OHIO GENEALOGY EXPRESS


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Welcome to
Mahoning County, Ohio
History & Genealogy

20th Century History of
Youngstown & Mahoning Co., Ohio

and Representative Citizens - Publ. Biographical Publ. Co.
Chicago, Illinois -
1907
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CHAPTER XVI.
TOWNSHIPS AND TOWNS.
Settlement and Organization of the Townships - Settlement and Founding of the Towns -
Sketches of Lowellville, Canfield, Poland, Petersburg, Sebring and other Towns.

POLAND TOWNSHIP
Pg. 212

     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.

     Lowellville is a thriving village situated on both sides of the Mahoning river, in Poland township, and with picturesque hills on either hand.  It has excellent transportation facilities, both steam and electric, being on the lines of the Pennsylvania Railroad, the Pittsburg & Lake Erie, the Baltimore & Ohio, and the Mahoning Valley Electric Railway Co.  Its growth began at about the time of the completion of the Pennsylvania and Ohio canal, and was much accelerated by the mining of coal, and by the erection of the Lowellville furnace by Wilkinson, Wilkes & Co. in 1846.  The village had

Page 221 -
been laid out about ten years previously by Mr. Wick and others.  In 1840 the postoffice was established, with S. H. McBride as the first postmaster.
     John McGill built the first gristmill in the place, and Robert McGill was proprietor of the first sawmill.  A larger gristmill was erected in 1838 by William Watson and John S. Hunter, and was operated by them until 1866, when is passed into other hands.  The Hope flourmill was established by James Brown about 1857 and after his death came into possession of and was conducted by his heirs.  A tannery was started by Wilson and Crawford about 1844, and was rebuilt two years later by William Moore, who carried on the business until 1874, after which it went out of operation.
     The Mt. Nebo coal mine was opened about 1828 by Elijah Stevenson, and subsequently passed through various hands, at one time being extensively worked by the Lowellville Furnace Company to obtain coal for use in their iron works.  It was finally abandoned because the water became too deep for successful operations.  Other mines have been successfully worked at different times in the history of the village.
     The Lowell Coal Mining Company, employing about thirty-five men, are now engaged in the mining of block coal, their output being about seventy tons per day.  Jacob Stambaugh is president and C. N. Clingen secretary and treasurer.
     The Meehan Boiler and Construction Company was organized in 1897 by Robert Gray, Patrick, Paul, and James Meehan, and John Meehan, a nephew of the other three Meehans.  The business, which is incorporated with a capital stock of $50,000 was at first a partnership, and was known as the Meehan Boiler Co.  The five partners purchased the present site of their factory, upon which stood an old sawmill, which they also purchased together with the creamery which stood on the adjacent lot.  They at first employed about 25 or 30 men, which number has since been increased to 200.  Their principal output is the Meehan boiler, but in addition they do a great deal of iron and steel construction work, including the building of blast furnaces, the business amounting to about $200,000 per year.  The present officers of the company are, Patrick Meehan, president; Robert Gray, vice-president and general manager; James Meehan, Jr., secretary and treasurer.
     The Ohio Iron & Steel Company, of Lowellville was established about 1842, by Wilkinson, Wilkes & Co., and was the first furnace in the United States to smelt iron ore with raw coal.  In 1879 Henry Wickmade an examination of the furnace plant located at Lowellville, then owned by William McCreary the estates of Thomas Bell and J. S. Dillworth, at which time an option was taken on the property, and later the plant was purchased.  The organization was effected with directors and officers as follows:  Directors - Paul Wick, John C. Wick, Myron C. Wick, Thomas H. Wells, Henry Wick and Robert Bentley.  Mar. 11, 1880, the following officers were elected: Thomas H. Wells, president; Henry Wick, vice-president; Robert Bentley, secretary and treasurer.  The executive committee was Thomas H. Wells, Henry Wick and Myron C. Wick.  The present officers are, Robert Bentley president and general manager; David Davis, secretary; Fred H. Wick, treasurer.  The directors are, Robert Bentley, Myron C. Wick, Samuel Mather, John C. Wick, W. S. McCombs, David Davis, F. H. Wick, T. F. Woodman and Richard Garlick.  The company is extensively engaged in the manufacture of Bessemer pig iron.  About 180 men being employed.
     The Lowellville Savings and Banking Company was incorporated Mar. 8, 1906, with a capital of $30,000, the company taking over the business of the Lowellville Bank, which had been founded in 1905 by a few New Castle (Pennsylvania) capitalists.
     The Bessemer Limestone Company, whose plant is situated just outside the limits, are engaged in the quarrying of limestone for furnace use and ballast, having a capacity of 5,000 tons per day.  They employ about 500 men.

Page 222 -

SCHOOLS.

     Lowellville is a special school district, with two schools.  W. C. Dickson is the present clerk of the Board of Education.  The North Side school is the larger, having eight rooms.  The principal is D. W. Mumaw, with Auley McAuley as assistant.  There are besides four other teachers, Misses Ibbie Dickson, Lizzie Houston, Maude Lotz and Clara Elliott.  The South Side School, which has two rooms, is taught by Margaret McCabe and Edith Ferguson.

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.

 

    

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