Husband John Struthers 1 2
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Marriage:
Wife [Unk] Foster 1
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Children
1 M Alexander Struthers
Born:
Christened:
Died: 1813 - near Detroit, Wayne Co, MI
Buried:
2 M Ebenezer Struthers
Born: Aug 1800 - Struthers, Mahoning Co, OH
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
3 M John Struthers 3
Born: - near Youngstown, Mahoning Co, OH
Christened:
Died: Bef 1882 - Struthers, Mahoning Co, OH
Buried:
Spouse: Sarah Duff ( - ) 2
4 M Hon. Thomas Struthers 1 2 4 5
Born: 6 Jun 1803 - Mahoning Co, OH 1
Christened:
Died: Aft 1882
Buried:
Spouse: Eunice Eddy (1812- ) 5
Marr: Dec 1831 6
5 F Drucilla Struthers
Born:
Christened:
Died: Feb 1826 - near Struthers, Mahoning Co, OH
Buried:
6 F Emma Struthers
Born:
Christened:
Died: Feb 1826 - near Struthers, Mahoning Co, OH
Buried:
General Notes: Husband - John Struthers
At an early period he settled near Youngstown, Ohio, then a part of Trumbull County, later Mahoning County. He subsequently purchased land and built a furnace upon the present site of Struthers, the town having been so called in his honor.
He was politically, a Whig and the first sheriff of Trumbull County.
He came of Scotch ancestry, and removed with his father's family from the state of Maryland to Washington County, Pennsylvania, in 1776. By reason of his skill as a practical land surveyor he rendered invaluable assistance to the settlers then crowding into that region; and by reason of his military prowess he rose to the command of a company of mounted rangers, who were commended for their courage and skill in protecting the government from the fierce onslaughts of the desperate and savage allies of the British during the Revolutionary War. He married and with a family of four children removed to Trumbull County, Ohio, in 1798, where he settled on lands that he had previously selected during his excursions as an Indian hunter. He was thus one of the first settlers in the Connecticut Western Reserve, which from that time became rapidly peopled with immigrants from New England and Pennsylvania. Here he cleared and cultivated a large farm, built mills, and in company with Robert Montgomery, erected a small blast furnace, the product of which was cast into pots, kettles, caldrons, and such other articles as were demanded by the household necessities of the settlers. He afterward unfortunately met with disastrous business reverses.
John Struthers, from Washington county, Pennsylvania, bought four hundred acres of land and a mill site on Yellow creek, near its mouth, August 30, 1799, negotiating with Judge Kirtland for the same. On the 19th of October, in the same year, Mr. Struthers and his family arrived and settled on this purchase, which developed into a flourishing little village called by his name. Here, in August, 1800, Ebenezer Struthers was born, the first white male child born in the township. Alexander Struthers, a lieutenant in the War of 1812, died in the service of his country at Detroit, in the latter part of the year 1813. Hon. Thomas Struthers, of Warren, Pennsylvania, well known in this vicinity, was born at the home of his father, John Struthers, in 1803, and is now the only surviving member of the family. His brother John, who lived upon a farm adjacent to the old homestead, died a short time ago.
THE STRUTHERS TRAGEDY.
In February, 1826, Miss Drucilla Struthers left her father's residence in Coitsville for the purpose of going to the post-office at Poland village, where she expected to get a letter from her affianced lover, then residing in Washington county, Pennsylvania. Her younger sister, Emma, accompanied her down to the Mahoning river, which was very high at that time, intending to ferry her across, and then return home. The skiff in which they were to cross was fastened nearly opposite the mouth of Yellow creek, and directly opposite to the present village of Struthers. The young ladies were daughters of John Struthers, who settled in Poland township in 1799, held the office of sheriff of Trumbull county, and other responsible offices, and was well known and respected by the pioneers ot this county. They were sisters of the Hon. Thomas Struthers, who was the proprietor of the thriving village of Struthers.
When the young ladies came to the bank of the river Emma laid off her shawl and bonnet on the shore, and they embarked on their fatal voyage. Emma was good with an oar, and practiced in rowing and managing a skiff.
At this point the known history of their lives ends. It is involved in mystery that can not be unraveled. No human eye saw them on their fatal voyage, as they were not spared to relate the events of that awful hour, of what happened or befell them; why they were unable to propel
their craft across the stream; what were their feelings and actions when they discovered their dangerous and helpless situation; how many plans they devised to regain a landing; how hope and despair alternated each other in quick succession; how their terrors increased as their disappointments were repeated; and as they approached the dam over which they were soon to be precipitated how their souls sank within them, when they beheld the foaming waters beneath them and hope gone; what thoughts agitated their souls as they made the fatal descent, their craft overturned, and the dark waters received them.
Alexander Cowden heard their cries, but did not apprehend at the time that they came from persons in distress. David Brownlee reported having crossed the river a short time previous in that skiff, and that one of the oars or rowlocks was defective in some way, which doubtless was the cause of the disaster.
When they were missed an active search was commenced. The next day the remains of Drucilla were found fastened to a bush which grew on the river bank, one and one-half miles below where they embarked. Six weeks elapsed before the body of Emma was discovered. It was found at the head of an island near the Dickson farm.
Mr. J. R. Cowden has favored us with the above facts. He was one of the searching party from the first and until the body of Emma was found.