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Alanson McCullour was an early Mecca settler and farmer.

 

Alanson McCullour
Photo from "Mecca" by Thomas Kachur, page 108

 

Born in 1814 in Canada, he came to Ohio from New York State with his mother. He settled in Mecca in the early 1830s.

 

“McCullour, Alanson, was born September 1813 in Cramma Township, Northumberland, in the Upper Province of Canada, and migrated to Mecca from New York. His father, Frank McCullour, went on a business trip one day and never returned. He was carrying a large sum of money and was never heard of again. The family supposed that he had been killed by Indians.” (Kachur, Tom “Mecca”, p. 265)

 

At the age of 18, he traveled to Ohio from New York State with his mother. The names of his parents are unknown.

 

Alanson was among the first members of the Baptist Church, organized in 1833, that once stood north of Mecca Circle.

 

When the Communion Baptist Church was organized on Feb. 13, 1833, Alanson served as one of the officers.

 

Alanson and Eunice's marriage record
familysearch.org

 

On Dec. 6, 1838, he married Eunice P. Chaffee, the daughter of Jose and Theodocia (Fletcher) Chaffee. They had at least three children: Priscilla Rebecca (b. 1839), Henrietta (b. 1843), and Harvey (b. 1849).

 

In 1852, he purchased Lot 7 in 1852, on Phillips Rice Rd., south of Rt 88. The 1982 Mecca Township inventory dates the house to the 1830s or 40s. It describes the home as an “Upright and wing design with entablature, frieze windows and corner pilasters. One story wing has porch with anta-pier columns and flush board siding under porch roof. Addition was added to front of upright portion probably in late 19th or early 20th century. Small white board and batten barn in back.”

 

An early photo of Alanson's home from "Mecca", page 107

 

A 2025 photo showing the slight changes to the structure

 

Thomas Kachur’s Mecca book, page 107, says the house was built around 1855, which makes more sense than an older structure.

 

In the 1870 census, 14-year-old Eugene Bacon lived with Alanson, most likely as hired, live-in help.

 

Eunice died in 1878 at the age of 58 from dropsy, and Alanson died July 19, 1901 in Mecca. They are buried in East Mecca Cemetery.

 

Alanson and Eunice's gravestone at East Mecca Cemetery
by Ashley Armstrong

 

Alanson's house later served as the home of Alanson's son Harvey and his wife Laura. Their son John inherited it next, followed by his daughter Mildred, who married Lester Ballard.

 

The 1874 map of Mecca overlaying a present-day aerial view

 

The house still stands today. Alanson also owned the property across the street where CaRayna farms is located, and used it as farmland.

 

References:

 

• Alanson McCullour Find A Grave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/67185873/alanson-mccullour

• 1874 Trumbull County Atlas

• “Mecca”, c. 1970, by Thomas Kachur, p.107-108

• “Mecca”, 2002, by Thomas Kachur, p. 265)

• Alanson and Chaffee marriage record: familysearch.org

• Mecca Township House Inventory, 1982