POLAND TOWNSHIP

     Poland was one of the earliest settled portions of Mahoning County and by 1810 had a considerable population, which consisted largely of emigrants from Pennsylvania.  The township has an uneven surface, being deeply cut in the northeastern portion by the Mahoning river and in the northwest by Yellow creek, which flows through Poland Village.  The soil is deep and fertile and in most places well adapted to farming.  Considerable coal and iron ore have been found in the township, and some small veins of coal are still worked, though, owning to th4e exhaustion of the best mines, that industry is not so flourishing as formerly.  Others have taken its place, however, as the busy, prosperous villages of Lowellville and Struthers fully evidence.  An account of the early furnaces may be found in the chapter on the coal and iron industries of the county.  An account of some of the most interesting events in the early history of Poland was contained in a paper read by Mrs. Mary M. Maxwell at the Columbus celebration, in Poland Oct. 21, 1892, from which we here quote extensively:
     "The first to lay out and take claims in this place was Turhand Kirtland, afterwards known as Judge Kirtland, a surveyor named Woolcott coming with him.   These men began work in 1798, remaining here during the warm weather, and returning east in the winter, until 1803, when Mr. Kirtland brought out his family and settled on the spot where Isaac Walker now lives.  This was done to the great sorrow of his beautiful wife, who declared that if she had to leave her eastern home, she would never return for even a visit, a promise she faithfully kept.
     "Mr. Kirtland and Mr. Woolcott had many strange...........................................TO BE CONTINUED ON PAGE 213

EARLY TAX RATE.

     In 1803, Poland paid a tax of $48.24, which was assessed upon the fifty-five property holders of the township. Thurhand Kirtland also paid $17.55, and Jared Kirtland, $5,08, leaving an average of about forty-eight cents apiece for the rest of the inhabitants.  And this was a larger tax than was paid by any other township in what is now Mahoning county.

MILITIA.

     A militia company was enrolled in 1802, with John Struthers as captain, and Robert McCombs as first lieutenant.  There were eighty-seven names on the roll.  In 1805 the eastern part of the township formed one company and the western another.  The two companies met at the village for drill, and a shooting contest was arranged between the two best marksmen of each company, the competitors  being Tom Clees of the eastern company and one Garner of the western company.  No decision was rendered, as each marksman hit the exact center of the target.

POLAND VILLAGE.

     The village of Poland, picturesquely situated on Yellow Creek, about the middle of the west line of the township, was first known as "Fowler's" taking its name from the tavern of Jonathan Fowler, built in 1804.  The village was once a trading place of some importance, being in this respect ahead of Youngstown, the stages to Pittsburg, both from the north and west passing through it.  The building of the canal which passed two and one-half miles from it caused it to suffer a loss of trade, which was proportionately increased, later when it was similarly isolated fro the railroad.  It is, however, a quiet pleasant village, free from the noise and dirt of the great business centers, with a widely-famed educational institution, and a fair proportion of stores, shops, and other industries.

POLAND UNION SEMINARY.

POLAND TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS.

LOWELLVILLE.

SCHOOLS.

CHURCHES.

STRUTHERS.

     John Struthers, from whom this village is named, arrived Oct. 19, 1799, from Washington county, Pennsylvania, and bought land on which a large part of the village of Struthers is now situated, which he converted into a farm.  He was accompanied by his family, and in 1801 became the father of a son, Ebenezer, who was the first white male child born in the township.  Mr. Struthers built a flouring mill on Yellow Creek, the first in teh township, and one of the first on the Western Reserve.  He was also engaged with Mr. Montgomery in building and operating a blast furnace on the same creek, a short distance from its mouth, which was operated until the war of 1812.  His son, Lieutenant Alexander Struthers, died in Detroit, in 1813, while in the service of his country.  Two other sons, John and Thomas, were long respected residents of the community.  An account of the early furnace above mentioned may be found the chapter on the coal and iron industries.  In February, 1826, two daughters of John Struthers, Drusilla and Emma, who were then residing with their father in Coitsville, were drowned while attempting to cross the Mahoning river, near the mouth of Yellow Creek, in a skiff, being carried over the dam, owing, it was thought, to a defective rowlock.  The body of Emma, the younger daughter, was not found for six weeks afterwards.  They were members of the United Presbyterian Church at Poland Center, and their tragic death, naturally cast a gloom over the community.

MANUFACTURES.

SCHOOLS.

< CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR HISTORY PUBLISHED 1907 >