Lisbon

Excerpt from History of Columbiana County, Ohio by Harold B. Barth, Historical Publishing Company; Topeka, Indianapolis; 1926 The town was originally settled by Lewis Kinney early in the nineteenth century. He built a cabin where the Arter tannery was afterwards erected and proceeded to found the village which he named New Lisbon on Feb. 16, 1803. In the fall of that year he donated lots for county buildings, erected a log court house and jail for which he received the sum of $150. In 1805 he sold the plot on which he had first settled to Jahn Arter. The latter became major of the First Battalion of Columbiana County Militia, which was first mustered in 1806, and served in the State Senate from 1808 to 1813. He later removed to Missouri. The log court house was used until 1816 when a brick edifice replaced it. In 1871 the present brick and stone structure was built and used for some time before the second one utilized was razed. In 1808 William Slater, who lived east of New Lisbon and operated a powder mill, purchased a part of the Kinney tract and proceeded to lay out an addition of out lots on the west of the town's original plat. Thus its growth was slow, but steady. In 1809 the place contained more than 60 houses, a number being of brick and stone. The population consisted of thrifty, law abiding citizens who emanated from Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania. Among the early settlers were General Rezin Beall, William and Daniel Harbaugh, John Artery, Jacob Shawke, Dr. Horace Potter, Fisher A. Blockson, Jacob Hostetter, John Watson, the Smalls, Thompsons, Indleys, Springers, Holland Green, George Crowl, Martin Heiman, Rev. Clement Vallandingham, the Richardsons, Briggses and others whose descendants are or have been residents of the city. Daniel Harbaugh established the first tannery in the village in 1804 with John Arter buying the same in 1805; Jacob Shawke was the first village blacksmith within its confines; Dr. Horace Patter qualified as the initial physician in the new town and Fisher A. Blocksom was the original lawyer to practice in it. He came to Lisbon on horseback through the forest, served for several years as prosecuting attorney, was representative to the General Assembly from 1826 to 1828 inclusive and again from 1831 to 1833. He was State Senator from 1847 to 1851 and practiced his profession until 1852. He remained a resident of the town until Dec. 14, 1876 when he passed away at more than ninety five years of age. Jacob Hostetter, of Switzerland, engaged first in clock and watch making in 1805. David Hostetter the following year opened the first tavern in the town. John Small, in 1806, was the first gun maker. The first county sheriff was Jacob Watson, Jr., son of Jacob Watson, Sr. Michael Stock pioneered in wagon making and Rev. Clement Vallandingham became the first minister in the corporate limits, he settling in the town immediately after his marriage in May of 1807 and being ordained and installed as pastor of the Presbyterian Church on June 24 of that year which position he held until his demise on October 21, 1839. In 1808 William D. Lepper settled in the town and established the first newspaper in the county, The Ohio Patriot. Gideon Hughes, arriving the same year, erected an iron furnace, northwest of the town which was the first in the state and pioneered an industry which has given employment to thousands and caused an investment of millions of dollars. The ruins of this plant are still visible. In 1810 William Clapsaddle became the town's first tinner which ultimately paved the way for the mammoth tin mill later operated in the community. The first dry goods merchants in the town were Joseph Stibbs, David Graham and Thomas Cox, who transacted business at near what is now the corner of Washington and Jefferson streets. In early days Indians blockaded the section near these early store houses. Other early merchants were Martin and William Heiman, George Endley, Holland Green, Benjamin H