OHIO GENEALOGY EXPRESS A Part of Genealogy Express   WELCOME to COLUMBIANA COUNTY, OHIO History & Genealogy Source: Mack, Horace History of Columbiana County, Ohio  with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers. Philadelphia: D. W. Ensign & Co., 1879 FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP pg. 153 (Transcribed by Sharon Wick) BUTLER CENTRE ELK RUN FAIRFIELD FRANKLIN GOSHEN Mahoning Co. HANOVER KNOX LIVERPOOL MADISON MIDDLETON PERRY ST. CLAIR SALEM   UNITY WASHINGTON WAYNE WEST YELLOW CREEK   < CLICK HERE to GO to  BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX > < CLICK HERE to GO to TABLE OF CONTENTS >        FRANKLIN, occupying the western border of the tier of southern townships in Columbiana, was originally numbered township 14, in range 4, but, by the accession in 1832 of a portion of Wayne township, lies now partly upon range 3, and partly also in township 13.      Its boundaries are Hanover and Centre township on the north, Carroll County and Washington township on the south, Wayne and Washington on the east, and Carroll County on the west.      The Cleveland and Pittsburgh Railway passes through the township between the southeast and northwest corners, and finds en route two stations, - Summitville and Millport.      Water-courses abound, but they are trifling and as millstreams are of no value.  The surface of the country is undulating, and in some parts hilly.  It is an excellent agricultural region, and possesses, like the entire southern portion of Columbiana a healthful climate.      Coal is found in many places, but is not mined for shipping save at one point, on the Cleveland and Pittsburgh Railroad, where the Ohio and Pennsylvania Coal Company have a small interest. EARLY SETTLEMENT      The first settlements in what is now Franklin township were made upon the eastern row of sections, which were, however, not included within the limits of Franklin until 1833, being previous to that date a portion of Wayne township.  There, in 1804, Wm. King settled upon section 7, having passed over from Maryland.  Of Mr. King and other early settlers upon that portion of what is now Franklin, mention will be found in the history of Wayne township.      Wm. Laughlin was the first settler in what was early known as Franklin township.  He came in from Pennsylvania in 1805, and located upon section 11, where Wm. R. Linn now lives.  The next settler was Philip Willyard, of Frederick Co., Md., who with his wife and two children settled in November, 1805, upon section 12, where his son John now resides.  Mr. Willyard lived upon his place four weeks before he found out that there was another settler in the township tract, and when he did learn that he had a neighbor in Wm. Laughlin, he was doubtless cheered into the conviction that there was a little less loneliness than he looked for.  Fortunately for them, although winter had set in, the weather was not very severe, and so, being compelled at first to sleep on the floor of their rude log cabin, before the opening in which a quilt, instead of a door, did duty, they managed to get along without serious inconvenience.      Upon the place settled by Wm. Laughlin, it is said, Anthony Wayne camped one night with his troops, and the spot whereon he pitched his tent is still pointed out, and the little stream upon whose banks he then rested is called Camp Run.      Thomas Ferguson was one of Franklin's early settlers, the place of his location being on section 9, where William Davis resides (in Carroll County).  Upon that same portion of Franklin (afterwards set off to Carroll County) Robert Smith, from Pennsylvania, settled upon section 9 in 1815.  Before that time there were but few settlements in that part of the township, and of that period and the social condition of affairs a daughter of Robert Smith, now living with the family of William Davis upon the farm settled by her father, retains lively and distinct recollection.  Their nearest neighbors were Hugh McClroy and his mother (a widow), who settled upon section 9 some time previous to 1815.  James  McQuilkin was a settler upon section 3, and west (in what is now East township, Carroll County), the few settlers were William Winder and Samuel Reeder, members of the Society of Friends.  In the south, one of the earliest settlers was Jacob Marietta, who came from Maryland.      John MORRISON, whose grandfather, Douglas, fought at Culloden and settled in America at an early day, came to Columbiana County shortly after 1800, and assisted in building the paper-mill of Beaver* & Coulter, on Little Beaver, near what is now East Liverpool.  In 1814 he located in Franklin township, and thence removed later to Hancock County.  James B. Morrison, who was born in 1790, resided twenty-five years in Franklin township, lived subsequently twenty-five years in Wayne township, and now resides at New Lisbon.  Contemporaneous with him, in 1814, in Franklin township’s early settlement, were William Loughlin, Philip Willyard, John King, John McElroy, James McQuilkin, Thos. Ferguson, Samuel Brown, Adam Knauff, Adam Custard, Jacob Hackathorn, Lucey.  Shortly after 1814 those who came in were William Phillips, James Anderson, William Knepper, James Smart, Thomas Coney, Hugh Linn, and Jabez Coulson, the latter being one of the earliest justices of the peace.      Samuel Brown settled in 1807 upon the place in section 10 where William Linn lives; James Anderson, in 1800, on the farm next north of the Willyards, and, north of that, William Knepper.  Thomas Fife entered a quarter on section 1, and leased it to George McVey, a half negro.  Moses Gillespie entered a quarter on the same section, and hired his brother-in-law, Anthony Dunleavy, to work it.  Adam Custard, from Maryland, settled on section 2; John Morrison on section 10; John Brannon, of Pennsylvania, on section 14, now occupied by D. Lockard; Lucey on the same section; and James McQuilkin on section 3. ---------------      * Also spelled Bever. [Page 154] -      Mathew McGuin entered section 2 in 1812, because at that time there was upon it a school-house, which was erected when section 2 was still government land, and McGuin thought it an easy way to get a house for nothing.  Thomas Cooney located on section 11 at an early day, and on the same section John King entered the quarter now owned by John Cooney, and sold it to Adam Knauff.      William Laughlin, the first settler, was also the first justice of the peace, and performed his first marriage ceremony on behalf of Henry Hull, of Wayne (the bride’s name is not at hand), who paid the squire three bushels of corn for doing the job.  Laughlin put up on Brush Run, section 13, a grist-mill, popularly known as a “thunder-gust mill,” which he built with his own hands, and in which he caused a hand-bolt to perform a lively duty.      Dwelling upon the office of squire, it is worthy of note that Mr. John Willyard served as justice of the peace — with an intermission of but one year—from 1828 to 1875, a period of forty-six years.      Salt was one of the luxuries of the time when Franklin was first settled, and $5 per bushel were gladly paid for it when it could be obtained, which was neither often enough nor in sufficient quantities to meet the demand.   "Packing” salt over the mountains on horseback was a business much followed in those days by enterprising men, and, until the discovery of salt on Yellow Creek a few years later, was attended with profit.  Franklin sent a number of her brave citizens into the service during the war of 1812, but of those who went out only the names of Daniel and John Lindesmith and Mawrey Kountz can now be recalled.      John Clark, an early settler, lived on a fork of Yellow Creek in a ravine, and with his family found shelter one winter against a large log over which they had spread a bark roof.  This was their habitation until spring, and an uncomfortable one it was, but they struggled bravely through the cold season until spring set in, when a log cabin gave them better comfort.  Flint and steel served in those days the purpose of matches, and often settlers would go a long distance to borrow a firebrand from a neighbor to start a fire when flint and steel were wanting.      James McQuilkin, who learned his trade with David Ehrhart, of Hanover township, was the first blacksmith in Franklin, and presumably a good one.  Thos. Ferguson was the first shoemaker, and the families of Philip and Mary McQuilkin the first to use looms.      John Morrison was the first house-carpenter, and Philip Willyard, Andrew Sweeny, and Hugh Brannon the first to make rye whisky. ORGANIZATION.      Franklin was organized in 1816, and contained thirty-six sections, or a supposed area of six miles square.  In 1832, upon the erection of Carroll County, Franklin was shorn of three rows of sections on the west, and at the same time received an addition on the east of one row of sections, which were taken from Wayne township, leaving the present limits of Franklin comprised within an area measuring four miles wide by six in length, and containing twenty-four sections.      The first poll-book was made out in 1816 by James B. Morrison, who was at the first township election chosen to the office of constable.      The existing township records do not antedate 1848.  Between that year and 1879 the trustees, clerks, and treasurers of Franklin have been as follows: 1848. - Trustees, Robert Johnston, January Anderson, Jas. Roach; Clerk, Daniel Williard; Treasurer, Thos. J. Huston. 1849. - Trustees, Jas. Roach, Jas. H. Johnston, Jacob Custard; Clerk, Jas. McAuley; Treasurer, Jas. B. Hull. 1850. - Trustees, John McQuilkin, William Wallace, William Linn; Clerk, Jas. McAuley; Treasurer, Jas. B. Hull. 1851. - Trustees, Jos. Rodgers, Patterson Coupland, William Linn; Clerk, Wm. Hays; Treasurer, Jas. B. Hull. 1852. - Trustees, Jos. Rodgers, Patterson Coupland, Hugh Laughlin; Clerk, Wm. Hays; Treasurer, Jas. B. Hull. 1853. - Trustees, Jas. H. Johnston, Charles Heckathorn, Jonathan Brown; Clerk, Daniel Morgan; Treasurer, Jas. B. Hull. 1854. - Trustees, J. H. Johnston, Jonathan Brown, J. McQuilkin; Clerk, Daniel Morgan; Treasurer, Jas. B. Hull. 1855. - Trustees, William Sweeney, Hugh Laughlin, J. M. Johnston; Clerk, Jonathan Niswonger; Treasurer, Wm. McQuilkin. 1856. - Trustees, Wm. Sweeney, Hugh Laughlin, J. J. Coupland; Clerk, Jonathan Niswonger; Treasurer, Wm. McQuilkin. 1857. - Trustees, J. J. Copeland, Wm. Linn, Francis Matthews; Clerk, J. Niswonger; Treasurer, Wm. McQuilkin. 1858. - Trustees, Wm. Linn, Francis Matthews, Benj. McKerrens; Clerk, Daniel Morgan; Treasurer, Wm. Laughlin. 1859. - Trustees, Jas. H. Johnston, Patterson Coupland, J. McQuilkin; Clerk, James Phillips; Treasurer, Wm. Laughlin. 1860. - Trustees, J. H. Johnston, Patterson Coupland, J. McQuilkin; Clerk, J. Niswonger; Treasurer, P. Rogers. 1861-62. - Trustees, Peter Smith, Daniel Carey, Wm. R. Laughlin; Clerk, J. Niswonger; Treasurer, P. Rogers. 1863-64. - Trustees, Martin Doyle, Francis Matthews, Wm. Sweeney; Clerk, J. Niswonger; Treasurer, P. Rogers. 1865-66. - Trustees, Jas. H. Johnston, Wm. Linn, Jacob Custard; Clerk, J. Niswonger; Treasurer, P. Rogers. 1867-68. - Trustees, Daniel Carey, Peter Smith, Wm. Laughlin; Clerk, J. Niswonger; Treasurer, P. Rogers. 1869-70. - Trustees, Peter Smith, Wm. H. Johnston, Chas. Haessley; Clerk, J. Niswonger; Treasurer, P. Rogers.     1871-72. - Trustees, Francis Matthews, David Lockard, Martin Doyle; clerk, J. Niswonger; Treasurer, P. Rogers. 1873. - Trustees, Patrick Logan, J. J. Coupland, Peter Smith; Clerk, Robert Johnston; Treasurer, P. Rogers. 1874. - Trustees, Patrick Logan, J. J. Coupland, Peter Smith; Clerk, J. Mulherin; Treasurer, P. Rogers. 1875. - Trustees, Edward McAllister, D. Lockard, F. Matthews; Clerk, J. Mulherin; Treasurer, P. Rogers. 1876. - Trustees, Edward McAllister; D. Lockard, F. Matthews; Clerk, R. Johnston; Treasurer, P. Rogers. 1877. - Trustees, . Crissenger, J. Haessley, J. Hays; Clerk; R. Johnston; Treasurer J. Linda J. Lindesmith. 1878. - Trustees, A. Haessley, J. Niswonger, John Hays; Clerk, Wm. R. Linn; Treasurer, J. Lindesmith. 1879. - Trustees, J. Niswonger, P. Gallagher, Henry Norris; Clerk, Wm. R. Linn; Treasurer, J. LIndesmith. VILLAGES.      Franklin has two villages,—Summitville and Millport, — both of which are stations on the Cleveland and Pittsburgh Railroad, and postal stations as well, but neither is incorporated. SUMMITVILLE. was laid out in March, 1853, by Peter Friedt, and so named because the site upon which it rests was supposed to be the highest point of elevation between the waters of the Sandy and Lake Erie.  An excellent outlying agricultural region provides the place with a substantial although small mercantile trade, which comprises the aggregate of its business interests. [Page 155] - MILLPORT, nearly two miles farther north on the railway, was laid out in January, 1853, by Philip Willyard and Hugh Laughlin.  The place was originally known as Franklin, but, confusion frequently arising from its similarity to Franklin Square, in Salem township, the name was changed to Millport, as significant of the presence at that point of a grist-mill and saw-mill.      Patrick O’Hear, who owned the northeast quarter of section 15, laid out a town there in 1833, and called it Temple Hill, but he failed to persuade purchasers into the enterprise, which never came to anything. CHURCHES. BETHESDA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.      Bethesda church was organized about 1821, previous to which time there was Presbyterian preaching in the township by Rev. Clement Vallandigham, James Robertson, and others, chiefly in the barn and residence of Hugh Linn.      Mr. Vallandigham preached about a year, and after him Mr. Robertson, who organized the church.  Among the original members of the church were the Kings, Andersons, McKaigs, McQuilkins, Linns, Morrisons, Mesgers, Donaldsons, Flemings, and Camerons.  The early records of the church being lost, much of interest in connection with its early history is unobtainable.      The first church-edifice was built in 1822 near where the present church stands, the latter having been erected in 1855.      The first elders of the church were Patrick McKaig, John Cameron, John Morrison, and Hugh King, and the first stated pastor Rev. James Robertson.  His successors were Revs. Joshua Beer, J. B. Graham (Robertson for a second term), Robert Johnson, Robert Dickson, Wm. Dalzell, David Miller, Jos. E. Carson, John R. Dundas, J. B. Miller, and B. M. Price, the latter being the pastor June 1, 1879, when the church had a membership of 230 and was highly prosperous.      The church had June 1, 1837, a membership of ninety-two, and added that year thirteen; in 1838 the additions were twenty-two; in 1839 they were eighteen; eleven in 1840; eleven in 1841; thirteen in 1842; fourteen in 1843; and seventeen in 1844.      The present elders are J. J. Coupland, Robert King, Benjamin Crosser, Robert Withrow, Jonathan Niswonger, and Jas. Roach. ST. JOHN'S (CATHOLIC) CHURCH.      Catholic worship in Franklin was held as early as 1838, in a church built upon the McAllister place, near the northern line of the township.  It was known as the McAllister church, and was attended by Catholics from the townships of Franklin, Hanover, and Centre.  Later, when the Catholics of Franklin worshiped near Summitville, the church at the north was taken down, and a new church built by the congregation in Hanover township.      In 1845 a log house—originally built for a store, near the site of the present Catholic church at Summitville — was purchased by the Catholics of Franklin, and there and then St. John’s church was established, as a mission-point where the preachers stationed at the church in the north held occasional services.      In 1848 a fine brick church-building was erected, at a cost of about $10,000, and, the congregation having by that time grown apace, a priest was stationed at that point, and since then the church has flourished and remained a regular station.      The first pastor was Rev. James Conlon, and after him Revs. Tiros. Kennedy, Francis Stoker, Michael Prendegrast, Thos. Welsh, D. Tighe, P. J. McGuire, D. A. Kelly, and E. J. Murphy, the latter being in charge June 1, 1879, when the congregation included sixty-five families. FRIENDS' MEETING-HOUSE.      About 1818, there being in the township quite a number of “Friends,” a log meeting-house was built in that part now included within the limits of East township, in Carroll County.  Among the leading members in the organization were Richard and John Battin, Steven McBride, Jr., Isaiah Williams, and Mordecai Saunders.  The Friends worshiped there several years, but removals from the township thinned the ranks of the society and led to its eventual dissolution. SCHOOLS.      James Barr was the first school-teacher known to Franklin.  He taught in 1812, in a round-log school-house built by the settlers upon section 2, which was then government land.  Mathew McGuin, thinking the school-house worth securing for himself, entered section 2, and the inhabitants were thus deprived of their temple of learning.  McGuin tried to sell it to them, but they refused to encourage his speculative propensities, and so built a second school-house, on Wm. Laughlin’s farm.  This was destroyed by fire shortly afterwards, and a third house was erected, near the same spot.      Wm. Kneppert and Patrick Smith taught there, and, without being remarkable, for the day and place were highly esteemed as pedagogues and men of learning.  One dollar and a half was the cost per quarter for scholars in those days, and twenty-five pupils the usual number gathered at one time, so that a teacher’s pay then was not what would now be regarded as a very extravagant compensation.      Four district schools now provide educational advantages for the youth of Franklin, and serve, as is incidental to the present excellent school-system, a useful and valuable purpose.      One hundred and fifty-six pupils are enrolled at the schools, as follows: 37 at No. 1, 21 at No. 2, 70 at No. 3, 28 at No. 4.  The teachers in June, 1879, were J. H Norris, C. H. Mason, Chas. Mulherin, and R. A. Carey.      Franklin has also a fractional school-district, whence the pupils go to school in Wayne township. MANUFACTURING INTERESTS.      Franklin township is eminently an agricultural region, and has within its borders no manufacturing interest of importance.      Hugh McLaughlin built a grist-mill at Millport in 1853, and, passing from McLaughlin to the hands of Daniel MeGarry and James Hagan, the mill fell in 1875 to the pos- [Page 156] - session of Chain & Lindesmith, whose successor, Jacob Lindesmith, took charge of it in December, 1878, and still operates it.  It is run by steam, has two run of buhrs, with a capacity for making twenty-five barrels of flour daily, and derives a profitable line of custom-work from the neighboring country.  John Willyard started a small tannery in 1830, upon the place where he now lives, and since that time has carried it on uninterruptedly.  Patterson Coupland had a small tannery at an early day, but it was discontinued a long time ago.  Besides the industries named, Franklin has none but Thomas McKerren’s steam saw-mill at Millport.  The Ohio & Pennsylvania Coal Company operate a small coal-mine at a point on the Cleveland and Pittsburgh Railroad, near the Washington line. Oil has been sought at this point, but without success. POST OFFICES.      The first post-office established in Franklin was called Hastingsville, and occupied the place on section 27 now owned by the estate of R. Hull.  The postmasters there were John Sanders and James B. Hull, and in 1852, when the Cleveland and Pittsburgh Railroad was completed, the office was transferred to Summitville, where Patrick Rogers was the first postmaster.  After him John M. Stewart and John Mulherin held the office, and Mr. Rogers, returning, has since been the postmaster.      The first postmaster at Millport, formerly called Franklin, was James Smith, whose successor was Mary Tannis, to whom succeeded John W. Fife, the present incumbent. CEMETERIES.      The first grave-yard in the township was the family burial-ground of William Laughlin, who laid it out on his farm, where Mr. Campbell now lives.  After a while Mr. Laughlin gave the ground to public use, and a score, perhaps, of graves were dug there.  No stones ever marked the places of burial, for grave-stones were not easily obtainable in the pioneer days.  There have been no burials there for many years, and, although the graves have been undisturbed, the spot is overgrown with herbage, and presents no traces of the purpose for which it was originally designed.  There are now in the township three cemeteries,—one at Bethesda church, one at the Catholic church, and one on the north, near the Wayne line, where a Catholic church once stood.   NOTES:     CLICK HERE to RETURN to COLUMBIANA COUNTY, OHIO INDEX PAGE CLICK HERE to RETURN to OHIO GENEALOGY EXPRESS INDEX PAGE FREE GENEALOGY RESEARCH is My MISSION GENEALOGY EXPRESS This Webpage has been created by Sharon Wick exclusively for Ohio Genealogy Express  ©2008 Submitters retain all copyrights