SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP
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     Springfield is one of the oldest townships in the county, having been organized for civil purposes in 1803.  It was attached to Mahoning county in 1846. 
     The township was originally well wooded and a fair quantity of timber of the common varieties still remains.  The surface is slightly hilly, with intervening lowlands and valleys.  Coal was formerly obtained in workable quantities, though that industry is now practically at a standstill, as it is throughout the county generally.  Building stone is found in several localities and is quarried to some extent. 
     The soil of Springfield, varying from a sandy loam to a heavy clay, is generally fertile and well adapted to most kinds of agriculture.  The township is well watered by Honey creek and Yellow creek, which run through southeast and northwest quarters respectively, together with other streams and tributaries, with numerous springs.

SETTLEMENT.

     Springfield was early settled, the original pioneer having been from all accounts Peter Musser, who came from York County, Pennsylvania, and purchased four sections in the southeast corner of the township.  Here he made a number of improvements and built a sawmill and grist mill.  At his death in 1808 he left a family of four sons and two daughters.  He was proprietor of the village site and founder of Petersburg.
     Peter Musser was accompanied to Springfield by Israel Warner, who married on of his daughters.  Another daughter of his became the wife of Jacob Rudisill.
     Soon after came James Wallace, who went into business as a merchant, but being elected judge of Mahoning County, after its organization, he removed to Canfield.
     Other early settlers were John Pontius, Daniel Miller, who settled on section 18; C. Seidner, C. Mentzer, Jacob Shafer, George Macklin, Jacob Christ and others who settled in the same locality; Adam Hohn, who settled in 1801 on section 6 and soon after built a sawmill there; John Shoemaker, Henry Myers, Henry and Peter Raub and Peter Benedict.  The neighborhood of New Middleton was settled before 1810 by the Gray, Cublin, Schillinger, Kuhn and Burky families.  Between 1805 and 1815 a large immigration set in, and parts of the township soon became thickly settled.

VILLAGES.

     The village of Petersburg, which, as we have seen, was founded by Peter Musser, was also named in his honor.  The original name of the postoffice was Musser's Mill, and in 1811 he was the first postmaster.  The first regular store was opened by James Wallace in or about 1815.  He also kept a hotel in the first frame house built in Petersburg, it afterwards becoming the residence of J. P. Swisher.  W. C. Dunlap also kept an early store in Petersburg,  Later merchants were J. G. Leslie, James Matthews, Robert Forbus, O. H. P. Swisher, Ernst & Hahn and others.  A foundry and two tanneries were in operation in the early 80's, as was previously a steam flouring mill, which was erected by Maurer & Elder Brothers.
     The principal industrial enterprises of the present day are as follows:  "A creamery company, of which William Johnson is president; William McCalla, secretary, and John Hope, treasurer; Excelsior Mill, William Stewart, proprietor; Crum mill, operated by Samuel Crum; Miller & Taylor, bent wood and sawmill; Winter Brothers' carriage shop; Knesal Brothers, hardware, also slate roofers; J. Zeiger, general merchandise; J. H. Schiller, drugs, tobacco and cigars; L. L. Geiger, merchant tailor; Kiser & Shingledecker, horse shoers and blacksmiths.
     Petersburg is a special school district, with a three-room school - primary, intermediate and advanced.  Prof. J. J. Pfouts assumed charge as principal Sept. 11, 1906.  The school building, which is frame, was erected between 1870 and 1876.
     The Knights of Pythias are represented in Petersburg by Starlight Lodge, No. 224, of which the present officers are, O. O. Dressel, chancellor commander; L. W. Scholl, keeper of record and seal; A. C. Grise, D. G. C., and Dr. C. H. Beight, Ira Hoffmaster and H. C. Warner, trustees.

NEW SPRINGFIELD.

     This village was laid out previous to 1825 by Abraham Christ, whose original plat of twenty-eight lots was largely added to by subsequent proprietors.  Joseph Davis kept the first store and was soon followed by Thomas Knight, who built a store in 1828, which he carried on for some twenty years thereafter.  Among early mill operators were Christian Seidner, John May and Solomon Coruse. The first distiller was Joseph Davis.  There was formerly a tannery, conducted by Conrad & Shawacre, and a foundry, of which William May and Adam Seidner were proprietors; besides several other industries.  At the present time manufacturing enterprise is represented by the Andrew Rush and the William May sawmill and basket works.
     There are three churches - Emmanuel Lutheran, pastor, Rev. Elmore Kahl; Evangelical, pastor, Rev. Wingard, and St. Peter's Rev. M. L. Eich.
     Other churches in the township are as follows:  Presbyterian, Petersburg, was organized June 29, 1872, by Rev. A. S. McMaster, D. D., and Rev. Y. P. Johnson.  The present building, erected in 1873, is a wooden structure, 40x60 feet, with gallery.  Its pastors have been, Rev. R. S. Morton, 1873-1881; Rev. D. H. Laverty, 1881-1882; Rev. A. A. Mealy 1882-1887; Rev. E. O. Sawhill, to July 8, 1893; Rev. B. M. Swan, Mar., 1895, to February, 1896; Rev. F. A. Cozad, Aug. 1898, to Dec., 1905; Dec., 1905, to May, 1906, supply; May 1, 1906, to May, 1907, Rev. D. H. Johnson.
     Methodist Episcopal Church, Petersburg.  This society was organized about 1830 and the present building commenced in the same year.  The latter, a frame building with slate roof and steeple, has since been greatly remodeled and improved.  The present membership of the church is 120.  The Rev. J. P. Wisman assumed pastoral charge in September, 1906.  Previous pastors were J. B. Wright, W. H. Swartz, S. R. Paden, F. R. Peters, J. C. Gillette, John A. Laveley, G. S. W. Phillips, W. S. Holland, L. W. Elkins, M. B. Riley, W. J. Small, Joseph Gledhill, C. C. Chain and G. T. Morris.  The Sunday school superintendent is Mr. H. E. Miller.  The Epworth League and Ladies' Aid societies render good and faithful service in connection with the work of the church.
     Other churches are, St. John's Evangelical Lutheran, Rev. Oelslager; Reformed (Old  Springfield) and Shroy congregations, Rev. M. L. Eich.

NEW MIDDLETON.

     A thriving little village  New Middleton - located on section 10, was laid out before 1825 by Samuel Moore.  The first frame house was erected by David Shearer.  Joshua Dixon opened a store about 1830 in a house that was later occupied by D. Metz.  Subsequent merchants were Adam Powers, David Shearer, Brungard & Davison, Henry Miller, Tobias Hahn and John F. Smith.  The first public house was kept by Samuel Moore previous to 1830, and at one time the village had four taverns.  Adam Powers, John B. Miller, David Johnson and William Forbus were among the old-time hotel keepers.  A number of saw and grist mills have been erected since the early settlement of the township.  Adam Hahn operating a sawmill on Yellow creek before 1805.  A steam sawmill was built by Walker & Brungard in 1849.  In 1841 Walker, Pease & Company put up a carding  mill, which was operated by horse power.  Other attempts at manufacturingg have been made at different times, but the modern tendency toward the consolidation of capital into large plants has discouraged most small enterprises of that kind, and the village, like most others of its size, contains only such mechanic shops as are required in a chiefly agricultural community.

TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS.

     Springfield township contains nine schools with ten rooms and ten teachers.  The total number of scholars is 324; the cost of maintenance $3,740 per year.  Some of these schools have been erected lately and all are in good condition.  They are all brick buildings except No. 6, which is frame.

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