COLUMBIANA COUNTY OHIO - HISTORY PART 1 (published 1898) *********************************************************************** OHGENWEB NOTICE: All distribution rights to this electronic data are reserved by the submitter. Reproduction or re-presentation of copyrighted material will require the permission of the copyright owner. *********************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Gina M. Reasoner AUPQ38A@prodigy.com March 20, 1999 *********************************************************************** HISTORICAL COLLECTION OF OHIO, By Henry Howe, LL.D., 1898 COLUMBIANA COLUMBIANA COUNTY was formed from Jefferson and Washington, March 25, 1803. Kilbourn, in his "Gazeteer," says: "Columbiana is a fancy name, taken in the Legislature, that a member jocularly moved that the name Maria should be added thereto, so as to have it read Columbiana-maria." The southern part is generally broken and hilly; and the northern level or undulating. This is an excellent agricultural tract; it is well watered, abounds in fine mineral coal, iron ore, lime, and free-stone. The water limestone of this county is of the best quality. Salt water abounds on Yellow and Beaver creeks, which also afford a great amount of water power. Forty years ago it was the greatest wool-growing county in Ohio, and was exceeded by but three or four in the Union. About one-third of the population are of German origin, and there are many of Scotch-Irish extraction. In 1885 the acres cultivated were 118,656; in pasture, 90,692; woodland, 45,065; lying waste, 14,603; wheat, 159,241 bushe ls; corn, 645,39; oats, 580,660; wool, 55,862 pounds; apples, 515,913. School census, 17,060; teachers, 357. Area, 540 square miles. Miles of railroad track, 117. TOWNSHIPS AND CENSUS 1840 1880 Butler 1,711 1,560 Center 3,472 3,719 Elk Run 873 1,457 Fairfield 2,108 3,178 Hanover 2,963 2,258 Knox 2,111 2,240 Liverpool 1,096 6,229 Madison 1,472 1,144 Middletown 1,601 1,590 Perry 1,630 4,868 St. Clair 1,739 1,186 Salem 1,903 5,142 Unity 1,984 3,114 Washington 814 3,192 Wayne 1,086 848 West 1,915 2,050 Yellow Creek 2,686 3,958 The population of Columbiana in 1820 was 22,033; in 1830, 35,508; and in 1840, 40,394, which was greater than any other counties in Ohio, excepting Hamilton and Richland. The number of inhabitants to a square mile was then 46. In 1846 the county was reduced by the formation of Mahoning, to which the townships of Beaver, Goshen, Greene, Smith, and Springfield, formerly belonging to it, were added. The population of the county in 1860 was 32,836, and in 1880, 48,602, of whom 34,945 were Ohio-born; 6,344 Pennsylvania-born; 3,711 English subjects born; 852 Germans; 44 French; 32 Scandinavians. Columbiana is one of the best fruit-producing counties in Ohio. The township of Middletown is especially noted for its raspberries and fine quality of peaches, which last is said to be a rarely failing crop. The fruit finds a near market in Pittsburg. The first paper-mill in Ohio, and the second west of the Alleghenies, was erected in 1805-6 on Little Beaver creek, near its mouth, in this county. It was called the Ohio paper-mill; its proprietors were John Bever and John Coulter. This county was settled just before the commencement of the present century. In 1797 a few families moved across the Ohio and settled in its limits. One of them, named Carpenter, made a settlement near West Point. Shortly after, Capt. Whiteyes, a noted Indian chief, stopped at the dwelling of Carpenter. Being intoxicated, he got into some difficulty with a son of Mr. C., a lad of about seventeen years of age, and threatened to kill him. The young man upon this turned and ran, pursued by the Indian with uplifted tomahawk, ready to bury it in his brains. Finding that the latter was fast gaining upon him the young man turned and shot him, and shortly afterwards he expired. As this was in time of peace, Carpenter was apprehended and tried at Steubenville, under the territorial laws, the courts being then held by by justices of the peace. He was cleared, it appearing that he acted in self-defense. The death of Whiteyes, created great excitement, and fears were entertained that it would provoke hostilities from the Indians. Great exertions were made to reconcile, them, and several presents were given to the friends of the late chief. The wife of Whiteyes received from three gentlemen the sum of $300; one of these donors was the late Bezaleel Wells, of Steubenville. This was the last Indian blood shed by white men in this part of Ohio. ==== Maggie_Ohio Mailing List ====