Society needs public's help

The group is trying to help two California women trace their family histories.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
POLAND -- The Poland Township Historical Society is asking for the public's help in preserving history for future generations.
"We're looking for history, photographs, information about early settlers, pictures of farms -- anything that's historical, we're very interested in," said Connie Coloutes, president of the historical society.
The society, formed in 1979 and housed in the Little Red Schoolhouse at the corner of U.S. Route 224 and Struthers Road, initially collected just schoolhouse history, but that changed a few years ago to include history about the community.
"We have five showcases now," she said.
Genealogy
Coloutes said she's directed people on the steps to take in compiling their genealogy.
That journey often leads them to Trumbull County as Mahoning and Trumbull were one until 1846, she said.
"The Girard library has a fantastic genealogy department," Coloutes said.
The township formed in 1796.
Part of the Connecticut Western Reserve, Poland became known as Town 1, Range 1, because it was the first township to be surveyed in the area, according to the township's Web site.
Besides looking for general history about the community, Coloutes is trying to help two California women who are researching their Poland roots.
Neither of the women ever lived in the area.
One of the women contacted the society after meeting one of its members who was visiting his son in California.
The second one wrote a letter to township trustees looking for information and the trustees forwarded the letter to Coloutes.
"They both have Stewart in their family and I'd like to see if there's some connection," she said.
Royal ancestors
The first woman traced her ancestry back to Prince Charles Edward Stewart, who lived from 1720-88 and was regarded by his supporters as the heir to the British throne.
Stewart's grandfather, a Catholic, had been removed from power in favor of a Protestant ruler, according to a Web site promoting Scottish tourism.
One of the woman's relatives also married a member of the Boardman family for whom Simons Road is named.
"She also traced her family to the Kirtlands, one of the first settlers and founders of Poland," Coloutes said.
Besides Stewart, the second woman's family tree branches to well-known Poland names like Dobbins, Arrel, Smith and Truesdale.
Photographs, family histories or information about the families of the two women may be mailed to Coloutes at the Poland Township Historical Society, P.O. Box 5052, Poland 44514.