OHIO GENEALOGY EXPRESS


A Part of Genealogy Express

 

Welcome to
Mahoning County, Ohio
History & Genealogy

Source:
History of Trumbull & Mahoning Counties
with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches
Vol. II
Publ. Cleveland: H. Z. Williams & Bro. 1882

-------------------
 

Chapter VII.
JACKSON.
Mahoning Co., Ohio
Pg. 146

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

     This township, named in honor of Andrew Jackson, is township two of range four of the Western Reserve, and is bounded on the north by Lordstown, Trumbull county; on the east by Austintown, on the south by Berlin; and on the west by Milton.  The Meander creek drains the eastern part of the township, pursuing its zigzag course northward partly in this township but mostly in Austintown.  A number of small streams enter the creek from the westward, ren-

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dering the surface broken and uneven.  There are no long or very steep hills, but quite a number of undulations such as may be found in prairie countries.  The western half of the township may be briefly described as level.  Many broad fields, acres in extent, are apparently as flat and even as the surface of a calm lake.  Likewise in the southern part of the township, the fields which have been formed from the ancient swamp-land are almost uniformly smooth.
     There is a large average of woodland interspersed with acres of cultivated fields, this combination producing an effect very pleasing to lovers of natural beauty.  When the green man tle of spring is spread over all, or when the magic painter, Autumn, with divinely skilled hand has touched the forest trees, transformed their foliage with countless tints of crimson, gold, and scarlet, these groves assume a beauty which is indescribable.
     The soil is generally deep and rich, and is well adapted to wheat and corn.  But little of the land is stony and all is easily cultivated.  The farm-houses are good and comfortable, though by no means large or imposing in appearance.
     There is but one village in the township, North Jackson, which is not north geographically but situated at the very center.  The post office has been called by this name to distinguish it from the many other Jacksons in this country.
     Farming is the principal business.  There has never been a railroad through the township, but one is now in process of construction and other lines have been surveyed.  The Alliance, Niles & Ashtabula road will pass diagonally through the western and northern portion of the township, and with its completion there may be an inception of other industries.

TIMBER.

     The western and much of the northern part of the township were originally covered with a dense growth of hard wood, principally oak and hickory.  On the Meander there were many sugar-maples. In the southern part of the township there were several kinds of soft wood found in some tracts including considerable poplar.  Beech and ash grow in various parts of the township.

COAL.

     A fair quantity of surface coal has been mined in several places, but the deposits are not extensive.  As yet no banks containing paying quantities have been opened.

SETTLEMENT.

     The first pioneers were nearly all of the Scotch Irish race, and moved to the township from Pennsylvania.  SAMUEL CALHOUN was the first actual settler.  He located on the south line of the township in 1803, and there passed the remainder of his days.  His sons were Andrew, Samuel, and Matthew; his daughters Nancy, Betsey, Isabel, Sally, Anna, Martha, and EstherAndrew Calhoun lived in the township, on the eastern part, through his life.  Anna became the wife of David Leonard, and is still living in Ellsworth township.  The name is spelled Calhoon by some of those who bear it.

     WILLIAM ORR, from Washington county, Pennsylvania, settled in 1803 or 1804 upon the farm which remained in possession of the Orr family many years.  He built a frame house at an early date, which was probably the first in the town ship.  It was a story and a half in height, perhaps twenty-four feet wide, and somewhat longer.  There was a stone chimney in the middle of the house; it was both large and wide, and took up a considerable amount of room.  William Orr died in 1815, in his sixtieth year.   His wife Mary died in 1849, in her ninetieth year.   Their family consisted of eleven children, viz: James, Margaret, John, Humphrey, William, Thomas, Russel, Anna, Abraham, Isaac, and MaryJohn, Humphrey, William, and Russel settled in Milton and died there.  Thomas lived in Jackson for a time, then returned to Pennsylvania.  James moved to some distant part.  Abraham and Isaac are the only survivors of the family.  The former lives in Trumbull county and the latter in Illinois.  Anna was the wife of John Johnston."  Margaret married John Ewing Andrew Gault came to the township in 1803, and made a permanent settlement in 1804.  His sons were Ebenezer, Robert, and Andrew; his daughters Rachel, Betsey, and AnnRobert and Andrew settled in the township, Andrew upon the old place.  Rachel married Andrew Duer and settled in Ellsworth.  Betsey married Robert Gibson. Ann became the wife of Robinson Young, and lived in Austintown.

     ANDREW GAULT came to the township in 1803, and made a permanent settlement in 1804.  His sons were Ebenezer, Robert, and Andrew; his daughters Rachel, Betsey, and Ann.  Robert and Andrew settled in the township, Andrew upon the old place.  Rachel married Andrew Duer and settled in Ellsworth.  Betsey married Robert Gibson.  Ann became the wife of Robinson Young, and lived in Austintown.

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     About 1804 SAMUEL RIDDLE, from Pennsylvania settled in the southeast part of the township.  His house stood near where Mr. Kimmel's now stands.  His children were David, James, Andrew, John, Samuel, Catharine, and AnnDavid married Betsey Van Emmon, and settled one mile and a half northeast of the center.  He brought up a family of two sons and four daughters.  James married Jane Bell of Pennsylvania, and lived upon the old homestead.  His family consisted of ten children.  Andrew married Matilda Taylor and settled on the Meander, in Ellsworth.  He was the father of three sons and two daughters.  John became a doctor and practiced some time in Wooster.  He married Rhoda Winters and had four daughters.  Samuel married Mary Campbell, and settled one mile west of the old place.  He brought up two sons and two daughters.  The daughters are dead.  His sons live in JacksonCatharine married John McCready, and lived in Bedford, Pennsylvania.  Ann married Nicholas Van Emmon and resided in the western part of this township.

     ROBERT KIRKPATRICK was among the earliest settlers, and probably came to this township soon after the families just mentioned.  He was a native of Ireland, of Scotch-Irish blood.  Five of his children arrived at maturity, viz: Martin, Isaac, Josiah, Martha, and EleanorMartin and Isaac lived and died in Ellsworth, where their father purchased farms for them.  Josiah passed his life upon the old farm. Martha became Mrs. McGeorge, and Eleanor Mrs. WilsonMartha is the only survivor.  Robert Kirkpatrick first settled in Austintown near Smith's corners, but soon afterwards made a permanent settle ment in Jackson, on the Meander.  He died in 1847, in the seventy-ninth year of his age.  Catharine, his wife, died in 1856, at the age of eighty-seven.  Josiah, the youngest son, died in 1878, aged sixty-four.

     JOHN EWING, and his brother Archibald Ewing, natives of Ireland, came with their mother and sister in 1803 or 1804.  They first settled in Austintown, and Archibald took up and lived upon the old Ewing farm in that township.  The first night after their arrival the family passed be neath the shelter of a walnut tree.  The sister mentioned became Mrs. Robert KirkpatrickJohn Ewing located in Jackson upon the farm now owned by Mr. Kimmel.  He married Margaret Orr, and reared a large family.  A sketch is given elsewhere.

     JOHN AND ELEANOR MORRISON settled in 1805 on the place where the widow Lynn now lives, south west of the center.  James, Jane, John, Nancy, Thomas, Martha, and Mary Ann were the names of their children.  The sons moved away quite early—James to Holmes county; John to the northern part of Trumbull county; and Thomas to Pennsylvania.  Mary Ann was married to David Johnston, and is living in Jackson.  She is the only member of the family now in this county.

     In 1805 or 1806 NICHOLAS VanEMMON settled one mile and a half west and a mile south of the center of the township.  His wife died here, after bringing up a large family.  He married again and moved away.  None of the children settled in the township.
     From 1810 to 1820 there were scarcely any permanent settlements made in the township.  Quite a number came and remained a short time, but a few years' experience with the swamps and a bad roads disgusted them, and they either returned to civilization or pressed on toward the newer settlements, declaring that such a country wasn't "fit for a white man to live in."  The process of development was consequently a slow one.

     A man named CROOKS was living on the farm west of Lynn farm in 1811, but moved away soon after.  Two of the sons afterwards came back and settled in the northern part of the township where they remained a few years.

     THOMAS DINWIDDIE was also a resident of the township at that date, upon the farm now owned by James Oswald.  He moved away later.

     JAMES and MARTHA PATTERSON were early settlers on the north side of the road, one-half mile west of the center.  They had no children.  In 1823 they moved to Wayne county.

     DAVID McCONNELL settled in the northwestern part of the township about 1817, but sold out after making a few improvements.

     JOHN GRAVES settled near Joseph Pierce about 1819.  His farm was east of Mr. Pierce's  He made considerable improvement.  Joseph McCorkle bought the farm from him, moving to it from the eastern part of the township.  Mr. McCorkle died on the farm and his widow is still living there.

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     GEORGE ORMSBY settled in Jackson previous to 1820 and lived to be an old man.

     JOSHUA T. COTTON, who was a captain in the War of 1812, moved to Jackson township about 1818.  He married in Youngstown Miss Williamson, and brought up a large family.  From Jackson he moved to Indiana where he died.  Captain Cotton was a true specimen of the hardy pioneer as well as a good and brave soldier.

     About the same date JOHN PEARSALL settled one and three fourth miles east of the center.  He moved to another farm in this township, then to Milton and finally to Pennsylvania.

     JOSEPH PIERCE and wife, the father of Joseph Pierce, one of the oldest residents of the township, moved from Youngstown to the northwestern part of the township in the fall of 1818.  Mrs. Pierce died the following winter.  Joseph Pierce, Jr., came from Warren to this township in 1819, with an axe as his only property.  It proved a very serviceable tool, for miles of road had to be cut in order to reach his land.  He used to work from before daybreak until nine and ten o'clock at night in the clearings.  His energy and industry won him a home which he still lives to enjoy.

     THOMAS DUER settled on the west side of the township about 1820 and died soon afterward.  His son Joseph passed his life on the old place.

     JOHN McMAHAN, of Pennsylvania, moved from his native State to the northern part of Boardman township in 1799, and remained until 1806, when he settled on a farm in Austintown.  He served three months in the War of 1812, and died while on his way home.  He was the father of five sons and one daughter—James D., Benjamin, John, Thomas, Harriet, and JosephJames and Benjamin settled in Jackson in 1820.  John went West and has never been heard from.  Thomas settled in Lordstown, removed to Pennsylvania and died. Harriet, the wife of John Cory, lives in Champion, Trumbull county.  Joseph died in Morgan county, Ohio.

     In 1820 the widow of  JOHN McMAHAN, SR. removed from Austintown to Jckson with her sons.  She died in 1855, aged about eighty-three years.

     JAMES D. McMAHAN, who is perhaps the oldest man living of those born upon the Reserve, was born in Boardman township Oct. 31, 1799.  He was one of the pioneers of Jackson.  He married Betsey Cory and had a family of eight children, four of whom are living—John, on the old homestead in the northern part of Jackson; Thomas, one mile east of Warren; Silas, in Champion township, and Mary in San Francisco, California.  Mrs. McMahan died in 1868.  Mr. McMahan has since been living with his sons.  For a man of his years he is wonderfully bright, active, and cheerful.

     BENJAMIN McMAHAN settled in Jackson and died in 1878.  He was married three times.  His first wife bore three children, his second one, and his third four.  All these are living excepting one.

     JOHN CARTWRIGHT settled about 1827 on the farm northwest of Abraham Moherman's, but moved away a few years later.

     ABRAHAM MOHERMAN, son of Frederick Moherman, one of the first settlers of Austintown, came to Jackson in 1827 and settled one mile and a half west of the center where he now lives.  He was married in the township to Anna, daughter of Daniel Rush, and has a family of four children living.

     JOHN MOHERMAN settled some time after his brother.  He married  Mary Cassiday, now deceased, and has four children living.

     THOMAS WOODWARD settled on the farm where he now lives in 1828.

     ROBERT TURNBULL moved from Austintown to Goshen township, and in 1828 located at Jackson center, where he made the first clearing in what is now the village.  His house stood on the corner where the drug store now is.  Squire Turnbull is well remembered by the old residents, and is generally described as having been a “smart man.”  He was married twice; first to Celia, daughter of John Wolfcale, of Austin town.  One son by this marriage is now living in Portage county.  His name is Cyrus.  For his second wife Mr. Turnbull married Anna Ormsby, of this township.  One of the sons, Lewis, was killed in a saw-mill in Indiana.  The family was a large one.

     JONATHAN OSBORN bought land in the township in 1828, and settled here permanently in 1836.

     WILLIAM YOUNG, a native of Pennsylvania, bought his farm in 1830, paying $5 per acre for it, when land in the northern and western part of the township was worth $3 to $4 per acre.

     From 1825 until 1835 the Pennsylvania Dutch

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flocked to the township in large numbers.  The Schlabach, Wetherstay, Lodwick, Wannemaker, Ebert, Shoeneberger, Iry, Shively, and other families were the earliest and most prominent.  The limits of this article forbid us to go into particulars regarding the settlers of this date; for though they may be regarded as pioneers inasmuch as they began in the woods, we cannot in strict propriety call them early settlers.
     By 1840 the settlement had grown almost to its present dimensions.  The census of that year showed a population of 1,124.  The Germans with their characteristic thrift and sturdy industry have been largely instrumental in adding to the wealth of the township.
     One reason why the township was not settled faster may be found in the fact that a considerable portion of the land it contains was not put in the market by the proprietors until long after many other townships had become thriving and populous.

TAXES IN 1803

     Here is a list of tax-payers of Jackson for the year 1803:

RANGE FOUR, TOWN TWO.

  Amount
of tax
  Amount
of tax
Calhoun, Samuel $  20 Starnford, James $  24
Gault, Andrew     34 Riddle, Samuel  1.59
Orr, William     32 McInrue, Joseph     40
      _____
    Total $3.07

 

FIRST EVENTS

 

EARLY SCHOOLS.

 

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EARLY MILLS

 

CHURCH HISTORY

 

THE OLD LOG CHURCH

 

THE COVENANTERS.

 

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THE METHODIST CHURCH.

 

LUTHERAN AND GERMAN REFORMED CHURCH.

 

THE DISCIPLES.

 

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FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

 

GRAVEYARDS.

     The oldest burial place in the township is in the southeastern part near the Covenanter church.  Here, in an uneven piece of ground, neglected, and overgrown with weeds and briers, the bones of the first settlers an many of their descendants repose.
     There is a small graveyard in the northwestern part of the township, less than a half acre in area, which contains about twenty grave-stones.  The earliest death there recorded is that of Lydia, wife of Anthony Stogdill, who died June, 12, 1832, aged thirty-seven.
     North of the center are two graveyards adjoining the Methodist and the German churches.

IN EARLY YEARS.

 

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JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

     From the fact that no township records are in existence, excepting those of a comparatively recent date, we can give no names of early township officers.  It is generally agreed that Andrew Gault was the first justice, and John Pearsall the second.  Robert Turnbull, William L. Roberts, Thomas Woodward, Jonathan Osborn, Jonas Ebert, David Camp, Jackson Truesdale, Samuel Johnston, Samuel Jones, William Anderson, Moses Felnagle, G. W. Osborn, and perhaps others, have held the office.

THE VILLAGE.

     Jackson center, or North Jackson - it is the same place whichever name you use - is a thrifty little country village containing a goodly number of white houses, as well as four churches, four stores, a hotel, a saloon, three blacksmith shops, a tannery, two saw-mills, a flax-mill, a wagon-shop, a harness-shop, and a tailor's shop.  A daily mail is received from West Austintown.

MERCHANTS.

 

PHYSICIANS.

 

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INDUSTRIES.

 

THE FIRST TAVERN.

 

OTHER MATTERS.

 

THE POST-OFFICE.

 

NORTH JACKSON HIGH SCHOOL.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

THE OSBORN FAMILY *

NOTES OF SETTLEMENT:

     ANDREW CALHOON was born in Pennsylvania Oct. 5, 1777.  In the first settlement of the country he and his father, Samuel Calhoon, came to Jackson township, now Mahoning county, bought them land and made preparations for the arrival of the mother, Nancy Calhoon, and Samuel and Matthew, and their ten sisters.  Their only neighbors were the wild animals.  Their greatest drawback was the heavy timber which occupied the soil, but the soil when exposed to the sun produced abundantly and there was no danger of starvation.  But the wheat and corn had to be taken many miles during the first years of the settlement of the county in order to be ground for food.  In a few years, however, neighbors began to come in, fields expanded, and the log cabins gave place to more commodious dwellings.  Andrew Calhoon married Elizabeth, daughter of James Marshall, of Weathersfield, Trumbull county.  She was then eighteen years of age.  The result of this marriage was twelve children, namely: Isaac, Nancy, Lydia, David, Elizabeth, Matilda, Andrew, Samuel, James, Malissa, Belinda, and one that died in infancy.  All of those named lived to maturity, although Nancy and Lydia are now deceased.  Andrew Calhoon died Oct. 5, 1833.  His wife lived a widow something over forty years and died Dec. 28, 1873.

     DAVID CALHOON, son of the subject of the preceding sketch, was born in Jackson township,  Mahoning county, Dec. 18, 1814.  He attended only the pioneer schools where the “three R’s” (reading, 'riting, and 'rithmetic) were taught.  He remained on the home farm until he was of age and then bought a part of the farm where he now resides in Jackson, which was then heavily timbered.  He has since added to his first purchase and now has about two hundred acres.  Apr. 16, 1840, he married Rebecca Riddle, who was born in western Pennsylvania Jan. 17, 1818, and when about two years old came with her parents to Jackson township.  By this marriage there were seven children, to-wit: Andrew C., Samuel S., David B., John M., Elizabeth J., Sylvester J., James W., all living at this writing.  Mr. and Mrs. Calhoon are members of the Presbyterian church.

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     ANDREW GAULT, JR., youngest of seven children of Andrew Gault, Sr., was born in Jackson township, Mahoning county, Dec. 7, 1804.  Andrew Gault, Sr., was a native of Ireland and when about seventeen years of age he emigrated to America and after a time settled in Washington county, Pennsylvania. Apr. 22, 1788, he married Eleanor Chesney, by whom he had seven children.  In 1803 he emigrated with his family to Trumbull county, Ohio, and settled in Jackson township, where his grandson, James G., and his mother now live.  He died Jan. 8, 1832,  surviving his wife, who died Apr. 27, 1829.  Andrew Gault received a good education for the times, attending, besides the common schools, select schools and the Canfield school.  He helped to clear the farm on which he lived and devoted his life to his chosen occupation, that of farming.  Mar. 31, 1831, he married Mary Ewing, daughter of John Ewing, of Jackson township.  She was born May 22, 1807.  The result of this marriage was ten children, viz:  Eleanor, Margaret, John E., Andrew R., Robert A., Margery Ann, James G., Sarah J., Mary C., and Rachel E., all of whom are living except Eleanor and Margery.  It is said that Andrew Gault, our subject, was the first white male child born in Jackson township, and that his wife was the first female child.  Mr. Gault was an intelligent but unassuming man and a Christian.  He was a member of the Covenanter church.  He died at the age of about sixty-six.

     ROBERT A. GAULT, son of the above, was born on the old homestead in Jackson, Aug. 26, 1839.  In 1861 he enlisted in company F, Forty-first Ohio volunteer infantry, serving four years and two months in the Army of the Tennessee and was in the battles of Pittsburg Landing, Murfreesboro, Dallas, etc.  He entered the service as a private but rose to the position of captain.  In 1867 he was married to Miss Martha Johnson and has three children, viz: Cassius, Homer J., and Edith E.

     JAMES G. GAULT, youngest son of Andre Gault, Jr., was born in Jackson township Aug. 21, 1842.  In 1864 he went out in the one hundred day service, enlisting in Company G, One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Ohio National guard.  In 1869, June 15th he married Mary Ellen Ewing, who was born Nov. 24, 1844.  They have three children, viz: Charles C., Lois M. B., and Grace Irene.

     ROBERT GAULT, JR. was born in Green township, Mahoning county, on Dec. 8, 1814.  He is the only child of Robert Gault, Sr., who was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, on Mar. 31, 1789.  Robert Gault, Sr., was the oldest child of Andrew GaultRobert Gault was educated in the schools of Pennsylvania, and thus had probably better advantages than his younger brothers, whose chances for “schooling” were in the pioneer schools.  He aided in clearing up and making a home and a sustenance on the tract of land which now constitutes the homestead.  He and his father, when he was grown, purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, on which the subject of this sketch now resides.  In the fall of 1813 he married Charlotte Bowman, daughter of Phillip Bowman, a pioneer of Green township.  He was a German by birth and immigrated from Mary land to Iowa.  Prior to his immigrating he was one of the soldiers of the Revolutionary war.  A few months after their marriage Robert Gault, Sr., was drafted in the War of 1812, and started for Detroit.  At Cleveland he was taken ill, but for fear of being called a coward he proceeded with his company toward Detroit, but on the way was taken worse and died at Rocky River, Ohio, at the house of Widow Miner, Oct. 29, 1814.  Mrs. Gault, meanwhile, had gone to her father's in Green township, Mahoning county, where soon after her husband's death she gave birth to her only child by this husband.  She afterwards married Joseph Hudson and moved to Iowa.  When Robert Gault, Jr., was two years old he went to live with his grandfather, Andrew Gault.  With him he grew up.  On Dec. 9, 1835, he married Margery Ewing, daughter of John

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Ewing, of Jackson township.  She was born in Jackson township on June 3, 1816.  This marriage was blessed with twelve children—John, born Dec. 27, 1836; Alexander and Margaret Sarah (twins), May 26, 1838; Mary, Dec. 14, 1839; Andrew, Nov. 14, 1841; Caroline, July 8, 1843; Martha J., Mar. 8, 1845; Gideon, Nov. 6, 1846; Samuel S., Mar. 11, 1848; William, Mar. 28, 1850; Gibson J., Dec. 6, 1852, and Robert E., Mar. 7, 1855.  Caroline died Aug. 31, 1844.  Andrew enlisted in 1861 in the Forty-first regiment, Ohio volunteers, and was in the Army of the Cumberland.  He was wounded in the arm at a skirmish at Dallas, Georgia, while retreating.  This necessitated amputation, from the effects of which he died July 8, 1864.  Both Mr. and Mrs. Gault are members of the United Presbyterian church.

     SAMUEL RIDDLE, the subject of this sketch, was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, July 8, 1794. His father, whose name was also Samuel, came to Jackson township, now Mahoning county, about the year 1803 or 1804.  He settled on the Meander where he erected one of the first mills in that locality, which was long known as Riddle's mill.  Samuel Riddle, our subject, was married June 18, 1818, to Polly Campbell, daughter of William Campbell, who was born in Pennsylvania Mar. 28, 1792.  By this marriage there were six children, viz: William C., Martha J., Margaret, Samuel, and a pair of twins that died in infancy.  Both the daughters are now deceased.  Margaret was the wife of Gibson Ewing.  Samuel Riddle died Mar. 30, 1869, and his wife Polly Nov. 2, 1854.

     WILLIAM RIDDLE, the oldest of the children of the subject of the preceding sketch, was born in Jackson township, Mahoning county, then Trumbull, May 13, 1819.  He remained at home upon the farm until he was twenty-seven, when he married and settled upon a farm two miles southeast of North Jackson, where he lived until five years ago, when he moved to that village.  June 27, 1848, he married Martha J., daughter of John and Margaret Ewing, of Jackson township.  She was born Aug. 12, 1823.  Though living in town Mr. Riddle superintends his farm, which is situated a short distance from his present residence.  Himself and wife are members of the Presbyterian church.

     SAMUEL RIDDLE, a younger brother of William C., was born in Jackson township, May 16, 1827.  He derived his education at the district schools, which he attended for the most part during the winter season. When he was seventeen he taught his first school, and subsequently continued school teaching for six winters, and taught the school he formerly attended the winter after his marriage. Some six years after his marriage he bought the farm on which he now lives, east of North Jackson. He was united in marriage Apr. 17, 1851, to Mary Spear, daughter of Alexander Spear, of Hartford, Trumbull county, who was born at Mount Jackson, Pennsylvania, Aug. 12, 1824. For over twenty years he and his wife have been members of the Presbyterian church of Ohltown and of North Jackson.

     JOHN EWING was a native of county Donegal, Ireland, and when about seventeen years of age his mother (his father having previously died) with two sons and two daughters emigrated to America.  They first settled is Penn's valley, Pennsylvania, where for seven years he worked a farm on shares.  In 1803 John Ewing came to Jackson township, now Mahoning county, where he bought a piece of land and erected the second house in the township.  His older brother, Archibald, came out at the same time and settled in Austintown.  The county was then almost a complete wilderness, with few neighbors (if settlers living miles apart and separated by dense woods can be called neighbors), the nearest mill being near Darlington, Pennsylvania; it was with these surroundings and under these circumstances that the subject of this biography began to build up a home.  But his industry and energy brought prosperity, and he added to his original tract from time to time until he had a large property.  When he commenced farming labor was worth only $4 per month.  He married Margaret Orr, daughter of William Orr, then of Jackson but a native of Pennsylvania.  They had a family of twelve children, as follow: Mary, Eleanor, Ann, Margaret, Alexander, Margery, Sarah, Gibson, Catharine, Martha J., John, and Rebecca, all of whom lived to adult age.  Margaret, Sarah, Catharine, and Rebecca are now deceased.  The father died July 13, 1842, aged seventy-one years.   His wife survived him.  He was drafted in the War of 1812 and started for the field, but the news

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from Hull's army caused him with others to return to their homes.  He was an honest, up right man, and a good citizen, warmly attached
to his adopted country, but owing to some peculiarity of his disposition never became naturalized.  He and his wife were members of the
Reformed church.

     ALEXANDER E. EWING, oldest son and fifth child of John Ewing, of the preceding sketch, was born in Jackson township, Mahoning county, Oct. 2, 1814.  He remained with his father on the farm until he was twenty-seven, when, in 1842, he moved on the farm where he now lives which was then covered with forest.  On May 19, 1842, he married Mary Ann Cook, daughter of James Cook, of Lawrence county, Pennsylvania.  She was born Mar. 14, 1821.  They had five children: Margaret J., born Mar. 24, 1843, died June 7, 1860; William J., born May 11, 1845; James C., born May 7, 1847; Gibson C., born Feb. 24, 1851; and Mary Ellen Tirzah, born Aug. 17, 1859.  Mr. and Mrs. Ewing are members of the Reformed Presbyterian church.  Mr. Ewing is the oldest resident of this township who was born in it.

     GIBSON EWING, second son and eighth child of John Ewing, was born in Jackson township, Mahoning county, July 23, 1818.  He attended the common schools of his boyhood days a short time during the winter months, but he acquired learning easily and made such progress that for five successive winters after his nineteenth year he taught school.  He remained at home until he was nearly twenty-five engaged at farming, when not teaching, and on May 19, 1842, married Margaret Riddle, who was born in Jackson township Sept. 18, 1823.  This union resulted in eleven children, five dying in infancy.  The following lived to maturity, viz: Samuel J., born July 17, 1844; Martha, born Aug. 7, 1846; James R., born Oct. 4, 1852; Rutherford B., born Oct. 9, 1858 (died Jan. 23, 1881); Mary A., born May 18, 1861; Sarah M., born Nov. 3, 1863.  Samuel was in the army in the war of the Rebellion in company F, Forty-first regiment, and was shot at the battle of Murfreesboro, on Stone river.  Mrs. Ewing died Jan. Io, 1872. She was a member of the Reformed Presbyterian church.  Mr. Ewing is now connected with the United Presbyterian church of Youngstown.

     WILLIAM SHAFER, was a native of Virginia, born in 1813.  When he was yet a boy his father, Samuel Shafer, emigrated from northern Virginia and settled a little over a mile southwest of Austintown center.  He was the father of eight children, viz: Henry, John, William, Samuel, Daniel, Edward, Maria, and Eliza Jane.  School houses in that early day being very scarce, William and his brother attended school for a time in Jackson township.  William received but a meager education in these schools, working meanwhile upon the farm.  A few years after his marriage he bought one hundred acres of land in Champion township, on which there had not been a stick of timber cut.  The first winter they lived in a log house which was built without a fire-place and which was destitute of a stove.  He lived upon that place, clearing and improving it, and working also at his trade, that of stone-mason.  He married Elizabeth, daughter of George Gilbert, of Austintown.  He was a soldier in the War of 1812.  This marriage resulted in a family of five children, viz: Elizabeth, Henry, Jonathan R., Cornelius, and Phebe J., of whom all are living except Cornelius, who died in the winter of 1880–81. William Shafer died in 1855 in the forty-second year of his age.

     HENRY SHAFER, oldest son of the subject of the foregoing sketch was born in Austintown township, Mahoning county, Oct. 28, 1835.  His parents having settled in the woods when he was a child, where the nearest school-house was over two miles distant, and there being so much hard work required upon the farm he enjoyed slender advantages for the acquirement of an education.  He remained upon the farm until he was about twenty years of age, when he learned the carpenter's trade, and has made this a part of his business since, though farming is his chief occupation.  In October, 1860, he was married to Louisa, daughter of Abraham Strock, of Austintown township, by whom he has had six children, as follow: William, Frank B., Leander D., Lewis A., George W., and Charles Caster, of whom William and Lewis are dead.  Mrs. Shafer died Nov. 2, 1879.  She was a member of the Christian church.

     JONAS WANNEMAKER, was born in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, Dec. 12, 1821.  His father, Daniel Wannemaker, was also a Pennsylvanian and a miller by trade.  He married Cath-

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arine Kistler, whose father was a Revolutionary soldier and died of camp fever near Philadelphia.  By this marriage there were seven children—Nathan, Sophia, Abbie, Daniel, John, Benjamin, and JonasAbbie and John are dead.  When the subject of this sketch was about twelve years of age his father died and some three years afterward his mother and her family, except the oldest child, emigrated to Trumbull county, and located in Southington township.  Mrs. Wannemaker there married Daniel Murrboyer, of Warren township.  When the subject of this sketch was seventeen he began clearing a farm of one hundred and eight acres, which fell to him and his brother Benjaman from the estate.  For some four years after he was twenty-one he worked most of the time at carpentering with his brothers, Daniel and John.  Since that time he has been engaged at farming.  About thirty years ago he purchased and moved upon the farm where he now lives.  January, 1847, he married Hannah Ebert, of Jackson, by whom he has had ten children— Mary, Charles A., Thomas, Wesley, William Henry, Sarah A., Lottie C., Elmer D., Jonas F., and L. Dell.  Mary died in infancy and Charles at the age of twenty-two.  Mrs. Wannemaker died May 23, 1879. She was and he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

     TOBIAS KIMMEL was born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, in 1802.  When quite a small boy his father, Isaac Kimmel, came to Youngstown township, Trumbull county, now Mahoning, where he remained for a number of years and then removed to Coitsville township.  He was a farmer by occupation.  Tobias Kimmel when a young man learned the blacksmith trade and for a number of years carried on a shop in Youngstown.  About 1824 he moved to his farm which he occupied some eight years, when he moved to Poland township where he resided until his death.  His wife was Rebecca, daughter of William Smith, of Mercer county, Pennsylvania, who became the mother of the following named children, all living to mature age, viz:  Abraham, William, Philip, Smith, Dwight, Mary, John, Sarah, Ruth Ann, and Tobias M. Philip died at the age of twenty-two.  After his wife's death Mr. Kimmel married Lida Shearer, nee McBride, who is still living.  Mr. Kimmel died Jan. 20, 1880.

     SMITH KIMMEL was born in Coitsville township Sept. 9, 1830.  He derived his education in the common schools, and farming has been his chief occupation although for a number of years he has carried on a blacksmith shop with his brother Abraham in Coitsville township.  Dec. 21, 1852, he married Julia Ann, daughter of David Struble, of East Hubbard.  This marriage has been blest with eight children, to wit: Martin A., David A., Alice N., Mary E., Frank E., Charles E., Gilbert B., and Arthur D.  Alice is deceased.  In 1864 Mr. Kimmel was called out with his company and regiment— company C, One Hundred and Seventy-first Ohio National guard—and served one hundred days under Heintzleman.  While in the service he contracted a fever from which he has never wholly recovered.  He resided in Coitsville township until six years of ago when he purchased the John Ewing place, in Jackson township, where he now resides.

     JAMES HERVEY WEBSTER was born in the State of New York.  He was a mason by trade and also carried on a farm in Chautauqua county.  When a few years old he moved to Sandusky county, Ohio, where he married MaryAnn Tucker, daughter of Nathaniel and Mary Tucker, now living at an advanced age in Sandusky county.  Soon after their marriage they moved upon a farm in Chautauqua county, New York, where he remained until his death, which occurred Apr. 1, 1870.  He was an old-time Whig and afterward a Republican.  He was the father of ten children, of whom three died in infancy, Jason, Herbert T., Henry H., Ella A., Ralph D., Israel J., and Nelson R.  The mother of these children afterward married Philip R. Snider, and is now living near Port Clinton, Ottawa county, Ohio.

     H. H. WEBSTER, M. D., was born in Portland township, Chautauqua county, New York, July 30, 1849.  He is the third child of James H. Webster, a sketch of whose life has been given.  Dr. H. H. Webster was educated in the common schools, and through the influence of his brother, Dr. H. T. Webster, for five years a practicing physician of Jackson, he began studying medicine, and graduated after attending three courses of lectures at the Eclectic Medical institute of Cincinnati, in the spring of 1873.  He located first at Niles with his brother, where he remained

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until August, 1874, when he went to Montville, Geauga county, where he remained until Jan. 11, 1879, when he came to Jackson and bought out his brother, and has since practiced in that town and vicinity. Feb. 18, 1875, he married Martha Jones, daughter of Samuel Jones, of Lordstown township.  She was born May 18, 1850.  They have two children, Samuel J., born Oct. 25, 1876; Hervey, born November, 1877.  Mrs. Webster is a member of the Disciple church.  Dr. Webster is a member of the society of Free and Accepted Masons.

     THOMAS WOODWARD, a native of Milford township, Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, was born Dec. 17, 1799.  He is the fifth child of Jehu Woodward, who married Rachel Rummins, of
Mifflin county, Pennsylvania.  They had the following children: James, Ruth, Joseph, Lydia, Thomas, William Leonard, Jehu, Elizabeth, Rachael, Joel, and Ezekiel.  When Thomas was seventeen years old he was apprenticed to learn the carpenter's and cabinet-maker's trade, serving two years, after which he worked at his trade about two years.  In April, 1823, he came to Austintown where he remained a year, then went to Youngstown where he built houses which are yet standing.  He then bought land which constitutes his present farm.  This was a dense forest at that time, out of which he made a fruitful farm and comfortable home.  He married Jan. 10, 1823, Margaret Shively, daughter of Frederick Shively, of Austintown.  She was born in Tyron township, Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, Aug. 17, 1805.  They had thirteen children: Jehu, Leonard, John, Abraham, Elizabeth, Margaret, Rachel, Joel, Angeline, Mary, Ezekiel, Melissa Olive, and Almina, of whom Leonard, Rachel, Margaret, and Ezekiel are dead, the two former living to be grown.  He has been a Democrat from Jackson's time; has held several township offices, and was for eleven years justice of the peace of Jackson.  He is one of the oldest residents of the township.  Mrs. Woodward has been for years a member of the Methodist church.  He is an upright man enjoying the esteem of all who know him.

     WILLIAM YOUNG, was born in Little Beaver township, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, Jan. 14, 1804.  He was the fourth in a family of nine children of James and Esther Young.  He remained with his father until he was about sixteen, and on starting out in life he went to Buffalo where he worked out six months teaming.  He spent the winter at home threshing with a flail for the tenth part, and in the spring he went up the Allegheny river, and for three years was at work on the canals in Pennsylvania and Ohio. Sept. 8, 1830, he married Sarah McGeorge, a former school-mate, and on the third day after their marriage he and his young bride started on horseback for Trumbull county, Ohio.  He purchased the farm on which he now lives and moved upon it in 1837.  There was but little clearing done and a log house and barn constituted the improvements.  He has since added to his original purchase until he owns over three hundred and twenty acres in the southeast part of Jackson township.  His farms are now managed by his three sons.  By his first marriage he had eight children: William, Hatton, Adaline, Julia A., James, John, Mary, and Clark, of whom the oldest and youngest are dead.  His first wife died Oct. 27, 1854, aged fifty-two, and July 5, 1855, he married Margaret Anderson, of Poland township, by whom he had two children: Emily and Margaret.  His second wife died Apr. 9, 1858, aged nearly forty-two, and he married a third time, May 5, 1859, Ellen Wallace, from near Petersburg, Mahoning county.  His third wife died Apr. 4, 1880, aged sixty-two.  He had by this marriage one child, W. M. WallaceMr. Young is a member of the Reform Presbyterian church.  His daughter Adaline married John Truesdale and is now living in Richland county, Wisconsin; Julia married Daniel Gibson, and now resides in Beaver county, Pennsylvania; Mary became the wife of Charles Anthony, and lives in Nodaway county, Missouri; Margaret married Sylvester Calhoon, and resides in Sumner county, Kansas; and Emily resides at home with her father.

     JAMES RUSSELL was born in Austintown township, Mahoning county, July 1, 1815.  His father
was Robert Russell, who settled in that township in 1806.  The subject of this sketch derived his education in the schools of that early period, the teachers of which, in many instances, taught both English and German.  He worked upon the home farm until he was twenty-six years of age, when he moved to the farm in Jackson where he now lives, which now consists of two hundred acres.  May 4, 1841, he married
Catharine, daughter of Henry Foos, one of the pioneers of Austintown and a soldier of the War of 1812.  He moved into Austintown just at the close of the war.  Mrs. Russell was born Oct. 21, 1820. They have a family of seven children, as follows: Clark, Austin, Henry, Robert, Newton, Almeda A., and James Monroe.  Mr. Russell has always attended strictly to his own affairs; has never been a witness at court and has never been a litigant, either as plaintiff or defendant, which few can say.  He and his wife are members of the Disciple church, and are worthy citizens.

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     GIDEON FUSSELMAN, a native of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, removed from that State to Ohio in the year 1814, and settled in Warren township, Trumbull county, on the Storer farm which was then owned by John Fusselman, Sr.  In about a year he removed to Canfield and established a tannery (he being a tanner by trade) one mile north of the center.  This was conducted by him until his death.  In about 1812 he married Eve Schriber, also a native of Lehigh county.  They had five children, John C., Mary, Sarah, Catharine, and Elizabeth, all of whom are living.  Gideon Fusselman died Aug. 30, 1844, in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, while on a visit to that place.  His wife died Jan. 22, 1878, at
the age of eighty-three years.

     JOHN C. FUSSELMAN was born in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, Feb. 25, 1813.  He was the oldest child of Gideon Fusselman who removed to Ohio when John was about a year old.  He received a common school education and staid upon the farm with his father until June, 1830, when he began clerking for J. R. Church at Canfield in a general merchandise store, remaining here five years.  He then went
into partnership with Mr. Church in Ellsworth in merchandising, where he remained until 1840.  He then clerked for William Ripley one year, when he went into business for himself until 1856.  He then came to Jackson and began the same business with D. Anderson, which continued six years.  Then the firm of Anderson, Shaffer & Co. was formed. April, 1881,  Mr. Anderson retired, and the firm Shaffer & Co.
continue the business, with a full assortment of goods usually kept in a country store.  On Aug. 11, 1837, J. C. Fusselman married Cathaarine Houts, daughter of William Houts, then of Green township, Mahoning county.  She was born Sept. 24, 1815.  This union was blessed with seven children—Louisa Ann, Lottie B., Frank A., Mary, Ella H., John R., and Ralph, who died at three years of age. He and his wife are both members of the Methodist church. For twenty years prior to 1856 he was justice of the peace of Ellsworth township.

     D. B. BLOTT was born in Jackson township, Mahoning county, Oct. 6, 1837.  He is the second child of Benjamin Blott, a native of Pennsylvania, who was born Jan. 16, 1812.  He is a farmer, residing a short distance south of North Jackson.  D. B. was educated in the common schools, and attended also for a short time Hiram college.  At the age of fifteen he was apprenticed to learn the bricklayer and stone mason trade, serving two years—afterward work ing at his trade for ten years, when, on account of poor health, he was obliged to stop work for about three years. Then for six years he kept a store in Lordstown.  After this he kept a store for several years at West Austintown.  He now keeps a store at Jackson, where he carries a line of assorted goods.  He married Lucinda Bailey, daughter of Jesse Bailey.  They have five children, Charley C., born 1863; Seamon Edward, 1865, William A., 1869, Marietta, 1874, and Emory B., 1876.

     ROBERT McCLURE, a native of county Donegal, Ireland, was born November, 1816.  His father,
Robert McClure, died when he was three years old, when he was taken by his paternal grandfather, who was a farmer.  He remained with him until 1839, when he sailed to America, coming in the same ship with William Porter, of Austintown.  He came at once to Austintown and began as day laborer here and there, and for five months worked on the extension of the Erie canal.  A few years afterward he bought the land
where he now resides.  He at one time owned over two hundred acres of land, but by unfortunate indorsements he lost a part of this.  He owns one hundred acres under good cultivation.  May 14, 1846, he married Eliza Anderson, daughter of Arthur Anderson, of Poland town ship.  She was born in that township Nov. 20, 1819.  This marriage was blessed with eight children, William, a physician of Cleveland;

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Mary, who married William Turner, of Austintown; Arthur, who died in early childhood; John S., an attorney of Chicago; Emily; Nettie ; Nancy, a teacher of Youngstown; Robert, a teacher, who, with Emily, are still at home.  He is a member of the Presbyterian church, and his wife is a Covenanter.

     PETER IVY was born in Perry county, Pennsylvania, Mar. 8, 1805.  He was a son of Samuel Ivy, and twin brother of William Ivy, who at last accounts was living in Clark county, Ohio.  His father, Samuel Ivy, died when he was an infant, and his mother married Michael Waggoner, and soon after the family removed to Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, whence in the fall of 1822 they immigrated to Stark county,
Ohio, where they remained about four years, during which time Mr. Waggoner died, when Peter brought the family to Austintown, where he had gone in the spring of 1823.  After farming there a few years, Peter moved in 1831 upon the farm where he now lives, which he purchased the previous year, and upon which he made a small clearing and erected a cabin.  He has now over a hundred acres under cultivation.  August
13, 1826, he married Sarah Miller, daughter of Jacob Miller, a Virginian, who, in advanced life, became a resident of Austintown township.  She was born in Augusta county, Virginia, Sept. 12, 1798.  She became the mother of seven children, Mary, Christian, John, Alfred, William, Elizabeth, who died when small, and Sarah.  The oldest child died before it was named.  She was a Presbyterian in belief, and an estimable lady, who, after a long and useful life, died Sept. 8, 1879.  He cast his first vote for Jackdsn.

     JOHN LYNN, son of Nicholas Lynn, was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, and emigrated to Ohio with his brothers, Peter and George, and settled in Canfield township, Trumbull county (now Mahoning), about the year 1806.  They settled in the same neighborhood.  John, in company with his sister Barbara, purchased the farm originally owned by Ira Wilcox, and they lived together a number of years.  Late in life he married Sophrona F. Burgart of Ellsworth township, by whom he had six children, viz: Sarah Ann, who married Joseph Hartman; John N. O., David, Elizabeth, who married George E. Harding, George, who died in infancy, and Mary, who died when two years of age.  Mr. Lynn died in 1835, at the age of fifty-six years.  He was a member of the German Reformed church.  His widow afterwards married Solomon Gordon, of Canfield.

     JOHN N. O. LYNN was born in Canfield township, Aug. 8, 1826.  When he was about twenty years of age he and his brother and two sisters began the management of the farm, which he continued for seven years.  He after ward moved to Atwater township, Portage county, where he lived eighteen years engaged
in farming, which has been his lifelong occupation.  In April, 1875, he returned to Mahoning county, and has since resided at North Jackson.  Apr. 29, 1855, he was married to Elizabeth, daughter of Abraham Moherman, who was born Mar. 15, 1835.  They have no children, but are raising two–Chester and Mary.   He and his wife are members of the Disciples church.

     DAVID LYNN, second son of John Lynn, was born Dec. 31, 1829.  He adopted the occupation of his father, cultivating the soil and dealing to some extent in stock and fruit growing.  At the age of twenty-five he married Miss Mary Ann Peters, by whom he had four sons - Willis, Emory, Homer and Alfred.  While engaged attentively at his business he has not neglected the education of his children, his oldest son graduating at Heidelberg college, Tiffin, Ohio, in the class of 1878.  Mr. and Mrs. Lynn are members of the Reformed church.


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