LOCATION AND
OWNERSHIP.
Kinsman -
township number seven in the first range - is situated in the
northeast corner of the county, adjoining the Ashtabula county
line on the north and the Pennsylvania line on the east.
On the south is the township of Vernon and on the west of
township of Gustavus. The township contains 16, 664 acres,
to which was annexed by the equalizing board 1,857 acres (lot
number eight, tract two) in the eleventh range, being a part of
the land on which the city of Akron is now located. The
first township line run by the surveyors began at the south line
of the reserve, five miles west from the Pennsylvania State
line, and deflected so much from a parallel line as to be nearly
five miles and a half from the State line at the lake shore,
which accounts for the extra six hundred and sixty-four acres.
The draft was made in 1798 and is known as draft number
eighty-one of that series. The requisite amount to make a
draft of a standard township was $12,903.23, and in this draft
was assigned as joint owner in this township and in other lands
drawn in other drafts. In the division of the Kinsman and
Perkins interest Mr. Kinsman took this township and
Major Perkins the Akron and other lands. Mr.
Kinsman also purchased the interests of Joseph Coit
and Uriah Tracy, who was then a United States Senator
from Connecticut. [Page 289] -
PHYSICAL
FEATURES, STREAMS, SOIL, TIMBER.
INDIANS.
ANCIENT
HISTORY. Upon this
subject the same writer says:
That part of the township commencing
near the mouth of Stratton's creek, skirting along the east bank
of the Pymatuning, and west bank of Stratton's creek, first
regarded of so little value, was a beautiful alluvial bottom, on
which the first settlers noticed the evident signs of an old
Indian corn-field. Further up the land rises into an
undulating surface of deep gravelly loam, which undoubtedly had
been burned over by the Indians for a hunting ground.
Freed from timber the elk and the deer, in the grazing season,
would come out from the dense forest on either side, to feed on
the open grass plat and plain, and thus could be approached, and
presenting a fairer mark for the Indian. Bordering on the
open prairie, on the farm now owned by Wayne Bidwell,
Esq., upon the high ground in the rear of his house, were
the remains of what was supposed to have been an old Indian
fort. The lines of an embankment and ditch were clearly
defined and were often noticed by the early settlers of the
town. In the vicinity of this fort flint arrow-heads and
stone axes were frequently found. So late as 1866 Mr.
Plant, in plowing up an old field on his farm (a part of
the prairie), struck a nest of arrow-heads, which were
undoubtedly lost or buried there by the Indians. Until the
War of 1812 the Indians made their yearly visits to this
locality, where they spent weeks in hunting, fishing, and
trapping. Spots of earth, dark with intermingled charcoal,
were found near the old fort, showing what was evidently an
Indian camping ground. The head waters of the Pymatuning
were marked with a very permanent beaver-dam, which had been
abandoned by its occupants before the settlement of the country
by the whites. SURVEY AND
FIRST IMPROVEMENTS. Mr.
Kinsman first came to the Reserve in 1799, making the
journey, in company with Simon Perkins, on
horseback across the Alle- [Page 290] -
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
While the settlement of the township will date from the
improvements made by Messrs. Kinsman and Reeve,
above mentioned, Martin Tidd and his son-in-law, James
Hill, and David Randall are regarded as the first
permanent settlers, since they were the first to take up their
abode with their families, which they did in the spring of 1802,
Mr. Kinsman having made a contract with them to this effect
the previous fall.
In April the three families left Youngstown together,
with two teams and wagons. There was probably a good
natured strife between the Tidd party, who occupied one
wagon, and Randall, as to who should first arrive upon
the ground, but an accident happening to Randall, his
wagon breaking down at Smithfield (now Vernon), he was detained
there over night. Tidd and family, with Hill
and wife, proceeded to Kinsman, and thus bore off the honors of
being the first permanent settlers. Tidd settled on
the hill north of the Seth Perkins farm, getting one
hundred acres in exchange for sixty acres in Kinsman.
Randall located on the Seth Perkins farm.
Tidd and Randall were originally from the Wyoming
valley, Pennsylvania. The former lived a short distance
below the settlement of Wyoming at the time of the massacre, his
house occupying a high bluff on the banks of the Susquehanna
river. His house is said to have been used as a
block-house, and during the massacre afforded a place of safety
for many of the inhabitants in the vicinity. After
removing from Wyoming he went to Westmoreland county. In
1798 he came to Youngstown with his family
[Page 291] -
and nephew,
Captain Hillman, where he lived until his removal to
Kinsman. Tidd possessed the true spirit of the
pioneer, though he continued to live in Kinsman until his death,
yet he was restless during the progress of settlement and
improvement of the country, and was only prevented from "moving
on" by reason of his advanced age and out of deference to the
wishes of his children, who did not inherit his pioneer spirit.
He died at an advanced age.
Randall moved from Pennsylvania down on the Ohio
river, settling near Marietta, Washington county, whence he came
to Youngstown in 1800. In his frequent removals from place
to place he acquired an extensive acquaintance with the Indians,
with whom his dealings were always characterized by such
exceptional kindliness and honesty as to invariably win their
confidence and good will. At the time of the McMahan
difficulty at the salt spring, elsewhere related, he went with
Captain Hillman to visit the Indians, and endeavor to
prevent the retaliatory measures which they seemed determined to
inflict upon the whites.
Randall lived but a short time on the Perkins
farm, removing to the farm which in 1806 he exchanged with
John Allen for land in Ashtabula county. He resided
in Ashtabula but a short time, returning to Kinsman and locating
on Stratton creek. He continued to live in Kinsman until
advanced in life, when he removed to Michigan, where he died at
the age of seventy-two.
As a result of the contract Mr. Kinsman and
Ebenezer Reeve, previously mentioned, the latter exchanged
his land in Norwich, Connecticut, for land in Kinsman, and in
1802 moved out with his two daughters, Deborah and
Hannah, and erected a log house opposite the site of the
Sutliff frame house, where he lived until 1807. In
that year he built a two-story frame house in front of where the
house of Wayne Bidwell was afterwards built. This
was the first two-story frame house erected in Kinsman.
Here Mr. Reeve spent the rest of his life.
Besides those already mentioned a few families settled
in 1802. Paul Rice and his mother settled on land
which subsequently became the Webber farm.
Alexander Clark began operations upon his farm.
Urial Driggs located east of Driggs' hill.
In 1803 Captain Charles Case came into the
township, and assisted in tending the Kinsman saw-mill. He
was accustomed to give singing lessons, free of charge, and
gained considerable popularity thereby. He removed to
Williamsfield, and died there.
The same year settlements were made as follows:
William Tidd, John Wade, John Little, Walter Davis, Isaac
and John Matthews - with whom their sister Betsy
lived - Robert Laughlin, Peter Yeoman, George Gordon Dement,
George Matthews, Joseph McMichael, Joshua Budwell, and his
son Henry, and William Knox settled in the
township. Several of these men and single. John
Murray, a carpenter and a single man, arrived and lived with
the Davises.
In July, 1804, after a journey of seven weeks,
John Kinsman and family arrived in the township. His
family then consisted of himself and wife and four children -
John, Joseph, Sally, and Olive. Accompanying
him were several persons whom he had engaged to assist him in
erecting a house and other buildings for his family. In
this party of settlers were Chester Lewis and family,
also his mother-in-law, Mrs. Manning, and her son
Samuel. Lewis drove an ox team loaded with household
furniture and farming implements. Mr. Kinsman came
with a number of teams. On his way he bought a stock of
goods, and placed them in charge of Joseph Coit, who came
out to act as clerk in the store. Louisa Morse,
afterward the wife of Isaac Meacham, and Eunice Morgan,
afterward Mrs. John L. Cook, came with the company; also
Cook and Jahazel Lathrop, carpenters.
In 1804
Plumb Sutliff settled on the creek, but
moved to a farm on the center road a year later, where he died,
in 1834, aged eighty-three. He married, the year of his
settlement, Deborah Reeve, of Kinsman.
William Scott settled on the ridge in 1804.
Deacon William Matthews settled during the same
year. He was a Revolutionary soldier. In 1808 he was
appointed justice of the peace. Deacon Matthews was
one of the most earnest of working Christians, and was largely
instrumental in promoting the cause of religion in the new
settlement. He was always in attendance upon the religious
meetings Whatever the weather and frequently conducted the
services,
[Page 292] -
as clergymen were seldom in the township during its
early years.
Thirty families comprised the inhabitants of the
township in 1805, together with twenty or thirty young unmarried
men, and twelve or fifteen young women, who were single.
Some of the settlers whose names have not yet been mentioned
were John Neil, Thomas, John, and William Gillis,
Stephen Splitstone, Captain William Westby and his sons,
James, John, and Ebenezer, William and Andrew
Christy, Thomas Potter, Leonard Blackburn, David and Elam
Lindsley.
John Allen, of Norwich, Connecticut, came to the
township in 1806. The Allen family has played an
important part in the affairs of this township.
David Brackin, a native of Ireland, located in
this township in 1806. The same year came John Andrews.
He married Hannah, the youngest daughter of
Ebenezer Reeve, to whom eight children were born.
Mr. Andrews was born in Connecticut, in 1782, and died at
the age of eighty-one. About 1812 he engaged in business
as a merchant. He was a useful member of society, and a
warm supporter of schools and churches. As early as 1825 a
boarding school in Kinsman grew up under his patronage, and ten
years later, at his house, built for such a purpose, a female
boarding school was opened and successfully conducted until
1840. Jesse Meacham came from Hartland, Connecticut,
in 1806, Lester Cone in 1807, Peter Lossee in
1808, Jairus Brockett in 1809, Michael Burns in
1808, Ira Meacham in 1812, Joshua Yeomans in 1814,
Obed Gilder in 1815, Ebenezer Webber, John Yeomans,
Simon Fobes, and others later.
EARLY
EVENTS. In 1801
Ebenezer Reeve began work on a mill-dam, but it was
swept away by the water the following spring. The next
year James King, from Pennsylvania, as mill wright,
built and completed a saw-mill for John Kinsman.
It was put in operation the same year.
In 1802 Mr. Kinsman brought a small stock
of goods for the supply of his family and the settlers. David
Randall and Zopher Case were employed to
tend the mill, and Joseph Coit subsequently became
clerk in the store. Mrs. Randall sometimes
ran the mill and spun while the logs were moving through.
[Page 293] -
ROADS.
[Page 294] -
SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
[Page 295] -
KINSMAN ACADEMY.
[Page 296] -
Clark, 1855-58, E. L. Moon, assistant Mrs. Moon,
1858-59; E. P. Haynes and Miss E. C. Allen,
1859-60; Moses G. Watterson, 1860-61; Edwin L. Webber,
1861-62; Mrs. A. A. F. Johnston, 1862-65.
Assistants: Miss Josephine C. Field, Miss Celia Morgan,
Miss Mary Christy, Miss Louisa M. Fitch. Mrs. Johnston
was principal of the academy for a long period than any other
teacher, and was greatly respected and beloved by her pupils.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
JOHN KINSMAN AND FAMILY * - 296, 297, 298
THE REEVE FAMILY OF KINSMAN - 298, 299, 300, 301
SETH PERKINS - 301
DR. PETER ALLEN - 301, 302
JEDEDIAH BURNHAM - 302, 303
[PORTRAIT of JAMES. C. BISHOP]
JAMES C. BISHOP - 303, 304
RIVERIUS and EUGENIA BIDWELL - 304, 305
[PORTRAIT of MISS LOTTIE FOBES]
[Page 305] -
NOTES ON SETTLEMENT.
CHARLES BURNHAM, oldest son
of Jedediah Burnham, (a sketch of whom is given
elsewhere) and Sophia Bidwell, was born in Kinsman, Ohio,
Mar. 17, 1817. He remained at home until 23 years of age,
and in his younger days was engaged in clerking in Kinsman and
elsewhere. He purchased the place where he still resides,
the old Ford place, in 1853. He was married June 1st of
the same year, to Elizabeth A. Galpin, daughter of
Elnathan Gilpin, born in 1825. They have three
children, as follows: Abbie S., born Mar. 15, 1857;
Lizzie G. Feb. 19, 1859; Charles B., Feb. 20, 1861
to 1865, and was elected again the latter year, but declined to
serve; has also served as assessor three terms. His
brother Thomas was a soldier in the Union army in the
Rebellion, and was killed at Kershaw mountain,
Georgia.
BENJAMIN ALLEN
was born in Kinsman township, Trumbull county,
Ohio, Mar. 23, 1817. His father, Benjamin Allen, Sr.,
was one of the earliest settlers and prominent citizens of the
township, coming in 1805. He was a clothier by
trade, and had the first establishment of the kind in Kinsman.
He was a Representative in the State Legislature two terms, was
justice of the peace, township trustee, and county commissioner,
and a lieutenant in the War of 1812. He died in 1851, aged
sixty-seven. Benjamin, Jr., was taught the
occupation of his father, but afterwards adopted farming as a
pursuit. When eighteen he attended the Grand River
institute for two years; was engaged in teaching school two
terms in Kinsman. Married, Jan. 6, 1841, Charlotte,
daughter of Elnathan Galpin of Kinsman, born in
Litchfield county, Connecticut, in 1820. They have one
son, Arthur B., born Jan. 2, 1858; married Nov. 10, 1880,
Albie H. Morehead, born in New Castle, Pennsylvania.
Deacon Allen was township clerk for many years;
was justice of the peace, but declined to qualify. He has
been a prominent member of the Presbyterian church for some
forty years.
LYMAN P. ANDREWS
was born in Kinsman, Trumbull county, Ohio, May
26, 1822. John Andrews, his father, a native of
East Haddam, Connecticut, came to Ohio in 1804. He settled
first in Gustavus, where he cleared up a farm east of Gustavus
center; afterwards removed to Kinsman, where he engaged in
mercantile business. He was the owner of sixty acres of
land at the time of his death. He was a sucessful
business man, was a justice of the peace, and a member of the
Presbyterian church. His oldest son, C. B. Andrews,
was a clergyman of the same denomination; went as missionary to
the Sandwich Islands, under the auspices of the American Board
of Foreign Missions, in 1843, actively engaged there for some
thirty years. While returning to the islands he died in
1876. John Andrews married Hannah Reeve,
daughter of Ebenezer Reeve, and raised a family of
six children, of whom two survive - the subject of this sketch,
and Mrs. Caroline Parker, of Cleveland. Lyman P.
Andrews derived his education at the common schools of
Kinsman, and at Hudson college, which he attended two years.
He was married Aug. 3, 1843, to Miss Betsy Fobes,
daughter of Aaron Fobes, one of the pioneers of
this region. Mrs. Andrews was born in
Kinsman about 1826. They have three children - Frank A.,
born in August, 1853, a resident of Chicago, Illinois; J.
Edwards, July, 1856; and Emma S., December, 1861,
both at home. Mr. Andrews was a resident of Flint,
Michigan,
for eleven years from 1867, where he removed for the purpose of
educating his children. He
[Page 306] -
removed from the home place in Kinsman to the one he now
occupies in 1879. He was elected justice of the peace in
Kinsman about 1848,
serving six years, and was also an incumbent of the same office
in Michigan one term. Enlisted in 1864 in the One Hundred
and Seventy-first Ohio National guard, and was commissary
sergeant; was taken prisoner by the rebels at Cynthiana,
Kentucky; was paroled and finally mustered out of service at
Johnson island, near Sandusky, Ohio. He took an active
part in the establishment of the Kinsman cemetery, originating
it, and is still president of the board of trustees.
ISAAC MEACHAM
ALLEN W. GILLIS,
son of Robert and Mary Gillis, was born in Kinsman,
Trumbull county, July 28, 1830, married, in 1852, Miss
Harriet Webber, born in Kinsman in 1833. He has three
children living, as follows: Byron F., a merchant
in New York city; Cora B., residing with her uncle in
Ashtabula county; Maud H., at home. His first wife
died in 1869, and in Dec., 1870, he married Mary C. Webb,
of Erie county, Pennsylvania. In 1861 he enlisted in
company B, Twenty-third Ohio volunteer infantry, and with his
regiment was in many engagements, including those of South
Mountain and Antietam, serving nearly three years. He was
discharged for physical disability. In June, 1864, he
again offered his services to the Government, joined the One
Hundred and Seventy first Ohio National guard, and had command
of his company at Cynthiana, Kentucky. He was finally
discharged as first lieutenant. He settled in Kinsman
village after the war, where he now resides.
ROBERT GILLIS
(deceased) was born in Maryland in 1801; came to Ohio with his
father, Thomas Gillis, in 1806, who put up the
first grist-mill in Kinsman, on the creek near the center of the
township. The site is now occupied by Hamilton
Brothers' mill, the present mill being the third built by
the Gillis family. Robert Gillis
conducted the mill during his lifetime. Feb. 23, 1825, he
married Mary King, daughter of Robert
and Isabella King, born in Westmoreland
county, Pennsylvania, Nov. 3, 1801. Her parents came to
Kinsman in 1809, settling on the place now owned by Gordon
Burnside. Robert King was a soldier
of the War of 1812, a member of Captain Burnham's
company. He raised a family of twelve children, of whom
nine are living. Robert and Mary
Gillis have had one daughter and eight sons - the daughter,
Isabella, was the wife of Lewis Moats, of
Mercer county, Pennsylvania, and died at the age of twenty-four;
Thomas
lives in Jefferson, Ashtabula county; John K. died in
California in 1878, where he went in 1852; Allen W., of
Kinsman village, of whom a
brief sketch is given elsewhere; G. W., now living in Kansas
(was a member of the Sixth Ohio volunteer cavalry three years
during the Rebellion); Anderson J., now living in
Jefferson township, Ashtabula county (was a member of company B,
Twenty-third Ohio volunteer infantry, serving three years,
afterwards re-enlisted and served until the close of the war);
Amos F. enlisted in company B, Twenty-third Ohio volun-
[Page 307] -
teer infantry, and served three years; re-enlisting, was
promoted to captain and was killed in action at Berryville,
Virginia, Sept. 3, 1864, leaving a widow and one daughter now
residents of Cleveland. Two children died in infancy.
T. B. SCOTT,
son of James and Sarah (Smith) Scott, was born in
Kinsman, Trumbull county, Ohio, Jan. 28, 1849; married Oct. 19,
1870, to Miss Ada Williams, of Bazetta township, adopted
daughter of John and Jane Williams, and has three
children living, as follows: Jennie Ellen, born July 29,
1872; Sarah Alice, May 25, 1876; Mary Emeline,
Nov. 21, 1880. John W. died in infancy. After
marriage Mr. Scott continued to reside on the home place
some six years, removing to his present place in the spring of
1877. He owns one hundred and eighty acres at the village
of Kinsman, and is a prosperous farmer and dairyman.
Himself and wife are members of the Methodist church.
JOHN S. ALLEN
was born in Kinsman, Trumbull county, Ohio, Nov.
1, 1813, oldest surviving son of Benjamin and Lydia (Meacham)
Allen remained at home until twenty-five, when he was united
in marriage Oct. 24, 1838, to Miss Julia E., daughter of
Roswell Moore. She was born in Connecticut
Feb. 24, 1819. Mr. and Mrs. Allen have had three
children, two of whom are living: Darwin F., born June
27, 1839, and Antoinette J., born May 26, 1842, both at
home. Darwin was a member of the One Hundred and
Twenty-fifth Ohio volunteer infantry, and later of the One
Hundred and Seventy-first Ohio National guard; was mustered out
in the fall of 1864. September 15th of the same year he
was married to Jennie M. Collins, and has one son and one
daughter - Fred L., born Oct. 31, 1864, and Theresa E.,
May 12, 1867. Our subject settled on the place where he
still lives in 1838, which was then but partially improved.
He was active in militia affairs during his early years; was
first elected justice of the peace about 1860 and held that
position six years, and was township trustee many terms.
Mr. and Mrs. Allen are members of the Presbyterian and
Congregational church.
JOHN W. McCURDY
was born in Butler county, Pennsylvania, Oct. 22, 1804, oldest
son of James and Margaret McCurdy. He was brought
up to agricultural pursuits, remaining at home until twenty-six.
He married, Sept. 4, 1832, Mrs. Catharine Thorn,
born in Kinsman township Nov. 3, 1804, daughter of George
Matthews, who settled there in the spring of that year.
He was a prominent farmer and church member; died about 1855. Mr.
and Mrs. McCurdy are the parents of four children, three
living and one dead, viz: Joseph Thorn, born May 16,
1830, now a resident of Michigan; George, July 29, 1833;
Jane, Apr. 22, 1835, died Aug. 5, 1861; James,
Jan. 27, 1837, a resident of Missouri, and an artist by
profession. After his marriage Mr. McCurdy
resided for one year in Butler county, Pennsylvania, coming to
Ohio in the fall of 1833. He settled where he now lives
about 1840, which place was then entirely wild. Mr.
McCurdy was township trustee one term. He has been
a member of the Presbyterian and Congregational church for many
years.
JOSEPH REED,
oldest son of John and Elizabeth (West) Reed
was born in New York, June 29, 1824. With his parents went
to Bath, Steuben county, New York, about 1826, where he went to
school. Was engaged in the lumber business in Pennsylvania
for some twenty years, being a partner in a steam saw-mill.
He was married July 7, 1852, to Rebecca Everhart, born in
Blair county, Pennsylvania, Apr. 3, 1831, and is the father of
seven children as follow: William A., born July 21, 1853,
now a merchant of Kinsman, of the firm of Gee & Reed;
Susan E., born July 20, 1855, now wife of George Bennett,
of Kinsman; Ella G., born Oct. 10, 1858; May R.,
May 19, 1860; Augusta D., Sept. 3, 1862; Edith B.,
Aug. 18, 1864; Minnie B., July 29, 1866. Mr.
Reed resided in Pennsylvania until 1869, when he purchased
the Galpin place in Kinsman, where he has since lived.
CHARLES B. WEBBER
[Page 308] -
JAMES W. STORIER
WILLIAM B. EDWARDS,
son of Lewis and Jane (Parks) Edwards, was born in
Fayette county, Pennsylvania, July 28, 1825; was brought up in
the family of his uncle, James Edwards, and his three
sisters, with whom he came to Ohio in the spring of 1848.
He settled in Williamsfield, Ashtabula county, on a farm which
he still owns. One of his aunts who accompanied him to
Ohio, is still living with him at an advanced age. He continued
to reside in Ashtabula county until the spring of 1881, when he
purchased the Lyman Root place in Kinsman, where he now
lives. He married, October 3, 1855, Sarah F. Webb,
of Mercer county, Pennsylvania, born about 1833. He was
township trustee in Williamsfield one term. Himself and
wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at the State
line. James Edwards, his uncle, died May 10,
1874; was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church for
many years.
LESTER MATTHEWS,
oldest child of Reuben and Lorenda (Eggleston) Matthews,
was born in Kinsman township, Trumbull county, Ohio, Oct. 8,
1842. Reuben Matthews raised a family of
five children, of whom three survive. He died in 1851, and
his widow in 1864. Lester was married Jan. 1, 1866,
to Stella Woodworth, a daughter of Andrew
Woodworth, of Ashtabula county. Mrs.
Matthews was born in that county in 1849. They have
had one daughter, Minnie A., born Jan. 23, 1867; died at
the age of ten months. Mr. Matthews occupies
the family homestead, the dwelling having been built by his
father about 1840. Mr. and Mrs. Matthews are
members of the Congregational and Presbyterian church.
George Matthews settled in an early day on the
property now owned by his sons Ezekiel, Elias, and Reuben's
heirs. George Matthews was born Dec. 29, 1773, and
his wife, Nancy (Scott), 1775.
L. A. COLE,
oldest living son of Harmon and Polly (Blackburn) Cole,
was born in Kinsman, Trumbull county, Ohio, Aug. 6, 1834.
Harmon Cole was a native of Connecticut, born
about 1800, and coming to Ohio about 1818, he settled in
Kinsman, where he married Polly Blackburn. He was a
cooper by trade, and in later life a successful farmer. He
was justice of the peace one term about 1850; died Oct. 2, 1856.
Mrs. Polly Cole is still living with her
sons, and is yet vigorous in mind and body. L. A. Cole
was united in marriage Oct. 3, 1855, to Amanda
Simpkins. To this marriage were born three children—Harmon
B., a resident of Kinsman township, born Oct. 29, 1856;
Mary E., born Oct. 2, 1858, now wife of John Brown,
residing in the vicinity of her father's home; Otis A.,
born Apr. 21, 1861. Mrs. Cole died Feb. 4,
1870. Sept. 7, 1870, he was again married, this time to
Miss
[Page 309] -
Elizabeth Feather, born in Pennsylvania, Feb. 19,
1835. To this union have been born two children, of whom
one is living—Harriet Elizabeth, born Jan. 9, 1873.
After his marriage he settled on a portion of the family
homestead, where he still resides; has been township trustee two
terms.
HARMON COLE
was born in Kinsman township, Trumbull county, Ohio, Aug. 4,
1826; son of Richard and Priscilla Cole. Richard
Cole was a native of Connecticut, born in 1793; coming to
Ohio about 1820, and settling on the place now owned by his son
Harmon. He cleared up this place, erecting a log
house, where the present residence now is, which was built in
1853. He died in the spring of 1880, his wife having died
about 1854. Harmon Cole was married, Mar.
15, 1847, to Miss Sivilla Royal, born in Crawford county,
Pennsylvania, Aug. 24, 1827, daughter of Peter and Polly
Royal, and has had a family of seven children. Four
are living, as follows: Orra C., born Jan. 3, 1848, now
the wife of A. F. Waid, residing in Kansas; Charles C.,
born Feb. 15, 1850, a farmer, residing in Ashtabula county,
Ohio; Albert S., born Mar. 7, 1856, a resident of
Kinsman, and Emma L., born June 27, 1861. Mr.
Cole located on the home farm, where he has since resided,
consisting of about four hundred acres of finely improved land.
EDWIN YEOMANS,
son of John and Elizabeth (Coyle) Yeomans, was born in
Kinsman, Trumbull county, Ohio, Feb. 22, 1823. His father
came to Ohio in 1819 and settled on the place now owned by his
son, David M. He had a family of ten children, of
whom three are living. He died about 1853. His wife
survived him until 1881. He was a soldier of the War of
1812, from Connecticut. Edwin remained at home
until his twenty-eighth year. In 1853 he engaged in the
paper manufacturing business at Cuyahoga Falls, where he resided
until returning to the home place in 1880, where he has since
resided.
J. M. KING
was born in Kinsman township, Trumbull county, Ohio, Jan. 17,
1825; oldest son of William and Sarah (McConnell) King.
Robert King, the grandfather of J. M. King, was a
native of Ireland, coming to Ohio in the first years of the
present century. He settled on the place now owned by
Mr. Burnside, which he cleared up and improved.
He raised a large family, the son William being the
father of the subject of this sketch. Robert
King was justice of the peace, probably one of the first
that filled that position. He was a soldier in the War of
1812 from Kinsman township. J. M. King was raised
in the family of his maternal grandfather, James McConnell,
until of age. He was married in 1847 to Harriet L.
Christy, daughter of James Christy, an early settler
in the county. The result of this union was six children,
three of whom are living, viz: Frank C., Clara B., and
Nellie. His first wife died in 1857, and in December,
1858, he maried Miss L. C. Christy, daughter of
John and Hannah Christy, also early settlers. By this
marriage he has three children, as follows: George E., Robert
A., and Sadie M. After his marriage he rented
the farm of his grandfather for three years. He afterwards
bought a small place in another part of Kinsman which he
improved and occupied until 1864; was a resident of Vernon for
some eight years, where he purchased the Palmer farm,
which he still owns. In the fall of 1872 he removed to the
place where he now lives, near Kinsman village. Himself
and wife are members of the Presbyterian and Congregational
church.
GORDON BURNSIDE
[Page 310] -
released on parol, was finally mustered out after serving out
his term at Johnson's Island, in the fall of 1864.
JAMES J. CHRISTY,
oldest son of Andrew and Elizabeth Christy, was born in
Kinsman, Trumbull county, Ohio, July 25, 1818. Oct. 24,
1844, was married to Margaret Hunter, daughter of
James Hunter, of Mercer county, Pennsylvania,
where she was born Nov. 22, 1822. They have one son and
one daughter - Wilbur A., born Sept. 26, 1845, a farmer
of Mercer county, Pennsylvania; and Elizabeth J., Feb.
25, 18947, now the wife of James Jack, of Crawford
county. Wilbur was a member of the One Hundred and
Seventy-first Ohio National guard; served out his term of
service, and was mustered out with his regiment in 1864.
He married, in 1876, Isa Kinleyside, and has two
children, Eleanor S. and Margaret. In 1845
Mr. Christy settled on the place where he now lives,
which was originally settled by Joseph McMichael.
He has been township trustee several terms; is a member of the
United Presbyterian church of which church at Jamestown,
Pennsylvania, he is still ruling elder. He was formerly a
Whig and anti-slavery man, and was active in assisting
fugitives.
ISAAC T. ALLEN,
son of Daniel and Ruth (Meacham) Allen, was born in
Kinsman, Trumbull county, Ohio, Nov. 5, 1828. Daniel
Allen was born in Connecticut Mar. 22, 1789, and came to
Ohio with his father, John, in 1806, settling on the
place now owned by Isaac T., his son. He was a
captain in the militia; died Feb. 20, 1859, aged nearly seventy
years. His wife died Feb. 6, 1856. Isaac T. Allen
was married Dec. 4, 1856, to Sophronia Nackey,
born in Butler county, Pennsylvania, Sept. 17, 1836. They
have four children living and two dead, viz: Ruth E.,
born Oct. 24, 1857, now Mrs. D. T. Root, of Kinsman, has
one son, Allen D., born Mar. 9, 1881. Daniel F.,
born May 1, 1859, of Kinsman; Roswell J., July 28, 1866;
Joel K., May 9, 1873. Mr. Allen is an
extensive dairyman and stock raiser, owning two hundred and
fifty-five acres of good land. He offered his services to the
Government during the Rebellion; served out his term of
enlistment, and was mustered out at Sandusky, Ohio, in the fall
of 1864.
WILLIAM A. THOMAS
L. W. ROBERTS
[Page 311] -
JOHN SISLEY
GEORGE H. NICKERSON
WILLIAM R. CHRISTY, son of
Andrew and Elizabeth (McConnell) Christy, was born June
15, 1828, in Kinsman, Trumbull county, Ohio. Andrew
Christy came to Trumbull county in 1806. He was married in
1812; built a hewed log-house, which they occupied until
building the present family residence in 1832. They raised
a family of eleven children, of whom six are liv-
[Page 312] -
ing. He
was a soldier of the War of 1812, for a short time. He was
born in 1776, and died in 1863. His wife died Aug. 1863.
William R. Christy was married Apr. 4, 1867, to Miss
Charlotte David, daughter of Walter Davis and has two
sons - Lauren D., born Sept. 25, 1868, and Ward P.,
born Apr. 24, 1872. Mrs. Christy's mother was
Lucena Perkins, daughter of Seth Perkins, one of the
pioneers of Kinsman township. Miss Sarah Christy is
residing with her brother, William R., and is a vigorous
and intelligent lady, the oldest of the family.
CHRISTIAN BETTS
JOHN M. ALLEN,
son of Daniel and Ruth (Meacham) Allen, was born in
Kinsman, Trumbull county, Ohio, Nov. 5, 1827. He remained
at home until twenty-three, when he went to Crawford county,
Pennsylvania, for five years, engaged in farming and conducting
a saw mill. He married there March 24, 1853, Miss Phebe
Leach, who was born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, July
22, 1828. She died October, 1854, leaving one
daughter, now Mrs. Oscar Leland, of Geauga county, Ohio.
Nov. 8, 1855, Mr. Allen was again married, his second
wife being Jane Eckels, born July 30, 1831.
By this marriage he has had eight children, seven of whom are
living, viz: George S., born Sept. 1, 1856; Permelia,
Mar. 9, 1858; Eva Jane, Oct. 25, 1860; Wilber
J., May 24, 1862; Charles A., July 22, 1865;
Jessie A., Nov. 23, 1868; Maggie H., Apr. 2, 1872.
In the spring of 1855 our subject returned to Kinsman from
Pennsylvania, having the year before bought the place where he
now lives. In 1864 he enlisted in the One Hundred and
Seventy-first Ohio National guard, and participated in the
battle of Cynthiana, Kentucky, June 11, 1864; served out his
term of enlistment, and was mustered out at Johnson's island at
expiration of term of service.
WILLIAM CHRISTY,
son of William and Mary Christy, was born in Kinsman,
Trumbull county, Ohio, Aug. 29, 1811. William Christy,
Sr., was a native of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, born
in 1778; came to Ohio in 1805, and settled in Kinsman on the
place now owned by his son, William. He raised a
family of twelve children, of whom but two survive - the subject
of this sketch and Mrs. Mary Gibson of Kinsman. He
was a blacksmith by trade, which trade he followed until
advanced in years. He died in1854. He was a soldier
in the War of 1812, under Captain Burnham. William, Jr.,
was married, Sept. 29, 1853, to Phebe Roberts, who was
born in Pennsylvania Apr. 29, 1820, and has a family of three
children, as follows: Mary Jane, born Dec. 25,
1855, now wife of Levi S. Mowry and has one child -
William R., born Jan. 14, 1881; William H., born Feb.
20, 1857, at home; Robert, born July 4, 1858, residing in
Crawford county, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Christy died
Oct. 6, 1864. Mr. Christy built his present
residence in 1874, and owns one hundred and seventy-six acres,
well improved. He gives considerable attention to dairying
and stock raising.
ALBERT W. MATTHEWS
was born in Kinsman township, Trumbull county,
Ohio, Sept. 30, 1836. His grandfather, Deacon William
Matthews, came to Ohio in 1804, and settled on the place
where the subject of this sketch now lives. William
Matthews was a Revolutionary soldier. Albert W.
Matthews enlisted in the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Ohio
volunteer infantry, in 1862, and with his regiment was in the
battles at Mission Ridge, Resaca, Dalton, Atlanta, and Franklin.
He served until the close of the war,
[Page 313] -
securing a lieutenant's commission, and was mustered out with
his regiment at Nashville, Tennessee, June, 1865. He
received a commission after being mustered out as sergeant.
After his return home he took charge of the homestead where he
still lives. Aug. 30, 1866, he was married to Miss
Sarah Johnson, daughter of John and Nancy
Johnson, of Mercer county, Pennsylvania, where Mrs.
Matthews was born Oct. 5, 1844. They have two
children, as follows: William Albert, born
Mar. 11, 1870, and Ruth E., June 28, 1871. For one
year after his marriage Mr. Matthews was a
resident of Nebraska, when he returned to his former home.
He has been township trustee several terms. His father,
Thomas Matthews, was a soldier of the War of 1812.
In 1826 he had a leg amputated on account of injuries received
by breaking through the ice on the Ohio river.
DAVID S. GILLIS,
youngest son of Francis and Mary Gillis, was born in
Kinsman, Trumbull county, Ohio, Sept. 6, 1845; married Dec. 24,
1874, to Agnes M. Patrick, by whom he had one daughter,
Emma M., born Dec. 4, 1875. His wife Agnes
died January, 1879, and Oct. 13, 1880, he married Miss Sarah
A. Wood, daughter of Deacon Charles Wood, of Kinsman.
By this marriage he has had one daughter, Abbie, born
Aug. 26, 1881. Since the retirement of his father he has
taken charge of the family homestead, giving considerable
attention to dairying and stock-raising.
FRANCIS GILLIS,
son of Thomas and Mary (Mossman) Gillis, was born in
Kinsman, Trumbull county, Ohio, July 8, 1806. His father
was one of the early pioneers of Kinsman, erecting the first
grist-mill in the township. He raised a family of nine
children. Francis was reared a farmer and remained
at home until of age. His father gave him one hundred
acres east of the homestead. This place, now the residence
of his son David S., was then entirely wild, and he
cleared it up and improved it. Oct. 26, 1837, he married
Mary Ann Sawyer, born in Greene county, Pennsylvania,
1816. They were the parents of six children, three of who
are living, John, at home; David S., a farmer of
Kinsman, and Malvina C. at home. Subsequent
to his marriage he resided on the place now occupied by his son
David until the spring of 1881 when he removed to Kinsman
village. His wife died in 1876. She was a member of
the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Gillis was
township trustee many years. He owns over three hundred
and seventy acres in Kinsman. John, his oldest son,
in 1862 enlisted in the army and served until the close of the
war.
JOHN CRAIG,
son of William and Susan Craig, was born in Washington
county, Pennsylvania, Sept. 27, 1822. Brought up on the
farm and remained at home until his marriage, June 20, 1855, to
Mary Brackin, whose father, Ezekiel
Brackin, was one of the pioneers of the county. Died
about 1864. They raised a family of nine children.
Mrs. Craig was born in Kinsman, Trumbull county,
May 30, 1832. Mr. and Mrs. Craig have had five
children, as follow: Lida, the oldest, died young;
Henry Clay, born Aug. 16, 1858; Della M., born
Oct. 6, 1860; Fanny Blanche, Jan. 16, 1864; David B.,
Oct. 14, 1866. After his marriage he continued to reside
in Pennsylvania until April, 1874, when he came to Ohio,
purchasing the Brackin homestead in Kinsman, where
he still resides.
PETER LOSSEE,
youngest son of Peter and Nancy (McLaughlin)
Lossee, was born in Kinsman township, Trumbull county, Ohio,
May 10, 1812. Peter Lossee, Sr., was a
native of New Jersey; came to Ohio in 1808, settling on the
place where the son now resides. He raised a family of
four children, the subject of this sketch being the only
survivor. He died in 1815, his wife surviving him
thirty-three years, dying in 1848. Peter, Jr., was
married Sept. 10, 1832, to Elizabeth Reed, born in
Pennsylvania. Five children were born, four of whom are
living, as follows: Jane, born in 1833, and died Mar. 15,
1862; Amanda Morford (widow) in Illinois; Wallace P.,
born in 1837 in Kinsman; Helen E., at home; Hattie A.,
wife of Lawrence Leffingwell, of Kinsman.
The mother died in 1849, and Mr. Lossee married
for his second wife Eleanor, daughter of John
Little, an early settler of Kinsman, where she was born Apr.
18, 1814. They were married May 21, 1850. Mr.
Lossee has devoted considerable attention to dairying and
stock raising; also to buying live stock, and has raised some
valuable horses. He sold two that brought $2,500.
Mr. Lossee, speaking of early times, says he has seen
deer to the number of thirty-five in one herd,
[Page 314] -
and met a bear on one occasion, which the neighbors finally
killed. His only son, Wallace P., was a member of
the Second Ohio cavalry, serving over four years until the close
of the War.
A.
H. PORTER, son of Daniel and Sally
Porter, was born in Washington county, New York, May 2,
1822. Coming to Ohio in the fall of 1844, he located in
Andover, Ashtabula county, where he bought a place; was married
in 1846 to Miss Ruth Dolph, born in Washington county,
New York, in 1824. They have had eight children, five
living, as follows: Henry A. and Nellie (now wife
of Reuben Foy) of Gustavus township; J. M. and
Nettie (wife of John Turnbull) of Kinsman, and
Carrie, still at home. Mr. Porter
continued to live in Ashtabula until the spring of 1850, when he
removed to Kinsman township, Trumbull county, locating at what
is known as Porter's corners, building a saw mill which he still
owns. He removed to his present home in the spring of
1866. He was a member of the One Hundred and Seventy-first Ohio
National guard in the Rebellion, and was in the battle of
Cynthiana, Kentucky, was taken prisoner and paroled. He
served out his term of enlistment and was mustered out at
Sandusky, Ohio.
MRS. HARRIET B. PARKER,
daughter of Elam and Sarah (Hyde) Jones,
was born in Hartford township, Trumbull county, Ohio, Feb. 2,
1806. She attended a ladies' seminary at Kinsman; taught
school one season at home; married, Jan. 8, 1824, Linus
Parker, a native of Connecticut, born in 1778. He was
a manufacturer of edged tools, and had quite an establishment in
Kinsman. He came with his father to that township in the
early years of the present century. He died in 1837.
He was a member of the Presbyterian and Congregational church in
Kinsman, of which his father, Lovell, was deacon, and was
an active member. He had a family of four children, of
whom three are living, as follows: Sarah E., born Sept.
27, 1825, widow of William A. Gillis; Rufus H.,
born Dec., 1827; Lemira J. born Sept. 27, 1835; all
residing in Kinsman. The latter completed her education at
an academy in Poland, Mahoning county, Hannah P., born
Oct. 12, 1837, died Nov. 29, 1855. Rufus H.
received his education at a high school in Wayne township,
Ashtabula county; was brought up to farming; went to California
about 1852, where he was engaged some five or six years in
mining and farming. Returning to Ohio, he dealt in lumber
and live stock a number of years. After the close of the
war he traveled for three or four years wholesaling goods for
himself, establishing a store-house in Mercer, Pennsylvania;
opened a wholesale family goods house in Sharon, Pennsylvania,
and did an extensive trade. He has now a fine home in
Kinsman. Mrs. Parker continues to reside on the
home place. She is a member of the same church to which
her husband belonged.
MRS. RHODA SPENCER
GEORGE BALDWIN,
son of Jacob H. and Florinda Baldwin, was born in
Champion, Trumbull county, Ohio, July 7, 1836; obtained his
education in the common schools, and at the high school at
Warren, supplemented by an attendance for one term at Kenyon
college, Gambier, Ohio. He was engaged at clerking in
Warren for one or two years; married, Oct. 1, 1861, to Emma
R. Lesuer, born in Bolivar, New York. They have two
children: Gertrude F., born May 9, 1864, and Albert L.,
June 29, 1870. He resided in Warren two years after
marriage, then removing to Meadville, Pennsylvania, where he
commenced the stove and tinware business. One
[Page 315] -
year afterwards his place of business was destroyed by fire.
He removed to Kinsman, Trumbull county, Ohio, in the spring of
1866, where he engaged in the stove trade, buying out the
Kinsman foundry, which he conducted till 1870. About
1873 he added to his business that of general hardware, and is
doing a prosperous business. He has been a member of the
Methodist Episcopal church for the past twenty years, and is
superintendent of the Sunday-school.
DR. LUMAN G. MOORE,
only son of Lorenzo and Caroline (Miller) Moore, was born
in Kinsman, Trumbull county, Ohio, Feb. 16, 1849.
Lorenzo Moore came to Ohio with his parents about
1836, the family locating on the place now owned by John
Wallace, where he spent the balance of his days. He
died in 1869. His widow, born in 1789, is still living
with her son, the subject of this sketch, quite vigorous for one
of her age. Dr. Moore was reared upon a
farm, attending the common and high schools until twenty; was a
student one year at the Ohio Wesleyan university, and also at
Michigan university, Ann Arbor, one year; began the study of
medicine with Dr. Jones in 1870, continuing three
years, during which time he attended a course of lectures at
Bellevue Medical college, graduating from Long Island Hospital
Medical college, New York, in June, 1873. The same fall he
commenced practice at Kinsman, where he has since been located.
He was married in May, 1871, to Miss Elizabeth
Patterson, and has two children living - Minnie, born
June 29, 1879, and Luman G., Dec. 17, 1880. He has
been township trustee one year, and township treasurer two
years.
LYMAN ROOT,
oldest son of Charles and Sally Ann (Laughlin) Root, was
born in Mecca, Trumbull county, Ohio, June 2, 1839, and was a
student at a seminary in Jamestown, Pennsylvania, at the
breaking out of the war. With four companions he went to
Columbus, Ohio, and enlisted in the Eighty-fourth Ohio volunteer
infantry for three months, was at Camp Laurens, Maryland, and
returned home in October, 1862. He re-enlisted in the One
Hundred and Twenty-fifth Ohio volunteer infantry for three
years, and with his regiment participated in some of the
principal battles of the war including Nashville, Mission Ridge,
Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, and Atlanta. He was on
detached duty as mail-carrier for some time, served until the
close of the war, and was mustered out at Cleveland, Ohio, June,
1865. He resumed his occupation of farming on the place
formerly owned by his grandfather, James Laughlin;
was married Jan. 10, 1867, to Miss Irene S., daughter of
Thomas Mathews, and has three children: Hubert
L., born Oct. 19, 1867; Alice S., Feb. 2, 1874:
Ralph, June 2, 1876. He remained on the Laughlin
place until buying at Kinne's corners about 1870.
He sold out in 1880, and in the spring of 1881 located in
Kinsman village, engaging in merchandising, having a general
store. He has been justice of the peace for twelve years
in Kinsman, and also assessor for two terms.
DANIEL C. CLINGINSMITH,
for two terms. Daniel C. Clinginsmith, born in
Mercer county, Pennsylvania, May 16, 1824; married, April, 1847,
Electa J., daughter of Thomas and Eleanor (McLaughlin)
Matthews, born Oct. 11, 1823, in Kinsman, Trumbull county,
Ohio. Mr. Clinginsmith was a farmer
originally, afterward engaged in mercantile business; removed to
Wisconsin in 1856, where he engaged in merchandising and was
also postmaster. He died Sept. 24, 1870; was worshipful
master Free and Accepted Masons at the time of his death, and
also member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mrs.
Clinginsmith continued to reside in Wisconsin until the
fall of 1879, when she returned to Trumbull county and located
in Kinsman village, where she still resides.
CAPTAIN E. C. BRIGGS
was born in Newport county, Rhode Island, Sept. 13, 1804; son of
Ethan C. Briggs and Mary Littlefield. His father
died when he was six, and when ten years of age he ran away from
his home and mother; went to New York and engaged as cabin boy
on a New York and Philadelphia packet, in which position he
continued until fourteen, went before the mast to Patagonia, was
subsequently promoted to second mate, still later to that of
mate, and finally, when about twenty-four, was placed in command
of the packet on which he began as cabin boy. After wards
he was master of a vessel plying between New York and Baltimore,
and later filled the same position on a vessel engaged in the
Caribbean sea and the Spanish main. He was married June,
1834, to Anna C. Stanhope. They had four children,
two living—James Theodore,
[Page 316] -
and Sarah R., residing in Denver, Colorado.
Ethan C., Jr., was born in 1843; enlisted in the war of the
Rebellion and with his regiment participated in numerous
engagements. At Chattanooga, Tennessee, Sept. 21, 1863, he
was captured by the rebels, being wounded in the leg. The
limb was amputated and he died a few weeks afterward. Henry
Clay, the other son, was thirty-three when he died, Dec.
10, 1880. Mrs. Briggs died in 1863, and the
captain was again married Feb. 21, 1867, to Cordelia,
daughter of Benjamin Ward. She was born in
Hartford, Connecticut, Feb. 5, 1816. Captain
Briggs continued the life of a seaman until 1843. For
the next four years he was engaged in mercantile business in New
York city. Removing to Ohio in 1847 he settled on the
place where he still lives in Kinsman, and since then has
followed farming. He is a fine specimen of the old style
of sea captain, bluff and hearty, and withal hospitable; is
vigorous in body and mind, and has never drank a tea-spoonful of
liquor in his life.
WAYNE BIDWELL,
son of Riverius and Eunicia Bidwell, was born in Trumbull
township, Trumbull county, Ohio, May 6, 1821. Besides his
attendance at the common schools he attended school at Oberlin
three or four terms. Married, Dec. 31, 1844, to Mary L.,
daughter of Ezra Hyde, an early settler of Vernon
township, where she was born in January, 1823. Mr. and
Mrs. Bidwell are the parents of five children, three of whom
are living. Jasper R. lived to the age of
thirty-one and died in Iowa in 1879; Caleb W. resides on
the home place; Ezra H., of Kinsman village; and
Chauncey D., of the same place. Cora Lynn died
when three years of age. In addition to his farming Mr.
Bidwell deals extensively in the buying and shipping of
live stock.
J. W. CHASE
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