Middleton Township (part 2 of 2)

Middleton is provided with good school-buildings, and a commendable degree of interest is taken in educational matters. A fair proportion of its citizens have received the benefits of a college education.

To the Baptists belongs the credit of first establishing the forms of public worship in the township, and also of providing the first church-building. In the month of August, 1804, two missionaries visited the feeble settlement and organized

The Aciior Valley Baptist Church

THE ACIIOR VALLEY BAPTIST CHURCH with fourteen members, ten of whom were Owen Bowen, Joel Rogers, Abraham Rogers, Christopher Warman, Henry Kirkendall, Elizabeth Bowman, Elizabeth Rossell, Melea Rogers, and John Cross. Others soon joined, but for many years the society was poor and led a struggling existence. The meetings were first held in the houses of members, but in 1806 a meeting-house was erected of round logs, which was roofed with clapboards and for a floor had the bare ground. It had no door or window, and the seats consisted of split timbers placed crosswise on four logs. In time a better house took its place, and still later the present attractive frame meeting-house was erected. It has an exceedingly fine location on a little hill, on which have been allowed to remain handsome forest-trees. In the rear of the house is a well-kept grave-yard.

This society has generally been peaceful and prosperous, and at present numbers seventy-five members, who have been under the pastoral direction of the Rev. John Owen since May 1, 1878. The first pastor was the llcv. Henry Frazier, who served from 1804 till 1815. The intermediate pastors, and the years when they became connected, were as follows : 1816, Rev. Thomas Rigdon ; 1819, Rev. Andrew Clark; 1825, Rev. John Brown; 1829, llcv. Win. 1*. West; 1834, Rev. Jonathan Davis; 1836, llcv.

In 1844, J. L. Douglass, a member of the church, received license to preach, and subsequently went as a missionary to Burmah, where he died.

Those elected to the office of deacon by the church have been the brethren George Brown, Henry Kirkendall, Ethan Thomas, Job Rossell, Sr., Jeremiah Booth, James Davis, Job R. Davis, and Jonathan F. Randolph.

The Carmel Meeting Of Orthodox Friends

THE CARMEL MEETING OF ORTHODOX FRIENDS, the next religious society organized in Middleton, was instituted about 1810. That year the first meeting-house was built, on a lot donated for this purpose by Jacob Heacock and Susannah, his wife. It was a log building, and was used until about 1835, when a new house was built, which was partly destroyed by fire in the winter of 1845. The present neat frame house was built in tbe summer of 1846, that part of the old house left standing being used for the Particular meetings meanwhile. It has a pleasant location in a beautiful grove, and is yet a comfortable place of worship.

The first Monthly meeting at Carmel was held the 20th of 12th month, 1817. Joseph Fisher and Nathan Heald were the first clerks. Nathan Hole, Abijah Richards, and Esther Hole were the first ministers; Joseph Fisher, William Leech, Charles Hole, Esther Richards, Martha Ashton, and Sarah Hole, the first elders ; and Joseph Young, Joseph Fisher, Aden Morlan, and Nathan Jones, the first overseers.

The Monthly meetings were discontinued in the fall of 1854, nearly all the old members having deceased or removed. The last elders were Merab Hall and Nathan P. Hall. Abi Heald, tbe wife of James Heald, was the last recommended minister.

The Friends yet living in this neighborhood have since 1854 been connected with the Middleton Monthly Meeting, but Particular meetings are still maintained at Carmel, having about 40 attendants from the James Heald, Wilson Hall, Joseph Cope, A. II. Blackburn, Morton Neil, Israel Cope, Mcader Allman, Charles P. Hall, Wm. .H. Blackburn, Pearson Hall, and other families.

The Carmel Monthly Meeting Of Hicicsite Friends

doctrine assembled at Elk Run, and, after appointing Janies Hambleton clerk, chose Eli Yale, James Marsh, and Thomas McMillan to confer together as to what future action should he taken. They reported that they were impressed that the harmony of the society would most likely he promoted if those who held the belief of Friend Hicks would hold a meeting " separate from our accusing brethren," and that for this purpose a house had been proffered by Jesse Underwood until some other place could be provided. James Hambleton, Jacob Heacock, and Benjamin Pyle were appointed to endeavor to make arrangements with the opposing party relative to the use of the meeting-house. These reported that no plan would meet the approbation of their former friends, who steadfastly refused to give them the use of the house, and that a place of worship must therefore be otherwise provided. Accordingly, on the 20th day of the 12th month, 1828, Jacob Heacock and Benjamin Pyle were appointed overseers of the meeting, which was now permanently organized, James Hambleton clerk and Thomas McMillan assistant.

At a later session of the meeting, James Hambleton, John Edmundson, and Jacob Heacock were appointed to build a meeting-house on the northwest corner of Jacob Heacock's land. On the ground thus secured, in a beautiful grove, a small brick house was built in 1829, which yet stands, and is at present being repaired. It was originally in charge of a board of trustees chosen by the Carmel meeting, but is at present nominally controlled by the Salem meetings.

The early and prominent members of the Carmel Hicksite meeting were from the Boram, Barrett, Crawford, Cowgill, Edsill, Edmundson, Farquar, Hambleton, Heacock, Johns, McMillan, McConnell, Morris, Marsh, Pyle, Pallet, Raley, Reeves, Thompson, Townsend, Richardson, Yale, and Waterworth families, living in Elk Run, Middleton, and St. Clair townships. Until about 1845 the meetings were well attended, and the society was prosperous. About this time many members removed, and the interest so rapidly declined that after December, 1851, no Monthly meeting was held, although Particular meetings were maintained with considerable regularity several years later. Recently these have been only occasionally held by the Raley family and a few others, sometimes assisted by Friends from the Salem meeting.

The Zion Hill Methodist Episcopal Church

Some time before 1815 a class of Methodists was formed in the Stevens neighborhood, in Middleton township, which embraced, among other members, Amos Stevens and family, Augustus Stevens and family, Thomas Saint and wife, George Ashford and wife, John Leslie, Samuel Brisbine, James Thompson, Joseph Saint, Elijah Leslie, Benjamin and Joshua Todd, Jane Brooks, Margaret Thomas, Aquilla Ward, Alpha M. Baxter, and Mrs. Pancake. Later additions were received from the Thomas, Huston, McCoy, Huff, Hays, Addis, and Fitzsimmons families.

been delivered by the traveling minister. In the course of time his son, Augustine Stevens, entered the ministerial ranks. The services were first held in the houses of the members, in barns, and often in the woods ; but in ten or fifteen years a meeting-house was built on the land set aside for this purpose by Amos Stevens, which was the place of worship many years. From this fact the appointment was long known as the " Stevens church."

In the summer of 1865 a new church-edifice was built near the site of the old house, under the trusteeship of John Huston, John Burson, James Fitzsimmons, G. H. Huff, William Burson, Edward Huston, and Isaac Huston, which was dedicated Nov. 18, 1865, by the Revs. Hartshorn and Lane, as the Mount Zion Methodist Episcopal church, and by this title it has since been recognized. The house has a most beautiful location, and presents an inviting appearance. It is a plain frame, and cost $2500.

The members worshiping here number about 70, and have at present the following official board : Stewards, Hugh McCoy and Alvin Thomas; Trustees, John Huston, Alvin Thomas, John Baxter, Martin Thomas, Isaac Huston, James Fitzsimmons, and J. C. Billingsley ; and Sunday- School Superintendent, Martin Thomas.

The Fairview Methodist Episcopal Church

near the southwest corner of section 31, was built in 1869 by a committee composed of John Hollinger, Win. Rudibaugh, George Reininger, Levi Williams, John Lonas, Joseph Henry, and Stephen Hickman, most of whom also constitute the present board of trustees. The society worshiping in this house was organized in Madison township, and, until the date above given, was known as the Williamsport charge, the first place of worship having been in that village. Both churches have the same ministerial supply. In early times this was furnished by a circuit which embraced nearly the entire county ; in 1840 the eastern part of the county was formed into the Liverpool circuit, and embraced these appointments ; and since 1860 they have been a part of the Elkton circuit. Since 1820 these circuits have been regularly supplied by the Conferences to which they had been attached, but it is probable that the Methodist missionaries visited these parts and preached before they were taken up as appointments. It is believed that the appended list of ministers embraces the names of nearly all who proclaimed Methodism in the township. The years given are the dates of their appointments by Conference : 1820, Revs. Jacob Hooper Dowler ; 1821, Wm. Tipton, Trescott, Henry Knapp; 1822, Wm. Tipton, Samuel Brookonier ; 1823, Dennis Goddard, B. O. Plympton ; 1824, Ezra Booth, Albert G. Richardson ; 1825, Samuel Adams, Robert Hopkins; 1826, John Knox, Wm. Henderson ; 1827, Edward Taylor, John Somerville ; 1828, B. O. Plympton, Nathaniel Callender; 1829, George Brown, Winans ;

The Burt Methodist Episcopal Church

* When the Rev. Brookonier was on the circuit, before described, in 1822, the Rev. John Burt, a local Methodist minister, persuaded him to preach at his house, on section 1. As a result of his occasional labors at this point a society was formed, which had among its members the Burts, Eatons, and Bartons, who, some years after, built a small meeting-house near Father Burt's home. In this worship was maintained until 1867, when the appointment was given up and the interest transferred to the village of East Palestine. The meeting-house has been demolished. The charge was changed frequently from one circuit to another, but, in the main, has been served by the ministers before named.

Two other members of this society, Isaac and Samuel Eaton, became local Methodist preachers, and their brother, M. M. Eaton, became a member of the Pittsburgh Conference.

The Hazelville Society Op The United Brethren In Christ

In the summer of 1850, Samuel Thomas, Jared Marlnee, and Joseph Scott, acting as a board of trustees for a society formed previously, erected a small meeting-house in the southeastern part of section 5, which has since been known as the Hazelville church. The persons worshiping there at that period belonged principally to the Grey, Sands, Thomas, Marlnee, and Scott families, and had for, their first minister the Rev. Wm. Ferrall. Subsequently, the ministers preaching here have been the Revs. Fast, Crayton, Waldorf, Turner, Bonewill, Fraver, Dilley, Booth, Bowers, Perkins, Slusser, Delhi, Randall, Lower, Faulk, Low, Begley, Singar, and Kettering. There are at present about 25 members, with Henry Barton as class-leader, and John Marlnee, Enos Seachrist, and Joseph Richardson as trustees of the meeting-house. A Sunday-school of 40 members has Enos Seachrist for superintendent.

The Union Bridge Chapel Op The United Brethren In Christ

For the accommodation of the United Brethren living in the central part of the township, a class was formed in that locality in 18(51, and preaching was supplied in connection with the Hazelville charge, the meetings being held in the school-house. In 1871 a neat frame edifice was erected by a committee, composed of Andrew Ward, John Gorby, Aquilla Ward, Culbertson Addis, and C. Huston, on the western part of section 15. which was dedicated in September by the Rev. B. F. Booth. This property is now under the trusteeship of John Gorby, Gustavus Gorby, and S. S. Duke.

The members comprising the society number about 60, and have the same pastors as the Hazelville and Fairfield churches. S. S. Dyke is the leader of the class, and Alvan Huston superintendent of the Sunday-school. Mrs. Lucinda Marlnee was licensed as a local preacher in 1870, and still holds that relation in the church.

The Presbyterian Church Op Clarkson

This society was formed in the spring of 1839, and was composed chiefiy of a number of persons who had formerly belonged to the congregation at Middle Beaver, and when that body was dissolved came to this locality to establish a place of worship, the remaining members going to Madison. Among the members who constituted the congregation of Clarkson were John McCammon, James W. Gaston, Joseph Steel, John G. Gaston, Mathew Lyon, Hugh Gaston, Mathias Shirt z, Wm. Steel, James Provines, Hugh Sebring (and their wives), Morgan Lyon, Elizabeth Knight, Nancy McCammon, Elizabeth McCammon, and Mary Keep.

A frame meeting-house was built that year, a little south of the village of Clarkson, on a lot of ground given for the purpose and for a cemetery by Thomas Ashton and George Fcazle, which was used until 1877, when it was displaced by the present edifice. This is a very neat though plain frame, and was built by a committee composed of Daniel G. Souder, T. J. Conkle, and P. Gaston. The grounds are inclosed by a fine fence, giving the place an inviting appearance. The board of trustees controlling the property in 1879 were J. W. Hollinger, T. R. Wilson, Samuel Crawford, T. J. Conkle, and John Wollam.

Two of the ruling elders of the old congregation continued to discharge the duties of that office for the Clarkson congregation, - namely, Hugh Gaston aud John McCammon ; a third elder was soon after chosen in the person of James Gaston. The other elders of the church have been John Souders, Hiram Hollinger, David Swaney, Edward Crawford, James Armstrong, Stephen Clark, William Ross, Henry Creighton. Wm. B. Sherman, Francis Scott, Wm. M. Crawford, Daniel G. Souders, and John Hollinger, the three last named holding that office at the present.

The Rev. William O. Stratton was the first pastor, remaining until 1813 ; and, after the lapse of a number of years, the Rev. William Dalzell also served the congregation a short time in that capacity. The other ministers have been connected as supplies, and have been as follows: the Revs. William 1). McCartney, Thomas McDermott, John B. Graham, R. Lewis, William Reed, Robert Armstrong, George Johnson, J. R. Miller, W. Gaston, J. R. Dundas, and the present, J. N. Wilson.

The Associate Presbyterian Congregation Of

and other families who held the doctrines of the Associate Presbyterians. Meetings were occasionally held in the old church, the preaching being supplied by the Rev. S. W. Clark, of St. Clair ; but after a few years the congregation disbanded. Before the formation of the above congregation, the Free Presbyterians established themselves in this community, receiving membership from the Gaston, Moore, and other families, ultimately to the number of forty. Meetings were held in the church, schoolhouse, and Hugh Gaston's barn, by the Revs. Bradford, Robertson, Jamison, and McElhaney, which were attended with considerable interest. The union of the various Presbyterian bodies of the country was followed at Clarkson by the formation of

The United Presbyterian Church

In the spring of 1862, Samuel R. Roseburgh was chosen to bear a petition to the Presbytery, asking that a congregation might be duly formed by an accredited person at Clarkson. That body appointed the Rev. S. W. Clark, and on the 5th of July of that year he discharged this mission, uniting in church fellowship the following persons: S. R. Roseburgh, Jane Roseburgh, Samuel Henderson, Mary Henderson, Jane Walter, Ellen Crawford, Mrs. Henry, Charity Gaston, W. C. Wilson, Margaret Wilson, Sarah E. Logan, John R. Chain, Elizabeth Chain, Mary J. Wilson, Andrew Cavatt, Martha Cavatt, William Glenn, Louisa Glenn, John P. Finney, John, Esther, and Margaret Roseburgh, Samuel C. Saint, Mary Saint, and William II. Gaston.

Samuel R. Roseburgh, William Glenn, John R. Chain, and W. C. Wilson were elected the first ruling elders. 'These offices are at present filled by John R. Chain, Samuel C. Saint, and John G. Gaston. The meeting-house was built in 1863. The pulpit was first supplied by the Revs. S. W. Clark, Martin, Melvin, and in 1868 the Rev. A. T. Houston was installed pastor, remaining four years. Since then the clergy have been the Revs. Alexander, McElhaney, and Patterson, there being at present no regular supply. The congregation numbers but 28 members, and the church is not so prosperous as in former days.

Billingsley, Amos C., son of Wesley J. and Mary Ann (Burt) Billingsley, b. Columbiana Co. 1843, Farmer and Stock Grower, p. o. add. East Palestine.

Billingsley, John T., son of Wesley J. and Mary Ann (Burt) Billingsley, b. Columbiana Co., 1849, Farmer and Stock Grower, p. o. add. East Palestine.

Bradfield, Aaron H., son of Wm. and Sarah (Robinson) Brndfield, b. Columbiana Co. 1827, s. Middleton Tp. 1868, Farmer and Wool Grower, p. o. add. East Fairfield.

Burson, Goorge, son of Benj. and Elizabeth (Kile) Bureon, l>. Tuscarawas Co., Ohio, 1825, s. Middleton, 1836, Fainter and Fruit Grower, p. o. add. Achor.

Cope, Israel, son of Israel and Elizabeth (Dixon) Cope, l>. Columbiana Co. 1825, s. Middleton Tp. 1829, Farmer and Fruit Grower, p. o. add. East Carmel.

Campbell, Sarah .1., daughter of James A. and Martha (Armstrong) Campbell, I*. Allegheny Co., Pa., 1833, s. Middleton Tp. 1834, Postmaster and Merchant, p. o. add. Clarkson.

Donovan, John, son of Cornelius and Mary ( I lineman) Donovan, h. Beaver Co., Pa., 1838, s. Middleton, 1807, Farmer and Sawyer, p. o. add. Clarkson.

Feezel, Wm. L., son of George M. and Catharine (Hoffman) Feezel, b. Washington Co., Pa., 1816, s. Middleton Tp. 1862, Farmer, p. o. add. Clarkson.

Farr, Jonas H., son of Wm. and Rachel (Humphrey) Farr, b. Columbiana Co. 1825, s. Middleton Tp. 1856, Farmer and Fruit Grower, p. o. add. East Carmel.

Hall, Wilson, son of Nathan P. and Rachel (Wilson) Hall, b. Jefferson Co., Ohio, 1832, s. Middleton Tp. 1859, Farmer and Fruit Grower, p. o. add. East Carmel.

1844, s. Middleton, 1859, Farmer and Fruit Grower, p. o. add. East Carmel . Heald, James, son of James and Mary (Wilson) Ileald, b. Columbiana Co. 1S22, s. Middleton Tp. 1858, Farmer and Fruit Grower, p. o. add. East Carmel. Lyons, Richard, son of Mathew and Nancy (Kelley) Lyons, b. Washington Co., Pa., 1806, s. Middleton Tp. 1810, Farmer and Fruit Grower, p. o. add. Clarkson.

Morlan, Henry, son of Henry and Abigail (Ferguson) Morlan, b. Columbiana Co. 1832, s. Middleton Tp. 1878, Farmer and Fruit Grower, p. o. add. East Carnul.

Patteison, Samuel G., son of James and Mary (Coleman) Patterson, b. Allegheny Co., Pa., 1830, s. Middleton Tp. 1870, Farmer and River Engineer, p. o. add. St. Clair.

Rudennaugh, Franklin P., son of John M. and Eva Ann (llallinger) Rudenbaugh, b. Columbiana Co., Ohio, 1854, Farmer and Fruit Grower, p. o. add. New Waterford.

Taylor, Jacob, son of Joseph and Sarah (Read) Taylor, b. Columbiana Co. 1810, s. Middleton, 1851, Farmer and Fruit Grower, p. o. add. East Carmel. Taylor, E. G., son of Benjamin and Eleanor Taylor, b. Columbiana Co., Ohio, 1850, Carpenter and Joiner, p. o. add. Clarkson.

Warrick, Milo, son of Isaac and Mary (Haibeson) Wanick, b. Beaver Co., Pa., 1818, s. Middleton Tp. 1841, Cabinet Manufacturer and Undertaker, p. o. add. Clarkson.

Wilson, Thomas It., s<»n of Alexander and Sarah (ltosburgh) Wilson, b. Allegheny Co., Pa., 1844, s. Middleton, 1865, Blacksmith, p. o. add. Clarkson. Wallam, John, .son of Henry and Mary (Bough) Wallam, b. Columbiana Co. 1826, Farmer and Stock Grower, p. o. add. Clarkson.

Beatty, J. R., son of John Robert and Ellen (Roy) Beatty, b. Brandywine Hundred, Del., s. Columbiana Co. 1840, Dealer in Dry-Goods, p. o. add. Salem.

Davidson, Jennie 11., daughter of John and Fiances B. Davidson, b. Sw inton, Berwickshire, Scotland, s. Columbiana Co. 1858, Dealer in Fancy-Goods, p. o. add. Salem.

Henkle, W. D., son of Lemuel and Mary llenkle, b. Clark Co., Ohio, s. Salem, 1864, Ed. Ohio Educational Monthly and Educational Notes and Queries.

Hunt, Nathan, son of Nathan and Rebecca Hunt, b. Salem, 1825, Machinist. Harris, Chas., son Of John and Mary Harris, b. Salem, 1845, Label Manufacturer.

McCurdy, II . W., son of James and Elizabeth McCurdy, b. Salem, 1859, Printer. Oliphant, J. R., son of Ephraim and Elizabeth Oliphant, b. Middleton Tp. 1839, Hatter and Gents' Furnishing Goods, p. o. add. Salem.

Smith, B. L., son of John L. and Eliza A. Smith, b. Salem, 1834, Express Agent. Sharp, Joel, son of Joel and Rebecca Sharp, b. Goshen, Mahoning Co., s. Salem, 1821, Manufacturer.

Calvin, Miss Myra, daughter of Dr. Joshua and Mary (Creighton) Calvin, b. Columbiana Co. 1848, s. St. Clair Tp. 1854, Teacher, p. o. add. Calcutta.

Hickman, John, son of Joseph and Elizabeth (McCabe) Hickman, b. Alleghany Co., Pa., 1824, s. St. Clair Tp. 1874, Farmer and Stock Grower, p. o. add. St. Clair.

Lauglilin, Elizabeth, daughter of Jos. and Mary (Sterigere) Stockdale, b. Washington Co., Pa. 1821, s. St. Clair Tp. 1838, Proprietor Drug and Gen. Store, St. Clair.

McKee, Wm. G., son of Wm. and Harriett (Huggins) McKee, b. Armstrong Co., Pa., 1842, s. St. Clair Tp. 1873, Merchant and Postmaster, St. Clair.

McIntosh, James C., son of Evan and Isabella (McDonald) McIntosh, b. Columbiana Co. 1840, s. St. Clair Tp. 1873, Farmer, p. o. add. Calcutta. Russell, James D., son of James and Anna (Dunbar) Russell, b. Washington Co., Pa., 1852, s. St. Clair, 1864, Farmer and Stock Grower, p. o. add. Calcutta. Sinclair, Archibald F., son of James B. and Sarah (McMahon) Sinclair, b. Allegheny Co., Pa., 1823, s. St. Clair Tp. 1853, Blacksmith and Wagon Manufactory, p. o. add. Calcutta.

1856, s. St. Clair Tp. 1878, Merchant and Postmaster, Cannon's Mills. Spahr, George W., son of Simeon and Elizabeth (Grimm) Spalir, b. Columbiana Co. 1837, Physician and Surgeon, p. o. add. St. Clair.