by Michael Simon.  Soon afterward came Jacob Simon. Michael Simon came a few years later with several sons and daughters, all of whom settled in the northern part of the township.  Among his children were Adam, Peter, Jacob, Abraham, and Henry.
     There were two Jacob Simons, Jacob, the son of Michael, being known as "Schoolmaster Jake," who settled farther to the westward.  All of the Simons brought up large families, and many of their descendants still reside here.

     GEORGE ZEDAKER and his son John came from Washington county, Pennsylvania, in 1802 or 1803.  J. P. Zedaker, a son of John Zedaker, now lives upon the farm where they located.  John Zedaker was a soldier in the War of 1812, and was the last survivor in Boardman of the soldiers of that war.  He died several years ago.

     ISAAC HANKINS, an early comer, settled on Benjamin McNutt's farm, in the northern part of the township.  About the year 1815 he sold his farm to "Preacher" Hewett and moved away.

     GEORGE POPE, an early settler, also located on a part of the McNutt farm, which he bought from Hankins.  Later he moved to the northwestern part of the township, and settled near Mill creek.  He attained the age of ninety-eight years.  He was a native of Virginia.

     Other early settlements were made in the SIMONS neighborhood by a man named FEESTER.,  MARTIN DUSTMAN, who settled near the north line of the township, and HENRY DUSTMAN, on the farm now owned by SAMUEL MOYER.

     ANDREW HULL settled quite early on the farm now belonging to THOMAS MATTHEWS.

     JOHN NORTHRUP came about 1811.  He was a carpenter by trade.  He resided at the center for a short tie, then moved south of there, and afterwards went West.

     JOHN TWISS came in 1818, CHARLES TITUS in 1819.  The latter is still living.

     AMOS BALDWIN, a native of Connecticut, moved here from Washington county, Pennsylvania, in 1811, and settled on Mill creek.  His son, Asa Baldwin moved to Trumbull county, where he died in 1850 at the age of eighty-six.  He brought up seven sons and two daughters.  Three of his sons, John, Garry, and Asa, settled in Boardman.

     ASA BALDWIN, a brother of Amos, came in 1811, or perhaps a year or two before.  He settled on the Agnew farm.

     THOMAS and ELIZABETH AGNEW settled on the farm where their son, Ralph Agnew, Esq., now lives, in the year 1824. coming here from Pennsylvania.

     HENRY FOSTER, a wheelwright, was a resident of the township for many years.  He came here with his father previous to 1808.

     ELIJAH DEANE, an early settler, settled near Foster.

     PHILIP and CATHARINE STAMBAUGH settled in the northeastern corner of the township in 1811, where their son Philipis still living.  He was born Feb. 16, 1796, and is the oldest man in the township.  Mr. Stambaugh, Sr. took up about two hundred acres of land in the four townships, Boardman, Youngstown, Coitsville, and Poland, paying for it at the rate of $7 and $8 per acre.

     ELI BALDWIN came from Connecticut in 1801, being then about twenty years of age.  He acted as the agent of Elijah Boardman, who owned the greater part of the land in this township.  Mr. Baldwin was a very prominent man, active in all public affairs.  He was the first captain of

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militia, the first justice of the peace, and, it is believed, the first postmaster in the township.  He represented this district in the Legislature
several terms, and served as associate judge one term.  He settled in the northern part of the township in 1809 or 1810, where he passed the remainder of his days.

     About 1801 came the DeCAMPS, the SHIELDS and WOODRUFF families, elsewhere mentioned.  All these settled in the northwestern part of the township.

     ABRAHAM OSBORN settled near DeCamp at an early date.

     JOSIAH WALKER settled on Yellow creek in 1803.  He sons live on the same farm now.

     NATHANIEL BLAKELY was one of the first settlers, a schoolmaster, and a justice of the peace in early days.

     ISAAC NEWTON settled at Boardman center in 1811.

     WILLIAM AND PAMELIA FANKLE came about the year 1916, and settled in the southeast of the township, one mile from the Poland line.  Three of their five children are yet living, Silas in this township, and Edward and Della F. in the west.

     DAVID PORTER, and his wife, Mary Walker, both natives of Adams county, Pennsylvania, settled near the southern line of the township, about one mile from the southeast corner, in 1815.  The log house where they lived is still standing— one of the few remaining mementoes of early days.  They had five children, three of whom are living—David, their youngest, in this township, Mrs. Martha M. Slaven and Harvey Porter, in Kansas.  David Porter, Sr., was killed by a falling tree, June 19, 1819, thus leaving his wife and little children to provide for themselves, and under to the harsh experiences of pioneers.  David occupies a portion of the original farm.

FIRST ELECTION.

     The first township meeting for the election of officers was held April 7, 1806.  Haynes Fitch was chosen chairman, Henry Brainard and David Woodruff clerks.  The following officers were chosen for the year: Eli Baldwin, township clerk Henry Brainard, George Stilson, and Adam Simon, trustees; Eleazer Fairchild and Michael Simon, overseers of the poor; James Hull and Abner Webb, fence viewers: Nathaniel Blakely, lister and appraiser; Jedediah Fitch, appraiser; Isaac Hankins, Nathaniel Blakely, and David Fitch, supervisors of highway; David
Fitch, constable; and James Moody, treasurer.  Previous to the above date the township had been included in Youngstown.  It was organized
as Boardman township in 1805.

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

     The first justice was Judge Eli Baldwin.  His successors have been Nathaniel Blakely, James Moody, Asa Baldwin, John Woodruff, Parkus Woodruff, Shelden Newton, and Ralph Agnew, who holds the office at present.

PRIMITIVE TAXES.

     The amount of taxes levied in Boardman, in 1803, was $17.47.  Taxes could not have been very oppressive that year.  We give a list of the taxes and tax-payers for 1803:

BOARDMAN, RANGE TWO, TOWN ONE.

EARLY INCIDENTS AND ADVENTURES.

     From the writings of Shelden Newton, Esq., for whose assistance in preparing this township history the writer desires to express the heartiest thanks, are gathered many of the facts and incidents which follow.
     Seventy years ago Boardman was wild and desolate; there were no good roads, and all of the low ground was covered with logs, or corduroy crossings. Sugar was worth forty cents per pound, and was a luxury to be used sparingly or not at all.  The crop of maple sugar in 1811 was almost a total failure; but the following season about forty thousand pounds were made in the township, as was ascertained from figures gathered on election day—the first Monday in April–of that year.
     In December, 1805, George Stilson and a boy name Whitney were at work in the forest getting

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out timber with which to build Stilson's tavern, when suddenly they heard the sharp report of a hunter's rifle, and were astonished to see a bear rushing almost directly toward them.  Stilson had a worthless curlying on his coat near by.  Now, he thought, was excellent opportunity for training his dog.  According the dog was urged on, and ran directly in front of the bear and at tempted to seize it.  But he soon found himself in the close embrace of the huge animal.  The dog gave two or three sharp yells, and then his voice was heard no more.  Stilson seized his axe and advanced toward the bear.  As he came within a few feet of him, the bear, no doubt divining his intentions, dropped the almost life less dog and started for his assailant.  Stilson took to his heels, dropping his axe in the excitement of the moment, and soon bear and man were making lively circles around a large poplar tree.  The boy Whitney stood on the fallen timber and shouted, “Run, Uncle George; run or he will catch you.”  Just at this moment, when the case looked hopeless, and Stilson's breath became quite short, the hunter's dog came up and seized the bear by a hind leg, thus diverting bruin's attention from his intended prey.  The hunter, Donaldson, soon arrived upon the scene and shot the bear.  A team was brought to the place, the dead animal was hauled to the center and dressed, his meat weighing three hundred pounds.  Everybody who wished could obtain a piece of the meat.
     Boardman was considered the best of hunting ground for deer in those early days.  Curtis Fairchild, a noted huntsman, killed one hundred and five deer in one season, besides trapping thirteen wolves.  The skin of a deer was worth seventy-five cents; the meat, nothing.  A bounty of $6 each was paid by the county for the scalps of wolves.
     Bears and wolves were numerous and trouble some.  One night in December, 1811, Eliakim Stoddard was aroused about ten o'clock by the squealing of his hogs.  Seizing his axe he went to the pen and there saw a huge bear attacking his best hog. Stoddard was intending to creep up unnoticed and strike the bear with his axe, but the bear was on the alert for intruders and at once rushed at him. Stoddard retreated to the house, while the bear returned to the pen, seized the hog, drew it across the road and across a small stream to a point about ten rods from the house and there proceeded with his meal undisturbed.  The hog was a long time in dying, and of course its cries were hideous.  Stoddard did not wish to leave his wife and children alone while the bear remained in the vicinity.  What was to be done?  Nobody lived within a mile of him.  He resolved to await events; and, about twelve o'clock, was rejoiced to see the bear depart into the forest.  He then fastened up the house as securely as possible, and proceeded to the center to arouse the neighborhood.  As soon as it was daylight a party of men with dogs and arms started in pursuit of the bear, which they chased all through the day, and until after sunset.  The hunters took lodging at the nearest house, and the next day commenced the chase anew.  After leading them a long race the bear was finally treed and despatched, though it took three shots to bring him down.

THE WAR OF 1812.

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CHURCH HISTORY

     At this sate (1881) there are four religious societies and three church edifices in the township, two of them being at the center, and the other in the northern part.  The Universalists held meetings in 1820, but never built a church.  A

PORTRAIT of SHELDON NEWTON

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dozen years ago there were four churches at Boardman center - Protestant Episcopal, Presbyterian, Methodist and Disciple.  Now only the Methodists and the Episcopals maintain their organizations.  The buildings which belonged to the other denominations are devoted to other than religious purposes

ST. JAMES' CHURCH, PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL.

BETHLEHEM CHURCH.

THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH,

 METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

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building it may be mentioned the following names:  Thomas Agnew, Major Samuel Clark, and Josiah Beardsley.

THE DISCIPLES.

     A church of this denomination was organized about the year 1854 by Herman Reeves, an evangelist.  A church building was erected some two years later.  The membership was never large, and through deaths and removal of memberes, the organization ceased to exist some ten years ago.  The house was sold to the township and is now used as a town hall.   The preachers in this church were Revs. Reeves, Ephraim Phillips, John Errett, D. J. White, and James Calvin.

AN EARLY SOCIETY.

     An organization known as the Female Tract Society of Boardman, Canfield and the Western Reserve, held its first meeting Feb. 18, 1818.  It contained a large number of members in all parts of the Reserve, but has been extinct for many years.

CEMETERIES AND BURIAL PLACES.

     The first burials in the township were made upon the farm of Adam Simon.  The German cemetery was soon afterward laid out.
     One or more interments were made near Poland, at an early date, opposite where the house of William Hultz now stands.
     The cemetery near the center was laid out in 1805, and the first burials were in that year or the following.

THE FIRST SCHOOLS.

TAVERNS.

     GEORGE STILSON built the first frame house in the township in 1805, on the spot where Jesse Baldwin's house now is.  Here he kept tavern for about twenty-five years.  He was succeeded by Perry Baldwin, Herman Crane, Samuel Elliot, Alex. McKinney, and Arthur Patrick.  Since the death of Mr. Patrick in 1860 Boardman has been without a hotel.
     JOSEPH MERCHANT came from Connecticut in 1804, and soon afterward settled one-half mile south of the center.  About the year 1814 he began keeping tavern about eighty rods east of the center.  In 1823 Asa Baldwin carried on the same business at the same place for about one year.  Mr. Baldwin's sign was an original one, and had the merit of attracting attention and customers.  One side read as follows:
               Nothing on this side,
               Not much on the other,
and the opposite side,
               Nothing in the house,
               Or in the barn either.
     The house was quite popular; from which it may be inferred that the “advertising dodge” didn't tell the exact truth.

POST OFFICES.

     The first, and until recently, the only post office in Boardman, was that at Boardman center.  The exact date of its establishment cannot be ascertained, but it was in existence in 1810.  The first postmaster and his successors were as follows: Eli Baldwin, Major Samuel Clark, William Ingersoll, Samuel Swan, H. M. Boardman, Arthur Patrick, S. O. Stilson, and Edward Davidson, the present incumbent. Board man now receives four mails, one from each direction, daily.
     A post-office named Woodworth was established a few years ago, in the southern part of the township.  Uriah Stafford is the present post
master.

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THE FIRST MILLS.

     The first grist-mill in Boardman was a small affair. It was a log building, but was soon replaced by a good one. It was situated on Mill creek, near Lanterman's falls, and was known as Baird's mill. It was run for many years by Thomas Shields. Eli Baldwin afterwards owned it. The flood of 1843 carried it almost entirely away. This was one of the first mills in the Reserve, and probably the very first.
     The first saw-mill was built one and a half miles from the center, in a southeasterly direction, on a small tributary of Mill creek.  Elijah Boardman and Richard Elliot were the proprietors. It was probably built in 1808.  DeCamp's was the next mill erected, on a small stream in the northwestern corner of the township.  Neither of these saw-mills was run very long.  Eli Baldwin had a saw-mill, a grist-mill, and a cloth-mill upon Mill creek, at a later date.  The saw-mill was destroyed by fire and the grist-mill torn down and removed years ago.
     The Zedakers built a cider-mill in 1818.  A saw-mill built by the Walkers' is still standing but unused.

THE FIRST STORE

was opened in a room of Stilson's tavern by Charles Boardman and William Ingersoll.  They continued in the business but a short time, however.  Later, Calvin Brainard kept store on the corner where G. E. Lanterman's house now stands.

DISTILLERIES

     Many people operated small stills but none were of much importance, except the distillery of Eli Baldwin.  He commenced distilling in 1809 or 1810 and conducted the business for several years, manufacturing considerable quantities of liquor.  This distillery was located near the north line of the township on the Youngstown road.

TANNERY.

     A tannery was built by James Moody just north of the center.  He came in 1804 and began working at his trade in 1805.  At first he ground bark by rolling a heavy stone over it, afterwards introducing improvements.  He continued in the business over forty years and was considered a good workman.  His buildings, - house, barn, mill, and bark-house - were first made of logs and replaced later by frame buildings.

MISCELLANEOUS

     The first white child born in the township was JAMES D. McMAHON, born Dec. 31, 1799.  For his history see Jackson township.

     HORACE DANIELS was born in Boardman in March, 1800.  His parents came in 1799.  In 1823 he drove the first stage westward on the old Pittsburg & Cleveland stage line.
     The first sermon was preached in the old school house at the center of 1804, by REV. MR. BADGER, a Presbyterian missionary from Connecticut.
     The first blacksmith was ANDREW WEBB, who came about 1804.  In company with SAMUEL SWAN he made scythes and sold them for $2 each.  Eastern manufactured scythes were then worth $2.50.  Webb first had a shop at the center and afterwards moved one mile west where he continued working at his trade for some years.

     GEORGE BRAINARD, a blacksmith, came in 1812, and worked at his trade in a shop near the center for some thirty years.  He sold out and went ot Austintown.

     JOHN DAVIDSON was probably the first shoemaker in the township.

     ELIJAH DEANE, who settled on the farm now owned by JAMES HUGHES, was also one of the first shoemakers.

     The first cheese made in this township, and perhaps the first made on the Western Reserve, was made by PETER STILSON in 1804.  He carried a few hundred-weight to Pittsburg and sold it there.

---------------

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

     THE BOARDMAN FAMILY.

F. A. BOARDMAN

MRS. MARY A. BOARDMAN

     HON. SHELDEN NEWTON.

     JACOB H. BALDWIN

SETTLEMENT NOTES:

     S. P. BLACKMAN, farmer, Boardman township, Mahoning county, was born in Poland in 1844.  His parents, Heman and Phyllis Blackman, were residents of Poland.  Heman Blackman came to this county from Connecticut in 1807.  Mr. Blackman has always followed farming.  He was married in 1866 to Kate A. Shaffer, daughter of George Shaffer, of Springfield township.  They have four children, born as follows:  Fannie, May 29, 1871; Clark, Dec. 3, 1874.  Mr. Blackman is a Republican.  He has resided in Boardman township since 1866. - Pg. 94

     GEORGE BALDWIN, farmer, Boardman township, Mahoning county, was born in Boardman township, September 30, 1825.  His father, Garry Baldwin, came here from Fort George, Washington county, New York, in 1811.  His mother, Harriet Meeker, was a native of New Preston, Connecticut, and came here in 1823.  Garry Baldwin, died Sept. 7, 1869, aged sixty-nine.  Mrs. Baldwin is still living, at the age of seventy-five.  George Baldwin lives upon the old farm.  He has one hundred and forty-two acres, and does a thriving business.  His land is good, his home is pleasant and pretty.  He built a large barn in 1880, 36x50 feet, by far the best in the township.  Mr. Baldwin was married Jan. 31, 1856, to Eliza Detchon, born in this township Jan. 11, 1833.  They have three children:  Hattie M., born Jan. 3, 1860; Henry J., born Nov. 27, 1864; Stanton, born Aug. 16, 1869.  Mrs. Baldwin is a member of the Disciple church.  Mr. Baldwin is one of our most successful farmers, and occupies a high social position.  In politics he is a Republican. - Pg. 94

     CAPTAIN CHARLES C. CHAPMAN, farmer, Boardman township, Mahoning county, was born in Ellsworth, April 27, 1833.  He worked at carriage trimming ten years; was ten years a merchant at Youngtown; enlisted in November, 1862, in company G, One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Ohio infantry ,and served until Dec. 1865.  He was promoted from a private to second lieutenant, then to the first lieutenant, and afterwards to captain.  He was in some of the severest engagements of the war, including the battles of Chickamauga, Atlanta, Kenesaw mountain, etc.  Mr. Chapman bought the farm on which he now resides, in 1877.  Mr. Chapman was married in 1857 to Julia Campbell, daughter of William Campbell, of Trumbull county.  She died in 1867, aged about thirty-five years.  She died in 1867, aged about thirty-five years.  He was married a second time, in 1871, to Mrs. Sophia E. Thomas of Youngstown.  They have one child, Ada A., born Sept. 13, 1874.  Mrs. Chapman is a member of the Methodist church.  Mr. Chapman is a republican.  He held several local offices while in Youngstown; was constable, city marshal, and deputy United States marshal.  He is a member of the Odd Fellows. - Pg. 94

     HENRY B. DOWLER, farmer, Boardman township, Mahoning county, was born in Boardman township Feb. 29, 1820; hence has had his birthday but fifteen times, at this date.  His grandfather, Francis Dowler, a native of county Cavin, Ireland, was among the earliest of those who took up land in the county.  He came here in 1801, as did also his son John, the father of Henry.  Francis Dowler died in 1846, aged ninety-six years.  John Dowler died in 1839, aged fifty-four.  His wife was Nancy Packard.  They had seven sons and three daughters; four sons and two daughters are still living, viz: William F., Henry B., Francis A., Thomas J., Nancy P. (Kentner), and Betsey A.  Mr. H. B. Dowler, excepting from 1847 to 1857, while he was in the South engaged in making and selling fanning-mills, has always resided in the county.  He resides upon the farm which his grandfather settled.  Mr. Dowler has never married.  He is an old-style Jacksonian Democrat, a prominent farmer, and a respected citizen. - Pg. 94

     NORMAN DAVIDSON, farmer, Boardman township, Mahoning county, was born in Washington, Litchfield county, Connecticut, Aug. 7, 1803.  His parents, John and Charlotte Davidson, came to Boardman township in 1805, and settled in the midst of the forest near the center of the township.  John Davidson had two sons and a daughter; of these Norman Davidson is the only survivor.  He is one of the few old settlers now living.  Mr. Davidson has a fine farm of a hundred and forty-five acres, with neat and tasty buildings.  He was married, Jan. 13, 1831, to Eliza Brainard, who was born June 23, 1805, in Washington, Litchfield county, Connecticut.  They have had three children, one of whom is living.  Sarah A., born May 2, 1833, died Dec. 3, 1834; Charlotte, born Feb. 2, 1836, died July 29, 1864; Edward, born Jan. 4, 1839, is married and resides at home.  Mr. and Mrs. Davidson have been members of the Episcopal church for many years.  They bear an excellent reputation in the community where they have so long resided.  Mr. Davidson is a thorough Republican.  He has held several local offices, such as assessor, trustee, justice, etc. - Pg. 95

     ALEXANDER GAULT, farmer, Boardman township, Mahoning county, was in Jackson township, May 26, 1838.  His father, John Gault, still living in Jackson, is among the old citizens.  His grandfather, who died in the War of 1812, was among the early settlers in this county.  Mr. Alexander Gault resided in Jackson until 1867, when he came to Boardman and purchased the farm on which he now is.  He was a soldier in the Rebellion; enlisted in September, 1862, and served until November, 1865, and saw some of the severest battles.  He was in company F, Forty-first Ohio volunteers.  Mr. Gault was married in 1867 to Miss Anna E. Forsythe, a native of Muskingum county, this State.  They have one child living, one deceased - Mary Sylvia, born Aug. 30, 1870; Robert J. S., born July 20, 1873, died June 21, 1880.  Mr. and Mrs. Gault are members of the United Presbyterian church.  Mr. Gault is an earnest Republican. - Pg. 95

     JAMES HUGHES, farmer, Boardman township, Mahoning county, was born in Pembrokeshire, South Wales, Nov. 10, 1831.  He came to this country in 1840 with his parents, who settled in Palmyra, Portage county, Ohio.  There Mr. James Hughes remained until 1847, when he came to Youngstown and engaged in mining.  In 1872 he bought the farm on which he is at present.  He has an excellent farm of one hundred and eighty-one acres, and does a large business.  Mr. Hughes was married Dec. 31, 1857, to Lydia H. Jackson, daughter of John Jackson, of Youngstown.  Mrs. Hughes died Nov. 19, 1876, in the thirty-ninth year of her age.  They had six children, all living - John K., Minnie, Weltha, Dan, Sammie, and James; all reside at home.  Mr. Hughes is a Republican and a member of the Presbyterian church. - Pg. 95

     G. E. LANTERMAN, farmer, Boardman township, Mahoning county, was born in Austintown township Mar. 22, 1841.  His father, John Lanterman, was a native of this county, and his grandfather, Peter Lanterman, among the earliest settlers in Austintown.  Mr. Lanterman was left an orphan at the age of two years by the death of his father.  His mother died when he was sixteen, and from that time forward he acted for himself.  In 1861 he went West to Virginia City, thence crossing the plains to California; he was seven months n the way.  He spent three years in the West, then returned to this county, and after living four years in Austintown he bought the farm on which he now resides.  He has one hundred and fifteen acres of excellent land with the best of buildings and improvements; he deals considerably in stock.  Mr. Lanterman was married in 1864 to Miss Elizabeth Kistler, daughter of John B. Kistler, of this township.  They have six children living, one deceased: German U., Bettie A., John S., Mary I. (died when about six weeks old), Jennie D., Blanche G., Frederick A.  Mr. Lanterman is a straight-out Democrat and an active business man.  His wife is a member of the Lutheran church. - Pg. 95

     RICHARD J. McCLURG, farmer, Boardman township, was born in Boardman June 22, 1840.  He is the son of Samuel McClurg, a native of Allegheny county, Pennsylvania.  Samuel McClurg settled in this county quite early and lived here until the time of his death, bringing up a family of three children, of whom two, Richard and Andrew are living.  Richard lives on the home farm, which contains one hundred and eighty acres of excellent land with good buildings and improvements.  Mr. McClurg was married in 1866 to Miss Kesia McCullough, of Springfield.  They have two children - George, born July 25, 1871; Samuel H., born Nov. 16, 1878.  Mr. McClurg and wife belong to the Presbyterian church.  Mr. McClurg is a sound Republican.  He is a prominent citizen; has been township trustee, etc. - Pg. 96

     THOMAS MATTHEWS, farmer, Boardman, Mahoning county, was born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, Aug. 17, 1813.  He came to this county when nine years of age with his parents, Thomas and Jane (McClurg) Matthews.  Mr. Matthews bought his present farm about thirty-eight years ago.  He has one hundred and sixty-five acres of excellent land; is engaged in mixed farming and sheep raising.  He was married, in 1842, to Cynthia Shannon, daughter of Major John Shannon, of Pennsylvania, a soldier of the War of 1812.  They have three children living and three deceased - William S., born Oct. 30, 1843, now a successful physician at Youngstown; Bruce S., May 1, 1846; Charles W., Mar. 31, 1851; Ellen J., Feb. 20, 1855, died Apr. 1, 1855; Ellen D., June 2, 1857, died Dec. 16, 1863; Cora C., Dec. 10, 1858 died Jan. 29, 1866.  Mr. and Mrs. Matthews are members of the Methodist church.  Mr. Matthews is a Republican and an esteemed citizen. - Pg. 96

     ELI REED, farmer, Boardman township, Mahoning county, was born in Canfield township in 1816.  His parents, James and Mary (Turner) Reed, came to this county in 1806, Mr. Reed from Washington county, Pennsylvania, and Mrs. Reed from New Jersey.  They brought up a family of five children, three of whom are yet living, two sons and a daughter.  James Reed died Oct. 13, 1854, in his sixty-sixth year.  Mary Reed died Apr. 8, 1863, in her eighty-fourth year.  Adam and Margaret Turner, grandfather and grandmother of Eli Reed, settled in Canfield in Apr. 1806, coming form New Jersey by team.  Adam Turner was born Sept. 5, 1763, and died Sept. 3, 1837.  Margaret (Mizner) Turner was born June 11, 1766, and died Oct. 28, 1840.  Eli Reed was married, in 1843, to Margaret Thomas, of Canfield township.  They have five children living, four deceased, including a daughter that died in infancy - Amanda M., born July 24, 1845, now the wife of Samuel Steele of Youngstown; Alvin T.; Sept. 27, 1847; Sibyl C., Aug. 15, 1849, died Oct. 24, 1851; Florus A. and Flora C., July 4, 1853, Florus dying Oct. 9, 1853, and Flora May 18, 1855; Hattie E., Sept. 29,1 856, is the wife of Almon Alderman, Evert, Michigan; Oscar W., Mar. 13, 1859; Clinton E., June 1, 1864.  Mr. Reed has been a Republican since the organization of the party.  He has been assessor two terms and trustee three terms.  He is a worthy and respected citizen.   - Pg. 96

     MICHAEL SIMON, farmer, Boardman township, Mahoning county, was born in Boardman township July 13, 1820.  His father, Adam Simon, was one of the earliest settlers in the county, having come here from Washington county, Pennsylvania, about the year 1800.  He was father of six children, three of whom are living, viz:  Andrew, Reinhart, and Michael.  The two first named reside in Wood county.  Michael Simon was married in 1846, to Rosini Gentholtz, a native of Wittenberg, Germany.  They have seven children living, five deceased, viz: Ezra A., born Mar. 26, 1848; Lenora C., born Mar. 26, 1848; Cornelius A., born Feb. 25, 1850; Catharine A., born Feb. 25, 1850; Catharine E., born Dec. 15, 1851, married Mr. Stempel, died Sept. 19, 1873; Rebecca M., born Apr. 1, 1853; Caroline S., born May 5, 1855; Julius A., born Oct. 24, 1856; Elmer E., Bishop C., Ira C., born July 21, 1861.  Bishop died Aug. 22, 1861; Ira died Feb. 12, 1862; and Warren, born May 3, 1868.  Mr. and Mrs. Simon belong to the Lutheran church.  Mr. Simon is a Republican.  He is a leading farmer and respected citizen. - Pg. 96

    
JOSEPH COX

     J. H. SHEILDS, farmer, Boardman township, Mahoning county, was born in Boardman township Nov. 12, 1840.  The farm on which he was born and where he now lives was purchased in 1798 by Thomas Shields, and has since been in possession of the Shields family.  Thomas Shields bought two mill-sites and several hundred acres of land, then returned to his home in Augusta county, Virginia, where died shortly after.  His sons, Thomas, James and William, came in 1800 and settled on the farm.  Thomas Shields was a miller by trade, and the first miller west of Rochester, Pennsylvania.  James and William were in the War of 1812; Thomas was exempted from service on account of being a useful and necessary member of the community - a miller - and the only man exempted in his neighborhood.  William Shields had two sons.  The family moved to Indiana about 1848.  James had no children.  Thomas had five sons and a daughter.  All are dead, nearly every one reaching the age of seventy years.  Andrew Shields, son of Thomas was the father of J. H. Shields.  He married Jane Price, of Youngstown township.  They had two sons and two daughters, viz:  J. H., Louis H. (Hopkins), Louisa M. (Anderson), and Wallace, who died young.  Andrew Shields died in June, 1880, in his seventy-second year.  Mrs. Shields is still living.  J. H. Shields, married, in 1863, Miss L. H. Starr, of this township.  They have three children living, one deceased, viz.: Maud M., born in 1866; Budd S., born in 1867; Mary J., Allora C., born in 1873.  Mary J. was drowned July 9, 1879, aged eight years.  She fell from a log while attempting to cross the creek when the water was high.  Mr. Shields is one of our largest and most prosperous farmers.  He manages six hundred acres of land and deals quite extensively in cattle and sheep. Pg. 97

     T. M. TWISS, farmer, Boardman township, Mahoning county, was born in Boardman township, Nov. 28, 1833.  His father, John Twiss came here from Connecticut in 1818, and brought up a family of eight children, of whom Mr. T. M. Twiss is the youngest.  Mr. Twiss has made farming his principal business; he also deals considerably in stock.  He has a farm of one hundred and seventy-three acres, good land well improved.  Mr. Twiss is married in 1860 to Mary Hyde, of Orangeville, Trumbull county.  She died in 1864, in the 27th year of her age.  Mr. Twiss was again married, in 1874, to Mrs. Carrie Minnis, of Mercer county, Pennsylvania.  Mr. Twiss is a Republican.  He has been township trustee and assessor.  Mrs. Twiss is a member of the Methodist Church. - Pg. 97

END OF CHAPTER III -

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