MAHONING OHIO - HISTORY: County History part 2
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Historical Collections of Ohio By Henry Howe, LL.D., 1898

                        MAHONING COUNTY PART 2

        In the course of the day they came. The countenance of Capt.
Peters, as soon as he saw a white man present, scowled with hatred, revenge
and defiance. Hillman endeavored to pacify him, but with little effect.
During the interview, a conversation was had between Captains George and
Peters in the Seneca language, in which Capt. Peters endeavored to persuade
the other that they ought to kill Hillman and Randall, and before the
whites could unite in defence dispatch them in detail. But Capt. George
would not agree to it, unwilling that Hillman, to whom he had conceived a
liking, should be killed. It was not known to either that Hillman was
acquainted with the Seneca language, in which this conversation was held;
he was, however, and it may be conceived with what interest he listened to
it. Hillman succeeded after several attempts in drawing Capt. Peters aside,
and offered him a considerable sum, if he would go to Cuyahoga on some
business for the whites. This bribe, it seems, had its desired effect. The
Indians retired a short distance and held a consultation, during which
Randall became so much alarmed that he proposed that each should take his
horse and endeavor to make his escape. Hillman would not go, but observing
that the Indians had left their guns leaning upon two trees near by told
Randall to station himself, and if, on their return, one of their number
should be painted black (which Hillman knew was their custom when one was
to be killed) then each should seize upon the guns and sell his life as
dearly as possible.
        After a long time, however, they returned; Capt. Peters holding up
a wampum belt with three strings, and saying that they had agreed to hold a
council with the whites, on condition that three things should be done, as
their wampum indicated. 1st, that George Foulk should act as interpreter;
2d, that the council should be held within six days; and 3d, that McMahon
should be kept until the council. These things being agreed to, Hillman and
Randall returned the same day to Youngstown, where they found all the
inhabitants assembled, waiting in anxious suspense to learn the result of
the expedition, and every preparation made for a sudden flight, in case it
should have proved unsuccessful. Great was their joy on seeing Hillman and
his companion arrive in safety, and telling what had been done.
        The inhabitants immediately set themselves about making the
necessary preparations for the council. On the day appointed, two Indians
made their appearance, and were conducted by Mr. Hillman to the place
prepared to hold their council. After the ceremony of smoking, commenced
the speeches, and it was generally conceded that Capt. Peters had the best
of the argument, and throughout the whole of the consultation showed a
decided superiority over the whites opposed to him in adroitness and force
of argument, although our people had appointed three of their best men for
that purpose (the late Judge Pease, of Warren,a and Gov. Huntington being
of the number), all of whom had prepared themselves for this encounter with
Indian shrewdness. The result of the council was satisfactory to both
parties; that McMahon should be tried by a jury of his own color, according
to the laws of his own country. There were about three hundred people
present at the council, among whom was Mr. Hudson, of Portage county, and
Mr. Ely, of Deerfield. Thus was tranquillity restored, mainly through the
instrumentality of Mr. Hillman, a service which was so highly appreciated
by Ephraim Root, the agent of the Connecticut Land Company, that he agreed
on the part of the company that he would give him one hundred acres of
land; the promise, however, was never redeemed.
        Soon after, McMahon was sent by order of Gov. St. Clair,under a
strong guard, to abide his trial at a special court ordered for that
purpose, to be held in Youngstown by the Judges, Return J. Meigs and
Benjamin Ives. Gilman, Backus & Tod were attorneys for the people; and Mr.
Simple, John S. Edwards and Benjamin Tappan for the prisoner. The court was
attended by persons from a great distance, and it was generally believed
that many had come with a determination to rescue McMahon, in case he
should be found guilty. He was, however, acquitted, principally upon the
testimony of one Knox, who swore that McMahon retreated a step or two
before he fired, which probably was not true, and was not believed by those
who had visited the spot on the day after the affair. Capt. Peters was upon
the bench during the whole trial, and was satisfied that he had received a
fair trial, and should, according to the laws of the whites, have been
acquitted. As soon as Knox swore that McMahon retreated before he fired,
Capt. Peters gave a characteristic "ugh", and whispered to Judge Meigs that
the jury would acquit the prisoner.
        Thus terminated this critical affair, after which the settlement
increased with great rapidity, and Col. Hillman from that time has enjoyed
the confidence and respect of his fellow-citizens, twice expressed in
electing him sheriff, under the territorial government, and in various
other ways, and still lives respected and beloved by all.

        YOUNGSTOWN IN 1846. -Youngstown is the largest and most flourishing
town in Mahoning county, beautifully situated on the the north bank of the
Mahoning river, sixty-five miles from Pittsburg, Penn., nine miles from
Canfield, the seat of justice for the county of Mahoning, fourteen from
Warren, the county-seat of Trumbull county, thirty from Ravenna, Portage
county and twenty-seven from New Lisbon, Columbiana county. It contains
about 1,200 inhabitants, has 12 mercantile stores, 3 warehouses for
receiving and forwarding goods and produce on the canal; 4 churches -1
Presbyterian, 1 Episcopal Methodist, 1 Protestant Methodist and 1
Disciples. The Pennsylvania and Ohio Canal passes through the village, and
the products of the surrounding country are sent here for shipment. Few
places in Ohio are more beautifully situated; few have greater facilities
for manufacturing, or bid fairer to become places of wealth and importance.
        Bituminous coal and iron ore abound in the immediate vicinity of
the village and along the line of the canal, adequate, it is believed, to
the wants of a a large manufacturing place. Several of the coal banks are
already opened and successfully and profitably worked. The mines of the
Hon. David Tod furnish about one hundred tons of coal per day, and those of
Crawford, Camp & Co. about sixty, all of which have hitherto found a ready
market at Cleveland for steamboat fuel. It has recently been ascertained
that the coal in the valley of the Mahoning is well adapted in its raw
state to the smelting of iron ore, and three furnaces similar to the
English and Scotch furnaces, each capable of producing from sixty to one
hundred tons of pig-metal per week, have been erected in the township, and
near to the village. A large rolling-mill has been erected in the village,
at which is made the various sizes of bar, rod and hoop iron; also sheet
iron, nails and spikes. The "Youngstown Iron Company" and the "Eagle Iron
and Steel Company" contemplate the erection of machinery for the purpose of
making the T and H rails; and it is more than probable that the various
railroads now projected in Ohio and the adjoining states will be supplied
with rails from this point. In addition to the above, there is quite a
number of small manufacturing establishments for making tin-ware, cloth,
axes, wagons, buggies, etc., etc. The amount of capital invested in the
manufacturing of iron is probably $200,000.
        The view given was taken from the southeast, a few hundred yards to
the left of the road leading to Pittsburg, and near the residence of Mr.
Homer Hine, shown on the right. In front appears the canal and Mahoning
river: on the left the rolling-mill of the Youngstown Iron Company. In the
distance a part of the town is shown; the spires seen are respectively,
commencing on the right, those of the Presbyterian, Disciples and Episcopal
Methodist churches; near, on the left of the last named, appears the
Protestant Methodist church. -Old Edition.

        -continued in part 3





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